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Master & Dynamic MW50 on-ear headphones review

Scott Webster
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4

Starting from 2014, New York-based audio company Master & Dynamic has been putting out a number of quality audio products. Known for their durability and the attention to craftsmanship, its headphones are often comprised of long lasting materials such as stainless steel, heavy grain leather, forged aluminum, and woven copper cable. In short, they look every bit as good as they sound — and they are built to stand against time.

We were recently sent a pair of the Master & Dynamic MW50 headphones for review. At $450, they certainly don’t come cheap. But, when you consider that we routinely spend hundreds of dollars on phones every few years, the headphones don’t sound as expensive. Besides that, these will likely be around much longer than that flagship phone you couldn’t wait to purchase.

Still, given that, are the MW50’s a case of getting what you paid for? Do the ends justify the means? The answer largely revolves around what level of audiophile you are and whether you’re comfortable parting with that sort of money. Chances are that some of you have no issue with it and have done so in the past. Then there’s another, likely larger group of you who get nervous at the idea.

Interestingly enough, the MW50’s are the least expensive wireless headphones in the Master & Dynamic portfolio. (See also: Master & Dynamic MW60 review). The chief difference between the two models is that the MW60’s are over-the-ear and the MW50’s are on-ear.

A Qualifying Statement

Before going further, I should point out that on-ear headphones haven’t really been my thing in the past. I’ve long thought, perhaps wrongly, that the best sound experience would come from something that envelopes my ear and doesn’t allow the outside world to bleed in. After being told from a few people that this isn’t always the case, I approached the MW50’s with a different mentality.

Another heads up — the most expensive headphones I’ve ever purchased were about $150 and the most expensive models I’ve reviewed have all been at $200 or less. More often than not, our higher end audio reviews were passed along to other writers who had a more discerning ear and taste.

First Impressions

Upon taking the headphones out of the box, I immediately realized that Master & Dynamic care a great deal about the presentation and quality of its product. I could tell that not only would these last a long time if handled with proper care, but that some of the components could be replaced rather easily, too.

Given the price tag, I was curious as to whether these would feel or look any better than some of the other stuff I’ve spent time with. The answer is a decided yes. I spent more than a few moments looking these over, getting a feel for the leather and stainless steel. I was not in a hurry to put them on as I was taken in by the finer details.

Putting them on was every bit as pleasurable as I had hoped. The lambskin ear cups were some of the softest materials I had ever felt, especially on headphones. There’s no doubt these were going to be comfortable for extended periods of listening.

I initially opted for the physical cord to plug directly into my phone, later switching over to pairing via Bluetooth. Wow. There are few words to describe the sound quality that I was presented with, but a few that come to mind were warm, rich, clear, crisp, full, and even. I actually had to check to make sure that the adjectives I came up with were accurate for describing audio.

I am a fan of almost all genres of music and typically spend a large portion of my day listening to something. Whether it’s a three hour set from a DJ like Dave Seaman or a day of ambient music from the likes of Brian Eno, I love to have something in the background. I’ll often find time to get in podcasts, audiobooks, and news in the car or at home, too. Then there’s always the enjoyment of putting on a favorite album like Wish You Were Here to relax with.

Impressions

There’s something uniquely different between listening to music and truly enjoying it. Sadly, I spend far too much time not enjoying it. The MW50’s however, turned me into a fan all over again. I couldn’t wait to check out how the synths sounded for Pink Floyd or Daft Punk; classical piano and jazz sounded like I had been listening through cotton or a filter. Audiobooks sounded clearer, and those accompanied by sound effects were even more enjoyable.

It’s far too easy to grab a pair of earbuds or pair to a Bluetooth speaker for music. Sure, you can take in things passively and get most of what you want from the source, but to really get the full picture, you need to use the right tools. The Master & Dynamic MW50’s felt like someone had given me contact lenses for my ears. I didn’t realize that my prescription was off until I put something corrective in place.

I was more than happy to fall down the rabbit hole and go looking for some of my favorite albums. Radiohead, a band whose music sounds better in headphones than on speakers, was just downright fun to revisit. R.E.M., Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Royksopp, you name it. Everything felt brand new all over again as I picked up details that I had not heard in ages, if ever.

Why was this happening? Master & Dynamic had tuned the headphones in a way that delivers the best audio experience. Think of how you might adjust the colors, vibrancy, contrast, and other settings on a new TV to get the best picture possible. This happens to the headphones before they’re sent out. What you get is a pair of finely crafted and finely tuned cans that make music fun again.

Other Features

I didn’t have any issues with pairing the headphones (Bluetooth 4.1) to my phone nor did I run into problems with range. Most Bluetooth devices will let you get to about 30 feet from your source before breaking up. The MW50’s let me get up and move about the office or home without any worry. I don’t often need to be more than 30 feet away from my desk or phone so I can’t say definitively that you’d be okay; however, I don’t have any reason to think they’d have problems.

The internal battery for the MW50’s is rated at 16 hours which is more than I expect from a pair of wireless headphones. This gives me two solid days of work with a little left over for evenings before I have to charge them. Speaking of which, Master & Dynamic provide a USB Type-C cable to recharge the headphones. As someone who charges his devices almost daily, I didn’t ever get to the full 16 hours. With that said, I know that it hits 12-14 without problem.

The headphones can also be used for taking telephone calls. I only tried this a few times and those on the other end said I sounded “alright.” I didn’t alert anyone as to what brand or price range I was working with as I didn’t want to tip my hand. But, suffice it to say, nobody said anything along the lines of it being extraordinary or noteworthy.

I’ve since learned that call quality depends on how the microphone array is positioned. I don’t know for certain if I had them on the proper ears, but the mic would face the back of my head if not. Worn properly, the microphone is designed to pick up sounds from the front. I’d like to think that I had the right and left ears on properly, but it’s also possible that I did not.

Conclusion

After spending a few weeks with the Master & Dynamic MW50 headphones I have come to appreciate a number of things. First, I can safely say that as far as on-ear headphones go, these are incredibly comfortable and deliver a much better sound than I anticipated.

I’ve also come to appreciate that there’s a whole world out there for people who own “expensive” audio equipment. It’s not like there’s some secret, underground society of listeners; I know a few guys personally who are often wont to show off new speakers, amplifiers, or equalizers.  But, having tasted it myself, I’ve learned that there’s something to be said about getting what you paid for.

Thanks to the MW50’s I have also come to appreciate music on a totally different level. Not just the songs, but the attention to detail that comes at the studio level where a producer is dialing the settings up and down, tinkering with the master recordings. Everything is a choice when it comes to music. More bass here, a little less emphasis on the snare, etc. Done right, the end result is definitely something to admire and appreciate.

Why bother listening to finely tuned music with headphones that aren’t equally as fine tuned? If you’re the kind of person who really cares about music, the Master & Dynamic brand is likely on your radar. Audiophiles know far more about this than I do, but I am certain they can understand where I’m coming from.

The big question, after all of this, is whether they are worth the money. Would I drop $450 on a pair of headphones? Before getting a chance to experience them, the answer was always a no. Besides, I am a dad and a husband with bills and obligations. I don’t have that sort of money to “waste.”

Having taken my first steps into that larger world, I am far more likely to reach into my wallet for something like this. I know that these would outlast anything else I’d buy in the next few years. Moreover, I know they’re more comfortable than anything else I’ve purchased or would consider if I stayed on my path. I can easily see myself buying at least two pairs of $200 headphones in the next decade. As I see it more clearly now, these would actually be an investment.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more albums to listen to before I box these up and ship them back.

Coffee Pot Terrarium is a challenging, gorgeous puzzler (review)

AndroidGuys
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1

Overview:

Coffee Pot Terrarium is an oddly named, but very well polished puzzle game with beautiful visuals and simple gameplay.

Developer: Brothers Flint

Cost: $2.99

Impressions:

Coffee Pot Terrarium certainly doesn’t sound like the name of a turn-based puzzle game, but that’s exactly what it is. The game is very simple and offers a very zen-like look and feel. The visuals are minimal and stylized, and the music is very relaxing. All of this belies the challenge that the game poses in its levels.

There are no tutorials for this game, instead having you learn how the game works on the fly. Coffee Pot Terrarium is a turn-based game that requires careful planning to eliminate all the enemies on the board. You have a limited movement and attack range, similar to a game like Fire Emblem, and the placement of your character and close observation of the terrain is required to avoid accidental death. Rounds tend to only last a few minutes, but you’ll wind up repeating stages a few times each until you learn the tricks of the level.

There are 21 levels total, across 7 environments that are all very appealing to look at, but the gameplay does get repetitive after a while, but no less difficult. I will say that the game has less replay value due to a lack of incentive, there’s no scoring methods or collectibles that would have compelled me to go back and try the levels again. The game could really use that to push it to the next level.

As it stands now, the game is very light on content for a three dollar game, but what it does have is very polished. The developers have done an excellent job of making the game look and sound good, and the controls are not frustrating to use for the most part, even for on-screen controls. The polish and challenge can make the price worth it if you are looking for a hard game that doesn’t take long to play.

Conclusion:

I’d have to say that of the games I’ve played on Android, Coffee Pot Terrarium is one of the nicest, most complete and challenging. The gameplay is smooth and addicting, and there are no microtransactions to be seen. The lack of replayability is disappointing but can be easily fixed by the developers in an update, and is probably the biggest complaint I had in my time playing. I’d recommend this game to anyone looking for a challenge in their Android gaming experience.

Download Coffee Pot Terrarium on the Google Play Store

Blu Life One X2 Mini review

Scott Webster
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4

We’re in that interesting time of the year where a lot of manufacturers are in the process of launching or announcing their flagship smartphones. Indeed, this is when the big name brands come out with the models which vie for those end-of-year lists. If you’re in the market for a killer experience, this is your time of year. But, do you really need a device that’s got an ever faster processor, more memory, and storage?

Suffice it to say, average phone users don’t demand much of their phones. Moreover, the hardware that comes with high end phones is outpacing the needs of the many. In other words, I’m willing to bet that you don’t need a new phone so much as want one. So, why spend $600-$800 on something when a $200 phone might do the trick for a year or two?

Blu, a brand that we’ve come to respect for its smartphone strategies, has launched another new handset. Known as the Life One X2 Mini, it’s a refreshed take on an already existing model, the Life One X2.

If there’s one thing we’ve come to admire in Blu, it’s that they almost always put out unlocked phones at prices that are very competitive. At one time, this was Blu’s space to own, at least here in the United States. But, with other companies making a push into the market, it’s harder to stand out.

The low-end, which is not exactly comprised of under-powered or terrible phones, is getting increasingly crowded. The devices that occupy the middle of the pack today are likely as powerful as that phone you bought only one year back. It’s somewhere in between this space where the One X2 Mini puts a stake in the ground.

About

The Life One X2 Mini launches at an every day price point of $179.99. However, if you are, or were quick enough to get in on the action on the first day, you can get the phone for only $129.99. There are a number of other models from Blu in this price range; notable competitors include the Motorola G4 Play, the Asus Zenfone 3, and Huawei Honor 5X.

NOTE: The $50 off launch deal starts at 11:00 EST on March 17 and runs while quantities last or until until 5:00PM.

I was provided a review unit of the Blu Life One X2 Mini and have spent much of the last month using it. I didn’t set out to make it my daily driver, particularly because that’s often a chore. What I found, though, was that I was slowly using it more each day, installing apps and games. By the time this review was published, I had used the phone almost as much as my main phone, the Google Pixel XL.

Hardware

Let’s talk about the hardware specifications. Considering the price, we shouldn’t anticipate all that much, right? Well, I think it’s time to reset the bar for what we expect out of an entry-level model.

Do we need 6GB RAM or 8GB RAM on a phone? No way. Nobody needs it, but we might want it. It’s always nice to future proof yourself and get more hardware, especially if you can afford it or justify spending the money.

Did we need 4GB RAM last year? No, but it was nice to have. There aren’t many apps or games that tax that much memory, but we like having reserves. Guess what. We’re at a point now where 4GB is just about standard. Indeed, the Life One X2 Mini comes with that much memory. Moreover, it has a few other specs that sound out of place when discussing a “low end” model.

Key Details

  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • 5.0-inch HD display at 720 x 1280 pixel resolution
  • Quad-core 1.4GHz MediaTek processor
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB storage with microSD expansion card (64GB)
  • 13-Megapixel rear camera
  • 8-megapixel front-facing camera
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • 4G LTE support for two GSM SIM card
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • 3000mAh battery

Pretty crazy, right? That’s an awful lot of phone — with an affordable price tag and no carrier commitment. Take a look at that phone you bought from your carrier in 2015. This one likely has more hardware and a newer version of Android. Sure, there are going to be differences in places like processors, screen resolution, or camera, but largely this would be better than a sidestep.

Display

Although I, and many other people appreciate a large display that pushes into 5.5-inches or larger, there’s something to be said about one-hand usage. To that end, I really enjoyed using the 5-inch screen on the Life One X2 Mini.

I should point out that the display runs at a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. If you’re asking why that matters, then it doesn’t matter to you. A majority of devices in 2017 are at 1080 pixels or 1440 pixels. By comparison, the Life One X2 Mini’s is not as sharp as it could be. On the other hand, we’re working with a 5-inch screen and the fine details don’t pop up or present much of a problem. If your needs include email, messaging, social media, and light gaming, the Life One X2 Mini’s display is more than sufficient.

In terms of picture quality, we were generally pleased with brightness, color balance, warmth, and contrast. As we’ve seen in other Blu models, there’s nothing in the display that really stands out. It’s one of the corners that are cut to help keep costs down, but it’s not a deep cut. More specifically, it’s as good as most people expect.

The Life One X2 Mini keeps pace with other companies in offering a curved glass around the edge of the display. It’s not on the order of what Samsung does for its “Edge” line, but it does make for a soft and appealing touch. It’s gentle in that it makes for an enjoyable holding or swiping experience without drawing attention. Look closely, though, and you see a nice tapered look along the edges.

You’d have to really look for the pixels in daily usage, but putting it into a Google Cardboard reveals why we prefer lots of tiny dots in our screens. With that said, even using it for Google’s entry-point VR platform works alright.

Design

Blu has again opted for microUSB for charging instead of the USB Type-C port despite the fact that it has used it in other models. It’s hard to say why they continue to do this, but we’re betting it comes down to cost and available parts. Hey, at least they didn’t put it on the top of the phone like they did on the Life Max.

The bottom of the Life One X2 Mini features what looks like a pair of stereo speakers; however, one of them is for show only. It balances out the look of the phone but don’t expect it to pump out some loud, stereo experience. It’s decent enough in its own right, but it just sounds like what you might think of when someone says “music on a phone”.

As for the feel of the Life One X2 Mini, we were immediate fans. This is a more premium design that rises above Blu’s cheaper materials and provides a classy and sophisticated appearance. The review unit we were sent is Rose Gold which we found to be appealing to both male and female sensibilities.

Camera

As often is the case with Blu phones, the camera situation is somewhat of a mixed bag. In some instances you’ll get tremendous pictures and in others you end up with blurred shots taken in the middle of the day. Although the Life One X2 Mini largely handles well-lit environments well, it struggled to deliver an accurate color in lower lighting.

The photos you see below were taken in a variety of lighting scenarios; each was uploaded to Flickr “as is”, and without editing. We’ve also uploaded a few dozen more to Google Drive if you’d like to look at them.

The camera app controls are arranged in pretty standard manner with the shutter buttons on the right side of the display. Swiping the viewfinder up brings up the settings while swiping the viewfinder down accesses the shooting modes. Swipe left and/or right to switch to the front-facing camera.

Blu Life One X2 Mini

The Life One X2 Mini camera app offers 8 different shooting modes including normal, pro, HDR, panorama, and night. As you might expect, the professional mode offers the most tools and settings, giving users options to adjust focus, exposure (brightness), ISO (speed), white balance, sharpness, and saturation.

Most people tend to stick to normal or automatic settings on their phone. To that end, we suspect users here will be generally happy with the results. The app is a little slower than we would have liked, particularly when focusing and capture pictures.

Low light really hinders the camera’s ability to focus, leading to a delay in getting the desired photo. Hoping to capture a puppy playing with a new toy in the living room? Turn on as many lights as you can. We noticed the Life One X2 Mini would generate a fair amount of grain in images taken in low light.

Switching to video, we captured 1080p HD clips that ultimately echoed the still camera experience. Footage is generally adequate for most people or rather acceptable in well-lit environments. Get closer to sunset or go indoors and you’ll start to see some degradation in quality.

Software

When it comes to Blu and Android builds, we feel like we say the same things over and over. Specifically, the One X2 Mini is no exception to its long history of an almost pure Android experience.

You’ll find that, while it does come with a couple of extra apps from Amazon, Opera, and Blu, it largely sticks to what Google intends for the platform. Interestingly enough, the experience differs ever so slightly from one Blu model to the next. Nearly every one of them has a different spin on the UI.

This one, for instance, gives users the option to animate swipes on the home screen where previous Blu’s don’t. The app tray is also presented differently here with a list instead of the rows of icons you might be familiar with. Taken as a whole, we like what we get here and think it’s as intuitive as anything else you might find on the market. Actually, because it largely stays with Google’s plans, it’s somewhat better than the skins applied by other phone makers.

Thanks to the standards supported in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, most phones include a fingerprint sensor. Present in the One X2 Mini, it’s an added layer of security for accessing the phone, making payments, and protecting files.

Speaking of security, one area where today’s consumers want to pay attention is in patches or updates. Because a phone is stock Android, or close, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s impervious to tomorrow’s exploitation.

That the One X2 Mini launches with Android 6.0 instead of 7.0 likely isn’t as big of a deal to its target demographic. What’s more pressing, though, is that it keeps up with the security releases and patches from Google.

Without knowing ahead of time, we have to assume Blu keeps up with the most important releases. For now, we have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Should someone find a serious flaw or backdoor into Android, we’d like to hope that Blu pushes out the proper updates.

Other Details

Simply put, there’s more than enough storage and memory here to get you through another year or two of basic and moderate usage. I don’t anticipate the industry moving any quicker in the next couple of years; as long as your needs don’t change, this phone will get the job done.

Another feature that’s common in Blu phones is that they come unlocked with dual-SIM support. Moreover, they’re built to handle 4G LTE on T-Mobile and AT&T, and their respective brands like MetroPCS, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, and Cricket.

Like other Blu phones, the Life One X2 Mini comes with a charger, earbuds, a USB cable, quick guide, screen protector, and silicone case. The case and screen protector are a nice touch if only because those are often the first two things users pick up when buying a new device.

We didn’t run into any performance issues with the Life One X2 Mini, even with its Snapdragon 430 1.4 GHz processor. It might sound as if a 430 would be far inferior to an 820 or 835 (and it is), but most casual users will never know the difference. Hell, I venture to say that the next person you ask couldn’t tell you who even makes processors for a phone, let alone which model is inside their handset.

When reviewing phones it’s easy to look for holes or places where things could be better. The whole notion of evaluating can be a slippery slope, though. Are you looking at the device on its own merit and how it stacks up in the scheme of things? Or, are you running benchmark tests and comparing it to specific models? If you’re the latter, then skip the Life One X2 Mini and pick up something else.

Conclusion

It’s hard for us to look at Blu phones as ever being disappointing. They’ve consistently helped set the expectation for what can be purchased for the money and the Life One X2 Mini is no exception. A few quibbles or random questionable decisions might pop up here and there, but it’s tough to knock the value.

The Life One X2 Mini is a a terrific option for someone who likes the freedom of picking GSM carriers, especially in the United States. If you’ve never owned a smartphone, we can easily suggest Blu as a brand to start with. As someone who has bounced from one phone to the next almost every three or four months, it’s hard to put the Life One X2 Mini on the shelf in favor of something more robust.

You’d have a hard time spending more money down the road. Yes, even when Samsung or LG comes out with something that’s waterproof and boasts tons of performance. Sure, you’ll almost always get what you pay for in smartphones, but at a certain point, you’re also just adding to a company’s bottom line.

A friendly reminder: The Blu Life One X2 Mini launches with a $179.99 price tag with availability through Amazon. A day one promotional price shaves $50 off the sticker, putting it down to a mere $129.99. At $180 the phone is certainly worth considering, but at $130 it’s more of a “what are you waiting for” situation.

Watch out Android Wear, Swatch has plans to develop its own smartwatch OS

Alexandra Arici
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1

Most smartwatches coming out today launch with Android Wear out of the box – Google’s wearable operating system. And then there’s the Apple Watch and Samsung’s Tizen. But apart from that you won’t see many wearables running a different OS. The options are quite limited.

But according to a report coming out of Bloomberg, Swiss watchmaker Swatch is looking to bring some variation to the table.

What’s the chief main concern of smartwatch owners? Poor battery life. Well Swatch wants its wearable OS to be more power efficient and better equipped at protecting users’ data – and these are only two features the company hopes will make the offering stand out from the crowd. Swatch’s OS is expected to make a debut by the end of 2018 in a model coming under the Tissot brand.

Even at this early stage, the first few skeptics have already appeared. Luca Solca, an analyst at Exane BNP Paribas with an interest for the luxury industry says he is not convinced Swatch’s proprietary OS is actually a good idea.

“People use smartwatches expecting to use the same apps they have on their mobiles. A proprietary operating system defeats the object.”

And he has a point. At first, there’s no way Swatch could compete with Apple’s and Google’s app ecosystem, but in time who knows?

Swatch is also said to be willing to supply interested parties with its operating system, so the OS won’t be limited only to the company’s products.

But in comes down to it – would you rather have a smartwatch with a long battery life or have a wearable compatible with all the the apps you want / need.

LeEco’s forced to sell Silicone Valley property, as business collapse continues [Update]

Alexandra Arici
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0

LeEco is a company with a wide vision and a passion for a lot of tech niches. Back in November we told you that LeEco was going through some dark times, as it realized its ambitious plans left it without sustainable cash flow.

LeEco’s CEO even sent out a letter to employees in which he apologized extensively, while also pledging to cut his salary to only 1 yaun / 15 cents.

LeEco Le S3 phone

Well as it appears, the company’s downfall continues on. Last year, when the device maker entered the US market it also acquired a 49-acre property in Silicon Valley from Yahoo which was supposed to be turned into a sort of campus for the company’s employees. The EcoCity should have housed up to 12,000 LeEco staff members.

As it turns out –  the project won’t become a reality anytime soon. According to Reuters, the Chinese hardware maker has sold its Silicone Valley property to the Genzon Group, which purchased it for $260 million. LeEco’s ownership spanned over less than a year.

Bye bye, Silicone Valley

On top of that, we’re told that LeEco significantly reduced the number of employees it has setup in Silicon Valley – so more than ever things don’t appear to be going into the right direction for the Chinese conglomerate.

Despite the grim outlook, last week LeEco announced it was expanding its retail availability in the US by partnering up with retailers like HSN, BrandsMart USA and Fry’s. Previously LeEco products could have been purchased from BestBuy, Target and Amazon.

The Chinese device maker also does its best to be in the spot light. Back in January, LeEco had a Super Bowl 2017 contest running which offered a full expenses paid trip to the game plus other goodies.

Still the US market is a competitive one and LeEco has spread its threads into so many niches, it’s unable to produce enough profit to maintain afloat. Perhaps LeEco should learn the world “moderation”.

[Update]: LeEco has sent us a statement which reads as follows:

“We’ve always envisioned EcoCity would be an open environment that would be a place for our employees, our partners and the community to collaborate.  LeEco has been working to identify additional investors as well as a development partner but we have nothing to announce at this time.“

Montblanc’s first smartwatch puts an emphasis on looks, not functionality

Alexandra Arici
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0

A few days ago we brought you word about Tag Heuer’s new modular Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch. Well it seems that the smartwatch market is slowly attracting more and more luxury watch makers. It’s the case of Montblanc.

The German company just unveiled the Summit smartwatch and as it would be expected from a brand of this caliber, the device is made of fine, luxury materials. Like the Tag Heuer’s Connected Modular 45, the Montblanc Summit is a very large watch.

It comes with a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with 400 x 400 resolution and is fueled by a Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor working in combination with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of native storage. The watch is kept alive by a 300 mAh battery.

However, the smartwatch will lack a few key components. It will come devoid of any GPS function, NFC or LTE radios. Which means you won’t be able to use the device to do a number of things like currently track your running, making contactless payments or placing phone calls. Still the wearable does take advantage of a heart rate sensor and is IP68 water resistant.

But maybe the customization options will be enough to spark your interest. The Summit is offered with four different casing options including Black PVD coated stainless steel, bi-color stainless steel case with a black PVD coated stainless steel bezel, stainless steel case with satinated finish plus a grade 5 titanium case with satinated finish.

Customers will also get to have their pick at a strap. Options include rubber in black/blue/green/red but also calfskin leather in different colors. There are more than 300 different Montblanc Summit combinations, all available for your pleasure.

Prices for the Montblanc Summit start at $890 but they can go up to $1,100. The smartwatch is a bit cheaper than the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45, but as we explained above it lacks a few important features.

Anyway, design-wise the Summit certainly looks gorgeous – but is aesthetic enough to convince the average buyer to squeeze such a large amount of money out of their pocket?

OPPO set to launch dual selfie camera smartphone on March 23

Alexandra Arici
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0

A lot of smartphones launching today make a debut into the wild with a main dual camera setup (see the LG G6). But now the time has come for device manufacturers to take it to the next level and offer handsets with dual selfie cameras onboard.

It’s the case of OPPO which announced this week the launch of the F3 Plus also dubbed the “Selfie Expert”. The handset features OPPO’s first-even dual selfie camera which has been designed to capture high-quality images with the help of a 16MP main camera and 8MP sub-camera..

OPPO will unleash the new phone in five key markets simultaneously including India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam on March 23. Oddly enough, it the official press release OPPO boasts that it displayed large advertisements for the phone in Times Square, New York – so maybe this is an indication the Selfie Expert might arrive on the US market at some point in the future.

While the press release only mentions the F3 Plus, some rumors that have been flying around online seem to indicate OPPO might have a F3 model in the oven, as well. Like the F3 Plus, the F3 should also take advantage of a dual camera setup in front.

According to the rumor mill we should expect the Oppo F3 Plus to come with a 6-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution. Power will be supplied by a Snapdragon 635 processor working in concert with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of native storage. While the device will take advantage of a dual camera setup up in front, one the back the phone will rock only one 16MP sensor.

Last but not lease, the phone should carry a 4,000 mAh battery and come with Android 7.0 Nougat pre-installed.

When and Where to Buy: LG G6

AG Deals Team
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The LG G6 was unveiled at MWC 2017, after being teased and leaked over and over again. The device looks to shake up the market as it features a unique 18:9 display ratio with a display size of 5.7-inches. The device is also powered by the Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage.

As for the rest of the specs, we’re seeing dual 13MP camera’s on the rear of the device, along with a 5MP front-facing selfie camera. Finally, LG has packed a non-removable 3,300mAh battery into its latest flagship.

Some of us don’t want to wait for the Galaxy S8 to be launched, while others don’t feel like seeing all the different gimmicks Samsung will be packing into its 2017 flagship. That leads us to wondering where we can pick up the LG G6 and how much we’ll spending.

However, before jumping into the different prices, it’s important to note that LG is giving away a Google Home to everyone who purchases one by April 30th. All you’ll need to do is head over to the link here and fill out the necessary information after receiving your new device.

You can read our first impressions of the LG G6 here.

[vc_cta h2=”Verizon” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Pre-Order” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-cart” btn_add_icon=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.verizonwireless.com%2Fsmartphones%2Flg-g6%2F|title:Verizon%20LG%20G6|target:%20_blank|”]

Verizon is offering the LG G6 for $28 per month, bringing the full-retail price up to $672. However, Verizon is also giving away a free LG 43-inch Smart TV, provided that you add a new line of service on its payment plans and are on Verizon Unlimited. If you check all these pre-requisites, you can claim your free TV here.[/vc_cta]

[vc_cta h2=”T-Mobile” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Pre-Order” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-cart” btn_add_icon=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fcell-phones%2Flg|title:T-Mobile%20LG%20G6|target:%20_blank|”]

As for T-Mobile, there doesn’t seem to be much in regards of any freebies. However, you can snag the G6 for $26 down and $26 per month for 24 months. This brings the retail price up to $650 if you want to purchase it outright.[/vc_cta]

[vc_cta h2=”AT&T” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Pre-Order” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-cart” btn_add_icon=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.att.com%2Fcellphones%2Flg%2Fg6.html||target:%20_blank|”]AT&T is jumping on the hype train with the LG G6 as the company is offering the device for $24 per month for 30 months on AT&T Next. If you want to get a new device every year, you’ll pay $30 per month for 24 months.

AT&T also is throwing in the new LG Watch Sport for just $49.99 on a 2-year contract. Finally, if you’re looking to snag 2 new lines, AT&T is running a BOGO free for the G6, giving you 30 months of bill credits when getting a 2nd device.[/vc_cta]

[vc_cta h2=”Sprint” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Pre-Order” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-cart” btn_add_icon=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sprint.com%2Fcontent%2Fsprint%2Fsprint_com%2Fus%2Fen%2Flandings%2Flg-g6.html%3FECID%3Dvanity%3Algg6||target:%20_blank|”]One of the last carriers to share its details on the LG G6 was Sprint. The carrier will be offering the G6 for $29.50 per month for 24 months, bringing the full price up to $708. Sprint is also giving away a free unspecified LG 1080p TV.[/vc_cta]
[vc_cta h2=”US Cellular” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Pre-Order” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-cart” btn_add_icon=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sprint.com%2Fcontent%2Fsprint%2Fsprint_com%2Fus%2Fen%2Flandings%2Flg-g6.html%3FECID%3Dvanity%3Algg6||target:%20_blank|”]As it turns out, US Cellular is getting in on the fun with the LG G6 as it will also be offering the device. If you pre-order the G6, you’ll be paying $10 per month for 30 months. This means that you’ll be getting the device for just $300 after receiving a US Cellular promo card for $297.60.[/vc_cta]
[vc_cta h2=”Samsung Galaxy S8 Giveaway”]Want to win a Samsung Galaxy S8? Enter our giveaway here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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OxygenOS 4.1.0 updates the OnePlus 3 & 3T to Android 7.1.1 Nougat

AG Deals Team
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The latest version of Android Nougat is rolling out to more devices, as we’ve already seen the ZTE Axon 7 updated. Now, the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T are getting in on the action.

OnePlus has just started pushing the latest version of OxygenOS to devices, bringing Android 7.1.1 Nougat along with it. Additionally, there are some new features and bug fixes hitching the ride on this one.

Here’s a full list of all the changes in OxygenOS 4.1.0:

  • Upgraded Android 7.1.1
  • Updated Google security patch to 1st March 2017
  • Added expanded screenshots
  • Improved picture taking of moving objects with blur reduction
  • Improved video stability when recording
  • Improved WiFi connectivity
  • Improved bluetooth connectivity
  • General bug fixes

Other than being built on Android 7.1.1 Nougat, the next big improvement is the addition of expanded screenshots. This feature essentially allows you take screenshots of an entire webpage, or maybe your app drawer, without needing to take multiple screenshots.

In an effort to make sure that everything runs smoothly once arriving on our devices, this OTA update is rolling out incrementally. That means that some users will begin seeing the update today, while more and more folks will receive it as time elapses.

We here at AndroidGuys have yet to get the latest update on our OnePlus 3T, but let us know if you’ve already received it. Also, give us a look at your homescreen by using the new “expanded screenshots” feature built into OxygenOS 4.1.0.

Wacom Bamboo Folio review

AndroidGuys
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Wacom is a brand that has been around since the 1980’s but really seems to have its stride in the last decade or so. As more people move to a digital workspace, we find different reasons to use some of its product offerings. Be it a stylus for your tablet or something more unique, the company’s portfolio continues to grow in appeal. You no longer have to be a cutting-edge nerd working on a major motion picture to leverage its products.

One product we’ve recently had the privilege of testing is the Bamboo Folio. As a smartpad, it essentially lets users write on any physical paper and then back it up digitally, mark it up, share, and more.

At first we expected that it would be a simple case of simply taking pen-and-paper notes and converting them into digital files. And, while that would be great, there’s a lot more that can be done with them once created.

Sounds pretty simple and cool, right? It is. It’s one of the neatest products that we’ve connected to our phones in some time.

Design and Setup

Although the Bamboo Folio comes in a Large (A4 / letter) size, we reviewed the Small (A5/half letter) paper edition. The outside of the pad offers up a nylon fabric cover with dark stitching; the inside is a dimpled polyurethane material with a large pocket and two slots for business cards.

Inside you find a notepad from Wacom that has tiny dots which can be used for grid drawing or to help keep straight lines. Note that you do not have to use this pad and that you can put any type of paper or pad in place and still get the same effect. With that said, Wacom does offer replacement pads should you like the one that comes with it.

Next to the pad, and close to the fold is where you’d locate or place your smart pen. It’s here’s where you’ll have to go through Bamboo for replacements. The ink-equipped ballpoint works just like any other pen, however you won’t want to get in the habit of using for on non-Folio purposes. It’s roughly half the size of a standard pen and you do get a replacement in the box. A three-pack runs about $10 through Bamboo.

You’ll need to install the Wacom Inkspace app on your phone or tablet; both Android and iOS editions are available. It’s here where you’ll back up your files and notes. There’s also a short setup process that has you synchronize the Folio to your device via Bluetooth. All in, you’re looking at a few minutes of time and you are ready to go.

For additional functionality, check out the Bamboo Paper app which lets you draw, highlight, mark up, and more on your phone. Those files can then be shared to your Inkspace account. By default, you get 5GB storage in the Basic account, which breaks down to around 6,000 pages of notes.

Features

Using the Folio is just like you might expect for a pen and paper setup. Simply open it up and start drawing, sketching, or taking notes. Once you are ready to back the sheet up, press the little button found next to the pad. The light switches from blue to green to indicate that it has been backed up. Press the pen to a piece of paper and it goes back to blue, meaning you have something ready to go — even if it’s just a dot or few lines.

As long as you place your paper, note card, Post-It, or sheet on top of the board itself, you can track your pen’s movements. Whereas a small notepad works best, you can drop an index card on it for a one-off writing and synchronization. The secret to the whole thing working is placing paper on top of the pad and using the right pen. Beyond that, it’s up to you as to how you use it.

By default, the Folio will give you the ability to push notes to the app as they appear. But, you can switch to a Live Mode which operates as a screen mirror of your pad. As you draw and take notes on the pad, the app follows along in real-time. Once done, push the circle button and you can back the finished product up.

Inside of Inkspace you can draw on top of the files with a basic tool or use an eraser. Moreover, you can also grab sections of the paper and move them. It’s also here where you can essentially slide a timeline and save the document at a certain point. Let’s say you wrote down a bunch of items to get from the store but then also started doodling on it afterward. Slide the timeline back to before the doodles and save it.

Once your note is saved to the device, you can do a number of things with the file. Export options include JPEG, PNG, PDF, and Wacom’s proprietary WILL format. From there you can hand off to Android’s sharing intent and push the file wherever you want, including other apps like Slack, Todoist, Google Drive, Gmail, and more.

There is a handwriting-to-text option; however, it’s behind a paywall. Additionally, the Plus plan, which runs $2.95 per month, gives you the ability to search notes, export as SVG vector file, and gives you 50GB of storage. For what it’s worth, you get three months of Inkspace Plus for free with the purchase of the Folio.

The aforementioned Bamboo Paper lets you play around with the WILL files, allowing for more editing options. Here you’ll find colors, pen types, and widths. This is handy in cases where you might turn over a draft sketch that was done in black and white. Once inside of Bamboo Paper you can highlight and color, creating various end results. There are a variety of tools available in the default setting, but you can/will pay for more extensive stuff.

Conclusion

For about $150, this is a somewhat expensive item to consider, especially if you just want to make digital backups of notes. There are other options available at lower prices so do a little research to see where you might end up. However, we were impressed with the ease of which the Bamboo Folio let us write and back up.

We’re simply in love with the battery life of the unit, too. We have only had to charge this up once in the weeks that we’ve had it. It came with about a quarter charge out of the box and topping up off to 100 has given us nearly two weeks of usage since. Sure, we’ve had days where we don’t use the Folio, but that’s the whole peace of mind thing that we enjoy. The last thing we want is to plug it in just to take notes.

The default app and account settings are a good start for people to get a sense of what the Folio can do. After spending a couple of weeks with the item we can see how coughing up a couple of dollars here and there might be worth it. Your mileage will certainly vary, but we envision this as being a great tool for graphic artists, students, and professionals.  You might have to hop into a different app such as Bamboo Paper to get the best results, but think it’s worth it.

We’ve found that the more we use the Folio the more we see a reason to carry it with us everywhere. It’s light, professional looking, and downright handy. There are plenty of instances in the past where we’ve jotted down notes only to wish we had not thrown them away. That’s no longer an issue for us. Factor in the ability to sketch up, annotate, or add color, and it’s fast become a daily staple for our bag.

It’s certainly worth noting that Bamboo offers another, less expensive form factor called Bamboo Slate, which retails for $129.95-$149.95 (small and large). The features are the same across the board; however, the overall design is different. Instead of a folio, this one is essentially the pad by itself.

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