Latest news with #StandbyMode
CNET
a day ago
- Business
- CNET
Starlink Users Will Now Have to Pay $5 to Pause Service
Starlink is ending a popular free feature that let customers pause service at any time for free. Now, you'll have to pay $5 a month to enter what the company is calling 'Standby Mode.' Subscribers who'd been using the pause feature began receiving emails yesterday notifying them that they'd have to opt in to the new Standby Mode by Sept. 13, or their service would be canceled. 'We recently upgraded pause to include Standby Mode,' the company wrote on a support page. 'Previously, the pause feature offered zero data at no cost. If pausing with Standby Mode does not meet your needs, you are able to cancel at no cost.' In Standby Mode, customers will have access to 'unlimited low-speed data,' which is enough to make calls, text and receive software updates. Speeds are capped at 500Kbps, according to Starlink's support page. The company is framing it as an 'upgrade' for customers, but many people are viewing it as a bait-and-switch. The pause feature was especially attractive for Starlink Roam customers, who might only need service on an RV trip one or two months out of the year. Locating local internet providers Starlink explicitly refers to these plans as 'pay as you go,' but now you'll have to pay when you're not going, too. You're still able to cancel and restart service, but you run the risk of Starlink being at capacity in your area when you try to get back on the network -- or being hit with a reactivation fee. Restarting service in Standby Mode, on the other hand, only takes a few clicks in the app, and you're guaranteed a spot when you return. Many Starlink customers have chafed at the news that they'll have to pay $5 each month for a service they're not even using. 'We purchased the Mini Kit for an emergency trip where we needed to be reachable but otherwise will basically never use it,' wrote one Reddit user. 'Fortunately, we're still in the 30-day return period so it will likely just go back entirely.' Don't miss any of CNET's unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome.
The Verge
2 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Starlink Mini users just lost their beloved pause feature
Starlink now charges $5 a month to pause its high-speed, low-latency internet service, a feature that used to be available for free. It affects Roam, Residential, and Priority subscribers in the US, most of Europe, and Canada with lots of exceptions. SpaceX hilariously calls it an upgrade, but I call it a bait and switch for anyone that bought a Starlink Mini with that 'pay as you go' promise. The free pause feature has been replaced with a $5/month (or €5/month) Standby Mode that comes with 'unlimited low-speed data' that's 'perfect for backup connectivity and emergency use,' according to the email sent to subscribers. Some early testing I've seen on Reddit suggests speeds of about 0.5Mbps down when Standby is active, compared to over 100Mbps I usually see on the Roam service. SpaceX has always positioned the Starlink Mini on Roam subscriptions as a 'pay as you go' service, ideal for 'infrequent and individual travel' and 'RVers, campers, travelers, and working on the go.' These are activities that typically have start and end dates. The updated landing page still calls it 'pay as you go' with the inclusion of 'a small monthly fee.' Come on. The best thing about owning a $499 / €299 Starlink Mini is having space internet in a battery-powered device that slips into a backpack. The second best thing was being able to pause it and pay nothing when you return home. Even the paused subscription could be reactivated in just a few minutes in case the broadband connection at home went down. If you — like many — bought a Starlink Mini just for summer travels, it'll now cost you an extra $45 a year for zero added value. The one caveat to all this can be found in a note from the FAQ (emphasis mine): We recently upgraded pause to include Standby Mode. Previously, the pause feature offered zero data at no cost. If pausing with Standby Mode does not meet your needs, you are able to cancel at no cost and restart service on an available plan whenever you're ready. Canceling adds more friction to the process by requiring a visit to the website and answering a bunch of questions while SpaceX tries to dissuade you from cancelling. Standby, like pause before it, can be activated and deactivated in the app with just a few clicks. Nevertheless, I just canceled my Roam subscription rather than paying €5/mth for a Mini I won't be using again until November. In doing so I received a message stating, 'You may not be allowed to reactivate in the future if your area is at capacity.' Sigh. Fingers crossed I can actually restart it when I do need it again. Or better yet, maybe Amazon's Kuiper Internet service will be live — SpaceX clearly needs some competition for relatively cheap and fast consumer internet that can be quickly deployed into data dead from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Thomas Ricker Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Analysis Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Report Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Science Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Space Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All SpaceX Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Android Authority
18-05-2025
- Android Authority
Standby for Hub Mode: Google wants to turn your Android phone into a smart display
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Google appears to be developing an Android equivalent to iOS's Standby Mode, hinted at by a Google Play Services update and code found in Android 16. This new feature will likely leverage an enhanced Hub Mode, which is being optimized for phones and will integrate lock screen widgets in Android 16 QPR1. The rollout of Qi2 magnetic wireless charging for Android devices is a key enabler, allowing phones to be easily docked horizontally like smart displays. One of iOS's standout features is Standby Mode, which transforms an iPhone into a mini smart display. When charging and placed horizontally, iPhones activate Standby Mode, displaying a full-screen clock, photo frame, widgets, or Live Activities. This feature particularly shines when using a MagSafe charger, as it truly gives the iPhone the appearance of a smart display. While Android currently lacks a direct equivalent to iOS' Standby Mode, there are hints that Google may be developing its own version. Here's how I know. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. Last week, Google updated its Google System Release Notes page with an intriguing line for Google Play Services v25.18. It mentions a 'new feature' that lets you 'use Cast on standby-friendly devices,' specifically tagged with [Phone], indicating it's for the mobile version of Android, not Wear OS, Google TV, Google Play Games on PC, or Android Automotive. While somewhat ambiguous, we interpret this to mean Android mobile devices can now cast content to 'standby-friendly' devices. Existing Google Cast-compatible devices—like Google TV, Google Home smart speakers and displays, and tablets in Hub Mode—likely don't fall into this new 'standby-friendly' category, suggesting Google is referring to a different set of hardware. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority The Google Pixel Tablet in Hub Mode. So, what devices might Google mean by 'standby-friendly?' My interpretation is that this refers to Android phones equipped with Hub Mode and Chromecast built-in, much like the Pixel Tablet. Technically, the only barrier to Android phones acting as Google Cast receivers has been the absence of the Chromecast built-in app and necessary DRM keys, not a fundamental hardware limitation. The likely reason Google hasn't enabled its phones as Cast receivers before is the potential for a suboptimal user experience. Casting typically targets landscape-oriented devices like TVs and smart displays. Most phones, however, remain in portrait mode even when docked, largely because, unlike iPhones, many Android phones lack magnetic wireless charging that would facilitate easy landscape placement on a charger. This hardware difference may explain why Google hasn't prioritized optimizing the screen saver or lock screen widget experience for phone screens. However, the landscape is clearly shifting. Firstly, the Qi2 wireless charging standard introduces magnetic charging to Android phones. While currently, only one Qi2 Android phone is available, Samsung has confirmed it's launching a Qi2-compatible Galaxy device this year. Google has also repeatedly stated its commitment to expanding Qi2 support within the Android ecosystem and even spearheaded the development of the Qi v2.2 standard, which promises charging speeds exceeding the 15W maximum of Qi2. Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority A Pixel 9 Pro mounted on a Qi2 desk stand thanks to a third-party MagSafe case Although there's no official confirmation that the upcoming Google Pixel 10 will support Qi2 or Qi v2.2, it wouldn't be surprising if it did, as Google's recent advancements align well with the Pixel 10's potential release timeline. After all, the Pixel 10 might launch as early as August, assuming Google follows a similar schedule to the Pixel 9. And Google confirmed earlier this year its plans to introduce lock screen widgets to phones in Android 16's first quarterly release (QPR1). The Pixel 10 will likely debut with Android 16 and shortly after receive an update to Android 16 QPR1, enabling lock screen widget support. Notably, the lock screen widget feature is part of Android's Hub Mode, which Google is currently optimizing for phones. Considering this, it's reasonable to conclude that Hub Mode will serve as Android's version of Standby Mode. When Hub Mode arrives on phones with Android 16 QPR1, users will be able to seamlessly switch between their screen saver (displaying clocks, photo frames, etc.) and their widgets. Sound familiar? That's precisely how Standby Mode functions on iOS. While I admit that the evidence for a dedicated Standby Mode on Android has been somewhat circumstantial, there's more to it than just that single line in the Google System Release Notes. In fact, while examining Android 16's code, I discovered a new string indicating Google plans to add a 'Standby' button to Android's Global Action dialog (the power menu). Code Copy Text Standby Digging deeper, I learned that this new 'Standby' button is designed to trigger the screen saver and lock screen widgets, effectively tying all these elements together. So, while the initial clue might have been weak, this new link strengthens the case, and I think my overall conclusion is solid. Qi2 charging support is undoubtedly coming to more Android devices; it's a matter of when, not if. In preparation for a future where Android phones can be easily docked horizontally on wireless chargers, Google is enhancing Hub Mode for phones, allowing them to offer more than just a basic clock or photo display. Whether we see Android phones leveraging this expanded Hub Mode this year or next remains to be seen, but its arrival seems inevitable. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
