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Ultimate Ear myBOOM Studio: Build a unique kick-ass speaker

AndroidGuys
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No matter how much audio has improved in mobile devices over the years, nothing beats having an external source for music. And, as many of you know, portable speakers are an awesome thing.

Not only have speakers gotten more feature-rich, better sounding, and practical, they’ve also gotten cooler. Some have lights, some are water resistant, and others can talk to your connected home. Now, with Ultimate Ears’s latest creation, portable speakers can be unique to the individual.

Ultimate Ears recently launched its myBOOM Studio, an online portal that lets consumers create a portable Bluetooth speaker’s entire design. Indeed, this is where you’d go to build your very own BOOM 3 speaker.

This isn’t as basic as choosing from three colors and snapping a grille on it. Rather, the myBOOM Studio offers up quite the customization. There are a handful of components with multiple color options. You can truly mix and match until you have the exact speaker you want.

myBOOM 3 Studio Options

  • Fabric Colorway: 12 colors
  • Cap: 8 colors
  • Volume Buttons: 8 colors
  • Spine: 8 colors
  • Hanging Loop: 9 colors
  • Custom engraved message on spine

We had the opportunity to test out the new experience where we got to see how things work on the consumer end. Moreover, we were shipped a complimentary unit upon completion. Here’s what we thought of the myBOOM Studio.

Quick Note: This isn’t a review of the actual speaker itself, but more of the experience that one gets when using the myBOOM Studio.

One of the problems we face when dealing with customization such as this is we end up paralyzed by decision. The paradox of choice, if you will. That’s certainly what happened here as it was tough for us to nail down the look.

The myBOOM Studio is a fun tool that helps to show off all the options. For those who don’t know where to begin, Ultimate Ears has a handful of designs to start with, giving you the ability to tweak any or all of the details.

Interestingly enough, the colors all seem to work well with each other — to a point. Don’t go crazy with it, because you can make something a little hideous. But, largely, the palette is one that you can create some hip, modern aesthetics by simply hitting a random button.

The speaker we received was exactly what we anticipated, matching the online picture. The textures were right in line with what we figured they’d be and it had all the markings of a UE speaker. That is to say the stitching was excellent, the fabric was consistent and strong, and the other materials had a premium feel.

Ultimate Ears does an excellent job of conveying what the final product will look like in the real world. If you’ve ever purchased a UE speaker, you know the quality of the product. This isn’t any different whatsoever as it’s the same stuff you’ve seen and heard before.

If you’re in the market for a new Bluetooth speaker and don’t want to go with the same old, same old, consider the UE myBOOM Studio. With dads and grads season underway it’s the perfect, personalized gift. It’s a difference of about $30 from the standard BOOM 3 speaker but it is infinitely cooler and more unique.

Ultimate Ears refreshes its pint-sized speaker experience with WONDERBOOM 2

AndroidGuys
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Ultimate Ears (UE) this week announced the latest addition to its portable speaker portfolio with the WONDERBOOM 2. As successor to its diminutive capsule-esque speaker, the waterproof speaker gains 360-degree sound and stronger bass.

The WONDERBOOM 2 houses a 13-hour battery, some 30-percent bigger than the previous model, and should be more than enough to rock your socks off in the shower or on the trail.

Rated IP67, the speaker floats and can withstand dust, rain, and water. It’s small enough to hang off of your backpack but loud enough to power your playlists at the pool. Toss it in and let it be the literal center of attention. The new Outdoor Boost mode makes for a louder, more crisp audio experience with a pre-adjusted equalizer setting.

 

As we’ve seen in other UE speakers, the pint-sized unit can be paired with another one of its kind, making for a true stereo experience. It’s not just louder, but better, too.

The WONDERBOOM 2 comes in five color options, each of which is comprises of two-tone fabric. Choose from Deep Space Black (Black), Crushed Ice (Grey), Radical Red (Red), Bermuda Blue (Blue) and Just Peach (Pink).

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is available now in select countries in Europe, and for pre-order in the US for $99.99. It is also expected to be available in Asia, and Australia and New Zealand beginning this summer.

Opinion: 5G is the perfect example of why modular phones should exist

Jason England
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In 2019 we’re finding that 5G garners a huge amount of buzz as mobile carriers are slowly rolling it out to more areas. Phone makers, for their part, are scrambling to create 5G capable phones.

In case you didn’t know, even if 5G service is available in your area, it still requires a phone that was built for 5G networks.

For the most part, 5G networks have rolled out quicker than 5G phones. In fact, at this current time, if you want a 5G phone, your selection is rather limited between a handful of phones. Not only are 5G capable phones in short supply, but they are very expensive. Both the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and LG V50 5G will set you back over a grand.

Read More: Verizon now taking orders for Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

However, Samsung and LG are not your only choices. As a matter of fact, soon Motorola will have three 5G phones available, and each one will cost you less than a thousand dollars. All of that is courtesy of Motorola’s use of a modular phone system.

What are modular phones?

Modular phones were originally intended to make phones more like computers, giving you the freedom to upgrade them over time. Instead of buying a new one every 2-4 years one might replace a camera module or add a better speaker.

While Motorola wasn’t the first company to jump on the modular phone bandwagon, it is the only company that has stuck with it, and finally, we are seeing the benefit of modular phones with the 5G Moto Mod.

The benefits of being modular

Instead of buying a brand new phone for over $1,000 in order to use 5G, owners the Moto Z3 can just buy the 5G Moto Mod for $350 and upgrade the phone. Soon, the 5G Moto Mod will even be compatible with the Moto Z2 Force, a phone that is nearing its two year anniversary.

It’s not only older phones, either as Motorola recently announced the Moto Z4 and its support for Moto Mods. Prominently advertised and promoted is the 5G Moto Mod.

Without a modular phone system this would not be possible. Users would be forced to spend over $1,000 just to access the 5G network. While other companies are scrambling to produce 5G versions of its phones, Motorola simply has to make one mod that can be attached to several different phones.

This route makes it so that Motorola doesn’t have to go all-in on a product that only works for select consumers in select cities. Rather than focus on an entirely separate phone, it can focus on building out an experience that it wants, with or without 5G.

As the first few years of 5G unfold we can imagine a lot of products getting made that don’t sell very well. It’s a gamble to spend time, money, and research into a phone that ultimately doesn’t get off the shelf.

Until the networks iron out which technologies they will use it’s a toss-up over whether your 5G phone will still work as effectively 18-24 months from now. One would assume this to be the case, but it’s not guaranteed.

Using the Moto Mods system has given Motorola an edge to push out three 5G capable phones for cheaper and faster than Samsung, LG, and others. Motorola has provided us with the perfect example of why modular phones should exist, and how it helps both the manufacturer and the consumer.

Cash app and debit card are a nice combo for modern banking

Andrew Allen
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I’m not a finance guy by any means. I do OK and happen to be a son of a retired bank manager, but I don’t really think about those things much. However, I’ve recently started using the Cash app for peer-to-peer transfers and snagged the optional debit card as well. It’s become my go-to combo for most of my daily purchases.

Now, let’s not go crazy and say that the Cash app has completely replaced other banks. It has, however, become a self-imposed way for me to manage my daily spending. With the optional debit card, I’ve set up direct deposit and use the card for a weekly allowance outside my normal bills.

What make the Cash app unique for this solution?

A couple things actually stood out for me on the Cash app, one being that I already had it installed for P2P payments. I didn’t have to go searching for another solution. I already knew the basics and trusted the app from its parent company Square. The app also instantly notifies you of transactions. You’re pinged for both withdrawals and deposits to help you keep an eye on your money.

Another is Boost. This is the main reason I chose to give the physical debit card a shot. I could use any prepaid debit card for the majority of my usage, but Boost sets Cash apart in my eyes. Boost offers users unique, instant discounts when used at certain retailers. The list seems to alternate, but the offerings are general places I visit anyways.

What kind of Boosts are offered? Well, Taco Bell is the big one for me. I know it’s terrible, but I truly love that place, and Cash gives you 10% off each purchase. My other favorite is $1 off any coffee shop. I frequent java houses on the regular and this fit my needs yet again.

It’s worth mentioning that Starbucks operated inside other stores, like Barnes & Noble or Target, do not apply the Boost due to the transaction is for the retailer and not the coffee brand.

The Boosts don’t stop there. You will also see things like $1 off Sonic, 10% at Waffle House and Chipotle, and even 5% off at Whole Foods groceries. Some Boosts are regional, but for me, the offered selection are places that I enjoy. This made the Cash app debit find a new home in my wallet.

What I don’t like

There are a couple things that make me uncomfortable. One is related to the overall app security and the other surrounds the funds themselves. Let’s start with the app.

Square has done a great job with the app. It’s sleek, fast and works. However, I don’t care for how the fingerprint/PIN security settings will only allow you to lock the card information. I wish they’d add a setting to lock the entire app like most banking apps.

PayPal and Venmo both lock any access to the app behind the security measures you choose. The Cash app allows you to access most of the app like balance and transactions without ever presenting a PIN or fingerprint prompt. Maybe this is petty as transfers and your card number can be hidden with bio-metrics, but I’d like to see the additional security.

My other beef is with the lack of FDIC insurance on funds in your Cash account. Your funds are only secured by internal security of Cash’s parent company Square. This means if someone gains access to your information, Cash is not federally backed to refund you the fraudulent activity.

Your funds will be held at or transferred to Bank. FDIC insurance is not available at this time.

Cash has implied that they do “float” the money between FDIC insured institutions, but the bottom line is there are times that it is at risk more than a traditional checking account. Since a bank is covered by federal insurance, the account is covered instantly once funds are present. With Cash’s virtual nature the money is left in a bit of limbo.

Still Works for Me

Despite the knocks, I really like the system Cash has in place. It’s a clean app with instant transfers and the Boosts add incentive for me to use the debit card. I don’t like the lack of FDIC and is the reason I limit the funds I keep in the account.

Honestly, with rumors that Square will apply for its banking license, I’d strongly consider it for my only banking option if it was insured. For now, it’s a nice in-between for me to manage my play money.

Please excuse me while I go save 10% at Taco Bell.

Limitless Innovations ChargeHubGO+ review

AndroidGuys
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Portable chargers are nothing new. If you don’t have one, you probably know someone who does. They’ve been around for quite some time, keeping getting cheaper and thinner, and seem to adapt to the mobile industry fairly well.

Power banks are all about squeezing in as much capacity in as little space as possible. Some feature built-in chargers or cables, a few focus on aesthetics, select models have multiple ports, and it’s a mixed bag of charging speeds.

In other words, you can mix and match things from the aforementioned features and come out with similar, yet different models. Jump in where it feels comfortable and pick something that suits your needs.

Limitless Innovations is a brand that produces smartphone accessories largely based around power. Wall chargers, power strips, and cables are a big part of what it offers and its back with another new product: the ChargeHubGO+.

An all-in-one portable power bank, the ChargeHubGO+ is a $40 unit that works with many of today’s top phones. It packs a 5,000mAh battery inside and houses a pair of built-in cables for Lightning and USB Type-C ports. On its main surface you’ll locate a wireless charging platter and on its edge is a USB port for plugging in anything else.

A jack of most trades, the ChargeHubGO+ packs enough battery to charge your typical phones up one or two times. If it’s a flagship device with a 3,000mAh (or larger) battery it’s obviously closer to one time but there’s still some extra juice in the tank. Should you have an older phone, or one with a 2,500mAh power supply, well, you can do that math.

As a device that takes up about as much space as a phone, the ChargeHubGO+ can go just about anywhere you do. It weighs less than a pound and easily fits in pockets, purses, and bags.

When it comes to charging, the ChargeHubGO+ trades off compatibility and convenience for speed. With a total output of 15W it’s not about instant replenishment so much as helping out in a pinch. Mix and match your cables and wireless charging however you’d like, just know that you’ll get 5V/2A at best. Wireless is rated at 1A/5W.

Understanding how much battery is left in your portable charger is critical. Pick one up that’s close to dead and you’ll be doubly mad when it’s crunch time. To that end, the four LED lights provide at-a-glance view of what’s available, or at least within 25% increments.

Charging the unit itself is as easy as plugging in a microUSB or USB Type-C cable. Both are present here and make for added convenience should you have a preferred cable that travels with you.

Availability

You can learn more about the ChargeHubGO+ at the Limitless Innovation website where it’s also available for purchase for $39. It’s also offered at Amazon and Newegg for the same price.

Spotify adds a sleep timer to its app; here’s how to turn it on

Andrew Allen
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As a new convert to Spotify, I’ve found that the app is one of the better audio clients available. It’s feature rich with a comparable library of music to what I had on Google Play Music. One thing I was surprised was missing is a sleep timer.

While it’s not something I use regularly, it seems like a common feature of apps like Play Music, Pocket Casts, and Pandora. Now the night-time track option is now available in Spotify.

What it does

For those that don’t know, a sleep timer is for the insomniac in everyone to easily play music for an allotted time while you fall asleep. Then, the music will simply stop inside the preset time frame. This allows for you to slowly drift into dreamland to your favorite tunes but still have them stop and not play all night.

How to make it happen

This is fairly simple with a few touches of the Spotify app:

  • Launch Spotify
  • Start a song or album
  • Tap the “hamburger menu” in the top right
  • Scroll to select Sleep Timer
  • Choose how long you want to have your music play

You found your sleep number

That’s pretty much it. You now have Spotify set to play your tunes until you feel fit to help you sleep. As you can see, there are limitations on how long the tracks will play. You can choose between five minutes to a full hour in varying increments.

Also worth mentioning is that you need to have a track already playing before the settings presents the Sleep Timer option. Without audio already queued up, you will not see the option at all.

Grab a warm glass of milk, fire up Spotify, and set your Sleep Timer. Then, enjoy a good night’s sleep produced by your favorite track being your lullaby.

Lenovo Smart Clock review

AndroidGuys
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One of the things we loved most about the Google Nest Hub (formerly Google Home Hub) and the Lenovo Smart Display is the wide door that opens by being able to see and not just hear. As helpful as a Google Home or Google Home Mini might be, we love having screens in different places. Even tiny smart displays have their use cases. Such is the case with the Lenovo Smart Clock, now available for $80.

Lenovo Smart Clock

First unveiled at CES 2019, the Lenovo Smart Clock doesn’t sound all that interesting on the surface. That is, unless you’ve had a chance to use a Nest Hub or Smart Display. For those who have used one, you know the versatility that comes with the package.

Too often hardware makers try to create a product experience that doesn’t make sense. That is they get too niche or use-specific and ask too much for the device. The Lenovo Smart Clock is none of those things.

We’ve had a Lenovo Smart Clock for about a week now and it’s immediately become one of our favorite connected devices. To us, it’s the right product designed for the right places. And it’s priced right, too.

When it comes to the first one or two in a home, we struggle with trying to figure out where to place our smart displays. A kitchen counter seems to be the best spot until you think of the office. Then, there’s also the night stand.

The last thing we tend to do at night is ensure our alarm clock is set for the morning; it has been this way forever. We also want to make sure we’ve turned off all the lights and locked the doors. In 2019 we can do all of those things without leaving the bed.

This is one of those “it just makes sense” sort of products that does a handful of things really well. More importantly, it doesn’t try to do more or provide a semi-poor experience in other areas.

Features

With ten different clock faces to choose from, you can also customize each with colors. Moreover, you can also tell it to adapt to the environment switching to a darker view to match the ambience. A nice red and white clock is cool in the middle of the day, but it would be jarring at night. The clock, in this example, automatically switches to a black-based one with red accents in evening.

We can sometimes go multiple days between using a Nest Hub in the kitchen. Then there are days where we might use it three or four times in an evening. Music, recipes, timers, and reminders are part and parcel to a smart speaker or display experience.

We like the ability to quickly toggle our Google Home devices, controlling lights and other things. It’s nice to have the option either by voice or manually – should your spouse or partner be sleeping at the time.

The Google alarm clock experience on a Pixel phone can automatically start playing your favorite playlist or news upon waking. That’s extended here and it makes sense, especially since the speaker sounds more full and accurate.

As we go about our morning routines we start to mentally, and sometimes physically, look ahead to our day. That could be in the form of viewing a calendar, checking Google Maps, or browsing reminders. The Lenovo Smart Clock can help you understand your day before your feet hit the ground. Simply ask “Hey, Google, what does my day look like?” and you’re set.

The design of the clock, its colors, and fabric call to mind Google’s smart speakers. It’s modern and minimalist and fits with any environment. It’s right at home in all places of the house, regardless of room decor or color palette.

One of the downsides to placing one of these on a night stand is that it might take away the wall outlet that you use for charging your phone. To counter that Lenovo places a USB 2.0 port on the back of the clock so you can piggyback charge through it. There is also a dedicated switch on the back of the clock which lets you mute the microphone.

We found the sound to be in line with expectations and more than enough for a bedside. Podcasts, news, playlists, audiobooks, and other media sound just fine here. The same goes for alarms and timers. If you value music above all other features, you might want to just get a nice Bluetooth speaker.

No Video, No Problem

That there is no Google Photos support or ability to cast or watch video isn’t as bad as it sounds. This is smart clock. It’s all of the Google Assistant stuff you’ve come to appreciate, plus a versatile clock.

The ambient display isn’t about your friends and family or some random wallpapers. It’s a clock first. Besides, it’s too small to enjoy Netflix or YouTube; your phone works better if that’s what you’re wanting to do in bed.

There’s no camera present on the Smart Clock is not an issue. You don’t want one on there, really, and it would make a lot of people feel awkward and uncomfortable. This is not just for the bedroom, but anywhere.

To its credit, the Lenovo Smart Clock does integrate tightly with Nest Cameras. Ask it to show you a particular room and it will give you a live feed. Parents will enjoy being able to monitor a baby’s room.

Conclusion

We can’t say for certain how well the Smart Clock would fare in a bathroom but we’re curious. It’s hard to say how well it would stand up over time to moisture from showers so we won’t be trying it. With that said, it would be a great addition to bathrooms and other dressing areas.

If you’re considering a Google Home Mini ($50) for a particular room, ask yourself whether it might be more practical to have a display with it. Then, figure out whether you’d like to watch video on it. If yes, go for the Google Nest Hub ($100) or the Lenovo Smart Display. If no, grab the Lenovo Smart Clock.

Priced just $70, the Smart Clock is a great addition to an existing smart home setup. It’s also a great way to start out or learn how an enhanced Google Assistant experience can changes things around the house.

We’re fans of this approach to the smart home and look forward to seeing what Lenovo does next. A traditional wall clock seems like a logical progression from here and we’d be interested that checking it out.

Availability

You can learn more about the Lenovo Smart Clock at the Lenovo website where it’s also available to purchase. Find it for $80 there and at other retailers such as Walmart and B&H Photo Video.

This tablet is the ultimate portable creative work companion

Matt Adams
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Android device makers seemingly have no interest in creating a portable Android device that we can actually get some work done on. Samsung dances around the subject with some very nice tablets and the Galaxy Note series and Huawei has the MediaPad lineup but no-one offers the power of the Apple iPad Pro.

Look, we know you’re reading this on AndroidGuys.com and with that comes some expectations from the name alone. We love Android and we all use it as our daily driver, but we don’t live our lives to only use Android. There are other operating systems out there and just because some people think Android and iOS are at opposite ends of some imaginary graph doesn’t mean we’re afraid to see what else is out there.

The goal of this article is to take a look to see how we can take the best device that Apple has to offer and make it work for professionals on the go, creatives that need a powerful and portable device, and everyone in between. The Apple iPad Pro is a great device, but like most tablets, it has untapped potential that is brought out by the accessories you pair it with.

We teamed up with several companies to showcase what exactly is out there. The iPad was purchased by me and the accessories here were donated by the companies for our honest opinions. The products will be offered back to the companies after publishing and our views are our own.

We wish we could be writing this article about an Android tablet, but there’s nothing out there right now that compares with the power and portability of the iPad Pro. When it does, we’ll go after it. It’s the same reason we’re currently reviewing the LG Gam. That review will come out later, but for now, enjoy.

Amazing Accessories

Paperlike screen protector

Sometimes, your “stale” tech products can be “brought back to life” with the addition of something extremely simple like a case, wallpaper, new apps, or even a screen protector. That’s the case for me with the iPad Pro 12.9 2018 with the PaperLike Screen Protector.

This screen protector has been making its rounds in the tech circles for some time, but for various reasons, I had not tried it out yet. Then, I finally got one and it has completely changed how often I use the iPad Pro.

It’s not that the protector adds some magical new features that are awe-inspiring. But instead, PaperLike has me looking for excuses to actually use my Apple Pencil 2 with the iPad Pro. This matte screen protector provides the “right amount” of resistance when using the Apple Pencil so you feel like you’re writing on paper.

The PaperLike has rekindled my love for the iPad Pro and has made me looking for excuses to do everything and anything in ways that I wasn’t before. You can pick one up from PaperLike directly for about $30, and each package includes two protectors, and two of the installation kits that the company includes.

InvisibleShield Glass+ for iPad Pro

Do you really need a glass screen protector for your iPad Pro? The answer more than likely is yes, but it’s not for the reason that you may be thinking. Sure, these protectors, like the Glass+ from InvisibleShield, will help keep the display protected int he case of an accidental drop. But what has surprised me is actually the fact that the “fingerprint problem” has largely been minimized.

InvisibleShield has been in the screen protector game for very long time, and is always considered one of the best in the business, despite the price tag. You kind of pay for what you get, right? Nonetheless, the Glass+ features “Ion Matrix” technology which provides impact and shatter protection, while still being able to show off the beautiful display without any distortion.

Moving back to the fingerprint situation that plagues my iPad Pro, the display continually shows my fingerprints and ends up looking rather gross after even just a few hours. Somehow, InvisibleShield figured out how to make this not the case, as even when using my iPad as a regular tablet and without the keyboard, the screen continues to look good and I’m not embarrassed to use the iPad in public.

For those worried about feedback issues with the Apple Pencil 2, fear not. While there used to be some of these issues back when the iPad Pro 2018 lineup was launched, this have been squashed with the help of software updates. Using your Apple Pencil 2 with the iPad Pro is just as nice as if you didn’t have a screen protector on at all.

If you want to pick one of these up for yourself, you can find these at just about every major retailer including Amazon, Best Buy, or InvisibleShield’s own website. The Glass+ (which we are showcasing here) can be had for $64.99, but is also backed by a lifetime warranty, meaning you can get it replaced for as long as you own your device. And as you can see in the links, it can often be found for less than $40.

Logitech Slim Folio Pro

Whether you’re dashing off to a meeting, sitting in a coffee shop working on your manuscript, or just need to hammer out some emails, the iPad Pro can be a great tool provided you have the right case. The Logitech Slim Folio Pro is a great option to keep your iPad protected and bring a keyboard with you wherever you go.

I really enjoy typing on the Sim Folio Pro. While it’s not quite as good as some of the better laptop keyboards out there, I have written many articles on it and have no issues when doing so. There’s enough key travel to feel satisfying but not much resistance so I don’t feel that I need to slam the keys down to get them to trigger. It’s a nice balance for fatigue-free typing.

The keyboard features shortcut keys above the number row to perform tasks like play, pause, skip track, volume, a button to lock the screen and even one to check the Bluetooth keyboard battery status. They’re handy and cut down on how many keyboard shortcuts I need to know and touching the screen to pull up control center.

A magnet locks the iPad case into the keyboard and immediately initializes the Bluetooth connection. It’s convenient because you never have to worry about turning the keyboard on separately, but it does lock you into just one position. Luckily, it’s inclined just enough to get the job done. If you want a little more flexibility, you may want to look elsewhere.

You can grab the Logitech Slim Folio Pro for $129 from Amazon, Logitech, Apple, or Best Buy.

Ultimate work setup by Satechi and Anker

This might not surprise you, but I do a lot of writing on my iPad. Shocking, right? While the iPad Pro is great for many things, you really need third-party accessories to make it a powerful writing station. Otherwise, it’s a tablet laying flat on a desk and you’re typing on a virtual keyboard. Satechi and Anker power my mobile work setup, here’s a rundown of all the products I use.

Satechi R1 Folding Stand

First off, we need to get our iPad in the correct position. For this, we use the R1 Folding Stand. The aluminum stand is strong and comes with two pivot points so you can place your iPad in the perfect position for media creation or consumption. The aluminum not only feels premium but it looks so too and almost matches the color of the iPad, giving it a cool two-tone look when the iPad Pro is placed in the older.

The bottom of the stand and the cradle both feature rubber grips to keep your iPad in place and prevent scratches on both the screen and the rear of the device. I’ve used other stands that don’t have rubber feet and it’s always a disaster. Even if you don’t pick up the R1 Folding Stand from Satechi, make sure you do get one with plenty of rubber grips on it.

You can grab the Satechi R1 Folding Stand from Amazon, Satechi, or Walmart.

Satechi Aluminum Keyboard

Okay, now that our iPad is in the right spot, we move onto the keyboard. While you can use pretty much any Bluetooth keyboard, I recommend this Aluminum keyboard from Satechi. It features a full keyboard layout, number pad included, as well as Mac and iOS-specific shortcut keys above the number row. I also love the dedicated cut, copy and paste keys above the number pad. These make life so much easier and I’ll never use a keyboard for my iPad without them again.

Build quality is a huge positive here. Since I keep the keyboard in my bag, it gets thrown around a bit and it still looks like the day I took it out of the box. The aluminum frame has no flex to it and the scissor-switch keys are a joy to type on. I’m used to mechanical keyboards and while there definitely isn’t as much travel as one of those, I did really enjoy the typing experience here. It’s easy to use and looks fantastic next to my iPad.

You can grab the Satechi Aluminum keyboard from Amazon or Satechi.

Anker Atom PD 1 and Satechi USB C 100w Cable

While battery life on the 2018 iPad Pro 12.9 is fantastic, I do quite a bit of photo editing and video editing and that can suck the juice pretty quickly. To keep both my iPad and accessories powered up, I rely on the Anker Atom PD 1 wall adapter and the Satech 100w USB C cable.

Anker’s new Atom PD 1 charger is fantastic because of how small it is. It offers a ton of power in a little package and doesn’t cover up more than one outlet. When you’re at an airport, hanging out in Starbucks or in an office setting, that’s extremely important. I also have to consider how big all the products in my bag are because I take them everywhere so it ticks all the boxes.

Satechi’s USB cable provides up to 100w of power and is the perfect pair for the Anker charger. The thick braiding looks great and has withstood constant abuse from being squeezed behind desks, stepped on, and in one instance, having a knife dropped on it- blade down. Yikes.

You can grab the Atom PD 1 wall adapter from Anker and Amazon. If you want to pick up the Satechi six-foot USB C to USB C cable, you can find it at Amazon and Satechi’s site.

Satechi Slim Multiport Adapter v2

Easily the best thing about the new iPad Pro redesign is the USB C port. While the iOS file system still doesn’t work quite like how I’d like, the USB C port offers a ton of flexibility that a lightning port never did. The Slim Multiport Adapter v2 is a perfect example of why it is so powerful.

The adapter plugs into the iPad through the USB C port while the adapter has ports for USB type C (with power delivery), an HDMI port that supports 4K output, multiple USB A ports, and full-sized SD and micro SD card ports. Daily, I have this plugged into my iPad with a Satechi USB C to USB C cable plugged into it to power the iPad and accessories. I then have a USB C to USB A cable plugged into my Satechi Aluminum keyboard, a USB A fan that I sit on my desk, a micro SD card and full-size SD card that I use to move files back and forth between my phone, desktop and iPad. Occasionally I’ll plug in an external monitor if I’m using an application that supports it.

I can’t say enough good things about the Satechi Slim Multiport Adapter v2. It’s extremely well built, looks great, doesn’t take up a ton of space, and at only $70, is cheaper than other options out there that offer fewer ports. If the iPad is the brain of this setup, the Satechi Slim Multiport Adapter v2 is the nervous system. I couldn’t live without it.

If you’re interested in picking one up, you can find them at Amazon and Satechi’s website.

Creativity on the go

Zagg Slimbook Go

Easily the best typing experience I’ve had using my iPad on the go is with the Zagg Slimbook Go. The folio case has a full keyboard along with quick keys on top that, like other options we’ve talked about, make your life easier. It makes the iPad feel much closer to a laptop than a tablet, and that’s a huge step in the right direction.

The keyboard provides great travel and the key spacing is excellent. It actually reminds me quite a bit of the Pixel Slate keyboard from Google, but even better. I had no adjustment time when I first started using the keyboard and I was able to type just as fast as I could at home with my mechanical keyboard. When you’re out of the house and trying to get work done, you don’t want obstacles like a frustrating keyboard in your way and the Zagg Slimbook Go delivers on that.

A flap comes out of the back of the case and that’s how it stays upright. This thing is STRONG and can be bent back quite a bit before the weight of the iPad tips it over. I’ve used it several times by itself just watching videos in bed or out on my deck because it’s a great stand. It’s easy to remove and reattach the keyboard too. There are magnets that pull the case and the keyboard together for a perfect fit.

All in all, I think the Zagg Slimbook Go is the best option at this price and any search for a keyboard folio should start here. You can find them at Amazon and Zagg’s website.

Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD

If you’re serious about using your iPad for content creation, you probably already know about the Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD. This little creature houses a SSD in a protective case that ensures your data won’t get lost just because your bag fell out of your car. Or out of a plane. Seriously, the protective casing feels that damn strong.

It has a battery that’s rated for ten hours of video streaming and an SD card slot that allows you to instantly copy everything from the card right to the SSD. From there, you use the Cloud app to transfer data to and from your iPad. In my case, I shot on my camera, popped my SD card into the SSD, it copied everything over and then I transferred it to the iPad to edit in Lumafusion.

This all took place wirelessly. You connect the iPad to a wireless network that SSD creates for a direct connection. The connection is capable of supporting 4K video playback so you can check out the video clips you just recorded before actually transferring them over. This was extremely convenient right after a long photo session when I wanted to pick and choose what I brought over instead of hundreds of shots.

The Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD isn’t cheap, but it provides the perfect companion to the iPad Pro for creatives. You can find it at Amazon, B&H Photo, Best Buy, and WD’s website.

Three ways to backup Android game data to a PC without root

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Android games have become more advanced and graphic-intensive over the years. However, as cool as they are, most games still don’t support cloud-based synchronization options. In other words, you might lose your saved game data if you uninstall or reinstall a game, or if you install a game which you have already played onto a different phone.

This can be disappointing to avid gamers who spent hours upon hours progressing through game levels. Thankfully there are a few solutions which allow you to backup your saved game data safely to your PC and transfer them to your new Android phone so that you can just continue playing them where you left them. The best part is you don’t even need root access to do this.

Here are three ways using which you can safely backup your saved Android game data to your PC without requiring root access on your phone.

Method 1: Helium – App Sync and Backup

Just follow the below steps to use the Helium – App Sync and Backup Android app to backup your saved Android game data to your PC without root.

Step 1:

First, download and install both the Helium – App Sync and Backup Android app and the Helium Desktop installer on your Android phone and Windows PC respectively.

If you have a MAC or a Linux system, you can install the Helium Chrome app from here.

Step 2:

Now launch the Helium app on your Android phone and you will be prompted to enable the USB debugging option on your device.

backup Android games

To enable the USB debugging, go to the settings app on your device, select the About phone option and then tap on the build number details multiple times until you enable the developer options.

Once you have enabled the developer options, go back to the settings home page and then open the developer options settings and enable the USB debugging option from there.

Step 3:

Connect your Android phone to your PC using the USB cable and open the Helium Desktop app and wait for it to detect your Android device.

backup Android games

Step 4:

Once the Helium app on your PC detects your Android phone, select the backup option on the Helium Android app and then select the games you want to backup.

Step 5:

Select the app data only backup option and then click on the backup button. Now, select the destination for the backup files to be stored. You can either store them to your device’s internal storage or transfer them to your PC based on your preference.

backup Android games

Step 6:

You can now restore your games along with their saved data to a new or a different Android device by just installing the Helium app on the device, selecting the Restore and sync option and then selecting the backed up data.

backup Android games

Method 2: MobiKin Assistant for Android

Follow the below steps to backup your saved Android game data to your PC without root using MobiKin Assistant For Android.

Step 1:

First, download and install the MobiKin Assistant For Android (.exe) Windows version on your PC.

Step 2:

Enable USB debugging on your Android device by following the instructions in Step 2 of the above method and then connect your Android device to your PC using the USB cable.

Step 3:

Now open the MobiKin Assistant For Android app on your PC and then wait for the application to detect your Android phone.

backup Android games

Step 4:

Once your Android phone is detected by the MobiKin Assistant For Android app, select the Apps options from the left panel of the application and all the installed apps and games on your device will now be listed in the right pane.

mobikin

Select the games which you want to backup from the list and click on the export option from the top.

mobikin

Step 5:

The selected Android game saved data will now be successfully backed up to your PC and you can restore it to any Android device you want by using the Mobikin Assistant for Android application on your PC.

Method 3: Using the cloud

Even though not all games might support it, using the cloud to backup and restore your game progress and saved data across your Android devices is a simple and an efficient way and here is how to do that.

Step 1:

Make sure you have signed in to the Google Play Games or the Facebook sign-in option in the game you want to backup and restore the saved data.

Step 2:

Google Play games or Facebook usually saves your game progress automatically once you sign in to their services and would restore them once you install the game and sign in again using the same account on a different device, allowing you to continue playing where you had left.

However, to ensure that your game data is being successfully backed up, open the settings app on your Android device, Go to Accounts and sync settings and then select Google.

Enable the Play games cloud save option in the settings if it is not already enabled.

Step 3:

That’s all now if the game you want to backup and restore to a different device, supports cloud save option, Google Play games would automatically backup its data and you can restore it on any device you want by just signing into the same Google account.

While this method is definitely simple and effective than the other two and does not require you to have a PC or install any additional applications, it might not be supported by all the games.

So, it is recommended that if the game you want to backup does not support the cloud saving option, you just use the other two methods mentioned above, based on your preference.

If you have any questions regarding the above instructions, feel free to post them in the comments section below.

Mophie refreshes powerstation line with USB C and new colors

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Mophie this week introduced four new portable batteries as part of its powerstation line. The refreshed models feature battery capacities ranging from 5,000mAh to 20,000mAh and offer USB-C ports for input and output.

As is the case with pretty much all of mophie’s products, these power banks are wrapped in a durable fabric and include four-light LED power indicators. What’s more, the 2019 models pick up a few new color options, too.

Prices are really impressive, starting at just $40 for the 5,000mAh unit, topping out at $70 for the 20,000mAh battery. All of them, of course, come with a two-year warranty.

The powerstation mini and powerstation come with USB-C and USB-A ports while the powerstation XL and powerstation XXL have an extra USB-C port.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how each of the mophie powerstation products look.

  • powerstation mini – 5,000mAh (up to 18 hours of total device use time), available in Black, Gray, Navy, Hot Pink and Light Blue
  • powerstation – 10,000mAh (up to 36 hours of total device use time), available in Black, Gray, Navy and Pink
  • powerstation XL – 15,000mAh (up to 55 hours of total device use time), available in Black and Gray
  • powerstation XXL – 20,000mAh (up to 73 hours of total device use time), available in Black

All four models are available now at the mophie website and will soon be sold through Verizon, T-Mobile, and Best Buy. Verizon will carry three additional battery colors and finishes which will be exclusive to the carrier.

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