smartphones - News, Features, and Slideshows

Features

• 10 years in tech: The crazy cellphone ideas of 2004

  A year is a long time in smartphone technology today, so remember if you can the changes that have taken place over the last decade.

• Gear VR may thrill gamers, but value to Samsung and business is unclear

  Samsung's announcement of the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge and especially the Gear VR virtual reality headset raised questions over whether the new devices can help correct the company's lackluster first half financials, which were partly blamed on slow Galaxy S 5 sales.

• Why Samsung needs to move beyond Android - and Google

  Samsung depends on Google's Android OS, but needs to find a way to differentiate itself from rivals who also use Android if it's to grow and thrive.

• With Android L, Google makes pitch for enterprise users

  Google will provide enterprise-focused security and management features to its entire Android showcase of mobile devices, including features reserved only for Samsung devices running Samsung security software called Knox, a Google executive announced during the Google I/O keynote address Wednesday.

• A closer look at the new technologies in Amazon's Fire smartphone

  Using the new technologies in its Fire smartphone, Amazon may eventually merge Google's new imaging technology with the Fire's Firefly and Dynamic Perception innovations to empower consumer buying further than before, an IDC analyst predicted.

• Amazon's Fire phone is 'Prime' example of customer first

  With its new Fire Phone, Amazon is primarily interested in connecting to its 250 million Amazon and Prime customers with a phone that makes it quick and easy to shop over the Web.

• Amazon's expected smartphone already faces skeptics

  If Amazon announces a smartphone on Wednesday, as is widely expected, it will face an avalanche of skeptics.

• Sprint-T-Mobile merger questions: Will regulators OK it? And, Legere as CEO?

  With reports out this week that Sprint and T-Mobile US are planning to announce a $32 billion merger this summer, two big questions linger: Would federal regulators approve the deal? And would T-Mobile CEO John Legere run the combined company?

• LG's new G3 smartphone: Simpler is better

  LG Electronics emphasized a simpler user experience during its unveiling of the new G3 smartphone that could prove to be a lot more than marketing noise.

• Google aims for purity with Android Silver

  If you haven't heard of Android Silver -- assuming it's real -- yet, it's because it's not been officially announced by Google.

• At Build, mobility gets a boost with universal Windows apps

  Microsoft's announcement of universal Windows apps demonstrates the company's commitment to improving its share of the tablet and smartphone markets.

• Global Mobile Data Traffic to Surpass 15 Exabytes Per Month by 2018

  A recent report from Cisco predicts that global mobile data traffic, which hit 1.5 exabytes per month in 2013, will be 10 times as high by the end of 2018. Smartphones will drive the bulk of this traffic growth, but the Internet of Things will also play a role.

• HTC One M8 called a good looker and genuine rival to the Galaxy S5

  HTC announced its One M8 smartphone on Tuesday, boasting its premium styling and asserting that it offers the world's best innovations. Those include a dual rear camera for adding depth to photos and a battery with 40% longer life than last year's HTC One M7.

• Smartphone innovation is slowing, so what's next?

  In the last year or so, there has been a noticeable slowdown in innovations in new smartphones -- with both hardware and software. The next direction seems to be making the smartphone the hub for connecting technologies int eh Internet of Things scenario.

• Trust issue looms large for tech companies capitalizing on personal data

  As tech companies increasingly rely on analyzing and selling user data to boost revenue, trust is emerging as one of the defining issues of the year for the IT sector.