JOBY’s Powerband Micro might be the most travel friendly portable battery yet (review)

JOBY, the company behind the famous GorillaPod line of tripods has been diversifying as of late and has just released an intelligent battery pack. The PowerBand Micro will come in two versions, one made for iOS devices and the other for Android microUSB compatible devices.

This battery isn’t intelligent in the way hundreds of other batteries are with Fast Charging and wireless charging. It’s intelligent in its design with a simple silicone/rubberized strap built into the back of the battery that allows you to attach it to any smartphone and charge on the go. The iOS version costs $59.95 while the Android version comes in cheaper at $49.95.

Specs

• 3.1 ounces
• 3500mAh
• Built-in microUSB cable for the Android model, and built-in Lightning cable for the iOS version

Build and Usage

I’ve tested and reviewed over 10 portable power banks, and all of them ran into the same issue. I needed to connect them to my smartphone and set them down on a table or hold them both in my hand while they charged. This always made for an awkward situation if I needed to use my smartphone while charging on the go.

The JOBY PowerBand Micro power bank is rated at 3500mAh which is 100mAh less than the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge’s battery of 3600mAh. That means I can get about one full charge with the PowerBand Micro, and that’s pretty much what I saw over five cycles. Phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note5, Moto X Pure, and Nexus 6P all have 3000mAh batteries so the 3500mAh power bank from JOBY should easily supply over one full charge.

While you can get far more storage capacity in a power bank for your money, like the 20,000mAh ones found on Amazon, you don’t always want to carry around a one pound brick with you. Generally, most of us just need one additional charge throughout a single day, and the JOBY PowerBand Micro was designed specifically for us. It wasn’t designed to get you through one to two weeks of usage away from a wall outlet, instead it was designed for the everyday user who needs a little more power.

“With the JOBY PowerBand, we give users a versatile power pack that provides the additional hands-free power needed for their smartphones while also providing a solution that will grow with them as device form factors change.” said Tim Grimmer, vice president of Brand and Product for JOBY.

At 3.1 ounces, the JOBY PowerBand Micro is half the weight of my already light-weight Galaxy S7 edge. It comes with a built-in microUSB cable, with nothing but a power button, battery indicator lights, and a rubberized strap on the back.

You can see in the images above how the PowerBand can be stretched to fit my phones. It’s extremely easy to use and provides a secure fit. You won’t get fast charging or wireless charging with this battery pack, instead you’ll get standard 1amp speeds. Another concern might be how the straps sometimes touch the front screen like they do on my S7 edge.

The strap doesn’t conduct electricity which means they will not, and do not affect the performance of the touch screen. However it does cover the corners which might be a distraction to some.

Summary

Priced at $49.99, the JOBY PowerBand Micro isn’t a whole lot of battery for the money. However, if you are the type of user who just needs a charge to make it through your commute or work day, the convenience of the strap is extremely nice to have.

JOBY is a reputable name when it comes to accessories and I have no doubt that the PowerBand Micro will be a goto battery for my daily needs for many years to come. It is right sized for my lifestyle and I’m thankful I no longer need to carry excess weight in my pockets.

If you’re interested in picking one up for yourself, head on over to Joby.com to learn more.

[Review] Charge on the go with the VoltIQ car charger

When we last wrote a review of Tronsmart car chargers, they were Quick Charge 2.0. Now the company has released a new series of car chargers featuring Quick Charge 3.0, and they are fast. I spent a short amount of time with the gadget, and I was impressed.

First Impressions

There isn’t much to the device. It looks like every other car charger out there. It features two Quick Charge 3.0 USB ports, and you plug the charger into your car’s cigarette lighter (they really still have those?). The way that Tronsmart differentiates its charger is by having it automatically detect what kind of device you plug in and deliver the maximum amount of voltage that the device can safely handle.

Specs

• Model: CC2TF
• Input: DC 12-24V/4.2A (Max)
• Output (Quick Charge 3.0): DC 3.6-6.5V/3A, 6.5-9V/2A, 9-12V/1.5A (each port)

Tronsmart uses its own VoltIQ charging technology in combination with Qualcomm’s proprietary Quick Charge specification. These car chargers have been officially certified by Qualcomm, and its website even features the original documentation to prove it.

Conclusion

If you don’t have a portable battery pack with you, car chargers like this are great to use, and Tronsmart has plenty of car and wall chargers to meet your needs. The company even has chargers with USB Type-C ports. You can get the VoltIQ Quick Charge 3.0 car charger for $22 on Amazon.

1 of 8

Drainpipe: A clever, but frustrating experience (Review)

Overview:

Drainpipe is a 2D arena shooter where you play as a rat, Ratfink, trying to survive against a horde of spiders in the sewers of the world.

Developer: SeudoApps

Cost: Free (with ads)

Impressions:

Drainpipe is certainly an odd one. It has some clever humor and excellent music, but the gameplay itself is frustrating and the levels can spike in difficulty as you progress.

The controls are probably my biggest complaint, as you have to use the accelerometer/gyro to move your character but still have to tap and aim on the screen itself. This forced me to hold the phone in an odd position where I could both see and maneuver the phone, while still able to have the ability to use a finger to aim and fire, something I’m sure would look silly in public. A set of on-screen buttons would have made much more sense for the gyro controls, so I could hold the phone like a controller. Also, the stage navigation is a bit hit or miss, and collision detection for enemies is the same.

1 of 5

You have an assortment of powerups and weapons at your disposal, and a good amount of stages to play. The weapons are primarily powerups with two main items- the shotgun, and flashlight, being your handheld tools. The shotgun has limited ammo which runs out quickly, and after level one, it becomes weak and useless unless you get really good at dodging. I would have loved to see ammo drops appear, or at least the option for more varied and powerful weapons.

There are powerup drops, but they mainly consist of a new shotgun or flashlight, which only drives the spiders back and doesn’t hurt them, or health and bombs to so some area damage. The bomb is also kind of weak unless all the enemies are really close but, the freeze powerup is the best by far. There’s more to unlock as you progress, including some upgrades, but they aren’t exactly substantial. My second biggest complaint is the way you complete levels, by blasting walls away that block the exit. These things are bullet sponges and you need to juggle shooting spiders, the wall, and dodging, all with limited ammo and a timer.

On higher levels, the enemies do huge damage, and it makes for an extremely difficult and frustrating game. Sometimes I’d die within 2 seconds depending on how unlucky I was. I don’t profess to be a professional, but this game really is that hard sometimes.

There are some positives about the game, for sure. The music is excellent if a bit of a mismatch and the cartoony art and sound effects in the game. It’s pumping and a great listen, and the developers credited the artist so you can find it for yourself. Also, the humor in the writing of the game, especially in the tutorial, is cute and clever. The developers are aware the game’s concept is silly, and they use that to their advantage to get a few laughs out of an otherwise standard 2D shooting gallery.

Conclusion:

Overall, I don’t think Drainpipe is my cup of tea, but there is certainly something there. It’s not completely unplayable and it has some good things going for it that may appeal to some. The music alone makes this game worth a look if only just to get the tracklist.

Download Drainpipe on the Google Play Store

EC Technology Bluetooth 4.1 Headset: Solid headphones without breaking the bank (Review)

When it comes to Bluetooth Sports Headphones, the options are plentiful. Even the price range is ample with a high-end in the thousands and the low going as low as five dollars. There are many things to consider with a new purchase. If you’re looking for a budget pair of sports style headphones, EC Technology’s Bluetooth 4.1 Headset could be some to consider. Here is a little something to help you decide.

Design

EC Technology’s Bluetooth 4.1 Headset is a lightweight sports neckband that comes in three different colors. The earbuds are magnetized so you don’t lose them while they hang around your neck. You also have the option of three different styles of ear tips. The first is a set of ear hooks that fit securely in your ear. The second is triangular shaped set that looks like it should be universal. Finally, you have three sizes of traditional ear tips that should cover any size ear.

The cord measures two feet and is made of a durable flexible rubber that, instead of being traditionally round, is flat, which seems to get tangled less. Built into the cord are the in-line controls and a USB port for charging. There are three buttons on the controller. Two of them control volume/skip while the other controls the answering/power. The Micro USB cable is one foot long and can plug into any USB slot to charge.

The sound quality is acceptable with all ranges from treble to bass coming in fairly clearly. These earphones can get quite loud with the highest volume setting easily letting others around you can hear the song you’re listening to. The call quality is very nice, as well. I could hear callers clearly, and the mic is so sensitive that the other end can even hear people around you.

Ear Tips

Since there are five different tips to choose from, you are sure to find a suitable size that fits your ear. The ear hooks fit the best for exercising and lots of movement while still being comfortable. The flaw I found in these tips is the sound. When listening to music of all genres from rock to hip-hop, the bass can’t be heard. No amount of adjustments seemed to help either.

The triangle shaped ear tips are the ones that were on the Bluetooth headphones out of the box, but these were not comfortable. They failed a movement test of jumping up and down by falling right out of my ears with ease. This could be because they just wouldn’t fit in my ear correctly, but nevertheless, I had no luck with these.

The last style is the traditional silicone ear tips that come with most in-ear headsets. After testing all three sizes to find my fit, I put them through the movement test, and they were acceptable only falling out under extreme exercise with. These were also the best for sound quality and did not muffle any of the sound’s ranges. Even when using a loud lawnmower, I could still hear podcasts and music clearly.

While this isn’t necessarily ear tip related, the in-line controls do affect them in a negative way. What I mean is the in-line controls are a bit on the heavy side, which drags the headphone out of your right ear. This means you need to make sure that you get a tight fit so it doesn’t fall out easily.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth connectivity was one of the things I was impressed with as I have had a few different budget headsets with Bluetooth that wouldn’t even reach from my pocket. The sound would just break up which resulted in me running with my Note Edge in my hand to keep it clear. I honestly expected the same from these headphones; however, I was pleasantly surprised.

They claim a 10 meters (32 feet) range, and it delivers on that. Strolling through my house, it went through a few walls and still picked it up. I will confess while cutting the grass, the phone was in my pocket and there were a few hiccups, but these were minor and did not happen enough to consider bad. Bluetooth connectivity is by far the best thing about this headset feature wise.

Usage

Set up was a bit annoying at first. Having to hold down the button to turn on for x amount of time wasn’t seeming to work. But once it got hooked up, it was good to go without further problems. I got four hours of continuous playback at full blast. Under normal conditions, you should have no problem getting a full day on a single charge. Recharging only takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Summary

Like I stated earlier, this is a large market to get into. EC Technology has provided a good quality budget headset that you will get your money’s worth out of. There are plenty of ways to make these a comfortable even if you’re like me and mismatch your ear tips. For $25.99, this is good set that can serve as your main headphones or a nice back up pair.

To purchase EC Bluetooth 4.1 Sports Headphone

Official Website

[Review] Consider an Aukey lens for your photography bag

If you’ve been reading most of my work here on AndroidGuys, you’ll know of my photography hobby. If not, check out my past articles about photo apps and mobile photography tools. Recently I was sent an Aukey super wide angle lens attachment for smartphones.

First Look

Lens attachments for smartphones range from affordable to expensive. The two most important factors when it comes to cameras are the digital sensor and the lens. Aukey’s line of lenses are more affordable for your needs, but that doesn’t mean they are low quality.

The packaging is very simple: it consists of a cardboard cube, and in the box you’ll find the lens, a little carry pouch and a small cleaning cloth. The lens is simple to use: slide the clip on the lens, attach the lens to your phone, and start capturing.

Specs

• Model Number: PL-WD02
• Function: 238° Super Wide Angle
• Dimensions: 90*90*68mm
• Package Weight: 145g

Super wide angle means that the lens acts as a sort of “reverse fish-eye”, allowing you to capture huge scenes all at once, like a cityscape or mountain range. I found that the lens works great for macro photography too. You have to hold your phone a certain way; the angle is so wide that it captures your fingers in the shot too, which is amazing since they are behind the lens.

Duke says “meow!”

The lens was easy to use, and I was able to clip it on my phone quickly, which is great for those spur-of-the-moment shots.

Conclusion

As you can see in the images I’ve taken, the lens is very adaptable and can be used for a variety of shooting situations. Although, maybe not for portraiture. The lenses are available for iPhones and certain Android models, and I recommend them for mobile photographers everywhere. You can pick up the super wide angle lens for $40 on Amazon.

If you decide to get this or other lenses, I’d love to see the photos you take. Tag AndroidGuys or me on Instagram, and I’ll be happy to check out your work.

Instagram: @androidguys | @orrandrew91

1 of 10

Get 6 (varying lengths) microUSB cables by EnacFire for $12 (review)

MicroUSB cables are vital in keeping our devices powered and running strong. While reviewing cables can be a mundane task, it is just as important as reviewing some of the other cool products we review.

Pick the wrong cable and it might lead to charging issues. That’s why we are here to review the essentials for you.

EnacFire 6-pack microUSB cable specs

• $11.99 for all six
• 6-pack
• 1 – 1 foot cable
• 3 – 3 foot cable
• 1- 6 foot cable
• 1 – 10 foot cable
• compatible with fast chargers
• 18 month warranty

Usage

What is nice about the 6-pack of cables from EnacFire is the varying lengths of the cables. I can use the 10 foot cable for the charger I use by my bed, the three 3′ cables on my desk to keep things organized, and I can use the 1′ foot cable for my portable battery.

Length aside, the build quality matches all other cables I have used. They do work flawlessly with my Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Go Pro camera, Sony a6000 camera, and all of my other microUSB products.

Transfer speeds are as good as advertised at 48Mbp/s and what is best about these cables is that they are supremely cheap at $2 each.

Summary

Cables for charging are as essential as any other accessory we use. Sometimes we take them for granted and assume all will work flawlessly, but that isn’t always the case. In the case of the EnacFire 6-pack of microUSB cables, they worked great and the varying lengths helped me clean up the mess of wires on my desk.

At $2 each the cables are a bargain and I can recommend them to anyone who is looking for a set of microUSB cables.

Get the 6-pack of EnacFire MicroUSB cables from Amazon for $11.99.

The Frog Who Travels is too difficult for its target audience [Review]

When I first saw The Frog Who Travels I was hopeful that it would be a throwback to Frogger. Not so much. What I did find was a cute little jumping game that is much too difficult for its target audience.

Gameplay

This game is a side-scroller that has you controlling a frog who leaps from column to column trying to avoid falling into the water. Why a frog needs to avoid water is beyond me. We receive no background or storyline to follow and have no real goals to accomplish, although it does have achievements for Google Play Games.

Home Screen

Level Selection

Timed Mode

The game mechanics are simple to understand but very difficult to put into practice. To make the frog jump simply press down on the screen and hold, then release when you have charged the jump to your liking. I know what you guys are thinking, “Seriously? How is this hard?” but I’m telling you, this mechanic does not make it easy at all to tell if you have charged the jump enough to make it anywhere near the next pillar.

There are three different game types to choose from: easy, which is portrayed by a baby bottle; normal- the large “play” button at the center of the home screen; and timed- portrayed by the clock icon to the right of normal.

Easy mode gives you a charging icon above the frog so you know just how much jump he has, but in my experience, this is not as useful as it might sound because the height and distance of every single pillar are different. Normal mode just allows you to play the game as intended, an endless sea of pillars to jump to, and you can obtain points and coins along the way. Timed mode is just what it sounds like, play the game with a timer and see how far you can get.

Graphics

The graphics of this game are my favorite part by far. The fabulous 2D backdrops of cityscapes and grassy hills are great. The developers used bold color choices in the foreground and some more muted colors to display backdrops. The animations are great here as well, from the subtle movement of the water to the jumping action of the frog.

Score

Nice Backdrop

Conclusion

To be clear, I do enjoy the theme and gameplay that the author is reaching for, I simply feel that the learning curve is a little steep to capture the attention of what I feel to be its target audience, pre-teen children. If you have a child that enjoys a challenge in the games you let them play by all means give The Frog Who Travels a download.

Download The Frog Who Travels

Fill the Pot misses the mark (review)

Peeing in a bucket. That is the basis of this Android game. I’m not kidding. Fill the Pot by developer South Pacific Apps is a physics game where everything rides on your…um…aim. (I’m requesting official kudos from the AndroidGuys editorial team for my restraint from multiple bathroom metaphors in this review. It was not easy.)
You play the role of a homeowner in his backyard (apparently) who REALLY has to relieve himself. Yes, you play only males in this game, if you were really thinking about asking that question.

You start by downloading the game from Google Play, of course. The game does link you to your Google Play Games account, if you so choose. If you don’t link to your account, you won’t be able to access leaderboards or log your achievements. If that’s your thing.
After startup, you start with only a single avatar to use (more avatars are available as you collect bonus coins in the game). This initial avatar can fill each pot in 3 seconds (more on that in a moment). The higher-level avatars can fill pots in shorter times, through both accuracy and flow.

Gameplay and Controls

When each pot appears, a countdown timer begins on-screen. Each timer is of varying time. You have to:

Place your ‘stream’ into the pot with accuracy.
Hold your ‘stream’ at the pot’s opening long enough to fill said pot, before the countdown timer reaches zero.

Controls work in two different ways. The first is moving your ‘stream’ left and right; this is done by simply tilting your device either way. The second is the strength/reach of your ‘stream’; this is done by an up-arrow on the left of the screen and down-arrow on the right. You combine these controls to place your effluent in a pot placed randomly on the screen.

The controls are the weakest point of the game, in that they are just not discrete enough. The gyro (or tilting action) worked fine for me, but the up/down controls were simply too crude. I continually under – and over – shot my target; this is frustrating when you know you’re more accurate than that….male pride steps in here.

If you successfully fill the pot in time, that pot disappears and another magically appears in a different location, dictating you adjust your placement to start filling again. You continue this endlessly, until you can’t fill a pot in the allotted time. To quote the developer, “Don’t worry you never run out of pee.”

During this urinary steeplechase, random bags of coins (of varying value) appear. They are clearly a temptation: veer to the money and collect it for upgrading your avatar, but to do so you risk losing valuable filling time. Such choices in life. Count me in as a dedicated urinator (is that a word?). During my time with this game, I never could grab enough coin to upgrade my avatar, as I was solely focused on pot-filling.

Sound and Graphics

The game actually hits high marks here. The graphics are simple but with bold primary colors that don’t grow tiresome. The sound effects are very realistic, from the standard ‘flow’, to bounding off the side of the targeted pot, to the oh-so-satisfying sound of proper fillage (you know what I mean, fellas). All the while the never-ending bing of the countdown timer reminds you that your life in this game is tenuous.

Conclusion

Honestly, the game is fun to play, and could be much more so if the controls were fine-tuned some more. Unfortunately, the game’s premise is bound to deter some folks from having this on their device, let along playing it in public. A similar setup with a more publicly-acceptable premise would certainly make it more public-friendly.

Download Fill the Pot here.