Samsung announces Galaxy Note and Galaxy Nexus smartphones

Samsung Electronics announced the launch of two new smartphones, the Galaxy Note (left) and the Galaxy Nexus (right).

The Galaxy Note has a 5.3" display which features the world's first and the largest 5.3" HD Super AMOLED display, an expansive high-resolution screen that provides an immersive viewing experience.

Taking full advantage of the large display, users will be able to do more tasks, with minimum scrolling and screen transitions.

An advanced pen-input technology, called the S Pen, is combined with the Galaxy Note's full touch screen for a new user-experience.

The Galaxy Note's advanced pen input functionality is combined with full touch screen to create a new input experience.

The incorporated digital S Pen can be used for accurate sketching and artwork, while superior handwriting recognition allows ideas to be freely captured and shared with other devices without the need to perform any additional digitization; handwritten text is accurately converted into digital characters.

The Galaxy Nexus, the world's first smartphone running Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest release of the Android platform.

The Galaxy Nexus features a 4.65" HD Super AMOLED display technology at 720p resolution and a 1.2GHz dual core processor.

Galaxy Nexus is the first smartphone to feature Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich which brings an entirely new look and feel to Android.

It has a redesigned user interface with improved multi-tasking, notifications, Wi-Fi hotspot, Near Field Communications support and a full web browsing experience. Galaxy Nexus features software navigation buttons, a first for Android smartphones.

Ice Cream Sandwich introduces innovations such as Face Unlock which uses facial recognition to unlock the phone. Using NFC technology, Android Beam allows the sharing of web pages, apps, and YouTube videos with your friends by simply tapping your phones together. To have more fun during chat sessions, use silly effects and background replacement while shooting video or video chatting with Google Talk.

The Galaxy Note 16GB is available at $998 (inclusive of GST), without contract in November 2011. The Galaxy Nexus is available at $948 (inclusive of GST), without line contract by January 2012. Android smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 review

Samsung has expanded its range of tablets so it now encompass almost every screen size imaginable. The latest addition to the family is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, which as its name suggests sports an 8.9in screen. Here's our hands-on preview of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9. Watch this space for a follow-up full review.

The first thing that strikes you about the Galaxy Tab 8.9, isn't the screen size but just how thin it is. The company claims that it's the world's thinnest tablet and at 8.6mm thick it's about 0.2mm thinner than the Apple iPad 2.

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 is only the second tablet to ship at that screen size. The other tablet to have been released, T-Mobile's G-Slate, showed that 8.9in could actually be a dark-horse sweet spot for a display. It makes a nice compromise between the larger screens of tablets like the Apple iPad 2 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the more compact 7in models such as the original Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Other than the screen size, the specs are identical to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, with which it also shares a not-too-dissimilar design. Inside, is a dual-core 1GHz processor, a high-resolution 1280 x 800-pixel display, and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. Weighing in at 470g, it comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions and there's a microSD card slot for up to 32GB cards should you require even more storage space. It has a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, while the front-facing camera is a highly respectable 2 megapixels. The video camera is capable of capturing 720p video at 30 frames per second.

Samsung uses its own interface layer on top of Android 3. Called TouchWiz UX, it builds on Honeycomb's framework by leaving the app management screen untouched as well as the soft navigation buttons intact in location. But that's about all that's untouched: Samsung has completely transformed and optimised the user interface to a pleasing effect. Samsung includes a slew of services for consumers (its Media Hub, Music Hub, Readers Hub, and Social Hub are all present), and the tablet also offers features for business users like support for Exchange Active Sync version 14, on-device encryption, Cisco VPN, and WebEx.

Samsung to Sell Windows 8 Computer in 2012

Samsung Electronics Co. plans to start selling touch-screen computers using the latest Windows operating system in the second half of next year as it seeks to tap demand for portable, yet powerful devices.

The product will probably be a modified version of the Series 7 computer, which has a touch screen and a wireless keyboard, said Uhm Kyu Ho, head of sales and marketing at Samsung’s personal-computer business. It will run Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 8, he said in an interview after a media briefing in Seoul today.

Microsoft on Sept. 13 unveiled the newest version of its Windows operating system with a device made by Samsung. The program, which allows ultra-thin laptops and tablets to turn on instantly and run all day on a single charge, is an attempt to vault Microsoft into a fast-growing market controlled by Apple and Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Android software.

Samsung is targeting business users with the Series 7, Nam Seong Woo, head of the PC business, said at a briefing in Seoul today. It uses Windows 7 and can run applications for personal computers, so is designed to appeal to consumers who need to produce documents and spreadsheets on devices as portable as the iPad or tablets running Android, he said at the briefing.

The maker of the Samsung Galaxy S II will offer an update to Windows 8 for Series 7 owners, Nam said, without saying when. The software lets users display favorite applications, people and information in titles on the main screen.

Read more http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-09/samsung-may-sell-windows-8-computers-in-second-half-2012.html

HTC Edge by April 2012 but Samsung, LG, Moto readying Tegra 3 rivals

HTC’s recently leaked Edge smartphone is expected to drop in March or April 2012 complete with NVIDIA’s freshly confirmed Tegra 3 quadcore chipset, sources have suggested, but the company may be pipped to market by Tegra 3 handsets from Samsung, LG and Motorola. All three rival firms have already committed to using Tegra 3, DigiTimes‘ sources claim, while of course ASUS will use the new chipset in the Eee Pad Transformer Prime.





The HTC Edge, so leaks in the past few days have suggested, will include a 4.7-inch display, 8.8mm thick chassis and an 8-megapixel camera with a back-illuminated sensor and 1080p HD video recording support. In addition to Tegra 3, HTC is also believed to be using an advanced S-LCD 2 display panel that relies on optical lamination – where the panel itself is bonded to the fascia glass – for improved visuals.

Although currently unconfirmed by HTC – while NVIDIA is also keeping quiet on which partners have signed up for Tegra 3 – if true the deal would be a significant shift for the smartphone company, which has until now stuck with Qualcomm for its mobile chipsets. That loyalty saw HTC late to the dualcore table, however, and it seems the firm is unwilling to be similarly delayed when it comes to quadcores.

Samsung, LG and Motorola’s plans are unclear, though all three firms weren’t shy to push the envelope with Tegra 2 and we’re guessing the same will hold out with Tegra 3 phones. New handsets will likely debut at CES 2012 in January and then MWC 2012 in February, potentially beating HTC’s March/April release. More on the Edge here.

Nielsen: Smartphones Aren’t Just For The Cool Kids

Americans on the brink of senior-citizenship status are picking up smartphones at an increasingly brisk pace, second only to the tech-proficient group of 25-34 year olds.

While the disparity of the percentage of smartphone users between these two groups is large, with those aged 55 to 64 clocking in at only 30 percent, this group jumped an impressive five percent just this quarter, according to the latest Q3 figures from Nielsen.

Not that this jump threatens the domination of the twenty to thirty somethings. At 62 percent — higher than any other age demographic — it doesn’t seem likely that any other group is going to catch up.

Nielsen reported the market share among U.S. mobile phone owners is about 43 percent. Android leads with 43 percent of the smartphone market and Apple lead all manufacturers, with the iPhone commanding a 28 percent share.

The adoption of smartphones has accelerated to such a degree since the iPhone was introduced in 2007 that even feature phones have been marginalized. We are increasingly looking at a wireless world divided between high-end, pocket-sized, connected computers with advanced messaging capabilities and entry-level mobile phones — with almost nothing in between.

Read more http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/11/middle-aged-smartphones/

Facebook buys Strobe to shore up smartphone offerings

NEW YORK: With an aim to expand its services on smartphones, social networking giant Facebook has acquired mobile application developer Strobe for an undisclosed amount.

Strobe develops technology which help developers create and distribute applications that work on devices like smartphones and tablet PCs.

The deal will help Facebook, which has over 800 million user globally, to further shore up its offerings on mobile devices.

"We are happy to announce that, as of this week, the Strobe team is joining Facebook," Strobe Founder and CEO Charles Jolley said in a blog post.

However, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Some reports suggested that the Strobe acquisition was a talent hire, as Facebook was mainly interested in the company's founder Charles Jolley.

He is also the creator of the SproutCore open source framework. Before founding Strobe, Charles was responsible for mobile application development at technology giant Apple Inc.

"Now we are joining the talented people at Facebook to help develop innovative mobile experiences for their users around the world," Jolley added.

For now, the Strobe service would continue to be available to existing users in its existing beta form and SproutCore would continue as an independent project.

The US-based Strobe website lists 15 employees including management, while Facebook has more than 3,000 employees.

Motorola Droid Razr: Thin and fast, but short on battery life

PC World - It's baaaack: Motorola has resurrected the Razr brand with theDroid Razr ($300 with a new two-year contract with Verizon; price as of 11/7/11). With its 4.3-in. display, LTE connectivity and dual-core processor, the Droid Razr is a far cry from the original flip-style Motorola Razr. What it does have in common with the original Razr, however, is a superthin, tough design. It is an almost perfect phone, but the overall experience is marred by its short battery life.

Tough, Thin Design

Many years ago, I owned a hot pink Motorola Razr phone. I loved it -- maybe a little too much -- because I put that thing through a lot. I dropped it, got it wet, carelessly threw it into my bag and somehow it still held up despite my torture.

Motorola has carried over that toughness to the Droid Razr, but without compromising its looks (or thickness). The front of the phone is all Corning Gorilla Glass with a diamond-cut Motorola nameplate. Back when the original Razr launched, Motorola product managers informed me that its design had been inspired by elements found in high-end watches.

The soft-touch back is made out of Kevlar, a material found in high-end speedboats, bulletproof jackets and bicycle tires. According to Motorola, Kevlar is five times stronger than steel. Using Kevlar on a phone seems a bit, well, weird, but I was surprised with how delicate it felt and how attractive it looked. It feels solid, but not bulky -- it measures 5.5 x 2.71 x 0.28 in. thick. For comparison, the iPhone 4S is 0.37 inches thick, while the Galaxy Nexus is 0.35 inches thick. The Droid Razr weighs a manageable 4.48 oz.

The solid feel comes from the Droid Razr's stainless steel core. It also has splashguard technology, which will protect it if you happen to get caught in the rain or spill something on your phone.

Super AMOLED Display

We've knocked other Motorola smartphones, such as the Photon (Sprint) and the Droid Bionic (Verizon) in the past for its PenTile displays. The Droid Razr, however, ships with a 4.3-in. qHD (Quarter High Definition), 960 x 540-pixel Super AMOLED display. According to Motorola, the Super AMOLED technology should solve some of the battery issues associated with LTE phones. This technology has lower current consumption, which helps to conserve battery life.

The Droid Razr's display has excellent viewing angles and visibility outdoors, two trademarks of Super AMOLED technology. Blacks are very deep and whites are bright, but colors look a bit oversaturated (another trademark of Super AMOLED display technology).

I did a side-by-side comparison of the Droid Razr against the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S has a slightly higher resolution at 960 x 640, with a pixel density of 330 pixels per inch (I could not find any pixel density information for the Razr). While I appreciated the extra screen real estate on the Razr, the iPhone 4S's 3.5-in. display looked sharper, with better color accuracy.

Read more http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221669/Motorola_Droid_Razr_Thin_and_fast_but_short_on_battery_life?taxonomyId=15

Motorola Razr to hit UAE shores

The new Motorola Razr will be available for purchase in stores on 11th November from AED 2,599.

"The new Motorola Razr meets a pressing consumer need in the Middle East for smartphones that are ever thinner, smarter and faster," said Raed Hafez, general manager for Motorola Mobility, Middle East and Africa. "We have pulled out all of the design stops to create a new icon that not only honors the original Motorola legacy, but emphatically adds to it. The Middle East is at the vanguard of design where fashionable customers itch to stay ahead of the latest trends and the new Motorola Razr is a case of perfect smartphone, perfect place, perfect time."

The Razr smartphone is 7.1 mm thick, with sculpted glass and diamond spun cut aluminum accents. The body also features Sports Kevlar fiber and Corning Gorilla Glass to help the screen stand up to scratches and scrapes



The Motorola Razr also features a splash-guard nano-coating, designed to protect the smartphone against spills.



The phone comes pre-loaded with the Motorola MotoCast app, designed to provide the power to stream or download content from a home or work computer straight to the device.

It also features a 4.3-inch Super Amoled advanced display, a front-facing 720p HD video camera and 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video capture.



The Razr has 1GB of RAM which hooks up with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and Android 2.3.5.



Government-grade encryption is designed to protect email, contacts and calendar in order to business ready



The phone also features Smart Actions, a preloaded app that is designed to allow users to automate everyday tasks and enable better battery life.



Smart Actions can turn down the ringer when users get to work, change the Bluetooth and GPS settings when users get home to save battery, or send a text to someone if a user misses a call.

Motorola Defy+ now available in India

Motorola Defy+ is now officially selling in the Indian market. Successor to Motorola's rugged Android smartphone Defy, like the original, it is scratch resistant, dust and water proof smartphone.

Motorola Defy+ runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a 1 GHz processor which is claimed to be 25 percent faster than Motorola Defy. It has a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a bigger 3.7 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a 480 x 854 pixel resolution. The battery is also on the higher side at 1700 mAh.

The storage capacity is expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card. On connectivity front, the Defy+ supports 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1.

The smartphone is selling at a price tag of Rs 17,990 online.

HTC Ville rumored as first Sense 4.0 Android smartphone Read more:

A second unannounced HTC handset has surfaced in less than one week, this time in the form of the dual-core HTC Ville.

According to information obtained by Boy Genius Report, the Android 4.0 smartphone will make its debut in February at Mobile World Congress and will go on sale in April.

Hardware specifications point to a very impressive device that includes a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, and an 8-megapixel camera. Like the HTC Edge leaked earlier in the week, the HTC Ville's camera will have a backside-illuminated sensor and will be capable of 1080p HD video capture. Additional details include 1,650mAh battery, HSPA+ connectivity, and an ultrathin chassis that's less than 8mm thick.

Also noteworthy is that the HTC Ville is expected to be the first device to run Sense 4.0 user interface, though details about what's new to HTC's custom UI is still scarce.

With multiple conferences spread over the first few months of the year, get used to hearing about more leaked code names. Pocketnow recently posted a sizable list of names of possible HTC devices. After initially opting to keep the list private, the site decided to share the goods with the rest of us.

Given that no less than 10 of them have since come to market, the list certainly carries credibility. It's worth pointing out that both the HTC Edge and HTC Ville are among the models still on the document.

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-57321519-251/htc-ville-rumored-as-first-sense-4.0-android-smartphone/#ixzz1dCjpy681

HTC Edge Boasts Quad-Core Speeds

HTC’s Edge may be the world’s first ever quad-core smartphone, setting a new standard in the smartphone market.

The Taiwanese phone maker’s rumored device will reportedly feature a 1.5-gigahertz NVIDIA quad core processor, a 4.7-inch 720p HD S-LCD 2 display with optical lamination, and an 8-megapixel camera capable of 1080p video capture.

The Edge is also expected to come with a 720p front-facing camera, Beats Audio, 32-gigabytes of built-in storage and NFC technology.

HTC has not confirmed reports about the Edge, and no information on price, release date or potential carriers has been announced.

No one knows what other quad-core devices manufacturers have in the works or what their planned release dates are, but reports about the Edge have been the first to surface regarding potential next-generation smartphones.

In addition to the quad-core processor, the optical lamination technology in the device’s display would likely give the nearly five-inch screen the same clarity as the one in the iPhone 4S.

HTC has been surging of late, passing Apple on the list of world’s largest smartphone makers and posting impressive sales figures. Being the first manufacturer to offer a quad-core device would likely help the company further its status as a major player in the smartphone market, and possibly even give it a shot at becoming the number-one seller of Android-based handsets.

A quad-core device would make a big splash for HTC, but despite leaked spec lists, there is little reason to believe the release of the device is imminent. Dual-core processors are only now beginning to become more prevalent, featured in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S2 and iPhone 4S, both enjoying strong success with consumers.

More powerful devices would lead to faster speeds and more powerful mobile apps, but the Edge likely won’t launch to the public until mid-to-late 2012. Still, reports about HTC’s device show the future of smartphones is a lot closer than many may think.

This post originally appeared at Mobiledia

Samsung QX411-W01UB

The Good: The Samsung QX411-W01UB is extremely affordable while still offering a complete set of connection features, including WiMax and USB 3.0, plus a very sturdy design and long battery life.

The Bad: This laptop has a finicky clickpad and a heavy, rather wide build.

The Bottom Line: For a full set of features in a Core i5 laptop in the $600 range, it's extremely hard to beat the Samsung QX411-W01UB, which stands out for its great keyboard and impressive extras.

Read more http://www.zdnet.com/reviews/product/laptops/samsung-qx411-w01ub/35035013

Sprint Samsung EPIC 4G Touch Battery Life Increased by 8% by Mugen Power

Hong Kong (PRWEB) November 10, 2011

Mugen Power (www.mugen-power-batteries.com), leading brand of high performance batteries for portable electronic devices, today releases a new extended battery for Sprint Samsung EPIC 4G Touch (HLI-D710SL). HLI-D710SL successfully increases original capacity from 1800mAh to 1950mAh. It's designed for Samsung smartphone users, especially suitable for those heavy users, it relieves the suffering of short battery life and frequent recharges.

HLI-D710SL is a Lithium-ion based battery. Lithium-ion based batteries have found widespread popularity in all kinds of consumer electronics because of their high energy to weight ratios, lack of memory effect , and low discharge when not in use. HLI-D710SL has 8% more capacity than the standard battery. It is designed to provide longer battery life with higher quality for power-hungry consumers. Besides delivering longer battery life, HLI-D710SL is also exceptionally reliable. Mugen Power Batteries are known to have lowest return rate in the industry. All of Mugen Power products have undergone vigorous QA procedures and have CE and RoHS approval.

"We are proud of the ability to help our customers better utilize their smartphones by improving their batteries performance. We have always considered our customers' needs as our first priority. We are trying our best to satisfy their needs. We understand that our customers want to have smaller the size, larger the capacity. We worked really hard on this battery, and successfully fit extra 8% capacity into the original battery size. We have positive reviews from customers all the time, which encourage us to work harder." says Alice Yang, marketing manager at eTrade Asia Ltd.

Pricing and Availability
Sprint Samsung EPIC 4G extended battery HLI-D710SL is now available for $44.95 from Mugen Power Batteries with Free Shipping worldwide at www.mugen-power-batteries.com/mugen-power-1950mah-extended-battery-for-sprint-samsung-epic-4g-touch.html

Find Mugen Power Batteries on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MugenPowerBatteries
Follow Mugen Power Batteries on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MugenBatteries

About Mugen Power Batteries
Mugen Power is the worldwide leading brand of high performance batteries for portable electronic devices. Mugen Power means Performance and Quality and delivers a full spectrum of high quality products for PDAs, smartphones, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, portable DVD players, notebooks, UMPCs and Personal Media Devices.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/09/prweb8926361.DTL#ixzz1dCivvgsf

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket Just Rules [REVIEW]

The Galaxy S II has been out for almost two months, but it steadily gathered attention once it was announced in February. Samsung touted it as thinner, faster, and just generally cooler than any other phone out there.

After spending three days with the phone in my pocket, I'm inclined to think that it absolutely lives up to the hype.

This time I tested the Galaxy S II Skyrocket, a new model of the phone that is one of the first to run on AT&T's new LTE network.

But other than a faster processor, larger screen, and LTE, not much has changed from the original AT&T model of the Galaxy S II.

Keep reading for my flash review of Samsung's zippiest new phone on AT&T.

The Hardware
Samsung clearly spent a lot of time optimizing the form factor -- this thing is wonderfully thin without feeling fragile and it manages to be big enough to comfortably text or watch a movie as well.

The Skyrocket is slightly larger than the original AT&T GSII. It feels almost exactly like the Galaxy S II T-Mobile adopted.

The camera is more than capable for your casual point-and-shoot needs -- it has an embedded flash and the camera's finished images weigh in at a very agreeable 8 megapixels. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the volume rocker buttons adjust the camera's digital zoom, too.

While I never had cause to use the front-facing camera, you should know that it's there for your video chat apps and for taking endless self-portraits.

I have one big complaint about the hardware -- only the power button will wake up the phone, and it's a little small in my opinion. I'd love to be able to use the volume buttons too.

Since AT&T has yet to launch LTE in NYC, I didn't have an opportunity to check out what's supposed to be the Skyrocket's real killer feature. From what I've heard though, you should be able to get download speeds up to 10 Mbps if you live in a city with LTE.

Same Old Android
I didn't spend too much time customizing the phone to my tastes, but know that Android allows for nearly endless tweaking and adjusting.

The phone comes with all the basic apps you'd expect -- email, mapping, videos, and music. But I was especially blown away by the navigation app. It will easily replace the TomTom GPS unit in your car.

But that's only scratching the surface. The real gold comes from the Android Market, where you add even more utilities (and a few games as well, probably).

Should You Buy It?
As far as I can tell, this is easily one of the best Android phones available on AT&T. (The new HTC Vivid, also powered by LTE, is a close contender too.) If you've ruled out iOS, then the Galaxy S II is your phone. It feels good in your hand, it has a nice clear screen, and it'll tackle whatever task you throw at it.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-review-2011-11#ixzz1dCiVlaAp

Samsung tips Windows 8 PCs in 2012

This week Uhm Kyu Ho, head of sales and marketing for Samsung’s PC business noted that there certainly will be Windows PC computers from the manufacturer inside 2012, touchscreen PCs, and they’d likely take on a shape similar to the Series 7 line. This talk happened inside Seoul where Ho also noted that the computer line would have touchscreens and wireless keyboards, Windows 8 coming standard. While the Series 7 line was and is targeted at business users, Windows 8 may well open a whole new door for the existing line as well.



In the same instance, Nam Seong Woo, head of the PC business for Samsung noted that Windows 7 is able to run applications for personal computers, and that it’s made to also appeal to users on devices as portable as the iPad and the whole Android array of mobile products. What Windows 8 will do, then, is offer up a new door to users of the Series 7 set of PCs as Samsung plans on giving user the option of updating to the new OS when it becomes available — this OS is made with touch interaction in mind, and the update date has not yet been verified by Samsung.

Check out some Series 7 CHONOS pcs hands-on here as well as some Windows 8 tablet hands-on timeas well.

Read more http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-tips-windows-8-pcs-in-2012-09194292/

Verizon’s Doubled Data Plans Aimed at AT&T IPhone, Cost Savings

Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Verizon Wireless is doubling the size of smartphone data plans to compete for customers and save on capital spending for older wireless technology, said Verizon Communications Inc. Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo.

The largest U.S. wireless operator, co-owned by Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc, this week bumped up the amount of data it includes with smartphone plans -- to 4 gigabits from 2 gigabits for $30 a month, for example. The offer is drawing customers to the company’s higher-speed Long-Term Evolution, or LTE, network and reducing the need for capital investments in third-generation, or 3G, technology.

“It’s beneficial from a financial standpoint,” said Shammo at an investor conference in New York today.

The move comes as Verizon Wireless is trying to stand out against AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. as the holiday- shopping season begins. Though all three now sell Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4S, AT&T is the only one offering the older iPhone 3GS, which is available for free. Sprint is the only carrier selling the iPhone 4S with unlimited data plans.

“The fourth quarter is the industry’s best quarter, so they are just trying to get some competitive edge for the holiday season,” says Chetan Sharma of Chetan Sharma Consulting in Issaquah, Washington.

Verizon’s double data plan is effectively a price cut, and the first the company has attempted since it dropped its unlimited data offer earlier this year. The new data offers are a limited time promotion and new users will keep the higher data allotments for the life of their contracts, Verizon said.

Competing Plans

Verizon’s current offer makes its data plans, in some circumstances, less expensive than those from AT&T, the second- largest wireless carrier. AT&T’s 4-gigabit plan costs $45 a month, compared with Verizon’s $30. Verizon also offers 10 gigabits a month for $50, up from 5 gigabits, and 20 gigabits for $80, up from 10.

Sharma said he thinks Verizon’s LTE sales are going well. Not only is data being used as a competitive weapon, Sharma said Verizon is making the offer to “understand consumer behavior” so it can develop a pricing strategy.

It is looking primarily to see if higher caps draw different customer segments, lure customers from other carriers, reduce defections and “drive upgrades,” Sharma said.

Verizon, based in New York, fell 0.9 percent to $37.18 at 1:23 p.m. New York time, and has increased 4.9 percent this year before today.

Read more http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-09/verizon-s-doubled-data-plans-aimed-at-at-t-iphone-cost-savings.html

Sizing up the iPhone 4S

Steve Jobs, Apple Inc.'s chief executive, died just as Apple released its latest iPhone 4S in October. But Jobs' unique spirit of innovation lives on for small business owners in the new phone.

Entrepreneurs will find the iPhone 4S comes equipped with a host of features they'll soon find indispensable. Chief among them is Siri, the artificial intelligence application that responds to voice commands and that lets users do things like check and compose emails or search directions while in transit, among many other things, all without lifting a finger.

Other applications small business owners will find handy include not only the tens of thousands of applications that Apple's iTunes store offers, but the ability to encrypt email. Small businesses with a fleet of users, will be able to manage the devices remotely for things like setting up company email and placing restrictions on download capabilities, as well as verifying employee identity.

“In the past, complaints have been that Apple has not done enough to focus on business users, because it is so clearly a consumer-focused company,” said Aaron Freimark, IT director for Tekserve Corp., an Apple consultancy based in Manhattan.

The newest iPhone shows “that Apple is listening to the business community,” Mr. Freimark said, adding that the new phone, which is 3G enabled, actually runs on the latest iOS 5, and thanks to a new microprocessor is faster for things like downloads and data processing.

With the release of the 4S, Apple adds another carrier, Sprint Nextel, to a roster that includes AT&T and Verizon Communications.

Crain's New York Business contributor Jeremy Quittner spoke with sole proprietor Dan Nainan about his use of the iPhone 4S. Mr. Nainan, who lives in Manhattan's Chelsea district, is a professional comedian and voice-over artist. He is on the road every week and travels about 150,000 miles annually for business. His business has annual revenues of around $250,000. Following is an edited version of their conversation.

Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20111109/SMALLBIZ/111109885#ixzz1dChcOMXQ

Consumer Reports lauds Apple's iPhone 4S after antenna change

Computerworld - Consumer Reports magazine yesterday put Apple's iPhone 4S on its recommended list, saying that unlike the smartphone's predecessor, the new model doesn't suffer from a design flaw.

The recommendation of the iPhone 4S, which Apple launched last month, contrasts with the publication's stance on last year's model, the iPhone 4.

In July 2010, Consumer Reports famously declined to recommend the iPhone 4, citing reception issues when owners held the phone in certain ways.

The brouhaha over the iPhone 4's signal strength and call retention problems was dubbed "Antennagate" by wags, a term adopted by then-CEO Steve Jobs during an ad hoc press conference to defend the phone.

"In special reception tests of the iPhone 4S that duplicated those we did on the iPhone 4, the newer phone did not display the same reception flaw, which involves a loss of signal strength when you touch a spot on the phone's lower left side while you're in an area with a weak signal," said Mike Gikas, the senior electronics editor at Consumer Reports, in a blog post Tuesday.

Gikas said that tests reconfirmed that the iPhone 4, which Apple and mobile carriers continue to sell in an 8GB configuration for $99, continues to be plagued by antenna-related issues unless it's enclosed in a case.

The iPhone 4S sports a pair of antennas, according to teardowns and other analyses by experts, one at the top and another at the bottom of the device.

Consumer Reports was not able to confirm thewidespread reports of shorter battery life for the iPhone 4S, saying that testing put the new model on par with last year's iPhone 4.

Apple has promised to address bugs in iOS 5 that impact battery performance in a future software update.

Although the magazine recommended the iPhone 4S, it said Apple's newest smartphone scored lower than some Android-powered rivals, including theSamsung Galaxy S II, LG Thrill and Motorola Droid Bionic, which garnered 80, 77 and 77 points, respectively, out of a possible 100.

Consumer Reports scored the iPhone 4S at 75 points on AT&T, and 73 points on both Verizon and Sprint.

Gikas ticked off features of those rivals, including larger screens and support for the faster LTE networks now being rolled out in the U.S. by AT&T and Verizon, as reasons why they scored higher than the iPhone 4S.

Read more http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221679/_i_Consumer_Reports_i_lauds_Apple_s_iPhone_4S_after_antenna_change

24. Jack Dorsey, CEO, Square/Executive Chairman, Twitter – Most Powerful People in Wireless

What makes him powerful: Exactly when does Jack Dorsey sleep? While not the most powerful executive in mobile, he is almost certainly its busiest: Not only does Dorsey head up product development at Twitter, the microblogging juggernaut he created in March 2006, but he also serves as CEO of Square, the fast-growing mobile startup that is revolutionizing credit card payments and processing.

First unveiled in late 2009, Square enables users to accept credit and debit card purchases anywhere and anytime via iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone. Sellers simply input the transaction total, swipe the consumer's credit through a small dongle that plugs into the device's audio input jack, and Square handles the rest. There's a flat 2.75 percent transaction fee for all swiped Square transactions, with a 3.5 percent plus 15 cents charge when transactions are manually keyed in. And that's it--there are no additional activation costs, recurring charges, early termination penalties, hidden fees or other obstacles that have historically blocked small businesses and the like from accepting credit card transactions. "Payments have a lot of friction, a lot of distraction," Square COO Keith Rabois recently told Bloomberg. "We can't eliminate all of that this month, but our mission is to make Square ubiquitous."

Square isn't ubiquitous yet, but it's getting there. The startup is now processing $2 billion in transactions each year, with merchant signups topping 800,000, up from 500,000 in May 2011. (By comparison, credit card giants Visa and MasterCard have authorized a combined 8.2 million merchants.) Available for free via the web, the Square dongle is also sold for $9.95 at roughly 200 brick-and-mortar Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Store locations as well as Target RadioShack and Best Buy outlets--in late October, Square additionally announced it will sell dongles at Walmart stores across the U.S., bringing the number of retail outlets offering the product to more than 9,000.

Square's rapid growth and expanding retailer reach pose serious questions about the future of the Near Field Communications-based, tap-and-pay mobile commerce networks once expected to dominate the mobile payments ecosystem. In mid-September, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) officially launched its NFC-based Google Wallet, which allows consumers to make purchases by tapping their smartphone at MasterCard PayPass-enabled merchant terminals; for now, the service is limited to a single device, Sprint Nextel's (NYSE:S) Android Nexus S.

Isis--the forthcoming nationwide NFC network spearheaded by Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ), AT&T (NYSE:T) and T-Mobile USA isn't slated to begin commercial trials until 2012. But Square services are already live across the country and across multiple devices, requiring none of the point-of-sale hardware integration and smartphone manufacturer support that threaten to slow NFC's progress. NFC is still gathering steam, but Square is moving full speed ahead.

Square's success underscores Dorsey's greatest talent: He makes complex ideas and technologies universally accessible. Twitter and Square are not only revolutionary concepts, but both are models of elegant simplicity--Twitter demands that users keep their thoughts short and sweet, limiting all tweets to 140 characters (the same number of characters in a standard text message), while Square whittles payment processing systems to nothing more than a dongle and a smartphone. Both are solutions that didn't even exist a few years ago, and now millions can't imagine life without them. It's no wonder so many Silicon Valley insiders are projecting Dorsey as the next great entrepreneurial icon--he's already changed the way we live (twice, no less), and it seems likely the best is still to come. --Jason

Read more: 24. Jack Dorsey, CEO, Square/Executive Chairman, Twitter – Most Powerful People in Wireless - FierceWireless http://www.fiercewireless.com/special-reports/top-25-most-powerful-people-us-wireless-2011/24-jack-dorsey-ceo-squareexecutive-chai#ixzz1dCh1peJz
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Twitter account to tweet names of Canada’s 119,000 fallen soldiers

There is one line from the poem “In Flanders Fields” that in recent times, above all, commands our attention with its call, from the dead to the living, to remember.

“If ye break faith with us who die,” wrote Lt.-Col. John McCrae, “We shall not sleep.”

Starting Thursday and continuing well into the next decade, the Ottawa Citizen will keep the faith through Twitter: starting at 11 minutes after 11 a.m. the account“WeAreTheDead” will recite the names of Canada’s war dead, one each hour of every day.

@WeAreTheDead
We Are The Dead

Pvt. Bernard Leonard Mcfadden (Essex Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.). Aug. 27, 1944.

about 5 hours ago via We Are The DeadReplyRetweetFavorite

A computer algorithm will tweet at random each name from an electronic scroll of military dead. It will take more than 13 years to tweet all the names, finishing sometime in late June 2025, depending on the number of new entries added to the list.

Ottawa Citizen Managing Editor Andrew Potter says inspiration for the silent memorial comes from Lt.-Col. McCrae’s call to remember forever those who fought for us, not just on Nov. 11.

“There is no reason why we should only do so once a year, when we march and mourn and pray and lament,” he said.

“Through this Twitter account, and through more extensive use of social media down the line, we hope to make the act of keeping faith a more subtle, but in many ways more permanent, feature of the lives of Canadians.”

Each listing will stay within Twitter’s allowed 140 characters, offering only brief detail of the life lost — name, rank, unit, age and date and location of death, where it is known.

Baz Ratner / Reuters

Canadian soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment carry a stone with the name of a fallen comrade during a ceremony in FOB Masum Ghar, Panjwai district in Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 8, 2011

Often, however, the age alone is the most compelling detail. Consider just these three names of the young dead, that will be tweeted sometime in the coming years:

“Pilot Officer William Ferguson Reid (Royal Canadian Air Force). May 22, 1944, at Duisberg. Age: 21.”

According to Veterans Affairs Canada records, Pilot Officer Reid was from Rocky Mountain House, Alta. His brother, Thomas, a signalman, was killed in action the following year.

“Cpl. Karine Marie Nathasha Blais (12e Regiment Blinde du Canada). April 13, 2009, at Shah Wali Kot District. Age: 21.”

Cpl. Blais died when the vehicle she was travelling in hit a roadside bomb north of Kandahar.

“Pvt. Oliver Web Paynter (Canadian Infantry — Eastern Ontario Regiment). Sept. 13, 1916. Age: 16.”

Pvt. Paynter was an Ottawa grocery clerk who enlisted when he was just 15. He was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme, three days before his 17th birthday.

The list of names is drawn from a database the Citizen obtained from Veterans Affairs through the Access to Information Act. It details more than 119,000 Canadians who died in service of the country, including those killed in the two world wars, the Korean War, Afghanistan and on peacekeeping or peacetime duties.

Read more http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/09/twitter-account-to-tweet-names-of-canadas-119000-fallen-soldiers/

MegaPhone iPhone dock for Luddites

We've seen iPhone speaker docks that look like boom boxes, Angry Birds, and even a steering wheel. Now there's an iPhone dock for Luddites, the MegaPhone by Italian design firm en&is.

There's no need to plug in the MegaPhone or charge batteries. Just set your iPhone at the tip of the horn and let the natural acoustics of the creation take over.

The MegaPhone is made of ceramic with an elegant wood base. It is available in white, black, or gold to match your iPhone color or Donald Trump decor. It costs about $550 for white or black and $820 for the gold-plated version.

When not in use as an iPhone amplifier, the MegaPhone could double as a Thanksgiving cornucopia centerpiece or as a replacement horn for your gramophone. What, you don't own a gramophone? All the cool kids have gramophones.

Even if you don't pick up a MegaPhone for yourself, consider getting one for your great-grandmother, if she's still around. It should bring back some fond memories of the good old days before amplifiers had to be plugged in.

Read more http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57321501-1/megaphone-iphone-dock-for-luddites/

iPhone Peel PG92 adds dual SIM to your device

If you are an iPhone user that travels, you have probably wished that the peon were a world phone at some point. If you want to upgrade your iPhone 4 or 4S to work with more than one SIM card you can do that thanks to a new device called the Vooma Peel PG92. The only catch is that you will have to jailbreak your iPhone for the dual SIM case to work.





Other than just adding in a spot for a second SIM card, the case is also a secondary battery for your smartphone to help keep it charged and running longer. The second SIM works with the Vooma app that can be downloaded for the web. The case is said to work very well and uses a dialer that looks a lot like the native iPhone dialer.



That copy of the native dialer may land the manufacturer in some hot water though. This sounds like a pretty cool case for those that don’t mind jailbreaking. It will let you use a second SIM and will also keep you juiced up for longer. Pricing and availability are unknown.

[via Techcrunch]

Most iPhone 4S Customers Favor AT&T

Despite the addition of a third carrier offering the iPhone, AT&T still claims the majority of subcribers on the latest version of Apple’s signature device.

More than half (56%) of iPhone 4S handsets in the U.S. are running on the AT&T network, according to new research from app analytics provider Localytics. The firm bases its estimate on the thousands of apps that run the company’s software to track user data on the Apple smartphone.

Verizon Wireless, which began carrying the iPhone earlier this year, powered service for 32% of iPhone 4s handsets, while Sprint had 12%. Sprint began only providing service with the new model.

Localytics surmised AT&T’s large base of long-term customers may give it an advantage in signing up customers for the latest iPhone. That’s because AT&T subscribers with older iPhone models may be at or near the end of their contracts.

“AT&T has been aggressively leveraging the iPhone 4S to sign these customers to new two-year contracts, and the data in this study suggests that tactic may be working,” according to the firm’s report. By contrast, Verizon iPhone users are still the first year of their wireless contracts, making the cost of upgrading higher.

With the prior-generation iPhone, the split between AT&T and Verizon was 60% to 40%, suggesting Sprint so far has taken more share from Verizon than AT&T.

Sprint is counting on the iPhone to help compete with its two much bigger rivals in the smartphone game. Strong demand for the new device has benefited all three of the carriers to date. Apple said it sold a record 4 million iPhone 4S units in its opening weekend last month. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has forecast sales of 26 million iPhones in the fourth quarter, and 112.5 million for all of 2012. Both would be new records for Apple, according to AppleInsider.

But not every carrier necessarily covets the device. U.S. Cellular, the nation’s fifth-largest wireless operator, turned down the chance to offer the iPhone because Apple’s terms made the move too risky financially, according to CEO Mary Dillon. Sprint is obviously betting the gains of carrying the iPhone will outweigh the costs involved in subsidizing its price.

Slower iPhone 4S demand making Apple rethink supply orders?

Apple has asked parts and components suppliers to delay their fourth-quarter shipments to the first quarter of 2012 due to lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone 4S, Digitimes is reporting.

According to Digitimes' sources, Apple was too aggressive in its initial supplier orders, and sales have not been in line with those initial estimates. In addition, the company has been having trouble getting all the key components it needs for its manufacturing partners to produce the iPhone 4S. Those two factors, Digitimes' sources say, are forcing Apple to revise its orders down.

Apple's decision will have a major impact on its suppliers. According to Digitimes, the company's suppliers will get hit by a 10 percent to 15 percent revenue drop this quarter due to the delays.

It's not exactly clear that Apple's reported decision to cut down on shipments is really due to lower-than-expected iPhone 4S shipments. Last month, Apple announced that it sold 4 million iPhone 4S units during the device's first weekend of availability, easily overshadowing the iPhone 4's 1.7 million units sold during its first weekend.

What's more, Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore said yesterday that most retail stores have dwindling stock or are totally out of the iPhone 4S, and online retailers and carriers are currently promoting a 14-day lead time just to get their hands on the iPhone 4S. That report followed an investor note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster who said last month that he believes nearly 19 million iPhone 3GS owners will upgrade to the iPhone 4S before the year is out.

Granted, none of that means that Apple's initial sales estimates weren't higher still, which could lead the company to be disappointed with demand so far, but based on what we know, things appear to be looking quite good for Apple and its iPhone 4S.

Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on whether it did, in fact, cut back on supplies in the fourth quarter.Read more http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57321362-17/slower-iphone-4s-demand-making-apple-rethink-supply-orders/

Motorola Droid RAZR Pre-Orders Shipping Today, Read the Instruction Manual Now

Good news for those with the Motorola Droid RAZR on pre-order. Reports are coming in from all corners that units are now shipping from Verizon, with many scheduled to arrive on doorsteps a tomorrow, a day ahead of the RAZR’s official November 11th release (who was going to wait until 11:11AM anyway?). The ultra-thin, dual-core handset with LTE connectivity is just the first of quite a few big holiday releases from Verizon, and if you are patiently awaiting your order to ship you can pass the time by joining in on the buzz over at Android Forums.

You could also pass the time by taking a look through the Droid RAZR’s instruction manual, which has been uncovered on Verizon’s site. Then all you will need to do is open the box, power up the phone, and start enjoying the speed and beauty of Motorola’s latest darling.

[via AndroidForums 1, 2]

Google Has No Special Android Plans for Motorola

Cynics could be forgiven for expecting Google to deliver a hefty slice of Android favouritism towards Motorola in the coming months; after all, the search engine giants recently purchased Motorola. However, they have denied accusations that Motorola will get a foot in the door ahead of their competitors, such as Samsung and HTC.

The release of the Nexus Prime has indicated the significance of the Android software, with Ice Cream Sandwich shouldering most of the responsibility when it comes to the Nexus Prime’s hype. Motorola’s competitors were therefore understandably concerned that one of their biggest rivals would be first to receive software updates.

Google’s Eric Schmidt was however quick to allay any fears, claiming that Google “will not violate the openness of Android”.

As to date, HTC and Samsung have both had their shot at producing the flagship phone for the emergence of a new generation of the Android operating system. Whilst Google claim no favouritism, we can’t help but expect Motorola to have a strong case when Android Jelly Bean hits the shelves.

So, what do you think? Can Google really be trusted, or do you expect Motorola to receive some OS favouritism in the coming years?

Non-geek reviews iPhone 4S: Wonderful smartphone with one deal breaker

One problem with cell phones reviews, including mine, are they are usually written by geeky people who tried dozens of smartphones.

But smartphones continue to grow in popularity with normal people who don't know nerdy details such as the difference between LTE and HSPA+.

Since the iPhone 4S is one of the most reviewed phones on the market, I decided to turn to a normal person for a review.

My mother, Connie, is a 50-something who has been using smartphones longer than I have as leader of River Bend Travel in Hastings. Much to my chagrin, she has been happy using an antique Windows Mobile 5 smartphone and its keyboard.

When a Verizon iPhone 4S review unit became available, I gave her a 30-minute tutorial. Here is a Q&A I did with her after she used it for a week, including on international service during a cruise to the Bahamas.

What do you want in a smartphone?
International service, good web browsing, good camera, clear sound, easy hands-free options, good text messaging and email.

What features did you enjoy on the iPhone?
Siri, great video and photo quality, Web browsing. I tried using the iPhone as a mobile boarding pass for a flight. The clarity of the QR code on the screen was remarkable.

Apple's TV ads show people asking questions or giving orders to their iPhones and the Siri software responding with a spoken answer. Did you find Siri to be a feature or a gimmick?
Siri is a great feature, although comical at times. At first I had difficulty locating how to start Siri, but by accident it appeared. Perhaps Siri should have a "get acquainted session" with new owners to set up voice and speech recognition.

What do you think of the on-screen keyboard after a week's use?
I'm of the old "thumb it" school and am a whiz on my button-style keyboard. But because I have long fingernails, thumbs just don't land on the correct keys on any touchscreen phone. As much as I tried all different styles and techniques for typing, aside from using Siri's speech to text dictation feature (and having to follow up after the spoken message with word corrections), only typing with my pinky finger worked.

Read more http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/11/a_non-geeks_review_of_the_ipho.html

HTC Edge – The First Smartphone with Quad-Core Processor

Smartphones market is loading as we speak with more efficient and innovative devices. According to pocketnow.com, Taiwanese manufacturer HTC is preparing to launch, early next year, the first smartphone with quad-core processor!

The first images with the phone have already been offered by an anonymous source, and its probable specs have thrilled the technology enthusiasts. With a 4.7-inch screen, the smartphone has a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, making it by far the most powerful phone on the market. With an announced internal memory of 1GB and with a 8-megapixel camera, HTC aims very high. And because a smartphone with such specifications should have a next-generation operating system, HTC Edge will come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Among other features, is mentioned the high speed HSDPA connectivity (21 Mbps) and the Bluetooth 4.0 technology. It is also possible to be launched a HTC Edge version for the next-generation mobile networks (LTE 4G).

Disadvantages of processor with multiple cores
Nevertheless, the latest smartphones equipped with dual-core processors and with energy systemshave their disadvantages. First of all, a quad-core processor will put pressure on phone’s battery and will consume its power very fast. In addition, installing multiple cores inside the phone – the internal computer that controls all processes inside the phone – will heat up the system. But there can also be benefits: developers can be more creative and can expand further than they did so far by using some more-demanding games for the system, with improved graphics.

Officially presented next year
Most likely, this new HTC smartphone will be presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, scheduled to start on February 27.

The only mobile device that has received a quad-core processor so far is the 2nd generation ofAsus Transformer tablet. The gadget has not yet been officially presented, therefore doesn’t exist any data about its functionality.

Smartphone app works as a super-fast self-checkout

BRAINTREE - Self-checkouts are so yesterday. And with consumers complaining about them and some companies eliminating them, supermarkets are seeking new ways to lure in shoppers who want to get in and out quickly.

Enter SCAN IT! Mobile, Stop & Shop’s new smartphone app, which lets customers shop with barely a stop. SCAN IT! Mobile is the son of SCAN IT!, a hand-held device currently found in 350 of the chain’s outlets. Both iterations of SCAN IT! do pretty much the same thing: enable customers to scan and bag their groceries as they shop. You whip through the checkout by basically waving your phone at the register. It reads, you pay, you go.

The app is designed to work on an iPhone or Android. Download it - it’s linked to your loyalty card - and you’re good to go.

Last week, on a test run through the Braintree store, it seemed to work just as advertised, and if you’re already using your smartphone to, say, compare prices or features as you shop, this will be a natural extension.

Produce has been a stickler in the self-checkout lines (see related story on preceding page) because it doesn’t have a barcode and amounts vary. Now, scattered throughout the produce department are Weigh It! stations, where you can plop your item on a scale and type in its name or PLU code (or just press a picture of it, if that’s too taxing); a bar-coded label pops out. The weigh stations are a bit clumsy to use initially but could probably be mastered after a couple shopping trips. Last week, one scale refused to weigh anything, despite repeated prodding. It was unplugged.

Over in deli, there’s another new way to avoid human contact. You can type in your deli order at a kiosk, get a printed-out number, and when you hear it called or see it texted to your phone, you pick up the order from a labeled bin. The day of our visit, the printer was out of paper, but we did get a text.

Both the app and the hand-held scanners keep track of your purchases - and you. The app knows where you are in the store. The result is that coupons tailored to your preferences and location pop up on your device as you shop. This has a creepy Big Brother feeling, but you get to save 35 cents on the jar of mayonnaise on your list.

It seems it would be awfully easy to slip something into your cart and not scan it. Store officials insist it’s not a problem. John Caron, of Modiv Media, the company that developed the SCAN IT! software, notes that the store does random receipt checks of customers. This “intelligent auditing,’’ he says, tends to keep shoppers on the straight and narrow. Besides, he says, “Most people are inherently honest, and the device doesn’t make them dishonest.’’ Stop & Shop’s Suzi Robinson says it “hasn’t been much of a concern.’’

Read more http://bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/food-dining/2011/11/09/smartphone-app-works-super-fast-self-checkout/jjQ8n1Y859HxxJoM8P86lM/story.html

Mister Softee Deal Does Little For Yahoo, Stock Worth $17

Yahoo, AOLand Microsofthave agreed to partner to sell each other’s remnant ad inventory in the hopes that this will improve the economics of the display ad business for them and in some way mitigate the momentum that Facebook and Google have in the ad display business.

The problem is that this doesn’t change the fact that Google and Facebook are simply eating the other guys’ lunch right now.

This move is simply a band-aid that we expect to help out marginally in that it could lower the traffic acquisition costs of these businesses and provide a compelling sales pitch to advertisers, but it doesn’t change the fact that the king of search and king of social are simply beating them with better products.

Read more http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2011/11/09/mister-softee-deal-does-little-for-yahoo-stock-worth-17/