AndroidGuys

Chromecast (2nd gen) review: a worthy upgrade?

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October 22, 2015

I was part of the Google fans who were ecstatic when Google announced the original Chromecast. I mean, it was nothing revolutionary, but something that was genuinely missing. Especially as the wireless world dominates ever-so, unifying our mobile devices and TV was an important step. And at only $35, it was affordable enough for anyone to join in and splurge a little bit for convenience.

The first Chromecast had a fairly long run, launched back in the summer of 2013 (time flies doesn’t it?). For the most part, it did it’s job, and I don’t think anyone was dying for an update. But of course, Google wouldn’t just leave it at that. There are always improvements to be had.

While the core purpose of the 2nd gen Chromecast is the same (as well as the $35 price tag), there are some welcomed updates. Which leads me to the question: Is it worth upgrading your previous Chromecast? Let’s find out!

Design

Google felt that the Chromecast needed a drastic design change. The body of the device very much resembles a hockey puck. The HDMI plug extends from the side via a short, flat cord.

The change wasn’t just for aesthetics, there’s a reason behind it. All TV setups aren’t the same. Some folks found that the original’s dongle-stick build did not fit in the allotted space between their TV and wall (or any other obstruction).

Therefore, while the Chromecast’s new shape may seem odd at first glance, the intent was to alleviate the cramped-space concern. The drawback is that it doesn’t feel like a thought-out design, because it just hangs off of the HDMI port. This may not be a big deal if your HDMI port is behind your TV, you won’t see the device. But if your HDMI port is near enough to the edge of the TV, it my prompt you to want to tape the Chromecast down or something. It would’ve been nice is Google included a little Velcro sticky, for cases like this.

However, a nice touch is that when you’re transporting the Chromecast, the HDMI plug is magnetically attracted to the body. So it won’t be there just flopping around.

Despite the fact that the Chromecast will most likely live behind your TV and away from sight, Google still felt the need to liven things up with color. This Chromecast comes in two bright colors, aside from standard black – Lemonade (yellow) or Coral (red).

The device is pretty small, and the length of the cord is 4 inches. The body is mostly hard plastic, with the glossy cap that has a slight curve and the Chromecast symbol etched on the center. Around the side, you’ll only find a microUSB port (for power input) and a power button.

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Functionality

Installation of the new Chromecast is the same as before. The plug goes into the TV’s HDMI port. It receives power from either a nearby USB port or with the supplied AC adapter.

Setting up the software for the first time is brisk. Like before, it requests that you install the Chromecast app on your mobile device. You verify a code that it displays to make sure you’re communicating correctly, and then enter the password into your WiFi network.

After that, you’re all set and ready to start playing. The default Backdrop wallpapers show up on the TV screen, just like before. The Chromecast app is essentially your remote controller. Supported media apps that are installed on your device will populate content suggestions on the launch page.

chromecast_sources

Making a selection will launch the corresponding app, where you then press the Cast button to display it on the TV. There is also a search bar, which will find which sources can play that title. Chromecast has support for the main media providers (with the exception of Amazon Instant – you can probably thank Amazon for that).

If you’re coming from the original Chromecast, you’ll know notice how quickly content launches on the TV. It is blazing fast in comparison. It is with this that you realize you’re using a different Chromecast. Part of the improvement is due to the dual-band WiFi now on-board (with an adaptive antenna system).

One of the most annoying things to me about the original Chromecast was upon launching content, I would get a delayed response when trying to lower the volume as the content initiated. And of course, each time the Chromecast is powered back on, the volume restarts to highest setting (instead of remembering the last set volume level). While the new Chromecast follows suit, it actually listens to me when I try to quickly lower the volume before my speakers blasts my face with audio.

Also, mirrored content from the PC or phone is now smooth. Previously, I had lag too frequently occurring in the feed, or stuttering in videos. The largest supported resolution is still 1080P. This is a bit disappointing, considering the growth of 4K TV’s. Maybe we’ll have it on the next iteration.

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-android”]

Final Thoughts

So is it worth it to upgrade to the 2nd gen Chromecast from the original? I wouldn’t say so. That is, it’s not $35 worth to upgrade. If you can sell the previous Chromecast or get a good discount on the new one, then maybe.

In a nutshell, functionality is basically the same. You’re still plugging a small device into your HDMI port, you’re still getting 1080P video output, and you have access to everything you had before. Only, now it’s all faster. Not to underplay the niceness of the speed boost, just saying I don’t feel it’s $35 worth.

All in all, the 2nd gen Chromecast is a fantastic device, and you’ll love it if you haven’t made the leap yet. But it certainly won’t make the waves that the original Chromecast did when it launched.

Chromecast product page

HTC unveils the One A9, a premium package for $399

News

Josh Noriega

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October 20, 2015

4

The moment HTC fans have been waiting for has come. What would later be dubbed the One A9, HTC’s next “Hero” device has been on our minds since the company announced an upcoming strong contender following poor sales of the One M9.

So how does HTC think the One A9 will grab the market’s attention? Let’s go over the new approach the OEM has undertaken to convince consumers that this one is better than what the competition offers.

Firstly, the leaks over the phone’s design were accurate. Love it or not, the bezel is here to stay. There will be a great deal of complaining that the A9 resembles the iPhone too much, which is justified. But let’s not forget that the iPhone 6 resembled the One M7.

The One A9 was announced with four color options: Opal Silver, Topaz Gold, Carbon Gray, and Deep Garnet.

The display has undergone a few updates from HTC’s previous flagship. While the screen size is still 5″, we now have an AMOLED panel (instead of the typical S-LCD panel that HTC has been using for years). You won’t find a pixel-stuffed QHD screen here as HTC has opted for 1080P. But being only a 5″ screen, this should be sufficient.

As is the story with premium phones, the display reaches to the edges on the sides and the glass has a 2.5D curvature into the metal frame. The screen is protected by latest from Corning, Gorilla Glass 4.

There’s a fingerprint scanner this time around, which sticks out like a sore thumb towards the bottom on the front. HTC is focusing on keeping up with the latest offerings from Google (Android Pay, Doze, Google Now on Tap). Therefore, the A9 will not only ship with Marshmallow out of the box, but it also has the promise of receiving Android OS updates within only 15 days from Google pushing them to the Nexus devices. That’s a pretty bold claim.

So what about specs? If you were expecting mid-end internals, you’d be mostly right. Here’s the breakdown:

SoC: Snapdragon 617 (octa-core CPU, Adreno 405 GPU, 3GB of RAM)
Display: 5″ 1080P AMOLED panel
Cameras: 13MP rear (OIS, f/2.0 lens, sapphire glass cover) and front Ultrapixel camera (assuming at 4MP as previously)
Storage: 16 or 32GB, expandable via microSD up to 2TB
Battery: 2,150mAh
OS: Android 6.0 with Sense UI

The main camera has a couple tricks. Firstly, HTC finally brought OIS back (which was absent after the One M7). Focusing is done via Phase-Detection Autofocusing (there’s no laser autofocus to assist with that). You’ll have access to the RAW image files from the A9. HTC has also built-in Hyperlapse capturing, which allows to quickly play through a lengthy video recording.

Audio output was also a focus with the A9, something not many smartphone OEM’s are doing. The headphone output has a strong amp, which HTC says will be able to run more difficultly-driven headphones. We will also have HiFi audio quality. The digital-to-audio converter (DAC) within the A9 will upscale 16-bit audio to 24-bit and 192KHz. However, fans of the external BoomSound speakers will be sad to know that they were a sacrifice.

So when will you be able to get your hands on the new One A9? Fortunately, pretty soon. HTC said that it will be available in the first week of November across the world. With regard to the US, you’ll be able to find the A9 at major carriers. However, the company is putting an emphasis on the unlocked model.

HTC said that it’s against bloat and inhibiting consumer freedom. Therefore, the unlocked variant of the A9 will come SIM unlocked, bloat-free, and will have an unlocked bootloader straight out of the box (with no voided warranty). That’s a great incentive for folks who like to tinker with their phones, HTC has your back now.

The Uh Oh phone replacement service will continue, giving you peace of mind over the first year of owning the phone. HTC will replace it if it’s damaged, with no deductible. With the A9, there is also an offer to test drive the phone, for up to 30-days for free.

The unlocked A9 can be pre-ordered right now (on HTC.com) for $399, putting it in line with the budget phone competition.

HTC seems to be betting a lot on the One A9, do you think it’s the right direction?

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[graphiq id=”7eJGJLmpwYB” title=”HTC One A9″ width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/7eJGJLmpwYB” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/4370/HTC-One-A9″ link_text=”HTC One A9 | SpecOut”]

Polar introduces the A360, a new 360 heart rate monitor just in time for the holidays

News

Derrick Miyao

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October 20, 2015

0

Polar just announced the A360 which is a wrist-based monitor with a gorgeous color display. The Polar A360 is a 24/7 workhorse that is designed to keep up with your lifestyle and measures your daily activity, steps, calories, workouts and sleep. It is made using durable silicone wristbands which are perfect for people of all activity levels, and most importantly the A360 is waterproof.

Polar has been an industry leader when it comes to making award-winning wearables to monitor your health for almost 40 years. I remember back when I was in college, 1998-2003, Polar was the top choice of all of the athletes, still is to this day, for monitoring fitness activities. Polar has been a brand that has been featured in many active lifestyle magazines like Runner’s World and Bicycling magazine because they help athletes reach maximal performance levels.

In order to keep up with your entire lifestyle and encourage activity, Polar goes outside of the realm of health and vibrates when users receive calls, messages, calendar alerts and social media notifications, and also tells you when you have been sedentary for too long. Polar really is taking the best from their activity devices and combining it with real world functionality with the A360. The bands are replaceable so users can choose from a range of silicone wristbands that come in Power White, Charcoal Black, Neon Green, Sorbet Pink and Navy Blue. The Polar A360 will track activity for up to two weeks on a single charge, with one hour of training per day. It can also be paired to the Polar H7 chest strap for those who prefer to monitor their heart rate the traditional way.

The Polar A360 will be available just in time for the holidays this November for a price of $199.95. It will also offer unique Smart Coaching features such as the Activity Guide and Activity Benefit.

The A360 will pair with the Polar Flow mobile app, which is available on Android and iOS and will track your daily activities from lounging around the house to getting outside for the daily five mile run. If you need more than a gentle reminder from your wearable, the A360 can also work with the Polar Club which pairs you up to an actual club instructor.

Polar’s reputation for helping people stay fit is unparalleled and is not only for the novices, but also the fitness enthusiasts as well who simply expect more from the wearables. This is the perfect wrist-based heart rate monitor for keeping track of your physical activities while integrating perfectly with your normal routine. 2016 is just around the corner, so consider this new wearable to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions.

Check out the A360 by following this link.

Oppo unveils the R7s, a premium midranger

News

Josh Noriega

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October 19, 2015

0

Oppo is known to make some with stellar hardware, rivaling the build of the most premium smartphones on the market right now. What’s nice is that the manufacturer doesn’t exclude its mid-range offerings from that attention to detail.

The Oppo R7 was such a phone, introduced this past summer. In only a few months, Oppo thought a refresh was due. The company has announced the R7s.

So what’s changed? While it looks like the same sexy metal slab on the surface, there are a multitude of updates. One of those is the screen size, which received a considerable bump up from 5″ on the R7 to 5.5″.

The design is primarily the same. Oppo has slightly reduced the side bezels, referring to it as an ultra narrow 2.2mm screen bezel. You can also see that the external speaker has been moved to the bottom of the phone, from the rear placement on the R7.

Some of the internals were improved. Probably the biggest update is the battery, increased from 2,320mAh on the R7 to 3,070mAh. Memory had a slight increase from 3GB to 4GB.

Otherwise, we still have the same Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor. The rear and front cameras are still at 13MP and 8MP, respectively. Although the screen size has increased, the resolution is still FHD (1080P) and an AMOLED panel backed by Gorilla Glass 3.

The R7s will still run on version 2.1 of Oppo’s UI, ColorOS. Therefore, expect to be a step behind with the Android version, at 5.1 Lollipop.

Does the R7s peak your interest? Check out the product page at the source link below for more details.

Source: Oppo

Blu Products launches BLU Studio Energy 2 and BLU Energy X

News

AndroidGuys

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October 15, 2015

0

Blu Products, a company who focuses on making unlocked smartphones, just announced the Blu Studio Energy 2 and Blu Energy X as a part of their incredible lineup of devices. The main focus of both of the latest release is long battery life and 30 days of standby is a result of their incredible efforts(and are aptly named Energy). Blu also claims you can get up to three full days of standard usage on a single charge. This is something I would love to see tested for our readers.

Both are available today at Amazon.com, with the Studio Energy 2 being priced at $179.00 while the Energy X comes in at an unbelievable low price of $109.

The Studio Energy 2 packs a massive 5,000mAh battery into a premium design. The super popular Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Moto X Pure only come with a 3000mAh battery, so clearly at 2,000 mAh bigger with lesser hardware to drive, this Blu device should get incredible battery life.

Studio Energy 2 (PRNewsFoto/BLU Products)

Blu Products also realize that customers are demanding more for their money, not just spec wise, but design wise. The Studio Energy 2 comes in an aircraft grade aluminum body, with minimal plastic, and sand blasted edges for a premium look and grippable form factor. It will come powered by a 64-bit Mediatek quad-core processor, 1.5GB RAM and 16GB of memory, with a 5 inch 720x1080P Gorilla Glass 3 covered display. Not bad for $179.00 and unlocked with no hidden fees.

The Energy X also comes in a premium package with a 4,000mAh battery. It comes with a 5 inch display covered in Gorilla Glass 3, dual-SIM slots, Android 5.1, Mediatek quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. Again the main focus of this phone is that increible battery which should allow you to stay disconnected from a wall outlet for three full days.

Blu continues to push the limits of low priced phones as evidenced by the Blu Studio Energy 2 and Energy X. They see where the industry lacks and fills those gaps with great devices at low prices.

Additionally, 4G LTE is supported nationwide on T-Mobile and AT&T network which includes Metropcs, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, Cricket, and others.

Press Release
<br />
Detailed Specifications:

GENERAL	Model Name	Studio Energy 2
	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
	4G LTE Network	Band 2(1900) / 4(1700) / 7(2600) / 17(700)
	Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
BODY	Dimensions	144 x 71.2 x 10.1 mm
	Weight	176 g
	SIM	Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)
DISPLAY	Type	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	5.0 inches (~66.9% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels (~294 ppi pixel density)
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
PLATFORM	OS	Android OS, v5.0 (Lollipop)
	CPU	MediaTek 6735 Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 I 64-Bit
	GPU	MALI-T720
MEMORY	Card slot	microSD, up to 64 GB
MEMORY	Internal	16 GB, 1.5 GB RAM
CAMERA	Primary	8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
	Features	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection
	Video	1080p@30fps
	Secondary	5MP
SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes
COMMS	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
	Bluetooth	v4.0
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS
	Radio	Stereo FM radio
	USB	microUSB v2.0
FEATURES	Sensors	Light, Proximity, Motion, Gyro, Compass
	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	HTML5
	Java	No
		– MP3/AAC/WMA/WAV player
		– MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264 player
		– Photo/video editor
		– Document viewer
BATTERY		Non-removable Li-Po 5000 mAh battery

GENERAL	Model Name	Energy X
	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
	Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps
BODY	Dimensions	142 x 70 x 8.9 mm
	Weight	154 g
	SIM	Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)
DISPLAY	Type	IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	5.0 inches (~69.3% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels (~294 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
PLATFORM	OS	Android OS, v5.1 (Lollipop)
	CPU	MediaTek 6580 Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
	GPU	MALI-400
MEMORY	Card slot	microSD, up to 64 GB
MEMORY	Internal	8 GB, 1 GB RAM
CAMERA	Primary	8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
	Features	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection
	Video	1080p@30fps
	Secondary	2 MP
SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes
COMMS	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
	Bluetooth	v4.0
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS
	Radio	Stereo FM radio
	USB	microUSB v2.0
FEATURES	Sensors	Light, Proximity, Motion
	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	HTML5
	Java	No
		– MP3/AAC/WMA/WAV player
		– MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264 player
		– Photo/video editor
		– Document viewer
BATTERY		Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery

Huawei Watch review: Does function match design?

Accessory Reviews

Andrew Myrick

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October 15, 2015

1

Huawei has been making quite the statement in 2015. Other than being one of Google’s partners for the Nexus 6P, Huawei has been releasing a slew of high-quality products that have been turning heads everywhere. Slowly, but surely they have been making a name for themselves, and it’s obviously caught the attention of the big boys in California.

In addition to the various phones that Huawei has introduced, they also entered the Android Wear smartwatch race. The Huawei Watch was introduced at Mobile World Congress in February of 2015, and then officially released just last month. When Huawei showed off their Android Wear smartwatch, there were lots of ooh’s and ah’s due to the beautiful design.

Design

Sporting a stainless steel casing, the Huawei Watch features a traditional round-face, with a simple button on the upper right-hand side of the watch. As someone who’s owned a Moto 360, I was interested in seeing a smartwatch take advantage of ALL the screen real-estate, without worrying about having a flat tire, that cuts off parts of the watch faces. Luckily, the Huawei Watch does not have this chin, but there’s also a glaring hole that the Huawei Watch fails to fill.

Part of why the Moto 360 has that hideous flat tire on the face, is to house all the sensors, including the ambient light sensor. Well, the Huawei Watch is without this light sensor, meaning that this smartwatch stays at the same brightness all the time. This can be frustrating, and you would think that the lack of an ambient light sensor would take a toll on the battery life, but you might be surprised.

The somewhat larger size of the Huawei Watch helps to protect your new smartwatch from getting scratched or anything, and the glass covering the watch face does the same. Made out of sapphire crystal, the Huaweai Watch provides another first for Android Wear devices, making it the first of its kind with this type of protection for your watch face. What makes sapphire crystal different from the rest, is that it’s harder than Corning’s Gorilla Glass. This will allow for you accidentally bump into something and have a little more peace of mind about whether you just cracked the face of your favorite smartwatch.

Specs

Below the hood, the Huawei Watch has a 1.4-inch display with, 400×400 resolution at a rate of 286 pixels per inch. This is the highest resolution of any Android Wear device today. Powering that beautiful, high resolution display is a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM and a 300mAh battery. Additionally, the Huawei Watch has a few other features that help it stand apart from the crowd.

The built-in Wi-Fi will come in handy if you’re using the Huawei Watch and your Bluetooth paired device isn’t near you. That way you will still be able to get your notifications even if you’re outside of the range of the Bluetooth. With an IP67 rating, your watch will be able to withstand you taking a shower with it on, and the occasional rain-drops, but don’t play on taking this on a swim with you. The Huawei Watch also has a heart-rate monitor on the bottom of the watch, and while it doesn’t continuously monitor your heart-rate, the added functionality is definitely a plus.

Huawei didn’t really design their watch to be a “sporty” device, instead focusing more on fashion with this one. In that regard, there isn’t GPS built-in, so you won’t be able to track exactly where you go. However, you will be able to keep track of your steps, distance, and calories burned with the Huawei Watch.

These are some pretty impressive specs, compared to other Android Wear devices that have been released in 2015. The Huawei Watch isn’t without it’s flaws, unfortunately. The casing, while beautiful and professional looking, is a bit thick and heavy. For someone with large wrists like myself, and one who usually wears a G-Shock, this isn’t really a problem at all. But we can imagine those with normal-sized wrists, running into some issues with the heft of the Huawei Watch.

Where’s the Qi?

Another downside to the design of the Huawei Watch would have to be the charging capabilities. As stated above, I am coming from the first-gen Moto 360 with its wireless Qi-charging. When the Huawei Watch was first announced, I was a little more than disappointed with the announcement regarding the lack of Qi-charging. Huawei opted for the pogo-pin style charging, which automatically limits the ways you will be able to charge the Watch. Maybe this has something to do with the already thick casing of the watch, but it’s an interesting omission nonetheless.

In the packaging, you’ll receive a charging cable with the pogo-plug pad for the Huawei Watch to be charged. I must admit, this was the most frustrating part of the review. There were multiple times, where I laid the Huawei Watch on the charging pad, thinking that it was charging because of the magnet in the charger, only to find out that the Watch was dead the next morning. In order to make sure I had a good contact between the Watch and the charging pad, I would pick up both the charger and the watch, and made sure that the pins were lined up correctly.

This is an area that could see some improvement from the folks at Huawei, but it’s not the end of the world either. Hopefully, since more of the world is moving towards wireless charging, Huawei will follow suit if they end up releasing an updated version in the future.

Battery Life

As for the battery life, I’ve taken a look at a few of the other Huawei Watch reviews, just to get a feel for what other folks have been getting and I must say that I must have the golden egg. Other reviews state that they can’t get through an entire day, let alone two, without having to recharge. This was not the case in my experience with the Huawei Watch.

After the first week, when the updates were installed, and the internal dust settled, I was getting great battery life. My work day starts at 6AM but I have to leave my apartment at about 5AM or so. I was able to get through the entire day, with heavy usage, and still have about 40% or so left over when I got back to my apartment around 4 or 5PM. With that battery life, there were times that I would be able to use the Huawei Watch up until I got home the next day.

Swap those bands

Being able to change out the various bands is always a fun experiment, regardless of whatever watch you get. The Huawei Watch supports both 18mm and 21mm straps that can be easily swapped out at your discretion. There is a quick release tab on the ends of the band that allow for replacing the bands without any tools. No longer do you have to worry about fumbling around with swapping the bands out.

The final “gripe” I have with the design, isn’t necessarily for me, but I can see it being problematic for others. Huawei decided to not add an NFC chip within the Huawei Watch. While the casing is already thick, I can imagine there would be room somewhere to add this feature. With contactless payments, like Android Pay and Samsung Pay, becoming more and more popular, the lack of NFC is a bit of a head-scratcher. We’ll have to see if Huawei hits the mark on the next rendition.

Usage and Software

Throughout my testing of the Huawei Watch, I paired the Watch with three different devices; OnePlus 2, Samsung Galaxy Note5, and the iPhone 6s. At the core, the software is the same that can be found on every other Android Wear device. However, the Huawei Watch comes preloaded with a boatload of watch faces, 40 to be exact. And while the face itself is fairly large, the Google Now cards that would pop up, took up too much of th screen.

There were times of frustration, where I would get annoyed with the size of the cards, and going on a swiping frenzy to get rid of the notifications. If there was a different way to view the notifications or a way to change the size of the Google Now cards, that would be pretty awesome. But that’s not the fault of the Huawei Watch, or any other Android Wear device for that matter.

Something worth taking note of, is related to the charging notification you get when plugging in your new Huawei Watch. The icon is extremely tiny, and there are times where you can’t even see whether it’s charging or not. That should be something that can be changed on Huawei’s side, and make it easier for us to tell whether your Watch is charging or not.

Empty those wallets

If you want to get this bad boy, be prepared to empty your wallets out. There are six different options you can get from either Huawei or Amazon, and the pricing ranges from $349 to $449. Here are the listed options below:

As I stated, you can head over to either Huawei or Amazon and grab the Huawei Watch. Currently, all the options are in stock, except for the option with the Stainless Steel Link Band. But if you already have an 18mm or 21mm band, you’ll be good with grabbing one of the other options and using your own. Plus, you’ll be able to save a few bucks that way.

Regardless of its flaws, the Huawei Watch is an absolutely gorgeous device. We recognize where the Huawei Watch can be troublesome for some (i.e. small wrists), but overall, the Huawei Watch is one of the best Android Wear devices you can get today.

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Have you used the Huawei Watch already? What were your impressions on it, and where it stands amongst the ranks of other Android Wear devices? Drop us a line below and let us know.

Booq Boa Saddle Bag Review: Is the functionality worth the price?

Accessory Reviews

Andrew Myrick

-

October 10, 2015

1

In today’s day and age, having all of your technological devices with you is becoming easier and easier. Partially due to the fact that our devices are becoming slimmer and lighter, but also because of the bags and cases that we can carry everything we need with us.

There are a lot of different options out there that help you take your tech life with you at all times, from backpacks, to messenger bags, and even a backpack that has a portable battery built in. We’ll be taking a look at one of the more professional, yet convenient options available.

The Boa Saddle bag from booq, is a great option that has that professional look, and awesome function at the same time. Made from Nylon and leather, the Boa the durability to hold up against most issues, and the function to hold everything you’ll need.

[toggles title=”Specifications”]

Fits: 15″ Mac & PC
Exterior: 16.5″ x 12.2″ x 5.9″
Interior: 14.6″ x 10.2″ x 1.1″
Weight: 2.36lbs

[/toggles]

On the outside, you’ll find the “Ballistic Nylon” everywhere with the exception of two places; the leather handles, and the strap that allows you to attach to your luggage handle. Having the ability to easily put the Boa on top of your luggage while walking around the airport, will make your travels much less painful. You won’t have to worry about slinging the Boa over your shoulder and worry about it falling off when you have to bend over to pick something up.

As for inside the Boa, booq claims that it is “Deceptively spacious”, and they definitely got that right. When I first received the Boa, I was a bit concerned about being able to get everything I need with me, into the bag, but I was wrong about that. The Boa has a total of 12 different pockets. There are three main pockets, one for your laptop, one for your miscellaneous items or tablet(s), and an outer pocket that can be used for anything else.

The main pocket that is the home for your laptop is lined in fleece to keep your laptop clean, and helps provide some protection while you’re walking about. The next pocket is the one that holds everything else you need for your travels. Within this section, there are eight pockets, complete with smaller pockets to house some pens, and a few larger pockets that can hold a 7″ tablet with ease.

The third section that can be found on the Boa Saddle, has a smaller pocket within, but also is a tight fit, so if you have a tablet larger than 7″, this would be the place to house it. The smaller pocket within, is just large enough to hold your smartphone. Someone who carries more than one smartphone around, doesn’t want to hog up those precious pants pockets with a bunch of phones or anything else. So booq thought of that, and built-in a pocket so that you can throw your extra phone in there and still have it protected.

The final pocket that can be found on the booq Boa Saddle is just a miscellaneous one, that can house anything extra you may have. There’s also a key ring on the inside with a detachable fob so that you can put your keys in there and have everything in one place.

If you’re still wondering about how much you can put into the Boa Saddle, here’s everything I carry with me on a daily basis, just to help you get an idea.

15″ Samsung laptop and charger
7″ off-brand tablet
OnePlus 2
128GB USB 3.0 Thumb Drive
OnePlus 2 Charger
(2) MicroUSB cable
(1) Lightning Cable
Charger for Huawei Watch
(2) Pens
(1) Stylus
(1) External battery pack
The Martian (book)
Sony Headphones
House keys

That’s the most I’ve ever been able to carry with me at one time, and I really have everything I’ll ever need all in one place. So what happens if you ever forget where you left your Boa Saddle Bag, or if it gets stolen? Well booq took that into account and included a Terrlinq name plate, on the outside of the Boa Saddle. Once you get the Boa, you’ll want to head over to Terralinq’s site and get your bag registered. Now, you won’t be able to look at where your bag is on a map, but, if a good samaritan finds your bag, they’ll be able to visit Terralinq, and get your contact information. Once they have your contact information, you’ll be able to try to get your bag back, and hopefully everything will still be left the way it was.

One more thing that may be causing you some concern after seeing the amount of items that I keep in my bag. Weight. I’ve been using the Boa for about a month, and have tweaked my Everyday Carry a few times, but you really don’t notice the weight. Obviously, if you carry something like the IntoCircuit Power Castle, then you’re bag will feel a bit too heavy, and you may want to rethink that. Regardless, with the leather handles, and the convenient shoulder strap, you’ll never really notice how heavy the Boa is, even with a bunch of items in it.

The Boa is something that I would recommend to anyone looking for a professional shoulder bag, that can carry everything you need. Add in the built-in Terralinq tracking, and you’ve got the end-all shoulder bag. Now, with a professional bag, there’s a cost associated with it, and for the premium look, feel, and function, the Boa’s going to cost you. If you’re interested in the Boa Saddle Bag from booq, it’ll set you back about $195 with free shipping directly from booq. Or you can save 5 cents by getting the Boa from Amazon with Prime Shipping.

While the price is a bit steep, the booq Boa Saddle is a great option out there for anyone who wants a professional and functional shoulder bag. Let us know what you think about the Boa Saddle in the comment section below.

Braven Balance review: Portable, waterproof, and 4000mAh of juice to share

Accessory Reviews

Scott Webster

-

October 7, 2015

0

Up for review today is one of the newest portable Bluetooth speakers from Braven, the Balance. We’ve been impressed with the stuff we’ve seen out of the Braven camp in the past so we jumped at the opportunity to test one of these out.

20151007_144013 The Braven Balance speaker is a waterproof and semi rugged experience. This means you can take it out on the deck, patio, or set it next to the pool to provide hours of audio entertainment. It isn’t designed to take a bunch of drops, but it can withstand some moderate abuse. The rubber coating is nice, and ensures that it doesn’t slip or slide out of your hand.

Thanks to the way this one is designed, you can set it on its side, or flip it over on its stomach. Sound comes from the center of the device however the ends do have some play for the bass and lows. In terms of dimensions, it is not much bigger than a standard size Bible or book of that nature.

20151007_143813 While it is a Bluetooth device, it also pulls double duty as a portable power solution, too. Indeed, you can use the Braven Balance as a battery bank to provide some juice to your phone. This is a fantastic little feature should you need to power up while out and about. There is a 4000mAh battery inside, so there’s more than enough to get your phone to where it needs to be and ensure you’re charged for the rest of the day. Just be sure to bring your charging cable as it’s not included in the box.

As to be expected, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack inside that allows you to plug in directly so you can use the auxiliary port from your phone rather than Bluetooth. Should you not have a smartphone or something equipped with Bluetooth, you can always plug in your mp3 player or audio source.

Do note that the ports on the rear are not going to withstand water on their own. You will want to make sure that you cover up the device using the rubber boot or protective cover. Forgetting to do so or neglecting to do so could result in a wet and potentially damage device.

The model that we reviewed was Raspberry Pink, however there are a number of color options (Electric Lime, Raven, Periwinkle, Alpine, Sunset) available from Braven. We tested this unit outdoors as well as indoors. My wife likes to use it for when she teaches yoga, and it certainly does its intended purpose. She finds that she only needs to play volume about halfway up for a handful of her classmates to hear music.

20151007_143955

When used inside, you definitely don’t have to turn the volume up very loud. It will fill a room quite easily. But, if you need to go loud, it goes loud. There is a semi-hidden feature that allows you to turn the volume to what I believe is maximum capacity. Called Boost Mode, you hold down two buttons (power and “+” button) for a moment whereupon it will switch to maximum capacity. It is quite jarring and unsettling if you’re not ready. If you need to really pump out the jams and liven up a backyard party, then this is the way to do it.

The sound is quite accurate, if not robust. There were very few times where we had to go above half the volume to be satisfied with levels. Regardless of where we set the volume, audio was crisp, clear, and warm.

We found that we only had to recharge the battery once every few uses. The capacity allows for up to 18 hours of playback, however your mileage will vary depending on how loudly you are playing your music. Keep in mind, too, that if you’re using the speaker as a power source to charge up your phone, you’ll need to top this one off more often.

20151007_144028

We were thoroughly impressed with this device and it fits right in line with other Braven models we tested in the past. We are happy to recommend this to anyone interested in a portable speaker. You’ll find the Braven Balance retails for about $130 at a variety of outlets, including Best Buy and Amazon.

<br />

BRV-X-IPX7 (1) If you are looking for something that offers even more out of the speaker with a battery combo, check out the Braven BRV-X. Not only does it bump the battery up to 5200mAh, but its certified waterproof, shock absorbent protection lets it take a beating. And, the included travel strap ensures you can buckle it down to your bike, kayak, or off-road vehicle.

Alcatel OneTouch IDOL 3 4.7 review: Does it deliver?

AndroidGuys

-

October 4, 2015

2

Earlier this year, I got the chance to review the IDOL 3 5.5, and I absolutely loved it. In fact, I called it the best budget phone of the year. The display, speakers, camera, design, and performance all impressed me when I considered it costs only $250. Now, I have gotten a chance to play with its smaller, even less expensive twin, the IDOL 3 4.7. Once again, I popped the SIM card out of my Nexus 6 and switched over to the IDOL 3 4.7 for a full week. Let’s see if this little guy impressed me as much as its larger sibling.[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-android”]

Design

The IDOL 3 4.7 has exactly the same design as the 5.5” version, and that is not a bad thing at all. Sure, there is nothing flashy or super high end about the design, but it feels solid, well built, and nicely weighted in the hand.

The recessed speaker grills at top and bottom create a different, eye catching look, and the plastic chrome accents around the edges help distinguish this phone from every other black slab phone that is roaming the streets. Thankfully, Alcatel OneTouch kept the same brushed plastic back design from the larger IDOL 3 which looks nice and resists nasty fingerprints.

Coming from the Nexus 6, this 4.7” device seems tiny, but it is extremely easy to hold. Combine that with a weight of only 110 grams (3.8 ounces), and this phone becomes easy to manage and use with one hand.

Of course, there is still the problem with the power button that was present on the IDOL 3 5.5. The volume controls are located in a normal position on the right side of the phone, but the power button is located about the SIM card tray at the top of the left side. This proved to be just as awkward as it was on the larger IDOL 3, especially since most other phones have power buttons on the right side.

Since the IDOL 3 4.7 is a smaller device, the power button is not as difficult to reach it was on the 5.5” version, but it still does not feel natural or comfortable. Thankfully, Alcatel OneTouch included double-tap to wake and sleep, so you will not be using the power button for much more than actually turning it on or off.

Speaking of the SIM card tray, this phone uses a microSIM card (so those of us with a nanoSIM will need an adapter). More important than that, there is a second slot in the tray for a MicroSD card. With internal storage of only 16GB, a MicroSD card will definitely come in handy. The IDOL 3 4.7 spec sheet says it can handle cards up to 32GB, but I had no problem using my 64GB card in this phone.

The overall design of the IDOL 3 4.7 is nice, especially for a sub-$200 phone. Like its big twin, it is almost perfectly symmetrical from the front, which plays a key part in the Reversible UI features I will talk about in the software section of the review. The solid, simple, well-built design and feel of the IDOL 3 4.7 is fantastic and exceeds what I expected from a $179 phone.

Display

To get the cost down for the IDOL 3 4.7, the screen resolution was reduced to 720p. Although that sounds low by today’s standards, the 312 PPI screen is still plenty sharp enough for the average person. Just like the 5.5” IDOL 3, this version comes with an IPS LCD that Alcatel OneTouch says is enhanced by Technicolor. I have been just as impressed with this screen as I was with the IDOL 3 5.5. Colors look great, there is good contrast, and this display can get extremely bright. I like having my screen on a high brightness setting, but I never had to bring the brightness above 25% unless it was an extremely bright day outside. There will definitely not be a problem seeing this display outdoors.

Although AMOLED is my screen type of choice, there is no denying that this LCD panel does a fantastic job. Whites are nice and bright, blacks are dark, and viewing angles are great. Overall, this is a fantastic screen that is enjoyable to look at.

Android and UI

I still love my stock Android, and Alcatel OneTouch has done a fantastic job keeping true to it while only adding a few extra tweaks and features. This phone comes running Android 5.0.2 out of the box, and for the security conscious among us, I received the Stagefright fix immediately after setting it up.

While the device does not appear stock, after using it for a few minutes you notice that the only things that have been changed are some icons, some stock apps, and a few extra settings. When it comes to adding useful features, Alcatel OneTouch knows how to do it.

First off, you have double tap to wake and sleep which is fantastic to have, especially with that weirdly placed power button. I found that it works extremely well and I rarely had to double-tap more than once to get it to respond.

Just like on the larger IDOL 3, my favorite feature continues to be the Reversible UI. Basically, this allows the entire UI of the phone to orient itself depending on how you are holding it. So if you take it out of your pocket upside down and turn it on, the UI on the phone will be facing the correct way. With a speaker and microphone at both ends, you can answer a call with the phone upside down too and may not even know it.

If this sounds strange and useless to you, I have to admit that I thought the same thing until I tried it on the IDOL 3 5.5. It has been a feature I have missed since I switched back to my Nexus 6, and I loved having it again on the IDOL 3 4.7. I continue to hope that other manufacturers incorporate this feature into their phones too.

Camera

IDOL 3 4.7 camera The camera on the IDOL 3 5.5 wasn’t amazing, but it was good enough and took pictures that would look nice on social media. Since the IDOL 3 4.7 has the same camera on both front and back (5 MP and 13 MP, respectively) as its larger twin, I was expecting a similar result.

However, the camera on this IDOL 3 was extremely disappointing. Pictures always seemed to look over sharpened even without zooming in. Color reproduction was pretty nice, if you could get exposure to cooperate. I found that the camera had the tendency to over expose and highlights were extremely blown out. Turning on HDR definitely helps with this problem, but it is sad to rely on HDR for every shot.

The camera was quick to focus and usually picked the right object to focus on. When it didn’t, there is tap to focus on the default camera app.

The front facing camera suffers from the same over sharpened photos that the rear camera has. The selfies you take here are not going to win any awards but are good enough to be usable with Snapchat and other social media site.

I hate to say it, but the cameras on the IDOL 3 4.7 just are not good. They are definitely usable and can produce okay pictures, but I almost never took one that did not look over sharpened. Since this phone has the same camera as the bigger IDOL 3, I am hoping that a software update can fix the current problems and allow this phone to take better looking pictures.

[df-gallery url=”https://www.androidguys.com/gallery/alcatel-onetouch-idol-3-4-7-camera-samples/”%5D

Speakers

Here, we have the exact same speakers and audio tweaks that were on the IDOL 3 5.5. There are dual, front-facing speakers powered by JBL, and as you would expect, audio is great. Just like on its big twin, the bass leaves something to be desired, but mids and highs are fantastic. The speakers can get loud, but do not suffer from distortion or poor audio at those high volumes.

These are definitely the best speakers you are going to find on a phone that costs less than $200, and I would wager they could hold their ground against phones more than twice as expensive.

Performance

Along with the screen, Alcatel OneTouch also scaled back the internals of the IDOL 3 4.7 from the 5.5. Here, you will find a Snapdragon 420, 1.5 GB of RAM, and a 200mAh battery to keep it all running. You can check out the full list of specs here:

[graphiq id=”4Lnv6wex74V” title=”Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 4.7″ width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/4Lnv6wex74V” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/2956/Alcatel-OneTouch-Idol-3-4-7″ link_text=”Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 4.7 | SpecOut”]

At first, I was worried about performance on the IDOL 3 4.7 because I had suffered some problems on its larger twin in the past. After using the 4.7, I have to attribute all of those other problems to the preproduction hardware and software that was running on the 5.5” version. The IDOL 3 4.7 ran like a dream, and I never suffered any performance problems at all.

I am not a heavy gamer, but I can tell you that this phone was not built for high end games. You will have no problems playing basic games on here, but do not expect to run graphically intensive games too much on this phone. The IDOL 3 was built for the average person who needs a good phone that is going to perform well and last a long time, and I can definitely say that this phone meets that challenge.

I moved my entire life onto the IDOL 3 4.7, and it took everything I could throw at it like a champ. Multitasking was quick and fluid, maneuvering websites and apps was simple and lag free, and just running around the OS was enjoyable and smooth. I am definitely impressed with the IDOL 3’s performance.

Battery

The battery for the IDOL 3 4.7 went through more than a 900mAh reduction, down to 2000mAh from the 2910mAh battery in the 5.5” version. That being said, this phone also comes with a lower resolution screen, less RAM, and a less power hungry processor. With the great battery life that I got from the IDOL 3 5.5, I was expecting similar results from its smaller sibling.

Thankfully, I was proven right. I get at least 4 hours of screen time on any phone during a normal day, and this phone was able to meet my battery life needs every day. I have 4 email accounts pulling down every 5 minutes, a love for watching YouTube and streaming music, and text message conversations that continue throughout the entire day.

Every day, the IDOL 3 4.7 lasted me the entire time, and I think it is safe to say it has great battery life. If you are an average user, you should have no trouble making it through the entire day with battery left to spare. If you use your phone more like I do, you should still make it through the day but probably with less battery left over.

If you want to check out a breakdown of battery stats over the full seven days I used it, you can check out the tabs below.

[tabs][tab title =”Day 1″]

Day 1 was a Monday, and I started the day around 9:30 AM
My normal days include at least 1 hour of listening to Spotify on LTE and 1 hour watching Youtube over WiFi
I constantly text friends or chat with other writers at AndroidGuys
I had just received the IDOL 3 and was definitely enjoying playing with it
This is what resulted in the 4 hours 40 minutes of screen on time
I ended the day around 9:30 with 6% left

[/tab][tab title =”Day 2″]

Day 2 was a much calmer day
I started the day just before 10 AM
I still did the normal amount of YouTube and Spotify
Text messages and chats still flooded my phone
Without having any more apps to set up, screen on time drifted below 4 hours
The IDOL 3 went back on the charger around 2 AM with 9% battery

[/tab][tab title =”Day 3″]

Day 3 was another busy day
I did not take the phone off the charger until around noon
As you can see, I spent quite a bit of time on Chrome reading Android news
The Spotify and YouTube usage stats are remaining constant
I racked up 4 hours and 30 minutes of screen time fairly quickly
This made me have to reach for the charger sooner than normal at 10 PM

[/tab][tab title =”Day 4″]

Day 4 was a fairly normal day in terms of usage
I started the day a little before 11 AM
Of course, the normal Spotify and YouTube usage came in
I continually chatted and texted during the day
After about 12 hours, I had racked up 3 and a half hours of screen on time
I plugged the phone back in around 10:45 PM

[/tab][tab title =”Day 5″]

Day 5 saw a crazy amount of usage
I started the day around 11:30
Same YouTube and Spotify usage as normal
That day, I had tons of text messages as you can see by Messenger taking up 9% of the battery
This crazy day of usage made me break 5 hours of screen on time
I was back at the charger around 10:30 PM

[/tab][tab title =”Day 6″]

I have no idea what happened to the battery stats on Day 6
The battery graph is completely blank and nothing I did could fix it
You will just have to take me at my word that the battery life was good that day

[/tab][tab title =”Day 7″]

Day 7 was another normal day
I took the IDOL 3 off the charger at around 10:30
Again, the normal YouTube and Spotify usage occurred
Nothing out of the ordinary happened that day
I clocked 3 hours and 48 minutes of screen on time
I was back on the charger at 12AM

[/tab][/tabs]

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-android”]

Now that I have finished using the IDOL 3 4.7 as my daily driver, I have to ask myself if I am going to miss it when I switch back to my Nexus 6. The answer is yes, but not all of it. I will not miss the camera, and I will be happy to return to my 2K screen. But there are definitely parts of the IDOL 3 4.7 I am going to miss. Most notably, the Reversible UI feature which I enjoy so much. Also, just the fluidity and smoothness of performance.

Should you go out and buy the IDOL 3 4.7? It honestly depends on your budget. If you are set on not spending over $200 on a phone, I would say definitely. The IDOL 3 4.7 is a fantastic phone with great performance and battery life, and hopefully there will be a software update to improve the camera. If you are willing to stretch your budget a little more, I would advise you look in the higher range. Perhaps even at this phone’s larger 5.5″ brother, which is an amazing phone for the price.

If you are budget conscious, I do not think you can go wrong with the IDOL 3 4.7 and using it has been a great experience. You can pick one up for only $179.99 from the Alcatel OneTouch website or Amazon!

LG officially announces V10 ahead of New York event

Jack McNenny

-

September 30, 2015

0

Looks like LG is as excited as we are about it’s V10 smartphone, the first in a new premium line from the South Korean company, so much that it announced the phone a day ahead of its event in New York tomorrow.

First in the new “V” line from LG, the V10 is a modest evolution of the G4, with similar specs such as the Snapdragon 808 chip, same 16 megapixel rear camera and same removable 3,000 mAh battery.

What’s new in the V10 is the bigger 5.7 inch QHD Quantum Dot display with a resolution of 2560x1440p, with a small secondary display above the main screen and below the front-facing camera at 160×1040. This secondary display is the highlight of LG’s new phone that’s “always on” and displays information such as the time, weather and notifications when your main screen is off. The new small screen also acts as a quick-launch area when using your phone for apps you use most often. It can also be used for quick contacts, similar to the Galaxy S6 Edge.

Also new for this phone is not one, but two front-facing 5 MP cameras, with one capturing images in a wide field of view at 180 degrees, and the other one capturing 80 degrees. The V10 will use these two cameras to capture 3D images using new software from LG.

While the V10 shares the same camera as the G4 (which is one of the best in the smartphone market), LG is pushing for better software that pushes the limits of standard video capture. V10 users will have full manual control over things like ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus, and frame rate. The V10 can shoot video in HD, FHD, or UHD resolution, and there’s even an option to shoot in a 21:9 aspect ratio for ultra-wide screens.

Finally, the V10 offers 4GB RAM and only one 64GB storage option, all housed in a sleek, steel metal body.

As if the G4 wasn’t a powerhouse enough, LG looks to steal even more thunder in the later half of the coming years with this new line, obviously competing with Google’s Nexus 6P and Galaxy Note 5. Full specs and renders listed below:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor
5.7-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) IPS Quantum display with a secondary 2.1-inch (160x 1040) IPS Quantum display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor
4GB of RAM
64GB of internal storage with microSD card slot for up to an additional 2TB
16MP rear camera with F1.8 Aperture and OIS 2.0 / 5MP front dual-lens camera
3000mAh removable battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm, 192g
LTE-A Cat. 6 support
Colors: Space Black / Luxe White / Modern Beige / Ocean Blue / Opal Blue

[df-gallery url=”https://www.androidguys.com/gallery/lg-v10/”%5D

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Swap those bands

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Empty those wallets

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