Following T-Mobile’s footsteps, Verizon kills the two year contract
There’s no denying that T-Mobile’s uncarrier movement has had a pretty big impact on the cellular industry over the past few years. Not only have we seen T-Mobile rise to third place in the market, bypassing Sprint, we’ve also seen all the carriers attempt to make uncarrier-like moves in hopes of winning new customers or keeping existing ones from defecting.
Verizon is now taking things a whole step further, following T-Mobile’s example and killing the two-year contract altogether. While Verizon had already offered optional device payment plans through its Edge service, going forward all Verizon customers interested in a new phone will either pay for the phone all at once or will sign up for a device payment plan.
We know what you’re thinking, the Moto X Pure Edition has now become even more enticing considering its $400 price tag, lack of carrier branding and software, and its full support for Verizon’s network.
As part of its restructuring, Verizon is ending the “Edge” naming convention as well, simply referring to it as a device payment plan. Furthermore, they are simplifying their data plans and pricing.
From now on, you simply pay $20 per line, and then you choose one of the following shared data buckets: S ($30/month for 1GB), M ($45/month for 3GB), L ($60/month for 6GB), or X-Large ($80/month for 12GB). Other larger plans exist, but will require you to ask Verizon directly for a quote.
Verizon’s new plans will go into effect on August 13th. If you still are under contract, however, you won’t see any immediate changes.
Costco is getting ready for the Verizon variants of the Turbo 2, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
We have heard so many stories about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Plus, but here is another. A new leaked document from Costco confirms their names and shows they are gearing up to launch the Verizon variant of the Turbo 2, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.
The image also shows that there will be a new Droid phone coming too. The Droid Turbo 2 and another Droid phone were said to be coming to Verizon before, but this is only more confirmation.
Unfortunately the image doesn’t show any confirmation specs for any of the phones. However, we will get confirmation soon on the Samsung phones as they are holding an Unpacked event on August 13th.
Source: Android Central
Come comment on this article: Costco is getting ready for the Verizon variants of the Turbo 2, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
Verizon Introduces New Monthly Service Plans, Eliminating Smartphone Subsidies for New Customers
Verizon today announced that the company will be introducing a new set of smartphone rate plans for its customers while simultaneously eliminating the traditional subsidized two-year contract option for new users joining the network. The new plans come in four sizes of data allotments, and will go into effect officially on August 13.
Once customers choose the smartphone they want to pay for on its own monthly cost, they will then choose which data option they need for their plan. The new plans are going to apply to both single lines but can also be shared with up to ten devices on one plan. Verizon likens the new plan options as a simplified version of its former offerings.
Many things in our lives come in familiar sizes. Morning coffee? A medium, please. New t-shirt? That’s a large – at least for now. From small to XL, everyone understands these common sizing options.
Beginning August 13, our newest price plan will offer four easy sizes of data to match how our customers use wireless service. These new data options come in sizes just like other things we buy:
–Small: $30/month for 1GB of shareable data
–Medium: $45/month for 3GB of shareable data
–Large: $60/month for 6GB of shareable data
–X-Large: $80/month for 12GB of shareable data
With the new plan structure, monthly device access charges will be priced at $20 for smartphones, $10 for tablets and Jetpack MiFis, and $5 for “connected device lines” such as smart watches. These device access charges are, of course, in addition to one of the four data options each customer will pick and any financed cost for the devices themselves. Verizon hopes that the new offerings will result in “a simpler and more streamlined bill” for its customers in the future.
New customers will have to choose between paying the full device cost up front or using interest-free financing to spread the costs out over 24 months, as subsidized pricing with a two-year contract will no longer be available to new customers. Existing customers will be able to move to the plans or retain their existing plans, with some restrictions that have yet to be detailed.
The best mirrorless camera for beginners
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article here.
After 60 hours of research and 25 hours of testing, we found the $600 Sony a5100 is the best mirrorless camera for beginners. It stands out from the dozens of competitors we considered by delivering superior photo quality while being easier to use right out of the box thanks to simple menus and controls. Plus, it offers enough flexibility to keep up with a new photographer’s developing skills.
How we decided
Our top contenders we found worth field testing were the Panasonic GF7, the Olympus E-PL7 and the Sony a5100.
We looked over the entire range of mirrorless cameras currently available for less than $600 and narrowed the field down to four final candidates for hands-on testing: the $550 Olympus E-PL7, Samsung’s $400 NX3000, the $500 Panasonic GF7 and the Sony a5100. We toted them around everywhere to see how they performed in the situations most novice shooters find challenging, putting each camera’s autofocus, low light and flash capabilities to the test.
Our pick
The Sony a5100 packs a punch of excellent features in a compact size that’s easy to use right out of the box.
The Sony a5100 is the best mirrorless camera for new users because it offers a careful balance of impressive capability with easy usability at a great value—currently priced at $600 on Amazon.
We loved the a5100’s compact size, fast shooting speeds, impressive low light capabilities, high resolution and highly responsive touchscreen, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, video performance, and wide selection of lenses. Boasting many of the same specs as the higher end model in Sony’s Alpha series—including a large 24 megapixel APS-C sensor, powerful processor and “class-leading” hybrid autofocus system—but priced significantly less, the a5100 delivers high performance for good value. Most importantly, it captures clean, high quality images.
The a5100 uniquely targets newbie photographers and smartphone shooters ready to step up their game with an In-Camera Guide aimed at helping novices get to know the camera. It soars where even the best smartphone tends to fail—low light, flash photography, fast-moving subjects like a small child—while still providing the portability, simple user interface and selfie capabilities we’ve come to expect in a camera.
The runner-up
If our main pick sells out or becomes unavailable, our previous recommendation, 2013’s Sony NEX-5T, is now available for a very affordable $350. It, too, has a large sensor for detailed photos, fast shooting speeds, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, and Sony’s wide body of lenses.
Of course, technology improved in the year between the NEX-5T’s release and the a5100’s debut, and the a5100 offers superior auto focusing abilities—especially key if your primary subject moves quickly, like a small child.
In closing
We found the Sony a5100 performed well in low-light situations with minimal noise even at higher ISOs, as in this example taken at ISO 1600.
With excellent picture quality and easy usability, the Sony a5100 is our pick for an entry-level mirrorless camera priced under $600. As simple to shoot with as a camera phone, the a5100 outshines any smartphone with images as good as you’ll see from a DSLR, an easy to use interface, a capable zoom lens, effective on-camera flash, impressive autofocusing and low light performance.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
Tags: a5100, ilc, MirrorlessCamera, MirrorlessCameras, NEX-5t, partner, sony, sonya5100, SonyNex-5t, syndicated, thewirecutter, wirecutter
‘Star Wars Battlefront’: a fine line between authenticity and fun
The Star Wars Battlefront franchise has a simple goal: to put players in the middle of huge, sprawling battles ripped straight from the films and wider fiction. Whether that’s battling the AT-AT walkers on Hoth or an X-Wing squadron above Sullust, you’re made to feel small — just one of many soldiers fighting for the Rebel Alliance or Galactic Empire.
The latest installment, which arrives just before The Force Awakens, has to walk a difficult tightrope. Fans want an accurate portrayal of their favorite scenes, but developer Dice also needs to make changes to ensure it’s fun to play. Often, that means twisting and manipulating the original source material. “Yes, I want to pilot that walker, or I want to fly that vehicle, or I want to be in that trench and stop that onslaught of Stormtroopers,” Niklas Fegraeus, design director for Star Wars Battlefront says. “It’s about identifying key fantasies and bringing them together in a sandbox. And then trying to figure out — okay, how do we make these things work in a fair way, so that people don’t have a bad experience?”
Directing the action
The new Star Wars Battlefront game is multiplayer-focused. Although there are missions that you can play offline, there’s no traditional campaign mode. Up to 40 players can be fighting simultaneously, so it’s imperative that Dice is able to shepherd them into filling certain roles and completing specific objectives. Otherwise, the authenticity of the experience begins to break down — living out your ultimate battle fantasy on Endor is pretty difficult if everyone else is messing around on speeder bikes.
“It’s really tricky,” Fegraeus explains. “On the one hand, you want players to feel completely free, like they’re masters of their own fate and have agency in this world. But you also need them to perform a role, because the other players on the server are looking forward to a certain scenario to try to win, or battle or experience.” Dice is tackling this problem with a methodical paper trail of objectives, obstacles and unlocks. Here’s an example: while I was playing the new “fighter squadron” demo, I was tasked periodically with defending a Rebel transport ship. On the flip side, the team playing the Empire was being commanded to take down the craft in their nimble TIE Fighters. Some crucial points were on the line, so everyone was obliged to race toward the ship and take part in a dogfight.
“It’s like a story told through game systems in sequence,” Fegraeus says. “Just having players take part in those, in that sequence, creates the game.”
Making small missions epic
Everyone wants to be the hero, but not everyone can take control of the Millennium Falcon or slash through Stormtroopers as Luke Skywalker. Battlefront has always focused on the less famous soldiers that took part in these spectacular battles, and the series’ greatest achievement is making these small roles feel exciting and meaningful. On Endor, one of your missions could be to take out a deadly AT-ST walker. While this happened in the films, it was only a brief moment that conveyed the large conflict and plight of our heroes. To make Battlefront authentic, Dice needs players to revel in these smaller challenges — together, they form Star Wars‘ iconic and multi-dimensional war zones.
“We call them micro-rewards,” Fegraeus explains. “You need all of the systems to support the narrative and say, ‘There’s always a little reward for you.’ It can be an experience like taking down a walker, or it can be something like a very powerful gun. You litter the path of players with these micro-rewards that keep them engaged so they’re always saying, ‘Yes, I’m a part of this and I’m doing well. I’m a soldier in this struggle and it’s all up to me.’”
Adding to Star Wars
Creating such diverse missions and rewards is challenging. Only so much was shown in the original films, so the Dice team has to delve into the deeper Star Wars universe to find new ideas and concepts that fit. Occasionally, that means coming up with ideas from scratch too. Defending an escape pod or satellite dish might sound obvious, but the designers have to be meticulous about how they build upon such a cherished franchise.
Luckily, Lucasfilm is more than happy to lend a helping hand. “They’re the stewards of this universe and know everything,” Fegraeus says. “So the fact that we can work with them so openly, and that they help us so willingly when it comes to coming up with what these solutions can be and do — it makes it really easy for us to find an idea that fits.”
Internally, the team at Dice uses a development term called a “camera left moment.” The premise is ridiculously simple: Consider your favorite shot in the Star Wars movies, and then imagine what would happen if you turned the camera slightly to one side. What would you be able to see? What would actually be happening? Visualizing these make-believe scenes allows the team to quickly prototype and flesh out their modes and maps. However, sometimes there are no shots at all to draw from. Dice was given permission to use Sullust — a planet mentioned in Return of the Jedi — for one of its Battlefront maps. The world had never been visualized before, so the studio was able to work with Lucasfilm to bring it to life. That alone could make the game an integral piece of the Star Wars saga.
The success of Star Wars Battlefront hinges on Dice’s ability to balance authenticity and playability. Again, it’s a difficult tightrope — lean too far in one direction and you’ll make a game that’s visually immersive, but boring or frustrating to play. Swing too far the other way and it’ll feel like a betrayal of the Star Wars franchise, filled with alien or inconsistent additions. “It’s something that goes on basically from day zero to launch, and you just try to find that perfect balance,” Fegraeus says with a wolfish grin. “It’s also part of the fun.”
Images credit: EA
We’re live from Cologne, Germany, for Gamescom 2015. Click here to catch up with all the news from the show.
Tags: dice, ea, gamescom-2015, gamescom2015, hdpostcross, starwars, StarWarsBattlefront
Uber comes to Liverpool and the entire Merseyside region
While Uber’s currently being scrutinised over its employment practices, and the UK’s High Court closes in on a decision of whether the service is even operating legally in the capital, the ride-sharing firm has never been one to let drama slow it down. After its last major expansion into Bristol, Sheffield and several smaller towns in June, today Uber’s bringing its ride-hailing service to Liverpool and the rest of the Merseyside region. Only the basic uberX vehicles are available in the area at launch, and Uber’s offering the curious £15 off their first trip with the inventive 15OFFMERSEYSIDE promo code. Perfect timing if you’re planning to go out out this weekend — with a cheap cab on the cards, you needn’t feel too guilty about having that “one final drink” and missing the last bus home.
Filed under:
Transportation
Source:
Uber
Tags: liverpool, merseyside, transportation, uber
Thai man gets 30 years in jail for insulting monarchy on Facebook
While Reddit users continue to complain about their speech being restricted, following moves by the site to finally clean up its most hateful communities, internet users in Thailand continue to face actual limits to their speech. Take, for example, 48-year-old Pongsak Sriboonpeng, who was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison for insulting Thai monarchy on Facebook. That’s actually a reduction from his original 60 years sentence (the Thai government took half off after he plead guilty — how kind!). Pongsak’s lawyer notes that his sentence has broken the record for Thailand’s convictions against the country’s harsh lèse-majesté rules, which makes it illegal to defame Thai royalty. His situation was even worse since he couldn’t appeal the conviction — Thailand remains under martial law following 2014’s military coup. Earlier this year, another Thai man received a 25-year prison sentence for insulting the monarchy.
Filed under:
Facebook
Via:
Ars Technica
Source:
The Guardian
Tags: facebook, Thailand
Go inside a giant Japanese concrete-crushing robot
Japan’s got another robot. But this one isn’t selling coffee or checking you into a hotel. No, this one has industrial metal claws on both hands, monster truck tires and a seat for you to sit in. Taguchi Industrial makes heavy-duty construction equipment. Its vehicles, featuring the same claws, were used following both the Tohoku tsunami and Kobe earthquake to clear debris. “Super Guzzilla” (there’s no “Original Guzzilla” — we checked), is what future construction vehicles will look like — at least according to this company. Not only can it move over tough terrain, and is also equipped with two metal pincers adding improved mobility and efficiency when it comes to demolition or removal work. Is it a PR stunt? Oh good lord yes, but the team that helped design the cockpit also crafted an Oculus Rift simulator to show what it would be like inside. Oculus Rift? Giant robot capable of crushing buildings? For an Engadget editor, it’s like a moth to a flame. Slideshow-309313
Source:
Project Guzzilla
Tags: Guzzilla, japan
Researchers find major security flaw with ZigBee smart home devices
Manufacturers of smart home devices using the ZigBee standard are aiming for convenience at the expense of security, according to researchers from the Austrian security firm Cognosec. By making it easier to have smart home devices talk to each other, many companies also open up a major vulnerability with ZigBeee that could allow hackers to control your smart devices. And that could be a problem if you rely on things like smart locks or a connected alarm system for home security. Specifically, Cognosec found that ZigBee’s reliance on an insecure key link with smart devices opens the door for hackers to spoof those devices and potentially gain control of your connected home.
“Tests with light bulbs, motion sensors, temperature sensors and even door locks have also shown that the vendors of the tested devices implemented the minimum of the features required to be certified,” Cognosec’s Tobias Zillner writes. Even worse, he points out that there’s no way for consumers to make their smart devices more secure. In the end, he blames the push for ZigBee to be easy to use as the big reason why companies have been lax with security.
For anyone who’s had worries about the vulnerability of the connected home, Cognosec’s findings basically present the worst case scenario for ZigBee. Since it affects a wide variety of devices, it’s unclear how quickly manufacturers will be able to come up with a fix. We’ve reached out to the ZigBee Alliance, whose members include major companies like Samsung, Sony and ARM, and will report back with their response.
[Photo credit: Tom Raftery/Flickr]
Filed under:
Household
Via:
TechCrunch
Source:
Cognosec
Tags: hacks, security, smarthome, Zigbee
OnePlus 2 on sale through OppoMart for $459, no invite required
Interested in the OnePlus 2 but not so keen on the idea of dealing with the company’s invite system? Just like last year, OppoMart is offering an alternative solution to waiting in virtual line, but just like with the OPO — there’s a few catches involved.
First is the pricing. OppoMart currently only lists the OP2 black 64GB model, priced at $459, a premium of about $70 over what you’d pay if you got the phone directly from OnePlus. Second, this is the Chinese version of the phone, which will differ slightly in terms of software and hardware. While the same overall specs and Oxygen OS-based software will apply, there will be regional changes, and you’ll want to verify that the phone will play nicely with your particular carrier/region.
OppoMart says the device will work on the following bands: GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz , WCDMA: Bands: 850/900/1900/2100MHz, and LTE FDD: Bands: 2100/1800/2600MHz. Obviously you’ll want to double check for support before biting the bullet.
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Finally, it must also be said that OppoMart has a somewhat mixed reputation. Please keep this in mind before deciding whether or not to pick up the device through OppoMart. It is also unclear what kind of warranty you’ll get here, especially since you’re buying a Chinese model and essentially importing it to a different region. That means if something goes wrong with the phone, you may be left unprotected.
Not sure if the OnePlus 2 is right for you? Be sure to check out our original announcement post, as well as our hands-on first impressions, for more details on what to expect.
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