Month: September 2009 (Page 9 of 11)

Sprint Offers Pre Converts $100 Credit

The Palm Pre.Just three months after launching the Palm Pre, Sprint is offering a $100 service credit to new Pre customers on its network. The credit essentially cuts the price of the phone in half, which isn’t a bad deal. It’s not the first time the Pre has come down to the $100 price point, but it does show just how badly Sprint wants new customers to get the phone in their hands.

I think it’s a decent strat, too. The Pre isn’t my phone of choice, mostly because the differentiators don’t really matter to me. The keyboard, though physical, is way too small for my hands, and I don’t really need multitasking, especially for a phone that doesn’t have many apps. For a first time smartphone owner, though, the Pre is really a great choice. The OS is quick and easy to navigate, includes a decent camera, and has all the basic smartphone functions you need. You can also get a full data plan cheaper than with most Blackberry devices or the iPhone.

It’s no secret that Sprint needs customers, and it needs to retain those customers. Offering solid deals in the midst of a recession is an almost sure-fire way to get a few converts. You can get the deal by signing a two-year contract with Sprint before October 31st. The credit will be spread across three months.

Android Has 10,000 Apps

Android!Thanks to the folks over at AndroidLib (and the detective work of the good people at TechCrunch) we now know that Android has reached the 10,000 app marker. That’s a big deal, largely because Android’s biggest and best competitor, Apple with the iPhone, often touts its monstrous app library. For those of you counting at home, Apple’s got something like 70,000 apps these days.

But Android may start to get a leg up as more and more devices turn to the mobile OS. The number of Android devices already announced for next year is way too long to print here, and solid app support is one of the reasons the platform is so popular. As more apps get developed, we can hopefully start to see more talented developers head that direction.

I know, I know, I’m usually only so jubilant about iPhone apps. Honestly, though, I want Android to continue to succeed. The few times I’ve used it I really liked the OS, but more importantly I want the iPhone to have some serious competition. Right now, Android is the only thing that comes close. Yes, Blackberry has a huge installed base, but feature to feature, Android is the most comparable OS with the best long term growth potential. Here’s hoping the Android Market continues to improve.

Epic Fail: AT&T Considers New iPhone-Exclusive Features

AT&T is full of fail.AT&T knows you aren’t happy with your iPhone service. It’s making videos to try to explain away some of your woes, but the company may also be looking to add new iPhone-exclusive features to improve the user experience.

According to a story at Apple Insider, Apple and AT&T are looking into a software update that would add features to improve customer satisfaction. Among the rumored list of features are overage alerts, which would offer push notifications if you’re past your text limit, for instance. There’s also the potential for a “Voicemail” tab in the settings app, allowing you to disable the custom voicemail greetings on your own phone and bypass those greetings when you call other AT&T subscribers.

From what we know so far, this plan is a joke. The phone is fine. These features might be nice additions, but as almost every single survey has shown, iPhone owners love the phone and loathe AT&T. Adding these features to the phone will just exacerbate that issue. Sure, callers can get to my voicemail faster, but if I can’t listen to their messages what does it matter?

I don’t need features to improve my experience, I need more reliable service. When AT&T stops wasting time and money on gimmicks like this and allocates those resources to network improvement the average iPhone user experience will improve.

Consumers Are Getting Over Bluetooth Headsets

Douche on a Bluetooth.According to a new study, consumers are finally getting over their infatuation with looking completely ridiculous while using a hands-free headset. Bluetooth usage is down, at least in the headset sector, and so is satisfaction with most Bluetooth headset styles.

Only 26% of Bluetooth owners now use their headset every day, which is down from 43% a year ago. That’s what I call a sharp improvement. While there is the occasional comedic self-talker, I find most regular Bluetooth users to be among the rudest people I’ve ever met. Females are the worst, and usually only because they have long hair, which hides the headset from view. While bartending in Cleveland last year I actually had a woman wave her hands just inches from my face and snap at me because I interrupted her phone call when I asked her if she wanted a drink. Needless to say, she didn’t get one.

It seems it’s not just the social misconduct that’s turning people away from headsets – it’s style, too. “The style and design of the Bluetooth headset remains a pain point for consumers,” said Chris Schreiner, a Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics. “The number of Bluetooth headset owners that are satisfied with the style of their device dropped 27% since 2008.” In lieu of their once coveted headsets, consumers have turned to in-car sets for their higher quality microphones and speakers.

Source: Business Wire

T-Mobile Sidekick Gets Facebook And Twitter

Twitter on the Sidekick. T-Mobile’s Sidekick got the smartphone treatment today with the addition of Facebook and Twitter applications to the Sidekick Download Catalog. As one of the most prominent phones to implement a full keyboard and some proprietary messaging features, it’s really been a long time coming. The applications work with the Sidekick 2008, the Sidekick LX, and the Sidekick Slide.

The Facebook application is free but the Twitter app will run you $2 a month. I gotta say, $24 a year for Twitter use seems a little out of hand. It’s also strange considering the Sidekick 2009 comes pre-packaged with free apps for both Facebook and Twitter. Was Twitter really that much harder to integrate into the old phones than Facebook? Did they just not have as much developer support? Is the app just that cool?

If you have an older Sidekick and the time to drop a comment, let us know. This is a strange one.

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