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Fitbit Charge 4 goes on sale for $150

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Fitbit’s latest wearable, the Charge 4, has arrived and signals a company that’s not content to stand in place. Available for pre-order, the $150 device is the first Fitbit tracker to employ built-in GPS.

Although it looks much like its predecessor, the Charge 3, the new model packs features typically reserved for its smartwatches. Present in the Charge 4 are Spotify controls, Fitbit Pay, notifications, smart wake, and an SpO2 sensor.

The integrated GPS means that wearers no longer have to take out their phone when running, hiking, or biking. Indeed, the Charge 4 will track distance, speed, heart rate, and much more. Yes, there’s also a heart rate monitor.

The Charge 4 is water resistant up to 50 meters and is designed to be worn continuously. As such, it comes with a battery that lasts up to seven days.

The Fitbit Charge 4 comes with a new Active Zones Minutes fitness metric which can automatically detect when your heart rate is at a sustained, heightened level. The tracker can active minutes and is designed to promote at least 30 activity minutes per day.

The Active Zones Minutes score is calculated using height, weight, and fitness levels. Similar to how it tracks a sleep score, it’s designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle and wellness choices.

The Fitbit Charge 4 is available in mauve, blue, and black for $150. A Charge 4 Special Edition runs $20 more and comes with a secondary reflective band for night activity. Shipping is expected to commence April 13.

The Charge 4 comes with a 90-day trial of Fitbit Premium, which features fitness programs, classes, and personalized challenges to help you create and hit wellness goals.

T-Mobile adds Quibi to growing list of customer perks

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Short-form video streaming service Quibi, set to launch in a few days, has become the latest free perk for T-Mobile subscribers.

What’s Quibi?

Quibi is subscription-based ($4.99/month) service with mobile-first videos made for “in-between” moments throughout the day. Videos are short at just 10 minutes or less and features content from popular celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez, Chance the Rapper, Lebron James, and Dwayne Johnson.

As for what sort of videos you’ll find at Quibi when it debuts, the library will consist of things to keep viewers entertained, inspired, and otherwise informed.

Not for Everyone

Unlike some of the other perks that T-Mobile offers its subscribers, the Quibi deal is limited to those with qualified plans. Here’s who T-Mobile says can get in on the deal:

Subscribers with two or more voice lines at…

  • Standard rates on Magenta and One plans
  • First Responder
  • Military
  • Magenta Plus 55 plans

In addition to the aforementioned customers, small business subscribers with up to 12 lines also qualify for the feature.

What Else?

Also just as important, anyone who wants to take advantage of the offer must do so before July 7. To sign up, they’ll need visit MyTmobile.com or use the T-Mobile app on their phone.

Customers also get early access to three bonus episodes of Jennifer Lopez’s new Thanks a Million series via the T-Mobile Tuesdays app until April 3.

After one year, T-Mobile will give its subscribers the choice between keeping Quibi or Netflix for free.

How medical alert devices can help Android users care for their parents

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

It’s natural to worry about our aging parents even under normal circumstances. And now, as the coronavirus outbreak adds more health concerns to the mix, while at the same time preventing us from visiting our elders in person, it’s no surprise that our concern for our parents would increase.

Even if we can’t be there in person for our parents, that doesn’t mean we have to leave them in the dark. Today, medical alert devices offer us assurance that those who need it can have direct, near-instantaneous access to medical health professionals if an emergency should arise.

And best yet, they easily sync up with Androids and other devices to keep us up-to-date and involved at all times, no matter where we are or how far a distance lays between us and our loved ones.

If you’re concerned about the health of your parents or grandparents and want to make sure they’re in the best of hands, here are some of the benefits of medical alert devices:

Fall-detection sensors

Most of today’s medical alert devices feature advanced sensors that will automatically alert an emergency contact when the wearer experiences a fall. The technology involved is impressive: they harness state-of-the-art technology such as matrices and algorithmic predicting technology to determine the event and severity of a fall, which immediately triggers a call to emergency services and contacts. These advanced sensors make it even easier to feel at peace knowing that your parents are in good and capable hands.

GPS Technology

You don’t need to be a worry-wart to obsess over the whereabouts of a sick or aging relative. It’s natural and common for everyone. But the last thing we want to do is constantly bother our relatives with calls and check-ins, which at best can be annoying and at worse insulting. Today’s best medical alert devices feature GPS technology that allows relatives and emergency contacts to know the whereabouts of the wearer, thus letting us breathe deep and allowing them their well-deserved independence.

Android-Friendly

Today’s medical alert devices tap into a wide network of people and devices that include smartphones and other devices. Smart technology has allowed emergency contacts to sync their phones and tablets with the wearer so that they can receive real-time updates, test functionality, and communicate with both the patient and their medical staff. Having an app directly on your Android can make you feel that much more connected to your loved ones and that much more in control no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Fashionable pendants

Gone are the days of big, bulky medical alert pendants. As the technology has increased, so has the sensitivity to the wearer and their level of comfort. That means that today’s best medical alerts feature slim, sleek pendants that patients can wear with little to no burden. These are not only lightweight and easy to manage, but stylish as well, and many of them can double as a bracelet or pendant. Because nobody should have to compromise their own personal style.

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

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Anker SoundCore Flare 2 speaker review

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Soundcore, as some readers may know, is Anker’s premium level audio branding. Over the past few years, the company has started pumping out some really great products that offer value-based awesome musical experiences. We were big fans of the original Flare last year and Anker has returned with the Soundcore Flare 2.

Design

The Soundcore Flare 2 doesn’t stray too far from the original. You have an angled-cylinder speaker with a nice fabric covering. There’s also a heft and sturdiness to the Flare 2 that signals it’s well-made.

I have no reservations taking this one just about anywhere. That’s a good thing because Anker wants this thing to be available everywhere you go. The Flare 2 is IPX7 waterproof and has a silicone anti-skid layer on the bottom. The canvas covering also makes it capable of taking a fall or being tossed in a bag without looking beat to hell.

There are no real standout features of the design other than the Soundcore logo on the bottom front of the Flare 2. Around the rear, you find the USB-C power port and a Bluetooth button for pairing multiple Flare speakers together.

Controls

The main controls of the Flare 2 are very familiar to anyone that’s used a Bluetooth speaker. They are located on the top of the Flare 2 in a traditional D-pad style layout. Here you’ll find a power button, volume up/down, LED illumination control, and a Soundcore logo for activating voice controls on the connected device.

Most of the controls are pretty self-explanatory. You press and hold the power button to turn the Flare 2 on and off. Pressing the volume up and down once will change the audio levels. Long-pressing the same will skip forward or to the previous track in your playlist.

The Soundcore and LED buttons are where things get a little interesting. Pressing the Soundcore button activates the voice assistant of your choice. Google Assistant, Bixby, and Siri are all supported.

The LED button controls the illuminated rings at the top and bottom of the Flare 2. Pressing the button once to turn the lighting effects on and single presses afterward will rotate through the color profiles. Press and hold the button for 2 seconds will turn off the LED options.

I personally don’t care much for audio light shows, but younger folks like my teenage daughter seem to enjoy it. While I consider it a gimmick, it’s nice to see Anker include it. I’m glad that I am able to turn the feature off.

Sound

Sound on the Soundcore Flare 2 speaker is really good. The 360-degree sound legitimately fills a room with a rich playback experience. You can even adjust the bass on the fly with the dedicated button on the back of the Flare 2.

And if you want to tweak the sound even more, you can always jump into the Soundcore mobile app. This gives you an on-demand equalizer and tutorials on how to use Anker’s audio branded devices.

Now, let’s talk about the best part of the Flare 2 speaker. You can sync multiple Flare 2 units together for stereo sound. You can actually daisy-chain up over 100 speakers together if you’re a true lunatic or have an endless supply of money.

To set this up you can pull up the tutorial on the Soundcore app, but you hold the Bluetooth button also found on the back of each speaker. This puts it in sync mode as the “master” speaker in the chain.

You then hold the same button on each sequential Flare 2. Once they are linked up, you get an extended, rich stereo experience. I know that the Flare 2 isn’t the only device that does this, but Anker really has an impressive iteration here with these.

Conclusion

The Soundcore Flare 2 by Anker offers a compelling Bluetooth speaker with good 360-degree sound, waterproofing, and the ability to create a stereo cluster for your music playback. The only thing I think is genuinely missing is Chromecast. I really wish Anker would offer another option with this feature.

You can snag a Flare 2 speaker, or 100 of them, at Amazon now for $80. I was truly impressed by this portable unit and I think you will be too.

Motorola Moto G Power, G Stylus now available to order

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Motorola on Wednesday confirmed that its Moto G Power and Moto G Stylus are now available for pre-order. Announced in early February, the two phones are expected to ship on April 16.

Although the two handsets look nearly identical, they differ in storage, battery, cameras, and stylus support. Of course they also vary in price, too.

The Moto G Power and Moto G Stylus both feature a 6.4-inch (2,300 x 1,080 pixel resolution) display with circular display cutouts for the front-facing camera.

The two phones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processors with 4GB RAM. Additionally, they have rear fingerprint readers in the Motorola logo, microSD expansion card slots, USB Type-C ports, and headphone jacks.

The Motorola Moto G Power ($250) has 64GB internal storage, a 5,000mAh battery, and three cameras on the rear. Present are a main 16-megapixel sensor, a 2-megapixel macro, and 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens.

The Motorola Moto G Stylus ($300) swaps out some of that battery to allow for a stylus and extra storage. The battery is still generous at 4,000mAh; there is double the capacity at 128GB. As for cameras, there is a 48-megapixel, 2-megapixel macro, and 16-megapixel action camera.

Availability

The two phones will be sold unlocked at a variety of retailers, including Best Buy, B&H Photo, Walmart, and Amazon.

The Moto G Stylus will be available at Verizon, Metro by T-Mobile, Google Fi, Republic Wireless and Ting.

The Moto G Power will come to Verizon, U.S. Cellular, Consumer Cellular, Google Fi, Republic Wireless and Xfinity Mobile.

Planet Computers seeks crowdfunding for 5G-ready Astro Slide

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Planet Computers has taken to Indiegogo for its latest product, the 6.53-inch PDA-like Astro Slide. It’s powered by Android 10, features pretty robust hardware, and looks to sell for just over $500.

As you can see in photos, the Astro Slide has a sliding hinge mechanism that lets users flip up the display to reveal a physical keyboard. It’s a throwback to the early days of PDAs but with modern specifications.

Internally, there is a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 processor with support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, 6GB RAM, and 128GB storage. Additionally, a microSD expansion card slot allows for external media.

Rounding out details, the phone has a 48-megapixel rear camera, a pair of USB Type-C ports, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 4,000mAh battery with wireless charging. The Astro Slide runs Android 10 but a future update promises to add dual-boot Linux capability.

As of today the Astro Slide is offered on Indiegogo where early-bird funders can get in line for the phone at just $537. Shipping, however, doesn’t look to be for nearly one year, which is tentatively scheduled for March 2021.

With nearly 40 days to go on the campaign, the Astro Slide 5G Transformer has already reached its goal more than three times over.

Sprint and T-Mobile officially one company

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T-Mobile on Wednesday officially completed its merger with Sprint, putting years of rumors, speculation, and regulatory processes to rest.

For customers there’s little that changes at the moment. The Sprint name will continue on as its own brand but it belongs to T-Mobile. Ultimately it will be merged into the larger brand but that’s a ways off. Sprint as a company is no longer trading on the stock exchange under its own symbol.

As part of the conditions during the regulatory approval process T-Mobile has committed to keeping its prices in place for at lest three years.

The two carriers had been making adjustments over the last few years, prepping for the merger. As such, most of the phones introduced over the last couple of generations are capable of accessing T-Mobile and Sprint networks. Sprint customers are also going to see expanded roaming on the T-Mobile network provided they have one of the newer models.

Although all major wireless service providers are fast at work deploying 5G in sub-6GHz and mmWave radio frequencies, the new T-Mobile will have an added advantage. Sprint’s unique band 41 (2.5GHz) is a bridge of sorts between the two and blends high speed with broad coverage.

According to T-Mobile, the newly merged experience will offer “14 times more capacity in the next six years” than it has today. Moreover, average 5G speeds will be up to 15 times faster than current LTE over the next six years.

By the time everything is fully deployed, T-Mobile plans to cover 99% of US population with 5G, with speeds in excess of 100Mbps to 90% of them.

T-Mobile also announced that Mike Sievert has replaced John Legere as the CEO of T-Mobile. The move comes about one month earlier than previously announced.

Read more about the merger at T-Mobile and Sprint.

SOTKA review

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We live in an interesting time. More specifically, we’re in a very interesting moment. What with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe and all, we face new and difficult challenges.

Many of us are forced to work from home, or have been sent home with nothing to do. Some will take the time to get caught up on housework and chores. Others might start a new hobby or chase a passion. Then there are others who will use the time to get in shape or stay in shape.

We can’t leave the house to get in some time at the gym. Getting in a workout can prove challenging if you don’t have equipment. What’s more, there’s nobody around to ask about a particular routine or exercise.

How does one get started with working out alone? Consider SOTKA, the first “edufitness” app to show up in the Play Store. Designed for beginners or those out of shape and looking to get toned, it’s a free title that walks you through the process over 100 days.

Upon your first installation you’ll be greeted by a number of handy tutorials, descriptions, and videos. These will prove handy in helping you develop good form and habits. You’ll be asked to take before/after photos and set a couple of goals, but you can skip ahead and get started if you don’t feel ready to do those things.

The whole point of SOTKA is to educate you in your fitness journey. This includes reviewing your diet, help in planning meals, and answering your common questions. It’s the perfect companion to the stay-at-home lifestyle that keeps us all isolated.

You can’t really go any further in the experience than you’ve unlocked. That is to say you cannot jump ahead to day 60 and do the challenges and lessons.

There’s a strategic approach to SOTKA in that it doesn’t give you more than you’re ready to handle. Further, it’s a nice way to ensure you move at a smart pace and not one where you may assume you’re further along.

The first 49 days, for instance, help you get going with bodyweight exercises that don’t require any extra hardware or equipment. You’ll also come to understand proper breathing techniques, how to improve your flexibility, and other instrumental basics.

Once you’re halfway in you’ll get into more advanced exercises and begin to focus on muscles. The techniques start to ramp up and you’ll find new things to do on a regular basis. After all, you’ve developed the good habits and put the foundation in place. Now, you’ll build on those fundamentals.

In the final stretch (days 92-98) you’ll really dial things up with seven different routines. Each day is a little different, but nothing you can’t handle.

Given it could be a few months before things are back to normal, you could find yourself re-entering the real world a different person. It’s not just about bulking up or toning, but more of a smarter approach to life, including eating the right foods and doing the right things by your body.

SOTKA does a solid job of walking you through things, educating, and tracking progress. It’s not overly polished looking but that’s not why you use it. It’s helpful, keeps you accountable, and doesn’t get in your way. In other words, it’s the sort of gym partner you deserve.

We like the educational approach presented here because it’s not all in your face at one time. Instead, it’s presented to you piecemeal, and in a fairly organic order. We also appreciate that you can pick the time that best works for you with the gentle nudge that comes from a notification.

SOTKA is available as a free application in the Google Play Store.

Save 40% on a Crave PWR wireless iPhone case

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As a site that focuses on Android phones, it’s not often that you’ll see us cover iPhone deals and discounts. Sure, once in a while they’ll be included in the carrier stuff, but they’re largely left alone here. Today, though, we’re highlighting an accessory on sale in the AndroidGuys Deals Store.

Swing by our online store and you’ll find the Crave PWR Wireless iPhone Case on sale by some 40% off. Normally priced about $50, we’re offering it for just $29.99 right now.

What is the Crave PWR Wireless iPhone Case?

In short, it’s a protective case for your phone which adds an extra 3,000mAh worth of battery. It’s like having an extra battery with you, plus some.

As to which models we’ve got listed for the Crave PWR Wireless iPhone Case, there are three of them: iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, and iPhone X.

Features

  • Built-in 3,000mAh battery charges your iPhone twice its power
  • Allows access to lightning connection for headphones or data syncing cable
  • Wireless charging to power up your phone while it’s in your pocket
  • 3-stage LED indicator to quickly let you know remaining battery capacity
  • Heavy-duty, impact-absorbent silicone w/ raised bevel edge provides scratch, drop, & shock resistance

Where to Buy

The Crave PWR Wireless iPhone Case is listed in the AndroidGuys Deals Store under the gear and gadgets category. Save $20 or 40% today, whichever way you want to look at it. Pick yours up while it’s on sale!

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.

NUU Mobile X6 review

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Do you think your mom or dad has any idea what processor is in their phone? Can they tell you which version of Android it happens to run?

For every fan boy and phone enthusiast, we suspect there are numerous people who simply don’t care about the finer details. It’s these people who largely don’t need anything special in their handset.

A large segment of the US consumer buy phones priced $250 or lower. It’s a space that’s getting more crowded by the day, especially now that Samsung’s paying more attention to it.

One brand we’ve seen hang out here over the last few years is NUU Mobile. It operates with a relatively small portfolio, providing just a couple of unlocked models each year. Its latest, the X6, is a sub-$100 entry-level affair with a 5.71-inch display.

We’ve been fortunate enough to receive a review sample from NUU Mobile and have put it through the paces over the last few weeks. What follows are our thoughts, impressions, and early-look review of the NUU Mobile X6.

Note that this isn’t an exhaustive review with benchmark tests, head-to-head comparisons, or anything overly involved. Having only spent a couple of weeks with the phone, it’s not enough to qualify it as a full review. With that said, we’ve had enough time with it to form opinions.

What is the NUU Mobile X6?

A decidedly entry-level phone by early 2020 standards, the $100 unit is unlocked and ready for AT&T, T-Mobile, and other GSM carriers. Powered by Android 9 Pie, it’s just one software build behind the latest version of Android.

The phone draws strength from a quad-core MediaTek processor with 3GB RAM. Storage capacity, internally, is 32GB, but a microSD expansion card slot allows for external media, files, and apps.

With a 5.71-inch display, the X6 has a 13-megapixel rear camera and VGA camera on the back. On front is a 5-megapixel shooter.

Other specifications include a removable 2,800mAh battery, rear fingerprint reader, 3.5mm headphone jack, and Bluetooth 4.0.

First impressions

The phone looks quite nice at first glance, with a shiny rear shell that could pass for glass. That is until you touch it or remove it, which is when you feel the plastic. This backing, as we found out right away, is a fingerprint magnet. There’s no way around it –  you will get prints and smears on it.

The size of the phone calls to mind the Pixel 3a which, to me, is just right. My hands aren’t all that big so I enjoy a handset more when I can use it comfortably with one hand.

Included in the box with the phone are a protective case, screen protector, and (microUSB) charging cable. Additionally, it comes with a Mint Mobile SIM card with three months of service on the 5GB plan. That’s a fair amount of extras for a phone that runs less than $100.

How is the build quality of the NUU Mobile X6?

In short? As good as any other phone in the $100-$150 space. It doesn’t exactly feel cheap, but it does have a more “budget” in-hand feel. At least as compared to other phones.

Buttons have nice travel and feedback, and the handset does have a generally solid design. Giving the X6 a squeeze and a little twist, we didn’t find it to feel cheaply made. We can easily recall phones from a few years back which cost twice as much and felt twice as cheap.

What is it like using the NUU Mobile X6?

If your needs are minimal, you’ll find the NUU Mobile X6 handles your daily tasks with no problem. Those needs might be email, texting, occasional calls, social media, and the rare photo.

While this might not sound like you or your needs, there are plenty of people who fit this bill. For that type of person we think the X6 would be just fine.

When it comes to reviewing phones, one of the things we have to be aware of is the subconscious comparison to other devices.

For example, I use a Google 3a as my daily driver. It’s not exactly a flagship phone, but it does have more under the hood than what NUU Mobile puts forth here. I can sense some of the differences and where it might be slower or offer up the occasional stutter.

Typically, I’ll load a review phone up with a handful of apps and games, handing it over to other people. I will watch to see how they react, asking for their thoughts. More often than not, the consensus is that the phone performs just fine.

That’s what I found here with the X6, hearing that it works well, feels generally snappy, and is something that they’d consider using.

One of the chief complaints I have with the Nuu Mobile X6 might be the display. Not so much the resolution, which is fine for pretty much anyone, but in being able to see it when outdoors.

I took the phone to the park on a pretty sunny day and had a difficult time seeing the screen. And when it came time to taking photos, it was really hard to make out the subject.

I love to take pictures and am constantly whipping out my phone to do so. It was frustrating to try to grab a photo of something that was particularly well-lit and and struggle to focus.

As far as picture quality goes, I was okay with the results. They weren’t spectacular or anything, but given the price of the phone, I understood what I was getting into. I’ve seen plenty of people with much better cameras take much worse photos.

Who is the NUU Mobile X6 for?

First time smartphone users, younger children, and the older demographic are good candidates for the phone. Similarly, if you’re a prepaid buyer or MVNO subscriber, chances are pretty high that you’d be a decent fit.

If you don’t know the differences from one brand to the next, or one model to the next, you’re probably a no-frills user. You probably wouldn’t be able to pick apart different features or specifications. That said, you may be a good candidate for the NUU Mobile X6.

If you already have a phone that’s maybe just one or two years old, this would be a step down in terms of performance. And depending on how closely you pay attention, it could be noticeable.

Parting thoughts

I’ve enjoyed my time with the NUU Mobile X6, but do recognize that it’s not built for day-to-day needs. As such, there are plenty of people in my circle that I’d see being perfectly suited with one.

NUU Mobile doesn’t position the device as anything special or try to promote is as being a wanna-be flagship wrapped in budget clothing. It’s a no-frills device for a no-frills user.

Aesthetically speaking, I like the design of the X6, even if it does pick up oils and fingerprints all too easy. Also, it’s tough to argue against the price when you consider that it comes with a screen protector, protective case, and a trial to a prepaid phone service.

As an unlocked phone that’s priced right around $100, the NUU Mobile X6 pairs with AT&T, T-Mobile, and their respective brands.

Where can I buy the NUU Mobile X6?

You can learn more about the phone at the NUU Mobile website where it’s normally available to purchase. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, production has been halted and is currently unavailable through the website. But, Amazon is still offering the phone and without delays. It’s available for just $99.99 right now.

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