Showing posts with label Google TV. Show all posts

Free Google Ad-Supported WiFi Hotspots: Connecting on the Go

In today's digital world, staying connected is more important than ever. For those constantly on the move, finding reliable and free WiFi can be a game-changer. Google has stepped up by offering ad-supported WiFi hotspots in various locations, allowing users to connect to the internet without any cost, simply by viewing ads. Here’s everything you need to know about Google’s ad-supported WiFi hotspots, where to find them, and how they work.

What is a Google Ad-Supported WiFi Hotspot?

A Google ad-supported WiFi hotspot is a free internet service available at specific locations where users can connect to WiFi, sponsored by Google. These WiFi hotspots are designed to provide quick and easy internet access, allowing users to check emails, browse social media, and even stream videos while on the go. Instead of paying for internet, users view a brief ad as a form of “payment,” which subsidizes the cost of internet access.

Why Choose Google’s Free WiFi?

Cost-Effective: Free WiFi access is ideal for travelers, students, and anyone who wants to save on data costs.
Easy Access: Unlike some WiFi providers that require detailed logins, Google’s ad-supported hotspots are generally quick and simple to connect to.
Widely Available: Google has expanded its ad-supported WiFi hotspots in cities, public transport stations, airports, and popular public spaces.
Secure Browsing: Google’s WiFi networks are designed with security in mind, ensuring users have a safe browsing experience.

How Google’s Ad-Supported WiFi Hotspots Work

Google’s WiFi hotspots are straightforward to use:

Find a Google WiFi Hotspot: Look for hotspots in places like malls, airports, public parks, cafes, and other high-traffic areas.
Connect to WiFi: Open your WiFi settings, select the network (usually labeled as “Google WiFi” or similar), and connect.
View an Ad: Before gaining internet access, users view a short ad that typically lasts around 15-30 seconds.
Browse Freely: After the ad, you’re connected and free to browse, stream, or work online without any charge.

Where to Find Google Ad-Supported WiFi Hotspots

Google’s ad-supported WiFi hotspots are expanding across major cities and countries. Here are some key locations where you can likely find one:

Public Transit Stations: Many cities have partnered with Google to provide free WiFi in subway and train stations.
Airports: Major airports often feature Google-sponsored WiFi to keep travelers connected while they wait.
Cafes and Restaurants: Many cafes, coffee shops, and fast-food restaurants partner with Google to offer free internet to patrons.
Shopping Centers and Malls: Google WiFi is often available in popular shopping centers and malls, where people spend time.
Parks and Public Spaces: Some parks and large outdoor areas offer ad-supported WiFi, making it easy for visitors to stay connected.

Pros and Cons of Using Google’s Ad-Supported WiFi

Pros:

Free Internet Access: Save on data costs by connecting to the internet for free.
Simple to Use: Connect and browse after a quick ad view.
Broad Coverage: Increasing availability in popular spots and urban centers.

Cons:

Ad Viewing Requirement: Some users may find ad-viewing before connecting a slight inconvenience.
Time Limits: Some locations may have usage time limits, after which users may need to view another ad.
Network Congestion: High demand can occasionally lead to slower speeds, especially in crowded areas.

Security Tips for Using Public WiFi Hotspots

While Google WiFi hotspots prioritize security, it’s wise to follow a few simple tips when connecting to any public WiFi:

Avoid Sensitive Transactions: Try not to access banking or sensitive personal accounts while on public WiFi.
Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your data, adding an extra layer of security.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): For accounts that support it, 2FA is a good safeguard if a public network is compromised.
Disconnect When Not in Use: Always disconnect from the network when you’re done browsing to reduce security risks.

The Future of Google Ad-Supported WiFi Hotspots

Google’s WiFi hotspots are part of a broader trend of ad-supported services, offering essential internet access in exchange for ad engagement. This approach not only makes internet access more affordable but also widens the accessibility of the internet for communities worldwide. Future partnerships with public transport systems, government bodies, and major retailers could help Google continue to expand these hotspots.

How to Make the Most of Google’s Free WiFi Hotspots

For frequent travelers, students, and anyone who frequently uses free WiFi, here are some tips to maximize your experience:

Plan Ahead: Identify hotspot locations along your route to stay connected.
Manage Data: If you have a limited mobile data plan, these hotspots are a great way to save data for essential tasks.
Stay Aware: Google’s hotspots are available in many high-traffic areas, but always check the security and be mindful of data usage to ensure you’re connecting safely.

Conclusion

Google’s free ad-supported WiFi hotspots are a valuable resource for anyone looking to stay connected without relying on data plans. Available in popular locations, these hotspots offer convenient, free internet access in exchange for brief ad views. As Google continues to expand this network, more people around the world will gain access to essential internet services, bridging connectivity gaps and fostering a more connected world.

For those always on the move, Google’s ad-supported WiFi hotspots provide an easy, affordable solution to stay connected. Be sure to look out for these hotspots on your next trip to keep your data costs low and your connectivity high.4o

Watch Blacked Out NHL, NBA, MLB Games Using a Free VPN

With a VPN, Get Around The Blackout

There are many reasons for individual users to block certain streaming service content. In certain parts of the world, professional sports blackout local teams. Services such as Netflix prohibit content from viewing depending on which country you are located in. Geo-blocking is called this process.

Technologies such as Smart DNS or a VPN can get around geo-blocking and make your machine or smart device appear to be located in another country or state. If you fly abroad by having access to content, you can usually view it at home. This can help. It can also actually make it look like anywhere else you live.

A VPN service like IPVanish allows you to join a Virtual Network in another part of the country or world. The VPN makes it appear as your computer is in that part of the world as well. A VPN also adds security benefits not available from a Smart DNS.

For instance, if you live in Canada, using a VPN based in the U.S. will allow you to view the U.S. version of Netflix, which has more content available than in Canada. For more information, check out this article where I explain what a VPN is and why everyone should use one.

This form of service is often used to bypass blackouts of sports networks or simply to hide your identity from would-be identity thieves online. Of course, review the terms of service of your content provider to ensure that you do not breach any end-user contracts. IPVanish is something we like to use for getting around Geo-Blocking. In our analysis of IPVanish, we covered their operation.

How to bypass blackouts: a quick guide

The simplest way to beat MLB.com, NHL.com and ESPN+ blackouts is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), Here’s a quick guide to unblocking NHL games with a VPN:

Start by signing up for a suitable free VPN.

Install the VPN software, making sure to get the right app for your operating system, and log in.

Log in to your ESPN+ or NHL.tv account. You should find that you can now access games that were previously subject to a blackout.

If you are not able to figure out a VPN you can also sign up and watch on streaming services AT&T TV.

How to Plan For a Hurricane

Here are 10 tips that should help you be prepared for the worst during a disaster.

How many people are sick of paying $200 per month for cable, internet, phone and TV that you hardly use? Most people don't realize it but we are all subsidizing channels like ESPN for those who don't necessarily watch the channels. If Google launches a Nationwide fiber to the home network as it is testing in Kansas City, Missouri.

The traditional cable TV industry like Time Warner, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Comcast are going to be in big trouble protecting their margins if this happens. The only reason they would disrupt the traditional cable monopolize is because they will likely make more money from local targeted advertising.

Here are some highlights from this article at FastNetNews below..

Sergei Brin and the team at Google want to move ahead on a plan to run fiber to 10’s of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of homes. That’s implied by the $70/month price, which is high enough to be quickly profitable if 20-30% of homes sign on. Google’s research says they’ll get that high a rate, but no one is sure until they actually offer the service to 170,000 homes in Kansas City.

The box has two terabytes, enough for 500-1000 hours of HD video and/or a fine home music collection. It also has eight tuners, so it’s almost impossible to have a problem with too many simultaneous shows. With two HD channels fitting in 7 meg and almost no sites effectively downloading at more than a meg or two, it's rare for most people to max out at 10 meg. For the small amount of time they do, many aren't willing to pay.

There is empirical examples of surprisingly low high speed take rates from Sweden, France, Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and California. A difference of $10 to $30 discourages 3/4ths of the customers. Google is looking for $70/month for a gig, compared to 10 meg cable at about $50 and 3 meg DSL at about $35. Cable in Kansas City can easily offer 20 or 30 meg for the same price and possibly 50-100 meg.

A $50 difference between 10 meg cable and 50-100 meg DOCSIS has been standard in the U.S. and the take rate on the higher speeds has been so low no company will reveal it. Cablevision is coming down to $70 and we’ll soon know if it helps. All of these prices are approximations and available with different deals and bundles, of course, so none of these comparisons are exact.

HBO and other networks are refusing to sell to Google at a price Google considers reasonable.

Does MagicJack Work?

Our Review of the Walt Mossberg Review of Magic Jack (DCZ)

By Walt Mossberg When I see a high-tech product (DCZ: with good PR people who get it to you first) that's advertised mainly via frequent hard-sell TV ads as if it were a diet pill, I tend to assume it can't be very good (DCZ: your late to the game if 4M people have purchased?), especially if its price is absurdly low. So, I haven't paid much attention to a product called magicJack, a small $40 adapter for your computer that claims to let you make unlimited domestic phone calls over the Internet with your home telephone free for a whole year—and for just $20 a year thereafter. (DCZ: because it wasn't originally sold through mainstream retail and was hated by the big carriers?)

But after receiving reader requests to review magicJack (DCZ: Why?), I decided to do so. To my surprise, it worked pretty much as advertised. It has a few drawbacks, and extra fees for added services, such as vanity phone numbers. But I found magicJack easy to set up and easy to use, and it yielded decent, if not pristine, call quality. I even tested customer support—a source of complaints online—and found it friendly, fast, and responsive.

Magic Jack is a new device and service that allows you to make cheap phone calls through your computer. Overall, the product works as advertised, Walt Mossberg found. MagicJack looks like an oversized USB flash drive. On one end is a standard USB connector for the PC; on the other is a standard phone jack to plug in a phone. It's compatible with PCs running Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, as well as with all Intel-based Macs. It works with both corded and cordless phones, and comes with software for dialing, though you can also dial directly from a connected phone.

The low annual fee covers calls to and from any phone on any telephone network—landline or cellphone—not just phones connected to computers or to other magicJack. The only restriction is that the numbers called must be in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can also buy low-cost prepaid international minutes, or take your magicJack abroad to make free calls home. You can move it among different computers and locations.

MagicJack can also be used without a phone handset, via a computer headset or the computer's built-in microphone and speakers. There's nothing new about Internet (DCZ: VoIP) phone calls. Companies like Vonage and Skype have been doing it for years. But magicJack is different. It emphasizes calling to and from phones on regular wired and wireless phone networks, and its prices for calls to and from such non-Internet-connected phones are much lower. (DCZ: MagicJack is 2X larger than Vonage with 2M customers and would be curious to see what the service quality performance record is compared to Skype)

For instance, the lowest plan advertised on Vonage's Web site for calling regular phones in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico is $17.99 a month, or about $216 a year, versus magicJack's $20. And Vonage gives you only 500 minutes a month, while magicJack sets no limit. Skype charges per minute or monthly fees for calls to regular phones and an added fee to receive incoming calls. (DCZ: What about Google Voice?)

The maker of magicJack says its low prices are possible because the product is produced by a privately held Florida company called YMAX, which is also a phone carrier (DCZ: also known as a CLEC). The company also runs ads inside its software. You can buy the device at a wide variety of stores, even drugstores and convenience stores. (DCZ: Do you think they might actually make more money off of location-based advertising eventually?)

I tested magicJack on both a PC and a Mac. The software resides inside the magicJack itself and installs each time you connect it. In my tests, I made and received calls on both computers, using a single landline phone and using a cordless-phone system in my house after plugging its base station into the magicJack. In the latter case, I could make and receive calls from cordless phones all over my house. I exchanged calls with both landline phones and cellphones from the magicJack. The call quality was good, except for a few times when the connection got scratchy for a second or two. Most of the people I called said they couldn't tell I wasn't on a regular call. The system offers voice mail, call forwarding, and conference calls, and you can save contacts. A couple of times I didn't get an immediate dial tone and had to hang up and try again.

The biggest downside of the magicJack compared with regular phone service is that you have to be running an Internet-connected computer, with a magicJack installed anytime you want to make or receive calls. (DCZ: It also works with WiFi?) Also, as with all Internet phone systems, you have to register your address with 911 emergency systems. With magicJack, you get a new phone number. The company says it is working on allowing you to port your existing landline number. You can keep your landline number for use on some phones or when you're not using magicJack.

I found magicJack worked better on Windows than on the Mac. (DCZ: Not a shocker) At one point, magicJack customer support had to send me software to patch the Mac version. But the company claims it is fixing that with a new Mac version coming soon.

YMAX also says it plans to roll out this year a Skype-like service that won't require any magicJack hardware, just a PC or an iPhone. It also plans a new version of magicJack to turn cellphones into wireless magicJack handsets. (DCZ: This is going to be called the Femto Jack)

I don't know if those diet pills in the TV ads work. (DCZ: Direct response marketing works) But magicJack does.

How to Listen to Pandora on Your TV

Listening to Pandora on your TV brings your favorite playlists, stations, and podcasts to the big screen, perfect for parties, background ambiance, or simply enhancing your home audio experience. Here’s how to set up and enjoy Pandora on different TV platforms.

Ways to Access Pandora on Your TV

1. Streaming Devices

Apple TV: Open the App Store, search for “Pandora,” and download the app.
Amazon Fire TV: Go to the Amazon App Store, search for “Pandora,” download, and launch the app.
Roku: Go to the Roku Channel Store, search for “Pandora,” and add it to your channels.
Android TV: Open the Google Play Store, find the Pandora app, and install it.

2. Smart TVs

Samsung Smart TV: Many Samsung TVs support the Pandora app, which can be downloaded from the Samsung App Store.
LG Smart TV: You can download the Pandora app from the LG Content Store if available.

3. Casting from Your Phone

Chromecast: If you have a Chromecast-enabled device or built-in Chromecast support on your TV, open the Pandora app on your phone, tap the Cast icon, and select your TV.
Apple AirPlay: For TVs with AirPlay support, open Pandora on an iPhone or iPad, select AirPlay, and choose your TV as the streaming device.

How to Sign In and Start Listening to Pandora on TV

Open the Pandora App on Your TV: Once the app is downloaded, open it and select “Sign In.”
Log In or Use Activation Code: Some TVs require you to enter an activation code at pandora.com/activate, while others may prompt you to enter your credentials directly.
Browse and Play: After signing in, explore your stations, create playlists, and listen to recommended music based on your preferences.

Benefits of Pandora on Your TV

Home Audio Enhancement: With your TV’s audio system, Pandora becomes ideal for parties, relaxation, or background ambiance.
Personalized Playlists: Your saved playlists, stations, and recommendations are accessible, making it easy to find the right music for any mood.
Variety of Content: Explore curated playlists, artist radios, and Pandora podcasts directly from your TV.

Subscription Options

Pandora offers both free, ad-supported streaming and premium subscriptions. If you have Pandora Premium, you can enjoy on-demand listening and offline playback, which can be especially useful for uninterrupted listening.

Enjoying Pandora on your TV adds a whole new dimension to your music experience, transforming your home into a personalized concert hall or relaxed music lounge!

Google TV Sony Logitech Demo at Best Buy

Google TV Logitech, Sony Blue-Ray are on display at Best Buy showing off the capabilities on Sony TVs. I really like the concept and the fact you can use your TV display to surf the internet and watch YouTube vides but its not compelling enough for me to buy. Sony was the first manufacturer to jump onto the tidal wave of Google Internet TV and now indications are that Samsung will be the second. I just purchased a Samsung 3D TV and love the idea of having applications directly on the TV and having a display directly connected to the internet. Its great to see technology finally trying to disrupt cable monopolies who control video content distribution.

The capabilities on display at Best Buy demonstrates some nice functionality but nothing too complicated that couldn't be accomplished in a applications similar to Pandora or Hulu. However, I really don't want to have another device like a Logitech keyword to do it. I would prefer having the capability to control the Google TV app with my laptop or iPad that is directly connected through my wireless network to the TV. That is the holy grail of being able to use a huge plasma, LCD or LED to surf the internet. Let's hope that some is working on it because I don't see lots of consumers buying this product in its current form.

10 Reasons to Cut your Cable TV Cord

There really is not much of a reason to keep paying your cable TV company they're $200 per month for programming when you can start using these ten technology innovations. The CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings is delusional if he thinks Netflix is not causing consumers to cut the cord. Most of these disruptive devices, software, and innovations finally allow consumers to download and video programming on demand. On-demand programming is simply watching what you want when you want it. No longer will you have to stumble through horrible menus on your DVR to find programming when you can simply download it with your high-speed broadband connection. Some of these electronics might event be nice gift ideas for the Christmas Holiday.

4G Wireless/ Mobile TV

Apps Stores

iPad & Galaxy Tablets

Google Voice, Skype & VoIP

Cable TV operators like Comcast, Cox, Cablevision & Time Warner should be very scared of the newest trend and latest quarter of losing cable TV subscribers for the first time. It's not because of the recession as many cigar-smoking executives would want you to believe. It's because these "fat cats" have not done anything to innovate in the last ten years and would rather send dividend checks to shareholders than improving your cable TV set-top box. Cable operators have been screwing their customers for years and the FCC has done nothing about it. I believed for a few years that cable companies were going to win the wireless home race because of their connections into the home. In my opinion, they have failed to execute a wireless phone marketing strategy against their competition AT&T U-Verse, Verizon Fios, Sprint & T-Mobile.

According to an AP, article companies are losing customers in droves and recorded the first quarterly loss of 216,000 subscribers. We expect this trend to continue for the coming years and cable companies are going to have to think of other tricks like 3D channels and sports TV programming to keep their subscribers happy. Who knows free mobile TV could be in our near future.

ESPN & NFL Saves Cable Subscribers

The Only Thing Keeping Cable TV Subscribers Paying

ESPN, NFL & NBA might have the most content leverage television business these days. Every person I ask today says they are watching less network TV these days and if they do it's likely a PGA Golf, NFL football, NBA basketball, NHL hockey or MLB baseball game. The second I ask is if you could dump your $200 per month cable TV bill, would you? Some say yes if they are not sports fans and others who are sports fans say they can't give it up. However, they say if the content was available over the internet like MLB.com they might consider it. The cable companies know this and this is one of the reasons they are not rushing to put their programming online or make sports content "on-demand". One other thing that are keeping cable customers tied is the upcoming promise of 3D TV Channels. If you haven't watched the Hawaiian Open in 3D at Best Buy or Fry's on their demonstration LCD or Plasma TV's you will want one immediately.

No matter how much content you consume on TV your cable bill is still this same each month. So if you are a grandmother in Iowa who watches very little sports programming you are subsidizing this network because you have to each month. U.S. consumers pay around $70 billion each year to cable and satellite companies to watch movies and TV shows on big screens in their living rooms. This is probably about 75% too high and it's likely only a $25 billion dollar business if people truly paid what they used.

I would like to see the NHL adopt similar a similar strategy to MLB and allow fans to watch games over the internet and on-demand via Google TV or Boxee. I think it also makes a lot of sense for these cable companies to piece mail the content you watch but this will not happen until there is a groundswell adoption of Google TV, Xbox or Boxee. The FCC is corrupt and just a bunch of industry puppets who work for the networks so they will never do anything. The NAB will do everything in their power as well to sue anyone who distributes their content illegally as well. Hopefully, a better World is coming where content is king and not programming.

Google TV Will Disrupt the Cable Distribution Monopoly

It's great to see networks like Fox starting to pull their programming from Google TV. This only means one thing! Networks who believe in programming and cable companies who believe in paid distribution feel threatened. Google TV is a disruptive technology platform that seeks to destroy a monopolistic distribution model of content and companies like Comcast denies Google TV as a competitor. The cable distribution monopoly and give consumers what they want. Programming is about to become a thing of the past as more and more consumers just consume what they want when they want. Not only do they select their programming on-demand but they are not doing it on multiple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Android. Cable operators have leverage because they are in the broadband access business and starting to get into the wireless broadband access business. The only thing I think that will begin to protect their business in the short term is to emphasize 3D TV channels which provide a tremendously cool viewing experience (only at night).

For the longest time cable companies like Comcast, Cablevision, Cox, Time Warner have made most of their money charging networks carriage rights. The FCC knows consumers are getting screwed and has not disrupted this shady business practice and networks have been getting away with it making money hand over fist. Well, this is all about to change if you can now consumer your programming directly over the internet. You don't need a cable line any longer when you can download the programming over your neighbors shared WiFi network or your wireless carrier 4G, LTE or Wimax network. The chart below shows you how the cable companies are losing leverage for the distribution of their content. They used to own almost 50% of the channels and now they own only 15% as the number of channels have increased and the content has become more specialized. Great examples of this include the NBA, NFL and MLB who have started their own networks and don't rely on CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox for all of their content distribution.

Why Apple or Google Should Buy Pandora

Consumers Don't Want to Own Music Anymore

How much longer can iTunes maintain its leadership position as the middleman for content owners to consumers? I think the device manufacturing giant needs to think very quickly about buying a service like Pandora. What is holding them back from spending their $50 billion dollars in cash? Do they think they can recreate a similar experience themselves? Is Apple afraid of cannibalizing their business of music and programming downloads? My sense it is likely because AT&T, Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile don't have their networks in order to handle the additional data streaming on 4G, LTE, Wimax. However, this could be a strategic move if the new iPods and Shuffles become Wifi enabled.

Google on the other hand doesn't have a music play and Pandora will start being used more frequently in the car. Google could quickly bring a lot of location based advertising inventory onto the market with Pandora's 50M+ users. Apple and Google have both shown their interest in predictive analytics which is Pandora specialty in music. Pandora uses this predictive playlist to recommend other songs you might like to keep you connected. The predictive playlists are an incredible user experience and are starting to carry ads that are relevant to the music. The Pandora experience on my Samsung TV and new G2 phone. It won't be surprising to see that Google TV also has a streaming music option very soon. The question is whether they build it or partner with someone like Pandora?

Why All Android Phones Are Not The Same

Android is a unique mobile phone operating system that any handset maker can use and modify. It has allowed manufacturers like HTC, Motorola, Sony, LG & Samsung to create a whole range of smartphones that run on its platform. However, consumers can also get very confused when shopping for these new phones and cannot assume that all phones that have Android are created equal. Unfortunately, I have learned firsthand that a phone with the Android OS doesn't automatically have all features I love. As an example here are 10 reasons why I may be returning my Samsung Vibrant for a G2 phone and both have the Android operating system.

Despite the Samsung Vibrant having a large beautiful screen and very fast processor, the phone has some software and ergonomic issues that I could not get fully comfortable with. The Vibrant is tremendously light, great media features and feels much better than the iPhone 4 but ultimately I think I am such a heavy Google user that I need the tightest integration with Google apps and therefore G2 is probably the best phone for me.

1. The GPS and interaction with Google Maps is not good. Not sure if it is a hardware or software issue and had a difficult time finding my location and using navigation. The G1 did not have this problem.

2. I don't like the hassle of a 2 step process of hitting the power button and swiping the screen up to use the phone when its dormant. Don't know how to remove or modify this process that seems necessary.

3. The lack of tight integration with Google Calendar and Maps creates some extra steps when using the phone. The lack of IM, Call and Email integration doesn't not make communicating with people as easy as the G1 and assume G2.

4. The Samsung Vibrant HD video and camera features were very nice and probably the think I liked the most about the phone. However, some of the navigation features within the media Gallery and integration with Picasa where not straight forward and kind of clunky. Each time my phone starts up it has to search for media files.

5. Holding the phone with one hand is not as easy as the G1 or G2 and requires an extra hand sometimes for touching areas on the screen. A long thumb is necessary for users to get comfortable with one hand.

6. Battery life was not very good and seems to only last about 6 hours without needed a long charge especially on WiFi. The G1 seemed to charge quickly and last a lot longer and and hope the G2 does the same.

7. Playing Avatar or videos from my phone on the TV through the Samsung Allshare App on my home FiOS network was kind of a scam. Pictures worked great but playing videos did not work and got bogged down by the file size. Plus Avatar was not available in 3D. I hope the G2 has a networking feature like this or an app available soon.

8. I loved the amount of space available on the device but I felt like a lot of the apps that were preloaded seem to interfere with the apps I downloaded. TeleNav, MediaHub, GoGo, MobiTV, ThinkFree office, Visual Voicemail, Amazon MP3. Its not clear how to keep these apps dormant on the device so they don't load on startup.

9. I never felt like I was running out of memory but Advanced Task Killer kept killing 10 to 15 apps every hour. This lack of app loading control is not something I like. The G1 did not have this problem.

10. I kind of miss using the trackball and keyboard to navigate around the screen to links and type. It's useful when trying to click on links and edit text. However, I think the Swipe feature for one-handed typing is awesome!

Hopefully, these 30-day return policies stay valid for carriers who sell Android phones. These features have not been differentiated very well by the carriers and the salespeople are not very knowledgeable about the differences I mentioned above.

Android Phones: Samsung Vibrant vs HTC G2

Are you a keyboard person or can't live without it or can you train yourself to use the new Swype digital keyboard? Do you want the faster HSPA+ download speeds or do you primarily use your phone on Wi-Fi and can live with 3G? Do you need the fastest processor? Do you use your phone to read, look at photos and take video? We try and answer these questions below . . .

I have been a long time T-Mobile G1 Android Phone user for the last two years. I have been waiting patiently for the release of the new Android G2 which has a faster processor and refined hardware features. However, when I walked into the T-Mobile store the other day to get a repair for my G1 something hit me. The Samsung Vibrant Android Phone screen was beautiful and look strikingly similar to the iPhone. However, when I picked it up it seems to be about half of the weight of an iPhone 4 which seems heavy.

The Samsung Vibrant comes a 1GHz processor that runs very fast. The G2 will be running on an 800 MHz processor. In day-to-day activities such as web browsing or checking email, the difference in power between the two devices won’t be significantly noticeable but may make a difference for power users.

The T-Mobile G2 offers connectivity to T-Mobile’s next-generation HSPA+ network, allowing the device to reach faster download speeds approaching or exceeding 4G speeds (3 – 6 Mbps average). The Samsung Vibrant is limited to standard 3G connectivity. You need to ask yourself if you are mostly going to be connecting via Wi-Fi or 3G. 4G or 3G HSPA+ is just not available in that many areas currently.

The G2 has a slide-out keyboard and the Vibrant does not. However, it features the Swype keyboard or the Android digital keyboard options. The screen on the Vibrant is so large that the fat finger problem does not seem to be an issue.

After a few weeks of using the G2, we have noticed some issues with the G2 SD card mounting read-only. So far there doesn't appear to be any solutions to fix the problem and we will keep you posted. We have tried 2 different micro SD cards from SanDisk and the problem keeps occurring when trying to use the camera. It appears to be an Android issue and we are being sent our 2nd phone.

One feature the Samsung Vibrant is lacking is the tight integration with Google Maps and comes preloaded with TeleNav. One feature I liked on the G1 was the ability to click on the location of a calendar item and Google Maps would automatically open up. I suspect that this feature will be fixed in future updates.

Samsung has a great networking feature Allshare if you have a Samsung TV or other DLNA devices. DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) technology enables the Vibrant to wirelessly act as a media server and sends video content from your phone to other devices, such as TVs, monitors, and laptops.

The Samsung Vibrant is running Android 2.1 with an upgrade to Android 2.2 approaching while the T-Mobile G2 will be shipping with Android 2.2. I have downloaded many of the Google applications that I used on the G1 like Google Voice, Google Places, Google Maps Navigation, Google Voice Navigation, Google Fast Flip, Google News, Google Reader, and Google Finance.

The Samsung Vibrant has a beautiful 4″ display which is one of the best displays I have ever seen. The G2 has a 3.7″ display which is similar to the Google Nexus One. Both displays will reduce their power consumption and reflection when in direct sunlight.

Avatar pre-installed on the Vibrant and it can be watched on any Samsung TV using their AllShare application sharing on a home network.

Both phones have a 5MP photo and HD video camera. However, the G2 will be equipped with an LED flash. The Samsung records video in 720p HD and has various camera settings which include night mode and panoramic capturing. The Vibrant also has an amazing panoramic mode which takes incredible pictures. The G2 will also come with 720p HD video recording as well.

One nice feature on the Vibrant is the 16GB internal storage which comes with a pre-installed 2GB microSD card. The T-Mobile G2 has 4GB internal storage and similar storage on the SD card.

Samsung is launching a Media Hub for renting or buying TV shows and Movies. This feature currently does not work as says "coming soon" when you try and open it.

Samsung Vibrant also uses a proprietary charging device that looks a lot like a USB but it's not. You can charge it with their own USB cord but it's a smaller dongle that fits into the fun. Unfortunately, you cannot use your old USB or phone chargers.

The Samsung Vibrant comes preloaded with a number of unique applications like Avatar, TeleNav, AllShare, Facebook, GoGo, Kindle, MiniDiary, Mobi TV, The Sims 3, MobiTV & ThinkFree Office.

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Comcast Dismisses Google TV As Competitor

Oops . . . it is probably not a smart idea to "call out" a technology genius (Google) who is about to make your life a lot more difficult as a competitor. At the D8 Conference, Steve Burke (Comcast, COO) dismissed Google TV as a competitive threat because they think it requires a huge cable infrastructure (YouTube + Wi-Fi) and consumers still want to subscribe to 200+ channels. Do they really still believe this when there are no barriers to distribution with Twitter, Digg, YouTube, Facebook, etc? Comcast also says their real competitors are the Satellite and Phone Companies and their advantage is their ability to provide lucrative distribution contracts to the publishers/producers. Watch the video.

Has Comcast lost their minds or do they think they only need to react when they start losing market share? If this is representative of the mentality that Cox, Cablevision, and Time Warner they are in for a rude awakening as social media becomes their biggest distribution threat. I still don't understand why consumers can't subscribe to only a few TV stations versus being required to subscribe to hundreds of stations you never watch. I think Google TV smells blood in the water and will attack the cable companies right at their biggest weakness. I think cable TV companies are about to experience the same thing that landline phone companies have experienced in the last decade. Consumers ditched their landlines and opted for cellular and now they might do the same when Google TV hits the market distributing TV over the internet. The US and Europe are some of the last continents in the world who can't watch TV over the internet or on mobile phones but that could change soon.

Free Mobile TV Available Worldwide Except for US & Europe

Free Mobile TV Available Worldwide Except US

Mobile TV is Common Everywhere Except the United States and Europe

Isn't it embarrassing that free, on-the-go Mobile TV viewing is common just about everywhere except the United States and Europe? US operator resistance and a maze of conflicting technical standards and program licensing hurdles have kept the technology out of the global mainstream. Why the lack of independence of content distribution and handset contracts has not caused a consumer revolt yet in the US still has me dumbfounded. Because we are still being bamboozled by government bureaucrats and corporate executive thieves while the FCC turns their head the other way.

When South Korea the World Cup in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, life will not necessarily grind to a halt back in Seoul. Many fans will instead follow a live broadcast of the match on their mobile phones. In South Korea, free-to-air mobile TV is a five-year-old fact of life. According to the country’s broadcasters, 27 million people — 56 percent of the population — watch regularly.

While South Koreans are the world leaders in mobile TV viewing, the technology is also catching on in China, southeast Asia, India, Africa and Latin America, where 80 million people now have cellphones that can receive free, live TV broadcasts. At least 40 million people are watching live TV this year on mobile phones, and most live in emerging markets where operators, which prefer to sell TV programming for a fee through their wireless networks, do not control the sale of handsets.

In the complex world of wireless communication, free-to-air mobile TV technology is relatively simple. With a tiny receiver chip and telescoping antenna, a mobile phone can receive free digital or analog programming like any other television.

In South Korea, 25 million people watch free digital terrestrial broadcasts on mobile handsets and two million pay to subscribe to satellite programming, according to Korean broadcasters. The typical screen made by Samsung is a three-inch, or 7.6-centimeter, diagonal. Batteries support three to six hours of viewing. In Korea, free mobile TV broadcasts are interspersed with ads.

Where are you Google TV?

Telegent is shipping about 750,000 chips each month to handset makers, most designed for viewing analog broadcasts in markets like Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Russia, Nigeria, Thailand, Egypt and China. Brazil is one of Telegent’s biggest markets.

But with the level of data traffic surging on wireless networks around the world, some operators are beginning to look to free-to-air mobile TV — which operates independently and adds no additional traffic burden on an operator’s network — as a way to retain customers.

In April, 12 broadcasters and television content owners in the United States, including Fox, NBC, Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst and Cox Media, formed a joint venture to pool their broadcasting spectrum and eventually deliver mobile TV to 150 million people. The U.S. effort is in its initial stages, and no deadlines have been set for adoption.

Samsung, which includes mobile TV chips as standard technology in its high-end smartphones in South Korea, is making a handset for Sprint that works on the U.S. mobile broadcast standard, ATSC-M/H. Samsung also makes a DVB-H phone for Europe, two that work on Latin America’s ISDB-T standard and an analog handset for Southeast Asia.

On May 24, Sprint and nine broadcasters in the Washington-Baltimore area began a four-month trial that will broadcast programming to mobile phones, netbook computers and portable DVD players made by Samsung, LG Electronics and Dell.

Dave Lougee, the president of Gannett Broadcasting, said the organizers of the trial, a group of 900 U.S. television stations called the Open Mobile Video Coalition, were hopeful consumers would take to the technology.

The trial is being supported by every facet of the U.S. television industry, including content owners, broadcasters, broadcast equipment makers and advertisers, represented by the Television Bureau of Advertisers and The Ad Council. Read more

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List of Femtocell Manufacturers

The combined list of femtocell manufactures have raised approximately $270M from various VCs and strategic investors over the last 2 years. This list was compiled using Crunch Base numbers as well as news articles. My biggest concern for these companies is the lack of consumer awareness that the companies and their products have in the marketplace. How many consumers have heard of any of these companies below discussed in the media or know what a femtocell is? The answer is virtually zero.

Airvana: $83 million (AIRV) IPO and now going private for $530M purchased by 72 Mobile Holdings, S.A.C. Capital and Blackstone Group
Vanu: $32 million Norwest, Charles River, Tata
PicoChip: $31 million AT&T, Intel, Highland, Atlas, Samsung
RadioFrame: $28 million Eastven, Vantage Point, Ignition, Samsung
Tatara: $26 million Highland, North Bridge
Ubiquisys: $25 million from Accel, Atlas and Google & T-Ventures
Kineto: $15.5 million round from Venrock, SutterHill, Oak, Motorola & NEC
Percello: $12 million Granite, T-Venture, Vertex
AirWalk: $10 million TL Ventures, Seven Rosen, Nedelco
ip.access: $10 million Scottish Equity, ADC, Cisco, Qualcomm

For the last two years I have noticed a pattern of frustration from executives at these companies who vent their frustration having to sell their femtocells through the carrier channels. It troubles me that all of these companies continue rely on incompetent marketers (the carriers) to sell their products and educate consumers that they exist. Cannibalization of your customers marketing just might be the only way to get ahead in business. I strongly suggesting that each of these companies will need to "steal a page from the Google Nexus One Phone" and start doing some demand side research of who needs the product and where. Its obvious that the carriers have very little financial incentive to push femtocells to their customers for fear of cannibalizing their existing businesses. Yes I am suggesting that femtocell marketing executives start thinking like Cannibal Lecter in order to make their companies successful. Sometimes cannibalization of your own customers is the only way to succeed and rise about the crowd.