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Banking via mobile device jumps 54 percent

The number of people accessing their bank or brokerage accounts through mobile devices surged 54 percent in the fourth quarter last year compared with the same period in 2009, according to a new report from ComScore.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, 29.8 million Americans tapped into their bank, credit, or brokerage accounts via cell phones and other mobile devices, according to the Mobile Financial Advisor report released yesterday.

Drilling down further, 18.6 million people accessed their financial accounts via a mobile browser, 10.8 million used a mobile app, and 8.1 million used text messaging, said … Read more

MacBook 3G could have detachable antenna

A patent granted to Apple provides new hints that a 3G version of the MacBook may be in the cards. The new patent outlines a detachable, magnetic antenna for connecting your laptop to the Internet on the go.

Patently Apple first reported on the patent, one of a series of patents newly granted to Apple. The antenna appears to sit on a hinge when connected, so that it can be adjusted to ensure the best reception. The antenna is also attached by magnets, so it comes off easily when knocked, stepped on, or otherwise duffed up. That should keep it from breaking.

Read more of "Apple MacBook 3G could have detachable, magnetic antenna" at Crave UK. … Read more

First-gen iPad 3G gets $100 price cut by AT&T

If you were on the fence between an original iPad and its successor, AT&T may have just made your buying decision a little more difficult.

As noted by CNET contributor Jim Dalrymple on his personal blog The Loop, AT&T today cut the price of the original iPad with 3G by $100, putting the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models on sale at $429, $529, and $629 respectively. By comparison, those units cost $629, $729, and $829 when they were first released.

This is the second price cut to hit the first-generation iPad. In the first one, which occurred following the announcement of the iPad 2, Apple took $100 off the base price, while throwing buyers who may have bought an iPad in the two weeks leading up to the announcement a $100 refund.

Apple continues to sell brand-new versions of the 3G version of the first iPad at $100 off its original price, and refurbished versions of the device at $150 to $170 off depending on the model, leaving buyers who go through AT&T getting a better deal in either case.

In order to use the 3G service, users need to sign on to one of the two, prepaid data plans, which can be done from the unit itself. Additionally AT&T is currently running a promotion where new users of its DataConnect personal plans get the first month of 2GB of data free of charge.

As of this post's publishing, AT&T's online store appears to be out of stock of the 32GB model, however the 16GB and 64GB models are still available. … Read more

Use iPhone 4 Personal Hotspot to add GPS to Wi-Fi-only iPads

Zachery Bir, on his Urbanape blog, explains how he used an iPhone 4 with the new Personal Hotspot feature in iOS 4.3 to add GPS to his Wi-Fi-only iPad. A tweet from Bir earlier in the day caused some skepticism when he posted:

From a technological standpoint, I must admit I was a bit skeptical as well. When deciding on which iPad 2 to get, I debated many of the same pros and cons as other customers wondering if the $130 upgrade to enable 3G on an iPad was worth the money.

Ultimately, I decided to put the extra money toward more storage and I settled on a black, 32Gb, Wi-Fi-only iPad 2. Upon seeing a post from Daring Fireball's John Gruber about Bir's findings, I feel as though my decision may well be completely justified. … Read more

YouTube's spin on 'American Idol'

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Motorola will sell the Wi-Fi-only Xoom for $599.

YouTube announces YouTube Next Up, its spin on "American Idol" for the Web.

The European Union is going to revamp its 16-year-old online privacy laws.

Apple changes in-app purchase protocol so that any additional purchases require a password.

Samsung releases a new line of laptops for students and office workers.

Google updates collaboration messaging within Google Docs.

Mozilla announces that Firefox 4 will be available for download next week on March 22.

T-Mobile adds new 10GB mobile data plan

T-Mobile has unveiled a new data plan that gives mobile broadband users up to 10GB each month and no overage costs for a price of $85.

Launched yesterday, the new "10 GB Web access + Unlimited T-Mobile HotSpot" mobile broadband plan is designed for T-Mobile 3G or 4G cellular subscribers who hop onto the Internet via their tablets, Netbooks, and notebooks.

With overage costs sometimes giving customers a nasty surprise when the bill is due, T-Mobile is promising no overage fees. Instead, the carrier will throttle back on the data speed until the billing cycle ends for anyone who … Read more

Facebook the movie theater

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

Warner Bros. is renting out movies inside Facebook

The beta of Google Maps Navigation for Android helps you avoid traffic jams

YouTube acquires Next New Networks

HBO is said to be relaxing black-out agreements to advance UltraViolet cloud streaming

This year's Wimbledon finals will be broadcast in 3D

Owners of the original iPad 3G will be able to port their unlimited data plans over to the new iPad 2

Consumer Reports finds that 30 percent of teens are texting while driving

Get a no-contract MiFi 2200 3G hot spot for $129

I've long been a drooling, slobbering fan of the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200, a credit card-size 3G router that was first available from Verizon, then picked up by Sprint.

This amazing little device creates a broadband-powered Wi-Fi hot spot for up to five devices. The only sucky part: buying one meant buying into another two-year contract and paying anywhere from $40-60 per month for service.

What is it with the carriers and their damn contracts?

Anyway, when Virgin Mobile (now owned by Sprint) started offering the MiFi last year, it did something incredible: it took away the contract. Suddenly … Read more

Apple iPad 2 hands-on: Predictable, awesome

What does the world's most successful tablet computer do for an encore? More of the same.

The second-generation iPad from Apple is thinner, faster, lighter, and whiter, but not a radical departure from the original. Pricing is also holding steady, starting at $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi-only model, up to 64GB with 3G (provided by AT&T or Verizon without contract) priced at $829.

You can't blame Apple for going easy on new features. Apple's original recipe for the iPad single-handedly created and captured the demand for tablets last year. By any measure, it is not a product in need of fixing. It has the market share, it has the developers, and it has the momentum.

Apple also just makes damn fine products. Having had a few minutes with the iPad 2, I can say that it is every bit as stunning as the original. The first thing that struck me was the iPad's weight loss. It's still not Kindle thin, but the lighter design should make the e-book crowd happier and prove to be a distinct advantage over bulkier competitors, including the recent Motorola Xoom. … Read more