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Apple Drops No Cash Policy
Has Apple’s iron fist ideology softened somewhat, or is this a case of publicity prostitution? A woman in San Francisco recently attempt to purchase an iPad with cash, only to discover that Apple did not allow cash purchases. "It took quite a long time for me to just save up this small amount of money to go down and purchase one," she said."I had my cash in the backpack and I went up proudly to the counter and told them, 'I would like to purchase an iPad.'" She was at the Apple store in Palo Alto, about to pull out the big wad of cash and take home her first computer. Instead, she received a terrible blow.
"They said, 'Sorry, we don't take cash.' After a report by a local TV station in San Francisco, Apple sent two henchmen to the woman’s…
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Wireless Spectrum Auction Concludes in India
The insane and quite ridicules auction for the Wireless Spectrum in India has finally concluded. Total bids reached $11 billion with several companies attempting to stake their claim. The outrageous amount of money and interest that this auction has garnered should not come as too much of a surprise when we consider the insane ascension of the Indian wireless industry. As reported previously, more Indians have access to mobile phones than full functioning bathrooms. The Wireless Spectrum auctioned off by the Indian Government is geared towards high-speed data services that are required for mobile users in India to enjoy the next step in the country’s wireless evolution. While most of us certainly appreciate India’s addiction to wireless technology, we cannot help but…
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Virgin UK to Release the HTC Wildfire in Q3
Virgin UK has announced that it will be offering the new HTC Wildfire in the fall of 2010. The HTC Wildfire is powered by Android 2.1 and will incorporate a QVGA touchscreen display, which is a rarity amongst Android devices. The Wildfire comes with GPS, HSDPA, a 5MP camera and many more features that have made HTC the best Smartphone manufacturer in the world, arguably. Virgin UK has yet to officially disclose the price of the Wildfire, but the blogosphere has it priced at 250 Euros. The price is affordable overall, but may be considered expensive by some when compared to other mobile devices with similar features. It is unclear regarding the availability the device via other carriers in the UK, but there are enough devices with similar design and specifications to…
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Kindle Coming to Android this Summer
The new Amazon Kindle application for the Android is scheduled to arrive this summer. Currently compatible with the iPhone and BlackBerry devices, the new Android compatible app will provide Android users with access to over half a million e-books via a mobile store. The application itself is free, but the books are not. The biggest complaint over the e-book concept is the cost, which is often higher than the paperback version. This is a major roadblock for consumers, who cannot fathom why the price of an electronic version is higher than the tangible version of the same product. I would concur with the market in this case, but Amazon has been very successful with their current price scheme and it is unlikely that we will see price reduction in the near future. The…
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RIM to Release a Pad?
Rumors are surfacing regarding the possibility of a RIM slate. Names like the BlackPad and Cobalt have arisen as possibilities for this perhaps fictional, but ultimately inevitable, product by Research in Motion. One thing is for sure, RIM has Apple beat when it comes to the actual name. (I would take BlackPad over iPad any day.) While no one will question this move by RIM if it morphs from fiction to fact, it does remains interesting to see how well RIM can design a product that does not coincide with its strengths. BlackBerries are not known for their touch capabilities and RIM has shied away from centering their devices on the touch concept. However, a slate or pad device without touch will be alien to consumers and may be considered an entirely different type of…
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Google Drops Nexus One from Online Retail
Google has declared that it wills stop selling the Nexus One online immidiatly. "While the global adoption of the Android platform has exceeded our expectations, the web store has not," blogged head of mobile Andy Rubin last week."It's remained a niche channel for early adopters, but it's clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone, and they also want a wide range of service plans to chose from." It is unclear where Google plans on heading after closing the book on their online service. Sprint and Verizon has already passed on the Nexus One, due to the nearing release dates of more superior Android powered phones. While Google’s online venture has been rather disappointing, the Android mobile operating system has not.…
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BlackBerry Curve 8530 Available in Pink
A pink BlackBerry Curve 8530 is now available for Canadians via Telus. The new Pink BlackBerry will be available for $299.99 CAD and a two year long contract. While not a top of the line Smartphone by today’s standards, the BlackBerry Curve 8530 is still a decent phone that can meet the demands of most users. Equipped with a 3.2-inch 320 x 240 display, a MicroSD slot that allows for an additional 32GB of memory and a GPS system, the Curve 8530 provides consumers with a product that is not outrageously expensive for the features it offers. The 2MP camera is somewhat disappointing, but expected when we consider RIM’s lack of emphasis on camera technology over the last several years. The logic of using Pink as a color is the only uncertainty regarding this mobile phone.…
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HTC Evo 4G Coming June 4
Sprint is hyping up the launch of the first 4G phone in the United States. The HTC Evo 4G is scheduled to make an appearance for the first time on June 4 and will be available for $200 and the mandatory soul crippling contract. "The Evo is a fantastic 3G device, but when you use it in our growing 4G coverage area, it becomes a multimedia powerhouse," said Dan Hesse, Sprint's chief executive. "The Evo experience is much like going from TV to HDTV." Sprint will charge each Evo 4G user $10 a month WiMax fee for 4G and 3G unlimited access. A small price for tech nuts, but a deal breaker for the mainstream public, who hesitate to fork over an extra $120 a year for a service that is compulsory. The launch of the new HTC Evo 4G is sure to stir up some…
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Froyo Turns Nexus One into Speed Demon
Speedy Gonzalez would be proud. The results from the new Android 2.2 operating system are staggering. Reports have come in that the Nexus One 450% faster when using the updated version of the operating system. Android 2.2, or Froyo, will allow users to install applications on their MicroSD and comes with Flash 10.1. Android 2.2 should be released on May 19th, but it is not clear regarding the geographical availability and which devices will enjoy the Froyo and which devices would be best suited for a more specific device related upgrade, such as the HTC Desire. In any case, Android users are licking their chops over the new OS updated. The Google Nexus one is now apparently a speed demon and warrants some consideration when making a purchase. While this burst of speed…
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Apple Responds to NPD Survey
Apple is adamant that the recent report by research firm NPD is inaccurate. NPD recently stated that Android overtook Apple in total sales in the first quarter of 2010 in the Untied States. The response from Apple was swift: "This is a very limited report on 150,000 U.S. consumers responding to an online survey and does not account for the more than 85 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide. We had a record quarter with iPhone sales growing by 131 percent and with our new iPhone OS 4.0 software coming this summer, we see no signs of the competition catching up any time soon" said Apple spokesperson Natalie Harrison. 85 million iPhone and iPod users worldwide? The report by NPD was only for the U.S. market, making Apple’s rebuttal rather weak. I am…
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