FCC decides to delay decision on rules for 600 MHz auction

The FCC commissioners met today with a goal of establishing rules for an auction of 600 MHz spectrum scheduled to take place in 2016. The auction is shaping up to be one of the more complex actions undertaken by the FCC as they try to move spectrum from use by television broadcasters to use by mobile carriers. This change is compounded by the FCC’s desire to not see the large wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T use their deep war chests of funds to buy up the available spectrum. Today the FCC announced they have delayed a decision on the final rules until at least their next meeting on August 6th.

FCC chairman Tom Wheeler issued the following statement regarding the delay,

“In the spirit of cooperation that has marked our work together on the incentive auctions, I am today postponing Commission consideration of this order and the related reconsideration of the mobile spectrum holdings order until the Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting on August 6. I believe that even with this delay we will be able to stay on course for the first quarter of 2016.”

Sources believe part of the reason for the delay is some new data produced by the Incentive Auction Task Force made available after their latest round of computer simulations predicting the results of the auction. The National Association of Broadcasters issued a response to the simulations expressing concern as to whether it was done properly. Earlier this week T-Mobile lobbyist and former representative Henry Waxman had proposed some compromise rules for consideration. Waxman was one of the architects of the legislation authorizing the auction when he was a member of Congress.

source: Android Headlines

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SwiftKey and ‘PIXELS’ team up to bring retro game keyboard themes

SwiftKey is teaming up with PIXELS, the new Adam Sandler movie, to bring five new keyboard designs. The five retro gaming themes are Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Q*bert, Centipede, and Space Invaders. The best part is all the new themes are totally free! I’m sure many retro gaming fans will be excited to give them a shot, but if you don’t like them at least you aren’t out anything. Head to the SwiftKey store to try them today.

Play Store Download

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Telltale Games’ fifth episode of its ‘Game of Thrones’ series coming on July 23

The fifth season of Game of Thrones came to an end last month and people are now left waiting until Spring 2016 for anything new. But that’s only for the television series. Telltale Games has a video game series of its own for the wildly popular franchise and the fifth episode is coming next week. On July 23, the developer will release A Nest of Vipers for Android devices.

Here is how Telltale Games describes the fifth episode:

In this penultimate episode, the actions of every Forrester are vital to the survival of the house. Rodrik’s alliance with House Glenmore, and his defiance of the Whitehills, has drawn the ire of an even greater threat: Ramsay Snow. Far across the Narrow Sea in Essos, with Meereen now a free city, Asher is close to securing the army he desperately needs to return home, and save his family. In King’s Landing, Mira’s activities at Tommen’s coronation have not escaped the attention of Margaery Tyrell, and Cersei has realized that the handmaiden may prove useful in her political games. Finally, beyond the Wall, Gared’s unlikely allies are reluctant to help in the search for the North Grove… but this far into the frozen wilds, Crows and Free Folk have a common enemy; and winter is coming.

A Nest of Vipers will be succeeded by the sixth and final episode coming later this year.

Telltale Games, in addition to working on Game of Thrones, produces titles with The Walking Dead and Minecraft franchises.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: Telltale Games

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Mark Cuban-backed ilumi starts a new Kickstarter for even smarter light bulbs

Mark Cuban and ilumi solutions aren’t new to the smartbulb market, but they’re back for a second Kickstarter round, offering smarter light bulbs with updated performance, improved features, and more. The bulbs are $29 on Kickstarter as an introductory price, but they’ll most definitely cost more once official on the market.

Here’s what ilumi is doing different this time around:

• Both bulbs feature Bluetooth SmartMesh technology, which provides a range of more than 150 feet (unlike competitors that only reach 33 feet) and allows users to connect and control more than 50 bulbs
• iOS and Android app has 10 features and settings to personalize the smart bulbs and create new lighting experiences
  • Proximity controls turn lights on and off by detecting the presence of a connected smart device
  • Suggestive lighting automatically provides the right lighting for every room in a home, acting as a personal interior designer
  • Rise & Shine wakes users up with a simulated sunrise for a peaceful start to their day
  • Vacation Setting prompts lights to automatically turn on at night while users are away, providing peace of mind that their home is safe
• The A19 is packed with more than 800 lumens at a category best efficiency of 10 watts of power. The BR30 delivers more than 1100 lumens at an efficient 15 watts of power
• ilumi’s Smartbulbs last up to 20 years and uses a fraction of the energy or a normal incandescent

If this new Kickstarter project gets fully funded, consumers will begin getting their smartbulbs in September. Additionally, the smartbulbs should be available through major retailers in September as well.

If you want to get in on the $29 introductory special, you’ll need to act fast, as there’s only a few left!

source: Kickstarter

ilumi Announces new LED Smartbulbs: Simplest, Brightest & Smartest Light Bulbs on the Market

DALLAS – (July 14, 2015) – ilumi solutions, a market leader in app-controlled and custom smart LED lightbulbs, launches its second generation Smartbulb series on Kickstarter for an introductory price of $29. After distributing thousands of its original LED Smartbulbs to customers around the world, the Mark Cuban backed ilumi is excited to showcase its second generation of smart, bright, efficient and entertaining Smartbulbs – the new ilumi A19 and BR30 Flood Smartbulbs. Watch the product video here: https://youtu.be/QfxcEniMfs8.

ilumi’s new energy efficient and user friendly A19 and BR30 Smartbulbs both feature improved Bluetooth® Smart mesh wireless connectivity, which provides a first of its kind long-range wireless connection that combines speed, reliability and simplicity. With ilumi’s Bluetooth Smart mesh, users can connect more than 50 ilumi Smartbulbs wirelessly with a potential range of more than 150 feet, enough to cover large homes or commercial installations. This allows the ilumi Smartbulbs to provide a commercial grade lighting control and automation system that can be setup in seconds without a hub.

The A19 and BR30 boast an updated beautiful industrial design that marries elegance and class. The A19 features a natural dome structure for a wider dispersion angle to fit everyday standard lamps, pendants, fans or general lighting fixtures. It is also packed with more than 800 lumens (equivalent to 60W incandescent) at a category best efficiency of 10 watts of power. The BR30 similarly adds a larger diffusion area for seamless use in overhead, recessed and track lighting and delivers more than 1100 lumens (equivalent to 85W incandescent) at an efficient 15 watts of power. Additionally, the A19 and BR30 include ilumi’s patented HyperLux® LED technology that delivers high brightness in variations of white and vibrant saturated colors.

The Smartbulbs also feature an upgraded companion app design that provides users with a guided and simple personalized setup featuring new and exciting experiences, such as:

• Suggestive Lighting – automatically provides the right lighting for every room in a home and any occasion
• Wellness Lighting – tunes the body’s natural rhythm by replicating the sun’s daily color cycle
• Presence Detection – integrated proximity control automatically turns lights on and off when a user’s phone is detected without hitting a switch
• Nightlight Shake – ideal for when users need to get out of bed but the lights are off, users can shake their smartphone to activate a dim nightlight
• Rise & Shine – wakes users up with a simulated sunrise, creating a peaceful environment to ensure an energizing start to the day
• Vacation – prompts lights to automatically turn on and off at night randomly while users are away, providing peace of mind that their home is safe
• Routine Lighting – schedules the exact lighting users prefer based on their own personal schedule
• Music’s New Best Friend – sync the Smartbulb’s colors with the beat of music to pump up dance parties
• Integrations – Use your ilumi Smartbulbs with IFTTT, your Nest products, and much more to enjoy an even better connected experience

“We wanted to provide more than just a Smartbulb that has a million color options,” said CEO and cofounder Corey Egan. “With ilumi, consumers unlock the power of lighting in ways they have never thought of. Our enhanced features provide a transformational experience, allowing users to be a Michaelangelo of their own home.”

The A19 and BR30 are available now on Kickstarter for an introductory price of $29 and $35 respectively and will retail for $59.99 and $69.99 when fully available. The company is already far along in development, and Kickstarter orders will begin shipping by September 2015.

For more information, please visit ilumi.co and follow ilumi on Facebook and Twitter.

About ilumi solutions:

ilumi solutions, inc. transforms ordinary things into extraordinary experiences, beginning with light. The company first launched the ilumi Smartbulb in 2014 after collecting more than $200,000 via crowdfunding and a $350,000 investment from billionaire Mark Cuban through an appearance on Shark Tank. Based out of Dallas, Texas, the company holds five issued patents and multiple patents pending covering a wide variety of smart lighting, advanced wireless networks and other unique technologies and was recently named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s top 100 most brilliant companies of 2015.

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US Cellular guaruntees lower bill than AT&T and Verizon, or a $50 gift card

In a bid to poach customer from other networks, US Cellular has launched a promotion that guarantees lower bills to new customers who move from Verizon and AT&T. In case, it fails to deliver on the aforementioned promise, US Cellular will give you a $50 gift card absolutely free.

However, to be eligible for this promotional offer, customers are required to port their number from Verizon or AT&T and choose one of U.S. Cellular’s Shared Connect plans with installment pricing. The guarantee applies to the monthly recurring price of the plan only and not the installments.

The trend of customer poaching is not new in the United States cellular network war. Earlier, we witnessed a similar campaign by Sprint that tried to lure Verizon customers with promises of lower bills.

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) is so confident that it provides the best value in wireless that beginning today, the company is offering a guarantee that it can offer a better plan than Verizon and AT&T or it will give people $50. Consumers and businesses can bring their current Verizon or AT&T bill to any U.S. Cellular retail store, and if their current plan can’t be outdone, they will receive a $50 promotional card.

“At U.S. Cellular, we’re confident that we offer the best shared data plans available for a wide variety of customer needs, so we wanted to go a step farther and guarantee it,” said Joe Settimi, vice president of marketing for U.S. Cellular. “When you combine these unbeatable plans with our high-quality network that offers national coverage along with the finest devices available, the customer experience we provide is second to none.”

To qualify for the guarantee, customers must port their number from Verizon or AT&T and choose one of U.S. Cellular’s Shared Connect plans with installment pricing. The guarantee applies to the monthly recurring price plan only. With U.S. Cellular’s $0 down, 0% APR installment pricing, qualified customers pay tax on a new device at the point of sale, and then make 20 monthly payments that are conveniently added to their wireless bill. Customers can upgrade this device in as little as 12 months if they trade it in for the latest model. They can also choose to pay off the full balance of their device anytime they want.

In addition to the plan guarantee, U.S. Cellular is also offering an unlimited contract payoff, which covers customers’ early termination fee or remaining device balance with their current carrier, no matter the cost. Anyone who ports their number from another carrier, chooses a Shared Connect plan with installment pricing and Device Protection+, turns in their current working device, and sends in their final bill with the early termination fee or remaining device balance on it will receive a prepaid debit card for that amount.

New Retail Installment Contract, Shared Connect Plan, $25 Activation Fee, and credit approval required. Guarantee: Must port-in number from Verizon or AT&T on comparable Shared Data Plan. $50 U.S. Cellular Promo Card issued by Metabank® member FDIC. Valid for purchase in-store or online. Contract Payoff: Customer must register for My Account, Device Protection+ and turn-in all active devices from former carriers plan. Customer will be reimbursed for the ETF or remaining device balance reflected on the final bill. Reimbursement in the form of a U.S. Cellular MasterCard® Debit Card issued by MetaBank® Member FDIC, pursuant to license from MasterCard International Incorporated. This card does not have cash access and can be used at any merchant location that accepts MasterCard Debit Cards within the U.S. only. Card valid through expiration date shown on front of card. Valid for up to six Consumer lines and 25 Business lines. Other restrictions apply. See store for details.

About U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by a high-quality network in big and small cities and rural communities. Currently, 94 percent of U.S. Cellular customers have access to 4G LTE speeds, and 98 percent will have access by the end of 2015. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

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OnePlus claims that the upcoming OnePlus 2 will be “the 2016 flagship killer”

OnePlus has sent out a post on social media to thank its partners that helped the company make the upcoming OnePlus 2. The post came with an image with all the names of the partners, with a side note mentioning how they helped OnePlus build “the 2016 flagship killer”. 

This is quite a bold claim considering the fact of how quickly smartphones become obsolete after their release.

“Thank you to our partners who helped make the #OnePlus2 possible! Together, we’ve created the 2016 Flagship Killer.”

The OnePlus 2 will be released on July 27th, 2015. The post is fairly enthusiastic, considering the fact that OnePlus will most likely release a OnePlus third-generation smartphone by 2016. The device will come with high-end specs, such as an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (v2.1) processor, a fingerprint scanner, dual SIM support, 4 GB of RAM, and a 3300 mAh battery. The company confirmed that the OnePlus 2 will be priced under $450, which is a highly attractive price considering its specs.

Source: OnePlus (Twitter)

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Hugo Barra confirms again that Xiaomi is coming to the US

VP of Global Operations at Xiaomi Hugo Barra has confirmed once again that Xiaomi is coming to the US “soon”. We reported on Xiaomi coming to the US not too long ago, but now Hugo Barra gives a more exact date. In an interview with Bloomberg Barra states that he thinks Xiaomi will be in the US within a couple years.

“It’s no less than a year, plus, away… Potentially much more than a year away.”

Xiaomi seems to have big plans for the US market, but there sounds like a lot of behind the scenes problems stopping them from really jumping in. For now they are sticking with just selling accessories.

Source: Bloomberg
Via: Androidcentral

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