Earlier today, we shared a service called BandSwapper, designed to let people who purchase an Apple Watch Sport trade their extra unused Sport Bands for a Sport Band in a different size and color. As it turns out, Sport Band trading is not going to be possible, due to the way that the bands are configured.
Ahead of pre-orders, the Apple Watch Sport was advertised as shipping with two separate bands in S/M and M/L sizes, leading people to believe there were two full bands included with each Apple Watch Sport purchase.
Shortly after we shared the BandSwapper site, MacRumors readers began letting us know that customers do not, in fact, receive two complete sport bands when purchasing an Apple Watch that comes with a Sport Band. Instead, the watches come with three band pieces that when put together, allow for two different band sizes in S/M or M/L to fit all wrists.
TechCrunch has confirmed (“with very good authority”) that buyers do not get two full watchbands with an Apple Watch Sport, so sites like BandSwapper will not be able to offer customers a way to trade for a complete band.
You see, Apple Sport Watch models technically do come with two bands, but in practice, it’s not two full bands, but rather three pieces. There’s one piece that attaches to one end of the watch with the fastener, and then two additional bands (the side with the holes) that attach to the other side of the watch. These two bands come in two different lengths — a S/M size for smaller wrists and an M/L size for larger wrists.
In other words, you won’t have an entire extra band to swap.
The band swapping sites could potentially allow customers to swap for half bands to have a watch strap that’s multi-colored, but it’s unlikely that this will be an appealing option to many consumers. It appears that acquiring multiple Sport Band colors will require full band purchases.
Image of Sport Band packaging showing two different straps with holes, but only one strap with a pin. Still shot taken from an unboxing video.
On Twitter, BandSwapper has been suggesting that the three-piece Apple Watch Sport Band configuration is “speculation,” but it has now been confirmed by reputable sources and through images shared on the MacRumors forums.
Cortana was pretty restricted by location in the first Windows 10 preview for phones but with the latest build it looks like she’s opened back up to more people. We’re seeing it on our devices in the UK, though at the time of writing there’s no apparent official word from Microsoft on exactly where.
We’ve already taken a look at what you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S6 now that its big day has arrived, and we’ve even shown you were to pick it up from. Let’s not forget that the HTC One M9 is also hitting retailers in the US (and several other markets) today.
While some of you may have not only pre-ordered the One M9 already, there’s a good chance you received it days ago. For those that aren’t sure if the HTC One M9 is right for them, here’s few important things you might want to know before (and after) buying HTC’s latest.
If you haven’t already, you’ll want to check out our full review on the HTC One M9 in order to give you a better idea of what to expect.
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The One M9 is up against some very big competition. While the most obvious competitor is the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, there’s also the LG G Flex 2, the Note 4, and the upcoming LG G4.
While we will be bringing you a more detailed look at HTC One availability in the United States a bit later today, the HTC One M9 through most major retailers and all major carriers in the United States. Pricing will vary considerably, depending on if you go with a contract, a payment plan, or buy it outright. For those simply interested in paying full retail price, you’re looking at around $599.99.
The HTC One M9 might not be available in the myriad of colors that you’ll find the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but you do have the choice between gunmetal gray and a silver that has a subtle hint of gold that helps it stand out a bit. Most carriers and retailers are offering both color choices, regardless of what country you are buying the One M9 — though there’s probably some exceptions to that rule.
While the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are breaking away from Samsung tradition and ditching microSD, the One M9 still keeps the expandable slot. This could be a big enough advantage to sway some of our readers over the One M9 and away from Samsung, especially if local storage is important to you. That said, unless you live in Taiwan, the only internal storage option you have is 32GB, though you can easily pair it with an 128GB microSD card.
For US HTC ONe M9 owners, HTC is offering its Uh-Oh program, a major upgrade to its existing Advantage warranty program. Customers who sign up for Uh-Oh will receive a free one-time replacement if their One M9 or One M8 suffers a broken screen or any water damage. The coverage lasts for 12 months from the purchase of a device, and all users are automatically signed up upon purchasing a device.
Ultrapixels aren’t gone with the One M9, but they are moved to a new location. The Ultrapixel camera is now on the front, with the rear receiving a new 20.7MP shooter. While this should allow for a better camera experience than found with the M8, many reviews indicate that the One M9 photo-taking experience still is behind the curve due to post-processing and other camera software issues, and not the new sensor itself. For what it is worth, HTC has updated its camera software to help improve this situation, though most reviews say, even after the update, the camera experience could use a bit more fine tuning.
The HTC One M9 had some early reports claiming it gets super hot, due to the Snapdragon 810 processor. Since then, it’s been proven that this isn’t necessarily the case. Our own Josh Vergara indicated in his review that the phone gets a bit warm, but he wouldn’t go so far as to call it hot. In other words, if you are on the fence about buying the One M9 due to possibly overheating issues, you have nothing to worry about.
The One M9 is very similar in design to the One M8, but not indentical. The handset actually feels more like a merger between the One M7 and One M8, taking both phones best features and adding on a few extra coats of paint. Bottom-line, the One M9 is a beautiful phone, even if it’s design isn’t a massive departure from the One M8 and the M7 before it.
If you enjoy theming, you’ll be happy to know that the improved Sense 7 software includes a very robust theming engine. The HTC Theme engine lets you quickly change the entire look and feel of your phone, with built-in themes, add-on themes, the ability to snap pic and use the colors for themes, and so much more.
HTC has really done a great job at making its software experience a bit more customizable.
In the market for a charger but want to add a little bit of range to your cord length? This Ultra-Handy 10-Ft Micro USB Cable comes in a pack of two cables, designed with sturdiness in mind. They’re crafted to lay flat which helps minimize breakage and ensures a tangle-free experience. Now you don’t have to be on your hands and knees next to an outlet just to get a charge on your device. AndroidGuys readers take 40% off the retail price and can lay claim to this two-pack for just $14.99!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
In the market for a charger but want to add a little bit of range to your cord length? This Ultra-Handy 10-Ft Micro USB Cable comes in a pack of two cables, designed with sturdiness in mind. …
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Today’s Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day is a a great one for people looking to ease their way into smartphones without spending a lot of money. For the rest of the day you can score a BLU …
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If you own one of LG’s E-Series of Android tablets, which include the G Pad 7.0, 8.0 and 10.1, then we have some great news for you. Starting April 12th, LG is pushing Android 5.0 to the devices with a plethora of improvements and enhancements. Included in the update are upgraded UI elements which promise to make animations smoother, better color representation, faster response times, and optimized menus. Also included will be better battery management tools, more languages and a complete new way to interact with your notifications. All in all, this is a welcome update that will also include all of Lollipops many other improvements.
When April 12th rolls around, and if you have automatic updates turned on, the devices will automatically check for the update when you connect to a WiFi network. The update will not erase any data but will require that the devices have at least 40% battery life. For those of you that do not have autonomic updates turned on, you will need to update manually via the settings menu. Provided below is LG’s official statement on the improvements that can be expected from the update.
The update will offer overall enhancements including:
– UI Design: Will include faster response rates, smoother motion,
optimized menus, and more vivid colors.
– Notifications: Offers new ways to control how e-mails are sent and
received, including the option to respond to e-mail directly from the lock
screen.
– Battery Management: Device will estimate battery life and charging
time.
– Greater Computing Power: Access to 15 additional languages and four
times more powerful.
The post Android 5.0 coming to LG’s E series of Android Tablets starting April 12th. appeared first on AndroidGuys.
With the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge now officially released, you can bet Samsung will be throwing everything they’ve got at marketing the device. Samsung are touting this as the ‘Next’ device, where they have focused on offering a premium device and premium experience.
The beginning of such marketing material can be seen in the below commercial, which is the official launch advert for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
Samsung are renowned for their massive marketing attempts to get the word out about their device, and I suspect the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge won’t be any different.
The post Launch day commercials for Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Microsoft has launched a revamped design for its Bing.com homepage for Android browser users, with a number of new features and changes.
Chrome browser users can now swipe up to see the sections on the Bing.com home page. They will also notice a new translucent color scheme.
Increase your battery life on just about any smartphone imaginable with this extremely portable 3000mAh portable charger from RAVPower. Sleek, powerful, and backed by hundreds of 5-star reviews, this charger boosts your phone’s life duration for just $12.99 (Prime eligible).
Join Prime and get this deal with FREE two-day shipping!
The post RAVPower 3000mAh portable charger, $12.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Motorola’s Android Wear-powered Moto 360 is on sale right now through Amazon and Best Buy. If you’ve been waiting to pick one of these up then you’ll want to act fast. It’s not clear how long the prices will last however it’s the lowest we have seen it yet. Indeed, the leather band version of the… Read more »
The post Grab the Moto 360 for only $180 right now! (Amazon, Best Buy) appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Source: SmarterWatching
The post Grab the Moto 360 for only $180 right now! (Amazon, Best Buy) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple couldn’t establish lower pricing for its upcoming music service to distinguish it from competing services, so the company is hoping to draw in subscribers by offering exclusive content. Apple has asked Florence and the Machine and a dozen other artists for exclusive deals to promote the upcoming music service, reports Bloomberg.
Apple is said to be in talks with Florence in the Machine about limited streaming rights to a track for the band’s upcoming album in June, and Apple execs have also approached Taylor Swift and others in the hopes of establishing a deal. An exclusive deal with Taylor Swift could be a big win for Apple as she’s opted to pull her music from some streaming services like Spotify. Such exclusives could bring in music-loving subscribers that might otherwise not pay for a music subscription.
The strategy is similar to a tactic employed by Jay-Z’s recently relaunched music service Tidal, which also hopes to attract subscribers through content that can’t be obtained elsewhere. At launch, Tidal released a new song from Beyonce, following it up with an exclusive song from Rihanna.
Exclusives could work to help Apple garner subscribers, but the company’s most promising tool for gaining subscribers is its huge existing customer base. Millions of people own iPhones and iPads, and Apple can create a streaming music app that’s heavily integrated within iTunes and installed on Apple devices automatically.
As we’ve heard in previous rumors, Apple is working to completely revamp Beats Music to turn it into an all new subscription music service. It may gain a new name, says Bloomberg, and it will cost $9.99 per month for individuals, with a family plan available for $14.99.
Apple may be planning to unveil its new streaming music service at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
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