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How to install Android Pie 9 on your Pixel

Jason England
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Google has officially unleashed Android 9 Pie with all of its sweet new goodies. For us Android geeks, that means it’s a busy day of frantically hitting the update button or taking things into our own hands. If you’re looking to get Google’s latest sweet treat on your Pixel phone then keep reading as we go through your options.

Downloading the OTA

This is by far the simplest and easiest way to get Android Pie running on your device. If you were already running the Android P beta on your Pixel then you’re almost there. Start by going into System, System Update, and Check for update. That’s it, you’re done, easy peasy.

If you are currently running Oreo on your Pixel device then you’ll have to do one extra step. In this case, head over to the Android beta portal, sign into your Google account, and then opt-in to the beta program. After completing this step you’ll have to update your phone as stated above until you’re on the final version of Android Pie.

Manually flashing the OTA or full system image

Some people like a challenge or maybe you’re just impatient, and we couldn’t blame you. For that reason, you might want to take matters into your own hands and flash the update manually.

Before we get started it is important to note if you aren’t familiar with ADB or comfortable using the command line this could damage your phone. For those of you with previous experience or willing to take the risk, please read on.

ADB and Unlocking

To start off you’re going to need the Android SDK for your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. If you need any help you can follow this tutorial. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the Android SDK, you’ll need to locate the ADB and fastboot files in the platform-tools folder. Next, you’re going to need to enable developer options and unlock your bootloader.

To do this follow these steps.

  1. Open the settings menu and scroll down to About Phone.
  2. Locate the build number and tap on it 7 times until you get the message, You are now a developer!
  3. Back out of this menu and there should now be a new entry in the settings for Developer options.
  4. Enter into Developer options and enable USB debugging.
  5. Plug your device into your computer and accept the prompt when asked to allow USB debugging. You can also choose to allow this from now on to skip this prompt in the future.

Next, we need to unlock your bootloader. You can do this manually on the phone but since we already have the phone connected to the computer let’s do it with an ADB command. First, you’ll need to open the command prompt and navigate to the platform-tools folder. Then you’ll need to open your command prompt in this folder and enter these commands.

Warning this will wipe your device

Remember after you complete this process your device will be fully wiped including all of your files. You must back up anything you want to save before beginning. 

adb devices

This should return a string of characters if your phone is connected and detected. If so, then you can continue with the next commands. If it does not then try unplugging your phone and plugging it back in and repeating the command.

adb reboot bootloader

The phone will reboot and don’t worry that’s what we wanted to happen. Afterward, you’ll be in the bootloader menu and you should see your phone is locked unless it has previously been unlocked. If it says unlocked you’re good to go but if not you’ll need to enter this command to unlock it.

fastboot flashing unlock

Make sure to confirm it by using the volume keys to highlight yes and pressing the power button. Now the bootloader will reboot again and before moving onto the next step you’ll need to enter this command.

fastboot reboot

Flashing the images with flash all

Now that you’ve made it this far you’re almost done. In order to complete the process, you’ll need to download the full Android 9 Pie image for your device or the OTA image. After the download is complete you’ll need something to extract those files, we recommend 7-Zip. You should be all prepared to follow the next and final set of steps to get Android Pie on your device.

  1. Return to your terminal window and enter the command fastboot devices this should return a string of characters like earlier and confirms your phone is connected.
  2. Extract the Android Pie image you downloaded. It should be a .tgz file and will leave you with a .tar file. Now extract the .tar file into the platform-tools folder where ADB and fastboot reside.
  3. The folder should now have several new files including a flash-all.bat for Windows users and flash-all.sh for Linux users. All you have to do now is double click one of these depending on your OS and sit back and wait.
  4. This should take a while so please do not disconnect your phone until it has completed installation. Once your phone reboots you can unplug it from the computer and enjoy.

Flashing the images through ADB

  1. Begin in the bootloader menu of your phone where we unlocked your device. From here you want to enter the command fastboot devices to make sure you are connected. As long as it returns a string of characters you are good to go.
  2. Next, you will flash the bootloader with this command fastboot flash bootloader [name of bootloader file].img
  3. After this process has completed in the terminal window you will need to reboot your bootloader again with fastboot reboot-bootloader
  4. Now time to flash the updated radios with this command fastboot flash radio [radio file name].img
  5. Reboot the bootloader again using fastboot reboot-bootloader
  6. Finally, we can flash the system image fastboot flash -w [image filename].zip

The installation process will take a while and the first time it boots up will take longer than usual. Don’t panic, just let it do its thing and sooner or later you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of all your labor.

What is Digital Wellbeing in Android Pie and how to sign up for it

Andrew Myrick
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Earlier today, Google surprised everyone and released the final version of Android 9.0 Pie. While there are plenty of changes under the hood, there are a few extra features included too.

One such feature is Digital Wellbeing, which was introduced at Google I/O 2018. The company hopes this new feature will allow users to put down their devices and focus on life.

In another surprising move, Google is actually rolling Digital Wellbeing as a beta feature. This means that it is not automatically built into 9.0, instead, users have to opt-in.

What is Digital Wellbeing

But what is the purpose of this feature? Is it worth it in the long run? Or is this just another gimmick being offered.

Before being able to determine whether this will actually be useful, let’s take a look at what is being offered. There are three primary categories:

  • App Timer
  • Do Not Disturb
  • Wind Down

Holding all of this information is the Dashboard, which shows a breakdown of exactly how you are using your device. This information includes a nice little pie chart, showing the apps that you have used the most.

Below the chart, Dashboard shares how many times you have unlocked your device, along with the number of notifications. Further down the list, there are various sections to help find “Ways to disconnect”.

App Timer

App Timer Digital Wellbeing Android Pie

The first option we are looking at is the App Timer found in the Digital Wellbeing section. This will allow you to set limits to how long an application can be used.

As you approach the end of the timer, a notification will appear revealing how much time is left. Once the timer is up, the app icon will be greyed out, hopefully curbing your desire to open the app.

Of course, you can just bypass this timer, and continue using the app regardless. However, Google is hoping that App Timers will help keep you on your p’s and q’s and out of time-wasting apps.

Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb Digital Wellbeing Android Pie

Obviously, DND has been around on Android for quite some time. But, Google has brought a few new enhancements with the help of Digital Wellbeing.

In previous iterations of Android, Do Not Disturb mode would only silence sounds and vibrations of notifications. With Digital Wellbeing in Android Pie, any visuals attached to those notifications will also cease.

This means that your screen won’t light up at an inopportune time to distract you from your current task. But once DND is turned off, everything will go back to normal, opening the floodgate of notifications.

Wind Down

Wind Down Digital Wellbeing Android Pie

The final addition to Digital Wellbeing is Wind Down mode and is pretty self-explanatory. It’s no secret that quite a large number of folks use their phones while in bed.

However, this has been found to not be very helpful and can interrupt your sleep cycles due to the blue light from the display. Wind Down aims to change this by automatically enabling Night Light, Do Not Disturb, and switching the screen to grayscale.

After Wind Down has been set up for the first time, the change in the display will remind you to step away and get some sleep.

How to sign up for Digital Wellbeing?

As we mentioned previously, this new feature is not automatically built into Android 9.0 Pie. Instead, interested parties have to opt into the beta program, and you can do so via the button below.

Once you have registered, Google will send you an email confirming that you want to use Digital Wellbeing. From there, a new settings panel will appear, making it possible to access everything you want to.

The important thing to remember here is that you won’t have to download a separate file or anything. Instead, Google will just automatically add it to your device, so you can just start messing around with everything.

Sign up for Digital Wellbeing!

Fracter review: Are you afraid of the dark?

Jason England
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Fracter has been described as a mash-up between Limbo and Monument Valley, two extremely popular and beautiful games. When your game is in the company of those two you’re off to a good start. With the use of a dark eerie geometric world, it is no surprise it has drawn comparisons to these two games. However, can Fracter live up to acclaim that both Limbo and Monument Valley have garnered? That’s what I set out to discover.

Story

Fracter’s story revolves around a girl trapped in a world of darkness looking to reunite herself with the light within. It is filled with metaphors such as “The Maze is empty, the only monsters you find are the ones you bring”. It is lines like this which elevates the gameplay from just a puzzler to something more deep and meaningful. You aren’t just chasing after something or collecting items. Instead, you are trying to put yourself back together and root out the darkness that is within.

Fracter

Gameplay

You begin Fracter as a girl exploring a dark room with a mirror. After looking at yourself, many light versions escape running off leaving you weak. The only way to regain your inner light is to enter the different doors and locate all of your missing pieces.

Behind every door is a pitch black maze filled with winding paths, puzzles, and shadowy beings that attack you on sight. It is your task to wander these mazes without detection solving puzzles to open new paths in order to reunite yourself with your light counterparts.

Similar to Monument Valley there are no special powers or jumping involved. You traverse the shadows alone with only an orb of light above your head to light the way. Not only does it light the way, but when it begins to pulse you can tap on it for a tip, usually about how to solve the current puzzle.

The puzzles consist mainly of towers of light that must be rotated or bent with mirrors to activate cubes, blocks that must be moved, and rotating platforms. These start out very simple in the beginning to teach you the mechanics and become more challenging later when they are combined together.

The puzzles themselves aren’t extremely difficult but become more challenging due to the darkness, your limited field of view, and dark beings lurking through the levels. You have no attacks or special abilities to kill these beings. Instead, your first option is to creep behind them or hide to escape being detected. Your other option is to use light as either a force field or to trigger it once they are in its path to kill them.

Fracter

If you are unlucky enough to be discovered these dark beings pounce on you so quickly it is often impossible to avoid. Be careful to step lightly as you explore and to learn their patterns as they patrol to evade being noticed. However, if you are captured don’t worry because you won’t have start from the beginning or lose any of your fractured pieces. You’ll simply respawn somewhere nearby.

Sound

An important aspect which cannot be overlooked in games such as Fracter is the sound design. The ethereal soundtrack helps immerse you in this gloomy world they have created. Combined with the sound effects from your footsteps, moving pieces during puzzles, and warnings of shadowy beings closeby and sound becomes an important detail in this game.

Most games that make such extensive use of sound suggest wearing headphones while playing but Fracter does not. I highly recommend it though as it really amplifies the immersion in the game.

Controls

To guide your way through the maze and around obstacles Fracter makes use of a virtual joystick. You’re given the option of a static position in the bottom left corner, hold to move, or a floating joystick.

Fracter

I preferred the static joystick to keep things consistent but the floating joystick that appears wherever you place your finger is a great option. Outside of the joystick, you’ll also find yourself tapping and turning columns of light to help solve puzzles as you go along.

Conclusion

Fracter has successfully combined the dark mysterious feel of Limbo with the geometric world design and puzzles of Monument Valley creating something unique in the process. The absence of light along with the limited view keeps you on your toes while exploring and makes the puzzles more challenging. Thanks to the wonderful sound design you feel immersed enough in the game to make your heartbeat race when you come across beings lurking throughout.

My only criticism would be that the levels get a little long in the tooth as you progress. This leads to you wandering around lost in darkness more when I’d rather be solving puzzles. However, this is part of the maze aspect of the game and I just happen to prefer solving puzzles over mazes.

Besides that, I really enjoyed the game and if you’d like to give Fracter a try as well it’ll set you back $3.99 in the Play Store. If you find that to be a little expensive, I’d suggest adding it to your wishlist and watching for a sale because it is certainly worth a playthrough.

T-Mobile Essential plan debuts with unlimited basics

AndroidGuys
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For those of you who don’t care about traveling outside of the US, or using mobile hotspots, consider T-Mobile’s latest rate plan, T-Mobile Essentials. Set to commence on August 10, the provider’s new ‘Essential’ offering is an unlimited plan with no frills.

Pricing starts at just $60 per month for the first line, provided you are set up on the automatic bill payment. A second line runs $30 per month; lines 3-6 cost just $15 per month.

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Nine features and settings every Google Home user needs to know

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For the money, customers will get unlimited talk, text, and high speed data. It doesn’t come with Netflix, mobile hotspots, or any international features, so that’s what keeps the cost down.

As T-Mobile sees it, not all of its users need the frills and benefits of its One or One Plus plans. To that end, the new Essentials offering should suffice. Video streams are capped at 480p, or what’s commonly referred to as “DVD quality”.

The T-Mobile Essentials plan comes with unlimited mobile hotspot data at 3G speeds. For $10/month, subscribers can purchase 10GB of high-speed 4G LTE mobile hotspot data.

Customers who do not opt into the Autopay automatic option will pay $5 per line, per month.

The best cases for the Moto Z3 Play

Alexandra Arici
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Have you just acquired a new Moto Z3 Play or are you planning to get one? Well, then maybe you should also consider getting a case that offers comprehensive protection for your device.

You have plenty of options when it comes to getting a case for your Moto Z3 Play. This way you will ensure the phone’s big screen won’t get scratched, as well as keep the back of the device protected and clean. Plus, with a good case, the phone’s camera won’t stick out anymore.

So below we’ve rounded up some of the best for the Moto Z3 Play that could be worthy of your attention.

Moto Mod Style Shells

Price: $14.99

Obviously, we’re going to start with the official accessories. The Style Shells use the same magnetic pins as the Moto Mods to snap into place. While the Shells don’t offer side protection for the Moto Z3 Play, they will the phone’s glass back safe.

Right now you can get your own Style Shell for $14.99. You can pick between Herringbone Nylon or Crimson Ballistic Nylon.

Buy Moto Mod Style Shells

LK Clear Gel Case

Price: $8

Some cases make your phone look bulkier. Or they simply hide the design of the phone. Well, you won’t have to worry about that with the LK Clear Gel Case which is slim and see-through.

The case is made of TPU, a soft material that is very easy to grip and is shock-absorbent. And rest assured, it won’t create nasty bubbles on the back thanks to the micro-dot pattern on the inside. However, while the case has all the correct cutouts, it does cover the Moto Mod’s magnetic connector.

Buy LK Clear Gel Case

Venoro Armor Rugged Case

Price: $8.89

Well if you’re the type who needs rugged protection for their phone, then the Venero Armor case might be for you.

The accessory has tactile buttons and all the right cutouts with raised lips to protect the camera and display. What’s more, the case doubles as a kickstand, so you can enjoy your device hands-free. Interested parties can get the accessory in various colors including Red, Purple, Blue or Camouflage.

Buy Venoro Armor Rugged Case

Poetic Karbon Shield Case

Price: $9.95

Poetic, an accessory-maker which is slowly gaining popularity these days, is also offering a case for the Moto Z3 Play. Their product is made of TPU and offers great protection for any kind of shock. It also has a nice design with carbon fiber texture and ultra slim fit.

Buy Poetic Karbon Shield Case

Incipio Interchangeable back plate

Price: $14.99

The Incipio offering is mainly looking to satisfy the needs of those who want to customize their device. Sure, it also provides protection for your phone, although it covers the Moto Mod pins.

With a soft-touch finish and slim figure, the Incipio back plate is perfect for personalization addicts. Customers can get it in Camo Black, Gunmetal and Iridescent Champagne.

Buy Incipio Interchangeable back plate

LK Luxury Leather Wallet

Price: $8.99

Another Moto Z3 Play case from LK. This one is a classic wallet leather case that also offers space for storing credit cards. It can also be used as a kickstand for when you want to make hands-free video calls or watch some Netflix.

The case offers four corner protection thanks to the high-quality TPU inner skin shell. It’s a shock absorbent material that is guaranteed to keep the phone safe.

The accessory is available in Black, but also in two funky colors: Purple and Rose Gold.

Buy LK Luxury Leather Wallet

Pushimei Hybrid Leather case

Price: from $3.82

Want to make your Moto Z3 Play look more unique? Then you might consider getting the Pushimei case. This product is made of a hard PC and soft TPU material to better protect your phone.

Also the design here is quite striking in denim-style. Although it’s not 100% guaranteed it will look like that in real life. But for $4 it’s worth to give it a try, right?

The case is available in Black Denim or Pink Denim.

Buy Pushimei Hybrid Leather case

Android 9 Pie becomes official and goes live for Pixels today

AndroidGuys
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It looks like the rumors were off, and Google is releasing the latest version of the Android OS, Android 9 Pie, today. Amongst all the possible names we’ve heard it seems as though the company is merely going with Pie. Not the worst we’ve heard. After the past few months of betas, the official version is available today for many devices.

This official version of Pie comes just under two weeks from the last developer preview we received. Today’s date is earlier than a recent rumor that the update would be available on August 20th, but still Google’s “early-August” timeline.

Android 9 Pie comes with a host of new features from the last major update of Android 8 Oreo. Users should notice gesture based-navigations UI, AI predictive app actions, Adaptive battery, and Digital Wellbeing. Some features that were shown off at Google I/O 2018 still won’t be available today, unsurprisingly. Slices, a feature that shows relevant info from apps while searching, won’t be available until sometime this fall.

Digital Wellbeing was a significant feature set talked about at this years I/O, which includes multiple services to help with personal and technological health. Digitial Wellbeing is the overarching name for functions such as Android Dashboard, App Timer, Wind Down, and the new Do Not Disturb mode. While we won’t get an official stable version of this feature again until fall, Pixel users can able to sign up for beta access today.

Android 9 Pie can be installed today in a few different ways. Factory images have already been made available by Google and OTAs are also rolling out for Pixel phones soon too. Some of the other devices that were included in the Android 9 Pie beta should also be getting updates soon. As experienced from the beta periods, OnePlus is the first non-Google company to push the update.

You can learn more from Google’s official blog post listed below. Let us know what your favorite new feature of Android 9 Pie! Are you (or even able to) using on your device right now? Let’s get to updating!

Google blog

Which flagship killer is for you? ASUS ZenFone 5Z vs OnePlus 6

Alexandra Arici
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Unveiled back at MWC 2018 in February, the ASUS ZenFone 5Z finally went up for pre-order in the US this week at an affordable $499. And the price puts it in direct competition with the OnePlus 6.

The affordable flagship category has been seeing an intense amount of competition in recent years. It was initially dominated by OnePlus and Xiaomi, but now entrants like ASUS are coming out with very compelling alternatives.

Which brings us to today’s question. How does the new ASUS ZenFone 5Z stack up against the flagship killer? Keep reading below to get an idea.

On the outside

Both phones look and feel very premium thanks to their metal and glass design. Each comes with a notch, but the display cutout on the ASUS phone is wider than the one you’ll find one the OP6. The chin at the bottom is also slightly thicker.

As for the rear panel, ASUS brings back its iconic concentric circle design, which gives a phone a distinctive look. The OP6 has its own unique set of finishes including Mirror Black, Sandstone White and the newly announced Red. There’s also the more classic Midnight Black.

Moving on to the display, the ZenFone 5Z includes a 6.2-inch IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. In contrast, the OP6 has a 6.28-inch AMOLED display, which is often considered the superior option. The flagship killer features the same resolution and aspect ratio as the ASUS phone.

Both models give you the option to hide the notch by adding black bars on each side of the cutout. They also include a fingerprint scanner centrally positioned on the back. Although the OP6’s is candy bar-shaped, while the ZenFone 5Z’s circular.

The two models also include a face unlock feature.

On the inside

The two phones are among the most powerful on the market. Both rely on a Snapdragon 845 processor and offer a base version of 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Customers can also pick up variants with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but in ASUS’ case, it’s not available in all markets. The ZenFone 5Z model that went up for pre-sale in the US will ship with the base configuration.

Now, let’s talk battery. The ZenFone 5Z ships with a 3,300 mAh powerhouse, which should be able to deliver a day’s worth of usage consistently. The OP6 bundles a 3,300 mAh battery too, so it will also last you an entire day on a single charge. Sometimes even more.

Fast charging is supported via each phone’s USB Type-C. OnePlus uses its own Dash Charging technology which works great, while ASUS sticks to Qualcomm’s QuickCharge 3.0. But while both phones feature a glass black, neither of them offers wireless charging. This is not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it would be nice to have.

We should also mention here that the ZenFone 5Z has stereo speakers, while the OP6 lacks that. In contrast, the OP6 is splash resistant, while the ZenFone doesn’t have any type of water protection.

Photography

The OP6 is outfitted with a good set of main cameras, which were very much improved since the 5T. The phone features two 20-megapixel + 16-megapixel sensors on the back. The main one is now 19% larger, so it’s capable of capturing more light. The camera also boasts optical image stabilization.

As for the ASUS ZenFone 5Z, it boasts a 12-megapixel (with PDAF) + 8-megapixel (120-degree field of view) dual-camera on the back. ASUS has relied heavily on AI-based features to differentiate the camera from the other devices in this category.

For example, the phone has an AI-based scene detection feature that automatically selects the optimal shooting mode in a particular environment. For example, if you’re taking pics at night, the camera will automatically switch to night mode.

The OP6 has its own Pro mode, from where you can fiddle with more advanced settings. But it does not rely on AI to help you take better photos.

Moving on, the OnePlus 6 has a 16-megapixel selfie snapper with Portrait mode, while the ZenFone 5Z boasts a more modest 8-megapixel selfie shooter.

When it comes to video, both phones can shoot 4K video at 60fps, as well as 1080p at 240fps.

Software

It’s well-known that OxygenOS is one of the best implementations of Android currently available, with OnePlus building a few useful additions on top of a near-stock experience. The OP ships with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box and is among the phones that are part of Google’s Android P beta program.

But if you’re a fan of stock Android, you might not agree with the ZenFone 5Z extremely customized approach to Android, called ZenUI. Once again ASUS is pushing AI integration here, so the phone comes with a series of AI optimizations backed in.

There’s OptiFlex that trains the system to load certain apps faster than other. Another smart feature is AI Charging which learns how to charge your phone by using your past charging habits to extend the battery’s lifespan.

The ZenFone 5Z also offers a feature similar to Samsung’s AR Emoji. It’s called Zenmoji and it uses to front-facing camera and its AI algorithms to map the user’s face in 3D and create avatars.

Verdict

It’s hard to ignore the super-affordable price of the ASUS ZenFone 5Z ($499). More affordable than the OnePlus 6, which starts at $529, the new ASUS flagship is a premium offering with top specs that packs additional goodies like Zenmoji, stereo speakers and some AI features.

AI is all the rage right now, so if you want to give it a go without breaking the bank, the ZenFone 5Z might be what you’re looking for.

On the other hand, if you want a phone with an AMOLED display or to be able to experience the joy that’s Oxygen OS, you’ll go for the OnePlus 6.

Honor View10 gets discounted for Back to School

Alexandra Arici
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A new school year is just around the corner, so Honor just pulled out a new Back to School deal. Between now and September 2, 2018, customers can pick up an Honor View10 with $70 off. So instead of paying $499 for the phone, you’ll be able to get it for only $429.

The promotion is available with Honor’s official HiHonor website, but also at Amazon and Newegg.

The Honor View10 got the best smartphone of CES 2018 award

Can’t remember what the Honor View10 is all about? We’ll refresh your memory for you. The Honor View10 comes boasting a 6-inch display with 2160 x 1080 resolution with 18:9 aspect ratio. That means the device is tall and compact with slim bezels all around.

The highlight of this phone is the Huawei-made Kirin 970 processor, an AI-enhanced chip that can recognize different scenes and take better photos. The same chip has a big role to play when it comes to optimizing the phone and improving ease of use.

The Honor View10 ships with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. It also includes a 3,750 mAh battery that can be charged up to 50% in 30 minutes.

When it comes to photography there’s a 13-megapixel selfie shooter which aids with face recognition. On the back, the phone rocks a dual-camera system with a 16-megapixel color and 20-megapixel monochrome sensor pairing.

The phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack and runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Unfortunately, there’s no waterproofing or wireless charging. Even so, the device is still quite intriguing at this (discounted) rice.

But before you jump on board with the offer keep in mind one thing. Like all other Honor phones released in the US so far, the View10, which is offered unlocked, is compatible only with GSM/LTE carriers.

This means that if you’re on AT&T or T-Mobile, the device will work just fine. But Verizon and Sprint subscribers will have to look somewhere else for an affordable flagship.

ASUS Zenfone Live (L1) is a new Android Go phone, available in the US

Alexandra Arici
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0

The Android Go family is expanding in the US. After the likes of Nokia, Alcatel, ZTE and Motorola, ASUS too has unveiled a new smartphone that runs Google’s stripped-down version of Android. The device is called the ASUS Zenfone Live (L1) and is available for purchase from Best Buy for only $109.99.

Android Go is comprised of three optimized main areas: the operating system, Google Play Store and Google apps. These have been reinterpreted in order to provide a better experience on lesser hardware.

ASUS joins the Android Go program

With this in mind, the Zenfone Live (L1) is pretty basic in terms of hardware. It features a 5.5-inch display with 1440 x 720 resolution and the modern 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, there’s a Snapdragon 425 processor, working in combination with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. A microSD card slot is also offered for internal memory expansion up to 2TB.

The device is probably made of plastic or another cheap material. It doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner on the back or front. So users will have to use the classic PIN or pattern ways to unlock their device.

According to ASUS’ official press statement, the Android Go phone has an 8-megapixel main camera with 0.3-second PDAF. Although, Best Buy claims the main camera is of 13-megapixel variety and that the selfie snapper is an 8-megapixel sensor.

Both agree an 3,000 mAh battery keeps the lights on, and ASUS says it can support up to 29 hours of 3G talk time, up to 4 days of music playback and 18 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing.

Best Buy is offering the phone unlocked. The Zenfone Live (L1) is compatible with all major GSM carrier in the country, most notably with AT&T and T-Mobile.

So if you’re on the market for a super-affordable phone, you might want to consider buying the ASUS Zenfone Live (L1). It costs only $109.99.

goTenna Mesh review: Private networks for going off the grid or during outages

AndroidGuys
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If you’ve ever gone camping or hiking and found yourself “off of the grid” for a period of time, you likely know how refreshing it is. No phone, no Facebook, no Reddit, no text messages. On the other hand, it can be somewhat scary to be away from society for any length of time. What happens if you get lost or separated from your party?

Whether you’re in the bottom of a canyon or three miles deep into the woods, it might make some nervous to be un-tethered from society. At the very least you want to be connected to another person in case of an emergency, right?

Unfortunately, all service providers have pockets or large swaths where coverage is not available. So, forget about calling back home when you find yourself up a tree, staring down at wild coyotes. You can’t even text your buddy who’s only a few hundred feet away.

If you packed a goTenna Mesh as part of your camping gear, the situation could be much different. The goTenna Mesh is a stick-like device designed to create a mesh network which allows for 1-to-1 communication between phones. In short, it takes your phones and turns them into an almost walkie-talkie like experience that also allows for messaging and location data. But that’s selling it short.

Unlike traditional walkie talkies, goTenna Mesh lets you share GPS coordinates and use an offline map. Moreover, the mesh aspect means that the connection and network itself get better when more uses are added. And, thanks to automatic channel and interference management, you don’t have to worry about switching channels or picking up junk over the airwaves.

Each goTenna Mesh is about four inches tall and is comprised of anodized aluminum and a protective, weather-proof coating. An adjustable silicone strap (four color options) lets you attach it easily to a backpack or, say, to the top of a canopy. If you have multiple units, you can place one at a cabin, another in a tree stand, and carry one with you. The more of these you have in the area, the better your experience gets.

Battery life is rated at about 24 hours but that’s on consistent usage. If you only need to turn it on for a few hours each day, you’ll get multiple days worth of life. According to goTenna, the battery can hold its charge for nearly one year. Charging is done via a microUSB port located on the side.

The goTenna Mesh pairs to your phone via Bluetooth where all of your work is done via the mobile app. Upon setup you’ll enter your contact information and, optionally, download an offline map. After that you’re basically good to go.

There are a variety of types of communication that goTenna Mesh offers including 1-to-1, private group (up to 10), and a public broadcasting, called Shout. If you’re looking for another user, you’ll find them by phone number of goTenna ID (GID). Head to imeshyou.com and you’ll find a whole network of mesh nodes to connect to and users to chat up.

On the left side of the app, you’ll find options like Contacts, Location, and Settings. Under the Location, you can search and download hundreds of different maps for offline viewing.  In the Settings you’ll find options to adjust your profile information, notifications, chat settings, map settings, and security options.

According to goTenna you should be able to get line-of-sight range up to four miles (6.4km) in area like beachsides, plains, and deserts. Mix in buildings or mountains and trees and you’ll find that cut down. Reports we read varied from a few blocks in a big city to a couple of miles in a national park.

Generally speaking, we found no issues in using ours in the woods and countryside. We never really wandered more than a half mile away from the other users and our base was at the top of a hill. Indeed, we used three goTenna Mesh units; one on each of our backpacks, and one to triangulate.

The goTenna Mesh sells in a two-pack for about $180; a four-pack is $329, and an eight-pack is $579. Each bundle comes with charging cables and includes a 1-year warranty and 30-day trial to goTenna Plus. The premium service usually sells for $29.99 per year and includes topgraphical maps, trip stats, location tethering, and more.

Would we like to do more than send and receive messages? Yes and no. Going off the grid means just that. Sometimes we want to be inaccessible and away from the world. On the other hand, we might like to make a quick emergency phone call if the need arises. Picture messaging? Ehh, we’re okay without that.

If you find yourself camping, canoeing, hiking, or even taking a vacation every so often, the goTenna experience is worth checking out. In our research of the devices we found that users have taken these to Disneyland, on cruise ships, and hang-gliding. In other words, it’s not just for places that are off the grid but those which might be congested or suffering an outage.

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