AndroidGuys

Chromebooks and Google are the constant for students in the pandemic

Opinion

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August 14, 2020

Something came up at my gym this week that has my wheels turning. Yes, I’m still going to the gym. That’s the one interaction I’m currently willing to risk, but I digress. Many of the patrons there are teachers and an ongoing discussion in warm-ups has been about how the pandemic will change the upcoming year.

Of course, the precautions and safety are the main concerns. However, the topic quickly evolved to the tech students will need if forced to stay at home. And the almost unanimous answer was Chromebooks. This is the one constant for students whether in the classroom or at home.

Google has won the classroom

When I was in school, you had one, maybe two, PCs in the class running Windows. You also might have one at home if you were lucky. Either way, Microsoft was more than likely running that machine. The company had a stronghold on the entire PC market, but specifically business and education.

Over the last five years, that paradigm has shifted. IT departments in education are often underfunded for both hardware purchases and maintenance of services required to run a traditional desktop. This left a huge opening for a fairly cloud-first operating system like Google’s Chromebooks.

Google recognized this need and has spent the last several years entrenching itself in the educational sector. The company offers G-Suite for education to school districts around the United States at a very high adoption rate. It’s paired this initiative with extremely affordable hardware that can handle the cloud-centric operating system making it perfect for schools.

Built for the unexpected

Chrome OS is much less dependent on hardware than Windows. With only your account information, you can have almost instant access to everything you need within minutes of logging into your Chrome OS device. This makes it easily manageable by admins and super clean experience for the kids too.

Johnny needs to get some work done on his Chromebook at home. Easy. Just log in and get to that homework assignment in Google Docs. His laptop fails in a week or gets stolen. Just as simple to issue him a loaner or replacement. Within minutes Johnny is back up and on that same Google Doc.

This also makes it very seamless to deploy if students need to work from home to complete the school year at this time of the pandemic. Many educational districts already have a one laptop per student policy and can easily translate those hardware resources for kids at home.

Even if the school-issued hardware fails, the magic of Google’s cloud could technically run anywhere. As long as you can get access to a web browser, students can perform their assignments regardless of the system. Windows, iPads, or even my favorite Linux systems are all capable of using G-Suite for Education.

Trying times with a familiar solution

Google couldn’t have planned on the COVID-19 virus shocking the globe. None of us did. However, the company has created an amazing combination of cloud software and almost disposable hardware to make sure the education of our children doesn’t stop.

And in its own way, it’s given our kids a familiar option in uncharted territory. They will be forced to learn how to adapt to many of the solutions offered if they have to do at-home learning, but learning a new operating system won’t have to be one of them. They just need Google and an internet connection.

TicPods 2 True Wireless Earbuds review

Accessory Reviews

Jason England

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August 13, 2020

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Mobvoi has made a name for itself over the past few years making several high-quality accessories, including its popular lineup of smartwatches and headphones. In fact, we’ve previously reviewed the TicWatch Pro 4G and TicPods 2 Pro here on our site. Now, Mobvoi has provided us with a pair of the standard TicPods 2 for review.

Design

There’s nothing too unique about the design of the TicPods 2; they don’t do much to stand out in a crowd of other AirPod clones. However, I was immediately impressed by how lightweight the buds and case are. After trying several pairs of true wireless headphones over the years, the TicPods 2 buds and case are among the lightest I’ve used.

The case itself is a pillbox shape with two LEDs on the front used to convey battery life and Bluetooth pairing status. On the back, you’ll find the USB-C port for charging. Most Bluetooth headphones I’ve reviewed still use the outdated micro USB port, and I give Mobvoi a lot of credit for including USB-C on its midrange headphones.

The body of the earbuds are made entirely of plastic without a silicone tip. That means two things, you’re not going to get a seal to help isolate your ears from outside noises, and they are unlikely to make your ears sore during long listening sessions.

While the stems on the TicPods 2 mimic the AirPods design, they also serve a purpose by being touch-sensitive. This is where you will be able to manage calls, adjust the volume, and control music playback.

Comfort

When it comes to headphones, comfort is often king, and due to the TicPods 2’s style, they are extremely comfortable to wear. Without a silicone tip, they simply rest inside of your ears, combine that with the lightweight design, and you’ll be able to wear these for hours with ease.

User Experience

In day to day use, the TicPods 2 were a joy to use. They sound good and provide some smart features, such as automatically pausing music when an earbud has been removed. Mobvoi was also clever enough to make the gestures require a double-tap, instead of a single-tap, which prevents you from accidentally activating them when handling the buds.

For all the TicPods 2 do right, I did encounter two minor issues. The first being, that when opening the Mobvoi app it causes the music to cut out for a moment. The second is a personal complaint I have about adjusting the volume. There seems to be a huge jump between the third and fourth steps, where music goes from being barely audible to entirely too loud. I wish there were a couple more steps in between for a finer adjustment when controlling the volume.

App

If you care about music quality, the first thing you should do is download the Mobvoi app from the Play Store. Then, make sure you’re running the latest firmware. Next, you’ll want to enable aptX in the settings, which provides higher quality sound, and finally, adjust the equalizer.

The Mobvoi app doesn’t give you extensive controls over the equalizer settings, but it does give you several presets to choose from. In my experience, anything was better than the default, so make sure you find one that suits your tastes.

Besides improving the audio quality, the Mobvoi app offers other features that make it worth getting. One of the most useful is the ability to check the battery level of each bud along with the amount of charge left in the case. That’s very helpful for knowing when you’ll need to charge up next.

Unfortunately, I was only able to view the battery level of the case from a pop-up when first opening the app. It would have been much more convenient if there was a way to view it on demand.

Along with the battery levels and equalizer settings, there are also options to change the actions when using the touch-sensitive stems on the earbuds. The bad news is, the actions are quite limited and so are the gestures. Essentially, you are restricted to a single action controlled by double-tapping on either bud.

I would have preferred assigning an action to each individual bud. For example, being able to double-tap the right bud to skip forward and the left bud to go to the previous track.

However, I did find the sliding gesture to adjust the volume to be rather ingenious. The tickle gesture, as it is referred to, works well, and provides an easy way to adjust the volume without any physical buttons. Finally, there is also an option to long press to bring up either Google Assistant or Alexa.

One last trick the Mobvoi app has up its sleeves is the ability to translate between several languages. It’s not exactly the real-time translation you can expect from the Pixel Buds, but it is a nice feature to have quick access to when you need it. Hopefully, you won’t need it too often though, because in my experience, it failed more often than it worked.

Unfortunately, over half the time I was met with an error about my Wi-Fi connection, despite none of my devices having any issues on my network.

Sound Quality

As I mentioned above, sound quality can be improved on the TicPods 2 by enabling aptX in the settings and choosing one of the provided equalizer presets. Once you’ve set the TicPods 2 up to your liking, the sound quality is pretty impressive for a pair of headphones without silicone tips for isolation.

There is plenty of volume, and the highs help with instrument separation and vocal clarity. The biggest downside is that without isolation, the bass is never going to be as deep as headphones with silicone tips. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a low-end present on the TicPods 2, but if you’re someone who enjoys your bass, then you’ll probably come away disappointed.

Battery Life

Mobvoi rates the TicPods 2 for four hours of continuous playback and up to 23 hours overall when using the charging case. I was surprised to find they lived up to these claims, mostly because of how lightweight the buds and case are in comparison to other true wireless headphones I’ve used.

Rest assured, even though these are so light you can forget you even have them in your pocket, they still have plenty of battery life to get you through the day.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to true wireless headphones these days, there is an abundance of choice out there. If you prefer a pair that rests in your ears, then Mobvoi’s TicPods 2 are a compelling choice. For only $100 you’ll get up to 24-hours of combined battery life in one of the most compact and lightest packages around, along with good sound quality.

The Mobvoi app also sweetens the deal by adding some additional features, and the gesture controls are convenient while being intuitive to use. If you’re looking for even more smart features, take a look at the TicPods 2 Pro, which include head gestures controls as well as hands-free voice assistant activation.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Mobvoi

How to share your home screen with Messenger on Android

Tips & Tools

Rizwan Anwer

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August 13, 2020

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Facebook Messenger recently released an update where users could share their smartphone home screens over video calls. With many people still adamant on meeting face-to-face, this is a great measure for friends, loved ones, and other groups to spend time together online and still have fun, even when apart.

Sharing your home screen with Messenger on Android

Similar to sharing your desktop on Zoom on your home computer, sharing your home screen means you and the person on the other end can consume content together.

With Messenger’s new screen sharing feature, you can now have a video call and browse memes, watch YouTube videos together, and anything in-between.

Getting started is fairly simple and straightforward and the same process works with creating a room in Messenger. This way, you can share your screen with a group of friends or family members.

Getting Started:

Update to the latest version of Facebook Messenger from the Google Play Store.

When you have done so, initiate a video call with the person you wish to carry out the screen sharing session with.

You don’t have to wait for the person to pick up, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring the Share Your Screen prompt.

All you have to do is tap on Share Your Screen, and you will receive the standard privacy warning.

Keep in mind, anything you type or any notification that pops up during the screen sharing process isn’t censored or protected.

This means people will be able to see what buttons you’re pressing on your keyboard, so be careful about typing passwords or other sensitive information during a video call.

Once you’ve read the warning, tap on Start Now.

If you have apps you’re cautious about letting others know about, it’s best you force stop them until the screen-sharing session ends.

When you successfully activate the screen share, you’ll get the prompt confirming you’re now in a screen-sharing session with the person.

You’ll now get a picture-in-picture window at the top right of your screen, which will show a small window of your Facebook friend on the video call, and they will be able to see you and your home screen, even if you can’t see yourself.

When you are at this stage, you have successfully shared your screen with the intended person and you are free to carry out your intended activities together.

Unlike Zoom or other desktop apps, there is currently no way to let others take over your smartphone home screen during this process. So you don’t have to worry about accidentally letting someone control your home screen and snooping.

To end the screen share, simply end the call via the big red button on the call like you would a regular video call.

To share your home screen with a larger audience, simply repeat all of the above once you have started a Facebook Messenger Room.

Google readies Wear OS update for fall

News

AndroidGuys

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August 13, 2020

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Google on Thursday committed to further improving its Wear OS experience for users, with an update planned for later this year. Key among the enhancements will be apps that load up to 20% faster.

The Wear OS update doesn’t have a specific timeline, but Google says it will arrive this fall. As part of it, the platform will pick up official support for Qualcomm’s recently launched Snapdragon 4100 and 4100+ processors.

Additionally, Google will introduce a new weather experience for Wear OS wearables. Users can expect a more easily identifiable and glanceable weather app. Here’s a sneak preview of how it will look.

Google is also partnering with other OEMs to bring new Wear OS devices to market, including Oppo, Suunto, and Xiaomi.

Developers also have a few things coming down the road as it pertains to wearables. Google plans to bring Android Studio, Kotlin, Jetpack libraries to Wear OS.

How to migrate your data to a Huawei phone

Tips & Tools

Rizwan Anwer

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August 12, 2020

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With smartphones becoming increasingly more affordable, buying one can be a semi-regular occurrence. However, moving data between your old phone and the new one can be cumbersome.

Many people will opt to transfer the data to a computer and then to the new phone. Historically, that was what one had to do. Or, users would back up what they could to a microSD card. Today, smartphone manufacturers have dedicated apps that make this process easy, efficient, and seamless.

This guide will teach you how to move all your personal data (SMS, calls, apps, photos, etc.) from your old phone to a Huawei branded phone. With this, you won’t have to worry about copying data on a computer or removable storage.

With modern Huawei phones, you get premium hardware with cameras that are among the industry’s best. Whether you’re going for the Honor, P, Y, Mate, Nova, or any other variant of the Huawei smartphone line, all of these phones run the custom EMUI, which is all we need to carry out this guide.

Pre-Requisites

This is where there is a slight divide. If you have Google Mobile Services (GMS) installed on your phone which includes the Google Play Store, all you have to do is download and install the Huawei Phone Clone app on your old phone, and your new Huawei phone.

If you don’t have GMS installed on your Huawei phone, you will have to browse for the Phone Clone app in the Huawei App Gallery and install that on your new Huawei phone.

Both phones should be charged at 80% and on a flat surface as this is another wireless transfer.

Reddit user RichBug7 made a great guide on how to do the steps, so if you’re looking for more details on the apps that support Phone Clone, you can visit their Reddit thread.

Let’s Get Started

Once you have the app installed on both phones, run the app on each phone. On the old phone, choose This is the old phone prompt and on the new Huawei phone choose the This is the new phone prompt.

Follow the next steps and identify the OS or make of the old phone. You will now be prompted to scan a QR code on the new Huawei phone via the old phone.

Scan the QR code from the new phone using the old phone’s QR Code reader on your screen. This helps build a dedicated hotspot connection between both phones for the data transfer process to start.

You’ll see a notification on both phones confirming a successful pairing. Once that has been achieved, choose the content you want to transfer from your old phone to the new phone.

Depending on the amount of data that needs to be transferred, this is the longest part of the process.

It’s recommended that you leave both phones on a flat surface and don’t use either phone during this process.

Once the transfer is complete, you’ll see a notification on both screens confirming the data has been exchanged between the two devices.

Other Helpful Guides

Microsoft Surface Duo pre-orders arrive ahead of September 10 availability

News

AndroidGuys

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August 12, 2020

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Nearly one year after teasing the device, Microsoft has made its Surface Duo official. While it technically works as a phone, Microsoft’s built the unit as an all-purpose multi-tasking product for professionals. Indeed, it’s like a shrunken down Surface experience that just happens to work as a phone, too.

Powered by Android 10, the device features a pair of 5.6-inch OLED displays connected by a narrow 360-degree hinge. Together they form an 8.1-inch display.

As one might expect, users can run multiple apps at the same time. Run them side-by-side and you’ll dial up the productivity. Or, in select instances, expand the app to let it take advantage of the larger tablet-like space.

Microsoft has taken steps to customize the software and suite of apps, giving it a blend of the best of Android and Windows. Included are Office, Outlook, OneNote, Edge, and a host of other titles, many of which are built with two screens in mind.

Key hardware includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB RAM,and a choice of 128GB/256GB storage.

Additionally, the Surface Duo has USB-C, video output via DisplayPort HDMI, a fingerprint reader, and an 11-megapixel camera with 1080p video conferencing/4K video capture. A 3,577mAh battery runs the show and supports 18W fast charging.

As a company, we are focused on delivering purposeful innovation – pushing the boundaries of existing categories to not just move technology forward, but to move people forward.

While it doesn’t have the hardware that rivals flagship phones, the Microsoft Surface Duo is more about the capabilities. It’s definitely not for everyone and has a very targeted audience.

The Surface Duo will launch September 10 with a $1,399 starting price. It supports 4G networks for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Pre-orders are available now at Microsoft’s website.

ROCKUBOT: Sterilizing robot kills germs and bacteria

Deals

AndroidGuys

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August 12, 2020

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We live in a dangerous time. Well, okay, maybe not dangerous, but a cautious one at the least. Germs and bacteria are everywhere and we’re more aware of it than ever before.

We’re routinely wiping things down, washing hands, and cleaning on a more rigorous basis. And a lot of us are also sterilizing the things we touch. UV-C wands and lights are becoming commonplace in many households.

The ROCKUBOT, available for just $99, is the sort of home companion that keeps a vigilant eye on your environment. It automatically traverses over surfaces with its UV-C light and ultrasonic wave technology to help eliminate 99.99% of bacteria, germs, viruses, and mites. All in a matter of seconds.

The ROCKUBOT has 24 smart sensors that can help it avoid obstacles or power through terrain. And like your smart robot vacuum cleaner, it has a mapping and navigation feature. Similarly, it can also detect slopes, cliffs, and obstacles.

Use the ROCKUBOT to clean a bed or room quickly, efficiently, and quietly, too. Or, take it into manual mode and clean smaller items like your phone, tablet, keyboard, and mouse.

But Wait, There’s More!

Tucked inside of the ROCKUBOT is a 5,000mAh battery. Yes, you can also take this device with you to keep your phone and other gadgets charged on the go.

If that’s not enough to pique your interest, maybe you’d like the “Music Playing Version” of the ROCKUBOT. Priced just $108.99, it houses a Bluetooth speaker. It’s a Tom Haverford dream come true.

Order Yours Today

Purchase your ROCKUBOT from the AG Deals Store for only $99.99 right now, saving about $30 in the process. Or, for a few bucks more go all-in with the version that houses a Bluetooth speaker. It’s a bigger savings at around $50 off today!

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.

Vissles-M Monitor review

Accessory Reviews

AndroidGuys

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August 11, 2020

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If you’ve ever used multiple screens for your work PC, you know just how beneficial it can be to your productivity. Being able to monitor emails or social media without switching between tabs is really convenient. The same goes for working on a document with source material on a second screen.

While it’s not entirely uncommon to have two screens for the home or office computer, you certainly don’t see that very often with laptops. Nobody has perfected an affordable portable experience with two screens.

It’s possible, of course, to plug your laptop or Chromebook into a hub/dock or to simply connect to a monitor as needed. That’s nice and all, but the screen takes up space and it’s not something you can take with you on the road.

The Vissles-M ($199), is a portable 15.6-inch display that connects to your computer, laptop, and other devices. It also allows for touch, and that’s pretty damn cool, if not something you get in a traditional monitor.

With two USB Type-C ports and one mini-HDMI port, it plugs into your gaming consoles (Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Switch) and Android phones. Indeed, it allows for you to put a screen where you normally wouldn’t, bringing about new levels of productivity or entertainment.

There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack which comes in handy should you find yourself working in a coffee shop; built-in speakers are located at the bottom.

The Vissles-M is an IPS panel with a non-glare surface and a contrast ratio of 800:1. Its resolution is 1920 x 1080, which should be on par with your standard laptop screen.

Included in the box are a number of cables, which we certainly appreciate. It’s nice not having to hunt down a USB-C-to-USB-C cable or a mini-HDMI cable just to get going.

The display has a magnetic protective cover that keeps the screen from getting scratches. It’s also this cover that becomes the stand to prop it up. We found it does well with varying angles for different viewing perspectives.

The whole thing weighs in about 1.5-pounds so it travels very well. And because it’s ultra-thin, you can put it in the same bag as your laptop without notice.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the overall picture, it is a monitor after all. Brightness is contrast is good, but you’ll want to plug into a power source if you can.

We didn’t get above 65 percent before our unit wanted to power off. Plugging in a second USB-C cable into the wall let us get all the way up to 100. With that said, we do appreciate when we’re able to adjust the image based on environmental or situational needs.

The picture is clear and has a nice contrast, and we found it has good viewing angles. There’s something in the non-glare coating that gives it a bit of a dull or flat effect. It’s not terrible, and really only makes itself obvious when contrasting to your laptop or other screens. If you’re using it for watching videos or gaming, you’ll probably be happy with the image.

We paired ours up with an entry-level Chromebook for a few weeks and came away feeling like the image was nearly identical. Stick it with a Pixelbook or something premium, though, and you’ll see the difference.

This isn’t a gaming monitor, to be sure. Don’t buy this for that aspect or you’ll come away less than pleased. The real demographic here is someone who might need to boost productivity from time to time. Whether that means duplicating/sharing their screen, engaging in Slack or Zoom chats while working on a document, or blowing through emails, it works well.

We had mixed results when using our phones as the Vissles-M mirrors your handset but doesn’t allow for touch. It doesn’t fill the screen and the image sits vertically in the middle. The only real use case we can see here might be for sharing your screen with someone else, and even then that’s not great.

We’d love to be able to open up email in a tablet-like experience. At a minimum we’d like to be able to rotate the image to better fill the screen.

We’ve enjoyed having this on the standing desk as it makes working from a laptop more practical and efficient. It largely stays put around the office, but we’ve found it fun to take with us for a little bit of downtime. Getting in some Paper Mario on the Nintendo Switch is a a unique experience when you can do it tabletop at the park or on the back deck.

Learn more about the Vissles-M at the Vissles website where it’s also available for purchase. Pick yours up for about $200 right now.

Are you qualified to have a cell tower on your land?

Promoted News

AndroidGuys

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August 10, 2020

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

Of most other forms of leases out there, cell tower leases are not very known to the public. Do you want to know how to negotiate cell tower lease rates? Then, read this article by Vertical Consultants: Cell Tower Lease Rates – How Rent Is Negotiated. Most people who can benefit from cell tower leases do not know about them. These business agreements are an amazing asset that landowners should consider. If you are a property owner with space available for the installation of a cell tower, this can be a good additional source of income for you.

You can have a lease agreement with cellular providers such as Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. This agreement, essentially, permits the cellular provider to install and operate cellular equipment on your property in exchange for rent.

How to Get a Cell Tower on Your Land

You may want to learn about everything landowners need to know about cell tower lease rates. That is if you have a tract of land you are not currently using. If this sounds like a viable money-making option for you, you need to find out how cellular network carriers choose the ideal installation area.

You can lease your land for a cell tower in several ways. The easiest way is to invite a carrier’s site acquisition agent to visit your land. Due to the number of property owners who know about cell tower lease rates and the amount of money involved, you need to be careful. You cannot simply request for a cellular tower lease and assume the process will begin immediately.

No wireless firm will build a cell tower on your land if it does not meet a specific business need. No matter how long you market your land, other factors will come into play. Unless you own property in one of the search rings, which are some of the most attractive areas for cellular providers, you are out of luck.

Fortunately, cell tower search rings expand and change. Cellular carriers evaluate and expand their search rings to gain new areas and users. In a sense, they play a game of luck. If you have a great location now, a couple of years from now, it might not be worth as much. As a landowner, it always pays to learn more about cell tower lease rates.

The Reason There Are So Many Cell Towers

Currently, the world is on the Internet and mobile-centric era. Much like owning a coffee maker, a car, or a washing machine, most people cannot imagine living without a tablet or smartphone. In a way, connected devices are the new remote controls for most people’s lives.

People are looking for more than lightning-fast connectivity. Today, there are internet-connected televisions, alarm systems, fridges, lighting systems, washers, and more. Common fixtures and devices today require an internet connection and additional bandwidth. If you own land in one of these areas, you are in luck. You can make anywhere between $100 to $45,000 annually depending on the needs of the network company, the population density in the area, and the construction limitations, among other factors.

Cell towers on municipal or private land are some of the most convenient ways for cellular firms to generate income for the future. That is why they spent tons of money to secure their networks. If you think you can accommodate a cell tower in your land, get in touch with cell tower lease experts in your area.

TRIO MAX: Give your laptop two more screens on the go

Deals

AndroidGuys

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August 10, 2020

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Few things can provide a boost to your productivity like a secondary display. If you’ve ever tried it, you know just how frustrating it can be moving back to a single screen.

Then, when you get into a third screen… well, that’s an entirely different experience. All of a sudden you’re hopping between tasks, keeping up with emails, watching videos, posting to social media, and more — all without closing a tab.

Buying a second or third monitor can be costly, and take up a fair amount of space. What’s more, if you live a portable lifestyle, you’ll end up leaving that screen behind when you head to the library or coffee shop.

If you’ve ever pondered what it’s like to have a multiple screens for your laptop or Chromebook, wonder no more. The Mobile Pixels TRIO MAX brings a pair of plug-n-play USB displays to your favorite portable workplace.

Whether it’s photo editing, blogging, working on a term paper, or just managing emails and social media, you’ll appreciate the extra real estate. Hell, it’s even awesome for gaming,too.

Simply connect the TRIO MAX to the back of your laptop, plug it in via USB, and slide out the extra displays. The TRIO MAX’s hinge provides up to 270° of rotation, which means you can adjust the monitors to the exact position that works for you.