WireFly now has the HTC Arrive, the first Windows Phone 7 smartphone for Sprint. The regular WireFly price is $49.99 with a two-year contract, but with coupon code ARRIVE0331 you can get an additional $25 off for a total cost of $24.99.
Coupon code valid only on new Sprint accounts. Ends March 31st.
Amazon also has the HTC Arrive for $49. The Sprint direct-price is $199 with a two-year service agreement.
After months of waiting, the Amazon Appstore for Android is open for business. If you’re an Android user, take note: this has the potential to be a huge development for Android-powered smartphones and tablets, and introduces some much-needed competition for Google’s Android Market.
There are several things you need to do to get started using the Amazon Appstore.
Initial Setup
To use the Amazon Appstore for Android, you’ll need an Amazon account. You probably already have one, but if not it’s free to setup. Next, on your Android device, enable app installation from unknown sources; this allows non-Android Market applications to be installed on your device. If you’ve ever installed an APK file directly from your Android device, you’ve already enabled this feature, but if not tap Settings > Applications on your phone or tablet, then check the box next to Unknown Sources.
Now you’re ready to install the Appstore app on your device. On your PC, go to the Amazon Appstore for Android page and enter your phone number or email address in the box labeled Get Started on the right side of the page. You’ll receive a link to download the Appstore app. It’s probably best to use email so you won’t have to pay for a text message (unless you have unlimited messaging). If you use email, be sure it’s an address you can view from your device.
Once you receive the email or text message, tap the link to install the app. After installation, the icon Amazon Apps will appear in your Apps Menu. Open it and input your Amazon Account credentials.
You’re done!
If Google hopes to unseat iOS as the leading tablet operating system – as it apparently has in the smartphone arena – there are three things it and its hardware partners must do. First, adapt and refine the Android OS for tablets and encourage tablet-friendly software development and innovation. Second, build powerful, attractive and useful hardware to bring software to life in users’ hands. Last – and by no means least – go beyond simple point-by-point comparisons to make a compelling case to the consumer for choosing an Android tablet over the iPad, be it one of form, function, affordability – or even better, all three.
An Android surge in the tablet market seemed a distant dream in 2010, but with last month’s release of Android 3.0 and the Motorola XOOM – the flagship Android-powered iPad competitor – there was hope for 2011.
But two weeks with the latest, greatest Android tablet dashed that hope fairly decisively, at least for this reviewer. The XOOM, while capable, lacks any of the aforementioned must-dos – with the exception of the Android 3.0 OS, ‘Honeycomb,’ which is designed for larger-screened devices and is, in many ways, a success. But, as it stands there’s just no reason to choose the XOOM over an iPad, unless you are a die-hard Android fan or need LTE at all costs.
Today marks the release of the hotly anticipated HTC Thunderbolt, the first smartphone with onboard LTE support. Verizon Wireless is offering this phone for $249 with a two-year contract.
But two online Verizon Wireless resellers – LetsTalk.com and WireFly – are offering the brand new Android smartphone for $50 less, $199 with a new service agreement.
While the HTC Thunderbolt is LTE ‘4G’ ready, LTE is only currently available in select locations. If you don’t live in an area with LTE service, the Thunderbolt will use Verizon’s existing 3G wireless network for data.
Verizon Wireless confirmed this morning that it will begin selling the HTC Thunderbolt for $249 with a two-year contract on Thursday. This ends a two-month wait for the first LTE-capable smartphone from the carrier.
Everything but the price and release date has been known for some time, but one other interesting tidbit from today’s announcement is that the Thunderbolt will include a 32GB microSDHC memory card in addition to the 8GB of onboard flash memory. The 32GB card will come pre-installed for a total of 40GB of storage.
If you want the Thunderbolt quickly, you can grab it online or in a Verizon Wireless store starting Thursday. But if you want to save a little cash, wait bit; one of the third-party sellers will almost certainly have it for less shortly thereafter.
