Netflix Users Abandons Or Downgrades Plans In Drove, Hope Netflix Was Not Surprised

I don't what Netflix is smoking but I guess its investors are not smoking it.  Neither am I.  In the short-term, Netflix is going to hurt big time.  Stock is down 15% or so as it lowered the estimate of users it'll have.  I think in this economy, raising the price the way they did was just stupid.

And others sense blood.  Hulu, Redbox, Google, etc.  And more importantly, the content providers do as well.  Starz recently walked away from a deal with Netflix.  

I've downgraded my plan to streaming only and dropped my DVD rental portion, and picked up a Hulu sub just in time for the fall.  That's money Netflix could have used.

I encourage other Netflix users to do the same.  Downgrade or take a look at another service like Hulu.  If and when Netflix comes to its senses, we're more than happy to support them again.

Source: Huffington Post.

Does Groupon, LivingSocial, & Other Services Provide A New Way Of Living For Mobile Warriors? Maybe

I love to see Groupon, LivingSocial, and these gift-certificate services take off.  I think they're absolutely an indispensable new social service that is far more important than anything Facebook can ever provide.  And I welcome what Google will bring once they bring Deals to more cities around the country (in the US).

Initially, I was cool to these companies.  I don't need that many massages or work on my face (it's too late for me, unfortunately).  However, I am seeing a lot of deals for yoga, gyms, and other workout regimes.  And you still get your massages as well.  

So I wonder if one times things right, an user can maintain a healthy and active life just through the use of these coupons.  Recently in LA, there are martial art lessons, juigitsu, yoga classes, hypnotherapy (I don't know how effective these are), pilate classes, and I can go on. 

I would not say they're a great deal but they're decent enough if you want to try different things in your life.  Ultimately, these companies offer a chance to change how we live our lives.  We can end up trying something new and likely it.   And these workout-type deals come once or twice a week.  Add them to your regular workout if you have one and you can be looking a pretty healthy life.

And then obviously, there's the food too.  Whole Food deal from LivingSocial a couple of days ago was a hit.  I'm considering this hot dog deal for Pasadena that I can use tonight if I want to.  $16 for only $8.  Sounds like a good deal.

And not just for food and working out, there are theatre tix and cultural classes like ceramic making.  

All in all, I'm beginning to look at these sites differently.  And I'm beginning to see online news sites offer local deals.  It allows a mobile warrior to find new exciting things locally and explore the city in new ways

Right now, these deals are kind of limited but as businesses change, or new ones pop up with younger and tech and social savy owners, I see this segment of the market explode big time.

And it helps that they all have mobile apps on the major platforms.  

Samsung Prime Will Debut Around Same Time (Or A Bit After) iPhone 5

It looks like two high profile mobile devices, Apple's next iPhone and the first Android 4 device, Prime by Samsung, will be going head to head next month.  According to Droid-Life, an e-mail captured in a screen shot from a Verizon employee suggests this to be the case.

Obviously, the e-mail can be faked.  Nevertheless, this only confirms pretty much what everyone expected.  Furthermore, Prime will have some pretty good specs.  However, while there are rumors about specs for the next iPhone, no one knows the details at all.  At least not publicly.

While Prime may not (this could be Google's next Nexus phone so it can still happen) going to get the debut that the iPhone will on multiple carriers and regardless of the specs, it should be interested to see how iOS 5 and Android 4 go head-to-head in this mobile fight.  

As for specs, Prime is supposed to get a 720p screen.  

Source:  Droid-Life.

New iPad Keyboard With Twist: Elevated Keys (With Video)

I'm gonna become a sponsor as soon as I get home (forgot my wallet). This new concept keyboard for the iPad is like none other we've seen. First it's thin enough.  But more than that, it has a flat surface and the keys emerge when you press a button and they elevate from the surface.

It's called the Levitatr, a Bluetooth keyboard, again that has a smooth surface. And the keys only surface if you press a designated button.

If you're interested, you can go to their Kickstarter page to sign up for one.

You've got to see the video to understand what I'm talking about.



What do you think? It's gimmicky enough that I think I want one.

Source: GigaOM.

Is the iPhone Important To Apple's China Future And Chinese Carriers? You Betcha!

This post from iLounge says quite a bit about Apple, iPhone, and China.  A lot.  First, China Telecom will invest close to a quarter billion US dollars on marketing the iPhone.  A quarter alone on just a single device.  Sure, it happens to be Apple's iPhone.  What does that mean?

Well, the timing suggests that the iPhone will launch in China this year, perhaps a few weeks to a month after the North American launch.  Maybe a few weeks after the European launch. It suggests just how Apple sees the Chinese market.  In the past, the iPhone doesn't make it to the Chinese market until months after the US release.

An early launch not only shows just how much pinned up demand there are for the iPhone in China, but that Apple sees future growth in Asia powered by the Chinese market. And if past US launches are any indication, the iPhone 5 launch will be huge.  And an early Chinese launch will eliminate the gray market that has plagued the market and caused massive shortages here in the US.  

And with dragons being a good luck charm to the Chinese, this plan is called the "Dragon Plan".  And it suggests that preorders will start at the end of September (probably early October).  Furthermore, training and staffing will commence soon.  

And just to underscore the importance of the Chinese market, Tim Cook was recently spotted in China, likely negotiating with China Mobile, world's biggest telecom, on the iPhone.  And even Steve Jobs reportedly was personally involved in the negotiations.

Source: iLounge.

Why Does Tech Evoke Such Passion Among Fanboys?

Relgion.  Politics.  Okay, I get why those matters get people riled up.  Sports?  It's all in good fun.  But whatever reasons, tech, especially mobile and computing, seems to get generate such a passion among fans that it's borderlines on insanity.  

Why is that?  I'm a mobile warrior first.  And while I like new technology, I like to see all platforms do well.  Okay, I am quite partial to Android and iOS but that doesn't mean that I'm going to go around disparaging other platforms.  And when the need arises, I will call out Apple or Google.

However, there are those who believe their supported tech company can do no wrong.  I understand why bloggers do it.  They need eyeballs.  Okay, I do too but I generally like to look at the positive side of things.  And when there is an issue, like something Apple or Google did that I don't like, I'll bring it up.

But why tech?

Motorola Got Google to Pay 33% More Than It Wanted To

Google initially offered to pay $30 a share for Motorola Mobility.  But shrewd moves by Motorola got Google to up the price to $40 a share.

Obviously, Motorola knew that Google was in a tough spot with the Android being assaulted by Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle in the patent war.  It's unsure just how Motorola's patents will aid Android's chances against these tech giants.

We'll know in the next year or so.  However, it's likely that Google has far more planned than to just use Motorola's patents to defend Android and its partners.  There are suggests that Google will use Motorola's hardware expertise to integrate Android and the handsets/tablets closer a long the line of Apple's mobile strategy.

Source:  Reuters.