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Rock your 4th of July Party with these awesome Bluetooth Speakers

AndroidGuys
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With the 4th of July around the corner, you may find yourself going to the beach, or having a nice Bar-B-Q. But there is one thing that really makes these events great. Music. It gets people in a great mood, they sing, they laugh, and they dance. But what should you use? A great Bluetooth speaker is a great way to start.

There are many different brands you can choose from and not all brands are created the same. You can go with a big well-known name in audio like Bose. Have you ever heard of Libertone or FUGOO? There is a good chance you haven’t.

With hundreds of brands to choose from, it can take you days to find the right speaker. Battery life, build quality, price, and most importantly, sound quality are all major factors when picking from the best wireless speakers.

Well luckily we have created a nice list of 10 amazing speakers to get you party rocking and your guest having the best time of their lives…as long as your ribs are good too.

 

Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II $179 at Best Buy and Amazon

Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II

  • Big sound–with deep bass–for a full-range listening experience
  • Wireless and ultra-compact so you can take Bose sound anywhere
  • Built-in speakerphone lets you take calls out loud
  • Voice prompts talk you through Bluetooth pairing, so it’s super easy
  • Lithium-ion battery plays up to 10 hours on full charge

FUGOO Style $149 on B&H, Amazon $179 on Bass Pro Shop

Fugoo Style

  • Elegant Style model is snow proof, sand proof, and waterproof to 3 feet for 30 minutes
  • Built-in microphone for full-duplex speakerphone, Siri, and Google Now capability
  • Six drivers on four sides for a 360-degree sweet spot and incredible 95dB SPL-A volume
  • World’s Best battery life: 40 hours at 50% loudness

Libratone ZIPP $299 on Amazon

Libratone

  • AMAZING SOUND: Deep bass, full midrange, crisp highs, 100-watts of power, and 360° FullRoom acoustics
  • PAIR UP TO 6 ZIPPS: Experience immersive sound in one room or multiple rooms (or outside!) — it is so cool!
  • STREAMS ALL APPS NATIVELY: Plays all audio and video apps directly from your mobile device–no proprietary app needed like other wireless speakers
  • WiFi AND BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY: Also supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay (iOS) and DLNA (Android)
  • TRULY WIRELESS: 10+ hour rechargeable battery–unlike other speakers that require AC power–convenient carrying handle, intuitive touch-control interface, speakerphone, and easy to use App

JBL Charge 2+  $119 on JBL, $110 on Amazon

JBL Charge 2

  • Splashproof Design
  • Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
  • 6000mAH Rechargeable Battery
  • Social Mode

Owlee AVIARY $129 on Amazon

Owlee Aviary

  • Full Range POWERFUL SOUND with 360° SOUNDSTAGEâ„¢Technology, DUAL PASSIVE
  • BASS RADIATORS, 22W POWER OUTPUT and 8+ HOURS of Continuous Playtime
  • 30 FEET WIRELESS RANGE, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC connectivity, compatible with ALL
  • APPLE AND ANDROID PHONES AND TABLETS as well as all Bluetooth and NFC enabled devices, can also stream music via a 3.5mm aux jack
  • Hands-Free HD MICROPHONE for Calling, Supports Siri, Android Voice and S Voice as well as all voice command operated calling and messaging applications on Apple, Android and
  • All Other Voice Activated Digital Tablets and Devices
  • 360° SOUNDSTAGEâ„¢ Technology with DSP DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING delivers a Powerful and Luxurious effect you can expect to get from high end HOME THEATER systems, resulting in a Portable Powerful Sound Effect
  • STYLISH ACCENTS, SLEEK and MODERN. TOUCH VOLUME CONTORLS with LED indicators that make it easy and practical to use in low light environments, complemented with high quality TANGLE-FREE Nylon Braided Cables. This Powerful Quality Speaker is perfectly suited for the HOME and OFFICE, STUDIO and BAR, GAME ROOM or any other place you want to experience Quality Luxurious sound in a stylish and relaxed setting

SHARKK BEAST $199 on Amazon

Sharkk Beast

  • This BEAST of a bluetooth speaker come with ADVANCE MAXXBASS TECHNOLOGY. Exactly as that sounds, this wireless speaker will have ridiculously killer bass for a portable speaker this size
  • POWERBANK SPEAKER This speaker has a 4400mAh Power Bank External Battery Charger making this the perfect outdoor speaker or home audo speaker for any occasion
  • Additional features on the perfect audio speaker include Siri and S-Voice support, Hands free calling with microphone, LED Power / Charging Status indicator, and LED button back lights activated by thermal sensor
  • Specifications for the beast wireless speaker: Lithium battery capacity: 11.1V / 4400mAh, Charging Voltage: 15V, Battery voltage: 11.1V, Audio Cable: 3.5mm
  • Package Includes: Sharkk Beast portable bluetooth speaker, Audio Cable, Power Adapter, and User Manual

Grain Audio PWS.01 $249 on Grain Audio, $210 on Amazon

Grain Audio

  • Bluetooth 3.0+A2DP with aptX and AAC technology
  • Award-winning sound processing by Waves recipient of a Technical GRAMMY award
  • 2 x 2″ proprietary loudspeakers
  • Proprietary passive radiator; Patented Bass Isolation system
  • FSC Certified Walnut with hand-applied oil finish

House of Marley Get Together Speaker $199 on House of Marley, $149 on Amazon

House of Marley

  • 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

Samsung Level Box $79 on Samsung, $54 on Amazon

Samsung Level Box

  • Compact Size
  • Streams audio wirelessly from any Bluetooth device
  • Easy NFC pairing
  • Optimized Speakerphone functionality
  • Up to 15+ hours of playback on a single charge

Harman Kardon One Portable Bluetooth Speaker $99 on Best Buy, $93 on Amazon

Harman Kardon One Portable

  • Wirelessly stream high-quality sound from your smartphone or tablet
  • Take calls from your speaker with a touch of a button – crystal clear thanks to the noise and echo cancelling speakerphone
  • Rechargeable 2,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery provides sustained power for extended listening
  • HTC Connect technology quickly connects your compatible device for music streaming.
  • Enjoy robust audio wherever you go. Lightweight design offers easy portability

Vifa Helsinki Hi-Resolution Bluetooth Speaker $471 on New Egg, $449 on Amazon

Vifa Helsinki

  • Bluetooth 4.0 aptX / Lithium Ion battery
  • Force Balanced Woofers / Digital pure path amplifier
  • DSP crossover optimized for low distortion and high precision
  • Short leather strap / Aux 3.5mm mini-jack cable / One piece diecast aluminum frame
  • Polycarbonate enclosure / Custom-made Kvadrat textile grill

B&O PLAY by BANG & OLUFSEN $399 on BO Play 

B&O Play

  • A powerful portable wireless speaker with True360 sound from B&O PLAY by Bang & Olufsen
  • Well-balanced sound profile featuring a rich bass that can fill any room our outdoor space
  • B&O PLAY products come with a 2-year limited warranty only when purchased from an authorized dealer including Amazon.com (indicated by ships from and sold by Amazon.com).
  • Up to 24 hours battery life on a single charge; removable leather strap for portability
  • Connects via Bluetooth or 3.5mm stereo cable
  • Remembers up to 8 users and can play from 2 devices at a time

[Review] ZeroLemon SolarJuice 20,000mAh power bank + Giveaway

Andrew Orr
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I guess I’ve become somewhat of a power bank connoisseur lately. The Blitzwolf 10,000mAh power bank has remained my favorite thus far, but can ZeroLemon’s rugged offering topple the Blitzwolf from its pedestal? Let’s find out.

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed about this beast is the weight. Although the website notes that it’s only 483g (1.06 lbs), it feels more like two pounds. Keep this in mind on your next backpacking trip. While it packs a lot of power into a portable unit, and is able to charge with solar power, it is heavy and you might have to literally weigh the options if you have a weight limit.

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The power bank features a USB 1.0 port, one USB 2.0 port and one microUSB input port. Kind of disappointing to have a USB 1.0 port on a device, but hopefully this battery will get upgraded over time.

Features

  • Capacity: 20000mAh /74Wh Grade A Lithium Polymer battery
  • Input: Micro USB 5V 2A
  • Solar Charger: 5V 200mA(max)
  • Output1: 5V/1A (Max)
  • Output2: 5V/2.1A (Max)
  • Battery Indicator: 4 Led indicators for power level (0–25%–50%–75%–100%)
  • Dimensions: 160 x 85 x 25.8mm (L x W x T)
  • Weight: 483±10g (1.06 lbs)

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The battery is rated as anti-explosion with over a thousand recharge cycles over its lifetime. The solar panel features monocrystalline silicon cells, which have the highest efficiency rates due to being made with the highest-grade silicon.  These solar panels are also space efficient and have the longest life of other solar panels, with most manufacturers putting a 25-year warranty on monocrystalline solar panels.

Usage

The power bank is also rain resistant, dirtproof and shockproof, so it can handle camping trips and hiking with ease. Speaking of camping, this battery also has an LED light in the front, so you can use it as a flashlight. Just long press the button for a second, and the LED will light up.

Charging the battery with the solar panel takes about eight hours, so remember to leave it out in the early morning to catch those rays all day. Charging from a standard power outlet takes roughly half that time at four hours. Nevertheless, the solar panel definitely gives it an advantage over other power banks.

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Like other power banks, it automatically turns itself off when you unplug your phone or tablet, so you don’t have to worry, wondering if you remembered to turn it off. The power bank also has a carabiner, to hang it from a tree or the outside of your backpack.

Conclusion

If you’re an outdoorsy person and constantly going on camping trips and hiking excursions, I highly recommend this battery. It will serve you well. For the non-outdoors among us, I still recommend it for the whopping 20,000mAh capacity.

You can buy the power bank on Amazon for $39.99. (Affiliate Link).

Giveaway

ZeroLemon is partnering with AndroidGuys to offer a giveaway! Here are the rules:

  1. Go to Facebook and “like” ZeroLemon’s page
  2. Come back to this article and post a screenshot in the comments to prove that you “liked” it.

That’s it! The contest will run for a week, and end on June 21, 2016, so enter now! The winner will be picked randomly.

 

OnePlus 3 announced with a whopping 6GB RAM

Josiah Ward
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0

Today, in true OnePlus fashion, the OnePlus 3 was announced through its Loop VR platform. After a virtual tour of the “space office”, which saw you going through the Dash Charge Station, the Smart Capture Studio, and the Design Lab, we got our first glimpse on the new flagship. In each lab, as you looked around, you collected loop badges, and once you had all three, you could go back and purchase your OnePlus 3 for $399.

OnePlus Three
OnePlus Three

Considering that the $300-$400 space is getting increasingly competitive you might hope for OnePlus to debut a pretty impressive unit. That it does; the OnePlus 3 is an outright behemoth that packs the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with an unheard of 6GB RAM.

Here’s what the 2016 Flagship Killer brings to the table, as announced at the unveiling:

  • 5.5″ FHD Optic AMOLED screen
  • Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 3000 mAh battery with Dash Charge technology
  • 64GB non-expandable storage
  • 6GB LPDDR4 RAM
  • 16MP rear camera with OIS
  • 8MP front camera with Smile Capture, which allows you to take selfies with only a smile
  • 7.35 mm metal Unibody
  • Dual-SIM
  • NFC
  • OxygenOS based on Marshmallow 6.0.1

You can purchase your Oneplus 3 starting later today or immediately through the Loop VR app. It will be available in either Graphite or Soft Gold colors. The OnePlus 3 will be available on oneplus.net for USD $399, EUR 399 and GBP 309. To help kick off the new phone, OnePlus is hosting a number of pop up stores in New York, London, Paris and Berlin on June 15, 2016. If you’re interested in seeing the new monster, you’re advised to swing by and check it out.

T-Mobile updates Binge On to include more streaming providers

Andrew Orr
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0

T-Mobile has just announced the sixth update to its Binge On program, and now has more than 90 streaming providers on its streaming service.

New streaming providers include Azubu, Dailymotion Games, Eyegroove, PBS, PBS Kids and gaming streams like League of Legends and Hearthstone. In addition, video providers include a broader range of video categories: Anime, Broadcast Networks, Gaming, Human Interest/News, Kids & Cartoons, Music & Concerts, Premium Content, Religion, Spanish Language, Sports and User Generated Content.

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Features of Un-carrier Data

  • With Un-carrier Data, you can stream without fear. With Binge On and Music Freedom, you can chill to your favorite tunes and shows, without stressing about burning through your high-speed data.
  • Un-carrier Data gets stashed. Unlike carrier data, your unused high-speed Un-carrier data won’t suddenly vanish after a month or two, up to 20 GB gets stashed for use for up to a year.
  • Un-carrier Data knows no borders. Whether you’re in the US or traveling abroad, T-Mobile’s got your back, allowing you to access your Un-carrier Data in over 140 countries and destinations without fear of penalties or access fees.
  • Un-carrier Data is blazing-fast and in more places than ever.  T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is the fastest in the US for more than two years, as tested by millions of users in crowd-sourced, real-time tests. And just last year, we added more than 1 million square miles of coverage, so T-Mobile’s LTE coverage now reaches nearly every single American – 309 million people.

T-Mobile customers have binged more than 500 million hours of video on twice the amount of participating providers. Additionally, if you have a favorite video provider that isn’t part of Binge On, you can tweet @TMobile and use the hashtag #BingeOn and mention your favorite service.

So far, T-Mobile is unique in that it is the only carrier that provides binging services. While AT&T has created a program to “thank” its customers, it doesn’t allow you to stream unlimited video and data.

Android apps and mobile gaming

AndroidGuys
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Gaming on mobiles is starting to become the preferred choice when it comes to online casinos. The convenience brought on by having the ability to play anywhere you are, as long as you have an internet connection, is hardly matched.

For that reason, the industry has started to navigate towards improving the mobile experience. We’re seeing mobile bonuses, mobile apps and casinos optimized across all screens.

The gaming community is mainly split between iOS or Android, but most casinos would rather optimize their website itself, rather than create multiple standalone apps.

We’ll single out a few apps from casinos and sportsbook that went the extra mile, and created a unique Android experience through a standalone app that can be enjoyed at any time.

We assume that most of you wouldn’t want to wait 20 seconds to be able to place your bet or find your favorite game with ease, which is why our primary criteria for selecting is performance, followed by ease of use and accessibility. Aesthetics are also a consideration, albeit a slight one. A bad-looking app that performs well is better than one drenched in a myriad of colors and flashing effects that will make your phone burn your hands.

Without further ado, take a look at some of the finest the industry has to offer.

Paddy Power Sports Betting Android App

Paddy Power have done their utmost to cater to mobile gamers. They have an abundance of platform-specific apps, Android included.

Their sports betting app offers every convenience you can think of. It’s all arranged in a concise manner, so that forming your bet slip will be a two-minute job at most.

At the top of the screen, you’ll find various sports categories to choose from. Opening up the sidebar to the left, you have a handful a quick links leading to promos, favorites, settings and more of the like.

The middle of the screen is where the matches are listed, alongside their corresponding odds. Your bet slip will pop up on the very top of the screen as soon as you select your betting markets.

Overall, Paddy Power offer a streamlined, lag-free experience that works great even on low end phones.

32Red Casino Android App

32Red’s website is already optimized for Android, but if you’d like a more accessible experience you should download their standalone app. As soon as you visit their site, you’ll find a banner at the top with a download link.

With all the mess the 32Red’s desktop site is known for, it’s surprising to know the Android app was made by the same people. Overall, it offers a much more enjoyable experience for mobile users.

As soon as you enter, you’ll be met with a clean interface displaying all the games in the middle. At the top, you can choose between Table Games, Progressives, Video Pokers, Slots and New Games. There’s an excellent selection of games to choose from, including some of Microgaming’s finest.

Needless to say, with all that clutter removed, you will be in for a very smooth and a responsive experience. The sidebar to the left offers standard user options such as deposit/withdraw, bonuses, settings and a help center where you can request support.

Betway Casino and Sports Betting Android App

Betway is often praised for its gorgeous website design that is not only a treat for the eyes, but extremely functional to boot.

The same trend carries over when it comes to Android gamers. The best part of their app is that it integrates both sports betting, casino play and live casino into one, meaning you can seamlessly switch between them at any time.

On the sports betting page, you’ll find your games in the center as per usual. The sidebar to the left allows you to switch between various sports. You may also check promotions or request help. The bet slip is neatly situated on the bottom right of the app. You can even use live chat, albeit you will be taken to the web browser version for that functionality.

On the casino side of things, it’s more of the same – performance, ease of access and eye-candy. You’ll find a solid selection of Table Games, Slots, Progressives and Video Poker by Microgaming. The games require landscape mode to work, but they work like a charm.

Feature Image: Flickr

iQunix Zand is a great tablet stand, but why does it exist?

AndroidGuys
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If you’ve ever been the type of person to attempt to replace your laptop with a tablet, you’ve probably realized that trying to do that with an Android tablet was nearly a lost cause, at least until recently. After more than 5 years of Android tablets, productivity is finally becoming more viable with mature photo and video editing products and word processing software such as Microsoft Office.

You probably also realized that most stand cases are pretty mediocre, but you’re not sure what you’d replace it with. If you haven’t already given up and bought a Microsoft Surface, the iQunix Zand tablet stand might be exactly what you’ve been looking for…to some extent.

What I really like about it

The height of the stand is perfect for using your tablet as a laptop. Combine that with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and Remix OS 2.0, and you’re really cooking!

It has an incredibly minimalist design and looks absolutely stellar with the tablet “attached.” I put attached into quotes because the stand just has a really tacky pad on the top and bottom that grip to your tablet and the table. At first I was worried about things falling off but I’ve had my Nexus 10 sitting on the stand for about a week and it hasn’t budged, even with regular use.

It seems like iQunix thought of everything, including having a nice opening on the back of the stand to thread a charging cable through so that you can have a sort of permanent set up. And I think that’s the problem, at least for me, because that seems to be what it’s for.

Where it falls short

It’s clearly designed to be for something that you never move. None of it is permanent, there’s nothing to worry about, there, but you aren’t going to be moving it about very often. It has a very tacky bottom – to the point that I have to hold down my side-table that I have it stuck to if I want to remove it, which means that this isn’t something that you can just take with you to your meetings like you would a laptop.

What’s more, the shape of it (albeit very aesthetically pleasing) is the furthest thing from portable. Once you take the wax paper off when you take it out of the box, it’s sticky forever (or at least as long as you don’t get it dirty) and it’s shaped like a giant metal “Z,” which doesn’t exactly fit into your backpack without complication.

It’s clearly not meant for a retail setting as a permanent mount because it is too easy to take the tablet off of the stand or just take the whole stand and go.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the iQunix Zand tablet stand is really fun to say, it’s really good at standing up a tablet, and it looks great doing it, but I can’t work out who is going to buy one. It’s not for the tablet junkie who wants to replace their laptop and it’s not for someone who wants to drill their tablet to the table and make it into a point of sale. It might be for someone who wants to have a permanent tablet stand with a keyboard and mouse instead of a desktop or proper laptop at home but I’m not really sure that that person exists.

Ultimately, I really like it and wish that I had a purpose for it, but I don’t know what that purpose is. Admittedly, $40 is a lot – I would have probably guessed that it cost $25-30 and probably only half of that to manufacturer, but it really does have an Apple-like elegance to it that you don’t see every day. If you know what you’d use it for, please tell me about it in the comments because even at $40 I kind of want one, but I can’t possibly justify it without a real reason for it.

BuddyPhones: Keeping kids hearing first (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Everywhere you look around the internet there is no shortage of headphone reviews. All types from over-the-ear to in-ear, you can find both Bluetooth and traditional styles. One category that seems to get lost in the shuffle is kids headphones. They listen to music, play games and watch videos just like grown ups and we know that adult ears and the ears of a child are vastly different.

https://www.androidguys.com/buyers-guide-headphones/

A child’s ear is still in development, thus the need for a kid-friendly headphones. That’s why onanoff have created a fun and kid friendly headphone called BuddyPhones for a low price of $25.

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Design and Build

BuddyPhones come in four bright colors that’s sure to please any child. The designers have recognized that each child has different personalities and different tastes in design. So instead of cornering a child into having to choose one design option, they’ve included five pre-designed and blank stickers that fit BuddyPhones perfectly.

It’s no secret that kids can be a tad on the rough side when it comes to handling their toys. Keeping that in mind BuddyPhones are built tough and durable. They can withstand twisting and bending liberally and they bounce back.

Buddyphones

Included in the package is a separate four-foot long flat cable that includes an in-line microphone and flat design. The flat design is great for preventing tangling. Since the cable isn’t attached to the headphones there is less of a chance of getting choked by the cable. At one end it includes a built-in audio splitter so your child can share their listening experience with a friend.

Sound

The World Health Organization, as well as many government agencies, recommends 85 decibels as the maximum listening levels for children. Long-term exposure that exceeds these levels can be detrimental to their hearing. Onanoff has taken this to heart and complied with this recommendation.

While they have lowered the decimal levels, that doesn’t mean the lowered their quality. It has a very gentle sound. It makes the child’s listening experience pleasant. Even with another set of  headphones plugged in, it doesn’t take away from the sound.

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Summary

BuddyPhones are a great product for any kid. The combination of bright colors, customization, sound and a low price, it’s hard not to purchase these for your kid, niece, nephew, or grandchild. Especially when you think about their long term hearing.

Buy BuddyPhones from their website

Buy from Amazon

AppLock: A solid choice for security (Review)

AndroidGuys
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2

Overview

App locks are the easiest way for people to have access to your phone without allowing them to dive into areas that you don’t wish them to see. There are quite a few app locks out there and choosing one can be a task. Hopefully, this will help you decide if AppLock is the best protection for you.

Developer: DoMobile Lab

Cost: Free (In-app upgrades)

Setup

Setup Pattern
Setup Pattern

When you open the app for the first time, it prompts you to make a pattern and set up your email. Once you have configured your unlock pattern, you are then carried to the main screen, which lists all the apps you can lock out. Simply click which app you want locked out and it’s secured.

Highlights:

  • Lock apps individually
  • Lock photos and videos
  • Different lock profiles
  • Time lock
  • Location lock

Review

AppLock is one of the best security tools you can get from the Play Store. It’s a free app that is rich in features. Like all app locks, it allows you to lock apps individually, but there are couple things I really like about this one.

Randomized Keyoard
Randomized Keyoard

To start off, it does have the pattern lock that I mentioned, however, you can change it to a numeric lock. What’s so special about that? Well, nothing really, except that you have the option to use a randomized numeric keyboard so, even if someone sees a pattern, the numbers will be in a different place the next time. The downside is it makes you really have to pay attention to what numbers you are punching in as you can be easily confused.

Another great feature is setting profiles for different scenarios. You could have profiles for your home, guests, kids, and more. You can customize the profile to only allow people access to certain apps. The best part is you can create home shortcuts that allow you to activate them by clicking and inserting your passcode.

Some other awesome features include the ability to activate those profiles at certain times and locations. So, if you have a work profile, you could set it for clock-in time. Be aware that there is no deactivation time, so it will stay on that profile until your next time lock occurs.

The location lock works off WiFi. When your phone hooks up to certain networks, it locks to the appropriate profile.

Let’s not forget that you can lock your videos and pictures one at a time as well. I don’t use this feature, but it’s always good to have more security at your fingertips.

Other Features:

  • Security questions
  • Power-saving mode
  • Quick lock switch
  • Themes

While this isn’t all that this app can do, it’s enough to give you a good read into how well this app has you covered.

In-app Purchases

Menu
Menu

This is the part that I found confusing. In the description of the app, it mentions that there are three different types of accounts and where to find them. Most people do not fully read the descriptions and may find it difficult to find where to upgrade.

To make it more confusing, the screen where you can manage your subscription is not apparent at all. You have to click your email in the Account Center that is located in the menu when you click the top-left hamburger menu.

Once you get into the Account Center, you’ll find the different accounts you can purchase. In order to get the premium features, you can either subscribe to a premium account or keep the app free but ad-supported. There’s also a basic account option that doesn’t show you ads, but doesn’t provide premium features.

Premium Features: ($.99/month, $5.99/year, or ad-supported)

  • Photo vault
  • Video vault
  • Themes
  • Fake covers
  • Customize background
  • Profiles, easy to change locks
  • Auto time lock
  • Auto location lock
  • Hide applock icon
  • Random keyboard
  • Lock switch

Conclusion

AppLock has tons of features, which is nice, but I have rated it lower in value. The reason I did that is because I think it’s a bit pricey to pay for an app like this by the month or year. I think you’re better off using the ad-supported version of this app as the ads aren’t bad. The developer should consider simply charging a higher price to outright buy the app.

I also believe that it would be less confusing for the users if the developer changed the Account Center and just add a pretty “Premium Features” button, so the average customer knows that this is where he or she should go to support the developer. However, they are nice enough to auto-enroll you in the ad version instead of basic, no-extra-features version.

Download and install AppLock from the Google Play Store.

 

9 Great pet tech gadgets for your four-legged furry loved ones

AndroidGuys
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0

We love our pets. They are apart of our families and make our lives so much more enriched and fulfilled with unconditional love. Whether its a bird, bunny rabbit, kitten or puppy, we love them all the same. It’s the main reason why the pet industry has exploded over the past decade where it was a $36B market in 2005, and $60B market in 2015.

With that growth, pet products have evolved from simple pet food, to raw, organic and even vegan. My own dog get to eat My Perfect Pet high-quality dog food from a local company in Poway, CA, because she relies on me to give her the best possible to keep her healthy and strong. We treat our pets like family and as such, tech companies have been creating connected devices to help us not only keep track, but to entertain our pets as well while we are away from them.

The pet industry’s connected pet items are as high tech as the stuff made for humans, it’s just that they don’t have the marketing power of larger companies to inform you of their latest inventions. That’s what we are for.

Here are nine great connected tech gadgets for your most precious loved ones.

Petcube Interactive Wi-Fi Pet Camera – $149 on sale at Amazon and Petcube

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  • View live video in HD with a wide angle lens
  • Chat and listen using 2-way audio
  • Exercise and play with a built-in laser toy
  • Customize access for friends and family
  • Capture and share photos and videos
  • Engage with pet lovers worldwide
  • Requires free Petcube Mobile App.
  • iOS and Android compatible. Android (4.0 or greater)

Petzi Treat Cam: Wi-Fi Pet Camera & Treat Dispenser – $169.99 at Amazon, Petzi, and Best Buy

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  • A fun and easy way to connect with and treat your pet from anywhere
  • Watch the excitement on your pet’s face when you pop in
  • Dispense your pet’s favorite treat with the Petzi treat launcher for a big smile
  • Say hello to your pet through the high quality audio
  • Capture candid photos of your pet to save or share on your favorite social site
Feed and Go Smart Pet Feeder with Webcam & Wi-Fi – prices start at $249.99 at Amazon and feedandgo.com
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  • The Only Smart Pet Feeder For Wet/Dry Food, Treats & Medication
  • Connects By Wi-Fi To Your Home Network In Under One Minute
  • Built In Webcam So You Can See Your Pet From Any Smartphone Inc iOS, Android & Windows
  • Set One Time Or Regular Schedules For Unlimited Feed and Go’s From One Profile
  • Each Compartment (There’s 6) Holds Up To An 8oz Cup Size, You Decide How Much To Feed. Great For Wet Or Dry Food, Or Even Treats*

Tractive GPS Pet Tracker – $89 at Amazon and Tractive

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  • Lightweighted & waterproof
  • Smallest GPS tracking device
  • Live positioning for dogs, cats, horses and other animals
  • Reliable real-time location tracking

Whistle Activity Monitor For Dogs – $79.95 at Amazon

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  • Healthy Habits – Track your dog’s activity, daily behavior, and long-term health trends.
  • Communication Hub – Use the app as a central hub to communicate with family, friends, dog walkers, and anyone caring for your pet.
  • Peace of Mind – Receive automatic updates about your dog’s day directly on your phone, whether you are together or apart.
  • Custom Goals – Set a daily activity goal for your dog based on age, breed, and weight.
  • Daily Timeline – Add photos and notes to capture your favorite moments and log food and medication notes to manage your pet’s health.
  • Simple Set Up – Connect the device to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi via mobile app, create your dog’s profile, set your dog’s daily goal and adventure on!
  • Mobile Compatibility – Whistle works with smartphones equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 and running Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) or later, and iOS 6.0 or later.

Pet Tunes Bluetooth Speaker Preloaded with Calming Canine Music – $60 at Amazon

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  • Pre-loaded with Canine music
  • Bluetooth speaker pairs with digital devices
  • 1GB Micro SD Card
  • USB charger-lasts 5-10 hours
  • Built-in repeat mode for all day play

Ultra Calmer – Dog Anxiety, Stress Relief Sonic Collar – $59.99 at Amazon and Ultra Calmer

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  • A solution for dogs that suffer from anxiety triggered by thunderstorms, fireworks, and noise phobias
  • Ultra Calmer is an alternative to using uncomfortable anxiety wrap for dogs
  • Pre-loaded with Ultra Calming music that calms dog anxious behaviors
  • Includes Magnetic USB charger, Water Resistant, Safe Volume
  • Pet Acoustics is the leader in science-based, frequency modified music proven to calm pets

Nest Cam – on sale for $149 at Amazon, Best Buy and Nest

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  • 24/7 live video streaming. See your home on your phone in 1080p HD. And control Nest Cam from anywhere.
  • Alerts on your phone. Get motion and sound alerts so you now if anything happens.
  • Night vision done right. See the whole room at night – not just a limited spotlight view.
  • Talk & Listen. See your dog on the couch and tell him to get off.
  • Quick, easy setup. Plug in Nest Cam and download the Nest app to get started. No hub needed.

GoPro Fetch – $30 at Amazon, $60 at GoPro

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  • Capture the world from your dog’s point of view
  • Two mounting locations (back and chest) enable a variety of perspectives
  • Fully adjustable to fit dogs from 15 to 120 lbs (7 to 54 kg)
  • Chest mount is removable to accommodate smaller dogs
  • Padded at all adjustment points to ensure your pet’s comfort
  • Washable, water-friendly material holds up to swimming, splashing, mud and more
  • Quick release bases make attaching and removing the camera easy
  • Includes a camera tether to further secure your GoPro

Beme: A Snapchat and Vine hybrid with big ambitions (Review)

AndroidGuys
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0

Overview:

Beme is a video sharing social network that aims to be the most natural and true to life social video sharing app on the market.

Developer: Beme Inc.

Cost: Free

Impressions:

Beme is a sort of hybridization of Snapchat and Vine. It’s a social network app about sharing short clips and videos, as well as reactions to other users content. The catch is, you can’t see what you’ve recorded until it’s published, and there is no editing. This makes every Beme video more natural and less gimmicky compared to some other social video apps. I will say that Beme clips have to try harder to be funny, and are generally less entertaining than Vines due to lack of editing abilities, but the more simple ‘slice of life’ feel to the clips is a welcome breath of fresh air.

Beme as an app is fairly straightforward. You simply hold the button for the camera you want to record on, point at what you want to record, and hold the button till you’re satisfied. The video is automatically uploaded and shared, and that’s when you can see what you’ve captured. It certainly takes a bit of practice to get right, but once you do it’s as easy as Snapchat to quickly record and share some great moments.

Beme also has a pretty solid community, and it’s steadily growing. There are categories in the Discover section, where you can see clips based on trending topics, or locations both local and international. You can follow friends, and send direct clips between them, as well as discover new trending users to follow. Scrolling through the categories grants you neat snippets of everyday life in places all over the world. Sure, some are hits and most are misses, but sometimes Beme managed to surprise me with a neat clip or an interesting event captured by a user somewhere.

Conclusion:

I can see Beme as a popular app for celebrities to adopt over Snapchat for it’s more natural and organic feel as opposed to Snapchat, but it has a long way to go before it can reach that kind of mass appeal. It certainly has the potential to get there, as even in the early days it has some solid content and is so simple to use that I can see it catching on quickly. I’m rooting for Beme in this crowded social sharing app world we live in, and I hope to see it succeed.

Download Beme from the Google Play Store

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