Hasta La Gadget!

When we first heard through the grapevine that Best Buy was launching its own branded wireless data service, Connect, rumor had it that 4G was going to be baked right in there. We’d later learn that was just wishful thinking, but today’s announcement of a partnership with Clearwire makes it instead simply look premature. Starting sometime next year, Best Buy Connect will offer 4G wireless data over Clearwire’s WiMAX network — and that’s all the two are saying about this partnership right now. We’re hoping prices for these next-gen data plans stay with their current levels, $30 monthly for 250MB up to $60 for 5GB, but all that extra bandwidth might just make those caps feel even tighter.

Continue reading Best Buy partners with Clearwire, will Connect customers to 4G

Best Buy partners with Clearwire, will Connect customers to 4G originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s hard to say for certain what exactly this flyer means, but it sure looks as if at least some iPhone 4 owners will be able to snatch a free invisibleSHIELD 4fix (valued at $9.99 or so) from their local Best Buy. Based on a number of tips that we’ve received, we’re getting the impression that the yellow-tagged retailer could be handing out (and installing) completely free side coverings for any iPhone 4 owner that waltzes into a store, presumably as a proactive measure to fend off returns or to upsell consumers on an entire invisibleSHIELD / separate case. Nothing about this notice makes clear that you actually have to buy your iPhone 4 from Best Buy in order to take advantage, but we probably wouldn’t waste a lunch break giving this a go without a verbal confirmation from your local store manager. Until it’s made official, of course.

Update: We’ve heard from another tipster that the deal is indeed legitimate, and it’s for any human with an iPhone 4, not just those who purchased their phone from Best Buy. We’d recommend calling your local store to double check, but things are looking up.

Update 2: Ah, so we’ve finally received the full skinny from another tipster. The offer only applies to those who purchased their iPhone 4 from Best Buy / Best Buy Mobile or for Best Buy Reward Zone members. Granted, it’s pretty easy to sign up for the aforementioned reward program, but those are the stipulations. The official BB name for the product you’ll be getting is the Zagg SideShield, which would cost you $9.99 otherwise.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading Best Buy to offer free invisibleSHIELD 4fix to aggravated iPhone 4 owners

Best Buy to offer free invisibleSHIELD 4fix to aggravated iPhone 4 owners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re still not sure if we believe in the promises made by the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) yet — buy a piece of content once in physical or digital format, and gain access across all formats and devices via a cloud based account — but we’re closer to finding out for ourselves now that it has a new name, UltraViolet. In case you haven’t been paying attention over the last couple of years, the DECE group is already home to most of the biggest names on both the content and consumer electronics sides of the business, with the most notable holdouts being Apple and Disney, which is backing its own competing system, Keychest. The latest additions to the UltraViolet team are LG, LOVEFiLM and Marvell, while key members like Comcast, Microsoft, Intel and Best Buy are quoted in this morning’s press release. Check it out for yourself after the break and keep an eye out for that grey and purple logo on movies and players later this year when it begins testing.

Continue reading DECE’s ‘digital locker’ take-anywhere DRM dubbed UltraViolet, launches later this year

DECE’s ‘digital locker’ take-anywhere DRM dubbed UltraViolet, launches later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy has released details about its Best Buy Connect mobile broadband service, which will provide 5GB of data usage for about $60 per month.

Users can install the program on their laptops or netbooks and access 3G coverage in 18,900 cities and 1,855 airports throughout the U.S., Best Buy said; much like consumers would connect to the Web on their mobile phone. The company has posted a coverage map on its Web site.

Sprint will provide the underlying 3G network, the company confirmed.

Pricing varies depending on your data usage and contract status.

We’ll admit that we never took Best Buy as the kind of company to sell its own wireless service, but you know what Best Buy does sell? Laptops with unlocked WWAN modems, and to that end, the retailer’s Best Buy Connect offering seems to be a pretty attractive one. Monthly plan pricing is about what you’d expect from anyone else, and you’ll be able to choose between two-year, one-year, and contract-free packages for the same price — the only difference is how much subsidy they’ll throw in for you upfront. On a two-year deal, you’ll get $275 off the compatible laptop of your choice, which compares favorably against all of its competitors — AT&T at $150, Verizon at $200, and Sprint at $250 — while you’ll pay $60 for 5GB of data, $40 for 500MB, or $30 for 250MB (only available without a contract). Sure, you might not attract the glitz, glamor, and curious stares that a high-fashion name brand like Verizon might… but seriously, who are we kidding? Data is data, and if this works well, it sounds like a square deal. Hit up the source link for all the details.

[Thanks, Christian]

Best Buy Connect wireless service is official, offers contract-free plans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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