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[Review] Charge on the go with the VoltIQ car charger

Andrew Orr
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When we last wrote a review of Tronsmart car chargers, they were Quick Charge 2.0. Now the company has released a new series of car chargers featuring Quick Charge 3.0, and they are fast. I spent a short amount of time with the gadget, and I was impressed.

First Impressions

There isn’t much to the device. It looks like every other car charger out there. It features two Quick Charge 3.0 USB ports, and you plug the charger into your car’s cigarette lighter (they really still have those?). The way that Tronsmart differentiates its charger is by having it automatically detect what kind of device you plug in and deliver the maximum amount of voltage that the device can safely handle.

voltiq02

Specs

  • Model: CC2TF
  • Input: DC 12-24V/4.2A (Max)
  • Output (Quick Charge 3.0): DC 3.6-6.5V/3A, 6.5-9V/2A, 9-12V/1.5A (each port)

Tronsmart uses its own VoltIQ charging technology in combination with Qualcomm’s proprietary Quick Charge specification. These car chargers have been officially certified by Qualcomm, and its website even features the original documentation to prove it.

Conclusion

If you don’t have a portable battery pack with you, car chargers like this are great to use, and Tronsmart has plenty of car and wall chargers to meet your needs. The company even has chargers with USB Type-C ports. You can get the VoltIQ Quick Charge 3.0 car charger for $22 on Amazon.

 

Gamestop becomes Cricket’s largest retail presence

AndroidGuys
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Cricket Wireless kicked off June by announcing that it has considerably expanded its retail presence at GameStop. Since it first started offering Cricket phones in late 2014, GameStop has gone on sell the prepaid brand at some 3,400 outlets.

Not only can you find Cricket Wireless devices at GameStop stores, but you’ll also dedicated employees equipped to help you find the right models and rate plans.

Consultants can help potential and current Cricket customers choose the best device for their lifestyle, answer billing questions and aid in purchasing new devices and services.

And, it because we might not expect anything else from GameStop, customers can trade in their pre-owened video games toward a Cricket bill or for handsets.

T-Mobile dials up the $100 Coolpad Catalyst for budget-minded buyers

AndroidGuys
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Coolpad today announced it will offer its Catalyst smartphone as part of T-Mobile’s postpaid roster. A first for Coolpad in the US, the handset carries an affordable $100 price tag.

Powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop, the Catalyst features a 5-inch display at 854 x 480 pixels, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and front-facing 2-megapixel shooter. The phone supports T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network and offers other standard smartphone connectivity like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS.

The Coolpad Catalyst goes on sale at T-Mobile stores starting from June 7, followed a month later as part of the MetroPCS lineup.

JOBY’s Powerband Micro might be the most travel friendly portable battery yet (review)

Derrick Miyao
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JOBY, the company behind the famous GorillaPod line of tripods has been diversifying as of late and has just released an intelligent battery pack. The PowerBand Micro will come in two versions, one made for iOS devices and the other for Android microUSB compatible devices.

This battery isn’t intelligent in the way hundreds of other batteries are with Fast Charging and wireless charging. It’s intelligent in its design with a simple silicone/rubberized strap built into the back of the battery that allows you to attach it to any smartphone and charge on the go. The iOS version costs $59.95 while the Android version comes in cheaper at $49.95.

DSC02877

 

Specs

  • 3.1 ounces
  • 3500mAh
  • Built-in microUSB cable for the Android model, and built-in Lightning cable for the iOS version

Build and Usage

I’ve tested and reviewed over 10 portable power banks, and all of them ran into the same issue. I needed to connect them to my smartphone and set them down on a table or hold them both in my hand while they charged. This always made for an awkward situation if I needed to use my smartphone while charging on the go.

The JOBY PowerBand Micro power bank is rated at 3500mAh which is 100mAh less than the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge’s battery of 3600mAh. That means I can get about one full charge with the PowerBand Micro, and that’s pretty much what I saw over five cycles. Phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note5, Moto X Pure, and Nexus 6P all have 3000mAh batteries so the 3500mAh power bank from JOBY should easily supply over one full charge.

DSC02858

While you can get far more storage capacity in a power bank for your money, like the 20,000mAh ones found on Amazon, you don’t always want to carry around a one pound brick with you. Generally, most of us just need one additional charge throughout a single day, and the JOBY PowerBand Micro was designed specifically for us. It wasn’t designed to get you through one to two weeks of usage away from a wall outlet, instead it was designed for the everyday user who needs a little more power.

“With the JOBY PowerBand, we give users a versatile power pack that provides the additional hands-free power needed for their smartphones while also providing a solution that will grow with them as device form factors change.” said Tim Grimmer, vice president of Brand and Product for JOBY.

At 3.1 ounces, the JOBY PowerBand Micro is half the weight of my already light-weight Galaxy S7 edge. It comes with a built-in microUSB cable, with nothing but a power button, battery indicator lights, and a rubberized strap on the back.

DSC02854

You can see in the images above how the PowerBand can be stretched to fit my phones. It’s extremely easy to use and provides a secure fit. You won’t get fast charging or wireless charging with this battery pack, instead you’ll get standard 1amp speeds. Another concern might be how the straps sometimes touch the front screen like they do on my S7 edge.

DSC02856

The strap doesn’t conduct electricity which means they will not, and do not affect the performance of the touch screen. However it does cover the corners which might be a distraction to some.

Summary

 

Priced at $49.99, the JOBY PowerBand Micro isn’t a whole lot of battery for the money. However, if you are the type of user who just needs a charge to make it through your commute or work day, the convenience of the strap is extremely nice to have.

JOBY is a reputable name when it comes to accessories and I have no doubt that the PowerBand Micro will be a goto battery for my daily needs for many years to come. It is right sized for my lifestyle and I’m thankful I no longer need to carry excess weight in my pockets.

If you’re interested in picking one up for yourself, head on over to Joby.com to learn more.

 

Oneplus 3 announcement slated for June 14, may go on sale very next day, invite free

Josiah Ward
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After much anticipation, we now have a solid date for the 2016 Flagship Killer, the Oneplus 3. Its debut will be on June 14/June 15, depending on your timezone.

It will be revealed using the Loop VR headsets that Oneplus handed out last week, and will be sold exclusively through the Loop VR for the first two hours. This makes the launch the first VR shopping experience. Here is a schedule for June 14 based on time zone:

  • 12.30 PM EDT (New York)
  • 9.30 AM PDT (San Francisco)
  • 4.30 PM UTC/GMT
  • 5.30 PM BST (London)
  • 6.30 PM CEST (Paris)
  • 10.00 PM IST(Bengaluru AKA Bangalore)



Oneplus will also be changing up how they sell their phones. Long gone is the invite system that fans frankly hated. This marks a major step forward for OnePlus as a company. The invite system was in place to protect the company from having too much stock sitting in a warehouse. Since they sell the phones so close to the price it takes to make them, even several thousand units could hurt the company.

It is rumored that the Oneplus 3 will go on sale the day after its announcement. The sales, however, will be done in stages, until the phone is available globally.

For a quick refresher on rumored Oneplus 3 specs, the devices are slated to feature a 5.5″ 1080P display with a fingerprint scanner. This will be powered by a Snapdragon 820, and NFC connectivity is rumored to make a comeback. The OP3 sbould be available in a 64GB model with either 4 or 6GB of RAM.

LG announces souped-up Stylus 2 Plus

AndroidGuys
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LG today revealed a beefier version of its Stylus 2 smartphone in the form of a Stylus 2 Plus. Whereas it retains the same chassis and overall design, the internals are more powerful.

The 5.7-inch display resolution has been punched up to a full HD resolution, and the processor increases to a clock speed to 1.4 GHz per core.

As for the cameras, the rear is equipped with either a 13-megapixel or 16-megapixel shooter while the front gets a 5-megapixel or 8-megapixel sensor. The actual configurations will vary by region.

In terms of storage and memory, that too will change based on where it’s offered; however, the options will include 16GB storage with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage with 3GB RAM.

Powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the LG Stylus 2 also offers up a fingerprint sensor, 3000mAh battery, and the same nano-coated stylus. The phone begins shipping in Taiwan today and is expected to reach North America in the coming weeks. Pricing and exact availability will be made clear in due time.

Key Specifications:

  • Display: 5.7-inch Full HD IPS Quantum Display
  • Chipset: 1.4GHz Octa-Core
  • Camera: Rear 13MP, 16MP / Front 5MP, 8MP (varies by region)
  • Memory: 2GB, 3GB RAM / 16GB, 32GB ROM / MicroSD (varies by region)
  • Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)
  • Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • Size: 155 x 79.6 x 7.4mm
  • Weight: 145g
  • Network: LTE / HSPA+ / GSM
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0
  • Colors: Titan / Gold / Brown
  • Others: Fingerprint Sensor

Google makes it easier to locate your missing phone

Scott Webster
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Google is today celebrating the one year anniversary of its My Accounts tool by introducing new features. Not only is accessing accounts easier, but it’s also more useful as well.

findyourphone

First up is a dedicated tool for finding a lost or stolen phone. In just a couple of steps you’ll be well on your way to locating the handset. Moreover, the tool also allows for you to remotely lock it, secure your account, leave a callback number, and more. Some of these options have already been available to Android users via the Android Device Manager.

Getting into your account simplified, too. Now all that’s required is a Google voice search of “OK Google, show me my Google account. It’s worth noting that the feature is only available in English as of today but more languages are coming soon.

my-account

On the horizon, things will get even better. Locating a missing Android or iOS phone is about to get a lot more simple thanks to a simple Google command: “I lost my phone.” All you’ll have to do is head to Google and get to tracking it down.

Also coming soon is the ability to get into your My Account settings by searching for your own name. If logged into a device, you’ll see a shortcut pop up in the results taking you directly to the tool.

Tap my Twin: Keep your brain trained [Review]

AndroidGuys
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Overview

Time to train your brain. That’s right, keep yourself sharp with Tap my Twin by matching colors and shapes and beat your high score in this fast paced game.

Developer: DAE Studios
Cost: Free (In-app purchase to remove ads for $2.24)
Game Play

Tapmytwin8
Main Menu

Tap my Twin is easy to understand yet deceivingly hard game to master. It incorporates matching shapes and colors within a matter of seconds.

Each level features a countdown timer that starts at three. You must match either the color or shape of the object shown before the time runs out. When searching for the match, if there is no shape of the same color to match, then you must match the color and not the shape.

The countdown timer doesn’t exactly countdown in seconds, per se. It goes from three to one, but those numbers represent the points you receive if you answer correctly at that moment. The deeper you get in the game, the faster it goes. Think of it like countdown trivia at a sports bar.

Once you answer the question correctly, you quickly move to the next one. If you don’t answer correctly, then the game is over. Your high score is recorded and you are then given the option to share your score via the usual social media places.

At the end of some of the rounds, you are offered a chance to watch a video and receive a reward. It could be an extra time bonus at the end of you turn or an extra life to pick up where you left off. It also connects with Google Achievements as well as comparing high scores with your friends and globally.

Review

I love these brain teaser games that are setup as simple and yet hard. They reel you in with,

Gameplay
Gameplay

“Hey just match the color or shape”, but then it gets tricky. It could show you a purple triangle and the options are a yellow triangle, purple circle, yellow square, blue square, and blue hexagon. So which one do you choose? Everything in you says you must choose the purple triangle because triangle and triangle, right? Wrong. You must choose the purple circle. Then you kick yourself in the butt and start over.

Then there is the added pressure of the timer counting down to throw you in a panic. Your mind is racing to answer what should be an easy answer but it’s not. That is the definition of a good game, frustrating you just enough that you have to keep playing while not being painstakingly annoying. It a fine balance, and they got it right here.

Conclusion

This is a fun quick play game that can become really addictive, really fast. It doesn’t take much brainpower to understand the how to play, but keeping up is the challenge. The one thing I am confused about is the option to remove ads. The only ads I have seen is the optional ones after gameplay that allows you power ups. There are no other ads that I have seen. So keep that in mind when deciding about the upgrade.

Download Tap my Twin in the Play Store

Full Sony Xperia X family of phones coming to US

AndroidGuys
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Sony has confirmed that all of its recently introduced Xperia X smartphones will be available in the United States. Indeed, this is quite the departure for a company who has often overlooked the country as a place to sell its mobile wares.

Ask most people in the smartphone space whether or not you can get a Sony handset and you’ll get all sorts of answers. Are they available with a carrier? Which models? Do you have to go online-only to pick one up? Is it GSM or does Sony have something for Verizon? A hundred questions, a hundred answers.

Things could be clearing up for Sony, however, as we learn the company is planning to offer all four (yep, four) of its new Xperia X line of phones in the US. Expected to sell across a number of outlets including Amazon, B&H Photo Video, and Best Buy, the unlocked phones range from around $280 on up to $700.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each model:

Xperia X

The Xperia X is the standard bearer and packs the specs you’d look for in your typical flagship device. Boasting a a 5-inch (1920 x 1080) display, the phone houses a Snapdragon 650 processor and a high-performance 23-megapixel camera. Around front is a 13-megapixel sensor for selfies.

Powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, you’ll also find 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, as well as a 2,620mAh battery. Pricing comes out to $550 with availability on June 26.

Xperia XA

The Xperia XA dials down the resolution on the screen to a 1280 x 720 pixel image but retains the 5-inch size. In place of the Qualcomm CPU is an octa-core MediaTek Helio chipset clocked at 2GHz, bolstered by 2GB RAM. Storage is 16GB with microSD expansion support for up to 200GB. The camera drops down to 13-megapixel while the front-facing shooter comes in at 8-megapixels; battery is ever slightly larger at 2700mAh. Priced at a mere $280, the XA launches on July 17.

Xperia X Performance

The strongest and toughest of the line, the X Performance amps up the standard model with a 2.1GHz Snapdragon 820 processor and the slightly bigger 2700mAh battery. Additionally, it offers 3GB RAM and 32GB storage and boasts a water-resistant coating, too. Available on July 17, this one will run you $700.

Xperia XA Ultra

The Xperia XA is the biggest of them all at 6-inches however the display resolution stays put at 1920×1080 pixels. Also powered by a MediaTek processor, this one comes with a 21.5-megapixel rear camera and 16-megapixel front camera. The Xperia XA Ultra will begin shipping from July 24 with a respectable $370 sticker.

[Review] Consider an Aukey lens for your photography bag

Andrew Orr
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If you’ve been reading most of my work here on AndroidGuys, you’ll know of my photography hobby. If not, check out my past articles about photo apps and mobile photography tools. Recently I was sent an Aukey super wide angle lens attachment for smartphones.

First Look

Lens attachments for smartphones range from affordable to expensive. The two most important factors when it comes to cameras are the digital sensor and the lens. Aukey’s line of lenses are more affordable for your needs, but that doesn’t mean they are low quality.

aukeylens05

The packaging is very simple: it consists of a cardboard cube, and in the box you’ll find the lens, a little carry pouch and a small cleaning cloth. The lens is simple to use: slide the clip on the lens, attach the lens to your phone, and start capturing.

Specs

  • Model Number: PL-WD02
  • Function: 238° Super Wide Angle
  • Dimensions: 90*90*68mm
  • Package Weight: 145g

Super wide angle means that the lens acts as a sort of “reverse fish-eye”, allowing you to capture huge scenes all at once, like a cityscape or mountain range. I found that the lens works great for macro photography too. You have to hold your phone a certain way; the angle is so wide that it captures your fingers in the shot too, which is amazing since they are behind the lens.

superwideangle cat
Duke says “meow!”

The lens was easy to use, and I was able to clip it on my phone quickly, which is great for those spur-of-the-moment shots.

Conclusion

As you can see in the images I’ve taken, the lens is very adaptable and can be used for a variety of shooting situations. Although, maybe not for portraiture. The lenses are available for iPhones and certain Android models, and I recommend them for mobile photographers everywhere. You can pick up the super wide angle lens for $40 on Amazon.

If you decide to get this or other lenses, I’d love to see the photos you take. Tag AndroidGuys or me on Instagram, and I’ll be happy to check out your work.

Instagram: @androidguys | @orrandrew91

 

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