Today marks a monumental day in the history of communication. Indeed, this is the 90th anniversary of Motorola. As a brand that’s been in the game for as long as anyone, they’ve seen their fair share of historic firsts.
If you visit the Motorola blog today, you’ll find a quick trip through time, marking nine of the biggest achievements in the company’s history. Chances are extremely high that you’ve directly or indirectly used tech from Motorola. Raise your hand if you owned a Razr back in the early 2000’s.
As Motorola takes time to look back on its track record, it also marks the day with sales on a variety of its phones and accessories.
This is an excellent opportunity for customers to pick up a quality phone for their carrier of choice. The pricing is already great on a normal day; the discounts only make it better. Motorola offers a lot of bang for the buck and the unlocked network support gives you carrier freedom.
Whether you’re looking for a high-end handset like something in the Z series or something on the opposite end of the spectrum there’s something on sale. For those of you already own a Motorola Z model of phone, you can save 25% on select Moto Mods. Check out the sales below.
Moto E series phones
moto e4 plus – $20-$30 off (16GB-32GB); sale price $149.99-$169.99
Moto G series phones
moto g5 plus – $30-$60 off (32GB-64BG); sale price $199.99-$239.99
moto g5s plus – $40-$100 off (32GB-64GB); sale price $239.99-$249.99
The Google Assistant is one of the most popular and well-known virtual assistants out there. Taking advantage of Google’s search function and knowledge base, the Assistant can do a lot of things.
From opening apps with your voice to cueing up your favorite Netflix shows and movies, the AI-infused virtual helper is a force to be reckoned with. But did you know there are some unique Google Assistant commands that aren’t available to everyone?
Sony’s most recent flagship the Xperia XZ3 just went up for pre-order in the US for the pretty huge price-tag of $899.99. Well, in an attempt to convince people that the phone is actually worth spending all that money on, Sony this week released a press released in which it revealed an interesting aspect about the handset.
Apparently, you can ask the Google Assistant living on on board a series of unique questions/requests which aren’t available on any other devices. Sony has worked closely with Google to make these exclusively available for Xperia XZ3 users.
Here are some of the questions/commands you can address the Assistant
What is Super slow-motion?
Take a 4K HDR movie
What is 3D creator?
Open Side sense setting
What is Side sense?
Take a Super slow-motion video
Try Dynamic Vibration with Album
Sony has implemented these exclusive Assistant commands with the aim of making it easier for users to access and understand how the flagship’s distinctive features work. For example, Dynamic Vibration is a sort of haptic engine system that adds vibration to anything you’re watching on the screen. So if you’re confused about this option, the Assistant will help you get a better sense of it.
Why it matters
Because these are Google Assistant features you can get nowhere else. On top of that, the Sony Xperia XZ3 includes other features that aren’t available on other devices.
Like the fact that its display is powered by Sony Bravia TV tech. Basically, the company is offering customers a 6-inch OLED TV display on its latest flagship. Other specs include a Snapdragon 845 processor, the main 19MP MotionEye camera and Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.
Welcome to In Brief, the AndroidGuys tech briefing. Today is Monday, September 24th 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 are seeing some major updates to Bixby, Google Maps, and Roku TV’s. There are also some new smartwatches on the market from Armani Exchange.
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!
Samsung refuses to make the Bixby button useful on the Note 9
Samsung just gave in a little to its users recently. The company has started rolling out a new software update for the Note 9 which gives owners the option to launch Bixby with a double tap, rather than one singular tap on the dedicated Bixby button.
The button has been subject to numerous complaints by users who are getting increasingly frustrated by the assistant getting accidentally activated by unintentional tapping.
Samsung has yet to provide an option to disable or re-map the Bixby button to something more appealing/useful to users. Why the company persists in doing so, it’s still a mystery, as forcing its users to use Bixby is pretty much a doomed strategy. — Alexandra Arici
Google Maps will now suggest a parking spot when you’re near your destination
Use Google Maps a lot? Then you might want to know that there’s a new feature to take advantage of. According to some users, Google Maps can now suggest spots to park while you’re still in-route driving to your destination.
This is a particularly helpful tool for those who live in crowded urban areas, and for who finding a parking spot is a complete nightmare.
The suggestion appeared as a notification while in-transit, and as it’s the case with most Google Maps notifications it will disappear within seconds if the user does not take any action.
For the time being, it seems like the new feature is available for a select number of users, and hasn’t been subject to a wider roll-out by Google. — Alexandra Arici
Armani Exchange Connected announces new Wear OS smartwatches
There’s a new Wear OS bad boy in town and it’s called the Armani Exchange Connected. The freshly-squeezed smartwatch joins the stylish brotherhood of wearables designed for fashionistas.
It comes boasting a circular 1.2-inch AMOLED display and is offered with a pretty large 46mm case. The device is packed with sensors including a heart-rate monitor, built-in GPS, location tracking tech, NFC, and swim-proof water resistance.
The wearable relies on a 300 mAh battery which should probably last up to a full day on a single charge. But its biggest flaw is that despite being quite gorgeous to look at, it’s still based on the ancient Snapdragon 2100 platform.
Qualcomm recently unveiled the Snapdragon 3100 chip for wearables, but it might take a while before this new crop of smartwatches goes mainstream.
In the meanwhile, if you really like the Armani Exchange Connected, you can get one for $295. The watch comes with a metal bracelet and is available in four colors. — Alexandra Arici
SiriusXM buys Pandora for $3.5 billion
Earlier today, SiriusXM announced that it was purchasing Pandora Music for about $3.5 billion. This may seem out of the blue, but Sirius already owned more than 15% stake in the streaming service.
Those who are concerned about big changes have nothing to worry about. For the time being, Sirius plans to keep the Pandora and XM streaming services separated.
It will be interesting to see whether there will be an increase in subscriber counts, so we’ll have to keep an eye on this. One thing we know for sure is that SiriusXM is super excited to bring Pandora under its umbrella. —Â Andrew Myrick
This will work automatically with either your Home device or Google Assistant on your phone. Plus, Spotify is finally coming to Roku, so you can control your Roku and favorite shows, movies, and music, from the comfort of your couch.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a specific time frame for a release. Instead, Roku claimed that Assistant will be arriving “soon”. —Â Andrew Myrick
MetroPCS rebranded as ‘Metro by T-Mobile’
MetroPCS, T-Mobile’s pre-paid branch today got rebranded. Moving forward, the MetroPCS name will cease to exist and will be replaced by the Metro by T-Mobile instead.
Under its new name, Metro took the opportunity to announce new data plans. The first one kicks off at $50 for one line and goes up to $140 for four lines. The bundle includes unlimited data and a 5GB mobile hotspot for tablets and laptops. T-Mobile is also throwing free Google One storage with this bundle.
On top of that, Metro is offering a more expensive plan that starts at $60 for one line and tops at $150 for four. It also comes with Google One, although in this case, you get 15GB of LTE hotspot and an Amazon Prime subscription. In both cases, you’ll be tethered once you exceed the amount. — Alexandria Arici
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AirPods are one of the most popular options for Bluetooth earbuds out right now. They’re also the market leader for truly wireless listening. But, like some Apple products, you can actually use AirPods with an Android device.
While the experience may be targeted to iOS users, Android users are definitely not left out in the dark. Many people consider the AirPods the best Android accessory available right now! But, how exactly do you use your AirPods with your Android phone? And can you replicate some of the Apple-only features? The answer is Yes and it’s very easy to do. Here’s a look at how to get your Android AirPod experience
Step 1 – Pairing
Pairing your AirPods to your Android phone is just as easy as pairing any other Bluetooth accessory. That’s because it’s the exact same process. Sure, we’ll admit that Apple’s pairing implementation is pretty cool (just open them up and you’re ready to pair!) but, this is pretty easy too.
The first step is to open up the lid, then hold down the white button on the back of the AirPods case. There’s an LED on the inside of the case that while pulse white once you enter pairing mode. It should only take about three seconds of holding the rear button to enter pairing mode.
Once you’re in pairing mode, head into the settings application on your phone and find Bluetooth settings. From there, begin searching for a new device and tap on AirPods when you see it in your list.
Step 2 – Additional features
If you want to stop here, you can! You’ll be able to use your AirPods just like any other pair of Bluetooth earbuds. Or, you can keep going and install a very helpful app that will enhance your experience.
AirBattery replicates the informational pop-up screen that iOS users get when they open up their AirPod case. This app gives battery information on how much juice the rechargeable case and each earbud have left. It’s super useful for keeping an eye on battery level.
There are a couple of really cool features in its settings too. If you donate to enable the Pro version, you can get a persistent notification to give you the latest update on how much battery you have left. We also love the Ear Detection for Spotify. This will pause or resume your music from Spotify when an AirPod is taken out of one or both of your ears.
And that’s it! There’s a lot of confusion around AirPods and Android devices and we wanted to let you know that yes, no matter what your friends have told you, you can use them. In fact, many of our staff here at AndroidGuys uses AirPods on a daily basis.
Many of us love our AirPods but we know that not everyone loves Apple. If you want to check out some truly wireless earbuds from other companies, check out the reviews below.
While Apple has seemingly figured out the smartwatch game, Android users are still searching for the best option. For awhile, we had the Huawei Watch which was the de-facto choice, but is now a few years old.
Since then, we have seen plenty of options walk through the door, with not many really sticking. TicWatch has released a new offering with the TicWatch Pro that could change everything. At least temporarily.
Hardware and Build Quality
Upon taking the TicWatch Pro out of the box I was both surprised and intrigued at what was going on here. The watch itself is made from a solid aluminum, that is both large and rather hefty at first glace.
Given that I have larger wrists than the average person, the size of the watch was a pleasant surprise. However, you may want to look into the other TicWatch offerings if you are looking for something smaller.
Specs
1.39-inch 400 x 400 Display
Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC
512MB RAM
4GB Storage
GPS, NFC, Bluetooth 4.2
IP68
415mAh Battery
What really excited me after putting the watch on was the band itself. On the outside, there is a leather-like material which gives a professional look. However, on the side that rests on your skin, we have silicone.
This makes it possible for your wrist to “breathe” while providing a comfortable feeling on the wrist. If this isn’t your cup o’ tea, then you can easily swap this out for a different band.
Moving onto the main attraction of the TicWatch Pro, we have an absolutely gorgeous OLED display. This is bright enough to view in just about every situation, but there’s a hidden feature that sets this smartwatch apart from the rest.
On top of the standard OLED panel, there is also an FSTN (Film compensated Super Twisted Nematic) LCD panel. Essentially, there’s a layered display on top of the OLED display and this is for good reason.
This “Essential Mode” works to save battery life by acting as an “always-on display”, while showing the following bits of information:
Time
Date
Step Count
Battery Level
We’ll touch on this secondary display a bit later, but there’s a little bit more to offer on the hardware side. The TicWatch Pro offers two buttons on the right side of the frame, which have a perform a few different actions.
Top button, single press – App list
Top button, long press – Google Assistant
Lower button, single press – Configurable to the app of your choice
Lower button, double press – Google Pay
Lower button, long press – Power menu (Essential Mode, Restart, or Power off)
Having the ability to configure the lower button to an app of your choice is a nice touch. In order to change this, you’ll need to head into the TicWatch by Mobvoi app on your TicWatch Pro.
Software
When I received the TicWatch Pro, the smartwatch was already running the latest version of Wear OS. There were a few minor updates that have been pushed since release, but only including minor bug fixes and tweaks.
It’s extremely evident that Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) has taken a back seat to everything else that Google is working on. This is really sad and upsetting, but combined with the almost 3-year-old Wear 2100 SoC, there’s not much to really get excited about.
Wear OS in general is just serviceable, but combined with the chipset, you’re likely to experience the occasional lag. Sometimes is worse than others, but all-in-all, you’ll likely be just fine for the time being.
In addition to Google-integrated features, the TicWatch Pro also includes some extra apps from Mobvoi. These are primarily focused on health, with the Fitness app which monitors your heart rate. The Health app keeps track of your steps, distance, and more all from a clean-looking experience.
Battery Life
The most intriguing aspect of the TicWatch Pro isn’t the great design, or the fact that it runs Wear OS. Instead, battery life has been absolutely superb as I was able to get 2.5 days of usage with the Pro running its “standard” mode.
The secondary display that we mentioned earlier is being touted to provide between 5 to 30 days of battery life. Since the LCD display consumes less power and only shows you the essentials, this is the perfect way to keep your watch going whenever you need to save some juice. Simply long press on the lower button and tap “Essential Mode”, and the secondary display will activate.
It’s highly unlikely that you will ever actually “only” use the Essential Mode, but it’s still something that more smartwatches should feature in the future.
Pricing & Conclusion
The TicWatch Pro is a smartwatch that could have been much better than what is already is. If it weren’t for Qualcomm and Google dragging its feet in the wearable space, then the Pro would absolutely amazing at just $249.
That being said, earlier in September, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. This promises to offer better battery life and better overall performance. But that’s not saying much when being compared to a 2-year-old processor.
Nonetheless, if you don’t feel like waiting for new Wear 3100 smartwatches to launch, then the TicWatch Pro is our pick for a Wear OS smartwatch.
Nokia was once upon a time the king of mobile phones. However, the company has seen its fair share of struggles over the years. A partnership with Microsoft for making Windows Mobile-powered smartphones mainstream eventually failed and 2016 saw the demise of the Nokia brand we all knew and loved.
But in recent years, the company has had a chance to regroup. Not so long ago, Nokia announced that its brand was making a return to the mobile market, after a time where it focused on network equipment. To do so, the Finnish phone maker came up with an interesting scheme involving a newly founded start-up called HMD Global.
If you follow tech, you’ve probably heard that HMD is the company launching all the new Nokia phones that are making their ways on the market these days. But who is HMD Global? Continue reading below to find out more.
A startup to continue Nokia’s legacy
HMD Global was set up in Espoo, Finland – which is Nokia’s hometown – in 2016 with the goal to bring back to life Europe’s most well-known phone brand.
And to do so HMD has managed to bring together under the same umbrella a lot of Nokia’s former staff. The current hierarchy includes CEO Florian Seiche who was responsible for Sales and Marketing in Europe Region at Nokia and Microsoft. He also worked for Siemens and Orange, as well as being the co-founder of HTC’s smartphone business. Continuing his activity with HMD is also Nokia and Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer (or CPO) Juho Sarvikas.
The start-up is owned by a private fund called Smart Connect LP, registered in Luxemburg, under the leadership of ex-Nokia executive Jean-Francoise Baril.
With such a powerful executive lineup in place, for the last two years, HMD has been focusing exclusively on the resurgence of the once Finnish great brand. And sales seem to be going in the right direction, so HMD is launching new phones left and right. This summer, the company has unveiled the Nokia X5 in China, a handset featuring a notch, a dual-camera setup and Android Oreo.
Back in May, the company also updated its mid-range and budget portfolio by launching the Nokia 5.1, Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 2.1 globally.
HMD Global is in charge of designing, selling and promoting all Nokia-branded devices. However, it’s partner FIH Mobile (a part of Foxconn) that’s actually in charge of manufacturing and R&D for HMD.
Since it’s comeback, Nokia has managed to carve a sweet spot in the middle-range niche. Sure, the company has also launched flagship devices like the Nokia 8 Sirroco, although the product kind of flew under the radar.
The Nokia phones of today build on the previous excellence
HMD also reintroduced a number of old-fashioned Nokia design. For starters, it re-launched the iconic 3310 model, complete with the popular Snake game. A year later, HMD revived the Nokia 8110, the so-called banana phone.
As HMD Global’s chief executive, mister Seiche said in an interview:
It is our ambition to deliver great smartphones that delight our fans while staying true to our Finnish roots and the hallmarks that the Nokia brand has always been known for
Moreover, Nokia’s smartphones offer a clean version of Android and the company has repeatedly pledged constant and fast updates. After Google introduced Android 9.0 Pie in August, HMD was among the first companies to confirm that all of its phones (even the low-end ones) will be getting the update.
But despite the business having got off to a fantastic start, it has not been entirely smooth sailing for the newly established company. Last year, Arto Nummela, the original chief executive and a Nokia veteran left HMD under curious circumstances.
Following his departure, HMD released a statement saying that the company continues to have a fantastic leadership team with decades of experience who will help to lead their business.
Currently, Nokia appears to be gearing up to launch another flagship-like device. Dubbed the Nokia 9 by the rumor mill, the phone is expected to arrive with a notch-less display and a Snapdragon 845 processor under the hood. According to leaks, the phone could come featuring a total of five Zeiss lenses on the back. Which is pretty crazy! The phone might launch in October or November.
Even though tablets aren’t the most popular tech right now, there are still some fantastic options on the market. Those who continue to make tablets are really pushing the bar for what we can expect from them. Today, we’ve compiled a list of some of your best options if you want to pick up a tablet from any price range. These are listed in no particular order. Here is our list of the Best Android Tablets!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
The brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is putting a priority on getting things done. It comes out of the box with a new desktop mode that gives users more power to open apps in windows, resize those windows and drag and drop content between them.
If you need more screen real estate, you can use a USB C to HDMI adapter and plug this bad boy into a monitor or a television. You can then use the Tab S4 as a trackpad or sketch pad with the included S-Pen to get some work done. And the S-Pen does more than that too! Returning from the Galaxy Note 8 is the screen-off note feature that will let you jot down your thoughts even when the display goes dark.
If you want a tablet that looks good, you’re probably going to want to start with the Tab S4. Samsung has reduced the bezels just small enough to not impact usability but make it looks sleek. We really love how this one looks and just want to hold it and play with it.
As for specs, the Tab S4 comes with a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display that clocks in at a 2560 x 1600 resolution. It also comes with four speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos. A 7,300 mAh battery keeps things moving while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 4 GB of RAM power the show. If you need to store a ton of work documents or movies for that long business trip, the 64 GB of onboard storage and micro SD card slot capable of supporting up to 400 GB cards should be your best friend.
The Huawei MediaPad M5 is our pick for a smaller tablet that packs a punch. The 8.4-inch display offers enough space for productivity and media consumption, but it’s not so big that it’s hard to handle. The 8.4-inch IPS LCD display has a 2560 x 1600 resolution and looks absolutely fantastic. You’ll never see a pixel or a fuzzy image on this thing.
Inside, we find Huawei’s own Hisilicon Kirin 960s processor running the show. This octa-core chip provides excellent performance without killing your battery in the process. The rest of the key specs include 4 GB of RAM, 32 or 64 GB of onboard storage, and a microSD card slot that supports chips up to 256 GB.
If battery life is important to you, you’ll love the 5,100 mAh embedded battery. It simply lasts forever. The MediaPad M5 is also one of the only tablets on our list that has a fingerprint scanner. Fingerprint scanners are almost a must on cell phones these days, but for some reason, OEMs haven’t added them to tablets. Huawei bucks this trend and adds a fast and accurate sensor to the front of the device.
Instead of picking one Kindle Fire from the vast lineup, we’re going to recommend them all. No matter your budget, Amazon has a Kindle Fire for you.
Starting with the cheapest option, the 7-inch Kindle Fire 7 offers decent performance for an absolute rock bottom price. For only $50, you get a tablet that offers a ton of apps in the Fire Store, easy web browsing, and access to Amazon’s smart assistant, Alexa. It has a microSD card slot so you can watch all of your movies and shows on it during those long car or plane rides and the battery life is plus.
The Fire HD 8 kicks it up a notch with an 8-inch HD display and double the base storage of the Fire 7. You also get unlimited cloud storage for Amazon content, up to 12 hours of battery usage, and dual stereo speakers with Dolby Audio. For only $80, it’s a steal.
The last Fire tablet in Amazon’s arsenal is the Fire HD 10. As the name indicates, the tablet comes with a 10-inch display that has a 1920 x 1200p resolution and looks great when viewing movies and TV shows. The Fire HD 10 bump its base storage again, doubling that of the Fire HD 8, and comes with a quad-core processor. It’s a little bigger, but the HD 10 delivers as a media consumption workhorse.
Despite how one may feel about wireless headphones, they’re the future. The future is wireless. The industry is well on the path to transition everything it can to the cordless goal.
As an audiophile, I’m one in the reluctant bunch that shrugs at the notion. I can’t say that wireless headphones haven’t come a long way. As a reviewer, I get a chance to try many wireless headphones, and I’ve actually been left impressed a couple times. That said, terrible past attempts have set the bar low in my mind. I can’t deny that the best wireless headphones out there are still acoustically a far reach from their wired counterparts.
The headphone jack is disappearing, pushing us to wireless headphones even more.
But they’ll be there one day. One of the more intriguing developments to push the fidelity of wireless headphones are via the wireless audio codec standard.
Bluetooth isn’t traditionally the best medium for a music signal. Standard Bluetooth doesn’t have the bandwidth to proficiently send that amount of information. As a result, the music information has to be largely compressed to get proper latency.
In audio, “compression” equates to loss of detail. Bits (literally) of the music needs to be trimmed. Sure, music is always compressed and it’s no problem. Most tracks can be cut down drastically with no audible consequence. But we’re talking past that point.
Anyone around in the Napster days will probably relate to hearing terrible quality tracks, because many of us often trimmed the quality down to very low levels to cope with the slow internet download speeds. No, the standard Bluetooth transfer doesn’t result in audio quality that bad, but it is audible.
Wireless codec called aptX emerged, which got commercial recognition when Qualcomm acquired the tech a few years ago. It ups the Bluetooth audio bandwidth to 352 kbps and a 16-bit transfer. This was a fantastic thing. No, it’s technically not CD-quality rates, but that’s actually of little consequence.
Even today, most music streaming services cap out at around 300 kbps bit-rate (and CD’s have 16 bits of resolution), because at this point most would be hard-pressed to tell a difference with higher quality.
Tidal is one of the only streaming services that transmits truly high-quality rates.
But there was a problem with this – it takes two to tango. Qualcomm can do whatever on their end, but if manufacturers aren’t implementing the more capable Bluetooth hardware in their wireless headphones, then the purpose is defeated. And that’s exactly what has happened since the conception of aptX.
What complicates things more is that the codec hardware needs to be on both the player and the headphone, and manufacturers from both ends don’t generally put a priority on it. Maybe it’s that high fidelity listeners are the minority, or cost, who knows.
Is it a lost cause? At first, it was. But now things are finally progressing.
Loads of smartphones in the US use a Qualcomm chipset, and aptX has become standard. It’s also no longer hard to find a wireless headphone with the codec, albeit, it’s still not “widely” used.
Interestingly, you’ll find aptX in lower costing, lesser known brands, as opposed to popular choices like the Bose QC 35 or Beats Studio3 Wireless. This applies to the whole range of headphone types, on-ear and in-ear included. An exception is truly wireless earbuds, because they’re more challenging and it’s a new market. But there are some gems out there, like the NuForce BE Free8 that we reviewed.
The NuForce BE Free8 are one of the only truly wireless earbuds that have aptX.
So what if the vanilla aptX codec doesn’t cut it for you? You’ll have to dig a little deeper for aptX HD support. Unfortunately, not many smartphones cut the guts for it. We’ll go ahead a say that if this is something you care about, stick with LG. LG is the only mobile device manufacturer who strictly values HiFi (even packing in a dedicated DAC with the continual headphone jack support). It has supported aptX HD since the LG G5, and you bet the headphones the company produces has it too.
User selection of wireless audio codecs in stock Android.
We can understand if LG hardware isn’t your cup of tea. Fortunately, Google has begun rolling out support for HiFi codecs starting with the Pixel 2 phones last Fall. It’s actually baked into Android Oreo, so hopefully, this will nudge other phone makers to jump on-board.
There’s also the highly-rated Bowers & Wilkins PX over-ears. In-ear selection is limited. LG and Sony have a couple around-the-neck offerings with aptX HD. Audio-Technica makes one called the ATH-DSR5BT.
Tip: Qualcomm provides an updated list of AptX and AptX HD supported devices on its site.
Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless on-ears, with aptx HD support.
On the subject of Sony, it is another strong electronics manufacturer that values high-quality audio. Though, the company tends to march to its own beat. That can be a good and bad thing.
The good is that they’ve actually developed their own wireless audio codec that almost doubles the bandwidth of aptx HD, at about 990 kbps, called LDAC. This is pretty astonishing.
So what’s the bad then? Well, Sony keeps its tech close to its chest. Only its headphones support LDAC. Fortunately, Sony is really good at making headphones. The WH-1000XM2 over-ears are widely said to be the best over-ear wireless headphones you can buy today (which also include some of the best active noise-cancellation). The company’s new WI-1000X in-ears also pack the LDAC tech.
LDAC support is also limited to Sony smartphones, naturally. But with Android Oreo came a glimmer of hope here too. Google and Sony must’ve worked something out, because LDAC can be found as an option on the Pixel 2 phones.
To sum things up, wireless HiFi support is all over the place. This kind of thing makes me envy Apple users and their closed but more orderly system. That said, it’s no longer a struggle these days to achieve at least aptX quality. This will suffice for most people anyways.
Until common streaming services, like Play Music, Spotify, Pandora, etc., push their quality limits, there isn’t merit in asking for more. The desire for HiFi quality is still a minor one, and money is what drives everything.
Two-factor authentication is known by many names such as 2FA, two-step verification, multi-factor authentication, and more. No matter what name it goes by they all have one thing in common, requiring you to take a second step to verify you are the owner of an account.
Many of you have probably gone your whole lives using two-factor authentication without even realizing it. One of the best examples of this is when you make a purchase with your debit card and you enter your PIN.
Believe it or not, that is two-factor authentication in practice. By requiring you to not only have your card but also know a secret PIN code to prove the account belongs to you. If you’ve ever signed into an account online and been required to receive a security code via text, this is also 2FA.
Why You Should Use Two-Factor Authentication
If you’ve never used two-factor authentication before it’s time to change that. In the past, using only a username and password to protect our accounts was enough to make us feel secure. Unfortunately, as time goes on security breaches have become more common. Most times they include your username, password, and sometimes both.
I’m sure at some point in the past you’ve gotten an alert to update or change your password for a site or service you use. Either due to them being breached or because you used the same username or password on other sites that were breached.
Using two-factor authentication will not prevent this from happening. However, it will prevent someone from using the information in the breach from accessing your account until you’ve had time to update your username or password.
How does Two-Factor Authentication work?
After setting up two-factor authentication it begins the same as any other log in attempt. You start by entering your username and password and then you are forwarded to a page asking for a secondary code. Most times this is sent to you via text but you can also use a dedicated app for this such as Google Authenticator or Authy if it is supported.
The Google Authenticator or Authy apps can take over generating your secondary code without access to the internet and refresh automatically. If you are in an area with a spotty cell signal or internet connection this can be very beneficial.
In some cases, you may come across an app or service that does not support logging in with two-factor authentication. If this happens you’ll need to generate an app password from the original service such as Google. Generally, these can be generated on demand or you can print out a hard copy list to keep track of them.
Are there any downsides to using Two-Factor Authentication?
The truth is, adding another step to the login process is inconvenient. Each time you log into your account you will be prompted for a security code. You’ll then have to wait for the code to be texted to you and enter it before you can access your account. The codes often also expire within a set amount of time, generally around 60 seconds. If you miss this window of time then you’ll have to request another code.
This can be a hassle and we’re often looking for ways to make our lives more convenient not less. However, if you consider the damage that can be done and the trouble it would take to regain control of your account, I think you’ll realize the extra time 2FA takes is worth it.
The other downside is two-factor authentication is still not 100% secure. If someone has access to your username, password, and phone they can still sign into your accounts. There is also still the possibility that hackers can find a way to intercept your texts. It is up to you to ensure your username, password, and phone stays secure as well as changing your passwords often.
Where Should You Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is something everyone should use on all of their important accounts. Whether it’s your social media accounts, Amazon, eBay, or Paypal. All of these services provide two-factor authentication. Any account online that includes personal information about you or is valuable to you should have 2FA enabled.
It is important to check how to enable 2FA for each of these sites and any other essential accounts you have online. Any time you hear someone say they’ve been hacked or their account was stolen most likely could have been prevented by enabling two-factor authentication. Below I’ve compiled a list of links to instructions on how to enable two-factor authentication on some of the most common sites.
While it is not perfect two-factor authentication provides another layer of protection between you and those who would try to access your accounts. The more layers you can put between nefarious people and your accounts the better. If you take the time to set it up now you’ll be grateful for the time and trouble it could save you in the future.
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.
