Hasta La Gadget!

While the US military can devote many resources to putting smartphones on the battlefield, it can’t do the same for soldiers’ private lives. A new carrier, Defense Mobile, wants to fill that void: it just announced a deal to use Sprint’s CDMA and LTE networks for cellular service devoted to active-duty forces, reserves and veterans. The provider will offer plans at enlisted rank budgets, ranging from $20 for the basics to $60 for a family plan. It won’t skimp on the handset selection, though — the company already promises the Galaxy S 4, HTC One and iPhone 5. Defense Mobile hopes to go live in 2014, and it should arrive with both apps and branding tailored to each military branch.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

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Via: GigaOM

Source: Defense Mobile

Right around a month ago, Google opened up the flood gates and let any US-based Android user download its One Today app — a program that makes it wildly simple to donate a dollar (or more, of course) to a different charity each day. Now, Google is officially releasing the entire project from pilot mode, inviting the masses to both download the app (still US-only, unfortunately) and get their charities into the ‘Google for Nonprofits’ database.

Signing up for One Today is completely free, and Google has provided resources for those looking to get their charity authorized for inclusion. Be aware, however, that Google charges a 1.9 percent processing fee when taking in payments; in other words, each $10 donated translates to $9.81 in usable funds for charities. The real kicker, we’re surmising, is the social tie-in. The more people who donate and then share to various social networks, the more likely their friends and peers are to follow suit. And, ideally, we all join to solve all of the world’s problems.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Google Nonprofits Blog, Google One Today, Google Play Store

If you get a lot of work-related email, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen the misuse of priority tags — potluck dinners are suddenly as vital as company-wide meetings. It’s with a sense of dread, then, that we learned that Microsoft has applied for a patent on prioritizing phone calls. The approach would let callers choose an urgency level that flashes alerts, sends messages and otherwise signals that a call can’t wait. It would simultaneously foil telemarketers and other cold callers by requiring a passcode or encrypted authentication. If granted, the patent could be useful for on-call workers and worried parents. That said, we won’t mind if Microsoft declines to use it; we don’t need high-priority calls to refill the office coffee pot.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft

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Source: USPTO

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So, it’s not the new HTC some in the UK might have been hoping for, but the Desire 500 is officially heading west. The 4.3-inch, 1.2 GHz, quad-core device that first popped up a couple of weeks back will be coming to British shores some time this month, in lacquer black and glacier blue color options. While pretty much everything else remains the same — 8- and 1.6-megapixel cameras, BlinkFeed and Highlights — some might be interested by the confirmation of dual SIM and NFC variants, depending on markets. No pricing just yet, but expect to get considerably more change from your pound than its elder sibling and similarly sized stable mate.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC

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Heads up, BB10 users: your Facebook app is in need of an update. As in, there’s one waiting for you. Facebook v10.2.1 for BlackBerry 10 adds Facebook Chat, enhanced message details, quicker scrolling while in Newsfeed and an “enhanced photo experience.” Moreover, you’ll find added Page Admin functions as well as a “refreshed look and feel to your Pages.” Naturally, the update is being provided for free, and can be picked up in the Appworld right here. Of course, it’s also sporting a sterling 2 out of 5 rating, so hopefully the new features will go a ways toward improving the aforesaid mark.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Blackberry

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Source: BlackBerry Blog, BlackBerry Appworld