Vine for Android adds Facebook sharing, searches for hashtags and users

Vine on Android

Twitter isn’t about to let Video on Instagram go completely unanswered — it just posted an update to Vine for Android that could offer a few reasons to stay with the earlier service. Short-form movie makers on Android now have more of the features we’ve seen on iOS, including Facebook sharing as well as searches for hashtags and users. The release also smooths out the rough experience that has characterized the Android experience since launch, boosting both capture speeds and the final video quality. The app may still fall short of the newer Instagram release in a few areas, but those who prefer Vine’s approach can grab its refresh at Google Play.

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Via: Vine (Twitter)

Source: Google Play

Vine on Android

Twitter isn’t about to let Video on Instagram go completely unanswered — it just posted an update to Vine for Android that could offer a few reasons to stay with the earlier service. Short-form movie makers on Android now have more of the features we’ve seen on iOS, including Facebook sharing as well as searches for hashtags and users. The release also smooths out the rough experience that has characterized the Android experience since launch, boosting both capture speeds and the final video quality. The app may still fall short of the newer Instagram release in a few areas, but those who prefer Vine’s approach can grab its refresh at Google Play.

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Via: Vine (Twitter)

Source: Google Play

Father’s Day Kids Activity apps for iPhone and iPad

This Sunday June 16 is Father’s Day in the UK, US and some other countries across the world. It’s often a day when families get together, and then you may well need some kids activities to keep them amused and busy. With this in mind we thought we’d round up some of the top Father’s…

fathers-day-kids-activity-apps

This Sunday June 16 is Father’s Day in the UK, US and some other countries across the world. It’s often a day when families get together, and then you may well need some kids activities to keep them amused and busy. With this in mind we thought we’d round up some of the top Father’s Day kids activity apps for iPhone and iPad, with coloring, painting, games and other recreations.

Father’s Day is a very special day for Dads, as it gives kids the opportunity to show how much they love and appreciate them. We’ve previously rounded up some of the Best Father’s Day apps with quotes, poems, greetings cards and more, so if you want these sorts of apps check it out at the link above. In this collection though, we’re concentrating on apps for the kids. If you want more info or to download any of these apps, simply click on the title links for each to be taken straight to the App Store.

The first app we have for you is Kids Fingerpainting – Father’s Day HD at iTunes. This one is obviously a free app and it’s compatible for the iPhone, iPod touch or iPod running iOS 4.3 or later and optimized for iPhone 5. This is a great way for kids to show their Dad’s some affection and they can color pictures and then add a frame and their own message or autograph. There are various coloring pages to choose from with 10 pre-set colors, a customizable color palate, color shading, variable brush sizes, and custom frames, and then they can save their work to a Photo Library.

Our next activity app for Father’s Day is Color and Play on Father’s Day HD. Again this is a free app but this one is for iPads only, running iOS 3.2 or later. Key features include a selection of original coloring pages, frames, sound effects and the ability to add an autograph. In fact many of the features are similar to the previous app. However, after the kids have finished their masterpieces they can then have them scrambled up to create a puzzle game, combining creativity and logic in one app.

fathers-day-kids-activity-apps-b

Moving on we come to Paint and Play – Father’s Day. This is another free app and it’s compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running 4.3 or later, and it has been optimized for iPhone 5. This has 25 illustrations to color and the app also features interactive sounds and colors. There are 8 preset colors and a near infinite color palate, and you can use a camera to capture a pic to draw on or select a picture from the photo library. The app also has a spider puzzle game as well as a matching game, and the kids can save, email, or post the picture on Facebook.

This one is a neat idea to keep kids and their Dad’s amused as it’s a game that both can play. The Father’s Day Game: Fishing with my dad for iPhone app is priced at $4.99 /£2.99 and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running iOS 3.0 or later. This would be particularly good for Dads who enjoy fishing and the game involves catching fish for coins, which they can then trade in for more lures, bonus fish and point modifiers. Will Dad or the kids do best?

The next suggestion is not specifically for Father’s Day but is a great app for family occasions. It’s Fun for Kids: Activities For Your Family and this app is priced at $0.99 /£0.69. It’s compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running iOS 3.1.3 or later and offers more than 200 fun activities including crafts, games and entertainment. This app also features integration with Facebook, Twitter and Email.

The very last app we have for you to consider is a little different and a great way to start Father’s Day. This is A Father’s Day Alarm Clock – wake to a photo and message from your kids! The title of this makes it fairly self-explanatory, and this is a unique alarm clock app that enables you to upload photos of the kids. They can also record their own personalized alarm to wake up Dad, and there are features such as a choice of alarm sounds and a white noise sound machine. It’s a really neat idea, and we’re sure most Dads would appreciate it (although not if they want a lie in)! This app is priced at $0.99 /£0.69 and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd, 4th and 5th generation), and iPad running iOS 6.0 or later, and it has been optimized for iPhone 5.

This concludes our roundup of Father’s Day kids activity apps for iPhone and iPad, and we hope that among these suggestions you find just the one that you are looking for. If you have any other great Father’s Day apps that you wish to recommend from the App Store, why not let us know by sending your comments to us.

HTC One Android 4.2 update arrival expectations

The HTC One in many people’s eyes is currently the best Android smartphone available to consumers, which is down to its specifications and premium build quality. A fault that can be levelled at the handset by some though is the version of the operating system it is currently running, but the HTC One Android 4.2…

HTC One 4.2 today

The HTC One in many people’s eyes is currently the best Android smartphone available to consumers, which is down to its specifications and premium build quality. A fault that can be levelled at the handset by some though is the version of the operating system it is currently running, but the HTC One Android 4.2 update arrival expectations are growing with a possible release imminent.

Previously there was talk that the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update would arrive by the middle of this month according to the head of HTC Russia, but now Yves Wi from HTC France has taken to Twitter and has suggested the update could begin its journey as early as today.

The smartphone manufacture hasn’t so far made any announcements about the new firmware’s availability but if this information is correct we can expect to hear something at anytime. Serial HTC tipster @LlabTooFeR has also commented on the situation and also thinks the update is about to happen.

This will obviously be big news for owners of the handset and it could signal the release of the HTC One via Verizon Wireless as there has been talk the carrier was waiting to the handset had Android 4.2.2 on board before providing the device.

We are only just over a couple of weeks away from the release of the HTC One Google Edition so it makes sense for HTC to update the standard model to the later firmware before this becomes available in the US.

Do you think the HTC One will see the new firmware today?

Source: GottaBe Mobile.

Engadget Mobile Podcast 181 – 06.06.13

Engadget Mobile Podcast 179 - 05.09.13

It’s our second week of being on a regular schedule and we’re so excited we rejoiced with Joseph Volpe as our guest. We’ll talk about the worst phone name we’ve ever heard, WWDC pre-event rumors and some rumblings from Computex. Stream this episode below and download Brad’s “Ahh” ringtone from last week if you haven’t yet.

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen

Guest: Joseph Volpe

Producer: Joe Pollicino

Music: TychoCoastal Brake (Ghostly International)

Hear the podcast

Download Brad’s “Ahh” ringtone

LISTEN (M4A)
LISTEN (M4R)

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 179 - 05.09.13

It’s our second week of being on a regular schedule and we’re so excited we rejoiced with Joseph Volpe as our guest. We’ll talk about the worst phone name we’ve ever heard, WWDC pre-event rumors and some rumblings from Computex. Stream this episode below and download Brad’s “Ahh” ringtone from last week if you haven’t yet.

Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad Molen

Guest: Joseph Volpe

Producer: Joe Pollicino

Music: TychoCoastal Brake (Ghostly International)

Hear the podcast

Download Brad’s “Ahh” ringtone

LISTEN (M4A)
LISTEN (M4R)

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Sony Xperia S clarification for Jelly Bean update news

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Sony Xperia S owners looking for news on the Android Jelly Bean update, and even after promises for the new software arriving in May and rumors of a rollout, it looks like we’re back to square one. Around 5 days have passed since we saw reports pointing to…

Sony-Xperia-S-jelly-bean-twitter

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Sony Xperia S owners looking for news on the Android Jelly Bean update, and even after promises for the new software arriving in May and rumors of a rollout, it looks like we’re back to square one.

Around 5 days have passed since we saw reports pointing to the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update landing on Sony Xperia S handsets. This was even confirmed by the official French Sony Xperia team, although our readers revealed their frustration and confusion for the upgrade during our last news update.

Shortly after hearing that confirmation from the French team, it seems this “was a mistake” according to a tweet on the official Sony Xperia DE channel. You can see that tweet below, which explains the Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean announcement was an incorrect update from their “colleagues”.

Sony-Xperia-de-S-Jelly-Bean-tweet

Sony Xperia S clarification for Jelly Bean update rollout – you can see another tweet below and this was published on the same Twitter account today. It clarifies how long the Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean upgrade can take to reach all devices, which is basically up to four weeks.

sony-xperia-jelly-bean-rollout

Have you received the Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean update yet? If you have seen the upgrade rollout, then please share your location and Android version in the comments. We have heard some people stating they’re in London, UK, and have the Jelly Bean update but others deny this is true, so your feedback is welcome below. Only a few days left in May, so with any luck things will start moving soon but remember the above tweet that explains how long the rollout can take.

Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T finally getting WP 7.8 update

Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T finally got the Windows Phone 7.8 treatment. Nokia Care US brought the word about the long overdue update in its official Twitter account.

The most notable feature which the Windows Phone 7.8 update brings to the Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T are the resizable tiles a la Windows Phone 8. Furthermore, there are new theme colors, lock screen improvements and…

Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T finally got the Windows Phone 7.8 treatment. Nokia Care US brought the word about the long overdue update in its official Twitter account.

The most notable feature which the Windows Phone 7.8 update brings to the Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T are the resizable tiles a la Windows Phone 8. Furthermore, there are new theme colors, lock screen improvements and…

Twitter 4.1 brings better notification support to legacy BlackBerry devices

Twitter 41 brings better notification support to legacy BlackBerry devices

We get it, your old BlackBerry smartphone isn’t getting any newer, but thanks to today’s Twitter update, it’ll at least be a bit more useful. Most importantly, Twitter 4.1 can now provide notifications whenever you gain new followers, or whenever someone retweets or favorites one of your tweets. The update also adds swiping panels in the bio banner and makes it easier for first time users to sign up. Naturally, the software lacks some of the niceties that you’ll find in the BlackBerry 10 version, but that’s no reason to pass over the improvements. Twitter 4.1 can be found in BlackBerry World, and is supported by BlackBerry 5 OS and above.

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Source: Inside BlackBerry

Twitter 41 brings better notification support to legacy BlackBerry devices

We get it, your old BlackBerry smartphone isn’t getting any newer, but thanks to today’s Twitter update, it’ll at least be a bit more useful. Most importantly, Twitter 4.1 can now provide notifications whenever you gain new followers, or whenever someone retweets or favorites one of your tweets. The update also adds swiping panels in the bio banner and makes it easier for first time users to sign up. Naturally, the software lacks some of the niceties that you’ll find in the BlackBerry 10 version, but that’s no reason to pass over the improvements. Twitter 4.1 can be found in BlackBerry World, and is supported by BlackBerry 5 OS and above.

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Source: Inside BlackBerry

Samsung’s latest Galaxy S IV teaser shows the outline of… a phone

Samsung's latest Galaxy S IV teaser the rough outline of what appears to be a phone

Pause for your latest Galaxy S IV news break ahead of the March 14th unveiling: Samsung’s Mobile US Twitter account has posted this picture showing what appears to be a smartphone (shocker!) — that matches our existing Galaxy S III 1:1 minus the earpiece and with a slightly shifted logo FWIW — shrouded in shadow. We’ll understand if you’ve been overtaken by awe and need a moment, Jeremy certainly seemed impressed.

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Source: Samsung Mobile US (Twitter)

Samsung's latest Galaxy S IV teaser the rough outline of what appears to be a phone

Pause for your latest Galaxy S IV news break ahead of the March 14th unveiling: Samsung’s Mobile US Twitter account has posted this picture showing what appears to be a smartphone (shocker!) — that matches our existing Galaxy S III 1:1 minus the earpiece and with a slightly shifted logo FWIW — shrouded in shadow. We’ll understand if you’ve been overtaken by awe and need a moment, Jeremy certainly seemed impressed.

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Source: Samsung Mobile US (Twitter)

LG Optimus G for Sprint updated to Android 4.1.2

LG Optimus G for Sprint updated to Android 412

Today’s been a good day for smartphone updates. In addition to the One X on AT&T and the Droid RAZR on Verizon both receiving bumps to Jelly Bean, Sprint is giving another reason to smile with an update to Android 4.1.2 for the Optimus G. Along with the usual set of improvements such as Google Now, Chrome replaces the default Android browser in this release, and users will also find improved voice search and a new camera app. Additionally, users of alternative launchers will be glad to know that system widgets can be now be installed without root access. All in all, it’s high time that this top shelf smartphone made the leap into the world of Jelly Bean, so go ahead and grab the OTA update today.

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Via: Sprint (Twitter)

Source: Sprint

LG Optimus G for Sprint updated to Android 412

Today’s been a good day for smartphone updates. In addition to the One X on AT&T and the Droid RAZR on Verizon both receiving bumps to Jelly Bean, Sprint is giving another reason to smile with an update to Android 4.1.2 for the Optimus G. Along with the usual set of improvements such as Google Now, Chrome replaces the default Android browser in this release, and users will also find improved voice search and a new camera app. Additionally, users of alternative launchers will be glad to know that system widgets can be now be installed without root access. All in all, it’s high time that this top shelf smartphone made the leap into the world of Jelly Bean, so go ahead and grab the OTA update today.

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Via: Sprint (Twitter)

Source: Sprint

Mobile Miscellany: week of January 21st, 2013

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

If you didn’t get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we’ve opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a new smartphone from Xolo to India, HTC’s crackdown on a custom ROM distributor and the UK’s largest mobile spectrum auction to date. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of January 21st, 2013.

Xolo A500 debuts in India with Android 4.0

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

A new Android 4.0 smartphone known as the Xolo A500 became available within India this week, and from all appearances, it’s entirely run of the mill. That said, with a price of ₹6,999 ($130), it may just turn a few heads. The Xolo A500 sports a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) display, along with a dual-core 1GHz CPU (Snapdragon S4 Play) and dual-SIM functionality. You’ll also find a 5-megapixel rear camera, along with a front-facing VGA shooter. The device includes a 1,500mAh battery, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage and supports microSD cards up to 32GB in size. [Fone Arena]

Ofcom kicks off 4G spectrum auction in UK

The largest mobile spectrum auction to date in the UK began this week, which is set to nearly double the wireless resources available to Britons. In all, 28 lots of spectrum are available across the 800MHz and 2600MHz bands, which will add 250MHz of spectrum to the 333MHz in use today. Telefonica (O2), Vodafone, EE, Hutchison (Three), Niche Spectrum Ventures (BT), HKT and MLL are participants in the auction, which carries a total reserve price of £1.36 billion. According to UK regulator Ofcom, the auction will take place in several rounds over the coming weeks. [Android Central]

AT&T CEO reveals interest in smartphone financing

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

Verizon’s Lowell McAdam now has some company. During this week’s earnings call, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson revealed that AT&T is similarly monitoring T-Mobile’s shift to drop the subsidized business model and instead provide customers the ability to finance their new smartphone purchase. While Stephenson may lack grace with his words, the intent is clear: “We expect there to be some dynamics in the marketplace that — and we’ll have to respond to some of it — we find interesting, like the handset financing that they’re doing.” Curiously, Stephenson admitted that AT&T has considered the approach in the past, but like Verizon, much of how his company responds will depend on consumers’ reception of T-Mobile’s new approach. [FierceWireless]

US Cellular now offers carrier billing for online shopping

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

US Cellular announced this week that it now supports carrier billing for online purchases. The system was launched in partnership with Boku, and subscribers may pay for goods at participating merchants by entering their mobile number at checkout and then confirming the purchase with a text message. From there, customers will find the total amount of the purchase added to their wireless bill. [PhoneScoop]

AT&T working to integrate Data Sense for Windows Phone 8

Data Sense is one of the more unique features of Windows Phone 8, which allows users to monitor their data usage and squeeze more from their data plan through the magic of server-side compression. Verizon is the only carrier to support the feature within the US, but that may soon change, as AT&T has revealed that it’s “exploring Data Sense and how to optimize the experience” for its subscribers. About damn time, right? [FierceWireless]

HTC forces shutdown of custom ROM site

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

A provider of many popular Sense-based ROMs is no more. This week, HTCRUU closed its doors and took its repositories offline in acquiescence to legal threats from HTC. Historically, HTC has taken an admirably lax approach to distribution of customized Sense ROMs, which are popular among enthusiasts of the company’s smartphones. Naturally, many other sources exist for custom Sense blends, which raises the question of whether this move was but a one-off showing of legal force, or whether HTC will take a more active approach to ending the underground custom ROM community. Those interested can learn more of the situation on Reddit. [Android Police]

Other random tidbits

  • Following in the footsteps of Android and iOS, Microsoft has upped the mobile data cap of app downloads and updates for Windows Phone to 50MB. [WPCentral]
  • The Meizu MX2 is now available as a subsidized handset for customers of China Unicom. The smartphone can be gotten for free with all two-year plans of ¥226 or more per month, or with all three-year plans of ¥156 or more per month. [GSM Arena]
  • Colombia’s state-owned telecom, UNE EPM, announced that it would invest $2.5 million to bring LTE services to Barranquilla — the country’s fourth most populous city — which sports a population of approximately 1.8 million. [RCR Wireless]
  • An internal leak has revealed that the HTC 8S will become available at Bell Mobility on February 1st. [MobileSyrup]
  • Videotron has announced that it’ll begin selling the Nexus 4 on January 30th. Similarly, Fido is accepting reservations (and a requisite $40 deposit) for the smartphone, which it’s targeting for an early February arrival. [MobileSyrup 1, 2]

[Buy More Stuff photo credit: jbhthescots / Flickr]

[Mobile Miscellany photo credit: Thristian / Flickr]

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Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

If you didn’t get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we’ve opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a new smartphone from Xolo to India, HTC’s crackdown on a custom ROM distributor and the UK’s largest mobile spectrum auction to date. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of January 21st, 2013.

Xolo A500 debuts in India with Android 4.0

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

A new Android 4.0 smartphone known as the Xolo A500 became available within India this week, and from all appearances, it’s entirely run of the mill. That said, with a price of ₹6,999 ($130), it may just turn a few heads. The Xolo A500 sports a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) display, along with a dual-core 1GHz CPU (Snapdragon S4 Play) and dual-SIM functionality. You’ll also find a 5-megapixel rear camera, along with a front-facing VGA shooter. The device includes a 1,500mAh battery, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage and supports microSD cards up to 32GB in size. [Fone Arena]

Ofcom kicks off 4G spectrum auction in UK

The largest mobile spectrum auction to date in the UK began this week, which is set to nearly double the wireless resources available to Britons. In all, 28 lots of spectrum are available across the 800MHz and 2600MHz bands, which will add 250MHz of spectrum to the 333MHz in use today. Telefonica (O2), Vodafone, EE, Hutchison (Three), Niche Spectrum Ventures (BT), HKT and MLL are participants in the auction, which carries a total reserve price of £1.36 billion. According to UK regulator Ofcom, the auction will take place in several rounds over the coming weeks. [Android Central]

AT&T CEO reveals interest in smartphone financing

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

Verizon’s Lowell McAdam now has some company. During this week’s earnings call, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson revealed that AT&T is similarly monitoring T-Mobile’s shift to drop the subsidized business model and instead provide customers the ability to finance their new smartphone purchase. While Stephenson may lack grace with his words, the intent is clear: “We expect there to be some dynamics in the marketplace that — and we’ll have to respond to some of it — we find interesting, like the handset financing that they’re doing.” Curiously, Stephenson admitted that AT&T has considered the approach in the past, but like Verizon, much of how his company responds will depend on consumers’ reception of T-Mobile’s new approach. [FierceWireless]

US Cellular now offers carrier billing for online shopping

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

US Cellular announced this week that it now supports carrier billing for online purchases. The system was launched in partnership with Boku, and subscribers may pay for goods at participating merchants by entering their mobile number at checkout and then confirming the purchase with a text message. From there, customers will find the total amount of the purchase added to their wireless bill. [PhoneScoop]

AT&T working to integrate Data Sense for Windows Phone 8

Data Sense is one of the more unique features of Windows Phone 8, which allows users to monitor their data usage and squeeze more from their data plan through the magic of server-side compression. Verizon is the only carrier to support the feature within the US, but that may soon change, as AT&T has revealed that it’s “exploring Data Sense and how to optimize the experience” for its subscribers. About damn time, right? [FierceWireless]

HTC forces shutdown of custom ROM site

Mobile Miscellany week of January 21st, 2013

A provider of many popular Sense-based ROMs is no more. This week, HTCRUU closed its doors and took its repositories offline in acquiescence to legal threats from HTC. Historically, HTC has taken an admirably lax approach to distribution of customized Sense ROMs, which are popular among enthusiasts of the company’s smartphones. Naturally, many other sources exist for custom Sense blends, which raises the question of whether this move was but a one-off showing of legal force, or whether HTC will take a more active approach to ending the underground custom ROM community. Those interested can learn more of the situation on Reddit. [Android Police]

Other random tidbits

  • Following in the footsteps of Android and iOS, Microsoft has upped the mobile data cap of app downloads and updates for Windows Phone to 50MB. [WPCentral]
  • The Meizu MX2 is now available as a subsidized handset for customers of China Unicom. The smartphone can be gotten for free with all two-year plans of ¥226 or more per month, or with all three-year plans of ¥156 or more per month. [GSM Arena]
  • Colombia’s state-owned telecom, UNE EPM, announced that it would invest $2.5 million to bring LTE services to Barranquilla — the country’s fourth most populous city — which sports a population of approximately 1.8 million. [RCR Wireless]
  • An internal leak has revealed that the HTC 8S will become available at Bell Mobility on February 1st. [MobileSyrup]
  • Videotron has announced that it’ll begin selling the Nexus 4 on January 30th. Similarly, Fido is accepting reservations (and a requisite $40 deposit) for the smartphone, which it’s targeting for an early February arrival. [MobileSyrup 1, 2]

[Buy More Stuff photo credit: jbhthescots / Flickr]

[Mobile Miscellany photo credit: Thristian / Flickr]

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