AT&T LG G4 owners seeing a software update install without permission
Those who purchased the LG G4 from AT&T are noticing that a software update arrives, reboots, and installs on their phones. All of this is without owners engaging the update themselves. While that is not usually the case for any software update, AT&T seems to have no qualms about it.
The changelog on AT&T’s site merely states that the AT&T Address Book has been enhanced.
Come comment on this article: AT&T LG G4 owners seeing a software update install without permission
ARCHOS 50 and 55 Helium Plus bring 4G speeds to the masses, starting at just $109
Today ARCHOS announced the 50 Helium Plus and 55 Helium Plus, two new smartphones offering reasonably decent specs and looks at highly affordable price points. With large displays, built-in 4G technology, and space for two SIM cards, these phones really make full use of their lower-end specs and still manage to handle Google’s latest software, Android 5.1 Lollipop.
As their names suggest, the 50 Helium Plus comes with a 5-inch IPS display and the 55 Helium Plus sports a 5.5-inch IPS display, both with 1280 x 720 resolutions. Other specs include a 64-bit quad-core 1GHz MediaTek MT6735P with 1GB RAM, 8GB storage with microSD, a 13MP rear-facing camera, and a 5MP front-facing camera. The only major difference besides display size is the battery. The 5-inch model packs a 2,000mAh removable battery, while the 55 Helium Plus offers a 2,400mAh removable battery.
While none of the specs exactly impress, the pricing sure does. ARCHOS is charging just $109 for the 5-inch model and $139 for the 5.5-inch variant. Both models will be released in July 2015 in select markets. What do you think, anyone interested in picking either of these up?
Canada greenlights an anti-terror law that hurts internet privacy
The US government might be curbing its surveillance activities, but just the opposite is happening north of the border. Canada’s Senate has passed the heavily disputed Bill C-51 into law, granting spy agencies (like the Canadian Security Intelligence Service) greater powers to violate digital privacy in the name of fighting terrorism. The move lets government branches swap sensitive data like tax filings, and gives spies permission to load intrusive malware on suspects’ devices. It also raises the possibility of searching devices at the border to find “terrorist propaganda,” and should allow disruptive tactics like taking down websites. Moreover, there are worries that some online discussions wishing harm against Canada and its allies might be deemed illegal.
Some of the strategies greenlit here aren’t new — just ask the US’ National Security Agency. However, there’s a concern that C-51’s vague definitions of national security risks let the Canadian government snoop on people who are merely challenging authority, such as activists and religious leaders, rather than limiting the scope to extremists. Not surprisingly, the attempts at criminalizing certain kinds of discussion could easily tread on the country’s free speech rights.
The Senate move doesn’t mean that the law is set in stone. Two political parties (the NDP and Green Party) have promised to repeal C-51 if they can, and a third (the Liberal Party) is at least open to amendments. Those aren’t idle threats, either. There’s a federal election coming up in the fall, and even supporters of the ruling Conservative Party believe C-51 could be unpopular enough to usher in a change of leadership that either softens key measures or kills the law outright. In other words, the battle isn’t over yet.
[Image credit: The author, Flickr]
[Thanks, Kristy]
Filed under: Internet
Source: CCLA, Openmedia.ca
Motorola says camera quality is one of its top priorities
Motorola has produced some incredible pieces of hardware in the past few years, from high-end options like the Moto X (2nd Gen.) to low-end options like the Moto G (2nd Gen.) or the Moto E (2015). However, it’s pretty well known among the tech community that the cameras in Motorola’s recent smartphones have not been very capable at all. But according to Motorola CMO Adrienne Hayes, that’s going to change from here on out.
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When asked about camera performance in upcoming Motorola smartphones, Hayes commented that the company is going to “bring it” when talking about future Moto devices. Not only that, but another curious consumer asked if Motorola plans to bring advanced manual camera controls in future devices. Hayes responded by saying, “We absolutely can and we absolutely will this year. Stay tuned!”
YES. We know we need to improve here and are definitely going to “bring it.” https://t.co/77Lzkvtvqb
— adrienne hayes (@purplehayez) June 9, 2015
Seeing as how the last two flagship Motorola devices weren’t the best in this area, we may have to wait until launch to find out for ourselves. It certainly sounds like there’s a reason to stay hopeful for the company, but until then, other flagship devices like the Galaxy S6 and LG G4 will top our list as the best smartphone cameras available on the market today.
If Motorola truly improved the camera on the upcoming Moto X (3rd Gen.), would that be a contender for your next smartphone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
PlayStation’s Vue TV streaming app hits iPad in limited release
We’ve known that PlayStation Vue would hit iPad sooner or later and now Sony’s TV streaming service finally has. PlayStation Vue Mobile’s available in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia (the same cities the service launched in earlier this year) at the moment, and it’s basically the same as what’s on your PS4 in terms of functionality. So, video on demand, live TV and access to your favorite shows and channels as long as you’re in one of the three aforementioned cities. You still need a PS4 to sign up, of course, and blackout restrictions can occasionally block streaming, just like we’ve seen with Sling TV. Usually, that means sporting events blacked out for various reasons, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Of course, Vue’s availability could be expanded upon during E3 next week and we’ll be there to tell you about it. For full details on the application, hit the source link and for our video walkthrough of the service check the clip below.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD, Mobile, Sony
Source: iTunes
Google Location Aware Search now live, lets you ask questions about your current location without naming it
While Google Now on Tap isn’t coming to devices until the full launch of Android M, it looks like a few new enhancements to Google Search will help tide us over until then. At an event in Paris, Google just unveiled a new feature called “Location Aware Search” that actually takes into account your current location and gives you results about landmarks, locations and businesses around you. This is similar to when Google Search began understanding pronouns instead of making the user repeat the name of the subject about which they were searching.
Here’s how it works – No matter your location, you can ask Google anything about a particular landmark, business, tower, etc., and Google will be able to answer you depending on where you are. For example, when you’re standing in a park and say “What’s the name of this park?”, Google will be able to answer you. Take a look at the video below for a demonstration:
Location Aware Search is live unannounced feature in Google Search App. Ask about things nearby without naming them pic.twitter.com/ML7APC6Msc
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) June 9, 2015
It doesn’t stop there, though. In this next example, the user was talking to Google about the Empire State Building. After asking Search simple questions like “How tall is it?” and “Who built it?”, the user then simply asked the question “when”, and Google responded accordingly. Take a look for yourself:
Personally most amazing to me because understated. Watch how Google gives relevant answer just for word “when” #SMX pic.twitter.com/wlR3PynuO2 — Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) June 9, 2015
According to a user on Reddit, here are a few more examples on what you can ask Google:
- What is this museum?
- When does this restaurant open?
- How tall is this? (when standing next to a tower)
- When was this built? (for monuments)
- What’s the name of this church?
- What’s the phone number for this pharmacy?
Like I said before, this feature still has yet to be announced by Google. It’s currently working on my device, and a number of other Reddit users say it’s working on theirs, as well. Since we’re kind of low on details at the moment, feel free to test it out and see what you can make it do. And be sure to tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Engadget Live comes to Boston on July 17th!
Because we love Beantown, we’re kicking off this year’s Engadget Live series in Boston on July 17th at Royale from 7pm-10pm. This night will be all about bringing our esteemed editors and readers closer together in the best way possible: over booze and gadgets. Or booze sent to you by gadgets, thanks to our friends at Drizly who will be hosting the bar. After you order your tickets to Engadget Live (they’re free), you’re more than welcome to download the Drizly app and start the party early.
We’ve also invited some of the best names in tech from across the world and those local to Boston. They’ll show off the latest technology (most of which you won’t spot out in the wild just yet) and even shower you with giveaways and swag. Not in Boston? Join us in Los Angeles on August 21st or Austin on October 16th. And if you’re a company in Boston interested in sponsoring or participating in Boston’s event or any other Engadget live, shoot us a note at sponsors[at]engadget.com?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&ncid=rss_full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget
Filed under: Announcements
Samsung Smart TVs get PlayStation Now game-streaming service
We knew PlayStation Now support was coming to Samsung Smart TVs, but now it’s finally here. If you have a compatible 2015 set in your home (or office), you can now start streaming games directly from Sony’s subscription service. However, do keep in mind that you’ll need a DualShock 4 controller to get started — which is much better than needing an entire console. Up until now, PlayStation Now had only been compatible with Sony hardware, including the PS4, PS3, PS Vita and some TVs, so it’s great to see the service become more widely available. Unfortunately, this is only available to users in the US and Canada, at least for the time being.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Samsung, Sony
Via: VentureBeat
Source: PlayStation
How to install Android M
I know that the Android M preview was announced and released a while ago, but I am still asked how someone should go about installing Android M.
In response to these numerous requests, I felt that there is a need for a quick guide on how to install the preview.
Honestly time. I don’t have a Nexus Player. I would love a Nexus Player, but I just don’t have one, so I don’t know how much the steps vary for that device. However, these steps will work on the other Nexus phones and tablet just fine.
Requirements
- Nexus device with Android M preview
- adb tools installed
- adb debugging enabled on device
- A way to extract TGZ files (I use 7-zip)
Step One – Downloading the factory images
You can download the official Android M images for your Nexus branded device(s) here, or you can follow the direct links below.
Nexus 5 (GSM/LTE)Nexus 6Nexus 9Nexus Player
By downloading the images for the above links, you are agreeing to Google’s Terms and Conditions. Let’s be honest though, you weren’t going to read through those anyways.
Step Two – Extract the files
Extract the .tgz file with whatever program, methods you prefer.
For me, I installed 7-zip and used that to extract the files.
After that, you will want to extract the .tar file. I did that the same way.
Finally, extract the .zip file at the end of the trail.
Hopefully, you will be greeted with the following files
- android-info.txt
- boot.img
- cache.img
- recovery.img
- system.img
- userdata.img
Step Three- Boot into bootloader
There are two ways to do this.
Option One – adb command
If your device is already booted up normally, then this is rather easy.
Make sure that ADB debugging is enabled and your drivers are installed.
If you can’t handle this on your own, you really should not install the Android M preview. While the preview is mostly stable, if you can’t manage to get adb commands functioning properly, you are going to absolutely hate yourself for installing the preview. Things will crash and not everything will work.
If you still want to continue on, you can follow this guide to install ADB and Fastboot tools.
Anyways, all you have to do at this juncture is open in a command window and type in the following command and press enter.
Option Two – button combination
This one is easier, but I prefer option one to make sure that I have adb installed correctly.
All you have to do is when the device is powered completely off, press and hold volume down and the power button.
That’s it, you’ll boot into the bootloader!
Step Four- Wipe the device
Some people claim that this step is optional, but I find it 100% necessary. I actually tried to install Android M on top of stock 5.1.1 without a wipe, and I got nothing but trouble. Force closings everywhere.
For this step, it is just another command. Once again, just open a command window/terminal if you don’t already have one open and type in the following command and press enter.
if you are using a linux distro, you are going to have to add “sudo” to the start of the command and type in your password when prompted.
Step Five- Install system images
Just like you did for step three, just execute the following commands. IN ORDER!
Except, this time, you need to make sure that your terminal is opened to the same location as the files that I had you extract previously.
In Windows, you can just open that file location in the file explorer and right click while holding shift. This will allow you to select the option “Open command window here”
I am sure that there is a similar process that can be followed in Linux and on Macs.
Step Six – WAIT
Now, you should see a recovery Android.
Something similar to this
What this screen is showing is your phone’s recovery partition clearing everything out and getting things ready for you.
You don’t need to know exactly what it is doing, all you have to do is sit tight and wait. This will take a while. So long to the point that you think you did it wrong.
Don’t worry, just wait it out and your phone will boot normally. Then congrats! You should be booted into Android M!
The post How to install Android M appeared first on AndroidGuys.
New York and Connecticut Officials Investigate Apple Music for Possible Antitrust Violations [Mac Blog]
Government officials in New York and Connecticut are investigating the deals Apple and major record companies established for Apple Music to determine whether there were any antitrust violations, reports The New York Times. Eric T. Schneiderman and George Jepsen, attorneys general in the two states, are suspicious Apple tried to convince record labels to abandon free, ad-supported music services like those offered by Spotify and YouTube.
The attorneys general wanted to know whether Apple pressured the music labels — or whether the labels conspired with Apple and one another — to withdraw support for popular “freemium” services offered by companies like Spotify in favor of Apple’s paid music subscriptions.
Spotify offers a freemium ad-supported music tier that lets listeners access music at no cost, provided they also listen to ads. Apple Music does not include such a free tier, instead requiring all users to pay $9.99 per month for an individual plan or $14.99 per month for a family plan.
There have been rumors suggesting Apple asked record labels to discontinue allowing services like Spotify to offer music at no cost, which has led to scrutiny from the European Commission, the United States Department of Justice, and the United States Federal Trade Commission. Apple Music would, of course, be a much more appealing option should other services not be able to offer music for free, but it remains unclear whether Apple executives did indeed push labels to change their deals.
According to The New York Times, Universal Music Group is cooperating with the investigation and has told the attorneys general via letter that it has no agreements with Apple or other record labels that “impede the availability of free or ad-supported music streaming services” and it has no intention to enter any such agreements.
In a statement, Connecticut attorney general George Jepsen said he was satisfied with the response he received from UMG. “We will continue to monitor that market to ensure that consumers and competition are protected,” he said. Schneiderman’s office made a similar statement, saying “It’s important to ensure that the market continues to develop free from collusion and other anticompetitive practices.”
Jepsen and Schneiderman have been involved in Apple’s affairs several times in the past. Jepsen led a lawsuit against Apple during the e-book price fixing scandal and has questioned Apple about Apple Watch privacy concerns. Schneiderman has been involved with smartphone anti-theft measures and was one of the main proponents of a “kill switch” for smartphones.
Apple Music debuted yesterday at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. It will launch to the public on June 30 alongside iOS 8.4.
AIVAnet 