Boost Mobile debuts new unlimited talk, text, data plans
Boost Mobile on Tuesday announced a trio of new rate plans for feature phone and smartphone users alike. Priced as low as $40 these “Monthly Unlimited Select” options each allow for unlimited talking, texting, and data. What’s the difference in them, you ask? That would be the full speed data buckets for each plan.
With the unveiling of Monthly Unlimited Select, Boost Mobile once again evens out the playing field with compelling, competitively priced offers,” said Dow Draper, President, Sprint Prepaid Group. “This new package reflects what we hear our customers want: straightforward, value-oriented options that provide more or less data depending on their individual needs.”
In addition the new rate plans, Boost Mobile customers can still enjoy other benefits such as International Minute Packs, Boost Wallet, International Connect, Handset Insurance.
The post Boost Mobile debuts new unlimited talk, text, data plans appeared first on AndroidGuys.
KickSat’s tiny satellites may burn up before they’re released
If you backed the KickSat project in hopes of getting your own tiny satellite into orbit, you’ll want to brace yourself for some bad news. The host vehicle’s master clock has unexpectedly reset while in space, pushing the mini satellites’ release back to May 16th — after the main craft is likely to burn up on reentry. It’s possible to force a deployment once the host’s uplink radio gets enough power, but that might not happen quickly enough to avoid a calamity.
Project creator Zac Manchester believes that radiation was likely responsible for the glitch, and holds out hope that KickSat either stays in orbit for longer than expected or gets a burst of energy to power its radio. Even if the worst happens, though, that might not be all she wrote. Manchester vows that this “won’t be the end” — we wouldn’t rule out a future mission.
Filed under: Science
Via: The Atlantic
Source: Kickstarter
Engadget giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S5 courtesy of Tech21!
We’re officially kicking winter to the curb and pretending the polar vortex never happened. It’s time to revel in nature’s glory by kayaking, biking or at least relocating to the backyard for a bit. Of course, that means more chances for your smartphone to tumble onto the pavement instead of couch cushions, so we’ve put together this week’s giveaway with that in mind. The device protection gurus at Tech21 are providing a Samsung Galaxy S5 for one lucky Engadget reader and bundling it with an Impact Tactical case and Impact Shield screen protectors to keep it safe from harm. The case is all about shock absorption and impact resistance (if the name didn’t clue you in) and it was designed to keep the phone’s slim profile intact. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three changes at winning this butterfinger-proofed smartphone package. Now, maybe you can have nice things again.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) contract-free Samsung Galaxy S5 for the carrier of their choice, one (1) Tech21 Impact Tactical case for GS5 and two (2) Tech21 Impact Shields.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Samsung, Tech21 and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until May 7th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt, Samsung
Google discusses security with the NSA, but don’t draw any wild conclusions
Following Edward Snowden’s PRISM leaks last year, companies such as Apple, Google and Microsoft sought to distance themselves from the NSA and claimed to be unaware of some government surveillance activities. And while we’ve seen companies demand greater transparency from the NSA, that doesn’t mean backdoor discussions about security haven’t been going on as well. Consider this, for instance: Email communications obtained by Al Jazeera show that Google execs such as Eric Schmidt and Sergey Brin have cooperated with the NSA on issues such as “mobility threats” as far back as 2012, before Snowden revealed information about the government’s capabilities for spying on Americans’ online activities.
It would be easy to over-hype the significance of interactions between Mountain View bigwigs and the NSA, but the emails don’t indicate anything particularly untoward on Google’s part. Instead, the communications reveal that NSA Director Keith Alexander invited Google CEO Schmidt to a “classified threat briefing” to discuss security issues. An email from Alexander also shows that Google, Apple, Microsoft and other companies worked together to define core security principles, and several other tech firms — including Dell and HP — worked with the NSA to minimize threats to enterprise platforms. In other words, Google is clearly not alone in maintaining a dialogue with the government.
While the alarmist undertones may be a bit uncalled for, Al Jazeera does raise the logical concerns about how the NSA uses the information it receives from Google and other internet giants. In any case, though, Google’s emails with the security agency hardly implicate the company in any wrongdoing. Reportedly, additional emails between Google execs and the NSA have yet to be released, so stay tuned.
Source: Al Jazeera America
There’s a new PlayStation Vita available in the US today: what you need to know
Look, we’re not gonna review the PlayStation Vita again. Promise. Three times is enough, no? We think so too. But we do want to tell you that the second version of the PlayStation Vita is finally available in North America today — it even comes in a bundle with Borderlands 2 for $200 — and we want you to feel safe and secure in your purchase, should you choose to make one. So, is it worth it? In short: yes, yes it is. It’s thinner; it’s got rounded edges; and Sony’s cut a ton of fat from the price as well. Head below for our full video review of the Japanese model, then jump into the Engadget database for specs, reviews from other publications and to discuss which games you’re most excited about. It’s Luftrausers, right? Come on, admit it.
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Sony
Get Samsung’s Pro line of tablets for $50 to $100 off at Amazon
Deals are always good, and this one is no slouch. Right now, Amazon is taking $50 to $100 off Samsung’s Pro Tablets. This includes all Tab Pros and Note Pros. This sale also includes the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition with a $70 price reduction for all models (excluding the LTE variant).
Samsung has a model available in just about every size so I’m sure you can find a tablet that will suit your needs. Whether its the 12.2 inch beast, Note Pro, or the smallest Tab Pro offering at 8.4 inches, Samsung has covered all the bases so you can purchase what’s best for you.These tablets bring some amazing specs to the table and can compete with or beat every other tablet in their respective categories.
Head on over to Amazon if this deal is for you. Expert and Customer reviews have been mostly positive, and Samsung seems to have put their best foot forward in creating tablets with best-in-class specs, and a smooth user experience.
Get this deal in your flavor:
- Note 10.1 2014 Edition 32GB
- Note 10.1 2014 Edition 16GB
- Tab Pro 10.1 16GB
- Tab Pro 8.4 16GB
- Note Pro 12.2 32GB
- Tab Pro 12.2 32GB
The post Get Samsung’s Pro line of tablets for $50 to $100 off at Amazon appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Todoist adds Dropbox and Google Drive support, audio notes for premium users
Todoist added key collaboration tools earlier this year, and now it’s going one step further for paid users. Users opting for premium account status will get Dropbox and Google Drive support to include cloud-stored files and documents with task lists. There’s support for native files too, as you can now record/play audio files and attach photos via the web or mobile apps. Alongside the aforementioned task and project sharing tools, folks using free accounts will can access the new features when they’re invited to work on a paid user’s assignment. The company says that real-time collaboration and this new file-sharing add-on is filling its productivity quiver to launch a dedicated enterprise version in the near future. If combining your storage repository with your to-do list sounds like something you’d like to add to your workflow, there’s a 30 percent discount on the $29 annual asking price for the next two days.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Todoist
Sony hopes Michael Jackson’s legacy can boost its streaming music service
Sony sure knows how to dangle a carrot in front of its customers. In a not-so-subtle use of music industry clout to drive its technology business, the company is offering access to five of Xscape‘s tunes on its Music Unlimited streaming service days before the album’s official debut (May 13th in the US). Meanwhile, iTunes and other services are getting one early song at best.
Sony is milking the release for all it’s worth on other platforms, too. You can head to the PlayStation Store to check out a behind-the-scenes video, and buying an Xperia Z2 in Canada and other regions will get you a full download of MJ’s album as soon as it’s available. Are all these promotional stunts going to help Sony’s less-than-stellar financials? Probably not all that much, but at least a Music Unlimited trial is free — and if signing up is still too much of a hassle, you can always listen to the first Xscape single below.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Sony
Source: PlayStation Blog
Waitrose and Tesco begin trialling iBeacons for in-store offers and alerts
Apple’s Bluetooth-based iBeacon technology looks set to enrich in-store shopping experiences, so it should come as no surprise that two of Britain’s biggest supermarkets are looking to see what it’s all about. Mirroring pilots by their counterparts in the US, Tesco and Waitrose have commenced trials that deliver location-sensitive notifications and offers to shoppers via their smartphone without the need for GPS. Tesco began trialling in its Chelmsford store in April, issuing messages to customers to remind them to pick up pre-ordered goods. Waitrose started using the technology at its new experimental Swindon store last week, using iBeacon to alert shoppers to promotions when they’re near a particular aisle or food counter. Unlike its rival, Tesco has said it will holding off using beacons to issue marketing messages (including promotions) over fears it could scare customers away. Whether or not iBeacons will make their way to more supermarket stores across the UK depends on the outcome of the trials. However, the technology has seen strong early backing, suggesting your local store could one day begin sending you tailor-made notifications and offers.
Source: Marketing
AT&T and Verizon received one government data request per minute last year
Companies including Apple, Facebook and Google recently updated their privacy policies to disclose all government data requests to the individual users in question, a move meant to appease web denizens worldwide. While US telecoms like AT&T and Verizon haven’t announced plans to do the same, the Washington Post pored through the companies’ transparency reports to turn up a new stat. According to the publication, in 2013 AT&T and Verizon received more than one request every 60 seconds. This number is based on AT&T’s reported 301,816 requests from state, local and federal authorities, and Verizon’s reported 321,545 requests.
That may sound like a very high number, but as the article notes, it’s dwarfed by Canadian telecoms’ reported rate of one request every 27 seconds. However, the one-request-per-minute stat doesn’t account for T-Mobile and Sprint, since these two companies haven’t disclosed data for the same 2013 time period. (In fact, neither has committed to publicly sharing information about data requests at all.) If you were to consider data from 2012, though, requests made to the top four US carriers average about 2.2 per minute. If T-Mobile, Sprint and smaller US carriers hop on the transparency-report bandwagon, you could soon see more accurate — and even higher — numbers about the frequency of government queries for user info.
Filed under: Cellphones, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile
Source: The Washington Post
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