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Motorola unwraps Moto G, Moto X Play, and Moto X Style

Scott Webster
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Motorola on Tuesday announced three new models of smartphone, each designed with a different demographic in mind. One is a successor to an existing line while the other two are variations on another line. Beginning today and rolling out over the coming weeks are the Moto G, Moto X Style, and Moto X Play.

Moto G (3rd Gen.)

Available immediately via Motorola.com, the new Moto G can be had for as low as $179.99 — off contract, of course. Options include 8GB storage with 1GB RAM as well as 16GB storage with 2GB RAM.

Powered by Android Lollipop, the phone offers a 5-inch full HD display, 13-megapixel rear camera, and front-facing 5-megapixel camera. Water resistant, the Moto G is rated against splashes and drops in water and can withstand up to 30 minutes in a meter of water.

motog3_specs_expanded_d_0

 

Internally, the handset runs a quad-core Qualcomm 410 processor and can be designed with either of the aforementioned memory combinations. There is a difference of $40 between the 8GB/1GB and 16GB/2GB option.

Rounding out the specs are a microSD expansion card slot, 4G LTE support, and a 2470mAh battery. In terms of added software, Motorola has kept it light, loading Moto Display and Moto Assist.

The 2015 (3rd Gen.) edition also marks the first time the Moto G can be customized using the Moto Maker tool. With two front colors and ten back plate colors, it’s possible to deck out your device in a handpicked accent color; engraving is also available. As an added bonus, the back plates can be removed and changed using shells and flip shells at a later date.

Moto X Play

The first variant of the Moto X family, the Moto X Play boasts a downright ridiculous 3,630mAh battery with Quick Charge technology. Promising two days on a single charge, the phone can pick up 8 hours of battery life from only 15 minutes of charging.

Moto_X_Play_Blue_White_Lifestyle

 

Other details disclosed today were the 5.5-inch full HD screen, 21-megapixel rear camera, and 5-megapixel user-facing camera. Powering the show here is a 1.7GHz Qualcomm 610 processor; storage and memory is not yet known.

Motorola has not revealed pricing was nor specific U.S. plans at this time. Moto X Play will be available starting in August in various countries across Europe, Latin America, and Canada (sorry, it won’t be available in the US, but we’ll have more choices for you all later this year). Moto X Style will be available in countries across Europe, Latin America and North America starting in September. News for Asia Pacific, China and India will come later this year.

Moto X Style

Considered a “Pure Edition” handset in the U.S., the unlocked phone will feature universal banding which means support for LTE networks around the world.

Moto_X_Style_Champagne_Front_Back

Like its predecessor, the Moto X Style can be designed via Moto Maker with rear panel materials that include wood, leather, and silicon.

In terms of specs, this version packs a 5.7-inch screen, 21-megapixel rear camera, and Quick Charge capabilities. Shipping with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, the Moto X Style will be arrive in the US in September with a price tag of $399.

New accessories

In addition to the three new devices, Motorola also introduced the Moto Pulse and Moto Surround, new audio device “that fit with our busy on-the-go lifestyles”.

moto_pulse

The Pulse is an ultra-light, wireless on-ear Bluetooth headphone that delivers up to 18 hours of continuous playtime. Available through motorola.com immediately, the unit is priced at $59.99.

moto_surroundThe Surround is an earbud designed to wear around the collar and which promises 12 hours of playtime. Sweat-proof and waterproof, the headset also has a built-in mic and volume buttons for taking calls. It, too, is available starting today on motorola.com with a $69.99 sticker.

Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt review

Scott Webster
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We’re halfway through 2015, which means we shouldn’t be messing with things like cables for charging our portable devices. Along those lines, we shouldn’t be worrying about keeping track of keys, either. I mean, we can already start our car without a physical key; why can’t we do the same for our homes?

schlage

I recently installed the (Century Style) Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock on my front door. The timing couldn’t be better as we’re actually in the process of removing the gold and bronze stuff that’s been in my house for ages. Out with the old, in the with brushed or satin nickle finish.

Admittedly, I am not what you’d term a handyman. On the other hand, I’m also not an idiot and can often work myself through installation or building of household devices. Also, I have previous experience with installing a deadbolt lock on my previous house so I knew what to expect — for the most part. Would a connected or touchscreen unit be any different.

Alas, installing the Schlage Connect proved to be just as simple as the standard locks you’d find at a hardware store. There may be a few more pieces included in the box but that certainly did not make for any trouble. All in all, I spent roughly 20 minutes taking out the old deadbolt and replacing with the new one.

As part of the “connected” aspect of the deadbolt, this one features a touch keypad for the outside. Simply press the SCHLAGE button and the door locks itself. To unlock, press that button, followed by the PIN. On the inside you’ll find a traditional knob to lock and unlock the door.

Just above said knob is another button which works with the alarm. See, there are four AA batteries inside the housing that allows for the touchpad to work. And, since it’s got a power source, the door can alert you (user-defined) to tampering, activity, or forced entry.

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It’s possible to create up to 30 access codes to the door so feel free to assign one to each member of the family. Indeed, there’s also a keyhole and an accompanying key which can be used the “old fashioned” way, too. Another cool feature – access codes that expire.

Although having a touchscreen is nice, the experience gets even better if you have a Wink Hub ($50) in your house. Should you, you’ll be able to use your smartphone or tablet to connect remotely to your front door. Yep, you can lock and unlock from wherever you are, provided there’s a data connection.

 

Having recently gone on vacation we gave a few friends some user codes to gain access to our home. This way they can stop by to check on the animals and bring in the mail without a key.

[toggles title=”Specifications”]

  • Applications: Residential single family doors
  • Certifications: Grade 1 ANSI/BHMA certified
  • Keying: 5-pin tumbler, C Keyway, 1 key included
  • Door range: 1-3/8” to 1-3/4” (35mm-44mm) standard
  • Operating Temperatures: Outside escutcheon: -35C to 66C, Inside escutcheon: -10C to 49C

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Using the Wink app I was able to to see exactly who stopped by and when. The app not only keeps a log of general activity but there are rules you can create for notifications. The app can also alert you to battery status, too.

In the few weeks that we’ve had the lock in place we’ve yet to run into an issue. Between my wife, son, and myself, we’re all enjoying having our own codes and one less key to carry around.

[list][item icon=”fa-thumbs-o-up” ]Easy to install (screwdriver only)[/item][item icon=”fa-thumbs-o-up” ]Simple to use[/item][item icon=”fa-thumbs-o-up” ]Very flexible and full of options[/item][item icon=”fa-thumbs-o-up” ]Available in a variety of colors and finishes[/item][/list]

[list][item icon=”fa-thumbs-o-down” ]Would like to connect to smartphone without additional hardware[/item][item icon=”fa-thumbs-o-down” ]Price might push some away[/item][/list]

With a cost of around $175-$200, the Schlage Connect doesn’t come cheaply. Then again, a quick check at Lowe’s tells me the average cost ranges from $250-$100 with plenty of models coming in even higher.

Would I have reached for one of these on the shelf or considered one for our house just yet? At that price, I would have slept on the decision. But, after having it installed, it’s already providing peace of mind.

I’ve come to enjoy the functionality and flexibility that comes with connecting to my mobile devices. When the time comes for our next lock replacement I will certainly scoop one of these up. And, after showing this to my friends and family, I can see the wheels spinning for them, too.

ZTE officially launches the Axon phone

Josh Noriega
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ZTE has been steadly climbing up the ranks in the U.S., currently situated at the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer spot.  In the past weeks, they’ve given us a tease that something significant was coming, dubbed the Axon phone.

Today is the day we got to hear what it’s all about, and she’s quite a contender.

zte_axon_3

Coming in at a starting price of $450, we’re not looking at a budget phone, but not a pricey beast either.  ZTE is reinforcing their stance in the U.S., claiming that “Axon is a flagship phone designed in the U.S. for the U.S.”.  Their aim was to make a phone that encompassed all that consumers desired in a phone.  That’s a bold undertaking, let’s review what they’ve come up with:

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  • Design/Build:  Metal chassis, 9.3mm thickness, Ion Gold, Chromium Silver, or Phthalo Blue color options
  • Display:  5.5″ QHD LCD with Gorilla Glass 3
  • SoC:  Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 @ 2.0GHz
  • RAM:  4GB
  • Storage:  32GB
  • Camera:  Dual rear (13MP + 2MP depth sensor) and 8MP front
  • Speaker:  Mono front-facing, from the bottom of the phone
  • Battery:  3,000mAh
  • Buttons:  Capacitive navigation and a dedicated camera button
  • OS:  Android 5.1 Lollipop with light ZTE UI tweaks

zte_axon_2

If the Axon performs well, I would say this is an outstanding value.  ZTE has also made a point to deliver outstanding audio.  The Axon is said to contain two dedicated audio chipsets for HiFi sound from your headphones and HiFi recording via twin microphones.

Although this is a phone aimed for U.S. customers, it is GSM only.  Thus, Verizon and Sprint customers are left out.  This fact leaves me scratching my head.  How can you make a phone for the U.S., but ignore two of its major carriers?

The Axon phone is now up for pre-order, with shipments beginning as early as July 27th.  Hit up the source link for more info.  Did ZTE sway you with the announcement or are you underwhelmed?

Source: ZTE

Toast review: Real wood covers for your tech devices

AndroidGuys
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Who is Toast?

Stationed in Portland, Oregon, Toast is a company that creates, designs and ships real wood covers for a multitude of devices. They are a small team of 8 who work diligently to put out Toast covers for your favorite tech devices! Toast started back in 2012 after a Kickstarter campaign that was backed by 300 people.

Meet Team Toast!

  • Matias Brecher – Founder, Product Designer & “Papa Toast”
  • Naiden Read –  Laser Grand Master & Head of Production
  • Jennifer Wright – Awesomeness & Brilliant Ideas Departments; “Mama Toast”
  • Danielle House – Social Media Butterfly, PR Power & Primo Pixel Pushing
  • Andre Wilder – Master Controller of Production & Taco Expert
  • Barrie Jo Hamilton – You Want It, You Got It Department
  • Laurent Vriesman – Toast Divine Oracle & Customer Whisperer
  • Robert Coronado – Production Team Whiz, Artsy-Fartsy Business & Life of the Party

[row][double_paragraph][blockquote author=””]You Want It, You Got It Department[/blockquote][/double_paragraph][double_paragraph]The team roster was pulled directly off of the Toastmade website. They are a company that really knows how to have some fun! My personal favorite is Barrie Jo Hamilton’s job description.[/double_paragraph] [/row]

Moving straight on to the review!

Toast cover

Toast makes covers for a large assortment of devices. They have covers for phones, tablets, laptops and even the Pebble smartwatch! They also carry leather skins for select devices.

The team over at Toast was kind enough to send me a beautiful ash cover for my Nexus 6 for the purpose of this review. Another quick shout out to them for being awesome!

Applying the skin

I am deathly afraid of applying things to my phone. I have a mild case of OCD, and I go crazy if a screen protector is the slightest bit off. It is actually one of the reasons that I prefer cases over skins; I can’t deal with a skin that is off just a little. It doesn’t help that companies like Toast make their cutouts precisely the right size. The camera cutout is the exact size as the camera, that sort of thing.

This preciseness scared me at first. I was horrified that I would miss and forever be stuck with a crooked skin. Luckily, that was not the case. Toast covers were actually surprisingly simple apply to my Nexus 6. The best part is that you don’t have to do it perfect the first time!

I missed the first time while trying to apply the backing. After gingerly pealing it back up, I was able to successfully apply it properly on the second go. However, Toast does note that the covers are not reusable. After you apply the cover and push down firmly on it, the skin is on to stay.

You can peal it off after a while, but you will not be able to reapply it and achieve a similar solid stick.

Looks

[row][third_paragraph]

First impressions

The skin is downright gorgeous. The color of the ash actually really works with the midnight blue Nexus 6 to great a visually pleasing device.

Toast surprised me by throwing in a front skin cover to go along with the back. Due to the curvature of the screen, the skin isn’t a single, solid piece for the front. It is one piece, but it is sort of cut along the edges to allow it to fold over and match the curve of the screen.

Not only does this help the cover get a better hold on the device, but it also creates a simplistic accent to the skin adding value in both function and fashion.front toast cover

[/third_paragraph][third_paragraph]

Wear and tear

Toast is definitely a higher end skin. The ash cover looks amazing! There aren’t really any blemishes on the skin, but even if there were, they would just add to the overall appeal. This is one of those products that will end up looking better with more wear and tear.

back toast cover

At least, that is in my opinion. The more the backing got damaged from sliding around on table tops and even concrete, the better it ended up looking! Each mark on the skin added to the overall natural look of the skin.

[/third_paragraph][third_paragraph]

Engraving

The engraving is probably the best part. Toast sets itself apart from other skin manufacturers by not only using real wood but by allowing users to add custom engravings into the back of the skin.

For a small fee of around $5, you can customize your skin to make your device even more unique.

The engraving is actually surprisingly legible. I wasn’t sure how clear the text would be when burnt into a wooden back, but it comes out nice and clear.

Toast also offers custom covers. With these, you can order a skin just like before, but now you have the option to upload a design to get engraved into the back of the skin in the same way that the custom text would be engraved into the back.

This is significantly more expensive, but it is worth the extra cash to a lot of people to be able to truly create a device that is their own.

[/third_paragraph][/row]

 back toast cover

Feel

As I have stated multiple times now, Toast uses real wood. This is the main selling point of Toast skins actually. Toast covers provide a feel that is unique to wood grain.

Despite the smooth overall feel of the cover, the wood grain also provides a solid grip. I wish I had one of these on my M8 before it slid out of my hand and down the stairs.

My phone feels nice and secure in my hand with the wood cover. I am not even afraid of dropping the phone without a case on it because I feel confident in the grip that the cover provides.

Price

Toast charges a premium price for a premium product. With varying prices, around the 25 to 30 dollar range, Toast comes out as one of the most expensive skin manufacturers that I have encountered.

However, their price tag isn’t without a reason. The materials and design well make up for the extra costs. The extra effort that so obviously went into the creation of this skins also adds lots of value to this product.

I am not sure about paying $59 for a custom cover, previously mentioned, but I can definitely see the $29 price tag being well worth it.

Wrap Up

The Toast wood covers offer a lot for what they are. A skin that is applied to your phone. It provides a stylistic way to add grip to your device. Toast also allows you to take personalization to the next level with their custom covers.

The only thing they have me wishing for is a skin for the side of my device. They do provide side wraps, but they don’t make them for the Nexus 6 currently.

I highly recommend getting a Toast cover for your phone if you are one of those people who enjoy going caseless! For any phone, not even just the giant monstrosity that is the Nexus 6. Toast covers will provide grip and extra style to any phone that they currently have in stock!

The best part is that if they don’t currently skin your phone, you can contact them and see about sending in your phone as a model to get a skin based off of! Actually, that is how I first heard about Toast, they were looking for a first generation Moto X to use as a model for their covers!

[df-gallery url=”https://www.androidguys.com/gallery/toast-cover-for-the-nexus-6/”%5D

 

Meizu announces the all new MX5

AndroidGuys
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Chinese tech company Meizu launched its new flagship, the MX5 smartphone, at an event event in Beijing. The MX5 will be the new flagship for the company this year, boasting high end specs and premium metal build.

meiz

Under the hood, the handset is driven by Mediatek’s Helio X10, a 64-bit octa-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz along with the PowerVR G6200 GPU for graphics. It is coupled with 3GB of RAM and comes in 16/32/64GB variants. The whole device is powered by a decently sized 3150mAh non-removable battery which will be sufficient enough for a day’s usage.

The Meizu MX5 features a 5.5 inch full HD AMOLED display and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The company has also included fast charging feature called mCharge, which allows you to charge your device from 0% to 60% in just 40 minutes. Speaking of the features, Meizu has also included a fingerprint scanner that is present in the physical home button, and is upgraded to version 2.0, which brings improved fingerprint scanning. Security has also been improved on a software level. The MX5 has a special TEE security environment, which can’t be accessed without a Meizu signature, even if the device is rooted.

In the optics department, the handset features a 20.7-megapixel rear facing camera with an aperture of f/2.2, which is capable of recording videos upto 4K and can also shoot slow-motion videos at 100fps. The rear camera is also accompanied by laser auto-focus which will bring better low light camera performance. The 6-element lens is itself covered with Gorilla Glass 3 so you don’t have to worry about scratches while the phone is laying down on the table. The front facing camera is 5-megapixel with an aperture of f/2.0 for better low light performance.

The new flagship will be running the company’s own skin FlymeOS 4.5 on top of Android Lollipop. The handset measures 149.9mm x 74.7mm x 7.6mm and weighs in at 149g, making it only slightly heavier than the MX4. The MX5 comes in deep grey, silver, and champagne gold colors, costing CNY 1,800 ($290) for the basic 16GB version. The 32GB version will sell for CNY 1,999 ($322) and 64GB variant will set you back for CNY 2,399 ($390).

Source: Meizu via GSMArena

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Huawei Honor 7 launched with in metal starting at $322

AndroidGuys
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The much anticipated Honor 7 was just announced today during Huawei’s official press event. The Honor 7 will will come in three variations, each sporting an all metal body.

Variants

The base model will ship with 16 GB of memory and LTE. A step up will lend you a dual SIM model and the top tier will ship with 64 GB of storage.

Each model will cost about $322, $355 and $400 respectively.

Huawei-Honor-7-frontDisplay

The Honor 7 sports a 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 yielding a PPI of 423.

 

Processor

Powering that 5.2-inch screen is a octacore Kirin 925 processor. The Kirin is clocked at 2.2 Ghz. The chipset is made up of eight A53 cores. Four are clocked at 2.2 Ghz, and four more are clocked at 1.5Ghz.

Backing the Kirin 925 is a Mali T628 GPU.

Camera

In the camera department, the Honor 7 shows off a 20 mega-pixel rear camera with “Phase Detection Auto Focus” that will supposedly give you a 0.1 second focus time. This shooter also has a F2.0 aperture and 6  lens made out of sapphire glass.

Over on the front is a more modest 8 MP camera that has a fixed focus and F2.4 aperture.

Memory

Following today’s standards, the Honor 7 will ship with 3 GB of RAM. As stated before, the base model will contain 16 GB of internal storage for about $322 with the option to grab a 64 GB model for around $400.

Don’t worry if you can’t afford a 64 GB model though. Huawei has included a SD card slot with support for up to 128 GB microSD cards.

Battery

What good is a phone if it is dead? Huawei asks the same question and answers it with a 3100 mAh battery powering the Honor 7.

This battery supposedly will reach a full charge in a mere 1 hour and 25 minutes. Don’t have time for that you say? Well don’t worry, you can get up the a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

If you don’t have 30 minutes to charge your phone, then I would say you have bigger problems then trying to find a way to keep your phone alive.

Although not specifically mentioned by our source, it would appear that the battery is non-removable as a consequence of the beautiful all metal body.

Connectivity

The Honor 7 will sport NFC, WiFi (802.11 a/b/c/g/n/ac) with support for both 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, GSM, WCDMA and LTE.

Bands are, of course, dependent on your region.

Fingerprint Sensor

That’s right, fingerprint sensor. Huawei has equipped their latest device with a fingerprint sensor on the back of the device right under the camera.

This sensor will allow for one touch unlock. Huawei has also baked in various apps for banking and additionalpayment methods that will utilize the fingerprint sensor for security purposes.

Honor 7 comes with Fingerprint Cards AB (FPC)’s FPC1025 fingerprint sensor. A step up from the FPC1020 that can be found in Huawei’s Ascend Mate 7.

Gotta love those product names.Huawei-Honor-7

In a statement from FPC’s CEO, we learn that the FPC1025 is capable of 360 degree finger rotation.

[blockquote author=”Jörgen Lantto, CEO of FPC“]Huawei is a leading global smartphone manufacturer and we are proud that Huawei selected FPC1025 for Honor 7, following up on the great success of Huawei Ascend Mate 7 with FPC1020 embedded that was launched in 2014. FPC1025 supports 360 degree finger rotation capability, fast response time and industry leading 3D image quality.[/blockquote]

Wrap Up

The Huawei Honor 7 comes in at 143.2 x 71.9 x 8.5 mm and weighs 157 grams. Running EMUI 3.1 based off of Android 5.0, the Honor 7 packs quite a punch on paper.

For a base price of $322, the Huawei’s latest offering comes with near top of the line specs and a killer camera for half of what current flagships go for.

Hopefully the device will meet our expectations and deliver top grade performance for one of the cheapest prices out there.

The device will be start selling in China on July 7th while pre-orders are available now. A launch globally, including the US, is expected in the coming months.

Let us know in the comments down below what you think of Huawei’s newest device. Will you be getting it?

Source: GizChina via: PhoneArena

Blu’s Vivo Air is available for just $150 on Amazon for a limited time

AndroidGuys
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blu2

Blu has been in the smartphone market for while now and made name for itself in budget-oriented category with unlocked smartphones like the Dash 5.0 which sells on Amazon.com for $99.

The US based company launched the Vivo Air back at CES 2015 in January, 2015. Initially available for $199 at Amazon, the smartphone can now be grabbed for just $150 on sale. The smartphone is one of the thinnest phones available on the market measured at just 5.1 mm thickness.

The Vivo Air boasts decent specs for its price point. The smartphone has a 4.8-inch 720p display, and is powered by Mediatek’s 1.7 GHz octa-core processor along with Mali-450 GPU as the graphics engine. For RAM and storage, the Vivo Air has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of total on-board storage which should be more than enough for basic tasks. In the optics department, the phone has an 8.0 megapixel rear facing camera and a 5.0 megapixel front facing camera for selfie lovers. The whole package is powered by 2100 mAh Li-ion battery and should be sufficient for day’s use.  The specs are nothing to write home about, but in summation the phone should suffice for activities like browsing the internet, taking pictures, and making calls and texts.  But don’t expect the Vivo Air to run graphics heavy games like Modern Combat 5 with ease.

At this price point, this is a steal and I recommend that you consider the Vivo Air if you are looking for an affordable and unlocked smartphone. Keep in mind that this deal is only available for today and if you have made your mind to buy the smartphone click on the source link down below.

The unlocked phones from Blu only work on carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, and will not work on CDMA networks like those from Verizon and Sprint.

Buy the Vivo Air here at Amazon.com

 

Blu launches new Life series of devices direct to consumers

Josh Noriega
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0

Today Blu Products let the cat out of the bag on their new Life series phones, the Life One and Life 8 XL.  Blu has been making a name for themselves over the past few years with low-cost, bang-for-your-buck offerings.  They’re getting aggressive with this launch, having partnered with Amazon for an exclusive 9 day pre-sale.

Blu Life One (2015)

blu_life_one

The retail price of the new Blu Life One will be $149.00.  However, if you pre-order on Amazon through June 19th, you can grab the Life One for $50 less, at $99.00.

One would not expect much for this price, but Blu believes it packed in all the important factors to make this device great.  Let’s look at what you get:

  • 5.0″ 720p (294 ppi) IPS LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC (quad-core, 1.2 GHz, 64-bit, Mali-450 GPU)
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 8 GB internal storage with support for micro-sd expansion (up to 64 GB)
  • 13 MP rear (Sony IMX135 sensor) and 5 MP front cameras
  • 2820 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • GSM-only network capability with LTE
  • Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), upgradable to Android 5.0 (Lollipop)

The two red flags I spot in the spec list are the 720p resolution and 1 GB RAM.  More so the latter, because low RAM can lag the OS.  But at just $99, this is a killer deal!  Bear in mind that there is no CDMA network support, so if you’re on Verizon, Sprint, Boost, or Virgin, you need to look elsewhere.

Blu Life 8 XL

blu_8_XL

The Life 8 XL is a larger successor to the Life 8.  A lot of the specs are the same as new Life One, with the following exceptions:

  • 5.5″ display (same 720p IPS LCD, at 268 ppi)
  • MediaTek MT6592 SoC (octa-core, 1.4 GHz, Mali-450 GPU)
  • 8 MP rear  and 2 MP front cameras
  • 2920 mAh removable battery

Interestingly, the larger Life 8 XL runs $20 cheaper than the Life One (maybe due to the lower-costing MediaTek processor and inferior cameras), at a retail price of $129.00.  The pre-sale on the Amazon product page will run from June 22nd through June 30th, at a price of just $79!

These devices should most definitely be on your radar if you’re on a tight budget and need a new Android phone.  But you’d be silly not to expect some cut corners.  These phones are meant to get the job done, without burning a hole in your wallet.

Source | Source

Satechi 7-port multi charging station review

Scott Webster
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Quick! How many devices do you own that can be powered or charged by a USB port? Now, how many of those do you charge on an almost daily basis? Okay, now add the number of devices your spouse or roommate has, too. Do you see where I’m going?

As someone who reviews smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets I am always on the lookout for a way to charge them up. This goes double when I have to travel. How can I most effectively take advantage of the few outlets in this hotel room?

At night I typically find myself charging my phone, Moto 360, and the Kindle Fire HDX. Every once in a while I have to juice up a tablet or two as well. Suffice it to say, the outlets in the bedroom don’t cut it. That’s where multiple-port charging stations and docks come into play.

satechi-7-port

I recently spent some time with the Satechi 7-port multi charging dock, putting it through whatever paces it might need put through. In short, I found it to be an excellent solution for those who need to power up multiple devices at a time.

Featuring three 2.4A ports and four standard 1A ports, the Satechi is perfect for charging any combination of mobile devices. Between my wife and I we never really need to charge more than three tablets. And, really, smartwatches, phones, and other gadgets are just fine to plug into anything overnight.

What I liked about this one is that I can place devices into the dock without having to remove them from any cases. There is enough space between each rack to fit a phone or tablet with a little breathing room.

The power cord needed to run the show is plenty long enough (about 6′ or so) and should be more than adequate to tuck behind a dresser or night stand.

If there’s one area that I’d like to see changed it would be to include a couple of short microUSB cables. It’s not a dealbreaker in any sense but I ultimately ended up ordering a 10-pack of color coded cables (seen in photo above) from Amazon. If you opt to use the cables you already own you might find yourself in a hot mess of cords.

The Satechi 7-port USB charging dock is available in white or black for $59.99 through Satechi’s website. You can also find it on Amazon where, as of today, it lists for $54.99.

Phiaton BT 220 NC noise-cancelling wireless earphones review

Scott Webster
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Up for review today we have the Phiaton BT 220 NC noise-cancelling wireless earphones. We’ve reviewed a handful of products from Phiaton in the past and have always been pleased with the results. Spoiler alert: we really liked these, too. But, that doesn’t mean they’re perfect.

When reviewing headphones, earbuds, and things of this nature there are typically two things consumers look for. Are they comfortable? How do they sound?

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Comfort

In short, we found these earphones to be very comfortable to wear, even for longer periods. My wife likes to wear them when she goes for runs while I typically use headphones for mowing and bike rides.

We went with the default ear tips that came with the earphones as they fit quite nicely. Should these not feel good to you there are others in the box. In fact, the Phiatons come with four sets of silicon ear tips and one set of memory foam. Regardless of ear size or shape there’s something for everyone.

There’s also an included neck strap however we didn’t bother with them. The main unit itself has a clip on the back which allows wearers to attach it to a sleeve or neck of a shirt. Your experience and preference may vary, but we couldn’t think of a solid reason to attach the strap.

Sound

As is the case with other models we’ve tested with Phiaton, the sound is excellent here. Whether it’s corded or wireless, noise-cancelling or not, this brand consistently delivers a solid sound experience.

phiaton_220_nc2This particular model offers noise-cancelling which can be accessed by sliding a little toggle on the side. Whether you want or need to use this feature remains to be seen, however, I like to enable it when there’s some sort of ambient noise to contend with. To me it’s like when your ears pop on an airplane and suddenly everything is so much clearer.

Lawnmower engine, air from riding a bicycle, or general traffic noises are essentially turned off. Don’t get us wrong, things work well even if you don’t bother with it. In all fairness, my wife didn’t realize this was even an option. Beyond that, she doesn’t use the earphones in situations which might merit the noise-cancellation.

I’m not the tech and spec guy so I won’t talk up things too much here. But, looking through the Phiaton page I find they offer the following details:

  • Frequency Range: 10 Hz ~ 27 kHz
  • Impedance: 32 Ohm
  • THD: Less than 1% at 1 kHz
  • Sensitivity: 100 dB at 1 kHz

Both highs and lows are very clear and I never encountered something that seemed muddy or tinny. I listen to a wide assortment of musical genres and nowhere did I find that sound came across as lacking. Even at high volume levels, the Phiaton is able to deliver a consistent and enjoyable audio experience.

Battery

According to Phiaton you should end up with up to 16 hours of calling time, 17 hours of music-listening, and upwards of 300 hours of standby. We typically don’t measure the actual hours but suffice it to say these are not a pain in the butt, charging-wise.

Given we’re prone to charging phones over night and carrying around portable power supplies for in a pinch, we didn’t have to worry about these earphones. Between my wife and I we were able to use these a few times each before one of charged them up.

One area of improvement, however, comes in the notification of life. Although there is a notification of a low battery we didn’t know exactly what percentage we were at our how much longer we had. Would they last for a quick couple mile run or are they gonna die in the next ten minutes?

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If there were some sort of audible alert that mentions “50% or 25% battery remaining” we’d have felt more at peace. But, even in the few weeks we played with these we never got stuck with a pair of dead earphones halfway through an activity.

Functions

Everything you might expect in a pair of Bluetooth headphones is present, including volume, track advance, play and pause. What’s more the noise-cancelling option (see above) is a nice added touch.

We like that we’re able to pair two smartphones to the device at the same time. This makes for a hassle-free experience which lets both of us grab them and go without slowing down to pair or reset.

Many modern smartphones feature NFC connectivity of which the earphones are able to take advantage. Simply tap the earphones to your phone and you’re paired and ready to go. It’s quick, easy to do, and worked every time we tried.

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One area we weren’t totally in love was the overall shape and design of the controller. Not that we didn’t appreciate its sleek design and lightweight presence. Essentially we were accustomed to another pair of Phiaton headphones and liked that setup better.

As one of our favorite Bluetooth headphones of the last few years, we really liked the egg shape and directional toggle of the now-discontinued PS 20 BT. To us, at least, it was easier to control tracks and volume without looking. Reach down and you have the D-pad joystick-like thing which works great. On the other hand, the BT 220 NC is more polished and sophisticated looking.

Price

Expect to pay somewhere between $160-$180 for these headphones; they don’t come cheaply. But, having spent the better part of three years with a different pair of Phiatons we know they’re built to last. We’re not saying you can be lazy or treat them roughly but we know they can take moderate abuse with no problem.

There’s nothing here in this model to suggest they are not worth the money. Everything is put together soundly and the entire experience is solid.

You can find the BT 220 NC online through a variety of retailers including Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy.

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