Electronics | featured news

Google’s Android lead steps down

Android lead Andy Rubin will step down from his position, handing over the reins of Google’s mobile operating system to Chrome lead Sundar Pichai. Google chief executive Larry Page broke the news Wednesday in a post on the company’s official blog, saying that Rubin felt the time had come to move on — albeit within the company.

 

Amazon Trims Price of Kindle Fire HD

The Seattle-based Web retailer said the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD with 4G wireless capability will start at $399, down from $499. Amazon reduced the price of the Wi-Fi only version by $30 to $269.

 

iPhone turned into microscope for £5

iPhone Microscope

Scientists in Tanzania turned an iPhone into an amateur microscope to check schoolchildren for intestinal worms.

 

No BYOD? BlackBerry Z10 Pre-Order Today/Tomorrow

Blackberry Z10

The BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY)/(TSE:BB) Z10 is finally available for U.S. pre-order—on T-Mobile, at least. AT&T’s debut is tomorrow; Verizon’s next month, probably. On the one hand, it could be a case of “too little, too late” for the Canadian smartphone maker (formerly Research In Motion).

 

Google cutting 1,200 more Motorola jobs

Motorola - WC

Google says it's cutting an additional 1,200 jobs in its Motorola division as the unprofitable cellphone maker struggles to compete.

 

Samsung loses case versus Apple in UK

South Korean phone-maker Samsung loses another patent fight against rival Apple, in the UK High Court.

 

ABCs, 1-2-3s and swipes: News Corp. launching tablet for schools

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is set to unveil a tablet computer for public schools on Monday at the SXSWedu education technology conference in Austin, Texas, Bloomberg reports. The $299, 10-inch tablet is the brainchild of Amplify, News Corp.'s education division, which is fronted by former New York City schools chancellor (and current News Corp. executive vice president) Joel Klein. A 2-year subscription will cost $99 per year. A 4G model will also be available for $349, for students without Wi-Fi at home, at an annual cost of $179. The device will come loaded with curriculum materials and apps, including a graphing calculator, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and Merriam-Webster's dictionary. Some content will be provided by other News Corp. units such as HarperCollins.

 

Galaxy S IV Screens Leaked

New features Samsung reportedly plans to include in its next-generation Galaxy S IV smartphone have been revealed in a series of leaked screenshots. The images show various pages within the settings on Samsung’s custom version of Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, and they detail some intriguing new functionality coming to the Galaxy S IV as well as an update due to hit Samsung’s current flagship phone, the Galaxy S III.

 

Samsung Adds Eye Scrolling Software To Galaxy S4 Slate

Galaxy S3

Hours after releasing its latest teaser video for the Galaxy S4 come rumors that the next big thing, as Samsung likes to bill it, will have eye-tracking software for scrolling through content.

 

Obama Backs Changing Rules to Let Consumers Unlock Phones

The Obama administration said consumers should be allowed to unlock smartphones and tablet computers without risking criminal penalties, siding with critics of a ruling from the U.S. Library of Congress.

 

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