Are you an AT&T user that still has unlimited data? Well AT&T started a new thing today (at least it was confirmed today) that you will start to be throttled as you use their data to its max. AT&T has a few users that max out their data and although they say it is only the top 5% of their users we want you to know that  AT&T will be slower than normal!

This is all supposed to start October 1st. It will be based on how much data you use – and if you are in the top 5% then you will be throttled. AT&T never does tell us though how much it will take to get to the top 5%. This is said though that it will be users that stream music and videos to their devices, as well as gaming. You can look at the full press release at the bottom of the article, but I want to point out the nice little tidbit at the end that says they still need T-Mobile to solve it’s spectrum and network crunch.

Source: PhoneDog

An Update for Our Smartphone Customers With Unlimited Data
Plans

Dallas, Texas, July 29, 2011

Like other wireless
companies, we’re taking steps to manage exploding demand for mobile data.  Many
experts agree the country is facing a serious wireless spectrum crunch.  We’re
responding on many levels, including investing billions in our wireless network
this year and working to acquire additional network capacity.  We’re also taking
additional, more immediate measures to help address network
congestion.

One new measure is a step that may reduce the data throughput
speed experienced by a very small minority of smartphone customers who are on
unlimited plans – those whose extraordinary level of data usage puts them in the
top 5 percent of our heaviest data users in a billing period.  In fact, these
customers on average use 12 times more data than the average of all other
smartphone data customers.  This step will not apply to our 15 million
smartphone customers on a tiered data plan or the vast majority of smartphone
customers who still have unlimited data plans.

Starting October 1,
smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds
once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the
top 5 percent of heaviest data users.  These customers can still use unlimited
data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing
cycle.  Before you are affected, we will provide multiple notices, including a
grace period.

This change will never impact the vast majority of our
customers, and is designed to create a better service experience for
all.

The amount of data usage of our top 5 percent of heaviest users
varies from month to month, based on the usage of others and the ever-increasing
demand for mobile broadband services.  To rank among the top 5 percent, you have
to use an extraordinary amount of data in a single billing period.

There
will be no changes for the vast majority of customers.  It’s not how much time
you spend using your device, it’s what you do with it.  You can send or receive
thousands of emails, surf thousands of Web pages and watch hours of streaming
video every month and not be in the top 5 percent of data
users.

Typically what puts someone in the top 5 percent is streaming very
large amounts of video and music daily over the wireless network, not Wi-Fi.
Streaming video apps, remote web camera apps, sending large data files (like
video) and some online gaming are examples of applications that can use data
quickly.  Using Wi-Fi doesn’t create wireless network congestion or count toward
your wireless data usage.  AT&T smartphone customers have unlimited access
to our entire Wi-Fi network, with more than 26,000 hotspots, at no additional
cost.  They can also use Wi-Fi at home and in the office.

The bottom line
is our customers have options. They can choose to stay on their unlimited plans
and use unlimited amounts of data, but may experience reduced speeds at some
point if they are an extraordinarily heavy data user. If speed is more
important, they may wish to switch to a tiered usage plan, where customers can
pay for more data if they need it and will not see reduced speeds.

But
even as we pursue this additional measure, it will not solve our spectrum
shortage and network capacity issues.  Nothing short of completing the T-Mobile
merger will provide additional spectrum capacity to address these near term
challenges.

Sources have been following information on this mysterious device since the beginning of April. While some thought the Samsung Replenish may only be a feature phone, it’s recently been confirmed in training documents that it is actually an Android powered “green” device. Would you want to use a “green” phone? Keep reading to find out more.

The image below surfaced at the beginning of the month with not too many details so nobody really made a big deal about it until now. This 3G, touchscreen device is rumored to have an eco-friendly solar rechargeable battery door. That’s where the “green” codename is coming from.

Rumors suggest that the phone will be announced on April 15th and land in Sprint stores by May 5th. This is news to most of us and we will be happy to see any announcements made, unfortunately there haven’t been any just yet. We will keep our eyes open and share the news when there is more. For now, let us know what you geeks think in the comment box below.

Source: AndroidCentral

This is the first 3D Android powered smartphone in the world, in case you didn’t already know or hear about it. This 3D beast sports a dual-lens 3D camera, glasses-free LCD display and an HDMI / DLNA for sharing on 3D TV sets. This allows you to film your own 3D videos with the dual cameras on the back followed by watching them on your 3d TV.

Take a look at the teaser video below from the Mobile World Congress show:

Here’s what the LG Optimus 3D will have to offer in terms of specs and features:

• 4.3-inch WVGA glass-free 3D display
• 1GHz OMAP4 dual-core processor
• four times more video decoders than competing designs
• 3D playback, 3D picture-taking and video-recording capabilities
• dual-lens camera
• HDMI and DLNA support

That’s not all LG has in store for you. More 3D devices are going to be available for sure. They are also going to offer consumers a 3D Tablet, the LG Optimus Pad.

Take a look at the features below:

• 8.9-inch display
• 15:9 aspect ratio
• full HD 1080p support
• 1,280 x 768 WXGA resolution
• 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor
• 3D camera with 3D picture-taking and video recording capabilities
• Android Honeycomb under the hood.

Were you one of the ones who said there was no need and now consider getting one? Do these specifications stick out to you? Let us know your thoughts.

Thanks bored!

Are you an owner of the LG Ally or know several friends with one? I sure do and know they will love it when they get this update! The update (VS740ZVD) will bring the device several improvements, with only a few that have been announced. Who knows, there could be many more updates or just the ones you see. Either way, it’s a great sign for the owners of this device and gives them a reason to love their Ally even more.

Were all sure there will be more updates than this so hang tight and when it’s available we will be sure to let you all know! For now you can discuss in the comment section below or hop into our LG Ally section and discuss this topic already started there.

Source: AndroidCentral

A tipster at BGR just provided several documents that give additional details on the retailer’s new ‘Buy Back’ program. The new program is said to launch January 5th for smartphones, laptops, tablets and TVs; the service will be expanded to “other product categories” sometime during fiscal year 2012.

The “buy backs” availability will vary from that of computers, tablets and smartphones. TVs under 6 months old can be turned in for 50% of the original full-retail price; 6 to 12 months, 40%; 12 to 18 months, 30%; 18 to 24 months, 20%; and 10% during the third and fourth years of ownership.

So far, all “buy backs” will be issued in the form of Best Buy gift cards and the company is positioning the program to its sales staff as “protection against obsolescence.” What do you think about this? Is this new to you or have you always known Best Buy to do this sort of deal? Let us know what you think!

Source: BGR