Amazon “Unlocked” could be like Prime for Android apps

If you’re a fan of the Amazon Appstore you’re well aware of the free apps Amazon gives away every day. Anyone can take advantage of the deals, but you have to use Amazon’s own Android Appstore. An internal presentation obtained by TechCrunch suggests that Amazon will be taking free apps to the next level with a new program.

The program is called “Unlocked,” and it sounds a lot like Amazon Prime. The Unlocked program would offer paid apps for free, and even unlock all in-app purchases for “free-to-play” games. It’s unclear how the program will work, where the free apps will be located, and how much it will cost. Amazon already offers many perks for Prime subscribers, such as free shipping, movies, TV shows, and music. It would make perfect sense to roll this into the current Prime benefits.

Would you use the Amazon Appstore for the Unlocked program? Would you consider signing up for Amazon Prime if it meant free Android apps? Would you sign up for a standalone program to get free apps?

Pick up a brand new LG G2 (GSM unlocked) for only $190 [DEALS]

If you hurry, you can pick up an GSM unlocked LG G2 for only 0 on eBay. Where often times these deals are for manufacturer refurbs, this deal is a brand new AT&T model (D800), complete with the original box and accessories. The seller has a 99% feedback rating on eBay and is located right here in the US.

With a Snapdragon 800 processor, 32GB of internal storage, beefy 3,000mAh battery — you could certainly do a whole lot worse. Definitely not a bad deal if you’re looking to pick up one as a backup device, or perhaps upgrade a loved one still hanging onto an HTC One S or something. Also, if T-Mobile is any indication, it appears Lollipop for the LG G2 in the US is also around the corner. You’ll find the deal at the link provided below.

[eBay]

Android Lollipop is getting an “on-body detection” feature that keeps your phone unlocked in your pocket

If you’re the type of person who hates having to unlock their smartphone each time they take it out of their pocket, Google is working on a feature just for you. It’s called on-body detection, and through the use of the accelerometer it predicts when the phone is in your pocket or hand and will keep it unlocked for easy use the next time you reach for it. Once you set it down on a desk or flat surface, it’ll revert to its normal locked state until the next time you unlock it.

There are several red flags that will immediately come to mind. The biggest question: how can the device tell the difference between you carrying it and someone else carrying it? It can’t, so if the device was unlocked while you were moving and the phone somehow exchanges hands while you’re still moving, it will remain unlocked and any no-gooders will have full access.

As such, this feature actually sacrifices a fair bit of security to give the user a bit more convenience. Whether that convenience is worth the sacrifice is up to you to decide based on your needs, usage pattern and environment (for instance, this wouldn’t be a feature necessary for a work-at-home guy like myself).

You can turn the feature on or off just as easily as anything else, of course, so whether you want to use it is entirely up to you. The feature is said to be headed to Lollipop devices in a very limited manner right now, and it will be distributed through an update to Google Play Services so you won’t have to wait for a firmware update or download anything from Google Play to get it. Any of you going to be using this?

[via The Verge]

HTC One M9 has already had its bootloader unlocked

If your purchase decision for the HTC One M9 hinged on its ability to have its bootloader fully unlocked, you can scratch that prerequisite off your list. Jcase is back at it with his exceptional development skills to provide proof that he has successfully achieved S-OFF just under 24 hours after receiving it (which means a fully unlocked bootloader with no restrictions on your ability to write to the system partition).

And that’s where the story ends — the unlock method is not yet available. Jcase came right out and said there are no ETAs, and that it will likely be weeks before they’re able to release the method to everyone. They’re likely taking the time necessary to create the easiest and safest route possible, and also testing the method to make sure nothing can screw up tons of devices in the process.

The best thing you can do right now is follow Jcase’s Twitter account as he usually posts all updates there. It might not be a bad idea to bookmark this XDA thread as well. Fingers crossed that everything goes according to plan!

Here’s where you can buy the HTC One M9 online for Sprint, AT&T or unlocked today

March 27th has finally arrived, folks — this is the day you can buy an HTC One M9. We’ve already asked which of the two big heavy hitters for 2015 you’re buying, and if you voted for HTC’s pride and joy then here’s where and how you can buy it. There are two routes you can go:

Without contract

T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T variants for the HTC One M9 in Gunmetal Grey and Silver are available for 9.99 each. The developer edition, which ships with an unlockable bootloader, can be had in those same colors for the same price. There’s also the network-unlocked edition that will come in Grey, Silver and Gold options for

With contract

Only AT&T and Sprint are offering the device with contract for shipping today. T-Mobile will offer it at some point down the line, while Verizon has no current plans to offer the device through HTC’s online store (though we know they will be holding an early April launch of their own).

AT&T has it for 0 on a two-year contract or .64 per month through AT&T Next 24. Meanwhile, Sprint will offer it for the same price on-contract, and per month for 24 months through Sprint Easy Pay.

You can take a look at all of these options by starting at HTC’s online storefront right here. Let us know if you order one!

Pick up a brand new AT&T Samsung Galaxy S5 with non-streamlined TouchWiz for $350 unlocked [DEALS]

I never was a big fan of the Samsung Galaxy S5, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize a deal when I see it. If you hop on over to eBay, you can find a brand new AT&T model for only 0 unlocked. It’s not a bad deal, with the S5 being the last of the Galaxy S line to offer a micro SD card slot, a removable battery, and IP67 water resistance rating.

Of course, there are a lot of downsides too. The phone only comes in white, only has 16GB of internal storage (less than that is even usable), and even though it was recently updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop, it still features the bloated, laggy, un-streamlined version of TouchWiz it always has. Galaxy S6 this is not. Actually, you sure you want to do this? Especially when you can grab a OnePlus One for the same price. But we suppose options are nice.

For those who feel inclined, you’ll find the 0 Galaxy S5 via the link below.

[eBay]

Huawei P8 Lite now available in USA, $249 and unlocked

AT&T and T-Mobile customers looking for an affordable Android smartphone just got another great option: the Huawei P8 Lite is now available and unlocked for only 9.

The device marks a concerted effort to go after a portion of the consumer market that Huawei suggests has been alienated. At an event in New York City, Huawei’s President of operations in the USA exclaimed, “End users should not pay for the company’s advertisement. Should not pay for the company’s sponsorship. Customers should pay for exactly what they are getting- the product.”

Carrier partnerships will still be of huge importance to Huawei, but their new E-Commerce strategy will allow them to offer the most competitive prices. In case you missed it, those comments on advertising and sponsorship dollars being rolled into the device cost are clear swipes at heavy spenders such as Samsung, Apple, and HTC, whose ad budgets probably outpace the GDP of small countries.

The most important specification may be the low price, but the P8 Lite holds its ground in some important areas, including its 5-inch screen, dual SIM card slots, 13MP camera, 5MP front camera, 2GB RAM, and 2200 mAh battery.

Most disappointing is that the device launches with Android 4.4 KitKat, a fact that we hope gets rectified with a timeline for updating to Android 5.X Lollipop (or even Android M). Still, at a price point of 9 unlocked, you’d be hard pressed to find a better bargain… even without the freebies Huawei is throwing in.

Those freebies come in the form of support:

• 2-year warranty


• Localized repair with free shipping


• US based call center support


• Additional support options including live online chat

Buying unlocked devices can be intimidating for less tech savvy shoppers and this initiative by Huawei should go a long way in gaining the trust and comfort of potential customers.

 

Deal: Get the unlocked LG G4 for $499 on eBay

eBay has a very nice deal on an LG G4, if you’re in the market for one. You can grab it brand new for 9.99 unlocked, which is a nice drop from the 0 to 0 it usually goes for at other sources.

The phone being shopped here is compatible with a wide range of 2G, 3G and 4G LTE bands for use on various carriers in Canada and the US:

• 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900


• 3G: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100


• 4G: LTE 700 / 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 (AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 (Bands, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 28)

It also comes with a European wall charger, though they’ll package in a US adapter to make sure you can deliver the juice you need to keep it powered. Quantities are limited, so you’ll want to act fast. A quick read of our LG G4 review should help you settle any questions you may have about it.