YouTube sends notice to content creators about upcoming ad-free subscription service

We’ve heard for quite some time now that YouTube wanted to explore an ad-free subscription service. The concept is simple: you pay money, you don’t get annoying ads at the beginning, end or sometimes middle of a video.

Google has been hesitant come out and confirm anything, but it looks like they’ve finally let the cat out of the bag. Several partnered YouTubers have reported receiving emails from the company informing them of a forthcoming subscription service that will allow their viewers to pay good coin to dodge those annoying ads that play when you watch a video.

The email was scarce on any details about the service such as cost, but Google did note that partners would be able to get in on the new revenue stream (which was the whole reason for them sending this notice — it will create significant changes to the company’s standing terms of service policies).

Google is already providing a similar option in the same ballpark called the YouTube Music Key. It’s a per month service that lets users access music videos ad-free, as well as cache them for offline viewing should an internet connection fail to be available. Extending a similar service for the entirety of the video content on YouTube would be a big deal for those who absolutely loathe having to view ads (even if most of them can be skipped after 5 seconds).

The timing of the announcement might indicate that Google is getting ready to pilot the service this year, though without any hard details your guess is just as good as ours. We imagine any formal announcements will be saved for Google IO so stay tuned!

[via Bloomberg]

Amazon’s 1-hour delivery service is now in Baltimore and Miami

Amazon has finally started expanding their one-hour delivery service to more areas. Residents in Baltimore and Miami will now be able to order goods online and get it shipped to whichever location they’re at within the hour.

How does it work? Simple: as an Amazon Prime member, download the Amazon Prime Now app and add some goods that you can’t make it to the store for in your cart. Pay .99 if you want it within the hour, or give Amazon a 2-hour window if you don’t want to pay anything.

The service is open from 8am to 10pm 7 days a week, though only “select zip codes” will be able to take advantage. To check if your area is supported simply download the app and put in your zip code. If you aren’t covered then Amazon allows you to sign up and will notify you once they finally add your zip code to their service area. Keep all this in mind the next time you can’t be arsed to go to the store for a quick pickup.

Google’s wireless service could charge you for only the exact amount of data you use

While it’s been confirmed that Google is looking into offering wireless service through some new network aggregation technologies in conjunction with Sprint and T-Mobile, we haven’t gotten many details on what, exactly, they were looking to do differently. A new leak may have shone a whole beacon of light on some of the details, though.

According to details uncovered by Android Police thanks to a leaked app that will be used to support the service, Google’s wireless network — referred to as Nova in many previous rumors, but also now known as Project Fi — could charge you only for the exact amount of data you use. That is to say, there won’t be any unlimited data (as much as we would all hope from an internet-strong company like Google), but instead a “pay-as-you-go” approach.

The thinking is that there will be a set per-gigabyte price and you buy however much you need by the gigabyte, but if you don’t use up your full gigabyte Google will credit you for the remainder. We’d hope such a plan would come with some very low rates instead of the outrageous per-gigabyte prices set forth by the country’s four major carriers. As for talk and text, you’ll have a flat rate and allowance for those much like any carrier offers these days.

Other interesting aspects of the service include a way to seamlessly switch your service to a different phone using an app, the ability to share buckets of data across however many lines you want, data-only plans for tablets, and even a way to opt out of sharing your cellular usage data with Google (yes, folks, your current carrier keeps an alarming amount of information about the calls you make).

Google would be a very new player in this arena, though if their approach to entering the broadband internet game is anything to judge by they could help shake up the wireless industry in a big way.

Take Google Fiber, for instance — it might not be as widespread as we would like just yet, but Google’s ability to offer gigabit speeds for the cost of typical internet service in the United States has already sparked major competition. Cable companies left and right rush to upgrade speeds and lower prices whenever Google’s pipes roll into town, and it helps bring a breath of fresh air into the industry that only genuine competition is able to provide.

We all know the wireless industry desperately needs much of the same (kudos to T-Mobile for getting the ball rolling) and Google’s arrival could be the turning point we’ve all been waiting for.

Is Google unveiling their wireless service today?

Google hasn’t been shy enough not to reveal that they’ve been working on launching a wireless service, but the company has understandably been a bit hush on the details. But if the Wall Street Journal’s information is accurate we could be seeing Google’s first unveiling as soon as today.

Previous rumors and information suggest Google will enlist T-Mobile and Sprint for the airwaves necessary for wireless service, though it won’t be your typical MVNO experience. We’re told to expect innovative cellular capabilities such as the ability to seamlessly hop from one network type to the next without any hiccups, and for the phone to automatically detect which network performs better in any given area. Leveraging WiFi calling will also be an area of focus for Google.

More details about the service leaked earlier this month thanks to the revelation of an app called “Project Fi.” It told of wireless service that could be switched between multiple different devices without switching SIM cards, data buckets where you only pay for the exact amount of data you use, the ability to opt-out of cellular data sharing and other cool features that most carriers have yet to explore.

It’s important to remember that Google’s not expecting to become king of wireless overnight with this move. Their desire is to help push cellular technology forward much in the same way that they’re doing for cars and broadband landline internet here in the United States. Good on them to think about the greater good, we’d say, and we can’t wait to see what exactly they have planned for its supposed launch later this year.

Google officially unveils Project Fi, a refreshing new wireless service [VIDEO]

Looks like the rumors were true, folks — this is Project Fi, Google’s wireless carrier. The Mountain View company laid all the details out on a brand new landing page today.

A lot of the details brought to surface by recent leaks seem to have been spot on. Here’s what to expect from each facet of Google’s new wireless service:

The Network

• Automatically identify and connect to the fastest and most reliable network, whether that’s a public or private WiFi hotspot, or a network of a carrier partner (Sprint or T-Mobile)


• All transmissions over WiFi networks are automatically and fully encrypted

The Plan

• Start with a basic plan of per month that includes unlimited domestic talk and text, unlimited international texts, low-cost international calls and WiFi tethering.


• Add data by the gigabyte at a rate of per 1GB.


• Don’t use all the data you added in a billing period? per 100 unused megabytes is refunded to you.


• International data costs the same at home as it does in 120 other international destinations (though you may be limited to 2G and 3G when abroad).

The Experience

• Calls and texts can be made over WiFi in case you don’t have cellular coverage.


• Calls can be routed from WiFi to cellular networks and vice versa without interruption if you happen to drift away from a signal


• You can also make calls and send texts using your phone number with any device that has Hangouts, including your tablet, a different phone or your computer.

Sound like something you want to be part of? You can head right here to request an invite to check it out ahead of its full launch.

There are a couple of caveats to note before you jump in head first. The first is that you’ll need to buy a Nexus 6 as it’s the only smartphone that supports the new technology Google is using to make this possible. The Nexus 6 you may already own from Motorola, Google Play or your carrier counts, or you can buy one when signing up for Fi service (Google will have an installment plan available if you can’t chalk up the full retail price at once).

You’ll also need to make sure Google’s carriers partners have sufficient service in your area, though this is no tall order as they’ll ask for your zip code before whisking you through the setup process. Google says you’ll hear from them within 30 days and that invites will be sent out in waves every week, so if you want in on Project Fi then that shouldn’t be an issue.

Those who ultimately decide to take the plunge will be able to port their existing phone number over if they so choose, though do note that this may come with a hefty early termination fee that Google is unsurprisingly unwilling to help you pay for.

So there’s only one question remaining — are you in? It all sounds very interesting, and if done right this move by Google could do a while lot to change the wireless industry as we know it. Let us know how you feel about Project Fi and whether you plan to give it a go by dropping a comment below!

Report: Google’s wireless service will require a Nexus 6 to start

This past week at Mobile World Congress, Google executive Sundar Pichai confirmed that the company was working on a wireless service that would look to leverage WiFi and new technology that could seamlessly transfer you between different carriers’ networks to ensure quality service. There aren’t many early official details at this time, though rumors have suggested Sprint and T-Mobile will be on board in the early going.

The Wall Street Journal says they’ve heard word that there will be one big caveat for wanting to try this service out, though: you’ll need to own a Nexus 6 if you want to play ball. That may seem like a foul stipulation at first, but it makes total sense.

Google isn’t simply becoming an MVNO ala the likes of Republic Wireless or Straight Talk. They’re creating and testing an entirely new cellular technology that simultaneously leverages WiFi and any number of network signals between any number of carriers to help deliver the best call and data experiences.

It’s an ambitious project, but the only way they’re going to be able to accurately judge results is by keeping variables at an absolute minimum. It’ll be important for Google to be able to control the usage environment as tightly as they can in order to ensure everything works as it should. If that means they can only approve one phone for this experiment then that’s what we’ll have to accept. We’re almost 100% certain we’ll hear more about this venture at Google IO, with the Wall Street Journal suggesting it’ll be ready to go “in the coming weeks.”

Google could be working on a built-in VPN service for use on open WiFi networks

Android 5.1 might not have a horde of obvious changes above the surface, but there’s no doubt Google put in a lot of work under the hood. Another interesting new change has come to light — the company might be working on bringing a built-in VPN service for use on public WiFi networks.

The change was noticed when a new app — called Google Connectivity Services — was found among the list of other apps installed on the latest stock build of Android 5.1. Using an app like QuickShortCutMaker will allow you to launch the following activity within the app:

com.google.android.apps.gcs/com.google.android.apps.gcs.WifiAssistantOptInActivity

Launching said activity brings up a dialog box letting you know that you will be connected to a Google VPN to transmit your data in a secure fashion. Clicking “Got It” takes you to the standard VPN menu, though the phone fails to connect to any VPN at that point.

So is Google working on a free VPN that anyone can access? It’s possible, though there are a couple of other things to consider:

• This could be a feature of the carrier’s upcoming MVNO service that was confirmed at Mobile World Congress. Google’s MVNO will leverage the use of both public WiFi and cellular networks for calling, messaging and data activity. Such a solution certainly could benefit from encrypted data. We expect to hear more about these efforts at Google I/O.


• It’s possible this could eventually be offered for Android for Work users who transmit sensitive data to and from the workplace.


• It could be a free-for-all where anyone and everyone who needs VPN access can easily get it with just a few clicks.

But without any official word from Google, it’s all just a series of guesses. The “learn more” button on the dialog box links to a generic support page so there are no answers to be had there.

We’ll be looking for answers from sources of our own, though, and will update you accordingly if we hear anything. Built-in VPN that anyone can use at any time? That would be a game changer, but let’s try not to get too excited before we know what, exactly, El Googs is planning.

[via Pocketables]

Snag a Nexus 5 with one year of unlimited service for only $199 from AndroidArea.com

Update: Black is sold out, but white Nexus 5 units with FreedomPop service are still available!

Nexus 6 owners might have Google’s new Project Fi network to look forward to, but what about the Nexus 5? While we can’t do anything for current owners, we would like to draw your attention to a new deal available from AndroidArea.com: you can now pick up a Nexus 5 with one-year of unlimited talk and text service from Freedom Pop for the all-inclusive price of 9.

Though it is nearing the two-year anniversary of its release, the Nexus 5 remains a great option for users looking for a truly pure Android experience. Couple the phone with unlimited talk and text service for a year (including visual voicemail and tethering) and 500MB of LTE data per month and you’ve got yourself quite the package.

If you don’t need the service there are no obligations or contracts, and you still get yourself a pretty nice price on a new Nexus 5. It’s just 9 for a limited time, and only at AndroidArea.com.

Last chance to save over 75% on Anonymizer’s Universal VPN service at AndroidArea.com

Is the government spying on you? Are you paranoid about identity theft? Did you snub an elite hacker, giving them every reason to make your life miserable? Are you too cheap to afford at-home WiFi, instead opting for insecure public networks? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you might consider taking advantage of over 75% savings on an Anonymizer Universal VPN three-year subscription. The deal is available through AndroidArea.com now, but won’t be much longer.

Save on Anonymizer Universal subscription at AndroidArea.com

A VPN connection is the secure way to mask your internet activity and physical location by routing your web traffic through a remote server, in this case the secure servers of Anonymizer. They’ve been around for over 19 years, so you can trust these guys to know what they are doing. You’ll get unlimited bandwidth at high speeds. This ain’t your daddy’s slow VPN.

Anonymizer can support up to five devices at once, including your Android smartphone. When you are done browsing no record of your online activity is stored, and you can rely on Anonymizer for 24-hour, US-based support.

If this were any other day you could expect to pay 0 for such a subscription. But it’s not any other day. It’s the last day of our sale at AndroidArea.com, and you can get signed up with your own Anonymizer account for a mere . We did the math: over three years, that’s only .05 per day. You can take off the tinfoil hat now.

Meerkat’s Twitter-driven live streaming service is now in open beta and in the Google Play Store

Meerkat is the newest quick live streaming platform that allows you to quickly launch a live stream from your phone and broadcast it to your followers on Twitter. It’s been in closed beta to this point, but the company has made it available to anyone able to download apps from Google Play as of today.

Meerkat’s schtick is that they don’t allow folks to rewatch broadcasts after the fact — once it’s over, it’s over (though you’re free to save a copy on your end and upload it to YouTube if you want). Other than that, there’s nothing really over the top or out of the ordinary about it.

It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s free and it’s now available for anyone to download. Oh, and it’s also in beta so expect some weird quirkiness as they work out the kinks — otherwise you might find yourself turned upside down like Derek did when he gave it a spin for himself. Head here for the download.

Verizon gives Lyft drivers discounts in wireless service, app to come pre-loaded on select Android devices

It’s not easy being a Lyft driver. Aside from dealing with questionable law enforcement and the occasional spurt of throw up in their back seats, having access to a fast and reliable network is an absolute must when navigating around town.

Well, Verizon is about to make it a little easier on drivers, announcing today a new partnership with Lyft to give some of their drivers a discount in monthly service. While that’s great for drivers, the deal also means the Lyft app has been added to the usual assortment of bloatware that comes pre-loaded on Verizon’s Android devices. Yay.

The discount in monthly service charges doesn’t go into effect until May 11th and only includes frequent Lyft drivers who are apart of the ride-sharing company’s “Accelerate Premier Driver Rewards” program. Whether you’re a current driver, or thinking about signing up, you can register for the discount through Verizon’s secure web portal.

[Verizon | Lyft]

Sprint Direct 2 You delivery service spreads to 4 new major metro areas, 4 more next month

Sprint has expanded their delivery service to 4 new major cities today. Folks in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver are all being treated to Direct 2 You, a personal and in-home delivery service that’ll have an agent speeding to your door with your new Sprint phone in hand.

Agents help you set the phone up, transfer contacts and content, even answer any questions you might have. It’s a nice option for those who find the in-store experience a bit too time consuming but still want in-person help to set their phone up.

Best of all is that it’s free with the purchase and activation of any new Sprint smartphone, so if you’re not up to the task of heading to the store then there’s no reason you can’t take advantage.

The expansions include surrounding major metro areas for the four cities, and it brings the list of applicable cities to a whopping 28. Here’s the full list for you as of today:

• Los Angeles metro area: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Newport Beach, West Hollywood, Pasadena, San Pedro and Santa Ana;


• New York metro area: New York City and these cities in New Jersey: Newark, Jersey City, Edison, Elizabeth and Paterson;


• San Francisco Bay Area: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Berkeley;


• Denver metro area: Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Golden


• Chicago


• Miami


• Kansas City

Moreover, Sprint has confirmed that Detroit, Washington DC, Tampa and Dallas will get it early next month.

[via Sprint]

Amazon Fire TV will be the first device to get GameFly’s new game streaming service

GameFly has a new game streaming service, and it’s coming to Android… sort of. Amazon has snagged the exclusive launch of the service, which we imagine will be similar to the on-demand gaming goodness OnLive provided before they went under. You’ll be able to download the app on the Amazon Fire TV once available.

GameFly’s setup will be a little different from OnLive’s. Instead of renting individual games or going with an all-you-can-eat plan, you can get access to specific “bundles” that’ll net you access to a pre-determined list of games for .99 per month.

For instance, you could buy a “Lego Pack” that lets you play all the Lego games available for as long as you’re paying for that pack. You can also get access to a more fruitful “Gamer Pack” (comes with 16 games) for .99. Here’s a full list of the packs that will be available at launch:

• Action Pack (7 titles) – .99/month includes F.E.A.R. 3, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Red Faction: Armageddon, Red Faction: Guerilla, Mafia II, Sleeping Dogs and Hitman


• Adventure Pack (7 titles) – .99/month includes Dark Void, Overlord II, Darksiders, Darksiders II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins


• Gamer Pack (16 titles) – .99/month includes F.E.A.R. 3, Red Faction: Armageddon, Red Faction: Guerilla, Sleeping Dogs, Hitman, Darksiders, Darksiders II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, Shank, Shank 2, Dark Void, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Mafia II, Overlord II


• Speed Pack (7 titles) – .99/month includes Ace Combat, Dirt 3, GRID, GRID 2, MotoGP13, Ridge Racer Unbounded, WRC 4


• Fun Pack (7 titles) – .99/month includes Flock!, PAC-MAN Championship Edition, PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Rise of the Owlverlord, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger


• LEGO Pack (7 titles) – .99/month includes LEGO Batman, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, LEGO Lord of the Rings, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, LEGO Marvel: Super Heroes, LEGO The Hobbit

There will be just 40 games to start, which is a bit on the low side if we’re being critical. We won’t worry too much, though, because GameFly has expressed plans to build the library out over time. Let’s just hope it reaches a wider range of devices before too long.

[via Amazon, GameFly]