CyanogenMod OS Featured in New Screenshots from the OnePlus One
CyanogenMod has done some teasing after they announced they will be releasing their CyanogenMod OS on the OnePlus One phone. They declared some pretty bold claims about how awesome the device will be, but we never got a look at what the software will look like, and if it is straying away from what their ROMs have looked like. Today, Engadget got themselves some screenshots that display some of what we can expect from the OnePlus One phone. The OS is KitKat based, and it is being referred to as “CyanogeMod 11S”.
Now it doesn’t look like CyanogeMod is going to strive too far away from stock Android, but the screenshot on the left does show a different style lockscreen. The OnePlus One phone is supposed to unveiled on April 23rd, so let us know what think about these new screenshots.
Source: Engadget
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Republic Wireless adds 32GB Moto X, Moto Maker option
Last year, Republic Wireless released the Moto X, and we will see the Moto G in few days as well. But Republic Wireless is not stopping there, as they just announced that they are now offering the Moto Maker support as well, and we told you how does it feel to use it. Beginning on April 1 at noon, customers will be able to customize their Moto X from Republic Wireless.
First 2,000 customers to register at (Motorola.com/WoodYouBelieveIt), will receive a promo code, which will allow them to get a free upgrade to a wood back for their Moto X. The customized Moto X will start from $349.99 for the 16GB model and $399.99 for the 32GB model. Also, the wood backs are available in Walnut, Bamboo, Ebony, and Teak wood finishes and it will cost you $25. However, Republic Wireless will continue to carry the plain black or white 16GB Moto X units for $299 plus tax.
Are you among the first 2000 customers? Let us know in the comment box below.
Source: RW
The post Republic Wireless adds 32GB Moto X, Moto Maker option appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Republic Wireless adds Moto Maker for customizing your Moto X
It’s been a long time coming, but Motorola’s Moto Maker phone-building tool has finally arrived for Republic Wireless customers. The low-cost carrier has sold the Moto X for several months already, but it’s just now offering Motorola’s unique customization service — arguably one of the Moto X’s biggest selling points. Starting at 9AM PT tomorrow (Tuesday), Republic Wireless customers can order the Moto X with the colors and finishes of their choice. Motorola is also throwing in a free upgrade to a wood or Bamboo backing for the first 2,000 customers who visit this link. In addition to adding Moto Maker, Republic is now offering a 32GB Moto X. Previously, customers could only order the 16GB model, which costs $300 without access to Moto Maker. With the new Moto Maker option, the 16GB version will cost $350, while doubling the storage to 32GB will set you back $400.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Via: CNet
Source: Motorola, Republic Wireless
Samsung ATIV SE leak hints at April launch, warmed over Galaxy S 4 specs
Samsung’s ATIV SE hasn’t been a terribly well-kept secret, but we’ve heard precious little about the Verizon-bound Windows Phone beyond its use of a 5-inch, 1080p display. However, tipsters have given The Verge hardware specs that will seem very familiar. If the leak is accurate, the ATIV SE will be a higher-end Galaxy S 4 variant with Microsoft’s OS slapped on top — you should see the same Snapdragon 800 processor, 13-megapixel rear camera, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. Those specs could still make it a potent device, but they hint that Samsung is once again recycling an Android design. If you don’t mind the reused components, you’ll be glad to hear that the ATIV SE could be coming very soon. The smartphone is reportedly launching on Verizon in April (minus Windows Phone 8.1), pitting it directly against Nokia’s similarly-specified Lumia Icon.
[Image credit: @evleaks, Twitter]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon
Source: The Verge
LG G2 for Sprint gets a taste of Android 4.4 KitKat
LG G2 owners on Sprint no longer have to look on with envy as their friends on AT&T and T-Mobile get upgrades to Android 4.4 KitKat. The CDMA carrier has just started rolling out the OS update on its network today. There aren’t any special treats beyond Google’s more advanced software, but the release does fix a bug with Sprint’s included Next Radio app. Unfortunately, there’s no word on a corresponding KitKat upgrade for Verizon’s G2 customers — if you’re on Big Red, you’ll have to keep waiting.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint, LG
Via: Android Police
Source: Sprint (1), (2)
New Xbox head Phil Spencer promises renewed focus on gaming across all Microsoft platforms
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the new head of its Xbox division this morning: Phil Spencer, longtime Microsoft Studios leader and Xbox game dude. In Spencer’s initial letter to the legions of Xbox owners the world over, his approach comes across as scattershot. See for yourself:
“This past year has been a growth experience both for me and for the entire Xbox team. We’ve taken feedback, made our products better and renewed our focus on what is most important, our customer. Our mission is to build a world-class team, work hard to meet the high expectations of a passionate fan base, create the best games and entertainment and drive technical innovation. As we continue forward, this renewed focus and mission will be a foundational part of how I lead the Xbox program.”
Given that, our first question to Spencer in a short phone interview this afternoon was one of clarification. With so many aspects of Xbox to oversee, where will he begin? “I’m gonna lead with a gaming focus and making sure that’s where we’re led. That’s the North Star for the organization,” he told us.
Beyond coming from a background at Microsoft Studios — the name for a group of internal game development groups at Microsoft — Spencer’s known for being game-focused. He reaffirmed this approach to us. “Winning with the gamer first is gonna be something that drives the organization,” Spencer said. That’s at the heart of his boss Satya Nadella’s Xbox reorganization.
With Spencer’s title change comes a heap of new responsibility (due to an internal reorg). He’s not just overseeing the Xbox One and Xbox 360, but the entire ecosystem around the greater Xbox brand. That includes the following departments: Xbox, Xbox Live, Xbox Music, Xbox Video and Microsoft Studios.
Spencer actually fought for all this oversight. In a discussion with Nadella, as well as Windows boss Terry Myerson and devices lead (former Nokia head) Stephen Elop, he had two stipulations. The first was the unification of Xbox under one umbrella; the second was a seat at the table with the likes of Myerson and Elop. “The Xbox team, the Xbox leader (me) sitting at the same leadership table as Terry (the Windows team leader, the Windows Phone OS team leader) really helps us look at gaming as that first-class citizen across all Microsoft platforms,” he said.
More tightly, intelligently integrated Xbox services across more Windows platforms is something Redmond’s struggled with for years. With Spencer, there’s hope that someone with a real sense of the game industry can bridge the longstanding divide.
The next major beat for Spencer’s Xbox will, naturally, be E3. He said we’ll hear dribs and drabs before then — some games will get launch dates, the first ID@Xbox games will arrive on the Xbox One — but expect Xbox to once again lean on the all important holiday sales season for its major game releases.
T-Mobile’s latest UnCarrier move: removing employer discounts
Over the past year, T-Mobile’s new policies have ushered in a new wave of changes to the way the US wireless industry works. It was the first national operator to introduce phone financing plans, early upgrades and free international roaming; additionally, it also offers to pay your cancellation fee if you break another carrier’s contract to move over. It appears that such practices must come at a cost: CEO John Legere announced that beginning April 1st, T-Mobile will no longer offer its Advantage Program, which features monthly employer rate plan discounts, to new customers. Existing beneficiaries will see the deduction removed from their accounts on April 25th. As a consolation, affected subscribers will now receive a $25 reward card every time they get a new phone.
First, we’ll dive into what this entails. Most wireless operators broker deals with corporations in which employees of that company get a percentage discount on their monthly rate plan — often, the discount increases as more employees sign up for service. Typically these incentives will range from 5 percent to as much as 30 percent. By removing them, many customers may find themselves with a noticeable change to their bill. If you’re a government employee (including military), you’re exempt from this transition and you’ll continue to receive your usual discount.
In a blog post, Legere explained his reasoning behind the change:
“The old programs were designed to help big carriers close big corporate contracts, with employees as bargaining chips. We aren’t playing that game anymore. This change is about simplifying wireless for everyone … including employees of small and large companies alike.”
Legere maintains that despite this move, the value of T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plans are still much better than “the other guys.” Unsurprisingly, he’s positioning this modification as another in a string of UnCarrier initiatives to prove that his company’s changing the game by separating itself from the rest of the industry. In a series of tweets to disgruntled customers, Legere answered concerns by saying that not all of T-Mobile’s customers could take advantage of these discounts, and he wanted to apply the cost savings to the entire subscriber base instead of reserving them for exclusive deals.
Many of the company’s earlier changes have been immensely successful — Simple Choice, Jump! and unlimited international text plans are just a few examples. But there are also a few recent policy changes which haven’t been as popular: last month T-Mobile adjusted its Jump! early upgrade plans so you could only upgrade once you’ve paid off half of your phone, and earlier this month it bumped unlimited data rates up $10.
Arguably, these aforementioned changes may simply be side effects of those UnCarrier moves that have proven quite successful. After all, incentives (such as free international data) come with its fair share of costs, and T-Mobile needs to compensate for those losses somehow — especially since Legere announced that the company will continue adding more UnCarrier plans in the future. “This is just one more step in the [UnCarrier] movement,” he said. “And, we’re not done yet.“
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Mobile
Source: T-Mobile
Samsung Launches 28-inch 4K UD590 Monitor for $700 [Mac Blog]
Samsung today announced the UD590, a new 28-inch 4K monitor that will go on sale this April in the US market for $700 (Via Engadget). The UD590 model includes a 28-inch display with 3840 x 2160 resolution, 1 billion (10-bit) colors and 1 millisecond response time, making it suitable for gaming or watching high-action sports or movies.
The UD590 ships with a picture-in-picture feature that allows users to connect two computers to a single monitor and view both desktops side-by-side. This same option provides a single user with the ability to view different content in two separate windows without a drop in resolution.
Samsung’s UD590 monitor has a minimalist design with a simple T-stand and color options of silver or black. It features two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort connector and no DVI ports. The UD590 can be pre-ordered now for $699 and will start shipping April 18th.
This is the year of affordable 4K monitors with other manufacturers also selling 28-inch displays with sub-$1000 price tags. Lenovo will start selling the ThinkVision Pro2840m in April for $800, while Asus plans to launch its own $800 28-inch offering in Q2 2014. Announced earlier this year, Dell already is selling the 28-inch 4K P2815Q for under $700 on its website.
For those interested in 1080P monitors, Samsung also announced the SD390 and SD590 models. Both monitors will be available in 23.6 and 27-inch sizes and will feature a combination of HDMI and VGA ports. Pricing will start at $250 for the D390 and $310 for the SD590 when the monitors go on sale later in April.
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Apple to Raise App Store Prices in Australia, India, Indonesia, Turkey, and South Africa [iOS Blog]
Apple has plans to increase App Store retail prices for several countries over the next 24 hours, citing changes in foreign exchange rates. Prices will go up for the Australian Dollar, Indian Rupee, Indonesian Rupiah, Turkish Lira and South African Rand.
Retail prices for Israeli New Shekels and some pricing tiers for the New Zealand Dollar will be decreased, however.
According to an email sent out to developers, the new pricing will go into effect within 24 hours. Apple has done price adjustments on App Store and iTunes rates several times in the past, in order to compensate for changes in foreign exchange rates.
(Thanks, Patrick!)
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Apple to Expand Employee Transportation Program with More Shuttles, Dedicated Transit Center [Mac Blog]
To earn approval for its Apple 2 Campus in Cupertino, Apple agreed to increase the number of employees using transportation like bicycles and shuttles, according to a new report on commuting in Silicon Valley from The Los Angeles Times.
Apple maintains a Transportation Demand Management program that gives 1,600 of its employees free rides to and from work, using environmentally friendly biodiesel that cuts down on the number of employees using cars. The program has a budget of $35 million, which works out to a cost of approximately $21,875 per employee for transportation at the current point in time.
Apple has a Transportation Demand Management program with an annual budget of $35 million and the goal of getting as many employees as possible out of their cars. It runs the company’s fleet of shuttles, all biodiesel, that on average 1,600 employees ride for free each day. The current system provides more than 200 service runs from 55 pickup locations around the Bay Area. Employees can download an app to track the location of the shuttles.
Currently, 28 percent of Apple employees ride bikes, walk, or ride shuttles to work, a number that the company hopes to increase to 34 percent. To boost the number of employees using alternative transportation, Apple plans to add more shuttles and buses.
A dedicated transit center with eight parking pays is also under construction, with an ultimate goal of having as many as 76 buses and shuttles moving through the center with a park time of three minutes or less.
Commuter shuttles from companies like Apple and Google have become a somewhat controversial issue in San Francisco as of late, subject to several protests over the course of the last few months.
Recently, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency approved a proposal that requires commuter shuttle buses from companies like Apple to pay $1 for each stop they make every day, which is expected to earn the city approximately $1.5 million over the course of 18 months. The program is set to begin in July.
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