Alcatel OneTouch brings the low-cost Elevate and Conquest smartphones to Boost Mobile
Whether you’re looking for an Android smartphone that you can take camping, or a device that won’t break the bank, Boost Mobile has you covered. Smartphone manufacturer Alcatel OneTouch has just announced two new budget-friendly options for the Sprint subsidiary, one of which is already available for purchase.
The Alcatel OneTouch Conquest is for those who prefer to spend their time outside. Featuring IP67 certification and an all-around durable build, this device is both waterproof and dustproof for those folks who need a little extra protection. On the spec front, the Conquest features a 5.0-inch 720p display, a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, a 5MP rear-facing camera, a 2MP front-facing camera and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. This device, pictured in the above image on the left, is now available for purchase from Boost Mobile for only $129.99.
Check out the video below to get a better look at the rugged smartphone.
Alcatel OneTouch has also announced that another budget smartphone, called the Elevate, will make its way to Boost Mobile in August. This device comes with a 4.5-inch FWVGA display, a 1.1GHz quad-core processor, 4G LTE connectivity, a 5MP rear-facing camera, a 2MP front-facing shooter, and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. It will be available from the carrier in August for only $99.99.
If you’d like some more details on either of these new handsets, check out the press release in the source link below.
Google Translate now faster, covers more languages
Google has announced some improvements to their Google Translate app for both Android and iOS to make it even easier to communicate around the world. The changes include twenty new languages added to the instant visual translation function and revisions that speed up the conversational translation capabilities so it will work even on slow network connections.
The Google Translate app was already capable of providing visual translations for seven languages – English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. This is accomplished by pointing your device’s camera at a sign or text in one of these languages and then letting the app provide a translation almost instantaneously. Now Google has added twenty more languages including Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Hungarian, Indonesian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian. In addition to these languages which can be translated to or from English, Google provides one way translation from English to Hindi and Thai. To help showcase the visual translation capabilities, Google’s team produced the video below set to “La Bamba”.
Click here to view the embedded video.
On top of the impressive visual translation capability the app offers, Google Translate is also capable of providing translation of the spoken word across 32 languages. One challenge to this is the need for an Internet connection which is sometimes unreliable, especially in emerging markets. The update Google is pushing out promises to make these translations easier to complete on these sketchy connections and they should sound more natural in the process.
The updated Google Translate is rolling out starting today, so watch for an update on your device. You can get Google Translate or check for the availability of the update for your account by using one of the download links below.
source: Google
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Cyanogen switching from Google calendar to use Boxer calendar
Cyanogen seems to once again be switching default Google apps with replacements from the Play Store. It will now be using Boxer calendar app in Cyanogen OS12.
Boxer’s calendar app looks and functions almost identical to Google calendar. It works with all your calendars including Gmail and Exchange. You can view multiple calendars, has color coding, has a material design look, and much more.
Boxer also makes an Email app that integrates perfectly with their calendar app. Cyanogen already uses their Email app so it is no wonder why they would choose their calendar app as well.
Source: Boxer
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Sprint debuts 4-line 10GB plan for $100/month
Sprint is hot on the heels of T-Mobile in offering an enticing deal for families. They have just announced a Family Share Pack promotion that gives you four lines of service, with 10GB of shared data, for $100/month.
In usual carrier-bashing fashion, Sprint let’s us know how much better this family deal is than its rivals.
I especially like that through comparing equal pricing, Sprint is able to bypass the fact that T-Mobile has its own family promotion going on right now, which costs slightly more but IMO a better deal. As a matter of fact, seeing as how you pay Sprint $20/month more to increase the data allotment to 40GB, both promotions are very close.
Bear in mind that the quoted monthly cost covers service only. Sprint states that you must acquire each phone via Sprint Lease or Sprint Easy Pay (financing the phone’s total cost).
Unlimited talk and text are included in the plan, and the payout offer associated with switching from your current carrier. Sprint says that the Family Share Pack is a limited time offer but doesn’t say how long it will run.
Source: Sprint
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Yahoo’s Livetext is a messaging app for the Snapchat generation
Yahoo’s Livetext video-messaging app popped up in Hong Kong’s iTunes store a few days ago, and now it’s rolling out to more locales. The app is the company’s effort to provide software similar to its popular Messenger app that’s appropriate for how people are chatting these days. This means offering a an option that’s similar to Snapchat and the like, but with a focus on one-on-one conversations. With Livetext, you can let the person (no group chats yet) you’re chatting with via text get a look at where you are and what you’re doing. While the app does provide a video stream, it doesn’t include sound. Why? The folks at Yahoo found that enabling sound caused folks to think twice about answering a message and instead wanted to offer “a way to connect that’s quick and non-intrusive.” It might keep you out of trouble in the office, but we’d surmise most folks would prefer it offer at least the option of some audio.
Basically, you can get a look at the person you’re texting with during the convo. Oh yeah, it also doesn’t support links or other media like photos, either. The company really wants users to focus on the texting and video for quick chats rather than on-going convos. In fact, the thread disappears when a session ends, but Yahoo says this isn’t a Snapchat competitor per se, due to its focus on texting. It’s also the first effort from the folks behind MessageMe chat software that Yahoo nabbed last year. The app will go live for Android and iOS in the US, UK, Canada, Germany and France tomorrow and, as previously mentioned, it’s already available in Hong Kong, Ireland and Taiwan.
Source: Yahoo
Captain EO is coming back to Disney World’s EPCOT
As any child of the 1980s can tell you, Disney’s Captain EO ride — starring the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson himself — was one of the best attractions to ever grace the park. EO debuted at Disney World in Florida back in 1986 and ran for eight years before closing in 1994. Now, Captain EO is back (and not just temporarily like they did after he died). The ride has reopened at Disney World’s EPCOT in all of its hokey, 3D glory. Michael Jackson’s ragtag team of freedom fighters are set to “bring freedom to countless worlds of despair” — and keep you entertained for 17 minutes with a mix of ’80s futurism and 30-year-old nostalgia.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Disney Blog
‘Fantastical 2’ for iPhone Gains Drafts, Japanese Localization
Popular calendar app Fantastical 2 for iPhone was today updated to version 2.4, adding a useful new feature that allows users to create event drafts. With drafts, it’s possible to start creating an event or Reminder and then swipe downwards to save it as a draft, setting it aside to multitask and access other events on the calendar.
For example, if you start scheduling a lunch meeting but need to pause in the middle to check your afternoon schedule, there’s no need to discard what you’ve written entirely — you can save it as a draft, check the calendar, and come back to it. Draft posts are saved at the bottom of the calendar interface for quick access, and multiple drafts can be saved at once.
While drafts are limited to the iPhone version of Fantastical 2, both the iPad and iPhone apps are being updated today with full Japanese localization. With the addition of Japanese, the app now supports six languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese. Fantastical 2 is able to automatically detect the language being used to enter an event, even if the system’s language setting differs.
Today’s updates for the iPhone and the iPad are available to existing Fantastical 2 users for free.
Fantastical 2 for iPhone can be downloaded from the App Store for $4.99. [Direct Link]
Fantastical 2 for iPad can be downloaded from the App Store for $9.99. [Direct Link]
Boost Mobile adding two devices from Alcatel OneTouch
Boost Mobile has added two devices, both from Alcatel OneTouch, to its lineup for customers. Neither the Conquest nor the Elevate represent the company’s vision for a high-end Android device, but they do offer solid specifications in an affordable package. The Conquest and Elevate both support 4G LTE connection, ship with at least Android 5.0 Lollipop, and cost less than $150. Alcatel OneTouch is continuing to prove that a solid, complete device can be had for less than ever before.
Key specifications:
- 5-inch 720p display
- Quad-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 5MP / 2MP cameras
- 8GB of internal storage with microSD card slot
- 2500mAh battery
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- IP67 certification (waterproof, dustproof)
The Conquest is available now for $129 from Boost Mobile.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Key specifications:
- 4.5-inch FWVGA display
- Quad-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 5MP / 2MP cameras
- 2000mAh battery
- Android 5.1 Lollipop
Boost Mobile will ask for $99 when the Elevate goes on sale next month.
The arrivals of these two phones comes at a time when Boost Mobile is taking on more data for customers.
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Hyundai allows you to DIY update Android Auto
Hyundai was the first to bring Android Auto to a production car. Many other car manufactures will bring Android Auto to their cars eventually, but don’t have any available to buy right now.
Hyundai’s 2015 Sonata already has Android Auto built in, but it’s not fully functional just yet. Today however, Hyundai is providing a software update that allows owners to get the upgrade.
We rarely see car manufactures provide software updates to car owners, but never allow the owners to install the update themselves. Owners can now decide whether or not they want to upgrade to the latest firmware.
Hyundai says the update should take less than an hour to install. If you are a 2015 Sonata owner and want to install the update you must first register your car at MyHyundai. Once that is done and you are logged in you can download the update, copy it to a USB, plug the USB into the car and the Sonata system will perform the update.
Click here to view the embedded video.
If you are not comfortable with doing the update on your own, all Hyundai dealerships nationwide are capable of doing it free of charge.
The update is actually available to more than just the basic Sonata. It can be installed on the Sonata Sport, Eco, Limited, Sport 2.0T, and Limited 2.0T models. The Sonata however requires the owner to have a Android phone running 5.0 Lollipop or later to use it.
Source: Hyundai
Via: Slashgear
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Sprint rolls out new Family Share Pack offering 10GB of data for $100 per month
Trying to stay competitive in the family plan space, Sprint has announced a new Family Share Pack for families needing four lines. The new deal rolling out starting July 31st gives families a pool of 10GB of shared 4G data for $100 per month. Sprint touts this as the best deal out there compared to Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile. That claim may be debatable, but Sprint is offering an upgrade that costs only $20 per month that bumps available data up to 40GB shared between the four lines.
The upgraded Family Share Pack at $120 for 40GB of data is comparable to an offer T-Mobile is currently running, although T-Mobile does not pool the data between the four lines. Sprint also helps to keep the total out of pocket price down by not charging extra data access per line charges on the first four lines.
To take advantage of this offer, customers do have to port over an existing line from another carrier. Sprint does offer some buyout options to help consumers who may incur fees and penalties for early termination of their accounts with other carriers.
source: Sprint
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