Google offers Project Fi users a one-off replacement Nexus 6 for just $100
Replacing a broken smartphone is never a pleasant experience, and it’s often an expensive one at that. If you purchased a Nexus 6 when you first set up your Project Fi account, though, you can get a one-time replacement if you break the Nexus 6 within the first 12 months for just $100.
That’s right, so long as you bought the Nexus 6 during the Project Fi set-up process, it will be replaced for just $100 with no questions asked. The Nexus 6 needn’t actually be broken, it could just be looking a little used, with scratches and dents and you could fork over the $100 for a brand new replacement. It’s an idea that will probably make more sense the closer you get to the end of the 12 month period unless you happen to (accidentally) break the handset in the meantime, in which case Bob’s-your-Uncle. It isn’t a free service, unlike HTC’s UH OH program, but a $100 charge is definitely better than having to pay the full amount for a replacement or repair.
Source: AndroidCentral
Come comment on this article: Google offers Project Fi users a one-off replacement Nexus 6 for just $100
Did you get your Nexus 6 with your Project Fi? Google will save you with a $100 replacement if needed
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Google’s Project Fi service, and invites, have been steadily rolling out to people all over the US. Those that didn’t have a Nexus 6 at the time obviously needed to buy one during the setup as it is the only device that is supported for the time being. Unlike traditional carriers that offer you a monthly plan for insurance to cover your device in case of lost, theft, damage or the likes, you are left on your own. There are some good options out there to protect your device if you want to have that small feeling of security. If you aren’t out to spend a lot on a third-party insurance provider to cover damages then you are in luck as Google will replace your device for you once during the 1st year for $100 if you happen to have butter fingers and cause irreprehensible damage.
The policy is a simple no questions asked policy. Meaning you can literally get a shiny new Nexus 6 no matter what happened or the story you try to create for it. You do have to make sure you make your claim within the first 12 months of ownership though. Yes, that means if you hit month 12 and you just want to replace it because it is a little worn with some dings and dents, but otherwise still works fine, you most certainly can do so.
It is a nice little safety net for those looking to cut costs with Project Fi who might have a slight bit of misfortune in their lives with their device down the road.
Source: 9to5Google Img via: Motorola Forums
The post Did you get your Nexus 6 with your Project Fi? Google will save you with a $100 replacement if needed appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Lenovo PCs installed custom software even if you wiped them
Samsung isn’t the only Windows PC maker to have hijacked Windows’ update process as of late. Users have noticed that some Lenovo PCs running Windows 7 and 8 (such as the Yoga 3) had firmware that automatically downloaded and installed Lenovo’s own update software on boot, overwriting a Windows system file at the same time. More disconcertingly, this was true even if you wiped the system clean. So long as you were reinstalling a compatible version of Windows in the first place (including Windows 10), those Lenovo apps would inevitably return.
The only reason it’s not an ongoing issue is that Lenovo just recently released an optional patch that removes the offending code. Why? As you might have guessed, forcing a PC to download programs on boot introduces a massive security risk — attackers can spoof the server and install malware whenever you restart your computer. That’s more than a little disconcerting, especially if you thought that Lenovo had already removed vulnerable software from your system.
Lenovo was technically in the clear. It was taking advantage of a little-known feature, the Windows Platform Binary Table, to insert the code. However, Lenovo’s approach was largely unadvertised to users and “not consistent” with Microsoft’s current security guidelines. You might not have known that Lenovo was loading this software in the first place, let alone that it created a security hole. While it’s good to know that there’s a fix, the discovery underscores the problems with letting PC vendors override core Windows functions — in at least some cases, they’re creating more problems than they solve.
Filed under:
Desktops, Laptops, Software, Lenovo
Via:
The Next Web
Source:
Lenovo, Ars Technica, Hacker News
Tags: bloatware, computer, desktop, laptop, lenovo, pc, security, windows
Vodafone’s home broadband service is now live across the UK
Two months ago, Vodafone started selling home broadband in the UK again. The service was only available to a small group of customers in Manchester, however, as well as parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Well, now the company is opening the floodgates. Any Vodafone customer can sign up for the service, which is separated into three tiers: Broadband ADSL (up to 17Mbps), Superfast Fibre Broadband (up to 38Mbps) and Superfast Fibre+ Broadband (up to 76Mbps). The provider is relying on BT’s Openreach infrastructure to do the heavy lifting, as well as the Cable & Wireless backbone it acquired in 2012.
There’s plenty of competition in the home broadband space at the moment, but Vodafone is hoping to stand out with its “Connect” router and mobile app. The pair offer parental controls such as “Boost,” which prioritizes a specific device for up to 2 hours, “Family Time” for limiting children’s usage, and “Guest WiFi” for when you have people over. None of these features are earth-shattering, but it’s an important move for Vodafone — to compete with the likes of Sky, BT and Virgin, it’s slowly becoming a quad-play provider too.
[Image Credit: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under:
Internet
Source:
Vodafone
Tags: adsl, broadband, connect, fibre, homebroadband, vodafone
7 solar-powered buildings that produce more energy than they use
By Cat DiStasio
As the cost of solar energy falls, more and more buildings are being outfitted with photovoltaic systems — and some even generate more electricity than they use. Structures like that are called “energy positive” and it’s a pretty impressive feat. If your home or business can produce more power than it needs, it can actually turn a profit, since local utility companies can buy that excess electricity from you and feed it into the grid for others to use. We’ve rounded up some of the most incredible energy-positive buildings from around the world — read on for a closer look.Slideshow-312036
Filed under:
Misc
Tags: architecture, building, buildings, energypositive, inhabitat, partner, solar-powered, solarpowered, syndicated
The new Note is coming, but is it still special?
Look at the current smartphone industry trend and you’ll see that smartphones have progressed towards bigger, more vibrant displays. But this wasn’t always the case.
No more than four years ago, the concept of a large-screen phone was unheard of and most smartphone displays measured around 3.5 to 4.0 inches, with the latter considered larger than most people needed. However, at the end of October that year, Samsung unveiled its first Galaxy Note and in doing so, it not only created an entirely new product range but also shaped the industry for years to come.
With Samsung set to launch its new Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus smartphones tomorrow, we’re asking – the new Note is coming, but is it still special? Before we look at the new Note, let’s look at what made the Note so special in the past.
A big-screen era
Nexus 6 vs Galaxy Note 4 – two BIG screen devices
I can still remember the first Galaxy Note and the general reaction that it was far too big, it would never sell, and big-screen devices would never become the norm. Oh, how hindsight is a wonderful thing.
The truth is that once the Galaxy Note 2 was announced the following year and sold in the millions, Samsung’s rivals realised that big-screen devices were the way to go. As with most ‘trends’ in this industry, it usually takes one company to push the boundaries, and once Samsung experienced some success with its Note range, its rivals turned their attention towards developing rival products.
Until a couple of years ago when every manufacturer began delivering big-screen devices, the Galaxy Note range was the default device customers turned to when looking for a handset that bridged the gap between smartphone and tablet. Even though manufacturers have developed big-screen devices, Samsung still has one key item in its arsenal that other manufacturers have been unable to contend with: Samsung Display.
The Galaxy Note display has always been a Super AMOLED panel, and while other manufacturers have managed to offer similar resolution to the Note, the display on the Note range has always offered better vibrancy and colours (at least in my opinion). In a big-screen era, where manufacturers offer the same displays (on paper), it can often come down to the quality of the display and this is something that Samsung has never failed to deliver in the Galaxy Note.
The S Pen
The Galaxy Note was iconic not just because it introduced a big screen era, but also due to the S Pen; styli are certainly not new and are a throwback to PDA devices of the past, but the S Pen on the Galaxy Note arguably made styli cool again.
Some manufacturers do offer a stylus for their devices and there are thousands of third-party after-market styli that you can purchase. But the S Pen is more than just a stylus as Samsung has incorporated a range of features into its Note handsets to make the most of the S Pen.
The S Pen is also unique as it is housed in the handset itself, meaning you don’t need to remember to carry it with you. As a Galaxy Note user since the first generation, I’ve found the S Pen to be somewhat useful, but the fact it is always with my phone has made it a lot more useful than if I had to carry it separately.
With each generation of Galaxy Note, the S-Pen was improved with additional features and better responsiveness and in the Galaxy Note 4, the S Pen was the best its ever been. Touch responsiveness and handwriting recognition were almost as good as if using a normal pen and the S Pen is the first “accessory” to replicate the experience of writing on a piece of paper but on a touchscreen handset.
TouchWiz features
The “revamped TouchWiz” we all forgot was a real, beautiful concept
The Galaxy Note range stood out not just for the S Pen but also for other features that Samsung had built into its TouchWiz interface to make the most of the much larger display. Many manufacturers have developed large devices, but very few have optimised the interface to make the handset a lot easier to use, especially for people who have come from smaller smartphones.
For Samsung, the answer to making the most of big screen devices like the Galaxy Note is two-fold; one-handed mode shrinks the entire OS to fit into a section of the display to make it easy to use with one hand; meanwhile, Multi Window lets you arrange two apps side-by-side to make full use of the large display.
Multi Window especially is a feature that other manufacturers have tried their hardest to offer similar versions of, and while some have come close, the Galaxy Note Multi Window works best when used with the S Pen. Just like with Windows PCs, the dual screen arrangement is easy to use, and at least with the Note 4, it came with the ability to easily share content between windows, resize the windows, and shrink them to pop up windows that overlay anything else on the device.
With past Galaxy Note devices, the handset was made for power users and the ability to run two apps side by side certainly increased the appeal of the handset. While Samsung’s TouchWiz interface and icons don’t appeal to everyone, the specifically designed features on the Galaxy Note were made to make the most of the large display and its something that Samsung’s rivals are yet to replicate as well.
Is the Note still special?
That’s what made the Galaxy Note range so special, but what about this year’s handset? Tomorrow, Samsung is taking to the stage in New York (and a special event in London) to unveil its new devices, and with all the leaks and rumours, it’s pretty certain we’ll see two new devices – the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.
Samsung’s past Galaxy Note devices were also iconic, as they usually came with large batteries and for the times when this wasn’t enough, you could easily swap the battery out. This year’s devices won’t have either, with the battery expected to be smaller than the Galaxy Note 4 and non-removable as well.
The key problem for Samsung this year is how to differentiate the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus from the competition. We’ll talk about the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus below but aside from the metal and glass design of the Galaxy S6 which should make its way to the Galaxy Note 5, there’s very little to set the handset apart from the competition.
Yes, Samsung’s Super AMOLED display is without doubt, one of the best on the market, but the problem for Samsung is that, with these devices set to cost more than ever before, the display may not yet be enough to persuade customers to buy the handset. The Galaxy Note has always been a special device, but a high price tag in the face of massive competition may mean it has lost its extra appeal.
The S Pen is and will always be an interesting addition to a smartphone, but the lack of removable battery – coupled with fears of the battery life thanks to the battery life reported on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge – means Samsung’s Galaxy Note may not command the aplomb in the marketplace that past generations have.
Is the S Pen, a stylish design, and an excellent display enough to justify the lack of removable battery and the high price tag, especially with so many other devices that offer the same size and resolution at a lower cost? As much as I would like to say it is, I have a feeling that the new Galaxy Note 5 won’t have the appeal of past devices and if this is the case, Samsung has a real problem.
Is the Edge Samsung’s secret weapon?
Last year saw the introduction of the Galaxy Note Edge, which had all the Galaxy Note 4 features but added a curved display on one side. Without doubt, the Note Edge had its faults, and the dual curved edge on the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus should right the biggest of these, but it has one big issue.
The key difference between the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is expected to be the lack of S Pen on the latter, and, although it gains a dual-curved edge, it drops the feature which set the Note range apart from the competition. The lack of S Pen makes the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus nothing more than a larger Galaxy S6 Edge and while this will certainly appeal to some users, an S Pen would have given the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus market appeal unlike any other device.
Of course, Samsung is likely to announce several other features (most likely software-based) of the handsets during its launch tomorrow and we’ll come back and update this piece accordingly but what do you think? Is the Note range still special or has it lost its appeal? What would you buy instead? Let us know in the comments below guys!
Leak: New details emerge on upcoming Nexus devices from LG and Huawei
It’s never too early for Nexus leaks, am I right? While we’ve seen the odd leak in recent times showing off possible specifications and rear panels, today we have not one, but two leaks about both the Nexus handsets that are allegedly being developed by LG and Huawei.
According to serial leaker @OnLeaks, the Nexus handset being developed by LG will likely sport a metal body as well as the following specifications:
- 5.2-Inch display
- Front-facing speakers
- Fingerprint sensor on the rear
- USB Type-C
- Dimensions: 146.9 x 72.9 x 8/9.8mm
The Huawei developed Nexus will apparently also have a metal body, along with the following specifications:
- 5.7-Inch display
- Front-facing speakers
- Fingerprint sensor on the rear
- USB Type-C
- Dimensions: 159.4 x 78.3 x 6.6/8.5mm
As you can see, both handsets feature a fingerprint sensor on the rear panel, front-facing speakers and USB Type-C. It’s likely that this interpretation of the USB Type-C standard will include both USB 3.1 data transfer and quick charging, unlike the stripped down version that is present in the OnePlus 2.
Besides today’s leaks, it’s rumoured that the Huawei Nexus could be the first smartphone to offer global LTE support. It’s also rumoured to use the Snapdragon 810 processor (not the 820) while the LG Nexus could use the Snapdragon 808.
While it’s interesting to see what LG and Huawei are planning with their respective Nexus handsets, it should be noted that anything can change in the coming months, thus the proverbial pinch of salt should be taken with today’s leaks. What would you like to see in the next Nexus device(s)? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: @OnLeaks (Twitter) LG, Huawei
Come comment on this article: Leak: New details emerge on upcoming Nexus devices from LG and Huawei
New study predicts the rise of music streaming services
Juniper Research recently completed a new study that projects revenues from ad-based music streaming services will exceed $1 billion by 2017. According to researcher Joe Crabtree, “With convenience, accessibility and curation having become the defining elements of the music landscape, the potential of the streaming industry will revolve around the levels of which providers can convert free customers to paying customers.”
Juniper noted in the study that many platforms are moving away from a “freemium” model and instead are using feature-restricted services as a way to entice consumers to upgrade to paid subscriptions. Despite these changes to the use of the freemium model, the growth of users migrating to streaming services will drive revenue growth.
Juniper Research also found that the music industry will need to adjust to this new streaming service landscape as downloaded music starts to decline in popularity. Juniper noted that in 2014 digital downloads of music decline for the first time. That trend is expected to continue and by 2018 subscription streaming service revenues are expected to exceed revenues from downloaded music.
For streaming service platforms, Juniper says a key to success will be differentiation in how they present music discovery to end users.
source: Juniper Research
Come comment on this article: New study predicts the rise of music streaming services
Qualcomm launches new graphic processors for high-end platforms
Qualcomm announced today that they are launching their new Adreno 5xx line of graphic processing units which will raise the bar for high-definition graphics matched with low power consumption. The first two processors in the line include the Adreno 530 and the Adreno 510. The 530 will be mated with the forthcoming Snapdragon 820 processor while the 510 will be found on Snapdragon 620 and 618 chips. Along with the upgrade to their Adreno line of GPUs, Qualcomm is also upgrading the image signal processing unit to a new 14-bit Qualcomm Spectra solution that they claim will support DSLR-quality photography.
Qualcomm’s Tim Leland, vice president for product management, says:
“We’re significantly enhancing the visual processing capabilities of Snapdragon to support next-generation user experiences related to computational photography, computer vision, virtual reality and photo-realistic graphics on mobile devices, all while maximizing battery life. Qualcomm Spectra ISP, together with our Adreno 5xx-class GPU, brings an entirely new level of imaging to smartphones, and is designed to allow Snapdragon-powered devices to capture ultra-clear, vivid photos and videos regardless of motion and lighting conditions and display them with the color accuracy that nature intended. In addition, as emerging growth segments such as automotive demand more immersive visual experiences, Snapdragon 820 will enable the next generation of infotainment, computer vision and advanced processing for instrument clusters.”
Qualcomm says the new Adreno 530 offers 40 percent lower power consumption and 40 percent faster performance compared to the current Adreno 430. Along with OpenGL ES 3.1+AEP and Renderscript support, Qualcomm’s 530 will also support OpenCL 2.0 and Vulkan standards.
The new Spectra ISP will support up to 3 simultaneous cameras and up to 25MP sensors at 30 frames per second with zero shutter lag along with other improvements to processing speed and power consumption.
Qualcomm says the first devices usings the Snapdragon 820 equipped with the Adreno 530 GPU and Spectra ISP should be available in the first half of 2016.
source: Qualcomm(PR)
Come comment on this article: Qualcomm launches new graphic processors for high-end platforms
New Hampshire judge makes ‘ballot selfies’ legal again
Voters in New Hampshire are once again free to take “ballot selfies” after a judge struck down one of the silliest laws ever enacted. Yes, folks actually take pictures of their ballots and share them on Facebook. But if you’re proud of who you voted for or just the act of voting, what’s the harm? That’s not how legislators in New Hampshire see it at all, though. They figure that such people are surely selling their votes and using the photo as proof of the deed. To back it up, the state enacted a bill banning ballot photos last September, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.
When the state attorney tried to enforce the bill, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stepped in. They brought a case on behalf of three people under investigation for taking ballot photos, including one who said he wrote in a vote for his (dead) dog because he hated all the candidates. Representative Timothy Horrigon wasn’t amused, saying “the new high-tech methods of showing a ballot absolutely could be used to further a serious vote-buying scheme.” During proceedings, however, state lawyers admitted that vote-buying isn’t exactly rampant — in fact, there are no known cases of it.
Judge Paul Barbadoro struck down the bill, saying “the law at issue is a content-based restriction on speech that deprives voters of one of their most powerful means of letting the world know how they voted.” He also mocked the absurdity of posting an illegal act on Facebook. “‘I’m a proud seller of my vote! I just sold my vote for $25!’ At some level, you have to use common sense,” he said.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under:
Cameras
Via:
Boston.com
Source:
Times Union
Tags: ballot, ballot selfies, ban, newhampshire, selfies, voting
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