THE SECRET TO BEATING THE SYSTEM WITH PRINTER INK REPLACEMENTS

Let’s face it… replacing the ink cartridges in your printer really sucks. You pay $99 for a printer, and then you spend $300 over the course of the year replacing the ink. It goes against logical reasoning. How could the liquid that goes IN the printer out-cost the big hunk of plastic, metal, and circuitry that uses it?

Well first of all, that multi function printer you bought is a “loss leader“. What that means is, the company who makes the printer is willing to sell it at a loss because they that they’re gonna make a pile of money selling you printer ink in the future. The profit from the ink is tremendous. They could cut the price in half and still profit generously.

But in defense of the manufacturers, printer ink is not easy to make. There are standards of quality that they have to abide by. It’s called the “ISO Standard“, or “International Standard of Organization”. Printer inks are governed by ISO 24711 & ISO 24712. You can read about it through the link if you are really motivated. Cheaper inks do not reproduce real-world colors, higher standard inks have much better quality prints.

But if you’re anything like me, you don’t need “ISO 24711″ ink to print out a to-do list or a drawing that your 2nd grade son has to print out for a school project. All I need is the printer to crank out something with pretty colors. I could care less if they fit the stupid “ISO Standards”. Because 95% of the stuff I print does not make a hill of beans difference in true color quality, I started searching for a workaround.

That’s when I stumbled on some really good deals on Amazon.com. I have an Epson Photo R280 printer, and the complete set of printer ink costs arond $67. Individual colors cost $15 to $20 each at Staples. It really hacks me off when the kids run out my printer ink and I’m left with nothing when I need to print a document or letter for business purposes. So I found some excellent alternatives.

My search yielded an obscure company on Amazon that sells the entire color cartridge replacement set for $6 measly dollars. Yes, I said six bucks. Not for each cartridge, either. I was happy once upon a time when I found $7 replacement cartridges for each color. So you can imagine how excited I was to find this company that had the entire set for the price of one color.

What really got me was the fact that these color cartridges are refillable, and all it takes is resetting the chip that indicates the cartridge is full. I had previously bought an ink refill kit that came with an electronic resetting device that cost me an additional $20. But these cartridges can be reset and refilled without such a device. But the crazy thing, this same company that sells recyclable cartridges does not sell bulk ink.

I hate to have to throw these cartridges away when they are empty, but I can live with that for the fact that they whole set is six bucks. As far as quality of color, it gets by. Sure, these inks aren’t going to allow me to do photo printing of pictures that will win any ribbons in the state fair picture contest. But I don’t care about that. All I care is that the pages print with colors that are recognizable.

So the next time you run out of ink with your loss-leader printer, don’t go shopping at Walmart or Staples for replacements. Spend some time and search on Amazon. You won’t be sorry. Hit the link below and start your search right now, and free yourself of all the wasted money on overpriced ink cartridges right now.

That’s your tip of the day. Let me know if you find something good, or if you know of another source of cheap printer cartridge replacements. Share it in the comments section below!

Carlton Flowers
Liberated Ink Cartridge Buyer

Start your search now on Amazon by clicking the link below:

INK CARTRIDGE REPLACEMENT ON AMAZON

Tweet This Post

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE SET TO LAUNCH IN FEBRUARY ON AT&T NETWORK

The Samsung Galaxy Note is back in the news! Samsung is set to launch the tremendously-sized tablet/smartphone hybrid on February 19th, 2012 via AT&T. If you have $300 to spare and a hankering for a Texas-sized display, your day is coming!

Bloggers and tech writers are calling devices of this type the “phablet“, which is a ridiculous yet catching-sounding nickname for this prototype. The Galaxy Note certainly isn’t the first phablet to hit the market, but may very well be the first successful device to enter the high tech mobile market.

In the past, we saw the Dell Streak 5 do a big fat belly flop when it entered the world of smartphones, and it fizzled just as fast as it entered. But Samsung’s Galaxy Note has taken a different approach to the phablet concept, and they’ve added a pile of features that we have not seen in the past.

The Galaxy Note will sport a whopping 5.3″ Super AMOLED 1280×800 display and it will be packing a 4G LTE radio. But there’s something unique that the Note will include that others have not. The Galaxy Note will attempt bringing back the stylus. We haven’t seen styluses since the days of the Palm Treo.

Unlike the stylus-packing “somewhat smart” phones of the past, the Note will have a capacitive screen just like the regular line of Galaxy S devices. You’ll be able to operate the phone with your fat little fingers, and you’ll also be able to make much more accurate delineations with the stylus, dubbed the “S Pen“.

The S Pen will take you to new levels of functionality. You can make hand written notes on web pages and documents, convert handwriting into standard text, and even take screen shots on the fly. This is something we have never seen in a smartphone, and what I believe to be the biggest missing feature of all the tablets on the market including the iPad.

The Galaxy Note is not packing the latest processing power, however, as it will only feature a dual core 1.0GHz cpu. Honestly, I don’t think this is going to cause any lagging or other serious issues with operation, but I sure would have liked to see the 1.5GHz Exynos processor in this device for what they are charging.

Nonetheless, it’s going to be a versatile gadget that will stand out in the crowded Android smartphone market. If I wasn’t on month number 3 of my current upgrade, and if I had $300 burning a hole in my pocket, I would probably be the first in line to buy the Note. It would be perfect for the engineer type that I am.

Is the Galaxy Note in your crosshairs? Do you think $300 is a fair price for a monstrous phablet? Sound off and let me know what you think!

Carlton Flowers
Phabulous Phablet Watcher

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

THE MOPHIE PULSE – FUTURISTIC GAMING IS HERE

For all the gaming and gadget wizards out there, you have yet to experience true gaming with your iPod Touch 4th Generation device until you’ve merged your iPod with a Mophie Pulse that features true advanced haptics and the latest in immersive technology.

The Sunnyvale, California company Artificial Muscle Inc., a Bayer MaterialScience company, has created an iPod Touch enhancement that will blow your socks off and vault your gaming experience right through the roof with the Mophie Pulse, a device that you dock your iPod Touch 4th Generation gaming station into.

The Mophie Pulse will instantly turn you on with stereo sound enhancements and amazing vibrational feedback like you’ve never experienced with its ViviTouch technology. You’ll never settle for the boring run-of-the-mill haptic feedback on your games after you get your hands on this device.

The enhanced “rumble feedback” will take you to the next level by providing solid haptic sensations that more accurately resemble a real world experience, unlike the “buzzy” regular vibration that you get with the iPod Touch on its own. Once you play a game with the Mophie Pulse and then compare the feedback after turning it off, you’ll feel like you’ve lost your sense of feeling.

When you set Mophie Pulse in action with games like Tetris, Fruit Ninja, Labyrinth Lite, Sudoku2, Scrabble, Cut the Rope, Monster Pinball, and Doodle Jump, you’ll never want to return to your old experience. For example, a ball rolling across the screen with varying vibrational feedback will give you the impression that the ball is really there maneuvering on your display.

Mophie Pulse promises to deliver “bone-shaking” vibrations and “pulse pounding” stereo sound that transfers what’s happening in your games into what would be considered an “immersive” experience. They’ve hit the mark and delivered in this promise.

Honestly, I’m surprised that this type of haptic technology has not shown up in more devices by now. I’ve never been impressed with the vibrational response in gaming devices like the XBOX 360 or Sony Playstation 3 because the haptics are either “on or off”, and without variation in intensity. By simply varying the amount of vibration in sync with the gaming action, you get a much more realistic effect with the Mophie Pulse.

The Mophie also provides other useful enhancements to an iPod Touch 4th Generation device, like a built in 800mAH Lithium Polymer battery to extend the life of your iPod’s battery, plus enhanced stereo speakers that take sound quality to the extreme. Plus, the Mophie Pulse is a very durable unit with a rubberized soft touch grip that provides extra protection for your investment.

I’ll be shooting some videos in the near future to show a live action demonstration of the Mophie Pulse, so keep your eyes peeled and come back soon!

Carlton Flowers
Gaming Gadget Geek

CHECK OUT THE MOPHIE PULSE AT THE APPLE STORE!

Click the link to the picture to purchase your very own Mophie Pulse right now from the Apple store for only $79! You won’t be disappointed!

Tweet This Post

IS SAMSUNG PLANNING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE IPHONE 5 CURVE WITH THE GALAXY S3?

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged about Samsung Galaxy S3 rumors. I’ve heard a few tidbits of rumors, and they are worth discussing. But one thing is certain, I’m sure that Samsung will have the iPhone 5 in mind and staying ahead of the curve when they release their new flagship handset upgrade.

Size-wise, I think we can bet on the same 4.3″ to 4.5″ Super AMOLED Plus display, in lovely 720P HD format, much like the Galaxy Nexus is currently sporting. The trend in bigger displays may be settling around this nominal size, so we probably won’t see anything out of the ordinary in that category.

We have talked about the possible release of a Samsung Galaxy 3D HD in the fall of 2012, and I do think that Samsung will keep the Galaxy S3 within the normal and acceptable 2D format. We could possibly see dual cameras, but I don’t think the public has a high opinion of 3D smartphones at this time.

The LG Optimus 3D and HTC Evo 3D are currently on the market, but they are not making a resounding splash. I’ve tested out the HTC Evo 3D, and it’s a really cool phone. But my eyes did not appreciate the 3D viewing. While the pictures I took with the HTC Evo 3D were amazing and spectacular, it brought pain to my eyes.

I don’t know how they do it, but these devices force your eyes into a false focal point to pull off the 3D effect, and it is quite realistic. But for day-to-day use, I don’t think people would be willing to put up with the eye strain and headache.

There are lots of rumors swirling around flexible smartphone displays, and we do know that the future will bring this to fruition. Some say that the Galaxy S3 could sport a flexible display. If anything, it might only be flexible to the point that it avoids cracking upon dropping, but that’s about it. I give this rumor a slight chance of coming true, but I don’t put much stock into it.

For staying ahead of Apple and the current line of iPhones, a flexible display could be a real marketable advantage thanks to the fragility of the iPhone and its propensity to crack on the slightest drop. Maybe a slightly flexible display would be a logical step on the road to completely flexible or even “rollable” displays, but I think we’re a couple of years away from that. The current Samsung Galaxy S2 is durable enough that a flexible display is not a real need at this point, but watch for continued developments.

Of course we’ll see the Samsung Galaxy S3 shipped with the latest Android operating system, “Ice Cream Sandwich”, and to add to the functionality, look for an upgraded version of the TouchWiz interface to separate Samsung from competing Android devices with some slick new features.

Getting into the inside of this upcoming monster, look for a new Exynos CPU with 1.8GHz of speed in either a dual core or quad core design. Quad core phones are going to be popping up soon, but we still have not maximized the capability of current dual core phones. There’s still a lot of operating power left in the dual core CPUs that are on the market.

There will definitely be an upgrade in RAM, at least to 2Gb. This will add to the ability of the Galaxy S3 to multitask and run heavy duty applications with ease, and cut down on crashing. I don’t think we will see Samsung compromise on this, especially since it would be the next logical upgrade to the iPhone 5 that is far away on the horizon.

One obvious upgrade will be the battery life. The more we use our smartphones as “mini pocket computers”, battery drain will be an issue. The current Samsung Galaxy S2 is at a disadvantage with battery life as compared to the iPhone 4S, but that is due to the superior larger display. Samsung will likely add more battery power, with a goal to give you enough juice to lay heavy use on the phone all day long before needing a charge.

People are predicting an announcement on the Samsung Galaxy S3 at the upcoming Mobile World Congress at the end of February in Barcelona, Spain. The fact that Samsung held back on their upcoming smartphone plans at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) this year proves that something should be in the works as far as an announcement at MWC.

I predict a February announcement with a possible European March release, and a 2nd Quarter release of the Galaxy S3 in the US. This would give Samsung a clear advantage against Apple and the iPhone 5. Sales of Android devices already double that of Apple devices, and this will only strengthen the market share and help Samsung to stay on top of the pile.

The craziest prediction I have seen for the Samsung Galaxy S3 thus far is the possible release of a PINK smartphone. Until now, we’ve only been given the option of black and white. But with the growing trend of smartphone use by women in the US, a pink Galaxy S3 would be a master stroke. I give this rumor credence for that reason alone.

Lastly, it goes without saying that the Galaxy S3 will be sporting an LTE radio. We already have an LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy S2 in the “Skyrocket“, so this would be a logical standard upgrade. AT&T is working fervently to expand their LTE network, and we all know that Verizon is ahead of everyone in their quest to provide a nationwide 4G LTE network. Whether or not Verizon picks up the Galaxy S3 is yet to be known, since they are promoting the Galaxy Nexus as their flagship Samsung Android device.

I’ll be patiently waiting for the Galaxy S3 to come to the market. I have no problem with my current Galaxy S2, because we have yet to maximize the download speed of this device in the Mid-Missouri area. Current enhanced 3G speeds (HSPA+) are topping out at a whopping 6Mbps and are only getting better, so I won’t be jealous if we see the Galaxy S3 hit the shores before my upgrade is available in November of 2012.

The timing of the release of the Galaxy S3 might seem to be a bit premature, considering that it will give Apple time to make enhancements to the iPhone 5 that is due in the summer or fall of 2012. But as things go with the juggernaut Cupertino tech giant, I’m thinking that the features of the iPhone 5 are already locked in. By the time it is released, Samsung will already be a step ahead in marketing the next logical edition of the ever-so-popular Galaxy line.

This should give us enough to chew on until we see more facts if they are released at Mobile World Congress. Does this excite you as much as it does for me? Are you planning on holding out for a Galaxy S3, or are your eyes on the coming HTC quadcore handsets? Hit me up in the comments and let me know!

Carlton Flowers
Geek Watcher Supreme

Tweet This Post

APPLE ON LAWSUIT RAMPAGE AGAIN, BUT WILL IT HELP THEIR CAUSE?

In recent news, Apple has decided to sue Samsung in Germany again (yawn) over the “slide-to-unlock” feature of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, because it infringes on an intellectual property right called a “utility model”. The Boy Genius Report blog originally reported this story.

As stated on the BGR website, Apple apparently registered this “feature” in 2006. You can read the details in the link above. The German court could make a ruling on March 16th, 2012.

This is just another episode in a string of patent wars raging back and forth between Apple and Samsung. Whether or not it is valid, I don’t know. However, nobody seems to be talking about the practicality of this at all.

Samsung may very well have infringed upon this “idea”, and Apple has a right to fight this in court. But does it really make a difference in the overall scheme of things? I think not. Let me explain…

I think that Apple’s main beef is that their sales have possibly been adversely affected by the similarities between their iOS operating system and the Android operating system. It is a known fact that several programmers, design engineers, and people in leadership positions with the Apple corporation have defected over the years, taking their knowledge to the chief competitor. It’s probably due to the inflexibility of the company’s business practices.

Suing over infringement is the natural reaction on the part of Apple, but I don’t think it makes a real difference. Apple has sued over everything down to the rectangular shape of their iPad down to the basic functionality of their operating system. But the problem is, a large percentage of the population simply doesn’t want to own their devices.

I owned an iPhone for 2 years and ended my frustration in October of 2011 when I bought my current Samsung Galaxy S2. Apple may sue their competitors over many issues, but the fact is, none of their efforts will bring me back to owning their devices. For a string of reasons that I have made hideously obvious over the past couple of years, I simply don’t want to own an iPhone.

At the current time, there are twice as many Android devices being sold as compared to iOS devices. That percentage may continue to grow in the coming years. In my opinion, the reason just happens to be that Android developers have won the battle of innovation over Apple. Rather than continuing to stay on the bleeding edge of breakthrough, Apple has shifted its focus to controlling their market share by forcing out their competitors.

Instead of suing over the “slide-to-unlock” feature on the European version of the Galaxy Nexus, why not elevate the game and move on to developing the next great feature? Fussing over such a trivial intellectual idea won’t bring back customers like myself who have decided to defect. It will only cause people like me to view Apple as the “Evil Empire” that prevents us from getting the features that we want.

I think Apple should “steal back” some of the features of the Android operating system that are not offered on iDevices, and then raise the bar. Move on to something better, place the focus on continuing development, and bring back customers like myself with the next greatest idea.

Apple still has the capability to compete and vault themselves ahead of the competition, no matter how many of their own team members have defected. But staying on this current track of fighting the legal battles will not bring the desired result, no matter what level of success they have in the courts.

If they do happen to have a degree of success suing away their competitors, as the late Steve Jobs vowed he would do at all costs, they will leave nothing but a sour apple taste in the mouths of their target market. It leads me to believe that we have seen the peak of the era of Apple’s dominance in the smartphone arena.

Unless Apple decides to diversify their smartphone offerings by providing jumbo-screen devices chock-full of all the latest features that Android device manufacturers are offering, I see the shift in demand towards their competitors continuing on the current trend. It’s unstoppable and unavoidable.

Maybe they will throw us a wicked curve ball and release an iPhone 5 that completely breaks the mold of smartphones. But in all actuality, I don’t see that happening. I think the iPhone 5 that has already been developed will lag behind the competition even further than the iPhone 4S by the time it is released this summer or fall.

Those that are loyal to Apple products will continue to stick with the home team, and it will profit the company well and keep them viable for the long-term. But their market share will continue to shrink as Android and Windows Phone devices continue pushing the limits of the imagination.

I’d sure love to hear some of the iPhone experts “slide-to-unlock” this seemingly senseless saga for me, because I just don’t understand the reasoning behind their market strategy. What are your thoughts, Apple fans? Will Apple surprise me and win back my former loyalty? Sound off in the comments section please!

Carlton Flowers
Android Fanboy

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

ROLL CALL FOR SPEED TEST RESULTS!

Ok gang, today I was pleasantly surprised when I ran a Speedtest.net check on my Samsung Galaxy S2 and I was very surprised to see the test results on the screen shot to the right. 4.52Mbps just happens to be the fastest download speed I have experienced to date.

I was prompted to test my speed after getting a text message from a very excited Tim Largent who was more than elated to report a download speed of 7.2Mbps on his iPhone 4S while visiting the Lake Of The Ozarks area, specifically in Osage Beach.

According to AT&T’s high speed coverage map, we now have HSPA+ towers in the Osage Beach area. I was unable to verify any increase in speed 2 months ago when traveling through the area. But it sure looks like the network has been upgraded since.

Network improvements must be taking place in Jefferson City, the capital city of Missouri. Not only did I verify the fastest download speed for my smartphone, but I also got an equally record-breaking speed when testing my wife’s Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket which returned a 5.2Mbps download. That’s pretty incredible!

We don’t have any AT&T LTE 4G towers in Mid Missouri at this point, but the ramped up download capabilities of our enhanced 3G network are certainly welcomed. This is fast enough to keep me thoroughly entertained and satisfied until we receive our own LTE coverage.

Until recently, the fastest speeds I have recorded on my Galaxy S2 have been in the 2.0 to 2.8Mpbs range. On Tim’s iPhone 4S, we have only clocked a lowly 1.5Mbps download speed. Upload speeds have not improved much at all, but something is definitely in the works.

Our coverage map still does not show that we have HSPA+ service in Jefferson City, so I’m not sure what the cause for the increase in the download speeds could be possibly attributed to. But this means that we should see a significant jump once the transition to “Fake 4G” has been completed.

We’ve had a few comments posted from some of our trusty CZ Blog regulars around the country, but I’d like to have a full roll-call of current download speeds to see what people are experiencing. Post your speed test results in the comments section along with your smartphone device, the coverage type that you have in your area, and anything else you’d like to report.

Let the testing begin!

Carlton Flowers
Feeling the Need 4 Speed

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

THE SPECTRUM SQUEEZE & THE MOBILE DATA CRUNCH THAT  WILL BRING RAPID CHANGE

CNNMoney.com is telling us that smartphone companies and carriers are desperate for network capacity and they are hard-pressed to find it. I recently blogged about AT&T plopping down $1.9 Billion for the 700MHz spectrum owned by Qualcomm (read about it here), so this is without a doubt a very serious problem.

To make matters worse the FCC is projecting a huge increase in data traffic, on the order of 612% per cell site this year and 925% in 2013. This will certainly put the squeeze on the telecoms like never before. I’m not so sure that anyone even has a real solution to this problem as of yet.

Reuters is now reporting that the iPhone 4S consumers are using twice as much data as its predecessor the iphone 4, and three times more than iPhone 3G/3GS users. Some say that Siri is to blame for the spike, but nobody can really nail down the true reason.

Apple just upped their 2012 iPhone sales estimates by 20%. Add that to the pile and this situation gets messier. Plus they are predicting the sale of 125 million iPhones this year. Can you say data traffic jam?

One thing is for sure… this will put network engineers to the test as they scramble for solutions. With problems like this, technology will have to make a quantum leap. It has happened time and time again throughout the course of history. We saw a quantum leap when we went from cramming data through the audible frequency range to DSL not too many years ago, and I predict that the next leap will be equally as significant.

Sure, we have a brand new LTE (Long Term Evolution) network rapidly growing throughout the country as we speak. It promises super fast data transfer speeds of up to 10 times that of the existing 3G network, but it won’t solve the problem of crowding. The challenge we face is that the faster network speeds get, the demand for service grows almost exponentially.

What will the next development be with high speed data transfer? Will it run through the existing network, or will we have to turn to an entirely different hardware system? Will we end up with new cell phone towers littering the countryside in the same way that telephone poles and power lines exploded during the industrial revolution? I don’t think so…

I truly believe that we will see some crazy new way to ram data through the existing network in much of the same way we have seen before. If we don’t, the demand for data downloads will out pace our ability to expand the telecommunications infrastructure. Someone is going to come up with a new idea that hits us by surprise.

When that happens, I truly believe that measuring data download speeds will become something of ancient times. People will look back and remember the days that everyone focused on how fast the latency speed and data transfer speeds are as a measurement of service quality. Data transfer speeds will be so fast that we will think nothing of instant transfers.

By that time, we might be laughing at how the cellular service providers bragged and boasted about 21Mbps transfer rates. People will come to think that instant data transfer of any size is supposed to be, well, “instant”. Nobody will know any different. All of this will probably have to happen within the next 2 to 3 years.

It’s an exciting time in the history of technological advancement. Things change so fast, we can’t even conceive of how much we have improved over time. It’s mind boggling just to consider where we have come since the days of the first affordable cell phone services. If we continue at the current pace, the sky will truly be the limit to what we can accomplish.

What are your thoughts and predictions of the next paradigm shift in data and communications services? What type of devices will we be carrying in our pockets. Or, will we even have rectangular shaped gadgets that we carry with us to access the internet? I’d love to hear your thoughts, my fellow geeks!

Carlton Flowers
Technology Nostradamus

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

IPHONE 5 ANTICIPATION GROWS – WHAT WILL WE SEE?

As winter drags along, iPhone 5 rumors are running stagnant. While we sit and wait for the next batch of credible rumors, there are a few things that I would like to see with the next overhauled design.

The concept picture shown on the right is something that I snipped from a designer by the name of Antonio De Rosa from ADR Studio in Italy. The sanctioned Apple version will not likely end up being exactly like this, but I think it will be close.

One thing that I would like to see is a return to a smoother “rounder” form factor. The current iPhone 4/4S is a little bit “edgy” for me. It just doesn’t fit well in my hand like my former beloved iPhone 3GS. But while I want to see them go with a more comfortable design, I still like the way that the iPhone 4/4S sits flat on a table surface.

My only complaint with the 3GS form factor was the curved bottom. I use my smartphone extensively for tapping out emails, and the 3GS would wobble on the table when touching virtual keys near the edges. The flatness of my former iPhone 4 was a great improvement in that regard.

If the designers could round off the edges again and bury the external antenna while providing the same flat bottom, I think it would be the perfect combination of the two form factors. That will probably become a reality, because the iPhone 5 will most definitely be thinner, as the trend of current smartphones is headed that way.

It goes without saying that Apple designers will stretch the display as close to the edges as humanly possible, all but eliminating the bezel. I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that the display size will be at least 4″ in diameter due to this alone. I don’t see Apple going for the “jumbo size” smartphone trend, so shrinking the bezel and front face will be necessary to free up room for a bigger screen.

I previously thought that we would see the next big jump in internal memory. But there’s really no reason to go beyond the current 32Gb/64Gb storage considering the move to iCloud. Why spend the extra bucks on internal storage when you can move everything to the cloud? To keep the cost of the device at the same level and to maximize profits, they could roll with the current scheme and do just fine.

I would love to see a quad core processor on the next model, and a bump up in RAM, however. Samsung and HTC are already rumored to have some quad core models coming to us in the first or second quarter of 2012, so this will probably be the standard by the time the iPhone 5 rolls out in late summer or early fall. This will give the iPhone 5 the quantum leap in processing performance that we would expect to see.

The jump from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S is not a noticeable improvement in my opinion. Sure, the extra horsepower they added helps to run Siri, the virtual assistant, but as far as download speeds, it’s not a factor. Running side-by-side tests with my iPhone 4 against an AT&T iPhone 4S and a Sprint iPhone 4S yielded some fairly interesting results. My AT&T iPhone 4 edged out the 4S version, but the Sprint 4S barely beat the AT&T versions. But I expect a huge difference with the iPhone 5.

By the time the iPhone 5 rolls out, I’m of the opinion that LTE 4G capability will be a must. With Verizon planning on dumping their 3G network infrastructure by the end of 2013, Apple will have to provide an LTE version or they may take their business elsewhere. AT&T should be a lot farther along with implementing their LTE 4G network by fall of 2012, so it would be perfect timing. Sprint may even make the switch from WiMax to LTE for this reason alone as iPhone sales have been strong.

I would really like to see a major overhaul of iOS. Being a big fan of the Android operating environment, I think iOS6 (if that’s what it will be called) should provide more flexibility with customization and a fresh new interface. The addition of folders for icons was a nice change, but it’s still not the way that I would organize the hundreds of apps that I keep on a smartphone.

The biggest thing that I would like to see Apple do is provide more than one version of the iPhone 5. Instead of “one-size-fits-all” with different levels of internal memory, why not hit the tablet-smartphone hybrid niche and bring a 5.3″ version similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note? I could possibly be swayed into revisiting the Apple orchard if this became a reality.

As you can tell, I must be bored out of my mind if I’m dreaming up things like this. But there’s nothing better to do while we wait. A gadget nerd can only dream. Right? Just thinking out loud…

Carlton Flowers
Gadget Man

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

GREAT MARKETING & THE DISTURBING PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE “4G-CLUELESS”

Today I had an interesting conversation with my partner-in-crime Tim Largent. Not quite satisfied with the download speeds of his new iPhone 4S, he posed the question of whether or not the 4S is an HSPA+ compatible device.

This sparked a long discussion that raised some interesting facts about people’s general understanding of 3G/4G/LTE, and I have come to realize a few things…

I think an embarrassingly large percentage of people really have no clue as to what the heck “4G” service really is, and the reason behind this is the misleading marketing schemes that the big 4 telecoms put in people’s heads. I think the majority of smartphone owners are being bamboozled. Why?

First of all, I think 3/4ths of people that own “4G” smartphones don’t have any idea that they aren’t getting 4G service at all.

Case in point, the slick-talking reps at the local T-Mobile store had my wife bouncing off the walls with excitement when they sold her an HTC MyTouch 4G smartphone last winter. Sadly, she came to realize that her beloved carrier doesn’t even have 3G service in Central Missouri. We only have crappy dinosaur-speed EDGE coverage. As a side note, I dumped my wife’s T-Mobile service and purchased a Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket LTE smartphone for her in its place. At least she can operate her smartphone at 3G speeds now.

There are a lot of people buying “4G” smartphones from fast-talking sales reps who fail to mention that 4G service is nowhere near available, because the network has not been expanded to most areas as of yet. Sure, there are some lucky metropolitan areas that have an actual LTE 4G network up and running, but the majority of the rest of the country does not. Yet and still, the carriers advertise it like it’s everywhere. I think it is borderline consumer fraud to say the least.

What makes it even more complicated is the fact that AT&T and T-Mobile are calling their HSPA+ service “4G“, which is the same label given to LTE service. They claim it’s all about the speed capabilities, not the hardware, that makes the service “4G”. But again, phones are being promoted by sales agents without making it clear that most areas don’t even have HSPA+ available.

9 out of 10 times that I ask people if they know the difference between HSPA+ “4g” and LTE “4G”, people don’t even have a sliver of a clue. The carriers march right on, bragging about super fast download speeds, but they don’t put much focus on making this clear. As I’ve said before, I’d be happy just to have HSPA+ “Fake 4G” service in Jefferson City, let alone LTE 4G.

Something else that I really find disturbing is the situation with Verizon Wireless. They are selling iPhone 4S devices in record numbers. From my research, the AT&T version is supposedly capable of running HSDPA/HSUPA speeds of up to 14.4Mbps, not the full 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds that are advertised. But Verizon isn’t in the business of developing an enhanced ‘3.5G” network like AT&T. To the contrary, they are trying to ditch the entire 3G network by the end of 2013.

Verizon wants all of the smartphones sold on their network to be 4G LTE capable by the end of the year. But what about the millions of iPhone 4S devices being sold by the truckloads since the launch in October 2011? What will happen to all of the customers, numbering in the millions, that are left holding these devices? What will become of these phones once the switch has been made after the 3G network has been phased out?

The AT&T version of the iPhone 4S will still be able to run at respectable speeds on the enhanced 3.5G network this year and next year. This tells me that the market for used iPhones should still be a viable market well into the 4G LTE phase. But will this render the Verizon iPhones useless? I’d sure love for someone who is in-the-know to shed some knowledge on that.

Meanwhile, I think all of the carriers need to settle down and stop pumping out these commercials bragging and boasting of “instant downloads” that are so fast, they reach into the future before events even occur. The whole idea of this marketing scheme is laughable to say the least. I’ll bet you that Consumer Reports jumps into the picture before the year is out and issues a warning to uninformed buyers.

I don’t want to even get into the Sprint situation, which is even more muddy, with their “WiMax 4G” version of high speed service. It’s on the fast-track to being mothballed. Sprint knows that true LTE is the future, and they’ve already been in hot water with class action lawsuits in the past year for pushing their smartphones as 4G-capable and charging and extra $10 per month fee. We’ll save that for another day.

In the meantime, I guess ignorance is bliss. If people are happy to have a smartphone that has a “4G” sticker on the box and a fancy flashing 4G icon at the top of the screen, I suppose we shouldn’t rain on their parade and just leave them in their happy state. But hopefully more of the noteworthy tech blogs will bring this to the light of day and get people informed.

Maybe I’m off my rocker, and maybe I’m being a little picky. But if I can help someone save $200 and a wasted 2-year commitment to a device that could be rendered obsolete within the next several months, I’ve done my honest duty. My rant is done. I’ve spoken my peace.

Let me know what you think. How many of your friends remain clueless regarding all of this 3G/4G/HSPA+/LTE nonsense? I’m curious to know. If you want more information, be sure to check out my previous post “Fake 4G vs Real 4G – The Shootout Explained“, and “GSM And CDMA Explained In Simple Terms“. Enjoy!

Carlton Flowers
4G Whistle Blower

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 TO HIT EUROPE NEXT MONTH

How about a tidbit of Samsung Galaxy S3 news to hold you over for the day? Word is that Samsung will be rolling out the next generation flagship smartphone in February of 2012 in Europe.

This all but confirms the reports and leaked pictures that have been circulating the web for the past couple of weeks. They are probably true to life. It looks like the Galaxy S3 is about to launch! We should hear the official announcement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. This is the same place and time that we saw the Galaxy S2 come to be unveiled.

And yes, the super-charged Galaxy S3 will come packing a quad core Exynos 1.4 GHz cpu along with a whopping 2 gigabytes of RAM. It’s probably a foregone conclusion that the SGS3 will have the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, and all the usual Samsung TouchWiz 4.0 (or higher) bells and whistles.

Size-wize, I think we can settle on the fact that we’ll see a 4.6″ Super AMOLED HD display on the Galaxy S3, not a 5″ screen that was spoken of previously. That will make for amazing multimedia eye candy, and gaming will probably be off the chain with this device. We’ll probably see a few minor changes by the time the superphone lands in North America, just like we did last time.

The European version may have 4 physical navigational buttons. The US version will likely have the same four touch buttons that we now see. I’ll be happy to see that, because the fewer buttons we have, the less we have to worry about wearing out.

For the US launch, I’m going to have to put my money on a late summer or fall 2012 launch. Samsung will probably try to upstage the launch of Apple’s iPhone 5, which I believe will come in October of 2012, one year after the release of the iPhone 4L.

Recently, there have been some nasty articles written predicting the fall of the dominance of Apple’s iPhone in the coming year. They claim that the public will grow tired of the iPhone’s clunky, fragile squared-off design and opt for the sleeker handsets offered by Samsung, HTC, Nokia, and others. I don’t see that happening.

I think you can rest assured that Apple will be going for the jugular with the redesigned iPhone 5, and this would fit the normal schedule of breaking out a new design after an incremental remake of the current form factor. I’m hoping for the best for the iPhone 5, because the better Apple does at pushing the limit, the harder other tech companies will work on stretching their own smartphone designs to stay in the game.

I’m really anxious to experience the speed of the new Samsung Galaxy S3 running on the new AT&T 4G LTE network, but I’m not holding my breath. As I’ve said time and time again, I’d be happy to see them at least get the HSPA+ network expanded in my area so I can experience the full capability of my Galaxy S2. If they do shock me and provide an LTE tower in Central Missouri this year, I’ll be able to swipe my wife’s Galaxy Skyrocket when she’s not looking for some high powered surfing fun.

Meanwhile, we’ll keep our ears on the railroad tracks for more breaking Samsung Galaxy S3 news. That’s all I’ve got!

Carlton Flowers
Galaxy Nerd

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post