Lumsing 11,000mAh 5-port External Battery Pack review
Sometimes when you don’t have a wall outlet near, external battery packs can be your saving grace… especially when they pack as much as 11,000 mAh in a single charge. We’ve been using the Lumsing 5-port external battery pack for about two weeks, and we have a pretty good handle on whether you should consider it or not.
Check out our full review below.
Build Quality
The Lumsing battery pack features a very sleek, compact design. Though plastic, it almost feels like glass, giving it a super premium feel. On one side, it has a set of four LED lights to indicate the power level. Unfortunately, the lights stay on the entire time a device is charging. Though it most likely doesn’t take up too much power, we would have liked to see the lights go out when it’s in use. Under the lights is a small white power button and a Micro USB input slot.
On the opposite side sit the ports. There are five different ports, each with different output levels. The levels go from top to bottom: 1.3A, 2.1A, 1A, 1A, and .5A. With current devices having bigger and bigger batteries lately, we don’t think you’ll have too much use for the .5A output. But nonetheless, we’re glad it’s there. The total output of the device is 3.1A, so you can’t use all of the ports at one time. If you need to charge 2-3 devices at one time, you could probably make it work, but all of the devices would charge at a very slow rate.
The pack comes with a carrying pouch, two Micro USB cables of different sizes, and 5 extra connecting pieces: an iPhone 4/4S 30-pin connector, Mini USB, and 3 others that you might not ever use. It’s great that it gives us the option to use other connection types – definitely not something many other companies focus on.
Overall, the hardware is top-notch, especially for the price.
Performance
To be honest, there isn’t a whole lot to say about the battery portion. It does exactly what it says. While testing this, we’ve used a ton of different devices: Nexus 5, Pebble smartwatch, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 7 (2012), and a Galaxy S3 (Not at the same time, of course. See above).
Since it’s an 11,000mAh variant, it takes a very long time to charge. But that’s to be expected. Plug it in at night and it will be charged by the morning. No big deal!
Should I buy it?
The short answer to this question: yes, you should. If you’re looking for a huge amount of extra juice and don’t mind carrying around a battery pack that’s a bit bigger than normal, you’ll fit right in with this one. But if you just need one or two extra charges for your phone every few days, we’d honestly tell you to stick with this one, as well. Sure, there are battery packs out there with less than half of the power of this one, but for the price and all of the extras, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that competes with this.
If you’d like to pick one up, Amazon sells them for $25.99. Honestly, you should buy this. It’s a great value, has great hardware, and it does exactly what it should.
The post Lumsing 11,000mAh 5-port External Battery Pack review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Under Lenovo, Motorola picks a new but familiar leader
Motorola may have had to shuffle executives following Lenovo’s acquisition plans, but the phone maker isn’t straying far from its previous course. It just named company veteran Rick Osterloh as its President and COO, effective immediately. He’ll provide the “business continuity” that Motorola needs right now, according to outgoing leader Jonathan Rosenberg.
Recent history suggests as much. While many focused on ex-CEO Dennis Woodside as the face of the Google-era Motorola, Osterloh led product development during that period — he can take at least some credit for attention-getting projects like the Moto X and Moto 360. He’s also responsible for getting the ball rolling on Android at the company, having created the team that launched early efforts like the CLIQ and Droid.
There isn’t much in his background outside of Motorola to hint at a break from existing strategy. Beyond his most recent stint, Osterloh is best known for leading product management at Skype at a time when its mobile clients were becoming important. He also performed a similar role at Good Technology, a pioneer in enterprise smartphone use that Motorola bought in 2006 and sold three years later after getting little out of the deal. A brief position at Amazon in 1999 isn’t likely to have much influence given how much Amazon has changed since its storefront-only days.
Really, Osterloh has already been doing what you’d expect him to do in his new position: releasing products that revolve around strong mobile software. We wouldn’t rule out a change in strategy in the long term, especially since Motorola has been bleeding cash. For now, though, Osterloh’s appointment shows that the company is satisfied with how its recent devices have panned out — and it’s betting that you feel the same way.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Lenovo
Source: Official Motorola Blog
Air Canada to offer WiFi across many of its North American flights
If you’ve flown to or from Canada in recent years using one of its airlines, you’ve probably noticed the lack of in-flight WiFi; apart from a couple of aircraft, you’re incommunicado until you reach the ground. You won’t be stuck reading books and taking naps for much longer, though. Air Canada has announced that it’s rolling out Gogo-based WiFi on many of its continental North American flights, keeping you connected even if the US is on the itinerary. The company will outfit 29 aircraft with internet access between May and the end of 2014, and 130 narrow-body models should get online by December 2015. The initial service will stick with Gogo’s regular (that is, fairly slow) cellular-based technology, but Air Canada will be testing advanced satellite broadband from both Gogo and Inmarsat next year.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Air Canada
Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 6:15PM ET
It’s Tuesday, which is time for the Engadget HD Podcast and we hope you’ll join us for the live recording at 6:15PM. Big news from Amazon kicks off this week’s show as the long awaited streamer from Bezos and company is in the house. We’ll also dig in to Comcast’s big day in front of the Senate, and there’s lots of streaming news from Amazon, HBO and YouTube too. If you’ll be joining us, take a peek at the topics after the break and then get ready to participate in the live chat.
Amazon launches Fire TV, an Android-powered streaming and gaming set-top box for $99
Amazon’s Fire TV promises a premium set-top experience
Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, Plex and more services launch on Amazon Fire TV
An afternoon with the Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV review: the set-top that tries to do everything
AllCast Android app brings screen-mirroring to Amazon Fire TV
Amazon claims it streams more instant video than Hulu or Apple
Comcast and Time Warner Cable on why their merger is a good thing: ‘Big isn’t bad’
Comcast’s merger makes big cable bigger, but not better or cheaper
Google reportedly looking to simplify home entertainment with Android TV
Netflix begins 4K streaming with House of Cards, if you have the right TV
YouTube live streaming comes to the Chromecast
Watch the first episode of HBO’s Silicon Valley on YouTube
Viewers see red as Game of Thrones premiere crashes HBO servers
An independent developer is bringing a Plex client to Xbox One
TiVo co-founders’ new Qplay web video service is now available for everyone
All screens welcome: watching sports is now easier than it’s ever been
Dolby’s vision for the living room includes abundant audio options
Must See HDTV for the week of April 8th: Desolation of Smaug, Mad Men and Justified
Introducing the Engadget UK Edition
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Apple Expanding Marketing Efforts with New Ad Agencies to Battle Samsung Threat
Apple is planning to expand and improve marketing efforts by partnering with four new digital ad agencies, including WPP’s AKQA, Interpublic Group’s Huge, Area 17, and Kettle, reports Ad Age. The agencies will work on digital strategy and user experience, among other things.
The scope of the work being assigned across the agencies is broad, and will likely include user experience and digital strategy, among other elements, according to people familiar with the matter.
According to Ad Age, Apple’s new partnerships will not affect existing relationships, such as that with TBWA/Media Arts Lab. Apple’s longtime advertising partner was recently in the spotlight after the Apple vs. Samsung trial surfaced a heated email correspondence between the agency and Apple’s head of marketing Phil Schiller.
Apple and Schiller were unhappy with the TBWA’s early 2013 advertising efforts, but those relationship wrinkles were apparently ironed out as Apple has continued to work with the agency, producing the successful “Photos Every Day” and “Music Every Day” advertisements in late 2013.
Apple also works with several other digital shops and in 2013, the company began working on doubling the size of its in-house creative design team, likely as a response to increased pressure from Samsung. Samsung’s “The Next Big Thing” advertising campaign reportedly infuriated Apple executives, leading to its troubles with its own advertising agencies.
According to a recent report, Apple spent $351 million on advertising in the U.S. in 2013, while Samsung spent $363 million. In years past, Samsung has far outspent Apple on advertisements, but that gap appears to have narrowed as Apple has made moves to improve its marketing campaigns.
Portable audio deals of the week: 4.9.14
Sometimes you just have to march to the beat of a different drum. Or from that of a drum in your streaming library of choice. Either way, we’ve got a handful of portable audio options that could make said strides a bit more enjoyable. If fact, three of the four will tune out your surroundings entirely — what’s not to like about that?
If there are other audio gadgets you’re after that we haven’t included here — join us and add them to your “Want” list. Every time there’s a price cut in the future, you’ll get an email alert!
Beats Pro
Price: $250
Regular Price: $400
Buy: Newegg
If you’ve been eyeing Beats’ high-end cans, now’s your chance to nab up a pair with at $150 discount. These Dr. Dre-branded headphones are configured for use in studios and for live performances, and you can be sure to expect a truckload of bass for those listening sessions. The current price is equal to the 90-day low, according to our price history tool.
Sennheiser MM 70 iP/
Price: $70
Regular Price: $100
Buy: Amazon
Prefer not to unload your entire allowance on some new in-ears? No problemo. This Sennheiser offering is now available for $30 off its regular asking price. For the investment, you’ll gain a set touting “full rich bass response,” complete with in-line mic and controls. If you can hold off, it seems a few more dollars could be saved, but $70 is only a few bucks above the three-month low.
AKG Quincy Jones Signature Q 701
Price: $200
Regular Price: $479
Engadget Global Score: 89
Buy: Amazon
Artist endorsements are all over the place for audio gadgets, and this selection bears the name of the co-producer of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. In addition to the Q 701 being the Quincy Jones signature model, there’s a whopping $280 price drop to make the headphones a bit more accessible. You’ll want to act quickly if you don’t like lime green though, as both the black and white options are already at low quantities.
Jawbone Mini Jambox
Price: $129
Regular Price: $180
Engadget Score: 81
Buy: Amazon
A $50 discount is now being offered on the royal blue-hued Jawbone Mini Jambox. You may want to keep an eye on this one, as even greater savings have been seen over the course of the last month.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Facebook app ditches chat, moves to a standalone Messenger
Facebook has been testing new features inside its standalone Messenger app for months, and now the social network is pulling the chat feature from primary offering. The outfit has included messaging functionality in its main apps for some time now, but late last year Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would eventually pull the plug. For a few months now, users that have both apps installed have been linked out to the Messenger software when accessing chat in the regular ol’ version. The switch will take place over the next two weeks, and TechCrunch reports that Facebook has begun notifying users of the change.
“The reason why we’re doing that is we found that having it as a second-class thing inside the Facebook app makes it so there’s more friction to replying to messages, so we would rather have people be using a more focused experience for that,” Zuckerberg told TechCrunch in November. This means you’ll have to download that Messenger app if you want to keep that direct line of communication open with your Facebook pals, unless you have an Android device that can’t run it, use the mobile site or keep your talks confined to the outfit’s Paper reader.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Facebook
Source: TechCrunch
Comcast’s merger makes big cable bigger, but not better or cheaper
In a three hour hearing today (watch it here or embedded after the break, read the statements here), executives for Comcast and Time Warner Cable joined a few others taking questions about their proposed $45 billion merger. Unfortunately, after pushing a 180-page explanation of how great an idea the merger is to the FCC yesterday, Comcast’s David Cohen and Time Warner Cable’s Arthur Minson didn’t have much new to say. Senators including Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar and Mike Lee grilled the execs with questions about rising cable rates, channel bundles and network neutrality, mostly garnering the same answers we’ve heard before. Franken’s questioning stood out, pointing out comments Comcast made during its acquisition of NBCUniversal citing Time Warner Cable as a competitor that could help keep it in check, even though now it says they don’t compete for customers.
The prospect of the two companies joining to create one vertically integrated giant controlling both content and means of access to content for millions of people loomed over the proceedings. Comcast took the opportunity to announce higher speeds on two of its internet tiers in the northeast, and call out its growing network of WiFi hotspots for customers, while once again promising new features and better tech for TWC areas. Still, with so many networks and access for 30 million customers potentially under one brand, Comcast/TWC’s arguments about competition from Google Fiber, Netflix (which Comcast said it didn’t fear in 2011), telcos and satellite didn’t seem to hit the right notes.
Consumer advocate and CEO of Public Knowledge Gene Kimmelman, who opposes the merger, was also on the panel and calling out the potential threat of the market being concentrated at a single point of connection. While he said that they’re not necessarily doing it now, Kimmelman said the merged Comcast/TWC would have more power “to favor one product over another if it’s financially advantageous.” The cable companies were also taken to task for their poor customer service reputations, an area where Cohen admitted perhaps they needed a kick to do better. On on the other hand, despite insisting that there’s no evidence a merger would raise customer’s rates and reduce choice, he also said they didn’t expect to see lower customer prices.
Options some customers are looking for like a la carte programming or internet streaming to other devices were also left out of Comcast’s reasoning. Cohen pointed to programming rights issues for some of these issues, which makes sense after Time Warner Cable faced a Viacom lawsuit over its TWC TV service. Still, as Franken put it, faced with over 100 lobbyists arguing for the merger to happen, and signatures from over 100,000 customers against it, there’s wide concern it will lead to higher prices and worse service. There’s still likely months of push and pull ahead over the potential deal, and we’ll be interested to see if Comcast makes it happen with a series of concessions
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Google
T-Mobile Announces the ‘Simple Starter’ Plan for April 12th Availability, Just $40 a Month
If you thought T-Mobile would slow their roll after after offering up termination fee payoffs, no contract devices and international roaming at no extra charge, you would be wrong. The only way T-mobile will be able to pick up the pace is to keep bringing new things to consumers. Today they have taken the wraps off another new plan simply called the ‘Simple Starter’.
The Simple Starter plan offers up unlimited talk and text coupled with 500MB of 4G LTE data for $40 a month.It is pretty cut and dry.
T-Mobile CEO John Legere says this is just one of three announcements to come over the next few days.
So, starting with this morning’s news, we have three days of Un-carrier announcements for consumers – again the result of listening directly to their wants and needs. That is what the Un-carrier does!
We are certainly looking forward to what is next. The new Simple Starter plan becomes available April 12th for those that are interested.
Via Android Police
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Sprint Updates Tri-Band Capable Galaxy S4 Devices with Wi-Fi Calling
Sprint has begun pushing out an update today for the Samsung Galaxy S4 which will make it the 4th device on the network capable of using Wi-Fi calling. The others are the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy Mega and Galaxy Note 3. The update is rolling out now, but is expected to take a couple of weeks to complete.
How will customers benefit?
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Enhanced coverage for in-building coverage or areas with challenging network conditions
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Easy setup: Once activated, everything is seamless and happens in the background
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Unlimited voice calling and messaging on Wi-Fi: All domestic calling and messaging is FREE (standard CDMA international rates apply for international calls)
Be on the look out for the update and let us know how it works out when it arrives. Also kep in mind that this update and the Wi-Fi calling option is only for the tri-band version of the device. (The ones that can utilize Sprint Spark)
Source: Sprint
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