One of my favorite Google products is Android Auto. It’s made my work commute and long road trips so much more enjoyable. Having your favorite audio apps and phone on a big screen in your car is amazing.
Google continues to invest and bring new features to the platform. Users are beginning to report that the latest update is allowing them a split-screen mode on widescreen car headunits.
According to some folks in the AndroidAuto subreddit, this new display option is going live via server-side updates on devices. The app itself hasn’t seen an update since February 25, but Google often makes options like this available on the backend.
The new split-screen presentation is similar to Apple’s CarPlay in that it gives your last-used app the left side of the screen and another secondary option on the right. The left portion is pretty much what the standard Android Auto UI shows on any app now and the smaller view on the right is more like what you’d see on your phone in portrait.
Image credit to My_Name_is_Taken
There’s currently no compatibility list or minimum requirements officially offered by Google. The Reddit crowd has come to the conclusion that for now, anything with a display of 7″ screen or smaller will not have this split mode enabled. This is kinda a bummer for an owner of a 7″ Pioneer head unit, but this could just be a trial run by Google in hopes of expansion to other sizes at a later date.
What do you think? Do you like the look of this new Android Auto mode? Are you seeing this new option in your car? Let us know in the comments.
Up for your consideration today is the HDMI WI-FI Media Video Streamer, a multi-purpose device that lets you cast your phone’s content to a TV, projector, or other display.
Priced just $33, it’s incredibly simple to install, and supports an array of methods for streaming and mirroring your phone’s files.
You can now synchronize pictures, videos, and other media files from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to a bigger display with this HD 1080P HDMI WI-FI Media Video Streamer. You can even watch your favorite series and movies online.
It has built-in 5GHz high-speed Wi-Fi and a high-sensitivity antenna. Your content will have a smooth playback in either 720 or 1080p HD output.
With multiple support for different protocols, this device is suitable for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and other operating systems.
Synchronize data from mobile phone, tablet, or laptop to TV, projector, & other display device
Support DLNA, Airplay, Miracast, Ezcast, Airplay mirror & other interconnection protocols
Supports multi-threading, & does not affect the operation of other mobile phone functions when pushing media
Supports 720/1080P HD output & supports WPS one-key encryption
Hard decoding, support smooth playback of videos & photos taken by all smartphones
Built-in 802.11a/b/g/n 300Mbps 5Ghz high-speed Wi-Fi & high sensitivity gain antenna
Low power consumption chip with low heat generation
Compatible with a variety of protocol streaming media formats
Order Yours
Purchase your HD 1080P HDMI WI-FI Media Video Streamer for just $32.95 in the AG Deals Store, and save 58% in the process.
Tax season is underway here in the US and that means refunds for a lot of people. We may also be gearing up for a new wave of stimulus/recovery checks for Americans.
If you’re expecting to receive money in the coming weeks, and need a new phone, check out some of the new promotions from Motorola.
Available direct to consumer and through carriers, they’re a great way to save a few hundred bucks on a device. You can shop Motorola, Best Buy, and Amazon for big savings on key handsets.
$200 off premium devices like the new razr ($1,199.99) and edge ($499.99)
Qualcomm on Thursday introduced its newest initiative, Snapdragon Sound. Designed to improve sound quality and battery life, it also promises lower latency and better Bluetooth connection.
Snapdragon Sound is a suite of optimizations and enhancements made at pretty much all levels of hardware and software, from end to end of the phone and earbuds connection. It’s not unlike what Apple has done for its own AirPods and iPhones via a custom Bluetooth chip.
Qualcomm says its Snapdragon Sound will offer listeners better audio quality (double the sampling rate) as compared to Apple for music and voice calls. Qualcomm promises 45% lower latency than Apple.
Qualcomm Sound Features (via Qualcomm)
Devices must pass a series of quality, performance, and interoperability tests if they hope to bear the Snapdragon Sound branding. The first Snapdragon Sound devices should hit the market “before summer” and are expected to come from Xiaomi and Audio-Technica.
To coincide with its launch, Amazon Music and Qualcomm Technologies have announced a curated Snapdragon Sound Playlist.
About 25 years ago, my college fraternity would rent a projector for the weekend in order to host “Drive-In” movie nights. We would hang bed sheets on the side of the house and project romcoms like “Something About Mary” for the official date portion of the weekend. Then we’d screen “Animal House” for when the dateless brothers got around to using the projector. I’m even ashamed to say the police arrived at the house when less savory movies eventually made their way to the 300” screen.
Back then, it cost about $250 to rent a projector for the weekend on top of the $1000 deposit that somebody had to come up with on their credit card. If the bulb burned out; we were out of luck as nobody was willing to fork up another couple hundred bucks to replace that bulb.
Today, you can own a projector for less than the cost of a replacement bulb back then. There’s a slew of basic, or shall I say cheap, projectors available for less than $100. Despite advertising HD or 1080 resolution; most of these projectors are natively 640×480. On top of that, their bulbs simply aren’t bright enough to project much further than several feet unless the room is pitch black. The Dr. J Professional AK-40 wifi projector offers true 1920×1080 resolution with a stated 7500 lumens of projecting power for a penny shy of $200.
With sleek micro and nano projectors with similar technical specs available, is the Dr. J Professional Projector worth your consideration?
Design
In the box, you get the projector, remote, AV cable, audio cable, lens cleaning kit, and even a 100” cloth screen with mounting hooks. Typical user manual, warranty, and pleads for a review.
The Dr. J Professional AK-40 is molded into a similar package to those from 25 years ago. It’s not huge, but it’s definitely not pocketable or very portable for that matter. At 12.5”x9.25”x4.5” and weighing about 3.5 lbs, you’re not likely to take this any further than your backyard.
The top of the projector features manual dials for focus and keystone correction. Pro-tip from reading other reviews, the lens cap is recessed into the body of the projector and is only easily removed by turning the focus adjust ring to expose the edge of the cover. Along with the exposed dials, there are nine buttons arranged in adjacent up/down/left/right configurations with the right side adding an extra center button.
Left side buttons (clockwise from top)
Power
Menu
Back
Source
The right side buttons are for navigation of the menu as well as “enter/select” in the center. While playing, the left/right buttons act as volume down/up, respectively.
The backside of the projector features VGA, 2x USB, HDMI and SD Card input. There are 3.5mm AV and audio only outputs as well.
The bottom features a single thumbscrew foot located front center for height adjustments and a trapdoor for cleaning the lightsource and inner lenses. Initially, I didn’t see any sort of standard mounting holes in the event you want to semi-permanently mount this in your home theater room. Though I have not verified, there are screw holes for a universal projector mount located under the rubber feet according to Amazon reviews.
Performance
Setting up the Dr. J Professional AK-40 is an easy affair. Plug in the power cable and power the unit on. From there, you can scan for WiFi and input password. It connected easily and appeared to have strong connectivity.
Using the iOS cast feature, I was able to mirror my iPhone’s screen without any issue whatsoever. Playing YouTube videos appeared to work without issue. Attempting to cast Hulu; however, resulted in timeouts or error messages stating to check network connectivity. I attempted to troubleshoot by moving the projector closer to a WiFi access point with no luck. On to plan B.
I set up a Google Chromecast device by plugging into the HDMI input and powering it by utilizing one of the USB ports on the Dr. J projector. This set-up worked flawlessly. I was able to stream YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix without any issues.
Projection is surprisingly good. I hung the included 100” screen flat on an unpainted wall and was able to fill the frame from only about 9 feet away. I was able to see the projected video fairly clearly with a 75W equivalent LED bulb lighting on. With the light turned off, my basement workout room was converted into a home theater! I was able to focus the entire image unlike other budget projectors I’ve used where the outer edges appeared out of focus. Keystone correction is limited to vertical correction only but is also effective as long as you have the projector pointing directly perpendicular to the projection surface.
Framerate on the projector is more than adequate for casual movie viewing. I’m guessing that it may show lag if watching action sports or gaming but that is not the target market for this projector.
I was unable to find any detail on the speaker and audio output but it is also more than adequate for indoor projection. I’m guessing that you’ll want to supplement the audio if using outdoors or noisier environments.
Wrap-Up
I reached out to Dr. J’s technical support and within a day got a response regarding my inability to play video using screen cast. Turns out the feature and function works but certain apps such as Hulu and Netflix don’t allow casting to this device. I’m guessing it has to do with licensing fees or anti-piracy features absent in this implementation of iOS cast. This is easily overcome by using a Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire Stick as Dr. J’s technical support suggested. It sort of defeats the purpose of having a WiFi enabled projector but it’s a small complaint given the projector’s other strengths at the $200 price point.
Because of Covid quarantining throughout 2020, I actually invested in a Nebula Mars II projector. Despite costing over 2.5X more than the Dr. J Professional AK-40; the Mars II has lower resolution (720) and lower brightness. I would also say the Dr. J projector has louder and clearer audio compared to the Mars II 10W speaker.
I’m looking forward to hosting more movie nights in the backyard this summer and we may be able to start them a little earlier because of the extra projection power the Dr. J projector provides.
Tronsmart makes great mobile accessories in an affordable fashion. For years now, the company has offered an alternative to big brands for users. The most recent addition to its lineup is the Apollo Q10 wireless headphones. We’ve taken them for a listen over a few weeks and would like you to join us as we walk through this full review.
Design
Tronsmart isn’t setting a bold new trend with design. The Apollo Q10 headphones are pretty traditional in the design language. The headset is plastic, but still has a sturdy feel in the hand. Each earcup has a large dimple on the outside that showcases the Tronsmart logo. This logo can be used for touch controls on the right side.
Play/pause can be accomplished by a double-tap of the touch area. A swipe forward takes you to the next song, while a swipe backward returns you to the previous track. Volume levels can also be controlled by sliding your finger up and down on the touch area.
Otherwise, you have a swivel earpiece on each side that also folds up for storage. The only other mentionable hardware pieces are a power button, USB-C port, and multi-function button.
This button can be pressed to activate the voice assistant of your choice. Google Assistant, Samsung Bixby, and Siri all worked in my testing. Press it once and you’ll be prompted by your virtual butler.
Comfort
The first thing I noticed with the Apollo Q10 wireless headphones is how light Tronsmart has made them. Using plastics has made for a unit that really does go unnoticed on your head after a few minutes. I do wonder about the long-term durability, but in my few weeks I have no complaints or issues.
Adding to the comfortable uptime is the large padding on each earpiece of the Tronsmart Apollo Q10 headphones. They are of a synthetic material somewhere between leather and rubber and lead to a nice light seal while on your ears.
Sound and ANC
You can’t have a wireless headphones review without sound quality and to that end the Apollo Q10 do not disappoint. I’ve found the sound of the Apollo Q10 to be solid with a crisp balance of punchy bass mixed with mid and high feedback.
You also have Active Noise Cancellation available on the Apollo Q10. I found it to be comparable to other models. When turned on background noise is greatly reduced and the listening experience is much richer.
There’s also a hybrid mode that lands between full noise cancellation and normal. This allows you to still filter louder clutter, but environmental input from people talking, etc. may make it through. You can cycle through each option by long-pressing the touch controls for three seconds.
Battery
Tronsmart estimates the Apollo Q10 has 100 hours of endurance when being used at 50% volume. I’ve found this to be fairly accurate. I used the headphones for over two 40-hour workweeks with no issue or need of a charger. This is stellar battery life for the under $100 headphones.
When you do need an outlet to recharge, the Tronsmart Q10 has USB-C available with quick charge capabilities. This allows you to get three hours of battery back in just 10 minutes. Another great feature that many competitors simply don’t offer at this price point.
Conclusion
Tronsmart already had an impressive lineup but the addition of the Apollo Q10 ANC headphones round out the portfolio nicely. These audio phones will not disappoint for those looking to add a quality listening experience without dropping $300.
The Apollo Q10 headphones are priced at $99, but the company currently has them on sale for just $59 on AliExpress. If you’re in the market for headphones today, I’d act now before this 45% offer expires. Even after the promo is over, I’d still consider the Apollo Q10 worth the investment.
The coronavirus pandemic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, even with the rollout of vaccines and therapeutics. As great as things look, we still need to make sure we’re taking the right steps and precautions.
While masks will eventually go away, and restrictions will loosen, some practices will stick around for the long term. Take air purification and filtering, for instance. These devices are not new and they certainly won’t go away once things are back to normal. They’re incredibly helpful and make sense for an every day lifestyle.
The Sensibo Pure, available in the AG Deals Store, bills itself as the “world’s most advanced smart air purifier” and promises to keep you healthy and energized.
Sensibo Pure Features
HEPA & carbon filters: Filtrate particles as small as 0.1μm to protect you against viruses, bacterial, dust and more
Indoor air quality sensor: Measures your indoor air quality 24/7 & turns on and off autonomously
Smart sensing technology: Makes air quality better
Turbo mode: Stronger air filtration to ensure that the air inside your home is safe & clean
Sensibo app: Monitors the air quality inside your home
The air purifier filters particles as small as 0.1μm and protects against viruses, bacteria, dust, smoke, bad odors. In other words, it’s valuable for all lifestyles and environments.
Equipped with an indoor air quality sensor, it continuously monitors your indoor air quality, turning on and off by itself. It also pairs with your preferred virtual assistant and can keep an eye on pollution and time of day for adjustments, too.
Order Yours!
Head to the AG Deals Store today and you’ll find the Sensibo Pure air filter for just $127.99, a savings of 14% or $22. Hurry, that price won’t last forever!
Are you the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone? Amazing! We’re super jealous of you and that monster of a handset. Now, let’s make sure that gorgeous device doesn’t get scratched or broken, alright? You need a protective case!
What follows are some of the best cases you’ll find for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The collection isn’t everything available, of course, but it is a pretty diverse selection.
VRS Design Damda QuickStand Pro
VRS Design Damda QuickStand Pro
A strong and sturdy case, the main draw is its built-in kickstand. With multiple viewing positions available, it’s perfect for catching up on YouTube videos while on lunch break. And while it looks super thick and bulky, it still works for NFC, mobile payments, and most wireless chargers. As low as $30.
Case-Mate Rifle Paper Co.
Case-Mate Rifle Paper Co.
This case may have a slim profile but that doesn’t mean it can’t handle drops. Indeed, it can withstand falls up to 10 feet. The floral design is equal parts fashionable and unique. As low as $40.
Survivor Strong
Survivor Strong
Minimal in design, there’s more going on here than meets the eye. Two layers of protection help keep your phone safe to big drops while it stays thin enough for wireless charging and zero interference in 5G connectivity. As low as $30.
Cyrill Color Brick
Cyrill Color Brick
A slim case with a semi-opaque matte touch, you’ll be able to show the color of your phone off in a subtle manner. The grippy edges make it easy to hold onto while the Air Cushion technology has your back in the event it does fall to the floor. We also dig those flashy yellow buttons, too. As low as $27.
Otterbox Defender
Otterbox Defender
One of the first names in true phone protection, this case keeps your beloved handset tucked away nice and snug. It’s built to handle crazy amounts of drops, is backed by a lifetime warranty, and comes with a holster belt clip that doubles as a kick-stand. As low as $65.
Kerf Wood Case
Kerf Wood Case
Built from sustainable, natural wood, each slim case comes with a suede lining with movable wood buttons. Choose from more than one dozen wood species and decide whether you want custom text or engraving. Every case is handmade and built to order, and is backed by a lifetime warranty. As low as $79.
Ghostek Covert Clear
Ghostek Covert Clear
Available in a variety of colors, these cases provide a number of great features but a price that’s affordable to all. Elevated bumpers protect the display on the front while the raise edge keeps your cameras from scuffs on the rear. Built to handle drops up to eight feet, the R2x technology is visibly present in the corners and toss in just an extra bit of style. As low as $15.
Urban Armor Gear Pathfinder
Urban Armor Gear Pathfinder
One of the tougher looking cases found on this list, it boasts an armor shell with an impact-resistant core. Oversized buttons make it easy to locate without fumbling. Sold in two colors, it has a honeycomb design which accents your phone in just the right way. As low as $50.
Caseology Skyfall
Caseology Skyfall
Constructed of two layers, one is soft TPU material that’s soft yet protective, while the other is a hard polycarbonate bumper for the edges. The extra reinforcement will help should you drop your phone. Not that you’d ever do that. As low as $30.
Skinit Clear Case
Skinit Clear Case
Constructed from a scratch-resistant clear plastic shell, these cases can be ordered to match your style and interests. Whether it’s Marvel, DC, Hello Kitty, Disney, NBA, NFL, NCAA, or something else, there are seemingly endless colors and designs. As low as $20.
Gear4 Havana
Gear4 Havana
This lightweight case offers reinforced corners, top, and bottom, providing superior protection against drops up to ten feet. The RepelFlex antimicrobial coating guards against degradation and growth of odor-causing bacteria. The smoke color is transparent enough to show off the color of your phone. As low as $30.
Lifeproof NËXT Antimicrobial
Lifeproof NËXT Antimicrobial
Dirtproof, snow-proof, and drop-proof, this case has a clear shell that’s wrapped with a color bumper to accent your phone’s flashy design. Constructed of 50% recycled plastic, its antimicrobial protection keeps many common bacteria at bay. As low as $80.
Incipio Grip
Incipio Grip
Having a phone case that handles drops is nice, but we don’t really want to worry about that do we? This case has multidirectional grip along the edges so your handset doesn’t go tumbling out of hand. But, unless it’s falling more than 14 feet you shouldn’t stress. Oh, and there’s a lifetime guarantee behind it all. As low as $40.
Google Recorder for Web recently launched online, giving Pixel phones users a Recorder app that can be accessed and used online through the web.
Here, we’ll tell you a a bit about it and how to use it.
Using Google Recorder for Web
Google Recorder is a magical piece of software that records audio, but also transcribes your voice/recording in real-time. This can be a timesaver for people who use the app to record meetings or other forms of audio sessions.
While Recorder is exclusive to Pixel devices, a new web application makes it possible for users to upload their Google recordings to Google Drive for use on Google Recorder for Web.
You will have to set up the app on your phone for the most part, the only thing you have to make sure of is that you are signed into your Google account on the web browser you plan on using the recordings for.
First, make sure your Recorder app is on the latest version on your Pixel phone. When you launch the app, you’ll get an automated prompt asking if you want to enable backups to Google Drive. Just choose Back up recordings.
Should you miss the option to choose Back up recordings, here’s how you can do it manually.
Tap your portrait on the top-right of the Recorder app, and head into Recorder settings. Navigate to Backup & sync, and check if the toggle for Back up & sync is enabled.
With that, just use any recording and make sure you are signed into Google on the web browser you are using it on. Now head to Google Recorder for web.
If your recording uploaded on Google Drive successfully, you will see it here.
Currently the web app is very limited in features and functions. You can’t crop, trim, share, export, or interact with your recordings.
The most you can do is copy/paste the transcribed text to an app like Notepad or Microsoft Word.
Keep in mind that this functionality is limited to Google Pixel phones at the moment. However, the compatibility of the app is also very generous, supporting devices as early as the Pixel 2 line.
So far the only application the device could serve is being able to listen and work with your recordings on a bigger screen, or if the transcription is accurate, to quickly copy/paste the text to a word processor.
As such, make sure that if you want to make changes to the recording, you do it from the phone app and then upload it to Google Drive.
If you are looking to gain an edge over your coworkers in 2021, you’ll need to do something they can’t. It doesn’t matter if you’re working side-by-side with people or remotely.
How much coding do you think your coworkers know? We bet it’s next to zero. You owe it to yourself, and maybe your family, to get out in front of the crowd. Why continue doing things the same way this year? Make yourself marketable or attractive to other employers.
It’s time to learn new things and do what others can’t. It’s time to learn some coding languages. We’re currently offering the Backend Developer Bootcamp Bundle in the AG Deals Store for just $29.99, with a discount of some 96 percent off.
Spread over five courses, you’ll have 260+ lessons to teach you the ins and outs of web developer with tutorials on C#, SQL, .NET Core, and more. It’s lifetime education at your own pace and wherever you are, desktop or mobile.
Details
Learn C# By Building Applications – Understand the Concepts of C#6 & C#7 and Use Them to Build Real World .NET Console Apps
Master C# and SQL by Building Applications – Become a Better Software Developer by Learning How to Build Real-World Applications Using C# & SQL
Beginner Object Oriented Programming in C# and .NET Core – Learn Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals & Climb Up the Developer Hierarchy
Learn ASP.NET Core and SQL by Writing ToDo API – Write an API as a Beginner with Step-by-Step Instructions Using ASP.NET Core, SQL Server, & T-SQL
Microsoft SQL Server & T-SQL Course for Beginners – Learn about the Benefits of SQL & How SQL Server Stores Data
Where to Buy
The Backend Developer Bootcamp Bundle is available to AndroidGuys readers for only $29.99 right now. Head to the AG Deals Store and purchase a lifetime license for yourself and, while there, grab one for your friend, too. Who knows what the two of you will be doing a year from now once you have that education under your belts?
