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Metro offering the Motorola One 5G Ace to switchers for just $20

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T-Mobile on Friday announced its prepaid brand Metro has begun offering the new Motorola One 5G Ace smartphone. Indeed, the handset has a retail price of around $280 but customers who switch from another carrier can grab it for as low as $20.

The Motorola One 5G Ace Metro’s first 5G handset from Motorola and features a 6.7-inch display, triple rear camera system, and a 5,000mAh battery. Powered by Android 10, the phone features hardware that dances in the middle of the pack of today’s devices.

The big draw, however, is the 5G connectivity, which is built on the T-Mobile network. As the first generation of devices with 5G support were typically priced near $1,000, the $280 price tag is a breath of fresh air.

To receive the Motorola One 5G Ace for $19.99, customers must switch to Metro and show an ID for verification. Existing Metro subscribers can pick up the phone for just $89.99 by adding a line of service. No port-in is required nor is ID verification.

Learn to draw comic book characters with this training bundle, just $20

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Are you a scribbler or a sketcher? Do you find yourself drawing little figures on notepads while talking on the phone? Ever thought about taking things a step or two further?

There plenty of classes available to help beginners become solid artists; Learn to Draw online training bundle is an excellent option that focuses primarily on illustrating comic books.

You’ll start out with a course on human form drawing, then move on to a step-by-step guide to drawing superheroes and drawing both male and female heads in comic style. And that’s just the start of it; there are 181 lessons spanning some 33 hours.

  • How to Improve Your Figure Drawing Step-by-Step: Learn How to Draw the Human Form Like a Professional
  • How to Draw Dynamic Comic Book Superheroes from Start to Finish: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Superheroes
  • How to Draw Heads Step-by-Step From Any Angle: Draw Male & Female Comic Style Heads In a Variety of Ways
  • Digital Painting Amazing Fantasy Art in Manga Studio 5: Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Illustrating Fantasy Art Elements & Characters

Each of the four courses is taught by Robert Marzullo, a comic book artist and illustrator whose work has published in comics. Moreover, he has worked in 3D animation, and owned and operated his own design firm for over 15 years.

For a limited time, you can purchase the Learn to Draw Comic Book Characters Bundle and snag all four of these courses for just $19.99. Head to the AG Deals Store today and save!

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NUU Mobile G5 review

Scott Webster
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When it comes to smartphones, flagships get all of the attention. Sure, they’re sexy, full of new and emerging tech, and have incredible cameras. They’re super powerful, too. In fact, they’re often more phone than what the average person needs.

To be sure, the hardware in handsets continues to outpace the demands of average users. This is the main reason a lot of people like to scoop up last year’s model instead of forking out extra money just to have the latest and greatest.

As consumers come to better understand their needs, they often realize that they can be just as content with a phone that’s priced one-third of a flagship — or less. Motorola understood this and has found great success with its Moto E and Moto G lines. Other phone makers are starting to catch onto it as well.

Then there are companies like NUU Mobile who have always played in the sandbox of affordability. Rather than competing with the big named brands it has steadily churned out a few unlocked phones each year, occasionally releasing a flagship of its own.

Meet the NUU Mobile G5

The latest in the company’s portfolio is the sub-$200 handset known as the G5. Priced about $160 as of the time of this review, it’s an unlocked model with an surprisingly impressive suite of hardware.

Powered by Android 10, it offers up a large 6.55-inch display with an equally large battery 5,000mAh battery. Additionally, it packs four cameras on the back, features a fingerprint reader, headphone jack, and charges via USB Type-C.

On paper this all sounds great, but what about in practice? As it turns out, pretty well. That is, once you qualify things a bit and understand what you’re getting.

Tell us About Performance

You know how sometimes you start watching a TV series that people tend to rave about, only to find yourself not really enjoying it on the same level? Then, after a season or so goes by, you realize that it’s charming stuff and you care about the characters? That’s sort of how it feels to use the NUU Mobile G5.

That big screen we mentioned — well, it has a resolution of just 1600 x 720 pixels. In other words, it’s on the low end of HD, barely qualifying. The cameras? They’re pretty slow once you start tinkering with the settings.

It took us a few solid days of using the G5 to understand what it was capable of and where it struggled. Once we knew what we had, we were quite comfortable with the phone.

Does it punch above its weight? No. Does it have any major standout feature? Not really. It’s good at what it does so long as that means rather basic things.

Most of us at AndroidGuys are a little more demanding than the “typical” person. While we don’t game heavily, we do like to pick up new titles once in a while and check them out. We also like to snap pictures and share them on social media. We may spend much of the day hopping back and forth between apps like Airtable, Slack, Asana, and Gmail.

The G5 does its best to keep up with those needs but does stumble every so often. It’s not so much that it stutters or slows to a crawl, but we recognize it from using other, more expensive devices.

The one area where we were found the G5 struggled was in the camera. In short, to get a decent photo takes a little bit of luck and a whole lot of time.

The app itself was intuitive enough and had a decent smattering of features. The problem we saw was the taking any high-resolution or HDR photos was incredibly slow. Like, some pictures took up to five seconds to save and ready us for the next one.

If you don’t care about snapping candid, “in the moment” photos or action shots, you’ll probably not care too much here. But, more often than not, our personal photos are taken when inspiration strikes or when things feel lively. Sadly, we missed more than a couple of potential moments where the G5 was busy processing the previous picture.

What Else?

One of the more common ways for us to gauge a phone is to pass it around to a few casual users. We’ll often give it to a couple of family members or friends to give a “once over” and check out the various features. We routinely found people were surprised to learn that the NUU Mobile G5 was priced as low as it is. Most expected to hear that it cost about $250.

These types of users spend their time on social media, texting, and generally just communicating. There’s nothing here that would cause a problem for that type of person. Think of how your aunt or uncle might use their phone and you’ll get the sense of the G5 target user base. Likewise, it’s a good and inexpensive way to add multiple phones to a family with younger ones getting their first taste of smartphones and responsibility.

We do like that the software experience is pretty much a stock Android build. It’s Android 10, which is getting a little older, but still powerful and secure. If you’ve not had any time with Android 11, you won’t miss the navigation and UI changes

Conclusion

We’ve said time and again that most new phones look just fine and are totally serviceable in a vacuum. It’s not until you start comparing them to other, and often pricier, alternatives that you start to see the differences and shortcomings.

Over the years we’ve seen much pricier phones look much less interesting. The G5 is aesthetically pleasing, handles the needs of an “average Joe” type, and works with a variety of GSM carriers. The $160 price tag is right in line with our expectations.

If you are used to a flagship phone experience, you seek that out and likely update fairly often. On the other hand, if you “just need a phone”, you probably don’t care about the frills and special features. Whether you believe it not, the latter is where a majority of today’s users reside. It’s that segment of user that would be completely happy with the NUU Mobile G5.

The first 200 readers who sign up to Brilliant Premium get 20% off

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Life is one long learning process, so keeping your mind sharp puts you in a better position to handle the trials that life throws at you, just as staying physically fit will prepare you for demanding activity when the need arises. If you’re ready to stay on top of your mental workout routine and commit to learning a little more everyday, Brilliant is offering 20% off for the first 200 readers who sign up for Premium access.

With Brilliant, you’ll find over 60 courses that teach you how to view math and science in a way that excites, cultivates curiosity, sparks questions, and allows for mistakes. Each course is expertly designed by teachers and professionals from established institutions like MIT, Caltech, Microsoft, and Google, so you’ll be learning from the best.

The courses are designed to help you visualize each concept so that they stick. No need to memorize endless facts and formulas! They cover a wide range of concepts, including Applied Computer Science, Integral Calculus, Classical Mechanics, and much more. For instance, the Mathematical Fundamentals is one of Brilliant’s most popular courses, and it contains 27 interactive quizzes and over 295 concepts and exercises that will make you see math in a totally different way.

Once you complete everything in a course, Brilliant suggests more advanced courses that draw from concepts you just learned, which will help you develop a long-term commitment to learning.  You’ll also find larger Learning Paths that package multiple courses into one sequence if you’re interested in mastering one subject.

Whether you are looking to learn new skills for work, or prepping for a career change, Brilliant breaks up complex topics into bite-sized understandable lessons, guiding you from curiosity to mastery.. One year of Brilliant Premium costs $12.49 per month, but you can get 20% off your membership if you’re one of the first 200 readers who sign up.

This professional-grade home studio kit will improve your video calls and TikTok videos

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Think back to last March when a lot of us were sent home to work because of the pandemic. At the time we believed it would only be for a few weeks. As we approach the one year mark, it’s starting to look like a new reality is setting in.

As the number of people working from home increased, businesses began to consider the idea of adopting a permanent work-from-home strategy. Indeed, it’s quite possible that your current office may be your last one.

If that gives you pause, it might be time to invest in new and better tools. In a world where video meetings are now commonplace, having the right equipment is vital. And it’s not just a strong PC and nice monitor, either. You’ll likely need proper lighting and an adjustable tripod or camera mount.

The Aduro U-Stream Executive Home Streaming Studio, on sale for just $119.99, is a solid kit with an 18-inch ring light, adjustable tripod, and three articulating smartphone holders.

The tripod extends over four feet high, letting you get the perfect height for presentations and video calls. Or, you know, for creating TikTok videos. Because yes, the pandemic has also been a boon to short form social media videos, too.

The multi-function ring light offers three distinct lighting options: white, warm white, and warm yellow. Further, each has 10 different brightness levels which means you’ll have the perfect light conditions for the environment and needs. Moreover, it comes with a remote control and a deluxe carrying case.

Order Yours!

The Aduro U-Stream Executive Home Streaming Studio is a $299 value, but we’re able to offer it to our readers for just $119.99.

Bullitt Group announces partnership to make rugged Motorola phones

Josiah Ward
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Bullitt Group is the producer of rugged mobile phones, primarily as the mobile licensee of the Caterpillar (CAT/Cat Phones) brand. This includes phones such as the Cat S62 Pro, a phone that is drop-proof to 1.8m, dustproof, and resistant to vibration, sand, salt mist, and pressure.

Now, Bullitt Group has announced a partnership with Motorola to produce a range of rugged devices bearing the Motorola brand. The goal with this is to give the phone company a presence in a market that is growing; that is, people who need their phone to be able to withstand their more adventurous lifestyle.

More details on these phones will be announced later this quarter.

How to install Signal on a Chromebook

Andrew Allen
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Signal Messenger is a great way to securely talk to friends and family. The messaging service offers users an end-to-end encryption protocol to make sure only the folks involved can have access. It also recently got a huge bump by Tesla’s founder Elon Musk’s support on Twitter.

So what’s the problem?

Signal is readily available for mobile for iOS and Android. It’s also available for desktop for Windows, Mac, and even Linux. Unfortunately, there’s no web client and that leaves Chromebooks users without a native solution.

But you said there’s an Android app? Yes. That’s correct, but the Android client is not optimized for Chromebooks and you will be unable to install it through the normal means of the Google Play Store.

Linux has you covered

Despite this omission, Signal can be installed with a workaround by utilizing the Linux app environment Google recently added to Chrome OS. This adds a virtualization layer that allows you to run full Linux desktop apps as “native” ones on your Chromebook.

We recently did a full tutorial on how to activate the Linux runtime. If you haven’t done that already head over and check that out here. You’ll need that in order to move forward with our Signal install.

Set up and Install Signal Desktop on your Chromebook

The next few bullet points will walk you through the process of adding Signal to your Chromebook. Please note that all commands for the Linux terminal are in italics and you will need to remove the quotations from each when using them on your machine.

  • First, let’s start with making sure your Linux environment is up to date with this command: “sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade”. Leave off the quotations.
  • Type “y” for yes if you have updates and run those if needed.
  • Once that’s complete, run this command to add the public software key for Signal: “wget -O- https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt/keys.asc |\ sudo apt-key add -“
  • Now you will add the updates repository to your system: “echo “deb [arch=amd64] https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt xenial main” |\
    sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/signal-xenial.list”
  • Last, you’ll update your software to load the Signal repo and finally install Signal: “sudo apt update && sudo apt install signal-desktop”

Enjoy your private messenger

That’s it. Signal Messenger should now be available in your application tray with the rest of your apps. Once you launch it the first time you’ll be asked to sync your account via QR code from your phone. Afterward, you are good to go.

Two things worth a quick mention. Your contacts will sync but due to the encryption, you will not have any previous history from other devices. Second, the sandboxed Linux environment currently doesn’t have access to cameras on Signal. So video calls are not compatible with Chromebooks for this reason.

Snag 15 eBooks on AI and Python for just $19.99

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It’s never to late to get started on a new hobby or career path. Finding what resonates in you is critically important. For some people, that means creating and tinkering. In today’s world creating can mean something relates to coding or computer science.

Given we’re all still basically confined to our homes, it is a perfect time to pick up a hobby or learn a side hustle. How about taking the opportunity to learn one of the most fundamental coding languages? Or one of the hottest emerging technologies?

We’ve got an incredible little set of training designed to help AI and Python coders take their skills to the next level. Called the AI & Python Development eBook Bundle, it’s 15 eBooks centered around the concepts of machine learning, artificial intelligence, python, and more.

In this age of big data, companies worldwide use Python to sift through the avalanche of information at their disposal. By becoming proficient in machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning, you can give your company a competitive edge and boost your career to the next level!

Your Bundle Includes

  1. Artificial Intelligence & Problem Solving
  2. Artificial Intelligence Basics
  3. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning & Deep Learning
  4. Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century, Second Edition
  5. AI Problems & Their Solutions
  6. Artificial Intelligence & Expert Systems
  7. Python: An Introduction to Programming
  8. Python 3 Pocket Primer
  9. Python Pocket Primer
  10. Python Video Tutorials (NumPy & Pandas)
  11. Python 3 for Machine Learning
  12. Python for TensorFlow Pocket Primer
  13. Python Basics
  14. Game Development Using Python
  15. TensorFlow2 Pocket Primer

Availability

Normally, these types of eBooks cost an average of $34 each, but AndroidGuys readers can pick up the full bundle for just $19.99 right now.

Best Sellers

Earn Credits!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

Visible shakes things up with six new features

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Visible, the all-digital wireless carrier that’s backed by Verizon, on Tuesday announced a number of new features that its customers will certainly appreciate. Indeed, there are no less than six details to share as part of the changes.

Some of the features are a little more obvious to some subscribers than others, but all of them are positive steps forward for the carrier.

First up, Visible is now offering 5G coverage for it compatible devices, delivering speeds up to 200 Mbps. The faster network and access comes at no additional monthly cost.

Next, Visible is bringing its unlimited data, messages, and minutes to more consumers in additional locations. This now includes calling to Canada, Mexico, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Visible is making it easier for subscribers to activate new devices by integration of eSIM technology. A number of today’s top phones allow for the virtual SIM card, but Visible is starting with recent iPhones first. Android handsets will be added in the near future.

The Party Pay feature, which was previously capped at four people per Party, is now expanded to allow for an unlimited number of people. The feature lets people share a rate plan for as low $25 per line per month.

  • 2 people in a party = $35 / line per month
  • 3 people in a party = $30 / line per month
  • 4 (and now an unlimited number of people) in a party = $25 / line per month.

Visible will now offer a referral credit for each new friend or family member who signs up for service. Each new line who signs up using your referral will brings your next month’s bill down to just $5. It doesn’t matter if they sign up for their own plan or join your Party Pay account.

Last, but not least, Visible is introducing a new Community forum to let members connect with one another. Whether it’s to learn best practices and tips, meet others for a Party Pay plan, or something else, the forum is a central hub for communication and collaboration.

Four Months Later: Google Pixel 4a (5G) review

Scott Webster
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For my tastes, the Pixel 4a (5G) should be the one Google promotes the most this year. In fact, after having spent more than 18 months living with the Pixel 3a as my primary device, I’d be fine if Google were to shake up its Pixel line and stop playing in the flagship sandbox altogether.

The Pixel 4a (5G) is the third in the “Pixel a” models, but comes closely behind the release of the Pixel 4a. And while it would make sense to offer a 5G variant and leave everything else alone, Google took the opportunity to add in a couple of other features.

As far as I can tell, this is the best all-around experience for my needs. Do I love pricier, sexier phones? Sure. Do I want to pay for those luxuries? Not really. And from what I can gather, there are a lot of people just like me.

Pixel 4a (5G) at four months

I’ve had the phone set up as my main device now since it launched and use it for all the normal stuff that I would for any other “daily driver”. How does the Pixel 4a (5G) stack up after a few months of regular usage?  Read on to find out.

What’s the difference between the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 4a (5G)?

Aside from the obvious (5G connectivity), there are three notable differences between the two phones. Those include screen size, additional rear camera, and higher capacity battery.

Pixel 4a

  • 5.8-inch display
  • 12-megapixel dual-pixel camera
  • 3140mAh battery

Pixel 4a (5G)

  • 6.2-inch display
  • 12-megapixel dual-pixel camera and 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera
  • 3885mAh battery

There are also changes in the processor with the 5G model being slightly more powerful (Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 vs Snapdragon 765G), and the camera experience is also enhanced with a few software touches.

All told, those are certainly worth the extra money for those willing to consider the Pixel 4a (5G). However, I suspect many consumers would be more than pleased with the experience that comes with the Pixel 4a.

What is it like using the Pixel 4a (5G)?

In terms of physical design, the Pixel 4a (5G) is not a looker. It’s not a sexy device, and the all-black is still boring in 2020. But toss a protective case on it, and that matters little.

The polycarbonate unibody design is soft to the touch, doesn’t attract too many oily smears or smudges, and wipes down easily. There’s no water resistance here so keep that in mind. For that you’d have to look at the Pixel 5.

The Pixel 4a (5G) has a large screen — and it has a generally large shape. In fact, it has the biggest display of all current Pixel phones. As a random bit of trivia, only the Pixel 3XL had a larger screen (6.3-inches) and this one is considerably bigger than the 5.5-inch that came in the original Pixel XL.

I appreciate that Google has stayed with the hole-punch cutout for the front-facing camera because that allows for the screen to be bigger without increasing the overall footprint of the phone.

What about the software?

One of the first things I ever remarked about the original Pixel phones was that the software and the hardware finally felt cohesive. After the various approaches to the Nexus line, the Pixel felt like a device that was built under one roof.

That is still the case as we get rolling in 2021 as the Pixel 4a (5G) offers the best of Android, now in its 11th official iteration. Google keeps sprinkling little things into the platform that make it ever so useful and more intuitive.

The custom “skin” that many device makers used in the first few generations turned me off and I fell fast in love with the way Google handles Android on its own phones. To be fair, the stuff that we get from Samsung and others has really become more interesting and palatable. But for my tastes, I like when brands get out of the way.

Android is snappy, visually appealing, and more helpful than ever before. As someone who lived with the Pixel 3a as my main phone, I’ve noticed that the 4a is noticeably quicker. Whether it’s opening the camera or hopping between a few apps and games, the phone is fast enough for my needs.

How about the camera?

The Pixel line may no longer get the highest marks or industry scores, but that means little to me. In my opinion Google makes the best seamless camera experience for people who like to open the app and shoot.

I spend most of my time in normal or automatic mode, switching to the portrait mode for people and things where I’d like to create some distance between the subject and the background.

I appreciate small things like double tapping the camera button to wake my phone and jump right into picture taking. The Pixel 4a is fast enough for me to grab shots when the inspiration strikes; I don’t end up missing anything vital.

If I am snapping a collection of images (especially with portrait mode), I might find it takes a few moments for them to render and let me see the finished product. It’s nothing bad, and it’s on par with what I expect from a phone at this price. I’m not in a hurry to send of the pictures anyhow.

What else?

I’ve enjoyed seeing some of the features added to the Pixel experience with the recent addition of Google’s feature drops. I find them helpful but never really vital to the overall experience. As I see it, these are first looks at the stuff that could come to the Android platform in future releases.

Getting timely software updates and security patches is more important to me than high-end performance. I don’t care to play too many games or use my phone as a miniature PC so I don’t need 8GB RAM or more and I certainly couldn’t care less about more powerful processors.

As time goes I have become content with slowing down the pace at which I upgrade my phone. Whereas it almost felt necessary to upgrade once a year to have a decent Android phone experience, that’s no longer the case.

The Pixel line is my favorite family of phones because of the total package. The sum of its parts is better than the individual ones. It’s not the prettiest phone, it doesn’t have the cutting edge hardware. Moreover, to purchase this one you may have to look a little harder than if you were going after a Galaxy S phone.

Conclusion

I regularly find myself recommending the Pixel line to friend and family members. The Pixel 4a (5G) is no different. As we enter 2021 we’re finally at a point where it makes sense to consider 5G or to at least have a phone that takes advantage of it.

I would not recommend the device on its 5G merits alone but I don’t push any handset on the basis of 5G support. But, for people who want a quality device with that future proof connectivity, the price is right and it’s a fraction of what premium flagships command.

I’m more than happy to work with the Pixel 4a (5G) and use it as my main phone today and see myself content with it into 2022.

You can find the Pixel 4a (5G) available through all three major wireless carriers of Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. It’s also offered unlocked through Google.

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