Sprint dials up LG Tribute 2 and LG Tribute Duo for prepaid brands
Sprint on Monday announced a pair of LG smartphones for its Sprint Prepaid and Virgin Mobile brands. The LG Tribute 2 and the LG Tribute Duo share a number of hardware and software features. In essence, these are the same overall designs just named differently for the two prepaid arms.
The two handsets are powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop and include custom LG apps Quick Memo, Gesture Shot, and Knock Code. The twosome also offer users a 4.5-inch 854×480 pixel resolution as well as a 1900mAh battery.
Under the hood you’ll also find both devices running on a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. The main hardware is a generation or two behind the times, sure, but the price point reflects the aging internals. On a positive note, each is equipped to support the Sprint Spark 4G LTE network for faster data speeds.
The LG Tribute Duo and LG Tribute 2 are sold for $99 through their respective carriers. Sprint Prepaid offers the LG Tribute Duo while the LG Tribute 2 is sold via Virgin Mobile’s Data Done Right plans which are exclusive to Walmart.
The post Sprint dials up LG Tribute 2 and LG Tribute Duo for prepaid brands appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple Watch Beats Original iPhone and iPad in Customer Satisfaction Among Early Adopters
While some critics within the tech media have heavily scrutinized the Apple Watch since its launch, new survey data shared by Techpinions suggests that the true mass market sentiment toward the wrist-worn device is overwhelmingly positive. In particular, the survey found that traditionally “non-tech” users liked the Apple Watch more than those with a closer connection to the tech industry.
According to research firm Wristly and Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, overall customer satisfaction with the Apple Watch is 97%, which is the highest customer satisfaction rating of any previous first-generation Apple product. Wristly determined that rating by combining the “Very Satisfied/Delighted” (66%) and “Somewhat Satisfied” boxes together (31%).
The survey data is based on the Wristly Apple Watch Owner Network, a diversified panel of over a thousand Apple Watch buyers. Wristly says that it asked respondents a series of pre-qualification questions to ensure that the panel did not skew towards early adopters and instead represented a healthy range of consumers. Among those profiled, Wristly found 34% to be “tech insiders” and 53% to be “non-tech” users.
What has been fascinating about the Wristly Apple Watch Panel is how diverse it is across the adoption cycle spectrum. We have those on the bleeding edge of adoption all the way through mainstream consumers who aren’t buying it for the sake of Apple fanaticism or love of tech and gadgetry but because they saw the utility and usefulness of the product right off the bat. They are all represented in our panel.
Apple Watch customer satisfaction was found to be higher than the original iPhone and iPad, which scored 92% and 91% ratings respectively, although satisfaction levels were contrasting among different types of users. “Non-tech” users and “tech insiders” were most satisfied with the Apple Watch, while “app builders” were slightly less satisfied, with less than half choosing the “Very Satisfied” box.
Apple has not publicly disclosed any official Apple Watch sales figures to date, and will be grouping the wrist-worn device under its “Other Products” category in quarterly earnings reports. Apple Watch global sales estimates range between 2.8 million and 5.7 million ahead of the company’s third quarter fiscal results set to be announced on Tuesday at 2:00 PM Pacific.
Can microwave-powered shuttles make space travel cheaper?
How much does it take to launch a satellite? According to Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck “You pretty much have to write a check for a billion dollars.” Beck, along with Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are part of a new wave of inventors looking to make this cheaper by developing low cost or reusable rockets for launches. The folks at Escape Dynamics, however, have a very different idea about how to make trips to space economical for people who aren’t multi-millionaires. The company claims that it’s successfully tested the engine for a reusable spaceplane that, rather than being stuffed to the gills with expensive fuel, would glide into the stratosphere on a wave of microwave energy.
With traditional launch systems, the bulk of the weight and resources goes to filling a tube with explosives. Naturally, that’s quite wasteful, so the proposed vehicle would ditch almost all of its on-board power systems. Instead, it would receive energy from a series of ground-based microwave emitters which pump power right into a collector based in the plane’s heat shield. That energy would then be used to drive an electromagnetic motor that ignites a small quantity of on-board fuel (hydrogen or helium, for instance) that would be used to get into orbit.
The company claims that the engine running on helium was able to achieve a Specific Impulse (the equivalent of MP/H for a rocket) of 500 seconds. By comparison, Escape Dynamics says that your average chemical rocket tops out at 460, and if the test vehicle had been running hydrogen, that figure could rise to 600 Isp. That could prove to be a big breakthrough for the private spaceflight industry, assuming that these results can be replicated outside of the lab.
As Gizmodo notes, however, the idea is a little bit pie-in-the-sky, since the company would have to build a global network of microwave emitters to keep the craft aloft. Then there’s the various environmental and energy considerations that such a system would have to deal with, not to mention the political aspect. Still, if ED can, somehow, create a dirt-cheap reusable spaceplane that’ll do away with expensive rockets, we imagine plenty of people would get behind the idea.
Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Escape Dynamics
Microsoft’s first Windows 10 ad is all about smiling babies
With Windows 10’s launch little more than a week away, Microsoft kicked off its marketing storm last night with the first commercial for the new OS. It’s a bit more direct and human than the company’s infamous Jerry Seinfeld/Bill Gates ads, with a focus on children and how they’re growing up with touchscreens and a wealth of new tech. As with any major product launch, Microsoft is planning a huge multi-million dollar media blitz for Windows 10. The big theme this time around is “people who make a difference,” reports ZDNet. The software giant will likely have a much easier time pushing Windows 10 on consumers since it steps back from some of Windows 8 more dramatic (and controversial) interface changes. And of course, making Windows 10 a free upgrade for Win 7 and 8.1 users will also be a big help. The new OS will land on July 29 for Windows Insiders and will roll out to others afterwards.
BT’s latest broadband trial will more than treble download speeds
For the fastest broadband speeds, you normally need fibre optic cables running directly into your home. While that’s still the perfect solution, BT will soon be trialling a new technology that could give those on copper a much-needed speed boost. Fibre To The Distribution Point (FTTdp), commonly referred to as “G.fast,” uses a wider frequency band to increase data speeds over copper. It works best over short distances, so usually a node is required somewhere between the cabinet and your home to extend the reach of the faster fibre. As ISPreview reports, BT is beginning its first residential trial next month in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, with Gosforth, Newcastle and Swansea to follow. It should be able to deliver “a few hundred megabits per second” at first, although BT says 500 Mbps should be achievable in the future. Given Fibre To The Cabinet (FTTC) normally tops out at 80 Mbps, this will be a huge jump for households still waiting on full-blown fibre.
[Image Credit: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet
Source: ISPreview
Get your Android Bugdroid fix with these wallpapers
Google’s official mascot doesn’t have a real name but is commonly referred to as Bugdroid by the folks over at Google. I’ve gathered a bunch of wallpapers for you to display on your mobile devices with Bugdroid and some are mocking Apple but all in good fun. Check them out.
I’ve also inserted a video of how they named Bugdroid from Google I/O.
If you see a wallpaper that belongs to you and you would like to receive credit, I would love to give it to you! Just drop a comment in the section provided below with some proof (You know, just so we don’t have people claiming things that are not theirs…) So, please choose those that you like and enjoy!
The post Get your Android Bugdroid fix with these wallpapers appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy A8 in South Korea on July 24
According to a new report, Samsung is gearing up to launch its recently-announced high-end smartphone, the Galaxy A8, in its home country on Friday, July 24. The handset is believed to carry a 649,000 Korean Won ($563) price tag and will be available in both white and gold colorways.
In case you need a refresher on its specifications, the Galaxy A8 sports a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 615 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, an Adreno 405 GPU, a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter and a 3,050mAh non-removable battery.
This divulgence comes just a matter of days after the Chinese prices were leaked — $515 for the base model and $564 for the 32GB variant — where it’s rumored to be launching at the end of this month.
Source: SammyHub
Come comment on this article: Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy A8 in South Korea on July 24
Samsung starts rolling out Lollipop update for Galaxy S6’s in China and Taiwan
Samsung has today started rolling out the much-anticipated Lollipop update to all models of the Galaxy S6 located in China and Taiwan. As for as added functionality goes, this upgrade transports Android 5.0.2 to the handset, in addition to a truckload of bug fixes and stability improvements.
All the changes you’d expect to find in the Lollipop software are bundled into this upgrade, including support for multiple accounts, improved notifications, stronger 256-bit encryption, a smoother multitasking experience and the recently-announced Material Design guidelines.
As is the norm, the upgrade is being rolled out in stages, but if you don’t feel like waiting for a notification confirming that it’s ready for your device to hit your hanset, you could always search for the update manually.
To do so simply open the Settings app, scroll to the bottom and tap on “About Device”, hit “System Updates”, then select “Check for updates”. Once done, the upgrade will start downloading from Samsung’s servers.
Come comment on this article: Samsung starts rolling out Lollipop update for Galaxy S6’s in China and Taiwan
What it’s like waiting for the OnePlus Two (video)
The OnePlus Two is one hotly anticipated smartphone, but even if you’re not planning on picking one up, I’m sure we’ve all experienced a similar build-up at some point. The anticipation, the hype, and the seemingly never ending countdown to the launch of the new must have gadget can be gruelling. Hopefully though, no-one is suffering quite as badly as this poor chap in the video above.
The film appears to have been made by fans waiting for the OnePlus Two release date, and it’s a pretty well put together, entertaining little short.
OnePlus has been trickling out little teasers over the past few weeks, revealing that the company’s next smartphone will come with a Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, dual-SIM support, and an improved camera module. There’s also an improved invite system planned, which should help customers get their hands on the phone a little faster this time around.
The OnePlus Two launch is to take place on Monday July 27th and can be viewed in virtual reality using a Google Cardboard or similar headset. To help tide you over for the last few days, check out our post containing the latest rumors and revelations about the OnePlus Two.
Just 7 days left to go… tick… tock… tick…
Best Android tablets (July 2015)
Android tablets make great gifts, and the best thing about them is that everyone can use them, from a three-year-old to your grandma. But with so many devices out there, how can you make sure you get the best Android tablet for your money? There are probably hundreds of Android tablets on Amazon, and avoiding the overpriced and the plain bad can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be that hard.
Just take a look at the tablets below – they are the very best Android has to offer, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Without further ado, here’s our list of the best Android tablets available in July 2015.
If you’re interested in some great, cheaper tablets, check out our Best Cheap Android Tablets Guide!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4
Update – Price drop to $363.00 – if you want the fastest performance and most incredible display of any compact tablet on the market then this is the one to get. Most of us use tablets for watching movies, reading, and playing games. So it makes sense to go for the very best display you can get, and it’s hard to find anything better than the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. The Tab S 8.4 is one of the few tablets with an AMOLED screen and a super crisp Quad HD at that, with an excellent 359 ppi pixel density. Being AMOLED, the screen will show deep blacks and vivid colors, perfect for games and movies. The portable Tab S 8.4 combines the portability of smaller devices with the screen real estate afforded by larger tablets. Plus, this 8.4-incher is fast and feature-rich, making it good for just about any task.
Specs
- Dimensions: 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm (8.38 x 4.94 x 0.26 in), 298 g (10.51 oz)
- Display: 8.4-inch AMOLED, Quad HD (2560 x 1600) resolution, 359 ppi
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2.3GHz quad-core
- GPU: Adreno 330 GPU
- Memory: 3GB RAM
- Storage: 16/32GB
- microSD slot: Yes, up to 128 GB
- Cameras: 8 MP rear, 2.1 MP front
- Battery: 4,900 mAh
- OS: Android 4.4.2 KitKat with TouchWiz
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi/3G-LTE
- Others: fingerprint scanner
Read more
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S officially announced: here’s what you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 review
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S devices proven to carry the best tablet displays
- Best Galaxy Tab S 8.4 cases
Nvidia Shield Tablet
Nvidia is known for video cards, not Android tablets, but the Shield Tablet is definitely worth of your attention, especially if you’re into gaming. That’s because the Shield Tablet is powered by a mighty Tegra K1 processor and comes with Nvidia’s TegraZone portal, that gives you access to dozens of Tegra-optimized Android games.
The rest of the specs are nothing to sneeze at, and build quality and design are top-notch. The Shield’s stereo front-facing speakers are great for gaming, video, and music, and the stylus that comes in the box will amp up your productivity. On the downside, this device is a bit heavy and the battery life tends towards the lower end of the spectrum.
Specs
- Dimensions: 221 x 126 x 9.2 mm (8.70 x 4.96 x 0.36 in), 390 g (13.76 oz)
- Display: 8-inch LCD, Full HD (1920 x 1200) resolution, 283 ppi
- Processor: Nvidia Tegra K1, 2.2GHz quad-core
- GPU: Kepler (192 cores)
- Memory: 2GB RAM
- Storage: 16/32GB
- microSD slot: Yes
- Cameras: 5 MP rear, 5 MP front
- Battery: 5,200 mAh
- OS: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi/3G-LTE
- Others: stylus, stereo speaker
Read more
- NVIDIA Shield Tablet review
- Best NVIDIA Shield tablet cases
- NVIDIA Shield Tablet – Gaming Experience
- Nvidia launches Tegra K1-powered Shield tablet, starting at $299
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
Don’t let the mouthful of a name fool you – the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is as sleek as Android tablets get. This 8-inch device impresses through its lightness and very slim profile – at 6.4 millimeters, this is the thinnest tablet you can get. But the Z3 Tablet Compact has more than good looks. On the inside, the fast Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM ensure you will be flying through the screens of Sony’s minimalist user interface.
The LCD screen is not Quad HD, but Sony’s unique display technology ensures you get vivid colors that are similar to what you get on AMOLED. Another unique attribute of the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is its water resistance. Yup, you can take this device to beach or the hot tub without worrying about dropping it in the water.
Specs
- Dimensions: 213.4 x 123.6 x 6.4 mm (8.40 x 4.87 x 0.25 in), 270 g (9.52 oz)
- Display: 8-inch LCD, Full HD (1920 x 1200) resolution, 283 ppi
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 2.5GHz quad-core
- GPU: Adreno 330 GPU
- Memory: 3GB RAM
- Storage: 16GB
- microSD slot: Yes, up to 128 GB
- Cameras: 8.1 MP rear, 2.2 MP front
- Battery: 4,500 mAh
- OS: Android 4.4.4 KitKat
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi/3G-LTE
- Others: IP68 water resistance
Read more
Google Nexus 9
The brand new Nexus 9 from Google and HTC is an Android fanboy’s dream. It runs the purest, most recent version of Android – Lollipop 5.0 – and it will stay current for at least two years. There are no OEM additions (though stock Android may be a little too minimal for your taste) and therefore nothing to bog down the user experience.
The Nexus 9 is just as impressive on the hardware side – you get a 64-bit Tegra processor, a beautiful 1536 x 2048 pixels screen, stereo front speakers (disguised under the protective glass) and a big battery. However, like all Nexus devices, there’s no microSD card slot. The device features a utilitarian, yet elegant design, with an aluminum frame that gives it rigidity without adding much heft.
Specs
- Dimensions: 228.2 x 153.7 x 7.9 mm (8.98 x 6.05 x 0.31 in), 270 g (9.52 oz)
- Display: 8.95-inch IPS LCD, 1536 x 2048 resolution, 281 ppi
- Processor: Nvidia Tegra K1 Denver, 2.3 GHz dual-core
- GPU: Kepler DX1
- Memory: 2GB RAM
- Storage: 16/32GB
- microSD slot: No
- Cameras: 8 MP rear, 1.6 MP front
- Battery: 6,700 mAh
- OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi/3G-LTE
Read more
- Nexus 9 vs the new iPads: specs comparison
- Best Nexus 9 cases
- Another Nexus 9 hands-on video shows buttery smooth performance
- Nexus 9 official: here’s what you need to know
- Nexus 9 vs the competition
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Sony may be having a difficult time in the mobile device market, but that is certainly not because of a lack of good products. An extremely appealing line of devices that the company should be proud of is their high-end tablet series, with the latest addition to the line introduced back at MWC 2015. Sony continues to push the boundaries in terms of design, with the Xperia Z4 Tablet managing to be even sleeker than its ultra-thin and light predecessors. Of course, this tablet packs the latest and greatest when it comes to hardware, and the Sony staple feature of dust and water resistance is also retained, making for a very compelling device. The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet may be at the higher end of the price spectrum, but it is still worth it, and certainly deserving of a place in our roundup of the best Android tablets currently available.
Specs
- 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1600 resolution (299 ppi)
- 2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
- Adreno 430 GPU
- 3 GB RAM
- 32 GB storage, expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
- 8.1 MP rear camera, 5.1 MP front-facing camera
- 6,000 mAh battery
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- 254 x 167 x 6.1 mm, 389 grams
Dell Venue 8 7000
Dell may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of OEMs that provide fantastic Android tablets, and while the company does have some really good low-cost tablets available, they managed to impress with one that can be conservatively considered “premium mid-range.” What makes the Dell Venue 8 7000 stand apart from its competition at this price range includes a premium, industrial design that will give even far more expensive devices a run for their money, a solid media consumption experience courtesy of nice sounding front-facing speakers and a beautiful edge-to-edge high resolution display, and for those who want it, a decent camera experience with a setup not unlike the Duo Camera system of the HTC One M8. With an impressive performance and even better battery life, the Dell Venue 8 7000 manages to provide a lot, without the premium price point that would usually be associated with such a package.
Specs
- 8.4-inch OLED display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution (359 ppi)
- 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor
- PowerVR G6430 GPU
- 2 GB RAM
- 16 GB storage, expandable via microSD up to 512 GB
- 8MP rear camera with Intel RealSense 3D technology, 2 MP front-facing camera
- 5,900 mAh battery
- Android 4.4.4 Kitkat
- 215.9 x 124.2 x 6.1 mm, 305 grams
Read More
Lenovo Tab 2 A10: best bang for the buck
The Lenovo Tab 2 A10 is one of the best among those featured in our best cheap Android tablets list, which is also reason it makes it way over to this roundup as well. Introduced back at MWC this year, this 10-inch tablet certainly brings a lot to the table at an extremely affordable price point, being one the first tablets to feature Dolby ATMOS 3D Cinema audio enhancements, which aims to make your audio experience much clearer, while taking advantage of the beautiful, large Full HD display.
Performance is impressively smooth, and while mobile photography isn’t a key feature when it comes to tablets, this device does offer a solid camera experience. If you’re looking for a large-screen tablet experience on a budget, look no further than the Lenovo Tab 2 A10 certainly provides the best bang for your buck.
Specs
- 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution (218 ppi)
- 1.7 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8165 processor
- 2 GB RAM
- 16 GB storage, expandable via microSD up to 64 GB
- 8 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
- 7,000 mAh battery
- 247 x 171 x 8.9 mm, 509 grams
- Android 4.4 Kitkat (planned upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop at the end of June)
Read more
- Lenovo announces the Tab 2 A10 and Tab 2 A8 tablets at MWC 2015
- Lenovo Tab 2 A10 hands-on and first impressions
There you have it – our picks from the best Android has to offer right now. Missed anything? Tell us in the comments!
For more tablet information head on over to the TabTimes blog for more tablet news, reviews and information.
AIVAnet 