If saving money on your wireless plan was one of your New Year’s resolutions, then Visible has a fantastic deal for you. Starting January 4, 2023, Visible is offering $15 off of its $30 and $45 plans for 12 months with the code 15OFF12.
That will get you service for an entire year for as little as $15 a month if you choose the base Visible plan with unlimited minutes, texts, and 5G data nationwide. It also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data, spam protection, and unlimited calls and texts to Mexico and Canada.
The 15OFF12 code also works with the Visible+ Plan dropping the price from $45 a month to $30. The Visible+ Plan includes all of the previous features as the base plan, such as unlimited minutes, texts, and 5G data nationwide. The biggest difference is that you’ll have 50GB of premium 5G data each month.
The Visible+ Plan also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data, spam protection, and unlimited calls and texts to Mexico and Canada. Additionally, Visible+ Plan subscribers will get access to unlimited minutes, texts, and data while roaming in Mexico and Canada, as well as international calling from the US to 30+ countries and international texting from the US to over 200 countries.
Both plans run on the Verizon network with no annual contract with taxes and fees included with no credit check required. Once the 12 months is up, you can choose to continue using Visible at full price, or if auto-pay is enabled, you will be automatically charged $30 or $45 depending on your plan.
This offer is available for new customers only, and will require you to bring your own device and port in your old number. Since Visible uses the Verizon network, you’ll need to make sure your phone runs on its network first by using the compatibility checker. It would also be wise to take a look at the coverage map to ensure you’ll get coverage where you need before switching over.
Targus has expanded its EcoSmart Collection which includes eco-friendly earth-conscious laptop bags, and other accessories at CES 2023. The company partners with Atmosic Technologies to provide various IoT solutions to end users.
The EcoSmart collection features two premium full-sized keyboards and an ergonomic, ambidextrous mouse. These products are arriving early in 2023.
The Keyboard and mouse
Definitely, power users will love the design and performance of the EcoSmart keyboard. More importantly, it is designed with advanced energy-harvesting solar technology and recycled materials. The photovoltaic cells are optimized to work perfectly to harvest lighting when users are indoors.
Targus’ keyboard design features a backlit 104-keypad and multi-device plug-and-play compatibility, providing superior functionality and a good typing experience. It should be in the hands of users as early as February 2023.
Targus ensures it uses plastic, and packaging items made from recycled materials. However, the tech accessories use ultra-low-power Bluetooth technology and this assures users of a reduction in power usage, translating to extended battery life.
Additional benefits include Targus DefenseGuard Antimicrobial Protection meant for creating a cleaner surface and protecting your device by preventing the spread of microorganisms.
In addition, there’s also the Ergonomic Ambidextrous EcoSmart Mouse uniquely designed. The user can lift the top and rotate it 180 degrees to convert it from a right to a left-handed mouse. That’s amazing.
The eco-friendly bags
As for eco-friendly backpacks and laptop bags, everyone can find what suits them when purchasing any of the bags. The bags are good for security issues that one may encounter at the airports.
Targus explained in its press release that the reason for these tech accessories is to embody sustainability while providing superior ergonomic and user-friendly benefits significant to its customers today.
USA-based audio products manufacturer brand Cleer introduced its new Roam Sport truly wireless earbuds with noise cancellation support. A new addition to the earbuds lineup features a sporty design most suitable for gym enthusiasts and outdoor activities such as running, and cycling. The lightweight compact ergonomics offer great wear comfort. No matter whether you are running or doing an intense gym workout with Secure fit, it won’t budge.
Roam Sport noise canceling truly wireless earbuds has custom designed 5.8mm dynamic drivers with AptX adaptive audio that offers crystal clear, immersive sound. The earbuds have noise cancellation support of up to 25dB, offering a great calling experience in a noisy environment. The earbuds are sweat and water resistance, cleer rates it at IPX4. The earbuds also support touchpad gestures which allow you to answer calls, control the volume and music playback, and also activate the phone’s voice assistant.
The battery is another important factor when it comes to the earbuds, as Cleer claims that the Roam Sport earbuds offer up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge and it gets charged via USB C. Furthermore, Cleer offers plenty of customizations with its Cleer+ App which lets you control the music library, device controls, EQ, and customize the touchpad functions. The earbuds feature Ambient Awareness mode which allows you to hear outside sounds without removing the earbuds.
Roam Sport Noise Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds are priced at $99.99 and come in a sole color option- Black finish. The earbuds are available for purchase from Cleer’s official website and e-commerce site Amazon.
Cleer Roam Sport Highlights
-Noise Cancellation support
-Custom-designed 5.8mm dynamic drivers
-IPX4 sweat and water resistance
-Touchpad gestures support
-Up to 20 hours of battery life
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We’ve been on a run of wireless Android Auto dongles of late here on AndroidGuys. These devices are a great way to expand the functionality of older car head units to support the plug-free variant for Android Auto control. CarlinKit A2A is another solid option for users looking for this type of device.
Design
Nothing new to see here really. The CarlinKit A2A “box” will immediately strike a resemblance to the other models we’ve reviewed recently. It’s a small rectangle with rounded edges in a lightweight, plastic shell. It can feel a little cheap out of the box, but these things will be tucked away in your car and don’t need to be a tank, and is in line with the quality of most competitors.
Besides the casing, the CarlinKit has a single USB-C port on one side and a USB-A on the opposite. This is the business end of this device. Hooking this up to your car with the included USB-C port is simple as can be. The USB-A is shown on the website to be used for manual local updates, but no mention of how to perform this in the manual.
Setup and function
Getting going takes less than five minutes with the CarlinKit A2A adapter. Plug the USB-C into your dongle, and the other end into your car. Then, find the Autoxxxx option in the Bluetooth settings of your phone. That’s it. You should see the CarlinKit interface take over with Android Auto in no time.
Daily use is just as seamless. Each time you jump in the car the unit should connect to your phone and auto-launch. I’ve found this to be consistent throughout my testing. I never had an instance where the CarlinKit didn’t connect and bring Android Auto to my car at startup.
All other features seem to function as you’d expect with similar Android Auto wireless dongles. I did have one nagging issue from time to time. About once a day, the unit would lose connection during usage and then recover around 30 seconds later.
My gut is that the CarlinKit A2A is either dropping WiFi push to the phone occasionally, or the device is fully rebooting. There was an update available during my test period, and I’d hoped this would fix this bug, but it didn’t. I would also note that this is not exclusive to the CarlinKit, but isn’t present on other units from CarsiFi or Moto.
One additional feedback on the update process is that it uses a web interface. I’ve found this to be pretty clunky with the Android Auto systems. This is by nature Android Auto uses a dual connection to perform the wireless features. Both Bluetooth and WiFi are being utilized to make the interface work.
When using an IP-based option to see settings and perform updates, you get in this weird loop of having to disconnect the WiFi yet also stay connected to keep the connection for updates. It’s an odd and frankly inconsistent experience. I’ve found the app-based options from AAWireless and CarsifFi to be much easier and better-resulting options.
Final Thoughts
CarlinKit has built another good option for Android Auto users who want to go wireless with the A2A. The quick setup and mostly consistent performance make it compelling. I’d be more apt to recommend if they can fix the disconnect bug.
The final piece of any review is price. The CarlinKit A2A is currently $94 directly from CarlinKit and can also be bought at Amazon for $98. Either is a competitive price to the other wireless Android Auto devices on the market.
Nextbase on Wednesday announced the starting-at pricing and on-sale timing for its Nextbase iQ, the “world’s first truly smart and fully connected dash cam”.
The forthcoming Nextbase iQ will be powered exclusively by T-Mobile for North America, utilizing IoT connectivity with real-time video and notifications. Moreover, it will allow for over-the-air updates that can include additional features, enhancing the capabilities of the device.
By combining up to three cameras (up to 4K resolution), vehicle owners can benefit from remote driver safety and vehicle security capabilities.
Features of the Nextbase iQ include live video and audio access and push notifications, SOS Mode (automatically alerting 911), and Witness Mode (voice-activated hands-free recording).
The Nextbase iQ will be available in Spring 2023 with pricing starting under $500; dedicated Nextbase service subscriptions are expected to be priced at under $10 per month.
Nextbase iQ features will include:
4K, tri-cam infrared video system offers both the highest quality Dash Cam recording quality and dedicated vehicle security recording, to help ensure both the driver and vehicle are protected at all times, capturing the finest detail when it matters most.
Smart Sense Parking powered by Nextbase proximity-sensing Spatial Awareness Technology, anticipates and records exactly what happens leading up to and during a parking incident or break in, and notifies the vehicle owner anywhere in the world to view the recording and take action.
Witness Mode offers voice-activated hands-free recording, cloud upload, and live stream sharing to an emergency contact, to provide safe and secure video evidence for when drivers feel most vulnerable.
Guardian Mode allows the setting of triggers to alert the device owner to certain conditions when the vehicle is not in their possession, such as when being valet parked, left at the workshop for service, or loaned to another driver such as a child or colleague. Upon trigger, Nextbase iQ saves the video of what happened and makes it available for remote viewing.
Emergency SOS (ESOS) automatically dispatches Emergency Services, supplying location and other critical details following a serious incident.
Live view access anytime, anywhere gives users the opportunity to connect and view their vehicle in real time.
AI Powered Vehicle Aware provides classification and monitoring of other vehicles’ speeds and distances to add crucial data points following an incident.
Tracking with a built-in ultra-accurate GPS location beacon and synchronized video.
DriverAware (DMS) features smart driver monitoring system to combat distracted and/or drowsy driving.*
VehicleAware (ADAS),an advanced driver assistance system, monitors the road and cars in front, warning drivers of vehicle and pedestrian danger.*
Samsung has started off the new year with the debut of the a budget-minded handset for consumers in the form of the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. The phone, which features a 6.6-inch display, also comes with four years of security upgrades, something we don’t typically see in handsets at this price.
Speaking of which, the Galaxy A14 runs just $200 — $50 cheaper than its predecessor — but comes with fairly respectable amount of hardware. A MediaTek 700 processor powers things with 4GB RAM in a supporting role. Internal storage is pegged at 64GB with a microSD expansion card slot allowing for more room.
The 6.6-inch screen is a touch bigger than before and now offers 1080p resolution with 90Hz refresh rate. Other notable specifications include a 50-megapixel main camera with low-resolution macro and depth sensors, a 13-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G ships with Android 13, the latest available, and will receive two OS version upgrades in addition to the aforementioned four years of security patches.
As far as availability goes, we expect the Galaxy A14 to be offered widely; AT&T is one of the first carriers to announce support for the entry-level device, tapping it with a January 13 release.
It’s CES week and that means there are going to be tons of cool and interesting announcements around tech, gadgets, and other fun stuff. And while almost all of it is fascinating to us here at AndroidGuys, not all of it is completely relevant to our scope of coverage.
Take, for instance, Acer. Although it has a whole slew of new things for CES 2023, only a handful of them are tied to the things we cover. But those things are pretty damn intriguing.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some products we’ll be most interested in over the coming weeks.
Acer Add-In-One 24
A casual glance might suggest this is unit to be a monitor, but there’s quite a bit going on under the hood. Indeed, the 23.8″ FHD docking monitor is designed to help clean up your workspace and allow for flexibility and power of a more traditional computer setup.
The main draw here is the modular design which opens the door to expandability and upgrades, and makes it easier to repair as well. The power will come from either a Chromebox CXI5 or an enterprise version of the Chromebox.
The FullHD 16:9 display can be had with an optional touchscreen and features input and output options that you typically find in a desktop PC.
In addition to the built-in 5MP web camera, the Add-In-One has a pair of 4w speakers paired with AI noise reduction for video calls. As more people work from home and potentially have background distractions, or work in busier office environments, the Acer solution should eliminate some of those audible nuisances.
The screen is adjustable and can tilt from a range of -5 degrees to 25 degrees so finding a good viewing angle should be no problem. The bottom of the Add-In-One houses a pair of USB-A ports and an audio jack; keyboards, mice, and speakers will be easy to plug in since they’re front-facing.
The Acer add-in-One 24 is expected to launch later this quarter with a retail price of about $610.
Acer Chromebox CXI5
Acer’s newest Chromebox has a bit of an industrial design but it’s built with the Add-In-One 24 in mind. That is to say it can work well on its own, but when paired with the new screen, it gets even better.
Acer will offer a number of versions of the Chromebox, starting with an entry-level model with an Intel Celeron 7305 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. On the higher end, the new Chromebox can pack an Intel Core i7 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The Chromebox CXI5 is built with four USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-C (USB4), a pair of HDMI ports and an ethernet port. In true multifunction and productivity form, the USB-C port can be used with the HDMI ports to power three separate monitors at once.
The new Chromebox from Acer will be offered with or without a Chrome Enterprise license. The Acer Chromebox CXI5 will be availablein early 2023 with a starting price of $290.
Acer Halo Swing Smart Speaker
The newest addition to Acer’s smart speaker portfolio, the Halo Swing Smart Speaker pairs crystal clear sound with interactive LED displays in a device that’s built to go anywhere. It features DTS Sound, meaning enhanced audio and bass projection and the speaker features a reactive RGB-lit base that seems to dance to music.
The base light also changes colors when interacting with the built-in Google Assistant; it can also transform into a light source to illuminate areas with warm light. Think bedtime stories or evenings in a tent.
The Acer Halo Swing Smart Speaker is IPX5-rated against water and comes with a stylish leather handle. Other features include an LED dot display panel for checking customizable updates (mail, calendars, reminders, messages, etc.) Bluetooth 5.2 wireless streaming and aux-in port.
Learn more about the Chromebox CXI5 and the Add-In-One here, the Halo Swing here, and all of Acer’s announcements here.
Motorola, more commonly known for its lineup of affordable Android smartphones, brought a new pair of true wireless earbuds to CES 2023 this year. The Moto Buds 600 ANC, as they are known, were unveiled today with some notable features.
For starters, the Moto Buds 600 ANC are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound, said to bridge the gap between wireless and wired connections. Snapdragon Sound combines the very best of Qualcomm’s connectivity and mobile audio technologies, providing high-resolution music, crystal-clear voice calls, and lag-free gaming—all with superior connectivity and extended battery life.
How exactly does Snapdragon Sound accomplish this? Firstly, it utilizes the super wideband 32kHz spectrum instead of the standard Bluetooth wireless connection along with Qualcomm’s aptX Voice to deliver clearer calls with richer voice quality. And thanks to Qualcomm’s cVc Echo Cancelling and Noise Suppression (ECNS) with twin ENC microphones blocking out background noise, your voice should have more clarity while on calls.
Snapdragon Sound also supports 24-bit 96kHz high-resolution streaming over Bluetooth using Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive sound technology for high-quality sound and lag-free gaming audio.
On top of all of Qualcomm’s audio innovations, the Moto Buds 600 ANC also include noise cancelling technology, as the name would suggest. Using a 6-mic based ANC system, the Moto Buds 600 ANC are capable of reducing noise up to 35dB.
Now that we’ve covered most of the audio technologies used in the Moto Buds 600 ANC, it’s time to talk about battery life. The Moto Buds 600 ANC are rated for up to 6 hours of consecutive playtime with another 20 hours provided by the wireless charging case.
While enjoying your tunes, you’ll be able to control playback using touch controls as well as use Google Assistant hands-free. Fast pair also makes pairing the Moto Buds 600 ANC a cinch, and they support multipoint technology allowing you to connect to two Bluetooth sources at once.
You’ll even be able to use the buds individually in mono mode for making calls and ensuring you can hear your surroundings while working. Finally, the Moto Buds 600 ANC have IPX5 water resistance making them perfect for repelling sweat during workouts.
Currently, the Moto Buds 600 ANC are only available as part of the exclusive Motorola Edge 30 Fusion phone Viva Magenta Bundle. However, beginning mid-February 2023, it will be possible to purchase the Moto Buds 600 ANC separately for $150. Keep an eye on the Motorola Sound website for more details about availability.
Over the years, the wearables market has been dominated by smartwatches, and more than that, it has been smartwatches primarily targeting men. The company Movano Health is looking to change that by launching a smart ring focused on women and their health needs.
The Evie smart ring, a name derived from evolution and evidence, has been designed and tuned specifically for women. It provides all of the typical metrics that you’d expect from a wearable, such as steps, activity minutes, calories burned, sleep stages and duration, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, SpO2, respiration rate, and skin temperature variability.
Furthermore, Evie will measure metrics specific to women, including period, ovulation, and menstruation tracking. It will even allow you to record your moods to help give the most complete picture and help you manage your health.
Movano Health is also seeking FDA clearance for heart rate, blood oxygen, and respiration rate. That would make the Evie smart ring the first consumer wearable to also be considered a medical device, capable of providing valuable data for health care professionals. It could also allow for the Evie to alert you to when you may be getting sick, giving you the opportunity to stay home instead of spreading diseases like the seasonal flu or Covid.
Evie will make all of these metrics available to the end user via the app, providing you with a way to view all of these stats, as well as offering actionable insights from the data that has been collected. Movano Health states that it will also be upfront about what metrics are being shared and that no third-party will ever have access to your data without your consent. It is also building the backend system to comply with HIPAA standards similar to other medical devices on the market.
The Evie ring itself will be made of polished aluminum and be available in three different finishes, including silver, gold, and rose gold. Movano Health plans to launch the Evie in the US beginning in 2023 for $300 with absolutely no subscriptions required. Unlike many other wearables these days, Movano Health doesn’t appear to lock any data behind a paywall or push any subscription fees on you for access to additional features.
The Evie smart ring will come in sizes ranging from 5-11 to accommodate women’s hands and has been tested with all skin tones. While it is possible for any gender to wear the Evie smart ring, it was designed specifically with women’s health in mind.
The stand mixer is a staple for any baking enthusiast or wannabe baker out there. However, there are several challenges when it comes to baking. Many of these begin with the mixing process, such as overmixing, undermixing, and precise measurements.
The GE Profile Smart Mixer looks to address these pain points and turn even the most inexperienced of home chefs into a baker. It all starts with the Auto Sense technology built into the GE Profile Smart Mixer, which is able to monitor for changes in texture or viscosity in real-time through motor torque feedback. This ensures that you’ll never over-mix or under-mix again, as the GE Profile Smart Mixer will automatically shut down once the proper consistency is reached.
Another way the GE Profile Smart Mixer looks to simplify baking is with the included smart scale. No more breaking out an additional gadget when you can measure everything in the mixing bowl itself. Granted, that seems a little confusing to me, because since everything ends up in the mixing bowl anyways, how are you to measure your ingredients out separately?
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If you’ve tried your hand at baking previously, then you know it’s a messy business. Flour, eggs, sugar, and more can end up all over the counter and yourself. You’re also oftentimes working on a batch in the mixer with another going in the oven. How can the GE Profile Smart Mixer help with this you may ask? With the addition of voice controls. Now, you’ll have total control over your mixer even when your hands are deep into kneading some dough or you’re in and out of the oven.
Finally, what would a smart device be without an app, and you guessed it, the GE Profile Smart Mixer integrates with the SmartHQ app with over a dozen guided recipes offering detailed instructions to walk users through the entire process. GE also plans to update the app with new recipes in the future and over-the-air updates to the mixer.
Beyond smart features, the GE Profile Smart Mixer also boasts that it is the first smart mixer in the US to use an advanced digital brushless DC motor system. This advanced motor ensures that the GE Profile Smart Mixer will run at lower temperatures while still having the power to work through “tough batches and stiff doughs without overheating or stalling.”
The GE Profile Smart Mixer comes in black, silver, or white, and is currently available exclusively from Crate and Barrel for $1000 with free shipping.
