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Android, iOS activations hit record on Christmas. Again

People unwrapping new smartphones with Google's Android and Apple's iOS as part of the Christmas holiday once again led to record activations and app downloads this year, says mobile analytics firm Flurry.

In a report issued today, Flurry says that the number of Android and iOS devices activated on Christmas Day jumped 353 percent over the number of activations from the first 20 days of December, and 140 percent from the same day last year.

All told, the firm says activations from both platforms came in at more than 6.8 million devices, up from the 1.5 … Read more

How to sell your old gadgets

Score some new gadgets this holiday season? Great! What happens to your old gadgets now?

Keeping up with the latest and greatest tech gadgets doesn't come cheap. To offset the cost of your new acquisition(s), consider selling your old gadgets. You might be surprised at the interest your old gadgets receive. Other benefits of selling your old gadgets include decluttering your home and keeping waste out of landfills.

Here are some tips on selling your used gadgets and what to do with them if you can't sell them:

Removing personal data from your gadgets Before you get … Read more

Best apps for iPad

If somebody was nice enough to get you an iPad for the holidays, make them proud by decking it out with all the best apps.

We've rounded up our favorites so you don't have to wade through hundreds of thousands of apps in the iTunes App Store.

There's no question that the iPad is a great entertainment device, but there's more to it than just games if you know which apps to get. In this collection of Best apps for iPad, we've got several categories of apps to choose from, including productivity, entertainment, social networking, … Read more

Best apps for iPhone

Did you get an iPhone or iPod Touch as a gift this holiday season?

Now that you've got your account set up, the first thing you'll want to do is check out some of the great apps in the iTunes App Store.

The question is, with more than 500,000 apps, which ones should you choose?

We rounded up our favorite apps across several categories so you can get started right away. In this collection of Best apps for iPhone, we've got everything from alternative browsers to the hottest games; they all have reviews you can read … Read more

WD TV Remote iPhone app: Mostly a hit

Owners of the WD TV Live Hub and WD TV Live Streaming box just got an early Christmas present from Western Digital.

Editors' note: This post was updated at 3 p.m. December 22, 2011, to add information that the Android version of the WD Remote app is also available.

The company released the latest firmware for the two players that adds a slew of improvements and support for a number of other streaming services, including Vudu, SnagFilms, and Flixster.

However, the biggest addition is the fact that, together with the new firmware, WD also released the much-anticipated WD TV remote app for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android devices. This app allows you to control the WD TV Live Hub or the WD TV Live Streaming via Wi-Fi signal on the same network they are connected to. … Read more

iMessages aren't secure when you lose your iOS device

When iOS 5 was released alongside the iPhone 4S earlier this fall, iMessage was introduced as a new, all-encompassing messaging service that would connect all iOS device users for free using their unique Apple IDs. iMessage, however, may have a critical downfall when it comes to securely erasing access if you lose your device.

Since Apple released the Find My iPhone app, users cruising out and about have had a backup plan to keep their minds at ease should they accidentally leave their iPhone at a bar or come across the misfortune of being robbed.

Find My iPhone allows you … Read more

What to do when your smartphone craps out before the contract ends

When you sign a new wireless contract and pay $200 for the latest smartphone, you expect that device to last at least until the end of your two-year contract. Right?

Unfortunately that's not the case for many smartphone subscribers. If your device has issues within the first year, consider yourself lucky since the repair is likely covered under the manufacturer warranty. But if it craps out 13 months into your contract, you may be screwed. Ask Maggie offers some advice for how to protect yourself. And in a second question, there's some advice for keeping an older iPhone … Read more

Customize iOS 5's Notification Center with Quickpick

I don't use the Notification Center that iOS 5 ushered in nearly as much as I thought I would when I first saw it. With the 99-cent Quickpick--The Universal iOS Launcher app, however, I am pulling down the Notification Center on my iPhone with greater frequency.

Really, the only things I've done with the Notification Center since its debut is delete the occasional alert and remove the stock ticker so I no longer have to watch prices scroll by for stocks I don't own. With Quickpick, however, I can call, text, and e-mail my favorite contacts with a swipe and a tap, and I can access commonly frequented apps and Web sites. The design of the app leaves a bit to be desired, but the added functionality it brings to the Notification Center is much appreciated.

Note: the Quickpick app disappeared from the App Store this morning. I'll add a link to its page in iTunes should it make a return.… Read more

Amazon Kindle Fire lights up mobile ad network

Amazon's Kindle Fire was one of the hottest devices tracked by ad network Millennial Media in November though it didn't debut until halfway through the month.

Millennial Media's November Mobile Mix report found that the number of ad impressions on the Fire grew at an average daily rate of 19 percent, slightly outshining the growth of the first iPad in early 2010.

"We're not just seeing millions of impressions, we're seeing a monthly run rate of hundreds of millions of impressions," said the report of the Fire.

The Kindle Fire is also facing … Read more

CNET Labscast 13: Onward to CES 2012, but first... (podcast)

We discuss our personal tech hits and misses of 2011; what we loved, hated and was overrated. Also, Scott and Ty weigh in on what will most likely be going on at CES 2012; the who, the what, and the why.

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