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Boost Mobile goes after Cuban-Americans with new prepaid plan
Now that the political relations between the US and Cuba have taken a turn for the better, American companies are pushing out marketing schemes to fit the bill. Today, Boost Mobile, Sprint's prepaid branch, announced a monthly plan that's geared toward customers who have loved ones in Cuba. The caveat, unfortunately, is that it's only available in Miami right now -- but the strategy makes sense, since it's a city with a dense population of Cuban-Americans. If you're there, $50 a month gets you unlimited text and 15 talk minutes to Cuba at 33 cents per minute -- which the company claims to be the lowest rate among prepaid carriers. Boost's Cuba Monthly Connection deal also includes 5GB of data and all-you-can-have texting and calling within the US, while $10 more monthly doubles your data.
Miami cops flood Waze with fake police sightings
Hundreds of Miami police officers aren't happy with Waze's police-finding feature, and they're not content with asking Google to remove it. According to NBC Miami, a number of cops in the city are taking matters into their own hands, downloading the app and inundating it with fake police sightings. We're sure a lot of people love the app for that particular feature, as they can use it to make sure they're driving well below the speed limit in the presence of law enforcement. Some American officers told AP last month, though, that the app could pose a threat, as wanne-be cop killers can easily use it to find a target.
Microsoft's Innovation Center to school citizens on technology, help startups in Miami
Miami is going to get a whole lot geekier if Microsoft has its way. The software giant has recently announced plans to open its first US-based Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) in the sexy city later this spring, with more stateside locations to follow. The Miami MIC will focus on four different audiences: academia, the local Latin American community, government and start-ups, and it's said that each group will benefit in its own way. Students, for example, will have a place to net specialized training and pick up valuable tech-related job skills. Will Smith's favorite burg will also serve as a part of Microsoft's CityNext program, which uses locals to create "healthier, safer and more sustainable" places to live. Only time will tell if the siren song of South Beach will have an adverse effect on any of the above, though. [Image credit: Shutterstock]
Aereo continues expansion, plans service rollout in Miami, Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth
For a company's that's mired in legal red tape, Aereo's nationwide expansion isn't showing any signs of slowing. The streaming service, which uses an antenna / DVR system to deliver local broadcast stations, will soon launch in three additional major cities -- Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX; Miami, FL -- in a rollout scheduled to complete by the end of September. Interested parties can head to Aereo's site now to get a leg up on pre-registration for the service, with rates starting at $8/mo for 20 hours of DVR storage. Take note, the first month's gratis, but after that it's the same old subscription ball-and-chain just like any other. And, hey, at least this is one way to guarantee Moonves' content kingdom and his trusty Chenbot still have a home on your flatscreen or iPad or, you know, device.
Miami judge accuses Google, Apple of using the courts 'as a business strategy' (updated)
Miami U.S. District Judge Robert Scola had choice words for Apple and Samsung Google during a patent dispute between the pair, accusing the two of of having "no interest in efficiently and expeditiously resolving this dispute" and instead using such proceedings "as a business strategy." The Florida case began in 2010 and has since swelled to over 180 claims, causing the pair to ask the court to reduce the scope of the case. That caused Judge Scola to rail against the combatants, saying "without a hint of irony, the parties now ask the court to mop up a mess that they made," adding that he would "decline this invitation." Instead, he gave them four months to streamline the case themselves, lest it be placed on hold until all the nearly 100 terms in dispute are defined to everyone's satisfaction -- but we know how that's gone before. Update: The original post mentioned Samsung and Apple as the disputants, but it's actually a suit involving Google and Apple. Thanks for all who pointed it out.
Miami zoo orangutans use iPads to communicate
iPads are everywhere, even in the orangutan cages at Miami's Jungle Island. As reported by Fox News, the Florida zoo is experimenting with iPads and using them to communicate with their apes. The apes are using a graphics-rich app designed to communicate with autistic children. Not surprisingly, it's the younger apes that are most adept at picking up the iPad, while the older ones just ignore it. Linda Jacobs, who oversees the iPad project, is excited by the possibility of letting other people communicate with the zoo's orangutans, Currently, only those trained in the ape's sign language can effectively communicate with the animals. Now that the orangutans are armed with iPads, they can talk to untrained personnel and maybe even interact with park visitors.
PSA: Vita meetups begin next week
We don't want you to miss your date with the PlayStation Vita, after it's gone to all the trouble of prettying up, polishing its screen and ... all right, this is getting creepy quick. We'll cut to the chase: the Vita "Social Club" events begin next Tuesday, January 17 in Chicago, Miami and NYC.
DirecTV's latest HD add is Telefutura in Miami, but who needs more channels anyway?
In a surprisingly rare occurrence these days, DirecTV has a new HD channel to announce, now that it's carrying WAMI / Telefutura in the Miami area. Unfortunately, if you're a primarily English speaking customer there's not much to report, and according to a recent interview with Multichannel News, DirecTV thinks that's just fine. Executive VP Derek Chang told the site that after cracking 100 channels it became "more about the overall experience" (unless that experience is a new DirecTiVo) and that everyone has most of the important stuff in HD. Of course, we know from some of our readers comments that missing AMC, BBC America and more is leaving some of "the important stuff" out. That sounds like poll time to us, so whether you're DirecTV subscriber or not, pick one of the options below and let us know how you feel about their channel lineup. %Poll-66631% [Thanks, cypherstream]
That hotel towel you're stealing might have an RFID chip in it
For many travelers, stealing hotel towels or bathrobes is more pastime than petty crime. Hotels, on the other hand, apparently take it more seriously. So seriously, in fact, that some have begun embedding specially crafted RFID tags within their linens, just to help us avoid "accidentally" stuffing them in our suitcases before heading to the check-out desk. The chips, designed by Miami-based Linen Technology Tracking, can be sewn directly into towels, bathrobes or bed sheets, and can reportedly withstand up to 300 wash cycles. If a tagged item ever leaves a hotel's premises, the RFID chip will trip an alarm that will instantly alert the staff, and comprehensively humiliate the guilty party. The system has already paid dividends for one Honolulu hotel, which claims to have saved about $15,000 worth of linens since adopting the system last summer. But small-time crooks needn't get too paranoid. In addition to the hotel in Hawaii, only two other establishments have begun tagging their towels -- one in Manhattan, and one in Miami. All three, however, have chosen to remain anonymous, so swipe at your own (minimal) risk.
Sprint and Clearwire deliver WiMAX to Los Angeles, Ohio, Miami and Washington DC, promise SF on December 28th
Seems like Sprint wants to get every last lick of 4G coverage in before Verizon flips the switch on LTE -- today, its joint venture with Clearwire is launching WiMAX in the City of Angels a day ahead of schedule. Lest you think Los Angeles is getting special treatment, five other cellular markets can now also get a taste of 5Mbps to 7Mbps download speeds, including Miami, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and our nation's capitol, Washington D.C. That brings the total number of regions where you'll get some mileage out of that $10 surcharge up to 68, in case you're keeping track. What's next? If the press release after the break is correct, San Francisco will finally satisfy its need for speed on December 28th. Not that any of these locales haven't been secretly enjoying 4G already, of course.
BMW to use iPads for specification panels at American auto shows
At this week's South Florida International Auto Show in Miami, BMW is debuting some new interactive technology that will be appearing at other shows over the coming weeks. The traditional static specification panels that appear next to all the fancy new cars at auto shows are being replaced by mounted iPads. The limited space on a show floor means that automakers can't show every available color and option combination. The iPads will allow visitors to use the same configurator found on the BMW website to see what combinations are available and build and price their own favorite. Visitors can enter their contact information for a call from a local dealer or to schedule a test drive after the show. Text of the BMW press release follows. %Gallery-106878%
T-Mobile adds Boston, San Diego, Miami, others to HSPA+ live list
T-Mobile USA isn't backing down with its somewhat controversial "4G speeds" rhetoric for its rapidly-growing HSPA+ network -- and when you consider that real-world performance on it can meet or exceed what Clear and Sprint will get you in some markets on WiMAX, we can't say we blame them. Next to enjoy the 4G-esque experience from the nation's number four carrier are a few major markets -- Boston, San Diego, and Miami -- along with Erie, Pennsylvania, Fresno, Palm Springs, Richmond, Spokane, and Topeka. Though the G2 is lining up to be the carrier's first true HSPA+ smartphone, T-Mobile's quick to remind everyone that the upgrades also mean that over 15 current devices in its lineup will see some benefits as well; not "4G speeds," of course, but better than the HSPA they'd had before. See T-Mobile's full statement after the break.
Sprint announces seven new WiMAX markets, says 'Let AT&T and Verizon yak about maps and 3G coverage'
Sprint's just announced some more markets for its planned 4G expansion, among them Los Angeles and Miami, plus Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and St. Louis. That's right: WiMAX is coming to penetrate the Steel Curtain. In addition to the markets previously announced at the end of February (New York, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Kansas City, Houston, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC), the list is starting to look a lot like that "many markets" we've been promised. While we're still not getting launch dates, it's clear that Sprint's on an aggressive path here -- and an apparently leaked internal email we just got from a tipster confirms that pretty blatantly. Supposedly penned by Joe Whited, the Manager of Corporate Communications at Sprint, the email appears to have been aimed at pumping up Sprint employees based on this morning's announcement: "Let AT&T and Verizon yak about maps and 3G coverage, we're moving forward with what customers really want -- lightening [sic.] fast internet and uncapped 4G service." Fighting words, friends -- and the addition of major markets like Los Angeles and Miami are surely an upping of the game. Full press release is after the break.
AT&T slinging HSPA 7.2 to six cities this year, adding backhaul capacity too
If there's one thing AT&T's network could use, it's more network. Particularly in major cities (we're looking at you and your dastardly street parking situation, San Francisco), AT&T's 3G network is perpetually overwhelmed, oftentimes forcing users to switch to EDGE just to tweet about how awful the coverage is. Thankfully, the operator is making good on its earlier promise to roll out HSPA 7.2Mbps to select cities, with Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami now destined to get lit this year. Potentially more interesting, however, is the deployment of "additional backhaul capacity to cell sites," which will also support LTE when the time comes. All told, around 2,000 new cell sites should be added before the year's end, and at least a half dozen 7.2Mbps-capable smartphones should be in AT&T's portfolio by the same deadline. Feel free to express your joy in comments below -- that is, if you can get comments to load on your existing 3G connection.
TiVo invades the hotel room, comes to Mondrian in South Beach
It's about time, no? TiVo has finally cut a deal to get its heralded time-shifting box into hotel rooms, and while the first agreement is relatively small in scope, we can see huge potential for this initiative. The outfit has signed on with Morgans Hotel Group -- which owns the Delano in South Beach, Royalton and Hudson in New York City, and Sanderson in London -- in order to bring TiVo functionality to every guest room in the soon-to-open (December 1st) Mondrian in South Beach (Miami, FL). There are no specifics given as to which model will be installed, but it definitely doesn't mention TiVo HD nor the word "high-definition." Still, we'd take an SD TiVo as part of the stay, but we won't stop wishing there was a way to transfer all of our currently unwatched programs at home to the box in the hotel room. Full release is after the break.Update: We've received word that the units will be TiVo HD boxes connected to HDTVs. Stellar!
AT&T Total Home DVR rollout reaches final ten markets, it's really over
Got U-Verse? Then you should have the Total Home DVR record on one box / stream to all functionality now that AT&T's rollout has finished ahead of schedule. Up in all 69 markets where the IPTV service has a foothold, the final ten markets launched today were: Bakersfield, Dayton, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Little Rock, Miami, South Bend, Tulsa, West Palm Beach and Wichita. Honestly, we're not sure what AT&T (or us for that matter) will do now that it's over, the leading candidates are a "Remember the Rollout" reunion tour in early '09, or the somewhat less likely possibility that confused AT&T techs start adding the functionality to random areas without U-Verse service.
AT&T's U-verse finally rolls into South Florida
It took awhile, but the rumor finally proved true. AT&T's U-verse has at long last made it to South Florida. Just days after Verizon announced that its competing FiOS TV service was available to some 800,000 members of the Sunshine State, in soars AT&T to bring its fiber-based programming service to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Currently, consumers in parts of dozens of communities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties can place their order, while folks in Palm Beach county will be forced to wait until July 28th. No word on how soon it'll reach your neck of the woods down there, but the carrier has vowed to "make U-verse services available to more homes throughout South Florida on an ongoing basis."
AT&T's U-verse ambling down to Miami, Florida?
While AT&T has been making a play for business in the south, the Sunshine State has remained largely untouched by hints of U-verse arrivals. Until now, that is. We're hearing the faintest of whispers that U-verse may actually be on its way to Miami, and better yet, the first service could be flipped on in as early as three weeks. Unfortunately, this will have to be regarded as a rumor for the time being, but we won't be waiting long to find out the truth.
Super Mario street art
Some Mario street art showed up in Miami, made by artist BilliKid. We have to say, this art is perfect for its South Beach location. The bright, bold colors just scream Miami, as far as we're concerned, and the stenciling looks excellent. BilliKid's art will be heading to Switzerland next, to be put in a gallery at Vantard from April 26th to May 26th with other famous street artists's works.Did any of you Miamians happen to see this stencil sitting in front of the Victor Hotel? (Check out the picture after the break to see it in context.)
Hovering drone could report for work at Miami-Dade police station
We didn't even flinch when we heard that hovering drones employed by Big Brother were going to work in the UK, but somehow those buggers have managed to wander over to America's east coast. Granted, the pilotless drones -- crafted with good intentions by Honeywell -- that are slated to report in to the Miami-Dade police department aren't exactly the same, but they are expected to be used for similar duties. More specifically, they'll be loosed in order to oversee "urban areas with an eye toward full-fledged employment in crime fighting." According to a department spokesman, the fuzz are only looking to use it in "tactical situations as an extra set of eyes," but don't be shocked to see flashing lights from a vehicle without wheels next time you're rolling (a little too) quick down South Beach.
