[TA Deals] Limefuel Blast 20000mAh Battery Pack just $36.99 for a limited time
You know what’s near and dear to our hearts? Long-lasting smartphones. There was a lot of lashing out with the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ when they launched only featuring 3,000mAh batteries. Why’s that? They don’t last long enough to get most of us through the day! And you can bet it certainly won’t make it through any extra activities after work. That’s why you need the Limefuel Blast 20,000mAh Battery Pack. It’ll always be with you, ready to charge your smartphone or tablet back to 100%.
Here’s what you get with the Limefuel Blast Battery Pack:
- Charges up to four devices simultaneously w/ quad output & 20000mAh battery
- Shortens battery charging time significantly w/ 2A input
- Employs pass-through charging
- Indicates level of charge w/ 4 LED lights
- Preserves battery charge w/ auto shutoff
- Includes anti-overcharge protection+
- Designed w/ premium aluminum casing
Normally the Limefuel Blast Battery Pack retails for $50, but for a limited time only, Talk Android Deals is offering our readers a 26% off discount. That limited deal brings the price down to just $36.99 for the next seven days. When you purchase this battery pack, you will get free shipping with a guarantee that it’ll arrive right before Christmas as well.
One thing’s for sure: we can all use a battery pack in our lives. No more need to worry about your smartphone dying during a night out on the town right after work.
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Limefuel Blast 20000mAh Battery Pack just $36.99 for a limited time
Results mixed for Android, iOS growth in October report
Kantar Worldpanel released their report on smartphone market share through the end of October 2015 showing the battle between iOS and Android is both stable and in flux at the same time. Android continued to maintain a lead position with Samsung showing signs of a comeback, although Apple showed strong growth in some unexpected areas.
In Europe, results were a mixed bag as Android surged in Italy, France and Spain. However, interest in Great Britain and Germany cooled off, leading to a gain of 1.6 percent for the top five European markets, the EU5. At the same time, iOS declined in the EU5 for the first time since the August 2014 period. Android also saw some surprising growth in the U.S. where it surged by 9.5 percent year over year to 62.8 percent of the market. Traditionally, the U.S. market has been a nice stronghold for Apple’s iOS.
One area where Apple is enjoying some significant success is in the Chinese market. Android still controls a whopping 74.2 percent of the market, but that is down around 8 percent compared to a year earlier.
For manufacturers, Samsung posted its first period of year-over-year growth in 2015 for sales of their smartphones. The U.S., U.K. and French markets were especially strong improvements for Samsung. LG and Huawei also continued to grow their shares. In Europe, Apple unexpectedly lost some ground in Britain and Germany. Kantar Worldpanel notes that in Britain, Apple’s losses were at the hands of LG and Samsung.
Analysts looking ahead to the results of the holiday shopping season will be keeping an eye on how many smartphone owners decide to replace their devices with newer ones and whether they stick with their current platforms and manufacturers.
source: Kantar Worldpanel
via: PocketNow
Come comment on this article: Results mixed for Android, iOS growth in October report
T-Mobile offers Verizon customers one year of Hulu to switch services
T-Mobile today announced it will give Verizon customers one year of Hulu for free if they switch wireless providers. Worth roughly $100, it’s a limited-time deal that runs from December 11-17.
To qualify for the promotion, Verizon customers will need to port their phone number into T-Mobile and select a Simple Choice plan. As part of the rate plan, subscribers will also gain features such as Music Freedom and Binge On. The former allows for unlimited access to streaming music through more than 40 services while the latter offers up DVD video streaming from various services. Neither the music nor the video will impact the monthly data allotment.
Customers who switch are also eligible for credits up to $650 per line to cover Verizon’s early termination fees (ETFs) or any balance due on the Verizon phone with a trade-in.
In addition to the Verizon deal, T-Mobile is discounting select accessories by 50 percent.
The post T-Mobile offers Verizon customers one year of Hulu to switch services appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Galaxy S7 Plus: Rumored 6-inch phablet CAD video render leaks
When it rains, it pours, and in the land of gigantic Galaxies it seems this one is having a bit of a sudden spring. Just days ago we reported on the first “legitimate-looking” CAD renders of the Galaxy S7 courtesy of a case maker. Along with it was news of a 6-inch Galaxy S7 Plus variant, though unfortunately no images were provided. Today, Steve Hemmerstoffer of nowhereelse.fr posted a new animated CAD render on his Twitter feed, @OnLeaks. The movie, which was made in collaboration with uSwitch, purports to show the Galaxy S7 Plus in all its living large livelihood.
We want to remind our readers that (1) the CAD render is in no way confirmation of a final product design, or a real product, period. In addition (2) the discussion that follows is speculation based on current and deductive knowledge and reasoning and should not be assumed to be factual. Until Samsung itself provides hard information, all of this is just a rumor. With that out of the way, let’s look and see:
The video shows a device that measures 6-inches, and clearly looks like the Galaxy S6. There are no curves sides, thus it is evident this is not an Edge variant. New rumors have suggested Samsung will make both a standard “small” Galaxy S7 and a 6-inch Plus size. What’s more:
- USB 2.0 is prominently featured. SamMobile has cited an exclusive leak it published earlier this year that claims the S7 will make use of USB-C and thus suggests the first render is a fake.
- The camera module does seem to protrude more noticeably than on the S6.
- The thinner, rectangular Home button can be seen.
We suspect this CAD render was created by using the design elements from the earlier leak. It is relatively easy to extrapolate what a 6-inch device would look like when you already “know” what the standard sized variant will be. This is also a thoroughly refined piece of CG as opposed to the more crude, basic leak from earlier.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
uSwitch reports that @OnLeaks obtained the image “from his most trusted source, [and]are based on detailed blueprints that are supplied to third-party accessory manufacturers ahead of a phone’s launch.” The phone, which features a more rounded frame, is detailed as being 163.40mm tall and 82.00mm long. In addition, it is purported to be 7.82mm thick (or 9.05mm from the rear camera bump). The home button/fingerprint sensor is listed as being “18mm x 5mm, while the S6’s measures 16mm x 6.7mm.”
Is this the actual source of today’s video?
We do wish to point out that uSwitch made a mistake in reporting that the front camera has been moved to the left of the panel: it’s clearly visible on the top right part of the unit.
2/C or not 2/C
Regarding the USB 2.0 issue, this remains a point of contention. Samsung would be missing a significant new milestone if its next flagship were to set sail without USB Type C on board. This is the same company which put USB 3.0 on its Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5, and even the Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 tablet.
At the same time, anyone who remembers the reaction to Apple’s decision to go from its original port size to Lightning may be familiar with the outrage that followed. Accessories and peripherals will no longer work with such a port, and Samsung has already alienated some customers – perhaps for good – with its decision to remove microSD support and a user replaceable battery.
While SamMobile claims the S7 will have USB-C, the site has been mistaken before, such as earlier this year when it was reporting an Android 5.1 update to the Galaxy S6 would allow RAW image support. (Unfortunately said website is not working at the moment, however when it does this story will be updated to include links to the aforementioned references.)
Analysis and Wrap-up
While the notion of Samsung making a Plus-sized Galaxy S7 is not surprising in-and-of-itself, the idea of a six inch phablet might be a bit harder to swallow. The company has not released such a similar sized smartphone since the Galaxy Mega 2, and to this day has not released any flagship smartphone that was in excess of 5.8 inches. While it’s possible the S7 Plus could be a “novelty” in terms of wanting a truly titanic device to offer a clear differential, it’s also possible the entire rumor is just an over-sized bag of hot air.
If there is anything that can be taken away from today’s movie leak, it’s that whomever created it has done a very nice job with their CG prowess. The question remains however, if this is a legitimate leak or if it’s ultimately someone’s pet project based on what we already “know” about Samsung’s next big thing.
Please feel free to leave your comments in below and tell us what you think of a giant sized Samsung smartphone. Interested? Too big?
Google’s group payments let anyone in your family buy apps
Yesterday, Google launched a Play Music plan that lets up to six family members listen to music for $15 a month. But it also quietly unveiled another interesting feature: Family groups and payments. You first set up a family group by inviting your kin or friends, then add a family payment method that’s separate from your personal payments. From there, any member of the group can buy content without your say-so, though you will get an email confirmation for each purchase.
You have to be 18 to sign up, and purchases are limited to apps, books, movies, games, TV shows and magazines. Family members can’t buy devices from the Google Store or use it with Android Pay. In-app purchases are also disabled by default, so your idiot nephew can’t make you the not-so-proud owner of a lollipop hammer. You have to go through the Play Music signup process to enroll in family payments, but since they also work for apps and other items, that might change. Signup instructions are here, but for now, the feature is only available in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany and Australia.
Via: Droid Life
Source: Google (1), (2), (3)
Asus and LG have a laugh at Apple’s Smart Battery Case
If you have been keeping up with your broader smartphone tech, you may have noticed that Apple released a rather unflattering looking Smart Battery Case for its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S the other day. Asus and LG have taken to Twitter to poke a little fun at Apple’s latest innovation and grab a little attention for their latest products.
Starting with Asus, the company has leapt right into a comparison between its own Asus ZenFone Max, which packs in a whopping 5000mAh battery, and the combined battery life of Apple’s iPhone and Smart Battery Case. On its own, the ZenFone Max boats longer video playback and internet use than the combined iPhone products, and a substantially longer amount of talk time – 37 hours verses 25 hours.
You don’t need that extra pack when you have the maximum power in one. #ZenFone #Max pic.twitter.com/McjMJbzij5
— ASUS (@ASUS) December 9, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsLG prefers to poke fun at the design of the Smart Battery Case, which definitely isn’t the most attractive product that Apple have ever created, with the line “No bumps. Just goosebumps” to describe its V10 flagship, accompanied by #TheHump. The combined battery capacity of the iPhone 6 and battery case is said to be around 3492mAh, which is a little larger than the LG V10’s 3,000mAh cell. However, you have to wonder how many customers will be willing to compromise on the iPhone’s often praised design for that extra juice.
A moment of silence for those experiencing a bumpy ride. Life’s Good. #TheHump #LGV10 pic.twitter.com/OX9i4Bo4UE — LG Jordan (@LGJordan) December 9, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Priced at $99, the Smart Battery Case certainly isn’t the cheapest battery boosting accessory either. Do you have any thoughts on Apple’s case?
ISPs warn UK snooping law will cost time and lots of money
The Investigatory Powers Bill, aka the new Snoopers’ Charter, aims to clarify and extend the UK government’s surveillance capabilities. Of the proposed changes to existing legislation, one of the biggest is the requirement that all British ISPs store the last 12 months of browsing data so that it may be accessible to government agencies. The draft bill still needs the approval of the House of Commons and House of Lords to become law, so the finer details aren’t yet set in stone, but the UK’s major internet providers are already advising it’ll be a big ask. Speaking to the bill’s joint committee yesterday, execs from BT, Sky and Virgin Media warned the capture and storage of Internet Connection Records (ICRs) would be both costly, and could take several years to implement.
The bill in its current form would compel providers to store information on visited domains, but not individual webpages. While the ISPs are still seeking clarity on what exactly is being asked of them, the preliminary consensus is gathering this volume of data will be no mean feat. Because there’s been no historical need for monitoring traffic to this extent, the companies simply aren’t equipped to do so. Virgin Media’s Director of Operations Hugh Woolford told the joint committee he estimates the earliest such a system could be introduced across Virgin’s network would be sometime in 2018.
The level of investment in hardware and software needed to gather, process and store this kind of traffic data has been a common concern since the draft bill was first published. The UK Home Office has budgeted £174 million to help ISPs and communications services establish their collection systems, but President of BT Security Mark Hughes said his company alone would require tens of millions of that to get the ball rolling, not to mention recurring upkeep costs. It’s highly unlikely, then, that the Home Office’s piggy bank would be fat enough to fund every company expected to retain ICRs, though Hughes argues the government should be expected to pay for any new systems required by the bill in their entirety.
Privacy worries aside, the ISPs generally agree adhering to the Investigatory Powers Bill will be a “huge, huge undertaking,” as Woolford put it. How it’ll be funded is an important point to consider at this stage, too. Should it be necessary for providers to split the bill, there are fears it could lead to less investment by the companies in their core services, or worse, the financial shortfall could trickle down to consumers in the form of higher charges.
Via: Wired
Source: UK Parliament
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket returns to the skies this month
SpaceX is tentatively planning its next Falcon 9 rocket launch for December 19th at Cape Canaveral, Florida, following a static fire on December 16th. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted the news today, writing, “Aiming for Falcon rocket static fire at Cape Canaveral on the 16th and launch about three days later.” This should be a ground landing, following the company’s previous attempts to land its rockets on an ocean platform, which is a truly difficult feat.
The previous Falcon 9 launch ended in disaster — the rocket broke up shortly after taking off on a resupply mission for the International Space Station. At the time, Musk noted that the explosion may have been caused by an “overpressure event” in the rocket’s upper-stage liquid oxygen tank. The misfire set back SpaceX’s launch schedule by a few months.
Aiming for Falcon rocket static fire at Cape Canaveral on the 16th and launch about three days later
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2015
Source: @elonmusk
Google Photos gets shared albums in latest update
Google Photos already makes it insanely easy to share photos with your friends and family, and now the service is getting even more handy sharing features. Today Google is rolling out shared albums in Google Photos, which is a fast and easy way to bring together everyone’s photos and videos in a single album.
Users have been able to send and receive full albums of photos through Google Photos in the past, but now Google is taking this feature up a notch. Now when you share an album with someone, that person will be able to join and add their own photos and videos to the album with just a few taps. You’ll also get notifications when new pictures are added. You’ll be able to save photos and videos from a shared album to your own Google Photos library, which is certainly a nice addition.
There’s no setup required to enable shared albums. All you need to do is select the media you want to share, send the link to whomever you’d like, and they can edit the album from there.
See also: Google Photos update helps free up precious phone storage
The new shared albums feature is rolling out to Google Photos on Android, iOS and the web starting today. Follow the Play Store link below to grab the latest version!
Amazon and Netflix land a dozen Golden Globe nominations
Streaming services collecting awards for original content is nothing new, and this year’s Golden Globes nominations show the potential for more of the same. Netflix and Amazon both picked up nominations for shows (and a movie), with the former nabbing nine total. All three of Amazon’s nominations came for Transparent, a show which is already critically acclaimed. As you might expect, Netflix’s list of nominations includes two each for House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.
Netflix’s new darling, Narcos, was also nominated for a pair, including Best Drama Series and Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama for Wagner Moura (as Pablo Escobar). Perhaps what’s more interesting is Narcos replaced President Underwood and House of Cards in the two categories it’s nominated. Aziz Ansari is nominated for Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy in Master of None and Lilly Tomlin for Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy for Grace and Frankie. We’ll have to wait a month to find out who takes home top honors, though, as the ceremony airs January 10th on NBC.
Via: Variety
Source: Golden Globe Awards
AIVAnet 