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iFrogz Airtime Pro review

Andrew Allen
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Wireless is the future of audio on mobile. Love it or hate it, that’s the reality. While there was a brief period of struggles, Bluetooth devices are now coming in waves that are both wallet-friendly and much higher quality.

I recently reviewed the iFrogz Airtime buds and came away pretty impressed. For the last few weeks, I’ve been testing its latest, the Airtime Pro wireless earbuds.

Design

The iFrogz Airtime Pro will immediately get compared to Airpods. Yes, they look very similar, but this is not exclusive to the Airtime Pro. I don’t consider this a huge knock but rather good, functional design. Of all the styles of earbuds I’ve used, this type continues to be my favorite.

This design offers better Bluetooth connections with the stemmed earbuds as well as a more comfortable fit. They sit-in my ear well while the teardrop helps hold them into place while in use. Whether it’s fumbling around the house or going for a jog around the neighborhood, the Airtime Pro had zero issues staying put.

The exterior of the Airtime Pro isn’t quite a soft-touch coating, but more of a very subtle matte plastic. This adds to the comfort and sleek design; however, it does make for a bit of a fingerprint and oil magnet. I keep a cloth handy to wipe them down before returning them to the case.

Audio & Controls

Pleasantly surprised by iFrogz standard edition Airtime, the Pro model didn’t disappoint, either. Mids and highs are crisp with punchy bass when you need it.

One negative, though, is the overall level of sound. I do wish the Airtime Pro had a few more notches of volume to give you better audio in noisier environments.

As with most wireless audio, the Airtime Pro offers some interactions to manipulate the audio via tapping each earbud for the appropriate responses.

The left earbud offers the following:

  • Single tap to play/pause music or answer/end a call
  • 2 taps will play the previous track
  • A long-press will decrease the volume or reject a phone call
  • 3 quick taps will launch Google Assistant

Conversely, the right earbuds give you:

  • Single tap to play/pause music or answer/end a call
  • 2 taps will play the next track
  • A long-press will increase the volume or reject a phone call
  • 3 quick taps will launch Google Assistant

One surprising omission is the lack of audio profiles that we found on the standard Airtime. As one might expect this offers unique EQ levels for Signature Sound, Bass Boost, and Podcasts. It was a nice touch to offer quick adjustments for the type of entertainment you were listening to on the fly. You’d think this would be a Pro feature or at least be available on the Pro model rather than missing completely.

Battery Life

iFrogz rates the total usage time at 20 hours with the combo of earbuds and charging case. I’d say that’s pretty on par with the real-world results I experienced. Each individual charge is between 4-5 hours and I can get around 4 charges via the case.

The case charges via USB-C! Thank you iFrogz for recognizing this as a modern product and including the new standard for USB fast charging. It has become my pet peeve to see this not included in new products in this segment.

Final Thoughts

The iFrogz Airtime Pro are easily one of my favorite wireless earbuds that I’ve tested. The comfortable design, decent sound, and USB-C charging case make for a great combination. Top that off with a reasonable $69 price tag and I think iFrogz has a winner.

The iFrogz Airtime Pro can be purchased via the company’s direct website as well as through Amazon. You can select them in three different colors: black, white, and blue. If you’re in the market for a new wireless audio purchase, then the Airtime Pro are well worth considering.

Microsoft teases Surface Duo, a folding ‘phone’ that runs Android

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Microsoft, at a Surface-related event today, had a little something special to show off as it wrapped up its show. It’s called the Surface Duo and it runs Android. And it makes phone calls. Oh, and it folds, too.

Don’t look for the Surface Duo to hit the market anytime soon as Microsoft says it’s not due until “holiday 2020”.  Why show it off so early? The device maker hopes to attract developer interest so they can begin working on apps.

Save for a few details, there’s little known about the Surface Duo. According to Wired, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and features a pair of 5.6-inch displays that rotate 360 degrees. Unfolded, they combine for an 8.3-inch tablet-like experience.

As one might expect, each screen is capable of running its own apps. Or, flip is on its side and one display can be used as a keyboard or game controller.

Although the Surface Duo runs Android, it appears to have a modified user interface that makes it resemble Windows. Wired indicates that a test model being used by Microsoft chief product officer Panos Panay runs Android 9.

For reasons that remain to be seen, Microsoft doesn’t seem to be all that keen in referring to the Surface Duo as a phone. While it does make and receive phone calls, the company looks to refer to it as a Surface device.

With around one year to go before we see the Surface Duo, there’s a lot to learn about Microsoft’s endeavor. Details like hardware specifications, key features, and, especially, price are a long way off.

YouTube TV is finally available on Amazon’s Fire TV

Andrew Allen
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Amazon and Google have had a tenuous relationship over the past few years. From pulling each others apps from Fire TVs and Android, to not having Google products on Amazon and vice versa on Google Shopping, the companies are frenemies to the Nth degree. One such casualty has been YouTube TV on Fire TV devices, but that wait is now over as Google brings its live TV offering to Amazon’s streaming platform.

Much like the regular YouTube app a few months ago, YouTube TV rounds out a mending process that shows both companies are making amends to repair the relationship that once soured. YouTube TV brings competition to all the other services for live internet-based television from the likes of Sling TV, ATT Now, and Hulu.

For those that don’t know, YouTube TV is Google’s answer for the cord-cutters looking to leave traditional cable providers behind. For $50 per month, you get 70+ channels to stream your favorite shows live on 3 different devices. This includes all your local channels in most markets and loads of live sports options like ESPN and Fox Sports.

This brings YouTube TV to all the major streaming over-the-top boxes. You can now get the service on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Android TV, Apple TV, and Xbox consoles. Google seems to be very determined to make sure YouTube TV is readily available for subscribers regardless of your platform lock-in choice.

The addition also paves the way for a more friendly future for Google’s retail presence. While both are direct competitors, Google needs Amazon selling power. October will bring us a new line of Pixel phones, and hopefully more, from Mt. View’s lineup. It needs Amazon’s scale to potentially carry these new devices and to provide users the shopping avenue to make the buy. It’s encouraging to see these two giants working with each other either way.

BulletVPN: A lifetime of secure mobile browsing, just $39

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Whether you’re concerned about security domestically or if you’re a frequent traveler, transmitting data over public Wi-Fi and mobile networks isn’t always the safest process. It’s far too easy to have someone eavesdrop on your activity or run into geo-based restrictions. A VPN, such as BulletVPN, is the remedy to those and other problems.

A lifetime of peace of mind

With a lifetime subscription plan to BulletVPN, you’ll have access to worry-free browsing and the ability to unlock territory-restricted content. That means content like Hulu and Netflix that’s otherwise blocked.

by choosing a server from the country of your preference. Some users have found that, through bypassing their ISP’s restrictions, they’ve even increased their transfer speeds.

Features

  • Lifetime access
  • Up to five devices per account
  • Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, Fire Stick, and more
  • 58 servers in 31 countries
  • Strict no-logging policy
  • OpenVPN, IKEv1, IKEv2, PPTP, and L2TP protocols
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • P2P friendly

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Valued much higher at more than $500, a lifetime account with BulletVPN is available to our readers for just $39. This license affords you access across five devices.

Check this deal out, and many others at the AndroidGuys Deals Store.

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First Time Buying?

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Samsung Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Watch Active2 now on sale

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Samsung’s folding phone, the Galaxy Fold is now available for consumers to purchased. Moreover, its new wearable, the Galaxy Active2, are also on sale.
Priced $1,980, it can be found at select AT&T stores, unlocked through Samsung, and at select Best Buy stores.
A special device to be sure, it’s Samsung’s first foray into folding devices. As such, potential customers may have plenty of questions or concerns about it. To that end, the phone will come with Galaxy Fold Premier Service. This means that specialist will unbox the phone and its accessories to help get things started.
The Galaxy Watch Active2 is Samsung’s latest smartwatch and features actionable insights for help with goals. Prices start at $279.99 for the Bluetooth 40mm version and $299 for the Bluetooth 44mm version.
The Galaxy Watch Active2 comes in multiple color options which speak to different styles and occasions. Learn more about the watch in this announcement post.

Cricket adds another Android Go phone with Alcatel Insight

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Cricket on Friday added another Android Go smartphone to its portfolio of prepaid smartphones, this time in the form of the Alcatel Insight.

The Alcatel Insight, which costs just $80 with a rate plan, features a 5-inch display and 5-megapixel rear camera. Powered by Android 9 Pie Go Edition, it’s an entry-level phone which features an optimized software experience.

Other specifications for the Alcatel Insight include a quad-core MediaTek processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage. A microSD expansion card slot allows for extra memory to the tune of 32GB.

It has been a busy few weeks for Cricket as the carrier added two new phones to its roster, both of which were Android Go-powered. Earlier this week it launched its first carrier-branded phone, the Alcatel Icon. Also $80, it comes with similar specifications and a two-year warranty.

Additionally, it’s currently in the process of a promotion which includes eight different phones being made available for free for new customers.

Just $14.99, this guide teaches mobile app design principles

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Mobile apps are pervasive as nearly everyone has a smartphone today. If you’ve been around the block, you know the difference between a quality app and one that just isn’t polished or intuitive. Thoughtful design and user experience is key to any good app.

If you’re a developer, or are thinking of getting into mobile app development, you can always stand to learn just a little bit more. That’s where guides like The Complete Guide to Designing a Mobile App come in handy.

On sale for just $14.99 right now, this instructor-led training features seven hours of content with some 85 lectures. It’s everything you need for learning overall design principles.

By the end of this training, you’ll have a deep understanding of app design, and also have three impressive projects for your career portfolio, too.

Features

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Valued at approximately $200, you can have the complete guide for a mere $14.99 today. Act fast to ensure you take advantage of the 92 percent discount. Once you’ve purchased it you’ll have lifetime access.

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.

OnePlus announces $600 OnePlus 7T for October 18

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Chinese phone maker OnePlus today introduced its latest handset, the OnePlus 7T. Set to arrive on October 18, the phone will be sold exclusively by T-Mobile in the US.

As a blend of the OnePlus 6T and the OnePlus 7 Pro, the new model delivers the best features of the two but for less money.

SEE: We lived with the OnePlus 7 Pro for three months – Here’s what we thought

For those keeping track, this marks the third phone from OnePlus in 2019, following the OnePlus 7 Pro and 7. The former is available in the US through T-Mobile, but the latter is not sold locally.

The 7T features a 6.55-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate with an optical fingerprint sensor underneath. As we saw in last year’s 6T, there’s a teardrop cutout (notch) atop the display which makes way for a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 20:9 aspect ratio, it’s slightly more narrow than the 7 Pro. Like the 7 Pro, it has 90 Hz display refresh rate.

The rear has three cameras, centered around a 48-megapixel main sensor. The other two cameras are a 16-megapixel ultra wide-angle and 12-megapixel 2x telephoto lenses.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus processor is supported by 8GB RAM with 128GB UFS 3.0 storage. The phone ships with Android 10 and packs a 3,800mAh battery with a new Warp Charge 30T that promises to fully charge the OnePlus 7T within an hour.

READ: OnePlus 6T review

As was the case with the OnePlus 6T and non-5G 7 Pro, the new device will be sold exclusively by T-Mobile in the US. An unlocked version will also be available directly from OnePlus which is compatible with Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular.

Pricing will be $599 and color options are Glacier Blue and Frosted Silver.

Google makes Android Go faster, more secure

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Google this week updated its Android Go experience for smartphones, making it faster and more streamlined. Moreover, it has also implemented a new encryption standard designed with low-power devices in mind.

Android 10 Go Edition, as it’s now called, is meant for phones with 1.5GB memory or less. Such devices are often made available in developing countries and markets where even 3G network infrastructure is still being deployed. According to Google, said phones could cost as low as $27.

Android 10 Go Edition is said to launch apps 10 percent faster as compared to its previous build. Additionally, the overall experience is reported to be more memory efficient and secure.

Adiantum is built to run efficiently without specialized hardware, meaning all Go edition users will have the same level of data security as any Android device, without compromising performance.

On the topic of security, Google is implementing Adiantum, a new type of encryption which is pegged at five times faster than the typical AES technology.

Since its launch in 2018, Android Go has been deployed on 1,600 devices released with the software, spanning some 500 manufacturers. Google also says it is installed on about 80 percent of the entry-level phones being sold in more than 180 countries.

The first phones to run Android 10 Go Edition are expected to arrive later this fall.

Verizon 5G now live in NYC, Panama City, and Boise

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Verizon today expanded its 5G network by another three markets, bringing its total to 13 cities and 13 NFL stadiums.

As previously reported, Verizon 5G has gone live in parts of New York City, including select areas of Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and “around several landmarks throughout the city.”

READ: Where is Verizon 5G available?

More specifically, Verizon outlines how things will look in the short term for those who have its service in NYC.

  • Manhattan: Midtown, Financial District, Harlem, East Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen and Washington Heights.
  • Brooklyn: Downtown Brooklyn
  • The Bronx: Pelham Bay, Fordham Heights, and Hunt’s Point
  • Around Landmarks: Bryant Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Madison Square Garden, Trinity Park (Brooklyn), the Lincoln Tunnel (Manhattan Entrance), Javits Center on 11th Ave between 36th and 37th, and the Theatre District on Broadway between 49th and 52nd.

Joining New York City are two other cities, Panama City and Boise. As we’ve seen in all other markets, it’s not a full blanket over the city, but more specific and targeted areas.

Panama City: Downtown Panama City, Forest Park, and Lower Grand Lagoon in Panama City Beach

Boise: Downtown Boise, West Boise, West End, Meridian, Boise Junction around such landmarks as the Idaho State Capitol, St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, Fort Boise Park, Capital City Event Center, and Boise Town Square

Verizon still expects to cover 30 cities with its 5G coverage by the end of the year. The carrier currently offers a handful of phones capable of supporting the 5G bands.

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