Amazon is giving its voice-enabled Echo speaker a touch screen and video-calling capabilities as it competes with Google’s efforts at bringing “smarts” to the home. The 7-inch screen on the new Echo Show enables the speaker to supplement voice responses with visuals and other information displays, similar to the Echo-like features on the Fire tablets and […]
Some Cling to Landlines, But Cell-Only Homes Now Dominate
NEW YORK (AP) — Deborah Braswell, a university administrator in Alabama, is a member of a dwindling group — people with a landline phone at home. According to a U.S. government study released Thursday, 50.8 percent of homes and apartments had only cellphone service in the latter half of 2016, the first time such households […]
Galaxy S8: More Screen and Elegance, but a Hefty Price Tag
Samsung’s new Galaxy S8 phone is stunning. But its $100 price hike is hard to swallow. That’s how much extra you’ll shell out for the S8, which starts shipping Friday for about $750 – $100 more than the iPhone 7 and last year’s Galaxy S7 when it launched. A larger sibling, the S8 Plus, goes […]
Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Phone Aims to Dispel the Note 7 Debacle
Samsung seems to be playing it safe -at least with its battery – as it unveils its first major smartphone since the embarrassing recall of its fire-prone Note 7. The Galaxy S8 will come in two sizes, both bigger than comparable models from last year. To maximize display space, there’s no more physical home button. […]
Samsung Delays Its New Phone, and Showcases Tablets Instead
Samsung’s product showcase Sunday is notable for what’s missing: a new flagship phone. Instead, Samsung is spotlighting new Android and Windows tablets after delaying the Galaxy S8 smartphone – an indirect casualty of the unprecedented September recall of the fire-prone Note 7 phone . The new tablets will carry the Galaxy brand and come with many of […]
AP Explains: How Amazon Echo Listens and What It Stores
Can Amazon’s Echo speaker really be a witness to a murder? Authorities investigating the death of an Arkansas man found floating face-up in a hot tub believe that Amazon might have some evidence, given how Echo listens for commands and questions and communicates with Amazon’s servers to respond. Details are scant. Here’s what’s known: ___ HOW ECHO […]
Windows 10 To Bring 3-D To Two-Dimensional Experiences
Microsoft wants to bring life to common computing experiences by adding a third dimension to widely used software such as Windows and Office. The new tools, part of a free “Creators Update” to Windows 10 early next year, promise to make it easy for people to create and share photos, drawings and other images in […]
Android’s Nougat Update Isn’t Flashy, but Still Pretty Handy
Nougat, Google’s latest update of its Android smartphone software, isn’t particularly flashy; you might not even notice what’s different about it at first. But it offers a number of practical time-saving features, plus a few that could save money – and perhaps even your life. You’ll be able to switch between apps more easily and […]
6 Key Things to Know About Apple’s New iOS 10 Software
Your iPhone will look and feel different with the iOS 10 software update. It will be easier to move around and do more without switching apps, but the changes will take getting used to. The changes are the most dramatic since 2013, when Apple redesigned icons and introduced functions with swipes from various edges. Now, […]
NFL Games Are All Going Online, But Watching Won’t Be Easy
For the first time, every single NFL game will be streamed live this season. But watching them all won’t be easy. In general, it’s great that the NFL and its television networks are finally taking this step. Last year, most games televised on CBS weren’t streamed at all. Things are much simpler this season: All […]