Droid Bionic Review – CNET
Posted on 08. Sep, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Equipment
We’ve been waiting for the Motorola Droid Bionic for so long that it’s been hyped to near-mythical proportions. We first heard tell of the superphone at CES 2011, where Motorola came out with a cavalcade of powerful Android devices that included the Motorola Atrix 4G, the Motorola Xoom, and, of course, the Motorola Droid Bionic. With its dual-core processor, Verizon LTE speeds, HD video recording, HDMI port, and luscious 4.3-inch qHD display, the Droid Bionic was a pioneering handset in many ways.
Continue reading at CNET here.
Streaming Songs onto Your Smartphone
Posted on 13. Aug, 2011 by Cellular Sales in Equipment
I like to access my music all the time but there’s one problem. At over 178GB of music, I don’t have enough room on my smartphone. So I want a quick and easy solution to listening. I’m on Google’s Music Beta, waiting for iTunes iCloud, and played with the initial Spotify accounts that were available this week. Google is still forming, iCloud is still coming, and Spotify is cool, but to stream you gotta pay monthly.
While I wait for these various cloud servers to pan out, I’ve found two immediate solutions to my need for tunes: Amazon Cloud Player and Subsonic Music Server. Both services will stream to Android phones. iPhone and Windows Phone 7 offers several Subsonic apps but nothing for Amazon Cloud Player.
Here’s my quick take on both services:
Amazon Cloud Player – Amazon announced unlimited cloud space for free this week. Buy one Mp3 album from Amazon and you can upload your entire music collection to the cloud. The process is easy, but a bit slow when you’re trying to upload over 178GB of music. Visit the mp3 store at Amazon to learn more about their cloud player and to download an uploader for your music as well as an Android app (or Palm or Blackberry app). The cloud player has organizer songs by artist, album, genre, song as well as playlists. You can access your tunes from any computer, some smartphones and hopefully soon the Roku.
Subsonic is a music serve your install on your computer. Unlike some music and/or video servers, Subsonic is not hard to install and instantly indexes your music. I loaded and within 30 minutes was streaming music to my Roku as well as my phone. Subsonic does require a small online donation if you plan to keep using it over time, but otherwise, there is no charge. Then you can access the music on your computer from other computers, devices like the Roku, and your smartphone. Android, iPhone and WIndows 7 have Subsonic applications that you can easily install. There is a minor technical aspect of inserting your computer’s IP address, but the Subsonic directions will walk your through it. For now, Subsonic is the easiest and fastest way to start streaming your music to your phone.
- Doug Floyd
Google’s new Android Market
Posted on 03. Aug, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Equipment
Check out this walk-through of Google’s new Android Market
Common Sense Strategies for Smartphone Security
Posted on 07. Jul, 2011 by Cellular Sales in Equipment
Just about everyone can use a smartphone to make their lives easier, and while there have been some scary reports in the media about smartphones being hacked and personal data being compromised, it really isn’t that difficult to keep your phone and your data secure.
As Smartphone use continues to rise, so does the need for using common sense strategies for safeguarding information. In the RSA 2011 Cybercrime Trends Report, the RSA (The Security Division of EMC) reported that the growing tendency to use smartphones as computing devices subjects them to similar security challenges as computers. RSA identifies several smartphone usage trends:
- Explosive growth of mobile devices as computing tools
- Number of downloaded applications (25 billion in 2011)
- Use in smartphones in every day functions such as emails, web surfing, accessing online accounts, storage of personal data
- Introducing personal computing devices into the enterprise
Since your smartphone is used as a personal computing device, it is important to protect your investment. Here are five simple common sense steps that could safe you loss and worry:
Read On: Common Sense Strategies for Smartphone Security
Google Maps now goes transit mode for all our big city people!
Posted on 06. Jul, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Equipment
Check out this article from Engadget.
Google Maps Transit Navigation beta for Android hands-on (Engadget)
“Earlier this afternoon, Google pushed Maps v5.7 to the Android Market. The app’s Transit Navigation (beta) feature brings GPS stop-by-stop nav to public transit systems in over 400 cities around the world, helping you find the subway or bus stop, then letting you know exactly when to get off as you ride. There are obvious benefits to using this in a foreign city, where alert-enabled (English!) directions could potentially save you hours of frustration. We left our office to brave the daylight in NYC, walking a block to the nearest subway station en-route to Times Square. The app worked well up until we reached the bottom of the first staircase, where it lost cell reception and its GPS fix. Jump past the break to see how it fared above ground, and check out our hands-on video for a Google Maps-led adventure through New York City’s public transit system.”
Review on Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
Posted on 28. Jun, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Equipment
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review by Engadget.
Apple Toys with Accessory Manufacturers’ Emotions
Posted on 29. Apr, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Equipment
With Apple and Steve Jobs’ obsession with their devices, it makes you wonder if the manipulation of the locations of buttons and thickness is all part of some maniacal plan. With the release of the new white iPhone many have noticed a change in thickness. While the difference can be seen with the plain eye, Apple still list the white iPhone 4’s thickness as 9.3mm. The change in thickness is much to the chagrin of case manufacturers and retailers, who may be looking at yet a new line up of cases they will need to produce and inventory. Phil Schiller, Apple’s Sr. VP of Marketing, states that the thickness is there to compensate for the lack of UV protection that a white casing is able to provide among other things. Last round of iPhone 4 design adjustments where due to the need to compensate for the CDMA antenna needed for Verizon’s network. The resulting changed moved the mute button down a few millimeters. Read more about the white iPhone 4’s thickness here.
Thunderbolt outselling iPhone?
Posted on 01. Apr, 2011 by Scott Sutton in 4G LTE, Equipment
Calls to 150 different Verizon Wireless stores covering 22 major US cities has revealed that the HTC Thunderbolt may be outselling the iPhone. Walter Piecyk of BGIT Research conducted the study. It revealed that 61% of stores said that they were selling at the same rate, 11% divulged that the iPhone was selling better, and 28% said that the Thunderbolt was beating out the iPhone. Could it be that the Thunderbolt and its 4G LTE technology is giving it a leg up? Brian Snyder, Regional Director of Cellular Sales’ South Georgia market, commented, “Both of these devices are very exciting and ground breaking in that the iPhone is an iconic device and the Thunderbolt is 4G.” Read the whole store here.
iPad 2 is Announced
Posted on 08. Mar, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Equipment, Events, Wireless Equipment
Apple iPad 2 is officially announced. The update includes a 1GHz dual-core A5 chip as well as two cameras. One camera will be in the rear of the device as well as, the highly anticipated, front facing camera. The updates will allow the iPad to run up to nine times faster than the original iPad. All these changes and Apple is still able to keep the battery life at 10 hours. Pricing is left unchanged at $499 for a 16GB WiFi-only iPad 2 and all the way up to $829 for a WiFi/3G capable device with 64GB of storage. Apple is going outside of its usual boundaries and including an HDMI port that will be capable of 1080p. However, you’ll need to purchase a $39 dongle entitled Apple Digital AV Adapter. The iPad 2’s resolution is unchanged from the iPad at 1024 x 768. For a closer look check out this hands on by Engadget.
“Geek” Scavenger Hunt in Seattle: Verizon Urban Challenge
Posted on 29. Oct, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Equipment, Wireless Industry
HTC and Verizon are teaming up for a one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt revolving around the use of HTC handsets.
LTE Not Fast Enough To Make Your Head Spin?
Posted on 27. Oct, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Equipment
Verizon’s 4G LTE network is going to revolutionize the wireless industry.
Now, in case you’re not impressed by the blistering pace of 7-12 Mbps, here’s a story that might pique your interest…
VIDEO: 2.4GB Movie Downloaded In Just 4 Sec Over Verizon’s 10Gbps Connection
Will HP Become A Player In The Smartphone Game?
Posted on 06. Oct, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Equipment, Wireless Industry
Leveraging their purchase of Palm earlier this year, HP is on its way to getting in the smartphone game. Fans of Palm’s WebOS will be happy hear of the recent announcement that HP will be launching multiple handsets in early 2011, according to a press release out today.
Reuters: HP to launch new webOS phones in early 2011
Hey Star Wars Lovers… R2-D2 Is Docking On Verizon!
Posted on 07. Sep, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Equipment
Below is an excerpt from the official press release, and here’s a link to the story on TheForce.net, which covers all things Star Wars.
In honor of the iconic Astromech Droid from the Star Wars™ Saga, Verizon Wireless will offer a limited-edition R2-D2 version of the DROID 2, available only online in September. The special version of the phone will feature exclusive Star Wars content and external hardware designed to look like the trusty Droid from the film saga. Visitors to the upcoming Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Fla., can see a preview of the limited edition phone and sign up to receive alerts when the phone is ready for sale.
Chrome OS Tablet Coming To Verizon This Year?
Posted on 18. Aug, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Equipment, Wireless Industry
Some people can’t get enough leaked info about upcoming devices. I, for one, would rather wait until formal announcements are made before I get too worked up about a new device.
This one is no exception, but I’m catering to those of you who are interested in what comes out of so-called “reliable” sources online. This time it’s another rumor about a Google tablet coming to Verizon, this one running the Chrome OS.
This is by no means a formal announcement of any sort. Just another rumor that should be taken with a grain or fistful of salt.
If you can’t wait for a tablet, I’d suggest getting an iPad and a MiFi device from VZW so you can always get online.
-Jay Witherspoon, Director of Advertising, Cellular Sales
Google on Nexus One for Verizon… Uh, Nevermind.
Posted on 26. Apr, 2010 by Cellular Sales in Company News, Equipment
HTC Incredible, Launches April 29, 2010
Google just did an about face and announced that their Nexus One handset will NOT be available on the Verizon network, and they suggest you buy a DROID Incredible by HTC instead. Cellular Sales is happy to see this announcement, because the Nexus One was set only to be available online through Google’s website (not CellularSales.com or Verizon’s site). And while we were not that worried that online handset sales through Google were going to cut into our numbers, we would prefer to have all equipment options available to us in our retail environment.
Cellular Sales does customer service better than anyone, and smartphones require more time with a wireless expert than most cellphones. So maybe Google’s decision was based on issues they had with customer service for the T-Mobile version? Not sure, but we’re happy to see it. And it makes us even more excited about Thursday’s launch of the Incredible. Visit CellularSales.com to find a location near you. Pre-order by calling a store. Pre-order will not be available through CellularSales.com.
-Jay Witherspoon, Director of Advertising
Follow Us!