Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile Verizon Wireless has just updated its V Cast Music app and it is now available for all of you Android smartphone users. With V Cast Music app for Android, you’ll be able to enjoy the music you want at very low prices, including full-track version of the songs, ringtons, and ringback tones. The new version of V Cast Music Android app supports all Android phones running Android 2.1 or higher. Prices of full-track songs on V Cast Music now ranges starting from 69 cents, 99 cents to $1.29 cents. You can download music tracks over the air to your Android smartphone and then transfer them later on to your computer or even other compatible MP3 players using V CAST Media Manager. Take note, this full-track songs available on V Cast Music Android app are in MP3 format and have not DRM restrictions. This also allows you to buy multiple formats of the same song, whether the full track, ringtone or ringback tone at reasonably reduced prices if you buy by bundle. In addition, you can also purchase and manage Jukeboxes of ringback tones that can be rotated on callers. This gives your callers different tones whenever they call you. Other features of V CAST Music Android app include - wish list and recommendations. V Cast Music app is available for free download from the Android Market. While the app is free, you must be an existing Verizon data package subscribe to get it installed. Read [PR Newswire] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile If you’re a U.S. Cellular customers and you’ve been wanting to jump into the Android bandwagon, U.S. Cellular is offering you an enticing deal via its Family-Sized-Buy-One-Phone-Get-Five free deal. With the said deal, not only you will have the chance to own a decent-powered Android phone but five of your family members as well. Yes, now is the time to turn your family into Android phone users. Starting today until March 10, if you buy a Samsung Mesmerize which in case you’re not aware is an Android phone that belongs to the Samsung Galaxy S family, you’ll get up to five LG Optimus U, another nice Android phone for free. If you’re not inclined to get the Samsung Mesmerize, you can opt to get the LG Optimus U for $29.99 and get five more of the said unit also for free. Again for those who are not aware, the Samsung Mesmerize is a pretty decent touchscreen equipped with 1GHz processor, while the LG Optimus U is a nice Android 2.2-powered phone. Both smartphones feature Swype technology. Now if you don’t want to jump into Android yet for some unknown reasons, U.S. Cellular is offering another deal, this time involving feature phones Samsung Messenger Touch for $29.99 and you’ll get up to five Samsung profiles for free. If these two deals don’t entice you at all and you would rather get some advanced Android phones, here’s another good news. U.S. Cellular is slashing off $100 dollar from the prices of all its Android phones. These include the HTC Desire for $69.99 and LG Apex for $29.99. Of course, all of these deals come with the usual U.S. Cellular data plans. So, who’s availing of these packages and which one would you likely get? Read [PR Newswire] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Computers, Hardware Since the launch of Microsoft’s Kinect we’ve seen a variety of hacks for the platform. All of these hacks were done by those who dedicated their time to learning how to manipulate the device, or who had some help from a small community. Microsoft didn’t try ton intervene while people kept thinking up ways to use the device. This Spring that will change. In the coming months Microsoft will release a Windows SDK for Kinect, giving developers an official set of tools to work with. The SDK will give developers access to the audio systems, system APIs and direct control of the Kinect sensor itself. Microsoft is hoping that the SDK will help both the enthusiast and academic communities in their attempt to find new uses for the Kinect. The first SDK will be non-commercial, though there are hints of a commercial version coming sometime after. To me this is first step in integrating Kinect technology into Windows, or at least offering it as an official Windows peripheral. It might not deliver exactly the Minority Report experiences everybody keeps hoping for, but could simplify computer usage for many. While it may not help with typing up papers or spreadsheets, it could have a variety of uses in the medical and scientific research fields. For consumers, maybe we’ll be able to get some high quality Kinect-enabled games from indie developers when the commercial SDK is launched. Read [Microsoft Research] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Mobile 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, however. This could-be iPad-killer will have to wait at least a few weeks for Flash. The fine print of the Verizon page for the Motorola Xoom notes that Adobe Flash is “expected Spring 2011.” That’s at least a few weeks away, but leaves a three month window. The Flash 10.2 update will likely be the version with support for Honeycomb, and it’s expected to be launched sometime in the next few weeks. That doesn’t stop Verizon from advertising the tablet as supporting Flash, however. Flash isn’t exactly needed for the tablet experience, which we’ve seen with the iPad. What early adopters do lose, however, is the ability to flaunt their Flash use in front of iPad users who might want to play Flash games or watch web video that hasn’t been switched to HTML5. It also means that their tablets will likely slow down in Spring 2011 when their subjected to all those annoying Flash ads. Read [Engadget] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle  Think only the lucky few are able to live near great surf spots? One company is out to change that, Wavegarden, is looking to bring quality waves to unassuming locales. Targeting municipalities, water parks, resorts and lakes, Wavegarden wants to share it’s wave with the world.
How does Wavegarden make a consistent, rideable wave? Patented technology allows the Wavegarden team to control size and speed of the wave making the experience enjoyable for all levels of wave riders. Wavegarden says their technology uses much less resources (mainly electric) than current wave generating methods. The wave that is formed is clean and breaks as a tube. “The length of the Wavegarden wave is only limited by the size of the available land (a 1.6 metre wave produces a 30 second tube over a length of 250 metres).” The company says the ecological impact to existing lakes/ponds is minimal. Read: [Wavegarden] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Gaming, Console, Games 
Forget console systems, get a system that is an actual console. Meet the Stealth arcade console, complete with 60, yes sixty, games from the ‘80s. The unit is made down-under in Australia and sells for a mere $3336 (ish). Enjoy games like Pac Man, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior and other 80s classics the way they were made to be played. The unit features smoked glass protecting the LCD screen, a German designed console unit with 7-10 layers of protective paint, the unit looks the part. The Stealth allows for 1 or 2 players and the company will ship globally. Company site [Arcade Tables] via [Uncrate] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Audio, Portable Audio Who knew? The Zune HD was still not available in Canada by way of the Zune Originals website. Well, despite this news coming about a year and a half after the launch of the Zune HD, those in Canada can now make a purchase by way of Zune Originals—that is, if anyone still cares about the Zune. But this little bit aside, the overall state of Zune is not looking all that great. Heck, even I sold my Zune HD a while back and I once loved both the Zune Pass and the Zune HD hardware. Via [Zune Thoughts] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Reviews, Features, Originals 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 free to check out some preliminary hands-on pictures here. Before I get into the review, let's explore the specs and main features of the smaller cousin to the HTC EVO. What is it? The HTC EVO Shift 4G launched on January 9, 2011 for $150 on a two year contract with Sprint. The EVO Shift features a 3.6 inch touch screen with 800 x 480 resolution, 5MP rear facing camera, 720p video recording, 800MHz processor, Android 2.2, Mobile Hotspot capability, 4G connectivity, and a sleek physical slider QWERTY keyboard. In addition to Android 2.2, it features HTC Sense, an Android skin designed by HTC to enhance the user experience. In my opinion, HTC Sense helps the average user navigate through and enjoy Android. However, more seasoned Android users would probably prefer a Vanilla Android build. The Good Even though the HTC EVO Shift packs a 800MHz processor, it handles many tasks efficiently and effectively. There is hardly and lag time between loading apps and the phone responds as you would expect. I have noticed it lagged a little between when switching between apps frequently and quickly, but otherwise, it works the same, for all intensive purposes, as a smartphone with a 1GHz processor. Unfortunately, I do not live near a city with WiMAX turned on, so I couldn't test the 4G functionality of the device, but I'm sure it works similarly to the EVO and Samsung Epic. Another nice feature of the EVO Shift is the Mobile Hotspot capability, which turns any 3G connection or 4G connection into a portable hotspot for five other WiFi devices. Be warned, it drains your battery very easily, but could be a nice solution if you need to use a laptop or netbook to access the Internet away from your home or office. Personally, I am a big fan of physical QWERTY keyboards and I think HTC really hit the mark with the keyboard on the EVO Shift. It's a four row keyboard design that is compact but offers enough space in between the keys to allow for quick messaging. It only took a few hours for me to get used to the phone, and the on screen QWERTY keyboard isn't bad either. It even has two lights located on the top of the keyboard which will light up if you press the FN key or the Shift key. The screen of the EVO Shift is definitely one of its high points. It sports a 3.6 inch display with 480 x 800 resolution, making photos, videos, games, and web sites appear clear and vibrant. Unfortunately, keeping the screen relatively bright decreases battery life pretty fast, so you have to find a good balance between screen brightness and battery life. With its 5MP rear facing camera, the EVO Shift takes quality pictures and it has the ability to record videos in 720p. It also has LED flash so it can take good pictures in low-light settings. You would think LED flash is standard across smartphones, but it's actually not—just take a look at the Samsung Vibrant. The Bad One of the most obvious complaints about the HTC EVO Shift is the lack of a front facing camera. One of the most commonplace features in high-end smartphones announced today is the front facing camera. Granted, the cost of the overall device was probably lower because it lacks the camera, but if HTC could sneak in a camera while keeping the cost down, it would definitely be an advantage of most other devices. However, I'm sure customers in 4G areas would prefer the 4G radio over a front facing camera, anyway. The QWERTY Slider keyboard is very nice, don't get me wrong, but it's sort of stiff to open, and it reminds me of the keyboard present in the Droid and Droid 2. It isn't spring-loaded like the Epic or Transform. Eventually you will get used to it, but I generally prefer keyboards that require little effort to open. The battery life drains relatively fast when the screen is bright, which is a disappointment, but otherwise it lasts a long time when the screen's brightness is set to zero. Most Android smartphones have the problem tackling the battery life, so the EVO Shift's battery is comparable to most other devices on the market. The Crux If you live in a 4G area and prefer a physical QWERTY keyboard over a virtual keyboard, then the HTC EVO Shift 4G is definitely a great device to pick up. Even if you don't live in a 4G area, it still packs a powerful punch in terms of speed and processing power. If you don't want to spend $200 on the Epic 4G, then the EVO Shift is a great alternative running a more updated version of Android. Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile T-Mobile has added another handset to their pre-paid device lineup—the Nokia X2-01. The handset is priced at $79.99 and that comes contract free. In terms of features, those who make the purchase can expect to find a 2.4 inch QVGA display, QWERTY keyboard, VGA quality camera, Bluetooth 2.1, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot, 1020 mAh battery and support for EDGE data. In addition the Nokia X2-01 is running Series 40 and comes with the Opera Mini browser as well as an app for email, instant messaging and social networking. Via [T-Mobile] and [IntoMobile] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile It seems as if it has been a few days of BlackBerry. Over the weekend we saw the details on the Storm 3 (Monaco) which came in the form of a video and now we have some live style images of the Bold Touch (Dakota and/or Montana). Plus, the Bold Touch images have arrived with a nice set of specs. - 2.8” capacitive touchscreen display with 640 x 480 VGA resolution
- 5 megapixel camera with flash, image stabilization and 720p HD video recording
- Optical trackpad
- 768MB RAM
- 8GB internal storage
- microSD card slot (support for cards up to 32GB in size)
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth
- microUSB
- NFC
- Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Magnetometer
- 115 x 66 x 10.5mm
Via [N4BB] and [CrackBerry] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
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