12-05-22 -

New Pixel Features Drop Today
Google has released another "feature drop" software update for its Pixel phones. The update includes several major, previously-announced features, such as free VPN service, Clear Calling, and automatic multi-person transcription in the R...

12-05-22 -

Verizon C-Band Deployment Ahead of Schedule
Verizon has reached "its goal of reaching 175 million people covered by the end of 2022, a month ahead of schedule" in its deployment of 5G in new C-Band (mid-band) radio spectrum. Verizon is also expanding capacity in many deployed mark...

12-02-22 -

Google Starts Testing Encrypted RCS Group Chats in Messages
Google's open beta version of Messages will soon gain the ability to participate in group chats that are end-to-end (E2E) encrypted via RCS, the industry standard for enhanced messaging. E2E encryption is already available for one-on-one conversat...

12-02-22 -

Motorola Brings High-End Edge 30 Fusion to US
Motorola's edge 30 fusion — a model that would normally only be sold in other parts of the world — will come to the US as an unlocked phone compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile. This special edition will come in Pantone's just-announced Colo...

12-01-22 -

Car Key Sharing Coming to Android
Google Pixel phones now have the ability to share digital car keys via messaging, including with iPhones. Select other phones with Android 12 or later will also get the feature soon.

11-30-22 -

Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is Corning's Toughest Display Glass Yet
Corning, a leader in specialty glass for phone surfaces, has announced Gorilla Glass Victus 2, its toughest glass yet. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is more shatter-resistant than the original Gorilla Glass Victus, able to survive "drops of up to on...

11-29-22 -

Bullitt to Launch Phone with 2-Way Satellite Messaging
Early next year, Bullitt will launch a phone in the US with 2-way messaging directly to satellites. Bullitt currently sells phones under the CAT brand, as well as a select Motorola-branded models. The new phone will be the first to use the MediaTe...

11-28-22 -

Google Messages Will Let You React with Any Emoji
Google is quietly rolling out an update to Messages that lets users react to individual messages with any emoji, instead of just the usual seven. When long-pressing on a message, the usual seven reactions are still offered, along with a new "...

11-28-22 -

FCC Will No Longer Authorize Communications Equipment from Huawei, ZTE
The FCC has just adopted an even stricter stance against communications equipment from Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE, implementing a more complete ban. The US government has already taken a number of steps to constrain Chinese telecom e...

11-28-22 -

TSMC to Make 3nm Chips in US
TSMC, the Taiwan-based manufacturer of the world's most advanced chips, will bring its newest, most advanced chip production to US soil. The company had already announced plans for a 5-nanometer chip plant in Arizona. (The most advanced chips in A...

11-17-22 -

Verizon Offers Free 30-Day Test Drive
Verizon will now let prospective customers try out its network for free for up to 30 days using eSIM as a second line on their compatible existing phone. T-Mobile launched a similar service a year and a half ago. By activating as a second line, us...

11-17-22 -

Sonim's Next Ultra-Rugged Smartphone is Almost Here
Sonim today announced the impending launch of their newest rugged smartphone, the XP10. The XP10 replaces the XP8, adding 5G but in a lighter and "sleeker" design. The phone will launch "with major carriers in the coming weeks"...

11-16-22 -

Qualcomm's New Chips for Earbuds Include Dynamic Head Tracking
Qualcomm has unveiled the Qualcomm S5 and S3 Gen 2 sound platforms, chips intended to power a range of Bluetooth audio products, including high-end and mid-range earbuds, as well as Bluetooth speakers. The big new feature is Dynamic Head Tracking ...

11-16-22 -

Verizon Working on a Phone-to-Satellite Solution
In an interview with Phone Scoop, Brian Mecum, Verizon VP of Device Technology said "satellite is a very interesting space to us", when asked if Verizon planned an answer to T-Mobile's partnership with SpaceX for satellite connectivity. ...

11-15-22 -

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Redefines AI in Flagship Phones
Qualcomm has announced its newest top-end chip, intended to power most flagship-level Android phones in 2023. As expected, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful and power-efficient across the board (compared to Gen 1), but the most impressive im...

11-15-22 -

Apple Launches Satellite SOS Service
Apple's new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is now available to use in the US and Canada. The feature is exclusive to the new iPhone 14 series. It enables short messages to be sent to local emergency dispatchers where and when cellular and Wi-...

11-14-22 -

November Security Patch Fixes Major Security Hole in Pixel Phones
Google has fixed a serious bug that allowed anyone with physical access to a Pixel phone to bypass the lock screen and access the home screen and all phone data. The exploit required only an extra SIM card to which the attacker knows the PUK (reco...

11-14-22 -

T-Mobile Lights up 5G SA in Mid-Band
T-Mobile has launched 5G SA (stand-alone) technology in its mid-band spectrum (primarily band 41) nationwide. This step not only moves to a more modern network with lower latency, but will enable 5G CA (carrier aggregation) of 3 frequency bands of...

11-08-22 -

MediaTek Continues Chasing Flagship Phones with New Chip
MediaTek's new Dimensity 9200 chip will power new high-end phones coming by the end of this year. The SoC (system-on-chip) includes a 5G modem that supports both sub-6 and mmWave, as well as AI for faster network searching. The 9200 is "the f...

10-31-22 -

Charter Launches Spectrum One Mobile Bundle
Charter has launched a new home internet + mobile service bundle with low introductory pricing. As with Comcast's Xfinity Mobile service, the mobile offering is exclusive to customers who also subscribe to the company's home internet service. For ...

10-28-22 -

Samsung Updates Advanced Camera Apps, Intros New Privacy Feature
Samsung is rolling out new versions of its advanced camera apps for the Galaxy S22 phones, as well as a new feature to protect user's data when select Galaxy devices are handed over for repair. The Expert Raw camera app gains two new "Special...

10-25-22 -

Motorola Offers Deep Phone Discounts for Halloween
Motorola is offering deep discounts on its newest unlocked phones, with three models at least 40% off. The Moto g stylus 5G is now just $200, 1/2 off; the Moto g power is now just $130, almost 50% off; and the flagship edge+ is down to $600, a $40...

10-24-22 -

OnePlus Nord N300 Coming to T-Mobile Next Week
OnePlus has formally announced the OnePlus Nord N300 5G, its newest affordable 5G phone for T-Mobile and Metro. Starting at $228, it includes 33-watt fast charging, 90 Hz display refresh, and a 48 megapixel main camera. The N300 is powered by a Me...

10-21-22 -

Google Messages Gains 2-Way Reactions with iPhones
Google has announced a variety of new features for Messages, its messaging app for Android based on the RCS industry standard. In addition to correctly displaying certain emoji reactions from iPhone users over SMS, Messages will now let you send...

10-21-22 -

Cricket Doubles Down on White-Label Phones
Cricket has started selling two new Cricket-branded phones: the Cricket Icon 4 and Cricket Innovate E 5G. While Cricket has offered many such white-label phones in the recent years, these additions bring the number of own-brand phones the company ...

10-20-22 -

Verizon Reshuffles Prepaid Plans, Adds Value
Verizon Prepaid has revamped its prepaid plans to offer more for less, with restructured payment discounts. The cheapest plan, offering 5 GB of data for as little as $25 (after discounts), has been eliminated. The base rate for the remaining plans...

10-20-22 -

Verizon Launches Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
Verizon is now offering the "enterprise-ready" Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro to business customers for as little as $50. The full price is $600, but a two-year agreement brings that down to $300, and an instant discount (available through t...

10-20-22 -

Hands On with Xplora Kids Smartwatches
A really important segment of the mobile market is devices for young kids. Mobile technology provides communication and safety features that feel essential, but how young is too young for a phone? That's where kids' smartwatches come in. They have...

10-18-22 -

Hands On with the TCL 30 5G
TCL continues to build out its lineup of affordable 5G phones with this new model that might come to T-Mobile later this year. While the TCL 30 XE 5G was truly entry-level, this model is a notable step up, with specs closer to the 30 V 5G that the...

10-18-22 -

Google Overhauls Android's Parental Controls
Google is revamping Family Link, the system-wide parental controls for a child's Android device. The biggest new feature is the ability to create temporary "Today Only" screen-time settings that override the usual daily settings. Another...

10-14-22 -

Samsung Reveals One UI 5
Samsung has revealed the design and key features One UI 5, the company's own spin on Android for its Galaxy phones. Besides a design refresh (including an iOS-like lock screen), several key features have been added. Bixby Text Call lets you partic...

10-14-22 -

Hands On with the SoundCore Liberty 4 earbuds
Anker SoundCore has a new pair of feature-packed earbuds on offer. The Liberty 4 have everything you'd expect: ANC, pass-through modes, hi-res audio, personal tuning, and a wireless charging case. They also have Spatial Audio and heart rate tracki...

10-13-22 -

OnePlus Teases Nord N300, Coming to US Next Month
OnePlus is dribbling out details of its next affordable phone for the US: the OnePlus Nord N300. The phone will include 33-watt fast charging, a MediaTek processor, and 90 Hz display refresh.

10-13-22 -

USB Simplifies Branding of Data Speeds, Charging Wattage
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has announced new branding guidelines for the various supported data speeds and charging ability of USB cables and devices. Instead of version numbers and brands like SuperSpeed, the USB-IF now wants manufacture...

10-12-22 -

Google Starts Rolling Out Passkey Support on Android
Google has started rolling out support for passkeys for web sites in Android and the Chrome browser. Passkeys are a more-secure and easier-to-use replacement for passwords. Passkeys are stored on your device and securely synced with the cloud. Cre...

10-06-22 -

Google's Pixel Watch is Here
Google has revealed its first own-brand smartwatch, which is partially a product of its acquisition of Fitbit. In today's launch event, Google emphasized the quality and accuracy of its all-day continuous heart rate tracking. The watch has a round...

10-06-22 -

Google Pixel 7 Series Tweaks Size, Adds Pro Cameras
Google has revealed the full details of its new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro flagship phones. The new Pixel 7 is smaller, while the larger Pixel 7 Pro has a much more advanced camera system than any previous Pixel phone. An evolved design features a 10...

10-04-22 -

Google Revamps Home App
Google is revamping its Home app for smart homes to focus on customization, and announcing future updates that will add even more customization as well as more powerful automation. The new app — available for preview in the coming weeks — op...

10-03-22 -

Anker Soundcore Debuts New Earbuds, Including Specialty Models
Anker's Soundcore brand has three new models of true wireless earbuds, including the feature-packed Liberty 4 as well as models tailored for sleep and gaming. The Liberty 4 have a stick design similar to the Liberty Air 2 Pro or AirPods, but inc...

09-29-22 -

AT&T Opens Network to Everyone in Florida
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, AT&T will allow customers of other carriers to roam on its network in Florida for free, "even if their carrier's service isn't available after the storm."

09-29-22 -

Google Frags Stadia
Google will shut down its Stadia cloud gaming service on January 18th, 2023. The service launched in 2019, offering high-quality gaming streamed over the internet to any Chrome-capable device, including Android phones. Google will offer full refun...

09-29-22 -

Square Launches Tap to Pay on iPhone
The Square Point of Sale app now fully supports Tap to Pay on iPhone, allowing any iPhone (11 or newer) to act as a payment terminal able to accept NFC (tap) payments without any additional hardware. Previously, merchants needed a separate hardwar...

09-29-22 -

Google Maps Putting Search Results in AR Live View
Google has announced an update to the Google Maps app with several interesting new features. The augmented-reality Live View feature now works in a search mode to find and show you specific places nearby, instead of just overlaying walking directi...

09-28-22 -

Xplora Expands Lineup of Kids Smartwatches for US
Xplora has a new lineup of connected watches for kids ages 4–11, spanning prices from $150 to $249. Xplora watches include a camera — so kids can check in with parents visually — as well as a connected step counter with reward-point system...

09-27-22 -

FCC Proposes Crackdown on Spam Texts
The FCC today issued proposals for new rules to fight scam text messages and other robotexts. The FCC wants to apply "caller ID authentication standards to text messaging". Mobile wireless providers would be required to "to block te...

09-23-22 -

T-Mobile Adds United to Free In-flight Wi-Fi Perk
Eligible T-Mobile customers receive free in-flight Wi-Fi — including streaming — on American, Delta, Alaska, and now United, for the whole duration of the flight. The perk applies to domestic and short-haul international flights. On United, i...

09-22-22 -

iOS 16.0.2 Fixes Major Bugs
Apple released iOS 16.0.2 today. It fixes two high-profile bugs: one that cause the camera to loudly "vibrate and cause blurry photos" when using third-party apps on iPhone 14 Pro models, and another that caused excessive security prompt...

09-22-22 -

Samsung Brings Galaxy XCover6 Pro to US Businesses
Samsung will bring its newest rugged phone for enterprise customers — the Galaxy XCover6 Pro — to the US next month. The XCover6 Pro replaces the original XCover Pro, which launched with AT&T in late 2020. The XCover6 Pro has a wide range ...

09-21-22 -

Total Wireless Relaunches as Total by Verizon
Verizon today launched Total by Verizon, a relaunch of Total Wireless, a brand of TracFone, which is now owned by Verizon. Total by Verizon is "created to serve the upper end of the prepaid market: value-conscious consumers who want speed and...

09-12-22 -

iOS 16 Available Now
Apple has released the final version of iOS 16 as free update for iPhone 8 and newer. The new software has many new features, the most obvious of which is a completely new, customizable lock screen.