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How much data does video streaming use?

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

When it comes to internet usage, video watching is one of the main interests of users. Most users are mainly inclined towards streaming videos so it matters a lot to know how much data is required for it. Of course, we do require a smooth internet connection to be able to stream our favorite content online.

If video streaming is your preference then you must consider high-speed internet like Spectrum internet for instance, that do not offer data caps. This means you do not have to worry about any extra fee surprises in your bill that are bound to happen if you run out of your data limit. Most of the providers in the United States do impose data caps so it is very important to find out an internet plan that assures a no data cap policy. For that, let us first have a look at the data that is needed for various video streaming platforms.

YouTube

Just like using any other app on your smartphone, YouTube being one of the popular platforms needs data too. It nearly takes 562.5 MB of data per hour. This holds valid when you stream at around 480p resolution. In case you want better resolution, then you might require 1.86 GB per hour for 720p. For 1080p you might require 3.04 GB. For watching videos in 4K, you will require a massive 15.98 GB of data per hour.

Netflix

We all agree with the fact that how much we love Netflix as it has successfully evolved as one of the most popular video streaming services. For subscribers exceeding 130 million, the internet speed is not much of a problem. An hour of video streaming in standard definition would need around 1 GB of data. If you want to enjoy high-quality video streaming, you might need up to 3GB. For ultra-high-definition, you can require up to 7 GB of data per hour.

The selection of accounts can help you decide a suitable resolution for your connection. If you want to save your data, you can check the settings option and click the save button when you want.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video was launched by Amazon as a streaming service in 2011 and has ever gained popularity among the users. Nowadays it is seen as one of the biggest competitors for Netflix. This service provides up to three resolutions for the users. Among them include good, better, and best. The Good enables streaming videos at around 480p in standard definition and utilizes a data of 800 MB per hour. The Better option allows an HD stream with a data requirement of around 2 GB per hour. The Best option consumes nearly 6 GB of data per hour. You should also know that accessing Amazon Prime Video on your mobile app results in low data consumption as compared to the desktop app.

Hulu

Hulu is another important video streaming option that uses somewhat less data as compared to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video This makes Hulu as one of the most economical options available. You require around 680 MB per hour of data for the standard definition. If you switch to a 720p high definition setting, the data requirement may jump to 1.3 GB per hour. 1080p resolution can need data up to 2.7 GB per hour. You can also stream live TV if you are using Hulu’s $39.99 monthly plan.

Spotify

Spotify is one of the best-known music streaming platforms but not everyone knows that it also provides a video service in certain areas. The company does not disclose much about the data requirements of the video streaming service. However it only notifies that video streaming requires more data as compared to music streaming and is much like the ones needed for other video channels. Mostly the videos are in high definition and can consume up to 3 GB of data for an hour streaming.

Vimeo

Vimeo does not have any details regarding data usage. The standard definition content can need up to 353 MB of data per hour. As far as the HD videos are concerned, they need up to 2.75 GB per hour.

Stan

Many of us might not have heard of Stan as it is accessible in Australia only. The app usually provides four-tier quality. The lowest standard definition setting can require up to 1.13 GB per hour while HD and 4K can require around 3 GB per hour and 7 GB per hour respectively.

DirecTV

The DirecTV website also does not display clear information about the required bandwidth. In case if your provider puts a data limit, you can always reduce your video quality. The data consumption parallels to the aforementioned video streaming platforms.

Sling TV

Sling TV is another one of the highest quality video streaming service that uses around 2 GB per hour of data for its highest quality option. The data required for medium quality is 540 MB per hour that further lowers to 360 MB per hour for low-quality streaming options.

Summing Up

You need to be aware of the data consumption involved in the video streaming service you are using. This can save you from exceeding your data limit and paying any additional cost.

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

How to share and scan WhatsApp QR Codes with others

Rizwan Anwer
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WhatsApp recently pushed an update to Beta testers that lets users add each other via QR codes. This saves people the trouble of sending phone numbers and makes the process of adding people much simpler. The feature is also found in popular apps like Instagram, Messenger, and Snapchat, so if you’ve used those apps before, the process is the same.

WhatsApp QR Codes – Making contacts easier than before

With the addition of WhatsApp QR code, you just need to send your QR code or scan another person’s code to add them instantly. When you add someone from a different country, you needed to include the + with their region area code and phone number, and add them as a contact.

The new process makes sharing a QR code a cinch and also scanning a QR code is easier. If you’re savvy enough, you can also make it a part of your personal website, visiting card or other places for people to add you instantly.

With all that said, let us get into how to do it.

Pre-requisite: The only real pre-requisite needed here is to make sure you are in the WhatsApp beta program. As of the time of writing this post, the beta program is full, so you will have to wait for it to open if you aren’t in it already.

Step 1

Open up WhatsApp and tap the 3 dots at the top right of the app.

Next, choose Settings.

Step 2 

Look to the far right of your name and status for a small QR code icon. Tap on it.

This will generate your curated QR code for your number, ready for sharing and scanning. You can take a screenshot of this page and share it with someone or wherever you wish.

Step 3

To scan a QR code simply swipe to the right and you can now scan the QR code by pointing the camera at the screen of the person’s phone or wherever the QR code could be hosted (online, WhatsApp Web, etc.)

You can also add the QR code without the camera by searching for the image via the gallery.

Simply press the gallery button at the bottom left of the Scan Code screen and search for the image shown in step 2. Which shows the QR code in the image.

As long as the compatible WhatsApp QR code is placed on the image, you can directly add the contact using a saved image as well.

With that added, you can now repeat the process for all the contacts you meet. The feature should go live for all users very soon but for now its a feature exclusive to the Beta users.

This will make sharing contact information easy and swift. Especially in places like business events, parties, etc.

If you found this guide to be useful, let us know in the comments section below!

Three new Nokia phones available at Cricket

Josiah Ward
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HMD Global, manufacturing under the Nokia brand, brought their phones to US carriers last year, forming a partnership with Cricket Wireless.

Now, they are bringing 3 more phones to the Cricket roster, the Nokia C5 Endi, C2 Tava, and the C2 Tennen.

Nokia C5 Endi

The Nokia C5 Endi

The C5 Endi, whose catchphrase is “Creativity at your command”, features:

  • A 6.5″ HD+ display with a selfie notch
  • A triple-camera rear module with a 13MP main sensor, a 5MP ultra-wide sensor, and a depth sensor
  • AI Camera technology, such as scene detection, Recommended Shot, and Portrait mode
  • A 4,000mAh battery with a 2-day battery life
  • MediaTek Helio P22 processor backed by 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage
  • Unibody construction

The Nokia C5 Endi will be available in Deep Midnight Blue at Cricket stores and the Cricket website for $169.99 starting June 5.

Nokia C2 Tava and Tennen

The C2 Tava and Tennen are more budget-minded, and both feature the following:

  • A 5.45″ HD+ display
  • A dual-camera module  with an 8MP auto-focusing sensor and an additonal 2MP sensor
  • MediaTek Helio A22 Processor backed by 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage
  • A 3000mAh battery backed by Adaptive Battery technology to bring 2-day battery life
  • A removable back cover

The C2 Tava will be available in Tempered Blue starting May 29 in Cricket stores and online for $109.99, while the Tennen is available in Steel for $69.99 at select retail stores starting June 15.

 

How to add a boarding pass to Google Pay

Andrew Allen
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Mobile wallets can be a great software solution and alternative to having to constantly wield a pocket full of documents. The likes of Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay initially offered a unique way to utilize your smartphone to replace physical copies of your debit/credit cards and make payments via NFC.

However, as it usually goes with technology, new needs add to innovation. Google Pay and Apple Pay have slowly been expanding their respective mobile wallet apps to also support public transit and gift cards.

Now you can even store away your flight information into Google Pay. Yep, your boarding pass for that next flight out of town can be saved on your phone for quick access or need to open another app. Get in line to board and Google Pay can have your boarding information and QR code readily available.

How to add a boarding pass to Google Pay?

There are a couple of different ways to add a boarding pass to Google Pay. First, we’ll cover how to allow Pay access to emails to try to add it automatically. We’ll show you how to add it manually to make sure you always get it right there where you need it.

Automatic

Let’s start with the option to give Google Pay a chance to search through our emails:

  • Open the app tray and open Google Pay
  • Tap the hamburger menu in the top-left corner
  • Then the Settings option
  • Find and select General
  • Toggle Gmail Imports to On
  • Connect to Gmail and choose your account

That’s all you need on this setting to get Google Pay to automatically import boarding passes into your wallet from Gmail. Unfortunately, airlines are slow to adopt, and only a few options have implemented this feature thus far. That brings us to the more safe and assured option of using a screenshot.

Manually

With this, you will take the boarding pass image provided by either email or SMS to magically import it into Google Pay manually:

  • Open image of the boarding pass
  • Use the volume up and power key combination to take a screenshot
  • Expand the notification from the screenshot
  • Select Add to Google Pay in the notification
  • Click Save to Google Pay on the next screen

Role call ready

Now you should be able to access your boarding pass from the Passes toolbar option in Google Pay or the new Power Button Menu on Pixel phones.

It should be noted that this tutorial is a step-by-step for Google’s build of Android on Pixels. Other phones may not have the same success with these steps, but “stock” manufacturers like OnePlus, Moto, and Nokia should be relatively similar.

Rollova: Digital ruler measure works by rolling across objects

AndroidGuys
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Pretty much anything and everything we work with is digital. Our homes are becoming increasingly smarter and the tools we use are changing right before our eyes. Look around and you’ll see digital and smart things in the kitchen, the home office, and even the shed.

The Rollova 2.0 is a digital tape measure that’s designed to measure surfaces both straight and uneven. All one has to do is roll it over surfaces to get a measurement. Indeed, it can be used to size things all the way up to 83 feet.

The Rollova 2.0, on sale for just $76.99 right now, is the perfect companion for carpenters, do-it-yourselfers, crafty types, and general homeowners.

Whether checking to see if that couch will fit through a doorway or sizing up the layout for your new posters, the Rollova 2.0’s digital OLED screen will measure things with a .4 percent tolerance. In other words, it’s damned accurate.

Rollova 2.0

  • Replacing your traditional ruler with a pocket-friendly gadget
  • 10000:1 high-contrast ratio OLED screen provides brighter display & outstanding energy efficiency
  • Measures everything from flat surfaces to curved objects
  • Full stainless steel body combining the best of ruggedness, precision & style
  • Compact size for measurement on the move

It’s a small unit that’s built to last, thanks to its stainless steel body. When not in use, it tucks away nicely in its genuine leather case. And should you wear down the rubber tire or damage it, there’s a spare that comes in the box.

After a successful campaign on Kickstarter where it nabbed $105K, the Rollova 2.0 Digital Ruler is available to consumers for $89. AndroidGuys readers, however, can save 13% on one and get it for just $76.99.

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Modern romance online

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

The modern incarnation of romance is very different than what society has used in the past. With the new technology that exists, people are able to meet individuals from all around the world and have a whole variety of different dating experiences that are unique. Moreover, technology has allowed people to find the romances they desire with ease. We’re going to focus on how technology is helping to move our relationships forward faster and better than ever before!

How Technology is Simplifying Life

Technology is changing the way that people live all across the world. It has simplified many of the issues that people face in terms of communication and connectivity. Instead of not seeing our friends and family when they travel abroad, we can simply log into our device of choice and communicate. Moreover, communication is instant, works across borders, and allows us to leave messages that can be read at a later date. In short, technology has made every element of communication simpler for people in terms of business, personal lives, and more. When applied to the topic of online romance, you can see why people are so excited. You can chat anytime and from any place around the world, a topic we will expand on in the future!

Find Someone Online from Around the World

The possibilities on the internet are nearly endless. A person can travel just by sitting down at the computer, see the wonders of the world, study the traditions of every country they can think of, and see animals from the Red Book. We can write to a friend in Italy or a relative in Finland. We can even see the sunrise in a different time zone than our own. The bottom line is that modern technology is nothing short of incredible! Using Iwantu.com to make new friends allows you to capitalize on all the best parts of an online dating service. There, you can watch the sunrise with friends from all over the world! All those things we described are features that you can experience on the site! This website will give you the chance to connect with people like never before. Even if you have not dated someone in a long time, the ease of communication will translate to more frequent dates for you. Anyone can find a partner using these websites!

Technology is Our Best Friend

In reality, technology is our best friend when it comes to romance. It makes the world a lot smaller and more accessible to people that would never have the ability to enjoy it otherwise. With romance, it helps people that would never be able to meet come together. You could find someone that is from the same city but lives and works in a separate area. You would probably not meet during the course of your normal lives, but when you use a dating site, you will find them! That would lead to a much more interesting romantic lifestyle for you. Not only do you get to meet a unique set of people, but you can actively look for individuals with a certain kind of personality, culture, religion, or body type. Anything is on the table in terms of finding people that have what you need in a match. Technology really is our best friend in every way possible, making life and love more accessible than ever before.

The modern incarnation of romance is going to look unfamiliar to most people. It’s a form of connectivity that is filled with technology, and it intertwines with tech in unusual ways. Now, you can sit at home and have the time of your life getting to know someone from halfway around the globe. That means that nothing and nobody is off-limits now, giving you a greater chance of getting the kinds of dates that you’ve always wanted. That’s not all there is to online dating, though. You will be able to schedule and have dates at times that were once unreachable to you. Weeknights, middle of the day, and even at work- these are all times that you can seek out partners and have a great time thanks to the developments in the realm of technology!

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

Redmi K30i: 5G and 120Hz display for less than $300

Rizwan Anwer
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Xiaomi this week announced new phones for its lineup, including the Redmi 10X series and a new addition to the Redmi K30 family of devices with the Redmi K30i.

There is a lot that the Redmi K30i offers, but its highlights are that it’s 5G capable and offers a quad-camera setup and a 120Hz display. All of this for under $300.

The Redmi K30i is 120Hz at its cheapest

With the release of the Redmi K30i, we have seen a new benchmark set in the smartphone market. The phone offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, capable of letting you use 5G. Paired with the massive refresh rate on the display, this phone is definitely a steal for its price.

Here are the specifications of the Redmi K30i:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
  • 6.67″ FHD+ display (2400 x 1080), 120Hz refresh rate
  • Back cameras: 48-MP Main camera, 8-MP ultra-wide, 5-MP Macro, 2-MP depth.
  • Front cameras: 20-MP Main camera, 2-MP depth
  • 4,500 mAh with 30W fast-charging
  • 64GB + 6GB variant is the only one offered

The phone is up for sale on the Chinese retail site, JD. It offers all of the above features for the low price of $270.

The only real downside to the phone is how long it will take for the phone to come to international markets. The phone is set to launch in China on June 7th, with Xiaomi hush on details expanding to the West.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a phone that checks the boxes this phone does (5G and 120Hz refresh), and especially at a quarter of the price of competitors.

These phones are very popular in emerging markets, especially countries like Pakistan, India, Indonesia, etc.

We have seen Xiaomi and Realme lead the way with phones that offer quad or triple camera setup, strong CPU’s, and high refresh rate displays at sub $500 prices.

While not all the phones offered by the companies are immediately available to the West, its only a matter of time before they take on the US market and give other smartphone companies a run for their money.

What are your thoughts on the Redmi K30i? Let us know in the comments section below!

Redmi 10X phones offer dual-SIM 5G support at an entry-level price

Rizwan Anwer
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With the emergence and popularity of 5G, companies like Redmi and Realme lead the charge in making 5G phones more accessible (read: affordable) to the masses. While the Redmi 10X series might be otherwise considered just another 5G phone, what makes them stand out is their ability to hold dual-5G SIM slots. This is something no other phone in the market currently offers.

Redmi 10X and Pro – twice the 5G, half the price

Xiaomi this week unveiled a handful of new phones, with the Redmi 10X and the Redmi 10X Pro the stars of the show. We briefly talked about the rumored phone a few days ago, but this feature is a complete game changer!

Most phones currently in the market only support 5G on the first SIM slot, if at all. The second SIM slot will operate on 4G or LTE and that means if you run out of data or lose reception on your first SIM, you receive slower speeds when switching to the second SIM.

The unique selling point of the Redmi 10X series comes in its ability to host two 5G SIMS in the same phone. In the aforementioned scenario, even your secondary SIM (if 5G capable) can let you continue using 5G in case your primary SIM isn’t able to deliver it to you.

This is a remarkable feature for a smartphone and it’s all made possible by a brand new processor. Made by MediaTek, the Dimesnsity 820 is a mid-range chip that set to take on premium CPU manufacturers like Exynos, Kirin, and even Snapdragon.

Both phones have very similar specifications. They share the same display (6.57″ 1080p AMOLED with HDR 10), for instance, with in-display fingerprint sensor, standard 60Hz display with a super-fast touch response rate.

Additionally, each has the same RAM and ROM, USB-C port, headphone jack, IR blaster, and 4,520 mAH battery.  The Redmi 10X pro offers 33W fast-charging while the Redmi 10X has 22.5W fast-charging.

The main differences in the phones come down to the cameras; however, the Redmi 10X Pro also offers NFC whereas the Redmi 10X does not.

The Redmi 10X has a triple-camera setup: 48-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel depth, and the front camera has 16-megapixels.

The Redmi 10X Pro offers a quad-camera setup: 48-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 8-megapixel 3x telephoto with 30x digital zoom, 5x hybrid zoom and Optical Image Stabilization, and topped off with a 5-megapixel macro camera. The front has a 20-megapixel camera.

Pricing

Redmi 10X

  • 64GB/6GB – $220
  • 128GB/6GB – $250
  • 128GB/8GB – $290
  • 256GB/8GB – $330

Redmi 10X Pro

  • 128GB/8GB – $320
  • 256GB/8GB – $360

What are your thoughts on the new phones? Let us know in the comments section below.

Visible offers free Nimble Charging Bundle with new Samsung or Google Device

Josiah Ward
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Visible is a subsidiary of Verizon that offers unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data on Verizon’s network for just $40 a month. The reason service is so cheap as opposed to a plan from Verizon proper is two-fold. One, data speeds are capped, with between 5-12 Megabytes per second download speed and 2-5 Megabytes per second upload speed. Two, Visible is fully online and has no physical stores or call centers. From purchase to phone activation to paying your bill, everything is handled in their app.

Recently, Visible introduced Party Pay, in which users can sign up together and all receive individual bills at discounted rates.

Now, users who purchase a new Samsung or Google Pixel device will receive a free Nimble Charging Bundle until June 30th.

The bundle consists of a 13,000 mAh(13,000 mAh will charge a single device about four times) portable charger with USB-C Power Delivery 3.0, 4 ports and made with recycled aluminum, a wireless stand with an extra charging port made with recycled plastic and help, and access to Nimble’s One-for-One Tech Recovery Project to allow users to recycle e-waste.

Eligible phones are the Google Pixel 4, 4XL, 3, 3XL, as well the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra,  and S10e. When you purchase and activate one of these devices, you will receive a promo code for the bundle, worth $150, at Nimble’s website.

You can read more about the promo here.

Fitbit Charge 4 review

Josiah Ward
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Fitbit has been producing fitness trackers for over a decade, with its products consistently considered as some of the best in its space.

In March, Fitbit announced its latest premium fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 4, the first Fitbit tracker to feature a built-in GPS.

I have been using the Fitbit Charge 4 for about a week now, and am now able to share my impressions of the device

Setting Up The Charge 4

In the box was the Charge 4, an extra band that meant for larger wrists, and the charger, which clips to the device.

The Charge 4 came mostly charged, so I could setup almost immediately, and I had already set up the Fitbit app prior to receiving the watch.

You will have to create an account to use the Fitbit app but it may take around ten minutes. This includes account creation through pairing and a firmware update.

Display

The Fitbit Charge 4 has a grayscale display, much to the dismay of many a reviewer. However, I heavily disagree that this is a bad thing. I do not want my fitness tracker to be a beautiful distraction. I want it to track my fitness. That being said, the display is easy to see in any lighting and the brightness automatically adjusts to the environment.

The watch also has many watch faces that you can switch between, with the one pictured above being called Rightful Stats.

Sleep Tracking

The Fitbit Charge 4 features sleep tracking, with a pretty extensive breakdown in addition to a Sleep Score. The sleep tracking page gets a slight layout change for Fitbit Premium users, as you will see below.

The Fitbit Charge 4 also features an SPO2 sensor that works during sleep. The SPO2 sensor is meant to measure blood oxygen variation, which can help identify breathing issues during sleep

Oxygen Variation

 

Fitness Tracking

The Fitbit Charge 4’s main selling points as far as fitness are its integrated GPS and the new measurement system known as Active Zone Minutes. Although my walks don’t exactly create the most beautiful map, here is one of my walks including the breakdown of heart zones and pace. It is important to note that the GPS isn’t in use unless you initiate an exercise from the watch prior to starting it.

Battery

The Fitbit Charge 4 touts a pretty solid mixed-use battery life, lasting around four days. This is where the embedded GPS hurts. With it on, the battery life drains dramatically.

The GPS is only activated when an exercise is in progress and Fitbit says this only lasts around five hours. Though, with a half-hour walk every day, the battery lasted almost four full days. However, the Charge 4 recharges in around four hours, so if it dies, you aren’t without it for too long.

General Usability

The Fitbit app is unremarkable and looks fairly similar to any other fitness app, mostly reminding me of the UI of Samsung Health, as shown side by side below. Each of the items that appear on the Fitbit app homepage are able to be moved around to better suit your particular needs

The watch is not completely waterproof, though it is “swimproof”, to use Fitbit’s term, and is water resistant to 50M.

The watch face is customizable, with the one shown in the display section being called Rightful Stats. For the watch itself, there are about 10 alternative bands available on the Fitbit website at the time of me writing this article, and they will run you anywhere between $30 and $50.

Availability

You can purchase the Fitbit Charge 4 for $150 at the Fitbit website in Black, Rosewood, and Storm Blue/Black or at Best Buy in Black and Rosewood.

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