Smartphone News

TV ad for 'world's thinnest phone' banned for objectifying women

The UK Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a TV advert for the "world's thinnest phone" should be banned for objectifying women owing to its strong usage of sexually suggestive scenes.

New Android malware spies on you even when phone is shut down

Security researchers have discovered a new form of malware attacking Android smartphones that allows hackers to control the device even if it appears completely shut down to the user.

Dramatic fall in phone theft as kill switches installed

Smartphone thefts have fallen dramatically in three major cities across the world after manufacturers began adding remote "kill switches" so users can disable stolen devices, according to reports.

Custom gold-backed, diamond-adorned iPhone 6 costs $3.5 million

A custom-made iPhone 6 produced by Goldgenie is available to buy now for $3.5 million, finished in 24 carat gold or platinum and with other prestigious options available, just in case your iPhone wasn't flashy enough already.

Mobile rewards platform Freecharge raises $80m in funding

Mobile transactions firm Freecharge has raised $80 million from new investors to help fuel its growth. The company enables users to get free rewards such as food or entertainment by simply paying phone bills through its mobile app.

Five different Samsung Galaxy S6 versions shown off in photo

A new promotional image leaked online has suggested that there could be as many as five distinct versions of Samsung's next-generation flagship handset, the Galaxy S6, including one equipped with the wrap-around Edge display from the Galaxy Note Edge.

Fears of Apple Watch prompt universities to ban watches in exams

A number of British universities have announced that they will be banning all watches from examination halls amid fears of possible cheating once smartwatches come into popularity, expected with the release of the Apple Watch next month.

New smartphone tech checks for HIV and Syphilis in 15 minutes

A new smartphone attachment developed by researchers at Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science can test for HIV and syphilis with just a pin prick of blood, in 15 minutes.

Apple report largest quarterly profit ever; 74.5m iPhone sales

The previous record was $15.9 billion as set by ExxonMobil in the second quarter of 2012. Apple's figure stands at over $2 billion more than this figure.

Smartphone app can measure DNA

A new microscope attachment, together with an specially designed computer application, allows smartphone users to take a closer look at fluorescently labeled DNA. The device is aimed at medical staff out in the field.

Smartphone use rewires your brain

With electronic gadgets now commonplace, new research suggests that smartphone users' thumbs are reshaping their brains.

Blackberry sees another sales fall

Toronto - Canadian smartphone manufacturer Blackberry has announced a larger-than-expected drop in revenue during the third quarter of 2014.

This is what a $6,000 smartphone looks like

If you think $700 sounds like an expensive price for a smartphone, imagine paying $6,000. That's how much the new 88 Tauri smartphone from Tonino Lamborghini costs (via Engadget).

Five things cleaner than your smartphone

Smartphone are known for carrying germs. However, did you know that there are five other common items that are “cleaner” than the cellular device? Digital Journal takes a look.

BMW buys 57,000 Windows Phones to replace ageing Symbian Nokias

German automobile manufacturer BMW is reported to be replacing all of the mobile phones that it gives to employees with brand new Windows Phones from Microsoft.

Op-Ed: How much further can smartphones go?

Memories still linger of the Tetris-style block phone I was given on my first day of secondary. A decade later, we all have phones that can do everything imaginable, such as scan fingerprints and monitor heart rate.

Op-Ed: Is Blackberry’s iPhone trade-in plan desperate or ingenious?

Blackberry is offering up to $600 to iPhone users to trade in their device to purchase the recently launched Blackberry Passport flagship in what appears to be a clever marketing but desperate strategy.

Chinese startup aims for 1000 times faster smartphone Internet connections

We still have a long way to go before we experience the next step after 4G LTE, but telecom companies are already hard at work developing faster, more efficient networks.

How flip phones could return in a big way

A decade ago, flip phones ruled the world. The Motorola Razr was the best-selling clamshell phone, selling more than 130 million units during its four-year run from 2003 to 2007, when the iPhone was introduced.

Taiwan chip designer produces low-priced smartphone

Smartphone chips manufactured by Taiwan’s MediaTek Inc. were mostly looked over by the big phone brands throughout the past decade.

The Prynt case turns your smartphone into an instant print camera

Over the years, smartphones are always upping the ante. Especially when it comes to how well the device takes the pictures. Luckily, companies such as Prynt are slowly realizing that.

What do consumers want from wearable tech?

Wearable and mobile technology has been steadily growing and companies like Apple, Sony and Google are rushing to bring out snazzy products. However, are these what consumers want? A new survey takes stock.

Man buys 99 iPhones to propose to girlfriend, gets rejected

A Chinese man went all out this week on his girlfriend, buying 99 iPhone 6 units and arranging them publicly in a heart shape before proposing to her. Unfortunately, the gesture didn't achieve its intended affect and she rejected him.

Making cellphone batteries last longer

As mobile and wearable tech becomes more commonplace and sophisticated, one of the frustrations that consumers face is a lack of battery power. But now physicists have come up with a new way to make more powerful cellphone batteries.

Chinese startup creates world's thinnest smartphone

The iPhone 6 looks chubby compared to this startup's new Android phone. China-based Oppo recently unveiled its new R5 smartphone, which is more than two millimeters thinner than Apple's iPhone 6.

This startup wants to make your smartphone's camera a lot better

While smartphone cameras have come a long way, most of them can't snap a completely clear photo while zoomed in on the subject. Startup DynaOptics is looking to change that.

What you need to know about on-demand home services

Three years ago, what did it take to hire a ride on Friday night? For many people, it involved an awkward, probably unanswered, phone call to a local taxi company or eyesight keen enough to spot a fare-free cabbie on the street.

Is your smartphone too big? There's a thumb for that

Do you have tiny hands and also own a huge phone? If you're having trouble reaching all the desired areas of your device, a Japanese company may have you covered.

Apple fans' tight pants are bending the iPhone 6 Plus

Apple's larger screen for the iPhone 6 models has come at the cost of rigidity, according to reports of users who have purchased the new flagship device and are noting the phone has bent while being carried in pant pockets.

Get Democracy is an app that can help you 'change' the world Special

Stamford - Jason Cohen is developing a new app, Get Democracy. The app tracks your legislators' voting record and promises to place US government oversight in your hands, the individual US citizen, forcing elected officials to be accountable to "you and only you."