Gadget and Techno Updates
Techno Updates
Verizon confirms scrapping one-year contracts on April 17
Apr 9th
Verizon validated concerns that it was dropping one-year contracts as options with an official statement. It planned to drop the choice as of April 17, leaving just the two-year contract or a month-to-month option. The company argued that the “greater majority” of subscribers go for the full two years to get the complete subsidy.
The decision reflects common buying habits but also reduces the choices for some users. Until now, those who didn’t need or want to be on a longer-term contract could still get a discount and avoid the early cancellation fees. While this wouldn’t have been as much More >
AT&T phasing out Video Share in wake of smartphones
Apr 9th
AT&T in a statement said its long-running Video Share service would be shut down later in 2011. The one-way video calling was bowing out to make room for the “next generation” of mobile video services. A spokesman alluded to a possible replacement as the company was “evaluating new platforms” that it could use.
Many of those paying for Video Share would be reached directly and given new options.
Video Share rolled out in earnest in July 2007 and was intended for a short-lived category of basic feature phones that had 3G and a camera capable of live video streaming. The service More >
Google buys PushLife for multi-platform media sync
Apr 9th
Google on Friday quietly bought out PushLife in what could be major help to its Google Music initiative. The deal, estimated to be worth $ 25 million, gets a company whose self-titled service let non-iOS smartphones get access to iTunes collections and other to streamline getting to Windows Media Player. Users can not just play but manage the collection remotely, making playlists or buying new music, PushLife mentioend.
The Toronto-based acquisition target only provided a small amount of detail on plans but said it would work with Google’s Canadian offices to build “better mobile applications for all users.” PushLife in More >
Maine school district buys iPad 2s for every kindergartner
Apr 9th
Young students in Auburn, Maine will be using cutting edge technology right from the start of their school experience: the district has bought 285 iPad 2s to use for each kindergartner and teacher in the classrooms. The program will begin as a pilot project in May with a full rollout at the beginning of the next school year in the fall.
The committee that governs schools in the district voted to spend about $ 200,000 on the iPads, which also covers insurance, educational software aimed at the appropriate age level, training and other program costs. The program will eventually serve More >
Kno confirms taking $30m from Intel, going multi-platform
Apr 8th
Kno removed doubts on Friday and confirmed it was taking an investment from Intel that would effectively see it get out of direct competition in tablets. A $ 30 million investment from venture capital groups, $ 20 million of would come directly from Intel Capital, will see the two work on getting Kno’s educational software on to Intel’s educational hardware platforms, like the ClassMate line. Intel gets control of licensing for Kno’s tablet design and will let other companies build slates based on the 14-inch single- or dual-screen hardware.
Although not said, it’s doubtful Intel will be offering licenses of More >