Tag: Tech

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Hello Google Voice, How Are You?

Google I/O keynote is set to begin at at 9:00 AM PDT on June 25, 2014. Most likely there will be mentions of Google Glass, Android TV and the next Android OS. One thing that I personally am interested in is Google Voice.

Google Voice seems to have become a forgotten product as part of its features were integrated into Hangouts for Android and iOS, separately. Google Hangouts for iOS gained the ability to make phone calls while its Android counterpart gained the SMS and MMS integrations.

Google Voice on iPhone 5s

Google Voice App for iOS was last updated on September 25. 2013.

Google Voice iOS App Update History

There have been speculations on what Google would do with Voice.

Nikhyl Singhal:

  • Finally, we want to make Google Voice as secure as possible. There are a few third-party applications that provide calling and SMS services by making unauthorized use of Google Voice. These apps violate our Terms of Service and pose a threat to your security, so we’re notifying these app developers that they must stop making unauthorized use of Google Voice to run their services and transition users by May 15, 2014.

Many speculates that Google will kill Voice as a product. We all soon find out what Google will do at Google I/O 2014.

I use Google Voice number for work, that means I need to port that number out should Google kill Voice.

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I can’t believe this exists: Washboard

I wanted to call this segment as the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot File.

A company will mail you a roll of quarters or two for a fee.

  • $10 worth of quarters costs $14.99 per month
  • $20 worth of quarters costs $26.99 per month

Oh, f*c* it, I’m gonna say this: WHAT THE F*C*!

When I still live in an apartment, I saved up quarters. It was not that hard. As a matter of fact out of habit I am still saving up quarters and other coins.

Faith in humanity, fading slowly…….

Washboard WTF 10 dollars

Washboard WTF 20 dollars

Comments at Hacker News.

Chris Ziegler (@zpower):

a startup sells $10 in quarters for $14.99. I am peering into the void of my own soul and questioning why we are here washboard.co

John Gruber’s take on Washboard:

If today being National Martini Day hasn’t driven you to pour a stiff drink yet, this will. Jiminy.

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T-Mobile Test Drive

T-Mobile Test Drive

From T-Mobile Test Drive page:

  • The iPhone 5s test device must be ordered online. It will be delivered by mail.
    You must sign for it and be at least 18 years old to sign.
  • T-Mobile Test Drive is free for 7 days and starts when the device is signed for.
  • After 7 days you must return it in good condition to a T-Mobile retail store (not an authorized retailer) so it’s important you know where your nearest retail store is. Find it here.

T-Mobile Test Drive is free with no obligation to buy, but if the iPhone 5s comes back with a cracked screen, damaged screen display, water damage, active Find My iPhone feature, or can’t be powered on we have to charge a $100 damage fee. If you don’t return the device, we have to charge $699.99 plus applicable taxes.

A hold for $699.99 + taxes will be placed on your credit or debit card. The timing of releasing that hold will vary by credit card company. We won’t charge your card unless you fail to return the device.

You can sign up here.

T-Mobile is rolling out Wideband LTE in the following cities:

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Birmingham, AL
  • Columbus, OH
  • Dallas, TX
  • Detroit, MI
  • Honolulu, HI Houston, TX
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Mobile, AL Orlando, FL
  • Portland, OR
  • Seattle, WA
  • Tampa, FL
  • Upstate, NY

Glad to know that Los Angeles is one of the cities, that’s why I’m interested in test-driving AT&T new network.

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Amazon Fire Phone

Amazon Fire Phone.

From the Press Release:

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jun. 18, 2014– (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today unveiled Fire, the first smartphone designed by Amazon. Fire is the only smartphone with Dynamic Perspective and Firefly, two new breakthrough technologies that allow you to see and interact with the world through a whole new lens.

Amazon Fire Phone

Amazon Fire Phone will be released on July 25, 2014 and pre-order is available now.

Notable Specs:

  • 5.5″ x 2.6″ x 0.35″ (139.2mm x 66.5mm x 8.9mm)
  • 4.7-inch LCD Display
  • 1280 x 720 resolution at 315 ppi
  • 13 MP rear-facing camera
  • 2.1 MP front-facing camera
  • 32 GB or 64 GB storage
  • Micro USB 2.0
  • 3.5mm headphone
  • Nano SIM-card tray
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), Quad-band GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 9 bands of LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20), supports carrier aggregation
  • 2.2GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU, with Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of RAM

For a limited time, Amazon includes one full year of Prime. Existing Prime members will have their membership extended for another year.

Pricing:

  • $199 for 32GB model with 2-year AT&T contract
  • $399 for 64GB model with 2-year AT&T contract
  • $649 for 32GB model without contract
  • $749 for 64GB model without contract

As a Tech enthusiast, I really want to get an Amazon Fire Phone. I want to know how this phone works, wether or not I could recommend this phone to anyone.

I have been on AT&T network for the last 4 years off-contract. I personally do not want to bound with a new contract with any phone providers anymore. My choice is to purchase an Amazon Fire Phone at full price. I am not sure if I want to spend $649 for an out of contract purchase.

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iOS 8 beta 2

iOS 8 beta 2

Apple seeds iOS 8 beta 2 build 12A4297e to developers on Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

This build seems to be a lot more stable than the first iOS 8 beta which crashed at least three times within the first hour. iOS 8 beta 2 seems to be stable enough that I told my colleagues they could install it if they would.

I installed iOS 8 beta on an iPhone 5s and iPad Air instead of on older devices; they are the only 64-bit iPhone and iPad I have. Apple is going full on 64-bit with the upcoming iOS devices.

I noticed that my iPad Air rings whenever my iPhone 5s rings. It seems that phone call handoff is working between the two devices. Overall, I’m really excited with iOS 8.