Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Friday, December 16, 2016
Friday, December 9, 2016
Samsung is planning to release two foldable smartphones [feedly]
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Samsung is planning to release two foldable smartphones
// Android Phone Fans
It looks like Samsung has two different "foldable"
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Thursday, December 8, 2016
Upcoming Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom revealed to feature dual rear cam, huge 5000mAh battery [feedly]
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Upcoming Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom revealed to feature dual rear cam, huge 5000mAh battery
// pocketnow.com
While we certainly hoped we'd ultimately find out a bit more about the "Zennovation" star of next month's CES 2017, China's Tenaa and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group have just unveiled inside information on the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom beyond anyone's wildest dreams.
Yes, even that product name is already confirmed as part of regulatory Bluetooth SIG documents published the other day. Plus, a Z01HDA model number, and alternative ZE553KL designation. That's awfully close to ZenFone 3 Max's ZC553KL denomination, and the two are actually quite similar as far as external designs go.
But somehow, the soon-to-be-released ZenFone 3 Zoom squeezes a gigantic battery with a capacity of around 5,000 mAh ("just" 4,850, according to the Chinese FCC equivalent) into a 170-gram, 8mm-slim metallic package.
That sounds like a breathtaking engineering feat (if it pans out), given the comparatively small 4,100 mAh cell under ZenFone 3 Max's hood, and the super-chunky body of the original 5,000 mAh juicer-hauling Asus ZenFone Max.
But wait, there's more. This "most creative" ever ZenFone will apparently have a dual rear-facing camera setup going for it too, as well as up to 4GB RAM, and sadly, a middling octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor replacing the ultra-high-end SD835 we know you were all so badly craving.
Back to the trendy dual main shooter expected to grace ZenFone 3 Zoom's elegant behind, this may sport 12.2 and 13MP sensors, sitting flush with the rest of the chassis instead of forming an unpleasant bulge.
The post Upcoming Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom revealed to feature dual rear cam, huge 5000mAh battery appeared first on Pocketnow.
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Sunday, November 20, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Not this again: Samsung Galaxy S7 allegedly explodes in Canada, causing serious burns [feedly]
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Not this again: Samsung Galaxy S7 allegedly explodes in Canada, causing serious burns
// pocketnow.com
With the Galaxy Note 7 explosion epidemic finally and almost fully contained, Samsung has turned all its attention of late to positively determining what went wrong and eliminating any possible missteps from the R&D and production processes of the GS8.
Unfortunately, while phones occasionally malfunction and even randomly catch fire without signaling a widespread flaw requiring a massive recall, the market-leading Korean device vendor is now bound to get flak for each and every isolated incident.
Granted, the latest such incidence of a spontaneously combusting Galaxy handheld sounds pretty bad. A 34 year-old Winnipeg resident by the name of Amarjit Mann claims he felt a bizarre "warmness" in his pocket, where a Galaxy S7 was located, while driving one morning.
Upon taking it out and inspecting it for a few seconds, the gadget, apparently bought new for around $1,000 six months back, "exploded right away", ultimately causing second and third-degree burns to the hands of its panicked owner. Although he was able to throw the "bomb" out the window, a thick cloud of smoke meant the GS7 had plenty of time to create mayhem, at one point sticking to the man's hand as it started to melt.
At the end of the day, the Canada-based victim is happy to have not suffered injuries to his face, but still considers filing charges, including for lost wages, as recovery will take time. For its part, Samsung wants to meticulously investigate the explosion's circumstances, with foul play always a strong possibility. After all, if the Galaxy S7 was as hazardous as the Note 7 due to a production error, this would be the latest in a very long line of calamity reports.
The post Not this again: Samsung Galaxy S7 allegedly explodes in Canada, causing serious burns appeared first on Pocketnow.
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Monday, October 17, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Google's Project Fi Gains Family Discounts [feedly]
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Google's Project Fi Gains Family Discounts
// Phone Scoop - Latest News

Google today made it less costly for users of its Project Fi wireless service to add multiple lines to their accounts. The first line still carries a $20 access charge, with data costing a flat $10 per GB. Moving forward, additional lines carry a $15 access charge (rather than $20) and they can be lumped into the shared data plan with the first line. Google charges per megabyte each month, so people who don't use their entire data allotment receive a refund at the end of the month. Project Fi doesn't throttle speeds for those who use more than their allotment, but those people will be billed for their additional usage. Project Fi, which relies on the wireless services of Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and open WiFi hotspots, is available to the Pixel and Pixel XL, as well as the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. Google is now offering discounts on the latter two when people choose to buy and activate them via Project Fi. Project Fi's group plan is available starting today.
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Monday, October 10, 2016
Official: Samsung Halts All Sales of Galaxy Note 7, Recommends Powering Down and Getting a Refund [feedly]
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Official: Samsung Halts All Sales of Galaxy Note 7, Recommends Powering Down and Getting a Refund
// Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

Moments ago, Samsung confirmed that they are halting all sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7. Not only that, but they are recommending that owners of the phone turn them off and "take advantage of the remedies available." Those remedies are returning the phone at the place of purchase for a refund. That's it. Samsung wants you to get rid of your Note 7 right now. Please do it.
The full statement is as follows:
We are working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7. Because consumers' safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 while the investigation is taking place.
We remain committed to working diligently with the CPSC, carriers and our retail partners to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 should power down and take advantage of the remedies available, including a refund at their place of purchase. For more information, consumers should visit samsung.com/us/note7recall or contact 1-844-365-6197.
Via: Samsung
Related Stories
People, Return Your Galaxy Note 7 AlreadySamsung: Only 25% of Note 7 Devices Exchanged so Far, 500,000+ New Units Available Tomorrow in the USHow to Tell if Your New Galaxy Note 7 is SafeSamsung: "About Half" of Recalled Galaxy Note 7 Devices Exchanged
Official: Samsung Halts All Sales of Galaxy Note 7, Recommends Powering Down and Getting a Refund is a post from: Droid Life
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Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Motorola announces list of smartphones receiving Nougat [feedly]
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Motorola announces list of smartphones receiving Nougat
// Android and Me
With Android 7.0 Nougat official and out in the open, manufacturers are beginning to release their lists of devices that will receive updates to the latest version of Android. Motorola is coming on board with its own list that's fairly extensive, though not all devices are covered. Take a look for yourself and see if your device is covered.
Moto G (4th Gen)Moto G Plus (4th Gen)Moto G Play (4th Gen)Moto X Pure Edition (3rd Gen)Moto X StyleMoto X PlayMoto X ForceDroid Turbo 2Droid Maxx 2Moto ZMoto Z DroidMoto Z Force DroidMoto Z PlayMoto Z Play DroidNexus 6
Most of Motorola's newer devices are included, particularly because the company has streamlined its product lines in recent years, making it easier to push out updates. Lenovo has stated that it plans to start in Q4 with the Moto Z and Moto G (4th Gen). Of course, before those is the Nexus 6, which is now receiving its OTA update along with the October security patches.
We'll keep you posted on any updates, additions or subtractions from Motorola's list. For now, check out all of the Made by Google announcements from today's event.
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From civil liberties champion to turncoat: Yahoo built specialized software to spy on users for the NSA [feedly]
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From civil liberties champion to turncoat: Yahoo built specialized software to spy on users for the NSA
// Extremetech

A new report claims that Yahoo didn't just cooperate with the NSA -- it built an unprecedented database to scan incoming email for keywords in real time and turns this information over to federal agencies automatically.
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Saturday, September 17, 2016
Verizon is in some hot water after charging customers for unused data [feedly]
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Verizon is in some hot water after charging customers for unused data
// Android Phone Fans
A woman in Florida received a bill which showed she used over 550GB of data for the month and was charged over $9,000.
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Thursday, September 15, 2016
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Friday, August 26, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
2016 Nexus Devices Rumored to Have 2 of Each Partition [feedly]
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2016 Nexus Devices Rumored to Have 2 of Each Partition
// xda-developers
Popular XDA Recognized Developer and well known HTC leaker, LlabTooFeR, just revealed some interesting information about the upcoming Nexus smartphones from HTC. If true, then both Sailfish as well as Marlin will have two of each partition (e.g. system_a & system_b). It's believed this setup is required in order to apply Android 7.0's new seamless updates in the background.
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Thursday, August 18, 2016
Android Nougat will be coming to a Nexus device near you next week [feedly]
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Android Nougat will be coming to a Nexus device near you next week
// Android Phone Fans
According to a leaked software schedule from Telus, Google will be releasing Android 7.0 Nougat to Nexus devices on August 22nd.
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Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 official with iris scanner, improved S Pen, and more [feedly]
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Samsung Galaxy Note 7 official with iris scanner, improved S Pen, and more
// Android and Me
After being the subject of a multitude of leaks, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is now officially official.
While the Galaxy Note 7 may look similar to the Galaxy Note 5, there are a few subtle tweaks that make it a very different handset. First up is the display, which is a 5.7-inch 2560×1440 Super AMOLED screen like on the Note 5, but the Note 7's display features dual curved edges. The addition of these curved edges means that the Note 7 gets the Edge UX software features found on the S7 edge. The Note 7's screen is also covered by Corning's new Gorilla Glass 5.
Above that display is an iris scanner. This iris scanner gives the Note 7 added security, letting you use it to unlock your phone, authenticate Samsung Pay purchases, and authenticate other apps that support Samsung Pass.
Finally, the bottom of the Note 7 is home to a reversible USB Type-C port. This is notable because the Note 7 is the first Samsung smartphone to offer USB Type-C. Because the Note 7 has USB Type-C, Samsung today also announced a new version of the Gear VR that supports the Note 7 and its USB Type-C port as well as the other Galaxy S6, S7, and Note 5 flagships that use microUSB. The new Gear VR will launch on August 19 alongside the Note 7.
The rest of the Note 7's feature set is about what you'd expect from a Samsung flagship in 2016. It's got a Snapdragon 820 processor in the U.S., China, and Japan, while all other regions will get a Note 7 outfitted with an octa-core Exynos 8 Octa 8890 chipset. Also included is 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a microSD slot, and a 3500mAh battery that supports fast charging over both wired and wireless methods. Rounding out the hardware features is a Dual Pixel 12-megapixel rear camera with OIS and a 5-megapixel front camera. All of those features are wrapped in a body that's IP68-rated for water resistance.
Since this is a Note device, you're also getting an S Pen. This S Pen features a smaller 0.7mm tip and improved pressure sensitivity, and like the Note 7 itself, the S Pen is also IP68-rated for water resistance.
Finally, the Note 7 runs Android 6.0.1 beneath Samsung's custom user interface. That custom UI includes several software features, including Always On Display and Samsung Knox. There are several S Pen features, too, like the ability to quickly create GIFs using Smart Select and new Air Command features, including Magnify and Translate.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will be sold in Black Onyx, Blue Coral, Silver Titanium, and Gold Platinum color options, though the gold model doesn't appear to be coming to the U.S., at least not initially. Samsung will launch the Note 7 on August 19.
In the U.S., the Note 7 will be available from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular. The big four will kick off pre-orders on August 3, while U.S. Cellular will start on August 4. No matter which carrier you buy from, you'll be able to choose either a free Gear Fit 2 or 256GB microSD card to go with your new phone. Additionally, T-Mobile subscribers will have the option of getting a free year of Netflix instead of the other two gifts.
Here's what the Note 7's U.S. carrier pricing looks like:
AT&T: 30 payments of $29.34 with AT&T Next or 24 payments of $36.67 with AT&T Next Every Year. Buyers can get $695 in monthly bill credits to put toward a second Note 7.Sprint: No pricing announced as of this post.Verizon: $36 per month for 24 months.T-Mobile: $69.99 down and 24 payments of $32.50.U.S. Cellular: 30 monthly payments of $27.80. Also offering 20 and 24 monthly payment options.
So now that it's official, what do you think of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7?
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New Nexus phones tipped to have fingerprint reader gesture for opening notification shade [feedly]
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New Nexus phones tipped to have fingerprint reader gesture for opening notification shade
// Android and Me
The 2016 Nexus leaks continue to flow tonight with a new report regarding a software feature that may be included with both phones.
According to the folks at Android Police, Google is planning to give its new Nexuses a swipe gesture that'll let you quickly access your notification shade. This gesture will be performed with a swipe down on the fingerprint reader, which is expected to be included on the back of the phone. For a look at what the new Nexus phones may look like, check out these leaked renders.
Today's leak also appears to include a toggle so that you can disable this swipe gesture if you don't want it.
This could end up being a pretty nifty feature if it is included with Google's 2016 Nexus phones. While pulling down your notification shade may not take a ton of effort, some folks have to really stretch their thumbs to reach up to the top of their phone's screen and pull the shade down with one hand. This fingerprint reader gesture will make accessing the notification shade easier, as you'll just have to place your finger on the back of the phone, which probably isn't too far from where it normally rests when you're holding the device.
Also of note is that today's leak includes those refreshed on-screen navigation buttons that we first saw in June, though the blue and green dots on the sides of the home button appear to have glitched. Additionally, the tip shows a device with a blue back, which is said to be the Electric Blue version of the new Nexuses that we've previously heard about.
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Monday, August 1, 2016
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Android 7.0 Nougat due with August 5 security update [feedly]
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Android 7.0 Nougat due with August 5 security update
// pocketnow.com

For the first time ever, it would seem that the new version of Android will not be released at the same time as the latest Nexus hardware is announced. In fact, it might come earlier.It's only part of the story that tech leaks reporter Evan Blass is tweeting about.Android 7.0 releases next month, with the 8/5 security patch. Sorry Nexus 5 owners, no Nougat for you — Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 30, 2016We ...
The post Android 7.0 Nougat due with August 5 security update appeared first on Pocketnow.
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Thursday, July 28, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Google VR boss: ‘Hold off for a few months’ if you want a Daydream phone [feedly]
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Google VR boss: 'Hold off for a few months' if you want a Daydream phone
// The Next Web

Excited about VR for Android? We are too, but we've also got some bad news: your current phone probably won't support it. Speaking to Road to VR, Google's VR boss Clay Bayvor says we'll all need an upgrade: I can tell you that there will most likely not be any 'retroactively' Daydream-ready phones. We want to hold a very high quality bar, and for that to happen all the components need to be just right. So, to VR fans, I would say, hold off for a few months to get your next phone and get a Daydream-ready phone. ZTE recently…
This story continues at The Next Web
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Google's Dialer App Now Warns You When You're Getting a Call From a Spammer [feedly]
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Google's Dialer App Now Warns You When You're Getting a Call From a Spammer
// Lifehacker

Android: Google's just as sick of robocalls as you are, it seems. The company has just announced that the built-in phone app on Nexus phones will give you a big red warning when you're getting a call from a spammer.
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Android's new Emergency Location Service could save your life - CNET [feedly]
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Android's new Emergency Location Service could save your life - CNET
// CNET News.com
Google is rolling out a feature that will give your exact location to emergency services if you dial their number.
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You can now start sharing stuff within your Google Play Family Library [feedly]
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You can now start sharing stuff within your Google Play Family Library
// pocketnow.com

Google officially announced that content purchased on Google Play accounts can be shared with up to six people through its new Family Library feature.All possible devices that the content can be used on will be usable for each person sharing the account — from large screens to mobile ones, from iOS to PC to Android, from games to books to movies. Some content may be ineligible for sharing. The account holder can also partition some content for themselves.When members of the account want to get apps, ...
The post You can now start sharing stuff within your Google Play Family Library appeared first on Pocketnow.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2016
AT&T's chief is heading up a robocall 'strike force' [feedly]
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AT&T's chief is heading up a robocall 'strike force'
// Engadget Mobile
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson will lead a "strike force" that aims to combat robocalls. Apparently, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler didn't only remind him last week that carriers like Ma Bell can and should offer free call blockers to their subscribers, h...
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Motorola confirms it won’t be providing monthly Android Security updates [feedly]
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Motorola confirms it won't be providing monthly Android Security updates
// Android Phone Fans
Motorola has decided to leave everyone scratching their heads as the company has announced it will not be committing to the Android monthly security updates provided by Google.
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Saturday, July 23, 2016
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Here's Your First Look at This Year's New Nexus Phones [feedly]
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Here's Your First Look at This Year's New Nexus Phones
// WonderHowTo
A "reliable source" divulged specs of Google's new Nexus phones made by HTC, the Sailfish and Marlin, to Android Police, who used the information to create what they believe is an accurate render of the new phones. Render of the new Nexus phones.. There are certain aspects of the render that are particularly compelling. For one, the camera doesn't protrude from the back of the phone like on the Nexus 6P. The three holes next to the rear camera will likely house hardware for auto-focusing, and maybe even a second microphone. The front has the typical earpiece speaker, front-facing camera, and... more
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Sunday, July 3, 2016
How to Set Your Android to Atomic Time for a Perfectly Synced Clock [feedly]
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How to Set Your Android to Atomic Time for a Perfectly Synced Clock
// WonderHowTo
For most Android phones, the system clock is set using a protocol called NITZ, which relies on a connection with your carrier to ensure that the time stays in sync. The trouble here is that this feature won't work when you're outside of cellular range, and a lot of times, the carriers themselves have technical difficulties that can result in your phone's clock being minutes or even hours out of sync. I've experienced this issue several times, personally, and it always makes me wish Android's clock would simply sync with official time-keeping services like NTP or NIST. Well thanks to a recent... more
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Friday, July 1, 2016
9 Examples of How Smartphones Are Eavesdropping on You [feedly]
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9 Examples of How Smartphones Are Eavesdropping on You
// MakeUseOf.com

More and more people are becoming concerned that their smartphone microphones are being used for more than just calls. We recently investigated this phenomenon and discovered that it's possible for apps to use voice data, detected via a device microphone, and display related content on your phone. The problem is, we didn't quite appreciate the extent of it. Comments on our previous article reveal that not only have people noticed this, they're not particularly happy about it either. So, to find out just how big the problem is, we widened the net and checked a few other places where the same...
Read the full article: 9 Examples of How Smartphones Are Eavesdropping on You
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Thursday, June 30, 2016
SanDisk Announces Two 256GB MicroSD Cards, Arriving as Early as August [feedly]
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SanDisk Announces Two 256GB MicroSD Cards, Arriving as Early as August
// Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog
This morning, SanDisk joined Samsung as removable storage makers who plan to offer microSD cards in 256GB options. According to SanDisk, we should expect two new 256GB cards throughout the year, one of the Extreme variety that should be good for action cameras and 4K-ready phones, plus another of the Ultra variety that will be great for casual smartphone use.
The 256GB Extreme card sports read speeds of 100MB/s and write speeds of 90MB/s. You should be able to fit around 14 hours of 4K UHD video on this card, which SanDisk says will be great for drones, action cameras, and 4K-capable smartphones. It should be the "fastest microSD card in its class."
The 256GB Ultra card is very similar, but it tops out at 95MB/s in read speeds and must have substantially lower write speeds, since SanDisk hasn't disclosed those yet.
The Extreme card will retail initially for $200 and is expected to hit retailers in Q4 of this year. The Ultra card will start at $150 and be available worldwide in August.
Via: SanDisk
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Samsung Introduces 256GB MicroSD Card, Available in June for $250DEAL: SanDisk's 200GB Wireless Stick is Just $99 Today, 64GB SD Card is $18DEAL: 200GB SanDisk MicroSD Card Drops to $59.99 Today, 128GB Card With Bonus 128GB USB Drive TooQuick Deal: Triple Your Phone's Storage for $18 With This 64GB SD Card
SanDisk Announces Two 256GB MicroSD Cards, Arriving as Early as August is a post from: Droid Life
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Sunday, June 26, 2016
Google reportedly ships its first non-Nexus phone this year [feedly]
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Google reportedly ships its first non-Nexus phone this year
// Engadget Mobile
You might not have to wait long to see whether or not rumors of Google having more say over phone designs are true. Sources speaking to the Telegraph claim that Google will release a smartphone with tighter controls over "design, manufacturing and...
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Saturday, June 25, 2016
Next Note Device Likely to Bear “Note 7” Moniker, Specs Leaked [feedly]
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Next Note Device Likely to Bear "Note 7" Moniker, Specs Leaked
// xda-developers
If you are waiting for the Samsung Galaxy Note 6 to sweep you off your feet and give you your reason to upgrade, you might me waiting indefinitely. Because as current leaks and rumors go, the Note 6 is likely to never be released.
Okay, we are being a bit overtly dramatic here. The "Note 6" is what will not be released, as the next Galaxy Note device will most likely skip over to the "Note 7" moniker. Everything else about the device itself, including its launch period, remain the same — it's just the name that is different.
It was earlier reported that the next Note will feature Dual Edges like the S6 Edge does. It was also noted that the term being used by various sources for the device at that moment was Note 6/7, referring to the uncertainty of the name. Now, Evan Blass has "confirmed" (more like leaked) that the device will be called the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Confirmed. pic.twitter.com/jo1EF3Mp3J
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) June 25, 2016
More information follows, as the initial specs of the device have also been leaked by Evan. First up, the Note 7 will likely come with an iris scanner, though there is no more information on how exactly would this work out. The other leaked specs mention a 5.7″ QHD Super AMOLED Display, 64GB of internal storage with expandability options via microSD card slot, a 12MP "Dual Pixel" rear camera with a 5MP front camera. The last bit of info is that the Note 7 will be rated for IP68 for Ingress Protection, just like the Galaxy S7. This is a big deal because the Note lineup also features the removable S-Pen, so it is to be seen how exactly Samsung has worked this around for protection. Our guess is that the pen needs to be inserted and fit correctly for the claim, but again, it is just a guess at this stage. The Note 7 will come in black, silver and blue color variants.
Just to reiterate, these are still considered as leaks and not official information. Things could change for the future, but Evan Blass has a good track record.
What are your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7? Do you mind the number jump on the device? How do you feel about the initial specs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Thursday, June 23, 2016
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Sunday, June 19, 2016
How to Use Your Android Phone Without Ever Touching It [feedly]
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How to Use Your Android Phone Without Ever Touching It
// WonderHowTo
Google has been working on its voice recognition technology ever since the days when you had to call a phone number with a Silicon Valley area code to dictate your query. As you can imagine, things have come a long way in the decade or so that has passed, to the point where we talk to our phones as if they were a person nowadays. Google Voice Search—colloquially referred to as "Google Now"—can already be used to toggle system settings on Android, but a beta app from the Mountain View search giant has taken this concept to the next level. Users can simply install this app, then control every... more
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Wednesday, June 15, 2016
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Thursday, June 9, 2016
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
JetBlue Will Run On Android [feedly]
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JetBlue Will Run On Android
// Popular Science
Or at least its new inflight entertainment will
Android users will feel slightly more at home on JetBlue flights in the near future. The airline has debuted an Android-powered user interface as part of an extensive…
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Monday, May 30, 2016
LAVA A76 [feedly]
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LAVA A76
// Phone Arena - Latest Phones
The LAVA A76 is a mid-range device with Android 5.1. It features a 4.5" 480 x 800 px display, 1.5 GHz quad core CPU, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB ROM, microSD slot, 5 MP rear camera and a 0.3 MP front one for video calls. The phone has 2 SIM card slots.
Photos:
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Asus ZenFone 3 Ultra [feedly]
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Asus ZenFone 3 Ultra
// Phone Arena - Latest Phones
The Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra stands rather tall at 6.8 inches, though this is arguably its single highlight. Specs-wise, it is not as impressive as the 6GB RAM Deluxe phone Asus also introduced, it's just a very good upper mid-range device. Design-wise, it's a full-metal device that comes without any visible antenna lines, and Asus claims this is the world's first phone to do so. Asus also wants you to know that its 6.8-inch monster is pretty well-endowed in the audio department. The phone seemingly arrives with a duo of powerful five-magnet stereo speakers, as well as DTS 7.1 virtual surround support. Oh, and did we mention that the phone arrives with a 4,600mAh battery? Well, we just did. The juicer's so large that you can use the Zenfone 3 Ultra to charge other phones with a 1.5A power output.
Photos:
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AT&T GoPhone ZTE Zmax 2 with 2GB RAM is on sale at Best Buy for only $60 [feedly]
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AT&T GoPhone ZTE Zmax 2 with 2GB RAM is on sale at Best Buy for only $60
// pocketnow.com
ZTE is clearly moving up through the Android OEM ranks, not just in its homeland, but stateside and in international markets like Germany, Russia and Mexico also. The Chinese device manufacturer seeks global fame in the high-end segment, as well as the low-cost, entry-level scene, with a diversified product portfolio including Axon,
The post AT&T GoPhone ZTE Zmax 2 with 2GB RAM is on sale at Best Buy for only $60 appeared first on Pocketnow.
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Saturday, May 28, 2016
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Careless customer rep reveals OnePlus 3 announcement date: June 14 [feedly]
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Careless customer rep reveals OnePlus 3 announcement date: June 14
// pocketnow.com
Mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen excited about the VR launch of the OnePlus 3 "flagship killer", as the last and arguably most important puzzle piece falls neatly into place today, thanks to an inside blabbermouth.Or maybe this is yet another intricate marketing ploy from the inventors of unorthodox advertising disguised as a goof. Either way, we strongly believe OnePlus will take the wraps off its
The post Careless customer rep reveals OnePlus 3 announcement date: June 14 appeared first on Pocketnow.
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Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Microsoft just hinted it's the end of Lumia phones. What took so long?
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Microsoft just hinted it's the end of Lumia phones
// The Verge
Microsoft announced a huge mobile strategy shift nearly a year ago, writing off most of its Nokia deal to the tune of $7.6 billion. At the time, I asked whether the software maker had given up on Windows Phone as it shifted to a model of producing a lot less phones. As Microsoft continues to adjust its phone plans, the company announced today that it is selling its feature phone business to Foxconn for $350 million. Money aside, it's not a surprising move considering Microsoft has been winding down its feature phone business for nearly two years. However, a line in Microsoft's press release hints that the company might never release another Lumia phone again:
"Microsoft will continue to develop Windows 10 Mobile and support Lumia phones such as the Lumia 650, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, and phones from OEM partners like Acer, Alcatel, HP, Trinity and VAIO."
Microsoft says it will continue to develop Windows 10 Mobile, and support existing Lumia phones and ones created by third-party phone makers. There's no mention of continuing to develop new Lumia devices, or any hint at future hardware coming soon. Microsoft's public comment comes just weeks after a leaked internal memo from Terry Myerson, Microsoft's Windows and devices chief. Myerson says Microsoft is committed to Windows 10 Mobile, and that the company is currently developing "next generation products." There was no mention of Lumia, and rumors have suggested Microsoft will launch a Surface-branded phone next year.
Given that Microsoft has happily teased new Lumia devices in the past, I asked the company to expand on its public comment this morning. A spokesperson reiterated the comment about supporting existing devices, and added "we have nothing specific to share about our future product roadmap." That's probably because its future roadmap doesn't include any new Lumia phones. Rumors suggested that was the case back in January, and now Microsoft has dropped the biggest hint that it's the end of Lumia phones. What happens with the Surface Phone and Microsoft's hardware efforts? It sounds like we'll be waiting another year to find out.
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Monday, May 16, 2016
Walmart Pay now rolling out to hundreds of stores in the US [feedly]
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Walmart Pay now rolling out to hundreds of stores in the US
// Android and Me
Walmart officially debuted its own mobile payment option called Walmart Pay late last year. Now, several months later, its stores are now rolling out support for Walmart customers.
Despite the fact that Android (and Apple, Samsung, LG…) Pay exists, Walmart has opted to launch its own proprietary option for its customers, and the rollout begins in two states. Walmart has confirmed that 110 stores in Arkansas now supports Walmart Pay at the checkout register, and that 480 locations in Texas now offer Walmart Pay support, too.
To use Walmart Pay, you'll need to install the Walmart app on your phone and then link your credit or debit card to a Walmart account. Walmart will offer you in-app receipts after each purchase, and the company says the mobile payment option is faster than checking out with a chipped debit or credit card.
Once you're at the checkout register, a QR code will be displayed on the screen, which you'll scan using your phone's camera. Walmart customers using Walmart Pay can use pre-paid and gift cards, too.
Now that Walmart has begun rolling out support in its stores, a wider rollout should be happening soon enough, if Walmart Pay is something you'd want to use.
Do you want to use it?
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Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Video Shows How Google Tests Android Auto [feedly]
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Video Shows How Google Tests Android Auto
// xda-developers
The latest 20% video from Nat and Lo take us behind the scenes and shows us how Google engineers tweak and adjust the Android Auto interface. The company has a full size driving simulator set up and they put people through a number of different tests. Then, they analyze the data and see if a certain change to the Android Auto interface improves reaction time.
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Android trounces Apple across the globe - CNET [feedly]
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Android trounces Apple across the globe - CNET
// CNET News.com
Android makers sell a huge variety of phones at different prices and thus can reach a wider audience than Apple can with the iPhone, says research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Google Begins Posting OTA Images for Nexus Devices (the .Zip Files) [feedly]
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Google Begins Posting OTA Images for Nexus Devices (the .Zip Files)
// Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog
You know how we often spend days hunting down the over-the-air (OTA) .zip files for Nexus updates to try and get you updates faster than Google sends them? We may not need to do that any longer because Google started posting the files today. I'm not kidding – the .zip OTA files are now up on the Google Developers site, right next to the factory images.
Google includes instructions for flashing these .zip files, which include using a bit of adb and the "adb sideload" command. We also have instructions for it here.
At this time, they are only populating the page with recent update files (Android 6.0.1) for the Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9, and Nexus Player.
Pretty sweet, though, right?
Related Stories
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Google Begins Posting OTA Images for Nexus Devices (the .Zip Files) is a post from: Droid Life
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Monday, May 9, 2016
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Motorola class action party on warranty service could reach into “thousands” [feedly]
I had all kinds of problems from them. Had to get the better business bureau and my credit card company involved. I do not plan on another one.
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Motorola class action party on warranty service could reach into "thousands"
// pocketnow.com
Another class action lawsuit to tell you about, this one against Motorola for recent allegations of failing to uphold support and repair services for smartphones and smartwatches guaranteed under warranty.The initial plaintiff, from Georgia, says he could not get the Lenovo-owned company to fix his
The post Motorola class action party on warranty service could reach into "thousands" appeared first on Pocketnow.
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Sunday, April 24, 2016
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Motorola Says They're Sorry for Delayed Warranty Exchanges
Monday, April 18, 2016
The One Google Maps Feature Every User Should Be Using [feedly]
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The One Google Maps Feature Every User Should Be Using
// MakeUseOf.com
Google Maps has tons of awesome features that will make your life easier, even to the point where you can be your own travel guide. But of all the useful features you should be using, there's one that sticks out as universally practical… If you haven't set your Home and Work locations yet, then you need to do that right away. This simple tip, combined with one other trick mentioned below, will crank up your navigational efficiency by several notches. To set them, go to Google Maps and type home into the search field but don't press Enter. You should see a popup that lets you set a...
Read the full article: The One Google Maps Feature Every User Should Be Using
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Thursday, April 14, 2016
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Casio WSD-F10 Smartwatch Goes on Sale March 25 [feedly]
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Casio WSD-F10 Smartwatch Goes on Sale March 25
// I4U News
Casio entered the modern smartwatch segment in January at CES 2016 with the unveiling of the Casio WSD-F10 Android Wear smartwatch.The Casio WSD-F10 will go on sale on March 25th at 12:00am ET, 2016...
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How Android’s “Doze” Improves Your Battery Life, and How to Tweak It [feedly]
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How Android's "Doze" Improves Your Battery Life, and How to Tweak It
// the How-To Geek
Android 6.0 Marshmallow added a new feature called "Doze" that aims to dramatically improve your battery life. Android phones and tablets will "sleep" when you leave them alone, conserving battery life for later. Doze is designed to get out of your way and just work, but you can tweak it and make it even better.
What Is Doze?
RELATED: Extending your Android Device's Battery Life
Android normally allows apps to run in the background, checking for new data, receiving notifications, and generally doing whatever they want. This is fine if you're using your phone, but your phone doesn't constantly need to be waking up if you've set it down on a table and walked away for a few hours.
Doze kicks in when you aren't using your device. When haven't touched your phone in a while, it will go into a deeper sleep mode. (In technical terms, Doze prevents wakelocks from waking your device, keeping it in a lower-power sleep state.) In this state, only high priority notifications, like phone calls and chat messages, will wake the phone. Apps won't be allowed to constantly sync in the background. Instead, Android provides "idle maintenance windows" every once in awhile, where apps can do all their work in one big batch. As time passes without you using your phone, those windows come further and further apart.
This is especially useful for a tablet you might leave on your coffee table, too. Rather than waking up all the time, the tablet will be dozing most of the time, which should stretch its battery life much further.
Here's the small catch: Doze only works when your phone is completely still. If you just leave your phone in your pocket for a few hours, it probably won't doze at all. It uses data from your phone's accelerometer to see if it's moving, which means it really has to be sitting on a table, completely motionless, for Doze to kick in.
Doze Won't Block "High Priority" Notifications
"High priority" notifications will still come through, even when your phone is dozing. Notifications from your cellular provider, like SMS messages and incoming phone calls, will cut right through Doze so you won't miss any messages. The phone will wake for alarms, too, so you won't have to worry about missing those.
Other apps–for example, messaging apps like Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and similar apps–can mark their notifications as "high priority." High priority notifications will still be delivered to you, so you'll get messages without having to wait for them. Most notifications aren't marked as high priority, and won't get through Doze, so Candy Crush notifications won't wake your phone and drain your battery.
So what's to stop an app developer from abusing this system? High priority notifications have to be delivered through Google Cloud Messaging, which means Google has control over them. If they find that an app's developer is abusing these notifications, Google can cut them off.
A few narrow categories of apps are also allowed to whitelist themselves so they aren't affected by Doze if that severely impedes their functionality. For example, this includes automation apps like Tasker. Google's documentation contains more details.
The average app isn't really impacted by Doze, though. Even if it wants to sync in the background, it'll be able to sync and do that work during those narrow maintenance windows. It'll just sync less often, which is fine if you're not actually using the device.
How to Prevent an App From Dozing
An app that's programmed properly shouldn't have issues when dozing. However, if you want notifications from a certain app the minute they come through–like Gmail–you can give it permission to run while dozing. Bear in mind that this will result in more battery drain.
To find Doze's settings, open the Settings app on your Android device, tap "Battery," tap the menu button, and tap "Battery optimization."
You'll see a list of apps that are not optimized. You'll definitely see Google Play Services here. You may also see some manufacturer-provided system apps that need the ability to run in the background.
Tap the "Not optimized" menu and select "All apps" to see a list of all apps installed on your device.
By default, every app will be optimized, and you'll see the phrase "Optimizing battery use" below it in the list. To prevent an app from dozing, tap it in the list and select "Don't optimize." Android will allow that app to run in the background, even while your device is dozing. You should only do this if an app isn't working properly, or if you really need up-to-the-second notifications for the app in question. Most apps will doze properly, and you shouldn't even notice the difference.
How to Make Doze More Aggressive (and Save More Battery)
RELATED: How to Optimize Your Android Phone's Battery Life Using Greenify
Doze is designed to work entirely in the background, without your involvement. But if you want more control, you can configure it with third-party apps.
The latest versions of Greenify have a new "Aggressive Doze" feature that makes Doze kick in more quickly. Greenify can make doze kick in in just a few minutes after you set your phone down instead of after hours, potentially saving you a lot of power depending on your usage patterns. This feature doesn't require root, so anyone can use it.
To use this, install Greenify, launch it, tap the menu button, and select "Settings." Tap the "Aggressive Doze (experimental)" option and enable it. You can also enable a notification that shows more information about dozing durations here, if you're interested in seeing what's going on under the hood.
You can also tweak Doze in other ways, but they're not so easy to use. For example, there's a Doze Settings Editor app that allows you to tweak various parameters and load profiles, making Doze more or less aggressive. This app requires root to use, but if you don't have root, it will show you adb commands you can use to configure Doze.
Image Credit: TechStage on Flickr
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Sony Xperia Ear Details [feedly]
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Sony Xperia Ear Details
// I4U News
Sony unveiled in a short but packed media event at the Mobile World Congress 2016 the Sony Xperia Ear. The new Xperia Ear adapts to your situation and environment, whether at home or on-the-go.The...
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Friday, February 19, 2016
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Report: Google to Take Top-To-Bottom “Apple-Like” Control Over Nexus Line [feedly]
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Report: Google to Take Top-To-Bottom "Apple-Like" Control Over Nexus Line
// Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog
Ever since the launch of the Nexus 6P and 5X at the end of 2015, we have begun to see this narrative arise suggesting that Google needs to stop partnering with companies like LG, Samsung, HTC, and Huawei to build its Nexus devices and instead take the Apple approach, where they handle everything from top to bottom and simply contract out companies to help build devices. That essentially means going the Pixel route, where we see products like the Pixel C that were designed and essentially, manufactured, by Google. In other words, Google takes control over everything from the software to hardware design to make a tablet or computer (or phone) that is 100% Google. Sure, they are sourcing chipsets and RAM and displays and all of that, plus they need someone to physically build everything, but they aren't asking someone like LG or HTC to add their name to it.
While this "Apple-like" control over the Nexus program seems to be the opposite of what the Nexus program was designed for, a report out of The Information this morning, suggests that's what Google plans to do going forward.
According to this report, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and his crew has told "colleagues and outsiders" that the company will take greater control over Nexus smartphones. No time frame for when that will happen was mentioned in any form during this report, nor were there any other real details, so we don't have much to go on other than that bit about Pichai informing "colleagues and outsiders."
The report continues with mention of HTC potentially still hustling to try and build this year's Nexus phone(s), but that insiders at HTC aren't exactly thrilled that Google may want tighter control that wouldn't include HTC's name in any way. Then again, HTC could be the last partner before Google switches to a Google-only branded Nexus line later on.
Of course, the argument surrounding this move has to do with Apple. According to sources of The Information, Google wants more control, because it wants to compete at the high-end with Apple and is worried that Apple will continue to try and squeeze Google's money-making opportunities out of the iPhone, which again, sits at the high-end of the smartphone market. So, putting tons of money into the niche Nexus program is going to fix that? I'm not following.
Some other bullets from the report suggest that Googlers weren't happy that the newest Nexus phones weren't sold through carriers and that Nexus phones typically carry "high price points." Honestly, I don't know that I can get on board with either of those statements. I don't think Google likes partnering with carriers. They attempted it last year with the Nexus 6 and the phone was largely thought to be their worst selling Nexus in years. Do I even need to bring up the Galaxy Nexus fiasco? The Nexus line also has never really been sold at "high price points" outside of the Nexus 6. The Nexus 6P, at $499, is quite the bargain actually. Anyways.
So who knows what this all means in the end. If Google wants to reduce the partner participation of companies like LG or Huawei or HTC for its Nexus line, I guess it is what it is. We all know that Nexus phones will never be household items until Google puts some marketing dollars behind them. Will a top-to-bottom approach finally push them to do that?
Via: The Information (subscription)
Related Stories
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Report: Google to Take Top-To-Bottom "Apple-Like" Control Over Nexus Line is a post from: Droid Life
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Saturday, January 30, 2016
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US Banks Said to Integrate Cardless-ATM Technology in 2016 [feedly]
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US Banks Said to Integrate Cardless-ATM Technology in 2016
// xda-developers
Reports of multiple US banks including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo, will all be working to add cardless-ATM technology this year. This means that people will be able to use their Android Pay mobile wallet to get cash from an ATM without ever having to use their ATM card.
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Thursday, January 21, 2016
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Sprint and AT&T end two-year contracts today [feedly]
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Sprint and AT&T end two-year contracts today
// pocketnow.com
Surprise! Someone leaked a Sprint employee training manual yesterday showing off the company's plans to kick most of the two-year contracts it offers to the bucket. We did question when the move was going to happen, though, as it was the night before AT&T was tipped to stop the contracts, too.Lo and behold, Sprint and AT&T have both dropped them today. Both companies' sites do not feature ...
The post Sprint and AT&T end two-year contracts today appeared first on Pocketnow.
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