When Apple announced iTunes Match, all iPhone fans were ecstatic. All Android fans uttered a collective “been there, done that” yawn. That’s because Google Music has not only been able to play music from the cloud since March, it does it at no extra charge. iTunes Match, by contrast, charges $24.99 a year for access to up to 20,000 songs, plus any song you have purchased through iTunes. And now that GMS is out of Beta, anyone can sign up for the service without having an invite.

Here’s how:

1. Sign in

Like all other Google services, Google Music Service is anchored according to your Google account. So all you need to do is head over http://music.google.com and sign in.

2. Download Music Manager

Once signed in, you will need to download Google Music Manager and install it. This software will scan your music library and add any songs it doesn’t have to the Google Music Library.

3. Scan and add

After installing the Music Manager, you can access it by clicking the Music Manager Headphones icon in your system tray at the bottom right of your screen (Windows), menu bar in the upper right corner (Mac) or notifications area (Linux). Then, to add songs, click ‘Upload’. Google Music will support various file types including mp3, aac, m4a, wma, .ogg, and others (for a complete list, head over to this link). If you have an extremely large, and eclectic, collection, this may take awhile, so be patient.

4. Roll your own

If you don’t want to scan and add your entire music library, you can choose to add a select playlist:

• From the ‘Upload’ tab, select ‘Choose by playlist.’

• Check the box next to the playlist(s) you’d like to add music from.

• Click ’Upload.’

Because Google Music is based on your login, you can it running on multiple computers. Google Music will simply omit duplicates – if the metadata is identical.

And you can also run up to three accounts from the same Google Music Manager application. So your family can also get in the game. To change accounts, Click the Music Manager Headphones icon, select the ‘Advanced’ tab, and click ‘Sign Out.’ The sign-in screen will reappear.

5. Go mobile

Once all your music is added, you can stream it from the website itself, or you can stream from your mobile device. Download the Google Music app from the Android marketplace, and then log in. Now you can stream your entire music library over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G.  There are a few third party Google Music apps like GMusic, and GoMusic, but there is no official App from Google.  But being that they have been vetted by Apple, they should be fine, at least until Apple changes their mind and strips them from the AppStore (it wouldn’t be the first time).

6. Buy and Try

Google has also added a music store, allowing users to buy new music and discover new artists through its free program as well. Click on the Shop Android Marketplace button, and search for the artist or songs you want. Once you find a song or album you want to buy, click purchase, enter your credit card information and purchase to complete. Your song or album will then be downloaded to your hard drive and will be available immediately in the cloud.

Google also offers free titles from named artists that you can add to your library. Look in the upper right hand corner of the Google Music interface, and you’ll see a rectangular button that says “Add to my library.” Click on that and you will go to featured songs and artists in the Exclusive Music section.  Fromt here, click on “free” next to any song and download.

7. Spread the word

Google also allows the sharing of full songs that you have purchased from Google Music. Simply click on a song, then Share Song and add a personal message. Please note that songs added from your PC or not purchased from Google Music will only share a 30 second clip.

8. Go downtown

Finally, say you bought a song at work and you want to listen to it at home. Simple enough, just open Music Manager and click Download Music Purchases. Songs will be downloaded immediately.

The arrival of Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus will bring a whole new era to the Android-based smartphone market, specifically the beginning of the Android 4.0 era that’s been nicknamed Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s been talked about for months as the replacement, or really upgrade, to the current OS system for Androids 2.3.4 Gingerbread, and the Nexus will be the first phone to done the highly anticipated operating system. As the newest phone to come onto the scene of the already oversaturated Android smartphone market within the past three months, the Nexus is pegged to be the “iPhone Killer,” but will it really kill the iPhone 4S’ popularity? Here’s a helpful comparison that might help you decide whether or not to ditch the Apple and head on over to the Android side or stay an everlasting Apple fan.

Size

The iPhone 4S fits some pretty big features into a small package with its latest smartphone that measures in at 115.2 mm x 58.6 mm x 9.3 mm (H x W x D) and weighs only 140 grams. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus sports some heftier dimensions of 135.5 mm X 67.94 mm X 9.47 mm and is only 10 grams heavier than the iPhone at 150 grams.

Winner: Apple’s formula can’t be beat on size as the iPhone 4S is lighter, smaller and thinner than the new Galaxy. While both can be easily maneuvered with one hand, the iPhone’s compact dimensions are a highly desirable quality since it can also easily fit into a small purse, a back pocket and more.

Appearance

The iPhone 4S is sleek thanks to its glossy exterior that was carried over from the last model and still comes in black and white color options. In the looks department, the Galaxy Nexus looks like a grand competitor for the iPhone, but is really more of a coy given its cheap plastic feel. However, it does sport a gentle curve on its body that does give it a bit of style.

Winner: Apple really knows how to dress up its gadgets and the iPhone 4S is no exception with its glossy and sleek exterior. While it’s not always about looks (remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover), sometimes cheap plastic doesn’t always get you a great first impression.

Display

The Galaxy Nexus may be larger than the iPhone 4S, but it’s for a purpose, which is a larger screen that measures 4.65 inches compared to 3.5 inches that Apple place on the latest version of its popular phone. But Apple also added a 640×960 Retina display that sports 330 ppi on the iPhone 4S, while the Nexus has a 1280×720 HD Super AMOLED contoured display (curved glass, really) with 316 ppi.

Winner: While both will provide crisp and sharp images, the iPhone’s 330 ppi seems to still reign higher. 

Operating System

The centerpiece of the Galaxy Nexus is that it will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich or Google’s Android 4.0 that’s supposed to represent a huge leap forward for the highly popular OS system. Said to bring an entirely new look and feel to Android phones with simple layouts, subtle animations and an entirely revamped home screen, web browser, email and everything in between. But this still in the beginning phases and the kinks haven’t been worked out yet (or really seen), leaving the iPhone 4S’ iOS 5 still easier to use. It also has 5 GB of free cloud storage so that you can sync your photos, contacts and more with your other Apple products.  The Nexus has Google’s Gmail and its cloud services, so it’s a win-win situation there.

Winner: Until it’s been tested, the iOS 5 still seems to be easier to use since it’s been proven. But this can always change as more and more Androids upgrade to the new OS.

Processor

Both pack some powerful dual-core processors, so neither smartphones will be slow. The iPhone 4S has Apple’s A5 1 GHz processor, while Samsung’s phone carries a 1.2 GHz from Texas Instruments (the first time Samsung’s used such a processor. It also has 1 GB of RAM, while the iPhone 4S only has 512 MB of RAM.

Winner: Samsung’s 0.2 GHz is a bit more than the iPhone’s and that’s enough to beat it out on this category!

Storage

Both phones feature 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage options, but the iPhone 4S comes with a 64 GB option. Neither come with a SD Card slot.

Winner: The iPhone 4S has that 64 GB option, making it the winner here.

Wireless Connectivity

The iPhone 4S can still only get 3G, while the Galaxy Nexus will sport 4G speeds thanks to its LTE status since it’s debuting on Verizon. So the Nexus will have faster download speeds. They’re both Bluetooth-enabled with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n.

Winner: The Galaxy Nexus’ LTE status says it all!

Camera and Video

The iPhone 4S packs a 8 MP rear camera and is capable of 1080p video. It can also produce high quality images in medium to low lighting with its f/2.4 aperture and features face detection and image stabilization The Nexus only has a 5 MP rear camera and boasts Panorama photos, zero shutter lag, and “silly faces” (think Apple’s Photo Booth software on the Mac and iPad).

Winner: The iPhone 4s’ camera is the clear winner here.

Battery Life

The Nexus sports a standard li-ion 1850mAh battery that has up to 270 hours of stand-by time and up to about 18 hours of talk time. The iPhone 4s claims 8 hours of talk time on 3G or 14 hours on 2G.  They say it will standby for up to 200 hours, will playback video for 10 hours and you can surf the web for up to 6 hours on 3G and 9 on Wi-Fi thanks to a 1432mAh battery. But remember that 4G is a battery drainer, so expect a lot less from the better connectivity.

Winner: Since the Nexus has a 1850mAh battery vs the iPhone’s 1432mAh one, we gotta give it to Samsung’s newest smartphone.

Carriers

Verizon will be the first to carry the Galaxy Nexus while the iPhone 4S is already available on Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

Winner: More customers can enjoy an iPhone since it’s on more carriers.

Extras

The Galaxy Nexus come equipped with Android Beam, which allows you to share contacts, web pages, videos, directions and more just by touching two NFC-enabled Android phones back to back. The phone also introduces a new way to unlock your phone with its Face Unlock. The facial recognition feature lets you turn on your phone with your smile. On the other hand, the iPhone 4S features Siri, the “smart assistant” that helps make life a bit easier thanks to its useful information and quirky sayings.

Winner: The Android Beam is pretty cool and beats Siri for now, given Google is probably working on their own voice app comparable to Siri.

Price

The iPhone 4S is priced according to its GBs, with the 64 one the most expensive. So The 16 GB is $199, the 32 GB is $299 and the 64 GB is $399. Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus is said to debut at $199.99 and will require a two-year contract with Verizon.

Winner: Since the iPhone 4S is price according to its storage, the price differences makes it more affordable for those with varying incomes.

Overall Winner

One of the best Androids on the market, definitely. An iPhone killer, not this time. Sorry Samsung, looks like your Galaxy Nexus didn’t exact have the gusto to take out the iPhone (at least not yet, anyways). While it may sport some very impressive abilities and be the beginning of a new generation of Android phone, it still didn’t make the cut standing up against the highly popular iPhone 4S.

With Google’s announcement of Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), users are now chomping at the bit to update to the latest OS. And while Google did say that that most if not all phones with Gingerbread would see an upgrade to Android 4.0, it’s not a given. So, here is our concise “How-To” on getting you a scoop of Ice Cream.

1. Have the right phone

The rule of thumb here is that the newer your phone, the more likely you’ll get it – and you should definitely be running vs. 2.3 (Gingerbread). Here is the list of phones that should, however, be upgraded: HTC Amaze 4G, HTC Droid Incredible (maybe), HTC Droid Incredible 2, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Shift 4G, HTC G2, HTC Inspire 4G (maybe), HTC Sensation 4G, HTC ThunderBolt, LG G2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Atrix 2, Motorola Droid 3, Motorola Droid Bionic, Motorola Droid RAZR, Motorola Droid X2, Samsung Galaxy Nexus (out of the box), Samsung Galaxy S II – (Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch), Samsung Infuse 4G, Samsung Nexus S (Nexus S 4G), and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

Now, of course, this largely depends no your air carrier and if your phone has an overlay like Motoblur or TouchWiz. Usually, this causes delays in rolling out these updates and as such, it could be later than sooner that your phone gets upgraded. And if your phone isn’t on the list because it’s too old, then it becomes less likely you’ll get Ice Cream Sandwich if you haven’t been given Gingerbread yet. So now may be the time to look for a new phone if your contract is up.

2. Do nothing, be patient

But the good news is, that if your phone is on the list above, sooner or later you’ll get an over the air update to Android 4. That’s because Android phones have the benefit of having their updates done automatically. You wake up one morning and you find that your carrier stocked your phone’s freezer with Ice Cream Sandwich while you were sleeping. And that’s cool. All you will need to do it confirm the installation and let it go. Once installed, you can confirm by going to your phone’s device information screen to see that the latest version of Android is now on the phone.  BTW – it’s always a good idea to back up your phone first, just in case, and to plug in your phone via USB or AC adapter during the upgrade.  The last thing anyone wants is for their update to go bad because the phone battery died.

3. Do it the hard way

If you’re impatient and want to know if your phone’s update is available, you can manually check for Android updates. Do this by pressing the “Home” key, then the “Menu” button and go to the “Settings” option. In settings, you’ll see the option “About phone” near the bottom. From there, select“System updates” and your phone will look for any new Android updates to download and install. To streamline this process, download the app ANYCUT and you can create a shortcut on your main screen which will do all that with a quick tap.  Another way to find out when updates are available is to follow your handset manufacturer and wireless carrier on Twitter.  They will usually announce dates so you can be on the lookout.

4. Getting to the root of the matter

Finally, if your phone is too old, or your carrier doesn’t think you should get Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich, or if you’re just too impatient to get it, you can always “root” your phone and download a custom ROM of Android 4 once it becomes available. Rooting means you get administrator access to your phone and can customize it’s functions. There is a very active community of Android fans who are constantly working on versions of Android – called ROMS – which make a new version or Android available to phones that don’t get them, or that streamline the OS – taking out overlays like Motoblur or TouchWiz. A good place to learn more are the XDA Developer Forums. There you can get custom ROMs, Boot Managers, and there’s a very helpful community who are happy to answer any questions and help you troubleshoot should a root and rom go dreadfully wrong.

This week, Google released a huge update to the Android platform which promises some notable improvements to the look and feel of the interface and which hopes to address the troubling problem of fragmentation of both tablets and smartphones alike. Gingerbread users can look for Ice Cream Sandwich to be available starting October 19 or when your wireless carrier deems you’re worthy enough to receive it.  All told, Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) has over has 1200 changes from Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) and over 3200 changes since the Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread).   Here are the twenty most notable features we thought took center stage.

1. Complete redesign of the user interface

With the new interface, users can re-size widgets to make room for others or to dominate the home screen, a Windows-esque favorites tray on the bottom of the screen quick launch of contacts, apps and web pages.

2. Virtual buttons

Google has eliminated hard buttons for Home, back, menu and search, moving them onto the touchscreen. In addition, in likely response to Apple’s lock screen camera option, a camera button has been placed on the lock screen for Android as well.

3. Better organization and navigation

Thanks to a new tabbed home screen and the ability to navigate pages by swiping left-right on any screen, users can navigate to their favorite apps more easily.  And like the iPhone, they can now create folders to organize liked apps together.

4. Face Unlock

Rather than swiping and inputting a code, ICS offers the option of unlocking via facial recognition. If your phone knows you, you’re in. If it doesn’t, you’re not. Nice feature if it works, but according to reports, it failed miserably during the announcement demo.

5. Screen shots with hard buttons

Android users have been requesting this feature for quite some time and now, like the iPhone, with ICS they can now take a screen shot by simultaneously pressing the power and home buttons.  So, while iOS 5 can now take a picture using the volume button, ICS users get screen capture.  I call that a fair trade.

6. Quick Response

Whether you’re in a meeting or driving, often you can’t take a call. Quick response let’s you send a pre-written text in response so whoever is calling knows you’re not ducking them.  All you do is click on the little smiling speech bubble and select a response.

7. Data Usage View

This is a good one. Going into data usage, you can get a pie chart on how you’re using your data, as well as broken down by application. Users can even give themselves a data budget.

8. Expanded camera features

Not only can users share any pictures with third party apps that support Android PhotoShare, but there’s also native panorama capability, time-lapse video, and still shots while recording. Users can also zoom while recording video. Photo editing tools include red-eye removal, cropping, and other edits.

9. Social contact integration

This new app will collate all contact information over several social networks and input it into a single feed.

10. Android Beam

Based on near field communications technology, Android Beam will not only allow for purchases by phone, but also data sharing by pressing the Beam button.

11. Improved Keyboard

The keyboard is revamped for more accurate typing and offers better error correction and spell checker.

12. Better Cut/Copy/Paste

Based on Cut/Copy/Paste in Android 3 (Honeycomb), cut/copy/paste in ICS offers animated dragging and dropping.

13. Better Gmail

As if it needed any attention, Gmail has been upgraded with a new edit bar for compose, search, labels, and off line search going back 30 days.

14. New Calendar with pinch-to-zoom

Pinch and zoom allows users to focus on a set day or event.

15. Updated Google apps: YouTube, Maps, Google+, Google Music

16. Tabbed Internet browser

A new tabbed internet browser brings desktop features including support for full versions of web sites, rather than their mobile versions. There’s also better page rendering, especially for pages that use JavaScript.

17. Better contact management

New tile-based “People app” interface for contacts, very similar to Windows Phone.

18. Speech to text entry has been improved

With the new “open mic” feature, users can dictate what they want, as long as they want and it’ll even offer correction suggestions and there’s no delay.

19. Visual Voicemail

Yet another Apple feature finally comes to the Bot with Visual Voicemail, which not only integrates messages, from the phne app, but also third-party apps which can add messages and other data to the voicemail inbox.

20. Accessibility

With Android 4, users who are disabled will have better accessibility features through TalkBack, including explore-by-touch with audible feedback and screen reader. Activated and setup with a simple touch gesture for all accessibility features.

The battle of the smartphones continues as the highly anticipated iPhone 4S goes head-to-head with Samsung’s latest and greatest Android, the Galaxy S II. For those looking to upgrade their phones or just want to know how each of the top smartphones (at least “top” for now given how fast upgrades are made), here’s a helpful comparison of the two!

Size

The Galaxy S II is one of the thinnest Androids out there, measuring 5.11 x 2.71 x .37 (all inches, HxWxD) and weighing in at 4.77 ounces. The new iPhone, on the other hand, measures in at 4.5 x 2.31 x .37 (all inches, HxWxD) and weighs 4.9 ounces. The Galaxy S II is considerably larger because of its display but it is lighter.

Appearance

Both share similar features in the looks department. They both come in white and black options, but the iPhone 4S does sport a premium finish with a glass front and back, while the Samsung Galaxy S II has a very thin and sort of flimsy plastic rear case…but this is what makes it so light, so it’s not necessarily such a flaw.

Display

The Galaxy S II has a larger screen than the iPhone coming in at 4.52 inches compared to 3.5 inches (but remember that the S II is lighter). So the iPhone 4S boasts a 640×960 resolution, creating a pixel density of 326ppi, while the Galaxy S II has a bright AMOLED display but it has 480×800 resolution, which means it has a pixel density of 216ppi. Looks like the iPhone wins here, but really, both are awesome touchscreen displays.

Operating System

Obviously, the iPhone 4S runs on IOS 5 and the Galaxy S II on Android. But all the hoopla with the new iPhone was about a new operating system and the latest version is touted as the “world’s most advanced mobile operating system,” as well as the easiest to use. New features with the upgrade include: notification center, iMessage, Twitter integration, reminders, camera enhancements, better photo editing options, PC free, Safari, Newsstand and Siri, the voice control feature that everybody’s taking about. The Multi-Touch interface in the new OS is easier since it was “designed for your finer,” making it finger friendly. But it still lacks flash support, which is a major downer!

The Samsung Galaxy S II runs Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS with its own Touchwiz interface. It’s claimed to be “more refined and polished,” which basically means a more intuitive user interface.

Processor

The iPhone 4S has received a processor upgrade, which is an A5 dual-core chip, clocked in at 800MHz and Apple says you’ll notice the upgrade with it’s faster responses that make all the difference when you’re launching apps, on the web and doing everything else you do on your smartphone these days. And because the A5 chip is so power-efficient, iPhone 4S has outstanding battery life (but more on that later).

Since the Galaxy S II has a wider screen, it was given a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Processor with 1.5 GHz dual-core CPUs so that it wouldn’t freeze while running multiple apps.

Storage

Storage is worth a quick mention with a new maximum capacity of 64GB available on the Iphone 4S. The Galaxy S II maxes out with just 16GB, and but it does redeem itself with the inclusion of a microSD card slot that can take a further 32GB, adding more storage for those who like to keep everything on their smartphones. This totals 48GB, so comes but it still comes in short of only 16GB of its rival.

Wireless Connectivity

They are both world phones, so globetrotters will be satisfied with both. The Galaxy S II is built and engineered to run on 4G networks, making it super fast, which means no waiting even when you have tons of apps open. Thanks to AllShare, you can also wirelessly share and stream videos, photos and music between your phone and TV, laptop and audio system. With a 4G connection you get up to 42 Mbps down speed and it’s Bluetooth 3.0 compatible.

The iPhone 4S also has WiFi abilities thanks to AirPrint and AirPlay, which allows you to print wirelessly and wirelessly stream what’s on your phone to your HDTV and speakers via Apple TV. It also boasts faster connections since Apple says that the new phone is the first to intelligently switch between two antennas to transmit and receive, making call quality better.

Camera and Video

Other than Sira, the other significant iPhone 4S upgrade is its rear-facing camera, which has been bumped up to 8MP from 5MP, and it also has a custom lens with a larger f/2.4 aperture. But the Galaxy S II 8MP camera matches that of the new iPhone 4S, making them even in this category. The details continue to be the same across the board with an LED flash, auto focus and digital zoom. The two are neck-to-neck on video abilities, too, with HD 1080p at 30fps. Both also come with software for photo and video editing.

Battery Life

Apple placed a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery in their new iPhone, with a talk time of up to 8 hours on 3G. Standby time is up to 200 hours, while Internet use is up to 6 hours on 3G and up to 9 on Wi-Fi. Video playback is up to 10 hours and audio playback is up to 40 hours.

Samsung added a rechargeable 1850 mAh lithium-ion battery with talk time pretty much the same with the iPhone so expect 8 hours to be the maximum.

Carriers

You can get the iPhone on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, while the Galaxy S II is available on T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint.

Price

The iPhone 4S will put you back $199 for the 16GB, $299 for the 32GB and for those big spenders, $399 for the 64GB…but this is for new contracts or those eligible for upgrades. Price jumps between $600-$800 depending on the carrier and GB variant.

With AT&T, the Galaxy S II starts at $199.99, while T-Mobile has it for $299.99. Sprint is carrying it for 199.99 also (all with a new contract).

Winner

Really, it’s a tie. Both the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S II sport the latest and greatest tech when it comes to smartphones and share a lot of the same features. So it really depends on whether you’re a devoted Mac fan or an Android lover. But whichever one you opt for, you’ll end up with an awesome smartphone that will entertain you for hours and/or  help conduct business when you’re away from the office. It’s a win-win situation!

You’d be surprised how often it happens. You’re checking your email or updating your Facebook page on your iPhone and nature calls. You walk in, lift the lid and kerplunk! The iPhone is sitting at the bottom of the toilet laughing at you. It’s almost as if there’s a micro black hole that can tug on anything electronic and pull it into the bowl. Don’t panic, you can save it. Just grab it and do the following:

1. Turn it off … IMMEDIATELY

First, turn it off. The longer your iPhone is on, the more likely the moisture that has seeped into it will short circuit and cause permanent damage. Turning it off stops any electrical activity humming around the circuitry.

2. Remove the battery, if you can (applies to non iPhones)

If you have a phone that has a removable battery, you’ll want to take it out now and completely dry it off. Use a blow dryer set on low just to be sure. This will ensure that your battery doesn’t corrode later over time.  If you don’t, well, there’s really not much you can do but move on to step 2.

3. Bury your phone in uncooked rice

Rice?  Yes, I know it sounds strange, but the next thing you’ll want to do is fill a quart or gallon size Ziploc with a cup or two of uncooked rice and bury your phone in it. If it takes more, then fine. But completely cover it and seal it.Over a few days, the  rice will act as a desiccant to draw out any excess moisture from within the phone.  If you are in the habit of keeping those silica packets that come in electronics and shoe boxes, those will work, as well.  But you’ll need a lot of them.

4.  Time will tell

Now is not the time to be impatient. That phone is going to have to sit in the rice for a few days to get completely moisture free. So if you have an old backup phone, and your smartphone is a GSM phone, then you may want to remove the SIM and use that backup for a few days. Yeah, you won’t have your apps or music player, but you can live without it for a few days, right? Your patience will be rewarded.

5. Blow dry the finishing touches

While the rice will draw out most of the moisture, there may be a little bit left and it may show on your LCD screen in the form of a black area when you turn it on. Don’t panic. Just turn the phone back off and either place it back in the rice or, use a blow dryer on low for about 15-20 minutes to drive off the rest of the moisture. I had this happen to my iPhone 3GS and there was a small black corner on the LCD. So I just blow dried it in the rice until the corner came back. It didn’t come back completely, but over time, it gradually did. But don’t think that if you can do it on low for 20 minutes, you can do it on high for 10, or save yourself two days in a rice bath. The higher the heat, the more likely you could damage the interior or cause any glue used to secure parts to melt and loosen them. Again, your patience will be rewarded.

6. Living with it

While your phone will come back, it may not be perfect right away.  And there may be some minor annoyances over the long term. First, understand that depending on your smartphone, your mileage (results) may vary.  What will work well for an iPhone may not be the complete solution for your Android or Blackberry phone.  But it’s a good place to start.  Also, understand that there is a small dot in every smartphone that changes color to reflect water exposure. So if you have any problems with the phone – that is the first thing the technician will check. If they see that there has been water damage, the warranty will be voided and you’ll be out of luck. Some corrosion may also occur over time in areas like the on/off button.

Conclusion

But in the end, it should be manageable.  I dropped my iPhone 3GS in water about 2 years ago. Dried it out and it’s been working ever since. So don’t panic! Just remember RICE and TIME.  Patience is your friend.

The new iPhone has finally been released. While it wasn’t the iPhone 5 everybody wanted, the new iPhone 4S still boasts some cool qualities. One being that it’s now going to be offered by Sprint. If you’ve been wanting to leave your other carriers now’s a good time to head over to Sprint. You can score the new Apple iPhone 4S and some more great deals!

5. Google Voice

Sprint is a Google Voice partner, which means a number of things. First, your number can ring on up to six phones, there’s transcribed voicemail and even online voicemail that can be accessed via Gmail, cheap international calls, and you can screen callers so that you can listen in on a voicemail and join the call at any time. Users don’t have to port their number, either, so they can use their existing one without the transfer! It’s now free to all Sprint customers and used to cost $20.

4.Great Service

Since Sprint is trying to up its place among the rankings, new customers who switch over for the iPhone will probably be treated to top-tier. We all know what a pain it can be tying to deal with service or phone problems, so Sprint’s customer service might be super great since they’re going to want to work harder for your business…in the beginning anyways.

3. Threaten your Current Carrier About Switching

Since Sprint entered the game, you can threaten your current carrier that you’ll be switching over to Sprint and see what discounts they give you to stay and keep you as a customer. You might even want to bring some negotiations to the table like a discount on your next handset or a discounted rate on your monthly bill for a few months. Hey, it’s worth a try and you never know what you might be able to get away with!

2. Cheaper Introductory Packages

Sprint’s intro plan is just $69.99 with 450 minutes and unlimited data, with the Simply Everything unlimited calling and data running you $99.99. AT&T offers a $15/month plan that Verizon doesn’t, Sprint charges just $10 for unlimited data, and AT&T’s 2GB/month plan is $5 less than Verizon’s identical option.

1. Unlimited Data Plan

Newcomer Sprint has a major advantage over AT&T and Verizon since they’re the only ones that will offer an unlimited data plan to new iPhone 4S customers. So that means you’ll be able to tether, stream and download as much as you want without having to worry about how much you’ll be charged, going over your limits or having to upgrade in data plans because one month you’ve decided to go crazy in your streaming. With the other two carries, fees start kicking in for overage at 2GB.

AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint iPhones Compared

Siri is Apple’s new voice activated digital assistant which will do just about anything you need it do and advise you along the way.  It’s a truly remarkable software application.  How SIRI differs from any other voice dictation app is that you don’t have to learn a new vocabulary or way of speaking for it to understand what you want.  You just talk to it.  And that is its genius. Originally, SIRI had its origins in the ultra secretive world of the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA), which had invested millions to create what it called a “enduring personalized cognitive assistant.”   A few years into it, SIRI released a Siri App in the iTunes store.  But Apple was so impressed with its interactivity that they bought the company two months later and decided to incorporate SIRI into IOS 5.

So the following are 25 of the mind blowing things that Siri will do to make your life easier.

1. Set Reminders

Working in concert with the iOS 5 reminders app, users can tell SIRI to remind them of something and the software will automatically create a reminder.   It’ll then give you both a pop up reminder in Notification Center and let you know via Audio.

2.  Schedule an Appointment

You can tell SIRI to set an appointment on your calendar.  And here’s the killer part … if it sees you have a conflict, it’ll let you know and offer alternative times and dates.  I love that.  In fact, SIRI goes even further.  You can ask SIRI what your day looks like and SIRI will read your calendar to you.

3. Let’s eat

Ask Siri for a restaurant recommendation and it’ll go out and not only grab listings for every restaurant in your area but it will query you until it knows what kind of food you want.   Then it will organize results according to what’s closest and read them off to you if you need to be hands free.  SIRI can even book a reservation at the restaurant you choose.    But not only restaurants, just about anything you want to find.

4. Send an email

You’re running and you need to fire off and email to the staff, tell SIRI you need to send and email and you can dictate the text and tell SIRI to send it out to the staff.

5. Send a text

You’re going to be late because of traffic and you don’t want to get a ticket for picking up your cell and calling home.  Tell SIRI to text your wife to tell her you’re going to be late and she fires one off to you and reads back any replies.  Genius.

6.  Weather reports

Ask SIRI for the weather report and she comes back with a five day forecast for any city you want.  She’ll even remind you to bring your sunglasses.  And you don’t even need to ask for the report.  Just ask if it’ll be hot tomorrow and SIRI will come back with “Not too hot, bring your sweater” or something similar.  It’s all very conversational.

7.  What’s the 411

Need to look up a phone number?  Just ask SIRI what “Dave’s” phone number is and she’ll not only look it up, she’ll offer to connect you right there.

8. Wake you up

SIRI can set your alarm and wake you up in the morning.

9.  Doin’ the math

Need to figure out how many pints in a quart?  Need the square root of 2314? Want to know  Ask SIRI and she’ll query Wolfram Alpha for the result.

10. Tells you where to go

If you need directions, ask SIRI.  She’ll pop up a Google Map with directions and alternate routes on how to get there.

11. Rock out

Tap the mic and tell SIRI to play your favorite song.  You’ll hear it immediately.

12.  Take a letter

Tap the mic and SIRI can take dictation for notes, emails, tweets, greeting cards.  Just about anything.  And when you tape done, you’ll see text that is surprisingly accurate.

13.  Tell me a story

Ask SIRI to read your email to you, SIRI grabs them in order, or pull out specific emails from people you know and read them, asking if you’d like to reply along the way.

14.  Taking Stock

It can’t buy and sell (yet) but Siri will grab any stock quotes and keep you in the loop on how they’re doing.

15.  Only Time Will Tell

What time is it SIRI?  Need I say  more?  OK, I will.  Siri will time your run, giving you lap times as well.  And Siri will count down until you need to take that roast out of the oven.

16.  Facetime

Tell SIRI you want to call someone by name via FaceTime and she’ll open up Facetime and find the person you want to talk to.

17. What’s in a name?

Siri knows contacts and so you can ask SIRI about anyone in your contacts, even if it’s just by their first name and SIRI will know who you’re talking about and give you any information you need.

18. Finders keepers

If you need to do a web search, SIRI will query both WikiPedia and Wolfram Alpha to give you the answer you need.  Or you can just ask SIRI to search for something online and she’ll use Google and even BING to get the information you need.

19. Stop and Go

You can ask SIRI what the traffic is like and SIRI will check traffic conditions in your area looking for a better route.

20. Heads up

SIRI will also use Notification Center to let you know when there’s emails from people or appointments and reminders.

21. Easy Access

SIRI is a godsend for accessibility with the iPhone.  SIRI will read everything back to you if you have trouble reading a screen.  Especially if you’re sending an email and SIRI will make sure you have said all you want to say by reading it back and then asking you if you want to send.

22. Coming soon to a theater near you

Ask SIRI when the next “Transformers” movie will start and she’ll go get movie times for you.  I don’t think she can buy tickets for you … YET … but it’s only a matter of time before third party apps take advantage of SIRIs powerful capability.

23.  Rockin’ Robin

You want to post a TWEET on Twitter?  Just tell SIRI to TWEET and dictate your 140 characters.  SIRI will read it back to you and then ask if you want to post it.

24.  The Natives are restless

SIRI works seemlessly with all native iPhone 4S applications.  So SIRI can utilize the notification center, calendar and contacts, email, Twitter, just about any native App that the iPhone enjoys.  And you can get as time goes on, third party developers will want to get some of SIRIs attention as well.

25.  Cloudy

SIRI can sync anything she does for you to the cloud and push them down to all your iOS devices.  So any appointments you set on the iPhone will show up on your MAC calendar or your iPad as soon as they’re set.

Unfortunately, SIRI won’t be available as part of the stock iOS 5 update to all phones.  She’s exclusive to the iPhone 4S.  Initially, we thought this was likely due to SIRI needing the additional power of the 4S A5 processor.  But then we remembered that SIRI was an app before Apple joined the show and Apple has sent emails out to all current SIRI users that effective October 15th, they will no longer have access to SIRI unless they upgrade.   But hey, that’s not a bad thing.  If your contract is up and if you want to change carriers, you can get the iPhone 4S through AT&T, Verizon and now Sprint.  So that’s not a bad thing.

Tomorrow, Apple will unveil the next iPhone, presumably the iPhone 4GS or iPhone 5.  Not only will it be faster and have an upgraded camera, but it will be powered by iOS 5.  Here are the top 30 new and improved features that users are going to love.

1. Wireless Sync and activation

Literally right out of the box, new iOS devices will be able to activate without a PC with wireless activation.  That’s something that Apple customers have been screaming for as some don’t want a computer, they just want an iPad.  This new feature fills that need.  And iOS devices don’t have to sync through a USB connection to iTunes.  Using a WiFi connection, users can backup to iCloud, as well as sync to iTunes on their PC.  And with new over the air (OTA) updating, users won’t have to sync to iTunes to get the latest iOS updates, something Android users have enjoyed since day one.  And any time you plug your iPhone into an AC outlet to charge, the iPhone will automatically sync to the Cloud via WiFi and look for a software upgrade.

2. Notification Center

The next new feature is another that isn’t really new to Android users, but that iOS 5 does quite elegantly … it’s the new Notification Center.  When users receive a message, whether text or email, iOS 5 will drop down a notification bar in the upper edge of the screen without kicking users out of the app they’re using at the moment.  Users can then swipe down to pull down the bar for more details. If there’s multiple messages, users can simply swipe to reply to messages.  For messages that come in when the iOS device isn’t being used, the Notification Center has lock screen notification, and a simple swipe will reveal and swipe to reply.

3. Greater Accessibility

This is so high on the list because Apple has always made accessibility to iOS a priority.  And these tweaks really help those who are hard of hearing or blind to further use their devices.  Features include LED Flash and vibration activation for incoming calls, improved voiceover support, a hearing aid mode for altering voice and voiceover, and custom gestures to perform key tasks.  Other improvements include a  larger text option, New speak selection, New assistive touch settings, and the ability to Set Mono Audio left or right.

4. Twitter Integration

With iOS 5, Twitter comes built in.  All users need to do is go into settings, select to install the official Twitter app and sign in.  New users can register within iOS 5 without having to launch the browser and go to Twitter to sign up. Once installed and activated, users will find Tweet options in several places from the Safari browser, the camera app, maps, and contact information where Twitter handles can be added.  Additionally, the keyboard has been redesigned for more prominent #(hash-tag) and @ (mention) keys.  Location services can also be added to any Tweet, making Tweet ups easier to create.

5. Greater phone support

You remember that the iPhone is actually a PHONE right?  It can make and receive calls!  That’s what my wife likes to joke about.  Well with iOS 5, users have greater phone support including deleting of individual phone calls with a wipe, unsecured call warnings, location notifications for calls not in contacts, and users can now edit their phone number in settings.

6. Enhanced email features

With iOS 5, users can now add a little more flair to their emails with rich text editing of italics, bold, underline, and even indenting.  And to make addressing an email even easier, users can now drag email addresses to address fields.  Email also will have the ability to organize messages easier with the addition of custom folders. And users can now select & mark multiple emails as read.

7. Enhanced contact features

iOS 5 brings a few extra fields for contact management.  Users can now add family relations, as well as social media links

8. iMessage between iOS devices

Users can also send unlimited messages directly to users of other iOS devices with iMessage.  iMessage allows you to send pictures, video, text messages, group messages, and contacts to any other iOS device – iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch.  Users can set up to receive delivery notification and receipts.  iMessage works on both 3G and WiFi, and messages are encrypted.  And just for fun, users can now use animated GIF images in iMessage (only).

9. Airplay wireless mirroring

Airplay mirroring comes to iOS 5, allowing users to use their iOS device through AppleTV on their TV set.  Suddenly, that iPhone or iPad screen is 50″, making it ideal for meetings or even game play.  And the image will also rotate on the TV as it does on the iOS device as you alter it.

10. Enhanced camera control

Users have been screaming for this feature and now they have it.  In iOS 5, users will be able to take capture those instant moments with a Lockscreen camera control, meaning that they don’t have to go into the camera app to snap a picture.  Additionally, users can use the up volume button to snap photo.  And users have greater control over what the iPhone focuses on with one tap auto focus.  In camera editing features are also added including with red eye reduction, rotating, and cropping.   Users can also organize their photos in camera roll with the addition of albums. And here’s a great additional option – users can use their iPhone earbuds as a remote trigger by using the Volume UP button.

11. Photostream

Through Photostream, users can now automatically upload images and videos to the Cloud and directly to all iOS devices and their Desktop PCs.   Additionally, iCloud stores every photo for 30 days and every iOS device will store the last 1000 snapshots.  Your Desktop, however, can store them all.

12. Improved Facetime features

Apple has also finally freed Facetime from the confines of WiFi.  Users can now video conference over 3G.  And they don’t need a SIM to initiate a call either as calls can be made via phone number or email address.  And what could be better?  How about airplay support?  Facetime now enjoys airplay mirroring for video conferencing over your TV set through AppleTV.  And video quality is improved.

13. iCloud

Here’s the biggie.  Users can take advantage of the Cloud with wireless backup and restore.  Users can also schedule daily over the air backup or disable iCloud syn via 3G to save bandwidth.   As previously mentioned, iOS 5 will also automatically sync and backup to iCloud every time users plug in their phone to recharge and look for updates.   Images, videos and files are also backed up to the Cloud and synced down to other iOS devices as well as your PC via iTunes.  And speaking of iTunes, users have the option of a free 256kb upgrade of songs if backing up to iCloud, with any apps or music purchased not counting towards their monthly cap.  Users get 5GB free, with additional storage options ranging from $20-100 annually.  And  Find My iPhone is also available as a part of iCloud integration with an option to disable it.

14. Calendar enhancements

Calendars become more useful with a tap to add event option, tap and drag to adjust time and duration of an event, swipe left or right to view a different day, and viewing of event attachments.

15. Location based Task manager

iOS 5 makes people more productive now with the Reminder Task Manager.   Tasks can be created and checked off, as well as syncd w/ iCal and Outlook.  Reminders can also be location based, meaning when your iOS device sees where you’re in the vicinity of a task, it’ll remind you to do it. reminders. Reminders — Instead of taking notes on your iPhone’s notepad app or putting a reminder in your calendar, you can now use Reminders in iOS to create a digital to-do list right on your iPhone. The geo-location abilities will trigger surrounding events for you to choose from.

16. Storage usage and clean-up

Here’s a nice feature for housekeeping of your iOS device.  iOS 5 brings Storage Usage Clean Up so that we not only see what files have taken up space but also the option to empty that space of Apps, Game saved data, Music, Videos etc. with single wipe.

17. The Assistant

iOS 5 brings a Voice activated assistant feature.   With a long press of the home button, your iOS device will interact and respond to voice commands. Users will be able to drive hands free and tell the phone to send email, texts, get maps, tweet, and even make phone calls.  Based on the popular Siri app, which Apple recently purchased.

18. Split keyboard for iPad

If you’ve ever used an iPad, you know how hard it is to thumb type.  So iOS 5 adds a split keyboard option to make it easier to type in portrait mode.

19. Video and music now separate apps

With iOS 5, the iPod app is retired in exchange for separate video and music apps.  Seems kind of odd, but it was actually done with the iPod Touch, so this change makes it consistent across all iOS platforms.  Users can also move between tracks with a swipe to the left or right (iPad only) and a slide will delete a song right away.

20. Custom Tones

To make the iOS experience more personal, users can now add custom tones for Calendar events, send/receive mail, voice mail, week view on calendar, year view on calendar (iPad) and more.  And of course, that means a new TONES App store!

21. Dictionary

Not an earth shattering feature, but it’s nice that dictionary has been added and is available in every app.

22. News stand subscriptions

Available through iBooks, users can now subscribe to magazines and newspapers.  Searching by popularity of subscriptions is also a plus.

23. Cellular Network for App Store

If users want to be stingy with their bandwidth and only download apps over WiFi, they now have the option to Enable or Disable App Store downloads via GPRS and 3G.

24. Faster Safari

Safari has become streamlined and is faster to load.  Users can also save web pages in reader mode which eliminates all ads to make them easier to read.  They can also be saved off line to read later.  And in the iPad, Safari also offers Tabbed Browsing support.

25. Alternate Routes in Google Maps

Ever frustrated when Maps gives you a route that’s longer or goes out of the way?  In iOS 5, users can choose alternate routes that are more to their liking.  For those who prefer things old school, users can now print directions from their iOS device.

26. HD YouTube

Users now have the option to stream HD/HQ videos through YouTube over 3G.  For those concerned about bandwidth, the ability to disable HQ video playback is also available in settings.  Nice.

27. Disable In-app Purchases

As a dad, I really appreciate this option.  With iOS 5, users now have the option of disabling in-app purchases.  No longer will I have to pay for things I didn’t want to buy because the purchase was done in-app without our knowledge or consent.

28. Game Center Enhancements

By contrast, Game Center now allows in app purchases of games.  Users can also further personalize their account with photos, and decide if your profile is private or public.

29. Weather updates

The iOS weather app becomes more useful with hourly updates, local weather, and the ability to swipe the weather widget in Notification Center to see a 5 day forecast.

30. MultiTasking

Users can now do gesture based multi tasking (iPad only).  With a swipe of 4 fingers, the app switcher appears.  Pinch will return to home screen.  And a swipe left and right to switch between  any actve apps

There are over 200 new features to iOS, and depending on which iOS device you use, some or all are available to enjoy.  But it’s certainly a well thought out and welcome update which will only get better with the addition of the new iPhone!

Smartphones come a dime a dozen these days, with everybody wanting a piece of the market. But not everyone has the right goods though, making for some sorry ass smartphones that are doomed from the beginning. Apple’s iPhone continues to be a leader in the smartphone market, as well as a number of Android-based phones, but some tried to beat out these smartphone top dogs and fell flat on their face. Others just didn’t have what it takes to make a great smartphone and some just became obsolete because of newer and better versions.

7. Huawei M835

Poised to be a beginner’s smartphone, the Huawei M835 from MetroPCS is an Android phone to avoid like the plague. Released earlier this year, its design is a rip-off of T-Mobile’s Comet, the Huawei M835 is slow as hell and its performance is nonexistent. While it may sport a cheap price, we don’t give this smartphone too long before it becomes obsolete.

6. T-Mobile G2

T-Mobile’s first 4G device, the G2, is now gone forever. The official date of death was June 6, 2011. The HTC-built device had a good run and lots of rave reviews, but T-Mobiles myTouch 4G Slide was coming in, so they needed to replace one of the first Android phones available. It’s not entirely a fail, but it’s been discontinued, so it now lives in the smartphone graveyard like the aforementioned devices.

5. Palm Pre by HP

Hewlett-Packard said goodbye to the smartphone market in August when they announced that their Palm Pre devices would be discontinued. Out for a little more than a year, the Palm Pre was killed slowly due to slow development. HP also announced it would kill production on it’s tablet and looks to get out of the hardware manufacturing game as a whole and stay focused to the software side of things. Too bad because many thought their WebOS software was actually going places.

4. Dell Streak

Dell is well known in the PC market, but its try at an Android phone was more of a flop. Looking more like a tablet than a smartphone, the Streak is too large to be a phone and too small to be a real tablet. A phone that won’t fit your pocket would be an obvious feature for failure, but Dell didn’t think so. Many criticized Dell for trying to create an entirely new category for phones (or tablets), and they should have chosen the Streak to be one or the other…not both. It was officially discontinued in August.

3. Microsoft Kin

Microsoft’s Kin had a very short life span…only six weeks to be exact. The company blamed low sales numbers, but Microsoft just came too late to the smartphone party is more of why it failed. Primarily targeted to teens as a social device that would allow them to always be connected to their social life on Facebook or Twitter, the Internet connectivity was a bit too pricey than a teen could afford. Microsoft should stick to what they know…Word, Excel and PowerPoint. But who knows, they might have better luck with their Windows Phone 7 that has been coming up in tech news on the net lately.

2. Garminfone

The Garminfone wasn’t as successful as Garmin’s GPS products were. While everybody wants GPS capability in their smartphones, the Garminfone wasn’t exactly the Holy Grail of GPS-oriented phones. Sold through T-Mobile, the Garminfone failed to generate expected sales. Some say that it was due to poor marketing, while other say there are too many other options with GPS that the Garminfone was totally unnecessary.

1. Google Nexus One

Much hype surrounded Google’s Nexus One smartphone before it launched, with analysts believing that it would dethrone Apple’s iPhone and take over the market. Boasted as the iPhone killer, the Nexus One proved to be its own killer instead. Designed to be a replica of the iPhone, it still failed to have many of its notable features. It also had spotty or no 3G coverage, poor customer service and it didn’t have a major carrier backing it up, instead being sold to the consumer directly. It had such bad sales over its first six months that Google decided to discontinue selling it back in July 2010.

TigerDirect has some big savings to share on this Sony Google TV NSX-32GT1 32-Inch LED TV!

So you’re looking for the best in connectivity that a TV has to offer? Look no further than this new Google TV from Sony. This 32-Inch TV of course provides you with a 1080p High Definition experience with solid and realistic color along with great contrast and brightness. But what really makes this TV shine other than its very interesting appearance is the Google-based operating system installed within it combined with both an Intel Atom CPU and RAM for PC-like power. The Operating System itself comes with many applications pre-installed with the option of grabbing more online and even features a constant stream of updates to keep you in the loop. In addition to acting like a normal TV you can take it much further with full Web Browsing and even the ability to stream video and other multimedia from places like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu and more. Smart multitasking enhances it even further and allows you to watch TV on half the screen while browsing on the other so you never miss out. You can grab it at this low price for a limited time!

Another price drop on this TV!  It’s now sells for $499.99 – $80 coupon (UQB44950).  That makes the final checkout price $419.99

Google and Samsung today announced the world’s first Chromebook, the Samsung Series 5.

If you remember Samsung already announced the Series 2, 4, 6 and 9 this year, all of which are built on top of the Windows platform.  The Chromebook however sports Google’s Chrome OS that the company says is built for speed, simplicity and security.  Start up time has been reduced to as little as 10 seconds.  Compare that with an average laptop, which takes up to 45 seconds to get going.

At its slimmest point the Chromebook measures .79-inches and can be finished in your choice of Titan Silver or White finish.  The anti-reflective and anti-glare screen measures 12.1-inches and rocks a 300 cd/m2 brightness.

Much like Apple’s laptops, the Chromebook claims an 8.5 hour run time on a single charge and a battery life cycle of 1000 charges.

In addition to the yet to be announced Intel Dual-core processor, you can expect 3G connectivity, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2 USB ports, an HD webcam and an SD card reader.

The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook launches June 15th at Amazon and Best Buy for $499.99.  The WiFi model will be $70 less, $429.99.

SAMSUNG AND GOOGLE INTRODUCE THE WORLD’S FIRST CHROMEBOOK – SAMSUNG SERIES 5
Samsung creates another industry-first device.

SAN FRANCISCO — May 11, 2011- Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced its stylish Series 5 Chromebook, the world’s first Chromebook built on the principles of speed, simplicity and security.
“With the creation of the Series 5 we are again pushing the boundaries of innovation by introducing an entirely new product category to the notebook market,” said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “This partnership has allowed us to combine Samsung’s design and engineering expertise with Google’s simple, secure software to provide consumers with a revolutionary notebook to fit today’s web-centric lifestyle.”
“Samsung’s reputation for innovative design and hardware development makes it a great partner to introduce one of the first Chromebooks,” said Caesar Sengupta, Director of Product Management, Google. “We look forward to bringing a much better computing experience built around the speed, simplicity and security of Chrome.”

Elegant Design, Power Performance
With its elegant shape, slim 0.79-inch body and simple Titan Silver or White finish, the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook embodies fashion and function.
The 12.1-inch Super Bright display is both anti-reflective and anti-glare for a consistently vibrant visual experience across a variety of light conditions, from outdoors to dimly lit environments. The Series 5 display’s 300nit brightness brings all forms of media alive in vibrant color.
Today mobility is a deciding factor for consumers. The Series 5 weighs 3.3 lbs. and has a battery life of up to 8.5 hours, including five hours of video play for all-day use without the need to recharge. The Series 5 battery has a lifespan up to 1,000 cycles, three times longer than conventional batteries, which reduces the need for replacements. *
The Samsung Series 5 packs power with an Intel® Dual-core processor, giving you the versatility and performance you need for a one-of-a-kind web experience.

Simple, Secure User Experience
Google developed the Chrome operating system with three key factors in mind: speed, simplicity and security. The average out-of-the-box laptop starts up in 45 seconds. By contrast, the Series 5 starts up in less than ten seconds. When waking from sleep, a user simply opens the lid, and it’s ready to go. This means that wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, your computer won’t slow you down.
For a secure experience, Chromebooks run the first consumer operating system designed from the ground up to defend against the ongoing threat of malware and viruses. They employ the principle of “defense in depth” to provide multiple layers of protection, including sandboxing, data encryption, and verified boot.
The Chromebook has also reduced concerns about security and data loss by moving everything to the cloud. If the Chromebook is ever broken or lost, all of your files are saved online.

Web-centric Entertainment, Unrelenting Workhorse
The Series 5 enables today’s digital entertainment lifestyle by simplifying browsing, social networking, application usage and multi-media viewing. An optional VGA adaptor can connect to a second monitor or television, while audio inputs connect to a microphone, headphones or external speakers. The HD Webcam completes the Series 5’s audio-visual package.
When there isn’t time for entertainment, the Series 5 can get down to business. Productivity is enhanced with the Chromebook’s stylish and comfortable island keyboard, which delivers performance that can’t be matched by a virtual keyboard.

Connectivity
Samsung Series 5 will connect you to your data anytime, anywhere through 3G, WLAN and a 4-in-1 Card Reader. Verizon Wireless has partnered with Samsung and Google to provide 3G connectivity for the Series 5 in the U.S. Verizon will provide up to 100MBs per month of Mobile Broadband service included with device for two years. Simple and easy additional data packages are also available for users requiring additional space.
The Samsung Series 5 will launch in the U.S. June 15, 2011 from Amazon.com and BestBuy.com. The Wi-Fi + 3G model will retail at $499.99, and the Wi-Fi only model will retail at $429.99.

Key Specs:
● 0.79-inch thin case designed for comfort and mobility
● Full-size Chrome keyboard
● Oversized multi-touch trackpad
● Intel® Dual-core Processor
● 16:10 resolution
● 12.1-inch SuperBright Display – 36% brighter than standard display
● Starts up in less than 10-seconds
● Resumes instantly from standby
● Up to 8.5 hours battery life*
● HD Webcam, built-in digital microphone and stereo speakers
● Two USB ports capable of charging mobile phones and accessories, connecting digital cameras and media storage devices
● Support for removable media cards (SD, SDHC, MMC) for photos, videos, music and documents

Google ain’t taking the news of Amazon’s recently launched Cloud Music player sitting down.

Today, a new version of Android’s Music app, analogous to that of the player found in Honeycomb, was accidentally leaked to developers.  It includes a new rating system and options for what is purportedly Google’s cloud music service.  However, and despite the app being available for download, no one has had any luck with pushing or playing music from the cloud.  This is not surprising since Google probably hasn’t allowed the service to be accessible to those who aren’t employed or cleared by Google’s project managers. Perhaps a trip to Mountainview and logging into Google’s network will resolve that.  Any takers?

So should Amazon be nervous?  Hells yes.  The app will ship with all Android phones, and if we’ve learned anything from Microsoft’s past it will surely lead to some sort of law suit with citations to the good old monopoly clause often invoked by those that feel as though their capitalistic opportunities are being infringed upon.  But on the the other hand, Amazon has been at this for a long time and presumably amassed a vast array of knowledge that should give them a leg up in terms of infrastructure.  Plus it doesn’t hurt that they’re the world’s largest online retailer.

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Interested in a broadband connection that boasts theoretical peak speeds of 1Gbs?  Then you’ll have to move to Kansas City, which earlier today was awarded with Google’s ultra high-speed fiber network.

Kansas City beat out over 1,100 other applicants, by proving that their town could build efficiently, make an impact on the community and develop relationships with local government and community organizations.

In theory, Google fiber users will be able to download an HD feature length film in just minutes and perform a variety of other bandwidth demanding activities online without any delays or slow downs.

Once the city’s Board of Commissioners has approved the project, Google will begin to offer the service as early as 2012.  Service will be offered at a “competitive price” to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.

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Soon Sprint customers will be able to access all of Google Voice‘s features without the hassle of changing their number.  So what does that mean to you, provided of course you’re a Sprint customer?

• Your number can ring on up to 6 phones
• Transcribed voicemail
• Online voicemail that can be accessed via Gmail
• Low priced international calling
• Personalized voicemail greetings for different groups – work or business
• Block callers by telephone number
• Screen callers – lets you listen in on a voicemail and join the call at any time

So how does it work?  All you need to do is go through a step-by-step form that let’s Google know that you’d like to use your current Sprint number with Google Voice services.  There is no need to notify Sprint or spend any money; Google will automatically notify Sprint to “to provision the necessary services on the network required for the Google Voice integrated experience.”  According to Google it takes just minutes for the change to take place.

So in short order, Sprint customers can use Google Voice’s features on their phone without the hassle of porting their Sprint number to Google voice, a recently offered option that costs $20 and might result in disruption of service.  We couldn’t determine if text messaging would be free, since that is a feature of Google Voice.

No word on an actual launch date, but Google said “soon”.

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Google TV isn’t exactly the run away product the company had hoped it to be.  But that hasn’t stopped them from finally releasing an iOS compatible Google TV remote app, originally only available for Android smartphone users.  

Feature wise there’s nothing new.  It allows you to control the volume, channel and a variety of controls on your Google TV box over your home’s WiFi network.  You can even search for shows using your voice, although you apparently can’t share web pages from your phone to the Google TV using an iOS device, a feature currently available on Android.

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Just hours after one of the worst earthquakes in history, Google has already launched a website that helps victims track down friends and loved ones. So far the website received more than 7,000 records within hours of launching.

Users can post updates to the site with info regarding people, including themselves, as well as look up info about missing persons.

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1) Number Porting
Google Voice now lets you port your cell phone number to Google voice.
- Upside: This means the number everyone knows and uses will now effectively be your number for all your phones.
- Downside: It cancels your contract with your carrier, which may mean a cancellation fee and it costs $20 to port.

2) Voicemail transcription
Google Voice will convert your VOICE mail from audio to text
- Upside: Great if you’re in a loud place or you don’t have the patience to listen to someone’s drawn out voicemail. Great if you hate “ummmms”.
- Downside: It’s not perfect and sometimes it can’t understand what the person is saying, resulting in forks becoming…

3) Rings multiple phones simultaneously
Your Google Voice account has its own phone number that is specific to you. You can use it to ring multiple phones. It’s also handy if you’ve got roommates and a front door buzzer, which means all roommates can answer the pizza delivery call.
- Upside: Never miss a call wherever you are, especially if you have poor cell coverage at home
- Downside: Limited to just 7 phones (includes Google Voice at your Gmail address)

4) Free Text Messages
If you perform reason number 1 then you’ll have free texts on all text messages you send and receive. Google has apps for the iPhone and Android platform to make this streamlined.
- Upside: Save money
- Downside: Doesn’t work with your phone’s native text message app; you must launch Google’s app

5) Make international calls on the cheap
With Google voice you can buy credits similar to that of Skype and make International calls without being charged an expensive rate by your cell phone provider
- Upside: Cheap, saves money and works directly in the Google mobile apps and gmail account
- Downside: Still uses your airtime minutes even if you have a WiFi or 3G connection

Yesterday, we told you that Google Voice was offering number porting on a beta or trial basis to select users.  Today, the company announced that the program is a full go and now available to all existing Google Voice users.

What does this mean to you?  You can now make your mobile number your Google Voice number.  Why would anyone wanna do that?  Simple, it’s probably the number that everyone has stored in their phonebook, so you won’t have to go through the painstaking process of letting everyone and their mother know you’ve got a new telephone number.  In other words, your mobile number will be able to ring all your other phones and you won’t miss those ultra important calls by changing your number.  Plus you’ll have all the flexiblity and features of Google Voice which includes free text messages and transposed voice mail to email.

To get started with Google’s Number Porting, log in to your Google Voice account, visit the Settings page and click on “Change / Port” next to your Google Voice number.  Next, you’ll be prompted to pay a one time $20 fee.  After that, Google will handle the rest.  Now, keep in mind that doing this will CANCEL your mobile phone provider’s contract.  So unless you’re out of your 2-year obligation, you might be charged an early cancellation fee, which can run up to $300+.

Of note, word is that AT&T will soon change the pricing structure of their TXT message service, which should allow you to break your contract fee free, but that change has yet to be announced.

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Google’s One Number does a lot of things, and does them well. Its core utility, actually, is being able to take care of a lot of things, namely a lot of phones. You give out your Google Voice number instead of any other numbers you may have – such as a home phone, a personal mobile or a work cell. When someone calls the One Number, it gets patched through Google’s servers where your own filters are applied – depending on who’s calling it will be directed to home or work or simply voicemail, where the message can be transcribed and sent to your email for free.

This is awesome for anyone who hasn’t been using the same phone number for many years. But when literally hundreds of people are used to finding you at a certain number, suddenly changing to Google Voice seems less of an option.

Google has solved that one as well, allowing you to now make an already existing phone number your One Number. But it requires a bit of an awkward and fuzzy switch from one contract to another, and a $20 fee paid to Google. But once you’re done with the process, you have a fully functional Voice account, and your old number’s still there.

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