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Grate Shopping Guide left me hungry (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Overview:

Grate is a shopping assistant app where you can scan product barcodes and have reviews and information shown to you along with Amazon reviews. \

Developer: Botond Kopacz

Cost: Free

Impressions:

Grate Shopping Guide is advertised as a handy shopping guide for you to use while food shopping. Simply scan the product barcode and up will pop a collection of reviews from users and Amazon about the product, letting you know how it is and if you should buy it. A handy app to have, especially if you may be shopping for something unfamiliar, so Grate is worth the download, right? I’d have to say definitely not right now.

My experience with Grate has been frustrating, to say the least, with the app crashing consistently and most of the features not working properly. The barcode scan works well, when it doesn’t force close the app, and brings up the correct item that I was scanning, but that’s about it. The settings don’t seem to open, and the other features like search also don’t work. Essentially, in it’s current state, the app is simply a barcode reader.

Grate is supposed to bring up both user reviews and, if applicable, Amazon reviews of the product you scan but neither come up. I suppose that part of the issue with that is that the user reviews are reliant on people actually using the app and reviewing the products. The Amazon reviews, on the other hand, just don’t show. I’ve checked the food I’ve scanned and all of them have reviews available on Amazon, so it must be an app-side issue.

Functionality-wise, Grate isn’t great either. The app consistently crashes after scanning, and won’t work until you close it completely and restart it. I get a few good scans before it fails each time. Nothing else in the app seems to work at all, settings and the individual tabs don’t work at all, just bringing me back to a blank screen. The only things that work are the sharing and review tabs for the app itself. Also, the camera interface isn’t fantastic as it lacks any focus or zoom features to help you get the barcode in frame better. I will say that the app can quickly decipher even poorly framed barcodes, or upside down ones as well, it took only a second or two to get the product page up. Overall, the app is just kind of broken.

I do have some positive things to say about Grate, however. Visuals in the app are nice, with material design and a nice, clean look. Also, the app is quick and responsive when I got it to actually work. There are also no ads to be seen, which is excellent for a free app. I do wish Grate offered a “shopping list” feature where you can save the items you scanned in a list, or make a list of products and let you search for them in the app’s review section.

Conclusion:

Conceptually, I like the idea of what Grate offers. It could potentially be pretty useful for people concerned about the products they buy, and could also be a handy shopping list app that also provides handy information about the goods on your list. Unfortunately it just doesn’t work much at all right now, and should be avoided until the developer has had a chance to address the issues in the app and make it functional again.

Download Grate Shopping Guide from the Google Play Store

Check out these fantastic deals on phones at Sprint

AndroidGuys
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Time to purchase a new smartphone? Is this an upgrade from an existing device? We want to help you out either way.

To save you money, we’ve gathered up all of the promotions we could find from Sprint. Regardless of where you’re thinking of going for service, or what phone you are looking to pick up, you owe it to yourself to check below.

What follows is a mix of phone, rate plan, and accessory promotions worth checking out. It might not be an exhaustive list, but it’s a good collection of what’s currently offered through Sprint.

Although we’ve listed known expiration dates, we have no idea how long some of these other deals will last.

Sprint Deals

The Two-Year Upgrade: Nexus 6

Donovan Jeska
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Released back in October of 2014, the Moto-made Nexus 6 is looking a little gray at the temples. It’s still a powerhouse, but if you still have a release-day model, you’re probably looking at the Google Pixel and drooling a little. While Pixel is the obvious upgrade, it doesn’t exactly conform to the pricing conventions that the Nexus line established.

Here are a few phones that do – at various, convenient price points.

Under $200: BLU Vivo 5R

BLU (Bold Like Us – cute.) is a company you may not have heard of; it’s an American manufacturer that’s cut its teeth on making solid phones at an extremely cheap price point. The Vivo 5R is the closest thing BLU comes to making a flagship device, and while it won’t blow any of the major phone-makers out of the water, at $199, it’s a steal.

[graphiq id=”bJXUijEKYkJ” title=”BLU Vivo 5R” width=”500″ height=”748″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/bJXUijEKYkJ” link_text=”Graphiq” ]

 Under $300: Moto G4 Plus

Motorola’s G-Series is one of the best values out there right now. When combined with the fact that Amazon sells a variation of the model with ads for cheaper, it becomes almost inexcusable to spend anything more than $300 on a decent phone. I bought my mother a G4 on Amazon’s Black Friday deal for $139. Honestly can’t beat that deal. The Plus is even better, and worth the $249 easily.

[graphiq id=”834QRccQ1Gl” title=”Motorola Moto G4 Plus” width=”500″ height=”748″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/834QRccQ1Gl” link_text=”Graphiq” ]

Under $500: OnePlus 3T

As I mentioned in my Showdown this weekend, the 3T is not only a damned good value, it’s a strong competitor when matched up against Google’s monster, the Pixel. With specifications that rival most flagships, very few weaknesses (the display is not as awesome as it could be, for example) and a Nexus-worthy pricetag ($439), OnePlus is the true successor to the Nexus Crown – not Pixel.

[graphiq id=”ewis3WY9DY9″ title=”OnePlus 3T” width=”500″ height=”748″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/ewis3WY9DY9″ link_text=”Graphiq” ]

 

Under $800: Google Pixel

Any upgrade guide would not be complete without Google’s latest-and-greatest. While Pixel may not be the high-spec, low-priced unicorn we all hoped and dreamed for, it still offers a number of exclusive features that the Nexus 6 doesn’t have – fingerprint gestures (and a fingerprint sensor, for that matter), unlimited photo storage, and a much improved camera mean that $649 should buy you two years before your next upgrade.

[graphiq id=”1xceTgxGyO1″ title=”Pixel” width=”500″ height=”748″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/1xceTgxGyO1″ link_text=”Graphiq” ]

Pandora makes a play for Spotify with upcoming Pandora Premium

AndroidGuys
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Music streaming service Pandora has unveiled its latest offering, an ad-free, an all-you-can-stream plan. Called Pandora Premium, it’s a $10 per month option which taps into millions of tracks.

If you thought Pandora already had a commercial-free option, you’re right. Pandora launched Pandora Plus, a $4.99 plan back in September. So what’s the difference? As it looks today, the Pandora Premium service will be much more aggressive in recommending tracks, particularly when a listener hits the end of an album or playlist.

The Pandora Premium relies on information collected by the Music Genome Project with roughly one billion data points per day. In other words, it’s super smart and ties music together in ways you cannot imagine. By doing so, it can understand and anticipate a listeners preferences.

Like the Pandora Plus plan, Pandora Premium includes unlimited skips and downloads for offline listening. Look for the new $10 plan to launch sometime early next year.

Samsung Galaxy S8 rumored to lack 3.5 headphone jack and home button

Alexandra Arici
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The rumor mill is on fire this week, spitting info nugget after info nugget about the upcoming Galaxy S8 flagship.

Yesterday, we told you the phone might be the first S phone in the lineup to arrive with Harman branded stereo speakers. Well here’s more rumors related to the supposedly ginormous phablet.

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According to info coming out of Sam Mobile, the Galaxy S8 will come without the standard 3.5 mm headphone jack just like the HTC Bolt, which means you will need a USB Type-C adapter in order to use your older headphones with the device. Samsung might provide one for free anyway with the Galaxy S8 bundle.

Removing the headphone jack will allow Samsung to make the phablet thinner, while also making more space for other internal parts like a larger battery.

galaxy-s

Moving along, a second report comes to deny earlier rumors claiming Samsung will use a 4K display for the Galaxy S8. It seems that Samsung will be sticking to 2K for now, however the Super AMOLED panel is going to see some qualitative improvements like consuming less power and longer service life.

The world’s first 4K smartphone was unveiled at IFA 2015 by Sony. However, it seems Samsung is not ready to jump on the same bandwagon just yet, probably due to costs.

We’re also told the Galaxy S8 won’t have a home button anymore, something which will probably please a lot of fans. The fingerprint sensor is said to come embedded within the display.

samsung-galaxy-note7-color-versions

Like anticipated, Samsung is trying really hard to make up for the Galaxy Note7 fiasco this year, so expect the Galaxy S8 to be quite reminiscent in looks to the departed phablet. Its screen-to-body ratio is expected to be quite high, as well. Xiaomi Mi MIX high? We’ll have to wait and see.

Other rumors regarding Samsung’s next flagship would have us believe the Galaxy S8 will come bundled with a virtual assistant like Siri or Cortana and a selfie camera with autofocus.

Five considerations to make when choosing running headphones (PROMOTED)

Guest Blogger
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Runners all have two things in common. One- they love to run and two – they need a great pair of headphones to use while they run. While there are several thousand brands, makes, and models of headphones on the market today, here are the five things you need to consider before you make your final choice.

Waterproof

Have you ever been out on a run and get caught in a sudden rainstorm? Or even more common, running yourself into a sweaty mess? This is why you will need to ensure your headphones are fully waterproof –not just water resistant.

Many headphones will label themselves as waterproof when in fact the smaller parts like the volume remote, inline mic, or connecting cables are not. If you are a dedicated outdoor runner or you end up sweating a lot, getting a pair of fully waterproof headphones are essential.

Durability

The durability of a pair of headphones is often overlooked by runners when in fact runners will often put more wear and tear into the overall use of the headphones. The last thing you need is your headphones not standing up against your day to day running routine. Invest in a well reputed brand of headphones that will be sure to outlast miles and miles of running.

Comfort

Comfortable headphones are vital for not only ear care, but so they do not distract you as you run with the constant adjusting and fiddling to get them to stay in place. Some runners prefer the low key look and feel of wearing earbuds, while others prefer the over-the-ear style. Both of these headphones styles provide different benefits, but you need to be aware of how they affect your hearing.

According to NBC News, earbuds will place the sound closer to your ears and increase the sound by at least 9 decibels. This can end up causing hearing loss and damage to the ears if used at high volumes for long periods of time.

In contrast, over-the-ear headphones will provide more comfort and they are safer for your ears. Yet, many runners do not like the bulkiness of this headphone style. According to Widex, over-the-ear headphones are best for your hearing and are available in two types: open and closed. Open will help to prevent the sound from getting to be too loud and closed will provide great external sound isolation.

Battery Life

If you end up considering a pair of wireless headphones, battery life is a factor you will need to think about. You don’t want to end up with having to charge your headphones each day just to go out for an hour run. Find a long lasting battery life within minimal charging needs, so you don’t end up running without any music.

Bluetooth vs No Bluetooth

Bluetooth headphones are very popular since they can connect with nearly any modern device. However, many runners prefer to run with non-Bluetooth headphones so they do not have to worry about the connection. Non-bluetooth headphones will also allow you to skip a song or skim through your playlist easier than a Bluetooth headphone would. At the same time, Bluetooth headphones can be connected to any Bluetooth accepting device- and this convenience is attractive for many.

plantronics-backbeat-fit-wireless-bluetooth-headphones

Now that you have these five factors to consider, you can make a more educated decision to find the best headphones for you and your running style. As we know, running just isn’t the same without your music or your favorite podcast and you’ll need a pair of stellar headphones to get you through your daily jog or sprint. In case you want to find more information, check out this headphones buyer’s guide for more insight on selecting the perfect headphones!

Which headphones do you love to take with you on your run and why?

Bio: Sarah is the Editor of Headphone Selection. She loves all sound technology and firmly believes in the power of positive music.

sarah

Fitbit acquisition expected to kill off the Pebble Time 2 and Pebble Core

Alexandra Arici
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A few days ago we told you fitness band maker Fitbit is looking to buy budget smartwatch maker, Pebble. Well a new report coming out of Bloomberg reveals more information about the ongoing acquisition.

According to the publication which talked to some sources familiar with the matter, Fitbit will be buying Pebble for less than $40 million. Back in March, Pebble was forced to lay off about 25% of its employees, but the Fitbit deal is said to ensure jobs for 40% of Pebble’s current staff, mostly software engineers.

pebble-2

We previously told you that if the acquisition goes through, Fitbit will be receiving Pebble’s intellectual property and software. The current report confirms this information, while revealing the deal doesn’t cover hardware at all.

Sadly, it seems that yet to be released Pebble products like the Pebble Time 2 and Pebble Core will be canceled with Kickstarter backers getting their money back.

pebble-core

We should note that the two wearables successfully completed their crowdfunding campaigns and together with the Pebble 2 raised up to $13 million on Kickstarter. The Pebble Time 2 and Pebble Core were expected to start shipping in January 2017, but unfortunately backers might do well to put the Pebble out of their minds forever.

The Pebble 2 is still up for grabs, but we don’t know for how long. So now is your chance to get your hands on one of the last remaining Pebble smartwatches.

pebble-core-2

Once the sale is finalized, Pebble engineers will relocate in Fitbit’s offices located in San Francisco.

The Fitbit acquisition is a product of decreasing sales in the wearable sector. Despite having a lot of choices, users seem to be shunning smartwatches and fitness bands. Bigger players in the industry like Motorola have acknowledged this fact, saying it makes no sense for them to release new Moto 360 each year.

Hopefully 2017 will be a better year for wearables.

Google adds 4K movies to Play Store

AndroidGuys
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The wait for 4K media on the Play Store is finally over! Earlier today, Google announced that it has begun offering a selection of 4K Ultra HD movies on the Google Play Store> Google says that all the 4K content will be using their proprietary encoding format, VP9, for the highest quality video viewing experience.

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Over 125 movies are now available on the Play Store including new hit films like The Secret Life of Pets, Star Trek Beyond and Ghostbusters (2016). They are only available for purchase, no renting yet unfortunately, and start at $29.99. Google has launched a promotion along with this update, if you purchase a Chromecast Ultra, you get your first 4K movie free.

Also, Google has launched Google Play Movies & TV on Daydream VR and select Samsung 2016 smart TVs, so there are even more platforms to view your content. Your current selection of viewing platforms for 4K content from Google is still limited to compatible smart TVs, set-top boxes and Chromecast Ultra.

As 4K continues to gain traction in the consumer market, we’ll likely see more movies enter the Google Play Store. EVen though it’s early days still, it’s nice to see Google accommodating people who have adopted UHD already into their homes. There’s no word if the movies available on Google Play offer HDR as well as 4K, but it’s most likely not available yet. Either way, if you’re a 4K TV or Chromecast Ultra owner, be sure to check out what’s available now on the Google Play Store.

Google hands out gifts to Project Fi subscribers via holiday-themed site

Alexandra Arici
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December is a great month to be a Google Project Fi subscriber. Why? Google just unleashed its World of Thanks site which invites current Project Fi users to participate in fun, winter-themed activities like creating greeting cards or snow globes.

What’s more, Google has hidden gifts that become accessible by clicking around the holiday-centric sanctuary. The search giant has sprinkled hints the bottom of the page to help users identify the location of the gifts. This week you can get $10 Google Play credit b clicking on the Christmas tree.

google-project-fi

After grabbing the free gift, users can continue to hang around and take part in the other activities suggested by Google. For example, Project Fi subscribers can get involved in a sort of treasure hunt which requires them to click around the screen in order to identify the hot areas and reveal the next big surprises. One of them has users take a selfie on a winter-themed background.

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Google is just getting started. In the following weeks of December, users will be treated with more games, trivia and hopefully more gifts. So be sure to check back each week, to see what else you can get your hands on.

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Two years ago, Project Fi users were treated with a super fun accessory bundle for the Nexus 6 which included a case, portable battery pack and headphones. Hopefully there’s more from where the $10 Play Store gift card came from.

What are you hoping for?

The Vorke Z1 is the Android TV streaming box you should consider picking up this holiday season

Matt Adams
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If you’re anything like us here at AndroidGuys.com, you’re always on the hunt for the next best thing. For a while now we’ve been looking at Android TV streaming boxes since they’re a nice way to add smart features to a dumb TV. And hey, $80 for a streaming box is a lot cheaper than buying an entirely new TV, right?

The Vorke Z1 on Geekbuying is one of best-spec’ed boxes I’ve seen yet. I can’t speak much for the processor, but is an 8-core chip so there is obviously some processing power there. There also happens to be a generous 3GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of storage. This honestly might even be overkill for what you would be using a streaming box for! That’s a crazy amount of RAM and storage. You should have no issues downloading some YouTube for offline watching or installing tons and tons of apps.

vorke-z1

I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. It streams in beautiful 4K and supports High Dynamic Range (HDR). Most 4K televisions these days, if not all of them, are all smart TVs, so why would you want to pick up the Vorke Z1 instead of using the onboard OS? One simple answer: Android! Using Android TV exposes you to an entire living and growing ecosystem of apps and games that most proprietary television operating systems won’t have.

As for ports, the back of the device houses a wired internet port, optical audio jack, an AV port, an HDMI port and power port. You’ll also find two USB ports and a micro SD card reader on the side. These are perfect for hooking up an external hard drive with movies on it and downloading an app like VLC from the Play Store.

It’s also nice having a micro SD card reader on the device so you can slip your card out of your phone and into the Vorke Z1 and quickly display video or pictures. Housing a card permanently in the slot can also improve upon the impressive onboard 32GB of storage. With as cheap as micro SD cards are these days, that’s a no-brainer.

vorke-z1-ports

If the Vorke Z1 isn’t exactly your speed, Geekbuying also offers some other options, namely the R Box Pro and the Xiaomi Mi 4K. Here’s how they stack up against each other:

vorke-rbox-mi4k

As you can see, all of the streamers can output 4K at 60 FPS and run on Android 6.0. The Vorke Z1 and R Box Pro have the important LAN port so you’re not completely dependent on your WiFi router to keep things running smoothly.

Where the Vorke Z1 stands out is the combination of 3GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of storage, which the other two devices cannot compete with. The R Box Pro and Mi 4K both have respectable specs that will probably get you by, but I believe due to the faster RAM and increased onboard storage, the Vorke Z1 will be more futureproof.

The Vorke Z1 is currently on sale for $74.99 until December 9 when the price jumps up to $89.99. As of December 15, the price will return to its normal $99.99 price, so if you’re thinking about picking one up, do so now.

If you’re interested in the R Box Pro, you can find it on Geekbuying for $79.99 for a limited time. Geekbuying also has the Xiaomi Mi Box 4K on sale for $78.99 for a limited time as well.

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