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Anker Soundcore Flare+ Review: 360-degree sound and LED lights

Matt Adams
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For some people, me included, music is an essential part of life.  My days are synced to my personal soundtrack and music affects my productivity and mood. At any time, I have a dozen or so headphones, earbuds, and speakers around.

But, I’m no audiophile. I just don’t have that level of sensitivity when it comes to listening to music. I sure wish I did because I’d love to enjoy it even more, but I’m just not built like that. A $30 speaker can make me just as happy as a $300 speaker.

Even though I can enjoy cheaper audio products, you can always tell a difference. To get the price down, companies routinely have to cheap out on parts that make a difference. It’s possible to get cheap headphones or a speaker that provides good bass or a large soundstage, but it’s rare.

Which is why I’m so damn impressed with the Soundcore Flare speaker. Soundcore is a name you might not know yet, but you probably know its parent company, Anker. Anker has a great reputation for producing high-quality products for not a lot of money. It obviously took those lessons and used them for the Soundcore Flare.

Coming in at just $99, this is a speaker that punches way above its weight.

Hardware

Am I crazy to think this thing looks like a vase? But instead of flowers, you get tunes. Alright, maybe I am crazy, but I love the hardware here.

The body’s gentle slope is covered by a soft fabric that reminds us a lot of something like the Urbanears Lotsen speaker. It looks classy and won’t seem out of place in any environment.

That soft fabric is actually highly resistant to dirt too. We saw it pick up the tiniest bit of pet hair during our review period, but that was about it. It never stained or held onto anything from its time around a bonfire or two. If you’re a smoker, you may want to avoid this one because it can hold onto some smells, but that’s about it.

The top of the speaker holds five buttons, play/pause, volume up and down, a button that controls the lighting, and one for extra bass. If there’s one weakness of the Flare+, it is definitely the buttons here. They’re hard to press, provide little feedback and are generally frustrating overall.

The soft touch rubber often holds onto finger grease too. Gross.

The Flare+ advertises 360-degree sound and definitely delivers on that promise. But, there is an obvious front and back. The front has the Soundcore log and the rear houses a wrist strap, a Bluetooth button, and power button. These buttons are equally frustrating to use, but we do love the wrist strap. You aren’t going to take this with you on a nice stroll through the countryside, but the strap does make it a lot easier to carry it while your hands are full of beer and firewood.

The base of the speaker is where it gets really fun. A “halo” LED reacts to the music coming out of the speaker to provide a pretty awesome light show. There are several themes that the speaker follows so you’re not always going to see the same thing. And, if that isn’t enough, you can customize the light show from the Soundcore app. This light really adds a lot to the value of the speaker and I absolutely love it. If you don’t like it as much as I do, you can turn the feature off via the incredibly hard to press the button on top of the speaker.

Rounding out the hardware section, we have a microUSB, full USB, and 3.5mm jack hidden beneath a flap. We really wish there was a USB type-C charging port here. We’re speeding toward the end of 2018 and the USB type-C standard has been popular for nearly two years. It’s time to adapt.

Despite a few rough edges, we think Soundcore did an excellent job here. The speaker is very well built, provides a ton of features, and will stand up great over time.

Sound

But who cares about any of that if it doesn’t sound good, right?

I was initially very impressed with the audio quality of the Soundcore Flare+ and that hasn’t changed. It provides a clear separation of instruments and vocals (as much as you can in a $100 speaker) and some decent bass too.

Now, don’t get your hopes up. Is this going to compete with something from Sonos or a Google Home Max? Absolutely not. It’s about a third of the price and much, much smaller. But, what it will do, is provide the perfect audio for your outdoor party.

Music sounds good and the Flare+ gets INCREDIBLY loud. If you’re in an open-air setting, you’ll have no problem hearing this thing from 30-40 yards away, if not more.

Bass is lovely and present too. With the BassUp (bass boost) turned off, music does feel a little flat so I’ve generally kept it on. The added bass is pretty heavy but doesn’t get muddy which I appreciate.

If you’re willing to invest in two Flare+ speakers, you can pair them together for stereo sound. This is an awesome feature we’ve seen in several speakers through the years. Few get as loud as the Flare+, which is a big advantage for Soundcore. If you’re going camping or hosting an outdoor party, two of these bad boys is all you’ll need.

The only complaint we really have is how distorted the audio can get at higher volumes. Its to be expected since this is a small little guy, but it doesn’t sound wonderful at max volume. We start hearing some distortion at about 75% of max volume and it only gets worse as you increase.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to love with the Soundcore Flare+. Sure, we have our nitpicks, but the number of positives far, far outweigh the negatives.

There are a million Bluetooth speakers out there and even some with flashing LEDs. But we love the implementation here. With the LEDs at the bottom of the speaker, the light bounces off the surface it’s sitting on and gives off a pleasing halo effect. I’m also impressed by how bright it gets. Sure, it looks great at night but even in a well-lit room its very easy to see and is a lot of fun to look at.

Sound is really good for a $100 speaker and I love how much bass you can get out of this little body. Again, you’re not going to rattle the windows, but listening to rock, rap, and EDM was all very pleasing. We even snuck in some Ariana Grande while my daughter was in the room (totally not because I love her voice) and it still sounded great.

I enjoyed my time with the Anker Soundcore Flare+ and think you’ll be impressed if you pick one up too.

Buy the Anker Soundcore Flare+

Android Easter Eggs: The definitive list

Andrew Allen
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For those that may have never heard the term, Easter eggs in this post will not be referring to the wasted pastel omelets you may be used to seeing in April. Rather, they are in reference to hidden UI elements that developers commonly like to stash inside their hard work. It turns out that the folks behind Android also enjoy this tradition and many can be found throughout the evolution of Google’s operating system.

The roadmap to find these “Where’s Waldo” type images has stayed the same over the generations. First, go to the Settings app. Then, System and press About Phone. Got it? Good. Now, tap the Android version repeatedly until you see the hidden treasure pop up on the screen.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread

The commonly accepted birth of the Android Easter egg seems to point to Gingerbread being the first OS build with one included. As with most early ideas, it’s arguably the weirdest one on our list. Yep, you see that right. It’s a zombie Gingerbread man hanging with the Android logo being flanked by a crazed zombie mob. Look, at least they are all using phones that you’d assume are running Google’s favorite OS.

Android 3.0 Honeycomb

Android Honeycomb came with a multitude of changes for the OS. From the “Tron-style” UI changes to the first tablet elements, Honeycomb saw a maturation of the Android operating system that laid the groundwork for where it is today. The Easter egg also saw a much more polished look. Honeycomb stayed true to its moniker and saw a buzzing Android honeybee in the hidden option. Oh, and if you press the Bugdroid you would get the nice “REZZZZ” text, which is another homage to Tron, as Rezzing is the word for creating an object in the film.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Ice Cream Sandwich was seen as a “small” Android release. It did, however, see a new design language that was a continuation of the groundwork laid in Honeycomb. It even got a name: “Holo.” ICS also brought a new twist on one of the most popular internet memes of all-time. Remember Nyan Cat? Yep. The flying rainbow cat. Well, this Android Easter egg borrows heavily from Nyan and starts as an ice cream sandwiched Bugdroid. When long-pressed, the Android mascot becomes a sky riding entity very similar to the Nyan Cat.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Android saw even more additions in 4.1 Jelly Bean. Notifications and the lock screen got an overhaul. It was also the first time that Google moved to Google Chrome as the default browser. Easter eggs were kind of a thing by this point and Google continued the tradition with a sweet, smiling jelly bean.

Tapping and holding the bean-shaped licorice caused the screen to be filled with even more small jelly beans. So, what was the fun part? As the beans bounced around you could manipulate them by flicking them around the screen.

Android 4.4 KitKat

Android KitKat wasn’t seen as a major update, but it was named after one of my favorite chocolate treats. This was news in itself because it marked the first time that Google used a trademarked moniker for an Android release. Google Now is probably the most notable addition found in KitKat but we weren’t denied a new Easter egg.

Once you went through the previously mentioned tapping through the settings. This presented you with a simple splash screen with the letter “K” which you could spin by moving it around with a finger. Tapping it presented a KitKat themed red wrapper with the candy name replaced by the word Android. Tapping this would then drop you into an interesting tile layout with logos paying homage to all the previous Android version.

Android 5.0 Lollipop and 6.0 Marshmallow

I’ve grouped these two together and I promise there’s a reason. Remember the app crazy popular game called Flappy Bird? Well, it was a big deal for consumers and it must have been at Google as well. The company tipped its developer hat to the mobile game on the Easter egg for Android 5.0 Lollipop and 6.0 Marshmallow in back to back releases.

Tapping the Android version opened an image with nice, orange lollipop aptly named “lollipop.” If you continued to tap the stick candy it changed colors, and when long-pressed, you were launched into a very Flappy Bird game avoiding obstacles while flying along as the Bugdroid mascot.

Android 6.0 followed this with a similar scenario, but with a few twists. First, you had to avoid floating marshmallows as your main source of barriers while flying about. The big kicker was that this version of the Easter egg brought multi-player functionality to the encoded game. There are additional plus and minus icons at the top of the screen to allow for up to 6 players to interact at a time and add quite a bit of challenge.

Android 7.0 Nougat

Lollipop and Nougat received closely related versions of their Easter eggs and came with its own duality in a different way. Android 7.0 technically had two releases of its Easter Egg and both were completely different. The first came in the form of another popular internet sensation and the Android N developer preview 4.

“Namey McNameface” is a nod to the Boaty McBoatface meme that swept the web after British intelligence left the internet, yes the internet, to vote on the name of its new research ship. Well, people are funny (and sometimes the worst) and they overwhelmingly chose Boat McBoatface. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long on the dev preview and was replace when Android Nougat became official.

Yep, instead, it was another cat-related game that took over in Nougat’s proper release. Namey McNameface was replaced by Android Neko. This is a nod to a popular Japanese game with the main goal of collecting cats. Just like all the Easter eggs before it the hidden feature is revealed with the same UI combinations from Settings.

One key difference is that once it’s turned on the Neko cat game is played by turning on a new Quick Settings toggle in the notification shade. A new option will be there for “Android Easter Egg” and you can add the new cat-themed icon to the shade toggles. Once launched, you have an empty dish and you have to lure kittens to the plate by adding food to the dish. After this, you can then add, delete, and rename the cats in your collection.

Android 8.0 Oreo

While Android O was monikered with another trademarked name of Oreo, it was also an ode to the latest Easter egg to be found in the OS. Getting to the nugget is the same all story with trudging through the Settings and tapping the Android version several times. Then you are greeted with a giant “O” that looks understandably similar to an Oreo.

After a long-press of the Oreo, you are launched into an ocean scene with a floating octopus with a head that’s actually shaped like an Easter egg. While he’ll happily splash around all on his own, you can use your finger to maneuver the sea creature around the screen. As you slide him across you will see the octopus change size and alter to the corners and edges of the phone.

Android 9.0 Pie

Every one likes Pie. And if you don’t, I simply don’t trust you. Android 9.0 has been a huge overhaul of both the UI and backend processes. We’ve also seen a huge push of Google’s artificial intelligence getting a more user-facing existence within the OS. However, when compared to its heritage, the Easter egg is very colorful but also subtle.

You will need to navigate to your trusty Settings in the Menu and go through the taps of the Android version. Then you are presented with a crazy psychedelic splash screen with a “P” on display. This time, there’s no game or cute creatures. The longer you keep the screen active the rings move and the colors change. You can also pinch to zoom it. That’s it. Simple but don’t stare too long.

Those are all the Android Easter eggs currently available in Android today. People have their own personal favorites, but which one is yours? We’d also love to hear your ideas for what might be there in Android “Q” next year. Hit up the comments to sound off with your suggestions and favorites.

Amazon introduces a truckload of new Echo devices including an upgraded smart display

Alexandra Arici
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Amazon this week took the world by surprise and announced over 70 new devices, customer features and developer tools across its Alexa, Echo and Fire TV platforms.

Amazon wants you to be able to access Alexa from everywhere in your house, office and even front your car or truck, so it has updated its line-up of with a wide range of Echo devices and companion devices.

Here are all the hardware novelties

All-new Echo Show

In response to Google’s upcoming smart display, Amazon unveiled the all-new Echo Show smart speaker. The second-generation device features a vibrant 10-inch screen, instead of the 7-inch one of its predecessor. It’s also wrapped in fabric, a design feature that makes us think of the Google Home family.

The upgrade also integrates a small home hub to allow users to control compatible Zigbee smart home devices. The product will ship with two 10W speakers, Dolby processing for fuller sound, as well as dual 2-inch premium drivers and a passive bass radiator. So compared to the first iteration, the all-new Echo Show should be able to offer big improvements in terms of sound quality.

The second-gen Echo Show is currently up for pre-order for $230. The product is expected to start shipping out on October 11.

All-new Echo Dot

Amazon also unveiled a beefier third-generation Echo Dot device. The new model integrates new fabric covers just like the new Echo Show and also boasts improved audio capabilities. Amazon says the new version is 70% louder.

However, other things haven’t changed on board the new Dot. You still get the basic user experience, complete with the same four-button layout. Interestingly enough, Amazon has removed three of the speaker’s microphones, leaving just four on board.

The all-new Echo Dot is now up for pre-order for $49.99. Shipments are set to commence on October 11, like in the case of the new Echo Show.

All-new Echo Plus

Amazon’s new range-topping speaker also features a new fabric-design. The product has also been updated with much clearer sound and more powerful bass. Moreover, Amazon has included a new temperature sensor, so users can now ask Alexa what the temperature in a room is.

Apart from that, the new Echo Plus retains the main features of last year’s model including the built-in smart home hub.

The device is currently available for pre-order for $149.99 (you’ll get a Philips Hue light bulb included).

Echo Auto

Amazon wants to take over your car as well, so it has unveiled the Echo Auto, a convenient way to get Alexa in your vehicle. This is a peripheral that uses your phone cellular connection (via a Bluetooth link) to offer the convenience of having Alexa in your car.

The device can use location-based routines to trigger certain actions based on where you are. For example, the lights can turn on in your living room, as you’re pulling into the driveway.

While Echo Auto is not yet a finished product, it will eventually cost $49.99. However, Amazon will be offering it at a discounted price of $24.99 for early users. Shipping is expected to start later in 2018.

On top of these fully-fledged Echo devices, Amazon also introduced a series of new Echo accessories, which include the following:

Echo Wall Clock

The Echo Wall Clock is a device that’s designed to display the timers you’ve set with Alexa. To do so, the Clock is using a ring of LEDs around the clock face to display your active timers.

The Echo Wall Clock does not feature any microphones, and it will connect with any Alexa devices you may have around the house via Bluetooth. The product will launch later this year for $29.99.

Echo Input

Amazon also introduced a small device that users can plug into any existing speaker to turn it into an Echo. It’s called Echo Input and comes bundling far-field microphones.

The Echo Input can be considered Amazon’s answer to Google’s Chromecast Audio. The device will sell for $34.99 and will become available next year in several markets across the globe including the US.

Echo Sub

The retail giant is really putting a focus on audio with its latest batch of devices. The company also unveiled the Echo Sub, which is a new subwoofer that can be paired with an existing Echo speaker. It has a total of 100W of power and includes a 6-inch woofer.

The device can be synced with up to two speakers at a time, for those who crave a stereo system-like experience. Customers will be able to get it for $129.99.

Echo Link and Link Amp

Last but not least, Amazon has launched the Echo Link, which is a device you can connect to existing amplifiers to get improved audio.

On top of that, the company has also pulled the wraps off the Link Amp which includes a 60-watt dual-channel amplifier. The two products don’t include microphones and are designed to work in tandem with existing Echo devices.

The Echo Link will go on sale for $199.99, while the Link Amp features a pretty considerable $299.99 price tag.

Why it matters

Amazon is striving to make Alexa a vital component of every-day life and with this new family of devices, the company is definitely one step closer to achieving its ambitious goal. Smart home connected devices are all the rage right now, and Amazon is doing everything it can to stay ahead of the competition. Speaking of which, we might get to see a bunch of new smart home products from Google too, soon enough.

Samsung’s Galaxy A7 is the company’s first tri-camera phone

Alexandra Arici
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Samsung is hosting “A Galaxy” event on October 11 and one of the devices rumored to arrive on that date was the next-gen Galaxy A7. Well, it seems that won’t be the case, as Samsung just introduced the phone via a press release.

What makes the new handset interesting is that it’s the first in Samsung’s portfolio to feature a tri-camera setup on the back. It’s also a middle-ranger, so it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg like the Huawei P20 Pro. Although knowing Samsung’s price schemes for its mid-range offerings it won’t be super affordable either.

The Galaxy A7 is a mid-ranger packed with premium features

Anyway, first thing’s first. Let’s take a quick look at the new phone’s design and specs. The Galaxy A7 features a glass body and has the fingerprint scanner living on the side. In an era where phone’s are getting larger, the A7 boasts a large 6-inch InfinityDisplay with 1080 x 2220 resolution and Samsung’s now signature 18:5:9 aspect ratio.

The company will be offering the Galaxy A7 up with either an octa-core Snapdragon or an Exynos chip, depending on the market.

The phone will ship in three configurations, as follows:

  • 4GB of RAM + 64GB of storage + microSD card slot
  • 4GB of RAM + 128GB of storage
  • 6GB of RAM + 128GB of storage

Other specs include a 3,300 mAh battery and Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Sorry folks, no Android 9.0 Pie just yet.

Why this matters?

Because the Galaxy A7 is the first mid-range to come with a tri-camera setup. Speaking of which, the arrangement consist of a 24MP+8MP+5MP combination. The main sensor boasts pixel-binning technology, which is used to combine info gathered by for pixels for finer details. This is similar to what Huawei is doing on the P20 Pro. Although Samsung is using this system to improve low-light shots.

As for the 8MP sensor, it offers f/2.4 aperture and is an ultra-wide, 120-degree lens. While the 5MP one brings f/2.2 and is a depth sensor for portrait photos. On the front, Samsung has outfitted the phone with a 24-megapixel (f/2.0) selfie snapper. Samsung has also thrown in some special camera tricks, like being able to adjust bokeh effect strength as you take a picture.

The Samsung Galaxy A7 will be available in four colors including Black, Gold, Pink and Blue and will initially go on sale in Europe and Asia this fall. The smartphone will eventually roll out to other markets, which hopefully means the US too. Samsung hasn’t said anything about pricing yet, but maybe we’ll get more details during the October 11 event?

Hot Take: Everything announced at the latest Amazon event (Episode 27)

Andrew Myrick
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Join us as we sit down and discuss some of the hot tech topics out there today. Amazon held an event at its headquarters in Seattle and unveiled a slew of new products. We take a look at everything being offered and what it means for the smart home industry.

What we talked about today

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All the major smartphone releases we can expect in October

Alexandra Arici
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After a rather uneventful summer, it’s high time that we get some action, don’t you agree? Well, as we see it right now October is shaping up to be quite an interesting month. For some reason, a large number of Android OEMs have chosen this month to unveil their latest flagship efforts.

The schedule is pretty tight, so we won’t have much time to breathe in between. So in case, you’re wondering, here are all the big October Android announcements that you need to mark in your calendar. We wouldn’t want you to miss anything.

LG V40 ThinQ is coming on October 4

LG was been super prolific this year in terms of flagship smartphones. The V40 will be the third model from the V family launching this year. It’s set to follow the V30S ThinQ and the V35 ThinQ. Also this year, the Korean company unveiled the LG G7 ThinQ.

And now in a few short weeks, LG is going to take the wraps off the LG V40 ThinQ. Unlike the previous models launched this year, the phone is expected to feature a notched display just like the G7 ThinQ. The screen will be 6.4-inch in size and of POLED variety with 19:5:9 aspect ratio.

The phone’s rumored remaining specs are in line with most of today’s flagships and they include a Snapdragon 845, 6GB of RAM and five cameras on board. Indeed, it seems like the industry is moving in the direction first paved by Huawei with the P20 Pro. If rumors are correct, we should see the V40’s back host a combination of 12MP+16MP+12MP sensors. The front will be also upgraded to two 8MP+5MP sensors.

Other features expected with the V40 ThinQ include Quad DAC, Stereo Boombox and IP68 certification. Hopefully, the phone will launch with Android Pie out of the box.

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are coming on October 9

Five days after LG’s announcement, we expect Google to take the stage in New York and unveil its next-gen Pixel 3 phones. The first alleged press renders showing the phones in their full glory leaked yesterday. Thus confirming that the Pixel 3 will continue to sport a classic design, while the Pixel 3 XL will feature a pretty large notch on front.

At this point, we pretty much already know almost everything about the Pixel 3. Both will bring new features like wireless charging, Snapdragon 845, and improved cameras.

Speaking of which, while some manufacturers are putting three cameras on the back of their phones, Google is sticking to the classic formula: one sensor on the back. However, both Pixel 3s will have dual-front cameras and will launch with Android 9 Pie. Obviously, a few things will vary including display specs, battery size and perhaps even the amount of RAM offered.

Razer Phone 2 is coming on October 10

Right the next day we’re going to see another important smartphone announcement. This time Razer, will introduce its second attempt at making a gaming phone during an event scheduled to take place at the company’s headquarters in California.

However, the current information we have at our disposal hints that the Razer Phone 2 will be quite similar to the first iteration. According to a recent leak, the Razer Phone 2 which is codenamed “aura” will take advantage of last year’s Snapdragon 835. Other specs include 8GB of RAM, a 120GHz QHD display and Android 8.1 Oreo, just like the first generation Razor Phone.

Interestingly, the phone will apparently ship out with the Chroma app pre-installed. This is a Razor-developer LED lighting system which is usually used on the company’s keyboards and mice. Why is the Chroma app on the Razor Phone 2? According to industry insider Roland Quandt, this is because the phone will have the ability to light up when notifications come in.

New Galaxy phones coming on October 11

Samsung has set a highly mysterious event called “A Galaxy Event” for October 11. It’s speculated that the tech giant will unveil a new phone(s) from the formerly (?) mid-range Galaxy A lineup.

The teaser “4x fun” seems to suggest Samsung is prepping a device will have either four cameras on the back or a total of four cameras. Or maybe we’ll see two devices during the event.

Some recent leaks have suggested one of these devices could be the Galaxy A7, which is rumored to come with a triple camera assembly on the rear, as well as a Bixby button. On top of that, the Galaxy A9 Star Pro could also be in the cards. Word on the street has it, this might be the first Samsung phone to feature four cameras on the back.

Later edit: Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy A7 with a tri-camera setup on the back. The phone will launch in select European and Asian markets at first, and then will expand into other markets.

Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro coming on October 16

Huawei’s next-gen flagships the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro will be unveiled in London on October 16. The two handsets will be the first to take advantage of Huawei’s newly announced Kirin 980 processor, which is based on a 7nm process.

On top of that, we heard the Mate 20 will probably come with a 6.3-inch LCD display, while the Mate 20 Pro will take advantage of a 6.9-inch OLED one. Both devices will feature a unique teardrop-shaped notch at the top.

We also expect at least one of the two models to feature a triple camera setup, which will be distinctively arranged in a square, together with the LED flash.

OnePlus 6T coming on October 17

This one wasn’t officially confirmed by the company. The date was deduced from a screenshot released by OnePlus which shows the date October 17 on what we assume to be the 6T’s display.

Last year, the OnePlus 5T was unveiled in November, so it appears this year the Chinese company will launch its second flagship for the year a little bit earlier.

The device is expected to feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a tiny notch on top. It will include a Snapdragon 845 processor, in-display fingerprint scanner and Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.

What’s more, it appears OnePlus has partnered up with US mobile carrier, T-Mobile which will exclusively sell the device in America.

Notch-less smartphone showdown: Sony Xperia XZ3 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Alexandra Arici
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It’s autumn, so we’re expecting a new wave of shiny flagships to be hitting soon. In October, we should see Google unveil the Pixel 3. LG will also launch the V40 ThinQ, while Huawei is expected to introduce the Mate 20 series. And if rumors are correct, the OnePlus 6T will also make a debut during the very same month.

But also in October, Sony’s latest Xperia XZ3 should go on sale in the US. The phone was announced at IFA 2018 in late August and seems to have some potential.

If you feel like you can’t wait until October, and you need to feel a new phone in your hands right now, you could opt to buy the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung’s latest flagship device. The handset is already available for purchase from major retailers and carriers in the US.

But should you spend your money on the Note 9 now or wait for the new devices to hit the market? Well since some of them haven’t been announced yet, we’re going to take this opportunity to compare the Xperia XZ3 against the Galaxy Note 9 and see if it’s worth the wait or not.

Do looks matter?

Of course, they do. Everyone wants to flaunt a sleek smartphone, right? Well if you love Samsung’s curved InfinityDisplay, you’ll be more than satisfied by the Galaxy Note 9. Compared to what we’ve seen on the Note 8, Samsung kept the overall design with the Note 9.

You’ll get the same curved front and sandwiched metal rim which makes the smartphone feel distinctly modern and premium. But the biggest design difference compared to the previous model is that now the fingerprint sensor sits below the camera, and not next to it.

The glass back also means the Galaxy Note 9 has wireless charging. It also includes an IP68 rating for water damage and a headphone jack. Thankfully for some, the Note 9 foregoes the notch, that display cutout which we have seen on so many 2018 smartphones.

Similarly, the Sony Xperia XZ3 is also a device for the classical smartphone user. It does not have a notch, although it does feature a modern elongated body and 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone features a 6-inch HDR OLED display, which is a bit smaller than the Note 9’s 6.4-inch Super AMOLED one.

The highlight here is the display which is powered by Sony’s Bravia TV image processing technology. The company says this means the phone will be able to deliver more accurate details, depths, and texture in every scene when watching video and pictures.

What’s more, the screen also takes advantage of Sony’s Triluminous Display which should deliver an abundant palette of colors, as well as more natural shades and hues. Sony also uses what it calls X-Reality for mobile image processing engine to make pictures appear sharper, reduce noise and offer better contrast.

Like the Galaxy Note 9, the Xperia XZ3 is a glass/metal sandwich. Sony has used an all-new 7000-series aluminum alloy frame, which is apparently among the highest-strength available today.

Unlike the Samsung flagship, the Xperia XZ3 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack, although it is IP65/IP68 rated. It’s also Qi wireless charging enabled.

Taking a look at the entrails

When it comes to performance, the two flagships are pretty similar. They both rely on a Snapdragon 845, although the Note 9 arrives with up to 8GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. As for the Xperia XZ3, it will ship with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage with up to 512GB microSDXC card support. Which is still a petty solid configuration.

When it comes to battery, the Sony flagship relies on a 3,330 mAh battery, while the Galaxy Note 9 has a large 4,000 mAh powerhouse. It has Quick Charge, so once it gets depleted, you’ll be able to juice it back up again in no time.

Other Xperia XZ3 features worth mentioning are the speakers. Compared to the previous device they gotten 20% larger. Sony has also expanded the range of bass and treble frequencies for overall louder volume and included Hi-Res Audio.

There’s also the experimental force-feedback experience included with this release. It’s called the Sony Dynamic Vibration System. This is a more powerful, more advanced haptic feedback system that enhances music, movies, and games.

On the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung is taking advantage of its acquisition of Harman and associated audio brands, so the Note 9 external stereo speakers are tuned by AKG. You also get two drivers. So overall the speakers should manage to deliver sound that’s far fuller and bassier than most.

Cameras

The Sony Xperia XZ3 didn’t get massive upgrades in the photo department compared to its predecessor. There’s the same 19MP Motion Eye main camera system with 4K HDR recording and 1080 FHD super-slow-motion video capture at 960 fps. Yet, this time around you’ll get a more streamlined camera interface.

Users will also be able to enjoy the benefits of a new 13-megapixel sensor with f/1.9 and improved viewfinder. This means you’ll be able to take advantage of bokeh and beauty functions in real-time in the front camera interface.

As for the Galaxy Note 9, it gets the dual camera treatment with two 12-megapixel sensors on the back. The phablet also imported one of the biggest features of the Galaxy S9 duo, and that’s mechanical aperture. This allows the camera to manually switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 modes while capturing images.

Samsung has also added a new shooting mode called Intelligent Camera which should “intelligently recognize what you’re looking at“.  From there, the phone will automatically optimize various settings to make the picture look their best. Other phones like the LG G7 ThinQ and Honor 10 offer similar features.

Other features

Obviously, the Galaxy Note 9 ships with the iconic S Pen which is new and improved. For example, the stylus now has Bluetooth built into it, so you can simply press the button on it to control the camera.

The phone also comes with DeX mode that will simply turn on when you connect an HDMI to USB-C adapter to the Note 9 and any monitor. No additional dock needed. Samsung is aiming to provide a second-screen experience with DeX, instead of trying to mimic a desktop. Basically, you can use the extra screen to play a video, using the phone as you normally would.

You also have two voice assistants: the Google Assistant and Bixby. Samsung’s own virtual helper is in version 2, so you should expect an improved experience.

While the Sony Xperia XZ3 doesn’t have all that, it does ship with the latest version of Android currently available, Android 9.0 Pie.  And knowing Samsung, we won’t see that too soon on the Galaxy Note 9.

Price

Both of these phones are super expensive devices. The Sony Xperia XZ3 will hit the market on October 17 and will take you back with $899.99. It will available from Amazon and Best Buy.

As for the Galaxy Note 9, it starts at around $1,000 depending on where you choose to buy it from. The 8GB of RAM + 512GB storage model is even more expensive at about $1,250.

The Galaxy Note 9 is indeed the most feature-rich here, but the Xperia XZ3 has its highlights including a great display and superior camera. So what will it be? Well, it depends on your preferences, of course.

Motorola Moto G6 review

AndroidGuys
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0

It’s Motorola season in the world of smartphones. As of the time we’re putting together this review there are multiple devices sprinkling out into various pockets of the world. Moreover, there’s another model just emerging from behind the curtain in the form of the Z3. Today, though, we’re talking about the Moto G6.

We’re huge fans of Motorola, and always appreciate when it delivers a new phone. For starters, we love the way it leaves Android almost completely untouched. Additionally, we like the price point of its devices.

Let’s take a look at the Moto G6 and dive into our impressions. Note that we have had the review unit for a few weeks now, going back and forth between it, our main phone, and other devices.

No Mo’ Moto?

Interestingly, the phone says “Motorola” on it where previously it would have simply said “Moto”. As a sign of where things are going, at least for the time being, it feels like a new vision while not diverging from its predecessors. The G6 comes across as very much like its forebears with a hint of “new” in the process.

Does this phone signal that Motorola is heading off on a different trajectory? Not quite. There’s a lot here that’s familiar and par for the Motorola course. As to why the name change or branding adjustment, we’re not sure what’s up there.

Design

For lesser demanding users, AKA the Moto G6 target demographic, the hardware is sufficient. We don’t see any reason this package couldn’t last two years for its user base.

Priced just $250 at launch (now just $230), the phone has the appearance of a more expensive device. Maybe we’re still somehow conditioned to think that this price tag means cheaply constructed or plastic materials. Whatever it is, we like the physical look and feel of the Moto G6.

As it pertains to layout and construction, it’s much like anything else from the Motorola camp these days. And, really, it’s not all that ambitious or different from competitors.

On the right edge (facing the screen) of the phone you locate the volume buttons, and just below that, the power button. There’s a knurled pattern etched onto the power so it’s easy to identify in the dark or without glancing.

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Find it with your thumb and you can slide up just smidge to get the volume rocker. All buttons responded very nicely to the touch, providing solid feedback. It’s quite obvious as to whether or not you’ve pressed them.

You won’t find anything on the left edge of the phone. Up above is the SIM card and microSD card tray whereas the USB Type C charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack are down on the bottom edge.

Below the screen you find one hardware button. It works as a fingerprint sensor but also for multiple functions across Android. Indeed, it can be used for back, menu, and home. Though it’s not enabled by default, it is a nice alternative to the standard navigation used for the platform. If it’s your first time using Android, it’s easy to learn; for seasoned owners, it’s fairly easy to learn but sometimes awkward.

Around back is the dual camera configuration which is nested in the upper center of the phone. Just below that is the stylized Motorola logo. It’s printed into the finish and doesn’t have any edges or texture to is.

The Motorola Moto G6 is built with a shiny but durable glass material. Reflective, somewhat slippery, and easily broken, it gives off the appearance of a phone that costs more than it does.

The glass gives off an attractive shine and catches light in ways that draw the eye in for a closer look. On appearance alone it’s hard to imagine this handset being as budget friendly as it truly is.

The Moto G6 is a little bit slippery to the touch, and it likes to pick up oils and smears from your fingers. We found ourselves wiping it with a shirt or against a pant leg out of habit and wanting to keep it clean.

The color of our review unit is “Black” but we felt like it’s almost a really dark grey and silver at times. Black is a pretty accurate term, but you could have convinced us that it was Slate or Midnight Pewter.

The Motorola Moto G6 has a a 5.7-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, meaning it fits in hand nicely. At this size it also packs plenty of space for text and photos.

The curved back and edges deliver an experience that’s easy to hold. Whether you’re dealing with one hand or two, the phone is comfortable and inviting.

Performance

A mid-range phone to be sure, the Snapdragon 450 processor is complemented with 3GB RAM. We’re now at a point where this is the acceptable amount of memory and processor to suffice in a daily driver — just as long as you’re not looking for blazing speeds and benchmark busting numbers.

Does this mean the Moto G6 is slow and sluggish? For most users, that’s probably not the case. The more data-heavy apps, flashy games, or larger files might hinder performance but day-to-day stuff is alright.

Given we tend to use flagship and high-end devices as our daily drivers, we happen notice the slowed performance. It’s not all the time, but often enough that we were reluctant to throw our full suite of everyday apps and games on it and go all-in right out of the gate.

Most apps and games worked as expected, but some were a touch slower to open. We suspect that a typical user wouldn’t catch on to anything. Nothing happened that gave us pause or caused us any real frustration.

Given the Android build is almost untouched, there’s no lag for custom Motorola touches or enhancements. We’ve seen phones, even on the higher end, that feel like they chug or sputter from time to time. It’s usually the “skins” or branded experience that use more resources. We’re happy to say that’s not the case here.

The 3,000mAh battery is rated to last one day, per Motorola. That’s right in line with other phones with similar capacities, but just under what we qualify as a “day’s” worth.

Depending on how early you start your day, and how much you use your phone, the Moto G6 could end up going the distance. But, for us, it tends to get to around 25 percent come the end of a work day. Not to worry, though, the phone charges up quick.

Put the Moto G6 on a charger for about 15-30 minutes and you’ll have more than enough to end your day, regardless of where you were. The TurboPower fast-charging system via the USB Type-C is always awesome to have.

Camera

The dual-rear camera setup takes great photos but it’s not like what you’ll find on the Pixel 2 or OnePlus 6. Then again, you’re also not spending that sort of money. What you do get, though, is a consistent experience that’s more than worthy of social media and sharing.

The “active photos” is a nice touch that captures a smidge of video before and after you take your picture. It’s not unlike what Google, Apple, and others are starting to do with their cameras.

The camera app is easy to use and there are plenty of options to play with, including spot color, panoramic, face filters (think Snapchat or Instagram), and portraits. In terms of video, you get slow motion, timelapse, and face filters.

Using the two sensors, portrait gives users the ability to selectively determine the focal point. It’s the little blur that has your subject popping off the background; it’s possible to adjust this after your picture is taken, too.

Like other modern phones, the Motorola Moto G6 employs artificial intelligence to identify subject and objects. Landmarks, food, text, and other things each get a slightly different tweak ahead of taking the picture.

The Moto G6 can capture video at 1080p (30fps/60fps) but there’s no 4K. If that’s something you already come to like in a phone, you’ll miss it here.

Conclusion

We really admire the Moto G series of phones. In fact, it’s one of our favorite models year in and year out. The 2018 is exactly what we had hoped for, meaning it’s a lot of handset for the money.

As much as it makes sense to see flagships and big-budget phones across multiple carriers, we’d appreciate having these there, too. Understanding that a lot of pre-paid and second-tier service providers offer the Moto G6, we think it would be well-received at the bigger carriers.

We’re always a fan of the stripped down Android experience and Motorola does just that. You get a very recent version of Google’s operating system with only minimal extras. Moreover, they’re opt-in, meaning you don’t have to employ anything fancy or custom.

If you’re on the hunt for a wallet-friendly affair that’s got enough oomph to handle your daily tasks, the Motorola Moto G6 should be on your short list.

In brief: Mobile news worth knowing (9/19/18)

Matt Adams
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0

Welcome to In Brief, the AndroidGuys tech briefing. Today is Monday, September 17 and we’re taking a look at all the tech news you need to know. In this post, we want you to learn about the news the way you want to learn. We’ve embedded a podcast version of all this news below. If you don’t want to listen, you can read just like you normally would.

Today we’re taking a look at the allegedly official pictures of the Pixel 3, an opportunity to play Fortnite with streaming legend Ninja, and more.

We’d love feedback on this post, so please let us know what you think in the comments. If we can improve in some way, we’d love to know!

Podcast coming soon…

Get your first look at the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL

Excited about Google’s Pixel 3 making a debut on October 9? We feel you. Well, it’s not long before the new Pixels will go live, but if you feel like you can’t wait any longer, we have a juicy, new leak for you.

The alleged first official press renders showing the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL has just popped up online. The images confirm the fact that the larger Pixel 3 will indeed come sporting a hefty notch on the front, while the smaller Pixel 3 will be sticking to the classic design.

The devices are shown with an official Google fabric case on, so their backs are not fully visible. Even so, we can spot the single camera lens and the rear fingerprint scanners on both models.

While Google launched the first and second Pixel devices in San Francisco, the search giant decided to host the launch event for the Pixel 3 in New York this time around. Don’t forget to tune in on October 9 if you want to know the whole story.  — Alexandra Arici

Samsung wants to team you up with Ninja to play some Fortnite

Want to game with Ninja? Well, now you have a chance. Samsung and the ultra-popular e-sports star are teaming up for a special promotion.

Contestants have the chance to win a grand prize which includes a spot in Ninja’s squad, a 65-inch QLED television, a 49-inch QLED gaming monitor, and a pair of premium AKG noise-canceling headphones.

Three runners-up will also win the gaming pack and one hundred third prize winners will take home a pair of AKG noise-canceling headphones.

So, how do you win? Post your coolest photos or videos from you playing Fornite in the exclusive Galaxy skin with the hashtags #NinjaGalaxySuad and #contest on Twitter or Instagram. The contest runs until September 30, and Samsung will announce the winners in early October. — Matt Adams

Google signs a massive auto partnership for Maps and more

Car makers have long been criticized for their pitiful mapping and infotainment systems. Now, one these companies is stepping up to do something about it.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the largest automaker in the world, has signed a deal with Google to include Android Automotive in its cars starting in 2021.

This is a massive deal for Google who is generally looked at as the consumer mapping king. Most people know and love Google Maps for a reason and now they will have a chance to use a baked-in version of the mapping and turn-by-turn direction system in their cars.

But, it’s more than just Maps. The Google Play Store is coming too. This will give users the opportunity to download and use automotive-optimized apps instead of relying on Android Auto integration from their phones.

Each of the auto manufacturers will have the ability to apply a skin to the operating system. This gives us some pause initially, but it has been explained that the manufacturers want to match the interface to their existing vehicles and features like Google Assistant will still work just the same. — Matt Adams

Google’s new Rewards program rolls out in Japan, but where next?

Google’s previously rumored loyalty program called Google Play Points just went official today. Although, there’s one catch. Its only available in Japan for the time being.

The program aims to reward users based on the funds spent in the Play Store when buying apps and games. The system features five different tires including bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond.

Users will be awarded a point for each $0.90 spent (100 yen). However, as one progresses through the levels, you’ll have the chance to receive more points based on your purchases. For example, at the Diamond level, you receive two points for $0.90 spent.

The points can be exchanged for Google Play credit or you can directly spend them on apps and games in store. Alternatively, you can use them to discount certain items in the store.  — Alexandra Arici

Sony’s new flagship is available at Amazon in the US

Sony introduced the Xperia XZ3 during IFA 2018 in Berlin and this week the flagship went up for pre-order in the US. The official release date is set for September 24, so that’s when you can expect the product to start shipping out to customers.

But are you willing to shed $899.99? Because that’s how much the Xperia XZ3 costs in the US. The phone will be sold unlocked and it will be compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Unfortunately, subscribers of Sprint and Verizon will have to look somewhere else.

If you order now, Sony is also throwing a pair of free Xperia Ear Duo. The flagship comes boasting a notch-less QHD OLED display and packs a Snapdragon 845 processor, backed up by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

It also features a single camera on the back that’s capable of capturing 960fps slow-motion video. It’s the first phone to become commercially available with Android 9.0 Pie pre-installed. You can place your pre-orders at Amazon. — Alexandra Arici

Buy the Sony Xperia XZ3

Fitbit announces a new connected platform

Fitbit today has announced a new platform called Fitbit are that connects users to coaches. Known mostly for its fitness trackers, the company is now offering a personalized service to make it easier for those who want to get into shape to track their fitness goals, lose weight and manage chronic diseases.

To access these features, users will have to download a special app called Fitbit Plus, that pulls health info from whatever Fitbit trackers they might have laying around the house, or from other sources like a blood pressure monitor.

Interestingly, Fitbit is actually targeting the business sector with its new service. For example, Health insurer Humana has already started enrolling people into Fitbit Care.

Fitbit’s goals for Fitbit Care are quite ambitious. The company hopes the new tool will help tackle some of the most complex problems of modern medicine. Like getting people to change their behavior and lowering the costs of health-care. — Alexandra Arici

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How to Run Android apps in your Chrome browser on any PC

Alexandra Arici
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4

Want to run Android apps on your laptop or desktop, but you don’t have a Chromebook? Don’t worry, you can still do it. You might not know this, but Chrome has a tool that lets you test out Android apps in-browser.

Certainly, it makes sense to put some Android apps on your laptop. We’re talking about those that have no web equivalent like Snapchat or Evernote. Not to mention games. Any app that’s frustrating to use on a smaller screen, will probably work a lot better on the laptop or desktop.

The tool you need to use in order to be able to run Android apps on your device is called ARC Welder. Originally ARC, which stands for App Runtime for Chrome was an experiment specifically designed for app developers, but now almost anyone can take advantage of it.

However, keep in mind that ARC Welder is based on Android 4.4 and comes with a few limitations including:

  • You can only load one app at the time
  • You need to select whether you want the app to launch in Portrait or Landscape mode
  • You have to opt for tablet- or phone-mode

With that being said, let’s see how you can install the tool.

Install ARC Welder

Open the Chrome browser on your laptop or desktop computer, head on to the Chrome Web Page for ARC Welder and add the extension to your browser. After the short installation process, you should be able to start using Android apps on your desktop.

All desktop systems are supported including Windows 10, MacOS, and Linux. So the extension should work regardless of whether you’re using a Windows laptop or a Macbook.

However, we need to note that ARC Welder has been specifically designed for Chrome OS. The tool will highlight that saying that “You are using ARC Welder on a non-Chrome OS device. Platform-specific bugs exist.” This is a warning that not everything will work smoothly.

Find and download APK files

ARC Welder works with APK files, so in order to get Android apps to run on your PC, you will have to find and download the APK files of the apps you want to get on desktop.

We recommend you give a try one of these APK databases which offer a large selection of apps and games:

Use ARC Welder to run them

Once you’ve downloaded an APK, simply click on the “Add your APK” button to start testing. It will take a few seconds for it to load, but once it does, you’ll need to do a few additional things. Like select the orientation, form factor or whether the app should the resized.

Next, press test and wait for the app to load. It will do so in a separate window. We have to warn you that some of the apps will probably fail to load, as we found out in our testing. Some simply crash for inexplicable reasons.

For example, Instagram did not load for us, while Messenger Lite and Twitter worked just fine. Although the animations were a bit slow to load, the overall experience was pretty decent.

The majority of the games we tried to test didn’t work. Some did load the first screen, but then crashed afterwards, so this is a hit-and-miss kind of deal. Unfortunately, those who would like to test out games that are frustrating to play on a small smartphone screen, won’t have too much luck to do so.

Nope 🙁

Nevertheless, some app will work just fine, so if you’re patient enough you’ll find some that do.

If you tried out ARC Welder before, let us know in the comment section below which apps or games worked for you.

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