| Best Buy Connect no longer accepting new activations, service to end June 1st Apr 26th 2012, 18:11  Remember Best Buy Connect? If so, you'll soon have a few more megabytes of humanized DDR3 freed up, as it appears that the retail giant is ready to put the kibosh on its own branded mobile broadband service nearly two years after it was first unveiled. According to the internal memo shown in the above screenshot, new activations are no longer allowed effective immediately, and the service for legacy customers will be cut off on the first of June. So why the change of heart? Apparently Connect is the victim of a reshuffling of priorities, and the company determined that it "can achieve greater growth by delivering mobile broadband support in ways other than an exclusive Best Buy-branded service." Of course, this is bound to upset more than a handful of folks who have been relying on Connect for their data needs, and the retailer isn't leaving them completely in the dark: to help smooth out the transition, all Early Termination Fees will be waived, and all customers will receive a $125 or $150 gift card via email to curb the cost of moving to a different carrier. WiMAX Connect users, additionally, will also be given the option to switch over to Clear service. We're still awaiting official confirmation from Best Buy -- as of this moment, the official website remains up and running as if it's none the wiser -- but we'll update as soon as we hear more. [Thanks, Anonymous] Best Buy Connect no longer accepting new activations, service to end June 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | DirecTV Everywhere brings streaming movies, TV shows to Android right now, iPhone keeps waiting Apr 26th 2012, 17:39  DirecTV's still-in-beta "Everywhere" streaming package only arrived on the iPad a month ago, and now the company has updated its app for Android phones with access to the same set of video-on-demand streaming movies and TV shows for viewing wherever subscribers might be. Interestingly this feature is arriving on Google powered devices before it hits the iPhone (neither one so far has added the in-home live TV streaming feature from the iPad app, however the iPhone does have a player for the Nomad transcoder which Android and the iPad lack), in opposition to the usual trend of video streaming apps from cable and satellite TV providers, often for DRM and compatibility reasons. On Google Play the app was still installable on our various tablets and phones alike, although YMMV on what happens when you select the "Watch on Phone" tab to stream from HBO, Cinemax, Starz, Encore or DirecTV Cinema. Of course the usual DVR scheduling and remote control features are still present and accounted for, so hit the link below to grab the free app and try it out yourself. DirecTV Everywhere brings streaming movies, TV shows to Android right now, iPhone keeps waiting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Google Play, DirecTV | Email this | Comments | | Former Nokia Exec: Elop is struggling, shouldn't focus so heavily on Windows Phone Apr 26th 2012, 17:26  Former Nokia executive Lee Williams admits that he's a bit of an "arm chair quarterback," but won't let such labels stop him from offering up some seriously pointed criticism of Stephen Elop, telling CNET that the CEO is "struggling," due in part to a lack of "overarching vision." Williams cites the company's shift in focus to Windows Phone as a cause of the companies woes, adding, It might have made sense to introduce a product or two into the portfolio based on Windows Phone. What I do not think they should have done is pretend it is a one horse race, and that one software system is all you need. They have executed in this fashion, and are paying for it. Not that Williams is advocating backing just Symbian either. "One size does not fit all," he explains, "and I think technology religion is dangerous in a good products company. You cannot marry yourself to any one technology or way of doing something." More furniture football in the source link below. Former Nokia Exec: Elop is struggling, shouldn't focus so heavily on Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Electronista | CNET | Email this | Comments | |
