Feedback Loop: Windows Phone, media centers and more!
Happy Sunday from Engadget Expand! In this week’s edition of Feedback Loop, we talk about the future of Windows Phone, whether it makes sense to build media centers and discuss the preferences for metal vs. plastic on smartphones. All that and more past the break.
What do you want from Windows Phone?
There’s no doubt that Windows Phone offers a fresh and unique take on mobile operating systems and it has a pretty passionate following as well. That said, it still lags behind Android and iOS in marketshare. Is this a problem though? What sorts of things do you want to see from Windows Phone in the future?
Is it still worth it to build a Windows Media PC?
Spiderkid is attempting to cut the cord, but discovered there’s still some content that he can’t get through Netflix or iTunes. He wants to know whether it makes sense to build a media center. Head over to the forums and help him out!
Metal vs. plastic phone bodies
From metal to plastic to even leather, we’ve seen a lot of different types of materials on mobile phones. ReasonToUse compares the LG G3 to the HTC M8 and asks which type of material you prefer.
Other discussions you may also like:
- Operation Finish All the Games: October 2014
- Which fitness tracker is your favorite?
- Do you use app cleaners on Android?
That’s all this week! Want to talk about your favorite gadget or have a burning question about technology? Register for an Engadget account today, visit the Engadget forums and start a new discussion!
LG’s phones are the first to get an Android Lollipop upgrade
So much for Google’s Nexus phones being the first to get Android 5.0 Lollipop. LG has announced that it’s rolling out the sweetened software upgrade to G3 users in Poland this week, ahead of seemingly every other smartphone on the planet — yes, including the LG-made Nexus 4 and 5. As you might imagine given the timing, LG isn’t reinventing the interface. Most of the improvements are either straightforward or under the hood, such as the new notifications and the ability to unlock your phone with nearby devices (such as an Android Wear watch).
What about other regions and devices? Unfortunately, LG isn’t saying just yet. It’s promising more details soon, but the Polish update is likely a test run; the company wants to make sure there are no glitches before it commits to a worldwide release. Even so, the fast refresh is good news, whether or not you have a G3 — it hints that at least some Android manufacturers have been using the Developer Preview to accelerate an otherwise lengthy upgrade process.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Source: LG Newsroom
3D Robotics is building the drones that just about anyone can fly
The FAA might not know what to do with drones, but UAV technology is moving so fast we’re thinking more when not if the skies will be filled with quadrocopters. To help more people jump into the future, 3D Robotics SVP of Sales and Marketing Colin Guinn joined us at Expand to show off the company’s drone tech that makes the learning curve easier. He brought along the Iris+ drone, which expands upon the original model released last year by adding more autonomous smarts. Not only can it can take off and land by itself, but it can orient around you for a third-person chase cam / drone selfie, or follow a predetermined GPS-guided path to take aerial photography. It packs a GoPro-ready mount, datalink that lets you fly it from your PC, Android/iOS device etc. and is available now for $750. It can fly for a little over 20 minutes on a charge and just needs its propellors screwed on to work out of the box. If you’ve wanted to get into drones but were concerned your first flight could be your last, the Iris+ was made with you in minds. Check out the full demo and discussion after the break to find out just how easy handling one of these can be.
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Filed under: Transportation
Source: 3D Robotics
Sunday Chat with the ‘Guys: Swappa
Welcome to the fabulous Sunday Chat with the ‘Guys! Every Sunday, one of the amazing writers here at AndroidGuys is going to talk about any Android topic that is on the minds, or any tech topic really. This week, I decided to look into a site called Swappa.
Swappa is a great site for the selling and buying of used devices. In an interview with Ben, the founder and coder of Swappa, In the interview, Ben tells us about what he set out to achieve with Swappa and about safety.
You can read the full Q&A below, but for those a little pressed for time, here is a condensed version.
Swappa was made in order to make selling and buying used devices safer, easier and more enjoyable. Swappa also does it best to make sure that all of the devices sold on its site are fully functional by way of IMEI checks and requiring photos of the device with the screen powered on.
While there will always be risk with buying a used mobile device, your best interests is in the minds of all the Swappa staff. They always do their best to make sure that ever device bought or sold on Swappa are ready to go and be used on whatever carrier you bought the device for.
Why was Swappa created? / What is the main goal of Swappa?
Swappa was created with the goal of making the buying and selling of pre-owned mobile devices safe, easy, and enjoyable.
When Swappa started the only real options were eBay and Craigslist. Neither of these options qualified as safe, easy, or enjoyable. Blacklisted and otherwise junk devices are / were common and not screened on either service. Finding exactly what you’re looking for on either service is a headache. Fees are ridiculous on eBay and there is no protections or safety for buyers with Craigslist.
What are the advantages of using Swappa?
Swappa has grown popular for buying and selling used devices for several reasons. Simplicity is one reason. The site is easy to use for both buying and selling.
Buyers love our pre-sale and post-sale safety measures to try to ensure you don’t get burned with blacklisted or otherwise junk devices. Sellers love that we don’t have listing or seller fees (only a small, flat fee paid by buyers on successful sales).
Another one of our primary advantages is that we are a human-powered site. Device listings are all reviewed and must be approved for sale by a human and we provide helpful support. All of our staff consists of device junkies / experts working to keep the site safe and free of junk.
What risks are involved when selling or buying a used phone?
There are actually several risk with buying and selling mobile devices, and Swappa aims to mitigate these risks as much as possible.
One risk is buying a device that is blacklisted as lost or stolen, or otherwise not eligible for activation. Swappa is the only market (that we know of) that requires sellers to provide device ESNs (serial numbers) that we check to try to ensure the are ready for a new buyer.
We also have a strict “no junk devices” policy where we don’t allow the sale of potentially problem devices, including those that are blacklisted, broken, or busted. Only fully functional devices are allowed in our primary marketplace, while devices with water damage or cracked glass are not.
How should a potential buyer protect oneself against fraud?
Swappa tries to do as much of the work possible to protect buyers from fraud. This starts before a buyer even sees a device for sale as we pre-screen listings for approval.
If I were selling a phone, what actions should I take to insure that no personal data can be collected off of my old phone?
There are several guides available online that cover this in detail. Some of the steps include factory resetting your device, removing your SIM card, removing your SD card, removing the phone from your carrier account, etc.
Why should people use Swappa rather than any other service available?
People should use Swappa if they value their time, money, and mobile devices. We try to reduce the risks of buying and selling and keep the whole experience pleasant. We keep fees low and transparent. And we moderate the site to keep out the junk (that includes junk devices and unscrupulous users).
The post Sunday Chat with the ‘Guys: Swappa appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 