32GB Asus Transformer Prime now available at Office Depot

The holiday shopping season is all over and you were able to get everyone the tech goodies and gadgets that they wanted. Now, you should be taking care of yourself. You know that you have been wanting the first quad-core Android tablet, the Asus Transformer Prime. With the combination of strong sales of the product, and a suit by Hasbro that seeks a temporary ban on the Transformer Prime's sales, you also know that you need to find a place quickly to pick up the Asus Transformer Prime before it becomes harder to score than two tickets on the 50 for the Super Bowl.

the Motorola DROID 4 dummy show off dimensions of the device

Verizon has yet to introduce the Motorola DROID 4, but with all of the leaked pictures and specs, it is obviously coming soon. In fact, the latest speculation calls for a February 2nd launch of the phone. And even though there has been no announcement regarding the model, TechnoBuffalo was able to get its hands on the dummy version of the DROID 4 that is used to let potential buyers get an idea of the dimensions of the phone and to make sure that it fits well in the hand.

The USPTO: Patenting logical conclusions since 1790

We've noticed that when we post a story about a new patent application, the conversation seems to always devolve into the same issues: whether or not a company is a bully, and whether the patent is just stealing an idea from somewhere else. The trouble is that these views miss the point entirely. And, to be clear, although we will use Apple as an example multiple times in this piece, it is only because Apple's patent library has garnered something of a mythical status in the tech world. There are plenty of companies that game the system just like Apple, but that is the point: these companies are playing within the system, so we don't blame them for the state of things. Apple has simply been one of the best at taking advantage of a broken system. Apple's patent filings and subsequent lawsuits are a symptom of the problem with the patent system, they are not the cause, nor will eliminating them necessarily be the solution. We need reform of the whole patent system. 

LG to show off first Medfield-powered smartphone at CES, shipping by March?

It’s been a long, slow road for Intel as Chipzilla attempts to invade the mobile device market. Despite showing off pre-production prototypes at last year’s CES, 2011 was yet another trip around the sun without Intel inside… anything in mobile.

Verizon comes to its senses, gives up $2 "convenience fee"

One more present to be delivered before the end of the year for Verizon customers. Facing strong negative consumer reaction and the threat of a government investigation, Verizon just announced that they will forgo the "convenience fee" it announced earlier, where customers would have been charged an extra $2 to pay their bills in certain ways (including one-time online payments).

Steve Jobs tells IBM "We're number one" in 30 year old picture

Earlier on Friday, we told you that Apple was working on a prototype for a touchscreen phone as early as 1983. Also in 1983, Newsweek was ready to do a cover story on Apple's game-changing MacIntosh computer. In December, Steve Jobs and Andy Hertzfeld, one of the original members of the Mac team, flew to the Big Apple (although today it is unsure which Apple is bigger) to meet with Newsweek. The magazine was doing a cover story on the Mac for a January edition.

Nokia 900 a.k.a Ace accidentally pictured on Christmas cards?

One of Microsoft’s partners really got into the Christmas spirit this year by sending out cards with photos of a Nokia handset. At first glance it appeared to be a Nokia Lumia 800, but after closer inspection, it is evident that this device is definitely not an 800; rather it closely resembles the rumored 900 a.k.a the Ace.

Verizon’s $2 ‘Convenience Fee’ has caught the attention of the FCC

After yesterday’s announcement that Verizon will be charging a $2 ‘convenience fee’ to customers who pay their bill online or over the phone, Verizon has attracted more attention than just the hordes of angry tech-bloggers; the FCC has also taken notice.

$35 Android tablet available for students in India

While spoiled brats around the world cried on Twitter last week because they didn’t get an iPad for Christmas, there many people who can’t even fathom the cost of an iPad. That is why a joint venture between London-based DataWind and the Indian Institute of Technology Rajasthan was created to create the Aakash.

Alliance forms among Chinese companies to fight patent trolling from Apple, Microsoft, & Nokia

With China set to outperform the US as the world’s largest smartphone market, international industry tycoons such as Apple, Microsoft, and Nokia are looking to China as their next target for market growth. Chinese handset manufactures are well aware of the tactics typically used by these giants to strong arm their way into a territory and are starting to mount a defense to protect their interests.

Casio G-SHOCK: Let’s you look impatient while keeping tabs on your smartphone activity

Casio’s G-SHOCK watch will utilize the new low-power standards found in Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to your smartphone. The watch can sync to the same time as your phone (handy while traveling), and it will alert you when you have a new email, text message, or an incoming phone call. Just be careful that your boss or date doesn’t think you keep looking at your watch out of boredom.

3, 2, 1... Great Android apps for celebrating New Year's Eve!

Your precious Android smartphone is doing a lot to help you with your daily routines, but you feel like it won't be as involved as usual while you're celebrating the coming of 2012? Fear not, we found some pretty cool apps in the Android Market that will make your phone an indispensable part of this year's celebrations. How about a New Year resolutions tracker? Or a cheerful widget with a built-in countdown timer? It's all below, so read on and enjoy!

Lock Screen Weather for iPhone does what it says with a catch

With iOS 5, heaps of new and much needed features were added to Apple’s mobile platform, but one thing we wish was there - dynamic weather updates straight from your lockscreen - remained something third-party app creators had to do. And the Lock Screen Weather for iPhone does just that for a mere $0.99. 

Amazon giving away a $100 gift card for phones bundled with Hotspot plans

Looking for some last minute Holiday deals? Amazon might be the right place for that as the e-tailer has kicked off a promo giving you a $100 gift card for every Hotspot-capable Android handset you purchase.

Gizmon iCA iPhone Case turns your device into a true camera with interchangeable lenses

By now you’ve probably seen or snapped plenty of pictures with the iPhone 4S and there’s no denying that Apple outdid itself in the camera department. But you’re still holding a phone and getting dumb faces when trying to convince people that it’s nearly as good as a point-and-shoot camera. The Gizmon iCA iPhone case changes the looks of your iPhone to that of a camera, but most importantly adds some nice features and interchangeable tiny lenses to really boost your shooting skills.

Motorola plans to differentiate from other Android makers with a focus on the user experience

Motorola released some of the better Android devices this year - it started the year with the dual-core Motorola Atrix with the unique laptop dock accessory and ended it with the super slim LTE-equipped Motorola Droid RAZR. But as competition tightens up the company needs to do even better in 2012 to differentiate.