Nokia announced today that its bringing an updated version of the Lumia 920 exclusively to Verizon. The new hardware is called the Lumia 928, and it features a number of new features that may have AT&T subscribers feeling a tinge of jealousy.

The Nokia Lumia 928 comes equipped with a 4.5-inch OLED display with a 1280×768 resolution, 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU, and an 8.7MP camera compete with Xenon flash. It also features the same image stabilization software that made the original Lumia 920 a hit with AT&T subscribers.

“Whether you’re attending a party, a concert or a sporting event with friends, the Nokia Lumia 928 excels at capturing high-quality video, audio and blur-free photos of life’s most share-worthy moments,” said Matt Rothschild, vice president, Nokia North America. “Verizon Wireless customers, we heard you and the wait is over – we’re excited to offer a Nokia flagship smartphone, specially designed and optimized for the nation’s largest 4G LTE network.”

Those looking for a more visual tour of the phone can check out the below video from Nokia:

The carrier expects to have the devices available online and in Verizon Wireless stores on May 30 – long after other carriers will have the device. However, launch dates have become a bit less definite lately, after Samsung issued a statement making it clear that supplies of the Galaxy S4 will be stretched thin throughout the world for weeks.

T-Mobile was originally touting the fact that it would be the first U.S. carrier to sell the Galaxy S4, on April 24, but the carrier yesterday pushed back its launch date for the smartphone to April 29. AT&T’s launch date is currently April 26.

Android fans who want one of Samsung’s new flagship Android devices within a few weeks of its launch will probably need to pre-order with their carrier of choice. The recent popularity of the Galaxy S phones has propelled Samsung into the role of Apple’s main competitor, and not even Samsung’s large manufacturing infrastructure can keep up with the demand.

A petition on Change.org asking Verizon to drop contracts has reached over 94,000 signatures. Its next milestone will be to reach 150,000 signatures, but just reaching 100,000 signatures should send a strong signal to the higher ups at Verizon that its consumer base wants a system where they’re not tied down to expensive contracts for two years, but are rather allowed to come and go as they please.

The movement definitely has support, but the hard part is convincing Verizon to do away with its expensive, and highly lucrative, contracts. Thankfully, the company at least seems willing to do so as its CEO, Lowell McAdam, said earlier this month that he would be ok with following T-Mobile’s lead into canceling contracts if there was enough consumer demand.

If Verizon did follow T-Mobile’s lead, it’s not like contracts would just magically disappear. They would replaced with what T-Mobile calls the “Simple Choice” plan which essentially replaces the contract with small monthly payments. The smartphone is still subsidized and you will still pay the same for data as you did before. The only difference is that you can leave the carrier at any time. Granted, you will have to pay the balance left on the phone if it’s not completely paid off.

Still, supporters say Verizon adopting a T-Mobile-like contract-less plan would be good for consumers on all carriers, not just Verizon and T-Mobile. With the backing of a major carrier like Verizon, other carriers like AT&T and Sprint would have no choice but to adopt a no contract policy as well. It could also possibly lead to all the wireless carriers agreeing on phone unlocking, an issue that the government hasn’t had much luck in regulating.

[h/t: Wireless Week]

Engadget received an internal memo from an anonymous source that lists the S4 release date across three major carriers – AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. As expected, the Galaxy S4 will be hitting AT&T first on April 26. T-Mobile subscribers won’t have to wait much longer as the device will launch for them on May 1. Those with Verizon will unfortunately have to wait a month as its launch is scheduled for May 30.

The memo says the above launch dates are tentative at the moment so things can change. The whole thing could be fake as well, but it certainly fits with previous comments from T-Mobile’s CEO when he said that the S4 would be coming to the network on May 1.

If these tentative launch dates stay the same, we should start seeing the Galaxy S4 going up for pre-order on T-Mobile and Verizon shortly. The leaked memo doesn’t mention any other carriers though so those waiting for word on Sprint’s pre-order and launch plans will probably have to wait a little longer.

On a final note, those interested in the S4 should probably get their pre-order in as soon as they open for your respective carrier. The memo says that inventory will be “highly constrained” at launch. We can hope that a repeat of last year’s Galaxy S III launch won’t be repeated, but Samsung may very well run out of stuck as soon as it launches.

On the Chromebook Pixel product page, Google now says that the Pixel is expected to ship by April 8. The LTE Chromebook Pixel comes in at $1,449, or $149 more than the Wi-Fi Chromebook Pixel, but the added LTE capability may be worth it to the consumer that desires more mobility out of their consumer electronics.

Before you dive headfirst into the LTE Pixel, though, you should probably be aware of what you’re getting into. For starters, the LTE Pixel exclusively uses Verizon’s LTE network. Those who purchase it will get 100 MB a month for the first two years. After that, you’ll have to start paying normal LTE network fees.

If you want more data, you’ll have to purchase a data plan with Verizon. Gigaom reports that Verizon will be selling Pixel LTE data by the gigabyte with 1GB a month costing $20, 3GB a month costing $35 and 5GB a month costing $50. If you want unlimited data for a day, that will cost $9.99. Gigaom also confirmed with Verizon that those already on a data sharing plan with the wireless carrier can add the Pixel to their existing plan for $10 more a month.

At the moment, the Pixel is tied to Verizon. It will be interesting, however, to see if Google starts offering it on other carriers in the future. If T-Mobile can build out its 4G LTE network even more, I could see some people flocking to the carrier for its unlimited data plans.

Which is what happened last week. After a three-month beta, Redbox Instant finally launched to the public.

Redbox Instant costs $8 a month, and that includes unlimited streaming of all 4,600 movies (no TV shows yet) in the Redbox Instant catalog, as well as a bonus 4 free DVD rentals from Redbox kiosks (which pays for over half the price itself, when you think about it). For $9 a month, you can upgrade your subscription to include Blu-Ray discs in the total package.

As of now, this is an exclusive deal – the Xbox 360 is the only console to feature a Redbox Instant app.

“Attention Redbox fans: the Redbox Instant by Verizon app is available on Xbox 360 now. Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers in the U.S. can sign up for Redbox Instant by Verizon and start enjoying Hollywood’s newest releases, in addition to a movie-lovers collection of popular classics available for unlimited streaming. Redbox Instant by Verizon also offers the ability to purchase and rent new releases and stream them directly into your living room through Xbox 360 without needing a subscription.” says the Major Nelson blog.

The Redbox Instant app also supports voice and gesture control via Kinect.

Yes, as with most streaming apps on the Xbox 360, a Xbox Live Gold membership is required. If you’re not a Gold member and you still want to check out Redbox Instant app – you’re in luck. The app will be unlocked for all Xbox LIVE members for a limited time.

67-year-old William Albaugh was arrested and released on $75,000 bond after police found underage porn images and videos on his Verizon cloud backup as well as on numerous thumb drives in his home. Police confiscated two storage units, a laptop, and an iPad as well.

According to police, there is no evidence that any children at St. Joseph’s church were victims.

Albaugh reportedly told police that he has been viewing child pornography since the 1970s, but was in no way involved with any of the porn’s creation.

Albaugh had been a deacon at the church since 1996, but the archdiocese has confirmed that he has been suspended.

The police were first tipped to Albaugh’s child pornography collection when Verizon notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Verizon said that they had detected the images and videos stored on his Verizon Online Backup and Sharing account.

[Baltimore Sun via Ars Technica]

“Today we’re happy to reveal that Redbox Instant by Verizon will be coming to Xbox 360 in the very near future,” says the Major Nelson blog. No other details were provided on the exact launch date of the new app, simply the “very near future.”

Also adding to a vagueness is the phrase “coming days,” which is the time frame in which current Redbox Instant beta participants will receive an email with a special access code. Redbox Instant is currently in a beta testing phase, but is likely to open up to everyone by March.

As is the case with Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu, and most other Xbox apps, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will be required to use the new Redbox Instant app. Redbox Instant itself costs $8 a month ($9 for Blu-ray), and that includes full streaming access as well as four additional physical rentals.

Score one for Microsoft as they’ve just landed another streaming video option to tempt users into paying for Xbox LIVE Gold – even if Redbox Instant’s current offerings leave a lot to be desired.

Additionally, Square announced on Wednesday that it is now working with Angie’s List so that merchants can enable mobile payments as part of Angie’s List’s Business Center mobile app.

“Working with Square will help provide happier transactions for our members and service companies,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “We’re excited to work with Square because they understand what small businesses need to succeed.”

“Whether on site or at a customer’s home, people will now have a fast, reliable way to accept payments. With Square, Angie’s List businesses can focus their time and energy on what really matters—doing great work,” said Square co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey. “We’re proud to work with Angie’s List to make life easier for businesses of all sizes.”

The Business Center app is currently only available on iOS.

Canada got a clear release date of February 5, but U.S. BlackBerry fans will have to wait until sometime in March. The specific launch date will probably vary by carrier, but each of the major U.S. carriers has at least confirmed that it will carry at least one of the two new BlackBerry 10 smartphones.

AT&T and Verizon, the two largest U.S. wireless carriers, have both confirmed that they will be carrying the BlackBerry Z10 (the one that resembles an iPhone) and the BlackBerry Q10 (the one with the traditional BlackBerry physical keyboard). The white version of the Z10 will be a Verizon exclusive handset. Verizon is also the only carrier that has so far announced a price for either of the new BlackBerry devices. The Z10 (both black and white) will retail for $200 plus a two-year Verizon service contract.

Neither T-Mobile nor Sprint will be selling both the Z10 and the Q10. They seem to have some sort of split deal with BlackBerry, where T-Mobile will be selling the Z10 and Sprint will be selling the keyboard-laden Q10.

None of the carriers are taking pre-orders for the BlackBerry smartphones yet, though all of them but Sprint are allowing customers to sign up for email notifications regarding the devices.