Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Video, Portable Video, Computers, Mobile Computers 
Let’s get this out in front: these polls often seem silly. However, this poll from protectyourbubble.com, an online insurance company, shows something about iPads we’ve wondered for a long time: what is more popular: the iPad or cats? Fact: there are very few websites dedicated to iPads doing silly things; cats however, have several such sites. The poll by protectyourbubble.com was conducted on Facebook and had 500 responses. Of those, 12% declared Apple’s iPod as their “most prized possession” claiming top honors. This was followed up by BlackBerry and iPhone rounding out the top three. Where the poll gets interesting is the battle for 8th and 9th position. Sitting at #8 is the iPad while clawing their way to #9 are Cats. Interestingly, the company chooses to ignore this breakthrough and focuses on iPods. Stephen Ebbett, spokesperson for protectyourbubble.com stated, “As online insurers it is particularly interesting for us to see what people regard as their most prized possession and with the iPod evolving so much since its release it has clearly won a place in our hearts. The popularity of the device over laptops and smartphones is quite revealing and we offer competitively priced policies to cover the entire range of gadgets.” It is unclear if the company intends to cover cats with their competitively priced policies. For you dog fans, rest easy that your faves came in at #5 in the poll. To be fair, last time I checked, Facebook was populated by a bunch of make-believe farmers. Like I said these polls seem silly - so let’s end this right here: iPad vs. Cats - vote for your pick in the comments. Read: [Virtual Press Office] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones Almost two years ago, Oprah Winfrey endorsed the Amazon Kindle, causing the eReader to sell out rather quickly. Today Motorola is hoping to have a similar affect with it’s newest Android smartphone, the Motorola DEFY. The Defy will debut today on the Oprah Winfrey Show, where we will find out the price of the phone. The Defy features a 3.7-inch screen running Android 2.1 with Motoblur. The biggest feature of the phone is that the screen is scratch-resistant, and is able to withstand dust and water. Motorola is also pushing the CrystalTalk PLUS that’s pre-installed on the phone to filter background noise out by use the phone’s dual microphones. To round out the specs we know, the Defy supports DLNA and has a 5 MP camera complete with a flash. The Motorola Defy is set to be out on T-Mobile by the holidays, though it wouldn’t be too surprising if the audience at Oprah’s show get first crack at the phone today. Going for what could be considered a less tech-savvy market is probably the best idea with the Defy. Motorola is advertising that is runs Flash Lite on Android 2.1, while most of us would expect the phone to run on 2.2 and support Flash 10.1 instead. It also features Motoblur, which we thought was gone, but apparently not. It’s doubtful that too many people would pay attention to such a device over other Android phones without a push from Oprah. Read [Motorola] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Video, Video Providers When everyone first learned about the Boxee set-top back in 2009, we were all equally excited about the the web video universal catch-all to be one plug integrated with our TVs. Placement of the device is obvious and will be a direct competitor with refangled Apple TV. As initially anticipated, the upcoming Boxee with not have the NVIDIA GPU but instead swapped for Intel’s CE4100 processor running a brisk 1.2GHz with 1080p output capabilities, 5.1 surround sound and an HDMI output. Being stacked up next to Apple TV, the two devices offer different approaches to delivering the user content. Apple brings you Netflix, iTunes rentals, YouTube, and streaming from iOS devices at 720p for $99. Then there’s Boxee, outputs 1080p, compatible with a wide range of video formats, plays stored content and pull video from a huge scope of online sources for $199. As noted by Technologizer founder Harry McCracken “it's unquestionably a much geekier device than Apple TV, but the price tag doesn't seem irrational if you are indeed a geek.” Pick your poison, Apple TV is available now or you can pre-order Boxee starting today to be release in November. Read [technologizer] Full Story » | Written by Aaron Thacker for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Web, Websites Last Wednesday Google made out to change the search game yet again with their announcement of Google Instant, the new Google that actively searches as you type anxiously anticipating every next letter. The addition of Google Instant alone is fantastic but what adapted from Instant is the just the beginning, suddenly other sites are “instantizing” as well. Within hours of the Google Instant announcement, Stanford University student Feross Aboukhadijeh mocked up YouTube Instant that crawls the site and immediately queues up a video it anticipates you are looking for. Well since that, the instant game has gone a wild. Bring in Scottish engineer Tam Denholm creator of Instantise.com, Tam is gradually crawling his way across the web “instatizing” major news websites and aggregators and equipping them with the new search utility. Current websites available for instatizing are Google, Youtube, Maps, Images, Hacker News, Twitter, PHP, Techmeme, Reddit, iTunes, Flickr, RSS, Youtube Quickplay, Youtube 2, Babelplex and Arledia. At this rate on can expect instantnization of nearly everything by the end of the year. Rightfully Tam is not looking to take all the credit for these innovations as noted by the footnote of Instantise.com “created by Tam Denholm - Idea inspired stolen from Michael Hart who got inspired stole from Feross Aboukhadijeh who got inspired stole from Google.” Read [psfk] Full Story » | Written by Aaron Thacker for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Computers, Mobile Computers With the race to make everything touch screen and multi-touch, the budget laptop market is likely the next to make the jump as not everyone afford a Microsoft Surface. Provided over the weekend, Tech Review Source got several leaked images on an in development Acer showing off dual 15” touch screens - no physical keyboard in sight. Initial specs provided for the Acer proto 2.67GHz Intel Core i5 processor which should provide enough pep to smoothly run both displays. Not surprisingly, TRS says the device is “still slow and buggy” and anticipating a late 2011 release date. Click through the below link for a few more teaser shots. Read [techreviewsource] Full Story » | Written by Aaron Thacker for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones As the roll out of Froyo has been prompt for some and seemed like centuries for others, software app updates for Android 2.2 are already hitting the Marketplace. Adobe has pushed update version 10.1.92.10 out as of this morning and searchable for download. Typically with an update the change log details indicate has been added and/or fixed but no such information is provided. We are going to have to trust Adobe on this one that whatever they did for this update will make us happy. Nothing wrong with a little blind faith, right? Read [devicemag] Full Story » | Written by Aaron Thacker for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Email / IM, Smartphones, Mobile 
Wal-Mart introduces a wireless plane for mobile phones today under its own name. In the past, Wal-Mart has offered service via Let’s Talk, but today the company is branding a service with it’s own name. The service will run over T-Mobile lines. For $45, Wal-Mart shoppers will get unlimited calling and texting for the first line and $25 for each additional. Wal-Mart, showing off it’s buying power muscle, is mixing the benefits of prepaid phone service and “post-paid” to consumers delight. Like other services, families using the Wal-Mart service will see a bill at the end of the month. Unlike those services, however, there is no credit check, no contracts and no early termination fee. There will be five phones offered by Wal-Mart starting with the Motorola Cliq XT for $249 (remember, no contract and low monthly unlimited pricing). T-Mobile sells the Cliq for $349 with no contract and gives it away for a 2-year commitment. Other phones will range down to a $35 Nokia. Interestingly, the phones will be “locked” to Wal-Mart. They won’t be able to be used without Wal-Mart service, not even just on T-Mobile. Probably not a deal killer, but something to be aware of going in. Now let’s talk data: data and international calls will be prepaid. Data usage will cost $40 per month for 1GB and unused data is carried over to the next month. (I am an avid user with GPS navigation and seem to max out at about 1/2 GB per month. Read [Yahoo!] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation  On Saturday, I received this email from Nico Tranquillo, “I’m glad to tell you PlaceTrack has been finally approved for the App Store a couple of hours ago! I can’t believe!” Nico had been hoping Apple would approve his app that allows Google Latitude tracking for months. The recently change in Apple’s policies seems to have been enough for Nico’s work to get in.
PlaceTrack is a relatively simple app designed to keep you signed in and updated on Google’s Latitude service. On Latitude, friends you’ve specifically allowed can see your location and you can view theirs. I’ve been using the app for 24 hours and it seems to work exactly as advertised. The app runs quietly in the background, keeping your location checked in. The app uses some logic to make sure it’s using as little battery power as possible. GPS is kicked on only when the phone notices a major location change (by cell tower triangulation), so the app running in the background isn’t a power hog. There are some very nice features in PlaceTrack. Facebook integration is pretty straightforward, as is the ability to email your location to someone. One really clever feature is if you’ve enabled PlaceTrack to run in the background, even in the event of a power cycle - the app will continue to run in the background. Nico says this can be helpful for tracking a lost or stolen iPhone. You can also fake your location, sweet. If you can tell the surprise in Nico’s email, it’s because this was long road for the developer. Back in July of this year, I received this word from Nico, “Despite the numerous emails and phone calls, a “we do not have any additional information to share with you” reply is all I have received from Apple so far. I’m losing hope that this application will ever be allowed in the App Store.” After Nico lost hope, he looked for alternative ways to get his work out there, “I don’t think PlaceTrack is going to hit the official App Store anytime soon so this may be the last mail from me. I’m sorry but I can’t really figure out what the problem with this app in the App Store really is, it has still neither been approved nor rejected by Apple but the delay in the review process is definitely not normal.” Product page” [Tranquillo.org] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Apple, Communications, Smartphones, VoIP, Mobile, Web, Google Last week we began hearing talk of the GV Mobile app maybe getting approved for re-entry into the App Store. And while nothing is showing in the App Store as of yet, it looks like the developers are thinking it will happen. Or at the very least, they have been confident enough to go forward in creating a new icon for the app. So, assuming the Google Voice apps, GV Mobile in particular get admitted back into the App Store, this is the icon it will be sporting. Pretty. Via [SeanKovacs.com] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile A set of recently leaked T-Mobile documents are giving us another look at the yet-to-be-announced myTouch HD smartphone. According to the images, the handset will come touting features such as a 1GHz dual processor, Android 2.2, a 3.8 inch display, 4GB of internal storage, 8GB microSD card, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and a front facing VGA camera. Other goodies look to include the Swype virtual keyboard, the Genius Button, Qik and Yahoo Messenger support, 3G and 4G network support and screen sharing with your HDTV for images and video. So far so good. Or so it sounds anyway. Of course there is still nothing official, not to mention any pricing. Read [TmoNews] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones Interested in picking up mid-range Android device on Verizon, but not the LG Ally or the Motorola Droid? According to Verizon Wireless’ inventory, a new device by the name of Samsung Continuum has popped up and is rumored to be a mid-range Android smartphone. Verizon is well known for its high-end devices such as the Motorola Droid X, Motorola Droid 2, HTC Droid Incredible, and the Samsung Fascinate, but its mid-range lineup is less than impressive. If Verizon can bolster its offerings for devices sub-$100, it should have a successful holiday season. Hopefully we will hear more details of the Samsung Continuum if it is, indeed, an unannounced Verizon phone. Via [Phandroid] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile The Motorola Charm may have only come available a few weeks back, but it looks like that little fact has not stopped T-Mobile from already dropping the price. The Charm, which launched for $74.99 is now available for $49.99. A nice $25 price cut. Of course, everything aside from the price remains the same. In other words, the Motorola Charm is still available in Golden Bronze or Cabernet and will feature a 2.8 inch display, hardware QWERTY keyboard, 3 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone jack, mircoSD card slot and running Android 2.1 with Motoblur. Read [T-Mobile] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Apple, Computers, Mobile Computers Lately there has been some talk of the iPad coming available with Target. According to the details, which are seemingly fairly light, the big box retailer will begin selling the iPad on October 3rd. The details consist of a series of images which are showing screenshots of a Target employee PDA device. According to the images, Target will be selling items (six in total) that are going to be stocked in the “Digital Audio” section and all coincide with the regular pricing of the iPad. Granted, this is fairly loose as far as evidence, but at the moment there is not anything else that would coincide price wise. Does this mean the iPad will make its way into Target retail locations? No, but the signs are beginning to point to yes. Thankfully though October 3rd is not all that far out in the future. Via [Engadget] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile Those looking for a deal on the Samsung Vibrant need not look any further than direct with T-Mobile these days as they have recently begun offering a buy-one-get-one deal. The offer is simple, buy a Samsung Vibrant for $199.99 and get another for free. Of course, both phones will need to be activated, which means a two year contract on each. Otherwise, this free offer does come after a $50 mail-in-rebate and requires a Talk + Text + Web calling plan. But in the end, what you get is two capable phones for the price of one. Read [T-Mobile] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
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