TechBytes: Verizon Cancellation Fee

Nov. 5, 2009— -- Verizon is doubling the early termination fee on some of its cell phones. The nation's largest cell phone carrier will charge $350 to break the contract for what it calls "advanced devices" such as smartphones. The change goes into effect Nov. 15. The announcement comes just a couple of days before Verizon releases its highly anticipated Droid smartphone. The phone has been getting excellent reviews and is considered the best alternative to the iPhone.

Apple's app store has hit a major milestone with more than 100,000 programs available now for the iPhone and iPod touch. Users have also downloaded well over 2 billion apps covering everything from games to news to travel. The app store and all these programs have helped set the iPhone apart from all of its challengers.

The Beatles'record label, EMI, is suing Web site Blue Beat for selling Beatles music for 25 cents a song. The Fab Four's record label claims that the site is selling the songs without permission. Don't fret Beatles fans. There soon will be a legal way to get the band's music digitally, although not through iTunes or any other online store. The Beatles' store is offering this limited edition Beatles Stereo USB. The 16 gigabyte thumb drive comes loaded with all 14 of the Beatles newly remastered albums, 13 mini-documentaries, photos and more. It goes on sale next month for $279.

Spending time on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace is good for you according to a recently published study. Researchers found that time spent on the internet can actually lead to larger, more diverse social networks. This refutes previous research from earlier in the decade that suggested that our growing dependence on technology came at the expense of close human connections. Researchers say e-mail, social networking sites and cell phones have helped bring people together, not isolate them.