Zachary Lutz
Articles by Zachary Lutz
Refresh Roundup: week of August 19th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 19th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a free TV streaming service for Bell subscribers, the arrival of NFL Mobile to BlackBerry 10 and little bit of Windows Phone love from General Motors. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 19th, 2013.
Bowflex Boost fitness band coming to market in September for $50
A little bird at the FCC just tipped us off to a low-cost fitness band that's about to hit the market known as the Bowflex Boost. Like competing devices, it promises to track one's daily activities, calories burned and even quality of sleep, but as a key differentiator, it'll cost only $50. Similar to competitors such as the Nike FuelBand, Fitbit Flex and Jawbone Up, it'll also come with a companion iOS app, which syncs fitness data over Bluetooth and helps users stay accountable to their fitness goals. The Bowflex Boost was first announced this month during the earnings call of parent company Nautilus, which will leverage its direct-to-consumer sales channels to bring the bracelet to market in September. We're still curious to see what sort of sacrifices you'll need to make in exchange for the lower cost, but it seems that all will be revealed next month... perhaps in an infomercial.
T-Mobile brings Simple Choice plans to business customers on August 26th
Coming August 26th, T-Mobile will make its Simple Choice plans available to business customers, effectively severing the tie between the cost of devices and mobile service. The pricing structure is geared to customers with six lines or more, with rates that start at $20 per line for unlimited talk, text and 500MB of overage-free / throttled data. Keeping in line with its approach on the consumer end, business users can then pay for additional data, starting at $30 for an extra 2GB and going up to $50 for unlimited 4G data (and 2.5GB of limited hotspot use). T-Mobile is hoping its new approach will be popular with the BYOD crowd, but it's also performing a balancing act with a subsidized Simple Choice Classic plan that runs an additional $20 per month. Meanwhile, companies with less than six lines can tap into T-Mobile's small business plans, which parallels the pricing that individuals pay.
SwiftKey Cloud exits beta, available as free update in version 4.2
After nearly a month of beta testing, SwiftKey Cloud is now ready for the masses. Now in final form, the popular Android keyboard can backup and sync customizations across devices, and it can even learn phrases that are trending across the globe. Thanks to one-click authorization, it's now easier for SwiftKey to learn phrases from your Facebook and Gmail accounts, and it can also now tap into Yahoo Mail. You'll also find more responsive Flow predictions in the final version, along with some Emoji fixes. SwiftKey Cloud arrives as part of SwiftKey 4.2, which is available as a free update to current users. The app is also available for a free 30-day trial, but for a limited time, you can also snag the paid version for $1.99 / £1.49, which rings in at half off the regular price. Certainly worth checking out if the stock Android keyboard is no longer cutting it.
Motorola settles trademark dispute with Xoom Corp, will phase out tablet's name
Get a good lawyer and sometimes they'll tell you that your best hope is to settle a case, rather than participate in a courtroom brawl. That's exactly the route that Motorola Mobility is taking to resolve its trademark infringement spat with Xoom Corporation, an online payment provider that took issue with the Xoom tablet's name. Now, it's come to light that both parties have entered into a confidential agreement that'll require Google's subsidiary to phase out its use of the Xoom branding. A Motorola spokesperson confirmed the settlement, saying "The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties involved," but due to the nature of the agreement, it's likely that other details may never see the light of day. Just don't act too surprised when future Motorola tablets take on a new naming scheme -- something under the Moto X umbrella, perhaps?
Refresh Roundup: week of August 12th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 12th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought leaks of a smartphone that tips the scales with a 6-inch screen, an alternate ego to the oft-leaked Sony 'Honami' and the return of unlimited data to a certain AT&T MVNO. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 12th, 2013.
LG Optimus G Pro leaks in white for AT&T
Seems that one of the better smartphone values on the market today is about to reintroduce itself to AT&T's customers, as @evleaks has just tipped the LG Optimus G Pro in white. Up until this point, the carrier has sold the phone only in black, but its large 5.5-inch, 1080p display, Snapdragon 600 SoC and 13MP camera seem to grab all the attention. AT&T currently sells the Optimus G Pro for $100 on contract or $440 outright, but there's no definitive arrival date for this pearly creation.
Apple iOS 7 beta 6 now available as OTA update
And just like that, iOS 7 beta 5 is no longer the freshest version of Apple's upcoming mobile OS. Today, the Cupertino firm unleashed beta 6 to the world, which is available as an OTA update to current beta testers. It's safe to assume that this release contains a bevy of bug fixes in the buildup to the final release, but we'll surely circle back if any juicy tidbits come to light. Naturally, if you have access to the latest beta, feel free to drop your impressions in the comments below.
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: smartphones
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today, we've got a killer selection of smartphone recommendations. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear, including one of the picks in this very guide. Apart from the laptop that churns out your term papers, there's no more essential device than your smartphone. From keeping track of your class schedule on the go to helping you make after-hours plans, a handset is your go-to mobile gadget, so you'll definitely want a good one. Luckily, you have plenty of great options across budget categories, operating systems and screen sizes. We can't promise that your next smartphone will help you make the dean's list, but it might make you the envy of everyone on it.
Refresh Roundup: week of August 5th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 5th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a smartphone inspired by TopGear's 2012 supercar of the year, leaks of a water-resistant handset for T-Mobile and an Android smartphone from LG that sells for under $100 outright. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 5th, 2013.
SimCity for Mac arrives on August 29th
The splines of SimCity for Mac have been reticulating for longer than many mayors would like, but that's about to change come August 29th, when the game officially hits online servers for download. The release of the Mac version -- which costs $40 for the standard edition, or $60 for the deluxe version -- allows EA to finally make good on its promise of cross-platform, multi-player city building. If you happen to own both a Mac and a PC, you'll find that one purchase allows you to download both versions from EA's Origin store. Naturally, we're crossing our fingers that SimCity for Mac will have a smoother launch than its PC counterpart, but it seems that we'll have a definitive answer by month's end.
Refresh Roundup: week of July 29th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 29th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought overwhelming support for MoDaCo.Switch on the GS4, new markets for the budget-priced BlackBerry Q5 and a pint-sized Android handset from Acer. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of July 29th, 2013.
J.D. Power: AT&T unseats Verizon as customer care leader
AT&T is the absolute bee's knees in customer care among the big four carriers. That's if you're listening to J.D. Power, anyway, which finds that longtime champion Verizon is no longer the best at solving its customers' problems. As a precaution, this study is rather narrow in scope and considers just three components of customer care: telephone assistance, online support and in-store personnel. Naturally, this is just one component of customer satisfaction, and factors such as coverage, data speed and call quality aren't considered -- look to Consumer Reports for insight on those. Still, customer care is important and J.D. Power suggests that it's now at its highest levels since 2009. Sadly, not everyone's a winner, as the study also finds that Sprint and T-Mobile both fall below the industry average. On the prepaid side, MetroPCS is keeping its position as the front-runner, but even more curious, it's said that a whopping 69 percent of non-contract customers use carrier apps to manage their accounts. What's more, customer satisfaction is reportedly considerably higher among prepaid carriers that provide these management apps to their subscribers. In this context, it seems that well-targeted bundled apps aren't necessarily bloatware, but we still think its carriers should let you remove that stuff.
Verizon Wireless lowers the bar with 500MB Share Everything plan
Ah, the wonderful world of wireless carriers. You can almost guarantee that if one makes a move, the others will soon follow. We're still hoping that AT&T and Verizon will succumb to peer pressure and resume offering unlimited data plans, but until that day comes, you can look forward to lots of fine tuning of their tiered share plans. The latest move comes from Verizon, which has introduced its lowest cost offering yet: a 500MB shared plan that runs $40 per month. This rings in at $10 less than its 1GB shared data plan, but when combined with a single smartphone, you're looking at paying $80 per month for unlimited talk, text and 500MB of data that's subject to overage fees. Compare this to AT&T, which just announced a 300MB share plan that costs $70 once bundled with a smartphone. Either way, this presents a cheaper option for some, but it won't be fun keeping such a close eye on the meager data allotment. Update: This article previously drew a comparison that was based on the price of a feature phone at Verizon, which costs $30 per month. We've updated the article to reflect Verizon's $40 monthly charge for smartphones.
A cheaper Moto X is coming for prepaid markets, according to Motorola's CEO
Thanks to a number of significant leaks, the Moto X was pretty much a known quantity even before it was officially unveiled; the major exception being the handset's pricing, which we now know is $199 on a two-year contract. Given its mid-range components, many had hoped the phone would sell for less, which was fueled in part by analysts targeting a price of $300 outright. Fortunately, if you're feeling miffed, there's good reason to turn your frown upside down. According to Motorola's CEO, Dennis Woodside, the company is keenly aware of the need for lower cost smartphones, especially within prepaid and emerging markets. In an interview with CNET, Woodside revealed that a less expensive handset is in the works, and curiously enough, it'll also carry the Moto X branding. In Woodside's words, "We want everyone to have access to affordable smartphones." Further, "Moto X is the brand that we are most focused on... and there is more to come. You will see additional products within months." Whether the company can provide a low-cost option that's as compelling as the Lumia 620 or Nexus 4 remains to be seen, but you can rest easy in knowing that a cheaper Moto X is in the pipeline.
Imgur for iOS arrives with endless supply of distractions
Slackers unite! Imgur for iOS is now here, giving you one more reason to shirk your responsibilities rather than tackle your to-do list. The release looks an awful lot like the Android version, but don't let that stand as a deterrent, because there's plenty of functionality to enjoy. This includes the ability to upload, submit and vote on images, and even manage your albums and account. You can also browse images by ranking or what's gone viral, and then share them via email, SMS and Twitter. If anyone (such as your boss) gives you guff for spending too much time on Imgur, just remind 'em that happiness is good for productivity. Couldn't hurt, anyway.