Latest Gear Live Videos
Amazon Kindle Touch no longer in stock
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Rumors,
Last week we told you that a bunch of current Kindle ereaders were no longer available, and today the Kindle Touch joins that list. At this point, we'd say it's a sure thing that Amazon's September 6 event will be focused on refreshing the entire Kindle line. Both the Wi-Fi version and the 3G version of the Kindle Touch is out of stock, so if you were really, really wanting one and can't wait a week-and-a-half, you'd better be hitting up Craigslist.
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| Kindle Touch
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AT&T charging for FaceTime over Cellular is double-dipping consumer robbery
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
With the release of iOS 6 beta 3 yesterday, a disturbing "feature" was uncovered. Some users on with AT&T iPhones are reporting that, when they attempt to enable FaceTime over Cellular, a prompt pops up that tells the user to contact AT&T in order to enable the feature. Many are assuming that this means that AT&T will be looking to charge a premium for customers to use FaceTime over its data connection, and if that is the case, it is straight up consumer robbery.
iOS warning foreshadows FaceTime over 3G?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors, Software,
Since the introduction of FaceTime, users have been clamoring for a time when the technology would work over 3G. Since the debut of FaceTime as the major feature of the iPhone 4, it's been relegated to Wi-Fi-only staus, which meant that many on-the-go users never used it. However, a recent error message found by iDevice displays the message "Disabling 3G may end FaceTime."
With the next iPhone rumored to be LTE-enabled, it isn't hard to believe that FaceTime over 3G and/or LTE will be a feature of iOS 6. When FaceTime was first introduced, Steve Jobs noted that Apple needed "to work a little bit with the cellular providers to get [FaceTime] ready for the future."
Read More | iDevice
Sprint Tri-Fi hotspot brings LTE, WiMAX, and 3G connectivity for $99
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Wireless / WiFi,
Sprint has made the smart decision to move to LTE for its future high-speed mobile network, but in the meantime, it's got WiMAX and 3G to take advantage of while building out the faster LTE that's set for a limited summer launch. Rather than continuing to sell deprecated hotspots, Sprint is hoping tha the Tri-Fi will be a nice bridge. Set to launch on May 18th, the Sprint Tri-Fi is a mobile hotspot that supports its current WiMAX and 3G networks, as well as the LTE network as well, and comes to you from Sierra Wireless. You can pick this bad boy up for $99 after a $50 rebate, alongside a two-year contract.
iPad carrier settings update now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Software,
Apple has released a carrier settings update for the iPad. The one we're running if the Verizon LTE 3rd generation model, so your mileage may vary. Plug in and check iTunes to see if it's available for you. If it is, the download and update will take all of just a few seconds, and you're done! Also, if you haven't seen it, check out our new iPad review.
AT&T clarifies throttling rules for unlimited data customers
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Smartphones, Corporate News,
AT&T stopped offering unlimited data plans for its cell phone customers long ago, but allowed those who already subscribed to such a plan to be grandfathered in. However, recently it's become very obvious that, grandfathered in or not, AT&T wants you off of the unlimited plan, and that they'd annoy you with slow data speeds in an effort to nudge you towards a tiered plan. Some users were seeing their speeds throttled down after using just 2 GB of data on their "unlimited" plans. After enough people complained, and enough press covered it, AT&T has finally decided upon what the throttling rules will be for unlimited data customers. If you have a smartphone that works on our 3G or 4G network and still have an unlimited data plan:
- You'll receive a text message when your usage approaches 3 GB in one billing cycle.
- Each time you use 3 GB or more in a billing cycle, your data speeds will be reduced for the rest of that billing cycle and then go back to normal.
- The next time you exceed that usage level, your speeds will be reduced without another text message reminder.
- If you have a 4G LTE smartphone and still have an unlimited data plan, the same process applies at 5 GB of data usage, instead of 3 GB.
So, there you have it. If you have an unlimited 3G data plan, then you can use up to 3 GB of data in a given billing cycle before your speeds are throttled down to super-slow for the remainder of the cycle. Once a new cycle begins, the process starts again. As for you unlimited 4G LTE AT&T customers, you get 5 GB instead of 3 GB. Kind of horrible, since 4G LTE is supposed to let you get faster data speeds and all the advertisements around it show customers using it to stream movies and TV shows, and yet AT&T is saying if you do that a couple of times, then for the rest of the month your data speeds will be nowhere near what 4G LTE is advertised as.
Someone won a $5,000 vacation for using 419 GB of 3G data in one week
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,
Here in the U.S., the days of unlimited data are over, unless you've been grandfathered in on an older plan (and even those are now being throttled!) However, unlimited data is still running rampant and wild in the land of Russia.
Russian carrier MegaFon held a competition to see which of its customers could use the most data--seriously, imagine that happening in America. There were more than 1 million rubles ($33,000) in prizes at stake. The winner, who used a staggering 419 GB of data in just one week, won an overseas vacation valued at about $5,000. Though we’re not sure how he used 21-megbits-per-second, we stand in awe of both the user, and the mobile carrier that encouraged the bahavior. So if you ever find yourself in Mother Russia, just remember, over there you don’t use data, data uses you.
Read More | C News
Playstation Vita: How to get it a week early
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: PlayStation Vita, Sony,
Can't wait to get your hands on the PlayStation Vita portable console? Sony announced today that those who purchase a special bundle will receive the device one week early.
The PlayStation Vita officially goes on sale in the U.S. on February 22, but it will arrive a few days early for those who purchase a $349.99 bundle that includes the 3G + Wi-Fi Vita, a limited edition case, a 4GB PS Vita memory card, and the Little Deviants game. Pre-order it now.
The bundle for Canadian users includes a Wi-Fi Vita, the case, 4GB memory card, and Little Deviants for $299.99.
Users in both countries can pick up their bundles on February 15.
Click to continue reading Playstation Vita: How to get it a week early
Read More | Playstation Vita First Edition Bundle
Sony’s PlayStation Vita launches February 2012 in the US
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hardware, PlayStation Vita, Sony,
Sony has announced a Feb. 2012 launch date for the PlayStation Vita, its next-generation portable console, SCEA's chief executive said at the Web 2.0 Summit on Tuesday. You can pre-order one now.
Sony previously said that the PlayStation Vita would launch Dec. 17 in Asia and Japan in time for the holidays. Hundreds of people lined up in Tokyo just to get in line for the presale.
"But today, we're announcing that it will be available in North America, Latin America and Europe on Feb. 22, just four months away," said Jack Tretton, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment of America. Sony will price the Vita at $249 for the Wi-Fi version and $299 for the Wi-Fi/3G version, Tretton said.
Sony executives said previously that the Vita would miss the winter holidays for the North American market.
Click to continue reading Sony’s PlayStation Vita launches February 2012 in the US
Unboxing Live 073: Sprint 4G MiFi WiMAX Mobile Hotspot
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Cell Phones, Features, Videocasts,
We give you a look at the Sprint MiFi 4G mobile hotspot in this episode of Unboxing Live. The MiFi connects to Sprint's and Clear's WiMAX 4G network, providing broadband speeds on the go. If you leave the 4G area, then it bumps down to standard 3G speed so that you can still stay connected. You can allow up to 5 devices access to the MiFi Wi-Fi network at once, which means you can use it to provide access for your phone, computer, and three other devices all at the same time.
Big thanks to our sponsor - GoToMeeting makes it easy to collaborate with anyone, anywhere - and they have just released their new HD faces feature that lets you see the webcams of up to 6 users as a time, which means you're collaborating face-to-face. Also, be sure and grab a free $5 credit from JackThreads now!
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