• These are the secret ingredients that make Google Maps so awesome

  Google Maps has grown over the years to become one of the most important mapping and navigation online services available to Internet users, whether on desktops or mobile… and Google isn't done improving it. Wired has taken an extensive look behind the curtain, revealing some of the secrets that…

  • 

• Deal: Get $20 in Google Play credit when buying a Chromecast

  There's never a shortage of opportunities to grab a Chromecast for far short of its original retail price, and today is no different. Google Play's latest offer dishes out $20 in Google Play credit when buying the Chromecast for its original cost of $35.

• Fitbit Surge Unboxing

  The Fitbit Surge is heading out now to select early adopters, bringing the best of what Fitbit has to offer along with a 24/7 heart rate monitor and smartwatch notifications. This isn't your standard Fitbit — the Surge is supercharged and ready to take on whatever activities you can throw at…

• Next Lock Screen for Android is Microsoft-made do-all

  This morning the folks at Microsoft Garage have released the newest version of Next Lock Screen. This is arguably the first time the lock screen has truly lived up to its promise - bringing you everything you need in terms of notifications - to your lockscreen with great ease. This update remains as…

• Hardcore Android fan explains why the iPad Air 2 beats out every other Android tablet

  There are plenty of Android smartphones that can go toe-to-toe with the iPhone but there still seems to be something missing when it comes to Android tablets. If you need further proof of this, consider that the excellent Android-focussed website Android Police has just put out its holiday gift…

  • 

• Hands-on with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G

  It's big, it doesn't cost much and it's actually pretty good Despite limited global availability, Xiaomi has enjoyed a meteoric rise to success and is now one of the world's biggest smartphone vendors. While in Europe and North America the company's presence is virtually zero, in…

• Mobile-First Stock Photo Marketplace Foap Snaps Further $2.3M Funding

   Sweden's Foap, one of a number of startups taking aim at the stock photo industry via iOS and Android apps that let you upload and sell your photos through the company's marketplace, has raised a further $2.3 million in funding. This brings total funding to approximately $5 million. Read More

  • 
  • 

• Gift Idea: Drones for every price point and experience level [CONTEST]

  We're already a third of the way through our Gift-a-Day Giveaway, but the gift ideas keep on coming. This gift idea is all about the drones. They're very popular these days, and will surely be on many wish lists this holiday season.

• Here are 30 awesome iOS apps Apple thinks you need to have

  It's time for everyone to make their year-end lists and Apple has just come out with its awards for the best iOS apps and games of 2014. Below, we've listed 30 the apps that made the cut along with brief descriptions of each one. RELATED: 75 awesome Android apps that Google thinks every Android…

  • 

• Good news! These Samsung 2A USB 3.0 car chargers are on sale today for only $17.95

  This charger is pure white and comes with a car adapter and its corresponding USB 3.0 cable that easily plugs into your Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3 or Galaxy Note Pro 12.2. The USB cable reaches approximately 3.2 feet from the adapter, giving you just enough length to reach to either the driver…

• A member of the best phones of 2014!

• Cyanogen pledges continued OnePlus One support (Update: Unless you have an Indian phone)

  Update: ... and on Dec. 7 Cyanogen Inc. rolled things back again, saying that if you bought a OnePlus One in India, updates aren't happening. If you're using a global device in India, you should be fine. Here's the full take: Since we clarified our support for OTA firmware updates for…

• [Update] Samsung Gear VR now available for $200 at Samsung.com and AT&T

  Samsung has always listed December 2014 as the landing date for their virtual reality wearable Samsung Gear VR, and unless my calendar is bugged that window has arrived. While Samsung has yet to formally announce a solid date, AT&T seems to be preparing for it as the company has listed the…

• Motorola launching the Moto Hint and Power Pack Micro in the UK on December 15

  UK customers looking to pick up the latest accessories from Motorola will be able to do so starting December 15, which is when the Moto Hint and the Power Pack Micro will go on sale in the country.

• [Deal Alert] The Android-Compatible Logitech Harmony Home Control Remote Is $113 (25% Off) On Amazon

  You can control your Chromecast with your Android phone. You can control a Roku, Android TV, game console, or even your cable box with your phone. But unless you own one of the Samsung or HTC devices with a built-in infrared port, you probably can't control a TV set or a DVD or Blu-Ray player…

• [Deal Alert] Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX 7" 4G LTE Tablets Are 50% Off, $139 For 16GB And $159 For 64GB

  Want to stuff a couple of stockings for the holidays? Here's a cool suggestion from Amazon: the Kindle Fire HDX 7" 4G LTE. This is last year's Kindle Fire generation but still the newest HDX 7" available — Amazon didn't update the HDX 7" line when it released the new HD…

• Get $20 Play Store credit when you buy a Chromecast between now and December 21

  If you managed to hold off on buying the Chromecast during Black Friday, you'll be glad to know that Google is now offering a $20 Play Store credit toward purchasing movies and other digital content to stream to the device. The deal is in addition to three months of free Google Play Music All…