Sprint's New $60 Unlimited Data Plan: What's the Catch?

Not content with its recent announcement to increase data and lower prices for its family plans, Sprint is unveiling a new plan that gives you unlimited everything for just $60 a month. The new plan includes unlimited, talk, text and data for $20 less than T-Mobile’s unlimited plan. That adds up to a savings of $480 over two years.

It seems like that Sprint hopes to combat the Un-carrier’s latest announcement to give a year’s free unlimited LTE data for person and a friend when they both switch to T-Mobile from Sprint, Verizon or AT&T.

MORE: Top 10 Smartphones

While the plan will be available for both new and existing customers, customers will need to either already have a compatible phone, buy a new phone for full retail price, or enroll in Sprint’s Easy Pay program. Easy Pay allows users to purchase a phone for a small initial down payment, and pay off the phone through installments over 24 months. The initial and monthly payments vary based on the chosen phone, with a 16GB Apple iPhone 5S  and Samsung Galaxy S5 currently available for $0 down and $27 per month.

Finally, after all the paperwork is signed, users will still have to deal with Sprint’s lethargic 4G network, which is the slowest of the four major carriers. While Spark data rates are speedy when you can get it, coverage is spotty and results from our network testing has Sprint often struggling to break 3 Mbps up and down on 4G. Also, unlimited data isn’t quite bottomless as the top 5 percent of users will see their speeds throttled, a method also used by other carriers.

The biggest takeaway is that competition is heating up between carriers. In the wake of the failed purchase of T-Mobile by Sprint, there is no love lost between the third and fourth largest U.S. carriers.

Sam is a former penguin trainer and archery instructor who dabbles in esports and has lived on three different continents. If you have some comments on new tech or the best noodles spots in NYC, drop a line @SamRutherford.

From Laptopmagazine. Product reviews and advice for best reference

Review: Free Video Call Recorder for Skype records unlimited video and audio for free

Skype has become so popular since its launch in 2003, it's accumulated over 700 million registered users. One of the biggest advantages on Skype, aside from the free calling, easy video conversations and services like SkypeOut and SkypeIn, is how easy it is to record conversations. But most Skype recorders aren't free, or they're limited in some way. Free Video Call Recorder for Skype might have an uninspired name, but it claims to be completely free and unlimited in any way.

To start recording, choose your recording mode and click the record button.

According to the vendor's website, Free Video Call Recorder v1.0.2.115 (or FVCR) is "the first free Skype video call recorder in the world for recording Skype calls without any limitations." That's quite a claim for DVDVideoSoft to make, but it does seem that most recorders either cost money, record only audio, or are limited in some other way. But is it really without any limitations?

FVCR is a simple, lightweight program that comes with three different settings: Record all sides (picture-in-picture), Record other side only, and Record audio only. Upon my very first try with the first setting, I already encountered a slight limitation: You cannot record video at all if the other side didn't turn video on. This means there's no way to record your own video with the audio conversation, but I guess that makes some sense—chances are you don't want a recording of your own video. You can, however, click the record button when video is off, and it will automatically start recording when it's turned on.

While recording, you can either pause or stop the recording at any time.

Using FVCR is extremely simple. Skype will automatically launch as soon as you start the recorder, and after choosing your setting, you can start your conversation and hit the record button. You cannot start recording before a conversation is live. If you want to stop recording for a while but keep the conversation on the same file, use the pause button. The stop button will save the file, and hitting record again will start a new one. Pausing a session is seamless, creating a barely perceptible jump in the file.

The audio recording quality very much depends on the equipment you use. I got some pretty dismal audio recordings when using my laptop's built-in microphone (although I received no complaints about poor audio during the call), but excellent ones when using my headset. The program creates mp4 files for video calls and mp3 files for audio calls, which it automatically saves in the directory of your choosing. Note that if you change the default directory, you might find that it has reset itself when you restart the program.

Video recording is also surprisingly good. The mp4 file includes the other side's video on most of the screen, with your own video in a smaller frame on the bottom right corner—much like it appears on Skype itself. The program comes with a hang-up feature, so when a conversation ends, it automatically stops recording. This could be great if you tend to be forgetful, but it's a bit annoying if you did not actually mean to disconnect. In addition, if the other side turns off video in the middle of a recording, the file shows a frozen frame for the entire time the video was off.

The program creates dated and timed video and audio recordings.

All in all, Free Video Call Recorder is an impressive utility that makes it very easy to record both video and audio Skype conversations. It truly has no serious limitations to speak of, and there are only two features I would like to see added: a way to choose between several recording qualities, and some kind of notification reminding me whether I'm recording or not. Not everyone would remember to turn recording back on after a simple disconnection occurs—and these happen quite often on Skype.

Note: The Download button on the Product Information page will download the software to your system. When installing the program, it will attempt to install the free DivX Plus software. This is enabled by default, and you need to uncheck the appropriate box if you don't want it. It will also install the DVDVideoSoft Free Studio Manager, which is a glorified catalog of the company's products. You cannot opt out of the Free Studio Manager.

Yaara is a foodie, horse-lover, and biologist who enjoys being a geek as a full-time job.
More by Yaara Lancet

From PC World. Electronics product reviews and advice for best reference

MetroPCS Outs First Android ICS Phone, Low-Cost Unlimited 4G LTE Plan

Note to everyone who thinks 4G LTE is prohibitively expensive: MetroPCS begs to differ. Today, the company announced that it’s adding the LG Motion 4G to its Android lineup later this week, and at just $150 non-subsidized, it won’t break the bank. The budget-minded news doesn’t stop there, however. The Motion 4G is the first Ice Cream Sandwich phone to hit the MetroPCS service and to celebrate, the carrier announced that it will be offering a special low-cost all-you-can-eat talk, text and 4G data plan for a limited time.

MetroPCS didn’t say how long the offer will be available, but the company did disclose the terms: it’s $55/mo. for a single line, and if you sign up for a family plan, the second through fourth lines receive an even lower $50/mo. rate. Even better, you’ll be able to keep the discounted rate for as long as you keep an active line at MetroPCS. The company’s standard unlimited 4G LTE plan costs $70/mo., by comparison.

Before you rush to take advantage of the offer, check to see if MetroPCS offers 4G in your area; the service currently only offers 4G LTE in portions of 14 major cities, including New York, L.A. and Atlanta. Our small carrier roundup includes a review of the MetroPCS service.

As for the phone itself, the LG Motion 4G sports a 1.2-GHz dual-core processor, a 3.5-inch display of unspecified resolution with a Gorilla Glass screen, and a 5MP camera that can capture 1080p video. At $150, it’s the cheapest 4G phone available through MetroPCS, and if you buy two MetroPCS 4G LTE smartphones, the company is offering a mail-in rebate on the second one, which could bring the cost of the LG Motion 4G down to $99 when it’s purchased as part of a family plan.

The LG Motion 4G and the promotional 4G LTE deal will be available later this week.

From Laptopmagazine. Visit Amazon Computer and Notebook Center Here

Verizon Wireless and GameTanium Offer Unlimited Gaming Service on Big Red Phones and Tablets

Verizon Wireless is giving its Android smartphone and tablet customers two ways to game. There’s the old way: downloading and paying for games a la carte at anywhere between free and $15. And there’s the new way: paying Verizon Wireless $5.99 a month to download any game available in its new digital storefront.

That storefront comes fully stocked with titles courtesy of the GameTanium service, a digital repository of casual games for the Android platform. Verizon’s intentions are simple. Download the GameTanium app from Verizon’s app market, pay the carrier-billed monthly $6 fee, and enjoy unlimited access to each game therein. Of course, the benefits of that proposition depend on the quality of GameTanium’s selection.

Right now, the service lists Doodle God, Fruit Ninja, World of Goo, and Plants vs. Zombies as its most popular titles, but none of these appear in the Google Play Store’s Top Paid games. Meanwhile, popular titles like Temple Run: Brave ($.99), The Amazing Spider-man ($6.99) and Max Payne Mobile ($2.99) are noticeably absent from GameTanium’s lineup. 

Still, GameTanium could be a boon for heavy mobile gamers who don’t like to shell out dough on a game-by-game basis, as long as they make sure to take advantage of the service’s library and download several new titles a new month.

For those with happy thumbs that are eager to tap, slide, and drag their way to victory, GameTanium includes a free three-day trial and can be downloaded from the Verizon app store. Just remember, GameTanium requires Android phones and tablets running Android 2.2 or higher and at least a 1GB SD card.   

From Laptopmagazine. Visit Amazon Computer and Notebook Center Here

HTC Evo 4G LTE Hands-on: HD Voice, Blazing Camera, Unlimited Data for $199

The original superphone has been reborn. If you feel like the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus are just sloppy seconds for Sprint, take a good look at the HTC Evo 4G LTE. This Android 4.0 powerhouse has all the makings of a real halo device for the carrier, reminiscent of the original Evo 4G back in 2010. Available for pre-order May 7th, the $199 Evo 4G LTE  sports a sleek aluminum design (including a kickstand), the same superfast camera that’s inside the HTC One X, a 1.5-GHz Snaprdragon S4 CPU, and unique features like support for HD voice calls and a microSD card slot.

More good news. Sprint has confirmed that it’s committed to offering unlimited 4G LTE data, though coverage will be sparse for a while. Check out our hands-on impressions of the Evo 4G LTE along with a quick video walkthrough and gallery.

The Evo 4G LTE definitely makes a statement. The 4.7-inch Super LCD 2 screen offers HD resolution along with extra-wide viewing angles and great color saturation. Weighing 4.7 ounces and measuring .35 inches thick, this handset felt very light in the hand despite the large display, and the aluminum unibody construction is solid. We especially like the silver machined edges on the Evo 4G LTE.

Our only nitpick is that the top half of the back is glossy black plastic, which picks up fingerprints quickly. The good news is that this panel hides a microSD card slot, so you can expand the storage.

Another feature that’s unique to the EVO 4G LTE is support for HD Voice calls. The dual microphones will go a long way towards eliminating background noise, but Sprint will also have to upgrade its network in order for users to make HD calls, which will happen later this year. The enhanced voice quality will be available in both 3G and 4G coverage areas.

A 1.5-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor provided swift performance during our brief hands-on, but it’s the 8-MP camera that will blow people away. Just like the One X, the Evo 4G LTE starts up almost instantly with the push of a button and lets you capture multiple images in rapid fire mode (4 frames per second). You can then select the one you want and discard the rest.

Last but not least is Beats support, which is designed to make everything from music and movies to YouTube videos sound better when you have headphones plugged in. The Evo 4G LTE will also be sold with the HTC Media Link HD for streaming content to your TV and multiple car accessories.

As for where you’ll be able to get 4G LTE speeds from Sprint, the carrier has only announced 6 markets for the first half of the year, but promises to reach 120 POPs by the end of 2012. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the Evo 4G LTE has the features, design, and software to go toe-to-toe to get the 7 million existing Evo owners excited about upgrading and lure a heck of a lot new customers.

From Laptopmagazine. Visit Amazon Computer and Notebook Center Here