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Looking for accessories for your Nexus 6P? Here are our favorites (Volume 2)

Matt Adams
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21

So, you have a shiny new Huawei Nexus 6P. How do you make the most of it? How do you protect it? It’s been hard sledding trying to find a wide range of accessories so far. These are by no means Samsung or Apple phones where you can find hundreds of cases, screen protectors, and cables in a ton of designs and variations.

SEE ALSO:

In a previous post, I declared this USB Type-C dock my favorite Nexus accessory, but here are some more contenders for the crown.

Docks

USB tyep-C Dock smallOur first dock is a universal USB Type-C dock that can handle other phones like the OnePlus 2, Nexus 5X and Lenovo Zuk Z1 as well as the Nexus 6P.

The dock attaches to a wall brick with an included USB cable so you don’t have to supply your own. Your phone sits in the slot and attaches via a USB type-C connector to charge.

While the base doesn’t appear to be very heavy, this can easily be fixed by some double sided tape. The dock comes in five colors and ships from the US (no lengthy shipping times!)

eBay: USB type-C dock

The Stouch USB type-C dock functions similar to the previous entry in our list, but looks a little more substantial. I love the lip that comes up over the bottom bezel of the phone to keep it a little more stable. The Stouch dock shares three of the four colors that the Nexus 6P comes in- silver, gold, and black. Thanks to prime shipping, this great dock will be at your house in just two days!

stouch USB type c dock

Amazon: Stouch USB type-C dock

Cases

The Rhino Shield Crash Guard Bumper is highly regarded among customers for excellent protection for their phones. The Bumper adds almost no bulk to the phone (less than .1″ thick), yet provides protection for falls that would otherwise damage the sides of your Nexus. The bumper extends slightly above the screen to protect it in case of small falls as well. You can pick up the Rhino Shield Crash Guard Bumper in one of one of four stylish colors that look beautiful on the Nexus 6P.

rhino shield

Speck Candyshell grip caseSpeck is one of the most popular names in cell phone accessories- and for a good reason! These cases can be found in huge chains like Best Buy because they offer a combination of looks and protection for a very fair price.

I love the look of their Candyshell Grip case because it adds a hint of design without being too gaudy. Not to mention the added grip. When you have a larger phone like a Nexus 6P, it can be tough to get a good grip, and cases like this definitely help due to their raised rubber ridges.

The Candyshell Grip case meets the MIL-STD-810G drop test to ensure your Nexus 6P is protected from drops!

Next up on our list is another one of the biggest names in smartphone accessories: Spigen. The Spigen Ultra Hybrid case for the Nexus 6P is one of the most popular cases for our beloved Nexus because it combines awesome protection with a clear case that shows off the phone’s design.

The clear hard polycarbonate and flexible TPU bumper case protects all sides of the phone from drops and shocks while adding almost no bulk at all. The cutouts are big enough for you to use any kind of third party cable you want, and the raised lip makes sure your screen won’t take direct impacts on a face-down fall.

Spigen ultra hybrid

If you’re looking for some serious protection, this may be the case for you. This slim hard hybrid kickstand provides serious protection without making the phone too big. The kickstand will be great when you’re viewing media and listening to your front-facing speakers.

The hybrid case has a shock-absorbing bumper and a hard shell to protect your Nexus from falls, and comes in five awesome colors. And, it’s pretty cheap!

slim hybrid case

eBay: Slim Hard Hybrid Kickstand Protective Phone Cover

Screen Protectors

Pleson’s tempered glass screen protector is currently sitting at a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon with 723 customer ratings. That’s pretty impressive.

This tempered glass screen protector has a cutout for the proximity sensor as well as for the speakers on top and bottom. It has a 99.9% clarity, and the edges are rounded to keep the screen protector from coming up from the display.

The oleophobic coating keeps fingerprints at a minimum, and the shatter protection makes sure that if the screen protector breaks, the pieces won’t be sharp and cut you.

pleson screen protector

Amazon: Pleson tempered glass screen protector

If you want to keep what you’re browsing to your eyes only, you may want to check out this Clear Privacy tempered glass screen protector from Fosmon.

When looking at the phone from dead center, the screen protector is clear, but as the angle increases, the visibility decreases. The tempered glass screen protector is only .33mm thick and is rated at a 9H hardness. Not only does it have 2.5D rounded corners, but it also has an oleophobic coating to cut down on fingerprints!

fosmon privacy screen protector

eBay: Fosmon HD Clear Privacy tempered glass screen protector

Cables

You have two options when it comes to cables for the Nexus 6P. You can buy USB type-A to USB type-C cables and continue to use the power bricks you already own, or you can buy USB type-C to USB type-C cables and get new USB type-C compliant wall bricks. The first option doesn’t require you to buy anything other than the cable, but the latter will provide faster charging speeds.

First up, we have a three pack of USB type-A to USB type-C cables for only $20. The Cable Matters cables are braided and come in three color combinations that all look great (I’m partial to the white cable with gold accents). In this combo pack, you get three 6.6 foot long cables that should get from your wall to your seat or bed very comfortably. The braided cables should last for a long time since it will be hard to cut these badboys.

cable matters usb a to c

Amazon: Cable Matters USB type-A to type-C three pack

Orzly’s four pack of USB type-C to USB type-C cables are a great value. Coming in at only $20 at the time of publication, the one-meter cables comes in four distinct colors: black, red, gray, and lime green. These cables will provide you with the fastest possible charging times, but you may need to pick up a USB type-C wall adapter to use them. These cables come with a 12-month warranty.

orzly usb type c to c cables

Amazon: Orzly USB type-C to USB type-C four pack

That wraps up our list! What are your favorite accessories for the new Nexus devices? Let us know down in the comments what you have to make the most out of your Phone!

BlitzWolf F1 Bluetooth 4.0 metal portable speaker is well worth its $34 price tag: review

Derrick Miyao
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0

If you’ve recently shopped for a portable Bluetooth speaker in the under $50 range, you probably saw a wide range of designs and features, from the fun (party disco ball) to the too cute (panda bear head) to the functional (water resistant alarm clock). There is A LOT to choose from. If you need a speaker for both work and play, the Blitzwolf’s F1 Bluetooth 4.0 wireless pocket speaker is a good choice. It meets the core requirements of connectivity, portability, durability, and, the all-important battery life with the looks and performance suited for both outdoors and indoors.

IMG_0241

 

With a lightweight, sandblasted minimalist-designed aluminum body, and laser cut speaker holes, the F1, comes in grey, black or black/orange. It’s water resistant, dust-proof and shockproof which means it can handle some pool splashes and a little beating as it’s transported indoors and outdoors. At 8” in length, weighing 9.5 oz., the speaker doesn’t take up too much space in your bag but does add a little bit of heft, a small tradeoff for the sturdy metal casing.

IMG_0236

Connectivity with decent sound quality and battery life

Like most Bluetooth speakers, it easily paired with my phone without any issues, allowing me to immediately start listening to my test playlist. Operating it was straightforward. The F1 has five rubberized raised buttons, some which perform double duty: power, play/pause, Bluetooth status indicator/reject or answer call, volume up/next track, volume down/previous track.

IMG_0254

To see what range it could handle, I listened to classical, rock, pop, country, hip-hop, and podcasts. I even used it when streaming “House of Cards” on my tablet (sometimes Doug mumbles). Considering the size, the speaker sound was very good, transmitting the highs and mids with no problem. No surprise: hip-hop—Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” to be specific–sounded distorted when the low bass hit.

The 18 core dual 45 mm speakers aren’t designed to handle the deep bass intended for traditional speakers, but, frankly I don’t know any other Bluetooth speakers in this price range that could.

I want to note that the only time I had a problem with connectivity was when I was trying to pair with my sister’s two year-old laptop, but it was a Windows problem, unrelated to Blitzwolf. Fortunately, we had the cable that came with the speaker so we were able to connect and still amplify the sound of the video we were watching.

Since the F1 is also touted as a hands-free speaker phone, I used it for a few conference calls. It was great for listening in on the meetings, but not so great when I was speaking. The people on the other end couldn’t hear me very well even after I moved my mouth closer to the pinhole mic next to the power button. My voice was hard to hear—it wasn’t muffled, just too quiet. In a pinch, I’d use this for conference calls, knowing that I might have to switch to the mic on my phone when it’s my turn to talk.

I was surprised by the battery life as I don’t always expect speakers in this price range to perform very well in this area. (Maybe because I actually followed the instructions to fully charge it before using?) I did all of the above activities in one week and only needed to recharge once. The 1800 mAh lithium ion battery lasted about 10 hours each session before I needed to charge it again.

Summary

IMG_0253

The F1 is a good portable Bluetooth speaker designed more for play rather than work. The sound quality is solid. At a $33.99 price, you can’t go wrong. And if you’re not happy, Blitzwolf stands behind its product with a 30-day money-back guarantee in addition to an 18-month warranty. If you are disappointed with the quality or have problems with the product, contact the customer-friendly Blitzwolf folks who wants to “turn that frown up-side down”.

Get the Blitzwolf F1 Bluetooth speaker for just $33.99 from Banggood.com.

Key Specs & Information

  • Dimensions: 1.97” x 7.87” x 3.54”
  • Weight: 9.5 oz
  • Speakers: 18 core dual 45 mm with digital amplifier
  • Battery & Power: 1800mAh lithium ion battery, 10-12 hours of playback; DC power, 4-5 hours to fully charge
  • Warranty: 30-day money-back guarantee; 18-month limited warranty
  • Other features: mic, 3.5 mm aux-in and micro USB ports
  • Speaker comes with a micro USB charging cable, 3.5 mm audio cable, and wrist strap
  • Tip: Manufacturer recommends fully charging the speaker before using it for the first time

Get fit with the Polar Loop 2 and accessories: review

Austin Hyde
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0

Getting in shape and increasing your physical fitness seems to be everyone’s goal every first of January, but  if you’re like me, you find those resolutions or stated goals very difficult to keep. Why is it so hard? Well, a lot of it is that we don’t actually create plans on how we’re going to accomplish our goal. Beyond that, we don’t track our goals. The Polar Loop 2 and other products are designed to help with those areas.

Polar Loop 2 and accessories overview

At first glance, the Polar Loop 2 is a glorified pedometer that you wear on your wrist but after further inspection, you’ll find that there are so many other features.

  • Steps and distance
    • Tracks your steps and distance from steps.
  • Inactivity alerts
    • Reminds you with vibration to get up after 55 minutes of sitting and add active breaks to your daily routines.
  • Smart calorie tracker
    • Lets you know exactly how many calories you’ve burned. The individual algorithm is based on your data: weight, height, age, gender and the intensity of physical activity.
  • Activity goal
    • Shows how active you’ve been during the day and gives practical guidance for reaching your daily activity goal. Breaks up your activities into five intensity levels: resting, sitting, low, medium and high.
  • Sleep tracking
    • Automatically tracks your sleep time and quality. See and learn from your sleeping patterns in Polar Flow web service and app.
  • Smart notifications
    • Vibrates and notifies you about incoming calls, messages and calendar reminders.
  • Available in black, white, or pink colors.

Polar Loop 2aThere is also small screen made up of 85 separate red LEDs that are invisible until lit up. The screen allows for scrolling text and simple animations.

Awesome features aside, one of my favorite features is that the Polar Loop 2 is compatible with some pretty amazing accessories as well. There are two accessories in particular that we will include with the review.

The first is the H7 heart rate monitor. It straps around the chest in order to accurately measure your heart rate. It’s waterproof so it can even be used when swimming. However, while the Polar Loop 2 works while swimming, it uses Bluetooth to transmit data and that doesn’t work so well in the water. The H7 supports a 5 kHz technology called GymLink that will transmit in the water but unfortunately, that is not found on the Loop 2. While the sensor itself is only available in black, the strap is available in black, blue, or pink.

The second is the Polar Balance, which is a scale that measures your weight then transmits it via Bluetooth to the Polar Loop 2 or even directly to your Android phone. It’s available in white or black.

Polar Loop 2 and accessories setup

Polar Loop 2cThe Polar Loop 2 has a little more involved setup than the H7 and Polar Balance. First, you need to size the watchband to your wrist and then cut off the excess areas. Then you need to download the Polar FlowSync application onto your computer, connect it via the included USB cable, and register the Loop 2 to your Polar account. If you don’t have an account, then you’ll need to create one. Of course, you’ll also want to download the Polar Flow app on Google Play so that the Loop 2 can sync with your phone.

The H7 is a little simpler setup. First, you size the band to your chest. Then you lightly wet the rubber contact area on the strap and put the strap on. You then move your Polar Loop 2 right next to the H7 and press the button on the Loop 2. Once you see your heart rate on the screen, you are good to go.

The Polar Balance is the easiest of all to connect. All you do is stand on the scale, wait for the beep and your weight to appear on the scale’s display, then press the Polar Loop 2’s button and wait for your weight to appear on the Loop 2’s display. The Polar Balance can also communicate directly with the Polar Flow app to record your weight without the Polar Loop 2.

Polar Loop 2 and accessories usage

One of my first observations on the Polar Loop 2 was how light it is. It really isn’t a bother to wear. I like that it replaces my watch too. If I have to wear an activity tracker over a nice looking watch, then it better tell time too.

I’ve never been a big fan of jewelry or fashion accessories. I normally wear nothing other than my watch and my wedding ring. Having said that, the Polar Loop 2 is very subdued and doesn’t attract a lot of attention. If you’re looking for attention then look instead at the Polar Loop Crystal. It has a little more bling.

The Loop 2 will also show you notifications from your phone and alert you with a small vibration. Unfortunately, the notifications that it will show are very limited. It will say calendar if you have an appointment coming due, email when you receive an email, and message for just about everything else. You can choose which apps you want to receive notifications from. So, if you don’t want the notifications from Candy Crush, then you can turn them off. There is also a do not disturb feature that can turn off the notifications every night between the times you choose.

Polar Loop 2dPolar Loop 2eI think my biggest complaint with the Polar Loop 2 is the charging cable. Instead of using a standard micro USB cable, they use a proprietary connector that uses a magnet to maintain the charging connection. The magnet isn’t very strong and it’s a pain in the neck to put it on the charger sometimes. The other downside is that if you loose it, then your out of luck until you order a new cable.

Another area of improvement would be the clasp. The clasp itself works great and never gave me any problems, but it seemed to scratch a little too easy. If you use a computer a lot like I do, then you’ll scratch it just by resting your wrists on your desk.

Polar Loop 2b

My fitness goals don’t really include running or jogging, which is where the Polar Loop 2 excels. Instead, I like to bike. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, then you already know that I commute to work daily on a bike. While the Polar Loop 2 will record activity while you ride your bike, it is unable to record that data as a bike ride. It instead measures the bumps in the road as steps. This is where the H7 heart rate monitor comes in.

While the H7 is unable to measure your bike ride, it can measure your heart rate and more effectively track your fitness goals. My commute is a little over 8 miles one way. When I commute without the H7 heart rate monitor, then I never make it past 80-90% of my tracking for my goals. However, with the H7 heart rate monitor, I am able to achieve over 100% of my tracking just on the way to work.

Using the Polar Flow app, you can adjust your fitness goals to better accommodate your increased levels of fitness over time. Even if you don’t, the app will slowly adjust them for you anyways.

Polar Balance 2Polar Balance 1The Polar Balance is the most accurate bathroom scale that I have ever seen. Usually, the bathroom scale is off by anywhere from five to ten pounds. It’s also very easy to use. You just need to be patient, because it takes a bit for the Polar Loop 2 to record the data.

The other part of this is the Polar Flow app. The app syncs with your Polar Loop 2 and displays all the data in a way that allow you to track and measure your goals. If you wear the Polar Loop 2 while you sleep, it will even track your sleep patterns and show you what percentage of your sleep was restful and which percentage was restless.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, the reason we don’t keep our goals really comes down to us not looking at them and not measuring our progress along the way. This is where the Polar Flow app really makes a difference. It allows you to look at your progress.

The one feature that I would like to see added to the app is a goal system based around weight loss. As it is now, the goals are all based around activity. I think this would make the eco-system even more appealing.

4 out of 5 stars

Overall the eco-system that Polar has created is pretty great. Everything works well together and they help you to visualize the progress that you’re making towards your fitness related goals.

The downside here is that it can be costly to buy into all the different devices in Polar’s portfolio, but don’t let that scare you. You can mix and match the devices that will help you achieve your goals.

The Polar Loop 2 is on sale right now for $99.98 on Amazon.com, the H7 heart rate monitor is on sale for $49.14 on Amazon.com, and the Polar Balance is on sale for $99.95 on Amazon.com.

In contrast, the Fit Bit Charge retails at $149.95 and doesn’t do the smartphone notifications.

B&H Photo has an unbeatable pre-order deal on the LG G5 + Friends

Matt Adams
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0

Are you hyped for the new LG G5? The latest and greatest from LG hasn’t hit store’s shelves yet, but B&H has an amazing pre-order package going on right now that you should consider.

Here’s what you get:

  • Unlocked LG G5 (32 GB)
  • 360 Camera
  • VR Headset

The phone comes in either Silver or Titan and comes unlocked for us on any US network since it supports both GSM and CDMA technologies. The phones don’t come with a SIM card so either pop in your current one or grab one from a store and you’re off and running. CDMA carriers may require activation, but that’s pretty simple stuff.

The LG G5 is one of the first phones out that has a modular design. The 360 Camera and VR Headset are two of the “friends” that LG is debuting alongside the phone. You can also grab a camera module and an extended battery to enhance your G5 experience.

Product Links:

LG G5 (Silver), Camera, and Headset

LG G5 (Titan), Camera, and Headset

T-Mobile shaves half off tablets in limited-time promotion

Scott Webster
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0

samsung-p-tile-400xT-Mobile wants you to know just how happy they are with its Music Freedom and Binge On successes. To do so, the wireless carrier is offering up a limited-time promotion on tablets from Apple, LG, and Samsung.

Starting from today, any customers who purchase a flagship smartphone from Apple, LG or Samsung using the Equipment Installment Plans (EIP) can receive up to 50 percent off any tablet from the same brand. Worth up to $200, the savings comes in the form of a prepaid card.

The goal, of course, is to drive up even more streaming of content on that new tablet. Should you take advantage of the deal, you’ll have access to services such as YouTube, Netflix, Pandora, MLB, WWE, and nearly 100 other content providers.

Eligible devices:

  • Apple iPhone and iPad
  • Samsung’s Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S7, S7 edge, Note 4, Note5, Tab A 8.0, Galaxy Tab S2
  • LG’s V10, G Pad F 8.0

Facebook pushes live videos even more into your face

Andrew Orr
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1

Today Facebook announced several new initiatives regarding their newest service, Facebook Live. Live is yet another feature with which Facebook wants to compete, this time with streaming apps like Periscope and Meercat. Facebook doesn’t want you to use those apps because anything that causes you to leave Facebook is anathema to Zuckerberg and his ilk.

Facebook Live first appeared for users using the Mentions app last summer. Mentions is aimed at celebrities and other public figures to give them a platform to broadcast their lives and brands more easily.

New features that were announced include Live for Groups and Events, interactive features like live reactions, replaying comments and live filters, live map, live video destination, and inviting friends. Let’s break it down.

Live Creative Tools Android

Facebook Live Features

  • Live for Groups and Events: users can now go live in Facebook Groups and Facebook Events. Live in Groups lets you broadcast to an entire group, and not necessarily the public. Live in Events lets you go live from an event such as a birthday party, or going live backstage with performers. Users can use Events to schedule Q&A sessions.
  • Interactive Features: With Live Reactions, viewers can express their feelings (limited to six emotions) in real time during a broadcast. The Reactions will appear in real time and quickly disappear to give broadcasters a sense of how the audience is feeling. “It’s like hearing the crowd applaud and cheer.” Comments will be replayed during the broadcast when people watch it later, to give users the sense that they were part of it. Live filters let broadcasters add filters to their video in real time, and even draw on the screen.
  • Discovering More: Now when a user watches a live broadcast, they can optionally send an invitation to a friend to watch along with you. Facebook Live will also have a dedicated hub for broadcasts, and on the mobile app there will be a Live button where the Messenger button used to be, on the bottom taskbar. On the desktop, Facebook Live Map will let users explore broadcasts around the world, as people in more than 60 countries can now use the feature.

Are you excited by these new features?

Huawei offers up P9 and P9 Plus with dual-cameras from Leica

Scott Webster
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0

Huawei on Wednesday introduced its latest smartphones, the P9 and P9 Plus, at an event in London. As you might suspect, the two share a number of common traits between them with the Plus variant offering just a little extra where it counts.

Basic Specs

Powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the pair boast Huawei’s 64-bit Kirin 955 processor. Indeed, this octa-core CPU packs four ARM A72 cores and four ARM A53 cores. Moreover, the phones come with 3GB or 4GB RAM. In other words, it’s all about performance.

The P9 is sold in 3GB RAM/32GB storage and 4GB/64GB storage while the P9 Plus is strictly a 4GB/64GB unit.

The P9 features a 5.2-inch FHD IPS LCD display and gets its juice from a 3,000mAh battery. The P9 Plus, however, offers up a 5.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED screen and a 3,400mAh power source.

Other shared specs include microSD card support, rear fingerprint sensors, stereo speakers, and USB Type C.

P9 - Camera

Camera

Where things get really interesting in the P9 models is in the area of the camera. Both were designed with help from Leica Camera AG and include dual-lens shooters that promise vivid colors and striking black and white images. The back packs the dual 12-megapixel experience while the front delivers with 8-megapixels.

The RGB camera captures in color while the monochrome camera pulls in the detail. Additionally, the phone utilizes laser, depth calculation, and contrast to create the best photos for environments.

Each P9 device is a perfect construct of superior-grade 2.5D glass and an aerospace-class aluminum, with diamond-cut edges rounded out by carefully balanced curvatures.

Design

The 64GB version of the P9 comes in Haze Gold finish; however, a Ceramic White version is also being made available. Additional colors include Titanium Grey, Rose Gold, and Prestige Gold.

Availability

The P9 and P9 Plus are expected to hit nearly three dozen markets starting on April 16, but the US is not among those listed. Pricing shakes out to €599 for the 3GB/32GB P9, €649 for the 4GB/64GB option, and €749 for the 4GB/65GB P9 Plus.

The best-selling unlocked Android phones from B&H [April 6, 2016]

Andrew Orr
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0

Unlocked smartphones are definitely gaining popularity and for good reason – they free you up from financing plans and two-year contracts. If you’re looking for a new smartphone B&H has you covered.

Why unlocked?

Whereas a lot of today’s flagship models tend to run in the $500-$600 range, or higher, there’s an awful lot of smartphone to be had for less money. In fact, you can sometimes spend $200-300 for a phone and get a substantial upgrade over your previous one.

TARTU ÜLIKOOLI KEEMIA INSTUUDI ANALÜÜTILISE KEEMIA LABOR

We’ve gathered up the 10 best-selling unlocked Android devices from B&H so you can get a sense for what’s available. Indeed, you’ll see a nice mix of big-name vendors and devices from other, scrappy players. Note that we’ve omitted color variations; you might find other colors available.

Why B&H Photo Video?

As the largest non-chain photo and video equipment store in the United States, B&H also offers consumers a wide selection of smartphones. Indeed, you’ll find just about every major manufacturer from around the globe, plus some from other, growing names, too. It’s also here where you’ll be able to get your hands on the unlocked BlackBerry Priv. There’s something here for everybody.

So, the next time you need to replace your existing phone, consider scooping up one of these. It’s often a heck of a lot cheaper than going through your carrier in the end. Depending on which model you purchase, you could save big on an unlocked Android device from B&H.

  1. Huawei Google Nexus 6P H1511 64GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Graphite) –  $549
  2. Huawei Google Nexus 6P H1511 32GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Aluminium) – $499
  3. Huawei Google Nexus 6P H1511 32GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Graphite)- $499
  4. LG Google Nexus 5X 32GB Smartphone (Unlocked, White)- $378
  5. LG Google Nexus 5X 32GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Black) – $369
  6. [Markdown] Motorola Moto X Pure Edition 16GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Black) –  $349
  7. ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser ZE551KL 32GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Silver) –  $199
  8. [Markdown] Motorola Moto X Pure Edition 16GB Smartphone (Unlocked, White/Bamboo) – $374
  9. Huawei Google Nexus 6P H1511 64GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Aluminium) – $548
  10. Motorola Moto G XT1063 Global Variant 2nd Gen 8GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Black) – $99

Baeble is what MTV used to be, in the palm of your hand [Review]

AndroidGuys
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0

Kids growing up today don’t even remember a time when MTV had anything to do with music. Even when I was young, MTV and VH1 had started transitioning from being the purveyors of what was cool into peddlers of terrible reality TV. Fortunately, in 2007 a company was formed that started to bring back what had made those channels cool to begin with, and I’m not talking about YouTube.

Baeble is a service that goes out and films concerts and goes back stage with some of the most popular artists today including Carly Rae Jepson, Ariana Grande, and CHVRCHES. They also go out and find new artists who they think will be the next hot ticket.

After first hearing about Baeble when T-Mobile recently “amped” its Binge On initiative, I thought it would be good to take a look at what it had to offer. Its Android app is incredibly simple. It only has two tabs: featured and categories, for discovery and browsing a catalog of music-related videos. When you open a video page, it’s just the video, an overflow menu with a share button (which unfortunately only sends to Facebook), and a handful of recommended videos.

It’s very cool how they can have these big stars in very casual situations just having a conversation about their current work. It’s like the days of old. The app features everything from full-length concerts, to music videos and interviews.

The app isn’t perfect, though, and I think that implementing a few of Android’s newer UI elements would do it a lot of good. The ability to swipe between the tabs, using the native share utility, having a share button instead of an overflow menu, and not having the app hide the status bar (because it does for some reason), would go a long way in improving the overall experience within the app. Speaking of improvements, I got a chance to interview Baeble’s CEO, David Moffly, who gave me insights into the app’s creation and where he sees it going in the future.

AndroidGuys interviews Baeble CEO David Moffly

AndroidGuys: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Baeble is a very unique concept. How did you come up with the idea?

David: I saw YouTube in 2006 after it had started and I was stunned by how it democratized and changed the fundamental nature of video distribution by using IP. Everyone was focused on cat videos and copyright violations but I saw the opportunity to build a new global platform free of national boundaries and constraints. We started shooting our first concerts in 2007 and built the video platform around this exclusive content as time and technology allowed. Today we have a complete platform that spans web, mobile web, video apps, Smart TV’s and OTT devices that reach a global audience. The Baeble Smart TV Apps are in virtually every brand in the US and most internationally. Our German partner Netrange has even built a Baeble video app for next generation car dashboards. The Android App usage is global with people from more than 100 countries using it.

AndroidGuys: How difficult has it been making your vision come true?

David: We have been a company that is self-financed with the addition of some support from friends and family. So over time we have had to be patient and judicious with our investments in programming, technology and marketing. Because of this, we haven’t had the luxury of the “go big or go home” push Venture Capital can infuse into an organization…which in the long run, is a good thing. We have seen countless companies make flashy entrances only to wind up on the scrap heap. While our approach has been slow and (by necessity) deliberate, I think this has resulted in the development of a brand that is known for high quality and focus of its work.

Baeble is certainly the hardest business project I have ever done. The everyday aspects of our business involve dealing with everything from complicated rights issues for the programming to the deep detail of the web, video streaming, distribution and monetization.

AndroidGuys: How would you say Baeble differentiates itself among its competitors?

David: No other company does what we do. We are a complete platform with amazing programming. VEVO is our closest competitor, but they exist as a vessel for music videos from its rights owners. They are getting into original programming like we do, but they are largely a logo on videos in YouTube that no one really understands. It’s not special or unique. We carefully select the bands we film based on a number of factors: Do we think this artist is interesting? Do, we think this artist has a story that needs to be told? Is this artist pushing their career along with the tools at their disposal? Some of the questions we ask when considering artists.

Also, bands and artists trust us with their only and most valuable asset, which is their music and we do our best every time to amplify it and shine a light on the artist’s talents.

AndroidGuys: What does partnering with T-Mobile on “Binge On” mean for your company?

David: For us it is a validation of the quality of our work and we are super proud to be a part of their program. Our App and our videos are good enough to be included as an option for millions of T-Mobile subscribers. Of the thousands of video apps out there, we are one of only a handful included in the program. This is a very strong validation.

AndroidGuys: How does the Android App differ from the iOS app?

David: The Android App tends to have newer features than the iOS App, though the iOS does catch up.

AndroidGuys: What advantages does Android offer to your company as a platform over iOS (and vice versa)?

David: Because it is Google, Android offers more powerful promotional tools that can put your App in front of a global audience for them to download and play with. iOS does not have the same level of promotion and discovery tools…which as a free, non-gaming app, make it very difficult to break through in the App store alone.

We (I) am very bullish on Android and the power of Google.

AndroidGuys: What, from your perspective, could Android do to make it a more developer-friendly atmosphere?

David: Our development process on Android was very straight forward. We kept the App purposely simple to allow the quality of the video programming to stand out rather than technical features. As tempting as it can be, we didn’t want the cool software to stand in the way of the video.

AndroidGuys: How do you see the Baeble application evolving in the future?

David: Over the next year we are going to be adding engagement features like notifications and play listing and other cool features that will promote watching and sharing videos. We also have a huge photo collection which we would like to feature in a fun way within the App.

AndroidGuys: How do you see your overall product evolving over time?

David: We will continue to evolve the video mix based on tastes and trends. On the software side we’ll see what people like and what they don’t and adjust accordingly.

AndroidGuys: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about?

David: We are an organization driven by a passion for what we do and we hope that this shines though.

AndroidGuys: Thanks again for taking the time to speak with us and good luck with your product going forward!

Download Baeble on Google Play

How to enable Developer Options on your Android device

AndroidGuys
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If you’re looking to root and install a custom Rom on your Android device, you’re going to need to have access to your device’s USB debugging mode. USB debugging can only be found under Developer options in Settings. By default, Developer options will not be enabled on your device. “How do I get access to Developer options!?” you may be asking yourself. Keep reading to find out.

How to do it

  1. Open Settings
  2. Scroll down to About Phone
  3. Open About Phone
  4. Scroll down to Build number
  5. Tap Build number 7 times. After two taps, you will see a pop up that says you are 5 taps away from becoming a developer. Don’t panic. Continue tapping. The number on this pop up will decrease with each tap.
  6. After your 7th tap, a new pop up will appear that says “You are now a developer!”

Congratulations! You have now completed the first step in your journey towards rooting your phone and installing a custom Rom!

 

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