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AT&T to switch Android phones to Google Messages for improved RCS

Josiah Ward
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The road to an Android version of iMessage has been long and grueling, though we might be closer to an end thanks to Google Messages and RCS

For years, one of the notable features of iPhones has been a consistent messaging experience across phones and carriers – iMessage. One app can both send text messages and participate in rich communication with stickers, message effects, reactions, and large attachments. Android has long not enjoyed such a feature.

The history of RCS

Google Messages with RCS
RCS in Google Messages

To change this, Google turned to Rich Communications Services (RCS). In 2018, Google and Samsung both worked to bring RCS to their respective messaging apps. In addition, carriers had been introducing so-called “Advanced Messaging” based off of RCS. The issue, though, was that each carrier used different RCS profiles, which meant that you could only enjoy Advanced Messaging with people on your own network.

In 2019, carriers tried to fix this by creating the Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI). This group had a goal of creating a unified messaging experience by 2020. This goal wasn’t met, but I’m going to assume that this was probably due to some..global circumstances, to put it lightly. There wasn’t a complete lack of progress, though.

In 2020, T-Mobile switched to RCS Universal Profile 1.0, which meant that cross-carrier RCS messaging could occur; assuming that the other carrier also supported the Profile and both individuals used Google Messages. Then, earlier this year, T-Mobile fully switched all users to Google Messages as the default messaging app on their devices.

AT&T is now doing the same thing. Google Messages will become the default messaging app for all AT&T Android phones moving forward. This means that AT&T customers will be able to: send larger files, see typing indicators, and have easy group chats where people can be added and removed with ease.

Google has also introduced end to-end encryption for RCS chats. There’s little info about the rollout over at AT&T, but this announcement is a massive step towards a unified messaging experience across all Android phones. Now, the only holdout is Verizon.

ZTE Axon 30 Ultra review

Scott Webster
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The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is the latest from the Chinese phone maker and it boasts a wide array of high-end features. Priced a few hundreds bucks cheaper than its main competition, the unlocked handset works with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile.

On paper, the Axon 30 Ultra is one of the strongest phones of the year. Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, no less than 8GB RAM, and a 64-megapixel quad-camera configuration, it has the makings of a “best of the year” type of experience.

How does it handle in real world and day-to-day usage? Is it a dark horse candidate that begs for consideration? Or does it fall short on delivery? Read on to find out our thoughts on the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra.

Design

First and foremost, this is a gorgeous phone. In fact, even after we placed it in the carrying case that comes in the box, we feel like it’s exposed and vulnerable; we’re nearly afraid to have it out.

The Axon 30 Ultra is also a large phone. At 6.7-inches, the AMOLED screen is among the bigger ones on the market. What’s more, it has a 2,400 x 1,800 pixel resolution and up to 144Hz refresh rate.

The bezels around the screen are very slim with the display curving ever so slightly around the edge. We’re generally not a fan of these types of screens because they lend to accidental swipes and/or unread swipes.

Around back we locate four cameras in the top left corner. The module is rather pronounced, emerging from the back and taking up a fair amount of real estate. This is largely due to the rest of the phone being so slim.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the aluminum Axon 30 Ultra is a treat to look over. Our review unit, which is “black” looks to be more like a gunmetal or silver and it has just the right blend of matte finish.

Software

The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is powered by an Android 11-based MyOS11 which largely resembles a stock experience. There are very few extras installed here, and because it isn’t sold through a carrier, there are no bloatware or “value added” apps that come from service providers.

If you like your Android unadulterated and straightforward, you’ll like what’s on offer. However, if you like to customize your experience a bit, there are plenty of options available. The deeper you dive, the more settings you’ll find.

One such setting that appreciate is under “Features” which lets us decide how sensitive the edges are for mistouches. We’re also fond of the number of gestures and settings we can use and that they are not an “all or nothing’ approach. Oh, and the number of quick settings available from the notification bar is staggering.

As a stock Android purists, we had little trouble with the way things are presented here. It’s easy to find your way around, make adjustments, and customize the experience.

Performance

The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is a snappy phone that doesn’t stutter or lag but we never expected that. We loaded this up with as many accounts and daily usage apps that we could think of and never once saw the phone show any signs of weakness. With this much memory (8GB) paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor it could be a few years before we see that being an issue.

The phone is a treat to look at and hold, but it is almost too thin and slippery. Should you opt to not have a protective case on it you may find it escapes your grasp easier than your previous phones.

The in-display fingerprint sensor is quick to read and placed in a convenient spot. Unlocking the phone results in a fun on-screen animation and sound that lets you know it’s happened. On a semi-related note, you can also opt for an always-on display with various clock and notifications settings.

The screen is a lovely one that responds well to touch. Games look great at practically any refresh rate, but it’s always fun to dial things up to 144Hz. Truth be told it is tough to really see the difference from 120Hz and 144Hz but a lot of apps don’t really lean into high refresh yet. With that it in mind, you can set the refresh at 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz. Just know that the higher you go, the more of an impact it will have on your battery.

Axon 30 Ultra Camera Samples

Camera samples resized to 1920p width, no other edits.

Speaking of battery, the 4600mAh power source is a strong one that lasts well into the day, even beyond. Charging is very fast, and just a few minutes of being plugged in is all it might take to get you over the last hurdle of a long day of usage.

When it comes to the topic of cameras, thus far we’ve been relatively impressed with things. The Axon 30 Ultra features three 64-megapixel lenses, a standard, ultra-wide (120 degree), and portrait. Additionally, it has an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 5X optical/60x hybrid zoom on the rear.

In our time with the phone we’ve found it captures a pretty consistent image, regardless of lens. Daylight photos look tremendous and the amount of detail is higher than expected, especially for the ultra-wide.

Lower light situations also performed better than anticipated. The Axon 30 Ultra takes surprisingly quick pictures even when HDR or other settings are dialed up.

Saturation does run a little high from time to time, but a quick edit in your favorite photo app can fix things ahead of sharing online. With that said, you could probably leave them alone and be satisfied with results.

We tend to take a lot of photos using the portrait mode on our phones as the depth of field always makes subjects stand out. With that said, it does sometimes appear to struggle with outlines between subject and background. You can adjust pictures after the fact, but moving the needle too far in the direction of background blur will occasionally result in a wonky cutout-like picture.

We had two quibbles with the app itself but both are minor in the scheme of things. First, the phone defaults to adding a watermark to each image with the model number in the bottom corner. That’s an easy fix as there’s a toggle in the settings.

The other nuisance is that the camera shutter sound is always present. There’s no way around it, at least as of today. We’re hoping for a fix in a future software update.

These things aside, we’re having a lot of fun playing with the numerous filters, lenses, and settings. The app is rather intuitive and takes just a few moments to get the handle of things. Suffice it to say, you shouldn’t be taking any boring photos with the Axon 30 Ultra.

Conclusion

There is an awful lot to like about the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra, especially its price tag. But, that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect device.

Two features we increasingly find in flagship and high-end models, water resistance and wireless charging, are not present here. For some either one of those could be a deal breaker or reason to spend an extra $50 on an alternative.

The phone is a fun one to play with as its large display is almost mesmerizing, especially when playing around with the camera. Games and videos look silky smooth with the (up to) 144Hz refresh rate and the 20:9 aspect ratio feels very comfortable.

It will be at least two years before our mobile needs even come close to requiring the hardware of this device. Few of us have Wi-Fi 6 networks in our homes or offices and 5G will continue to be a work in progress for the foreseeable future. However, when those become commonplace the Axon 30 Ultra will have already celebrated its first anniversary.

The topic of performance is a non-starter. We did our best to throw games and multi-tasking at it and didn’t see it struggle once. Surely you can find an outlet that has benchmarks or who measures frame rate drops, but we suspect they’ll still find this one a good value proposition.

If you’re an AT&T or T-Mobile customer, or subscribe to one of their MVNO/prepaid brands, you’ll have no issues with support. Verizon subscribers have to sit this one out.

Availability

You can learn more about the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra at the manufacturer’s website where it’s also available to purchase. As of today the 8GB/128GB option is priced $750 with the 12GB/256GB model at $850.

Five smartphones to consider for an incredible Instagram experience

Guest Blogger
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Hey Instagram addict! I know you probably wake up every morning wondering how you’re going to get more Instagram followers. But I want you to hold that thought. Followers should be the least of your concerns. Not with so many best sites to buy Instagram followers.

What you should, however, be worried about is the machine with which you’re accessing your favorite app. 

It may not have occurred to you yet, but the truth is your phone is probably holding you back from experiencing the best of the Instagram world. 

For example, did you know there are some emojis on the iPhone 11 Pro max that are probably missing from your 2017 Galaxy (no hard feelings, Samsungers!)?

Also, when it comes to camera features, some machines snap better Instagram photos than others. This is why you find some people’s posts on IG, and you wonder what planet they’ve taken their pictures from. It’s the same earth, my friend. Just that, they’re on a badder phone camera. 

Even though there are sites that allow you to buy Instagram likes, snapping with these sorts of cameras will naturally fetch you more likes.

Great older smartphones that still provide an excellent Instagram experience

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

What makes it a good phone for IG?

Breathtaking shots:

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ comes with the best Instagram-friendly features you can wish for. For example, its rear camera comprises three camera sensors ranging from 12 to 16 MP. And each one carries a wide-angle lens, telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide lens. 

In less techy and more Insta words, it means you can snap sweet-looking, celebrity-esque photos with this phone.

No more moving photos from gallery to upload: 

The camera app comes with its own special social media software features, which allow you to post directly into all social media platforms, including IG. 

Also, there’s a special tool for Instagram Story built into the camera app.

Shot suggestions:

There is a feature on Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ called ‘Shot suggestions.’ This feature uses AI to show you the shot that best illustrates the subject in the viewfinder.

So, for those of you who’re bad with taking photos, this is a real game changer; don’t you think?

Video coverage made easy:

An AI in-built setting predicts your hand movement anytime you’re recording a video to give you an excellent video cover. For those of us with shaky hands, this is a life saver.

Edit your IG videos before they go live

Finally, there’s an in-built video editor on this phone, meaning you no longer need third-party apps to edit your videos.

ASUS ZenFone 6

What makes it a good phone for IG?

Selfies as tasty as normal photos

Everybody knows front cameras are seldom as powerful as their rear counterparts. But not if you’ve got ASUS ZenFone 6.

For those of us who love to flood our IG pages with selfie photos, ASUS ZenFone 6 has just the thing we need to snap breathtaking selfies.

Unlike most of its counterparts, ZenFone 6’s has no front camera. Instead, it has a rotatable rear camera. Shocked? Don’t be.

With this unique technology, you can easily use your back camera to snap selfies and regular photos. As such, your selfies will be as clean as your regular photos.

Snap FLASHy night selfies

Does your current phone lack front-facing flash and it’s pissing you off? Maybe every time you want to snap an Insta-worthy photo at night you always rely on the dim screen flash.

Well, I’m sorry you’ve had to live through that. ZenFone 6 has a solution to that.

Since you can rotate its rear camera, it means you can also rotate the flash. As such, you can happily take your well-lit night photos anytime you want.

No more hanging your phone somewhere to do a live video

Videos are amongst the best-performing content on IG. In fact, people buy Instagram auto likes to push their videos into the explore page. In that case, it’s important to consider the quality of the video mode of any phone one’s choosing.

Luckily, ASUS ZenFone 6 has a video mode feature missing from most phones on this list. 

Remember we said one could rotate the rear camera to the front on this device? Well, the video implication of that is you can record your videos without having to turn your phone to the back and place it somewhere anytime you’re recording videos (especially live video).

Also, this solves the age-old problem of recording videos blindly. Now, you can record high-quality videos while still seeing exactly how you look in the camera.

OnePlus 7 Pro

What makes it a good phone for IG?

Superior picture quality

The best way to describe the OnePlus 7 Pro is that photos snapped with it are better than those of the great “Google Pixel 4.” 

If awe-inspiring photos are what you’re looking to fill your IG with, then you can’t go wrong with this.

Latest emojis

Every year, new emojis are brought to life. In 2021 alone, emojipedia reports that 217 new emojis have been added to the list.

Luckily, OnePlus 7 Pro is one of those phones around that lets you update your OS quickly to access the newest emojis.

For an Instagram addict, the last thing you want is for your friends to add an emoji on their posts and it’s displaying a ‘question mark in box’ symbol on your end.

Run two IG accounts in one phone (Even though Zuckerberg doesn’t want you)

Another beautiful thing IG addicts will love about the OnePlus 7 Pro is that it’s one of the few high-end phones on the market that actually allows app cloning. This means you can duplicate your IG app to log into two different accounts at the same time.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

What makes it a good phone for IG?

Superior picture quality (especially at night)

iPhone 11 Pro Max may not be the latest iPhone on the market, but it sure beats most of its counterparts in terms of camera experience.

And when it comes to Instagram, nothing else matters other than cameras.

One thing iPhone ensured in the design of this phone is making all the camera lenses equal. With most triple-camera phones, the power of each of the cameras is never equal. But with iPhone it is. And the implication of this for Instagrammers is that you get a superior picture quality.

If you don’t believe that, check the IG pictures of celebrities using iPhone 11 Pro Max and compare to yours.

Improved filter experience

There’s no better place to enjoy your Snapchat and IG filters than on iPhone 11 Pro Mx. The Face ID tech used in the phone makes it so that filters align to your face better than in other phones.

Google Pixel 4 XL

What makes it a good phone for IG?

Superior portrait photos

Portrait photos are the darlings of social media. And Google has done an excellent job of delivering a phone just for that purpose.

The Google Pixel 4 XL is a beast of a device for portrait photos. It brings unique depth, quality, and angle to your portrait photos.

Latest Emoji versions

Since it’s Google-owned, Pixel 4 XL is always the first in line for any Android updates, including new emoji versions and features to improve social media apps.

Save nearly 40% on this stylish Offex gaming chair

AG Deals Team
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We have an awesome deal today in the AG Deals Store which should appeal to plenty of readers. Right now you can save 38% on the Contoured Gamer Chair with Tilt & Height Adjustable Seat.

Available in black and red, the stylish and ergonomic Offex gaming chair provides the perfect gaming setup. With a tapered 19″ wide x 23″ high back (with lumbar support), its height-adjustable lever pulls out to recline the back up to 30 degrees.

Similarly, the tension control knob below the seat adjusts ease of movement for the back angle and can go from 18.5″ to 22″high. The nylon arms can also be adjusted for height and comfort.

Offex Ergonomic Gaming Chair Features

  • Sit & lay your back comfortably on the 23″ high back w/ lumbar support
  • Recline the back up to 30 degrees using the height-adjustable lever
  • Adjust ease of movement w/ the tension control knob
  • Sit on a sporty red & black leather-covered chair

Head on over to the AG Deals store to save 38% on the Offex Contoured Gamer Chair. It’s all yours for just $150, or nearly $100 off the normal price.

YouTube TV introduces a new 4K plan in time for the Olympics

Jason England
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When YouTube TV first launched we were all excited at the prospect of it offering a superior TV watching experience for less money than traditional cable service.

At the start it was promising, but soon the rates climbed higher and higher until it became to resemble the cable companies we’ve come to despise. To YouTube TV’s credit, it does still offer a viable alternative to cable and Google continues to add new features.

Yesterday, it announced that a 4K Plus add-on plan was launching for YouTube TV along with 5.1 audio for all subscribers. With the new 4K Plus add-on, subscribers will be able to watch content in 4K for the first time on YouTube TV. This includes major sporting events this summer and live content from networks like NBC and ESPN.

By major sporting events, we assume YouTube is talking about the Olympics and pro leagues, because it specifically mentions that college football and basketball is coming later this year. As far as other 4K content, the announcement mentions that on-demand videos from FX, Discovery Networks, Tastemade, and more will be available.

Additionally, the new 4K Plus add-on also includes unlimited streams on your home Wi-Fi, up from three with the base YouTube TV package. Plus, the ability to save your DVR recordings to your phone or tablet to watch offline while on the go.

While the 4K Plus add-on for YouTube TV seems to be heavily focused on sporting events, those last two features may make it worth it for even the average TV watcher.

The 4K Plus add-on package will start at $19.99 a month on top of your existing YouTube TV subscription costs. However, new users can get a one-month free trial right now that includes a $10/month discount for one year. Meaning, you’ll only pay $9.99 per month for 4K Plus for a year after using up your free month.

What is Amazon Sidewalk and how to opt-out?

Jason England
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Each year, homes become smarter as we load up our humble abodes with more and more connected devices. In my house alone, I have a security camera, robovac, several smart plugs, smart lights, and more.

Keeping all of these devices connected to the network is essential for them to operate, but you can’t always count on your Wi-Fi signal to reach every corner of your home. Nor can you rely on your Internet connection to stay up 100% of the time.

Additionally, sometimes you have connected devices that leave your home but still require a connection, such as Tile trackers. So, what do we do about this? Amazon thinks it has the answer with its Amazon Sidewalk.

What is Amazon Sidewalk?

Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network meant to simplify new device setup, extend the working range of connected devices, prevent your smart devices from losing connection, and aids in the finding of pets or valuables with connected tracking devices–such as Tile trackers or Fetch.

Sidewalk accomplishes this by using a combination of Bluetooth, the 900 MHz spectrum, and other frequencies to create a shared mesh network for supported devices. To function, the network requires Sidewalk Bridges–which includes many popular Ring and Echo devices–to create the network, and for customers to opt-in to sharing their Wi-Fi connection with the Sidewalk network.

Amazon Sidewalk Graphic

In theory, if you and all your neighbors use supported Echo and Ring devices–and you all opt-in to share your Wi-Fi connection–you could create an Amazon Sidewalk network in your community.

The benefits of this would allow for your Ring Floodlight Cam to continue to send alerts even if your Wi-Fi connection becomes interrupted. It would also extend the range of Tile trackers or pet locators allowing you to find valuables or pets outside of your local network. And the benefits will increase as the network and number of devices supported grows.

However, this requires you to share your Wi-Fi connection to help Sidewalk communicate over the internet. Amazon ensures customers that Sidewalk is safe to use and that it is “designed with multiple layers of privacy and security to secure data traveling on the network and to keep customers safe and in control.”

If you’re concerned about how much bandwidth this is going to use up on your network, then there’s not much to worry about. The maximum bandwidth that Amazon Sidewalk uses is 80Kbps, which is far less than what is used to stream a video in high definition. Additionally, there is a data cap of 500MB per Sidewalk account each month. Meaning, it’ll hardly put a dent in your data cap, if you have one.

Despite Amazon’s reassurances, we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to opt-out of the voluntary Sidewalk network. We’ll show you how to do that below.

How to opt-out of Amazon Sidewalk

So, you’ve read all about Amazon’s Sidewalk network and as altruistic as it might sound, you’re still not comfortable sharing your network. That’s totally cool, Amazon would prefer you leave it enabled, but you don’t have to, and here’s how you can opt-out.

First, here’s a list of devices that currently act as a Sidewalk Bridge. If you don’t own one of these then you won’t need to worry about opting out.

  • Ring Floodlight Cam (2019)
  • Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019)
  • Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019)
  • Echo (3rd gen and newer)
  • Echo Dot (3rd gen and newer)
  • Echo Dot for Kids (3rd gen and newer)
  • Echo Dot with Clock (3rd gen and newer)
  • Echo Plus (all generations)
  • Echo Show (2nd gen)
  • Echo Show 5, 8, 10 (all generations)
  • Echo Spot
  • Echo Studio
  • Echo Input
  • Echo Flex

If you do own one of these devices and want to opt-out, then follow these instructions for Echo and Ring devices.

Echo Devices

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on the “More” icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the app.
3. Navigate to Settings, Account Settings, Amazon Sidewalk
4. Toggle off Amazon Sidewalk and Community Finding (which is used to help make tracking devices more accurate).

Ring Devices

1. Open the Ring app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on the three-line menu in the upper left-hand corner
3. Open Control Center
4. Select Sidewalk and toggle off the slider for Amazon Sidewalk

If at any time you change your mind and want to opt back in then you can follow the same steps to locate the slider and re-enable Amazon Sidewalk.

GameSir X2 Bluetooth Mobile Gaming Controller Review

Jason England
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When I reviewed the Razer Kishi controller, I loved how it morphed my phone into a Nintendo Switch-like gaming console. However, there were some aspects of it that I wasn’t quite thrilled with.

One such issue was that it could drain my phone’s battery. Furthermore, it only worked on phones because it relies on a USB-C connection. And it was extremely pricey for a controller that only worked with one device.

Fortunately, there is a similarly designed controller using a wireless connection named the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Mobile Gaming Controller. Thanks to the wireless connection and lower price, this GameSir controller solves these issues I had with the Razer Kishi, and they were nice enough to send one out for review.

Key Features

  • Compatible with Android and iOS
  • Bluetooth connection
  • Supports phones up to 6.8-inches in length
  • Works with cloud gaming services

Design

The GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller uses a familiar design modeled after the Nintendo Switch. The button layout is nearly identical and I really enjoyed the red and blue accented analog sticks that act as call back to the console’s Joycons.

The buttons are all very clicky, but there’s not much travel, unlike the Razer Kishi which has triggers that allow you to squeeze down on them similar to console controllers.

The GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller is also larger than the Kishi, but at least GameSir provides you with a handy traveling case to keep the joysticks and buttons safe on the go. Speaking of cases, another benefit of using a wireless connection is that the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller can be attached to phones even when you have a case on them.

Besides the general layout of the buttons and the USB-C port on the bottom left for charging, the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller features textured grips on the back and feels great in your hands. This not only makes it easier to hold, but ensures you’ll be able to game for hours comfortably.

User Experience

Connecting the GameSir X2 via Bluetooth was easy to get set up and it even fit the huge 6.8-inch RedMagic 6 I’m currently reviewing with ease. I also tried it with my Chromebook, Android tablet, and iPad Pro. It wasn’t able to function with my Chromebook but it worked great with Android phones, my Android tablet, and my iPad Pro.

When it comes to games that support controllers like Dead Cells or cloud gaming services such as Stadia, the GameSir X2 Bluetooth worked perfectly. The analog sticks and buttons were all responsive and I didn’t experience any lag which would affect gameplay.

However, when it comes to games that don’t natively support controllers, such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, the GameSir X2 Bluetooth won’t support them out of the box. There is a workaround to make it work with these games though, but it will require installing the GameSir APK from outside of the Play Store from GameSir’s website.

It’s not recommended that you install apps outside of the Play Store, and while I don’t suspect GameSir’s app has any nefarious intentions, you will receive constant notifications about it being a dangerous app with requests to uninstall it. This probably has something to do with how the app simulates touches on the screen to map it to the physical buttons on the controller and the Play Store not liking this.

I must admit, it is an ingenious little workaround for games without native controller support, however, it does not work well. There is a lot of lag between the button presses using this workaround and the analog sticks often don’t function properly. So while I’d say this “technically works,” it is not an ideal solution, and it will cause more frustration than just using the on-screen buttons for these games.

Battery Life

In comparison to the Razer Kishi, some of the biggest downsides are that you’re going to have to keep the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller charged up, and it won’t allow you to charge your phone while playing.

In my experience, I found that it was typically good for a few hours of gaming–and since it also blocks off the charging port on the phone–you’ll most likely need to charge your smartphone by then as well anyways.

Final Thoughts

The GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller is a fantastic alternative to the Razer Kishi. It works great with a variety of devices including Android phones, Android tablets, iPhones, and iPads while also being compatible with popular cloud gaming services. Plus, since it uses Bluetooth you can freely switch between all of your devices making the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller much more than a one-trick pony.

You can purchase the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Mobile Gaming Controller now from Amazon or GameSir’s website for $60.

Buy from Amazon Buy from GameSir

This 2-inch bone conduction speaker is nearly 40% off right now

AG Deals Team
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If you’ve never had a chance to check out bone-conducting audio, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. Whether through headphones or speakers, it’s a really cool technology that turns pretty much any hollow object into an amplifier of sorts.

Bone-conducting headphones, for instance, turn your head into an amp and use vibration to make things sound and feel louder than they are. Moreover, it makes the audio more omnidirectional, and gets to volume levels that are considerably higher than a mobile device.

The HumBird, a 1.5-inch puck of a speaker, is a portable and versatile bone conduction speaker. But rather than sticking this thing to the top of your head, you can place it on just about any surface.

Synced to a streaming device or even an FM signal, it turns sound into mechanical vibration of different frequencies, actually leveraging the effects of the different surfaces you place it on to reproduce the music.

Put the HumBird on cardboard box, a plastic storage bin, or your vehicle’s dashboard. Every surface provides a different audio experience; the pint-sized HumBird is capable of delivering volume up to 115dB. For an even more robust experience, you can pair it with another unit and get stereo mode.

HumBird Features

  • Experience 4 to 5 times louder sound volume, reaching up to 115dB
  • Have a Surround Sound 2.0 experience by using 2 interconnected HumBird speakers
  • Enjoy DIY customizable sound thanks to bone conduction technology
  • Take your music anywhere w/ its extremely compact design
  • Listen to music for up to 3 continuous hours

Of course, being a bone-conducting device, you can put it against your own noggin. You can adjust the volume all the way up and down, hearing music directly in your eardrum. Have as much fun as you want with it; nobody else will hear it.

The HumBird charges in under 30 minutes and can deliver up to three hours of continuous music.

Typically $44, AndroidGuys readers can purchase a HumBird at nearly 40 percent off, just $26.95 while this offer lasts.

Samsung gives a first look at the new merged Wear OS Tizen platform, and teases Galaxy Watch 4 launch

Jason England
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Back at I/O 2021, Google unveiled its plans to merge Wear OS and Samsung’s watch operation system Tizen into one unified platform for smartwatches. Since then we have been eagerly awaiting more details and Samsung’s next smartwatch that will feature the new OS. After recent leaks of the Galaxy Watch 4, we were all expecting Samsung to unveil the new wearable and share more info about the new platform.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. Instead, Samsung reiterated much of what Google said about the operating system merger, and revealed a few of the features we can expect from the unified platform. However, Samsung did let slip that the new Galaxy Watch will launch at an Unpacked event later this summer.

Now, from the breadcrumbs Samsung did drop for us, we learned that the merger of Wear OS and Tizen will be called One UI Watch on the next Galaxy wearable. This is likely to be specific only to Samsung watches since Google will allow manufacturers to place a skin over Wear OS for the first time. Samsung also stated that the new Galaxy Watch will be the first smartwatch to run the new unified platform.

Beyond unifying Wear OS and Tizen, the new platform upgrade will feature better integration between the watch and your phone. Samsung showed off some of these features such as when you install an app on your phone that has a companion app for the watch, it will automatically download and install on the watch. This will save you from awkwardly navigating the app stores on the watch to install apps.

Other integrations shown off are the ability to block calls and messages on your watch and have that sync with your phone, as well as syncing your clock app on your phone with the watch when you track time in multiple timezones.

Additionally, Samsung is releasing a new watch face design tool to make it easier for people to create fun new watch faces to show off on their new smartwatch.

Samsung was also keen on mentioning how the unified platform will open up the ecosystem to more apps than ever before from partners such as, Adidas Running, Strava, Calm, Sleep Cycle, Spotify, and YouTube Music.

Finally, Samsung reminded us about the merger will bring improved battery life and increased performance, something the Android wearables market desperately needs. Google stated back at I/0 2021 that apps would launch up to 30% faster on the latest chipsets.

Qualcomm announces the Snapdragon 888 Plus, and it’s coming soon

Jason England
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Almost every flagship phone these days uses Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line processor the Snapdragon 888, and at MWC 2021, the chipset maker has announced the mid-cycle refresh aptly titled the Snapdragon 888 Plus.

This follows in line with Qualcomm’s release schedule from the past couple of years where it releases a mid-cycle chipset refresh as it strives to keep up with technology and provide manufacturers with faster chips to power our mobile devices. Last year, we saw a refresh of the Snapdragon 865 with the release of the Snapdragon 865 Plus, and similarly in 2019 Qualcomm released the Snapdragon 855 Plus around midyear as well.

Senior vice president and general manager of Qualcomm’s mobile handset business Christopher Patrick had this to say.

Snapdragon is synonymous with premium Android experiences. Our latest flagship Snapdragon 888 Plus 5G Mobile Platform will help deliver the premium entertainment, connectivity, and gaming experiences users deserve.

This next-gen chip is set to power upcoming flagship mobile devices and boasts an upgraded clock speed from the 2.84GHz in the current model to 2.995GHz in the Snapdragon 888 Plus.

Along with the improved clock speed, Qualcomm is also upgrading the AI engine on the processor. Previously, the Snapdragon 888 was capable of completing 26 trillion operations per second for AI tasks, whereas the Snapdragon 888 Plus will be capable of 32 trillion TOPS, seeing a boost of almost 20 percent in performance.

Even though Qualcomm just announced the Snapdragon 888 Plus, we won’t have to wait long to see it in action. Devices featuring the next generation chip are expected to be announced starting in the third quarter of 2021.

In fact, Honor has already announced the chip will debut in its Magic 3 smartphone. Other brands such as Asus, Motorola, Vivo, and Xiaomi have also released statements expressing their excitement to release new smartphones using Qualcomm’s latest chip.

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