AT&T Promotion Doubles Some Mobile Share Value Data Plans (From 30GB Up To 100GB) From Now Until October 31st

Are you and your family so-called "data hounds," who need much, much more mobile data per month than the average user? Then for God's sake, avoid the limited plans on AT&T and Verizon, and go for T-Mobile or Sprint instead. But if those carriers aren't an option (say, because you occasionally like to stray beyond the limits of major metropolitan areas), then you'll definitely want to check out AT&T's latest data promotion.

If you sign up for a new AT&T Mobile Share Value family plan starting today, you get double the data for the same price, starting with the $130 tier. So, for $130 split between 2-10 lines, you get 30GB of data instead of 15GB. The upgraded tiers are now $150 for 40GB, $225 for 60GB, $300 for 80GB, and $375 for 100GB. These prices do not include the $15 per line smartphone charge ($40 per line for those who go with a more traditional 2-year plan), and customers with single lines or the 10GB Mobile Share Value plan are not eligible for the double data promotion. So, the lowest anyone could possibly pay in this situation is $160 for two lines with unlimited calls and texts, and 30GB of data.

Putting aside for the moment that most customers don't really need that much data, this is clearly meant to attract people who might be tempted by the aforesaid unlimited plans on other carriers. And at face value, it's not bad - if you look at it as an $80/month, 15GB plan (that has to include at least two lines), it's reasonably competitive with T-Mobile ($80/month for unlimited LTE). Sprint still has them beat with a $60 unlimited plan, but frankly, a lot of customers would probably cough up the extra charge and deal with a 15GB limit for better coverage and the ability to use any GSM phone.

You'll need at least two users to make the AT&T plan effective at that price, and already have compatible phones (or use the AT&T Next full-price financing) to avoid the $25 per line monthly charge. The promotion lasts from today, September 28th, to October 31s. The extra data lasts the length of your contract. New customers or those who add an extra line also get a free $100 credit off their bill.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 US Pre-Orders Continue via T-Mobile

We’re almost about to reach the end of the month, and that’s great news for prospective Galaxy Note 4 buyers as the latest and greatest Samsung phablet is all set to go on sale from the coming month. The Note 4 was unveiled earlier this month at Samsung’s UNPACKED event in Berlin on September 3rd. The latest Samsung flagship is the first smartphone on the market to come equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset and support for LTE Cat.6 standard that allows download speeds of up to 300Mbps. All four major U.S. carriers – AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile – will be offering the Note 4. AT&T and Verizon have already started pre-orders and now T-Mobile has also joined the fray.

T-Mobile Note 4 pre-orders begin

You can now pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on the official T-Mobile website for a $0 upfront payment on a contract, or pay the full retail price of $749.76 if you don’t wish to opt for a contract. If you decide to go with the $0 upfront option, you will need to pay $31.24 per month along with a $10 fee for the SIM-starter kit. You will also need to pay $50 per month for the plan, so that brings the total to $81.24 per month.

The pre-orders will start shipping from October 17th, so there is still a fair bit of waiting even for those who decide to pre-order. For those who do not plan on pre-ordering the device, the wait could be even longer. With the Apple iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus managing to sell 10 million units in their first weekend, Samsung should have probably reduced the gap between the announcement and the release of the Note 4. With wider availability not expected until the end of next month, the Note 4 will hit stores almost two months after its official announcement. Even though the Galaxy Note 4 offers more features and is a more complete phablet thanks to the S-Pen stylus feature, Samsung sure is making things easy for Apple with the slow release of the Galaxy Note 4.

Apple iPhone 6 Plus Has the Best LCD Display Out of All Smartphones

To get away from all the negativity surrounding the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iOS 8, we have some good news to report about the iPhone 6 Plus. According to new tests by DisplayMate, the iPhone 6 Plus has the best LCD display out of all smartphones available on the market currently. This is due to its amazing results in sharpness, color depth, color accuracy, overall display calibration, and many more aspects. Of course, its smaller brother, the iPhone 6, got great reviews as well, but was still beaten by the iPhone 6 Plus, because the iPhone 6 has a lower resolution.

iPhone 6 Plus’s display gets put to test

The iPhone 6 Plus only wins in the LCD display category. If you’re looking for the best display out of any smartphone, check out the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which features a Super AMOLED display and a QHD resolution with brilliant color accuracy.

Comparing the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to the iPhone 6 Plus, you’ll find that the Galaxy Note 4 has 515 pixels per inch and the iPhone 6 Plus only has 401 pixels per inch. What’s interesting about this is that despite Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus having such a low pixel density, it still beat out all other LCD smartphones.

The only area where the iPhone 6 Plus didn’t get great results was in the viewing angles category. This is extremely common for LCD displays and is why many smartphones don’t use LCDs anymore – but Apple has continued to stick with them.

The iPhone 6 Plus features a 1080 x 1920 5.5-inch LCD display with an oleophobic coating on top, an Apple 64-bit A8 processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera with optical image stabilization, a 1.2MP front camera, and a 2,915mAh battery.

Shocking Galaxy Note 4 Release (U.S.) Details Emerge

New Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release details arrived today for buyers in the United States and unfortunately, they’re not pretty.

In the weeks since the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 announcement on September 3rd, we’ve seen a ton of new Galaxy Note 4 release date details emerge for buyers all over the world. The past two weeks in particular have been exciting as we’ve seen release dates confirmed, Galaxy Note pre-orders start, and Galaxy Note 4 price details emerge. We’ve also seen the first Galaxy Note 4 release date emerge.

Today, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 4 in Korea, the first stop on what the device’s long journey to more than 100 different countries around the world. The Galaxy Note 4 release, according to Samsung, will hit 140 countries by the end of October. One of those initial Galaxy Note 4 release countries is the United States, a key battleground for Samsung in its fight against Apple and the iPhone 6.

Last week, AT&T and Verizon started taking pre-orders ahead of the Galaxy Note 4 release date on October 17th. That date applies to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon. T-Mobile didn’t start taking pre-orders until Wednesday and today, for the first time, Sprint has begun taking pre-orders ahead of its own Galaxy Note 4 release date.

Sprint is offering up the Galaxy Note 4 in two different flavors. Buyers can purchase the Galaxy Note 4 at $0 down with the carrier’s easy pay program. This will allow buyers to pay off the price of the phone slowly with the charges working out to $30.00 for 23 payments and $30.00 for the 24th payment. Sprint’s also offering a subsidized Galaxy Note 4 price to consumers though its price is shocking given the Galaxy Note 4′s price at other, top U.S. carriers.

The Sprint Galaxy Note 4 will cost $350 on-contract. That’s $50 more than the $300 Galaxy Note 4 that’s found on both AT&T and Verizon. U.S. Cellular hasn’t announced pre-orders or a Galaxy Note 4 price though it typically charges $299.99 for the privilege of owning a Galaxy Note. From what we can tell, Sprint’s price doesn’t offer a rebate of any kind which means buyers will need to pony up $50 more for the device on a network that could get passed up by T-Mobile next year.

Of course, this isn’t anything new. Last year, Sprint charged $350 for the Galaxy Note 3, or, $50 more than its rivals. It was a decision that immediately drew the wrath of prospective Galaxy Note buyers though it appears that the complaints fell on deaf ears. Sprint never revealed why it charged $50 more for the Galaxy Note 3 and it probably won’t reveal its plans here.

With an iPhone 6 Plus starting at $299.99 and an iPhone 6 starting at $199.99, Sprint’s $350 Galaxy Note 4 certainly has its work cut out for it, impressive specs and all.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is an impressive smartphone and it comes loaded with high-powered specs including its 5.7-inch Quad HD display, its brand new 16MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization, its new S Pen, its Android 4.4.4 KitKat software that’s backed by TouchWiz, its new design that comes with both plastic and metal materials, and a whole lot more. It’s a true iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus competitor and one of the more intriguing smartphones of the year.

However, it’s also one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, something that could push consumers to cheaper Android phones like the LG G3, a flagship that is loaded with top notch features but is priced much lower.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 is expected to replace the current Galaxy Note 3 and it will be joined later in the year by a brand new Samsung Galaxy Edge, a high-end flagship that could cost even more than the Galaxy Note 4 on Sprint and on other U.S. carriers.

New HTC One M8 Release Could Deliver Improved Camera

The HTC One M8 was announced and released back at the end of March and has been an extremely popular smartphone throughout the year, with one major flaw. That being the improved “Duo Camera” on back featuring two 4 UltraPixel cameras for a unique set of features. However, a new and improved option is reportedly coming soon.

The original HTC One had the same 4 UltraPixel camera, and in 2014 HTC added a second camera on the back of its flagship phone in order to deliver tons of new features, but many complained about the dip in resolution, and lack of the option to crop photos.

The One M8 received heavy praises from most reviews in all aspects except the camera, and it sounds like HTC is listening to its fans because two new rumors have surfaced this week suggesting a new HTC One M8 release could be coming next month with a 13 megapixel Duo camera setup instead. Simply called the HTC One M8 Eye.

The 4 megapixel “UltraPixel” camera delivered on the phone simply can’t compete with the 8 megapixel iPhone 6, or even the 13 and 16 megapixel cameras in smartphones like the Moto X, LG G3, or the Galaxy S5.

As a result, HTC is apparently set to release another smartphone with a long and odd name, and two new reports are confirming that. While we’ve yet to see any leaks or hear anything of this sort from HTC, a few sources have all the details. Popular HTC developer LlabTooFer posted the information this week on Twitter, and a second source is reporting something similar.

@Upleaks doesn’t reveal as much as the other, but simply states that there is a new HTC One M8 coming with the 4 UltraPixel camera being swapped out to offer a 13 megapixel Duo Camera (still two cameras on back) and it is called the HTC One M8 Eye. This may not be the final name upon release, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Speaking of release, LlabTooFer claims the new smartphone is actually set to be announced and released in October along with some changes. The current HTC One M8 only runs Android 4.4.3 KitKat, but the new M8 Eye will have the absolute latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat, HTC Sense 6.0 UI on board, and of course the better camera.

It’s worth noting that HTC released a plastic variant of the One M8 on Sprint earlier this year with a 13 megapixel camera called the HTC One E8, which could have set the groundwork for this new and improved smartphone.

The HTC One M8 is arguably one of the best smartphones of 2014, save for the camera, and another option with this issue addressed could sway a few of those iPhone 6 buyers to look back to HTC before years end.

@Upleaks also confirms the front camera will still be 5 megapixels, like the HTC One M8, and the new phone will offer an all aluminum design. Most likely we’re looking at the exact same smartphone with a different camera, but will have to wait and see. If so buyers can expect a 5-inch 1080p HD display, quad-core processor, 32GB of storage, the new 13 and 2MP Duo Camera options on the back, and a decent 2,600 mAh battery on this new phone.

Moto X: KitKat Update Android 4.4.4 OTA Rollout to Begin Soon [US T-Mobile]

Motorola and T-Mobile are finally catching up with the rest of the pack of Moto X updates. We’re now seeing reports that the 2013 Moto X is currently testing the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update. If everything goes according to plan, we could see a mass update rolled out in the next couple of weeks.

T-Mobile Moto X Android KitKat 4.4.4 update soak test begins

With this being a soak test, you should not expect this to be a widespread update until T-Mobile and Motorola finds out if the update is free from bugs and glitches. We generally do not see T-Mobile updates lagging behind like this. The 2013 Moto X has already been updated to Android 4.4.4 KitKat on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. We usually see Verizon as the carrier that lags behind, but this is not the case this time around. We’re reading that it is probably due to the fact that T-Mobile doesn’t sell the device in their stores. To get your hands on this device that’s currently being updated, you’d have had to purchase the unlocked T-Mobile variant directly from the Motorola website.

Reports have us believe that this soak test started on Monday and updates the device from 4.4.3 to 4.4.4. So this update will only contain a few bug fixes along with the major Heartbleed security patch. Since this device isn’t sold by T-Mobile, the update isn’t being pushed by the carrier themselves. Instead, it is being pushed out by Motorola. We could see this soak test finishing up by the end of next week maybe, and then the big roll-out can start.

Apple iPhone, iPod, iPad: Downgrade to iOS 7.1.2 from iOS 8 Update

iOS 8 has been installed by 46% of iDevice users, and of course, there are those who are beginning to regret that decision. This is mainly because of the app compatibility and ability to jailbreak. It is still possible to downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7.1.2, but it’s unknown as to how long Apple will allow this.

There are a few things that must be known beforehand. When you downgrade your iDevice to iOS 7.1.2, you’re putting a fresh restore on your device. Of course, if iCloud backups worked, this would be much easier, but sadly, iOS 8 iCloud backups do not work when downgrading to iOS 7, so you’ll have to manually back your device up on your computer.

If you have an iPad 2, iPad Air, iPad Mini, iPad Mini with Retina Display, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, or 5th-generation iPod Touch, you’re currently eligible to downgrade.

In order to downgrade your device, just simply follow the instructions below.

Double-check your device is eligible.

Go to this TSSstatus checker, find your device, and make sure it has a green checkmark next to ‘7.1.2’ that says ‘yes’. If it does, you’re all set and ready to go. This is a lengthy list, so you may want to just Ctrl+F and type in your device instead of scrolling through the list.

Download the iOS 7.1.2 IPSW package for your specific device.

It’s a 1GB+ file, so it may take a while. You can simply view our links below and select your device out of the bunch. The GSM is for U.S. phones on the AT&T and T-Mobile network and European devices – CDMA is for U.S. phones on the Sprint and Verizon Wireless network. If you’re still not sure if your device is a GSM model or CDMA model, you can check the build number and compare it to Apple’s list (which you can view here).

iPad Air (5th-generation WiFi)

iPad Air (5th-generation WiFi + Cellular)

iPad (4th-generation CDMA)

iPad (4th-generation GSM)

iPad (4th-generation WiFi)

iPad Mini (CDMA)

iPad Mini (GSM)

iPad Mini (WiFi)

iPad Mini 2 (WiFi + Cellular)

iPad Mini 2 (WiFi)

iPad (3rd-generation WiFi + Cellular GSM)

iPad (3rd-generation WiFi + Cellular CDMA)

iPad (3rd-generation WiFi)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi Rev A)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi + Cellular GSM)

iPad (2nd-generation WiFi + Cellular CDMA)

iPhone 5 (CDMA)

iPhone 5 (GSM)

iPhone 5C (GSM)

iPhone 5C (CDMA)

iPhone 5S (GSM)

iPhone 5S (CDMA)

iPhone 4S

iPod Touch (5th generation)

Connect your iDevice to your computer and bring up iTunes

Make sure your Find My iPhone feature is turned off before you begin this next process. Next, click on Summary within the iPhone portion of your iTunes. Then hold Shift (if you’re on a Mac, press Options) and click the Restore button, then select your freshly downloaded IPSW file. The restore process will begin and your device will be back on iOS 7.1.2 again.

Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Nowhere to be Found on T-Mobile

Every year when Apple releases another version of their flagship, the same story repeats itself: stocks running empty in mere hours, fans camping outside Apple stores for weeks, and huge profits reported by Apple. Right now, it appears T-Mobile is having some problems keeping stocks replenished as fans are complaining that they can’t find any Apple iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus devices in their carrier stores.

iPhone 6 not found in T-Mobile stores

This comes as a big letdown for T-Mobile customers because Verizon, Sprint and AT&T are still well stocked, in spite of the huge demand – so it appears T-Mobile is the only one having trouble. According to Apple.com, the T-Mobile iPhone 6 wasn’t available for purchase in the 20 Apple Stores closest to San Francisco.

They called 10 T-Mobile retail stores in and around San Francisco and none had any iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus devices in stock, nor did they know when stocks would be filled again.

Part of the reason why T-Mobile has run out of stock is because of the huge amount of sales they’ve been promoting lately, as well as some incredible deals. In addition, T-Mobile offers those switching from other carriers up to $350 to take care of competitors’ early termination fees.

Android 5.0 L Update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10: Release Date Rumors

The release of the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 is imminent and, as we get closer to the moment when Google will make the new Android update available for the public, more leaks and reports are surfacing online. Even though the Mountain View-based giant didn’t reveal when Android 5.0 L will go live, the recent reports are painting an almost complete picture of when we should expect it.

As you may know, starting this year, the folks at Google changed the strategy regarding Android launches. So far, we had two major Android releases a year: one in the summer and on in the fall. Now, Google is launching Android 5.0 L Apple-style. Their main rivals are usually announcing new iOS updates in the summer at WWDC, make them available for beta testing for a few months, then release them for the public in the fall, synchronized with the debut of a new iPhone. Android L was revealed in the summer at Google I/O and made available for testing soon after as Developer Preview (there’s an update for Android L Developer Preview for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 here). The final version will most likely be announced in the fall, when new Nexus hardware will also arrive. Or at least that’s what the latest reports are indicating.

In April we heard that a new Google program called Android Silver might replace the already-popular Nexus program. After Google’s Dave Bruke denied the rumors that said that the Nexus family is dead, rumors of new Nexus hardware stated to surface online. First we’ve learned about a new Nexus tablet manufactured by HTC and codenamed Flounder. It seems that the unofficially dubbed Nexus 9 has an 8.9-inch display with 4:3 aspect ratio, 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 processor, 4 GB RAM, 8 MP primary cam, 2 MP secondary cam, and “aluminum zero-gap construction.” The rumor mill also talks about a new Nexus smartphone. Codenamed Shamu, the Nexus 6 is manufactured by Motorola and sports a 5.9-inch Quad HD screen, quad-core Snapdragon 805 CPU, 3 GB of RAM, and 13 MP rear-facing shooter. There’s even a leaked photo of the Moto Shamu roaming around the web. Of course, both devices will run Android 5.0 L out of the box.

Earlier this month, an Nvidia document said that the Nexus 9 is expected to debut in the third quarter of the year. Soon after, respected member of the Android community Paul O’Brien tweeted that Nexus 9 will be announced October 16, quoting an anonymous tipster. Then we’ve heard from two trustworthy sources that the release date of the HTC-made tablet is “very close.” Another source claims that, while Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 will be announced mid-October, Android 5.0 L will not be rolled out sooner than November 1st.

But what will be the final name of Android L? I’m glad you’ve asked. All Android iterations so far had a dessert-inspired name and a specific version number. Given the tremendous amount of changes the new update brings, we are sure that its version number will be 5.0. The name will no doubt begin with letter “L” and we have some dessert names already floating around. While early reports said that it will be either Lollipop or Licorice, lately we’re hearing about Lemon Meringue Pie more often. Therefore, you should expect the new release to be named Android 5.0 Lemon Meringue Pie (or Android 5.0 LMP).

Now that we have an idea about when the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 will be rolled out to the public, let’s talk about some of the most important features of the new Android iteration. Android 5.0 L is generally acknowledged as the biggest update Google’s mobile operating system has received since its debut back in 2008. It’s even bigger than the jump from 2.3 Gingerbread to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

One of the most important changes brought by Android 5.0 L is Material Design. Courtesy of the new design philosophy, Android 5.0 L is more animated and more colorful. The 3D effects and shadows are making the interface more intuitive, allowing the user to see where everything came from and where everything goes. Moreover, Google has promised fluid 60 fps transitions.

The new update will also introduce performance enhancements. The obsolete Dalvik runtime has been replaced by ART and 64-bit processors are now natively supported. We are also glad to announce you that the battery life will be improved in Android 5.0 L courtesy of Project Volta. For example, a Nexus 5 running Android L Developer Preview has 30 – 40% more battery life than one running KitKat.

Google’s new update also brings enhancements to the Notifications Panel. It has received a new color scheme, while the background is transparent in order to allow you to see what’s on your screen while checking unread notifications. The Quick Settings button is gone, but not the Quick Settings menu itself. You will just get to it in a different way. You will have to swipe down once to go to notifications, and then swipe again to access Quick Settings. There are toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, Airplane Mode, Notifications, Auto Rotate, Location, and Cast Screen, and a slider for Brightness control.

You will also get to enjoy a new Lock Screen in Android 5.0 L. Now, it is capable of showing your notifications and it even allows you to interact with them. You can dismiss them by swiping, read them by tapping, or see more details by swiping down. Google also promised that the lock screen notifications will be prioritized based on the frequency you interact with them.

Enhancements have been applied to the Status Bar, as well. The new Dynamic Status Bar is capable of changing its color to match the action bar of the app running on the screen, while remaining transparent in home screen and lock screen. Even though the Android 5.0 L native apps will e updated to take advantage of the Dynamic Status Bar, third-party devs will have to update their apps for us to enjoy a unified visual experience.

You should also be able to notice that the Settings app looks different, too. Besides arriving with a new color scheme, the Settings app has also been reorganized and has received new animations, toggles, and check boxes. There’s also a search bar that will allow you to search for the option you are trying to access.

Another major change brought by Android 5.0 L is the new Recents screen. Recently opened apps look like cards stacked one over another. In fact, they look a lot like the recent tabs in Chrome. Google also announced a document-centric multitasking, which basically means that certain apps will be able to show more than one card in Recents.

The Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 will no doubt be the first one to hit the users. Next in line will most likely be the Google Play Edition smartphones and tablets. Motorola is known for releasing quick updates, so their supported smartphones could get Android 5.0 L pretty fast. HTC promised to roll out the new update for One M7 and One M8 within 90 days after Google releases the final version, while reports are showing that Galaxy S5 and Note 4 might get it late November or early December. Sony and LG might also release Android 5.0 L for their flagship devices by the end of the year.

New Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.2 Active Update Is Being Pushed to AT&T Users

New Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.2 Active Update Is Being Pushed to AT&T Users

AT&T revealed on their official support page that that a new Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Android 4.4.2 OTA update is now being pushed to users. Therefore, if you happen to own an AT&T Galaxy S4 Active, you’d better keep an eye on the notifications bar. Anyway, you shouldn’t get too excited as it looks like we’re talking about a minor update.

Because the KitKat-specific goodies such as transparent status and nav bars, white status bar icons, new Location menu, immersive mode, cloud printing, color emoji support, or full screen album and movie art for the lock screen have been included in the previous Android 4.4 updates for Galaxy S4 Active, the new Android 4.4.2 OTA update doesn’t bring any change to the UI. According to the changelog posted on AT&T’s page, the new update comes with connectivity improvements for receiving calls and texts, security fixes, and updated Google apps.

As usual, the new Android 4.4.2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Active update is being rolled out in phases which mean that some of you might have to wait a few more days to be able to install it. Once your phone will become eligible to receive the new OTA update you should be able to notice a system update message in the notifications panel. Tap on it then follow the on-screen instructions. In case the system update notification failed to show up, you would also want to check for the update manually under Settings > More > About device > Software update > Check for updates. Alternatively, you can grab the USB cable, connect your device to the PC, and check for the new update through KIES.

It’s also worth noting that the new OTA update has build number KOT49H.I537UCUCNH3 and weighs in at 127 MB. It’s recommended to use a stable Wi-Fi network to download the update file in order to avoid unwanted data charges.

iOS 8.0.2 Release Fixes iOS 8.0.1 Problems

iOS 8.0.2 Release Fixes iOS 8.0.1 Problems

Just a day after the iOS 8.0.1 release, Apple’s released a new iOS 8.0.2 update that not only tackles iOS 8 problems but also iOS 8.0.1 problems that impacted iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 users after iOS 8.0.1′s arrival.

Yesterday, Apple released its first iOS 8 bug fix update in the form of iOS 8.0.1. The update came a week after the iOS 8.0 release and it was aimed at solving some of the initial problems brought on by Apple’s brand new update for iPhone and iPad. And while it did deliver fixes to iOS users, it also delivered some problems of its own.

Almost immediately after the iOS 8.0.1 release, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users started complaining about iOS 8.0.1 problems and specifically, issues with cellular data and Touch ID. Within minutes, Apple pulled the iOS 8.0.1 update from its servers leaving a bunch of angry iPhone and iPhone 6 Plus users in the update’s wake.

Earlier today, it appeared as if Apple would wait a few days before releasing an iOS 8.0.2 update. Tonight though, it delivered a surprise update to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users running iOS 8.0 and iOS 8.0.1.

That surprise is the iOS 8.0.2 update, a bug fixer that not only fixes the iOS 8.0.1 issues from yesterday but also includes the same bug fixes that iOS 8.0.1 had on board when it touched down earlier this week. The update is available for all devices running iOS 8 which includes the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPad Air, iPad mini with Retina Display, iPad mini, iPad 4, iPad 3, iPad 2, and iPod touch fifth-generation.

Here’s what’s new inside of Apple’s latest iOS 8 update:

• Fixes an issue in iOS 8.0.1 that impacted cellular network connectivity and Touch ID on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
• Fixes a bug so HealthKit apps can now be made available on the App Store
• Addresses an issue where 3rd party keyboards could become deselected when a user enters their passcode
• Fixes an issue that prevented some apps from accessing photos from the Photo Library
• Improves the reliability of the Reachability feature on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
• Fixes an issue that could cause unexpected cellular data usage when receiving SMS/MMS messages
• Better support of Ask To Buy for Family Sharing for In-App Purchases
• Fixes an issue where ringtones were sometimes not restored from iCloud backups
• Fixes a bug that prevented uploading photos and videos from Safari

This is an essential update for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who were left without network activity after the arrival of iOS 8.0.2 though owners of other iPhones and iPads might want to see how the update plays out. While these small updates bring bug fixes, they can also bring trouble. We saw that first-hand with Apple’s iOS 8.0.1 update.

The iOS 8.0.2 update is fairly large on the iPhone 6, nearly 80MB, though it’s much smaller on an iPhone 5 running iOS 8.0.1. That update is a mere 14MB and it took only minutes to download and install. Those with precious files will still want to make sure the device is backed up before installing Apple’s brand new software update.

iOS 8.0.2 will likely be the second of many upcoming bug fixes. Apple tends to roll out several bug fix updates over the course of the year including a mid-year x.1 update that typically delivers new features in addition to key bug fixes. iOS 8.1 still isn’t confirmed though rumors have alluded to several features that it could have when it arrives months down the road.

he release of iOS 8.0.2 comes just days after the arrival of Apple’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The two new iPhones replace the iPhone 5s as the company’s flagship models and it will be the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that take on the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, LG G3, and Moto X during the holiday shopping season.

Verizon iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Users Get “Advanced Calling”

Verizon iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Users Get “Advanced Calling”

Verizon Wireless has finally allowed customers the ability to use data while on the phone, but there’s a catch. For the moment, only iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are available to use data while on a call. This is due to the fact that the two new Apple flagship smartphones have VoLTE support.

Verizon adds VoLTE to Apple iPhone 6 on its network

VoLTE stands for voice over LTE. It means what it says – instead of using the typical 2G or 3G network to make a call, you’re on the 4G LTE network.

Verizon users haven’t ever been able to make phone calls and use data, which is something many AT&T users have been able to do for ages. This is great news, especially if you’re looking to pick up a new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus on Verizon Wireless, or switch your iPhone 6’s carrier.

Verizon’s support of VoLTE now gives consumers “Advanced Calling” on top of being able to use data on the phone. This new feature allows consumers to have better sounding phone and video calls.

This won’t automatically be available on your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus though – you’ll have to manually enable it. In order to do so, you’ll first have to go to Verizon’s website, and then add the feature to your account (which is free, by the way). From there, you’ll have to go to Settings>Cellular>Enable LTE>Turn on Voice & Data. Finally, you can enjoy HD phone and video calls.

You’ll soon see these features available on other high-end Android devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the LG G3, but for now, it’s only available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users. There’s no word on when Android devices will be seeing the update, but it’s likely sooner than later.