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You can now get same-day repair of the new Pixel 3a & 3a XL at uBreakiFix

Andrew Allen
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Did you snag a new Pixel 3a or 3 XL but concerned on what will happen if you damage it? You’re in luck if you break the screen. Google has announced a partnership for the same-day repair of the new Google devices with uBreakiFix. The offer presents a solid walk-in repair option for your worst days.

Much like other repair services, uBreakiFix will be provided with Google certified OEM parts for these repairs. Both companies also ensure users that repair technicians will receive hands-on training on making the appropriate repairs directly from Google to provide exceptional customer service.

uBreakiFix President and Co-founder, Justin Wetherill is proud to announce this new joint venture:

“We’re thankful to work alongside Google to offer a first-class repair experience for all Pixel users. Our brand was built to provide customers value in the form of quality and convenience. At uBreakiFix, we’re committed to keeping customers connected to the things and people who matter most.”

The in-house repairs are available for what seems to be all Google Pixel 3a or 3a XL owners. The announcement includes all in or out of warranty devices for the same-day fixes. uBreakiFix is also a certified destination covered under Google’s preferred protection plan.

Outside of the protection insurance, the repairs will cost you $109 for the smaller Pixel 3a screen replacement while the 3a XL pushes another ten bucks to $119. Despite not having the protection plan from Google this is still a reasonable price that is around the same pricing as some carrier deductibles for phone repair or replacement.

uBreakiFix is a US-based storefront with over 450 locations for customers in need of phone triage. To find or more information, or locations near you, head over to Google’s official repair center page. You can also check with uBreakiFix directly for options near your home.

 

Sony WH-1000MX3 review: Simply the best

Matt Adams
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If you’re looking for the best high-end Bluetooth headphones, your search will return a few results that everyone talks about. You’ll almost always find references to the Bose QC 35 IIs (read our full review here), Surface headphones, and the Sony WH-1000MX3, but it’s hard to discern which may be the best for you. Bose has the legendary name, Microsoft produced an impressive first try that deserves a ton of consideration, but Sony might just be the best overall headphones out there right now.

I’m not an audiophile but I do love music and I am pretty much listening to it at all times. What I’ve never really put a ton of value on is noise cancelation. My previous experience with active noise canceling headphones was positive, if brief. The $99 pair of Soundcore Space NC headphones are great, but don’t begin to touch what’s possible with the Sony WH-1000MX3s.

Let’s touch on the noise cancelation before we move on. If you do any traveling, work outside in the yard, or work in a noisy environment where you need some peace, you’re missing out by not using a pair of ANC (active noise canceling) headphones. I also like to have my head up and know what’s going on around me, which includes sights and sounds, but I’ve truly fallen in love with popping these on and tuning out the outside world. I routinely wear them while cutting the grass and hear absolutely nothing. I am careful to keep my daughter and dog inside because they’re so powerful that they can sneak up on me and I want to keep everyone safe.

Just to give you an idea of just how well these work, I want to take you to a recent project my father and I have been working on. We recently replaced a french door at my house with a sliding glass door which was a bit smaller than the space the previous door occupied. This required us to use a table saw to cut wood to frame the door in and if you have any experience around table saws, you know just how loud they can be. Sitting about seven feet away from my dad while he cut 2x4s, I heard nothing. The sound was up at about 50% while I played music, but they ANC cut away everything else as I sipped on my Sprite Zero and watched him work. Thanks, Dad.

As pointed out by the excellent comparison of the Bose QC 35 II and Sony WH-1000MX3 video done by SoundGuys (no relation), the Bose headphones do a better job of drowning out lower frequencies (car engines, airplanes) but Sony does a better job at pretty much everything else. If you’re a frequent traveler, you may want to consider the option from Bose, but my testing says you’ll be pleased if you decide to go Sony regardless. Walking around downtown around plenty of traffic was a joy as I heard absolutely nothing outside of the new Spotify playlist I recently put together.

Sound quality is a win here too. With a slightly bass-heavy sound signature, the Sony WH-1000MX3 headphones sound fantastic from start to finish. Versace on the Floor by Bruno Mars and I Can’t Stop by Flux Pavillion both sound full with plenty of bass, without being overwhelming. I’ve often had to stop midway through planned long listening sessions with other headphones due to my sensitivity of sharp sounds and overdone bass, but there was none of that here.

Long listening sessions were made even more enjoyable by just how comfortable these are too. The earcups don’t breath as much as I’d like and can lead to some sweat while working outside, but they’re otherwise perfect. The band is thin and light while being flexible and strong. The headband provides enough padding, which isn’t a ton due to the lack of overall weight here. I was pleasantly surprised at how the headphones clamped to my head with just the right amount of pressure to keep them in place but without causing any kind of fatigue, even after multiple hours of listening.

The two areas where the WH-1000MX3s do fall a bit behind its competitors are controls and pairing. There are only two buttons on the headphones, a power and ANC/Ambient Mode button that doubles as the Google Assistant button. Holding it down will allow you to trigger our favorite assistant to check messages or query Assistant. These work fine and the buttons are tactile and provide good feedback. Holding down the power button for three seconds turn the headphones on and off and a longer press (around seven seconds) puts it into pairing mode. You’ll need to use this button often if you use these with multiple devices as they can only pair with one device at a time. That’s a bummer, but there is an NFC chip in the left cup for quick pairing with devices that have that feature (most phones do).

The right earcup houses a touch-sensitive panel that allows you to change tracks and volume with swipes. Swiping toward the top or bottom of the pad or holding a finger in place changes the volume, while going front to back, or vice versa, changes or restarts your track. I’ve had mixed results with these with many swipes just not being recognized but when it works, it’s nice. I enjoyed being able to swipe through my music without taking my gloves off in the yard, but it can be a bit of a pain to get it to trigger at all. Users have also complained about phantom touches in colder temperatures, although I didn’t have this issue after throwing these in the freezer for a while (yes, seriously) and then wearing them for about an hour after.

Overall, these are fantastic headphones and easily my favorite thing I have ever reviewed. I’ve been doing this for many years and have had several hundred products come across my desk and the Sony WH-1000MX3 headphones are at the top of the pile. There are plenty of other little things that make them great like USB type-C fast charging (seven hours of battery with 10 minutes of charging), long battery life (20+ hours), an optional wired connection, and a really nice hard carrying case. But what you need to know is this: if you want the best sounding headphones with the best selection of supported audio codecs and the best noise cancelation, you buy the Sony WH-1000MX3 headphones.

You can pick them up basically everywhere including Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo, Walmart and Fry’s.

Pay whatever you want for 200+ hours of Ruby on Rails training

AndroidGuys
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If you want to build and distribute websites or applications, a background in Ruby on Rails is your first move. It’s an intuitive a simplistic coding tool and powers countless apps and programs. With Ruby on Rails, it’s painless to get started on app and easy to make changes, update, and test. In other words, Ruby on Rails is the way to go.

You can started on using the incredibly powerful tool that is Ruby with The Complete Ruby on Rails Master Class Bundle. It’s an 11-piece collection with more than 200 hours of training and valued at around $900. Right now, this vast package of instruction is available in the AndroidGuys Deals Store for any price you’d like to pay.

For any total you want to spend, literally any amount, you can have the Comprehensive Ruby on Rails course. It’s your Ruby on Rails primer with step-by-step guides to learning all the skills for effective programming. Newbies will learn about server-side coding, database design, HTML and CSS and much more.

But that’s one piece of the puzzle: beat the average price paid by other students (currently less than $10), and you unlock an additional 10 courses. These will take you deeper into the world of Ruby on Rails.

  • Professional Rails Code Along ($40 value)
  • Angular & Rails 5 Bootcamp ($149 value)
  • HTML/CSS Bootcamp ($75 value)
  • Ruby on Rails Foundations ($19 value)
  • Vim for Ruby Developers ($49 value)
  • Introduction to TypeScript Development ($39 value)
  • Comprehensive Algorithms ($19 value)
  • Comprehensive JavaScript Programming ($39 value)
  • Freelance Bootcamp: The Comprehensive Guide to Freelancing ($95 value)
  • Dissecting Ruby on Rails 5: Become a Professional Developer ($195 value)

By the time you’re done, you’ll know Ruby inside and out — and for pennies on the dollar.

Best Sellers

Save even more!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

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Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

When and where to buy the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL

Matt Adams
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The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are finally official and now the question becomes where you can get them. The new, more wallet-friendly devices skimp slightly on the specs but give us the special sauce of what makes the Pixel lineup great: fluid stock Android and an amazing camera. But this time around, the prices are lower and you can pick the devices up in even more places.

Read more: Pixel 3 versus Pixel 3a: Which is right for you?

While we’re still working on our review of the devices, you can pick them up for yourself now if you don’t want to wait.

Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a release date

In a somewhat shocking turn of events, Google announced at I/O 2019 that the devices would be almost available immediately. Yes, it’s true, you can head over to the Google Store right now and pre-order yours for the May 8 release date.

News on when the devices will be available from carrier partners is still trickling in and we’ll continue to update this post as we receive more information. What we do know is that the devices in the US will be available through the aforementioned Google Store as well as Google Fi, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and U.S. Celluar. Verizon’s MVNO Visible has also announced that it will carry the devices starting in June.

Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a price

While some pre-I/O leaks had the prices pegged at an astounding $499 to start, Google had other plans. The base Pixel 3a will start at $399 in the US, while the larger XL variant comes in at about $480. Prices for the devices will remain rather stable from carrier to carrier but we have listed a few deals we’ve found so far below:

Verizon

Switch to Verizon or add a line and get $100 off the price of a Pixel 3a or 3a XL. Upgrade from your current device and save $50

T-Mobile

Receive up to $400 in bill credits when trading in a qualified smartphone.

Sprint

  • Pixel 3a – $399 or $31.07 per month: $11.07 per month – after a $100 discount – and $0 down with Sprint Flex lease for the device combined with $20 per month for Unlimited Basic.
  • Pixel 3a XL – $479 or $34.40 per month; $14.40 per month – after a $100 discount – and $0 down with Sprint Flex lease for the device combined with $20 per month for Unlimited Basic.

U.S. Cellular

  • Pixel 3a- $399 or $13.30/mo for 30 months
  • Pixel 3a- $480 or $15.96/mo for 30 months

New and current upgrade-eligible customers on an unlimited plan get the Pixel 3 for 50% off or apply that amount toward the purchase of a Pixel 3 XL

Visible

    • Pixel 3a- $408 or $17/mo
    • Pixel 3a XL- $480 or $20/mo

Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL specs, features, and colors

The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are 90% of the device for 75% of the price. Featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 chip and Adreno 615 GPU, that provide plenty of horsepower for the money. Read more about how the Pixel 3a fares against the Pixel 3.

Read more: Pixel 3 XL review

As for other features, Active Edge makes a return and allows users to squeeze the sides of the phone to launch Google Assistant. We’re also getting nice software features like Google Duplex and call screening to make those phone calls a little less awkward. Interestingly enough, we’re also seeing the return of the 3.5mm headphone jack this time around.

You can pick up the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL in Just Black, Clearly White and Purple-ish.

Pixel 3 versus Pixel 3a: Which is right for you?

AndroidGuys
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Now that Google has officially released its Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL consumers are likely going to have questions. What is the difference between these and their counterparts which came out roughly six months ago?

It’s easy to throw the word flagship at a phone maker’s annual device, particularly when it might offer multiple products throughout the year. For Samsung, it’s the Galaxy S series. For LG, it’s the G series.

Google, up until today, only offered one model per year. Yes, we know there’s technically two now, but that doesn’t change this particular argument. Bigger screens and batteries don’t qualify as being separate models in our book.

To call the Nexus or Pixel phone a “flagship” is only half accurate. It’s more of a benchmark device than anything. It’s what Google sees as being where phones should be in terms of hardware and software.

Things have changed for 2019. Now we have a high-end and a mid-range take on phones from Google. Let’s break down the differences between the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a. What makes one more expensive than the other? More importantly, does that make it a better phone for your needs?

Price

Price is perhaps one of the first things consumers use when determining whether they will buy something. No matter how much we like something, we’ll pass if we cannot afford to pay for it. To that end, there’s a huge difference between the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a price.

As of today, the Pixel 3 has a starting retail price of $800 for the 64GB model. Contrast that with the Pixel 3a and its $400 sticker. That’s literally half the price and something that opens the door to a much wider audience. Split up over two years we’re looking at about $33/mo. and $16.50/mo., respectively.

Availability

Currently, there are but a few ways to pick up the Pixel 3. You can purchase it unlocked or buy through Verizon. In addition to buying directly from Google, you’ll also see it sold through retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo Video. Consumers can choose from Clearly White, Just Black, and Not Pink color options.

When it comes to the Pixel 3a, things get a little different. In short, it’s even easier to find one of these. Not only can you buy it unlocked in all the normal outlets, you will see it sold with more carriers. Indeed, the Pixel 3a is offered with Verizon as well as T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular. Moreover, it’s coming to carriers like Visible in June, too.

In addition to different carriers, you’ll also find these in a new color, too. Instead of the Not Pink, the Pixel 3a comes in Purple-ish. Dare we say it’s our favorite color scheme yet?

Hardware

We’re surprised by how similar these two devices stack up to each other given the vast difference in price. Both run Android 9 Pie and come with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. And, for the most part, where they differ, it’s not all that much.

The screen sizes and resolution are nearly identical at 5.5-inches (Pixel 3) and 5.6-inches (Pixel 3a). Batteries are also very close at 2,915mAh and 3,000mAh, respectively.

The processor is one area where things are notably different. The Pixel 3a comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor (and Adreno 615 GPU) while the Pixel 3 still has the Snapdragon 845 (and Adreno 630) under the hood.

For most consumers this isn’t going to matter one bit. For heavy users and enthusiasts, however, they’ll want that faster and more powerful CPU/GPU combination. Games, VR, AR, and demanding apps will appreciate the performance and so will users.

Don’t know, or care about what CPU and GPU means on a phone? Go with the Pixel 3a as its hardware is more than enough to power your social media, messaging, casual gaming, and daily tasks.

When it comes to having water resistance or protection against splashes and dunks, you won’t get that in the Pixel 3a. That may or may not be a deal breaker for some. We’ve come to expect it in pretty much all major releases in 2019 but it’s absent here. Gotta cut corners, right?

Speaking of exteriors, the Pixel 3a XL is made entirely from polycarbonate and not the glass and aluminum of the Pixel 3. It’s certainly not as glamorous but it’s got the same design language and looks every bit Pixel.

The camera situation is also an area where the two phones are similar… but they are also different. Sounds confusing, right? It’s not.

The Pixel 3, which is highly praised and respected for its camera, offers a 12-megapixel dual-pixel camera on the back. Around front it has two 8-megapixel cameras, with one of them being wide-angle. Google ran a number of ad campaigns around this feature as it allows for group shots using the front camera.

The Pixel 3a still has the 12-megapixel dual-pixel camera on the back, which is a huge win at this price. The front-facing camera is just one 8-megapixel sensor and it’s not a wide-angle one. The aperture, field of view, microns, and other specs are only slightly different between the two.

Truth be told, we still need to wait for the real world results and examples before we can say more about the camera situation. From what we can tell, though, the Pixel 3a has a really quite a compelling camera experience.

One feature that really sells the Pixel 3a is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack. Yes, the cheaper phone has it while the more expensive models do not. We don’t need to tell you how awesome this is.

Software

Both of these phones run Android 9 Pie, the latest version of Google’s software to be released to the public. To that end, each will see updates to Android Q later this year and will pick up timely, consistent patches and bug fixes.

We’re really fond of the cohesive experience that is modern Android on a Pixel phone. It’s the best of what Google has and it rivals what other carriers do even when they try to improve upon it with extras.

Which is Right for You?

Our hot take, immediately after the announcement and release of the Pixel 3a is that it’s the first one we’ll recommend to consumers. Not that it necessarily takes anything away from the Pixel 3, mind you. There’s definitely more bang behind the buck with the standard bearer.

For just $400 Google’s latest phone plays on a different field and puts itself in the place where most consumers reside. For all of the commercials, hype, and fanfare around flagships, the stats are starting to show that buyers don’t flock to the expensive stuff in droves. They’re content to buy last year’s models when they go on sale and hold onto them longer.

We live in a time where phone hardware outpaces our needs and demands. There’s more than enough under the hood for the Pixel 3a to fast track it to the top of our recommendation list.

The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL go official with cheaper price tags, impressive cameras

Matt Adams
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At Google I/O 2019, Google finally gave us our first official look at the budget-friendly Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. The long-rumored and oft-leaked devices were center stage at the company’s developer conferences that featured more than one big announcement.

First, let’s jump into the specs.

The smaller Google Pixel 3a will feature a 5.6-inch 2220 x 1080 OLED display with an 18:9 display aspect ratio and 441 PPI. In the battery department, it’ll have a 3,000 mAh cell that supports quick and wireless charging. The larger 3a XL features a 6-inch 2160 x 1080 OLED display with 402 PPI and a 3,700 mAh battery, also supporting quick and wireless charging.

Internally, we find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 SoC, Adreno 615 GPU, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of non-expandable memory. Both devices also have a Titan M chip for enhanced onboard security.

Beyond that, the phones start to look remarkably similar to each other. Both have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, much like their big brothers, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. We see just two cameras on these wallet-friendlier devices, with a rear 12.2 MP main shooter and an 8 MP front shooter. The main module is set at an aperture of f/1.8 and has dual pixel phase detection and optical image stabilization (OIS). The front-facing camera has an aperture of f/2.0.

So, how do these cameras compare to the more expensive Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL? The jury is still out on if the cameras are just as good, but most of Google’s camera magic happens in software, so we know that we’re going to get great pictures nonetheless. The biggest difference is that the 3a and 3a XL lack the wide-angle front-facing camera that Google has leaned so heavily on in its advertising of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Whether that camera module and step down in processor is worth saving a few hundred dollars will be an interesting discussion among fans and customers, but we do know that portrait mode will be available on both the front and rear cameras.

Price is one area that leaks generally could not agree on. We have known most of the specs for months now, but different prices have been floating around and they varied wildly. Initially set at $499 for the smaller Pixel 3a and $599 for the Pixel 3a XL, we’re actually going to be able to pick the devices up for $399 and $479 respectively– a much more reasonable ask.

When and where to buy the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL

As for when you can actually buy them, you don’t have to wait. The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are available starting today, May 7, 2019. They’ll be available in a ton of countries including Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, Canada, India, Japa, Taiwan, France, and more. As for carrier agreements, the Pixel devices had only been previously sold through Verizon (at least in the US), but Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, US  Cellular, Google Fi, and the Google Store will all carry the devices moving forward.

There are three colors, Just Black, Clearly White, and Purple-ish, and they come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a returning feature to the Pixel phones. We’re also getting support for call screening, active edge, and AR Maps. As with other Pixel devices, three years of software updates are guaranteed.

What do you think about the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL? Are they compelling midrange options or have they missed the mark? Let us know down in the comments.

Master & Dynamic MW65 review

AndroidGuys
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What happens when you pair one of the best headphones in its class with the leading digital assistant? You end up with something like the Master & Dynamic MW65 headphones.

Having had the chance to review multiple models in its portfolio over the years, we’ve really come to appreciate what Master & Dynamic puts forth. It’s not cheap stuff by any means, but it’s built with quality materials and attention to detail. And, of course, the headphones sound tremendous.

The MW65 are the latest in the line of headphones and arrive as the first since the launch of the MW50/MW50+ in late 2016. As the first pair to feature active noise cancelling (ANC), they also boast built-in support for Google Assistant.

We were fortunate enough to have received a demo pair of the MW65 a few weeks ahead of their formal debut. These were the last pre-mass production build and should largely be what consumers see when they ultimately go on sale.

Build

The MW65 comes with a soft protective canvas carrying case with zippered pouch, a flight
adaptor, 3.5mm audio cable for optional wired connection, and both a USB-C charging cable and USB adaptor.

The first thing we noticed about the MW65 was just how similar they looked to other models in the Master & Dynamic line. The color we received, silver and brown, was the exact same configuration as the MW60’s and MW50’s we tested. To us, this was a good sign.

These are the sort of headphones that beg to be looked at before putting them on. The small details are worth looking at, including the stitching, aluminum frame, and the overall textures. They’re nothing like the standard plastic and foam you would see in a cheaply made or lower-end pair of headphones.

The lambskin ear cups are present yet again, making for an incredibly comfortable wearing experience. It didn’t matter if we had these on for 20 minutes or two hours, they always felt good going on. More importantly, they never get to the point where you are essentially anxious about taking them off.

Some headphones, particularly over-ear, can lead to a fatigue of sorts. If you’ve ever had a pair that feels like it’s squeezing your head and pushing on your temples, you know how aggravating and distracting it can be. That doesn’t happen here. As for the ear cups themselves, they can be replaced without any fuss whatsoever. They literally snap on and off inside of seconds.

Google Assistant

Having Google Assistant built directly into your headphones is an interesting experience. Of all the ways we interact with it, this is perhaps the one where you have to “think” about it. On phones, and with smart speakers, it’s often as easy as speaking and/or asking. For headphones like these, you must hold a button down to activate.

It sounds trivial, but there’s something about it that makes it feel more intentional. Does that mean we use it less? At first, yes. There’s a bit of a learning curve in feeling for buttons without looking. Trying to identify the right button is a smidge awkward for the first few times.

Experience

The MW65 can’t necessarily be faulted for employing this tactic to activate Google Assistant. There’s not really any other way to go about it. To that end, you’ll use your volume buttons and music control buttons to manage Google Assistant. The buttons have excellent feedback and travel.

The same can be said of the power, Bluetooth, and ANC buttons. Each has a distinct feel to it and they have very noticeable movement. There’s no accidental pressing here.

We appreciate being able to quickly look at a device to see if it’s charging and that’s possible with the MW65. Moreover, you can also check a light to see the battery level, too. Using green, yellow, and red, one can easily identify where it is in terms of remaining battery.

The MW65 headphones promise 24 hours of playtime but that will vary based on whether you’re using active noise cancelling and how loud you like your music.

Did we ever get to 24 hours? No, but we weren’t trying too hard. Once we got to where it was red we plugged in the headphones overnight and awoke to a full charge. Speaking of battery, the USB Type C charging port lets us charge up around 50% in just 15 minutes.

Sound

The ANC feature is a nice one to have, especially in those times where you really want to dissolve into the music. Listening to podcasts or audiobooks often sounds pretty much the same across over-ear headphones. What’s more, we’re often able to put up with ambient and environmental noises.

When you want warm, rich audio, though, you don’t want to be distracted by chatter on the metro or people and cars at the park. Heck, sitting poolside or at the beach, there are times where we just want to go off the grid and fully immerse ourselves. The MW65 provides just that.

Taking calls on headphones, earbuds, or earphones, is often a weird experience, too. Having audio on both sides of your head can be awkward as we are used to callers coming from one speaker in one ear. The MW65, for its part, doesn’t do anything to change that other than provide a deep, full sound.

For a pair of Bluetooth headphones, the MW65s sound every bit as good as wired models. Further, we suspect that most readers and listeners couldn’t tell the difference between these and other, more expensive wired pairs.

Bass is rich and low but never comes over as heavy or damp. Mids and highs are also very pronounced and the separation between levels is excellent. When you have music that is mastered, or remastered, with attention to fine detail you want headphones that can discern and deliver. These do just that.

Layered and nuanced music really shines with the MW65s. Picking up minor guitar strums, bass pedal squeaks, vocal imperfections, and ambient sounds is really easy when you have a nice pair of headphones.

There’s a reason why The Wall stands the test of time – it’s damn good music. No cover band can do Pink Floyd justice as the band’s warmth and enveloping sound cannot be replicated. When you have the right headphones you can dive right in and find yourself surrounded in that welcoming, atmospheric sound. The MW65 allow us to get comfortably numb.

Conclusion

Given that the Master & Dynamic MW65 cost $499 they’re obviously not for everybody. The price point puts them outside of the area of impulse and “on a whim” buying.

As we pointed out earlier, it’s possible that the average reader couldn’t discern these from other, pricier headphones. The same goes for the other way around, sadly. We imagine there are plenty who wouldn’t pick up subtle differences between the MW65 and something a hundred dollars, or two, cheaper.

We’re not audiophiles and we don’t pretend to be heavy into headphones, drivers, and specifications. That’s just not who we are and we suspect it’s not who our target audience is, either. With that said, we’ve done our fair share of reading up on the Master & Dynamic brand over the years. Everything we’ve ever seen tells us this is a brand to consider.

What we do care about are things like everyday usage, wear and tear, battery, and features like Google Assistant. To that end, the MW65 are built with precision and care and we’ve truly enjoyed our time with them.

A quality pair of headphones is an investment. The right pair will last you years. There’s something to be said about getting what you pay for or cheapening out. These will easily outlast four sets of $150 headphones that you’d buy over the next decade.

Nokia and Best Buy have an awesome $100 discount on the Pureview 9

Andrew Allen
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The Nokia Pureview 9 is a truly unique device from HMD Global with 5 camera sensors to give you some amazing shots. However, with its original price tag of $699, it may have scared a few folks away. Now, the company is giving you a chance to get this great phone from Best Buy at a $100 discount.

That puts the Nokia Pureview 9 at a much more palatable $599. So, for those that haven’t heard, what makes the Pureview 9 so unique? It’s the first smartphone with ZEISS five camera array. The camera takes information from all 5 sensors and then presents a 12MP photo with increased depth of field and dynamic range.

Oh, and the Pureview 9 is an Android One phone. These certified units are guaranteed to get 3 years of monthly security updates as well as 2 years of full OS versions. Android One also comes with no UI or OS alterations completing a smooth, clean version of Google’s operating system.

The remaining specs are pretty competitive for a current Android flagship:

  • Snapdragon 845 processor
  • Qi Wireless Charging
  • Gorilla Glass 5
  • Under screen fingerprint scanner
  • 128GB of internal storage with microSD expansion
  • Unlocked GSM compatibility

Best Buy currently has the discount with the single color SKU of midnight blue available for the $100 discount. It’s also worth a mention that the discount goes another $50 further if you activate the Pureview during purchase. This brings the take-it-home price down to $549 for a really good phone from Nokia and HMD Global.

We’ve not had hands-on time with the Nokia Pureview 9 yet, but reviews have been mostly positive. Either way, the specs alone say this is a deal worth pondering. Pair that with Android One and all it’s a promise you have a very compelling combination. The offer started this Sunday on May 5th and will end on May 11.

Let us know if you find any other great deals on the Pureview 9, or if you take Best Buy up on this current offer in the comments.

Paint it black: Android Auto gains dark mode and new UI

AndroidGuys
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Google’s approach to in-car navigation and technology, Android Auto, gets a fresh coat of paint this summer. Key among the changes is a new, default dark mode.

The phone-powered entertainment and information center that is Android Auto is approaching five years old and, as such, is due for a design refresh. Things have changed in the half-decade since launch and Google feels it has a more intuitive way of doing things.

The new look to Android Auto will be shown off at Google I/O 2019 but we’ve already got a few screen shots to see get a glimpse of what is in store.

Since we started five years ago, Android Auto has expanded to support more than 500 car models from 50 different brands, and we aren’t pumping the brakes there!

As you can see from the images here, the new UI is more in line with today’s design language and features a persistent navigation bar at the bottom. Rather than white buttons on a black background, users will see some apps taking over larger swaths of the screen and offering more control.

  • Get on the road faster: As soon as you start your car, Android Auto will continue playing your media and show your navigation app of choice. Simply tap on a suggested location or say “Hey Google” to navigate to a new place.
  • Stay on top of your apps: With the new navigation bar, you’ll be able to see your turn-by-turn directions and control your apps and phone on the same screen.
  • Do more with less taps: With the new navigation bar, you’ll be able to easily control your apps with one tap. Get turn-by-turn directions, rewind your podcast or take incoming call all on the same screen.
  • Easily manage communications: The new notification center shows recent calls, messages and alerts, so you can choose to view, listen and respond at a time that’s convenient and safe for you.
  • A color palette that’s easy on the eyes: We’re evolving Android Auto’s design to fit in better with your car’s interior. A dark theme, coupled with colorful accents and easier to read fonts, also helps improve visibility.
  • A screen fit for more cars: If you have a car with a wider screen, Android Auto now maximizes your display to show you more information, like next-turn directions, playback controls and ongoing calls.

Using Google Maps, for instance doesn’t require you to have the full app open on the display. The navigation bar shows your step-by-step directions at the bottom, similar to how it works on your phone. Likewise, if you have Spotify playing in the background, you can have the playback controls show at the bottom of your map.

The navigation bar also offers instant access to Google Assistant, making the tool even more readily available.

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Moto expands walk-in repair services with CPR: Cell Phone Repair

Andrew Allen
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Late last year Motorola announced that the company would start offering customers the option to use popular iFixit stores for on the spot repairs for Moto phones outside the factory warranty. Today, it expands this program to CPR: Cell Phone Repair. You can now take a broken Moto phone to any of CPR’s 500 locations across the United States.

While many retail fronts will offer to fix devices that have a busted screen, this new partnership is quite different. The parts used by CPR are officially licensed and produced directly by Motorola. You can then rest assured that the parts were indeed made specifically for your model phone.

Motorola states that giving consumers certified options to fix their phones locally is a key goal for the company and its brand. Not only will Motorola provide the OEM parts for repair, it will also provide training to CPR engineers to ensure they have hands-on training with the devices before they are set to repair them on the fly.

Executive Director of Motorola Customer Service reflected these thoughts in his statement:

“We believe that safe, quality and diverse repair options are important components of a consumer’s smartphone journey. Our collaboration with CPR Cell Phone
Repair will provide our customers a personalized, face-to-face option from a reliable repair expert.”

For those that are not familiar, CPR is one of the largest electronic repair franchises in North America. It offers repair centers in over 750 locations globally. Outside of cell phones, you can also have devices like laptops, tablets, and gaming systems repaired.

Motorola was also quick to point out that its in-house repair services are still available through its customer service website. I’ve personally had to use this service and it’s a top-notch experience that you should also explore if CPR is not available in your area.

You can see if Cell Phone Repair is a local option by navigating to https://www.cellphonerepair.com/motorola. One hopes you never have to use it, but Moto is setting a pretty high bar with iFixit and now CPR. More OEMs should take note from the veteran here.

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