Hasta La Gadget!

We all seem to have issues with our cable company. Whether it’s because of weird charges on our monthly bill or unreliable service, there seems to never be a decent cable company out there that can provide a great experience for its customers. However, that’s not all true. It turns out that Verizon FiOS is pretty good, as it topped the list of Consumer Reports’ best internet/cable/phone bundles.

Based on a survey consisting of the thoughts and recommendations of 84,000 internet/cable/phone bundle subscribers, Verizon FiOS came out on top due to its reliability, great picture and phone call quality, and high service satisfaction. Of course, FiOS is only available in a select number of areas in the US, so some customers are out of luck if they’re looking for the best option.

However, Consumer Reports recommends some alternatives if you’re not looking for a complete “triple-play” bundle. For instance, they recommend DirecTV if you’re just looking for a television package, and they also mention Vonage and Ooma as great phone-only options if you’re already happy with your internet and television packages. Of course, many households are looking to cut the cable cord and just go with internet-only options, which many service providers are happy to do.

The report from Consumer Reports is rather extensive, and it features ratings of internet/TV/phone bundles from 14 different companies, as well as companies that offer individual phone, TV, or internet services. The full report can be found in the May issue of Consumer Reports, which is out now.

Verizon FiOS tops list of best internet bundles by Consumer Reports is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

So, how’s BlackBerry doing? Not too bad, actually. The company formerly known as Research in Motion posted fourth-quarter results (.pdf) Thursday and boasted that it shipped approximately 1 million Z10 smartphones as of March 2 and brought in $114 million. …

Yachay project manager Ramiro Moncayo reviews a map of the area.

(Credit: Twitter/CiudadYachay)

Editor’s note: This is the third part of Crave’s four-part series on Ecuador’s attempt to become Latin America’s hub for science, technology, and innovation. Read part 1, “Plotting the next Silicon Valley — you’ll never guess where,” and part 2, “New Silicon Valley in the Andes: Promise and paradox.”

QUITO, Ecuador–Right now, I’m one of the final things standing between Ramiro Moncayo and a vacation he’s been waiting to take for years. It’s just a few days before Christmas, and needless to say, he is very excited about the couple of days he is about to spend with his family on a holiday getaway.

Moncayo is the project manager for Yachay, the ambitious planned city that the equally ambitious government of Ecuador’s leftist President Rafael Correa has been trying to shove into existence for a few years now.

Since taking office just a half decade ago and with the help of a fountain of oil revenues, Correa and company have modernized t… [Read more]

Related Links:
New Silicon Valley in the Andes: Promise and paradox
Plotting the next Silicon Valley — you’ll never guess where
Marissa Mayer wouldn’t approve of these spots I’ve worked from
Silicon Valley stymied on immigrant worker plan
Silicon Valley execs press D.C. on immigration law fixes

Researchers at Panasonic’s imaging division have found a way to increase the sensitivity of digital camera sensors, which in turn equates to almost double the brightness in photos taken in low light conditions. But the discovery has nothing to do with the sensor itself; instead, the company’s improved the color processing filter placed in front of it. More »

Have you ever wondered why your skin gets covered in tiny bumps when you step out of the shower, or when your body’s fight or flight instincts kick in? The goosebumps phenomenon, named after the way a large bird looks after being plucked, is actually your body’s attempt to protect itself. More »