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T-Mobile’s REVVL vs Moto E4 (Budget Smartphone Showdown)

Alexandra Arici
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On the market for a super affordable handset? Maybe you’re looking to buy your first smartphone or maybe you want one for your child or parent. The good news is that the market is abundant with low-end offerings that offer the basic functionalities.

T-Mobile’s recently unveiled REVVL is an apt example of such a device and so is the Moto E4. But if you had to choose, what would it be? Below we take a closer look at these budget phones while trying to see which offers the best value for money.

Design and display

For a budget phone, T-Mobile REVVL doesn’t look too bad. The front carries a pair of speaker grills and there’s no T-Mobile logo in sight either. The carrier’s branding does however make an appearance on the back, which is quite smooth and also includes a fingerprint sensor living below the primary camera.

As for the Moto E4 is largely made out of plastic with a metal frame inside. The phone also has a fingerprint sensor located within the physical home button, which also acts as a swipe navigator. So users can perform actions like long tapping to lock the phone, swiping left to go back or swiping right to view recent apps.

When it comes to displays, the REVVL is the larger model, as it includes a 5.5-inch display with 1280 x 720 resolution, while the Moto E4 comes with a 5-inch panel with 720p.

Performance

The two handsets might not be performance beasts, but their chipsets work well to support almost all normal usage. Of course, if you want a device for gaming you might want to look somewhere else, but if your goal is to check your emails and browse the web, both the REVVL and Moto E4 have your back.

The T-Mobile phone takes advantage of a quad-core MediaTek MT6738 chipset clocked at 1.5GHz, while the Moto E4 carries a quad-core Snapdragon 425/427 (depending on carrier).

Both REVVL and Moto E4 include 2GB of RAM, but the former offers 32GB of internal storage (expandable to 128GB) while the latter only features 16GB of storage (expandable to 32GB).

Cameras

Don’t expect these low-end phones to produce spectacular results. However, the REVVL does include a decent 13-megapixel primary camera, while the Moto E4 only offers an 8-megapixel one. Both models take advantage of a 5-megapixel selfie shooter.

Software

The REVVL runs Android 7.0 Nougat which means the phone is already several Nougat versions behind. So you know what this means, right? With Android O being just around the corner, it’s quite unlikely the phone will receive other updates. The REVVL probably comes pre-installed with a bunch of T-Mobile apps too.

As for the Moto E4, the phone runs the newer Android 7.1.1 Nougat out the box. It also offers a closer to stock Android experience. Given Motorola’s positive track record with updates, there might be hope for future updates for the Moto E4. However, we should note that its predecessor the Moto E3 did not receive the Android 7.0 Nougat update.

Battery

The Moto E4 includes a removable 2,800 mAh battery, while the T-Mobile phone relies on a 3,000 mAh fuel cell instead.

Value

You can grab the Moto E4 from a variety of places. For example, Verizon is currently selling it with a discounted $69.99 (down from $199.99), while at Republic Wireless you can get it for $99. Amazon is also offering the unlocked device for $129.99.

As for the T-Mobile REVVL, it’s available with a full $125 price tag. Or you can get for $5 down and $5/month on an equipment installment plan. The third option will cost you $5/month with no down payment through the carrier’s Jump! On Demand service.

So, which one of these two should you get? Really, it’s up to you and your particular preferences. But to summarize it real-quick, the REVVL has a larger display, more storage, and a better primary camera, while the Moto E4 is the more affordable option (at Verizon or Republic Wireless). It also runs a newer version of Android and has a better chance of receiving updates in the future.

Keep your Samsung Galaxy S8 slim with the Mous Limitless super-protective case

Alexandra Arici
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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are gorgeous looking devices, but they are also quite fragile. So in order to make sure you don’t end up with a broken device, it’s a good idea to invest in a protective case.

But usually slim cases don’t protect well and truly protective cases are ugly. This is something “fashion technology company” Mous hopes to fix. Mous started out by offering iPhone cases as part of an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign which managed to raise more than $2 million.

Now the company has extended its Limitless case range to include models for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Customers can pre-order one right now.

Don’t miss: ZeroLemon launches big battery cases for Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

Mous Limitless cases come equipped with AiroShock which is a smart material designed to offer superior protection without bulking up the super slim Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, unlike other protective cases out there.

A built-in micro air pocket structure protects the device from impact, while the raised front lip keeps the screen from cracking in case of a collision.

Interested parties can pre-order a Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ case in Walnut, Black Leather or Carbon Fibre Kevlar at a discounted $39 price until tomorrow, August 16. The bundle also includes a free Mous Screen Protector and Lifetime Warranty (iPhone case orders also come with a free mount). Estimated delivery date is set for September 2017.

HTC reports losses For The 9th consecutive quarter

AndroidGuys
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HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturing company, recently released their financial report for the second quarter of 2017. Unfortunately, HTC reported losses of NT$1.95 billion which approximately amounts to $64 million. Despite the recent success of the HTC U11, the company seems to be facing the downhill for the ninth consecutive quarter.

Even though the losses were comparatively smaller than the previous quarter, which faced a loss of over NT$2.03 billion, this is still a huge concern for HTC and its investors. HTC also reported that their Earnings per Share for the second quarter was negative NT$2.37 when compared to negative NT$2.47 in first quarter 2017.

HTC Q2 2017 Report

The overall gross margin of HTC also faced a downside. It was 16.3% in the first quarter but it is now reduced to 13.7%. However, HTC has managed to cut out a large chunk of operating expenses. While the total operating expenses were over NT$4.7 billion in the first quarter, it is only NT$4.4 billion in the second quarter of 2017.

Soon after HTC announced the financial results, the company’s shares went down 9.06% to $2.05 USD. Trade analysts have reported that if this trend continues, then HTC might face losses in the third quarter of 2017 too. All HTC could do now is to hope that somehow the sales of their latest flagship, the HTC 11 would witness a huge spike.

Kaspersky intros its own VPN app with 200MB free daily data

Alexandra Arici
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Popular security software maker, Kaspersky recently introduced a new product. It’s called Kaspersky Secure Connection and is a VPN app for Android.

Surely, there isn’t a lack of VPN apps out there, but fans of Kaspersky will probably want to try out Secure Connection, especially since it’s free to download (but limited).

Whenever you’re in a public place and want to use to the local Wi-Fi, Kaspersky’s Secure Connection automatically offers to connect you via VPN technology, so you can browse safely and more importantly privately.

The app which is currently in beta allows 200MB of free encrypted traffic per day for each device and for an unlimited number of devices. Registering on the My Kaspersky portal will get you a bit more, up to 300MB per day free of charge.

For those who want to go unlimited, Kaspersky will eventually offer a premium version which offers all the traffic usage you need (within up to 5 devices) for $29.99 (as seen on the Kaspersky website).

You can go ahead and try Secure Connection beta today, just bear in mind the app will ask your permission to access contacts, location, and phone details.

So while keeping others from eavesdropping on your activity, Kaspersky will be able to learn things about you and see everything you do. Although the company says it won’t keep logs of your activity. It’s up to you whether you want to trust them or not.

Wearable payment stickers by VISA could soon be a thing

Alexandra Arici
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Back in March, we told you VISA was testing a new way of making payments with a pair of NFC-enabled sunglasses. Well in its latest effort to eliminate passwords, VISA is now experimenting with another form of payment.

This time it involves a payment sticker, one which is placed on the user’s exposed skin (in theory you can place it anywhere – your hand, your forehead).

All users need to do to make a payment is tap the sticker to a payment terminal or other connected devices. The transaction uses tokenization, which basically means a unique digital code is used in lieu of the customer’s payment info.

VISA contacless payment bracelets

What happens if you lose the sticker? Well, ideally users would be able to turn off their accounts via the accompanying mobile apps.

VISA is currently testing the payment stickers, so like in the case of the payment sunglasses it’s unclear whether this alternative payment method will make a debut on the market at all.

VISA also experimented with a payment ring back in 2016 during the Summer Olympic Games, but we’re yet to see such items become the payment norm. Nevertheless, the company introduced contactless payment bracelets in Australia, which goes to show VISA is actively pursuing its goal of eliminating passwords.

Google Contacts app now available for any device running Android 5.0 Lollipop and up

Alexandra Arici
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Owners of Nexus, Pixel, Android One or Google Play Edition devices are probably familiar with Google’s Contacts app. The application was so far exclusively available for these devices, but starting this week Google has expanded its availability to include any Android phone or tablet running Android 5.0 Lollipop or above.

If you have a compatible Android phone lying around the house, you can go ahead and download the app from the Play Store and install it on your device. After which, you can opt to use Google’s alternative instead of the phone’s built-in Contacts app.

The latest version of Google’s Contacts (version 2.12.164543808) brings the ability to merge duplicate contacts from the contacts list, as well as provide automatic suggestions for adding information to your existing contacts.

Google Contacts backs all the info in your Google Account to the cloud and also lets you easily add and edit contact information.

Google making the app available for more Android users is good news because the app offers an intuitive and clean way to view and manage your contacts. It comes with Material Design, so it will bestow a purer Android feel on your device, so if that’s your thing go ahead and download the app. It’s free to do so.

Firefox Focus (review)

AndroidGuys
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Firefox focus is a variant of the Firefox browser that provides much improved security features. It can be downloaded on Google play and IOS. Only needing ~7MB of storage, meaning that it is super light – at the expense of other features, which we’ll come to later.

Now when I first saw this, I thought “Why not just make this part of the default Firefox?” but then I remembered a good chunk of it is, which made me wonder what Focus did differently. Well, rather than a new tab page, you get:

Oh. Wait. The app doesn’t let you take screenshots for privacy reasons. Luckily, this option is toggle-able in the settings, labeled as “Stealth mode”. So, you turn it off and get:

Is that an Edge of tomorrow reference?

Nice and simple, right? you just put in a search (or link) and go! So using Google as an example:

As well as the obvious, there is always a button that takes you back to the home page in the form of a rubbish bin. It just wipes everything and leaves you to it. The notification does the exact same. The URL (and the bin button) will only appear while you are at the top of the page, so if I googled bacon, for example, and scrolled down it would disappear with a satisfying shrinking animation.

The quick menu does at it implies. You can refresh, go forward(press your devices back button to go back) as well as use a bunch of options which makes me ask if Focus wants to be a Google in-app browser replacement. You can quickly turn the tracker blocker off too, or press the I for some FAQ’s.

Now, typically when most people look for a browser, they want some multi-tab functionality or at least a history to go back and look at things. You cannot do that here, as there is no tab system. You also can only watch full screen videos on Vimeo. You cant see or use permission popups (e.g. ask for microphone.)

You can of course send the page to another browser once you are happy with it, but anyone who wants a lightweight self-sustaining browser may want to look elsewhere. Shame too, I was looking forward to an app like this.

But of course, there is one real question: which of these two look better?

Courtesy of the RETRORIKA skin pack.

I’ll let you decide.

Back to School: Boost Mobile lets you add a line with Unlimited Gigs for $25/month

Alexandra Arici
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Alternative carrier, Boost Mobile just announced a promotion meant to ease the financial stress the upcoming back to school period will inflict of family budgets.

Starting Tuesday, August 22, the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) invites families to add a line of unlimited LTE data (powered by Sprint’s network) to the $50 Unlimited Gigs plans for only $25/month for up to five lines in total as follows:

1 line: $50
2 lines: $75
3 lines: $100
4 lines: $125
5 lines: $150

The Unlimited Gigs plan includes unlimited talk, text and optimized streaming videos, gaming and music. It also features 8GB of mobile hot spot and unlimited 4G LTE data for most of everything else (video streaming to up to 480+ resolution, music up to 500kbps).

Families who don’t want to go unlimited have other options at their disposal. Boost Mobile offers 3GB of 4G LTE high-speed data and unlimited talk, text, and data for $35. Customers can also add 1GB of 4G LTE data for $5/month or 2GB of 4G LTE data for $10 a month. Multi-lines are also available:

1 line: $35
2 lines: $75
3 lines: $100
4 lines: $125
5 lines: $150

Remember this promotion starts on August 22, so it will be available next week. However, Boost Mobile doesn’t provide us with an expiration date, so hurry up if you want to take advantage of the deal.

Gear Up: TYLT’s new portable batteries are a breath of fresh air

Matt Adams
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I’m a huge fan of TYLT. Always have been. I’ve had a TYLT Vu on my desk for as long as I can remember and only replaced it recently with a fast wireless charging dock. I have a TYLT Energi backpack that I use almost daily. You could say I’m a bit of a fanboy.

But recently, it seemed like TYLT hit the pause button a little bit. I don’t remember seeing many new products from the company and that can be death in an industry where you have to continue to innovate as new technology comes out in the phones your products attach to. I wondered what TYLT was up to.

Then, I saw a Mr. Mobile video for the new Energi Pro backpack and I knew the company I had come to respect was back. Just look at that backpack! It’s beautiful, functional, and doesn’t break the bank. We’ll have a full review of it soon, but suffice to say, it’s my new “daily driver”, if you will.

What we’re talking about today, however, is chargers. That’s what the company has been best known for over the years and with the release of some new additions to the lineup, I think they’ll regain their place on the top of the mountain. Let’s take a look at what they sent over.

TYLT 4X with Dock

I’m just going to start out by saying, this is my favorite battery of the whole lot. The 4X is a 7800mAh portable battery with a single USB type-A port to charge your devices and a micro USB in. But, the killer feature for my family is the dock. We have it set up by the front door and can grab it whenever we’re running out and our phones are low on juice. Once we get home, we throw the battery back on the dock and it charges back up.

The 4X has a 7800mAh capacity which means it can charge both my Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus and my wife’s Apple iPhone 6S Plus with a little juice left over. While my wife’s iPhone doesn’t support quick charge, my S8 Plus does and that’s where the Quick Charge 3.0 support comes in. Knowing I can grab enough battery life for the entire trip during a car trip really sets my mind at ease.

The battery is made out of a hard plastic that looks great. It’s so durable and designed so well that you’d be forgiven if you thought it was made out of metal, but TYLT went with a high-quality plastic to keep cost and weight down. I do love premium materials, but as much as it gets tossed into bags or thrown onto the dock, I’m fine with plastic since it should be a bit more durable to scratches and scrapes.

My only real complaint is that you can only charge one device at a time. The single USB type-A port is great because it supports QC3.0 but I’d love to charge my wife’s phone at the same time I’m charging mine. Also, it takes about 2 hours to recharge the battery from full, but since we generally just throw it on the dock for days at a time in between uses, this doesn’t present that much of an issue for us.

All-in-all, I love this thing and highly recommend it. You can grab one from TYLT’s website for $49.99 or Amazon for a few bucks cheaper.

TYLT 7X

This is the big boy. This is the biggest, baddest, fastest charger on the block. The 7X from TYLT has a 13,400mAh capacity and is designed to charge damn near anything with a USB type-C port. TYLT specifically mentions that this thing is perfect for Macbook owners because you can get a full charge for your computer with the 7X. I don’t have a Macbok to verify that claim, but I do know that even taking some heat loss into consideration, you’re going to get a ton of power out of this battery.

Much like the 4X, the 7X supports Quick Charge 3.0 so anything you plug this into will charge as fast as it safely can. The 7X also has wall prongs built right into the side of the battery so all you have to do is plug it into a power outlet and you’re recharging. This is incredibly convenient as you don’t need to worry about fussing with a wall adapter and wires to recharge the battery, but since it’s such a massive hulk of a battery, you will have to take space into consideration when trying to find an outlet. Additionally, the 7X recharges from dead to full in 2.5-3 hours, which is the same time as the 4X which has about half the capacity.

The 7X looks great. I love the industrial grays and the plastic design that TYLT used on the 7X and its little brother, the 4X. The I’ve had no problems keeping either of them looking good despite some rough handling in the time that I’ve had them. While the 7X can be a little heavy to carry with you at all times, you’ll hardly notice it if you’re used to carrying a heavy laptop bag full of stuff and you throw it in there.

The TYLT 7X isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it if you need a massive battery with quick charging technology. You can grab one from TYLT’s website for $109.99 or on Amazon for $99.99 with Prime shipping. I know spending $100 on a battery sounds like a lot, and it is, but if you have the dough and you’re looking for a long term solution, I can’t really think of a battery alternative on the market right now.

Flipcard

Pretend this is the TYLT Flipcard on my beautiful desk instead of a stock picture. Unfortunately, someone snagged mine.

If you want a charger to slip in your jeans pocket, the Flipcard is a nice option. While it’s not as small as some of those smaller lipstick-style chargers, it does pack some serious power. The 5000mAh capacity is enough to charge basically every phone from dead to full with a little bit left over. If you and your friend need to top off before a night out, it’s a great option. The LED indicator lets you know roughly how much power you have left too, which is nice.

What I truly love about the Flipcard is that I never need to use a cable with it. The built-in USB type-A for recharging and USB type-C loop around the top of the device and tuck into the frame of the battery for easy storage. All I have to do is pop out the USB type-C cable and I’m charging. It’s crazy easy.

Unfortunately, between writing this review and taking the pictures for it, my Flipcard was either lost or (much more likely) stolen. I wish I could have brought you more in-person pictures of it, but apparently, someone else needed it more than I did.

The TYLT Flipcard will run you $59.99 on its website and comes in black and blue. It also comes in lightning and micro USB varieties too.

Flipstick

The Flipstick is a lipstick-style charger that fits into most any jeans pocket. It packs a 3350mAh capacity that should get you hours of battery life in a single charge. It also incorporates attached USB type-A and USB type-C cables so that you can charge your device or recharge the Flipstick without any extra wires. I really can’t state how convenient this is.

Four LEDs let you know how much charge you have left and the concaved button feels satisfyingly clicky to push. I would know because I keep pushing it over and over and over again. It’s like my own little fidget spinner.

My only real issue with the Flipstick is the slower charging speeds. This is a common issue with these smaller form factor chargers. The 1 Amp charging speeds can feel painfully if you’re sitting there watching the clock but if you’re out on a hike or at a movie, just plug it in, throw it in your pocket or bag and let it do its thing. You’ll have enough battery power to last you through the night.

You can grab the Flipstick for $39.99 from TYLT’s website or Amazon.

Reflecting on Google I/O 2017

AndroidGuys
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Google held its annual developer’s’ conference Google I/O in May this year. Google’s I/O tends to put more focus into software and how users can get the most out of the devices. The annual developer festival featured announcements, highlights on its latest accomplishments and future plans for 2017. The Android Sensors & Location: What’s New and Best Practices talk by the Android Location and Context team proved to be of particular interest. The team consisted of Steve Malkos, Souvik Sen, Wei Wang and Marc Stogaitis. Another major highlight was how Google was improving its AI and machine learning technologies across all of its platforms.

Google Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai gave a keynote on how to solve problems arising from Artificial Intelligence, deep neural networks and machine learning algorithms. He particularly centred his keynote address on the concept of shifting from mobile first to AI-first. He noted that Google is actively involved in ensuring the success of this concept across every product area. This is to ensure these areas apply AI and machine learning. In addition, he also made keynotes touching on YouTube, Snapchat, Assistant, Android and VR (Virtual Reality). YouTube users will be able stream 360 videos on their apps. AR and indoor mapping will make finding goods at shops a breeze, with Google announcing it would bring the technology to stores. Google is also aiming to make users spend more time on VR. Thus, they are encouraging the development of apps that will make people want to spend more time using VR.

The Android Location and Context team gave a talk on the future of location and context, Android sensor hub, Android sensors, location accuracy and activity recognition. Among the discussions were also the importance of battery life. They showed extensively detailed graphs showing the costs of accessing the different parts of the phones subsystems such as GNSS, WiFi and data connections.

The team also discussed the introduction of Background Location Limitations which will now come bundled with the latest Android operation system, Android O. According to the team, the limitations are aimed at preventing applications from misusing Android APIs in the background. This will result in better battery savings measures. The team also gave examples on how users can make their app background ready for the upcoming changes. This will have the impact of making devices speed up when navigating and a battery that lasts longer. In addition, Google declared war in 1-star rated apps and also said it would delete apps that suck.

The talk also featured plans for the expected location accuracy improvements slated for later this year. The team also made comparisons of the existing and upcoming solutions, highlighting the advantages that users will get enjoy.

Tools that help analyse GNSS measurements were covered in length. Some of the topics included the strength of individual measurements and their range of measurement accuracy. These tools enable developers to have direct insights into the speeds of GNSS receivers. The talks also covered the depth of neural networks and how they will help in advancing the field of activity recognition as well as the improving the precision of these algorithms.

Google is also leveraging on the Android Sensor Hub that will allow Android phones to use low power processors. This will allow Google to transfer algorithms such as Gestures, Geofencing and Activity recognition from the main application processor to the low-power sensor hub.

Google also announced Google.ai, a spin-off division that aims to encompass machine learning, applied AI and research tools to help it in its work such as AI that can build more AIs. They also announced Google Jobs, a platform that uses contextual intelligence to make it easier for users to find jobs they are looking for. Google Assistant smart speaker Google Home, will now have push notification, Spotify integration and Bluetooth support.

The final talk centered on projections into the future. Some of the things covered included dual frequency GNSS, Accurate Indoor Location and Project Elevation. The team mostly forecast on how they were aiming to add more signals into low power compute domains. This is an effort to make the phone more aware and intelligent. The system will also simplify user interactions, make the phone more aware and intelligent, and assist users understand more about themselves and the world around them.

If you want to invest in any of the upcoming technology we recommend you do so via the CMC Markets trading platform.

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