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Fitbot, the fitness personal assistant (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Overview:

Fitbot is a fitness assistant and guided workout app designed to help you get a routine and get in shape without the need for a personal trainer or gym.

Developer: RoboBot Studio

Cost: Free (with ads and microtransactions)

Impressions:

Fitbot is an app with a fitness focus and an interesting concept. It advertises guided workouts, rep counting and more all using fully voiced guides from a sort of “workout personal assistant.” IT certainly has a lot going for it in the guided workouts, the app features a good amount of workouts which describe the actions you’ll need to take as well as exactly what you may need to complete it properly, like dumbells or mats and chairs.

The guides are rather sparse on strong detail, however, simply describing the basics in a concise manner and offering no corrections in case you do it wrong. Also, the categories are centralized on specific body areas, but you can’t sort the workouts any other way so finding a specific one takes some time if you don’t know where it’s located.

I’m an exercise newbie so many of the workouts featured were foreign to me and I had some trouble figuring out if I was doing them correctly, but the app did feature some handy if crudely animated tutorials that sort of helped show me what to do.

I must say, the “workout virtual assistant” leaves a lot to be desired, as it is not much more than text-to-speech and offers no real interaction or voice-activated features. The app simply reads out the description of the workout and counts reps and keeps time. The voice is also the standard Google Assistant voice which gets rather grating after hearing it for long periods just counting at you.

Fitbot also has some neat health-tracking features such as water intake counter, a progress graphing system that charts your workouts over time as you complete them, and other handy tracking features for showing your progress. I do wish it integrated into Google Fit or other exercise apps or smart devices like my Moto 360 for step counting, but it’s limited only to the FItbot app.

The app features an XP system and microtransactions to get more XP, but I’m not entirely sure what the XP is used for or why it’s necessary. You gain XP from completing workouts and challenges pertaining to workouts, but there isn’t a clear progression system or reward besides more XP. It’s not clearly defined and needs some work for sure.

The app’s interface is also a mess, with poorly formatted text and odd color choices making it difficult to read and find out what you are supposed to do. The main screen is an odd button I think turns on the voice assistant but I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. The workout screens are not the clearest but they are not exactly exciting either.

Conclusion:

Fitbot offers at least some handy features in regards to helping you learn new workouts you can try at home to stay in shape, and providing at least a basic framework for getting it right so you don’t hurt yourself. The app would also benefit from integration with external devices like FitBits or smart watches and also some third-party apps to give you a complete picture of your workout. That being said, Fitbot isn’t all bad and the workout guides and rep counting features are functional enough that you could legitimately use this as a tool to help you if you desired.

Download Fitbot from the Google Play Store

Spotify HiFi lossless streaming option might be coming soon

Alexandra Arici
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There are quite a few music streaming services out there that are fighting to capture music lovers’ attention and Spotify might be among the best known solutions.

However, Spotify has been facing some thought competition recently from alternate services like Google Play Music, Tidal or Pandora.

Apps like Tidal have built their reputation on offering “HiFi” streaming options which allows users to enjoy lossless high quality audio – an option not yet available for Spotify subscribers.

How much will Spotify HiFi cost?

However, it seems Spotify is gearing up to offer this feature quite soon. According to The Verge, select Spotify users have been receiving invitations to subscribe to the new service called “Spotify Hi-Fi” for a fee which will vary between $5 to $10 a month.

It’s a bit unclear at the moment how the service will be priced. Some users have been greeted with a pop-up messaging alerting them the new service will soon be available for $5/month. Signing up might also get audiophiles a free vinyl and discounts on future vinyl purchases.

Here’s the better option

Tidal’s Hi-Fi subscription costs $19.99 a month, so at this point Spotify’s alternative seems to be more affordable.

For the time being Spotify is merely testing the new service, so we should expect it to go live at a later date.

With smartphones like the LG G6 coming out with features like 32-bit HiFi Quad DAC, it’s only natural that Spotify would add a HiFi option to its list of features. Would you be interested in subscribing to Spotify’s HiFi?

After Galaxy Note7 debacle, Samsung installs new quality control team

Alexandra Arici
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The Galaxy Note7 disaster cost Samsung a whopping $6.13 billion, so the Korean tech giant needs to make absolutely sure the same scenario won’t happen again.

Now a new report coming out of the The Investor reveals that Samsung has launched a new team dedicated to product quality control. President and former production chief at the shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries has been appointed head of the team which will be under direct supervision of the company’s three co-CEOs.

In January, Samsung revealed the results of its official investigation into what caused the Galaxy Note7 to overheat and eventually catch on fire. As it turns out, the batteries were to blame.

On the same occasion, the Korean tech giant also announced it has installed new protocols like “multi-layer safety measures” and the “8-Point Battery Safety Check”. On top of that, the company has assembled a so-called Battery Advisory Group – a board formed by external advisers, academic and research experts.

These safety measures and new product quality control team will be in place in order to prevent a product like the Galaxy Note7 ever getting released into the world again.

Samsung is expected to launch its next-gen flagship, the Galaxy S8 on March 29 and the stakes are quite high. With the new device, the Korean tech giant hopes to win back the trust of disinherited Galaxy Note7 fans and not only.

Samsung’s reputation in the US took a major blow due to the Note7 affair, but the company hopes the Galaxy S8 will be able to redeem its sins.

Nokia 3310 won’t be available in the US (at least, at first)

Alexandra Arici
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The Nokia 3310 revival managed to steal much of the spotlight at an event dedicated mostly to the highest innovation in mobile technology.

The cute and colorful Nokia 3310 appeals to our sentiments, as it reminds us of an era when mobile devices where just starting out. The feature phone takes us back to the beginnings, but also retains some modernity.

Well if you too got quite excited about the possibility of grabbing the Nokia 3310 for yourself, your technologically impaired parents or children, you won’t like what we have to say next.

According to CNET, the Nokia 3310 will not be making it to the US anytime soon. What’s the problem you wonder? Well the Nokia 3310 which is a 2G only device won’t work in the US.

The device supports the 900MHz frequency range which means it will work just fine in Europe and Asia. However, US carriers require support for 850MHz range, which is not available with the Nokia 3310.

Still you shouldn’t be discouraged. There’s still hope as HMD’s Global Head of Marketing, Patrick Mercanton says the company does indeed want to bring the Nokia 3310 to the US, they just haven’t signed any deals with any of country’s main carriers.

The Nokia 3310 should launch in Q2 2017 with a $50 price-tag attached to it and hopefully the feature phone will make it to the US by the end of the year. The device might show up with third-party retailers like Amazon, but even if you do acquire it you’ll just end up getting a device you won’t be able to use in the US. Until HMD figures out something.

Gmail now allows you to receive 50MB emails

Alexandra Arici
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Gmail is Google’s approach to email and chat. So far the popular service allowed users to send and receive attachments to up to 25MB. However, this won’t be the case anymore from now on.

Google announced that starting this week users will be able to receive emails of up to 50MB. Note that you’ll be able only to receive 50MB attachment and not send them via your Gmail account. Which basically means Gmail subscribers will be able to get 50MB emails from users who don’t use Gmail.

“Sending and receiving attachments is an important part of email exchanges. While Google Drive offers a convenient way to share files of any size, sometimes you need to receive large files as direct email attachments.”

Even so, you can use Google Drive to send larger attachments, so it’s not all bad. Drive allows you to send files up to 5TB in size.

The company has already started to push the new update which will enable you to use the new feature. However, bear in mind that it might take between 1 to 3 days for it become available to your respective account, so don’t worry if you don’t see it yet. It’s on its way, as we speak.

We also expect that Google will increase the size cap on the emails that can be sent out from a Gmail account at one point in the future.

You can now drag-and-drop your Keep notes into a document

AG Deals Team
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It’s no secret that Google’s Suite of productivity tools are some of the best in the world. Keep and Docs are some of the most well known products across all platforms, and today, Google is helping to combine the two.

Starting today, when working on a document of your choice, you are now presented with a window with your various Keep notes. From here, you can drag and drop text, lists, and images, into your document.

Here’s a breakdown of all the new features:

  • Drag your notes from Keep directly into your work documents
  • Easily search your notes in Keep while in Docs to find the information you need to complete your project
  • Add a new note in the Keep notepad or select text from inside of your document and easily add it to a new note (just right click and select “Save to Keep notepad”). When you open that note in Keep, we’ll include a link back to the source document so you can always refer back to it.

If you have a subheading or title for the Keep notes, that will also transfer to the document you’re working on. If you close the Google Keep sidebar, but need to open in later, you can do so from the Docs toolbar.

Let us know if you’ll be taking advantage of this new feature, of you’ll be using some other method to transfer notes.

Facebook implements a new tool to help prevent suicide

AG Deals Team
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As much fun as we have writing about Android and technology all day, everyday, there are still real issues in the world. The awesome part is that these technology giants that we follow and report on, recognize these problems and sometimes provide tools to help.

Facebook is one of these companies as the social network giant has introduced a new tool to help in the fight for suicide prevention. This new tool takes advantage of Facebook Live, a streaming service which was introduced last year.

Here’s a breakdown of how the new services have been implemented by Facebook:

  • Integrated suicide prevention tools to help people in real time on Facebook Live
  • Live chat support from crisis support organizations through Messenger
  • Streamlined reporting for suicide, assisted by artificial intelligence

What this means is that if you see someone posting a status which is cause for concern, you can either reach out to them directly, or report the post to Facebook. From there, the individual may be contacted by professionals who are trained in suicide prevention.

While using Facebook Live, here’s a look at the description for how you can help:

  • Our suicide prevention tools for Facebook posts will now be integrated into Facebook Live. People watching a live video have the option to reach out to the person directly and to report the video to us. We will also provide resources to the person reporting the live video to assist them in helping their friend.
  • The person sharing a live video will see a set of resources on their screen. They can choose to reach out to a friend, contact a help line or see tips. If you or someone you know is in crisis, it is important to call local emergency services right away. You can also visit our Help Center for information about how to support yourself or a friend.

We know that trying to help one of your friends in this situation isn’t easy, but there are tools at your disposal if the situation arises. Be sure to inform yourself, and your friends of the ways you can help, and if you fear the worst, be sure to reach out in some capacity.

The Finsix DART is the best laptop charger for travelers

AG Deals Team
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If you’re like me, then you know the struggle of carrying your laptop charger with you all the time. I’ve been using a laptop as my main computer for as long as I can remember, and it drives me up a wall when it comes to packing my computer bag up.

There are already so many cables in my bad, that adding a big and bulky one does nothing but annoy me and take up precious space. Luckily, Finsix has recognized the struggle and has released an accessory that saves space in your bag, and doesn’t take up both wall plugs at the same time.

The Finsix DART is touted as the “World’s Smallest Laptop Charger” and does an excellent job at putting my mind at ease when it comes to saving space. The DART measures in at just 2.75-inches long and is 1.1-inches wide. Compared to something like the Macbook Pro charger, we’re looking at apples and oranges (no pun intended).

The DART doesn’t offer anything special in terms of charging your laptop any faster than your stock charger does. However, it does include the ability to not only charge your laptop, but you can also use the included cable to plug in your charging cable for either your laptop or charger.

In the box, you get a 9 different interchangeable tips, which will work with specific laptops. This isn’t a one-size fit all, as I’ve already run into some issues with that. However, if you use the Finsix compatibility tool on the company’s website, you’ll be able to determine whether the DART is for you.

The aforementioned USB 2.1A port allows you to plug in your tablet or smartphone, and charge it up while you’re charging your laptop. What makes this so special is the fact that it allows for rapid charging, so that you’re mobile device can charge faster than the standard wall charger.

Something else that makes the DART so awesome is the fact that it runs so cool that you’ll never have to worry about it overheating. I’ve had the DART plugged in for hours and hours, but never even felt it get hot. I didn’t have a IR thermometer on hand to provide an exact temperature, but it was only slightly warmer than when it wasn’t charging for an extended period of time.

As with most smaller, unknown products, Finsix got its start through KickStarter. The DART was the company’s first product and easily doubled its goal of $200,000. Now, the company has continued to offer the DART, but also offers a USB Type-C option for those who are on the bleeding edge of technology.

Specs

Input 100 – 240VAC; 50-60Hz, 1.5A
Output Voltage 18V – 21VDC
Output Power 65W
USB Output Voltage 5.0V, 2.1A
Unit Volume 3.0 cubic Inches
Weight 85 grams
Storage Temperature -40°C – 85ºC
Operating Temperature 0ºC – 40ºC
Operating Relative Humidity Up to 85%

 

If you’re interested in picking up either the Finsix DART or the DART-C, you can do so via the official Finsix website, Amazon, or B&H Photo for just $99. Note the DART-C is only available on FINsix.com and not in retail stores yet.

It’s also worth noting that Finsix is offering free shipping on the DART for a limited time. This may seem like bit of overkill price-wise, but if you think about just the convenience aspect of having an extremely portable laptop charger, it’s just fine.

Let us know whether you would find something like the Finsix DART useful, or if you’ll stick with the jumbled wires in your bag while traveling. If you’ve found another option that offers a similar experience, give us a heads up in the comments below.

Cricket joins the wireless wars, offers an awesome unlimited plan

Matt Adams
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It has been nuts these past two weeks. Verizon kicked off the show by opening up unlimited data to its customers once again. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular all followed suit by either offering new unlimited plans or making improvements to the ones it currently offered. Now AT&T Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Cricket is jumping on the bandwagon.

Starting today Cricket’s unlimited plan will only run you $60 a month and that includes your taxes and fees. Unlimited means unlimited with this plan. You get unlimited talk, text, and data as well as calls to Mexico and Canada and texting to 38 countries including Austalia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and a ton more.

$60 is an awesome price for a single line of unlimited everything, but Cricket is offering a pretty great deal on family plans too. If you’re a family of four, your bill will only run $180 a month after discounts. Included in that plans are Group Save discounts like $10 off a second line, $20 off a third line, and $30 off a fourth line. If you add a fifth line you can get a discount of $40 too.

Cricket is also offering four free smartphones to choose from if you bring your number to Cricket. Those include the Samsung Galaxy Amp 2, LG Spree, ZTE Sonata 3, and Alcatel Streak. All of these extremely low-end phones, but hey, free is free. They’ll be perfect for a teen looking for their first phone or a parent or grandparent that doesn’t require much from a phone.

Cricket has the advantage of running on the excellent AT&T network and it’s not stopping with the improvements. Later this year, Cricket says it’ll be rolling out HD Voice and WiFi calling. Not too bad.

Crickets plan is extremely competitive with all of the major carrier’s newly announced plans. If you don’t mind being on an MVNO and want unlimited data, this might be the route for you. We’ve inserted Cricket’s rate plans below for your viewing pleasure. If you’re interested in more info, head over to its website for more.

4 things you should know about running a VPN on Android (PROMOTED)

AndroidGuys
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A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to alter your IP address so you can appear as if you’re operating in another part of the world. They allow you to circumvent government blocks on websites and protect your privacy. It should come as no surprise that people all over the world use VPNs.

But what about using them on Android? Here’s what you need to know.

It’s Not as Easy as Using Software on a PC

The way a PC works is different from how an Android device works. Regular users of VPNs will find that they can’t use the same software as they did on a laptop or PC. That can make them think that VPNs aren’t viable on Android devices. It’s true you need to take an alternate route, but they still work.

Standalone VPNs have Started to Hit the Market

Standalone VPNs are services with dedicated Android VPN builds. This means you can literally download the app and be on your way. However, many of these standalone VPNs do cost. There are a few that offer free tiers, but many of them are not fit for purpose.
Expect this segment of the industry to grow in the coming years, though.

OpenVPN Networks are Popular but Unsupported

Some people consider the best VPN to be OpenVPN networks. To use these, you need to be able to download a third-party app and work from there. The official app for OpenVPN is OpenVPN Connect, but there are others that do the same thing.

You should aim to have Android 4.0 or higher to use these networks. For older versions of Android, you’ll need to root the device. After you connect, you’ll have a choice of networks and all you have to do is click.

Android Does Have Some Support

Google already has brought in the VPN-only option. Enable this and no data will be sent across the network unless you’re protected by a VPN. This will maintain your privacy and ensure you don’t send data if you accidentally disconnect from the VPN.

It also comes with integrated support for L2TP and PPTP VPNs. These VPNs can always be connected to without the help of any outside apps. Just go to the Settings app and look for it under Wireless & Networks.

Is it Worth the Hassle?

You may think that VPNs are only for advanced users sending sensitive data across the web. But the truth is that governments are becoming more intrusive than ever before. Data gathering is increasingly being sanctioned, so you’re vulnerable if you’re not using a VPN.
Even if you just want to watch your favorite TV show when you’re in a foreign country, or access social media in Turkey, a VPN can prove useful. No government or private company will be able to track you or gather any information on your activities. You can operate with peace of mind. Set it up today and you won’t regret it.

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