Spotify reportedly testing subscription-only tracks
According to the Wall Street Journal, Spotify may be considering reversing a longstanding policy requiring artists to make their music available to both the company’s 80 million free listeners and 20 million paying customers. Essentially, it would allow certain musicians to withhold certain tracks and make them only available to paying subscribers for a certain amount of time. This decision, for which the WSJ cites an unnamed source within the music streaming company, comes after pop star Taylor Swift yanked her entire catalog from the site last year over the rule.
The company needs to look at how such a system might affect usage and subscription rates. The source also declined to expound on which artists (certainly not all of them) would be allowed to withhold tracks and for how long.
Should Spotify agree to this “windowed” streaming scheme, it’d be a huge win for music labels which have long lobbied the service for more flexibility in how it showcases their music. The labels are eyeing streaming as the future of music distribution (seeing as how few people buy CDs or even download music anymore) and the ability to control who gets to hear albums, and when, would grant them a degree of power and clout not enjoyed since the pre-Napster era. Of course, that would also screw 80 million listeners, whose streaming is subsidized by advertisements, out of hearing their favorite new tracks.
We’ve reached out to Spotify for comment on the matter and will update the post once they reply.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Marshmallow springs up to .5% distribution
For the last few months, I’ve been staring out a rainy window, sighing and leaning on the dulcet tones of Phil Collins to help me through my Marshmallow-less existence. Now it looks like the clouds are parting a bit. As Google updates their distribution numbers, a sliver of sunshine crashes through my apartment, illuminating empty bottles and discarded ramen packaging.
It’s a small sign, mind you. But when you’re desperate, it’s the small signs you cling to. This fresh look at the Android ecosystem shows that Marshmallow made a strong push since last month, hopping up from .3% to .5%. That’s not quite doubling, but it’s still a significant jump. Marshmallow still only represents a thin sliver of the Android ecosystem, but that sliver is ever-widening, bringing the joys of Google Now On Tap and dozens of other features to more and more users with each passing day.
See also: Marshmallow update “coming soon” to Xiaomi Mi 4 and Mi Note
Lollipop also saw a mild increase in usership, rising from 25.6% to 29.5%. KitKat shrank a bit, which is to be expected, falling from 37.8% to 36.6%. Jelly Bean and Ice Cream Sandwich also shrank, falling from 29% to 26.9% and 3.3% to 2.9% respectively. The geriatric Android versions Gingerbread and Froyo didn’t see much movement since November because they are arthritic and very tired.
What version of Android are you currently running? Marshmallow? Rub it in my face in the comments.
Samsung Pay not arriving on Gear S2 until 2016
If you’re a Samsung fan who shelled out for the Gear S2 earlier this fall with the understanding that the ability to pay from your smartwatch via Samsung Pay would be just around the corner, we’ve got some bad news for you. It might not be a very big delay, seeing as it’s almost 2016 as it is, but Samsung has announced that they would be pushing back the Gear S2’s Pay capability to next year.
Samsung Pay was originally promised to arrive on the Gear S2 by November at the latest, but Thanksgiving came and went with no word from Samsung, and no sign of Pay for Gear S2 users to speak of. In a customer service tweet, Samsung revealed that we should push back our expectations to beyond New Year’s, but the company offered no further information.
See also: 10 best Android Wear apps
For those not in the know, Samsung Pay is a mobile payment service that’s currently available on all major US carriers. It was initially released in October of this year after a brief beta run, and the app can be found in the Google Play Store. It’s effectively Samsung’s response to Apple Pay, and it requires a compatible smartphone like the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, and is unfortunately not available for older devices.
Do you have any experience with Samsung Pay? How has it been working for you? Are you eager to see it arrive on the Gear S2? Let us know in the comments!
Latest Android distribution numbers show Marshmallow breaking 0.5%
Google has released the latest distribution numbers for different versions of Android, and Marshmallow is continuing its slow climb towards a full percentage point of the market. Last month Android 6.0 was on 0.3% of devices, and this month it’s made a slight jump to 0.5%.
Lollipop also climbed from around 25% to nearly 30%, while KitKat and Jelly Bean fell roughly 1% each.
Older versions of Android are still clinging on, with FroYo sitting still at 0.2%, Gingerbread falling just a bit, and Ice Cream Sandwich dipping less than half a percentage point. How 4% of the market manages to survive with an Android phone running Gingerbread or lower is beyond me, but I guess if you’re still rocking a phone that old you’re in no hurry to upgrade.
It’d be nice to see Marshmallow increase its market share a little quicker, but that’s just the way these new Android versions seem to pan out.
source: Android Developers
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Verizon goes live with WiFi calling for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge
Verizon announced last week that a software update coming to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge would activate WiFi calling for the handsets. Today, the carrier is pushing out the update along with additional features and fixes. Verizon’s variants of the two Samsung devices are also getting Live Broadcast and Hi-Fi audio support.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
Make calls over Wi-Fi
It’s easy. Start by going to Settings > Advanced Calling > Activate Advanced Calling. Once Advanced Calling is active, you can turn on HD Voice and Wi-Fi Calling from the same settings menu.Go to Settings > Advanced Calling > Activate Wi-Fi Calling
Live Video Broadcasting
The Galaxy S6 helps you share life’s can’t-miss moments as they happen. Take live video and broadcast it to the world via YouTube, letting viewers see it in real time.
- Share important moments in real time
- Seamless HD capture and sharing
- Integrated with Camera and Contacts
- Watch and broadcast via YouTube (mobile/web/TV)
Ultra-High-Quality Audio- UHQA (Hi-Fi Audio)
Your favorite tunes have never sounded better on a Samsung smartphone. This breakthrough audio technology takes select music files and enhances the richness and detail.
- Improved sound quality for any file type
- Audiophile level sound quality
- Every note from your playlists and punch lines from your favorite videos are brought to life with crisp audio
App/Folder Icon
Icon shape or folders and native apps have been updated.Messages
The Samsung Messages app lets you preview your messages on the status bar and lock screen.This feature is active by default, but it’s easy to turn off if you want to keep your incoming messages private.
Come comment on this article: Verizon goes live with WiFi calling for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge
Google introduces new interchangeable shells for OnHub routers
Google teamed up with TP-LINK to create a better looking router, called the OnHub Router. It’s a little expensive, but it looks way better than your typical messy, wired, blocky routers that most of us are currently using, and that means that it’s a little more acceptable to keep it out in the open where it can perform better for your wireless devices.
Today, Google is taking things one step further and releasing customizable shells for the OnHub router that will give you some room to experiment and create your own design for the cup-shaped device. In addition to the shells, there’s a new OnHub Makers gallery to show off what others have done to customize the router. You can browse through some of the creations which include things like lamps, clay designs, and even a slinky, all of which look way better on a shelf in your living room than a rectangular black box with wires and antennas sticking out of it.
You can purchase the shells later today for $29 to $39, and Google has released 2D and 3D models if you want to make your own.
source: Google
Click here to view the embedded video.
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SwiftKey update brings Pinyin for Chinese support, plus typing and emoji enhancements
SwiftKey has updated their already fantastic keyboard with a handful of new features for users, one of the biggest being Pinyin for traditional Chinese support. Chinese support only recently came to SwiftKey, but Pinyin input has been one of the most requested features since it was left out of the initial batch of supported inputs.
Some other improvements include vague typing enhancements, which should speed up your typing regardless of what orientation you’re typing in. I’d imagine most of those improvements are going to adjust typing in landscape, but anything that reduces typos is a welcome addition.
The keyboard also has some new emoji-specific fixes, including a matching theme for your emoji panel as well as remembering your last used emoji category, which should speed up finding those frequently used emojis.
Hit the link below to grab the update.
Come comment on this article: SwiftKey update brings Pinyin for Chinese support, plus typing and emoji enhancements
Samsung Pay compatibility for the Gear S2 smartwatch gets delayed to 2016
An unhappy Samsung Gear S2 owner recently made a shout out to Samsung on twitter. He complained that his Gear S2 smartwatch hadn’t received the promised update containing the Samsung Pay feature. Samsung Mobile US then replied with the statement “we’re sorry for the wait, Samsung Pay is now coming to the Gear S2 in 2016.”
Samsung Pay was supposed to launch for the Gear S2 sometime in November, however the company seems to be experiencing delays. One can still use the wireless payment service on their Samsung flagship smartphone. Samsung is also said to be bringing Samsung Pay compatibility to some mid-range handsets. The soon to be launched Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 will be the first mid-range handsets to include the new feature.
We’re not sure as to what’s causing the delays, after all, the Gear S2 has the required sensors built into the watch itself. 2016 is the new target for the release and should roll out via a software update, like the one that released just days ago. By then there’s a good chance we start hearing rumors associated with the next iteration Gear S3 smartwatch.
Source: Samsung Mobile US (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Samsung Pay compatibility for the Gear S2 smartwatch gets delayed to 2016
‘Destiny’ won’t get big add-on packs in its second year
Those reports of Bungie scaling back Destiny‘s add-on plans were apparently well-founded. The studio’s Derek Carroll tells Eurogamer that the game’s Taken King era will focus on events like Sparrow racing, rather than the “giant, monolithic” downloadable content packs that defined Destiny in its first year. Bungie isn’t explaining why, but tipsters had previously claimed that this was necessary to give the team more breathing room as it worked on yearly upgrades.
Either way, you shouldn’t anticipate any expensive content. Carroll suggests that the events you’ve seen so far, which are completely free outside of nice-to-have cosmetic add-ons, are a sign of things to come. That might be a bummer if you were hoping for a huge array of new maps and game mechanics in the months ahead, but you at least won’t find yourself dropping tons of cash just to keep up with devoted players.
Via: Kotaku
Source: Eurogamer
Google has a $499 hybrid in the Pixel C
This holiday season, Google has a new tablet for you to consider. The Pixel C debuted earlier this year at Google I/O, surprising everyone by separating itself from the Nexus line. Google is positioning the Pixel C as a high-end tablet focused on productivity. While it’s not quite a laptop, the Pixel C is like Microsoft’s Surface and the very confused Apple iPad Pro. Utilizing a physical keyboard attachment is vital to get the most out of the Pixel C. Like Microsoft and Apple hope for with their premium tablets, Google says the Pixel C merges portability and productivity.
This is far from any device Google has ever released when it comes to design, though it does resemble the two previous Pixel Chromebooks. The tablet, which comes is only silver, is made of anodized aluminum.
The Pixel C is a beast on the inside while being one of the most attractive tablets ever released. Here’s the rundown on the tablet’s specifications:
- 10.2-inch (2560×1800) display
- NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor; Maxwell GPU
- 3GB of RAM
- 32GB or 64GB of internal storage
- 8MP / 2MP cameras
- 34.2Wh battery
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Although the battery is not being measured in milliamp hours, Google is saying the Pixel C should run for around ten hours before needing to be charged. And like the last Pixel and the recent Nexus devices, Google is using a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfers.
The two accessories made specifically for the Pixel are two physical keyboards, both of which cost $149 each. One is a keyboard that also includes a stand for positioning the tablet between 100 and 135 degrees. The other, a folio keyboard, wraps around the Pixel C for instant access. It offers protection in addition to enhanced productivity. The Pixel C attaches to either keyboard by a magnetic connection while communicating through Bluetooth. Unlike the keyboard folio that was made by HTC for the Nexus 9, the Pixel C’s charges automatically when closed with the tablet. Google wanted a silent charging method for the keyboards so that users never have to think about its battery life.
From the Google Store, the Pixel C starts at $499 for 32GB of internal storage. Upping that to 64GB raises the price tag to $599. Keep in mind that no physical keyboard is included, so the Pixel C is at least $648 to get started with in its proper setup. By comparison, the Surface 3 and iPad Pro start at $499 and $799, respectively.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Although this is the busiest time of the year to be shipping things, Google says that ordering today will guarantee that the Pixel C arrives on your doorstep in time for Christmas.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google has a $499 hybrid in the Pixel C
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