Payments Squared Away

This is HUGE. And yes, while I am a big fan of Jack Dorsey (twitter, blog stuff, etc) its because the guy creates what people NEED before they ASK, and this looks to be another future home run on an even larger scale.

Basic concept: a tiny credit card reader that works with any headphone jack + smart device to accept payments. In a nutshell, anyone can accept credit card payments as if it was cash. TechCrunch is reporting it worth already $40 mill with more funding coming. Visa, Mastercard and others are already behind it (refreshing to see).

This is huge for how the economy will work in the future. If it picks up, I could seeit as a huge increase both to spending money and also to receiving money. 90% of all businesses are small with under 50 employees, and have trouble affording the more current/expensive credit card systems. This opens up a whole new ballgame for little people.

***Also, check out a short interview with Jack Dorsey here.

 

Future of Online Video Streaming?

So with Comcast purchasing NBC, a few things have happened. Comcast now owns quite a good bit of cable CONTENT, Comcast now has a majority hold of 30% of Hulu (they own 51% of NBC, NBC owns 30%ish of Hulu), Univeral Studios and Comcast still of course owns its giant Cable/Internet/Digital Voice network.

Mashable sums up some of the points on Hulu here, and Bloomberg presents a pretty good analysis of the legal hurdles and possibilities with the FCC.

Of course, the negative possibilities are two fold: 1. That Comcast, now being both programming and distribution, will not be fair in releasing said programming to others as well as having a general conflict of interest. Why spend extra money on innovative programming when you control all cable and online distribution and people have to go through you (Satellite Radio anyone)? 2. That Comcast, who makes far far more money in Cable as opposed to anything online, will gut any online streaming to basically give people no option but use their cable services. An extended version of this is Comcast creating a “Premium” Hulu where Comcast only customers get more access (in accordance to their TV Everywhere stuff) although CEO Roberts says Premium Hulu is not something they are considering (and keep in mind they do not have a majority stake in Hulu).

My thoughts? Well, I already pay Netflix for instant streaming (and use it way more than DVD rentals) so I am open to Hulu eventually being a subscription service. I especially like the idea of free and paid levels, it has worked well for Spotify in Europe, so with GOOD programming options (and the possibility of more and more mobile devices being able to stream Hulu/Flash video) I would be down for having everything whereever i want for a small fee. That being said, I don’t like Comcast (or any utility company), and feel that being both distribution and content (especially when your forte is distribution) is simply a conflict of interests.

Also, I am still interested to see how everything shifts once 4G (LTE on Verizon, WiMax/4G on Sprint, non-existant on AT&T) shifts the internet distribution market. I’d gladly pay $50 a month (as opposed to my $40 comcast internet bill) for equal if not better speeds that are unlimited and I can take with me anywhere. Once Wireless companies can hit speeds that can match and maintain even online gaming, it could very well shift the market.

 

Guides and Ideas for Current/Upcoming SmartPhones

Amazingly enough, Wired, which usually is poorly written (in my humble opinion), has a fantastic new article on guide for looking into Smartphones (Boy Genius Report was close but theirs doesnt talk about the carriers and plans at all). With everyone writing about phones, phones taking over Times Square, $3 mill iPhones and that, phones are apparently the hip thing this year (pssst if you live in Nashville and want Sprint email me). Anyway, point being with all the damn clutter and multiple operating systems, it is nice to have summaries, reviews and what not. Wired’s was impressive enough that I felt it deserved a nod.

FYI, i do work at Sprint now, and I do think the Droid logo on Times Square looks too much like Lord of the Rings.

Also, random note, but I get extremely irritable of people touting the Android has a shitty camera and shitty music player. Don’t get me wrong, it DOES, but that is what an App store is for. Anyone with Android just search music and see what i mean, there’s like 5 upgraded players (i recommend TuneWiki) on the damn thing.

So what’re my recommendations?

Smartphones:Basically, if you are looking for multi-media, internet browsing and email/calander sync, and have google, i recommend Android (Palm is also cool if you are on Sprint). If you need hardcore business email, exchange support Blackberry is still fantastic (although WinMo 6.5 is at least getting updates). Note that Android does support Microsoft Exchange, but honestly if you want the safe, secure thing Blackberry is still the best bet.

Verizon: Moto Droid, Blackberry Tour if you need heavy exchange/business use.

Sprint: HTC Hero or Moment (I finally got to try out a moment, fairly impressive). Palm Pixi for first time smartphone users. Blackberry Tour for Business users.

AT&T- iPhone. Blackberry Bold 2 looks nice so far.

T-Mobile: Anything but a Sidekick. MyTouch 3G is still sweet and Cyanogen makes it even better.

And once you get a smartphone the key is customizing it, and making sure it does what you want it to. I should have postings throughout this blog for tethering and adding nice tidbits for iPhone, Android, Palm WebOS and Blackberry, so feel free to browse, I’ll try and add links and updates here in a day or two, this was just a quick rant in a sleepless night.

 

Google Dashboard = Privacy?

Well, its more like Last.FM in my opinion, but with Google Dashboard instead of tracking plays you track all your web hits, emails, calls, and stuff! Ok, well, this probably isn’t exciting for non-nerds, but yes you can now easily access most of your google related web stats. MORE importantly to most people, it does give you a place to easily edit what is shared, with who, etc etc. And in my case, be surprised to discover some people sharing my Google RSS feed.

So while kinda creepy, it is useful for everyday people in terms of knowing how much to up your privacy.

 

Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.2 with Blackra1n.

All the info you need here.

Cydia is still there (through the blackra1n app) so this is def worth it. As always be careful, do it at your own risk. I will not be rejailbreaking mine (currently jailbroken at 3.0) because there is no need for an ipod touch. But for iphones looking for tethering, very useful.

 

The Skinny on New T-Mobile Plans

As alerted through engadget T-Mobile has released their new plan structure. And while it isn’t the savior of high wireless plans, it also isn’t anything to sneeze at. The biggest thing is T-Mobile is the first to offer any sort of incentive to paying full price for the phone (IE lower plans), and for people looking to save money over the long run, this is the way to go (and hopefully where Wireless trends towards).

Basically, you have these two layers:

Even More: For customers who get a phone with a contract

Example: $39.00 for 500 mins (nights, weekends, unlimited TMobile calling), $10 for text messaging, $30 for internet (smartphone). Total: $79.

Highest plan: $99 for unlimited everything (someone copied over Sprint’s shoulder)

Even More Plus: Must pay for phone outright

Example: $29.99 for 500 mins, $10 for text messaging, $20 for internet. Total: $59.99

Highest plan: $79.99 unlimited everything.

Best benefit: No contract.

Also keep in mind, similar to how Sprint’s Everything Data plan does NOT allow for company discounts, ***update only the $99 plan does not allow for discounts. The lower two plans do, so with the any mobile anytime that is a very good deal*** these plans do not allow company discounts on Voice (but WILL on features, IE text messaging and data). So for a $29.99 voice plan i get no best buy (where I have been working) discount, but if I had $30 for text and internet that does get the xx% discount. Always a catch.

Honestly, unlimited calling to other TMobile numbers pales to Sprints Mobile-Mobile (not to mention if you use GVoice neither will probably apply unfortunately). The new contract plans are Better and Simpler than older T-Mobile plans, and I do like how customer friendly it is. The no contract plans are where it gets really cheap ($80 for everything is nice vs the $130 it used to be), but of course whether people are willing to buy phones outright is another question. This isn’t something to run out and buy, but it is a very good seed planted to hopefully drive the industry towards lower monthly rates and options that do not require two year contracts.

 

Updating Your G1 and MyTouch to Legal Cyanogen

Steps can be found here. Reports are a lot of early kinks are worked out and this is now usable, although still not integrated with CM upgrader (aka you have to update manually).

Install instructions for an HTC Dream/ADP1/G1:
1- Perform a Backup……nandroid, etc
2- Download: http://developer.htc.com/adp.html#s3 Android 1.6 Recovery Image. This isn’t the type of recovery image we know. It’s HTCs version of an update.zip
3- Download my ROM. Posted Below
4- Mount your phone and place BOTH 1.6 Image and my ROM on your SD Card.
5- Reboot into recovery mode *Home+Power*
6- WIPE!!!! This will allow google apps to function, correctly.
7- Apply sdcard:choose zip *PICK dream_devphone_userdebug-ota-14721.zip* from the list
ALLOW IT TO INSTALL FIRST…..you will see the “unbox” image………then it will automatically reboot HOLD HOME button while it reboots.
8- Apply sdcard:choose zip *Pick cm-4.1.99-signed.zip* from the list.
9- Reboot!

 

New Search Engine War Front

Microsoft Announces Facebook and Twitter Partnership with Bing.

Google Comebacks with Twitter Partnership.

The fight is over social search engines, aka the next level of searching the web. Basically, how can one optimize Twitter, Facebook and whatever else into one easy search engine to find easy, relevant and current (as in NOW NOW) info. This will be very interesting to see who comes out on top, and whether this really affects how people search (which in term affects everything on the web).

 

Barnes and Noble Burns the Kindle

Yeah, that’s right, creative pun title.

It is always refreshing to see companies starting to try and catchup with the present. The Barnes and Noble Nook just looks nicer than the Kindle, an ereader plus 3G (does it charge monthly?) and WiFi is def the way to go. Throw in a nice interface, touch screen, color and I am happy.I may have to get this…

And as my g/f pointed out, “haha she said nook.”

****Update: the fact that the Nook can apparently only work on Barnes and Noble WiFi is incredibly retarded. I hope that is temporary.

 

Its Bad When VERIZON Calls You Out for Not Being Open Source…

As shown here, here, here, and here, and now above, Verizon is calling out AT&T big time. With their “there’s a map for that” ad and now their ad on the Motorola Droid, Verizon is not only calling out AT&T/Apple, but may *deep breath* actually have a decent smartphone to do it with.

The real kicker, which Arrington of Techcrunch points out,  is the processor:

Unlike previous Android phones, the Droid is rumored to be powered by the TI OMAP3430, the same core that the iPhone and Palm Pre use, and which significantly outperforms Qualcomm 528MHz ARM11 based Android phones that exist today (Engadget has a great overview article on mobile CPUs).

Personally, I will say after running the Hero and MyTouch, Android phones ARE already running extremely well. However, upgrading to the same processor as the iPhone and Pre is obviously another huge step upwards (the Samsung Moment is also rumored to have this processor, tba on sprint).

So what’s the best deal? Honestly, if you’re willing to pay the $$, the Droid on Verizon will have the best guaranteed coverage (with Sprint being able to roam off Verizon as a 2nd). For the most minutes and best data plan, Sprint by far has the best plans (although TMobile’s project dark may rival it depending on smartphone plan prices). Personal opinion, but all AT&T really has is the iphone, their call coverage isn’t THAT good, plans are expensive and customer service is just bad.

What I see as the biggest result of this? Smartphone plans dropping (just like they already did on sprint and soon on TMobile) through both price competition and the affects of Google Voice. Anyone with the Droid on Verizon can easily port their number onto Google Voice and save $20 a month (plus free visual voicemail). Only thing GVoice is missing is Pic Messaging (and apparently calls to rural numbers), which hopefully should come in time.

Either way, the nice thing is there is no “perfect choice” for a smartphone and smartphone plan, which leaves it be highly competitive. That’s all I can ask for.