Verizon raising unlimited plans by $20
For better or worse (though arguably often the latter), Verizon has made a lot of changes to its plans, pricing, and general strategy over the years. For its part, however, Big Red is fairly good about grandfathering its customers into old deals. Not only do they allow contract customers to continue down that path if they so choose, they also have been good about allowing unlimited data subscribers to keep their plans – albeit with increasing restrictions. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Verizon isn’t slowly trying to force these unlimited customers onto different plans.
In their latest effort towards this goal, Big Red is raising up pricing on these unlimited grandfathered plans by $20 per line. That brings the charge for unlimited data up to $50, in addition to whatever charge a customer pays for their voice/texting side of the plan. On the plus side, the new change does open up a new door for unlimited customers: the ability to purchase new phones through a monthly device payment plan. In the past, you couldn’t renew a contract or even participate in monthly payment plans without giving up your unlimited data, meaning buying outright was the only option.
For those who still happen to be on a contract for unlimited data, the new price rate won’t take effect until your contract expires. For everyone else, the new price hike will go into effect in mid-November. This latest move is obviously designed to take away some of the value of unlimited data, but for those who are super-heavy users, the extra price my still very well be worth it.
See also: Best Verizon Android phones (July 2015)
What do you think, with an increase in pricing, is the Verizon Unlimited Data plan still worth hanging onto? For those that feel it isn’t, are you going to switch to another plan with Big Red, or jump ship to another carrier? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
You’ll soon be able to run Windows programs on select Android devices, thanks to WINE
While most Linux purists prefer to stick to programs natively designed to run on their favorite distros, there are times when a user runs into a wall. Maybe they absolutely need Microsoft Office, or perhaps their favorite game just isn’t Linux compatible. That’s where WINE and CrossOver come in handy, making it possible to run some Windows applications with relative ease. And now that same magic is making its way over to the world of Android.
For those that don’t know, WINE is an application layer that fills in the missing ‘bits’ that aren’t found on Linux and other non-Windows platforms (okay, an obvious oversimplification.. but you get the idea), allowing Windows programs to work at essentially the same speed as they would on Microsoft’s own OS. How well these programs work varies from nearly perfect to buggy as all get out.
Crossover is coming to Android by the end of this year, with WINE to follow sometime shortly after.
What WINE isn’t is an emulator, and is instead billed as a “compatibility layer”. In fact, WINE actually stands for “Wine Is Not an Emulator”. As for CrossOver? This is the commercial side of WINE, with more app/game specific optimizations. CrossOver actually funds WINE, and in return utilizes WINE’s progress to help further its own goals.
So back to the main topic here: Crossover is coming to Android by the end of this year, with WINE to follow sometime shortly after. It’s unclear how Crossover and WINE might differ from their Linux counterparts, but the end goal is the same: the ability to run popular Windows programs on your Android device. Considering that many traditional Windows programs are designed with touch in mind, we imagine this will be more useful for tablet users that want to improve their productivity and aren’t afraid of attaching a keyboard and mouse to do it.
Running Android apps on Windows: BlueStacks vs Andy – The best Android emulators on PC
If the idea of running Windows programs sounds at all intriguing to you, don’t get too excited yet, as there is one big caveat. Because WINE and Crossover aren’t emulators, Windows programs will still require an x86 processor. That means that the majority of Android devices, which run ARM-based chips, won’t be able to utilize this tech. On the bright side, the number of Intel-powered Android devices is on the rise, especially in the budget tablet segment. Even the smartphone world is seeing a few well-received Intel-powered options, like the Asus ZenFone 2.
If you happen to have an Intel-powered Android device, or are considering getting one in the future, you can sign up to be notified when the CrossOver for Android “Technology Preview” is ready to go. What do you think, any situations where you think that being able to run Windows programs on Android would come in handy?
Xiaomi’s new Mi 5 flagship rumored to launch in December for $314
Xiaomi’s Mi 5, what is the company’s alleged new flagship device, is expected to launch some time in December with a shocking 1,999 Yuan ($314USD) price tag, according to a new leak from Chinese social media leakster Leaksfly.
Considering that the Xiaomi Mi 4 was priced around the same range, it’s not a far-fetched idea. The Mi 5 is rumored to have a Snapdragon 820 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and a 16-megapixel rear sensor, Android 5.1.1, and a full metal body. Those are some impressive specifications for the rumored price point. However, other leaks claim that Xiaomi is skipping the Snapdragon 820 all together and opting for the Helio X20 from MediaTek.
As per the norm, there’s not much basis for these rumors, so it’s best to take these things with a hefty grain of salt. But if the rumor is true, Xiaomi’s Mi 5 announcement could be just over the horizon.
Xiaomi recently launched an enhanced Redmi 2A with 2GB of RAM in China for just $549CNY.
source: Weibo
via: Mobipicker
Come comment on this article: Xiaomi’s new Mi 5 flagship rumored to launch in December for $314
Google Fiber subscriptions still small, but potential lurks
With more than half a dozen Google Fiber markets currently under development, a new study looks at how Google Fiber is performing in the initial markets in terms of attracting customers to choose Google Fiber over other options. Bernstein Research conducted a door to door survey in Kansas City where they determined Google had signed up around 20% of the homes they passed within a year of launch. Bernstein says this is “putting it well on the way to exceed 40% of homes passed and realize attractive ROIs.”
A factor that was identified early when Google first announced their concept to bring gigabit fiber to the home was that this was more a move by Google to put pressure on local ISPs to improve services and cut subscription rates. Bernstein found that Google Fiber probably only has 100,000 to 120,000 subscribers, so that pressure may not be as significant as some thought. Bernstein says it would be a mistake on the part of ISPs to ignore Google Fiber as a small, fringe experiment based on those numbers. Google Fiber could scale to 15 – 20 million homes within six to eight years, putting a lot of pressure on incumbent providers and disrupting markets.
Google Fiber currently offers service in Kansas City, Provo, and Austin with work underway in Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Nashville, Salt Lake city, Atlanta and San Antonio. Many expect Portland to be added to the ranks soon and Google is supposedly eyeing Louisville, Irvine, and San Diego for expansion.
source: DSLReports
Come comment on this article: Google Fiber subscriptions still small, but potential lurks
[TA Deals] iBlazr 2 Flash Bundle (Multiple Colors)
Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that our smartphones have become the dominant method in taking photographs in the last decade. For the average person, that is.
For professional-level photography, there are quite a few more things needed in order to achieve that grade of pictures. Different lenses, film over digital in some cases, and flash set ups for example, and over the years we’ve seen a lot of peripherals made for smartphones in order to bridge that gap.
This brings us to our Talk Android Deal that we’d like to showcase for you today: the iBlazr 2 Flash Bundle with multiple colors. This wireless flash can snap on to your phone or DSLR and will definitely annihilate any low-light situations around your subjects.
The specs:
- Use to illuminate portraits, selfies, videos & more
- Easily adjust the color temperature & brightness to your liking
- Confidently take pictures without red-eye effects
- Use as a selfie remote thanks to the Bluetooth technology
- Illuminate a large surface area w/ 75-degree beam angle
- Utilize w/ free native camera apps through Bluetooth 4.0 (iOS, Android)
- Take advantage of built-in rechargeable battery
- Use w/ a flexible charger: doubles as a portable table or keyboard lamp
- Sync up to 10 iBlazr flashes to enlarge the amount of light
- Available in black, gray, or white
- Brightness: 300 Lux
- Bluetooth v4.0 (low energy)
- Temperature adjustment 5600-3200K
- Touch sensor
- Native app sync
- Shutter remote
- No red-eye
- 75-degree beam angle
Normally this gadget has an $80 price tag, but we’re bringing it down to $55.99. That’s 30% off the normal retail price, plus we’re throwing in free shipping. If you’re interested in scooping up this gadget, you can click on the link below!
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] iBlazr 2 Flash Bundle (Multiple Colors)
Mitsubishi set to show off its latest far-out EV concept
You may have though Mitsubishi’s Tron-like EV concept was a one-off when the company revealed it nearly four years ago. But the Japanese company has been toiling away on the Emirai ever since, and is finally set to unveil a third-generation version. The roadster style electric car looks like it flew in from the future, and has the toys to back it up, most notably the pair of huge, optical-bonding, LCD panels that allow for high visibility and user-selectable layouts. The system also detects hand movements, letting you operate the infotainment system and other controls without looking down.
The “Emirai 3 xDAS” has a “combiner” 3D heads-up display (HUD) that places navigation and other data at a simulated 10 meters (33 feet) ahead of you, further helping you keep your eyes on the road. Finally, the vehicle sports a camera and non-contact cardiograph to sense the driver’s line of sight and provide “predictive assistance based on (their) behavior.” It can even analyze your physical condition and find a rest stop if it feels that you’re fatigued. Details are lacking on the powertrain and other info (if one even exists), but we’ll be on hand at the Tokyo Motor show on October 29th to get more info.
Source: Mitsubishi
Burner’s disposable phone numbers save everything in the cloud
Thanks to The Wire (one of the greatest TV shows ever), we know all about burner phones. These cheap and quickly discarded phones are an easy way to communicate without sharing your permanent number with random folks (or the police). The Burner app for iOS and Android works under the same concept. It creates temporary numbers to hand out to people while keeping your main digits a secret. To add value to those short-term (and in some cases long term) numbers Burner is adding integration with Dropbox, Soundcloud, Evernote and Slack. Linked numbers can auto-save texted photos and voicemails to Dropbox. Slack can route messages from a channel to a number and accept replies. While Evernote can create an auto-response bot that replies to texts with pre-determined messages.
Burner is hoping the new Connections features gets its customers to use the service in new ways. For example with the Slack integration, customers can send a text to a company’s Slack channel that’s manned by employees for quicker service. The Evernote auto-respond bot is even more intriguing. Burner says that Airbnb hosts could use it as a way to share WiFi or other commonly requested information without the host having to check their phone every five minutes.
The company also announced a premium subscription service to keep alternate lines active as long as you’re cool with paying $4.99 a month. If still you just want a temporary number that expires, you can still go in that direction. The updated Burner app is available now.
Source: Burner
Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 References Found in OS X 10.11.1 Beta
The third OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 beta seeded to developers yesterday contains references to a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2, as spotted by French website Consomac. Apple could ship the next-generation keyboard and mouse accessories alongside the new 4K 21.5-inch Retina iMac expected to launch next week, although the exact release date remains uncertain.
Apple’s current-generation Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse
A new Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2, each featuring Bluetooth 4.2 and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, first appeared in FCC filings in August. Apple also registered several new web domains related to the term “Magic Keyboard” in September, including applemagickeyboard.com, applemagickeyboard.net, and applemagickeyboards.com.
Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 references in OS X 10.11.1
Apple currently sells an Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad, each powered by two AA batteries, so these newly uncovered accessories are in all likelihood next-generation versions. The new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 could have Force Touch, which is built into new MacBooks, while the inclusion of Touch ID is a more unlikely possibility.
Samsung and TSMC iPhone 6s Chips Show Smaller Real-World Battery Impacts Compared to Benchmarks
The news that Apple dual sourced its A9 chips for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus has been a point of discussion over the past few weeks, especially when new battery tests on the phones pointed towards the TSMC chips outperforming those made by Samsung. Following the news, several YouTubers have begun creating videos to compare the dual sourced chips in both battery-straining tests and basic real-world scenarios.
In the first video, Austin Evans compared identical models of the iPhone 6s — one with the Samsung chip and one with the TSMC chip — and calibrated their screens so they had the exact same brightness. After running the GeekBench 3 battery test until they both ran down to 50 percent battery life, Evans discovered that the TSMC iPhone 6s lasted fifty minutes longer than the Samsung version, “resulting in a nearly 1.5 times difference in battery life.” Thermal imaging also showed the Samsung device running hotter than the TSMC version.
Evans also ran a lighter battery test, playing the same hour-long YouTube video on each device to see how a more day-to-day scenario would affect each chip. In the end, he saw only a one-percent difference in battery drain, noting that while heavy-use cases could see the TSMC chips come out on top, highlighting the differences between benchmarks and real-world usage.
The next video is from Jonathan Morrison, who compared each chip by running a 30-minute timelapse with all the same settings and brightness running on each device. After the test, the Samsung iPhone 6s was down to 84 percent battery, while the TSMC version came in on top with 89 percent remaining. Morrison continued testing the battery strength of each chip with a ten-minute 4k video test, exporting the video file in iMovie, and finishing off by running GeekBench 3. At the end of the full set of tests, the iPhone with the Samsung chip was at 55 percent battery while the TSMC device was at 62 percent.
As suspected from early results yesterday, the takeaway from Morrison and Evans’ videos today seems to be that while intense cases like synthetic Geekbench tests designed to push devices to their limits can reveal significant differences in battery life between devices using the two chips, real-world impacts are much smaller and are likely to be unnoticeable to many users.
Android devices could soon run Windows applications thanks to CodeWeavers
It looks like Android devices will soon be able to run software built for Windows, largely due to CodeWeavers’ CrossOver for Android, which is a compatibility layer that, well, let’s you run Windows apps on Android!
Originally, CodeWeavers’ was a company that was just building Windows compatibility layers for Linux and Mac, but the developer began working on doing the same for Android a couple of years ago. Under this CrossOver for Android initiative is the Wine open source project, which CodeWeavers has helped fund for years now.
CodeWeavers announced that a tech demo of CrossOver for Android will be available at the end of this year. While it won’t be even near perfection, CrossOver should let you play things like World of Warcraft or League of Legends on your Android device. Crazy, huh? Those interested can sign up to be notified when it’s available here.
There’s a small caveat, though. CrossOver for Android won’t work on every device. In fact, it’ll only function with a Android x86-based system. In other words, you’ll need a smartphone or tablet with an Intel or AMD chipset. CrossOver just won’t function with ARM-based processors, largely because Windows binaries are x86 or x64 applications.
To work on an ARM-based system, CrossOver or Wine, as PC World points out, would need to contain some sort of virtual machine. And even then, you’d need a massive battery and some better cooling for that to function properly.
There’s also another small thing. Software on Windows isn’t generally built for touchscreens, making playing something like World of Warcraft or League of Legends on your Android system a difficult thing. That said, those interested in CrossOver would have to not only buy an Intel-based tablet, but also look into some keyboard and mouse accessories. In other words, you’re going to need to meet a lot of requirements for this to work.
Either way, it’s still a cool idea and will give those who meet those requirements some cool possibilities. Compatibility layers have always intrigued me personally, and it often makes you wonder who will provide the first operating system that offers this sort of universal cross compatibility?
Definitely a technology for the future, but it’s not a far-fetched thought.
source: PC World
Come comment on this article: Android devices could soon run Windows applications thanks to CodeWeavers
AIVAnet 