You’ll soon be able to tweet, call and text for free in Europe
The EU parliament building where the landmark decision was reached
If there’s a guaranteed way to increase your mobile bill, it is using your phone outside of your home country but for customers in Europe, this will soon be a thing of the past. The European Parliament has today formally approved rules that will see mobile roaming charges abolished within the EU by mid-2017 and significantly reduced next summer.
Top phones of 2015:
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From June 15, 2017 EU customers will be able to use their smart device within Europe and pay the same rates as if at home, meaning a customer in the UK can travel to France and use their phone as if they were still in the UK.
Ahead of this major change, roaming costs in Europe will be heavily reduced from April next year as new rules will limit how much carriers can charge on top of domestic costs when travelling abroad. Currently, carriers can charge up to €0.50 per minute on calls but this will be reduced to €0.05 on top of domestic costs. SMS and data also get reduced to €0.02 on top of domestic prices for SMS and €0.05 per MB of data used when roaming.
The ruling also has significant implications for users of streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix as new net neutrality legislation means users across the EU can access content without restrictions. At present, accessing BBC iPlayer while roaming abroad requires a VPN – although the BBC is already blocking access to some VPNs – but once the new rules come into force, you’ll no longer need a VPN to access it anywhere in Europe.
European Commission vice president Andrus Ansip, responsible for the Digital Single Market, said:
“The voice of Europeans has been heard. Today’s vote is the final result of intense efforts to put an end to roaming charges in the European Union and to safeguard the open internet.
“As from mid-June 2017, Europeans will pay the same price to use their mobile devices when travelling in the EU as they do at home. And they will already pay less as from April 2016.
“This is not only about money, this is about bringing down barriers in the Digital Single Market. Today’s achievement is a first step towards a Telecoms Single Market.”
As a user who travels to Europe frequently, it’s safe to say that the new rules will save me a lot of money and it’s great for any user that travels, frequently or infrequently. However, the new roaming rules don’t apply to outside of the EU which means carriers may seek to recoup lost revenue through increase general charges and/or additional roaming costs outside the EU.
What do you think of the new changes and do you travel frequently enough to save significant sums of money? Let us know in the comments below guys!
Motorola Droid Maxx 2 officially announced: everything you need to know
If you happen to be a Verizon customer and have been itching to upgrade to a newer Android device, the day has finally come. After a seemingly endless amount of leaks, rumors and speculation, Motorola has just officially unveiled its newest Verizon-exclusive device, the Droid Maxx 2.
Featuring a big Full HD display, a 21MP rear-facing camera and a big 3630mAh battery that should be able to last all day, the Droid Maxx 2 is turning out to be one heck of a smartphone. So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at the new Droid Maxx 2.
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Motorola Droid Maxx 2 design
The Droid Maxx 2 features a design that’s quite similar to the newly-announced Droid Turbo 2 and the Moto X Play. It has what looks to be a grippy plastic back plate, which you’ll be able to swap out with five different colors if you’d like.
Unlike the Moto X Style (Pure Edition), Moto X Play or Droid Turbo 2, you won’t be able to customize the Maxx 2 through Moto Maker. This is unfortunate, considering the praise everyone has given the Moto Maker program over the years. Still, though, if you aren’t satisfied with the standard colors, you’ll at least be able to swap out the back plates if you choose.
Motorola Droid Maxx 2 specs and features
| Motorola Droid Maxx 2 | |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.5-inch display 1920 x 1080 resolution, 403ppi Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Processor | 1.7GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 |
| GPU | Adreno 405 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB |
| MicroSD | Up to 128GB |
| Networks | GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, 4G LTE |
| Connectivity | XT1565: VZW GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) CDMA (850, 1900 MHz) 4G LTE (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 20) |
| SIM card | Nano SIM |
| Water repellent | Yes |
| Camera | 21MP rear camera, f/2.0 aperture 5MP front camera |
| Battery | Non-removable 3630mAh |
| Software | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow coming eventually |
| Colors | Black with Deep Sea Blue Back White with Winter White Back Interchangeable back plates also available |
| Dimensions | 148 x 75 x 8.9-10.9mm 169g |
When it comes to the new Droid devices announced today, the Turbo 2 is definitely the flagship device here, while the Maxx 2 aims to offer similar specs and features for a lower price point. It comes with a big 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Even though the Maxx 2 only comes with a Full HD panel, we’d say that will be A-OK for some users, as the lower screen resolution will definitely help out in the battery department.
The Maxx 2 comes with a non-removable 3630mAh battery, which Motorola says will give users up to 48 hours of use on a single charge. It also comes with Motorola’s TurboPower charging technology that can give the phone 8 hours of use in just 15 minutes on the charger.
The device also comes with a 21MP rear-facing camera that can be activated by doing a simple wrist twist gesture, similar to what we’ve seen on the Moto X line. It also features a microSD card slot with support for up to 128GB of extra memory.
Motorola Droid Maxx 2 pricing and availability
The Motorola Droid Maxx 2 will be available in all Verizon retail locations and online at Verizon.com this Thursday, October 29th for $16 per month. If you’d like to purchase the device without a contract, the Droid Maxx 2 will cost you $384. Verizon will also let you trade in your current smartphone for up to $300 off the price of one of these new Droids. The carrier is also accepting phones with cracked screens for this limited-time promotion.
We’re still finding out all of the details about the Droid Maxx 2, so we’ll be sure to update this post as we learn more.
…Developing…
Verizon and Motorola launch the new DROID Turbo 2 in NYC
Verizon and Motorola teamed up for a Droid launch event in New York City today. Although two new devices are being launched, the overwhelming focus of the event was on the DROID Turbo 2 and the biggest news related to that device is the new Moto ShatterShield technology. With ShatterShield, Motorola says broken and shattered screens will be a thing of the past for smartphone owners. Rick Osterloh with Motorola noted that the company, in conjunction with Verizon, set out to solve the “real consumer problems” of devices simply being too fragile for the world we all live in.
The new ShatterShield screen is actually made up of five layers designed to absorb shock and help the device survive drops. Motorola says they will warranty the screen against cracks or shattering for up to four years. Fans of AMOLED screens will be glad to know that an AMOLED display is part of those five layers, which many will see as an upgrade to the device compared to Motorola’s own line of Moto X smartphones.
Similar to other Moto devices, the DROID Turbo 2 will be customizable through Motorola’s Moto Maker web site and for those who get the 64GB version, buyers can take advantage of a design refresh to “do over” their choice once within two years of purchace. The device also benefits from Motorola’s turbo charging technology for fast charges, like 13 hours worth of charge in only 15 minutes of charging, and long battery life, which is claimed to be 48 hours thanks to a 3760 mAh battery. Verizon and Motorola also upgraded the device to include wireless charging capabilities out of the box.
The DROID Turbo 2 comes with a 5.4-inch quad HD display and is powered by a Snapdragon 810 processor mated with 3GB of RAM. Motorola added a microSD slot to this year’s version of the smartphone so users can add up to 2TB of storage to go with the 32GB or 64GB of internal memory. For the device’s camera, Motorola packed in a 21MP unit, likely the same sensor as is present in the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition. The DROID Turbo 2 also gets a 5MP front facing camera with a flash and wide-angle lens.
Verizon and Motorola are rolling out the DROID Turbo 2 with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Unfortunately, no timetable has been provided for when Marshmallow may be available for the device. Like all DROID smartphones, the DROID Turbo 2 is exclusive to Verizon. The carrier will start selling the device later this week, on October 29th, for $26 per month for 24 months for the 32GB version or $30 per month for the 64GB version.
Verizon and Motorola did not spend much time during the event going through the detailed specs and features of the new phone nor did they cover the release of the DROID Maxx 2. Be sure to check back here at TalkAndroid for updates and additional coverage as this story develops.
Come comment on this article: Verizon and Motorola launch the new DROID Turbo 2 in NYC
Kohl’s Becomes First Retailer to Support Apple Pay for Store-Branded Cards
Apple updated its Apple Pay participating issuers list today, adding Kohl’s as the first U.S. retailer accepting store-branded cards that offer discounts and rewards. The department store chain confirmed on Twitter that iPhone users can make purchases using Kohl’s Charge Cards on Apple Pay starting today.
Apple announced at WWDC 2015 that iOS 9 would support rewards and store-issued cards, including those from Kohl’s, JCPenney, Walgreens, BJ’s Wholesale Club and several other retailers. Kohl’s briefly announced forthcoming Apple Pay support for its Charge Cards private label credit cards last week, which is now live.
Enhanced Mobile Payment Options: Customers can pay easily and quickly with Apple Pay in stores when they add their Kohl’s Charge as a form of payment. In addition, customers will be able to complete purchases across all digital channels with Visa Checkout, which makes it fast and easy to buy gifts for everyone on the list on Kohls.com and mobile devices.
@biplane_messiah That's right. Starting this Tuesday, customers will be able to make purchases on Apple Pay using their Kohl's Charge Card.
— Kohl's (@Kohls) October 24, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsKohl’s is the largest U.S. department store chain by the number of stores, with around 1,200 as of February 2013.
Mitsubishi’s using AI to save distracted drivers from themselves
There’s no doubt that self-driving vehicles will play a huge part in our automotive future, but until they do, ensuring that human drivers stay safe on the road remains the top priority for car companies. Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric, one of the Mitsubishi Group’s many subsidiaries, reckons more can be done to keep a driver’s focus on the road, so it’s developed a new technology that can detect when someone is distracted or feeling tired.
Source: Mitsubishi Electric
Engadget giveaway: win an Omni S6 speaker from Polk Audio!
The days of bulky, wired hi-fi systems are numbered when you consider the freedom that whole-home sound systems provide. Polk Audio recently added the S6 to its Omni line of connected speakers, which utilize DTS Play-Fi technology to link one or more units to your home network. With the Omni mobile app, you can control individual speaker volumes, play different tunes in different rooms and even stream music from services like Spotify, Pandora, Songza and more. This week, we’re giving away three of these flagship speakers to a trio of lucky readers. It will give you a head start towards filling your home with sound, especially since you can add additional Polk Omni or even third-party Play-Fi-enabled speakers to the network. Although, with a dedicated four-channel, 100-watt digital amplifier to power the Omni S6’s output, this single speaker’s sound could go a long way. Just head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning!
Droid Turbo 2 is the Moto X Pure on Verizon’s steroids
It’s a little hard to believe Verizon’s Droid line is six years old, and the family just keeps growing. Today, the carrier and its hardware partner Motorola pulled back the curtain on the Droid Turbo 2, a new flagship that doesn’t exactly come as a surprise. If you liked the Moto X Style/Pure, you just might be a little jealous of all the extra stuff its Verizon-only cousin just got.
Qualcomm to enable ‘conscious’ security cameras at lower costs
Just as all eyes are on Qualcomm’s next move after its recent realignment, the company threw a surprise by announcing its entry into the security camera market by way of a reference design. But what for, you ask? Well, it’s all about reducing the bill of materials while offering powerful features — including 4K video and LTE radio — at the same time. On paper, this Snapdragon 618 IP Camera platform co-developed by Thundersoft is very much a mid-range smartphone packaged differently: It contains a six-core 64-bit CPU (dual 1.8GHz Cortex-A72 and quad 1.2GHz Cortex-A53), Adreno 510 GPU, LTE Cat 7 radio (300 Mbps down / 100 Mbps up), 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS. Compared to conventional solutions using multiple chips, the full integration on the Snapdragon chipset means lower manufacturing costs.
Source: Thundersoft
Droid Turbo 2 is the Moto X Pure on Verizon’s steroids
It’s a little hard to believe Verizon’s Droid line is six years old, and the family just keeps growing. Today, the carrier and its hardware partner Motorola pulled back the curtain on the Droid Turbo 2, a new flagship that doesn’t exactly come as a surprise. If you liked the Moto X Style/Pure, you just might be a little jealous of all the extra stuff its Verizon-only cousin just got.
Opinion: Let’s stop the overheating madness
I’m sure you are all familiar with the Snapdragon 810 overheating saga that has dominated mobile processor talk this year. Well, a recent report from BusinessKorea, which making its way around the tech news sphere, is now hinting at similar issues for Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 820 SoC. However I really don’t think that this is something that anyone should be so concerned about, at least not yet. Allow me to explain why.
Before we begin I should summarise the report, which cites anonymous industry sources. Apparently, Samsung is making efforts to “stabilize” the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 that will feature in the company’s upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship. The story goes that Samsung will patch the “microprocessor control program” within the month to help control the heat coming off the chip and might also consider implementing a “radiating pipe”.
Read more: Galaxy S7 will feature Snapdragon 820 in US and China, Exynos elsewhere: Korean report
For starters, the microprocessor control program is in charge of things like core and thermal management of the SoC, including gating and clock speed. Developers should attempt to optimize a chip for their particular product, to balance performance against thermal and power limits. It’s not irregular for Samsung to be making adjustments as it moves from a developer environment into product testing. Remember, we aren’t even talking about a finished item yet.
The second part about possibly using a radiating pipe shouldn’t cause alarm bells to ring either. For starters, it’s just speculation. Secondly, devices back in the Snapdragon 801 days sometimes made use of copper pipes to help move heat away from the SoC, but I don’t recall people kicking up a major fuss about “overheating” issues back then. If it keeps the phone cool, then surely it’s the right call?
Did you know: the Snapdragon 801 powered Xperia Z3 featured a heat-pipe, a full two generations before the Snapdragon 810 fuss began.
Even if this story turns out to be true, it’s not exactly an indication of any major problems with the Snapdragon 820 anyway. But perhaps more importantly, neither the Snapdragon 820 nor the Galaxy S7 have been released, let alone tested by any verifiable source. If the Snapdragon 810 taught us anything, it’s that implying that an unfinished product is “overheating” is pretty irresponsible.
The fact of the matter is, if consumers and pundits want more processing power packed into a tiny form factor, they are going to have to accept that these chips are going to produce some level of heat. The Snapdragon 820 is boasting notable gains in CPU, DSP and GPU performance over the 810, and even bigger gains over the chips from just a couple of years ago. Simply put, high-end processors will produce heat and attempting to manage this is in no way indicative of an unexpected issue or overheating problem.
While an overly hot device can of course cause problems, the correct management of the inevitable heat is all part of sensible and prudent product design. Perhaps we should wait until the actual phone arrives in our hands before getting worked up about heat issues once again?
AIVAnet 