August, 2011

• 5 August

  ‘Thumbs’: Who knew a film about texting could be so entertaining?

  

  I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was emotionally invested in a film that largely focuses on teenagers rapidly tapping keys on their phone. That speaks to the quality of “Thumbs,” a surprisingly entertaining documentary that follows a dozen or so competitors through a grueling national texting championship. The key …

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• 5 August

  AT&T finally tightens up password security

  

  AT&T is stepping up the protection of its customers’ voice messages amid mounting security concerns raised by the phone hacking incidents in the U.K. AT&T The Dallas telecommunications giant changed its policy today so that a password was the default setting for its cell phone voice mail boxes, Chief Privacy Officer Robert Quinn posted on a company blog. New phones …

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• 5 August

  Apple disables developer

  

  According to a report from karthikk.net, developers who have sold UDID slots to other developers who are not officially enrolled in Apple’s iOS Developer Program are finding their accounts on the brink of being banned. When developers sign up for Apple’s iOS Developer Program, they receive a limited number of UDID slots (the unique identifying number specific to your iPhone, …

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• 5 August

  Rumor: Amazon forecasting 3 million tablets this fall

  

  If the latest round of rumors prove to be true, Amazon could emerge as the dominant player in the Android tablet game. According to information provided to Taiwanese news outlet CENS, the company has ordered Quanta Computer Inc. to produce between 800,000 and 1 million tablets per month from August to October. While the articles does not draw a distinction …

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• 5 August

  Belkin introduces new iPad 2 Keyboard Folio case

  

  Welcome another iPad 2 Bluetooth keyboard/folio case to the world. This one arrives courtesy of Belkin and its appropriately called the Keyboard Folio ($99.99). Unlike some models that feature rubber keys, this one has larger TruType keys for what Belkin says is “a comfortable, computer-style typing experience and complements the functionality of the iPad 2 with separate, adjustable modes for …

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• 5 August

  Samsung Conquer 4G hits Sprint August 21 for $100

  

  After an early game of peek-a-boo, Sprint and Samsung officially announced the Samsung Conquer 4G today, the carrier’s first 4G-capable Android smartphone, for less than $100. Available starting August 21 for $99.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate, the Conquer 4G might not have the most advanced technology but still packs in a good amount of …

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• 5 August

  iPhone 5 second spy shot surfaces, but is it fake?

  

  Magnifying glasses out! Another photo purporting to show Apple’s iPhone 5 has appeared, and seems to show a thinner mobile, with a slimmer bezel and rounded edges. The sneaky photo was posted to MacRumor’s forums, and supposedly was shot in the office of a French phone network. It’s much clearer than the spy photo that popped up last week, but …

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• 5 August

  Motorola announces XT531 for Asian, European markets

  

  Motorola Mobility announced a new, “budget friendly” Android smartphone for Asian and European markets this week with the XT531. Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread and an 800MHz processor, the touch-only handset features a 3.5-inch display and a 5-megapixel camera. Additional specifications include a front-facing VGA camera, a microSD card slot, and support for 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and GPS. …

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• 5 August

  Ask Maggie: Help! These data plans are too confusing

  

  As wireless operators eliminate unlimited data plans and talk about “throttling” traffic, smartphone subscribers are left wondering what to do. It’s clear that the majority of smartphone customers don’t need an unlimited data plan anyway. But some carriers offer data-lite options, while others don’t. Also what’s the deal with prepaid carriers? In this week’s Ask Maggie, I help one reader …

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• 5 August

  Verizon pushes update to Motorola Xoom

  

  Verizon Wireless announced today that a new software update is available for its Motorola Xoom tablet. The biggest wins from the HTJ85 update are microSD card support and a screen scaling compatibility mode, but users should appreciate the smaller features as well. With a microSD card you’ll now be able to use the file manager to view files stored on …

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