Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile HTC is once again doing something first in the smartphone market by way of introducing the new HTC Merge. Why is this something different? Well, in case you’re not aware the HTC Merge happens to be HTC’s first CDMA world phone running on Android OS. Available in several North American carriers this spring, the HTC Merge Android phone features a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard, Android 2.2, HTC Sense UI, a 3.8-inch touch-screen display and a 5 MP camera. In other words, it’s your typical Android-powered smartphone. Aside from those mentioned features, the HTC Merge is also bringing in seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, access to Flickr, and social integration with Facebook and Twitter via HTC FriendStream. Other features of the HTC Merge include - 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi and integrated GPS. Its camera can also capture 720p HD video. via [PR Newswire via Yahoo Finance] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Web 2.0 / Social Networking When I still have my BlackBerry Bold unit, I rarely used its Facebook app. I don’t know, but I find it so bland as compared to the beautiful user interfaces of the Facebook app on my iPhone 4 and Nexus One. Do you feel the same if you are using Facebook app on your BlackBerry? If you do, and yet you are still for to use the app since you have no choice - well it will soon be changed. According to some leakshots of the new Facebook 2.0 app for BlackBerry, the said app will be soon be looking more like the versions in other platforms. True enough, just by looking at those screenshots, you can notice the difference of the app to the current version. Aside from the new user interface, Facebook 2.0 app for BlacBerry will also bring in new features including Facebook Chat, view friend lists, profile info and Facebook fan pages. Now, here’s something to get you all excited, if you are a BlackBerry user - the beta version of the said app is due this coming March. So get your BlackBerry devices ready by then. via [N4BB] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Computers, Software / Applications While most users are probably thinking more about the 10-inch Android tablets with Honeycomb, Barnes & Noble is trying to make the Nook experience better for 7-inch tablet users. The latest update to the Nook app for Android may not be huge, but it does bring an improvement for those tablet users. The app now sports a “grid view” for your eBook library, allowing more eBooks to be shown on screen at once. The other small improvements include a progress bar for downloading books, and an option in the shop to view books in your wish list or to and books to your wish list. Both of those improvements seem to be no-brainers which should have been there from the start. Barnes & Noble doesn’t yet have an app that officially supports Honeycomb, but that should be coming this spring. Hopefully it’s a bit more exciting than this update. Read [Android Market] and [Engadget] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Computers, Gadgets / Other, ebooks With the launch for the Motorola Xoom and impendign iPad 2 announcement, it’s easy to forget that there are other non-Android or iOS tablets out there. One of those is the Asus Eee Note, which at first glance actually looks like something more similar to an eReader. We’ve heard about the Eee Note before, and now we know the a price ranger for the device. On it’s Campus Life blog, Asus outlined all the features of the Eee Note, while at the bottom noting a target price. That target price is less than $200. Makes sense since Asus is trying to market the Eee Note to college students. Although, given the 13.5 hours of battery life, eBook reading, and web browsing, the tablet should be a good fit for anyone who can live with the grayscale LCD display. Of course, the resistive touchscreen might put off some people, who just don’t use any sort of stylus. The blog post also included the video below highlighting the features of the device. The video probably could be better, but at least it gets the message across.  Read [Asus Campus Life] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, VoIP, Mobile Skype is relaunching its “Skype to Go” service which if in case you’re not aware has been around for several years already. But by relaunching it, Skype has enabled the functionality to make international calls using any phone, including landlines. So, how is the new version of “Skype to Go” different from its previous version? Well you see - in the previous Skype to Go, you use one access number that sends them to a voice menu which in turn provides a speed dial list of pre-saved phone numbers. But with the new version of the service, you can now direct dial a number instead of dialing the access number when you want to call a friend or family member. The said number acts like your typical telephone number which you can save on your phone’s contact list. Sounds like a pretty convenient service, right? Good and useful as it may seem, this service however is not free. You have to use your Skype Credit or your Skype Subscription as payment for these calls. The good news is, these calling rates are pretty lower than your standard long distance phone rates. Likewise, if you are using a mobile phone, your local operator will still charge you of the rates when dialing from a landline. Finally, the revamped “Skype to Go” service also now allows you to create up to 9 direct dial numbers for any of your contracts. It is also now available for Skype users in the U.S., New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and some countries in Europe. Via [Skype to Go] and [Read Write Web] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra 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! - Motorola XOOM available now for pre-order at Best Buy for $800
” True to the rumors a couple of days ago, Best Buy is reported to have started accepting pre-orders for the Motorola XOOM starting today, February 20. Take note, this is applicable only at Best Buy stores not online. Additionally,…” MORE » - iPad 2 slides to June says Bloomberg
” We didn’t see this coming: Bloomberg claims the second generation iPad (or iPad 2 for shorthand) will be delayed until June. This schedule would bump into the annual release of the iPhone and I can’t believe Apple would want that. Bloomberg reports that recent changes are behind…” MORE » - Sprint’s February 24 announcement looking like a rebranded HTC 7 Pro
” For the past few days Sprint has been teasing us with a smartphone to be announced on February 24. Sprint has already hinted that the upcoming phone will be a Windows Phone 7 device, with MORE » - BlackBerry Bold Touch, aka Dakota / Montana images appear
” It seems as if it has been a few days of BlackBerry. Over the weekend we saw the details on the…” MORE » - Amazon: “The Books Lives On” with Kindle
” The new Kindle has been a great success for Amazon, with it outselling all previous incarnations, and being the company’s number one selling product ever. Given that, it’s a bit strange that the company is constantly comparing itself to the…” MORE » - Sony updates its 14-inch VAIO C Series notebooks
” Sony Europe has just announced its availability of its new 14-inch VAIO C Series notebooks, arriving sometime in March or April depending on the country where you are located. The new VAIO C Series notebooks boasts of…” MORE » - Motorola Xoom won’t be shipping with Flash
” As you may know, the Motorola Xoom is scheduled to come out later this week, Thursday to be exact. One of Android’s big features to put it over iOS won’t be shipping with the tablet,…” MORE » - Gadgetell Review: HTC EVO Shift 4G on Sprint
” I have spent about two weeks testing the latest 4G smartphone from Sprint—the HTC EVO Shift 4G. It is a capable device that offers fast Internet speeds with a capable Android performance considering it runs on Android 2.2. Feel…” MORE » - Honeycomb tablets (including the Motorola Xoom) will have Flash in “a few weeks”
” After the surprising news that we saw yesterday with the Android 3.0 running Motorola Xoom tablet not having support for Flash at launch people sort of went into a tizzy. Granted,…” MORE » - Snoop Dogg promotes Metro PCS’s Samsung Galaxy Indulge 4G phone
” How do you find celebrities being used my mobile carriers to promote their flagship products? Will these celebrities’ testimonials enough to convince in getting the products? Well, it seems that Metro PCS thinks that Snopp Dogg evangelizing about the…” MORE »
Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Computers, Features, Originals, Columns, Who's On Crack 
What's the most common phrase heard around the Gadgetell newsroom? Is it "I love tablets?",or "that's dope!" or "woot!"? Answer: none of them, it's "they are on crack." This week we take a look back at the things that made us chuckle in the tech world. Assembled here are companies whose moves are so strange, we suspect some illegal substances are involved. Let's see how much of it was fueled by illegal drugs, I am edited to say allegedly, but we all know the truth. The accused:
The Daily - still free
Want the 4G XOOM Verizon’s advertising? Heres’s 3 easy steps
Apple’s iPad event
How to cure smartphone nostalgia 
Extra Extra read all about it - The Daily is still free “If you cross this line, then you die. OK, if you cross this line, then you die.” - from some 80s movie that escapes me (bonus if you can remind me in the comments)
That is the general sentiment behind The Daily’s paywall. Murdoch and company have been promising to take the free version back behind the paywall but have yet again postponed when that will happen. In fact, the decision to go paid is starting to look like a SNL skit of Ross Perot on Larry King Live (I am in, I am out). Shedding credibility at every corner, The Daily, is hoping to catch on not just with iPad users but other tablets as well. If it can just stop crashing. Our Editor, Robert Nelson, had this to say, “...its been a nice (and frustrating) run with The Daily. On one hand, the layout and the content were nice, however given the app crashed every time we ran it, we cannot commit—even for just $1 per week” Now the publisher says the tablet magazine will continue to be free for “several more weeks, at least.” Yet, Nelson’s free trial is over. So is it free or not? Confusion typically kills a customers (or potential customers ) experience. Between the confusion and crashing, I am not sure which to make more fun of. This was the thing to save publishing? 
How to get 4G on Motorola’s XOOM tablet Fantastic here’s the guide on how to get lightning fast 4G LTE connectivity on your brand spanking new XOOM tablet:
1. Stand with you feet a shoulders length apart
2. At the waist bend over and touch your toes
3. Have a trusted friend run up behind you and kick you square in the keister This is the best thing I’ve read today, “the upgrades will require owners to send their Xoom back to Motorola. Motorola will take about six days to complete the hardware and software upgrade. So, you'll be out one Xoom for about a week.” That’s our Shawn Ingram’s interpretation. (I’d suggest the 6 days will be on Motorolas end and doesn’t include shipping. So, in reality you’re without your spiffy tablet for 2 weeks, but again, that’s just my interpretation.) So, you buy it and use it then you send it back? When they said it’s upgradable to 4G, I mistakenly assumed Motorola thought about this and asked you to perform some secret steps to activate the installed radio. Apprently I could not have been more wrong. But, but, but I get emails about Verizon’s first 4G tablet. That’s like me buying a new VW and getting a call like this, “Sir, if you’d like to activate 5th gear, we’ll need your car back for about a week.”
Or a more potent tequila, “hello friends, this is Jose Cuervo, if you like higher alcohol content, send in your bottle and we’ll up it to the advertised percentage, gracias.” Even better perhaps, it’s up to you to save your data. There’s instructions on how to dig down into the system and transfer files, easy stuff for us geeks. But how about the little old lady who only XOOMs on Sundays? Motorola, I thought we were past these hijinks. You’ve just downgraded the XOOM to “giggleable”. Outstanding job, I suspect you’ll all not be taking any drug tests any time soon. 
Apple’s big iPad event Apple sent out invites to an event that looks to be all about the iPad. Our Kirk Hiner reports, “[t]he invitation clearly indicates (or hints strongly towards, depending upon how you read Apple invites) an iPad-centric event.” Except, I don’t see it that way. The invite reads, to me, like Apple is messing with the Calendar app in a big way. I mean, look at how big that icon is! Could it be a Calendar-focused iPad, with just one app, sized really big for old folks? Fine, that’s not likely. But what is? Cameras, check. Upgrade to processing power, check. Ever thinner, check. Earlier this week, Charlie Sorrel asked via twitter, “what do you want to see in iPad 2?” My answer? “iPad 3.” We don’t want a revised iPad 1, we want big, wow-me upgrades. We want bells and whistles. We want the beast to beat back the batallion of Android tablets on the march. Maybe we should just be happy if we don’t have to send it back to Apple to get the big Calendar app? ha. 
Nostalgic for smartphones? Robert Nelson wrote a heart warming post on how you can relive the glory days of 2007. You recall it, better weather, everyone was fat and rich, and we all waited in what seemed like miles-long lines for the iPhone. The original one; the one we we were happy to pay the cash equivalent of 14 Motorola RAZRs. Weep no more: “f you are carrying around an iPhone 4 and are somehow longing for the look that you may have once had with the original iPhone you are in luck, well, you are in luck as long as you are willing to duplicate that look with a decal.” But wait, there’s actual relics you can buy on the market today, that will deliver a much more realistic experience of days gone past: - The Palm Pre (er, make that HP Pre)- if you loved it way back when, you’ll meh it now. Virtually the same hardware (in spirit) and same software (in spirit). HP is quite content to whittle down it’s customer base to the people that really-really-really like the banana-slider form factor.
- Windows Phone - travel back to Windows Mobile-like experiences of upgrading only to find the ROM isn’t working. It will feel like the glory days of WM5 all over again! Users rejoice!
- The mobile web - remember the gold rush to create a mobile-centric web where sites had their own mobile version? Well, without flash, we’re still kind of there - go ahead jump on sites that have been mobile-optomized (read reduced functionality) with nary a “go to full site” button anywhere. Yes, travel back to days when site owners decide what you can and can’t see from your dinky phone. Marvel at all the missing stuff and weep for Flash. Thankfully, we can all still travel back in time to oh-so-many sites that “help” users find what’s really important mobily: whatever they frickin decide.
Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Computers, Software / Applications  Google has recently released their latest in terms of Microsoft Office plug-ins. This offering is called Google Cloud Connect and it will work with Office 2003, 2007 and 2010 on the PC. As for what it does, just as the name implies, it connects your desktop Office files with the cloud and syncs them up with a Google Docs account. The sync is two-way and collaborative. Other perks include that each document gets its own individual web address (which should make for easier sharing) as well as the ability to mark files as read only. Plus, perhaps best of all, the Google Cloud Connect plug-in is available for free. Via [YouTube] and [LA Times] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, ebooks It appears as if Google has begun using one of those recently discovered Android Market sites—www.market.android.com/books. That site has recently gone live and as one would expect from ‘books’—an ebooks store is now available in the Android Market. All said and done, the site seems easy to navigate and offers a wide variety of categories including new arrivals, top selling, top free and even the New York Times best sellers. In terms of prices, lets just say they look competitive. A quick glance showed books priced at $12.99 and $9.99 for the most part, however there are also some other nice buys including The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo for $5.00 and The Lost Symbol for $3.99. Now it looks like it is Googles turn to fill in those other missing sites, the ones for music and movies.
Via [Android Market] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Gaming A bit of good news for those sporting a Windows Phone 7 device and looking for some more games, there will be a new batch coming soon. In fact, it looks like there will be six new games hitting the Marketplace beginning on April 6th. The new games include Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies, Doodle Jump, Hydro Thunder Go, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 and geoDefense. And in addition, all six of these titles will be Xbox Live friendly which means you will have access to the achievements, leaderboards and more. Via [Windows Phone Blog] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile Going back to our previous Thunderbolt release date post when we offered a fill in the blank style section, it now looks like there is another date in the rumor mill. The date is March 10th and the details of this rumor are coming by way of a “handset line up” sheet from Best Buy. Bottom line, this image recently came available online, however we are unsure if the person how posted it took the picture today, yesterday, last week or even last month. That said, the latest is suggesting March 10th, however at this point it seems fairly safe to say that no one on the interwebs has a good idea as to when the Thunderbolt will actually be available. Via [Droid-Life] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 FROM HOMETECHTELL - If you balk at the very notion of spending $229 on a pair of earbuds, you should probably go ahead and stop reading now. Not that I don’t appreciate your reading, but I could tell you that Future Sonics’ Atrio Special Edition Earbuds did my taxes for me, made me… MORE » Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
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