The Best Stuff Ever Series Just Got Better
It's a big, wide, webbed world out there, and for you smartphoners out there who want a lightning fast machine with unlimited data, you can finally have it all—if you know where to look. So to celebrate T-Mobile's release of its two speediest 4G smartphones ever, the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Amaze 4G—both of which are capable of streaming TV and movies faster than home internet on their nationwide 4G network—and their best rate plan ever: unlimited data, talk & text for $49.99 each line per month, we've teamed up with America's Largest 4G Network to bring you a little something we like to call The Best Stuff Ever Series.
Below you'll find the films you should be watching, the music you could be downloading, the games you'll want to play and the twits you could be tweeting at—all on your 4G smartphone. But only if you have the best plan out there.
Watch
You know how it goes: There's nothing on TV but Mad Men reruns and a Nova special about the mating rituals of jungle cats. (Come to think of it, both shows are kind of about the same thing.) Cue the miracle that is Netflix's Watch Instantly section. With a constantly updating library, there is always something ready to watch within reach—especially if you're viewing from your phone! Here are some that you shouldn't miss.
Into the Universe with Steven Hawking: Calling Stephen Hawking's Into The Universe "epic" might be selling it a bit short. Join the beyond-brilliant Hawking as he guides you through the possibilities of time travel, alien life, and the nature of the universe itself via the combination of intensely captivating computer animation and ominous, Star Wars-esque background music. The video expires roughly a year from now, which is plenty of time to get to know everything there is to know about the great beyond just in case you have a run-in with a Japanese second grader.
13 Assassins: As the time of Shoguns in Edo-era Japan begins to wane, one man preys on his own village, raping and killing without threat of punishment or capture. The body count climbs too high and an aging samurai is hired to assassinate the young man and end the village's plight. He recruits 12 other samurai and converts the town into a set of traps to ensure the torturer meets the fate he deserves. This 2010 remake is directed by Takashi Miike. It doesn't expire until 2014, so you have plenty of time to plan a sake and samurai night.
Andrew W.K.: Who Knows: Live 1992-2004 Have you ever thrown a party-themed party where everyone parties simply because who doesn't love a party-party? Meet Andrew W.K.'s catalog, where "partying" isn't just a verb, it's the only thing worth doing. And now through December 1 you can watch the evolution of the party starter himself, Andrew W.K., on Netflix Instant View. If it doesn't make you want to party, your party button might be broken.
Listen
Music is good for a lot of things: warding off subway crazies, providing a soundtrack to an otherwise boring jog, inspiring an impromptu dance party. So we're here to help you load up your droid with the best new releases so you can curate playlists so fresh for fall that your primary function on Earth will be to remind all of your friends and coworkers that they really need to upgrade their music.
David Lynch, Crazy Clown Time: David Lynch, yes that David Lynch, has an album and it's everything you'd want it to be. Lynch sings through a voice modulator over eerie and oddly catchy electronic beats and even scores some guest vocals from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O, resulting in something that David Lynch characters would dance/sing/moan along to any day of the week. If you were planning on jumping down the rabbit hole anyway, this is a great place to start. Click here to pre-order the full album.
Cass McCombs, Humor Risk: If you're at a loss for dreamy but occasionally heavy music to pipe into your ears while you're at work, Cass McCombs' new record should cure what ails you. The record's heart may be filled with darkness but its beat is still lively enough to keep you going throughout the day with no shortage of head bopping. Click here to pre-order the full album.
The Black Keys, El Camino: The blues rock band's seventh studio album is, coincidentally or not, pretty '70s-influenced. From the album title to the video for first single "Lonely Boy", in which some guy who looks like a 1970s office worker dances enthusiastically to the song in an empty, poorly lit room, there's clearly a theme going and the theme might wear platforms on the weekend. And because it's all done through the filter of The Black Keys, somehow that's a good thing. Click here to pre-order the full album.
Play
Productivity always takes priority, but even the most productive people have to take breaks sometimes. In fact, studies show most people need about a five-minute mental vacation for every hour of work. So here are some games for your phone that won't take up too much time, but are still incredibly fun.
Pocket God: If ever there were a game that is exactly what it sounds like, Pocket God would definitely be that game. You're on a remote island and you are in control of everyone on that island. You can give life, you can take it away. You can hit people with lightning and alter gravity and other vaguely blasphemous things that are awesomely fun to do when you're waiting in line to buy groceries.
The Impossible Game: If you've been in the mood to tackle something that's being billed as "the world's hardest game", you're in luck. With no shortage of spikes to fall on or giant gaps to leap over, this fast-paced, techno music-heavy game will keep your heart racing while you speed along in a quest to beat the unbeatable. And who doesn't love a challenge like that?
Word Help For Friends: Cheaters may never prosper but that's probably just because they don't have the right apps. This app uses the actual dictionary from the game to help you get better words while playing Words With Friends. And if you need some reassurance that it's not really cheating, you can click on the word and instantly get its definition, thereby making it a word you totally know (and making it feel a little less like cheating and a lot more like learning).
Follow
Sometimes you want to be entertained, and sometimes you want to be informed. The amazing thing about the Twitter-verse (Twitter-sphere? Twitter-burbs?) is that it's capable of doing both. Below are some top accounts you should start following, like, right now.
@BrianStelter: Brian Stelter, hired right out of college in 2007, is the youngest reporter working for the New York Times. A true sign of the times, he blogs faster and spends more time on Twitter than the rest of the industry. If you're looking for the best in breaking news, he already tweeted about it five minutes ago—and wrote you an essay examining every angle.
@HarvardBiz: With daily blog posts, management tips, and stats, the Harvard Business Review gives you all of your vital business information straight from the Harvard source. And all without having to go to or talk to someone who attends Harvard! That alone should be worth it.
@USCensusBureau: When it really comes down to it, everyone kind of wants to be the person who knows a little bit about everything. And what better way to do that than with facts and figures from the U.S. Census Bureau? Find out how much everyone is eating on national holidays, info on consumer and government spending, and perhaps most importantly, whether or not you're statistically above-average in virtually any way.
See! Unlimited data means unlimited options! Choose from the Samsung Galaxy S II, whose 4.52" Super AMOLED Plus screen offers the sharpest streaming out there, or the HTC Amaze 4G, whose camera shoots gorgeous 1080p HD video and snaps pics so quickly, you'll barely have time to post them to Facebook before your mom starts commenting.
No matter which phone you choose, T-Mobile is the only carrier to bring you unlimited data, plus unlimited talk, plus unlimited text with their $49.99 per line Family Plan. Seriously—Best. Plan. Ever. Head here to get signed up now, and check back soon for the next edition of the Best Stuff Ever Series.