The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet sports a TI OMAP 4 dual-core 1.2 GHZ processor with 1GB of RAM, and runs on Android 4.0.3. Amazon’s app store runs the show, and allows easy access to any content purchased through Amazon’s app store. Although the device runs on Android, Amazon only allows a handful of Google apps to run on the device.

By using the coupon code FIRE4MOM when checking out through Amazon, customers will receive the Kindle Fire HD for the discounted price. The deal is good until May 12th, so if you’d like to get your mom a tablet she’s sure to love, head over to Amazon’s website and check out this deal.

[Via: Endgadget , Amazon]

If you do fit in the group eligible for participation, we say – give it a shot. Nothing to lose, only a free phone to get. Hit this link to proceed to the page at Virgin Mobile Canada’s website where all the details are. Good luck!

Anyhow, if you live in Canada and are already using Virgin Mobile’s services, feel free to proceed to this page to get additional information and eventually submit your bid. Good luck!

[Via: MobileSyrup]

Under the deal, 5 lucky subscribers will get to test out HTC’s flagship device and submit their reviews.

In order to participate, you should a) be one of Virgin Mobile’s customers; and b) tell them “why you’d be an awesome Virgin Mobile phone tester.” It’s that easy and we wish you good luck.

And in case you wonder, the carrier will start selling the HTC One on April 19th. If you “win,” you may get it few days earlier. Check out Virgin’s website for all the details…

[Via: MobileSyrup]

This mosaic was built back at Mobile World Congress 2013, when Sony took 196 Xperia Z smartphones and organized them into a 14 / 14,6 ft 2-inch wall, smashing the previous record by more than double.

And while it’s great to be listed in the World’s Records book, I’m sure the Japanese company would rather see its smartphone sales jumping through the roofs, the task which is getting harder and harder to accomplish when your Xperia Z has to compete with the likes of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4…

To celebrate this marketing achievement, the company is organizing sweepstakes through its Facebook page, allowing fans to enter for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to attend the movie’s red carpet premiere in Hollywood on April 24, 2013. In addition, TCL will also run a retail promotion with RadioShack featuring the existing ALCATEL Authority smartphone from April 14 to May 11. The offer will include a pair of movie tickets, with qualifying device purchase, to watch Marvel’s Iron Man 3 after it hits theaters on May 3.

Again, at just 110 grams, the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Idol is the lightest smartphone in its category. It has a 4.7″ qHD IPS screen, 1GHz dual-core processor, 3G + Wi-Fi connectivity, 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing one, 1,800mAh battery and a memory card slot. It will be available in a variety of colors with brushed aluminum finish, including Silver, Slate, Cranberry Pink, Red, Magic Blue and Mint Green.

The “mini-stores” will be similar to those of Apple, which have popped up in the PC area of Best Buy stores around the country. The Samsung mini-stores will feature Samsung signage and demo stations, which will feature current Samsung products, smartphones and tablets alike. Employees in the mini-stores will also receive specialized training on Samsung devices and features, ensuring that employees can provide a good demo experience for customers.

With its mini-stores, Samsung is hoping to get into the consumer mind even more, by becoming more than an Android device maker, but more on par with the “lifestyle marketing” that Apple is so proficient at. If anything is clear after Samsung’s event for the unveiling of the Galaxy S4, Samsung is actively trying to separate itself from the sea of other Android handset manufacturers. By focusing on customized software for the Galaxy S4, Samsung is no longer making device specs a huge deal, but rather, the user experience.

The mini-stores will start with a few aisles in select Best Buy locations, and a reported redesign slated for later in the year will bring the Samsung mini-stores into every Best Buy location. This move could spell doom for other handset manufacturers, such as HTC who is already facing setbacks with its HTC One smartphone, but will more than likely bode well for both Samsung and Best Buy.

[Via: Geek.com]

Spotify has picked up some substantial investment from companies such as Coca-Cola and Goldman Sachs, but is still having a hard time turning a profit. Spotify does not own its content, but rather pays record labels for access to their songs. This model is increasingly hard to manage for Spotify, as prices for access to songs climb as Spotify’s popularity rises. A variety of other music streaming services are bidding for the same access, thusly allowing the record labels to charge whatever they see fit.

Netflix has faced similar problems, with movie studios charging high prices for content, leaving Netflix with a small profit margin. Netflix decided to make original content in an attempt to woo more users and increase profits, releasing its original series House Of Cards last year. Whether the original content model will pay off however, remains to be seen. Production costs of original series are expensive to produce, but Netflix and now Spotify are investing now for the hope of more subscribers in the future.

This announcement highlights changes of the entertainment industry, as smaller studios are able to create content on par with traditional Hollywood studios.

[Via: Business Insider]

We’re not sure whether we should blame HTC’s problems (delays) in the supply chain, positive response to the program or the upcoming launch of the Galaxy S4, which could yet again kill HTC’s flagship phone sales. According to the Taiwanese company is the second reason – here’s what they said:

HTC is thrilled with the positive response we have received to our $100 trade-up offer, and as such we are extending the offer for customers who purchase The new HTC One by 4/26 and trade in their old device by 5/31. We are pleased to bring this offer to even more customers so they can upgrade to The new HTC One at an amazing price.

Whatever the real reason is – we don’t care. We just like the idea that you can buy a phone as powerful as HTC One for $100 less. Neat.

[Via: AndroidPolice]

Pretty clever when you think about it. In fact, these ads have also found space in a Samsung promo video (at :49 and 2:04), which follows below.

We like the Optimus G but at the same time, we can’t really say it’s as powerful as Galaxy S4 will be. Rather, we want to see the Optimus G2 and G Pro hitting the stores all around the world. We know LG can make awesome phones and are glad to see them challenging the market leader…

[Via: Engadget]

Rovio has surpassed 1 billion downloads in May 2012, and with its 263 million monthly active users (as of December 2012), the company has both reach and high fan-engagement levels. The company’s YouTube video channel has garnered nearly 1 billion viral views, while its retail products are now generating a major part of Rovio’s revenues. As we speak, its animation studio is working on a major motion picture release.

Back to the new hires. In the US, Rovio has added two new, experienced members to the North American Brand Ad Partnership Team in New York and Los Angeles: Betsy Flounders Novak has joined the North American Team as the Director of West and Midwest; while Matt Pfeffer, the new Director of the East Coast based in New York City, joined Rovio most recently from Millennial Media.

As for the Europe and Asia Pacific regions, Todd Tran has joined to lead the new, London-based EMEA and APAC Brand Partnership Ad Team; with Raphaelle Tripet joining him in mid-February from inMobi…