Verizon introduces LTE network extender for homes and businesses

Verizon and Samsung have revealed a 4G LTE network extender aimed both at consumer and business customers. As you might guess, the box extends the reach of Verizon’s network in your home or office, allowing you to get strong cellular signal wherever you go.

From Verizon:

The 4G LTE Network Extender features Samsung’s innovative small cell technology, which enables Verizon subscribers to make HD Voice and Video calls, access mobile data, and stream content from in-building locations where existing cellular coverage may not adequately reach.  The product provides a cost-effective and simple-to-install solution to overcome the challenges of weak coverage in buildings with dense materials or located in remote areas — helping significantly boost productivity for offices and residences.  

The Network Extender is meant to offer strong LTE connections for up to 7 devices, and has an eighth channel reserved for 911 calls. It features self-optimization network technology from Samsung that allows it to automatically adjust coverage based on needs.

You’ll be able to get the 4G LTE Network Extender directly from Verizon beginning June 30 for $249.99.

Chevrolet offers more data for the money with its OnStar 4G LTE plans

If you happen to have an OnStar 4G LTE data plan in your Chevrolet vehicle, your bill is about to get much cheaper. Chevrolet has announced that it has cut the price of the OnStar LTE data plans offered for its vehicles, while the company is also offering a new 4GB plan for greater variety.

The new prices are as follows (including the new 4GB plan):

• 1GB per month – $10
• 4GB per month – $20
• 10GB per month – $40
• 20GB per 12 months – $150

Chevrolet started offering LTE connections in 2014, with the hotspot coming standard on new retail models with an OnStar Basic Plan. As families gear up to travel over the Independence Day weekend, this price cut has come at a pretty good time.

Note-taking alternatives now that Evernote is more expensive

Now that Evernote is raising prices for its Plus and Premium plans — and limiting the free basic sync to just two devices — perhaps you’re in the market for a new note-taking app.

Well, we’ve used more than a few around here. These are the note-taking apps that keep us taking notes, day after day.

Simplenote for Android.

Phil Nickinson — Simplenote

I don’t mind spending money on good apps and services. But I never particularly found Evernote to be all that great at either, and it definitely was more than a little pushy on the paid thing. I write most everything in Simplenote. It’s basic as basic gets. No formatting. Some basic sharing. And while I loathe needing a separate log-in, it syncs across multiple platforms. So what I write on the Mac is available to me on my Android. And it works great offline and is much faster than a browser.

Download Simplenote (free)

Jerry Hildenbrand — Google Keep

I don’t mind spending money on things like note-taking apps either. But the app that works best for me happens to be free — Google Keep. I can synchronize my notes across all my devices, including the computer on my desk, as well as sync individual notes with anyone who has a Google account. With the ability to insert pictures, numbered lists and web content as well as create ordered lists and use stylized text, Google Keep does everything I need when it comes to taking notes.

Download Google Keep (free):

Google Keep for Android.

Andrew Martonik — Google Keep (and Docs)

Any time I need to take some serious notes, for anything that’s going to add up to more than a few sentences, that all goes into a fresh Google Doc — but if that’s the case, I’ll usually be using Docs on a laptop. I’ll rarely go through the extra steps of getting a new Doc started on mobile.

For on-the-go notes, it’s all Google Keep for me. I don’t need any fancy features or advanced tools — heck, I barely use all of what Keep has to offer — I just need a place to dump snippets of information throughout the day and have it sync to my other devices. I never have more than about 10 Keep notes at any given time, and don’t need notes with tons of formatting, images or anything of that sort. In this case, the simplest app wins for me.

Download: Google Keep (Free)

Daniel Bader — Google Keep

I still use Evernote, and plan to continue to pay for the Plus account indefinitely. But I also understand that many people will be turned off by what is clearly a strategic imperative to hedge against a dwindling paid subscriber base or slowing user growth. But I realized today that I only use Evernote for longer-form note-taking, or archiving things like business cards and documents, as its image recognition software is excellent.

For shorter notes, I’ve begun defaulting to Google Keep which, though now richer in features, is still as simple and straightforward as it was when it first launched. Like Evernote, it is a cross-platform play, which means it’s accessible on any device, including the web and on iOS. But Android is where it shines, with a beautiful Material Design interface and a great widget that drops me right into the note screen.

Download: Google Keep (Free)

Richard Devine — OneNote

I never really bought into Evernote, frankly, as it never seemed to fit my workflow. If I’m doing anything that requires a decent amount of note taking and research, I use OneNote by Microsoft. The basic app is free to use and will sync across phones, tablets and PCs through OneDrive. If you’re an Office user on top, you can use OneNote alongside the other products to get the most from it. It’s a powerful tool that allows you to break down your content by notebook, giving you absolute control over your organization.

Perhaps most importantly, though, OneNote is platform agnostic. You can use it everywhere you might want to, including your wrist. There are mobile apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone, as well as a touch friendly app for Windows 10 tablets and full desktop clients for Windows and Mac. Just like Evernote, you need never worry about what piece of equipment you buy next, OneNote will come with you. They’re all really nice apps, too, which is the icing on the cake.

Download: OneNote (Free)

Google Drive

Alex Dobie — Google Drive/Docs

I use Google Keep for simple lists and short notes, but if I’m in a meeting, interview or press conference situation, Google Docs — as part of Google Drive — is where I do most of my note-taking. Docs might lack some of the immediacy of Keep, but the rich editing interface on phones and tablets makes it an easy way to take notes on the go — for example, at an event — before transforming them into a full-blown article for Android Central. Also useful: The ability to create home screen shortcuts to specific documents, ideal for quickly hopping between docs on the go.

Download Google Docs

Brexit may force OnePlus 3 price hike in the UK

‘Worrying downward trend of the GBP may make it difficult to maintain our current pricing structure in the UK,’ company says.

Priced at £309 in the UK, the OnePlus 3 is about the least expensive premium smartphones available. Except it might not be so affordable for British buyers in the future. In a statement emailed to press and posted on the company’s forums, a OnePlus spokesman admits that prices may have to rise. To blame is the dramatic drop in the value of the British pound that followed the country’s recent vote to leave the European Union.

“We’ve always strived to create the best product and deliver them to customers at a reasonable price. However, the worrying downward trend of the GBP may make it difficult to maintain our current pricing structure in the UK. Our margins have always been thin, and our expenses are mainly in USD. This being the case, sudden drops such as the one that the Pound has recently experienced could have a direct impact on our prices.

We’re telling you this now because we don’t want you to be blindsided. If you’re thinking of buying, we recommend doing so sooner rather than later. However, if a price change comes to pass, it will not be a decision that we take lightly. We have only had to increase prices once before, when the Euro hit a nine-year low against the dollar at the beginning of 2015, and we did so reluctantly. Currency fluctuations are not your fault, nor our fault; but if we sell at a loss, the simple fact is that there won’t be a OnePlus in the future.”

In the immediate aftermath of “Brexit,” GBP nosedived to $1.33, to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar in 31 years, before rebounding slightly in recent days. In relative terms, that means OnePlus earns around $40 less from a OnePlus 3 sold today compared to a week ago. With admittedly slim margins, it’s easy to see how that makes higher UK prices inevitable in the long run.

That doesn’t mean a price hike is imminent, but OnePlus is clearly preparing fans for that possibility — and at the same time nudging those on the fence towards making a purchase.

OnePlus 3

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• Discuss OnePlus 3 in the forums

OnePlus

Google Keep now creates automatic topics for searching through notes

Google Keep has received a small but useful update that makes it easier to organize your notes by topic. The app now automatically generates topics for your notes, such as food, books, or travel. So Keep might put a to-do list with the word ‘trip’ in it under the ‘travel’ section, or a recipe under ‘food’.

From Google Docs on Twitter:

#GoogleKeep organized. Search automagically created topics like books, food and quotes for @Android, iPhones and web pic.twitter.com/wccSbThYpQ

— Google Docs (@googledocs) June 29, 2016

The update with automatic categories is rolling out now for Google Keep on Android, the web, and iOS.

Amazon will cut prices on Android phones displaying its lock screen ads

Amazon has announced it will offer discounts on select Android phones – as long as you agree to view adverts on the phones’ lock screens.

The online retailer sells other manufacturers’ phones, including the fourth-generation Moto G and Blu R1 HD. In an attempt to get customers more interested in buying those unlocked phones, it’s now offering paid Prime members $50 discounts on each. The catch? Buyers have to view lock-screen ads similar to the ones shown on Amazon’s Fire tablets and Kindle book readers.

That means the Blu phone will cost just $49, and the Moto G will cost $149. Also, for a limited time, you can save an additional $25 on the Moto G at checkout, discounting the phone to $124. These are huge price cuts, and it shows Amazon – despite being a phone maker itself in the past – is willing to work with hardware makers in order to better hawk their goods at customers.

Interestingly, these phones won’t use Amazon services in place of Google. They’ll of course offer Amazon apps for shopping, watching videos, and playing music, but you’ll also have access to Google apps like Google Play Store, YouTube, Gmail, and Chrome. Check out Amazon’s promotion page for more information about these smartphones including tech specs.

Keep in mind Amazon’s ads will also appear below notifications that pop up on your lock screen. So, whenever you get a Facebook notification or whatever, you’ll see an ad show up below it. These ads might push Amazon’s own products, such as Kindle books, but they’ll also be from other marketers. All the ads can be swiped away or dismissed.

It’s not yet clear if Amazon’s promotion is available outside of the US, though we’ve contacted the online retailer to learn more and will update when that information becomes available.

Microsoft deal offers US students a free Xbox One with Surface Pro 4

Microsoft is announcing a massive Xbox One sale, but unfortunately for Brits, it’s limited to students in the US.

The Redmond-based company recently unveiled a newer, slimmer Xbox One called Xbox One S. It’s therefore safe to assume Microsoft is now eager to move all remaining units of the older model. An easy way to do that is through a sale or promotion, and that’s exactly what Microsoft has in mind, according to its website. Starting today, US students can get the Xbox One for free.

However, in order to take advantage of the $300 savings, they must buy a Surface Book or Surface Pro 4, which starts at $899. Microsoft will run this compelling promotion across all its retail stores until 14 August. That means university students can not only get a laptop hybrid to help them with all their classwork, but they’ll have solid entertainment lined up for their dorms.

“So, basically, a free Xbox One with the purchase of a Surface Pro 4,” confirmed Terry Myerson, head of Windows and devices at Microsoft, to The Verge, though he neglected to note that students will essentially be buying old hardware.

Microsoft