New Technology Reviews!.: customer

Virgin Mobile won’t start throttling customers until 2012

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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="199" mce_src="http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/6052/mobileusa540x331.jpg" src="http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/6052/mobileusa540x331.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" />While Virgin Mobile is <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">technically </span>unlimited (and aren’t they proud of it) their parent company had intended to begin throttling its data-hungry users some time in October. Today the company issued a statement saying that while they still intend to slow down the connection of their most active customers, the change won’t happen until an unspecified date in 2012.The information was released as Virgin Mobile confirmed that it’s offering the LG Optimus Slider and HTC Wildfire.</div>
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Previously, the company stated that their customers would begin to see intentionally reduced speeds after they used 2.5GB of data. They didn’t say when they would actually put the policy in place, just that they would let customers know. Accrding to Virgin Mobile, that’s less than 3% of their customer base – which is probably small comfort to the people who fall into the category. I suppose they intend to let their customers know that while yes, they’re going to be getting a restricted level of service while paying the same amount, they’re in a very small group of likewise restricted customers. It’s <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">exclusive</span>.</div>
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With more and more United States carriers switching to a capped data system, throttling seems to be the method of choice for those situations where unlimited plans are an inconvenient necessity (for the carriers, at least). T-Mobile still offers unlimited plans, but already has a 2GB limit before customers are throttled. Those legacy customers on AT&T who still have unlimited terms in their contracts will be throttled beginning October 1st if they’re in the top 5% of data users, no matter how much data they’re actually using.</div>
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So gather ye tethering apps while ye may, Virgin Mobile power users. You’ve been granted a reprieve for another few months at the very least.</div>
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Virgin Mobile won’t start throttling customers until 2012

While Virgin Mobile is technically unlimited (and aren’t they proud of it) their parent company had intended to begin throttling its d...

Samsung announces new UK Premium Samsung Apps Store

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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="299" mce_src="http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6937/galaxys2review540x498.jpg" src="http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6937/galaxys2review540x498.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" />Samsung has made an announcement for the UK today that it is opening a new apps store. The store is called the Premium Samsung Apps Store for Android. Samsung says the UK is one of the first locations to get the new store offering premium apps like games and more. The purpose of the store is to sell premium apps to users that complement the free downloads that Samsung offers already.</div>
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There will be a number of apps on the Premium store and some of the more popular ones include Zenonia, the Sims 3 HD, Need for Speed Shift HD, and 9mm. Samsung notes that there is no sign up process required and the new store makes it easy for Samsung smartphone owners to get premium apps. Apps purchased on the store are paid for using a credit card. In the coming future the premium apps will be able to be billed directly to the customer’s phone bill.</div>
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Future payment options will also allow the buyer to deduct the cost from a SIM card balance. The prices of the apps will vary depending on the app and the pricing is noted on a per app basis on the store. UK Samsung owners can start downloading today.</div>
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Simon Stanford, Managing Director, Mobile, Samsung UK and Ireland said: “Anyone that signs up to Samsung Apps Store for Android today, will find a multitude of free and premium apps already available. In the spirit of providing Android users with the best possible mobile experience, it is our intention to continue to develop this premium service to ensure our customers have access to all the latest great content on Android.”</div>
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Samsung announces new UK Premium Samsung Apps Store

Samsung has made an announcement for the UK today that it is opening a new apps store. The store is called the Premium Samsung Apps Stor...

Mint "busy developing an iPad App"

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Apple fans who are still looking for a replacement for Quicken or Quicken Essentials on the Mac might want to hold out for the Mint iPad app. The company has been hounded by iPad users for quite some time to make a native app, and TUAW reader Steve C. pointed out that the company has admitted that they're working on a "brand new experience for the iPad."</div>
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In the note above, found on Mint's GetSatisfaction support forum, Mint Customer Advocacy Director Stephen Mann notes that they can't confirm any dates yet and are asking Mint users to "please hold on for just a little while longer."</div>
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Mint's free iPhone app has been extremely popular with users, with a 4.5-star rating for the current version on the App Store. The company is part of Intuit, and its web-based app is known for excellent budgeting and automatic categorization functions.</div>
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Mint "busy developing an iPad App"

Apple fans who are still looking for a replacement for Quicken or Quicken Essentials on the Mac might want to hold out for the Mint iPa...

Mint "busy developing an iPad App"

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Apple fans who are still looking for a replacement for Quicken or Quicken Essentials on the Mac might want to hold out for the Mint iPad app. The company has been hounded by iPad users for quite some time to make a native app, and TUAW reader Steve C. pointed out that the company has admitted that they're working on a "brand new experience for the iPad."</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In the note above, found on Mint's GetSatisfaction support forum, Mint Customer Advocacy Director Stephen Mann notes that they can't confirm any dates yet and are asking Mint users to "please hold on for just a little while longer."</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Mint's free iPhone app has been extremely popular with users, with a 4.5-star rating for the current version on the App Store. The company is part of Intuit, and its web-based app is known for excellent budgeting and automatic categorization functions.</div>
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Mint "busy developing an iPad App"

Apple fans who are still looking for a replacement for Quicken or Quicken Essentials on the Mac might want to hold out for the Mint iPa...

WakeMate Bursts Into Flames

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-21826" height="320" src="http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7991/wakemateac540x432638562.jpg" title="wakemate_ac" width="400" /></div>Whoa! The makers of WakeMate have sent out a warning to users that their Android-compatable WakeMate might burst into flames. Ahhh! They’ve sent out this message today saying that the black USB charger bricks included with the product are defective. They say these chargers were sourced through a Chinese vendor and proper certification in the USA was performed – but these thangs are blowing up anyway. Check out the full letter and at least one exploding event via tweet.<br />
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<b><i>NOTE that the main subject here is the USB charger included with the WakeMate package. It will burst into flames.</i></b><i></i> This is the letter that was sent out to customers very recently:<br />
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<blockquote>Hello WakeMate Customer,<br />
We have just been alerted to a safety issue with our product. The black USB charger bricks that have been included with the product are defective. Do not use them.<br />
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The USB chargers were sourced through a Chinese vendor. We paid to have the proper certification and safety tests performed here in the U.S. for the chargers. However, tonight we were informed by a customer of a safety incident with the black USB chargers. Therefore, effective immediately we are recalling ALL USB charger bricks and informing our customers that it is not safe to use these USB chargers to charge your WakeMate.<br />
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We will continue to look into the situation but needed to email you immediately to ensure that you stop using and unplug the included Black USB Power Bricks.<br />
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We are extremely sorry that we sent a product containing defective components. However, we also want to stress that this issue is with the chargers only, and not with the WakeMate itself. It is still safe to use the included USB cable to charge the WakeMate, and it is safe to wear the WakeMate while sleeping.<br />
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I sincerely apologize for this mishap on our part. We are doing everything we can to prevent any further incidents with the USB charger bricks.<br />
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If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.<br />
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Sincerely,  Arun Gupta CEO, Perfect Third Inc.</blockquote><br />
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There is one tweet saying that a device has actually, for real, started on fire. Beyond that, there’s a bit of extra info from the company from a Hacker News thread:<br />
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<blockquote>yes the batteries are safe. we believe that the chargers are spitting out a noisy electrical signal, which is causing the battery charger IC on the WakeMate to overheat, thus causing the problem. We have only seen any incidence when the unit is plugged into the black USB charger bricks we shipped with. To date we have logged over 20000 hours of sleep on our system, so we’re certain that sleeping with the Wakemate is safe, and that the batteries on the WakeMates are safe as well. This is in addition to the testing and certification we had done on the unit as well before we began shipping units.<br />
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We sent this email tonight within an hour of hearing about the first issue. One of our goals as a company is to increase people’s quality of life — starting with sleep. It was immediately apparent to us we had to tell our customers, especially if their safety was at all at risk.</blockquote><br />
[<a href="http://www.slashgear.com/wakemate-bursts-into-flames-due-to-issues-with-usb-charger-31122323/" target="other">Via</a> SlashGear]

WakeMate Bursts Into Flames

Whoa! The makers of WakeMate have sent out a warning to users that their Android-compatable WakeMate might burst into flames. Ahhh! They’ve ...