ZTE targets affordability with new lease-to-own purchasing option
ZTE smartphones have historically been more prevalent in the budget space, however, this year the company has kicked it up a notch. The Axon phone was a well received flagship contender. But as it typically goes, as quality increases, so does price.
Therefore, ZTE wants to make sure its devices are still within reach. Today, the company has announced a lease-to-own purchasing option. It applies to any unlocked ZTE device offered in the US.
Interestingly, the payment plan won’t be managed by ZTE. It will be provided by a third-party company, SmartPay. ZTE says that when you apply, you can choose monthly payments between a range of 6 to 24 months. Once all the payments are made, you will of course own the device.
And when you want to upgrade, the process sounds pretty simple. As long as you’re up-to-date on the monthly payments, you can cancel your lease and return the device. Once it’s received, you’re free to restart the financing plan again with a new ZTE device.
What do you think about ZTE’s approach to a payment plan option? Would you do it?
ZTE Press Release
ZTE INTRODUCES NEW LEASE-TO-OWN OPTION FOR SMARTPHONES AND MOBILE DEVICES
ZTE customers can now get a mobile device and pay for it over time
Richardson, Texas – October 14, 2015 – ZTE USA, the fourth largest smartphone supplier in the U.S. and second largest in the no-contract market*, today introduced a lease-to-own payment plan for customers who want to pay for their phone or other mobile device over time and spread out their payments to make it more affordable. This lease-to-own payment option is provided through SmartPay ™ Leasing Inc. and will be available online for all customers beginning soon at www.zteusa.com.
Lease-to-own is available for unlocked devices such as the recently launched Axon Pro and other mobile devices such as the ZTE Spro 2 Smart Projector.
“We are introducing leasing options because we believe advanced mobile technology should be available to everyone. We also want the experience of purchasing and using a ZTE device to be easy for any consumer,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO and chairman of ZTE USA. “How customers want to pay versus the amount they are comfortable paying are equally important – and ZTE can provide the best of both worlds.”
Leasing options for credit scores of all types
With SmartPay, you can get an immediate approval to lease ZTE devices. If approved, simply select the ZTE device you want, make your first payment at checkout and make scheduled monthly payments thereafter**.
No long-term contracts
The length of a lease plan is determined when you apply and can range from 6 to 24 months. Once all payments are made, the lease is complete and you own the device. You can also pay off your lease early without any penalties or future fees***.
Upgrade your phone when ready
If you’re up-to-date on your monthly payments you can cancel your lease at any time and upgrade your device by simply returning your current device in good working order to SmartPay. Once your phone is received your lease is cancelled and you’re free to get the new device you want.
Source: ZTE
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OnePlus X should launch October 29
The third smartphone from OnePlus is expected to launch in but two week’s time. That is, of course, provided a recent tweet and Facebook post from the handset maker is to be believed.
See you October 29, London. #PowerfullyBeautiful pic.twitter.com/JxS5YQviPX
— OnePlus (@oneplus) October 14, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Rumored as the OnePlus Mini and the OnePlus X, the phone should make its formal debut on October 29. Specifications tossed about over the last few weeks include a 5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Internally, we’re looking for 2GB RAM with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, and a 2450mAh battery.
Other details for the OnePlus X could entail a 13-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, and the latest version of OxygenOS.
The post OnePlus X should launch October 29 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
CBS CEO Again Says Network Will ‘Probably’ Reach Streaming TV Deal With Apple
CBS CEO Les Moonves says the network is still in negotiations with Apple over its inclusion in Apple’s upcoming streaming television service, reports Bloomberg. In an interview with Bloomberg TV this morning, Moonves said CBS has had conversations with Apple and will “probably” ink a deal with the Cupertino company.
“Apple is having conversations with everyone about doing their own streaming services,” Moonves said in an interview Wednesday on Bloomberg TV. “We have had those conversations, as have the other networks. Do I think something will happen? Probably, but I do not know when.”
Moonves made similar comments five months ago at Re/code’s Code Conference, saying CBS would “probably” sign a deal with Apple for its rumored streaming television service. “We’re very excited about it,” he said, and at that time, he confirmed he had met with Eddy Cue to discuss the plans as part of an “ongoing conversation.”
Given the similarity between the statement given in May and what Moonves had to say today, there is little evidence of any progress in the talks between Apple and content owners, but it’s clear there is still interest in reaching a deal.
http://cdn.gotraffic.net/projector/latest/bplayer.js
Apple’s web-based television service was initially rumored to be launching in 2015, perhaps alongside the new Apple TV, but a continued failure to secure all of the necessary deals has reportedly delayed its debut until 2016. Apple is said to be having trouble with content negotiations, with pricing being a sticking point.
Apple’s plan is to offer a selection of popular television channels at a price of $30 to $40 per month, a price tag that undercuts most cable television services. While Apple’s streaming television service is still in the works with a launch date unknown, the company’s new set-top box will be launching at the end of the month.
The new Apple TV is already in developer hands and will be available to the general public in late October. The device includes a full App Store, universal search, deep Siri integration, and a touch-based remote for navigating the interface and playing games.
August Announces New Smart Lock With HomeKit Integration
August, the company behind the popular August Smart Lock, today announced a second-generation product that includes support for Apple’s HomeKit home automation platform. The new HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock lets customers use voice commands to lock, unlock, and check the status of their door.
The August Smart Lock can be used with other HomeKit products to create scenes that might unlock the door while also turning on the lights inside the house. August has also revamped the design of its Smart Lock, adding a new magnetic faceplate to improve the grip and rotation of the lock, and an indicator at the top so users can visually tell whether the door is locked or unlocked.
Along with the new HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock, August is also debuting the August Smart Keypad and the August Doorbell Cam. The August Smart Keypad works alongside the August Smart Lock, allowing for entry without a smartphone. Unique one-time use access codes can be generated for friends and family.
The August Doorbell Cam also works with the August Smart Lock, letting users see and speak with visitors at their door from anywhere. It has a one-way 140 degree HD video camera and two-way audio. Motion detection capabilities capture movement even when the bell is not rung, sending a notification, and a livestream of activity can be viewed using the August app.
All three products connect to the August Access platform, which is available today in beta form. It’s designed to offer secure home access to the August products for trusted partner companies like Sears, Postmates, Pro.com, Handy, Fetch, Shyp, BloomNation, Envoy, Rinse, HelloAlfred, Wag!, Pillow, and Doorman. Customers will be able to allow these trusted partners to enter their homes with the August Smart Lock, alleviating the need to be home for deliveries.
The HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock, priced at $229, is available for pre-order from the August website. The Smart Keypad is priced at $79 and the Doorbell Cam is priced at $199.
iPhone Upgraders: Apple Offers Partial Refunds for AppleCare+
As carriers move away from two-year contracts, and towards financing programs that break down the full price of an iPhone into equal monthly payments, it is worth a reminder that Apple offers partial refunds for unused AppleCare+ coverage, minus the value of any service already provided.
Since many carrier financing programs enable customers to upgrade to a new iPhone after a minimum of 12 months, whereas the AppleCare+ coverage period is 24 months, some customers will inevitably have at least half of their warranty period remaining, for which they are entitled a pro-rated refund.
Macworld recently noted that Apple has a longstanding support document on its website that outlines how to request a refund for an AppleCare plan. The process involves phoning Apple and providing them with your AppleCare agreement number and covered device serial number, and an original sales receipt is often required.
The refund policy may vary depending on the country, but in the U.S., Apple stipulates that customers who cancel their AppleCare+ plan more than 30 days after the date of purchase will receive a pro-rated refund of the original purchase price, minus a cancellation fee of $25 or 10% of the pro-rated amount, whichever is less.
Here is the exact verbiage from the AppleCare+ terms and conditions:
ii) If you cancel more than thirty (30) days after your receipt of this Plan, you will receive a pro rata refund of the original purchase price. The pro rata refund is based on the percentage of unexpired Plan Term from the Plan’s date of purchase, less (a) a cancellation fee of twenty-five ($25) dollars or ten percent (10%) of the pro-rata amount, whichever is less, and (b) the value of any service provided to you under the Plan.
AppleCare+ for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus costs $129. Assuming that you do not make any accidental damage claims, and upgrade your iPhone after 12 months, the plan would have $64.50 in value remaining. After a 10% cancellation charge of $6.45, the refund would be $58.05 — enough for one or two monthly payments on your next iPhone.
AppleCare+ for iPhone extends both the smartphone’s limited one-year warranty and 90 days of complimentary phone support to two years from the original date of purchase, and provides up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage for a $79 or $99 service charge each time. It also covers defective hardware and depleted batteries.
‘Tweetbot 4’ for iOS Gains Support for 3D Touch
Popular third-party Twitter client Tweetbot is the latest app to be updated with support for the 3D Touch feature on the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, and it now supports both Quick Actions on the Home screen and Peek and Pop gestures within the app itself.
A hard press on the Tweetbot icon on the Home screen brings up options to create a new tweet, tweet a photo, and view the Activity Tab that was recently added in the fourth version of the app. When a notification is present, there’s also an option to reply to a tweet or a direct message from the Home screen Quick Action list.
Peek gestures, which bring up previews of links, work with embedded tweets, Safari website links, Twitter profiles, and more. A Peek gesture can be initiated in Tweetbot with a hard press, and pressing even harder expands into a Pop gesture, allowing content to be opened from the Peek.
The 3D Touch features in 4.0.1 Tweetbot are available only on the iPhone 6s and the 6s Plus, the two devices that support 3D Touch. Other users will not notice any changes in the app, aside from additional language localization in French, Spanish, and Japanese.
What’s New
– 3D touch peek and pop support in the timeline. We’ll add it to more places in future releases.
– 3D touch home screen quick actions.
– Localized for French, Spanish and Japanese. More coming.
– Lots of bug fixes.
Tweetbot 4 can be purchased from the App Store for $4.99. [Direct Link]
Check out the 24K gold LG V10!
Vietnamese gold-plating customizing and personalzation company Karalux has today announced that LG’s flagship smartphone of 2015, the V10, is the latest smartphone to join its rapidly-growing pool of 24K gold dipped devices.
There isn’t much gold visible on the V10 as it sports a Gorilla Glass 4 display and material backplate, so Karalux could only coat the bezel surrounding the handset and the metal rim around the camera module. The rest remains untouched.
Check out the gallery below for some hands-on pictures.
Come comment on this article: Check out the 24K gold LG V10!
Speaker found in ZenWatch 2, fuels speculations of audio support in new Android Wear update
Recently there was a lot of buzz about the discovery of an uncredited speaker inside the Huawei Watch, fueling speculation that Google may provide a speaker support in the new Android Wear update. Now, even the ASUS ZenWatch 2 has been found to feature an unused speaker, indicating that the speculations may not be far fetched.
A Google+ user, David Sears, laid bare his ZenWatch 2 and found that his wearable discreetly housed a speaker just like the Huawei Watch. He, along with a number of smartwatch owners, is now hoping that the new software update will make his ZenWatch capable of making phone calls.
“Asus ZenWatch 2 has a speaker like the Huawei Watch so I think Google is going to include speaker support in a future update. There is talk that Android 6.0 Marshmallow will support phone calls from the watch,” David said in his Google+ post.
Google has a history of surprising Android Wear smartwatch users with its frequent updates. A software update, earlier this year, enabled Wi-Fi for a number of already available wearables. So far, it has been a matter of pushing software support for devices that feature compatible hardware. In fact, there are many smartwatches available in the market with hardware features which are yet to get Android Wear support.
If Google decides to support speakers in the next Android Wear update, it is likely to bring audio notifications, telephony and even playing music on board.
Source: David Sears (Google+)
Via: 9To5Google
Come comment on this article: Speaker found in ZenWatch 2, fuels speculations of audio support in new Android Wear update
Samsung takes to YouTube to showcase its new portable battery pack
Samsung has just released its first promotional teaser for a brand new battery pack, which fully utilizes Fast Charging 2.0 technology. In the 30-second clip, the South Korean company demonstrates just how the unit can be used in conjunction with the Galaxy Note 5 to change the device from 0% to 100% in under 2-hours.
Check it out after the break.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Samsung takes to YouTube to showcase its new portable battery pack
PSA: You will soon be able to gift Play Music All Access subscriptions to friends and family
According to a new report, Google is in the midst of developing a pretty neat new feature for Play Music All Access users. The functionality is expected to bear the name “Music Gifts” and will furnish customers with the ability to pay for either a 1, 3 or 6-month subscription of the service for their friends and family.
Music Gifts already has its own support page over on the Google Forums, entitled “Gifting & Lending Digital Content”. Unfortunately, the page simply presents a “403 Forbidden” error when searched for, but the presence of the domain adds credibility to this leak.
Would you be interested in this feature? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: PSA: You will soon be able to gift Play Music All Access subscriptions to friends and family
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