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BlackBerry has issued a security advisory notice to those who have bought its flagship Z10 touchscreen smartphone -- the first BlackBerry 10 device to launch following the company's bid for revival, back in February.

The advisory, which was issued last week, notes a bug that relates to BlackBerry Protect, its security and backup utility, rather than the phone's operating system itself. 

According to the advisory, an escalation of privilege vulnerability exists in the software of some Z10 phones that could allow a malicious app to "take advantage" of weak permissions in the in-built … Read more

T-Mobile confirmed on Tuesday that it would be getting the Sony Xperia Z in the coming weeks.

The company didn't include a price, but like all other T-Mobile phones, the Xperia Z will be eligible for a low down payment and monthly installments under T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan. The Xperia Z will be exclusive to T-Mobile.

For Sony, getting the Xperia Z on another big carrier is a step in the right direction. The company has been steadily improving its product lineup and getting more U.S. support for its devices in the last several months. It previously … Read more

A French press invite from Sony Mobile touts a "big surprise" at an upcoming July 4 event in Paris, but a slew of leaked images and specs may have spoiled the secret of Sony's first phablet before its big reveal.

The invitation features a mysterious image of a tall and slim device with a profile that resembles the Xperia Z smartphone and tablet. The new device -- expected to be named the Xperia Z Ultra -- is rumored to have a 6.4-inch screen and a 1080p HD resolution (That's a pixel density of 342 ppi … Read more

Samsung just got its hands on the holy grail of hip-hop. Actually, it's "Magna Carta Holy Grail," the new album from rap icon Jay-Z that will be made available for free to the first 1 million Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note 2 owners who download a special app.

The app, which can be downloaded starting on June 24, is said to provide an "unprecedented inside look into the album personal stories and inspiration," and will also unlock the new album on July 4, three days before it officially goes on sale for the non-Galaxy owning world.… Read more

BlackBerry's next flagship smartphone, the all-touchscreen BlackBerry A10, will launch during the holidays, CNET has learned.

The BlackBerry A10 is the successor to the Z10, and further builds upon the company's burgeoning lineup of devices. The A10 will occupy the highest tier, moving the Z10 and keyboard-equipped Q10 to the midtier. The lower-end Q5 will continue to occupy the lower, more affordable strata. By quickly expanding its product line, the company is hoping it can better cater to consumers of varying income levels.

The A10 continues BlackBerry's push to prove to consumers and the industry that it … Read more

The U.S. carriers weren't particularly enthusiastic when selling BlackBerry's debut next-generation product, the BlackBerry Z10, but you can expect them to get louder with the follow-up Q10.

That's according to BlackBerry Chief Operating Officer Kristian Tear, who spoke to CNET on the day of the Q10 launch. T-Mobile is the first to offer the Q10, which hit stores on Wednesday, and the other three carriers will follow in the coming days.

It marks the first time a BlackBerry device has sold across all four U.S. nationwide carriers, a feat that should help get the company'… Read more

The Xperia Tablet Z is the thinnest and lightest large tablet I've yet held. A fact made somewhat more impressive given that Sony doesn't skimp physical features. An MHL connection, expandable storage, and two better-than-decent cameras -- tablets with quality cameras are still somewhat anomalous -- all made the cut.

The Tablet Z is also fully waterproof: I've had it submerged in half a foot of water for minutes at a time and have thoroughly hosed it down with a level of fervency only the most diligent of corrections officers can relate to. Yet after a quick … Read more

(Updated 11 pm PT June 3 with additional PCs and Intel processor specs)

The time has come for PC manufacturers to start unveiling new hardware in association with Intel's forthcoming fourth-gen Core i-series "Haswell" processors, and some are doing it earlier than others.

Acer, recently busy with its "Star Trek"-inspired Aspire R7 unveiling, has announced even more PC products: a new 8-inch Windows 8 tablet, a second slim S3 ultrabook to accompany the also-updated S7, and a refreshed Aspire Z3 all-in-one desktop PC. Some of them feature Intel's newest fourth-gen "Haswell" … Read more

Apple has again been crowned the most valuable global brand in the annual BrandZ report.

Released Tuesday, Millward Brown Optimor's 2013 BrandZ report pegs Apple with a brand value of $185 billion, up from $183 billion last year. Based on financial data and the opinions of potential and current buyers, Apple retained its top rank in spite of the thrashing suffered by its stock over the past several months.

"Despite a more competitive marketplace and other challengers nipping at its heels, Apple's ability to maintain its No.1 position demonstrates the value that having a strong brand … Read more