The company behind Relish wireless broadband makes a big loss
Relish’s dream to connect London homes with wireless broadband, rather than traditional landlines, could be in trouble. UK Broadband, the company behind the service, has reported losses of £37.5 million for 2014 — almost four times what it was the year before. To make matters worse, turnover slipped from roughly £2 million to £1.5 million over the same period. Relish was launched in June 2014 as a simpler, but capable broadband alternative to the likes of BT, Sky and Virgin Media. Instead of copper and fibre cables, the company relies on 4G connections to deliver the internet to its customers. The advantages are plentiful — you don’t need to pay for a landline, and because Relish’s network is already up and running, you don’t need an engineer to install anything. Once you’ve signed up, a router is sent round within the next working day and you can instantly get online. The concept is similar to the mobile broadband packages offered by EE, Three and other UK carriers, although here there are no restrictive data allowances. So what’s gone wrong?
Well, it should be noted that the figures filed by UK Broadband aren’t just for Relish. The company also offers consultancy services and the “provision of wireless solutions,” including design and the supplying of equipment, for instance. Even so, it’s evident that Relish hasn’t been a runaway success. At least, not in the six months following its launch, anyway. The company has been pushing its offering with ads on the Tube, but Relish still doesn’t feel like a household name. There’s also something of a stigma attached to wireless broadband at the moment. Adopters often tell stories of slow or unreliable connections, similar to those experienced on their phone. Relish promises “up to 50Mbps” speeds, but that’s also dependent on you being inside their catchment area. The company is focused solely on London, but its network doesn’t cover every household — to find out if you’re eligible, you’ll need to submit your postcode into its coverage checker first.
Home broadband is still a messy quagmire in the UK, but traditional ISPs are pushing hard to improve speeds and coverage. Relish is an intriguing competitor, and could appeal to Londoners who move a lot and just want a decent, easy to cancel broadband package. Early demand appears to have been low though. Relish hasn’t failed just yet — business could have picked up in 2015 — but this is a worrying sign from the company.
Via: ISPreview, The Telegraph
Source: Companies House
YouTube trains its thumbnailer to generate better images
Since a YouTube video’s thumbnail could convince or deter viewers from hitting play, we’re sure a lot of creators would love the website’s new and improved automatic thumbnailer. According to the Google Research Blog’s announcement post, the website analyzes videos you upload at one frame per second and scores each frame based on their quality. The generator will then display images that scored high enough during analysis. But, how exactly does YouTube’s algorithm know how to score images? Apparently, by training it to recognize between good and bad photos.
YouTube’s developers fed its deep neural network with examples: they used typically well-constructed custom thumbnails uploaded by creators to represent good/high-quality ones, while the bad/low-quality samples were just random screen captures. Based on the comparison images the YT team posted, the upgraded algorithm successfully learned from the process and can pinpoint HQ photos. Thankfully, the generator’s now live, so you can try it out for yourself and see if that’s really the case.
Source: Google Research
ComEd wants to put a million smart thermostats in Illinois homes
ComEd, the largest power provider in Illinois, wants to give its customers a hand in switching over to smart thermostats like those from Nest and Ecobee. The idea is to get a million of them installed within the next five years, according to The Washington Post. The utilities company is offering $120 rebates to its customers who buy the gizmos and the Environmental Protection Agency tells WaPo that it’s the “largest effort of its kind” in the country. ComEd likens the push to switch to the connected thermostats to the not-that-long-ago transition to compact fluorescent bulbs in terms of energy savings. Should the program be a success, it could drop total carbon dioxide emissions in the state by 709,000 metric tons and save folks up to $131 per year on their gas and electricity bills.
Source: The Washington Post
DoubleTwist’s CloudPlayer can stream to Android Wear and Auto
DoubleTwist’s CloudPlayer can already pull and stream media from Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive accounts, but now it works on AllPlay speakers, Android smartwatches and Auto. Yep, you’ll be able to stream your tunes in your car, on your wrist and in your home or office… depending on where you store your non-smartphone Android hardware. With AllPlay support it also means you can now use CloudPlayer on Chromecast Audio, Apple TV or an AllPlay speaker. These are all great reasons to give doubleTwist’s media player a shot — unless you’re already busy with one of the (many) other options available.
Source: doubleTwist
Get this Bluetooth adapter with Google Now integration
A few months ago I had the opportunity to review a Bluetooth car adapter and I left the review thinking that it was the best thing since sliced cheese. Mostly in part, because my 2011 Honda Odyssey did not come with Bluetooth from the factory. The iClever Himbox Bluetooth adapter has given me a new frame of reference and has made me reconsider my initial rating.
iClever Himbox Bluetooth adapter overview
The iClever Himbox Bluetooth car adapter is a versatile adapter that adds Bluetooth to your vehicle or any other device with an auxiliary audio input. While it is geared towards being an adapter for your vehicle, there are clever little features that make it compatible with other devices as well. The first feature is that the power adapter for the Himbox is USB based. If you so desired, you could detach the USB cable from the vehicle power adapter and plug it into another USB power source. This will allow you to take the adapter out of the car and into your office or home.
One added bonus is the magnetic control unit. There is a metal base that sticks to your dash so that you can easily attach the magnetic control unit, but if you were to connect it to a home receiver unit you could stick it to the metal sides of the receiver or anything else that’s metal.
There is also, of course, a male auxiliary cable that will plug into a female 3.5mm jack. This is how your music will be output to whatever system that you are interfacing with.
The control unit features 3 lighted buttons. Forward, reverse, and the main control unit, which also happens to be the star of the show. A simple press of the button will answer a call, hang up a call, and pause or play your music, but if you hold the button down for a few seconds then something magical will happen that I will explain in a moment.
iClever Himbox Bluetooth adapter setup
The steps to get your iClever Himbox BT receiver connected to your vehicle are fairly simple.
- Connect the USB cable to the included power adapter
- Plug the power adapter into the vehicle’s accessory power port
- Peel the paper cover off of the adhesive tape attached to the metal base plate
- Affix the metal base plate in the desired area or your dash
- Attach the magnetic control unit to the metal base plate
- Connect the 3.5mm auxiliary cable to the vehicle’s auxiliary port
- Turn the vehicle on and select the audio source to auxiliary
- From your phone search for Bluetooth devices and select HB01 Plus
- Follow any prompts on your phone
Now you are connected and ready to go.
iClever Himbox Bluetooth adapter usage
Now to the part that you actually wanted to read, Android Auto functionality. I should clarify something. There is no screen unless you have your phone mounted to the dash or windshield somewhere. Even then, the screen will not show the Android Auto interface. Having said that, you can use all the voice commands available within Android Auto as long as you have Google Now installed on your device.
When you hold the control button down for a few seconds, Google Now will initiate. Once you hear the Google beep, you can issue it any command from Play music to navigate me to the nearest Wally World. You can also compose and send SMS messages. About the only thing you can’t do is listen to received SMS messages. I found that this was my favorite feature of the iClever Himbox BT adapter.
Not to be outshined by voice commands, the Himbox sound quality really is superb. In part, this is due to the Bluetooth 4.0 and the Apt-X codec support. The high notes sound amazingly clear and the lower base notes were able to play with no distortion. There was also little to none latency issues. The music streamed at the same time it played on my phone.
It’s not all rainbows and unicorns, though. When there is no music playing or active call, the speakers would emit a whine that would increase and decrease with the engine’s RPMs. Also, the buttons used to skip the song would sometimes produce delayed results, but it’s possible that it could have been my phone. My LG Tone headphones will sometimes do the same thing. I can’t be sure.
What we liked
- Audio quality
- Google Now integration
- Flexibility
What could be better
- Button backlights could be brighter
- Engine whine was annoying
- Button delay
iClever Himbox Bluetooth adapter summary
If you don’t already have Bluetooth in your car, or you just want to add Google Now functionality, this is a great device. Who am I kidding? It’s a great device if you want to add Bluetooth audio to anything. You can even add it to your parents old 1970’s receiver unit with a 3.5mm to RCA jack adapter and a USB wall outlet.
If you’re interested, you purchase the iClever Himbox Bluetooth adapter for a limited time at $29.99 with free shipping for Amazon Prime customers. The regular price is $69.99.
What do you think? Are you considering this for your vehicle?
The post Get this Bluetooth adapter with Google Now integration appeared first on AndroidGuys.
OPPO R7s to be unveiled on October 18th: bigger battery, larger screen and more
OPPO is working hard to move up in the world of tech, and its latest devices truly show it. The OPPO R7, R7 Plus, R7 Lite and Mirror 5 are all great choices, but the family is welcoming a new member come October 18th.
The manufacturer has revealed a new handset is to be unveiled at Dubai’s GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) come next Sunday. It is said to go under the OPPO R7s moniker and will improve upon current devices by featuring “a bigger display, a larger screen and double the storage space of the R7”. All of this while keeping the same awesome metal build and camera.
Not much else of the device is revealed, but previous rumors have suggested the phone will come with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, a 13 MP rear camera, an 8 MP front shooter and a whopping 4100 mAh battery. That sounds like quite an amazing smartphone, but keep in mind these specs come from rumors alone. You shouldn’t hold your breath on them.
OPPO is also taking the chance to tell us they will be going all out at this event. There will be advertising on their partnership with FC Barcelona, as well as all their current devices, including the R7s.
What do you guys think? Are any of you interested in a phone like the OPPO R7s? Big screens, large batteries and more storage… doesn’t sound bad at all!
Videos of other awesome OPPO devices
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Apple’s first stores in India open next month
It’s kind of bonkers that Apple doesn’t already have a retail presence in India, a country with some 1.25 billion people, but that’s the world we live in. For a little bit longer anyway. Cupertino’s working to address this by partnering with Tata (yes, them) to put Apple shops inside several Croma stores in the region, according to The Times of India. The current plan is to open by next month’s Diwali festival of lights. The Times also reports that because Apple hasn’t set up shop on its own because it’s been unable meet a mandatory ruling regarding “local-sourcing norms” for a foreign investment in retail.
Allying with Croma sidesteps that; Apple devices are available through other means in the country, but apparently something akin to a traditional Apple store doesn’t exist. To that end, decor and employee training will come from the tech giant itself, much like domestic locations do. Why’s this all so important? Well, many in tech (including Xiaomi) feel the country’s the next big thing in terms of expansion.
[Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Via: Apple Insider
Source: The Times of India
Huawei’s now rolling out the Android 5.1.1 update for the P7
After months of broken promises, Huawei has at last started rolling out the long-awaited Lollipop update to all International variants of its former flagship smartphone of 2014, the P7. In addition to transporting the latest build of the open-source operating system to the handset, this upgrade also brings a much-needed patch for the super-scary Stagefright vulnerability.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
- OS Upgrade – Lollipop 5.1.1
- Security Enhancements
- Improved User Interface
- Stability Improvements
- Further Improvements to Performance
- Enhanced Features
As usual, the upgrade is being rolled out in stages, but if you don’t feel like waiting for a notification confirming that it’s ready for your device to hit your unit, you could always search for the update manually. To do so, follow the steps below:
- Open the “Settings” app
- Tap on “About Device”
- Hit “System Updates”
- Select “Check for updates”
Come comment on this article: Huawei’s now rolling out the Android 5.1.1 update for the P7
Need fog for your Halloween party? Get this exclusive deal on the 1byone mini fog machine
Halloween is just around the corner. If you’re the type who loves to have people over and pass candy out to kids, or the type who loves to throw parties for adults, we have just the deal to make your party pop. 1byone has given us a discount code just for you readers on their 400-watt mini fog machine sold through Amazon.com.
The discount code is 92MYNZQX which will drop the price from $35.00 to $26.99 leaving you with a little extra money to buy candy for the kids next door. If you’re interested in purchasing this cool party accessory, make sure to pick up a bottle of fog fluid which is on the same Amazon.com page.
In order to take advantage of the deal, you need to purchase the fog machine from 1byone “FULFILLMENT BY AMAZON” and enter the discount code at check out.
Click this link and then click “Add to cart” with the 1byone label next to it. Once it is in your cart you can take advantage of the deal and spook your friends with your fog. This deal runs from now until midnight on 10/31/2015.
1byone O00QL-0041 Mini Fog Machine 400-Watt with Wired Remote Control
- Power Consumption: 400W, Power Sources: input AC 120V 60Hz, Fog Output: 2000CFM(cubic ft. of fog per minute), Outline Size: 250 x 191.5 x 114 mm(9.84 x 7.54 x 4.49 in)Warm Up Time: 4-5 Minutes. Comes with a 6.5 ft.(2M) wired remote.
- Output Distance: 8.2ft(2.5M) Outline Size: 250 x 191.5 x 114mm(9.84 x 7.54 x 4.49 in), Fuse: 5A, 125V.Tank Capacity: 300ml(0.079 gal),uses only water based fog juice.
- Features a hose drain for indoor use. Weighs in at 4.7 pound, so it’s easy to transport to your gigs. CE and RoHS complaint, ABS environmental protection materials, more safe metal wire.
- Creates enough thick fog to fill a room about two garage sizes, doesn’t require any fans to disperse thick fog. Delivers multiple fog density outputs. It is normal if there is condensation on the nozzle of the Fog Machine.
- If you want a fog machine that works with a remote control to give trick or theaters an extra scare, you can purchase our O00QL-0440 Wireless Remote Controllers Or the time when you want it to works, please purchase our O00QT-0388 timer remote control.
Click this link to purchase and click where it says “sold by 1byone, FULFILLMENT BY AMAZON” in order to take advantage of the deal. Enter 92MYNZQX in the box where it says “promotion code.”
The post Need fog for your Halloween party? Get this exclusive deal on the 1byone mini fog machine appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Pepsi to start selling smartphones and accessories in China
Pepsi has various products and promotions around the world, such as this curiosity I caught last night here in Tokyo.
PepsiCo may have a brand value of $19 billion, though seemingly none of that comes from smartphone sales. That may be about to change, as the world’s 29th most valuable company has just confirmed rumors of a new business plan that will be unveiled on October 20th. The products? Smartphones and accessories.
One of the new offerings, presumably the first to be announced, will be the Pepsi P1 according to a recent leak. The phone will include a 5.5-inch FHD display, a 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of on-board storage, a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front facing camera. It will include a 3000mAh battery, be 7.7mm thick, run on Android 5.1, and retail for just $205.
According to Reuters, Pepsi isn’t actually making the devices. Instead, the beverage giant will license its branding for use on an otherwise “template” piece of hardware from a partner company. “Available in China only, this effort is similar to recent globally licensed Pepsi products which include apparel and accessories,” said a Pepsi spokesperson.
For reference, this is a similar approach to what VAIO Corporation did earlier this year when it launched the VAIO Phone, as well as what Nokia did with its Android tablet.
What do you think? Could Pepsi have some real potential for those specs at that price point, or is the product marred by the corporate beverage branding? Let us know your thoughts below.
AIVAnet 