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Audeze Mobius Gaming Headset review

Jason England
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If you’ve never heard of Audeze before, it’s most likely because you’re not an audiophile. This high-end headphone maker has made a name for itself by using planar magnetic drivers over dynamic drivers used in traditional headphones.

By utilizing planar magnetic technology Audeze is able to provide large drivers with enhanced clarity and detail. Unfortunately, this technology is not cheap; a pair of Audeze headphones can potentially set you back thousands of dollars.

However, in recent years, Audeze has branched out into gaming headsets, which are much more affordable in comparison. For example, the Mobius headset provided to us for review starts at $400. That’s still pretty expensive, but when it comes to planar magnetic headphones from Audeze, this is one of the best deals you’re gonna get.

Design

The Mobius is a big headset, as most gaming headphones are, but still manages to use a clean design. At first glance, you wouldn’t even think the Mobius was a gaming headset if not for its large size.

One of the benefits of this oversized design is the sheer amount of options the Mobius provides. For example, it has just about every connection type under the sun, whether you want to connect via USB, 3.5mm, or Bluetooth, the Mobius has you covered.

On top of that, there is a copious amount of buttons, including the power button, mute mic switch, 3D button, and two separate volume control dials that also serve as clickable buttons.

Along with the USB-C port and 3.5mm jack, the Mobius headset also includes a port for the removable mic. That can be a handy feature for all those times you may not need a mic and don’t need it in your field of view. Audeze even includes a carrying pouch with the Mobius, so you can store it and all the accessories when not in use or on the go.

Comfort & Fit

Gaming headsets aren’t usually lightweight, and the Mobius comes in at a pretty hefty at 350g, but I found the foam padding on the headband and ear cups to be sufficient.

That doesn’t mean you aren’t going to feel these though, after a couple of hours of gaming the pressure really starts to build up on the top of your head. However, that can be said for many gaming headphones.

The good news is, that the ear cushions have plenty of padding and never touched the inside of my ears, a concern I’ve had with a couple pairs of over the ear headphones recently. Even better, the ear cushions on the Mobius are replaceable ensuring if they start to wear down you can extend the life of the headset.

User Experience

The Audeze Mobius can be a little overwhelming at first with all of its dials and buttons, plus, it has a ton of options. That’s a good thing though, when you’re getting a headset this pricey, it better come with plenty of bells and whistles, and Audeze certainly delivers.

The only downside is that there will be a bit of a learning curve and figuring out what all the buttons do can take a little time. In the end, it will all be worth it because you’ll be able to customize the Mobius to your liking and get the most out of it.

The first decision you’ll have to make is how you want to connect it. If you’re using it with a PC, USB will be your best bet. It will give you access to the full capability of the Mobius such as the 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound and access to the AudezeHQ app.

When using it with a console, you’ll have the option of connecting using either USB or the 3.5mm cable depending on your console.

Finally, when connecting to your phone you’ll be able to use all three options, with Bluetooth being the most convenient choice. A word of warning though, you will experience a significant amount of audio latency if you try using the Mobius headset to play games while using the Bluetooth connection with your phone. Thankfully, streaming video appears to be unaffected though.

Next, you’ll have to decide which sound mode and sound profile you’d like to use. In order to use 5.1 or 7.1 audio, you’ll need to connect via USB. When using the Bluetooth or 3.5mm cable you are limited to stereo mode, so that simplifies things a bit. However, in every mode, you’ll have access to the different sound profiles, which are custom EQ settings including choices such as, Flat, Foot Steps, Music, RPG, and more.

Even though surround sound isn’t supported via Bluetooth or the 3.5mm connection, the Mobius still offers a virtual surround effect with 3D option. In my experience, this just added an echo to make audio appear more spacious. In most cases, I didn’t care for the effect and preferred to hear the plain vanilla stereo audio instead.

Mic

The removable microphone on the Audeze Mobius sounds phenomenal over a USB connection. I found when using it with Bluetooth the quality took a sharp dive, but if you’re using it hardwired then you’ll be impressed at how clean the audio sounds.

Sound Quality

This is the first pair of planar magnetic headphones I’ve ever experienced, and I came away very impressed by the audio quality. When gaming on the PC I was blown away by the 7.1 surround sound, it truly felt like the audio was coming all around me. The soundstage was so spacious and it was far more immersive than other high-end stereo headphones when I compared them head to head.

Similar to gaming, watching movies with the Mobius connected via USB provided a wonderfully immersive experience thanks to the surround sound. It really made an audible difference compared to traditional over the ear headphones.

When listening to music, the Audeze Mobius continued to impress. Songs had tight punchy bass with clear highs for plenty of detail. The soundstage was fairly wide, but not as wide as you’ll experience in games with 5.1 or 7.1 audio. Overall, they are not my favorite headphones for music, but the Mobius still sounds fantastic for a pair of headphones pulling triple duty.

Battery Life

By default, the Mobius will select the LDAC Bluetooth codec if your phone supports it. This is the highest quality Bluetooth codec that transmits audio at the highest bitrate. Unfortunately, that means it uses up a lot of power. When using the LDAC codec you’ll be lucky to get four to five hours of battery life.

However, if you change the Bluetooth codec to AAC, you’ll see nearly double the amount of battery life, and come much close to the 10 hours Audeze rates the Mobius for. That difference in battery life is pretty typical, and I saw something similar when I reviewed the 1More Dual Driver ANC Pro Headphones. If you want to know how to change the codec and extend your battery life, check out our guide on how to do it over here.

Final Thoughts

The Audeze Mobius is one of the most expensive gaming headsets out there carrying a price tag of $399.00. For most people, that is going to be a dealbreaker, and I can’t say I blame you. However, if you can afford it, the Mobius is a fantastic gaming headset and pair of headphones for enjoying music or movies.

The planar magnetic drivers offer a premium sound quality ensuring this headset can do a lot more than just be used for gaming or watching movies.

However, if you’re using it specifically for gaming, be aware that you’ll only get 5.1/7.1 surround sound if using the USB connection. When using it with consoles you’ll be limited to stereo audio, and at that point, the Mobius loses a lot of its advantage over other high-end headphones.

If you’re wanting a pair of planar magnetic headphones for console gaming, you’d be better off checking out the new Penrose models from Audeze which come with wireless adapters.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Audeze

AndaSeat Fnatic Edition Gaming Chair review

Jason England
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This year has thrown a lot of changes at us, most of which stem from the coronavirus pandemic. One of these changes is the shift to many of us working from home. As someone who has been working home for years already, I can vouch for the fact that a comfortable chair is one of the must-haves for your home office.

A gaming chair may not be first on your list for a new office chair, but really, who knows more about comfort than gamers who regularly spend hours and hours sitting at their PC? Fortunately, AndaSeat, which previously manufactured race car seats for BMW and Mercedes Benz has a brand new Fnatic edition of its popular gaming chairs.

Assembly

The AndaSeat Fnatic Edition comes in several pieces with some assembly required. Fear not, because even with a little know-how, it shouldn’t take longer than 30-60 minutes to get the chair fully assembled. You won’t even need any tools, as the entire chair can be put together with the included Allen wrench and bolts.

In fact, putting the chair together is so simple, it could easily be sped up with a second pair of hands. Be warned, even though the instruction booklet has clear directions including photos, it is also filled with spelling errors. The most common being “crew” in place of the word screw.

On a side note, I thought it would be important to bring up a couple of minor blemishes I found while putting the chair together. The first is a small piece of material hanging out from one of the stitches, while the other was a marking on the back of the chair. Neither prevents the chair from functioning in any way, but when you’re charging this much for a product, I thought quality control would be a little higher, and wanted to point it out.

 

Comfort

The first time I sat in the AndaSeat Fnatic Edition I expected a soft plush cushion, much like a memory foam mattress. However, the AndaSeat chair uses a much firmer foam for the seat of the chair, while reserving the form-fitting memory foam for the neck and lumbar pillows.

That’s probably a good call, considering the seat of the chair is where it will take the most abuse and needs to stand up to years of long working or gaming sessions. After spending many hours testing out, I can say with confidence that the AndaSeat Fnatic Edition is one very comfortable chair.

It was a massive improvement over my previous office chair, but let’s face it, that was not a difficult task to achieve. That cheap office chair hasn’t been comfortable since the first year that I bought it. My hope is that the cushioning on the AndaSeat Fnatic Edition can stand up to the test of time. And considering it retails for nearly four times what I paid for my last office chair, it better.

Besides the cushioning, the AndaSeat Fnatic Edition comes with plenty of other features to help make it as comfortable as possible. My favorite of these is the reclining feature. I’m that person that starts adjusting the seat to learn back as soon as I get in the car. I just don’t feel comfortable sitting straight up and prefer to lean back at a slight angle.

Next is the 4D armrests; where have these been my whole life? I never thought adjustable armrests would make such a difference, but it truly does help to be able to control exactly where you’ll rest your arms.

The armrests on the AndaSeat Fnatic Edition allow you to adjust the height, as well as how close they are to your body, and the angle. I’m not exaggerating when I say I spent a good five minutes just pressing the buttons and working the armrests, partially to find the right position, but mostly because it was just so much fun.

Finally, as someone who spends most of their evenings in a leather rocking recliner, I really appreciated the AndaSeat’s rocking feature. I can often be found rocking away in my chair while sitting there. Whether out of habit or just my need to fidget, it was nice to have something similar here.

Final Thoughts

The AndaSeat Fnatic Edition is easy to recommend, except for one thing, the price. For most people, spending nearly $450 on a computer chair will be a hard sell. However, you have to consider that with more of us working from home, you’re going to be spending up to eight hours in this chair, or more, especially if you like to game after work. That means I’m going to be sitting in this seat for longer than I sit in my recliner that I spent slightly more money on.

If you think about it that way, $450 isn’t that bad of an investment to avoid hours of discomfort for your back and bottom.

Buy from AndaSeat

This app saves you time and money when dealing with insurance

AndroidGuys
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Food, water, shelter, and insurance are life’s necessities. We’d rather not include that last one, but let’s face it. Whether it’s a home burglary or a pipe burst that destroys our property, disaster can strike when we least expect it, and it can happen to anyone. Insurance is our last line of defense to safeguard our valuables in case they’re damaged or lost.

Or at least it’s supposed to be. Insurance companies’ main goal is to make a profit, so they benefit from holding onto your money for as long as possible. If you’re a renter or homeowner, that means you might have to wait for weeks just to get the money you’re owed. Dealing with a lengthy, stressful claim process is the last thing you should deal with after experiencing hardship, especially if you pay thousands in premiums each year.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Why waste time and money with traditional insurance companies when you can use technology to file your claims? Lemonade uses the power of AI to help you get approved for insurance and reimbursed almost immediately. You can sign up for Lemonade today and enjoy rates as low as $5 per month for renters and $25 per month for homeowners.

All you have to do is sign up for coverage through the mobile app and input your information. Lemonade’s AI algorithms will create a personalized policy just for you, which you can customize further to suit your needs. Filing a claim is just as easy. The AI will ask you several questions about your damaged or stolen item, which you can respond to by video. Lemonade will process your claim once approved, and you’ll receive your reimbursement within minutes.

How is Lemonade able to do this? Traditional companies hold onto your money to make a profit, but Lemonade only takes a small portion of your premiums to pay for operational costs. The rest of the money that goes unclaimed by the end of the year gets placed into a donation pool. Once you’re covered, you can choose a cause you’d like your unclaimed money to go towards. This means Lemonade has zero incentive to hold onto your money, ensuring you get paid as soon as possible.

When it comes to renters and homeowners insurance, you don’t want to be stuck in the past. You deserve to get reimbursed as soon as disaster strikes, not weeks after. Lemonade is the insurance company of the future, using AI to get you paid quickly and affordably. Sign up now and get renters coverage starting as low as $5 and homeowners coverage starting as low as $25.

TCL TAB joins Verizon tablet lineup as carrier exclusive

AndroidGuys
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TCL seems to want to keep its name in the spotlight this year; it made a pretty big splash with the TCL 10L and 10 Pro at the start of the year. Both devices were almost universally praised in the tech community. Now it seems TCL isn’t content with just making some pretty darn good smartphones. It’s hoping to get the same praise in the tablet market.

Starting October 8 the TCL TAB is available exclusively through Verizon. From the looks of it, the TCL TAB will be a sleek little 8″ tablet running Android 10 (no word on being updated to Android 11). Your eyes will be looking at a FHD display with Eye Comfort mode, which filters out that harmful blue light. Of course it will also have dark mode. 

TCL TAB Features

  • 8″ FHD+ Display (1200×1920)
  • Snapdragon 665
  • 3GB RAM, 32GB storage with support for up to a 256GB microSD card
  • Rear camera – 8mp with recording up to 1080p @ 30fps
  • Front camera – 5mp with recording up to 1080p @ 30fps
  • 5500mAh battery
  • GSM – 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  • UMTS – 1/2/4/5/8
  • LTE – 2/4/5/12/13/66
  • Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n/ac
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • USB-C

TCL is claiming 17 hours worth of mixed usage on a 5500mAh battery. One neat trick is the fact that the TCL TAB has OTG reverse charging. Basically if you need a quick charge on your smartphone or even your smartwatch, the TCL TAB can act as an external battery of sorts.

Here’s something I thought was interesting. The TCL TAB does have a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, but that’s not the cool part. You can register up to five different fingerprints to quick launch your favorite apps.

The TCL TAB seems to be a solid little device, and it doesn’t carry a giant price tag. The TCL TAB will be priced at a very reasonable $199.99. Will you be getting one? Let us know in the comments.

This Android 11 feature has changed how I use my smart home

Andrew Allen
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When Google announced the new smart home power menu in Android 11, my initial response was “that’s cute”. However, the more I delve into this new quick menu, the more I have enjoyed it. It truly has how changed how I interact with my connected home.

Fragmentation is real

My main issue with home automation is that there are soooo many options. These are fringe devices that I think most people just pick the cheapest one on Amazon when a need arises. While I tend to gravitate towards eufy products, I still have accumulated smart devices from six different companies with a combination of switches, lights, and cameras.

The problem is that each one also has its own app for controlling these devices. This is really where I’d started using Google Home as my aggregation point. Most of the home gadgets I have can be plugged into the Home app and most of the features for all of them can be easily accessed with a single interface.

Power menu is super convenient

While the Google Home app started my consolidation project, the new power menu made it even more accessible. Gone are the hunt and peck through apps or even scrolling through Google Home.

I have set the power menu to only show me the smart devices that I use the most and it really has made the interaction much more pain-free. Everything in my home that’s connected to the internet is now just a long-press of the power button away.

A smart addition to a dumb button

I have to applaud Google for continuing to innovate on something even as trivial as the power button. As we all salivate over the future of a buttonless slab phone, buttons are just plain useful. They offer users a tactile and functional way to interact with their phones without the fuss of navigating layers of software.

Google meeting this paradigm halfway and finding a marriage between traditional buttons and software layers is just smart. The company started this journey with contactless payments in Google Pay and extended it to the Google Home is a great addition.

Moto360 (3rd-Gen) review

Scott Webster
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One of the first Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) smartwatches to burst onto the scene was Motorola’s Moto360. Making its debut all the way back in 2014, it was an infamous device namely because of its so-called “flat tire” display.

Motorola refreshed its watch a few years later, but largely kept the same design. As such, the wearable found itself in a more crowded market and the new model didn’t do much to stand out.

Back for a third time, the Moto360 is no longer strictly Motorola’s product but one that’s licensed by a company called eBuyNow. Touting themselves as an “independent, data-driven consumer electronics company”, it moves the Moto360 forward.

As to how far forward the Moto360 moves, though, it’s better measured in steps and not leaps. It’s a decent example of a Wear OS smartwatch that’s priced more affordably than the likes of Fossil or Mobvoi, but not much more.

Without diving too deeply, I suspect the problems I have with the Moto360 aren’t really its fault. Sure, the design could be sexier, but it’s likely attributed to my relationship with Wear OS.

I am about as big of a Google fan and ambassador as you’ll find and I cheer whenever it steps foot into new territories. I root for them to win, and if not, at least change the game. I’ve championed the Android cause since 2007 and want nothing but success for its wearable platform.

I’ve found myself returning to Wear OS multiple times over the years, hoping to find that one wearable that’s not just attractive and stylish, but functional and user friendly.

As it turns out, device makers are doing their part just fine. The physical watches are sharp, classy, and versatile. And it’s for good reason. Today’s smartwatches more often come from traditional watch makers and not the likes of LG, Huawei, and Motorola.

Wear OS is perfectly serviceable and has evolved nicely. It’s certainly a smarter and more robust platform, but I invariably find myself fine without it. After a day or two of not wearing one of its watches I feel content not even bothering.

Does the new Moto360 stand out in a growing crowd? Does it do Wear OS justice?

Moto360

The Moto360 is not a flashy watch. In fact, it doesn’t look all that different from its predecessors. My time with the black models always feels utilitarian and reminds me of early Android phones and Chromebooks. It looks like a proof of concept.

Now, to be fare, I have a friend who simply loved his gold version of the original Moto360. Every time I would chat with him he would tell me about co-workers and colleagues would constantly remark on his watch. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder to be sure.

Design

One of the first things you’ll notice about this generation of Moto360 is that it has a full circular display. That, along with the pair of crown buttons on the side, give this watch a more traditional look.

The press of the top button launches an app screen while rotating it accesses notifications or the status panel. The bottom button can be customized to your liking. Have a fitness app you use quite a bit? Set it to that.

Included in the box are a pair of watch straps, one being a silicone-like material that’s perfect for getting sweaty on a run — or wet from a shower. The other band is a faux leather material with stitching; it looks more professional and dressy.

I’ve found myself pretty much sticking with the silicone band so far. The watch is water-resistant so I like the peace of mind in knowing nothing is going to degrade or get ruined by water. Those who might like switching back and forth on a regular basis will be happy to know it’s a simple process.

If you’re switching from another wearable, like a Fitbit, you’ll surely find the Moto360 to be heavy at first. It’s chunky by comparison, and has a bit of heft to it.

The 1.2-inch AMOLED display is nice and bright, and easy to see on a sunny day. There’s a fairly significant bezel around the watch, but it sure beats the flat tire. If you opt for a watch with a black background, you won’t notice it too much. Go with something brighter or colored and it’s much more apparent.

Performance

The enhanced ambient mode works great and shakes to life quickly. I have not had any issues with being forced to flip my wrist to wake it up.

The Moto360 makes use of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 Wear processor which is pretty much standard across current-gen Wear OS smartwatches. The chipset is equipped to  place nicely with Android Pay, Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11n Wi-Fi, and it supports the usual suite of Wear OS features.

Early smartwatches, especially the first two generation of Moto360, were plagued with less than desirable battery life. That is a nice way of saying you had to charge it at the end of a day, sometimes earlier.

The 3rd generation Moto360 packs a 355mAh battery that gets around a day or more out of a full charge. Mileage varies based on your usage but I’ve routinely ended my day with juice left over.

Should battery life get critically low, it will switch over to a time-only mode. Doing so reportedly lets it last for up to three days, but it disables select functionality.

When it comes to charging, the battery is said to go from 0-100% in one hour, and I cannot argue that. I’ve seen about the same results. For my needs, though, I usually just charge at night so it matters little to me personally. That said, charging at your desk or over lunch will help keep your level high.

The provided charger is a magnetic snap-on USB charger, which locks into place nicely. There’s only one way to do it and it’s easy to connect. But, even as nice as this is, we would love to see support for more of a standard wireless platter.

I find that apps open at a desirable, if not expected pace. Save for the initial days and setup, we don’t play on our watches. We’re not hopping from app to app or doing any sort of gaming.

When it comes to smartwatch apps, I want to be able to track an activity either passively or actively. That, for me, is often checking notifications, starting a stopwatch, tracking a walk, checking heart rate, or looking at the next appointment.

One feature that I did use, with mixed results, is Google Assistant. It was a hit-or-miss experience that ultimately saw me not using it. Unfortunately it was often a case where the watch simply didn’t respond – no error, no signal.

I don’t know how much this feature truly means to me. Given I almost always have my watch and phone on me, I’m more likely to just use the latter. It’s more intuitive and natural to me.

Conclusion

At a price of $199, the Moto360 smartwatch is a good Wear OS watch that builds on its predecessors and feels very much like it’s still a Motorola product.

Wear OS has evolved nicely if not slowly, but does work well here. I like having the two buttons for access and action. The UI is intuitive and helpful with the right amount of baked-in features.

The design, particularly with the black on black, is smidge boring. It’s a slightly thick and heavy watch but I suspect you’ll get used to it before long. Based on the colors of the other options I can imagine them being more classic in appearance.

There’s a pretty crowded pool of options to wade through for those considering their first smartwatch. Fitbit is getting increasingly more adept with its products and Apple keeps putting out popular wearables. Mix in Garmin and a few others and you can see how tough it might be to make a decision.

Generally speaking, it’s a perfectly serviceable watch. Unfortunately, there is not enough going on design-wise to help the Moto360 truly stand out. At least with the all-black one.

I should also point out that there is no noticeable difference in build quality or materials with this generation as compared to its predecessors. There’s no indication that it does not belong to Motorola.

Where to Buy

Head to moto360.com to learn more about the Moto360 and to purchase one. Choose from three color bodies, each of which comes with a pair of watch straps. As of today it’s available for $199.99.

The best cases for your Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus

AndroidGuys
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 and its S20 Plus counterpart are some of the most gorgeous phones on the market. Comprised from metal and glass, they are eye-catching and stunning, but they can be a bit slippery.

SEE: Samsung Phone Buyer’s Guide

If you’re worried about getting scratches and scuffs on your beloved phone, you’ll want to protect it with a case. Here, we’ve gathered up some of the best cases for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. Some are fashionable, others are ultra-thin, and others are tough and rugged.

Best Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus Cases

Case-Mate Tough Groove

Don’t be fooled by the flashy colors. This iridescent case is stronger than it looks and can withstand drops from up to 10 feet. The raised grooves provide a tactile feel that’s easy to grip and still allows for wireless charging. $40 at Case-Mate

Caseology Parallax

Available in four bold colors, this one has military grade levels of protection. Compatible with wireless charging, it’s slim and secure and the patterned back provides a great ergonomic grip. $25 at Caseology

Catalyst Impact Protection

 

For those whose lifestyle is a little more rough and tumble, the Catalyst is a non-slip rubber case with air cushion protection. It’ll survive big drops without a breaking a sweat; the lanyard attachment keeps it close at hand. $40 at Catalyst

Gear4 Battersea

 

This unassuming case is on the thinner side but it’s got drop protection up to 16 feet. The secret is in the D3O tucked along the edges. We like the textured back as it provides just enough grip to make sure you don’t let it go. $50 at ZAGG

Griffin Survivor Strong

 

Slim and tapered, the case fits your hand nicely, standing up to scratches and scuffing. Choose from three colors, but go with the clear one if you want to show off your Galaxy S20. Sleep easy knowing it meets or exceeds MIL-STD-810G ratings. $30 at Griffin

Incipio Organicore

 

Offered in five earthy colors, this eco-friendly case is 100% biodegradable; it’s made from plants. Not to worry, though, you can still charge up wirelessly and the phone can even take a drop from up to six feet. $40 at Incipio

MNML

 

You picked out a beautiful phone so why hide it and put some case maker’s branding on it? This is exactly what the name implies – it’s minimal and void of any unwanted logos. Crazy thin and sold in four colors, it’s backed by a two-year warranty. $27 at MNML

Otterbox Symmetry

 

Likely the first name anyone thinks of when it comes to serious protection, this line has been around the block. Black is always cool, but the Stardust Glitter design lets you show off the color of your phone and adds a little sparkle to it, too. Tried and true, it comes with a lifetime warranty. $50 at Otterbox

Poetic Guardian

 

One of the more affordable options listed here, you’ll find five colors to accent your beloved handset. Scratch-resistant, it holds up to drops and impacts, but it’s still thin enough to support wireless charging. $19 at Poetic

Speck Presidio Pro

 

Soft to the touch and slim, it’s like an extra layer of skin on your phone. An extra layer that lets you tumble from up to 13 feet and won’t complain about scrapes, that is. Pick from four colors, each of which is subtle and understated. $40 at Speck

Spigen Slim Armor

 

Flexible, thin, and easy to grip, you’ll barely notice it’s there. That is until you knock it off the table. Not to worry, though, it’s tougher than you are. Bonus points for the built-in kickstand. $40 at Spigen

Tech21 Evo Check

 

This semi-transparent case lets you show off the color of your phone with an interesting pattern. The germ-killing coating on the exterior is helpful in times like these. Mix and match buttons let you personalize the case to your liking. $40 at Tech21

Totallee Super Thin

 

About as light and thin as cases come, there are no branding or logos in sight. The matte black keeps things professional but the transparent clear lets you show off the color of your phone. Supported by a two-year warranty and 30-day return policy. $35 at Totallee

UAG Plasma Series

 

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. $40 at UAG

Avantree Aria Me Headphones review

Jason England
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Up for review today are the Avantree Aria Me headphones, a $150 pair of Bluetooth cans that tout active noise-cancellation, feature aptX LL and aptX HD codecs, and come with a mobile app for fine-tuning. Read on to learn more.

Design

The design of the Avantree Aria Me Headphones reminds me of a hybrid between the Bose QC 35 II and Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones. Similar to these, it uses a plastic build that feels durable while being lightweight. Plus, there is an included hard case for storage and traveling.

Similar to most other over the ear headphones, you can find buttons on either earcup providing you with controls for play/pause, volume, ANC, power, skipping tracks, and more. There is even a 3.5mm jack that allows you to use the Aria Me wired, as well as plug in the optional microphone. Just be warned, you can’t plug in both at the same time, meaning you can only use the mic when connecting via Bluetooth.

However, what makes the Aria Me truly stand out is the charging stand. This is the first pair of headphones I’ve seen with this feature and it’s a wonderful bonus to have a stand included that not only shows off your headphones but also charges them.

It almost takes the sting out of Avantree still using the micro USB port in 2020, almost. I would have loved to see the Aria Me use the USB-C port that has become more and more standard on headphones recently. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, but at least you can use the charging stand instead.

Fit & Comfort

Speaking of the charging stand, the Aria Me includes contacts on the headband for charging. Some might be worried this would affect the comfort, in my opinion, this wasn’t the case. The headband provided plenty of cushioning and the ear cups were large with enough padding to give your ears plenty of space.

Regardless, after a couple of hours, I began to feel a pressure point on the top of my head. Prolonged listening periods could be uncomfortable for some but overall the Aria Me are a pretty comfortable pair of over the ear headphones.

User Experience

Recently headphones have begun trying to enhance the listening experience with apps that provide a hearing test. Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried a few pairs that offer an app with this feature. In some cases, the hearing test helps, but not always.

I’m happy to report that Avantree did a good job here. After running the hearing test and applying my custom profile I could hear a significant difference. Tracks had more detail and it helped elevate frequencies I was missing out on.

The only downside is the app doesn’t do anything else. There is no access to ANC controls or the ability to set a custom EQ. In my opinion, that’s a big mistake and Avantree missed out on a big advantage of providing an app.

Sound Quality

The good news is that Avantree has used the aptX HD codec in the Aria Me, this is one of the higher quality Bluetooth codecs out there. Plus, the app helps bring out more detail after completing the hearing test and applying your custom profile.

However, the Aria Me only have an average sound for this price range, but that should be enough to satisfy most users. Although personally, I found them to sound a little bloated and lacking in the higher frequencies.

Regardless, the Aria Me still provides a lot of detail with strong bass. Fair warning though, if you’re looking for headphones with bright crisp highs and clarity, then these will come up a little short.

ANC

Overall, I found the active noise cancellation on the Aria Me to be disappointing. When enabling ANC the audio quality was significantly worse and it actually made hearing noise easier in my experience. With ANC disabled audio sounded much better and it blocked out outside distractions better.

Battery Life

Avantree rates the Aria Me for up to 24-hours of battery life. I was surprised to find this number to be accurate. Without a doubt, the battery life is one of the primary strengths of the Aria Me. That’s great news for all those long trips and days at work because these will get you through the day and then some.

Final Thoughts

Avantree offers a decent value with its Aria Me over the ear headphones. The audio quality is pretty average for this price range, but the app hearing test and fantastic battery life both help add value. The biggest drawback is the ANC performance, the Aria Me cannot live up to others such as Bose or Sony in this arena. In fact, I found enabling ANC was worse for noise and audio quality.

For that reason, you might want to save some money and buy a pair without ANC or go with another more expensive brand if active noise cancellation is important to you. Otherwise, the Aria Me are a mediocre pair of headphones for the price. And if you do decide to pick up a pair, Avantree has provided us with a coupon code that further sweetens the deal by dropping the price down to $134.99. Just enter J3BEE75R when checking out on Amazon.

Buy from Amazon

Must-have software for your apparel business

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Highly depending on the industry that you’re working in, you probably have an inventory of products that contains many of the identical items from year to year, or you may have a stock of products that changes more frequently. In case you’re in the clothing and apparel industry, you’re probably overwhelmed by replacing outdated fashion pieces with new ones.

You probably also add new clothing options to your inventory at least as frequently as the end of every clothing season, so you presumably have to alter your inventory’s product mix regularly. And inventory management represents just one piece of the apparel business puzzle. There are many other background issues to be resolved for the business to operate seamlessly and with success.

Manual workload processes are highly inadequate for any apparel retail businesses, specifically with the variety and volume of apparel products, sales, orders, and overall operations complexity. Thankfully, today’s technological advancements paved the way for the emergence of multiple robust solutions in this specific niche.

In the apparel business, apparel management software solutions are somewhat vital to apparel retailers to streamline and navigate even the most complex business procedures. If you’re genuinely interested in finding out more about why smart apparel business owners are massively utilizing the latest software to gain an edge over the industry’s heightened competition, check out this apparel management guide from Apparel Magic to broaden your knowledge on the matter.

Photo from Apparel Magic

On the other hand, and in the broadest sense, the features usually included and that should be covered through software within each apparel business include inventory management, order processing, accounting, forecasting, administration, production, sales, reporting, shipping, warehousing, and supply chain management. And because of that, there are multiple types of apparel management software available. Read along to find out must-haves software for your apparel business if you want to reach the top and run a successful clothing business operation.

Enterprise Resource Planning Software

Enterprise resource planning or ERP software is pretty much the cornerstone of any modern apparel business. This software type can give you the power to track every step of your production process, from materials sourcing to final product shipping with extreme granularity. It can also deliver a host of in-depth reports and analytical tools to optimize your resource planning processes.

Regarding the fact that the apparel industry’s needs outgrew the basic ERP software systems, they were expanded with these additional tools, often referred to as modules. They are integrated with the original ERP software, and these modern-day ERP software systems with integrated modules represent what most apparel businesses rely on today. Across different ERP software systems, a handful of modules almost always appear to benefit the apparel company that employs the software. These modules include:

  • Inventory management software so you’ll be able to keep track of your inventory and keep it organized by size, color, style, or stock keeping unit.
  • Apparel decoration software to help you streamline the process of decorating orders and keeping up with their maintenance.
  • Manufacturing module to store the manufacturing information in one place and plan the production more accurately.
  • Order processing software to help you track a specific product from the moment it’s ordered until the moment it’s delivered, and this way improve delivery times and customer satisfaction.
  • Purchasing module to better forecast your purchases and manage your resources and inventory as effectively as possible.
  • Accounting management module to handle the cash flow in your apparel business.

Photo from Hacker Noon

Product Lifecycle Management Software

Product lifecycle management or PLM software is another common type of software that is an essential part of every successful apparel business. The PLM software establishes a technological foundation for relationships amongst everyone engaged in the product lifecycle, and it’s the place where products are being thoroughly conceptualized. This software covers all aspects of creating the apparel you’re later going to sell, like materials sourcing, design, testing, reviews, presentations, and other processes that take place before the final products are created.

Photo from Pinterest

PLM software allows businesses to speed up their products’ production time, improve their quality, drive product innovation, and manage resources better so that there are less waste and reduced expenses. Those involved in designing new products, from production teams to IT and executives, use this software to enhance their everyday operations continually.

Customer Relationship Management Software

Customer relationship management or CRM software is a type of software that is needed and indispensable in nearly every industry, and the apparel industry makes no exception. Brand loyalty can differentiate your business from the rest of the pack, and fostering a deep sense of brand loyalty within your customer base has everything to do with how you keep them engaged.

Even if your apparel business is doing fine and has many customers, those customers need to be contacted, engaged, and persuaded to return to your business again and again. CRM software can put the customer experience over the top and create a path for everything else to fall in line with the concept. By employing this type of software, you will track, analyze, and categorize your customer base and get a clearer picture of their buying habits and where they stand with your business.

CRM can undoubtedly be of great help to any sales team to track leads and maintain detailed notes on long-lasting customer relationships. Also, many CRM software systems include modules for email marketing and various targeted promotions, as these modules could be very beneficial if your apparel business is involved in direct-to-consumer sales.

Photo by Freestocks from Unsplash

Project Management Software

This type of software is specifically designed to be of great assistance to you and your employees to designate company tasks, map out projects, and sustain accountability in your business organization. For instance, if your finance department has to put together an annual report, you can create that task, attach the finance department to it, and steadily track each step of the process’s progress.

Most modern project management software is hosted in the Cloud, so they can be easily installed on the servers in your offices and accessed from anywhere.

Final Words

The software you will implement within your apparel business will undoubtedly improve overall efficiencies, operations, free up resources, and people and enable your fashion enterprise to grow. Apparel management software solutions can help you manage all aspects of your business, from basic accounting to the pattern management of each fashion piece. Determine your business’s needs, find the right software solution, and cement your place in the vast apparel industry.

Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) review

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When it first burst onto the scene back in 2011, the Nest Learning Thermostat was heralded as a groundbreaking glimpse into the future of home automation for the masses. Here was this revolutionary device that looked unlike conventional thermostats, promised to be more energy efficient, and was incredibly simple to use.

Much has changed over the near decade since its launch as it pertains to connected and smart homes. What was once on the bleeding edge of technology has become commonplace. Plenty of consumers have smart and automated devices and services in their homes; we’ve adapted to them rather quickly.

Now in its third generation, the Nest Learning Thermostat has seen its fair share of tweaks and adjustments. Features have been added along the way, internal tech has gotten smarter, and it has streamlined its overall design. In just a few short years it has gone from being a revolutionary breakthrough to an evolutionary product in an increasingly competitive space.

How does the Nest Learning Thermostat stand up in 2020? What is it like to install and use one? Read on for our review of the 3rd Generation device.

What is the Nest Learning Thermostat?

The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd-Gen) is an electronic, programmable, and self-learning WiFi-connected thermostat. Once in place, it begins to learn how users make adjustments to temperatures in the home.

The device uses a combination of sensors and machine learning to figure out schedules and temperatures. It can even shift into an energy-saving mode to turn off when nobody is home.

What is it like to install the Nest Learning Thermostat?

I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the Nest was to install. Included in the box are all of the requisite screws and mounts, some of them even being optional.

While I am not a handyman, I can still find my way around a toolbox. With that said, it took me about 15 minutes to remove the old thermostat and install the Nest.

Your mileage may vary, depending on how many wires you have or how elaborate of a heating and cooling system is in place. For me it was a case of inserting four wires (red, green, yellow, and white) into place.

Once mounted and snapped into place, the Nest walks you through the initial software and user experience part of the setup. Using a combination of spinning the dial and pressing it you’ll set up language, location, and other basics. From there it’s on to the app.

What is the app experience like for the Nest Learning Thermostat?

As expected, the Nest app was straightforward and intuitive. Further, there were far more options and settings available in the app. Considering the simplicity of the device itself, I found the app revealed just how smart the Nest Learning Thermostat can be.

While you can pretty much install it and leave default settings in place, it pays to look around and tinker. And that’s not just a turn of phrase, either. You’ll save yourself money over the life of the thermostat; it’s worth a few minutes in the app to add nickels and dimes to your bottom line.

What else?

I’ve only had the Nest Learning Thermostat in place for about a week or so, but I feel confident that it’s already working for me. Moreover, it’s a hell of a lot easier to manage than a traditional thermostat. Plus it looks really cool on the wall.

I appreciate that I can turn the dial up a notch or two, or switch from heating to cooling with a flick of the wrist. I also like that I can set things so that the Nest will turn off or kick in when the temperature reaches a certain number.

You know those nights where the temp drops lower than you expected? I sleep better knowing that the Nest will kick on and heat the house even if the unit was otherwise turned off.

Likewise, it’s nice knowing that those daily temperatures settings and schedules aren’t set in stone. What works on Mondays and Tuesdays may not be the same as the rest of the work week. Nest will figure this out before I ever would and make adjustments.

Would you recommend the Nest Learning Thermostat?

Without a doubt. If you are in the process of building out a smart home, you owe it to yourself to at least consider the Nest Learning Thermostat. The sooner you add it to your house, the sooner you’ll be saving money long term.

I’m a big fan of the Nest app and love the full range of options. I’m also really fond of the way it integrates with the Google Home app and Google Assistant experience. It doesn’t take long before you understand which voice commands prompt results or adjustments.

Given that it’s available in a variety of finishes, and that it comes with a variety of mounting options, I have zero doubts that you’ll find something that matches your environment or tastes.

Where can you buy the Nest Learning Thermostat?

The Nest Learning Thermostat is available at a wide range of retailers, both brick-and-mortar (Target, Best Buy) and online (Amazon). Learn more about it at Google’s store where it’s available for $249.

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