Hasta La Gadget!

Ever wonder how much data you burn through every month on average? If you’re an Android user within the US, odds are that it’s quite a lot. The NPD Group estimates that Americans of the Google persuasion typically consume about 870MB of data on cellular networks every month. While it’s not an extreme amount next to the 2.5GB of WiFi usage, it’s enough to give anyone second thoughts about coasting on a basic data plan — and a reflection of how both 4G and media apps have changed our behavior. Not surprisingly, it’s a younger crowd more comfortable with smartphones that’s the most aggressive: the 18-24 set races through 1.05GB a month where the 55-plus audience uses a more modest (if still healthy) 750MB. We don’t yet know how iOS stacks up in current conditions, but the NPD is promising a comparable look soon. Something tells us the iPhone 5’s LTE will lead to just as much voraciousness.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

NPD: Android users chew an average 870MB of cellular data per month, youngest gobble the most originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I’ve seen a lot of iPad stands in my day. Comes with the territory. But only one has ever earned a regular place in my gadget bag and on my desk: A scrappy upstart from Kickstarter that made it to big box retail (via Future Shop and Best Buy) called the PadPivot. And now that device just got better, with an update that fixes its sole noteworthy weak spot.

Short Version

If you want an iPad stand that is equally comfortable and practical on the road and on your desk at home, and that makes it possible to relax and watch video at home on the couch without crossing one leg over the other, Jobs-on-stage-at-press-event style, the PadPivot NST is the one to get.

Features:

• Portable, folding design.
• Grippy plate to keep your iPad from shifting.

Pros:

• Lightweight, small footprint.
• Works with iPhones, other tablets, smartphones, too.

Cons:

• Technically wants you to put a sticker on your iPad back.
• Comes with lanyard, the purpose of which is a mystery.

Long Version

For those who don’t know, the PadPivot is a unique iPad stand, designed to be equally at home both on the road riding your thigh, or at home on any stable surface. It features a modular design that can come apart and reassemble as a smaller package for portability, and supports the iPad in both horizontal and vertical orientations in more than a few different ways. But arguably its main selling point is a sticky pad that keeps the iPad firmly rooted when you’re otherwise shifting around, something that comes in very handy when you encounter turbulence or bump-inducing sections of bad rail.

The new PadPivot, dubbed the NST, gets an update to that iPad-sticking surface, one that eliminates the need for a dust cover, previously a required component to prevent the sticky pad from losing its magic over time. The new design instead provides a clear sticker that a user applies to the back of their iPad, which provides a glossy surface for the grippy pad to stick to, but I’ve actually found it works pretty well without, so long as you make sure the Apple logo is centered on the device. It also works well with the iPhone 5, despite that having a matte back finish.

This new design also folds up faster than the original for easier portability, since the top pad can quickly be spun out and inserted in the bottom, making for a very compact package that can slide into a pocket.

Generally speaking, iPad stands don’t have much of a chance of eliciting any kind of reaction from me, besides maybe a world-weary sigh. But the PadPivot is an exception, one that travels with me wherever I go. After spending some time with the latest version, it’s clear that creator Bernie Graham is focused on making a very good product even better, so recommending this at $39.99 is a no-brainer.

The easiest way to get anyone to do anything is to make the task fun and enjoyable. And while it’s sad that gents have to be coerced into properly using a urinal, the Pee Pro promises to promote accuracy by encouraging every user to be as on-target as possible. More »

T-Mobile’s just received a hefty cash boost thanks to a tower-leasing agreement it’s entered into with Crown Castle. The deal leases 7,200 wireless towers to the infrastructure firm for a term of 28 years in exchange for $2.4 billion — that T-Mobile’s parent Deutsche Telekom will use to pay off debt. As part of the contract, Crown Castle can buy the towers outright when the deal ends in 2040 for a further $2.4 billion — and is planning to make money by adding another tenant to T-Mobile’s system, so depending on your carrier, you might find your coverage suddenly getting a lot better.

Continue reading T-Mobile leases 7,200 mobile towers to Crown Castle in a 28-year, $2.4 billion deal

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

T-Mobile leases 7,200 mobile towers to Crown Castle in a 28-year, $2.4 billion deal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s about to be a brand new smart TV in your living room with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, wireless streaming abilities, and no more than a $50 price tag, all of this in a tiny dongle: FAVI’s Streaming Stick. This little device comes in white or in black – though it wont matter as it’ll be plugged in to the back or the side of your television in your HDMI port the entire time its in operation. Plug it in to the HDMI port, plug a mini-USB cord into the side of the stick for power, and connect your wireless keyboard and mouse for next-level Android-based media engagement!

This device comes by itself with a simple remote control or you can pay an extra $39.99 for FAVI’s own mini wireless keyboard and touchpad mouse. You can also connect with DLNA and the device’s own MediaSHARE app so you can stream media from your computer to the device. You’ve got Google Play on the device right on the device right out of the box, and it all connects to the web via wi-fi. The stick works with a slightly modified version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean made specifically for the television of your choice – a startup sequence allows you to expand or retract your display area at will.

You’ve also got a standard headphone-sized audio port and a full-sized USB port so you can run a mouse or wired keyboard through the device if you wish. You can use a USB hub through the device if you wish for additional accessories, and any and all Android apps that don’t require specific processors will work right out of the box. At the moment we’re getting in contact with FAVI to check which processor this device does have, but they’ve been clear thus far on its ability to play basic games such as Angry Birds for sure.

This device is up for pre-order now and will be shipping in October, coming in two iterations – the first is a 4GB internal storage version for $49, the second is $79 and includes 8GB of internal storage. Does it look like FAVI has made the instant-smart-TV device for you? Let us know if you’re ready to jump in to the internet-connected TV universe with Android running the show!

SmartStick by FAVI brings Android to your HDTV for $50 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
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