Why do Apple and AT&T deceive their customers?

The iPhone 3G has brought Apple and AT&T truckloads of money in the last year. If you remember, after the iPhone 3G launched, AT&T’s network started imploading immediately under the “immense” load of all the new customers. People were complaining left and right of low 3G coverge when AT&T’s coverage map showed their area clearly within the boundaries. How did Apple (and most likely AT&T) remedy the situation? By rigging the iPhone to show false signal stength. One way to find out the REAL signal strength is to enter “field test mode”.  To get into field test mode, select the keypad and type in *3001#12345#* then press “dial”. The number that appears is the signal reading in decibals of resistance. The lower the number the better. You can easily try it yourself if you don’t believe the pictures.

Windows 7 coming soon…with a Bajillion different versions.

Vista is quite possibly the most widely panned product from Microsoft. We all know it’s slow. And it took Microsoft way too long to get Vista to play nice with older software. The fun didn’t stop there though. One other major complaint has been that there are too many versions of the OS. The last complaint is going unanswered as it appears Microsoft is making a bajillion versions of Windows 7. Apparantly Microsoft doesn’t understand their consumers as a leaked photo of Windows 7 beta, build 7025 shows the setup screen and a list of different versions to install…five in all!  Five versions is way too much. In the midst of a 1,400 person layoff, it doesn’t make any sence to have so many different versions of an OS to code, market, and support. This is a terrible idea that could tarnish slightly what is becoming an “update” with some actual demand. Choices are good M. But not that many choices.

Source: Engadget

Window’s Mobile 6.5 “Honeycomb” homescreen breaks cover.

Windows Mobile lovers feast your eyes on the new “Honeycomb” homescreen coming to you in Windows Mobile 6.5.  As you can see it’s significantly different than the current 6.1 layout.  The stunning device is from CompuLabs and their upcoming device, the Exeda.  I don’t really think it’s going to win too many beauty awards.  Click through for another pic!

Multi-Touch support officially comes to Android…unofficially

So are you a jealous Android user who lusts day and night after multi-touch on your G1?  Well your not alone.  The dev community of many different handset groups are responsible for some of the greatest advances in said areas.  It comes as no surprise then that the dev com is the sole provider of bringing multi-touch to the G1.  It’s still in a “proof of concept phase” meaning that if you aren’t very technical it’s best to watch the YouTube videos and continue lusting a little while longer as you could do some damage to your phone.  If you are technically inclined, start by gaining root access.  Then, get a comfortable pair of “sporty shoes”, and don’t forget the inhaler!  Finally head on over to Luke Hutch’s blog and start the hoop jumping.

Source: Engadget Mobile, Mod My Gphone, Luke Hutch

Femtocell range extender now loosed by Verizon

So, are you in one of the 3 places on the planet where Verizon doesn’t have any coverage?  You can stop saying “Can you here me now?” and finally start having a normal conversation inside of your house instead of aimlessly roaming around your front yard searching for a signal.  Verizon has made good on their promise, (and on time), to release the “Verizon Wireless Network Extender” for the low price of $249.99.  What is this new fangled femtocell/range extender you ask?  A femtocell uses a broadband internet connection to turn itself into a mini cell tower thereby giving you coverage in areas you previously had little or even none at all.  You can expect to take and make calls up to 5,000ft from the mini tower with support for up to 3 lines.  A fourth line is reserved for emergency phone calls.  So stroll around your house, sit outside, or just feel the freedom that 5,000ft gives you.  Now if only The Big Red could come up with a little more reasonable price, I’m sure a few more people would jump.

Source: Boy Genius

“Lambo Board” makes you a snowboarding God, comes in at $1899

Cheetah Ultra Sports has spent the last 4 years researching and developing the Whip F-117.  A futuristic, sharp edged snowboard.  Apparently, said snowboard is the “Lamborghini” of snowboards allowing riders to rider faster, feel lighter, in general snowboard better.  I’ll have to take their word for it as I have never been snowboarding, (would love too though).  The “Lambo Board” comes with a price tag to match the name too…$1899!  Now again, I’m not in to the whole snowboarding scene so I’m sure theres others just as expensive.  Every hobby has higher end products.  To each his own.  If you’re in the market for the Lambo Board head on over to Cheetah Ultra and be ready to part a few dollars.

Source: Engadget, Cheetah Ultra

smashLAB wins letter of the year award! (Canada)

I love the discovery channel and pretty much every show that they air.  Smash Lab while not my favorite show, I think is still rather entertaining to watch.  However, I must be a minority as many more people have a different opinion.  A small online design and marketing firm in Canada that goes by the name of “smashLAB” wrote a letter to the Discovery Channel blaming them for the continuing loss of business.  Googling “Smash Lab” will bring up article after article combined with reviews bashing the show saying that it “sucks”.  Now, people searching for smashLAB the design firm stumble upon sites bashing the Discovery Channel show and assume them to be the same.  As you can see the Discovery Channel is bad for their business.  So it’s no surprise they wrote a rather colorful letter to Discovery asking them to “suck less”.  Click through to read the letter in its entirety and have a good laugh!