T-Mobile announces plans for post-Sprint merger and expands its 5G network rollout

T-Mobile has been in the news a lot recently, but not due to typical carrier announcements. The tech world has been talking a lot about the Sprint/T-Mobile merger that is most likely going to happen. Today, however, T-Mobile has some news about the future and its continued rollout of 5G.

First up, let’s start with 5G. T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network will go live on December 6th. This nationwide network is built on the company’s 600 MHz band, whereas the 5G network they previous started rolling out is built on the short-range mmWave technology. 600 MHz has a longer range and can get through buildings better. The network is said to cover 200 million customers and hit speeds up to 450 Mbps by 2024.

Nest up is the “Connecting Heroes Initiative,” which is part of the company’s “5G for Good” plan. The initiative would bring free 5G access to first responders, police officers, firefighters, and EMS agencies for 10 years if the Sprint/T-Mobile merger goes through. Qualifying officials can sign up for the program on T-Mobile’s website. There is some fine print, of course. The offer won’t cover areas without T-Mobile coverage, and video streams will be limited to 480p.

Keeping with the “5G for Good” theme, the next plan is about giving households free internet. “Project 10Million” would give free internet service to 10 million households if the Sprint/T-Mobile merger happens. The goal of this initiative is to eradicate the “homework gap” that prevents children without home internet to complete schoolwork online. The internet has become a big part of school, which puts some kids at a disadvantage. Eligible families will receive 100GB of free internet each year.

Last, but certainly not least, is the new “T-Mobile Connect” plan. This is a prepaid plan that would offer 2GB of data for just $15 per month. Again, like the previous plans, this only happens if the Sprint/T-Mobile merger goes through. T-Mobile Connect includes access to 5G data and you can choose to pump up to 5GB for $25 per month. Also, T-Mobile would add 500MB to your monthly plan for every year you have it (up to 5 years).

All of this sounds great, but it’s clearly an attempt to win over people on the proposed Sprint/T-Mobile merger. Is it enough to get you onboard?

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Source: T-Mobile

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Google is deprecating Android’s AsyncTask API in Android 11

For years now, Android’s AsyncTask has been a staple tool for beginner and expert developers alike. If you’ve ever Googled a tutorial for any sort of asynchronous logic in Android, chances are that the first few results suggest using AsyncTask. It’s not like this is a random choice, either. AsyncTask was originally created to simplify the interaction between background operations and an application’s UI. For a while, it did that well. AsyncTask really does help simplify asynchronous tasks. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, though.

One thing a lot of applications need to do is grab information from a remote server. Since network requests can take a while, it’s usually important to do them asynchronously so that they don’t cause the application to freeze. Once the operation is complete, the UI can be updated. However, it’s possible that by the time the network request completes, the relevant part of the UI no longer exists, which can cause crashes or other bugs. While AsyncTask does make the overall process simpler, it doesn’t respect Android’s application lifecycle. That means there’s no built-in protection against an AsyncTask finishing after a UI change. Of course, it’s possible to manually add checks and other protections, but that adds a lot of repeat code (AKA boilerplate). Because of problems like this, AsyncTask has sort of fallen by the wayside. Google also hasn’t made many changes to how it works.

Well, it seems like Google’s opinion is that AsyncTask is beyond saving. In a recent AOSP commit, AsyncTask was deprecated, citing similar reasons to the ones I just talked about. While this isn’t really a huge change for end-users, it can mean a lot for developers. If you’re maintaining an older codebase or you’re just starting out with asynchronous tasks in Android, you’re likely going to have to change a bunch of code. Luckily, though, Google hasn’t left developers in the dust.

Because of AsyncTask’s limitations, alternatives have sprung up over time, such as RxJava and Kotlin’s new(ish) Coroutines library. These alternatives tend to have much more flexibility and features than AsyncTask, so they’ve gained quite a bit of popularity. In its deprecation notice for AsyncTask, Google recommends using Java’s Concurrency framework or Kotlin Coroutines.

Personally, I’ve already started using Kotlin’s Coroutines, and haven’t looked back. Of course, I know many people have integrated their code tightly around AsyncTask, so this is probably at least a slight inconvenience for them. It’s a good thing there are plenty of alternatives to choose from. It may be annoying to change your code, but at least it’s possible this time.

If you want more details, you can check out the commit here. The commit was merged earlier today, and unless there’s an Android maintenance release in the pipeline, we’ll see this change reflected in Android 11 next year.

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Google quietly rolls out the ramping ringer feature for Pixel smartphones

Back in July, we spotted a new feature in-development dubbed “Ramping Ringer.” When enabled, incoming call notifications will vibrate the phone for 5 seconds before gradually ramping up the ringtone volume over a period of 10 seconds. Since we first spotted this feature, the stable Android 10 update was released for Pixel smartphones and the Google Pixel 4 launched, although the feature was nowhere to be seen. Today, however, we spotted the feature going live on multiple Pixel 4 units as well as the Pixel 3.

You can access the feature by going to Settings > Sound and then tapping on “Vibrate for calls.” This opens a subsetting page where you can set the phone to never vibrate, always vibrate, or vibrate first then ring gradually.

I confirmed the presence of this new setting on my own Pixel 4 units, but I’ve spoken to 4 owners of the Pixel 4 XL and they’ve also confirmed the setting is present. This feature seems to be going live for many unlike the new “Rules” feature that only went live for a handful of people. We’ll keep an eye out to see if this feature is coming to other Pixel devices. So far I don’t see it on my Pixel 3 XL, but XDA’s Joe Fedewa says he has the toggle on his Pixel 3.

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Google open sources Cardboard so developers can build educative VR experiences in their apps

Last month, Google announced a handful of new products at the annual “Made by Google” event. However, one product was quietly discontinued: Daydream VR. The VR platform was not mentioned on the Pixel 4’s specification sheet and Google later confirmed the absence. Today, the company is making moves in VR to open source the once-popular Google Cardboard.

Like a lot of tech companies, Google was once bullish on the budding potential of VR. They created the Daydream VR platform that other companies could use to make VR headsets and even made their own hardware. Cardboard, on the other hand, was a quirky low-tech approach to VR, and it was probably more successful than Daydream. Google is now open-sourcing Cardboard.

Previously, Google made the technical specifications of the physical Cardboard “headset” available for anyone to download. Now they are taking the same approach on the software side of things. Developers are free to build new experiences for Cardboard and add support to their apps. Google will continue to make some contributions, most notably an SDK package for Unity.

We’re releasing libraries for developers to build their Cardboard apps for iOS and Android and render VR experiences on Cardboard viewers. The open source project provides APIs for head tracking, lens distortion rendering and input handling. We’ve also included an Android QR code library, so that apps can pair any Cardboard viewer without depending on the Cardboard app.

One thing that VR is still useful for is education and Google hopes this opens the door for more experiences in that area. To get started with the Cardboard open source project, head on over to the GitHub page or read the developer documentation. This is a cool move for anyone still interested in mobile VR, but it also shows how Google isn’t really invested in it anymore.

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Source: Google

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ZTE announces the Blade 10 Prime, Blade 10, and Blade A7 Prime

ZTE has announced three new phones today: the ZTE Blade 10 Prime, ZTE Blade 10, and ZTE Blade A7 Prime. The Blade series is ZTE’s most popular and these three new phones look to be great additions to the lineup. The Blade 10 Prime and Blade A7 Prime are available on Visible, while the Blade 10 is available unlocked. These devices are ultra-affordable with some decent specifications. Let’s take a look.

ZTE Blade 10/ 10 Prime

The ZTE Blade 10 Prime features a 6.3-inch FHD+ display with a waterdrop notch. It’s powered by the MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a 3,200 mAh battery. It has a 16MP camera up front and 16 + 5MP cameras on the back. The device has a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot, and a USB Type-C port. There is also a fingerprint scanner on the back. The Blade 10 Prime launches with Android 9 Pie and it comes in black.

You may assume the “Prime” model has better specs, but it’s actually the exact same phone as the non-Prime ZTE Blade 10. The only difference is in the bands. The Prime model has LTE Bands B2/4/5/12/13/66 with 2xCA support and Cat. 6 speeds. The non-Prime model has LTE Bands B2/4/5/12/13/66 with 2xCA, Cat. 6 speeds, GSM Bands: Quad, and UMTS Bands B1/2/4/5/8.

You can purchase the ZTE Blade 10 Prime from visible.com for $179. The non-Prime version is available unlocked from zteusa.com for $179 as well.

ZTE Blade A7 Prime

The ZTE Blade A7 Prime is a smaller device. It features a 6.09-inch HD+ display with a waterdrop notch. It’s powered by the MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a 3,200 mAh battery. It has a 5MP camera up front and a 16MP camera on the back. The device has a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot, and a USB Type-C port. There is also a fingerprint scanner on the back. The Blade A7 Prime also launches with Android 9 Pie and it comes in black.

There is no unlocked, non-Prime version of the Blade A7 Prime. It has LTE Bands B2/4/5/13, Cat 4. The device is available from visible.com for $99. Visible will also soon have an offer for new customers to trade in any compatible Android phone for a free Blade A7 Prime.

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PUBG Mobile v0.15.5 update brings new 4v4 Team Deathmatch map, Companions, new weapon and vehicle for Vikendi, and more

Over the last year or so, the Battle Royale genre has exploded in popularity thanks, in part, to PUBG Mobile. But it’s not the only popular game in the genre and it faces stiff competition from Fortnite and the recently released Call of Duty Mobile. To keep the player base interested, developer Tencent Games keeps adding new content to the game with each successive update. Most recently, the game received a new Payload Mode with helicopters and the Desert Eagle handgun. And now, Tencent has released patch notes for the next major update.

PUBG Mobile version 0.15.5 will start rolling out to players on November 8th and will kick off Royale Pass Season 10 with a new “Fury of the Wasteland” theme. As part of the update, the game is set to receive a new team deathmatch map called Ruins, a new SMG and vehicle exclusive to Vikendi, the companion system that we saw previously in a beta release, and a new character for the EVO modes. Here are the concise patch notes for the update, along with some additional information:

• Royale Pass Season 10: Fury of the Wasteland
  • All new rewards
  • Requests have been relaunched and Royale Pass can now be gifted.
  • The Royale Pass Upgrade Card can now be used directly in the Pass Upgrade page.
  • Improved UI for Royale Pass
• New Team Deathmatch map: Ruins

• • A new TDM-exclusive map Ruins: Mysterious ancient ruins hidden in a rainforest. With dense vegetation and winding paths, it’s up to the players to go head-to-head with enemies or work together to set up a stronghold.
  • Players will be able to respawn at random coordinates
• New weapon MP5K:
  • The MP5K is a portable SMG that only appears in Vikendi, replacing the Vector.
  • The MP5K has a high rate of fire at 900 RPM and has outstanding anti-recoil capabilities.
  • The MP5K has a base damage of 33 and can be equipped with all attachments (Tactical Stock, Mags, Scopes, Foregrips, and Laser Sights)

• New vehicle Zima:
  • Zima replaces the UAZ in Vikendi (Vikendi exclusive).
  • Although it is more challenging to operate the Zima in snowy terrain, it is easier to drive than other 4-wheeled vehicles, making it more practical.
  • The Zima is slower than other vehicles but more resistant to damage and can be used for alternate strategies.
• Season System: Added Tier Protection Card rewards to the Platinum and Crown tiers. After reaching the Ace tier, players can earn one star for every 100 points they gain. The icon changes with the number of stars.
  • Copper: 1-5 stars
  • Silver: 5-10 stars
  • Gold: 11 stars or more
• New Player 8-Day Rewards: Updated 8-Day rewards for new players to add Finishes, Trails, Classic Crate Vouchers, and other rewards.
• Companion System: The Falcon

• • Players will soon be able to collect materials for the Falcon companion in the redemption event for free. Players can also get more Companion Shards in the Shop or from the Royale Pass to get the Falcon, Falcon Avatar, Companion Food, and other items.
  • Will go live on November 11th
• New Character (Coming Soon): Vehicle Engineer – Sara.

• • Sara’s ability, Vehicle Enhancement, reduces the damage taken by vehicles when she is driving or riding in a vehicle in the EVO Modes.
• Changed Arcade mode availability
  • Mini-Zone will be taken down temporarily
  • Quick Match will be available at all times
  • Sniper Training will now be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
  • War mode will now be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Along with the aforementioned features, the update will also bring some much-needed improvements to the team recruitment channel and clans, among other things. You can check out the complete changelog by following the link below. It’s worth noting that while the update will start rolling out on November 8th, the servers won’t be taken offline. Players who update between November 8th and 14th will receive 20 Silver, 2,000 BP, and 1 Blue Glider Trail. PUBG Mobile v0.15.5 will require approximately 0.21GB of storage space on Android and 0.24GB on iOS.

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Source: PUBG Mobile

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Launch a Career in DevOps and Deployment with This $39 Training Bundle

With thousands of major new apps going live every day, DevOps engineers are in demand. This role is perfect for anyone who loves a challenge, and experienced professionals can earn six figures. If that sounds like an attractive package, the Complete DevOps & Deployment Technologies Bundle can help you get started. The bundle includes 48 hours of training, providing the perfect launchpad for your new career. You can get the training now for just $39 at the XDA Developers Depot.

DevOps is actually a workflow used by development teams to deliver updates faster and keep things running smoothly. To become a DevOps engineer, you need a variety of skills. This bundle covers the technical side, with seven beginner-friendly courses.

Through hands-on video tutorials, you learn how to use a variety of tools to deploy software. For instance, you discover how to create virtual environments with Vagrant, how to code custom cloud architecture with Chef, and how to containerize your software with Docker. The training also covers Ansible, Jenkins, Git, and more.

This knowledge is essential for any aspiring DevOps engineer. In addition, the bundle provides a great introduction to cloud computing.

These courses are worth $290 in total, but you can grab them now for just $39.

Prices subject to change.

 

The Complete DevOps & Deployment Technologies Bundle – $39

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