Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones At one point the Garminfone on T-Mobile was actually a highly anticipated phone, back before when GPS on smartphones wasn’t as standard and powerful as it is to say. Needless to say, the Garminfone launched later than expected with a high price tag and outdated Android OS, resulting in dismal sales for T-Mobile. Fortunately, those who decided to try out the Garminfone can now download and install Android 2.1 manually through instructions found by a posting in the T-Mobile user forums. Read [T-Mobile] Via [Android Central] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, Household, Web, Websites Three of the major U.S. mobile carriers have joined forces to build a national mobile payment system that is aimed at transforming how you will shop, pay, and save. The system called ISIS, is a new mobile commerce network backed by various merchants and will provide a more convenient and personalized shopping experience for consumers. At first, ISIS will focus its initiatives in trying to build a mobile payment network using mobile phones as point-of-sales terminals. Together with smartphones and near-field communication technology, ISIS will enable contactless mobile payment and commerce solutions. NFC uses short-range, high-frequency wireless technology that enables encrypted exchange of information between devices at short distance. Newly named ISIS CEO, Michael Abbott says it better, describing ISIS’s plans as follow: “We plan to create a mobile wallet that ultimately eliminates the need for consumers to carry cash, credit and debit cards, reward cards, coupons, tickets and transit passes."
Sounds like a pretty convenient way of paying for what you shop, right? The question is - are all consumers open about the idea? Read [Business Wire] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Gadgets / Other, ebooks  Barnes & Noble is giving an early Christmas treat to those who pre-ordered the new NOOKcolor right after it was announced in October. So, if you’re one of those who pre-ordered NOOKcolor expect to receive your units starting today and through the week. If you can’t wait for your unit and really want to get your hands on a NOOKColor, head out to your the nearest B&N, Best Buy, Walmart, and Books-A-Million stores as live demonstration units will be available. You can even purchase the NookColor right there and then, if you don’t mind having two of these e-reader.
In case you already forgot, NOOKcolor features a 7-inch VividView color touchscreen, making it the first dedicated colored e-book reader to date. According to B&N, the anticipation for the Nookcolor was so great that it has easily become the bestselling product at B&N. In fact, the pre-order volume for the device was more than what the B&N expected. Nookcolor retails for $249. The other two Nook models - Nook 3G and Nook Wi-Fi are also still available from B&N online for only $149. So, who’s getting the new NOOKcolor? If you are planning to get one as a Holiday present, be sure to place your order as early as now to receive your NOOKcolor in time for the Holidays. Read [MarketWatch] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Gadgets / Other, Web, Websites Amazon is getting ready for its own Black Friday deals. Unlike other retailers who have their brick and mortar stores that you can visit to get the best product deals, Amazon’s sales will of course be happening online, starting on Nov. 22. The gig will run for one week and Amazon will be offering one new deals each day, everyday. And in case you have not tried this online deals before, it would be wise for you to know that most products offered during this special are really being offered at rock bottom prices. But there’s a catch, each of the products offered will be offered online for a limited time only. So, if you spot a nice new gadget that you’ve always wanted to purchase featured as one of the deals of the day, don’ t hesitate to get it as fast as you can. Another important thing to note is that Amazon’s Black Friday deals are open to anyone, not exclusive to U.S. customers only. That means a cool deal might run out of stock as soon as it comes out. So, if I were you, I’d bookmark the Amazon Black Friday deal page and check out the site from time to time starting November 22. You might also want to sign up for Amazon’s Twitter alerts or like their Facebook fan page to get first dibs on latest product deals. Full details can be found on the read link below. Read [Amazon Black Friday Deals] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Email / IM, Smartphones, Mobile 
Can you feel it? The fight for who gets the coupon into your hand is well afoot and it is shaping up to be epic. If you love tech, the simple thing of merging the virtual world with the brick and mortar one, is pushing limits and pushing developers and engineers to get there first. Google’s top man, Eric Schmidt, let loose how he believes his company will get there first. Speaking about Android 2.3, aka Gingerbread, Schmidt spoke of the NFC chip in the Nexus S, a coming smartphone featuring the updated software. Schmidt is pushing his company to be the choice for mobile payments. Facebook launched Facebook Places last week to much fanfare. By leveraging the massive Facebook user base, Facebook can easily squeeze marketing dollars out of companies, providing them a hungry mass that wants what they are selling. At launch, companies like Gap gave away 10,000 pair of free jeans, just for showing you’ve checked in at the store using Facebook. Google figures, if you have your phone and will be paying using the Near Field Communication (NFC), which Schmidt says is safer than the magnetic strip on your credit cards, then Google’s got a good shot to get coupons in front of you. The play is to be your goto source for the customers. Google’s leg up could be designing Android to specifically support and flush out an attractive purchasing experience not easily replicated by just an app. Word is Apple is hard at work on a NFC solution of their own. It seems mobile payments is the next thing in smartphones to conquer. Read: [Phone Arena]
Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile 
LG has got to be feeling pretty good about their Optimus One phone. The company has managed to sell over 1 million phones globally, even before the unit launches in the US on our biggest carrier (a Verizon variant is due November 18). Running Android Froyo 2.2, the device has been billed by CNET as a smartphone for beginners. The low entry price surely must help. Over at a T-Mobile, you can pick up the black version for free, while other colors are just $29. It would appear that we’ve reached the point of maturity in the smartphone market where non-techies are getting their feet wet and looking for a low-cost easy-to-use smartphone and the Optimus One looks to have fit the bill. If the translation is correct on LG’s release, 580,000 of these units have been shipped to the US. That hopefully bodes well for T-Mobile and Sprint who launched ahead of Verizon who’s Droid has become synonymous with smarthphones. Read: [LG] via [UnWired View] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Laptops, Netbooks 
Just in time for the holiday rush, Dell is expect to begin offering it’s “wow” hybrid tablet, the Inspiron Duo next week. The 10” laptop features an inventive flipping screen that allows the unit to switch from tablet to laptop form. The Duo runs Windows 7 powered by a dual core processor. Pre-order information is expected to drop this week. That news is expected to release with help from Microsoft as they tout there grand opening of a Microsoft retail store in Bellevue, Washington. The hybrid tablet is expected to go up against the iPad, at least that is what Dell execs hope.“There are times that you have to do work. Tablets are great for entertainment, but they aren’t exactly conducive to productivity,” said Dave Zavelson, a marketing executive at Dell at that time. That’s when he revealed the hidden keyboard. Check out the video below. Read more: [CNET]  Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile The latest in the seemingly never ending series of leaks and rumors surrounding the HTC Merge Android smartphone is calling for a November 18th release with Verizon Wireless. Furthermore, some are suggesting that the Merge will arrive with Verizon sporting the Droid brand. Of course, we have also seen bits that showed the HTC Merge with Bing (see image above) and thus far we have not seen any Droid branded handsets without Google. That said, this could be inaccurate in terms of the Droid branding, or quite possibly Verizon is getting ready to begin mucking up their higher-end Android devices with Bing in the same way they are mucking up their lower-end devices. Via [Droid-Life] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile It was not a surprise when Microsoft did not launch any Windows Phone 7 devices with CDMA carriers here in the US. After all, they had told us in advance that they would not be arriving until sometime in early 2011. Given that, it looks like Verizon is all set to launch their model—the HTC Trophy though so far the release is still pegged for the general “early 2011.” That said, we do have some specs which include a 3.8 inch capacitive touchscreen display, 16GB storage, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash. In addition, the HTC Trophy will be selling for $199.99 on a two-year agreement. Interestingly enough, the Trophy is also noted as being a Quad-band Global Phone. Lastly, as for the dates on the flyer, sadly that is a special offer valid only for Microsoft employees and the rest of us will have to wait a bit longer before being able to actually place an order. Via [Engadget] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile We saw the Palm Pre disappear from the available Sprint lineup earlier this month and now it looks like the device has officially been given end-of-life status. Or more accurately, will be given end-of-life status. According to the details coming from PreCentral; “Quantities of new Palm Pre phones in Sprint warehouses are very low (we're talking hundreds of units here), so it shouldn't be too much longer before the phone is completely sold out.”
Just like that, the device that was once touted as a comeback device has lost its life. Furthermore, it looks like the webOS days at Sprint are drawing to a close. After all, they never picked up the Pre Plus and now we have yet to hear anything related to the Pre 2. I wonder how much longer it will be before Sprint drops the Pixi and webOS altogether> Via [PreCentral] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Gadgets / Other, ebooks In a slightly surprising move, Books-A-Million has announced that they have begun selling the Barnes & Noble NOOKcolor ebook reader. And when we say slightly strange, that is only because while customers will be able to purchase and read BAM! eBooks on the device—they may not be as easy to purchase and get on the device as say—Barnes & Noble ebooks. Sounds like a risky move for Books-A-Million, but then again maybe any customer is better than none. "We wanted to capitalize on the amazing growth in digital content, and the NOOK line became the clear choice to bring our customers a superior offering of easy-to-use, beautifully designed eReading products," said Craig Hansen, President of Booksamillion.com.
With that, the NOOKcolor is now available for pre-order with Books-A-Million and it is selling for $249. The device is expected to arrive for regular sales (both in-store and online) on November 19th. Read [Books-A-Million] Via [GottaBeMobile] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile AT&T has added another Windows Phone 7 device to the available lineup. The device is the LG Quantum and it has joined the Samsung Focus and the HTC Surround. The Quantum is priced at $199.99 on a two-year agreement and offers features to include a 3.5 inch (480 x 800) touchscreen display, slide-out hardware QWERTY keyboard, 1GHz processor, 16GB internal storage and 5 megapixel camera with 720p video recording. In addition, those who purchase the LG Quantum will also get “10 free apps available through the LG app store within the Windows Phone Marketplace, including Workout Tracker, Scan Search augmented reality and Tool Box complete with Unit Converter, Level, Flashlight, and more.” Read [PR Newswire] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Mobile, Computers, Mobile Computers US Cellular has become the latest to announce their pricing and release date for the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Of course, this news follows the major US mobile carriers to include T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. With that, US Cellular will be launching the Galaxy Tab on November 19th at which time it will sell for $399. Keep in mind, that price comes after a $100 mail-in-rebate and along with a two year agreement. Otherwise, this now makes five places that US customers can purchase the Galaxy Tab tablet. In terms of data plans, US Cellular is offering two. The first plan includes 200MB of data per month and is priced at $14.99 and the second is $54.99 per month and includes 5GB of data. In addition, those customers who opt for the 5GB plan will be able to benefit from “The Belief Project” which allows US Cellular customers to get upgrades for new devices as early as 18 months. Read [MarketWatch] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Apple, Audio We know that Apple is planning to announce something iTunes related at 10AM EST this morning and while there has been plenty of rumor and speculation since the news hit yesterday—the Wall Street Journal is reporting that this will be a Beatles related announcement. Say what? The Beatles are finally coming to iTunes? Well, while nothing is set in stone until the announcement is actually made, but according to the Journal; “Apple Inc. is preparing to disclose that its iTunes Store will soon start carrying music by the Beatles,”
Of course, this is coming from “people familiar with the matter” and at the present time neither Apple or EMI have commented. Granted, we would not have expected them to do so. And just like this, the 7 plus years of rumor could finally be put to rest. Personally I am not all that excited and as you can see from the above image I already have plenty of Beatles in iTunes, but at the same time it would be nice to put this rumor to bed once and for all. Given that, I say bring on the Beatles. Well, that and iOS 4.2 for the iPad. Read [Wall Street Journal] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile, Computers, Mobile Computers Alright folks, AT&T has finally made a decision after other data carriers have either announced or released the Samsung Galaxy Tab as early as last week. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is finally arriving on AT&T and will be up for grabs on Sunday, Nov. 21. Now, before you jump for joy in anticipation of the release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab this Sunday, you better check your budget first because it won’t be as cheap as others are offering it. You see, dear folks, AT&T will be offering the Samsung Galaxy Tab for $649.99 and that’s over and above two options for AT&T data plans that you’d like to use on your Android tablet. You can either get the $14.99 pay-as-you-go plan which will entitle you to up to 250MB data usage or the $25 plan for 30 days which will give you up to 2GB of data usage. Of course, should you be joy-surfing using your Samsung Galaxy Tab so much that you’d spend the data allocation before the 30-day period, you can always get another pay-as-you-go plan. Or if you want, AT&T is offering an auto-renewal option every 30 days. Coming in with these data plans is full access to AT&T’s entire Wi-Fi network at no additional charges. And if you travel a lot, you can also avail of AT&T’s international passes which should grant you data coverage in more than 100 countries, provided you’d be willing to pay $24.99. So there you go. With the various options available for you, from which data carriers are you getting the Samsung Galaxy Tab then? Product [Samsung Galaxy Tab] Read [AT&T News] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
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