Get 40% off the Nexus 9 if you buy the tablet today

It’s Tuesday again and HTC is back with another Hot Deal. For today only, HTC will sell you the Nexus 9 for 40% off its usual retail price. The 16GB base mode is already sold out, but you can still order the 32GB Wi-Fi model for $287.40, and the 32GB LTE variant is selling for $359.40. The Nexus 9 may be a year old already, but it’s still one of the best Android tablets on the market and currently the only Android tablet running Marshmallow.

HTC’s Nexus 9 promotion only lasts until midnight tonight (PST), but if you’re even slightly interested in picking up HTC’s tablet, we recommend heading over to HTC’s site as soon as possible since inventory appears to be disappearing pretty quickly.

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Google details the November 2015 Nexus security update

Google’s effort to push monthly security updates to Nexus devices continues today with a November 2015 release.

Google says that its November 2015 security update address 7 vulnerabilities, 2 of which are classified as “critical,” 4 that are “high,” and 1 that’s “moderate.” The worst vulnerability, according to Google, could allow remote code to run through multiple methods, including email, web browsing, and MMS.

Google let its Android partners know about these vulnerabilities on October 5 or earlier, giving them at least a few weeks to patch the issues. The patches will be released into the AOSP repository over the next 48 hours.

This Nexus security update program was originally announced after the Stagefright exploit became known, and Samsung and LG have said that they’ll offer monthly security updates, too. Because Android belongs to Google, though, Nexus hardware will get these security patches first. So if you’ve got a phone or tablet with a Nexus tattoo, keep an eye out for an update that’s headed your way.

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Google confirms that Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere

If you’ve taken a look at any of the tech blogs recently, you’ve likely seen a multitude of stories talking about the possibility of Android and Chrome OS being folded into one. The rumors have their origins in Google’s ongoing efforts to enable Android apps to run on Chrome OS. Nonetheless, Google has released a blog post to quell the rumors and shine some light on the future of Chrome OS.

Chrome OS is staying independent, and there are no plans for that to change down the road. While Google is working to enable Android apps to function on Chrome OS, the company is simply expanding the capabilities of Chrome OS, not working to merge Chrome OS and Android.

Chrome OS has a bright future and Google touched on some of the things that are in the works. These improvements include a new media player, a visual refresh based on Material Design, improved performance and a continued push towards greater security. The blog post also noted that there will be dozens of new Chromebooks arriving in 2016, indicating that 2016 could be a big year for Chrome OS. In any case, Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere and looks to have a bright, independent future.

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AT&T announces availability for BlackBerry Priv, HTC A9, Samsung Gear S2 and LG Urbane 2

AT&T has just dropped a ton of release info for new Android devices coming to the US carrier this month, just in time for the holiday season.

Here are the latest devices coming to AT&T, when they’ll launch and how much they’ll cost:

  • HTC One A9 – Available today with monthly payment ranging from $17 to $26, or $99 with a two-year commitment
  • BlackBerry Priv – November 6 with monthly payments from $25 to $37, or $249 with a two-year commitment
  • LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE – November 13 with $15 monthly payments, or $199 with a two-year commitment
  • Samsung Gear S2 – November 20 with $15 monthly payments, or $199 with a two-year commitment

AT&T will be the first carrier to sell the BlackBerry Priv, BlackBerry’s highly anticipated first entry into Android, and the HTC One A9 has been receiving rave reviews, despite how similar it looks and feels. The Gear S2 has also received good reviews along with the Urbane 2. All four of today’s devices are welcome additions to AT&T’s portfolio. Head over to att.com for more info.

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T-Mobile introduces 4G LTE CellSpot powered by your internet connection

T-Mobile is “amping up” a previous Un-carrier announcement with a new tool providing extended coverage for T-Mobile users.

Un-carrier 7 featured the release of T-Mobile’s CellSpot router, essentially a normal router, to assist T-Mobile customers with WiFi calling and texting. Today, T-Mobile is releasing a new type of CellSpot that also plugs into your home internet connection, but provides a strong LTE signal instead of WiFi.

The LTE signal provided by the 4G LTE CellSpot works with up to 16 people at a time and covers 3000 square feet. Because it’s an LTE signal, it provides all the same features T-Mobile users normally get over a data connection, like VoLTE. If you are a Simple Chose postpaid customer, you can get the 4G LTE CellSpot for just a $25 deposit.

The 4G LTE CellSpot will be available November 4 at select T-Mobile stores.

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16GB Moto X 2014 only $199 on Amazon

Last year’s Moto X is, by most measures, still a good phone, especially at $299 directly from Motorola’s website. But take a hundred dollars off and throw in a free leather or bamboo back and it becomes a great phone for the price.

Amazon is offering a deal for today only that puts the unlocked GSM 16GB model of the 2014 Moto X for just $199. There’s a black with soft touch back version, black with leather and white with bamboo still in stock now.

While it’s no longer the best Motorola offers, $199 puts the second generation Moto X at $200 less than the Moto X Pure Edition and $20 less than the Moto G. Hit up the source link to grab your Moto X.

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OnePlus introduces On-Guard insurance for the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X

OnePlus is not a company know for following norms. The company enjoys experimenting and doing things differently from other manufacturers. In its latest move, OnePlus has partnered with insurance companies to create a protection plan that’s specifically made for the OnePlus 2 and will also be offered for the OnePlus X. In Europe, the plan will be known as On-Guard and offers coverage for breakage, accidental damage, damage due to dropping the device, liquid damage, vandalism, and more.

The pricing is also extremely affordable, at just 12 months for €39.99 or 24 months for €64.99 in Europe.

OnePlus is also bringing the same insurance to India, where it will be known as OnePlus Service2 and Protect2 and will be offered in partnership with Indian insurance providers. As for the US and Canada, OnePlus says that it’s bringing the insurance to North America soon, and it’s currently working with North American insurance providers to create the plan.

On-Guard can be purchased at checkout along with your OnePlus 2 or OnePlus X. If you don’t pull the trigger at first, but then decide that you do indeed want the protection, you have 15 days from the date of purchase in which to sign up for On-Guard. All in all, On-Guard seems to be a very good insurance plan for the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X. The only drawback is that On-Guard is not available to those who have already purchased a OnePlus 2, which is sure to anger some customers. Nonetheless, if you’re looking to purchase a OnePlus 2, you now have a perfect insurance plan to accompany it.

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Samsung offering wireless chargers to those who register for Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay has been in customers’ hands for a while now, including Verizon customers that thought it might not ever come to the carrier. And there have been various promotions offering free stuff to sign up for the service. The latest is courtesy of Samsung and is open to everyone that can use the service.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, or Note 5, register for a Samsung Pay account and add a bank card to become eligible for a Samsung wireless charging pad. Then hit the source link to start the process of getting one for free! The deal is limited to 200,000 chargers and ends on November 8th, so you better hurry!

Unfortunately, you probably won’t get your charger immediately. It seems that those who participated in similar promotions before are still waiting on their chargers since they’re currently backordered. And if you’ve already gotten one, you aren’t eligible this time around.

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Apple releases Beats Pill+ app for Android

Apple’s second application for Android happens to be far more useful than its first. Move to iOS is an app that assists in moving away from Android, so you can imagine that a lot of Android fans didn’t have particularly positive feelings about it. But this one is pretty good.

Beats Pill+ is an app to control the Beats Pill+ speaker, though you probably guessed that. It has some cool features, like an amplify mode for two speakers to play the same audio, and a stereo mode so two speakers play their respective channels. It also allows another person to connect to the speaker and play music with you.

Little extras are a charge indicator and the ability to rename the speaker. Despite the iOS user interface, it looks to be a pretty decent app. There may be some compatibility issues that need to be fixed, but if you have one of these speakers, hit the source link to download the companion app!

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Inateck BH1001 Bluetooth earphone review

Bluetooth earphones are a new thing for me. I never really thought about it, but the concept of having no cords to get tangled in while jogging or doing chores sounds absolutely fantastic. But they have had significant drawbacks in the past, like battery life and weight. How do a budget pair of earphones stack up these days?

Overview

Bluetooth version: 4.1
Supported profile: Headset, Hands-free, A2DP, AVRCP, Apt-X
Battery life: 7-8 hours
Price: $32.99
Where to buy: Inateck, Amazon US ($10 off with 5QQAWHVN), Amazon UK (£5 off with 99XZX57W)

Inateck BH1001 Bluetooth earphones 2

These Inateck BH1001 earphones are made up of two large earbuds and a short cable in between, with a controller on one side of the cable. The earbuds have magnets inside them, which is meant for a pretty cool feature I’ll talk about later. On the ends are double seal tips that come in two sizes. On one side is a small cover for the micro USB port.

Inateck BH1001 Bluetooth earphones 3

The controller has a multi-function button that turns the earphones on and off — as well as other functions — right by a mic and a status LED. The other side has volume buttons, which adjust volume independently of your device volume. Long pressing them changes the track.

Build quality

These Inateck BH1001 earphones are built fairly well. The earbuds are made entirely of plastic. The plastic is of decent quality, not fantastic but pretty good. This has the benefit of making the earphones really light, which is critical for comfort. There is no creaking or bending to speak of.

The wires are a bit thin, which may not be good for long term reliability, but they seem well built enough. All the buttons are nice and solid, and the micro USB port cover isn’t flimsy. For the price, I’m very impressed.

Audio quality

Did you expect sub-$40 Bluetooth earphones to sound good? No? Well, the Inateck BH1001 do. Once you get a good seal in your ears, the sound really is nice. The bass is surprisingly substantial and thumpy, and the mids and highs are very clear even at high volumes.

The balance of the sound, as with any budget audio product, could use some work. This isn’t an audiophile product, nor should you expect it to be for $33. But it’s far from bad, providing highs, mids, and lows without any one of those getting drowned out.

Overall the sound quality is plain good. I enjoyed listening to these earphones quite a lot.

Comfort

As I’ve stated before, in-ear style earphones don’t fit very well in my ears. Yes, my ears are weird. But these fit pretty well and stay in my ears for fairly long periods of time! It takes a while to make a proper seal for proper sound and fitment, but once they’re in, they stay in. The plastic construction keeps them lightweight, which means they don’t feel particularly heavy in your ears.

The cable is supposed to be behind your neck, which means it doesn’t pull on your ears either.

Battery life

The rated battery life for the BH1001 is 7-8 hours, depending on where you look. And in my testing, it has lasted about as long as advertised. Considering many more expensive earphones advertise around the same battery figures, that’s plain impressive.

My testing was done at medium volumes, and blasting your music may lower battery life, but overall the battery life is very good.

Features

One of my favorite features of these earphones is the magnetic ends. When you’re done listening to your music, take the earphones out and snap the ends together. They’ll stick together, becoming a necklace, and automatically pause the music. I love that feature.

The Inateck BH1001 also features a microphone for phone calls, but unfortunately it’s not so great. People hear me, but my voice isn’t all that clear. The sound is a bit muffled, probably because it’s a bit further back than it should be. But it works okay enough to be understood.

Extras

Included in the box is a surprisingly nice soft case with a zipper. It holds the earphones with space to spare, and even has a pocket for the extra ear tips and micro USB charging cable.

Inateck BH10019.5 / 10

Inateck BH1001 Bluetooth earphones 4

These Bluetooth earphones pretty much do it all. They’re very cheap, lightweight, sound good, have great battery life, and feature wireless (and no flaky connections either). The only issue is the subpar mic, but honestly, they’re great otherwise.

If you’re annoyed by your earphone wires constantly getting in the way and want something new on a budget, this may be perfect for you.

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