Friday, September 27, 2013

Are You Ready For A Windows Phone?

If you are like me and just got sick of restarting your phone daily, force closing Apps and repeating text messages, you might want to keep reading. I’m here to tell you about Windows Phone and cutting the contract. From the entry level Nokia Lumia 520 to the uber powerful Nokia Lumia 1020, there is a Windows Phone that you will love. Let’s take a quick journey through the options and decide what network you want to use and how much you could start saving every month.

Pick Your Plan:

Something most people don’t know is that there are The Wireless Carriers and there are wireless carriers. The Big 4, as everyone refers to them, are Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. They control about 95% of the airwaves and hardware to make that cellphone do what it does. Now, they have more room then they know what to do with, so they contract out to MVNO’s or Mobile Virtual Network Operators. These are companies like Straight Talk, Net10, TracFone and a few of my favorites: Red Pocket Mobile, Simple Mobile and my carrier Spot Mobile. In essence, these MVNO’s give you the same service for a lower cost. They aren’t paying for retail stores, sales people and other overhead that the big boys are. They are just plain cheaper to run.

That said, do a quick check of the list and pick your ‘Big Carrier’ now and see what MVNO you could switch to and start saving from.

Verizon Wireless – Page Plus Cellular runs off the Verizon 3G network. For $29.95 a month, you can land 1200 minutes of talk, 3000 texts and 500MB of data. For $55 a month, you can go unlimited talk, text and 2GB of data. For $69.95 you can take that data out to 5GB. If you can live without that blazing fast LTE network, you can save upwards of $80 a month over Verizon’s postpaid rates.

Verizon Wireless – Verizon Wireless Prepaid runs off the same Verizon network you know and love. For $60 you can snag unlimited talk, text and 2GB of data. Adding an extra $10 gets you up to 4GB of data. Again, you are limited to the 3G network, but for a cost of about half of the normal plans, you can forgive that buffering on that YouTube video.

Sprint – Ok, now this is going to get tough here because there are literally a billion choices for Sprint’s MVNO’s and prepaid services. Here’s the bottom line on this one. Any Sprint phone, and since the HTC 8XT is the only Windows Phone 8 device they have we will use that for our example, can be activated across the board on their services. From $6 a month for Ting to $55 for the unlimited Boost Mobile LTE service, there is a plan for everyone. Of course, The HTC 8XT is carrying a price tag of almost $400 without a contract so you do have to figure that in.

AT&T – Red Pocket Mobile is still my first choice on AT&T’s MVNO list. Their simple and upfront pricing makes figuring out what you need very easy. From their $29.99 plan that includes 100MB of data for picture messaging to their $59.99 3GB plan, you have to appreciate the options that Red Pocket Mobile gives users. Compared to the standard AT&T postpaid plan, users can save as much as $75 a month or $1800 over the life of that contract. $1800 can buy an awfully nice Windows Phone – or you can just snag the beautiful Nokia Lumia 520 for $99.99 and love the savings! The other option would be to grab a new Nokia Lumia 925, Nokia Lumia 920 or Nokia Lumia 820, both work wonderfully on RPM’s service. A neat bonus to RPM is that their $39.99 and higher plans includes international calling to many destinations.

AT&T – Straight Talk/Net10/TracFone and their buddies are great options as well. My issue with these guys is that they talk that ‘unlimited’ game and don’t back it up well. There are too many occurrences of people getting interrupted, throttled and just plain cut off to feel comfortable in my mind. Sure, the extra $10 a month is awfully tempting for the lower data user, but I would still run to the $39.99 500MB plan on RPM or the $49.99 1GB plan over the unspecified amounts on the America Movil groups MVNO’s.

AT&T – AT&T GoPhone is a great option as well. For $60 a month you get an unlimited talk, text and 2GB data plan. You can buy additional GB’s for $10 each. The plus to this one is that if you want to shell out for one of those fancy Nokia Lumia 1020 or HTC 8X devices, you can land yourself that LTE connection for blazing fast speeds.

T-Mobile – It goes without saying that technically the T-Mobile Simple Choice plans look great on paper, but when you factor in the taxes and fees that get tacked on to that Simple Choice plan, they become a bit less attractive. Either way, you can snag an unlimited talk and text plan with unlimited data for $50, plus another $10 in taxes. Of course, that $60 gets you 500MB of high speed data, $72 gets you 2GB of 4G speeds and $85 lands you unlimited HSPA+/LTE data. That said, you really need a specific T-Mobile handset to really take advantage of their AWS frequencies. That said, the Nokia Lumia 521 is a great device to get rolling on a T-Mobile plan. If you need a bit more power though, the Nokia Lumia 810 or Nokia Lumia 925 are also available.

T-Mobile – Spot Mobile is currently my carrier of choice. Their $39.99 plan gives me great coverage, unlimited talk, text and data, plus in my area, access to using any one of a bajillion handsets with their 1900 MHz refarm. Currently, my pocket is armed with the Nokia Lumia 810 and I love it. With the Amber update installed, the device runs unlike any other phone I have ever used. Smooth OS, no force closing Apps and amazing battery life are all part of my daily usage experience. Back to the plans though. Spot Mobile makes it as easy as possible to find the right plan for you. For $24.99 you get unlimited talk and text. For $5 you get MMS added in to that or more accurately, 250MB of data for MMS and light data use. For $39.99, you get the unlimited data added on, with 1GB of 4G speeds. $10 more gets you 2GB and $59.99 gets you 3GB of 4G speeds before dropping to 2G. Spot Mobile just works for me and their simple, upfront pricing has saved me almost $100 a month over a comparable AT&T or Verizon plan with no noticeable loss of service. When I combine the $279.99 price tag of the Nokia Lumia 810 with my $39.60 refills from GetSmartphones.Info I come out with a total 2 year cost of just $1230.39. Compared to T-Mobile, I am saving almost $800 over the 2GB T-Mobile offering. Another bonus to Spot Mobile’s coverage is that they offer free international calling to some destinations and offer an international calling credit on all plans of $39.99 and above.

T-Mobile - Simple Mobile is another great choice in the world of MVNO’s. I don’t rate them as high as Spot Mobile due to some of the complaints in their forums, but they are a solid offering as well. $40 gets you the unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data plan. $50 gets you to 3GB and $60 gets you to 5GB. Of course, all the data plans are unlimited, so it’s just the extra 4G HSPA+ data that you are purchasing. Again, for Windows Phone choices on Simple Mobile, your optimal devices will be the Nokia Lumia 521, the Nokia Lumia 810 or the Nokia Lumia 925 for T-Mobile. Make sure the Lumia 925 you purchase is the full T-Mobile model and not the unlocked AT&T or international version as these will not have the full AWS spectrum that the T-Mobile version does.

Now that you have sorted out what carrier you are going to choose, you can get to picking that new handset. Below are the 5 second versions of the reviews for the current line of Windows Phones.

Nokia Lumia 520 (AT&T) – This entry level handset features a 4” display, 5MP camera and 8GB of expandable internal memory. This is the perfect phone for saving up to get a premium handset later. The $99.99 price tag is budget friendly and the Lumia 520 performs closer to a $400 Android phone than a $100 one. Locked, it works with AT&T, GoPhone, Red Pocket Mobile, Net10 and Straight Talk.

Nokia Lumia 521 (T-Mobile) – This is the T-Mobile counterpart to the Lumia 520. It has the same display, memory and camera. This device runs in the neighborhood of $115-130 new and can be used locked on T-Mobile, Spot Mobile, Simple Mobile, Net10 (T-Mobile SIM) and Straight Talk (T-Mobile SIM).

Nokia Lumia 810 (T-Mobile) – The 810 met it’s demise earlier this year with the arrival of the Lumia 925, but it is still a very solid handset with some impressive specs. The 4.3” display looks sharp and performs well in the daylight. The 8GB of storage is enough to keep the average person going and the expandable memory makes adding 32GB or 64GB of additional storage easy. The 8MP camera on the back takes great photos and the 1.2MP camera on the front works beautifully for video chatting and selfies. Overall, the $279.99 price tag isn’t all bad for such a powerful device. Also available as a variant as the Lumia 820 for AT&T and the Lumia 822 for Verizon Wireless.

Nokia Lumia 920 (AT&T) – The Lumia 920 was the first Nokia device to feature the PureView camera. The 8MP camera takes amazing photos and is still one of the best smartphone cameras around. The 32GB of internal storage is more than enough when you team it up with your SkyDrive. The Lumia 920 is still one of the most popular Lumia devices out there today and with the minor differences between the new 925 (AT&T version) and this, we recommend saving the cash and grabbing the 920 before it’s gone. Locked, it works with AT&T, GoPhone, Red Pocket Mobile, Net10 and Straight Talk.

Nokia Lumia 925 (T-Mobile) – The replacement to the Lumia 810. The 925 brought a PureView camera, larger display and sleek lines to T-Mobile. The gorgeous design of the 925 led to Nokia pushing the device to AT&T as well. It was also the first Lumia on T-Mobile to support their LTE frequencies. Locked, this devices works on T-Mobile, Spot Mobile, Simple Mobile, Net10 (T-Mobile SIM) and Straight Talk (T-Mobile SIM).

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 810
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Check out Note Plus for Windows Phone

Sometimes One Note just isn't what we need to take a note and keep it where we want it. That's not a slam against the cloud based note pad, but rather a thought about how Microsoft was a bit more concerned with functionality rather than the physical appearance. Step to the plate Note Plus.

Note Plus offers users the ability to change the look of your notes, lock notes and back all of your content up to your SkyDrive account for safe keeping. It is a rather complete package. From start to finish, Note Plus just works.

Currently, Note Plus is Free is the Store, so go grab it right now. It won't be this price for much longer.

http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=32fc5eae-7a21-4cc9-ab82-bb09da02fb39

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Game Review: Fortress Under Siege

One of my favorite PC games of all time is Stronghold Crusaders. I've searched for a mobile alternative for that classic for far too long. Finally, after years of searching for something like it, and suffering through endless tower defense titles, I found Fortress Under Siege.

This classic plays beautifully. Smooth action and fun animation makes Fortress well worth the play. Take your time learning how to play as troop movement and positioning is the key to victory. Make sure to place your battlements in strategic locations as well.

Fortress Under Siege is a sure fire winner in my book. No, it isn't quite Stronghold, but it is one of the closest experiences that I have had the pleasure of playing.

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Friday, September 20, 2013

The Best Value In Wireless: Nokia Lumia 520

Nokia Lumia 520 GoPhone (AT&T)
For just a touch under $100, you can have in your hand a contract free Nokia Lumia 520 smartphone. The device, which ships locked to AT&T, will work with popular services from Red Pocket Mobile as well as other AT&T MVNO carriers out of the box. With a bit of work, the device can be unlocked and used with services from Spot Mobile or Simple Mobile for even more bang for the buck. Let’s look at the device and the Red Pocket Mobile service first since that’s where this phone will shine for you.
The first question is how good is a $100 phone? The Lumia 520 is quite a beautiful piece of hardware. The 4” display is clean and clear. While it lacks the “Clear-Black” technology of its bigger siblings, the performance is still stellar when compared to the QVGA and VGA screens that other devices in this price range have on board. The 5MP rear camera captures clear, well balanced images in most lighting conditions. The additional features of the device will all be found in the software that is coming up next.
I find Nokia’s software suites amazing. First, we have Here Drive+ which acts as a fully offline GPS mapping system. This will allow you to save monthly by not require data to navigate. While it has some issues pulling up exact addresses without a network, if you have a cross street nearby, it will get you to the intersection with ease. Then there is Nokia Music, which allows for unlimited online streaming of music and downloading up to 4 music mixes for free. By signing up for the service, you can get unlimited downloaded mixes, but I’ve never used more than my 4 freebies at a time anyways. This is another huge data saver over Apps like LastFM and Pandora.
Next up, using the Lumia 520 with a money saving plan. Sure, you can go the AT&T GoPhone route and spend $60 a month on unlimited talk, text and 3GB of data, or you can go with something that has a bit more variety in it to fit your needs. Using the Lumia 520 with Red Pocket Mobile doesn’t require unlocking the device. You simply insert a Red Pocket Mobile MicroSIM or trimmed SIM and configure your APN’s. It’s that simple. Within seconds, you have access to plans ranging from $24.99 a month for unlimited talk and text to $59.99 for the same package that the GoPhone program offers. In the middle, you have a $29.99 plan that offers 100MB of data, a $39.99 plan that offers 500MB and a $49.99 pan that offers 1GB of data. The nice part about going the Red Pocket Mobile route is that you can change plans month to month and only pay for what you think you will use.
Overall, the Nokia Lumia 520 delivers an experience far greater than the $99.99 price tag. I would feel safe comparing this to Android handsets that cost three times as much. While it isn’t a flagship device by any means, the clear screen, good camera and overall user experience makes the Lumia 520 a clear winner. So, if you need a backup for that Lumia 920 or just want to pick up something new for the kids to use, the Lumia 520 is a great choice.
For those on T-Mobile, Spot Mobile or Simple Mobile the Nokia Lumia 521 is an equally good choice in the $100-130 range depending on the retailer and the deals of the day. Either way, don’t forget to visit my sponsor www.4gfastdata.com and check out their great deals on service from Red Pocket Mobile, Spot Mobile or Simple Mobile. Right now, you can get a FREE SIM card with any plan purchase!
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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Game Review: JumpWheel

When you need an interesting game to kill a bit of time, JumpWheel is an interesting option. This "jumping roller game" starts with a bang and continues to keep you rolling for hours of fun. Although the controls leave quite a bit to be desired, once you master them, the gaming experience is quite nice.

If you are a fan of good graphics and an interesting style of play, you should check out JumpWheel and give it a try.

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Monday, September 16, 2013

App Review: DeliTape

For those of you that were around long enough ago to remember mix tapes and recording stuff for your Walkman off the radio, Umbrella Software Development has something for you. DeliTape... Or rather one of the most unique media players for Windows Phone on the market.

DeliTape is a straight forward media player. There aren't many bells and whistles in this one, but the looks at the gym and the office were enough to make the player worth the storage space. With a bevy of options for how your tape looks, DeliTape is fun and keeps it entertaining.

With a free pricetag you need to head to the Store and check out "DeliTape" for Windows Phone.

http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=93756491-dff1-4c07-8ec6-d779e024024e

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Friday, September 13, 2013

Nokia Glance Gets An Update

Nokia Glance, the screen setting App, received an update from the Store today. It looks to be superficial tweaks and bug fixes that comprise the bulk of the update. Hopefully after a few days of use, I'll be able to let everyone know if the battery drain bug is gone and how well it performs verses version one.

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Mad About iOS Office? Blame Yourself

When Microsoft announced that many of their "Windows Phone" features were being released for iOS and Android, users everywhere became a bit enraged. How could they lose these exclusive benefits to Windows Phone? Why is the iOS App better than the WP one? It just isn't fair!

Well, no it isn't and guess what... It is your fault. Yep, send up the defensive flags now if you want, but the facts are, if you are carrying a Windows Phone and you haven't switched 5 friends to it, then you are the problem.

Microsoft is a software company first. In order to compete, they need to go multiplatform. Just like Office for Mac, they need those users to keep the doors open. The need for this move would have been slowed tremendously had the 4% of the world that has WP shared it with 5 more people, giving it in theory 20% share, but that didn't happen.

Office for Android and iOS isn't a negative thing for Windows Phone. Put the pitchforks away and take a look at the bigger picture - Microsoft is bringing users back to their ecosystem. They are weaning them from Google Docs and iCloud and bringing them back to Office and SkyDrive. It's all part of the game plan, not the next play.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Nokia DT-900 Qi Charger $24.50 Online

Great news if you own a wireless charging Lumia or another Qi compatible device. AT&T is offering the deal of the day on the DT-900 charging plates. Normally $49, the DT-900 has been marked down to a lowly $24.50 each. Even better, you can grab three of them for just $18.88 each with AT&T's buy three accessories and save 25% deal.

It isn't often you can buy three of something for the same prices as one, so go snag this one before they are gone!

http://www.att.com/shopmobile/wireless/accessories/chargers/sku6290264.html?referrer=

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Monday, September 2, 2013

Game Review: 3rd Floor Slots

In my normal scan of the new titles in the Windows Phone Store, I ran across another slot machine title that was trending #1 on the list. Not being one to skip out on a chance to play some slots, I hit the install button and began my adventure.

3rd Floor Slots features the standard slot layout that most other slot games have used. Reels at the top, betting buttons on the lower left and the spin button on the right. The experience was very good right out of the gate. I felt like I was sitting at a real video slot machine, just without the free drinks and smoke.

Game play is relatively easy. Select your bet, the number of lines you want to bet on and press the spin button. Wash, rinse, repeat... By the time I had killed my first half hour, I had opened up the Camelot machine, progressed to level 5 and had a bank roll of almost 6000 credits. Not bad...

Unfortunately, that's where the game maxed out for me. I continued to build more credits, earn more free spins and play a few more of the mini games. Play remained interesting, but I found I was mostly trying to win time in the mini games or just keep moving up in level to see the next machine.

All things considered, 3rd Floor Slots is a good game, if you love playing slots. If you like winning at slots, it should be considered a must have. The 15MB download doesn't take up too much room and the game is very stable and featured no glitches or crashes during my test.

Take 3rd Floor Slots for a spin today and let me know what you think in the comments below.

http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=d0ff8599-0de1-4aa8-add7-443e12e8ae59

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