T-Mobile has made a bold step by getting rid of two-year contracts. Here’s the skinny.
consumers
Why Some 7-inch Tablets Will Eventually Be Given Away Free
About 18 months ago, I was one of the first to write about what I thought Amazon’s business model would be for its tablet that launched last fall. I had heard from my sources in Taiwan that Amazon was looking at selling the …
I Chose the iPhone, You Chose an Android Phone — So What?
Readers, let’s have a conversation. First, some basics: I am an industry and market analyst who studies personal technology. I am not a journalist. I write an opinion column here for TIME’s Techland section. I am not a paid …
Survey Says Core Gamers Recently Declined — Should We Be Worried?
I was browsing Good Old Games’ catalog the other day and noticed they’ve put up the entire Ultima saga, all re-wrapped and verified to run on modern operating systems, from Windows XP through Windows 7. Madness! (In a crazy-good …
7 Surprising Things Lurking In Online ‘Terms of Service’ Agreements
When is the last time you actually read the “terms of service” agreement before you registered for a new website or downloaded a new app?
via Terms of Service Agreements: 7 Surprising Things You’re Agreeing To | Moneyland | TIME.com.
Why You Shouldn’t Trust Positive Online Reviews—Or Negative Ones, for That Matter
Judging by how prevalent the manipulation seems to be, it’s arguable that online user ratings and reviews are less trustworthy than ever.
via Online Reviews: Don’t Trust Them | Moneyland | TIME.com.
Why Apple’s Win over Samsung Is Ultimately Good News for Consumers
When I am in Hong Kong or Beijing, people often accost me on street corners trying to sell me “copy watches” like fake Rolexes. In fact, one of the funniest encounters I have had was at the Great Wall of China, where a guy in …
Do Facebook Ads Work?
Facebook ads can be effective, according to a recent study conducted by the social media giant and comScore.
TV Prices Shrink — Yet Average TV Purchase Costs More
The longer technology is around, the cheaper products get for consumers. The price of a 32-inch flat-panel television, for instance, reached an all-time low average of $435 during the second quarter of 2012, down from $546 in the same period a year ago. Even so, the overall average price paid for a new TV has actually risen …
How to Get Freebies Without Giving Up Too Much Personal Information
Freebies are awesome. But giving up personal info, putting yourself at risk of identity theft, and having e-mail inboxes constantly clogged with spam? Not so awesome. There are ways, however, to snag loads of samples, perks, swag, and other promotional goodies at no cost—and with little or no risk.
Facebook’s $10 Million Privacy Payout: Why You Get Nothing
If you missed it, Facebook says it will pay $10 million to compensate users who were turned into product pitchmen as a result of “Sponsored Stories” ads that treat “Likes” as endorsements. None of this money, however, will go to Facebook users.
via Facebook Privacy Settlement Amounts to $10 Million | Business | TIME.com.
Could That Facebook ‘Like’ Hurt Your Credit Score?
A plan to study data mining of social networking sites bankrolled by Germany’s largest credit reporting agency provoked outrage after internal documents about the project were leaked to German media outlets. Privacy experts say this is a shot across the bow — and that similar tactics are likely to come to the U.S. in the near future.