Tech Time

Verizon Wireless and Color introduce live video sharing on Facebook

2012-05-26T23:11:00.004-07:00

Verizon Wireless customers can use their smartphones to share live video broadcasts of life’s special moments with their Facebook friends using Color for Facebook, a free social camera application, the companies announced today.
Color for Facebook highlights the power of video on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, giving customers with a wide range of smartphones the ability to broadcast up to 30 seconds of live video and share the important moments in their daily lives at blazing speeds. Verizon Wireless customers will also have access to an exclusive audio feature to add sound to their broadcasts.
Friends and fans receive a notification on their devices when one of their friends starts broadcasting live video and audio. Concerts, sporting events, road trips and other special moments can all be shared live.
Using Color for Facebook, batch photo uploads to Facebook are an easy and fast way to share multiple photos from a phone’s camera roll to any Facebook album. Customers can pick the best photos, choose or create a new album, and share with any group or all of their friends on Facebook with a single tap.
“Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is a huge opportunity for creating new applications,” said Bill Nguyen, chief executive officer of Color. “The performance, coverage and features available on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network establish a new platform for creativity; it is revolutionary for app developers. Color plans to develop additional features exclusively with Verizon Wireless to showcase its 4G LTE network.”
“Color is an amazing team dreaming up creative ways for people to share even more using smartphones,” said Kristi Crum, executive director, Consumer Solutions at Verizon Wireless. “This app, which highlights the speed and immediacy of video over 4G LTE, is just the first step in what we will deliver for Verizon Wireless customers.”

Availability and pricing
Verizon Wireless customers can dial **COLOR to download the app, or download it from an app store. The app is free, and other charges will apply according to a customer’s data package.

WITH VIDEO: Put a rainbow to your music with iHome's new iP76 LED Color Changing Speaker Tower

2012-05-26T22:57:00.003-07:00

iHome has announced its most colorful audio system yet, the iP76 LED Color Changing Speaker Tower, which allows you to listen to music from your various devices via Bluetooth technology.

Available in July 2012, the décor-enhancing showpiece is packed with 16 multi-color LED clusters to create various light effects; four high performance speakers, Reson8 speaker technology, and the latest in Bluetooth technology for an untethered audio experience.

“Our Glowtunes line continues to evolve and offer a wide range of speakers for today’s most popular multimedia devices,” said Evan Stein, Director of Marketing, iHome. “We’re very excited to release our first speaker tower and believe the design and array of features will make the iP76 stand above the competition.”

The three-foot high unite has the ability to stream music from Bluetooth-enabled devices; charge iPhones and iPods when docked, and send video content from your device to your television via the built-in component video outputs. The unit can be customized to feature your favorite color and boasts a variety of options such as color fade, pulse to music and strobe effect for the ultimate music and light show.

The iP76 will be available in July 2012 at retailers nationwide and at www.ihomeaudio.com for $199.99. For detailed product information, please visit www.ihomeaudio.com/iP76WZ/

Latest version of Droid Incredible offers 4G LTE speeds on Verizon

2012-05-10T23:13:00.003-07:00

Verizon Wireless and HTC have announced the new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC. The new smartphone features high-quality photo and audio capabilities, combined with the power of 4G LTE speeds. Running the latest version of HTC Sense 4.0, HTC’s user interface, the phone is also integrated with Google’s latest mobile operating system — Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich..
The phone features Beats Audio sound, an advanced 8-megapixel camera with quick activation from the home screen. Additionally, there’s no longer a need to choose between shooting video or taking photos, HTC Video Pic allows users to shoot HD video and capture photos at the same time. With 4G LTE speeds, sharing photos and video via email, uploading to the cloud or posting to social networking sites is a breeze.
Customers can personalize and use lock screen shortcuts to quickly access their four favorite apps. Folders can easily be created on any home screen for additional customization and organization. A Read Later feature allows people short on time the ability to save browser content like news articles and websites that can be viewed later, even while offline. The smartphone is also NFC capable so customers can take advantage of Android Beam to quickly share Web pages, apps, contacts and YouTube videos with friends by simply tapping two compatible phones together.
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is available in 230 markets across the Unites States. In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of 4G LTE coverage areas, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, where available, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.
Additional features:
— 4-inch super LCD qHD display
— 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, LED flash, BSI, f/2.2 and 28 mm lens
— Front-facing camera for video chatting with friends and family
— 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor
— Mobile Hotspot capable to share 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
— Support for up to 32 GB microSD memory card
— 1,700 mAh lithium ion removable battery

The new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com in the coming weeks.

Contact Matt Myftiu at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com, or follow him on Twitter @MattMyftiu

T-Mobile unveils budget-friendly Prism smartphone; just $20 with contract

2012-05-09T00:23:00.002-07:00

T-Mobile USA, Inc., has announced the upcoming T-Mobile Prism, their latest budget-friendly option for cost-conscious consumers looking for their first smartphone.

Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread and featuring a 3.5-inch HVGA touch screen, the 3G smartphone enables T-Mobile customers to surf the Web, access their favorite social networking sites and choose from thousands of applications to download from Google Play. The T-Mobile Prism also makes it simple to capture and share photos and videos via its 3.2-megapixel camera with digital zoom and video recorder. With the T-Mobile Prism, customers can sync multiple email accounts, including Microsoft Exchange, Google calendar and contacts, T-Mobile contacts, and more.

The T-Mobile Prism is now available at Best Buy and Walmart and T-Mobile retail stores, or online via www.T-Mobile.com. The T-Mobile Prism is costs $19.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan or $149.99 via no annual contract.

Verizon expands 4G LTE network in Michigan

2012-05-09T00:22:00.001-07:00

Verizon Wireless, operator of the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network, has expanded its 4G LTE service across more of southeastern Michigan. The network now covers more than two-thirds of the U.S. population in 230 markets.
The expansion now reaches: northern Oakland County, along Interstate 75 between Detroit and Northern Saginaw: Oxford, Lake Orion, Groveland Corners, Holly, Rose Corners, Davisburg, Springfield, Clyde, Waterford, Highland and White Lake as well as the Port Huron area and Livingston and Washtenaw counties.
Verizon Wireless has invested $1.8 billion in its Michigan network since 2000, including $265 million in 2011 alone, to increase coverage and capacity on behalf of its customers.
In real-world environments, Verizon’s 4G LTE customers in the coverage area should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits (Mbps) per second on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
“People across Michigan are increasingly relying on tablets, smartphones and apps to stay organized, connected and entertained,” said John Granby, president–Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. “Our investment in Michigan has kept us ahead of these consumer trends and underscores our belief that 4G LTE delivers the best value to customers by maximizing the performance of their wireless devices.”
Verizon Wireless plans to more than double the number of its 4G LTE markets, bringing the total number of markets to more than 400 by the end of the year.
When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area in Michigan or elsewhere, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the largest, most reliable network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas.
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network was named “Fastest 4G Network Yet” by Popular Science’s 2011 Best of What’s New Awards, and was also ranked No. 1 on PC World’s 100 Best Products of 2011. For more information about Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.

AT&T expands mobile Internet wireless capacity in Oakland County; additional specturn should improve connectivity, performance

2012-05-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

Customers in seven Oakland County communities are expected to experience improved mobile Internet coverage and voice performance as a result of continued investment and innovation by AT&T.
The company has announced that it has completed a key initiative in its ongoing efforts to enhance the wireless capacity and performance of its mobile Internet network in Berkley, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Royal Oak and Troy.
"AT&T's new investment in Oakland County will mean better opportunities for jobs and a more connected metro-Detroit," said state Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake). "By expanding their mobile high speed network, AT&T is helping us do business faster as we build the 21st century economy."
The network enhancement adds new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to 12 cell sites to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase mobile broadband capacity. The expansion helps manage ever-growing demand for mobile Internet services by allocating more network resources for AT&T's mobile Internet network.
"Our goal is for our customers to have an extraordinary experience. As part of the Oakland County community, we're always looking for new opportunities to provide an enhanced customer experience and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way we're accomplishing that," said Jim Murray, president of AT&T Michigan.
AT&T recently launched "Focus: Detroit," which provides visitors a peek into AT&T's wireless network enhancements made since the beginning of the year. Enhancements include new cell sites, Internet speed upgrades, capacity upgrades and network connection upgrades.
For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page at http://www.att.com/networknews.

Bose unveils WAVE Music System III and WAVE Radio III

2012-05-02T22:38:00.004-07:00

Bose has updated its Bose Wave radio and Wave music system, and say they have combined their audio performance and small size with more functionality and more versatility.

“The Bose Wave radio and Wave music system changed the way people listen to music,” said Santiago Carvajal, business director for Bose Wave products. “They’ve delighted and excited owners for years, and have become two of the most enduring consumer electronics products in history. We’ve updated them with new features and accessories, making each even better for enjoying the radio and digital music.”

For radio listening, the Wave radio III and Wave music system III now include an improved FM/AM tuner for clearer reception, and artist names and song titles provided by many broadcasters are now displayed on-screen.

The Wave music system III integrates a slot-load CD player, and both systems include an auxiliary input to connect a smartphone, iPod, HDTV, or computer.

Each system also offers a Bose Link input for connection to optional accessories: the Wave SoundLink adapter for streaming music wirelessly from a computer or Bluetooth enabled device, the Wave Connect Kit for dock-and-play simplicity with an iPod or iPhone, and the Wave Multi-CD Changer for uninterrupted enjoyment of three additional CDs.
Convenience is improved with a new touch pad integrated on the top of each unit for simple on/off control or to snooze the alarm. With new dual alarms, owners can select separate wake-up times set to different sources and volumes.

Regardless of the source, the audio performance from the Bose Wave radio III and Wave music system III deliver the lifelike, natural sound of their predecessors, combining patented waveguide speaker technology to deliver deep, rich low notes with proprietary digital signal processing to ensure musical accuracy across all frequencies, and at all volume levels.

Availability
The Bose Wave radio III and Wave music system III are available from Bose for $349.95 and $499.95, respectively. They replace the current Wave radio and Wave music system. The Wave radio III is available in a choice of Platinum White or Graphite Gray. The Wave music system III is available in Titanium Silver, Platinum White, or Graphite Gray. The optional Wave Multi-CD Changer ($249.95), Wave SoundLink adapter ($149.95), and Wave Connect Kit ($99.95) will be sold separately. The Wave radio III, Wave music system III and their accessories will be sold at Bose retail stores, www.Bose.com, and toll-free at 1-800-444-BOSE (2673).

Contact Matt Myftiu at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMyftiu.

T-Mobile’s “Magenta Deal Days” lets customers cash in on their old phones and upgrade

2012-04-24T20:45:00.002-07:00

If you’re looking to upgrade your smartphone, T-Mobile is giving you some incentive to do so.
Its “Magenta Deal Days” promotion offers customers the opportunity to receive a guaranteed trade-in value of $50–$200 when they exchange their old working phone and upgrade to a new 4G smartphone. The two-week sale will take place from April 25 until May 8.
The “Magenta Deal Days” trade-in offer allows customers to receive a guaranteed value toward any T-Mobile 4G smartphone, including the Samsung Galaxy S II, the HTC Radar 4G and the new HTC One S, which is powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).
“T-Mobile continues to make getting a great 4G smartphone easy with our latest ‘Magenta Deal Days’ promotion,” said John Clelland, senior vice president of marketing, T-Mobile USA. “No matter how old their phone, and even if it’s valued less, T-Mobile will offer customers a guaranteed minimum trade-in value so they can get rid of those old devices gathering dust and move up to a newer, faster T-Mobile 4G smartphone.”
New customers will be eligible for this deal when they trade in their old smartphone and sign up for a qualifying T-Mobile Classic or Value plan with a two-year agreement. Existing customers also can take advantage of this offer if they are eligible for an early upgrade, meaning 18 months or more on their current contract.

The following is a list of the guaranteed trade-in value T-Mobile will offer for old devices:

iPhone (iOS)
$200.00

Android, Blackberry, Windows, Symbian 9.0+ OS
$100.00

Any Other Phone
$50.00

In addition to the Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Radar 4G and HTC One S, other new smartphones customers can trade-up to as part of the “Magenta Deal Days” trade-in offer include the following:
— Nokia Lumia 710
— Samsung Exhibit II 4G
— Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
— T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide
— T-Mobile myTouch Q
— T-Mobile myTouch T
— BlackBerry Bold 9900 4G
— LG DoublePlay™
— HTC Amaze 4G
— HTC Sensation 4G

The “Magenta Deal Days” promotion will be available at participating T-Mobile retail stores nationwide. For more information about T-Mobile’s products, services and the “Magenta Deal Days” promotion, visit http://t-mo.co/HkPh9J.

Follow Matt Myftiu on Twitter @MattMyftiu.

HTC One S smartphone launching on T-Mobile on April 25

2012-04-19T23:50:00.002-07:00

T-Mobile USA, Inc. and HTC Corp. have announced the long-awaited HTC One S will be available at T-Mobile stores on April 25. T-Mobile will be the first U.S. carrier to offer the sleek HTC One S, which ships with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)--which Android fans will be happy to hear -- and the HTC Sense 4 user interface.
The phone will run on T-Mobile's 4G network.

“The HTC One series is a revolutionary device portfolio and we’re proud to be the first carrier to introduce the HTC One S to the U.S. market,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president of marketing, T-Mobile USA. “With a stunningly thin design that doesn’t compromise performance, the HTC One S is a sleek 4G smartphone with beauty and brains that our customers will be proud to show off.”

For music lovers, the HTC One S will feature integration of Beats Audio sound.
Customers can listen to their Google Music libraries — up to 20,000 songs — from the cloud and purchase new music on the go with Google Play.

For cameras, the HTE One S features an 8-megapixel back-side illuminated camera and HTC ImageSense. Consumers have immediate access to their cameras from their home screens and continuous shooting to take photos at 4 frames per second simply by holding the shutter button.

The phone enables high-quality video recording with a full high-definition 1080p camcorder. With access to 25 GB of free cloud storage from DropBox, HTC One S customers also can bring their photos, documents and videos virtually anywhere they go and upload new content to the cloud.

“Blending the latest technology with HTC’s focus on consumer experience, the HTC One S allows people to capture amazing high-definition video and photos at the same time with merely a touch of their finger,” said Martin Fichter, vice president, product management, HTC Americas. “And HTC’s Media Link HD accessory provides an easy wireless solution to share those great photos, videos and other entertainment on their TV screen with a swipe of their hand.”

The ultra-sleek and modern HTC One S will be available in gradient blue and is T-Mobile’s thinnest smartphone (7.95mm). In addition to featuring a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED screen, the HTC One S features a 1.5GHz, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor -- putting its specs among the best phones on the market.

The HTC One S will be available on April 25 at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers, national retailers and online at http://www.t-mobile.com for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card with qualifying two-year agreement. For more information, visit http://www.t-mobile.com/one or http://www.htc.com/us/products/htcones-tmobile.

Follow Matt Myftiu on Twitter @MattMyftiu. Email him at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

Verizon Wireless offers workshops on new mobile technology

2012-04-02T18:43:00.002-07:00

It is estimated that one billion people will own smartphones by 2016, according to a recent report by the research company Forrester. In addition, the Pew Research Center said the share of U.S. adults who own tablets nearly doubled (from 10% to 19%) during this year’s holiday gift-giving period between mid-December 2011 and early January 2012.

Verizon Wireless provides free in-store and online wireless workshops to smartphone and tablet users — no matter his or her service provider. Verizon is the only wireless carrier approved to conduct Apple workshops. Covering topics like extending battery life, setting up email and buying apps, Verizon’s Wireless Workshops discuss everything users want to know but have not had time to figure out independently.

And whether users are newbies to the smartphone world, upgrading or switching to new devices, or looking for more information about specific operating systems, the Workshops provide answers to virtually any question.

Topics covered in the Workshops include, but are not limited to:
— Accessories: Learn about different accessories and ways they can maximize productivity.
— Tablets: Obtain general information about tablets and how they can benefit every lifestyle.
— Tips and Tricks: Learn everything from how to copy and paste text to setting a ringtone.
— The Basics: For the wireless newbie, learn how to turn it on and off, how to enter contacts and how to send text messages.
— Q&A with Wireless Experts: Gain direct access to the experts and ask away.

The lineup of online and in-store workshops is routinely updated and expanded to include the newest devices such as the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung, Spectrum by LG, and DROID 4 by Motorola.

To learn more about Verizon Wireless Workshops, visit www.verizonwireless.com/workshops.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MattMyftiu and check out the Facebook page OPTechTime.

LG's Lucid is latest mid-range smartphone to debut from Verizon

2012-03-27T21:23:00.003-07:00

Verizon Wireless and LG Mobile today announced Lucid by LG will be available starting March 29 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com.

Lucid by LG is designed to create an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use experience for first-time smartphone users. The slim and compact design features a 4-inch touchscreen display protected by Gorilla Glass. Lucid by LG customers have access to 4G LTE coverage in over 200 markets covering more than 200 million people.

Customers can use the lock screen shortcuts to instantly access the phone, messaging, voicemail and camera application from the lock screen. Customers also no longer have to stop what they’re doing to reply to texts by using the Quick Reply feature, as text message notifications pop up on the screen and allow customers to reply directly from the Quick Reply notification. The Quick Dialer widget lets customers make calls directly from a home screen panel without having to open the phone application. Additionally, Lucid by LG has Guided Tours right on the device, which provides step-by-step tutorials for customers who want to learn more about their new phone.

Business professionals can take advantage of the Polaris Office app on Lucid by LG which allows
customers to easily open, create and edit Microsoft Office documents, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network takes Lucid by LG to the next level, loading websites 10 times faster than 3G, making it that much easier for a professional to stay up to speed on recent news and keep in touch with colleagues. The mobile hotspot feature lets professionals connect to up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, making it easy for teams to work from a remote location.

Additional features:
- Android^™ 2.3 Gingerbread, upgradable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
- 5-megapixel rear-facing autofocus camera with flash and full HD (1080p) video capture
- Front facing camera for video chatting with friends and family
- Video Producer – create and edit HD videos right on Lucid by LG
- 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM for fast Web browsing and multitasking
- Virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype^® technology
- SmartShare – share media with friends and colleagues wirelessly to DLNA^®-enabled devices

Pricing and availability:
Lucid by LG will be available starting March 29 in Verizon stores and at
www.verizonwireless.com for $79.99, after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card.
Customers who purchase a Lucid by LG will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

Bright House Networks’ Easy Gadget now available for Android

2012-03-27T21:06:00.001-07:00

Bright House Networks has announced that it has launched an updated version of its easy gadget mobile app. The new app, which initially launched in 2010 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, is now available for Android phones. BHN easy gadget is currently available to both Bright House Networks’ residential and business customers free of charge on Google Play (a.k.a. Android Market) and on the Apple App Store.

New features available on the BHN easy gadget app include the ability to delete all calls or multiple selected calls at once in the Recent Call List. BHN easy gadget was developed to help Bright House phone customers to stay connected while away from home and the office. The app also allows customers to: instantly be notified of important calls on their Bright House phone then touch to call back or send a text message; view and listen to voice mail messages; remotely forward their Bright House phone to another phone; manage their contacts in an online address book and backup their phone contacts to the easy gadget online address book; and use a free online directory search function.

“Bright House Networks is pleased to now make its convenient easy gadget app available on Android phones,” said Bob McCann President of the Detroit Division. “The new features on BHN easy gadget help to make it even easier for our customers to stay connected, whether they are at home, their office or on the go.”

BHN easy gadget is supported on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, as well as Android phones. Residential customers must subscribe to both Bright House Networks Home Phone and Road Runner services. Business Solutions customers must subscribe to both Bright House Networks phone and High Speed-Internet services. The BHN easy gadget mobile app is fully compatible with Bright House Networks’ easy gadget desktop app for Windows PC and Macintosh computers.

T-Mobile kicks off ‘Magenta Deal Days’; From March 21 to April 3, T-Mobile is offering up to $150 off Samsung 4G devices

2012-03-20T19:31:00.002-07:00

T-Mobile is kicking off “Magenta Deal Days” and giving customers the opportunity to purchase one of Samsung’s 4G mobile devices for up to $150 (U.S.) off after mail-in rebate. “Magenta Deal Days” includes the new Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The two-week sale will take place from Wednesday, March 21, through Tuesday, April 3.

“As part of our commitment to make the 4G experience affordable and accessible to everyone this year, we’re excited to launch our ‘Magenta Deal Days’ campaign, which will provide customers with great options throughout the year, like this first compelling offer,” said John Clelland, senior vice president of marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Through the combination of Samsung’s great entertainment-on-the-go devices running on America’s Largest 4G Network®, customers can have amazingly rich and fast experiences, connecting from anywhere.”

T-Mobile’s portfolio of 4G Samsung products offered through “Magenta Deal Days” delivers access to free and “for purchase” premiums on-the-go entertainment and multimedia experiences. Paired with T-Mobile’s 4G network, Samsung smartphones and tablets provide access to favorite movies, TV shows, websites, games, applications and more. A variety of rich entertainment features come preloaded on many of these Samsung devices, including:
— T-Mobile TV, which offers access to live and on-demand TV programs
— Samsung Media Hub, which provides the option to rent or purchase movies and TV programs
— Zinio Reader, which gives access to full color issues from top-selling magazine titles
— Blio eReader, which offers a selection of full color cookbooks, children’s stories and bestsellers
— Slacker Radio, which offers streaming personalized radio with millions of songs, ABC News and ESPN radio sports programming

New customers will be eligible for this deal when they sign up for a two-year agreement on any qualifying Classic Unlimited plan or qualifying Unlimited Value plan. Existing customers also can take advantage of this offer if they are eligible for an upgrade.

The following is a list of the 4G Samsung devices included in the “Magenta Deal Days” offer with a qualifying Classic plan:
Samsung Exhibit II 4G — FREE
Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G — $119.99
Samsung Galaxy S 4G — $179.99
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus — $199.99
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 — $349.99

The “Magenta Deal Days” promotion will be available at participating T-Mobile retail stores nationwide. For more information about T-Mobile’s “Magenta Deal Days,” visit http://bit.ly/xzhqdx.

Samsung Brightside, a mid-range smartphone with QWERTY keyboard, now available from Verizon

2012-03-19T23:52:00.001-07:00

If you like a physical keyboard on your smartphone, you now have one more option from Verizon. The carrier is now offering a new mid-range smartphone, the Samsung Brightside, that features a QWERTY keyboard in addition to the touchscreen.

The Brightside features a 3.1-inch touchscreen display and full QWERTY slide-out keyboard. It is however, a 3G phone, not 4G like most new phones, so downloads and uploads will be a bit slower.

Users can use the document viewer feature to open Microsoft Office documents saved on the microSD card.

Additional features:
—One-touch access to contact list, messaging options (text, picture and email), camera function and Social Networks application, including Facebook and Twitter, allowing customers to update their status and upload photos instantly
—Full suite of messaging options, including text, picture and voice messaging and mobile email
—3.2-megapixel camera with timer, brightness control and shooting modes (single, continuous, panorama, mosaic and frame); scene modes (landscape, sports, party, beach, sunset, dawn, fall, night, backlight, fire and candlelight)
—Document viewer feature – view documents in the following formats:
—Microsoft Office formats, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
—Adobe PDF
—ASCII documents
—HTML documents
— Images: JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG

The Samsung Brightside is available in Verizon Wireless stores and online for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card, which can be used as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

For more information on the Samsung Brightside, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMyftiu

Stormy weather: Your phone can keep you safer

2012-03-19T23:50:00.001-07:00

Storm safety tips from Verizon Wireless:
— Dial *228 to automatically update your roaming capabilities and make sure your phone is connected to the most current and updated cellular network. The call takes only a few seconds and will keep your phone current with any network upgrades.
— Load emergency contacts on your cell phone under the abbreviation ICE – which stands for In Case of Emergency. ICE contacts will help responders reach your loved ones quickly in the event of an accident.
— Keep a car charger readily available. If electricity is temporarily out at office or home locations, you can easily charge a cell phone in your car. Car chargers and phones now have universal ports so they an easily accommodate different devices.
— Update your phone with local news and national weather apps so you can easily check on current conditions.
— Turn on GPS location services. People often disable GPS for battery savings. This helps push local information to your phone that might be critical for storm updates.
— Use text capabilities on your phone for a quick response and to send and receive messages in the event of an emergency.

Dell's XPS 13, a highly anticipated ultrabook, hits the laptop market

2012-03-19T23:11:00.004-07:00

It's the year of the ultrabook, and Dell's entry into the market is now available.

It's XPS 13 laptop is now available for customers in the U.S. and Canada. Dell says it has seen ‘strong demand’ for the system ever since it was first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show, and early buzz about the unit has been overwhelmingly positive: CNET referred to it as the first “Very Important Laptop” of 2012. PC World proclaimed, “It may be the best laptop Dell’s made in years” among other positive reviews.

“We’re seeing strong consumer and business demand for the new XPS 13 – a system that is unlike anything else on the market today,” said Michael Tatelman, Dell Vice President and General Manager of Americas Consumer. “The XPS 13 demands attention, crossing the realm between work and play, packing powerful technology into a small, portable package and delivering enterprise-friendly protection and security. It’s the ultimate mobile device.”

Regarding the machine's business-ready features, Sam Burd, Vice President of Dell’s Consumer, Small and Medium Business product group said, “The uncompromising XPS 13 offers professionals the power to connect, collaborate and innovate with unique features and services – like Dell ProSupport, Trusted Platform Module and Configuration Services – that satisfy the needs of enterprise IT departments.”

Weighing less than 3 pounds,the XPS 13 Ultrabook is one of the most compact 13-inch products in its class. With its razor-thin bezel, the XPS 13 maintains a footprint similar to an 11-inch product and features bonded Corning Gorilla Glass for durability.
A full-size, backlit keyboard is another nice touch.

The XPS 13 is one of the first systems with Intel Smart Connect Technology, which keeps content consistently updated. A solid state drive and Intel Rapid Start Technology allow the XPS 13 to boot in seconds providing almost instant access, saving time and battery life.

The XPS 13 comes standard with Dell's Premium Protection Package, and is available now in the United States through www.Dell.com or in Dell stores or most Best Buy stores.

Starting price is $999 with an Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD hard drive and 4GB memory.
The first 10,000 customers to purchase select XPS 13 devices in the U.S. will receive a free T-Mobile 4G Mobile HotSpot and 90

More details about the machine:
· Ultrathin laptop (0.24-0.71-inch/6-18mm) and light starting at 2.99lbs
· 13.3-inh HD WLED, 300-nit (1366x768) 720p; edge-to-edge hardened Gorilla® Glass
· Precision crafted machined aluminum with a carbon fiber base
· 128 GB SSD or 256GB SSD drive option with Intel Rapid Start Technology
· Intel Core i5 2467M and i7 2637M processor choices
· Intel HD 3000 video graphics
· 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333Mhz memory
· Full size, backlit chiclet keyboard
· Glass integrated button touchpad with multi-gesture support
· 47WHr 6-cell battery offering up to eight hours, 53 minutes of battery lifev; 45W AC adaptor
· Dell ProSupport[vi] for business customers, Dell Configuration Services and Windows Trusted Platform Module options for commercial models
· Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 802.11 A/G/N and Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity
· USB 3.0 (1) + USB 2.0 with PowerShare (1), mini DisplayPort, and headset jack (1)
· Built-in 1.3MP webcam (H.264 enabled via Skype) with dual array digital microphones
· High definition audio with Waves MaxxAudio 4
· Microsoft Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
· 100GB of cloud storage through Dell DataSafe
· 12-month Skype Premium subscription

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

iPad 3 coming this Friday ... will be available from Verizon on their 4G network

2012-03-13T21:15:00.004-07:00

Verizon Wireless announced Tuesday that it will offer the new iPad (which I'll call the iPad 3 even if Apple won't, as the new iPad just sounds silly to me) starting this Friday, March 16. Verizon Wireless will offer all models of iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G and will allow customers to connect to its 4G LTE network. Also, Verizon is supporting the Personal Hotspot feature of the new iPad, so users can share their network connection with up to 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB.

The iPad 3 features a new Retina display, Apple’s A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel camera and 1080p HD video. It also claims to deliver 10 hours of battery life, and can be used worldwide.

“Customers have been enthusiastic over the iPad on our 3G network and we expect even more excitement for the new iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network,” said Tami Erwin, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.

Customers can buy the iPad 3 at Verizon Wireless stores and online at verizonwireless.com/ipad beginning Friday, March 16.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

Apple's digital adaptor's compatibility issues are inexcusable; company can do better

2012-03-12T22:06:00.006-07:00

Apple's got a good thing going with the iPhone and iPad lines, as they are some of the most well known products in the world and earns the company billions, but when it comes to their accessories the company is not without its flaws.

Take for example a very simple idea: The idea that you want to connect your phone or tablet to your HDTV and transmit the content to a bigger screen.

On many Android phones, this is a very simple thing to do via their HDMI port.
On the iPhone, well, it all depends on what version of their phone or tablet you have.

I found that out this week firsthand when I purchased Apple's AV Digital Adaptor, with this goal in mind. This is a pretty simple concept, I was told by people who had used it, and all you need is this little adaptor.

One problem I didn't anticipate: I was connecting an iPhone 4 to the HDTV, and that apparently doesn't work so hot. Nothing on the phone transmitted to the TV with an image other than a few YouTube videos. The rest were sound only; which doesn't do much for me.

After doing some research, I found that the only Apple devices the adaptor works fully with are the iPhone 4S and the iPad 2. Anything older, and it's hit or miss as to what you can transmit to your TV.

Sorry, Apple. But this is unacceptable. If you want to be a top-level phone (and the iPhone is a top-level on most levels), it shouldn't be that hard to transmit an image from your phone to the television. The fact that this adaptor costs $40 (far too much for a simple connector) and doesn't even work properly with a device as recent as the iPhone 4 is just crazy.

It is little things like this that make people unhappy with Apple. Quite frankly, the company is worth endless billions, so this oversight should be quite fixable.

My theory on this: They want you to buy the latest and greatest, so devices like this don't always work with older models on purpose.
And if my theory is true, well that's just disrespectful to the consumer.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

Verizon Wireless introduces small business advisor tool

2012-03-07T19:42:00.002-08:00

Verizon Wireless has announced the introduction of the Small Business Advisor — a free, interactive tool that provides quick and easy recommendations for mobile solutions. The new service is designed to help customers find small business solutions that help boost productivity, protect information and use wireless technology to grow their business.

The Small Business Advisor takes on the role of an electronic consultant and saves the entrepreneur valuable time. There are plenty of applications across Android, iOS, BlackBerry and Windows platforms; this tool can point the user in the right direction, finding the apps that make the most sense to boost business efficiency in many areas including customer interaction, office administration, travel and video.

Users find apps and accessories with the help of a wizard that asks a few quick questions about the industry, the operating system of their mobile device, desired mobile tasks and overall business needs. It then analyzes the information and provides the user with a condensed profile of the most relevant and logical apps and accessories to download or purchase via a QR code.

“The Small Business Advisor is a key part of our SMB approach, helping our customers better determine the right applications for their business and get the most from their mobile devices,” said Michael Schaefer, executive director, Wireless Business Solutions, Verizon Wireless. “No matter what vertical our SMB customers are in, they all tell us they want the best tools to differentiate their business, expedite workflow, and save time and money. We are continually refining and delivering the best suite of tools to help our customers manage their business interests.”

Verizon Wireless’ Small Business Advisor is available for free at http://smallbizadvisor.verizonwireless.com.

And yet another Samsung Galaxy Tab is released on Verizon

2012-02-29T21:47:00.002-08:00

The Samsung Galaxy Tab^™ 7.7 is now available in Verizon Wireless Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is one of the smaller tablets on the market and features a Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen display.

It can access speedy Verizon's 4G LTE network, and has a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor

One unique feature is that it allows customers to use their tablet as a remote contorl. The Peel Smart Remote feature eliminates the need for multiple remote controls for televisions, audio players and other home entertainment systems, as customers can make their Tab 7.7 the master controller

Customers also can stream media to a compatible TV using the multimedia dock with a built-in HDMI port or the HDTV Adapter (sold separately).

Additional features:

· — 7.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display (1280x800)

· — Android^™ 3.2 Honeycomb – supports Google^™ Mobile Services, including Gmail^™, YouTube^™, Google Talk^™with video chat, Google Search^™, Google Maps^™, as well as access to Google Books^™, movie rentals and more than 400,000 apps on Android Market^™

· — 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, full 720p recording and 1080p playback (1080p playback through HDMI dock or adapter)

· — Front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chat

· — 16 GB on-board storage (actual formatted capacity is less)

· — Support for up to 32 GB microSD^™ card

The tablet can be turned into a Mobile Hotspot for an extra monthly fee, allowing it to share its 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled device.

Pricing:

· Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 costs $499.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Customers that purchase a Tab 7.7 will need to subscribe to a 4G LTE mobile broadband data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

Toshiba brings the Excite 10 LE tablet to U.S. starting March 6; claims it is world's thinnest tablet

2012-02-29T21:27:00.004-08:00

Another tablet has entered the market.

Toshiba has announced that the Excite 10 LE tablet will be available for purchase from select U.S. retailers March 6. Previously introduced as the Excite X10, the company says the Excite 10 LE is the world’s thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablet — measuring just 0.3 inches (7.7mm) thin and weighing 1.18 pounds.

So far nobody has been able to emerge as the one alternative to the iPad that everyone wants, and I doubt this will change that trend. But if it's as solid as they say, it might be able to garner some fans.

Here's a rundown of what the Excite 10 LE has to offer:

The Excite 10 LE tablet will feature the Android operating system, and will have a starting price of $529.99 for the 16GB model and $599.99 for the 32GB model.

Calling it a'luxury tablet, Carl Pinto — vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division — said: “We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design.”

The Excite 10 LE features a high-resolution 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite display, and features a magnesium alloy surface and scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display with an anti-smudge coating.

The tablet also comes with micro-USB and HDMI ports, a micro-SD slot to share content and files with other devices, Wi-Fi and Bluetoothconnectivity. An enhanced sound performance is promised, too, plus front and back HD cameras, and 1080p video recording.

The Excite 10 LE tablet will come first with Android 3.2, Honeycomb, and later upgraded to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. Accessories such as a docking station and cases will be offered.

Here are some more specs:
— 10.1-inch diagonal LED Backlit widescreen Corning Gorilla Glass display with IPS technology and 10-finger multi-touch support
— 1280 x 800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio
— Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 multicore processor; 1.2GHz with 1GB LPDDR2 RAM
— 16GB and 32GB configurations
— 2 megapixel front-facing camera
— 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash
— Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports
— Micro SD card slot
— Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
— Gyroscope, Accelerometer, GPS, eCompass and Ambient Light Sensor
— Stereo speakers with sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS Labs
— Built-in 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery
— 10.1” (W) x 6.9” (D) x 0.3” (H)
— 1.18 pounds (535g)

Contact Matt Myftiu at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

T-Mobile announces the new HTC One S smartphone, complete with Ice Cream Sandwich and new HTC Sense UI

2012-02-26T13:07:00.005-08:00

There's a new competitor coming to the smartphone arena, and it's part of the newly unveiled three-phone "HTC One" series by HTC.
Today at Mobile World Congress 2012, HTC announced that starting this spring, they will be offering the HTC OneS. The HTC One S will be T-Mobile’s thinnest smartphone (7.95mm) and featuring an ultra-sleek, aluminum unibody design. The HTC One S is T-Mobile’s first product to ship with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and the HTC Sense 4 user interface.

The HTC One S allows offers entertainment features such as Beats By Dr. Dre sound technology. The HTC One S also makes it simple to get and listen to music, with Google Music pre-loaded on the device for easy cloud-based access to the user’s personal music collection.

“We’re thrilled to partner with HTC on the launch of its new HTC One series of smartphones and to bring the HTC One S to the U.S.,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “With the HTC One S, we’re not only delivering on our promise to bring leading-edge technology to market but are continuing to provide customers with the best 4G entertainment experiences from listening to high-quality music to streaming high-resolution movies.”

The phone's camera and video technology is also a highlight.
Camera enhancements include:

-- Fast Capture – The HTC One S dramatically reduces the time it takes to capture those key moments, with an estimated 0.7-second shot time and a 0.2-second autofocus that allows for nearly unlimited continuous shots.

-- High Quality Photos in Adverse Conditions – The HTC One S delivers dramatic enhancements in image capture quality even in adverse lighting conditions. The f/2.0 lens on the HTC One S offers amazing low-light performance, capturing 40 percent more light than the f/2.4 lenses available on other high-end phones.

-- Concurrent Video/Still Capture – HTC One S lets the user capture a shot and shoot video at the same time – perfect for capturing life’s moments as they happen. While shooting 1080p HD video, consumers just need to tap the shutter button and the device snaps a high-resolution still photo while the video continues to shoot. Consumers can also capture a still from a previously recorded video.

“People take photos on their phone more than any activity other than making phone calls, which is why we improved every part of the camera experience on HTC One S,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, global sales and marketing, HTC Corporation. “We’re thrilled to bring our combination of our premium design, amazing camera and authentic sound to T-Mobile customers in the U.S.”

The HTC One S will be equipped with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor by Qualcomm and a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED touch screen.

Availability

The HTC One S is expected to be available this spring from T-Mobile at retail stores, select dealers and retailers nationwide, and online at http://www.t-mobile.com. For more information, visit http://htc.t-mobile.com/one/s-4g-phone or http://www.htc.com/us/products/htcones-tmobile.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com.

REVIEW: Supersize your battery life with the Droid Razr Maxx

2012-02-23T22:45:00.002-08:00

Everyone complains about smartphone battery life, so it’s amazing to me that no phone has ever been released with a truly awesome extended life battery.

Well, make that no phone “had” been released, as the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx knocks out all contenders in terms of battery life and will make charging a much less common affair. To be perfectly clear here, the Droid Razr Maxx is the exact same phone as the Droid Razr, it just has a much better battery. And since the Razr comes with top-notch specs, and was one of my favorite phones last year, I would bet the farm that the Maxx will be a blockbuster, as it addresses the key concern so many people have about their phones.

EXTREME BATTERY LIFE
Let me break down the numbers, so you know how big the advantage is.
The big thing that drains battery life on phones is data use, especially programs that are more data-intensive like Pandora Radio or Netflix. In my testing of the Razr Maxx, I opened up Pandora when the battery was full and let it run all day until it was completely drained. In the process, I was very impressed to see that the phone did not run dry for 16 hours.
To put this in perspective, I would be lucky to get half that much battery life on other smartphones if I ran Pandora nonstop. Some would be closer to 35 or 40 percent of that total.
For those who watch movies on their phones via Netflix, the numbers will be very similar. Lots of life, lots of movies before recharging.

This is the big selling point on this phone. If you like to run apps like this for many hours a day, you can still go a couple or even three days without charging the phone (really, no one is going to run Pandora for 16 hours, as I did in the test. We usually have other stuff to do during the day.)
If you’re a big talker, Verizon promises 21.5 hours of continuous talk time before the battery dies. I don’t really use my phone too much for talking that much, so I didn’t get to test this out, but even if they’re a few hours too generous with that number, that’s still a very impressive number. Standby time is listed at up to 380 hours.

This is all due to the 3300 mAh Lithium Ion battery on the Razr Maxx, a number which stomps all over the competition’s numbers. The regular Razr only has a 1780 mAh Lithium Ion battery, and some other phones on Verizon and elsewhere are even less impressive.
To sum it up in a sentence, however often you charge your phone currently, if you get the Droid Razr Maxx your worst case scenario is you’ll have to charge it half as often, maybe even less. Not too shabby

The only beef I have with the battery is kind of a fairness issue: Why wait to introduce this and make two versions? If I was an early adopter of the Razr, and couldn’t upgrade to the Maxx, I would be very annoyed. They should have skipped the original and gone straight to this one.

LOOKS
You still have a big (4.3 inch), very slim and attractive phone in the Droid Razr Maxx, though it is slightly thicker than the original Razr due to the bigger battery. You cannot remove the battery on the phone, but since you really don’t have a bigger battery option that you could switch to, that’s not a concern. Like the original, you get a Kevlar reinforced backplate, and the Gorilla Glass on the touchscreen does a great job to protect the phone in case of drops.

OPERATING SYSTEM
Like the original Razr, the Maxx still features Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is promised soon. It’s a bit of a disappointment that it’s not there yet, as ICS has some very nice improvements to the OS, but it’s not the end of the world to have to wait probably a few months for it.

SPEED
Without going into all the details, the specs that carry over from the original Razr are top-notch; from the high-end cameras, to the 1.2 GHz dual-core processor to the 4G LTE Verizon network that you can access for ultra fast downloads and uploads. To get a full rundown on the specs on the Razr and Razr Maxx, go online to (http://bit.ly/A0sQaS )
PRICE
The Droid Razr Maxx will cost you $299.99 with a two-year contract. This is $100 more than the original RAZR, and trust me that $100 is worth it (just think of electricity costs for twice the charging over a two-year span. At this point I don’t know why anyone would buy the original RAZR.

BOTTOM LINE
If you want the best smartphone battery out there on the market right now, the Droid Razr Maxx is the way to go. And with the original Razr already being a great smartphone in terms of overall specs and performance, I can see the Maxx and its supercharged battery being a huge hit for Verizon this year. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a bunch of copycat extended battery smartphones in its wake, as others wonder why they didn’t do it first

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com or 248-745-4617. Follow him on Twitter @MattMyftiu or become a fan of the Facebook page “OPTechTime”.

T-Mobile announces March launch of Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G

2012-02-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) have confirmed the upcoming March availability of the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G from T-Mobile. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is the latest addition to the successful Galaxy S line of products.

T-Mobile’s newest 4G smartphone offers a variety of features and applications. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G entertainment offerings make it easy for T-Mobile customers to stream their favorite movies on Netflix^®, enjoy live or on-demand TV programs on T-Mobile TV in mobile HD or download a popular movie or TV show using Samsung Media Hub. Additionally, the smartphone features TeleNav GPS Navigator, which provides hands-free, voice-guided turn-by-turn driving directions, real-time traffic alerts, full-color 3-D moving maps and local alerts, helping customers get to where they need to go. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also comes preloaded with a customized version of the Yelp mobile application, featuring the ability to save profiles so users can keep preferences the same with one touch in any city, making it easy to find and read reviews for local places to eat, shop, drink and play.

Also pre-loaded on the device, the T-Mobile 4GPro App Pack offers an aggregation of key business applications, such as DropBox, Evernote, Square, TripIt, Camscanner and LinkedIn, helping busy consumers be even more productive while balancing their professional and personal lives.

“The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is loaded with rich features and services to keep consumers entertained and connected virtually anywhere they want to go,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Paired with T-Mobile’s fast 4G network and our unlimited data plans, we’re making it easy for consumers to enjoy the benefits of 4G experiences at a price they can afford.”

The smartphone comes in a carbon black color and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also features a SnapdragonS3 processor by Qualcomm with 1.5 GHz dual-core CPUs and a beautiful 3.97-inch Super AMOLED^™ touch screen providing consumers with a rich experience watching their favorite movie or TV show on the device.

The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also features a 720p HD video recorder, 5-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, flash and advanced shooting modes, as well as a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat.

The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers and retailers nationwide, and online starting in late March. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is expected to cost $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate card, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan. For more information, visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/samsung-galaxy-blaze.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com

As furor over throttling of data speeds grows, AT&T should address user concerns

2012-02-19T13:57:00.001-08:00

AT&T is some hot water, specifically in regard to its recent efforts to “throttle” what it calls high-profile data users – basically making their data speeds ridiculously slow if the company thinks they’re hogging too much data. They claim it’s only affecting the top five percent of users, and most people won’t be affected.

The issue goes down to the fact that some people still have “unlimited” data plans, though new users can not get unlimited data and must choose a tier from AT&T’s list of data offerings.

So while those grandfathered into the unlimited plan might have thought they were in the clear to use as much data as they please, apparently that’s not the case, and they get real annoyed when things start to run very slowly. Some say it’s happening far more often than AT&T will admit, and affecting more people than the company says.

Angry users accuse AT&T of trying to “coax” them toward the tiered data limits and say they are getting warnings of throttling after just 1.5 GB of data being used.
Many people claim it’s all for nothing too, as throttling doesn’t necessarily improve network performance.

And in another wrinkle, AT&T offers a 3GB plan for $30 monthly (same price as the old unlimited plan) but that is not subject to throttling.

My observations:

-- If this throttling of unlimited plan customers is happening so early as many people claim, AT&T needs to be completely transparent about it. All numbers and facts should be out on the table for discussion purposes as this issue is resolved.

-- If people with unlimited plans are really annoyed by this throttling, they should be given the option to get out of their contracts … (Sprint is the only network that still offers an unlimited plan; many may be considering a switch to them, as they currently have no plans to kill their unlimited plan) ... or be allowed to switch to the 3GB limit tiered plan that is the same price so they can avoid throttling.

Side note: There is more bad news for AT&T customers: They have announced that the smartphone activation fee is now doubled from $18 to $36. This type of nickel and diming won’t gain them any fans, and is disappointing.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com