Moto G (3rd gen) announced: everything you need to know
On November 13th of 2013 the budget market forever changed with the introduction of the Moto G. While devices like the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 had already given consumers a taste of high-end performance at a reasonably affordable price tag, the Moto G’s sub-$200 pricing brought things to a whole new level.
Fast-forwarding to 2015 and Motorola has now announced the third-generation iteration of the Moto G. But what a difference two years can make. While the original Moto G had virtually no real competitors, the budget market has exploded over the last several months with the introduction of products like the Asus ZenFone 2 and Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 — just to name two.
It’s way too early to say whether or not the Moto G (3rd gen) competes on the same level as some of the more recent budget-friendly alternatives, but we are liking what we see so far.
Moto G (3rd gen) specs and features
Let’s start by running through the key specs:
| Display | 5-inch 720p display |
| Processor | 1.4GHz Snapdragon 410 processor |
| RAM | 1GB/2GB RAM |
| Storage | 8GB/16GB storage, with microSD |
| Networks | 4G LTE |
| Software | Android 5.1 Lollipop |
| Camera | 13MP rear, 5MP front |
| Battery | 2,470mAh battery |
| Waterproofing | IPX7 rating |
The Moto G (3rd gen) is powered by a Snapdragon 410 with 1GB or 2GB of RAM, depending on whether you buy the 8GB or 16GB internal storage options. This is a small but welcome upgrade from the Snapdragon 400 found in the 1st and 2nd gen iterations. While many would have liked to have seen 2GB across both models, remember that Motorola’s main concern is keeping the price tag down and these modest specs help with that endeavor.
Dual-SIM compatibility remains on the check-list, as does 4G LTE connectivity and a microSD card slot, for those who need the extra storage space. On the display front, the Moto G retains the same 5-inch 720p panel as before, and the phone still features the same dual speaker design on the front of the case. Though this time it has a refreshed design for the phone’s back panel.
Some of the biggest changes include the addition of an IPX7 rated design, meaning that the phone is water resistant up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Additionally, the Moto G series now has Moto Maker support! While you only have the choice of black or white for the front there is a selection of colors for the rear panel, in the form of Moto Shells.
Probably one of the biggest changes with the Moto G (3rd gen) is in regards to the camera, which now uses the same sensor as the high-end Nexus 6. Each generation of the line has seen some improvements, but the leap up to a 13 megapixel sensor, f/2.0 aperture lens and dual-tone LED flash should make a noticeable difference to image quality.
For software, the Moto G comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop and a few of Motorola’s own pieces of tech. These include, Moto Display, Quick Capture and a Chop Twice feature, which turns the phone’s flash on and off by shaking the phone twice.
In India, the smartphone will be priced at Rs. 11,999 ($188) for the 8GB model, while the 16GB version with 2GB of RAM will cost Rs. 12,999 ($203). We should find out information about the European and US prices at the events in London and New York later today.
While the Moto G might not feature massively overhauled hardware from its predecessor, that’s really never been the point. Ever since the Moto X and Moto G lines debuted, Motorola has prided itself it putting the customer experience ahead of pure specs. With improved design, customization, and other improvements, that’s exactly what we have with the latest Moto G.
Razer has acquired Ouya, sort of…
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Last month, we heard the murmurs that PC gaming company, Razer, was looking to acquire Ouya, the company that was briefly a Kickstarter success story with their Android game console of the same name. Today, it was officially confirmed that Razer has acquired Ouya, but it’s not quite as black and white as it seems. As Android Police confirms, Razer has only bought the software part of Ouya, namely the Ouya store which Razer is going to reappropriate as Cortex for Android TV – the hardware part of Ouya will likely never resurface, so for those of you who have one, you have something of a rare species on your hands.
Welcome to the family, @playouya. pic.twitter.com/QBkUjd4C53
— Razer (@Razer) July 27, 2015
.@juhrman OUYA was a once in a lifetime experience. Now, I’m off to find the next…stay tuned!
— Julie Uhrman (@juhrman) July 27, 2015
As part of the deal, it appears that Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman isn’t going to be sticking around, announcing her exit on Twitter – presumably the remaining parts of the Ouya organization are going to be intergrated within Razer in one shape or another. It’s a little bit of a shame to see Ouya go like this – its emergence on Kickstarter almost seemed like the start of a renaissance for Android gaming, but obviously that wasn’t to be.
What do you think about Razer acquiring Ouya? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Twitter via Android Police
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Rumours say Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will be released globally, Galaxy Note 5 only in select markets
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Rumours about Samsung‘s latest flagships have been a plenty and we’re likely to see more in the coming weeks before the August 13th announcement. One such rumour has proposed a very interesting scenario, one which might not sit well with Samsung’s faithful – it’s alleged that the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will be released globally, however the device to be announced alongside it, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, is apparently only going to be announced in select markets. From the sounds of it, “select markets” will include places like the US and South Korea where Galaxy Note sales have been historically good.
It’s not an unfamiliar rumour and it actually makes a lot of sense for Samsung – while demand for the Galaxy S6 Edge was great, many people would have passed on the more expensive S6 Edge due to the presence of the cheaper, just as competent, Galaxy S6. Similarly, restricting access to the likely cheaper Galaxy Note 5 would ideally promote greater profit for Samsung, however there are notable downsides for Samsung fans if the Galaxy Note 5 is less available – namely the S-Pen only available on Galaxy Note devices. We do have to remember that this may not be the strategy that Samsung walks out the door with, however it’s come up enough times not to be completely dismissed.
What do you think about this strategy from Samsung? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Korea Herald via Phone Arena
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Apple Pay Now Supports HSBC and First Direct in the UK
Apple Pay today expanded its participating issuers list within the United Kingdom, adding support for both HSBC and First Direct customers. Both banks were announced as starting partners for the UK branch of Apple Pay, but were delayed until late July at the last minute.
HSBC and First Direct join a list of UK Apple Pay partners that includes: American Express, MBNA, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster Bank. Still listed as coming soon are: Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank and TSB. Although Barclays has confirmed “imminent” support for the contactless payment service, the bank has yet to be listed on Apple’s Apple Pay UK site.
Along with the announcement of HSBC and First Direct support, customers using Apple Pay in the UK will also be able to start taking advantage of the service at both Five Guys restaurants and Wilko stores across the country. UK support of Apple Pay launched on July 14, and has been steadily expanding its roster of retail partners and financial institutions in the subsequent weeks.
OnePlus 2 officially announced, available August 11 from $329
OnePlus have finally unveiled the successor to their flagship killer in the form of the OnePlus 2, after a number of (controlled?) leaks began surfacing around the web. OnePlus have taken the details of what worked well with the 1+1 and have come up with a top spec’d 1+2 at a budget price.
OnePlus 2 Specs
Display: 5.5-inch, LCD, 1080p
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
RAM: 4GB / 3GB LPDDR4
Storage: 64 GB/16GB
Camera: 13MP, 5MP front, 4K video recording
Battery: 3,300 mAh
USB: Type-C
OS: OxygenOS Android 5.1
“OnePlus have taken the details of what worked well with the 1+1“
You may notice the lack of NFC from the OnePlus 2, which might seem like a strange omission given the other future-proofing specs on the device such as USB Type-C. It also doesn’t have Quick Charge but does have a fingerprint sensor, dual Nano-SIM slots, and 720p slow-motion video capture.
OnePlus 2 Design
The aluminium-magnesium chassis houses the 1080p display as well as a USB Type-C charging port, together with an “Alert Slider” dedicated button on the side of the device that allows the notification mode to be quickly changed.
By default, the OnePlus 2 comes with a typical black sandstone rear shell, but you can swap that out for kevlar, black apricot, bamboo, or rosewood for $27 a piece – something that never made it to the OnePlus One model.
OnePlus 2 Availability
The 64GB OnePlus 2 model with 4GB of RAM will be available with an invite in the US and Europe starting August 11 for $389. The 16GB model with 3GB of RAM will be available later for $329. You’ll of course need an invite to get a model, but be sure to join the reservation list for an increased chance in getting yours.
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OnePlus 2 vs OnePlus One: A quick look at the specs
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Here’s everything you need to know about the pricing and availability of the OnePlus 2
Yesterday, OnePlus finally unveiled its eagerly-awaited flagship smartphone of 2015, the OnePlus 2, and we are not disappointed in anyway shape or form. Packing a Snapdragon 810 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and carrying a price tag of $389 in the United States, this is sure to be a device many people will want to get their hands on.
However, in order to cope with the influx of orders that are just around the corner, OnePlus has to implement the same pre-order system it used for its last ‘flagship killer’. It will work a little differently though this time. Instead of a market-by-market launch, the OnePlus 2 will be released simultaneously in twelve different countries on Tuesday, August 11.
Each country will carry an individual price tag for the handset — so it won’t be a straight forward conversion of the devices cost in the United States to a region’s local currency. The respective prices for each of the countries the OnePlus 2 is scheduled to launch in can be seen below:
If you’re interested in the OnePlus 2, it’s important to bear in mind that there is going to be two main variants available — one with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage and one with 64GB of space and 4GB of RAM.
For an extra $60 the latter seems the most logical option. It’s also one of the most powerful smartphones on the market, so it should be on par with the yet-to-be-announced Galaxy Note 5, but we’ll have to wait until Thursday, August 13 to see if that’s the case.
If you notice an inflated price for your market, you have to factor in the shipping and tax fee that’s included for Asian and European countries, which is considerably more than the United States fees.
So now you have a pretty good idea of how much money you’ll have to part with in order to bag yourself a OnePlus 2, are you still interested in picking one up? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
Come comment on this article: Here’s everything you need to know about the pricing and availability of the OnePlus 2
Don’t like your mobile carrier? Ofcom wants to help you switch
When your contract is up and you’re toying with switching to another carrier, the hassle of porting over your number might stop you from actually following through. UK communications regulator Ofcom realises that, so today it’s outlining plans to improve mobile switching by putting the onus back on the carrier. As part of its consultation, the watchdog is taking feedback on whether it should force operators to scrap PAC codes and remove the need for consumers to initiate the switch, exactly like it’s now doing with broadband contracts.
Ofcom says the new process will help customers who worry that carriers will try to convince them to stay with special retention deals, but also minimise breaks in service and the chances of double-billing. With that in mind, its currently in talks with the UK’s major operators to draw up the technical details of implementing such a system. Right now, Ofcom’s consultation is firmly in the planning stage and interested parties have until October 6th to voice their support (or concerns) ahead of a final decision in Spring 2016.
[Image credit: Miki Yoshihito, Flickr]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Source: Ofcom
The best SIM-only deals in the UK
Everyone wants the perfect phone contract. Whatever your budget, you’ll always want the maximum number of texts, minutes and data in your monthly allowance. There are other factors to consider, such as the quality of the network and international roaming, but those are the basics. Sifting through endless deals will drive anyone insane, so we’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a guide to the best SIM-only deals in the UK.
To complete our list, we compared all of the plans available directly from Three, O2, Vodafone, EE, GiffGaff, BT, iD, Tesco Mobile, Asda Mobile and Virgin Media. While you might have signed up for a better deal years ago or haggled on the phone for a discount, our picks are based on what you can get right now on the high street. TalkTalk was also excluded on the basis that you have to be an existing customer to buy one of their SIMs. If you’re interested, however, you can see their current plans and pricing here.
The best “I want everything” deals
Some people just want it all. Texts, minutes, data — all three are equally important to them. The five deals above have huge allowances to make sure you can text, call and browse the internet without any worry of bill shock. The best deal we found is on Three, which offers unlimited everything for £27 per month. The network’s SIMs also come with free “feel at home” roaming in 18 countries, making it a decent choice for frequent flyers.
Links: EE (£28.99) | O2 (£28) | Three (£27) | BT (£25) | iD (£20)
Best unlimited data deals
For many people, data has become the most important part of their phone contract. After all, more of us are now texting and calling over internet-enabled apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Skype. Few networks offer a truly unlimited data cap each month, but here we’ve summarised the best from those that do. Three’s SIMs are often the best value, but we’re leaning towards iD here for it’s hearty dose of minutes and texts.
Links: iD (£20) | GiffGaff (£20) | Three (£22) | Three (£17)
Best £15.01 to 20.00 deals
Once you drop below £20, it becomes harder to keep every part of your contact perfect. We’ve therefore chosen to split our recommendations into three categories depending on whether you hold data, minutes or texts most dearly. Three offers some of the best data deals, but all of the networks have some competitive SIMs if you’re more interested in minutes and texts. One of our favourites at the moment is O2’s SIM packing unlimited minutes, texts and 2GB of data for £18 per month. Not too shabby.
Data: iD (£20) | Three (£17) | Three (£16)
Minutes: O2 (£18) | Tesco (£17.50) | EE (£16.99)
Texts: EE (£16.99) | Three (£16.99) | O2 (£15.50)
Best £10.01 to £15 deals
In this price range, it’s basically impossible to get a SIM with unlimited data. The trick here is to compromise in the areas that matter least to you and prioritise the allowances that you know you’ll be eating into every month. Whether that’s data, minutes or texts, we’ve highlighted the best SIM-only deals above. Some of our top picks include iD’s deal with 5GB, 500 minutes and 5000 texts for £15 per month and Virgin’s SIM packing 4GB, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts for the same price.
Data: iD (£15) | iD (£12.50) | Virgin (£12)
Calls: Tesco (£15) | Virgin (£15) | Virgin (£12)
Texts: Three (£11) | Three (£11) | O2 (£10.50)
Best deals for £10 and under
If you’re spending less than a tenner, you should expect some stringent allowances. Still, there are some excellent deals out there which are perfect for people on a tight budget. The best include Asda’s £7 per month deal with 500MB, 300 minutes and unlimited texts, and Virgin’s £8 per month SIM which ups the minutes to 1,250. If you’re looking for a cheap backup SIM, both iD and Virgin’s £5 SIMs are worth considering too.
Data: iD (£10) | Asda (£7) | iD (£5)
Calls: Virgin (£10) | Virgin (£8) | Tesco (£7.50)
Texts: Virgin (£8) | Asda (£7) | Virgin (£5)
(Editor’s Note: All prices listed are correct as of July 28th, 2015. Our choices will be updated on a regular basis.)
Filed under: Cellphones
You can’t help but feel cool in Nike’s new face mask
When Olympic athlete Ashton Eaton finishes an event, he feels better after dousing himself with a bottle of water, but that’s not a very elegant way of keeping his head cool. That’s why the decathlete teamed up with Nike to build this prototype face mask that’s designed to reduce the temperature of his head and face. Essentially, the Nike Cooling Head is a heatsink for your skull, with a mesh that holds tiny veins of water close and tight to the contours of your face. When an athlete is trying to chill down after a fast sprint in hot weather, all they have to do is pull this out of a refrigerator and strap it on.
The idea is hardly a new one, since plenty of people already make “ice hats,” beanies with a void to hold ice cubes, to do the same job. In addition, Nike’s been producing the PreCool Vest, a t-shirt covered in ice packs, since 2004. The company feels that the thermal benefits are one thing, but the psychological boost of going into your next race without a sweaty face might be just as powerful.
For now, the prototype will be tested out by Eaton and Canadian athlete Brianne Thiesen-Eaton, who will put the headgear through its paces during summer training. If it proves successful, however, then this might just make its way into the national team’s kitbag. As such, if you suddenly see your favorite olympians dressing up like a discount Jason Voorhees on their down time, don’t freak out.
Filed under: Wearables
Via: Complex
Source: Nike
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