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The personal website for Robert Parker

Archive for February, 2020

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a brand new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Feb 28

Posted by AndroidGuys in deal of the day, Samsung | Comments off

Samsung’s latest smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip, is an incredibly cool concept and a great way to kick off a new design. Powered by Android, it’s a high-performance clam-shell experience that’s sleek and stylish.

It’s unlike anything Samsung has ever created; the Galaxy Z Flip has a large display that folds to fit in your pocket. It’s a multi-tasker’s delight with its folding hinge that locks at various angles.

How would you like to win one?

Win yours!

 

If you’d like to become the proud owner of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, we’re here to help.  We’re helping to give away the hot new trendy phone of 2020.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip brings you the best of both worlds with a full screen phone that folds to fit in your pocket with revolutionary flexible display.

If you head to the AndroidGuys Deals Store right now, you can enter a drawing to win the hot new phone from Samsung. There’s no purchase necessary and the method of signing up is dead simple. All you have to do is log in via Facebook and check a box.

Once you do, you’ll have two entries. Share the contest on Facebook or Twitter and you can rack up additional entries. Moreover, you can earn extra chances by sharing a URL with friends and family.

Note that although you are signing in via Facebook, your information is not being collected by the social media platform. Our friends at StackCommerce are backing the giveaway and use the information on their end.

The giveaway is open from now until 11:00 PM PDT on 06/26/2020 so there’s plenty of time for you to pick up a ton of entries.

While you’re over at the AndroidGuys Deals Store, be sure to check out some of the other discounted products and more. We’ve also got excellent prices on popular services with lifetime subscriptions!

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Stop fighting over cables! 5-in-1 FamilyCharger puts an end to the struggle

Feb 28

Posted by AndroidGuys in deal of the day | Comments off

We’ve all been there. Family members, spouses, co-workers, or friends battling for control of the charging cable. “What’s your battery at?” is uttered all too often in most homes.

Working on the couch at night, you want to charge your phone or tablet. Your loved one, sitting next to you, wants to charge their phone. And then there’s the portable power bank that needs to be juiced up in time for the weekend getaway.

Stop complaining and fighting over control of the power outlet. Stop plugging and un-plugging cables. Go with an all-in-one solution like the 5-in-1 FamilyCharger, on sale for just $75, and you’ll never have to argue again.

The 5-in-1 FamilyCharger, along with its 52-watt power supply, is a 5-armed hydra of a device with connectors for three Lightning-powered devices, a micro-USB plug, and a USB-C port. Something for everyone. At the same time.

Unlike other multi-charge cords that lead back to a single USB port into the power supply, the 5-in-1 FamilyCharger gives each device its own dedicated power line. Independent copper braided cables provide up to 12 watts of power to each connector individually, so no one gets the short end (slow cable) of the stick.

The 5-in-1 FamilyCharger has a cable that’s a very generous 9 feet long so it’s easily no matter where you plug it in. And best of all, it’s even Apple MFi-certified, a first of its kind distinction for such a device.

Whether you’ve got five family members, co-workers, or just need to keep your arsenal of tech charged, the FamilyCharger is a solid answer to the persistent problem. All for just $75 right now.

Best Sellers

Earn Credits!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

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Nail your next presentation with these killer slides, just $29

Feb 27

Posted by AndroidGuys in deal of the day, Presentations | Comments off

Whether you’re pitching a new project at work, recapping last year’s performance, or giving a report for school, you need visual aids. That likely means someone needs to understand Powerpoint, Google Slides, or Keynote.

Stop messing around with those boring, generic slideshows or using the default stuff that comes with the various apps. Everyone uses that cookie-cutter stuff and it’s getting old. Why not do things right in 2020 with something like SlideHeap’s library of 600+ fully customizable slides.

Available for just $29 right now, SlideHeap offers up premium presentations with modern designs and gorgeous charts and graphics. Each is simple to edit and tweak to your brand, opening the door to a whole new world.

These files are 100% vector so you can easily customize and scale them to any resolution. All slides and templates by SlideHeap are available in the most-used formats, allowing you to instantly customize, share, and access.

Feel confident knowing that your presentation is more quickly able to capture attention or express your point.

Slideshop Features

  • Build presentations faster w/ Slideheap Library of 600+ unique premium presentations slides
  • Slides compatible w/ your favorite app: Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides
  • Save hours of work by using easy-to-edit pre-designed templates
  • Find just the right templates from 25+ popular categories
  • 600+ unique slides
  • 1,000+ icons
  • 100% vector files
  • Unlimited downloads

Normally, it’s about $100 for a SlideHeap account, but they’ve got a promo which puts it at $50. We’ll do you even better right now and get you into a lifetime account for just $29.

Best Sellers

Save even more!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

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LG V60 ThinQ 5G debuts with dual-screen capabilities

Feb 26

Posted by AndroidGuys in lg | Comments off

It’s late February which normally means we’d be getting Mobile World Congress, but with the ongoing threat of Covid-19/Coronavirus, the annual event was shelved for 2020. But that’s not enough to keep phone makers from introducing new devices.

LG on Wednesday introduced its latest handset, the flagship-worthy V60 ThinQ 5G. Touting all of the hallmarks of a high-end experience, it’s a successor to last year’s V50 ThinQ. And as the name implies, it supports 5G connectivity.

The LG V60 packs a massive 6.8-inch P-OLED display at 2,460 x 1,080 pixel resolution; an optional accessory, the LG Dual Screen, can be attached to feature an identical screen with a 360-degree hinge.

LG V60 ThinQ 5G
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Inside, the LG V60 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, backed by 8GB RAM, and a generous 5,000mAh battery.

The phone has a primary 64-megapixel f/1.8 camera, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide (117-degree) camera, and a time-of-flight depth sensor. Around front is a 10-megapixel f/1.9 camera.

For the first time ever on an LG device, LG V60 ThinQ 5G supports 8K video recording for capturing videos in stunning 8K quality and jaw-dropping detail.

As we often see in other phones in the V series, LG V60 ThinQ has a 3.5mm headphone port, a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC, and LG’s “3D Sound Engine” audio enhancement technology.

In a related note, LG’s “voice bokeh” feature puts the audio “focus” on the person speaking and not on background or environmental noise. Surely, this is done via the V60’s four-channel microphone arrangement.

Rounding out some of the more noteworthy hardware is 128GB built-in storage with a microSD expansion card slot, Wi-Fi 6 support, and Sub-6 5G networks.

Specs At-a-Glance

  • Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 Mobile Platform with Snapdragon X55 5G Modem
  • Display: 6.8-inch 20.5:9 FHD+ P-OLED FullVision (2,460 x 1,080 / 395ppi)
  • Memory: 8GB RAM / 128GB or 256GB ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)
  • Camera:
    • Rear: 64MP Standard (F1.8 / 0.8μm / 78˚) / 13MP Super Wide (F1.9 / 1.0μm / 117˚) / Z Camera (ToF Receiver / Emitter)
    • Front: 10MP Standard (F1.9 / 1.22μm / 72.5˚)
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Operating System: Android 10
  • Size: 169.3 x 77.6 x 8.9mm
  • Weight: 214g
  • Network: 5G / LTE / 3G / 2G
  • Connectivity:  Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, ax / Bluetooth 5.1 / NFC / USB Type-C (USB 3.1 Compatible)
  • Biometrics: In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
  • Colors: Classy Blue, Classy White
  • Other: Stereo Speaker / 4Ch Microphones / AI CAM / Google Lens / 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC / LG 3D Sound Engine / HDR10+ / Qualcomm Quick Charge™ 4+ / MIL-STD 810G Compliance / IP68 Water and Dust Resistance / LG Pay / FM Radio

Availability

LG hasn’t disclosed pricing or exact timing for the release of the LG V60 ThinQ 5G, but it’s expected to launch in March. North America, Europe, and Asia are among the territories anticipated to offer the handset.

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Just $39, this 161-hour bundle will teach you to hack for good

Feb 26

Posted by AndroidGuys in deal of the day, Hacking, Security | Comments off

For all of the scary notions and ideas that spring to mind when you think of “hacking”, there’s plenty of good that can come from it. Hacking isn’t strictly a nefarious thing. Done right, you can leverage hacking to better your life, automate processes, and have more fun — all without breaking any laws.

Learning to hack, ethically, is a necessity in today’s age of ever-growing digital threats. Whether your goal is to build a business or simply stop your secure data from being breached, learning the ropes of hacking can be the perfect leg up in sales or counter-measure against cyber thieves.

The AndroidGuys Deals Store has a terrific value-packed collection of training centered around the proper way to hack your life. The How to Hack from Beginner to Ethical Hacking Certification is designed to arm you with the tools on both sides of hacking. Featuring some 160+ hours of content, there are nearly 1,000 lessons to take you from newbie and novice to knowledgeable and learned!

People tend to fear what they don’t understand and with this collection you can put fears to rest and truly empower yourself.

Courses

  • The Complete Ethical Hacking Course
  • A to Z Ethical Hacking Course
  • The Complete Ethical Hacking 2019 Course: Beginner to Advanced
  • Learn Python & Ethical Hacking from Scratch
  • Master Ethical Hacking from Beginner Lab Setup to Coding Advanced Backdoors
  • Python Hacking for Cybersecurity from Basic Scripts to Coding Custom Tools
  • How to Hack from Beginner to Certified Ethical Hacker with CEH V10
  • Learn Hacking Using Raspberry Pi From Scratch

Where to Buy

You can pick up a lifetime access to the How to Hack from Beginner to Ethical Hacking Certification for only $39 in the AndroidGuys Deals Store. Valued at nearly $1,700, the whole kit can be yours for 97 percent off.

Best Sellers

Earn Credits!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

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Waterfield Developer’s Gear Case review

Feb 26

Posted by Matt Adams in Uncategorized | Comments off

The biggest compliment I can give the Waterfield Developer’s Gear Case is that I didn’t know I needed it until I got my hands on one.

Waterfield reached out about sending over the case a while back and it looked interesting enough to me, so I agreed to check one out. I didn’t have high hopes for the case because, despite looking well-constructed and spacious, I found it bulky and a bit over-sized.

I figured that, because of its size, I wouldn’t be able to carry it with me on a daily basis, thus defeating its intended purpose. Then, I actually got my hands on it and I haven’t put it down since.

To be clear, my initial thoughts were right: It is a bit big and you do have to make some sacrifices in your bag to make sure you have room for it. But it’s totally worth it.

There’s room for everything you would want to carry with you on a daily basis, and so much more. There are pockets on the front of the case and several on the inside that can house cables, batteries, phones, or anything of the sort.

I keep a portable battery in the front pocket with an assortment of cables on the inside. My work companions know they can always come to me if their phone is dying because I’ll always have what they need to juice up.

The main compartment of the case is a couple of inches deep and this allows you to carry just about anything in it. There are four elastic straps to hold down gear and it keep things snug, as long as your gear is big enough.

If your gear doesn’t approach the depth of the case, the elastic straps won’t do much for you. This can get to become a bit frustrating. I’d love to see Waterfield make these a little tighter with more elasticity so you can put smaller objects inside without them sliding around.

Atop the main compartment is a divider that has two more elastic straps on one side, and mesh compartments on the other. Oh, there’s also a removable mousepad here, too.

These compartments are great for your cables, earbuds, power cables, dongles, or whatever else you can think of. The pouches on the divider do not have a zipper so they’re a little more quick-access than the mesh compartments they face.

I like that you get both options here, one compartment with a zipper and some without, so you can have more long-term storage on one side and quick access on the other. The zippers also allow you to store smaller items that could shoot out of those other compartments.

I think the perfect way to describe this case is it’s your work companion for those on the go. The main compartment is just big enough to hold my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones, Logitech MX Master mouse, and a huge battery to keep your laptop charged up when you want to go write or edit photos at a coffee house or if you’re on a business trip.

The bulk that I was initially worried about ended up being a huge advantage. I rarely have one container that’s big enough for my larger, important tech devices like headphones, large capacity batteries, and gimbals. And, it doesn’t hurt that this thing is made out of very premium leather. To me, it’s pretty easy to justify the $129 price tag.

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Huawei Mate Xs foldable arrives with stronger display and beefier specs

Feb 25

Posted by AndroidGuys in huawei | Comments off

Huawei this week unwrapped the successor to its 2019 foldable phone, the Mate X, with a more powerful and stronger Mate Xs.

Things look largely the same as the predecessor, at least on the surface. But, internally, it features a faster processor (Kirin 990) and a redesigned hinge. The new processor is not only quicker but it allows for an integrated 5G modem as opposed to a separate component.

As for that folding mechanism, it employs a four layer construction process which amounts to two layers of polyamide film, a flexible OLED display, and a soft polymer layer for cushion. The Mate Xs is still an all-plastic phone; Samsung employs glass for its Galaxy Z Flip.

The foldable phone natively supports Multi-Window which allows for two apps to be displayed side by side and interact with each other. Text, images and documents can be transferred as easily as dragging and dropping the content from one app to the other.

In terms of software, the Huawei Mate XsS runs Android but does not feature the Play Store or any of Google’s suite of apps. A custom software touch lets users open up three apps at once, one on each side of the display and a third floating window. It’s also possible to run two instances of an app at the same time.

Other noteworthy features for the Mate XS include a 4,500mAh battery and a quad-camera array of a 40-megapixel f/1.8 camera, an 8-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera, and a 16-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide camera, and a 3D depth-sensing camera.

The screen details and overall design are unchanged and shake out to 8-inches which folds along the outside edge. The main display measures 6.6-inches when folded.

While the original Huawei Mate X was only offered in China, Huawei advises the Mate Xs will be sold in in “global markets.” The €2,499 (~$2,700 USD) model comes with 8GB RAM and 512GB internal storage.

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Just $34, this Java bundle packs 62 hours of essential coding know-how

Feb 25

Posted by AndroidGuys in coding, deal of the day, Java, JavaScript | Comments off

We know how tough it can be to something new, particularly a foreign language. The same might said of coding, too. Familiarizing yourself with a new coding language or discipline can be daunting and scary.

You can’t create an app, build a website, or dabble in machine learning or AI without understanding what’s, for all practical purposes, a foreign language. Thankfully, when it comes to code, Java rules over all. It’s the starting point for basically anything and everything and having a background opens the door to myriad opportunities.

If you’ve ever had the itch to create something code-based, you’ll need a good place to jump in. The 2020 Complete Java Master Class Bundle, on sale for just $33.99, is as good as any.

Things begin with Java: From Beginning to Expert and What’s New in Java 9, perfect jumping off points for first-timers to become familiar with basic Java building blocks such as variables, operators, conditions, arrays, and loops.

From there, students transition into more involved things with Intermediate and Advanced Java Programming, training in how the various key Java pieces work in tandem. You’ll also get training in the Selenium WebDriver with Java: Novice to Ninja which automatically tests websites for functionality in all browsers; the Apache Maven: A Practical Introduction course helps developers manage Java project builds.

The Java for Android Development and Complete Java Masterclass: Become an Android App Developer courses dive into app creation and give Java programmers a true sense of building real working apps for Android devices.

All of this training is yours for life so feel to take your time and soak it in. Once done, you’ll have the know-how to create apps for mobile, web, and desktop. You’ll also have some certification to put under your belt, too.

Availability

Valued at more than $1,000 were you to hunt training like this down on your own, this coursework is yours for only $34.99. Where else can you get an education like this for just 55¢ per hour?

Best Sellers

Save even more!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

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Treblab E3 Noise Canceling Headphones review

Feb 25

Posted by Andrew Allen in Reviews | Comments off

When it comes to mobile technology, there are a few companies that consistently make well-made accessories for consumers on a limited budget. One such manufacturer is Treblab and its recently launched E3 headphones are worth a look.

Design

While the Treblab E3 headphones aren’t visually all that different from most other over-ear options, they are well made and exceptionally comfortable. The large can coverings have plenty of padding and the lightweight materials of the headphones made for long listening sessions not adding much ear fatigue.

Generally speaking, the materials are mostly plastic. While this doesn’t make for the premium feel of more premium headphones with their aluminum and leather, I never thought the E3s were cheaply made. From the swivel action of the cups to button feedback, all were pleasant to use.

Let’s drill down on those button controls for a moment. On the right can of the E3 headphones is where you find the play/pause, volume up/down, and the power button. Volume controls will also skip and reverse tracks on a long-press of one second on each.

Hold that power button for three seconds and you’ll get greeted by your favorite voice assistant. Treblab has built-in support for all the big players: Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa, and even Bixby.

The right side of the headphones is also where you’ll be doing your charging when needed. We’ll circle back to battery life later, but for now, it’s glad to see a USB Type-C charging port and quick charge on board.

If you move to the left can on the Treblab E3 headphones you find one, lone button. It’s simply marked with “NC” for noise-canceling. The E3 headphones offer active noise-canceling and pressing this button cycles through the options to toggle whether you can discern ambient, exterior audio.

Audio

The Treblab E3 headphones offer Feedforward Active Noise-Cancellation. This means there’s a dedicated mic on the outside of the headphones to filter and suppress environmental sounds before they ever enter the ear of the listener.

I am not an audio expert and honestly couldn’t tell much difference with the feature on while working around the house. The cups are so padded that it makes for a natural barrier from the outside world. However, I did take them to my local coffee shop where I could tell a real difference with interfering sounds.

Music playback was really good as well. The E3s doing a decent job of balancing bass, mids, and highs while listening to your favorite jams. Volumes are great, too. You can really ramp up the audio if you want to head bang to some harder stuff.

Phone Calls

Similar to what you might find in many wireless headphones, you can answer phone calls on the Treblab E3 headphones — provided you still partake in the archaic ritual. Pressing the play/pause button once will answer your incoming call and hang up when you’re done. Long-press while the call is incoming and you’ll reject the call and avoid the conversation.

Audio on calls is acceptable; no one had real issues hearing or talking to me, but I did have a couple of times the other caller said I sounded like I was “in a gym locker room.” Take that for what you want, but overall you can use the E3s to take calls.

Battery Life and Charging

Treblab promises up to 50 hours of playback with no noise-cancellation at medium volume. I found this to be pretty accurate.

I’ve used it over multiple weekends now as my primary listening device and I’d say 48 hours is more than obtainable. For what it’s worth, the company claims 27 hours of consistent usage with the volume cranked to 100% and NC activated.

The final positive on the E3 headphones would be quick charge. When you do need to, you can pick up an estimated 7 hours in just three minutes. A complete recharge will take around an hour without quick charging.

Final Thoughts

Treblab has built a compelling option with the E3 headphones. The design and comfort of these devices are great and audio is at least above average. For $70, these headphones with real active noise cancellation, are in a much better position for consumers when compared to the more recognized brands.

You can pick up a pair of E3 headphones directly through Treblab’s website, or if you’re like me, you can have them on your doorstep in a few days through Amazon.

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Sony refreshes Xperia 1 with 5G, wireless charging

Feb 25

Posted by AndroidGuys in Sony | Comments off

Sony this week introduced a refreshed take on its Xperia 1 smartphone, giving the handset a punch-up that makes it relevant for 2020.

The Sony Xperia 1 II (Mark two) picks up a number of new features which make it more appealing to buyers of flagship phones. Among those added for 2020 are support for sub-6 5G, wireless charging, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Sony Xperia 1 II is also the first Sony phone to have Zeiss optics, a feature that was exclusive to Nokia-branded devices.

Speaking of which, the Xperia 1 II has a triple-rear camera array with a standard (f/1.7, 82º), wide (124º), and telephoto (34º) lenses, all of which are 12-megapixels each. According to Sony, its auto-focus system can focus up to 60 times per second.

Other details in the Xperia 1 II include a 6.5-inch OLED display 4K (3,840 x 1,644 pixel resolutions) with HDR, and IP68 water resistance.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, the phone packs 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, and a 4,000mAh battery. Not only does it support USB-PD fast charging, but it also allows for wireless charging, too.

As of today, Sony has only announced a version for European markets and 5G networks, but it includes 4G LTE support for bands used by most of the US carriers.

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