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T-Mobile Simple Starter subscribers offered 2GB LTE data

T-Mobile, which loves to call itself an "un-carrier” to stand out from its competitors, is offering subscribers to its Simple Starter plan the chance to quadruple its LTE data. While the Simple Starter plan is their entry-level offering for subscribers, there are users out there who would rather up their data rather than the talk and text options that they have. And this is what T-Mobile is basically offering for just a few additional dollars every month.



The Simple Starter plan comes with just 500MB of LTE data (along with unlimited talk and text) for $40 a month, without an annual service contract and domestic overages. But for a lot of mobile users nowadays, 500MB is just not enough. For an additional $5 per month, subscribers will now get 2GB of LTE data, which may just be the cheapest among the major US carriers.


And of course T-Mobile President and CEO John Legere will not waste the chance to compare this to their competitors, calling out Verizon’s $65 charge for 2TB as well, also claiming that they have 70% more network spectrum per customer. They also say that for the past year, they have expanded their LTE coverage from 0 to 233 million Americans and has converted their 2G coverage to 4G. They have also rolled out voice over LTE, the first to do so among the US carriers.


However, not all is fine and dandy on T-Mobile land. Their announcement earlier this month that they will be cracking down on those who use their mobile phones to tether in order to access P2P downloading has been met with mixed views. Some say the usage of “unlimited LTE data” is a misnomer if they will throttle and limit how subscribers use their data. But some welcome the crackdown as it will give equal opportunity for everyone who wants to access their fast network.


SOURCE: T-Mobile





Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to use Synaptics Natural ID technology

Information about the spanking new – yet still un-launched – Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is still streaming out of exclusive sources before the inevitable September 3 launch at IFA 2014. Samsung recently teased (indirectly) about the handwriting features on the new Note, and the "selfie" side shutter button. This time, we’re getting a look in at the fingerprint sensor technology.



Samsung will be using Synaptics’ Natural ID solution for the Galaxy Note 4, pretty much like the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy Alpha. Most people equate the fingerprint sensor on both earlier devices to the one found on the iPhone 5s, which is a wrong assumption to make, and which causes people to mark the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S5, for instance, as “crappy” as it turns more errors than sensing the fingerprint of the user on the home button.


The reason for this is Synaptics’ LiveFlex technology – a solution that widens the sensor array (for more accurate security) from the display all the way to the home button, rather than just the home button alone. The right swipe for this security measure is to swipe fingers starting from the lower part of the display down to the home button – resulting in a bigger area of your finger scanned, and flawless results.


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On the software side, there are new features – including “fingerprint shortcuts” and web sign-in using fingerprint security. Samsung confirms that you can register your fingers to open any application directly from the lock screen – we have to see how this works in real world context. Also, a lot of secure websites are also now allowing sign-ins via fingerprint sensors.


There are only a few days more to wait until the Galaxy Note 4 is finally upon us, so watch out for our IFA 2014 coverage. Keep updated on the goings-on in Berlin via our timeline.


VIA: Sam Mobile





LastPass for Android now allows sharing of password, notes

With the sheer number of accounts that we have nowadays, whether it be social networks, emails or various apps, having a password manager is always a good idea, lest you forget any of your account passwords. For some of these accounts, it’s also a good idea if you could securely share your passwords with people who would be needing to access it on their own devices.



One of the most popular password managers on Android devices is LastPass. And the newest update to the app now gives you the ability to share passwords and notes to friends and family members. While that may sound scary because of course you would not always want other people to have access to your passwords, there are times when sensitive information need to be shared, but not through SMS or email or any messaging service. Sharing it through a secure app is the way to go, especially if you co-manage accounts like with financial apps or TV streaming services or even social networks as well.


Not only can you share passwords, but the feature also allows you to do so on your secure notes where you can save PIN codes, bank account numbers, and other useful but sensitive information. Just go to your LastPass vault, tap on a site or a note and select the share option. However, you can only share it with another LastPass user, so you make sure that whoever needs this information has also signed up. Once shared, the password or note will be synced in both vaults.


While the LastPass app is free from the Google Play Store, this sharing feature is only available for premium users. The service is for $12/year, so it’s not that expensive if you really need the sharing tool, as well as other added features as well. You can upgrade to the premium through in-app purchase.


SOURCE: LastPass


Huawei teases Ascend Mate7 with “7 Dreamers” ad campaign

IFA 2014 is almost upon us but it won't be a party exclusive to top Western brands. Popular, and some not so popular, Chinese companies are aiming to also make it big at Berlin next week, and Huawei will definitely not let the opportunity pass. But what will its expected Ascend Mate7 really be bringing to the table? Huawei isn't talking yet, but its teasing everyone with a new ad campaign focusing so-called "7 Dreamers".



The Dreamers are basically people who have some sort of "secret identity" beyond their normal work or social lives, supposedly empowered by some Ascend Mate7 features. Rumors is that the reason why Huawei strangely jumped from Mate 3 to Mate7 was to focus on 7 big features and these 7 personas seem to give credence to that theory. Then again, they could have also simply cooked up the 7 features/dreamers theme after deciding to name the device as the Mate7.




The video throws in just enough clues to make us think long and hard about these 7 features, but still vague enough to make you doubt your own theories. The Ascend Mate7 seems to be poised to be fit for gaming, hinting at hardware to match. 4G LTE is also covered by live streaming video anytime anywhere. The smartphone could also come with a metal body, blending material and design. There might be even some enterprise-level security or privacy options that lets you compartmentalize your personal and your work life.


There are other bits that are more amorphous. Hands-free usage (which isn't really hands-free in the video) could refer to a new voice-controlled wearable or simply hands-free features. The device is obviously big, but there are hints that either it could be even bigger or it could be combined together to form one large screen, not unlike Samsung's Group Play feature or the Sharp AQUOS Crystal's similar feature. And then there's the clue about exploring further, which could hint at some automotive feature.


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These could all be features on the Ascend Mate7 or could even be separate devices or accessories built around it. Either way, Huawei has definitely left us with just enough to chew on as we wait for the big reveal at IFA 2014, specifically in its press event on September 4 at 3 p.m. CEST.


SOURCE: Huawei





HTC may win the race for first 64-bit Android smartphone

This specific race is heating up – as we have covered before that SoC manufacturers are working hard to put out their own 64-bit processors – but it looks like HTC may steal a march on their competitors by tying this deal up with Qualcomm to put out what is probably the world’s first fully 64-bit Android smartphone.



The Taiwanese manufacturer recently teased an image on its Weibo account (that is, the default social network for Chinese), and it marks down specific technological achievements of the company and marking the year for it. It teases the HTC Desire 820 smartphone on the list, while coyly leaving out what makes it unique. This is where rumors come into play – as reports say that the Desire 820 could become the world’s first 64-bit Android smartphone by using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor.


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They then confirmed the teaser by putting out another image saying that (translated) the Desire 820 will become the “world’s first 8-core 64-bit Qualcomm phone. Yes, this is the first.” Qualcomm has been pushing 64-bit technology and capabilities recently, as has NVIDIA for that matter – so it won’t be long until we’re flooded with 64-bit capable phones.


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The next logical question will be when app makers and developers will take advantage of these new features and make 64-bit apps. But the deal looks to be set in stone, as even Qualcomm has posted on its account that yes, they are teaming up with HTC on this venture.


VIA: G for Games





Specs of Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact leaked

IFA 2024 is just a week away, but people still can’t wait until the newest products from their favorite tech companies are finally revealed. Leaks about Sony’s newest tablet, the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, have been few and far between for the past months, but now a source has leaked the specifications of the device. While its predecessor, the Xperia Tablet Z2 has had no joy in terms of sales, it has been pretty well-reviewed in the tech community, so the new tablet is still hoping to make a dent in the market.



The main difference between the previous and the new tablet is when it comes to the display. The 8-inch Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact will reportedly have a 1920x1080 Full HD IPS screen and will include Sony’s proprietary Triluminos technology as well as the X-Reality picture processing engine. It will be running on Snapdragon 801, same as with the Xperia Z2 Tablet but with a higher-clocked variant and will have 3GB RAM.


Other than that, the other specs are basically like the previous tablet. It will have 16GB internal storage, an 8MP Exmor RS rear camera, a 4500-5000mAh battery and for connectivity, it will have LTE, NFC and Bluetooth 4.0. An ad on the Xperia Facebook page may have teased the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and its water and dust resistant capability as it showed a man sitting beside the pool using the tablet.


The 7-8-inch tablet market is still dominated by Apple with its iPad Mini Retina, and with another one set to be launched this October, its competitors have to scramble to come up with something pretty special to entice consumers. Now we don’t know if the leaked specs will come true and if this will be enough for the fickle market to switch its attention from the iPad to the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.


VIA: Android Origin





ASUS continues to tease smartwatch launch at IFA 2014

If there was ever any doubt that ASUS was going to enter the smartwatch market with a launch of a product impending at IFA 2014, those doubts can be safely quelled by now – ASUS is coming out with a new wearable product in Berlin. That much is certain, with the Taiwanese manufacturer continuing to put out teasers for the new product.



We covered their edgy-looking first teaser a couple of days back, and since then there have been a couple more images that have come out – all in the same edgy, smart-futuristic vein. The wearable gadget market is surely going to look a bit more crowded after IFA 2014, as ASUS will not be alone in launching a new smartwatch or some other Android-based wearable device.


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As you can see from the image above – grabbed from the ASUS Facebook page – this is indeed a smartwatch. But those of you with tech smarts may have already noticed the emphasized curves on the face of the device. Is ASUS coming out with a curved OLED screen for its smartwatch? That is certainly edgy. Then again, it could just be a curved protector glass over a flat screen.


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With all these teasers, you would do well to notice that no information has leaked about the specs of the device, although they are said to be using an AMOLED screen on it. The price point is anywhere from USD$99 to USD$150. Could it be because there are some yawn-inducing specs underneath? Or is ASUS really that secretive about the details? Watch this space and keep track of the goings-on at IFA via our timeline.


SOURCE: ASUS





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