Barclaycard PayTag, The NFC-Enabled Card You Glue To Your Phone Review

Barclaycard has launched a stick-on credit card, which will allow its 12 million customers the chance to make wave-and-pay purchases from their mobile phone or other item of their choice. The PayTag is a quarter of the size of a traditional credit card and will sit unobtrusively on any mobile handset or other item, which hopes the move will trigger the mass take-up of contactless payments that has so far proved elusive. he PayTag is an extension of a customer’s credit card account that can be used to make payments of £15 and under, though the limit will rise to £20 in June and the PayTag will be released to a select group of customers in the coming weeks with mass availability coming later this year.



Barclaycard announced the launch of Barclaycard PayTag, a new way to pay with your mobile telephone. Millions of Barclaycard customers will be offered the chance to make payments with any mobile phone by simply sticking a Barclaycard PayTag to the back of their handset. Available at no cost, and exclusively to Barclaycard Visa cardholders, Barclaycard PayTag is an extension of a customer’s credit card account. At a third of the size of a normal card, it can be discreetly and simply stuck to the back of any mobile phone. Once attached, it can be used to make payments of £15 and under, rising to £20 in June, by simply being held over a contactless payment terminal. David Chan, CEO of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said: “Today, we are offering the choice of mobile payments to millions of our customers at no additional cost to them. More than half of us say that the item we’re most lost without is our mobile phone, so we’re giving people the option of using them to make easy, convenient, everyday payments without the need to upgrade their current handset.” The announcement comes as Visa predicts that the number of contactless point-of-sale terminals in the UK will rise by 50% to 150,000 this year. Major retailers that offer, or are introducing, contactless include Waitrose, McDonalds, Boots, WH Smith and Tesco. By the end of 2012, London buses will also accept contactless payments, followed by the Tube and the rest of the transport network in the Capital in 2013.



Barclaycard PayTag is safe and secure, and comes with the same 100% fraud protection as any Barclaycard. An exclusive group of customers will be invited to receive their Barclaycard PayTag in the coming weeks, before they are offered to millions of Barclaycard customers later in the year. David Chan, adds: “Barclaycard is developing a wide range of initiatives which will ultimately enable everyone to enjoy the benefits of mobile payments. Barclaycard PayTag is another milestone on our journey to make paying easier, and sits alongside other easy ways to pay with your mobile such as those we offer in partnership with Orange.” Last week Barclaycard and Orange announced that credit or debit card holders from all UK banks would be able to load money onto Barclaycard’s mobile payments application, in the Quick Tap wallet. This will open up the opportunity for contactless payments to more Orange customers. Orange also confirmed that it would be making Quick Tap available on a range of Android smartphones, with the first to be announced in the coming weeks. Research carried out on Barclaycard’s behalf predicts that £3 billion worth of purchases will be made with mobile phones in the UK in 2016. Barclaycard PayTag provides customers with the choice of simple mobile phone payments now, without having to wait to upgrade, and at no additional cost.

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Samsung Galaxy S Aviator 4G LTE Smartphone For US Cellular Review

Meet U.S. Cellular's first 4G LTE phone, Samsung Galaxy S Aviator, featuring a moderate helping of midrange components, the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread pushed along by a single-core 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird CPU. A 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen and 1.3-megapixel camera sit on the phone's front face; an 8-megapixel shooter with LED flash are on back. The bulk of you will be asked to pony up $199.99 on a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate, but select LTE cities will be selling it for $100 less; as for LTE service. It is actually the second US Cellular 4G LTE capable device along with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and USCC is planning to reach over 54 percent of their customers by the end 2012.



U.S. Cellular and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. have announced that the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator is available today, both in stores and online at uscellular.com. The Android-powered smartphone runs on the 4G LTE network, with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, and is the first 4G LTE smartphone in the carrier's device line-up. The Galaxy S Aviator will be available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. For a limited time, the smartphone will be available for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate in select markets covered by the 4G LTE network. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing. Powered by Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread), the Galaxy S Aviator has a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen and front-facing camera for easy video chatting. This sleek and slim smartphone allows you to connect quickly to entertainment and the Internet on-the-go. Users also have access to Google Play, formerly known as the Android™ Market, a one-stop shop for Android users to access nearly half a million apps, millions of songs and books, and thousands of movies. "We are excited to bring our customers our first 4G LTE smartphone to help them get more done in less time," said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. "The faster downloading and browse and talk function make it the go-to device for customers who depend on their smartphone to keep up with their busy schedules."


The 4G LTE network builds on the 3G data services that U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier's high-quality nationwide network. The Galaxy S Aviator will be available to all U.S. Cellular customers and will run on the 4G LTE network in markets where it is available and on U.S. Cellular's nationwide 3G network in all other areas. U.S. Cellular customers enjoy unique benefits, such as new devices faster without resigning contracts, free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap. U.S. Cellular also offers customers the only points-based rewards program in the industry, which rewards customers for simple things, such as paying bills on-time, adding a line or referring friends and family. Points may be used for faster phone upgrades, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones. It's one of the reasons U.S. Cellular has the happiest customers in wireless. U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. In the second half of this year, 4G LTE coverage will expand to cover select cities in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. By the end of 2012, 54 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

The Galaxy S Aviator will be available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. For a limited time, the smartphone will be available for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate in select markets covered by the 4G LTE network. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing. Purchase of a data plan is required and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. Features:

• 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display
• Android 2.3.6
• 1GHz Hummingbird processor
• 8-megapixel rear camera
• 1.3-megapixel front camera
• 1.4GB of internal memory

LG Optimus Vu Tablet-Like Viewing With Smartphone Portability Device Review

LG's latest smartphone/tablet, the Optimus Vu, certainly looks familiar. While it has a 5-inch IPS display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, it's outward appearance shares much in common with recently announced Prada phone by LG 3.0 handset and you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference between both smartphones, but the Optimus Vu's 4:3 display means the handset is wider than the Prada. LG Optimus Vu offer a much clearer look at its 4x3 aspect ratio, 1024x768 res, stylus-friendly 5-inch IPS LCD display, while the official specs confirm rumors it would pack a 1.5GHz dual core CPU, 8MP camera, LTE, 2080mAh battery and Android 2.3 in a slim 8.5mm thick frame, an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich is promised within three months of its launch, currently scheduled for March on Korean carriers SK Telecom and LG+. It looks like LG's Optimus Vu will be a direct competitor to Samsung's Galaxy Note, especially since both devices are about the same size and the Galaxy Note seems to have the LG phone/tablet beat in terms of battery life--it has a 2,500mAh battery while the Optimus Vu can only has 2,080mAh.



LG unveiled one of the most anticipated LTE devices, the Optimus Vu:. Equipped with LG's advanced LTE and IPS display technology, the Optimus Vu: offers a unique combination of tablet-like viewing with smartphone portability. Running on a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GM internal memory and a large 2,080 mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: is a multimedia lover's dream device."The Optimus Vu: was designed to maximize what customers could do with a smart-phone," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. "By offering an optimal 4:3 ratio viewing experience, 5-inch display combined with superfast LTE technology, Optimus Vu: is just one example of what we can achieve when we combine our best technology with customer needs." The large 5-inch display with bright 4:3 aspect ratio makes viewing documents, books, internet and multimedia contents easier and more comfortable. The 4:3 aspect ratio is optimized for viewing to grasp more at a glance and note taking to increase productivity in everyday life. Moreover, IPS display realizes every color in its natural state for the best viewing experience even under bright sunlight. Backed by unparalleled speed and performance from LG's advanced LTE technology, the Optimus Vu: boasts unmatched productivity.




Its unique built-in QuickClip hotkey allows users to conveniently capture screenshots and memos with a single push. Jotting notes is also possible with a finger or with the dedicated Rubberdium pen. Among many productive apps installed in the Optimus Vu:, the included Polaris Office allows users to open any document, spreadsheet or presentation while on the go. At only 8.5mm, the Optimus Vu: is the slimmest among all LTE phones currently on the market and is perfectly suited for a hand and fits comfortably in a jacket pocket. Despite the large 2,080mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: adopts LG's exclusive floating mass technology to appear slimmer than its actual dimensions. In addition to HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), Optimus Vu: comes with 32GB memory and an 8-megapixel camera. While it will initially launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is already in the works. The Optimus Vu: will be introduced in Korea in March. Additional information on the unique Optimus Vu: can be found at the LG Stand (Hall 8) at MWC 2012 from February 27 to March 1.

Key Specifications:

• Chipset: 1.5GHz Dual-Core Processor
• Display: 5-inch (1024x768) IPS Display
• Memory: 32GB eMMC and 1GB DDR2
• Camera: 8MP with AF LED Flash (rear) and 1.3MP (front)
• OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
• Battery: 2,080mAh
• Dimension (L x W x D): 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm

Glidetrack Mobislyder Portable Dolly Track For Smartphones Review

A wheeled camera dolly can add smooth tracking motions to your smartphone opus, but if you were hoping to include a dramatic vertical reveal, you'll need the Mobislyder which instead uses a smooth ball bearing track system and it designed specifically for use with smaller cameras, the Mobislyder includes articulated mounts that either screw into the thread mount on the underside of your camera, or clamp onto thinner devices like smartphones. The mounts swivel around so that the glider track can be used at any angle and it weighs just over a pound for amateur auteurs on the go. The example videos show off smooth tracking shots that would be difficult or impossible to achieve by hand and the Mobislyder is currently available for preorder for $135.



MOVE OVER Spielberg and Tarantino, the cinematic style of big movie making has gone viral with the launch of mobislyder, the world's first portable dolly designed specifically for smartphones and compact cameras. The mobislyder, a new innovation from Glidetrack, the world's leading camera slider company, is set to revolutionise mobile device video production. Stylish and ultraportable, the mobislyder has been designed from the ground up to suit a broad range of small video-enabled devices - including iPhone, Android smart phones, smaller DSLR cameras and mini camcorders. As video on demand becomes the medium of choice for businesses and individuals the mobislyder provides professionals and amateurs alike with the ability to create cinematic-style shots. "For years sophisticated-looking camera moves were only available to professionals with big budgets and truck loads of gear. But now, with most camera devices capable of shooting HD video, mobislyder allows operators to take smooth tracking shots fit for the big screen -all with the sweep of a finger," said Alastair Brown, the 43-year-old UK entrepreneur who founded Glidetrack in 2008. The name Glidetrack has now become synonymous with these types of cinematic gliding moves. There are literally thousands of user videos on YouTube and Vimeo created by people using the equipment to enhance the quality of their productions."We have been working on creating a smaller Glidetrack-style piece of equipment suitable for mobile devices such as iPhone and compact cameras for some time but until now the video quality wasn't quite there," said Alastair. "However, with the development of the iPhone 4S and other new generation devices capable of shooting full high definition video we fele the time was right to launch the mobislyder."



The new device, which retails at around £129 ($175 USD) but is being made available at a special launch price of £99 ($135 USD) in the run up to Christmas, is perfect for special occasions such as weddings, concerts, holidays, sports events, social media news reporting and even corporate promotions and PR videos. With more than 200,000 videos uploaded to YouTube and in excess of 1 billion views, every day the demand for good quality user generated content on the web is booming, especially among companies getting to grips with the value of video. Various surveys into the impact of video suggests news releases with video links have a 300 per cent higher retention rate and 500 per cent more views than text only versions. Products promoted with video have reported increased sales of between 17 per cent and 36 per cent. According to the latest industry figures total online video views are on track to grow by some 20% from 640billion last year to around 770billion this year while paid-for online video revenues will reach in excess of $3bn (USD). And with experts predicting sales of smartphones to exceed more than 450million worldwide this year volume is set to increase even more. However, the more videos there are the more demanding and selective viewers are becoming. "The days of shaky video being posted online are gone. People are becoming more demanding about what they watch which means companies or individuals need to improve the quality of their videos and mobislyder can help them do that," added Alastair. "We see mobislyder as becoming the industry standard piece of gear for Ebay sellers, Amazon product videos, Bloggers - in fact anyone wanting to get high quality video on their site without breaking the bank."


Mobislyder from Glidetrack on Vimeo.