Google confirms Chrome OS will stick around, but will bring tighter Android integration
There were rumours that Google would merge Chrome OS and Android into one. Google has now said they do not plan on going that far, but will bring them closer together.
If you just bought a Chromebook, do not worry, Google has “no plans to phase out Chrome OS”. You will still receive updates and support for them in the future.
Google is very much committed to Chrome OS. Chrome OS is a big part of classrooms, offices and homes with 30,000 new Chromebooks activated in U.S. classrooms everyday.
In fact, every school day, 30,000 new Chromebooks are activated in U.S. classrooms—that’s more than all other education devices combined.
Google also just introduced the very affordable $149 Chromebook and the $85 Asus Chromebit that turns any display into a computer. Something they probably wouldn’t of done if they planned on getting rid of Chrome OS.
However, Google will be adding more Android integration to Chrome OS. Also, they will be bringing new features like a new media player and refreshing the look with Material Design.
We have plans to release even more features for Chrome OS, such as a new media player, a visual refresh based on Material Design, improved performance, and of course, a continued focus on security.
Source: Google
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Pump Alarm’s Verizon network certified monitoring device is now available in 96 Home Depot stores
Pump Alarm’s Verizon network certified monitoring device is now available in 96 Home Depot stores in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio. This cellular alarm will allow property owners to monitor sump pumps, low temperatures, and power outages. It does this by sending alerts via text message to the owner’s mobile device.
Tom Ward, CEO of PumpAlarm.com said:
“Pump Alarm offers a great opportunity for homeowners to keep their homes safe in a simple and convenient way through a mobile device,” “Cellular is key to residential applications and a cost-effective choice for homeowners.”
American Housing Survey of the United States said “nearly 43 percent of U.S. homes have basements where sump pumps are installed”. Indiana has been hit hard with rain and flooding which has caused tons of damage recently. However, Pump Alarm’s built-in wireless capability bypasses power outages and immediately gives homeowners a notification when something goes wrong.
Press Release:
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — PumpAlarm.com, an Indiana-based company, and Verizon, a technology leader with the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE Network, announced today thatPumpAlarm.com, with its Verizon network certified monitoring devices, is now available in 96 Home Depot stores in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio. The Verizon powered, cellular alarm allows property owners the ability to remotely monitor sump pumps, low temperatures, and power outages with alerts via text message to their mobile device.
“Pump Alarm offers a great opportunity for homeowners to keep their homes safe in a simple and convenient way through a mobile device,” said Tom Ward, CEO of PumpAlarm.com. “Cellular is key to residential applications and a cost-effective choice for homeowners.”
“Pump Alarm is a great innovation in home monitoring and designed with a reliable cellular network to keep properties safe from the kind of harm that can be caused by disastrous event, including the unprecedented flooding that has occurred in Indiana,” said Aimee Novak, Director of Strategic Sales for Verizon inIndiana.
PumpAlarm.com is a partner in Verizon’s Innovation Program, which is designed to help innovators leverage platform technology, state-of-the-art labs and expert know-how to bring ideas to life. The program is a way to accelerate the development of machine-to-machine and wireless technology innovations, ensuring we use our knowledge, expertise and connections to continue to lead the way around the Internet of Things, which is projected to involve over 5.4 billion connected devices by 2020. The device, made in Indianapolis, Ind., went through Verizon’s rigorous certification process at Intertek.
According to the most recent data from the American Housing Survey of the United States, nearly 43 percent of U.S. homes have basements where sump pumps are installed. Indiana has been particularly hard hit by rain and flooding this season that’s caused considerable property damage. The product’s built-in wireless capability bypasses power outages giving homeowners an immediate notification when the power goes out and when it returns.
About PumpAlarm.com
PumpAlarm.com is a cellular, Machine-to-Machine (M2M), technology leader located in Indianapolis, Indiana. We provide a better way to monitor high and low water, power failure and low temperature. Our easy-to-use solutions help prevent property damage in the form of basement floods, appliance leaks, furnace failures, and systems reliant on electrical power. PumpAlarm.com has thousands of units installed across the USA with products available for purchase at pumpalarm.com, in retail, and through select resellers nationwide. For more information, contact sales@pumpalarm.com, or visit www.pumpalarm.com. For the latest news and updates about Pumpalarm.com, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/pumpalarm or follow us on Twitter at @pumpalarm.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network. As the largest wireless company in the U.S., Verizon Wireless serves 110.8 million retail connections, including 105 million retail postpaid customers. Verizon Wireless is wholly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. For the latest news and updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news or follow us on Twitter at @VerizonNews.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
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EPA discovers defeat device in more VW TDI engines
In a sternly worded letter, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has issued a new set of allegations against Volkswagen claiming that so-called emissions defeat software has been found in the company’s 3.0-liter TDI V6 diesel engines. This is a completely different engine than the 2.0 TDI that has already been identified as an emissions cheater. In addition to VW, the EPA has included Audi and Porsche in this notification, as the non-compliant engine has been used in vehicles from all three manufacturers from model years 2014 through 2016.
Source: Autoblog
Anonymous says it’s outing 1,000 prominent KKK members (updated)
Anonymous is no stranger to risky internet activism, and its latest campaign is no exception to the rule. The hacking-focused collective claims that it’s outing “up to” 1,000 people who are either Ku Klux Klan members or “close associates” of KKK factions. It says it’ll reveal all on November 5th, but an early data leak already purports to name-and-shame mayors, members of Congress and police officers (including cops in Ferguson, Missouri). If true, the details would potentially wreck more than a few careers — especially those of people who use roundabout methods to support the Klan while keeping their racist connections a secret.
Via: Urban Intellectuals
Source: Anonymous Intelligence Group
Asus reveals unlocked 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 Laser; prices start at $200
Asus on Monday introduced its next Android smartphone, the ZenFone 2 Laser. Available immediately, the handset is unlocked and can worth with a variety of US-based LTE bands.
Although the ZenFone 2 Laser looks quite similar to the ZenFone 2, it is improved across a number of fronts. For starters, the processor has been bumped up to an octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor with 3GB RAM. Storage comes in 16GB and 32GB options, however the microSD card slot allows for up to 128GB additional space.
The Asus ZenFone 2 Laser comes with a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080p resolution display which is protected by Gorilla Glass 4. In other words, it’s a full HD screen with some of the best protection in the industry.
The rear of the phone houses a 13-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.0 , dual LED flash, and laser-assisted focus. The front-facing camera has a 5-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture and wide 85-degree field of view. These specs should lead to more group shots for selfies with a generally better final result.
Other specs include a 3000mAh removable battery, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity. The ZenFone 2 Laser runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with a custom ZenUI 2.0 software experience.
The 16GB model runs $200 while the 32GB version commands a slightly higher $250 price tag. The ZenFone 2 Laser is available in silver from Newegg and Asus.
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The first Blackberry device to run Android be available at AT&T Nov. 6th
One of the more intriguing phones of 2015 was recently announced just over a week ago, the Android powered Blackberry device called the PRIV. AT&T is the first U.S. carrier to pick up the PRIV and will make it available nationwide starting Nov. 6. The current pricing options are for AT&T’s Next financing program, which allows you to pay for your device in installments, as well as a Two-Year Commitment plan. The total installment price works out to be $740 which is $40 more than buying the phone direct from Blackberry at $699.99.
|
Next 24 |
Next 18
(24 months) |
Next 12 (20 months) |
Two-Year Commitment |
| $24.67 | $30.84 | $37 |
$249.99 |
Or if you prefer the two-year contract method, you can get the phone for $249.99 up-front, but there are different costs associated with that plan. If you get a device on the Next plan, you will qualify for a monthly $25 dollar discount which works out to be $600 over the course of two years. If you consider the Two-Year Commitment price at $249.99, plus $600 in extra fees, the Next plan may be a better fit for you as it should save you over $100.
The PRIV is the first Android powered Blackberry and it comes with a curved 5.4″ display, 3410 mAh battery, 18MP camera, 32GB of memory expandable up to 2TB, a full sliding QWERTY keyboard, and extra security from Blackberry.
You can finally have everything you loved about BlackBerry with the capabilities of Android OS. This smartphone is a powerhouse with sleek design, seamless productivity, and advanced security features on the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network – Jeff Bradley, Senior VP Device Marketing and Developer Services AT&T Mobility
If you want to learn more head on over to AT&T.com.
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BlackBerry Priv goes on sale November 6 at AT&T for $249
BlackBerry’s Android-powered Priv smartphone has been a long time coming, and we’re finally getting a good idea as to how much the device will cost and when it will be available to the public. AT&T has just announced that it will be the first U.S. mobile carrier to sell the BlackBerry Priv, with sales starting on Friday, November 6th. The device will be sold with a two-year contract for $249. Well-qualified buyers can also make monthly payments on the device for $0 down and $24.67 per month for 30 months, $30.84 per month for 24 months or for $37 per month for 20 months.
If you need a refresher, the BlackBerry Priv is the company’s first ever handset running Android. It will come with a 5.4-inch Quad HD curved AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage and a non-removable 3410mAh battery. It will also run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and feature a slide-out keyboard for a faster, more accurate typing experience. If you’d like the full list of official Priv specifications, those can be found here.
See also: BlackBerry Priv pre-order opens in US, UK and Canada; ships Nov 6
Are you planning on ordering the BlackBerry Priv when it becomes available? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere, says Google
The marriage between Chrome OS and Android has been rumored for years, with recent reports stating that the two operating systems could combine by the year 2017. Although the plan seems feasible, Google claims it’s not happening anytime soon.
There’s still much more to do
In a recent post on the official Google Chrome Blog, SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast Hiroshi Lockheimer says that while the company has been working on ways to bring together the best of the two operating systems, Google has “no plans to phase out Chrome OS.”
Lockheimer says there’s still more to do with Chrome OS. Google has plans to release more features to the OS such as a new media player, a Material Design visual refresh, improved performance and more security features. “With our regular six-week software cycle and guaranteed auto-updates for five years, Chromebooks keep getting better over time,” says Lockheimer.
Related: Android + Chrome OS: four big questions
Even though Google may not have immediate plans to fold Chrome OS into Android, we’ll definitely continue to see more and more features of Android make their way to Chrome OS, and vice versa. Recently, Google brought Android applications to Chrome OS via the ARC Welder tool. The company even recently launched a new tablet/laptop hybrid called the Pixel C, which is the first Pixel device to run Android.
So, you heard the man, Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere. At least not anytime soon. Google has made it clear that features in Chrome OS and Android will continue to bleed into one another, which is what’s been happening for a few years now.
T-Mobile now pushing out Virtual Reality update for the Galaxy Note 5
T-Mobile has just started rolling out its first software update for the Galaxy Note 5. This upgrade transports support for Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, as well as a plethora of much-needed bug fixes and stability improvements.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
- Compatibility for VR.
- Battery usage optimization.
- The security of your device has been improved.
- Bug fixes.
As is the norm, the update is being rolled 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”. Alternatively, you can wait until you receive a push notification prompting you to install the upgrade.
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Samsung announces Soundcamp for creating your musical masterpiece on your phone
Samsung has announced a new application for their devices called Soundcamp that offers an open platform for recording, playing, and mixing music. It’s mostly for electronic music, since it’s technically a DAW and MIDI sequencer, but it’s very open and works with third-party apps, which should keep the door open for tons of new ideas in the future.
The app has a straightforward interface for mixing and viewing up to eight different tracks, and while that isn’t going to compete with some really high-end workstations that famous musicians use, it’s pretty great for a smartphone.
Soundcamp also has some standout features, like the ability to create endless loops from your recorded tracks, and the option to pair things up with a Gear S2 smartwatch to control parts of the interface right from your wrist. Soundcamp also supports a sampling function and is getting tons of third-party support.
Soundcamp may not be for everyone, especially if you’re not musically inclined, but it’s completely free for Samsung’s newer devices in the Play Store. Might as well give it a try.
source: Samsung Tomorrow
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