AT&T Launches New Curve Today

As much as I hate AT&T, I continue to stay with the rat bastards because of one reason....... They get the best phones, at least in the U.S.

Case in point the new Blackberry Curve 8310 has just hit the streets today under the umbrella of AT&T. And I have to say that it's pretty nice with integrated Wi-Fi, 2 megapixel camera, and push to talk capability. But what really sets this one out there is the GPS service with full turn-by-turn directions.

And all this can be yours for $200, once you lock in a 2 year service agreement and give up your first born.

[product page] AT&T

AT&T: Criticize Us, And We'll Shut You Down

No wonder why AT&T is running a close second for the most hated company next to Sony. Any opportunity people get to avoid using their service (i.e. iphone unlocks) it is jumped on. This isn't shocking considering their latest insanity that they've put together.

AT&T's new 'terms of service' basically states that if you're a internet customer of theirs, you can't publicly complain about their billing or service. If you do, they have the right to discontinue your internet service.

Now, I've never heard of a company that WORKS FOR YOU say that if you say bad things about us, we'll shut you down. That's the most communistic thing I've ever heard from a company.

If your service is as good as you say it is, then what do you have to worry about?

UPDATE: Here is the exact wording for the new TOA:
AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes...(c) tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.

[AT&T T.O.S via Crunchgear]

More Details On The Tilt

The AT&T Tilt or the HTC Kaiser as it is also known by, has a few leaked details about its September launch. The Tilt will run $349, once you sell your cellular soul for 2 years. It also comes with push-to-talk, Wi-Fi, 2.8-inch tilting screen, push email, Microsoft Office with WM6.

Funny?!

Maybe my eyes are bad, because I don't see 3G on this listing that the Tilt is said to have.
That's a deal breaker!!!

[Boy Genius via Gizmodo]

The New 'Tilt' Drops September 25?

My buddy Matt is looking to pick the new HTC or 'Tilt' he's been checking out on-line. Well the guys are Crunchgear have a mole inside good old AT&T, and they state that this phone should drop on or around September 25th. One of the things that I like about this unit is the full QWERTY keypad and 3G capability.

Read more about the release date rumor after the jump. [Crunchgear]

AT&T To iphone Unlockers: You Better Not!!!

AT&T has threatened to use their henchmen (lawyers) to keep UniquePhones (the people who unlocked the SIM card for the iphone) from selling their software. The software would allow iphone owners to use other carriers other than AT&T. And it would also allow the use of the iphone overseas even before the iphone is officially released. As you can imagine, AT&T isn't so happy about that.

So what do you do if you're AT&T?

Get the lawyers warmed up baby!!!!

So UniquePhones has delayed the release of their software indefinitely, while they figure out what to do if they are legally denied the right to sell it.

[Engadget]

AT&T Rips You Off With 'Mobile Backup'

I have to give it to Doug Aamoth of Crunchgear. He goes on a rant about something that I feel very strongly about, getting ripped off by AT&T and other cellular carriers. Doug touches on how AT&T is going to charge for a service that should be standard. The 1.99 a month for a software called Mobile Backup that stores your address book that is in your phone, so if it is lost you can recover all the numbers and information.

Mind you that this will only be available on 6 phones at first from AT&T, and it isn't cross-network compatible. A service like this should be standard, and it certainly shouldn't be something that is charged monthly for.

Check out the rant here, and read the AT&T release here. [AT&T press release via Crunchgear]

iphone Unlocked! Sort Of

Don't under estimate the power of the hackers!

It seems that the hackers have found a way to unlock the iphone, partially at least. Gizmodo's Jesus Diaz reports that the ass kickers at iPhone Dev Wiki were able to partially unlock the iphone using an application called iASign.

The hack doesn't allow you to take the iphone to any carrier, but it does unlock the Cingular/AT&T Pre-paid/MVNA SIM, so you don't have to sign your cellular soul away with the 2 year agreement with AT&T. And the other benefits? Check the bullet points:

• People can still enjoy corporate rate, which they don't get on iPhone plans (10% to 20% off in some cases even more)
• People can use a company AT&T SIM card on their personal iPhone.

Thank you Jesus Diaz for this information, and the cool picture.
Hit the jump for more info. [Gizmodo]

iphone: You Don't Need No Stinking Contracts

So you want an iphone, but you absolutely hate signing your cellular soul away to AT&T. Well it turns out that there is a way to get around that two-year contract that AT&T tries to shove up you butt. And you won't believe it!!!

Have bad credit!!
Yup! Your heard right.

Turns out that AT&T were not running the credit checks to penalize potential iphone buyers, but to offer them an alternative if they didn't meet the requirements for the contract.

"We want to give people an alternative if they don't meet the criteria," AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said.

While AT&T was running credit checks, Apple stores are not. AT&T buyers would be given an activation code, while Apple store customers would have to go thru the process on their home computer. If they didn't meet the requirments, they're given the option of the pre-pay system. Which is more expensive but doesn't lock the buyer in a two-year contract.

Read more after the jump. [Yahoo news via Gizmodo]

New 160GB Apple TV a prelude to HD?

Apple resently started selling a 160gig AppleTV, which is about time!!!

But I'm wondering why the 160gigs? Why would you possibly need this much space in an Apple TV for, other than HD video? Which makes me think that the rumors that have surround AT&T and AppleTV have some basis.

AT&T and Apple are working on adding IPTV capabilities to the Apple TV beginning sometime next year. With the hopes of HDTV coming with the IPTV, Apple may have increase the storage capacity of the AppleTV.

Lets keep out fingers crossed.

Check out the 160gig AppleTV after the jump.

BlackBerry Curve from AT&T Available Starting Tomorrow

AT&T is announcing today that the eagerly anticipated BlackBerry Curve will be available in stores, online and through the various B2B channels beginning tomorrow (Thursday, 5/31) for as low as $199.99 (with a 2-year contract and mail-in rebates).

I hate rebates!!!

The Curve exclusive in the U.S. for AT&T and includes such AT&T-specific services as AT&T Music, Push to Talk and TeleNav Maps. This device also operates within the broadest domestic and international coverage area for BlackBerry services of any U.S.carrier.

This might be the BlackBerry that's for me!!!

Apple Will Sell iPhone in 2,000 Stores: Get in Line Now

When the iPhone debuts next month, consumers lucky enough to wait in line for one can do so at 2,000 fine retail locations.

Apple and the company said that its iPhone will be available for purchase at its 181 retail stores and AT&T’s 1,840 stores. No other store will sell the phone.

So get in line now.

Read the entire article after the jump.

AT&T/Cingular Says No Deep Linking: Really!?!

AT&T/Cingular or what ever they are calling themselves this week, have lost their collective minds. Apparently they do not want anyone deep linking to their site, you can only link to the front page of AT&T/Cingular.

According to its acceptable use policies, linking to any page on AT&T’s website other than the front page is unacceptable. In addition, linking in a “derogatory manner” is no good either, and it can revoke your right to do so. How, I'm not sure, since AT&T/Cingular is not that granter of that right. Check out the quote below:

"You are granted a limited, nonexclusive right to create a hypertext link to the homepage of the Sites, provided such link does not portray Cingular Wireless or any of its products and services in a false, misleading, derogatory, or otherwise defamatory manner. You may not use a Cingular or Cingular Wireless logo or other proprietary graphic or trademark of Cingular or Cingular Wireless to link to the Sites without the express written permission of Cingular Wireless. This limited right may be revoked at any time."

Uhhh....What?

Hey AT&T/Cingular, it's obvious that I've been doing this Internet web thing a lot longer than you. If I want to link to your site in a derogatory manner, that is my Web-given right. If I wanted to have a link to your site that says AT&T has a stick up its collective ass, there’s nothing you can do about it. This has been held up in court. You can link to any site on this one that you feel like. Try it out, it's fun, believe me!!!

Look, here’s me linking to your actual policy. And you know what? It’s okay.