Hasta La Gadget!

US Cellular‘s customers have enjoyed the freedom to upgrade their device at the end of their contract without taking on a new contract, something that will be coming to an end July 27th. In addition, the same day will see changes made to its 15-Day Excellence Guarantee policy, adding a $35 restocking fee whereby it used to be free to swap a device for a different one.

The change is in reference to US Cellular’s “One and Done” option, which would allow those who completed one contract term to take on an upgraded device – at the contract-subsidized price – without signing up for a new contract. This is coming to an end, with those customers now being required to take on a new two-year contract when they upgrade to a new device.

And as for the 15-Day Excellence Guarantee, before the change customers are allowed to try out a device for up to 15 days, and if they so choose, to return it for a different device. That could be done sans any fees, but starting later this month, those users will have to pay a $35 restocking fee. The option will still be available, however.

Said US Cellular, “We are continually evaluating the entire experience we offer to our customers. Beginning later this month, all customers will be required to sign a 2-year contract when purchasing a subsidized device. In addition, a restocking fee of $35 will be introduced as an update to the 15-Day Excellence Guarantee policy and will be charged when a customer returns a device during the 15-day time period.”

These changes may be sad news for current customers whose contracts will come to term after the July 27th date, but it isn’t anything out of the ordinary among other carriers. There’s still a little over a week left, so those who qualify can squeak in under the deadline and enjoy the “One and Done” offering.

SOURCE: Android Community

US Cellular putting end to contract-free upgrades for existing customers is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As the company stands now, Apple may not seem too invested in the television space. All they have is the Apple TV to show for it, compared to a slew of mobile products like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Obviously, this seems to be changing, as CEO Tim Cook has said himself that Apple is interested in television, but seeing as how they only have the Apple TV, the company owns 56% of the streaming box market.

That’s a pretty impressive number considering that the Apple TV isn’t the company’s main focus. As for other streaming boxes that have taken a piece of the pie, Roku comes in as the second most-popular streaming box at 21.5% and the “Other” category (which Google TV is most likely a part of) owns 15.9%. TiVo comes in at a measly 6.5%.

While the Apple TV isn’t the company’s main focus, they’ve been consistently adding new content and updating the device with new features in order to keep it up to date and relevant when competing against other streaming set-top boxes.

Of course, it certainly helps that the Apple TV comes with AirPlay, which allows Apple users to stream content from their iOS device or Mac directly to a television wirelessly through the Apple TV. This is one of the most popular features on the Apple TV. If you’re not using Netflix or Hulu Plus on the device, then you’re most likely using AirPlay, and this is a huge selling point.

Back in December, Tim Cook noted that the television space is “an area of intense interest” for the company. It’s been several months since that statement, and an Apple event has passed without any mention of television from Apple, but we’re guessing it’ll be a little while longer until we see something from them that lives up to Cook’s “intense interest” quote.

VIA: GigaOM

Apple TV taking over the living room, claims over half of streaming box market is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

AT&T has announced its Next program, which allows users to grab a new device annually without a down payment, then make monthly payments on the device much in the same way one leases a car. After the 12 months have come to an end, that device can then be turned in for a different device, or can be kept with additional payments.

Under the program, current customers can choose either a tablet or a smartphone every year sans various fees, such as an activation and upgrade fees, as well as eschewing a down payment on the device. There’s a contract with the program, which requires the subscriber to make payments for 20 months if they choose to keep the device rather than trade it in for a new one.

AT&T Mobility’s President and CEO Ralph de la Vega said: “With AT&T Next, customers can get the newest smartphone or tablet every year with no down payment. That’s hard to beat, and it’s an incredible value for customers who want the latest and greatest every year.” The program is open to those who are eligible.

According to the carrier, the monthly device charge will range from $15 to $50 per month, depending on which device the user selects. AT&T used the Samsung GALAXY S 4 as a specific example, with it costing customers $32 monthly. Using that example, if someone chose to keep the device and make payments on it for 20 months, the total rate would come out to $640 USD.

As such, the program will certainly appeal to some, but will end up costing more in the long run in some instances, considering that a two-year contract and the device subsidization that comes with it will only be four months longer than the 20-month period, making it more financially sensible, but perhaps not as convenient for those who don’t hang on to devices for long.

SOURCE: AT&T

AT&T Next offers monthly device payment option, starts July 26 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

While people can get around just fine in cars, planes, trains, and boats, SpaceX and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk isn’t quite pleased with transportation efforts yet. However, he thought up a new method that would transport people from one side of the US to the other in just 45 minutes, a trip that normally takes almost six hours by plane.

Musk announced via his Twitter account that he will be publishing the design for what he’s calling “Hyperloop” on August 12, and he will be graciously accepting “critical feedback for improvements.” The main idea behind Hyperloop is similar to how drive-thru banks work, where you transport money back and forth using a system of tubes to the bank teller.

Musk describes the Hyperloop system as “a cross between a Concorde, a rail gun, and an air hockey table.” Hyperloop would a system of cross-country tubes that would consists of capsules capable of carrying six people and their luggage. It’s said that these capsules would be able to travel as fast as 4,000 mph using maglev technology that’s currently being used on bullet trains.

The tube system would be evacuated of air, so there would be no friction, and the passengers would only experience the same G-forces as riding in a car. Of course, all this sounds good on paper, but it seems like a huge undertaking when considering all points. However, it’s noted that Hyperloop would only need about 1/20th the materials of a high-speed rail line at 1/10th the cost, or 1/4th the cost of a highway.

Based on how Hyperloop would transport passengers, it’s said that the system could take on around 200,000 passengers per hour per direction, and a quick 45-minute commute from New York to Los Angeles could only cost around $100. A trip from New York to Beijing? Just about two hours. But seeing how hard it is to get a high-speed railway here in the US, it could be a long time before we see anything like Hyperloop make an appearance.

Hyperloop transport system is Elon Musk’s next idea, NY to LA in 45 minutes is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The BlackBerry Z10 is the one phone that aims to revive the company and increase its market share, but seeing as how BlackBerry suffered a loss last quarter, they’re going to have to pull out the big guns. A handful of major carriers and retailers have discounted the Z10 to as low as $49 in order to increase sales for the new BlackBerry 10 device.

It’s only been four months since the Z10′s release, but it seems BlackBerry has waited long enough for sales to increase, and they’re wanting units out the door ASAP. Both Amazon and Best Buy have discounted the phone to a measly $49 after signing a two-year contract. That’s a whopping 75% off of the original $199 price tag.

As for the carriers, AT&T and Verizon are now selling the device for only $99 – half off of the original price. If you’re looking for the best deal, hitting up either Amazon or Best Buy would be the best option, obviously, but $99 is still a decent price for a phone that’s only four months old.

Off-contract prices for the phone are remaining the same, however, and it doesn’t look like T-Mobile is offering any kind of discount on the Z10 either. According to the Wall Street Journal, a BlackBerry spokesperson said that the price cut is merely just a “part of life cycle management to tier the pricing for current devices to make room for the next ones,” and “now is the right time to adjust the price.”

Four months does seem a bit early to start bringing the price down on devices, but does this mean we’ll see a second-generation Z10 sooner than we would normally expect? The company is still pumping out updates for the Z10, including BB 10.1, as well as what looks to be BB 10.2 that was leaked earlier this month.

VIA: Wall Street Journal

BlackBerry Z10 subsidy increases as sales suffer is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.