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Beyerdynamic Lagoon ANC Traveller Headphones Review

Jason England
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Up for review today are the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones from Beyerdnyamic. Priced about $250, you can get your hands on them today.

How do they sound? Are they comfortable? What about the app experience? Read on to learn what we thought about these headphones.

Design

At first glance, there isn’t anything too special about the Beyerdynamic Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones. They are mainly made of plastic with accents of artificial leather on the padded earcups and headband.

However, once you turn them on the light show begins with hidden lights inside of the earcups. The ring of light inside each earcup is activated by a sensor when removed and helps the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones truly stand out. It is unfortunate that you rarely get to enjoy this splash of light though, because most of the time it will be completely hidden while you are wearing them.

Not only do the lights look cool, but they also serve a purpose. Taking off the headphones and glancing at the color informs you of the current battery level, Bluetooth connection, and even which side is left or right.

Beyerdynamic has included rotating earcups that swivel on the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones. This design helps make them fold up into a compact shape to fit in the included case, as well as making them more comfortable to wear on your head or around your neck when not in use.

Comfort

The Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones use memory foam on the headband and the earpads, and unfortunately, both are inadequate in my opinion. The sparse level of padding on the headband is most apparent due to the heft of the headphones. You can really start to feel it on the top of your head after extended periods of time. The cushioning on the ear cups also left a bit to be desired. During my listening sessions, I could feel the inside of the headphones grazing up against my ears, which lead to some early-onset ear fatigue.

I wouldn’t classify the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones as uncomfortable by any means–but a little extra cushioning would have made a massive difference–especially if you plan on wearing these for long periods of time.

User Experience

The Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones incorporate touch-sensitive controls on the right earpad. Touch-sensitive controls have never been one of my favorites, but they work extremely well here. The most common commands include double-tapping to play/pause music and swipes to skip songs or adjust the volume. I found myself using these gestures often, especially the swipes, because of how convenient and reliable they are to use.

One issue I ran into while using the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones, was that they wouldn’t consistently power on and connect when sliding the power button. This happened more than a handful of times and required me to slide the switch back to off and back to Bluetooth up to one or two more times before it would connect. Perhaps this was user error, but I feel headphones should not be this difficult to power on.

Another minor gripe of mine, is that in order to update the firmware on the headphones, it required using a computer. This is the first time I’ve ever had to update headphones that didn’t utilize the app on the phone, and it seemed like a bit of an oversight to not include this capability. Especially when Beyerdynamic has a well-designed app for the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones.

App

The MIY app helps enhance your experience with the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones by allowing you to change the color of the light in the earcups, adjust the sensitivity of the touch controls, personalize the audio for your ears, and more.

In order to tailor fit the sound signature to your ears, the MIY app uses a hearing test. Beyerdynamic is not the first to try this, and my experience with these types of customizations has been mixed in the past. As far as the test itself, I found it to be more similar to playing a game, where your reaction time was being tested more than your hearing. I’d love for Beyerdynamic to tweak this to make it easier to take the test more accurately.

Regardless, the results from the MOSAYC sound personalization were actually positive in my experience. I found the adjustment elevated the mids and added a bit more depth to the sound overall. That’s far better than I can say for some others I’ve tried, so good job Beyerdynamic.

Unfortunately, the MIY app does come up short on a couple of features. For starters, there is no way to control active noise cancellation. That means, you cannot enable or disable it from the app, nor can you adjust the level of cancellation being used. This is a very common setting for headphones that include ANC, and I was disappointed to find it missing here.

Another feature I would have loved to see is an equalizer. Sure, you can rely on the hearing test to adjust the audio automatically, but some of us like to tweak the equalizer manually for our own preferences.

One unique feature from the MIY app that I’ve never seen before, is a way to monitor how much strain you’ve put on your ears for the day. I assume this is in an effort to protect your hearing, because it gives you statistics based on how long you’ve been listening and at how loud of a volume. It then provides you with tips such as, “Feel free to turn the volume up a bit.” I can’t say I would make much use of this feature, but if you’re someone concerned about your hearing, this may be useful for you.

Sound Quality

Overall, I was impressed with the sound quality of the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones. There was plenty of detail in the highs, although they were a little reserved so you won’t get an overly bright or crisp sound.

The soundstage was fairly wide, giving plenty of space for the instruments to breathe and provide separation, making it possible to hear all the layers in each track.

Finally, the bass was strong without being overpowering. As someone who enjoys a little extra kick of bass, I really enjoyed this. It may not be enough for bass heads, but if you prefer a little more in the low-end then these headphones won’t disappoint.

ANC

The Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones do a decent job at muting noise with active noise cancellation turned on. It’s not quite as good as flagship models from Bose and Sony, but it’s good enough. As long as you have the volume set to 40% or above, it should be enough to drown out repetitive noises in the background between the passive and active noise cancellation it provides.

Battery Life

Beyerdynamic rates the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones for a whopping 45 hours of playback time without ANC and 24.5 hours with ANC enabled. The majority of the time I was using them with ANC off and the battery life measures up to Beyerdynamic’s claims.

When it came time to charge them up, I was pleased to see that the Lagoon ANC Traveller headphones went with USB-C over micro USB. This has become more common in recent years, but I’m still thrilled when I don’t have to dig out a micro USB cable when a new gadget comes in.

If you ever do run out of juice on the go, don’t worry, because there is a 3.5mm headphone jack you can use as a back up. That is assuming your phone still has a jack, or that you didn’t forget or lose your dongle.

Final Thoughts

This was my first time with a pair of Beyerdynamic headphones, and overall, I have to say I was impressed. There is a lot of competition in this price range, and Beyerdynamic has done a fantastic job of combining stellar audio quality, smart features, and a long-lasting battery.

At the same time, they were also able to undercut other major players like Sony and Bose with a price of only $249. If you’re looking for a high-quality pair of ANC over the ear headphones that won’t break the bank, then I’d have no hesitation recommending the Lagoon ANC Traveller from Beyerdynamic.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Beyerdynamic

InvisibleShield Disinfecting Wipes review

AndroidGuys
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There’s really no way around it, we live in a different world right now. A global pandemic has taken the lives of nearly 200,000 Americans in roughly six months.

The majority of us are doing what we can to be a bit cleaner than we were previously. That includes washing our hands regularly, wearing masks out in public, and just doing the best we can to not spread a disease we may not even know we have.

With that said, we need to remember that the thing we touch the most during the course of our day needs to be cleaned, too. I’m talking, of course, about our phones.

There’s been an uptick of new devices such as mophie and InvisibleShield UV sanitizers that promise to sanitize your smartphone and pretty much whatever else you can fit inside. Heck, some of them even charge your phone when you’re done sanitizing.

Let’s say you’re nowhere near your UV sanitizer and your child hands you the phone with their germ riddled hands. After you’re done chasing them around with hand sanitizer you still need to take care of your phone.

pack of wipesYou can’t exactly wipe your smartphone down with a Clorox wipe. I mean, I guess you can, but they’re not made with that incredibly expensive slab of glass in mind. That’s where the InvisibleShield Disinfecting Wipes come in handy.

Available in packs of 10, 25, or 500 for $4.99, $9.99, and $69.99, respectively, they’re like Wet Ones designed for phones. Throw a couple of these in your purse, pocket, or backpack and whenever you need to ensure your electronic devices are clean, just give them a good wipe down.

The AndroidGuys team was provided the opportunity to test these babies out and I jumped at the chance. Having two goobers of my own, one of which that loves his tablet, I figured if anyone could put these to the test, it would be my very own little germ factory.

single wipe

The wipes themselves are pretty small and are packaged very similarly to your standard Fresh Naps or a Zeiss lens wipe. Although they are on the smaller side, they have enough juice in them to clean two smartphones, or maybe a tablet.

They’re not just for smartphones, you can wipe down just about any nonporous surface. What made me so excited to get these was the fact they won’t damage the oil-resistant coating on your smartphone or tablet screens.

I would say the convenience factor alone is enough to get the InvisibleShield Disinfecting Wipes. You can pretty much keep them anywhere and have them handy any time you need them.

I love having the peace of mind of knowing my smartphone is clean clean. It’s just one less thing I have to worry about. I’ll definitely be buying more of the InvisibleShield disinfecting wipes as the price is just too good. If you grab that 500 pack it comes out to about $0.14 per wipe. Sold.

Learn more about the InvisibleShield Disinfecting Wipes at the ZAGG/InvisibleShield website where they’re available for purchase. You can also find the wipes at carriers and retailers like Verizon, AT&T, and Staples.

We’re hiring!

AndroidGuys
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Looking for a side hustle with the summer season coming to an end? We’re on the lookout for a couple of new writers and we’d love to consider you for a position.

For fall 2020 we’re adding to our news coverage team. As such, the role calls for time-sensitive content around the news and rumors in the Android and mobile space.

The open position is part-time one and can often work with other schedules. Many of the writers we work with have families, school, and other obligations. Our aim is to provide an environment and culture that doesn’t detract from your normal routines.

If you’re accepted, you’ll get an inside look at the Android space and learn how the tech blogging industry works. Your work will be shared with thousands of daily readers and articles will be read by millions around the world.

Available Position

News & Rumors Team – Staff member will be responsible for coverage of daily news, rumors, and other Android-related topics. Topics will come from a variety of sources including editors, other staff, email, and RSS feeds. These are much more time-sensitive in nature and need to be turned over quickly. Volume level should be an average of 5-10 posts per week.

Candidate Must

  • …be organized, motivated, and reliable
  • …be able to meet deadlines and adhere to schedule
  • …be able to take constructive criticism and advice
  • …be able to find relevant news stories and collaborate on ideas
  • …have a strong grasp of English

Details

New hires will typically work within our system for a few weeks, getting the feel of things, and learning whether this is something they want to do. We ask for a couple of weeks to test things out so that you can determine if AndroidGuys is a fit for you. Likewise, we want to make sure that you’re able to commit to a set schedule and produce timely content.

More seasoned writers or those with similar experience can join the paid ranks in a much quicker time frame. We evaluate the position on a case-by-case basis and may offer something immediately.

How to Apply

Please take a few minutes to fill out the form below. We’ll do our best to dig through the applicants and reach out to as many people as possible. We apologize up front if we’re unable to respond to all requests.

How to play picture-in-picture in Google Chrome Desktop

Rizwan Anwer
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Google Chrome Desktop version 85 introduced a neat feature which lets users play video via picture-in-picture view. You can use this to create a dedicated hovering window that can be resized so you can continue your Netflix, YouTube, and other digital video content consumption while working.

If you wanted to have picture-in-picture (PiP) prior to this update, you would have to do so with third-party extensions. However, Google has now extended the feature with first-party support that comes bundled with Google Chrome version 85.

How to play picture-in-picture in Google Chrome Desktop

To check your version of Google Chrome, all you have to do is type chrome://settings/help in the address bar of your Chrome Browser.

If you aren’t already on the latest version, Google will download and install the latest version for you automatically. Once installed, you’ll be prompted to restart the browser.

If you still don’t have the extension despite being on Google Chrome version 85, you can download the extension for free from Google’s own store at the Chrome Web Store.

Once you have it installed, all you have to do is look for the Music Note icon with the 3 dashes to the left, as shown by the red circle in the image below.

For the next step, depending on what you want as a hovering window, click on the PiP button denoted by the Yellow and Green circles of a tab that is currently playing content.

With that, you can now use the hovering windows when switching between tabs.

Or even if you are on the desktop doing some cleaning.

As long as you don’t close the tab that is playing the content, you are all set.

If you want to dismiss the player, you can press the X at the top right of the window, or the PiP icon denoted by the orange circles in the screenshot below. Green will let you pause and play your content.

Unfortunately, in this mode, you will be unable to view closed captions, subtitles or any form of text as that isn’t supported yet within the video.

This means if you have any content which you prefer viewing with those features you will have to watch it in its dedicated tab.

You also are limited to the size of the window as you can’t make the window grow past a certain size.

Ampere Cell Wireless Charger and UV Sanitizer review

AndroidGuys
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If you’re like us, you take your phone everywhere. Like, everywhere.

We tend to get our handset out while eating, traveling, and even in the bathroom. Indeed, the more you think about it, the more gross it seems. And in a world impacted by a global pandemic, it’s even dangerous.

If you are one of those people who takes their phone with them and never bothers to clean it — and let’s face it, that’s you — Ampere has a device that will change your life. While that sounds a tad drastic, it’s not really a reach.

The Ampere Cell Phone Sanitizer, available for pre-order at just $79.95, is actually two devices in one. Part wireless charger, part phone sanitizer, it’s 100% vital in today’s world.

What is the Ampere Cell?

An expandable UV santizer and wireless charger hybrid device, it has four UVC LEDs inside and two 15W Qi charging coils on the outside.

Open it up and place your phone inside and the Cell uses UV rays to kill bacteria off the surface of your phone. It kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in only one minute. Or, place your phone on top of it and it will wireless charge any modern handset.

Usage

There’s practically zero setup to consider with the Ampere Cell. All you have to do to get started is separate the base from the cover, place your item on the base, and press the red circle.

When it turns green, it’s sanitizing, and after a minute when it turns red again, it’s done. It’s extremely quick and easy.

We appreciate that the cover itself can be expanded and shaped to provide an angle. Whether portrait or landscape, it can be used as a prop to watch streaming video or keep an eye on notifications.

Our only complaint is a minor one and that it does not actually come with the USB Type-C cable needed to power it. Understanding it was likely going to replace the charger we had on the desk, we were fine using our existing one.

The Cell is slick, thin and small, so it is easy to carry around in a purse or bag. If you’re feeling stylish it comes in different colors, too. Because of its size and expandability we’ve used the Cell to sanitize jewelry, wearables, and other small items.

The Ampere Cell is available to pre-order from Ampere’s website and is expected to ship in late October/November. Choose from red, black, and glow-in-the-dark.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Galaxy Tab S7 5G, S7+ 5G now available at T-Mobile

AndroidGuys
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T-Mobile on Thursday confirmed it will begin selling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Galaxy Tab S7 5G, and S7+ 5G starting from September 18.

Each of the devices can use T-Mobile’s 600Mhz, 2.5GHz, and mmWave 5G spectrum. In fact, the tablets mark the first to support 5G connectivity.

T-Mobile will offer the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G online, over the phone, and in retail stores for $58.34/month for 24 months with a $599.99 down payment. The all-in full retail price of the unique folding smartphone is $1,999.99.

As for the new tablets, customers can purchase both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 5G and Galaxy Tab S7+ 5G for $30.00/month. The difference being that the former requires $129.99 down while the later requires $329.99 down. The full retail prices are $849.99 and $1049.99, respectively.

Multiple Ways to Save

T-Mobile is offering a number of promotions around its new devices, giving subscribers ways to save on both the phone and tablets.

  • Pick up one Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G and get a second for half off with 24 monthly bill credits when you activate a new line.
  • Get $500 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G with 24 monthly bill credits and eligible device trade in.

Learn more about the Galaxy Tab S7 5G and Galaxy Tab S7+ 5G at T-Mobile’s website.

Verizon streamlines data plans for connected devices

AndroidGuys
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Verizon has offered up new Unlimited data plans for connected devices such as smartwatches, laptops, tablets, and mobile hotspots.

With the introduction of a new $30 monthly plan, Verizon now offers three different Unlimited options for its subscribers. Select plans will include access to 5G Ultra Wideband.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how things look as of today.

$10 Unlimited

Smartwatches: Unlimited 4G LTE with 15GB premium data and unlimited talk/text.

$20 Unlimited

Tablets: Unlimited 4G LTE plus 15GB premium data, unlimited mobile hotspot with 15GB 4G LTE

Jetpacks, MiFis, Hotspots: Unlimited mobile hotspot with 15GB 4G LTE

$30 Unlimited Plus

Tablets: Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband, unlimited 4G LTE with 30GB premium data, and 30GB of 4G LTE

Jetpacks, MiFis, Hotspots: Unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband, unlimited mobile hotspot with 30GB 4G LTE

The aforementioned prices are per month with an existing phone on an Unlimited plan. Customers who sign up for a Do More or Get More plan get a 50% discount on the three connected device plans.

The rate plans are in effect as of September 17.

Four ways to choose the best web design agency for you

AndroidGuys
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You probably know someone who is a web designer. If you do a simple search for web design London, you’re likely to get hit by numerous results for many design firms, online specialists, and even app developers. The most confusing thing is that all these agencies will tout their services as the best, but you must put your hard-earned resources at work with the best agency.

If you don’t get it right the first time, you will not only pay top dollar for poor services, but you may also end up with a website that will not meet your needs or that of your business. If you want to save yourself all this hassle, all you need to do is follow the simple tips we provide below to get you the best web design agency that’ll fulfill your requirements and meet your needs.

Experience and Expertise

Before you contract an agency to design your agency, you must ask for proof of their relevant experience. Even if you can only contact them online, ask them to point you in the direction of recent similar work. Once they do, you will be able to go through their work and check whether they will be suitable for you and deliver high-quality work. The only exception to the rule when it comes to a potential agency offering work samples is if your project is unique.

Your Budget

Before you speak to a potential agency, you should have an idea of what a comfortable budget looks like to you. Just because you want excellent services doesn’t mean that you should pay the highest quote. To make the most of your budget and have a clear picture of what you should pay for web design services, consider how long your project will take.

Once you have an idea of the number of hours, consider how long your project will take. Once you know the number of hours your project may take, you can multiply this by regular industry hourly rates. This will give you a general idea of how much you should spend on your project.

Technology

Different web design services are specialists in specific technologies. For instance, some are experts at frameworks or programming languages and have loads of experience working on them. When choosing such agencies, you want to ensure that the technology they offer you is scalable and portable.

This will ensure that if there are any future changes, then you can do them quickly. When it comes to scalability, the technology you choose must grow with your site as you get more traffic and introduce new customers.

Reviews From Past Customers

Before choosing a web design agency, you must consider what previous clients had to say about them. If the agency has nothing to hide about their work, they will have no problem introducing you to their past clients. It is also essential that you use their website and search for any comments or reviews that their clients have made. You have to make sure that you put your project into the hands of people that you can trust. Whatever your agency promises you, they should be able to deliver.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

Where can I buy an unlocked phone?

AndroidGuys
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We talk quite a bit about unlocked phones here, including their benefits and where you can use them. One of the questions we’re often asked, though, is where to buy them.

Are unlocked phones part of some secret society and hard to find? Quite the opposite, really. In fact, there are are plenty of great spots to buy unlocked phones, some of which are places you already shop.

What follows are a number of outlets to explore when it comes to buying an unlocked phone.

Amazon

Try to act surprised when we tell you the world’s largest online retailer offers unlocked phones. With a full section dedicated to them, visitors can pare down results by criteria such as wireless carrier, brand, and budget.

Reference guide to US carrier bands and networks

Most phones will show the compatibility with carriers and buyers are protected with hassle-free returns. While you’re there, grab an accessory or two.

Best Buy

Best Buy gives consumers a handful of options for finding unlocked phones, including a section of models which are considered universally unlocked. In other words, these would work with any carrier. You can also shop by brand, carrier compatibility, price, and condition. Indeed, there are pre-owned and refurbished devices to choose from, too.

B&H Photo Video

Although most might think of this one as a destination for audio and video equipment, B&H Photo Video is also a decent place to purchase an unlocked device. Moreover, it’s often one of the only places to pick up some models here in the US. If you’re looking for Sony, for instance, start here.

Here’s what you should know about unlocked phones

Swappa

Because not everyone needs a brand new phone, Swappa is our favorite place for scooping up a used model. Trusted, secure, and user friendly, you’ll have no problem buying (or selling) an unlocked phone. Trim your options by carrier, price, condition, and other criteria.

Newegg

A trusted name in the online electronics game for nearly two decades, Newegg is home to computer products, general tech, and smartphones. In addition to popular unlocked models, you’ll also find rare devices, open box, refurbished, and clearance deals, too. As always, be sure to check the fine print for network compatibility and warranty.

eBay

You can’t talk about online shopping without adding eBay to the conversation. Not only will you have tons of options for used unlocked phones, there are plenty of sellers who have new devices as well. What’s more, you’ve got an abundance of riches when it comes to affordable accessories.

Other Retailers

Phone Makers

Why bother messing around with a wireless provider when you can go straight to the phone manufacturer instead? Many of the top handset makers sell devices direct to consumer. Here are a handful of options to get started.

Editor Note: AndroidGuys may earn a small commission for purchases made using select outbound links. Read More

This $16 developer bootcamp kickstarts your coding career

AndroidGuys
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Heads up, aspiring mobile app developers! We’ve got a great offer for you in the AG Deals Store. Called the Complete Developer Bootcamp, it’s the perfect way to get your footing in the world of coding.

For just $16 right now you can have access to four hours of content around the best practices in software development, including code quality gates, standards, unit testing, test automation, branching strategy, business analysis, estimations, Agile, and more.

With some 35 lectures to choose from, it’s the education and tools you need to start transforming you into a job-ready, high-quality software developer.

Developer Bootcamp Includes

  • Access 35 lectures & 4 hours of content 24/7
  • Know what a software bug is & what damage it can bring
  • Understand code quality & code quality gates
  • Learrn what coding standards is & why you need it
  • Find out what is the difference between code-style & code-convention
  • Know testing approaches & techniques you can use during software development
  • Use software releases to improve product quality
  • Understand continuous integration, delivery, & deployment
  • Learn the benefits of Agile methodology

This training course is yours for life so feel to take your time and soak it in. Worth about $200, this coursework is yours for only $15.99, or about 90% off. That’s just $4 per hour for the next-gen education!

Best Sellers

Save even more!

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.

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