Computers-Plus

Have you heard? Over the weekend, El Reg reported on Verizon Wireless forcing subscribers to use Microsoft Bing on select smartphones:

Verizon has unilaterally updated user Storm 2 BlackBerries and other smartphones so that their browser search boxes can only be used with Microsoft Bing.

The move is part of the five-year search and advertising deal Verizon signed with Microsoft in January for a rumored $500m.

The search boxes previously allowed searches via Google and on other websites like Dictionary.com. Yes, affected users can still visit the actual sites and search from there—going to Google.com on their mobile browsers for instance—but theyre rightfully pissed.

Ah well, I guess that five-year deal was too good to pass up, though The Register did report on Google trying to reach a similar agreement with Verizon.

And, in other news, Anticitizen on Flickr brought his new Droid (bought for $200) back to the shop for repairs. The battery was loose, so what did the Verizon rep do? Plaster a Verizon-branded tape on the back to secure the battery:

Now youve given iPhone users—with their non-removable batteries—more reason to turn their noses up and start harrumphing. Thanks a lot Verizon!

‘Tis the season to buy a smartphone, and AT&T and Verizon have been dueling aggressively over supremacy in more places than just their ads. Not sure who paid more in litigation fees (we’re guessing AT&T), but it looks like both parties have decided to put away their guns for the time being.

It all began a few weeks ago, when AT&T became disgruntled over Verizon’s portrayal of their 3G coverage in their “There’s a map for that” commercials. They sued, and, losing in their bid to have Verizon’s ads banned, responded with some ads featuring Luke Wilson from Old School (took us a while to remember where we’d seen him). Read more…

Verizon has revealed the pricing of two HP Mini netbooks when purchased along with a wireless contract. There is some savings to be had here, though the reduced price still probably isn’t as low as you were hoping for.

The HP Mini 311 is a pretty powerful netbook, featuring an 11.6″ display with an Intel Atom N270 that is aided by NVidia’s ION to handle graphics up to 1080p. There will also be 2GB of RAM and a 160GB HDD, along with Windows 7 Home Premium. Read more…

Well, August 23 has come and gone, and the Samsung Omnia 2 hasn’t graced the shelves at your local Verizon retailer, but Samsung doesn’t want you to freak out. In fact, they want you to take a look at a creepy silhouette of the Omnia II and rejoice in the fact that it’s coming soon. Whenever that means.

The ad dictates that the Omnia II will revolutionize the way you email and text, promoting that it will be faster and more accurate. More accurate than what? We’re not sure, but that’s a pretty bold statement, especially considering the Omnia II is rocking Windows Mobile and a resistive touchscreen. Sure, it’

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