TECHNOLOGY

Hugo Barra former Google vice president for Android product management has been hired by Up-and-coming Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi to lead its expansion worldwide. Barra has been with Google since 2008 and with the Android team since 2010.

The iPhone 5S release date is highly anticipated in September. Rumours on specs, price and other speculations have been reported by various tech sites and blogs. Some of these ideas are quite prevalent, even convincing. But phone buyers are advised to take everything in with a grain of salt, as usual.

According to media reports, Vodafone will put an end to its Network 3. Disconnecting the network translates into a stoppage of service for customers on the network. They will not be able to browse the net using their Vodafone number unless they move to another service provider within six months. The same holds true for receiving calls, texts or sending text messages.

It is a major piece of legislation and could change the way we know software. It is a move that is expected to improve the system and drive further innovation. The New Zealand parliament on Thursday passed legislation that bans software patents. The motion was passed by a 117 to four vote and followed five long years of parliamentary debate. However, the legislation will only affect new patent applications. It means that existing software patents in New Zealand will continue to remain in force.

This early, political pundits in the Philippines are predicting that Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion pork barrel scam, will join the Wheelchair Club of the Philippines. The more prominent members of the group are former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ex-Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Pope Francis made on Saturday the most significant appointment in the Roman Catholic Church since he became pontiff in March 2013. However, the appointment of Archbishop Pietro Parolin as new Vatican Secretary of State was upstaged by the publication of the papal selfie.

The second half of 2013 is shaping up as one of the most interesting gadget periods of all time. Within the timeframe, two major release dates will happen – that of the iPhone 5S and the Google Nexus 5.

More evidence now suggests that the release date of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C will be on Sept 20. The consistent leaks of both the phones have filled the Apple fans with anticipation. Mobile carriers and retailers in the U.S seem to be preparing for the big launch.

LG briefly teased the tablet market when it released the Optimus Tab. The tablet series ran on Android 3.0 Honeycomb. However, it did not create as much impact. Despite the first setback, LG is not planning on stopping their venture into the sector. The company just recently hinted it will be releasing the G Pad 8.3.

The countdown for the much-awaited iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 release date starts ticking as Apple and its retail partners begin the final push to clear out existing iPhone inventories through promo deals, highlighted by the $98 iPhone 5 at Walmart.

As the D-Day for the launch of the new iPhones draws closer, more trade-in offers emerge. Many stores offer to upgrade the iPhone 4 and 4S to the newer iPhone 5. Customers will have to make a choice of either trading in their old smart phones for the new ones or hang on to them till the rumoured Sept 10 launch.

A new app for the iOS devices called “Parallels Access” allows users to control their Windows or Mac PC applications remotely. The app allows the users to stream videos, access business applications and play games installed on their PC.

Release date for the Google Nexus 7 with LTE connectivity is reportedly set for September 2013 with Japan and Italy likely getting the vanilla Android tablet first, giving more teeth on Google’s efforts to upend the iPad Mini dominance.

Smartphones can access Internet through mobile data connection, but data plans can be very expensive and it is very easy to hit your limit. Check out the 12 ways to trick your Android device into using less data.

University students need laptops like they need food. Most of the time, they rely on their notebook to study for exams, complete assignments, research and even socialize. With the number of notebook products around it can be confusing to find the right device. Nonetheless, big names like Apple, Lenovo and Dell should make it easier.

The sustained success of iPhone and Galaxy smartphone releases in the past years is anchored on the lifestyle they represent, a new report said, which surprisingly remains a mystery to other mobile device makers.

“Small is Beautiful,” a concept made popular in the earl 1970s is still relevant today. Users feel that a big and bulky tablet is not convenient to carry everywhere. Many of the manufacturers have launched tablets with 7 to 8 inch screens to cater to this need of the consumers. Both the iPad mini and the Nexus 7 fall in this category. It is a difficult choice for many consumers to choose between the two.

South Korean tech giant Samsung is rumoured to release a cheaper version of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Kindle Fire HD 7” may attract more cheap Android tablet shoppers now that Amazon has dropped its 16GB price tag from $199 to $159.

Sony comes back to the market strong proving it can also compete with the top runners in the tablet market today. Their product, the Sony Xperia Z, has gathered positive reviews both in design and interface. Not only is the tablet elegantly designed, it is also water-resistant and easy to carry around. Around the same time, Korean tech giant Samsung has also released their 10.1 Galaxy Tab 3. Which is the better option?

Motorola submitted an application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office for an electronic device designed to enfold about an appendage of user. This wearable device can do gaze detection, touch screen and has a dual display system.

Growth prospects for the global tablet market are deeply connected with the iPad Mini 2 and iPad 5 release dates and the absence of which could further slow down the projected shipments by the end of 2013, a new report said.

Check out some of the scratch tests and sneak peeks conducted for the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C.

4J Studios teases a possible trailer for the mash-up pack of Minecraft Xbox 360 TU 12. Three new mods are now available for download to make the game even harder than usual.

PS4 is gearing up for a more aggressive time with games via exclusive content and titles, while Microsoft seems to be foreseeing another delay in delivering one of the features of the voice commands for the Xbox One.

Google Nexus 5 release date is expected to happen anytime soon due to the different clues that signal the imminent launch of the device.

Here are the top gaming apps for your Android devices: The Last Express, Asphalt 8: Airborne, Contra: Evolution, M.A.C.E., and Gurk III, the 8-bit RPG.

The already frenzied preparation for the Sept 20 iPhone 5S release date gets a bit more exciting as U.S. retail giant Best Buy ramped up efforts to sweep out as much as iPhone 5 stocks just a few weeks before the anticipated D-Day.

Check out the official trailer for GTA 5 plus first information on the new hierarchy system for the social club. The new Injustice: Gods Among Us mobile challenge has also been announced featuring a Deathstroke Gold card. And those who want a harder gaming experience with Wind Waker HD can go with Hero Mode.