New Google Nexus 7 Tablet Coming This Summer

April 3, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

According to Reuters, Google will launch a successor to their Nexus 7 tablet this July. It will be a further refinement to their low-priced 7″ tablet that launched last summer, and will more than likely continue to carry a starting price tag around $200, though there are rumors Google may try to drop the entry-level price to $149.

It makes sense for the search giant, still trying to gain traction in the crowded hardware market, to offer as low a price point as possible in order to pick up market share. Given Google’s ability to sell advertising on top of their products, the hardware price only needs to be one component of the revenue from the tablet. That’s the same monetization strategy around content that allows Amazon to sell their Fire tablets at a discount: they keep making money once they’ve got the device in your hands.

As far as improvements to the Nexus 7, Reuters is also reporting that the new device will come with an upgraded Qualcomm chip (a switch from the current Nvidia processor) that will supposedly prolong battery life. We should also be on the lookout for a thinner bezel and higher screen resolution.

We’ll bring you more information when we have it, but for now check out the original Reuters article on the new upcoming Nexus 7 sequel.

For more about how the Nexus 7 compare to its competitors the iPad Mini and Kindle Fire, check out our complete video review.

What is AT&T Premier?

April 2, 2013February 1, 2014 by Katherine Elsasser

If you follow this blog at all, you will have noticed we talk quite a bit about AT&T Premier, but you may not be familiar with what the Premier program actually is.

Essentially, it’s AT&T’s program for small business. They do have services for large business, but that’s not our focus, and besides, lots of big businesses have IT departments to take care of services for them. AT&T Premier fills in the gap to help with mobile solutions for small businesses to help streamline your tech so you have one less thing to worry about.

In order to access Premier, you have to qualify first. But once you do, the service offers Premier-only discounts on phones, devices and plans. It’s basically a portal where you can shop for services and devices online, but also manage any accounts you already have, including for employees. So if you have a small business that’s providing business phones for employees, you can manage everyone’s account at a glance, and set up limited-access profiles so they can see info they need (but not info you’d rather keep private).

One great thing is to be able to see all the mobile devices offered by AT&T in one spot, with Premier-specific prices, so you can decide which mobile device is right for you. Refurbished phones are included too, if you’re looking to get a serious discount. Plus there’s $25 off any phone activation.

The AT&T Premier portal also offers tips on getting more out of your mobile devices so you can manage your business more efficiently. There’s customer support targeted to the small business user, and general knowledge and advice specifically tailored to the small business audience.

Want to know more about AT&T Premier? Want to see if you qualify? Go to the Premier site for more information.

This is a sponsored post from AT&T.

SXSW: Chevy Eyes-Free Siri Integration

March 27, 2013March 26, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

Chevy Hand-Free Integration — Demo of Siri Eyes-Free Integration in the new Chevy Sonic

One cool thing we saw at SXSW was how tech is being incorporated into our vehicles so we can use our phones and apps even while we’re driving. We got a chance to get a demo from Chevy in their new Sonic, a compact car with their MyLink system. The MyLink system is basically their in-car entertainment system. But what’s new here is that it links up to your phone, so you can use your iTunes or apps like Pandora through your car screen. That means no fiddling with your phone when you’re supposed to be driving!

If you have Siri (iPhone) or Nancy (Android), you can also use that through your car to make calls right from your steering wheel, which means you never have to take your eyes off the road, because it’s all voice activated. Siri can also send and read your text messages. And since your phone plugs into the car, you don’t have to worry about Bluetooth battery drain. We’ll be posting more about in-car tech in action, but for now here’s a demo of Siri at work in a new Chevy Sonic:

SXSW: How Merchants Can Accept PayPal Payments With a Smartphone

March 25, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

Lots of companies are working on ways to use smartphone payments to streamline the ordering process. PayPal’s entry into the market is particularly interesting, since so many people have a PayPal account already. Plus, their app isn’t tied to ordering from a specific establishment (like paying with your phone at Starbucks). Instead, PayPal’s app could let you order just about anywhere.

From the customer side, the app is called PayPal Wallet. The merchant app is PayPal Here, which lets merchants accept and send money.

So how would it work? Check out the demo video below from SXSW. You use your phone to “check-in” at a destination, which automatically lets a merchant start a tab for you. The example below is ordering drinks, but it’s easy enough to imagine lots of possibilities for the app in the future!

CC Chapman at SXSW: Amazing Things Will Happen (If You Work At Them!)

March 22, 2013March 21, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

Many of you may have already seen our SXSW interview with CC Chapman. But it’s worth reposting here, because he talks a lot about something that’s important to all of us: how to get where you want to go. As he says in the video, it’s not enough just to be unhappy with what you’re doing: you have to make changes if you want to make progress, and those changes take hard work.

One great point he raises is that if you know where you want to go, you can make an action plan to get there. That means trying to work backwards from your end goal, and setting up concretes milestones (with deadlines!) you think will get you there. But starting from the end result is key.

It’s also important to remember that your plan will change along the way: it’s important to be flexible and respond both to positives and negatives that may come up. That may mean changing your plan slightly to accomodate a new opportunity that presents itself, and it also means constantly evaluating what you’re doing: if it’s not working, it’s time to change the plan!

For more info on CC Chapman, check out his new book Amazing Things Will Happen or find him on Twitter at cc_chapman.

Three Lessons in Brand Marketing & Activation from SXSW

March 21, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

Chevy at SXSW. Courtesy sxsw.com

South by Southwest, especially the interactive portion of the festival, is all about brands. They’re there to get your attention, either as sponsors, party hosts, service providers or more. The tough part is competing for eyeballs in a space crowded with other brands out to do the exact same thing. Sure, that’s true in the marketplace all the time, but SXSW is a distilled, concentrated version of the attention problem. We were there, we saw what worked and what didn’t, and we’ve got a couple takeaways you can apply to any brand marketing opportunity for your small business:

1. Have something to say

The most successful companies at SXSW timed their participation with a major product, app or feature announcement. It’s not enough to show up: there’s got to be something to catch everyone’s attention. That’s especially true if your audience knows you already: giving them something new gives them another reason to pay attention to you again!

SXSW: Prince Plays Live and Samsung Announces the Galaxy S4

March 18, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

Prince closed out the South by Southwest festival on Saturday night, wrapping up the music portion of the festival. But big tech companies were there for music, and not just the interactive portion: Samsung sponsored Prince’s performance, and made tickets available to owners of the Galaxy Note who completed a scavenger hunt throughout Austin (using the Note, of course).

Prince’s show was the most talked about event of the week, and it was the hardest ticket to come by, so it’s hard not to respect Samsung’s ability to drive some serious buzz at the event. With hundreds of companies and brands competing for attention during the festival, that’s no small feat.

And it makes sense Samsung would want all eyes on them: the show corresponded with their announcement of the Galaxy S4 smartphone, the successor to the incredibly popular Galaxy S3. The Galaxy S3 represents a huge comeback for Samsung, which has managed to position the device as the top competitor to the iPhone over the last year and a half.

So what can expect from this new release of the flagship phone? Mostly enhancements: a larger 5 inch screen, 1080p resolution, a better battery, and faster processor. It remains to be seen whether these minor improvements will drive the sales Samsung is looking for, but given the S3’s popularity, it seems like it will be a hot seller.

Want to be the first to know when the Galaxy S4 will be available? ATT already has a page up to let you sign up to receive a notification once the phone is available. Go here to get on the Galaxy S4 notification list.

SXSW: We’re Going and We Want to Help You

March 5, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

A couple of the Mario Armstrong team members will be heading out for SXSW at the end of the week. In case you’re not familiar, the interactive part of the South by Southwest festival is basically the biggest tech tradeshow/party of the year. It’s also a place where new companies and startups go to try and make a splash, so it’s perfect for scouting trends and new services. We’ll be there, and even you aren’t going, we want to bring you the news and updates you’re curious about.

This is your chance to get info from the front lines of SXSW without actually having to stand in any lines! Check out their lineup of keynotes, featured sessions and workshops, and let us know which ones you’d be curious to hear about. You can leave your requests here in the comments or get us on Twitter at smbizgomobile. We’ll do our best to bring you the coverage you want!

New $.99 Touchscreen Unite Hotspot from AT&T

February 12, 2013 by Katherine Elsasser

If you’re truly a mobile power user, it makes sense to have all your bases covered when it comes to having internet access – there’s nothing worse than being stranded in a tight spot when you really need the connectivity. That’s where a hotspot can be a lifesaver: it uses your cell signal to provide access, but can also “broadcast” that signal to other devices, like your laptop or tablet: the new Unite hotspot can power up to 10 devices at one time.

Plus it costs all of $.99. That’s a contract price and it does involve a data plan, but if you’ve been considering purchasing a dedicated hotspot device, it’s hard to see how that could get more affordable. The Unite also boasts battery life of up to 10 hours while running or 10 days of standby. Plus it’s a touchscreen, so all the stats you could ever need are displayed conveniently: data usage stats and the status of your Wi-Fi network is displayed right on the home screen. For more info on the hotspot, check out AT&T’s website for Premier customers.

Have you thought about getting a dedicated hotspot device? If you’ve ever used one, what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

Mario Armstrong

TV Host and Motivator for the Modern World

Author: Katherine Elsasser