Amazon Offers Price Cuts to Eligible Students for its Music Unlimited Service

Amazon cut the price of its Music Unlimited subscription service for U.S. students on Tuesday, matching a similar deal available for Apple Music (via TechCrunch).

For students who are non-Prime customers, Amazon Music Unlimited will now cost $4.99 per month, which is the same amount of money Apple charges students for its streaming service. For existing Prime Student members, however, Amazon is offering a six-month subscription option for just $6.

The student prices represent a decent discount for eligible students, given that Amazon usually prices its Music Unlimited service at $7.99 per month for Prime members and $9.99 for non-Prime customers. The service includes a free 30-day trial and students can cancel at any time. Users must be enrolled at a degree-granting college or university to qualify.

In addition, Amazon is offering the same deal for U.K. students – although simply swapping out the dollar sign for a pound sign makes it a little less affordable.

Amazon is also touting the benefits of Alexa voice controls, which come included in the service for students. Users can ask Alexa to play music for studying, for example, or request that songs be played from a specific decade and only by a certain artist.

Note: MacRumors may benefit if you click on affiliate links in this article.

Tags: discounts, Amazon Music Unlimited
Discuss this article in our forums

MediaTek’s Helio P23 and Helio P30 are two new chips for mid-range smartphones

Why it matters to you

If you’re in the market for a budget smartphone, good news: MediaTek’s new chips could bring dual cameras and high-speed processing to cheaper phones.

If you used a budget smartphone in the last five years, chances are it packed a MediaTek chip. The firm shipped hundreds of millions of processors, modems, and wireless radios to device makers in the past year alone and it is adding two new chips to its arsenal: The Helio P23 and Helio P30.

The Helio P23 and P30 are what is known as SoCs — industry parlance for “systems on a chip.” They are packed to the brim with every component necessary to power a smartphone, like support for dual SIM cards and dual 4G LTE radios. But there is more to them than meets the eye.

The P23 and P30 are both octa-core processors built on 2.3GHz Arm Cortex-A53 cores and the Mali G71 MP2 GPU and they have MediaTek’s CorePilot technology onboard. CorePilot 4.0, the newest generation, monitors the chips’ temperatures to ensure a “high-performance” and “reliably consistent” user experience, according to MediaTek.

On the photography end of things, the P23 and P30 can power dual cameras up to 16 megapixels in resolution (13 megapixels in the P23’s case). And they ship with MediaTek’s Imagiq 2.0 technology suite, which helps minimize aliasing (the wavy lines on background patterns), reduce chromatic aberration (the fringes around the edges of photos), and eliminate grain and noise in pics and selfies.

Those are not the only photo-snapping tricks up the chips’ sleeves. A new dedicated camera control unit (CCU) boasts an “auto exposure convergence speed” that is up to twice as fast as the competition, and a vision processing unit (VPU) reduces the load on the phones’ GPU and CPU at a tenth of the power usage.

The P23 and P30 are no slouches when it comes to wireless, either. MediaTek claims the P23 is the first in the world with dual SIM, dual  4G VoLTE (voice over LTE) support, and both chips come with the latest generation of 4G LTE WorldMode modem, which supports speeds up to 300Mbps download and 150Mbps upload. Another feature, TAS 2.0, intelligently switches between antennas to optimize signal quality.

“Reaching the mid market means bringing people affordable devices that power and perform with the latest features, like dual cameras and 4G LTE connectivity,” TL Lee, general manager of MediaTek’s Wireless Communication business unit, said in a statement. “In the rapidly growing arena of new premium mid-range devices, mobile technology innovators know that they need to stand out in a crowded field — P23 and P30 enable them to do that.”

The Helio P23 and P30 come to market later this year. The P30 will be available globally starting in the third quarter of 2017 and the P30 will launch first in China.

MediaTek’s Helio P23 and Helio P30 are two new chips for mid-range smartphones

Why it matters to you

If you’re in the market for a budget smartphone, good news: MediaTek’s new chips could bring dual cameras and high-speed processing to cheaper phones.

If you used a budget smartphone in the last five years, chances are it packed a MediaTek chip. The firm shipped hundreds of millions of processors, modems, and wireless radios to device makers in the past year alone and it is adding two new chips to its arsenal: The Helio P23 and Helio P30.

The Helio P23 and P30 are what is known as SoCs — industry parlance for “systems on a chip.” They are packed to the brim with every component necessary to power a smartphone, like support for dual SIM cards and dual 4G LTE radios. But there is more to them than meets the eye.

The P23 and P30 are both octa-core processors built on 2.3GHz Arm Cortex-A53 cores and the Mali G71 MP2 GPU and they have MediaTek’s CorePilot technology onboard. CorePilot 4.0, the newest generation, monitors the chips’ temperatures to ensure a “high-performance” and “reliably consistent” user experience, according to MediaTek.

On the photography end of things, the P23 and P30 can power dual cameras up to 16 megapixels in resolution (13 megapixels in the P23’s case). And they ship with MediaTek’s Imagiq 2.0 technology suite, which helps minimize aliasing (the wavy lines on background patterns), reduce chromatic aberration (the fringes around the edges of photos), and eliminate grain and noise in pics and selfies.

Those are not the only photo-snapping tricks up the chips’ sleeves. A new dedicated camera control unit (CCU) boasts an “auto exposure convergence speed” that is up to twice as fast as the competition, and a vision processing unit (VPU) reduces the load on the phones’ GPU and CPU at a tenth of the power usage.

The P23 and P30 are no slouches when it comes to wireless, either. MediaTek claims the P23 is the first in the world with dual SIM, dual  4G VoLTE (voice over LTE) support, and both chips come with the latest generation of 4G LTE WorldMode modem, which supports speeds up to 300Mbps download and 150Mbps upload. Another feature, TAS 2.0, intelligently switches between antennas to optimize signal quality.

“Reaching the mid market means bringing people affordable devices that power and perform with the latest features, like dual cameras and 4G LTE connectivity,” TL Lee, general manager of MediaTek’s Wireless Communication business unit, said in a statement. “In the rapidly growing arena of new premium mid-range devices, mobile technology innovators know that they need to stand out in a crowded field — P23 and P30 enable them to do that.”

The Helio P23 and P30 come to market later this year. The P30 will be available globally starting in the third quarter of 2017 and the P30 will launch first in China.

Xiaomi’s $45 Mi Travel Backpack is the perfect gear bag

The Mi Travel Backpack will fit all your gear with ease.

Xiaomi has been aggressively branching out into lifestyle products, with the manufacturer making everything from smart home lighting to robot vacuums, rice cookers, and even a desk light (which looks really cool).

The common theme among all of Xiaomi’s products in this segment is affordability — the brand rose to fame by effectively undercutting entrenched vendors in the handset segment, and it is following the same strategy in the lifestyle category. The Yeelight, for instance, is an $18 bulb that offers the same set of features as Hue for half the cost, and you don’t even need a hub for the lights to work.

That’s the idea with the Mi Travel Backpack as well. The backpack retails for just $45, which is an absolute steal when you consider what’s on offer.

When looking for a new gear bag, I initially had my eye on the $199 Incase Icon, but it doesn’t deliver to India, and I wasn’t willing to wait. So I looked at products available in this part of the world and landed on Xiaomi’s Mi Travel Backpack, which has a similar design but retails for less than a fourth of the cost of the Incase Icon.

Like the Icon, Xiaomi’s backpack has a lot of compartments where you can slot your gear — 11 in total. The bag itself is lined with polyester, and the outer material is water-resistant. This being monsoon season where I live, I was able to test out Xiaomi’s claims of water resistance. In short, it works. I was out on the road for a few minutes while I was trying to get to my car in torrential rain, and the contents were safe. The backpack has dimensions of 12.8 x 7.09 x 17.52 inches, weighs 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilos) and can hold up to 66 pounds (30 kilos).

Let’s start at the front: the Mi Travel Backpack has a pocket at the front that’s ideal for storing gum, keys, or hand sanitizer (a must if you’re visiting India). Then there are two side pockets — the one on the left has extra lining and makes it a handy location for a power bank, and the right pocket can be used for storing a granola bar or two.

The main compartment has six pockets in total, giving you more than enough room to keep things organized. You get two pockets at the top for storing business cards, small notebooks, or cables. Then there’s a zippered pocket where you can store writing paraphernalia or accessories. There’s also a pocket at the bottom that can be used for chargers or additional cables. The main compartment itself has enough room for a camera and a few lenses. I was able to fit my Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and Sony MDR-1000X Bluetooth headphone along with its carrying case without any issues.

On the other side of the compartment you get two zippered pockets — the one at the top is lined with suede and is ideal for sunglasses, and the one on the bottom can be used for storing phones.

Round the back, the second compartment is large enough to accommodate a tablet and a 15-inch notebook. I was able to slot in my 13-inch MacBook Pro and a Galaxy Tab S3 with room to spare. And yes, it stands upright when you put it on the floor or on a flat surface.

Another thing I like about the Mi Travel Bag is that it doesn’t have any branding, save for a small Mi tag at the back. The shoulder straps are padded, as is the back. I’ve been using the Mi Travel Backpack for just over a month now, and it has served me very well, particularly when I’m traveling to product launches with a full loadout of gear. The only issue I have with the bag is that it doesn’t have a provision for a water bottle.

Finding a good gear bag isn’t easy, as there are tons of great options available across price segments. You can pick up a Samsonite backpack for as low as $30, and if you’re looking for something fancier, there are bags that easily run into several hundred dollars. Xiaomi’s offering finds a great middle ground — it’s still affordable at $45, but you get a product that’s far superior to anything available in this segment.

See at GearBest

Essential Phone orders are finally shipping, for real this time

Now we can turn our focus to the actual phone, right?

Facing a few days of shipping delays late list week, Essential said that shipments of its new phone were finally heading out the door on Aug 25 — but now, it seems like that’s actually happening today. Looking at threads both on our own Android Central forums and the popular XDA forums, people are starting to actually receive tracking numbers for their phones — though at first it looks like this is only for phones ordered directly from Essential.

For those who chose to order both the Essential Phone and the 360-degree camera attachment, it looks like you won’t have to worry about that combination delaying your order — initial reports are that the phone is shipping separate from the camera. Essential is actually still taking orders for new Essential Phones via its website, though considering how long it took initial orders to head out the door we’re not so sure how long they’ll take to ship.

Amazon, with a ship date of September 1, and Best Buy, with a ship date of September 8, now seem more likely to actually hit their respective ship dates, considering phones are moving through the distribution network on some level. The question would simply be how much stock the different retailers were offered from the start.

Did you order an Essential Phone? Let us know when you ordered and if you received a shipping notice today!

Essential Phone

• Essential Phone review: First impressions
• Essential Phone specs
• The latest Essential Phone news
• Join our Essential Phone forums!

Amazon
Best Buy
Sprint
Telus

Amazon Music Unlimited is now cheaper for students

Sigh, it’s that time of the year again. Despacito may still be atop the charts, but summer is dwindling, meaning it’s time to head back to school. But, don’t cut short your soundtrack just yet, because this is the ideal time to get ad-free music on a streaming service. All the students out there already get a nice discount on Apple Music and Spotify, and now you can add Amazon Music Unlimited to that list too. The online retail giant is offering up its relatively new music streaming service to all the young folk for just $4.99 per month. That brings it in line with its bigger rivals, price-wise at least. It also means you fork out less than Amazon Prime subscribers ($7.99 per month) and non-Prime customers ($9.99). And, if you’re eligible to be a Prime Student member, it will go down to just $6 for six months — that’s just one dollar a month for the period.

Amazon already offers a family plan, which at $149 per year is appealing for Prime subscribers. And reaching out to students is another way to expand its base. But, simply matching Apple and Spotify’s offers may not be enough — particularly in the face of the exclusives and addictive playlists its competitors have in their arsenals. Still, Amazon’s service only launched in October, so it will have to play catch-up for the time being.

Along with the deal, Amazon’s also offering up tips on how students can use Alexa’s voice controls for music. Looking to focus on your homework? Ask “Alexa, play classical music for studying,” or “Alexa, play pop music for focusing.” Need a loud ditty to rattle you out of bed in the morning? Just ask, “Alexa, play wake up music.” And, if you can’t remember the name of a song, just prompt Alexa with its lyrics, or the artist’s name. While you’re at it, be sure to skip Despacito. All the cool kids are over that one.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Amazon Music Unlimited

Uber to Pull Feature Allowing Riders to Be Tracked for Five Minutes After a Trip

In an effort to better protect user privacy and improve its image, Uber has decided to remove a background GPS tracking feature that allows riders to be tracked for up to five minutes after a ride ends, reports Reuters.

Uber is expected to announce the privacy change starting on Tuesday, with the update expected to roll out to iPhone users this week. The same update will be made to Android devices in the future.

The feature, which was first introduced in late 2016, has garnered a lot of criticism from Uber users. When location tracking is enabled for the Uber app (and location services is required for the app to properly function) Uber is able to collect location data from the time of a trip request through five minutes after the trip ends, even when the app is in the background.

Uber says it planned to use the extra location data to improve pickups, drop-offs, customer service, and to enhance customer service, but the company claims the post-trip tracking feature was never actually turned on for iPhone users.

In an interview with Reuters, Uber chief security officer Joe Sullivan said the update is unrelated to recent internal turmoil within the company, which saw Uber CEO Travis Kalanick ousted from the company.

“We’ve been building through the turmoil and challenges because we already had our mandate,” said Sullivan, who is a member of the executive leadership team that has been co-running Uber since Kalanick left in June.

Sullivan went on to say that the company should not have asked Uber users for more information without providing details on the value of the feature. Should Uber re-enable the feature in the future, he says the company will let customers opt in and better explain why the feature is useful.

According to Sullivan, Uber is committed to user privacy, but has suffered from a “lack of expertise.” Additional changes to improve privacy, security, and transparency at Uber are said to be in the works and coming in future updates.

Tag: Uber
Discuss this article in our forums

Nintendo launches special ‘Pokémon’ and ‘Fire Emblem’ bundles

You may want to check if you can cancel your Fire Emblem Warriors or Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon pre-orders. Nintendo has just announced a special FE Warriors edition for the Switch and a Veteran Trainer’s dual pack that includes both new Pokémon games. The special edition FE Warriors comes with a copy of the game for Nintendo’s hybrid console, three CDs’ worth of music from the game, character art cards and a dual-sided poster. It’ll set you back $80, or $20 more than just the game itself, but if you get weak in the knees for special edition collectibles, then that doesn’t sound so bad. Nintendo has also revealed that the game will be available in North America on October 20th, at least for the Switch.

It’s still unclear if the 3DS version of FE Warriors is getting the same special edition treatment and if it’ll come out at the same time, but 3DS (and 2DS) gamers can look forward to the Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon dual pack. The bundle comes with both games, 16 art cards and a digital code for 200 Poké balls. This one will cost you $80, the same amount you’d have to pay if you’re buying both games separately. It also costs as much as the dual Steelbook edition, though, so you’ll have to decide whether you want a nice case or 200 Poké balls.

These special bundles will be available on the same day the games become available: FE Warriors will come out in North America on October 20th, while you can start playing Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon on November 17th.

#FireEmblemWarriors Special Edition includes 3 CDs, a dual-sided poster & 25 character art cards! Available Oct. 20th for #NintendoSwitch. pic.twitter.com/C0Z8OKr70w

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August 28, 2017

The #PokemonUltraSunMoon Veteran Trainer’s Dual Pack will be available Nov. 17th. It includes both games, 16 art cards, and more! pic.twitter.com/1VaoutVfoP

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August 28, 2017

Source: Nintendo of America (Twitter)

BMW adds a performance version of its electric i3 for 2018

For 2018 BMW is lightly reworking the style that made us call its i3 “a long-range concept car you can actually buy” and it’s expanding the lineup with the i3s. A new performance version, it upgrades the standard i3’s 170 horsepower / 184 pound-feet of torque electric motor to a high-output version capable of 184 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. A sports suspension drops the i3s 10mm lower, widens its track by 40mm, and connects to new 20-inch rims.

It also has a special Sport driving mode with “more direct accelerator response and tighter steering characteristics.” All of that makes the i3s capable on 0 – 6 MPH in 6.8 seconds, with a 100 MPH top speed. Outside, both the i3 and i3s have new styling tweaks all around to make the car appear wider and match the company’s trademark BMW i Black Belt design.

Slightly more important however are the changes to charging, as part of its “360° ELECTRIC” package. The new TurboCord EV Charger is a $500 accessory that works with both cars. BMW claims it’s the “smallest, lightest UL-listed portable charger available,” ready for Level 1 charging from any regular 120V outlet, as well as 3.6kW charging from 240V outlets, which is 3x as fast as a standard cable.

Features like the gas-powered range extender, ConnectedDrive, iDrive 6 and Apple CarPlay are still around, although there’s a higher resolution 1,440 x 540 10-inch touchscreen available with the Professional navigation package. The cars will make their debut next month at the Frankfurt Motor show, while pricing info will be revealed later.

Source: BMW

Canon’s budget mirrorless M100 gets a big sensor upgrade

Canon’s M5 and other mirrorless cameras don’t get the respect of Fujifilm or Sony models, perhaps because of the blah style and lack of features like 4K that users have come to expect. However, it’s gradually improved the lineup and managed to increase mirrorless sales by 70 percent this year. To attract those who want to step up from smartphones, Canon has launched the M100, a replacement for the budget M10. The standout feature is a new 24.2-megapixel sensor that provides a big resolution improvement over the previous model’s 18 megapixels.

Though the M100 lives at the bottom of its mirrorless lineup, the sensor is now the same as the one used on the high-end M5 and M6. Along with an updated Digic 7 processor, it allows up to 6.1 fps shooting and a 100-25,600 ISO range, decent specs for a relatively small and cheap mirrorless model. It also packs Canon’s Dual Pixel focus system, which improves autofocus speed whether you’re shooting stills or video. Video, is limited to 1080p, unfortunately, but at least you can shoot at 60 fps.

Other features helpful for the selfie set include a 3.0-inch, 180-degree tiltable touchscreen, HDR backlight control for tricky lighting and WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC for smartphone sharing or remote shooting. The touchscreen can be used for menu selection as well as touch focus for video. The Creative Assistant can help beginners blur out backgrounds or make a scene brighter.

The M100 is not aimed at serious photographers, but rather newbies that want to step into interchangeable lens photography with some style. Though it comes in just two colors (silver and black), there are nine optional jackets varying from red-yellow to navy-gold. The EOS M100 starts at $600 with a 15-45 mm f/3.5-6.3 lens, and runs $950 if you add a 55-22mm f/4.5-6.3 lens. If you’ve already got some Canon EF lenses, you can pick up the EF-M mount adapter for $200. It arrives in October, 2017.