Eli Blumenthal
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Homepage: http://teenstalktech.com/
Posts by Eli Blumenthal
Sprint Releases the New BlackBerry Bold 9650
May 17th
So Sprint users, an EVO 4G isn’t what your looking for and you want something with a real keyboard instead? Maybe you were thinking of going for a BlackBerry Tour? If you are one of those people then listen up, as Sprint is releasing a new BlackBerry today that takes everything you want in the Tour and throws in some much appreciated updates.
This new BlackBerry is called the Bold 9650 (the one we saw in December of last year, and really is pretty much a Tour 2– and if you wanna be really technical, the Tour was called the BlackBerry 9630), and takes all of the Tour’s beloved features like that great full QWERTY keyboard, BlackBerry OS 5 with features like the App World and the latest BBM, 3.2 megapixel camera, clear and sharp high-res screen, and 3G and throws in some of the most wanted additional features like WiFi and the new BlackBerry trackpad in place of the trackball. The new Bold also offers double the built in memory (512 MB as opposed to the Tour’s 256 MB) and ships with an additional 2 GB microSD card in the box for even more storage.
The BlackBerry Bold 9650 is available now on Sprint’s site for $199.99 with a new 2 year contract and data plan.
So there you have it, more good news for you lucky Sprint users. So what’s it gonna be– BlackBerry Bold 9650 or HTC EVO 4G?
First Look: Microsoft Office 2010
May 16th
A lot (if not pretty much all) of us have relied on Microsoft’s Office software for our lives over the years, whether for notes, school papers, or creating fliers. Every couple of years Microsoft introduces a major revision to the Office line, and 2010 is another one of those years. And while the basics of PowerPoint, Word, OneNote and all the other Office programs have stayed the same, there have been some pretty solid improvements that while may not be “must haves,” are without question appreciated and make Office even better and easier to use.
I’ve been testing out the beta (i.e. testing, not final) version of Office 2010 as my main Office suite for the past couple of months– using it to write papers, take notes, manage email, and create presentations; and I got to say– I really like it better than the older Office 2007. I’m not gonna go into a full out review of the new Office yet (partly because not everything is finalized in the beta I’m using), but here are a few thoughts.
Microsoft to Show Off Project Natal on MTV June 15th
May 16th
June is almost here and that means a couple of things: school is almost over, summers almost here, the NBA Playoffs are in full gear, and the major video game conference E3 is almost upon us.
This year’s E3 looks to truly be epic, with promises of more info on the Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Move, Xbox 360 Project Natal, and who knows what else! Now as we’ve done in years past, we’ll have all the info on all the awesome, need-to-know stuff out of E3. But for those of you who want to follow one of the biggest announcements live, Microsoft and MTV are teaming up to broadcast the whole Project Natal announcement featuring CIRQUE DU SOLEIL commercial-free on MTV, Tuesday, June 15 at 3:30 PM ET, and will be replayed on MTV’s other networks– Nick at Nite, mtvU, MTV Hits, and Logo– Tuesday, June 15 at 9 PM ET.
MTV’s other network, Spike TV, will also be showing off other Microsoft Xbox 360 announcements such as demos of games like HALO: Reach, Gears Of War 3, and Fable III. Called “Xbox 360: The Future Revealed” that show airs LIVE on Monday, June 14 from 1:30 – 3 PM ET.
EVO 4G Coming to Sprint on June 4th!
May 13th
Sprint users, mark your calenders. On June 4th, one of the hottest gadgets of the year will be released for you guys– the HTC EVO 4G, for $199.99 on 2 year contract.
Sprint released a whole bunch of other details on the EVO 4G particularly in terms of pricing. You will have to sign up for the traditional Sprint Everything Plan ($69.99 for unlimited text, calls and web) with an additional “Premium Data” cost of $10 a month (odd and annoying, I know). Using the mobile hotspot for up to 8 devices will also run you an additional $29.99 a month, though this is by far better than getting a smartphone and adding an Overdrive which runs $59.99 a month.
On a less expensive note, Sprint also said that video chatting will work over both 3G and 4G using the free Qik app for Android, and work whether it’s mobile to mobile video chatting or mobile to computer video chatting. Definitely nice.
For all the info on the EVO 4G, see our previous post here.
So there you have it. Now who else is excited for June 4th?
Sprint: The HTC EVO 4G is Our Nexus One
May 11th
Waiting for Sprint to release their Nexus One? Wait no longer. Today, Sprint came out and said that they are not getting a standard Nexus One; instead that device is the coming-soon HTC EVO 4G. This makes sense, as the EVO 4G pretty much matches or beats the Nexus One in every category– both have Android 2.1, 1 GHZ Snapdragon processors, while the EVO 4G throws in a larger 4.3 inch screen, 1 GB of built in storage, an 8 megapixel camera with an additional front facing camera, HTC Sense on top of Android 2.1 and of course– 4G support. (And all this isn’t so shocking– Verizon also canned their plans for their Nexus One in favor of the Droid Incredible).
As to when the EVO 4G will come out, the latest rumors say that it will be on June 6th (a day before Apple kicks off their WWDC conference where they are expected to release that rumored 4th iPhone), for a not too bad $200. So Sprint users– excited?
AT&T Palm Pre Plus Launching this Sunday
May 11th
Want a Palm Pre but not on Sprint or Verizon? AT&T users– your wait is almost up. AT&T has announced today that the Pre Plus from Palm will be available very soon, like this Sunday soon. (Note that HP is in the process of buying the struggling Palm for $1.2 billion– yes BILLION!)
The Pre Plus is pretty much is the same as when we saw it in March– 3.1 inch multi-touch screen, webOS, WiFi, GPS, 3G, webOS, 16 GB of storage and a 3 megapixel camera with flash and video recording– and will be available this coming Sunday, May 16th, for $149.99 with new 2 year contract and data plan. It will also come with a free Touchstone charging station when you purchase the Pre Plus in an AT&T store. As announced with the original Sprint Pre, the Touchstone allows you to just put your phone on the little dock, seen in the pic above, to charge your phone, i.e. no more plugging in cables (It costs $50 when purchased separately).
Honestly though, considering the Verizon Pre Plus costs only $29.99 on a new 2 year contract and data plan (and comes with free access to turn it into a MiFi like WiFi hotspot to connect other WiFi devices, like a laptop or iPod touch, to the Verizon network), I’m pretty shocked AT&T is charging so much, and am hoping they follow Verizon and cut the price real soon.
What you think– is $149.99 too much for the Pre Plus with Touchstone or were you hoping for a deal like Verizon’s Pre Plus? You plan on getting one of these? Sound off in the comments.
HP Introduces the New Envy 14 and Envy 17
May 8th
So you’re in the market for a new sleek, stylish, all-aluminum laptop but don’t want something from a company with a fruit as it’s logo. What you gonna do? If I were in your spot I’d take a look at HP’s updates to their high-end Envy line (which you may recall we covered last year). HP really is providing some solid alternatives to those MacBook Pros, particularly with these new updates on the new Envy 17 and Envy 14 (which replaces the Envy 13). What’s in these new laptops? Read on for all the details.
T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G Slide–Keyboard Now Included
May 4th
Wanted a T-Mobile Android smartphone with a nice design and a keyboard but wasn’t feeling the almost 2 year-old G1 or the Motorola Cliq? Look no further: T-Mobile today has taken the wraps off their latest Android keyboard phone, the myTouch 3G Slide. As we mentioned in the title, think of this as a myTouch 3G with a keyboard, adding an important feature to a nice-looking phone with some pretty solid tech specs.
The 3.4 inch (up from the myTouch 3G’s 3.2 inch) touchscreen includes a full, slide-out QWERTY keyboard as well as the Swype keyboard, which enables touchscreen typing by dragging your finger across letters to form words, rather than just tapping each letter (according to Samsung, this type of texting even set a world record for quickest text on a touchscreen phone). It also boasts a 5 megapixel camera with flash and auto-focus, all running atop a customized Android 2.1. This is not an HTC Sense customization like on Verizon’s Droid Incredible (though the myTouch 3G and myTouch 3G Slide are both made by HTC), but rather a special T-Mobile version.
This T-Mobile customization is actually pretty interesting, offering three distinct social network focused apps called Faves Gallery, myModes, and Genius Button.
- Faves Gallery– This is kinda like HTC’s Friend Stream in HTC Sense (though here looking much cooler, as seen above), showing up to 20 of your favorite people and the different ways to communicate with them — calls, texts, e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates — all in an app easily accessible through that green button along the bottom of the screen. There also is a widget complete with photos, contact information and one-touch ability to respond to that friend. Also, anytime any of these “Faves” communicate with you or update their social network, you get a notification about it (and even if you’re phone is off, a custom green light will let you know you’ve got an update waiting from them).
- myModes– This gives you separate settings based on where and how your using your phone by creating different themes with home screen apps, widgets and wallpapers depending on what your doing (like when you’re in school and when you’re at home). myModes is customizable to switch at a designated time, by a location, or manually with the option to create and store up to 10 customized modes. For example, in a school mode you may have your phone set to vibrate and use different apps like Notes or Calculator, while at home your gonna want apps like games and a blaring ringtone. This basically will show what you want to show and hide the apps you don’t, allowing you to use your phone ideally without as many distractions. This is also like a feature seen on HTC Sense, called Scenes.
- Genius Button–This takes Android 2.1′s impressive voice commands even further. Not only can you use the voice commands make calls, compose and send texts and e-mails, or search the Web and your surroundings, but now it will even read text messages aloud, and lets you dictate replies naturally as if you were speaking directly to the person. Definitely very cool.
While still no Droid Incredible or Nexus One, the new myTouch 3G Slide looks to be a very solid Android phone for T-Mobile when it comes out sometime in June in your choice of either red, white or black colors (unfortunately T-Mobile hasn’t yet announced a price). So T-Mobile readers, you like?
Nintendo Announces the Black Wii– Now with Wii MotionPlus and Wii Sports in the Box!
May 3rd
Thinking of getting a Wii? Then listen up– Nintendo today has dropped word on a really nice update to Wii bundle. Now, not only do you get the Wii with a Wiimote and Nunchuck controller and Wii Sports, but also the Wii Sports Resort and the Wii MotionPlus add-on, all in a new black color! This is all in addition to the current white Wii (which should also get the updated bundle), and in probably the best news here– the price stays the same at $199.99 when this starts on May 9th (only a few more days away– so hold off on that Wii just a little longer!).
Here’s what we want to know: is a new color and a much-improved standard offering and cheaper price gonna make you wanna go with a Wii over a Xbox 360 with Natal or PS3 in 3D and with PlayStation Move? Let us know in the comments.
Droid Incredible by HTC Out Now for Verizon– Already Sold Out Online!
Apr 30th
So the latest and arguably greatest Android phone (or perhaps even just the best overall phone) for Verizon, the Droid Incredible by HTC, is finally out. And, while not a huge surprise (yet still very impressive), it’s already sold out online! Now don’t worry if you didn’t already order or pre-order your Incredible, as you can still try your luck at your local Verizon store (and if that doesn’t work out, you can still place your orders online, though new orders aren’t expected to ship until next Tuesday 5/4). Oh, and all Droid Incredible buyers between now (including those who pre-ordered) and May 31st get a free 2 GB microSD card, bringing the built in memory up to around 10 GB (it also has 8 GB built-in).
Now for those that we’re able to get an Incredible, what you think of it (is it Verizon’s best phone yet? Better than an iPhone?), and if you didn’t yet– do you plan to? Lets us know in the comments.
And for all the details on what is the Droid Incredible and why it’s so great, see our previous post here.
Pic and info from Verizon.
