http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/entertainment/kim-kardashian-kris-humphr...

Kris Humphries Wants to Expose Reality TV, and Broadcast Kim Kardashian Divorce: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

I'm not big into complaining, though this is just outright ridic.  A few days ago I received a text message from AT&T that read:

AT&T Free Msg: Your data usage is approaching the top 5% of users. Use Wi-Fi to help avoid reduced speed for this bill cycle. Visit www.att.com/dataplans.

Then two days later:

AT&T Free Msg: Your data usage is among the top 5% of users. Data speeds for the rest of your current bill cycle may be reduced. Visit www.att.com/dataplans.

I've received (and sent) some pretty horrendous texts in my lifetime, though this is just filthy.  Basically, because I use a premium plan that I pay $150/month for, I'm not the lucky contestant of a dial-up speed phone (after I received the message my phone instantly loaded slower than a 28k baud modem--see attached speed test with a whopping 0.0Mb/s).

While I'm proud to say that I'm part of the "5%", this is really annoying.  

Dear AT&T:

Stop robbing your customers.

Ed

Here's a press release with their explanation:
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=20535&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=32318&mapcode=corporate

What do you think?

The holiday shopping season is officially heating up. And Friday will mark the annual day of which thousands of people will be trampled at the door of Walmart's and Best Buys across the country. But fret not, you can avoid the mangling by purchasing online and early. Here are the hottest items that you'll want to add to your list:

1. Android Tablets. $99-$399. There are more expensive Android devices available, though there are plenty in this range that are great values (i.e. Toshiba Thrive, Acer Iconia).

2. Amazon Kindle Fire. $199. Amazon decided to "fork" the Android OS, which just means that it's a bit different from the other Android devices available.  It's actually a little forking annoying.  This deliberate move basically turns the device into an Amazon cash register, though it's so cheap! Note:  Not all Google Marketplace apps are available on the Fire.

3. 4G LTE Mobile Device. $149-$550.  I was upgraded to the new Samsung Galaxy SII Skyrocket (LTE version of SGSII). Rarely do I pay attention to mobile provider marketing campaigns that claim the latest "upgrades" or expansions, though the latest AT&T 4G LTE is blazing fast. In fact, it's faster than my broadband at home. By the way, your current 4G phone is now an antique.

4. Networked TV. Apple TV $99. Google TV $180-$600. "Smart" TV's $400-$5,000. Either way, it's now easier than ever to watch fat kids falling on Youtube...in the comfort of your living room at halftime.

5. MacBook Air $900-$1,599. While these are a bit pricey compared to other gadgets above, the new MacBook Air's are a great buy starting at $999. The Air's are packed into the size of a tablet, with the benefits of the full blown Mac platform that includes the new App Store, Facetime, and iTunes. Very nice. 

Happy Gadgeting!

In my last post I wrote about the the top five annoyances of Google+, and why it's struggling to become the next facebook.  Well, it appears that somebody out in Mountain View read my post.

1. Google Apps Support.  Over the past week Google launched support and integration between Google Apps and Google+, which allows them to auto-magically play nice.  Next time you log into Google Apps/Mail, check out the "+" icon up in the top right corner.
2. Mobile Support.  Another one of my annoyances from my last post, now the Android Google+ app supports your Google Apps business account.  Yay!
3. Mobile Photo Uploads.   The syncing of photos between your mobile device and your desktop can sometimes be a pain, though with this turned on you instantly upload them to your Plus account album.  While it's a little confusing at first, I finally decided to turn this on.  My biggest concern was posting every photo to my Plus stream, though I learned that pics are posted to a private album by default (which you can change to public later).
4. Takeout.  Ever wanted to download and backup all of your Google account info including Plus, Contact, Picasa, Voice, etc?  Well now you can.
5. Games.  I'm not what you'd consider a huge gamer, though there appears to be about 20 games available on Plus.  While this is nowhere near the some bazillion games available on Facebook, they do have a good start...and this includes Angry Birds.  Not to mention Crime City, which requires the player to rob a mini mart within the first 15 seconds of the game.

I'm not sure where this came from, though I was getting some groceries the other day (Costco obviously) and thought about the things I would need to survive on a deserted island. It didn't take long to come up with this. Don't judge.

• 'Tussin.  A.k.a. Robitussin.  This stuff is believed to have eradicated the Plague.  I have friends that actually carry this stuff in their pockets at all times (you know who you are), just in case they come down with a cold at the spur of the moment. This is not a lie.
   
• Neosporin.  I nearly sliced my finger off last summer, though it was no match for a little Neosporin, band-aids and super glue (under guidance from a doctor friend).  I'm sure stitches would have been more appropriate.

  

• Android tablet. Of course I'd need a solar charger, and it would need to be loaded with this app.
   
• Tag Heuer watch. This hasn't left my sight since I bought it back in '05. It brings nothing to the table from a survival perspective, though it's super shiny! 

• Some sweet jeans. Preferably I'd like to have a pair of my Hudsons or True Religions...or mom jeans.

Hopefully I never end up on a deserted island.