May 15

Gadget Lab Podcast #74: Multimedia and…Mullets?

Posted in: Apple, att, e-books, iPhone, MP3, nokia, podcast, radio, reader, smartphone, sony, Today's Chili, TV

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This week’s Gadget Lab podcast zones in on multimedia players, starting with the new Cool-er e-book reader — a lighter, slimmer and cheaper alternative to Amazon’s Kindle. Then Danny Dumas weighs in on Sony’s new Series-X Walkman player. No, it doesn’t play cassette tapes; it’s actually an MP3 player with built-in FM and Slacker service.

Treading into the software world, we discuss the latest iPhone App Store drama. Apple rejected Me So Holy, an iPhone app that edits your mug to resemble a portrait of none other than Jesus Christ. Perhaps someone at Apple was offended? And in other App Store news, the new SlingPlayer iPhone app, which streams video from a Slingbox player plugged into your TV, can only work on Wi-Fi! Why? Because AT&T doesn’t want iPhone users hogging its 3G service watching TV.

Other than crippling SlingPlayer, AT&T neutered the Nokia E71x smartphone by removing a really cool button we loved in the phone’s predecessor: a toggle button. Danny tops off the podcast with an emo rant about the loss of this wonderful feature.

This week’s podcast features Dylan Tweney, Danny Dumas, Priya Ganapati and Brian Chen, with audio engineering by Fernando Cardoso.

If the embedded player above doesn’t work, you can download the Gadget Lab podcast #74 MP3 file.

Use iTunes? Subscribe to the Gadget Lab Audio Podcast in iTunes. Do it now!

Like video? Aim your browser at the Gadget Lab Video Podcast — available on iTunes and right here on the Gadget Lab blog.


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May 15

Engadget Podcast 146 – 05.15.2009

Posted in: ad, Apple, att, engadget podcast, EngadgetPodcast, Microsoft, motorola, palm, palm pre, PalmPre, playstation 3, Playstation3, podcast, pre, ps3, rumors, snapdragon, sony, speculation, tegra, Today's Chili, zune

Josh Topolsky and Paul Miller walk into a bar, but the bar is a recording studio.

The bartender, who is the recording engineer, asks, “Why the long faces?”

“Sigh,” Paul says, and looks down at his feet. “Nothing but a buncha crummy phone rumors and probably fake slim PS3 pictures this week.”

“It’s hard to podcast when there’s no exciting news to podcast about,” says Josh, staring off into the distance.

The door slams open: it’s Nilay Patel. “I know what’ll cheer you guys up!” he says as he slams three stiff drinks down on the table. “Trashing AT&T about the Slingplayer app!”

Smiles creep over Josh and Paul’s faces. They nod, the engineer hits the record button, and history is made: The Engadget Podcast, volume 146.

Update: We added a video feed of your charming hosts from the recording studio after the break. It’s definitely an experiment at this stage, so let us know what you think!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Around the World

00:01:42 – Wild and slim PS3 redesign caught on camera?
00:17:20 – AT&T issues official statement on SlingPlayer’s 3G blackout for iPhone
00:28:49 – Microsoft’s latest ad: iTunes and the iPod are crazy expensive
00:37:26 – Microsoft “Pink” specs leak out: Tegra, Snapdragon, OMAP 3, oh my?
00:50:57 – Fuzzy math: Palm Pre to run about $470 full retail?
01:01:29 – Hold the phone: T-Mobile G1 v2 to really be the Samsung Bigfoot?
01:06:13 – Motorola’s first Android phone to be the T-Mobile G1 v2?

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Engadget Podcast 146 – 05.15.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 14

How to Hack the iPhone to Use SlingPlayer and Skype Over 3G

Posted in: Apple, att, iPhone, jailbreak, skype, Today's Chili, top, VoIP, wi-fi, Wireless

AT&T’s impotent network—and good ol’ fashioned greed make it do douchey things sometimes, like lock down SlingPlayer and Skype for the iPhone. But you can unlock their true 3G powers.

Step 1: Free Your Phone
There are lots of reasons to jailbreak your phone. Skype and SlingPlayer over 3G is just one of them. Luckily, we’ve got a comprehensive guide to easily jailbreak your iPhone 3G (or iPod touch). Follow it.

Step 2: Trick Your Phone
Welcome back! If you’re just interested in using Skype, SlingPlayer and Fring’s VoIP over 3G we’re already at the end—search for Tricker Three3G in Cydia, install it, and you’re good to go. SlingPlayer, Skype and Fring will think they’re running on Wi-Fi, no matter what connection you’re on. Right now, Tricker Three3G only fools those three apps. There’s a more involved process if you want to fool other apps too.

Step 2b: The Long Way
In Cydia, the app you want to search for and install is VoIPover3G, which tricks any app into thinking a 3G connection is actually Wi-Fi. You also need to grab OpenSSH or DiskAid and the latest version of MobileSubstrate. From there, you have to tap into phone and install some custom text files for every app that you want VoIPover3G to trick. But you do have the power to trick any app with it, unlike Tricker ThreeG. If you’re completely new to the game, I’d start with this guide to getting Skype to work over 3G and then just substitute the final steps for the relevant Sling parts from this guide. They’re laid out pretty well, so fairly easy to follow. [ModMyi, iHackintosh, iPhone Download Blog]

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May 14

Samsung Jack comes to AT&T on May 19, $99.99 on contract

Posted in: att, breaking news, BreakingNews, samsung, Today's Chili, Windows Mobile, windows mobile 6.5, WindowsMobile, WindowsMobile6.5, winmo

The BlackJack II’s been looking a little long in the tooth for a while now, and it’s been made pretty clear that the Epix isn’t the direct replacement — so what is? Behold the i637 Jack (not to be confused with the… uh, Jack), which has just been made official with a 3.2 megapixel camera and video recording, AGPS, WiFi, microSD expansion, 256MB of RAM, triband HSDPA / quadband EDGE, and the all-too-typical QVGA display. Like its forebears, the Jack naturally features a full QWERTY keyboard; it’ll launch with Windows Mobile 6.1 but will be fully upgradeable to 6.5. Look for it in stores on May 19 for $99.99 on a new two-year contract after rebate. AT&T’s already got a unit (not to say that should come as any surprise) and they’re showing it off on video — check it out after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Jack comes to AT&T on May 19, $99.99 on contract

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Samsung Jack comes to AT&T on May 19, $99.99 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 13

Network Use Not the Only Reason For AT&T to Hate 3G iPhone SlingPlayer

Posted in: Apple, att, Today's Chili, top

Everyone may think that AT&T threw their fat around and made Apple lock down the SlingPlayer iPhone app because of AT&T’s lousy network, but a tipster tells us there’s a more nefarious reason at play.

While it is true that AT&T’s already clogged 3G pipes would burst into unusability if tons of people were watching Sling on their iPhones, that’s only half the picture. The other half comes from the fact that AT&T’s working on their OWN application code-named i-Verse, one that performs a similar task as SlingPlayer Mobile.

AT&T’s “i-Verse” app works with their U-Verse TV solution that can either load DVR’ed shows from your U-Verse recorder into your iPhone at home, or stream shows across the net over their 3G network. The app was demoed last year behind closed doors and based on the reception then, prompted AT&T to go into full-time development on it.

We understand that AT&T doesn’t want to lose man-hours sunk into development into the app (and that it’s their network), but using their position to strong-arm the shut-down of another app just so it doesn’t have the competition? That’s some lousy, lousy sauce that’s more similar than not to net neutrality issues—that is, if our tipster is right. [Thanks tipster!]

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May 13

ATT Office Fridge Sends Seven to Hospital, Causes Building Evacuation

Posted in: att, Today's Chili

rotten food.jpgThere’s something rotten going on at AT&T–and it’s not just that whole iPhone/SlingPlayer debacle. Yesterday at the company’s office in downtown San Jose, an employee took it upon herself to clean a refrigerator that had been moved into one of the office’s conference rooms. The stench from the rotten food in the fridge was so pungent that seven employees ended up in the hospital, and all 325 people in the building were evacuated.

“It caused some to vomit, some to just get nauseous. And it, for us, activated a hazardous incident,” local fire department captain, Barry Stallard, told the local CNN affiliate.

The fridge has been unplugged and moved to the conference room for cleaning. Matters were apparently made worse when someone sprayed the air with what turned out to be spot cleaner.

The woman who actually cleaned the fridge didn’t notice the smell; she had recently undergone nasal surgery for severe allergies.

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May 13

AT&T’s fridge even more rotten than its 3G streaming limits

Posted in: att, Today's Chili

Look we’re all guilty of generating a little fridge-fuzz now and again. A practice that’s disgusting at home turns downright antisocial at the office. Or near-fatal if you work at AT&T’s San Jose office where a dirty fridge sent 7 people to the hospital yesterday. The incident started when an office refrigerator was found unplugged and stuffed with moldy food. While cleaning the fridge, the combination of chemical solvents with neatly labeled cups of rotting yoghurt and pork-roast parfaits created a cloud of toxic fumes that prompted a 911 call and the dispatch of a hazmat team. 28 people in total were treated for nausea and vomiting. AT&T: More SARS in more places.

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AT&T’s fridge even more rotten than its 3G streaming limits originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 10

BlackBerry “Onyx” in the wild

Posted in: att, BlackBerry, in the wild, InTheWild, RIM, Today's Chili

We’ve obtained pictures of a device that we’re told is the “Onyx,” a 3G-enabled GSM BlackBerry that looks like a slightly sexier, smaller version of the Bold with some Niagara / Tour genes thrown in for good measure. We’d previously heard that this phone is ultimately destined for AT&T (while a UMA-enabled version might come to T-Mobile as the Driftwood), which definitely takes the edge off of the impending 8900 launch over there — but then again, this is a prototype, and it’ll be many moons (at best) before this thing gets launched. Every time we look at the Bold, it looks more out of proportion — and sexy beasts like this one certainly aren’t helping matters. Keep on keepin’ on, RIM.


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BlackBerry “Onyx” in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 May 2009 23:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 07

Rumor: ATT Looking to Cut iPhone Plan Price

Posted in: att, iPhone, Today's Chili

The nation’s largest wireless provider, AT&T, is reportedly looking to lower the price of its iPhone plan by $10 a month when Apple introduces the newest version of the handset in June, according to an analyst at Cote Collaborative.

Michael Cote said that there is a “strong possibility” that the company will drop the price of the phone’s entry level plan down to $59. The cut, which is expected to occur around the time of Apple’s annual World Wide Developers Conference, would reduce the price of a two-year contract by 14 percent, or $240.

The rumored price crop would be an attempt by AT&T to meet building pressure to sell more iPhones. The handset has been the target of mounting competition, surpassed in sales by BlackBerry last quarter and likely to be affected by the upcoming release of the Palm Pre.

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May 04

ATT to Sell BlackBerry Curve 8900 This Summer

Posted in: att, BlackBerry, RIM, Smart Devices, smartphone, Today's Chili

T-Mobile_BlackBerry_8900.jpgAT&T has announced that the next-generation BlackBerry Curve 8900 will be available to subscribers and new customers sometime this “early summer.”

Like the first version that T-Mobile released several months ago, AT&T’s Curve 8900 will include Wi-Fi, GPS, a high-resolution 480-by-360-pixel LCD screen, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. In addition, the AT&T model will work in almost 20,000 company hotspots across the country, although it will most likely lack the ability to make free Wi-Fi calls.

Unfortunately, it also looks as if the Curve 8900 will still be a 2G phone even on AT&T. The carrier said in a statement that the handset will be a quad-band EDGE (850/1900/1700/1800 MHz) world phone, but made no mention of 3G HSDPA data access. That made some sense for T-Mobile, which is still working to get its 3G data network up and running even in major cities. But on AT&T it’s a big disappointment.

On the plus side, the GPS chipset will work with the optional AT&T Navigator service. No word yet on pricing.

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