No credit cards needed, just say your name

Square, the mobile payments start-up, has tried to make cash obsolete by offering a way for any business, from a farm stand to a restaurant, to turn their phones or tablets into credit card terminals. Now Square is trying to make wallets obsolete, too, by upending the way that consumers pay for things.

On Monday, Square announced a way for shoppers to pay by simply giving their name to the merchant -- as in, "charge it to Jack." With two new apps, Card Case for consumers and Register for merchants, Square wants to be involved in every step of the transaction process by replacing cash registers, loyalty cards and paper receipts.

Lady Gaga sale stalls Amazon servers

Lady Gaga has made herself a paragon of pop ambition and a spokeswoman for equal rights, but on Monday she became an unwitting symbol for something else: the pitfalls of cloud computing.

"Born This Way" (Interscope), her new album, arrived with a blitz of marketing, and Amazon  surprised the singer's fans by offering a one-day sale of the MP3 version of the album for 99 cents, a full $11 less than its price at iTunes, the Web's dominant music retailer.

German scientists beat data transfer record

Computer users who despair over slow Internet connections should take heart -- German scientists have broken a speed record, sending data contained on 700 DVDs over a single laser beam, in one second.

The scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Monday said they had broken the world record by sending data at a speed of 26 terabits per second.

The data, sent over 50 kilometers (31 miles) on a single laser beam, was coded thanks to a system known as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) in which the laser beam is divided into separate colour streams.

"With 26 terabits per second, you can simultaneously transmit up to 400 million telephone calls per second," said Professor Juerg Leuthold of the institute in a statement.

Apple looks set to launch cloud-based music service

Just weeks after Amazon and Google unveiled their music offerings, Apple appears set to raise the bar.

The Cupertino, California-based gadget-maker is expected to launch a new Web-hosted music service next month, according to multiple reports, after negotiating deals with at least three of the four major record labels.

The service is likely to be presented at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which opens in San Francisco on June 6 and which has been the venue for past launches of high-profile Apple products.

Cisco sued for helping China build Golden Shield

Members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement have filed a lawsuit against Cisco Systems Inc. accusing it of supplying the Chinese government with computer-networking equipment used to spy on and persecute dissidents.

In a lawsuit filed last week, a group of Falun Gong practitioners alleges that Cisco provided networking gear and technical assistance to build and operate an elaborate system of Internet controls used by the Chinese government to track the online behavior of its citizens and block content it does not like.

Now, control your car with tweets

Toyota is setting up a social networking service with the help of a U.S. Internet company and Microsoft so drivers can interact with their cars in ways similar to Twitter and Facebook.

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. and Salesforce.com, based in San Francisco, announced their alliance Monday to launch "Toyota Friend," a private social network for Toyota owners that works similar to tweets on Twitter.

In a demonstration at a Tokyo showroom, an owner of a plug-in Prius hybrid found out through a cell phone message from his Prius called "Pre-boy" that he should remember to recharge his car overnight.

Gingerbread said to be coming to the Motorola DROID X, DROID Pro and DROID 2/Global

Ever since the Gingerbread build of the Android OS was announced, owners of some of the Froyo flavored models of the Motorola DROID line starting wondering if their particular handset would be getting a taste of Android 2.3.  In response to an inquiry about which DROID models would be moving up the Android food chain, a response apparently coming from a Motorola employee said that Android 2.3 would be made available to the Motorola DROID 2 and DROID 2 Global, the Motorola DROID X and the Motorola DROID Pro.

Those who just bought or are planning on buying the Motorola DROID X2 have no worries as the manufacturer has already announced that the phone will be getting Gingerbread. But those still clinging to their original Motorola DROID will seemingly be stuck with Android 2.2 as Time Magazine's 2009 Gadget of the Year just doesn't have the processing power to handle the newer version of the Android OS.

source: Motorola via AndroidCentral

Is Android 2.2 the end of the line for the Motorola DROID?

i3D brings glasses-free 3D to your iPhone 4 and iPad 2

We told you about this one back in April. But now you can try the Head-Coupled Perspective for yourself. In an effort to be more marketable, or at least a little more clear in purpose, the creators have chosen a new name: i3D.

And the i3D's mechanism is impressively simple. By following your head with the front-facing camera, it adjusts the image to give the impression of depth. And while it's not as flashy as other 3D options, it's certainly preferable to carrying around one of Hasbro's My3D viewfinders.

One of the researchers says that "Such spatially-aware mobile display enables to improve the possibilities of interaction." We think this could be a great way to explore 3D models. It would be particularly useful if it were incorporated into something like Google Body.

The exclusion of accelerometer and gyroscope support is a bit odd. One might expect the developers to incorporate the ability to manipulate the image by tilting the device. But, because of processing power, battery consumption, or simple time constraints, i3D currently only uses the front-facing camera.

The i3D demo app is available for free in the App Store. Keep in mind that it will work best if you are in a well-lit room, and both you and your clothing are well contrasted from the rest of the room.

source: DocteurCube (YouTube) via Redmond Pie

HP shows off the petite size of the Veer 4G on the back of the New York Times

The HP Veer 4G has been plastered on the back of today's New York Times in a full-page ad by the handset's manufacturer. In a smart move by HP, the phone is pictured in its actual size which allows readers to see just how petite the credit card sized smartphone is.

The copy of the ad doesn't deal with the phone's middle of the road specs, concentrating instead on the device's main selling point as the smallest 4G smartphone in the nation. The HP Veer is currently on sale for $99.99 at AT&T with a signed 2-year contract and there is no doubt that HP spent a pretty penny on the advertisement hoping to whip up some interest in the model.

source: Precentral

Windows 8 tablet UI may make an appearance at D9

We have written
before that it is likely that Windows 8 will appear on tablets first,
and now it is rumored that the first live demo of the OS on a tablet
could be coming as soon as June. Microsoft has confirmed that Windows
chief Steven Sinofsky will be appearing at the upcoming All Things
Digital D9 conference, and WinRumors has learned from a source at
Microsoft that Sinofsky will be unveiling a demo of Windows 8 on
tablets.

Until
now, the leaked versions of Windows 8 have not included the tablet UI,
but it has been rumored that the tablet UI would feature live tiles similar to what you would find in Windows Phone 7.

Windows 8 will mark Microsoft's first attempt at an OS designed for tablets. Microsoft
is the last major player to enter the tablet market, and will have an
uphill battle against rival platforms: iOS, Android, Blackberry's QNX,
and WebOS. The first beta of Windows 8 is expected in September and Microsoft is aiming to have a tablet on the market in Q1 2012.

source: WinRumors via Electronista

Apple looking at opening retail store in Grand Central Station

According to Monday's Wall Street Journal, Apple is considering opening a 15,000 square foot Apple Store in New York's Grand Central Station. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been seeking a single tenant for adjacent balconies on the north and east side of the building. The WSJ says that the MTA will issue a request for proposals today.

Currently, celebrity chef Charlie Palmer's Métrazur restaurant occupies one of the balconies, but he plans on closing the eatery on July 1st despite holding a lease that runs until 2019. Anyone using that location would have to pay the chef a fairly large sum of money to use the location prior to the end of the lease. The chef told the business paper that it would be hard to refuse such a large offer for the space. Currently, Mr. Palmer pays $400,000 a year for the location-a price considered a bargain since the lease was signed in 1998, just after the building was renovated.

Apple currently has four retail locations in Manhattan and at 15,200 square feet, the area would be smaller than Apple's other stores. Another potential roadblock is that considering the locations landmark status in the city, any cosmetic changes made to the building need to be approved by the Landmarks Preservation Committee.

Experts say that if Apple does open a store at Grand Central Station, the number of people that pass the location daily would soon make it the most popular of the manufacturer's retail outlets, even surpassing the flagship 24 hour store in front of the GM building on Fifth Avenue.

source: WSJ via BGR

Apple is said to be looking at opening a 15,000 square foot store in this building

Law firm investigating RIM for possible violation of securities laws

As we reported, there is speculation by investors that RIM will end up in the arms of a suitor because of its dropping stock price. Well, to add insult to injury, an Atlanta law firm named Holzer Holzer & Fistel, LLC has started an investigation to see whether or not RIM has violated securities laws by giving out intentionally false and misleading statements from December 2010 through April of this year. The statements dealt with RIM's aging lineup that has been weighing down the Canadian firm's earnings.

Usually, in a situation like this, after the investigation the law firm starts a class action lawsuit on behalf of those who held the stock during the period of time when the misleading statements were allegedly made. Unfortunately, the law firm usually ends up the big winner in these cases.

In March, Holzer Holzer & Fistel, LLC announced a similar investigation into Palm. The law firm was looking at statements made by the company before the manufacturer was purchased by HP.

source: BGR

'Nike+ GPS' running app is free for a limited time

To celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Nike/Apple relationship, the 'Nike+ GPS' app is now free for a limited time. It previously cost $1.99.

We have to respect Nike for somehow maintaining a presence with this kind of running app. After all, it has nothing to do with their shoes any more. When the Nike+iPod first debuted, it required special shoes, and an exclusive Nike sensor to operate. At this point, the Nike name is just branding.

But there are some special features that distinguish it from other apps like 'iMapMyRUN'. For one thing, you can hear motivational messages from the swath of Nike-endorsed athletes. Who doesn't want a pat on the back from Lance Armstrong? You can also choose so-called PowerSongs, that you can activate when you need an extra boost. And you can activate them without switching over to your iPod.

Similar to other running apps, you can store workouts, track your progress, receive voice feedback mid-run, and check your position via the map. You can also connect with your friends to give support, or challenge your friends to a virtual race via Nike+ Tag. 'Nike+ GPS' is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-generation iPod Touch devices. But you obviously need both GPS and a wireless connection to fully utilize the app.

source: iTunes via MacRumors

Analyst says Apple will save time and money using the iPad 2 as a display in its stores

With the overhaul of Apple's chain of 323 retail stores making its premiere this past weekend, one analyst says that the Cupertino based-firm will save time and money with its use of the Apple iPad 2 in the upgraded stores. Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White wrote investors on Monday, telling them that the way Apple is using the tablets in its stores to show customers product information, features, and pricing on a particular device will help take the retail locations to the next level. Because the display on the iPad 2 can be changed quicker and cheaper than paper displays can, the analyst says that Apple can save money by utilizing the tablets.

White said that a check of the company's flagship store on New York's tony Fifth Avenue showed about 150 iPad 2 units being used as displays. Additionally, some store employees have been handed a tablet as well, loaded with Apple's RetailME software in order to make their jobs easier.

source: AppleInsider

The Apple iPad 2 is replacing paper displays in Apple's retail locations which could save the company some time and money, according to one analyst

Reminder: We'll be live covering Microsoft's WP7 event tomorrow

Just a reminder folks, we’re literally less than 24 hours away before Microsoft is positioned to show off all the new features expected to come out of its next major release of Windows Phone 7. In fact, we’ll be covering the event live simultaneously on two sides of the big pond – one being in New York City, while the other in London.

Not only are we giddy about checking out the upcoming cool new features with the Mango update, but we’re curious to know if there will in fact be any new handsets being unveiled tomorrow. The last time the Redmond based company did something like this, it was back last fall when they officially unveiled the first set of Windows Phone 7 smartphones to the public.

Either way, just make sure to check back here on our site to get the latest and most up-to-date news surrounding the event. And without a doubt, we’ll be covering the event live on both ends of the pond to give you all the news as they're breaking. Remember, the event starts promptly at 10:00 AM EST, but we’ll more than likely commence our coverage around 9:30 AM EST – so be sure to check back here tomorrow morning!

LG Genesis is a Froyo filled clamshell coming to US Cellular

Granted that we still rarely find LG producing many QWERTY based Android smartphones, it seems like US Cellular is about ready to finally start selling yet another one in the form of the LG Genesis, which closely reminds us of the canceled LG enV Pro for Verizon.

LG now has the clamshell device on its web site showing that it’s bound for US Cellular, but there is no word yet on its pricing. Customers will especially like the fact the handset is sporting not one, but two WVGA touchscreens – the external one being 3.5”, while the internal one sizes up at a reasonable 3.2”. In addition, it also features things like a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5-row QWERTY keyboard, 5-megapixel camera, 8GB microSD card, DLNA multimedia sharing, and powered by Android 2.2 Froyo.

For those who adore Verizon’s many LG enV style handsets in the past, they’ll particularly take a liking with the LG Genesis – even more when it employs that distinguishable form factor combined with the Android experience. Sure we’re interested in price, but we’re also eager to know when it’ll become available with US Cellular as well.

source: LG via Android Central

Hack brings Honeycomb 3.1 to Dell Streak 7

After
seeing and playing with Honeycomb, it's very hard if not impossible to
go back to using a modified phone version of Android (usually Froyo) on a
tablet. As Google said themselves, those earlier versions of Android
simply were not designed for use on tablets. So, while devices like the
original Galaxy Tab and the Dell Streak series tabs are usable, they
aren't optimal. Hacker DJ_Steve is looking to help out those of you out
there with the Dell Streak 7 who may be suffering a bit of Honeycomb
envy.

DJ_Steve
has put Honeycomb 3.1 on a Dell Streak 7, but has yet to release full
information on the hack because there are still a number of bugs to
squash before it's ready for prime time. This is great news, because it
is highly unlikely that Dell is going to release a Honeycomb update for
the device. 

The
biggest issue facing this hack was that the Dell Streak 7 has a very
low native resolution (800x480), and when lowering the pixel density
setting in Honeycomb, normally the UI will automatically switch to the
Gingerbread (phone) UI. We assume that this behavior is a precursor to
Ice Cream Sandwich, which will combine Honeycomb and Gingerbread and
allow the same OS version to run on all devices. The strange thing that
DJ_Steve found is that this behavior is reversed on the Dell Streak 7,
so lowering the pixel density actually gives you the Honeycomb UI.

As
you can see in the video, the system runs well on the Streak. Although,
as is mentioned in the video there is a bug which renders the device
unable to wake up once it is put to sleep. Once these bugs are killed,
we'll be sure to let you know so you can have some fun running Honeycomb
on your Dell Streak 7!

source: XDA-developers via Android Authority

App of the Day: Localscope - Find anything, anywhere

Available on: iOS
Reviewed on: iPad
Price: $ 1.99

Introduction:

For those who are looking for an app that will find a pub or eatery in the neighbourhood, here's LocalScope. It will search for a barber, a gas station, a hotel, a pub, a cinema hall, a pharmacy and just about everything else but a kitchen sink in your vicinity. It will search Google Maps, Bing, FourSquare, WikiMaps and even Twitter to find the location of your choice.

Sony expects $3.2 billion annual loss

Sony Corp. is expecting an annual loss of $3.2 billion, reversing its earlier projection of a return to profit, as the electronics giant struggles with production disruptions from Japan's tsunami and a hacker attack on its online gaming service.

The Japanese maker of PlayStation 3 video game machines and Bravia flat-panel TVs said Monday that the projection of a net loss of 260 billion yen ($3.2 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 2011 was largely due to writing off 360 billion yen ($4.4 billion) related to a tax credit booked in the fourth quarter.

Samsung and phoneArena are inviting you to a party in San Francisco

Hey! It is time to loosen up a little bit and have some fun, don't you think? If you agree with us, you might be pleased to know that on June 3 (7:00 - 10:00 PM), Samsung and phoneArena will be hosting a meetup in San Francisco, and that you, dear reader, are also invited to join the party.

The star of the show will be the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which attendants will have the chance to get up close and personal with. This is your opportunity to try out Samsung's tablet ahead of its release, and if you are lucky enough, you may receive one as a gift as well. Yes, you heard that right! Because a party is nothing without giveaways, Samsung is giving away a number of its latest tablets and smartphones:

• 5x Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
• 2x Samsung Droid Charge
• 2x Samsung Nexus S 4G
• 1x Samsung Infuse 4G

But the list of gifts does not end with only these awesome gadgets - $25 Media Hub vouchers and Samsung branded screen cleaners will be given away to every single participant.

Attending the event is absolutely free, and all you have to do is to register here. We wouldn't think twice if we were you – this is the perfect opportunity to have some quality time in the company of  smartphone enthusiasts. Also, bear in mind that the number of visitors is limited, so register now. The meetup will take place at 620 Jones Bar & Restaurant at 620 Jones St. We hope to see you there!

Samsung C3750 is a simple slider that's bound for Germany

Although we’re not getting our usual fill of feature phones nowadays, they’ll always continue to be around no matter how hard smartphones attempt to saturate the market. And if there’s one company renowned for their quick pace of delivering feature phones during these times, it has to be none other than Samsung of course.

With that in mind, we’re greeted with the Samsung C3750, which surfaced on Samsung’s German web site, showing us that it’s nothing more than your typical slider. Some of its features include a 2.4” QVGA (320 x 240) display, 3.2-megapixel camera, quad-band GSM/EDGE support, Bluetooth, FM Radio, 800mAh battery for 11 hours of talk & 500 hours of standby time, and microSD card slot. Additionally, the handset’s included SOS and Fake call functions out of the box just might sprinkle a dash of uniqueness for some.

Nonetheless, there’s no information regarding pricing or exact availability, but it wouldn’t surprise us to see it priced extremely inexpensive.

via Samsung Hub

Verizon announces its new markets gaining 4G LTE coverage starting June 16

Previously, we already heard about the good news a few days ago regarding 9 new markets finally being soaked with Verizon’s 4G LTE network, but the carrier announced today yet a handful of new ones expected to go live in the near future.

Specifically, Verizon’s 4G Long Term Evolution network will be gracing new markets such as Hartford, Connecticut; Flint, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, Michigan; Dayton and Springfield, Ohio; Erie, Harrisburg, and State College, Pennsylvania; and Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina. Those specific markets can expect to see coverage starting on June 16th, which is less than a month away from now. Furthermore, Big Red is also going to expand its current 4G LTE network in the metropolitan Detroit area as well.

Sure there might be some challenges that need to be overcome, but nonetheless, we’re digging the steady roll out of its next-generation network.

source: Verizon via Phonescoop

How to unlock a Samsung Galaxy S II for use with any GSM carrier

Got a carrier-locked Samsung Galaxy S II that you really feel like unlocking? If you just answered “yes” to this question, than we have both good news and bad news for you. The good news is that you can do it by yourself and it would not cost you a dime. The bad news – it will require some really geeky skills so you better wake up your inner hacker and put them to work.

So, are you still with us? Good. The first step to unlocking your Galaxy S II is to root it. This part is crucial because you will need to have root access in order to get the nv_data.bin file, located in /efs/nv_data.bin. Go ahead and copy that file to your computer and open it up with a HEX editor. Now you jump over to offset 0x181460 and get the hash values for 0x18146e, 0x18148e, 0x1814ae, 0x1814ce, and 0x1814ee. The HEX editor should be able to calculate SHA1 hash values for you. If the value of any of these offsets turns out to be 7D3E17CFCD816CACD4E025FAA65004FDD17D51F8 just ignore it, yet if it doesn't – that is the one you need. Copy that value and paste it at the page, to which a link has been provided for you below. An 8 digit unlock code will be calculated for you so just pop in an unaccepted SIM card in the phone and type it in.

Be aware that the procedure that we just described is dangerous and can render your phone useless if you do something wrong. Proceed at your own risk.

The hash value can be converted into the needed unlock code here.

If you need a HEX editor, you can use HEX Workshop or WinHex

source: XDA-Developers via Samsung Hub

Sony Ericsson Xperia arc to come in black

The Sony Ericsson Xperia arc might flaunt some nice curves, but up until now your choice of color for the handset was somewhat limited. Now this changes, as the phone is coming up in a sleek new black version. This particular one is carrying a sticker with Orange’s logo on it as it will hit the UK carrier later on. We still hope to see it on other carriers, but further details about its availability were scarce.

The Xperia arc comes in two main color variants – Midnight Blue and Misty Silver, but previously leaked images showed an all-white version as well. The change in the black version is only in the glossy back cover, which has turned darker. Which version of the handset would you pick? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

source: SE-Xperia-arc.ru (translated)

Thanks, Philip!

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Review

Introduction:


Is it a tablet? Is it a netbook? No, it's an Asus Eee Pad Transformer! Somewhere in between the two, this smart new device from ASUS operates as a standalone tablet with Honeycomb, a 10” IPS screen and a 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. Take things one step further and you can get a full sized keyboard attachment bundled in, turning the tablet into an Android netbook. If past experience is anything to go by, devices that try and do too many things tend to be jacks of all traits and masters of none, so lets see if the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer breaks the mold and scores highly across the board.

Verizon to tap into home control with Sigma Z-Wave in June

Home automation and control is a field we’ll most probably be hearing much more about in the near future, but even now it got a major boost as Verizon plans to introduce home control solutions with Sigma’s Z-Wave technology. Sigma produces Z-Wave modules allowing you to remotely control or automate appliances in your home. The announcement comes on the background of a new deal signed by Sigma and Mitsumi, with the latter becoming the newest producer for Z-Wave home control modules. What does it have to do with phones? For once, you could use your handset to control that home control ecosystem, turning your phone into a truly universal remote control.

A top Verizon executive mentioned that the carrier is looking to start offering Z-Wave powered service next month: "Sigma was a partner that we quickly identified, their Z-wave technology was going to serve us well, as we looked at how do we bring these IP peripherals into the home," director of consumer product marketing at Verizon Ann Shaub noted. The technology might not be mainstream, but that could well change as its getting more and more publicity.

A couple of weeks ago, Google unveiled its Android@Home framework, allowing remote control of appliances through an Android device, but compatible devices are to be released only by the end of the year. In contrast, Sigma already has some in its arsenal. Finally, it’s the large-scale introduction of the service by Verizon that could truly make home automation take off. Big Red however doesn’t plan on stopping with just home control, but rather expand its services to security, health and wellness. Check out the Apple commercial below to get a better idea of how it all comes together.

source: PCMagazine

Windows Phone 7.5 Mango to bring more than 500 new features

The Windows Phone buzz is building up as we approach tomorrow’s announcement of Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, but some information about the scale of the update has already been spilled. And it’s going to be big - Mango will bring 500 new features, Microsoft’s very own Steve Ballmer said in a speech at the Japanese Microsoft Developer Forum 2011.

Some of the anticipated major updates to the platform include:
-    Multi-tasking for third-party apps,
-    Twitter integration in the People Hub,
-    Office 365 and SkyDrive support,
-    Microsoft Lync Mobile app,
-    IE9 Mobile,
-    Custom ringtones,
-    Improved Marketplace,
-    Wider language support,
-    More than 1500 new APIs.

But it’s the rumored nine new Windows Phone devices that we heard about just recently, that could turn out to be of crucial importance for the platform. In that regard, Ballmer mentioned that tomorrow’s event will also unveil details about phone makers and carriers, hinting at the possibility of new product announcements. In any case, tomorrow will surely be a pivotal day for Redmond’s platform, so stay tuned.

source: WMPowerUser

HP in Tabletland: "We’re going to become better than bumber one. We call it number one plus"

HP’s foray into Tabletland hasn’t yet started, but the company’s European man-in-chief Eric Cador had already prepared a couple of words to scare off the competition and underline the future greatness of Hewlett-Packard. But let’s put it all in context:

“In the PC world, with fewer ways of differentiating HP's products from our competitors, we became number one; in the tablet world we're going to become better than number one. We call it number one plus," Cador concluded.

Oh, yes, you’ve got it right – the company hasn’t yet launched a single tablet product, but expectations are surely stellar high. Will the upcoming HP TouchPad manage to match the flight of Mr. Cador’s plane of thought? We leave all guesses to you, but one thing is for sure – Tabletland is getting “curiouser and curiouser.”

source: Gizmodo

HTC Flyer gets the spotlight in a series of Show Me videos

The HTC Flyer has just made it to our office and while we impatiently unboxed the tablet and took it for a benchmarking spin, HTC has posted a series of instructional "Show Me" videos giving you an insight about all the possibilities of the 7-incher. The tablet certainly managed to do one thing in the tablet world – differentiate as the HTC Flyer's Magic Pen stylus brings a handful of new possibilities.

And while the videos below show you some basic tablet functions like how to browse the web, it’s some of the tablet’s unique personalization and note-taking capabilities that truly intrigue us. Watch as HTC guides you through the process of:
-    Compiling notes with voice recording,
-    Downloading e-books,
-    Personalizing the experience,
-    Taking self-portraits.

HTC seems to have managed to pull a product that stands out among the uniformity of the rest of the slates. But are those features enough to fully justify a purchase? Stay tuned as our review of the HTC Flyer is coming up with the answer soon.

source: HTC (YouTube)

T-Mobile rolls out all-new rate plan portfolio silently

T-Mobile has quietly rolled out its brand-new selection of rate plans, in perfect timing with previous reports about the upcoming change. Folks over at TMoNews first spotted the newly added plans to T-Mo’s website, bringing more options for data and increasing the number of included minutes for some plans.

When it comes to the pre-paid options, T-Mobile has included a $70 Unlimited Everything pre-paid plan along with a $50 pre-paid option giving you free Talk, Text and 100MB of unthrottled data.

When it comes to individual plans, you’re looking at 500 minutes of talk for $39.99 as the cheapest option, while unlimited minutes, text and 10GB of unthrottled data would set you back $119.99 a month. Similar family plans would save you some cash, as you have a $59.99 monthly payment for 1000 minutes, while unlimited minutes, text and 10GB of data would run you $219.99.

Check out T-Mobile’s revamped portfolio in the links and screenshots below, and don't hesitate to share your opinion on which carrier offers the best value in the new light of things.

• Pre-Paid
• Individual Plans
• Family Plans

source: TMoNews

Family Plans	Family Plans 2	Individual Plans	Individual Plans 2