Google+

So today, finally, Google+ was taken out of the field testers zone and made into a full fledged beta. This means you don't have to wait for an invite to put you into the Google+ mode. Just head over to Google Plus and sign up with your Google account!

Still not sure what is Google+ or why you would want to use it? Check out this video:

Google Wallet

In this day in age, what doesn't our smart phone do? It already fetches email, makes telephone calls, stores contacts, updates our social networks, we can buy plane tickets, access our bank accounts, and watch movies on it. If you can replace your email device, personal music player, and landline with a smartphone why can't you replace your wallet? The brilliant minds at Google have come up with a solution. Introducing Google Wallet. Google Wallet stores your bank card information and allows you to use bank cards, store cards, and coupons all within your device. When you pay at a register, using the NFC (near-Field-Communication) technology, you just tap your phone on the reader. The data is instantly sent and you automatically pay whatever it is you buy. Google Wallet also has the neat feature of being combined with Google shopper and offers, allowing you to redeem coupons at the register with the same transaction. You collect the Coupons from Google Shopper, and when you go to pay the coupons are redeemed in the transaction. You no longer have to maintain hold on physical coupons and physical cards. Everything can now be stored on the Google Wallet app. It is also password protected with a secure pin, so even if the phone is stolen thieves won't have access to your information, unlike a wallet. Check out Google Wallet and watch the video down below

Qwikster?

So this morning, I alone with countless other netflix subscribers awoke to an email from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; something long overdue in my opinion about the recent price changes occurring with Netflix. See, starting September 1st, the Netflix streaming service and DVD by mail service was split between two separate services, meaning if you wanted both streaming and DVDs you had to pay separately for both instead of having an all in one package. The advent of this left many Netflix users upset and outraged, they were once paying 9.99 a month for the basic deal of unlimited streaming and 1 dvd a month, and now they have to pay 16.99 for both. Well, Netflix CEO emailed everyone announcing the reason they decided to separate the two services. See, Netflix has decided to change the name of the DVD service, renaming it to Qwikster. Netflix itself would remain solely for the streaming service. This means for DVD management you would have to go to the Qwikster website and manage your DVD Queue from there. Netflix's website will be used solely for streaming. Is this a good thing? Not entirely sure myself, I wasn't using the DVD service for a long time when I had both services, but when I canceled the DVD service because of the price change I found myself wishing I still had it. Certain television shows became instantly more appealing and desirable because I no longer had the service. But the new management service isn't so bad. In this case Netflix and Qwikster are both operated by the same company, but now you can have two separate charges on your account for them. And they are both operated independently. It will be interesting to see how Netflix and Qwikster operate now that they are separate entities.

Nintendo 3DS

Bought a 3DS a few days ago, review and overview shall be up soon. Generally a fun device so far!

HTC Sensation XE?

Engadget

Engadget

Image courtesy of Engadget, take a look at HTC's new concept phone fresh from their partnership with Beats audio. Meet the HTC Sensation XE, the first concept phone made through HTC's partnership with Beats Audio. Their new device, sporting a 1.5 GHz dual core processor packed with a 1750 mph battery is a Beats audio powered device that comes coupled with a nifty pair of Beats audio ear buds. The attached ear buds have an inline remote that allows you to seamlessly change tracks or answer/end phone calls, so theoretically you can use it without having to take the phone out of your pocket. Unoriginal though because there are plenty of ear buds that come with remotes in them to help in a similar fashion. What makes this unique however is when the Beats official ear buds are plugged in, the device releases Beats technology to match the ear buds, giving you deeper bass and sharper vocals. Interesting to see how this goes with Android, as I have yet to see a particular Android marketed phone that offers something in the audio department (galaxy s PMP aside). I'm also wondering if there is  possibility of a Beats made music application to help better with the music development. The phone is promised to ship to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East later this month, hopefully we'll see a North American release. I for one would love to get my hands on those earbuds.