Cricket intros $40 per line family plan with unlimited talk, text and data, updates iPhone plans

Spring into Value with Cricket's New Family Plan

Money-Saving No-Contract Plan Includes Two Smartphone Lines for $40 per Line per Month and Muve Music

SAN DIEGO, April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cricket is providing added value for families this spring with an affordable family plan to go along with the coolest phones Cricket already offers. The new plan is available now to customers who purchase two or more smartphone rate plans[1] with Cricket's Automatic Bill Pay feature. The new family plan is available in Cricket company-owned stores and select dealers nationwide.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120202/LA46949LOGO)

"The Cricket family plan is half the price of AT&T, and value like that makes this plan a great way for families to save money by spending a lot less on their wireless bill," said Tyler Wallis, senior vice president, product and marketing for Cricket. "Each line includes unlimited minutes, texts, data and unlimited downloads from Muve Music. Cricket is the only carrier in the US to offer Muve Music, one of the leading on-demand digital music services in the country."

The family plan is available to new and existing Cricket customers and is also available to Cricket Lifeline customers. Customers may choose which Cricket smartphone plans best fit their needs and still get a family plan discount. Each family plan line includes all the stand-alone features of the $50 smartphone rate plan.

Cricket's all-inclusive smartphone rate plans start at $50 for unlimited talk, text and data (1GB of full-speed) per month. The $60 smartphone plan contains up to 2.5GB of full-speed data per month and the $70 smartphone plan offers up to 5GB of full-speed data per month. The $60 and $70 plans come with Mobile Hot Spot capability so that, customers can attach additional wireless devices to their smartphone. All Cricket smartphone plans include unlimited music with Muve Music featuring unlimited song downloads, ringback tones and ringtones. Each family plan must include Automatic Bill Pay. With Automatic Bill Pay a customer's monthly bill is automatically paid using a designated credit card, debit card, or bank account on file.

Muve Music

Muve is available on all Cricket smartphones and is included in the new family plan. With Muve Music from Cricket, customers have millions of songs at their fingertips, will never pay per song and the music service is built in to Cricket's no contract rate plans. Muve Music customers have the added benefit of discovering new music through its monthly artist programs such as Muve First and Muve Headliner, where featured artists offer exclusive commentary, music and videos every month only available to Muve Music.

Cricket Phones

Cricket offers a full range of high-quality, affordable devices, with solutions for every budget. The device portfolio continues to expand with well-known brands including Apple, HTC, LG, Samsung and BlackBerry. In 2012 Cricket became the first pre-paid carrier in the U.S. to offer iPhone to its customers.

About Cricket

Cricket is the pioneer and leader in delivering innovative value-rich prepaid wireless services with no long-term contracts. Cricket offers nationwide wireless voice and mobile data services over high-quality, all-digital 4G LTE and 3G CDMA wireless networks. Cricket's innovative products and services, including the award-winning Muve Music® - the first music service designed for a wireless phone, are available nationwide at Cricket branded retail stores, dealers, national retailers and at www.mycricket.com. For more information about Cricket, please visit www.mycricket.com.

[1] Cricket's Family Plan discount is available with the $50 smartphone rate plan

SOURCE Cricket Communications, Inc.

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By: Unknown On 11:53 PM

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Sprint brings LTE to 21 markets, details plans for 34 more

After nearly a year of soaking rural and suburban locations with 4G, Sprint is finally starting to extend its reach to some major cities. Having wrapped up test runs in a handful of areas, the carrier is now officially offering LTE in 21 additional markets, including Los Angeles, CA, Charlotte, NC, Virginia Beach, VA, Memphis, TN and West Palm Beach, FL. What's more, the Now Network revealed plans to bring its new high-speed offerings to more than 170 additional markets in the months ahead. Some of the cities on its docket include Orlando, FL, Portland, OR, El Paso, TX, Tulsa, OK and Spokane, WA. Didn't see your hometown name-checked here? Check out the press release after the break for the full list.

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Sprint Announces Availability of 4G LTE in 21 New Markets

Today, customers in areas such as Los Angeles, Charlotte, N.C., and Memphis, Tenn., will benefit from an all-new 4G LTE experience with Truly UnlimitedSM 4G LTE plans from Sprint

Power data users across the country are discovering 4G LTE in more and more places

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), April 18, 2013 - Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the availability of its all-new 4G LTE network to customers in 21 more markets, including Los Angeles, Contra Costa County, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., Norfolk, Va., and Memphis, Tenn. With the Sprint 4G LTE network, customers in the following areas will be able to experience faster speeds for uploading photos, surfing the Web, and streaming videos. And now through May 9th, customers switching their number to Sprint from another carrier can save up to $100 on any smartphone with a new two-year service agreement and qualifying plan.

The 21 new Sprint 4G LTE markets:

Albemarle, N.C.
Bloomington, Ind.
Charlotte, N.C.
Contra Costa County, Calif.
Denison, Texas
Greeneville, Tenn.
Joplin, Mo.
Kerrville, Texas
Lafayette, Ind.
Lincolnton, N.C.
Los Angeles
Mankato/North Mankato, Minn.
Memphis, Tenn.
Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News, Va.
Palm Bay, Fla.
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Rochelle, Ill.
Salisbury, N.C.
Shelby, N.C.
Tullahoma, Tenn.
West Palm Beach, Fla.
"Today more Americans are using smartphones and tablets to consume entertainment, GPS and applications than ever before," said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. "In fact, in 2012, Sprint achieved annual smartphone sales of nearly 20 million. All this requires improved network reliability and speed. Sprint's customers will experience immediate benefits on the 4G LTE network when they stream videos, socialize, play games and interact with thousands of apps using our unlimited data plans."

Sprint continues to bring a better wireless experience to more customers across the country as it builds out its all-new 3G and 4G LTE network. Many Sprint customers are discovering Sprint 4G LTE in cities that haven't yet officially been announced, including Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco. Sprint has announced more than 170 markets where LTE will be available in the coming months, and is adding the following markets to that list today:

Fargo, N.D.
Orlando, Fla.
Portland, Ore.
Spokane, Wash.
Tallahassee, Fla.
Albertville, Ala.
Centralia, Wash.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Durant, Okla.
El Paso, Texas
Enid, Okla.
Enterprise/Ozark, Ala.
Eugene/Springfield, Ore.
Faribault/Northfield, Minn.
Greenville, Miss.
Hattiesburg, Miss.
Jacksonville, Texas
Kennewick/Pasco/Richland, Wash.
LaGrange, Ga.
Longview, Texas
Longview, Wash.
Milledgeville, Ga.
Moses Lake, Wash.
Paducah, Ky.
Picayune, Miss.
Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Russellville, Ark.
Seaford, Del.
Sterling, Ill.
Talladega/Sylacauga, Ala.
Tulsa, Okla.
Valdosta, Ga.
Wenatchee/East Wenatchee, Wash.
Yakima, Wash.
Sprint offers a wide range of 4G LTE devices, including the Sprint Force, Samsung Galaxy Note® II and Kyocera Torque. Sprint expects to continue its smartphone success throughout 2013 with the launch of HTC One® on April 19, Samsung Galaxy S® 4 in the second quarter, and the BlackBerry® Q10 smartphone later this year. The selection of devices, an improving 3G and 4G LTE network experience and Sprint's Everything Data plans – including Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network – makes Sprint the best choice in wireless.

Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and now offers service in 88 markets nationwide and on Sprint's no contract brands, Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile. Virgin Mobile offers the Galaxy Victory™ 4G LTE, from Samsung with its No-Contract Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans, starting at $35/month. Boost Mobile offers HTC One SV and Boost Force on its no-contract $55 Android Monthly Unlimited with Shrinking Payments plan.

Also, Sprint Emerging & Wholesale Solutions is helping Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) compete and take market share by being the first major carrier in the United States to offer wholesale 4G LTE service and a wide range of handsets, data cards, hotspots and tablets that answer the MVNO market need for high-speed, high-capacity video, data and voice services.

For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/network. For detailed 4G LTE maps, visit www.sprint.com/coverage. Customers are encouraged to check back often because the maps will be updated whenever coverage is enhanced.

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By: Unknown On 2:11 PM

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Samsung puts 128-gigabit 3-bit cell flash into production, plans to build more memory cards

Samsung Mass Producing High-Performance 128-Gigabit 3-Bit Multi-Level-Cell NAND Flash Memory

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it has begun mass producing a 128-gigabit (Gb), 3-bit multi-level-cell (MLC) NAND memory chip using 10 nanometer (nm)-class* process technology this month. The highly advanced chip will enable high-density memory solutions such as embedded NAND storage and solid state drives (SSDs).

"The new chip is a critical product in the evolution of NAND flash, one whose timely production will enable us to increase our competitiveness in the high density memory storage market."

"By introducing next-generation memory storage products like the 128Gb NAND chip, Samsung is extremely well situated to meet growing global customer needs," said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Device Solutions Division, Samsung Electronics. "The new chip is a critical product in the evolution of NAND flash, one whose timely production will enable us to increase our competitiveness in the high density memory storage market."

Samsung's 128Gb NAND flash is based on a 3-bit multi-level-cell design and 10nm-class process technology. It boasts the industry's highest density as well as the highest performance level of 400 megabits-per-second (mbps) data transfer rate based on the toggle DDR 2.0 interface.

Utilizing 128Gb NAND flash memory, Samsung will expand its supply of 128-gigabyte (GB) memory cards, which can store as many as sixteen 8GB full HD video files. Samsung now will also increase its production volume of SSDs with densities over 500GBs for wider adoption of SSDs in computer systems, while leading the transition of main storage drives in the notebook market from hard disk drives (HDDs) to SSDs.

Demand for high-performance 3-bit MLC NAND flash and 128Gb high storage capacities has been rapidly increasing, driving the adoption of SSDs with more than 250GB data storage, led by the Samsung SSD 840 Series.

Samsung started production of 10nm-class 64Gb MLC NAND flash memory in November last year, and in less than five months, has added the new 128Gb NAND flash to its wide range of high-density memory storage offerings. The new 128Gb chip also extends Samsung's 3-bit NAND memory line-up along with the 20nm-class* 64Gb 3-bit NAND flash chip that Samsung introduced in 2010. Further, the new 128Gb 3-bit MLC NAND chip offers more than twice the productivity of a 20nm-class 64Gb MLC NAND chip.

Samsung plans to keep introducing leading-edge SSDs and embedded memory storage solutions with high-quality features, in accelerating the growth of the premium memory market.

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it has begun mass producing a 128-gigabit (Gb), 3-bit multi-level-cell (MLC) NAND memory chip using 10 nanometer (nm)-class* process technology this month. The highly advanced chip will enable high-density memory solutions such as embedded NAND storage and solid state drives (SSDs).

"The new chip is a critical product in the evolution of NAND flash, one whose timely production will enable us to increase our competitiveness in the high density memory storage market."
"By introducing next-generation memory storage products like the 128Gb NAND chip, Samsung is extremely well situated to meet growing global customer needs," said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Device Solutions Division, Samsung Electronics. "The new chip is a critical product in the evolution of NAND flash, one whose timely production will enable us to increase our competitiveness in the high density memory storage market."

Samsung's 128Gb NAND flash is based on a 3-bit multi-level-cell design and 10nm-class process technology. It boasts the industry's highest density as well as the highest performance level of 400 megabits-per-second (mbps) data transfer rate based on the toggle DDR 2.0 interface.

Utilizing 128Gb NAND flash memory, Samsung will expand its supply of 128-gigabyte (GB) memory cards, which can store as many as sixteen 8GB full HD video files. Samsung now will also increase its production volume of SSDs with densities over 500GBs for wider adoption of SSDs in computer systems, while leading the transition of main storage drives in the notebook market from hard disk drives (HDDs) to SSDs.

Demand for high-performance 3-bit MLC NAND flash and 128Gb high storage capacities has been rapidly increasing, driving the adoption of SSDs with more than 250GB data storage, led by the Samsung SSD 840 Series.

Samsung started production of 10nm-class 64Gb MLC NAND flash memory in November last year, and in less than five months, has added the new 128Gb NAND flash to its wide range of high-density memory storage offerings. The new 128Gb chip also extends Samsung's 3-bit NAND memory line-up along with the 20nm-class* 64Gb 3-bit NAND flash chip that Samsung introduced in 2010. Further, the new 128Gb 3-bit MLC NAND chip offers more than twice the productivity of a 20nm-class 64Gb MLC NAND chip.

Samsung plans to keep introducing leading-edge SSDs and embedded memory storage solutions with high-quality features, in accelerating the growth of the premium memory market.

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By: Unknown On 9:24 AM

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AT&T announces plans for 1Gbps fiber service in Austin, Texas; Google gets immediate competition

First thought: "Ha!" Second thought: "Oh, wait -- competition is an excellent thing." While it's highly probable that AT&T is looking to both overshadow Google's launch party and maintain a foothold in one of its most prized states, the outfit's terse announcement of an impending 1Gbps fiber network should honestly be seen as nothing but excellent news for residents of Austin. Merely hours after Google and the city of Austin jointly made clear that Google Fiber would be hitting up local homes in mid-2014, Ma Bell has made public its "intent" to built a 1 Gigabit fiber network in the same area.

AT&T's expanded fiber plans in Austin anticipate it will be granted the "same terms and conditions as Google on issues such as geographic scope of offerings, rights of way, permitting, state licenses and any investment incentives." Of course, it's seriously unlikely AT&T will offer up basic fiber connections for free in the way that Google's doing, but on a macro level, we certainly hope this type of one-upping continues in more towns across the country. And, more specifically, that AT&T continues to roll out fiber networks on its own accord in various locales; with FiOS expansion indefinitely paused, we sure need someone to step up and keep the dream alive.

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AT&T Announces Intent to Build 1 Gigabit Fiber Network in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) said today that it is pleased to see local communities and municipalities acknowledging the promise and power of economic development associated with telecommunications investment.

"Most encouraging is the recognition by government officials that policies which eliminate unnecessary regulation, lower costs and speed infrastructure deployment, can be a meaningful catalyst to additional investment in advanced networks which drives employment and economic growth," said Randall Stephenson , AT&T chairman and CEO.

Today, AT&T announced that in conjunction with its previously announced Project VIP expansion of broadband access, it is prepared to build an advanced fiber optic infrastructure in Austin, Texas, capable of delivering speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. AT&T's expanded fiber plans in Austin anticipate it will be granted the same terms and conditions as Google on issues such as geographic scope of offerings, rights of way, permitting, state licenses and any investment incentives. This expanded investment is not expected to materially alter AT&T's anticipated 2013 capital expenditures.

AT&T consistently invests in U.S. communities -- $98 billion in capital in the past five years, more than any other public company -- and remains committed to working with any metropolitan community to reach agreement on incentives to improve the climate and speed of overall telecommunications infrastructure investment – facilitating both wired and wireless broadband access. Our potential capital investment will depend on the extent we can reach satisfactory agreements.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

Source: AT&T

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By: Unknown On 11:01 AM

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T-Mobile takes its UnCarrier plans live earlier than expected

T-Mobile must not want to wait for a special event to lure customers through its doors: it just launched its revamped, decidedly UnCarrier-like plans a couple of days early. As became clearer this weekend, unlimited voice, text and basic data are now things you can take for granted on Magenta's network. It's only the cap on throttle-free data that determines how much you pay: rates sold through T-Mobile itself start at $50 for a basic 500MB of online use and climb in steady 2GB increments that each cost an extra $10 per month, up to a total of 12.5GB for $110. You can still get truly unlimited service if you want, for $70 -- although you'll have to bolt on a separate hotspot plan that the capped tiers get for free. Costs at resellers are expected to run slightly higher, but it's still clear that T-Mobile is aggressively courting those of us who see internet access as the very reason to have a smartphone in the first place.

Via: TmoNews (Twitter), The Verge

Source: T-Mobile

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By: Unknown On 6:43 PM

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Criterion cancels your weekend plans, makes its Hulu collection available for free

Followers of the Criterion Collection on Twitter or Facebook have no doubt already dove in, but those that haven't yet heard may want to direct their attention to the Hulu page featured at the source link. There you'll find hundreds of Criterion titles ready for streaming, all of which have been made available for free this weekend (for those that have access to Hulu, that is). It doesn't include all of the films Criterion has released on DVD and Blu-ray, but it's an impressive selection, including many well-known classics and more obscure gems alike; there's even some that Criterion hasn't yet released on physical media.

If you're looking for some science fiction to get started (this is Engadget, after all), we'd recommend an art house sci-fi double feature of Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris and Rainer Werner Fassbinder's World on a Wire -- or Chris Marker's La Jetée, the inspiration for Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys, if you'd prefer something a bit shorter.

Via: @Criterion (Twitter)

Source: Hulu

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By: Unknown On 9:40 PM

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Microsoft talks plans for premium content production, details Xbox 360's transition to an 'entertainment console'

Xbox Execs Talk Momentum and the Future of TV
Feb. 11, 2013
At the D: Dive into Media conference, Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi and Nancy Tellem discuss Xbox entertainment growth and strategy.

REDMOND, Wash. – Feb. 11, 2013 - Living room entertainment is in its largest evolutionary period since the transitions of black-and-white to color, and from standard definition to high definition. The Xbox 360, alongside Microsoft's entertainment industry partners, is at the forefront of that evolution as one of the only devices that brings all forms of entertainment together in one device, while making access to content easy and providing new ways to interact with existing programming. In 2012, the amount of TV and other entertainment offerings on Xbox almost tripled, now surpassing 100 custom, voice-controlled TV and entertainment apps on Xbox LIVE.

Snapshot of Xbox Momentum
February 11, 2013
New data illustrates how entertainment usage on the Xbox has exploded during its living room transformation.
Download: Web
"Yes, we started with video games, but we have been on a journey to make Xbox the center of every household's entertainment," says Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business.

Today Mehdi, along with Nancy Tellem, president of entertainment and digital media at Microsoft, participated in a D: Dive into Media session, facilitated by Peter Kafka, to discuss that journey and the opportunities that lie ahead. Mehdi revealed some new data that illustrates how entertainment usage on the Xbox has exploded during its living room transformation, and Tellem shared more about her newly created Los Angeles-based Xbox Entertainment Studios.

Today, there are more than 76 million Xbox 360 consoles around the world. That's three times the number of original Xbox consoles sold. And a Kinect sensor now sits next to roughly one third of those Xbox 360 consoles; the company has sold 24 million Kinect sensors since launch.

Social has been an important part of Xbox from the beginning, and that's true today more than ever. The Xbox LIVE community has grown to 46 million members, a 15 percent growth since last year.

2012 also marked the Xbox's biggest year for entertainment and games usage. Users enjoyed more than 18 billion hours of entertainment in 2012, with entertainment app usage growing 57 percent year over year globally. Last year in the United States, Xbox LIVE Gold members averaged 87 hours per month on Xbox, an increase of 10 percent year over year.

Yusuf Mehdi
February 11, 2013
Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business.
Download: Web | Print
Those numbers strongly indicate that consumers enjoy all kinds of entertainment via Xbox, and Mehdi believes the future of entertainment is even brighter, as Microsoft plans to keep the momentum rolling.

"We believe that Xbox is being used by more people in the household, during more hours in the day and for more forms of entertainment," he says. "People are using Xbox in the morning to work out with the Kinect Nike+ Fitness program, kids are watching cartoons, families are enjoying movies, and of course people are playing blockbuster games like 'Halo 4.'"

The Future of TV Is Interactive and More Engaging

According to Mehdi, Xbox has something in the living room no one else has – a large installed base of devices already in the home, connected to TVs, and over half of those are already linked together, delivering amazing personalized and social entertainment experiences via the Xbox LIVE network.

Microsoft believes that the future of TV and entertainment is one where the TV becomes interactive and more engaging, Mehdi and Tellem explain. Microsoft sees that viewers want to do more with their TV shows, movies, sports and other forms of entertainment.

"We believe that we are at the start of the next wave of truly interactive entertainment," Tellem says.

Tellem is spearheading a new L.A.-based studio called Xbox Entertainment Studios, where the mission is to create true interactive content for Xbox and other devices that will change the way entertainment content is experienced and delivered. Tellem also now oversees live event programming for Xbox LIVE. Xbox has had success with live events such as the Elections 2012 Hub on Xbox LIVE, which aired the presidential debates with an added interactive polling capability. Viewers submitted 3 million answers to on-screen questions during the live telecast of one of the debates. More recently, Xbox aired an interactive red carpet experience for this year's Grammy Awards and will be doing the same for the 85th Academy Awards.

Nancy Tellem
February 11, 2013
Nancy Tellem, former president of CBS Network Television Entertainment Group, has joined Microsoft as Entertainment & Digital Media president.
"When I worked in traditional TV, we would find ourselves saying things like 'Wouldn't it be cool if we could add an interactive aspect directly into the show and engage directly with the viewers?'" says Tellem. "With Xbox, that is possible today."

Xbox already offers content such Kinect Sesame Street TV, which blurs the lines between traditional linear TV show and interactive experience, where a kid can jump into their beloved Sesame Street and throw coconuts at Grover.

But it's not just about new types of entertainment; it's also about new business models and new engagement opportunities for advertisers. Mehdi called the launch of NUads – a new ad format that harnesses Kinect and natural user interface – an important moment for TV advertising. NUads deliver what is most scarce to advertisers today: consumer engagement. NUads enable natural interactivity using the simplicity of a spoken word or the wave of a hand. The first wave of NUads, which launched last fall with interactive polling, saw a record level of consumer engagement with 37 percent of people responding. With this model, passive TV advertising is transformed into engaging and actionable experiences.

Pioneering the Future of TV

In addition to Xbox Entertainment Studios creating content that will highlight what's possible and demonstrate the capability of the Xbox platform, Microsoft will continue to partner with content creators, networks, aggregators and advertisers to "pioneer the future of TV," says Tellem.

During 2013, Microsoft is planning to launch more than 40 new voice-controlled, customized TV and entertainment apps on Xbox.

"We want to partner with the industry to bring entertainment into a new era," she says. "It's an era when interactive entertainment becomes the greatest form of all entertainment – and we couldn't be more excited to play a part in it."

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By: Unknown On 9:14 AM

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Dijit acquiring Miso, plans to give you even more to do while you watch TV

Having already declared war on the grid, TV remote / guide app maker Dijit is taking GoMiso under its wing. The company announced via its site that it's in the process of acquiring the social TV developer. The move will incorporate more discovery into Dijit's offerings. The company has announced intentions to keep the Miso and Sideshow apps around, as well as GoMiso founder, Somrat Niyogi, who is coming on as an advisor. Quips, on the other hand, is now on the chopping block -- at least it'll have some clever last words, no doubt.

Source: Dijit

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By: Unknown On 8:18 PM

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Verizon to offer new 3G-only prepaid plans beginning today

Verizon's got a new set of prepaid plans for smartphone users that are hoping to keep costs down. The monthly plans, which appear to be restricted to a small number of phones unable to access Big Red's LTE network, both offer unlimited talk and text; on the data side, the $60 plan grants you 500MB while $70 bumps that ceiling up to 2GB. Head below to the sources to get all the necessary info.

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Via: PhoneScoop

Source: Verizon Wireless (1), (2)

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By: Dilusha On 9:50 PM

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Neo Geo X still in production, Tommo plans to add 'more games, peripherals and software updates'

Despite reports claiming that Tommo Inc's portable re-launch of the Neo Geo had ceased production, that is apparently not the case. "There has been a recent rumor about the end of the production of the NEOGEO X System. This rumor is incorrect," Tommo told us in a statement. The reports apparently stem from ending production of the Limited Edition Neo Geo X Gold System, which Tommo says, "was always planned to be a limited edition product." Beyond just continued production of the standard model, Tommo adds that it'll be supporting the device with, "more games, peripherals, and software updates." The Limited Edition, however, will likely start to disappear by some point in April, when the company expects final stock to begin shipping. "Given the popularity of the NEOGEO X format, we don't expect this stock to last long," the company notes. Head past the break for the full statement.

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There has been a recent rumor about the end of the production of the NEOGEO X System. This rumor is incorrect. Tommo will be continuing to support the NEOGEO X format going forward with more games, peripherals and software updates, as well as more units of the console hardware. The NEOGEO X Gold System Limited Edition Collection Series that includes Ninja Masters, was always planned to be a limited edition product. We are currently manufacturing our final run of this Limited Edition Collection Series and our distributors worldwide expect to have the final stock in April. Given the popularity of the NEOGEO X format, we don't expect this stock to last long.

We are absolutely delighted with how the NEOGEO X has performed so far, and are incredibly grateful for the support of gamers and we are looking forward to continuing the development of this game platform.

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By: Dilusha On 10:09 AM

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Sprint to launch pay as you go service with four handsets, all you can eat plans from $70

Want a bit of Sprint, without signing on the dotted line? Okay, there are other ways of riding its waves without committing to a contract, but starting on the 25th of this month you'll be able to do it in the network's very own colors. The "Sprint as you go" service will launch with a somewhat limited selection of four handsets. LG's Optimus Elite, and the Samsung Victory make up the "higher" end of the offerings, costing $149 and $249 respectively. If you want to keep a little more coin in your pocket, there are two feature phones available too: Samsung's M400 ($50) and Array ($79) models. There are two associated plans, an all you can eat (talk, text and data) for smartphone option (no talk of LTE just yet) for $70 per month, and $50 per month for the feature phone plan. The finer details are yet to be ironed out, so we'll have to wait until the official reveal, but with that launch date not too far around the corner, it should all become clear soon enough.

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Source: Android Police

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By: Dilusha On 10:17 PM

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Google Glass features 'still in flux', no plans to display advertising on device

It's been a few months since we heard anything new about Google Glass -- fortunately, IEEE Spectrum has managed get a few questions answered by the project's lead, Babak Parviz. While noting that Google Now could be "very compelling" on the new hardware, he stopped short of saying that it would make an outing on the headset. There will, however, be a cloud-based API, which Parviz hopes will help to maintain a consistent user experience -- it's already been used to build both the email and calendar functions on Glass. Perhaps more importantly, when asked whether Google Glass would display advertising to its users, the project lead said that there were no plans for ads on the device. Google's keeping it vague with a precise feature list, but hardware-wise, Parviz says that the team is aiming for the headwear to last a full day on a single charge, with work still underway on head gestures -- still likely to be the least subtle input option alongside the (now patented) trackpad and voice commands. He added that the product is still on track to ship to those early 'explorers' early this year -- we're already polishing our glass block in anticipation.

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Via: PhoneArena

Source: Spectrum IEEE

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By: Dilusha On 10:34 PM

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New Toshiba camera sensor lets you refocus after the shot, plans 2013 launch in smartphones and tablets

Hoping for some after-the-fact focusing in your next smartphone camera? Well, you'll have to wait around a year, but Toshiba's planning exactly that with a new module that houses an array of 500,000 tiny lenses. Within a 1cm-thick unit, these lenses are layered in front of the camera sensor, which can capture slightly different images from each lens arrangement. Those picture can then be combined in a "complete" picture using Toshiba's own software. Apparently, the camera will also be able to measure the distance between objects in the shot -- similar to how 3D images are captured -- with the user then able to shift focus between close and distant detail, or even create images that are in-focus throughout. Toshiba says the module will also be able to capture video with a similar degree of focus management -- something that Lytro hasn't got around to just yet. The sensor is still a work in progress, but the manufacturer plans to commercialize the module before the end of 2013. Toshiba is looking to ally itself with multiple smartphone (and tablet) makers -- and here's hoping that it finds its way into a device outside of Japan.

[Thanks Franck]

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: Asahi Shinbun (Japanese), (English)

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By: Dilusha On 8:16 AM

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Facebook plans to deliver video ads to your news feed next year

Facebook’s quest to boost revenue marches forward as we are now hearing reports that the social network will introduce video advertisements by the second quarter of next year. These ads, much like the simple text and graphic ads that already appear on the site, will be integrated directly into a user’s news feed.

Advertising industry executives say the video ads will appear on both the desktop and mobile versions of the social network. They will begin playing automatically without a user having to click to play or even roll over them but it’s undecided at this hour if audio will also accompany the video playback automatically.

As Business Insider points out, the site already allows advertisers to show video clips but Facebook users must click the ad to activate playback. Furthermore, in most cases, a friend of a user would have first had to like the advertiser’s profile page or comment on a particular video for it to show up in a news feed.

The idea behind the new ad platform is to attract advertisers that have traditionally purchased television commercial spots. Jason Del Ray from AdAge believes the length of each video could be capped at 15 seconds, a format that is becoming more common with television commercials these days. Such a format could allow ad agencies to share ads between the web and broadcast TV.

It comes as no surprise that many are concerned with the idea of the video’s autoplay feature, especially if audio accompanies the video. Ads such as this are usually seen as little more than an annoyance and could pose a serious problem for those who surf the social network while at work (maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all). One also has to wonder how audio-embedded ads would function on a smartphone while music is playing or even during a call.

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By: Dilusha On 8:15 PM

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Foxconn plans camera gadgets with GoPro investment

Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn Electronics said it could integrate more camera features into its devices after making a US$200 million investment in a U.S. company that makes cameras for action sports enthusiasts.

Foxconn's investment, announced last week, buys the company a 8.88 percent stake in GoPro, a company that sells wearable cameras to take video and pictures of outdoor activities such as skydiving, surfing, and skiing.

Foxconn's major clients include Apple, Microsoft, Sony, and other electronics vendors, and the company is a producer of smartphones, tablets, TVs, and video game systems. The company foresees the consumer tech industry moving toward more products capable of "content creation," and expects GoPro can help Foxconn better tap into this market, said Foxconn spokesman Simon Hsing.

The investment will also pave the way for GoPro to expand U.S. sales by leveraging Foxconn's manufacturing capacity, he added.

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By: Dilusha On 7:54 PM

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Instagram says no plans to put user photos in ads

A photo illustration shows the applications Facebook and Instagram on the screen of an iPhone in Zagreb April 9, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Antonio Bronic

SAN FRANCISCO | Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:22pm EST

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service owned by Facebook Inc, said on Tuesday it has "no plans" to incorporate user photos into ads in response to a growing public outcry over new privacy policies unveiled this week.

Instagram Chief Executive Kevin Systrom said in a blog post that users had incorrectly interpreted Instagram's revised terms of service, released on Monday, to mean that user photos would be sold to others without compensation.

"This is not true and it is our mistake that this language is confusing," Systrom said. "To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos. We are working on updated language in the terms to make sure this is clear."

But Systrom said Instagram may display users' profile pictures and information about who they follow as part of an ad - a social marketing technique similar to what Facebook uses in its "sponsored stories" ad product.

He added that Instagram will not incorporate users' uploaded photos as ads because the service wants "to avoid things like advertising banners."

Instagram, which is free to use, triggered an uproar this week when it revised its terms of service in order to begin carrying advertising.

Facebook bought the fast-growing photo service - now with 100 million users - earlier this year in a cash-and-stock deal valued initially at $1 billion. The transaction closed in September at $715 million, reflecting a decline in the value of Facebook shares.

(Reporting By Gerry Shih; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

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By: Dilusha On 11:18 PM

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Weekend Open Forum: Share your plans for the long weekend

Thanksgiving officially marks the start of the holiday season in the U.S. and for many it’s a chance to visit family and stuff themselves with abundant food -- preferably Turkey and gravy.

Heck, even I find it a good excuse to have a nice dinner back home in Ecuador (not that I need an excuse when it comes to delicious food, of course).

I don’t get to enjoy a couple of days off work, though. But for those of you who are, tell us about your plans for the long weekend. Taking a short trip? Spending it inside playing your backlog of games? Eating Thanksgiving leftovers? Doing some holiday shopping? Let's hear it.

Image source: someecards.com

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By: Dilusha On 3:03 PM

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Verizon and Sprint detail LTE expansion plans

Sprint Adding 4G LTE to Nine Additional Cities in Coming Months

Power data users in several cities will soon enjoy a 4G LTE experience with the only truly unlimited 4G LTE plans from a national carrier

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), November 13, 2012 - Continuing its aggressive push to deliver an enhanced top-tier network experience for customers, Sprint (NYSE:S) announced today that its 4G LTE network build is progressing in nine additional cities within its nationwide 3G footprint.

Work has begun on the 4G LTE Network in the following additional areas:

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Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.

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Fort Smith, Ark.

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Ardmore, Okla.
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Oakland/Fremont/
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Michigan City/
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McAllen/Edinburg/
Hayward, Calif. La Porte, Ind. Mission, Texas
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Key West, Fla.
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Bloomington, Ind.
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Eau Claire, Wis.

"We're committed to providing improved 3G and 4G LTE as quickly as possible, and keeping our customers informed as to when and where they can experience the new network's superior performance and speed," said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. "Our customers depend on their mobile devices as their primary source of communication, business connectivity and entertainment. We're delivering all of that functionality at a very competitive price."

During the pre-launch phase, Sprint customers with capable devices may begin to see 4G LTE coverage in these areas and are welcome to use the network even before it officially launches. Sprint plans to announce commercial availability of 4G LTE in these cities in the coming months, followed by continued enhancements in coverage, performance and reliability. Ultimately, Sprint's 4G LTE coverage is expected to largely match the existing nationwide 3G footprint.

Sprint has announced more than 125 cities where Sprint 4G LTE is on its way, including Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; New York; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C. To find out more about which markets currently have Sprint 4G LTE and which markets are coming next, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and currently offers service in 32 cities1. As part of its overall network strategy, Sprint is also doing a complete overhaul of its 3G infrastructure so that customers can enjoy better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage, and fewer dropped/blocked calls. These enhancements are now available to customers in several markets across the country, with significant deployment in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., and will continue to improve in the weeks and months ahead. With these enhancements to Sprint's 3G network, the company's prepaid customers, on Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile, will also benefit and can expect to see better coverage, improved network reliability and voice quality resulting in up to 20 to 30 percent fewer dropped and blocked calls.

Unlimited + Sprint 4G LTE = Game-changing wireless offer for customers

In today's competitive wireless market, the value of unlimited has never been more apparent and Sprint is clearly a leading choice in wireless. Customers with capable devices can combine Sprint's all-new 3G and 4G LTE networks and enjoy unlimited data while on the Sprint network. Data usage continues to increase and consumers value Truly Unlimited data because it's simple and straightforward – while on the Sprint network there is no metering, no throttling, and no need to share data, which increases the likelihood of a surprise monthly bill because of overage charges.

Coupled with unbeatable plans and fast devices, Sprint has been working hard to deliver the best customer experience in the past few years. The 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries measured, over the last four years. And Sprint has been ranked Highest in Satisfaction with the Purchase Experience among Full-service Wireless Providers three times in a row by J.D. Power and Associates.

Sourse

By: Dilusha On 8:43 PM

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Rogers overhauls its cellphone plans to offer unlimited voice and text, hook Canadians on data (update: Bell and Telus too)

By Jon Fingas posted Nov 7th 2012 2:03PM
Most larger North American cellular carriers still base their plans around voice minutes -- how quaintly 2006 of them. We're in an era of smartphones now, and Canada's Rogers is revamping its plans to reflect a data-first reality while possibly wringing out a few dollars more. A quartet of newly active Unlimited Talk and Text rates hand out the now-trivial messaging and voice time like candy: apart from a $55 entry plan that includes a still-healthy 1,000 minutes of talk,

By: Dilusha On 10:53 AM

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