During this first part of the year, we have seen how Helio P10 has been a popular choice among the biggest brands, like Sony Xperia XA, HTC A9S, Oppo R9 and P9 PLUS, Meizu M3 Note, Meizu MAX and others.
In particular Oppo R9 and R9 PLUS have been absolute bestsellers in China this year. As for UMi a China smartphone maker maining target to Europe market, UMi Super and UMi Plus got success abroad.
Now, MTK is releasing the successor of the P10, the Helio P20, with an increase in frequency on the 8 Cortex A53 cores. The performance cluster is now clocked in at 2.3GHz instead of 2.0, with a 20% higher performance. On the GPU side, the Mali T860MP2 has been upgraded to a T880MP2 and clocks have been raised 200MHz to 900MHz, for a 25% upgrade over P10.
The multimedia blocks see some enhancement in their capabilities and can now decode and encode in 4K. The ISP has also seen upgrades and now has more processing power to support up to 24MP single cameras or 13+13MP dual cameras. Finally, the biggest news here is that the P20 is manufactured on a 16nm FinFET node, for lower power consumption and less heat.
P20 is a very recent SoC and for UMi it was possible to adopt it so early because the company has earned trust and confidence from MTK thanks to the quality of their last products, and therefore got chosen to be the first brand launching a phone with Helio P20, which we know has the codename of UMi Plus Extreme.
According to UMi official Facebook, which confirmed the news, it’s going to be an extremely upgraded version of UMi Plus, which is currently available for pre-order at their website for 179.99USD. As we said, It will feature Helio P20, being the first one ever to adopt it, but also a massive 6GB of RAM LPDDR4, Android 7, 64GB of internal storage and a price tag of 299.99$ as far as we know.
According to NASA, the Sun generates 386 billion megawatts of energy which is released as light and heat. The most powerful nuclear power plant in the US produces a meager 3,937 megawatts, where one megawatt powers about 1,000 homes. The point is the sun is a great source of free and powerful green energy. Not even nuclear power compares to the energy we fail to harness from the sun every single day.
Harnessing the Sun’s natural energy has become more mainstream and solar panels are now lightweight and efficient enough to power mobile devices. I’ve been using the dodocool Solar charger with a built-in 10000mAh battery pack and think it’s a solid option for those who sometimes need an alternative to wall outlets.
Build and Usage
The dodocool solar charger is mostly made of a durable ballistic nylon that folds up into a binder sized package. It has two solar panels that manage to draw in 12W of power with full sunlight and outputs the power in the form of dual USB ports at 2.1A (total). This solar charger from dodocool is one of a few with an actual built-in power bank, as many others that cost the same price or more simply have the charging panels with USB out ports.
Solar panel technology does not convert all of the sun’s power into electricity, and the dodocool charger converts it at 22% efficiency. That’s generally the norm even for home solar panels. 2.1A is certainly not enough power to charge Android devices at Quick Charge speeds, but it is fast enough to charge the entire battery bank in a full day of sunlight. Similar to home panels, if there are clouds or shade, the panels will not convert the sun’s power into electricity.
The dodocool solar charger is significantly better than those without power banks mainly because you do not need to leave your portable devices in full sunlight to charge. Leaving your smartphone, especially metal ones like those from HTC or Apple can turn your devices to scolding hot temperatures. That’s not good for your hands and it is definitely not good for the internal components.
With a kickstand built into the back, the dodocool solar charger can easily be left in direct sunlight without having to monitor it. There is also a cable that can be adjusted to stand the charger at an optimal angle.
On the corners of the charging panels are metal holes which can be used to attached to the rear side of backpacks. That’s a thoughtful design for those who love to hike or backpack in the back country where solar power is the only option.
The power bank is rated at 10000mAh which is enough power to charge most smartphone 2-3 times on a single charge. My Samsung Galaxy Note 7 took about an hour to charge from 5%-50% which three quarters of the power remaining. It’s not Quick Charge speed, but it is still fast enough to be highly functional.
You never know when you might run out of power, and having the sun as a viable option for mobile devices is one that wasn’t available to me just five years ago.
I live in San Diego where sun is plentiful, so consider your climate before purchasing a portable solar charger. If you live in northern climates that see more clouds than sun, it might not be a viable option of power for you.
Summary
What’s extremely nice about the dodocool Solar charger is the integrated 10000mAh power bank. The built-in battery allows users to store solar energy without having to leave devices directly in the sun to fry. It’s a great option for those who love the back country, or for those who want a source of back up power in case of power outages. Right now it is priced at $48.44 at Amazon with discount code 25ZW7E5F and is very affordable compared to the competition.
I leave my solar charger on my patio during the day to recharge, and then charge my smartphone and wireless headphones with it at night. It’s not a huge impact on energy consumption, but it is a good place to start. I will also be dragging it along on my annual camping trips as well to power my wireless speaker and other mobile devices.
Google’s event on October 4th is shaping up to be quite the show. Along with the debut of the Pixel and Pixel XL, rumors are pointing to the launch of Google Home as well as an updated Chromecast dubbed the Chromecast Ultra.
Unlike the standard Chromecast, the Ultra will stream 4K video and some have speculated it may come with HDR compatibility. Thanks to Evan Blass over at VentureBeat, we have our first glimpse at what this new Chromecast will look like.
Compared to last year’s Chromecast, the Chromecast Ultra has an almost identical body. The circular dongle with flat HDMI cable is a familiar sight, and it is nice to see they kept the magnet on the back for attaching the HDMI cable when not in use.
Looking at the top, you’ll notice that the Chrome logo has been taken away and the only branding present is the Google “G” logo. This makes sense as the beta builds for Chromecast firmware 1.21 also replaced all Chrome branding with the “G” logo.
Similarly, renderings of the upcoming Pixel phones show that they too have ditched all Nexus branding and feature the solitary “G” on the back. It appears that Google is now focusing on giving all its products identical branding to create more unity. Interestingly, Venture Beats claims that the Chromecast Ultra will be sold alongside the current Chromecast, but we wonder if Google will update that device as well to remove all Chrome branding.
With the price of 4K televisions constantly decreasing and the availability of 4K content from sites like YouTube and Netflix increasing, now is the perfect time for Google to release a device capable of streaming 4K content to your television. The price for the Chromecast Ultra is being rumored at $69 dollars, which is basically double the cost of the existing Chromecast. The main reasons for the extreme success of the Chromecast lineup have been its simplicity and low price, so we are interested to see how people will react to the higher priced version.
How does the Chromecast Ultra sound to you? Are you hyped for the Google event?
This week on “What We’re Streaming” we are featuring some more excellent TV shows and podcasts for you to check out. Don’t forget to let us know what you think about our choices!
Game Lab
“From the popular YouTube channel “”Game Theorists”” comes Game Lab, a YouTube Red exclusive show where preminent gaming YouTube personalities compete in real-life video game scenarios to see if they’re as good in real life as they are in the game, as well as seeing how close to reality video games are.
Host Matthew “”MatPat”” Patrick takes on games like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, and Rocket League in a fun and entertaining exploration of the science and real-world inspirations behind the most popular games we love to play.”
“For 25 years we’ve introduced top scientists to public radio listeners, and reminded them how much fun it is to learn something new. But we’re more than just a radio show. We produce award-winning digital videos, original web articles, and educational resources for teachers and informal educators. We like to say we’re brain fun, for curious people.
All of our work is independently produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the public’s access to science and scientific information. Public Radio International (PRI) distributes our radio show, which you can catch on public radio stations across the U.S.”
“A Marvel show originally airing on ABC, following the adventures of Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his team on super-heoric missions. Recent seasons have escalated the drama and added recognizable characters like Ghost Rider.
Although the first season stars out slow, it quickly picks up and has become a excellent Marvel property worth checking out.”
Returning again, for a second week! This show is wonderfully creepy and brilliantly directed. It pays homage to wonderful movies from the 80s like E. T. and the Goonies while adding dark themes from modern horror shows and movies. Very suspenseful and engaging from episode to episode. Watch one and you’ll probably be watching the entire offering.
Another week, another classic Rob Lowe show. This is a TV show about the people in the Parks and Recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana. Wonderfully funny and heartwarming, this “The Office”-esque droll comedy stars Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt and Aziz Ansari among others in a must see comedy series for anyone who loves some silly, droll humor about the day to day of small town politics.
Maybe not the most popular Star Trek series, Voyager definitely has a place in my heart. The premise of the series centers around a crew being swept away 70,000 light years into the Delta quadrant. Their journey home includes stories of loss, betrayal, adventure, personal growth, and triumph. Battles with old enemies and new keep the crew on their toes while they try to make it home.
Joe Rogan is a stand-up comedian and UFC fight fight announcer. He’s also one of the biggest podcasters in the world. The Joe Rogan Experience is a free form podcast that brings in guests of all walks of life. Occasionally Joe will do fight companions with friends and talk about UFC events. Joe has had comedians, politicians, astrophysists, and more on his show with many episodes breaking the 3 hour mark. If you love a conversation that may challenge the way you think, check out the Joe Rogan Experience.
New to Netflix, this documentary looks into separate, yet equally compelling stories about high school rape. Small town America is profiled in various ways through the stories of the survivors and those directly impacted by the case. What happens to students and athletes? What impact does social media play in helping or hurting? Most importantly, what lessons can be learned by exposing the truth? A fast-paced film at 95 minutes, the stories grab you and demand you pay attention.
When was the last time you watched Tom Cruise’s fiction and AI masterpiece movie, Minority Report and thought “Hmmm, wonder if I’ll be around to see that kind of technology?” Well according to Meron Gribetz, you just might.
Augmented reality (AR) Technology has been a topic of interest for a significant amount of time now. With the flood of Marvel and DC movies along with the archive of science fiction movies that continue to persuade us into the idea of a digitally phenomenal world of interactive technology, tech enthusiasts all over the world are asking the question “When will I get to have my own Jarvis Augmented reality?”(Iron Man reference).
Tech engineers are finally bringing a Jarvis like universe to life through two mind blowing concepts…”Augmented Reality (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR)”. In these arenas, 2016 is seeing a host of well anticipated releases of eyewear set to mark a new threshold for ultimate visual and interactive experiences.
Virtual Technology
Virtual Reality Technology has been in major discussions, not only among tech lovers but, a number of major industries, particularly because of the its ability to shift sporting, gaming, corporate and even learning experiences to a whole new level. Although the technology has been around since the 90s, it’s only in recent years that we have seen its remarkable potential which can actually take you into a 3 dimensional and interactive world with the use of sensory devices.
These computer generated virtual realities have turned video games like Defense Grid 2 and Eve Valkyrie into our reality. With a number of VR models already entering the scene, we thought you should know about some of the incredible things you can now do with a pair of VR specs on the market. Caution…This will blow your mind.
The Oculus Rift
The release of the long awaited Oculus Rift was received by its biggest fans, gamers, with glorious “It’s about time” chants. The Oculus Rift begun its journey in 2012 with the release of its virtual reality debut, the Oculus Rift Development Kit 1. The new and improved Oculus Rift brings gamers to a 1200 x 1080 resolution pumped with a 90 Hertz display to experience beyond-the-screen-gaming. The frontal lobe of the Oculus Rift is fitted with a set of advanced sensors that are all easily detected by the device’s camera to deliver spectacular visuals. The built on head-set delivers surround sound 360° audio and it is perfect for playing games and watching movies.
Sony PlayStation VR
If you build it, they will play, definitely a satisfying assurance by fans to gaming giant Sony PlayStation on the upcoming release of the Sony PlayStation VR. GameStop, an American video game, consumer electronics, and wireless services retailer, now in partnership with Sony, announced its fastest sellout in history when it put the PlayStation VR up for pre-order(within 5 minutes), proving that the device is one release we want to get our hands on ASAP.
Why? Because of what this powerful device promises to deliver. Sony’s explosive new device VR device that syncs well with the PlayStation 4. Set to be released on the 13th of October 2016, Tech Radar has dubbed it the most affordable introduction to quality to VR at just £350. The device stands out against competitors in design with a smooth and more rounded design with spectacular LED lights along the edges.
The resolution of the device sits at a spectacular 5.7 in OLED display with perfect HD resolution that delivers a whopping 960x1080p to each eye. The built in 3D surround sound audio and television broadcast capability enables friends to see what you are seeing. A particularly incredible stand out feature on the PlayStation VR will be the Cinematic mode that will mean that even content that isn’t made for VR will be VR enabled such as movies, photographs etc., a feature made with non-gamers in mind.
An Introduction to Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality is a concept that has had our eyes and ears glued to tech forums in anticipation of news on product release dates, prototype features or even insider updates on the potential of this intriguing concept. This particular technology introduces us to a host of advanced interactive experiences and a new kind of control.
Wearable technology has been the biggest introduction of AR and VR technology, particularly in the release of smart eyewear and headsets. Tech giants like Microsoft, Metavision and Osterhout Design Group(ODG) are actually succeeding in developing models of augmented reality glasses that have reached a significant milestone past their competitors- building peoples’ confidence in the potential AR. Here are some models that are actually leading the pack so far.
The R-7
In the expansion of the potential of AR technology, Osterhout Design Group has produced a set of AR glasses that come with a set of remarkable features for entertainment, navigation and medical assistance. The model runs on a Snapgragon 805 processor which, put in simple terms, is like having a tablet on your face. It comes with two 720p lenses (transparent lenses) of which both can be controlled separately to allow you to multi-task through different tasks.
The company recently joined forces with automobile giant BMW to craft a feature that would provide real-time, above-the-line safety and navigation information to drivers. Not only that but the model’s 3-D and clear resolution allows medical practitioners to analyze X-rays from a variety of angles. The glasses are run on Android operating system and come along with all of the fantastic features we’ve grown accustomed to in smartphones: We’re talking 5 megapixel camera, auto focusing, the list goes on. The jaw-dropping cinematic mode brings movies right into your living room and there are even plans of adding this 3-D tech to airline in-flight movies.
The Microsoft HoloLens
Perhaps the most anticipated release of 2016 is by the company that continues to lead its industry in turning innovation into reality, the Microsoft HoloLens. This long awaited release introduces us to unique kind of augmented reality…one that goes a little further…Holograms. Yes, the word does come up quite often in many of your favorite Sci-Fi movies, but now, you can experience them for yourself.
The Microsoft HoloLens introduced us to the future of computing at the start of 2015. The company released news on its $3000 price tag headset that had us all wondering what the big deal was about. Now, after hearing about what it will be able to do, we’re beginning to see just why.
The HoloLens is made up of two plastic layered rings, the outer ring that holds the lenses and the inner ring that comfortably wraps around your head. The aesthetically appealing device has a futuristic external structure, but what makes this bad boy a major deal are all the features that are packed into it.
The visual clarity of the camera is just the start of the HoloLen’s AR glory. The model is fitted with multiple cameras around it that are able to detect your body movement and your environment.
The powerful processor of the HoloLens projects images into the lenses which bends the light particles of the images and creates the virtual components for your eyes. This is what makes the HoloLens quite unique, you are able to see high definition 3-D models of objects that are clear to the point of appearing to be part of your surroundings. Not only that, but Microsoft engineers are working on a feature that will allow you to physically manipulate the structure of virtual components.
Picture being able to change structures, bend them, mould them or even build them from scratch all with the power of AR technology. Can things get better than this? Yes, Microsoft will develop a feature that will allow you to activate a lock on your hologram that keeps id in one position, enabling you to look at your structure from other angles.
The device is powered by both gesture and voice control and uses “spatial audio” which is certainly a feature to brag about. Spatial audio is a sound feature that creates the impression that sounds your hear are coming from sound sources placed anywhere in a space, and not just from the location of the speakers.
We are yet to hear word on the release date of the model, although a few demo sessions are being held to give fans a feel of the not so distant AR future.
What makes AR and VR different?
The major difference between virtual and augmented reality is quite fascinating. Augmented Reality brings 3-D graphics to life in the real world. The technology adds computer generated components in the form of sensations, holograms, digital images and spectacular graphics into your existing reality. Virtual Reality on the other hand is a more isolated but graphically intriguing technology in which you are visually transported to a virtual world. Currently, VR is quite ahead of AR in terms of resolution quality in video games, although AR is slowly but surely catching up.
In terms of devices, virtual reality has in most cases been applied to headsets or hand controllers or remotes that give you the power to closely interact with the virtual world around you. Augmented technology has not only been added to wearable devices but also to smartphones, iPads, tablets etc.
A great example of this is the recently released and viral Pokémon GO smartphone app that has had more than 21 million users daily, officially kicking Candy Crush (20 million daily users) off of the top spot. Pokémon GO has indeed shattered a bunch of records in its debut and with the continued upgrade of its augmented reality technology, it doesn’t look like users will be unPokémon GOing anytime soon.
The Similarity of AR and VR
These new age technologies are quite alike in their make-up in that they both use the same kinds of technology with the aim of delivering a new and improved experience. The technologies are increasingly being adapted to entertainment sources, that’s video game consoles, cinemas, theme park arcades and tons more. The goal of this adaptation is to shift entertainment beyond the screen and to create deeper interactions between you, the user and the entertainment of your choice.
Virtual reality and augmented reality are great examples of experiences and interactions fueled by the desire to become immersed in a simulated land for entertainment and play, or to add a new dimension of interaction between digital devices and the real world. Alone or blended together, they are undoubtedly opening up worlds-both real and virtual alike. Perhaps a little AR technology would do wonders for downloads of the already popularized dating app, Tinder, anything is possible with this kind of technology.
This article was contributed by Sophie U., Content Specialist at SmartBuyGlasses a leading E-commerce designer eyewear retailer. Read about their story here and for related articles, you can check out their Optical Center.
Last month, I posted about how I finally switched to Google Keyboard after years of using Fleksy. In the end, it came down to consistent updates and typing speed. Although several commenters supported my decision, many suggested other keyboards I should have switched to. One commenter suggested Chrooma Keyboard, which looks like a beefed-up version of Google Keyboard. I hadn’t considered Chrooma as a replacement then, but I decided that I might as well give it a chance. So let’s see if Chrooma can make me switch keyboards again!
Looks and Customization
Google Keyboard
Since Chrooma is based off of Google Keyboard, their appearances are extremely similar. In fact, I would wager that most would be hard pressed to tell them apart. They both share the same flat appearance with an almost identical button layout. However, the options for altering the looks vary greatly depending on which keyboard you choose.
Google Keyboard has basic options for customizing your keyboard. You can add or remove the border around the keys, choose from several preset themes, or use your own photo for the appearance of the keyboard. I found that most of the preset themes look nice and have a Material Design feel to them, which matches the keyboard design well. You can also change the height of the keyboard, toggle one-handed mode, and alter the layout of the letters. That is basically the end of the list when it comes to customizing Google Keyboard.
When it comes to Chrooma Keyboard, you have many more options. You can choose between three themes: color adaptive (changes color based on the app you’re in), fixed color, and AMOLED (a dark keyboard background for AMOLED displays). I personally prefer the color adaptive mode because it makes the keyboard appear like it is made for the app I’m using. That being said, I have run into a few bugs where the prediction row of the keyboard (very top) turns completely white in some apps making the text unreadable.
One of my favorite options in Chrooma has been Night Mode, which will darken the color of your keyboard when you are using your phone at night. This keeps you from being blinded if you are using a brightly colored keyboard. You can alter the layout of the buttons in Chrooma as well as add custom text to be displayed on the space bar. If you want to pay for the premium version of Chrooma, you can have access to some more customization options, but I stuck with the free version since Google Keyboard is also free. The paid version of Chrooma comes with options such as keyboard size, disabling the Action row, and further changing the keyboard look.
As you can tell, Chrooma definitely wins when it comes to the sheer amount of customization options available, but I was sad to see some options that are available on Google Keyboard only available in the paid version of Chrooma. Personally, I like to shrink the size of my keyboards to allow for more space on the screen, and I was disappointed that Chrooma didn’t include this option for free.
Features
Features are often the deciding factor when it comes to what keyboard people use, and I was fully prepared for the features in Chrooma to win me over. But let’s start with some of the features available in Google Keyboard. First off, Google Keyboard has the option for gesture typing, which is often called swiping-to-type. This feature can be enabled and disabled as well as slightly customized, and it was one of the main reasons I chose Google Keyboard as my Fleksy replacement. There is also a one-handed mode that you can enable or disable from the keyboard settings or the keyboard itself.
There are several gestures (not to be confused with gesture typing) that can help speed up your typing. By swiping to the left from the backspace button, you can delete entire words at a time, and for precise cursor movement, you can slide you finger along the space bar to move the cursor around. You can also quickly access the keyboard settings by holding down the comma key and swiping up. Just as with the customization options, Google Keyboard offers a nice selection of useful features but not as many as Chrooma does.
Jumping over to Chrooma, you’ll see that it also has support for gesture typing along with several options for customizing it to your liking. Moving on from that is the option to toggle one-handed mode than can also be enabled from the keyboard or in the settings. Although I do not use one-handed mode in either keyboard, Chrooma moves the keys much more than Google Keyboard does, and it looks like they are too close together. You can alter the amount that one-handed mode shrinks the keyboard, but you will need the Premium version of Chrooma.
My favorite features in Chrooma have to be all of the gestures available to you. Swiping left or right on the space bar will enable one-handed mode, swiping left from backspace will delete the previous word, and swiping up from backspace will delete all the text you have written. The most useful gesture for me was swiping up from the space bar to immediately search Google Now for whatever you typed. This was great for finding movie times without having to leave my messaging app.
Chrooma also has the feature for moving the cursor by sliding along the space bar, but it is taken a step further. After positioning the cursor, you can slide your finger halfway up the keyboard and then side to side to accurately highlight text. This makes deleting certain parts of messages much faster and easier.
As you can tell, Chrooma is demonstrating that it truly is a beefed-up version of Google Keyboard. While Google Keyboard includes some useful features, Chrooma takes those features and expounds upon them (although you will need to pay for access to all of them).
Typing Speed and Accuracy
These two categories are the main deciding factor for me when choosing a keyboard to use, and it was the original reason I switched to Google Keyboard. With all of the similarities between these two keyboards, I imagined that the typing experiences would be almost the same; however, I was completely wrong. I am not sure what it is about Chrooma, but throughout my time with it, my speed and accuracy never got close to what I was getting with Google Keyboard.
I found that Chrooma had a difficult time choosing the correct word when I was gesture typing. I changed settings around to try and get the best accuracy out of Chrooma that I could, but in the end, Google Keyboard is just a quicker and more accurate keyboard for me.
So what does that mean for my keyboard of choice? Personally, I am going to stick with Google Keyboard simply because it gives me the best speed and accuracy. Chrooma Keyboard is an incredible option for those looking for a stock keyboard experience with some extra flair, and it is obvious that people other than myself are great at typing on it due to the amount of fans it has.
If you are looking for a keyboard replacement, go check out Google Keyboard and Chrooma Keyboard because they are some of the best around.
With smartphones making up a huge portion of online commerce, every e-store in the world – if they haven’t already – must tailor their website for mobile users, not to mention for Google as well. When viewing a page on the small screen, a potential shopper who has to pinch and zoom, endlessly scroll left and right, and view page after page just to find what they’re after, you can essentially say goodbye to them ever returning to your site.
When you set up your e-store to begin with, ideally you would have used a package that automatically adapts your site to any sized screen (desktop, tablet, or smartphone), but if you’ve arrived late to the mobile game, fear not, there’s still time to get in on the action and adapt your website. Here’s how you can do it.
Time is money
If someone is using a mobile, it’s likely that they’re pressed for time or on-the- go. That means they want to find what they want as quickly as possible. This is no time for a mobile site to sing and dance, so keep the design simple and bring key information to the fore. Domino’s Pizza, for example, has a mobile site which simply contains the recognizable logo underneath images of pizza, and then features quick menu tabs such as’View Menu’, ‘Find a Store’, ‘Track My Order’, etc. Just give people what they’re after and don’t make them search.
White space
With the screen being smaller, it’s hugely jarring to see so much information all condensed onto the page and essentially fighting for your attention. Make sure any links or videos are spaced a good distance apart, not just to please the eyes, but some people may have large fingers that aren’t able to easily select one thing at a time.
Avoid pop-ups
With loading time on mobiles usually slightly slower than on a desktop, having to navigate between tabs will only add to load time, not to mention increasing the frustration of the user. Remember, hand them things on a silver platter.
Keep typing to a minimum
Users hate having to type-type- type on mobiles, so when there’s an option for them to simply click, let them have it. Online forms with a lot of boxes to fill out will be crushing to a mobile user, and likewise, having to copy and paste is frustrating. A ‘Click to Call’ button is always welcome.
Full site
Your mobile site is the stripped back, simple version of your page, so always make sure you tell the user that a full desktop version is available for viewing as well. Only on the full site is it better to add more info, as well as Flash and Java options.
It’s very commonplace for me to see people who move their single port chargers with them whenever they need a charge. Most people stick with the chargers that came with their phones or tablets, only to be forced to swap it out when another wireless device needs power. There are only two plugs per wall outlet, and single port chargers take up half of the plugs even though there’s more than enough power to supply multiple devices at the same time.
It’s time you consider upgrading to a multi-port charging station.
The verdict is in – UNITEK makes solid and reliable chargers. Two weeks ago I reviewed a massive 10-port charging station from UNITEK and since then my desk has been organized and much more pleasant to look at. I’ve been using UNITEK’s 60W 6-Port USB Smart Charging Station and have come to the conclusion that it offers great chargers at excellent prices.
Build and Usage
UNITEK’s 60W 6-Port USB Smart Charging Station has enough ports to satisfy even the most tech savvy consumer. Six ports is enough to charge a smartphone, tablet, wireless headphones, speaker, power bank and smartwatch all at the same time.
UNITEK’s 6-port charger has one Quick Charge 2.0 port for charging smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 at the fastest possible speed. No wireless accessories are capable of charging at QC 2.0 speeds so having more than one QC USB port would add unnecessary cost. This is a well thought out decision by UNITEK considering most people only have one smartphone capable of Quick Charge speeds.
The UNITEK charging station has five 2.4A charging ports with integrated smarts to take advantage of charging most devices at the maximum speed. iOS devices come to mind when I think of 2.4A as the maximum amount of power they can take at any given time.
The UNITEK 6-Port charging station is compact for its capability of charging six devices at simultaneously. It measures in at 4.5” L x 3″ W x 1.1″ thick. The Amazon description lists it at 6″ x 6″ x 3″, but that is a reference to the product packaging. I didn’t quite think this charging station was anywhere near as long or as wide as six inches, so I measured it myself with a calibrated set of digital calipers. The station is made of high quality plastic, which keeps it light weight at just .8 ounces.
There’s a small vent on the back for releasing heat when it is under full load. The front is where the six USB ports are located, and the one QC 2.0 port is clearly labeled and separated from the rest. It’s a simple yet effective charger.
One nice feature I came across is the built-in rotating stand. All other multi-port charging stations I have used in the past include a stand, but it is usually a separate piece that can easily be lost.
This kind of feature normally shouldn’t make news, but it shows UNITEK’s commitment to perfecting its products. The integrated stand is very effective at keeping the charging station upright and is a detail I appreciate. It simply proves to me that while others may consider it an afterthought, UNITEK does not, and that gives me even more confidence in the internals.
The QC 2.0 port is perfect for charging my Note 7 from 5%-50% in just over 30 minutes. It’s nice to have this feature when I am in need of quick power, although the other five ports suit me just fine 98% of the time.
Being so compact makes this a great travel companion, as the last thing I want to bring along is more than one charger. I can easily fit this into a laptop bag or backpack and set it on my hotel desk to recharge all of my devices at the same time.
Summary
It’s a fact that most of you have more than one wireless USB device. Rather than sticking with single USB chargers, upgrade to a multi-port version. UNITEK hooked up AndroidGuys’ readers with an exclusive discount code so you can grab it for just $16.99 at Amazon with discount code LQCABGRV at checkout.
You can search for multi-port charging stations on Amazon, but you have to be weary of low-quality versions. They have the potential to fry your devices. UNITEK sits on my desk and nightstand with its multi-port charging stations, and I wholeheartedly recommend both, especially at the prices they are listed for.
A couple of weeks ago I reviewed a smartphone mount for your automobile from GekoGrip. It was a modular magnetic vent mount that certainly met a high level of quality for a reasonable price. I can’t emphasize enough how dangerous it is to talk or text with your smartphone in your hand while driving. It’s against the law for a reason, and for your own sake you should obey the rules so you can make it safely no matter your destination.
I’ve switched out my vent mount from GekoGrip for its CD slot mount for those of you who prefer to keep your air vents free of distraction. The GekoGrip CD slot mount is a solid option for those of you who want to keep your windshield free of distraction while giving your antiquated CD players a whole new purpose.
Let’s check it out.
Design and Build
The GekoGip xM3 series modular magnetic CD slot car mount is just as its name describes – a cd slot mount designed to hold your smartphone in place while keeping you safe while driving. It’s designed to fit in the CD slot, without actually intruding into the CD player where the internals can be exposed to dust.
It has a solid plastic build, which minimizes the weight while offering high durability. There is a screw on the bottom which leverages the center piece of the mount to grip in between the top and bottom part of your CD slot.
When inserted into the slot and tightened down, the center piece moves several millimeters to position itself neatly in between the top and bottom of the slot. It doesn’t have unlimited range, meaning it won’t destroy your CD player no matter how tight you make it.
Once tightened, which takes a matter of seconds, you can see the Gecko shaped magnetic head in the front of the CD slot that protrudes about 2.5 inches giving you access to the buttons behind it.
If you still use CDs while you drive to listen to music, this isn’t the mount for you. You will always find yourself pulling it out to listen to a CD, but the reality is most people have gone away from compact disc technology.
I tend to prefer this mount style over windshield mounts, as the latter can create blindspots in your field of view. Depending on the state you live in, some windshield mounts might even be illegal due to that distraction. Or they may be limited by where you can actually mount them to a windshield, like the lower left hand corner of your window. Failure to comply with proper windshield mount placement can result in an expensive ticket, or worse an accident which you will be at fault for.
The GekoGrip CD slot mount offers two styles of magnetic attachment – one rectangular piece of metal for placing between your smartphone and its case, or the second is a very sticky circular disk for those of you who prefer to go case free. What I like about the rectangular metal piece for sandwiching between the case and phone is the ultra soft felt like material which prevents scratches on your phone.
The magnet is strong enough to hold up to 300g of weight, which is more than enough strength to hold up heavier phones like my Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (169g) in a BodyGuardz case. You’re also free to rotate your smartphone 360 degrees, giving you the freedom to position your device in whatever way you prefer. There’s a swivel too so passengers can turn the smartphone towards themselves if they want to help with the music selection or navigation.
I particularly like this mount mainly because it is placed where the auto manufacturer decided the safest place for the radio would be. It’s not too low or too high, which may seem like a small detail, but it helps me keep my eyes on the road at all times.
In a city like San Diego where we have millions of tourists each year who don’t always know where they are going, that little detail goes a long way in keeping me safe. It literally only takes seconds of taking your eyes off the road to get into a bad accident out here.
The magnet is the same as found on the vent mount I reviewed before, which is strong enough to keep my phone in place even with my bouncy off road suspension and pot hole riddled roads in San Diego. This mount is ultra convenient because I never have to tighten my phone down into a mount, instead I just stick it to the magnet and get on my way.
Summary
I am thoroughly impressed with GekoGrip’s CD slot mount. It’s built very well and will not damage your CD slot. The triangular magnet is strong enough to hold any of my smartphones in place while keeping my windshield free of blind spots.
Priced at $24.95 at Amazon, I can’t think of a more important investment in your safety for when you drive. Personally I don’t care if you get a ticket because if you are using a smartphone while driving you should consider yourself lucky. But I care about your safety first and foremost. $25 is a bargain if it prevents you from being injured or if it prevents you from injuring others. The stories of people crashing while driving distracted are real. There is absolutely no reason with today’s available accessories, for these accidents to occur. A death over a text message is just not worth it.
As we rely more on our mobile devices, accessories like the GekoGrip mount become even more important. If you don’t have a car mount, get one today. I highly recommend the GekoGrip xM3 Magnetic CD slot Car Mount where you can get it from Amazon with free Prime Shipping.
If you would like to read my review of the GekoGrip xM3 vent mount, check it out in the link below. Be smart and stay safe.
My parents have been using AT&T for almost three decades back when Bell South was still a thing on its own. They have used it for everything from home phone to internet and even cell phone service. They were convinced that bundling all of their services with one company was saving them money in the long run, and until recently, I assumed they were right.
In 2015, I found out just how much our phone plans were costing us and began searching for alternatives. Early this year, I finally convinced my parents to unbundle our phone plans with AT&T and move over to Cricket. They haven’t looked back since.
AT&T is basically the only provider that has good coverage where we live, and since my parents are used to that, I knew our replacement provider had to have nearly identical coverage. After pouring over coverage maps from ever provider and MVNO I could find, I heard that Cricket expanded its LTE coverage, and it was available in our area.
Success! I had found a wireless provider with exactly the same coverage as AT&T. But I had more hurdles to jump. I knew my dad wouldn’t want to switch unless the savings were good enough, and I knew nothing about Cricket’s pricing.
Thankfully, Cricket’s plan pricing is the most straightforward I have ever seen. The prices that you see are the prices that you pay, and best of all, there is no contract. Cricket has a plan for pretty much everyone and data limits range from 1GB/month all the way to 10/GB along with a new unlimited plan. When you go over your data limit, you can still use as much data as you want, but the speed drops from LTE to 2G speeds. If you need another gigabyte of LTE data, you can add one on for that month.
My favorite part of Cricket’s plans are the group discounts. For each line you add to an account (up to 4 extra lines) you can save $10, $20, $30, and $40 each month, respectively. For a family of four, that is a savings of $60 every month.
After I had all the numbers, I started on the math. We spent around $230 every month with AT&T for 10GB of shared data. With Cricket, I could get 10GB of data, my mom could get 5GB, and my dad and grandparents could get 2.5GB each for only $130 a month. That is literally double the data for almost half the price. I was convinced, and thankfully, my parents were, too.
Making The Switch
For someone like me who knew nothing about the process of switching carriers, Cricket made the process extremely simple. After purchasing some Cricket SIM cards at a local store, all that was left was paying off what we owed on the two phones we had financed through AT&T Next (which is a program I do not recommend signing up for). Ironically, this was the most difficult part of the entire switch.
We spent over an hour in our local AT&T store with a representative who was trying her best to get our phones paid off. Apparently, AT&T had to separate our wireless service from the rest of the bundle in order for us to pay off the phones. After a long wait and several calls to corporate, the friendly representative got everything squared away, and we were free to use our current phones with Cricket.
Cricket allows you to complete your entire switch and activation on its website, but since we were porting over our numbers, I decided to call customer assistance to avoid messing anything up. If you have ever worried about Cricket’s customer service, I can tell you right now it is one of the best I have ever encountered.
The woman I spoke to was extremely helpful and was able to get all four phones set up without any troubles at all. That was definitely a nice first impression of our new carrier. After that service call, our phones all had signal, and we were officially part of the Cricket Wireless family.
After the Switch
So how are we liking Cricket after using it for the past several months? We absolutely love it. The coverage in our area is just as good as it was on AT&T, and I actually have service now in areas I didn’t before. I just claim that as Cricket magic.
The only problem we have encountered happened a couple of months ago when Cricket’s service went offline. They had it back up and running within the day, and no one in my family has experienced any trouble since.
If it sounds like I am a total Cricket fanboy, I just might be. Cricket takes something that should be straightforward and simple (purchasing a phone plan) and actually makes it straightforward and simple. You see everything you pay for right up front, which means no hidden fees jacking up your final bill. If we ever need to change plans or add on features, all our plans can be managed from Cricket’s website or the MyCricket app on our phones.
When it comes time to upgrade our phones, the options are almost endless thanks to Cricket’s use of GSM connectivity. Great unlocked phones the OnePlus 3, IDOL 4S, or any of the Nexus (or Pixel) devices will work wonderfully with Cricket’s service. Although this is not different from AT&T (both use GSM), it is worth mentioning as unlocked phones are becoming more popular.
Although the initial switch was slightly expensive due to having to pay off the two phones we were financing, Cricket is saving my family more than $1200 dollars every year over AT&T and giving them more. This article is by no means meant to bash AT&T, but I believe that it along with the rest of the major carriers need to really think about their pricing.
Smaller MVNOs are picking up speed and providing the same plans for half the cost. If you are looking to cut the cost of your wireless plan, I wholeheartedly recommend that you take a look at what Cricket Wireless has to offer.
On the corners of the charging panels are metal holes which can be used to attached to the rear side of backpacks. That’s a thoughtful design for those who love to hike or backpack in the back country where solar power is the only option.
Features are often the deciding factor when it comes to what keyboard people use, and I was fully prepared for the features in Chrooma to win me over. But let’s start with some of the features available in Google Keyboard. First off, Google Keyboard has the option for gesture typing, which is often called swiping-to-type. This feature can be enabled and disabled as well as slightly customized, and it was one of the main reasons I chose Google Keyboard as my Fleksy replacement. There is also a one-handed mode that you can enable or disable from the keyboard settings or the keyboard itself.
My favorite features in Chrooma have to be all of the gestures available to you. Swiping left or right on the space bar will enable one-handed mode, swiping left from backspace will delete the previous word, and swiping up from backspace will delete all the text you have written. The most useful gesture for me was swiping up from the space bar to immediately search Google Now for whatever you typed. This was great for finding movie times without having to leave my messaging app.
AT&T is basically the only provider that has good coverage where we live, and since my parents are used to that, I knew our replacement provider had to have nearly identical coverage. After pouring over coverage maps from ever provider and MVNO I could find, I heard that 
