FACEYOO !

'Major iPhone revamp' in 2012, new charging system possible

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:29:00 +0000

Apple has a “major iPhone revamp” in the works, reports the Wall Street Journal. The redesigned device — let’s call it iPhone 6 — is slated for a 2012 release, according to “people briefed on Apple’s plans.”

The sources say that Apple “has been experimenting with features such as a new way of charging the phone.” This new charging system was first reported by former Engadget editor-in-chief Joshua Topolsky at This Is My Next back in April. According to his information, mock-ups of the rumored device showed “some form of inductive or touch charging.” Topolsky’s sources weren’t able to confirm whether “Apple’s working on its own version of cable-free juicing.” The This Is My Next report indicated that it would be the “iPhone 5″ to receive the charging update.

As Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac points out, the “cable-free juicing” could be similar to HP’s Touchstone cable-free charging system for Palm devices

The Wall Street Journal article further confirms rumors that we’ve been hearing for months. Namely, that the next iPhone will launch by the “end of September.” That device is said to have a “similar” design to the iPhone 4, but will be “thinner and lighter” (gasp!), with an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. Many

In addition, sources tell WSJ reporter Lorraine Luk that “Apple has also been working on a less-expensive phone with new features such as an edge-to-edge screen,” though there is no indication in Luk’s article that this device and the iPhone set for September release are the same handset, as some have speculated.

On top of all this hardware talk, market analyst Shing Yin of Citadel Securities tells Barron’s reporter Tiernan Ray that chances are good that Apple will release an iPhone for the Sprint-Nextel network sometime this year, most likely before Christmas.

Hmmm… September is before Christmas. How about then?

New report backs up September iPhone 5 release date

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Today, The Wall Street Journal independently confirmed reports that the next generation iPhone will be on the way in the third quarter of this year. According to sources close to the supply line, Apple's next iPhone is expected to trim down the famously svelte iPhone 4, making it both lighter and thinner than the current model. While plenty of other technology outlets had published similar details previously, the credible new report solidifies what we can expect from Apple's next generation smartphone.

While we still don't know if the device will be named the iPhone 5 or the iPhone 4S, such significant improvements point to the former, which would make it an entirely new model, unlike the upgrade from iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS.

The report also suggests that the next iPhone will have a camera upgraded to 8 megapixels, a resolution boost up from the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel sensor and a confirmation of an earlier rumor from Bloomberg. Bloomberg's sources also suggested that the smartphone will sport the same powerful A5 processor as the iPad, which would yield a significant a speed boost for the device.

Yesterday serial Apple secret-leaker DigiTimes suggested that Pegatron, a Taiwanese component manufacturer, will ready 15 million of Apple's elusive next-generation phones for a September launch. According to The Wall Street Journal's new information, Apple intends to move 25 million units of its new iPhone by the year's end.

Since Apple remained mum on the next iPhone during its big June event, evidence continues to pile up indicating that the company's next hot gadget will be hitting stores this fall.

Healing a Wounded Credit Score

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:43:00 +0000

by Tara Siegel Bernard

provided by

Millions of consumers have fallen out of favor with the credit scoring gods.

Some lost their jobs or were just overwhelmed by mounting debt. Others got caught up in the real estate bubble or had major medical bills. Whatever the reason, the rising number of foreclosures, short sales, late credit card payments and the ultimate credit sin -- bankruptcies -- have left black marks on credit reports most everywhere

So what can these people do to repair their credit?

The simple answer is to focus on the information that is used to generate the all-powerful FICO score -- the measure used most frequently by traditional lenders to determine creditworthiness. Its scale runs from 300 points to 850 points; the higher the score, the better your credit standing. "FICO is still the 500-pound gorilla," said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com. "In 2011, the best way to get credit from the mainstream lenders is to have a good FICO score."

Consumers can hope that the banks will eventually consider alternatives to the traditional FICO score, which was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation and has been in wide use for about two decades. After all, as banks regain their appetite for lending, they will be looking for ways to differentiate between borrowers with the same scores, some of whom are temporarily struggling and others who chronically have trouble with money.

For now, though, the FICO score reigns. The best antidote to a poor score is time. Still, there are a half dozen ways to speed the process, or, at the least, avoid even more credit trouble.

What to Do

Assess Your Situation

Before you even start to think about rehabilitating your credit, make sure that you can pay your bills on time and not do any more harm. If keeping up with your credit card bills is still an issue, then call the issuer, explain your situation and try to negotiate payments you can afford. Ask the issuer how that will be reported to the major three credit bureaus: Not paid as agreed, which can hurt your score? Or will the new terms say that you are now paying as agreed?

"You have to get in writing that this is what they agreed to do," said Mechel Glass, director of education at CredAbility, a nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency. Ditto for other providers, like utility companies.

Then, assess all the damage by getting a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus through annualcreditreport.com. Each of the major credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- generate their own FICO scores based on the data they collect. Two versions of your FICO score are also available for $19.95 each, through myFico.com.

How far your credit score has fallen will depend on where it started, as well as the frequency and severity of your credit mistakes. If you had almost perfect credit, but because of the loss of a job your credit card bills ended up at a collection agency, you can expect to lose anywhere from 80 to 150 points from your FICO score. A short sale or foreclosure? Both, Mr. Ulzheimer said, "would turn a FICO 790 into a FICO 590 overnight."

Clean Up Your Score

Start with the low-hanging fruit. Let's say you were late paying a bill from a company that no longer exists, or a bank that has since merged with a larger institution. If the credit reporting bureaus cannot verify the accuracy of that black mark, they are required to remove it. "Not only does it have to be correct, but it has to be verifiable," Mr. Ulzheimer said.

Next, focus on paying off the loans -- namely, credit cards -- that will help give your score the most lift. Paying off a mortgage, a student loan or other installment debts, like car loans, feels good but that won't necessarily do much for your credit score.

You also want to get your so-called debt utilization rate into good shape. FICO considers how the total amount of debt on each of your credit cards compares with your total available credit. The credit score "elite" -- that is, people with FICO scores above 760 -- typically don't have debts that exceed 7 percent of their available credit. But if you are at 50 percent and can get the rate down to 30 percent, that will help.

Leave a Note

Because prospective employers may pull a copy of your credit report, consider adding the equivalent of a doctor's note to each of your reports explaining your hardship, like a job loss. All three major credit bureaus allow you to add a brief statement through their Web sites. FICO doesn't consider these statements when formulating scores, however, so don't expect it to sway lenders.

Get Secured Cards

It will obviously be hard to get a traditional credit card when you have a poor credit history. Secured cards, if used strategically, can help nurse your credit back to health more quickly. These cards require you to put a set amount of money in a bank account, say $250 or $500, which is used as collateral. And the amount of available credit should be equivalent to the amount on deposit.

"What is the most predictive and powerful in your score are the things you've done most recently," Mr. Ulzheimer said. "That cuts both ways. If you add a secured card and you pay it religiously and the balance is low, it will help your score a lot more quickly than if you do nothing."

But read the fine print before signing up. Consumer advocates said some unscrupulous card issuers have charged the security deposit to the card. And be sure the issuer reports your payment information to the big three credit bureaus, since not all do.

Curtis Arnold, the founder of CardRatings.com, recommended two cards, both of which report payments to the big three: the Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard, which has an attractive interest rate of 7.9 percent, waives the annual fee in the first year and charges a moderate $35 annually thereafter. He also likes the Citi Secured MasterCard, largely because it offers an interest rate on the security deposit equivalent to an 18-month certificate of deposit, which he says is an industry first.

Talk to a Credit Union

These institutions may be more willing to work with members who have checkered histories. Their offerings vary, but they may be more likely to consider alternative credit scores, offer free credit counseling or have products tailored for people with poor credit histories. "Certainly, many credit unions have credit builder or rebuilder loans, often structured as a loan with a built-in savings component so that a person gradually builds up funds that can act as partial collateral," said Clifford Rosenthal, the president of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, a trade association representing credit unions in low- and moderate-income areas.

Alternative Verification

There are other credit reporting agencies and services that -- for a monthly fee, and sometimes a hefty one -- will collect your payment history from sources that aren't included in your traditional credit report or FICO score. At this point, however, most mainstream lenders base their decisions on the big three bureaus' reports and FICO scores. So you're better off saving your money. "All of those companies say they will report your accounts to a credit bureau, and they may be doing that," Mr. Ulzheimer said. "But if it is not the big three, then who cares?"

This could change, of course, as banks become more willing to lend and potentially open to using other means to identify promising borrowers. Lenders may begin to consider rental payment histories, for instance. Or they may be willing to look at alternative credit scores that incorporate payment information that doesn't show up on traditional credit reports.

Or perhaps one lender will permit so-called shoe box credit: Did you know that if you walk into a lender with a box stuffed with receipts proving that you paid your cable bill, for instance, that they are required to consider it? They aren't obliged to give you a loan, but the regulation says they must consider the information.

What to Avoid

Credit Repair Offers

You may have seen the advertisements for credit repair companies on the Web. "We really tell our clients to stay away," said Ms. Glass, of CredAbility. One re-emerging scam, she says, involves companies that claim they can clean up your credit. Some companies manage to do this for a limited time by disputing all of your accounts, sending letters to the bureaus claiming the accounts aren't valid. But after the credit bureaus validate the accounts and debts, they reappear on your report and your score will plummet again.

Legitimate credit repair companies exist, and they can assist in disputes. But there's nothing they can do that you can't do yourself at little cost. Besides, these companies often besiege the bureaus with letters, and the bureaus are allowed to ignore what they believe are frivolous disputes. Be wary of companies that do not disclose in writing that you can do these tasks free on your own, that guarantee results or that try to charge you before they perform any services.

Certain Cards

Despite the tighter credit environment, Chi Chi Wu, a staff lawyer at the National Consumer Law Center, said the center was still receiving complaints about credit cards aimed at people with poor credit histories.

"These cards are pitched as a way to build credit, but with these kind of steep fees and high interest rates, there is a good chance they will hurt," she said.

___

How to Make or Break Your Credit Score

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:30:00 +0000

by Zack O'Malley Greenburg

A few simple steps can put you on the path to creditworthiness -- or prevent you from falling off.

Five years ago Mikaal Bates was about to pool his money with some friends and make his first real estate investment. He didn't expect any trouble on the credit score front, as he'd always paid all his bills in full and on time. But when Bates received the credit report he needed to get the loan and seal the deal, he found a nasty surprise: Thousands of dollars in unpaid phone bills racked up by someone who'd stolen his identity.

"I had bartended at a few less-than-reputable establishments, and someone had gotten hold of my social security number," says Bates, an actor, now 31. "I ended up with an unpaid $2,000 bill for calls from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic. Took me close to a year before I got everything straightened out and had everything expunged."

Bates' situation is the product of illegal acts committed by malicious strangers, but plenty of people unwittingly do comparable damage to their own credit scores. Careless acts can eat into your credit score -- and you may only discover the damage when there's a car loan, mortgage or business loan on the line.

Fortunately there are a number of steps you can take to preserve and improve your credit score. The most important ones are matters of common sense, yet they're too often ignored. First and foremost: timeliness, both with credit cards and other bills.

"With any kind of credit obligation it's really critical to always pay on time," says Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and consumer research for CreditCards. "Don't ignore any obligations like student loans or utility bills or cellphone bills. Lenders are starting to scrutinize those sorts of things."

Paying bills on time is just one of many steps savvy consumers should take. Another is to carefully manage your debt levels and the percentage of your credit lines you use. It's never a good idea to carry a balance on your credit card; though the balance itself doesn't directly affect your score, interest can cause the total to pile up quickly. And raising your debt-to-credit ratio (also known as utilization rate) does affect your score, says Jake Gibson of credit card research site Nerd Wallet.

Say you're carrying a $4,000 balance on a credit card that allows you to charge up to $5,000. That high 80% utilization rate will damage your credit score more than a $4,000 balance on a card with, say, a $12,000 limit.

Paying off debt can help get your creditworthiness back on track. But think carefully about where to start.

"Get any revolving credit paid off," recommends Steve Juetten, a financial planner in Bellevue, Wash. "Start with the card with the lowest balance and strive to have that one paid off first. Once it's done, move to the one with the lowest balance and so on."

Other rules of thumb include requesting an increase to your credit limits and using different forms of credit. But don't overdo it -- holding more than four credit cards can start to damage your score. It can also hurt if the total of your available credit lines begins to exceed your household income. Even if you have always paid your bills on time, having $80,000 of available credit when you make $60,000 per year means you have the potential to spend yourself into debt, and that might make the next lender wary.

Above all, remember that building a good credit score isn't something that can be done overnight.

"The biggest misconception about improving credit scores is that it's something that can be done quickly," says Juetten. "It's not. It takes time."

How to Make or Break Your Credit Score

Keep your credit cards paid off.

Though simply carrying a balance won't damage your score, it will if your debt utilization rate (the ratio of debt level to credit available) starts to climb above 50%. Pay your balance in full every cycle if possible.

Pay your bills on time.

With any kind of credit obligation it's really critical to always pay on time, even if you can't pay in full. Late payments will hurt your credit score.

Use different forms of credit.

Holding a variety of lines -- car loan, installment loan, mortgage, store card, credit card -- can improve your credit score, as long as you're mindful of the first two steps.

Develop a history of credit.

Maintaining responsible payment habits over time will increase your score.

Don't overburden your credit lines.

It's best not to use more than half of any given credit line, and even better not to use more than one-third.

Which cellular carrier is best for you?

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:20:00 +0000

Baffled by the business of choosing a cell phone carrier? You’re not alone. Not only do new phones hit the market seemingly every week, but the remaining big four US carriers – AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and (for now) T-Mobile – constantly change service plans and pricing to compete more effectively. Because carriers spend millions on advertising, we are treated to commercial after commercial touting the benefits of one over the faults of the others.

How do you make sense of the chaos? No worries. Read on for helpful hints on navigating the shifting sands of cellular. While much of our advice is geared towards smartphone owners who are looking for affordable data plans and faster networks, note that every major carrier offers an array of feature phones that offer voice, text messaging and perhaps email and applications. Most of those devices can be had for free if you sign a new two-year contract.

Before you do anything, check the terms of your current cell plan if you have one. Terminating early to move to another carrier can cost several hundred dollars in fees and ruin any financial benefits you might gain from switching. Also, ask your current carrier what special incentives they have to keep you around. They usually provide deep discounts toward the purchase of a new phone – as long as you’re up for a multi-year service plan.

AT&T – Big and Bountiful

If the deal passes the government’s anti-trust approval, AT&T (T) will acquire T-Mobile USA and become the biggest cellular service provider in the country with about 130 million subscribers. What does this mean for you? It means a wide range of choices, cutting edge phones and devices from every major manufacturer, plus a host of special services.

Of course, the deal going through is far from certain and will take at least several months. Here are opportunities available on AT&T today. And read below to find out what T-Mobile has to offer for existing and prospective customers.

Are you an iPhone fan? With Verizon’s iPhone launch in February, AT&T is no longer the iPhone’s exclusive carrier, but they do have a terrific deal on the previous version that you won’t find anywhere else. AT&T offers the iPhone 3Gs 8GB for a mere $49 with a contract. If you don’t mind not keeping up with the Jones’ you can’t beat that bargain.

For other phones, AT&T offers a tremendous selection including the brand new Android-based Motorola (MMI) Atrix 4G that operates as a phone or the brains of a cool laptop dock. This, and other phones, run on AT&T’s fast new HSPA+ 4G network. To boost phone performance even higher, AT&T promises to unveil an even faster 4G LTE network later this year.

With its powerful market share, AT&T has made agreements with countries around the world for special roaming rates when you travel. Additionally, AT&T delivers its own apps and services like AT&T FamilyMap for keeping tabs on the location of your loved ones. If you want choices in phones and services – AT&T is hard to beat.

What’s not to love? AT&T has had issues with dropped calls. A Businessweek story from January claimed its dropped call rate had risen to 5.8% last year compared to only 2% on Verizon’s network. Also, AT&T no longer offers unlimited data plans. So, if reliability or unlimited data are your top priorities, shop around.

Verizon – Fast and Flexible

Like Sprint, Verizon (VZ) runs on a network technology called CDMA. Because most of the rest of the world uses GSM cell networks, Verizon has problems getting some phone makers, like Nokia (NOK), to deliver phones for its service. Still, with more than 93 million subscribers, some phone manufacturers modify existing phones (like Apple (AAPL) did with the iPhone) just to support Verizon.

If you feel the need for speed, you may have found your carrier match. Verizon is out front with its 4G LTE network, which some analysts say is currently faster than AT&T’s HSPA+ and Sprint’s WiMax 4G networks. To clock it yourself, go test drive the new Android-based HTC (2498.TW) Thunderbolt – which review sites like CNET.com claim is noticeably faster than other phones they’ve tested.

Verizon has custom services to suit your needs. They offer VZ Navigator for voice navigation, V CAST for mobile TV, Backup Assistant to save your cell stuff, and NFL Mobile and Disney Mobile Magic to keep you entertained.

Complaints? Just behind the slightly limited range of phones quickly follows the early termination fee. If you sign up, plan to stay because Verizon tops the chart in highest fees – $350 for “advanced devices” at last check – for breaking your contract to move to another carrier. Outrageous! Can you hear me now? Good.

Sprint – Unique and Unlimited

Number three tries harder. While not as big as Verizon and AT&T in terms of subscribers, Sprint (S) prides itself on breaking away from the pack with innovative service plans and partnerships. Depending on your phone usage you may find its offerings suit your lifestyle best.

For heavy phone users, Sprint’s True Unlimited plan remains a great choice. While other carriers place caps on voice and data with surcharges for each minute or megabyte you go over, Sprint charges a flat fee -- $99.99 per month (plus 10 bucks more per month for smartphones) – for unlimited voice, data, and text. You can save big money and the hassle of always checking your usage each month with this plan.

With a recent partnership with Google (GOOG), Sprint fully embraces the 21st century of mobile apps and communication. In this deal, your Sprint phone number also can be used as a Google Voice number, allowing you to receive voice mails in text format through your Gmail account, make calls through any device or computer connected to the Internet, and have incoming calls to your cell also ring other phones you specify. This partnership works beautifully if you’re tech savvy and may lead to more interesting apps in the future.

Issues? Like Verizon, Sprint’s CDMA means a smaller pool of compatible handsets. If you’re not picky, it shouldn’t be a problem. Also, it’s not difficult to find web posts with people complaining about Sprint’s customer service. But admittedly, it’s hard to tell whether those are isolated incidents or more of a trend. Ask your friends or family who use Sprint and form your own opinion.

T-Mobile - Living in Limbo

While T-Mobile waits to find out from regulators whether it will eventually be acquired by AT&T, there are some great deals and opportunities to be had from the carrier that bills itself as “America’s Largest 4G network.”

At eighty bucks per month, T-Mobile’s all-in-one bundle package for moderate to heavy users who can enjoy unlimited data and text messing as well as 1500 minutes of talk time. The company also offers the opportunity to add additional data plans to new and existing contracts for $10 per month a pop. T-Mobile has also been known to cut additional deals with existing and prospective subscribers over the years over the phone or in stores. So, in light of the pending merger, it may pay to ask what else they can do for you.

Like Sprint, T-Mobile currently has no arrangement with Apple to carry the iPhone. However, there are a number of great Android-powered phones made by Samsung, Motorola, HTC and others carried by Verizon. T-Mobile’s network is similar to AT&Ts so customers are not restricted from choices in that regard. Later this Spring, T-Mobile and Samsung will unveil the Sidekick 4G equipped with a 3.5-inch touchscreen display.

What’s not to like? Well, T-Mobile’s definition of 4G is not blessed by groups including Consumer Reports and the International Telecommunications Union. T-Mobile uses technology similar to AT&T’s 3G. While faster than existing 3G options, surveys show T-Mobile’s 4G network is not as fast as Verizon’s or Sprint's.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

But, don’t let the big three push you around. This is America and you’re free to shop until your heart and your wallet are content. Keep in mind, T-Mobile is fully operational and open for business, even while in the midst of the AT&T acquisition. It, too, competes for subscribers with great phones and plans.

Need more? US Cellular (USM), Leap (LEAP), MetroPCS (PCS), and Virgin (VMED) are smaller, lower-cost carriers who definitely want your business. You’ll find crazy deals – like a current “buy one, get five free” offer at US Cellular – and some bargain service plans. The trade-off for choosing a smaller carrier will be fewer phone stores for you to visit and fewer customized services and apps.

Once you narrow down your favorite carrier, be sure to scope out its website in addition to a store. You might find exclusive web-only deals that the stores can’t offer. Happy shopping!

Are Energy Drinks Dangerous to Your Health?

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:08:00 +0000

By David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding :It’s one of the greatest marketing tricks in the history of beverages: Turning a can of obesity-inducing sugar water into the coolest product in the supermarket. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Give your can of sugar water a hip-sounding name, like Monster, Rockstar, or Amp.

2. Promise that the product will do something exciting to your body, like boosting your energy and alertness, so you, too, can be a rock star—or at least stay up as late as one.

3. Make your product sound slightly dangerous. Anything will sound cooler when grown-ups hate it: Dr. Oz calls energy drinks “addictive” and “unhealthy.” Other experts point to thousands of caffeine overdoses among young people 19 and under.

But all the hoopla surrounding energy drinks is just hysteria, right? Sure, drinking them by the six-pack isn’t a good idea, but in moderation, a single can of cold, tangy, eyeball-popping energy fuel can’t be bad for you . . .

Or can it?

Well, the truth is that while you can call a product RockStar, a more accurate name for some of their drinks might be Fat Roadie. Because while massive doses of energy drinks are obviously dangerous, adding even a single can a day of some of them to your liquid intake could cause more than 29 pounds of weight gain in a year! Below, I’ve outlined some of the worst energy drinks, and some much saner alternatives. Making these simple swaps could be the difference between Lady Gaga, and Lady Gargantua.

WORST MORNING JOLT

5-Hour Energy (1.93-oz bottle)

4 calories

0 g sugars

Caffeine: 135 mg

Drink This Instead!

Black Coffee (12-oz cup)

0 calories

0 g sugars

Caffeine: 95-200 mg

What’s really in 5-Hour Energy? Wouldn’t you like to know! The company claims the product is packed with a variety of vitamins and other compounds that promote energy, but when Consumer Reports recently requested a copy of the supporting research, the company balked. Here’s a golden rule of food and drink: If the company selling the product won’t put its money where its mouth is, don’t put their product where your mouth is. Bottom line: The only proven ingredient in this bottle is caffeine, and one bottle contains about as much as a cup of coffee. You know what costs much less, contains loads of natural antioxidants, and also has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee? You guessed it, a cup of coffee. No energy drink on the planet is more reliable.

Bonus Tip: 5-Hour Energy may be a lot of hype, but at just 4 calories per bottle, it won't make you fat. These sugar- and fat-laden drinks most certainly will if they're among your go-to options: The 20 Worst Drinks in America.

WORST CAFFEINATED DISASTER

Redline Power Rush (2.5-oz bottle)

0 calories

0 g sugars

Caffeine: 326 mg

Drink This Instead!

Sugar-Free Red Bull (8.4-oz can)

0 calories

0 g sugars

Caffeine: 75 mg

This is what happens when the companies that produce energy shots go to war with one another (7 hours of energy? Really?). Sipping this tiny bottle is the caffeine equivalent of gulping down about three cups of coffee, which is probably why the company's website warns minors not to drink it. Oh, and for those of us with family histories of high blood pressure, enlarged prostates, glaucoma, or any one of six other ailments, we need to consult a physician before use. The company also recommends you drink only half a bottle, but who's going to drink one-half of 2.5 ounces? That's like packing an Oreo in your kid's lunch and telling her to eat only one bite. Sugar-Free Red Bull offers the same low-cal advantage with a more reasonable amount of caffeine, which is about as much as a cup of coffee.

Bonus Tip: I get it—life is hectic. That's why we created our new book: The Eat This, Not That! No-Diet Diet, a complete day-by-day, meal-by-meal weight-loss plan for busy people who hate to diet. You can eat all your favorite foods, at your favorite restaurants, and even enjoy your favorite desserts--while shedding belly fat fast. Check it out.

WORST SODA HYBRID

Amp Energy (16-oz can)

220 calories

58 g sugars

Caffeine: 142 mg

Drink This Instead!

Xenergy Mango Guava (16-oz can)

0 calories

0 g sugars

Caffeine: 180 mg

No energy drink exposes the blurred line between energy and soda better than Amp. It is, after all, an offshoot of Mountain Dew. The difference is it’s shot through with more caffeine and all the dubious additives that give energy drinks their questionable energy appeal. But the problem with this can is the same problem that afflicts every other soda on the market—sugar. Guzzling this thing fills your stomach with 14 spoonfuls of sugar. If it’s energy you want, Xenergy promises all the same additives without any of the sugar. Consider it a modest vice.

Bonus Tip: Discover more surprising nutrition and weight loss secrets like this by following me on Twitter right here (where I'm giving a FREE iPad to a lucky follower) or by signing up for our FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter.

WORST ENERGY SHOT

Clif Razz Energy Gel Shot (32 g package)

100 calories

12 g sugars

Caffeine: 0 mg

Drink This Instead!

Ito En Sencha Shot (6.4-oz can)

0 calories

0 g sugars

Caffeine: 40 mg

Be wary of any “energy” shot that comes in gel form. These packages are specifically formulated to replenish sugar stores to overworked muscles during bouts of high-intensity training. That’s great if you’re running a 10K, but it you’re not doing some serious athletics, expect it to go straight to your thighs, butt, and belly. For a more sustainable—and less fattening—form of energy, opt for green tea. Ito En’s Sencha Shot is just that, concentrated green tea laced with 152 milligrams of catechins, antioxidants that have been linked to weight loss. One of these tacked on to your daily routine can only do your body good.

Bonus Tip: For simple steps to live a longer and healthier life, check out Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips Ever.

WORST COFFEE BOOST

Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino (13.7-oz bottle)

290 calories

4.5 g fat (3 g saturated)

46 g sugars

Caffeine: 108 mg

Drink This Instead!

Rockstar Roasted Coffee + Energy Light Vanilla (16-oz can)

100 calories

14 g sugars

Caffeine: 240 mg

I’m not Rockstar's biggest fan, but they do a lot of things right, like this healthier alternative to Starbucks. Do you know how much whole milk you’d have to pour into your coffee to reach the 290 calories in this Starbucks bottle? Nearly two cups. Or how about this for comparison: This Vanilla Frappuccino has more calories than either a Snickers bar or a Wendy’s Jr. Cheeseburger, plus it has more sugar than two scoops of Haagen-Dazs Crème Brulèe ice cream. Switch to Rockstar’s lighter version of a caffeinated morning drink and you’ll cut your calorie load by two-thirds!

Bonus Tip: Here’s a much healthier way to boost your energy levels: Fill your plate—and belly—with these 40 Foods with Superpowers. The best part: You’ll strengthen your heart, fortify your bones, and boost your metabolism at the same time!

WORST ENERGY DRINK

Vault Red Blitz (20-oz bottle)

290 calories

78 g sugars

Caffeine: 115 mg

Drink This Instead!

Rockstar Recovery (16 fl oz)

20 calories

2 g sugars

And here it is, the biggest loser in the battle of the energy drinks. Vault packs in more sugar than any other energy drink on the market. In terms of sheer calories, Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino fares just as bad, but even it can’t claim to have more sugar than 3½ Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars. If you’re looking for the daily energy beverage most likely to give you diabetes, this might be it. Otherwise, pick something with less sugar. Rockstar's Recovery is as fine as any energy drink on the market. It contains 160 mg of caffeine—about as much as 14 ounces of Dunkin' Donuts coffee—and it's flavored with lemon juice.

Bonus Tip: If you're serious about losing weight, you need to cut down on sugar first. Problem is, many of us eat too much of the white stuff for breakfast. You stay full longer when you swap out sugar for fiber, and we'll show you how to do it with ease right here: The 24 Best and Worst Cereals.

A Phone That?s the Life of Your Laptop

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:57:00 +0000

DAVID POGUE,

Does the redundancy of your gadgets ever bother you?

You have a phone. A laptop. A desktop PC. A GPS thing. A TV. Maybe a tablet. Each contains the same stuff: a screen, a processor chip and some memory. You’re buying the same components over and over again — in duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate — just so each device can perform identical functions in different situations.

Well, that does bother Motorola. For several years now, it’s been hammering away at a central idea: Since the modern app phone is essentially a computer, why can’t it become a brain that you slip into different docks? That was the idea behind the Bedside Dock (phone becomes touch-screen alarm clock) and the GPS Dock (attaches to your windshield) for certain Motorola phones.

Now comes Motorola’s most compelling, ambitious and exciting idea of all: a phone that can become the brain for a full-blown laptop.

The Motorola Atrix 4G ($200 with two-year AT&T contract) is a beautiful, loaded, screamingly fast Android phone. The companion laptop — sleek, light, superthin, black aluminum — has no processor, memory or storage of its own. Instead, you insert the phone into a slot behind the screen hinge. The phone becomes the laptop’s brains.

That’s a powerful idea. It means, first of all, that you don’t have to sync anything. Everything lives on the phone; the laptop is simply a more convenient viewer.

It also means that when you’re sitting on a plane or at your desk, you can work with a trackpad, full screen and traditional keyboard.

And it means that your laptop is always online, thanks to the phone’s Internet connection.

Finally, it means that you have to reverse your usual thinking about battery life. The laptop is basically a giant battery. With the phone inserted, you can happily work away for eight or 10 hours on a single charge. In fact, the laptop actually charges the phone while you work. Yes, that’s correct: you’ll get off the plane with a more fully charged phone than when you got on.

Both the phone and the laptop are gorgeous. The phone has the usual Android goodies, like front and back cameras and hi-def video recording, and it uses Motorola’s MotoBlur software, which can unify the address books and messages from your various online accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and e-mail).

But to make it powerful enough to drive a laptop, Motorola had to give it far more oomph than a typical phone. It has a dual-core processor, which, in English, means “faster than any phone you’ve ever used.” We are talking slick, responsive, satisfying.

The phone also has a fingerprint sensor built into the power button on the top back of the phone. That is, you can unlock and turn on the phone with a single finger. It’s better in theory than in execution, alas: it often takes several finger-swipes before the phone recognizes you. (You can also set up a regular typed-in password, or none.)

This phone doesn’t do much to address America’s cellphone obesity epidemic; you could probably fit an iPhone inside its body cavity and still have room for a pencil. On the other hand, the screen is gigantic — 960 x 540 pixels — which is great when you’re viewing GPS maps, documents and photos.

The laptop looks and feels like a black MacBook Air: 2.4 pounds, all cool brushed aluminum. The flat-topped keys poke up through the aluminum — again, very MacBook Airish. They’re slightly smaller than standard size, but still fine for rapid touch-typing.

The best thing about the whole phone-laptop concept is that you don’t have to think. You can pop the phone into the laptop, or yank it out, without shutting it down or entering any kind of special mode.

After about 10 seconds, whatever was on the phone’s screen appears on the laptop’s screen. It’s wild: you actually see your phone in a window. All of the buttons and icons are clickable with the trackpad clicker. You can even make phone calls in this setup — the laptop becomes a speakerphone. It’s a crazy, mind-blowing experience.

You can even run all your Android apps on the laptop’s 11.6-inch screen. Sadly, the apps don’t actually exploit the much larger laptop screen real estate. If you click the Full Screen button on the phone window, the software magnifies beautifully; if you’re over 40, you’ll have no problem reading “small” type, which is now bumper-sticker size. But you’re not seeing any additional area — only an enlarged version of what was on the phone screen. Good thing the phone’s screen has such high resolution to begin with.

The laptop also lets you open a second window, containing the Firefox Web browser at full size. That’s handy for doing e-mail, checking online calendars and, of course, surfing the Web.

All of this is so thoughtfully executed, so beautifully designed, that recommending it might seem like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, it’s ultimately a some-brainer, because there are a few flies in the Atrix ointment.

First, scrolling is a serious problem. On the phone, you scroll things with a quick swipe of your finger on the touch screen: your e-mail Inbox, your Twitter feed, your Applications list and so on. But when the phone’s in the laptop, swiping is far more difficult. While pressing down the recalcitrant clicker button, you drag one finger on the trackpad. It’s spectacularly awkward, especially because the phone frequently misinterprets the initial click as an “I want to open this app” gesture. There are Page Up/Page Down keystrokes, but they don’t function in phone apps — only in Firefox.

Second, remember that this is an Android laptop, not a Mac or Windows laptop. You can edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files very comfortably, using the built-in Quickoffice software. But you won’t be running the kinds of programs you could run on a real laptop — games, Photoshop, whatever.

Because the phone runs Flash video, you ought to be able to enjoy TV shows at Hulu.com. But maybe because it’s phone Flash, it’s so jerky that it’s unwatchable, even on a fast Wi-Fi connection.

Third, the Internet speed isn’t what it should be. If you’re in one of the cities where AT&T has finished upgrading its network to 4G (fourth-generation equipment), you’re supposed to get superfast Internet service. In practice, though, the 4G adds nothing. Even when you test it in a 4G town like New York (as Engadget did) or Boston (as I did), the Atrix has an even slower Internet connection than a non-4G phone. (At&T’s explanation: the 4G indicator may appear on the phone even when the area’s 4G network upgrade isn’t yet complete.)

Fourth, the phone and the laptop together cost $500 (after $100 rebate). Now, for that money, you could get a nice phone and a full-blown Windows netbook that runs faster and does it all. Of course, you lose most of the perks — a single storage gadget, eternal battery life and so on. And the netbook you buy won’t be anywhere near as beautiful as the Atrix laptop.

But it’s not just the price of the hardware. To use the browser on the laptop, you’re required to pay AT&T an additional $20 a month — a “tethering plan.”

You can also buy a TV dock for the Atrix, with remote control, so that you can view your photos, videos and other stuff on the big screen. There’s also a beautiful wireless Bluetooth keyboard and mouse; together with the TV dock, you can turn any TV into a full-blown Android PC.

The Atrix, then, is three things. It’s an extremely fast, powerful, superbly designed phone. It’s a gorgeous, lightweight, long-lasting laptop that’s tragically clumsy to use.

Above all, it’s a really, really brilliant idea. Here’s hoping that Motorola sticks with its team of fresh-thinking engineers long enough to produce an Atrix II.