ARCHEER VR Headset for smartphones up to 6.5″: A solid alternative to Google Cardboard (review)
Oculus, Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, Sony and Google have all made a huge push into the virtual reality space. They’re all predicting realistic visualizations and sounds in a headset are going to be the next wave of media that is going to take over the world. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are supposedly great headsets, but need powerful PC setups to take advantage of them. The cost is prohibitive to most with the headsets costing over $500 alone.
Google offers its own Cardboard which is literally just a piece of cardboard folded into a viewer with two lenses and a magnet. Cardboard is cool in concept but is arguably a pricey option for a piece of paper. However it does allow you to experience VR, not to nearly the level of the Vive or the Rift, but it is a cool experience nonetheless.
Instead of investing $15 into paper, you can grab alternatives to Cardboard such as the ARCHEER VR Headset for smartphones with displays up to 6.5″. It costs just $5 more and even comes with a Bluetooth controller for a more fluid experience in the VR world.
Let’s check it out.
Design and Usage
The ARCHEER VR Headset is a plastic viewer that is compatible with phones from Android and iOS. It’s a box where you place your smartphone into the holder and fold it up so you can see your phone magnified by the two glass lenses.
Even though ARCHEER claims this viewer can fit phones with displays up to 6.5″, it’s more likely that the largest phone you can use with this is one with a 5.7″ display. The LG V10 and Nexus 6 certainly will not fit, so make sure you check the dimensions of your phone before you grab this headset. I used the headset with the Moto Z and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge without issue in the ARCHEER VR Headset.
The headset comes with a comfortable strap that stretches to fit very comfortably on your head. It’s easy to adjust with VELCRO straps and should fit most head sizes, including those with abnormally large heads like me. The lenses are adjustable too since all people have different distances between their eyes. (This setup is not good for those who wear glasses.)
The compatible VR apps, which there are quite a few available in the Google Play Store, split your display into two, and the VR headset brings them back together in one large image when you look through the lenses. If you haven’t experienced VR before, it’s rather inspiring to see where this content is headed. When you turn your head, the video moves with it giving you an immersive experience. It really does feel like you’re in another world. For those who get motion sick, this is the type of experience that will make you feel queasy. For the rest of you, you will find VR rather fun. Especially when it only costs $20.
The ARCHEER VR Headset also includes a Bluetooth controller that helps you navigate through menus, or play games with compatible VR apps. The controller uses two AAA batteries that are not included in the box. It’s easy to pair the controller – just pair it like you would any other Bluetooth device. Once paired you can navigate menus with the joystick. A mouse cursor pops up on your display as soon as you move it. It’s a nice add-on even though most of our gadgets use built-in Li-Ion batteries.
The ARCHEER VR Headset is very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The padding on the front with the comfortable head strap make this experience far superior to Google Cardboard.
Summary
Content for VR still has a long way to go before people will adopt it en masse. However experiencing VR is still possible with the content that is available, and it is breathtaking if you’ve never seen it in action before.
The ARCHEER VR Headset with a Bluetooth remote is a great way to dabble in VR without splurging on an expensive Vive or Rift and PC setup. It’s only $19.99 at Amazon for AndroidGuys’ readers when you use the discount code SSHNJEMK at checkout.
dodocool Hi-Res in ear earphones (review)
Music plays an integral part of our lives for most of us. We listen to it in our cars on the way to work or school, at the gym, at home while cooking or when we are doing chores. It gets our blood pumping before a big game, offers background noise while we study, and provides endless entertainment within arms reach on our smartphones.
There are quite a few people who don’t know much about headphones which is why we review so many of them. While the headphones that come with your devices can play your music, they’re generally not very good. Low quality earbuds miss quite a bit of the musical spectrum and there’s a good chance you’re not hearing all of your music.
It doesn’t take hundreds of dollars for quality headphones. I’ve been using dodocool’s Hi-Res in ear earphones from Amazon and think they’re quite capable. Let’s check them out.
Build and Usage
dodocool’s Hi-res earbuds are the wired variety with a 3.5mm audio plug with an in-line noise cancelling remote control. dodocool describes the drivers in the earbuds at Amazon with 40mm drivers, but that isn’t possible with an earbud of this size. Without taking them apart, I cannot identify how large they really are, but I would guess they’re the standard 8mm or 10mm variety based on the size of the casing.
The casings are made from plastic with a small ear flange that keeps them from falling out. The design is basic for earbuds, but that’s nothing to complain about considering these are all about sound.
When it comes to sound, it’s pretty hard to live up to the Hi-res description in the product listing. That description is usually reserved for high-end earbuds that costs 10 times as much as these dodocool earbuds which cost about $40. However when you load up Hi-Fi music from TIDAL, or high-quality music from Spotify, the earbuds actually perform quite good. They’re balanced while offering quite a bit of detail. Bass is punchy, mids are at the forefront and highs are clear without being piercing. These are tuned to please many instead of just dialing up the bass, and are not overly analytical which can become tiring to listen to over time.
They aren’t nearly as Hi-res as other earbuds I’ve used that qualify for that description, but they are quite good nonetheless. If I compare them to earbuds from Apple or Samsung that come for free with your smartphone, these are in a whole different category of sound reproduction.
When wearing earbuds of this variety, you need to make sure the fit is snug. Any air that can enter your ear will distort the sound. dodocool provides three sizes of silicone ear tips that are suitable for almost all ear canals. The tips are soft and comfortable and can be worn for several hours without fatigue.
When it comes to taking calls with these earbuds, they are excellent. Wired earbuds usually outperform their wireless counterparts with a sure connection through the 3.5mm audio jack. I took over a dozen calls for work with these and did not encounter any issues on either end of the call.
Summary
dodocool hooked the AndroidGuys’ readers up with an exclusive discount for these headphones. For a limited time, you can grab the dodocool Hi-Res in-ear earphones for $25.99 at Amazon using discount code 3OYEHHJP at checkout.
At $26 these earbuds are a more than fair price for those looking to upgrade their music experience. For those of you who use the earbuds that come with your smartphone, you’re missing out on a whole lot of detail in your music. It’s time you upgrade – the dodocool Hi-res in-ear earbuds are comfortable, are great for taking calls and offer a great all around music experience at a solid price.
Check out the dodocool Hi-res in-ear earphones at Amazon today.
Swype keyboard is a slick way to type on your phone (Review)
Overview:
Swype is a keyboard app that has a ton of features and input methods that make it stand out from the crowded keyboard scene.
Developer: Nuance Communications
Cost: $0.99 (Free trial available)
Impressions:
Swype has been around a while now, and has established itself as one of the more popular keyboard apps for Android. It offers a lot of value for it’s asking price and has only improved as the years have gone by. Cloud features for storing your personal dictionary, voice dictation and custom themes are just a few of the features it packs, but how is the typing experience?
The main way Swype expects you to type is by “swiping,” where you drag your finger from letter to letter in a fluid motion to spell out a word. This feature is offered on a lot of keyboards nowadays, and Swype’s version is implemented well. It generally did a good job of telling what word I was going for, and it offers a few suggestions as well in case the word in picked up wasn’t correct. Me being a “hunt and peck” typist on my phone, this feature took a lot of getting used to, as after I swiped out a word, I didn’t always get the result I wanted because I tend to move my finger too quickly over some letters and miss my target. Swiping is certainly fast and fluid when you get the hang of it, however, and I find myself using it a lot more than I thought I would. The standard typing method of Swype was a bit off for me, as I found myself somehow missing letters and mistyping when not using the swipe typing. It’s one of the main reasons I don’t use Swype as my daily driver keyboard even though it is an excellent keyboard overall. It just doesn’t gel with my preferred typing method as much as the Google keyboard.
1 of 3
Swype also has built-in voice dictation from Nuance Communications other product, Dragon. The voice dictation typing works very well, and doesn’t require any voice training to accurately pick up my words as I speak them. As with any speech-to-text system, there were a few missed words or incorrect choices but on the whole it did a great job, and I used it more than I thought I would, especially when my hands were unavailable. Swype’s final unique input method is handwriting recognition, which I could take or leave. It does a fine job most of the time of picking up the letters I wrote with my finger, but the box is very small so writing out a whole word left to right is difficult if you have larger handwriting like I do. I think this feature is a bit unnecessary, and probably underused, but it is a nice option for those that like it and just another feature to add to the long list of things packed into this keyboard.
The biggest selling point of Swype, at least for me, is the custom theme system they have. There are a ton of options to customize your keyboard to fit your phone’s theme, or just to look awesome. My favorites are the Star Trek and color options, but there are a bunch more to get that will truly make your keyboard unique. The themes change the color, background and buttons of the keyboard in different ways, and none of them are really lazy, with some excellent details that remind me of rooted custom keyboards.
Swype has a laundry list of other neat features as well, including cloud backup for your personal dictionary so you can take it from device to device easily, a gesture-based “cut, copy, paste” that functions similarly to a PC keyboard shortcut, and a bunch of accessibility features for those who need them like talk-back and bilingual support.
Conclusion:
Swype is really overflowing with content for a cheap keyboard app. It packs in multiple input methods that all work well, along with a bevy of customization and usability features that really add some value. The Swype keyboard is certainly not perfect, and there are of course other options out there that offer similar features, but Swype is definitely a excellent keyboard that anyone could find something to love in. A solid recommendation for anyone looking to replace Fan stock keyboard, or spice up their phone theme with even more customization.
Download Swype in the Google Play Store
Even Windows 10 tablets get an Instagram app before the iPad
Instagram brought its filter-driven social network to Windows 10 mobile back in the spring and now it’s doing the same for PCs and tablets running Microsoft’s OS. The photo and video app is now available for desktops and slates, meaning its now an option across all Windows 10 devices and a true universal app. Just like the versions for other operating systems, Direct, Explore and Stories are all tools here for viewing photos and videos alongside capture and editing features.
There is one caveat with the Windows 10 version of Instagram. You’ll need a PC or tablet with a touchscreen in order to upload your images or videos. Yes, it sounds strange, but at least Microsoft’s Surface line will give you full functionality. “Keep in mind that other devices running Windows 10 may not support certain features, like the ability to capture and upload photos and videos,” the app’s page in the Window’s Store explains.
While Windows 10 users are able to use the app across all of their devices, iPad owners are still dealing with the iPhone version for Instagram on Apple’s slates. Further proof we can’t always get what we want, I suppose.
Via: The Verge
Source: Windows Store, Instagram
Tinder ‘Smart Photos’ uses swipe data to select your best pic
When you’re swiping through Tinder it’s pretty easy to dismiss someone based on their first photo. Maybe it’s poorly compressed, from the delivery room or the church steps on a person’s wedding day. Those might be red flags that push people to instantaneously dismiss a potential match before looking deeper at a person’s profile. To help your right-swiping sojourn, though, Tinder is using data to make sure someone’s best picture is the first you’ll see.
The new feature is called “Smart Photos.” As the company tells it, in the background, the app will alternate the first photo other people see and will reorder your glamor shots to show the ones with the highest positive response in descending order. And it goes both ways, of course; your own picture order will be altered in a way that hopefully serves you better too — all without paying for it.
In tests, Tinder reports that users saw an up to 12 percent increase in matches. “Smart Photos takes into account each individual’s swiping pattern when selecting which photos they’ll see first,” a blog post reads. “It’s a system that gets smarter with more input: the more you swipe and the more you’re swiped on, the better the algorithm serves you.”
Now, this isn’t exactly new for dating apps and services. OKCupid, for instance, has offered something similar before. But, the rub there was you had to opt in and then manually set the photo others deemed the best as your default. Think of this as passively outsourcing your love life.
The feature is the result of an internal hackathon, machine learning lead Mike Hall writes. Working with the app’s in-house sociologist (and presumably, the algorithm) Hall found that not smiling, covering even a small bit of your face and being in a group of people dramatically lowers your chances for love. Same goes for wearing a hat or “any kind of glasses.” Ouch.
The Tinder Dev blog goes pretty deep on the algorithm used (“epsilon greedy”) and testing process if that’s the sort of thing that turns your crank. However, if you’d rather just swipe using the new feature, it’s live now. To further up your game, you could always change your anthem from Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” to Katy Perry’s “Rise” and see if that helps.
Source: Tinder (1), (2)
Shazam adds in-app music video channels
You still probably got Shazam pegged as the app to launch when you want to ID a song. And it still does that, expect it now also comes with a bunch of extra features. The latest addition to its offerings? Videos, thanks to its partnership with music video platform Vadio. Now, when you ID a song, a curated music video channel will pop up that you can play within the application itself. It’s not clear at this point whether you’ll get something relevant to the song you Shazamed or something completely random.
Vadio assembles channels in different ways, so expect some to be on point and others to be more of a mixed bag. The platform employs human editors to create curated streams, but it also uses an algorithm that automatically generates them based on the latest trends. Plus, it allows brands to create their own.
Fabio Santini, the company’s Chief Product Officer, said in a statement:
“We continually look for new ways to expand the ways in which our users can discover music. We want to give fans a great reason to spend more time with Shazam by giving them access to a rich and immersive music video experience. In turn, this creates new revenue opportunities for artists and, moreover, powerful ways of gaining exposure for brands.”
Since the new feature will be available everywhere the app is active, you can test it out to see if it’s worth exploring or if it’s just another thing to ignore. Users in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria and Venezuela who couldn’t care less about Shazam’s extra offerings, however, can always download its new stripped-down version for Android.
Source: Shazam
A smart and simple 3-port charger from UNITEK is a great value at just $8
I use quite a few mobile gadgets. From the latest and most current smartphones, to Android Wear devices, through wireless headphones and speakers, my dependence on portable power is embarrassingly high. I review quite a few chargers mainly because there are quite a few differences between them all. Some of those differences are subtle, but others can mean the difference between charging your phone in an hour and four hours.
Quick Charge, Fast Charge, and countless other charging methods have all made themselves known in recent years for mobile devices. All of the different terminology is confusing, which is why we try our best to sort out the best for you. There’s a good chance you own multiple products that rely on mobile power too.
I’ve been using UNITEK’s 24W 3-Port USB Wall/Travel Charger from Amazon (with discount code 26FO38S4) and think it’s worthy of your $8.
Design and Build
UINTEK’s 3-port wall charger is made from plastic and metal, but is compact measuring in at just 2.7″L x 1.1″H x 2″W. It’s made with a foldable plug that makes it perfect for traveling or being the charger that you bring along on your study trips to coffee shops, or business trips across the country. The size is not much larger than some OEM chargers, but rather than only offering one USB port, it has three ports so you can charge as many devices at the same time.
There’s one smart Quick Charge 2.0 port that can charge compatible devices like the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge from 0-50% in about thirty minutes. Most people only own one smartphone, and rather than give you three ports with QC 2.0, UNITEK opted to save you money and put in 2.4A USB ports for the remaining two slots.
2.4A is enough power to charge most devices at full speed, including the latest iOS devices which don’t use fast charging methods. Apple’s OEM charger costs double what this option from UNITEK does and only offers on third of the USB ports.
The QC 2.0 port is identifiable by the green colored USB slot and the QC 2.0 indicator. It’s the one on top and is the one you want to use with your compatible QC devices. You don’t need to worry about plugging in devices without QC, as the charger will automatically detect the power requirements and adjust accordingly.
Summary
Moving your one USB charger around the house to charge your smartphone or mobile accessories is a tired practice. So is bringing multiple chargers along on vacation or business trips. It’s easy to misplace your chargers that way or beat up on the cables. Multi-port charging blocks are extremely affordable and reliable. The latest 3-port QC 2.0 travel charger from UNITEK is reliable, well-built and affordable at just $7.99 with discount code 26FO38S4 at Amazon.com.
UNITEK 60W 6-Port USB Smart Charging Station (review)
aLLreLi Qi Fast wireless charger (review)
Charging your smartphone is a daily/nightly activity for almost all of you. While plugging in your device is not such a big deal and is a habit you’re used to, there are many Android devices that can charge wirelessly.
Phones such as the Nexus 6, Moto Z, Galaxy S6, S6+, Note 5, S7 and S7 edge are all examples of devices that can charge wirelessly with many others that aren’t listed. Some of the more recent Galaxy devices can even charge faster (1.4x) than over wireless since they are now compatible with QC 2.0 chargers.
If you have a phone that is compatible with wireless charging, and you haven’t grabbed a wireless charging pad, you’re doing it all wrong. Luckily in this review, I’ve got one that is compatible with all Qi enabled devices and looks pretty good at the same time, the aLLreLi Fast wireless charger.
Design and Usage
The Fast wireless charger from AllreLi is a looker. Its got a circular design, with a small disk surrounded by clear plastic that gives it a unique look over typical chargers. Inside of the disk are LED lights that illuminate as soon as you place a compatible device on it.
It first turns green followed by white when it starts charging your device. After a few seconds it turns off the light so it doesn’t disturb you if you keep it on your nightstand and prefer a dark room at night.
Wireless charging is one of the cooler features available on many Androids. It’s so much easier to use this method of charging over manual methods and is particularly nice when using your phone before bed. Typically with your room lights off, and tired eyes, it’s nice to be able to simply lean over and place your phone on the charging pad instead of looking for the little charging cable to plug in.
Having the LED lights illuminate to let you know the phone is charging is rather nice too. I’ve been using my aLLreLi charger with my Samsung Galaxy Note 7 over the past couple of weeks and love that it chargers it at faster speeds.
There’s a soft rubber ring in the center which offers extra grip so your devices don’t slide off. It’s a little detail that makes a big difference in preventing your phone from sliding off.
aLLreLi suggests removing your case before connecting it to the charger, as some cases slow down charging. However I never experienced any issues with leaving my case on, and still picked up the fast wireless charing speed.
Summary
Priced at just $18.99 at Amazon, the aLLreLi Qi Fast wireless charger offers incredible value when compared to OEM competitors like those from Samsung. With a clear design, it offers something that isn’t boring like other chargers. All around this is a great charger that looks good too. If you’re not charging wirelessly, you’re missing out.
Check out the aLLreLi Qi Fast wireless charger at Amazon today.
Chrooma Keyboard – Emoji: Enjoy using your mobile keyboard
Your phone’s keyboard, one of the most used pieces of software on your device, and the one you have thought the least about. Like many, I use my phone for my job, to communicate with friends and family, to plan social events, and to keep my schedule for both my work and social life in order. To do all of these things, I use my keyboard, yet I never thought about how the default keyboard could be improved.
As I began to use my phone more in my professional life, I began to notice a few areas the Google Keyboard was letting me down. A lot of my job requires researching variances and resolving system issues. To conduct much of this research, I walk around a building, pulling model numbers off of products and inserting them into my company’s website, which I pull up on my phone. To correctly input a model number, I often switch back and forth between the number pad and keyboard 5+ times, which is horribly time-consuming and tedious. The Chrooma Keyboard drastically changed this. Chrooma adds a lot of functionality, flexibility, and customization to the keyboard, an often overlooked but important part of your device.
Installing Chrooma Keyboard
Chrooma has made the installation process as pain and hassle free as possible. Once you have downloaded the app from the Google Play Store, open the app to begin the setup process. The app then walks you through the setup process step by step. First, you will select the keyboard you want to use as your default (Psst…its the Chrooma Keyboard), next, you will select your language, followed by enabling permissions, signing into Google, and finally, you will update Chroma’s text prediction with your previous SMS messages. That’s all there is to it!
Chrooma Keyboard’s set up process
My Experience
While there are two versions of the app, the free version and a “Pro” version, the functionality that the Chrooma keyboard provides in both is a breath of fresh air. The paid version of the app allows the user access to a couple more customizations and features but is by no means a necessity to have a good experience. The additions in both versions are all targeted at making your time with the keyboard more efficient and enjoyable. It starts with the little things like “Dynamic Preview” which gives you a better look at what you are typing while using swipe.
Chrooma Keyboard’s dynamic preview
In addition to dynamic preview changing the way you see what you are typing, Chrooma can predict what you type and then correct small mistakes you make. The auto correction is able to learn, and after spending two weeks with Chrooma’s auto correction, it has gotten even better at correcting my typing. In the few instances where the auto correct did not catch on to a word I want it to remember, I was able to add the word to the keyboard’s dictionary manually.
While the auto correct and Dynamic Preview are nice, the “Action Row” is one of the most useful features found on the Chrooma Keyboard. The Action Row is an additional row added to your keyboard that you can customize to your liking. Unlike the rest of the keyboard, this row is not static. The Action Row can slide back and forth between different custom rows you have set up allowing you to add even more functionality to your keyboard. The Action Row has had the largest impact on my daily use, especially at work since it has eliminated my need to constantly change back and forth between the number pad and my keyboard.
Chrooma Keyboard Action Row
While some will be sold on the functionality alone, the developers who made Chrooma know people want customization. The customization starts with the action row but goes well beyond that. You can adjust the size and alignment of the keys, allowing for better one handed typing. You can also change the theme to a color adaptive theme that will change color every time you send a message or an AMOLED theme that should save you battery since many of the pixels covered by the keyboard will be off. Maybe the pure black of AMOLED keyboard is not your thing, well pick the color you want, apply a gradient and font, and you have another custom keyboard built for you. By tweaking the functionality and the look of your keyboard, you can make the Chrooma Keyboard what you want and what you need it to be.
Conclusion
The Chrooma keyboard is a great addition that anyone can use. After the first week of using the keyboard, I decided to invest in the app because of how much of an impact it had in my everyday life. For $2.49, you can unlock all the little of nuances of the app that add the little extra touch of customization and functionality, but again I reiterate, it is not necessary to have a good experience.
I started this review hesitant about trying a new keyboard, but I can honestly say I would recommend this app to everyone. The Chrooma Keyboard took the standard keyboard that many people use daily without much consideration and made it highly functional and reliable. I personally have experienced how this keyboard can be customized to do a job, and now, I use it daily at work. The Chrooma keyboard is definitely worth your time and effort to download.
Oculus disables Gear VR app on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7
Oculus has pushed an update to the Galaxy Note 7 that disables the Gear VR app on the device, according to several sources. Instead of loading the app, it shows a message (above) stating that “until further notice, Note 7 devices will not be compatible with the Gear VR.” The move is a prudent one, given the device’s tendency to catch fire or even explode, and the fact that the Gear VR puts the smartphone in close proximity to your face and eyes.
Samsung has explicitly stated that Galaxy Note 7 owners should “power down and take advantage of the remedies available, including a refund at their place of purchase.” The Oculus update disabling the headset was first reported by Reddit user Bahaman23 and confirmed by Android Central. Despite the danger, some Redditors are complaining that they can no longer use not only their Galaxy Note 7s, but their Gear VR headsets, too. (We’ve reached out to Oculus and Samsung for more details.)
You do have options with a new Gear VR, however, provided you’re willing to stay in the Samsung camp (and it would be hard to blame you if you didn’t). The headset supports older Samsung headsets that don’t explode, including the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge and Note 5, according to Samsung’s site. All of those devices (including the Galaxy S6 Edge, I can confirm) still work with the Gear VR. If you still want smartphone-based VR but have had it with Samsung, your best bet might be Google’s new Pixel phones and the Daydream VR headset.
Via: Android Central
Source: Reddit
AIVAnet 