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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Sprint Already Dropped That Ridiculous Video Streaming Throttling “Limitation” From Its New All-In Plan

This morning, we told you about Sprint’s new All-In plan that included the most ridiculous footnote in recent memory, a footnote that sneakily revealed to customers who bought into this plan that Sprint would throttle all of their video streaming to 600kbps. As you can imagine, the world clowned on Sprint for this move, because well, it was a dirty, dirty move in a day where video streaming is a major part of the mobile data experience.

Tonight, Sprint has already caved to customer complaints and removed the “limitation.” I’d give them credit for removing this insanely bullsh*t cap so quickly, but the fact that they tried to slip this by everyone removes them of any praise for the time being. 

Their CEO, Marcelo Claure, had this to say about the sudden change of heart:

“At Sprint, we strive to provide customers a great experience when using our network,” said Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. “We heard you loud and clear, and we are removing the 600 kbps limitation on streaming video.”

“During certain times, like other wireless carriers, we might have to manage the network in order to reduce congestion and provide a better customer experience for the majority of our customers.”

Wait a minute, so you still plan on throttling? You “might have to manage the network in order to reduce congestion?” I give up.

This is Sprint, folks. This…is Sprint.

Via:  Sprint

Sprint Already Dropped That Ridiculous Video Streaming Throttling “Limitation” From Its New All-In Plan is a post from: Droid Life



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Here is a Peek at Facebook’s New Android Tablet UI

Thanks to reader Mike, we have our first look at an upcoming change in the Facebook app’s UI for tablet devices. Just as we saw for smartphones, Facebook is switching things up, making a more compact, yet easy-to-view- interface for users of the service. 

As it is for most users right now, the top links to your Newsfeed, People, Messages, Notifications, and slide-out menu are dragged across the entire display. Once this new UI hits your device, you will find all of these links nestled together in the top right, as well as a more card-like view on your Newsfeed. This should make for easier browsing among your friends’ status updates.

If history proves anything about Facebook app updates, changes to the UI are mostly done server side, meaning that even if you are running the latest build of the app, you may not see the changes. It’s a really lame thing to do by Facebook, but hey, it is what it is.

Take a look at the photos below, then share your thoughts on the updated UI below. Is it something to be excited over?

facebook tablet facebook tablet-5 facebook tablet-4 facebook tablet-3 facebook tablet-2

Facebook

Cheers Mike!

Here is a Peek at Facebook’s New Android Tablet UI is a post from: Droid Life



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Deal: Android Hale Dreamer Alarm Clock for $48, 50% Off Retail

Everyone needs a good alarm clock. If you are like other people, you might use your Android device as an alarm clock, but really, shouldn’t you have something a bit more proper? On the DL Deals Store, you can pick up a Android Hale Dreamer Alarm Clock for $48, down from its usual price of $100, perfect for turning your basic Android smartphone into a beasty alarm clock at night. 

The device is simply an attachment for your phone, but is a nice looking alarm of sorts. It features a 2.25″ mono 10-watt speaker, capable of waking even the soundest of sleepers. The Hale Dreamer features a few special touches for when your device is hooked up. For example, if someone calls you, the machine will auto reply with an SMS saying, “call back later,” or another phrase. You can also utilize it as a speakerphone for taking calls.

If you need to step up your alarm clock Android game, check it out.

Features

  • Customize & program who and what warrants being awoken
  • Set specific callers to ring & others to remain silent
  • Send an auto SMS asking the caller to reply “e” for emergency or kindly, “call back later”
  • Utilize the real-life snooze button & highly customizable alarm features
  • Use as a speakerphone
  • Accommodate any size phone, even with a case
  • Enjoy amazing sound quality from a 2.25″ mono 10-watt speaker

Deal Link

Deal: Android Hale Dreamer Alarm Clock for $48, 50% Off Retail is a post from: Droid Life



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Here Comes Android 5.1 for the Moto X (2nd Gen) on AT&T

Funny story here. AT&T just updated their Moto X (1st gen) support page to show that the device is getting an update to Android 5.1 starting today. While that would be fine and all, we have to point out that it appears they updated the wrong page. The Moto X (2nd gen) is actually the phone getting the update. Why would we say that? Well, because the “Verifying the Update” section on the support page details a phone under codename “victara,” which is the 2nd generation Moto X. The 1st generation Moto X actually carries the codename “ghost.” 

So yeah, even though you will probably see others report that the Moto X (1st gen) on AT&T is getting updated to Android 5.1, it’s not. The 2nd generation version, which is currently going through a soak test, is the phone getting the update. Again, XT1097 is getting updated to Android 5.1, not XT1058.

The new software build is 23.16.2 and weighs in at around 507MB in size. AT&T says that you will need a WiFi connection in order to grab it.

Be on the lookout through Settings>About phone>System updates.

Via:  AT&T (but they’ll likely fix it soon)

Here Comes Android 5.1 for the Moto X (2nd Gen) on AT&T is a post from: Droid Life



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Facebook Messenger Payments Available to All in the US

Facebook jumped into the mobile payments game back in March when it introduced payments through Messenger. At the time, they would only acknowledge that the service would launch within a few months, but that all changes today. Facebook Messenger users in the US can now send money to their friends and family and drug dealers acquaintances.  

In order to send money to another person, you will need the Messenger app installed on your phone (for real!). After that, start a conversation with someone and look for the dollar sign at the bottom of the conversation window, buried between smiley faces and the “…” button. Tap on that, enter an amount, and then hit send. If you don’t already have a debit card added, you will be prompted to do so. Fill out the debit card form and be on your way to settling up.

And that’s it.

Via: http://ift.tt/1T2KnlQFacebook

Facebook Messenger Payments Available to All in the US is a post from: Droid Life



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Tuesday Poll: What’s the Perfect Smartphone Display Size?

Last year, we posed this same question, asking which display size our community preferred. Taking a look at the results, we find that the majority of our readers prefer a 4.6″-5″ display, with the aforementioned range dominating the field at 55%.

Interestingly enough, we asked that question before the release of Shamu, aka the Nexus 6, with its 6″ display. Now, with that device and other phones available with monstrous-sized displays, we should see a different outcome to the same question, given that we surely do have a few Nexus fans here.

As for me personally, I like an easily manageable 5″ display size. If I need something more, I’ll just grab a tablet. I don’t want to stretch my fingers anymore than I have to.

For this poll, select your preferred display size range, then comment below with your perfect size. If you see your size posted already in the comments, vote it up.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Tuesday Poll: What’s the Perfect Smartphone Display Size? is a post from: Droid Life



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Verizon: DROID Turbo Lollipop Update Goes Live Tomorrow (Updated: List of Changes)

With the DROID Turbo’s Android 5.1 Lollipop update arriving via soak test to members of the Motorola Feedback Network, the rest of you are probably wondering when the update will be available to your phone. The answer – starting tomorrow. 

Verizon pinged us moments ago, stating that the “actual push will begin tomorrow afternoon.” Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone will see the update pop-up on their phones. Instead, the update will rollout in phases, but you can always manually check to see if it’s available through Settings>About phone.

Motorola posted a full changelog for the update that can be found here. Verizon has not posted theirs, but we should have it later tonight or in the morning.

IT’S HAPPENING.

Also, here is a video we did of the original Lollipop update for the Moto X (2nd gen). If you haven’t been keeping up on all that is new in Android 5.0+, this is a good video to check out.

UPDATE:  Here is Verizon’s changelog.

droid turbo lollipop1

droid turbo lollipop2droid turbo lollipop5

droid turbo lollipop3 droid turbo lollipop4

Verizon: DROID Turbo Lollipop Update Goes Live Tomorrow (Updated: List of Changes) is a post from: Droid Life



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Sprint Intros “All-In” Wireless Campaign, $80/Month Nabs You Plan, Device, and Throttled Video Streaming

Sprint has a new campaign to get potential customers excited about wireless plans. Titled All-In Wireless, Sprint offers a single $80 a month agreement that features the plan and a smartphone, all for one price. 

To break it down, users pay $60 a month for unlimited talk, text, and data, plus an additional $20 a month to lease one of Sprint’s most popular smartphones. There is a one-time activation fee of $36, and it will help if you are a well-qualified buyer.

In the footnotes of the press release, Sprint also details the treatment your data goes through, which does not sound too pleasant. As noted, “to improve data experience for the majority of users, throughput may be limited, varied or reduced on the network.” This leads to streaming video speeds being limited to just 600Kbps at all times, which will definitely affect playback.

Additionally, “Sprint may terminate service if off-network roaming usage in a month exceeds: (1) 800 min. or a majority of min.; or (2) 100MB or a majority of KB.” These are things to keep in mind.

Sprint has a fancy new ad campaign to celebrate, starring none other than David Beckham.

Sprint will promote All-In Wireless with advertising featuring international sports star and entrepreneur David Beckham. In the ads, Beckham goes from store to store, asking for a simple wireless plan with a consistent monthly cost. He is met with confusion and frustration at every stop – until he gets to a Sprint store, where he is offered All-In Wireless.

The ad premiers tonight during the US Women’s World Cup match, so that’s cool. But if you don’t want to wait, we have placed an extended version below.

Via: Sprint

Sprint Intros “All-In” Wireless Campaign, $80/Month Nabs You Plan, Device, and Throttled Video Streaming is a post from: Droid Life



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Tip: Don’t Forget to Hide the Android Wear Watch Faces You Don’t Want to Deal With

You know how your Android Wear watch came with a whole bunch of pre-installed watch faces that you can’t get rid of, most of which you wouldn’t be caught dead with on your watch in public? Guess what? You can hide them! I know that hiding is much different than uninstalling or removing, but at least you can shrink down that ever-growing list of watches on your watch to those that you actually like. 

To hide watch faces on your watch, head into your Android Wear companion app, tap on the “more” button in the “Watch faces” section, and then start hiding each individually by tapping on their menu buttons and choosing “Hide on watch.” Boom! Unwanted watch faces, now hidden on your watch.

Here are some pictures to help with this simple process.

Screenshot_2015-06-30-09-57-10 Screenshot_2015-06-30-09-57-19

Still a fan of your Android Wear device? Feel free to share any of your favorite watch faces in the comments.

Tip: Don’t Forget to Hide the Android Wear Watch Faces You Don’t Want to Deal With is a post from: Droid Life



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Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Q.U.B.E. Director’s Cut, Never Alone, and Funk of Titans Launched for NVIDIA SHIELD

Owners of the NVIDIA SHIELD have four new game titles they can check out this morning on Google Play, one of which may lead to rumors surfacing that Half-Life 3 is actually confirmed.

Continuing its push to bring console and PC-class gaming titles to the Android TV platform for its consumers, NVIDIA announced the availability of Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Q.U.B.E. Director’s Cut, Never Alone, and Funk of Titans. 

I don’t believe I have to explain too much about Half-Life 2, but as for what you do need to know, it requires a game controller and is currently exclusive to SHIELD and the SHIELD Tablet. Priced at $7.99, it’s the classic you all remember.

Other games include Never Alone, a game I had previously never heard of before, but it looks absolutely fantastic. Set as a puzzler, you play as a young child who is friends with an arctic fox. You two set out across a snowy landscape, meeting interesting characters, hoping to solve the case of an eternal blizzard that threatens the planet’s existence. It sounds intense, looks intense, and that fox is adorable.

To grab one of these titles, hit the links below. Do note, not all may be live in Google Play just yet, but keep checking back periodically. It takes time for some titles to populate Google’s servers.

Play Links: Half-Life 2: Episode Two ($8), Q.U.B.E. Director’s Cut ($10), Never Alone ($15), and Funk of Titans ($5)

Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Q.U.B.E.

Never Alone

Funk of Titans

Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Q.U.B.E. Director’s Cut, Never Alone, and Funk of Titans Launched for NVIDIA SHIELD is a post from: Droid Life



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Verizon LG G4 Update Live, Brings Enhanced Advanced Calling

An update is rolling out for the LG G4 on Verizon, bringing a few features to owners, but nothing all that special. The software version is labeled as VS98611A.

Included is an enhanced Folio display while a call is taking place, an updated consistency for displaying contacts and non-contacts in the Dialer app, and an enhanced Advanced Calling feature. That’s it. 

If you rock the G4 on Big Red, keep your eyes open for the notification to download the update.

www_verizonwireless_com_dam_support_pdf_system_update_benefits-lg-g4-6-29-15_pdf

Via: Verizon

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Sprint Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Receiving Update to Android 5.1 Today

Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge variants on Sprint are receiving an update to Android 5.1 this morning, according to Sprint support. The updates are quite large in size, hovering around 563MB for what we thought would have been a minor upgrade.

After the update, users should expect to see minor UI enhancements throughout, factory reset protection, performance improvements, and “new and/or enhanced features.” 

The Galaxy S6 will be bumped to software version G920PVPU2B0F7, while the S6 Edge will end up on G925PVPU2B0F7.

The update appears to be live for at least one of our readers, so feel free to check through Settings>About device.

Screenshot_2015-06-30-09-13-04

Via:  Sprint [2]
Cheers Steven!

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Pushbullet Receives Biggest Update Ever, Basically Becomes the Ultimate File-Sharing Messenger App

The folks at Pushbullet pushed out a massive update today across all of their apps. In fact, they are calling this their “biggest update ever.” That’s a bold statement for an app that we can’t stop writing about because each update seems to be awesomeness big. This time, though, things really are taking a turn towards the new, as the app is more organized than ever, almost in a messenger-like way. 

On Android and iOS apps, Pushbullet is now organized by where your file shares came from, meaning you have columns for Friends, Me, and Following. In the Friends section, this is where you have everything sent to and from a friend, so you have history and the ability to have further conversations (see, like a messenger app). The Me section is all of the stuff sent to yourself and all of your own devices.  The Following section is a list of all of your channels.

It’s pretty great, especially if you use Pushbullet to send and receive files to/from others.

Screen Shot 2015-06-30 at 6.20.17 AM Screen Shot 2015-06-30 at 6.20.06 AM

Outside of mobile apps, the Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera extensions also make sending and sharing links with friends easier, but you can also pop-out windows to continue conversations. The Pushbullet team made all of this more reliable as well, so if something goes wrong in the middle of a share, these extensions should now tell you.

Finally, the Pushbullet Windows app and website received makeovers with all of the stuff we just mentioned. Also, the website has drag & drop of as many files as you can force yourself to send. Below, you can see a short video of the new Windows app in action.

The updates are live. Go grab them!

Play Link

 Via:  Pushbullet [2]

Pushbullet Receives Biggest Update Ever, Basically Becomes the Ultimate File-Sharing Messenger App is a post from: Droid Life

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