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Originally posted at Technically Incorrect

First, Verizon redesigns the phone’s interfaces to make it easier for users to accidentally access the operator’s data services:

Here’s how it works. They configure the phones to have multiple easily hit keystrokes to launch ‘Get it now’ or ‘Mobile Web’—usually a single key like an arrow key. Often we have no idea what key we hit, but up pops one of these screens. The instant you call the function, they charge you the data fee. We cancel these unintended requests as fast as we can hit the End key, but it doesn’t matter; they’ve told me that ANY data–even one kilobyte–is billed as 1MB. The damage is done.

And yes, as you’ve read, the operator data billing units are 1MB. So even if you download a measly byte, you end up with a $1.99 on your bill. Even worse, a Verizon employee reveals that the so-called “blocking” solution will not prevent from getting charged for data:

Now, you can ask to have this feature blocked. But even then, if you one of those buttons by accident, your phone transmits data; you get a message that you cannot use the service because it’s blocked–BUT you just used 0.06 kilobytes of data to get that message, so you are now charged $1.99 again!

The employee goes on to claim that this approach entirely legal, but definitely not ethical. I definitely agree: who doubles a 2-year contract pre-termination charge (from $175 to $350) anyway?

Post from: The Gadget Blog

This is still a rumor at this point, but Phone Arena is reporting that Verizon may soon be offering Sony’s 8-inch “not-a-netbook” VAIO P for $300 with a two-year data contract.

The model in question would apparently feature an 8-inch 1600×768 screen, Windows 7 Home Premium, 160GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, and a mobile data chipset capable of working all over the world. There’s no release date yet, and I wasn’t personally able to load up the product info on the Verizon page that Phone Arena links to but the site points out that Verizon may have more info this Thursday at a planned holiday line-up event in New York.

There’s also loose talk of a $100 mail-in rebate but it’s not clear whether that’d make the price $300 or if it’d be $300 out the door plus a $100 mail-in rebate. Given the VAIO P’s relatively high price tag, though, I’d plan on $300 and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

This is still a rumor, though. More info as we get it.

Sony VAIO P Series Netbook coming to Verizon [Phone Arena]

Droid Eris

(Credit:
gdgt)

We’re learning a lot about Verizon’s Motorola Droid (with more to come soon), but what do we know about the Droid Eris?

Also called the HTC Desire, the Eris (and the Moto Droid) will be a part of a series of Google Android devices …

Originally posted at Android Atlas

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Droid Armies invade Cupertino, launch coup d’iPhone.

(Credit:

Dallas Observer)

If you weren’t in The 404 live chat room this morning, you missed an insanely ’80s dance party! It turned out to be a blast, so we’re going to start doing it every Friday. Don’t worry if you missed out this time, just be sure to check us out next Friday for more Starship, Outfield, Buggles, etc…

Last week we reported on a story about Pepsi’s “Amp Up B4 You Score” iPhone app that offered “helpful” pickup lines targeted at a very specific type of girl. For example, if you choose the “political girl,” the app offers several jokes about stimulus plans, global warming, etc…you can use your imagination to figure out the rest. Unfortunately, if you didn’t download the app you’re out of luck, because Pepsi removed the app from the iPhone store.

All this talk about iPhones brings us to the first big topic of the day: DROID. The TV commercials for the new Verizon phone running the Google Android OS mock the iPhone and its fans, making claims that Android’s open architecture and physical keyboard will draw unsatisfied Apple fanboys to its camp, but we’re hesitant to jump onboard after the G1 flopped.

If you’re currently in the market for a new smartphone but can’t decide between an Android phone, the iPhone, a BlackBerry, or Palm Pre, this is the perfect episode for you! For more Droid info, check out this episode of Dialed In, another awesome CNET podcast with Bonnie Cha, Kent German, Nicole Lee, and Jason Howell!

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(Credit:
Konami)

In sadder news, Hulu may finally start charging a fee to view its broadcast content online. After that cryptic extraterrestrial commercial that Hulu aired during the Super Bowl last year, we figured that a monthly fee would eventually come, but the site definitely needs to offer more incentives before we bite the bullet. If we decide to support the paid version, Hulu needs to offer the entire back catalog of every show in HD and improve the movie selection…if not, then users might be tempted to simply visit another not-so-legal site. Get it, Hulu? Now get to work.

Today’s Beck’s Beer Audio Draft is my (Justin’s) choice and Jeff is pretty surprised because the band plays a fully orchestrated, instrumental-only version of popular video game music! The band is Konami Kukeiha Club, and it features the composers who worked on original Konami games like Gradius III and Contra.

In addition to releasing several original soundtracks (i.e. Silent Hill), the group also makes original music, and it’s great for anything active: gym workouts, bike rides, long distance runs, anything that requires you to get pumped up! The two tracks of the day are “Beginning” and “Bloody Tears” off the album “Konami Battle the Best.”

Have a supreme weekend everyone!

EPISODE 452

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Originally posted at The 404

While the Motorola Droid might be hogging the spotlight at the moment, rumors of Verizon’s second Google Android device are starting to bubble to the surface.

According to the Boy Genius Report, a handset code-named the Motorola Calgary will be the carrier’s other Android …

Originally posted at Android Atlas

Looks like those guys over at Gizmodo managed to snag a list of some upcoming possible Verizon handset releases from a “reliable source”. Looks like the:

Casio C731 Rock
Casio C741 Brigade
HTC Imagio
LG VX8575 Chocolate Touch
Motorola V860 Barrage
Pantech TXT8030 Razzle
RIM Curve 2
RIM Storm 2
Samsung Saga 2
Samsung Omnia 2

As far as Android devices:

HTC Desire
Motorola Tao or Droid

will all be available from Verizon before the end of November.

Verizon Wireless Razzle

(Credit: Verizon Wireless)

Verizon Wireless has just announced the Verizon Wireless Razzle, a phone that can tilt and swivel to fit both your messaging and music-playing needs. Developed by PCD, the phone’s lower half twists to reveal either a full QWERTY keyboard or external music controls.
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