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Gadget Watch: Huawei’s Mate2 phone good at $299

By WTOP Staff

ANICK JESDANUN
AP Technology Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Mention Huawei in the U.S., and you’re likely to get a blank look. Either that person has never heard of the Chinese phone maker or has heard something about security concerns raised by lawmakers in Washington.

Huawei Technologies Co. believes it can overcome all that as it makes a bigger push in the U.S. and tries to build on its successes elsewhere. While Apple and Samsung dominate the worldwide smartphone market with a combined market share of 46 percent, Huawei has a slight lead among the rest, with about 5 percent, according to research firm IDC.

The Ascend Mate2 4G is a mid-range Android phone touted as an affordable alternative to such high-end phones as Apple’s iPhone 5s and Samsung’s Galaxy S5, both of which retail for about $650 without a contract. The Mate2 will go for $299 and will be sold directly by Huawei. It will work on AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s networks, but not on Verizon or Sprint.

You won’t get all the features found in the iPhone or the S5, but the Mate2 does well on the basics, based on about a week of testing. Furthermore, it works with 4G cellular networks, while many cheaper devices are compatible only with the slower 3G networks.

Huawei will start taking orders on Thursday, with phones starting to ship within the week.

— NICHE MARKET: The phone is huge, with a screen measuring 6.1 inches diagonally. I prefer something that fits more easily in my hand and my pocket. The company says it’s not for everyone. Rather, it’s targeting a few types of customers, such as those who watch a lot of video and those who need a big screen for heavy-duty email and other business functions.

— STANDING OUT: A big phone has room for a big battery, and the 3,900 milliamp-hour battery in the Mate2 is among the biggest. By comparison, Samsung’s 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 phone is at 3,200 milliamp-hours. I streamed nearly 16 hours of video from Hulu with the Mate2 at half brightness, compared with about 10.5 hours on the Note 3.

The big battery can also be used to charge other devices when you don’t have a wall outlet. A charging cord is included for the first 3,000 customers; prices for latecomers haven’t been announced. It works with Android and other devices with a Micro-USB port. You’ll need an adapter for the iPhone.

The Mate2 also makes it easier to fit large groups into selfies. Software stitches together three shots, much like panoramic features found in many phones. The phone guides you on how to position the camera.

— CAMERA: Photos taken with the 13-megapixel rear camera are average for a camera phone. The front camera, though, offers 5 megapixels, much more than the 2 megapixels or less found in most other phones. This means sharper selfies. It might help video conferencing, too.

— DISPLAY: The screen resolution is 1,280 pixels by 720 pixels, well below that of high-end Android phones. Picture quality is still acceptable, though the heavy video watchers that Huawei is targeting might want sharper images. I also found that the screen is dimmer than other phones. To get something comparable, I had to crank up the Mate2’s brightness, reducing battery life for Hulu to about 12.5 hours.

— SECURITY CONCERNS: Critics have suggested that Huawei’s telecommunications-networking equipment poses security risks because of the company’s alleged links to the Chinese government. In 2012, a congressional panel warned Americans not to do business with Huawei. The Australian government also barred it from bidding on work for a national broadband network.

The company has denied the allegations. In an interview last week, Zhiqiang Xu, the president of Huawei Device USA, dismissed the concerns as noise raised by politicians. He said most consumers haven’t even heard of Huawei, so the real challenge for the U.S. subsidiary will be to get them to recognize the brand without a massive marketing budget.

— STARTUP CHALLENGES: Huawei is dealing directly with customers, and no U.S. phone carrier is subsidizing the phone. Xu said Huawei will also have to build a customer-service operation in the U.S. and set up servers to push out software updates. The phone will ship with an older version of Android, Jelly Bean.

And because Huawei isn’t a household name, finding its website at GetHuawei.com could be a challenge. The company registered several domain names to cover potential misspellings.

— THE BOTTOM LINE: The Mate2 won’t match a high-end phone, but it offers a lot for about half the price. That’s particularly impressive for a phone of this size. It’s not a good deal if you’re already getting expensive phones at a subsidized price of $200, but it’s one to consider if you’re looking to ditch contracts and subsidies.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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