T-Mobile’s Binge On unlocks unlimited video streaming
Back in June 2014, T-Mobile launched Music Freedom as way for customers to stream music without ever affecting the capped amount of 4G LTE data allotted each month. Today, T-Mobile announced a video steaming version of Music Freedom. Binge On allows T-Mobile customers to stream unlimited video from services like HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Showtime, Sling TV, and Starz. And, just like Music Freedom, none of the data consumed by video streaming touches a customer’s set amount of 4G LTE data.
We get you. You 💖 streaming. So time to #BingeOn: Video streaming, for free. #UncarrierX pic.twitter.com/nOX0TBtBjT
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) November 10, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
T-Mobile’s Binge On supports Crackle, ESPN, WatchESPN, FOX Sports, FOX Sports Go, HBO Now, HBO Go, Hulu, MLB, Movieplex, NBC Sports, Netflix, Sling TV, Sling Box, Showtime, Starz, Encore, T-Mobile TV, Univision Deportes, Ustream, Vessel, Vevo, and VUDU. More streaming services are the way, too.
The carrier also announced that families on its Simple Choice plan are going to see the amount of 4G LTE data available to them doubled at no extra cost. And, starting this Sunday, T-Mobile has a promotion that gives families a fourth line for free.
T-Mobile Unleashes Mobile Video with Binge On™
Video now streams free at T-Mobile for HBO, Hulu, Netflix, SHOWTIME, Sling TV, STARZ subscribers without using up their high-speed data – 24 total services included initially with more to come
Biggest-ever update to Simple Choice doubles your data at no extra cost when everyone in the family gets extra data
Los Angeles, California — November 10, 2015 — At an event held today in the entertainment capital of the world, T-Mobile [NASDAQ: TMUS] announced its landmark 10th Un-carrier move and responded directly to Americans’ surging demand for mobile entertainment by—of all things—unleashing mobile video. Beginning this Sunday, video streams free at T-Mobile for subscribers of HBO, Hulu, Netflix, SHOWTIME, Sling TV, STARZ, WatchESPN and more—with more streaming services on the way—without ever burning up customers’ high-speed data. And it’s available to all current and new Simple Choice customers on qualifying plans—at absolutely no extra cost.
On top of that, the Un-carrier today also amped up its flagship Simple Choice plan—in the biggest update to Simple Choice ever—by doubling the data at every level and cutting the cost of extra gigs. On top of that, families can now get twice as much high-speed data as before—at no extra cost— when everyone gets extra 4G LTE data. And that’s all on the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network, now reaching 302 million Americans and counting.
Taken together, today’s moves give Un-carrier customers far more data that lasts far longer – prompting T-Mobile President and CEO, John Legere to declare today “Data Day” – the day the company took its Un-carrier movement to the next level.
“Un-carrier X marks the next step in this revolution, and it is massive,” said John Legere, President and CEO of T-Mobile. “Today, we’re not only doubling your data in Simple Choice, we’re making your data work a lot harder for you! With Binge On, video streams free from 24 streaming services to start, and more to come! Only T-Mobile would find a way for customers to watch unlimited HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Sling TV and more…without eating into their LTE data, while the Duopoly is squeezing consumers with overage fees and over-buying! T-Mobile is un-leashing entertainment and giving customers exactly what they want!”
Binge On − Watch your shows, not your data
With Binge On, video now streams free for viewers and subscribers of Crackle, Encore, ESPN, Fox Sports, Fox Sports Go, HBO Now, HBO Go, Hulu, MLB, Movieplex, NBC Sports, Netflix, Sling TV, Sling Box, SHOWTIME, STARZ, T-Mobile TV, Univision Deportes, Ustream, Vessel, Vevo, VUDU—with more streaming services on the way—without ever touching their 4G LTE data on Simple Choice plans with extra data. T-Mobile is also including Verizon’s Go90 and AT&T’s DirecTV streaming services in Binge On, so even the Duopoly’s video services stream without fear of overages.
Binge On is open to any streaming video provider who meets the technical requirements, which are available online at http://www.t-mobile.com/bingeon. And it’s completely free for video streaming providers to join.
“With Binge On, no one pays—not the customers, not the video streaming services—and everyone wins,” said Legere.
Powered by new technology built in to T-Mobile’s network, Binge On optimizes video for mobile screens, minimizing data consumption while still delivering DVD or better quality (e.g. 480p or better). That means more reliable streaming for services that stream free with Binge On, and for almost all other video, it means T-Mobile Simple Choice customers can watch up to three times more video from their data plan. And, as always, T-Mobile has put customers in total control with a switch to activate or deactivate Binge On for each line in their My T-Mobile account. Binge On is all about customer choice.
In addition, T-Mobile is celebrating the launch of Binge On with an exclusive offer of 30% off a full year’s subscription to Sling TV’s “Best of Live TV” package available to all Simple Choice customers. And those T-Mobile customers with Unlimited smartphone LTE get a free streaming movie rental every single month in 2016 with Binge On.
With mobile video now the #1 way Americans use smartphone data, Binge On is the Un-carrier’s answer to what today’s customers clearly want most from wireless. Customers are using nearly two-and-a-half times more of their wireless data for mobile video in the last two years. But that’s nothing compared to where we’re headed. According to forecasts, mobile video usage is poised to surge more than 400% by 2020.
The old carriers are trying to exploit this trend − and their customers − to line their pockets. For carrier customers, the surge in wireless video has translated directly into an unprecedented surge in overages. Together, the carriers are projected to rake in a record $2.4 billion this year from overage penalties—up a staggering 60% from $1.5 billion just last year. Roughly one quarter of AT&T and Verizon customers say they’ve been hit by overages in the last 6 months – that’s twice as many Verizon customers getting billed for overages compared to just two years ago. Worse still, the carriers’ overages scare customers into buying more data each month than they need—only so Verizon and ATT can repossess it after 30 or 60 days. American wireless customers waste an estimated $45 billion annually overbuying wireless data they don’t use.
With T-Mobile, on the other hand, Binge On now unleashes customers to watch what they want, when they want and on any device they want—without watching their data.
Simple Choice − Now with double the data
With this explosion in data usage, a few gigs is just not enough anymore. So, in the biggest update ever to the company’s wildly popular Simple Choice plan, T-Mobile is giving families and businesses what they want most by doubling their high-speed 4G LTE data when everyone gets extra data.
Simple Choice customers still start with one line at just $50 a month for unlimited data, talk and text on T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G LTE network. But you’ll now get a full 2GB of 4G LTE data—twice the previous amount—on each line. As before, customers can still add a second line for $30 a month−but now with 2GB of 4G LTE data. Additional lines up to 12 are still only $10 per month—but each now come with 2GB of 4G LTE data.Of course, Simple Choice customers can add even more 4G LTE data. And now, when everyone in the family gets extra 4G LTE data, families can save even more with T-Mobile’s new Family Match. Everyone will get twice as much data as before at absolutely no extra cost. They can add an extra 4GB of 4G LTE data (on top of the 2GB included), including mobile hotspot data, for just $10 more a month on each line, up to a total of 10GB per line. For families who’d rather customize their data by line, extra data is just $15 a month for each 4GB—compared to $20 a month for 4GB before—a savings of 25% per GB of high-speed data vs. before.
While the Duopoly continues to punish customers on their legacy unlimited LTE plans, the Un-carrier announced it is doubling down on Unlimited Smartphone LTE data by doubling the amount of tethered data included from 7GB to 14GB. And with Binge On, streaming video from participating services won’t eat into that tethered data.
For businesses, the pain is even worse. Nearly two-thirds of small businesses (63%) say they’re now being charged overages, and more than half (52%) of small business limit their employees’ smartphone usage to prevent overages. With the Duopoly, giving employees a smartphone is like creating an open-ended tab where employees can run up insane overages the company has no choice but to pay. With the new Simple Choice plan unveiled today, businesses get double the LTE data at no extra cost at T-Mobile, up to a thousand employees. An average small business with T-Mobile can save 40% compared to AT&T and a full 50% compared to Verizon for similar services.
And, as always, Simple Choice customers have no annual service contracts, no domestic overages and no sharing, and they get all the Un-carrier value the company keeps pouring into the plan – from Simple Global, Music Freedom and Data Stash to Mobile Without Borders, Wi-Fi Un-leashed and Binge On.
To celebrate today’s news, T-Mobile is making the fourth line free. Now, for a limited time, a family of four can get four lines for $120 with 6GB per person (24GB total) – no sharing – at just $30 per line. That’s an incredible four times the high-speed data you get at Verizon who’ll charge you $20 more, and almost five times the data at AT&T where you’ll pay $30 more—$150 for just 5GB your whole family’s gotta share. And now with Binge On, T-Mobile customers don’t just get 6GB each, they get unlimited video streaming from popular sites as well.
Binge On and the new Simple Choice plan will be available starting Sunday, November 15. Existing T-Mobile customers will get Binge On starting Thursday, November 19. For more information on Binge On, see http://www.t-mobile.com/bingeon. For more information on Simple Choice, see http://www.t-mobile.com/SimpleChoiceplan or for Simple Choice for business, see:
www.t-mobile.com/BusinessSimpleChoicePlan.
Video streams at DVD quality (480p+) with Binge On. You may disable Binge On at any time, but will lose Binge On benefits. Limited time offers on qualifying plans. Taxes/fees add’l. Video streaming from included services does not count toward full-speed data allotment on our network. Third party content and subscription charges may apply. Once high-speed data allotment is reached, all usage slowed to up to 2G speeds until end of bill cycle. Up to 30% off selected subscription; may appear as bill credit or 3rd party discount. Free movie: one SD rental/mo. on selected service via 30-day promo code; must be in good standing on qualifying Unlimited LTE plan. Streaming services’ terms and conditions apply. See T-Mobile.com for details.
About T-Mobile US, Inc.
As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company’s advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to approximately 61 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.# # #
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ARM announces Cortex-A35, its new ultra-efficient 64-bit core
ARM’s annual developer conference ARM TechCon is here and one of the biggest announcements coming from the event is the launch of the new ultra efficient Cortex-A35. Until now ARM’s most power efficient 64-bit processor design was the Cortex-A53, while at the high performance end ARM offers the Cortex-A57 and the Cortex-A72.
That is a total of just 3 processor designs (without the A35), however when you look at the 32-bit space, ARM offers 6 different core designs ranging from the very low power Cortex-A5 right up to the high performance Cortex-A15 and Cortex-A17 cores. In rough, general terms the 64-bit Cortex-A53 is targeted at the same market segment as the 32-bit Cortex-A9 processor, however there is still room (in terms of power efficiency) below that, a space which is filled by the Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 in ARM’s 32-bit lineup, however there was nothing in the 64-bit lineup. That is where the Cortex-A35 comes in.
Processors based on the Cortex-A35 will be cheaper than those which use the higher performing cores.
The cost of a smartphone is determined by a variety of factors including the type of display, the size of the battery needed, the amount of RAM, the SoC, and so on. By offering an ultra-low power core, ARM hopes that Cortex A35 based processors will be used in devices to reach the next 1 billion people who have yet to join the smartphone and smart device revolution.
Processors based on the Cortex-A35 will be cheaper than those which use the higher performing cores, like the Cortex-A72, and since they are designed for high levels of power efficiency, it would mean that smartphone makers can use smaller (i.e. cheaper) batteries.
In terms of its capabilities and performance, the Cortex-A35 is a 64-bit processor that is fully compatible with ARM’s other Cortex designs. It uses around 10% less power than the Cortex-A7 while offering between 6 and 40% more performance. When compared to the Cortex-A53, the die size for the Cortex-A35 is 25% smaller while using 32% less power.
It is also big.LITTLE compatible which means it could be used in conjunction with a Cortex-A72 or Cortex-A57. I wouldn’t be surprised if some SoC makers end up sticking it together with the Cortex-A53, i.e. four Cortex-A35 cores coupled with four Cortex-A53 cores. Or if MediaTek keeps developing its tri-cluster technology then we could see a SoC with four Cortex-A35 cores, four Cortex-A53 cores and two Cortex-A72 cores!
Deep dive
The Cortex-A35 uses an in-order pipeline (as does the Cortex-A7 and the Cortex-A53), however ARM has resigned the front end to include better branch prediction, better balanced instruction fetch bandwidth, and a smaller, more power efficient instruction queue. It also has a 512-entry translation lookaside buffer (TLB), up from 256 entries in the Cortex-A7. The TLB is used by the Memory Management Unit (MMU) to speed up virtual address translation.
The new design is also highly scalable. By that ARM means that its partners can design quad-core processors (with 32K of L1 cache, 1MB of L2 cache along with the NEON engine), down to a single core processor (with just 8K of L1 cache and no L2 cache). The single core variant would be just 0.4 square millimeters when built using a 28nm process node, which is 10 times smaller than the quad-core setup.
The quad-core version would use less than 90mW at 1.0GHz where as the single core version would use less than 6mW at 100MHz. Now 100Mhz is not a number you would quote when talking about smartphones, however the flexibility of the Cortex-A35 design means that OEMs can make processors that not only target smartphones (at 1GHz and upwards) but also IoT devices. These IoT devices would benefit from having a full 64-bit processor with support for hardware encryption instructions while running a low speeds and using less power. Not only that, but such a processor would be fully backwards compatible with existing software and could run operating systems line Android, Linux and Brillo.
Wrap up
So in a nutshell, the Cortex-A35 is ARM’s most efficient applications processor design. It brings 64-bit computing to the ultra-power efficient category while being scalable enough to be used in big.LITTLE octa-core processors or whittled right down to single-core 100MHz devices, with almost microcontroller type power requirements.
The design for the core is now with ARM’s partners and you can expect to see devices with SoCs that include the Cortex-A35 some time towards the end of 2016.
Watch T-Mobile’s ‘Uncarrier X’ live stream here!
T-Mobile is holding another “Uncarrier” event this afternoon to announce, well, nobody quite knows for sure. Set to start at 2PM EST, the tagline for the invitation reads “we never hit pause,” which kickstarted the rumor mill. A majority of speculators are saying that the wireless carrier will announce its customers will be allowed to use streaming sites like Netflix, HBO Go and Hulu without it counting towards their data cap. The wireless carrier already offers unfettered streaming of music sites like Spotify and Pandora, so the concept isn’t entirely foreign. If these rumors are true, this could be an industry game-changer — and get net neutrality advocates in a huff because of how unequally it treats data. Video streaming does use up a huge amount of cellular data, though, so this could definitely come in handy if you’re looking to watch a TV episode during your lunch break at work. The only way to know for sure, of course, is to tune in.
Source: T-Mobile Blog
Withings tracks your nutrition thanks to MyFitnessPal
Withings has a connected scale that tracks your weight and activity trackers that help you lose weight, but it doesn’t have anything to measure the food contributing to that weight. However, the company just forged a partnership with MyFitnessPal that should fill in this gap. Withings’ Health Mate app can now use MyFitnessPal’s nutrition data, letting you know whether or not you’re exercising enough in relation to your diet. If you lose a few pounds, it’ll be clear just how much your meal choices played a part. The collaboration is a bit ironic for Withings given that it’s effectively working with Under Armour (which has its own fitness gear), but it’s hard to object if it gives you a better sense of your overall health.
Source: Withings
Apple Music on Android is near-identical to iOS, for better or worse
Steve Jobs once famously said that launching iTunes for Windows was “like giving a glass of ice water to somebody in hell.” Well, Apple has a second glass ready today: the company just released a beta of Apple Music for Android, the first app that really gives Android users a taste of one of Apple’s flagship services. If you’ve used the somewhat-jumbled Apple Music app on iOS, you’ll be quite familiar with its Android counterpart — nearly all of the service’s features are intact, and the user interface is a surprisingly tasteful blend of what Apple put together for iOS that still feels native to Android. Slideshow-340754
Stanford scientists get a little closer to a medical tricorder
Being able to identify problems with a person’s body without subjecting them to invasive procedures is the fantasy of all Star Trek doctors. There’s even a prize offering a fortune to anyone who can effectively recreate the tricorder technology out in the real world. Now, Stanford scientists think that they’ve developed a system that, in time, could be used to spot cancerous tumors from a foot away.
Destiny Companion app: The one every Guardian needs [App Review]
Through the use of the Bungie mobile app you’ll be able to utilize the Companion. It’s Bungie’s second-screen experience that will keep you connected to the game, while you’re in the world of Destiny and while you’re away from it. It has a ton of features that are very useful, such as checking your gear, checking on what’s new for the week as far as Daily Heroic Strikes, Nightfall Strike and even the capabilities of transferring items to and from your vault to your character(s). The official app is available for iOS and Android, and there is a third-party app (Destiny Stats) for Windows Phone users.
Visually the Destiny app captures the hard sci-fi feel of the game with its subdued, but not bland color palette, and clean, easy to manage menu system. Within the app players have access to regular news from Bungie, regarding in-game events, updates, patch notes and easy access to the game’s forums. Very useful to check and read every Tuesday morning when reset day comes along and you’re already at work for the day and can’t get to a computer.
There is a fantastic Grimoire section, presented as a collectible card set with great art work on one side, and flipping over to reveal informative blurbs about Destiny’s lore, tips and general knowledge. It’s beautifully presented, providing great incentive to explore and collect. To me personally it’s my favorite part of the app as there is a ton of information to absorb from this section of the app.
Functionally, players have hands-on access to their weapons and equipment, with the ability to change your set-up, which then reflects within the game itself the next time you load it up on your console. Or, if you forgot about something in the vault, and you’re in the middle of a big boss fight and need something like a Heavy Ammo Synthesis, then you can quickly pull up the app and transfer any that you have in the vault to your character and it will transfer immediately and be ready to use in-game.
There is a ton of stats that tell the story of your successes and failures in numbers within the game itself. All your story missions and competitive runs in the Crucible are displayed such as kills, deaths, assists, scores etc. Again all of this is presented in a very easy to read, clean style and accompanied by some great art work depicting where the mission was carried out. It’s a great way to measure up your adventure with friends in the real world.
Then there’s the Vendors section where you can check any vendor within the game to see exactly what they are selling as far as special items, weapons, armor or anything else. One downfall is that you can’t purchase items from these vendors via the app and that’s something that I certainly wish Bungie would add.
You can even go as far as to check on your current bounties that you have and how close you are to completing them. And now with Year 2 here, you can also check in on your progress of any quests that you are currently working on within the game.
Whilst the Destiny Companion doesn’t really add anything essential to the game, nor is it something that you have to have installed for any reason, it is a nice accompaniment, tastefully designed and a joy to navigate. The collectible card system of the Grimoire alone is definitely worth the 27MB download.
What We Liked:
- Easy to use and to navigate
- Very informative
- Well designed
Where It Comes Up Short:
- Can’t purchase gear or armor
- Can’t get any gear from the new kiosks
Google Play Store: Destiny Companion App
The post Destiny Companion app: The one every Guardian needs [App Review] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
NewerTech’s ‘HDMI Headless Video Accelerator’ Keeps GPU Active for Better Performance With No Display
NewerTech today announced the launch of its HDMI Headless Video Accelerator, an adapter that’s designed to plug into the Mac mini’s HDMI display port to fool it into thinking there’s a display attached. With the adapter plugged in, the Mac mini’s GPU is activated and video drivers are loaded, resulting in smoother performance.
When the Mac mini is used without a monitor, its GPU isn’t used. As a result, the interface lags, resulting in choppy screens and slow video, animation, cursor movements, menu navigation, and typing. Plugging the NewerTech HDMI Headless Video Accelerator into the HDMI port of the Mac mini solves this problem, engaging the GPU so your remote interface works exactly how you’d expect.
Apple’s small and portable Mac mini is often used sans display as a storage device or a media server, but without a display, the Mac mini does not take advantage of its GPU. Without an active GPU, certain tasks performed on the Mac mini can be choppy and laggy, such as visiting websites, as described in a Macminicolo blog post on the subject.
This kind of adaptation has been used by Macminicolo on video intensive servers for several years, but as the site says, even simple web browsing benefits from having active video drivers. Macminicolo even recommends a similar dummy dongle product directly on its site.
The NewerTech HDMI Headless Video Accelerator is designed to work with the following Mac mini models: Mac mini Mid 2010 (Macmini4,1), Mac mini Mid 2011 (Macmini5,1 / Macmini5,2 / Macmini5,3), Mac mini Late 2012 (Macmini6,1 / Macmini6,2), Mac mini Late 2014 (Macmini7,1). It works with OS X 10.6.8 and later.
Mac mini owners interested in purchasing the NewerTech HDMI Headless Video Accelerator can do so from third-party retailers like OWC. The adapter is priced at $19.50.
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Apple Launches ‘Tech Talks’ Tour for Apple TV Developers
Apple today announced the launch of a new series of “Tech Talks” for the Apple TV, designed to help developers learn how to create apps and games for Apple’s new set-top box. The Tech Talks are held in a number of cities around the world and are hosted by “Apple experts.”
The new Apple TV is here, bringing incredible and immersive apps and games to the big screen. Get in-depth technical information on building and designing for tvOS, learn refined coding techniques, and obtain valuable development instruction from Apple experts.
Developers can register to attend a Tech Talk through Apple’s website, with registration open from now until November 13 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Dates and locations are below.
- Toronto – December 7, 2015
- Los Angeles – December 10, 2015
- Austin – December 14, 2015
- Seattle – December 16, 2015
- Cupertino – December 17 and 18, 2015
- Berlin – January 8, 2016
- London – January 11, 2016
- New York – January 12, 2016
- Tokyo – January 21, 2016
- Sydney – February 3, 2016
Each of Apple’s all-day Tech Talks will include morning sessions focused on the Apple TV’s capabilities, designing apps, creating interfaces, integrating the Siri remote and game controllers, and using on-demand resources. Afternoon sessions will focus on topics like technologies for graphics and gaming, media streaming, and more, and a reception will follow giving attendees a chance to interact with each other and Apple’s staff.
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Apple Music Expands to Android With New App
Apple is launching its first major app for Android devices today, expanding its Apple Music platform to Android-based smartphones and tablets. With the introduction of a beta Apple Music app for the Google Play Store, Android users will be able to subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service, listen to Beats 1 radio, and access the Apple Connect artist-based social network.
The new Apple Music app is available from the Google Play store and requires Android 4.3 or later. It’s available in all of the countries where Apple Music for iOS is available, with the exception of China. Apple Music includes the same three-month trial for Android users and it is priced the same – $9.99 for an individual plan and $14.99 for a family plan.
Image via TechCrunch
TechCrunch spoke with Eddy Cue about the launch of the new Android app for Apple Music, who said Apple’s decision to create an Apple Music Android app was based on a desire to let people enjoy music “no matter where you were and what products you were using.” Apple wants “everyone in the world” to be able to try Apple Music, including those in areas where Android devices remain more popular than iOS devices.
Apple Music for Android offers a design that’s similar to the iOS version, but as it’s a beta, it does not yet include Music Videos or the ability to sign up for a family membership within the app. Family memberships will need to be purchased on an iOS device. According to Cue, Apple Music is “a full native app” that will “feel very much like an Android app.”
“We wanted customers on Android to naturally be able to use it — what they’ve learned and how they interact is common. Things as simple as [that] the share icon looks like an Android share icon; the menu structure being where it is; these are things that most Android customers are familiar with. We wanted to make sure that they felt very familiar with Apple Music when they sat down to use it.”
Apple Music is not Apple’s first app for Android, but it is the most significant. Apple previously released a “Move to iOS” app that helps Android users transition to the iPhone, and it’s launched an Android app for controlling the Beats Pill+ speaker. All of Apple’s Android apps have come in the last few months, signaling its willingness to expand beyond the iOS ecosystem for the first time.
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