It is hard to believe we are on the 4th generation of famous Motorola Droid. Today Verizon and Motorola have announced the Droid 4. The Droid is one of the best devices for users coming from a BlackBerry or any other device with a physical keyboard. Sadly it is powered by Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) but will receive an update to ICS, Android 4.0, sometime in the future.

As expected the device has Verizon 4G LTC service, 4.0 inch qHD display, 8-megapixel camera with 1080P hd video capture, and both front and rear facing camera’s for Skype calling. Verizon / Motorola / Google are highlighting the government grade encryptions support giving users yet another reason to leave the once dominate BlackBerry.

The Droid 4 will be $199 with a 2 year agreement and have and optional Laptop Dock for $300. You can start buying on Feb 10 2010.

Press Release

DROID 4 BY MOTOROLA READY TO WORK AND PLAY ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK

Power, Speed and Reliability Get the Job Done

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – The award winning DROID 4 by Motorola will be available to handle even the most demanding lifestyles starting Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. Introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the DROID 4 is the thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone measuring at less than half an inch thin. DROID 4 not only features a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, but also a five-row QWERTY keyboard with a PC-like layout and edge-lit keys for fast, precise typing, even in the dark. Powered by America’s fastest, most reliable 4G network, DROID 4 customers will have access to 4G LTE coverage in 195 markets covering more than 200 million people.

Additional features

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE – Customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE Mobile Broadband coverage areas

Android™ 2.3.5 Gingerbread, to be upgraded to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

4.0-inch qHD display with scratch and scrape resistant glass

Government-grade encryption (FIPS 140-2) for email, calendar and contacts; preloaded with Citrix® Receiver™ for Android (available in webtop) for desktop virtualization and access

8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture

Front-facing camera for video chat

4G LTE Mobile Hotspot supporting up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices

Business Ready

DROID 4 is designed to help customers get more done. Business professionals can impress their audience by presenting to a conference room full of potential customers in a snap by plugging the DROID 4 into an HDTV and presenting directly from the phone. Professionals can also combine the DROID 4 with the Lapdock 500 and its 14-inch display to create a full-featured mobile office. They can download documents, make edits using Lapdock’s full keyboard and email the updated documents to colleagues or customers. The Lapdock even features a built-in webcam so customers can attend virtual meetings and manage their business face-to-face.

The Smart Actions app on the DROID 4 helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level.

Business professionals can leave their laptops behind and use the MotoCast™ app to remotely stream documents, videos, music and pictures from their work or home computers to their handset. The remote access of MotoCast eliminates the need to store documents on the handset as everything is stored on their office laptop.

Pricing and availability

· DROID 4 by Motorola will be available on Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

· The Lapdock 500 is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online for $299.97.

· Customers that purchase a DROID 4 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Follow @VZWnews on Twitter for the latest news on Verizon Wireless.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Media can access high-resolution images of DROID 4 by Motorola in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.)

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 108.7 million total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Motorola Mobility

Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Google, and Android are trademarks of Google, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved.

There was a lot of interesting technology at CES 2012 this year and it seems the big buzz was around smart TV’s, and Ultrabooks. CNET posted their best of CES list, which has several different categories and the tech that was top in its class.

Here are the Best of CES Winners

Best of Show

LG 55EM9600 (OLED TV)

People’s Choice

Razer Project Fiona (Concept Gaming Tablet)

Car Tech

QNX Car 2 mobile apps platform (Mobile Platform for cars)

Smartphones

Nokia Lumia 900 (Nokia’s new Windows Phone)

Cameras

Fujifilm X-Pro1 (New Camera by Fujifilm)

Emerging Tech

MakerBot Replicator (3D Printer)

Home Theater

Simple.TV (DVR for cable cutters)

PC

HP Envy 14 Spectre

Software and Apps

BlueStacks for Windows 8 (Android App Player)

Networking

D-Link Amplifi HD Media Router 3000 (Media Streaming)

Tablets

Asus Memo 370T (Android Tablet)

TV

LG 55EM9600 (OLED TV)

You can see the full description of the Best of CES winners on CNET’s site.

Popular streaming music app Slacker Radio has also had a busy CES 2012 by announcing new content into their channels. In addition to all the music slacker already has, Slacker users will be able stream content from ESPN, American Public Media and The Weather Channel. We are big fans or Slacker as they have players available on all phone platforms while adding the ability to listen from your desktop.

Here is the full press release

American Public Media Partners with Slacker Radio
APM Content Including “Marketplace” and “The Current”
Soon Available to Slacker’s Millions of Listeners
LAS VEGAS – January 10, 2012 – Slacker Inc. today announced a partnership with American Public Media to bring award-winning public radio programming to the Slacker lineup. Slacker users will be able to listen to APM’s Marketplace and The Current for free anywhere that Slacker is available, from mobile devices to Sonos wireless systems. Emphasizing Slacker’s dedication to being the ultimate radio resource, this partnership is yet another step in allowing Slacker listeners to enjoy an incredibly diverse collection of radio content right at their fingertips.
“We’re proud to work with Slacker and offer some of our most popular programming via Slacker Personal Radio,” said APM President and CEO, Jon McTaggart. “Marketplace produces the country’s top business and economic news programs, attracting 9.3 million listeners each week. And The Current is one of America’s top non-commercial Triple A music stations, cited frequently in Billboard and Rolling Stone magazines. We are pleased to offer Slacker users easy access to this award-winning programming.”
The Current on Slacker Radio will be curated and updated weekly with a mix of local and national musical content chosen by station programming staff. Marketplace on Slacker Radio will offer its popular and unique take on business news developments via the Marketplace flagship program, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Tech Report, Marketplace Money and the Marketplace Index.
“Including American Public Media programming in our lineup of curated music and non-music content reinforces that Slacker is radio done right,” said Jonathan Sasse, senior vice president of marketing at Slacker. “From customizable sports content to national and world news, DJ-curated Slacker stations and now public radio, Slacker offers a unique and compelling range of content for our listeners.”
To get the free Slacker mobile application, simply direct your mobile web browser to www.Slacker.com.
About American Public Media
American Public Media is one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio reaching 16 million listeners via nearly 800 radio stations nationwide each week. Information on Marketplace can be found atwww.Marketplace.org. Information on The Current can be found at www.TheCurrent.org. American Public Media is the parent organization for Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio and Classical South Florida. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.AmericanPublicMedia.org.
About Slacker, Inc.
Slacker offers the world’s most complete range of radio services. Whether it’s the award-winning free Slacker Basic Radio, or the fully-loaded subscription services Slacker Radio Plus and Slacker Premium Radio, listeners enjoy a unique, custom listening experience. Slacker enables music lovers to play highly personalized music online at the Slacker web site, in Ford vehicles with SYNC AppLink, on connected home devices or on-the-go with Slacker Personal Radio applications. Slacker mobile applications are available for Windows Phone 7, Windows Mobile, Palm webOS, Nokia, Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry smartphones. For more information visit: http://www.Slacker.com/about.
For regular Slacker updates follow us at www.Twitter.com/SlackerRadio, become a Fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SlackerRadio, watch Slacker video content at www.YouTube.com/Slacker or visitwww.Slacker.com.
###
RELEASE #2 -
Slacker to Offer Listeners Customizable Forecasts and Updates from The Weather Channel
Slacker Radio Service to Offer Listeners Weather, Live Sports, ABC News, Music and More
LAS VEGAS – January 10, 2012 – Slacker, Inc. today announced a partnership with The Weather Channel to bring customizable national, regional and local weather updates and forecasts to Slacker listeners. The Weather Channel integration will be available in early 2012 on the web as well as mobile devices.
All Slacker listeners, regardless of their service tier, will have access to features from The Weather Channel, including a dedicated station from The Weather Channel featuring national, regional and local forecasts and updates from major market cities throughout the United States. Weather updates and forecasts will also be available as optional items to be added to stations of the listener’s choice to get the latest weather updates on any of their favorite Slacker radio stations.
“This partnership will enable The Weather Channel to expand our reach and deliver weather content to Slacker Radio listeners when and where they want it,” said Mike Pons, vice president and general manager at The Weather Channel Local Group. “Slacker is taking an approach to Personal Radio that is unlike any other service and we are happy to be a part of it.”
Earlier this week, Slacker launched live ESPN shows and sporting events and announced the addition of programming from American Public Media. Adding real-time updates from The Weather Channel to Slacker’s millions of songs and non-music content further highlights Slacker’s commitment to creating the best Personal Radio experience.
“Every person is affected by weather; it’s an important part of our lives,” said Jonathan Sasse, senior vice president of marketing at Slacker. “Including weather on our stations is one more way that Slacker is offering the most relevant content to listeners, providing the best possible personal radio experience.”
Slacker Radio is dedicated to offering a fully customizable online radio experience that includes the most varied and compelling range of personalized content offered by any Internet radio service. The Slacker Radio experience includes over 150 expert-programmed music stations, ABC news, personalized ESPN Sports content and live streaming programs, American Public Radio programming, comedy, custom artist-hosted showcase stations, leading music festival stations with the new lifestyle stations and The Weather Channel updates coming soon. With a music catalog that is over ten times larger than Pandora, the leading radio competitor, Slacker Radio gives listeners the ultimate music and content discovery resource.
Pricing and Availability
The Weather Channel updates and forecasts will launch in early 2012 as part of the Slacker Radio service. Slacker Radio is currently available at www.Slacker.com or by accessing Slacker Radio from a supported device. Slacker Radio Plus, which is available for $3.99 per month and Slacker Premium Radio (featuring on-demand music play), which is available for $9.99 per month, can be purchased by visiting www.Slacker.com or selecting the “upgrade” button from within a Slacker Radio mobile application.
About The Weather Channel Companies
The Weather Channel companies (TWCC) are made up of The Weather Channel® television network, The Weather Channel digital properties, and WSI. The Weather Channel is based in Atlanta and is seen in more than 100 million U.S. households. TWCC also operates Weatherscan®, a 24-hour all-local weather network; The Weather Channel Radio Network; and The Weather Channel HD. The most popular source of weather news and information, TWCC properties reach 60 million monthly Web consumers (weather.com and Desktop) and 32 million monthly mobile users (mobile Web and applications) and offers the second most popular mobile app on all smartphones. WSI, headquartered in Andover, MA, primarily provides business-to-business weather services, particularly for the media, aviation, marine and energy sectors. TWCC is owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, visit www.weather.com/press.
About Slacker, Inc.
Slacker offers the world’s most complete range of radio services. Whether it’s the award-winning free Slacker Basic Radio, or the fully-loaded subscription services Slacker Radio Plus and Slacker Premium Radio, listeners enjoy a unique, custom listening experience. Slacker enables music lovers to play highly personalized music online at the Slacker web site, in Ford vehicles with SYNC AppLink, on connected home devices or on-the-go with Slacker Personal Radio applications. Slacker mobile applications are available for Windows Phone 7, Windows Mobile, Palm webOS, Nokia, Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry smartphones. For more information visit: http://www.Slacker.com/about.
For regular Slacker updates follow us at www.Twitter.com/SlackerRadio, become a Fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SlackerRadio, watch Slacker video content at www.YouTube.com/Slacker or visitwww.Slacker.com.

Yesterday was a big opening day at CES 2012 for AT&T with the announcement of many new 4G LTE devices. The awesome thing about these devices is the fact that they are both phones and tablets. Some of the LTE devices include two new Windows Phones the Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II. There were also a few Android phones the Samsung Exhilarate and the Pantech Element.

Here is the full Press Release

 

AT&T unveils Next wave of mobile communications devices and ‘app’ tools at annual tech show

 

LAS VEGAS, JAN. 9, 2012 — AT&T today gave consumers a glimpse into the future of communications and high-speed mobile broadband, unveiling seven new 4G LTE smartphones, a $299.99 4G LTE tablet and streamlined tools for “app” or application inventors to more quickly launch their ideas.

 

The new devices, all powered by the company’s super-fast 4G LTE network, were announced at the AT&T Developer Summit one day before the opening of the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show here. The new smartphones and tablet will all operate on either the Android or Windows platforms and are expected to be available to consumers early this year.

 

“Delivering a first-class mobile broadband experience to our customers is at the forefront of everything we do,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.  “To achieve this, we’re bringing together the industry’s best 4G smartphone portfolio, a blazing fast LTE 4G network, and innovative applications that stem from our collaborative relationship with the developer community.”

 

The annual AT&T Developer Summit is a two-day event for software developers to hear the latest news on AT&T 4G devices and network and get technical news and marketing insights from industry experts.  More than 2,000 developers attended this year’s event.

 

Joining de la Vega in announcing the new smartphones and tablet were Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and other top executives from leading communications technology companies such as Samsung, Sony, Nokia, HTC and Pantech.

 

In the coming weeks, AT&T will begin offering the Samsung Galaxy Note™, which features the world’s first 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED™ screen (1280×800) for sharp, clear colors and readability. It also features the S Pen™, giving users the ability to easily sketch drawings, jot down notes, or write emails and texts quickly and easily in free-form handwriting.

 

AT&T also unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD, a 4G LTE smartphone with a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED screen and 1.5GHz dual-core processor for ultra-smooth game play and video playback.

 

The first 4G LTE smartphone from Sony®¹, the Xperia™ ion will support access to the richest entertainment experiences from Sony Entertainment Network, such as a global music catalog, the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios. Xperia ion is also PlayStation® Certified, offering a high-quality gaming experience.

 

Other upcoming devices announced by AT&T were:

-The Pantech Element™, an LTE-connected Android tablet available exclusively at AT&T company-owned stores and online for $299.99 with a two-year contract on Jan. 22.

- The Samsung Exhilarate, a smartphone constructed from 80 percent recycled post-consumer materials with access to AT&T U-verse® Live TV.

-The Pantech Burst™, which combines 4G LTE speeds and the latest Android functionality in a slim, affordable package – just $49.99 with a two-year contract.

-The HTC TITAN II, a Windows Phone with a 16-megapixel camera and a 4.7-inch screen, making it perfect for watching movies, playing games, emailing and surfing the Web.

-Nokia’s first-ever 4G LTE Windows Phone.

 

For a limited time, customers may buy the Pantech Element and Burst together and get $100 off the total price, resulting in a combined $249.99 best price for both the tablet and smartphone with a two-year agreement on both devices.

 

The two-day AT&T Developer Summit underscored AT&T’s commitment to opening up its network to developers and creating opportunities for collaboration.

 

“Applications are one of the primary reasons people buy smartphones and tablets,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With that appetite, we need to have the world’s greatest apps – running at their best – on our network.  Collaborating with developers and supporting their creativity through the AT&T API Platform and other best-in-class tools is the best way that we can make sure our 100 million-plus wireless customers have access to the best apps and mobile experience.”

 

For example, Christopher said, AT&T is opening up AT&T U-verse^® receivers to developers to enable development of multi-screen applications that interact in the home with U-verse TV, the fastest-growing TV provider in the United States over the past 11 quarters combined, with 3.6 million subscribers and $7 billion in annualized revenue as of third quarter 2011

 

“We’re taking the hottest TV product and we’re marrying it with the hottest mobile technology,” Christopher said. “This will create great opportunities for developers and benefits for our customers.”

 

Please visit our 2012 CES News page for all of the latest AT&T news and announcements from the show.

 

¹ For illustrative purposes only. Use of “Sony” brand subject to regulatory approval.

² Waterproof against incidental exposure to water when all ports (incl. USB and earphone ports) are tightly closed. NOT designed or intended for in water use. Submersible up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Waterproof based on IP57 rating.

³ Actual size of screen is approximately 4.55”.

 

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets.  4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available.  Deployment ongoing.  Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.  Learn more at att.com/network

 

Pantech Element with 2-yr agreement and minimum $35/mo 3 GB DataConnect Plan is $299.99.  If you exceed your initial 3GB allowance, you will automatically be charged an overage of $10 for each additional GB provided. All data allowances and overages must be used in the billing period provided or they will be forfeited – details att.com/dataplans. Coverage not avail everywhere. Credit approval req’d. Geographic, usage, and other terms, conditions and restrictions apply, and may result in svc termination. Early Termination Fee (ETF): After 30 days, ETF up to $325. Restocking fee up to 10% of sales price may apply. Equipment Fee may apply if service is canceled within 30 days of purchase – details att.com/returns.  Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge up to $1.25/mo. is chrg’d to help comply with gov’t obligations and chrgs; it is not a tax or gov’t req’d chrg.  Taxes and other charges apply. See store or visit att.com for complete details and coverage maps.

 

Limited-time offer. Pantech Burst with new 2-yr wireless agrmt with qualifying voice plan and data plan is $49.99.  Wireless Service: Subject to Wireless Customer Agrmt. Coverage and svcs not avail everywhere. Credit approval req’d. Activ. fee $36/line. Geographic, usage, and other terms, conditions and restrictions apply, and may result in svc termination. See store or visit att.com for complete details and coverage maps. Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge up to $1.25/mo. is chrg’d to help comply with gov’t obligations and chrgs; it is not a tax or gov’t req’d chrg. Early Termination Fee (ETF): After 30 days, ETF up to $325 based on device (details att.com/equipmentETF). Restocking fee up to $35. Taxes and other charges apply.

 

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

BlueStacks has announced at CES that they will bring their Android App Player to Microsoft’s Windows 8 platform. Currently, Bluestacks runs on Windows 7 devices but making a commitment to bring 400,000+ Android Apps to Windows 8 will provide some competition to the native Windows app store. While their believe that building apps for Windows 8 is unnecessary that comes with a heavy bias and we all understand the apps designed for a platform feel and perform better than something running under emulation. Regardless, this means the on day one of getting your Windows 8 Tablet or ultrabook you will have access to thousands of Android apps.

Press Release

BlueStacks Announces Windows 8 Compatibility

Apps-on-PC company will bring 400,000+ Android apps to Windows 8 in 2012.

OEMs to release BlueStacks-enabled Windows 8 tablets and Ultrabooks.

CAMPBELL, CA – January 10, 2012 – BlueStacks announced today that its “App Player” software, which runs mobile apps natively on PCs and tablets, is now compatible with Windows 8. The company demonstrated the technology on a Windows 8 Ultrabook at CES today with reporters.

Windows 8 is Microsoft’s first operating system built with mobility in mind, using the new “Metro” user interface. BlueStacks will integrate over 400,000 Android apps seamlessly into the operating system, where they will take the form of tiles alongside other programs. “The Metro UI is beautiful, but the number one thing Windows 8 is missing is apps,” noted BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma. “This changes all that.” BlueStacks makes creating mobile apps for the Windows 8 platform unnecessary, as most every app built for Android will now run on Windows 8 without any porting. The software will support both standard desktop and Metro UI modes.

BlueStacks is actively collaborating with top PC manufacturers to pre-load the BlueStacks App Player on Ultrabooks, tablets, notebooks and all-in-one desktop PCs. Their newest in a series of OEM partnerships is one with the Taiwanese manufacturer InHon. Inhon plans to release its first Ultrabook in March 2012 with BlueStacks App Player pre-loaded, followed by a Windows 8 Ultrabook later this year. “So many of the applications that people want to use have moved to mobile platforms,” said InHon CEO HongFan Wei from Taiwan. “We’re excited to be first to market with a Windows 8 Ultrabook that combines the best apps from both worlds.”

BlueStacks was named a CES Innovations winner for 2012 at the conference this week. It is the only program worldwide that can run native mobile applications that are ARM-based or x86, windowed or fullscreen, on Windows PCs and tablets.

If your looking for an easy way to back up your Windows Phone for emergencies, then WP7 Easy Backup Tool might be for you.  This tool is a Homebrew created by XDA developer Marc Hoover. The WP7 Easy Backup Tool allows Windows Phone 7 users to create or restore backups easily without hacking.

WP7 Easy Backup Tool uses the Zune client backup process.  Marc Hoover warns that the tool doesn’t care about previous backups and that you should  move any previous backups to a new location because the tool overwrites backups found in the default location.  Your backup should be stored here: “%appdata%\..\Local\Microsoft\Windows Phone Update\”.  Marc also states that the tool is very stable even though it is labeled as Beta.

Being the bleeding edge Windows Phone enthusiast that I am, I downloaded the tool and fired it up.  Once the backup starts, it reboots your phone and you see the update screen on your phone.  A nice feature is that WP7 Easy Backup Tool only backs up your phone’s data and apps.  Zune media is not  included in the backup, so after restoring, you will have to sync your phone with Zune.  This makes the backup smaller therefore quicker backups.  The entire  process to back up my Titan took about 6 minutes.

So if you think this tool is right for you, you can find it at the XDA-Developers site.

Source:  XDA-Developers

Deposit a check into your account with the click of your smartphone camera. E*Trade recently added support for photo check deposit and many may have missed it given the years we have waited. All you need to do is tell the amount of the check; select an account for deposit; then take a picture of the front and signed back of the check.

I would routinely let checks sit for weeks until I felt like going to the ATM. Today, while sitting on a call I deposited a check into my account I received on October 23rd. I am lazy and E*Trade addition of photo check deposits is helping me remain lazy. Now you will need to hold on to the check post depositing for 1-2 business days until the status is complete but you never have to mail a check or go to an ATM again.

Emoticons are an quick and fun way to express yourself in text messages.  As we are now finding out via Microsoft’s Windows Phone team memeber Michael Stroh, there are tons of cool emoticons in Windows Phone 7.5.  On the last two Windows Phone Blog Tip Tuesdays, Michael Stroh has posted key combinations of the vast array of emoticons available in two parts.  Michael warns that due to a lack of global standards, some character combos might bring up different images if sent to none Windows Phone or Windows Live Messenger users.  Qudos to Michael Stroh for sharing some serious Windows Phone fun.  So give the Windows Phone emoticons a try and let us know what you think.

Microsoft has decided to help two people go to CES 2010 in Las Vegas for free. If this is an event that you have always want to see but never wanted to spend the money here is a chance for you to go. Simple go to their face book page and sign up for you chance to win

• Round Trip Airfare for two
• Passes to the keynote and show floor
• Hotel accommodations at the Palazzo Hotel
• Digital camera and 500 dollars spending money

Good luck!

Microsoft’s Facebook Page

Sonos is a software and hardware solution the creates a multi-zone music system that streams music from a variety of internet and local sources to Sonos Speakers. For a review of Sonos please see our earlier post. Sonos has updated their Sonos Controller for Android with support for Android tablets including the Kindle Fire™, HTC Flyer™, Samsung Galaxy Tab™, Sony Tablet™ S, and other tablets. This update added support for Android 2.2 and higher and is available for download via the Android Market or Amazon App Store.

Check out the press release over at Sonos for more details. If you are a customer of Sonos you will appreciate this update.

[Source Sonos]