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Bose QuietComfort 35 II review

Jason England
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The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is the sequel the previous QuietComfort 35 series I. The new model has evolved with a dedicated button for Google Assistant, but what else has it got going for it?

Design

There isn’t much you can do in the world of headphones to make your design unique or stand out. The Bose QC35 II hit all the right notes. These are a mostly plastic build with some accents of leather or memory foam. This makes them light, sturdy, and comfortable to wear.

The rotating ear cups allow for a wide range of motion coupled with the soft leather and foam which makes them comfortable to wear for hours. However, like most closed-back headphones your ears can become warm after long periods.

The right ear cup houses all of your most important controls, this includes the power slider switch, multi-function button, and volume controls. The multi-function button allows you to play/pause, skip tracks, and answer calls.

A microUSB charging port is also found on the right ear cup. Unfortunately, Bose did not see fit to include a USB-C port. With the sequel to the ever-popular QC35 I many of us hoped Bose would embrace the USB-C port, but this is not the case.

The left ear cup houses the 3.5mm jack for using the headphones wired and besides that would be rather uninteresting if not for the action button. The main purpose of this button is to activate or interact with Google Assistant, but that’s not all it’s good for.

Along with the Bose Connect app, you have the ability to reassign the button to Alexa or control over the level of noise cancellation. That was a fantastic decision because now you’re not forced to use Google Assistant, Alexa, or any digital assistant.

Sound Quality

The Bose QC35 II has an overall mostly neutral sound signature with good clear highs and a nice punch of bass. Sound separation was mostly good and this worked well for most types of music that I tried.

My only complaint was the sound stage was rather limited, which could make some tracks sound a little flat or cause instruments to overlap each other. Overall, it’s good sound quality but just shy of great.

The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) really makes the QC35 II shine. Between the ANC and tight comfortable seal of the earpads, it makes listening to your music even better. Whether you’re on a plane, in public, or just have a noisy air conditioner, the QC35 II helps block out the majority of the distractions so you can enjoy your tunes.

Google Assistant

I am an avid user and big fan of Google Assistant. I use it on several smart speakers, a smart display, my phone, and even on my smartwatch. However, despite the conveniences of Google Assistant, I didn’t find it all that useful on headphones.

In general, I tend to only use Google Assistant when at home and I don’t usually like asking it questions or giving commands while out in public. That’s where I’m most likely to use headphones. Even at home, it could feel a bit odd with others thinking I’m talking to them instead of the headphones.

The one feature I enjoyed most about the Google Assistant integration was the ability to hear your notifications. It was great to hear and also reply to messages while listening to music without having to pull your phone out of your pocket.

READ: Speakers and headphones with Google Assistant

App

The Bose Connect app is not essential but filled with very useful features. As I mentioned before, it allows you to reassign the action button which in itself is very helpful. It also gives you the option to disable the noise cancellation feature or change the amount of cancellation between low or high.

While the active noise cancellation feature is a big reason most people want the QC35 II headphones, it can be handy to adjust the level or disable it to save battery life when it’s not needed.

The app is also full of options to change the name, manage connections, disable voice prompts, change the language of voice prompts, enable a standby timer, and more.

The one option I would have liked to have seen but was missing is an equalizer option. Some of the more high-end Bluetooth headphones include this and I was disappointed it was missing in the Bose app.

Battery Life

Bose promises 20 hours of battery life with noise cancellation enabled and in my experience the QC35 II definitely delivered. If you’re a frequent flyer, these won’t leave you wanting… if you remember to charge them up. Even if the QC35 II do die on you, there is always the wired route, but without the ANC feature.

Final Thoughts

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is one of the de facto standards when it comes to active noise canceling headphones. With a solid build quality, high-quality sound, and some of the best noise canceling around the reputation is well earned.

My only criticisms would be that the sound quality could be a little better at this price range and Google Assistant isn’t much of a game changer for me.

Regardless of some minor nitpicking, the Bose QC 35 II is one of the best and highest rated headphones on the market. If active noise cancellation is high up on your list than rest assured your money will be well spent on these headphones.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Verizon

Devices used in this article were provided by Verizon

Verizon picks up its first Alcatel phone, the Avalon V

AndroidGuys
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Verizon on Thursday announced it is now offering its first Alcatel smartphone, the Avalon V. This marks the first collaboration between the two, but figures to be the start of a new relationship.

The budget-friendly phone costs just $100 outright and features a 5.34-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo and gets power from a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor with 16GB internal storage.

The back of the Alcatel Avalon V houses a 5-megapixel camera while the front features a 2-megapixel shooter. In terms of software, the cameras have time lapse, panorama, and instant collage modes as well as Google Lens capabilities.

As far as aesthetics go, the Avalon V has a soft suede finish and Dragontrail glass protects the display against minor damage and scrapes.

If interested in learning more about the phone, or to make a purchase, the Avalon V is available at Verizon’s website. Sold in suede grey, it’s offered for just $4.16 per month over two years.

An Android purist’s take on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Andrew Allen
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Samsung is the king of the Android mountain. The company continuously innovates and pushes the operating system (OS) forward as the most successful manufacturer to have embraced Google’s Android. Despite this, I’ve never been a fan. I’m what you may call an Android purest. I want what most in our industry refer to as a “stock” Android experience.

The mobile OS is great when companies just leave it alone for the most part. It can still be tweaked, but I don’t want to be overwhelmed by an overpowering mask over my OS of choice. It’s why I’ve been an avid Moto user, Nexus owner, and new Pixel admirer.

Thanks to Verizon I have been able to use the Galaxy Note 9 as my primary device over the last month. I have some thoughts on the device, its experience, and how it fares in the overall scheme of things.

We’ve reviewed the device at launch, but I’d like to shed some light on where the Galaxy Note 9 is for users like myself particularly as it approaches its first anniversary on the market.

What I Like

Hardware

Let’s start on a positive. There’s no denying that Samsung has iterated its design language to the point where the company easily has some of the best hardware in the business. Against the likes of Apple and Google, Samsung may have the best design chops at the moment. The Galaxy Note 9 is a beautiful device.

The screen is amazing. Samsung still makes the best displays on the market today. Period. The whites are super bright and the blacks just pop off the screen. While I’m not crazy about the curve on the edges of the display, I did find they made the size of the Note more manageable.

Next up is the cameras. While they are still not as good as the Pixel 3, the Galaxy Note 9 takes exceptional photos. I never second-guessed taking a shot while carrying the Galaxy Note. It really stood up to the “don’t worry just point and shoot method” that I think all smartphone cameras should succeed at. It shouldn’t be an ordeal of trying to find the perfect lighting to take a photo. I could easily pull out the Note and just take the picture.

What I Don’t Like

The “Samsung”

This is where the heart of the “stock” user comes out in me. Google has spent years polishing Android into a super solid operating system. And a relatively free one at that. I should be able to hit the Play Store or even F-Droid and install all the software I prefer.

The same should be true for removing software and that’s where my relationship with Samsung falls short. There is a plethora of uninstallable apps from Samsung that are also redundant to some readily available for Android. I don’t need another SMS, calendar, and/or contacts app. I have apps that I use for that and that are honestly just better than Samsung’s.

It’s true for most of Samsung’s software base. Look, I get that they have a business model to uphold and that things like Samsung Pay are money makers, but the base OS is good on its own without Samsung adding fluff apps that I can’t uninstall or set the preferred app.

Speaking of things that need help. Let’s talk about the terrible lock screen Samsung includes with Always on Display. It’s just bad and dated at this point. Just showing me the tiny round icons of notifications isn’t enough. You can’t interact with the notification at all from other than some cherry-picked Samsung widgets for calendars, weather, and music.

And why does it just run on top of the existing Android default? So it’s really two lock screens? Just let Android be Android. Especially if you are also including it in the default build of the system. It’s literally there if you double-tap on the Home button on Samsung’s Always on Display.

Lastly, Bixby is just as bad. While it can do rudimentary things like telling you the weather, it’s just not up to par with Google Assistant. Which in itself wouldn’t be that big an issue if I could just have the option to remap the damn hardware button to launch Assistant instead? Yes, you can make this happen with some 3rd party apps, I’d love to see Samsung let you have the option.

What I’m Okay With

Software

Not all of what Samsung has put together is bad on the coding side of things. Its latest Android Pie release is really good. The One UI interface the company has built actually has some great ideas on how to interact with a large form factor device. Many of the pull-down menus and button elements get pushed to the bottom of the screen where they are easily accessed without fumbling with your phone in the hand.

One UI also simplified many of the overbearing menus and toggles that Samsung has been famous for over the years. This is definitely the best version of Samsung’s Android we’ve ever seen. From design to the actual function of the software, Samsung got it mostly right here and I came away pleasantly surprised.

Another surprise was the S-Pen integration. I’ve never been a stylus guy, but I found myself using it frequently. It’s a nice option to just jot down quick notes without needing to open an app or unlock the phone. Some of the handwriting tricks are kinda nice too but mostly used it to take quick notes on the move. I still don’t think it’s a selling feature to make me choose it over other devices, but it was one that I used while I had the Galaxy Note 9.

Ecosystem

Many will disagree here, and some of it may actually combat earlier points, but Samsung has the closest ecosystem to the complete Apple model. While it’s not necessarily for me, Samsung offers numerous devices like Galaxy Buds, Samsung Pay, and the Galaxy Watch that all assimilate together for a total lineup that other Android manufacturers have yet to capture.

Like the company or not, Samsung is the Apple of the Android market. They have the marketing and supply chain to offer its users a deep lineup of devices that all interconnect within the Galaxy branding.

Is Bixby as good as the alternatives? No, but for new users, or those willing to adapt, the Galaxy line could be exactly what they are looking for in a complete package of devices that just work.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Note 9 is still a very compelling device almost a year later. It can compete with any flagship in the last calendar year, including it’s newly announced brethren in the Galaxy S10 line.

From the large display to the unique S-Pen options, Samsung’s Note 9 will not disappoint new and old users alike. The Note 9 is available in three colors of Lavender Purple, Ocean Blue, and Midnight Black from Verizon. It’s still a steep price at $1000, but it truly is a device and experience all its own.

You’re using Google Keep wrong; Here’s how to do it right

AndroidGuys
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Other than Evernote, the other most popular note-taking application for Android devices is Google Keep. Part of this is due to the fact that the app is pre-installed on many devices, while another reason is that the app comes directly from Google.

Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the best tips & tricks to fully maximize your experience and take full advantage of Google Keep. Chances are you’ve already spent some time with the app, having at least looked around. We’re here to show you ways to get more from the app.

Color Code

Starting us off with these tips & tricks for Google Keep is the ability to color code your notes. If you’re like me and take notes that fall into different categories, color coding can make your life much easier.

The best part is that color-coding these notes is extremely simple, and organization of these notes is much simpler. In order to color code one of your notes, you’ll need to follow these steps:

  1. Open your note
  2. Tap the overflow button in the bottom right-hand corner
  3. Select a color of your choice

Labels

When it comes organization, color-coding can only go so far. That’s where labels come into play. You can add and create labels by simply using #hashtags when creating each note.

Then, once you need to go back and find a specific note, you can simply search for the label name that you used, and it will appear. This is extremely helpful if you end up taking a lot of notes and need to find something from a specific category.

Set reminders

In addition to just taking notes, Google Keep also acts as a traditional to-do list. You can create checklists within notes, and you can even add reminders to said notes.

The best part about these reminders is that you can go the traditional route of choosing a date and time, but you can also opt to use location-based reminders. This will ensure that you never forget to take the trash out once you get home as Keep will remind you.

Additionally, when these reminders have been set, you will see the notification appear on any device that your Google account is logged into. This will ensure that the task gets completed and that you can knock another to-do off the list.

Here are the steps to set a reminder:

  1. Open your note
  2. Tap the ‘Finger with twine’ icon in the top left-hand corner
  3. Select ‘Time’ or ‘Place’
  4. Save
  5. Profit!

Use Images as notes

This next feature is something that I didn’t realize was so useful until I started getting older and my memory started getting worse. If you are using Google Keep for just about everything, you can also “take notes” using pictures.

This may come in handy if you want to check out a specific product later on for price-matching purposes, or if you need to remind yourself to pick something up from the store. There are two methods in which you can use Keep to save pictures as notes/reminders.

The first of which requires you creating a new note in Keep, tapping the ‘+’ icon next to the text input, and selecting “Take Photo”. The next method comes after you’ve already taken the picture.

Once you have taken the picture that you want to add to Keep, open your Gallery, tap the ‘share’ button, and scroll until you see Keep. Then, you will be taken to Keep where you can add a title, label, or description before saving.

Collaborate

Google has really made life easy for those who work remotely and need to be able to collaborate with others that aren’t in the office. As is the case with Google Drive, you can share your notes with others, making collaboration extremely simple.

Once a note has been created, you’ll want to follow these steps to share it:

  1. Open your note
  2. Tap the overflow button in the bottom right-hand corner
  3. Select ‘Collaborator’
  4. Enter the email for the contact to share the note with

After the note has been shared, the other party will then be able to see what you are working on. This feature would also be useful for partners who want to quickly and easily share or edit grocery/shopping lists.

Audio Notes

I don’t know about you, but from time to time, I get tired of typing on my devices. This is where voice dictation comes into play.

Voice dictation has been a live-saver on multiple occasions, and it’s built right into Google Keep. As is the case with taking pictures as notes, there are actually two methods to activate dictation in Keep.

The first is found when tapping the ‘+’ icon in your note. When tapping the icon, you’ll see a section called ‘Recording’ which will allow you to quickly dictate your notes.

The second option comes from your keyboard. Yup, simply open up your note of choice (or create a new one) and tap the microphone icon. Then you’ll be able to talk until you’re blue in the face, or at least until you get the point across.

Bookmark tool

This next feature is the ability to use Google Keep as a way to keep track of your favorite bookmarks. You can think of this as another alternative to Pocket or Instapaper, and even works with your desktop browser.

Your mileage may vary depending on which browser you use on your smartphone, but the steps to save a webpage for reading later is easy. Simply open the link you want to share in your browser, tap the overflow menu button (in Chrome), select ‘Share’.

From there you’ll need to select Keep, and you will be able to add labels or add more notes to the listing.

Export to Google Docs

It comes as no surprise that Google makes all of its productivity apps able to work together and talk to each other. The same rings true for Google Keep and the Google Drive suite of services.

If you start working on a project and want to move things to a more open service like Docs, Google makes things simple. Simply open up the note of your choice, tap the three dot overflow button, and select “Send”.

Read more: Top 7 Android writing apps for students

From there, you are presented with two options – “Copy to Google Docs” and “Send via other apps”. Obviously, you will want to select “Copy to Google Docs” and then you will see a notification at the bottom of the screen when the note has been moved to Docs.

Recover archived notes

The final tip that we’re going to share today is for those who want to drudge up the past. We kid, but there are times when you accidentally archive notes and you need to get them back into the list.

Here are the steps you need to take to unarchive a Google Keep note:

  1. Go to the main screen for Keep
  2. Tap the hamburger menu button in the top left-hand corner
  3. Scroll down and select “Archive”
  4. Open the note that you want to be unarchived
  5. Tap the ‘archive’ button in the top right-hand corner
  6. Profit!

Conclusion

Of course, these are just a few of our favorite tips & tricks for Google Keep, so we’ll be turning it to you. Let us know some of your favorite tips and how they may have helped you to become a more productive person!

Google to debut Pixel 3a series on May 7, chatter suggests

AndroidGuys
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Google is set to introduce the long-rumored Pixel 3a models of phones next month, if recent reports prove accurate.

As noticed by 9to5google, the Google Store has pushed live a landing page which promises “something big in the Pixel universe” for May 7. It just so happens that this is the same day that Google I/0 2019 gets started. The annual developer conference would make for a smart venue to introduce new devices, particularly because of the often Android-heavy discussions.

https://youtu.be/9fMRXLl1OYA  

The so-called Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL have been tossing about the rumor mill for a few months now, but they’ve gathered a bit of steam lately. Among the details for the devices are reports of a lower cost approach to the flagship Google phones. We’ve also heard of these phones as Pixel 3 “Lite” in the past.

Specifications could include a Snapdragon 670 processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. This would certainly bring the price down a bit as it’s not quite the level of hardware that powers the standard bearers currently on the market.

Other details bandied about include a 3,000mAh battery, 12-megapixel rear camera, and front-facing 8-megapixel camera. As far as screen sizes go, the Pixel 3a may see a 5.6-inch display while the Pixel 3a XL could go big at 6-inches.

Pixel 3 Family at T-Mobile

One of the more recent rumors around the Pixel 3a phones is that it may come to T-Mobile. Sources close to 9to5google and AndroidPolice are both reporting that the service provider could offer both the new models and the currently available Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. This would be a change of pace for Google as its previous generations were exclusive to Verizon.

For now, however, those interested in whatever Google has in store for us on May 7 can sign up for notifications.

Google launches Change the Game Design Challenge with focus on female developers

Andrew Allen
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Google has done a great job over the years of investing in encouraging the next generation to embrace technology as a field of study. The company often hosts code challenges and classroom settings for youngsters to learn to code.

It continues that trend with launching the Second annual Change the Game Design Challenge for hoping to inspire teens to build the next great game for Google Play.  Google has taken a step further this year by focusing on female developers with a new Girls Make Games campaign.

While the contest is open to all US residents between the ages of 13 to 18, Google is strongly hoping that many of the applicants will be young women. The Grand Prize Winner will award $15,000 scholarship to the individual and another $15,000 to their local school or community program.

Google will narrow the field to its top five candidates and each will serve as creative directors for their projects. During this time they’ll be assisted by Girls With Games and other veterans of the industry to help make their Google Play submission a reality.

In this time they’ll also receive an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles to get guidance from different mentors in the field. Girls Make Games will extend scholarships to their program’s Summer Camp to each of the final five as well. Oh, and there’s a VIP tour of Google’s Los Angeles campus.

Google has long been a supporter of the young tech community and it’s a great sign to see that continue this year. Teenagers have until June 7th to submit their game in hopes of landing their game on Google Play. For rules and guidelines visit http://g.co/ctgdesignchallenge. You can also check last year’s finalists at the previous Change the Game page.

We wish all the contestants luck and will be happy to report the winners later this year.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review

Jason England
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The Samsung Galaxy S10 is one of the first big flagships to hit the shelves in 2019. This year Samsung decided to grace us with not two, but three different Galaxy S models. And that’s not counting the 5G version about to arrive.

Below you’ll find our review of the phone that sits in between the Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10 Plus.

Design

The Galaxy S10 marks the biggest change to the design of the S series since the launch of the Galaxy S8. Key among the differences are the slightly slimmer bezels and a third ultra-wide camera on the back.

The fingerprint scanner is now on the front under the display, and there is now a cutout in the display for the front-facing camera. A lot of not-so-little things that certainly add up to a fresh approach.

Display

The display, like any other Samsung flagship, is the star of the show. This time it’s for more than just its beautiful Super AMOLED screen. Sure, the 6.1-inch 3040 x 1440 screen on the Galaxy S10 has beautiful vivid colors, deep inky blacks, and it gets extremely bright.

This is par for the course in the family of phones and should be no surprise at this point. Samsung regularly wins awards for the best display each year.

What makes the display so special this year is actually two things: the cutout and in-display fingerprint scanner. As someone who hates screen notches with a passion I was very much on the fence about the cutout design.

Cutout

The cutout differs from a notch by being disconnected from the screen bezel, taking up a minimal amount of space, and being pushed to the edge. The simple fact that the cutout is on the outer edge makes a big difference. This puts it on the periphery of your vision and draws less focus in day to day usage than if it were right in the middle of the display.

However, the cutout is still very much noticeable because it extends your status bar at the top. In fact, it is even more noticeable because of the abnormally large gap between it and your status bar icons.

It also shows up when watching videos in aspect ratios wider than 16:9 and can be more than slightly irritating. On the other hand, all of the games I tried seemed to restrict themselves from the status bar area meaning the cutout didn’t interfere with them.

In the end I can still say I’m not an advocate for the cutout display design. I did, however, come to love all the clever wallpapers that have been made specifically for the cutout. For that one reason, I was actually excited to have a cutout in the display.

Browsing through those wallpapers and swapping them out actually made having a cutout fun. If you’re getting an S10 for yourself make sure to check out this collection of hilarious wallpapers for it.

In display fingerprint scanner

Having a fingerprint scanner under the glass of the display is nothing new at this point. Samsung, for its part, is the first to use an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner while others utilize optical scanners. An ultrasonic scanner uses inaudible sound waves to map your fingerprint making it more secure and faster than optical scanners.

Out of the box, the performance of the fingerprint scanner was terrible. I was lucky if it read my finger one out of 10 tries. However, after an initial update, performance was dramatically improved.

As long as I had my finger properly aligned it worked 80-90 percent of the time on the first try. You can even further increase those odds by scanning the same finger more than once.

While not as fast or accurate as the scanner on the back of my Galaxy S9+ that I’ve been accustomed to, it still performed well enough to not harm the experience. The only thing I truly missed from the fingerprint scanner on the back, was the ability to drop down my notification tray using the swipe gesture.

Not much else has changed

Besides that, you’re looking at the same basic design principles we’ve seen for years now in Samsung smartphones. The use of a glass sandwich with glass on the front and back with a metal frame.

Similar to recent Samsung flagships you still get two speakers with one in the earpiece, a USB-C charging port, microSD card slot for expansion, and a headphone jack. Thank you, Samsung, for not letting the headphone jack die.

Unfortunately, the LED notification light has died with the ever-shrinking bezels as there just isn’t room for it. The always-on display takes the place of this for many occasions but it is still not as immediately visible when your phone is out of arm’s length.

This would have been a perfect opportunity for Samsung to embrace the cutout and add a glowing ring option that you could customize by color with apps. While Samsung hasn’t done this there are some talented developers working on it this very moment.

The buttons on the Galaxy S10 have a solid clicky feel to them as Samsung phones generally do. Now that you have the ability to reassign the Bixby button things are even better. My only complaint would be that the power button seemed a little too high as compared to previous models in the S series.

Read More: Bixbi Button remapper, the best thing to happen to the Bixby button

Software

The Galaxy S10 is running Android 9 Pie with Samsung’s latest design overhaul One UI. For those unaware, One UI is an attempt to make your phone more usable with one hand. Samsung has done a good job with this by shifting most of the buttons you need down further on the screen while keeping information and text labels at the top.

This approach is well suited for the taller aspect ratio phones of the day but, for the most part, you’ll only see this in Samsung’s own apps such as the dialer, messenger, and clock apps.

Another fantastic feature added in One UI is the system-wide dark theme, or night mode. Once enabled, the bright blinding white of the settings menu and notifications panel is changed to black and gray.

Not only is this easier on the eyes, but with an AMOLED display panel, it can also add up to battery savings. Night mode has similar settings to the Blue Light filter, allowing you to manually toggle it on, off, or schedule it only for night time if you choose.

Along with One UI, Android 9 also brings some changes to the UI, most notably the quick settings panel and overview menu. Apps are now shown in a horizontal view rather than vertical, which can have a bit of a learning curve.

READ: First 10 things to do with your Samsung Galaxy S10

READ: Nine tips and tricks for the Samsung Galaxy S10

Android Pie also adds an inferior gesture-based navigation to the Pixel phones but One UI features its own take on gesture-based navigation. Overall, I find Samsung’s approach easier because all you have to do is swipe up over where each of the three navigation buttons used to reside.

Of course, there is a lot more to the Samsung Experience skin and One UI. To learn more about it you can check out our articles on the first 10 things to do with your S10 and nine tips and tricks for the Galaxy S10.

Camera

The camera might very well be the best reason to buy the Galaxy S10. It’s not that it is a huge improvement over the previous Samsung phones but it has more to do with the addition of the ultra-wide camera.

This year, along with the traditional 12-megapixel f/1.5-2.4 and 12MP f/2.4 telephoto cameras, Samsung has added a 16-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera. I have always been envious of the wide-angle cameras on LG phones and, finally, Samsung users have this option as well.

Overall, photos from the S10 were crisp and bright which is a common theme among Samsung flagships. Low light images showed good detail utilizing the low f/1.5 aperture with acceptable amounts of noise.

The Galaxy S10 also features a scene optimizer which is supposed to use software to detect what you’re photographing and enhance the photo based on the subject. In practice, I found all it did was increase the saturation and warm the photo up.

Whether it was a plate of food or a landscape this appeared to be the same result. If you think all your photos need an increase in saturation and a yellow filter applied then make sure to keep scene optimizer toggled on.

To be fair, scene optimizer also provides a couple of useful features, such as automatically switching to a bright night mode and automatically cropping documents.

Aside from taking photos, you also have access to Bixby Vision, AR Emoji, and stickers built into the camera app. All of these services don’t quite live up to their competition in Google Lens, Animoji, and Snapchat but are still there and semi-useful nevertheless. If you like to keep everything under one roof, or are a fan of Samsung, this is a good way to go.

The front-facing camera is a 10-megapixel shooter with an f/1.9 aperture. In the past, I’ve found selfies from Samsung flagships to be too blurry. It is as if they applied a beauty filter even with it disabled. The Galaxy S10 seems to improve upon this with slightly sharper results than previous generations. Regardless, it is still never as detailed as the selfies you can get from using the Google Camera app instead.

Performance

I never once found the performance to be lacking on the Samsung Galaxy S10. In day to day usage, I was able to load all my apps and swap between them without issue.

Samsung phones come with a lot of extra software (read: bloat) which ensures they’ll never be as fast as the Pixel or other phones running lighter skins. With that in mind, the Snapdragon 855 and 8GB RAM the Galaxy S10 is plenty snappy and doesn’t draw complaints from me.

If you are looking to upgrade from one of the S9 models you’ll see a 1-2 second improvement in the loading of larger games – at best. The Galaxy S10 is most certainly not a huge speed improvement over the last generation but it does move the needle forward.

Battery

Over the years I’ve been rather pleased with the battery life on Samsung flagships. The Galaxy S10, however, left me a little wanting in this respect.

In the past I was accustomed to getting 4-5 hours of screen on time from Samsung flagships. The 3400mAh battery in the Galaxy S10 provided me with closer to 3-4 hours on average. This was enough to get me through most days, but it certainly was a noticeable step down.

This year the Galaxy S series stuffs another trick up its sleeves. While wireless charging has been a mainstay in the series for years now, the Galaxy S10 offers reverse wireless charging. With this feature you’ll be able to charge up other phones and accessories wirelessly simply by placing them on the back of the phone.

This is great, but it’s another reason why I wish the S10 had a larger, higher capacity battery. But, to be clear, the charging is very slow and best left for accessories as opposed to juicing up someone else’s phone.

Final Thoughts

Samsung has again delivered one of the most featured packed phones on the market with a price to match. The Galaxy S10 offers up a great display, snappy performance, and one of the best camera experiences. Add in decent battery life, tons of options and additional software features and you have a phone that is built to satisfy a vast majority of users.

Although it will likely have more features than you’ll ever use or ever care about, it does provide something for everyone. That’s largely what helps keep Samsung at the top of the market; it builds a quality phone to please the masses. That doesn’t mean it is the perfect phone for everyone, but it’s one of the safest bets, particularly among Android phones.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Verizon

Devices used in this article were provided by Verizon

AT&T Prepaid doubles data allotment for limited time

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AT&T Prepaid recently began a new, limited-time promotion which sees its customers getting twice as much data for the money.

The $40 rate plan, which normally offers users 8GB of data, now gives them 16GB per month. The price stays the same, it’s just double the data for the mid-range prepaid plan.

In order to take advantage of the plan, AT&T Prepaid subscribers must sign up for the $50 plan with AutoPay automatic bill payment.

In essence, it’s the standard allotment plus an additional 8GB of “bonus data” each month. Customers will use the bonus data first each month and then dip into the regular data. The rate plan also includes unlimited talk and text across North America as well as Rollover Data for the standard bucket. Additionally, it provides HD video and mobile hotspot capabilities.

The next rate plan up for AT&T Prepaid subscribers is $65 per month for unlimited data but it does not include the HD video or mobile hotspot features.

The new promotion runs until July 11, 2019; however, those who sign up for it and maintain consistent payment will stay grandfathered in.

Why unlocked phones are the way to go [PODCAST]

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More and more, phone makers are offering their devices in an unlocked capacity. Did you know that many of the flagship models we see at carriers are also offered direct to consumer?

Going this route frees the consumer up from a contract or long-term obligation and provides peace of mind. Wouldn’t you like to hop from one carrier to another because of a better rate? As we see it, an unlocked phone is the only way to go.

That’s not to say there aren’t things to consider as it’s not the same as purchasing from your service provider.

Our most recent podcast explores the topic of unlocked smartphones, including the benefits, drawbacks, and other things to know about them.

Cool gear to consider as the weather gets warmer

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You smell that? It’s fresh air! The weather is warmer, windows are opening up, and pollen is sneaking its way into our respiratory systems. It’s baseball season and one of our favorite parts of the year.

If you’re like us, you’re probably always on the lookout for new things – particularly gadgets and gizmos. We’re privileged to get the chance to test and review items in the mobile and smart space. Further, we’re only too happy to help you guys and gals know about the things we’re enjoying.

Before you go off blindly buying something because it’s on sale, do a little homework. Ask around, check reviews, and turn to others for help. Like us!

The Weekend Recommender is our way of highlighting the cooler devices we’ve encountered along the way. Generally, it’s an assortment of tech and mobile-related things, but it’s also a handy place to learn about other items, too.

Akaso EK7000 Pro

Cameras are everywhere. They’ve gotten smaller and better with time and we routinely have them out as part of our social life. Hell, they’re in our phones now to the tune of two, three, or four at a time.

Pictures of cats and plants is nice and all, but there are people who have a more active lifestyle that calls for more than just a photo. Action cameras, on the other hand, are what we want when we’re out and about. And no, they’re not just for skateboarding and snowboarding types any longer.

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A lot of social media types, bloggers, and influencers love using action cameras. Why? Because they’re really flexible. While that space tends to be GoPro’s to lose, we’ve seen a steady rise of other brands nipping at its heels. The AKASO EK7000 Pro, for instance, scratches enough of the GoPro Hero itch to satisfy a large segment of users — and it’s much cheaper.

Available for just $75, the camera comes with a whole array of accessories, including a waterproof case, remote, bicycle stand, tethers, clips, and mounts. It’s a terrific starter kit for aspiring vloggers and active types and it won’t break the bank. Bbuilt for the rough and tumble crowd, it can even take a swim up to 130 feet. Just don’t forget to secure it in the waterproof shell.

The Akaso EK7000 Pro features Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) that can capture high-resolution photos. It supports video resolutions in 4K (25fps), 2.7K (30 fps), 1080P (60fps), and 720P (120 fps) and users can change the camera to super wide angle, wide angle, medium angle, or narrow. $75 at Amazon

Jetstream 4K Ultra HD Android TV Box

To us, there’s absolutely nothing better for television than an Android TV experience. That’s not because we’re an Android site, trying to evangelize the platform. Rather, it’s because it lends itself to the way we consume content in 2019.

The Jetstream 4K Ultra HD Android TV Box, from Ematic, is a low-cost way of turning your dumb TV into a smart one. Or, as we see it, the box lets you toss aside the ugly UI and experience that came with your current smart TV. Priced at just $69, it’s sold at Walmart and found in the same space where you’ll find Roku, Fire Stick.

As far as input and output are concerned, the Jetstream offers up a pair of USB-A ports, an ethernet jack, HDMI, optical audio out, and an AV jack. There is also a microSD card slot for local media playback and/or expanding the storage.

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Internally, the set-top box comes with 8GB storage and draws power from a quad-core CPU. With support for Dolby Audio and 4K Ultra HD, it’s more or less everything you need in a TV today.

Given the cheap cost of the Ematic Jetstream we figured that would be the case. We’re happy to report that this unit is actually pretty damn cool and feels polished. In fact, our first sign that things were going to be alright was the dedicated Google Assistant button.

The remote for the Jetstream set-top box has a built-in mic for performing voice searches and shortcut buttons to the Play Store, Netflix, and YouTube. Also included in the box is a set of batteries, and an HDMI cable.

We found the Jetstream to be incredibly easy to set up and configure. It took us longer to log in with our various accounts for streaming services than to initially plug in and get going.

Performance-wise the Jetstream works as well as we’d hoped. The remote is great, responds well, and feels intuitive. We’re able to hop back and forth from app to app with no stuttering or lags. It’s every bit as easy to work with and manage as the NVIDIA SHIELD but without the gaming aspect. $70 at Walmart

Lifeproof LIFEACTÍV Power Pack 10

Writing about portable chargers isn’t always as easy as it seems. After a certain point they all tend to sound about the same. Capacities might differ and some may be a little more outwardly attractive, but they’re largely similar. In short, they’re little bricks or platters that we carry around for extra juice.

Imagine our pleasure when we had the chance to test out the LIFEACTÍV Power Pack 10 from Lifeproof. Yes, the same brand that provides waterproof, dirt proof, and drop proof phone cases is doing the same in the portable power supply space.

Indeed, the LIFEACTÍV Power Pack is the sort of power bank that’s designed to go everywhere you go. Whether that means heading to the beach, on a hike in the woods, or sitting out back at the barbecue pit, it’s built for most environments.

With 10,000mAh worth of battery, there’s enough to charge up most flagship phones three times over. And not just by plugging in through a USB port, either. This one also features support for Qi-equipped phones. Of course there is a USB port for those who would rather plug in directly, too.

Other details found in this charger include automatically stopping charge when devices reach 100 percent, an LED flashlight, and four LED indicator lights. You’ll always know just how much gas is left in the tank. Oh, and the handy wrist strap means you won’t accidentally drop this one because it’s covered in water or snow.

A LIFEACTÍV Power Pack 20 is also available with double the capacity. It’s the same price but trades out the wireless charging capability. If that’s not something you need or desire, we say go with the extra life. $100 at LifeProof

intelliARMOR SCOUT All-in-One Charger

Try as the industry might, we don’t have a universal way of charging our mobile devices. We’re in that transitional period of microUSB and USB-C for most Android phones with some brands fully adopting the latter. Then there’s Apple and its Lightning port. Oh, and then there’s wireless charging, too.

Buying a portable charger for yourself isn’t all that difficult, but if you’re looking to surprise a friend or family member with one, it can be a risky endeavor. Buy the wrong one and it’s essentially useless.

The intelliARMOR SCOUT is an all-in-solution that’s sure to work no matter what phone you’re dealing with. Available in two options, you can go with a 10,000mAh power supply or a 5,000mAh model with wireless charging.

Regardless of which route you take you’ll have built-in cables with microUSB, USB-C, and Lightning connections. It’s also got an AC plug that folds out so you can put it directly into the wall and recharge during down time. To get a sense for how much juice is left simply glance at the 4 LED indicator lights.

And that’s not all. The 2.1A USB port lets you plug anything you want into it; this is perfect for those random cables you tote around for that proprietary charger. Last, but not least, there’s a microUSB charging port if you’d like to plug in.

Both the SCOUT Wireless and SCOUT Max take up about the same space as a 6-inch phone, and each is priced to sell. Buy either one for $50 at intelliARMOR’s website.

Lume Cube Air

As the cameras on phones get better and better, more and more amateur photographers get their start. But, even if those new night modes are on the Pixel, Samsung, and Huawei devices are gaining popularity, there’s no substitute for a good old light. To that end, Lume Cube has released the Lume Cube Air, a compact and portable light that you can bring with you wherever you go.

Coming in about half the length of a credit card, the Lume Cube Air is waterproof, rechargeable, and has Bluetooth built in. It also comes with a standard tripod mount and adjustable light levels. The light is set to 56k with a beam angle of 60-degrees which makes it the perfect spot or fill light for your shoot.

What we’re most impressed with is just how bright the Lume Cube Air gets. With multiple brightness levels (and a strobe effect), there will never be a situation that the Lume Cube Air can’t handle.

In the box, you get two diffusers, a lanyard, and a microUSB charging cable. Hopefully in a future release, we see USB type-C. If you want to pick one up, you can head over to Lume Cube’s website or Amazon and grab one for about $70.

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