smartphone

Is there anything scarier than having your computer hacked? Absolutely there is, say security experts who predict that the growing "Internet of Things" could eventually allow hackers to remotely commit violent crimes. For decades we've associated ... the Internet with computers, from desktops and laptops to tablet devices and smartphones. But as time goes on, more and more devices are being connected to the web in an effort to give consumers more control. Want to lower your refrigerator's freezer temperature or start your car without getting off the couch? Chances are, there ... (view more)

Industry analysts at Gartner have released their list of the top trends in information technology (IT) for 2015. The general theme appears to be a growing -- and perhaps troubling -- reliance on web-connected devices and the cloud. Topping Gartner's ... list is the 'computing everywhere' concept, also known as ubiquitous computing . The research firm believes 2015 will be about expanding access to computing capabilities, from placing touchscreens in connected cars , to washing machines and dryers. To many, it's an exciting trend that will allow people unprecedented access to their devices ... (view more)

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) thinks Amazon.com should be on the hook for unauthorized purchases made by children while using apps on their smartphones, tablets, and even computers. In a recent complaint filed in a U.S. court, the ... FTC says parents whose children made unauthorized purchases should receive refunds from Amazon. The problem surrounds free-to-play games that are easily downloaded onto mobile devices; such games typically start out with a basic character and story, but then require players to make expensive (though easy to complete) 'purchases' in order to see ... (view more)

If you could control the majority of your home and appliances with a smartphone, which devices would you want to control? Google has pondered that very question, and has recently announced plans to open up its 'Nest' technology to independent ... developers, so that household gadgets can easily communicate with one another. Nest, which Google bought for $3.2 billion in this past January, made its name with an "intelligent" thermostat system. The system automatically learns your patterns of activities in the home with preferred heating and cooling levels. It then automatically develops a ... (view more)

Amazon has unveiled its very first smartphone and it's bringing a whole new approach to high-tech mobile. Rather than concentrating on building a smartphone that looks better than the competition, Amazon is offering consumers a device that could ... potentially make shopping -- both online and off -- easier than ever before. Amazon chief executive officer Jeff Bezos unveiled the Amazon Fire Phone in Seattle, Washington, this past Wednesday. The device is priced similarly to Apple's iPhone 5S and Samsung's S5. The 32 gigabyte version of the Amazon Fire Phone will retail for $199 with a ... (view more)

A case in New Hampshire has raised an important question in an age when just about everyone has a smartphone equipped with a digital video camera: should people be allowed to video or audio record the actions of on duty police officers? The case in ... question involves New Hampshire woman Carla Gericke, who was arrested and charged with wiretapping in 2010. Gericke was caught recording her friend being questioned by the Weare Police Department during a late-night traffic stop. Woman Never Ordered to Stop Recording Traffic Stop Gericke was actually in a car behind her friend and announced to ... (view more)

A new electronic device promises to help drivers tailor their driving habits in order to save money on fuel. The device, which is called "Automatic" and developed by a company of the same name, plugs into your car's computer socket. Most cars have ... this type of socket if the vehicle was made after 1996. The socket connects directly to the car's onboard computer, and is typically located under the steering wheel, not far from the gas and brake pedals. Users then pair Automatic's hardware device with a special smartphone application that is compatible with both Apple's iOS and ... (view more)

A new study suggests that most Americans favor Apple when it comes to mobile devices, though Samsung isn't too far from the top. The study was performed by KS Mobile, a San Francisco-based app maker for the Android and iOS platforms. The study was ... carried out between February 6 and 10, 2014, and involved 1,000 people aged 18 and older. Apple is for Women, Samsung is for Men: Study Suggests Of the people interviewed, nearly half of all women said they favored Apple mobile products, such as the iPhone. Only women aged 40 to 49 said they favored Samsung products. On the other hand, most men ... (view more)

A popular tech firm plans to offer a smartphone that costs just $25. The offering will initially be aimed at poorer countries, though could spread to more countries if the idea proves to be successful. The $25 phone is from Mozilla, the company best ... known for making the Firefox browser. Mozilla has created its own Linux-based operating system to run on the phone, which supports many commonly used smartphone features. $25 Smartphone Boasts Impressive Hardware By most definitions, the classification of a smartphone is the ability for the user to download and install software programs onto the ... (view more)

The next version of Samsung's very popular Galaxy smartphone comes equipped with two extremely handy new features. According to reports, Samsung's new Galaxy S5 will be both waterproof, dustproof, and come with sturdy curved casing. Samsung has ... taken charge of the smartphone market in recent years and much of that dominance is due to the success of the Galaxy series. Both the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S3 were runaway hits with consumers who prefer an Android-based device to a smartphone running Apple's iOS mobile operating system. Galaxy S5 Not the First Waterproof Phone But ... (view more)