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WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM review: The portable, go-anywhere speaker with an FM tuner

Scott Webster
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When it comes to reviewing Bluetooth speakers we find that there are often a few distinguishing characteristics to set them apart from one another. There’s no such thing as the perfect device; however, there may be something that’s perfect for you.

It goes without saying, but we all have different needs. Moreover, we all have different budgets to work with, too. Sometimes we end up at the crossroads of right product and right price. Sometimes we end up with a product that ticks off the right boxes and doesn’t break the bank in the process. The latest speaker we’ve reviewed, the Hercules WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM, hopes to fit that bill.

Overview

Priced roughly $80, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM is a portable speaker that’s designed to go just about anywhere you would. This means pretty much any weather condition and terrain. It’s IP67-certified meaning it can handle immersion in water for up to 30 minutes and can also withstand dust, sand, and snow. Taking things a little further, it also has reinforced rubber end-pieces so it handles bumps, too.

Design

In terms of size and design, the speaker is almost the exact dimensions of a 16-ounce can of soda or energy drink. It features a triangular profile that delivers sound out of one of the sides. Underneath you’ll find a threaded screw thread (1/4-inch) for bike mounts, tripods, suction cup mounts, and more.

There are only a few visible buttons to mess with on the speaker: volume up, volume down, and power. But, just above the power button on the end is a spot labeled FM. Press here and you’ll find it does have a little tactile feedback. As you might have guessed, this is your button to toggle the FM tuner.

Staying on this end of the speaker we also find a rubber protective housing to hide the charging port (microUSB) and 3.5mm auxiliary input. Flipping the speaker on its head, the other end is void of any functionality or features.

Setup

Pairing the speaker was really easy in that you simply long press the power button. A normal power on plays a chime while the long press adds in a second one to indicate that it’s seeking a connection. There’s also a blue indicator light just above the power button that flashes when looking for a device.

The volume buttons can also double for track advance and previous track. Switched on to FM mode and they can be used to seek the next available station. These options are done via long pressing on the + and – symbols.

Although it’s not very big, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM delivers a nice, even sound that fills smaller and medium-sized rooms. Put this on a bike mount and face the speaker toward you and there’s way more than enough power to enjoy music on a ride. Or, use the included wrist strap to hang it from a backpack or canopy on your weekend getaway.

The FM tuner is a nice touch and not one we find in many Bluetooth speakers. The first time you turn that on, it will seek out channels on its own. Additionally, the FM tuner can be used all by itself. So, feel free to leave the phone in the house and take the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM outside. Or, keep your handset in the bag while at the beach. The radio will work by itself and the speaker doesn’t mind the sand.

Volume and Sound

I found that I’d get the volume to about halfway up before I would get anxious. Any louder and I feared the other office tenants might complain. If I’m riding a bike, I don’t suspect I would get near that level in a public setting. Doing so would make me feel like an idiot as my music would announce my arrival far ahead of my physical one. It’s much louder than you might expect.

As you know, volume doesn’t necessarily equate to sound quality. I’d like to say that the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM delivers a robust listening experience at all levels, but that’s simply not true. I found that, on average, I could get the volume to around 60-70 percent before it would distort. Given the size, this is better than I anticipated.

Keeping this in mind, you won’t turn to this one to provide a soundtrack to a full-on family reunion at the park. A family picnic, though? Sure! Set it on the hood of your car and it can pump out the tunes while you practice your jump shot in the driveway.

Features

  • Bluetooth 3.0 A2DP wireless technology
  • Total output power: 10 W peak power
  • Single-unit 2.0 speaker + passive decompression driver
  • Frequency response: 130 Hz – 20,000 Hz
  • Built-in rechargeable 3.7 V 1500 mAh Li-ion (lithium-ion) battery
  • Battery life: 10 hours
  • 3.5 mm mini-jack auxiliary line input

Mobile App

Although you don’t need it, I definitely recommend installing the app. Not only does it give you better control over the radio stations, but it also lets users configure various equalizer settings. Switching from EDM to more traditional rock? Dial things up and down to get a better experience.

The app also lets you remotely power on and set the speaker to standby, create alarms, and set up sleep timers. You’ll also find at-a-glance indication of battery life so you know ahead of time if you should charge up before leaving the house.

Battery

Battery life is rated at 10 hours for normal music listening; we found that to be rather accurate, if not low. Volume levels always play a factor, of course, but can’t imagine having to charge this one up all that often. If you’re listening to the FM tuner on its own, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM promises up to 18 hours. Charging takes anywhere from a few minutes up to about four hours.

Conclusion

I am always reluctant to name something the best you can buy, particularly because of price. A soft rule in life tells us that if you throw more money at something, you can get more out of the end result. Speakers are entirely different topics, though — especially portable, Bluetooth device.

With that in mind, I feel very confident in recommending the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM at its price. You can very easily spend more money and still come away with fewer features.

The sound is not as robust at high levels as I might like, but it’s not all that often that I need it that loud. I’ve already got speakers for those scenarios and I don’t need to replace them yet. But, I am always on the lookout for something portable that offers a nice range of features. This is one that can go into a backpack or carry-on without eating up precious space. The next time I pack for a long weekend or trip to the beach, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM is probably the first one I will grab.

Where to Buy

You learn more about the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM at the Hercules website. From there you can also find various retailers based on your country and whether you’re looking for retail or online outlets. The US site doesn’t list a price, but the UK variant does: £69.99. Head to Amazon and you’ll see it selling for $79.99 as of today.

 

Backing up your text messages is easy [How-To]

AndroidGuys
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What is the worst part of switching phones, factory resets, or installing a new ROM on your rooted device? Losing all of your text messages (at least for me it is). There are a few things we can do here to backup these messages and save the for after you figure out whatever is it that will release them.

There are two popular methods of performing this backup, the first uses XML files. it backs up all pertinent information from your SMS and MMS messages into an XML file (some even manage to backup your images). These can be restored through the corresponding app on the next phone. If you choose to use this method please remember to save the file off of your device (microSD card or Dropbox will work swimmingly) before you wipe it or get a new one or all your hard work will be for not.

The method we are going to use today is to backup all of your messages to your Gmail/Google Calendar by using tags and categories (don’t worry, there are apps out there that make it automated).

Prerequisites:

We do need to do a little prep here

  1. You must have a Gmail account.
  2. You must be logged into your google account on your device
  3. You must install SMS Backup + (we are going to use this app to perform the backup, and restore)

Save those messages:

This app is very straight forward. Let’s jump into how it works and we can talk about the rest later.

  1. Launch the app from the app drawer
  2. Tap the Connect box
    1. if you have multiple accounts, select which one you would like to backup to
  3. Tap allow to approve the connection
  4. Tap Backup to begin the backup of all of your current messages.

These are the basic steps to simply backup your message straight away. There are a ton of features that can be used in this app also. You can setup recurring backups, customize the tags and categories you would like to use in Gmail, restore messages from your Gmail, and customize any notifications.

Keep in mind this will backup all of your MMS messages but does not have a good feature to restore them at this time (bye bye group messages).

How do you backup your SMS/MMS messages? Does this sound useful? Would you like to see anything else specific? Drop us a comment below and let us know.

Google Maps picks up update that lets you make/share lists of cool locations

Alexandra Arici
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Just last week Google Maps received an update which allowed it to deliver real-time traffic info. Well today the app is getting a new one which adds a nifty option – making lists of cool places you can and then share them with the people you care about.

Did you read about a new club that’s playing the kind of you music you adore? Make sure you don’t forget about it! Search for it in maps and save it in one of the pre-set lists like “Want to Go” by tapping on the “Save icon”. Alternatively you can make your own lists like “Best sushi places”. To access your Saved lists, check the side menu under the Your Places section.

Users won’t be limited by the places that show up on the map and they will be able to add their own interest points via a pin.

Lists can easily be shared with friends and family via pretty much any apps you can think of plus email. The lists also saved offline, so when you’re not in vicinity of Wi-Fi or signal is bad you can easily access your pre-existing lists.

You can make your lists public, so other users will be able to follow these lists and have access to them on their respective devices, too.

With this update Google is picking up some cues from social networks like Facebook, which makes us wonder – how will Google Maps evolve? Recently the app has been updated with another useful function – the ability to call for an Uber, so it’s definitely progressing towards become more social.

Big Hunter lets you step back in time to fend for yourself (review)

AndroidGuys
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There are all kinds of weapons-based games in the Play Store: gun games, vehicle combat (airplane, tank, etc), archery, and the like. The South Korean developer Karakod Interactive wants to take us back even a few more millennia, back to the days of our cave-dwelling ancestors, with a game called Big Hunter. It puts us in the position of a caveman (caveperson?) whose job it is to harvest dinner. Big dinner. Like, really big dinner. With nothing but a set of spears to chuck at said big dinner. Let’s see how this goes.

Setup

Setup is easy, just download from the Play Store and open it up.

Gameplay

Gameplay is simple; almost too simple. You are set on the screen with a rather large game 15385410_1610582839251210_2404514555199592637_oanimal on the other side of the screen as you; could be an elk mammoth, or other, sillier creations. Right before starting, you’re shown the ‘soft spot’ of the animal in question; the area to aim for with your spear to make a fatal strike.
When I say “almost too simple” above, it’s because that’s all you do: you aim and throw your spears Angry-Birds-style at the animal…after taking a couple of shots, or after a short period of idleness by you, the animal will begin to charge you and take you out first. You can also backpedal by tapping on a corner of your screen. But it quickly boils down to you wildly flinging spears trying to kill before the wicked tusks/antlers/beak/other hit you and take you out in the process.

Screenshot_20170123-211452There is a “training camp” section, where you can practice or spar with fake game animals, scoring as many points as you can before missing a total of 5 times. Once you feel confident enough, you’re free to go out into the wild to harvest your dinner. As you progress you are afforded the opportunity to upgrade your weaponry, from premium spears, to axes, and so forth.

But the game can go from too-simple to almost too-difficult, as well. The aforementioned 13086773_1534265126882982_2579979495855140378_osoft spot can be quite discrete….that is to say, small. It can quite difficult to hit this spot, and this can get quite aggravating. Both my son & I tried repeatedly to get through the middle stages of the game, without any success; we kept getting run over repeatedly without progress.
As a hunter, you start out on ‘Day 1’ and have to complete one kill per day. Maybe we are just pretty terrible with this game, but it sure seemed like the way to win a level was always elusive…we couldn’t get past ‘Day 8′ for the longest time, and every level after that was a struggle.

The days’ challenges can vary; from being given only a limited amount of spears to throw, to having only a limited amount of time to down your quarry.

Visuals & Sound

This is one of my favorite parts of this game. The graphics and animations are really good, with a clean 3D look. Some animals are dark and monochromatic, while some of the practice animals are more silly, appearing wooden in a realistic way, within hinged necks and such, carried by your fellow tribesman,and don’t come across as threatening at all. Your hunter avatar is more or less a featureless silhouette, with a bright white eyes.
The background is generally a solid color; a rather soothing sunset-yellow, with a large yellow setting sun in the background.

13086966_1534265136882981_6114718142189072383_oSound is pretty good, though it can get tiresome. The background music is as-expected African percussion, though it can swing to the Disney-side of things. Sound effects in general are very muted, as the music takes and holds prominence.

Conclusion

Overall I like Big Hunter. As a former hunter and avid outdoorsman myself, I actually found it kind of fun using a spear to harvest large prey in a gaming format. It’s likely not the most politically-correct game available, and I can see many gamers and parents declining to even download this title. But those who do may find some quality game time in the unique context of hunting for your own dinner.

Download Big Hunter from the Play Store here.

Verizon’s trade-in program offers free flagship phones

Scott Webster
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Verizon Wireless on Monday started the week by announcing a limited-time promotional trade-in offer. Launching in conjunction with the new Verizon Unlimited plan, it gives customers a chance to score a free flagship phone from various handset makers.

To qualify, customers must port their phone number in from another carrier and sign up for the introductory Verizon Unlimited plan. Moreover, they need to turn in a working phone that’s fully paid off and sign up for device payment on the new model.

This awesome offer makes it easier than ever to experience unlimited data the way it is meant to be, all on a network that can handle the demands of a digital life.

According to Verizon, the following phones are free to customers who fulfill the obligations: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Google Pixel, Moto Z Droid, Moto Z Force Droid, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, and LG V20. However, in order to get them at no end cost, the subscriber must trade in one of the following devices, first.

Trade in a working model that’s fully paid off from this list and get a new flagship for free:

 

  • Samsung Galaxy S6
  • Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
  • Samsung Galaxy S7
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
  • Samsung Note 5
  • LG G5
  • LG V20
  • HTC 10
  • iPhone 6
  • iPhone 6 Plus
  • iPhone 6S
  • iPhone 6S Plus
  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus

Should you not have one of those handsets to trade in, you can also get a new flagship from Verizon for as low as $5 per month. How? Trade in something from the list below.

Trade in a working model that’s fully paid off from this list and get a new flagship for $5 per month:

  • Apple iPhone SE
  • Samsung Note 4
  • Samsung Galaxy S5
  • LG G4
  • LG V10
  • HTC M9

Trade-in credits appear after 2-3 billing cycles and last for 24 months. Leave Verizon early and you’ll be on the hook for the unpaid phone balance(s). Additionally, if you cancel service or transfer your device payment, the credits will stop.

Huawei Watch 2 expected to cost as much as the LG Watch Sport

Alexandra Arici
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A while ago we told you Huawei was also gearing up to roll a new smartwatch. With the advent of Android Wear 2.0 the launch seemed imminent, but until now we did not have an exact date to look forward too.

Well it seems Huawei’s next wearable will be unveiled at MWC 2017. The Chinese company will have its hands full, as we also expect it to pull the wraps off the premium P10 and P10 Plus handsets (and maybe a few mid-range devices too like the Honor 8 Lite).

Well it looks like Huawei’s Vice Presidet, Richard Yu has taken to Weibo to announce that the Huawei Watch 2 will make a debut at MWC 2017.

The wearable is rumored to arrive in two versions, one with cellular connectivity – like the recently launched LG Watch Sport. We’re also told the device will feature a 1.4-inch touchscreen display with 42mm diameter. One version is going to feature stainless steel straps, while the other will take advantage of rubber ones of different colors.

The Elegant Huawei Watch

As for internals, the Huawei Watch 2 should arrive with a Snapdragon 400 under the hood plus 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. The device will be kept alive by a 300 mAh battery.

In the teaser, the company’s VP said the watch was “made for free spirits”. The annoucement was also accompanied by a picture of a man during a workout. Which probably means the Huawei Watch 2 is going go to offer a lot of fitness-centric features (a lot of smartwatches do).

Last but not least, word on the street claims the watch is expected to sell for $345 a pop. The LG Watch Sport has a retail price of $349 attached to it.

Thanks for the tip!

Adorn your Android Wear smartwatch with one of these unique wood straps

Alexandra Arici
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The arrival of Android Wear 2.0 and three new smartwatches (two from LG and one from Verizon) has revived the dormant wearable market a little bit.

On top of that, the new update will soon start to make its way towards a number of older smartwatches, thus breathing new life into them. But what if you’re looking to revamp your watch aesthetically too?

The simplest option is to replace the watch band. The smartwatch’s manufacturer probably offers a few options, but if you’re looking for something more out of the ordinary Ottm might have what you’re looking for.

As the startup describes itself on Indiegogo: “Ottm pairs harwood with your smartwatch to make it unique,” the company’s goal is to make your wrist look exclusive.

The Ottm bands are crafted from hand-selected wood and treated with tung oil to smooth the finish. Smartwatch owners can pick one up for their Pebble watch or Android Wear smartwatch (but also for the Apple Watch).

The 22mm bands are available in three options including Red/Black Sandalwood, Maple and Zebrawood. Prices originally started at $49.99 for the Maple variant, but Amazon currently has the Ottm bands at a discounted prices.

  • Maple – $29.99
  • Sandalwood – $39.99
  • Zebrawood – $34.99

Not that the Ottm bands are compatible with 22nm Android Wear watches (so the newer smartwatches like LG Watch Style will not be compatible), Pebble Watches and generic wristwatches as well.

So if you have an Android Wear watch lying around, you better dust it off. With the new update and a new strap – your old watch will feel like a brand new one.

Instant Tethering now available for Pixel and (some) Nexus owners

Alexandra Arici
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Tethering – in case you aren’t familiar with the term – means being able to use your Android phone like a wireless models, usually for another Wi-Fi only device like a tablet.

This gives you internet access on the go, regardless of your location. However, you’ll usually have to go through a few steps to set up the connection. But not anymore, if you are a Pixel or (recent) Nexus owner.

The Instant Tethering feature is currently rolling out for owners of the phones in question. To get things going, users need to turn on the feat by accessing Settings > Google > Instant Tethering on their phone. By tapping the “Provide data connection” you’ll be able to initiate the host device, while “Get data connection” gets the receiving device ready. Don’t forget to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on.

There are a few requirements to consider – the device providing the Internet connection need to be a Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6, Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P running Android 7.1.1 or later. As for the receiving devices, they include all the above phones plus the Nexus 9 and Pixel C tablets. Also they need to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later.

Note that both devices need to be signed up into the same Google account, for the setup to actually work. Since tethering will most likely drain battery life, the connection will automatically disconnect after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Surely it’s nothing you can do manually, but the new feature adds the convince of making the connection happen almost automatically.

At the moment, it’s unclear whether more devices (Google or not) will be getting the feature or not in the near future, but we’ll let you know in case this happens.

World’s first Helio X30 smartphone, 8GB of RAM headed for MWC 2017

Alexandra Arici
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Vernee is one of the more obscure Andorid OEMs, but the company is trying to emerge from the shadows. A while back we presented you with the Vernee Apollo, which seems like a pretty decent OnePlus 3T alternative – selling at half the price.

Current Verne Apollo

Well as it turns out Vernee is going to be presented at MWC 2017 with a few new products that might be worthy of your attention. For starters, the device maker plans to debut the Apollo 2 – which will be launched as the world’s frist Helio X30 smartphone.

Announced back in September, the Helio X30 is a 10 core big.LITTLE chip with 2.8GHz A73 cores, four 2.2GHz A53 cores and four 2GHz A35 cores on TSMC’s 10m FinFET+process. The new chipset is expected to bring higher energy efficiency, greatly improved compared to its predecessors and advanced computing power (similar what the Snpadragon 820/821 offer).

Apart from sporting a powerful processor, the Apollo 2 is also expected to come bundling 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. This means the Vernee Apollo 2 will be the second phone to be launched with such advanced RAM capacity. ASUS’ ZenFone AR which was introduced back at CES 2017 was the first one to come boasting 8GB of RAM.The Vernee Apollo will also have a 6GB+64GB version.

Apart from this flagship phone, Vernee is also planning to unveil a few phones with huge batteries in Barcelona.

We’re talking about the Thor E, which will arrive bundling a 5,020 mAh and an impressive 8.2mm profile. The Thor Plus is going to be even more executing – it’s going to have a massive 6,050 mAh power hours and 7.9mm thickness.

For the time being, that’s all we can tell you about Vernee’s new smartphones, but we’re find more about them as MWC 2017 will be unfolding in a few weeks.

Verizon Unlimited plan is here: $80 per line with HD video streaming

Alexandra Arici
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Remember that in January, Verizon launched its 5GB for $55 data plan, claiming most customers don’t use more than 5GB of data per month.

Well it seems, Big Red suddenly realized some of its costumers do want to have the option of choosing an unlimited data plan. So it has spurted out a plan to cater to the needs of this user segment.

Beginning February 13, customers can jump onboard the Verizon Unlimited plan, which as the name suggests brings unlimited data for tablets and laptops. The plan costs $80 per line, but those with four lines will be able to grab it for $45/month (both options require you have Auto Pay enabled). Subscribers can add a smartwatch (LG Watch Sport, Wear24 or Samsung Gear S3) for an additional $5/month.

With Verizon Unlimited customers will be able to grab HD(1080p) video streaming, Mobile Hotspot, calling and texting to Mexico and Canada and up to 500MB/day of 4G Lte roaming in Mexico and Canada.

The new plan bundles 10GB at 4G LTE speeds, after which you’ll be downgraded to 3G speeds. Verizon also notes that:

“To ensure a quality experience for all customers, after 22 GB of data usage on a line during any billing cycle we may prioritize usage behind other customers in the event of network congestion.”

Customers who find they don’t need unlimited data still have at their disposal the S,M,L data plans, as well as the newer 5GB one.

Back in January, Sprint announced an unlimited data plan for only $50 a month. Adding a second line would cost users $90, while lines 3-5 are on the carrier. But unlike Verizon’s plan that offers 1080p video streaming, Sprint’s includes video streaming at 480p+ resolution.

Verizon’s plan is $5 more expensive that T-Mobile’s alternative (for a family of four) which offers 480p video streaming.

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