For smartphone users with the Starbucks app, you can now pay for your drinks with your phone. The system is now available in thousands of stores nationwide and works by linking the balance on your Starbucks card to your app. This is different say, than the Pay Pass system developed by Master Card. One question? Will you use it when its just as simple to swipe your Starbucks card?

According to Apple Insider (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/01/11/non_exclusive_apple_verizon_deal_could_allow_iphone_on_sprint_t_mobile.html), because Apple has a non-restrictive agreement with Verizon, it is possible that similar agreements could be struck with Sprint and T-Mobile. The Verizon iPhone uses the CDMA network, which is popular all around the world, making this a potential boon for an already successful Apple.

Verizon iPhone can act as mobile wi-fi hotspot

Unlike AT&T iPhones, Verizon iPhones can act as mobile WiFi hotspots like Sprint’s EVO 4G. And if Sprint does that now, bets are good it will work on the Sprint iPhone as well.

Credit: Consumer Reports

Zac: Alright Facebook buddies, anyone have any reviews of the new iPhone 4 yet? I may have an itch to scratch.

Angela: no…but I want one!

Sam: I love mine…I never had a problem with reception before they had to release the bumper but I got it just because I thought they were cool….just like any other expensive phone, take care of it…screen is amazing…don’t really have a reason to try facetime, but it looks like its good…the pictures you can take are amazing….I love it.

Sam: ‎9to5mac.com

Zac: Thx Sam. Sounds fantastic.
(more…)

Professional Technology Consulting over at Watershawl, Inc has an article about the Best Android Email App for Google Apps Email Users. It turns out that there is no one, best app for Google Apps email users unless you are using a T-Mobile G1, which comes with apps specifically tailored for Google Apps users. Instead, users who want to view inline, HTML email images must view them in a browser and those who want push email, must use the default email client or another email client like MailDroid. Some people have reported success with inline, HTML images with MailDroid, but not everyone has got it to work. If you have a solution, please let us know in the comments.

Larissa Riquelme cheers on Paraguay at the 2010 World Cup, Nokia phone in tow.

This weekend was a busy one for HP and their newest brand, Palm. Not only did Palm’s app store, PreCentral, stop working for Pre and Pixo users this weekend, but the SEC released information on the events that lead up to HP’s aquisition of Palm.

No apps for you

If you were a Palm Pre or Pixo user this weekend making an app purchase, you may have found yourself staring at an error message instead of your new app. This is because of an outage on PreCentral, Palm’s version of Appple’s App Store on iTunes, this weekend. Palm quickly fixed the problem and those who were charged were eventually able to download their apps, but it highlights some of the problems at the company and why other potential suitors might not have wanted to buy.

Somebody give me $5 to go

SEC documents reveal that HP was in a bidding war with four other unnamed companies (rumors include Dell, HTC, and Lenovo; Nokia had publicly turned down the chance). Up to 14 companies had inquired about purchasing either the company, the intellectual assets, or licensing webOS. Palm’s board seemed divided on what avenue or offer to take, but two things are clear: HP had both the highest and most favorable bid for Palm. It’s clear now why HP wanted Palm so badly: webOS. Why HP chose to buy the whole company and not simply license the OS is another question we don’t yet have the answer.

Dell’s CEO, Micheal Dell announced at the O2 Telefonica that the Mini 5 tablet slate would be released in Europe first and will be called the Streak. It’s officially a tablet PC with a phone, but it’s 5-inch screen and small form factor puts it more in line with smartphones like the iPhone.  And like the iPhone it will debut on AT&T’s 3G network.

Streak runs Android, has Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. It’s 5-inch screen supports full multitouch and is very light and comfortable to use. The screen is responsive, and Dell’s icon interface makes for intuitive presentation of Android.

The best feature seems to be the 5MP camera

Dell took a risk with the Streak tablet. Its 5-inch screen is meant to appeal to a different crowd than the iPad, with its considerably larger 9.7-inch display. Unlike the iPad, the Streak will run Android and will feature not one, but two cameras: front- and rear-facing cameras. It will also have USB ports, two microSD slots, and possibly an unlocked 3G modem. Because it’s Android, it will have multitasking, but that also means that users will have to manage open programs with a task manager. Android apps will be available via the Android app store, similar to the HTC Hero.

Android Shakes Up U.S. Smartphone Market

Normally second place is not a celebrated accomplishment, but when you’re up against the giant that is Apple, getting second place is a big deal. Google, who helped develop the mobile device operating system, Android, is probably more than satisfied with this place…for now. According to market research firm NPD, “Google’s Android operating system edged up into second place in the US smartphone market during the first quarter of the year, leaving it still well behind RIM’s BlackBerry OS, but marking the first time that it has moved ahead of Apple’s iPhone OS.” Specifically, NPD found that RIM maintained a strong 36% market share for the quarter, with Android coming in at 28%, and iPhone OS in third at 21%. The growth for Android was attributed largely to carriers like Verizon and Sprint which don’t have the iPhone OS and are forced to heavily market Android. Verizon also maintains a 30 percent smartphone market share, which is just slightly behind AT&T at 32%, and ahead of T-Mobile and Sprint at 17% and 15%, respectively.