Marshmallow update now rolling out to T-Mobile HTC One M8 and LG G Stylo

If you’re using an HTC One M8 or LG G Stylo on T-Mobile, your wait for Android 6.0 Marshmallow is now over. T-Mobile’s support documents indicate that the Marshmallow update has started rolling out for both phones, bringing along a number of improvements, including features like Doze Mode, granular app permissions and more.

According to T-Mobile, the update for the HTC One M8 should bring it up to software version 6.20.531.5, while the LG G Stylo will move up to software version H63120b. Keep in mind that, since the update only just began rolling out, it may take some time to reach everyone. Once you do get your hands on the update, however, be sure to shout out in the comments below, and chime in on our forums with your thoughts on the update!

Google Project Fi ditches the invite system, now open to all in US

Project Fi is no longer available by invite-only.

Despite Google I/O 2016 being just around the corner, Google has made an announcement about Project Fi, which we expected to get an update on during the company’s annual developer conference. The project debuted 10 months ago. It’s a cross-carrier network that automatically switches carriers and finds open Wi-Fi for your device to provide you with a solid connection at all times.

It’s been available for Nexus device owners so long as they had received and accepted an invite from Google. But that’s no longer the case.

“We launched Project Fi as an invitation-only Early Access program to make sure we could deliver the best quality of service to our first customers,” Google explained through a blog post. “Today, we’re excited to be exiting our invitation-only mode and opening up Project Fi so that people across the US can now sign up for service without having to wait in-line for an invite.”

Project Fi appears to still be limited to Nexus devices however. In fact, for the next month, Google is discounting the Nexus 5X to $199. Project Fi connects to the cellular networks of both Sprint and T-Mobile and requires you only pay for the amount of data you use each month.

You can learn more about how Project Fi works from our breakdown piece.

READ: Google I/O 2016: Here’s what to expect from the keynote

New in our buyer’s guide: The Xbox One wireless adapter and more!

Before we set about reviewing all the phones announced at Mobile World Congress last month, we decided to give our gaming and audio buyer’s guides a refresh. In addition to culling some older products, we’re inducting a few new ones. The most recognizable of the bunch is perhaps the Xbox One wireless adapter, though you might also be familiar with the wireless Bragi Dash earbuds that we reviewed recently. Rounding out the list, we’ve added Master & Dynamic’s $549 MW60 wireless over-ears — for those who can afford it. Check out our full guide here, and stay tuned for further updates in the coming months.

Source: Engadget Buyer’s Guide

Verizon can’t share web activity with advertisers unless you opt in

Last spring, Verizon began offering its customers a way to opt out of the “supercookies” that track activity for advertisers to leverage. Following a settlement with the FCC, the wireless company must give customers the choice to opt in to the program rather than employing the tracking system by default. Verizon has to notify customers about its use of the unique undeletable identifiers, or UIDH, for targeted advertising. Only after users give consent is the company able to share any web browsing data with either third parties or within its corporate family.

“Consumers care about privacy and should have a say in how their personal information is used,
especially when it comes to who knows what they’re doing online,” said Travis LeBlanc, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau Chief. “Privacy and innovation are not incompatible. This agreement shows that companies can offer meaningful transparency and consumer choice while at the same time continuing to innovate.”

In addition to the new opt-in policy, Verizon also has to pay a $1.35 million fine and implement a three-year compliance plan to settle the FCC probe. The Commission found that though Verizon had been using the supercookies to track user activity as early as late 2012, the company failed to disclose the practice until October 2014. What’s more, the wireless carrier didn’t update its privacy policy to include the use of UIDH or provide customers a way to opt out until late March 2015. The FCC noted the failure to do so was a violation of the 2010 Open Internet Transparency Rule. If you’ll recall, the Commission fined AT&T $100 million for violating the same rule in regards to throttling unlimited data plans last year.

Here’s what Verizon had to say on the matter:

“Verizon gives customers choices about how we use their data, and we work hard to provide customers with clear, complete information to help them make decisions about our services. Over the past year, we have made several changes to our advertising programs that have provided consumers with even more options. Today’s settlement with the FCC recognizes that. We will continue to give customers the information they need to decide what programs and services are right for them.”

Source: FCC (PDF)

Google’s Project Fi no longer requires an invitation to join

After nearly a year, Google is ready to drop the velvet ropes that have kept Project Fi off-limits for most Americans. As of today, anyone in the US can sign up for the simpler, data-centric wireless service without requiring an invitation — if you’re tired of your existing carrier charging for more data than you use, you can jump ship at any time. You’ll still need a Project Fi-friendly smartphone (the Nexus 5X, 6 or 6P) or tablet (the Nexus 9, newer iPads or the Galaxy Tab S) for this to work. However, Google is sweetening the pot by discounting the Nexus 5X to as little as $199 if you buy it at the same time as you activate service. That’s a good deal if you’re already in the market for a mid-range Android phone.

Via: Droid-Life

Source: Android Official Blog

Kanye West vows ‘no more CDs’

Kanye West’s recent trend toward tech-related diatribes isn’t over yet. In one of his signature tweetstorms, the star has declared that there will be “no more CDs” coming from him — if you want his music going forward, you’ll likely have to download or stream it. The Yeezus album cover was an “open casket” at the CD’s funeral, he says. The concept of a musician going online-only isn’t that groundbreaking (just ask indies that can’t justify producing CDs), but it’s still rare to see a major artist swear off disc-based album sales.

Whether or not Kanye holds to that pledge is another matter. Although it’s true that downloads and streams make up the majority of music revenue in some countries (including the US), that’s still a lot of money to leave on the table. He’s gambling that internet-based music sales will grow quickly enough in the near future that lost CD sales won’t really matter. It seems like a reasonably smart bet, but then this is also the man who made his latest album an exclusive on a music service (Tidal) overshadowed by Apple Music and Spotify. It may be tempting for Kanye to change his mind if CD sales are decent in the near future.

uuuuuuum, so there it is… No more CDs from me

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) March 7, 2016

the Yeezus album packaging was an open casket to CDs r.i.p

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) March 7, 2016

Source: Kanye West (Twitter 1), (2)

Blizzard’s ‘Overwatch’ hits consoles and PC on May 24

The wait is almost over for Overwatch, Blizzard’s first original game in some time. The shooter will hit PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on May 24, the company announced today. Additionally, you’ll be able to get your feet wet during an open beta from May 5 through May 9. Those who preorder the game will also be able to get an early start on the beta on May 3.

Multiplayer shooters are fairly common these days, but it’ll be interesting to see how Blizzard, a company best known for MMORPGs and strategy games, approaches the genre. Based on what we’ve seen so far, Overwatch’s gameplay is frenetic, giving you control of 21 different heroes with different skills. This isn’t some stroll through Destiny’s Crucible.

Blizzard also revealed two new editions of the game today. PC players can snag the base version for $40 — which doesn’t include some of the skins and other “digital goodies” buyers of the $60 “Origins Edition” will get — and the “Collector’s Edition” for all platforms will retail for around $130. The latter will come with a Soldier: 76 statue, art book and soundtrack.

Source: Blizzard

TuneIn strikes deal with NBA to stream live audio from games

As part of the ongoing efforts to expand its premium radio services, TuneIn has announced a partnership with the National Basketball Association. This new multi-year deal will let TuneIn stream live audio from NBA games to subscribers, including those from the preseason, regular season, playoffs, the finals and All-Star weekend. Last October, TuneIn also struck similar agreements with MLB, NHL and the NFL, so the addition of the NBA only makes the paid app more appealing to sports fans.

While full access won’t be available in the US until the beginning of the NBA’s next season, TuneIn Premium users outside of the US, Canada and China can listen to the remaining 2015-2016 games starting today. For those of you who aren’t subscribed yet, the membership costs $8 per month, which gives you additional access to music and audiobooks.

Source: TuneIn

Funimation launches its all-in-one anime destination site

Funimation Entertainment announced today that its FunimationNow platform is now live. The site, which we first saw back at CES, will make the studio’s expansive archive of shows — including DBZ, Attack on Titan and Assassination Classroom — available to subscribers without ads or viewing restrictions. The new service will initially be available on iOS, Android, Kindle and Windows 10 devices while support for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Roku devices is expected by May.

Pricing for the service will be tiered. Free accounts will have to deal with ads and have access to a limited portion of the archives. For $5 a month, viewers will get full access to the entire HD library of shows but they’ll all be subtitled (which is how they’re best viewed anyway). The $8/month tier gives you everything from the lower tiers plus access to dubbed versions of shows and bonus content.

NCAA March Madness Live streams games to even more devices

Oh, March Madness. The time of year when productivity takes a nose dive as sports fans follow along to see who will win the office pool. NCAA March Madness Live is the home for all your streaming needs when it comes to the tournament, and this year the live basketball action is available on more devices than ever before. In addition to the web portal and mobile apps, March Madness Live also streams to Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku gadgets. What’s more, the mobile apps also feature Google Cast and AirPlay, should you need to beam the footage to a nearby TV or in-game audio to a wireless speaker.

Apple TV owners will get a handy extra, too: split-screen viewing. Rather than having to use two displays or a laptop and tablet to follow a pair of matchups, you can watch them side-by-side with Cupertino’s set-top box. That’s a pretty handy addition. As you might expect, the GameCenter hub and on-demand video content have also been updated for this year’s tournament, putting all the hardwood content you’d ever want at your fingertips. And yes, you can even get score updates and alerts sent to your Apple Watch. You know, in case you get pulled into a meeting during the first two rounds.

The First Four games tip off March 15th with the First Round (or the first day of insanity) following on the 17th. When the time comes, you’ll be able to stream live games on 12 different platforms total, so there’s no excuse for missing a single buzzer beater or bracket-busting upset.

Source: NCAA