Sprint might launch free WiFi calling for select Android devices
Upgrading your plan may be a good way to avoid overage charges, but Sprint might have another option: WiFi calling. According to documents obtained by Android Central, the carrier is poised to give select Android phones the ability to call and text over a local connection, similar to T-Mobile’s service. The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini and Galaxy Mega are reportedly the first handsets that will have access to the service, but it’ll also be available to future devices running Android 4.2 or higher. It does have limitations, though, and will only work if you’re already within the confines of the network’s CDMA signal. We’ve reached out to Sprint for confirmation (and more info), and we’ll update you when we hear back.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint
Source: Android Central
Netflix’s first Oscar nomination comes for ‘The Square’ and you can watch it right now
Yesterday the nominees for the 86th Academy Awards were announced, and for the first time that list includes a production that will be primarily distributed via Netflix (check here for a list of theater screenings). A documentary centering on the 2011 Egyptian revolution, The Square has already garnered recognition at Sundance and the New York Film Festival. Directed by Jehane Noujaim, it was the first major documentary acquired by Netflix and by all regards, it’s a very good choice. Following up on a slew of TV shows and a few stand-up comedy specials, documentaries are the next focus for Netflix and besides The Square it has others like The Short Game (trailer) and Mitt (trailer). The Square just went live on the service this morning, watch it in full by clicking here or check out a trailer below.
Congratulations to Netflix original doc #TheSquare on its Oscar nomination! Streaming tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/liKyXSCbdw
– Netflix US (@netflix) January 16, 2014
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Netflix, Oscars.org
Losses, write-offs and pay cuts: it’s just a regular day at Acer
Acer executives are having a gloomy time of it after suffering a huger-than-expected financial loss for 2013 and subsequently being forced to take a 30 percent pay cut. Despite launching a wide range of PCs and tablets last year, the Taiwanese manufacturer lost around $700 million (NT$21 billion), including a last-minute write-down on “raw materials” that apparently escaped being turned into electronic devices that no one wants. Judging from the company’s showing at CES this year, which showed an interesting new focus on Android but in many cases still failed to match up to rival manufacturers (compare Lenovo’s Android all-in-one with Acer’s, for instance), it looks like the company has yet to change its ways — despite repeatedly changing its CEO.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Acer
Source: Acer
Skype update for iOS brings two-way HD video chat to newer Apple devices
Did you get a new iPad or iPhone this holiday? If so, Skype has a treat in store for you — it just updated its iPad and iPhone apps to support two-way HD video chat on all A7-equipped devices. Not that Skype is leaving older hardware without an upgrade, mind you. The same update lets the software receive chat messages in the background, and those messages will sync faster across every gadget you own. Whether or not you live on the cutting edge, you’ll definitely want to visit the App Store for the update.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: iDownloadBlog
Source: App Store (iPad), (iPhone)
Latest LG phone leak keeps hope alive for keyboard lovers
Smartphones with keyboards are increasingly rare, but LG must see some life left in the category — @evleaks has just posted a leaked press shot and specs for the Optimus F3Q, a landscape slider reportedly headed to T-Mobile. While the image doesn’t do much beyond confirm the five-row keyboard from an abstract image seen last month, the rumored specs suggest that the F3Q won’t be much different than its touch-only counterpart. It will supposedly ship with the F3′s 4-inch WVGA display, dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon, 5-megapixel camera and 2,460mAh battery; it may even run Android 4.1. There’s no mention of launch details in the leak, but the modest spec sheet hints that LG’s QWERTY handset will get an entry-level price.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG, T-Mobile
Source: @evleaks (Twitter)
NetZero’s mobile broadband now works wherever Sprint has 3G
Like the person who thinks socks with sandals is a bold fashion statement, WiMAX is a mobile technology that rarely gets invited to the cool parties anymore. NetZero, realizing that its WiMAX-powered mobile broadband needs to move with the times, signed a deal to use Sprint’s 3G, and latterly 4G, to bolster — and eventually replace — the service. Stage one of that agreement has now gone live, enabling NetZero users to hop onto Big Yellow’s EV-DO, which is more robust than Clearwire’s equivalent. The only disappointment, it seems, is that you’ll now have to wait until the fall before 4G services come online.
Source: NetZero
Starbucks plans to secure user information with updated iOS app (update)
Following this week’s revelation that Starbucks’ mobile apps store data such as user names, passwords and even location coordinates in plain text, a company executive announced today that a refreshed application is in the works. Curt Garner, the beverage giant’s chief information officer, says that the new iOS app will “add extra layers of protection” to the “added measures” that he claims already “sufficiently address the concerns” referenced in yesterday’s post. Garner also emphasizes that no information has been compromised using the methods outlined this week. There’s no firm timeline for the updated iOS app, but the company reiterated that the current version offers sufficient protection — and we imagine they’ll be sticking to that story right up until a fix is available.
Update: According to the Starbucks Twitter account, an update is now available. We’re not seeing it via the web, but a check of our iOS device reveals v2.6.2 with “additional performance enhancements and safeguards.” The press release doesn’t go into detail about changes, saying only “As promised, we have released an updated version of Starbucks Mobile App for iOS which adds extra layers of protection. We encourage customers to download the update as an additional safeguard measure.”
Update for Starbucks iOS Mobile App is now available.
– Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) January 17, 2014
The Engadget Show 49: CES 2014 wrapup
Grab a wearable, switch on the ‘ole curved TV and fire up your favorite 3D printer. We came, we saw, we conquered and now we’re ready to distill it all for you in the form of some high-quality video content. We’re not going to suggest that it’ll replace the seemingly endless stream of posts we’ve churned out over the past week or so, but if you’ve got a cocktail party full of guests you need to impress tonight, it’ll help you drop some serious CES 2014 tech news knowledge on their collective heads.
We’ve pulled together some top editors to offer up an abbreviated view of tech’s biggest show of the year, charting trends in old standby categories like HDTV, mobile, tablets and cars, to emerging spaces set to define the changing face of the show for years to come. Oh, and we’ve also tossed in some fun video of the show’s gadgets, because, well, it wouldn’t be much of an Engadget Show without that sort of thing, now would it? Toss in a bit of video of your long-time host getting a bit welled up the end, and you’ve got yourself a little thing we like to call The Engadget Show 49.
‘Til we meet again, Engadgeteers.
Filed under: Announcements, Cellphones, Desktops, Cameras, Displays, Misc, Gaming, GPS, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Household, Laptops, Meta, Peripherals, Podcasts, Portable Audio/Video, Robots, Tablets, Transportation, Wearables, Wireless, Storage, Networking, Science, Internet, Software, HD, Mobile, Alt, Apple, Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, HTC, Nokia, ASUS, Google, Amazon, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, LG, AMD, Intel, Blackberry, T-Mobile, HP, Dell, Acer, NVIDIA, Nikon, Canon, Facebook, Nintendo
The Engadget Podcast is live at 4PM ET!
We’re back and (sort of) recovered from a week in the desert at the world’s biggest tech trade show. But Terrence, Ben, Marc and Joseph just can’t get enough of each others handsome faces, so they’ll be cramming into the studio to talk about the week’s biggest stories. Also, don’t be surprised if they briefly wax poetic about CES, wrist rashes and the inevitable rise of our robot masters.
Filed under: Podcasts
Dyson’s latest vacuums still look alien, boast more sucking power
Over the years, Dyson’s managed to vault its line of household suction beasts into the world of enviable gadgets — a rare feat for a home appliance. And the company hasn’t been sitting on its laurels with recent successes: Dyson’s engineers have been hard at work to make them smaller, lighter and more powerful. The latest upright and hand-vac models — the DC 58/59 and the DC65 — are a testament to this ethos.
While the sleek, space-age design has remained virtually unchanged from previous models, there are a series of under-the-hood improvements and some of the changes were tailored specifically for the US market. The new DC65 upright vacuum arrives in three flavors: Multifloor ($499), Animal ($599) and Animal Complete ($649), and boasts a remodeled airflow and new brush design, which are said to improve suction by 25 percent. For wire haters, the cordless varieties got overhauled too in the DC58 ($250) handheld and DC59 ($500) digital slim; both arrive with Dyson’s new V6 digital motor that hits 110,000RPM to get at those fine specks of dreck that have settled into your floor’s nether regions. All these models will be landing at Best Buy starting January 19th, just in time to prepare for spring cleaning.
Update: Dyson’s initial release estimates were incorrect. The DC65, DC58 and DC59 will all be available starting January 19th.
Filed under: Household
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