Google Project Fi review – can Google make it as a carrier?
Google has been known to break whatever market they step into, offering great products and services while undercutting competing prices. An example is their Google Fiber initiative, which brings Gigabit speeds to select markets for insanely affordable prices. Before that, they took on the cloud storage commerce with Google Drive. The list goes on, but today we are focusing on their latest major side gig – Project Fi.
Google’s Project Fi is the Search Giant’s attempt at testing the carrier waters. They have become an MVNO to a couple carriers and also harness the power of WiFi networks to offer a very unique type of cellphone service. It’s pricing system is also very distinctive, but we will jump into all those details later in the review.
When project Fi launched, we were a bit hesitant about certain aspects of this new wireless service provider. But we won’t simply discard it! I took it upon myself to request an invite, buy a Nexus 6 and sign up for the service. I have been using it for a couple months now and am ready to give you the full rundown. Is Project Fi all Google hyped it out to be? Let’s find out!
A bit about Project Fi
As already stated above, Project Fi is not really its own carrier – it’s an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). This simply means that it doesn’t operate on its own towers. The interesting part is that Google’s wireless services are special in multiple other ways.
Project Fi piggybacks off both T-Mobile and Sprint networks. The device will simply choose whichever is stronger and faster at the time. Likely the most interesting aspect is that Project Fi also harnesses the power of WiFi networks in order to bring you a more affordable price point. When connected to WiFi, calls, messages and data (of course) are routed through the internet, instead of using the network towers, which would cost Google extra cash.
In order to further entice users to stick to WiFi networks, Google can determine which public WiFi hot spots are reliable and require no action to connect to them. Your device will do this automatically. But don’t freak out just yet – you can definitely turn off WiFi if you prefer.
By the way, running this type of hybrid network is no easy task, and Google needs full control over the devices that operate under this MVNO. The best way to do this is by using Nexus devices, which means only the Nexus 6 is compatible with the service right now. The good news is that support for upcoming Nexus smartphones is more than likely in the works.
Pricing
While I usually wait until the end of a post to talk about pricing, I feel this time around we should make an exception. Pricing is especially an important part of Project Fi’s offerings. Thanks to the way the service can offload some of the weight to WiFi networks, Google can often save a lot of money by not using actual cellular towers and paying fees to the carriers.
Thanks to this system, Google is able to charge $20 for the base services, which include unlimited texting and calling within the USA (affordable rates for calling other countries). Moving beyond the basic needs, the user has to pay for the data he uses, which is priced at $10 per gigabyte. And Google means it when they say this is the price; data is always this price, and customers will be charged only for what they use.
You can choose an approximate amount of data, and Google will charge you accordingly, but they won’t take any money they don’t deserve. Let’s say you usually go through about 2 GB, but one month you took it easy and ended up using only 500 MB. Google will only charge you $5 for data and return the rest of the money (except for the base $20, of course) as credit towards your next bill. They don’t return the cash, which is why you should always calculate your data usage as closely as possible.
The only discrepancy with pricing is that $10 for a single gigabyte can definitely get expensive if you are a heavier user, which is why I will stress that Project Fi may not necessarily be for everyone. This service is great for those who spend a lot of time using WiFi. If you are a data hog, try looking elsewhere.
International services
To be honest, this is the sole reason why I personally decided to switch to Project Fi. I happen to travel very often, especially since I live near the Mexican border. But this is not only good for those who are close to a neighboring country. In fact, all Project Fi users get international data roaming in over 120 countries at no extra charges!
All Google charges for is the data you used while in these countries, which happens to be priced equally to domestic internet usage – $10 per GB. International texting is included and calls cost 20 cents a minute while using cellular networks. Fees are reduced while on WiFi.
I can’t tell you how great it feels not having to worry about data roaming fees outside the USA. Data roaming can get very expensive with other carriers, and I have heard of plenty of horror stories about people paying hundreds just for sharing selfies on social networks.
This could be the answer to many a traveler’s prayer. In fact, I would consider getting a Project Fi SIM card only for when traveling. After all, you could just pause or cancel service whenever you want.
My personal experience with Project Fi
Switching to Project Fi definitely has its learning curve. This is because this unconventional MVNO is designed to be a powerful cloud tool. Those who already had a Google Voice account can continue using their same number. In addition, using Hangouts will allow you to synchronize all calls and SMS messages.
You can call and text people through data using Hangouts on your smartphones, tablets, computers and other smart devices. This is convenient, but it can be quite confusing for those of us who like keeping our communication tools separate. Not to mention, regular text messaging apps have more features, which is why Google currently recommends you use their Messenger app, instead.
Get past the software technicalities and you will find the service is pretty darn good for the price. Remember you are pretty much using two of the best four carriers in the USA, which warrants a pretty stable signal most of the time. I rarely step out of 4G LTE coverage in San Diego. Sure, the network is not at the same level as my daily driver (Verizon), but I can totally live off this coverage without making any remarkable sacrifices. Also keep in mind that Project Fi only costs a fraction of the premium price I pay for Verizon’s network.
Calls, messages and data worked very well over Project Fi, and I never encountered any issues or distorted calls, even while switching in and out of WiFi and carrier networks. Coverage in Mexico was also flawless, and I do happen to use my phone there about 30% of the time.
Billing is simple and I have honestly never paid so little for wireless services before. My monthly bill averages at about $20 to $30! Of course, I am a special type of user, though. I spend most of my time at home, where I am always using WiFi. It’s obvious I am not a heavy data user, and so this pay-for-what-you-use model works perfectly for me.
Google did a good job making the transition between networks seamless. I never got cut off when switching from WiFi to cellular towers. The service is solid, guys. And if you have good T-Mobile and/or Sprint reception, you will be doing just fine with your data speeds.
The Project Fi app
The Project Fi application is available straight from the Google Play Store. It is pretty straight forward, really. There are three tabs that let you manage your service in every way. These are labeled as “Account”, “Billing” and “Support”.
The Account tab is where you will be looking for things most of the time. It tells you how much data you have used, as well as your available allotment. Scroll down and you can also manage your plan. It’s possible to add more GBs, limit service & calls outside the USA, cancel your plan or pause the service.
The Account tab also has shortcuts for updating your payment method, accessing your voice mail, setting up call forwarding editing alerts and more.
The Billing tab offers details on scheduled payments and past statements. It’s pretty straight forward and only serves as your book keeping tool. And of course, the Support tab can help you get in touch with Google, as well as the Project Fi community on Google+.
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Overall, I think the app is great. Google is known for its online service and this is something that shows in this application. They are offering you everything they can right off the bat, so you can avoid having to call them as often. It’s all in there, in a very well-organized and sleek manner.
I rarely ever use it, but that is actually a good thing. And when I do get to play around with it I am in and out in a jiffy.
Conclusion
I know I have said this already, but I must stress that Project Fi is not for everyone! It can get pricey if you use a lot of data and are not within WiFi range all the time. And even if you figure you will end up spending the very same amount of money with another carrier, it might still be smarter to go elsewhere, as there are many benefits to going with a traditional service provider.
For starters, smartphone selection is abysmal at this point. Going with Project Fi entails having to live with the Nexus 6 (at least until more devices are added to the list, and they will more than likely also have to be Nexus phones). Don’t get me wrong, the 5.96-inch device is awesome, but it is definitely not for everyone. Its size can certainly intimidate many a small-handed user.
Furthermore, there are a bunch of other phones you may want to take a look at! I am personally loving the LG G4 right now, and really wish I could take it over to Project Fi, but alas.
But the benefit is not only more smartphone availability; certain carriers can offer deals and add-ons that you won’t find on Project Fi. Let’s take T-Mobile as an example, as I believe it is the closest competitor to Project Fi, at least among the largest 4 carriers in the USA.
Magenta’s lowest plan costs $50. Sure, it may be only 1 GB of 4G LTE, but data continues to be unlimited after that. T-Mobile also has all the Uncarrier offerings, which include free music streaming (depending on the app), international texting and 2G data roaming with no fees, full service in Mexico and Canada (also with no roaming fees), data rollover, device installment plans and even an early upgrade program (JUMP).
Project Fi is, for all intents and purposes, mostly for the casual user… or for those who spend most of their time on a WiFi network. For these customers, it will do more than a fine job. I can honestly say it’s possible for me to currently drop my Verizon plan altogether, and that is saying a lot.
Interested? Go over to Project Fi’s website and ask for an invite! And don’t forget to hit the comments and tell us what you think of Project Fi. Are any of you using it? Are you considering switching to Google’s wireless services? And more importantly, can you live
Sprint’s LG G4 gets updated with a handful of minor changes
Sprint has launched an update to the LG G4, but it’s nothing major. This update brings just a few minor changes, including the usual bug fixes and performance enhancements. Here’s the changelog by way of Sprint:
- Factory Reset Protection Updates
- UI and Network enhancements
- 3rd Party App Updates
This update will bring your device’s software version to LS991ZV6. As per the norm, the update will make its way to Sprint users over the next couple of weeks. However, you can check for it manually in the device’s Settings menu.
source: Sprint
Come comment on this article: Sprint’s LG G4 gets updated with a handful of minor changes
A peek inside the new iPad Mini 4 reveals how it got so thin
The super-sized iPad Pro may have been the star of last week’s festivities, but what about the iPad Mini 4? It brings the first major update to the line in a couple of years, and of course, the folks at iFixit wasted no time cracking one open. The spec sheet showed it’s both thinner and lighter than the version it’s replacing, and now we know what had to change to make that happen. First, the battery is a little smaller, at 5124mAh compared to the iPad Mini 3’s 6471mAh. It’s still rated for the same 10 hour runtime by Apple, but worth considering if you’re looking to upgrade. It also has a fused, fully laminated display that helps a lot with weight, but could it make it more expensive to replace if it breaks. Whether you’re considering its DIY potential or just curious about exposed wiring, check out the full teardown to see what’s hiding within.
Source: iFixit
The Amazon Fire tablet is so cheap you can buy it in a six-pack
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A few weeks ago we heard about the murmur that Amazon was getting ready to release a $50 tablet – and today, they’ve done just that. The simplistically named Amazon Fire tablet features a 7-inch IPS display, quad core 1.3GHz processor, expandable memory up to 128GB and front and rear cameras, and costs – you guessed it – just $49.99 USD. That’s extremely cheap, so cheap that Amazon is even offering the tablet in a six-pack, available for $249.95 – for those wondering, that’s buy-five-get-one-free.
Naturally, you get access to all of Amazon’s exclusive services, but of course that means that you’ll be running a forked version of Android. That said, the Amazon Fire tablet is basically the perfect tablet for kids and those just getting into smart devices now – we’ll have to wait and see how good the quality is once the tablet starts hitting people’s hands, but the price makes it a very attractive option regardless.
What do you think about the Amazon Fire tablet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Business Wire
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How to create a basic battery log using IF and Box – Android customization
Did you go crazy with last week’s Android customization tutorial, popping up notifications on your Android device for any number of actions that take place either on your device or across the internet? Our fitness tracker and daily reminder were really simple examples, I hope you took it to the next level.
This week, as we continue with IF by IFTTT, we would like to create a basic log of our battery data. IF has limited tools on the topic, check it out and if you feel you need more, hold off for next week, we’ll be creating an advanced battery log data project using a tool with more power.
Before we begin
IF on Google PlayYou will need a copy of IF installed on your Android device today. IF is free in the Google Play Store, and if you haven’t seen it in action yet, prepare to be overwhelmed with all of the things it can do for you. Not only is IF a nifty tool on Android, you can simply use it on the web for other notifications and streamlining of your digital life.
Also, you will need to have an active cloud storage account at Box. If you are not signed up already, head to Box.net to sign up for your free account. They have optional paid accounts as well, but you’ll not need worry about that for our project today.
IF Recipe to save basic battery data to a log file
The idea is fairly powerful, but pretty simple, we will collect battery information when your Android device is plugged in, again when it is unplugged and yet again when your battery is low. This data will then be saved to a simple text file saved on your Box cloud storage.
We will be building three recipes today, as it turns out, but don’t worry, the process and all but one item is the same throughout. I will walk you through it once, then you just need to repeat the steps for each battery activity. You’ll see, it’s easy.
Open IF either on your Android device or on the web.
Start a new Recipe.
Scroll to the Android battery section and select your desired battery event. These three options – Battery is low, Device is plugged in and Device is unplugged – represent the three recipes you might make today. So choose which you want to make first, and come back here to make the rest later.
Click the required buttons to confirm the trigger and start on your action.
Scroll to Box and choose Append to a text file.
Now is some important stuff, the info you enter here will need to remain the same on each of your Recipes, unless you want a new file for each action.
For File name, enter the name of a text file that you already have stored in Box or just make sure that the file name does not exist and IF will create it for you. Be default IF enters “Android Battery” but you know me, I like concise names, so I’ll put “Battery.txt“.
In the Content field, enter any and all info that you want saved to the text file. The default string is pretty good for our needs. Perhaps you can satisfy my grammar needs and change up the “a” for an “an” in the Device plugged in recipe, you’ll see what I mean in a moment.
Finally, in the Box folder path, enter the exact folder location of the text file in Box. Once again, it defaults to “…/Android Battery” and once again I will rename it just “…/Battery“.
Click Continue to proceed.
Review your new Recipe and click Finish to save things and move forward.
Look at that, the hard part is out of the way, now you just need to practice what you’ve learned and duplicate this IF Recipe for each of the other two Android Battery triggers.
Remember, when you are creating the other Recipes, carefully duplicate the file name and box folder path info so that everything is written to the same file.
What’s next
Now to see the fruits of your labor. Once you’ve plugged and unplugged your device a few times, head on into Box.net and search out that Battery.txt file you’ve been working on. It is not much, but a great way to see how long you’ve been leaving your device on the charger. If you are like me, perhaps this will help you be more aware and try to leave your device on the charger for shorter lengths.
Although we focused on saving battery data in this project, I hope that you are imagining all of the other great things you could have automatically write to a text file in Box. For example, I’ve been keeping track of the local college sports team (GO DUCKS!)
An interesting predicament: do you have more than one Android device? Of course you do, and if you are using IF, then you may have it installed on multiple devices as well. Guess what, IF does not readily take this into consideration, my log file is filling with data from several connected Android devices, which is precisely why we will revisit the idea of this project again next week.
Next Week
Did you get what you needed out of this Android customization post, putting IF to task at saving battery data into a log file on Box? If this project was a good intro to saving files to Box, but not an in-depth enough project to track your battery, join us next week, we’ll take this to the next level.
As a heads up, next week we’ll use Tasker instead of IF and store a file locally instead of to the cloud. The capabilities of Tasker far outdo that of IF, and we plan to have some fun with it.
Do you use IF to collect battery data or to save other info to a text file? Please share, we love to hear of great new Recipes.
AutoVoice’s new Chrome extension lets you control your Android device using your computer
João Dias’ AutoVoice application for Android has been around for some time, giving users the ability to create custom voice actions for Google Now. The developer has released yet another great automation app, this time for Google’s Chrome browser on the desktop. With the new AutoVoice Chrome extension, you’ll be able to easily control your Android device from Mac, Linux, Windows PC, or another Android device.
With the Chrome extension installed on your computer, you can basically perform any voice command you’d normally be able to do on your phone, only from your computer. You can take screenshots, send text messages, play music, hang up phone calls and much more. The extension is always listening, so once you choose your desired wakeup phrase, your computer will answer you right away.
See also: You can now control your Android phone from Windows 10 (with a little tinkering)
There are a ton of possibilities with this application, so be sure to check out the demo video attached above.
You’ll need to download the Android application from Google Play and the Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store, both of which you can find below. Even though it may be more work than you’d like, AutoVoice is one heck of an application that makes it easy to automate basically every mobile device in your home.
Download AutoVoice from Google Play
Download the AutoVoice Chrome extension
This web game shows that landing a Falcon 9 rocket is pretty much impossible
You thought the carrier landing stage in Top Gun was a nightmare to pull off? Then get ready to scream obscenities you didn’t know you knew at MIT Media Lab’s SpaceX Falcon 9 Lander. This 8-bit web-game combines all of the pulse pounding excitement of landing a multi-million dollar prototype spacecraft with the rage-inducing control scheme from a 1983 Yugo. The goal of the game is simple, get the rocket to set down gently on an ocean-going platform using only the WASD keys before its limited fuel supply runs out. Now try it without giving yourself a coronary.
[Image Credit: top – Space X, inline – MIT Media Lab]
Via: The Verge
Source: MIT Media Lab
US and Chinese firms agree on high-speed rail plan from LA to Vegas
Pledge agreements aren’t the only deals being inked ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first official state visit to the US. A consortium led by China Railway Group has come to terms with America’s XpressWest Enterprises LLC to jointly build and operate a high-speed rail link running between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The project has already cleared its environmental impact study, obtained all of the necessary DoT licensing and right-of-way approvals, and is ready to begin building as soon as next September. China Railway has already put up $100 million in initial capital. According to China Railway, the route will span 230 miles between Las Vegas and Los Angeles proper. XpressWest’s website, however, claims the tracks will stop in Victorville, California, 85 miles outside of LA, and 55 miles closer to its destination.
The route would fling passengers along at speeds topping 150 MPH, shortening the usual 4 hour car ride to a more manageable 80 minutes. What’s more, the train service is being billed as more than just a ride out to the desert, it will reportedly be part of a “Las Vegas Experience.” Amenities will include full-service entertainment club cars (though likely sans the gambling, at least until you cross into Nevada), business and first class seating, food, beverages and WiFi.
China, as a nation, operates more than 10,000 miles of domestic high-speed tracks and competes extensively with neighboring Japan — specifically JR Central, the country’s largest locomotive company — for contracts throughout Asia. As the domestic Chinese market has become saturated with high-speed rail projects, many of its largest railway companies have begun vying for international contracts. As Yang Zhongmin, deputy chief engineer with China Railway Group, pointed out at a recent press conference, “This is the first high-speed railway project where China and the U.S. will have systematic cooperation. It shows the advancement of China-made high-speed railways.” And given that multiple plans to link LA and LV with a rail line have been proposed over the years (with every single one of them failing due to budget or technological issues), China’s expertise in such matters certainly can’t hurt.
Via: Bloomberg
Source: LA Times
Android fans are trolling the Move to iOS app on the Play Store
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Yesterday, Apple released the Move to iOS app on the Play Store in an attempt to make it easier for Android users to migrate over to an iOS device. It’s the first Apple-designed app on the Play Store, and unsurprisingly, it caused a reaction akin to an uproar – and the form that this uproar is coming in? Reviews. At the time of writing, the Move to iOS app has rating of 1.7 (out of 5) and has 11,245 1 star reviews (vs 2,452 5 star reviews). But it’s not even the low ratings that are the most amusing thing among all of this – it’s the comments that are accompanying the reviews that will give any open-minded techie a chuckle or two.
It’s almost hard to tell which reviews are complete trolls or genuine Android fanboyism (“my micro USB would not fit”), though it does appear that some of the reviews have come from people who have actually used the app for the purpose it was designed for – and still disliked it. Then there are also the reviews that compare Apple to North Korea, which has been by far the most amusing thing I have read this morning.
If you feel like having a good laugh this morning, or maybe even download the app to check it out for yourself, we’ve got the Play Store link for you down below:
http://playboard.me/widgets/pb-app-box/1/pb_load_app_box.jsWhat do you think about the Move to iOS app? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Google Play Store via The Verge
The post Android fans are trolling the Move to iOS app on the Play Store appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Pimp your dorm – 2015 edition!
It’s that time of the year! You’ve now left behind the comforts of your own home and moved into the dorms at school, for the first time and at a new place for many. These dorms are sometimes old fashioned, quite small, and more often than not, you’ll have a roommate to deal with it. Nevertheless, this is what is going to be your home for the next few months at least, if not longer, and it’s a great idea to add your own personal touch to this new experience.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of the very useful gadgets and miscellaneous items you can get your hands on to make your dorm life that much better. Here’s Android Authority’s “pimp your dorm” 2015 edition!
LG 34-Inch monitor
Everybody gets a desk when renting a dorm, as it’s essential to getting all sorts of work done. It is usually the first thing that any visitor’s eyes lock onto when entering, and what could be a better way to catch someone’s eye, than with the beautiful LG 34-inch Ultra Wide monitor. Granted, this monitor may be a bit of an overkill, and depending on the type of room you stay in, too big, but based on what your chosen course of study is, or if you’re just really into gaming, this wide screen monitor could be very beneficial for you.
The monitor features an IPS panel with a 2560 x 1080 resolution, and a 21:9 aspect ratio. It is a beautiful display, and can get quite bright too. All the extra screen real estate can help a lot with multi-tasking, with the ability to put apps or programs side by a side. It’s wide screen nature also makes running programs with lots of small pop ups and windows appear less cluttered and organized. For example, programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, or video editing tools like Final Cut feel a lot cleaner when the pop up menus and windows don’t clutter your work space.
It has a nice clear stand that looks very sleek, and allows you place the monitor at an angle. There is also a very intuitive menu button that acts as a lever, which makes browsing through the various settings fast and easy. A big selling point of this monitor is gaming as well, with its game mode allowing for a perfect picture with no latency, which isn’t always the case with other televisions or monitors and their respective game modes.
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The LG 34-inch Ultra Wide monitor is certainly on the pricier side of things with its price point around the $450 mark, but it’s definitely an eye catcher, and depending on the type of work you’ll be doing, could really be worth the money.
Anker 5-port USB charger
Unfortunately, there are a lot of dorms that come with only one or two free wall outlets to cover your power needs, and in this technology age, you will definitely need more to charge your laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, and anything else you may have. This issue is alleviated somewhat with the Anker 5-port USB charger, that, as the name suggests, can charge up to 5 devices simultaneously.
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The device features a compact and simple design, and the best part is of course, that you will need to sacrifice only one wall outlet to cover the charging needs of any devices that use a USB cable to charge. This particular version doesn’t come with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 support, but if you do need charge multiple devices, the Anker 5-port USB charger is your best bet. This device is currently priced at just $19.99 on Amazon.
Quirky Pivot power strip
Another way to get the most out of your limited wall outlets is with the Quirky Pivot flexible surge protector. The lack of wall outlets means that you’re definitely going to need a power strip of some sort, and the this device is a perfect buy, not only because of the 6 additional plug points you get, but also because it is flexible. You can bend this power strip into circular, semi-circular, and zig zag shapes, allowing you to fit it around furniture, such as desk legs, which is really handy in the tight spaces of a dorm room.
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The ability to adjust the shape means that large power bricks won’t take up an extra space and render the outlets around it unusable, as is often seen on a regular power strip. There is a lot of cool tech mentioned in this list, but the Quirky Pivot power strip is probably the most practical, and the most important. This device is also available in various color options, including white, black, teal, green, dark green, and pink, and is priced starting at $12.50.
Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 portable bluetooth speaker
You will likely need something to play some music, and for your dorm room, the Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 portable bluetooth speaker is absolutely perfect. It is quite compact with its dimensions of 4.3 x 7.4 inches, and won’t look out of place on your desk, but is still able to offer great sound quality. With two high frequency drivers, a woofer, and two passive radiators on either side, this speaker creates a nice, crisp, and clear sound, with great bass. While it can get pretty loud, it’s not going to be loud enough to make your neighbors upset, which is obviously a plus in a dorm environment.
The speaker comes with three different modes, including Normal, Roar, and TerraBass. Roar mode will boost the overall loudness of the speaker to create a wider sound. TerraBass will make up for the loss of bass during low volume playback, and that is typically the mode that I use the most. You can connect this speaker to your phone, tablet, or laptop wirelessly with Bluetooth or NFC, or with a wired connection by using USB or Aux-In. You can even store your songs in a microSD card and play them directly out of the speaker. It is also capable of recording what it is playing on it, but I’m not sure how useful this feature this.
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The Sound Blaster Roar 2 comes with a 6,000mAh battery which allows for fantastic battery life. It managed to stay on for longer than 7 hours with non-stop music playing, so battery life is certainly not going to be a concern with this speaker. The Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 portable bluetooth speaker is currently available for $169.99 on Amazon.
Arlo Smart Home security cameras
Quite a lot of items on this list are pretty expensive, and along with all the other electronics you may own, a little bit of security may not be a bad idea. Of course, this is something your roommate, if you have one, has to be comfortable with, and not every university dorm will allow this either. As long as everything is okay though, a good device to have in place is the Arlo Smart Home security camera system.
Depending on the variant you buy, you can get 2 very small wireless security cameras, with the video stream viewable on your smartphone, tablet, or computer, in real time. The system is extremely easy to set up, with it coming with a bridge that plugs into your ethernet line, which is available in most dorms. Download the Arlo app from the Google Play Store, and you’re good to go. It’s easy to share access to the feed as well, by simply adding additional parties.
These cameras are wide angled, so you can almost view the entire dorm room with just one of the cameras. You get a nice clear HD live stream from your cameras, and they are even capable of night vision. These cameras do take batteries, and you can set how clear you’d like the picture to be, but keep in mind the negative impact on battery life the higher the quality you want. You can set the cameras to record manually, or decide on a scheduled time, and easily play back recordings later. There is 1GB of cloud storage available for free, and more is available with the purchase of a plan. One mode you can set is motion activation, so if your camera catches some movement, and you will immediately get a notification on your phone to see what is going on. One downside is that there is no audio recording, but that shouldn’t be much a problem.
On the back is a soft magnetic indentation that works perfectly with the included wall mounts. They are extremely strong, so they won’t be going anywhere. If you have a lot of expensive tech in your room, these Arlo Security Cameras is what you will need for some peace of mind. A single camera kit will set you back $199.99, and a two camera kit is priced at $349.99.
Sumo bean bag
College can be a bit stressful, and if you are looking for something to just lie down on and relax, one of the most comfortable things we have tried is the Sumo Gamer bean bag. Sumo is a company that probably makes the best bean bag chairs out there right now. You get a cover, and instead of the cover being filled directly, you’ll instead receive vacuum sealed stuffing with little foam balls inside. After pulling it apart, all you have to do is put it in the covering and zip it up.
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The bean bag can certainly take a beating, but the material is very strong and managed to hold beautifully. What’s great about having an easily removable stuffing is that if the cover stains, you can simply put it in the wash. Sumo also has a huge customizable lineup of these bean bags. The Sumo Gamer is pretty huge, with dimensions of 48 x 48 x 30 inches, which could be too big for your dorm room, but there are a lot of choices to pick from. The Sumo bean bags are very comfortable, but they look very nice, and go perfectly with dorms for relaxing, doing homework, watching tv, gaming, or even to take a nap.
Philips Hue lights and light strips
If you are looking to totally change the look and feel of the room, we recommend using hue lights and hue light strips from Philips. These LED lights can change the entire mood and ambience of your dorm in a beautiful way. The light strips can be bent, shaped, or even cut into shape or size you’d like. They have an adhesive tape on the back, and can stick to nearly anything, and the tape won’t leave any damage if you plan to remove them at a later date. The best way to use these strips is to put them behind something, so you don’t actually see the lights, but instead, only the soft glow that will flow through the room around you. Putting them behind your desk is a great idea, as it creates a beautiful backdrop behind the monitor.
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The great thing about hue lights is you can change their color to any color you may want, by simply sliding the light number around. You can make them dim, flash, and even pulse, which is all possible with the Hue Bridge, which is very easy to set up. Just connect it to a power source, and plug it into your ethernet line. Push the button on the bridge to sync, and you’re good to go. Unfortunately, there’s no way to just purchase the bridge by itself, with it being part of a starter kit, priced at $200. The kit also includes 3 Hue light bulbs. The bulbs fit into any standard light fitting, and can also be controlled with the same Hue app. The Hue app allows for a lot of customization, including setting the lights to pulse as an alarm, or do crazy sequences to set the mood at a party.
InnoGear Aromatherapy diffuser and humidifier
Stepping into your dorm room for the first time, you may notice a weird smell in the air that you simply can’t get rid of. There’s no way to know how many different people have stayed in the room you are now occupying, which does leave an impression, and since candles are usually a fire hazard, a scent diffuser is what may do the trick.
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The InnoGear diffuser releases a lovely fragrance through a light mist, by burning oil scents that you can buy at many different places. At the same time, the diffuser also acts as a humidifier to prevent dry, stuffy air and cold germs infecting your dorm. The device comes with two settings, with a setting to release some fragrance mist for every 30 seconds, or a continuous mist. The InnoGear diffuser can also light up in a variety of different colors, and even slowly cycle through, to add to the relaxing atmosphere you’ve created.
Oregon Scientific Aroma diffuser
Another type of diffuser you can use is the Oregon Scientific Aroma diffuser and Sound Therapy clock. This works similarly to the device above, but has a few more bells and whistles, including a digital LCD clock on the front. It does have different sound modes that play relaxing sounds, like ocean waves or birds chirping, but that isn’t something you may find very useful. One cool feature with this device is its alarm mode, where you can set it to release a fragrance at a certain time, which, coupled with the Hue Lights, can make for a wonderful wake up routine.
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ZTE SPro 2 portable projector
One device that will impress your friends is the ZTE SPro 2 portable projector. Since most dorm rooms are quite small, there isn’t much room for a TV table, and even also in situations where hanging or mounting objects on the wall isn’t allowed, a small portable projector will prove to be very handy. The device features a 5-inch touchscreen, runs Android 4.4 Kitkat, and projects a beautiful image, which is fantastic for when inviting friends over for a movie night, or for giving presentations at school. The ZTE SPro 2 also comes with a data connectivity option, with the device and data plans available from AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
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Marpac DOHM Sound Machine
Finally, at the end of the day, when it’s time to get some shut eye, the Marpac DOHM Natural White Noise Machine is a life saver. This device totally drains out the obnoxious sounds from outside, and the noise it creates is a 100% natural. There are a lot of sleep machines out there that have digital sounds, but that can prove to be even more distracting. On this device, there are no speakers to be found, with it producing a soothing rushing air sound, kind of how a fan would sound. You can change the sounds ever so slightly by rotating the sides and top, creating a softer, more muffled sound, or a higher, louder sound. At the end of the day, you can be confident that you will fall asleep right away.
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What do you think of our list? Any other gadgets or items you feel are must-haves for making the most out of your dorm experience? Let us know about them in the comments!
AIVAnet 