Saturday Shopping Show

Black Friday is in full swing and Cyber Monday is a few days away. Time for hot deals but lots of questions, right? Tune in this Saturday at 11am as it will be one of our busiest days to answer questions about electronics and other products to make sure you are getting the best deals.

What is the best deal you found? Share it!

We'll talk with Leah Bird with AT&T Wireless about hot cell phones and PDAs. Also, Steve Janisse from GM will talk about the attributes of the new Saturn Vue - a great hybrid car with a nice price.One of my favorites companies, Energy Muse Jewelry, will also be spotlighted. Timmi Jandro and Heather Askinosie will talk about their special jewelry with healing properties. I've been wearing their stuff for years and their online business is growing rapidly.

890 Miles and Back; See You at AT&T Store on Friday - iPhones?

Just got back from a 5 day, 5 city drive across this great state of ours. If you were not following along take a look back at how I and a hypermiler cruised almost 900 miles all to prove the point that driving a hybrid car and using hypermiling tips can save a ton of gas.

And, yes, Dan Bryant made it the entire way on ONE TANK of gas. Stay tuned for war stories we encountered on the road this Saturday on my radio show (11a-2p, The 9-5-0).

We'll be at Discovery Green on Friday at 11am to take some photos and officially finish the Hybrid Tour of Texas. Come on out if you want to see the Toyota Prius'.

After that I will get over to the new AT&T Store at Town & Country Mall - 790 West Sam Houston Pkwy North, #106. It's the grand opening and I'll be hosting a text contest from 12p-2p to see who has the fastest fingers in Houston. Bring the kids, they are eligible to win prizes like free Rollover minutes.

I tried to convince the nice people to hold back a few iPhones and sell them when I get there at 12p. They couldn't promise anything but I know they like surprising people. We shall see....

It's The Month of The New iPhone

July is here so the world is less than 11 days away from another media blitz, more long queus and pontifications about the new iPhone (dubbed iPhone 3G). Details were released today and I spoke with Leah Bird, head of Houston area AT&T Wireless. Leah will apepar on my radio show this Saturday at 11am with other inside info about the new phone.

She first quelled the rumor that the phone will initially be sold unlocked with no contract. The company did announce that the new iPhone will indeed be sold without the standard two-year service agreement at a later date. Get prepped to shell out $599 (8GB) or $699 (16GB) when that time comes.

Unlike the customer and media frenzy on the original iPhone launch date last year, the phone will go on sale when the AT&T Wireless store doors open at 8am on July 11. Last year the stores temporarily closed the doors late in the afternoon and reopened at 6pm.

Activating the iPhone 3G will be done in stores this time around. I particularly liked the self-activation process we had to go through last year but this way AT&T can control the upgrades, contracts and upsell opportunities.

Leah pointed out that the company wants to make sure new and current customers go over a checklist so they can be more prepared at the point of purchase. There are detailed lists for new AT&T customers porting their numbers, current AT&T users and current iPhone users. Oh, and there is an $18 upgrade fee on top of the hardware price of $199 (8GB black) or $299 (16GB black or white).

It's interesting to see Apple and AT&T opening up a bit more this time around by providing details, photos and even videos of the new phone. Everything was so hush-hush last year but that only added to the publicity and sales frenzy. It was one of the biggest product launches in history partly due to the lack of information beforehand.

Leah expects customers to line-up the night before the launch and ground zero, at least locally, will be at the flagship Experience store on the Southwest Freeway.

AT&T Calling Dallas New Home

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." So wrote Charles Dickens but AT&T honcho Randall Stephenson has authored the updated version of "A Tale of Two Cities."

The San Antonio-based telecom giant will no longer carry that city's name on press release datelines nor house its top executives. Its corporate headquarters are moving north on I-35 to Dallas in a transition that will begin in a few weeks and be complete by year's end.

It's interesting to read and watch the news coming out of each city regarding this big change. As imagined, San Antonio seems to have been knocked a huge punch to the gut both economically and in esteem. It's nice to have worldwide corporations based in your town. AT&T has been a generous community partner since Southwestern Bell moved there in 1992. The Spurs play in AT&T Center.

That leaves San Antonio with only a few major company headquarters...USAA, H-E-B and Valero, to name the only ones I can quickly think of.

The last thing Dallas needs is another massive company to call the city its home. But downtown Big D is booming with tenants and AT&T will be added to the list.

According to the AT&T press release (still dated from San Antonio) one of the main reasons the company is relocating to Dallas is:

With customers and operations in all 50 U.S. states and 160 countries, air travel to and from Dallas will be more convenient, time efficient and cost effective. The DFW airport is the 3 rd largest in the U.S. and one of the top 6 in the world, offering daily nonstop service to 35 international and 133 U.S. destinations. Additionally, Dallas enjoys a second major airport; Love Field – the 50 th largest U.S. airport offers more than 160 nonstop flights daily.

Being headquartered near leading air transportation facilities is critical to global companies like AT&T as the airline industry continues to consolidate and reduce hubs and flights amid higher fuel prices and industry economic pressures.

Hmmm...IAH, Hobby. Where the hell was Houston during this relo visit? Did we not offer enough tax incentives for AT&T to scoot a bit east down I-10? Bellaire houses a giant AT&T facility on the West Loop South and many more offices around town. Office space is cheap here also plus this is where the Pappas restaurants are headquartered. That's not enough?

Mark my words as you'll read it here first...AT&T will grab (and pay for) the naming rights to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.

High-TEXT Texan

Who's got fast fingers? Get up to the new AT&T Experience Store near The Woodlands on Friday and we'll see who can out-text whom.

I'll be at the store (303 Sawdust Rd, just west of I-45N) from 12p-2p hosting a texting contest and playing with some of the new gadgets (in preparation for the July 11 iPhone v2 launch). Lots of prizes including AT&T Wireless Rollover minutes for the winner.

Back in the studio LIVE this Saturday. We've got an interview with the CEO of Carbonite to learn more about this new onlnie backup service. Plus lots of other things to catch each other up on.

BBQ, Blu-ray, Cell Phones, WiFi and LOST

A potpourri of topics for your mid-February listening pleasure. Saturday's radio program begins right on time at 11am and we kick it off with a little BBQ. And why not? The world's biggest and greatest BBQ cookoff is next week here in the Reliant parking lot. If you see a big cloud hovering over the Dome late next week you now know why.

No doubt the biggest tech topic of the week is HD-DVD's white flag. But now be the best time to go buy one of these son-to-be-obsolete machines; we'll discuss why.

Lots of confusion is in the air about the digital TV conversion next February. According to a report, Houston will be one of the biggest cities that will be freaking out about receiving analog signals due to the number of people, TVs and lack of knowledge. I will do my best to help with the latter.

Expect an interesting conversation with the local heads of AT&T's home and wireless divisions. I'll get their thoughts on the DTV conversion (no worries with their U-verse service), their new WiFi service at Starbucks and the new $99 all-you-can-talk per month rate on their cell service.

And who's jaw didn't drop during the last scene on Thursday's LOST?

Tune in on The 9-5-0. Log on to watch and be seen. Call in at 713-212-5950.

3 Hours of Radio Love Saturday

No college bball games will interrupt my show this Saturday so tune in for a packed show...a lot of tech news happened this week and we'll yap about it all.

Wal-Mart just announced it will stop selling HD-DVDs this summer. Toshiba and its HD-DVD backers will soon sit shivah for this format which looks pretty much dead.

We are almost exactly one year away when the FCC shuts down the analog TV airwaves. Feb. 17, 2009, is not too far and some politicians say the switch to digital TV may be a cluster **** if more consumers and retailers aren't made aware of the change.

Speaking of analog, this Monday marks the date when AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless shut down their analog networks. If you have an old brick-type cell phone and can't make a call next week, you now know why.

Blackberry service went down for a few hours on Monday. Yahoo turned down $44 billion. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO??!??!

I'll straighten everything out from 11a-2p on The 9-5-0. After that I will head over to Reliant Center for the Texas Home & Garden Show. Come by from 3p-4p when I'm on stage answering your questions and giving away goodies. AT&T will have a booth showing off their U-verse service. I'll probably hang around there after that.

Yahoo Poo Poos MS Offer, Starbucks Drinks In AT&T

Classic negotiation tactic. Deal Making 101.

As expected Yahoo rejected Microsoft's offer of $31 per share. Not to worry that the offer was 62% above Yahoo's market value at the time, right?

What? You think Yahoo was going to take the first offer? Hells no. They are either buying more time to look for another suitor, er partner, like AOL or Jerry Yang & Co. want to right the online ship themselves.

Personally I would not want to play chicken with Steve Ballmer. Microsoft's next move may be to take the $44.6 billion offer directly to Yahoo shareholders.

Other news stealing headlines today from Amy Winehouse include an announcement from Starbucks that it is dropping T-Mobile as its in-store WiFi provider. Regional AT&T Chief Ed Cholerton gave me a heads up last week that they were going to be the coffee chain's new WiFi partner. I must have been too stoked up on caffeine to report it here.

The good news for consumers about this move is that AT&T will offer many users free service. Got U-verse or DSL? You'll be spending time at Starbucks with your laptop and free access. AT&T remote business access services members are also set as are Starbucks prepaid card holders.

Worse case scenario is that you can pay AT&T $19.99 a month for access and use the WiFi service not only at 7,000+ U.S. Starbucks but also at 17,000 more AT&T hot spots in the country. Between McDonald's, Barnes & Noble and now Starbucks, who needs citywide WiFi?

You better watch out

From USA Today:

Microsoft quickly shut down Santa Claus' Web privileges after it found out the automated elf it created for kids to instant message with was talking naughty, not nice.

Hanukkah Harry wouldn't be caught doing that stuff. He's too busy stuffing his face with latkes. BTW, happy 2nd night of Hanukkah.

No surprise to learn that the Nintendo Wii is the most searched-for product in November, according to a survey of British online shoppers. I'd bet if you asked American shoppers, Australians, Canadians and Japanese they would tell you the same. The Wii is harder to find than a Cabbage Patch Kid in 1982. If you find them on a store shelf, buy them all.

Many PC users still are afraid to upgrade to Vista until SP1 is released. It's getting closer. Microsoft said it has reached the "release candidate" with the first service pack for Windows Vista, with plans to make the test software available publicly next week.

Cell phone customers of AT&T can now use any device and software app they want including email and music downloading. And you don't have to sign a contract. How it works: If you want to use AT&T's network but don’t want to sign a contract, you’ll have to buy your own device and pay full price. Customers can purchase devices in AT&T phone stores or any retailer that sells GSM phones that are compatible with AT&T’s network.

To activate service, you'll also have to buy a $25 "SIM" card from AT&T, enabling the phone to connect to the carrier’s network. Some users may also have to pay an activation fee, which costs $18-$36, depending on the rate plan.

This follows Verizon Wireless' announcement last week to open up their networks to other devices. That move is not expected to happen until late next year. I smell a big change in the entire wireless industry.

Saturday in the park

Seems like old times, huh? Today's first show back on Saturday went well despite some technical glitches in the first hour. The KPRC (er, The 9-5-0) studio had an electrical outtage in the early afternoon so I had to do the first hour in the studio next door. Thanks, Sports Animal, but what's that smell in there?

Lots of viewers on live videoconference. Go get a webcam and log on during each show (except next week, August 11, when I'll be out of town and we'll run a repeat).

Major props to local online "celebrity" blogger and Chanel 13 producer Mike McGuff for stopping by. He shared his insights about blogging, the new AT&T Video Share phone (so-so) and reminisced about the late Marvin Zindler. I need to get him in regularly along with other local tech "losers."

And you never know who will call in...nice hearing from retired/not-yet retired Channel 13 weatherman Ed Brandon.

Links we yapped about today included:

Seeqpod music playable search
Pinnacle Systems Studio 11
Drop Shots photo and video sharing

10 Bucks will get you DSL

I had Ed Cholerton on my show a few months back. He is the regional VP/GM for AT&T. While we were discussing U-verse and other products he mentioned that his company would soon be offering a very inexpensive DSL package due to concessions in their acquisition of BellSouth.

It's here, but you'll have to dig to find it. Could be worth it, though, as $10 a month will get you DSL. The fine print says it's available to new customers only, those who have not subscribed to AT&T or BellSouth DSL during the past 12 months, and the service requires a one-year contract.

Careful now, it's not the fastest broadband speed around with downloads of up to 768 Kbps and uploads topping out at 128 Kbps.Not everyone is eligbile for this deal. You need to enter your phone number and see what price it is available for in your specific area. I'm a $14.99er.

Come See Sneak Preview - AT&T U-Verse

It's here, kind of. AT&T has rolled out its U-Verse service in San Antonio and getting ready to turn it on in selected areas across Houston in mid-November.

U-Verse delivers high-speed Internet and television (yes, TV) through fiber optics. AT&T has been laying fiber in selected neighborhoods for the past several months and will first light up the Bridgeland community (Hwy 290 near Fry Rd) soon.

If you've never surfed or seen TV via fiber you will probably be impressed. The picture is crystal clear and there is no lag time when changing channels. It has a pretty intuitive interface and comes with a built-in DVR.

Come take the first local look at this service this weekend at the Bridgeland. I'll be out there from Saturday 2p-5p witht the AT&T mobile truck all pimped out with flat screens, stereo speakers and U-Verse service.