Sprint announces All-In pricing plan with unlimited talk, text, data and throttled video streaming
In an effort to eliminate consumer confusion, Sprint today announced a new “All-In” pricing plan that includes unlimited talk, text and data* for $80 per month. On the surface, this new plan seems to be quite simple and actually pretty valuable, though it does have a few too many caveats for our liking. Here’s how it works:
For $60 per month (plus taxes), you will have access to unlimited talk, text and high-speed data, as well as a leased smartphone for $20 more. There’s also a one-time activation fee of $36, and well-qualified consumers will pay $0 down when they sign up.
Unfortunately, that’s just the easy part. Sprint has also included a few easily-overlooked footnotes in the announcement that will likely turn many users away from the plan. Take a look at the excerpt below:
To improve data experience for the majority of users, throughput may be limited, varied or reduced on the network. Streaming video speeds will be limited to 600Kbps at all times, which may impact quality. Sprint may terminate service if off-network roaming usage in a month exceeds: (1) 800 min. or a majority of min.; or (2) 100MB or a majority of KB.
To clarify, Sprint is giving users unlimited talk, text and high-speed data, just like it advertises. However, what it does with that data is actually quite upsetting. Streaming video speeds will be limited to 600Kbps at all times, which will absolutely affect the way users will watch videos.
It’s important to note that the FCC recently fined AT&T a hefty $100 million for quietly throttling unlimited data plans without letting users know. In response to that fine, Sprint actually stopped throttling its users’ unlimited data plans once the FCC’s new rules took effect. It’s odd that Sprint would be able to get away with this new All-In plan, especially since the FCC is noticeably going on the offensive when it comes to what exactly carriers are advertising.
To promote this new plan, Sprint has created a new ad campaign that features David Beckham. The ad will premiere tonight during the U.S. Women’s World Cup match, but you can see an extended version attached below.
If you’re interested in this plan, be sure to read through the entire Sprint announcement before making any decisions. It’s clear to me that this deal won’t be for everyone, so try to keep the major caveats in mind before signing up.
Verizon rolls out the DROID Turbo 5.1 Lollipop update tomorrow
Motorola first announced the update was coming soon, but it looks like Verizon is rolling out the 5.1 Lollipop update tomorrow to all. Verizon told Droid Life that the “actual push will begin tomorrow afternoon.” Do not expect to receive it right away as with most updates it rolls out in phases.
If you do not see the update tomorrow be sure to manually go into your settings and check to see if anything is available.
The full Verizon changelog can be seen below
Source: Droid Life
Come comment on this article: Verizon rolls out the DROID Turbo 5.1 Lollipop update tomorrow
Apple Releases iTunes 12.2 With Apple Music Support
Apple today released iTunes 12.2 for OS X Yosemite users, introducing desktop support for the new Apple Music service. Launched today as part of iOS 8.4, Apple Music lets iTunes users to listen to on-demand music, create playlists, find music suitable for every activity, and more. Apple Music is also accompanied by Apple Music Connect, Apple’s new artist-centric social network, and the Beats 1 24/7 live worldwide radio station.
iTunes 12.2 can be downloaded immediately through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store. Apple has also released a new version of iTunes 12.2 for Windows users.
iTunes 12.2 is the second major update to iTunes 12, which debuted alongside OS X Yosemite. iTunes 12.1, the previous major update, brought an iTunes widget for the Notification Center and performance improvements.
All iTunes users can access Apple Music for free for a three month trial period. After that time, an individual subscription can be purchased for $9.99 and a family subscription with support for up to 6 users can be purchased for $14.99. Beats 1 radio and existing iTunes Radio stations will continue to be available at no cost.
VPNs may not protect your information as well as you think
VPNs (virtual private networks) are a popular choice for sidestepping censorship and geographic restrictions on services like Netflix with more than 20 percent of Europeans using them. However, researchers at the Queen Mary, University of London recently examined 14 of the region’s most popular VPN providers and found nearly all of them leaked information about their users to some degree. These leaks ranged from minor, ie what site you visited, to major infractions including the actual content of your communications.
The researchers believe this vulnerability is due to network operators updating to the new IPV6 protocol while the 11 leaking VPNs still only support IPV4 traffic. It should be noted, however, that sites using HTTPS were immune to the team’s hacking attempts — both passive traffic sniffing and active DNS hijacks. Additionally, the team found that VPNs running on iOS devices leaked far less info than their counterparts on Android.
“There are a variety of reasons why someone might want to hide their identity online and it’s worrying that they might be vulnerable despite using a service that is specifically designed to protect them,” Dr Gareth Tyson, the study’s co-author, said in a statement. “We’re most concerned for those people trying to protect their browsing from oppressive regimes. They could be emboldened by their supposed anonymity while actually revealing all their data and online activity and exposing themselves to possible repercussions.”
[Image Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto]
Filed under: Internet, Apple, Google
Source: Queen Mary, University of London
Evo Check Case for the HTC one M9
The return on investment for smartphone cases is pretty high. Most offer pretty good protection at the fraction of the cost of a deductible or a brand new device. My Nexus 6 has been saved quite a few times. For good reason too; I live on that device. When someone’s daily driver becomes unusable it means that they are less productive. This can quickly translate into actual dollars lost. Nobody wants this. Besides the obvious financial implications, people seem think cases are just a good idea. They have been known to add aesthetically pleasing experiences to some devices that are just too bland for some users. Some people use cases for advertising their experience outwardly to the world.
With the new crop of Android flagships, this paradigm does not seem to be shifting. Cases are here to stay. Recently I was sent the Evo Check Case for the HTC One (M9) to review. This case by Tech21 is really great. Its elegant design lends itself to offer loads of protection without adding a lot of bulk. The M9 isn’t a really thick phone to begin with, but some cases on the market tend to add a little more heft than needed. I feel this is due to the M9’s aluminum casing and carrier varied colors. The variant of the M9 I used for testing was the rose gold model from T-Mobile. Tech21 says this case “is the next step in the evolution of Impactology and intelligent impact protection.” The case is really light and gives full access to the ports, buttons, microphones, and RF sensor. This case also comes with a small bezel to keep the phone face off flat surfaces.
The armband I use for running doesn’t take the phone and the case together. This isn’t really an issue as the Evo Check is easy to remove and install. Tech21 has done a great job with the aesthetics of this case as well. It has a great balance of sleekness and grip. It doesn’t feel like it will slip out when in my hand. Another great touch is that the volume rocker and power buttons seem to be raised and more responsive. For sometime now, I’ve felt that the buttons of the M9 were a little too close to the body of the phone and lacked a great tactile experience. With this case, that problem has seemed to go away. A simple drop test also showed that this case can handle drops from about 6 feet. Not bad for a simple TPU case.
My ultimate review of this case is a “buy”. Have an M9 and in the market for a case in the $40 range? Head over to the folks at Tech21. You won’t be disappointed.
The post Evo Check Case for the HTC one M9 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Alcatel and Cyanogen call quits on OneTouch Hero 2+ phablet
If you were anticipating that phablet collaboration between Alcatel and Cyanogen, it might be best to move on. The OneTouch Hero 2+ was announced at Mobile World Congress back in February, to be a Hero 2 variant running Cyanogen OS. But it seems that in the stretch of time to follow, both companies have come to an agreement not to move forward.
According to Android Central, Alcatel and Cyanogen have provided a statement, in which they have mutually decided to stop pursuing Hero 2+ venture because of the lack of a ‘clear Android 5.1 upgrade path’. This could point to the looming Android M release later in the year.
“ALCATEL ONETOUCH and Cyanogen, Inc. have made a mutual decision to forgo the release of the HERO 2+. At its announcement, the goal of bringing this device to market was to offer the most advanced hardware and software at an affordable price. The bar was set high and unfortunately the device does not have a clear Android 5.1 upgrade path. We therefore are committing to refocus our joint efforts on a next-generation product that can exceed the expectations of end users. Our teams remain dedicated to releasing an ALCATEL ONETOUCH device powered by Cyanogen OS, and are looking to share an update when we have more details to share.“
This is disappointing news for Cyanogen OS fans, especially if you’ve been liking what Alcatel has been doing lately. I guess you’ll have to set your sights back on OnePlus.
Source: Android Central
The post Alcatel and Cyanogen call quits on OneTouch Hero 2+ phablet appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Xiaomi is bringing the locally-manufactured Redmi 2 to Brazil for only BRL499
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi today announced that it is entering the Brazil market with its Redmi 2 smartphone, which will be sold in the country for just BRL499. This is the company’s first big foray into the Latin American market. It has also been announced that the phones will be manufactured by Foxconn International Holdings, making these the first Xiaomi smartphones produced outside of China.
The Redmi 2 features a 4.7-inch HD display, a dual SIM card slot, 2G/3G/4G connectivity, an 8MP rear-facing camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 2MP front-facing camera that can take 720p video. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 410 processor and runs Xiaomi’s MIUI 6 software overlay. Interested folks in Brazil will be able to purchase the phone online beginning Tuesday, July 7th for 499 reais ($160).
Hugo Barra, Vice President of global operations at Xiaomi, explains:
I strongly believe that Redmi 2 will be a game-changer in the Brazilian market, offering consumers a quality option never seen before in this price category. And this is only the start of our journey — as our business in Brazil grows, we will be bringing in a greater variety of exciting Mi products.
If you’d like some more information on the Redmi 2, be sure to check out the smartphone’s product page.
Verizon to begin pushing out Android 5.1 update to the Droid Turbo on July 1st
If you’re the proud owner of a Motorola Droid Turbo, your wait is finally almost over. Verizon has just announced that it will begin pushing out the Droid Turbo’s Android 5.1 Lollipop update beginning in the afternoon of Wednesday, July 1st. The update, which Verizon says will bring the device’s software version to 23.11.38, will roll out to devices in stages.
So, what does Android 5.1 bring to the table? Aside from a few new Moto Actions on the Motorola side of things, Android 5.1 will bring performance improvements, a ton of user interface enhancements, factory reset protection and much more. Remember, you’re moving up to Android 5.1 from Android 4.4 KitKat (not 5.0 Lollipop), so this is a pretty huge update. To get the full list of changes, feel free to check out Motorola’s full changelog, as well as a complete Android 5.1 walkthrough from our very own Joe Hindy.
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Try to make sure you have access to a strong Wi-Fi network tomorrow, and keep your phone charged up in case the update comes to your device in the afternoon. If you’d like to check for it manually, you can head to Settings>About phone>System updates>Check for update. Oh, and be sure to let us know once you receive the update in the comment section below.
So, who’s excited?
Samsung Galaxy S6 sales helped boost Android market share in the US
Kantar Worldpanel ComTech is a global market monitoring system that creates market analytics databases for consumer panels. According to their latest expert’s commentary, the success of the Samsung Galaxy S6 has allowed Android to increase its US market share in the mobile operating system market and thus continues to be the most popular mobile operating system.As the S6 became the third most popular smartphone in the US in April, Android’s market share increased by 2.8 percent, totaling out to 64.9%. In Europe however, the opposite has happened as Android’s market share dropped by 2.9%. Samsung’s share of the US smartphone market grew constantly since the launch of the S6, resulting in having a share of 55% of the total Android sales until May 2015. The iOS market share has slowly declined as giants such as LG were able to double their shares year-over-year. HTC and Motorola fell behind by losing their shares after each period, however Huawei and Sony are still waiting to hit US consumers. In China, Apple now faces a great deal of competition against Huawei who is now at number 2, and Xiaomi at number 3. The two Chinese rivals are behind Apple in market shares with a small difference of 0.5% only. The very fast paced mobile operating system world constantly changes as new and more affordable smartphones come out constantly. However, China has definitely the most interesting and important mobile market as it plays a huge role in a vendor’s success and its role as the birthplace of new brands that have grown and quickly gained global status.
Source: KantarWorldPanel
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S6 sales helped boost Android market share in the US
Doomed Indiegogo campaign hopes to crowdfund Greece’s debt relief
Can crowdfunding do something better than make a beer cooler with a built-in Bluetooth speaker? That’s what Thom Feeney believes after setting up an Indiegogo campaign to pay Greece’s $1.7 billion loan fee that it owes to the International Monetary Fund. The project is hoping to raise the cash by encouraging all of Europe’s 503 million citizens to kick in a few bucks for a postcard, a Greek salad or vouchers for a bottle of Ouzo. The page has been up for just over two days and already the figure stands at €200,000 ($223,000), although that’s still less than a tenth of a percent towards the final figure.
If we’re all being honest with ourselves, there’s almost no way that the campaign can succeed, given the sheer size of the figure that needs to be raised. After all, the most successful crowdfunded project of all time is Chris Roberts’ Star Citizen, and that’s only pulled in $84 million, with the $20 million Pebble Time coming in second place. In addition, Feeney hasn’t opted for flexible funding, so the only way that the money can reach Greece is if that target is met or exceeded within the next 10 days. Then again, you can never write-off people’s desire to bloody the noses of bankers and help out their fellow man — so maybe we’re about to see the dawn of a whole new age of crowdfunding.
We’re experiencing connectivity issues due to overwhelming worldwide interest in the @GreekBailout campaign. Thanks for your patience.
– Indiegogo (@Indiegogo) June 30, 2015
As you can see in the image above, the popularity of the page has been so vast that it’s managed to break Indiegogo’s servers. If you’re hoping to add your donation to the pile, maybe give it an hour and then have another go.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Internet
Source: Indiegogo
AIVAnet 