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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Tip: Save Yourself 2 Minutes of Hell by Skipping the Android Wear Intro Tour

If you own an Android Wear device, you know how finicky the device can be, especially if you have even considered switching it to a new phone. In fact, every time I try to attach an Android Wear watch to another phone (or attempt to trick it into pulling an OTA), I have to factory reset it. It’s a massive pain in the ass to me, but then again, most people probably won’t be switching their watch over to another phone as regularly as I do.

But let’s say you do switch more often than any normal human should. You probably can’t stand the tutorial that pops up each and every time you reset your watch, right? You know, the frustrating-to-navigate tour that includes confusing swiping instructions and a random temperature screen that still isn’t even a real thing. Guess what? You can skip it! 

Google isn’t exactly up front about telling you how to skip the tutorial, but the option to is certainly there. When you see the first card show up that says “Swipe up to get started,” don’t swipe up. Swipe to the left instead and you should see a big ol’ “Cancel Tutorial” button. Tap that and move on with your life.

You’re welcome.

Tip: Save Yourself 2 Minutes of Hell by Skipping the Android Wear Intro Tour is a post from: Droid Life



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Deal: Lifetime Subscription to 1TB of Dripbit Online Backup for $55

In need of 1TB of online backup space? Well, taking place on the DL Deals Store, you can pick up a lifetime subscription to Dripbit Online Backup for just $55, valued at $480. 

With this lifetime subscription, you have access to private, military-grade AWS 256 encryption, perfect for storing all of your precious files. To access these files, there is no need to download them, as a built-in editor allows you to make whatever changes you need while established to a secure connection.

For folks on the go, an Android mobile app lets you access your goods wherever you are, and any web browser can be used for access.

If 1TB of lifetime cloud storage interests you, for just $55, click that link below.

Features

  • Access & edit your files without re-downloading them from the cloud
  • Keep your files private w/ military-grade AWS 256 encryption
  • Enjoy super fast connections
  • View & download your files from any web browser
  • Use on the go w/ iOS, Android & Windows apps

Deal Link

Deal: Lifetime Subscription to 1TB of Dripbit Online Backup for $55 is a post from: Droid Life



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Nest 5.0 App for Android is Now Available, Will Replace Your Old Nest App

During today’s Nest event, Tony and the boys announced that a new Nest 5.0 app would arrive on both Android and iOS. If you are at all a Nest fiend like me, then you have been checking constantly since the event wrapped for an update to the app. As it turns out, all of that checking for an update was a waste of time, because you actually have to install a brand new Nest app. Let me say that again – the old Nest app can be uninstalled and you will need to install the new Nest app. I know, this isn’t typically how big updates go, but that’s what we’re working with here.

The new Nest app is now just called “Nest” instead of “Nest app” like the original. The new icon for it also has a bit more gradient and shadow, for those paying attention. 

As a recap, the new Nest 5.0 app is a big deal. Not only does it feature a brand new UI and support for the Thermostats and Protects, but it brings in your Dropcams as well (the new Nest Cam too). So now, all of your Nest products live under a single app.

Here is the list of new features:

  • Home Screen – Each Nest Thermostat, Nest Cam or Dropcam has its own spot, while all your Nest Protects roll up into one icon. You can also see live video previews of all your Nest Cams on the home screen so you can get a quick glance of different rooms.
  • Nest Learning Thermostat – It’s now easier to get to and use popular thermostat functions like Energy History, Heat/Cool mode and schedule.
  • Nest Protect – Provides access to Safety Checkup, which lets you test all your alarms from the app, and App Silence lets you hush false alarms from your phone.
  • Nest Cam and Dropcam
    • Nest app offers new enhanced features for phones, including zoom and enhance, which adjusts to give you a sharper view.
    • Talk and Listen is now easier to use. Just hold down the icon and start talking, just like a walkie-talkie.
    • If you have a subscription to Nest Aware with Video History: The Nest app provides a summary of captured events, making it easy to spot moments in your Video History when your camera sensed motion or sound. You can easily skip among events or jump 30 seconds at a time.
    • Dropcam Pro and Dropcam HD can now be accessed from within the Nest app.
    • If you have a Nest Cam and Nest Protect in the same room, you’ll see a camera button when you get a smoke or CO alert on your phone. Tap the button and you’ll immediately be taken to a live view of your home, so you can see what’s going on. Nest Cam will also record a clip of what happened, even if you don’t subscribe to Nest Aware with Video History.

Again, this is a brand new app that requires a full install. The old Nest app, well, feel free to get rid of it.

Play Link

Nest 5.0 App for Android is Now Available, Will Replace Your Old Nest App is a post from: Droid Life



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AT&T Slapped With $100 Million Fine From FCC for Throttling Data Speeds and Not Telling You About It

Announced this morning, the FCC is coming down hard, like, really hard on AT&T. For “misleading consumers about unlimited data plans” and “violating transparency obligations,” the FCC is fining AT&T to the tune of $100 million, the single largest fine ever tossed out by the commission. Ouch. 

During the period of the FCC’s investigation, it is alleged by the commission that AT&T severely throttled the data speeds of customers with an unlimited data plan. Not only that, but AT&T did not notify customers of what was taking place on the backend. According to the FCC, the slowing down in data speed rendered applications unusable by device owners.

Here is a small excerpt from FCC’s press release announcing the fine for AT&T.

In 2011, AT&T implemented a “Maximum Bit Rate” policy and capped the maximum data speeds for unlimited customers after they used a set amount of data within a billing cycle. The capped speeds were much slower than the normal network speeds AT&T advertised and significantly impaired the ability of AT&T customers to access the Internet or use data applications for the remainder of the billing cycle.

To sum up the transparency section, the FCC is charging AT&T with violating the 2010 Open Internet Transparency Rule by “falsely labeling” these data plans as unlimited and by failing to inform customers of what the maximum speed they would see under the carrier’s Maximum Bit Rate policy.

Of course, AT&T came out and announced they will fight these assertions vigorously.

We will vigorously dispute the FCC’s assertions. The FCC has specifically identified this practice as a legitimate and reasonable way to manage network resources for the benefit of all customers, and has known for years that all of the major carriers use it. We have been fully transparent with our customers, providing notice in multiple ways and going well beyond the FCC’s disclosure requirements.

$100 million is a ton of money, even for a major player such as AT&T. But hey, if you attempt to screw the consumer, you best be prepared to pay the price.

Via: Engadget | FCC

AT&T Slapped With $100 Million Fine From FCC for Throttling Data Speeds and Not Telling You About It is a post from: Droid Life



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Obnoxious Feature-by-Feature Rollout Begins Now: OnePlus Confirms Snapdragon 810 V2.1 for OnePlus 2

Last year, as OnePlus prepared to launch their first phone, the OnePlus One, the company announced a new feature or two on a weekly basis to try and stir up a constant stream of press. It was an obnoxiously smart move for a company who likely has the tiniest of marketing budgets. The idea is that you announce a new feature each week, hypebeast the hell out of it on forums and social networks, and then watch as all of the little tech blogs cover it, helping spread the word to the masses. The strategy proved to be a success, as the company sold a million phones last year without spending much if anything.

With the OnePlus 2 almost upon us, prepare yourselves for round two. The (t)rollout of features has already begun with a confirmation of the phone’s processor. 

In a post penned by CEO Pete Lau on the OnePlus forums, Lau announced that their new phone will run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor (MSM8994-v2.1). The v2.1 is a slightly newer version of the controversially warm Snapdragon 810, which is said to run cooler and has been featured in devices like the Xperia Z4 and Xiaomi Mi Note Pro. Unfortunately for talk of a this being a cooler version of the 810, I should point out that the Xperia Z3+ and Xperia Z4 have already seen plenty of heat-related drama.

OnePlus claims that they worked closely with Qualcomm’s engineers to get this right. They also mentioned that their OxygenOS skin has been optimized to “work beautifully” with the 810.

As a recap on the Snapdragon 810, this is Qualcomm’s flagship 64-bit processor for 2015. It’s featured in the G Flex 2 and HTC One M9, but was passed on by Samsung in the Galaxy S6 because of those oft-referenced overheating issues. The processor supports 4K streaming video, allows phones to snap incredibly fast photos, and games like a beast (when it’s not overheating) thanks to its Adreno 430 GPU.

Get ready for more features…one by one.

Via:  OnePlus

Obnoxious Feature-by-Feature Rollout Begins Now: OnePlus Confirms Snapdragon 810 V2.1 for OnePlus 2 is a post from: Droid Life



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Moto 360 is Finally Getting Its Android Wear Update to Android 5.1.1

According to Googler Wayne Piekarski, a developer advocate who focuses on Android Wear, the big Android 5.1.1 update for the Moto 360 is finally ready. The update will start rolling out to units today, but as you are all well aware, these updates take time to reach everyone. The update will hit only a handful of devices today before gradually increasing its reach over the next few days or weeks. 

After hearing a couple of weeks ago that the update was still in testing as Google and Motorola tried to improve performance, we weren’t sure how much longer we would all have to wait. So, yeah, this is great news!

As a recap, here are some of the big new features:

  • Always-on screen, always-on apps: Most Android Wear watches include an always-on screen—no tapping, twisting or shaking required to see what time it is. Now we’re expanding this option to apps, so they can stay visible as long as you need them, instead of disappearing when you drop your arm. Perfect for running, navigating, or grocery shopping!
  • New launcher & Wrist gestures: Now you can access your apps and contacts by simply swiping left from the watch face. Android Wear also now responds to specific navigation gestures so you can scroll between cards with a simple flick of the wrist. Learn more with our YouTube video.
  • Draw emojis: In response to texts, instant messages, or emails, you can now send emojis to your contacts by drawing them on your watch screen. The watch will recognize the emoji you drew and send it via whichever messaging app you’re using. Give it a try by selecting “Draw emoji” whenever you’re replying to a message!
  • Heads-up notifications: Incoming notifications like text messages will now appear on-screen even when you’re looking at something else on your watch, like directions or fitness stats, so you won’t miss anything important.
  • Switching watches made easier: The Android Wear companion app now lets you pair your phone with more than one watch at a time – ideal for swapping watches to match your style.
  • Change your font size: Want to see more text on your watch screen? Or less? You can now adjust the font size from your watch’s settings.
  • Lock your watch’s screen: Want to lock your watch’s screen when you’re not wearing it? Turn on the new “Screen lock” feature from your watch’s settings. When enabled, if your watch detects you’re not wearing it (or it loses the connection to your phone) for a period of time, then your specified swipe pattern will be required to unlock it.

To see a tour of the new Android 5.1 features, check out the video below.

Let us know if you see the update!

Via:  +Wayne Piekarski
Cheers Carsten!

Moto 360 is Finally Getting Its Android Wear Update to Android 5.1.1 is a post from: Droid Life



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Android 5.1 Soak Test Rolls Out for Moto X (1st and 2nd Gen) in Select Markets

In a recent post to Google+, Motorola’s David Schuster states that soak tests for Moto X (1st and 2nd Gen) devices are currently rolling out in select markets, and that if all goes well, a broader rollout should come next week. 

In his post to G+, Schuster lists each market the soak is available in, and currently, North America is not listed for either device. Of course, unless you have an Unlocked model, you will have to wait for carrier testing and certification anyway, so we may still have a ways to go before official updates begin to hit devices.

If you are curious about which exact markets are seeing the soak tests, here are the lists.

Moto X (2nd Gen) – Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Singapore and Sweden.

Moto X (1st Gen) – Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and United Arab Emirates.

As more info comes in, we will be sure to share it with all of you eager Moto X owners.

Via: +David Schuster

Android 5.1 Soak Test Rolls Out for Moto X (1st and 2nd Gen) in Select Markets is a post from: Droid Life

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