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Summer Gear Up: Incase Bags

Scott Webster
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We all carry things with us on a day to day basis. For some of us it’s as simple as a phone and wallet. For others it might be a combination of laptop, books, tablet, note pads, chargers, and more. And really, things change for weekends, vacations, and overnight getaways.

As part of our summer 2022 product reviews we’ve been highlighting various brands in the bags and backpack space. Up today is Incase, who offers a fairly wide range of options for consumers.

Our team was provided a number of samples of its products, and after spending time with each, we’re happy to recommend them to you.

See Also: Summer Gear Up: Carhartt Bags

A.R.C. Tech Tote

An excellent option for those who carry around a laptop or 2-in-1 as part of their daily needs, it calls to mind a messenger bag, but only cooler. And perhaps a bit more flexible, too.

Unlike a standard tote, this one has a few extra compartments, including one with RFID-blocking tech. Toss your wallet in there and rest easy knowing you’ll not fall victim to ne’er-do-well types on the train. Then, feel free to add headphones, a portable charger, cables, a notepad, and any other items you’ll need today.

Grab it by the handle, throw the strap over your shoulder, or wear it as a cross-body bag. We don’t judge. $90

Features

  • Padded, faux-fur-lined laptop pocket fits up to 13″ laptop
  • RFID-blocking tech compartment
  • Easy-access front-zip pocket, back-slip pocket and valuables pocket
  • Removable over-the-shoulder or cross-body carry
  • Cushioned grab-handles
  • Internal stretch-mesh water bottle pocket

A.R.C. Commuter Pack

About as well-rounded of a backpack as you’ll find, this stylish bag has a dedicated compartment for your laptop no matter how big it is. Also present is an even larger area with tie-down straps and organization.

Soft to the touch, this lightweight bag is comprised of premium materials that are equal parts comfort and breathability.

Whether you’re carrying tech and personal gadgets or an outfit to change into after work, this bag handles the task. $220

Features

  • Zippered laptop compartment fits up to 16″ laptop/tablet
  • RFID-blocking tech compartment
  • Ortholite Impressions foam on shoulder straps and back panel
  • Hidden faux-fur-lined pocket
  • High-performance Duraflex hardware

Hipsack with BIONIC

Looking for something small for your everyday items like keys, wallet, sunglasses, phones, earbuds, chargers, thumb drives, and snacks? This durable bag handles all of that without breaking a sweat.

Designed to be worn over your shoulder as a cross-body bag or around your waist, this handy comes in two earthy colors. Choose from Baltic Sea (blue) and Sand (tan) and be proud knowing that you’re being socially responsible.

The Hipsack is constructed from BIONIC FLX yarn which is made from plastics recovered from the ocean. Abrasion-resistant, it’s breathable and light and built to handle snags. $75

Features

  • Two inner compartments with multiple mesh pockets
  • Zippered internal valuables pocket
  • Zippered quick-access outer pocket
  • Durable and sustainable Bionic ripstop construction

6 Ways technology can help you run a more successful business

AndroidGuys
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Using technology to run your business can help you in all sorts of ways, from making your employees’ and customers’ lives easier to helping you keep tabs on your product or service once it hits the market. You can use social media to stay in touch with international clients and use software like an Amazon repricer to automate your amazon pricing remotely. Therefore, to ensure you are running a successful business you need to be using technology to your advantage. In this article you will learn some tips and tricks that will make sure your new tech helps you reach your goals.

6 Ways Technology Can Help You Run a More Successful Business

1) Virtual Assistant

While a virtual assistant isn’t exactly technology, the only reason you can hire one is tech. A virtual assistant can take care of all the little tasks that eat up your time, like scheduling appointments, answering emails, and social media management. This frees you up to focus on the big picture and work on growing your business. You can also hire someone who aligns more with your goals and who you know will gain the most value from you from a completely different part of the world. Make sure to integrate Trello and Slack, among other software to help you navigate the relationships more efficiently. 

2) Automated Systems

In today’s business world, automation is key to success. By automating various tasks and processes, you can free up time and resources to focus on more important things. Automated systems can also help improve efficiency and accuracy, while reducing costs. For example using a computerised ordering system. These systems work by automatically taking orders from customers online or over the phone. All customer information is stored in one place, meaning that all orders can be processed quickly and accurately with minimal human intervention. 

3) Team Communication

In order to run a successful business, it is important to have strong communication among your team. Technology can help facilitate this by providing various communication tools such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and project management software. These tools allow you to talk face-to-face with other members of your team regardless of where they are located, eliminating the need for people in different offices or countries to be tied up on the phone. They also allow you to send messages and files instantly without having to worry about using up time on your monthly email quota.

4) Document Management

In the business world, paper documents can quickly become overwhelming. Not only do you have to keep track of physical files, but you also have to make sure they’re properly organised and up-to-date. This is where document management software comes in. This type of software allows you to scan and store all your documents electronically, so you can access them from anywhere and share them with anyone with just a few clicks.

5) Digital Marketing Tools

There are a number of digital marketing tools available that can help you reach your target market more effectively. You can use a variety of social media platforms to garner a strong community. You can also create a blog or website and gather emails through email marketing platforms like Mailchimp.

6) Financial Planning Tools

If you want to be successful in business, you need to have a clear understanding of your finances. Technology can help by giving you access to tools that make financial planning easier. For example, you can use accounting software to track your income and expenses, create invoices and manage your budget.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Android + iPhone: How to synchronize your Android and iPhone together

AndroidGuys
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“To own an iPhone and an Android? Why would I want to do that?

This is what a lot of people think.

But I’m here to make you see the bigger picture – that it’s possible to rock your Android with an iPhone or vice versa.

I am a proud Android and iPhone user. In fact, I was once rocking only an Android till I met this guy working at this Apple service center who convinced me to get an iPhone. And to be honest, I’m glad I now have both devices.

Both phones have different functionalities that we all like. But because our choices are different, most of us prefer to use one over the other.

But you don’t have to stick with one.

You can decide to get the iPhone because of its camera and get an android because its battery lasts longer.

In this article, I will show you how to use both phones at the same time.

The following are the things you need to do in order to enjoy both devices;

  • Select your favorite platform.
  • Recognize the restrictions of apps.
  • Install all your Google apps on iOS.
  • Use Android to access your Apple data.
  • Choosing unbiased apps
  • Rely on the cloud
  • Get help from a computer

Select your favorite platform

Forget about rivalry when you want to pick a device of your choice. Choose a preferred operating system, and stick with it for your phone or tablet. The device you are most familiar with, have been using the longest, or have the most of your information on should be the one where you save your most important data and applications. You can decide to use the second device as your backup, where you keep a few data.

It is advisable to pick a favorite device because of two reasons. One, some devices are not compatible with some devices. Secondly, some applications only allow you to log in to a single device.

Recognize the restrictions of apps

Another part you might want to consider is the application that can be used on both devices. It will help you in making a decision on what device should be your primary device.

iPhone devices can use most google apps, while Android cannot use some apple applications aside from apple music.

Also, you need to know the kind of apps that allow you to login into multiple devices and which don’t. Applications like Netflix, Instagram, etc., allow login on multiple devices.

To find out how many logins you’re permitted, perform an audit on the apps you use the most. Then, download the apps with a single login to your main device.

Install all your Google apps on iOS

You can access your data on iOS, iPad, and Android if you primarily keep it in Google apps like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Maps. You may and should install Google’s apps on all of your devices, regardless of the operating system, because they are routinely updated across all devices.

Your data will be constantly stored in the cloud by Google and synced to different smartphones or tablets. In other words, every gadget you own will access your Google Drive documents, saved Google Maps locations, photographs, and other data. On iOS and iPadOS, even Google Assistant will function, although it won’t be as fully integrated. For instance, until the Google Assistant app is already open, you won’t be able to call it.

Use Android to access your Apple data

Although it’s not as simple as syncing your Google data to an iPhone or iPad, getting your Apple data on an Android device is still feasible.

For example, your Apple email is accessible through the Gmail app for Android. To do this, click Add profile after tapping your avatar or the circle bearing your initials in the top right corner. Then select Other and enter your Apple login information.

It isn’t quite as simple to transfer Apple calendar and contact data to Android, and any modifications you do won’t sync immediately. Here’s how to configure it. To export your data, you must first sign in to iCloud via a web browser.

Pick all of your contacts, then select Export vCard from the cog menu in the bottom left to share Contacts with Google’s operating system. After that, visit Google Contacts online and import the downloaded file by navigating to Import from the left-hand menu and scrolling down.

Then click the Share button to the right of your calendar in the Calendar app, select Public Calendar, and then copy the URL that appears. Next, open Google Calendar in a web browser and go through the menu on the left. Next to Other calendars, select the Plus button, then select from URL. The URL that Apple Calendar provided must be entered. Then, this information will sync with Android’s Google Calendar. While you can update events on an Apple device and see them on Google Calendar, this sync only works in one direction. Your Android device cannot make changes to events on your Apple calendar.

Selecting unbiased apps

As you can see, it can be difficult to sync specific Google or Apple apps between operating systems. Use applications that don’t care if they run on iPad, iOS, or Android if necessary. As long as you use the same sign-in information, these will sync easily across your gadgets.

You can watch movies on Netflix and listen to music on Spotify for your enjoyment. Also, you can put your files in Dropbox to store them in the cloud.

Lastly, you can set up your calls and messaging applications. You could set up Facebook Messenger for texting buddies and Skype for video calls.

Rely on the cloud

The cloud is your buddy when you are using Apple and Android devices together. You’ll be able to enter more information on any device if you maintain more data online rather than in internal memory.

Aim to remain with either Google Drive or iCloud rather than paying for several cloud storage services. Google will charge $2 per month for 100GB of storage (or $20 annually for the same amount of space), whereas iCloud’s pricing currently starts at $1 per month for 50GB.

So, if a cloud option is offered when an app asks where you want to keep a backup or store data, select it. Nowadays, a lot of apps already use cloud storage by default, but if you have the choice, use it.

DEEBOT X1 Plus Robotic Vacuum review

Luke Gaul
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Robot vacuum cleaners have come a long way over the last few years. We’ve seen improvements in suction power, the addition of mopping functionality, automatic cleaning, obstacle avoidance and much more. Today’s smart vacuums are incredibly sophisticated products.

The DEEBOT X1 Plus is a top-of-the-line experience that pulls together many of the best features and capabilities in robotic vacuuming. It’s among the most powerful on the market with up to 5,000Pa of suction, camera and laser assisted mapping, automatic emptying, and mopping functionality.

I’ve been using one of these for the last month or so and have come to truly appreciate its versatility. Here are some of my thoughts for the ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 Plus.

Key ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 PLUS Features

  • Automatic dust collection
  • 3.2l dust bag capacity
  • TrueMapping 2.0 navigation
  • Obstacle avoidance
  • Voice control (“Hey Yiko”)
  • 5000Pa vacuum level
  • Three cleaning modes (Automatic, Custom, Area)
  • Three levels of water adjustment
  • 240ml water tank
  • 5200mAh battery

The installation was really easy and straight-forward. There’s a great starting guide included in the box that will help you get started with your new X1 Plus system, which connects wirelessly on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.

I had some minor trouble connecting at first but after resetting my router, everything worked just fine. The entire process took about 10 minutes and I think the issue could have been avoided on my end.

Mapping consists of the vacuum going around your house, collecting data from various points. You can watch it do its job by monitoring the explorer robot in the app. The first time it runs it takes a little longer than the standard session as it tries to feel out boundaries and obstacles.

The X1 is a device that uses video and physical sensors to see where walls, doors or potential obstructions are. Once it completes the first quick map of your area you get an accurate representation in three-dimensional space.

The app offers a variety of tools that can help you create boundaries and set up no-go zones. You also merge rooms together or split them into multiple areas. Also great, you can store up to three floors so it can be used in basements and upstairs.

I have a dog that hates all vacuums, hair dryers, can openers, and their noises. The DEEBOT X1 Plus is surprisingly quiet and, thus far, has not bothered my beloved canine. She seems to be fine with its measured and quiet behavior.

Even when adjusting for different heights of carpet and rugs the vacuum seems to stay relatively quiet. Where it does get noisy is in the automatic emptying of the contents into the dustbin. But, even then, you can set quiet hours so that it doesn’t dump itself while naps are taking place or the family is in bed for the night.

I love when I can use my voice to start a process or automation; I really love it when it’s tied to Google Assistant. While that’s not available here, I do appreciate that I can say, “Hey Yiko” to wake up the X1.

Once you say wake it up you can tell your cleaner how much area needs to be cleaned or pick specific rooms from your map. This is perfect for times when you just need an area cleaned instead of a whole room.

The mobile app is packed with settings and customizations. It’s about as intuitive as one might hope; I found it easy to navigate and understand. It took no time to learn how to manage maps, check battery levels, look at run history, toggle mopping and vacuum modes, and so much more.

The X1 Plus also has a video manager feature that will allow you to view its built-in camera from the app. In fact, you can even make voice calls through it or speak with people in the room. Similarly, it will also do a home patrol in case you need to see if something’s going on when you’re not around.

All in all, the Ecovacs DEEBOT X1 Plus works fantastic. It’s incredibly easy to set up and configure and there are tons of options to work with in the app.

Cleaning is fast, efficient, and quiet and it handles mopping just as well as it vacuums. Whether cleaning a room, an area, or the entire floor, it goes about its business without so much as a hiccup.

You’ll pay a fair amount of money for the experience to be sure. But, when you compare its feature set against others in the space, you will find that the DEEBOT X1 Plus is among the best options on the market.

Learn more about this robot vacuum, and others from Deebot, at the manufacturer’s website where you can currently purchase it for about $850.

Blurams Dual-Lens PTZ Outdoor Camera: An affordable way to capture all the angles

Scott Webster
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If you’ve been itching to put together a little home security system of your own, and want to keep the budget in line, you may want to check out one of the newer offerings from Blurams.

As one of the top-selling brands in the surveillance field for Amazon, Blurams specializes in low-cost models aimed at the masses. The PTZ Dual-Lens Outdoor Camera 2K, which gets its name for Pan, Tilt, and Zoom, is a testament to that.

The new Blurams camera, priced just $60, is IP66 rated against water and other weather elements and boasts two noteworthy features.

First up is its dual-lens capability which allows for higher digital zoom than similar cameras while still managing to maintain high-quality resolution. Indeed, it can zoom from 1x to 9x and keep its 3-megapixel resolution.

While that doesn’t sound like all that high of a resolution, it’s a commendable achievement, especially in this price range. This means you can can see farther, and with more transparency, than you might expect.

The other notable detail is in the pan, tilt, and zoom. Between these three motions the device can pretty much capture any area in front of and below it. The Blurams unit can follow any motion around your home or office, tracking pretty much any human it observes.

The Blurams Dual-Lens PTZ Outdoor Camera is similar to other DVR-style cameras in that it attaches to the side of your building and must be plugged in for continuous power. It has a pair of antennas and can connect via Ethernet or Wi-Fi for internet.

The camera houses a microSD expansion card slot which can record 24/7 videos; a subscription service is also available for $2 per month for cloud backup of recordings. The Blurams camera comes with a lifetime free 24-hour cloud storage of event video history and one month trial of the 7 days 24/7 video history.

Other key details include night viewing in black and white as well as full color, a 107 degree field of view, two-way communication via the app, and an 18-month warranty.

Learn more about the Dual-Lens PTZ Outdoor Camera, and other Blurams models, at the manufacturer’s website. As of today you can purchase the camera for $60 with a 20% off coupon (blurams20) taking it down to just $48.

Fetch Rewards: Earn gift cards or cash back on your regular purchases

Angel Webster
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Let’s be honest; things are pretty tough out there for some of us. High gas prices, rising inflation, and economic uncertainty are big parts of our lives right now. Some have taken to curbing spending, pinching pennies, or generally tightening their budget.

If you’re among those who might like some help with finances and purchases, you may want to check out Fetch Rewards. Likewise, if you’re the type of person who appreciates a good rewards or incentive program, you’ll also want to pay attention.

Unlike some programs, Fetch Rewards is not the sort of system that asks you to change your buying and spending habits. It doesn’t force you to shop in new places or take a risk with unfamiliar merchants. Rather it’s designed to help you get more from the purchases you’re already making and from the same places you’ve been shopping for years.

We’ve highlighted a number of apps that reward users with free stuff but none of them are quite as robust as what Fetch Rewards offers up. Not only does it work with your current lifestyle, but it’s free to use and requires almost no effort. And on top of that, the gift cards you earn are from all the retailers, restaurants, and other stores you frequent.

The process could not be any easier. Simply snap a picture of your receipt, or share your e-receipt from stores or restaurants, and you’re on your way to earning points. Those points can be redeemed in the form of gift cards, donations to charity, entering sweepstakes and drawings, and more.

Fetch Rewards is a top app for both Android and iOS devices and has a 4.6 and 4.8 star rating, respectively. There are millions of people out there going about their lives, earning free gift cards and getting rewards or cash back from Fetch. We bet you have a friend or two who have used it or are currently nabbing gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, and other retailers.

Fetch Rewards will hook you up with freebies and incentives for shopping at your favorite grocery store. Moreover, it will also help you earn extra points for purchasing from hundreds of partner brands.

If your shopping cart typically has Doritos, Cottonelle, Colgate, Dove, Ben & Jerry’s, Lysol, Pillsbury, or Huggies, you’re poised to fast-track your free rewards. There are brands and products across a whole spectrum of categories who can put money back in your pocket just for snapping a photo of your receipt.

Fetch has been in the game for a long time, racking up plenty of accolades and distinctions. As of today there are more than 13 million active users who have scanned some two billion receipts along the way. In fact, just in 2021 alone there were some $73 million in gift cards doled out to users.

To learn more about Fetch Rewards, simply head to its website or to its blog where you’ll find answers to any questions you might have. And if you’re new to it, there are plenty of tips and pointers to help you get the best experience.

HP Dev One laptop review

Andrew Allen
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After spending years in the tech space I may not always get excited for new gear, but occasionally a device comes out that makes me completely nerd out. As a Linux enthusiast, I find those random moments are fewer and farther in between. While it’s the largest software project in the world, actual dedicated hardware for the Linux desktop is scarce. HP hopes to solve that with the new Dev One laptop.

Dell tipped its toes in the same field a few years ago, partnering with Ubuntu, but HP has gone a different route with a Denver-based company we’ve covered before: System76. This new co-op has yielded a surprisingly compelling device for Linux users.

Hardware

System76 has been making hardware for over a decade running Linux, but a true first-tier OEM like HP simply ups the stakes here. The Dev One stacks up against any other laptop in HP’s portfolio. The chassis is made out of magnesium alloy giving it a light but sturdy construction. You get no unnecessary creaks or flimsy moments when carrying this laptop around.

On each side, you have an array of ports along with a headphone jack and power port. To the right, the HP Dev One contains two USB-C ports capable of both fast transfers but also charging. Also on the same edge of the laptop is a full-sized HDMI out and the mentioned power port.

On the opposite side, the HP Dev One houses two USB-A inputs and the headphone jack. You can also secure your laptop in certain environments with the included Kensington lock.

Screen

HP didn’t hold back on the screen on the Dev One. It’s a glossy full HD display with 1920×1080 resolution. You might want to see a 4k screen that many new laptops are getting, but honestly, on a 14-inch screen, I don’t think it’s a worthy upgrade. Linux struggles with super hi-res and I’d much rather have better battery life.

Otherwise, the screen is fantastic. The colors and text look great and I’ve had zero issues with transitions or bleed. One knock may be the glossy finish. Personally, I prefer a matte display that will give you better viewing angles, especially outside or near windows.

Keyboard

HP really nailed this keyboard even with a unique layout. The keys have a nice easy travel and clicky response. You can easily knock out quick emails or write code without issue.

The one delineation from normal layouts is the navigation keys. The End, Home, Page Down/Up, and delete keys are shifted to the far right of the keyboard.

One unique positive that I feel was a deal breaker for System76 is the missing “Windows” key. Other manufacturers that offer Linux as an option usually don’t swap these keys from whatever Windows laptop the device shares a platform with. Thankfully, the HP Dev One comes with a generic super key instead. It’s little details like this that will really stand out to Linux faithful in making the purchase.

Speaker

Flanking the keyboard is a pair of upward-firing speakers on each side. These are surprisingly good. Like, some of the best speakers I’ve ever heard from a laptop good.

I know HP has a Bangs&Olufsen contract on many of the Windows laptops, and even though these aren’t branded as such, whatever tuning HP has done here is really well done.

Trackpad

HP has included a glass trackpad with the Dev One. This makes for a great user experience with easy maneuvering around the OS with no resistance. It is one of the better trackpads I’ve used on a laptop recently. It’s not the biggest but it’s well built.

HP has also decided to make sure “legacy” users are represented here as well with the Thinkpad-inspired rubber mouse found just above the “B” key. Paired with the dedicated left and right mouse buttons at the top of the trackpad and old-school laptop nerds will feel right at home with this alternative mouse setup.

Software

The software powering the HP Dev One is called Pop!_OS. We’ve covered this before with the Lemur Pro review, so I won’t go into stringent detail, but it’s worth a refresh to mention some new things.

The last time we covered it, System76 had just started development and it borrowed heavily from the existing Linux desktop environment GNOME. Pop! has since evolved into something much more unique.

The OS is now very much a product of System76. During the setup and after logging in the first time, you have a much more robust and extendable environment than found in GNOME. You have dedicated settings for gestures, how the docks are presented, whether you want to minimize and maximize buttons, and so much more.

System76 has made sure that both novice users and experts are represented with very granular controls of Pop!_OS.

It can be a little overwhelming but System76 has done a great job of balancing that expert to intermediate experience. If you want to turn on tiling windows and all the bells and whistles to be a developer you can. You can just as easily go with all the defaults and have a solid experience as well.

Battery life

Battery life might be the one spot I struggled with the HP Dev One. In my mind, any modern laptop not capable of 10 hours is a missed opportunity. Here the Dev One simply falls short. I saw a range of results, but never more than eight hours of endurance. During most of my sessions, it was less than this at somewhere between six and maybe seven hours of battery life.

With devices like the new M-series Macbooks being the closest competitors for the HP Dev One, this needs to be better. Those new models are all above 10 hours of total usage with battery to spare. Even something like my older Dell XPS or Latitude consistently surpasses the battery life HP has here.

Conclusion

HP and System76 have done a marvelous job of partnering on the Dev One laptop. The companies have created a top-tier hardware experience truly powered by the Linux community and Pop!_OS. Despite some of the shortcomings, I can’t think of a better combination for Linux users at the moment. The Lemur Pro, also from System76, is the only thing close in my mind, but you don’t get quite the build quality HP has in the Dev One.

Even pricing is pretty damn good. HP only offers one SKU option at the moment with the same 16GB of RAM and 1TB of hard drive storage. I had zero issues with performance with this package, but the RAM can easily be upgraded later if needed. The entire package can be had for only $1099 from HP’s dedicated website for the Dev One.

If you are in the market for a laptop and you want a first-tier Linux experience, the Dev One has to be on your shopping list.

Site reliability engineering for native mobile apps

Guest Blogger
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The reliability of mobile applications in the user’s smartphone is a vital quality of any application in the modern world. With all these hundreds of thousands of applications that meet different user needs, in the end, a person will choose the one that is more secure and solves his problems.

Today, many companies are engaged in the development of mobile applications. And often choose this way, believing that the development of mobile applications is a simple matter. Creating sufficiently reliable applications on a large scale is associated with several problems. For example, you need to consider device variations, different display sizes, battery capacity, device memory, compatibility with some operating systems, etc.

According to the Statista website, 25% of apps downloaded by mobile app users worldwide were found to only open once after being downloaded.

This article is about how not to replenish these statistics and create reliable applications.

Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) is a principle, practice, and dynamic organizational approach to ensure the reliability of continuous application development. World-renowned industry leaders are using this approach to improve feature speed and reliability.

SRE began with the goal of achieving reliability in large-scale distributed systems. You can use SRE principles to improve the reliability of mobile applications.

SRE principles for mobile applications

Creating a 100% reliable system is a rather tricky goal, at least because of its cost. However, if the software development company focuses on designing a dedicated site, this will balance the risk of this system being unavailable in the future. The end goal here should be to make both the business and the end-users happy.

Measuring Application Risk

When you can accurately measure the risk tolerance for an application, it serves as a safeguard against unexpected risks and helps us take the right action at the right time through alerts.

The SRE has Service Level Indicators (SLIs), Objectives (SLOs), and Agreements (SLAs) to describe the essential properties of essential metrics. Choosing the right metrics helps you take the right action at the right time, thereby increasing the reliability of your application development.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are contracts between a team developing a service and its users to define a set of objectives (SLOs) regarding availability, responsiveness, etc. Service Level Objectives (SLOs) are agreements within SLA for a specific metric, such as responsiveness.

Application Availability

Application availability is one of the most critical metrics for measuring reliability. Two broad categories in which an application becomes unavailable are crashes and application versioning.

Crashes

Failures, if they occur frequently, will render any application unusable. Unhandled exceptions are issues that need to be fixed immediately with a high priority.

Monitoring and Alerting

Monitoring and alerting for issues and abnormal behavior at the right time helps solve them more quickly. And it’s just as essential to have problem alerts while a feature is in development. Sometimes this is even more important than receiving the final error notification.

How could we learn from failure?

We must analyze every production failure posthumously. The best way to create an analysis is to follow these steps:

  • Formulation of the problem
  • Business Impact Assessment
  • Deadlines for recognizing a problem
  • Short term fixes to get the company up and running and
  • Sets with training

Conclusion

Gathering discovery errors accumulate over time, and as they are discovered, the number per DevOps team gets. At this point, companies can more clearly understand what trade-offs they need to make to release products, instead of randomly accumulating this technical debt over time.

Delivering robust mobile apps at scale is no easy task. Adopting the SRE approach can be a lifesaver and create a new sociotechnical approach to application development.

Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-woman-messaging-on-modern-cellphone-4350099/

OnePlus announces the 10T

Andrew Allen
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Those that follow OnePlus have come to expect two launches a year. The global flagship in spring and then another refresh around late summer. We’ve seen the OnePlus 10 earlier this year and the company has now let us officially know that the OnePlus 10T is coming in August.

OnePlus notes that as is a tradition at this point the 10T marks more of a performance upgrade than a complete redesign. The mid-year edition will feature the latest silicon from Qualcomm with the 8+ gen1 Mobile Platform. This new release from the chipmaker promises lower power consumption despite having better performance.

Alongside the new hardware, OnePlus will also be revealing OxygenOS 13 during the launch event on August 3rd. The company claims this will hold true to the great features we’ve come to love from Oxygen while keeping the smooth user experience and safety features. This includes always on display and Zen Mode, along with improvements to connectivity, gaming, and customization.

The launch event will take place at the Gotham Hall in New York City on August 3rd. If you’d like to make the trip, tickets can be purchased and attendees will include OnePlus Nord buds and other swag. Tickets and more details can be found at http://www.oneplus.com while you can engage with the live event remotely as well. OnePlus will live stream the big reveal of the OnePlus 10T via the company’s YouTube page.

Be sure to mark your global region time for the event listed below:

• 10am Eastern Time (ET)
• 3pm British Summer Time (BST)
• 4pm Central European Summer Time (CEST)
• 7:30pm India Standard Time (IST)
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Boox Nova Air C e-reader review

Andrew Allen
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It’s rare these days that a new tech device gets me excited. That’s not to say most segments in the market have gotten boring, but many have become somewhat predictable. I was truly intrigued to get my hands on the Boox Nova Air C e-reader. This completely color e-ink tablet brings a unique feature set to the oldie, but goodie e-reader.

Design

If you’ve held any e-reader from the last decade, the Boox Nova Air C will be familiar. You have a 7.8-inch screen with pretty symmetrical bezels on the side that offer a good footprint to grip the tablet. There’s a lone power button on the top and pogo pins for a case on the left side. On the right of the screen is a magnetic strip for holding the included stylus, while the bottom houses the USB-C charging port and two speaker grills.

Internally, you have a decent combination of 3GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. Dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 are also present. The entire back and edges of the device is also wrapped in a nice, soft-touch coating.

Screen

This is truly the star of the Nova Air C tablet. As we mentioned the all-color panel makes this the next generation of E-ink capabilities. For years this tech was limited to only grayscale images. The on-cell Kaleido Plus screen brings a much more vibrant array of output to the Nova Air C.

The resolution is 468×624 with 100dpi in color images and can increase that to 1404×1872 with 300dpi on black and white images. Both are impressive for something without a more advanced display like an LCD or LED panel we see in other tablets.

This translates to a good, but not a great experience overall. I had high hopes for the Boox Nova Air C but found the colors to be more muted than I expected. Maybe I had pumped it up too much as my ultimate comic reader but did take some getting used to just how the images are portrayed on the screen.

Even still, the addition of color e-ink makes this a much more superior option to its predecessors without color. Documents, pictures, and comic reading are much richer with the Kaleido Plus panel. The palette contrast does lend to a better experience with your media.

However, as mentioned you just need to have certain curbed expectations. Even with this leap, the Nova Air C only allows for around 4,000 color shades while a standard LCD can push up to 16 million. It takes your eyes time to adjust to just how this is displayed and to how the pages transition.

Finally, let’s talk about the refresh rate. Boox offers three different levels that can be accessed via the quick panel in both the reading view and in the settings shade. The lowest level is ideal for standard text reading. In the middle one, I found a good medium for magazines, the web, and comics. The highest really should just be reserved if you want to attempt to watch videos (more on that in a sec).

The last mention on the display is ghosting. Even with the advancements and all that I love about the Nova Air C, it’s hard to ignore that it still struggles with fragments of the previous image still being displayed after you move to the next page.

While this isn’t much of a distraction with textbooks or even the web as much, it really dampens the experience of comic books. I consistently had a hard time moving thru the action panels due to images of the previous page bleeding thru.

Software and stylus

The Boox Nova Air C runs full Android 11 and after the initial setup, you can grant full access to the Google Play Store to really add apps to this thing. I had zero issues installing any app from the Play Store, but compatibility may be a problem with some apps not playing nice with the specific compromises the Nova Air C brings to the table.

Personally, I didn’t see many trips when using Android apps. I was easily able to add my password manager, Firefox, and my favorite comic reader without fault. I even installed YouTube, but that should come with a warning.

Even the highest refresh rates seriously struggle with any video. Will it technically play? Yes, but I’d challenge almost any nerd to sit and watch it without flipping out. You can almost see the frames per second as they move through the video. It’s more like watching an original Disney animation where you can see each transition between the images.

What does great is the included stylus. This adds even more options for taking notes, annotating PDFs, and even navigating the OS. The capacitive screen easily picks up the pen input for scrolling and handwriting. The default keyboard even has handwriting recognition to text that’s pretty solid.

The optional official Boox case can offer even more functionality. When paired through a pogo connection, you get dedicated buttons that act as volume controls with audio and video. While in a reading app, these move you through the pages without having to use the screen controls.

Battery life

As you may assume, the battery life is stellar. E-ink has always excelled in this regard and the Nova Air C is no exception. Boox rates the tablet to last up to four weeks in standby mode and I’d say this is accurate. I’ve seen almost no reduction in capacity while not using the tablet.

I’d say in general use you should get around two weeks of screen time before having to charge the Nova Air C. Of course, the more you try to use it as a traditional tablet, the battery life will suffer. In mixed e-reader and web browsing, this thing should be an endurance champ.

Even if you suck at managing the battery on your own Boox has you covered. The Nova Air C will automatically power off when left idle for longer than 30 minutes. This is a great way to ensure that the next time you pick it up you have juice left.

Conclusion

I had high hopes for the Boox Nova Air C tablet and it largely delivered on a few of those fronts. Even with the limitations of the display, the sheer fact that color imaging is a reality on this type of device is amazing. Reading, document management, and light app usage are a joy to use on the Nova Air C.

The last hang-up for many users might be the price. At $450, the Boox Nova Air C is far past the impulse purchase. For those consumers who have been waiting on this type of experience, it’s a trend-setting device. However, many may opt for a traditional tablet at this price point.

If you are in the crowd of adding this full-color e-ink tablet to your bag, be sure to head over to the company’s website to get your order in. You can also find it at a slight discount using the Amazon link below.

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