HTC raises Google Drive storage offer to 100GB for some models

With recent HTC device purchases, you were given some free Google Drive storage for two years as a promotion. For the HTC One (M8) and the One Max, it was 50GB of online storage space. But it looks like HTC decided to be generous for absolutely no reason and bump that storage up to 100GB, with the same offer extending to the new HTC One Remix.

If you want to take advantage of this offer, open the Google Drive app, hit Redeem, and follow the on screen prompts. Then you’ll get an extra 50GB of online storage, which is nothing to scoff at. Sadly, if you have unlocked your bootloader, you cannot redeem this offer.

We’re not sure why HTC decided to bump the existing offer to double the storage, but we can’t complain. If you own a mentioned HTC device, go redeem the extra storage and enjoy!

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ISIS mobile payment officially renaming to Softcard

ISIS has been a solid alternative to Google Wallet for those who want a mobile payment system. Tap your NFC enabled device to a supported sensor inside a store, and your bank card is charged. No need to carry around your wallet or fumble with cards (not that it’s very difficult).

But with growing problems elsewhere in the world, the name ISIS was more and more associated with a terrorist group, and ISIS mobile payments clearly wanted to get away from that image. Despite the group no longer calling itself ISIS, the mobile payment system will be renamed to Softcard.

It’ll take a few weeks for this change to roll out to everyone, so your app won’t be updated immediately. And with this name change, nothing else will be different. So keep an eye out for the app update and let us know in the comments how often you use mobile payments.

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Ustwo is making a game for Gear VR called Land’s End

We promise we’ll stop pumping out individual articles for every Gear VR game announced eventually, but for now, we’re just too dang excited. Announced via Twitter, the developers of the mesmerizing, beautiful Monument Valley, Ustwo Games, is working on a game for the Samsung Gear VR called Land’s End.

We don’t know anything about Land’s End yet, just that it’s, “a surreal trip through an archipelago of forgotten worlds.” Judging by the teaser image for the game, it will look a lot like Monument Valley. So if you’ve ever played Monument Valley and wondered what it would be like to explore the colorful landscape of the game, Land’s End may be your chance.

We were excited about the Gear VR before, but seeing this kind of developer support just hours after its announced has us dying to get our hands on one. We’ll be sure to keep a close eye on Ustwo and Land’s End’s development.

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Sony’s trying again with two new camera accessories for smartphones

The Sony QX10 and QX100 mountable camera systems for smartphones were met with less than stellar reviews. In theory, being able to attach a high-end Sony camera system to the back of your phone for taking pictures on the go is a great idea. But it didn’t quite work out as planned. Sony isn’t ready to give up just yet, however, as the company has announced two new camera systems today.

Improving on last years all-on-one system, the QX30 is a zoom lens system that again straps to the back of and connects to your smartphone. The QX30 features a 30x optical zoom, 21-megapixel sensor and uses F-stop values between 3.5 and 6.3. We’ll have to wait and see how image quality turns out, but we’re honestly not expecting a whole lot. The QX30 will be available October 5 for $350.

The QX1 is the slightly more interesting of the two camera accessories to be announced today. For $400, set to be released October 15, the QX1 is a lens mount with a 21-megapixel sensor and flash. Instead of using a built-in lens, you can use any Sony E lens, or with an adapter, any Sony A lens. It connects to your smartphone in the same way the QX30 does, again, it just uses Sony’s higher-end lenses. $400 seems like a good deal, but at that price, you don’t get any lenses. If you already have some Sony lenses or a cheap way to score some, the QX10 might be a serious replacement for more serious cameras available from the company.

The QX1 and QX30 are already available for preorder on Amazon and on Sony’s website.


sony qx1 features

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Google-Backed Calico to Launch $1.5 Billion Aging Research Center


Google-Backed Calico to Launch $1.5 Billion Aging Research Center
Calico, the secretive Google-backed life sciences company, today revealed plans to build what could be a $1.5 billion research and development center with biopharmaceutical company AbbVie, the recent spinoff of Abbott Laboratories.

September 3, 2014 at 2:04PM
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Samsung Gear VR to get first person Temple Run

Samsung’s Gear VR headset is a very ambitious accessory and shows that the company is still capable of innovation and awesome products. But hardware like this can’t succeed without good software to back it up, so Samsung has partnered with a big name in mobile gaming.

Imangi Studios is famous for its addicting game Temple Run and will be bring an entirely new version to the Gear VR. But instead of the now generic third person endless runner formula, this game will be in first person to take advantage of the virtual reality aspect. Now imagine a giant “arctic demon monkey” chasing you in virtual reality.

All we have to go on is a “coming soon” release date. And with no price or release date for the Gear VR itself, we don’t know when we will be able to get our hands on the awesome accessory. But we’re excited to see VR go mainstream. Will you be giving the Gear VR a shot? Leave a comment!

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Here’s where you’ll be able to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge in the US

Now that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has been announced a detailed, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “where can I sign up for more information on the Note 4? When is it going to be released? Who is going to sell it?” Thankfully, we have at least some of that information to share with you.

As was to be expected, every major carrier in the US and then some is going to be selling at least the Galaxy Note 4, some the Galaxy Note Edge and others official Samsung accessories as well. Here’s what we know so far:

AT&T will be selling both the Galaxy Note 4 and the Galaxy Edge. You can already find information pages for both devices on the AT&T website. Along with the two devices, AT&T will carry some of the new Samsung accessories, like the Gear VR.

Verizon will also be selling both the Note 4 and Note Edge, and they have an information signup page located here.

T-Mobile has also announced that, yep, they will also be selling the Note 4 and Note Edge. And they also have a signup page live.

Surely Sprint users won’t be left out, right? Right. The Note 4, Edge and Gear VR are all going to be available on Sprint.

US Cellular has announced it will be selling the Note 4, and has even revealed an October release.

Exact pricing and release information is still hard to come by, but you can bet around $299 on-contract and in October are good bets.

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Sony wants to let you use your Xperia Z3 series device as a TV for your PS4

Though not as cool as a virtual reality headset, Sony has announced its own gaming related accessory to go along with its new flagship devices.

Sony is showing off a mounting accessory for attaching an Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact or Z3 Compact tablet to a PlayStation 4 controller to use with remote play. By using remote play with an Xperia Z3 device, you essentially turn your phone or tablet into a wireless TV. You can play AAA PS4 titles over WiFi, while your PlayStation does all the heavy lifting.

It might be awhile until remote play and the mounting accessory are available but they do make buying into the Sony ecosystem a little more attractive. What do you think, would you rather be able to play your console on your smartphone, or turn your smartphone into a virtual reality headset?

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