App for safer driving wins 11-year-old creator $20,000 prize

An 11-year-old girl from California has bagged a $20,000 prize for creating an app designed to stop drivers texting when behind the wheel. Though not old enough to drive herself, 11-year-old Victoria Walker is still aware of the dangers posed by texting while behind the wheel. Take a journey on any busy road and you see plenty of drivers checking for new messages...

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ASUS Padfone 2 will break cover on October 16

ASUS has sent out "save the date" notes for the launch of its Padfone 2 hybrid device. The second generation of the quirky smartphone with a tablet suit will break cover on October 16 at events in Taipei, Taiwan and Milano, Italy. The specifications of the upcoming device are yet to be known. Rumor has it that the newcomer will pack a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon...

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Maps mess: Apple says it’s ‘just getting started’ with new mapping app, appreciates feedback

Following widespread criticism of its new Maps app, an Apple spokesperson said Thursday that it's "just getting started" with its Google Maps replacement and that "the more people use it, the better it will get." The app was rolled out on Wednesday as part of the Cupertino company's latest mobile operating system, iOS 6. After reading about Steve Jobs’ robust...

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Facebook tests Photo Sync, updates Messenger, starts charging for Offers

A spate of Facebook updates to illuminate your Thursday Facebook has pounded out a handful of updates and trials over the last few days, least of which is a test-run of a new "Photo Sync" service for its Android app. The Photo Sync functionality, currently open to a select group of users, automatically uploads a photograph to Facebook as soon as it's snapped...

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Facebook adds in-app SMS messaging and makes design changes in latest Android app update

Facebook's latest update to its standalone Messenger and main app for Android users, adds in-app SMS messaging and updates to the user experience. Facebook is hitting its mobile stride with several new feature announcements today. In addition to offering photo syncing for Android devices, the social network is rolling out an additional update to both the...

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Microsoft scores another victory against Google/Motorola in German court

The patent wars are getting apocalyptic Another ongoing patent war rages on, and once again, things aren't going well for Google-owned Motorola Mobility. Microsoft won a reported third victory in a German court Thursday, this one granting the Redmond, Wash. tech giant the option of banning several Motorola smartphones and tablets. All Microsoft has to...

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Nokia leaps on Apple Maps app criticism, claims superiority

Nokia tries to score points over Apple Nokia has used its official Conversations blog to take a thinly-veiled shot at Apple's new Maps application. The new in-house solution, which replaces Google Maps in iOS 6, has come under fire from some reviewers and users, who've pointed out inaccuracies and shortcomings. Nokia has taken the opportunity to pounce...

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5 wrong turns in Apple’s iOS 6 Maps app

The reaction to Apple Maps replacement of Google Maps has been harsh and quick — and for good reason. We categorize the many ways in which iOS 6 Maps are letting us down. Yesterday, the world was finally officially introduced the Apple Maps. We first caught word of the impending change months ago, with glimpses and peeks at what’s surfaced since. And now it’s...

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Asus announces PadFone 2 event for Oct. 16

Are you excited? (credit: notebookitalia.it) Asus proved its PadFone phone/netbook/tablet mishmash wasn't a one-off Thursday by sending out invites to a double-header event Oct. 16. Hosting announcements simultaneously in Milan and Taipai, Asus will reveal the PadFone 2, according to a just-sent invite. For those that need reminding, the PadFone is...

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Samsung to pursue iPhone 5 sales ban over LTE patents infringement

It was a long time coming, but now it has been officially confirmed - Samsung is going to pursue a ban on the US sales of the Apple iPhone 5. The Koreans believe that the latest iOS smartphone infringes on at least 8 of their LTE patents. The official statement goes as following: Samsung anticipates that it will file, in the near future, a motion to amend its infringement...

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Samsung may pursue legal action against Apple's iPhone 5 after review

No more iPhone 5 fun? Samsung plans to modify a patent infringement complaint against Apple to include eight LTE patents and potentially the iPhone 5, according to a case management statement unearthed Thursday. The document, submitted late Wednesday, said Samsung will file a motion soon and may include the iPhone 5, after Samsung has had sufficient time...

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Vertu unveils new Constellation Neon and Blue series

The new Constellation Neon series is pretty much what we're used to seeing from Vertu phones lately. Based on the Nokia Belle OS, the smartphone uses the well-known Nokia C7 as its base, much like all previous Constellation phones. Another similar product line update is the Constellation Blue phone, which on the inside is identical to the Vertu Constelation Quest, announced...

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Samsung may pursue legal action against Apple's iPhone 5 after review

No more iPhone 5 fun? Samsung plans to modify a patent infringement complaint against Apple to include eight LTE patents and potentially the iPhone 5, according to a case management statement unearthed Thursday. The document, submitted late Wednesday, said Samsung will file a motion soon and may include the iPhone 5, after Samsung has had sufficient time...

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HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S get priced in the UK

Even though HTC mentioned nothing on the pricing of its two latest smartphones at their announcement event, we only had to wait a day to find out. The HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S just got their price tags in the UK and those seem pretty reasonable. The two new WP8-smartphones already have their own pages on the Unlocked Mobiles website. The HTC Windows Phone 8 flagship,...

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Surprise, surprise: iOS 6 is already jailbroken on A4-powered devices

The iPhone Dev-Team has done it again, releasing a iOS 6 jailbreak just hours after the official release of the new Apple update. Just under 24 hours since the release of iOS 6 and jailbreakers have already figured out a way to bring the modded operating system to Apple users who love their hacked apps. The functioning jailbreak is currently only available...

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Yes, Samsung will sue Apple over the iPhone 5

Samsung says it plans to add the iPhone 5 to its list of patent lawsuits against Apple. If you somehow thought the new iPhone 5 would escape the wrath that is the Apple v. Samsung patent war, prepare to be mistaken. A U.S. court filing uncovered by Reuters reveals that “Samsung anticipates that it will file, in the near future, a motion to amend its infringement...

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Why Apple has missed the mark with iOS 6 Maps

Does iOS 6 have mapping problems? In common with everyone else, I spent Wednesday night attempting to DDoS Apple's servers by hammering them with update requests for all my iOS devices, plus all the applications, plus the odd Mac system update too. iOS 6 is, by and large, brilliant. I love shared Photo Streams. iMessage finally works how I expected it would....

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Does tech grant us more time away from work, or less?

Mobile technology has the capacity to liberate us from the punch clock, but instead, most of us elect to drag on our work days voluntarily. When is enough enough? Technology is supposed to make our lives easier right? It should be bringing us greater convenience and saving us time. Mobile devices allow us to be connected everywhere. We can keep in touch with...

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20 iOS 6 tips, tricks and secrets

iOS 6: all the tips and tricks you need Another year, another operating system for your iOS device. And boy, is this a sizeable upgrade. Depending on which generation of device you're rocking, this iteration offers everything from panoramic modes to Facebook calendars and even shareable Photo Streams. So here are 20 quick-fire tips for exploring some...

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Xiaomi sells 300,000 Mi-One S phones in 4 minutes 12 seconds

We thought it was impressive when 200,000 Xiaomi Mi-One S phones sold in just 30 minutes. The company just tweeted that a batch of 300,000 of Mi-One S phones has been sold-out in 4 minutes and 12 seconds. The company is selling phones in batches, so there are bursts of huge sales in between periods of inactivity. The Mi-One S is an updated version of Xiaomi's first phone...

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