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Cricket dangles eight free phones in limited-time offer

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There’s never been a better time to get a free phone from Cricket. Indeed, the prepaid brand that operates on AT&T’s network, is giving customers some eight models to choose from as part of its latest promotion.

Available through October 1, the wireless carrier is tempting potential subscribers with free handsets from the likes of Nokia, LG, Motorola, and Samsung.

Free phones at Cricket

  • moto g7 Supra
  • LG Stylo 5
  • Nokia 3.1 Plus
  • Samsung Galaxy J2 Pure
  • LG Harmony 2
  • LG Fortune 2
  • Motorola E5 Cruise
  • Nokia 3.1 C

After October 1, Cricket will continue to offer select models for free but the selection will be much more limited.

SEE: Cricket debuts its first branded phone, the Icon

 

To take advantage of the limited-time promotion, one must sign up for a new line of service on either of Cricket’s unlimited plans. The deal does not apply to upgrades or porting your phone number from AT&T.

Google to introduce Pixelbook Go at October hardware event, chatter indicates

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Google has a hardware event planned for October 15 where it’s expected that the company will introduce the next-gen Pixel 4 smartphone family. If recent chatter proves accurate, Google could also have a new Pixelbook experience ready to go, too.

According to a new 9to5google report, a so-called Pixelbook Go should be among the products shown off at the Google event. Reportedly, we ought not expect a direct successor to the Pixelbook with Pixelbook Pen stylus support and a folding 2-in-1 design.

The Pixelbook Go figures to more closely resemble other, more traditional Chromebooks. The site’s source says the laptop is built for portability and has a more subdued design with a tactile feel. Allegedly, it’s made from magnesium alloy and makes for a lighter experience.

When it comes to hardware specifications, it’s reported that the Pixelbook Go will employ 13.3-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. There are said to be two screen types, full HD and 4K, depending on model.

As for power, we should anticipate a number of configurations and prices. Intel Core m3, i5, and i7 processors will be paired with 8-16GB memory and 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage capacities.

Other details may include more powerful, front-firing speakers, a pair of microphones, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, Titan C chip, two USB C port, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Pricing is likely to run at least $800 and up.

When and where to buy the Samsung Galaxy Fold

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After a false start launch in early 2019, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is making its way into retail stores and carriers around the globe. The foldable smartphone finds itself arriving in the US starting on September 27.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold doesn’t come cheaply, nor would we expect that from a first-of-its-kind design. And while this form may be standardized in a generation or two, it costs $1,980 to be an early adopter for the tech.

Here, we help spell out what you can look forward to when it comes to when and where to buy the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

AT&T

Unlike flagship devices, the Galaxy Fold won’t get a wide release. Whereas it was originally going to be sold through both AT&T and T-Mobile, it’s now just the former who will provide the device. Moreover, it will only be sold in “select” locations through the carrier.

Samsung

Not as if we expected anything else, you can purchase the Samsung Galaxy Fold at the manufacturer’s website. There, you can find it unlocked and in an AT&T-ready version. Pricing is the same for both so we definitely recommend going unlocked.

Best Buy

Best Buy offers the Galaxy Fold in Space Silver and Cosmos Black, both in unlocked capacity.

Cricket offering $80 Icon phone with two-year warranty

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Prepaid wireless provider Cricket recently began offering its first branded phone as part of its handset portfolio.

Need to Know

  • Available for $80 with a $30 rate plan
  • Features entry-level hardware with a streamlined Android experience
  • Comes with a two-year warranty

The Cricket Icon, available in Dark Grey, costs just $79.99 when paired with a rate plan of $30 or higher. And, while it features entry-level hardware and a lean OS, its key draw is that it comes with a two-year warranty.

READ: Which major prepaid carrier has the best $40 rate plan?

Powered by Android 9.0 Pie Go Edition, the Cricket Icon is the first device to come from the agreement between AT&T and Emblem Solutions.

Specifications for the phone include a 5.5-inch display with Dragontrail glass protective coating and a 5-megapixel rear camera. Inside are a quad-core 1.5GHz processor with 16GB storage and a 2500mAh battery.

READ: Cricket Buyer’s Guide ( Updated August 2019)

Under two-year warranty, Cricket customers are eligible for a device exchange-by-mail. The Cricket Icon phone has a 24 month warranty but the charging cable and accessories are covered for one year.

Google Play Pass goes official: unlimited access to 350+ apps and games for $5 per month

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Google on Monday made its most significant change to the Play Store experience yet, introducing its long-rumored Play Pass service.

Priced $5 per month, it’s all you can consume access to more than 350 apps and games, including in-app purchases and unlockable content. Moreover, it also removes advertisements from the titles and they do not require any additional purchases or up-front costs.

The Play Pass closely resembles Apple’s recent Apple Arcade in that it’s a subscription fee service with access to a growing list of titles. It’s not the exact same; however, Google’s offer includes both games and apps. Additionally, Google does not demand that developers make their apps and games exclusive to the Play Pass.

The US market will be the first to see Google Play Pass go live as it begins rolling out later this week.

At launch, all of the titles in the Play Pass are already available in the Play Store and will continue to be offered in their traditional manner. Those of you who may have purchased an app or game that’s included, and sign up for Play Pass, you should see ads removed and in-app purchases unlocked.

Play Pass subscriptions can be shared with up to five family members and the titles fall under the same level of parental control set in the Play Store. Each member can access their account individually so there’s no impact on another’s experience.

Google will give customers a 10-day trial of its service. For a limited time, users can sign up for an introductory rate of $1.99 per month for the first year. After the 12-month period is up the price goes up to $4.99.

Movado Connect 2.0 launches with $495 starting price

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Movado is back with another Wear OS-powered watch, and it doesn’t come cheap. The Movado Connect 2.0, which is now available for pre-order, has a starting price of $495 and runs as high as $795.

As expected, the Connect 2.0 delivers better specs, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 processor and 1GB RAM. Moreover, it includes 8GB storage and a heart rate sensor and comes in 40mm and 42mm cases.

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The side of the watch features a rotating power button with two customizable buttons. Inside the Connect 2.0 are NFC (Google Pay), a microphone, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, and altimeter.

Rounding out the details are a 24-hour battery, untethered GPS, and IPX8/1ATM water resistance. Depending on the settings one might be able to get multiple days of usage off a single charge.

The Movado Connect 2.0 is available for pre-order now with prices ranging from $495 to $795 with each offering stainless steel and ceramic cases. Choose from a variety of strap types and colors, all of which are very stylish.

Huawei unveils Watch GT 2 with two-week battery life

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Chinese device maker Huawei this week announced its latest wearable, the GT 2, in two sizes and four different editions. Indeed, the smartwatch will be sold in 42mm and 46mm cases with leather, rubber, and stainless steel strap options.

The 42mm (1.2-inch) model has a bezel-less 3D glass face and comes in at just 9.4mm thick. It will be offered in Sport Edition, Classic Edition, and Elegant Edition, with colors and straps varying between them.

The larger 46mm model has a 1.39-inch panel and is a smidge thicker at 10.7mm. It, too, comes in Sport and Classic editions; however, it is offered in an Elite Edition instead of Elegant.

The watches work as great fitness trackers with sensors and tech such as built-in GPS, heart rate monitoring, barometer, compass, and altimeter. Water resistant, you can also use it in the pool to track laps and your heart rate.

The 46mm watch includes Bluetooth calling so you can talk to your wrist, if that’s something you’re into. There is no Wi-FI or LTE connectivity in either version.

Huawei says its watch can get up to one week of battery on the 42mm version and up to two weeks on the 46mm model. It achieves this by using the company’s Kirin A1 wearable processor which has a dual-chip design with low power consumption.

Unfortunately, we don’t know the launch details or price for either model. Look for more information to trickle out at a later date. Its predecessors currently sell for around $200-$250, depending on the model.

Roidmi F8 Storm review

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It wasn’t all that long ago that the concept of a cordless vacuum conjured imagery of underpowered, weak experiences with poor battery life. Want something ultra-portable to clean the steps or furniture? Sure, you can have it, but we’re going to trade off suction strength and virtually endless life.

This is no longer the case in 2019. Over the last couple of years we’ve seen various brands put together much more compelling vacuum experiences. They’re stronger than ever, have longer battery life, and seem to get lighter, too. And prices are getting better.

Roidmi F8 Storm

The Roidmi F8 Storm, originally crowdfunded on IndieGoGo, comes from a familiar smartphone brand, Xiaomi. As part of its Roidmi brand, the product fits in the Mi ecosystem. The vacuum was successfully funded to the tune of more than $600,000 and is now available for purchase in the US and other markets.

The Roidmi F8 Storm is a cordless, battery-powered stick vacuum with a small self-contained bin. Mostly white, with red accents, it offers up a futuristic and simplistic design.

A 270-degree curved handle makes for an easy and comfortable grip from nearly any angle, allowing users to keep a firm grasp of things whether upright or flat on the floor.

In addition to the motorized roller, the Roidmi F8 Storm comes with flexible extension pipe, a small bristled head, long flat suction head, and a spare filter.  Additionally, there’s an attachment designed for mattresses. For most people this is enough to work in home, auto, and office environments.

Whereas a lot of vacuum makers, and consumers, pay attention to the amount of dirt and debris that can be picked up, Roidmi also considers the quality of air that comes out. Indeed, there’s a four-layer filtration system that helps alleviate hair, dust, pollen, allergens, and dander.

When it comes to battery life, we’re impressed with the 40-50 minutes of usage on a full charge. Roidmi claims up to 55 minutes but we routinely topped out just under that.

Switching over from standard mode to an enhanced suction, the battery drops all the way down to ten minutes. If you’ve got a regular schedule of maintenance for rooms, you’ll probably not need this mode. Nevertheless, it does have enough pull to clean up something rather messy.

We’d suggest switching over to enhanced mode on occasion, leaving it at normal for your day-to-day usage. Going this route delivers about a half hour of charge.

Four LED lights on the body of the vacuum provides at-a-glance view of how much battery is left. Charging is pretty smooth as it comes with a magnetic wall mount which doesn’t require nails to install. The cable that clips into the mount is fairly short though, so be sure to place the mount near an outlet.

Snapping the various components or accessories into place, and removing them, is as easy as pressing a button. Each has its own special function, such as cleaning a mattress or grabbing cobwebs from corners. We might have liked a pouch to keep the pieces together when not in use.

We like the aesthetics of the Roidmi F8 Storm as it’s very modern looking; it matches pretty much any home decor. It’s also quiet enough that it works in any environment without disturbing others. It’s not a professional grade or commercial vacuum, but we can imagine someone using it in a business without upsetting anyone.

Conclusion

We’re not a site known for reviews of vacuum cleaners, so it’s up to the reader to determine how much weight to put behind our thoughts. With that said, we’ve enjoyed our time with the Roidmi F8 Storm and have recommended it to a number of friends and family members.

It’s not a cheap unit, but it’s priced comparably to others with similar specifications and features. You don’t get the same suction, unlimited battery, and container space as what comes in a more traditional/corded unit but that’s not the draw. The portability, design, features, and design are what you’re buying.

Availability

Learn more about the Roidmi brand and its vacuum cleaners at its website. To get a background on the F8 Storm, or to check out the details from its crowdfunding campaign, head to Indiegogo. You can purchase the Roidmi F8 Storm for about $290 at Amazon.

Verizon taps NYC for its 11th 5G city

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Verizon on Thursday confirmed that its 5G network will go live in New York City starting September 26.

According to the carrier, its 5G mmWave will be available in uptown, downtown, midtown, Brookly, Queens, and The Bronx. It’s worth noting, though, that Verizon hasn’t offered up a map showing specific coverage or expectations.

Once deployed, New York City will be the 11th market to offer Verizon 5G; the carrier has a goal of hitting 30 cities by the end of 2019.

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New York City will be the biggest test of Verizon’s 5G capabilities to date. Given the city is dense with high-rise buildings and skyscrapers Verizon will need to install a large number of nodes.

It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to turn a corner or walk into a building and completely lose 5G. That’s the rub with mmWave technology — it’s incredibly fast but its reach is very limited.

T-Mobile, for its part, has mmWave 5G service live in New York City and offers a coverage map for the sake of transparency. With that said, it’s very sparse and seemingly scattered about town.

We’ve been keeping an eye on the various 5G networks from the big wireless providers. To learn more about how each is doing, and which phones are supported, check out the following.

EZVIZ DB1 review

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When it comes to doorbells with audio and video capabilities, the space is largely occupied by Ring and Nest. Tied to Amazon and Google, respectively, they can be tied to each brand’s ecosystem of connected devices. The problem, however, is that they can be a bit too pricey for some consumers.

EZVIZ, a company that we’ve profiled in the past, has a cheaper alternative that offers up many of the same features, but at a lower cost. While Nest commands $230 for its product, EZVIZ charges about $150 for its DB1 Smart Video Doorbell.

In the Box

Included in the box are three faceplate choices: black, white, and brown. Black and white are about what you might expect, and fit pretty much any environment. The brown leaves much to be desired and is more along the lines of a light chocolate milk.

In addition to the faceplates, there are three options for mounting plates. Each is a bit different from the others and is designed to give you different viewing angles. Changing the faceplates is relatively easy; you’ll just need a small screwdriver

Design and Features

The DB1’s overall design is good, but nothing overly special. It’s a tall bar with rounded edges and has three circles that run up the center. It’s roughly 50% bigger than other models in the video doorbell space.

The 3-megapixel camera records video at 2,048 x 1,536 pixel resolution, higher than the Ring Pro and Nest Hello, and has a wide, 180 degree field of view.

In daylight, the picture quality is more adequate, even if the person(s) at your door have stepped back a smidge. At night, the IR enhances the picture, making it easier to discern, however it comes at a price. Quality drops quite a bit, but that’s generally what happens when dealing with infrared.

While the camera can be triggered via the bottom ring button, it’s also possible to simply pull up the camera for a live feed. Or, let it use IR for motion activation for security, capturing video clips to a microSD card or uploading to a paid, cloud account. It’s worth noting here that the cloud account is only available in select countries.

Working from the basement, we like to occasionally glance to see what the weather is like outside, or why the dogs might be barking. Have an office that’s on the back side of a building? Use the camera to quickly peek at the front door. The app makes this convenient in home and away.

Conclusion

Setup and customization is easy and we appreciate that the DB1 can be adjusted to personal tastes. We also like that the doorbell has 2.4GHz and 5Ghz connectivity as that makes installation and configuration easier.

The camera is fairly quick to detect people and animals, the two-way communication is convenient, field of view is terrific. It’s hard to argue for more when dealing with a $150 price tag.

We’ve enjoyed our time with various EZVIZ cameras over the last few years and are always willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Sure, you might feel more comfortable with Nest, Honeywell, or others but you’ll pay for it..

The doorbell itself is big and doesn’t do much to hide itself. That’s a good thing, really, as it’s designed to help you not catch people in the act of theft. Speaking of which, it’s possibly a deterrent as it is so obvious.

If you’ve already got EZVIZ products in your home, it makes perfect sense to consider the DB1. The app experience ties everything together and creates a more seamless experience.

We’d love to see Google Assistant support. Most homes tend to go with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, often putting their eggs in one basket. EZVIZ does support the virtual assistants for some of its cameras so we may get that in an update. If or when that happens, it makes this one much more interesting and appealing.

Availability

You can learn more about the DB1 at the EZVIZ website and find it for purchase at outlets and retailers like Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, and BH Photo Video.

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