smartphones - News, Features, and Slideshows

Features

• Intel vs. ARM: Two titans' tangled fate

  Intel has barely made a dent in the mobile market, while ARM has been wildly successful. Does that spell doom for Intel -- or is ARM's triumph overblown?

• Nokia's X phone line: What will Microsoft do with it?

  Will Microsoft hold on to Nokia's three new X phones on Android once the deal to buy Nokia is final in the coming weeks? Three analysts attending the Mobile World Congress gave three different perspectives.

• 5 changes we want to see in Samsung's Galaxy S5

  Korean electronics giant Samsung is expected to unveil the next version of its popular Galaxy S series smartphone, the GS5, next Monday at media events in Barcelona and New York City.

• Sony seeks mobile rebirth, starting with Core sensor used in wearable tech

  Now that Sony plans to sell off its Vaio laptop business and convert its TV business into a subsidiary, the Japanese electronics giant appears poised to beef up its line of mobile products, including smartphones and tablets -- but especially wearable tech.

• Google and Samsung grow cozier with patent deal, Motorola sale

  Google and Samsung have grown closer over the past week following Google's sale of Motorola to Lenovo and a 10-year global patent cross-license agreement signed by the tech giants.

• Lenovo-Motorola deal's impact on Apple? Zip

  Apple won't lose any sleep over the Lenovo acquisition of Google's Motorola handset business, analysts said today.

• With Motorola sold, Google can focus on robots, Glass and smart homes

  Now that Google has gotten rid of Motorola Mobility, the company can focus on its newest projects, like the smart home, wearable computers and robotics.

• With Motorola sale to Lenovo, Google is unloading a headache

  By selling Motorola Mobility to Lenovo, Google is ending a combination that never really worked out while keeping assets that could prove valuable down the road.

• Everyone bets on bigger iPhone for '14

  Virtually every analyst who follows Apple has jumped on the bigger iPhone bandwagon, asserting that the company will step into the quickly-growing large-screen market this year.

• 18 great uses for an old Android device

  We all love getting new gadgets, but what to do with the old ones? Here are 18 superb ways to put your old Android phone or tablet to good use.

• Smartwatches arrive before their time

  Smartwatches and other wearable computing devices are getting plenty of buzz at International CES this year, but it remains to be seen if, and when, the gadgets will achieve broader consumer interest.

• Voice calls from planes: A social debate, not a technology dilemma

  Making voice calls via cell phone aboard a plane doesn't hold much interest for U.S. airline passengers or airlines, but there isn't a technological reason to ban them, according to federal authorities.

• Perspective: The fate of Nokia's Android phone depends on Microsoft

  Analysts are pondering just what Microsoft might do with the Android-variant smartphone Nokia has under development: Keep it or kill it.

• Top tech stories of 2013: Big Brother, wearables, and the struggles of aging tech giants

  Politics collided with the world of technology this year as stories about U.S. government spying stirred angst both among the country's citizens and foreign governments, and the flawed HeathCare.gov site got American health-care reform off to a rocky start. Meanwhile, the post-PC era put aging tech giants under pressure to reinvent themselves. Here in no particular order are IDG News Service's picks for the top 10 tech stories of the year.

• How BYOD Puts Everyone at Legal Risk

  If your BYOD policy goes too far you may be prosecuted for unfair labor practices. However, courts expect you to produce all relevant data in discovery proceedings. Meanwhile, your employees may fear retaliation if they don't sign draconian BYOD policies. CIO.com talks to attorneys to better understand the legal side of BYOD.