Vodafone UK kicks off pre-orders on the One (M9)
Hot on the heels of EE’s announcement earlier today, UK operator Vodafone is now taking pre-orders for HTC’s flagship smartphone of 2015, the One (M9). The handset is available to purchase on any of its 2-year plans starting at £26.50 a month with a £169 down payment.
Unfortunately, the pricing plans referred to above do not include 4G connectivity, which you’ll probably want. To take advantage of the faster speeds, you will have to fork out an additional £12 per month, bumping the total up to £38.50, with an upfront fee of £19.
Just in case you need a refresher on the devices specifications, the One (M9) packs a 5-inch LCD3 display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 and 2GHz Cortex-A57 CPU, 3GB of RAM, a 20.7MP camera and a 2,840mAh battery.
If you’re based in the UK, like the sound of the One (M9) and want to pre-order one through Vodafone – hit the source link below.
Source: Vodafone
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Apple Offering AppleCare+ With Accidental Damage Coverage on Apple Watch [iOS Blog]
Apple Watch Sport and the stainless steel Apple Watch will be covered by a limited one-year warranty for hardware repairs and up to 90 days of complimentary support from Apple, the same coverage offered for the iPhone, iPad and many other products. Meanwhile, the more expensive 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition will be backed by two years of hardware coverage and complimentary support.
AppleCare+ will also be available for all three Apple Watch models, providing extended warranty up to three years from the date of purchase, depending on the edition, and accidental damage coverage. The Apple Watch Sport and stainless steel Apple Watch are covered for up to two years from the original date of purchase under AppleCare+, while the high-end 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition is covered for up to three years from the original date of purchase.
Apple will cover up to two incidents of accidental damage for an unspecified service fee, although the exact charge and the cost of AppleCare+ for Apple Watch overall is not provided. We have reached out to Apple for comment about pricing and will update this post if we hear back.
Android Wear vs Apple Watch – Quick Look
Apple has just announced the final details of its first entry into the smartwatch market, so let’s take a look at how the Apple Watch stacks up against the best that Android Wear has to offer.
Both platforms work as a companion to their smartphone counterparts, with Apple Watch supporting iOS 8 smartphones and Android Wear covering Android 4.3 handsets and up.
Software
Starting with the software, both operating systems have been built around smartphone notifications and a selection of apps designed specifically for wearables. Android Wear arranges these into swappable cards while Apple’s OS arranges apps on a single home screen with full screen pop-up notification. However, rather than relying solely on touch to navigate your way around, Apple’s crown dial is also used to hop in and out of apps and alter some settings.
Apple made a big deal about personalization during the announcement, and both platforms offers up a wide selection of watch-faces to choose from. You can already find a huge range of watch faces made by third party developers for Android Wear.
Core functionality also shares a lot of similarities on both platforms. Notifications pinged from your mobile appear in real-time, allowing for quick responses to messages, emails, calls, etc. Both platforms support common applications such as calendars, navigation, music control, weather checking, upcoming flight information and voice commands.
Speaking of which, Google Now plays a big part in Android Wear, while Siri assumes the voice responsibilities for Apple Watch. Google Now works for search, accessing apps, settings alarms, etc, and Siri allows for much of the same functionality, and can also be activated by voice command.
Apple Pay is one big feature currently unmatched by Android Wear devices, which will allow you to make small payments in some stores directly from your wrist. Although you have to hold the face of the watch against the contactless reader, which might involve some odd wrist twisting, depending on the reader.
Health and Fitness
The other half of the wearables battle is being fought for the health and fitness market, with both platforms again offering up a lot of similar functionality. Most Android Wear smarwatches come with a heartrate monitor and can link up with your smartphone to track location and distances. The Apple Watch comes with a heartrate monitor and built in GPS, like some more of the recent-gen Android Wear devices such as the Sony Smartwatch 3, which means that you can leave your phone at home while going out for a run.
With Android Wear, there’s support from Google Fit and a selection of third party apps that can all tap into the fitness hardware, most of which offer features like distance/step tracking and health monitoring. Apple’s Activity app can also keep track of your day to day activities, or lack of, in much the same way, while there’s a Workout app for those who want a more dedicated cardio workout.
Hardware
Apple has opted for two different sizes for its smartwatch, either 38mm or 42mm. Just like Android Wear, changeable watch straps are available to suit your preferred style, and Apple even has a selection of metals available to enclose the watch face, either stainless steel, aluminium, or 18k gold, if you so desire.
Of course, the wonderful thing about Android has always been its wider range of hardware. While Apple’s has a range of variations on the same design, Android Wear’s hardware has a selection of completely different looks available. The Moto 360 come with a choice of leather or metallic straps, while the G Watch R and Zenwatch offer a selection of leather options or Sony’s latest smartwatch can come encased in stainless steel.
Although there are plenty of different designs to pick from with Android Wear, most of the latest generation smartwatches feature surprisingly similar specifications to each other. The table below gives an example of some of the best Android Wear products and how they compare with the key hardware features offered by Apple’s Watch.
| Asus Zenwatch | LG G Watch R | Moto 360 | Apple Watch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.63″ 320×320 AMOLED | 1.3″ 320 x 320 P-OLED | 1.56″ 320×290 LCD | 340 x 272 or 390 x 312 |
| SoC | 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 | 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 | TI OMAP 3 | Apple S1 |
| RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512 MB | unknown |
| Storage | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4GB | unknown |
| Battery | 360 mAh (2 days) | 410 mAh (2+ days) | 320 mAh (12 hours) | unknown (18 hours) |
| Size | 51 x 39.9 x 7.9 ~ 9.4 mm | 46.4 x 53.6 x 9.7 mm | 46mm diameter x 11.5mm | 42mm or 38mm (height) |
| Weight | 50g | 62g | 49g | unknown |
| Resistance | IP55 | IP67 | IP67 | no |
| Extras | pedometer, heart rate monitor | pedometer, heart rate monitor | pedometer, heart rate monitor | pedometer, heart rate monitor, GPS |
| Charging | Dock | Dock | Wireless | MagSafe Wireless |
| Price | $199.99 | $299 | $250 | $349 or $399 |
The 38mm Apple Watch is the smallest of the watches on our list, while the 42nm wide version is much closer to what we have come to expect from rectangular Android Wear watches. Of course, circular designs, like the Moto 360 and G Watch R, are going to be a little wider, but fortunately don’t add much in terms of weight. However, the scanner on the bottom of the Apple Watch seems to make the smartwatch stick out of the wrist a bit further than most Android watches, although we don’t have the exact dimensions to verify its size.
One of the most important metrics for a wearable is battery life. Typically, our testing of Android Wear devices results in a maximum battery life of around two days, with the exception of the Moto 360 which seems substantially worse. During Apple’s announcement, the device was stated to last 18 hours during “typical” usage, meaning that daily charging will be required and the watch may not last long at all under heavy usage.
The Apple Watch also supports wireless charging via a MagSafe induction connection. The Moto 360 uses Qi wireless charging, while most Android Wear products are charged through a physical connection to a docking station.
On its début into the smartwatch market, Apple has also launched sport and collector’s edition variants. Neither of these two add anything in terms of internal hardware, but the sport version’s aluminium, rather than stainless steel, cover should reduce its weight somewhat. Prices for the Watch Edition range between $549 and $1049, depending on the strap and build materials. If you have money to burn, there’s also a 18-karat or rose gold option available starting from $10,000.
There you have it, a quick look at some of the hardware and software features available with Android Wear and Apple Watch. There are a lot of similarities between the two, which likes leaves aesthetic design and smartphone support as the major deciding factors between the two.
HTC One M8 receives unofficial Sense 7 ROM from SkyDragon
HTC has recently announced its new One M9 handset, and with it came the company’s new Android overlay, Sense 7. Those who invested in an M8 instantly began wondering when their devices would receive the update. At MWC, HTC confirmed that the phone would in fact get the update, though they didn’t provide any sort of timeframe. But, if you don’t mind rooting your device and doing a little work, you may be able to get your hands on the Sense 7 software unofficially. The team at SkyDragon has ported the latest Sense 7 software to their custom ROM, which is now available for download.
So what will you get with the new ROM? Sense 7 on the One M8 (shown off in the preview video above) brings HTC’s new Sense Home widget, which suggests frequently-used apps to you based on your location. Additionally, you’ll get an all new camera UI, theming options, Blinkfeed improvements, a fourth softkey button option, Dolby Audio surround sound and much more. If you’d like to see our hands-on comparison between the One M9 running Sense 7 and the One M8 running Sense 6, you can do so here.
Since this is a brand new ROM, we can’t vouch for its stability. Though, SkyDragon ROMs have proven stable in the past, so it might be worthwhile to try it out. And just like when you’re flashing any other ROMs, be sure to read the XDA thread in its entirety before flashing, including FAQs and other notices. Also, the developer notes that if you’re on the latest Sense GSM Lollipop firmware, the only thing you’ll need to flash is the new ROM. If you’re interested in trying out the ROM for yourself, you can find everything you need on the XDA thread. Just keep in mind that you are doing so at your own risk.
Any One M8 owners out there willing to try out the new Sense 7 ROM?
Here’s where you can recap today’s Spring Forward event with the full video
If you missed out on all of the action from today’s Spring Forward event, Apple has just posted the full video from the event for your viewing pleasure.
You can take a gander at the video to watch Apple take the wraps off of the all-new Macbook, and make a slew of Apple Watch announcements including its April 24 launch date and pricing.
Of course there was much more to the event, such as the launch of the (currently) Apple TV-exclusive HBO Now, along with a price drop of the Apple TV itself from $99 to $69.
Feel free to click on over to Apple’s event page from the source link below to watch the video, and don’t forget to check out all of our coverage for much more when you’re done.
Source: Apple
Samsung brings Milk Music streaming to the web
Samsung has just broughtthe Milk Music streaming service to the web. This was previously limited to mobile applications and select Samsung televisions, so the users will welcome the addition of this new feature. Samsung expressed interest to bring Milk Music to the web browsers a couple of months ago, but it has taken until now for the company to make this official.
The web version brings some nifty channel tuning settings as well as a massive album artwork. Since it will keep playing in the background, you probably won’t be staring at the album artwork for long, but it’s still a good visual feature to have for music fans.
Samsung’s Milk Music service is a free to access streaming app, provided you have a Samsung device. If you fit the criteria, make sure you give Milk Music a try from the link below.
Source: Milk Music
Via: Engadget
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One month to launch: A closer look at Apple’s Watch
I was never a watch guy. Actually, let me rephrase — I was never a watch guy until I bought a Tissot online for giggles (and about $350). That day sort of changed the way I looked at these seemingly archaic wrist appliances. They become a statement about you. They can make you feel awesome. And, perhaps most importantly to Apple, they can stop being a thing you wear and become something you don’t want to take on your day without. With all that said, and given my general lack of expertise in horology, I did the only sensible thing I could. I strapped on the $12,000, yellow gold Apple Watch Edition in an incredibly dark room and took it for a spin.
A brief aside: Yes, $12,000. That’s how much Apple is asking for the 42mm Apple Watch Edition, and it’s a princely sum no matter how you slice it. We’ll get back to that a little later.
Despite the differences in materials, all three versions of the Apple Watch feel very similar once you’ve got ‘em strapped on. The 42mm versions are just a touch more substantial thanks to the slightly bigger chassis and battery (I’m told the difference in battery life is super small), but you’re not going to notice the difference. My go-to watch is a stainless steel Mondaine and the Watch felt dramatically heftier, only natural considering all the stuff that’s been crammed into it — it’s also got more weight to it than an ASUS ZenWatch, the Android Wear watch that Apple’s work most closely resembles. Don’t worry: You might not love the shape, but the Watch feels suitably expensive.
I was a little concerned about the digital crown at first, given how integral it is to actually using the watch — you’ll press it to view that constellation of apps, turn it to zoom in and out and double-tap it to bring up your watch face. It’ll sound minor, but there’s plenty of resistance to be felt as you start turning it, and that helps make the whole thing feel a little more measured and (dare I say) premium. You’ll be doing quite a lot of force touching as well, which works exactly the way it sounds — pressing down and holding lets you swap through the 10 available watch faces. Let’s be honest here: I’m not entirely sure what force touching brings to the table that a standard long press doesn’t. Apple just might be trying to save us all fractions of seconds of interaction so we can go back to our lives as quickly as possible, but I’m not convinced yet.
Moving on. Obviously, the software’s still not ready for public consumption — Apple staffers seemed to cycle through two demo Siri questions ad infinitum — but interacting with the Watch does seem more thoughtful and elegant than earlier reports might’ve suggested. What seems most immediately useful are the Glances, little applets that are invoked when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Need to check stocks? Toggle Bluetooth? You’ll be able to do that without having to dive into your app galaxy — just swipe up and take a gander. Meanwhile, smart approaches to third-party apps like WeChat and Uber only extend the value of a device that plenty of people would’ve kneejerk-bought anyway.
As I noted during our liveblog, Tim Cook made several attempts to frame the Watch not as a gadget, but as a companion. It’ll remind you “like a friend does.” It’s like having a “coach on your wrist.” I’ve admittedly only spent maybe 20 minutes with the Watch lashed to my wrist, and I spent that entire time waiting to be struck with a flash of inspiration along the lines of what Cook envisioned. “Oh,” I thought I’d say. “That’s why it’ll be worth buying one of these things.”
The epiphany I was half-hoping for never materialized… but that’s not to say it won’t. Apple’s Watch is ambitious in a way that few devices are, and its true value (which I suspect will come in the form of dev support) isn’t obvious to me just yet.
I’ll update this story with further impressions after I do a little more playing.
Filed under: Mobile
VSCO Cam adds batch editing for your mobile snapshots
Adobe delivered the ability to copy and paste edits to multiple images in Lightroom for iOS last month, and now you can do the same with VSCO Cam. With version 4.1 for iOS and 3.2 for Android, the preset-driven app adds a tool that will allow you place edits on multiple shots in your library with a few simple taps. If you’re looking to give a dozen images from last weekend the same treatment, this is sure to make the task much easier. And if you mess up, there’s a handy undo button to avoid any permanent blunders. Of course, VSCO Cam is free to use (unless you want to buy more presets, natch), while the aforementioned Adobe option requires a Creative Cloud subscription. Both the iOS and Android updates are available in iTunes and Google Play now, if you’re feelin’ the itch to take ‘em a spin.
Filed under: Cameras, Software, Mobile
Source: VSCO, Google Play
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for New MacBook Includes HDMI and USB 3.1 Connectors [Mac Blog]
Announced in conjunction with the new line of MacBooks revealed at today’s “Spring Forward” event in San Francisco, the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adaptor will allow users a dock-like experience with included HDMI, USB 3.1, and USB-C inputs located on the device.
Mainly featured will be the ability to mirror a MacBook’s display onto an HDMI-connected screen. The adapter will allow users to play a wide range of video content, including movies and captured video, at up to 1080p HD.
This adapter allows you to mirror your MacBook display to your HDMI-enabled TV or display in up to 1080p HD. It also outputs video content like movies and captured video. Simply connect the adapter to the USB-C port on your MacBook and then to your TV or projector via an HDMI cable (sold separately).
Apple also noted that the other two inputs on the device, USB 3.1 and USB-C, will be able to be used simultaneously. Ultimately aimed at providing a bit more accessibility to the lone USB-C port located on the new MacBook line, the Multiport Adapter will allow users to mirror their display, charge an iPhone, and make sure their MacBook doesn’t run out of power at the same time.
A similar device, the USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter, will allow all the same features, but let users connect their MacBook to a VGA-enabled display, with all of the expected USB 3.1 and USB-C features as in the HDMI model.
Though currently unavailable, those interested will be able to pick up the Multiport Adapter from Apple’s online store for $79.00.
Apple Backs Down on $7.99 Price Point for New Music Service After Meeting Resistance From Record Labels
Amid all of the excitement over the 12-inch MacBook and new pricing details on the Apple Watch, Billboard has shared some new information on Apple’s rumored music service.
Initial rumors suggested Apple was hoping to undercut competing services like Spotify on price, offering its upcoming music service for $7.99, but according to Billboard, music labels are said to be highly resistant to pricing under the industry standard of $9.99.
Due to labels’ insistence on the $9.99 price point, Apple is said to have backed down from its aggressive $7.99 pricing goal, suggesting the service may cost subscribers $9.99 per month instead of $7.99 per month.
Negotiations for Apple’s upcoming subscription service are evidence labels are standing firm on pricing. Industry sources say Apple has backed down from its effort to lower monthly pricing for its subscription service to $7.99 from $9.99. Apple would have to absorb the loss if it sets a price lower than the standard $9.99.
Apple may not be able to offer a lower price point than competing services, but industry insiders that spoke to Billboard have suggested that Apple is talking to artists and labels about exclusives for key releases that will help it stand out from the competition.
Limited details are available on Apple’s new subscription music service, but it’s said to be a complete rebranding of the company’s existing Beats Music service. It is rumored to be directly integrated into iTunes and it will be platform agnostic — available on iOS and on Android, through a dedicated Android app Apple is building.
Recent rumors have suggested that Apple will launch its revamped streaming music service in June, during the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
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