T-Mobile will swap your iPhone 6 for the next model at no extra cost
If you’ve ever had to upgrade an iPhone months after launch, you’ve likely felt some anxiety: you need a new device right now, but you know you’ll feel buyer’s remorse when the next model shows up in September. T-Mobile thinks it can set your mind at ease, however. It’s launching a promo that lets you swap the iPhone 6 for its successor while locking in the $15 per month JUMP On Demand lease price — so long as you buy the existing handset by September 7th, you just have to trade it in to upgrade. You’ll also get first dibs on the next iPhone if you order it from the carrier within the first two days of availability, so you shouldn’t be waiting for days simply because you ordered a few minutes too late.
You’re also getting a perk that applies whether or not you care for shiny new hardware. T-Mobile now includes Apple Music as part of its Music Freedom effort, letting you stream albums and playlists on the fledgling service as much as you like without denting your monthly data cap. It’s not a surprising move (virtually every significant music provider is covered at this stage), but it’ll definitely make life easier if you absolutely have to listen to some T Swift during your commute.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple, T-Mobile
Source: T-Mobile
Two Wii U devs on why ‘indie’ doesn’t have to be a curse word
Developers Dave Proctor and Alex Rushdy of 13AM Games are in the middle of an impassioned conversation about the Wii U and independent development.
“I think the industry is getting into a habit of unsustainably large development, where it’s like, ‘Ugh, of course the Wii U can’t run Assassin’s Creed Unity,‘” Proctor says.
Rushdy cuts in, “Nothing can run Assassin’s Creed Unity.”
Proctor and Rushdy share a laugh before getting back to the point of the day’s interview: They’ve spent the past one and a half years developing Runbow, a fast-paced, nine-player game, exclusively for the Wii U. Yes, that’s nine players all in the same room, playing the same wild Wii U game. It’s a colorful, 2D platformer aesthetically inspired by 1960s poster art and featuring famous guest characters, including the eponymous hero of Shovel Knight, Juan Aguacate of Guacamelee and CommanderVideo of the Bit.Trip series. It’s the type of game that Proctor wants to see more of in the gaming industry, instead of the current emphasis on massive, yearly sequels and big-budget military shooters. It’s the type of game that makes the Wii U worthwhile as a gaming platform, he says.
Basically, 13AM’s argument for the Wii U boils down to this: Just because consoles like the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One can run Assassin’s Creed Unity, that doesn’t make it a good game — and the Wii U isn’t a bad console just because it can’t run games like Unity.
The Wii U isn’t a bad console just because it can’t run games like Unity.
Runbow is a Wii U exclusive for a few important, non-Assassin’s Creed-related reasons, starting with Rushdy’s and Proctor’s lifelong love of Nintendo. Another main reason is that Nintendo fans are hungry for new, fun content and they’re passionate about things like perfect platforming jumps. Plus, Rushdy believes the Wii U offers something that’s often overlooked in current console discussions:
“I also think a big strength of the Wii U that I don’t hear people talk about a lot, is the fact that it’s compatible with all of the old controllers that you had for your Wii,” he says.
Proctor immediately chimes in, “Yes.”
“One of the reasons that Runbow is going to be on Wii U is that, generally speaking, if you own a Wii U, you probably owned a Wii or you had a friend who owned the Wii or whatever it is,” Rushdy continues. “So, if you’re like, ‘Hey, I want to get nine players in my house playing this game,’ you don’t have to go and buy, you know, eight $60 controllers. You probably already have them.”
Rushdy and Proctor have spent so much time together over the past year and a half that they often speak like a couple, seamlessly building on each other’s thoughts during the interview. (“This came up when you and I were talking in the kitchen the other day,” Proctor says at one point, while Rushdy nods, remembering.) They agree about a lot of things, including Runbow‘s potential to be a hit on Wii U, despite the console’s reputation as an irrelevant piece of hardware. Nintendo has sold about 9.5 million Wii Us since the console’s launch in November 2012; in comparison, Sony’s PS4 broke the 20 million sales mark in March, after launching in November 2013, a year later than the Wii U.
This sales discrepancy is something that Rushdy and Proctor considered before developing a game specifically for the Wii U, but they’re not too worried about it.
“The kind of games we want to make aren’t very technically heavy. … We like 2D stuff. We like simpler games.”
— Dave Proctor
“Anyone that tells you that they’re not concerned about the potential revenue of their game is a total liar,” Proctor says. “I have confidence. I feel good. Yes, it’s not the highest sales, but it’s not so far off of the Xbox One that it’s drowning. And the fanbase is so rabid, which I really like. They have a really good — I’ve listened to some talks and some numbers — they have a really good install base with the eShop for digital titles and stuff like that.”
Rushdy adds, “When Wii U owners like a game, they really like a game.” 13AM Games released a demo of Runbow during the week of E3 2015, and the “response has been really good,” Rushdy says. Besides, Wii U games definitely can sell well — Splatoon crested 1 million sales in its first month, and after one month on the market, third-party game Shovel Knight sold almost as well on Wii U and 3DS as it did on Steam, the dominant PC gaming platform.
Dave Proctor (left) and Alex Rushdy (right)
Runbow is optimized to run at 1080p on Wii U, something that was a “pain in the ass” to do, Proctor says — but it’s something that current-generation gaming fans really like to see.
“There are technical limitations [with the Wii U], as there will be with anything,” Proctor says. “Conveniently for us, the kind of games that we want to make aren’t very technically heavy, inasmuch as they’re not gray and brown. We like 2D stuff. We like simpler games.”
“The word ‘indie’ is actually kind of damaging in a way. There’s a certain baggage that comes with it.”
— Alex Rushdy
That’s a big point for Proctor — supporting the development of simple, fun games. As indie games continue to demonstrate that more money doesn’t equal more fun, it’s disheartening to see major companies continue to produce massive (sometimes bug-riddled) games that cost hundreds of millions of dollars every year, Proctor says.
“Make a smaller game,” he suggests. “Show people that there’s value in a huge company making a $15 to $20 game. Show them that it’s not price and it’s not development time or budget that defines fun or quality of experience. Actually demonstrate to the people that may not go out of their way to try indie games that they can have fun for 15 bucks.”
Runbow in action
Rushdy takes an in-house approach: He says it’s up to smaller developers to prove that “indie” isn’t a curse word and good games can still come from tiny teams. He hopes that Runbow does this, in its own way, when it launches later this year.
“We wanted to pack a lot into it so that it doesn’t feel like this is a little indie game,” he says. “We really want to give people a lot of bang for their buck. So, for a lot of these indies that are becoming bigger and bigger, the word ‘indie’ is actually kind of damaging, in a way. There’s a certain baggage that comes with it. As much as I’m proud to say I’m an indie developer and our game is proud to say that it’s an indie game, there’s a certain baggage with that.”
[Image credits: 13AM Games]
Sorry, Bethesda can’t make any more ‘Fallout 4’ Pip-Boys
The special edition of Fallout 4 comes with a pretty spectacular piece of swag: a real-life Pip-Boy that works with your smartphone. Understandably, the $120 bundle sold out almost as soon as it went on sale, but as much as the game’s publisher wanted more of your cash, it’s admitted that it simply can’t make any more. Bethesda’s Pete Hines has told GameSpot that the factories that produced the device were working at full-pelt, but simply couldn’t fit more manufacturing runs into their production schedules.
Hines also moved to dispel the notion that the company only made a “few thousand” of the accessory in order to generate interest. As far as he’s concerned, “we made a shitload of Pip-Boys, and we went back and made more,” eventually producing “more of these things that we did for any collector’s edition we’ve ever done, ever.” That said, we’d like to think that the folks over at ThinkGeek are watching the demand for Pip-Boys with interest, since if there’s any firm capable of giving fans what they want, it’s them.
Filed under: Gaming, Wearables
Via: VG247
Source: GameSpot
Amazon Launchpad helps startups get products to customers
If you’re an inventor, then your expertise probably lies in developing hardware and software rather than knowing the ins-and-outs of the logistics business. Amazon is hoping to help these individuals with Launchpad, a system that lets startups harness the company’s vast marketing and transportation resources. Essentially, if you run a venture capital-backed startup or have made a splash on Kickstarter, then you can send Amazon a box of devices and Jeff Bezos will take care of the rest. For instance, Launchpad will be one of the first places that you can buy Thync’s mood-changing wearable and Eero’s distributed WiFi hardware.
It’s not the first time that Amazon has made overtures towards the startup community in recent months since it launched a store specifically for crowdfunding successes back in March. Launchpad, by comparison, is designed for even younger firms, and will accept signups from businesses that are up to three months away from being able to launch their first product. In addition, once the first consignment of devices arrive at an Amazon fulfillment center, they’ll be enrolled into the Prime program for fast shipping. For inventors who would otherwise struggle to get their creations out to the world, Launchpad seems like an ideal solution although, for now, you have to apply and hope that the company’s moderators approve of your idea.
Filed under: Transportation, Internet, Amazon
Source: BusinessWire, Amazon Launchpad
Tell Android to send your messages through third-party chat apps
Sure, the Google search box in Android lets you dictate regular text messages, but what if your conversations live in a non-standard chat app? You can relax as of today. Google now supports using your voice to send messages in English through a handful of third-party services, including WhatsApp, Viber, NextPlus, Telegram and WeChat. All you have to do is name the service when you’re issuing the command — “send a WhatsApp message to Bob” will make sure that your friend gets your missive where he’s expecting it. More apps and languages are in the cards, so don’t despair if your favorite mode of communication isn’t compatible right away.
On top of this, Google search has also added a handy wait time graph for places where crowding and queues can be problems. You may find out that the coffee shop will be more bearable if you wait an hour, or that the grocery store won’t be quite so packed if you shop on Wednesday. This is only as helpful as your schedule is flexible, but it could save you from waiting in lengthy lines just to get a bite during your lunch break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
Source: Inside Search, Google+
Speak any language with Hello Pal (App Review)
Overview
The ability to communicate with others from different cultures, languages, and demographics has always been of much importance and those that could achieve this have been extremely valuable to communities, leaders, countries, etc.
Hello Pal has created a language learning app that you can just speak. No studying, no waiting.
Setup
After downloading Hello Pal, you first need to set up an account. You have a few options: you can signup with your email, or connect with Google + or Facebook accounts. Using Google+ or Facebook is a good idea because you are able to see friends who also might use the app as well.
Once sign up is complete, you are prompted to a setup screen. The setup screen inquires what languages you currently speak (and how well you do so), what languages you would be interested in learning, and other information such as interests, profession, and birthday.
Function
My initial 2 uses of Hello Pal were less than useful. I had a difficult time navigating thru the dated user interface and the design was very reminiscent of an iPhone application with its icons and notifications which bothered me even more.
After being away from Hello Pal for a few days, I was able to come back to it with a renewed outlook on language learning and seeing if I would actually be able to learn Spanish effortlessly.
I downloaded the Spanish Phrasebook which was kind of like a Spanish language cheat sheet. The phrasebook included: basics, responses, common, small talk, and many other useful words and sentences that I could use to spark up a quick conversation, and even quickly rebuttal. After sending out multiple messages to recommend pals (Hello Pals recommends people to chat with), moments later I received my first reply and like advertised I was able to quickly type a message, and I was even able to look at my phrases and record a message and send it to my new pal. What is great about the recording feature is, the app plays the proper way to speak it first, then you can press the record button and record your message. After recording, you have the ability to replay the recording and decide if you want to keep or discard it before sharing with your new pal.
That was exciting and fun to me. Although with social media today, most communication is normally with family, friends, coworkers etc. Using Hello Pal kind of creeped me out, because I couldn’t help but think who am I chatting with? Are these real people and are these their real profile photos? I was taken back to the old AOL chat rooms which always was an eerie chatting experience for me at least.
Target Audience
Hello Pal is expected to be a quick mobile language learning tool. Which is totally true: it is quick and you can learn effortlessly. Travelers, students of language, and those looking to chat globally might benefit from multi cultural/language interactions.
The more time I spent using Hello Pal, the more I felt that for the most part the language tools were comprehensive and accurate, and I wasn’t coming off speaking way too robotic to the Spanish speakers I communicated with.
| What We Like | What We didn’t Like |
|---|---|
| The concept of the app | Lack of users to communicate with |
| Language packs you can download and use to help learn | App design is dated and makes the app confusing to use |
| Searching for features from screen to screen un natural user experience |
Summary
Hello Pal has a great idea on their hand with mobile language learning with no studying or waiting, even if that is only partially true. In order to speak words back, you have to spend time listening and learning. Sending messages and receiving responses is not always immediate or real time so therefore you are often waiting. The confusing user experience and lack of users makes the app just a good concept that is just unfinished and executed in a mediocre manner.
The post Speak any language with Hello Pal (App Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC Summer Sale begins, discounts on the M9, Re, and more
If you’ve had your eye on an HTC device but couldn’t quite stomach the price, today might be your day to finally take the plunge. HTC has launched a Summer Sale, with discounts across their product line.
These discounts equate to:
- One M9 (32GB): $487
- Nexus 9: 16GB for $240 and 32GB for $287
- Re camera: $100
Be aware that the sale only lasts one day, so you better make that decision quickly! Hit up the sale link below.
The post HTC Summer Sale begins, discounts on the M9, Re, and more appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile offering data add-on packages
Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile began today offering new data add-on packages for subscribers to purchase à la carte. Available in $5 and $10 options, the bundles provide 3G and 4G data which can temporarily bulk up an existing rate plan.
The $5 bundle allows for 1GB of data while the $10 bundle doubles down at 2GB of data. Interestingly enough, the fine print tells us that video streaming is limited to 3G speeds.
Both carriers share the same parent company, Sprint, who also tried to do the same for its All-In rate plans. Although Sprint was quick to adjust its stance on the subject, I suspect it may not be the case for the prepaid brands.
While it might be a pain in the butt to have your data speeds throttled down for video, it’s helpful in a pinch. Then again, if you’re burning through data pretty quickly you may want to adjust your plan. Nevertheless, 1GB or 2GB of add-on data is a good feature to offer.
Once purchased, the data expires within 30 days or when the allowance is exhausted, whichever happens first.
The post Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile offering data add-on packages appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Snag these four car accessory deals before they’re gone [DEAL OF THE DAY]
5 years ago, I had maybe one device that I needed to charge when I drove in my car. Today with two mobile phones, bluetooth headset, tablet, portable camera(Re), handheld video game, rechargable flashlight, and portable battery, amongst a variety of other gadgets, I can possibly require charging for a multitude of devices at any given time. When I am on a roadtrip, I sometimes don’t have enough plugs in my car to charge everything. If you’re in the same boat as me, Androidguys has a few deal up its sleeve for your next road trip. Also, your current car-charger may not be compatible with the newer quick charging standards, so an upgrade might be in-store for you. Check out these deals below and get them before they sell out.
- Exocharge 3-port USB car charger – At 25% off, you can get the Exocharge for just $14.99 which is cheaper than most single port USB chargers. The Exocharge comes with 3 USB outlets housed in a sleek aluminum body with rapid charging technology. Free shipping too.
- Voltix Dual USB Car Charger – At an incredible 50% off, the Voltix USB car charger might be the best deal of them all. For just $9.99, you can pick up this high capacity charger with free shipping. It is compatible with any USB cable and has rapid charging included as well for the tablets and phones that are compatible. It comes in a rubberized coating making this a very durable plug for the everyday driver.
- Mpow 3-port intelligent car charger – At an incredible 80% off the retail price of $70, this multi-port charger can serve all of your mobile charging needs for just $13.99. This charger supports both 12V and 18V inputs making this ideal for charging smartphones and tablets. It can identify what kind of charging a device requires and will provide the proper charging speed.
- ExoMount Touch universal car mount – Do yourself a favor and invest in one of these if you are ever tempted to use your phone in the car while driving. Don’t ruin your day or trip by getting pulled over for using a device while driving. Plus the fine for a ticket is far more than the 20 dollars you would spend on this mount. Or even worse yet, don’t let your device distract you and lead you into an accident. It simply isn’t worth it. Right now, the Exomount Touch is 33% off at $19.99 with shipping included. This mount works on smooth, curved, textured, flat, and rounded surfaces. It can swivel 360 degrees for adjusting to the perfect position. If you already have a mount, consider getting the Exomount Touch for a friend or family member who you know should be driving hands free.
See more deals at deals.androidguys.com
The post Snag these four car accessory deals before they’re gone [DEAL OF THE DAY] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
How to perform a software update via Samsung Kies
If you’re a Samsung smartphone or tablet owner, I’m pretty sure you’ve been notified at some point or another that there’s a software update available for your device through ‘Kies’. Many users discard the notification and wait for the over-the-air (OTA) update to roll out simply because they’re unsure what to do. But the funny thing is that performing a software update through Samsung Kies is extremely simple.
We are going to show you how to install a software update via Samsung Kies.
First things first you’ll need to head over to Samsung’s official website to install the Kies software on your computer. Here you will be given two choices — Kies and Kies3. If you’re planning on updating a smartphone/tablet that was released prior to the Galaxy Note III, select the Kies option. For anything else, choose Kies3.
Once installed, launch the software and connect your handset to the computer using a micro-USB cable. You will discover that Kies has recognised your device and presented you with a new user interface.
Now locate the “Firmware Information” panel. If a software update is available for your device, you will be provided with a button that reads “Firmware Upgrade.” Select this and Kies will immediately start to download the update. This can take between five and twenty-five minutes, all depending on your connection speed. During this time, you’ll be required to read through and agree to the legal blurb that appears.
Finally, hit the Confirm button when prompted after the software has been downloaded, and it will instantly start loading onto your smartphone/tablet.
Voilà! You have successfully installed an update using Samsung Kies. If you run into any issues along the way, do be sure to let us know in the comments section below, and we’ll do our very best to get you back on track.
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