Blog Layout

Which carrier had the best data network at CES?

Anyone who’s attended CES knows that getting a cell phone signal during the show’s peak hours is never a sure bet. With 140,000 phone-wielding people crammed into a square half mile, you can go several hours without making a call, accessing your e-mail, or even sending a tweet. Since it’s rather ironic that you can’t use your cell phone at …

Read More »

U.K. aims to close digital gap with cheap PCs

A new plan will offer a PC and peripherals for 98 pounds ( $157) to help get low-income Britons online, according to the recycling project that will provide the hardware. The plan, which launches this week, will provide a computer, flat-screen monitor, keyboard, mouse, and telephone support in the sub-100-pound package, E-cycle marketing manager John Busby said Tuesday. The initiative …

Read More »

Pay your Starbucks bill with your phone

Back in September, we tested out the Starbucks Card Mobile app, then a BlackBerry app that kicked off a pilot program for a digital prepaid Starbucks loyalty card on your mobile phone. Today, Starbucks is expanding the program past its pilot retail stores, including kiosks at Target. Now the Starbucks Card Mobile app (for iPhone, iPod Touch, and BlackBerry) is …

Read More »

Samsung to reveal next

Mobile World Congress 2011 is still a few weeks away, but Samsung is getting the buzz going early by posting a teaser site for its next-generation Galaxy S smartphone. The page doesn’t reveal much, other than to say, “Something big is coming” and “Evolution is fate.” Samsung said it will post another teaser preview on February 1, but the big …

Read More »

How to break your mobile phone contract

Recent changes to T-Mobile’s fair-use limits for mobile data had customers clamouring to get out of their contracts. Vodafone met a similar furore when it slashed its data allowances, as did Orange when it upped its call charges. Such changes can give you the right to break your mobile phone contract — you just need some spare time and a geological …

Read More »

Dialed In 158: No more Bonnie Bear

After a few episodes where Bonnie Bear had to stand in for the real Bonnie, we actually got to see and hear our favorite New Yorker this week. She was on hand to bring us the latest Sprint and Samsung news before Jessica and Nicole hashed it out over the BlackBerry Playbook. Elsewhere in the podcast, Kent threatened to use …

Read More »

White iPhone 4 could finally be available before end of February

Apple’s long-delayed white iPhone 4 could be on sale on 27 February in the US, judging by a screenshot published on MacRumors. The image appears to show the device’s listing in retailer Best Buy’s inventory database. Bully for the Americans, eh? But wait! Separately, Engadget turned up its own screenshot of Vodafone Germany’s inventory system, which lists 16GB and 32GB models of …

Read More »