Home Blog Page 441

Nokia phone buyer’s guide

AndroidGuys
-
0

Buying a phone in 2021 is an entirely different situation than it was just a few years back. Many consumers are used to buying their phones from their wireless service provider but that’s slowly changing.

Thanks to the growing presence of unlocked handsets, customers are now able to choose from a much wider selection. Instead of being stuck with what your carrier offers, consider going direct to the manufacturer.

Nokia is one brand that has done pretty well in the unlocked space; it continues to grow its portfolio with models at a variety of price points and hardware features.

We’ve put together this Nokia phone buyer’s guide to help you make heads or tails out of everything. This should help you get a better understanding of what’s currently available from Nokia.

Nokia Phone Buyer’s Guide

Nokia’s phones are essentially named and classified with a number. The general rule of thumb here is the bigger the number, the more powerful the phone. As of today its phones mainly range from the 2 and 8 series of phones; the Nokia 7.2, for instance, is a successor to the Nokia 7.1. The newer models in the Nokia lineup include the G10, G20, and XR20.

Android One

One of the best parts about Nokia phones is that they come with a stock version of Android. It’s lean and clean and left the way Google intended it to be.

Additionally, Nokia does a wonderful job of supporting its phones with major software updates and monthly security patches. Its devices receive two years of major platform updates and three years of security and bug fixes.

Dedicated Button

Another common feature in Nokia phones is a dedicated hardware button for Google Assistant. This gives users a quick and easy way of accessing the popular search tool and virtual assistant.

Key Phones

These are some of the current phones and their respective features offered by Nokia.

Nokia XR20

About as robust of an experience as you’re apt to find with the handset maker, standout details for the XR20 include a two-year warranty with three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates. That’s far and above what most companies are willing to offer.

The sleek casing is designed to the MIL-STD-810H military standards and takes on drops, water, dust, and dirt. In fact, you can clean it with soap and water.

The dual rear camera configuration includes a 48-megapixel sensor, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and dedicated flash. Then there’s also a suite of hardware and software enhancements to ensure everything looks great.

Nokia G10 and G20

Powered by Android 11, these two are more budget-minded approaches to the everyman phone. That is to say they are 4G handsets with MediaTek processors and modest amounts of memory.

Either phone would make a great first smartphone for someone but we suggest spending the extra money for the G20 if it’s available. For your money you’ll get more storage and performance.

Nokia X100

Nokia X100

Among the bigger and more well-rounded, the Nokia X100 runs Android 11 and offers 5G support.

Users get a large 6.67-inch display as well as a quad-camera (48MP + 5MP Ultra-Wide + 2MP Macro + 2MP Depth) array with ZEISS features​.

Under the hood are a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480G processor bolstered by 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Rounding things out are a 4,470mAh battery and a side-mounted power and fingerprint sensor button.

Nokia G300

Powered by Android 11, the device provides users with a 6.52-inch HD+ screen, a triple camera array, and 4,470mAh battery.

A mid-range phone for modest needs, it offers wide support for 4G LTE bands and 5G, too. The handset packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor with 4GB RAM. Storage is listed at 64GB of space but a microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 1TB external media.

Nokia G50

Nokia G50

An excellent option for first-time users and those who don’t demand much of their phone, this one packs a large 6.82-inch HD+ screen and an equally large 5,000mAh battery.

The handset runs Android 11 and comes with 4GB and 128GB memory. A triple-camera configuration snaps ultra-wide and portrait shots alike while the expandable (up to 512GB) storage ensures you’ve got room to store them.

Nokia 3 Series

Often sold through prepaid carriers and MVNOs, these are now what you’d find in the entry level space from Nokia. Although they are a little lighter on hardware, they still come with a wonderful software experience that’s backed with years of support.

How to download free and open source apps with F-Droid

Josiah Ward
-
0

How do you download apps on your Android phone? Most likely you head to the Google Play Store as it’s often pre-installed on your phone. Moreover, it gives you access to pretty much every kind of app or game you can think of. If not the Play Store, you probably use the Amazon Appstore.

What if you have a passion for open source software? Or, what if you don’t like Google serving you ads and sponsored content as part of your experience? If either of these situations sounds like you, perhaps you should consider F-Droid.

What is open source?

Open Source Software (OSS), is software whose source code (the stuff that makes up the app) is made available for anyone and everyone to view, edit, or copy. This code is often managed by the git versioning system that keeps track of changes, called “commits”. The code is then uploaded to repositories on websites such as GitHub or GitLab.

The basic makeup of Android is open source software, known as the Android Open Source Project. Similarly, the Chrome browser is based off of an open source browser called Chromium.

What is F-Droid?

F-Droid is an app store that exclusively deals in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). That is to say that he apps you download are open source and come at no cost to you. The main F-Droid repository mostly consists of apps vetted, compiled (put together from source), and signed by F-Droid. The app in itself is free of any form of tracking, which is why you’ll never see any download stats on the apps you find.

How do I get started with F-Droid?

First, head to to F-Droid.org on your phone and click the download button. Your phone will probably prompt you with a warning or notification. If that’s the case, do what it says and go into settings and allow your browser as an app source.

  • F-Droid Website
    F-Droid Website

Upon installation, open the app up where you will see it immediately refreshing information from the repository.

When you click on an app, you’ll see the name, when it was last updated, some important links about the app, permissions the app needs, and previous versions.

If you like the app, click install. It’ll download the app, and then you have to allow F-Droid to install apps and then install the app manually.

It’s worth noting here that this means that all updates will have to be manually installed. This may change in the future because Android 12 could introduce a permission for “alternative” app stores to be able to install apps without user intervention.

F-Droid App Info Page
App Info Page

In your settings, you can do things like change how updates are handled, change your theme, add a proxy, and turn on anti-feature apps

What’s an anti-feature app?

These are apps that, for one reason or another, aren’t completely in line with the F-Droid ethos. They may contain ads or tracking, connect to a non-free network service (such as YouTube or Facebook), or rely/depend on a non-free app or service (e.g. Google Play Services).

F-Droid Settings Page
Settings Page

What if the 3,000 existing apps on F-Droid aren’t enough for me?

No problem! There are a variety of extra repositories you can add on, with some only containing one or a few specific apps. The biggest one, and a favorite of mine for those hoping to more fully replace the use of Google Play, is the IzzyOnDroid Repo. This contains apps compiled by the original developers and might include dependencies on Google Play Services. In total, IzzySoft contains around 650 apps.

How do I add a repository?

To add a repository, go to https://forum.f-droid.org/t/known-repositories/721 and copy the link to the repo you would like to add. Then go into your F-droid settings, to repositories and then click the plus sign. The link will likely populate from your clipboard, so all you have to do is click “Add” and let the app add and update the repository.

  • F-Droid Unofficial Repositories
    F-Droid Unofficial Repositories
  • F-Droid Repository List
    App Repository List

After that, you’re good to go! Enjoy your newly-freed Android experience!

Enjoy a lifetime of safe, secure browsing with BelkaVPN, on sale now

AG Deals Team
-
0

If you have not installed a VPN for your home or office, it’s time to get serious. Not only do they help in providing a more secure and anonymous way of browsing the internet, they can also be used for plenty of other reasons.

Take, for instance, the concept of watching region-restricted content from streaming services. Using a VPN can open the door to a whole array of movies and shows that aren’t available in your current location.

Another key reason to consider a VPN? According to a recent security.org study, roughly one in ten VPN users said they use the service to facilitate whistleblowing, activism, or bypassing government or organization restrictions. Moreover, when people feel like their liberties are at risk, VPN usage rises. It’s no coincidence that VPN searches soared when Trump’s administration considered banning TikTok last year.

Should you be ready to purchase a VPN we have just the deal for you. Visit the AG Deals Store and you’ll find that we have a lifetime subscription to BelkaVPN for just $39.99, a discount of about 94 percent.

Featuring a four-star rating in the Google Play Store, BelkaVPN also enjoys a 4.2 score at TrustPilot. Thanks to a network of more than 120 servers in 25 locations around the world, it’s trusted by thousands to provide a fast, secure web connection.

Key BelkaVPN Features

  • Reliably protect your data on any public Wi-Fi
  • Surf with no speed or bandwidth limits
  • Access 120+ VPN servers with 25 locations globally
  • Surf on a variety of VPN protocols: OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, Socks5 and WireGuard
  • Access servers for US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, ESPN+ & HBO Now and 40+ others
  • CleanWeb feature blocks ads, tracker, & malware
  • Includes kill switch on iOS and Android
  • Military-grade AES 256-bit encryption
  • Zero log policy
  • 24/7 customer support

Get Started

A lifetime subscription to BelkaVPN protection would usually run more than $700, but right you can ensure total coverage foreverfor just $39.99.

Motorola Phone Buyer’s Guide

AndroidGuys
-
0

When it comes to phones, Motorola is no doubt a familiar name to all. It’s the brand behind the iconic Razr phone of the mid 2000’s as well as the Droid line that helped take Android to the stratosphere. It’s also the company with a lot of “firsts” in the mobile space.

If you’ve ever looked at the phone market and found yourself confused by the numerous Motorola brands and models, you’d not be alone. Motorola has its fair share of product lines and devices.

It may feel challenging to try to make sense of everything, but it’s not quite as bad as it seems. Here, we’ll help you get an understanding as to what Motorola offers consumers in fall of 2020.

Moto E

First introduced back in 2014, this is the durable, low-cost experience geared toward first-time smartphone buyers. Moreover, it’s a great way to buy an affordable unlocked phone that works with a variety of wireless service providers.

The Moto E line is often sold through prepaid and MVNO carriers; it’s also popular in emerging markets. If you’re a new smartphone user, or someone with minimal needs, this is a great place to start.

Moto G

Moving up a notch, the Moto G line is more robust and features hardware that’s mid-range and just short of what might be considered a “flagship” experience.

The Moto G family of phones is split into slightly different versions of the same general approach, with each catering to a slightly different user type.

The Moto G Power, for instance, is big on battery, touting three days of usage per charge. The Moto G Stylus, for its part, comes with a removable stylus for jotting down notes or marking up documents.

You’ll find different versions of the Moto G series at a variety of carriers, including post-paid and prepaid. Some models will feature 5G connectivity while others may not.

Motorola One

The Motorola One is where the phone maker starts putting forward some of the more interesting technology and higher-end hardware.

Like the Moto G, this line of phones is usually split into a number of options, each a little different from the next. The materials used in these devices is a bit more premium and the phones are definitely more stylish.

It’s not just the physical stuff, either. Motorola has added some AI smarts and custom touches to take advantage of that cool hardware. All the while keeping things user-friendly and a software experience that’s about as clean as it comes.

The current Motorola One lineup includes the One 5G Ace which is sold unlocked direct to consumer.

Motorola Edge

The true flagship in Motorola’s armada is the Motorola Edge as it’s one of the brand’s all-around best devices.

Motorola Edge 2020

The Motorola Edge is constructed using an anodized aluminum frame and feature spacious screens with curved edges and hole-punch cutouts for front-facing cameras. Motorola includes some custom software to take advantage of the edges, giving users quick access to notifications, apps, shortcuts, and more.

Motorola Razr

The folding phone is back. Indeed, this is a modern approach to the clam shell device that was all the rage about 15 years back. The Motorola Razr maintains the look and feel of the classic phone, but this time it’s Android running the show.

Motorola Razr

The exterior has a Quick View display for notifications, at-a-glance GPS turn-by-turn, music control, and more. Opened up, there’s a 6.2-inch display and the same Motorola and Google experience you’ve come to appreciate.

In terms of true power, this is more of a mid-range phone so you’re paying for the aesthetics and convenience of its design.

Where to Buy

As indicated above, you’ll find various versions of the Motorola portfolio at wireless carriers and retailers. You may find the occasional one-off name or exclusive model, but they’ll still fit with the breakdown we’ve created.

Here are a number of places to look for buying Motorola phones.

Quick Links

How to send View Once photos or videos in WhatsApp

Jason England
-
0

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps on the planet, largely because of its rich set of features. However, up until now, a particularly interesting one has been missing from the experience.  That is, of course, the ability to send self-destructing photos and videos to other users.

On August 3, 2021, WhatsApp announced on its blog that it was rolling out a new View Once feature that lets users send photos and videos that disappear after being opened.

The much-desired feature is a cool one, and it doesn’t take too much effort to send self-destructing messages to others using WhatsApp.

If you’re wondering how to send one of these then just follow the steps below.

  1. Select the contact you’d like to send a View Once message to
  2. Tap on the paperclip or camera icon to send a photo or video.
  3. After taking or selecting an image or video to send, tap on the “1” icon in the caption field and then press the send button like you normally would.

Unlike the traditional way of sending an image using WhatsApp, a “View Once” image or video will only show an icon instead of a preview.

After you’ve viewed a self-destructing WhatsApp image it will be marked opened, and you can leave it on your screen for as long as you want before returning back to the chat. However, once you do return, you won’t be able to open it again.

As WhatsApp warns, it is still possible for someone to take a screenshot of your picture. After testing it out, I’ve noticed there is no notification that goes back to the sender when someone does take a screenshot of a self-destructing WhatsApp message. So, even though the image or video can only be seen once, you will still need to be cautious about what you’re sending.

If the photo or video is very sensitive in nature, you may want to opt for using a different app. Snapchat, for instance, has ways of notifying you when someone takes a screenshot or a message you sent.

Either way, rest assured knowing that WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that no one will be able to see what you’ve sent except for the intended recipient.

Hip Hook review

Scott Webster
-
0

Every so often we get the chance to review products that fall outside of our standard scope of coverage. And while we’d love to cover everything that is offered up, we cannot keep up with the demand. With that said, we’ll occasionally check out something that seems a little “off the grid” just for a change of pace. Such is the case today with our review of the Hip Hook from Aletha.

Designed by a physical therapist, the Hip Hook is one of those products that speaks to the self-help type of user. That is to say if you experience knee pain, back pain, or hip pain, you may want to put it on your radar.

Given that we spend upwards of seven hours (or more) at a desk each day, we could all do better to take care of our bodies. And based on some of the potential remedies from using the Hip Hook, we felt a lot of readers might be interested in learning about it.

Upon taking the Hip Hook out of the box it can be a little confusing as to how one might use it. The unit is unlike anything else you might have in your home gym. Fortunately, there’s a decent bit of documentation included to help get you started. Moreover, there are some helpful videos to show how to use it and how it can be of value.

My wife is a licensed massage therapist and yoga instructor so she knows plenty about stretching and muscles. Furthermore, she understands how truly inter-connected the body can be. I gave her the hip hook to use on herself and consider for her clients. She and I both came to a similar conclusion as to how the Hip Hook is positioned.

Specifically, we feel the Hip Hook is a great tool to have on hand for therapists and sports professionals. It’s a little daunting and confusing for the average person, especially if you’re not accustomed to stretching and pre/post workout activities. Simply putting it on the floor or pressing up against it on the wall could be painful and awkward. Knowing how much pressure to apply, and where to apply it, is something that’s learned over time.

Should you have someone who fully understand where muscles and ligaments are, where they go, and how they’re connected, you might ask them for assistance. That’s where we see the Hip Hook working best – as part of a well-rounded kit for therapy.

Don’t get us wrong, this isn’t solely designed for people with advanced flexibility or active lifestyles. Work at a desk for hours on end? Find yourself with random pains in your knees, hips, or back? Chances are good that you can remedy some of that yourself with just a few minutes of the right pressure and release.

Parting Thoughts

The Hip Hook normally retails for $150 (or more) which might price itself out of consideration for a casual person or someone new to self-help and self-care. But a marathon runner, long-term yoga student, or someone who contends with chronic pain will likely consider it a valuable investment. And really, it’s priced in line with one or two sessions with a professional.

As far as build quality goes, we had zero issue with the way in which the Hip Hook is designed. Stronger than a simple plastic, it withstands considerable pressure without feeling as if you’re close to breaking it. Once familiar with it, the angles feel right and the curves and ends make sense.

Where to Buy

Learn more about the Hip Hook at Aletha’s website where you can also purchase one. According to the manufacturer there are no other official outlets that offer the product.

Bolster your resume with a lifetime of continuing tech education and certification

AG Deals Team
-
0

School season is upon us once again and for a lot of people it will soon be time to crack open the books. For high school and college students it’s time to get serious and apply yourself — if you want to be “successful” in today’s world.

This is not to suggest whatsoever that education ends with college. Indeed, for some people there’s never an end to learning and growth. This is especially true for the increasingly popular world of tech.

Try as you might, but you’ll never be able to keep up with the changes in technology like data management, cloud services, or digital marketing. Not on your own. You’ll want and need help.

If you’re a technical professional, and want to continue learning, you’d be wise to consider Whizlabs. Launched in 2000, it has helped more than 5 million professionals with certification and career growth. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime membership to Whizlabs for 97% off, or just $239.99.

Whizlabs offers online certification training for successful professionals in whole array disciplines, including such as Cloud Computing, Big Data, Blockchain, Java, Linux, and much more.

Choose from nearly 170 different courses and enjoy labs, practice tests, questions, and videos on topics like Microsoft Azure, Salesforce, DevOps, and Cyber Security.

Get Started!

Whereas a year of access to Whizlabs runs $99 on its own, AndroidGuys readers can pick up a lifetime subscription for only $239.99. Take the training at your pace, on desktop or mobile, and pick up certification along the way. Bolster your resume for a pay raise, promotion, or new job.

How to add Google’s weather frog to your smart display

Jason England
-
0

I’ve been an avid fan of Google Assistant smart displays over the past few years, dating all the way back to the JBL Link View. Since that time, I’ve been treated to a rotating home screen gallery of images that changes every few minutes and can be pulled from a variety of sources.

Depending on how long you’ve owned a smart display, or your personalized settings, the default pool of images can seems small. Over time it can become rather boring to see the same photos pop up again and again.

Google recently added a new “Experimental” feature in the settings on the Nest Hub. I happened across it as I was recently digging through the Google Home app. Once enabled, I realized it was the best decision I would make all week. I am talking, of course, about enabling the Google Weather Frog and setting him as the default background or home screen.

If you’ve ever searched “weather” before in the Google app on your phone, you’re probably already familiar with this little fella. Enabling this setting on your smart display puts him front and center in your home or office. Once he’s set up, you can watch him come to life and carry out his daily activities.

After enabling the weather frog, I had a blast checking my smart display throughout the day to see what he was up to. Sometimes I’d see him on a picnic, while other times he’d be reading a book or using a telescope to check the stars at night.

As your day progresses, so does his, with your time of day and current weather conditions reflected in the scene. On days when it was cloudy outside for me, it was also cloudy for him. Likewise, when the forecast called for rain, it was also raining in his world.

Working from home can feel a little lonesome sometimes, but with this little guy on my screen, I feel like I have a companion throughout my day. It’s not unlike having a virtual pet or a fish tank.

If you would like to enable the Google Weather Frog on your smart display, it’s a pretty simple process. Follow the steps below and you’ll soon be on your way to observing his daily adventures.

How to enable the Google Weather Frog

  1. Open the Google Home app on your phone.
  2. Browse for your smart display in the list of devices and select it.
  3. Tap on the settings cog.
  4. Choose Photo Frame from the list.
  5. Open up the Experimental menu and toggle on Google Weather Frog.

Enjoy your new froggy friend and join him for all of his daily exploits!

Govee Aura Smart Lamp review

Jason England
-
0

Years ago I bought a smart table lamp and found it amusing that I could control it using my phone’s Bluetooth connection. And while the lamp wasn’t as bright as I would have liked, I made do with it.

As my smart home grew to include Google Assistant, I was disappointed that I couldn’t better integrate the lamp with my other lights.

I’ve wanted to replace it for a while now with something that would work better with my smart home and integrate with Assistant. Thankfully, Govee have what looks to be the perfect replacement with its new Aura Smart Table Lamp. We were provided a sample for review from our friends at the company and have a this review to share.

Design

The Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp uses a compact circular design coming in at 7.9 inches tall and 4.1 inches wide. There is a rubberized base to keep it from sliding around and on top are five buttons to control it.

Furthermore, the power cable is around 8ft. long which should give you more freedom when finding a placement. A complaint I had with my last smart lamp was the cable barely stretched from the outlet to where I wanted to place it. I was pleasantly surprised the Aura Smart Table Lamp had some slack left after positioning it.

User experience

The Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp features controls on the top to power it on/off, switch different lighting modes, and change the intensity of the light. While it’s great to have an easy tactile way to manage the lamp, you’ll most likely use the app because of all the options Govee includes, or a voice assistant such as Alexa or Google Assistant to control it.

Beyond powering it on and off with your voice, the Aura Smart Table Lamp also supports changing the color and brightness. The only things I couldn’t seem to control with Google Assistant were changing the scene modes making it react to music.

For those options you’ll have to open up the app. Before diving deeper let me just say, I was blown away by what Govee offers up.

App

The Govee app is the singular most valuable thing about the Aura Smart Table Lamp. Without the app, the lamp would be little more than a simple light that displays different colors.

However, with the Govee app, the Aura turns into a lava lamp on steroids. Sure, the app does all the normal things you’d expect such as turning the light on/off or changing the brightness and color, but that’s only scratching the surface.

When you open the “Scenes” section of the app, the Aura Smart Table Lamp comes to life. There are a ton of different presets divided up by categories to choose from, and while a few simply show a pretty gradient, some are full motion. It’s impossible to do these justice in photos, especially the scenes that include motion.

A couple of my favorites were “Snow flake” and “Cherry Blossom Festival,” which imitate snow or flower petals falling down. The “Fish tank” and “Ocean” scenes were also very cool and I had a blast going through all of the scenes while showing them off to my friends.

On top of using the preset scenes, the Govee app also allows you to create your own custom scenes with different colors and movement. This is ideal for getting festive around the holidays.

Now, if you’re not into all the fancy scenes and want just a simple lamp, then the Aura is perfectly suited for that as well. You can even control which shade of white you’d like to use, such as a cooler whiter tone during the day and a deeper amber color for later in the evening.

Speaking of, the Govee app also features a sleep timer, wake-up light, and a way to schedule the lamp to turn on or off based on your needs.

Brightness

Of course, we can’t leave out one of the most important functions in a lamp review. The Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp is rated for 350 lumens, and what that means in the real world, is that it gets quite bright.

With the Aura lamp set at maximum brightness, I was able to light up a small bedroom with ease. My previous lamp barely got bright enough to read next to, making the Aura a big improvement.

Now, don’t expect it to compare to a floor-standing lamp or ceiling-mounted fixture, but it should be enough to view your surroundings in the evenings or to do some reading.

Final thoughts

When I first started browsing I was only hoping to get a nice looking lamp that I could turn on or off using Google Assistant. With the Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp–I got way more than that–and between all the different modes, scenes, and customizations I can see why it retails for $60.

The Aura is much more than just a lamp, paired with the Govee app it becomes a customizable light show of colors dancing in your home. You can pick up the Aura Smart Table Lamp right now from the Govee website for $55 or on Amazon for $48 after applying the 20% off coupon.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Govee

Break into the lucrative field of cloud technology with this self-paced training

AG Deals Team
-
0

Getting the itch to make a career pivot or try something new? Ever considered the increasingly popular and necessary world of cloud technology? There’s no time like the present to change things up or double down on your career path.

The Ultimate Kubernetes & Cloud Certification Training Bundle, available for just $39.99 in the AG Deals Store, offers more than 114 hours of lessons to help qualify you for a job in cloud technologies like Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS and more.

Spanning one dozen courses, this self-paced training is everything you need to get headed down the road of today’s top cloud services and technology. With nearly 900 lessons to choose from, this exhaustive training bundle is yours for as long as you need it.

The suite of training can be accessed on both desktop and mobile devices so you can chip away at your dream at the time and place that works best for you. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, you’ll appreciate the resources available at your fingertips.

Get Started!

These courses are highly effective and incredibly popular as ITU Online Training has provided IT training to some 650,000+ students. Purchase your license today and get started on your new career in cloud technology. For a limited time you can order the full Ultimate Kubernetes & Cloud Certification Training Bundle for just $39.99, a steep savings on its nearly $1,200 value.

1...440441442...1,316Page 441 of 1,316