GogoToro Chargemander case review

Hunting Pokémon in Pokémon Go requires a smartphone with a hefty battery life, or trainers need to carry around portable battery packs. What if there was a way to keep your phone charged, while looking like Ash Ketchum? GogoToro’s Chargemander is a smartphone case that doubles as a battery, and it’s designed like a Pokédex.

The Chargemander is advertised as being able to charge your phone in record time — up to 16 times faster than standard power banks or cases, and it’s good for 1,200 battery cycles. The case has a lightning connector at the bottom, so you can charge your iPhone and the case at the same time, without needing to carry around a MicroUSB cable. In our GogoToro Chargemander case review, we found the case may be more form over function.

Fast charging, but not evolutionary

The Chargemander comes with a 5,200mAh battery capacity — which is more than other charging cases like the Mophie Juice Pack Ultra with 3,950mAh, or Incipio’s Offgrid Express with 3,000mAh. It’s much bigger than those battery cases, and for its size we expected a higher capacity.

Brenda Stolyar

GogoToro claims it’s only supposed to take about 15 minutes to charge the case with the included wall charger, but for us it took more like 30-40 minutes. While it does charge the phone rather quickly, it wasn’t any different than other external battery packs we’ve used. If you’re looking to get the highest battery capacity for your money, you can spend a lot less and get Anker’s PowerCore 20,100mAh battery pack.

Unlike the fire Pokemon Charmander, the Chargemander doesn’t overheat your phone because it uses safeguards to make sure it stops charging when the case is at 100 percent. Instead of using the provided wall charger, which is heavy and can be cumbersome to carry, you also have the option of charging the case with a standard Lightning, MicroUSB, or USB Type-C cable, depending on the model you purchase for the phone you have. That’s one of the positives of the Chargemander — it supports quite a number of phones from the OnePlus 3, and the Samsung Galaxy S5, to the iPhone 7 Plus. Your phone will charge up first, and then the Chargemander will fill up.

The case didn’t die completely after using all its power to charge my iPhone 7 Plus fully — instead it lasted for a few days. How long did it take to fully charge up my phone? About 30 minutes.

Comfortable design, not the most portable

You’ll certainly get some looks using the Chargemander as a case — whether they’re positive or negative will depend, but the iconic Pokédex design is something only a Pokémon fan can appreciate. If you’re super clumsy and you like Pokemon, you can skip the Otterbox and go straight for the Chargemander. The hard exterior shell hides your entire phone entirely, meaning your phone will survive the worst drops and falls.

Pokémon may be pocket-sized monsters, but the Chargemander isn’t.

The front cover of the case folds over to allow for a comfortable hold while gaming or texting, but it will get in the way if you try to take photos or use the augmented reality camera in Pokémon Go. The flap can double as a kickstand, but push it too far back and it will collapse.

Pokémon may be pocket-sized monsters, but the Chargemander isn’t — you’ll have to put it in a bag or carry it in your hand. To start charging your phone through the case, you have to hold the blue power button down for a few seconds. As cool as it looks, this button is huge and sits on the front of the case — if it leans against anything in your bag while on-the-go, it could turn off and stop charging your phone. I made this mistake and only realized when I took out my iPhone and found its battery still at 7 percent. This is a design flaw, and it’s something to be aware of when using the case.

Pressing the volume buttons is a bit difficult — you’ll have the hold down the buttons a little harder than normal. Although there is a small section carved out to access the ring/silent switch, it’s impossible to turn it on or off without taking the phone out from the case. Unlike the Mophie Charge Force case — which requires you to almost lose a hand attempting to remove it — your phone easily slides out of the Chargemander case by pushing the phone out through the cut-out for the camera lens.

The simplicity could be worth the price

At $80, it’s available for both iPhone and Android devices. The price is almost on par with other battery cases.

The Chargemander’s volume buttons are hard to press; you won’t be able to put this in your pocket; the ring/silent switch is impossible to press, and if you flip the cover, you won’t be able to use the camera. But we like how the battery keeps your phone long-lasting, and the design — while bulky — is fun, colorful, and nostalgic.

When I first opened up the Chargemander, I was unsure of whether or not I would be able to endure the weird stares of carrying it around in public. Don’t get me wrong — I love Pokémon Go, but this retro-looking phone case is definitely a lot to take in. Thankfully, the semi-soft material and hinged cover makes you forget it’s a charging case, and provided stickers let you make it look even more like a Pokédex. Sure, you can buy a cheaper battery pack with a higher capacity, or a slimmer battery case you can actually fit in your pocket — but none of those will make you feel more like a Pokémon trainer than the Chargemander Pokédex.

Fairphone forced to end support for first device as parts supply dries up

Why it matters to you

You have to admire Fairphone’s mission, but the industry’s cycle of development has made it challenging to keep those devices running for a very long time.

Fairphone, the company responsible for building modular, user-repairable smartphones with an eye on ethical production and consumption, has announced it is retiring support for its first phone.

The original Fairphone was launched in 2013, and the firm followed up with a second-generation device in late 2015. While it was the company’s objective to sell and support its products for as long as possible, it has encountered difficulties sourcing the same parts over the years.

A dwindling supply of batteries was one of the primary concerns, according to Fairphone CEO Bas Van Abel, who related the news in a post on the company’s blog.

“We’ve worked continuously to find new suppliers and convince them to keep making the parts,” Van Abel said. “For example, we’ve worked with two different manufacturers to try to keep batteries in stock. However, after exploring every option within our financial means, the minimum orders required to produce new batches of spare parts is beyond what we can afford.”

Ordinarily, suppliers and hardware manufacturers can discontinue components on almost a yearly basis. The pace of advance in the mobile industry is so quick that there’s little risk in ceasing production of last year’s silicon when next year’s phones are on the horizon.

Unfortunately for Fairphone, that cycle appears to have made it incredibly difficult to keep a reserve of parts accessible to customers. The company founded to counteract the waste and disposability of modern technology has become a victim of those very circumstances.

Disappointing as the situation may be, Van Abel has stressed that Fairphone has taken the lesson in stride. The Fairphone 2 was built in a more versatile fashion, to accommodate new parts once the originals are inevitably discontinued. And the company encourages those who have held onto their first-generation devices to keep them up and running for as long as possible, with the help of maintenance tips it has shared via email.

Earlier in the year, Android version 6.0 Marshmallow was released for the Fairphone 2. The device originally launched with Lollipop, so the update went a long way in ensuring the second-gen model will last an extra few years. At Mobile World Congress in February, Fairphone announced it had sold 70,000 spare parts to date, and that customers had a 95-percent success rate performing DIY fixes.

Shed pounds using embodyDNA, a unique weight-loss plan based on your DNA

Why it matters to you

Different bodies need different things when it comes to weight loss and embodyDNA is here to help you get the personalized attention.

You have always been wary of one-size-fits-all clothing (and with good reason), so why would you assume that a one-size-fits-all diet would work? Here to help you avoid such a cookie-cutter fate is a new weight-loss plan from weight loss app Lose It! It’s called embodyDNA, and it’s heralded as “the first DNA-based weight loss plan to give actionable, personalized results through an interactive in-app experience.” And be warned — you’re going to be paying for this personalization.

Developed in conjunction with Helix, a personal genomics company, embodyDNA promises users customized recommendations on food and beverage consumption, as well as physical activities meant to aid in weight loss. So how do you get this ultra-tailored plan? For starters, you will need to check out the embodyDNA site and order a DNA kit. While you only have to buy the kit once, it will set you back $190.

Once you send your saliva sample to Helix, the company will analyze your DNA, and send the results to Lose It! The weight-loss app then claims to translate this information into healthful insights about the unique challenges your body may face when it comes to losing weight or getting fit. You will then receive unique weight loss, nutrition, fitness, and food sensitivity recommendations. And as an added benefit, embodyDNA says that it can identify patterns in your Lose It! history and provide feedback on your habits and actions, thereby helping you optimize toward your weight- loss goals.

“Given that nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, we are excited about the potential that embodyDNA has to help millions of people lose weight and maintain healthy behaviors that work for them,” said Lose It! CEO and co-founder Charles Teague.

So if you are looking for an approach to weight loss that truly has your individual struggle in mind, having a weight-loss plan based on your DNA may not be a bad place to start. You can download Lose It! now for free from both the App Store as well as the Google Play Store, and Lose It! even has an app for the Amazon marketplace.

Shed pounds using embodyDNA, a unique weight-loss plan based on your DNA

Why it matters to you

Different bodies need different things when it comes to weight loss and embodyDNA is here to help you get the personalized attention.

You have always been wary of one-size-fits-all clothing (and with good reason), so why would you assume that a one-size-fits-all diet would work? Here to help you avoid such a cookie-cutter fate is a new weight-loss plan from weight loss app Lose It! It’s called embodyDNA, and it’s heralded as “the first DNA-based weight loss plan to give actionable, personalized results through an interactive in-app experience.” And be warned — you’re going to be paying for this personalization.

Developed in conjunction with Helix, a personal genomics company, embodyDNA promises users customized recommendations on food and beverage consumption, as well as physical activities meant to aid in weight loss. So how do you get this ultra-tailored plan? For starters, you will need to check out the embodyDNA site and order a DNA kit. While you only have to buy the kit once, it will set you back $190.

Once you send your saliva sample to Helix, the company will analyze your DNA, and send the results to Lose It! The weight-loss app then claims to translate this information into healthful insights about the unique challenges your body may face when it comes to losing weight or getting fit. You will then receive unique weight loss, nutrition, fitness, and food sensitivity recommendations. And as an added benefit, embodyDNA says that it can identify patterns in your Lose It! history and provide feedback on your habits and actions, thereby helping you optimize toward your weight- loss goals.

“Given that nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, we are excited about the potential that embodyDNA has to help millions of people lose weight and maintain healthy behaviors that work for them,” said Lose It! CEO and co-founder Charles Teague.

So if you are looking for an approach to weight loss that truly has your individual struggle in mind, having a weight-loss plan based on your DNA may not be a bad place to start. You can download Lose It! now for free from both the App Store as well as the Google Play Store, and Lose It! even has an app for the Amazon marketplace.

End of an era? Microsoft Paint now on the list of apps that won’t be updated

Why it matters to you

Paint’s functions may still be available in Paint 3D, but the end of the 1985 program is likely to leave some a bit nostalgic.

Microsoft Paint, the doodling program that’s as old as Windows 1.0 itself is getting erased from Microsoft’s list. The company recently moved Paint — along with Outlook Express and both the Reader app and Reader list — to the list of removed or deprecated features for the upcoming launch of Windows 10. What that means is that the company is longer updating Paint (not to be confused with the separate Paint 3D), though when the program will be fully removed isn’t yet clear.

Paint launched in 1985 with Windows 1.0. The program has always included only pretty basic controls, with the option to actually save a JPEG not arriving until more than ten years after the program launched, with Windows 98. But, as a pre-installed, easy-to-use program, the software was, for many users, a first introduction into basics graphics programs (or at the least, an early boredom buster alongside Solitaire and Minesweeper).

Microsoft already has a Paint alternative, Paint 3D, which includes similar tools along with, as the name suggests, a few 3D editing options. Paint 3D contains tools for layering graphics into a scene, including 3D objects and selection tools. The program isn’t a continuation of the original program, however, so while the 3D option may pay homage to the original, Paint as most users know it appears to be getting the ax sometime in the future.

While Paint is a longstanding app, the graphics editor has remained fairly basic, often being beaten out in features by other free graphics editors, including the more advanced GIMP and Paint.net, both free downloads that include several tools found in more advanced programs like Adobe Photoshop.

With Paint 3D existing alongside Paint, it’s not too hard to see why Microsoft is no longer updating the basic program, since the new 3D program offers similar functionality though a very different interface. Paint may be standard when it comes to quick, simple sketches, but it has been far outpaced by other options. Google Research even recently created an artificial intelligence program that can create its own sketches. The research came shortly after the launch of AutoDraw, an AI that can interpret rough sketches and replace them with higher quality, artist-designed sketches of the same object.

While Paint’s move to the deprecated features list means the program will no longer be updated, it’s unclear when Microsoft will be removing the program entirely.

Learn to Develop Your Own Video Games for just $49!

Have you ever had dreams of designing your very own video game? It’s all in your head — the characters, the storyline, the kick-ass action — but the question is how do you bring your vision to life? Sure, there are schools for video game design, but those require quite the time and financial commitment.

Learn how to make your own games through this fantastic bundle! Learn More

What you need is a comprehensive course that arms you with all the tools and knowledge you to start creating your own indie games — and Android Central is here to help!

Check out the 2017 Zero to Hero Game Developer Bundle, which includes eight different courses and over 80 hours of training materials that cover a wide range of topics. Whether you’re interested in developing your own first-person shooter or start out with a 2D game for iPhone, this bundle will walk you everything you need to know with industry-standard tools and tech. Normally to take a video game development course this comprehensive would end up costing you nearly $1500, but thanks to Android Central Digital Offers, you can snag this great bundle for just $49 — that’s a savings of 96%!

Here’s a preview of some of the courses included in this bundle:

• Master Unity Game Development: Ultimate Beginners Bootcamp
• Unity Game Development: Build a First Person Shooter
• MagicaVoxal for Non-Artists: Create Voxel Game Assets
• Blender for Non-Artists: Create Low-Poly 3D Game Assets
• How to Make 2D iPhone Games Using Swift 3 and iOS10
• Learn Python Programming by Making a Game
• Learn to Code By Building 6 Games in The Unreal Engine
• Master Video Game Making

Sounds exciting, huh? Once you’ve gone through all these courses you should be able to create fun games to share with your family and friends… and who knows, maybe you’ll create the next Minecraft!

Save up to 96% on the 2017 Zero to Hero Game Developer Bundle! Learn More

Replace your busted phone with a 64GB Moto G4 Plus for just $200

Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a great deal on the unlocked Moto G4 Plus!

Is your current phone aging poorly but you don’t have a ton of cash to drop on a new one? If so, you’ll want to check out B&H’s Deal Zone today for a sweet offer on the 4th-gen Moto G4 Plus, dropping the price to just $199.99 This is a $100 savings on the unlocked phone and brings it to its lowest price yet.

Featuring a 5.5-inch display, the Moto G4 Plus also offers 64GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM, a 16MP rear-facing camera and much more. It is also water repellent so it can withstand minor splashes and spills without any issue. This price is only good for the black version of the phone, and the white one is $30 more.

This deal is only good for today, July 24, so you won’t want to wait too long to get your order in. Remember, B&H Photo doesn’t charge sales tax at the time of purchase on orders shipping outside of NJ or NY, and you’ll also get free standard shipping.

See at B&H Photo

More from Thrifter:

• Best student and educator discounts
• Target’s REDcard has tons of benefits you may not know about

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

T-Mobile rolls out advanced scam call blocking to all MetroPCS customers

Nobody wants to deal with spam or scam calls.

T-Mobile’s patent-pending scam detection tech, dubbed Scam ID and Scam Block, is making its way downmarket to its prepaid subsidiary MetroPCS. Unveiled earlier this year, Scam ID is something T-Mobile has been working on in conjunction with the FCC to hopefully curb scam calls on its network — that is, illegitimate unsolicited calls coming in hoping to take advantage of those who could be tricked by certain social engineering attacks.

Though only a small percentage of these scam calls are successful in the end, the best way to fix this issue is to stop them from connecting to T-Mobile (and now MetroPCS) customers at all. T-Mobile says it has already blocked nearly 250 million scam calls in just the few months since launching the tech on its network. Doing so isn’t particularly easy, as these scammers often use phone numbers just once before moving on to avoid detection, and change their tactics regularly.

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Best of all, MetroPCS customers won’t have to pay extra or configure anything — starting July 25, Scam ID will be automatically turned on at the network level for all customers. If for whatever reason you’d like to turn off the feature, you can dial #OFB# (#632#) to turn it off, or #STS# (#787#) to check its status, on your MetroPCS phone.

How to change your ringtone on the Galaxy S8

Everyone wants to keep their ringtone game strong.

Changing the ringtone was one of the first ways to personalize our phones, and all this time later it’s still one of the first things we do — even on a super-advanced device like the Galaxy S8. Whether you’re willing to settle with one of the dozens of pre-loaded ringtones or want to get something unique, here are the steps you need to follow to change your ringtone.

How to change your Galaxy S8’s ringtone

Open the Settings and find Sounds and vibration.
Tap on Ringtone and then scroll through the list to find one you want.

• When you tap a selection, you get a preview of what it sounds like.

If you want to add a custom ringtone, scroll to the very bottom and tap Add from phone.
You can choose the default sound picker, or from other apps like Drive and Dropbox.

• In order to select a ringtone from these, it will have to already be saved to your device.
• Once you find the sound file you want to use, it will be available in your settings.

Hey, some people will be just fine with the default ringtone on their phones — but why not go with something unique? Find the one that fits your personality and go with it. And it’s super easy to do!

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Android O Developer Preview 4 is out, public version imminent

Android O Developer Preview 4 is now available, so get it!

It’s Monday, which means Google is releasing another version of the Android O Developer Preview.

The fourth issue is the last, cleaning up any remaining bugs and allowing Google to now move forward to the final release, which, according to the post on the Android Developer Blog, is imminent.

As we put the finishing touches on the Android O platform, today we’re rolling out Developer Preview 4 to help you make sure your apps are ready.

This is the final preview before we launch the official Android O platform to consumers later this summer. Take this opportunity to wrap up your testing and publish your updates soon, to give users a smooth transition to Android O.

According to Google, Developer Preview 4 is a “release candidate,” meaning that despite it still being aimed at developers, early adopters and beta testers should feel comfortable loading it on a production device. It is available for Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus Player, Pixel C, and Android Emulator.

Google released final Android O APIs in the previous Developer Preview, so it is encouraging developers to test their apps against these mature hooks to make sure that, when Android O is publicly released in the next few weeks, apps take advantage of new features like notification channels, background location limits and an improved implementation of Doze.

The fourth beta also introduces a bunch of new developer tools. Google again:

We’re releasing the Developer Preview 4 device system images today, together with the stable version of the Android 26.0.0 Support Library. Incremental updates to the SDK, tools, and Android Emulator system images are on the way over the next few days.

We’re also introducing a new version of Android Testing Support Library that includes new features like Android Test Orchestrator, Multiprocess Espresso, and more. Watch for details coming soon.

If you’re not a developer, you can always install the final preview using the Android Beta program. If you’re already in the beta, you’ll get an over-the-air update “in the next few days,” according to Google. Don’t want to wait? Follow the link below.

How to get the Android O beta 4 on your device right now

We still don’t know what Android O will be called, but we’re holding out hope for some delicious news this week!

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• Everything new in Android O
• Should you put Android O on your phone?
• How to get the Android O Beta on your Pixel or Nexus
• Join the Discussion