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  • Apple Watch 4?

    Apple Watch 4?

    IF the rumors I’m hearing are true, which they look to be, we could be seeing an apple watch 4 this September. Apple announced the watch 3 last year with the release of the new iterations of iPhone. My insiders are telling me that this is looking likely this year.

     

    In a brief release from an anonymous source…. A newly published Apple patent details a circular smartwatch screen. This probably won’t be used by the Apple Watch 4, but you never know. Plus, a new report suggests Apple may be willing to let third-party developers start work on watch faces for the Apple Watch. If this is the case, expect far more watch faces to debut in watchOS 5 and on the Apple Watch 4.

    While this hold no real substance, it is a good indication of what is coming. You are probably asking so what, let me fill in the gaps and lead your expecations.

    The Apple Watch 3 is the most excellent Apple has built. Its a tech masterpiece that I will surely be glowing over in 20 years as I write the tech throw back article for it. It most certainly  tops our best smartwatch list, it’s  the best smartwatch, and arguably watch from any manufacturer that you can buy right now. however, its a smart device, and as you know their is only one certainty in the tech world, stand still and you will die. Like playing Halo.  There is room for growth and improvements, the battery for instance, can I get a week?

    What Do You Need To Know

    Below I have  all of the leaks, rumors and speculation about the Apple Watch 4 I have gathered so far, plus a list of things I’d like to see Apple implement in its next generation wearable. A trusted analyst that has previous history of predicting Apple products suggests the Apple Watch 4 is set to undergo a big design overhaul. So far every generation of the Apple Watch has come in either 38mm or 42mm screen sizes, but KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says he believes the Apple Watch 4 will have a 15% larger display. I need a bigger face, number one request. The Watch 3 has a lot of bezel space around the outside of the display, so it may be the company has slimmed this down to fit in the extra screen real estate and not necessarly a bigger watch..

    Like I said before I want a weeks worth of battery. Also lets talk speed, I have the need for speed, its inherent, its important, there is nothing I can do about it. Make my watch respond faster. We also have a report  from 9To5Mac found a suggestion in some watchOS 4.3.1 beta code that the company may be ready to allow for third-party watch faces in the next version of the Watch software.

    Apple may also add additional sensors for health-tracking, complementing the optical heart rate sensor built into the watch since launch. Apple has applied for a patent on a smartwatch band with built-in sensors, specifically ones that can measure motion when the wearer is gripping a “sports instrument” such as a dumbbell or golf club. That would make the watch a better fitness tracker.

    Face ID

    According to Patently Apple, which obtained and published the patents, Apple is also considering adding Face ID to the Apple Watch. The device would first need a front-facing camera, which Apple may include in the Series 4. But just because Apple has patented a feature doesn’t mean it will actually come to fruition.

    Could It Be Round?

    We have seen patents from Apple for a while that says this next iteration could have a round face. This opens alot of doors, more battery space, bigger screen. However Apple seems happy with the design of the Watch and hasn’t substantially changed it in the various versions it’s launched so far, so we don’t expect a redesign any time soon, let alone a completely different screen shape and the only real reason to change it is to intice other watch users more accusomed to that round design… Not Apples style, don’t bet on this.

     

    The Final Thought

    What ever they do with the watch it will be scrutinized, hated, celebrated and purchased in the millions. It will work flawlessly and be a substantial upgrade over the the three. Will they keep the red dot? who knows its all just speculation at this point. All I know for sure is that I just bought the 3…

  • The Best No-Contract Phone Providers

    The Best No-Contract Phone Providers

    You’ve got an awesome smartphone with a great display and slick new features? You probably don’t want to just use it as a tiny tablet, so you’re going to need a phone provider. Contracts aren’t for everyone: some people just want phone service and don’t want to be bound by contractual obligations. Which phone providers do we recommend? Read on!

    Cricket Wireless

    Using AT&T’s network coverage, Cricket Wireless offers a very affordable $35 (after autopay discount) plan that sports 5GB of data. Cricket’s data speeds cap at 8 Mbps, sadly, which makes them more of a budget consideration than a main provider, but they made the list since they offer some of the best data amounts per dollar. Cricket has the added benefit of rolling taxes and fees into this final price, helping alleviate “sticker shock” when the bill comes.

    Boost Mobile

    Boost makes the list thanks to its low price, same as Cricket. For $35 per month, you get 3GB of data on Sprint’s network. Sadly, this also means that you’ll experience some slowdown as Sprint’s network isn’t terribly speedy. On the bright side, like MetroPCS and Cricket, the monthly taxes and fees in this plan are rolled into the final bill price.

    AT&T

    AT&T offers a $40 with 8GB of data with no contract. This is a great pick for those who want to use loads of data and don’t mind the slightly lower coverage of AT&T’s network. The $40 price point is after enrolling in autopay, so consider that when shopping for plans. AT&T’s network works in Canada and Mexico, too, which allows for traveling users to stay tuned in to their internet and friends. This is our favorite plan for data, with great bang for your buck in terms of gigabytes!

    MetroPCS

    MetroPCS uses its parent company, T-Mobile, for its network, which means their prepaid plan sports better coverage than AT&T’s. For $40 you get 5GB of data, which is still a lot, and is definitely worth considering if you want better network coverage. Additionally, this plan allows for streaming from tons of music apps and websites without counting against your data allotment, which is certainly enticing for all you audiophiles out there! MetroPCS, like Boost and Cricket, includes taxes and fees in the final price. MetroPCS is our favorite plan for those who don’t need as much data, or plan on using audio services for the bulk of their data.

  • Our Favorite Smart Watches

    Our Favorite Smart Watches

    Whether you like the style or the function, smart watches are a must-have piece of tech for those with a busy lifestyle. Functioning as watch, notification alert, fitness tracker and more, smart watches make a natural addition to the lifestyle of a busy professional, a fast-paced mom, and everyone in between! Read on to find out which smart watches we love.

    Samsung Gear S3

    A very stylish and stealth-style smart watch, the Gear S3 runs on Samsung’s Tizen OS, unline most Adroid Wear-powered watches on the market. With a circular front-face and a premium make, the Gear S3 resembles a more traditional luxury timepiece, but also sports a robust suite of fitness tracking software and excellent internal infrastructure.

    As expected of a premium smart watch, the S3 alerts you of calls and texts, and has 4GB of internal storage for things such as Spotify playlists and apps. Tizen is still a new OS, however, and is somewhat lacking in apps and support. These minor gripes aside, the Gear S3 is a very high-quality smart watch and well worth the price.

    Asus ZenWatch 3

    Comfortable and extremely well-made, the ZenWatch 3 is a beautiful and sleek device. With an ultra-bright AMOLED display and a comfortable, minimalist design, the ZenWatch 3 is an elegant piece of technology. While it doesn’t sport robust fitness tracking, and has a somewhat cheap-feeling charging port, the ZenWatch 3 excels at providing a top-notch user experience.

    With a scratch-resistant screen and jewelry-quality steel construction, the ZenWatch 3 is as much a luxury watch as it is a piece of technology. Asus is known for their high build quality and durable technology, and the ZenWatch 3 continues this trend.

    Apple Watch Series 3

    Apple is well-known for their luxury products and high-quality user interface, and the Series 3 Apple Watch doesn’t disappoint. Apple diehards will be pleased with the OS, as it is as stylish and user-friendly as users would expect, and the interface is fast and responsive. The OLED display is bright and gorgeous, and the watch does a great job making itself discreet when not in use.

    Battery life is middling, lasting around 18 hours, but the watch is running a dizzying array of sensors and trackers, so this makes sense. Loaded with fitness tracking features and with no lack of app support, the Apple Watch remains a fantastic pick for smart watch.

    Garmin Fenix 3

    Our favorite overall smart watch, the Garmin Fenix 3 might seem like an odd pick. Garmin, known for their GPS products primarily, has a real winner on their hands with the Fenix 3. Boasting incredible battery life and exemplary durability, the Fenix 3 is great for athletes and outdoors-y people. Made from premium materials and clearly designed to operate in its own space apart from Samsung and Apple, what the Fenix lacks in style it makes up in droves with functionality.

    While the watch doesn’t support on-watch maps for GPS, it does provide superb GPS tracking when paired with a phone and keeps great track of where you’ve been and your fitness. For users who have no desire to carry a recognizable brand name, or aren’t looking for a piece of fashion, but instead a piece of tech, the Fenix 3 is an excellent choice.

  • The 5 Must Have Tech Devices for the Gym

    The Gym is the place you  squeeze in to your busy day, for no other reason than it has to be. 

    You roll in to your local YMCA to workout and get out as quickly as possible completely sweaty and gross. This is the only acceptable place to ever wear sweatpants.

    Fast forward to 2018 where the gym has become the new club scene. This is the place to look your best, show off your hottness and socialize with the gym elite. Its even become super important look the part while hanging at the gym and getting your pump on. If you don’t understand what I am saying, try to get that beef cake on the elliptical to give you a spot while you wear your old gym shorts, a torn tee and new balances. Its just not gonna happen. Its apparent, you need to boost your gym cred, and also to get the most from your time working out.  The Gym is the one place we should all spend a little more time, it is also the place where we definitely could stand to be smart and more efficient. Here are the 5 must have tech toys for the gym scene

    1. Athos Smart Clothing

    The Athos Smart Clothing line includes embedded sensors to track a variety of fitness and health data. They have that gym sheek look you are going for while keeping you on top of your work outs. All clothing includes an Athos Core module which is a processing unit of sorts that gathers all data from sensors in clothing and transmits it to a mobile app via Bluetooth. iOS support only, for now, sorry Android users. Purchase the corresponding garment to determine what parts of your body can be tracked. Ultimately, they can monitor biometric data, muscle activity, heart rate, calories burned, active time, sedentary time. Do remember that if you purchase just one article of clothing that it has the core module.

    2. Jabra Sport Coach Earbuds

    These babies let you eliminate of the  noise of the gym and keep you focus on your performance. They have superior sound quality, passive noise cancellation and enhanced bass, This will ensure your favorite playlist, you know the one that kicks off With Jimmy Eat Worlds – Take my sounds better than ever and will maximize your musical motivation. Add in a Built-in TrackFit motion sensor will automatically count your reps and track your every move and let the in-ear “coach” count your reps, guide you through the circuit and track your performance. These are the ear bud anyone who is anyone at the gym is rocking.

    3. Skulpt

    Skulpt measures your body fat and muscle. Skulpt is a remarkable tracker that lets you see a ton of detailed stats regarding your activity and fitness. It will measure body fat percentage – in 24 different areas of your body no less – and provide in-depth muscle analysis. It can even deliver some workout tips and guidance to help you build more muscle, boost your strength, or just burn some fat. Skulpts stylish pad loudly grunts that you know what you are doing at the gym. If your workouts involve less cardio and more strength training, this is definitely the tracker for you. All information is synced with a mobile app via Bluetooth. You can get it in a bundle that includes a tracker, charging cradle, spray water bottle, and of course access to the mobile app.

    4. Beast

    Beast is a fitness and health sensor that can tell you a little more about your body. The beast however isn’t meant for cardio, this is the big boys tracker, You wear this bad boy while you’re pumping iron. It will track things like strength levels, explosiveness, average power, weight volume, density, energy burn, reps and sets, tonnage, and much more. When you are getting your pump on this is the tracker you need to look cool, get the info and make sure you see the results.

    5. Digitsole Smart Shoes

    Digitsole Smartshoe is touted as the “first intelligent sneaker” and is equipped with technologies including self-lacing, temperature regulation, health tracking. If you want all the white boys at the gym to stop and say “what are those” you want the Digitsole Smart Shoes. These Kicks can automatically tighten themselves, keep your feet warm while you work out and once they reach a temperature threshold they will automatically turn off to conserve battery life. They also track your activity – like a wrist wearable – to help you monitor calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken, and more. All information is synced via Bluetooth 4.0 with your smartphone through a mobile app: Android and iOS flavors are available.

    Bonus Credit For Baller Hydration: Mark One Pryme Vessyl

    Now this is a useless tool for tracking how much water you drink. Everyone knows everyone needs 8 cups of water a day right? nope. Mark One’s Pryme Vessyl is an iPhone-connected cup that’s designed to track your daily liquid intake, making sure you’re at your optimal hydration level. According to Mark One, hitting an ideal hydration level can increase your energy level and improve your mental balance. Plus this will def make you look cool and boost your status at the gym club.

    The Final Thought

    You got your Athos body suit that looks like something Tony Stark wears under his Iron Man suit, Fresh Back to the Future Style Marty McFly self lacing kicks, The Beast wrist tracker, the Jabra Ear buds in and your skulplt sensor and you are ready to go looking fly. These five things will have you at your own special table in the VIP section of the gym sipping protein shakes with the elite. Also it will all give you a complete and comprehensive data detail of every movement of your work out, but please, how important can that be?

  • Our Favorite Smart Speakers

    Our Favorite Smart Speakers

    Smart devices are a fantastic companion to a busy lifestyle, helping you organize your event and play music with your voice. Streamlining all your digital needs with a virtual assistant is easier than ever thanks to the large number of smart speakers on the market. Which one is right for you? Read on to find out which speakers we love!

    Sonos One

    The Sonos One sports great sound quality and comes with Alexa, Amazon’s personal assistant software. Sonos One can pair with other speakers to produce stereo sound and can even be used as a home sound system. The speaker’s high sound quality is complemented by Spotify compatibility. The only thing going against this speaker is the price, coming in at around $400. That said, it’s a great buy if you want a high sound quality and tons of flexibility in a home sound system.

    Google Home

    Google’s answer to the Amazon Echo, the Google Home has its own proprietary virtual assistant. Alexa and Google Home have a lot in common, but Google’s speaker has the edge in terms of aesthetic and general audio quality. However, Alexa is a more robust software suite, sporting much more fleshed-out response cases and more general usefulness. Google Home, retailing at $129, is a spot cheaper than the Amazon Echo, and for those of you who are Google die-hard fans, or just prefer the aesthetic of the Google Home, it’s a fine speaker and well worth the cost.

    JBL Link 20

    The JBL is a great option for those who want a portable answer to the Google Home. At a reasonable price point of $150, and with a stellar battery life of 10 hours, the JBL Link 20 is great for backyard cookouts and pool parties. Speaking of pool parties, the JBL is also water resistant, able to withstand around half an hour of submersion! If you’re active and often in the backyard, the JBL is for you!

    Amazon Echo Dot Gen II

    Our favorite home speaker is the Amazon Echo Dot’s second-generation model. You can grab this speaker from Amazon for $240, and you certainly won’t be disappointed in it for that price. Alexa is a fantastic home assistant, responsive and user-friendly. The Echo Dot is a high-quality speaker, although not quite as impressive as the Sonos One, but what it lacks in raw sound output, it makes up for in solid all-around performance as a smart home device. It’s really the best overall speaker for the price.

  • The Best Phones Money Can Buy

    The Best Phones Money Can Buy

    When it comes to premium smartphones, there’s certainly no shortage of choices out there for the discerning customer. If you’re on the lookout for the very best, look no further: here’s a round-up of the best of the best in the crowded smart phone field! Read on to find out what our favorite phones are.

    iPhone X

    The company that invented the smartphone retains their spot at the top of the heap. The iPhone X is an exemplary piece of modern tech, well worth its (admittedly hefty) price tag. This phone is sexy, for lack of a better term, with its edge-to-edge AMOLED display and sleek front face. This proves to be the phone’s drawback, as well: it’s very fragile, even compared to its younger siblings.

    However, the X is sporting the mighty A11 Bionic processor under the hood, making it the strongest iPhone ever from a technical standpoint. The star of the show on the software side is the new Face ID technology, which is consistently impressive and works in all kinds of environments and through all manner of obscuring features.

    Sunglasses, hats, facial hair: none of them managed to flummox the new face-reading tech. In summary, the phone is a stunner and will absolutely look great in your hand or handbag. As a luxury item from an instantly recognizable brand, the iPhone X is the future of more than just iPhone, it’s the future of smartphones.

    Samsung Galaxy S9

    Samsung, the challenger to Apple’s throne, certainly didn’t phone in their iPhone X competitor. The S9 isn’t quite as impressive as the iPhone X, but it comes very close. From a hardware perspective, the S9 is the absolute cream of the crop for Android phones, and even the most complicated of apps and multitasking are handled with aplomb by Samsung’s little powerhouse.

    The Infinity Edge display is almost as striking as Apple’s AMOLED screen on the iPhone X, but it lacks some of the same appeal at a glance. That all being said, the S9 is a very, very good phone. If you’re a die-hard believer in Android and would never be caught dead with an iPhone, then you will not be disappointed in this phone. However, the S8 is significantly less expensive and the S9 does not represent a massive leap forward in technology when compared to its predecessors in the way the iPhone X does for its own family. In summary: it’s great, but it’s not an iPhone X.

    GOOGLE PIXEL 2

    Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 2 presents itself as a very different device from what Samsung and Apple are pushing. The Pixel is a distinct and striking device, but it has a somewhat plastic-like finish and just isn’t quite as sleek as the iPhone X or S9. The Pixel does, however, have the best camera of the bunch, taking incredibly high-resolution photos. It also sports silky-smooth software and a fantastic user interface, with personal assistant technology that gives Siri a run for her money.

    If you prefer a slightly larger screen, the Pixel 2 XL is also a fantastic choice and comparable to its smaller counterpart. Google’s device is playing in a slightly different space than Samsung and Apple’s, and that’s okay! However, the Pixel lacks a lot of that same “wow” factor and desirability when it comes to its competitors.

    In summary, however, all three of these phones represent the very best of what the market has to offer, and each will make an excellent addition to your lifestyle, whether you’re concerned primarily with turning heads, taking stunning pictures, or just having a top-notch user experience!

  • LG Teases the Loudest Smartphone Ever

    LG Teases the Loudest Smartphone Ever

    LG’s new G7 ThinQ features a “Boombox Speaker” that promises to be 10 times louder than the competition. LG hopes their innovative speaker technology, combined with a super-bright display, will draw customers away from Apple and Samsung.

    How Loud Is It?

    The Korean manufacturer claimed that the speaker “increases the base sound level by more than 6dB.” The Boombox Speaker technology appears to use the body of the phone itself as a resonance chamber. This updated approach allows LG to pack more sound output into a small space compared to conventional speakers.

    Unfortunately, that also means when your ringtone goes off at an inconvenient time—such as in the middle of a meeting or at the movie theater—it’ll be 10 times louder than anyone else’s phone.

    All About That Bass

    Bass lovers, rejoice! The new LG phone has twice the amount of bass compared to the average smartphone currently on the market. And if you place the G7 ThinQ on a flat surface made of wood or metal, you’ll get even more bass amplification as the surface essentially becomes a woofer.

    3D Sound Output

    The LG G7 ThinQ will also be the first phone to feature DTS:X support for headphone users, allowing you to enjoy 3D surround sound effects on par with a movie theater equipped with 7.1-channel speakers. Combined with the Hi-Fi Quad DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) to reduce distortion to imperceptible levels, this phone should be an audiophile’s dream.

    LG will launch its latest phone on May 2 in the US. We’ll find out then if the Boombox Speaker is all it’s cracked up to be.

  • New Smart Wall for Smart Homes

    New Smart Wall for Smart Homes

    Smart homes are getting smarter and smarter. The Wall++ offers a new way to control smart homes, one that doesn’t involve repeating phrases to a smart speaker.

    Wall++

    The Wall++ was developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Disney Research. They created a way to make the walls of a smart home into gesture-sensing touchpads. They used conductive paint and a custom sensor board to create electrodes to turn walls into an “electromagnetic sensor to detect and track electrical devices and appliances.”

    What’s so great about a smart wall? Researchers say the wall system could monitor activity in rooms, send alerts when an appliance goes off, adjust lights, and control televisions. It can also track people who are wearing certain electronic devices that emit an electromagnetic signature.

    The Wall++ is an idea that built off of Carnegie Mellon’s previous work in a system called Electrick. Electrick took the first step in spraying conductive paint onto smooth surfaces to enable touch controls.

    Smart Wall Could Replace Smart Speaker Systems

    Home smart speakers are popular, but Carnegie Mellon researchers predict the smart wall could be an improvement and become more popular.

    It will be some time before the Wall++ is available to the public, however. Researchers are currently installing prototypes by putting a sensor board in the wall’s baseboard, but they think they can make improvements for easier installation. They also have aims to optimize the Wall++’s energy consumption. Overall, the Wall++ is looking to be extremely promising for the future of smart homes.

  • Beau’s Number 1 App Reveiw: Love Balls

    Beau’s Number 1 App Reveiw: Love Balls

    Beau’s App series. Each week, I install whatever is the No. 1 bestselling app on the iOS or Android store and review it, to save you the effort in case it’s total waste of life. This week a game called Love Balls, calm down. Its a game that has you drawing lines to make balls touch and fall in love. Ok that sounds worse when i read it back. Love Balls is in the top spot and Im taking it on. How did it get to No. 1? Because it’s free, because it just came out for phones, and because they advertise this game on all social media networks and all you sheep just download it because you don’t want to be the only ones that didn’t in case its the next Pokemon go or candy crush.

    Hows it Rated

    Very Poorly, its a cheap, mind numbingly simple game that helps you time travel through monotonous parts of your day. The game is simple, use your brain and find a way to bump the balls. draw lines or shapes to bump the balls, use minimum amounts of  wisdom and imagination. Yes I played it, 3 and half days dissapeared from my life and I missed the premier of super troopers 2. Not really I was done with this app and review in 20 mins.

     

    But The Ads

    The biggest reason why this game is a waste of life is the ads. Like all free and cheaply designed app games to distract the masses are its packed with 30 seconds of ads for every 15 seconds of game play. They design  the ads to insist on finishing with no option to exit out, and if you leave the game they just pause that ads untile your patients level returns and you open the game again.

     

    The Final Thought

    Just pass, next week app will be better I hope. Also as a side note if you google love balls make sure you also add the word app, just trust me.

     

  • The Best Tablets for Kids

    The Best Tablets for Kids

    Screen-time for kids may be a controversial topic, but plenty of parents have discovered fun, educational ways to integrate technology into their children’s lives. We’ve rounded up the best tablets for kids of different ages so that you can make an informed decision about which one to purchase.

    Why Buy a Kids’ Tablet?

    Unlike “grown-up” tablets and smartphones made by Samsung or Apple, devices designed for kids have more robust designs to withstand rough handling and more options for parental controls to limit or block certain functions. Many kids’ tablets come pre-loaded with age-appropriate apps; for example, the kid editions of the Amazon Fire tablets are bundled with a subscription to FreeTime.

    Best Tablets for Ages 3 to 6

    For the littlest ones, a kid-friendly tablet like those made by Leapfrog is your best bet. The LeapFrog Epic is tough but basic, with an intuitive Android OS that can run either the premium proprietary apps from LeapFrog or third-party apps from Amazon. One downside to the Epic is the battery life, which only lasts about five hours. If you’re planning a trip and need to keep the kiddos entertained, make sure to bring the tablet’s charger!

    Best Tablet on a Budget

    Although it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as the newest model, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition is the best value on the market. We love the sturdy, bright case that comes with the Kids Edition, as well as the year-long subscription to Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited, which is stocked with plenty of games, books, videos, and other digital delights. Best of all, Amazon offers a two-year replacement plan, so if accidents happen—and with kids, they often do—you will be covered.

    Best Tablet for Work and Play

    The Kurio Smart is an interesting hybrid of kids’ tablet and basic laptop. The detachable keyboard and Windows 10 operating system lets the Kurio Smart function more like a simple laptop, which is great for kids who need to browse the internet and use Microsoft Office products for schoolwork. It performs equally well as a tablet for reading and games once the homework is done.

    Best Tablet to Grow with the Child

    If you have the budget for it, the iPad Mini is the most versatile tablet on the market. While we wouldn’t recommend it for toddlers, elementary school kids can get years of use out of an iPad as their educational and entertainment needs change. Though more fragile than the tablets made just for kids, the iPad Mini can also do a lot more. Great display, long battery life, and top-notch support from Apple make the iPad Mini a worthwhile investment. Just make sure you also purchase a kid-friendly plastic case and a screen protector—you’ll want this tablet to last!