Nokia prepping $120 million ad campaign ahead of Windows Phone launch?

With the dust from its Microsoft partnership having somewhat settled, Nokia is reportedly looking to kick off its forthcoming line of Windows Phones with a major marketing campaign. According to Marketing Magazine, Elop & Co. have already devoted some £80 million (about $127 million) to the six-month ad endeavor, which is expected to launch in October. Considering all the job cuts and downwardly revised corporate forecasts, an advertising refresh would seem like a logical way for Nokia to embark on a new era. But the company is remaining rather mum on the subject, saying, “We are excited about the Nokia with Windows phone, but it’s not our policy to comment on specific campaigns for unannounced products.” Awkwardly executed “leaks,” on the other hand, are an entirely different matter.

[Thanks, John]

Nokia prepping $120 million ad campaign ahead of Windows Phone launch? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MelApp checks for skin cancer, tracks moles

When good moles go bad, the iOS app can help determine your risk for melanoma. The app uses photos of your moles, and a risk assessment process, to give you a heads-up about your cancer chances.

Hands On with Sony’s Gorgeous New Android Tablets

These tablets, codenamed S1 and the S2, are why we need Sony—the Sony we love—in a world where almost every gadget of consequence is effectively a blank slate for software. More »

Editorial: Netflix was too cheap before, but now it’s just wrong

Yesterday Netflix did something pretty big: it cut the umbilical cord on its streaming video offerings. What was once a funny little niche offering, a rag-tag collection of canceled TV shows you never watched and ’80s movies you never rented, had grown into something big, something that still wasn’t quite great but was legitimately very good. As such, that service deserved its own plan, to stand tall and apart from the red envelopes that made the company famous.

But there’s one problem: after cutting Instant loose, creating a new $7.99 streaming-only plan, Netflix stuck the dagger right in its own side by not re-thinking its disc-based rentals — plans that looked a lot more valuable before than they do now. Netflix has succeeded in making its on-demand offerings so good that those unlimited snail mail samplings can’t quite stand up on their own two feet anymore. At least, they can’t stand up tall enough to support their $7.99 and up prices. Maybe, Netflix, it’s time to go back to the fundamentals.

Continue reading Editorial: Netflix was too cheap before, but now it’s just wrong

Editorial: Netflix was too cheap before, but now it’s just wrong originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s basic white MacBook also getting update?

Little has been said lately about Apple’s basic white MacBook. Could that be set for an upgrade as well?

How to read an HDTV review

Ever wonder how to read an HDTV review? Wonder no longer, with this how-to guide.

Originally posted at How To

Cowon D3 firmware update brings Android 2.3, now treats your fingers as well as your ears

Hey there, high roller. If you splurged on Cowon‘s beautiful, profoundly expensive D3 Plenue, you’ve probably wondered when you’d get an upgrade from Android 2.1. Well, that day is today, as the company’s released an updated, Gingerbread-based firmware. The new code adds some miscellaneous new features – a sleep timer for the music app, some more music search options, and VoIP – and ought to improve system stability. It also promises better touch responsiveness, which we hope alleviates the sluggishness that made the little PMP so difficult to use. If similar frustration with your D3 rendered it an elegant paperweight, glide over to the source link to see if the update soothes your pain.

[Thanks, Stefan]

Cowon D3 firmware update brings Android 2.3, now treats your fingers as well as your ears originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Anythingbutipod  |  sourceCowon  | Email this | Comments

Sony 3D Experience brings free on-demand movie trailers, sports clips to Bravia TVs


HDTV manufacturers have used a variety of tactics to attract customers to the 3D segment, bundling free glasses, discounting Blu-ray players, and nearly eliminating unsightly bezels, but with content selection still incredibly limited, there’s been little incentive for consumers to shell out extra cash for a 3D set. Sony’s new 3D Experience sets out to expand those content offerings, streaming on-demand sports highlights and select movie trailers to Bravia LCD TVs, and eventually Blu-ray players and home theater systems. The Experience launches with just 30 clips in the US, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK today, but will eventually grow to include more movie, music, sports, and documentary titles. There’s no word on whether or not we can expect full-length films (or anything else we may actually be interested in watching) in the future, but with a commitment from Samsung to launch paid content later this year, we imagine Sony won’t follow too far behind.

Sony 3D Experience brings free on-demand movie trailers, sports clips to Bravia TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pocket Lint  |  sourceSony Europe  | Email this | Comments

Ad-supported Kindle 3G drops to $139

With a sponsorship from AT&T, Amazon has dropped the price of the Kindle 3G to $139.

Amazon Kindle 3G gets AT&T-sponsored ad-supported option priced at $139

Good news: now you can pick up an Amazon Kindle 3G for the same price as the Kindle WiFi. Naturally, there’s a catch here: ads, ads, ads — but you’ve gotten pretty good at tuning those things out anyway, right? The online retail giant announced today the availability of the Kindle 3G with Special Offers, priced at $139 (down from $189 for the ad-free version) — best of all, that price includes the 3G subscription, which won’t cost you a thing, if you’re willing to wade through “money saving offers” and some adtastic screensavers. The new option joins the already announced ad-support WiFi model, which will run you $114 and replaces the $164 non-AT&T-sponsored 3G version. Press after the break.

Update: As Ahecht pointed out in comments, this new, cheaper Kindle is actually a replacement for the older ad-supported 3G model.

Continue reading Amazon Kindle 3G gets AT&T-sponsored ad-supported option priced at $139

Amazon Kindle 3G gets AT&T-sponsored ad-supported option priced at $139 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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