Section: Apple, Communications, Email / IM, Mobile, Web, Web Apps The free text and picture messaging app textPlus has announced a new feature—phone numbers. Yup, the textPlus app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad has recently been updated and now when launched it will give you the option to get an actual phone number. In other words, your Text Plus setup will now allow you to receive text messages from anyone capable of texting to a regular phone number. And yes, as mentioned, it is a free phone number. Though, a little catch with the free number, you must accept the number they assign you. Otherwise if you want a custom number based on a specific area code, you can choose for a small price $1.99 per year. With that, the only other catch comes in the form of the phone numbers begin available only for those in the US. The update comes in the form of version 4.2 and according to the change log includes; Phone Numbers - Now your friends can text you at a real phone number - make sure you get one!
- Two options - Get a Free number OR go Premium and pick your own area code & own it for a year
- Easily share your new number so your friends can text you back right away
Emoticon Picker - Tap the icon next to the message bar - makes sending emoticons easier
More Convenient Messaging - Messages with the same person are now threaded
More fun stuff in textPlus 4: - Promote your Communities on Facebook, Twitter, Email or the App Store
- Try Face Text - like sending a text from a photo booth (iPhone 4 and new iPod touch)
Read [textPlus Blog] Download [textPlus 4 Free (App Store link)] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Video, Content, Video Providers What was once a rumor has now been confirmed, Redbox has announced plans to launch a streaming service in 2011. The news comes by way of Coinstar CEO Paul Davis who confirmed the news during their recent earnings call. “During the company’s quarterly earnings call Thursday, Coinstar CEO Paul Davis said that Redbox is in “detailed negotiations with a number of highly interested parties” looking to join forces on movie streaming, and that the company hopes to launch a “Redbox-branded” online service sometime in 2011.”
Of course, while we now know that Redbox is looking to go streaming, there are still plenty of unknowns—pricing, available plans and perhaps most important—the hardware. Otherwise, the Redbox branded service is expected to compete with Netflix in that it will offer an unlimited amount of streaming for a set price. And honestly, for them to be successful in the light of Netflix, it seems that is almost the only option available.
Read [Yahoo! News] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Haven’t caught all of the Gadgetell news this week? Here's your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles! - iPhone 6 concept shows much larger screen
” It is a concept by an artist that is in no way (as far as we know) associated with Apple. This concept, shows us where Apple may be…” MORE » - Gruber explains it all: Mac Air is an “iPad Pro”
” Yesterday, Apple officando John Gruber posted on what he sees untypical Apple: confusion on which Mac to buy. Typically, Gruber insists, Apple makes it very clear what choices consumers have so they can make the best purchase. With last weeks addition of the Mac Air models, that…” MORE » - AppStation locks iPad to leg - it’s the Han Solo of iPad holsters
“Designed for pilots, the AppStation from Big Sky Products, features a polycarbonate back coupled with a velcro strap to keep the iPad from bobbling around while in flight. iOS devices have proven to be a winner in the…” MORE » - Amazon rewrites its iPad app and renames it Amazon Windowshop
” Quite frankly, I never really got to download Amazon’s previous iPad app. I still have the Amazon Mobile app on my iPhone but never really get to use it to shop from Amazon online. I still prefer to do my online…” MORE » - Gadgetell investigates: Netflix to take on iTunes, Amazon?
” Netflix made news last week when CEO Reed Hastings declared, “In fact, by every measure, we are now primarily a streaming company that also offers DVD-by-mail”. Today, Robert Nelson reported Netflix is doing more pricing tests that will probably lead to a higher…” MORE » - New Amazon Kindle in October 2010 already outselling Kindle 2 in all of Q4 2009
” Amazon always likes to point out just how popular it’s Kindle is. That popularity only seems to increase with each successive model. Without publishing hard numbers, Amazon is content to tell us that the new Kindle is the fastest-selling yet. it seems…” MORE » - Was the $188 Android Tablet from CherryPal a scam?
” Back in October we learned of the CherryPad, which was an Android tablet that was coming with a $188 price tag. In terms of the specs, they were nothing over the top, but at…” MORE » - Angry Birds ringtones & alert notification sounds now available for download
” Just in case you have not yet gotten enough Angry Birds, you can now download the audio and have Angry Birds ringtones and alert notifications. The crew over at Talk Android have begun offering up two collections—one containing 4 Ringtones and the other…” MORE » - Walgreens selling Android tablet for $99
” Walgreens is taking the pharmaceutical industry to the next level by putting a Maylong 7” Android tablet on their shelves for just $99. Considering the amount of speculation that the “Indian tablet” stirred up with its impossibly cheap…” MORE » - Amazon validates Windows Phone 7 with a Kindle app
” To keep it’s dominant hold on the ebook market, Amazon makes sure to launch a Kindle app for every major mobile OS. There’s currently apps for iOS, Android and BlackBerry, and coming soon there will be a Kindle…” MORE »
Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Web, Web 2.0 / Social Networking, Websites Mark your calendar for November 3, folks. Facebook is scheduled to host an event at Facebook Headquarters. The invitation only seems to imply the event will revolve around mobile, but doesn’t give any other hints. You may remember back in September when TechCrunch broke the story of Facebook creating a smartphone, probably with thorough Facebook integration. Even though Facebook was quick to deny it, the possibility of a social networking site creating a smartphone is certainly an interesting proposition. However, we could be interpreting this event in the wrong way—it may simply be an update from Mark Zuckerberg on improvements to the Facebook app on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and/or webOS. Whatever information Facebook reveals at the event on Wednesday, we’ll be sure to follow up with complete coverage. Read [TechCrunch] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile The crew over at PhoneScoop have been lucky enough to spend a few minutes with the yet-to-be-released Palm Pre 2. The model they were playing with was Verizon branded, but that aside, they offered some feedback on the handset itself as well as a few words about webOS 2.0. Some of the good points included how the “overall fit and feel of the Pre 2 is solid” and that the “biggest and most welcome improvement to the hardware is the keyboard.” Interestingly enough, the biggest was not the processor, which was increased to 1GHz. Though that little tidbit did not go un-noticed. “The Pre 2 has a 1GHz processor, and the webOS 2.0 platform absolutely FLIES now. There is absolutely no delay when performance UI actions, such as multitasking, sorting through cards, and swiping around the menus. The speed improvements are real, and definitely appreciated.”
But while there were more than a few nice things mentioned, the telling line came with this; “As disappointed as I am with the overall same-ness when comparing the Pre to the new Pre 2, the real changes were made under the hood.”
The real change is under the hood, aka webOS 2.0. And this is where the Pre 2 is not going to be a good item for Verizon. I would venture to say that many of the Palm users on Verizon are satisfied with the Pre Plus and will likely hold on to the Pre Plus and wait for the webOS 2.0 update which will arrive for free as opposed to shell out more money and get the Pre 2. Either way, the Pre 2 is currently rumored for release with Verizon on November 11th. In the meantime, check out the video below and hit the ‘via’ link to check out some hands-on images. Via [PhoneScoop]  Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile  Verizon Wireless has discontinued all sales of the Palm Pre Plus and some are speculating that this means they are getting ready to release the Palm Pre 2. The webOS 2.0 based smartphone will feature a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 3.1-inch multitouch display. It’s scheduled for release sometime next month, just in time for the holiday shopping season. HP, who bought Palm earlier this year, is hoping to make the phone and it’s OS a serious contender alongside Android, Apple, and RIM.
Read [PreCentral] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Mobile, Computers, Mobile Computers We have already seen that Best Buy will be selling a Wi-Fi only model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet. And given that, this FCC listing just means that availability is one step closer to reality. Bottom line here, the Wi-Fi only Galaxy Tab has crossed paths with the FCC and is sporting the model number of GT-P1010. Otherwise, with the exception of the 3G module the specs are going to remain the same. Well, the same with one uncertainty, some have been speculating that the Wi-Fi only Galaxy Tab will also lack the GPS receiver. Not the best news, but considering the same rule applies to the Apple iPad it would not be all that surprising. Read [FCC] Via [Samsung Hub] and [Liliputing] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile  Verizon’s new tiered data plans are now available. Smartphone lovers can still get unlimited data for $29.99, and those who aren’t heavy data users can now choose a $14.99 a month plan that offers 150MB. Customers with mobile hotspots, or netbooks with integrated 3G can now choose between a $50 a month 5GB plan or an $80 a month 10GB plan. Apple iPad owners are now able to choose from $20, $35, and $50 tablet plans for 1GB, 3GB, and 5GB as well as the $80 a month 10GB plan. The company also plans to roll out a menu of 4G data options soon.
What do you think? Are tiered data plans a good idea or not? Leave a comment and let us know! Read [Engadget] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile It appears as if the Droid 2 to Droid 2 Global switch is now upon us. Or at least upon us in terms of Best Buy. The most recent information coming from the big-box retailer is that the Droid 2 has been discontinued and is on the way out. Of course, with the Droid 2 Global expected to arrive on November 11th, this discontinue notice seems nothing other than expected. Via [Droid Life] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Xperia X10 Mini, and Xperia X10 Mini pro have all long awaited the coveted Android 2.1 upgrade from Android 1.6. The Sony Ericsson blog confirmed today that the three aforementioned models will begin to receive the update starting this Sunday, October 31. The update process will undoubtedly extend into the month of November as it makes its way across Europe. The Android 2.1 update packs the following: Xperia X10:
• HD video recording with continuous auto-focus for high quality videos
• Upgrade of the Android platform to Android 2.1
• New back up and restore application, with extended content back up
• 5 homescreens for apps, widgets, shortcuts and folders
• Social phonebook which automatically syncs contact pictures from Facebook and shows when your friends are online Xperia X10 mini and X10 mini pro:
• Improved Bluetooth functionality with support for sending and receiving pictures, contacts and more
• New backup and restore application with extended content back up
• Automatic synchronization of your contact pictures between Facebook and your phone book
• Improved ways of handling pictures, audio, text and numbers in your messages
• Upgrade of the Android platform to Android platform 2.1
Users will be notified of the update through the notification system in the phone, and then simply connect your phone to your PC and you can begin the update process. Via [Sony Ericsson Blog] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
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