Check out all that’s new on HTC’s One A9 handset in these advertisements
Following the announcement of HTC’s hot One A9 handset, the company posted a slew of videos showing off all the new features.
HTC’s YouTube account has been on fire in the past few hours. The company is taking the launch of its One A9 a lot more serious than it did with its One M9 earlier this year. The handset will be the first on the market other than Google’s stock Nexus devices to include Android 6.0 pre-installed. To see all the new features, color options and updated specifications, check out the variety of advertisements HTC uploaded via its YouTube account down below.
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Come comment on this article: Check out all that’s new on HTC’s One A9 handset in these advertisements
Where (and when) you can buy the HTC One A9 in the U.S.
An unlocked variant of the new HTC One A9 can already be pre-ordered following the handset’s announcement earlier today. The company is selling the One A9 at a “promotional price” of $399 set to last for a limited time. That price also applies to the carrier variants that operate on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint’s networks. And each of them, with the exception of Sprint skipping Deep Garnet color, will have the One A9 in Carbon Gray, Opal Silver, and Deep Garnet.
Select carriers have committed to selling the One A9 online and in retail stores, too.
Sprint:
Sprint will have the One A9 available to its customers for purchase on November 6. The carrier is also running a promotion through January 7 of next year that allows customers to take HTC’s newest device home for $20 per month for twenty-four months. Customers will also get two monthly service credits of $20 each after activating a new One A9 with their carrier.
AT&T:
The folks over at AT&T did not provide too much regarding the One A9’s availability, simply mentioning that it will be “in retail stores nationwide and online at http://www.att.com” with pricing and a release date to follow at a later time.
T-Mobile:
T-Mobile has not yet commented on selling the One A9.
Verizon:
Verizon has not yet commented on selling the One A9. However, PC Mag reports that this is the first non-CDMA phone to work on Verizon’s network.
Come comment on this article: Where (and when) you can buy the HTC One A9 in the U.S.
Verizon’s now rolling the Lollipop update for the Xperia Z2 Tablet
Verizon has at last begun rolling out the long-awaited Lollipop update to all its carrier-branded variants of the Xperia Z2 Tablet located in the United States. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade brings the latest version of the Android operating system to the slate, together with a multitude of much-needed bug fixes and stability improvements.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
- Material Design: You will quickly notice a whole new colorful look and feel to your device – from fluid animations to new application and system themes, colors and widgets.
- Notifications UI & Priorities: In order to alert you to the mosttimely and relevant information, the format and behavior of notifications have evolved:
- notifications will appear on the lock screen and are intelligently ranked by type and who sent them.
- you double-tap to open one, swipe left or right to clear one, or clear all notifications from the bottom of the list.
- you can set the priority and privacy of notifications for each application.
- very high priority notifications will pop up briefly over other applications so that you can take action.
- when you dismiss a notification on one device it will be dismissed on your other Android devices, if they are connected to the Internet.
- you can further tailor how notifications behave with the new Downtime and Ambient Display settings (see below).
- New Interruptions & Downtime Settings: You can tailor how interruptions behave, choosing to allow all, none, or only priority interruptions. You can personalize what counts as a priority interruption (reminders, events, calls, messages) and even tailor them to be from only contacts you specify. The Downtime setting will allow only priority interruptions during the times and days that you specify. e.g. allow only priority interruptions on the weekend.
- Recent Apps (Multi-tasking): The redesigned Overview space (formerly called Recents) will include both applications and separate activities within those applications. For instance, each open tab in Chrome will also appear here along with recent applications; both your Gmail Inbox and a draft email message will appear as separate cards. This provides a consistent way to switch amongst tasks.
- Flashlight: Lollipop includes a new flashlight option as part of Quick settings (swipe down with two fingers from the status bar to see it).
- Pin a view/app: Screen pinning allows you to keep a specific app or screen in view. For example, you can ‘pin’ a game and your child will not be able to navigate anywhere else on your phone.
- Battery: The Battery settings panel now shows an estimated projection for how much time you have left while discharging or charging. You can also enable a new battery saver mode that will save power by reducing performance and most background data operations to extend your battery life.
- Smarter Internet Connections: With Android Lollipop, your phone will not connect to a Wi-Fi access point unless there is a verified Internet connection. This feature improves hand-offs between Wi-Fi and cellular connections, helping to maintain your video chat or voice-over-IP (VoIP) call as you switch.
- Performance: Your phone now uses the new Android Runtime to help optimize application performance. After upgrading to Lollipop, your applications will undergo a one-time optimization process. Note that the optimization for ART requires more space.
- Security: Encryption can now use a stronger 256-bit key to help protect your data. Note that the stronger key willonly be used after you perform a factory reset on Android Lollipop. Otherwise encryption will continue to use 128-bit key. You can turn on encryption in the Security settings menu.
As is the norm, the update is being pushed out in stages. To see if it’s ready for your device head into Settings, scroll to the bottom and tap on “About Device”, hit “System Updates”, then select “Check for updates”.
Come comment on this article: Verizon’s now rolling the Lollipop update for the Xperia Z2 Tablet
Virgin Mobile launches giving campaign when Canadians buy new goods
Virgin Mobile announced today a new fundraiser connected to Canadian sales of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime smartphone and the Universal Power Bank. The Galaxy Grand Prime has been named the next RE*Generation phone available from the carrier. With that status, for every device sold Virgin Mobile will donate $5 to help at-risk and homeless youth.
Recent statistics show there are around 225,000 Canadian youth who are not working and not in school and thus are considered at-risk. Of those, over 6,000 are homeless and sleep on the streets. The Virgin Mobile RE*Generation program provides funds to a variety of charities throughout Canada who help connect these youth with training and other opportunities to secure meaningful jobs and breakout of their current status. According to Joseph Ottorino, managing director for Virgin Mobile Canada,
“By providing young people with the experience and training they need to get a stable and meaningful job, we can help break the cycle of youth homelessness. We’re excited to be partnering with Samsung, a company that shares our passion for linking youth with the skills, connections and opportunities they need to succeed.”
In addition to the proceeds for phone and charger sales, Canadians on Virgin Mobile can elect to participate in the Change for a Dollar program that adds $1 per month to their bill to be donated to the Virgin Mobile RE*Generation program. All Canadians can text REGEN to 30333 to make a one-time $5 donation.
You can read the full press release below.
Virgin Mobile asks Canadians to get the goods that do some good
TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2015
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime revealed as next RE*Generation Phone
TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2015 /CNW/ – Starting today, $5 from the sale of every Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime and Universal Power Bank purchased from Virgin Mobile will help connect at-risk and homeless youth with the training, skills and opportunities they need to secure meaningful jobs and emerge from the cycle of homelessness.
A recent Virgin Mobile study found that 1 in 3 Canadians know someone who has been homeless. Virgin Mobile RE*Generation was created to give Members and Canadians a chance to help at-risk and homeless youth gain skills to get jobs. Currently, there are approximately 225,000 Canadian youth out of work or not in school, and more than 6,000 of them sleep on the streets on any given night. Donations to Virgin Mobile RE*Generation, through programs like the RE*Generation phone campaign, support charities across Canada that train youth to develop the in-demand skills employers are looking for.
“By providing young people with the experience and training they need to get a stable and meaningful job, we can help break the cycle of youth homelessness,” said Joseph Ottorino, managing director, Virgin Mobile Canada. “We’re excited to be partnering with Samsung, a company that shares our passion for linking youth with the skills, connections and opportunities they need to succeed.”
Canadians can purchase the RE*Generation phone at Virgin Mobile retail and online locations. The Universal Power Bank ($24.99) is available at Virgin Mobile Stores across Canada. Virgin Mobile Members can also help at-risk youth get jobs by adding Change for a Dollar to their monthly phone bill to donate$1/month to Virgin Mobile RE*Generation. Members and all Canadians can also text the word REGEN to 30333 to donate $5 to the cause.
“We’re proud to team up with Virgin Mobile and its RE*Generation program to once again provide a smartphone that leads to smart social change,” said Paul Brannen, Senior VP, Enterprise and Mobile Solutions, Samsung Electronics Canada. “By picking up the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime through Virgin Mobile, Canadians can make a real difference in the lives of at-risk and homeless youth.”
Samsung supports the RE*Generation phone program through Samsung Hope for Children, the company’s philanthropic initiative to address children’s issues in the areas of education, health, and environmental sustainability.
With a powerful 1.2 GHz Quad Core processor and slim design (only 8.6 millimeters thick), the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime combines stylish sophistication with fast multi-tasking performance. The Galaxy Grand Prime also offers a long-lasting 2,600 mAh battery and a 5 MP front camera with an ultra-wide view angle of 85 degrees. In addition, Virgin Mobile’s Universal Power Bank allows you to charge your smartphone and tablet anytime, anywhere (USB & MicroUSB charging cable included).
To read about how your donations make an impact in the lives of at-risk and homeless youth head to our Members Lounge blog. For more about Virgin Mobile RE*Generation, head to http://www.virginmobile.ca/regen.
ABOUT VIRGIN MOBILE RE*GENERATION
In 2008, Virgin Mobile RE*Generation was created to empower a generation to help its own and support at-risk and homeless youth. This initiative gives Virgin Mobile Members and Canadians a chance to help at-risk and homeless youth gain skills to get jobs. Donations are invested in training programs run by leading youth-serving charities across the country. The goal is to help 450 youth get jobs by 2017 and that’s just the start.Join Virgin Mobile RE*Generation to help youth emerge from the cycle of homelessness. Visit http://www.virginmobile.ca/regen for more information.
ABOUT VIRGIN MOBILE CANADA
At Virgin Mobile, you’re not a customer, you’re a Member and “Members Get” exclusive deals from awesome brands, a shot at VIP access and one-of-a-kind experiences to events in Canada and around the world. That’s on top of super-hot smartphones on ridiculously-fast LTE speeds and plans with loads of extras built right in! Virgin Mobile Members and Canadians can do some good in their local communities by helping at-risk and homeless youth in Canada gain skills to get jobs with Virgin Mobile RE*Generation.Wanna hook up? There are loads of ways: head online or call 1-888-999-2321 to get in the know. Get personal with Virgin Mobile Canada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.
ABOUT SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CANADA
Samsung Electronics Canada inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances and printers. Samsung is a leader in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home initiatives. In 2014, Samsung was ranked one of the top 10 most influential brands in Canada, based on a study by Ipsos Reid. Committed to making a difference in communities across Canada, its Samsung Hope for Children corporate giving program supports children’s education, sustainability and health-related issues. Globally, Samsung employs 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of $196 billion.To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
Come comment on this article: Virgin Mobile launches giving campaign when Canadians buy new goods
Leica’s SL full-frame camera features an impressive high-res EVF
Fresh off of its Q release this past summer, Leica is back with another full-frame camera: the SL Typ-601. The new shooter, which Leica says is geared toward professional photographers, comes with a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, Maestro II processor, an ISO range of up to 50,000, WiFi for remote access and image sharing and a weather-sealed body. Leica’s latest SL also features an 11 fps continuous shooting mode and max mechanical shutter speeds of 1/8,000 — the company says an electronic option will be available at a later point. Video-wise, you’ll have access to both 1080p and 4K (3,840 x 2,160), with the latter capable of handling 24 and 30 fps. While the SL is stacked with all of the aforementioned specs, Leica wants people to focus on the new, round 4.4-megapixel (60 fps) electric viewfinder; it is the highest resolution EVF on the market, according to the German manufacturer.Slideshow-323042
Although I did have the chance to shoot briefly with the SL Typ-601, I wasn’t allowed to extract any sample images out of the camera. But let me tell you: The moment you pick this thing up, you’re able to feel the prowess of Leica’s top-of-the-line build materials. It has a beautiful design, too, thanks to a black frame that’s made from a solid block of aluminum. The camera arrives on November 16th for $7,450 body-only, and there will be lens adapters to make it compatible with current and legacy Leica lenses. While the Leica SL does pack a punch, you could buy a similarly specced product for a lot less money — such as Sony’s wonderful A7R II, which costs about $3,200. That said, the company does know there are brand enthusiasts who won’t mind paying the premium.
Verizon reports quarterly earnings, exceeds expectations
U.S. carrier Verizon just underwent another spectacular quarter. The company well exceeded its expectations producing an overall revenue of $23 billion this past quarter alone.
With $23 billion in generated revenue, Verizon’s quarterly earnings show a 5.4% increase from this time last year. The company reportedly added an additional 1.3 million subscribers this quarter alone, which is also incredible growth for the company. However it should be noted that service revenues were slightly down from last year due to an increase in equipment revenue.
As a result, Verizon’s new shift to month-to-month payments rather than 2-year contracts has paid off. This shift is also showing increases in other carrier’s revenue as well. This accounted for 58% of all smartphone activations this quarter, which a tremendous increase over this time last year which was only 12%.
The company also saw significant gains in its Fios TV service. During the period, Verizon managed to add 114,000 net subscribers to its broadband internet service as well as 42,000 new members to its video service. This is up 2.8% from just a year ago.
It’s great to see the company continue to set records. This only makes us wonder, “when will growth come to a stop?”
Source: Verizon
Come comment on this article: Verizon reports quarterly earnings, exceeds expectations
[TA Deals] Learn the ins and outs of the Raspberry Pi with a 93% off hacker bundle
If you have a Raspberry Pi but you’re interested in learning all about what you can do with it, we’ve got a fantastic bundle that’ll get you started. For just $39, you can pick up a Raspberry Pi Hacker Bundle with tons of content for powering your projects with the mini-computer. There’s even some material on building a Raspberry Pi-powered robot.
There are some basic courses for getting your feet wet, but you’ll also get some more complex material covering hardware, Python programming, and yes, that robot we mentioned. Not a bad way to waste a weekend for less than forty bucks.
This content typically costs about $625 if you bought it all separately, so that makes for a massive 93% discount. Pretty tough to beat.
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Learn the ins and outs of the Raspberry Pi with a 93% off hacker bundle
HTC’s unlocked One A9 will get ‘every’ Android update soon after Nexus
HTC has a lot riding on the success of its new One A9, so it’s no surprise it’s busy trying to sweeten the deal. To that end, HTC US president chimed in at the end of the phone’s live unveiling to mention that the unlocked version of the A9 will get the “every” Android update “within 15 days” of when it first gets pushed to Google’s own Nexus devices. Sounds great, right? Still, we’re still left wondering about a few things.
We’ve reached out to HTC for more detail, but at this point there’s no telling how many asterisks were secretly loaded in Mackenzie’s proclamation. The biggest question right now is how seriously HTC is taking the word “every” — the A9 already runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, making it one of the first non-Nexus phones to ship with the new software. How long can we reasonably expect the company to prioritize such snappy OTA updates? HTC’s revamped vision for Sense will certainly help keep turn-around times lower than before — remember, they’ve stripped out some of their own first-party apps like Mail and Music in favor of an experience that’s a bit closer to stock Android. It’s also unclear whether unlocked phones from non-US markets will get the same sort of treatment, or if it’s going to another America-only treat like the company’s generous Uh-Oh accident protection. Anyway, there’s no putting this cat back in the bag, HTC — tell us all the things.
Check out Mackenzie’s unequivocal statement at 46:44 below:
Here’s how Verified Boot warnings look in Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Verified Boot was introduced way back in Android 4.4 KitKat. The feature was designed to detect persistent rootkits that could stick around longer than anticipated and potentially compromise a device’s security. Although many folks originally raised their concerns that Verified Boot could diminish Android’s modding community, this didn’t really seem to be much of a problem in previous versions of Android.
When it comes to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, though, it’s clear that Google is taking Verified Boot a bit more seriously than in the past. Ars Technica’s Ron Amadeo posted a photo yesterday on Google+ that shows off what happens when you unlock the bootloader on either the Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P. The screen shown below appears before the Google logo when the phone is starting up.
The link listed under the warning message brings you to a support page, explaining what the different warning messages mean. From the Nexus support page:
- Yellow warning: This message lets you know that your device has a different operating system than the one that originally came on your device.
- Orange warning: Your device is in an “unlocked” state. This means that your operating system can’t be checked to make sure that it’s safe to use.
- Red warning: The operating system on your device has been changed or corrupted and is not safe to use. The device may not work properly and could expose your data to corruption and security risks.
Google says that each message should dismiss automatically after 10 seconds, and your device should then continue starting up. If the warning message doesn’t go away, you can press the power button once to continue starting up your device. If you don’t want to start up your device after seeing this warning message, Google recommends turning off the device and contacting your device’s manufacturer for help restoring the original OS.
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Here’s what you need for a fingerprint reader in Android Marshmallow
Google made sure that the Nexus 5X and 6P take advantage of Android Marshmallow’s fingerprint reader support, but have you wondered what it’ll take to get that digit scanning support in third-party hardware? You don’t have to guess any longer. Google has listed the requirements for fingerprint readers in its latest platform, and they’re unsurprisingly quite strict. The reader’s false acceptance rate has to be virtually non-existent, and the rejection rate should be less than 10 percent. It also needs a hardware-based approach to matching fingerprints, and it must be impossible to access that data outside of the chip. Clearly, Google doesn’t want a repeat of the lax security that made it easy to steal fingerprint data from some earlier Android phones.
This doesn’t preclude vendors from trotting out their own approaches to fingerprint readers — just ask OnePlus or Samsung. However, the requirements set an important baseline for those phone makers that either want Google’s official blessing or can’t justify building a biometric security solution from scratch. You may well see a wave of Android phones with reliable, secure readers, even from tiny outfits that couldn’t have justified the technology before.
Via: Android Police
Source: Google (PDF)
AIVAnet 