Verizon aiming to price you out of your grandfathered unlimited data plan with a $20 price increase
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Unlimited data use on cell carriers is tricky business these days. Verizon and AT&T still have a lot of stragglers on the old grandfathered unlimited plans. While they all have their own way of handling the massive usage of some customers, it usually always boils down to throttling at a certain limit. Those living in highly populated areas that consume a lot of data are usually the ones that feel the effect the most. Rather than force a plan change for a new phone or special promo, it looks like Verizon is taking another route for the unlimited customer base that still exists, simply charge them more per month.
Verizon plans to raise the monthly line cost an additional $20 per month for those who are still sporting an unlimited plan. According to The Verge, the change will only hit those who are currently out of contract. Droid-Life is reporting that the hit to out-of-contract customers will start as early as November 15th. Customers under contract are safe, for now, but when your contract ends you will be subject to the same price increase.
The upside to the news is that Verizon will, once the change takes effect, all you to buy devices on the Verizon Edge program and keep the unlimited data. Where as currently you had to buy your device outright.
The question that some might have to answer is whether or not the increase is worth keeping your unlimited data and pay the extra monthly to do so. For many it won’t phase them a bit. For others, it will be the straw that breaks the camels back to either migrate to one of Verizon’s simplified data plans or switch carriers entirely. What will you do when the time comes?
Source: The Verge | Droid-Life
The post Verizon aiming to price you out of your grandfathered unlimited data plan with a $20 price increase appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Deal: Power A Moga Pro Power controller for just $32
Power A is one of the better-known players when it comes to Android-compatible gamepads, and with good reason. Back in 2013 we reviewed the Power A Moga Pro Power and liked what we saw. Now that the price has dropped down to just $31 on Amazon, we recommend it more than ever.
At sub-$35, the Pro Power is a heck of a controller and should be fully compatible with just about every Android device on the market today, with its built-in holder, capable of extending to 3.7-inches, making it possible to use the controller even with phablet-sized devices.
See also: Moga Pro Power and Hero Power review: Bluetooth controllers with a twist
The Pro Power looks a lot like an Xbox 360 controller, and that’s certainly not a bad thing. That said, it is a bit weighty at 251 grams, and combined with your phone, it will have a good deal of heft. One of the reasons for this extra weight is the 2300 mAh battery that not only can keep the controller charged for a long time, but also can be used to charge up your phone while your play on it.
Are their better, newer controllers on the market? Sure, but it’s hard to beat this one at this price, especially if you are a fan of emulators or ports that simply work better with physical buttons (like many of Rockstar’s games). What do you think, this worth the buy at this price point? If not, what controllers would you recommend over it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
SwiftKey’s new Neural keyboard will offer better word predictions thanks to neural network technology
Back in April the SwiftKey team announced its new Greenhouse initiative that would act as a platform for which to debut experimental projects to the public. Among the first applications to come from the Greenhouse were a new Clarity keyboard which aimed to eliminate as many distractions as possible, as well as a smart hexagonal launcher for your home screen called Hexy Launcher.
Today we’re getting a first look at the next project to come from the Greenhouse, and it’s pretty awesome. SwiftKey’s new Neural keyboard is quite similar to the standard SwiftKey keyboard, but with a big twist. The software that powers SwiftKey Neural’s text prediction actually uses artificial neural networks to predict what it thinks you’ll want to type next. It does so by not only understanding more complex word relationships, but also analyzing longer sentence context.
Take a look at the comparison below to get a better look:
Because this new neural network model looks at entire sentences rather than only two or three words at a time, the keyboard will be able to better predict what it thinks you’re planning on saying. So with the current ‘n-gram’ model as laid out in the image above, the keyboard predicts that the next word you might say will be ‘look’, based solely on the two words ‘take a’ at the end of the sentence fragment. But with the neural network model, the keyboard will predict words based on the entire sentence.
See also: 15 best keyboard for Android apps
SwiftKey Neural is currently in the alpha stage, and we imagine it will stay in that form for quite some time. Of course there’s still a lot of work to do with this new text prediction technology, but so far after a few minutes of testing, it’s working really well so far. If you’re interested in giving it a shot, head to the Play Store link below for the download.
SwiftKey’s latest keyboard is powered by a neural network
A new SwiftKey keyboard hopes to serve you better typing suggestions by utilizing a miniaturized neural network. SwiftKey Neural does away with the company’s tried-and-tested prediction engine in favor of a method that mimics the way the brain processes information. It’s a model that’s typically deployed on a grand scale for things like spam and phishing prevention in Gmail or image recognition, but very recent advancements have seen neural networks creep into phones through Google Translate, which uses one for offline text recognition. According to SwiftKey, this is the first time it’s been used on a phone keyboard.
To grasp how the new system works, we need to understand the old one. SwiftKey currently uses a probability-based language algorithm based on the n-gram model for predictions. There are some additional layers of learning on top of it, which is part of what makes SwiftKey so popular, but the basic implementation reads the last two words in a sentence, looks through a large database, and spits out what it deduces is the most likely word to follow. The two-word limit is a constraint of the n-gram model, and seriously hampers predictions. (Reading back three or four words would be very hard to implement with n-gram, as it would require a far larger database which would in turn be harder for the app to search).
The neural model approaches predictions from a different angle. SwiftKey trained the network with millions of sample sentences, and now each word is represented by a piece of code. This allows the app to better understand sentences in a number of ways. Words that can be used in the same way share similar code. As you’d expect, “Meet” is marked as similar to synonymous words like “met” and “connect.” Less obvious is the link with “speak” or “chat,” which mean something completely different but linguistically will slide into many of the same places. The same goes for days of the week, months, or any other word or concept really — one word can share similar code with thousands of others.
Because the model looks at entire sentences, it’s able to sequence together words as code to find more accurate suggestions. Going back to the “meet” example, let’s take a look at the sentence fragment “Meet you at the.” Using n-gram, SwiftKey typically looked at “at the,” and served you three suggestions: “moment,” “end” and “same.” Using the neural model, it looks as the sentence as a whole and services you “airport,” “hotel” and “office.”
SwiftKey Neural is Android-only and still in alpha, for now. It’s part of the company’s Greenhouse program, which it uses as a launchpad for new ideas that may find their way into the regular app. It’s well worth checking out, but there are, as you’d expect, a few caveats to being on the cutting-edge of keyboard technology.
One of the things that draws users to SwiftKey is its ability to learn your typing style. The regular app can (if you allow it to) scan your emails and social networks for clues, and then monitor your usage of the keyboard itself to improve suggestions. It does this by editing or adding to the language database that the n-gram model uses. Because Neural taps into a different type of database, this personalization isn’t available in the alpha. That doesn’t mean it won’t ever be there — neural networks are a type of machine learning, after all — but for now, it’s not on the to-do list.
“The sooner you can get an idea out of the lab and into the public, the quicker you get feedback and the more useful it becomes,” Joe Braidwood, Chief Marketing Officer at SwiftKey, told Engadget, explaining the reasoning for releasing Neural as a separate app. There’s also the question of resources. Neural is a relatively small 25MB download, but it requires more power than the current SwiftKey, using your phone’s GPU to run the math. Braidwood says it runs with “no perceivable lag” on even modestly-specced smartphones, but there’s likely more optimization to be done before this is ready to replace the regular app.
Caveats aside, SwiftKey’s achievement here is impressive. As mentioned, neural networks are more typically found in giant server farms than on your smartphone, but with two apps released in just a few months, small-scale, focused applications of the tech seem to now be feasible. “We’re pretty sure that the future of mobile typing is going to use neural networks,” Braidwood explained. “Language is such a human thing that if you can build things that think more like humans than computers you’re inevitably going to make a more useful keyboard.”
Source: Google Play
Verizon increases the price of unlimited data plans by $20 a month
If you’re still on a grandfathered unlimited data plan with Verizon, your bill is about to go up. On November 15th, the carrier confirmed to Engadget that it’ll increase rates for those customers by $20 a month. The company says that less than one percent of its customers fall into the category of still having the old unlimited plan and aren’t currently under contract. Verizon also says that any user currently under contract with unlimited data will not see the price hike until their agreement is up for renewal. This follows Sprint’s recent announcement about an upcoming rate increase. Of course, new customers aren’t privy to an unlimited plan on Verizon, as Sprint and T-Mobile are your only two options for that at $70 and $80 per month, respectively. As you might expect, the red-hued carrier is quick to remind that if you don’t need all of that data, you could save money by opting for a Verizon monthly plan with a data cap under the current pricing scheme (as this editor can attest). And you’re certainly going to see some savings when the new rate kicks in. The company’s full statement on the matter resides after the break.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh]
We continuously evaluate the price of our plans and service, so we’re increasing the price of unlimited data plans by $20 per line per month for customers no longer under contract with Verizon Wireless. At the same time, we’re also offering customers currently on our unlimited data plan the added benefit of purchasing a new phone using our monthly device payment plan, instead of paying full price up-front for the device. This option is available to all unlimited data plan users once their current contract period ends.
These changes will allow Verizon to continue to maintain the highest standards of network performance for all our customers. And it’s worth noting that Verizon does not manage the data connection speeds (often called throttling) for its customers – including those who have kept or plan to keep their unlimited data plans.
Most of our customers (99) are not on unlimited data plans, and for those who are, many could save money by switching to a Verizon Plan, based on their data usage. For the small number of customers still on unlimited data plans, they will see the increase in their first monthly bill after November 15.
Verizon will not increase the price on any lines with an unlimited data plan that is currently in a two-year contract until the customer completes that contract or enters into a new contract. This increase does not affect government or corporate accounts that have unlimited data.
6 technologies that will help humans survive on Mars
By Cat DiStasio
Planet Earth is abuzz with headlines about Mars. First, NASA announced the discovery of flowing water on the red planet. Then The Martian opened to rave reviews. We have so many questions about the mysterious frozen planet. Does liquid water mean there’s life on Mars? Will plants grow there? Can we turn the water into breathable oxygen so Mars could someday become a tourist destination? In order for humans to live there, a few things would have to happen. First off, its climate is inhospitable with an average temperature of minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So, we’d have to find a way to mitigate that or change the climate entirely — which is what Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had in mind with his crazy plan to drop nuclear bombs on the poles. Beyond that, the first settlers would need shelter, food and breathable oxygen. Although nobody knows when a manned Mars expedition will launch, engineers are already working on technologies to address these needs and more. Slideshow-326602
DJI’s slick 4K hand-held gimbal is ready for action
The day has finally come. After our sneak peek at a prototype back in January, DJI’s first hand-held gimbal is finally arriving in its slick true form along with a new name: Osmo. This $649 device is designed to house the Zenmuse 4K range of detachable three-axis stabilized cameras, with the default one being the Zenmuse X3 which packs a 1/2.3-inch Sony Exmor R CMOS with an effective resolution of 12.4 megapixels. Together with the single-hand grip and the metallic phone clamp, the whole package is essentially a wingless Inspire 1 and its controller combined as one. Should you decide to jump on the Micro Four Thirds bandwagon, you can also pop on a Zenmuse X5 at an extra cost. Slideshow-327611 Slideshow-327609
We’ve yet to give our Osmo some proper hands-on time, but so far, we’ve been very pleased with its ergonomic design, and the relatively light weight of 201 grams (battery included) is a nice bonus. It certainly feels significantly better than most other competitors in the current market, though it’ll be interesting to compare this with the Aetho Aeon when it hits the market. On a similar note, the metallic phone clamp feels sturdy and should be able to handle screen sizes of up to around six inches. We also dig the included carrying case, partly because it can trick people into thinking you’re carrying a ukulele.
As with other DJI devices, the setup process is quite straightforward: Just install the DJI Go app, and then launch it after connecting your phone to your Osmo’s WiFi hotspot. That said, the app doesn’t appear to be fully optimized for the Osmo just yet, as we still see a lot of irrelevant features that only apply to drones, plus we’ve been seeing a lot of hiccup while attempting to stream video files from our Osmo. We shall let DJI smooth out these kinks while we dig deeper for our upcoming review. Alternatively, if you have $649 handy, you can simply head over to DJI’s online store and pre-order this cool-looking gimbal.
Designing Surface Pro 4: a chat with a Microsoft hardware lead
At first glance, Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 4 doesn’t look that much different than last year’s Surface Pro 3. But there are a slew of upgrades on the Surface Pro 4, as well as its accessories, that should make for an even better computing experience. It’s screen is slightly bigger, the Type Cover feels a lot more like a traditional laptop keyboard and using the Surface Pen now feels like actually putting pen to paper. At Microsoft’s huge device launch event in New York City earlier this week, we talked with Dave Mitchell, the senior director of program management for the Microsoft Devices Group, who gave us the lowdown on how his team went about improving on the already great Surface Pro 3. Check out the interview below, and be sure to take a look at our hands-on with the Surface Pro 4.
HBO Now is finally on the Roku
After its stint as a 90-day Apple TV exclusive had come and gone, it seemed like HBO Now would never end up on the Roku. But, if you’ve been pining for episodes of Veep on your set-top box of choice, your wait is finally over. Beginning today the app (or Channel as Roku calls them) is available for download on all Roku players and televisions introduced after May 2011. New users can sign up for a account directly within the app and for $14.99 a month can catch up on Game of Thrones, True Detective, Leftovers and The Wire (one of the greatest TV shows ever). New users get a 30-day free trial and current subscribers can just log in with their current account info even if they signed up via the Apple TV.
Source: Roku
Elephone’s P9000 will feature a side fingerprint scanner and razor thin bezels
Elephone has unveiled some new details about their upcoming P9000 smartphone, which we know will be one of the first to use MediaTek’s X20 CPU. Now we have some new information to sort through, including some news about the hardware and software.
The P9000 is expected to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but it’s not completely clear if that’ll be preloaded right away or if it will be a software update soon after launch. The hardware side of things looks extremely compelling, with a zero bezel design that makes for one of the best screen-to-body ratios we’ve ever seen on a smartphone, as you can see in the photos above.
The device is also expected to ship with a side fingerprint scanner, which is a little bit different than the rear-mounted scanners we’re frequently seeing on flagship Android devices. There’s also a USB type C port on board, and the internal hardware is pretty competitive with 4 GB of RAM, a 21 megapixel camera, and a 1080p display.
We’ll keep you updated as we get closer to the actual launch of the Elephone P9000.
source: Elephone
via: GizChina
Come comment on this article: Elephone’s P9000 will feature a side fingerprint scanner and razor thin bezels
AIVAnet 