Comic: Money isn’t everything
Ed: Welcome to this week’s edition of The Pixel Project: a weekly comic from Diesel Sweeties‘ Rich Stevens on Apple, technology, and everything in-between. Today: Money Isn’t Everything.
Read more comics from the Pixel Project on iMore.com.
The Samsung Galaxy S 6 will be offered in 4 colors
Samsung usually offers at least two colors with each flagship, and the Galaxy S 6 will be no exception. You will be able to grab the S6 in dark blue, blue-green, white, or gold. The only unusual color here is blue-green, which I can’t believe Samsung has ever offered. Interestingly enough, there is no black version for those that like to go traditional.
source: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: The Samsung Galaxy S 6 will be offered in 4 colors
Android 5.0.1 Lollipop leaked for the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
After many leaks and teasers, Samsung has been gradually rolling out Android Lollipop updates for its Galaxy S5, S4, and Note 3 smartphones. Now, a leaked Android 5.0.1 build, complete with Touchwiz features, has appeared for the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, courtesy of folks over at the XDA Forum.
The build, labelled XXU1BOA2, appears to have come from a beta version of a stock Touchwiz, Android 5.0.1 Lollipop that was created on January 29th, which suggests that it’s probably as up to date as Samsung is with the ROM right now. As it stands, the firmware is reported to work with the SM-N915FY (for Europe) and the SM-N915F models of the Galaxy Note Edge. As we’ve seen before with Samsung’s Touchwiz tweaked Lollipop, the theme and new menu layouts take on a slightly new look than before. See the image below:
Those interesting in flashing the build can do so through ODIN without tripping Knox and can also go back to Android 4.4.4 without too much hassle. Which is probably a good thing, as the beta build probably has a few bugs left to work out. One important bug to note is that you have to manually set the minimum CPU frequency to 300MHz using some third party software.
There are the usual instructions over on XDA link below for those looking to install the ROM, so read them carefully and, as always, make a backup before you start.
Lumia Storyteller bumped to version 4.1 with latest update
Lumia Storyteller by Microsoft received a massive overhaul back in December, pushing the app up to 4.0, and today we’ve returned to check out a rather minor release.
The FCC will reportedly classify ISP’s under Title II
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will propose to regulate Internet Service Providers (ISP) as a public utility under the classification of Title II. This classification would give the FCC the actual power to punish ISP’s if they tried putting forward corporate-friendly “fast lanes.” At the moment, the FCC’s power is minimal at best.
The proposal is expected to be introduced by the FCC on Thursday. Following the introduction, the FCC is expected to hold a vote at an open meeting on February 26 where a majority of the FCC’s five commissioners must approve the rules for them to take effect.
In October of last year, it looked like Chairman Wheeler would stay away from Title II classification and would instead push forward a complicated hybrid plan that tried (and would have failed) to satisfy either net neutrality side. But since that time, President Obama has pushed Wheeler to classify ISP’s under Title II.
It should be noted that even if ISP’s are classified under Title II, the FCC would not automatically ban paid-peering deals. The FCC would simply have the power to review such deals on a case-by-case basis.
As I have written about previously, broadband officials have indicated that they will sue the FCC if they classify the ISP’s under Title II. According to broadband lobbyists and corporations, Title II classification would slow down investment in upgrading networks. Apparently, the lobbyists want us to forget that Verizon’s CFO has admitted that no such slowdown would occur under Title II while wireless carriers just spent close to $45 billion in the latest spectrum auction, a new record.
At the end of the day, consumers want their internet given to them without absurd and arbitrary restrictions. Consumers are even willing to overpay to have such freedom on the internet.
Blu Products “Bold Like Us” sweepstakes!
From February 2 until March 2 my favorite little manufacturer, Blu Products, is having a sweepstakes they’ve dubbed “Bold Like Us.” Check the video for details!
Rules and Regulations
- “Like” and follow all of BLU Product’s social media platforms (including FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube).
- Watch the “Bold Like Us” video on Youtube, or you may click above to watch the video instantly.
- Post your “Bold Moment” on all of your social media platforms and tag BLU Products with the #BeBold #BoldLikeUs
- E-mail us your picture with a brief description of the moment by clicking on the“Submit Here” button below.
Prizes
The first, and most exciting is a four day, three night trip for two to Miami, Florida including hotel and flight to tour the Blu Products headquarters. You’ll also receive a $1,000 gift card and both guests will receive their very own Blu Vivo Air Android smartphone.
Second and third place winners will also receive their own Vivo Air!
Be sure you get entered sooner rather than later!
Website: Blu Contest Rules
The post Blu Products “Bold Like Us” sweepstakes! appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Motorola sales doubled year on year, more than 10 million phones sold in Q4
Lenovo announced results for the first quarter with Motorola in the house, and everything seems to be going according to plan so far.
Lenovo completed the acquisition of Motorola from Google on October 30, following the announcement of the $2.9 billion deal in January 2014.
Lenovo’s plan to make Motorola profitable within six quarters is on track.
In the quarter that ended December, Motorola sold more than 10 million smartphones, a 118 percent increase over the same period last year. Motorola revenue was $1.9 billion, out of the total of $3.4 billion generated by Lenovo’s mobile unit, which includes Lenovo-branded smartphone, tablets, and TVs. However, the mobile unit ended in the red, with a loss of $89 million for the quarter.
According to IDC research, thanks to Motorola and its own brand devices, Lenovo grabbed 6.6 percent of the global smartphone market, behind only Samsung and Apple. That’s a 78 percent increase year on year.
Lenovo said that its plan to make Motorola profitable within six quarters is on track.
Lenovo highlighted its global reach (67 countries and counting) and slipped in a jab at Chinese mobile rivals (read Xiaomi) that make the bulk of their profits in China. That’s opposed to Lenovo, which sold 60 percent of its phones outside of China.
Overall, Lenovo beat analyst margins by a long shot, with net profit of $253 million, compared to the $184.6 million consensus of analysts consulted by Bloomberg. The Chinese giant even increased its PC sales by 5 percent, which is quite a performance given the general weakness of the market.
Lenovo is just getting started with Motorola, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the venerable phone maker. Motorola cost Google hundreds of millions each quarter, but Lenovo is confident it can turn it around relatively quickly. Lenovo just re-introduced the Motorola brand in China, while in the fast-growing Indian market, Motorola is already thriving, having sold three million units in 2014.
Leaked images of the OnePlus OxygenOS ROM appear
OnePlus made the announcement recently that it was planning to unveil its new OnePlus OxygenOS ROM on February 12th, in favour of CyanogenMod which has created its fair share of problems for the year old manufacturer. These problems came to a head when Micromax tried to get OnePlus banned from sale in India as it claimed […]
The post Leaked images of the OnePlus OxygenOS ROM appear appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
OnePlus 2014 report card – tons of facts, little information
OnePlus has released a huge infographic packed full of all the stats they are proud of for the last year. The OnePlus Annual Report Card 2014 is live, and the company has a few things to be proud of.
The report is a long list of functional stats and a great number of fun numbers, such as the number of pizzas ordered to the office and their social rankings as compared to Kim Kardashian.
Let’s look at a few of the key numbers: in 2014, OnePlus pulled in a little over $300 million in revenue, shipped 1,055 tons of merchandise, grew by almost a half million forum users, and shipped said merchandise across the globe with 39% of customers living in East Asia, 32% in Europe, 22% in North America and 7% in India.
OnePlus is using the report card infographic to show off their efforts and commitments to growth, quality and customer service. More important, they report a dramatic growth in their own employees, growing from just 6 staff in December of 2013 up to 88 global employees by December 2014. If you are concerned about diversity, the company represents 13 nationalities, with 6% more women on staff than men.
If you needed a reminder that OnePlus is a young company, the average age of their employees clocks in at just under 26 years of age.
Head on over to the Annual Report Card 2014 on the OnePlus forums to get all the details.
Are you surprised by any of these numbers, or is OnePlus right on track for your expectations of the flagship killer?
Lumia Denim updates rolling out to more UK phones including the unlocked 1520 [update: Australia too!]
Update: It looks like Australian country variants of both the Lumia 930 and 1520 have snagged some Denim as well! (cheers, Neil and Craig!)
Original Story: The long rollout for the Lumia Denim firmware update continues as Microsoft’s support page has confirmed it is now available on more devices in the UK. Specifically, O2 owners of the Lumia 635, Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520 can now download Denim, along with owners of the unlocked country variant for the 1520.
AIVAnet 
