Ridiculous data prices are killing innovation, new cellular gadgets.

You know, I’ll admit that I was never a fan of the Samsung Tab. It’s a pretty decent looking device on the outside, but the unoptimized OS slapped on a tablet combined with the fact most of the Android apps are going to look like hell kind of ruins it. Oh yeah — then there’s that whole insane data pricing/data cap thing going on too.

So far, every carrier that has announced a Samsung Tab data plan has effectively killed it for me. 2GB of data should not cost any more than $5-$10. That’s the simple, harsh reality the carriers need to accept. If I’m paying $60+ for a data plan, that damn thing better be unlimited — And I mean really unlimited w/ none of this false advertising crap! — and allow me to tether all my devices to it that i want.

Speaking of tethering, doesn’t anyone find it weird that a home internet provider charges you a set amount for internet service to which you can hook up as many devices as you please, yet cellular data providers feel it’s rate to rape you on each additional device you’d like to connect?

No matter how cellular providers want to try and manipulate the truth, at the end of the day a gigabyte is a gigabyte is a gigabyte. It doesn’t matter how I consume it or what I consume it on. They get paid regardless. This fact is even more relevant with data caps. If I’m paying for a set number of gigabytes and I have to pay for extra bandwidth over my initial balance, why does it matter what I use?

Just another sign that the current trend in capped/limited data plans in the U.S. is nothing but a money grab. Not to mention, the restrictive pricing is going to hamper innovation. Why create an uber device that loves the internet if it costs so damn much to do something as simple as stream a TV episode and upload a picture to Facebook?

But hey, it’s great for carriers. They can rake in the money and sit back on their padded asses…doing nothing…like we’re used to them doing. Why upgrade your network if you can regulate and cap it into digital hell?

/end of rant.

VLC Now Available for iPhone!

Media junkies celebrate! VLC Media Player is now available. Verson 1.1.0 brings a few enhancements (from the prevoius un-released 1.0 version) including the ability to delete files on the iDevice without having to go through iTunes, a bunch more of codecs are now recognized, and quicker decoding. Sounds like a win to me. Free in the App Store — go and get it!

When customers lie, it’s a violation of a company’s ToS. The flipside? That’s A-OK…

I was reading a couple of stories over the weekend — mainly on Consumerist and TechDirt — and came to the realization that as consumers, we’re destined to be screwed by big companies. This fact was perfectly highlighted by one Consumerist commenter, obits3.

In reply to T-Mobile’s new “Unlimited” plan that’s soft capped at 5GB and killing of tethering — You should never have to pay twice to use your data! — obits3 stated the following:

You forget that it is only wrong when customers lie to companies (tethering).

Companies lying to customers (saying unlimited and then limiting data/speeds) is just good marketing.

And you know what? Obits3 is right. How many times do we see individual consumers lambasted either by the company they’re “violating” or general power trip internet users who feel it’s their duty to “protect”? At the same time, how often do we actually see the same companies getting their fair share of consumer outrage? Outside of a few tech blogs and website comment systems — none.

Those same companies will lobby government for stronger anti-consumer policies and sue end users who violate such things until their heart’s content. And yet if a consumer(s) tries that approach, they usually end up loosing, a paltry settlement, or worst of all, the company doesn’t get so much as a slap on the wrist.

Happy Monday.

[Update] As Cisco acquisition rumors heat up, Skype starts cutting off 3rd party services.

Bad news for Nimbuzz users — Skype is no longer a supported service. But before we get too far, let’s back track a bit.

A couple of months back, Fring intentionally blocked Skype because of network issues. But when the company moved to re-activate the popular VoIP service, they found out that it was Skype that had gone on the offensive this time and chosen to block service.

And now, Nimbuzz is seeing the same end of the ban hammer, with Skype requesting that all Skype services be discontinued by October 31st. But even worse for Skype users, the company is pushing to disconnect all 3rd party services that use their API.

The general consensus is that Skype is merely preparing for their IPO which they filed back in August. But the growing story is that Cisco is eying an acquisition. Good for Skype, apparently bad for consumers.

With Cisco being a hardcore corporate company, can we write off Skype in the consumer sphere? I mean, once acquired by a suit and tie type of organization, will it be business as usual — limit services, access, and consumer-oriented features while simultaneously jacking up the price because it carries the “corporate” tag?

Any Fring (and now Nimbuzz) users feeling a bit peeved?

Update

A Skype PR rep just shot me an email highlighting the following:

Skype believes and were concerned that Nimbuzz’s application was in violation of Skype’s API Terms of Use and End User License Agreement (EULA). Skype offered to meet with Nimbuzz and discuss the issue; however, we have not heard back from them since our last correspondence with them in early August. Like any company that has APIs or an SDK, Skype has certain rules that guide the development of apps using those tools. Such rules help protect the Skype brand and our end user experience.

…

Skype makes two development platforms available to developers. Skype’s Public API, which has been available for a number of years already, is a great solution for hardware accessories such as headsets and webcams that connect to Skype’s standard desktop clients (this tool is what Nimbuzz is using improperly). However, ever since we released the Public API, developers have been asking for a solution that works WITHOUT the Skype desktop application. Enter SkypeKit. Think of SkypeKit as a “headless” version of Skype — that is, a Skype client with no user interface that runs invisibly, not only on PCs, but also TVs, notebooks, and other Internet connected devices. Developers communicate with SkypeKit through the SkypeKit API, surfacing Skype features (i.e., IM, voice or video calls) through their own applications.

Some fodder to chew on.

First Verizon LTE phone spied. Hello LG!

Well lookie what we have here — an announced, mystery device made by LG. From the image, we can see that Verizon Wireless is the carrier. And most notably, this baby has LTE! HD video capture and WiFi are also a given. LG has pumped out some truly stunning hardware in the past. This one is no exception. While the more physical aspect is hit or miss, the internal hardware is sure to please any and all techies. The only downside is we don’t know the actual OS powering this beaut.

But it looks like we won’t have to wait too much longer — VZW is supposed to unearth six LTE handsets in the 1H 2011. Hurrah for early leaks!

Shocker: Symbian foundation on suicide watch.

It looks like the lights at the Symbian Foundation headquarters won’t be on much longer. The sad fact of the matter is that no one cares about Symbian anymore. Two of the Foundation’s major supporters — Samsung and Sony — have either halted all development on current Symbian-powered products or have withdrawn from the Foundation altogether. It also doesn’t help that the Foundation’s largest supporter is Nokia, whom also isn’t exactly having the greatest of times. Yeah, they still continue to move a lot of phones. But the harsh reality is that most of those phones are bottom of the barrel junk phones that no one cares about.

Complicating matters, former CEO Lee Williams threw in the towel last week and walked off the job citing Symbian’s on it’s way to the grave “personal reasons”. As his replacement, the Symbian Foundation promoted CFO Tim Holbrow to the helm. But that doesn’t mean all is well. Apparently, Holbrow has been caught stating that the Foundation’s focus is moving away from technology and consumer development and more into the”operations” realm — this all according to “a source close to the matter” and comments recently made to UK tech site, TheRegister:

But a source close to Symbian has told The Reg that Holbrow has been appointed to wind down operations and that Foundation employees are being offered redundancy packages.

Symbian would not confirm or deny, but it said the group’s board is reviewing strategy. “The future business strategy for the Symbian Foundation is still under review by the board. As no decisions have been made, we will not be offering further comment,” Symbian said.

Waning support, lack of funds, and a portfolio of products that no one cares about — that sounds like death to me.

Review: Proporta Silicone iPhone 4 Reception Case.

Ah, a case that states right in the name what it’s there for — fixing your iPhone 4 signal attenuation problem. The Proporta Silicone iPhone 4 Reception Case is a soft skin case that aims to wrap your precious iPhone 4 in steril rubber. I say steril because it is made of Proporta’s trademarked “SteriTouch” material. For those who are squeamish about germs, this could be your case. How’s it in the pocket. Does it actually help with signal attenuation. All are very good questions. And all of the answers are just after the jump…