Zombie worms don't actually drill through bone, as was previously believed. Instead, their skin produces enough acid to dissolve the zombie worms' path through bone.
By Douglas Main,?Our Amazing Planet staff writer / April 30, 2013
More than 100 female Osedax, or zombie worms, on the flipper-bone (phalange) of a grey whale collected from the Monterey Submarine Canyon off California.
Martin Tresguerres et al / Proceedings of the Royal Society B / LiveScience.com
Enlarge
So-called zombie worms ? and yes, they actually exist ? like to munch on whale bones for dinner. The creatures also use the bones for shelter. Spread throughout the world's oceans, zombie worms are quite adept at making the bones of whales and other large marine animals look like Swiss cheese. ? ?
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But these worms don't have any mouthparts with which to gnaw the holes. So how do they do it? A study published in the May 1 online edition of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that rather than being "bone-drilling" worms, they're actually "bone-dissolving" worms: The worms? skin produces acid in large quantities to break down bones.
The acid is produced by proton pumps, protein-containing structures abundant in the front end of the worm's body, said Martin Tresguerres, a marine physiologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif.
'Off the charts'
Tresguerres has studied these acid-secreting structures in many other animals, including sharks and various fish. But he hasn't seen anything like this before. "The amount of proton pumps they have is off the charts," he told OurAmazingPlanet.
The cellular mechanism used to produce the acid is nearly identical to that used in osteoclasts, the human cells that break down bone so that it can be rebuilt. Insight into how the worm dissolves bone could possibly be applied to osteoclasts, Tresguerres said. Human kidneys also contain similar proton pumps involved in processing bodily waste, he added.
Even stranger, Tresguerres said, is that the worms lack digestive systems. The study suggests the acid the worms produce frees collagen and other proteins from the whale bones, but how they are broken down and absorbed by the worms is unclear. Tresguerres, along with co-authors Sigrid Katz and Greg Rouse, think that symbiotic bacteria help the animals digest the food. ?
The worms were first discovered by Rouse and colleagues in 2002 off the California coast in an underwater valley called the Monterey Submarine Canyon.
There are multiple species of these zombie worms, which belong to the Osedax genus. The worms? closest relatives, which also lack guts and mouths, inhabit deep-sea hydrothermal vents and rely on a different set of bacteria to allow them to survive in these hot and acidic conditions.
Email Douglas Main?or follow him @Douglas_Main. Follow us?@OAPlanet, Facebook?or? Google+.Original article on LiveScience's OurAmazingPlanet.
Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
During their work with patients, doctors will frequently contact colleagues with questions, to trade horror stories, or converse about treatment methods. There isn't really a technological solution to streamline this daily back and forth, but that's what SharePractice aims to bring.
Founders Dr. Andrew Brandeis and Alex Kawas built an easy to use the mobile app to serve as a sort of Wikipedia meets social networks. SharePractice, just announced at TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2013, allows doctors to ask questions and receive feedback quickly from other verified doctors in their field rather than having to take out their phone to just call, text, or email someone one at a time.
Colorado State University - Pueblo announces 2013 ASG Election Results
PUEBLO?The results from the 2013 Associated Students? Government (ASG) elections at Colorado State University-Pueblo held April 9-11 have been announced.
ASG is a student-run government which represents and advocates on behalf of students. This student government works with the CSU-Pueblo administration, faculty and staff, and is responsive to student concerns, ideas, and needs, and actively works to ensure that the student body of CSU-Pueblo is justly and proactively recognized and represented with fairness and equity in all aspects of the University setting. ? Next year?s ASG President is senior Vanessa Emerson, a business management major and mass communications minor from Aurora. Elected Vice President is junior Michael Weiner, a business management (marketing) major with leadership studies minor from Pueblo. Emerson and Weiner ran on the Students for Students party platform.
Elected as Senators representing the College of Education, Engineering, and Professional Studies are Henry Willauer, a sophomore exercise science major from Woodland Hills, Calif., and Damilola Ogunbayode, a freshman pre-engineering major from Lagos, Nigeria.?
Representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences will be Trevor McKinney, a sophomore political science major and computer information systems minor from Pueblo and Michael E. Linsenman, a sophomore political science major with minors in business administration and homeland security from Commerce City.???
Elected Senators to represent the College of Science and Mathematics include freshman Vanessa Gallegos, a? pre-vet biology major with a Spanish minor from Pueblo, and Nikole Turner, a senior pre-vet biology major with chemistry minor from Olney Springs.
Luis Antonio Reyes, a sophomore pre-business major from Colorado Springs, was elected as a Senator for the Hasan School of Business (HSB) as was sophomore Anthony ?Turtle? Herrera, a pre-business major from Seguin, Texas.
Six students, Kristen Pough, a freshman social work/English double major from Aurora, Daniel Ullrich, a freshman pre-business major from Evergreen, Noelle Clark, a sophomore political science/Spanish double major with a leadership studies minor from Pueblo West, Freddy Anson, a sophomore pre-business major from Katy, Texas, Denys Frolkov a freshman? pre-business major from Denver, and Evan Martella, a junior history/political science double major from Pueblo, were elected as Senators at Large.
For more information, contact ASG at 719-549-2866, email asg@colostate-pueblo.edu, or visit their web site at colostate-pueblo.edu/ASG.
Health clubs, fitness/recreation centers, and gyms provide equipment and exercise rooms used for individuals interested in improving their health and athletic ability.?? IBISWorld reported in February of 2013 that there are over 29,501 gyms, health and fitness clubs in the US market with $26 billion in revenue. The industry?s has annual growth at 1.4% from 200-2013 and employs over 573,000 persons. IBISWorld also reported thatthe demand for gyms and health centers will to continue to rise over the next five years as the public becomes increasingly health-conscious.
Within the industry, there are different types of gyms.? The most common gyms are the franchised gyms .? These generalized gyms can offer a variety of fitness related amenities that include:
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Fitness machines
Free-weights
Cardio machines
Fitness classes
Swimming pools
Racquet ball courts
Kids club
Steam and/or sauna rooms
Locker rooms
?
?
The latest trend in the industry is the establishment of microgyms. Some examples include mixed martial arts and Jiu-Jitsu.? Microgyms are different because they offer a more specialized workout that encompasses one or two types of training. These gyms typically offer programs that are built around weightlifting, intervals, and circuit training.
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The majority of revenue for fitness centers is generated through membership fees.? The fees can be charged on a month-to-month basis, annually, or long-term membership contracts.? Some fitness centers also require a down payment or activation fee to become a member of the club. Fitness centers also generate profits by providing additional amenities, which include personal training sessions, fitness classes, swimming pools, courts, etc.
?
B.???????? Industry
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In June of 2011, IBISWorld analyzed 33,385 fitness centers and found the industry costs had percentages equal to a profit of 8.0%, rent of 12.0%, utilities of 3.5%, depreciation of 7.5%, wages of 29.6%, purchases of 20.0%, and ?other? totaling 19.4%.
?
C.???????? Facility / Employees
?
The facility will depend, to a certain extent, on the type of gym.? A franchised gym may need to construct a new building, using plans provided by the franchise.? Independent or privately owned gyms have the option of leasing or purchasing a building that has enough open floor space for the business.? The amount of space needed can be determined by the niche market and the amount of equipment the business will offer.
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The staff required to operate a fitness center generally involves an array of employees.? Employees may include: reception staff, maintenance and cleaning staff, personal trainers, managers, and/or dieticians.? Depending on the location and sport (e.g.Jiu-Jitsu)of the fitness center, personal trainers and fitness instructors may need to be licensed.? Since this is a service-based industry, staffing experienced and well-trained employees is an important factor to retaining existing customers and securing new customers through referrals.
?
D.???????? Equipment
?
The equipment will vary from gym to gym.? Gyms that are catering to a wide audience will either lease or purchase the equipment.? Leasing the equipment may help the business stay up-to-date with the ever changing technology in this industry.? Niche gyms should consider equipment for their specific needs.? For example, a boxing gym will need punching bags, boxing gloves, boxing ring(s) and protective equipment.? A gym that offers CrossFit may need different specialized equipment such as an Olympic weight set, kettlebells, climbing ropes, plyo boxes, jump ropes, and/or sets of rings.
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Typically, gyms have a reception area and locker rooms that will need to be furnished.? A clean and sanitized facility is important to the industry. Most fitness centers will need a variety of cleaning supplies which can include towels, sanitizing sprays, paper towels, etc.
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Franchised gyms usually require the owner to have a net worth benchmark in order to get the gym built, equipped, staffed and running through its first year.? Franchised gyms can have pre-planned layouts and pre-selected equipment for a franchised owner, insuring that each gym is held up to the franchises? standards and is consistent with other franchise locations.
?
E.???????? Income and Expense Pro Forma ? The following is general information regarding the ?????? profit / loss of the business.
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$2 million to $10 million ? Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (NAICS #713940)1
Generally also known as the Asset-Based Approach, the Cost Approach values a company by determining what proceeds can be derived from selling off assets, less the cost of satisfying liabilities. This approach determines a company?s value by analyzing the market value of a company?s assets.? Many times this serves as a valuation floor since most companies have greater value as a going concern than they would if liquidated.
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Income-Capitalization Method:
Discounted Cash Flow Method/Earnings Method/Capitalization Approach:???? The worth of a company is based on the earnings or cash flow that the company can generate in the future for the benefit of its stockholders/owners. These protected earnings are discounted to present value, which includes the terminal value of the business.
Excess Earnings Plus Adjusted Book Value Approach: This method relies on the historical earnings performance of a company.? Generally, excess income is capitalized to determine Goodwill.? The Goodwill in addition to the adjusted book value of the net assets can be used to approximate the worth of a company.
EBITDA Approach / Value Over Costs?: This approach is short for ?Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization?.? This method is used to determine how much money a company is making before taxes, depreciation, and amortization have been deducted.? Then, EBITDA is multiplied by the inverse of the appropriate capitalization rate to determine value of the company.
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Market Method:
Guideline Company Approach : Under this approach, the fair market value of the business is determined by comparing the sales data of private companies sold, i.e. have the same standard industry classification code (SIC Code). This approach may be less effective for the valuation of a closely held business if adequate data is not available.
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Rules of Thumb: The rules of thumb for remediation companies vary based on numerous factors.? Please contact Zamucen & Curren at (949) 955-2522 for applicable rules of thumb.
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G.???????? Associations
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International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (iHRSA)
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
What I really wanted was a faster and more reliable version of the Vibrant with a nicer camera and a GPS that actually works. This phone has met those goals. (Posted on 4/5/13)
My daughter loves it Review by Hugo
My daughter loves it and took it to Brazil, where is working perfectly FINE, has exceeded expectations; Application space is significant! Takes beautiful pictures. Though it is a bigger phone than the blackberry, it is light and still hold in a pocket. it's just amazing how fast it is and how easy to use. after we cut the SIM card with the tool. (Posted on 4/3/13)
Very intuitive Review by Britney
Very intuitive. Nice design and responsive touchscreen. Very easy to transfer files from pc and mac. lightweight, ultra fast, longer battery life compared to others, SD slot, NFC, quad core, HD display. Those kind of little details give the real meaning of smartphone. The price is very cheap, I bought 3 of this Smartphone, for my family. (Posted on 4/2/13)
Excellent Product Review by Anita
I can't describe this cellphone, Excellent Product. Excellent Quality. Perfect for every day and easy to use. Do not failed. It was just what i wanted. It is better than i was expecting. my only concern is the battery consumption: if you get addicted to using it, you'll drain the batteries too soon (Posted on 3/29/13)
Excellent phone Review by Katy
Excellent phone, great performance and quality of the materials. The best quality smartphone. I haven't got any problem with it and it's been 4 months that i have it. (Posted on 3/28/13)
It's amazing! Review by Joan
It's amazing! I really love this phone. It has a large internal memory (4GB), I'm tired of installing applications and I'm still with space. It has a screen with the appropriate size, 16 million colors (like a computer!). Great speed on Internet. Initially turned off and cycled for itself, which worried me a bit, but then, after 3 weeks or so, the firmware was updated for itself and stopped having this problem. It looks very nice (white color looks fantastic). Honestly I'm happy with my purchase. Excellent communication with seller and shipping was as fast as had been agreed. Just buy it, is great. (Posted on 3/27/13)
The screen is big & beautiful Review by Katherine
I've had this phone for 2 months now, and can't find anything to complain about. The screen is big & beautiful, the performance is great, touch screen very responsive, and the battery life very good for an Android.
After reading a few reviews, I decided to do a PRL update right out of the box. The call quality has been great, and I've not once encountered the 'radio interface resource shortage' error. The 3G is fast, the GPS is wonderful, and again, for those who say the battery life is bad, I've been able to go 2 days before recharging. Of course, I don't live on my phone, because I do have a life. (Posted on 3/26/13)
Excellent phone for the price Review by Derek
Had this phone about three weeks now, really impressed. Battery life very good screen incredible, GPS locks in about thirty seconds even in house. Web browsing with WiFi good and fast. Only thing I have found compass doesn't work (who needs compass)Otherwise as said for the cash excellent phone. (Posted on 3/25/13)
Work very well Review by Ivan
I got this phone for my wife after reading some positive reviews and hearing good things about THL phones on other networks. they all have the same problem, short battery life, Fortunately, it has two original battery. Download a battery optimizer and a phone optimizer and your phone will work amazingly! If it is a 4G phone better, so I only played 4 stars. (Posted on 3/25/13)
THL W5 Review by s4lvu
I love this phone !
Very very good performances on games and web browsing and for less than ?200 !!
This is easily the best deal I've ever made. I love my phone :) (Posted on 3/23/13)
This is a very nice phone Review by Hellen
Bought it for my daughter - this is an excellent item. This is a very nice phone and has worked beyond my expectations! Nice screen, fast processor, Phone calls/texts have gone through without a problem. Reception is very good. I like Phone's style. Very easy phone to operate, intuitively speaking. have not had any issues with it at all. (Posted on 3/23/13)
The price was right Review by Lauren
I really am very happy with this phone. The price was right, however and I decided to take a chance on this phone and it has not let me down. The screen is beautiful, and the touch screen is very responsive. It performs very well, it's fast . I put a 32GB Micro SD in it, and it's working just great. It does everything I need it to do and comes in significantly cheaper. (Posted on 3/22/13)
Excellent as a cellphone! Review by Betty
Best smartphone I ever had. has a lot of storage space you can put it with basically any company and it works great. Light to carry. Good for simple entertainment like mp3 and ebook! Many apps from android market. its really cute has good quality with the pictures you take and is very fast. Also it isn't complicated to use. Excellent as a cellphone! (Posted on 3/21/13)
It has surpassed all my expectations Review by Matthew
It's the best phone I ever had! it was love at first sight! The right size, smooth performance. Enough internal storage for my needs... The materials are better than expected. the glass is oil proof so no fingerprints most times. The battery life its way better than other smartphones. The camera takes pretty sharp pictures. I am with this phone. It has surpassed all my expectations. Everyone should own one of these. (Posted on 3/20/13)
It's a great looking phone that functions amazingly well. Review by Helena
It's a great looking phone that functions amazingly well.
It's a great phone to have because you will keep up to date with the Android builds. You were able to take advantage of 4.0, 4.1 and probably 4.2 before most other phones are even considered to have it. Owning this phone means you get the Google Experience.
I'm also not a fan of the back case on the phone. It's built out of plastic and seems a bit slippery, so get a case or you'll be dropping the phone. Also, the case has little plastic tabs that snap into place. If you frequently remove your batter I can see how these plastic tabs can break.
Finally, the camera. It's fast, it can take amazing pictures. It's only 8MP. It's a bit low in the world of "super phones", but it'll focus and take a picture faster than most of the 13MP cameras out there. So, you have to weigh out the pros and cons of that one for yourself. (Posted on 3/19/13)
this phone is the absolute best. Review by Aviva
I love this phone, get it. it fits perfect and matches the phone color and texture perfectly.
The battery exceeds my expectations, getting through a full day is no problem for me using web, email, text, google talk, streaming music via BT, checking weather, reading Kindle, you name it. Average 12 hours or so battery for me with 20% or so remaining at the time I plug it in at night.
The screen! The screen is gorgeous and very fluid. The only app I have found a problem using the screen is the built in web browser. There is some minor vertical tearing, where one half of the screen will update faster than the other when scrolling. No biggie as video and flash works great. Fun fact - this screen is about the size of an iPhone 4, the whole phone! (Posted on 3/18/13)
It's a great phone. Review by Gaby
It's a great phone. Great screen, nothing lags. I checked my running apps and frequently I had 15+ running with no performance hit. camera is great. screen is just amazing not dull as some say. front camera is good best ive seen so far though im sure there are better out there. ive seen some reviews saying the phone feels cheap i didn't really spend too much time feeling for that as i put a case on it and it feels like any other phone with a case. Battery life is terrible if you are actively using your phone. Keep your charger handy, but this is like this for all phones with a screen like this. this phone is a lightning fast i think it will be one of the fastest for a while. if your a non bias tech lover this you'll most likely love this phone as i do. (Posted on 3/16/13)
Stunningly beautiful design Review by Britney
Is this phone a non contract phone. Stunningly beautiful design, fast at everything (video, music, YouTube, internet, Texting, live wall-screens, streaming news, aps, games etc...). If your like me and need a phone for a minimum of three years, you cant miss with this phone. I am not looking for a new phone every other year, I will be holding onto this for a while. I even dropped this phone in the bathroom face down, picked it up and kept on rolling. Remember what also makes this phone remarkable is the apps. I am now using the phone for less calls and more news streaming, YouTube and Netflix. The battery is excellent. Imagine using all the heavy battery usages and by the end of the day, you have juice and all it needs is a simple nighttime recharge. Camera looks like your looking through clear glass, need i say anymore! (Posted on 3/15/13)
I am very happy with this phone Review by Ulysses
In short, I am very happy with this phone. When I got it, I was a little surprised, I picked up the phone because of its price between offers a wide range of features that desire smartphone. Connect to internet, able to take pictures, send email, and all it offers. It has good screen, the colors look good. Texting, Wi-fi & no contract makes this a great starter Android phone. great. (Posted on 3/14/13)
this phone is amazing Review by Gabriel
I'm going to try to keep this short - this phone is amazing. I'm a real estate agent and I've never been able to keep up with emails and voice messages like I have with this device. The size of the screen makes it incredibly easy to use. With a few apps, I'm able to create professional quality PDFs on my phone (using the camera),sync my work documents to my phone via drop box, edit Excel and Word documents; track time with my clients with the click of one button (for billing), give voice commands for calling while I'm driving, etc. etc. etc.
I love the dual antenna because I have the wireless hotspot on my plan, and it allows my to use the internet on my laptop AND talk on the phone at the same time.
As far as the size of the phone - I'm 6'2", so this thing fits perfectly in my hand and I carry it in my pocket like any other phone I've owned. I usually put it in the seat next to me when I drive because it's just too big to get out of my pocket if someone calls, though. I assume a blue tooth headset would help.
The battery life is great. It gets me all the way through the day without having to plug in and that's with very heavy usage - I've been an Android user for years and I've never had a phone that will do that. (Posted on 3/12/13)
Great phone for the price Review by Dave
Great phone for the price. The service is ok where I live. The camera could be bettter, but I really don't use it so I don't care.
the touch screen is very sensitive like others have posted.
i think the size is fine i didnt want a large phone to carry around.
so far i havent had any problems with calling and the person said i sounded good
i have dont some texting and that was fine with the android keyboard i turned off swype.
the true test will be when i travel to see how the coverage will be but according the the map if i stay on the main routes i should be ok going from west to the mid west and south. (Posted on 3/11/13)
Great product Review by Glendon
Great product; provides and opportunity to enter the Android Market and utilize some of the newest technology, that makes life simplier; reading, weather updates, transit updates; gps location; i`s endless and if you enjoy games while waiting for appointments; free games as well on the market; This phone is very addicting. I'd highly recommend this for a starter adroid mobile device. It totally rocks. Just make sure that you buy the accessories to protect it. Delivery was really fast. Makes a great gift. Everybody and their grandmother should own one. (Posted on 3/9/13)
I wanna start by saying this is a great phone to have. Review by Paul
I wanna start by saying this is a great phone to have. Its affordable plus Virgin's plans are great. I recently just canceled my contract with sprint to save money. I had the ThL W5, which was a great high-end phone. I was afraid to go to this phone from that one, but I made the switch. It definitely wasn't that much of a downgrade at all. Well the main apparent sacrifice was the screen size. The W5's screen size is 4.7, However, this phone has a brighter, more vibrant screen, and the colors are also better. I know this. I had the W5 for almost a year. This is lightweight and quite thin. I like it alot and I'm happy I got it. The camera is also pretty good too. It shoots fast! Its very good for people who have shaky hands or are taking pics of moving targets. And the flash is another great plus. Overall, I'm very satisfied with it and I'm not sad about coming from the W5 to this. (Posted on 3/8/13)
The THL W5 is such a great phone. Review by Laurent
I have had the phone for about 2 months with no problems. 3G can be spotty outside metropolitan areas. Phone coverage adequate with good reception. it's fast, and pretty easy to use.
This phone is at reasonable price of $200. If you look up at any other THL Mobile phone, the 3G newer models run for 2x more. Social networking, email, android marketplace, easy touch screen keyboard, accessibility, good looking phone for being a more affordable end smart phone, responsive ect. Its worth the price. I enjoy it and it was prompt on getting here! love this product and would recommend to a friend. The THL W5 is such a great phone. (Posted on 3/7/13)
Great Product Review by Zack
I bought this phone in february 2013 before I go to vacation. Only few days were left to departure and needed to get accelerated shipping. They were so helpful and received the phone a day before my departure.
I started to use immediately and did not have any problem till today. The flashlight on the back is amazing. so far its great,looks good an works even better,good buy for anyone who wants a budget phone (Posted on 3/6/13)
this phone is just incredible. Review by Peter
Before I had owned the HTC Rezound as my first phone, and when switching to this phone, When it arrived it looked great. I charged it up, did the program and activation, and it sounded great. I downloaded my contact list from the "Backup Assistant", which lost all my personalized settings, of course, and that worked great too...
The screen is bigger than most, the internal components make this phone by far one of the best currently on the market. And whats better is that the new 4.1 software is soon to be released
for this phone on THL, making it even greater than before. you can't deny that this phone is just incredible. (Posted on 3/5/13)
i am rather pleased Review by Bert
I have owned this phone for 5 month's and am rather pleased with it thus far.
The screen is a nice big size, the UI is easy to use, plus it just got updated to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) . Also the battery has a lot of juice and may last you up to a day , maybe more depending on your usage. The camera takes wonderful shots and the sound if your listening to music isn't bad either.
4.7inch hd display...yup
Expandable storage via sd card ...uh huh.
Motion commands....awesome
Screen shot option. Wicked.
Fully customizable....for sure.
Open android market with lots of free apps that are not garbage. Check check and check
Oh wait......on android you can get all the stuff they sell for less .......almost nothing. ;) (Posted on 3/4/13)
Excellant phone Review by Dave
Had the phone for two weeks , absolute bargain in every respect .Works with all uk networks even 3mobile. No negatives at all. (Posted on 3/2/13)
The Best Review by Franklin
I really like this phone.It's the first android I've used and it works great. It takes some getting used to but pretty easy to figure out. I'm still learning all that it will do. The touch screen is large and bright. It switches from app to app quickly and even in 3g loads web pages quickly. The camera works well. I,m very impressed. Whatever i choose to do from making calls to the UK (very clear and crisp), to loading apps (very fast to load), to the sound quality of radio and music i am more than pleased and show it to everyone who all are very impressed. The rear camera has face recognition, takes great pics and the video is easy and uploads fast to FB. I used mine for a month and enjoyed it so much i got another for my girlfriend! Dont waste your time thinking you have a great phone, just buy this one and then you'll know you have a great phone. (Posted on 3/2/13)
I hope you find this useful Review by Vern
I was looking for the cheapest alternative to getting a 6th line, at least comparable to what I would have paid for the 6th line on ATT. I looked all over and all the individual plans where $40+ or so, without including texting. Then I came across the THL Mobile $25 unlimited data, text, web + 300 minutes and it seemed that it would fit the bill.
I got the phone on sale for $208 and it is just the best phone I have ever had, although I have not activated it yet (more on this later), at an awesome price. Why haven't I activated it yet? Well, it turns out, this android phone lets you install all kind of apps from the android market via wifi without activating the phone, you can pop in an 8Gb, 16Gb or 32Gb SDHC card and use this as a pretty awesome (and cheap) ipod/iphone substitute. I have installed apps for watching TV shows, read news (USA Today, NYTime, Bloomberg, etc), Pandora radio (sound through the speaker is very full for such a tiny device), GPS navigation/maps, calculators, MS Office documents viewer, a few games, GasBuddy to find cheap gas locally (pretty handy these days), etc. All FREE from the Android market. But, BY FAR, the best applications I installed are Google Voice, which together with SIPDroid (after signing up for a free GoogleVoice account and a free PBXes.org account) allows me to link them together and configure the phone to use VOIP to make my calls through the internet instead of using the limited 300 minutes I would get if I signed up with THL Mobile for $25/month, I can also use it to do unlimited free texting through my Google voice number.
I wanted to do this to make sure I did not go over the 300 minutes and start racking up a huge bill with VM once I activated the phone, but as it turns out, this has worked out so well that I am still undecided as to weather I will need to activate the phone and sign up for the monthly service. Granted, I can only make/receive calls when I am within WIFI range, but, WIFI is so prevalent these days. Many of the establishments a person does business with have free internet access for their customers: Starbucks, Dennys, Mcdonalds, Barnes&nobles, Homedepots, Panera bread, Hooters, highway rest stops, libraries, Krogers, Quiznos, Schlotzsky, FedEx offices, Hotels... the list goes on and on. I also installed a WIFI Analyzer App which shows if there is a free/open WIFI within range and its signal strength. You can get a nice directory of wifi spots in your area here-> [...] which of course does not list all the available ones.
What happens when I'm outside WIFI range? Well, of course I can not make calls, inbound calls go to my GoogleVoice voice mail and as soon as I get into WIFI range and connect, my inbound text messages get delivered and/or I get a notification of a missed call which I can check right away. Obviously not something I would want to use as a business phone, but for personal use when you do not need to be available 24X7 this works great! You also get a great excuse when you don't want to answer someone, later you can say... "Sorry, I was not in WIFI zone...", you can even put that in your answering message. This setup would be great for students who live on campus where they have free access to the campus WIFI network (many of them provide free open WIFI all over campus). All these for $0 a month plus the cost of the phone.
If you feel you need capability to make calls from anywhere in case of emergencies, or for 24X7 availability, then just activate the phone and pay the $25/month. You would get many other benefits which would make this device a very capable business phone. I've read that once activated, you can install an app to make the phone a WIFI hub for up to 4 or 5 devices (supposedly there is an app for that, :-) pun intended, in the android market). This would provide internet service to your WIFI based laptop anywhere. I will investigate this more if/when I activate the phone. I have to admit, it would be fun to be able to go on trips and have internet in the car for my kids ipod touches or laptops while we are on the road. The more they can entertain themselves, the less "are we there yet?, are we there yet?" questions we will get... :-)
Summarizing, if you activate the phone, you get unlimited texting, phone web browsing, tv watching, internet radio, etc. + unlimited internet based calls using the provided unlimited data service + internet for your computer/ipod touches anytime/anywhere. All these for $25/month? Sweeeet! I don't think any carrier can beat that, the closer unlimited everything plan is cricket for $55/month for an android or blackberry phone. ATT, Verizon, etc? $70 and up... THL Mobile uses the Sprint 3G network, so, it's coverage (at least here in Houston) is pretty good.
I hope you find this useful.
Enjoy! (Posted on 2/27/13)
this phone is the perfect fit of functionality Review by Constance
This phone FOR THE PRICE is the absolute best deal around. Of course there are much more high end phones available with bigger screens, more do-dads, and faster processors but you know what? I feel like this phone is the perfect fit of functionality.
Setup was easy and required a few simple steps to get up and running. I can't comment on customer support because I have had no problems with the phone or the cell service after 3 months of use.
The size is just perfect so it still looks like a phone when you have it up to your ear and not like a mini tablet that you have next to your face. It feels good in the hand, although I will probably get a case because I have big hands and would like a bit more grip.
The processor is more than fast enough to do PHONE related tasks - music, email, web, calls, multitasking. You are not going to be playing high end games on this thing. It opens and closes all apps really fast and allows me to bounce around between them with no lag.
I'm new to Android but had Iphones, Windows Mobile, and Palm phones previously. While I still prefer Apple's OS, Android is great and I'm happy with the amount of customization you can do.
I pull at least a 4-bar 3G signal everywhere I go (I live in the midwest). You should probably check 3G coverage in your area before purchasing. I had a Sprint phone previously so I basically get the same network but at a much lower cost. (Posted on 2/26/13)
This phone is amazing Review by Gabriel
This phone is amazing! If you want to try an Android and you are on a budget this is the phone to get! It is very nice and there is no lagging so far. it is a really nice phone and it is very easy to use. If you want to know more about tips and trick for the phone you can easily look them up on youtube and they help a lot. (Posted on 2/25/13)
Very nice phone.. Review by Robert
First-the phone. This is actually better than my existing Hero. It is faster and more responsive (expected as the Hero is two years old). However if has some improved features. The desk clock is better, it has a great News and Weather app based on Google (accessed by tapping on the weather). A dynamite version of Speed Dial that uses a picture on your home screen and easier to use buttons. And, of course, free GPS that makes Garmin, Tom-Tom and Apple weep.
Second-using WiFi (or VOIP). During my final 30 days, I decided to try using the phone without activating it. I am a long time user of Google Voice. I have one number that rings my cell (on Sprint), my wife's cell (iPhone on AT&T) and my computer (Google chat). That system works far better than you can imagine. As long as both I and my wife keep our contacts current, caller ID lets us know who should answer the phone over 95% of the time. Besides, the spam filter on Google Voice is worth it alone. I bought Groove IP ($4.99 on Android Market). I did not buy Sipdroid or use PBXes. I set Grove IP up for WiFi only. If you read the instructions, it says to disable the cell phone on Google Voice.A couple minor adjustments on echo cancellation and I am home free. Very impressive.
Now I have three choices. Activate my phone and pay the $35.00/ month-far less than the $69.00/mo. on Sprint. As most minutes will be over WiFi, get the cheapest option. (2)not activate the phone-but lose navigation and emergency use. Or (3) I could buy another phone, activate it, cancel the iPhone and leave it in the car for my wife and leave the unactivated one at home.
My summary: buy this phone, and Groove IP and start saving money!! (Posted on 2/23/13)
Wonderful phone and media player! Review by Paul
Got this phone several months ago (1st Android) and am totally happy. After a bit of time invested in learning Android and setting everything up the way I like it, its fantastic. Easy to use, reliable, fast, comfortable, small enough to be very convenient. I don't know why people want bigger phones. Non-slip backing, rounded shape, very responsive & bright/clear screen. This works well for web surfing, email, RSS, calendar, alarm, weather, etc. Only downside is lack of flash - no big deal. With the micro SD reader, I have plenty of storage. I use is daily for music and videos. I have over 150 instructional (EFT) videos that I view daily. This works better than my iPod Touch with far more storage and less money. This phone would be a superior alternative to iPod touch even if not used as a phone. Camera is very good but no camera flash. Does video as well. Transferring files on Android is so much easier than iTunes. After 2 months, this phone is still like new. Works perfectly, quite durable (handles drops easily with little scratching), seems to be dirt, dust, sand and water repellent. I get all day battery with light use. Heavy internet use does drain the battery, but most days I still have 60-70% battery remaining at bedtime. To me, battery life is far more important than the bigger screens and faster processors of the more expensive phones. My wife has the Motorolla Triumph and it (and its replacement) have been problematic, unreliable and finicky with truly terrible battery life. (Posted on 2/22/13)
love this phone Review by Hunk
This has been an awesome phone. love this phone, Has all the features you would ever want. The screen could be bigger,this phone came up on top-way on top for the price. Plus my bill thru THL Mobile is $45 mo. unlimited text, web, & 1200 min-more than enough for me. The battery could last a little longer, but I got a car charger for $2.65, and a great protector case for $2.99. I couldn't be happier. Easy to use touch screen, and free apps on the Android market. (Posted on 2/21/13)
This is a great phone Review by Henry
This is a great phone. I'll add a little to the great reviews here, from my perspective as a developer.
First, I read on a review here that I could use SipDroid & assorted complexities to get free cell phone via WiFi service. This path was a no-go. But - just try Groove IP instead! The app costs $4.99 from the Android Market, and you need a (free!) Google Voice account and phone number, which *must* be attached to a [email?protected] account. (My other one didn't work...) Other than that, works great! Set up in minutes, and *none* of it was as mystifying as the no-go Sipdroid route... I think the Sipdroid loophole has simply been closed. But with Groove IP, the cell phone receives and dials calls, direct from the cell phone icon.
Second, it's processor phones in general. It is not true. It was not easy... But I eventually did get this phone to run apps, directly from Adobe Flash Builder 4.6 (debug on device and everything!) To get Adobe AIR itself installed on the phone, just download the AIR SDK from Adobe.com, find the file C:\AdobeAIRSDK\runtimes\air\android\emulator\Runtime.apk, copy it to your cell phone SD card, and install that, with AppInstaller (also available in Android Market free if you don't have it.)
Sorry for the gory details. But I really did buy this phone intending to never buy a contract on it, and use it for Flex -> smartphone development. And for a while there I thought it was a lost cause, or I'd need to delve into rooting arcana. ;) So - yay! (Posted on 2/20/13)
Worth The Price! Review by Andrew
I have had this phone for about a few months and it is still working great. Since I have bought it, it has not only served as my a cell phone but also as a substitute for my computer and a replacement for my GPS and iPod.
The GPS runs off of google maps so the directions are pretty spot on. The only thing bad about it is that sometimes google maps will fail to load all together. Again, I find that resetting the phone helps.
Internet can also be hit or miss sometime. I think this may be due to the sprint network getting clogged up where I live. You have the option of setting up wi fi for when you are at home. This makes speeds faster and saves data so you won't reach your limit on you 'unlimited' data plan, although it does drain battery life.
Talk and text seems to be good for the most part, with good reception in most areas you would expect your phone to work.
Battery life is a little disappointing. Although its not horrible. Apps, music, gps, etc take a tole on the phone. For this reason I invested in a car charger as well as a back up charger for when I'm not around. Running an app killer or battery saver app will also help you keep your phone juiced.
All in all the price is great considering all the features and the compact size of this phone. (Posted on 2/19/13)
I really liked the phone when I read about it Review by Ronald
My sister has an iPhone and I think my THL can do anything hers can. Her phone has a better picture but my screen is much bigger which is more important to me. Takes outstanding pictures, 8 mp camera. It's incredibly easy to learn how to navigate around and it just keeps surprising you. It's faster to do almost anything on my phone than on my laptop so I use it constantly. I've looked at upgrading to a new phone but so far I haven't found one that's better and built this well. the customer service was excellent and I was never given any grief about the return. Thank you! (Posted on 2/18/13)
Great phone, great price Review by Mark
First off, this device is considerably lighter and more compact , and I like the angled bottom. It makes it easier to hold, and despite its slender form it still has a solid feel.
It has a 8 MP camera which is essentially the same as one of the two cameras . To be honest, I've hardly used the 3D picture feature on my THL so for all intents and purposes this is the same thing. The camera is also flush with the back, not jutting out.
Performance is good, and while it has only 1GB of RAM it's really good enough for anything except maybe some 3D games. If you care about such things, then yeah- get an iPhone, EVO, or Galaxy. If not, this is really quite good enough. The device has most standard features: bluetooth, micro-SD slot, GPS, etc.
The device runs Android 4.0 ICS and is generally very responsive. The screen is very bright and clear, and although it's not exactly a retina display it's fine for general tasks like browsing and email.
Oh, and on a sidenote, it is a 3G device- not 4G. However, I've found that 4G coverage is so bad in my area that it really makes no difference. If 4G is a selling point for you, you should definitely check the service map before you decide on anything.
In short, although it isn't the powerhouse , I actually wish I'd gotten this one instead. Aside from it being cheaper, it's simply a much handier smartphone due to its size, weight, and shape.
Pro:
Isn't super-expensive.
Decent performance
Nice light, thin, angled-lip form factor
Very nice screen
Good camera and easily accessible SD slot (Posted on 2/16/13)
Very good phone Review by kbirsic
The phone is excellent. I think i ll buy one more for my son.
Ty (Posted on 2/7/13)
This phone is pretty good overall Review by Brant
The phone is fast and fun to use. Not limited by small internal memory unlike other prepaid options in the market. Down side is a not so great camera.. shows noise on pics at least on the phone. Haven't looked at them yet on a computer screen.
The overall performance on this phone is okay - I wouldn't necessarily say it is any better or worse than any other phone out there as far as Wifi/3G connectivity are concerned. The Bluetooth works well. The Beats Audio is something I haven't found to make much difference other than boosting the volume.
One of the best things about this phone is the battery performance. I don't even have a battery-saving app on my phone, and I can get by sometimes only having to charge it every other day.
This phone is pretty good overall, and if you are looking for something with decent specs but don't care if it's the latest and greatest, this phone is your best option. (Posted on 2/5/13)
this phone works great Review by Bruce
I bought this phone because i wanted a smartphone that was fast,had a big screen, and was practical.This phone is all that and more it is blazing fast and is very responive and barely ever delays when switching apps and pages or texting. It runs on Android 4.0.4 which is great and it has a crisp display. I have large hands and fingers and texting still works fine I almost never hit the wrong key and with the keyboard option of swipe texting its even easier to text. Overall this phone works great and its durable and i would suggest buying a case and screen protecters! (Posted on 2/4/13)
Pretty sweet Review by Samuel
This is my first ever cell phone let alone smart phone. Im 34 years old and i never bought one before now because the pricing on these phones and their plans are pretty high.
After much shopping i had actually given up on picking a smart phone because i had no idea what the heck to choose. Its like buying a PC now.
You see differing opinions on the battery life and ill tell you why from my experience. For standby mode and texting and calling the battery is pretty amazing, it will last a very long time but if you want to run any game apps it drains it super fast! Its not too bad or anything but i believe thats why you see the different opinions on the battery life.
I've had a couple issues but overall so far its pretty fantastic. It has reset itself a couple of times and the power button itself is kind of horrible with the protective cover on it. I have to hold the power button in for at least 10 seconds before it will actually power on but turning it off is far more simple. I dont know if thats normal for all of these types of phones or not. I find it to be a little bit frustrating.
I personally enjoy playing video games so i love them on this phone, it does drain the battery fast but its not so bad if youre just going to casually play something. I havent really timed it or anything but it seems you can get about 5 hours of use if you play game apps for that long before having to recharge it. When i left it on standby for an entire day and texted a few times the battery was at 91% i thought that was pretty cool.
Loving the phone so far especially at that price. So far its everything i was looking and hoping for. (Posted on 2/2/13)
better rooting the phone Review by Alina
The directions under "rooting" worked like a charm for me. It took me a little while to figure out how to download Winzip (I used the free "evaluation" version), which I needed to "extract" the Zerg Rush zip file. But after I figured that out, turned my phone to USB debugging, and plugged it into my computer, the phone automatically went into root mode (I saw a DOS screen pop up, giving the status of the rooting), and about 5 minutes later, the phone was all rooted! I then downloaded "Titanium Backup" (you first have to tell your phone to allow apps from non-Android marketplace), went to "backup/ restore" and deleted the unwanted apps.
The battery life has increased tremendously since rooting the phone, deleting the junk apps and also installing Juice Defender. I leave wifi on all the time, and 14 hours later, the battery still has 77% life left in it. Before this, the battery would be nearly empty by this point. I even bought extra charging cords to have in the office and in the car, but it looks like I won't be needing these too much now. I can now wait to charge the phone when I get home. (Posted on 2/1/13)
loving my phone Review by Jessica
4 months in, loving my phone. So much about it is just right. The phone size: fits in my pockets, car, hand. Screen size: 4.7" is the sweet spot. Getting any larger and you're talking mini tablet territory. The speed: 1ghz and enough memory to keep it humming. You don't need dual core, or a graphics processor, or any other nonsense unless you're playing graphically intense games (I suppose...I personally don't use my phone for games). It will, I'll note, stream Netflix with ease. Cost: at $210, I'm not constantly worried about losing it. (Posted on 1/31/13)
I really like this phone Review by Lewis
I really like this phone - the video recording straight to a 32GB SD card is brilliant. Very clear and nice quality. Also, low volume audio recording works really well and so does the voice to text feature for anytime you are tired of typing - which is becoming more and more frequently for me. Nice phone over all but you have to learn it and customize it for it to be useful and not frustrating. There will be no battery life without Juice Defender. That is certain. If you want to use it as is and not tinker with it, just try not to put too many apps on it and it will be fine with the Juice Defender running in the background on agressice setting. (Posted on 1/30/13)
it's a good phone Review by Ross
Overall, it's a good phone with a big storage management problem. In the directory structure , this phone names the internal memory "SDcard" and the actual removable SD card as "external_sd", which cannot be recognized by most android apps. It doesn't matter where you want the program to install, it always installs to the internal memory, I cannot install the databases of some programs for offline use because they are too big to install to the internal memory. Phone itself has a lot of good features and seem to be of good quality. Decent camera and screen. (Posted on 1/29/13)
very good Review by Carol
Both call quality and signal reception seem adequate. The sound quality when playing music is very good (especially with BeatsAudio enabled) although I find the volume to be a bit too high even on the lowest setting especially in a quiet environment. Battery life also seems good. After a few hours of music playing and some app/web activity it was still past half full. (Posted on 1/28/13)
The phone is fast and responsive Review by Joan
The phone is fast and responsive. Never had any hiccups. I tested the processor speed with an app and it runs at 1 ghz not 800 mhz. From what I've read all these run at 1 ghz so mine isn't some rare exception. The picture/video quality is great. Battery time is average on par with most smart phones. The phone is very slim and lightweight.
If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive yet quality smart phone without being taken advantage of in a contract this is it! over a year and the service has been impeccable thus far. Thank you VM for setting such a high standard in the cell phone business! (Posted on 1/26/13)
this phone will definitely help you Review by Debbie
Every app on the Android marketplace in compatible with it. I've only downloaded arcade-style games so far, but they run smoothly. The only one I've run into minor problems with is the Netflix app, which crashes every now and then. Not sure if that's a complication deriving from the phone or the app though.
It's 8 megapixel camera takes clean and clear shots, and the flash is amazing. (On a side note, the "Brightest Flashlight Free" app utilizes the light and works amazingly) However, you may have to occasionally retake your pictures as the camera sometimes has difficulty focusing.
The battery lasts all day with no issues. Even when using video apps it holds up longer than I'd expected.
My only real qualm is the keyboard. It's nothing detrimental to a purchasing decision, but you will have moments where letter selection is off. The auto-correct is pretty handy, but the ES button (switched you to Spanish) is right near the space button, so I accidentally switch to Spanish a lot, and thusly it auto-corrects in Spanish. Annoying. I've never been a fan of touchscreen keyboards to begin with.
You get unlimited talk, text, and data for $25 a month ($35 if you're a new subscriber). And this phone will definitely help you utilize that unlimited data package. Just be aware of mild keypad annoyances and the camera's stubborn focus. (Posted on 1/25/13)
it is just the best phone I have ever had Review by Joan
I got the phone on sale for $200 and it is just the best phone I have ever had, although I have not activated it yet (more on this later), at an awesome price. Why haven't I activated it yet? Well, it turns out, this android phone lets you install all kind of apps from the android market via wifi without activating the phone, this as a pretty awesome (and cheap) ipod/iphone substitute. I have installed apps for watching TV shows, read news (USA Today, NYTime, Bloomberg, etc), Pandora radio (sound through the speaker is very full for such a tiny device), GPS navigation/maps, calculators, MS Office documents viewer, a few games, GasBuddy to find cheap gas locally (pretty handy these days), etc. All FREE from the Android market. But, BY FAR, the best applications I installed are Google Voice, which together with SIPDroid (after signing up for a free GoogleVoice account and a free PBXes.org account) allows me to link them together and configure the phone to use VOIP to make my calls through the internet instead of using the limited 300 minutes, I can also use it to do unlimited free texting through my Google voice number.
I wanted to do this to make sure I did not go over the 300 minutes and start racking up a huge bill with VM once I activated the phone, but as it turns out, this has worked out so well that I am still undecided as to weather I will need to activate the phone and sign up for the monthly service. Granted, I can only make/receive calls when I am within WIFI range, but, WIFI is so prevalent these days. Many of the establishments a person does business with have free internet access for their customers: Starbucks, Dennys, Mcdonalds, Barnes&nobles, Homedepots, Panera bread, Hooters, highway rest stops, libraries, Krogers, Quiznos, Schlotzsky, FedEx offices, Hotels... the list goes on and on. I also installed a WIFI Analyzer App which shows if there is a free/open WIFI within range and its signal strength. You can get a nice directory of wifi spots in your area here-> [...] which of course does not list all the available ones.
What happens when I'm outside WIFI range? Well, of course I can not make calls, inbound calls go to my GoogleVoice voice mail and as soon as I get into WIFI range and connect, my inbound text messages get delivered and/or I get a notification of a missed call which I can check right away. Obviously not something I would want to use as a business phone, but for personal use when you do not need to be available 24X7 this works great! You also get a great excuse when you don't want to answer someone, later you can say... "Sorry, I was not in WIFI zone...", you can even put that in your answering message. This setup would be great for students who live on campus where they have free access to the campus WIFI network (many of them provide free open WIFI all over campus). All these for $0 a month plus the cost of the phone.
If you feel you need capability to make calls from anywhere in case of emergencies, or for 24X7 availability, then just activate the phone and pay the $25/month. You would get many other benefits which would make this device a very capable business phone. I've read that once activated, you can install an app to make the phone a WIFI hub for up to 4 or 5 devices (supposedly there is an app for that, :-) pun intended, in the android market). This would provide internet service to your WIFI based laptop anywhere. I will investigate this more if/when I activate the phone. I have to admit, it would be fun to be able to go on trips and have internet in the car for my kids ipod touches or laptops while we are on the road. The more they can entertain themselves, the less "are we there yet?, are we there yet?" questions we will get... :-)
Summarizing, if you activate the phone, you get unlimited texting, phone web browsing, tv watching, internet radio, etc. + unlimited internet based calls using the provided unlimited data service + internet for your computer/ipod touches anytime/anywhere. All these for $25/month? Sweeeet! I don't think any carrier can beat that, the closer unlimited everything plan is cricket for $55/month for an android or blackberry phone. ATT, Verizon, etc?
I hope you find this useful.
Enjoy!
I spent away from the family working up North and they wanted 24X7 access... (great to be loved so much!). It is now even better. I have an app that shows how many minutes are left and when I'm getting close to using the 300 minutes, I can dial out using the internet and google voice through the data service from anywhere (where there is 3G signal). Came in handy to have Pandora on the phone when my car radio stopped working and it's great to be able to do everything I used to do only within WIFI range now everywhere. GPS worked great while I was traveling through the North East, except when cruising through the Adirondacks (no 3G service out in the sticks :-) ).
Virgin has raised the price of the plan to $35 a month for newcomers, (previous users are grandfathered in at the $25 rate) but even at $35, it still the best deal around as far as I know. Finally, Target has the phone on sale for $50 for the next two days... (Posted on 1/24/13)
I like Review by William
I've had this phone for almost 2 months and it hasn't disappointed at all. In fact, completely the opposite! It's a small phone, but I like that personally. What exactly are you doing? Personally, the phone works well for me. I multitask all the time: while biking I stream Pandora, track my location with MyTracks, and respond to the occasional text ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I stream music with Grooveshark in my car while navigating with GPS using Waze (awesome app btw).
if I get a phone that has those things, I'm locked into a 2 year contract for 3 or 4 times the monthly cost. If having a little better spec'd phone is important to you, go for the top of the liners! However, I'm techie, middle class guy that wants as much as I can get for as little as I can get it.
there are lesser "entry level" Android phones out there. You have to get into extremely remote places to lose reception, and those places will most likely be void of any cell coverage no matter the monthly cost barring satellite phones. Finally, maybe I'm lucky, but I just haven't experienced the shutting down and freezing problems others have. Sometimes this is a poorly designed app, NOT the phone or operating system. I've pulled the battery maybe 2 or 3 times total. I'll end this with a little math lesson. (Posted on 1/23/13)
I recommend this phone Review by Louis
As a newbie in the world of smart phones, I was pleasantly surprised. The feel of the phone is nice. The touch screen is wonderful. The volume is very good. The day pass to the web is $1.49 for 40MB of download at 3G speed. After that it's 2G. I don't need the web for business or any function other than occasional use, so the $1.49/3G/2G is fine with me. The call quality is very good.
I can see why people get hooked on smart phones. They are almost addictive. I can't seem to put mine down.
After I use the web, and other applications, and I think I have them closed, I see that my battery drains very fast. One of the many useful shortcuts I added to my home page is "Task Manager". I open this shortcut often and close all active applications. My battery lasts much longer.
I recommend this phone. (Posted on 1/22/13)
I know I bought 2 for reason. Trust me Review by John
I always thought that iPhone is top of the game - I mean, Apple products usually are, right?
Well, I was looking for a gift for my wife's birthday and I really didn't like price of unlocked iPhone. I'm not US citizen so I can't get it through contract, so my only option was to buy it for full price and lets be honest - it's greatly exaggerated. So, I opted to instead switch to Android phone.
It took me awhile to choose which phone to buy and in the end, Inspire won with it's easily affordable price. Seriously, you can buy 2 of these for a price of 1 iPhone! And that is actually what I did - I bought one, used it for a week .
Lets be honest, though - phone is not perfect. Yeah, battery could be stronger, software could be slightly more polished but in all honesty, this is a 5 star phone.
PROs:
* HUGE screen! And with high resolution, wow!
* Easy to customize (software and hardware [i.e. stronger battery]). Take that, iPhone!
* PRICE! Did I mention that you can buy 2 of these for the price of 1 iPhone? Seriously? Steve, you've been awesome guy, may you rest in peace, but your products have been greatly overpriced.
* 8 MP camera! (not the best quality but surprisingly good)
CONs:
* Software could be slightly better. It does have some weird stuff going on, but nothing to tarnish this phone's great rep.
For me, this is easy decision - this phone trumps anything else in the market when it comes to price/specs ratio. Yeah I know, everybody wants iPhone 4s etc, but seriously, they can't really offer you much more considering huge price gap between them and this phone.
I know I bought 2 for reason. Trust me. (Posted on 1/21/13)
you'll love this phone Review by Judy
It has a great battery life for my uses. I am not a phone gamer so the battery lasts about 10-12 hours with moderate, everyday use and taking pictures. With light use it lasts more than 24 hours, and with heavy use, like taking pictures all day long it dies in about 8 hours.
the Camera is perfect and it has quite a powerful flash.
If you are an android lover as I am you'll love this phone.
I have had it overheat a time or 2 while taking lots and lots of pictures for a long time. But even though it shuts itself down (to protect itself from heat damage) you can turn it on again and it boots up very very quickly (about 30 seconds).
It is lightening fast and can multi task, so you can switch between tasks quickly. (Posted on 1/19/13)
Energy and food are the focus of the American Chemical Society meeting in 'the Big Easy'Public release date: 7-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
504-670-4707 (New Orleans Press Center, April 5-10)
202-872-6042
Michael Woods
m_woods@acs.org
504-670-4707 (New Orleans Press Center, April 5-10)
202-872-6293
American Chemical Society
NEW ORLEANS, April 7, 2013 Renowned for its cuisine and chefs and as a global hub of the energy industry, New Orleans this week hosts what news media have described as the "World Series of Science," one of the year's largest and most important scientific conferences. The meeting, which begins today and continues through Thursday, happens to have the theme "CHEF," which stands for
"The Chemistry of Energy and Food."
More than 14,000 scientists and others are expected to gather in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and downtown hotels for the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society. It features almost 12,000 reports and other presentations on scientific topics that involve chemistry. These range from astronomy to zoology, and include medicine, health, global climate change, sustainable supplies of clean drinking water, environment, new materials, electronics, business and of course the quest for new, sustainable sources of energy and a healthier, more abundant food supply. The meeting includes a major exposition of scientific instruments, publications and other resources.
In addition to pushing back the horizons of scientific knowledge, the meeting will leave a positive mark on the regional economy, according to Tara Letort of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. Letort cited projections that it will add at least $16 million to the local economy.
"News media are on target in calling our meetings the World Series of Science," said Marinda Li Wu, Ph.D., ACS president. "In terms of the number of reports on new discoveries that connect with everyday life, the attendance, the range of scientific topics and the caliber of the attendees, these are major events. During the next week, the concentration of scientific brainpower in a few square blocks of New Orleans will be exceptional."
James N. Seiber, Ph.D., program chair, said that thousands of the scientific reports relate to the meeting's core theme, CHEF. Organizers of the ACS' two annual National Meetings seek themes that connect with the venues' geography, history, culture or other attributes.
"New Orleans is internationally renowned for its cuisine," said Seiber, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of California at Davis and editor of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, one of the ACS' more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific journals. "And the Gulf Coast is a hub of the global energy industry, a major producer of crude oil and natural gas and the petrochemicals used to make medicines, plastics, clothing, electronics and thousands of other products that underpin everyday life."
Sessions 64 in all related to the theme carry titles that include "The Chemistry of the Bar," "Analytical Chemistry of the Deepwater Horizon Spill," "Biofuels and Sustainable Energy," the "Nexus of Food, Energy and Water" and, of course, the "Chemistry of Energy and Food."
Keynote speakers for the meeting:
Peter Schieberle, Ph.D., Technical University of Munich: The chemistry of food flavors: Simply pleasure or beyond?
John Floros, Ph.D., Kansas State University: Feeding the world through science and technology: A look into our future food system
Csar Vega, Ph.D., Mars, Incorporated: The kitchen as laboratory: Building bridges between science and the non-scientist
Walter Rakitsky, Ph.D., Solazyme, Inc.: Microalgal triglyceride oils: A new source of renewable oil for energy and food
Special lectures sponsored by the Kavli Foundation will be among the highlights on April 8. Christy Haynes, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, will deliver the inaugural Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry Lecture. The Emerging Leaders Lectures recognize the work of outstanding young chemical scientists. Daniel G. Nocera, Ph.D., Harvard University, will deliver the "Kavli Foundation Innovations in Chemistry Lecture," updating progress in developing his "artificial leaf."
News media can register onsite for credentials to cover the meeting in Room 215-216 of the Morial Convention Center, where press conferences will be held starting at 8 a.m. today. A package of press releases and a press conference schedule are available from the news media contacts above. News media also can join live press conferences at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive.
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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.
Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
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Energy and food are the focus of the American Chemical Society meeting in 'the Big Easy'Public release date: 7-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
504-670-4707 (New Orleans Press Center, April 5-10)
202-872-6042
Michael Woods
m_woods@acs.org
504-670-4707 (New Orleans Press Center, April 5-10)
202-872-6293
American Chemical Society
NEW ORLEANS, April 7, 2013 Renowned for its cuisine and chefs and as a global hub of the energy industry, New Orleans this week hosts what news media have described as the "World Series of Science," one of the year's largest and most important scientific conferences. The meeting, which begins today and continues through Thursday, happens to have the theme "CHEF," which stands for
"The Chemistry of Energy and Food."
More than 14,000 scientists and others are expected to gather in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and downtown hotels for the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society. It features almost 12,000 reports and other presentations on scientific topics that involve chemistry. These range from astronomy to zoology, and include medicine, health, global climate change, sustainable supplies of clean drinking water, environment, new materials, electronics, business and of course the quest for new, sustainable sources of energy and a healthier, more abundant food supply. The meeting includes a major exposition of scientific instruments, publications and other resources.
In addition to pushing back the horizons of scientific knowledge, the meeting will leave a positive mark on the regional economy, according to Tara Letort of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. Letort cited projections that it will add at least $16 million to the local economy.
"News media are on target in calling our meetings the World Series of Science," said Marinda Li Wu, Ph.D., ACS president. "In terms of the number of reports on new discoveries that connect with everyday life, the attendance, the range of scientific topics and the caliber of the attendees, these are major events. During the next week, the concentration of scientific brainpower in a few square blocks of New Orleans will be exceptional."
James N. Seiber, Ph.D., program chair, said that thousands of the scientific reports relate to the meeting's core theme, CHEF. Organizers of the ACS' two annual National Meetings seek themes that connect with the venues' geography, history, culture or other attributes.
"New Orleans is internationally renowned for its cuisine," said Seiber, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of California at Davis and editor of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, one of the ACS' more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific journals. "And the Gulf Coast is a hub of the global energy industry, a major producer of crude oil and natural gas and the petrochemicals used to make medicines, plastics, clothing, electronics and thousands of other products that underpin everyday life."
Sessions 64 in all related to the theme carry titles that include "The Chemistry of the Bar," "Analytical Chemistry of the Deepwater Horizon Spill," "Biofuels and Sustainable Energy," the "Nexus of Food, Energy and Water" and, of course, the "Chemistry of Energy and Food."
Keynote speakers for the meeting:
Peter Schieberle, Ph.D., Technical University of Munich: The chemistry of food flavors: Simply pleasure or beyond?
John Floros, Ph.D., Kansas State University: Feeding the world through science and technology: A look into our future food system
Csar Vega, Ph.D., Mars, Incorporated: The kitchen as laboratory: Building bridges between science and the non-scientist
Walter Rakitsky, Ph.D., Solazyme, Inc.: Microalgal triglyceride oils: A new source of renewable oil for energy and food
Special lectures sponsored by the Kavli Foundation will be among the highlights on April 8. Christy Haynes, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, will deliver the inaugural Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry Lecture. The Emerging Leaders Lectures recognize the work of outstanding young chemical scientists. Daniel G. Nocera, Ph.D., Harvard University, will deliver the "Kavli Foundation Innovations in Chemistry Lecture," updating progress in developing his "artificial leaf."
News media can register onsite for credentials to cover the meeting in Room 215-216 of the Morial Convention Center, where press conferences will be held starting at 8 a.m. today. A package of press releases and a press conference schedule are available from the news media contacts above. News media also can join live press conferences at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive.
###
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.
Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Follow us: Twitter | Facebook
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
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Public release date: 7-Apr-2013
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