Tag: Mobile Tech

Tnkgrl Mobile’s Exclusive Hands-On of the Google Nexus One

Google Nexus One 2

New details on the Google Nexus One have been revealed by tnkgrl Mobile in an exclusive hands-on preview. Here are some of the site’s observations on this potentially market-changing phone:

  • It’s extremely thin
  • It’s much nicer looking in person than in pictures
  • The screen appears to be OLED (same size/resolution as the Motorola Droid)
  • 3G works on T-Mobile USA :)
  • I can confirm that there’s no 3G on AT&T (EGDE only)
  • It’s definitely unlocked
  • It’s super snappy! Faster than the Droid…
  • There’s no multitouch support in the browser or in Google Maps
  • Low-light performance is decent, but the flash is weak
  • Calls are routed the normal way, not using data (VoIP), and sound fine

Head on over to the exclusive hands-on preview for more opinions and observations on the Google Nexus One. Right now I don’t know what I want more — the Nexus One of the limited edition FFXIII Lightning PS3. Ha!

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The Case for Operation Chokehold: AT&T Make$ More, $pend$ Le$$

AT and T FailAs some of you pointed out, Fake Steve Jobs’ Operation Chokehold could pose a danger to people that actually need their phones in case of an emergency. That’s completely understandable. Having  said that, I think more AT&T customers — specifically iPhone customers — should be pissed off at the company. Fake Steve added up the numbers and found that ever since the iPhone launched, AT&T has been cutting its expenses while its data revenue has soared:

Go look at their financial statements and open up the Financial Operations and Statistics Summary and look at capital expenditures over the past eight quarters. I’m no math whiz, but it looks like capex has gone down by about 30% over the time period. Scroll down a bit to the Wireless section and check out data revenues — they’re up 80% over the same period.

That’s just ridiculous. Where’ the nerd rage?!? Shouldn’t more AT&T customers be pissed off that they’re helping the company reach record numbers while a bare minimum has been done to improve network conditions? Shouldn’t you be up in arms that days after president & CEO of AT&T mobility Darth Vega Ralph de la Vega promised that the network would improve, it gloriously crashed in San Francisco?!?

Hmmmm, I might have to think my happening/not happening percentages on Operation Chokehold. I now believe there’s a 35 percent chance of something going down tomorrow.

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How Google Can Disrupt the American Mobile Phone Market with the Nexus One…and Three Reasons Why it Won’t

Google has the opportunity to turn the American phone mobile market on its head with the Nexus One. If it chooses to sell the phone directly to consumers at a price that’s close to cost, it would truly disrupt the current American model. When the iPhone 3GS first came out, iSuppli estimated its manufacturing cost to be about $180. So let’s say Google sold the Nexus One for $199 — that would be killer! American customers would be getting a high-end phone that’s unlocked for a bargain price. Compare that to the costs of other premium unlocked phones, which cost upwards of $500.

Why would Google do this? Well, there are a few reasons. By inflating the installed base, Google could sell more Android apps. The company gets a cut of every app sold through the Android Marketplace. More importantly, it has the opportunity to serve more mobile ads. Remember, at the end of the day Google makes the vast majority of its money selling advertising. If more people are using Android browsers and products that serve mobile ads, the more money Google will make. So in a way, it would selling the Nexus One at cost would be similar to the old razor-and-blade model. Google practically gives away the razor and will make way more money selling the blades.

Having said that (Curb Your Enthusiasm!), there are several reasons why Google will probably not follow this model.

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PSA: BlackBerry Internet Service is Down

RayBerry 9000

Attention BlackBerry users — Research in Motion is experiencing a major BlackBerry Internet Service outage. Email has been out for millions of people in America and Canada. RIM has acknowledged the issue and is working on fixing it.

It’s totally freaking me out that my RayBerry 9000 isn’t going off every 30 seconds. For a while, I thought the world forgot about me.

Btw, one of the reasons I want the Google Nexus One is so I don’t have to walk around with this ridiculous cover on my BlackBerry. Then again, it’s kind of funny.

Coffee Talk #49: Favorite Games of 2009 #2 Civilization Revolution

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, Danica Patrick making her NASCAR debut in California, Kelly Pavlik finally returning to boxing, or Bret “The Hitman” Hart signing a short-term deal with WWE, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

As I mentioned last week, I’ll be counting down my five favorite games of 2009 in this week’s Coffee Talk columns and I’d love for you to join me! Let me know what your favorite games of the year were in the comments section. Remember, this isn’t about what games you thought were “best”. I want to know what you had the most fun with in 2009.

Civ iPhone

#2 Civilization Revolution — I picked up this iPhone game as an impulse purchase when it was on sale for $2.99. It quickly became one of the best gaming values I’ve had in years. There’s nothing fancy or complex about Civilization Revolution — it offers classic Civ gameplay on your iPhone…which is more than enough for hundreds of hours of entertainment.

Whether I’m flying across the Pacific Ocean, dealing with jet lag in Yokohama, or simply can’t sleep at home, it’s so easy to pass the time with this game. The only problem is that it’s so addictive that it’s easy to lose track of time and miss important things. Ha! That said, I’m amazed that I’ve gotten hundreds of hours of gameplay for only three bucks! Civilization Revolution rules!!!

Fake Steve Jobs Backs Off on Operation Chokehold

AT and T FailThe Operation Chokehold fake protest by Fake Steve Jobs has caused quite an uproar. With thousands of fans supporting the mission and dozens denouncing it on Facebook, Operation Chokehold has taken a life of its own. Fake Steve actually hopes that people do not to participate in the digital protest:

For what it’s worth, we don’t expect many people to participate in the flash mob. Even if all 1,600 fans of the Facebook group participate, that’s probably not enough people to crash a network. Is it?

Truth is, I hope not. I really don’t want to cause any actual harm to my fellow AT&T users. Quite the opposite — I feel as if we’re all caught in the same horrible prison, suffering alongside one another.

Earlier today, you guys and dolls debated the merits of this protest. There are fair points on both sides. AT&T’s service does suck and its customers should bring attention to its sucktitude, but people in emergency situations could suffer from the loss of coverage Operation Chokehold could cause.

After almost a day to think about Operation Chokehold, I’m leaning towards it being a non-event. Right now I’m 70/30 on anything noteworthy happening. What do you think? Will AT&T crash on Friday or not?

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Operation Chokehold: Nerds Will Attempt to Crash AT&T on 12/18

A group of (probably fake) engineers (that may or may not be) associated with Fake Steve Jobs plan to bring down AT&T’s mobile network on Friday, December 18. Consider this an indirect invitation to participate in mischief a warning if you’re an AT&T customer. Things might get funky if people take this mission seriously and/or it comes to life through various nerd networks. Here’s the memo:

Vader Chokehold

On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. THe idea is we’ll create a digital flash mob. We’re calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!

Most people are dismissing Operation Chokehold as a publicity stunt by Fake Steve Jobs, but there’s a good chance that it will take a life of its own. Fake Steve has a lot of real fans, many of whom are disgruntled AT&T customers. For its part, AT&T has acknowledged Operation Chokehold as a real threat and the company isn’t happy about it. An AT&T told Cult of Mac:

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North Face Serves Up Jacket with iPod Controls

North Face Hustle Audio 2

The North Face’s Hustle Audio jacket solves the problem of controlling your iPod or iPhone while bundled up for the winter. Here’s the skinny on this iPod-controller enhanced parka:

Fashion meets function in this waterproof, breathable, fully seam sealed jacket. Outfitted with innovative audio capability, this new jacket is wired for iPod use with an external joystick control pad on forearm. Designed for athletes who must stay wired, no matter the conditions, riders can easily shuffle through tunes while cruising the park. Technical, rider-specific features designed into jacket including adjustable, removable hood, Recco avalanche rescue reflector, pit-zips, bicep pocket with goggle cloth, and powder-related features to keep riders dry on days when it doesn’t stop dumping the white stuff.

Although I’m a big fan of The North Face, this $600 (MSRP) jacket seems a little ridiculous to me. Then again, nine years in California have made me forget about harsh winters so the Hustle Audio might be necessary for some people.

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Google Nexus One Boot Animation — Windows or Blackest Night?!?

A bunch of tech writers have accused Google of ripping off Microsoft’s Windows colors and animations with the Nexus One boot screen. As a comic-book nerd, that’s not what I’m seeing at all. It’s clearly DC Comics’ War of Light, featuring the Green Lanterns, Sinestro Corps, Red Lanterns, Blue Lanterns, Agent Orange, the Star Sapphires, and the Indigo Tribe. Am I the only one seeing this?!?

Google’s Nexus One Phone Could Disrupt the Market

Google Nexus One

Last Friday, Google gave its employees Nexus One phones, also known as the rumored “Google Phone” coming out in January 2010. Armed with a zippy Snapdragon processor, an OLED screen, and Android OS 2.1, this GSM phone allegedly runs on both AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s 3G bands. One unusual (and cool) feature is that the handset has dual microphones — one for your voice and one for noise cancellation.

The rumor is that Google will be selling these phones directly to the consumer, bypassing mobile providers. Considering that Google has yet to officially confirm that it’s selling the Nexus One, pricing and availability are still TBD. The company has an opportunity to disrupt the market by offering the phone for a low price, hoping to make more money from mobile advertising. That said, most writers are guessing that the phone will be around $399.

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