Everybody still hates their cable provider
Two of America’s independent consumer ratings agencies have revealed something we already knew: our cable providers suck. Picking up where it left off last year, America’s Consumer Satisfaction Index has revealed that the pay-TV and internet businesses are the nation’s most hated industries. It’s not even as if the industry is getting better, since the bottom-rated Time Warner Cable has lost 9 percent of its satisfaction points in just a year. Perhaps, if Charter and TWC’s merger goes through, the former can boost the latter’s approval rating, which is placed 8 out of 13.
Unsurprisingly, Comcast remained as one of America’s least-tolerated companies, with an approval rating that dropped a full 10 percent in the last 12 months. The only reason it’s not sat in the bottom spot is because Time Warner’s reputation is that little bit worse. It’s a similar sentiment over at Consumer Reports, which placed the pair at the bottom of its listings, save for a small regional company called Mediacom.
In a game where victory is measured by being the least hated, then Verizon and AT&T clearly deserve some sort of medal. According to ACSI, the pair remained in first and second place, with FiOS only one of two services that actually improved its rating year-on-year.
Thankfully, it looks as if the long winter of mediocrity that these businesses have enjoyed may soon be coming to an end. Consumer Reports also asked people to reveal if they subscribed to a video streaming service like Netflix or Amazon Prime. The numbers show that while internet video isn’t going to replace cable any time soon, it won’t be long before there are more cord-cutting 18-35 year olds than not. When that happens, we can expect a lot of telecoms executives wondering where, exactly, it all went wrong.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Verizon, AT&T
Source: ACSI
JXE Streams: ‘Metal Gear?!’ We’re playing the 1987 original
Can love bloom on the battlefield? Metal Gear elicits more questions like these — from both players and its characters — than it ever answers. In the wake of Konami’s recent public relations meltdown and Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain‘s impending release at the end of summer, Hideo Kojima’s bizarre war drama is looming large our world. Next week, Engadget will bring you some early impressions of The Phantom Pain. Today at 3:30PM ET/12:30PM PT, though, we’re going to the very beginning to stream the original Metal Gear.
Tune in right here to this post and Engadget.com/gaming to watch a solid 90 minutes of the MSX version of Metal Gear. That’s the OG Metal Gear, not the NES port from the late ’80s. If you want to chat with us about the game, watch over at Twitch.tv/Joystiq. Click that follow button while you’re at it.
[We’re streaming a PS3 retail version of The Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection through an Elgato HD at 720p via OBS.]
Google Maps real-time transit info is now available in more places
Public transportation info has been in Google Maps for quite some time, but today the feature is seeing some handy improvements. First, when you select a transit option in the app, you’re served a a list of options that will not only show you the next bus or train, but how long you’ll be playing Candy Crush if you miss it alongside some alternative options. The details are updated in real time and you can expect to leverage the tool in more places, too. Google added partners to the list in six new locales: UK, Netherlands, Budapest, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle. While public transit info was available for those spots, you can now access real-time info as well. The folks in Mountain View say today’s news brings schedules for over 2.5 million stations, stops, terminals and more worldwide. Heck, you’ll even be able to see when your train leaves on your wrist.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: Google
Foursquare updates its Android app with Uber integration
Foursquare has just begun pushing out a server-side update for its official Android application. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade transports the usual truckload of bug fixes and speed optimizations together with integration for Uber’s cab-hailing service.
From now on, when a user searches for a specific location using the Foursquare app, an Uber button will appear alongside the travel information for that destination. Clicking the Uber button will prompt an active menu, which allows users to select the vehicle type they would like to travel in.
To celebrate this launch, the two company’s have come together to hold a special promotion for new users. If you’ve never travelled using Uber before, simply use the promo code FOURSQUARE at checkout to receive a discount.
Via: Forbes
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[Deal] Google celebrates ‘Dads and Grads’ with Nexus 6 discount and Nexus 9 bonus
Right now, the Google Store has promotions running for both the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.
The Nexus 6, which normally starts at $649, has been discounted by $150 for a limited time. This puts the 32GB model at $499 and the 64GB at $549. Since there is not a promotion label anywhere on the product’s Google Store listing, we would assume that it will not be sticking around for long. Not a bad price considering that software updates are guaranteed for the Nexus 6.
Purchasing the Nexus 9 does not come with a discount, though. The Google Store will instead include a $50 Google Play credit when the tablet is purchased by June 23. The code for the credit will be emailed upon the Nexus 9 shipping and must be redeemed by September 23.
All items include free shipping.
Here are some other promotions that the Google Store is running in honor of ‘Dads and Grads’:
- Save $100 on the Motorola Moto 360
- Save $50 on the Sony SmartWatch 3
- Save $20 on the Nexus Player
- $70 in offers with Chromecast
Source: Google Store (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Google celebrates ‘Dads and Grads’ with Nexus 6 discount and Nexus 9 bonus
Apple TV Gains New National Geographic Channel
Apple today updated the Apple TV with a brand new National Geographic channel, bringing popular National Geographic shows and content to the company’s set-top box. National Geographic first announced plans to introduce an Apple TV channel in November.
The channel includes shows like Life Below Zero, Live Free or Die, The Incredible Dr. Pol, and more. As with the company’s iOS apps, content is available through the Apple TV channel the day after it airs on television. The channel also offers on-demand access to back episodes of popular shows.
Like many of the channels on the Apple TV, accessing content like full on-demand episodes requires authentication with a cable TV provider. For those without a cable subscription, there are a few select episodes available for free, plus there are digital shorts and clips from shows available for viewing.
iMaze Fitness Heart Rate Strap & Armband Combo, $19.99
So, uhh… how’s that New Years Resolution coming along? A perfect companion to today’s MMOVE Bluetooth Earbuds, this wearable from iMaze is perfect for our fitness-folks first looking to whip themselves into shape or keep their bodies in prime condition.
This strap, worn around the chest, tracks your heart rate, speed, distance, time and a plethora of other pieces of information and seamlessly integrates them into your workout thanks to the iMaze Fitness App. With a sweat-proof design and included armband for your phone, you’ll be able to maximize your workouts by turning your physical activity into real-time data.
As an AndroidGuys reader, you’re eligible to grab the iMaze Fitness Tracker for 75% off today and pay only $19.99!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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This is what the Android Nanodegree entails
One of the ‘lesser’ announcements Google made at last week’s I/O 2015 keynote was the new Android Nanodegree, which aimed to offer a crash course in Android development and offer an insight into the lifecycle of Android app development. Today, the Redmond-based company has revealed exactly what the Nanodegree entails and if you’re interested in becoming a marketable Android developer, you’ll definitely want to read on.
Partnered with online education specialist Udacity, the Android Nanodegree program lasts for between six and twelve months at a cost of $200 per month. The course covers everything from the fundamentals of Android and app development to advanced development skills and also focuses on Google Play Services and Material Design.
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Today’s update on the Android Developers blog reveals the finer details and one specific point; the Nanodegree contains the same courses that are individually available for free but subscribing to the Nanodegree “gives you access to coaches who will review your code, provide guidance on your project, answer questions about the class, and help keep you on track when you need it“.
The other element to the Nanodegree is that it’s based on the skills and projects in your portfolio and – unlike a traditional degree program – you can skip the courses that address the skills you already possess. As Google’s own post says:
You can focus on writing the code and building the projects that meet the requirements for the Nanodegree credential.
So what does the Android Nanodegree actually entail? Google has also outlined the individual courses that make up the degree:
- Android App Development for Beginners: How to Make an Android App, with Katherine Kuan
- Developing Android Apps: Android Fundamentals, with Reto Meier, Katherine Kuan, Dan Galpin and Alex Lucas
- Advanced Android app development: Productionize and Publish Your Apps, with Dan Galpin, Ian Lake and Johanna Smith
- Google Play services: Use Google APIs to Improve Your Apps (Maps, Location, and more!), with Jocelyn Becker, Magnus Hyttsten and Laurence Moroney
- Android Ubiquitous Computing: Extend Apps to Wearables, TV and Auto, with Timothy Jordan, Wayne Piekarski and Joshua Gordon
- Android Performance: Optimizing Apps for Speed and Usability, with Colt McAnlis
- Android Design for Developers: Make Your Apps Material, with Nick Butcher and Roman Nurik
- Gradle for Android and Java: Build Better Apps Though Automation with Gradle
Is the Nanodegree a good move by Google? It certainly is, for a couple of reasons: first, it offers developers the chance to gain a credential that can set them apart from other developers and secondly, it allows Google to train developers to create apps that meet its own standards. Given that the courses themselves are available individually for free, it remains to be seen how many people are willing to spent $200 per month to get access to help when they need it.
Google I/O 2015 in videos:
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What do you think of the Nanodegree? Would you pay $200 per month for Google’s help to build your app and gain a credential that will allow you to market yourself better? Let us know your views in the comments below!
ASUS rolling out Android Lollipop to mid-tier ZenFone 4, 5 and 6
ASUS has started the process of providing the Android Lollipop update to their mid-tier smartphones, including the ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6. The updates will bring all of the devices up to Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The ZenFone 4 update is version 7.3.3 and is available both over-the-air or as a direct download. The ZenFone 5 update is also available OTA and mirrors the update for the ZenFone 4 as well as another version of the ZenFone 5, model A500KL, which received the update back in April.
Owners of the ZenFone 6 will have to do a little work or be patient as the update for that device is currently available only through a manual install. However, ASUS expects the OTA to commence in the next few days.
According to the changelog info for the updates, ASUS decided to drop a few apps that had previously been pre-installed. These include a battery widget, Google Text-to-Speech, and Magic Smoke wallpapers. According to ASUS, these apps had compatibility issues with Lollipop.
source: Android Authority
Come comment on this article: ASUS rolling out Android Lollipop to mid-tier ZenFone 4, 5 and 6
Amazon TV owners can now stream PC games via GameFly
Today, Amazon announced that it’s now hooked up with online streaming giant GameFly to supply Fire TV owners with the facility of streaming the latest and greatest PC games to their set-top box.
Here’s what Amazon had to say:
“Using the GameFly service, customers can play top quality PC titles, including Warner Brothers’ acclaimed Batman series, Darksiders II, and Dirt 3. Game packs start at $6.99 a month and at launch customers can choose from six gaming packs. Customers can use the GameFly service with the Amazon Fire TV Game Controller, which is available for $39.99.”
If you already possess a Fire TV you can register for the service starting today. If you’d like to find out more, hit the source link below.
Source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: Amazon TV owners can now stream PC games via GameFly
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