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10 cool gadgets to take with you on a camping trip

Alexandra Arici
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I always loved the outdoors and going on a camping trip was one of my favorite activities during holidays. I tended to go on nature trips whenever I wanted some quality time with myself or a select group of friends who also enjoyed the reflective nature of the experience.

While our daily lives are ruled by the impact of technology, camping trips are often characterized by a return to a simpler way of doing things. However, you’d be surprised how many camping gadgets exist, all designed to make your life easier in the wild. And for those of us who are not Bear Grylls, having a little tech assistance while we go off to live in the woods for a week is actually recommended, since it makes the transition from urban environment to the natural one easier.

So here are some gadgets which I think you should consider taking with you on your outdoor trip. You know, just in case.

Nektek Solar Charger

Assuming you’re not into doing mountain climbing during winter, you’re probably going to go camping when it’s nice and warm outside. So a solar powerbank is just what you need. Want to let the people back home know you’re safe? A solar battery will ensure your smartphone has enough battery to send a text or make a phone even after a week of being away from a power outlet.

The Nekteck Solar charger is a rain-resistant dirt/shockproof 10,000 mAh power bank which chargers via a super powerful SunPower solar panel. It also doubles as a LED flashlight which you can use in case of emergency. It only costs $25.99 on Amazon, so you have no excuse not to get it before you head out.

All-Terrain Sound Speaker

I don’t’ know about you, but I really love listening to music while on the trail in the woods. That’s why a portable Bluetooth speaker is the perfect companion for a trip out in nature. The All-Terrain Sound speaker is all you will ever need. It clips to your bike or backpack and is water, weather and dust proof, which means you can use it anywhere.

It has been tested for ruggedized durability, so a 10+ foot drop on concrete won’t break it. The speaker also has a built-in microphone which allows for speaker phone conversations. The All-Terrain Sound speaker is currently available in our own AndroidGuys Deals shop for only $29.99.

Waterfi Short Cord Headphones

Planning of setting up camp near a lake and maybe going for a nice swim in the morning? Well with the Waterfi Short Cord headphones you can listen to music underwater (as well as while hiking on the trail).

The accessory features IPX8 certifications and takes advantage a 11-inch cord to reduce drag and tangles. A pair can be yours for $30 a pop.

Meco Hand Cranking Solar Powered Flashlight

You never know in what sort of emergency may arise and that’s why it’s always wise to have a backup plan. For example, you might find yourself lost in the woods at night. In such a situation it might be useful to have a flashlight non-dependent on batteries with you. The MECO is a solar-powered flashlight that recharges during the day. It’s durable and compact so you it can easily fit in your backpack. It’s available for only $9.99.

Eton Scorpion Solar Powered Digital Weather Radio

I do seem to have a percent for solar-powered gadgetry, but that’s because I consider it wise to harness the nature’s power to your advantage. And the Eton Scorpion Solar powered radio is another great example of a useful piece of gadgetry you can employ during your explorations in nature. The Eton Scorpion is a multi-function radio that can also power smartphones.

The device also delivers weather alerts, so you’ll know whether to proceed further on your trail or to remain where you are and wait for bad weather to clear out. The Eton Scorpion is available for $59.99.

Biolite Kettlecharge

If you are planning to spend more than a few days out in the wilderness, potable water will be the issue. With the Biolite Kettlecharger you will be able to easily boil water (you’ll need to know how to make a fire or have a portable gas can at your disposal), while producing electricity at the same time. You can transform river water into potable water and charge your devices all in one simple step. Get the Kettlecharge for $149.95 a pop.

Garmin inReach Explorer+

Smartphones might not have coverage everywhere, so in case you’ll find yourself stuck in a remote area the DeLorme inReach Explorer+ can be your ticket out. This is a satellite communicator which enables to send and receive text messages via the Iridium satellite network (it boasts 100% global coverage).

The device allows you to share your GPS coordinates and in a case of an emergency, you can trigger an SOS alert and even have a text exchange with the search-and-rescue party. The Garmin inReach Explorer+ is a bit on the pricier side of things. It costs around $449, but safety is more important than anything, right?

GoPro HERO5

Don’t forget to record all the beauty you see all around with the GoPro Hero5 action camera. The device can shoot stunning 4K video and 12MP photos in Single, Burst and Time Lapse modes. It’s waterproof for up to 33ft without a housing and it can be yours for $399.

Oomph

A lot of people can’t kick start their day without a proper cup of coffee in the morning. But what do you do when you are in the wild? You take out your Oomph that’s what. All you need to do is fill the Oomph with hot water and then press down on the outer shell so the gizmo will force pressurized water straight into the coffee grounds. Oomph is touted as the fastest hand portable coffee marker – it can deliver your cup in less than 2 minutes. If you decide to purchase an Oomph now, then you should know it’s available with a discount. Two portable coffee makers can be yours for $86.

goTenna

Sometimes while you are on a hike you might get separated from your group. But with the goTenna attached to your backpack you won’t have to worry when this happens. The little strip can send a text to a friend even without cell service. However, your buddies will need to have the goTenna app installed on their device. The little gadget costs $149.

6 of the best web development apps for Android

Guest Blogger
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A web application is an app that uses a web browser as a client. In computing, a web-application or web-app is client-server software application in which client or user interface runs in a web browser.  Common web applications include web mail, online retail sales, online auctions, wikis, instant messaging services and many other functions.

Websites most likely to be referred to as web application are those which have similar functionality to a desktop software apps or a mobile app. The Melbourne Website Design is the company who delivers the best web development services to their clients.

The following are 6 of the best free web development apps for Android.

ES File Explorer File Manager

This app is free, safe, simple and manage your files efficiently and easily with ES File Explorer (File Manager). It is a full-featured file (images, music, movies, document and app) manager for both local and networked use.

Features:
  • It is powerful tool that put desktop-grade features in your pockets.
  • Built-in ZIP and RAR support.
  • Cloud storage: supports Dropbox, Box.net, Sugarsync, Google Drive etc.
  • Functions as an FTP and WebDAV client.
  • Access your home PC: it provides access to the entire file system and all data directories on your PC.

anWriter free HTML editor

This is unarguably one of the best Android web development apps. It is not only the best for writing codes, it also offers auto-completion support for HTML, CSS, Javascript, LaTeX etc. It supports modern technologies, too.

Features:
  • Syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS, Javascript, XML, LaTeX, Python languages etc.
  • Web pages preview in the internal viewer.
  • Downloading/ Uploading file from/ to the FTP server.

AIDE Web

AIDE Web is a web editor and integrated development environment (IDE) for developing websites with HTML, CSS, and Javascript directly for your Android device. AIDE web will turn your Android tablet with keyboard into a real development box.

Features:
  • Interactive lessons with step-by-step instructions.
  • Javascript programming course.
  • Edit-compile-run cycle. Build HTML, CSS, Javascript websites etc.
  • No root access required.
  • Real time error checking.
  • Code formatter and out-comment-code.

Simple HTTP server

This is a very simple and easy-to-use web server for sharing contents on your device.

Features:
  • Range header support for seeking video.
  • Only support port 12345.
  • No root access required.
  • Support Digest Authentication for security.

KWS Android Web Server

This app is a lightweight and fast web server specially designed for Android mobile devices. It can be used to host websites and to serve file over HTTP.

Features:
  • Basic and digest authentication for secure access.
  • Server side includes (SSI).
  • Directory index.
  • Directory downloads in tar and zip formats.
  • Built-in Dynamic DNS updates.
  • Comprehensive HTTP logs.

VT View Source

This application is used to view HTML, CSS, Javascript or XML sources of webpages and remotely located files. The source code can be opened by typing the URL or using “share page” functionality of device browser (native android browser, Opera mobile, Firefox etc.)

Features:
  • View HTML, XML, CSS and Javascript sources.
  • Syntax highlighter with more than 35 predefined themes.
  • Share unformatted source code to clipboard.
  • Though this app is very good, it has the following shortcomings:
    • It currently supports only UTF-8 encoding for non-English content.
    • Internationalized Domain Names are not supported in Android 2.2 (Froyo), please use Punycode instead.
    • Cannot read local files (e.g. read via “file:///” protocol).
    • Cannot read password protected pages.
    • When sharing pages with the content based on cookie or session state, the source code may not be the same as in device browser.

Smartphone industry newcomer Maze will launch a Xiaomi Mi MIX alternative soon

Alexandra Arici
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This year we’re probably see more and more smartphones with almost non-existent bezels. The Xiaomi Mi MIX turned a few heads when it launched with a display that featured a screen-to-body ratio of 91.3%.

Well it seems we’re soon going to see a new Xiaomi Mi MIX competitor arrive on the market. This time from a new company called Maze which hails from Shenzhen, China. The device maker has released a teaser which details a device called Alpha that seems to boast the Mi MIX’s main characteristics – the almost invisible bezels.

At this point we don’t have much info on the handset, but we can tell you the Alpha is going to be a phablet with a 5.5-inch or 6-inch AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 4 onboard. As you can see for yourself in the image below, the phone appears to feature a dual camera setup plus a flash.

So we have to assume, the device will be at least an upper to middle ranger. Hence we can speculate, the Alpha will feature at least 1920 x 1080 resolution and maybe a Snapdragon 820/821 under the hood. Android 7.0 Nougat will probably be onboard and the company’s own overlay plastered on top.

Come join the Maze

At launch, Maze is targeting the European market, but that doesn’t mean the Alpha won’t make it to the US at some point in the future. The China-based company expects the phone to become available sometimes in April, although we don’t have no information about pricing. Somehow we expect it to be cheaper than the Xiaomi Mi MIX.

GoEuro continues growth with additional onsite booking partners

AndroidGuys
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UPDATE: GoEuro, now known as Omio, is the search and booking platform with tickets for trains, buses, and flights. Omio offers mobile tickets for several of the 36 countries in Europe, with plans to expand globally. With over 800 transport providers, Omio makes the ticket booking experience more seamless and straightforward.

GoEuro, in case you are unaware, is a travel service that allows you to book travel for bus, plane, or train all on a single, convenient website (or app for us mobile users). It allows travelers a simple way to plan out a travel route and book tickets ahead of time, without having to navigate a multitude of sites and pages.

Recently, GoEuro has been on a spree, adding in new partners as it continues to grow. By working with additional players, GoEuro now has a variety of rail providers to complement its bus and flight offerings. What this means for you is, should you find yourself traveling Europe anytime soon (lucky!), you only need one app to book any of your rail tickets.

GoEuro Highlights:

We can’t just tell you how great this app is without telling you what they offer, so here goes:

  • More than 450 travel partners across bus, train, and air
  • More than 33,000 travel destinations (including major hubs outside of Europe)
  • 46,000 travel routes offered daily
  • Single search point for all travel types (bus, train, and plane)
  • Available on both Android and iOS

In addition to covering even the smallest of towns in Europe, GoEuro also lets you set destination points for major cities in the United States. It’s like having a travel agent looking things up for you.

If you are planning to travel to Italy anytime soon, or any other part of Europe for that matter, give GoEuro a shot. If you are not planning a trip, consider this AndroidGuys giving you permission to plan that trip. You deserve it.

Essential tips for keeping our Android phones safe

AndroidGuys
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In the world we live in, we tend to take our mobile devices for granted these days. They sit in our pockets ready to provide us with access to the Internet, and all the different forms of entertainment that it holds. Something we tend to forget though to keep this portal safe, especially from the less trustworthy sites that are out there.

Thankfully though there are plenty of applications created for Android devices that protect them and our identity from the online dangers waiting for us online. We must use common sense of course, but here are a few more tip for how to stay safe:

Lock Your Screen

Have you ever lost your phone and ended up worrying about some stranger who could access all of your details held on it? If you are lucky, the people who find it will hand it in and you’ll be able to get it back in no time at all. If these are unscrupulous people though, they may put their nose in the phone and the details held inside. This is where a screen lock is invaluable.

Through the use of a pin number or password that only you know, you can lock your device to stop strangers from getting access. On the latest phones, even fingerprints and retina scans are being used to unlock them. The important thing is to put the screen lock on in the first place, and keep your phone fully secure.

Back-Up Your Data

Less of a safety feature, but more for peace of mind is the ability to back-up your phone. This should be done regularly so that if your phone was to break, you can easily get everything back when it is in working order, or a new phone has been bought.

Encryption

Another tool to protect your data if you’ve lost your phone is encryption. This means that the data will be inaccessible to anybody but you because you hold the key to unlocking it. Just make sure you’ve set up a password that is strong enough not to be guessed, and only you can remember.

Safe Browsing

When you are searching the internet for information you want to know the pages you view are safe for your phone. This can be done by the use of apps that protect you from sites with bad reputations. One of these is known as Web of Trust (WOT) which lets you know how safe a site is, and can block dangerous ones from damaging your phone.

The Internet is everywhere these days, but so are the dangers. Be aware of them, and take action to protect yourself, and you and your devices will be safe.

T-Mobile upgrades LTE data cap to 30GB

Alexandra Arici
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Most major carriers in the US offer an Unlimited plan option. But “unlimited” in carrier language actually spells limited with carrier implementing thresholds, which when being reached translate into de-prioritization of your device.

In case you are not aware, Verizon’s Unlimited plan caps out at 22GB just like AT&T’s, while Sprint’s is a bit more merciful and will throttle down your speeds after 23GB.

So far T-Mobile has been leading the pack with a threshold of 28GB. But to gain even more advantage over the competition, the carrier is now upgrading the limit to 30GB.

But even if you reach this threshold, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use your phone anymore. However, network speeds will be decreased to 3G/2G speeds, so your device might take its sweet time to load a page.

Interestingly enough T-Mobile didn’t make an official statement to alert users about the increased data cap, but as you can see the carrier’s website states that very clearly.

In case you don’t remember, we’re taking a moment to remind you what the T-Mobile Unlimited plan is all about. The carrier is offering 2 unlimited lines for $100/month all-in which includes HD video and 10GB of tethering.

If you only want one line, you’ll have to pay $70 a month for the same services. Three lines will run you $140/month and four lines are at $160. All of these offers require you to have AutoPay.

Boomerang intros new Android streaming service for classical cartoon lovers

Alexandra Arici
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If you were a kid in the 90s you probably used to binge of Cartoon Network shows all the time. Eventually, classical shorts and cartoons like Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera shows were moved to Cartoon’s Network’s sister channel, Boomerang. Which so far was only available for cable subscribers.

Luckily that won’t be the case anymore. Warner Bros. jus announced it will soon be launching a digital subscription services which will offer access to the best classical cartoons of all times. Interested parties will have to pay $4.99 for a month subscription or $39.99 for a year. The company offers a free 30-day trial, so users can figure out whether they like the service or not..

The whole crew is waiting for you this spring

At launch, the service will offer some of the big hits from the 50s and 60s including Bug Bunny, Tom and Jerry, The Jetsons, the Flintstones and of course Scooby Doo. But that’s not all, customers will also be given access to Boomerang original titles like Wizard of Oz and Wacky Races reboots. New Boomerang content will be added each week.

Ready for cartoons?

The service won’t be limited to older cartoons. Warner Bros. has plans to launch new titles exclusively made for the new service, but also new episodes of popular shows like Looney Tunes or Scooby Doo.

The new service sounds very much like a Netflix of sorts, but with a focus on classical cartoons. The service should become available sometimes this spring for users of Android and iOS devices alike. Later on, it will be expanded to set-top boxes like Roku and Fire TV. The service will be available only in the US at launch.

Sprint demos Gigabit Class LTE on a mystery Motorola flagship with Snapdragon 835

Alexandra Arici
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Yesterday we’ve seen an alleged Moto Z (2017) make rounds online. Well it appears, Motorola isn’t particularly secretive about the new phone, as the device has already been spotted in the wild.

Sprint and Motorola recently parented up to show off the carrier’s upcoming Gigabit Class LTE service during a New Orleans Pelicans vs Toronto Raptors basketball game. Sprint announced in a press release that the Motorola phone used was a future flagship powered by the Snapdragon 835 – and in all possibility this is the next-gen Moto Z.

The Snapdragon 835 bundles an integrated Snapdragon X16 modem, which is capable of supporting Gigabit LTE technology. And Sprint used three-channel aggregation and 60MHz of Sprint’s 2.5GHz spectrum combined with 4 X 4 MIMO (Multiple Input/Multiple Output) and 256-QAM higher order modulation to be able to deliver category 16 LTE download data speeds on TDD network.

Given what we just told you above, it makes sense to assume that the next-gen Moto Z flagship won’t be tied down to Verizon, but will be offered by other carriers such as Sprint.

Sadly, the purported Moto Z’s design is not very clear in these photos, as Motorola made sure to constrain the device using a cover and taping it around the edges.

It’s possible the Moto Z (2017) also made an appearance at MWC 2017, when Motorola announced the Gamepad Moto Mod.

From what we’ve seen so far, it seems like the new Moto Z won’t feature a square home button, but one that will be very much akin to the one found on the Moto G5 Plus.

Google, thinking that splitting apps is a good idea, splits Hangouts.

Donovan Jeska
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Today Google announced that it would be splitting Hangouts into two separate experiences; one that focuses on video conferencing in the form of Hangouts Meet, and another that focuses on text-based conversations in Hangouts Chat. If this sounds very familiar, it should – it’s exactly what Google did with Allo and Duo – which, by most metrics, appear to have failed rather spectacularly.

You can read all about Meet and Chat via the link above, but I’m going to hijack this post for my own selfish rant about the nonsense Google keeps pulling and how it’s hurting its

WHY SO MANY, GOOGLE.

own audience by inundating the market with a bunch of half-baked ideas. I quote Andrew (via our Slack chat, ironically) when I say “We have Google Messages, Hangouts, Allo, Duo, Meets, and Chat – JUST TO COMMUNICATE.” And he’s right. Google has given us six separate apps that all do essentially the same thing, albeit with slight variations in user interface and functionality.

If Google really, really wanted to launch a messaging service to take on the likes of Slack and iMessage, it would release a single app that works on any platform, and refine it continually. Retaining customers is significantly easier than creating new ones, and asking users to install a new app every couple months when they’re used to one app that does the same thing is more of the former than the latter. Imagine if SuperCell made a new version of Clash of Clans every few months and launched a new app instead of simply updating the old one – probably wouldn’t garner nearly as much attention or user investment.

So quit shooting yourself in the foot, Google. Get it together, get your teams on the same page, and give us a single, unified messaging service that is a true competitor to the countless other quality messaging apps out there.

6 Ways HotelsCombined can save your time and hard earned money

AndroidGuys
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With the increase in the number of travel apps, planning a holiday has become a hassle free affair. Using different apps, you can now book your hotel accommodation, travel tickets, tickets to the various places of interest of the city/country you are visiting from the comfort of your home or even while you are on the move. Thanks to smartphone and mobile technology as it has revolutionized travel.

In the past, traveling often required extensive planning and a lot of time and effort to find the right accommodation in a reasonable price. But, with the advent of the HotelsCombined app, you not only save your precious time, but also your hard earned money. In fact, using this app solves one of the fundamental travel-related problems of booking the best hotel deal available online. It will help you to curtail your expenses because it has the top travel websites in one place. The best part is that this app is compatible with different operating systems like iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

Given below are 6 ways in which you can save time and money. Check out these options.

How will you save time and money with the HotelsCombined app?

Having discussed about the importance and benefits of using apps for planning your travel, let us now check how this specific app will save your time and money on accommodation in 6 ways. They are as follows-

Compare deals from all top travel websites plus direct hotel rates – Not all apps will allow you to compare deals from different service providers with a single touch on your smartphone. However, the HotelsCombined app is here to stay. Since the service itself is a hotel meta-search, it gathers and compares all deals available from hundreds of booking websites as well as direct rates from hotel websites. You see them all in one place.

Set Price alerts and receive notifications – By making use of the HotelsCombined app, you don’t have to waste time on checking manually if the hotel deal prices for your dates drop. With the help of the app, you will be able to set a price alert on as many hotels as you like, and you will receive a notification the moment their prices drop more than 10%. Email and push notifications available.

No disturbing advertisements – Using this app you can focus on finding the best accommodation deal. Even though the app is brought to you for free, You don’t have to deal with unnecessary clutter caused by advertisements and banners that scroll through your screen every now and then, which is often the case with other free apps. This is one of the best parts and perhaps one of the USPs of the app from HotelsCombined.

User friendly interface-An app that makes navigation easy and allows a user to access promptly the information he is looking for is often the one that becomes popular. A service provider can have a great track record or it is quite likely that it has been operating in the market for quite some time now but if it launches an app that is complicated and requires a lot of brain wracking, the app will instantly become unpopular. But thankfully, the app from HotelsCombined is truly user-friendly with an excellent and simple interface.

Breaking the language and currency barrier –This is one of the greatest ways in which your time and money is saved while you are planning your trips, whether business or leisure. You don’t have to waste time looking for the translation tool to understand a deal or hotel description, or a currency converter to check how much you actually need to pay for a specific hotel. The app is available for users in more than 40 languages and 28 currencies.

Register and discover some more magic –If you create an account on HotelsCombined, youwill enjoy even more benefits such as access to secret deals with exclusive rates, access to your searches across all your devices, and the ability to create and share lists of your favourite hotels with your friends.

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