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Blendoku app review

Scott Webster
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If you’re like me then you like to play your mobile games in short, few minute bursts a couple of times a day. Once in a while you might find yourself dropping an hour’s worth of free time, but generally speaking, it’s nothing regular. And, if you’re like me, you prefer the casual strategy game over the first-person-shooter. If you’re like me then you absolutely love Blendoku.

The premise of the game is simple: you have to arrange colored tiles in order. Fade them from dark green to neon green, for example, or blend them from black to white. You’ll start out with roughly 5-8 tiles in the easy levels and then progress up to stuff with dozens of boxes. Also, instead of a simple line of colors, you’ll have to blend them in multiple directions. Need help? You get one free cheat per day which places any tile you need. It could be the catalyst that helps you figure out which way those colors blend.

The levels are grouped in chunks of 100-150 and truly do have a gradual feel to them. Note that the Master levels work best if you own a tablet. There are simply too many colors and squares to work with on a 4-inch screen. An added bonus to Blendoku is that you can synchronize your scores and times across multiple devices. This way you can start on the phone and pick up later on the tablet. To start, you get 475 levels in the free experience. You’ll also find a “hidden” Negative mode which completely changes the entire game by switching colors to polar opposites.

As is the case with many of these casual games, you can return to levels again and again, trying to beat your time. Personal bests are scored as are the world averages. There’s also a trophy you can achieve for perfect tile placement (no moving or rearranging) but it doesn’t serve any real purpose.

Once you’ve gone through and cleared all of the standard levels, I recommend purchasing (in-app) the second round. Doing so not only gives you another batch of puzzles but it also removes any advertisement. You can also purchase additional help. Perhaps you might want to invest in the 20 extra cheat squares (recycle daily) once you get into the hard and master levels. I have dropped a few bucks in this game and couldn’t be happier with the purchases. In fact, I’m ready for the third round of levels, if there ever will be such a thing.

If I had one gripe about Blendoku it is that I cannot sync the purchased levels; only those that came with the first install are matched across devices. This bothered me more once I got into Medium 2 and Hard 2 levels but it didn’t ruin things altogether. My gut says this is but a software update waiting to happen.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.lonelyfew.blendoku’ name=’Blendoku’ theme=’dark’ lang=’en’]

Nomad ChargeKey review

AndroidGuys
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Carrying around a setup to ensure your device is always charged, especially when you’re traveling or out for the night is never convenient. The fact that companies are making a ton of money off of portable battery packs and external battery cases is proof enough it’s time for one of the tech giants (or perhaps this needs to come from an out-of-nowhere startup) to revolutionize batteries.

Until then, we make do with what we have and wait for the next product to help us keep our devices full of juice.

One such product is the ChargeKey from Nomad. Designed to mimic the exact size of the average house key, ChargeKey is small, flexible, and portable.

ChargeKey Nomad Single

The model I was sent for review is the Lightning compatible version for iOS devices. It’s capable of carrying 3.1 amps when charging, meaning it will provide enough power to charge full-size iPads. Don’t worry, there is a Micro USB version as well.

The material of ChargeKey makes it so it’s bendable and can withstand the normal abuse metal keys are subjected to on your keyring. With ChargeKey able to bend and move, it also means your iOS device will sit flat on the table or desk as you have your device connected. On top of that, it’s nearly impossible to always find a USB port or charging station that has a surface directly underneath it. As such, the ChargeKey creates a secure enough connection to hold an iPhone, while bending, without requiring you to hold your device the entire time it’s connected.

ChargeKey Nomad Keys

 I have used the ChargeKey for the last few weeks during my trip to CES, and around the house. I find it better suited for use when not attached to my keyring. Keys and a glass screen have never gotten along, and I’m too paranoid my screen will accidentally get scratched when I have my device charging via the ChargeKey. It’s small enough that it fits into a side pocket on a backpack, or heck even your front pocket if you’re really paranoid about a dying battery.

The only drawback that I can come with for the ChargeKey is that it’s not an all-in-one charging solution. You still have to either find a USB port (which is getting easier and easier) or carry around a wall wort to plug ChargeKey into.

ChargeKey Nomad

The Nomad isn’t currently shipping ChargeKey, but it expects to by the end of February, according to its website. The ChargeKey will set you back $25, or if you’re really creative you can offer to barter a service or good for a ChargeKey or two. Perhaps the best part of the ChargeKey is it’s warranty. Nomad states if your ChargeKey ever breaks, it will replace it free of charge.

Samsung announces Galaxy TabPRO, Galaxy NotePRO tablets

Scott Webster
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New tablets introduced include 8.4-inch, 10.1-inch, and 12.2-inch form factors

Samsung has officially announced its latest line of Android-based tablets, pulling the curtain back on the Galaxy TabPRO and Galaxy NotePRO family. Arriving later this quarter, you’ll find that the tablets range from 8.4-inches to 12.2-inches and all are powered by Android 4.4 KitKat. These new tablets boast a Samsung TouchWiz / Magazine UX that lends to a better experience on larger displays.

On the smaller side we have the Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 and its 2560 x 1600 pixel display. Powered by either a 1.9GHz Exynos 5 Octa processor (Wi-Fi/3G versions) or a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor (LTE version), additional details include 2GB RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, and IR support. Additionally, the Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 comes with 2GB RAM, 16GB/32GB storage, anda  4800mAh battery.

The  10.1-inch Galaxy TabPRO 10.1 offers the same specifications, comes with 16GB or 32GB internal storage, and an 8220mAh battery.

Moving into bigger, possibly better sizes, the Galaxy TabPRO 12.2 moves the needle up with 32GB and 64GB internal storage, 3GB RAM, a microSD expansion slot, and a 9500mAh battery. As for the Galaxy NotePRO line, it’s what you might expect in that it features the implementation of an S Pen stylus.

The Samsung Galaxy NotePRO and TabPRO (12.2) will feature up to approximately $700 worth of the premium pre-paid, long-term subscription offers, including: Bitcasa, Bloomberg Businessweek+, Blurb, Cisco WebEx Meetings, Dropbox, Easilydo Pro for Tablet, Evernote, Hancom Office for Android, LinkedIn, LIVESPORT.TV, NY Times, Oxford Advanced Learner’s A-Z, and Sketchbook Pro (content packages may vary by region).

Pricing for the new line of tablets is not yet known however we can expect a global launch later this quarter.

Samsung

Samsung announces Galaxy Camera 2

Scott Webster
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Samsung’s Android-powered Galaxy Camera 2 debuts ahead of CES 2014

Samsung on Thursday introduced its second generation of the Galaxy Camera, the Android-powered digital camera. As you might expect, the hardware and software are pushed forward and feature quite the powerful and smart experience.

Details include Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, a 16.3-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor with 21x optical zoom lens and 4.8-inch HD Super Clear Touch LCD display. on its backside. Under the hood you’ll find a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 8GB internal storage, microSD card slot, 2GB RAM, and a 2000mAh battery. Connectivity comes in the form of Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC.

Like its predecessor the Galaxy Camera 2 is packed with many software touches and enhancements for taking the best photos and recording the best videos. Using the NFC connection, the new Tap & Go feature lets users quickly share photos with connected devices.

With Photo Beam, the picture being viewed on the camera is automatically sent to the paired smartphone, while Mobile Link, allows photographers to select images they wish to transfer to their smartphone at their leisure. For more creative shooting, Remote Viewfinder lets photographers control the camera using the smartphone, providing greater freedom for setting up and snapping shots.

There’s no indication as to what pricing and availability is just yet but with CES on deck next week we could learn more shortly.

Samsung Launches the Galaxy Camera 2, a Powerful Successor to the Galaxy Camera

Featuring an Android platform and a lightweight retro design, the Galaxy Camera 2 allows avid photographers to capture and share even more, with superior quality and speed

SEOUL, Korea – January 02, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd announced the Galaxy Camera 2, a successor to the award winning GALAXY Camera which combines the quality imaging of a high end camera with sharing capabilities and an intuitive design to match the most up-to-date smartphones. The Galaxy Camera 2’s revolutionary technology, which includes an upgraded 1.6GHz Quad Core processor and the Android platform makes it faster and easier than ever for users to shoot, edit and share high quality images with friends and family. With a lightweight, retro design, the Galaxy Camera 2 is the ideal option for photographers who do not want to sacrifice style for technology.

“Consumers love the Galaxy Camera, and this next-generation version was designed to improve on the successful predecessor, with upgraded and new features that will enhance the photography experience,” said Myoung Sup Han, Executive Vice President and Head of the Imaging Business Team at Samsung Electronics. “The result is a more powerful and portable device which continues to embrace the public’s passion for the social features of smartphones, yet also provides superior image control and quality. We are dedicated to making it easier for more people to achieve great results and with the Galaxy Camera 2’s host of creative features, anyone can capture stand out images.”

Fast and Superior Performance
The Galaxy Camera 2 lets users enjoy the full benefits of the Android platform. Intuitive to use and faster than ever before, users can navigate the Galaxy Camera 2 functions with ease-of use and focus on capturing the perfect shot rather than having to filter through complex settings. With an enhanced battery life (2000mAh), avid photographers can enjoy the photography experience for longer period of time and have the ability to take even more beautiful pictures.

A high performance camera, the Galaxy Camera 2 produces images of exceptional quality, unrivalled by smartphone photography. Its 16M BSI CMOS Sensor produces vivid images which are both rich in color and sharp in detail, allowing memories to be captured and reproduced in perfect clarity. With a huge 21x Optical Zoom, photographers can get closer than ever to their subjects. Featuring an upgraded 1.6 GHz Quad-Core processor, supported by a massive 2.0 GB of RAM, the Galaxy Camera 2 operates at ultra high speed so that the array of intuitive features can be accessed without delay. This internal memory is supplemented with the pre-loaded Dropbox app, an exclusive offering which provides 50GB of free cloud storage for up to two years, so that passionate photographers need never worry about running out of memory ever again.

Simple Sharing and Easy Use
Sharing is made simple with advanced Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities that accompany the Galaxy Camera 2. The all-new innovative ‘Tag & Go’ feature makes it easy to connect the Galaxy Camera 2 to NFC-enabled smartphones and devices. All it takes is a simple tap of the smartphone and camera and devices will be  automatically paired and transter images swiftly using a host of clever functions. With Photo Beam, the picture being viewed on the camera is automatically sent to the paired smartphone, while Mobile Link, allows photographers to select images they wish to transfer to their smartphone at their leisure. For more creative shooting, Remote Viewfinder lets photographers control the camera using the smartphone, providing greater freedom for setting up and snapping shots.
The Galaxy Camera 2’s 121.2mm (4.8-inch) HD Super Clear Touch LCD provides users with a beautiful way to view and edit images. Shots are displayed in intense color and detail, while its large size makes it easy to navigate the many apps and features available on the camera. With a lightweight design, the Galaxy Camera 2 is a highly portable option making it the perfect choice for both day to-day, as well as special occasion photography.

Creative Capture
With Smart Mode, users can choose from 28 different pre-set modes all designed to address different shooting scenarios, which will allow a professional touch or creative twist to any image. For those unsure which mode they want to select, the Smart Mode Suggest feature provides a helping hand in securing those winning shots. It analyzes the scene at hand; recognizing lighting conditions, scenery, objects, and then instantly recommends the optimal Smart Mode to ensure that the perfect shot is always captured. New Smart Mode Selfie Alarm guarantees that self-portraits receive the attention they deserve. It takes five consecutive, high resolution images so that users can select their best angle and share immediately on their favorite social media site.

Videos can also be given a unique twist with features such as Multi Motion Video, which allows users to set the speed of capture and create speed up or slowed down movies. Ranging from eight times slower than normal speed up to eight times faster, this feature adds visual flair to footage which can be enjoyed time and time again. The Galaxy Camera 2 also makes it easy for photographers to use their favorite applications, such as Paper Artist and Xtremera, to personalize their shots straight from the camera so that images can be edited and shared without delay.

Boost Mobile announces $129 Moto G

Scott Webster
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The Moto G is the first Motorola smartphone at Boost Mobile since 2011

Boost Mobile on Thursday announced that the Moto G will be offered online on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.  The carrier’s retail stores will pick up the Motorola smartphone on the following week, starting January 20. For those of you who simply cannot wait that long to pair the Moto G with Boost Mobile’s rate plans, you can score one on HSN.com and HSN mobile today.

Indeed, the Moto G is the same model only recently introduced; Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (4.4 KitKat guaranteed), a quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and 2070mAh battery. 

Priced at a crazy affordable $129, the Moto G works with Boost Mobile’s $55 Monthly Unlimited plan with shrinking bills. Pay your bill on time for six months and the rate drops by $5. Repeat until you get all the way down to $40 per month.

Boost Mobile Reunites with Motorola to launch Smart and Stylish Moto G with NextRadio

Irvine, Calif.—Jan. 2, 2014—Boost Mobile, a leader in the no-contract wireless industry with its exclusive Monthly Unlimited plan with Shrinking Payments,  will debut Moto G, by Motorola, a Google Company, on the HSN, HSN.com and HSN mobile today, Jan. 2. The Moto G will be available Tuesday, Jan. 14 at www.boostmobile.com and select Boost Mobile exclusive retail stores nationwide starting Jan. 20. This represents the first Motorola handset on Boost Mobile since 2011.

Priced at only $129.99, Moto G packs the features consumers want at a price that won’t break the bank, all without an annual contract. The affordable 3G smartphone comes with an impressive and highly durable 4.5-inch HD screen made with scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass and sports a super-fast 1.2 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ quad-core processor. Moto G is loaded with Android 4.3 Jellybean with a guaranteed upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat expected as early as February, making the Moto G the most up-to-date Android of any phone in its class. Customers also have the freedom to express themselves with a variety of colorful interchangeable backs, available from Motoroladirectly.

Moto G will come preloaded with the free interactive FM radio application NextRadio®. With NextRadio, listening to FM radio on smartphones is a new type of interactive radio listening experience. When compared with streaming, NextRadio consumes about three times less battery life than other music apps. That’s because the audio is coming through a built-in FM tuner instead of over the Internet.

For extra protection, Moto G has a water-repellent coating on the outside, meaning that a little rain won’t get in the way when taking a call. In addition, customers get an extra 50GB of Google Drive storage for two years and, as with all Android devices, Moto G owners have access to more than 1 million apps and content in the Google Play Store.

Additional key features of the Moto G include:

  • 5MP-enhanced camera with panoramic and continuous shot
  • All-day battery, 2070 mAh
  • Stereo Bluetooth 4.0 capable

To entice consumers to switch to Boost Mobile, Moto G is offered on Boost’s no-contract $55 Monthly Unlimited plan. Boost Mobile rewards its customers for simply making on-time payments. Unique from the competition, for every six on-time payments, the cost of the Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited plan shrinks by $5 to as low as $40 per month for unlimited nationwide talk, text and data[1]. Payments do not need to be consecutive to qualify for the next savings milestone.

For more information on Moto G from Boost Mobile visit: www.boostmobile.com/motog

Lenovo debuts four new smartphones, including LTE-ready Vibe Z

Scott Webster
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Lenovo gets the year going with four new Android smartphones

Lenovo on Thursday introduced its new line of Android-powered smartphones, including their first LTE-equipped handset.

In addition to LTE support, the Vibe Z is a razor thin (7.9mm) and features a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. Additionally, the device boasts a 5.5-inch 1080p HD display, 2GB RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and 16GB internal storage.

Moving down the line, the S930 is a super-sized (6-inch, 720p) experience with a 1.3GHz quad-core Mediatek processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB internal storage. Powered by Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, it’s a solid mid-range device across the board. The S650 features nearly identical specifications; however, it has a 4.7-inch display.

An entry level A859 rounds things out with a 5-inch display, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, and an 8-megapixel rear camera. Like the S series of handsets, this guy also comes in dual-SIM options.

In terms of availability, these Lenovo models will be offered in the same markets that current handsets are sold. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll get any of these smartphones in the United States, unless through unlocked and direct capacities.

The Vibe Z starts at $549 and is available starting in February in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the Philippines.The S930 and S650 start at $319 and $229, respectively. They are available beginning immediately in countries where Lenovo smartphones are sold. The A859 starts at $219 and is available starting immediately in countries where Lenovo smartphones are sold.

Lenovo Launches Its First LTE Smartphone with Vibe Z

Expands Smartphone Lineup with Four New Devices

  • Blazing-fast Vibe Z blends LTE, beautiful design and advanced technologies into premium package
  • New S Series smartphones offer versatility with supersized or pocket-sized options
  • A Series all-rounder offers high performance in affordable device

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – January 2, 2014: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today introduced its first
LTE smartphone, the Lenovo Vibe Z, a gorgeous razor-thin, blazing-fast device equipped with gesture controls, photo enhancement software and other premium technologies. To complement the Vibe Z, Lenovo also launched a trio of smartphones, starting with the S930, a supersized 6-in device primed for media addicts, the S650, a 4.7-in compact and stylish workhorse, and the “tweener” A859, a 5-in high performance all-rounder.

These four new devices complement Lenovo’s existing portfolio of phones ranging from feature phones to premium
smartphones across multiple price points. Lenovo, currently the #3 smart connected device maker worldwide, has
expanded aggressively into the global smartphone market, introducing smartphones in 18 countries in the past two years.

“We created the new Vibe Z with its elegant design, high performance and custom software so that people can truly have the best smartphone experience now at the speed of LTE,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president, Lenovo Business Group, Lenovo. “Along with the Vibe Z, our new S and A Series smartphones offer consumers choices of screen size and features so they can pick the Lenovo smartphone that’s right for them.”

Vibe Z Wraps LTE, Style and Top Technologies into One Incredible Device
As Lenovo’s first smartphone featuring LTE capabilities, the Vibe Z offers true mobile freedom with super-fast data upload at up to 50 Mbit/s1and downloading at up to 150 Mbit/s1 to satisfy the most data hungry of individuals. The Vibe Z operates on GSM/UMTS networks up to 2100 and also comes with 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.

The svelte Vibe Z comes encased in a thin 7.9mm silver or titanium body weighing just 147 grams. Users will appreciate its laser-etched, fabric-feel rear cover that is comfortable to hold and its 5.5-in full high definition (1920×1080) IPS wide angle viewing touchscreen display. Images appear pin sharp leveraging the Vibe Z’s 20/20 Vision display with a pixel density of 400 pixels per inch. While beautiful on the outside, the Vibe Z packs in superior performance technologiesinside starting with its Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 800 Quad-core 2.2GHz processor to deliver extreme performance for watching movies, capturing and editing photos, multitasking among apps, playing games and video chatting. Loaded with 2 GB of memory, up to 16 GB of internal storage and running Android 4.3, the Vibe Z offers plenty of space for thousands of favorite photos dozens of videos.

With its custom imaging software and high resolution cameras, the Vibe Z surpasses the shutterbug features of other
smartphones. It has a 13 MP rear camera with a large f1.8 aperture lens to defy low light situations and capture
breathtaking photos and a 5 MP front camera that’s equipped with an 84° lens for wide-angle shots. Lenovo’s Super
Camera and Super Gallery apps let users add fun effects to their photos easily. Additionally Vibe Z offers Lenovo-specific software supporting motion and gestures for better one-handed usage on large screen devices.

“We are proud to collaborate with Lenovo to enable the company’s first LTE smartphone,” said Raj Talluri, senior vice
president of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “The new Vibe Z utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with integrated LTE technology to deliver superfast web browsing and unmatched multimedia features for an outstanding user experience.”

S Series Smartphones Offer Supersized or Pocket-Sized Mobile Media
The S930 perfectly satisfies the most voracious of media mavens with its high definition and audio enhanced movie and gaming experience while the S650 offers a powerful pocket-sized media device. Both smartphones adopt the Vibe Z’s silver body and laser-etched fabric-feel rear cover, the S930 supersizes the available screen real estate with its 6-in high definition 1280×720 touchscreen while the S650 sports a compact 4.7-in gHD 960×540 display with IPS wide angle viewing. The S930 provides an immersive and rich audio experience with its twin speakers and Dolby® Digital Plus and even has directional sensors to move characters in 3D.

Powered by a MediaTek Quad Core processor and running Android 4.2 at just 8.7mm thin, both the S930 and S650
smartphones have valuable technologies to help users get the most out of their device including a dual SIM card allowing for two numbers in one device. They come with an 8 MP rear camera with flash, a capable front camera, Lenovo’s Super Camera and Super Gallery apps to add effects to photos and 8 GB of storage. Both smartphones include gesture-based controls and the latest Lenovo launcher customizations.

A859 All Around Performance Model
Designed for great all around performance, the A859 smartphone combines several in-demand features for a rewarding experience. Available in white or black, it measures 9.2mm thin with a 5-in high definition (1280×720) IPS screen with 178° wide angle viewing. Like the S Series, it has a dual SIM card, runs on a MediaTek 6582 processor and Android 4.2, has an 8 MP rear camera, a front camera and 8 GB of storage.

Pricing and Availability
The Vibe Z starts at $549 and is available starting in February in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the Philippines.
The S930 and S650 start at $319 and $229, respectively. They are available beginning immediately in countries where Lenovo smartphones are sold.
The A859 starts at $219 and is available starting immediately in countries where Lenovo smartphones are sold.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook. The press kit is available at: http://news.lenovo.com/CES2014.

About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$34 billion personal technology company – the largest PC maker worldwide and an emerging PC Plus leader – serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the Company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo, a global Fortune 500 company, has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see http://www.lenovo.com.

Toshiba Excite 7 review

Scott Webster
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Toshiba Excite 7 review

As the price continues to drop for tablets, consumers are more and more in the great position to be able to select the device they want. No longer having to settle for what they can afford, many are picking and choosing from devices that meet their demands and budgets. Whereas two years ago we would have never imagined a $200 tablet, today sees the $130-$180 price range coughing up decent models.

Toshiba today introduces its latest 7-inch tablet, the Excite 7. Priced at a mere $170, the tablet falls smack-dab in the middle of the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 (2013) space. It’s more “tablet” than the Amazon model but it’s surely not the hardware that comes in the Nexus series. Depending on what you want to do with a tablet, you’ll fall closer to one end of the spectrum or the other. So the question is raised, is the Toshiba Excite 7 worthy of the price tag? More importantly, does it keep buyers from picking one of the others?

The Excite 7 employs some of the same design cues used in the Excite Pro, Excite Pure, and Excite Write. Specifically this is a plastic body with a bumpy textured rear. At first glance, the tablet doesn’t have any particular feature that stands out or scream for attention. If there were a way to make a 7-inch tablet look “basic” this would be it.

There’s quite a bezel around the screen, more than 3/4 of an inch on the top and bottom. While the sides offer slightly less worthless space, the overall feeling is one of a matted picture. Indeed, the tablet is quite pocketable and easy to hold in one hand, yet we feel like they could have shaved something off each end.

toshiba_excite 7_tape
Dat bezel tho

Although the Excite 7 features some very rounded corners, it’s display edge can prove to be a minor pain. It’s a little more squared off than we would have liked but it’s not going to cut you or anything. Extended gaming or reading might be when you notice it; however, it’s nothing to be afraid of.

It’s hard to describe the tablet without noticing that it feels a little bit hollow in the rear. We’re not sure if it’s empty pockets of space or just the case but you’ll understand what we mean should you spend time with one.

The Toshiba Excite 7 is designed to be held in a portrait mode as evidenced by the placement of the speaker and branding. After spending most of our Android time in landscape mode, it’s a little awkward to stand it upright.

Please don’t misinterpret all of these hardware knocks as reasons not to consider the Excite 7. None of them are necessarily a reason to pass on the tablet. What’s more, these subtleties are only obvious to those who have experience with a previous tablet. If you’re new to the tablet game you’ll likely not notice these finer details. Good luck, however, in overlooking the bezel.

Hardware

The Toshiba Excite 7 features a 1.6GHz (quad-core) Rockchip processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB of storage. Indeed, there’s a microSD expansion card slot on the top edge. Also present along the uppermost ridge is the microUSB port, volume rockers, and headphone jack. The power buttons is placed to right side, near the top. Buttons are quite responsive and feel terrific; we never had to go “searching” for anything.

The frontside of the tablet houses a .3-megapixel camera while the back offers a 3-megapixel shooter. Neither of these were necessarily great in our tests however we never expect much from a tablet’s cameras.

Additional specifications include GPS, accelerometer, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), and a battery that promises 14 hours of usage.

The 7-inch display is an average experience with its 1024×600 resolution. Colors sometimes appear washed out or dull and you’ll occasionally detect pixels in images or apps.

Colors are slightly dull and the 1,024×600 resolution is evident in visibly pixelated small text and images. Reading is where we most noticed the resolution but, again, we were holding this up to other tablets.  You could definitely do worse for your money but know that this is not going to show off high-end graphics.

The touch screen does have the occasional lag and swipes can sometimes go unnoticed. On the other hand, the tablet detected inadvertent touches when holding with one hand. We got the feeling like there was a few pixels worth of screen secretly hiding under the bezel.

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You will not want to buy this tablet to play games. If that’s what you’re planning to do with a 7-inch device then you’d be better served going with a Nexus 7. Running a few apps in the background would rarely cause any problems but we found ourselves closing apps just to boost the performance.

Switching to landscape mode for games would muffle the sound. Seeing as how the speaker are both on the same end we sometimes found ourselves struggling to play and listen to dialogue at the same time. There are some SRS WOW enhancements to improve the overall quality but that’s more obvious with headphones.

In terms of battery life, the Excite 7 was able to get through the day and then some. Standby time was generally average and we found that we only needed to charge the tablet a few times a week. Sadly, we feel like we shortened its usage time because the brightness was all the way up. With all that said, we were incredibly pleased to see Toshiba opt for a microUSB charging port instead of that proprietary stuff they’ve used in the past.

Software

The Excite 7 ships with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, a nearly stock experience at that. There are a few Toshiba apps and services loaded on the tablet but nothing that feels like they’re hammering on an agenda.

There are no carrier apps or service loaded into the tablet and we like that Toshiba left out some of the more extraneous and lesser-used stuff from older models.

If history is an indicator we should expect Toshiba to keep pace with others and push out 4.3 or later in a timely manner.

Conclusion

When it comes to buying a 7-inch tablet it often comes down to how a device stacks up a Nexus 7. Given the price point comes in $50 less we should make allowances in the hardware. Then again, we now get into an increasingly crowded space of companies vying for your your money. It’s also here where we have Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD.

When it comes to a Google-certified tablet with stock Android, Toshiba’s Excite 7 is a good buy for the money. It’s not great, mind you, but it’s better than those knock-off and no-name brands that you’ll find in odd retail locations. We would have liked to see the price drop to $150 for an 8GB model; it would be much easier to endorse. With that said, this makes a decent tablet for your parents or children, either of which might not have experience with another device.

The Toshiba Excite 7 shows its shortcomings most when you stack it up against other, sexier devices. Is it boring and uninspired? Yeah, maybe. Would it be worth saving a little bit more and going with a Nexus 7? Isn’t it always? We venture say, however, that mom and dad wouldn’t be upset with you if you brought one home for them.

 

At long last, the Nexus 5 is official

Scott Webster
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After spending much of 2013 in the rumor mill, the Nexus 5 is now a formally recognized device. If you’ve been following the Android space at all over the last few weeks then you undoubtedly know all of the hardware specifications. Suffice it to say, it’s one of the worst kept secrets in the history of smartphones.

Powered by Android 4.4 KitKat, the LG Nexus 5 features impressive hardware that represents the Nexus brand quite nicely. Details include the 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, and 16GB/32GB internal storage. The display measures in at 5-inches (4.95″), offers 1920×1080 pixels (445ppi) and is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.

nexus5_trio

As expected, the Nexus 5 features a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and a rear, 8-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization.

Diving a little bit deeper we find Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, NFC, dual-microphones, SlimPort, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. And, last but not least, the Nexus 5 offers 4G LTE connectivity.

The Nexus 5 is offered in black and white options and looks to be sold in 16GB and 32GB models.

Like the predecessors, the Nexus 5 can be purchased through the Google Play Store where you’ll find the unlocked device with all sorts of wonderful connectivity.

The 16GB model is selling for $349 while the 32GB model fetches $399, both without contract.

Google Play Store

CoolStream Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

AndroidGuys
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CoolStream Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

There’s nothing I love more than having an easy way to share my music while on the go, or around the home. There are no shortage of options available to consumers, as Bluetooth speakers are becoming a standard accessory for nearly any accessory company.

I’ve spent the last few weeks with the CoolStream Portable Bluetooth Speaker, jamming out to my favorite music and putting it through its paces.

When you first unbox the speaker you’ll notice it includes a USB charging cable. You’ll then assume it’s a standard microUSB cable, but then you’ll soon be disappointed to when you realize it’s not a standard cable, and you’ll have to add yet another cable to your bag when you plan on using the speaker away from home. The good news is, CoolStream claims the speaker will play music for 4 hours off of a single charge, and each time I’ve charged up the speaker it’s lasted far beyond the 4 hour mark. I’ve hit 6 and 6.5 hours respectively. Not too shabby.

Once you get over the non-standard charging cable, you’ll find a 3.5mm plug, a USB 2.0 slot and an SD card slot on the back of the speaker. Each one gives you an additional avenue to stream your music through beyond that of the Bluetooth 2.1 support included in the speaker.

As for pairing and connecting the speaker to a compatible device; the process is easy and doesn’t stray from the current Bluetooth pairing norm.

My biggest gripe about the speaker happens to be about the most important feature when it comes to music: the sound quality.

While the speaker does get loud, the sound quality is put on the back burner. Most of the time the sound comes out sounding hollow, with no depth or drive to it. At times the speaker would act as if I had carried my 27-inch iMac out of its range. During my time testing the speaker, it was placed on the back of my office couch about 10-feet away from my phone and/or iMac. Yet, the crackling persisted.

One can only guess price point of $60 is a huge factor in the quality of sound, where most Bluetooth speakers on the market start at $100 and go up from there. Trying to undercut the price point of competitors is a good idea, only if you have the product that can meet or exceed the performance of your competitors. In this case, the CoolStream Portable Bluetooth speaker only beats competitors on price.

The Good:

  • $60 price point
  • Better than claimed battery life
  • Portability

The Bad:

  • Poor sound quality
  • Crackling for no apparent reason
  • Non-standard charging-port

Judgement:

I can’t recommend this speaker, as much as I would love to have a speaker at this price to point friends and family members to. The sound quality just isn’t there. If you’re on a budget for a quality speaker, wait a bit longer and save some money until you can afford a better speaker.

Specs:

  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR that supports A2DP, AVRCP, and hands-free profile
  • No pin pairing which is activated by a convenient on/off switch
  • Built-in microphone for speaker phone calling
  • USB 2.0 port for music playback from flash drive
  • Memory card slot for music playback from SD Card
  • Line in jack to connect MP3 player’s 3.5mm earphone jack
  • Rechargeable battery with 4 hours of music playback time

U.S. Cellular now offering Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Gear

Scott Webster
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U.S. Cellular on Wednesday confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear are now available for purchase. Offered through the retail store and online portals, the pair cost $299.99 each. The Galaxy Note 3, of course, requires a two-year service agreement whereas the smartwatch does not. The Galaxy Gear can be had in either Jet Black or Oatmeal Beige while the Galaxy Note 3 only comes in Jet Black.

U.S. Cellular

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