Brad Molen
Articles by Brad Molen
On T-Mobile, you can now stream music without hurting your data plan
Streaming music on your phone would be fantastic -- if it weren't for all those pesky data caps. T-Mobile's latest UnCarrier move addresses this particular pain point: Starting today, you'll be able to listen to all of your favorite jams on popular streaming music services without it counting against your data plan. The catch? It's limited to a few of the most popular offerings, such as Pandora, Spotify, iTunes Radio, iHeartRadio, Slacker, Rhapsody and Samsung's Milk Music. T-Mobile exec Andrew Sherrard explained that the aforementioned services encompass 85 percent of what users listen to, so the list covers the vast majority of the carrier's consumers. That said, Sherrard said that the company plans to reach out for feedback via a social media campaign, so make your voice heard if you're interested in getting services like Rdio or Google Play Music added to the list. If your favorite program is included, feel free to start filling up those playlists to your heart's content.
Amazon's Fire phone has average looks and high aspirations (hands-on)
It was only a matter of time before Amazon launched a smartphone. In the past 10 years, the company's extended its reach from the online realm into physical hardware, and after the addition of the Fire TV recently, the smartphone was the last major device genre it hadn't explored. Amazon's filled that void with the Fire phone, an AT&T-exclusive smartphone that ships in late July for just under $200. CEO Jeff Bezos spent over an hour on stage discussing the new phone's litany of features and how its uniqueness gives it an advantage over most other handsets the Fire phone will compete with. It's true: No other devices have six cameras and quick access to tech support, and features like Firefly and Dynamic Perspective help give the device a flavor of its own.
Live from Amazon's phone announcement in Seattle!
Look, Amazon didn't exactly hide the fact that today's mystery product announcement would be its long-rumored 3D phone. But with the exception of the occasional picture, the company did a decent job of keeping its new handheld device out of the public eye. Now Amazon's ready to show off the new Kindle Fire phone (or whatever it ends up being called), and we're here to bring you the news as it happens. Enjoy!
Tune in to our liveblog of Amazon's phone announcement tomorrow!
Amazon has taken a crack at e-readers, tablets and even set-tops, so it was only a matter of time before the company turned its sights to the ripe smartphone market. Of course, we've also heard about this project for the last three years, so it's about time Amazon actually launched an official device. And from what we've heard so far, the company won't have to try very hard to be different from its competition: Rumors indicate the new device will come with six cameras, a 4.7-inch screen and a suite of clever 3D tricks. Aside from that, we're relatively in the dark about what to expect, so you'll want to stay glued to our liveblog of the launch event starting tomorrow at 1:30PM ET, linked below! Amazon's phone launch liveblog June 18, 2014 1:30:00 PM EDT
Making your own Mario level is incredibly fun, but difficult to master
Today, I wrote my very own level of Super Mario Bros. at E3. Featuring a pyramid of goombas, several randomly placed pipes, a dozen mystery blocks in a row and countless coins scattered throughout, my creation was a jumbled mess; coming up with a cool world for Mario to navigate is a lot easier said than done. But it was mine. In the first half of next year, Wii U owners will have the same opportunity thanks to a game called Mario Maker. It's Nintendo's first attempt at producing a level creator similar to LittleBigPlanet or Project Spark, and it tugged at my heartstrings. For a brief moment, I shared the same experience as a small group of video game designers: Armed with a Wii U GamePad and its included stylus, I placed enemies, pipes, platforms and other Mario obstacles anywhere I wanted. In my demo, I was allowed to choose between the original game's 8-bit style and the high-def style from the franchise's recent titles. And just to make sure my Mario genesis was actually playable, I was able to play through it in real time.
Here are Nintendo's new 'Super Smash Bros.' Amiibo toys for Wii U
Toy-based gaming is not only alive and well, but it's also expanding to more franchises. This time it's Nintendo's turn: Following in the footsteps of games like Skylanders and Disney Infinity, Nintendo announced the Amiibo, which are plastic figurines that you scan into your Wii U by holding them on the GamePad. As soon as the toy is scanned, its corresponding character -- Mario is a primary example -- appears in the game with its own unique score, experience points and skills. The point of doing this is so you can either partner with or fight against these virtual characters. Additionally, the more the Amiibo fights, the better it will become. The toys, which were shown off for the first time at E3, will initially be available for (and compatible with) Super Smash Bros. this holiday season, but more games will be compatible later on, such as Mario Kart 8 and Mario Party 10.
SwiftKey's Android keyboard is now available for free
Of the third-party keyboards available on the Google Play Store, SwiftKey is among the oldest and most well-known. And although it's getting its iOS8 app ready for the fall, it certainly isn't forgetting the platform that helped the $4 app get its big break. With today's update, SwiftKey's premium Android keyboard is now permanently free of charge. This is great news for fresh users, and the loyal folks who've previously purchased the app won't be left out of the update: Legacy customers will get a $5 theme ten-pack for free. Additionally, the refresh also comes with a SwiftKey store (with 30 themes available at launch), a number row and over 800 emoji. Many of the features in this update were offered as part of a beta, so it's refreshing to see them added into the final product.
Sony's PlayStation 4 ships in white this September, comes with 'Destiny' and 500GB for $450
Not only did Sony just announce that the beta of Bungie's next title, Destiny, is coming as a beta next month, but it also let the cat out of the bag that you'll be able to get the game bundled with a "glacier white" PlayStation 4 on September 9th. The new-hued console will come with 500GB of storage and a free 30-day membership to PlayStation Plus. Accompanying peripherals include a matching controller and stand available for purchase separately, and a grey/white "urban camouflage" DualShock 4. The cost for the bundle pack? A tidy $450/€439, while Europeans can pick up the system solo for €399. Follow our liveblog at Sony's E3 2014 conference for the latest updates!
Her name is Cortana. Her attitude is almost human.
She was modeled after real-life personal assistants. She is the product of two years of work, and a large team of scientists and product managers. She has video game origins. She is Microsoft's response to Siri and Google Now. She is Artificial Intelligence and proud of it. She is Cortana.
Here are a few lesser-known new features in iOS 8
Widgets! QuickType keyboard! Hey, Siri! Interactive notifications! Like most new versions of Apple's mobile OS, iOS 8 comes with its fair share of features that, in theory, will help improve the experience from the previous version. Our list of new features covers nearly every highlight from Apple SVP Craig Federighi's presentation, but every year there's always one slide filled with additional enhancements the company doesn't have enough time to call out individually on stage, and every year that slide disappears within a few seconds. So, what else will iOS 8 offer that wasn't specifically called out by Hair Force One?
Apple's WWDC 2014 liveblog!
Ready or not, here it comes: The annual WWDC keynote. This is the holy grail for Apple faithful, as CEO Tim Cook and his team of executives show off most of the company's new firmware and -- in many cases -- a few pieces of hardware as well. As usual, we're liveblogging the event, which means we're looking at roughly two hours of Apple news. So if that's your thing, or if you're simply just curious to see what Tim Cook's going to say, stay locked in right here as we fill you in on every detail!
Apple's WWDC 2014 keynote will be streamed live on Safari and Apple TV
A liveblog of an Apple keynote is great, but sometimes you just want to see the real thing for yourself (while reading our commentary at the same time, of course). We totally understand. And apparently, so does Apple, since the company is once again streaming the WWDC keynote live. The usual caveats apply: You'll need to use an Apple product or service to view the event -- specifically, Safari browser on OS X (version 4+ on Snow Leopard or later), Safari on iOS 4.2+ or a second-gen Apple TV or newer. Don't have any of those but still curious about what groundbreaking products will be announced? No worries, our liveblog will come with all of the news, quotes, specs and photos as they come out, so be sure to go here and bookmark it. Livestream of Apple's WWDC 2014 keynote June 2, 2014 1:00:00 PM EDT
Tune in to our liveblog of Apple's WWDC keynote Monday!
Get ready to put on your Sunday best, kids -- WWDC 2014 begins in just a few days. The developer conference will begin with its traditional keynote, headlined by CEO Tim Cook and the rest of the executive gang. We'll be liveblogging the event so you can see what we see as it happens, and if you use Safari, you can watch along with us here. What can we expect to see at the event? SVP Eddy Cue mentioned this week that this year's product lineup is the most exciting one in 25 years, so we'd love a sneak peek. We've already seen banners indicating that iOS 8 will be shown off (as if there was any doubt), and we'd place our bets on the next version of OS X. New hardware? Quite possibly. A platform for connecting your home? Smartwatch or television? We'll believe it when we see it. Sure seems likely. Stats and videos about education and Apple's retail stores? Absolutely. Regardless, it should make for an interesting afternoon. Bookmark the link below and come join us! WWDC 2014 Liveblog June 2, 2014 1:00:00 PM EDT
Motorola confirms Moto Maker isn't dying, despite US factory closure
Today's revelation that Motorola is shutting down its sole American plant is an indication that its latest flagship didn't do as well as expected in the US and the costs of operating the Texas factory were simply too high to continue operations. Since the facility focused heavily on shipping Moto Maker products to US consumers, speculation arose that the feature -- which gives you the ability to customize the color and trim of your Moto X -- would die along with it. Upon reaching out to Motorola, a spokesperson confirmed to us that Moto Maker is not going away as a result of the factory's closure.
This is why Apple bought Beats
Ever since the rumors first broke that Apple wanted to buy Beats for $3 billion, the masses have uttered one universal word: Why? Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue and Beats CEO and co-founder Jimmy Iovine sat down with Recode's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at the Code Conference to discuss the confirmed news. Not wasting any time, the execs got right into it. According to Cue, there were three overall reasons why the company made the deal: Talent, great headphones (something many folks will debate) and Beats Music.
Uber partners with AT&T to bring preloaded apps to your new phone
Uber's growing like a weed, and it's about to get a lot more exposure for people who may not have tried or heard about the ridesharing service. CEO Travis Kalanick announced a strategic partnership with AT&T on stage at Code Conference. Uber drivers will use phones running on AT&T's network, but more importantly, the company's app -- which consumers use to call for a ride and track the cars -- will be preloaded on an unspecified number of devices on the carrier. There's no word on the financial obligations, nor did we hear when this transition will take place. If you haven't used Uber before, be prepared to get to know the service a little better, whether you like it or not.
Intel's vision for wearables includes... a shirt?
The next biggest thing in wearables is apparently something that's already technically... wearable: A smart shirt. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich came to the Code Conference wearing a shirt laden with sensors capable of monitoring your health, such as heart rate and even emotion. These sensors can communicate with an app on your smartphone.
Intel will let you build your own 3D-printed robot later this year
Intel CEO brought a robotic companion named Jimmy with him on stage at Code Conference today. Jimmy is a 3D-printed robot capable of walking, talking, moving his arms, dancing and even tweeting, and it's the key to Intel's vision of the future of robotics. Starting later this year, the company will make an open source robot kit with 3D-printed parts available to consumers for $1,600, with a research version for $16,000. The former will run on Intel Edison, the company's computer-on-a-chip, while the latter will be powered by a Core i5 processor.
Inside LG's G3: How vacuums, focus groups and competitive pressure shaped a smartphone
Nine months ago, deep in a heavily guarded lab in Seoul, South Korea, LG's mobile design team set out to create a phone to rival Samsung's flagships. It was no light responsibility: According to IDC, Samsung dominated smartphone sales in 2013 with 31.3 percent of the market compared to LG's 4.8 percent. Yet, in the amount of time it takes a newborn baby to blossom from conception to her first appearance in this world, LG cranked out a compelling piece of circuitry. The G3, announced today, comes with the highest-res display on the market, a 5.5-inch body that feels smaller than it really is, a fresh metallic finish and a never-before-seen imaging component invented by a robotic vacuum company.
Verizon's next-gen voice service still planned for this year, will come with video calling
Verizon and AT&T, the two largest mobile operators in the US, have spent the last couple years in a race to deploy next-generation voice technology known as Voice over LTE (VoLTE). With its announcement last week, AT&T was the first to deploy the fast-speed VoIP network, but don't count Verizon out of the race quite just yet: executives explained to us today that it's still on track for nationwide deployment sometime this year.