Where to buy a U.S. unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge
Samsung is finally offering a SIM-unlocked Galaxy S7 (and GS7 edge) in the United States. That means a few things.
The unlocked Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are able to work on pretty much any operator here in the U.S. While most folks out there don’t hop from one to the next too often, it’s still a very nice ability to have. These versions also aren’t bloated up by carrier software. And as we noted when the GS7 was released, the operators can make a pretty big mess of things. These should also theoretically get software updates faster. (We’ll just have to see on that one.)
But the big question: Where will you be able to buy an unlocked Galaxy S7? Turns out there a number of choices. Samsung has committed to having the phones available from several different retailers, but not all have put them on sale right at the same time. Here’s the current list, and we’ll be updating it as more join in.
U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
See at BestBuy
See at B&H Photo
U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7 edge
See at B&H Photo
See at Samsung
These direct links will take you to the proper pages for the U.S. unlocked phones … make sure when searching elsewhere for the phones that you aren’t confused by other “unlocked” models — those could possibly not have the correct network bands for the U.S.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Galaxy S7 review
- Galaxy S7 edge review
- U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
- Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
- Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
- Learn about the Galaxy S7’s SD card slot
- Join our Galaxy S7 forums
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon
Google wants you to explore the web in VR with Chrome for Android
Soon, you’ll be able to jump into the web. Like, literally.
The latest beta and developer versions of Google’s Chrome browser app for Android includes support for the open-source WebVR standard, which allows developers to create websites you can use/watch/view in VR. But the developer version specifically mentions a “VR Shell” feature that enables mobile device headsets to browse any site – not just specific WebVR sites.
According to Road to VR, Google ultimately wants everyone to explore the internet in VR. Until that’s possible, you can only pop on a VR headset, then navigate to a WebVR-supported site to surf, and remove the VR headset when visiting a non-WebVR site. Because Google is working on immersive browsing though, you’ll soon do this – but also explore the entire web – with Chrome.
You’ll likely need a special version of Chrome’s browser, Google’s Cardboard headset (or Daydream viewer), and a supported device to jump into the web and start VR browsing. Keep in mind Samsung already offers a browser for Gear VR, though a Chrome version for Android would obviously be more widely available. Google has already confirmed it is working to bring the web to VR, too.
François Beaufort, Google’s Chromium evangelist, revealed in a Google+ post earlier this month that the Chromium team is working on several features to bring the web to VR: “They’ve recently added an experimental flag … to enable a browser shell for VR. This allows users to browse the web while using Cardboard or Daydream-ready viewers.”
“The team is just getting started on making the web work well for VR,” Beaufort added, “there’s more to come!”
François Beaufort
Apple wants to buy Jay Z’s Tidal music-streaming service
If you can’t beat ’em, buy ’em.
Apple offers a music-streaming service, called Apple Music, naturally, but soon it might own another music-streaming service: Tidal. The Jay Z-owned service launched in 2014, with a focus on offering high-fidelity audio to subscribers and exclusives, such as Kanye’s recent Life of Pablo album (though that eventually became available on Apple Music). Tidal is a compelling alternative to Apple Music – but not for long, it seems.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is considering an acquisition of Tidal. Talks are “ongoing” and might never finalise. That said, Tidal executives are denying the rumour. Keep in mind this news has surfaced directly after Spotify claimed Apple recently rejected an update to its iOS app. Spotify removed the option for in-app subscriptions, and Apple apparently didn’t like that.
Spotify put Apple on blast, making it seem like Apple is “causing grave harm” by using the App Store approval process as a “weapon to harm competitors”, Recode reported. It therefore seems like Apple – which, again, does have its own music service – is either trying to buy up the competition or prevent them from operating altogether. It’ll be interesting to see how this pans out.
Meanwhile, WSJ said that Apple is also working to secure close relationships with more recording artists. It reportedly is working hard to convince artists to offer their music for a period of exclusivity on Apple Music.
HTC Marlin Nexus phone completely revealed in major spec leak
Google is getting ready to unveil two Nexus smartphones later this year – and now, thanks to a leak, we know what the larger device might feature.
The larger Nexus is currently going by the name Marlin, and according to Android Police, which just published a list of specifications for the phone, it will feature a 5.5-inch display. Keep in mind that panel’s size is .2-inches smaller than the one found on the current Nexus 6P, a phablet that Huawei and Google launched last year as a larger Nexus option for those of us who didn’t want the smaller Nexus 5X by LG.
It will still be an AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2560×1440, however. Other leaked specs include a Qualcomm processor (the series is unknown; it might be a Snapdragon 820, Snapdragon 823, or the oft-rumored Snapdragon 821), 4GB of RAM (just like “Sailfish”, the smaller Nexus that’s due this fall), 32GB or 128GB of storage (so long 64GB from the 6P), and a 12-megapixel rear camera.
It’ll also have a 8-megapixel front camera, support for USB C, and a 3,450 mAh battery. If this leaked spec list turns out to be legit, you’ll also see the speakers moved to the bottom of the device, and of course, it’ll offer a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Android Police noted that this HTC-made phone has a design very similar to Sailfish, too. There’s no word yet on pricing.
Check out Pocket-lint’s Next Nexus rumour round-up for more Marlin leaks.
Karma, the shareable hotspot, finally supports private networks
Only a few months after killing unlimited data and rolling out new subscription plans, Karma is now ready to offer its customers a long requested feature: private networks. The company made a name for itself with shareable hotspots, which always broadcast publicly and allow anyone with a Karma network to hop on. Now, it’s finally giving you more control over your hotspot network. The only catch? It’s a part of the company’s new premium features, which are an additional fee on top of its existing data plans.
Customers on Karma’s pay-as-you-go Refuel plan ($15 per gigabyte) will have to pay $15 a month for premium features, while it’ll cost people using its Pulse subscription plans (starting at $40 a month for 5GB) an additional $5 a month. Refuel users can try out the premium features for $10 for their first month, while Pulse members will get it free for one month. And if you’re just getting started, you’ll have to pick up the company’s $149 Karma Go hotspot as well.
Karma’s private network feature works just like any other hotspot: It’ll let you secure your network with a password, allowing only the people you want to join in. Naturally, you’ll be able to change the name of your hotspot, and you can even add emojis to the name (something not every hotspot and router supports). Another plus to having a private Karma network? You can actually connect other devices that don’t have web browsers (think set-top boxes, wearables and the like).
Of course, with a private network you won’t be able to take advantage of the free credit Karma offers when people connect to your open network. Currently, Refuel customers get an extra 100MB of data whenever someone else connects to their hotspot, and Pulse members get $1 off their next bill. It’s a shame to see Karma back away from its core concept, but it also makes sense. Sometimes you just need to have more control.
Source: Karma
Apple CEO Tim Cook takes a new role on Nike’s board
A leadership change at Nike is affecting Tim Cook’s role with the apparel maker slightly. Cook, a Nike board member since 2005, is now the lead independent director of the board. The reason why Nike needs one now is because founder Phil Knight is retiring from his position as chairman of the board.
It’s all according to a plan of succession put in place last year, so president/CEO Mark Parker will take over as chairman too. Cook’s new position is intended as a way to provide independent leadership on the board, when the chairman and the CEO of the company are the same person. Nike and Apple have had a cozy relationship over the years, and this probably won’t impact that significantly, although it comes as Nike is facing increased competition from the likes of Under Armour and Adidas.
Source: Nike
WSJ: Apple in talks to buy Tidal
Jay Z could be the next rapper making a big sale to Tim Cook, as the Wall Street Journal cites anonymous sources saying Apple is in “exploratory” talks to buy Tidal, although a spokesperson for the music service said there had not been any talks. As to why Apple would buy, the answer could be Tidal’s direct relationship with artists, something that could bolsters Apple Music’s offerings. Exclusivity of high-profile album and mixtape releases has been a recurring theme lately, and buying out the service could arm Apple with more content that competitors like Spotify (which has its own issues with Apple) and Google Play can’t offer.
Jay Z bought the service in March 2015 for about $56 million, sharing ownership with other artists and promising high fidelity audio. Last year, rumors suggested Apple was trying to poach artists from the Tidal camp, and that was before we saw the word exclusive tagged to releases by Rihanna, Kanye, Prince and more. It recently reported topping three million subscribers, up from a million just last fall, and is apparently up to 4.2 million now.
Despite those growing numbers, it would be hard to stay in the fight against massive companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft, and it still trails Spotify by a huge margin. An acquisition seems like a logical exit, although we can only imagine what the company would look like as a part of Apple. Beats has been an integral — if not widely used – part of its music offering so far, and I’m wondering how Tidal’s artist-first stance fits there.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Facebook’s Paper news-reading app to shut down next month
Facebook has announced that it is shutting down its news-reading app Paper. The application was introduced in 2014 as an alternative to the main Facebook app, featuring a sleek layout with a complete focus on showcasing articles — rather than status updates from your friends. As unexpected as the announcement may be, it shouldn’t come as a surprise considering that last year Facebook shuttered Creative Labs, the design team behind Paper.
According to a message being displayed on the app, which was only available for iOS, it will no longer be supported as of July 29th. “We know that Paper really resonated with you — the people who used it,” reads the farewell message on Paper, “so we’ve tried to take the best aspects of it and incorporate them into the main Facebook app.”
In other words, thank you for using it, but it’s time to go back to the real Facebook app.
Thank you for using Paper
In 2014 we launched Paper, a standalone app designed to give people a new way to explore and share stories from friends and the sources they care about. Today we’re announcing that we are ending support for the app and users will no longer be able to log into the app after July 29.
We know that Paper really resonated with you–the people who used it–so we’ve tried to take the best aspects of it and incorporate them into the main Facebook app. For example, the same team that built Paper also built Instant Articles—a fast and interactive experience for reading articles in News Feed—using many of the same tools, design elements, and fundamental ideas as Paper. Our goal with Paper was to explore new immersive, interactive design elements for reading and interacting with content on Facebook, and we learned how important these elements are in giving people an engaging experience.
We know not all the features you love will move over to Facebook, but we hope you’ll continue to notice elements from Paper improving the Facebook experience for everyone. We can’t thank you enough for using the app and exploring Paper with us over the past couple of years.
-The Paper team
Via: The Verge
Rosetta will crash into its comet and die on September 30th
Farewell, young spacecraft. The European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe has been surveying Comet 67P (or Churyumov-Gerasimenko) for the past 12 years, and on September 30th it will crash into the space rock and end its mission. Rosetta is nearing the orbit of Jupiter, which means it’s running short on solar power and bandwidth required to downlink necessary data.
We knew this day was coming. In 2011, Rosetta was placed in hibernation mode for 31 months as it traveled to the most distant part of its journey, but in 2014, the ESA discarded attempting another, even longer, hibernation. The probe is currently riding alongside the comet, whose maximum distance from the sun, 850 million km, is farther than Rosetta has ever traveled before. The spacecraft lacks sufficient power to guarantee its heaters would be warm enough to ensure its survival.
On its way down, Rosetta will be able to take once-in-a-lifetime measurements, including high-resolution imaging and other close-up data, the ESA says. Most recently, Rosetta discovered the amino acid glycine, a crucial building block of life, in the dust surrounding Comet 67P.
“We’re trying to squeeze as many observations in as possible before we run out of solar power,” ESA Rosetta project scientist Matt Taylor says. “September 30th will mark the end of spacecraft operations, but the beginning of the phase where the full focus of the teams will be on science. That is what the Rosetta mission was launched for and we have years of work ahead of us, thoroughly analyzing its data.”
Rosetta follows its companion probe, Philae, onto the comet’s surface. Philae successfully touched down on Comet 67P in 2014, a first for humankind. After a rough landing, Philae collected important information about the comet’s surface and structure, including its potential to support life. The European ground crew routinely lost contact with Philae after its landing, and German space agency DLR officially ended communication attempts with the probe in February of this year.
Landing Rosetta will be tricky, with the first changes to its trajectory coming in August. Scientists are still figuring out the best location to set down Rosetta, but the descent is planned to hit just 50 cm/s, about half of Philae’s landing speed.
“Planning this phase is in fact far more complex than it was for Philae’s landing,” ESA Rosetta spacecraft operations manager Sylvain Lodiot says. “The last six weeks will be particularly challenging as we fly eccentric orbits around the comet — in many ways this will be even riskier than the final descent itself.”
Source: ESA
Dark Space Gray iPhone 7 Conceptualized in New Renderings
Following rumors suggesting Apple’s iPhone 7 will be available in a much darker Space Gray color that’s close to, but not quite black, designer Martin Hajek has created renderings exploring what such a device might look like.
Using the iPhone 7 design rumors pointing towards a larger camera, no headphone jack, and relocated antenna bands, Hajek has created an iPhone 7 rendering in a deep shade of gray that’s close to the color of the Space Black Apple Watch.
In Hajek’s concept, the iPhone 7 is a much darker shade of gray than the Space Gray iPhone 6s, appearing even darker than the black and slate iPhone 5.
Over the years, Apple has used several different shades of Space Gray, Black, and Slate across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch product lines, with some shades that are much darker than others. Apple’s most recent products, the iPhone 6s and the iPad Pro, feature a light shade of Space Gray, and a darker Space Gray could differentiate the iPhone 7 from earlier devices.
Rumors of a darker Space Gray or Space Black iPhone 7 first surfaced earlier this week, when Japanese site Mac Otakara clarified that a rumor suggesting a deep blue iPhone 7 was in the works was mistaken. The site, which reported the deep blue color in early June, said its source had misidentified a darker space gray for a shade of blue.
Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September with an iPhone 6s-style design, no headphone jack, an A10 processor, a better camera (larger sensor for the iPhone 7 and dual-lens for the iPhone 7 Plus), and faster LTE and Wi-Fi. Unconfirmed possible features include a flush home button, improved water resistance, and a thinner body.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: Concepts
Discuss this article in our forums
AIVAnet 