Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn

Jordan Kahn

jordankahn

Senior Editor

9to5Mac / 9to5Google / 9to5Toys / Electrek.co

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac. He covers Google for 9to5Google.com, the best gadgets and deals on 9to5Toys.com, and delivers a weekly roundup of EV and solar news on Electrek.co. Sometimes he makes weird electronic music as one half of Makamachine.

Contact Jordan with news tips and long-winded complaints:  

Connect with Jordan Kahn

Google begins cutting an additional 10 percent of Motorola workforce, around 1,200 employees

Site default logo image

Google-MotorolaWe heard in October that Google had plans to further reduce Motorola’s workforce after cutting around 20 percent, or roughly 4,000 jobs, in August. The Wall Street Journal reported today on an email from Google that confirmed the company is beginning to cut around 1,200 employees (a little over 10 percent of its current total headcount):

Motorola MSI -0.74% staffers were informed by the company via email this week that “while we’re very optimistic about the new products in our pipeline, we still face challenges.” The company email added that “our costs are too high, we’re operating in markets where we’re not competitive and we’re losing money.”

As for where the cuts might take place, we previously reported that Motorola, which was unprofitable for 14 of its last 16 quarters, planned to reduce its operations in Asia and India, but today’s report said the layoffs would hit workers in the United States, China, and India. Google also warned that further restructuring might be necessary and significant costs could be involved.

In a recent piece from The Wall Street Journal highlighting Google executives’ fear that Samsung is gaining too much dominance, Android chief Andy Rubin said the purchase of Motorola was “a kind of insurance policy against a manufacturer such as Samsung gaining too much power over Android.”

Google licenses MPEG LA patents for VP8 video format

Site default logo image

Google today announced that it has struck a deal with MPEG LA that will allow it to license patents essential to Google’s VP8 and previous generation VPx video compression technologies. The deal will allow Google to stop MPEG LA’s efforts to form a “VP8 patent pool” made up of the 11 patents Google has licensed today.

It will also allow Google to sublicense the VP8 technology to others and sublicense “VP8 techniques in one next-generation VPx video codec.”

Deputy General Counsel for Patents at Google Allen Lo said the deal is a “significant milestone”:

“This is a significant milestone in Google’s efforts to establish VP8 as a widely-deployed web video format. We appreciate MPEG LA’s cooperation in making this happen.”

The press release (below) didn’t provide any financial information related to the licensing agreement:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Samsung signs multi-year deal to put Immersion haptics technology in future devices

Site default logo image

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgxyreJRLj8

Samsung is already using the Immersion haptics technology in a couple of its products including the Galaxy S3, but today the two companies announced a multiyear licensing agreement that would allow Samsung to bring Immersion’s TouchSense and Integrator technology to new devices.

“We are very pleased by Samsung’s broad adoption of our haptic technology, and we believe that this agreement marks an important milestone in our strategy to monetize our technology more fully within the mobile market,” said Immersion CEO Victor Viegas.

The Integrator tech works together with Immersion’s TouchSense technology, and it is described by the company as an option for OEMs “that automatically add haptics into the Android UI and applications and provides an easy way to customize the overall tactile feel of the device.”

The press release also noted that the deal extends to “Samsung’s prior and future use of simple forms of haptic effects, sometimes referred to as Basic Haptics, in its smartphones and other mobile devices.”
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google updates I/O site with new info on registration, travel and events

Site default logo image

Screen Shot 2013-03-06 at 4.15.49 PM

After recently posting its I/O registration page to announce that registration for its annual I/O developers conference will open on March 13, Google today posted some more information about the upcoming event. In a blog post on the Google Developers Blog, Google noted that it has updated the I/O 2013 site with new info on registering, travel, events, and FAQs. It is has also posted information about the addition of subsidized childcare options at this year’s event.

Google’s updated I/O site includes a “Travel” section with a Google map for navigating to Moscone West in San Francisco, an “About” section with info on events such as the keynote and developer sessions, and a help page with FAQs. Something new at Google I/O this year is childcare:

We are excited to announce that this year Google I/O will offer nearby child care to conference attendees at a subsidized cost. When completing your registration form, please indicate if you are interested in child care services and, if so, tell us the number of children you want to have cared for. Once registration closes, we will contact you to gather more information and provide specific details on child care.

Google once again provided some tips for registration and outlined details specific to academic and international attendees:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google+ update brings Local reviews tab, bigger cover photos & new ‘About’ tab

Site default logo image

Google just announced on Google+ that it will roll out a few changes to the desktop version of the service starting today. Some of the updates include a new tab for local reviews for easy access to restaurant reviews from the sidebar, updates to the ‘About’ tab that making editing easier, and larger cover photos up to 2,120-by-1,192-pixel:

– A new tab for your Local reviews. In addition to your photos, +1’s and YouTube videos, there’s now a place for all your Local reviews. Highlight your favorite restaurants, or hide the tab completely via settings — it’s completely up to you.

– An easier way to edit your info. The ‘About’ tab now consists of separate cards (like Story, Places, and Links) — each with its own prominent edit link. As always: you can share specific fields with specific circles, or keep them just for you.

– Bigger cover photos, with a better aspect ratio. Cover photos are much larger than before (up to 2120px by 1192px), and they display in 16×9 when fully expanded. This way more images can be used as cover photos, and there’s more room for your selection to shine.

Google said it would roll out the new features gradually to all users.

Google rolls out Maps for iOS to 7 new countries, adds Contacts integration, quick search for local, more

Site default logo image

Google-Maps-Contacts-iOS

Google-maps-iconGoogle Maps version 1.1: Google Maps for iOS gets the ability to search Google Contacts, quickly access search for local places, and select between Kilometers or Miles in an update to version 1.1 today. Google announced the new features in a blog post and noted that it is rolling out the English version of the app to seven new countries, including: Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.

Your Google Contacts are now integrated into Google Maps for iPhone – meaning that when you’re signed-in and search for a friend’s name, their address will appear as a suggestion (if you have their address saved). Simply tap their name to see the address, which will visible only to you, on the map. To learn an easy way to keep your Google Contacts synced with your iPhone, click here.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google exec Vint Cerf says real-name authentication ‘sparked intense debate’ among executives

Site default logo image

vint-cerfVint Cerf, “father of the internet” and Google’s chief internet evangelist, is speaking out about Google’s decision to push users toward using their real names across services. In a recent interview with Reuters, the Google executive said the initiative to get users using their real names across profiles on various services such as Google+ and YouTube has “sparked intense debate” at the company:

Over the past year, the company has strongly encouraged users to merge their accounts on YouTube, Gmail and other Google properties into a single Google+ identity, the company’s social network offering that asks users to use the “common name” they are known by in the real world.

“Using real names is useful,” Cerf said. “But I don’t think it should be forced on people, and I don’t think we do.”

Vint said not using real names is “perfectly reasonable” in certain situations, especially in countries with governments seeking to ban anonymity:
Expand
Expanding
Close

China’s technology ministry warns country is too dependent on Android

Site default logo image

android-china

Google has been accused today of having too much power with the Android operating system in China, according to a white paper published by a group from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Reuters reported today that the technology ministry said “Google had discriminated against some Chinese companies developing their operating systems by delaying the sharing of codes.”

The white paper also claimed the country’s R&D in the mobile operating space is “too dependent on Android” and that there is an opportunity for China to develop its own operating systems.

The paper pointed to Baidu Inc., Alibaba Group, and Huawei Technologies as companies developing their own operating systems and claimed that Google has deals in place that “restrain the business development of mobile devices of these companies.”


Expand
Expanding
Close

Report: Samsung’s Galaxy S4 will include ‘Eye Scroll’ feature

Site default logo image

Samsung-Smart-Stay

According to a report from The New York Times, citing ” a person who has tried the phone,” Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S4 will include a new “eye scrolling” feature that tracks the user’s eye to determine where to focus and when to scroll on the page:

The phone will track a user’s eyes to determine where to scroll, said a Samsung employee who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media. For example, when users read articles and their eyes reach the bottom of the page, the software will automatically scroll down to reveal the next paragraphs of text.

As noted in the report, Samsung actually filed for a trademark in Europe for “Eye Scroll” in January and again in the United States for “Samsung Eye Scroll” in February.

Apple and other companies have filed patents for similar technology that tracks the movement of a user’s eyes to zoom, scroll, and manipulate the elements on a display without physically touching it.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google makes YouTube do the Harlem Shake with latest easter egg

Site default logo image

Harlem-Shake-YouTube

Harlem Shake has unarguably been the biggest YouTube trend in recent months and even hit No.1 on Billboard thanks to the inclusion of YouTube views on the Hot 100 List. Today, YouTube’s official Twitter account points us to Google’s latest easter egg that offers a Harlem Shake style surprise when searching for “Do the harlem shake” on YouTube. Click the link in the tweet below to try it for yourself.

Google exec says Microsoft’s Scroogled ads are ‘misleading and intellectually dishonest’

Site default logo image

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=63u-RG-31B0&list=UUal1Fb7cnd1bE9sMKdFcJcg

Microsoft’s latest smear campaign against Google services kicked into full gear earlier this month with the launch of several online video and print ads as part of its “Scroogled” campaign. Privacy is at the heart of the issues with Gmail depicted in the commercials, with the majority highlighting how Google scans the bodies of emails to serve up relevant ads in Gmail. According to a report from Datamation, Google executives commented on the claims during a panel discussion yesterday with heads from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla at the RSA Security conference.

Challenging Microsoft’s claims, Google’s Senior Privacy Counsel Keith Enright said the following:

Microsoft alleges that Google’s contextual ads, which show up alongside user email, is a violation of user privacy. Google does not agree. Enright noted that the use of automated algorithms is commonplace across multiple facets of technology and is not an issue of privacy. He added that automated algorithms are used to make the contextual ads more relevant. “The idea that doing that (contextual advertising) is in any way detrimental to privacy, or is antithetical to the interests of our users, I think is misleading and intellectually dishonest,” Enright said.

Enright continued:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google Translate to add dialects for text-to-speech feature?

Google-Translate-text-to-speech

As noted by the unofficial Google Operating System blog, Google could soon add the option to select a dialect for certain languages in its text-to-speech feature within Google Translate. The option is currently hidden in Translate’s source code, according to the report, and it would allow users to hear various dialects like American, British, and Australian for English.

The text-to-speech feature will allow you to select the dialect for languages like English, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese. It’s nice to compare American English, British English and Australian English.

The report also noted hints of other features that aren’t currently available, including phrasebook and dictionary features.

Site default logo image

YouTube app for iOS updated with Send to TV feature, YouTube Capture integration, more

Send to TV_iPhone

Google updated its YouTube app for iOS, bringing the Send to TV feature that it originally introduced on Android devices in November 2012. The app will allow users to send YouTube videos from their iOS devices to a Google TV, PS3, or Xbox, and Google confirmed in January that the feature would come to even more smart TVs this year.

Have an iPhone or iPad and a Google TV? You can now play and control videos from your YouTube app for iOS on your TV, like a remote control for YouTube. Anyone on the same WiFi can join in to control the video or add videos to a playlist (Harlem Shake marathon anyone?). This automatic pairing feature is also available on the YouTube app for Android, and it’s coming to more TVs this year from LG, Sony, Panasonic and others.

There is an interactive demo of how the new feature works at youtube.com/yt/sendtotv. The updated YouTube app for iOS is available on the App Store.

OUYA’s $99 Android gaming console begins shipping to Kickstarter backers on March 28

Site default logo image

OUYA, the $99 Android-powered gaming console that raised over $8 million dollars on Kickstarter, today announced an official shipping date for its backers. The company previously released a preview unit to developers but today confirmed that shipments to Kickstarter backers would begin on March 28. That’s a few months before its official retail launch scheduled for June (via TechCrunch).

The update posted on the company’s Kickstarter page said shipments would take up to a few weeks to land on the doorsteps of backers. It also noted that it plans to add new features and more games as it ramps up products and prepares for the retail launch:

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of you will receive your OUYA, and you’ll get to start playing right away. You will also get to watch OUYA evolve over the coming weeks and months. We’ll continue to add new features, refine our user experience, and bring on more games. As always, we appreciate your feedback (and apply it), so keep it coming.

Among the new games headed to the platform is a new exclusive title developed by Portal developer Kim Swift, a puzzle game from Minority Media, The Ball from Tripwire Interactive, and action-RPG ChronoBlade.

Site default logo image

Google adds Calendar results to search with updated Gmail Search Field Trial

Calendar-results-field-trial-Gmail

Google announced today on its Google+ page that it is expanding its Gmail Search Field Trial. It’s a program that lets users let upcoming features, and users who have signed up to preview new features will now be able to access Calendar results alongside Gmail and Google Drive results:

With all that you juggle every day, its easy to lose track of appointments, plans, and reminders. With today’s expansion of our Gmail Search Field Trial (http://goo.gl/dQGNs), we’ve added Calendar results to your Gmail and Drive results.

Google explained users would be able to quickly call up upcoming events from their Google Calendars by searching for [what is on my calendar today], while they’ll also be able to search for specific calendar entries with phrases such as [when am i meeting bryan]. You can sign up to access the latest and upcoming search features from Google on its Gmail Field Trial page.

Samsung officially unveils Samsung Wallet, a ‘Passbook-inspired’ digital ticket app

Site default logo image

Samsung is today officially unveiling its “Samsung Wallet” mobile app solution, and it is quickly gaining attention for similarities to Apple’s iOS 6 ticket, card, and coupon solution known as Passbook. For those familiar with Apple’s app, Samsung Wallet appears to work much the same way. The app will allow users to store event tickets, membership cards, coupons, and boarding passes in one central app. From there, users will be able to present the digital passes and companies supporting the standard can scan a barcode included for each digital ticket.

Samsung has already posted a developers document for the app to outline how devs can implement support for the app using an API (via The Verge). The document also explained how the app works and noted that users will also receive real-time notifications related to their tickets, just as Apple does with Passbook.

Passbook-vs-SamsungWallet

As for the Apple influence, aside from the look and feel of the app and icon (pictured above), the Samsung Wallet app doesn’t seem to offer any additional functionality above and beyond what Passbook already offers. The company confirmed to TheVerge that the app will initially not be integrated with NFC wallet solutions (despite a new partnership with Visa), but it did confirm partners for the app’s launch include: Walgreens, Belly, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Lufthansa. 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Chrome 26 beta includes improved spell check with support for new languages

Screen Shot 2013-02-26 at 1.18.07 PM

Google announced today on the Chrome Blog that it is promoting Chrome 26 to the beta channel and including a number of new features in the release. Among the most notable new features included in today’s Chrome Beta release is an improved default spell checker that brings support for additional languages like Korean, Tamil, and Albanian. Google also highlighted other new features included in the beta like the ability to sync custom dictionaries and “support for grammar, homonym and context-sensitive spell checking in English.”

Furthermore, for users who have enabled the “Ask Google for suggestions” spell check feature, we’re now rolling out support for grammar, homonym and context-sensitive spell checking in English, powered by the same technologies used by Google search. Support for additional languages is on the way.The new spell checking engine – which is also available in Google Docs – even understands proper nouns like “Justin Bieber” and “Skrillex,” so if you’re wondering how many Ns there are inDananananaykroyd, worry no more (there are four).

The new features will rollout to users on Chrome OS, Linux, and Windows in the “coming weeks” with Mac support some time after.

Former Apple ad man Ken Segall says Apple’s advertising has lost momentum to Samsung

Site default logo image

[ooyala code=”9wc3FtOTpudZkeXdJrtb8gXF-WmHpm1i”]

In the video above, Bloomberg West speaks with 72andSunny’s partner and creative director Jason Norcross about the thinking behind some of Samsung’s latest campaigns. 

If there is one person qualified to discuss the state of Apple’s current marketing efforts, it’s Ken Segall. Working alongside Steve Jobs’ creative team for more than a decade, Segall, the man who put the “i” in iMac, served as creative director at ad agency TBWA\Chiat\Day. He created some of Apple’s most iconic ads such as the legendary Think Different campaign. Segall took some time on his Observatory blog today to share his thoughts on how “momentum has been lost” for Apple’s marketing department at the hands of none other than the company’s biggest rival, Samsung:

While you can still argue that Macs and i-devices have a ton of appeal, you can’t argue that Apple is still untouchable when it comes to advertising…The fact is, it is being touched — often and effectively — by none other than Samsung…Samsung has made remarkable inroads in a very short time, for two big reasons.

According to Segall, the two big reasons Samsung’s advertising has eclipsed Apple’s is due to Sammy’s massive advertising budget and willingness to “bash away at Apple, delivering ads that are well produced, well written and seem to be striking a nerve.” Specifically, Segall pointed to Samsung’s decision to run creative new ads at the Super Bowl and Oscars: 
Expand
Expanding
Close

WSJ: Google execs worried by Samsung’s success with Android

Site default logo image

Samsung-Galaxy-S3While Google might be happy with the mobile ad revenue Samsung brings in shipping roughly 40 percent of the devices running Android, The Wall Street Journal said Google execs worry behind closed doors that Samsung could use its dominance to renegotiate its cut of revenue from mobile ads and search:

Google executives worry that Samsung has become so big—the South Korean company sells about 40% of the gadgets that use Google’s Android software—that it could flex its muscle to renegotiate their arrangement and eat into Google’s lucrative mobile-ad business, people familiar with the matter said.

Citing its usual “people familiar with the matter,” WSJ claimed executives at Google are betting on companies like HTC and HP to release compelling Android devices that compete with Samsung. According to the report, Android chief Andy Rubin discussed the situation at a recent event for Google executives. He described Motorola as “a kind of insurance policy against a manufacturer such as Samsung gaining too much power over Android.”
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Bloomberg: Google in talks with labels to launch subscription music streaming service by Q3

Following a report from the Financial Times last week claiming Google is developing a free music service to compete with Spotify, Bloomberg reported today much of the same details citing “two people with knowledge of the situation.” According to the report from Bloomberg, Google is planning to launch the subscription-based music streaming service by the third quarter and it’s already in talks with record labels:

Negotiations are under way with major record labels to license their music, said the people, who sought anonymity because the talks are confidential. Google, which also owns the YouTube video website, is also discussing renewing deals that cover the use of songs in videos made by consumers, they said.

The report added that sources said the service would work on both Android and devices running another OS.

Site default logo image

Today only: Samsung’s 11.6-inch Chromebook (Wi-Fi) on sale for $239 + free shipping

Chromebook-Samsung-11.6

From 9to5toys.com (Twitter, Feed, Facebook), today:

Today only, eBay deals has the Wi-Fi variant of Samsung’s latest 11.6-inch Chromebook for the cheapest price we’ve seen at $239 + free shipping. We rarely see these Chromebooks go on sale, and, if you’re not going to pick up the new Chromebook Pixel, this is definitely the best value for your money in the Chromebook space.

Samsung Chromebook Wi-Fi 11.6″ 16GB Exynos 5 Dual 1.7GHz Notebook

Samsung and Visa announce deal to preload Visa payWave on future Samsung devices

Site default logo image

Olimpicshop

Samsung and Visa today announced a deal that would see future Samsung devices preloaded with the Visa payWave applet, allowing consumers to “wave and pay” through Visa’s contactless payment terminals. The Visa payWave service will of course only come preloaded on select Samsung devices, but rumor has it that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 will be the first to receive the functionality. While Samsung and Visa were showing off the technology with existing NFC-enabled devices at MWC this week, CNET and others have apparently confirmed through sources that the S4 will indeed be the first device to get the applet preloaded.

  • Global Strategic Alliance
    Visa and Samsung have agreed to work together to enable the next generation of Samsung mobile devices with Visa payment technology, and to partner with financial institutions to accelerate the availability of mobile payment solutions globally.
  • Samsung to Connect to Visa’s Mobile Provisioning Service
    In order to enable financial institutions to launch large scale mobile (NFC) payment programs, Samsung will offer banks the ability to load payment account information over-the-air to a secure chip embedded inSamsung devices, using Visa’s Mobile Provisioning Service3 which is linked to Samsung KMS (Key Management System) – a service that creates secure data storage domains for issuers.
  • Samsung Awarded Global Visa payWave License
    The Visa payWave mobile applet will be preloaded onto selected next-generation Samsung mobile devices featuring NFC technology and an embedded secure element. Off the shelf, these devices are ready to be personalized with Visa payment account information – a simple step that consumers will be able to initiate using a mobile payment application provided by their financial institution.

Visa also noted that the partnership, which isn’t exclusive with Samsung, will allow financial institutions with mobile payment programs to “use the Visa Mobile Provisioning Service to securely download payment account information to NFC-enabled Samsung devices.”

Expand
Expanding
Close

The year of the tablet phone continues with the 7-inch Asus Fonepad & new HD Padfone hybrid

Site default logo image

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TuMHScgnRUI#!

Following the official announcement of Samsung’s 8-inch Galaxy Note smartphone and tablet hybrid, Asus today made things official for its own 7-inch tablet with built-in 3G calling capabilities. We’re not exactly sure if consumers are asking for a 7-inch or larger device for making calls, but the addition of an HSPA+ radio is on top of otherwise decent specs compared to its competitors. Dubbed the FonePad, Asus said the device includes a 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 1,280-by-800 HD display, and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU. The Fonepad also packs a 4,270mAh battery that Asus said should bring around 9 hours of battery life.

As for availability, Asus said the Fonepad would arrive to customers in the U.K. sometime in late Q2 of this year with prices starting at £179 (inc VAT) for the 16GB variant.

The company also announced another phone/tablet hybrid today, the next-generation PadFone. Asus has released previous generations of the device including a smartphone and tablet dock that allows users to quickly switch from the tablet form factor to a smartphone. It announced it is upgrading the smartphone portion to a 5-inch, 1080p display, while the 10.1-inch tablet gets a new 1,920-by-1,200 display and upgraded internals (via Engadget):


Expand
Expanding
Close

The Chromebook Pixel is real: 12.85-inch Retina touch display, $1,299 for Wi-Fi, $1,449 for LTE — starts shipping next week

Site default logo image

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=j-XTpdDDXiU

Chromebook-PixelThe rumors were true: Google just announced the Chromebook Pixel. It’s a 12.85-inch touchscreen Chromebook with a 2,560-by-1,700 display that packs in “the highest pixel density (239 pixels per inch) of any laptop screen on the market today.” After a video of a touch-enabled Chrome Pixel went viral last month, the Wall Street Journal followed up with a report last night that claimed Google was working on bringing touch to Chromebooks.

The 3.35 lbs. Chromebook Pixel includes a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Processor, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4G of RAM, two USB ports, mini display port, 2-in-1 card reader, and a 32GB SSD. Google quoted up to 5 hours of active use for battery life. Of course, the main attraction is the display:

SCREEN
-12.85″ display with a 3:2 aspect ratio
-2560 x 1700, at 239 PPI
-400 nit screen
-178° extra-wide viewing angle

The Pixel has been engineered with the highest quality components to ensure it’s comfortable to use all day long and meets the needs of demanding power users. The body of the Pixel is made from an anodized aluminum alloy to create a smooth and durable surface; vents are hidden, screws are invisible and the stereo speakers are seamlessly tucked away beneath the backlit keyboard. The touchpad is made from etched glass, analyzed and honed using a laser microscope to ensure precise navigation. The Pixel also has powerful, full-range speakers for crisp sound, a 720p webcam for clear video, and a total of three microphones designed to cancel out surrounding noise.

Google said the Chromebook Pixel will be available to purchase starting today in the U.S. and U.K. from Google Play and soon through BestBuy’s online store. Google will sell a Wi-Fi only version for $1,299 U.S. and £1,049 U.K and a LTE model that will ship in April for $1,449. However, factoring in the free 1TB Google Drive cloud storage that Google is offering (for 3 years), the price comes down significantly for those who will want take advantage. Google normally charges $50 a month—or $600 a year—for 1TB.