Month: March 2011
AT&T+(T-Mobile)= -No Good^2 (I Hear Ma Bell Calling)
So I’m sure by now you all have heard about the acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T for $39 Billion of which $25 Billion is cash and the rest is in stock. This acquisition is bad news. 
This could only mean less innovation in technology, higher prices and pushes towards a monopoly. There are currently 4 major wireless carriers. AT&T with around 90 million subscribers, Verizon with around 80 million subscribers, Sprint with around 50 million subscribers, then T-Mobile with about 35 million customers with Sprint and T-Mobile being the “low cost” players. If you all remember in history class Ma Bell; what American Bell Telephone Company (1877-1984 long time right…) was known as after it was disbanded because of its practices. Once during its near monopolistic reign there was a government sanctioned monopoly but it was “regulated”. Regulated being the government had a consent decree with them in which Bell couldn’t have no more than 85% of the market.. This almost sounds like one of AT&T’s explanations to our current government to allow such a thing.
They say they will have about 95% of the country covered (over some years) with a high speed data connection (LTE) because of the extra spectrum they will be gaining from the T-Mobile take-over. The Obama administration is pushing for more connectivity in our country all around and in rural areas so this seems like something the government would possibly be interested in. This still needs to be approved by the FCC. Now does this sound like a repeat of the past or what!? American Bell was disbanded in 1984.
We know there are other options our there but AT&T is attempting to cover 95% of the US with their service. We should have most the country covered by many carriers.It’s also interesting to know that from American Bell Telephone came Southwesten Bell, BellSouth, Northwestern Bell, US West (Quest), Verizon (yes o_O), and AT&T; to name a few. There are benefits that would arrive (supposedly) sooner for AT&T subscribers with this deal but as a whole it’s not good. As Americans we are pretty greedy but my goodness..(Don’t get me started on Google~a love/hate)… In the end the customers lose. What’s your take on it?
Apple CEO: 2011 is the year of the iPad 2, not copycats
So the iPad 2 was introduced today and will arrive online and in stores March 11th. It is 33% thinner than the original. I hear it’s beautiful, well as beautiful as technology can be. Apple is the king of innovations and they want you to accept the iPad as a replacement for the PC. The specs in layman’s terms
- Has a better processor (Dual-core 1GHz A5 processor, which is “up to two times faster” than the previous version, Steve says.)
- Improved graphics (The GPU goes at nine times the speed as before. says Jobs)
- Same low power consumption-battery still lasts 10 hours and a month on standby
- Front facing and rear facing cameras for FaceTime & Photobooth (or any other app, camera on back has 720p HD video capability)
- Built in gyroscope-just like the iPhone 4
- HDMI out to TV/Monitor that mirrors what’s on your iPad screen ($39 Apple Digital AV Adapter cable)
- You can download iMove & Garageband to it-video editing and music software
- New cover that “attaches magnetically to the iPad 2 and it covers only the screen, adding minimal weight and bulk. Inside, it has a microfiber lining to clean the glass every time to move it. You can fold it to hold the iPad 2 in any position you want.” Apple says.
- Comes in WHITE as well as the usual Black
- Available on Verizon and AT&T for the 3G models
Prices: We know how Apples does with new products. Prices will be the same.
Wi-Fi models: $499/16GB, $599/32GB, and $699/64GB.
3G models :$629/16GB, $729/32GB, and $829/64GB.
So what does that mean?!?! YOU CAN GET A 1st Generation iPad for cheaper! 🙂 (around $300 or $400 for base models) Merry Christmas! lol
(FWD this post to your unaware friends)
the urban tech 