Product Reviews Net |
- Earth Hour 2011: Stores Take Part
- New iPhone 5 Accessories, Snap On Cover?
- Sprint’s Survival Post iPhone 5 and Droid Bionic Release
- Acer W500 / A500 Tablet: Windows 7 and Android 3.0 Honeycomb
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Play: O2 UK Release Date Delayed
- Fight Night Champion DLC On Way: Adds Bare Knuckle Fighting
- Nightclub Story for iOS: New Nightclub Management Game
- Twitter iOS App Update : Now has support for iPad 2 camera’s
- Speck CandyShell Card Case: Use your iPhone 4 as a card holder
- iSkin earTones: New earphones for iPhone debut
- Facebook Questions, Will You Use the New Feature?
- XGear Smart Cover Enhancer: iPad 2 gets extra protection – Video
- XPERIA X10 to get Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread After Sony Ericsson Change Mind
- Tiny Wings iOS Game Receives Update: Brings New Features
- AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile may get blocked by FCC
- iPad 2 UK Availability: PCWorld, Comet, and More
- New iPad 2 Cases: When Safe-Conduct Counts
- CPT002 Aston Martin concept phone: Mobiado’s imagination runs wild
- Max and the Magic Marker: New Puzzle Game for iOS
- iPad 2 UK Launch: Outcry
| Earth Hour 2011: Stores Take Part Posted: 26 Mar 2011 02:29 AM PDT
Later today see's Earth Hour 2011 taking place, where people around the world are encouraged to take part by turning off lights to help save energy. The Earth Hour takes place from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m. local time, and will see many of the country's big stores taking part. Kmart and Sears stores across the country will be turning off and dimming all non-essential lighting, as well as switching off TVs and computer monitors. They are hoping to save 80,000 kilowatt hours during the hour, which is enough to run just under eight American homes for a whole year. Verizon Wireless is also joining in with the initiative by turning off lights in over 500 of the company's stores, and in its offices. In doing this they will save 45,000 kilowatt hours. The WWF inspired event will see people taking part in 128 countries, with individuals and companies getting involved.
You can find out more information by heading over to the official Earth Hour website. Will you be joining in with Earth Hour tonight? For more coverage:
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| New iPhone 5 Accessories, Snap On Cover? Posted: 26 Mar 2011 01:50 AM PDT
When any manufacturer releases a new handset, you also get a range of cases and other goodies becoming available as well. Many people when they buy an expensive new smartphone want to protect it with some sort of case or cover. When Apple announces their next generation of smartphone in a few months, what new iPhone 5 accessories can we expect to see? The recent launch of the iPad 2 saw Apple bringing out a clever new design for the device with the Smart Cover. With this in mind will we see Apple do something similar with the iPhone 5? The new cover for the iPad 2 will probably sell by the bucket load, so Apple might want to cash in on the idea with the smartphone. A good case or cover for a handset not only needs to protect it from life's bumps and scrapes, but also to be practical. It's no good having your handset protected by a case, but you can't easily get to all the devices features.
Luckily many case manufacturers come up with clever designs which not only protect but can enhance the device. Bulk can also be an issue, if a cover is too big it can make a nice sleek handset look like a brick. We will have to wait until June to see if Apple has anything special lined up for the new iPhone. Would you like to see something similar to the Smart Cover for the iPhone 5? For more coverage:
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| Sprint’s Survival Post iPhone 5 and Droid Bionic Release Posted: 25 Mar 2011 05:17 PM PDT
The success of Apple's iPhone product cycle is pretty much undeniable, and this will affect other brands and networks in 2011. The phone industry is changing and T-Mobile is one example of this, but the devices that release on each carrier will play a big part in the future of this industry. Apple's iPhone 5 will release shortly after June 2011, and we expect a Verizon Wireless and AT&T release, but where will this leave Sprint? PopHerald points to the problems Sprint may face, mentioning that the iPhone 5 release will be challenged by Verizon’s Motorola Droid Bionic, and that Sprint needs a partnership with Google in order to survive. Would you agree? We're excited to see what comes of the HTC Evo 3D on Sprint, which is a 3D glassless smartphone, and expectations of Sprint getting the Motorola Atrix 4G in 2011 can only help the carrier, but is this enough? One recent report suggested that T-Mobile and Verizon have a faster WiMAX/4G network than Sprint; this is not good news for Sprint, especially if the T-Mobile buyout gets approved. Have a read of the article on PopHerald, and let us know what you think of Sprint's network? Does Sprint have some big problems this year, when compared to the other carriers? For more coverage:
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| Acer W500 / A500 Tablet: Windows 7 and Android 3.0 Honeycomb Posted: 25 Mar 2011 04:53 PM PDT
As confirmation comes with the news of a price and release date for the Acer W500 / A500 tablet, we understand that these devices will support Android 3.0 Honeycomb and Windows 7 operating systems. Featuring Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G options, the W500 will also be available with a docking keyboard, if you so wish. But even though this keyboard can be used as a magnetic cover, the main feature would be the netbook appearance. Some might not agree, finding the netbook thicker opposed to the thin tablet appearance. Reg Hardware has taken a look at Acer's ‘missing’ tablet strategy, which has been covered over 3-pages. They look at what powers both the Tablet PCs, and how the processor and graphic inwards compare. You can expect 6-hours web browsing and 4-hours video viewing on the W500. Read the full review here, and while there is no price for the Acer A500 with Wi-Fi + 3G, it is expected that both versions, running Windows and Android 3.0, will ship in April. Currently this should be treated as rumor only, as Google may have other ideas for when we get a piece of Honeycomb. Let us know what you think of Acer's tablet strategy in the comments. Will this brand be your next tablet? For more coverage:
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| Sony Ericsson Xperia Play: O2 UK Release Date Delayed Posted: 25 Mar 2011 01:29 PM PDT
We have some rather disappointing news now for those of you that live in the UK and were hoping to pick up the much-awaited Sony Ericsson Xperia Play phone from O2 next week, as the network has just announced that the release date has now been delayed. According to Kate Solomon over at techradar.com, the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) run handset was due to go on sale as from Friday, April 1st, but O2 decided to delay the UK release after they discovered software bugs that were causing issues with the performance of the Xperia Play. Stuart Hibberd – the head of the network's testing team – said that the company had been testing the phone non-stop for several weeks, and discovered bugs in the software. Hibberd claimed that if the bugs were not fixed, customers would not have a great experience. He continued on to explain that the team had been working with Sony Ericsson in order to fix the said bugs, but unfortunately had not been able to get them ironed out in time for them to launch the handset on April 1st as the company had originally scheduled. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play comes with six pre-installed games, and features a slide out gaming controller and a full touch screen. If you didn't already know, O2 customers will also be able to pick up the O2-exclusive white version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play at some stage. For more coverage:
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| Fight Night Champion DLC On Way: Adds Bare Knuckle Fighting Posted: 25 Mar 2011 11:39 AM PDT
A few days ago we brought you news about a title update for Electronic Arts' popular boxing game, Fight Night Champion. We also mentioned that the game was going to receive some new DLC, although at that point we didn't have a specific release date or any details. However, we now have a bit more information about the upcoming DLC, including when we can expect it to arrive. According to Owen Good over at uk.kotaku.com, the new downloadable content adds bare-knuckle fighting to the Fight Night Champion game. The DLC's new bare-knuckle 'Old School Rules' feature will be added to both online and offline gameplay, and will play out just like the prison sequences that featured in the game's narrative mode: no referee, no timed rounds and the last man standing. However, not all of the licensed boxers in the game's roster will be included in the 'Old School Rules' feature. Big names such as George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De Lay Hoya and Roberto Duran will not be available. The upcoming DLC package will also bring five legendary boxers to the game: Floyd Patterson, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey. The downloadable content arrives on the Xbox 360 on March 29th and on the PS3 on March 30th. Are you looking forward to the upcoming DLC? For more coverage:
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| Nightclub Story for iOS: New Nightclub Management Game Posted: 25 Mar 2011 10:27 AM PDT
Have you ever fancied managing your very own nightclub? Well now it looks like you'll be able to, although it is just in a game that I'm talking about!! The TeamLava-developed Nightclub Story is a free nightclub management game available for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. As Wesley Yin-Poole at eurogamer.net reports, the Nightclub Story game enables players to customize and manage their very own nightclub. Users are then tasked with keeping the punters happy by uniquely decorating the club, preparing the drinks and making sure the DJ keeps the tunes going. The Nightclub Story application enables players to create the ideal party atmosphere, by either choosing songs from the in-game music or picking songs from their own iTunes playlist. It even allows you to snap and swap photos of top clubs or exchange club decor with other gamers. According to the itunes.apple.com website, players can even visit and dance at their friends' nightclubs, or invite their Facebook friends to be their Nightclub Story neighbors. The app will also receive free updates each week, which will bring new dance floors, new drinks and new décor. Would you download a game such as Nightclub Story? For more coverage:
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| Twitter iOS App Update : Now has support for iPad 2 camera’s Posted: 25 Mar 2011 09:29 AM PDT
If you are already the proud owner of the iPad 2, and not had all the problems consumers in the UK have been facing, the official Twitter application for iOS devices has just been updated. The update now has support for the iPad 2 dual cameras. Twitter allows users to instantly update friends with what you are doing or reading. You can follow your favorite celebrities or sports stars with short bursts of information on your mobile device. The application allows users to browse interests, find and follow friends, and more. Other features include a camera button on the toolbar which make sharing photos easier. You can share videos and web pages quickly and easily. Besides the new iPad 2 camera support the update has fixed bugs, and the significant location change monitoring has been disabled to avoid the compass being displayed constantly.
Twitter 3.3.2 is available for owners of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch worldwide on the App Store free of charge. iOS 3.1 or later required. For more coverage:
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| Speck CandyShell Card Case: Use your iPhone 4 as a card holder Posted: 25 Mar 2011 09:26 AM PDT
The iPhone has a number of cases available to it for that added protection that you need to avoid getting your prized possessions damaged. Speck is responsible for manufacturing a number of those cases and we have news of another from the company called the CandyShell Card. We previously brought you news that featured the CandyShell case back in November last year. It was an article of the seven best cases that were available. This case is multi-functional as not only will it cover and protect your iPhone but it also acts as a card holder. This means you can offload a little weight from your purse or wallet as it can hold up to three credit cards including your driver's license for example, at one time. The case is made of a rubbery material that will grip your cards tightly; even a single card can be secured. It will fit all versions of the iPhone 4 including AT&T and Verizon and is available in a number colors including purple with teal, black and white and black and grey. The CandyShell Card case is for sale now for $39.95. More details about the case can be found at Slashgear. What so you think of the new multi-functional case? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| iSkin earTones: New earphones for iPhone debut Posted: 25 Mar 2011 08:47 AM PDT
If you own a and iPod, iPhone or any other type of music player for that matter and are not happy with the current headphones you have or just fancy a change, then this news might be of some interest to you. The iSkin earTones have just been introduced to the market. Not only do these cute earphones have an inline remote to control the track and integrated microphone but also feature BlackBerry and iOS device functionality allowing users to receive and make calls using the remote. The earphones are also compatible with MacBooks and other Apple Mac computers. Probably the most interesting feature about the iSkin EarTones is its protective Microban antimicrobial layer which is on the microphone and earbuds. It prevents the growth of things like bacteria and fungus. The headphones also feature the industry's first FlexFit necks on the earbuds to allow adjustment for comfort. They work in 3.5mm ports and can be used for things like iChat, FaceTime and Skype as well as more. They are available in a variety of colors and are yours to own for $39.99. For more details about the earTones check out SwiftPage3 by clicking the link. What do you think of the new line of headphones? Will you be getting a pair? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Facebook Questions, Will You Use the New Feature? Posted: 25 Mar 2011 08:20 AM PDT
If you have logged into Facebook today you may have noticed that there has been a slight change, this is because a new feature has been introduced which is called Facebook Questions, this allows you to set up your own polls. Instead of posting a status update, photo, link or video you can now post a question, this shows up as a poll where people can vote for their favorite answer, if the answer they want is not there they can add their own, neat eh? The official Product Reviews Facebook page has tested out this new feature and it is pretty cool, we have embedded a screen showing our first-ever Facebook Question poll below.
What we love about this new feature is its ability to spread, once you answer the question all of your friends see your answer, if your friends answer the question their friends see their answer, this will go on and on spreading across many groups of friends, countries an cultures. You can find out fully detailed information regarding the new feature over at the Facebook Blog, to ask your friends a question simply select “Question” just above where you usually type your status update. Do you like the Facebook Questions feature? For more coverage:
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| XGear Smart Cover Enhancer: iPad 2 gets extra protection – Video Posted: 25 Mar 2011 08:19 AM PDT
As you may already know by now, the release of the much hyped iPad 2 has been and the frenzy has seen the tablets fly off the shelves at an alarming rate. If you cast your minds back to when the iPad 2 was announced you will remember the announcement of its companion the Smart Cover. The cover was designed and built alongside the iPad 2 and has some impressive features of its own. Today we have news of a new case for the iPad 2 that combines with the Smart Cover to offer maximum protection with style and innovation. The XGear Smart Cover Enhancer as it is known is a thin but protective case that is scratchproof and easily installed. Just like the Smart Cover snaps onto the front of the iPad 2 this case snaps onto the back and does not affect the way the Smart Cover functions. It's available in two colors clear and black and has already begun shipping. The Smart Cover Enhancer will cost just $34.99, more details can be found at XGear Live. In the meantime why not check out the video we have provided below of the cover in action and let us know what you think in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| XPERIA X10 to get Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread After Sony Ericsson Change Mind Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:55 AM PDT
If you were one of the disappointed Xperia X10 owners who were told that their smartphone would remain Android 2.1 back in January then we have some exciting news for you. It appears that Sony Ericsson has changed their minds and will be rolling out the Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread update. The mind change is thought to have come from strong demand from the customers who made their thoughts heard at the company's official forum. The company is expected to release the update sometime in the third quarter of this year if not the late second quarter. Though carrier-modified X10s will receive Gingerbread after the initial generic X10s, other devices such as the X10 mini pro and the Xperia X10 mini will not receive it at all and remain on Éclair. Warnings are being noted of the possible loss of functionality of existing features as well as protected date DRM keys. Sony Ericsson has also made a statement assuring that the Gingerbread update for the Xperia X10 will be its last for that device and no official firmware upgrades have been planned for the future of the device. More details can be found in the article at Android Community by clicking the link where you will find a list of features set to be included in the update. What do you think of the update? Will you be getting Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread on your Xperia X10? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Tiny Wings iOS Game Receives Update: Brings New Features Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:52 AM PDT
Great news now for those of you that have already downloaded the hugely popular Tiny Wings game on your iOS device, as the app has just received an update. Not only does the update include several bug fixes, but it also brings a few new features. According to a recent videogamer.com article by James Orry, the headliner of the latest update is the brand new nest, which challenges gamers to fly through the 4th Island in Fever Mode, reach the 9th Island and do a total of 20 cloud touches not in Fever Mode. Other new features that players should look out for when they next play the game is additional leaderboards, Game Center support, a new statistics page (which can be seen at the in-game pause main as well as the main menu) and the ability to play your own music. There have also been a few changes made with the new update, which includes the 6th Island now being a little easier. The update has also fixed several bugs including the text notification crash and the lag that players were experiencing when arriving at the 5th Island. It has also fixed a crash that occurred when gamers reached the 10th Island, as well as a Fever Mode cheat. If you haven't purchased the Tiny Wings game yet, then it can be downloaded for just £0.59. Are you hooked on the Tiny Wings application already? For more coverage:
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| AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile may get blocked by FCC Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:51 AM PDT
We told you recently about AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA, the deal which is said to be worth $39 may not get approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The deal will be studied by the FCC, who will want to see if it is the public's interest. Lawrence Latif from the Inquirer is reporting in an article, that a FCC official has told the Wall St Journal the deal may encounter problems getting approved. The official said "It will be a steep climb to say the least". According to the official, the FCC has not even begun formally evaluating the proposed deal yet. If the buyout gets the go ahead by the FCC it would make AT&T the largest cell phone operator in the US with 129 million users, and will also become the only GSM carrier in the country. Despite the comments a spokesman for AT&T Michael Balmoris said, "The facts will demonstrate that the deal is in the public interest", and feels competition will continue to grow.
AT&T has put aside $3 billion to pay T-Mobile's owners Deutsche Telekom in case the deal falls through, if not approved by the FCC. AT&T may have to wait up to a year before any decision is made though, but deals have gone through before despite FCC officials raising doubts. Do you hope that the FCC blocks AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile? For more coverage:
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| iPad 2 UK Availability: PCWorld, Comet, and More Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:48 AM PDT
Later today the iPad 2 will become available in the United Kingdom, many of you thought it would be easy to get your hands on Apple’s second generation tablet, however there will be a lot of luck involved as many retailers will sell the iPad 2 on a first-come fist-served basis. PC World and Comet will not allow you to reserve your iPad 2, in fact there is no way to buy the iPad 2 on either website (pcworld.co.uk or comet.co.uk), all you can do is use the site to find your local store which will begin selling the iPad 2 from 5pm today. Most of us live nearby to a large retailer who will be selling the iPad 2, however a lot of us do not, therefore there will undoubtedly be a lot of let-down people who traveled a long distance to get their iPad 2 only to find that they were sold out by the time they get there. Lots of people were hoping to buy their iPad 2 today as ordering online may result in a long 4 week wait for delivery, however we have a feeling that people are going to be disappointed by stock levels as we have already heard rumors suggesting that some stores will be getting no iPad 2s whatsoever, which suggests there may be a shortage of stock. We would love to hear from you if you are having problems getting hold of the iPad 2, let us know your stories in the comments section below. For more coverage:
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| New iPad 2 Cases: When Safe-Conduct Counts Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:28 AM PDT
If you've just gone out and got yourself a brand new Apple iPad 2, the first thing that might be going through your head is how you can best protect it. There are plenty of new cases available for Apple's next generation tablet, and we thought we'd take a quick look at some of them. Rich Trenholm over on the crave.cnet.co.uk website has provided a list of what he believes is the 12 coolest iPad 2 cases on the market including the Proporta Maya II, the Scosche GlosSEE, the Fridge Pad and the ultra cool Speck iGuy, which is a colorful foam case that costs £45. The Proporta Maya II on the other hand is a little cheaper at £20, is made out of the 'finest-quality leather alternative' and comes in assorted colors. If you just happen to be an Angry Birds fan, then you'll most likely love the Gear 4 Angry Birds protective cases for the iPad 2. If you want a case with a little more protection, then the £35 Hard Candy StreetSkin case might be the ideal one for you. The Hard Candy StreetSkin is a tough rubber case that looks like it's been made out of a monster-truck tyre and features a magnetic screen cover. See what other cases were listed as the coolest over on the crave.cnet.co.uk website. What case will you be buying for your new iPad 2? For more coverage:
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| CPT002 Aston Martin concept phone: Mobiado’s imagination runs wild Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:16 AM PDT
When it comes to concepts manufacturers are expected to let their imaginations run wild, and why not there's nothing to say that a concept has to be achievable. Lucky for Mobiado, as the company has come up with a radical concept phone that is hard to imagine let alone manufacture. They've even gone as far as to say which OS the phone will run and has of course named the Android Powered device the Aston Martin CPT002. Its design is a little impractical to say the least making a production level version pretty much impossible. Some of the key features that are noted in the article at GSM Arena are its Aston Martin interfacing which allows for social networking on Twitter and Facebook through the dash, media sharing and can record stats and act as a monitoring safety sensor in case of an emergency or an accident. The outside is a combination of two platinum bars which act as a frame and a plane of transparent solid sapphire crystal as its touchscreen display. The bars contain all power from batteries electronics while the display has an embedded color capacitive touch layer somehow. It's safe to say that you won't be seeing the concept debuting anywhere anytime soon. What do you think of the design though? Is this something you expect to see in the future? Let us know in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Max and the Magic Marker: New Puzzle Game for iOS Posted: 25 Mar 2011 06:53 AM PDT
If you own an iOS device and you enjoy playing puzzle games, you're more than likely going to love the recently released Max and the Magic Marker app. The new physics-based puzzle platformer sees players taking on the role of a young boy called Max, who receives a mysterious marker in the post. As Anthony Usher over at pocketgamer.co.uk recently reported, gamers will be tasked with chasing down a monster, which is the first thing that Max draws with his new marker, overcoming obstacles, defeating enemies and solving various puzzles with the help of the magic marker. Everything that the player draws becomes a real interactive object within the game. The Max and the Magic Marker app – which is available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and costs £1.19/$1.99 and £2.99/$4.99 respectively – features a total of 58 levels that are spread over three very unique worlds. As noted over on the itunes.apple.com website, each puzzle offers multiple solutions. If you manage to solve the puzzles, you will of course earn yourself plenty of achievements. We've embedded a video of the Max and the Magic Marker app below this post, so you can see exactly how fun the game really is. Have you downloaded the Max and the Magic Marker game yet? For more coverage:
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| Posted: 25 Mar 2011 06:44 AM PDT
Today is the first day UK consumers should be able to order or pickup themselves a shiny new iPad 2. For many people queuing up for hours at one of Apple's retail stores is not for them, so looked to the online store. But as we reported soon after the device went live that was not so easy. The iPad UK launch has caused a bit of an outcry as many of you have had problems trying to order yourself the device. It looks like Apple has underestimated the demand for the iPad 2, which seems pretty strange considering the US launch. For those of you, who managed to complete your order soon after it went live, were still met with a two or three week dispatch time. This has since stretched to four or five weeks. Some people have reported problems with being charged for multiple units, following repeated attempts to order. One reader named 'Josh' said he was called by his bank because £2500 was due to leave his account; this was after getting the error message several times. He was not the only one to be contacted by a bank either.
It looks if the problems are not confined to the UK though, as people have reported problems in Canada and Switzerland. Some of you had more success when trying a little later on, but were still not happy with the delivery times. You would have thought Apple would have cracked this situation now when they release a new product. Are you happy with the online ordering service? Have you decided to delay ordering for now? For more coverage:
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