<![CDATA[[MobileRatty] tag: store]]> http://mobileratty.com/tag/store Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:27:34 +0000 iRatty Engine http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[ Dealzmodo: Circuit City is Shipwrecked, but the Flotsam and Jetsam Have a Great Price-Match Guarantee [Dealzmodo] ]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/5065f8c9e3237d38d4c86fd216fb66e1 http://mobileratty.com/article/5065f8c9e3237d38d4c86fd216fb66e1 Circuit City's price guarantee was always a little wonky: the only prices they'd match were from local brick-and-mortar vendors, which excludes even their own online site. But sneaky tipster Kevin has caught wind that Circuit City, in the midst of crashing and/or burning, is due to accept any verifiable price, from any retailer, starting tomorrow. Even better, the prices in-store are going to match those of CC's online site, which means some serious price cuts in-store. There's always a silver lining, am I right? [- Thanks, Kevin!]


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]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:30:00 +0000 circuit city online site sneaky tipster kevin kevin match price cuts in-store prices in-store prices verifiable price Dealzmodo: Circuit City is Shipwrecked, but the Flotsam and Jetsam Have a Great Price-Match Guarantee [Dealzmodo] <![CDATA[ Apple Will Indoctrinate Your Children with Field Trips [Apple] ]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/f6fcfd283f47df9596b2e0b296256382 http://mobileratty.com/article/f6fcfd283f47df9596b2e0b296256382 Evil monolith Apple has begun a nefarious program to snatch children from the warm arms of their home PCs with ominous-sounding "field trips." These trips do lead to a field, but not one with grass and trees and sunshine. This is a field of glass, of white plastic, of aluminum, and of shameful minimalism.

Sure, Apple has its shiny white coating of education. The (apparently free) one-hour trip can accommodate up to 25 impressionable youngsters. "Let the children create projects using easy-to-understand software like iMovie and iPhoto!" the site exclaims. "Or they can bring in a project they've already created and turn our store into a theater," the site explains. "Free t-shirts!" furthers the site. Well, Apple, let me tell you this. I will not "bring my enthusiasm," and I will not let you "bring the rest." Children should frolic in parks, not museum-like electronics shops. The t-shirts do look sort of sweet, though. [TUAW]


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]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:30:00 +0000 apple trips field trips field site explains evil monolith apple site t-shirts site exclaims Apple Will Indoctrinate Your Children with Field Trips [Apple] <![CDATA[ iPhone 3G Coming to Walmart Just in Time for the New Great Depression [Apple] ]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/c059475ba25793ec51c8d1bc88143483 http://mobileratty.com/article/c059475ba25793ec51c8d1bc88143483 Boy Genius Report has it "on good authority" that Our Lord and Savior Jesusphone 3G will be sold in God's own retail store: Walmart. They name November 15th as the date of arrival, which is just in time for shoppers to overlook it as they clear their local Walmart of cans of beans to prepare for the econocopalypse that's sure to destroy Western civilization as we know it. You heard it here first, folks: the hot gift this Christmas will be a can of Heinz baked beans. [BGR]


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]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:30:00 +0000 walmart heinz baked beans beans destroy western civilization boy genius report local walmart time retail store november 15th iPhone 3G Coming to Walmart Just in Time for the New Great Depression [Apple] <![CDATA[ Calacanis Rumor: Apple Developing Networked LCD With Built-in Apple TV [Rumor] ]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/9b0b05b45c03c6f1e602eefef2faa1d8 http://mobileratty.com/article/9b0b05b45c03c6f1e602eefef2faa1d8 As we get closer to yet another Apple event, the rumor mill is operating at full speed and everyone has "sources." The latest to offer up a juicy bit of gossip is Jason Calacanis, who went on record in an interview with CNET UK as saying that he has direct sources telling him Apple is developing a networked LCD HDTV that will have built-in Apple TV capabilities. Immediately, this brought up a smattering of conflicting ideas and opinions from a few of us at Giz as to whether or not this makes sense. And if it does happen, we almost certainly won't see it on Tuesday. Ultimately, we're still undecided one way or the other, but here's what we think on the matter.

Right off the bat, it doesn't really make sense why Apply would enter TV market with an Apple-branded LCD. The market is as cutthroat as ever with companies eating costs and gouging prices. Most of the big PC names (Dell, Gateway, etc...) are getting out, leaving obscure Chinese manufacturers to hash it out. Sure, Apple makes their Cinema Display, but those are strictly for the computer market and aren't any bigger than 30". So while they're not LCD n00bs, they're still green to the TV market.

You can also use the cheapness wars to highlight the best selling TVs are the ones which only offer video, speakers and a sufficient number of inputs — leaving the rest to the consumer. But at the same time, all these manufacturers are bottoming out with their prices, and will soon need to distinguish their product from the rest with special features.

Storage is also an issue. The Apple TV relies on a 40 GB HDD to bring content to the living room. Putting a spinner inside a TV is something manufacturers are adverse to, probably because of drive failure, noise, and heat concerns. It's entirely possible they could stick a 64 GB SSD in the TV and call it a day, but that still adds a couple hundred extra dollars to the price.

There are also reasons why this rumor might have some validity to it, the most obvious of which is Jason Calacanis' standing in Silicon Valley. Unless he's pulling a stunt to get his own fledgling projects some attention, you have to believe the internet tech entrepreneur rubs elbows with some people who actually know what they're talking about. Kevin Rose has proven to have some great insider information in the past, so there's no reason to think that Calacanis wouldn't.

Looking at other companies, networked TVs and internet-based content are becoming more popular in flat panels. Pioneer, HP and Samsung, among others, have showed off displays with internet connectivity. And LG has Netflix streaming in their upcoming Blu-ray player, so maybe it's not far fetched to think Apple wants a piece of this.

And speaking of which, Apple has to worry about Netflix, who is on their ASS when it comes to digital movie distribution. Netflix has made aggressive moves in the last few weeks with regard to their all-you-can eat streaming service, you have to think Apple needs to make some moves to keep their ala carte model of distribution relevant.

And this brings about the final point, which is purely speculation — what if Apple doesn't build a TV at all, but rather lends their Apple TV software to a big name TV maker? Instead of an "Apple iWhatever," it's a "Sharp Aquos with Apple TV." This would work on two levels. First it would eliminate the financial risk of R&D, marketing and manufacturing costs of what could be a potential flop in an already oversaturated market. Second, they don't need to move the hardware to make money. They just need people buying things from the iTunes Store. Lending their interface to an already established TV maker, would do just that — bring new customers into their marketplace.

Again, we're just thinking out loud here. We're trying to make sense of this like anyone else, especially with Apple TV rumors floating around, the lack of updates to the Apple displays, and Apple Execs referencing new products and product transitions. But for all we know, they could be talking about the iPod Shuffle. [CNET UK via Mac Blogz]


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]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:30:00 +0000 apple tv apple apple displays apple tv rumors apple execs apple iwhatever apple event apple tv relies enter tv market Calacanis Rumor: Apple Developing Networked LCD With Built-in Apple TV [Rumor] <![CDATA[ Rumor: Apple Developing Networked LCD With Built-in Apple TV [Rumor] ]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/d998b0a66d1698bb022f694117ff9da9 http://mobileratty.com/article/d998b0a66d1698bb022f694117ff9da9 As we get closer to yet another Apple event, the rumor mill is operating at full speed and everyone has "sources." The latest to offer up a juicy bit of gossip is Jason Calacanis, who went on record in an interview with CNET UK as saying that he has direct sources telling him Apple is developing a networked LCD HDTV that will have built-in Apple TV capabilities. Immediately, this brought up a smattering of conflicting ideas and opinions from a few of us at Giz as to whether or not this makes sense. And if it does happen, we almost certainly won't see it on Tuesday. Ultimately, we're still undecided one way or the other, but here's what we think on the matter.

Right off the bat, it doesn't really make sense why Apply would enter TV market with an Apple-branded LCD. The market is as cutthroat as ever with companies eating costs and gouging prices. Most of the big PC names (Dell, Gateway, etc...) are getting out, leaving obscure Chinese manufacturers to hash it out. Sure, Apple makes their Cinema Display, but those are strictly for the computer market and aren't any bigger than 30". So while they're not LCD n00bs, they're still green to the TV market.

You can also use the cheapness wars to highlight the best selling TVs are the ones which only offer video, speakers and a sufficient number of inputs — leaving the rest to the consumer. But at the same time, all these manufacturers are bottoming out with their prices, and will soon need to distinguish their product from the rest with special features.

Storage is also an issue. The Apple TV relies on a 40 GB HDD to bring content to the living room. Putting a spinner inside a TV is something manufacturers are adverse to, probably because of drive failure, noise, and heat concerns. It's entirely possible they could stick a 64 GB SSD in the TV and call it a day, but that still adds a couple hundred extra dollars to the price.

There are also reasons why this rumor might have some validity to it, the most obvious of which is Jason Calacanis' standing in Silicon Valley. Unless he's pulling a stunt to get his own fledgling projects some attention, you have to believe the internet tech entrepreneur rubs elbows with some people who actually know what they're talking about. Kevin Rose has proven to have some great insider information in the past, so there's no reason to think that Calacanis wouldn't.

Looking at other companies, networked TVs and internet-based content are becoming more popular in flat panels. Pioneer, HP and Samsung, among others, have showed off displays with internet connectivity. And LG has Netflix streaming in their upcoming Blu-ray player, so maybe it's not far fetched to think Apple wants a piece of this.

And speaking of which, Apple has to worry about Netflix, who is on their ASS when it comes to digital movie distribution. Netflix has made aggressive moves in the last few weeks with regard to their all-you-can eat streaming service, you have to think Apple needs to make some moves to keep their ala carte model of distribution relevant.

And this brings about the final point, which is purely speculation — what if Apple doesn't build a TV at all, but rather lends their Apple TV software to a big name TV maker? Instead of an "Apple iWhatever," it's a "Sharp Aquos with Apple TV." This would work on two levels. First it would eliminate the financial risk of R&D, marketing and manufacturing costs of what could be a potential flop in an already oversaturated market. Second, they don't need to move the hardware to make money. They just need people buying things from the iTunes Store. Lending their interface to an already established TV maker, would do just that — bring new customers into their marketplace.

Again, we're just thinking out loud here. We're trying to make sense of this like anyone else, especially with Apple TV rumors floating around, the lack of updates to the Apple displays, and Apple Execs referencing new products and product transitions. But for all we know, they could be talking about the iPod Shuffle. [CNET UK via Mac Blogz]


Poll

]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:30:00 +0000 apple tv apple apple displays apple tv rumors apple execs apple iwhatever apple event apple tv relies enter tv market Rumor: Apple Developing Networked LCD With Built-in Apple TV [Rumor] <![CDATA[iPhone App Store - VideoPoker]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/e1ad68396a79dd9039d3fe9038dbd674 http://mobileratty.com/article/e1ad68396a79dd9039d3fe9038dbd674 iPhone App Store - VideoPoker

]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:36:00 +0000 iphone app store videopoker iPhone App Store - VideoPoker <![CDATA[There is a cover for your Kindle too ]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/d0c56536e2eadd381b3abe1e3d527d7d http://mobileratty.com/article/d0c56536e2eadd381b3abe1e3d527d7d Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:08:44 +0000 precious e-book key information sellers store led lappie notebooks popularity There is a cover for your Kindle too <![CDATA[The Signal (IntoMobile Podcast: Episode 3)]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/ee2b01118b4412939bc779e9cd558110 http://mobileratty.com/article/ee2b01118b4412939bc779e9cd558110

Welcome all to Episode 3 of The Signal!

The BlackBerry Storm came rolling in this week, complete with a 90% chance of advertisements from both Verizon and Vodafone. The next BlackBerry Curve, model number 8900, also peeked its head out on T-Mobile Germany. We also take a minute to fawn over HTC’s WiMAX version of the Touch HD in Russia and pray that it’ll come to Sprint’s XOHM network sometime this century. Short episode this week on account of Will being out of commission, but we still take a good solid look at the BlackBerry Storm and where it’s going.

The week’s big news and download link for The Signal: Episode 3 behind the jump!

Music by Krazy Baldhed.

Thanks to MediaFire for hosting!

Download the MP3 of The Signal: Episode 3. (00:14) iTunes podcast application has been made… look out for The Signal in the iTunes store this week!

Headlines

BlackBerry Storm officially launched

Rumors

HTC’s first WiMAX handset emerges
RIM Frankensteining Storm and Bold to make near-HD monster?
LG Prepping a Windows Mobile Device for Launch on AT&T?
Samsung Propel coming to AT&T; Young texters rejoice!
Mid-range LG UX585 Rhythm coming to US Cellular
AT&T Samsung a867 Eternity caught in the wild
Samsung T919 ‘Behold’ Coming to T-Mobile Soon
Best Buy Presentation Leaks Ship Dates for Several Highly Anticipated Devices
HTC Touch HD not coming to the US?
New Sony Ericsson ‘Kate’ C912 Cyber-Shot Images
LG KS500 smartphone in works?
Verizon adds Samsung Sway, Motorola Rapture VU30, VU204
BlackBerry Pearl Flip launches first in Italy
3G Pantech C610 for $29 at AT&T
CDMA BlackBerry Pearl Flip on the way?
BlackBerry Application Center Coming With Storm OS 4.7

Releases

Motorola unveils VC6096 industrial PDA phone
BlackBerry 8900 shows up on T-Mobile Germany
Sprint Launches Sign-Up Page for BlackBerry Curve 8350i
LG’s 8-megapixel slider gets official
Motorola Q11 gets real
Samsung GT-S3600 clam brings bits of the Soul design to the masses
BlackBerry Curve coming to Virgin Mobile Canada
Nokia announces 24k GBP white gold Vertu Signature
INCRUDO Phantom is the most durable luxury handset

P.S: My new microphone sucks.
P.P.S: I really like the word “obviously”.

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]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:12:15 +0000 blackberry blackberry curve 8350i att blackberry bold blackberry pearl blackberry storm episode signal blackberry curve storm The Signal (IntoMobile Podcast: Episode 3) <![CDATA[Moto RAZR outselling iPhone 3G in US]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/4d7f879b4619bea3ee52b9590f276ae4 http://mobileratty.com/article/4d7f879b4619bea3ee52b9590f276ae4 Motorola's RAZR V3 is still the best-selling cellphone in the US, the NPD Group says. While exact market share isn't published, the researchers put the clamshell design above the second-place iPhone 3G as well as the BlackBerry Curve, LG Chocolate and BlackBerry Pearl in the top five. The RAZR earns its position primarily through its sheer availability, as the device sells through nearly all major and minor carriers in the US and is often available for free or at a low price on a contract.

Regardless, the RAZR isn't necessarily the most successful device for Motorola, which now makes very little from each RAZR sale and has failed to develop a strong-selling replacement, including its direct sequel.

The iPhone 3G's success is assigned in part to the subsidies that dropped its price but are largely credited by NPD to the phone itself, which it says "opened consumers’ eyes" to mobile web browsing. Other phones are often sold based on the addition of carrier-specific services and software that Apple insists on keeping away from its own devices.

The study also suggests that Verizon may have felt more of the impact of the iPhone with its second-year update. Although less than 15 percent of iPhone buyers switched from Verizon, the sharp increase in sales of Apple's device have resulted in more customers leaving Verizon than did for the original iPhone.

RIM's Curve and Pearl were both helped along by bringing smartphone features to home users and by launching with most carriers in the US. The LG Chocolate is the only carrier-exclusive phone besides the iPhone in the list and is touted as reaching its fourth-place rank through shrewd marketing by Verizon, which considers it a halo model for its V CAST Music store.

source

]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:26:00 +0000 iphone razr original iphone second-place iphone razr earns successful device device iphone buyers market Moto RAZR outselling iPhone 3G in US <![CDATA[AT&T adds iPhone 3G online account setup, too]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/bc5e2ca4edc8f702b7d1cccc7a7fd21a http://mobileratty.com/article/bc5e2ca4edc8f702b7d1cccc7a7fd21a

Two weeks ago we saw Apple launching a dedicated page to allow potential iPhone 3G buyers to partly buy their device of choice online. Then, few days ago AT&T announced a similar “offering” to enabled customers to “set up accounts online before heading to the nearest store to activate and complete the purchase, reducing in-store wait times as the busy holiday shopping season approaches.”

Pre-qualifying credit check will determine user’s eligibility to port an existing phone number to AT&T in advance, while existing AT&T customers will determine eligibility to add a new line for iPhone…

Interested? Hop over to www.att.com/iphone and take it from there.

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]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:27:34 +0000 online iphone online iphone customers att customers att days ago att season season approaches AT&T adds iPhone 3G online account setup, too