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The evolution of the Note Phone lineup: The phone that started the phablet craze.

AndroidGuys
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Cellphones have been through quite the transformation since the first commercially available one was introduced in 1983. It weighed one and three quarters pounds and was ten inches long. Needless to say it was big. Fast forward to 2007, Apple introduced the very first iPhone which launched us into a new era of electronic devices.

Since the smartphone became the norm, we have been looking for the perfect setup and size. There is a lot of debate in the big vs small conversation. Samsung has been one of the top companies in developing Android phones and continues to churn out phone after phone both big and small. In 2012, it became the first company to successfully market and sell the phablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note.

samsung phones

What defines a phablet? Wikipedia defines it as a class of smartphone with large screens that are intended to straddle the functionality of a traditional tablet with that of a phone. Typically they measure from 5.1″ to 6.99″. In other words, it’s a tablet in the form of a phone.

So far we have seen a total of seven Galaxy Note phones ranging in sizes 5.29″ to 5.7″. They all come with their trademark stylus pen used for note taking, which is where the name comes from. Between 2011 and 2013, over 50 million Notes had been sold. A new Note is right around the corner which makes it the perfect time to take a look back at the previous editions.

Samsung Galaxy Note-August 2012

Samsung-GALAXY-Note-LTE

  • Processor –Qualcomm APQ8060 Snapdragon S3
  • Display –5.29″ HD Super AMOLED (800 x 1280 pixels)
  • RAM –1 GB RAM
  • Camera –8MP main camera, 1080p video, and a 2MP front-facing camera
  • Battery –Removable Li-Ion 2500 mAh
  • Operating System –Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung Galaxy Note II-September 2012

samsung_galaxy_note_II

  • Processor –Exynos 4412 Quad
  • Display –5.5 inches” Super AMOLED (720 x 1280 pixels)
  • Memory –16/32/64 GB,
  • RAM –2 GB RAM
  • Camera –8MP main camera, 1080p video, 1.9MP front-facing camera
  • Battery –Removable Li-Ion 3100 mAh
  • Operating System –Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean

Samsung Galaxy Note 3-September 2013

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-3-3

  • Processor –Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, Exynos 5420 Octa
  • Display –5.7″ Super AMOLED (1080 x 1920 pixels)
  • Memory –16/32/64 GB
  • RAM –3 GB
  • Camera –13 MP main camera, 2160p video, 2 MP front-facing camera
  • Battery –Removable Li-Ion 3200 mAh
  • Operating System –Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo-February 2014

Note 3 neo

  • Processor –Exynos 5260 Hexa
  • Display –5.5″ Super AMOLED (720 x 1280 pixels)
  • Memory –16 GB
  • RAM – 2 GB
  • Camera –8MP main camera, 1080p video, 2MP front-facing camera
  • Battery –Removable Li-Ion 3100 mAh
  • Operating System –Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Samsung Galaxy Note 4-October 2014

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-4-Frosted-White-32GB-Verizon-Wireless-0-2

  • Processor –Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, Exynos 5433
  • Display –5.7″ Super AMOLED (1440 x 2560 pixels)
  • Memory –32 GB
  • RAM –3 GB
  • Camera –16MP main camera, 2160p video, 3.7MP front-facing camera
  • Battery –Removable Li-Ion 3220 mAh
  • Operating System –Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge- October 2014\

galaxy_note_edge_us_cellular

  • Processor –Qualcomm Snapdragon 805
  • Display –5.6″ Super AMOLED (1600 x 2560 pixels)
  • Memory –32/64 GB
  • RAM –3 GB
  • Camera –16MP main camera, 2160p video, 3.7MP front-facing camera
  • Battery –Removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh
  • Operating System –Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Samsung Galaxy Note 5-August 2015

note5

  • Processor –Exynos 7420 Octa
  • Display –5.7″ Super AMOLED (1440 x 2560 pixels)
  • Memory –32/64/128 GB
  • RAM –4 GB
  • Camera –16MP main camera, 2160p video, 5MP front-facing camera
  • Battery –Non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh
  • Operating System –Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

AT&T gives select Android phones this handy feature

Scott Webster
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AT&T on Wednesday announced it has started offering Wi-Fi Calling capability to Android phones. Starting immediately with the LG G4, the feature will roll out to other Android handsets in short order.

Wi-Fi Calling, which has been available for the iPhone for some time, lets customers make and receive calls and text messages over Wi-Fi connections. This is a handy option gives users excellent reception in places that might not otherwise work so well for the carrier.

To use Wi-Fi Calling, you’ll need:

  • A compatible device
  • A postpaid wireless account set-up for HD Voice
  • A Wi-Fi internet connection

A software update will roll out as other phones pick up the Wi-Fi Calling option. Once ready, the handset will notify the user that it’s ready to install. Wi-Fi calls are billed based on the phone number and customers who travel to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands can make free calls to other US phone numbers.

It’s damn time we got rid of the century old 3.5mm audio jack

Jason Botha
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It’s 2016. The world’s most iconic smartphone, Apple’s iPhone 7, is rumored to do away with the 3.5mm audio jack. Android manufacturers are already moving away from it. The Moto Z and 2016 LeEco range have been released without the traditional connection. What’s happening? In the technology sector, nothing can be granted immunity from aging and being discontinued. In fact, it’s inevitable for anything technological to not stay around for long.

137413-Lindy-Premium-5m-Male-Audio-Cable-smallNext to go is likely the standard headphone system that has been around since everyone can remember. It’s the standard that every manufacturer has in common – laptops, TV’s, phones, PlayStations, cars and everything in between utilizes it. And that is why nobody is happy that it might be leaving. It’s easy to use. We all use it. We’ll have to purchases new, more expensive equipment to fill the place of our hundreds of millions of depreciated headphones, speakers and related accessories.. The headphone jack works, and it works well. So why replace it?

Around 1878, the larger version of the audio plug came around. It has the same shape and uses the same technology in order to move audio around as the modern version.

Initially the this quarter-inch jack was used by operators in old-fashioned telephone switchboards, plugging and unplugging connections.

Telephone-switchboard-operators-in-WW-1957-2
Switchboard operators utilize the audio plug during World War 2

The plug and jack that we use today are basically smaller versions of this technology. Sure, they have improved and the technology that drives them are vastly different (and better). The jack used analog signals to transfer data and does exactly the same to this day. Using something in technology at present day that was created so far back literally makes it feel like an eternal solution. If we want to advance in technology, should we really carry on using a 19th century plug?

Take Zorloo’s digital earphones that we reviewed, for example. The earphones got rid of the standard connection and instead used the Micro-USB connection to transfer digital data that resulted in a sufficiently better overall audio quality. Because the charging port is capable of outputting power and your jack is not, this already favors the digital headset. The Micro-USB connection itself is being depreciated, and Zorloo has already started producing a USB Type-C version.

Digital-Earphone

We reached out to Mr Andy Ho, the co-founder of Zorloo, and asked him two questions:

1. What advantages does the digital connection have over the traditional method that made you swap over?

“I found that people spend money on expensive earphones but may not realize that their performance is limited by the DAC and amplifier in their phone system. By changing to Micro-USB interface, you have the option to replace the DAC and amplifier in your existing phone design as well.  This is like the switch from analog composite video to HDMI.“

2. Where do you think the digital connection is going to take us and what is going to happen to the traditional connection?

“Digital audio interface using Micro-USB (or USB-C) will move on to take over the analog phone jack given the inherit advantage being mentioned.  The last obstacle to solve is the simultaneous use and charge with a single connector.  (In fact, USB specifications support this configuration but just not too many manufacturers follow).”

There you have it: headphones like these greatly enhances our ability to make something bigger and better, and are just an example for the possible benefits of getting rid of the fossil-aged audio jack.

If we want to advance in technology, should we really carry on using a 19th century plug?

Removing the jack is also beneficial to your phone. Manufacturers won’t be obliged to set aside a reasonable chunk of precious space for something that can be done through the charging port. It’s a place where a better, more exciting component can be placed. It’s also one place less for water to leak in and one less component that can break down and need repairing. Phones can be thinner, have bigger screens and invest in that left-over space better.

You may ask why we should fix the standard if it’s not really broken. The connection works just fine, you say, and I totally agree that it does. But so does Micro-USB, that is slowly being replaced by USB Type-C. USB Type-C is taking over the older connection as it can transfer data faster, output more power and is generally better suited for daily life. Are we complaining about this transition?

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We could carry on using Micro-USB forever and simply write off what could be a better technology.

Secondly, what about the daily inconveniences? All those decrepit headsets that will go to waste, and adapters that will need to be bought, not to mention that you cannot charge your phone while listening to music (at least at present).  Let me put it like this: you have to lose something in order to gain something. You can either use Bluetooth headsets, or adapt. Countless phone manufacturers have sacrificed battery life for a thinner phone and consumers eventually adapted to it regardless of how much backlash they gave.

If Apple does indeed leave out the headphone jack in the iPhone 7, it’s almost certain that many others will follow suit. We could expect the standard to be almost gone from mobile devices within the next four to five years. Taking into consideration that the invention has been around since the 19th century, it is a miracle that it is still in use.

The fact remains that change is inevitable, and that your attitude towards embracing it is up to you.

Samsung Note Edge almost 2 years later: We should have known

AndroidGuys
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We aren’t going to go into great detail over the specs and the like. That has been covered to death and wouldn’t really be that helpful at this junction. What really counts is the user experience. Obviously, I can’t speak for every Edge user; I can only speak for me. But I’m willing to bet that most have the same opinion. It feels like we bought a doomed product from the get-go, and to be fair, we should have known.

photo courtesy of slashgear.com
photo courtesy of slashgear.com

Why do I say it was doomed? Well for one, where are all the great edge apps features like People Edge? Why did we get left out? Would it have killed Samsung to include that inside some kind of update or at least put it in the Samsung app store? There are many examples of this happening. But again, the Edge was an experiment and we should have known.

How about battery life? Or should I say, how many times a day do you plug in your phone to make it though? I have to plug in at least twice a day. That means I had to invest in a power bank to carry around me when I go to places without plugins. I did try and resolve the issue with Verizon, and they did send me a new phone. Of course, it didn’t help. I even got them to send me a new battery, and still, I’m getting 6 hours at a time which includes maybe one hour to one and a half hours of screen time. So, bad battery life and we should have known.

galaxy_note_edge_us_cellular

But at least Samsung is good about giving us those updates…right? Not so much. It seems they lag behind in getting updates to the carrier. To be fair, this isn’t just an Edge problem, and the carriers have partial responsibility in this, too. Currently, Android is taking name suggestions for Android N, and I’m over here just now getting Marshmallow. But…we should have known.

I’ve owned my phone since June of 2015 (the current one, the original I got in April of 2015), and it gets so slow and laggy. Its like a late 1990s teenager’s computer who has downloaded a bunch of virus loaded porn. I have had to reset my phone twice, about every six months, just to keep it running smooth. Meanwhile, my wife’s Note 4 was bought at the same time and still runs smoothly and has amazing battery life while I sit next to the plugin doing factory resets. But….I should have known.

 

Samsung surprised many with the intriguing design of the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

Why does this long list of complaints matter to you? You should expect more from a brand like Samsung. They are suppose to be one of the top phone manufacturers. This isn’t some small company taking a big swing. They can make a good phone, and sometimes they just choose not to for the sake of “here is a new phone”. Maybe if they cut back on making a lot of phones, they will make a few quality phones, or maybe take longer to release phones. instead of releasing one every year, release every two years. But I’m not holding my breath.

With all that being said, I have learned my lesson, no more experimental phones for this guy. With phones costing $800-$1000, it’s just not worth the risk. I will be going to either a cheaper phone, which is hard since I’m with Verizon, or the more stable and more likely to get upgraded phones like the regular Notes. In the end…I now know.

Koalasafe: Keep an eye on your kids habits. (Review)

AndroidGuys
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As parents, our number one concern is the safety of our children. That’s why we make them wear helmets against their will when riding a bike because we love them. What about the internet? There are lots of things we don’t want them to see yet just lurking around. Just one mistyped word and only God knows what will pop up.

Kids also run the risk of becoming addicted to the internet, which can be bad for social skills. Not knowing how to cope without it is a sign that they might be addicted. Parents can watch them as much as possible, but even we get busy and time could slip by us just like that. We need a bicycle helmet for the internet. That’s where Koalasafe’s $100 modem comes in.

In the box

  • Koalasafe modem
  • Network cable
  • USB Power Adapter
  • microUSB cable
  • Quickstart guide

Setup/App Features

Getting your new Koalasafe modem connected is so easy they only needed a small card to print the instructions on. Simply attach the ethernet cord to Koalasafe’s WAN ports and the other end into one of your router’s LAN ports.

Once that is finished, download the app and create an account. From there, you will pair your phone with the device, and you’re set to adjust the profiles. There is already one default profile for everyone that has options already set up. You can choose to use that one and alter the settings as you wish, or you can create individual profiles.

If you wish to create individual profiles, click the add button and begin. You will choose the profile name, age, and assign an icon for this profile. First, you will want to set up the schedule for each day of the week, which can be applied in any combination to any day of the week. You can even have multiple schedules in one day.

Next, you will go into App and Site Blocking to set your preferences. This includes categories ranging from file sharing, gaming, social media, video and more. They can be blocked, allowed or partially blocked. Partially blocked will automatically filter content based on age.

You then will want to set the devices that should be included in this profile. Koalasafe will pick up all the devices within its range, and you can choose which devices you wish to assign this profile. Once you select them, do a pull down on the device screen for a refresh to make sure they got assigned.

Click the Advanced tab to select your filtering security mode preference. You have the options of high, medium and low with medium being the default. After doing some research, you should know that if you wish for Netflix to run on this modem, low must be checked.

koalasafe4
Size in hand

Design and Build

Koalasafe is one tiny little modem for your tiny or big kid. Modem and router devices can take up a lot of valuable real estate. Depending on your setup, you may not have room for another device. Koalasafe measures in at just over two inches by two inches and a thickness of almost one inch. That means space is one less thing to worry about.

Usage Monitoring

This feature is one that could be used as an educational tool for your child. Instead of just snapping at them and telling them they spend too much time on the internet, (because they always think you’re exaggerating) you can show them how much time they are online and what sites they are visiting most.

koalasafe1
Ports

What it’s missing

While you can control Netflix and Youtube, it doesn’t seem to have the option for other services such as Hulu and Amazon Video. It even describes the video section in the App and Website blocking section as follows:

Sites and Apps that allow the uploading and sharing of video content such as Vimeo.com or Tv watching sites like Netflix.

Despite Vimeo being listed it in the description, it doesn’t allow you to block it or alter it in any way. I have searched the Koalasafe forums, and I don’t believe I’m missing anything. It should pick up on all apps the device has and allow you to block it.

koalasafe3
Another side view

What we love

We love the fact that the things Koalasafe does allow you to do are done well. After making sure Adult content was blocked, I searched the word porn and no bad results popped up. Along with adult content, it blocks VPN’s and proxies, violence, and more.

One nice feature is the big red button. Just click the status tab, click the red button, and the internet is instantly turned off. Also in that same tab, you can see the status of the internet.

The absolute best feature is the internet schedule. Coming home at midnight with my child still streaming while she is fast asleep gets annoying. Now, there is a set schedule, and she know what time it goes off. Of course, there are times when there should be a little give in what time it shuts off. To that end, Koalasafe allows you to extend time by however long you wish, and it will delay the cut off time.

Summary

Koalasafe is an effective tool to help in keeping your child safe on the web. While it is missing somethings that should be there, there is no reason to not buy this product. It will make your life a little bit easier…after everyone gets use to the new normal.

Buy from Koalasafe Website

Buy from Amazon

Download the app from the Play Store

Recolor: A pretty hobby at an expensive price (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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Every now and then, interesting trends come along in the Play Store. Coloring apps have been constantly rising in popularity, especially among parents who want their children to start exploring their imagination. However, there’s also an increasing market for coloring apps for adults. Recolor tries to capture this market by offering a simple, robust, and good-looking app with an impressive amount of pictures to choose from.

Developer: Sumoing

Price: Free, with in-app subscription model

Features

recolor interface
The app greets you with a beautiful interface.

The first thing you’ll notice is the absolute lack of setup needed to use the app. You just open Recolor, and you’re taking directly to the main screen. In a world where apps want to know as much details about us as possible, it’s a welcome decision by the developer.

In order to classify the hundreds of images available, the app shows a tab bar at the top with different categories. You can choose among different types, such as animals, fantasy, food (you’ll love food, we all love food), people, and scenery.

There’s something for everyone here, so I’m sure you’ll find pictures that cater to your needs. Also, options are updated every day, so the library will just keep growing as time passes by.

There’s also a banner at the top that shows a counter. See, almost all of the images mentioned above are blocked behind a subscription. So, for those of you who would like to paint at digital images for free, the developer gives away a couple of the images in the collection for one day only.

When the counter reaches zero, another set of images will be available for download. There’s also a “Free” category in which you can download some images without charge.

recolor paint interface
Coloring is easy and allows for precision through pinch-to-zoom.

Upon selecting an image, the app proceeds to download the necessary assets in order to start painting. You’ll get the image’s outline on a white canvas, and some colors at the bottom.

There’s four main categories from which you can choose colors: Palettes, Hues, Gradients and Custom. Under each of these categories, there are subcategories that contain the color themselves.

Special mention to the Palettes category, which offers colors that actually look good combined with each other, in order to prevent your images from looking like a clown’s outfit.

To paint, you can simply tap a section of the image. Obviously, this won’t be easy for more complicated images, so the app lets you zoom on it.

There’s also undo and redo buttons at the top, so you can experiment with confidence, knowing that your changes are not permanent.

When you’re done, the app lets you preview your image and change how your painting looks. You can leave it untouched, but you can also add effects like watercolor, crayon, woodwork, and pencil. Most of them look impressively good, so you may want to experiment a bit.

Finally, you can share your work to any app, but, surprisingly, you can’t save the picture to your device. Obviously, there are workarounds to this, but it’s a weird omission.

General Impressions

recolor filters
The app lets you add filters to your paintings.

The app is easy enough to use, thanks to the images being classified into categories. Also, the sheer amount of available images is impressive, and there’s the developer’s promise that new content will be added periodically.

The flexibility offered by the developer regarding the different amount of colors and gradients makes it a really robust app for those of you who are into this. There’s one weird oversight, though: there’s no eraser. Sure, you can undo changes, and you can always go back to a section and paint it white, but I feel like an eraser should be an option anyways.

Also, I believe that, even though there are a lot of images to choose from, there may be a moment where the user would want to step into its own imagination and just paint something. A white canvas for you to explore what users can do would be ideal. Since the app has the necessary tools already, it would be a great addition and give more value to the app.

Even though the app deals with heavy resources and constant image painting, it performs outstandingly well on my Nexus 6. Everything flows smoothly, even when designs start to get more complicated and there are more colors on-screen.

Changing between different styles after finishing painting up your images is smooth as silk, something many other apps struggle with. Obviously, your mileage may vary, depending on your setup.

recolor subscription
Yeah, those are the prices.

Let’s talk a bit about the subscription model I mentioned before. You can get an unlimited trial for one week. After that, you’ll be charged $2.24 a week. There’s also a monthly subscription for $6.75. If you are really into coloring apps, you can purchase a yearly subscription at a discounted price of $32.66.

Being an app developer myself, I know how expensive it can get to maintain an app, but if people wanted to burn Pushbullet’s HQ to the ground for charging $5 a month, then I can’t imagine what they’ll say about this. Anyways, it’s nice to have a trial in order to evaluate if the service is really worth it to you and then decide if you want to pony up.

User Interface

Being an app that deals with beautiful images and artistic designs, it would be a crime to present a bad-looking user interface. Fortunately, the developer did his homework and produced a stunning-looking app that blends nicely (for the most part) with material design.

The banner at the top disappears when you start scrolling the images, giving more space to appreciate the pictures.

The screen where you actually paint the picture focuses less on flashy elements and more on what’s important: your painting. It’s good that the developer added a shortcut to jump between color categories, since there are a lot of subcategories and scrolling between each of them would’ve been a hassle otherwise.

recolor options
Few options to choose from.

Nevertheless, there’s a lot of scrolling to do if you’re using different colors, especially on the Hues category. Imagine you want to paint an image with only red and black colors. They’re separated by seven pages worth of colors, and you need to scroll page by page in order to jump between them. There’s definitely room for improvement in that aspect.

Options

The developer clearly focused on giving users a good experience before, during, and after painting, and wants us to use the app as is, instead of providing options for the app. The only option available is to be reminded of new pictures every day.

Some options like deactivating picture categories would’ve been nice, as well as turning off some color packs. For example, I know I will never use a metallic gradient on one of my paintings, so I don’t need to scroll through them in order to get to the colors I actually use. A way to sort the color categories myself or define my favorite ones would be nice too.

What I like

  • Beautiful UI
  • Several color categories to make things easier to you
  • New content added constantly

Room for improvement

  • Subscription model has a steep price
  • More choice regarding available colors
  • Almost no options to setup the app to your liking

Conclusion

Recolor offers a wide range of images and several tools to make your paintings easy and satisfying. The business model proposed by the developer is something they should think about, since it might be expensive for a person looking for some minutes of fun once in a while. If you are into coloring apps, however, Recolor is a solid option that will keep you entertained.

Download and install Recolor from the Google Play Store.

Facebook adds SMS messages in Messenger for Android

AndroidGuys
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Facebook has now enabled SMS messaging in Messenger for Android. This is big because users no longer need to switch from their Facebook Messenger app in order to send a plain text message (SMS) to their friends or family.

13412124_970866686366345_3159009576146978431_o

Here’s how it works:

1. Open Messenger and tap on Settings (the person icon)
2. Select “SMS” from the list
3. Turn on “Default SMS app”

SMS messages will be displayed in purple, while Messenger conversations will be colored in blue. SMS in Messenger supports standard text, images, videos, and audio, but also rich content like stickers, emojis, and location sharing.

You’ll have to use regular Messenger to send GIFs, send money, make voice & video calls, and request transportation. The SMS feature is only available on Android, but your friends with iOS or Windows can still receive and send SMS messages with you.

 

Huawei moves into Best Buy stores with the wildly popular Honor 5X

AndroidGuys
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Announced back at CES 2016, Huawei made waves in the early part of 2016 with its consumer friendly priced Honor 5X Android smartphone. Starting today, the $199.99 “budget” Honor 5X is now available online at Best Buy, and will reach stores by June 19th so customers can see just how great the phone is for themselves.

Even though the 5X is priced at just $199.99, it comes loaded with specs and can hold its own against smartphones three times its price.

  • 5.5″ 1080p HD display
  • Metallic aluminum alloy body
  • High speed fingerprint reader
  • Octa core Snapdragon processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • Nano SIM, Micro SIM, and expandable memory slots
  • 13MP camera
  • 16GB Memory
  • 3000mAh battery

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The Honor 5X comes in Gold, Silver and Gray and is also available at www.bestbuy.com.

Sitewide sale at House of Marley: Save big just in time for Father’s Day

AndroidGuys
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Father’s Day is just a few days away on Sunday June 19th. In honor of all fathers across the country, House of Marley is offering a sitewide sale on everything at 20% off.

In a world of disposable electronics, the House of Marley bucks the trend by not only staying committed to delivering great products, but keeping the environment in mind while keeping a social conscious. Marley products are made with sustainable materials, including its classic REWIND material, canvas, recycled plastics, recyclable metals, bamboo and earth friendly certified wood. In addition to taking care of our only planet, the House of Marley also supports 1Love, a charity dedicated to supporting youth, planet and peace.

In order to take advantage of the site wide sale, go to www.houseofmarley.com, and use discount code DAD20 at checkout. From portable speakers to watches and bags, the House of Marley offers a wide range of products suitable for any father. Check out a few of our favorites below.

Chant Mini Portable audio system from $49.99 at House of Marley

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  • Bluetooth 4.1 + EDR, A2DP mono audio
  • 1 x 3W -1.5″ driver + passive radiator
  • Built-in microphone allows for use as speakerphone
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with up to 6 hours of wireless play
  • Blended bio-plastic, silicone and recyclable aluminum housings, bamboo trim ring, exclusive REWIND cloth wrap, carabineer clip

Get Together Bluetooth audio system from $199.99 at House of Marley

91MGCR6uqxL._SL1500_

  • Quick pairing to any Bluetooth device, with the option to auto reconnect to the last Bluetooth device used
  • Exclusive REWIND fabric covering, and bamboo front baffle and rear trim
  • Controls: Power, Volume, Bluetooth pairing/disconnect
  • 3.5mm stereo audio input for non-Bluetooth enabled audio devices
  • Powered by internal 8-hour lithium ion battery so you can bring your music on the go

Chant In-Ear headphones from $29.99 at House of Marley

711zh797MML._SL1500_

  • 8mm high-performance micro speaker
  • FSC certified wood rear housing
  • Recyclable aluminum front housing
  • Tangle-free, durable fabric cable
  • Recycled plastic strain relief
Liberate Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones from $149.99 at House of Marley 
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  • Bluetooth A2DP/APTX high-quality wireless audio performance, and 50mm dynamic moving coil drivers with neodymium magnets
  • Stainless steel tactical design, FSC certified wood
  • Soft ear cushions, and a durable braided, tangle-free cable
  • In-line microphone with one-button controller: Power, volume, tracking and multi-function play/pause/answer/end controls on right ear cup
  • Collapsible design to fit inside the included carry bag

808 CANZ review: Portable Bluetooth cylinder that packs a modest punch

AndroidGuys
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Up for review today is a dimunitve portable Bluetooth speaker from 808 Audio, the 808 CANZ. Shaped like a shrunken can of soda, this cylindrical unit is the sort of audio device you’d use in a study or on the back deck for podcasts. Not that it won’t work for music, but it’s not gonna pound out the tunes.

Initially launched a few years ago, the 808 CANZ are among the least expensive speakers of its kind – from a reputable name. Sure, you might find something cheaper at a gas station or from Amazon, but you’re rolling the dice on quality.

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The CANZ come in a variety of color options: red, blue, silver, black, and purple. Each has a metallic sheen on the outside with a black speaker grille on the top-facing speaker.

There are very few buttons to fuss with; a power switch is found on the underside of the speaker and a Bluetooth pairing button is near the bottom edge. Other than that, you’re looking at a charging indicator light, auxiliary input, and a miniUSB charging port. Speaking of the bottom, there’s a rubber coating that helps to keep the 808 CANZ in place. We found that, on most surfaces, the speaker stays put even with the most bouncy of music.

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Sadly, this one forces you to keep that outdated cable nearby. We’d like to have seen this refreshed with a microUSB port somewhere along the way. Dealbreaker? Not at all. Consider it more of a minor nuisance.

Pairing is quite simple in that you turn it on and push the dedicated pairing button. After a moment you’ll hear the speaker chime a distinct noise to indicate it’s connected to your phone or tablet. Alternatively, the 3.5mm jack lets listeners plug directly into the speaker. The former will use more of the 808’s battery than going the wired route.

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As expected, the 808 CANZ don’t pack a terribly powerful punch. Yes, it can get loud and fill a typical room, but at around 75 percent volume you’ll start to hear distortion. Spoken word, classical music, or relaxed and ambient music sounds excellent. Throw on some house music or hip hop, though, and the speaker struggles a smidge with the bass. Highs are very clear at all levels, but more ambitious music reminds you that you’re dealing with an ultra-portable speaker with a $25 price tag.

Battery life is listed at six hours per charge which is rather accurate in our findings. We didn’t have a problem getting through extended podcast listening sessions or using it for background music while reading. Charging is relatively quick; you’ll be ready to go before your phone is at 100 percent. Just don’t forget to pack that oddball cable.

808_canz_4One pain point we’ve come to find in some of these super portable speakers is the lack of volume or playback buttons. It’s not always convenient for us to fumble for the phone to pause a song. And, should you be plugged directly into the source, you might not want to stray too far. There’s not a quick way to mute or stop the music. But, given the price of the 808 CANZ, and its portability, we’re more than willing to forgive.

The 808 CANZ can be purchased at a variety of retailers including Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Best Buy, and Target. Pricing varies but you will likely end up under $20 if you look around.

 

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