In-house chips may be on the way to LG, Sony devices
LG has been steadily improving its position in the mobile device market thanks to a string of successful smartphone launches over the past couple years. Meanwhile, Sony, while producing devices that tend to be well received, struggles to translate that into sales success. Although they seem to be on divergent paths, the two companies have something in common – they are both mentioned in rumors of a move by smartphone manufacturers to transition to in-house production of processors used in their devices.
The latest rumor swirling around the subject was triggered after Global Unichip, a Taiwan-based chip designer, reportedly received orders for development from “Asia-based handset vendors.” This has prompted some sources to consider the possibility that both LG and Sony may be following a strategy implemented by Apple, Samsung and Huawei, all of whom manufacture chips for their own devices.
Currently LG and Sony depend on “off-the-shelf” processors from Mediatek and Qualcomm for their devices.
Do you think this is a smart move for either company? Does the use of an in-house chip versus a generally available chip sway your purchase decisions any?
source: DigiTimes
via: XperiaBlog
Come comment on this article: In-house chips may be on the way to LG, Sony devices
Huawei ready with special Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for U.S. market
Huawei has been patiently waiting to have an impact on the U.S. market for smartphones and wearable devices. The upcoming 2015 holiday shopping season looks like it may finally be time for that move and Huawei is getting ready for it with some special Black Friday deals and some special offers for the following week that kicks off with Cyber Monday. The focus of the specials for the U.S. market will be the Huawei Watch and the Huawei P8 Lite.
For the promotions, Huawei will be offering special pricing through their own on-line web store as well as through the Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy and Target, with the latter two offering deals both on-line and at retail locations. For the Huawei Watch, consumers can get anywhere from $50 to $100 off the regular price depending on the particular finish and band they select. The discounts will be available from all of the buying sources. The following week, the discount will be $50 on the versions eligible for a discount.
For the Huawei P8 Lite, which is unlocked and should work on your selected carrier, consumers may want to shop around a bit. Going through Best Buy, Huawei is only offering $25 off on the price of the smartphone. A larger, $50 discount is available if buyers go through GetHuawei.com, Amazon or Target.com and the following week Target retail locations will join the list of options.
You can read Huawei’s full press release below with more details as you prepare your holiday shopping list.
HUAWEI DEVICE USA OFFERS BIG BLACK FRIDAY DEALS
Up to $100 off the Huawei Watch and up to $50 off the Huawei P8 lite
PLANO, Texas [November 19, 2015]: Huawei Device USA is offering limited-time Black Friday savings on its latest devices for U.S. consumers, including the company’s first smartwatch, the Huawei Watch.
Consumers will enjoy savings of $50 to $100 off select watch models on November 27 through GetHuawei.com, BestBuy.com, select Best Buy stores, Amazon.com, Target.com and Google Play store. To celebrate Cyber Monday, Huawei will also offer $50 off those same models from November 29 to December 5. Full details of the savings can be found below and atwww.GetHuawei.com/offers-promotions.
Available in the U.S. since mid-September, the Huawei Watch redefines smart by blending timeless, uncompromising design with the functionality of Android Wear™. First and foremost a watch, the device was inspired by classic, luxury watch design and is crafted with sophisticated materials. Six models with stainless steel, black, and rose gold-plated watch bodies regularly range in price from $349 to $799 USD.
Consumers can also receive $50 off the Huawei P8 lite smartphone when they purchase through GetHuawei.com, Amazon.com and Target.com during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotion periods.
The P8 lite is an unlocked smartphone that gives consumers the option to choose a phone plan on their preferred network. The P8 lite makes elegant design and premium features more accessible at a price point that doesn’t break the budget.
Both the Huawei Watch and P8 lite are covered under Huawei’s two-year warranty*, so consumers can feel confident about their purchases.
Black Friday Deals – November 26 & 27
Product
Retail Outlet
Offer
Watch GetHuawei.com Best Buy.com
Best Buy (in-store)
Amazon (Nov 27 only)
Target.com
Target (in-store)
Google Play
$50 off Silver with Black Leather Strap $80 off Silver with Silver Mesh Band
$80 off Silver with Silver Link Band
$100 off Black with Black Link Band
P8 Lite GetHuawei.com Amazon
Target.com
$50 off
Best Buy.com Best Buy (in-store)
$25 off
Cyber Monday Week Deals – November 29 – December 5
Product Retail Outlet Offer Watch GetHuawei.com Best Buy.com
Best Buy (in-store)
Amazon
Target.com
Target (in-store)
Google Play
$50 off Silver with Black Leather Strap $50 off Silver with Silver Mesh Band
$50 off Silver with Silver Link Band
$50 off Black with Black Link Band
P8 Lite GetHuawei.com Amazon
Target.com
Target (in-store)
$50 off
Best Buy.com Best Buy (in-store)
$25 off For more information, visit GetHuawei.com/offers-promotions.
*Following product registration at GetHuawei.com.
Come comment on this article: Huawei ready with special Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for U.S. market
Google Hangouts gets guest access
Google has just made it a lot easier for users to consider using Hangouts for meetings by freeing the service from requirements like having a Google account to join a Hangout. If you have ever had to try to get someone who is not a big Google user onto a Hangout, you know that it can quickly turn into a major chore depending on the technical capability of the user. With the new feature that is being rolled out, all users will have to do now is click on a link to the Hangout, type in their name in a pop-up box, and then “Request to Join.”
Meeting organizers will receive a prompt to accept or deny entry to users who are trying to join a Hangout. They will also have access to tools to mute or eject participants if necessary.
source: Google for Work
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32GB Nexus 5 for just $200 with your choice of red, white, or black
Just in time for the holidays, Expansys USA is offering up the original 32GB LG Nexus 5 for just $200, the lowest price we’ve seen yet. Even better, Expansys has all three colors in stock: red, black, and white.
The Nexus 5 might be two generations old now, but it’s still a solid device, especially at this price. To put it into perspective, that’s about what you’d pay for something like the Moto G (3rd gen), which is powered by a Snapdragon 415 and has just a 720p display. With the Nexus 5, you get the Snapdragon 800, a 5-inch 1080p display, and several other improvements that make it a better choice for the money.
Some of the other key specs include 2GB RAM, a 2,300mAh battery, and an 8 megapixel rear camera. It’s also worth mentioning that the Nexus 5 has already been upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, something you probably won’t find with other similarly priced phones.
See also: Google Nexus 5 review: best for the money, but is it enough?
As far as aesthetics go, the Nexus 5 also retains a very similar look and vibe to its newer brother, the Nexus 5x, and while the design is certainly no-frills, that’s at least a small part of the phone’s charm.
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The model sold by Expansys should play nicely with all GSM carriers, as well as the CDMA carrier Sprint. So how about it, anyone planning on picking this one up at $200? Would you recommend it at this price, or would users be better off getting a newer entry or mid-level device?
What is CyanogenMod?
CyanogenMod is one of the best known custom ROMs out there, enabling millions of users around the world to customize their devices to the fullest. With the popularity of CyanogenMod, the developer community enjoyed great success over the years. So much so, that the people behind CyanogenMod started Cyanogen Inc, and developed partnerships with phone manufacturers to have CyanogenMod as the default operating system.
What is a custom ROM?
CyanogenMod started out as a simple alternative to stock Android on the HTC Dream and HTC Magic.
Google releases the source code for Android via the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which allows anyone to download the source code for stock Android and modify it to their liking. Many people add features or try to further optimize the operating system to improve performance. When people talk about flashing ROMs, they are referring to overwriting the old version of Android that is installed and replacing it with a third party alternative, like CyanogenMod. This sounds sketchy in a way, but just because the ROM is supported by the community, rather than a commercial entity, it does not mean that they are any less stable. In my experience, custom ROMs have been just as stable if not more so than OEM supplied ROM, depending on the ROM of course.
However, the term “ROM” is not necessarily used correctly when talking about the third party custom firmware. A “ROM” in computer science is “Read-Only Memory” which can only be read and not written to more than once in the most basic sense. Smartphones and tablets use flash memory to store the Android OS, so the correct term should be “custom firmware”. This naming convention may lead to some confusion when talking about custom ROMs, just remember, the firmware is being changed, not any ROMs that might be in the device.
The roots of CyanogenMod
CyanogenMod started out as a simple alternative to stock Android on the HTC Dream and HTC Magic with the initial release of CyanogenMod 3.1 in 2009. With Android’s open source nature and the ability to obtain root access, anything is possible, and with the popularity of the custom ROMs, the CyanogenMod community blossomed. CyanogenMod really started to be recognized with CyanogenMod 7, based on 2.3 Gingerbread. This release added new and improved features over stock Android like BusyBox in the shell, as well as improving the stock apps.
CyanogenMod release cycle and style
CyanogenMod version numbers work just like Android version numbers, i.e. CyanogenMod A.B means that “A” is the major release number and “B” is a minor release number. From version 9 to 10.2, there were a few different types of releases. These included:
- Nightly – A build generated every 24 hours, newest features but HIGHLY unstable in most cases, not good enough for a daily driver.
- Experimental – More stable than the nightlies and may be used in other custom ROMs as a base.
- M Snapshot – More stable than the last two, but still may have some minor issues.
- Release Candidate – Basically stable, some very minor issues may be present, good enough for daily use.
- Stable – Pretty much all of the bugs have been squashed. These builds will take a very long time to actually be released.
After 10.2, CyanogenMod has changed the release cycle and the names of everything to simplify the process. This time there are only two options:
- Development Channel – Same as the nightlies from before, every 24 hours and are highly unstable.
- Release Channel – M snapshots are made each month which are suitable for daily use, although they lag behind the nightly builds by two weeks as far as features and improvements.
Impact on the dev community
Being the biggest custom ROM, there is obviously an impact on the rest of the dev community, XDA is full of custom ROMs that are based on CyanogenMod. Even the custom ROM that I helped on was based on CyanogenMod for certain devices. Getting everything set up and working from a CyanogenMod base is easier than using stock Android, since a lot of stuff like the theme chooser is already built in, so there is no need to add it.
Advantages over stock Android
The whole reason behind installing a custom ROM is to add features, improve performance, or change the look of stock Android. This is exactly what you get to do with CyanogenMod. There are features in CyanogenMod that are simply not available in stock Android, like the ability to change the status bar to your liking, or apply different themes.
CyanogenMod brings a lot to the table in terms of options, but one of the biggest advantages is root access. Root gives you administrative rights (in Windows terms) to your file system. This means that you can access all of the system files, which in turn allows allows app to do more. For example, there is no official way to backup app data easily, however you can use Titanium Backup and its “root needed” features. This is one of the best apps I have ever used and it should be standard for all devices, you can backup apps no problem and transfer them to any device without fail. There are many other apps like this that just make your life a lot easier. However, a word of warning, root access is not as secure as non-rooted.
How to flash
The first thing you need to do is download the ROM from the development channel or release channel. The general download page can be found here, it is helpful to know your device’s codename, which can easily be looked up with a quick Google. From this page you can download the latest nightly, the option to download a M snapshot or experimental build on the left panel. The next steps can get complicated, but it gets easier once you get used to it. Quick note, this WILL NOT work on all devices, only supported ones.
- Kiss your warranty goodbye (Android Authority is not responsible for your device, proceed at your own risk.)
- Unlock your device’s bootloader – This can be very difficult in some cases and is pretty much different for all devices. This will wipe the device clean, so make sure to backup any important data.
- Install a custom recovery like TWRP or CWM Recovery. This can be done a few different ways, but the best way is through the terminal. Simply download the .img file from the respective site then save it to your computer in a convenient location. once downloaded, make sure ADB and the Android SDK are installed on your computer and working properly. In the terminal or command prompt type “fastboot flash recovery (location of recovery on computer)“. An example would be: “fastboot flash recovery c:recovery.img”. Once this is finished, reboot your device. The device should boot normally.
- Flash the ROM zip file, it is basically the same for each recovery, just click “install” then navigate to the folder with the file or if you are using CWM Recovery click “Install” then “Choose zip from SDCard” then navigate to the folder with the file. Then accept the prompt to install it, do not reboot yet, stay in recovery.
- Flash GApps zip – GApps stands for Google Apps, since these are owned by Google, CyanogenMod can not come pre-installed with them, so just simply flash the zip like you would for the ROM right after installing CyanogenMod. Android 5.1.x GApps and Android 6.0 GApps can be found here, just select the options you want.
- Reboot! If everything went according to plan, the device should boot into CyanogenMod.
Wrap-Up
CyanogenMod started as an alternative to stock Android and grew into a company that influences a lot of the dev community, it even has phone manufacturers backing them. While flashing CyanogenMod may be sketchy to install at first, once master it is worth it. With the customizability of CyanogenMod and the things you can do with root, the sky’s the limit.
Xiaomi teaser shows off Redmi Note 2 Pro’s rear fingerprint scanner
The Redmi Note 2 Pro has appeared in numerous leaks and rumors as of late, but it was earlier this week that we finally learned when the handset would be made official. Xiaomi has scheduled a special launch event for November 24th, and while they don’t specifically say what they are going to unveil, it’s pretty easy to connect the dots.
See also: Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 2 Pro expected to launch November 24
Don’t want to wait that long to get a better look at what’s next from Xiaomi? You don’t have to, as the Chinese OEM has now posted a teaser image of the upcoming device to the social network Weibo. As you can see in the image, the Note 2 Pro offers a more premium aesthetic than past devices from the handset maker. Not only does the phone appear to have an all-metal chassis, it also sports a fingerprint scanner. Both of these things are firsts for Xiaomi.
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As for what’s under the chassis? The handset is expected to offer essentially the same specs as the Note 2, including a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a MediaTek Helio X10 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 13MP main cam, 5MP front cam, and a 3060 Ah battery. Rumors pin the price tag at around $175, which is pretty decent for the specs and build quality here.
Of course it goes without saying that the Note 2 Pro won’t be available officially for much of the western world. For those that are in a region that Xiaomi operates, what do you think of this handset – interested in picking it up?
Control up to 50 lights bulbs wirelessly with ilumi’s A19 & BR30 available at Best Buy now
Ilumi is making their second generation light bulbs, the A19 and BR30 availble online at Bestbuy.com and in Best Buy stores. Both models can be controlled via an iOS or Android app and functions just like a typical light bulb, except you don’t have to get off your butt to control them. What makes these bulbs unique is they offer long range Bluetooth Mesh connectivity which allows users to control up to 50 bulbs with a 150ft. range. Most competitor bulbs can only control ten bulbs, and most of us have more than ten in our household, which means we need to be very selective which light sockets we choose to control wirelessly.
BR30
A19
Ilumi also adds in the “smart” into the bulb by building in a personalized setup to replicate the body’s natural circadian rhythm. It can also detect user presence, a light up rooms based on a user’s typical routine, and protect the home by automatically turning off/on when the user is on vacation.
Corey Egan, cofounder & CEO of ilumi, added, “It is a huge achievement for us to have ilumi Smartbulbs available at Best Buy stores. It’s been our team’s goal since we first had the idea for ilumi many years ago, and it’s exciting to see that goal come to fruition. Now people from across the country can go to their local Best Buy store to see ilumi in person and truly experience the power of good lighting.”
The best part of about the ilumi light bulbs is that they last up to 20 years and are six times more efficient than a comparative incandescent light bulb. If you would like to learn more about the A19 click here, or the B30 click here.
- Light Your Routine – Schedule a sunrise. Dine in candlelight. Shake your phone for a nightlight.
- Wellness Lighting – Tune your body’s natural rhythm by replicating the sun’s daily color cycle. Namaste.
- Detect Your Presence – Sensing your phone, your lights can turn on & off without hitting a switch.
- Vacation – Hey, you’re home! Or are you? Have your lights turn on & off randomly while you’re away.
- Music’s New Best Friend – Sync your music and watch your Smartbulbs move to the beat of your fancy dancing feet.
Tech Specs A19 – Retail price $59.99
| BRIGHT | 800+ Lumens (similar to 60 watt incandescent) |
| ENERGY EFFICIENT | 1 – 10 Watts |
| LONG LIFE | Up to 20 year life |
| COLOR TUNABLE | 2000K to 8000K in white plus millions of colors |
| DIMMABLE | Dimmable via app |
| DIMENSIONS | 2.5″ x 4.5″ (63mm x 115 mm) |
| CERTIFICATION | ETL, CE, RoHS, FCC |
| POWER SUPPLY | US/CAN 120V / 60Hz | EUR/INTL 230V / 50Hz |
| WIRELESS | Bluetooth Smart / Bluetooth Low Energy / Bluetooth 4.0 |
| USE | Intended for indoor use only |
| BASE | E26 / E27 Edison Screw |
Tech Specs BR30 – Retail price $69.99
| BRIGHT | 1100+ Lumens (similar to 85 watt incandescent) |
| ENERGY EFFICIENT | 1 – 15 Watts |
| LONG LIFE | Up to 20 year life |
| COLOR TUNABLE | 2000K to 8000K in white plus millions of colors |
| DIMMABLE | Dimmable via app |
| DIMENSIONS | 3.7″ x 5″ (95mm x 127 mm) |
| CERTIFICATION | ETL, CE, RoHS, FCC |
| POWER SUPPLY | US/CAN 120V / 60Hz | EUR/INTL 230V / 50Hz |
| WIRELESS | Bluetooth Smart / Bluetooth Low Energy / Bluetooth 4.0 |
| USE | Intended for indoor use only |
| BASE | E26 / E27 Edison Screw |
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Fugoo Tough XL: Rugged, waterproof, dust proof, power bank and loaded with 8 speakers
Fugoo exploded onto the Bluetooth speaker scene last year with the Fugoo Go Anywhere wireless speaker. I was one of the fortunate reviewers who got to review Fugoo’s first speaker, and ever since that review have been waiting for its follow up Fugoo XL wireless speaker.
Bluetooth speakers are literally a dime a dozen. You have some that start in the tens of dollars, and for most consumer speakers, can run as high as $400-$500. Typically when you think of high-end Bluetooth speaker brands, you think of Bose, Harmon Kardon, JBL, Sony and so on. And those speakers tend to be the devices that line the shelves of places like Best Buy and Target stores. Customers love to go with brands they trust.
In comes the upstart Fugoo. When I first got my hands on the Fugoo Go Anywhere wireless speaker, I could instantly tell that Fugoo was not made up of a bunch of newcomers looking to make a quick dollar. With the design, high-quality sound, and ultra tough build of their first speaker, I could tell Fugoo was made up of people who saw an opportunity to fill a gap. Bluetooth speakers were over-priced, lacked true portability and for the most part fell short in sound quality.
According to Fugoo’s website, my guess was correct. According to Fugoo’s website,
Fugoo’s executive team is comprised of award-winning industry leaders who have been integral in the creation of many key technology industry milestones, including driving the development and industry adoption of Bluetooth. The executive team’s combined experience equals more than 100 years in design, innovation, and development at industry-leading companies including Acer, eMachines, Harmon Kardon, JBL, and Toshiba.
With the Fugoo XL, they have filled a gap with a speaker that can literally go anywhere – beach, campground, swimming pool, snowboarding, industry job site, and even the bedroom. It’s high-quality sound, durability, ability to personalize style and incredible battery life are simply unmatched.
Let’s check it out.
Design
Being outdoors is second nature to San Diegans. We have sunny days almost year around, and temperatures on the coast roughly stay in the 50-75F degree range almost 365 days a year. We have the beach, desert, mountains and urban areas as our personal playground, and it’s rare that you’ll find anyone here who doesn’t love the outdoors.
I opted to review the Fugoo Tough XL. The Tough XL is exactly what the name states – a speaker enclosed in a super rugged case which is designed to withstand the elements making it tough.
But let’s start from the core of the Fugoo Tough XL. The XL is a reference to being the big brother of the first Fugoo and by all means it is extra large. The speaker measures 13.18” (L) x 4.37” 
x 4.64” (H) and tips the scales at a hefty 4 pounds, 15 ounces – just one ounce short of five full pounds. There’s a reason for all of that heft – it comes with a best in class 35 hour battery life at 50% loudness and has an incredible eight drivers to provide full 360 degree sound. The breakdown of the speaker drivers, three on the long sides, and one each on the short sides:
- Two 28mm neodymium tweeters
- Two 39mm neodymium aluminum domed mid/woofers
- Two 43mm x 54mm passive radiators
Those drivers are powered by a full 38 watts which is enough to crank up over loud noises, but is also enough to feel the music.
The Fugoo XL is seriously loaded with features. It comes with Bluetooth 4.o technology which provides a range of 120 feet outdoors, and 33 feet indoors. It has a microUSB input for firmware updates, a USB out port for charging smartphones and accessories, is compatible with Google Now and Siri, and comes with a 3.5mm input jack for wired connections.
The Fugoo XL Core can be encased in three designs: the Style XL, Sport XL, and Tough XL. The Style XL comes in a Khaki jacket, the Sport XL comes in a black sporty mesh covering, and the Tough XL comes in a super rugged casing designed to protect it from the elements. If at anytime you decide you no longer like the look, or maybe you’ve taken it on one too many adventures, you can swap out the jacket with a new one at anytime.
The Fugoo XL is IP67 rated, mud proof, shock proof, snow proof and waterproof. It’s basically life proof and there are simply no other speakers that match this level of durability.
Sound
Without question, Fugoo truly put sound quality front and center. This might be a little hard to believe if you were to base the speaker based on looks alone since it looks fantastic. Most companies focus on one aspect and do it as best as they can, but Fugoo focused on everything. When you think of companies like Bose, you always know they think of sound first, but you would never associate Bose with being life proof or having incredible battery life. And typically you get what you pay for.
Eight drivers. I have two floor standing speakers in my office and those combine for a total of drivers! With the Fugoo XL you get the perfect balance of lows, mids and highs to create the perfectly balanced sound signature. The drivers are even angled at 8-degrees so the sound waves travel upwards rather than straight out. If you feel like rocking out or chilling out to some classical music, the Fugoo XL has all ranges covered.
I have been an audiophile for over a decade. I won’t admit to the exact number of dollars I have spent on audio equipment, but I will say I am experienced with audio products and lost count on over how many products I have tried. The only problem with making a claim to being an audiophile, is most of us audiophiles are quite snobby and can get very technical to prove our ability to judge sound. So for the brevity of this review, let’s just say I really love music and I truly love devices that can provide high-quality sound reproduction. If I got into the details that members of Headfi.org get into, you might be up all night reading this review as I would need charts and graphs to prove what I am hearing.
I was a subscriber of Spotify’s high-quality streaming service and switched over to Tidal’s CD quality music as soon as it became available. With most devices it can be easy to cover up poor sound quality by throwing in lots of bass which makes music sound fun. But doing that severely drops the quality in music reproduction. For the purposes of this review, I listened to hours and hours of classical music and I was picking out individual instruments like the flute, cello, oboe, piano, clarinet and more.
But the most important factor with the Fugoo XL was I found myself immersed in the music because it was so enjoyable. It’s rare these days for me to make time to sit and enjoy music, but with the Fugoo XL I found myself listening to music for multiple hours at a time.
First and foremost music is simply incredible with the Fugoo XL. The only speaker in this price range to come close to this level of sound reproduction is the Bose Soundlink 3. No matter where you put the Fugoo XL, you will hear sound as it fills the space around it a full 360 degrees. The eight drivers are incredibly balanced and detailed. If you truly love music, this speaker is for you.
Durability
Weekends are my favorite time of the week. My dog and I make it a habit to go to the beach or go on hikes every weekend. Even though the Fugoo XL is large, I brought it with me to test how it would handle the elements. At the beach it attracted sand, but as soon as I got home I would rinse it under the sink thoroughly until it was sand free. On our hikes, and one camping trip, it accumulated dirt and dust which I hate to have on my gadgets.
Gadgets are clearly an important part of any tech writer’s life, and we really do like to take care of our toys. So when my Fugoo XL got dirty or muddy, I simply rinsed it off and lightly wiped it down with a towel. After four trips to the beach, three days of camping, and two hikes the Fugoo XL still looks as good as new. I have no reservations about bringing the Fugoo XL along with me wherever I go. It is truly designed to withstand the abuse of an active lifestyle.
Extra features
The Fugoo XL has a selection of accessories you can buy – a hand strap, shoulder strap, anywhere mount strap and a remote control.
The remote control retails for $49.99, and is one of the nicest remote controls you can get today. It is also waterproof and incredibly well built. It is made of a metal case with a rubberized front and is perfect for use at pools or at campsites where you don’t want to keep your phone nearby. Holding down the action button, the big circle at the bottom, activates Google Now and you can ask the Fugoo a question like “what was the score of the Laker game?” and it will answer. It even has a bottle opener built into the backside.
Another useful feature is having the ability to charge your phone or other USB powered devices with the Fugoo XL. I would charge my smartwatch and phone when I was out, and enjoyed not needing to bust out my portable battery. My LG Urbane 2nd Edition Android Wear watch has a magnetic charger, and when I wasn’t charging my device I would just stick it to the steel grill in order not to misplace it.
The Fugoo XL also has a microphone built-in for taking phone calls and with the latest echo cancelling technology, phone calls came through loud and clear. I even used it for a conference call at work and the people on the other end didn’t have any complaints.
The Fugoo XL is one of the most feature laden accessories on the market.
Specs
Audio Quality
Six proprietary, custom-designed acoustic drivers:
- Two 28mm neodymium tweeters
- Two 39mm neodymium aluminum domed mid/woofers
- Two 43mm x 54mm passive radiators
Drivers face all directions, with an 8-degree upward tilt for better dispersion
Full Range Frequency Response: 60Hz – 20KHz
Supports aptX® codec for high-quality Bluetooth stereo sound
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity up to 10 meters/33 feet indoors and 36 meters/120 feet outdoors
Bluetooth Low Energy for remote control
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP 1.4) enables control from your audio device and the optional Remote Control.
Other Profiles: Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) 1.3, Hands-Free Profile (HFP) 1.6, Headset Profile (HSP) 1.2
3.5mm stereo input for wired connection
Micro-USB for charging and updates
Microphone
Google Now™ / SIRI® Compatible
Omnidirectional microphone with echo cancellation
Full-duplex capable in speakerphone mode
Digital Signal Processor for wind and background noise reduction
Update Software Compatibility
Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP
Mac OS 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6
Our international AC adapters (chargers) are compatible with standard household / mains current around the world. They operate from 110-240 volts AC, at either 50Hz or 60Hz.
Up to 40 hours continuous play at 50% loudness
Built-in Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
Charged via USB or international AC Adapter included (3.5 hours for full charge)
Battery life displayed on supported devices
Summary
The Fugoo XL is a symbol of excellence and master craftsmanship. When you think of quality, Fugoo is a name that needs to come to mind. The Fugoo XL is just the second product from a company that is making waves in the Bluetooth speaker sector. As of right now, Fugoo doesn’t make anything other than two speakers, which means they can focus 100% of their attention on perfecting those speakers and they have achieved nothing short of that. But their speakers are so good I hope they plan on expanding into other areas so I can buy those products as well.
With unmatched durability, sound reproduction and battery life the Fugoo XL should be on your wish-list and is a must see item at Best Buy. It will literally blow your socks off.
Thank you Fugoo for making a great speaker that I will enjoy for many years to come.
Product links
Fugoo Tough XL($329.99) – Bestbuy.com or Fugoo.com
Fugoo Sport XL($299.99) – Amazon.com, Fugoo.com
Fugoo Style XL($279.99) – Fugoo.com
The post Fugoo Tough XL: Rugged, waterproof, dust proof, power bank and loaded with 8 speakers appeared first on AndroidGuys.
OPPO introduces near-stock Android experience for select devices
ColorOS is OPPO’s flavor of Android and to say the least it’s rather heavy and much like other Chinese OEM versions of Android it takes a lot of its design cues from iOS. In their defense, that’s the type of thing that sells well in the Chinese smartphone market but when it comes to western markets, that’s not as popular of a choice. This week OPPO announced what they’re calling “Project Spectrum;” a near-stock version of Android that will be made available to “key devices” in the OPPO lineup.
As you see in the video, Project Spectrum is very closely-related to AOSP and appears to be running a far more Googly and bloat-free experience than is typical with OPPO’s phones. That’s not to say it’s completely devoid of OPPO’s hand, though. It still includes the ColorOS camera, Screen-off gestures, and the MaxxAudio equalizer.
Project Spectrum appears to currently be running on Android 5.1.1 and there’s no saying what level of support this project will have going forward and whether they will update to Android 6.0 or this will be the only version for the devices that they’re supporting. As of right now, Project Spectrum is only available for the Find 7/7a but it’s possible that this will become more prominent with future phone releases from the manufacturer, especially if they have plans to expand their sales to the US. I know personally I’d be more likely to purchase an OPPO device if I knew it was going to be supported through Project Spectrum; what say you?
Source: OPPO
The post OPPO introduces near-stock Android experience for select devices appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HERE Maps takes a swipe at Google Maps with new offline capabilities
The most recent update to Google Maps brought offline mapping capabilities. However, HERE Maps is up for the challenge.
HERE Maps was compared to Google Maps in a recent blog post. The comparison showed some key differences between the two when referring to offline use.
Unlike Google Maps, HERE Maps is available in 132 countries and can be put into full offline mode. HERE Maps has also pointed out that their mapping service can navigate you offline using multiple paths whether that be by car or on foot. Google Maps only gives users one route that is by car travel only when in the offline mode. HERE Maps is also proud to announce that it has a wider audience by extending to Windows Phone and iOS. The company has also included a variety of other advantages HERE Maps has over Google Maps, such as a better 3D representation of maps and more. Since Google Maps owns a large chunk of the online and mobile mapping industry, it was interesting to see the differences HERE Maps pointed out. You can read the whole comparison at the source link down below. Which are you using?
Source: HERE 360
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