Tablets

LG to expand retail stores in emerging markets, WSJ says

Samsung's not the only Korean electronics company expanding its retail footprint. LG also plans to open more stores this year, according to a news report.

LG intends to increase the number of its retail stores in emerging markets to boost its market share in smartphones and build a bigger reach for its consumer electronics, according to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required). The publication, citing LG Global Marketing Officer Ki Wan Kim, said the company plans to grow the number of LG-branded shops by as much as 20 percent above the current level of more than 3,000 stores. … Read more

AT&T partners with Scanbuy for mobile bar code services

AT&T is making it easier for businesses to launch new mobile marketing campaigns using QR code technology.

The telecom giant is partnering with Scanbuy to allow businesses to create campaigns that can trigger actions such as linking to a video or generating an e-mail, as well as help expand brand awareness using designer QR codes. AT&T Mobile Barcode Services also will enable businesses to give consumers access to product information, promotions, coupons, and other items after the consumers scan a bar code.

"AT&T Mobile Barcode Services can help a business to execute, monitor, … Read more

ITC says Samsung text-selection feature infringes Apple patent

A U.S. trade agency judge has decided the text-selection feature Samsung has on its mobile devices infringes an Apple patent. If upheld, the ruling could stop Samsung from sending devices to the United States.

The International Trade Commission judge also decided that Samsung did not infringe on the Apple patent that covers how a device detects if a microphone or other device is plugged in to its microphone jack, Reuters reported.

If the commission agrees with the judge on the text-selection issue, the ITC can stop Samsung from importing the several infringing products, including the Galaxy, Transform, and Nexus … Read more

Nokia brings Music app to Windows 8, RT

Nokia today launched its music app for Windows 8 and RT tablets and PCs, extending the Finnish handset maker's reach in the mobile market.

The free music streaming app, Nokia Music, first appeared on Nokia Lumia smartphones, and Nokia in January enhanced the service to include a premium version, dubbed Nokia Music+, for a monthly subscription fee of $3.99. With both, users are able to create their own mixes or stream from playlists curated by Nokia's team and artists. Mixes also can be saved for offline playback. The premium version gives users unlimited skips and unlimited downloads.… Read more

Facebook wrestles Google for control of your phone

Facebook doesn't want anything to come between you and your friends, not even Google or Android.

Facebook today unveiled a new downloadable user interface that takes over your smartphone's home screen, lock screen, and wallpaper. Instead of the regular Android features, you're treated to a slideshow of updates, photos, and shared links.

Facebook wants to take direct control of its user base, and it's going about it in a smart way. Home, which will be available for download on April 12 on select Android phones, isn't a new phone or operating system, or even a … Read more

Facebook touts Home's benefits for developers

Facebook launched Home to put a user's friends at the center of the phone. But for developers, it means a new way to help people discover their apps and reengage with existing users, the company said.

Facebook today launched Home, a family of apps and a skin that runs over Android. The company said users will be able to download the user interface in the Google Play store, and that links would be found in its Facebook and messenger apps. Facebook said that there would be monthly updates to add features and broader availability, and it also will expand … Read more

Facebook's Zuckerberg: Home is actually good for Android

Facebook's new Home family of apps might seem like a threat to Google, but Facebook says that actually the opposite is true.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, speaking during an event today in Menlo Park, Calif., said that "this is really good for Android."

"Most app developers put most of their efforts on iPhones," he said. "In a way this can start to bring some of these high quality experiences to Android and that could be good for Android."

He added that while there are not yet ads on Home, there will be, … Read more

Facebook launches Chat Heads for staying in touch with friends

Facebook today unveiled its new Chat Head feature for Android devices, giving users a way to stay in constant contact with friends, no matter what they're doing on their mobile devices.

Whenever someone messages you either through text or chat messaging, a small photo of the person will pop up at the top of your screen. It will initially show a brief preview so you know what the message is about. While the preview will go away, the Chat Head image will remain on the top of the screen, no matter what app you access or what else you … Read more

Apple aims to outdo Google's Street View

Apple may be eyeing its own "Street View" type navigation system and one that offers a key benefit over Google's version.

Published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple's "3D Position Tracking for Panoramic Imagery Navigation" patent filing describes a navigation technology that looks and works like Street View. The system would display a panoramic image of a certain location on your mobile device, allowing you to virtually move around the area.

Google's Street View forces you to swipe your finger or tap on a direction icon to journey along … Read more

Get a refurbished Kindle Fire tablet for $69.99

Just yesterday I told you about Ematic's new 7-inch Android tablet, which goes on sale next month for $79.99. If you can't wait, or prefer to stick with a name brand, today's your lucky day.

While supplies last (and I guarantee you they won't last long), CNET has this exclusive deal: the refurbished Amazon Kindle Fire (first gen) tablet for $69.99 (plus sales tax) when you use coupon code CNETFIRE at checkout. There's no shipping charge because the seller is Best Buy, and you'll need to visit your closest store to pick … Read more