Back to School 2014: The 8 best HDTV devices
Even if you aren’t hauling a 55-inch smart TV with you to campus, you can do better than watching Netflix on your laptop. Our picks include an affordable Blu-ray player, set-top boxes and a few big-screen stunners. There’s more where that came from, too — check out the rest of our guide here.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Samsung, Sony, Google, LG
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Cricket announces increased data pools for its wireless plans
Cricket Wireless on Wednesday announced a limited time promotion which sees the carrier upping the amount of data for its wireless plans. Set to take effect on September 13, customers will be able to score at least 1GB of monthly data. It’s unclear how long the promo will last so, if you’re in the market for additional monthly data, you ought to act fast.
Rate plans
- Basic Plan – 1GB per month (normally 500MB) for $40
- Smart Plan – 3GB per month (normally 2.5GB) for $50
- Pro Plan – 10GB per month (normally 5GB) for $60
As a reminder, Cricket is also offering another deal for customers who switch from T-Mobile and MetroPCS. Those who bring their account from either of these two providers can score $100 credit for the effort. This particular deal lasts until October 19.
And, finally, Cricket customers can save $5 per month if enrolled in the Auto Pay program.
The post Cricket announces increased data pools for its wireless plans appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Will Android Lion roar into view this autumn? [Guest Post]
Hot on the heels of the year’s biggest Apple event, there’s been plenty of conjecture on what the latest Android OS, until now codenamed Android L, will be called.
Some say it’s Lollipop, others insist Lemon Meringue Pie, yet the latest rumour is that the newest offering will be called Android Lion. Doesn’t sound very sweet, you might say, but bear in mind Lion Bars are a popular confectionary, made by Nestle, with whom Google partnered for the shock Android KitKat unveiling earlier this year.
The source of these rumours comes from the EMT Leaks Twitter account, so like any leak it has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Regardless, Android L will be available later this quarter, with the developer preview available now – but what other key talking points will the autumn bring?
The Apps World Europe event, on 12-13 November at the ExCeL in London, will be the key hub for all things Android with the free to attend Droid World track. With the ever popular inflatable Android hovering over proceedings, this year’s conference promises to be bigger and better than ever with case studies, technical talks and live coding on display. Register for your free pass here.
Early birds will get to see Sir Nigel Shadbolt, co-founder and chairman of the Open Data Institute, while speakers from the BBC, SlideShare and LINE are all confirmed to give their industry expertise.
Can’t make London in November? Apps World will be hosting its first event in Germany in April 2015, with Ian Livingstone, co-founder of the iconic Games Workshop company, confirmed as the first keynote speaker. Find out more here.
The post Will Android Lion roar into view this autumn? [Guest Post] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210 processor announced for entry-level smartphones and tablets
Qualcomm on Tuesday announced its latest mobile processor, the quad-core Snapdragon 210. Aimed at entry-level smartphones and tablets, features include multimode 3G/4G LTE and LTE Dual SIM configurations, full HD playback, up to 8-megapixel cameras, and QuickCharge 2.0 capability.
Additional features of the Snapdragon 210 processor include:
- Seamless, advanced LTE connectivity with fully integrated 4G LTE-Advanced Cat 4 Carrier Aggregation, LTE Broadcast and LTE Dual SIM/Dual Standby — all firsts in this category of products.
- High-quality yet cost-effective multimedia experiences with Full-HD (1080p) playback with hardware HEVC.
- Enhanced performance and power efficiency in the entry-level tier with quad CPU and Qualcomm® Adreno™ 304 graphics.
- Superior camera capabilities, including up to 8 megapixel camera support and leading enhanced computational camera functionalities, including Zero Shutter Lag, high dynamic range (HDR), autofocus, auto white balance and auto exposure.
- Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 2.0 support, enabling up to 75% faster battery charging than devices without fast-charging technology.
We should look for the first devices to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210 processor in the first half of 2015. Our gut says we’ll have announcements at CES 2015 with availability in the ensuing weeks.
The post Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210 processor announced for entry-level smartphones and tablets appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
OK Go Accuses Apple of Ripping Off Concept From Hit Music Video
Apple is facing criticism from alternative rock band OK Go following the release of its promotional video, “Perspective,” that promotes the company’s philosophy of “seeing things differently.” Showcased as the introduction to Apple’s Phone 6 press event, the video pans around a room, using camera angles to align random shapes into words. OK Go is accusing Apple of lifting this visual trick from the band’s recently released “The Writing’s On the Wall” music video.
While the general concept used in the videos is not unique, there does appear to be more to this story. Speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek, OK Go manager Andy Gershon claims the band met with Apple to discuss the concept for its music video in hopes that Apple would collaborate on the project. Apple declined, and OK Go made the video along with production company 1stAveMachine. Released in June 2014, the video won a Video Music Award for best visual effects and has accrued over 10 million views on YouTube.
Following the talks between Apple and OK Go, Gershon claims Apple also hired 1stAveMachine and even employed the same director that worked with OK Go on its hit music video to produce the video for the company’s iPhone launch event. As a result, Apple’s latest promotional video has an uncanny similarity to OK Go’s “The Writing’s On the Wall”.
“The videos speak for themselves and you can draw your own conclusions,” says Gershon, adding that the band is exploring its legal options.
OK Go may have a hard time proving a copyright violation or idea theft in court, but that isn’t stopping them from complaining publicly about the perceived injustice. This isn’t the first time Apple’s advertising efforts have face scrutiny. In one high-profile case, the company faced a complaint over its Siri commercials that showcased an ease-of-use which the lawsuit claimed was not present in real-world usage.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Philips Unveils Lightning Cable-Equipped Fidelio M2L Headphones
Apple recently updated it Made for iPhone (MFi) program with a new set of specifications that allow for the transmission of audio through Apple’s Lightning cable port instead of the traditional 3.5-mm headphone jack. As spotted by Pocket-Lint, one of the first manufacturers to produce this new category of Lightning cable-equipped headphones is Philips, which is preparing its Fidelio M2L headphones for launch later this year.
Pascal van Laer, headphones business leader, WOOX Innovations says: “We’re excited to launch the Philips Fidelio M2L, our first headphone that has a direct digital connection to your iOS device. This means we can deliver an incredible audio experience today, and also opens up exciting opportunities for innovation for the future.”
The Fidelio M2Ls connect to an iPhone or iPad via a Lightning port and will support 24-bit audio using an internal DAC and amplifier built into the headphone unit. The closed headphones also feature two 40-mm high magnetic intensity neodymium speaker drivers and leather memory foam ear pads.
The Philips Fidelio M2L headphones will be available starting in December. They will debut in Western Europe and North America with a suggested retail price of €250/$320.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Audubon says climate change could wipe out half of US birds by 2080
If you enjoy hunting, photographing or just watching birds, you may have to move to Canada in a few decades, according to Audubon. The venerated US conservation society just released interactive maps along with an article showing exactly how bird species across North America are menaced by man-made global warming. Following a seven-year study, the news isn’t great: many migratory birds could be extinct within 70 years, while others may leave their home states and provinces forever. Though the predictions are theoretical, Audubon‘s scientists took a conservative approach, ironically using modeling techniques common in farming and energy resource management. It stressed that “Audubon is not in the business of using scary language or going beyond what the science tells us,” but called the threat to bird species “urgent.”
As shown in the maps, America’s national bird, the bald eagle could lose almost 75 percent of its breeding lands by 2080. Meanwhile, the Mallard duck revered by hunters and birders might retain only 25 percent of its summer domain. (Check on your favorite species here.)
Despite the grim findings, Audubon did offer some hope. It said that the model found regional “strongholds” that will provide some safe harbors against climate change. It asked its members to share the maps and new science with others, adding that climate change is an “invisible menace” to birds and their habitats that crosses political boundaries. Meanwhile, if you’re hoping that global warming might be slowing down, think again: a UN report from yesterday showed that temperatures increased by one of the largest margins ever last year.
Filed under: Science
Via: Wired
Source: Audubon (1), (2)
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Hangouts can now take your Google Voice messages
Google Voice has only had a limited tie-in with Hangouts so far, but it now looks like the two are coming together in earnest. Android Police notes that you can now set up Hangouts to receive Google Voice text messages and voicemail, whether you’re on mobile or the desktop. Switch on the feature and you won’t have to jump between apps to deal with conversations based on where they came from. You may not want to migrate just yet, though — replies aren’t working perfectly at the moment, and it otherwise appears that Google flicked the switch a little early. There should be a Hangouts update soon, though, so those glitches might not stick around for much longer.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo]
Via: The Next Web
Source: Android Police
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Accessory of the Day: 64GB Samsung MicroSD card $29.99
Running low on your device’s internal space? How does 64GB of Class 10 storage from a reputable brand like Samsung sound? With 48MB/s transfer speed and tremendous reviews, this memory card is basically a no-brainer–especially at only $29.99 (Prime eligible).
The post Accessory of the Day: 64GB Samsung MicroSD card $29.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
Intel Reference Design aims to deliver Android updates within two weeks of release
Intel wants to make it much easier for Android users to stay up to date with the latest platform releases. To do so, it has created a new Intel Reference Design Program for Android. Announced at IDF, the new program is a commitment to bringing Intel-based devices to market much easier. What’s more, the system will help streamline the process of getting updates out to customers in a much timelier manner.
“It’s exciting to see Intel bring their years of expertise in reference designs to Android… and speed up time-to-market for manufacturers…The result will be… devices… with an operating system that is up-to-date…offering a great overall user experience. – Hiroshi Lockheimer, VP of Engineering for Android, Google
According to Intel, any device shipped using the Intel Reference Design for Android will get updates within two weeks of an Android Open Source Project (AOSP) update. And, as if that’s not good enough, Intel is promising to support these devices for two years after launch.
Learn more at Intel’s Reference Design for Android at Intel’s blog.
The post Intel Reference Design aims to deliver Android updates within two weeks of release appeared first on AndroidGuys.
.CPlase_panel display:none;
AIVAnet 