Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones  MetroPCS, possibly the most intriguing pay-as-you-go services is finally adding another “real” smartphone to their phones offerings. MetroPCS earlier in the year started carrying a BlackBerry Curve like just about every other carrier. Aside from that, it labels any phone with an HTML browser and email capabilities as a smartphone. Until now those other smartphones haven’t been using one of the more widely accepted smartphone OSes like Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Symbian, or Android.
That changed today when MetroPCS announced that it will start carrying the Samsung Code, which will be its second true smartphone. The Samsung Code runs Windows Mobile 6.1, so not only is it late to the carrier, but it’s not even using the newest OS. That does make sense, however, as MetroPCS would be trying to keep the phone price down. The Samsung Code is currently selling for $299 since it, like all of MetroPCS’ phones, isn’t really subsidized with the $50 unlimited everything plan the company sells. Features of the phone include 3G, a 2.4” screen, Bluetooth and expandable memory up to 32 GB. Giving a real smartphone option to MetroPCS customers if they want to pay a premium for the phone is a great idea. Data for feature phones, or smartphones without the standard OSes and less features can be nice to have, but can ultimately be fairly useless. Web browsing on one of those phones is not a fun experience to say the least, and most other uses can be done through SMS rather than data. While the Code is a WinMo phone, and therefore not spectacular, it’s not a terrible option. At least it can take advantage of a handful of useful apps, and do most everything your average BlackBerry Curve will do. Read [Information Week] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Computers, Networking Time Warner Cable says it is working on a fix for a security hole found in its SMC8014 cable modem/router devices. The hole could allow a hacker to join private networks, hijack the browser and steal sensitive information. “We are aware of the issue and we are hard at work on a solution and have been for quite some time,” Alex Dudley, a Time Warner Cable spokesman, said on Tuesday. “The manufacturer has developed a fix,” he added. “We believe it will work and we are testing it now to make sure it won’t affect our network in other ways.”
The problem lies in Time Warner's sloppy way of trying to keep their customers from changing the configuration of the device. They used Javascript, which is easily disabled via the browser and the web admin is accessible anywhere on the net. Add to that the fact that a tool called "Backup Configuration File" displays the admin username and password in plain text and that the router is locked to weak WEP security by default instead of the much better WPA security, and you have a set up that a hacker could do serious damage with. If you have one of these devices, Time Warner says it has pushed a temporary patch and will soon replace it with a permanent fix. Really though, you are much better off with a cable modem and a separate router. I’m a Time Warner customer and wasn’t offered one of those combo devices, fortunately. We were given an Arris cable modem and use our own Netgear router with WPA security, which is a much more secure setup! Read [CNet] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Computers, Software / Applications, Web, Web Browsers, Websites  Amazon states the the latest Windows offering has beaten absolutely any product they have ever had for pre-order in the UK. Better come up with a new trick Harry Potter, because even you have lost the king of pre-order title and crown.
Amazon has sold more copies of Windows 7 in the first eight hours of its release for pre-order back in July than Vista did during its entire pre-order period. No big shocker there. Maybe Vista is why Windows 7 is selling like mad; people want to get rid of it in favor of something else. “The launch of Windows 7 has superseded everyone’s expectations, storming ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the biggest grossing pre-order product of all-time at Amazon.co.uk, and demand is still going strong,” says Brian McBride, Amazon UK MD. And if it is beating Harry in the UK? It’s gotta be in high demand. The official release of Windows 7 is tomorrow, October 22, 2009. Read: [tgdaily] Full Story » | Written by Jodie Andrefski for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Video, Content, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray It seems that Netflix is determined to be everywhere, we have seen dedicated players such as the Roku set top box, we have seen it integrated into television sets and even Blu-ray players. That said, the Blu-ray players, despite being a nice option have not yet offered the most cost effective route. That is, until now, well in all fairness it may not be the most cost effective yet, but the prices are getting better thanks to the recent deal from Netflix, Insignia and Best Buy. Anyway, the official announcement has come and Best Buy is adding Netflix streaming to its Insignia line of Blu-ray players. What we have is two available options which include the NS-BRDVD3 for $179.99 and the NS-WBRDVD for $249.99. The main difference between the two players is the addition of Wi-Fi in the model for $249.99. With that, current or future owners of either player will be able to begin streaming Netflix movies—that is right after they perform the necessary firmware update that offers the ability. Read [Netflix] Via [Engadget] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Web Apps  This morning, Michael Arrington over at TechCrunch has it from multiple sources that Google is prepping some sort of music service for the US. It is unknown if it is a download service to compete with the likes of iTunes and Amazon or if it is a streaming service such as Pandora or Last.fm. What is known is Google has a tendency to disrupt the market.
From GMail to Google Docs to search, Google has shown it can hit a home run. In contemplating Google’s big push into mobile with Android, I can’t help coming back to this move must have something to do with getting music on Android phones. Here are two scenarios that Google could disrupt the market: Download service If Google has a download service for devices running Android (or just anyone with a computer) the party most likely harmed is Amazon. Apple’s products are so tightly integrated with iTunes that most consumers don’t give downloading from Apple a second thought: it just works and it is darn easy. Unless a significant value proposition is made, little will change. Streaming service If Google plans to stream music from the net (either for devices or just through a browser) we still might see some changes in music purchasing behavior. If you’ve tried Pandora’s app on the iPhone while long distance driving, you might be as impressed with the idea as I am. Having all that music at your finger tips is powerful and dare I say, fun. Integrating this concept into Android or into browsers opens up the advertising opportunities and Google is an advertisement serving company. My money is on Google getting into the streaming game though it will be interesting to see if they can make it simpler than Pandora, whose UI couldn’t be more streamlined. Read: [TechCrunch] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Audio, Accessories, Headphones, Portable Audio, Reviews What is it? The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones are "enhanced definition isolation earphones" with a MSRP of $59.99. What's in the box? - Earbuds
- 4 pairs of eartips
- 2.5-mm stereo plug adapter
- Airline dual-plug adapter
- 2 foot extension cable
- Shirt clip
- Carrying case
- User guide
The Good One of the first things you notice about the headphones is a tag that says that you should “burn in” the earphones by playing music for 8-10 hours. I have not seen that before on a set of headphones. The audio quality out of the box was good and was a little better after the burn in period. Generally, audio quality was very good. Compared to the standard iPod earbuds, you get much better bass response and clearer sound all around. The style of the earbuds allows for you to listen to your audio without needing to crank up the volume all the way. The eartips act as earplugs so you can hear your audio source and not somebody sitting next to you. The headphones are quite versatile with multiple eartips so you can find your perfect fit. A quick tip, your ears may not require the same sized eartip in each ear. Don't be afraid to admit your ears are not perfectly symmetrical. The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones are very light, so you won't have to worry about them falling out of your ears due to their own weight. For a $59.99 MSRP, you get lots of accessories to go with your headphones. Simple things like a shirt clip and carrying case can be helpful if you wear your headphones on the go (like most everyone does). I've torn up several headphone wires in my bag, but with an included carrying case, that's less likely to happen with the iM-590. The addition of an airline adapter, 2.5-mm adapter, and extension cable is also helpful because it can be used with any pair of headphones. The Bad Many headphone cables are covered in plastic, the iMetal iM-590 wires are covered in nylon. The nylon cable is water resistant, but not waterproof, so it might not be the best for the gym. The cable won’t be damaged because the internal wires are coated, but the nylon could get wet. The Crux
The Maximo iMetal iM-590 earphones provide a very good listening experience for a reasonable price. If you are the type of person who bristles at the idea of $99+ headphones but wants good audio quality, the iMetal iM-590 may be the earbuds for you. Product Page: [Maximo] Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile We’ve been telling you it was coming, and now it’s all official. The latest RIM device is the BlackBerry Bold 9700, or the “Onyx.” It has been officially announced, and is coming to AT&T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Bell, Rogers and more. So to go through the recap of what it brings you—some pretty nifty features on this new model with more memory for your apps at 256 MB, a faster processor speed (624 Mhz), the camera is upgraded to 3.2 megapixels, and the general style of the phone is cooler. It’s slimmer, has the optical trackpad, and just a jazzed-up look. Yet, you’ve still got the parts that you probably love—the keyboard has barely changed, and it still also has the leather backing. Also included in the latest Bold is OS 5.0. Even with all the info we do have and the fact that RIM is launching the Onyx to just about every GSM carrier in both Europe and North America, they have yet to give a “this is it” official news on pricing and carriers. However, AT&T has said they will be offering it for $199 after a mail-in rebate of $100. T-Mobile hasn’t mentioned price as of their press release, but, they did say that the phone will be able to make unlimited calls off Wi-Fi for $10 a month. No such promise from AT&T. The latest on the streets is that we can expect the new Bold in November for that holiday shopping. As always, stay tuned for more details as we get them. Read: [intomobile] Full Story » | Written by Jodie Andrefski for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Video  Going back to my confession of missing my recently sold Roku set top box, I have found a few more reasons why I will most likely purchase the updated Roku XR when it becomes available.
It is expected that an announcement, or possibly multiple announcements are coming from Roku before the end of the year in regards to adding more channels and more available content options. The channels that are expected to come may be good or bad depending on your preference, but for me and the geek inside they will all work very nicely. Anyway, it looks like we will be seeing a dedicated channel for online content providers Revision3 and TWiT as well as Pandora for music and Flickr for photos. So far, I have seen an announcement by way of Leo Laporte and also Revision3 as confirmation, but nothing yet for Pandora or Flickr. That said, even with the announcements that I have seen, so far nothing was mentioned in terms of an actual date when they will be available. In other words, those with a Roku set top box, be prepared for a software update. All others, be on the lookout for the Roku XR. Via [Hacking Netflix] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Video, Content, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray, HDTV, Portable Video, Video Providers  What if you could make sure your movie purchases would work tomorrow, on any device, and you could lose worries of scratching a disc? That is the idea behind Disney’s Keychest, a new way to future-proof your media purchases and instantly access your media on any device that is supported. Could the DVD finally go the way of the Dodo?
According to a Wall Street Journal article this morning, media rights could be redefined as no physical possession will be involved. The media would live in the cloud and be available on-demand in a way similar to the way Google Docs are accessed. Users would simply enter their unique key and begin streaming their media. Disney hopes to charge a little bit more for the convenience and security of keeping your media in the cloud and accessing it in a myriad of places. As DVD sales have fallen, industry players seek new ways to make the register ring. Disney says other players in the market have signed on to their service, but are not naming names. Sony, as Sony tends to do, is backing a competing plan, the DECE or Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (catchy, right?). Predictably, DECE wants to initiate new formats and new standards while Keychest relies on current formats that are already supported by many devices. With Steve Jobs involvement with both Apple and Disney, we can safely bet the iPhone will be one of these devices. One cool aspect of Keychest is no matter what service you bought the media from, the information is shared with Keychest members (say the cable company, movie studio, or ISP) so you only purchase it once. No word when either service, DECE or Keychest will be launched. Are we headed for yet another battle similar to VHS versus Beta or DVD-HD versus Blu-ray? In short, “yup.” Read [Wall Street Journal] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Accessories  Lets face it, when you wear a Bluetooth headset of any sort you generally look like a dork, of course there are more than a few places where looking like a dork can be a positive if not safer thing though—such as when you are in the car. So despite how they make you look, I would say that it is safe to say that Bluetooth headsets are here to stay, at least for a little while and people are going to continue using them so why not buy a somewhat decent looking headset and look a little less dorky.
With that, we recently saw the introduction of the Jabra Stone, and given the images I have seen it does not look like all that bad of a design. Dare I say it even has a slightly stylish look? Anyway, the Jabra Stone is said to offer a talk time of up to 8 hours and up to 12 days of standby time. Feature wise the Stone offers; - Bluetooth technology - easy pairing with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR & eSCO
- Jabra StatusDisplay makes it easy to check battery level and Bluetooth connectivity at a glance
- Effortlessly connect two Bluetooth enabled devices at the same time with Multiuse capabilities
- Features touch volume control, answer/end button, voice dialing (depending on the phone used), and streams music from A2DP enabled mobile phones
- Dimensions for headset in charger - H 2.3 x W 2 x D 1 inches
- Lightweight - weighs only .25 ounces
Finally, the Jabra Stone is retailing for $129.99 and will be available exclusively only at AT&T retail stores beginning on November 8, 2009. Read [PR Newswire] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
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