Author: TA

Verizon modifying prepaid plans Feb 1 with new $60 500MB tier

Verizon doesn’t put much focus on its prepaid plans, but according to a leaked document obtained by PhoneArena it will be dropping prices on prepaid offerings starting February 1st. Verizon’s current offering is at $80 for smartphones, with unlimited talk/text and 2GB of data during its double data promotion. When the new plans take effect next week, the $80 plan is going away, making room for two new tiers at $60 and $70. The lower tier will offer 500MB of data, the higher 2GB, both with unlimited talk and text.

The document specifically says $80 plan users will be grandfathered in, but considering the new price structure there’s no reason to stay on it. Users wanting more than 2GB of data will be paying $20 per 1GB overage, which is $5 more than adding an extra 1GB to a postpaid plan. Also remember that Verizon’s prepaid plans are 3G only for the time being. This is still a good option for a select set of people though, so we’re glad to see Verizon drop its prices a bit. Stick around after the break to see the document and details of the new plans.

Source: PhoneArena

via Verizon modifying prepaid plans Feb 1 with new $60 500MB tier | Android Central.

Google+ moves up to second place in social networks | ZDNet

Facebook still has a massive lead, but Google+, with 343-million active users, is now the second most popular social network.

Five apps to take advantage of Daydream in Android 4.2 | Android Central

Daydream was pretty quickly glanced over by most people when it was announced as part of the Android 4.2 release, but luckily some developers have started to make apps using the new feature.

New Chrome Extension Lets You Save Web Content to Google Drive

Google has launched a new extension for Chrome called “Save to Drive,” enabling userts to save web content to their Google Drive.

Google Plus: “What’s Hot” and the Power of Sharing

Google Plus What’s Hot is a section where you can find interesting posts that are chosen by an undefined Google algorithm.

Verizon modifying prepaid plans Feb 1 with new $60 500MB tier | Android Central

Verizon doesn’t put much focus on its prepaid plans, but according to a leaked document it will be dropping prices on prepaid offerings starting February 1st.

Windows Blue is Microsoft’s future low-cost OS with yearly updates

icrosoft is busy preparing its next-generation Windows client, shortly after shipping Windows 8 in October. The Verge has learned from several sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans that the company is planning to standardize on an approach, codenamed Blue, across Windows and Windows Phone in an effort to provide more regular updates to consumers.

Originally unveiled by ZDNet, the update on the Windows side, due in mid-2013, will include UI changes and alterations to the entire platform and pricing. We’re told that Microsoft is aiming to make Windows Blue the next OS that everyone installs. The approach is simple, Microsoft will price its next Windows release at a low cost or even free to ensure users upgrade. Once Windows Blue is released, the Windows SDK will be updated to support the new release and Microsoft will stop accepting apps that are built specifically for Windows 8, pushing developers to create apps for Blue. Windows 8 apps will continue to run on Blue despite the planned SDK changes.

YEARLY UPGRADES WILL BE THE NORM FOR WINDOWS SOON

We understand that you will need a genuine copy of Windows to upgrade to Windows Blue. Built-in apps and the Windows Store will cease functioning if a copy is upgraded that is pirated. Sources tell us that Microsoft will likely keep the Windows 8 name for the foreseeable future, despite the Windows Blue update. A big part of Windows Blue is the push towards yearly updates for Microsoft’s OS. Microsoft will kick off an annual upgrade cycle for Windows that is designed to make it more competitive against rival platforms from Apple and Google.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/28/3693368/windows-blue-update-low-cost

CEA sides with Dish, says 1984 Betamax ruling covers Hopper DVR

The Consumer Electronics Association has sided with Dish Network in its battles with television networks over the legality of the satellite operator’s commercial-skipping Auto Hop feature. The CEA (alongside the Computer and Communications Industry Association and the Internet Association) filed an amicus brief yesterday to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals supporting Dish’s defense against Fox out of concerns that “the outcome of this case will affect the future of private non-commercial time-shifting of television programs.”

In the brief, it is argued that the time-shifting functionality of Auto Hop is protected by the original 1984 Betamax Supreme Court ruling in Sony Corp. of America v. University City Studios, Inc. It continues on to say that to “find use of the Hopper for these purposes to infringe Fox’s copyrights essentially would be to reverse Sony and hold that most if not all forms of private time-shifting are illegal.” Additionally, Fox’s concerns over losing “control over its copyrighted works” due to the Hopper is called out as “rank speculation” that mimics the same worries presented in the Sony case 28 years ago.

“[The Hopper is] a fair use right expressly recognized by the Supreme Court almost three decades ago.”

Last year, Fox was denied a preliminary injunction against Dish Network that would have blocked the use of Auto Hop — or halted sales of the Hopper altogether. Separate cases with CBS and ABC are ongoing, with the former claiming that Dish covered up its Auto Hop feature when working out its latest contract negotiations. Tensions in that case have risen after CBS-owned CNET was forced to re-vote after awarding the Hopper with Sling its “Best of CES” award earlier this month. In a statement, CEA CEO Gary Shapiro called the Hopper “an exciting new product that will make television viewing easier and likely encourage viewers to watch more TV,” and he suggested that “broadcasters should try innovating rather than litigating.”

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/1/26/3918932/cea-sides-with-dish-network-says-hopper-is-legal

Hackers claim attack on Justice Department website

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Hackers sympathetic to the late computer prodigy Aaron Swartz claimed on Saturday to have infiltrated the website of the U.S. Justice Department’s Sentencing Commission, and said they planned to release government data. The Sentencing Commission site, www.ussc.gov , was shut down early Saturday. Identifying themselves as Anonymous, a loosely organized group of unknown provenance associated with a range of recent online actions, the hackers voiced outrage over Swartz’ suicide on January 11. …

via Tech News Headlines

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