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Don’t drink and drive: use the Floome Breathalyzer(review)

Derrick Miyao
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3

2045Tech recently provided me with a Floome breathalyzer to review as an alternative to doing blood alcohol content(BAC) levels based on height and weight. I jumped at the opportunity, because I am a social drinker and don’t ever want to drive drunk. It’s simply not worth the consequences. For many, it is easy to say, “I’m good to drive. It’s just five minutes away” when they are drinking, but those five minutes can be life changing.

If you get caught over the legal limit for a first time offender in California, according to Nolo,(laws vary from state to state) and you did not cause a crash, you can get off easy with a $390 fine plus over $1000 in penalty assessments. It doesn’t stop there with an additional DUI-only $1800 in penalties, a 48-hour jail sentence or a 90-day license restriction allowing you to only drive to and from work, and to and from an alcohol treatment program. You will also be required to complete an alcohol treatment program, and possibly get even up to six months in jail.

The reason why I say that you would get off easy is because there are even more severe consequences of driving under the influence. You can possibly give multiple people life sentences if you crash and kill them. If you cause a crash and cause an injury to someone, you can face jail time on top of fines, and it could be considered a felony based on your situation. Plain and simple, don’t be selfish and endanger others just because you wanted to have a good time. Here are some facts courtesy of MADD(Mother’s Against Drunk Driving).

The Floome is a breathalyzer designed to be used with your smartphone, is made by 2045Tech and is sold in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan. 2045Tech only uses the highest-quality parts for the Floome: The sensor used in the Floome to determine BAC is the same as the ones used in breathalyzers of law enforcement officers. Its purpose is to help you get the most accurate BAC level using your breath, app on your smartphone and of course, the Floome.

Design

The Floome is about the size of a key fob used in automobiles today. If you can carry a car key, you can carry the Floome. It is definitely portable and is well built. It comes in glossy red and matte black for those of you who are conscious about the devices you use as the Floome definitely fits the high-end design category.

Everything you need is contained in the one device. 2045Tech designed the Floome to be simple and durable which is perfect for party goers and social drinkers alike. No battery is required to power the Floome, which means no charging and worrying about it not working without power.

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Setup

[pb-app-box pname=’com.floome.android’ name=’Floome’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

In order to use the Floome, you need to download the required app from Google Play Store or the App Store as this is compatible with both Android and iOS. Once installed, you need to create an account, and then you can plug the Floome into your audio jack and get testing.

Usage

In order to use your Floome, the app will require you to enter your weight, gender, height and age, and the app will calculate how long it should take your body to lower your BAC. In addition, with increased usage, the app will learn your metabolic rate as everyone’s body is different. After you have been drinking, you need to wait twenty minutes before your test results will be accurate. The alcohol in your mouth can distort the results, but on the plus side, it will give you a higher reading than you actually expect which means it will tell you not to drive.

Screenshot_2015-09-15-23-00-40Once I filled in the necessary information, I took a baseline reading before I got to partying by myself. As expected my first reading was .000 g/dL which means I had no alcohol in my system.

After my initial reading, which required a gentle blow into the Floome for a few seconds, I started to drink my Scotch. To test the Floome, I took another test after thirty seconds of waiting. Like I said before, I was supposed to wait 20 minutes before I took my first test, but for the sake of the review I wanted to see what would happen if I broke the rule. My BAC came in at a whopping .167 where the legal limit is .08 which means I was double the legal limit.20150915_230402

After waiting the full twenty minutes and after finishing my two ounce drink, I took the test again and my reading came in at .017 g/dL. The Floome app let me know that my driving could be impaired which I do not disagree with. After pouring myself another, drinking it, and testing again my BAC came in at .033 which meant it was time for me to stop drinking. I normally only have one or two drinks when I go out and at my weight and time spent drinking over 75 minutes, the Floome definitely matched up to BAC calculators. I have full confidence that the Floome was giving me an accurate reading.

Now I know you’re probably thinking, why would I get the Floome if I can use a BAC calculator? When you are out and having fun, do you find yourself keeping track of what time you started drinking? Do you keep track of exactly how much alcohol is in your craft beer(craft beers in San Diego easily push 6-8% alcohol content)? Was it a double shot or was it a single shot of whiskey? None of these things are easy to track and relying on calculators just isn’t accurate. Plus if you are aware enough to keep track of all of those things, there’s a good chance you are a responsible drinker anyways.

The Floome does whatever it can to prevent you from driving over the legal limit by suggesting restaurants you can go eat at, providing a taxi finding service, as well as connecting you to your contacts so they can give you a ride.

What I liked

  • Simple to use
  • Accuracy
  • Build quality
  • No battery required
  • Portable
  • Well executed app
  • Compatible with Android and iOS

What I didn’t like

  • Nothing. I am going to buy a couple for my buddies.

Summary

The Floome costs $99 which is a bargain considering the alternatives. Not only will it help you stay away from fines, but more importantly it will help prevent crashes and save lives. Drunk driving is all too common in this world and many of you probably know someone who has been affected by a drunk driver in some way. If you haven’t, consider yourself fortunate and don’t become a statistic.

Use the Floome if you are a drinker, or get one for your friends and family if you know them to be irresponsible when it comes to drinking. No one deserves a life sentence at the hands of a drunk driver. With tools like the Floome, there simply are no excuses for driving under the influence.

EVERY TWO MINUTES, A PERSON IS INJURED IN A DRUNK DRIVING CRASH.Click to Tweet

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 2014, DOT HS 812 013. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf.

ON AVERAGE, TWO IN THREE PEOPLE WILL BE INVOLVED IN A DRUNK DRIVING CRASH IN THEIR LIFETIME.Click to Tweet

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 2014, DOT HS 812 013. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf.

THE RATE OF DRUNK DRIVING IS HIGHEST AMONG 21 TO 25 YEAR OLDS (23.4 PERCENT).Click to Tweet

(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings.” September 2011.)

IN 2013, 10,076 PEOPLE DIED IN DRUNK DRIVING CRASHES – ONE EVERY 52 MINUTES – AND 290,000 WERE INJURED IN DRUNK DRIVING CRASHES. Click to Tweet

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration FARS data, 2014. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812102.pdf. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Economic and Societal Impact Of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2010.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 2014, DOT HS 812 013. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf.

Luckily there are ways to truly determine if you are under the influence. The Floome Breathalyzer.

 

 

 

 

 

Nextbit announces Verizon-ready Robin smartphone

Scott Webster
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0

Nextbit today confirmed that it will offer a CDMA version of its upcoming Robin smartphone starting September 18. According to the phone maker, the handset will be compatible with Verizon’s network. As for pricing, Nextbit says the first 300 units will be available for $299 after which its Kickstarter price will go up to $349.

[blockquote author=””] Robin is for people who are tired of the status quo and crave something with more personality. [/blockquote]

Nextbit is also running a contest to let Kickstarter supporters choose a color combo specifically for the crowd-funded variant of the Robin. All Kickstarter backers of the Robin can suggest colors however Nextbit will trim it down to five and then let the funders vote. The Robin is currently offered in mint-white and dark blue “midnight” colors.

nextbit_colors

Nextbit Kickstarter

 

Virgin Mobile gives customers more data for the money, adds LG Tribute 2

Scott Webster
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0

Virgin Mobile on Thursday revealed its rate plans now offer for more high speed data at no additional cost. The basic plan of $35 per month now allows for 1GB of data, quadruple its previous allotment of 250MB.

virgin mobile data

The $45 plan formerly included 1GB of high speed data but it has since been tripled to 3GB per month. As for the $55 option, Virgin Mobile has taken it from 3GB per month up to 8GB.

Virgin Mobile operates on the Sprint network and lets customers access unlimited data. The catch is that once you hit the threshold for your plan it gets dialed back down to a 2G speed for the remainder of the bill cycle.

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Virgin Mobile also today announced availability of the LG Tribute 2, a 4.5-inch Android smartphone with a $100 price tag. Also sold through parent company Sprint, the handset offers up a 5-megapixel rear camera, 8GB storage, and microSD expansion card slot.

Purchase the LG Tribute 2 from Virgin Mobile

Sprint/Virgin Mobile

AMC Security: Redefining the user experience (App Review)

Jason Botha
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0

First off, I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of apps that claim to boost speeds and improve performance. The majority of the time all they do is bog down the system even more. However, the AMC Security app changed my view on that completely.

Setup

After a brief introduction to the features, you proceed straight to the main screen. There’s a sign-in feature that is recommended for long-term users, and for those planning to use a premium subscription.

A premium subscription will unlock extra features, but comes as a pricey extra at $9.99 per year.

Features

The purpose of the app is to mainly clear out excessive storage hogs, offer an anti-virus and boost your phone speed. As the proud owner of an LG G4, I saw no difference in speed and the user interface, and can only assume that features like this are designed for people who have budget-orientated phones. The same goes for the feature that cleans out your storage and cache. While I had 3GB in excess files, this was really just a fraction of my total space available.

But perhaps AMC’s strongest point is the wide variety of things you can use it for. Anti-theft, battery saver, app manager, privacy locker, call blocker and a wide variety of handy features mean that it’s really got your back. Of course you’ll need a premium subscription though.

Overall, AMC provided a decent experience. The fact that it’s not in-your-face with annoying pop-ups and that it actually works means that it is a worthy competitor against the other Play Store apps.

Is it for me?

Unless you are rocking a flagship phone, it’s likely you’ll find AMC of some use. The extra features will certainly come in handy at least some of the time, and you might just forget it’s there with the enjoyable lack of notifications.

What we liked:

  • No excessive notifications
  • Wide range of features
  • Clean UI

And not so much…

  • Pricey premium pricing

AMC Security is certainly a handy app that is targeted at users who use budget-orientated phones. The minimal notifications are something of a joy and the large range of things that you get from it are certainly a treat.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.iobit.mobilecare’ name=’AMC Security Protector, Booster’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

Amazon announces seven new devices for Fire tablet, Fire TV portfolio

Scott Webster
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0

[df-subtitle]Tablets begin shipping in September with Fire TV units commencing next month[/df-subtitle]

Amazon, as it is often wont to do this time of year, has announced new models in its Fire lineup of tablets and TV products. For 2015 Amazon has expanded its portfolio a bit, bringing in a new low price point ($50) for its standard 7-inch model while changing things up on the larger side, too. And, over on the TV front, the company has bolstered that family with new hardware and software capabilities.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s in store for the seven new devices rolling out this fall.

Tablets

Fire tablet – Setting the bar for what can be had at a very attractive price, the new tablet retails for $50.  Hardware features include a quad-core processor, 7-inch IPS display, cameras on the front and back, 8GB storage, with microSD support (up to 128GB). Powered by Fire OS “Bellini”, the new tablet also comes loaded with Amazon Underground and provides quick and easy discovery of content, deals, and more. Amazon will also sell this tablet in a “Buy 5, get 1 free” deal. That’s six tablets for $250. Pre-order today with shipping expected on September 30.

Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 – Offered in 8-inch and 10.1-inch versions, these two models will be offered in a variety of colors. The 8-inch has four color options: black, magenta, blue, and tangerine; the 10.1-inch is sold in black and white. . The smaller comes with 8GB and 16GB options while the larger has 16GB and 32GB capacities.

Fire_HD_8_Colors

The displays are protected by Gorilla Glass to ensure they withstand the scratches and scuffs that come with taking them everywhere. Also running the 5.0 Bellini OS, other standout features include Dolby Audio with 5.1 virtual surround sound and expandable storage capacity (up to 128GB).

Pricing shakes out to $149 (8GB) and $169 (16GB) for the Fire HD 8 and the Fire HD 10 is $229 (16GB) and $259 (32GB) as long as you let Amazon place the occasional sponsored ads. To remove that option runs an extra $15. Pre-order today with shipping expected on September 30.

Fire Kids Edition – A refresh of the child-centric model introduced last fall, this one comes in with a lower price point for 2015. What’s more, the kid-proof case has been updated in the process. Toss in one year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited and a two-year guarantee and you’ve got a bargain for $100.

Fire TV

Fire TV and Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote – The TV units pick up support for 4K Ultra HD this year as well as the Alexa technology found in the standalone Amazon unit. The Fire TV sells for $100 with shipments starting October 5. The Fire TV Stick retails for $40 with the standard remote or $50 if you bundle it with a Voice Remote. Shipping begins October 22 for the HDMI-based dongle.

firetv_gaming

Fire TV Gaming Edition – A  new version of the console-like unit, this one includes the 2015 Fire TV, the new Fire TV Game Controller, a 32 GB microSD card, and two popular games: Shovel Knight and Disney’s Ducktales. Worth roughly $190, it’s bundled together for $140 and starts shipping October 5.

2016 Honda Civic makes its debut with Android Auto

Austin Hyde
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2

It seems like Honda has been on a roll with Android. The 2016 Honda Pilot and Accord actually run Android 4.2.2. In addition the 2016 Accord has support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Yesterday Honda showed off its all new 2016 Honda Civic sedan on a live YouTube stream and announced among other things that the new Civic would be their next vehicle to debut with Android Auto.

In addition to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay the new Civic will debut with the following features.

  • Available Honda Sensing – including Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation and, for the first time in a Honda, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
  • New 2.0l 4cyl base engine with 155hp
  • New available 1.5-liter, direct-injected and turbocharged 16-valve DOHC inline-4 with 170hp
  • 40mpg+ tagerted EPA gas mileage
  • New Civic hatchback bodystyle
  • Type R model for US market
  • 7-inch high-definition Display Audio touchscreen
  • Available LED exterior lighting, including new Honda LED headlights (in-line type), LED daytime running lights (standard) and distinctive C-shaped LED taillights (also standard)
  • 25% more body rigidity
  • 12% more aerodynamic
  • Flush-mounted acoustic glass windshield
  • Variable gear ratio steering
  • Standard 4-wheel disc brakes
  • Beefier front and rear stabilizer bars
  • Agile Handling Assist brake-torque vectoring technology
  • An additional 3.7 cubic feet of interior space
  • 2 inches of added rear-seat legroom
  • Trunk space has been increased by 2.6 cubic feet
  • New Touring Trim level
  • 450 watt 10 speaker audio system (Touring only)
  • Standard automatic climate control
  • Auto-up/down front power windows
  • Electronic parking brake with Brake Hold
  • Walk-Away auto door locks
  • Adjustable driver’s seat thigh support with 14 degrees of tilt (EX-L and above)
  • Larger, reconfigurable new center console with up to 7.2 liters of secure storage space
  • 4-way power front passenger’s seat

I think we can also speculate that based on the YouTube video at 29:07, the new Civic will also have Android 4.2.2 just like the 2016 Accord.

What do you think? Does this announcement put the Civic on your radar? Let us know in the comments below.

(Deal) Get this Interactive Coding Bundle for 92% off

Andrew Myrick
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0

Are you happy in your job? Are you making the kind of money that you had once hoped you would? If you feel like you’re driving down a dead-end road, I’ve got good news for you: you can write yourself out of that hole. That’s right. If you’re reading this, you’re interested in the Android operating system.

Deductive reasoning tells us that also means you’re technically inclined and interested in how stuff works. There’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t be getting a taste of some of the plump salaries that today’s coding and developing workforce are bringing in. All you need is the training… and training you shall receive.

Features:

  • 33+ hours of video content
  • Reference the downloadable ​e-book on how to get hired as a full-time web developer
  • Get live guidance with instructors via live video/screenshare
  • Study front-end development w/ HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery & frameworks like AngularJS
  • Learn back-end development w/ Ruby on Rails, Node.js, e-commerce, databases & more
  • Understand computer science fundamentals, algorithms, git, and test driven development (TDD)
  • Create a portfolio of real-life apps to help you get jobs or start your own business

If you’re interested in grabbing this bundle, head over to the AndroidGuys Deals page, add to cart, log in or sign-up, and be on your merry way. Normally priced at $499 for everything, you can grab this great deal for 92% off at only $39.

If you like this deal, and want to see more of these, let us know in the comments below. You can find this, and many other great tech bargains through our Deals Page. Backed by StackCommerce, there are daily promos, giveaways, freebies, and much more!

BlackBerry Venice gets its full body glamour shots

Dan Bartram
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2

It’s no secret that BlackBerry are developing their own Android device, given the number of renders and leaked specs that have made their way onto the internet, but to confirm that such a device exists, there’s some new images showing the unannounced BlackBerry Venice.

You’ll recall that the BlackBerry Venice is important because it’ll not only mark the company’s strategy to regain some sort of presence into the smartphone arena, and also signal the death of their own OS and adoption of Android, but because of the keyboard.

[row][double_paragraph]venice[/double_paragraph][double_paragraph]venice 2[/double_paragraph] [/row]

BlackBerry devices are famous for their keyboard and Android is crying out for a device that does it well, so the combination results in a device that could be extremely interesting. There appears to be keyboard shortcuts available, which has been confirmed by the source of these images, so there’s not much left to do but wait for the Venice to be announced and enjoy the leaked images.

Will you be in the market for the BlackBerry Venice?

Source: AndroidAuthority

Shure SRH145 on-ear headphone review

Josh Noriega
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0

Shure brings style and great sound to the budget segment

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

[dropcaps]Shure is well known in the audiophile community for pumping out some serious audio gear.  However, those who do not want to spend an arm and a leg on a pair of headphones may have not had an opportunity to hear what they’re capable of.  As of late, Shure has been trying to stretch its reach to cover more budgets.  One of the latest additions is the SRH145 on-ear headphones.[/dropcaps]

DSC00691

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

Design

In touring the product, I get the feeling of compromise and balance.  As all headphones in this price range (and even much above), you see cut corners in the materials.  The band is not made of the best feeling plastic.  But in what I consider a great move, Shure laminated the entire surround of the headband with a sleek-looking brushed-metal finish.  This was a fantastic choice in material, which gives an inexpensive product an expensive look, and stands out (in a good way).  It feels nice too.

[row][double_paragraph]DSC00713[/double_paragraph][double_paragraph]DSC00719[/double_paragraph] [/row]

For portability, Shure engineered a hinge system on the left and right sides of the bands.

DSC00697

They fold so that the cups fill the space and reduce considerably in size.  This is always a great feature to have, if you’re taking these on the go.  However, since the thought is portability, I wish Shure would’ve included a carrying case in the box.

[row][double_paragraph]DSC00702[/double_paragraph][double_paragraph]DSC00701[/double_paragraph] [/row]

The cord is considerable in length (5ft to be exact).  It connects to both cups, from their bottoms (non-removable).  The headphone jack is a 90 degree connector.

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Everything here feels as it should, sturdy.

The earcups wobble to allow for different angles of ear placement.  To fit varying head sizes, instead of the typical band extension, the earcups slide up or down on a railing.

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Comfort

Since these headphones are on-ear (they rest on the ears, as opposed to over-ear earcups, which encompass the ear), the earpads are made of a supple cushion.  It feels similar to memory foam, and I didn’t notice any discomfort over a period of continual use.  Although, they do heat up my ears, but this is a common occurrence with on-ears.

DSC00728

The upper portion of the headband has a similar, cushiony material, for comfort as the headphones rest on the top of your head.  Together with the lightness in weight, I didn’t find any discomfort here either.

Sound

*I used an iBasso D-Zero MK2 DAC and Tidal HiFi music samples to conduct this review.

So now to the most important aspect of every headphone review – the sound.  I found the SRH145 to have a mostly balanced sound signature.  That is, there isn’t a particular frequency range that dominants too much (i.e. bass).  The way I would describe it is that a little prominence is taken from the treble and given to the bass.  The mids sit at a nice place.

The bass provides a considerable punch when the song demands it, and can sometimes be boomy.  It should be sufficient to satisfy bassheads.  It’s slower-paced kind of response to my ears and definition was occasionally questionable (but decent for the most part).  Mid-bass holds its composure better than sub-bass does (punchy rather than low-end rumble), and can even steal the show.   This is fine with me as a compromise, as mid-bass is generally dominant in music.

I love the mids on this thing, they’re done very nicely.  I always appreciate when vocals aren’t pushed back in favor for the other frequencies.  Shure has a tendency not to do this, and it shows on the SRH145.  Treble leaves a little to be desired.  It doesn’t appear to reach that far, at least compared to more detailed (expensive) headphones.  But from what I can hear, it gets the job done.

I don’t expect much on soundstage and imaging from on-ear headphones (due to the spatial limitation, compared to over-ears).  Also, at this price point, I imagine more of the focus is on getting the sound right.  The soundstage of the SRH145 slightly exceeded my expectation.  I would say it’s wide enough to satisfy most people.  But expect more of an in-head-directed sound, not very spacious.  And that goes for imaging too.  Certain instruments can slightly show spatial differentiation, depending on how the song was made, but it isn’t going to wow you.

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Final Thoughts

DSC00692

I had a great time checking out the SRH145 on-ears.  I wasn’t sure what to expect or what focus Shure took with them.  I was left pleasantly surprised with what you get for your money.  I just about agree with all of the choices and compromises Shure took.

Most people want a considerable bass response, and the SRH145 certainly delivers.  Also, the mids (which are often neglected) are done beautifully in my opinion.  Design is equally done well for the price.  Comfort is where it should be, they fold down for portability, and the metal-finish band is a simple solution to adding a good, non-cheap look.  This is a great offering for the $39 asking-price.

Shure SRH145 Product Page

Apple releases app for Android users to switch easily to iOS

Andrew Myrick
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1

In 2007, Apple unveiled the iPhone for the world. After 2008 when the App Store became the place to be with their “There’s an app for that” commercials, Apple always had a leg up on the competition. Once Android came into the picture, bringing the Play Store with it, Google slowly started to take bits and pieces of what Apple was doing with the iPhone and the App Store.

Over the years, Google has released a slew of applications onto the Apple App Store, with the most recent being the Android Wear application. There was even a period of time where the built-in Apple Maps application was powered by Google. However, nobody has ever seen an application from Apple developed for, or released on Google’s Play Store. That has changed today.

Move to iOS

 

Announced at WWDC earlier this year, Apple stated that in addition to releasing an Android application for Apple Music, they also stated that there would be an easier way to port your information from Android to iOS. However, nothing else had really been mentioned or leaked about it, so there was no real way of knowing when it would be released.

With today’s launch of iOS 9, Apple pushed ‘Move to iOS’ app to the world on the Google Play Store. Essentially what this does is similar to what certain Android devices let you do now. Backup all of your content on your current device, and transfer to the new one via the application or Bluetooth.

For those who are brand new iOS, Apple has created a support page on their site that walks you through the whole process from start to finish. That way, when complete, all of the information from Android device will be nestled and organized on your new iOS device.

Now there are requirements for what devices are compatible with Move to iOS.

Note:

  • Make sure that you have Android version 4.0 or later.
  • On your Android device, make sure that Wi-Fi is on.
  • Plug your new iOS device and your Android device in to power.
  • Make sure the content you’re moving will fit on your new iOS device.
  • If you want to transfer your Chrome bookmarks, update to the latest version of Chrome on your Android device.

If all of these requirements are met, you’ll be on your way to enjoying your new iOS device.

Let us know what you think about Apple’s first foray in the Google Play Store and how helpful this Move to iOS application will be for you.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.apple.movetoios’ name=’Move to iOS’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

Source: Apple

 

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