Microsoft Allowing OneDrive Users on Free Tier to Keep 15GB Free Storage and Camera Roll Bonus
In November, Microsoft made the controversial decision to reduce its unlimited OneDrive storage to 1TB for Office 365 Home, Personal and University subscribers early next year. OneDrive’s free storage will also be reduced from 15GB to 5GB, and the 15GB camera roll bonus will be discontinued.
Microsoft’s decision was poorly received by OneDrive customers, who created an online petition called “give us back our storage” with over 70,000 votes. The backlash has prompted the company to apologize and introduce a new offer for OneDrive customers to keep their 15GB free storage and 15GB camera roll bonus.
Microsoft Group Program Manager Douglas Pearce (via The Verge):
In November we made a business decision to reduce storage limits for OneDrive. Since then, we’ve heard clearly from our Windows and OneDrive fans about the frustration and disappointment we have caused. We realize the announcement came across as blaming customers for using our product. For this, we are truly sorry and would like to apologize to the community. […]
In addition, for our biggest fans who have been loyal advocates for OneDrive, we are adding a new offer that lets you keep your existing 15 GB of free storage when the changes happen next year. If you also have the 15 GB camera roll bonus, you’ll be able to keep that as well. From now until the end of January, you can sign up to keep your storage at the link below.
OneDrive users who sign up by January 31, 2016 will be able to keep their 15GB of free storage and 15GB camera roll bonus, even after Microsoft reduces its free storage tier to 5GB next year. OneDrive customers using more than 5GB of free storage will also receive a free Office 365 Personal subscription with 1TB storage for 12 months.
Microsoft is not backing down from its larger plans to discontinue unlimited storage, a decision it made because a small number of users exceeded 75 TB storage, or 14,000 times the average, by “backing up multiple PCs and and storing entire movie collections and DVR recordings.” The changes take place in early 2016.
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PIQ and Rossignol Launch Ski Sensor to Track Performance on Slopes
PIQ has partnered with Rossignol to create a new version of its multi-sport sensor for tracking skiing performance on the slopes (via Engadget). The 13-axis ski sensor attaches to a ski boot and allows skiers to record runs, analyze turns, challenge friends, track best speeds and more.
It can then measure stats like edge-to-edge speed, G-force and carving angle, while giving freestyle skiers air time, G-force at landing, rotation and more. As with other PIQ models, you can check stats immediately from your Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth, but if you don’t carry a phone during mogul practice, it’ll store the data for later.
PIQ sells a package with the sensor and Rossignol ski accessory for €149, or the €49 ski accessory can be purchased separately for those that already own a PIQ sensor. The products can be pre-ordered until January 12, 2016 and will ship in February before general public availability.
Rossignol’s companion Ski Pursuit app is free on the App Store for iPhone [Direct Link].
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Google and Huawei could continue to partner for another Nexus device in 2016, report says
Google is looking to continue to partner with Huawei on a new Nexus smartphone with a Snapdragon 820 processor tow for late 2016, according to a new report. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P may have only recently launched (with much success, at that), but the rumor mill is already churning as to what we could see next.
The Snapdragon 820 will no doubt be an ideal candidate for Google’s Nexus smartphone for 2016, especially with initial reports saying just how powerful it is. This report comes by way of Pan Jiutang, a Chinese industry analyst for electronics. He’s putting Huawei on the list of other big names that will be releasing handsets with Snapdragon 820 processor this year, according to his post on Chinese social networking site Weibo.
After Qualcomm officially announced the Snapdragon 820 processor, it’s common sense that manufacturers would want to take advantage of the new processor, if only for marketing purposes alone. With that in mind, this information doesn’t really tell us anything that we don’t already know.
However, a continued partnership between Huawei and Google would be most welcome, especially as Huawei plans to grow its presence in the US with a big push from its Honor brand. Seeing another Huawei-made Nexus smartphone wouldn’t be a bad thing either.
Come comment on this article: Google and Huawei could continue to partner for another Nexus device in 2016, report says
Huawei is the latest Chinese manufacturer said to make a big push in the US
A new report coming by way of Android Authority says that Huawei could soon be making a big push in the US, with an official announcement to come during CES 2016. Huawei already has some presence with its name on the Nexus 6P, but the Chinese manufacturer is looking at a much wider scaled push with its Honor brand.
Huawei coming to the United States will no doubt prove to be successful, with many observing some of the amazing things they’re doing with the Mate S and Honor 7. Speaking of the Honor 7, that’s one of the smartphones Huawei is looking at brings to US shores, as well as the Honor 6 Plus.
Details are obviously scarce at this point, but while Huawei could very well be successful with a larger presence in the US, they’re up against some tough competition. ZTE is another big Chinese manufacturer Huawei will have to go up against, as well as giants in the market like Samsung and LG.
We’ll hear more details on Huawei’s push in the US in just under at month at CES 2016. Anyone excited?
source: Android Authority
Come comment on this article: Huawei is the latest Chinese manufacturer said to make a big push in the US
[Deal] T-Mobile offering $75 off flagships from Samsung and LG
T-Mobile today announced that it will be offering discounts on off-contract purchases of the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, and LG V10. With the holidays just around the corner, these discounts come just in time. All you have to do is add the off-contract version of the device to your cart, and apply promo code DEAL75OFF at checkout.
Some of these are actually really sweet. For instance, the Galaxy S6 recently got a price cut, bringing the device down to just $580 off-contract, no doubt because the rumored Galaxy S7 is getting closer and closer. But by applying that $75 discount, you can pick up a brand spankin’ new flagship for just $505. Or, if you’d prefer LG’s all-new V10, you can snag it from T-Mobile for a meager $525, down from $600. And don’t forget about the promotion that gets you a free battery and microSD card as well!
On the more expensive side of things is the Galaxy Note 5, costing about $100 more than the LG V10 at $625, down from its original price point of $700.
Anyone plan on picking one of these handsets up?
source: T-Mobile
Come comment on this article: [Deal] T-Mobile offering $75 off flagships from Samsung and LG
Google will be selling the gold Nexus 6P exclusively through Best Buy in the US
A gold version of Google’s Nexus 6P leaked a few times before the device was ever officially announced, but so far only Japan has been confirmed to carry the gold Nexus 6P. However, some rumors point to Google changing things up a bit and bringing that elusive gold color to the US.
The gold Nexus 6P will reportedly only be offered through Best Buy, which wouldn’t be the first time the electronics retailer has managed to score an exclusivity deal for certain colors of certain phones.
Huawei has some big announcements slated for CES 2016 and Best Buy has already said they’re expanding their phone lineup to include the Nexus 6P in the near future, so everything is lined up to make that rumor come true in the next few months.
Would you be interested in a gold Nexus 5P?
source: 9 to 5 Google
Come comment on this article: Google will be selling the gold Nexus 6P exclusively through Best Buy in the US
US drone operators must register with the FAA by February
If you fly a drone, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration wants to know about it. The FAA’s online drone-registration program goes live on December 21st, and anyone who’s ever operated an aircraft between the weights of .55 pounds and 55 pounds needs to sign on before February 19th. There will typically be a $5 fee for each registration, but the FAA is making it free for the first month, through January 20th.
“We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be purchased this holiday season,” FAA administrator Michael Huerta says in a press release. “Registration gives us the opportunity to educate these new airspace users before they fly so they know the airspace rules and understand they are accountable to the public for flying responsibly.”
Registration requires the operator’s name, home address and email address, and it’s valid for three years. The process results in a certificate that includes a unique identification number, which must be noted on the drone itself. If you don’t register a drone, you risk civil penalties of up to $27,500, or criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and/or three years imprisonment.
The new online-registration rules apply to hobbyist or recreational drone operators only, for now. The FAA plans to roll out online registration for a wider range of drone operators, including commercial uses, by spring 2016. For now, business-centric drone operators have to register using the paper-based process, the FAA says.
[Image credit: Flickr/Richard Unten]
Source: FAA
Xprize offers $7 million for exploring the ocean floor
After years of focusing on moonshots and other lofty goals, the Xprize Foundation now hopes to inspire innovation in the opposite direction… in a very literal sense. Its new Shell Ocean Discovery Xprize is offering a total of $7 million in awards to teams that can deliver robotic exploration of sea floors as deep as 4,000m (13,123ft). The $4 million grand prize and a $1 million runner-up prize will go to the groups that deliver the sharpest maps on top of meeting baseline requirements for autonomy, depth and speed. The top 10 teams will split a $1 million milestone prize, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is chipping in another $1 million for teams that spot objects through biological and chemical clues.
It’ll take a while before you hear about the projects, let alone the results. Teams have 9 months to sign up, a year to develop their robots and 18 months of judging and testing. However, it may be worth the wait. As scientists have learned, deep sea robotic exploration is both pretty risky and quite rare — a fast, reliable mapping machine would represent a major breakthrough. In the end, the 3-year competition could shed light on a part of the world that remains very mysterious.
Source: Xprize, BusinessWire
The first ‘Star Trek Beyond’ trailer makes some noise
Okay, Star Trek Into Darkness wasn’t very good. But there’s still hope for the next film! Star Trek Beyond comes from another team of writers, Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, and the man who rebooted the Fast and the Furious franchise, Justin Lin. And judging from the first trailer, set to the Beastie Boys’ Sabotage, it looks to be a pretty wild ride. If you’re hoping for this new Star Trek series to return to the dramatic and intellectual heights of the TNG or the original show, you’ll probably be waiting a while. But if you simply want another enjoyable blockbuster like the first Trek film from J.J. Abrams (who’s now defected to Star Wars), Beyond might be a return to form when it opens on July 22. Just be happy that Into Darkness writer Roberto Orci is no longer directing this one.
Via: Slashfilm
Adorable puzzler ‘Unravel’ pulls heartstrings in February
Come February 9th, you’ll be able to play the most charming (and atypical) game to come out of Electronic Arts’ E3 media briefing this year, Unravel. The adorable physics-based puzzle platformer hits EA’s PC-based Origin service, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next year as a digital title for $19.99 domestically. The prepared statement from EA describes the game’s story as “an adventure to reconnect the bonds of love” which, from the sounds of it, means I’m going to be a blubbering mess when the credits roll.
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“[Protagonist] Yarny’s quest is to mend broken bonds, and the yarn represents the love and connection between people,” developer Coldwood Interactive’s creative director Martin Sahlin says in the statement. So, more evidence that the small Swedish studio’s game is going to pull at my brittle heartstrings — kind of like Stockholm-based Starbreeze Studios’ wrenching Brothers. To see how Unravel’s progressed since its June debut, peep the screenshots up above and trailer just below.
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