Mobile frenzy

[ Music ] ^M00:00:10 >> Brian: Alright, good afternoon everybody, welcome to Editor's Office Hours, I've got my home girl Miss Nicole Lee, Editor extreme for -- what category's in mobile? >> Nicole: Cell phones, accessories, like headsets and things like that. >> Brian: Okay, very cool. I am Brian Tong, Editor at CNET TV and today we're gonna be talking about -- ya know -- Bluetooth headset stuff, a lot of -- any questions you guys really have about the Google Android platform, and the new Dream phone, Nicole, that's her beat right now -- >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: and one of the many things that she does but just a few things if you don't know much about Nicole, she revealed to me that she is a huge World of War Craft player. Is this true? >> Nicole: Yeah, it's a sad fact but that's true. >> Brian: So what is your -- what is your character like? What does your character look like? What is it? >> Nicole: I'm a lion, which a lot of people -- >> Brian: You're a lion? >> Nicole: like [inaudible] lions -- >> Brian: Oh >> Nicole: but -- >> Brian: I'll allow that. >> Nicole: but I'm sort of the lion's [inaudible] and I play a night [inaudible] priest. [laughing] >> Brian: Oh, all you night [inaudible] priests out there. >> Nicole: I'm sorry >> Brian: All you night [inaudible] priests out there holler. [Inaudible] so anything you want to ask us -- ya know -- about work that Nicole does here, about her life in the World of War craft, things about Prizefights, or Crave, or any of the things that you've seen work that I've done work on, we are here to help you guys out and answer your questions, so we have a bunch already in the queue. >> Nicole: [coughing] >> Brian: And you want to start like attacking 'em? >> Nicole: Sure >> Brian: Okay, cool. >> Nicole: So, one of the questions from Supertechy is, "Is the Google Android an iPhone killer?" And -- ya know -- it's kind of hard to say right now, but the Google Android phone, which is the T-Mobile G1, it's a cordia phone, it's a touch screen format, it also has the voice dialing, the camera, so the thing that I guess it doesn't -- it has that iPhone doesn't have is that -- ya know -- it has the cordia keyboard and it has the voice dialing, the MMS, multimedia messaging, it has -- ya know -- like I said, Bluetooth -- it doesn't have stereo Bluetooth though so that's not a killer I guess. >> Brian: What do you think about it being an open platform? Do you like that for developers? >> Nicole: Yeah, absolutely. That's been recent news lately that Apple has been very controlling in terms of what applications can be released for the iPhone like the Podcaster that was denied, there was all these reports of developers having problems with the Apple SDK I guess, so -- ya know -- according to Google any developer can just take the Android and just do whatever they want with it and just put up their app on the Marketplace like without any restrictions. So, I mean, that's like a huge thing already. >> Brian: Yeah. Now, Donald and I also we talked about and were joking about the whole no 3 point 5 millimeter headphones -- >> Nicole: Yeah, that's a huge -- >> Brian: That's so lame. >> Nicole: That's really lame, that's pretty lame, I'd say. Yeah, although that -- that's more of HTC's I guess, the hardware -- >> Brian: Design >> Nicole: design thing rather than the OS, but yeah, that's a huge -- like -- to me -- I was like -- What are they thinking? >> Brian: That's a huge deterrent for people no matter what. Ya know -- whether it was because >> Nicole: [sneezing] >> Brian: [inaudible] obviously the OS and the platform but they may not necessarily -- ya know -- can control the fact that it didn't have a 3 point [inaudible], but then people identify it as -- like -- oh, Google -- What the hell? -- >> Nicole: Google what's wrong? -- >> Brian: There's no headphone jack. Right? -- >> Nicole: Yeah, that's pretty lame. >> Brian: But, in the long run, what do you think? I mean, do you think it could potentially be an iPhone killer, even get to the same level, or just can't compete because the iPhone is -- >> Nicole: I would say the OS may be a "killer" to the OS on the iPhone, but the design is just to me just not on par. The iPhone design is just really -- I mean -- it's a really good design for the -- >> Brian: So sexy -- >> Nicole: And the G1 is just not that attractive -- like -- in terms of design, in my opinion anyway. So, maybe later on maybe Samsung or LG or one of those other people, maybe they have -- maybe they make a better looking phone with the same OS -- I can kind of see it. >> Brian: And that's really the compelling thing about the OS is the fact that we're not just gonna see it on this dream -- >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: we will see it on a lot of other devices from potentially -- ya know -- a lot of other carriers and once it starts getting shoved out into the market over time then that's when you might be able to see like how hot -- ya know -- Google -- >> Nicole: Right, so. >> Brian: Excellent. Hopefully we helped you out with that Supertechy. >> Nicole: Supertechy. Another question from our site, "What is the best touch screen phone for a budget price?" And I sort of did a little bit of preliminary research on this. Most touch screen phones will cost more than $100. I mean -- most of them would be like $149, $199. I think the LG Voyager right now is available for $149 on the Verizon Store, so if you're talking about touch screen phone it's gonna be pretty pricey. It's gonna be like a little more than $100 and on top of that you have to pay the monthly cell phone plan, something like that, so. There ya go. Another question here on -- by Bryce what? Bryce -- >> Brian: Bryce what! >> Nicole: Bryce what? "Has there been any announcements on any developer making an Office Exchange app for the Android?" The answer is no. I actually did read about this. There has been confirmation that they will create some MS Office -- Microsoft Office -- like Word, and Excel, PowerPoint compatibility with the Android, but there has so far been no reports on people developing an Exchange type app, and I think that was another one that vanished from the iPhone because the iPhone has the Exchange, work e-mail capabilities and out the gate the G1 will not have that Exchange compatibility. >> Brian: Yeah, and at first people alluded to like >> Nicole: [sneezing] >> Brian: oh, it's gonna be really easy because any developer can put it together but they -- you actually kind of have to work with a Microsoft to get that thing rolling. >> Nicole: Absolutely, you have to work with Microsoft and that takes a while. >> Brian: So it's not like -- you know -- some guy in his basement's gonna be like -- viola -- I got Exchange on my Google Android phone. >> Nicole: Yeah, yeah. So, no reports so far, I'm thinking it's not gonna take too long 'cause -- ya know -- an Exchange isn't a much wanted, much desired app for a lot of people so -- I mean -- it won't take long I guess but -- ya know -- I don't know. Who knows? >> Brian: Okay, I'm gonna -- while you're -- I'm gonna try and address this question -- >> Nicole: Okay >> Brian: This question is from PatGamer and he or she asks, "Do you know any accessories that add Bluetooth capabilities to an iPod Touch?" Do you know any off hand? I don't so I'm gonna do some research while -- but I don't know off the top of my head. >> Nicole: There is some -- there's an adapter called Infinixx Bluetooth Adapter, what that does is it plugs into the dock of either the iPhone or the iPod Touch and it adds like stereo Bluetooth capability, it's like A2DP streaming, 'cause the iPhone -- ya know -- in and of itself it doesn't have stereo Bluetooth, so you have to get some -- like -- something like -- something called the Infinixx -- I think its INFINIXX adapter or something, yeah it's kind of a weird third party adapter, but you can plug it into the iPhone dock and you add stereo Bluetooth capability. I think it's around $50.00 but -- ya know -- don't take my word for that. >> Brian: Okay, it looks like -- I just got a message from one of our friends here at CNET that says, "It looks like people might be having a little trouble seeing the video." I don't know if that's true or not but if you like to hear the sound of our sweet soothing voices -- >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: we are still here, so -- ya know -- we'll make it like -- a live Podcast or something like that. >> Nicole: Okay >> Brian: Okay >> Nicole: Sorry about that. >> Brian: Yeah, we're working on it. We're working on it guys, just stick with us. Okay, here's a question from the MOJO and the MOJO asks, "Can you recommend -- oops -- where is it? It just disappeared. Well, it was "Can you recommend any good Bluetooth headsets that work with multiple phones?" >> Nicole: Most Bluetooth headsets will work with multiple phones but I think the question you may be asking is whether it will pair or connect with more than one phone at the same time. In that case, there are certain headsets that will do that. The Blueant 2V1 will do that, I think the recent Plantronics -- I think the Plantronics Voyager 835 will do that. What that means is that it can pair to 2 phones at the same time, where as the -- like most headsets will only pair to -- connect to one phone at one time. So, those headsets like the V1 and the Voyager 835 -- I think the Callpod Dragon V2 is also another one that can pair to multiple devices at the same time. >> Brian: And also we did review the -- well, Nicole's reviewed the Blueant V1, but we also did a Prizefight -- >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: between the Jawbone 2 and the Blueant V1 and it actually ended up being a tie 'cause both of these headsets are super hot but if you had to choose -- >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: if you had to choose Jawbone 2 or Blueant V1, where would you go? >> Nicole: I will personally go for the V1 just because I like having the voice controlled and the voice control capabilities to me is like -- it's almost a game changer in the terms of just being able to drive without ever looking at your phone. >> Brian: Yup >> Nicole: Just say, -- ya know -- "Call home." -- or whatever and it would just do it. >> Brian: Yeah >> Nicole: And it's a big deal especially -- ya know -- in California -- in Washington state -- you have these hands-free driving laws. I think having that voice control is just -- >> Brian: And when we played with it -- the thing about it that a lot of people we're like -- it's not voice commands it's voice control. It's not like voice dialing, we're talking about when you pop in the headset -- ya know -- you just put it in and you say [inaudible] and it automatically looks for your phone and you can pair it, it has preset -- ya know -- favorites. If you set up in your phone like your top 10 favorites then you can actually say, "Call favorite 6, call favorite 5." -- >> Nicole: Yeah, yeah >> Brian: and it will automatically pull from that without -- ya know -- without you saying it, it's already there ready to roll so -- >> Nicole: Another thing [coughing] I would like to add is that the Jawbone 2 is compatible with voice command. >> Brian: Yeah >> Nicole: But what if your phone doesn't have voice dialing? [coughing] >> Brian: Exactly >> Nicole: The iPhone doesn't have voice dialing. Right? So, if you have the Blueant V1 all of a sudden you can make voice calls with your iPhone and it sort of adds that voice command support to phones that don't have voice command. >> Brian: Yeah when -- >> Nicole: Which I think is -- >> Brian: when Nicole showed it to me and we got to play around with it I went bonkers. And I have it -- I own a Jawbone 2 but I seriously was like -- I think I may need a Blueant V1 because I'm such a geek like that. >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: It's super cool. Super cool stuff. >> Nicole: Cool >> Brian: Okay, let's see -- >> Nicole: [sneezing] >> Brian: what else we have. Okay, I don't know if you might know this off the top of your head, we'll go with this, but the question is from -- oh, did Bryce What already ask us a question? >> Nicole: I think so. >> Brian: Okay, let's just -- >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: Okay, let's go here. Bryce we love you but we want to try and take care of other people. We'll take this question from a Ladman -- >> Nicole: Okay >> Brian: and the question is, "What do you see the phones -- cell phones going to, 100% touch phone or a mix of hard button and touch?" That is from Ladman. >> Nicole: I would say that right now -- the trend right now is almost all touch. Honestly the Blackberry Storm, the new Nokia 5800 Express that just came out, so those two phones are really, really high-end phones and their both touch screen phones obviously competing with the iPhone. I think there is definitely a market though -- like -- the T-Mobile G1 with the touch screen and the cordia keyboard sort of as an alternative as well as the HTC Touch Pro, which is coming out later this year, it will also have the touch screen and the keyboard together, so -- ya know -- it's really up to your preference honestly -- like -- some people can't live without >> Brian: Yeah >> Nicole: the physical keys. >> Brian: I mean, how many people still have Pongs? >> Nicole: Right >> Brian: Will not let go of their Pongs. -- >> Nicole: [coughing] >> Brian: They get a Blackberry but they just like -- they like the tactile feel. >> Nicole: They like having the tactile -- >> Brian: They so love it. >> Nicole: feel of the keys and a lot of people -- ya know -- can't get over the whole touch screen sort of learning factor. >> Brian: Yeah >> Nicole: But -- ya know -- it's definitely a hot trend right now. I think you're gonna see a lot of phones coming out in the next few months especially with the holiday season that they're -- that most of them are gonna be touch screen phones because of this trend -- ya know -- the advantage of a touch screen phone is you get the full -- like -- 2 to 3 inch wide display which is great for movies and video, it's great for -- like -- viewing -- surfing web pages, so you're gonna see a lot of them. Whether or not it's gonna be a long lasting trend -- like -- I don't know, but -- >> Brian: And also with my experience with touch screen phones since we -- I also play a lot with them a lot -- I can't even talk here. >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: But, the main thing is really how responsive the touch screen phone is because you always hear touch screen -- well, the thing is that if it's not as responsive as you'd like or doesn't feel like -- ya know -- that same response time as a tactile keyboard, it's not as fun or easy to use and all of sudden you actually kind of dislike the fact that you have a touch screen. Like -- for me using the iPhone versus using the LG Dare's touch screen, they're different types of -- ya know -- the sensitivity -- >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: and responsiveness is different and it was kind of a deterrent although I loved the LG Dare for a variety of reasons like it has a crazy camera in it, but without being able to use it and just feeling that instant feedback and kind of having to press on the Dare, I didn't like it -- >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: So, as we see more of these touch screens it's really more to me, they need to up their game and have their touch screens be as responsive in them, and it's not even 'cause I'm -- >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: an iPhone lover but the iPhone's touch screen is probably the most responsive that I have seen personally with the way my fingers work, I don't know. What do you think? >> Nicole: Well, I actually -- because the touch interface of the iPhone is something called Compasetive [assumed spelling] touch screen. What it means is it's much more intuitive, you just touch it and it's smooth -- it's very smooth in terms of just flipping through the pages and so forth. The G1 is one of the very few other touch screen phones that also has the Compasetive interface and that means, hopefully, that it will be as intuitive as the iPhone. Whether or not -- ya know -- it's as easy to -- the interface and menu in it -- that's as easy -- is another question, but. Ya know. >> Brian: Okay, so we're about 15 minutes deep. I was hoping -- you -- should we do the video? Are we good to go? Okay. Anthony our producer, extraordinaire. We're gonna play the video. We will see you guys in a few seconds. ^M00:14:32 [ Music ] ^M00:14:36 >> Nicole: I'm Nicole Lee, Associate Editor for CNET.com and this a first look at the Virgin Mobile Shuttle, the first ever 3G phone for Virgin Mobile. It's the EVDO Phone which means it has one of the fastest 3G speeds out there, and as you can see it's the typical black and red colors of most Virgin Mobile phones. It's a slider handset right here. There's a very nice 2 point 2 inch display, very crisp colors, very good images. Underneath that you do get the typical navigation array, you also get 2 touch sensitive keys on the bottom here, so these 2 keys on the bottom here are touch sensitive and the dedicated Speaker Phone key in the back here are also touch sensitive. You also get the very spacious keypad right here. On the side you do get the headset jack, the dedicated Voice Command button, the [inaudible] rocker, the microSD card slot. On the other side you do get the charger jack, the dedicated Music Player key, and the dedicated Camera key. Now, on the back you do get the 1 point 3 megapixel camera as well as the self portrait mirror and the external speaker. So, over all we like the design of the phone we just didn't care for the touch sensitive keys so much and there is hectic feedback so -- which means the phone vibrates whenever you hit the key, but we just didn't like the touch sensitive keys in general. Features of the phone include the aforementioned 3G, of course, it's very fast browsing for this phone, you also get the music player, as I mentioned, you also get the camera, camcorder, you also get location based services, which means this has access to Buddy Beacon, which is a friend locator service, it also has access to Where.com, which is a location based service that lets you find the nearest restaurant, the nearest gas station, so it's very helpful. Very full functioning phone, we just didn't really care for like a few design quirks, as I mentioned, but overall a very full functioning phone, a very full featured. It's only $99.99 for Virgin Mobile without a contract which is very affordable -- >> Brian: Are we done? >> Nicole: as well. My name is Nicole [background noise] with the Virgin Mobile Shuttle. [music] >> Brian: Alright. We are back. That was a nice jacket that you had. >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: What is it the heather gray? Was it like a winter jacket that you were wearing in that video? >> Nicole: Ah, yeah >> Brian: Do you remember? >> Nicole: Yeah, I can't remember, I think so. >> Brian: You look very comfy -- >> Nicole: Oh, thank you. >> Brian: and warm and cozy in there. >> Nicole: It's cold here in San Francisco. >> Brian: [laughing] It is -- it is. But, okay. Another thing as we jump back. Another thing that people don't know about Nicole or may not is that you're a huge MAC freak. >> Nicole: Yeah, I like MAC. >> Brian: How long have you been using MAC's? >> Nicole: When they changed to OSX that was -- >> Brian: That really. So before you were all PC based? >> Nicole: Yeah, I was Windows -- well, I had like one of the original Macintosh's when I was like 14 or something but that was a long time ago, so. >> Brian: Oh, I thought you were like 22. >> Nicole: I'm like 29. >> Brian: [laughing] Oh, you gave your age out. >> Nicole: Sorry [laughing] >> Brian: Most chicks are -- sorry -- most women; females [laughing] don't talk about their age -- >> Nicole: I'm not [inaudible] >> Brian: I should not say chicks that's totally sexist. But see people say dudes and they're like -- yeah dude that's alright, okay. >> Nicole: Anyway >> Brian: I'm gonna stop >> Nicole: [laughing] Okay >> Brian: Let's jump back to questions. You had one that you saw you wanted to take. >> Nicole: Yeah. Someone asked, "What's the -- well a couple of them -- a couple of people -- Supertechy and Colefalcon asked, "What's the pricing of the Nokia 5800 Express Music?" And right now it's only available in Europe, I think, it's right now available unlocked for $391, which is equivalent to $279 Euros, but hopefully next year it will have a US carrier, it will be subsidized, it will be a little bit cheaper, but right now it's available for $391 US, -- >> Brian: Alright >> Nicole: so there you go. >> Brian: There you go. Now, we had another question I guess comment from our friend Digdoug who actually wrote us in our last show and he said there's no lava lamp. I promised I would bring my lava lamp, my orange lava lamp. >> Nicole: Where is it? >> Brian: I'll bring it -- I swear I'll bring it next time. I'm sorry Digdoug -- I'm sorry Digdoug. Okay, we'll get back to a real question I just like to bounce around -- >> Nicole: Okay. So, another question here from Striper2000. What was Nicole's -- what was my first ever mobile phone and which network? Oh my God, I'm trying to think back. I think I had a Nokia. >> Brian: I had a Nokia also. >> Nicole: I'm not entirely sure of the [laughing] model number but it was like a black and white screen Nokia with like a keypad and it was -- I think it was on -- I think it was on AT&T before it was AT&T what was -- >> Brian: PacBell -- PacBell >> Nicole: PacBell, it was PacBell. Was it? >> Brian: Yeah >> Nicole: Yeah, it was PacBell. >> Brian: I remember it being -- >> Nicole: It was one of those. >> Brian: I remember back in the day though when you had your early cell phones that our battery life was really crappy -- >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: so you'd get that big extra chunky battery and then you'd put that clip and swivel it around on your pocket. Seriously that was the dorkiest thing ever. Like whenever you have that phone swinging around there, that's lame. Who -- no one wants to see your phone on your hip. >> Nicole: I see a lot of these business people in the suits with their little Blackberry clip on their belt. I'm like -- Oh, my God. >> Brian: Do you have that annoying ring tone too. What is that? >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: Okay, you want to take another question? >> Nicole: Sure. This is a question by Budhaplaya. >> Brian: Budhaplaya >> Nicole: "When do you think or hear a Ocean 2 will be coming up?" I actually asked Virgin Mobile this question. Virgin Mobile, as you remember, they bought Helio, so they're sort of part of that company now, and I asked Virgin Mobile when Ocean 2 will be coming out and they said it will be the Q1 or Q2 of next year, so stay tuned, they're working on it. I think they've just been approved by the FCC, so anytime now, hopefully. Another question here by a Lucille14, "Will it ever be possible to put Android on a phone that it isn't made for like you could do on your computer?" Of course, as you know, it's open-source, so like a Linux is open-source you can just put it on any computer. Right? That's a very good question, and I think if you have the technical know-how to do so, since it's open-source, I don't see any reason why you couldn't unless -- ya know -- the phone itself is so locked down you can't access the firmware or the software of the phone. Then I can kind of see that but maybe some day someone will be tech savvy enough to install it on my phone or something, I don't know -- >> Brian: Okay >> Nicole: but maybe. >> Brian: Now, here's a question I can take. This is from -- somebody told me, I don't know if it's a reference to the Killers -- ya know -- [singing] Somebody told me you were -- I don't know -- >> Nicole: [laughing] Okay >> Brian: You know what I'm talking about. Okay. So, here's the question, "I own a Blackberry Pearl from T-Mobile with one more year on my contract but I want the new iPhone. How much will that cost me to switch and is it worth it?" Okay, so somebody told me -- I'll chime in first. Typically, I'm pretty sure it's still holds, when you cancel your contract before it's up, I believe there's a $200 penalty. When I used to be on T-Mobile that's how much it cost for me when I switched over to the iPhone, and there have been -- ya know -- people, I guess there's rumblings that they're trying to pass -- ya know -- laws to prevent that -- >> Nicole: Yeah, it's something called ETF, which is the early termination fee, and there has been sort of rumblings in congress trying to get that either done away all together or just a pro-rate it in terms of -- if you only have a month left to go in your contract you have to pay less. If you have a whole year to go on your contract, you pay more, so I'm not entirely sure if T-Mobile has decided which way they're going yet but I think there is gonna be a slight penalty to -- >> Brian: Yeah and -- ya know -- a lot of people -- one of my friends -- oh, first of all, is it worth it to do it? Well, it really comes down to -- >> Nicole: I don't know. >> Brian: It's what you want because I don't know what phone you're using current -- Oh, you said Blackberry Pearl? If you are just basically lusting over that iPhone, I can tell you 90% of the people that once they get that fever, they just do it. >> Nicole: The iPhone fever? >> Brian: Yeah, the iPhone fever. >> Nicole: [laughing] Right >> Brian: They just can't stop it, so -- ya know -- however your funds are rolling, whatever you got going on there, saving up for, you'll be happy with it that's for sure, but if you like a physical keyboard, you may not. >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: Even though the Pearl's layout is that little -- that different -- >> Nicole: It's sort of an unusual [inaudible] type keyboard -- ya know -- Bonnie Cha doesn't like that keypad. >> Brian: Oh man. >> Nicole: [laughing] Oh, this is a question that I actually know, "When will CNET publish a review of the Nokia N96?" That is Bonnie Cha's beat, but she did say that hopefully it would be sometime this year I think, they're trying to get a unlocked model, so hopefully it will be sometime this year. >> Brian: Now, I know this but let the expert speak on it. We have a question from Hiphopforpres and he or she asks, "Can you use a CDMA phone on a GSM carrier?" >> Nicole: No >> Brian: And why is that though? Why is that? >> Nicole: They're entirely different networks and GSM phones use something called a SIM card and this SIM card is used to identify the number of the phone. CDM makers have -- they have to be sort of authorized by the carrier, so you can't just pick up any phone and say, "Can I use it on Verizon?" No, the Verizon has to like set it up for you; they have to communicate with the actual hardware itself, where as like GSM you just use the SIM card any GSM phone and you would have the same phone number so it's a very different kind of technology and unfortunately that is not the case. [laughing] >> Brian: Okay, here we have a question -- let's see what we have. >> Nicole: Do you have a brother? [laughing] >> Brian: Do you have a brother? Yes, this question is from Jtong88. Do you know my last name is Tong? >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: Well, yeah. So, this person asks, "Do I have a brother?" Yes, I have a brother he is the greatest brother in the world. He's the only brother I've ever had. >> Nicole: Okay >> Brian: So, I mean -- I can't really compare him to anything else but, yes he's a dope brother and I beat him in basketball and video games all the time. >> Nicole: Oh, well -- >> Brian: [laughing] >> Nicole: there you go. >> Brian: He'll love hearing that if he's actually watching. >> Nicole: There is a question here by Tears4you and that question is, "What's the cheapest and most expensive texting plan?" I think -- yeah, there you go. Cheapest I think is just like $5.00 a month for 200 -- >> Brian: For 200 >> Nicole: texting messages, and the most expensive, of course, if you want the unlimited ones I think those are around 20 -- >> Brian: $20.00, yeah for unlimited. >> Nicole: $20.00. I think if you want unlimited text messaging that's usually 20 bucks. I think that some carriers -- I think Sprint, Verizon, they offer something called All in One for $100 a month, with unlimited text, unlimited calls, unlimited everything for $99.00 a month and that you may think is cheap but if you make a lot of text or calls. >> Brian: And this whole texting thing brings up another whole issue that we've read about why text messages actually cost more now than they did and it's just ridiculous, we're just getting gouged by the cell phone carriers. >> Nicole: Text messages is the biggest scam honestly. I mean -- I honestly believe that because one text message must take like what less than a kilobyte to send or something? So, I mean, it's like nothing -- it's nothing, it should be part of the data plan -- >> Brian: Yeah, and also it's not like they need all this separate infrastructure just catered specifically to -- >> Nicole: No >> Brian: using text messages, it's already part of what they offer. >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: And I know Herb Cole [assumed spelling] who I believe he's -- I don't know if he's a Senator in Wisconsin. I do know he is a part owner of the Milwaukee Bucks for any of you NBA freaks out there. I know you don't care. [laughing] >> Nicole: [laughing] No, I don't care. >> Brian: [laughing] Anyways he actually recently is pushing to pass a bill to like -- ya know -- get -- basically find out about this, but also to stop this crap from happening. I just think it's ridiculous that -- and even -- what about text messages that you receive from your friends -- >> Nicole: That's so stupid. >> Brian: that you have to pay for? >> Nicole: People in Europe when -- like in the UK and the Europe when they hear that we actually pay for >> Brian: Receiving >> Nicole: receiving texts, they're like, "Are you guys crazy?" [laughing] Yeah, so -- even people in the UK are like -- >> Brian: But I can tell you it is a good prank when your buddy you know doesn't have text messaging and you go out to dinner with your friends and then each of you send a single word to a sentence like, Where are you at tonight? We did that just to be punks. Ya know. >> Nicole: That's just mean. >> Brian: I know, he's not our friend anymore, so. [laughing] >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: Okay, let's see, we're wrapping up. We have a few more minutes; keep on getting your questions in. Why don't you take a scam and -- scan and see if there's any in there that -- >> Nicole: Sure, gosh, there's a lot here. There's a question by Daily179, "Don't you think the mobile phone usage would increase if the carriers make incoming calls free for the receiver like they have in the Asian markets?" Sure. I think -- that's true -- like -- a lot of Asian markets -- incoming calls are free, but I think -- I think mobile phone users won't change too much. For people who make calls [inaudible] calls anyway, right? So >> Brian: Okay, we have another question from PaulyG and PaulyG I -- for some reason I haven't spoken to this guy in a while. I think it might be Paul Gardella [assumed spelling], one of my buddies that used to work -- >> Nicole: Really? >> Brian: at the Apple Store. If it is, I'm stoked, so PG asks, first of all he asks, "OMG it's Brian Tong. Hey Brian do you miss your Sidekick?" And I got to tell you, I love my iPhone but I do miss my Sidekick because I was such a freak on that thing using IM -- Oh my gosh IM -- like -- I miss IM. You can't use it on the iPhone 'cause every time you close it it closes the friggin' app but I would -- it kind of became a crux to my social life. Like the person that I was -- the lady that I was dating at the time, she would get very mad at me for -- ya know -- using my Sidekick while we were eating, and I >> Nicole: Oh, that's just mean. >> Brian: No, it is mean. This was years ago but I changed -- I learned and realized that it's actually rude to do that -- >> Nicole: It is rude. >> Brian: and it bugs the crap out of me when people do it to me now, so I really make strong effort when I'm -- ya know -- to not really just not use my phone whenever I'm hangin' out with people. >> Nicole: Yeah >> Brian: I just don't, so. >> Nicole: [laughing] >> Brian: But I do miss it a lot and I think a lot of Sidekick users because it was also fun to flick that cover -- >> Nicole: Yeah, the flicking action. >> Brian: So -- and I go -- yeah >> Nicole: The swift >> Brian: But my thumbs would get super sore. There's actually like a Sidekick repetitive stress -- >> Nicole: Sidekick finger? >> Brian: syndrome. Yeah, like I was getting carpal in my thumbs from the Sidekick, so. Alright -- >> Nicole: That's bad. >> Brian: Yeah. Do you see any others though? >> Nicole: Let's see. Well, this is kind of a simple question and simple answer. Digdoug asks what server I'm on and -- >> Brian: Yeah! >> Nicole: and it's -- I'm on Cenarius, CENARRUS -- anyway -- [inaudible] question -- sorry. >> Brian: [laughing] Okay, so -- ya know -- we're wrappin' up right now. Is the -- what's that expansion pack? >> Nicole: [inaudible] I'm going to BlissCon [assumed spelling] next week, by the way. >> Brian: Oh, everybody going out to BlissCon. >> Nicole: I'm going to BlissCon next week so if you're there -- >> Brian: Niko Lee's [assumed spelling] gonna be in the house. Are you gonna dress up? Are you a Cosplay [assumed spelling] person? >> Nicole: No, no, I'm not. >> Brian: I'm not dissing on Cosplay because I think it's really cool if people that don't know, it's people that basically go to these conventions and dress up like these characters, but they actually do a really cool job. I just couldn't see myself dressing up like that. >> Nicole: Well, it's gonna be hot in Anaheim and I'm just not gonna wear -- >> Brian: Oh, is it 'cause you're there? Oh baby. Okay >> Nicole: [laughing] No >> Brian: Okay on that awkward note -- >> Nicole: [laughing] Okay >> Brian: that's it for Editor's Office Hours. We'll be back here on Monday, same time, same bat channel, it's 11:30 AM on the West Coast, 2:30 PM on the East Coast, and thanks for comin' out and we'll see you guys next time, yeah? >> Nicole: Bye >> Brian: Bye, peace. ^M00:30:37 [ Music ]