pcs

Watch live TV on your phone! No, really

A while back, when I first heard about broadcasters' plans to build their own network to deliver local and live TV to smartphones, I have to admit I chuckled a little.

The idea that broadcasters, with little to no experience in the wireless world, could accomplish such a feat seemed ludicrous. Equally laughable was the idea that people would tune into Judge Judy on their phones. With so many other stories floating around (at the time, the big question was: when will the iPhone come to Verizon?) it was easy to ignore the seemingly half-baked project.

But more than two … Read more

Get to know America's carriers, big and small

How well do you know your carrier options?

Maybe very well, if you happen to follow the ins and outs of changing plans and perks. However, you may not be aware that Cricket has a roaming agreement with Sprint, or that Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile now have 4G.

If you're a beginner, or just happen to enjoy carrier trivia, check out this quick guide to carriers.

Does it still make sense to buy a desktop PC?

Earlier today I caught a glimpse of the HP tower that's been sitting, untouched, on my spare desk for the better part of a year. And it got me thinking: does it still make sense to buy a desktop?

As recently as three years ago, I'd never have a considered anything else for my primary PC. Real work required real horsepower, and that meant a desktop. Plus, as an avid gamer, I needed a fast processor and the occasional video-card upgrade to feed my habit.

Needless to say, the times, they are a-changing. I don't game much … Read more

Ratio of PCs sold over Macs drops to 1985 levels

The ratio of PCs sold to Macs sold has steadily been dropping and is now at 1985 levels, not too long after the first Mac debuted.

Creating a chart that reveals the ratio of PC to Mac sales since 1984, Asymco analyst Horace Dediu was able to track the rise and fall of that ratio over more than 25 years.

The ratio was about 20 to 1 in 1985 following the 1984 launch of the first Mac.

From there, the ratio went through some ups and downs for a good 10 years until around 1996, when it moved up to … Read more

Microsoft's mysterious new product

Get your battle gear on. It's time for tablet wars and food fights:

What could Microsoft be unveiling Monday afternoon at its mysterious L.A. press event? Some new music or movie product? A tablet or e-reader? The rumors are centering on a new tablet that would go head-to-head with Apple.

Vizio is bringing its television talents to computers with a new line of desktops and laptops, all starting at just under $900. The all-in-one desktop can be its own entertainment hub with a remote and HDMI ports for connecting a cable box or video game system.

According to … Read more

MetroPCS lands Huawei's first U.S. LTE phone, Activa 4G

Huawei promised CNET some 4G LTE action, and with the Huawei Activa 4G, the phone maker is ready to deliver.

If you're thinking this is the smartphone version of a certain yogurt with bifidus regularis, stop, because the Activa (pronounced "ACT-iv-uh") is in fact Huawei's first U.S. phone to get 4G, and it's available starting today at MetroPCS stores.

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone has a 3.54-inch HVGZ touch screen (480x320 pixels), a 5-megapixel camera with flash, and comes with a 4GB microSD that's preloaded with "Kung Fu Panda 2.&… Read more

LG Optimus M gets a makeover with the M+

In 2010, MetroPCS released its first Android smartphone, the LG Optimus M. We were pretty satisfied with the phone, save for its boxy design and the fact that its specs weren't up to par with its counterpart models carried by other networks.

But two years is a long time in this industry, and MetroPCS recently released an updated version of the M, aptly called the LG Optimus M+. With its 3.5-inch screen, 800MHz processor, and 5-megapixel camera, the bumps in specs in this mid- to entry-level device did not go unnoticed. And, compared with the original M, the … Read more

AT&T considered buying Leap, Reuters says

AT&T buying Leap Wireless? It could happen.

The latest acquisition rumor comes courtesy of Reuters, which reported yesterday that AT&T and Leap have been in talks over the past few months regarding a potential deal.

Such a deal would give AT&T more spectrum -- an asset it has been actively looking for since its deal with T-Mobile collapsed, as well as a decent base of prepaid customers. The report comes just days after Bloomberg reported that T-Mobile had considered buying MetroPCS. The speculation frenzy underscores the acquisitive posture of most of the wireless carriers, … Read more

T-Mobile reportedly in talks to buy MetroPCS

T-Mobile USA may be going from acquisition target to acquirer.

T-Mobile made a splash when it agreed to be bought by AT&T more than a year ago. Now, it may want to make a splash of its own, with parent company Deutsche Telekom weighing the acquisition of MetroPCS, according to Bloomberg.

Deutsche Telekom could merge MetroPCS and T-Mobile under a single entity, or it might sell off the business entirely, an option that has long been proposed for the U.S. carrier that's been steadily losing customers, according to Bloomberg.

T-Moblie and MetroPCS declined to comment.

The … Read more

T-Mobile's quiet silver lining: Monthly 4G prepaid

T-Mobile USA isn't a prepaid carrier, but it might as well be.

While the company's base of contract subscribers -- still a majority of its business and greatest source of revenue -- has been shrinking over the past few quarters, its prepaid business continues to sign up new customers.

In fact, it's been one of the rare bright spots at a carrier that is struggling to get back on its feet after a failed takeover attempt by AT&T. With higher-end customers looking to the other national carriers for better phones (read: iPhone) or 4G LTE … Read more