March, 2013

• 2 March

  Rumor: T

  

  T-Mobile will move to a no-contract model on March 24, with an announcement as early as Monday — that is, if a story on blog TmoNews pans out. In reporting the shift, Tmo cites an unnamed source — “while we’re confident the details are accurate today, they could easily change tomorrow,” it says — and …

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• 1 March

  FCC has phone

  

  The Federal Communications Commission might eventually investigate whether it should be illegal for consumers to unlock their mobile phones. Speaking to TechCrunch in an interview published yesterday, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said that the ban is “something that we will look at at the FCC to see if we can and should enable consumers to use unlocked phones.” He went …

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• 1 March

  The most secure Android phone in the world (maybe)

  

  The AME 2000, one of the world’s most secure phones (pictures) +4 more See all photos SAN FRANCISCO–Of all the multitudes of phones launching amid the grandeur of Barcelona this week, Motorola Solutions quietly broke champagne over one device from the back corner of a convention center here. The Motorola AME 2000, originally announced a few weeks back, is not …

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• 1 March

  Aldi announces mobile phone plans

  

  Aldi will be offering its own low-cost mobile plans using the Telstra network from early March. (Credit: Aldi) Starting on 6 March, Aldi will join the ranks of low-cost mobile providers, as revealed by A Current Affair. The German supermarket chain will use Telstra’s Next G network to deliver the data and calls. The Aldi Mobile site will have the …

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• 1 March

  Surface Pro confirmed for UK ‘in the coming months’

  

  If you were a little disappointed by the Surface Pro being exclusive to the US, you won’t have much longer to wait — Microsoft is bringing the full Windows 8 Surface to Britain “in the coming months”. While Microsoft didn’t exactly offer much explanation as to how many months that would be, or if it’ll be on sale in John …

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• 1 March

  BlackBerry 10 users, here’s your first software update

  

  Now playing: Watch this: Unboxing the BlackBerry Z10 3:39 BlackBerry 10 users are already being treated to their first update to the new operating system. Handset maker BlackBerry today announced that its update, which will be delivered over the air, improves the performance of third-party applications, ensuring that they run a bit faster and smoother. In addition, the update addresses …

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• 1 March

  Google’s Sergey Brin calls touchscreens ’emasculating’

  

  Whipping out a smart phone and prodding the screen is second nature to most people nowadays. Well Google’s Sergey Brin has been giving it some thought, and thinks it’s far from the best interface for a mobile device. Making a surprise appearance at the TED Conference, Brin took out his mobile and looked down at it. Like most people, he …

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• 1 March

  Picture this: Photosynth debuts for Windows Phone 8

  

  Microsoft’s Windows Phone app store has just gotten a little bigger, thanks to the addition of Photosynth. Related stories: Microsoft beefs up Windows Phone 8 camera phone features Twitter’s Windows Phone app joins the 21st century Tech Minute: Creating panoramic photos with your smartphone The software giant said Photosynth, a 3D panorama photo app, has now debuted for the latest …

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• 1 March

  Is that an Oreo in the sky or are you just using Nokia’s Lumia?

  

  Fresh off winning the Super Bowl, or at least the social media advertising wars during the NFL’s championship, Oreo is now setting out to conquer the stars in the skies. The cookie giant has teamed up with Nokia to release a stargazing app for Lumia Windows phones that could result in the heavens above being filled with virtual Oreos. Called …

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• 1 March

  Carrier confusion: When am I free to leave my family plan?

  

  Wireless operators would like to believe the pricing and terms of their services are straightforward and easy to understand. But when it comes to deciphering family plans or figuring out whether you can or cannot use your smartphone as a wireless hotspot, it’s not always so clear. In this edition of Ask Maggie, I explain to a reader who is …

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