HiTechEdge

Category: Tech

All news related to tech.

  • Google Pixel 5 and 4a 5G Discontinued After Pixel 5a Release

    Google Pixel 5 and 4a 5G Discontinued After Pixel 5a Release

    Google released the Pixel 5a to high praise, and has discontinued the 5 and 4a 5G in the wake of the 5a’s release.

    The Pixel 5a debuted with a lower price tag, while at the same sporting a larger battery, screen and waterproof design. The new phone has even been labeled “the best smartphone under $500.”

    Its launch, however, comes at the expense of both the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a 5G, according to Digital Trends.

    “With our current forecasts, we expect Google Store in the U.S. to sell out of Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 in the coming weeks following the launch of Pixel 5a (5G). The Pixel 5a (5G) is a great option for customers and delivers valuable hardware upgrades compared to the Pixel 4a (5G), all at a lower price point,” a Google spokesperson told Digital Trends.

    While the new model features a number of improvements, it’s limited to the US and Japanese markets, unlike the discontinued models.

  • Google’s Pixel 6 Won’t Include a Charging Brick

    Google’s Pixel 6 Won’t Include a Charging Brick

    Google is on the verge of releasing the Pixel 6, but reports indicate the phone will not ship with a charging brick.

    The Pixel 6 is Google’s highly anticipated next version of its flagship line of smartphones. Following the lead of Apple and Samsung, Google appears poised to sell the phone without the customary charging brick, according to The Verge.

    While some users may be put off by not having a charging brick included, Google’s decision is not all that surprising. Device manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce costs, as well as cut down on electronic waste. In the meantime, after years of smartphones and tablets saturating the market, most users have more charging bricks than they can use.

    Either way, Google won’t be the last company to take this route.

  • DirecTV Rebrands Streaming Services As DirecTV Stream

    DirecTV Rebrands Streaming Services As DirecTV Stream

    Following DirecTV being spun off as an independent company, it is rebranding the streaming services it inherited from AT&T.

    AT&T, in cooperation with TPG Capital, spun off DirecTV in early August following years of losses and shrinking subscriber base. The new DirecTV is determined to regain its standing in the TV market.

    “This is a watershed moment for DIRECTV as we return to a singular focus on providing a stellar video experience,” said Bill Morrow, CEO, DIRECTV. “Building on our recent momentum, we are well-positioned to bring unparalleled choice and value to all of our customers under one iconic brand, whether they beam it or stream it.”

    As part of the deal, DirecTV inherited AT&T TV and the obsolete AT&T TV Now. The company is rebranding all its streaming efforts — minus HBO Max, which AT&T retained — under the DirecTV Stream name.

    For those who stream it, the newly branded DIRECTV STREAM will become the single brand for video streaming services previously launched by AT&T, excluding HBO Max. The transition will happen later this month, and service will continue to be available with no term commitment or hidden fees. To enjoy the best of live TV and on-demand, customers can either bring their own streaming device, or use DIRECTV’s exclusive streaming device.² Those with DIRECTV’s streaming device can build a complete, integrated and customized entertainment experience with the ability to watch and pause live TV on up to 20 devices in their home. It also allows consumers to get all their favorite entertainment in one place with easy access to apps like HBO Max, Netflix, Prime Video and more.

    It will be interesting to see if DirecTV can regain ground it lost under AT&T.

  • Samsung Will Remove Ads From Its Stock Apps

    Samsung Will Remove Ads From Its Stock Apps

    Samsung has finally decided to stop putting ads in its stock Android apps…something it should never have been doing in the first place.

    Samsung is one of the biggest Android smartphone makers and is considered a high-end smartphone manufacturer that competes head-to-head with the likes of Apple. Despite that, and despite prices upwards of $1,000, Samsung seemed to think it was a good idea to include ads that were, as The Verge described, the“kind of ad that’s normally at the bottom of a crappy, overloaded website.”

    It’s truly amazing that a company charging a premium for its devices would think bombarding its users with ads is an acceptable business model. Fortunately, Samsung has seen the light and informed The Verge it plans to stop.

    “Samsung has made a decision to cease the advertisement on proprietary apps including Samsung Weather, Samsung Pay, and Samsung Theme,” the company said in a statement to The Verge. “The update will be ready by later this year.”

    “Our priority is to deliver innovative mobile experiences for our consumers based on their needs and wants,” the company continued. “We value feedback from our users and continue our commitment to provide them with the best possible experience from our Galaxy products and services.”

  • It’s Back! Spectrum TV App Is on Roku

    It’s Back! Spectrum TV App Is on Roku

    Good news for Spectrum and Roku customers, as the Spectrum TV app is once again on the streaming platform.

    Spectrum’s TV app was pulled form Roku’s platform in December, a casualty of the kind of carriage disputes that are common in the streaming TV industry. Existing users could continuing using the app, but new users had no way of signing up or gaining access to it.

    The two companies have come to an agreement, as the app is now once again on Roku.

    “We’re delighted to share that you can now access the Spectrum TV app through your Roku device,” reads Roku’s announcement. “You can now stream Spectrum’s full lineup of live and on demand content by using your existing Charter broadband subscription or by signing up for an account through your Roku device.”

  • Google May Be Preparing a Foldable Pixel Phone

    Google May Be Preparing a Foldable Pixel Phone

    Google’s Pixel lineup of smartphones has never been among the most popular, but a foldable model may be poised to change that.

    Foldable phones are considered to be the next evolution of the smartphone. Smaller models can be carried discreetly much easier, and then unfold into a standard-sized smartphone. Large models, such as a current large smartphone, can be unfolded into a small tablet-sized device.

    Samsung has been the leader in foldable smartphones — at least until now. Google is preparing to enter the market with its own foldable version of the Pixel, if rumors are to be believed.

    The latest Android 12 beta makes reference to four Pixel models: Oriole, Raven, Passport and Slider. Oriole and Raven are the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, according to GizChina and BGR. The “Passport” model, however, is rumored to be a foldable pixel, eventually being named the Google Pixel Fold.

    If the rumors are correct, a foldable Pixel may be just what Google needs to be a serious contender in the market.

  • Have Google Fi? Get $400 Off a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

    Have Google Fi? Get $400 Off a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

    Google Fi customers, both new and existing, can get $400 off a new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G.

    Samsung has been firmly in the lead when it comes to flip phones. While the first generations had some issues, recent models have been winning high praise.

    Google is giving Google Fi customers $400 off a Galaxy Z Flip3, a significant savings from its $999 price. The company outlined some of the details on its site:

    Get up to $400 in savings plus $150 Samsung.com credit with the purchase and activation of a Samsung Z Flip 3 5G from fi.google.com. You will receive the $400 savings in Google Fi bill credit. New Fi customers must transfer (port-in) your number to Fi from your current carrier to be eligible. Users who pre-order and purchase a device by 8/26/21 will also receive $150 in Samsung.com credit if they register in the Shop Samsung app between 8/25/21 and 9/26/21. The Samsung.com credit is valid through 11/9/21.

  • 5G Fairphone 4 On the Horizon

    5G Fairphone 4 On the Horizon

    A 5G-equipped Fairphone, the Fairphone 4, is on the horizon, marking the next generation of the sustainable smartphone.

    The Fairphone aims to be a smartphone built with more sustainable and responsible parts and labor sourcing. The phone is designed to be easily serviced and repaired, unlike many of the top smartphones on the market.

    According to Android Authority, a “Fairphone 4 5G” was recently certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance. This would seem to indicate the phone is weeks, or possibly months, away. The filing also indicated the phone will run Android 11 and be powered by a Qualcomm processor.

    The revelations is good news for fans of Fairphone and responsibly sourced technology.

  • HBO Max Will Revamp Smart TV Apps to Fix Issues

    HBO Max Will Revamp Smart TV Apps to Fix Issues

    HBO Max is preparing to revamp its smart TV apps in a bid to fix issues that have plagued the platform.

    HBO Max has quickly become a powerhouse in the streaming TV industry, but that hasn’t translated into a reliable experience for customers. The service has been plagued with issues, from glitchy playback controls to broken subtitles to sluggish performance.

    According to Vulture, a WarnerMedia exec has said the problems are partly the result of rapid expansion, combined with adding an ad-supported tier. As any programmer will attest, adding a major new layer to any platform inevitably opens the door to new bugs and issues creeping in. Add in international expansion to 39 new markets, and the problem gets worse.

    As Vulture points out, the biggest blame, however, lies with the origins of the app itself. Rather than being built from the ground up, HBO Max is essentially a reworked, heavily modified version of older HBO apps, such as HBO Go and HBO Now. The legacy code has contributed significantly to the existing problems.

    The WarnerMedia exec said the company is looking to rectify these issues by rolling out a completely new app, one built from the ground up. It’s a safe bet that’s just what is needed to address the issues and ensure the user experience matches the platform’s impressive content offerings.

  • ITC Judge Finds Goole Infringed Sonos’ Patents in Preliminary Ruling

    ITC Judge Finds Goole Infringed Sonos’ Patents in Preliminary Ruling

    A judge has dealt Google a major blow in a preliminary ruling, finding the company infringed Sonos’ patents.

    The International Trade Commission (ITC) judge sided with Sonos, in a suit the company brought against Google over its smart speaker patents. Sonos accused Google of abusing the partnership between the two companies to steal its technology.

    Sonos acknowledged this ruling was merely the opening salvo in what is sure to be a long battle. In a statement to The Verge, a Sonos spokesperson said the ruling “is only a first step in a lengthy battle,” but an “important milestone in the ongoing effort to defend Sonos’ technology against Google.”

    Google is denying any wrongdoing, issuing its own statement to The Verge:

    “We do not use Sonos’ technology, and we compete on the quality of our products and the merits of our ideas. We disagree with this preliminary ruling and will continue to make our case in the upcoming review process.”

    Should the ITC uphold the ruling, Sonos is asking for a sales ban against Pixel phones, Chromecasts and Nest Hubs.