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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

AndroidGuys
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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

AndroidGuys
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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.

Sprint’s 5G network launches in select markets

AndroidGuys
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Sprint’s 5G network has gone live in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Kansas City, says the nation’s fourth largest wireless service provider.

The previously announced markets are the first to see the carrier’s new ultra-fast data connection, but they’ll soon be joined by other cities. On the horizon are Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, and Washington, DC; however, it’s not clear when each will launch.

Once in place across the nine markets, its 5G will cover a total of 2,180 square miles and approximately 11.5 million people. This would give it the largest 5G coverage area in the US by a sizable amount.

Sprint employs the 2.5 GHz frequency band (band 41) for its initial 5G network, meaning it delivers better coverage and building penetration than the mmWave frequencies used by Verizon and AT&T.

Sprint is building one of the largest 5G device portfolios in the U.S. to give customers more choice in how they access 5G.

The first compatible phone offered by the carrier is the LG V50 ThinQ 5G, which is on sale in cities with Sprint’s super-quick service. Looking ahead, Sprint will also sell the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G “this summer”.

Sprint also has the exclusive rights to the HTC 5G Hub, a mobile hotspot that allows for up to 20 devices to share the 5G network. For a limited time customers can activate the hub with a 100GB data plan for $60 per month.

Opinion: Google’s Pixel 3a could be the enterprise presence it desperately needs

Andrew Allen
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Something occurred to me this week that I simply didn’t realize. Most corporate IT departments are down to only offering phones from two companies: Apple and Samsung. With the demise of the Droid line at Verizon, Android phones simply aren’t available in the eyes of security teams outside of Samsung. That’s a problem for Google, but one that the new Pixel 3a might solve.

Google needs a device that can be ordered by the hundreds and deployed to employees across Fortune 500 companies. It’s how BlackBerry made a killing in the first smartphone boom and how Apple continues to provide consistent revenue as well when other ventures falter. Google doesn’t currently have that device and should consider the Pixel 3a.

The sub-$500 price tag should make it appealing to corporate partners as well. Many times the phone is almost an add-on to other infrastructure costs by a company like AT&T and Verizon. Adding a smartphone to a plan may only cost said company $1 per unit and then a monthly plan. With that, it doesn’t make sense that Google pony up the top-of-the-line Pixel, but the 3a is much easier to justify at a low entry cost.

I know Verizon at least offers Pixels as a business device, but most corporate cycles are either two years old or budgets options. The Pixel 3a could hit that sweet spot of fresh hardware in order to make it on certain corporate device portals.

There’s also the added benefits of security, both software and hardware. The Pixel 3a and 3a XL have guaranteed monthly security and OS updates for three years. That’s a pretty solid agreement for any IT department when recommending a device for its workforce. For three years those devices will be covered by the latest fixes against software bugs that might render the phone vulnerable to issues.

On the inside, Google has implemented the Titan M chip for additional security measures. Using inspiration from the Titan chips they already use on the company’s servers, Google has installed the Titan M chip to ward away certain back doors found when an attacker happens to get physical access to the device.

The Titan M adds additional hardware signatures that verify the boot process. This makes it harder for an attack to be able to access adb or recovery to downgrade the OS to less secure Android version. In doing so it prevents the opportunity of installing malicious software unknown to the user. Arguably, the Pixel line is one of the most secure Android devices you’ll find.

Is the Google Pixel 3a the perfect device? Hell no. Do I think it fills a void in the enterprise that Google desperately needs to fill? Yes. The corporate issued phone is a huge market that Mt. View seems to be either ignoring or failing to excel at. Either way, the Pixel 3a may offer a solution.

Motorola debuts Moto Z4 with better camera, bigger battery

AndroidGuys
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Motorola on Thursday introduced the Moto Z4 smartphone, the latest in its line of handsets with modular capabilities. The Moto Z4 not only improves the camera performance and battery life over its predecessors, but it also manages to sneak in a bigger screen and a few other goodies.

The Motorola Moto Z4 will be offered in two versions: one that is unlocked for all carriers and for Verizon customers. The unlocked model retails for $500 and will be sold through a variety of outlets starting from June 6. Verizon’s edition will be just $240 for new activations starting a week later, on June 13.

Powered by Android 9 Pie, the Moto Z4 employs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor with 4GB and houses some 128GB storage capacity. A microSD card slot allows for up to 2TB of external media.

OPINION: Motorola needs a true flagship

Motorola dialed things up a notch in more than one area, each of which should please consumers. The screen moves up to 6.4-inches, the largest in the Z series yet, and provides an 85% screen-to-body ratio.

Battery is a key area for buyers and Motorola delivers here as it inserts a 3,600mAh power source. It, too, is the biggest battery to date for the Z family of phones. The included 15W charger will replenish things in no time at all.

The rear camera has a “48-megapixel” sensor that uses pixel binning to create high-quality 12-megapixel shots. Around front is a “25-megapixel” camera which uses the same technology to produce great 6.2-megapixel photos.

The main camera boasts an f/1.7 aperture, optical image stabilization, and laser focusing. The camera app itself packs a new Night Vision mode, as well as portrait mode, motion photos, Google Lens, RAW mode, and auto HDR.

Back in action for the Moto Z4 is a 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature that was removed after the Moto Z2 Play. Other details include a fingerprint reader built into the display, NFC, and USB-C 3.1.

This is a Moto Z phone after all so that means it’s compatible with the current ecosystem of Moto Mods modular devices. These accessories, which extend the capabilities and enhance the experience, include extra battery, speakers, cameras, and even a 5G radio.

Availability

The unlocked version of the Moto Z4 is available for pre-order starting immediately, with shipping expected on June 6. Look for it at places like Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Amazon in a $500 bundle that includes the 360º camera Moto Mod.

Verizon customers who sign up for a new line of service can purchase it for just $240. The 5G Moto Mod is $200 which means subscribers can pick up both for just $440.

As for colors, the Moto Z4 will be initially sold in Flash Grey with a Frost White arriving later this summer.

For a limited time, Verizon is offering 5G service at no additional cost for the Moto z4 (for customers on Above Unlimited and Beyond Unlimited plans.)

How to set up Digital Wellbeing on your Google Assistant speakers and displays

Jason England
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Google’s Digital Wellbeing initiative is meant to help you and your family create healthy habits when it comes to technology. It started out on phones with features such as usage statistics, because the first step to building healthy habits is being aware of the habits you need to change.

Read More: Digital Wellbeing, Google Call Screening come to select Motorola phones

It has since made the jump to Google Assistant devices in your home. This will help ensure your family strikes a balance between technology and their well being, even when not on their phones.

With Digital Wellbeing enabled on your Google Assistant devices, you can filter out explicit music and videos, block them altogether, restrict calls, get answers to questions, and more.

It can also be used to schedule downtime, preventing Google Assistant from responding to queries or from playing music, while still allowing for timers and alarms to function.

Read More: How to set a music alarm with Google Home or a Google Assistant speaker

All of these things are perfect for that Google Home Mini you keep in your children’s room. This way you can make sure they don’t stay up all night playing games or listening to music.

In order to get started, first open up the Google Home app on your phone and then follow the steps below.

1. Select the Google Assistant device you want to adjust from the list.
2. Tap on the settings cog in the upper right-hand corner
3. Choose Digital wellbeing
4. Begin setting up your filters

This is where you can choose whether to filter out explicit music or videos and for what users the filters should apply to. Whether it is for the entire household, or just supervised users and guests.

Read More: ActionDash review: A ‘Digital wellbeing’ for all Android phones

That way, you can still enjoy uncensored music and videos, but your kids will not be able to do so. However, it does point out no filter is 100% accurate and this should not be used to create a fully trusted experience appropriate for children.

Next up, is your Downtime settings. This is much easier because all you have to do is choose which devices you want included, the days you want it active, and which hours to enable it.

After you’ve completed all of these steps, your Google Assistant devices will abide by the filters and downtime hours have you scheduled. Now, you and your family are on your way to living in harmony with your tech.

Check out this list of Google Assistant speakers and displays 

DEEBOT OZMO 930 review

AndroidGuys
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“Hey, Google, start the DEEBOT.”

There’s something really cool about having a virtual assistant paired with a physical one. Home life is fun and interesting when you can use your voice to have a vacuum cleaner get started on sweeping and mopping rooms.

That’s exactly the scenario we’ve come to appreciate about the ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO 930. We use it daily and we love it.

Design

The OZMO 930 doesn’t look much different from the other robotic vacuum cleaners and could largely be described as a black puck. It has a run-of-the-mill charging dock and comes with accessories for both vacuum and mopping. You’ve seen this design plenty of times.

At a casual glance you wouldn’t see the OZMO 930 as being all that different from other models on the market. Factor in the high price tag and you might assume it to be just like everything else. That’s definitely not the case.

Setup

Upon taking the OZMO 930 out of the box and setting it up, you’ll find the process very simple. Everything is handled by the app and it takes just but a few minutes – at least in theory.

On the physical side you’ll need to charge up the vacuum before the first run. This can take a few hours, depending on how much charge is in the battery. You’ll also want to ensure there’s 1-2 feet of space around the dock in each direction.

We found it prefers being on a hard surface as opposed to (thicker) carpet. The vacuum doesn’t care so much once it’s running but that initial bump off of the dock works better on tile or hard wood than carpet.

As for the app and network configuration, we ran in to some hiccups. At first we thought it was because we were using a mesh network (Amplifi Instant).

We followed the steps, pressing the reset button, holding it down, and just doing what we thought would work. All of this, of course, after doing what the app told us to do in the first place. After about ten minutes of trial and error we were able to connect it.

A quick note if you have your network set up so that you have to manually approve new connections, you might want to disable that temporarily. Also, try quick pressing the rest button on the unit.

Our home is a Google Home which means we have speakers and automation throughout. As such, it was very easy to add the ECOVACS device to our network. Doing so gave us the ability to use our voice to start, pause, and end the vacuum process.

Usage

The DEEBOT OZMO 930 is a chatty little robot that provides status updates. You’ll get an audible alert upon starting, pausing, and completion and she’ll even tell you when she’s suspended, relocating, and charging.

The first few times that the vacuum runs it will be actively feeling out the environment, reading the room, so to speak. You’ll see it slow as it approaches walls and obstacles and you can monitor its progress in the app.

After a few times of running the OZMO 930 will give you a great top-down perspective of the floor. You get one immediately, of course, but the more it runs, the more precise the lines get.

You’ll not only see the shape and layout of your home, but also the difference in floor types. It’s easy to discern the difference between carpet and hard floors and the map can pinpoint rugs.

The OZMO 930 is quiet as it goes about its business; there are slightly different hums and noise based on floor type. Our setup is one that splits the floor about 50/50 with carpet and tile. The robot has no problems adapting and going from essentially flat to medium-pile carpet.

There are two sets of side brushes to help fluff the carpet and/or sweep items into the center of the vacuum. We’re not sure how long each pair will last but in the six weeks we’ve used ours they do not show any signs of wear. For what it’s worth, we run it about six days out of the week.

As nice as the brushes are, they don’t pull things in from corners. Because of its circular shape it’s unable to reach the hard edges where walls and obstacles meet. It’s not the fault of this model, but just one that plagues all devices of this type.

Our house has its share of vacuum cleaners, including Dyson and Shark. Over the years we’ve learned a thing or two about them and what works best with the carpet we have. Moreover, we also understand that using some models might not be good enough to safeguard your warranty.

Having gone through, and continuing to go through, different models we’ve learned which have stronger suction. As a house with two dogs and a cat, there’s a fair amount of dander and hair that can be found. And, when they can come and go a few times each day, they track in grass clippings, dirt, and debris.

We pride ourselves on keep the house clean and running the sweeper manually each day. When we were first introduced to robotic vacuum cleaners we approached them with skepticism. “There’s no way it can be strong enough to use this as a replacement.”

The first couple of times we used the OZMO 930, or Rosie as we affectionately named her, we did so immediately after running the Shark. We were pleasantly and not-so-pleasantly, surprised by what it picked up. There was more hair, debris, and dander than we expected. Far more, really.

We still use the standard upright vacuum when it comes to cleaning the house. Those Saturday mornings where mom is up nice and early with the music on, wiping things down and sprucing the place up? We default to the Shark. And then we let the OZMO 930 come in for a second pass.

Where we love the OZMO 930 is that it runs on its own and can be scheduled. As long as we have things picked up, it moves about the house effortlessly and quietly. Dog toys, shoes, cables, and other items are subject to being sucked up and causing a problem.

We don’t schedule our robot; ours is started by voice as walk around the house tidying up the floor. Picking up food and water bowls and anything else that might get in the way is often done just as the vacuum makes its second line through the room.

We love that we can start the cleaning process via the app anytime we want. Out to dinner with friends and inviting them to come back for coffee and games? Have it run as you pay your bill and the house will look nice.

The app gives users a fairly good level of control of rooms and the map. Have a couch where the vacuum tends to get stuck, or an area that you want to keep off limits? Draw a line or a box around the area and the OZMO 930 will avoid it.

After the vacuum understands its layout it will create rooms and label them by letter. This is extremely handy if you want to focus on one area and not worry about the whole house. Simply pick it and the vacuum will head there, clean up, and finish up.

Included in the box is a direct suction option which can be used in place of the main brush. This is good for those times where you might want to pick up spilled cereal, toddler snacks, loose pet food, and the like. These are easy to snap into place and can come in handy when you need to clean a small area instead of a whole floor.

We’ve not spent enough time with other models to compare them in a head-to-head but we do notice a few things that the DEEBOT does that our $300 Samsung doesn’t.

Key among the differences, and this may be standard at pricier models, is that the OZMO 930 will not go tumbling downstairs. Its sensors can detect when it nears the edge of steps and will stop to turn around. This was welcome in our house as we keep the doorway open to the basement.

The OZMO 930 seems to move with more precision and focus than our Samsung unit. Whereas the Samsung moved about in seemingly random and haphazard fashion, the DEEBOT unit moves in straight lines, up and down a room, and side to side. This is evident both when you watch it in action and from nice lines in the carpet.

Mopping

The OZMO 930 comes with a reservoir, cleaning cloth plate, and two washable microfiber cloths. These can be added to the robot for mopping tile and hard floors.

While we do appreciate having this option, it’s not one we use that often. Similar to how the vacuum aspect isn’t a full-on replacement for your high quality upright units, this isn’t here to keep you from mopping.

If there’s some surface scum, maybe a few drops of coffee or juice, or something that doesn’t require much elbow grease, it works fine. But, caked on or deeper things will prove to be a challenge.

If you tend to keep a tidy house and want to stay on top of things, we think the mopping would be nice to schedule for regular cleans. But, in a house of pets and children, you will likely come away disappointed.

Conclusion

There’s no way around it, the DEEBOT OZMO 930 is expensive. On a typical day it runs $700 at places like Target, Kohl’s, and Bed Bath & Beyond. That’s a lot of money no matter how you slice it. And, when feel it’s not designed to replace your current setup, it’s a tough sell.

In the time we’ve had our review unit we have seen the device go for as low as $500 (currently at The Home Depot), or a much more reasonable price. It’s still rather costly here, but it starts to make sense.

How much is automatic cleaning worth to you? What about scheduling? Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa? Mopping? App control? There’s a lot of peace of mind that can be had with a product like this.

We looked around to compare other brands and models and it seems the OZMO 930 is right in line price-wise. It’s pricey, yes, but not in an unreasonable manner.

If you can find one on sale, and possibly where you can split payments up over six months or longer, it’s a no-brainer. These are the sort of products that can last years and save countless hours in the process.

Opinion: Motorola needs a true flagship

Andrew Allen
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For those that haven’t followed me for some time, I’m a pretty big Motorola fan. I’ve supported the brand for over two decades now. Maybe that makes me an old fart, but it’s true. If you were to make a graph of all the devices I’ve owned in the mobile space, Moto would have drastically taller bar than the rest.

Unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to back the company over the likes of Google and Samsung when considering my next smartphone. Don’t get me wrong, Moto still makes great phones with offerings like the G7 and upcoming Z4, but at some point, the brand needs a true flagship with deserving specs. It needs a phone on shelves that make people truly ponder it over Pixels and Galaxies.

The term flagship could be debated and one might make the argument that G-series is Moto’s flagship. It is, after all, the best selling line in its stable. However, despite its rightful success as an amazing value of a phone, it can’t hold a candle to the overall package from Google and Samsung.

As you look through Moto’s history, you’d have to go back as far as original Moto X back in 2013 to find a true flagship that had people excited. That phone was a breath of fresh air that restored some of the allure of the iconic “M” logo. I’d like to urge Moto to rekindle that fire and the X should be that phone.

Sadly, the latest generation X4 from the company is a far cry from the original. Honestly, I don’t even know why it existed. It fell into this weird segment in between the G6 and the Moto Z3 that I simply don’t understand. It’s like it had parts that were just lying around and had to be used. Then the G6 came out and looked exactly like a Moto X4 but with the fingerprint scanner on the back?

Show me a real premium device with impeccable design with no compromise. The Moto G7, X4, and even the Z3 all share so much compromise. The cameras are not good. The battery life is just acceptable, and the internals is mostly just to get you by with no issues. Someone at Lenovo should watch some of the original Droid commercials for some inspirations.

I know T-Mobile already had the G1 and MyTouch by then, but the Droid was the phone that sparked the movement that is Android. And Moto was its champion. It’s time we got it back.

Give me the massive 5,000mAh battery of the G7 Power. Give me a great camera that at least competes with the Pixel. Give me 128GB of storage at a minimum. Don’t skimp on the RAM, either. Let’s see how a Moto screams with 6GB for a change.

Lenovo needs to allow the Moto team to really make a top-tier device. I don’t think they need to make it $1,000, either. They need to make a move similar to OnePlus and its 7 Pro model. Moto doesn’t have anything on the market past the Moto Z series that hovers just over $400.

All of this needs to be worth it, though. Really, the camera is the one weak spot on every modern Moto phone. The company has to find a way to create a lens and processing combo that can at least be spoken about in the same breath as the Pixel or Galaxy S10. Moto has always justified this in pricing but it’s time to fill that gap in results.

So, Lenovo, if you’re listening, give me a Moto I’m proud to put up $700 of my hard earned money to own. I really want to make that a reality, but I just don’t see that device in your current lineup. It’s time Motorola had a true flagship worthy of the brand.

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