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Govee Flow Pro Light Bars review

Jason England
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During the pandemic, most of us have become “trapped at home” and looking for ways to entertain ourselves and our families. Thankfully, there have still been plenty of new movies and TV shows to enjoy. In fact, this has lead many of us to upgrade our home theater equipment.

While a new TV or a soundbar might be one of the most obvious choices, one of the more interesting things to do is add a reactive bias lighting system to the mix. This is nothing new, Philips has been offering reactive bias lighting for many years now, starting with its Ambilight TVs, and later with the Philips Hue Play Bar and Philips Hue Play Sync HDMI Box.

Unfortunately, all of Philips solutions are way more expensive than what I am willing to pay for the experience. Imagine my delight when I found out that Govee offers a reactive bias lighting system for nearly half the price.

Even better, Govee was nice enough to send out its Flow Pro Light Bars for review, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer.

Design

The Govee Flow Pro system consists of two light bars capable of displaying 16 million colors, a controller box, a power adapter, and a fisheye camera to detect the colors on your display.

The box also contains two light stands to hold the lights on your desk or TV stand, as well as two stands that can be used to affix the lights to the back of your TV.

Set up

Setting up the Govee Flow Pro Light Bars was quick and simple. While the light bars themselves can be placed in stands, I found that they look their best when attached to the back of the TV. Thankfully, Govee includes two sets of stands and it was easy to test this out and switch if I change my mind.

The Govee Light Bars have a cable coming out of each bar which converge into one singular USB-C connector that plugs into the controller box. The controller box is also where you’ll connect the power cable and the cable for the camera.

After you’ve placed the lights where you’d like them, you’ll need to attach the camera. Govee offers two different placements, either in the center on top of the TV or on the bottom. In my case, I found placing it on the bottom would be less distracting, but it would also cover up the remote sensor on the TV.

That’s why I decided to tape the camera to the center channel speaker beneath the TV. This is a less elegant solution than attaching it directly to the TV with the 3M adhesive on the camera mount–but I found it was the best for me–and it looks less distracting than having a camera attached to my TV.

Finally, you’ll need to install the Govee app and run through the setup to calibrate the camera and finish setting up the lights. Govee includes some orange rectangles to attach to your screen to calibrate the camera, but I found this video on YouTube made it much easier and without having to measure the center of my TV or stick anything to the screen.

User experience

As much as I’ve always wanted a color-changing bias lighting system, I was concerned that it would be too distracting. However, after trying it out for myself, I realized that’s not the case at all. Plus, if you do find it distracting, you can turn down the brightness or just set it to a boring single color like white.

Watching movies and TV with the Govee Flow Pro Light Bars was a new immersive experience. It made the content on the screen seem more interactive and brought it to life. Scenes with explosions filled my walls with dancing hues of orange and red, while dramatic moments where the screen goes dark and everything goes silent had more impact as the Govee lights blacked out the room.

It made watching my favorite movies feel new again; it’s not often you get a piece of equipment that makes such an impact. In fact, it enhances the experience so much that I can’t wait to watch all of my favorite movies again just to see them with the Govee Flow Pro Light Bars.

Now, as much as I love the Govee Flow Pro Light Bars, they are not perfect. Many movies consist of scenes that use a lot of black or white. Couple that with how the camera samples colors, the fact that it uses purple hues for black and pink hues for white, and you end up seeing purple and pink behind the screen for most movies and TV shows. I also found it oftentimes misinterpreted light yellow and skin tones as white, which means you end up seeing pink quite a bit.

The Flow Pro Light Bars were most impressive for animation or movies with vibrant colors. Otherwise, you get a heavy dose of purple and pink hues, but honestly, that’s still way better than no bias lighting or a strip of white LEDs behind the TV.

Finally, we get to one of the most important parts, how you power the light bars on and off. Govee integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant which makes it so convenient to power the lights on or off with voice commands.

Since I also use the Logitech Harmony Companion with my TV, I was able to turn both the TV and Flow Pro Light Bars on or off with a single voice command, and it worked seamlessly.

Additionally, you can also use Govee’s app to control the lights or set timers.

App

I give Govee a lot of credit for its app, it is so polished and packed full of features without being overwhelming. It made setting up the lights and managing them simple as can be.

There was even a firmware upgrade after I first opened the app which enabled a new split lighting mode allowing the light bars to display different colors on the left and right. This was a complaint early on with the Govee Flow Pro Light Bars and it was fantastic to see the company add the feature with a firmware upgrade.

Beyond that, you can control the brightness, saturation, switch which light displays the left or right. It’s even easy to recalibrate the camera in case you move it or install the light bars on a different TV.

Then there are all the different modes to choose from such as music, color, scene, and creating your own DIY scenes.

Final thoughts

Going from having no backlight on my TV to one that reacts to what’s on the screen was a game-changer. The Govee Flow Pro Light Bars bring content on the screen to life, and trying to watch content without them now feels lifeless and dead.

Every time I put on a movie or TV show–whether it’s a brand new release or an old favorite–all I can think is, I can’t wait to see how the Govee lights look with this.

I always wanted to try out bias lighting but I never realized how much of a difference it would make, and with Govee you don’t have to empty your wallet to get this transformative experience. The Govee Flow Pro Light Bars sell for $80, and at the time of writing, there is also a $10 off coupon. Either way, this is much more affordable than the competing Philips products.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Govee

Save 25% on this 7-Port USB charging station

AG Deals Team
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How often do you find yourself fussing with your chargers, swapping from one device to another? Live with a spouse or children? You know tough it can be to deal with cables and outlets.

Many of the things we own require regular or semi-regular charging. And if we’re being honest, we own a lot of things. Between phones, tablets, wearables, earbuds, gaming, and other things, we could really use a hand in the area of charging.

The ChargeHubGO+, available for just $30 in the AG Deals Store, is the sort of device you’ll appreciate having on hand should you find yourself in an emergency battery situation. We should know, we tested one out.

The portable power bank houses a wireless charging pad, a USB charging port, and two built-in charging cables that are compatible with Micro, Lightning, and Type-C devices. The powerful 5,000mAh battery capacity is like having an extra battery or two on standby.

ChargeHubGO+ Features

  • SmartSpeed® Technology provides the fastest possible charge for your devices with an impressive 15W of total power
  • 5,000 mAh battery capacity will keep most devices charged on-the-go
  • Universal compatibility ensures an optimal charge for virtually any device
  • 5W wireless pad for cable-free charging
  • Stringent testing to secure multiple product quality, safety, and durability certifications

Order Yours!

Available in four colors (black, pink, grey, and turquoise), the ChargeHubGO+ typically retails for about $40; however, enter coupon code LIMITLESS25 at checkout and you can save 25%, getting yours for just $30. Hurry, the deal won’t last forever!

Bluetti’s new releases are now available to order

AndroidGuys
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On June 23rd, Bluetti updated and upgraded their product line, adding four new power horses to the fleet. This took the form in the all new AC200 MAX, the one of a kind AC300 and the industry first battery modules: The 2048Wh B230 and the 3072Wh B300.

It is with great pleasure to announce, that the AC200 MAX and B230 battery module are now ready for you to order, yet the AC300 and B300 will be available in a month later on September 15th.

The AC200 MAX & B230

You guys asked for it, and Bluetti delivered. The AC200MAX is an all-round upgrade of the long loved AC200P. The MAX welcomes up to two B230’s or B300 battery modules, connecting of which can boost the total capacity to a staggering 8192Wh! Oh, and did we mention that this machine will now allow 900 watts of solar input, a 28% increase over its predecessor.

And especially for the RV enthusiasts the AC200 MAX has a specially designed built-in 30A NEMA TT-30 outlet.

Additionally, the AC200 MAX supports Bluetooth connection and can be controlled wirelessly with the new Bluetti Smartphone App (iOS & Android).

 (Bluetti AC200MAX and B230 are now available at Bluetti Power Week, Starts at $500 OFF, Click Here To Learn More)

AC300 & B300

If you are looking for raw power, then its quite simple. Look no further. The AC300 is entirely modular with the main unit housing the 3000 watt pure sine wave inverter. When you see the amount of power this machine is able to accommodate, you will understand why Bluetti made the AC300 modular.

Each AC300 needs to be paired with at least one 3072Wh B300 battery but can accept up to 4 battery modules. That’s 12,228Wh of capacity right there!

Just to put this in perspective, you now have a complete system that weighs 340lbs. See why they made this modular?

This groundbreaking power doesn’t end there! The Fusion Box Pro will allow you to pair two AC300’s together, boosting the entire system up to 240V, 6000W. You can probably see where Bluetti is going with this, and the answer is yes, you are now able to connect a total of 8 B300 battery modules to your entire system. A fully stacked system will grant you 24,576Wh of capacity, that’s enough stored energy to power your home for nearly a week!

Last but not least, the AC300 is able to support 2400W solar input, while the fully stacked version allows for 10,400W

Bluetti is said to release the 3,000-watt beasts on September, 15th. You may enter here to get the $800 OFF early bird discount by subscribing.

B230 and B300 Battery Modules

Bluetti is proud to announce the latest “industry first” innovation, the modular power products that are the B230 and B300. Both the B230 and B300 can be charged and discharged as a standalone power module and both feature various DC outlets, including a 100W USB-C, a 12V/10A car output, and some USB-A ports.

Additionally, both battery modules are able to soak up 500W of AC power via an AC to DC adapter. Not to mention the B300 even has its own 200W (MPPT-ready) solar inlet just in case you find your power storage running low the next time you and your friends are out camping off-grid.

One More Thing: The Enhancer (D050S)

Introducing a small, yet mighty game changing component, the Enhancer D050S.

Just as its wonderous name implies, the Bluetti DC charging Enhancer (hereinafter referred to as DC Enhancer or Little Magic Box) is the enhancement tool for the DC inlets (the DC7909 port for adapter) on the Bluetti units.

The DC Enhancer has a built-in MPPT charge controller with voltage regulator circuits, allowing this little magic box to juice up your current Bluetti products in a variety of additional charging ways.

With the help of our new DC Enhancer, you can now increase the overall capacity of previous Bluetti models like the EB150 and EB240 by connecting the latest Bluetti battery modules or lead acid batteries. Alternatively, you can even charge it via the 12V/24V cigarette lighter port in your car.

Those of you who own either the AC200P or EP500 are probably thinking, well my solar generator can already support car charging or battery charging on its own, what could this little magic box possibly do for me?

Well, how does an extra 500W of solar charging capability sound?

For example, the DC Enhancer can boost the solar charging rate of your AC200P up to 1200W. This means you can effectively charge up the 1700Wh/2000Wh unit in 2~2.5 hours with prime outdoor sunshine. Enter here to learn more about this magic box.

Here’s a Bonus For All of You Who Already Own a Bluetti Product

(If you are already the proud owner of AC200P or AC200, and want to get Bluetti’s latest battery module product, Bluetti will give away this cable to you for FREE)

As we have already mentioned, the older Bluetti models are capable of accommodating extra battery capacity with the help of our new Bluetti DC Enhancer. However, for some of the special models, supporting more than one extra battery module is no problem at all!

For example, the AC200P or AC200 can take one battery module via its solar input port with a converter cable.

However, with the additional help of the DC Enhancer you can now add an extra battery module to the 500W AC inlet. Doing this will add a total of 6144Wh (two B300’s) additional capacity to your current Bluetti unit!

Power Week Massive Sale

Except for the new releases, Bluetti is also offering a HUGE discount for some of the other popular models:

  • AC200P is now at $1599 ($400 off)
  • EB240 for $1399 ($500 off)
  • EB55 for only $449 ($100 off)

Bluetti is making moves, are you ready to ride the waves of change?

For more information, please visit the Bluetti Power Week Campaign Page: https://www.bluettipower.com/pages/powerweek

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Second-Gen review

Jason England
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One of my favorite audio brands has always been Bang & Olufsen. Between the brand’s style and sound quality I can’t help but be a fan. Recently, B&O released the Anthracite color of its portable, waterproof, and smart A1 second-gen Bluetooth speaker.  Further, they were nice enough to send one out to us for review.

Design

Bang & Olufsen is well regarded for both its sound quality as well as its design prowess. The new second-gen Beosound A1 does little to change the look from the first one, and that’s fine by me. However, this latest model does remove the 3.5mm jack that was found on the first-generation A1.

The round dome shape of the A1 series features a unique and practical design paired with the brushed aluminum covering on the top and waterproof leather strap for a premium feel. The bottom is made from a rugged polymer to help protect it while on the go, and the entire speaker is IP67 water and dust resistant.

The body of the Beosound A1 second-gen includes buttons to control the power, Bluetooth, and the microphone–as well as playback and volume–along with a USB-C port around the back to charge it up.

Smart features

The Beosound A1 second-gen is more than your typical Bluetooth speaker, this one has the ability to work with Amazon Alexa. However, since Wi-Fi isn’t built-in–and the A1 relies on a Bluetooth connection–you’ll need to have the Alexa app installed and set it up on your phone.

Along with the Alexa app, you’ll also need the Bang & Olufsen app to get everything set up. Once you do you’ll then be able to use the far-field mics on the A1 to activate Alexa with the keyword and use the thousands of skills offered by Amazon. This includes playing music, asking for the weather, controlling your smart home, and much more.

I would have preferred if I could have used Google Assistant or had the option, but at least you can activate Alexa with your voice. To that end, the mics worked very well, even from a distance. It is worth pointing out, though, there is a pause of a second or two between saying the Alexa keyword and getting a response.

Along with hands-free support for Alexa, the Bang & Olufsen app has some other useful features for the A1 speaker. First and foremost is updating the firmware. I had a couple of firmware updates when I first got mine, so be sure to check that if you buy one. Next, you’ll be able to control the volume as well as tweak the EQ to ensure the A1 second-gen sounds exactly the way you want.

Sound quality

I’ve always been a fan of the B&O signature sound; it’s one that includes a nice dose of bass with subdued highs to prevent ear fatigue and plenty of detail. The A1 second-gen lives up to that while also putting out plenty of volume for its compact size.

Additionally, you can tweak the equalizer in the app to make the A1 better match your preferences, but what’s most important is that the A1 is a speaker that puts out quality sound and gives you a good baseline to start with.

My biggest criticism would be that the A1 second-gen is lacking when it comes to volume compared to competing Bluetooth speakers. I didn’t have any issues filling a bedroom or kitchen with music using the A1. But once you’re outdoors and trying hear your favorite song over cicadas, cars, lawnmowers, and environmental noises, it would have been great if it got louder.

Battery life

Bang & Olufsen rates the Beosound A1 second-gen for up to 18 hours at normal playback volume. I found that to be accurate in my testing. It’s plenty of listening time to get you through a long day on the go or for a weekend camping trip.

Final thoughts

The Beosound A1 second-gen retails at a pricey $250 which is double that of a competing speaker like the JBL Flip 5. However, with the A1 second-gen, you get a premium build, longer battery life, the B&O signature sound, and support to use your voice (Amazon Alexa) to operate.

Whether all of that is enough to justify the price increase is up to you. Personally, I can certainly attest that the Beosound A1 second-gen is a high-quality Bluetooth speaker that sounds and looks fantastic.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Bang & Olufsen

Motorola Edge gets a refresh for 2021 with 108-megapixel camera

Scott Webster
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Motorola on Thursday introduced a new version of its Edge smartphone for 2021, updating it with better cameras, a newer processor, and tweaked design.

Much like we had with last year’s Edge, this one doesn’t quite play on the flagship field but it does come close. For the 2021 approach we have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 5G processor, complimented by 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. A beefier 8GB/256GB model will also be available.

The new Motorola Edge comes with a 108-megapixel camera, the same that was found in last year’s higher end Edge Plus. Also present are a generous 5,000mAh battery with support for mmWave 5G. Indeed, these two features were also included in the more expensive Edge Plus.

Oddly enough, the phone doesn’t have the same endless edge waterfall display that the previous generation had. As to why it’s called the Edge is somewhat of a mystery; perhaps it’s just the general design language or close resemblance to its predecessor.

With that said, the 2021 model comes with a 6.8-inch LCD screen with a 144Hz refresh rate. And while it doesn’t wrap around as much, there’s still a curved edge to the display.

In terms of cameras, the Motorola Edge 2021 packs a 108-megapixel main shooter with an 8-megapixel ultrawide/macro, and 2-megapixel depth camera. Around front you’ll find a 32-megapixel camera.

Other details for the phone include IP52 water resistance, Motorola’s Ready For functionality, Android 11 with My UX, and universally unlocked capability.

Availability

The Motorola Edge 2021 will be priced $699.99 when it goes on sale September 23. Pre-orders commence August 23 and for a limited time, Motorola will discount the handset by $200. Indeed, the final price of $500 puts it right in the junior flagship range where Samsung, OnePlus, and others are increasingly present.

The phone will be available in the US unlocked from Best Buy, Amazon, and through Motorola’s website. Both Verizon and Spectrum Mobile are expected to carry the handset in the coming months. A Canadian release is also planned for the future but no timeline has been set.

PosiGen CEO Thomas Neyhart Drives Access and Inclusion in Solar Industry

AndroidGuys
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Corporations can control the oil fields, coal mines, and nuclear reactors, but they cannot control access to solar energy. Despite considerable pushback from Big Oil and many other corporations against green, renewable energy sources, solar energy is here to stay. PosiGen CEO Thomas Neyhart has made it his mission to deliver energy savings to communities all across the country. Read below to learn how.

Renewable energy options such as solar and photovoltaic energy systems are typically accessible only to the rich and affluent. Only those who can afford the considerable installation and maintenance costs of most renewable energy-based systems can enjoy their long-term benefits. The cost-savings of energy-efficient homes are well established, but across the vast majority of communities in the United States, only the wealthy have enjoyed these savings. PosiGen CEO Thomas Neyhart is on a mission to democratize access to clean, green solar energy for everyone. In the process, by making it easier for marginalized communities to invest in and participate in the business of energy, Mr. Neyhart is transforming communities as well, one locality at a time.

How PosiGen CEO Thomas Neyhart Founded the Company

Hurricane Katrina was a large, Category-5 Atlantic hurricane that struck the south-eastern United States in 2005. It caused approximately $125 billion of damages ad is tied with Hurricane Harvey as the costliest Atlantic hurricane of all time. Katrina was particularly hard on low-income communities living throughout New Orleans, 80% of which was flooded during the storm.

As the city rebuilt, local residents had the perfect opportunity to construct homes that were better, more efficient, and more affordable. Unfortunately, most of the dozen or so programs launched to aid the rebuilding effort were only accessible to wealthy locals. Low-to-moderate income families, unable to afford home upgrades, were left to fend for themselves.

PosiGen CEO Thomas Neyhart saw the opportunity to help these disadvantaged families rebuild their homes and get their lives back on track, and that is how PosiGen was born.

Nurturing Inclusion and Access at PosiGen and Beyond

To bring about meaningful, long-lasting change, however, the new PosiGen CEO had to do things a little differently. Adopting existing solar energy models that were aimed at wealthier target markets would simply worsen the problem. To bring solar and energy efficiency to lower-income communities, it had to be sold to them in a fundamentally different way. The only business model that made sense was to base sales on savings. Only if a customer will save money by going solar paired with energy efficiency upgrades will they install a solar system.

By focusing on the customer’s savings, not the company’s profits, PosiGen quickly gained traction. People are less reluctant to take the plunge with a new system or a new way of doing things if they know it will make their lives better. With this value proposition in place, PosiGen quickly grew, and the company now installs thousands of solar systems every year, pairing each of those systems with energy efficiency upgrades, which results in considerable savings to families who most need it all across the country.

With PosiGen CEO Thomas Neyhart’s vision of solar power and energy efficiency for all, the company strives to make solar and energy efficiency affordable and easy to access, particularly to low-to-moderate income communities and communities of color. What makes PosiGen’s approach different, however, is how it democratizes inclusion and access.

Improving inclusion and access is part of how everything works at PosiGen. This applies not just to selecting target markets but hiring, training, and giving back to the community as well.

For example, the company’s solar leasing program makes it possible for families in disadvantaged communities to invest in their homes and save on their energy expenses. Home modification plans are also customized to help PosiGen’s customers live in better, safer, and cleaner homes. Finally, inclusion and access play big roles in how diversity and the strengths of different communities are nurtured and given room and the opportunity to grow within the company. Over 65% of PosiGen’s employees are women or people of color. By helping high-need communities save money, these customers and team workers can put their savings right back into their local economy, supporting local businesses and initiatives.

PosiGen’s Results Over the Long-Haul

PosiGen’s results speak for themselves. The company has installed over 18,000 solar systems all across the country. By using creative, user-focused programs and solutions, PosiGen and CEO Thomas Neyhart are delivering real savings to their customers.

Onboarding with PosiGen is simple. PosiGen’s engineering and sales teams handle everything from design, permits, approvals, installation, and inspection so that the client’s brand-new solar system can be activated as quickly and easily as possible. 

Also, by installing a two-directional meter – one that can handle electrical intake from the grid and solar energy produced at home – customer homes always use solar energy when it is available. Only if the power generated does not meet the client’s energy demand will additional energy be delivered from the grid. On days when the installed panels produce more energy than needed by the home, excess energy is directly delivered to the grid in return for credits. These credits can be used to pay for electricity from the grid to meet future energy demands.

Over the long run, the compounded savings of this model are significant. PosiGen’s customers have used their savings for everything from opening new businesses to sending their kids to school to going on vacation and having more to spend while shopping. All of these are local savings and benefits that are not only good for communities but the planet as well.

A simple reorientation of focus from company profits to the well-being of users and customers has helped PosiGen CEO Thomas Neyhart make a real impact on the lives of tens of thousands of customers. As the company forges ahead, Thomas Neyhart will continue to improve inclusion and access and deliver cost savings to customers across the country via better, simpler, and more equitable access to solar energy for all.

Score a 2nd-gen Google Nest Mini for $35

AG Deals Team
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With school season back in full swing again, it’s time to get back into good habits. For many people, the first habit they need to work on is getting up in time for school or work.

Another habit that may be tough to form after a long hot summer could include remembering to pack your bag for the day ahead. Or, in the evening, having reminders to help with tasks or homework.

If you’ve ever owned a smart speaker, you already know that these types of issues can be managed with one. A speaker like the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen could be all you need to help get you up in the morning as it can be used as an alarm clock.

Smart speakers can also be used for homework questions, looking up topics, unwinding with music, or tasked with reminders and to-do lists.

Right now you can pick up a Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen from the AG Deals Store for just $34.99, a savings of 30 percent. Offered in Chalk and Charcoal colors, it’s the pint-sized unit that works in any room.

About the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen Smart Speaker with Google Assistant

Meet the 2nd generation Nest Mini, the smart speaker you control with your voice. Just say “Hey Google” to play songs from Spotify, YouTube Music, and more. In addition, nest Mini has 2x stronger bass, so the music sounds bigger and richer.

Made of durable fabric top from recycled plastic bottles, this compact speaker is crafted with the environment in mind. Ask your Google Assistant about the weather, news, or almost anything. Hear your personalized schedule, current weather conditions, and reminders. Set timers and alarms, and control your compatible smart devices anytime, anywhere.

Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen Features

  • Bigger, richer sound: Next Mini has 2x stronger bass than the original Mini
  • Environment-friendly: Durable fabric tops made from recycled plastic bottles
  • Google Assistant: Improved voice recognition so you can ask help from across the room
  • Integrated wall mount: Makes it easy to put in any room
  • Easy volume controls: LEDs light up to show your volume controls when you approach it

Order Yours

Swing over to the AG Deals Store and purchase your Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen in Charcoal (dark grey) or Chalk (light grey) for just $34.99.

Podcast: History of Android (v1.0)

Scott Webster
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What are your earliest memories of Android? Were you paying attention to the platform all the way back in 2007 and 2008? We certainly were.

For this season of the AndroidGuys podcast we’re taking a trip through time, looking at each version of the Android platform.

If you subscribe to the podcast through your favorite outlet, you’ve already heard a few of these. Each episode is dedicated to a specific release as well as key devices of the time.

We often take for granted all of the great things that our devices do for us. There was a time when our smartphones could not do “basic” things by today’s definition. The series of podcasts aims to educate listeners about the features added into Android along the way.

About This Episode

History of Android Releases – Android 1.0

Scott Webster and Luke Gaul head down memory lane to the beginning of Android and its first official public release. The two discuss not only where mobile software was at the time, but also where hardware was, too. 

What were you doing in the fall of 2008 as Android hit the market with the T-Mobile G1?

Topics Discussed

  • Android 1.0
  • T-Mobile G1
  • Historical context for phones of the time
  • Notable apps and features of the day

All about insurance for small businesses

AndroidGuys
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Starting a business or being a small business owner that operates its business from home or even online through the mobile or Android phone is noble. Not only do they get to sharpen their God-given talents and passion, but they also help the economy thrive. But the business world is complicated and very much risky from various kinds of losses like team member screw-ups, complaints, natural disasters, and even robbery. That is why insurance for businesses was born.

Business insurance can be puzzling, and it’s something a business owner must fully understand as it is an unavoidable expense.  And even if yours is just a small business, it is important to have it insured, even if it’s just a basic candle making insurance for an Etsy business, because even the most basic commercial general liability insurance can save your small business from devastating events that otherwise may ruin your business. With business insurance, you can be at ease that if any covered, unforeseen losses come you’re protected as a business. So in this guide, we sum up all the things a small business owner needs to know before seeking cheap business insurance. 

What is the type of small business insurance needed?

It is helpful to a business owner to have small business insurance. Starting are the 4 common types of coverage small business owners need to know about: general liability, workers’ compensation, commercial property and commercial auto insurance if you operate business-owned vehicles. In addition to these 4, some other common policies you should be familiar with are product liability, professional liability, Business owners policy (BOP) and home-based business insurance that can be added to your homeowners insurance.

 Commercial Property Insurance

Everything your business uses has a value and property coverage is in charge to protect them from fire, vandalism, whether you own them or lease them. This includes the physical structure of your business and its contents you use to run your business, such as but not limited to computers or laptops, furniture and fixtures, supplies, printers, tools and equipment, and the like. This is the policy which will help small business owners pay for reparation or replacement if the property got lost, damaged or destroyed. 

General liability insurance 

Every business has operating risk, and commercial general liability insurance is the coverage which will protect it from common small business risks such as, but not limited to, slip and fall accidents or bodily injuries, damage that was caused to its customers, property damage, libel and slander lawsuits, advertising injury, and more. It also helps business owners qualify leases and contracts. This will also protect your small business financial stability when it gets sued by a third party on many occasions.

Workers’ compensation insurance

 Almost all states require workers’ compensation type of insurance for businesses, small or not, that employ to protect employers from the liabilities associated with employees who are hurt at work or got work-related illnesses. It helps the business pay for medical bills, lost wages if there are any, and legal expenses due to work-related accidents. It also protects the owner/employer from being litigated by personnel who are injured at work.

Commercial auto insurance.  If a business, small or not, owns a vehicle and uses it for business purposes, they are required by almost all states to acquire commercial vehicle insurance. It is as such because this policy provides coverage for the owner, the personnel, and the vehicle. This coverage, on the road or off, will help pay for possible liabilities that may arise from incidents involving their automobiles.

How much does business insurance cost?

Several factors impact the cost of small business insurance which includes, business and industry risk factors and level, required or requested coverage limits, business location, profession, average annual income, and a number of employees. For everybody’s appreciation, those four types of business insurance mentioned above are around $200 per month. If you wish to get a good idea, visit price comparison sites such as insuranks.com. You can generate free quotes from them.

Can we save money from business insurance? If yes, how?

 Yes, you can, and below are the ways to save.

Shop online. Do shopping online and visit price comparison sites like insuranks.com. These sites can help you find the business insurance you want, and that fits your budget.

Product Bundling. Do insurance product bundling such as BOP or business owners policy which consists of property coverage and general liability insurance. It is simpler to understand and the most budget-friendly combination that is tailored to protect almost every business industry risk factor.  To top it up, it has business interruption coverage that helps cover loss of income. It is the best bundle for small businesses.

  • Policy customization. Choose only the coverage you think is necessary for your business and cut down on content that is not on your priority list.

Takeaway

Business insurance will keep business owners focused on running and growing their business, but it comes with a cost. To save, without creating a protection gap, visit price comparison sites to get the most affordable insurance product bundle that meets your business protection needs and your budget.

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Reviewing eufy’s wired Smart Doorbell and wireless SoloCam E40

Andrew Allen
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Smart home options seem to be expanding almost by the minute. From cameras to smoke detectors and air fryers, you can connect almost anything to your home WiFi these days. Eufy has updated its security lineup with a new wired doorbell and wireless camera.

The Anker sub-brand brings budget-friendly options in the eufy 2k Video Doorbell and eufy SoloCam E40. I’ve added both to my home and have been using them for a few weeks ahead of this full review.

Design

Neither one of these units reinvents the proverbial wheel. If you’ve seen a smart doorbell or wireless security camera, then you’ve pretty much seen what these look like. Both have built-in motion sensors and can record up to 2K resolution on demand.

The eufy SoloCam E40 is an elongated roundish shape that kind of reminds me of an old-school side mirror on a car. Around the back is a charging port covered by a rubber-sealed flap. On the front is a centered video lens surrounded by an IR array to pick up motion.

The eufy video doorbell is a sleek, piano black rectangle with a camera lens at the top and a button for… you guessed it, to ring the doorbell. When someone presses this button, there’s also a blue LED ring that lights up around it.

Speaking of ringing the bell. The one downside to the design is that eufy has not integrated backward compatibility with traditional doorbell boxes. This is the physical box inside your home that creates the tone of the doorbell. It’s usually a discrete white plastic container near the entrance.

Setup and installation

The onboarding of each of these cameras was a breeze. The eufy Security app is one of my favorites. It has easy to follow prompts to get you going and then the camera is confirmed by using the lens of the new device to scan a QR code generated in the Android app.

After the initial pairing, the app will walk you through adding your WiFi details and go over a briefing about local storage. You can also opt for cloud storage for a monthly fee, or you can link your camera to a NAS storage device as well.

Now you are ready for installation. This process is also well documented in the app and manuals. Let’s start with the eufy Video Doorbell. Most homes have a wired doorbell that has two wires behind the scenes powering everything. Thankfully the eufy Smart Doorbell has the same two terminals behind its panels as well.

Once you remove your old doorbell, you simply tie it back into the existing wiring. Before that, you may need to use the included mounting terminal to make sure the new holes for screwing into your door frame match up. Otherwise, a Philips head screwdriver and about five minutes are all you need on the outside of the house.

One exception is the internal doorbell system. As mentioned earlier, one fault of the installation is that the wiring of the eufy Smart Doorbell doesn’t communicate seamlessly with the existing tonal box inside the home. This is circumvented with a jumper cable inside the box paired with a small electronic bell that’s about the size of a wall-plug air freshener. Plug it in. Sync thru the app and you now have the complete doorbell setup.

The eufy SoloCam E40 is even simpler to get going hardware-wise. The lack of wiring makes this camera able to be mounted literally anywhere. In the box, you get the camera, mounting hardware, and a mounting ring base.

After you’ve found your ideal spot to be monitored. You pre-drill your pilot holes and use the included screws and mounting ring to secure things to the house. The SoloCam E40 then screws into the rest of the hardware on the end of a pivoting arm.

Software and performance

Anker has built a solid app experience. From the setup to normal use, it’s pretty intuitive and quick to get to your cameras. You can easily get to settings for things like notifications, storage, and view recordings.

Another good selling point is it’s one of the few selections that can be solely dependent on your local network and storage. On my network, this leads to decent performance. I have noticed a few times that live view takes longer than I would like, but not terrible by any means.

I’d say my biggest complaint is that I’ve found the doorbell a little inconsistent on movement detection. The eufy Video Doorbell has been a little over-sensitive at night. This has resulted in false notifications of motion numerous times.

Eufy’s app does allow to adjust the sensitivity of motion detection, but I’ve found the default gets the night false movements and the next level of decreased detection misses real people coming to the door at times. I’d love to see a software update to hone in some of this with additional levels of sensitive controls or better AI readings.

Final thoughts

eufy has a growing stable of security smart devices. The Video Doorbell and SoloCam E40 have brought another solid combo to this lineup. If you are in the market for smart home video devices these should definitely be on your list.

The final factor in most purchases is often price. The eufy SoloCam E40 costs $130 full retail on Amazon. If you act fast, that’s currently discounted by $20 with a promotional coupon.

The eufy wired Video Doorbell can also be found on Amazon for $160 retail. However, it’s also seeing a pretty heavy discount at the time of this posting. You may be able to snag it for $40 off on the Amazon sale page.

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