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AT&T strikes deal to offer LTE data roaming in Canada
AT&T subscribers visiting their Canadian neighbors no longer have to worry about giving up 4G speeds when crossing the border. The carrier has just unveiled a roaming deal with Rogers that will provide quick LTE data anywhere the Canadian provider has compatible coverage, including major cities like Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. You'll only get to do so much with the improved performance while traveling up North, though. When AT&T's global add-ons still include a meager amount of international data per month, you'll just be racking up overage fees that much faster.
T-Mobile to launch data-free $35 Unlimited Talk and Text plan on December 8th
T-Mobile's Simple Choice plans are relatively cheap ways to get unlimited voice and messaging, but not everyone is eager to pay for the accompanying data. The carrier is clearly aware of this, as it's launching a data-free $35 Unlimited Talk and Text prepaid plan on December 8th. It's a "limited-time" offer for thrifty customers who still want to chat as much as they like, the company explains to TmoNews. We'd argue that T-Mobile's $30 plan with unlimited data and 100 minutes of voice is ultimately the better deal, but the new rate could be appealing to basic phone owners and those who spend all their time on WiFi.
Ryan Seacrest's keyboard case turns your iPhone into a BlackBerry (video)
The market for keyboard-equipped phones may be on the wane, but don't tell that to Ryan Seacrest -- the American Idol host is convinced that messaging mavens need real buttons. To that end, he's jumping into hardware and launching the Typo Keyboard for the iPhone 5 and 5s. The Bluetooth case turns an Apple handset into a makeshift BlackBerry Q10, complete with backlit, sculpted keys that cover up the iPhone's home button (there's a small substitute key); we hope you don't need multitasking, folks. The Typo Keyboard will make its formal debut at CES in early January, and it should ship that month for $99. Thankfully, that means we'll escape a sales pitch during New Year's Rockin' Eve.
LG Canada says G2 will get Android 4.4 KitKat by March
LG G2 owners may have to wait a while to get the Android 4.4 KitKat software that their Nexus 5-toting counterparts already enjoy. A spokesperson for the company's Canadian branch informs MobileSyrup that the G2 should get its KitKat upgrade late in the first quarter of 2014 -- in other words, March. While that will disappoint early adopters, LG does note that every local carrier will receive the update at about the same time. Whether or not Americans will see the new OS any sooner is another matter. We've asked the company about its US upgrade schedule, and we'll let you know if it can provide some details.
Text message exploit can force your Nexus phone to reboot (updated)
Watch out if someone sends a flood of text messages to your Nexus phone -- they may be trying to break in or otherwise cause havoc. IT administrator Bogdan Alecu has discovered an Android bug that triggers exploitable behavior in the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 whenever they're hit by a large volume of Class 0 SMS messages, or texts that aren't automatically stored on the phone. The denial of service attack usually forces the handset to reboot, but it can also disable the network connection (if temporarily) or crash the messaging app. Non-Nexus hardware appears to be safe, although Alecu notes that he hasn't had a chance to test a wide variety of gadgets. Regardless of the problem's scale, affected users will have to be cautious for a while; Google tells PCWorld that it's looking into the exploit, but there's no word on just when we can expect a patch. Update: There's already a firewall app in Google Play that protects against the exploit. Thanks, Chipsy4!
BBM Channels launches today for BlackBerry smartphones
BlackBerry's tentative step into the world of feed-based social networking, BBM Channels, is at last leaving beta. As of 3PM Eastern, those with BlackBerry 10 and classic BlackBerry OS devices can use the Tumblr-like service for themselves, subscribing to content feeds from both major providers and their friends. Android and iOS users, meanwhile, will have to sit tight -- BlackBerry says that Channels support for their platforms is arriving in the "coming months."
Moto G makes its North American debut at Telus and Koodo
The Moto G may not reach the US until January, but that doesn't mean it will be unavailable on North American shores until then. Motorola's budget wunderkind has just reached the continent through Canada's Telus and its low-cost Koodo brand. Both carriers are selling the 8GB smartphone for $200 CAD ($189 US) off-contract; thriftier shoppers can get the Moto G for free on a two-year Telus agreement, or $50 at Koodo with a $150 use tab. Other local carriers aren't expected to offer the Moto G in the near future, so this may represent the best chance of getting the handset for both Canucks and eager American importers.
Engadget Mobile Podcast 196 - 11.21.13
It's a tale of two phones this week, along with their respective OSes, of course. Your host Brad Molen is joined by TechnoBuffalo's Jon Rettinger to dig deep into Nokia's 1520 and the Windows Phone OS. There's also an in-depth look at what makes Google's Nexus 5 so good (KitKat is surely part of it) and how the device's price point may help tip the future of smartphones in the consumers' favor. Proof of concept phones are also on the table and we'll see how LG's G Flex and Samsung's Galaxy Round stand up to the scrutiny. So, slot some time into your schedule and head to the streaming links below for another engaging and informative episode of the Engadget Mobile Podcast! Hosts: Brad Molen Guest: Jon Rettinger Producer: Jon Turi Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) Hear the podcast:
Sprint and Best Buy offer students a year of free cellphone service, with a catch
Many students have trouble scrounging up money for loan payments, let alone cellular service. Thankfully, Sprint and Best Buy have teamed up on a promotional cellphone plan built for these non-existent budgets. The My Way promo adds a line with a year of free phone service to a parent's existing account; customers just need to sign up at Best Buy and prove that Junior is going to school, whether it's elementary or college. As you'd expect, though, there's a big catch. While the plan includes unlimited calls and messaging, data is capped at 1GB per month unless you pay an extra $10 per month for unfettered internet access. Even so, it's a potentially huge bargain for students who get in before the deal ends January 1st -- they may finally have cash to spend on the finer things in life.
Amazon's Lovefilm finally launches iPhone app in the UK
Whereas Netflix has expanded quickly onto numerous mobile platforms in the UK, Amazon can't claim the same for its own streaming service, Lovefilm. Aside from the obvious Kindle support, Lovefilm's iOS app has been iPad-only for two years, with iPhone and iPod Touch owners only being included from today. On the plus side, the app brings AirPlay and IMdB integration, and Lovefilm has been working hard to rack up more content in the UK -- having historically been regarded as stronger than Netflix in terms of its movie library. Meanwhile, there's still nary a peep of a Lovefilm Android app -- something even the most recent streaming contender, Wuaki.tv, has managed to deliver.
Samsung launches Galaxy Core Plus with curious step backwards in specs
When is a smartphone upgrade not an upgrade? When it's the Samsung Galaxy Core Plus, which has quietly launched in Taiwan. Although it does use Android 4.2 where the original Galaxy Core ran 4.1, it's carrying just 768MB of RAM and 4GB of expandable storage -- both steps down from the 1GB of RAM and 8GB of space inside its months-old predecessor. Android Beat speculates that Samsung is maximizing its production efficiency with the downgrade; it may be using the same 768MB RAM chips that it also makes for high-end devices like the Galaxy Note 3. Whether or not that's true, it's clear that not much else has changed. The Plus still includes a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 screen, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front VGA shooter. While the new handset is relatively cheap at NT$ 7,990 ($270 US) off-contract, we'd rather hunt around for a used example of its older, more advanced sibling.
Nokia Lumia 525 reaches Chinese regulator, hints at play-it-safe Windows Phone upgrade
Was Nokia's recent cavalcade of new Lumias not enough for you? Don't worry, there's yet another model on the way -- Chinese regulator TENAA has approved the Lumia 525, a previously rumored refresh of the entry-level 520. As the name suggests, the Windows Phone likely won't be a radical break from the past. Photos that briefly appeared at the Chinese agency (and were first caught by LiveSide.net) show a device that closely resembles the 520, including the flash-free rear camera. We don't know much about what's inside beyond 3G and WiFi, although an earlier rumor at BlogJack has the 525 doubling the onboard RAM to 1GB and putting a greater focus on music. The clearance doesn't necessarily confirm an imminent launch. However, there have been murmurs at Nokiapoweruser of a launch by early December; those who want yet another frugal Lumia may not have long to wait.
Engadget Mobile Podcast 195 - 11.1.13
We hope you didn't wear out your sweet tooth this Halloween, because our host Brad Molen is joined by Android and Me's Taylor Wimberly for a big bite of Android 4.4 KitKat. A new Google OS wouldn't mean as much without a new reference device rollout, so we dive into the details of the Nexus 5 handset, as well. While lots of early adopters are eagerly waiting by the mailbox for their Google delivery, Brad humbly admits to already having scored both the black and white versions to take for spin. Not only that, but Taylor is a bona fide Ara Scout and discusses the potential of Project Ara's modular phone concept. So rest up your sugar-soaked selves and ease into a fresh edition of the Engadget Mobile Podcast via the streaming links below. Hosts: Brad Molen Guest: Taylor Wimberly Producer: Jon Turi Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) Hear the podcast:
BlackBerry's upscale P'9982 visits the FCC sporting AT&T-ready LTE
BlackBerry's luxurious Porsche Design P'9981 reached the US, but it wasn't really for the US -- it originally sold to British and Middle Eastern business tycoons. If a new FCC filing is any indication, the as yet unannounced P'9982 may be a different story. The upscale smartphone has just passed through the FCC carrying AT&T-native LTE and HSPA data, suggesting that it's built with American use in mind. It's not clear as to when and where the BlackBerry 10 device might launch, though. Tbreak has heard from BlackBerry partners in Dubai that the P'9982 may be unveiled before November 20th, but we don't know much more; there's a chance that AT&T support exists purely to accommodate travelers. Even if that's true, US buyers willing to import the premium smartphone will at least get the first-class cellular service they expect.
Nexus 5 launcher and apps ripped from factory image, available for download
Can't wait for your freshly ordered Nexus 5 to show up? This might grab your attention: the Android community has already ripped a handful of the phone's apps from Google's official factory image. Droid-Life has collected the essential applications (calendar, clock, email, camera hangouts, and others), but the full Nexus 5 experience requires Google Play Services, Google Home (the new launcher) and the revamped Google Search, specifically. As always, side-load with caution -- these apps were built specifically for the Nexus 5, and there's no telling how they'll affect a device running Sense or CyanogenMod. It may not be a full upgrade to KitKat, but it could be enough to tide over the impatient. Feeling brave? Check out the list of available apps at the source link below.
Web-based Windows Phone dev tool has built 65,000 apps, gets upgraded with NFC
Some gave short shrift to Windows Phone App Studio beta when it launched in August, but its web based development tool is proving to be popular -- developers have already built 65,000 apps. Microsoft hopes to keep that momentum going with a slew of App Studio upgrades that should make these fast-track apps even more powerful. Beta users can now integrate other phone functions into their apps with simple, menu-driven "actions" that include context-aware tasks like dialing numbers. The update also enables NFC for beaming software to other App Studio users, and it's possible to earn money through the official Windows Phone ad kit. Those keen on using any of the beta's new tricks just have to sign into App Studio at the source link.
ZTE launches Blade Q smartphone line in Mini, regular and Maxi sizes
Don't like having to give up (or gain) features just because you want a smartphone in a different screen size? With ZTE's new Blade Q line of entry-level Android phones, that won't be a problem. The 4-inch Blade Q Mini, 4.5-inch Blade Q and 5-inch Blade Q Maxi all offer the same dual-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor, HSPA+ data, 4GB of storage, 5-megapixel rear camera and IPS-based display technology. The most conspicuous change is the absence of a front 0.3-megapixel camera on the Mini. We've reached out to ZTE for exact launch details, but the company has already confirmed a European release; we suspect budget-conscious buyers won't have to wait long.
Engadget Mobile Podcast 194 - 10.24.13
This week's episode centers almost entirely around Nokia, as our host Brad Molen is joined by Richard Lai and Myriam Joire to discuss these colorful Windows-based phones and tablets. Both Richard and Myriam attended Nokia's Abu Dhabi event and evidently they can't stop gushing about it, along with its star device: the Lumia 2520 tablet. Richard continues to think that licking smartphones is accepted practice around the world and Myriam, as usual, has some insider info to share about the mobile industry. There's always some hijinks to enjoy with this crew, so, grab some popcorn and get ready to enjoy another episode of the Engadget Mobile podcast. Hosts: Brad Molen Guest: Richard Lai, Myriam Joire Producer: Jon Turi Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) Hear the podcast:
iPhone 5s and 5c now on sale in 35 more countries
If you were disappointed that your country missed out on the initial iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c launches, we have good news: you can (probably) buy the smartphones today. As promised, Apple has released both devices in 35 more countries, including Russia, South Korea and wide swaths of Europe. There hasn't been quite as much fanfare as there was in September, however. Our colleagues at Engadget Chinese covered the launch in Taiwan, and noticed that retail demand was mixed -- since many customers could pre-order their iPhones, only some stores had long queues. Those who haven't yet seen the new iPhones won't have to wait long, at least. Apple plans to ship the 5s and 5c to 16 more countries on November 1st, and the handsets should reach 100 nations by December.
Taiwan fines Samsung for astroturfing internet comments on its smartphones
Astroturfing (false grassroots) campaigns are usually reserved for promoting unpopular causes, but Samsung apparently disagrees. Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission has just fined the company NT$10 million ($340,333) for marketing its already successful smartphone line through fake internet comments. Samsung allegedly asked third-party contractor Peng Thai to write forum posts that praised devices, trashed competitors and downplayed bad news. The fine is almost trivial for a tech giant that makes billions of dollars in profit per quarter, but it may discourage others who would try similar dirty tricks -- besides, there are plenty of fans who would boost a product for free. [Image credit: Jussi Mononen, Flickr]
