Android Phone Fans |
- Original unlocked HTC One sees price drop to $500 off-contract
- Straight Talk now offering nano SIM cards, LTE data on T-Mobile
- Google’s upcoming smartwatch specs allegedly leaked
- FCC gives AT&T the green light on purchase of Leap Wireless (Cricket)
- Google Drive storage prices plummet: $1.99 for 100GB, $9.99 for 1TB!
- Mobile phone retailer Wirefly reportedly shuts down after bankruptcy
- Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 now available
- Minuum 2.0 hits play store with free 30-day trial
- Heads-up: Amazon Prime subscriptions getting price hike to $99 next week
- T-Mobile plans to upgrade all customers on 2G/EDGE to 4G LTE; defends network in new ad campaign [VIDEO]
- Huawei looking to hop onto the Windows Phone / Android dual-boot bandwagon
- Hey LeBron: AndroidForums.com has your back!
| Original unlocked HTC One sees price drop to $500 off-contract Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:16 PM PDT
We’re only a few short weeks away from watching as HTC officially unveils the followup to the HTC One during their March 25th event. Today, after launching nearly a year ago, the original unlocked 32GB HTC One (2013) is now finally seeing a price drop, down from $575 to the low price of just $500. It’s not a Moto X fire-sale by any means and in our opinion, still well worth the off contract price. But with the all new HTC One 2014 getting ready to rear its head, we can’t help but recommend holding off. For those in the market for a new phone right now, the HTC One is still a great option. If you’re on the fence, don’t forget to check out our in-depth review here. |
| Straight Talk now offering nano SIM cards, LTE data on T-Mobile Posted: 13 Mar 2014 04:27 PM PDT
Straight Talk has long been the pre-paid service I, personally, recommend to my friends and family looking for contract-free wireless service on a budget. At $45 a month for unlimited talk, text, and 2.5GB of high-speed data on T-Mobile’s or AT&T’s networks, there’s no question Straight Talk offers a fantastic value. Unfortunately, the cheap service — which mails one of their specialty SIM cards to your door — didn’t offer anything smaller than micro SIM cards. This meant for those with a Motorola Moto X, or even (shudder) an iPhone 5s, they were forced to make the arduous journey of cutting SIM cards down by hand. Not. Fun.
But fear not bargain shoppers, Straight Talk is now finally offering nano SIM cards for both T-Mobile and AT&T networks. Where all of Straight Talk’s AT&T SIM cards have had access to 4G LTE since back in September, T-Mobile wasn’t so lucky. But, in a strange new development, it appears that opting for the nano SIM on T-Mobile will allow customers to tap into the carrier’s 4G LTE network — something micro and normal sized SIMs don’t have access to. Pretty sweet. For those looking to upgrade their devices soon, these nano SIMs should fit nicely inside upcoming devices like the all new HTC One 2014 or Samsung Galaxy S5 that are launching in just a few short weeks. It’s just something to consider. |
| Google’s upcoming smartwatch specs allegedly leaked Posted: 13 Mar 2014 03:24 PM PDT
Android smartwatch concept Our friend @evleaks is releasing a few new juicy tidbits on what is sure to be a hot item this year: the Google smartwatch. Sundar Pichai already mentioned that an Android SDK for wearables was soon on its way and today, we might have a few key specs from the fabled Android-powered smartwatch. According to the tip, the smartwatch will be manufactured by LG and come with a 1.65-inch 280×280 resolution LCD IPS display. Right off the bat, that leaves us a little worried about battery life (and size if they try to compensate), but nothings confirmed. Other specs include 4GB of internal storage, which, to us, sounds like a bit much for a watch meant to do little more than display the time, run a few apps, right? 512MB of RAM was also mentioned, which sounds like more than enough for multitasking on a tiny smartwatch. By comparison, the upcoming Samsung Gear 2 which we saw unveiled only a few short weeks ago carriers a higher resolution 1.63-inch 320×320 display, but the same 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. While nothings confirmed, expect the Google smartwatch to offer compatibility outside of Samsung’s Galaxy devices. Not included in this leak was the actual processor. Now, we don’t expect anything along the lines of quad-core, we’re just keeping our fingers crossed for something a little more up-to-date (and supported) than the TI OMAP found in Google Glass. Maybe this is what that rumor was referring to when it said Google was going with LG for the next Nexus device. Nexus smartwatch? [Twitter] |
| FCC gives AT&T the green light on purchase of Leap Wireless (Cricket) Posted: 13 Mar 2014 02:39 PM PDT
After announcing their plans back in July to purchase Leap Wireless (also known by their subsidiary, Cricket) for $1.19 billion, AT&T’s deal has finally been given the FCC’s seal of approval. The deal doesn’t go completely unchecked, with AT&T agreeing to specific terms and conditions in order to gain access to Leap’s 5 million subscribers. First off, AT&T will need to share some of their valuable spectrum with competitors in select markets. To ensure Cricket customers also get a little love, AT&T had to promise to deploy LTE service using Cricket’s unused spectrum within “90 days or 12 months” of closing the deal. AT&T has also agreed to offer new lower-rate plans meant to target Cricket’s “value-conscious” customers (not everyone can afford AT&T’s higher rates). For areas where Leap Wireless’ CDMA network will be discontinued, AT&T will come up with device trade-in programs to ensure Cricket customers aren’t left high-and-dry without wireless service. The FCC will also be keeping tabs on AT&T, requiring quarterly reports on the status of Leap Wireless customers (as well as all the commitments mentioned above) in order to ensure AT&T is keeping up with their end of the deal. When all is said and done, AT&T will walk away with an even stronger network in larger markets, while Cricket customers gain access to AT&T’s superior 4G LTE footprint in more areas. Sounds like a win/win, right? |
| Google Drive storage prices plummet: $1.99 for 100GB, $9.99 for 1TB! Posted: 13 Mar 2014 12:58 PM PDT
Online storage can be expensive, which is why it’s so frustrating that a lot of companies are beginning to rely on the cloud for providing users with long-term storage options. Thankfully, one of the “cloudiest” companies there are — Google — is looking to challenge the status quo. They have introduced some new ridiculously affordable Google Drive pricing options for those who need more storage beyond the standard free 15GB you already get. Here’s a quick look at all of the new options you have at your fingertips:
We’re sure those higher tiers are more for business users than anyone else, but it’s refreshing to see a host of options for regular Joe Schmos like you and me that are both plentiful and affordable. If you don’t remember, Google now uses your Drive storage for your email accounts, Google+ photos, as well as anything else you decide to upload there. Most average users probably get by with the free 15GB option, but we’re sure there are folks out there with tons of email and photos who have been looking for this extra breathing room without having to break the bank. It’s especially refreshing in a time where companies seem keen on increasing prices more than anything, such as Amazon’s price hike to Amazon Prime earlier today. Let’s hope this latest move pressures competitors such as Dropbox, Box.net and Microsoft OneDrive to drive cloud storage prices even lower across the board. Dial it in right here if you want to hop onto one of these great new plans (those who were already paying have been converted automatically). [via AndroidForums.com] |
| Mobile phone retailer Wirefly reportedly shuts down after bankruptcy Posted: 13 Mar 2014 12:01 PM PDT
It’s a sad day, folks. Longtime mobile phone deal-providing retailer Wirefly and parent company Simplexity have reportedly filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy, resulting in an immediate shut down of the business. That’s why when you go to their website you won’t be met with anything but 404 pages (surely there was enough money left over to keep up a “we’re gone” page, no?). It’s an odd situation for sure, because if you head to their Facebook page you’ll see Wirefly was advertising their trade-in promotions as late as yesterday, the day this closure apparently occurred. It’s possible that Facebook post could have been scheduled, of course, so there’s no telling if that was just an unfortunate oversight of whoever decided to clear the offices. Such a sudden move doesn’t bode well for employees either, with some taking to social media to express their discontent with their new employment status. Some customers have called Wirefly to inquire about their order status and haven’t been able to reach anyone, suggesting that the customer service department is now non-existent. And reports of users receiving refunds on recent orders that they were waiting for seem to suggest Wirefly isn’t comfortable filling out their remaining obligations. All of this alone isn’t confirmation that Wirefly is gone, but without an official statement from the company and several independent reports suggesting as much, we’ll have to go with it for the time being. It’s sad, though the company wasn’t exactly the most ideal place to buy a smartphone. They came through with great deals on phones more often than not, but not without early exit clauses that made it almost impossible (or otherwise very expensive) to ditch before the standard return window. Wirefly isn’t the only third-party retailer in the business with such practices. Buying a phone through Amazon, Best Buy or those mall kiosks also come with similar hooks in the fine print, though those hooks are usually not an issue for people who plan to stick with their phone for at least six months or the full length of the contract. It sounds like Wirefly just wasn’t able to compete in an area where big businesses have started to match and exceed their service, and as such have been forced to call it quits. It’s just a shame that it all had to happen so abruptly. We’ll be seeking further comment from Wirefly and Simplexity to see if we can find out any specifics. |
| Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 now available Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:27 AM PDT
Just a quick note for those of you on the lookout for Verizon’s version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 — the device is now available for sale. You’ll be sent on your way with your new tablet after a $700 purchase, though you can knock $100 off that price after signing a two-year contract for a limited time only. This 10.1-inch device features 1080p HD resolution and some pretty nice internals, including a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, an 8 megapixel rear camera, a 2 megapixel front camera, and more. Oh, and those trusty 4G LTE radios are there for your mobile data needs, of course. It’s a lofty price tag, though it’s a high-end device that isn’t really matched by many other tablets on the market at the moment (unless you consider even more expensive tablets in Samsung’s own range). You’ll only be able to grab the device online for now, though Verizon expects to have it on store shelves within the next few weeks. Head here to get started if you’re interested. [via Verizon] |
| Minuum 2.0 hits play store with free 30-day trial Posted: 13 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PDT Minuum hasn’t been the easiest of keyboards for users to adopt, with its quirky one-line typing scheme being off-putting to those who have spent years typing in the standard QWERTY format. Let’s face it — asking someone to pay $4 for a control scheme they may or may not be comfortable with before getting a chance to use it isn’t the best way to attract wallets.
But now that the keyboard is out of beta and has entered a more traditional development cycle, Minuum wants to start inviting users in with a 30-day free trial, which has come as part of today’s 2.0 update in the Google Play Store. The free listing is separate from the premium one, so if you decide to stick with the keyboard after your trial is up you can simply uninstall it from your phone and buy the other one as normal. Version 2.0 wasn’t all about bringing new users on-board by giving them a way to try before they buy, though. Here’s the quick changelog:
Nothing huge, but Minuum is already a pretty comprehensive keyboard experience for how young it is. Standard features include emoji support, the ability to switch to a full-sized keyboard if the one-line setup is uncomfortable for you, greater cursor control for editing text, multiple languages, forthcoming support for smart watches and more.     Give the new free trial a shot here, and find the paid version here if you eventually decide you want to switch over full time. |
| Heads-up: Amazon Prime subscriptions getting price hike to $99 next week Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:38 AM PDT
It’s not often we get a lot of bad news from Amazon, so it tends to stand out when it happens. Unfortunately, today’s news affects Phandroid readers who use Amazon Kindle Fire devices (or use Amazon for shopping in general). Amazon has formally announced plans to make Amazon Prime a bit tougher on your wallet, with the company increasing the full cost of a year’s membership by $20. Here’s Amazon’s quick justification of it all:
The change will go into effect next week for new customers, while those already on Amazon Prime will be charged $99 whenever their renewal date comes up (whether that’s tomorrow or a full year from now). We’re also hearing Amazon Prime Student customers will get a slight price bump as well, with the service going from $39 to $49. It’s an unfortunate change, but considering the perks you get with Amazon Prime some may still find it worth the cost and hassle. Here’s the quick list of everything Amazon Prime affords you:
When you consider all those factors, Amazon Prime might still be one of the sweetest deals in town for some. Regardless, we’re sure there will be many people unhappy with the change, so it’s up to you to decide if all those benefits are worth an extra $20 per year (which really amounts to mere pennies a day). |
| Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:18 AM PDT The uncarrier has done it again, folks. On the company’s 1-year anniversary since launching their 4G LTE network, Magenta has announced plans to bring everyone still on 2G/EDGE up to 4G LTE. T-Mobile says 50% of the upgrades will be completed by year’s end, while the project should be “substantially complete” by the middle of 2015.
More than that, T-Mobile is also expecting to begin work on loading up their new 700MHz A-block spectrum with 4G LTE once their acquisition of the spectrum is complete. T-Mobile’s work on catching up with the big boys has been impressive enough, with the company able to get 210 million customers in over 270 markets lit up with the super fast data in under a year. T-Mobile’s also looking to “fight back” against claims that their network isn’t up to par with the big boys. They’ve announced a new marketing campaign that will serve to educate customers on just how strong their network is. )They specifically called out Verizon’s catchy, humorous ads of asking street-walking consumers what they thought each coverage map of competing carriers looked like. Answers in those ads range from “it looks like a duck” to “some sort of finger painting,” before those customers eventually come to Verizon’s coverage map and confidently point out that it’s a map of the United States. T-Mobile has boldly requested a cease and desist from Verizon, but not before letting loose their own ad that began running on TV last night. You can view that ad in the YouTube embed above. |
| Huawei looking to hop onto the Windows Phone / Android dual-boot bandwagon Posted: 13 Mar 2014 05:38 AM PDT
It wasn’t long ago that we learned about the first manufacturer looking to bring us a dual-boot phone that runs both Android and Windows Phone. That company was Karbonn, an Indian manufacturer who seems to have gotten a rather surprising blessing from Microsoft to go through with it. But they aren’t alone, and we imagine this trend won’t die anytime soon. Huawei is looking to do the same, according to the latest reports from TrustedReviews. Chief Marketing Officer Shao Yang revealed the company’s aspirations in an interview.
Yang also mentioned that Android would definitely be their main focus on the thing, with Windows’ presence likely to play the supporting role. That’s not much of a surprise considering Android is the world’s leading mobile operating system. Huawei says they are always looking at every new platform and want to get their hands into as much as possible, but are uncomfortable with releasing phones with Windows alone. It’s natural for a company to be wary of straying far from a gameplan that’s worked for them, so their ability to offer two platforms on one device is quite convenient.
Recent reports suggest this could be an uphill battle for Huawei, Karbonn and any other manufacturer looking to introduce dual-boot systems. ASUS was apparently pressured to cancel the Transformer Duet TD300, a laptop that dual-boots Android and Windows, and can switch between the two in mere seconds on the fly. We’re not sure if those rumors are true, but considering we haven’t heard a word about the device since its announcement back in January there is reason to be concerned. And even if Google did condemn ASUS’ latest brainchild, who’s to say they feel the same about phones? It’s those reasons why Karbonn and Huawei’s offerings will be looked at closely, as they could eventually shape the next step in the evolution of the mobile market. Huawei revealed that the new smartphone would go on sale Q2 2012, though there weren’t any other details to be had as of the time of this writing. |
| Hey LeBron: AndroidForums.com has your back! Posted: 12 Mar 2014 10:19 PM PDT We’ve all seen the Lebron James Samsung commercials – from his cameo in Samsung’s 2013 Superbowl ad to the most recent Samsung Galaxy Note 3 diss of the iPhone – and there’s no doubt he loves himself some Samsung. We even saw him proudly posterizing his custom Galaxy Note 2 when he first got it in 2012. Unfortunately the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 hasn’t treated King James as well, telling his Twitter followers that the phone “just erased everything” and “rebooted”:
For the record, Sir King Sir, next time you’ve got a problem with your Galaxy Note 3 or any other Android device, we invite your royalty to head on over to AndroidForums.com. We’ll get you fixed up, I promise, and you might want to check out our Note 3 Tips & Tricks while you’re at it.
Hmmm… he must have already found it. Just a friendly reminder that everyone will eventually have a problem with their phone, regardless of the brand or operating system. It happens. It sucks. There are definitely measures you can take to prevent disasters, but the friendly folks at Android Forums exist to help people with questions and problems large and small, so come join in the fun.
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