Tag: smartphone

Rumor Roundup: The New Google Nexus by LG

by Katherine Elsasser
Google Nexus LG Optimus Photo
Leaked photo of the back of the new Google Nexus by LG

Rumors about Google’s new Nexus phone have really started flying in the last couple days! We’re going to round up the rumors, but remember…they’re just rumors! Even if it seems like a sure thing, it’s all still subject to change. One thing is certain though: now is the time for manufacturers to release their new products. Samsung, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and probably Google, everybody’s pulling out all the stops in anticipation of the holiday season, even though it seems like it’s too soon!

Lots of sources, including NBC, are reporting that the device will most likely be announced on Monday, October 29. Supposedly the device is modeled after (and fairly closely resembles) the LG Optimus G model. The Optimus G is not available yet in the United States, but it did go on sale in South Korea last month, and boasts some really impressive specs: a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, 32GB of storage (plus MicroSD expansion), a 13MP camera and a 4.7 inch screen with 1280×720 resolution.

It’s far from certain how exactly the hardware and Android experience will compare from the Optimus G to the Nexus, but it’s definitely worth noting that this is LG’s first real big push into the high-end smartphone market, and expectations (and promises) are high. The Optimus G is LG’s first real attempt to compete with the Galaxy SIII and the iPhone, and comes with the backing of Google. Rumors are also flying that Google has plans to beef up their support staff to deal with an anticipated increase in customer inquiries, presumably from consumers buying the Nexus.

But perhaps the most fun thing to speculate about is leaked product photos, especially the side-by-side comparison with the iPhone 5. The photos are from Tech Onliner, and if you read Russian you’re welcome to go take a look at their original coverage. For the rest of us, we’ll just take a look at the photos below and hold tight till October 29th!

Read More

Share Mobile Data Across Devices With AT&T’s New Plan

by Katherine Elsasser

Share mobile data with AT&TWe all know about the mobile family plan: everybody shares minutes so that you can take turn being the big spenders and having long chats. Mobile minutes are all well and good, but these days what we really want is data!

AT&T has risen to the challenge with a new plan to let you share mobile data across multiple devices. It’s the old-style family, but now for data. And the more data you choose, the less you pay per gigabyte. You pick your plan (from 1GB to 20GB) and get unlimited voice and text on your primary device.

Then you can add other devices, including tablets, smartphones and mobile hotspots, for an additional cost per device, but with access to that big chunk of data. You can put up to ten devices on that same amount of data, and the bigger your data plan the less it costs to add another device.

Ready for some data? AT&T’s plan to help you share mobile data is available now. AT&T is a sponsor of SmallBizGoMobile.

Venmo To Vegas: A Simple, Free Way to Pay Your Friends and Associates

by Justin Alcon

I’m at that age where everyone I know is getting married, and that means one thing: parties.  Specifically, for me as a guy this means bachelor parties, w00t!  So this week, according to Bing,  was the best time to book a July flight to Las Vegas because the prices would only go up.  No one likes to travel alone, so since my buddy Paul will be heading out to the same party we decided to fly together.

I hopped onto one of the “flight deal” sites and bought two round-trip tickets to Vegas with my credit card.  I told Paul over Gchat that I had booked our tickets, and asked him how he wanted to pay for his half.

“Do you use Venmo?”, he asked.

Well guess what? I do now!  Venmo is a simple, fun, and free way to pay your friends.  It took me less than 5 minutes to sign up with facebook, verify my bank account, and bill my friend for his part of our flight.   Read More

The iPhone 4, still the device of my life

by Justin Alcon

There are tons of great new devices out there, and there are even more rumors of greater devices to come.  Despite the revolutionary form and function of the iPad 2 and the siren-like draw of Siri’s voice, something about the “all in the palm of my hand” functionality of my iPhone 4 and the dreams of greater things to come has kept me using the same device for over a year and kept my upgrade money, so far, in my wallet.

Although I think that it is totally fun to tell Siri that you love her, or to ask her silly questions and  laugh at the answers, I don’t actually see a lot of utility in talking to my phone as an interface, especially since I don’t do much driving.  Outside of Siri, I feel like my iPhone 4 can do everything that the 4S can do, and for that matter everything that I need a mobile device to do.  I get my business and personal email all in one place, while the handy grouping of apps puts all of my social media into one small corner of my screen.  I can read all types of documents, handle all my faxing business, and can even hop on the command line of a web server.  And if you don’t have one yet, I believe you can get one for a lot less cash then the S model. Read More

Hands-on Look at Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2: The Same Durability, 20% Thinner

by Shy Mukerjee

At CES we had a chance to meet with Jon Pesansky, a Senior Product Engineer at Corning. Jon was there as part of a large push by Corning to get the word out about Gorilla Glass 2. Many of you are probably already familiar with Gorilla Glass—it can currently be found on a variety of non-Apple smartphones and tablets, including virtually every top-of-the-line Android model. For those that don’t know, Gorilla Glass is a type of glass specially engineered by Corning to withstand a huge amount of stress, far beyond what normal or even tempered glass can withstand. It won’t scratch easily and it won’t shatter when you inevitably drop your phone.

Gorilla Glass 2, the latest incarnation of the glass, is 20% thinner than the current product. That should allow for thinner, sleeker devices to be created with the glass as well as enhanced touch sensitivity from your fingers being closer to the touch sensitivity elements.

To prove Gorilla Glass 2 can stand up to the task, Mr. Pesansky puts it on the workbench to demonstrate just how strong Gorilla Glass 2 really is:

Top of the line Windows smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 900, coming exclusively to AT&T

by Shy Mukerjee

The latest Windows phone has arrived, and it’s quickly going to become known as THE Windows phone to own. Boasting 4G LTE from AT&T, the Nokia Lumia 900 is a beautiful phone. WIth a body molded from a single piece of polycarbonate available in cyan and black. It looks striking, and definitely has a winning aesthetic.

But with the Windows Phone platform currently battling for last place, how does Nokia expect to be able to a) break back into the American market and b) win mindshare from deeply entrenched platforms like iPhone and Android?

Nokia has a few ideas. Read More

Satelite Technology Takes Android to the World’s Most Remote Locations

by Justin Alcon

This week DeLorme, a producer of market-leading GPS, digital map, and mapping software solutions, announced that it was named an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its newest product: the inReach™ Satellite Communicator. CES is one of the biggest technical conferences in the world, and to be recognized in this way is an indicator of true innovation.

The inReach offers affordable two-way satellite messaging and emergency communications from anywhere in the world through the Iridium network. In short, this means you can stay connected even in the most remote locations. Read More

The Pantech Crossover is the Perfect Entry Level Smartphone

by Justin Alcon

I recently had the pleasure of using the Pantech Crossover for a week,  and I have to say that I’m impressed.  I have been a smartphone user for a REALLY long time (I don’t want to say how long for fear of sounding like a bigger nerd than I already do).  I feel like I’ve basically seen it all when it comes to handheld devices.  And yet, this small Android device with a real keyboard was still able to surprise me.  As comfortable as I feel with smart phones generally, I realized I hadn’t used one with a proper keyboard since my T-Mobile Sidekick.  While the form was foreign to me, I was impressed at how easily I was able to begin using the Crossover due to its intuitive design and responsive interface. Read More

Mobile App Viewing Habits: Where We’re Watching Our Video

by Nick Muntean

The Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), an industry trade group, recently hired venerable market research firm Nielsen to conduct a study of Americans’ mobile video app viewing habits, and have just released their findings, in a report entitled “Roadmap to Video Apps (What Makes Viewers APPY?).”  Access to the full study will set you back a cool $13,500, but CTAM has issued a press release which includes some of their key findings, and it looks as though some of what they’ve found is pretty unexpected. Read More

AT&T Announces 4G BlackBerry Torch 9810

by Shy Mukerjee

AT&T have been rolling out new 4G phones and devices all summer, and today they’re announcing the next evolution in Blackberry phones, with their first 4G Blackberry offering: the Torch 9810. While there’s only an announcement today and no release date set, we do have some details to share with you about the large touchscreen + full QWERTY keyboard phone. The most exciting spec though, is that this Blackberry is going to boast amazing internet speeds with 4G connectivity. We can’t wait!

Here’s what’s new and improved:

· 4G HSPA+ capability
· 1.2 GHz processor
· High-res VGA display
· More precise touchscreen
· Updated BlackBerry® 7 OS
· Enhanced Web browser
· 720p HD video recording

If you want to be the first one in your office sporting this hot new Blackberry, AT&T Premier will notify you via email when the 4G Torch becomes available. You can sign up here.