Events | Gear Diary

XCom Global Is an Unlimited Access International Wireless Solution

Before attending Mobile World Congress last month, I was a bit concerned that online access would be an issue. Not only is it ridiculously expensive to roam on 3G internationally, but WiFi service typically either carries a steep service charge, or it’s impossible to get decent speeds when the service is free — assuming you can even get on and stay on without being booted off. This year I had the opportunity to try a MiFi from XCom Global, or rather two of them. Since we had minor layovers in Portugal flying each way, XCom Global sent one MiFi that was marked Spain and one that was marked Portugal. XCom Global offers wireless broadband internet service to 195 countries, and it is…

Events, News & Features

Facebook Launches Timeline App Platform: Viddy launches Facebook App at SXSW!

Now that Facebook’s new Timeline feature has rolled out to the general public, companies are looking to find innovative ways to use it to provide services to users. Today at SXSW, Viddy in conjunction with Facebook’s launch of the Timeline App Platform is bringing their popular video app to Facebook. With Viddy for Facebook, users can share video content directly to Facebook, and Viddy videos can now appear on a person’s timeline, News Feed and ticker. As noted in the press release: “Watching videos with friends is inherently social,” said Justin Osofsky, Director of Platform Partnerships at Facebook. Viddy is…

Events, Travel

Judie’s Mobile World Congress 2012 WrapUp via Vonage Mobile

Judie is on her way back From Barcelona where she attended Mobile World Congress. We had a chance to use the Vonage Mobile app (read the Sponsored Post/Review here) to catch up a bit and talk about the hits and misses of MWC 2012. Here’s the call with some of the pictures she took while she was there along with her wrap up video. What we saw… What we brought…

Events, News & Features

Intel Gives Developers the Tools to Make Speedy Android Apps

Raw power is irrelevant if the apps running on the device don’t use it efficiently. Intel knows that and is making sure app developers have the tool to not only create great apps but to create great apps that are also highly efficient.

Events, News & Features

Nokia’s New Offerings “They Are THAT Good”

I spent some time with Nokia’s North American Director of Communications this afternoon, checking out their latest phones.

Events, News & Features

Intel and Visa Look to Make Cash a Thing of the Past

Intel is talking NFC here in Barcelona, and it looks more and more like 2012 will see the breakout of mobile pay via smartphones. In fact, Visa also took to the stage with Intel’s Paul Otellini to discuss a multi-year alliance that will result in Visa PayWave contact-less payment system being part of a variety of Intel powered phones. We’ve discussed whether or not we would want our smartphones to serve as our wallets on the site, but it is looking more and more like this is inevitable. And, thanks to Intel’s work with Visa it looks like it will…

Events, News & Features

Intel Goes Mobile at MWC in Barcelona

While the focus has been on Intel’s partnership with various companies on the creation of the new Ultrabook category of laptops here at MWC they are talking about a very different kind of partnership. This time, they are talking about new partnerships that will grow their presence in the exploding worldwide smartphone market. Just one example of this is the Intel/Orange partnership that will see the release of an Intel phone in France and the UK this summer. ZTE will use processors in their smartphones and, India’s Lava will release the XOLO X900 in partnership with Intel as well. Let’s…

Events, Gear Bits

Get Your iBling On With this Gold-Plated iPad

The 64GB 3G iPad runs $830 new. That’s certainly not inexpensive but, at least in my humble opinion, it is worth every penny. But what if you didn’t want your iPad to look like every other iPad and you had money to burn? Judie found the answer in the airport yesterday as she arrived in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress.

Events, News & Features

Pictures and Video from the Sony Press Conference on the Xperia Line of Smartphones

Sony had three phones in their Xperia line to show off yesterday. We posted on them at the time and you can get details here. Today we’ve got loads more pictures AND a video from the Sony Press Conference. Let’s start with the Press Conferences video and then you can check out all the pictures in the gallery. Check out the entire gallery of pictures from the Sony Press Conference.

Events

Nokia Makes a Number of Big Announcements at MWC

Nokia had a number of announcements from their huge MWC press conference. Here are a few of the highlights with links to the Nokia site covering each of the items: Nokia advances on its new strategic direction, rolls out range of new mobile devices and services Nokia has extended the range of products with Windows Phone by introducing the Nokia Lumia 610, the most affordable Lumia yet, as well as targeting availability of the widely acclaimed Lumia 900 to additional markets beyond the U.S. Nokia also today ushered in a new era in high-end smartphone imaging. The Nokia 808 PureView…

Events

The Asus Transformer Prime and PadFone Offer a New Definition of “Convergence”

Judie is at the ASUS Press Conference in Barcelona. Right now she is listening to the CEO of ASUS. The big news here? The Asus Transformer Pad Prime and the PadFone.

Events, News & Features

T-Mobile to be Premier Launch Partner in the U.S. for the HTC One S

We have a bit more news on HTC’s new HTC One line coming out of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It seems T-Mobile will be the premier launch partner in the U.S. for the HTC One S. The HTC One S will be T-Mobile’s next smartphone to take advantage of the company’s speedy 4G (HSPA+42) network. Measuring just 7.95 mm thick, the phone has a unibody aluminum design and will be T-Mobile’s first device to ship with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Here’s a quick rundown on some of the features that make this device stand out.

Events, News & Features, Travel

The World’s First Ice Cream Sandwich Dual-SIM Smartphone Announced at MWC

UPDATED with Judie’s pictures from MWC ViewSonic not only announced some great new tablets at MWC but they are also announcing a host of new smartphones. Among them is the first Ice Cream Sandwich Dual-SIM Smartphone. Why dual-SIM? Dual-SIM phones are expected to see an 80% growth rate in the next two years and, according to market research group Strategy Analytics, 206 million dual-SIM handsets will be sold worldwide in 2014. That compares to compared with 41 million in 2010. As the ViewSonic Press Release notes, Dual-SIM phones are expected to grow as users prefer to carry one handset for…

Events, News & Features

Next Generation 7” and 10” ViewPads from ViewSonic Announced

UPDATED with pictures from MWC ViewSonic just announced new 7″ and 10″ ViewPad tablets during Mobile World Congress. The ViewSonic tablets are “designed to fit into today’s mobile lifestyle. They are the perfect options for consumers to surf the web and interact with friends or for the mobile worker to enhance productivity whilst on the go.”

Events

Create.Work.Inspire., a Creative Destination Brought to You by Dell and Intel

Dan and I are at Dell and Intel’s third “Create.Work.Inspire” event! This time the XPS 13 Ultrabook™ is a key player in the creation of a music video! Find more info here. If you’re in the NYC area, come by and see Dan and me as we live blog and watch the event unfold. UPDATED February, 26, 2012: A Conversation with Mindy Seegal Abovitz, creator and editor of Tom Tom Magazine. UPDATED with Behind the Scenes at the Creation of the Suzan’s Ha Ha Ha Video Using the Dell XPS 13 CHECK OUT THE END OF THE POST.

Events

Dell and Intel Use the XPS 13 Ultrabook to Create. Work. Inspire., and We’ll Be There!

This Thursday Dell and Intel head back to NYC for their third “Create.Work.Inspire” event; Dan and I will be there! This time the XPS 13 Ultrabook™ will be a key player in the creation of a music video. Find more info here. If you’ll be in the NYC area, come by and see Dan and me as we live blog and watch the event unfold. The Create. Work. Inspire event will be going on February 23rd-24th from 9AM to 9PM, followed by an RSVP event on February 25th from 1PM to 9PM. Want to go? You can! Or you…

Events, Vehicles & Gear

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFA

This is not the car I was driving when I won my title 😉 How did you spend your Saturday? I spent it behind the wheel of a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F, ultimately winning the title of “Fastest Woman in Vegas” while driving on a closed course at Las Vegas Speedway. The GS350 really impressed me because it was the best of both words — fast and sleek like a sports car, but large enough for a family and totally decked out.

Events, Vehicles & Gear

Off to Vegas for the Lexus GS Superbowl Event

Kev and I are headed to Las Vegas to spend a day at the Motor Speedway and watch the superbowl, where Lexus will run their first-ever Super Bowl commercial for the 2013 Lexus GS, called “The Beast”. The :30 second commercial features the all-new 2013 GS as it breaks free from containment, illustrating the company’s move in a new design direction for the brand. The spot also hints at the additional new vehicles Lexus will unveil later in the year, which are waiting in the wings for their turn to burst onto the scene. “The all-new Lexus GS is showcased…

Events

ioSafe Shocks Us Again at CES 2012

ioSafe is known for keeping your data SAFE. How safe? Well, first we took the initiative to burn and water-soak a drive, and the data was still recoverable. Then, starting with CES 2010, ioSafe decided to show everyone that their drives are capable of withstanding burning, soaking, dropping, and crushing. In 2011, we upped the ante again and took shots (yes, using a gun) at an ioSafe drive, and the data saved on the ioSafe drive came out unscathed. Well, we wondered what they would do next and, at CES 2012, we found out. Honestly, what we saw shocked us…

Events, Music Diary, News & Features

Mark of the Unicorn Introduces the MicroBook II Audio Interface

Mark of the Unicorn had one huge announcement that I already covered, the note that the upcoming Digital Performer 8 would support Windows 7 as well as Mac OS X. But now we learn that MOTU is also introducing a new version of the well-received MicroBook audio interface. MicroBook was released in 2010 and was straightforward in design – 1/4″ inputs and outputs giving you a 4-in/2-out audio interface for your computer that delivered excellent sound quality and performance. So hwo did MOTU up their game for the new version? It is now a 4-in/6-out, giving you mich more recording…

Events, News & Features

Make Your iPhone 4S Case mykase with Bodyguardz New Case Offering

Bodyguardz has come up with a great way to change-up and/or customize your iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S case in seconds. The mykase line offers a base case in black or white as well as interchangeable back plates that can reflect your mood or dress. They’ll even be rolling out an easy-to-use engine for making your own customized back plate. It is pretty ingenious and definitely worth a look. So here’s what Bodyguardz has to say about it. Three piece case with interchangeable sides, bottom and back. Base available in gloss white and matte black. Multiple colors and designs available…