CrowdGadgets Episode 21
Download: CrowdGadgets Podcast Archive
As we get ourselves ready for CES, we look back and reminisce about some of the most groundbreaking and important gadgets from 2011. But we’re also excited at what’s coming, including a system update for the Blackberry Playbook, new LTE markets and devices, and new Windows Phone from Nokia.
00:46 – CES plans
01:19 – Sprint announces first four official 4G LTE markets
01:46 – AT&T continues LTE rollout, promises completion by the end of 2013
05:24 – RIM showing off BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 at CES
06:37 – Image of 7-inch ASUS tablet leaks, possibly destined for CES release
06:45 – Google’s “Nexus” tablet may have a 7-inch display
07:14 – Sprint Galaxy Nexus leak
08:50 – Android Market now the largest free app store in the world
09-58 – Windows Phone marketing campaign
10:59 – Nokia Lumia “Ace” coming in March
12:56 – Windows Phone 8107 update begins rolling out
13:55 – Dell Streak 5 makes appearance in Tom Cruise’s hands in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
15:32 – HTC sales slow down, profits suffer
17:16 – Most important gadgets of 2011
Hosts: Calob Horton, John Freml, Stuart Cope, and William Devereux
Podcast Editor: Calob Horton
Newsletter Editor: John Freml
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CrowdGadgets is the official podcast of the CrowdGather Gadget Network, which includes Anythingbutiphone, Anythingbutipod, Good and EVO, Nothing But Tablets, Pocketables, StreakSmart, and Zune Boards. Read the latest news from the network below.
News from around the CrowdGather Gadget Network
Anythingbutiphone
AT&T has rolled out its 4G LTE network to another eleven markets, bringing the total up to 26. The roll-out is expected to be finished by the end of 2013. The company will also be participating in this spring’s massive Windows Phone marketing campaign, which is expected to be in the $200 million range. A new Windows Phone update, build 8107, has also begun rolling out, fixing a few minor bugs in the operating system.
Anythingbutipod
iBasso has announced the DX100, a new high-end Android-based audio player. A popular manufacturer of portable headphone amps, the company has decided to enter the audio player scene and show the competition how it’s done. The device includes 64GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, and much more. The only potential downside is the ES9018 DAC chip, which is intended for stationary devices. The DX100 should be excellent, provided the battery life is decent, too.
Good and EVO
As HTC shows some signs of slowing down, Sprint just announced the first four markets to get Sprint LTE. The Android Market has also just surpassed iTunes as the largest free app store in the world. Additionally, we review the Trident Kraken Series AMS case for the EVO 3D, give you two helpful hints (here and here) for Honeycomb on your EVO View, and speculate on what might be coming soon for HTC EVO fans.
Nothing But Tablets
Last week, we reviewed the iZuck, which is basically a piece of plastic with a suction cup that you can stick on the back of any tablet or smartphone to help it stand up. It can also be used as a handle, as the doorknob-esque design is perfect for fitting into your fingers. And if you’re in the market for tablet, you can give Acer $329 for the A200 tablet, coming on January 15.
Pocketables
Eric Schmidt recently announced that Google had plans to produce a super high-quality tablet that would be released sometime in 2012, and it looks like that tablet will, in fact, be branded a Nexus device. But wait, here’s the best part: it’s probably going to be just 7-inches! Speaking of 7-inches, there was word that Asus might have a 7-inch tablet up its sleeves. Plus, RIM will show off the PlayBook OS 2.0 update at CES this week.
StreakSmart
Although it isn’t being sold in the US anymore, the Streak 5 is still attainable by the awesome Ethan Hunt (portrayed by Tom Cruise) in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. It’s Hunt’s go-to phone for tracking a villain through a blustery desert, and also the DOD’s go-to phone for all of its personnel. Plus, the Streak 7 just got a much needed software update that fixes the audio drop-out bug that has been bothering many.
