Tag: Mobile Tech

AT&T Needs to Spend $5-Billion to Catch up to Verizon?

According to Gerard Hallaren, director of research at TownHall Investment Research, AT&T would need to drop some serious cash to get its network on the same level as Verizon’s — (using Dr. Evil voice) five-billion dollars!!! PC World has reported:

AT&T would need to spend about US $5 billion on its wireless network to catch up with the coverage offered by Verizon Wireless.

The $5 billion investment gap could expand to $7 billion because of the need for new backhaul capacity to link AT&T’s wireless network into the wired Internet, Hallaren said.

Although AT&T has been spending more money to improve its network, I wouldn’t expect Verizon-quality service any time soon — certainly not in this economy. Of course there’s always the chance that the Wireless Fairy will fly down from the heavens and improve AT&T’s network with a wave of her magic wand.

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Apple Replacing Google Search with Microsoft Bing on iPhone?

[Update: 11:11AM PST] Apple’s iPhone is the most popular consumer smartphone on the market, while Google’s search engine is the leader in that space. They’re two great tastes that go great together, right? Wrong! Since Apple and Google are competing in more and more areas, the war between the two is getting ugly. The latest rumor is that Apple is in talks with Microsoft to use Bing as the default search engine on the iPhone. According to BusinessWeek:

Apple is in talks with Microsoft to replace Google as the default search engine on its iPhone, according to two people familiar with the matter. The talks have been under way for weeks, say the people, who asked not to be named because the details have not been made public.

You know things are getting nasty when Apple is enlisting the aid of Microsoft. *sigh* On a macro level, I wish Apple and Google would knock it off. I like several products from both companies; I don’t want to choose sides. On a micro level, I don’t care for Bing. A few of my friends swear by it, but I’ve been pretty unimpressed so far. Plus, I’m just used to Google’s search results.

What do you think of the news? Would you be irritated by Bing being the default search engine on your iPhone or iPod Touch?

Update: A reader just reminded me that Bing is the only search engine available on several Verizon phones. This might be a stretch, but perhaps iPhone 4.0 software has Bing as the default to make way for a future Verizon product?]

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A Quick Fix for Google Nexus One 3G Issues?

Some Google Nexus One owners have been complaining about an issue with the phone constantly switching between Edge and 3G signals. The problem drains battery life, impacts call quality, and affects data throughput. One well known tech blog was able to solve the problem by changing a few settings. Here’s the fix from jkontherun:

In “Settings,” I went to “Wireless & networks.” Look for the “Mobile Networks” option at the bottom of this listing. The next screen has a “Network Operators” section — tap it. Your Nexus One will search for compatible GSM networks in the area. Once it’s complete, you’ll see the choices, which will consist of T-Mobile and/or AT&T. You’ll also see a choice to Select Automatically — tap it and your phone should say “Registered on network.” That’s it. That’s all I did and I immediately saw the phone jump from EDGE to T-Mobile’s fast 3G network.

As I mentioned in another story, I was fairly certain that the problem was on the software side. This quick fix indicates that my assessment is correct and I should get a Nobel Prize of some sort. If you happen to have a Nexus One and have been plagued by the frequency switching issue, please let me know if this fix works for you.

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Aliph Unveils Jawbone Icon Bluetooth Headset with MyTalk

Aliph has announced its latest Bluetooth headset in its lauded Jawbone line — the Jawbone Icon. The design is shorter and fatter than previous models, while the excellent noise cancellation is allegedly improved. The most notable addition is MyTalk, which lets users update and customize features via downloadable apps. Here’s a snippet from the press release:

Aliph — maker of the market-leading Jawbone Bluetooth headset and inventor of NoiseAssassin, the world’s first and only military-grade noise-eliminating technology — today unveiled its most sophisticated product yet, Jawbone ICON. Jawbone ICON offers unprecedented ease of use and audio quality as well as an industry-first software platform called MyTALK that lets users personalize and update their Jawbones via the web. Jawbone ICON will be available for $99.99 beginning January 18 in six unique design personas.

I’m a big fan of Aliph’s products and currently use a Jawbone Prime with my PlayStation 3 and mobile phones. Provided you can achieve a good fit, there isn’t a Bluetooth headset I’d recommend more. The Icon seems like an incremental upgrade on the hardware side, with some interesting potential through MyTalk.

Out of curiousity, what Bluetooth headsets do you ladies and gents use?

Apple Talking iLife, iPhone 4.0, and iSlate on January 27?

According to Fox News, Apple’s January 27th event will focus on iLife, iPhone 4.0, and the highly anticipated Apple tablet (possibly called the iSlate or iTablet). Some tech reporters suggested that the MacBook Pro line would get a much-needed refresh to include Intel’s latest quad-core CPUs. Fox’s Clayton Morris reported:

I spoke to a source at Apple this morning, before the invite hit my inbox, who said the event would likely focus on three projects: The tablet device, iPhone 4, and a new round of iLife 2010 software. While we won’t see new iPhone hardware just yet, we will see the next-generation software.

The Apple tablet and iPhone 4.0 software go hand in hand, so that’s not surprising. Some people will be disappointed that iLife will be a focus, but I think it’s fantastic software suite that’s one of Apple’s great differentiators for casual consumers. I was personally hoping for some Intel quad-core love for the MacBook Pros or even the 21.5-inch iMac, but it looks like that will come another day.

Any thoughts on the possible Apple leak?

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Coffee Talk #67: Will Your Phone Be Your Primary Internet Device?

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, Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady possibly being voted into the NBA All-Star Game by moronic fans, J-E-T-S, or A.J. styles and Kurt Angle putting on a clinic last night, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

This week’s coffee: Intelligentsia Ethiopia Sidama.

According to research firm Gartner, mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common devices for Internet access in 2013. It sounds a little bit crazy, but it makes sense on several levels. Web browsers on phones have gotten way better in the last few years. A lot of phones are great for accessing online social-media services like Facebook and Twitter. In general, phones are cheaper and more accessible than PCs — particularly in developing countries. With these factors in mind, Gartner’s prediction is pretty reasonable.

Then there’s the whole usage aspect to phone browsing. I often find myself reading web sites and working on this blog from my iPhone or BlackBerry. Sometimes it’s just looking for story ideas before I go to sleep. Sometimes I’m multitasking by watching WWE Monday Night Raw and sifting through the site’s comments. This was pretty much impossible to do (efficiently and enjoyably) a few years ago. Thanks to advancements in WebKit, Opera Mini, and specialized apps (Tweetdeck, WordPress, etc.), it’s totally doable today. Could further advancements lead to me surfing the web more from my couch or bed than my desk? Yeah, I could see that.

Still, there are going to be people that refuse to do the majority of their web surfing on their phone. Some prefer looking at sites on large monitors. Others are more comfortable reading from an office chair. Perhaps there will still be people — probably older ones — that can’t fathom the idea of using their phone for anything but phone calls.

I want to hear what you think of Gartner’s prediction. Do you find yourself reading web sites from your phone more often? Do you think your phone will be your primary Internet access device in three years? Why or why not?

Verizon Getting Apple Tablet in 2010 and iPhone in 2011?

A lot technophiles are hoping that the rumors of Verizon getting the iPhone in 2010 come true, but one longtime technology writer says it’s not happening. With Verizon starting the transition from 3G CDMA technology to 4G LTE, some experts feel it would be silly for Apple to trot out a CDMA iPhone this year. The consolation prize? The Apple tablet…or iTable…or iSlate…or whatever the hell they’re calling the device this week. PC Magazine’s Sascha Segan recently wrote:

There isn’t going to be a Verizon iPhone in 2010. Get over it. Verizon and Apple are on the same wavelength about the iPhone being a slam-bang device to help promote Verizon’s LTE network, which means 2011. But the Apple Tablet is exactly what Verizon is looking for right now.

On paper, I agree with him. In practice, I don’t. I sincerely doubt LTE deployment will go as smoothly as planned. You know those lovely coverage maps Verizon likes to show off? At launch time, its LTE map is going to look more like AT&T’s current 3G map. With that in mind, why wouldn’t Verizon want a CDMA iPhone? It could sell millions of them for years, as opposed to an LTE iPhone that has a far more limited reach.

It just seems silly and overly ambitious to wait on LTE for the iPhone. AT&T has become a strong #2, largely due to the iPhone. Verizon could leave its nearest competitor in the dust by offering the most popular consumer phone on the strongest network in the country. This is pure conjecture, but I’d bet that a CDMA Apple tablet would do a fraction of the numbers a CDMA iPhone would do. I don’t see how it would be “exactly what Verizon is looking for”.

What do you make of all this? If Verizon has the opportunity to get a CDMA iPhone, shouldn’t it jump at the chance? How well do you think an Apple tablet would do for the carrier? Are any of you even interested in one?

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Will the Motorola Shadow Become the Google Nexus Two?

Rumors and photos of the phone that will supposedly become Google’s Nexus Two are floating around. Android fans will remember that Google vice president of engineering Andy Rubin said that the next Nexus phone will be aimed at enterprise users and have a keyboard. This is where the Motorola Shadow comes in.

Remember, Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha was present at Google’s Nexus One unveiling. While people were fixated on the HTC-made phone, having another hardware vendor at the event showed that Google.com/phone is part or a larger endeavor. I always saw Jha’s presence as Motorola standing in the on-deck circle.

As for the phone itself, the Motorola Shadow borrows a lot of the Motorola Droid’s design, but with a drastically different color scheme. Instead of the Droid’s black, Darth Vader appearance, the Shadow features a screen with black boarders and a slide-out keyboard in white. While the phone looks great in photos, the neat freak in me is worried about a white keyboard. On the plus side, the Shadow has a slot for a wrist strap, which would allow me to use my vast assortment of anime and videogame straps I purchased in Japan.

On the software side, thing don’t add up (yet). If the Nexus Two is being aimed at enterprise users then Android would need security tweaks for Microsoft Exchange support. For secure corporate email, RIM’s BlackBerry is the undisputed champion of the market. The stock Android OS doesn’t handle Exchange in a way that would make IT administrators happy. Perhaps Motorola has been working on custom tweaks for this purpose.

While I was tempted by the Nexus One, typing tweets and Facebook updates on my (sim-less) iPhone reminded me of how much I loathe virtual keyboards. I’ve posted full blog posts and lengthy emails on my BlackBerry. I can’t picture doing the same on the Nexus One. Whether or not the Motorola Shadow becomes the Nexus Two, I’m highly interested in the phone…if it matches it predecessor’s OLED screen and Snapdragon processor.

How about you ladies and gents? Any thoughts on the Motorola Shadow? Do you think the design is too flashy for an enterprise phone?

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PSA: Free WiFi at McDonald’s Starting Today

McDonald’s has announced that it has started offering free WiFi at 11,500 of its 14,000 locations. So after you grease up your hands with a Big Mac value meal, you can get crap all over your laptop or smartphone.

Do any of you use WiFi at McDonald’s? If not, will you start doing so now that it’s free?

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AT&T and Verizon Slash Service Prices

AT&T and Verizon have slashed the prices of their wireless services. Since most of you are tech nerds, I’ll focus on the unlimited (talk, data, and text) plans for smartphones. Current AT&T users will be able to lower their costs to $119.99 a month starting on Monday, while Verizon customers can enjoy unlimited everything for $119.98.

While any price reduction is nice, these prices are still higher than what Sprint and T-Mobile offer. Sprint’s comparable plan costs $99.99, while T-Mobile’s costs $79.99. Naturally, the value of any of these services depends on the coverage you get at home, work, and the places you frequently travel to.