Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G LTE Starts Shipping After Customs Delay

Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G LTE Starts Shipping After Customs Delay
 May 21, 2012 by Emily Price on Mashable

If you pre-ordered Sprint’s EVO 4G LTE, then your wait is almost over. Sprint announced via a forum post Monday afternoon that it expects to begin shipping the HTC EVO 4G LTE to customers who pre-ordered the device soon, with phones expected to arrive on or around May 24th.


The EVO 4G LTE was originally slated to be released on May 18, but was delayed in U.S. customs due to a “review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order.”

The exclusion order came from a court ruling last year when HTC was accused of violating 10 Apple patents. The judge ruled in favor of Apple in the case, and required HTC to adjust the software in its phones in order for them to be sold in the U.S. The problem in this case specifically centered around tapping a phone number in an email to launch the phone’s dialer to call a number.

The exclusion order went into effect on April 19, and both the HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE were both pulled for inspection last week. At the time HTC acknowledged the review, and issued a statement reading in part, “We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with customs to secure approval” — approval which it now appears to have -– at least in the case of the EVO 4G LTE.

If you have already pre-ordered the EVO 4G LTE, then you can expect the phone to arrive on or around this Thursday. Customers will be sent a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number as soon as their devices ships, and you can check the status of your pre-order on Sprint’s website.

Crazy Tech Toys You Could Buy With Your Tax Refund

7 Crazy Tech Toys You Could Buy With Your Tax Refund
by Christine Erickson on Mashable

This year’s average tax return is $2,946, according to the Associated Press.

It’s slightly down from last year, but there are still some pretty crazy things you could purchase with about three grand in pocket change. We’ve rounded up seven that you can blow your money on. Or you could just, you know, save it while our economy recovers from a crippling recession.

What kind of tech are you in the market for? Let us know in the comments.

1. 3D Printer

This one's not the top of the line, which would require you to shell out an additional $2,000. But you can still create prototypes and models from home with this personal 3D printer.

Cost: $1,495

---

2. Ms. Pac-Man Arcade Game

This 1981 classic arcade game would look perfect in your living room.

Cost: $2,770

---

3. Inflatable Home Theater

Your backyard could be turned into a movie theater with this 12-by-7-foot inflatable system. You'd still have enough left over for some DVDs and about 12 boxes of popcorn.

Cost: $2,700

---

4. Hovercraft

This two to three-person hovercraft could yours if you cash in your return.

Cost: $2,500

---

5. Jukebox

This 10-disc CD jukebox is modernized with an iPod dock and full-function remote control.

Cost: $2,695

---

6. Digital Document Camera

This high-end digital camera will allow you to project 3D objects and documents onto a screen.

Cost: $2,691

---

7. Remote-Controlled Airplane

You could buy a round trip, first class flight from New York to to Paris, or you could just buy this remote-controlled airplane.

---

BONUS: 8 Cadillac Escalades

OK, so you can't buy a real Escalade with your tax returns, but you can roll out in eight of the next best thing. You'll also save tons on gas!

Cost: $2,872