Matte 17″ MacBook Pro looks naked…slightly odd

Even though glossy screens on laptops aren’t everyone’s cup ‘o tea, Apple went ahead and decided to make them the standard anyway, giving the option for a matte screen only as a $50 add-on option to the highest end MacBook Pro.  Look at the picture above.  While in reality it’s more or less the same as the previous generation MBP’s, after seeing the unibody MBP’s with the black bezel and full glass across the screen, the matte option while costing more, comes of to me anyway as looking cheap…and naked.  Theres no darkness anymore.  Not to mention it *appears* that the display doesn’t have the glass cover.  Did you order a matte unibody 17″ MBP?  What’s it really like?  Let us know.

Source: 9t05 Mac

DataViz brining copy & paste to iPhone

*Gasp* Copy & Paste.  Yes the undeniably ancient technology of cut & paste is coming to the iPhone soon by way of DataViz as they are developing a mobile office suite application.  The suite will include a word processor, database editor, and presentation software (ala Power Point).  Besides the info already mentioned, a “innovative new way of syncing” your data between iPhone and computer is supposedly coming as claims DataViz.  A way that doesn’t “necessarily include WiFi”.  Do tell DataViz, do tell.  Look for Data Viz’s mobile office suite “iPhone addition” coming in the second quarter of 2009.

Source: Cell Passion

“Cupcake” bringing YouTube favorites to your homescreen

Fans of the still elusive cupcake update for Android have another reason to lust.  Mobile Crunch discovered while playing around with an HTC Magic at MWC that a new folder popped up in the “live folders” screen: YouTube Favorites.  It is the first live update folder that doesn’t pertain to contacts alone.  In true live update fashion, your favorite YouTube videos will be pulled down and ready for your ocular enjoyment in as little as 2 clicks.  As cupcake keeps baking in the oven, the developers are taking it upon themselves to add a little feature here and there that will overall make cupcake an even more impressive update.  Hopefully it gets done cooking soon as their are many anxious Android users waiting.
Source: Mobile Crunch

AppleBerry brings Apple/Mac flare to Blackberry Storm

It’s only been a week since Plazmic’s latest 4.7 CDK was leaked on the internet and already Blackberry theme builders are churning out themes as stunning as we have been seeing on the Bold.  AppleBerry, created by Hastings over at Crackberry, is the latest Storm theme to come out and is already my favorite (naturally I’m a Mac fan so I’m biased).  The homescreen is laid out with unopened/calendar events on top, a “touch strip” to activate the application screen (awesome!), and 8 icons situated nicely along the bottom.  Hastings has claimed that 98% of the icons are skinned along with custom bars and gauges meaning this Mac inspired theme will make you forget you’re on a Blackberry.  For more info, hit up the ongoing AppleBerry thread and check it out.  Be sure to give at least a small donation as this super cool theme is FREE!  Show some love and give a little an encourage hastings to keep up the good work for future themes.
Source: Crackberry

2010: The year of 4G for Verizon

Coming from the story of a new 3G market, Verizon is 10 steps ahead and pushing to launch their 4G LTE network in 2010!  The new speeds will come by way of the 700MHz spectrum that Verizon won in the wireless auctions last year.  What’s good to remember is that the 700MHz frequency is excellent at traveling through walls and long distances, meaning finally high speed wireless voice and data to even the people living in the boonies or 6 walls inside of a fortress.  Everyone will be covered!  Along with the increased reception users are sure to experience, download speeds will be greatly boosted as well.  How fast exactly?  Try 50-60mbps fast!  Granted, a completely empty network allows for blazingly fast uninterrupted speeds, however the launch isn’t until 2010 so there is still time to tweak things and improve performance.  Not to mention, download speeds of even 25-30mbps (half of the empty network speeds) are still many times faster than current 3G speeds.  Verizon seems to be having a little bit better time getting their 4G plans into motion as Sprint’s 4G WiMax network is moving about as fast as car up on cinder blocks.  At their current paces, Verizon could very well pass Sprint and take back the technological advantage.  Who will be the first to 5G technology?  What will it even be?  I know I’m getting way ahead of myself.  It doesn’t hurt to think ahead though.  2010.  Verizon.  4G!

Source: Boy Genius, Zdnet

T-Mobile getting more 3G service…3G phones not so much

T-Mobile while a late bloomer in the 3G world is pushing ahead at break neck pace.  Last year, they reached around 100 million people by the end of 2008.  For the end of 2009, T-Mobile is shooting for over 200 million.  Still with the quick pace they are moving, they are still several years behind.  For example, Verizon and AT&T have had 3G for several years now.  And Sprint is even starting rolling out (albeit much slower) their 4G WiMax network with Clearwire.  Unless T-Mobile picks up the pace even further, they will continue to stay behind.  With AT&T announcing  a 2011 goal for launching their 4G LTE network and now Verizon claiming a 2010 date, little ‘ol T-Mobile looks as if they will always be playing a game of catch up.

Besides such petty things such as 3G and 4G networks, what good is a high speed network if you don’t have any devices that take advantage of it?  Just highlighting a slight problem with T-Mobile’s current line is that the only “cool” useful 3G phone they have is the G1.  No 3G Blackberry, no T-Mobile branded hotness, nothing.  T-Mobiles decision to use the ugly duckling 1700MHz frequency band is perplexing.  Now instead of just bringing over AT&T phones as they used to with older 2G/2.5G phones they have to have 3G phones specifically made for them as no other carrier uses the 1700MHz frequency.  Quite the pickle they’re in for sure.  Hopefully T-Mobile starts getting some 3G smartphone love as well as keeping a 4G rollout close to the front of their minds.

Source: Blackberry News

Overreaching Terms of Service that you didn’t know!

If you ask someone if they enjoy privacy, the answer would be “absolutely!”  Ask them if they want big corporations spying on anything part of their everyday lives…”No!”  The latest uproar over Facebook’s new old terms of service (they have since backtracked termporarily to their older ToS) is only but the tip of the ice berg of overreaching ToS’s.  What?  You mean Facebook isn’t the first.  No no silly reader they are not.  Come inside for some shocking revelations that are sure to make you think twice next time before checking that “I Accept” box.