smartphones

Both Google and Samsung are rolling out new processes to issue security updates for Android devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

Under Pressure, Google Promises To Update Android Security Regularly

7:33pm August 05, 2015

by Aarti Shahani

Google recently came under sharp criticism after researchers found a major flaw in Android would let hackers take over smartphones. Now it's launching a new system to protect phones regularly.

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A security gap on Android, the most popular smartphone operating system, was discovered by security experts in a lab and is so far not widely exploited.

Economy

Major Flaw In Android Phones Would Let Hackers In With Just A Text

2:01pm July 29, 2015

by Aarti Shahani

A security gap on the most popular smartphone operating system was discovered by security experts in a lab and is so far not widely exploited. It would let malicious code take over a phone instantly.

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Google's upcoming "now on tap" feature will let smartphone users ask a question within an app like Spotify.

How Personal Should A Personal Assistant Get? Google And Apple Disagree

10:04am July 09, 2015

by Aarti Shahani

When you're buying a smartphone, chances are you don't dig too deeply into the personal assistant. Google aims to change that — and in the process, it's testing our appetite for privacy in a big way.

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A woman on a street in Seoul checks her cellphone. The government is ramping up efforts to control an outbreak of the Middle East respiratory syndrome by monitoring the smartphones of those under quarantine.

Creepy Or Comforting? South Korea Tracks Smartphones To Curb MERS

9:53pm June 14, 2015

by Elise Hu

The government is trying to strike a balance between doing too little and doing too much to stop an outbreak of the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome. But has it stepped over a line?

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National

The Hidden FM Radio Inside Your Pocket, And Why You Can't Use It

8:01am April 17, 2015

by Emma Bowman

Most smartphones have a built-in FM chip. But whether or not it's activated is in the hands of the mobile carriers, who profit when you stream radio. The broadcast industry is pushing to change this.

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Students use tablets in a classroom in Mae Chan, a remote town in Thailand's northern province.

The 50 Most Effective Ways To Transform The Developing World

12:15pm February 15, 2015

by NPR Staff

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has pinpointed the tools with the greatest impact, from affordable tablets for schoolkids to an electrical grid in a box.

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Pick Up Your Smartphone Less Often. You Might Think Better.

7:51pm February 09, 2015

by Serri Graslie

Our friends at the WNYC podcast New Tech City recently challenged you to put down the smartphone to see what sort of brilliance beckoned. We check in on the results.

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Want To Perk Up Your Love Life? Put Away That Smartphone

1:06am February 05, 2015

by Alison Bruzek

Sure, you just wanted to take a peek at Facebook. But that can chill a relationship, especially if you and your love aren't on the same page about when it's OK to use technology.

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Bored ... And Brilliant? A Challenge To Disconnect From Your Phone

3:14pm February 02, 2015

by NPR Staff

Studies suggest we get our most original ideas when we stop the constant stimulation and let ourselves get bored. The podcast New Tech City is challenging you to disconnect — and see what happens.

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Visitors check out wireless blood pressure monitors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Los Angeles.

Imagining A Future When The Doctor's Office Is In Your Home

10:57am January 14, 2015

by Nancy Shute

You can now monitor your heart rhythm with your cellphone. Dr. Eric Topol imagines a day when patients will be doing a lot more of their own medical testing, with doctors as advisers.