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Mobile Miscellany: week of April 30th, 2012

Zachary Lutz — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:30:00 EST

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, we saw the first rollout of Verizon LTE from one of its rural partners, and both the Optimus L7 and Xperia U were spotted for Fido. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of April 30th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of April 30th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 30th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 May 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Italian anti-trust body fines Apple for misleading customers on product guarantees

Mat Smith — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:54:00 EST

Apple Italia has been fined a total of 900,000 euros for failing to inform its customers that products purchased were already covered by two years of free assistance under national law. It appears that Apple employees encouraged the extra purchase of its own AppleCare plans. With the European court's continued investigation of possible e-book price-fixing and ongoing legal jousting with Samsung unlikely to end any time soon, it looks like Apple will be busy in the courts next year too.

[Thanks Giulio]

Italian anti-trust body fines Apple for misleading customers on product guarantees originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint to offer three levels of iPhone service, 'yellow' AppleCare+ repairs will cost $49

Zach Honig — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:43:00 EST

Thinking about buying an iPhone 4S from Sprint? Depending on how clumsy you tend to be with mobile devices, you might want to consider adding the $99 AppleCare+ option at purchase, since those Total Equipment Protection plans are definitely out. A Sprint employee wrote in to detail us on upcoming service procedures, which include grouping a damaged device within three categories -- green, yellow and red -- after diagnosis. As you might imagine, green repairs are the easiest to deal with, and include 'minor damage' (i.e. cracked screens are out). These repairs will be handled for free within the first year for all customers, and within two years for those who purchased AppleCare+. Next up, the yellow category covers damage that doesn't fall within green, but is still repairable. Non subscribers will pay $199, while those with AppleCare+ will pay $49. Klutzes beware: you're limited to two yellow repairs, regardless of whether or not the device is in warranty. Finally, the red category is reserved for iPhones that provide little function beyond holding down a stack of papers or propping open your door. You'll need to pay the full replacement cost for red-labeled phones. None of these repairs will be handled in store -- iPhones will be shipped to Apple, though you're welcome to start the process at Sprint. Our recommendation: reach out to Apple directly, since your iPhone is probably headed there either way. And if you want AppleCare, don't forget to buy it at launch.

Updated: Sprint wrote in to let us know that device swaps (not repairs) can in fact be handled in store, so you won't always need to go to Apple.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Sprint to offer three levels of iPhone service, 'yellow' AppleCare+ repairs will cost $49 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint says no to iPhone insurance, AppleCare+ breathes sigh of relief

Brad Molen — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:11:00 EST

The Now Network is apparently voting thumbs-down to the idea of having its Total Equipment Protection plans available to its new crown jewel. According to a leaked slide courtesy of SprintFeed, your shiny Sprint-branded iPhone 4S (or 4) won't be offered with a healthy portion of peace of mind; rather, you'll need to purchase the AppleCare+ Protection Plan or go through a third party to have any protection from accidental damage. This may change down the road, as the slide says it won't be offered "at launch," but only time will tell. Unfortunate, yes, but we suppose there's always a bright side -- at least there's now a Sprint iPhone to not have insurance for, right?

Sprint says no to iPhone insurance, AppleCare+ breathes sigh of relief originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IBM's Watson set to tackle health insurance, takes 'Diagnosis for $1,000'

Billy Steele — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:24:00 EST

After tackling your tech support woes, the famed Watson is moving on to mop up the health insurance industry. That's right, the IBM showstopper we all know and love for trouncing trivia kings on Jeopardy has been hired by one of the largest health insurance company's in the US. WellPoint Inc. will make use of the system's breakneck speed and healthcare database alongside patient records -- allowing the supercomputer to guide treatment options and prescribe medicines. Once implemented, data will be combined from three sources in a matter of seconds: a patient's chart / records from a doctor, the insurance company's patient history and the medical knowledge that Watson already possesses. A pilot program will roll out next year to a number of cancer facilities, academic medical centers and oncology practices. No word yet on when The Watson School of Medicine will start accepting applications.

IBM's Watson set to tackle health insurance, takes 'Diagnosis for $1,000' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T to offer standard insurance for iPhone owners starting July 17th

Brad Molen — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:02:00 EST

If you have an AT&T iPhone in your possession, there's a good chance you've quickly glanced at available insurance options and noticed they're... well, a tad on the spendy side. Big Blue's only solution requires a $12 monthly asking price -- considering that's before the deductible gets factored in, we just can't imagine it selling like hotcakes. The tides appear to be turning, however; according to AT&T's official site, iPhones will be eligible for Asurion Mobile Insurance plans on July 17th. With these new plans, the monthly cost will plummet to a much more reasonable $5, placing it lower than Verizon's version. We're still awaiting word on the deductible, though other smartphones on the same protection plan require a $125 replacement charge. Here's the drawback: it's only available for the first 30 days after the device is purchased, which means anyone who procured an iPhone before mid-June will want to keep those cases and screen protectors glued on tight. There's also no intimate details on what kind of damage is covered -- good thing these things are so difficult to destroy, eh?

AT&T to offer standard insurance for iPhone owners starting July 17th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony makes good, doles out identity protection activation codes for PSN and Qriocity users

Sean Buckley — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:43:00 EST

Still feeling burned by Sony's record-breaking PlayStation Network outage? Fret not, promised reparations have arrived: a short form on the PlayStation website is now distributing activation codes for a free year of Debix AllClear ID Plus identity theft protection. The offer is good for all US PSN and Qriocity account holders who activate before June 28th, netting users up to $1 million in identity theft insurance coverage. Feel better? Hit the source link below to get your redemption code.

Sony makes good, doles out identity protection activation codes for PSN and Qriocity users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 May 2011 00:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony offers free Debix identify theft protection for PSN and Qriocity hack victims in US

Sean Hollister — Thu, 05 May 2011 22:28:00 EST

Sony's "Welcome Back" package of free software and PlayStation Plus subscriptions was a nice gesture, but it won't help you if your credit card gets fraudulently charged in the aftermath of the PlayStation Network debacle. That, however, is exactly what Debix is for. Sony's announced that it will provide a complimentary one-year subscription to Debix's "AllClear ID Plus" identity theft protection service to all PlayStation Network and Qriocity account holders in the United States, which will attempt to protect your personal data from harm, by both monitoring known criminal activity for your private digits and providing up to $1 million in ID theft insurance coverage. We've never used Debix, so we can't vouch for its reliability, and this particular plan admittedly doesn't look quite as comprehensive as the one Debix offers regular customers for $10 a month. Still, some peace of mind is a heck of a lot better than none, so we think we might take Sony up on its offer and sign up by the June 18th deadline. If you'd like to join us, you should find an activation code in your inbox before long.

Sony offers free Debix identify theft protection for PSN and Qriocity hack victims in US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Power Knee motorized prosthetic officially available in US, Europe -- race of cyborgs still in infancy

Christopher Trout — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:47:00 EST

We reported on Ossur's robotic prosthetic back in 2009, and now amputees in Europe and the United States have become the first official recipients of the Power Knee. According to the company, "the world's first and only motor-powered prosthetic knee" was recently approved for reimbursement by the German National Health System, covered by private insurance in France and the UK, and picked up by select healthcare providers in the US. Power Knee combines "artificial intelligence," motion sensors, and wireless communication to learn and adjust to the walking style of its users -- that's one small step for real-life cyborgs and one giant leap for prosthetic technology.

Continue reading Power Knee motorized prosthetic officially available in US, Europe -- race of cyborgs still in infancy

Power Knee motorized prosthetic officially available in US, Europe -- race of cyborgs still in infancy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MobileProtect now officially ready to insure your iPhone 4 from everything*

Darren Murph — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:58:00 EST

And just like that, it's confirmed. We'd heard through the grapevine that AT&T may be fixing to certify a third-party to sell an iPhone insurance program, and now it looks as if Asurion has been given the green light by Ma Bell, and not a moment too soon. According to the company, MobileProtect is the "only iPhone (and iPhone 4) insurance to protect against loss or theft (the reason for nearly 50% of phone claims), while also covering water or other liquid damage, accidental damage, and out-of-warranty failure." Of course, you'll have to shell out a borderline-ridiculous $11.99 per month for the coverage (and yeah, there's still a deductible), which is made even more outrageous by the fact that the iPhone 4 and its Gorilla Glass is nigh indestructible. Er, wait...

*Claims of "everything" are subject to interpretation, as anyone who has ever dealt with an insurance company will attest.

P.S. - SquareTrade still works on the iPhone 4, and it's probably worth considering. Take a look at the price breakdown after the jump. Also, Worth Ave Group has an option that looks even more acceptable. The bottom line? You can insure everything.

Continue reading MobileProtect now officially ready to insure your iPhone 4 from everything*

MobileProtect now officially ready to insure your iPhone 4 from everything* originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T prepping MobileProtect insurance program for iPhone?

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:49:00 EST

Shots of some docs over on BGR have us believing that AT&T is on the cusp of launching a program called "MobileProtect," but don't be fooled by the fancy name -- this is basically an Asurion-operated handset insurance plan just like any other, the only real difference being that it's for the iPhone and offered directly by the carrier. Interestingly, it seems that you'll buy the protection through the App Store of all things, automatically billing the credit card that you've got on file with Apple, but you'd better really want the protection because it's going to run $13.99 a month. Oh, and you'll have to pay a $99 deductible to fix an 8GB 3G, scaling up to $199 for a 32GB 3GS. To put that in perspective, that means it'll cost you $367 to replace an insured 32GB 3GS after a year of coverage, at which point you'll say "well, I'd rather have an iPhone 4 anyway" and shell out $200 with an upgrade pull-ahead. Yeah, call us jaded.

AT&T prepping MobileProtect insurance program for iPhone? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EchoStar nets $41-million adjustment for AMC-14

Steven Kim — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:11:00 EST

How's this for a silver lining to a cloud? EchoStar picked up a $41-million insurance claim for its winged bird, the AMC-14. Sure, a loss like that is always hard, but it's safe to say that with the successful EchoStar XI launch, DISH has picked itself right up again (we're sure the insurance check helps ease the pain, too). But most importantly from where we stand, the AMC-14 mishap hasn't really slowed down DISH HD rollouts. Now, if only something could be done about the company's declining subscriber rolls.

Filed under: Industry, Satellite

EchoStar nets $41-million adjustment for AMC-14 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Progressive MyRate drive-monitoring device goes national

Nilay Patel — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:35:00 EST

Progressive insurance has been testing out the MyRate driving monitoring system for a few years now (it used to be called TripSense), but it's finally taking the system national, bringing pay-as-you-drive insurance into the mainstream. The little blue box plugs into your car's ODB II diagnostic port (all cars made after 1996 have one), and studiously records your driving habits, wirelessly sending the data back to Progressive HQ (it's not clear exactly how). Every six months, Progressive will crunch the numbers and issue a new rate for you based on how you drive -- savings of up to 40 percent are possible. That's pretty tempting, depending on your current rates and driving habits, but we're not so sure we're willing to share that much data for an unspecified discount -- especially since we're confident the MyRate box will get cracked almost immediately.

[Thanks, Mike; image courtesy of Aaron Landry]

Read - MyRate press release
Read - MyRate video
Read - How MyRate works

Filed under: Transportation

Progressive MyRate drive-monitoring device goes national originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DISH Network's AMC-14 satellite "a total loss"

Richard Lawler — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:09:00 EST

Despite hopes to the contrary, it looks like SES AMERICOM is treating the AMC-14 satellite mishap like the time you rear-ended that bus full of nuns in your Suzuki X90. Stranded at a less than advantageous orbit after an anomaly in its second burn of the fourth stage on March 15, the company decided that trying to reposition it at this point was too risky, and would result in a severely shortened lifespan. As a result, SES is cashing in on a $150 million insurance policy, and coming out of this smelling like a rose. DISH Network has more satellites planned for later this year and claims the failure won't affect its plans, so HDTV owners shouldn't lose out badly either. The only real loser here is AMC-14 itself, destined to decades of floating around as space junk, or a quick and fiery end in Earth's atmosphere -- plans for its retirement are still being "explored".

Filed under: Industry, Satellite

DISH Network's AMC-14 satellite "a total loss" originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung to receive insurance payout for power outage damage

Darren Murph — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:06:00 EST

Merely hours after a substantial blackout halted six chip production lines in a complex operated by the world's largest flash memory producer, Samsung is now expected to "get insurance payments from a local insurer for the damage received during Friday's power outage." Reportedly, the firm's contract with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance will cover the damage, which is currently estimated to be somewhere near $40 million. Of note, the exact cause of the outage is still unknown, and it was stated that it would take "considerable amounts of time" to look into before the losses are finally calculated. Furthermore, some analysts have speculated that it "would take weeks for the plants to reach full capacity," and if this does indeed prove true, supplies to electronic-product makers "will likely remain constrained and prices will stay high."

Read - Samsung Gets Insurance Payout for Power Outage Damage
Read - Samsung Restarts Plants, Damage Resulting [Subscription required]

Filed under: Storage

Samsung to receive insurance payout for power outage damage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Liquid damage indicators are two-faced?

Michael Caputo — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 23:19:00 EST

Chances are that one time or another, you had to bring our phone in for repair only to be frustrated and aggravated when you're told that your phone has moisture damage. As you attempt to argue that you've never gotten your phone wet, you get pushback from the local technician because the litmus paper on the back of your phone is never wrong. Hopefully you are fortunate enough to have insurance (and you're lucky if you don't get a refurb). Now how many of you can honestly say you've had this problem and you really didn't get the phone wet?

[Via Textually]

Filed under: Misc

Liquid damage indicators are two-faced? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 23:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wireless insurance class-action lawsuit settled

Michael Caputo — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:01:00 EST

We know that having your phone stolen or lost can be a traumatic experience, however if you subscribe to wireless insurance through your carrier it makes the process a little less painful. Except when your wireless insurance provider tells you that one dreaded word you don't want to hear: You're getting a "refurb." The problem occurs when people pay the $50.00 deductible and more often the cost of the refurbished phone is less than the deductible. Last week a federal judge approved an initial settlement between Asurion and Lock\line that affects approx 15 thousand customers and soon they will be receiving the details of their settlement. Signal Holdings, the other major cellphone insurance company, is waiting their trial date to be issued.

[Thanks, Sergio]

Filed under: Misc

Wireless insurance class-action lawsuit settled originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Accenture developing virtual meal technology, brings videoconferencing to the dinner table

Darren Murph — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 03:59:00 EST

If you're just finishing up what was likely a delicious and fulfilling Christmas dinner with your friends and family, connecting with loved ones probably isn't a problem at the moment, but for elderly and single folks who live alone and far away from old friends and relatives, Accenture is looking to expand their dinner tables as far as the webcam can see. The "virtual meal technology" seeks to aggrandize the dining room beyond a single home, allowing folks to enjoy separate meals while conversing together in real-time. Utilizing the basic premise found in videoconferencing, the plans are to unveil an (almost) automatic system that doesn't require a great deal of know-how in order to operate, with prototypes "automatically detecting" when someone is about to eat supper, and then searching for available family members that would also be interested in scarfing down some grub while chatting it up over the system. The firm is also pushing the medical aspects of such an invention, as it reports that "elderly people who eat alone often don't eat enough or eat the wrong kinds of food," which would allow younger family members to correct those eating habits before more serious health issues develop from malnutrition. While the company hasn't released any draft equipment just yet, it's hoping to have a prototype system available "in around two years," and while it's aiming for the "$500 to $1,000 range" per household, things could get a lot cheaper if your insurance company ends up footing the bill.

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Household

Accenture developing virtual meal technology, brings videoconferencing to the dinner table originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Dec 2006 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insurers starting to reimburse for digital content

Evan Blass — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:22:00 EST

One of the main problems with the gradual transfer of content from physical media (CDs, DVDs, books) over to digital media (MP3s, movie downloads, e-books) is that when something happens to the devices storing your swag, you're basically out of luck -- most insurance companies will tell you to go take a hike. Well that's all about to change, according to a recent article in British newspaper The Independent, as insurers like Nationwide will now reimburse you for digital content stored on stolen or destroyed electronics as long as you can provide proof of purchase. Nationwide's even got your back for such seemingly trivial fare as games and ringtones downloaded to your cellphone, though its policies specifically state that if you lose your digital goods due to a wiped hard drive / memory card that's your own damn fault, and there'll be no reimbursement for you. Unfortunately some insurance companies -- like the cheapskates at esure -- seem dead set against the idea, claiming that owners of a stolen iPod still have the tracks on their PC and don't deserve digital coverage; well, while that may be true in cases of theft, esure's stance isn't very helpful for the unlucky individual whose house just burned down and whose DAPs and computers have all melted into the floorboards.

[Via Techdirt]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Insurers starting to reimburse for digital content originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swedish site offering insurance to content pirates

Evan Blass — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:17:00 EST

Here's an innovative business plan for you: start up an insurance company whose sole purpose is to cover your customers' fines should they get busted for illegal file sharing, thereby creating a clientele that by default is composed completely of criminals. Well believe it or not, a Swedish "entrepreneur" has begun to offer this very service to his fellow citizens -- for only $19 per year, Magnus Braath's company Tankafritt promises to pay any penalties incurred from crackdowns on your rampant piracy, and he'll even throw in a free T-shirt to help you glorify your outlaw status. (Yes, you guessed it, the shirt actually does read "I got convicted for file-sharing and all I got was this lousy T-shirt"). Braath claims that he started the business as a statement against recent changes in Swedish law that had the nerve to criminalize illegal downloading, and that low conviction rates and relatively minor fines will allow him to keep the venture financially solvent. Hey Magnus, if you're looking to expand your operation, we hear that Spain's just passed some legislation that will probably create quite the demand for your unique little service -- who knows, with some hard work and a bit of luck, you could end up becoming the Geico of software and content piracy.

[Via Techdirt and Slashdot]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Swedish site offering insurance to content pirates originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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