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Verizon Hub getting price cut Friday -- Hub 2 drawing near?
Verizon's landline-slaying (read: self-slaying) Hub will be getting a $50 price cut on a two-year contract come this Friday, which brings the grand total down to $149.99; alternatively, you'll now be able to get it for $219.99 on a one-year commitment or $299.99 completely devoid of the legal paperwork. According to the shot we have, Verizon is "reinventing" the price, but let's be honest -- either this thing isn't selling worth a damn or they'd like to move some inventory in preparation for the Hub 2 launch. Either way, it's an exciting time to be in the market.
Verizon's iPhone-like Hub 2 hands-on
We had a chance to sit down and play with Verizon's next iteration of its Hub (already guys?), and while it wasn't a mind-blowing affair, they do seem to making some moves in the right direction. Firstly, the new version is detached from the handset completely -- right now at least -- making it much more of a "fourth screen" internet device, and less of what you'd think of as a standard landline... er, VoIPline. The redesigned unit is considerably more contemporary in industrial design as well, making it look something like a big iPhone -- which is probably what they're hoping for. We were told the screen is still resistive touch, though it seemed a little more responsive than the original unit we toyed around with. Additionally, Verizon is working on further updating the software, adding new functionality like internet radio, a Webkit browser (which is kind of a no-brainer here), and yes -- an app store (or as they call it, the App Mart). The idea seems to be about moving the Hub more towards a role as another connected device for a kitchen or living room, and less about trying to sell it as a fancy phone, and that's definitely a step in the right direction. Verizon is still tweaking the box and adding features, but what we saw is very promising indeed. Now, if they just throw in some Bluetooth support, a speakerphone option, and lose that dated looking handset altogether (all suggestions we made when we met with them), we might be seeing the start of something magical.
Verizon readying subsidized HP laptops, Hub 2
We just got a pair of small-but-juicy Verizon rumors from a very reliable tipster: first, we hear that HP and Big Red are working together on subsidized WWAN-enabled laptops for launch in Q2. Exactly what machines will be involved can't be confirmed, but if we had our guess we'd say Big Red's got a cheap Mini 1000 on a two-year contract in the works, since these so-called "netbooks" are all the rage these days. Second, a updated version of the charming-but-questionably-useful Hub "landline killer" home phone is due out in the second half of the year, and VZW's apparently retargeting it a little: we're told it'll be more upscale and boast even more features. And here we thought that internet radio widget was gettin' all crazy. No word on pricing for any of this stuff, but we'd bet we'll find out more soon.
Cinemassively: Re-Imagining Boston City Hall Plaza Using Second Life
In 2007, a group of students from Emerson College entered Second Life for a project. Under a pilot program, Hub2, in Boston, to recreate Boston's City Hall Plaza. In an event on December 13th, they will be presenting the Mayor's office with the keys to their virtual city.Their City Hall has long been considered a failure in design, with one study naming it the worst plaza structure worldwide! In SL. the Emerson students call for art installations, a juried space, a place to submit their art for consideration, and a spotlight for the best art piece. While not much more is said in this video, I look forward to learning more about this project and how to city reacts to it!
