Category: Mobile Tech

Google Nexus S Heading to T-Mobile?

Engadget Mobile has done a ton of sleuthing on the Google Nexus S and unlike Gizmodo, the outlet didn’t have to buy a stolen phone. I kid, I kid. The Google Nexus S is being made by Samsung and will feature a stock version of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and, curiously, T-Mobile’s AWS 3G bands. It has a front-facing camera for video chat and a five-megapixel camera for taking pictures/video. Presumably it will feature Samsung’s vaunted Super AMOLED screen technology and an updated Hummingbird processor.

On paper, it sounds frickin’ fantastic. However, we live in the real world and not on paper. From Engadget’s multiple pictures, the Nexus S looks like Samsung’s other Galaxy S phones — heavy use of plastic and an iPhone 3GS-like look. I greatly prefer the metallic feel of phones like the Droid X and T-Mobile G2. As a T-Mobile customer, I’m interested in the Nexus S since it will always be the first Android phone to receive updates. However, I find T-Mobile’s WiFi calling incredibly useful and don’t expect to see it on a stock Android phone (though I’m sure it can be hacked on).

Any of you excited by the Nexus S? It should be an excellent phone, but is it excellent enough for you to drop cash on?

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AT&T Commercial Triples Sales of Cool-Jams

I’m sure most of you have seen that AT&T commercial where a really hot chick professes her love for Cool-Jams. (It’s embedded above in case you haven’t.) The gag was meant to show off the power of AT&T’s mobile network (*snicker*) and poke fun at an uncool product. A curious side effect of the spot is a surge in Cool-Jams sales. According to a company press release:

Recently AT&T casually mentioned Cool-jams in one of their national commercials. Since then Cool-jams monthly sales have tripled.

My theory is that anything will sell if it’s mentioned by a really sexy woman.

Full disclosure: I’m actually friends with the girl in the commercial. This is just an elaborate way for me to say, “Hey! We really should hang out and catch up.” So take that Kim!

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Coffee Talk #243: How Much Mobile Data Do You Use?

With the days of truly unlimited mobile data coming to a close, I’ve been curious about my mobile Internet consumption. My last billing cycle ended yesterday and I was pleased that I only used…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, your favorite Indian dish, the hottest chick on Baywatch, or the horrible TNA belt Jeff Hardy ordered up, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

With the days of truly unlimited mobile data coming to a close, I’ve been curious about my mobile Internet consumption. My last billing cycle ended yesterday and I was pleased that I only used 600MB of data in the last month. However, I was almost always on WiFi. If I’m traveling or working at an office that doesn’t grant WiFi access to contractors then I can see my data consumption going way higher.

With unlimited data nearing extinction, I’m going to keep tabs on my mobile data use. Do you ladies and gents already do that? Is it something you’re going to do? How much data do you use per month? Kindly take the poll, discuss, and be merry!

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Ininity Blade (iOS) Trailer is Ridiculous

Remember last week when I said that Infinity Blade would offer a glimpse into the exciting future of mobile gaming? My opinion has been completely solidified by this incredible trailer. I’m pretty floored that this game is for iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads. I defy you to watch it and tell me you’re not impressed!!!

Dell, Bank of America, and Citibank Ditching BlackBerry

RIM’s BlackBerry platform has been taking a beating in 2010, losing market share to Apple iOS and Google Android. While RIM hoped to change its fortunes with the BlackBerry Torch, the phone is technically unimpressive and the software is still archaic. It looks like the BlackBerry bashing will continue, with corporations like Dell, Bank of America, and Citibank looking to leave the platform.

Right now, Dell is the only company that’s confirmed to be abandoning BlackBerry. According to The Wall Street Journal, Dell is offering its employees Dell Venue Pro phones (Windows Phone 7) to replace their BlackBerry handsets. According to the paper, “The switch begins next week and will save the company about 25% in mobile communication costs.” The cost savings would come from not having to run BlackBerry Enterprise servers.

The Dell move isn’t surprising considering that the company now competes with RIM, offering a variety of Android and Windows Phone 7 handsets. What’s more alarming for RIM is Bloomberg’s report that Bank of America and Citigroup (Citibank) are considering dropping the BlackBerry platform in favor of Apple iOS. Those are two of the biggest banks in America with almost 600,000 employees between them.

If Bank of America and Citigroup join Dell in abandoning the BlackBerry platform then that’s nearly one-million customers lost. Until RIM makes significant improvements to its crusty software, I don’t see things changing for the company. Perhaps I should have called this article “BlackBerry Torched”. *snicker*

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T-Mobile Has a Branded iPhone Cable Because….

TMoNews has posted a picture of an iPhone cable with T-Mobile USA packaging. Some are speculating that this is a sign that the iPhone 4 is headed to the carrier. Others believe that the company is simply selling lucrative accessories to its customers that use unlocked iPhones. What say you? Is this a sign of things to come? Or is it just a smart cash grab?

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T-Mobile G2 WiFi Calling and Tethering Video

Here’s a video overview of the T-Mobile G2’s WiFi calling and tethering features. WiFi calling is fantastic for areas with poor signal (basements, remote towns), as well as international traveling. Tethering is tethering…but unlike its competitors, T-Mobile isn’t charging (yet) for USB or WiFi hotspot functionality!

Anyway, please, please, please watch the video when you have a chance. At the very least, you can stare at my pal Nutchy some more. She’s a beautiful girl.

(And yes, I didn’t sleep last night because WiFi calling made me so excited that I wanted to make a video about it.)

MetroPCS Launches LTE in Los Angeles and Philadelphia

MetroPCS, America’s fifth-largest mobile-carrier, has announced that its LTE network is up and running in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. While rivals Sprint and T-Mobile are deploying WiMax and HSPA+ networks, respectively, MetroPCS is the only carrier in America with LTE available now. Here’s a clip from the press release:

As the only no annual contract, pay-in-advance service provider offering 4G LTE services, we are building on the successful commercial launches of 4G LTE service in Las Vegas, Dallas/Fort Worth and Detroit with the launches of our 4G LTE service in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. With a compelling handset line-up and a superior network, we deliver unmatched value with flexibility, predictability and affordability that consumers demand.

The Samsung Craft is the only MetroPCS phone that supports LTE at this time. Now that the network is alive in my town, I’m planning to get a test unit and interview a MetroPCS executive to get more info on the company’s unusually aggressive LTE roll-out.

Any of you live in a MetroPCS LTE city? Are you intrigued by the Samsung Craft on LTE?

Adobe Flash Kills Battery Life on the New MacBook Air

Most pundits believed that Apple omitted Adobe Flash from its new MacBook Air due to the Flash vs. HTML5 war the companies are waging. It turns out that there’s a more practical reason for the snub: battery life. According to Ars Technica, the Air gets more than 33 percent more juice without Flash than with it. Here’s the deal:

Having Flash installed can cut battery runtime considerably — as much as 33 percent in our testing. With a handful of websites loaded in Safari, Flash-based ads kept the CPU running far more than seemed necessary, and the best time I recorded with Flash installed was just 4 hours. After deleting Flash, however, the MacBook Air ran for 6:02—with the exact same set of websites reloaded in Safari, and with static ads replacing the CPU-sucking Flash versions.

Prettty crazy, hey? The whole thing has me rethinking my position on Flash-based advertising. What do you think of The Situation the situation?

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T-Mobile myTouch 4G Sizzle Video

T-Mobile has released a sizzle reel for its upcoming myTouch 4G phone. The video is snappy and cute, but I’m mostly unimpressed with the phone. It looks plastic-y and I detest the “Genius Button”. Then again, I was unimpressed with the T-Mobile G2’s announcement and the phone is one of my favorite Google Android handsets of 2010. Check out the clip and let me know what you think (please)!