Owners of all versions of the Nexus 7, the Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 -- though they have to be "actively AOSP-supported Nexus devices" -- can get a taste of KitKat done the CyanogenMod-way. Today, the team has released a "Milestone 1" version of CyanogenMod 11, instead of going the old, regular, nightlies-way. This is possible, as the team puts it, because "the AOSP-supported Nexus devices should have minimal to no device specific issues (as their hardware code comes mostly from Google)". Devices have been tested and bugs, should there be any, will most likely refer to the changes ...

Samsung has not been showing a ton of enthusiasm for Windows Phone 8, and after launch of the ATIV S, all it managed to come out with in 2013 was the largely similar ATIV S Neo. All along, we've been wondering if the company would every try stepping up its WP game, but so far we haven't been able to confirm work on any new models. Today we get a look at a model number that sure seems to be an upcoming WP8 phone, Samsung's SM-W750V. The number shows up in those Indian import records we love so much, showing a shipment of the SM-W750V coming into the country from South Korea for “testing ...

It has been entirely too long since we got a fresh look at some Nokia Lumia 929 hardware. The phone's been taking its sweet time in getting here, and after missing all the projected November launch dates, we're really hoping it finally shows up sometime this month. We've been picking up bits and pieces of new info – like that recent rumor that the phone's codename may be Icon – but it's been nearly a month since we had any new imagery of the handset to gawk over. As we wait for word of the 929's availability, we've got a few new pics to check out today. Somehow this 929 for Verizon ...

Google would really love it if you were using Google+, and this year it's really been stepping up its effort to lure users to its platform. That's led to it making some decisions we found pretty questionable, like instead of giving users the ability to apply more photo filters at an app level, instead demanded they upload their pics to Google+ in order to take advantage of the company's impressive “Auto Awesome” processing. The idea of an emphasis on services rather than software is no more appealing to us now than it was then, but our hearts are at least softened for the moment as we ...

Shopping for a new smartphone service plan can be one of the least pleasant activities you'll have to put up with. The more and more you look around, and the more options you consider, the clearer it becomes that no matter what you do, you're still going to get screwed a little bit. One big reason for that has to do with smartphone subsidies, and the problem carriers created by building the cost of those subsidies into their most popular service plans. Sure, we've seen carriers like T-Mobile try to re-imagine a more fair way for this to work, but that's been the exception. The tide may be ...

Google Search has really grown from a low-key way to conduct regular web searches through a convenient app interface into a core component of the Android experience, using voice search and Google Now to deliver some really impressive results. Google's always working to add little improvements to the types of listings you'll see, and today we learn of a couple new changes designed to both help with app discovery and let you make better use of the apps you have. For starters, Google Search will now display results including app listings from the Play Store. We're pleased to see this isn't ...

Bluetooth has been such an integral part of our phones for so long, that we often end up taking it for granted. Like WiFi support, it's one of those protocols that we just assume every smartphone's going to have. As a consequence, it's only something we really start thinking about when a new version with support for new features gets some attention – like we're seeing now with growing availability of devices capable of Bluetooth Low Energy operation. Today we learn just where Bluetooth is headed next, as the Bluetooth SIG reveals details concerning the new 4.1 spec. So, just what's new ...

Very soon, Nokia's smartphone business will become a part of Microsoft. The deal's been in the works for months now, with plans to finalize things in the early days of 2014. Recently, the process has led to us discussing the regulatory approval Microsoft and Nokia would need in order to move forward. On the US side, we just shared news with you earlier this week about the FTC giving the deal its blessing, leaving the issue of the European Union to give its own go-ahead. While we had heard rumors suggesting that EU approval was essentially assured, there still wasn't any official ruling on ...