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Mar 25

T-Mobile now allows you to actually own your phone

If you’re thinking about picking up a smartphone in the near future and aren’t connected at the hip to one carrier or another here in the USA, you might want to hear what T-Mobile has to say this week. They’ve got a big event coming up tomorrow, but for today they’ve already revealed one of the biggest announcements: contract-free smartphone plans with far lower costs than they’d ever offered before. But that’s not the kicker!

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If you purchase a smartphone on any major carrier today on a 2-year contract, you get a subsidized price on that smartphone. This means it’s cheaper to you than it’d be if you bought the device off-contract – but you’ll be paying for it anyway in monthly costs to the carrier in addition to the amount you pay for data, voice, and text.

Even after you’ve paid enough money to the carrier, cash each month equivalent to a portion of the full cost of the smartphone, you’ll continue to pay. The only way to avoid this amount of money that isn’t actually purchasing you anything is to sign up for a new 2-year contract with that carrier for a new smartphone.

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Harsh!

With T-Mobile’s new plans, you’ve got the smartphone’s cost separate – clearly separate – from the monthly payments you make for data, voice, and text. The smartphone will cost the same as it did before T-Mobile switched over to this new plan, but you’ll be able to pay it off without worrying about signing up for a contract – or a new contract once you’ve paid off the smartphone.

Once you pay off the full amount of the smartphone (the off-contract price), you no longer have to pay T-Mobile for the privilege to use said device. You only have to pay the data, voice, and text cost. Once you pay off the cost of the phone, you get a lower monthly bill.

Sound like the paradigm shift you were waiting for in mobile device carrier economics? Let us know if you expect T-Mobile to be your mobile carrier in the near future! Also have a look at the rest of T-Mobile’s plans in a report on what they’ve shown off already, and join us tomorrow for more during the big T-Mobile event!

T-Mobile now allows you to actually own your phone is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mar 25

Which partner purchased one million Blackberry Z10 devices?

Posted in: Today's Chili

A couple of weeks ago, Blackberry announced that a mystery partner had purchased 1 million of its Blackberry Z10 devices. It wouldn’t say who the partner was, but that it was a huge confidence boost for both the company and consumers alike. The announcement was enough to boost its shares up 8.2%. While it was speculated that the mysterious partner had to be a major carrier like AT&T or Verizon Wireless, it turns out that the partner was actually a wireless distributor by the name of Brightstar.

Who purchased 1 million Blackberry Z10s

Brightstar is a big, wireless distributor that distributes products all around the world. About 40% of its revenue was composed of Blackberry handset sales a couple of years ago. Brightstar had enough confidence in Blackberry’s new product in order to place such a massive order, and since it operates globally, it has a better chance, than AT&T and Verizon Wireless, to resell all of its Blackberry Z10 devices.

Brightstar also acts as a buffer for companies like Verizon Wireless. Mark Gerber, managing director at Detwiler Fenton, a Research House, stated that Verizon is using Brightstar to “handle the big-box retail and dealer agent channels” for the Blackberry Z10. Gerber believes that Verizon Wireless doesn’t have enough faith in the Blackberry Z10, otherwise it would sell the product on its own.

Operating through a 3rd party is Verizon’s safety net if the Z10 doesn’t do well on its network. It’s a conscientious move on Verizon’s part. Goldman Sachs’s research showed that the Blackberry Z10′s launch on AT&T was disappointing. The firm checked over 20 various AT&T, Best Buy, and Radio Shack stores to confirm their research. However, the firm did say that it wasn’t the product itself that was bad, but the company’s and Blackberry’s lack of marketing support for the device.

[via All Things D]

Which partner purchased one million Blackberry Z10 devices? is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mar 25

Motorola X Phone render “leaked”: 5 specifications to make you freak

Posted in: Today's Chili

As we draw ever nearer the developer conference known as Google I/O 2013, tips and rumors (and today a 3D rendering) of a Motorola-made “X Phone” have made their way to the public. What we’re seeing here is an illustrated version of what a tipster has suggested will be what the upcoming Google Nexus device will bring to the market this spring, with a possible reveal hitting in early May as Google’s convention takes place. Along with the rendering from GSMArena has come a set of specifications that are sometimes fabulous, sometimes bafflingly low-grade.

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Qualcomm Processor

Along with the one ZTE device we’ve seen in Barcelona this past month, this device will – if these tipped specifications hold true – be amongst the first to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. This is a step above the Snapdragon 600 processor you’ll be seeing in the HTC One and the Samsung GALAXY S 4, mind you.

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What’s odd here is that this device’s tipped specifications also include a display that’s not quite as impressive as those attached to the HTC One and GALAXY S 4. This would only make sense if Google wanted to show the power of the newest version of Android (whatever that may be) or the power of the Snapdragon chipset – but developing for higher definition displays should, by all means, be more important than those bits.

Massive 4000mAh battery

Inside it’s said that you’ll be seeing a battery that’ll bust up the rest of the market, 4000mAh large so you’ll be working all day and night long without need for a charge. That’s rather similar to what we’ve seen in several of the most recent Motorola smartphone releases, and right on top of the device we brought to Mobile World Congress 2013 for its excellent battery capacity and long-lasting life: the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD.

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Wait a second – wasn’t this device supposed to be a Nexus phone? Wasn’t the rumor that this Motorola release was supposed to be the first vanilla Google phone, complete with the next-generation operating system build? Perhaps here we see how the Motorola smartphone at hand is not going to be all it’s cracked up to be tipped.

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Or we see another massive flaw in the tipster. Between this device running with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, nothing newer, and the fact that they’ve reported just 768 x 1280 as the resolution of the display, it’s going to be really difficult to convince anyone that this tipster is one to be trusted.

IP57 certified with Gorilla Glass III

Back in the much more realistic realm of specifications comes a tip that this device will be water resistant up to a meter and will be somewhat damage resistant in a variety of other ways. Up front it’s said that the third generation of Gorilla Glass, made great enough to resist even the toughest of scratches.

Unique New Industrial Design

With the rendering you’re seeing above, you’ll notice that this device looks quite different from the rest of the Motorola smartphones we’ve seen released over the past several years. It looks a lot more like an Xperia phone, when it comes down to it. Whether you’re all about this new design or you’d rather stick with the RAZR family, it’s nice to see Motorola change things up a bit – if, in fact, they really are making this device.

Motorola X Phone render “leaked”: 5 specifications to make you freak is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mar 25

Sony Xperia ZL “world’s most compact” 5-inch phone heads to USA

Posted in: Today's Chili

This week the folks at Sony Mobile Communications have ushered in the Xperia ZL for a full United States release, making sure to note that it is their most compact 5-inch offering ever. In fact, they make sure to say that this 5-inch display-toting beast is the most compact 5-inch smartphone in the world, coming complete with a 13 megapixel camera on the back and powered by their lovely Mobile BRAVIA Engine under the hood. What’s that mean for you? It means the best Sony-made smartphone ever pushed to the USA is on it’s way now!

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This device works with some advanced industrial design features such as concentration on perfecting the roundness of the edges and “premium build and craftsmanship” put specifically into the power button. Strange and excellent! This device also works with a display that’s got Sony’s own touch of greatness in it with “Reality Display” technology and power backed up by Sony’s Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2.

NOTE: Don’t forget to check out our review of the Xperia Z as well – similar, but not the same!

This device also boasts implementation of Sony’s own Exmor RS technology, the first in the world – so they say – that offers a mobile implementation of HDR Video. You’ll find that this device also works with a “STAMINA” mode for battery life extension so you’ll be able to shoot all day long.

Key features for Xperia ZL:
• 5″ 1080 x 1920p full HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2
• 13MP Fast Capture camera with Exmor RS for mobile, HDR video (1080p), Superior Auto and • Noise Reduction to effortlessly capture razor sharp pictures and videos in any conditions
• Battery STAMINA for improved standby time
• NFC-enabled and Infra-red capable
• 1.5 GHz asynchronous quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB RAM
• MSRP $759.99 (unlocked, Model C6506) and $719.99 (unlocked, Model C6502)
• Available colors: Black, White, Red
• Xperia ZL will launch on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Past the idea that this machine will be launching with the not-quite-newest version of Android (with 4.1 instead of 4.2 Jelly Bean), it’s clear that Sony means business with this release. Expect this lovely little amalgamation of bits and pieces to be available to you sooner than later right here in the USA! Pre-sales have already begun!

Sony Xperia ZL “world’s most compact” 5-inch phone heads to USA is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mar 25

Panasonic – Mobile earphones with remote control for smart phones – RP-HJC19 and RP-TCM19

Posted in: Today's Chili

On April 12, Panasonic is releasing 2 models of its new earphones headset with remote control; “RP-HJC19″ is for iPod, iPhone, and iPad, and “RP-TCM19″ is for smart phone and iPhone.
It’s a compact earphone that has a remote control with a microphone to remotely operate a music player or phone on your smart device. It is designed to get less air circulation to enable the earphone to play high quality low pitch sound.
There are 6 different colors – blue, …

Mar 25

HondaLink telematics system promises interesting features for smartphones

Posted in: Today's Chili

Honda has announced a partnership with two other companies to develop the HondaLink telematics service. The other two companies include design firm frog and DENTSU Inc. The telematics service allows drivers to establish new forms of communication and companionship with their vehicles. The system uses apps that will be available for the iPhone and Android devices.

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Features of the HondaLink system include advanced GPS navigation with the ability to predict traffic conditions. The system also has a dashboard featuring infographics and data visualizations allowing drivers to check fuel efficiency. The system also sends the driver or alerts and messages delivered in the form of conversations with emoticons.

These messages are delivered like conversations complete with smileys is an attempt by Honda to create a human-like connection between the driver and the vehicle. The app can also be customized to give the vehicle its own name and users can customize the color of the app. One of the key functionalities in the app is to help the driver keep up with routine maintenance.

The app is also able to keep the timeline of travels for a vehicle including places visited, when the tank was filled up, odometer updates, and other tidbits. Drivers can also get full navigation within the app for the vehicle. Honda’s app also has a built-in function to send the driver coupons for service and other offers from their local dealership. The apps are expected to launch this month and will hit Thailand first.

[via Honda]

HondaLink telematics system promises interesting features for smartphones is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mar 24

T-Mobile takes its UnCarrier plans live earlier than expected

Posted in: Today's Chili

T-Mobile must not want to wait for a special event to lure customers through its doors: it just launched its revamped, decidedly UnCarrier-like plans a couple of days early. As became clearer this weekend, unlimited voice, text and basic data are now things you can take for granted on Magenta’s network. It’s only the cap on throttle-free data that determines how much you pay: rates sold through T-Mobile itself start at $50 for a basic 500MB of online use and climb in steady 2GB increments that each cost an extra $10 per month, up to a total of 12.5GB for $110. You can still get truly unlimited service if you want, for $70 — although you’ll have to bolt on a separate hotspot plan that the capped tiers get for free. Costs at resellers are expected to run slightly higher, but it’s still clear that T-Mobile is aggressively courting those of us who see internet access as the very reason to have a smartphone in the first place.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, T-Mobile

Comments

Via: TmoNews (Twitter), The Verge

Source: T-Mobile

Mar 22

Alien VS Predator: Evolution revisited with full developer walkthrough

Posted in: Today's Chili

Today the developers behind the newest Alien VS Predator franchise game AVP: Evolution have revealed a full walk-through of the many elements included in this mobile masterpiece. If you’ll recall we recently did our own full review if Alien VS Predator: Evolution as it rang true on Android not too long ago – the game is also out for iOS and we’ll be updating you soon if and when we find any and all differences in gameplay between the two iterations. Today’s treat is all about a perspective we always like to have – inside the mind of the creators.

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What you’re being allowed to experience today is one of the most perfect all-inclusive walkthroughs of a mobile app we’ve ever seen – and we’re not just talking about games. It’s rare to find a group of developers willing to create such an excellent nutshell video for prospective players of their creation, complete with gameplay. And that’s another thing – while most games are advertised with only cinematics, this video gives you a full real-deal gameplay showing of what you’re in for.

If you’d like to see what AngryMob Games and Fox Digital Entertainment released for a trailer back about a month ago, we’ve got that for you too. Here you’ll see more of a cinematics-only look at the game. There are a few moments of deadly in-game action about 3/4 of the way in, from both species angles, of course – you’ll have a good time seeing all the fatalities, for sure!

And don’t forget to keep your lunch at the end. Finally to lighten the mood – if you’re not all about slaying and are still reading – you’ll have a fabulous out-of-mind experience watching SlashGear’s own open source music mix gameplay video. It’s rather experimental, and you’re going to love it – have a peek!

Then stay tuned here on SlashGear as we continue to follow the developer of this game and watch what magic they bring forth next! They’ve also already released a very similar game by the name of Predators – tied to the movie by the same name, no less! Grab that and Alien VS Predator: Evolution for iOS and/or Android today!

Mar 22

NTT DoCoMo trials Tap-de-Concier service with a Google Now flair

Posted in: Today's Chili

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo isn’t content waiting for Google Now to become commonplace before it gives customers a taste of predictive search. The carrier is near launching a trial for Tap-de-Concier, an Android-based service that will pop up maps, media, games and more depending on both the user’s own habits, as well as usage and trends from DoCoMo’s other portals. The result is a service that theoretically knows what you want, when you want it: Tap-de-Concier can tell that you’re looking for train schedules before work on a Monday morning, and restaurants on Friday night. We imagine that some will like the alternative just because it won’t be confined to Jelly Bean — any DoCoMo-offered phone or tablet with at least Android 2.3 can run the service, including Raku-Raku phones. Locals will have between March 26th and September 30th to decide whether or not Tap-de-Concier is more helpful than its Google parallel.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

Comments

Via: The Next Web

Source: NTT DoCoMo

Mar 22

Panasonic brings out a Miracast adapter for Japanese TV viewers (video)

Posted in: Today's Chili

It’s easy to snag a Miracast-capable device if you’re willing to shop for a brand new TV or a set-top box. but it’s much tougher if Miracast is the only thing you’re looking for. Minimalists will be happy, then, that Panasonic just released a dedicated adapter for the job. Plug the very utilitarian-looking brick into an HDMI jack and you can wirelessly stream HD-grade video from any supporting device on the same WiFi network; Panasonic would naturally prefer that it’s the company’s new Eluga X smartphone. The adapter is so far only available in Japan for an estimated and rather steep ¥8,980 ($95), although we’re hoping that it eventually crosses the Pacific at a price that befits the narrow focus.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, HD

Comments

Via: Akihabara News

Source: Panasonic (translated)

Hasta La Gadget!

T-Mobile now allows you to actually own your phone

Which partner purchased one million Blackberry Z10 devices?