We rarely review an old standard around here at Android Guys. Like, AA and AAA batteries have been around for ages. Even rechargeable options of those have been around for decades. So, I was surprised to discover that a new generation of reusable batteries leveraging USB-C has just come to market.
PaleBlue has been around for a couple of years and started with micro-USB-powered AA and AAA batteries for home use. The company has just launched its latest USB-C editions and we’ve been testing them for about a month I’m not buying any other batteries moving forward.
Dead simple, not dead batteries
It takes zero time to adapt to PaleBlue’s system. The box includes a 4-way splitter to charge the entire pack of batteries and that’s pretty much it. Afterward, you simply use them as you would any battery.
Once they are drained, you simply recharge again via the adapters. No additional docking station like traditional rechargeable batteries. While the included split adapter is nice, even that’s not necessary. Any common USB-C cable can be used to refuel the cells in the PaleBlue batteries.
PaleBlue has also thought of aesthetics. While charging you get a nice LED indicator. The top of the batteries just above the USB-C port will pulse green until recharged. Once refueled the light will turn off.
You won’t miss the old days
I’ve been using the PaleBlue in both AA and AAA varieties for the last month. I’ve found no visible differences between these units and standard batteries. The size and form are identical to other options.
One key difference I have found is that these are even closer in size to non-rechargeable batteries than the common rechargeable options. I’ve found over the years that most of the available rechargeable batteries from Amazon, Energizer, and Duracell tend to be a few millimeters larger than standard ones.
This slight bulk leads to issues with many electronics in the home. Compact devices like a wireless mouse or some streaming remotes can be a pain or won’t even fit rechargeable batteries. I’m happy to report this has not been an issue with the PaleBlue AA or AAA units.
Conclusion
I’ve been overly impressed with PaleBlue and the USB-C batteries I received. From the slim design to the universal charging mechanism, this is the simplest way to get solid rechargeable batteries. You really can’t go wrong.
Pricing for the PaleBlue USB-C starts at $25 for a four-pack of the AAA and $30 for the same count in AA variants. If you want to go all in, you can even purchase the Sustainability kit or the Full Home Conversion kit for sizeable discounts. The company also offers other less popular battery types like C, D, and 9-volt.
In this episode of the AndroidGuys podcast, Scott Webster and Luke Gaul chat about the Up-Switch Orion. Is the Nintendo Switch accessory worthy of your time and/or money? Read on to learn more and listen to the podcast.
Be sure to subscribe to the AndroidGuys podcast through your favorite platform or add the AndroidGuys Podcast RSS feed to enjoy!
The Up-Switch Orion is an accessory designed for the Nintendo Switch, with a little bit of added capabilities. An HDMI port allows for various sources, including a media stick or gaming console. Or, use it as an external monitor when on the go.
It features a large display, internal speakers, volume control, a built-in kickstand, and straps to attach an external power source. Unfortunately, it doesn’t allow for touch and it can be a bit wonky to work with at first.
Gallery
Features
11.6-inch IPS Monitor
HDMI Input
Built-in Speakers
Kickstand
Velcro straps to hold any external power source
90 day warranty
Listen to the Episode
Parting Thoughts
A bit of an acquired taste, we like this one for certain intended uses. It’s versatile and friendly except where it isn’t; we miss the touch capability that the Switch offers. The price is a bit high considering its overall capabilities, but we can see this device speaking to a particular user base.
It’s just portable enough but it requires an external power source so that either means a heavier power bank stuck to the rear or being plugged into a wall. The HDMI port is cool, giving the Orion the ability to act as an external display or screen for a Fire TV or Android TV dongle.
Where to Buy Up-Switch Orion
You can learn more about the Up-Switch Orion at the manufacturer’s website where it’s also available to purchase. As of today it’s priced $250.
T-Mobile has re-introduced one of its most popular deals — four lines for $100 — for customers looking to save big on cell phone plans as the year winds down.
What’s in it for customers?
As part of the plan each of the four lines cost $25 per month (with auto pay) and comes with unlimited talk, text and data including access to 5G network. This offer is ongoing, having started in November 2022. The time to check it out is now because it is only available for a limited period.
In 2020, this offer was captioned “unprecedented” and “taking the gloves off”. Now that it’s back, T-Mobile assures customers that there’s something for everyone and they could shop Cyber Monday deals on its website which also offers some news regarding holiday gift guide. For example, customers can also find and pick iPhone deals that match what they are looking for.
T-Mobile has always been a step ahead in everything positive for users. That’s why customers can save up to 28.5 percent from offers that’s quite higher from AT&T’s deals this season.
Get ready to save when you make use of the latest T-Mobile deals. Find deals on 5G cell phones, smartwatches, and other devices. Here’s an opportunity for anyone hard-bitten by rising inflation to save extra cash as they shop.
Don’t forget, this ongoing offer is subject to change, and for those who qualify they are required to limit one offer to an individual. It is also recommended that this offer must not be combined with other offers or discounts. Existing users who switch from line may lose certain benefits.
Why not visit a T-Mobile store or dial 1-800-T-Mobile? You’re sure to benefit from picking at least one offer.
Some of the best deals occur during Black Friday and Cyber Monday periods for shoppers hunting for discounts. If you’re interested in hunting for Arlo products, now is the best time to get involved.
Arlo has announced deals that started November 19th and run through December 4th. Technically speaking for 2022 Black Friday and Cyber Monday occur November 25 and November 28 so Arlo starts early and extends its deals for consumers to have a better chance at saving money.
What’s in Arlo Exclusive deals?
Apart from having more days added for consumers to enjoy the deals, the firm has announced discounts from 40 percent to 50 percent. That’s a massive discount for people who need to purchase quality products at reduced prices.
Last year’s experience is still fresh in the minds of consumers. It was one of the biggest for Arlo when it came to Black Friday discounts. Consumers expect to enjoy nothing less this year.
Arlo is known for offering quality home security products. These include security cameras, sensors, doorbells, and bundles.
Some of the products are wired or wireless, depending on what you desire. In this case, there will be discounts for wireless doorbell bundles and wired doorbell bundles.
Of note is the “Protect Your Everything Bundle” which offers a 47 percent discount during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
A massive 50 percent cut is expected for those who purchase a Wireless Doorbell + 4K Camera Bundle – something many buyers should be interested in.
Arlo is sure to impress customers again this year. However, a first-time user who needs discounts on home security systems can count on getting good quality products from the firm.
A recent move by T-Mobile has immediately advanced the nationwide network with the Un-carrier lighting up Ultra Capacity 5G on 5G SA across the country.
Apart from offering faster speeds for customers in the U.S, T-Mobile is able to reduce any lag in the network with lower latency. This improves applications like gaming that require quick responsiveness.
Also, the move is commended as another massive move toward unleashing groundbreaking new applications designed to thrive purely on a 5G network.
Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile admits the company is only “scratching the surface on what 5G can do.” At the moment, 5G keeps making a meaningful impact and changing the way people make use of their devices. It has brought choice and competition to home broadband, improving disaster response, and accomplishing more.
T-Mobile as a network is proving to be not just the biggest promoter in 5G offering. It is also the fastest and most reliable 5G network, especially in the U.S. The company thrives by driving the industry forward with 5G standalone. However, these levels of accomplishments could be celebrated as what can’t be achieved otherwise.
The move to 5G SA on its ultra-capacity network opens up new vistas for 5G carrier aggregation (NR CA). This combines different layers of the 5G spectrum to provide greater speed and better capacity.
As mentioned in a previous post, the Uncarrier combines three channels of Ultra Capacity 5G. The tests produced peak speeds topping 3 Gbps which experts say is a mind-blowing speed.
T-Mobile customers using the Samsung Galaxy S22 will be first to leverage and enjoy the latest 5G capacity. It should reach their devices in a few weeks. T-Mobile has not announced when this new greater capacity will reach additional devices in the future.
The Un-Carrier’s Extended Range 5G covers about 321 million people across 1.9 million square miles as reported by T-Mobile in a press release. This surpasses the foothold of both AT&T and Verizon when combined.
No matter what type of technology you choose to use, it can be extremely useful in streamlining your workflow and helping you get more done faster. However, in order to really take advantage of all that technology has to offer, you’ll need to master the following six tech skills:
Typing
Pressing your fingers against a keyboard, tapping on a screen, or scribbling with a pen are all methods for typing. In order to become proficient at this art, it is important that you learn how to type properly. The first step is finding out which hand you are more comfortable using. It’s natural for most people to be right-handed, so they use their right hand to type. Left-handers should switch hands if they want to be as efficient as possible.
Keyboard Shortcuts
In this post, you’ll find a list of keyboard shortcuts that will help save you time when working on your computer. No matter what type of work you do, these shortcuts are worth memorising.
Ctrl+A: selects everything in a window or on a page
Ctrl+C: copies selected text
Ctrl+E: opens the search bar at the top of a browser
Ctrl+F: searches for text within a window or on a page
File Management
In order to get the most out of your technology, you need to know how to manage it. There are many ways that you can do this. For example, you might back up your computer or use a cloud storage option. It’s also important that you learn about how computers work, so that you can better understand if something needs fixing or not. That way, you’ll be able to fix problems when they come up instead of having them snowball into bigger issues later on.
Basic HTML and CSS
If you’re looking for ways to get more out of your technology, then it’s time for you to start learning HTML and CSS. These two skills will take your digital literacy a long way – from making basic edits in WordPress to designing an entire website. To learn these skills, we recommend starting with Khan Academy’s Introduction to HTML & CSS course.
Email
With so many technologies out there, it’s hard to know which ones will work best for you. But one thing is for sure: you’ll need to master some tech skills in order to get the most out of your technology. Below are some skills that can help you do just that:
Find and install apps on your device
Change settings on your device – learn how to use a virtual assistant (e.g., Siri)
Update an app
Social Media
Would you rather take a driving tour in Europe starting in Amsterdam or stay at home and do nothing? Thought so. Invest some time this summer to get ahead on these social media skills and develop the knowledge base needed to be an asset to your company. Do it for yourself, do it for your business- whatever way you slice it, now’s the time.
If you’re new to 3D printing, and even if you’re not, you may not have known that over time your filament can absorb the humidity in the air. This phenomenon leads to what we call “wet” filament and can completely ruin your prints.
There’s a reason spools of filament come vacuum sealed from the factory with packets to absorb moisture. However, even all of those precautions cannot ensure that your filament will arrive 100% dry.
What happens if you print with wet filament?
The results of wet filament often include stringing issues that will drive you crazy as you tweak settings on your printer trying to figure out the culprit. All the while, it’s your filament causing the problems. Additionally, wet filament will reduce the strength of your prints and can feature uneven extrusion lines or unsightly oozing. If the filament has absorbed an extreme amount of liquid from the air, you can even hear it pop or crack due to the heat from the extruder causing bubbles.
What can you do about it?
One way you can try to prevent your filament from absorbing humidity is by using sealed boxes lined with material that absorbs moisture. However, another way, is to use a filament dryer which heats the filament up and helps draw out all of the moisture before printing.
Thankfully, our friends over at Sunlu make just such a device and sent over the FilaDryer S2 for review.
Sunlu FilaDryer S2
The Sunlu FilaDryer S2 has a stylish round design with enough space to fit 1KG spools of filament. It even includes rollers on the bottom and a hole allowing you to run filament straight out of the dryer. There is a large touchscreen display on the side jam-packed with info, including the set temperature, current temperature, running time, material, and humidity level inside of the FilaDryer S2.
The temperature range of the Sunlu FilaDryer S2 is 35-70 degrees Celsius with a heating element on the top and bottom to heat your spools evenly. It is compatible with 99% of 3D printing filaments on the market, including PLA, PLA+, PETG, ABS, Nylon, and more.
How well does it work?
I gave the FilaDryer S2 a try with a spool of black silk filament the company sent out to me for testing. After leaving the filament in humid conditions for a period of time, I tried printing out a benchy to see what effects it would have. As you can see, the print came out very poorly.
There was an abundance of stringing and oozing due to how much moisture the filament had absorbed, and overall, the print was a mess.
Afterward, I tried drying out the filament using the FilaDryer S2. This required letting the spool of filament “bake” at 70 degrees Celsius for six hours. I then tried to print the same benchy. This time the print came out much cleaner and it was a 100% improvement over the last one printed with wet filament.
Some things to note about the Sunlu FilaDryer S2 is that the flashing LED light ring can be disabled, and the humidity sensor seems to be inaccurate so I wouldn’t rely on its readings. Otherwise, everything else works great and this is an easy way to avoid throwing out ruined filament.
Final thoughts
Printing 3D models is what I like to call a frustratingly fun hobby. There are many variables to consider when 3D printing, and lots of settings to tweak in order to get the best results. The last thing you want to do is throw in another variable, like wet filament, if you can avoid it.
The Sunlu FilaDryer S2 is a simple and affordable way to eliminate hours of troubleshooting your printer looking for an issue that isn’t there. If you live in a humid area, then this could be a lifesaver, and also save you a lot of money on wasted filament. I know I always like to pick up rolls on sale when I can, but if you don’t use it immediately, then you’re looking at a lot of wasted filament unless you dry it out.
You can pick up the Sunlu FilaDryer S2 in white or black for $80 or less from Amazon or Sunlu’s website.
In this episode of the AndroidGuys podcast, Scott Webster and Luke Gaul chat about the GravaStar Sirius P5. Are these sci-fi and future tech-inspired earbuds worthy of your time and/or money? Read on to learn more and listen to the podcast.
Be sure to subscribe to the AndroidGuys podcast through your favorite platform or add the AndroidGuys Podcast RSS feed to enjoy!
The GravaStar Sirius P5 is a pair of wireless earbuds available in a variety of cool, mech-inspired designs. They’re well-rounded and feature a decent amount of specs for the price. But to be sure, you’ll pay a slight premium for their aesthetics.
Gallery
Features
Three interchangeable shells
Qualcomm aptX support
40 hours of playtime, including the case
Bluetooth 5.2
12mm dynamic drivers
IPX4 rating
Multipoint connectivity
Listen to the Episode
Parting Thoughts
Keeping with GravaStar’s unique design language, the Sirius P5 are a well-rounded pair of earbuds with great battery life. The three interchangeable cases are distinct from each other and let the user swap up the look in a matter of seconds. Audio quality is solid and the IPX4 rating is always welcome.
Like other products in its lineup, these are a fun option for people who like to be seen with cool and interesting things.
Where to Buy GravaStar Sirius P5
You can learn more about the Sirius P5 and its various options at GravaStar’s website where you can order it for as low as $70. Or, pick up the combo box and get three designs for about $130.
Tronsmart is one of our favorite wireless brands to work with. The company has consistently been making quality audio devices for years. Well, it’s the holiday season and it wouldn’t be Black Friday without a few Tronsmart deals.
Bang Speaker
The Tronsmart Bang speaker is the largest, and most powerful in the company’s Bluetooth lineup. With 60 watts of punch, you can get robust sound no matter the environment. It’s also IPX6 water and dust-resistant making it perfect for inside or outside activities.
Add in LED light effects, 15 hours of battery life, and external charging capabilities, and this thing is a beast of a speaker. Tronsmart has knocked off a full 33% for its Black Friday sales. This sale is specific to our UK friends across the pond as it’s currently sold out in the States.
Next up is the new smaller edition of the series, the Bang Mini. This smaller variant still packs some killer sound with 50 watts of powered performance and 15 hours of total playback. You get the same LED party lights, NFC quick connect, and USB-C charging in a smaller footprint.
The Bang Mini is marked down by 22% in the US and 20% in the UK.
Maybe the Bang Mini is still too small then Tronsmart has you covered with the T7 portable speaker. This small cylinder is the go-anywhere speaker with a rugged design, IPX7 waterproofing, and microSD card playback. It’s also rated for up to 20 hours of total playtime making it perfect for traveling.
The Tronsmart T7 is a steal this week at 31% off in the United States and 20% in the UK.
And the smallest of them all is the Tronsmart Trip wireless speaker. This tiny little Bluetooth audio device can easily slide into a purse or maybe even your pocket. Despite its small stature, the Trip still has great sound. It can even last up to 20 hours on a single charge. Toss in an IPX7 waterproof rating and this thing is ideal for the beach or pool.
Black Friday pricing has the Tronsmart Trip cut by 40% in the US market and 22% in the UK.
Finally, Tronsmart also wants to announce the launch of its latest speaker. The Bang SE sits in the lineup just below the Bang Mini. It shares the same design language as the Bang Mini and larger Bang, but with a smaller footprint and carrying strap.
The Bang SE has 40 watts of internal power, LED light show features, and 24 hours of total playback. We’ll have a full review over the next few weeks so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can get an early bird discount with the link below.
Decades ago watching movies and listening to music meant you were tied to using physical media, such as discs or tapes. These days, most people have gone completely digital, streaming movies and music on a daily basis. It’s not much of a leap to assume that in the near future the majority of gaming will also happen in the cloud.
While some services, such as Stadia, have already thrown in the towel. There are still several others out there offering game streaming services, like Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, GeForce Now, and more. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of games to play between all of these services, including many AAA titles such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Control, Halo, Forza, Persona 5, and many more.
While you can play on your computer, TV, or on your phone with many of these services, some companies are beginning to release dedicated hardware for cloud gaming. Logitech is one of those companies having recently released the G Cloud handheld. Fortunately, the company was nice enough to send one out for this review.
Specs
The Logitech G Cloud measures 10.11 x 4.61 x 1.30 inches and weighs in at 463g. That makes it slightly heavier than a Nintendo Switch, and quite a bit lighter than a Steam Deck. On the front, it features a 7-inch 16:9 IPS LCD display running at 1080p with a 60Hz refresh rate, capable of a peak brightness of 450 nits.
When it comes to audio outputs, the Logitech G Cloud has you covered with two bottom-firing stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX Adaptive support, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack. As someone who still mourns the loss of the 3.5mm jack on smartphones, I’m happy that I can still use my wired gaming headset with the G Cloud. It certainly beats having no options except for Bluetooth headphones.
Under the hood, the G Cloud is running a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 720G CPU with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. This probably seems a little weak, but the G Cloud is a streaming device. That means it doesn’t require much horsepower, and the Snapdragon 720G’s battery efficiency is going to be a greater advantage here.
Additionally, the G Cloud also has another feature vanishing from Android devices, a microSD card slot. This should ensure that you can load it up with all kinds of media to enjoy on the go when you’re unable to stream.
Finally, the G Cloud is thin where it counts, and more importantly, thick where it counts, such as the controllers. One of my complaints about the Nintendo Switch is how tiny the Joy-Con controllers feel. That’s not the case on the G Cloud, Logitech has given the sides a nice bulbous grip with some texture ensuring it won’t feel slippery in your hands.
Speaking of the controllers, the G Cloud uses a layout similar to the Xbox with the analog sticks, D-pad, buttons, and triggers all in the same location. The buttons even have the same labels, outside of the shoulder buttons that is.
Software
We can’t discuss usability without mentioning the software, and in the case of the Logitech G Cloud, that’s Android 11. Surprisingly, it’s not Android 12, or the most recently released Android 13, but since you’ll only be using it to stream games and videos that’s not a big deal. What is a big deal, is the software still feels a bit rough around the edges.
The G Cloud offers two different modes to work in. One is the traditional Android home screen in tablet mode where you can use the touchscreen or controller to use it like a typical tablet. Then, there’s also ahandheld gaming mode which is where I think the G Cloud needs some help.
When in gaming mode, the home screen presents you with a row of your most recently used apps that expand when selected, along with a second row of customizable shortcuts. There’s also a system tray at the top left with access to your notifications and settings.
Personally, I could do without the extra animations and would be fine with a row of static squares to navigate. However, that’s not the most offensive part of the interface. That award goes to the prompt that pops up each and every time you try to switch apps and it warns you that you’ll be closing your current app. Perhaps, this is due to the underwhelming specs, but it doesn’t do this in tablet mode.
The G Cloud should be able to run more than one app at a time allowing you to make Discord calls, for example, while also gaming. It is first and foremost a cloud gaming handheld and should have enough horsepower to do that. If not, then at least give us a checkbox to disable this constant prompt after we’ve seen it half a dozen times.
It’d also be wonderful if the home screen had some more character, such as larger prettier icons or a background that changed when you selected a different app. Similar to how other game consoles UIs work, but, to be fair, Logitech is working within the constraints of Android and those options are probably outside the realm of possibilities.
Controller
One thing Logitech absolutely nailed is the design of the G Cloud. It is molded to fit just right in your hands with a great textured grip. While the G Cloud is slightly heavier than a Switch, it feels well-balanced and the ergonomics more than make up for the minor increase in weight. Furthermore, it feels rock solid in your hands. There is no flex and that gives it the feel of a premium product.
When it comes to playing games, the buttons and triggers all worked perfectly and felt comfortable to use, however, the analog stick did seem a little overly sensitive. It would register as an up movement at times when I was just trying to move it left. I’ve never had this issue with any other controller and it seems that it’s extremely sensitive to any deviation.
The biggest issue with the controller though, is support for games. I found it worked perfectly with Xbox Game Pass, but the PS Remote Play app wouldn’t recognize it. Also, any locally installed Android games will need to have controller support built into the app. That can be very hit or miss on Android, so it’s best to look up if a game supports controllers or not instead of assuming it will. Dead Cells is a fantastic example of a game with controller support on Android, while Genshin Impact lacks controller support, and trying to use the on-screen buttons is a non-starter given the design of the G Cloud.
Display
It would have been nice to see Logitech choose an OLED display here similar to the latest Nintendo Switch, but the use of the IPS LCD makes for a nice screen that beats out both the Switch and Steam Deck in brightness. The 1080p resolution is also more than you’d get on either of those other two handhelds which results in a nice sharp gaming display.
Still, I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t miss the picture quality of the OLED used on the 6.8-inch phone I typically use for cloud gaming. It has so much more contrast and the colors really pop. The saving grace of the G Cloud is its 16:9 aspect ratio though. Despite there only being 0.2-inches in difference between these two displays, the G Cloud’s picture looks massive in comparison thanks to the aspect ratio used. Pair that with the 1080p screen resolution and I was seeing a lot more details.
Sound
Besides the bright sharp display, the G Cloud also has some decent speakers. However, I would have loved to see Logitech include front-facing speakers. The G Cloud is essentially a media streaming machine capable of playing cloud games and streaming video from all of the most popular services. In the past, I’ve always found phones and tablets using front-facing speakers to have much more immersive sound, and it would have been fantastic if Logitech could have worked that into the design on the G Cloud.
Battery
Logitech rates the G Cloud for 12 hours of gameplay powered by its 6000mAh battery. In my experience, I was able to get somewhere around 8-10 hours of battery life while playing games with Xbox Game Pass, streaming videos, and playing a couple of native Android games.
That puts it right around Logitech’s estimates and it lasts you much longer than any other handheld and most phones would. Plus, when it’s time to charge up, the Logitech G Cloud supports Fast Charge 3.0 which will get you from 0 to 100% in only two and a half hours.
Final thoughts
The Logitech G Cloud isn’t for everyone. There are many people who aren’t fully on board with streaming games for one reason or another. Additionally, those who dabble in cloud gaming may be perfectly satisfied with using their phone with a controller when they want to play handheld.
Still, I see a lot of promise in the G Cloud, even though I’d love to see some improvements. For example, a way to output the picture to your TV, the ability to make Discord calls while gaming, and a way to disable the annoying prompt to close the current app. It would also be fantastic to see the next version use an OLED display, front-facing speakers, and slimmer bezels around the screen.
However, the G Cloud is a decent product for those of you who are fans of cloud gaming and handheld consoles. The display is larger than most phones while also being the proper aspect ratio, and trust me, that makes a big difference.
It will also give you far more hours of gaming than your typical smartphone without tying up the device you rely on for communications. Even better, you can disable notifications on it to prevent them from popping up and interrupting your gaming while still having access to your phone to stay connected.
So, while there are plenty of reasons why you may want the G Cloud, there’s one big reason why you may not buy it. That’s the price. The Logitech G Cloud retails for $349, and that’s just $50 less than the base Steam Deck, a handheld that can play games offline or from the cloud.
I wouldn’t blame you if you had a large Steam library and that’s the route you wanted to go, but the G Cloud does have some redeeming qualities. It weighs much less, it feels great in your hands, the display has a higher resolution, and it has at least four times the battery life of the Steam Deck.
