sim

Apple: We'll hand out nano-SIM for free--on one condition

Apple's nano-SIM technology, which could eventually become the new SIM card standard in mobile devices, might be one step closer to approval.

According to FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller, citing a "perfectly reliable source," Apple last week sent a letter to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), saying that if its nano-SIM technology is approved by the organization, it would offer its patents to fellow mobile device makers at no cost. That stands in stark contrast to many other essential technologies in the mobile space that are only provided to companies for a fee.

That said, Apple did … Read more

Use the SIM from a Verizon iPad for a data-only plan on your smartphone

The new iPad launched supporting both AT&T and Verizon, as it did with the previous model. The big difference with carrier support with the third-generation offering was the addition of LTE to both devices. For the AT&T version, it was business as usual, only faster. But to support LTE with the Verizon model, a SIM card had to be added to the device.

GSM carriers and its users have enjoyed the flexibility of a SIM card for years, with the ability to switch between devices by simply removing their SIM from one device and placing it … Read more

Apple prepping for war with competitors over nano-SIM

Apple has proposed a new SIM card technology that it wants all others to accept. But that might prove to be a tall order.

The iPhone maker reportedly brought its technology for a new standard, called nano-SIM, before the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) last year. The technology is a smaller version of the micro-SIM, but comes with additional space to include more functionality. SIM cards hold a user's phone number, as well as their mobile identity on a cellular network. By putting the cards into a new device, all the person's information can be preserved.

Apple has … Read more

Make your mark in the music biz with Popscene: Track 2

Popscene: Track 2 is an updated release of "lone wolf" developer MDickie's music industry sim. Like the original, your 3D characters build a musical act and then manage its rise to fame and fortune--if you're good enough, that is. Along the way, you'll also have to deal with the many personal and career issues that beset music industry big shots, including unreasonable bosses, crazy fans, and even a scandal or two. The competition is tougher, too, with six record labels repping more than 100 acts, and all of them vying for a top spot on … Read more

The 404 1,006: Where we have no names (podcast)

Apple announced the new iPad yesterday in San Francisco, and with the reactions ranging from disappointment up to stores already running out of stock, Ty Pendlebury joins us today to give his take on the amped-up display, the updated nomenclature, and a rundown of the new iOS 5.1 features.

We'll also talk about Netflix coming out of your cable box, a new Sim City announcement, and a quick review of The Simpsons: Tapped Out.… Read more

SimCity plans big return in 2013

Nearly 10 years after the last major SimCity release, Maxis Emeryville and EA unveiled information yesterday about SimCity 4's upcoming successor.

The fifth version of the iconic SimCity is due in 2013, and features a large range of graphic and gameplay improvements over previous generations. One major new feature is multiplayer region support (for up to 16 players). Playing with friends enables challenges such as leaderboards and the ability to "launch a space shuttle or build magnificent wonders," according to EA.

Multiplayer relationships go much deeper, though. For example, you can send fire trucks to another region in a massive crisis. If your city turns into a smog-filled re-creation of Los Angeles, then Sims in a friend's area suffer and experience health problems. … Read more

The Simpsons: Tapped Out brings SimCity-style awesomeness to Springfield

Omigod omigod omigod! There's a new "Simpsons" game, and it's better than anything that's been on the actual TV show in years. (That's right, I said it.)

The Simpsons: Tapped Out turns your iPhone or iPad into a Springfield-style SimCity. Or maybe that's a SimCity-style Springfield. Either way, it's a city-building and management game, which is a lot cooler than it sounds.

The plot unfolds (hilariously) with an animated clip showing Homer wreaking nuclear-plant destruction on Springfield. (Really, it was just a matter of time.) Fortunately, everyone survived, but the town needs rebuilding.

You start with the Simpsons' house, then add Evergreen Terrace, the Kwik-E-Mart, and so on. A lengthy tutorial guides you every step of the way, which is a good thing--Tapped Out is a complex game, especially if you've never played SimCity or anything else involving building, resource management, and the like.

The main goal here is to accrue money, experience points, and, especially, doughnuts, which can be used to accelerate certain aspects of the game. See, the tasks that earn you money and experience take time--in some cases several minutes or even hours of actual, real time. By "spending" some doughnuts, you can zip through those tasks in seconds.… Read more

Sim2 debuts world's first LED-lit 3D DLP projector

The new Sim2 M.150 is the first DLP home theater projector to substitute the traditional lamp with LEDs as a light source. Its Super PureLED technology, utilizing high-power RGB Phlatlight LED modules, delivers the following unique propositions:

A maintenance-free light source, which lasts up to 30,000 hours with less than 5 percent drop in luminance. Auto-calibration to ensure accurate colors and brightness consistency. Negligible rainbow artifact since no color wheel is required with red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs. High 100,000:1 dynamic contrast and 1,000 lumens brightness.

The Sim2 active-shutter 3D goggles also tout an … Read more

Traveling to Spain: Local prepaid SIM or international roaming?

Heading to Europe and wondering how you can avoid coming home to a wireless bill as big as your mortgage payment?

In this edition of Ask Maggie I offer some advice about using a smartphone abroad to a reader traveling to Spain next week for the Mobile World Congress trade show. Getting a local SIM card to pop into an unlocked GSM phone is likely the cheapest option. But if used carefully, subscribers don't have to sacrifice their kids' college funds to pay for a U.S. wireless plan with international roaming. Ask Maggie shows you how. Also in … Read more