UK police seize thousands of Android streamers modded for piracy
As set-top boxes help deliver streaming services like Netflix and Now TV into our homes, they’re also giving rise to less-than legal methods of watching films, TV shows and sport. As manufacturers have embraced the open nature of Android, enterprising users have found ways to install apps that facilitate piracy, which has become a business in its own right. This week, a number of police forces conducted raids on sellers of “pirate” Android streamers, confiscating thousands of units in the process.
On June 30th, the Metropolitan Police’s London Regional Intelligence Unit, with help from the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN) and Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), seized over 2,000 set-top boxes and a “large quantity of sat-navs” in dawn raids on properties in Feltham and Sunbury. In Dudley, West Midlands Police found 35 streamers along with “computers, mobile phones and sat-navs” in a bust on the same day.
While many Android-powered devices can be easily be altered to run pirate apps at home, police and copyright authorities are mainly targeting people who sell pre-programmed boxes on a large scale. It suggests that Brits are moving away from torrents and browser-based streams in the pursuit of dedicated streamers that purely deliver illegal streams, something that Apple TV and Roku boxes can’t do without complex workarounds.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Via: TorrentFreak
Source: West Midlands Police, Met Police
Living with the Galaxy S6 Edge: Is that curve worth the cost?
Samsung launched two Galaxy S6 models this spring, but let’s face it: The spotlight was really on the curvy, attention-grabbing S6 Edge. I know I was dead-set on trying that one-of-a-kind smartphone as soon as I could. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was really, truly worth the $100 premium to turn heads and score a couple of clever features. Moreover, would that design actually hold up in the real world? There was only one way for me to find out. I spent several weeks with the Edge to see whether its curved display would grow on me, or if I’d be desperately wishing I had made the safer choice and snagged the regular S6. As it turns out, the answer was a bit of both.
There’s no question that the S6 Edge and its more traditional counterpart are breaths of fresh air after a few years of Galaxy S phones held back by cheap-feeling designs and not-so-useful gimmicks. It’s consistently fast, with less software cruft than before; it’s well-built, with metal and glass that feel good to hold (if overly slippery); the camera is one of those rare gems that consistently snaps sharp, colorful photos, even in low light. And did I mention that the S6 has the first fingerprint reader that I enjoy using on an Android phone? Where the Galaxy S5 felt bogged down by features included solely for bragging rights, the S6 feels lightweight and cohesive, as if everything was designed to work well together.
Well, almost everything. While the lack of expandable storage wasn’t a big problem for me (I prefer streaming music and movies), the battery life was… less than ideal. I could make it through a typical day of email, Instagram and Twitter, but I would invariably feel nervous by nightfall. All it took was about 30 minutes of streaming music or web browsing to knock as much as 15 percent off the battery, making me worry about how quickly I could reach a wall outlet. I don’t insist on a removable battery, but that’s only when the battery life is good. Here, it would have been supremely handy to swap power packs. At least the fast charger was quick enough that I could get a top-up before I rushed out the door.
That curved display helps make up for some of those flaws, though. It’s mesmerizing, even weeks after the novelty should have worn off. Photos pop, and there’s an overall sense of depth that isn’t there on a flat screen. It’s decidedly easier to get around apps that use edge swipes, too. Frankly, it feels like a better value than the supposedly more functional Galaxy Note Edge. I never got much mileage out of the Note’s ticker-like side strip (which sometimes hindered more than it helped), but I’m still smiling at the S6 Edge’s iconic looks from time to time. This is certainly the device to get if you see most smartphones as uninspired slabs of glass. It isn’t a work of art, but it’s genuinely interesting.
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Those curves don’t leave much space on the sides to hold the phone, and I found that to be a real nuisance. Getting a solid grip on the S6 Edge wasn’t nearly as much of a challenge for me as it was with the Note Edge (where the sheer size prevented me from grabbing it tightly), but there was still the occasional moment where I was frightened that it would slip out of my hands. On top of that, it was all too easy to fret about dropping a phone where the sides are as likely to shatter as the front, no matter how strong the glass may be. And the few software features meant to use that curve weren’t at all useful. I don’t know anyone who voluntarily turns their phone face down, yet still needs to know who’s calling based on flashing colors… and you really don’t need a funky display to get access to your favorite contacts with a swipe.
As such, I just couldn’t recommend the Galaxy S6 Edge if you’re looking at it from a purely rational perspective. You’re paying more money for a screen that doesn’t really add much, and occasionally makes things a bit worse. With that said, I’d argue that you’re missing the point if you base your decision on cold, hard logic. To me, the S6 Edge works precisely because it’s appealing to the irrational, impulsive side of the brain as well — it’s a great (if imperfect) phone that also catches your eye and makes you grin. I wouldn’t fault anyone for getting the regular S6 if cash or the grip is an issue, but I’d splurge on the Edge in a heartbeat if I was determined to get more than just a utilitarian handset.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Scribd can’t afford to feed your erotica habit anymore
The idea behind every all-you-can-eat-style service is that only a few people will consume more food/movies/e-books than it costs overall to keep the business going. Unfortunately your deranged blood-lust for written romance is so immense that Scribd’s cutting you off in order to remain a viable business. The company has sent out a letter to several publishers, including Smashwords, saying that it would be making some adjustments to its romance catalog. Peer through the jargon and you can see this for what it really is: Scribd’s commencing a parsimonious publishing purge.
Welp, sorry guys. Scribd is taking my books down because no one told them romance readers like to read. Also news: water is wet.
– Bree (@mostlybree) June 30, 2015
@jeralibu @mostlybree They can’t make money off romance because we read too much, so they’re slashing the romance catalogue.
– Amy Jo Cousins (@_AJCousins) June 30, 2015
As Ink, Bits and Pixels says, Amazon pays its Kindle lending library authors out of a single fixed pot of money, which is split by the number of books read every month. Scribd, however, pays the wholesale price every time someone reads more than 10 percent of a title. That’s the sort of generous, author-friendly payment terms that’d make Taylor Swift reconsider her life choices, but also problematic for a subscription service that doesn’t have other businesses (like Amazon) to lean on when the cash runs out. There’s no details about how the cull is going to take place, or what sort of titles will survive (unless they’re given away for free, which can stay) but we’d suggest that you all make hay while the sun shines.
In a statement, Scribd CEO Trip Adler affirms a commitment to keeping the romance genre alive on the service, and that the firm is trying to “grow in a sustainable way.” He’s also added that anyone who is half-way through a book that’s due to be purged will get a 30-day stay of execution to finish reading it. In addition, the company is “working hard to establish more mutually beneficial terms” with publishers, which might mean that the payments aren’t as generous as they’ve once been, but that you’ll get back all that lost smut.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Internet
Via: Ink, Bits and Pixels
Source: Scribd, Smashwords
‘Steve Jobs’ trailer looks like the next ‘Social Network’
We got a brief glimpse at Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs film back in May, but today we’ve finally got a full trailer to watch. Scripted by Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, The West Wing), the biopic stars Michael Fassbender as Jobs, Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak, Kate Winslet as Apple’s former marketing head Joanna Hoffman and Jeff Daniels as former Apple CEO John Sculley. So far, it looks far more compelling than that Ashton Kutcher Jobs film (which we’ll never speak of again). The combination of Sorkin’s rapid-fire dialog and Boyle’s direction gives us hope that it’ll be something on the level of David Fincher’s The Social Network (also scripted by Sorkin). That film wasn’t exactly accurate, but it managed to give Facebook’s founding story near-Shakespearean weight. And given how dramatic Jobs’ life was, it shouldn’t be too tough to do the same for this film.
Filed under: HD
Dear Veronica: Real-Life Trek Tech?
Summer is in full swing now, which means that parents are trying desperately to figure out what to do with their errant teenagers. How about teaching them to code? There are lots of options out there, and I cover some of my favorites in this week’s episode.
Plus, we get to hear about what technologies from Star Trek are actually possibly from my favorite space nerd Phil Plait, a.k.a. The Bad Astronomer!
We also need your photos or videos of the worst catastrophes your phones have survived through! Post them to social using the #DearVeronica hashtag, along with your questions for future episodes!
Filed under: Cellphones
iPods in Unreleased Colors Spotted in iTunes 12.2
Following the release of iTunes 12.2 with Apple Music support yesterday, one MacRumors user has discovered graphics depicting iPods in colors not currently offered by Apple. The composite image of an iPod touch, nano, and shuffle is shown when setting up or restoring an iPod in iTunes.
The new colors include a darker blue for the iPod touch, a new gold or beige color for the iPod nano, and a brighter pink color for the iPod shuffle.
Apple has not updated its iPod color lineup in several years, most recently shifting the previous “slate” color to “space gray” back in 2013. Apple has typically updated its iPod lineup during the month of September, although it is unclear whether these new colors are actually in the works and what their release timeframe might be.
(Thanks, iPhone.Freak!)
Universal Releases Official Full Trailer for ‘Steve Jobs’ Movie
Universal today released the first official full-length trailer for the upcoming Steve Jobs movie.
Updating…
Deal: 80% Off Kyocera Hydro Icon + 100% Free Mobile Phone Service
There was a time when buying an entry-level handset generally meant you were settling for a mediocre Android experience, but thankfully there are a number of recent devices that have bucked this trend. One of these handsets is the Kyocera Hydro Icon, a device that not only packs reasonably solid specs but also offers waterproof protection from blowing rain (IPX5) and can be immersed in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes (IPX7).
Moving past the waterproof design, you’ll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU with 1.5GB RAM, a 4.5-inch 540 x 960 display, 8GB internal storage, microSD expandable to 32GB, a 8MP main cam with auto-focus and LED flash, a 2MP front cam, a 2000 mAh battery, and Android 4.4 KitKat. Even better, the price for the refurbished Hydro Icon can be yours for only $49.99 with free shipping and includes 100% free mobile service with free voice, text, and data through FreedomPop. You’ll also get a 30 day money back guarantee, eliminating any potential risk involved with buying a new device or trying out a new carrier.
Upon purchase, you’ll get a one month trial of FreedomPop’s Unlimited Talk & Text plan with 1GB of 4G LTE/3G data (normally $19.99) and an one-month free trial of our Premium Plus service (normally $5.99). Although the Unlimited plan is somewhat self explanatory, the (optional) Premium Plus service offers the following perks:
- Visual Voicemail – Receive, manage, and store voicemails and record personalized greetings
- Premium Voice – Ensure high-quality voice, even when network connection is low
- Wireless Tethering – Turn your phone into a hotspot and connect up to 8 devices wherever you go
- Data Rollover – Rollover your unused data and bank up to 20GB for use anytime
After your trial is up, you can continue paying for Unlimited Talk & Text or you have the option to switch to the cheaper $10.99 500MB data plan. Looking for an even cheaper alternative? FreedomPop also offers a completely free mobile service that gives you 200 voice minutes, 500 texts, and 500MB of data each month. Bottom-line, with no contracts or cancellation fees you can choose from a variety of affordable prepaid plans and you’ll be able to pay for only what you need — even if it changes from month to month.
So how about it, anyone interested in picking one up as a budget entry point into the world of Android and mobile? Perhaps you’re considering using it as a secondary line, as a gift for a child, or even for a grandparent or loved one that currently isn’t rocking a mobile device? Get this deal now through Freedompop!
Sprint removes shady 600kbps streaming video cap from its new All-In pricing plan
Just yesterday, we told you about Sprint’s new All-In pricing plan, which aims to take the confusion out of signing up for a new phone plan. For $80 per month, consumers would receive unlimited talk, text, 4G LTE data, a leased smartphone, as well as video streaming speeds capped at 600kbps at all times. The thing is, Sprint placed that small throttling detail in a footnote on the bottom of the announcement page, which many users would have likely skipped over if they became interested in the plan.
Late last night, Sprint released a statement claiming that due to consumer feedback, the carrier has made the decision to remove the 600kbps streaming limit for videos.
Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure explains:
At Sprint, we strive to provide customers a great experience when using our network. We heard you loud and clear, and we are removing the 600 kbps limitation on streaming video. During certain times, like other wireless carriers, we might have to manage the network in order to reduce congestion and provide a better customer experience for the majority of our customers.
Don’t get us wrong, this is great news for Sprint customers and the wireless industry alike, and we applaud Mr. Claure for making the decision only a few hours after the plan launched. It should be noted, however, that during certain times, Sprint will still need to “manage the network” to reduce congestion for other users. That’s not the news we particularly wanted to hear, but at least we know that the carrier is listening to what users have to say.
So now that the restrictions are (almost) all gone, are you planning on signing up? Let us know what you think.
Listen to Beats 1 Radio on your Android device now
Do you want to see what all the hype behind Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio is about? Well since released yesterday alongside Apple Music, Beats 1 Radio is taking off and exciting everyone everywhere. In case you weren’t aware Beats 1 is a 24-hour radio station that provides live DJ’s from 3 different areas of the world.
When Apple Music was announced at last month’s WWDC, Apple was sure to announce that the service would also come to Android devices. However, that isn’t expected to drop until later this year. In the mean time, there are a few ways for you to listen to at least the Beats Radio 1 music station.
A Twitter user by the name of TheRumbler found a URL hidden in Apple Music and has decided to embed the URL into his site. This allows folks to play and listen to Beats 1 from wherever they are, regardless of the device.
All you need to do is click the link found here, and get to listening. Let us know what you think about Beats 1 and if you are excited for the release of Apple Music for Android devices when it comes later this year.
Source: Phandroid
The post Listen to Beats 1 Radio on your Android device now appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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