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Posts with tag ctia 2008

Faster 3G iPhone Coming Within Three Months

3G iPhone Coming Within

When it comes to gadgets, it seems there always has to be a fly in the ointment. For the iPhone, it's slow network speed. Yes, the device is a lovely piece of kit, with a smooth, functional UI (user interface) and a nice form-factor, but -- due to the slower AT&T EDGE network -- it doesn't deliver the speeds for Web surfing or e-mail downloading that competing 3G phones offer.

As a result, even since the iPhone's launch, there's been talk of a 3G version of the phone, which would offer considerably faster downloads. It's been mostly rumors, but now we have a pretty clear indication that the 3G iPhone will be out by this summer. That's because earlier this week, AT&T's Mobility CEO spilled the beans at a press event and told reporters that all of AT&T's smart devices would be offered in 3G flavors within the next three months, including the iPhone.

So, faster iPhones are good news, right? Yes, but there's still a catch: You won't be able to upgrade your current phones. If you took the plunge as an early adopter, or even if you waited a good six months before buying in, you're still going to be stuck with slower speeds than those who waited until this summer. Alas, those are the breaks.

But this is great news for anyone who held off on buying an iPhone, which is still most people. To those people, we would say wait until this summer before you plunk down any cash for an iPhone.

From TUAW

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A Zoom Lens for Your Camera Phone



If you find yourself wishing for a zoom lens for your camera phone, Green House's "Mobile Telescope Lenz" might be exactly what you're looking for. The Green House kit comes with an 8x zoom lens and a small tripod designed to accept most camera phones.

We're not totally sure how the system works, but it appears that you line up your phone's lens with the adapter (connected to the 8x zoom) and then operate the zoom by manually twisting the add-on lens. The quality of your photos probably won't improve, but now you've got "telescope lenz" capabilities.

The Mobile Telescope Lenz retails for $88, though we don't know if it will be available in the States anytime soon. In case you're interested in Green House's other offerings, the company also sell a variety of hamburger and pizza-shaped USB Flash Drives.

From Engadget

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AT&T Warms Up to Google's Android For Mobile Phones

AT&T Starting to Like Android a Little More
Well, they're a little late to the party, but AT&T is finally warming up to Google's phone OS, Android. T-Mobile and Sprint and members of the Open Handset Alliance, which champions Google's new Linux-based platform, and Verizon has promised to make its network open to any device, a move that likely had Android devices specifically in mind.

At the CTIA wireless show in Vegas AT&T Mobility chief, Ralph de la Vega said,
"I like it a lot more than I did before... It's something we would want in our portfolio."

His conversion on Android came after Google executives showed him that AT&T would be able to load its own applications on any Android handset it sold. Previously, the company had been fearful the handset would be geared too much towards the Google brand. Too be fair, however, AT&T's tepid response would not have prevented Android devices from getting on its network. AT&T's network has long been open to any device that operates on the right frequency, is GSM based (as opposed to Verizon's CDMA cellular technology), and can accept a SIM card.

Regardless, this means it looks like most of the major carriers are on board with Android, which means we may see a more open system for creating user--friendly (i.e. Google-like) cell phone applications that work on all phones (with Android, of course).


From the Los Angeles Times

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Amazon Intros TextBuyIt, For Mobile Comparison Shopping

Amazon.com's TextBuyIt

We'll admit it. We've been chased out of a big box retailer or two for taking pictures of products and writing notes on prices. It seems comparison shopping isn't something these stores want their customers to be doing.

But in comes Amazon.com to the rescue.

The giant online retailer announced a new service called TextBuyIt for a little comparison shopping and buying, and it's as easy as sending a text and receiving a text message.

Here's how the new service from Amazon works:

First, find a product you want to buy. Send a text message to "AMAZON" (262966) with the name of the product, search term or a UPC or ISBN code, and in short order Amazon replies with the product or products that match the search, along with prices. To buy an item, reply to the text message by entering the unique single digit number next to the item you want. You then then receive a short phone call from Amazon with the final details of the order. Then you confirm or cancel the purchase.

Easy please-y.

If it's your first time using the TextBuyIt service, you'll be asked for your e-mail address and shipping ZIP code that's connected to your Amazon.com account. The e-tailer then uses your default settings for payment, shipping address and shipping speed.

This is another service that's similar to what our friends in Asia are already doing all the time. In Japan, it's common for shoppers to do their buying via mobile phone. Now we get to satisfy our need to shop on the fly, as well.

From Amazon.com and Reuters.


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Microsoft's Surface Computer Heading to AT&T Stores This Month

Microsoft's Surface Computer Heading to Retail This Month

It's been nearly a year since Microsoft wowed us with its Surface tabletop computer, a multi-touch display built into a cocktail table that had a number of crazy features. You could set your phone down on it and then, via Bluetooth, literally drag files to and from the thing, pulling your pics from the camera and showing them on the screen. It allowed some crazy interaction with digital mapping programs and even let you order more beer at the bar with just a few swipes of your finer. It was all conceptual, though, and with an anticipated price of roughly $5,000 to $10,000, the things were clearly not destined for the living room in the near-term. They are, however destined for a select few AT&T shops, starting later this month.

Unfortunately, the Surface units won't be for sale. The tables will be be used as a sort of informational kiosk surrounded by whichever phones AT&T is marketing at the time (probably not the iPhone). Shoppers will be able to pick up a certain model of phone, place it on the Surface, then pull up more information about it. They'll also be able to drag and drop media onto the device itself to see how it plays videos or songs and pull up maps of AT&T's coverage area. Unfortunately it's looking like you won't be able to interact with your own phones, just the demo models, but it should still be fun to play around.

Look for the Surface to show up at high-end AT&T stores New York City, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco beginning on April 17.

From Engadget

Sony to Provide Live Movie Channel to AT&T Cell Phones

MediaFLO USALive TV has long been promised to mobile phone users but a lack of inspiring content has been one element in the equation that has slowed down adaptation in the United States. Mobile phone users in Asia are already well-accustomed to watching live, digital TV content over their devices and now Sony Pictures Television is hoping that its stable of movies will encourage consumers in America to do the same.

Sony Pictures Television has announced a deal with AT&T and MediaFLO USA to provide movies and other content to the newly announced AT&T MediaFLO TV over a channel that will be called PIX.

Some of the first movies on offer will be hits such as 'Ghostbusters,' 'Philadelphia' and 'Stand By Me.'

Since the content will be broadcast rather than delivered on-demand, the viewing experience will be similar to watching shows on regular TV -- which means the content is on a schedule, so it's possible to miss the beginning of a show if you tune in while its already in progress. Sony isn't worried about this because the company believes most people will have already seen these movies, and the goal is to provide quick entertainment rather than launch new content.

Other channels available over AT&T MediaFLO will be provided by NBC, CBS, ESPN and Nickelodeon, which will present modified versions of their programming (similar to what they already offer for Verizon's VCast TV service, which came out last year).

Sony is also looking to other mobile carriers to develop content channels.

From Reuters and Engadget.


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