Archive for June, 2010
Reminder: Apple’s WWDC is Tomorrow
Jun 6th
Is that new iPhone that we’ve seen so many pix of over the last few weeks finally going to become official tomorrow? Are we finally going to learn when iPhone OS 4 going to drop? Will MobileMe become free for all? Are there going to be the long awaited updated Mac Minis and MacBook Airs? Will Verizon, T-Mobile and/or Sprint be announced as new iPhone and/or iPad carriers, officially ending AT&T’s exclusivity? The answers to those pressing questions (which are some of the hottest rumors flying around– though again, before we get some hopes up, these are just rumors) and more should all be revealed in a few hours when Apple CEO Steve Jobs takes the stage for Apple’s annual WWDC conference at around 1 PM Eastern time tomorrow (June 7th).
It will no doubt be a big day no matter what Apple announces, so remember to check back here tomorrow where we’ll have all of Apple’s announcements broken down with everything you need to know. In the meantime, what are you thinking/hoping/wishing to see Apple announce tomorrow?
(And in case you were wondering, now would probably be the worst time to go and buy an iPhone 3GS).
HTC EVO 4G Out Now
Jun 4th
Ready for the first 4G phone Sprint users? The time has come– today is June 4th, and you know what that means– the HTC EVO 4G is here!
For those who don’t know why this is a HUGE day, here are a couple of features of the phone that may peak your interest:
- 4.3 inch multitouch screen with a 480×800 resolution in a thin, sleek design
- 8 megapixel camera with flash and support to shoot 720p HD video with a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera– for you guessed it, mobile video chatting!
- Android 2.1 with the latest and greatest version of HTC Sense as well a 1 GHZ Snapdragon processor in here that should keep everything on the phone itself nice and fast.
- 3.5 mm headphone jack, HDMI port, and a kickstand for media playback
And of course this is the first US phone that offers built-in 4G. This gives you not only faster internet speeds, but the EVO also has the ability to turn this into a mobile hotspot (like the MiFi and Overdrive), and share the 4G (or 3G if 4G isn’t available yet where you live) with up to 8 (!) other users at once (though this will run you an extra $29.99 a month, its still cheaper than the $59.99 a month needed for the MiFi or Overdrive). The EVO 4G costs $199.99 on a new 2 year contract with a data plan and Sprint’s $10 a month “Premium Data” add-on.
So, who out there is heading over to your local Sprint, Best Buy or Radio Shack to pick one up? And if you already have, what you think of it? Let us know in the comments.
And for those of you with the patience to not be the first to have one, you can head on over to Sprint’s site and order one for yourself right now.
Verizon Announces the BlackBerry Bold 9650, Out Now
Jun 4th
Wow, that was quick. Just over 2 weeks after Sprint released their successor to the Tour, Verizon has now come out to do the same. Yup, all you Verizon BlackBerry users can go and pick up this new BB with all it’s WiFi, trackpad, more RAM (which should mean an even faster BB particularly with multiple apps running), and all the other traditional BlackBerry goodness like the great QWERTY keyboard, 3G, and 3.2 megapixel. Like the Sprint version, the Verizon Bold 9650 will also ship with a 2 GB microSD card.
Verizon has also made this their first “GlobalAccess Connect” phone, allowing all you globe-trotters out there to use this as a worldwide GPS (thanks to VZ Navigator, and assuming your going to Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden or the UK). Verizon also enables you to tether your BlackBerry to your laptop when abroad, meaning you can share your phone’s internet with your computer, though it will probably cost you a pretty penny; plans start at an additional $55 for a 5 GB limit when tethering in the US and Canada with an 100 MB limit when tethering abroad… but at least you have the choice!
The Bold 9650 is out now and you can order it right now on Verizon’s site, or can pick it up next Thursday (June 10th) in Verizon stores for $150 ($50 less than what Sprint charges) with a new 2 year contract and data plan.
Apple Launches Annual Back-to-School Sale
Jun 1st
While we are all counting down the final few weeks left of school, the folks over at Apple have just begun the 2010 version of their back-to-school sale.
Like in years past, the sale includes discounts on all the new Macs and MacBooks, ranging from $50 the new, updated MacBook, to up to $200 off the new updated MacBook Pros (the MacBook Air and iMac also get $100 discounts respectively). And of course, all new purchases under these back-to-school deals include either a free 8 GB iPod touch, 4 GB iPod Shuffle or 8 GB or 16 GB iPod Nano (all after a rebate, and if you want more storage, you can instead get a 32 GB iPod touch for only $100, 64 GB iTouch for $200, or a 120 GB iPod Classic for only $50).
The deal sadly though still only applies for college students (including those enrolled for the upcoming year– as long as you got an acceptance letter, you should be all clear) and teachers and staff (though for teachers and staff of schools can take advantage of the deals no matter what grade level they work on be it Kindergarten or 12th grade), leaving all us high school students having to find someone who fits the bill to get us to use the deal.
One Note: If you are looking for a new MacBook or MacBook Pro for school next year, this looks to be the perfect deal for you. But if its the free iPod touch that intrigues you, we just want to warn you that Apple usually updates the iPod line after these deals end (September 7th), and this year’s model is expected to finally get that long rumored camera…. Decisions, decisions, but hey, that’s what school is for.
The Back to School sale runs from now until September 7th, and you can check it out at Apple’s online store.
