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Setting up PayPal is just as easy as using it [How-To]

AndroidGuys
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If you have purchased anything on the internet in the last 5 years, it is likely that you have seen an icon for PayPal at least once. In case you don’t know, PayPal is an app that allows you to purchase securely online, without having to shell out your credit card information to a number of different sites. Just in time for your online Christmas shopping extravaganza, we are here to show you how to set up a PayPal account and protect yourself from some of the inherent risks of shopping online.

Prerequisites:

There are a couple things we assume are completed before starting this process

  1. You must have the PayPal app installed on your device.
  2. You must have some banking information you would like to add to your profile
    • Debit/Credit card or
    • Bank account information

Setup:

In my walkthroughs, I typically like to give you some screenshots to help you follow along. This one will unfortunately be lacking these images because PayPal has disabled screenshots due to the sensitive nature of the information the app houses. I count this as a positive since i am prone to accidentally sharing information i wasn’t intending to. That being said, the below steps will get you setup and securely spending money.

  1. Launch the PayPal app from your app tray
  2. Tap the “Sign Up” option in the lower left hand corner
  3. The app will ask you a few access questions, answer however you see fit for your personal use
    1. Can PayPal access your contact list
    2. Can PayPal access your location services
  4. Fill out the form with all your information. Make sure the email address you use is one that friends and family will recognize in case you are planning on sending or receiving money
  5. Once your account is created, it will ask you if you would like to add a bank account/Credit/Debit card.
    1. Adding Bank accounts will require the bank routing number and your account number
    2. Adding cards will require card number, exp date, and CVV number as well as billing address.

Once you successfully add some sort of financial information you are set to do your online shopping, worry free.

What apps do you use for money management/sharing? Any unique ways you like to use PayPal? Share your experiences below.

Homeopathy Remedy Finder – A quick and easy way to cure what ails you

AndroidGuys
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10

Homeopathic remedies are increasing in popularity as people are becoming more health conscious. My wife jumped on the bandwagon recently, which of course means I’m not far behind, and while I was not excited about it at first, it has improved my quality of life quite a bit and I’m totally on board now. One of the problems we have, however, is that since this is all new to us, there’s a whole new set of foods, herbs, and a whole new lifestyle to get adjusted to. Fortunately, Incredicure has come out with a great new app that helps out with finding remedies if you’re feeling under the weather. Let’s take a look at its features.

Developer: Incredicure
Cost: Free
Download: Google Play

Overview

A clean and straightforward design make this app a breeze to use
A clean and straightforward design make this app a breeze to use

Homeopathic Remedy Finder by Incredicure boasts itself as a quick and easy way to find natural remedies for a number of ailments, and it upholds that claim very well. There is no login procedure or sign up form to fill out. As you tap to open the app, you are brought to the main screen with a list of symptoms for you select. There are only 6 broad categories to choose from so you won’t be overwhelmed by hundreds of choices, and the categories do seem to cover most common problems. In my time using this app, I’ve suffered from cold symptoms and have had a lingering cough that’s been plaguing me. Fortunately, cold and cough are two of the six categories.

Homeosymptoms-part-2After you select your symptoms, the app asks you for some more information to further narrow down what your problems are. It’s this two-step approach that I found to be very inviting as I wasn’t overwhelmed by 18 different options for symptoms right off the bat. The clarifying options include pain in the throat, types of coughs, fever intensity, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, and digestive upset. Each of these options has three or four different common symptoms to choose from, such as a dry cough, wheezing, or a loose, rattling cough. The thoroughness of the breakdown provides a great sense of comfort as you are able to pinpoint exactly what problem you are having so that you can get the best treatment.

Your remedy is listed in a clear way with simple dosage and instructions on use. Some of the remedies do come with warnings which are listed in the instructions, so you will need to read carefully before taking anything, but the descriptions are not long or wordy and are written very clearly. I found the solution to my problems in just a matter of minutes with instructions I was able to understand and was on my way to feeling better in no time at all.

Any Questions?

Incredicure also has built an FAQ right into the app that answers a lot of questions that someone might have when starting homeopathic remedies for the first time. It covers basics such as what is homeopathy, are treatments safe, and even things like if homeopathy is so effective, why isn’t it popular. It’s a great reference if you are new to the world of homeopathic treatments or if you need clarification on anything. At the bottom of the app is also a contact button and a link to Incredicure website with even more information about homeopathy, so you have answers at your fingertips.

You've got questions? We've got answers.
You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

The Only Downside

The only thing I can really fault this app for is that it could include a few more symptoms, and perhaps a locator for a nearby homeopathy store or web links to a supplier. As I stated, I tried this out for my cough and cold symptoms, and I found exactly what I was looking for, but when my wife was complaining of a headache and I tried to input that, I found there was no headache option.

Also, since my wife is big into homeopathy these days, we have a few things around our house already, but when I was trying to find some of the remedies listed for certain ailments, I was at a loss because certain things are harder to come by in regular stores around us. A way to see stores nearby that carry homeopathy products would be helpful. Finding the remedies isn’t yet within the scope of the app, so I can’t really fault it for that, but I did find myself wondering what to do with my newly found information, so a point in the right direction, even if it was to their own online store or a partner site, would be a big step forward

Conclusion

Homeopathy can be a fantastic clean living treatment options for a number of ailments, and Homeopathy Remedy Finder by Incredicure provides a slick and easy way to quickly discover remedies for a number of common symptoms. In a matter of three or four taps, you’ll immediately have remedies available to you so you can be on your way to feeling better. While it doesn’t have everything that may ail you and you may have to hunt for a store that actually sells what’s recommended to you, this is a very good starting point for those who are interested in a more natural approach to treatments.

Best phones you can pick up at AT&T right now

Alexandra Arici
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0

Looking to grab a new phone this season and you’re unsure which carrier you should look towards? Why not check out AT&T’s line-up up? One of the biggest carriers in the US, the company offers a varied portfolio of both high-end and middle range devices, so you can easily find something suited to your specific set of needs.

Bellow you’ll find a list of the best smartphones you can pick up from AT&T depending on your budget. We’ll start off with the premium options:

Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

After the Galaxy Note7 demise, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge remain Samsung’s only premium high-end phones in 2016.

The two handsets offer top-of-the line specifications and are bound to get Android 7.0 Nougat anytime now. Here’s the full spec list:

Galaxy S7

Galaxy_S7_feat

  • 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,000mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Galaxy S7 edge

Galaxy_S7_Edge_Home_button

  • 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,600mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

At AT&T you can get the Galaxy S7 for $23/month with a 30 month installment plan or $694 in full. As for the Galaxy S7 edge it can be yours for $26/month with the same plan or $794 outright.

LG V20

Albeit being a phone packed with capable specs, the LG V20 hasn’t really managed to capture the attention of customers all that much, despite the company’s claims. A recent report claimed that there currently more active Galaxy Note7 units in the wild than LG V20 phones.

If you look at AT&T website, the Galaxy S7 edge has 6,495 consumer reviews, while the LG V20 only 156.

Anyway, the phone is quite capable and it could actually make for a worthy Note7 replacement. The V20 can be picked up from AT&T for $27/month with the 30 month installment plans or for $829 outright. As you can see the LG V20 is a bit more expensive than the Galaxy S7 or even Galaxy S7 edge. Here are its specs:

LG V20

v20_on

  • 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513 ppi
  • Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS LCD screen with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 16MP+8MP dual camera/5MP selfie camera
  • 3,200mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 7.0 Nougat

LG G5

LG is trying really hard to innovate, but for some reason users just won’t take to its products. It’s the case of the LG G5, which albeit being quite an interesting, modular device hasn’t become as popular as the Galaxy S7 or other phones.

Nevertheless, those who appreciate a more atypical phone will love the LG G5. AT&T offers it for $23/month with the 30-month paying plan or for $688 in full. Check out its specs:

LG G5

LG G5 2

  • 5.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 554 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 16MP+8MP dual camera/8MP selfie camera
  • 2,800 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active

This is a variation of the Galaxy S7, designed to be used by rugged users. The S7 Active is an AT&T exclusive that is shatter-, water- and dust-resistant. It can be purchased for $26/month on the 30-month installment plan or for $794 in full. Here’s what you can get:

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active

galaxy-s7-active

  • 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • 4,000 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Kyocera DuraForce PRO

Active users on a budget can get the Kyocera DuraForce PRO instead. The phone is available for $14/month for 30 months or for $419 outright. The phone combines rugged features with security and lifestyle to deliver a PRO experience.

Kyocera DuraForce PRO

kyocera duraforce pro

  • 5-inch with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 13MP/2MP camera combo
  • 3,240 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0. Marshmallow

LG K10

Even if LG is bound to unveil a new LG K10 next month at CES 2017, you can still pick up this year’s K10 if you’re looking for a really affordable device.

The K10 can be yours for $5/month for the next 30 months or $149 right off the bat.

LG K10

LG-K10-LTE-Philippines-Price-PH-Official-Android-6-Marshmallow

  • 5.3-inch with 1280 x 720 resolution, 441 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor
  • 1.5GB of RAM
  • 16GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 32GB)
  • 8MP/5MP camera combo
  • 2,300 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0. Marshmallow

T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy Buy One Get One promo available starting today (Dec 22)

Alexandra Arici
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1

Just in time for Christmas retailers and carriers are doing their best to attract your attention. Sprint is offer $325 in bill credits to users willing to activate their Pixel XL on its network and LG is hosting a giveaway which gives users the chance to win a LG V20 smartphone.

Well T-Mobile has something to offer too. Starting today (December 22) the carrier is making available its Samsung Galaxy Buy One Get One promotion.

T-Mobile

For a limited time (probably until the January 27) customers who activate or add a line on  qualifying rate plan and buy a Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ or Galaxy J7 can get a second device free of charge. T-Mobile will credit your bill over 24-months to cover the new device.

Users will be reimbursed for the second device once they redeem the offer via T-Mobile’s promo site using the promo code: HOLIDAYBOGO.

Samsung Galaxy S7

What are the requirements to be eligible to take advantage of the Samsung Buy One Get One promo? New customers need to activate both line on T-Mobile’s controversial ONE rate plan.

Existing T-Mobile customers with a Simple Choice Unlimited 4G LTE data line are required to add a second Simple Choice Unlimited plan. For existing customers on any other plans, the T-Mobile One is required for both devices.

 

LG is giving away free a V20, LG Sound 360 speaker, Tone headphones and more

Alexandra Arici
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0

LG wants to play Santa with you. Just before the Mister Klaus is scheduled to make an appearance LG writes:

“LG is making a list

It’s checking it twice

LG’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice.”

What’s going on here is that LG is trying to be cute where announcing a giveaway during which you stand a chance to win a free LG V20. While the high-end phone hasn’t been exactly well received by customers around the world, we can’t say we’d mind getting it for free. After all look at its specs:

lg-v20

  • 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513 ppi
  • Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS LCD screen with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 16MP+8MP dual camera/5MP selfie camera
  • 3,200mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 7.0 Nougat

Other prizes you can win include a LG G Pad X II 10.1 tablet, an LG Sound 360 speaker, Tone Bluetooth headphones and a second-gen Rolly Keyboard.

lg-g-pad-x-ii-10-1

What do you need to do to enter the competition? First of all you need to be 18+ and a legal resident of the US. Secondly you need to post a comment in reply to this Facebook post, filling in the banks in “Life is Good when….” Get creative!

Alternatively you can get on Twitter and retweet the LG’s Tweet in order to be eligible to receive one of the prizes.

Winners will be selected at random. Don’t forget you need to retweet or post a Facebook comment before November 23 at midnight (tomorrow). Good luck!

Sprint now gives you $325 back if you activate your Pixel XL on its network

Alexandra Arici
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0

As you probably know Verizon is the only carrier in the US officially selling the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. Other carriers have been left out in the cold by this exclusive deal between the two companies.

Even so, T-Mobile has managed to weasel itself into the Pixel game. Not by offering the Pixel per-se, but by wooing customers to activate their Pixel on its network in order to receive $325 in bill credit.

pixel-and-pixel-xl

But if for some reason you’re not really keen on doing business with the Magenta carrier, the good news is that Sprint now seems to be offering a similar option. According to people on Reddit, select users have been receiving emails from Sprint inviting them to bring their Pixel in for activation in order to get $325 back.

pixel_xl_camera_silver

However, there’s a caveat that you need to take into consideration. Sprint will not return half the Pixel’s worth.

The normal Pixel can be bought for $649 and up, while the Pixel XL starts at $769. Now here’s the catch. Only users who will activate a Pixel XL with Sprint will get $325 back, those who activate the Pixel will receive $240. The amount will be credited over the course of 24 months, so you won’t receive it in full, but $13.55/month for the Pixel XL and $10/month for the Pixel.

pixel_xl_silver_rear

If you haven’t received the said email, but still find the promo alluring you can go ahead and contact Sprint support to see if the promo is available in your region, because it seems to be targeted.

The promotion is available only until the end of the month, meaning December 31 so if you are interested in activating your Pixel at Sprint, you best hurry up!

Xiaomi’s tiny Mi S with 4.6-inch display surfaces, has Snapdragon 821, 4GB of RAM

Alexandra Arici
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1

Remember the days when small sized smartphones were popular? Today most people would purchase a smartphone with a 5.5-inch display or above without blinking. But some device manufacturers have continued to slip tiny handsets into their portfolio.

Remember the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact which was released in 2015? The phone arrived with a 4.7-inch display with 720p resolution and a Snapdragon 810 processor plus 2GB of RAM. The phone was a middle-to-upper ranger, but if you wouldn’t mind buying a small phone with more advanced specs, Xiaomi could be offering you something soon.

sony-xperia-z5-compact
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

According to Android Pure, the up and coming Chinese device maker is reportedly prepping new device dubbed the Mi S.

The phone is set to arrive with a smallish 4.6-inch display, but unlike the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact it will offer the benefits of 1080p resolution with 600-nit brightness.

The Mi S might be tiny, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a powerful device. If rumors are correct, the phone will rely on a Snapdragon 821 for power in combination with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internals storage.

huge-xiaomi-mi-mix
The huge Xiaomi Mi MIX with 6.4-inch display

In the photography department, the Mi S is expected to pack a 12MP main camera with Sony IMX378 sensor with f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, 4K video recording and dual-LED flash plus a 4MP selfie snapper.

The phone will rely on a pretty hefty 2,600 mAah battery, given its size. Other specs include USB Type-C and a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button. We have to assume the device will be released with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

No pricing info was revealed, but we see the Xiaomi Mi S being priced for a competitive price, around the $200 margin.

Would you buy such a small phone, if the rumor turns out to be true and the Mi S is indeed slated for release?

LG affordable Nougat phones, new LG Stylus 3 headed for CES 2017

Alexandra Arici
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0

Like many other top smartphone manufacturers LG is coming to CES 2017 to show off a few new products. Getting a little excited? Don’t be. It turns out the leaks we’ve been seeing recently are all true and LG will unveil a bunch of mid-range products in Las Vegas.

So nothing too exciting. Surely we do love a decently specced phone that sells at an affordable price, but as we argued before – Chinese smartphone makers offer plenty in this segment. We were honestly expecting something more interesting from LG.

LG_LOGO

Anyway, LG says the mid-range segment is heating up and that’s why the company has prepared three new handsets from the K lineup designed to cater to the different needs of customers.

The first one is the K10 (which T-Mobile will sell as the K20 Plus) which is set to make a debut with a fingerprint scanner on board, metallic U-frame, 7.9mm body and a 2.5D Arc Glass design. Here’s the rest of the specs:

LG K10

lg-k10

  • 5.3-inch display with 1280 x 720 resolution
  • Octa-core MediaTek MT6750 chipset clocked at 1.5GHz
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB or 32GB of internal storage (microSD card to expand up to 2TB)
  • 13MP/5MP camera combo
  • 2,800 mAh battery
  • Android 7.0 Nougat
  • Black/Titan/Gold

As you can see the K10 offers nothing out of the ordinary. Its main selling point might be it’s one of the first affordable Nougat devices to make it out into the world. But LG will also unveil the K8, K4 and K3. Here’s what to expect.

LG K8

lg-k8

  • 5-inch display with 1280 x 720 resolution
  • Quad-core Snapdragon 425 chipset clocked at 1.4GHz
  • 1.5GB of RAM
  • 16GB of internal storage (microSD card to expand up to 32TB)
  • 13MP/5MP camera combo
  • 2,800 mAh battery (removable)
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • Android 7.0 Nougat
  • Silver/Titan/Dark Blue/Gold

LG K4

lg-k4

  • 5-inch display with 854 x 480 resolution
  • Quad-core Snapdragon 210 chipset clocked at 1.1GHz
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 8GB of internal storage (microSD card to expand up to 32TB)
  • 5MP/5MP camera combo
  • 2,500 mAh battery (removable)
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
  • Titan/Black

LG K3

lg-k3

  • 4.5-inch display with 854 x 480 resolution
  • Quad-core Snapdragon 210 chipset clocked at 1.1GHz
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 8GB of internal storage (microSD card to expand up to 32TB)
  • 5MP/2MP camera combo
  • 2,100 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
  • Black

For those who love the whole phablet + pen arrangement, LG will also unveil the third-gen Stylus 3 model. The device comes equipped with a 1.8mm diameter fiber-tip stylus that lets you write just like you’d be using a traditional pen with paper. Here’s what to expect

LG Stylus 3

lg-stylus-3

  • 7-inch display with 1280 x 720 resolution
  • Octa-core MediaTek MT6750 chipset clocked at 1.5GHz
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 16GB of internal storage (microSD card to expand up to 2TB)
  • 13MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,200 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 7.0 Nougat
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • Metallic Titan/Pink Gold

There you have it, that’s what you can expect from LG at CES 2017. Nothing mind-blowing, but if you crave an affordable device, LG’s new set of phones might appeal to you. The company hasn’t shared prices with us just yet, so we can only speculate. For example, at lunch earlier this year the LG Stylus 2 was priced at around $220 so this year’s Stylus might feature a similar price-tag.

Tech gift guide: Fitness and health gadget edition

Alexandra Arici
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0

Most of us have desk bound jobs which would have us sitting for hours on a chair to complete a task. That’s why more and more people are hitting the gym or parks after work, in a bit to counter this static life style.

Tech makers have picked up this trend and are looking to encourage people to stay healthy by tempting them with a myriad of fitness gadgets, designed to help them achieve their fitness goals.

If you too have a friend or a family member who’s hooked on sports and you still haven’t picked up a gift for him or her, here’s a few ideas that might be worth taking into consideration.

Fitbit Charge 2

01-fitbit-charge-2 Fitness trackers are the most common category of fitness-centric gadgets. The Fitbit Charge 2 is one of the best health tracking wearables out there. It comes with a spacious screen that is capable of displaying notifications and is riddled with sensors.

That’s why the Fitbit Charge 2 can provide you with things like a cardiovascular rating based on your VO2 Max and Relax – a collection of short breathing exercises designed to help lower blood pressure, reduce stress and lessen anxiety. The Fitbit Charge 2 is rain and splash proof and can be acquired for $128 a pop.

Relief Band

02-reliefband

While most wrist bound wearables are used to count steps and track sleep cycles, the Relief Band servers a more atypical purpose.

The device aims to combat nausea and vomiting. People are affected by nausea for different reason including plane or car rides, boating, VR gaming or morning sickness and the Relief Band takes it upon itself to relieve these symptoms. The gadget uses a highly specific waveform, frequency and intensity to stimulate the median nerve on the underside of the wrist in order to block the waves of nausea coming from the stomach.

It might sound a bit Sci-Fi, but you can actually get this gizmo from Amazon for $80 a pop.

Footboot Indoor Air Quality Monitor

03-footboot-indoor-air-quality-monitor

Does your loved one suffer from allergies? Then the Footboot Indoor Air Quality Monitor might be a life saver for them. The device is capable of assessing air quality inside the home or office. It will send real time alerts when it detect an excess of dust, pollution or too much moisture.

Footboot will play nice with other smart devices around the house, so the monitor can turn on by itself smart ventilation system or an air purifier. You can order it for $199.

Sportiiii Sports Feedback

04-sportiiii-sports-feedback

The Sportiiii Sports Feedback is a device that can be attached to any pair of glasses. The real-time performance device delivers feedback on fitness activity, without having users take their eyes off the road.

Feedback on current heart rate, cadence, speed and energy output is delivered using colored LEDs and audio prompts. The mobile app companion can be used to set training goals daily. The gadget ships out to interested parties for $249.

Withings Smart Body Analyzer

05-withings-smart-body-analyzer

For those trying to loose weight or keep themselves at certain proportions, having scales at their disposal is of absolute importance. But Withings doesn’t believe the traditional scales can provide enough information.

Enter the Withings Smart Body Analyzer – a smart scales of sorts capable of measuring heart rate, body fat and ambient temperature and air quality. The body analyzer quickly connects to Wi-Fi in order to push all relevant data to the dedicated phone app. The smart Withings scale is available for $127.

SunFriend Grey Mist Sun/UV Monitor

06-sunfriend-grey-mist-sun-uv-monitor

Why not give a gift this year that could help protect your loved one against terrible diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s. This wearable will let wearers known how much sun they are getting each day. It’s best used before sunscreen or covering up with clothes.

The tracker reads UV exposure through clouds and from reflective surfaces and will let you know when you have had enough of vitamin D for one day. The monitor can be bought for a discounted $24.99 (previously $49.99).

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

07-samsung-gear-s3

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is one of the best smartwatches out there, which also comes packed with a host of fitness options.

Samsung’s dedicated fitness app, S Health can automatically detect certain workouts and start tracking them. Users can win rewards or badges for meeting or exceeding targets and even use the wearable to monitor how much water of caffeinated drinks you’re consuming.

But the Gear S3 Frontier offers more functionality than your average fitness tracker. For example it can let you play games or listen to music. Oh and the rotating bezel is a super fun way to control the watch. Buy the smartwatch for $299.

Sen.se Mother

08-sen-se-mother

The Mother is a fitness-related gadget for those with a passion for robots. The device acts like  hub, inviting users to connect Motion cookies (four are included in the package) – which are small sensors that can be programmed to track a variety of things including how much activity or sleep members of the household get or whether grandpa took his medication.

The Sen.se Mother can be bought for $200 from Amazon.

Bose SoundSport Bluetooth Earbuds

09-bose-soundsport-bluetooth-earbuds

If your friend of family member likes to listen to music while working out, the Bose SoundSport Bluetooth Earbuds can be the perfect companion. The earbuds deliver great audio quality and won’t disconnect no matter how much you move round. What’s more they can work with Google Now and are sold for an affordable $149.

Muse Brain Sensing Headband

10-muse-brain-sensing-headband

Muse is a companion for those who love to meditate. The brain fitness tool measures brain signals via 7 calibrated sensors – 2 on the forehead, 2 behind the ears plus 3 reference sensors.

After you put on the headband and start meditating, Muse will provide you with feedback about your meditation session in real time, by translating brain signals into the sounds of wind. After each session, Muse will then show you how your brain did from moment to moment via easy to understand graphs and charts in-app. Muse sells for $249.

Make your Chromecast even more powerful with these few steps – Right from your phone! [How-To]

Matt Adams
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0

Google has completely changed the game with the Chromecast. Gone are the days where you’d need to download a file on your computer, connect an HDMI cable from your TV to your computer, hit play, and hope everything works correctly. Now, we have the Chromecast which makes life infinitely easier, if you know how to leverage its power to your advantage. Today we’re going to give you a couple different methods for increasing Chromecast’s usefulness.

Kodi

If you don’t know what Kodi is, it’s defined as the following:

Kodi is a free and open-source media player software application developed by the XBMC Foundation, a non-profit technology consortium.

-Wikipedia

Basically, Kodi is a front-end for all of your media. It takes all the media you own and presents it in an easy to find fashion. The customization and add-ons for Kodi are extremely powerful, and while we’re not going to get into those today, I highly suggest you check them out if you are interested in taking up this project.

Why Kodi? Kodi is going to allow us to stream our local media to our Chromecast while using the Kodi front-end. No digging through file folders and search bars, Kodi just works (when it works). It’s like a Netflix for your own local library.

There are a couple different ways to set up Kodi to interface with your Chromecast, but we’re going to follow the method that is easiest on your battery and offers the most flexibility.

  1. Download and install Solid Explorer File Manager, Kodi, and LocalCast
  2. Download and save PlayerFactoryCore.xml
  3. Open up the Kodi app and connect it with your existing Kodi network from your computer
  4. Open Solid Explorer, Navigate to Downloads, and COPY PlayerFactoryCore.xml
  5. In Solid Explorer, navigate to Storage > Emulated > 0 Android > obb> org.xbmc.kodi > userdata then paste PlayerFactoryCore.xml
  6. Open Kodi and select your media file
  7. LocalCast will launch, press play, then select your Chromecast
  8. Click play one more time

Allcast

This is a great solution for those of us who have a large media library on a home PC. If you’re more comfortable with downloading or storing media directly on your phone, we have Allcast to accomplish the same goals. Here are a few easy steps to streaming media directly from your phone.

  1. Download Allcast
  2. Save files onto your phone’s local storage or a microSD card
  3. Open Allcast with your WiFi on and select your Chromecast
  4. Click on the file you want to cast
  5. Enjoy

I use Allcast often but sometimes run into downloaded files playing without audio. I have no idea why or which codec it can’t handle, but that may be something to consider. The free version of Allcast (which I’ve linked above) has a five-minute viewing limit for pictures and videos, which is a perfect amount of time to find out if you like the app. If you want to proceed, you can grab the premium version here.

Just a note here, we’re not encouraging you to download movies or TV shows illegally. We consider ourselves content creators here at AndroidGuys and it sucks when our content is stolen and repackaged on other sites (not naming names). If you do decide to torrent a movie and enjoy it, please make the effort to purchase it to support something you’ve enjoyed.

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