4 Smart Phone Tips You Have Not Heard Yet

You may think you know everything about using your smart phone, but there may be a few nuggets of wisdom that you haven’t come across yet. Rescue a drowned phone. An accidental dunk in the sink or a puddle often means the end for any cell phone. But…

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Microsoft signs Android and Chrome patent deal with Foxconn parent Hon Hai

Microsoft signs Android and Chrome patent deal with Foxconn parent Hon Hai (via The Inquirer)

SOFTWARE LICENSING OPERATOR Microsoft has signed a licensing deal with Foxconn's parent Hon Hai Precision Industry as part of its long-running Android licensing scheme. Microsoft has been steadily licensing software patents to Android device makers for years and has managed to get firms like HTC and…

DirecTV Dispute Is Frustrating Customers

More than 20 million DirecTV subscribers are frustrated as more than 20 Viacom channels are blacked out during a contract dispute. Just a few months ago, South Florida customers lost one of their local channels for several days during a previous contract dispute during the Super Bowl season.

DirecTV Drops Viacom Channels In Contract Dispute
NEW YORK -- DirecTV subscribers are losing access to "The Daily Show" and "SpongeBob SquarePants." DirecTV Group Inc. stopped carrying channels owned by Viacom Inc. because of a contract dispute.

Sprint Starts Shutting Down Nextel Towers

If you are a Nextel cell phone customer currently using the Sprint network you have probably noticed a degradation of service in many areas throughout the United States. This is because Sprint is shutting down the Nextel service and has provided those affected customers with a letter asking them to switch over to Sprint.  You will need to get a new phone and sign a new 2-year commitment. Many cell phone providers require a commitment to help defray the cost of providing phones at a substantial discount. 

It seems that now is an appropriate time to re-evaluate your cell phone needs as there are a variety of great deals out there and even some great no-contract service providers. To find the best cell phone plans to fit your needs, visit http://www.cell-phone-plans-comparisons.com where you can upgrade with your current provider or shop for new phones and service plans.

Almeda University Is A Non Traditional Solution To A Typical Problem

      For some individuals the conventional path from high school to college is not working.  Even with good scores, a great number of students will not have the means  to enroll in the college or university of their choice.  The fact is, college costs have increased in excess of 50% at a number of institutions.  In today's difficult economic climate, a great many students simply cannot afford to shell out $45,000 to take classes at college.

As a result of today's unemployment figures, graduating high school seniors can not presume their parents to help pay college expenses.  Additionally, there are many working class people that would like to get a university degree but are not able to as a consequence of other personal responsibilities. They sometimes wonder, why doesn't my life experience mean anything?

Life experience degrees from Almeda University, as an example, is an innovative answer to a common dilemma. These are real university degrees from an accredited institution. This provides those that are disenchanted with other schools a fair shot in the labor pool. What everyone want most these days is an opportunity to work.

A large amount of employers nowadays will only interview candidates that have a college degree. Although life experience degrees are still less than equal footing from others with a classic degree, at least it gets you an opportunity. It is up to future hiring managers to decide which  interviewee stands out as the best one for the job.

A life experience degree is not anticipated to become a equivalent for conventional college degrees.  As in the medical field, you have a choice from traditional and homeopathic treatments. Until recently holistic health care practitioners were ridiculed by the medical community and were referred to as witch doctors.  Today, they are on equal footing with the medical community. One is not better than the other.  It is about having alternatives.  The same should go for educational institutions.  With time, life experience degrees will become as commonplace as a customary degree as more adults choose these studies to enrich their lives.

Tablets Are The New Textbooks

When the final numbers are in for 2010, U.S. consumers will have purchased 10.3 million tablets in the last year alone, according to Forrester Research Inc. As high school students prepare to graduate this spring, many moms and dads are already thinking about graduation presents, specifically, what their teens will need to succeed on campus.

The iPad has become the best selling gadget ever. Tablets ranging from the Superpad to a new version of the Galaxy Tab are soon to launch - which makes now the perfect time for parents and students to think about the role e-devices play in higher education, and decide whether to invest in a tablet over the more traditional laptop. 

Nintendo Drops Price And Introduces New Wii Package

Nintendo is dropping the suggested retail price of its Wii™ system to $149.99 and including a Mario™ game with the Wii hardware. Starting May 15, the newly priced Wii system will come in either black or white with the Mario Kart™ Wii game and a matching colored Wii Wheel™ accessory, replacing the previously included Wii Sports™ and Wii Sports Resort™ games. 

Also on May 15, Nintendo launches the new Nintendo® Selects collection of Wii games, a set of popular games that millions of people have already experienced, at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The four must-own games in this collection are The Legend of Zelda™: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing™: City Folk, Mario™ Super Sluggers and Wii Sports, which is available for the first time as a separate software purchase.

Top Mother's Day Gifts - 2011

With over 80 million moms to shop for, Mother's Day is second only to Christmas when it comes to gift giving. Skip the same old bouquet of flowers and mystery box of chocolates this year. Why not get mom  something she'll actually love. Help her stay in touch for less, grab memories on the go or find more time for herself. 

Our top three Mother's Day gifts this year are:
Sodastream- The Sodastream is our pick for innovative product of the year.  Mom can create her own fresh sparkling water or seltzer in less than a minute.  The reusable water bottles last for three years. 

Olympus Stylus 5010 - This 14 megapixel camera is one of the most popular digital cameras this year. Mom will be able to create lasting memories with this gift.


Nokia Astound - This is a 3G-enabled smartphone with a 3.5-inch touchscreen and free voice-guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation. You won't have to worry about Mom getting lost with this phone.

The Pirate Discovery App

HTC Thunderbolt

The Pirate Discovery App, the official mobile app for Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, directed by Rob Marshall, is now available exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers.

The Pirate Discovery App has exclusive content  including character stills, character bios and movie artwork. When the movie is available in theaters, the Pirate Discovery App will let customers browse local show times, find nearby theater locations and purchase tickets directly through the app. Moviegoers can also share their Pirate experiences by creating Facebook® and Twitter™ posts from within the app.


The Pirate Discovery App is free to download for Verizon Wireless customers with select 3G and 4G Android mobile devices by texting “AHOY” to 52011 or by accessing it directly from Android Market™.

Learn more about the HTC Thunderbolt or shop all Verizon Wireless phones

The New DROID Charge

Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announces the Droid Charge by Samsung.

The Droid Charge is designed with Samsung’s 4.3-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus display, setting a new touch screen standard for brightness, clarity and outdoor visibility. The Droid Charge is equipped with both a rear-facing 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for both stills and video chatting. The smartphone’s 1GHz application processor and HTML 5 Web browser maximizes high-speed 4G LTE connectivity for faster downloads and graphics processing.

DROID Charge Features:

• Android 2.2 platform – With support for Google Mobile Services
• Adobe® Flash® Player compatible
• Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to 10 WiFi-enabled devices or a 3G   connection with up to 5 devices
• Samsung Media Hub – Samsung’s own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically   acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase
• Virtual QWERTY Keyboard featuring Swype Technology

Learn more about the Droid Charge.

The MiFi 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

Verizon Wireless and Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL) today announced that the award winning MiFi® 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot. The MiFi 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is the next-generation of the Novatel Wireless MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, building on innovation and design, proven performance and industry-leading user experience.

The MiFi 4510L allows businesses and consumers to create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE and 3G Mobile Broadband with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously. The 4G LTE MiFi 4510L includes new features, such as an intuitive status display on the device showing signal strength, battery level, roaming and number of connected devices.

• 4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas
• Backward compatible with the Verizon Wireless 3G network
• Simple one-touch connectivity
• Intuitive eInk® display with status indicators
• Security: WEP/WPA/WPA2 and VPN pass-through support
• Supports Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems

 View more Verizon Wireless Phones.

Samsung's New Galaxy Tabs Is World's Thinnest Mobile Tablets

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the global leader in Android™ mobile devices, announced two new additions to its family of GALAXY Tabs, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, the world’s thinnest mobile tablets, measuring just 8.6 millimeters.

The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature Samsung’s own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering superior multi-tasking and enhanced user interaction and navigation. “The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung’s constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world”, said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. “By combining Samsung’s innovations in design and display with our exciting new user experience, we’ve created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market.”

The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung’s Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface.

The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience. 

Texas Warns Drivers About Texting

With technology at their fingertips, drivers are constantly faced with distractions such as talking or texting, putting their safety and that of others at serious risk. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is launching the Talk. Text. Crash. campaign to raise awareness of the dangers associated with distracted driving and to encourage Texans to put down their cell phones while driving.

Distracted driving is becoming increasingly common and dangerous, causing traffic crashes and fatalities. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows the proportion of fatalities reportedly associated with driver distraction increased from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2009.  In fact, 20 percent of injury crashes nationally in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.

This deadly trend is mirrored in Texas, where nearly one in four crashes involves driver distraction, according to TxDOT. In 2009 alone, over 100,000 vehicles were involved in crashes where distraction in vehicle, driver inattention or cell phone use was cited. Sadly, 408 of those crashes were fatal.

 Plantronics Mobile Headset for Most Phones with Standard 2.5mm Headset Jack - Audiovox, Blackberry, Kyocera, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Treo

Nintendo 3DS Allows You To Enjoy 3D Entertainment Without Special Glasses

The company that changed the world of video games with touch-screen gaming in 2004 and motion-controlled gaming in 2006 now pioneers the next dimensional shift. On March 27, Nintendo introduces portable entertainment in 3D – without the need for special glasses. The Nintendo 3DS™ system will be available in either Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue, and will have a suggested retail price of $249.99. Pricing outside the United States will be established by the local markets, but offer similar consumer value.

Cloud Computing Is Still Up In The Air For Most Consumers

As the growth of connected devices is expected to reach 22 billion within the next decade, according to IMS Research, there will be a greater need for consumers to move their data to cloud-based services. However, while nearly half of consumers are aware of the cloud, only nine percent acknowledge that they fully understand it. This is based on the results of a new GfK Business & Technology online survey of 1,000 adults presented today at the CTIA Wireless show in Orlando, FL.
 
Cloud computing is used to describe applications and services hosted and run on servers connected to the internet that end users do not have to maintain or support. Consumers are increasingly in need of cloud-based services with data spread across multiple devices, including laptops, cell phones and tablet computers. As 4G data networks begin to roll out over the next year, consumers will be consuming and needing to access greater amounts of data across all of their connected devices.  “Consumers are now facing similar challenges once only faced by enterprises in needing to securely manage massive amounts of data,” said Rob Barrish, senior vice president of GfK Business & Technology. “When rolling out cloud-based services, it will be important for marketers to keep in mind that consumers want to be able to access content on all of their devices across multiple platforms.”

However, while there is a general understanding of what the cloud is, 62 percent are either not aware of the cloud or aware but do not understand it. Interest in storing data within the cloud is significantly higher in younger than in older consumers, with approximately 60 percent of users between the ages of 18-35 interested in moving their data to the cloud. In older age groups, though, that number drops significantly, with only an average of 25 percent of users over the age of 50 interested in moving their data to the cloud.

There are also concerns among consumers about moving their data to the cloud. About six in ten consumers (61 percent) surveyed by GfK say that they are concerned about the security of their content if they were to store it in the cloud. Additionally, 47 percent of consumers surveyed say they would never use the cloud unless they have a simple and easy way to store their content, while 39 percent say they are concerned about the ability to play content on different devices from the cloud.  This statistic in particular points to the need for greater compatibility and accessibility to content across devices, so that the same content purchased for one device can be accessed across multiple devices.

Watch Satellite TV On Your PC

The Networked Society Of The Future

During the International CTIA Wireless 2011 show, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) will show how it is prepared to take a leading role in the transformation into the Networked Society, the next era of growth in the information communications technology (ICT) space. The company will demonstrate how the Networked Society will change how people live, work and play.

Hans Vestberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ericsson, says: "The forces of mobility, broadband and the cloud - where information is easily maintained and instantly accessed - come together in the Networked Society. These forces can address some of the biggest challenges on Earth- things like education, population movements, CO2 emissions, and healthcare." Vestberg cited studies demonstrating the value of investing in broadband and a simulation found that, in the United States, a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration leads to the creation of more than 2 million new jobs.

"Around the world, the urban population grows by 7,500 people every hour. That growth fuels the need for creative solutions including and beyond simple voice and messaging.  There is a need to innovate and collaborate to deliver the quality of experience that people demand," says Vestberg.

·         CDMA evolution: Progression of EVDO to EVDO Advanced incorporating new features for continued network efficiency and effectiveness. Co-existence of CDMA and LTE networks plus use of existing resources for smooth LTE deployment. Live HD-Voice on CDMA voice network for improved user experience.

·         Health-care applications: Technology applied for medical use will include video-based 911 (emergency calling), LTE-connected home health-care monitoring and high-definition video conferencing for the medical industry.

·         Heterogeneous networks: A new network design strategy required in the world of cloud services on mobile devices. This includes Ericsson's Antenna Integrated Radio (AIR) solution, which drastically cuts energy consumption and installation costs.

·        Smart Router: New-generation router that delivers differentiated and personalized services to homes and businesses.

·         Social web: Devices that are socially networked rather than connected on a one-to-one basis, thus unleashing the true power of 50 billion connected devices.

·         Voice over 4G LTE: LTE voice calls over a smartphone with an IMS client according to GSMA specifications.

Everything that can benefit from a connection will be connected. Relevance of information, whether in rural or urban areas, is enabled in the Networked Society Of The Future.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 1-cent Sale

Will Consumers Benefit From The AT&T - TMobile Merger?

The number one question that everybody is trying to figure out is what will happen to competition?  This is going to be a massive integration that is going to take at least 12 months, if not more to workout.  That's if the deal gets approved.  Immediately, probably not much will change.  Sooner, rather than later, T-Mobile customers that have been wanting to purchase an iPhone, will have their chance.  This will make some T-Mobile subscribers very happy in the beginning.  As the two companies merge, there will likely be some disappointment when the billing systems are integrated and contract prices start changing.  Some customers will see their monthly bill increase while others will see their bill decrease.

Why would AT&;T want T-Mobile?  This is actually a very smart move.  The cell phone industry is probably the most competitive industry on the planet.  Margins are thinner than an HTC Inspire.  Also, network operators must absorb most of the cost of the cell phone.  The real price of a smart phone averages around $499.00.  Almost nobody pays the retail price because they are getting a discount for signing a 2-year contract.  That difference is absorbed by the network provider and/or the retailer.  That's why they have a penalty for canceling early.  With no ability to profit from the phones themselves, and razor thin margins on calling plans, the only way to make money is on growing revenue from services.  In order to do that you need to grow your subscriber base.  Most of the giants are already saturated which means the fastest way to add millions of subscribers to your network is to acquire a network with a large subscriber base.  Having come out of one of the worst recessions in a lifetime, AT&T was able to pick up a company like T-Mobile at a good price. 

Will this stifle competition?  Probably not.  Most major markets will still have at least five competitors:  AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, MetroPCS and StraightTalk. As long as their are choices, competition will keep prices in check. Ultimately, the consumer will determine the future of the industry.  You can be sure that cell phone providers will be working very hard to not only win your business, but to keep your business.

Google Voice Now Available On Sprint Phones

Sprint customers will be able to use their existing Sprint mobile number as their Google Voice number and have it ring multiple other phones simultaneously. So now, calls to your Sprint mobile number can easily be answered from your office or your home phone, or even your computer through Gmail.  This basically gives Sprint customers all the benefits of Google Voice without the need to change or port their number.

Alternatively, Google Voice users can choose to replace their Sprint number with their Google Voice number when placing calls or sending text messages from their Sprint handset. This feature works on all Sprint phones and gives Sprint users all the benefits of Google Voice without the need for an app.

In either case, Google Voice replaces Sprint voicemail, giving Sprint customers transcribed voicemail messages available online and sent via email and/or text message. International calls made from Google Voice users' Sprint phones will be connected by Google Voice at low rates, and Sprint customers will also have access to the rest of Google Voice's features, like creating personalized voicemail greetings based on who's calling, call recording, blocking unwanted callers and more.

Sprint SALE! BlackBerry Curve, Samsung Epic, HTC EVO, all the latest phones at lower than carrier pricing.

HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon's First 4G LTE Phone Is Now Available

Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that the ThunderBolt™ by HTC,  is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online.

Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network. The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters. The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps. Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA's Rock Band, Gameloft's Let's Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.

Additional features:

• 4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
• 4.3" WVGA display
• 8- megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording
• 1.3- megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities
• Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• 8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)
• Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing

With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan is $29.99 monthly access.

Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation's fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC. Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge. After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month.  Buy the HTC Thunderbolt

Tennis Players Reality TV Show On Xperia Phones

Six Women's Tennis Association players will be sharing their lives in a new-format entertainment show to be streamed online and on mobile handsets. The series, launching internationally on March 20th at 4:00 PM ET, will follow the player's lives as they strive to win both on and off the court, and secure not only a support package from Sony Ericsson, but superstar status. 

Streamed on YouTube, they will use their own Xperia handsets for a behind-the-scenes look into the personal and professional lives of these athletes. They'll also be participating in challenges in the world of music, film, gaming and fashion, while competing to be voted the most popular on Facebook by the end of the season. At a launch event in South Beach, Miami, global tennis icon Maria Sharapova unveiled the cast on the world's biggest ever, live Facebook page.  Learn more about the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android Phone.