Sprint To Increase All Data Plans By $10 Effective January 30th.

If you had any plans on jumping on board with Sprint’s unlimited plans and aren’t looking to pick up a 4G device, do so before January 30th. If not, you’ll be subject to the same $10 premium that 4G/WiMax users are already encountering. Via Sprint’s own website today, the carrier announced the change as a means to continue offering the truly unlimited plans as well as help with the carrier’s next generation WiMax rollout.

The charge will assist Sprint in offering simple and affordable unlimited plans for its customers while maintaining a wireless network able to meet the growing appetite for a richer mobile experience.

While it is unfortunate that people who can’t even tap into the faster network now have to pay for the privilege anyway, we can understand Sprint’s position. With Verizon’s LTE rollout putting Sprint’s 2-year+ ventures to shame, Sprint really needs to do something, and quick.

Mega Yacht Modeled After Monte Carlo. Costs $1 Billion.

A gadget? No. Obscenely over the top? You bet. Justified by the fact that there’s no doubt an electronic or two that will keep this thing from plowing into land ala Speed 2, this mega yacht has made its way to Gadgetsteria’s front page. There isn’t any one revolutionary gadget or service on board. But the sheer size compared with the helipad, swimming pools, tennis courts, movie theaters, its own beach, waterfalls, swim-in bar, go-kart track, and submarines means it has us wowed like none other. At 155m long and sprawling 445 sq m., this mega yacht pushes the limits of “personal watercraft”. Highlighting that fact is the number of bodies it can house — 16 guests and up to 70 crew. And at an estimated $1.1 billion, it surpasses the previously lavish Eclipse mega yacht for title of world’s most expensive yacht.

Company director of Yacht Island Design, Rob McPherson, has stated that his company started down this venture of building the new world’s largest yacht because they wanted a “unique yacht that reflected the style and sophistication of the principality.” He further went on saying, “We want to create a truly unique environment that could take the principality of Monaco to the ocean.

Though at some point we have to ask: at what point does a yacht become a “pretty barge”?

MoGo Talk XD2 iPhone Case Now Available For Verizon iPhone.

The MoGo Talk XD2 iPhone 4 case that we reviewed back in December is coming in a newer, Verizon iPhone 4 friendly form. But don’t let the “2″ number fool you. It’s nothing more than a simple, subtle re-design to accommodate the Verizon iPhone’s slightly tweaked design (read: you won’t notice it). As a case, the MoGo was decent, and what we’d call above average. As a bluetooth headset, it was as good as any. And as a combo package it was great — the storing of the headset flush within the case was ingenious.

Regardless of the minor changes, Verizon iPhone users who spend half their day on the phone and live and die by a bluetooth ear piece will definitely want to check out this case. Release is scheduled for February 3rd at authorized retailers as well as Mogo’s website for $99.99.

Verizon Confirms: New Every Two Is Dead.

You couldn’t expect the lush discounts and shiny new phones to continue coming year after year, could you? After several weeks of rumors claiming Verizon was doing away with their “New Every Two” upgrade program, Verizon confirmed the rumors themselves yesterday, January 17th. For those who aren’t familiar with Verizon’s New Every Two Program — it basically allowed you to upgrade early — starting at one year into your contract — and receive a $100 credit towards a new device. In return, you were signed up for another two year contract. Under the new New Every Two-less contract, customers have to wait until month 20 (instead of month 10) before they receive any discount for upgrading.

With the incoming iPhone and it’s higher cost to carriers under the typical subsidized model, it’s no surprise Verizon is looking to save as much cash as they can wherever they can. On that note, Verizon will never admit to changing the rules specifically for the iPhone. But it’s blatantly obvious. Nevertheless, you can’t miss what you never had, right?

Current VZW customers can still make use of their last New Every Two early upgrade within the next 24 months, while new customers area already locked out of said service. It was fun while it lasted. Any VZW customers feeling a bit bummed?

Sony Ericsson “Open Minded” About Windows Phone 7

The chances of seeing a Windows Phone 7-powered Sony Ericsson device anytime soon look rather bleak, this according to a statement by SE’s acting head of global marketing, Steven Walker. Walker admits that SE is sticking with Android for now currently doesn’t have any Windows Phone 7 hardware in the pipeline, though the company as a whole is constantly monitoring WP7′s progress.

If I were SE, I’d be a bit more aggressive with WP7. Yes, they’ve designed some awesome Android hardware such as the Android-powered Xperia series. But none of those phones have exactly “taken off”. Perhaps Windows Phone 7 would fair SE better? Looks like we’ll have to continue waiting…

Samsung Galaxy Ace And Suit Pose For Camera.

If one thing’s for certain, it’s that Samsung is having quite a field day with Android. Consumers are snapping them up left and right, giving Motorola and HTC each a fair fight in the quest for Android supremacy. With that said, the two phones above — the GALAXY Ace and Suit — aren’t part of Samsung’s top tier devices. Nonetheless, they appear to be decent phones.

If we go by previous leaks of the Ace, we should expect to see Android 2.2.1, 5-megapixel camera, and 720p video recording (among other things). The Suit on the other hand is much more mysterious. According to EuroDroid, this particular device could be a region-specific “Galaxy Mini”, not destined for world wide release. All of this and more should be cleared up in a few short weeks once Mobile World Congress kicks off. Stay tuned…

White iPhone Spied In Vodafone Inventory System.

The constantly delayed white iPhone 4 may finally be seeing the light of day months after it was originally slated for sale. A “weiß” (that’s “white” in German) iPhone has popped up in a Vodafone Germany inventory system signaling our wait may finally be coming to a close. Though honestly, Vodafone themselves may not even know if/when the white iPhone is coming, and these newly revealed markers are nothing more than place holders.

Of course, those who really wanted a white iPhone 4 by now have mostly gotten it in some form or another. Not to mention, with the iPhone 5 summer release approaching with each passing day, does the luster of a white iPhone 4 hold as much weight any more?