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  • Which is the Best Map App to Get You Where You’re Going?

    Which is the Best Map App to Get You Where You’re Going?

    Your phone may have come included with a map app, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best one out there. If you’re looking for some better ways to navigate, we’ve got some good news for you! We’ve got a quick round-up of some of our favorite map apps. 

    Co-Pilot GPS 

    Normally I wouldn’t recommend paid map apps when there are perfectly good free alternatives. This one is a unique exception, though. Co-Pilot can be used offline! Once you’ve downloaded the maps for your area (over Wi-Fi to save data, of course) you can navigate in offline mode. This is awesome for navigating overseas or if you need to use a navigation app for work.  

    Preserving the precious data plan is the name of the game here! Other awesome features include warning you when you’re speeding, showing you where speed cams are, and 12 months of ActiveTraffic. The ActiveTraffic subscription helps route you based on live traffic updates! 

    Google Maps 

    Google, always rock-solid on the software and hardware sides of things, has a winner with their map app. Great for everyday navigation, Google Maps just works. While Android users have this pre-loaded, iOS users can download it after the fact. This app even has a handy “explore nearby” feature to find new places near you! 

    Google Maps also allows for downloading maps to use in offline mode. However, this app has the maps disappear after 30 days, so you need to make sure you keep updated. It’s a neat feature but consider Co-Pilot if you’re going to be driving without data often. 

    inRoute Route Planner 

    If you plan on going for long road trips, this is a great choice. Boasting a suite of features excellent for long round trips, this one is for you if you’re in for a long haul. This app lets you drop pins along your journey and find motels and gas stations near them. It also offers turn-by-turn directions if you opt for the paid version ($15), and you can even export routes you plan in this app to other map apps with the premium version. 

    Our Favorite Map App: Waze 

    Waze is a crowd sourced-style app designed for dodging traffic and other speed bumps. Users can report the presence of accidents, traffic jams, cops waiting to pull people over, and tons more. Its motto seems to be “we’re all in this together,” and it can be nice driving with a whole cadre of people watching your back.  

    If you hate traffic jams, or just wanna freaking move, Waze is a great app for you. I know I hate coming to a standstill, so this one is my go-to app for ducking slowdowns. 

  • Motorola Razr V4 the Future of Fordable Smartphones

    Motorola Razr V4 the Future of Fordable Smartphones

    No this isn’t a tech throwback on the Motorola V3 Razr, comeback Wednesday for that. This is a new Motorola V4 Razr. We have a concept model from Motorola and that they are currently working on a folding phone, and all signs point to the fact that it could carry the iconic Motorola Razr branding. Back in February 2017, Yang Yuanqing, the CEO of Lenovo (which owns the Motorola brand) noted.

    “With the new technology, particularly foldable screens, I think you will see more and more innovation on our smartphone design. So hopefully what you just described [the Motorola Razr brand] will be developed or released very soon”.

    So that alone is very promising, but we are now at the point were some details are emerging.

    Motorola Razr V4 Concept

    The Motorola Razr V4 remained very slim when folded reaching 7.5mm and unfolded reaching only 3.7mm. Meanwhile, the device is good enough to give under-display fingerprint scanner available. Notably, Motorola handset features Android Oreo 8.1 out-of-the-box based on Intelligent UI and IP68 certified water/dust resistant.

    From our anonymous source we have a first hand account. “When opened up, the Moto Razr V4 has a 7 inch AMOLED HDR 10 screen, a Snapdragon 855 CPU and a hinge, that feels like it prequels a Surface Phone or Samsung Galaxy X. Crazy enough, this ultra slim device is just 3.7 mm in thickness, when it’s opened up. Folded it reaches 7.5 mm. It feels like Tech Configurations really thought it out this time around,”

    The Spec Rumors

    The Motorola handset will sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 CPU, on the contray to the original infomation we got back in 2017. The handset performance works well on 6GB of RAM and two storage variants including 128GB/256GB ROM (unexpandable). Also, Motorola RAZR V4 camera packs dual 16MP+12MP primary snapper with 4K videos recording ability. Besides, there is a 12MP selfie shooter with a wide-angle lens and an aperture of f/1.8. Further, Motorola phone gets 4100mAh battery.

    At the moment, there is no further information regarding Motorola RAZR V4 price and availability. However, we can expect to meet this legend with the new outlook this June with the price range approximately of $500.

    The Final Thought

    Ive always been  a big fan of the Motorola V3 Razr and the jump in made in the cellular industry. I was also among the very first non Motorola employees to have one. I won a sales contest for Motorola 6 months prior to the release. The initial specs looks on point and these pictures are lighting me up. Is it the next big thing in wireless again? we will see and Ill see you back here for the smartphone spotlight as soon as it releases.

     

  • Fitness Tracking App Round-Up: Which Ones Fit your Lifestyle?

    Fitness Tracking App Round-Up: Which Ones Fit your Lifestyle?

    Staying motivated to exercise is important. One of the best ways to do that is to use a fitness tracking app! Helping you stick to your routine and achieve your goals, these apps make great companions for busy people looking to stay fit. Which ones fit your lifestyle the best? We’ll help you narrow it down with this round-up! We only picked apps available on both iOS and Android, so don’t sweat which kind of phone you have! 

    JEFIT 

    JEFIT is great for anyone who wants to be spending time in the gym. Designed to be great for users of all skill levels, JEFIT lets you record you reps and weights and keep track of your progress. The app allows you to choose from tons of user submitted workouts to help keep things fresh. On the downside, the app doesn’t have routine planning, but this is a small gripe for a free app. Not to mention, the app’s other functionality is good enough to make it a great pickfor fitness tracking app.  

    Keelo 

    This fitness tracking app is great for those who want to do quick, one-off style workouts on the fly. Utilizing the HIIT strategy for workouts, Keelo is great for really busy users. If you can set aside between 10 and 20 minutes three or four times a week, this is the app for you. These fast-paced workouts are meant to get your blood pumping and show results in a few weeks! Did I mention the app is free? Because that’s worth mentioning! 

    Sworkit 

    If you really want to get in shape and really don’t want to (or can’t) go to the gym, Sworkit is your fitness tracking app. You tell the app what your fitness goals are and tell it how much time you can dedicate to a routine. The app then builds you a personalized regiment for a six-week program. It’s surprisingly in-depth for being a free app. You can also spring for the premium subscription ($60 per year, or $30 per 4 months) that gives you access to more features. Real fitness trainers and exclusive workours are available to premium users, too.  

    Our Favorite Fitness Tracking App: Aaptive 

    Aaptive is a cool app: you pay either monthly ($15) or yearly ($100) for access to thousands of audio fitness classes. New classes are added by the trainers each week, so you’ll never run out of engaging exercises. There are classes for lifting, cycling, running and more. If you’re really serious about fitness and don’t mind spending money on a subscription, you’ll find Aaptive a great app for working out.  

  • Which Tablet is Worth your Money?

    Which Tablet is Worth your Money?

    Smart phones are nice, but sometimes you want a bigger screen for your smart device. Whether you’re drawing, looking at photos, watching movies or playing games, tablets are awesome addition to your smart device arsenal. When you just want that bigger screen for a handheld touch device, nothing else will do!

    Nothing says quality, solid build and premium design more than our 5 best premium tablets. From major manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, Amazon, Microsoft and Google these tablets carry the state of art in technology and design. With that in mind, let’s check out some of our favorite premium tablets!

    Microsoft Surface Pro

    This tablet is so premium that it’s also a laptop. The Surface Pro made our list of best touchscreen laptops, too, which might sound weird until you see one in person: it really is both. With a stellar screen and great form factor, you can’t get a much cooler 2-in-1 tablet. Retailing for $659, it’s not too pricey.

    There are only a few real downsides for the Surface Pro. The very incremental advances it possesses when compared to its predecessors are slightly disappointing.  Additionally, the design is a little too minimalist: there is no USB-C port! Then again, it’s still a great tablet, so it’s a small nitpick.

    Google Pixel C

    Your favorite Android tablet, the Google Pixel C performs like a giant version of its phone siblings. The Pixel C also has an optional magnetic keyboard that is quite solid, letting the tablet act as a laptop. This is easily the most powerful Android tablet that exists, for what it’s worth. The tablet performs great while multitasking and rarely suffers stutters or slowdown.

    If you need a tablet for work or just like pushing your technology to its limit, this is a great pick for you. On the other hand, this one is a bit expensive, retailing for $950. Additionally, many users see Android as a drawback instead of a feature. Many apps are released on iOS first and often perform better there to boot.

    The Samsung Galaxy Book

    This tablet rightfully belongs on the quickly growing list of impressive Microsoft Surface Pro contenders. The Samsung Galaxy Book is a top-shelf Windows tablet with a price to match. Its robust processing power, high-end display and essential add-on accessories make it one of the best tablet-hybrids.

    It’s a Windows 10 tablet with a stunning 12-inch Super AMOLED display, Intel’s latest processors and detachable keyboard cover with stylus. It starts at $1,130 for the Wi-Fi-only version and $1,300 for the LTE model, sold via Verizon, which was the configuration we reviewed. Samsung offers a 10-inch variant that runs for $630, but this review is of the 12-inch model.

    iPad Pro

    No list of premium tablets would be complete without Apple’s contender in the mix. And this time around, unsurprisingly, Apple is our favorite. The iPad pro is a rock-solid tablet, with a gorgeous Retina display and fantastic performance. Many users have a preference for iOS, and for good reason. Slowdown is almost nonexistent, and app support is fantastic.

    If there are any drawbacks, they’re the same ones that apply to all Apple products: expensive peripherals and proprietary charging. If you want the Apple Pencil or proprietary keyboard to go with it, this one will run you some serious cash. For just the iPad itself, you’ll be spending around $600.


  • Looking to Organize? Find Out Our Favorite To-Do App!

    Looking to Organize? Find Out Our Favorite To-Do App!

    Everyone knows how hard it can be to stay organized during your busy day. Between all the things you have to remember and fighting traffic, simple errands can get left behind pretty easily. How do we recommend you organize your schedule? One way is with a handy to-do app! We love the ones we’ve rounded up here, you just might too! The apps we’ve picked are all available on both Android and iOS! 

    Todoist 

    Available in both premium and free forms, Todoist is a great app for everyday use. This app has a clean interface and great readability. For those who don’t mind paying around $30 a year, the premium version of the app has great functionality. Projects for increasing productivity, labels and the ability to share projects with other users are all pluses for this app.  

    This app also sports some really cool productivity charts and sharable progress trackers. It doesn’t have quite the same collaborative suite as, say, Asana (I’ll get to that) but it’s certainly cool funcitonality. 

    Remember the Milk 

    A great to-do app for household use, Remember the Milk offers a lot of functionality even in the free app. This app works offline and offers some great collaborative functionality, helping married couples or roommates organize chores and errands. The premium version, that boasts more general functionality, runs around $40 a year. This is a bit pricier than the competition. 

    This app doesn’t feature location-based reminders, which is a bit of a bummer. It also doesn’t have UI quite as clean or user-friendly as Todoist or Asana. These small gripes don’t hold it back from being a great to-do app, though! 

    Our Favorite To-Do App: Asana 

    If you’re trying to collaborate with a large group to increase productivity, Asana is for you. Featuring a great user interface and some downright awesome collaboration tools, this to-do app earns our spot for favorite. Exceptional for workplace productivity, consider this one if you want to help your office get organized.  

    While Asana doesn’t sport a desktop app, it makes up for it in its incredible shared functionality. The premium version, which goes for around $12 per month, allows you to access a large suite of functions. Advanced dashboards, search functionality and teams numbering much higher than the base 15-person cap. That all said, Asana is comparatively expensive, and if you want something a bit more affordable we recommend Todoist.  

    Those small nitpicks aside, Asana is a great app, and we recommend you try out the free version with your team and see if its right for you! 

  • Are You Hungry? Check Out Our Favorite Recipe Apps!

    Are You Hungry? Check Out Our Favorite Recipe Apps!

    I am terrible at cooking. Just absolutely terrible. I can’t make a scrambled egg without step-by-step instructions. Thankfully for me (and people like me) there are tons of great recipe apps. If you’re hungry and looking for a great app to help you make dinner, check out this round-up! These apps are available on both Android and iOS, so don’t sweat which platform you’re on! 

    BigOven 

    This simple and easy to use app has over 350,000 recipes. Now that’s a lot of meals! This app has some really neat functionality, too. Features like making a weekly planner for meals and making a grocery list make the app feel like an organizer and recipe app in one.  

    BigOven also has social functionality, allowing you to upload pictures of your recipes. You can even see what your friends who use the app are making! This functionality makes BigOven stand out from other recipe apps in interesting and helpful ways. 

    Cookpad 

    Featuring many social media-like feature, Cookpad is an interesting little app. Unlike most recipe apps, this one allows you to exchange recipes with your network of friends and family. The app builds a unique user profile as you upload and comment on recipes, helping you find recipes that are right for you. 

    Cookpad also lets others comment on your recipes. These comments could be for dishes that would pair well with the recipe, or for ingredient substitutions. Many vegetarian users or users with allergies love this aspect of Cookpad! If you’re looking for a great place to find and share recipes, Cookpad is for you! 

    The Coolest of all Recipe Apps: Yummly 

    Yummly’s best feature? It has a search function that helps you find recipes for your lifestyle. Whether you have a food allergy or prefer vegetarian meals, Yummly lets you search its huge database to find the right recipe for you. Even better, the app learns your preferences and suggests recipes for you that match your tastes! 

    Yummly also features Instacart support, unlike many other recipe apps. You can build a shopping list from a recipe and add that list to your Instacart. Then you can order everything on your list and have it delivered right to your door! This makes cooking dinner fast and convenient. This app is our favorite for good reason! 

  • Smartphone Spotlight: OnePlus 6

    Smartphone Spotlight: OnePlus 6

    OnePlus’s deal has always been offering flagship-level internals coupled with minimalist software, all for significantly less than similarly-specked devices. The  6 has all the right stuff you’d expect Is the the 6 the smartphone you deserve?

    The Great

    • Beautiful Screen
    • Blistering performance
    • Great battery life
    • Flagship-caliber cameras
    • Very fast charging:
    • Amazing value
    • Beautiful all glass design

    The Not

    • No wireless charging or microSD slot
    • Lacks optical zoom
    • No IP-rated water resistance

    The Conclusion

    If you’re willing to put up with a few small compromises then you could argue the OnePlus 6 could be even further up this list. One thing is for sure though: in terms of value for money it won’t disappoint.

     

    It seems every six months or so OnePlus treats us to a new flagship level phone at a completely reasonable price. Most companies are struggling to put out something different enough every year. All that and all, lets get to this latest installment of OnePlus, the 6.

    The OnePlus Design

    OnePlus has really showed up with the all-glass body  on the OnePlus 6. It looks and feels oh so nice: It’s soft and smooth, with a cool touch. It’s very reflective too, mostly on the mirror black model. I just like pressing it to my face. While I  don’t feel like the glass body made the phone overly slippery, and it’s easy to hold with one hand. Using it is a harder task due to the size of the screen. It’s a little harder to get to the opposite corner with your thumb.

    Three Colors

    Mirror Black is one of three versions for the OnePlus 6. The glass is super-shiny and though it certainly does attract fingerprints, it’s not the smudge magnet you might have imagined. Midnight Black is color two: a matte finish  This is a more conventional-looking finish that will be especially familiar to owners of earlier OnePlus phones. Last is the Silk White: a classy option, for your tuxedo nights on the town look. It has a sprinkling of pearl powder as part of the six layers and emphasized by the rose gold edge, camera relief and OnePlus logo

     

    The Performance

    The  6 is powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor with a whopping 8GB of RAM. The phone has been lightning fast in our brief time using it. It all feels very refined. OnePlus uses the tagline, “The speed you need,” for the 6, It seems cheese and completely unsustainable for an android base phone, but here we are. The power is good, lets just not get cocky.

    For the Camera OnePlus has gone a more regular route, perhaps, by using two rear cameras, both color RGB sensors. One is a 16MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and big pixels 1.22 microns). It has optical image stabilization, something OnePlus fans had requested.

    Quick Spec Look

    • OS Android  8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS
    • Screen Size (Resolution) 6.28-inch AMOLED (2280 x 1080)
    • CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
    • RAM 6GB/8GB
    • Storage 64GB/128GB/256GB
    • microSD Slot No
    • Rear Camera Dual: 16 MP (f/1.7) with OIS; 20 MP (f/1.7)
    • Front Camera 16 MP (f/2.0)
    • Battery Size 3,300 mAh
    • Water Resistance None
    • Size 6.13 x 2.97 x 0.30 inches

     

     

    The Final Thought

    The 6 has all the Power, Size and Looks available to make a splash and a price point to be desired. There is nothing here truly lacking out side of the water resistance and the wireless charging, only thing I could do with out is the boasting.

     

  • Is The Phone Notch Here to Stay?

    Is The Phone Notch Here to Stay?

    It seems Apple once again has set a trend for the smartphone industry. The beta for Android P operating systems is now being rolled out and developers are revealing more details of the new Android operating system. According to developers, the new OS supports three different phone notch designs: the standard, iPhone X style notch that many find so odd, a top-right corner notch that looks even more strange, and a double-style, top and bottom notch. This somewhat solidifies suspicions that notch-style designs may be the norm for smartphones going forward.

    Why Notches?

    Many find the phone notch to be an odd choice, aesthetically. Why break up the edge-to-edge screen display with a random notch? Well, the answer is one of functionality: if the whole front face of the handset is a display, where do you put the hardware? Things like selfie cameras and speakers for actual phone calls have to go somewhere. This question has a few answers, but it seems, for now, the answer that manufacturers have chosen is the small cut-out notch.

    Surprisingly Appealing

    The success of the iPhone X is no mistake, to be sure: it’s our favorite smart phone right now too! People love the edge-to-edge display, and most users have said they got used to the phone notch pretty early on in their time with the new handset. The initially off-putting design actually has its own aesthetic appeal in addition to being something of a technological necessity for the time being. I, for one, don’t mind it too much. For many, though, these notches are incredibly bothersome and break up an otherwise uninterrupted screen. In any event, it looks like the notch is here to stay.

  • Four Big Reveals from Google’s I/O 2018 Conference

    Four Big Reveals from Google’s I/O 2018 Conference

    Google’s massive I/O 2018 conference unveiling all their new tech and software has come and gone. If you missed it, don’t fret! We’ve got you covered. Check out the biggest news from Google this year!

     I/O 2018 Reveal #1: Smart Compose for G-Mail

    As a hybrid of predictive text and AI assistant, Smart Compose aims to make your email composition faster and easier. Using knowledge of your typing patterns and schedule, Smart Compose helps you automatically fill in chunks of sentences and streamlines your typing process.

    This functionality is sure to be useful for those who have to compose dozens of emails a day. Helping cut down on the amount of time those people spend typing will allow them to focus on more productive or thought-heavy tasks, rather than bogging them down with routine emails.

    I/O 2018 Reveal #2: Android P Public Beta

    Google announced that they are rolling out the public beta of their new Android OS, Android P. Uniquely, this beta isn’t exclusive to Google’s Pixel line of phones. It will also be available on select phones from other manufacturers. Notably, the OnePlus 6 will be eligible for the beta when it releases later this year.

    Android P is slated to be the next “big” thing. It streamlines the user experiences and adopts a more modern software suite. The new OS opts to clear out the four navigation buttons in favor of an iPhone X-like home button in the shape of a horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen. Android P also sports app suggestions based on time and location, another idea inspired by iOS.

    I/O 2018 Reveal #3: Google Smart Displays

    Continuing Google’s push to be a part of your daily routine, their Google Assistant functionality gets an update this summer with the launch of Google Smart Displays. These displays will be like Google Home speakers with screens, for lack of a better descriptor.

    Coming in July, these smart displays are poised to compete with Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo Show displays. Interestingly, Google’s device can play YouTube videos, while the Echo Show doesn’t have that capability.

    I/O 2018 Reveal #4: Google Duplex

    This robust speaking AI software stole the show. Google Duplex is a feature of Google assistant capable of making realistic phone calls to businesses to make reservations and other phone-based services. Duplex sounds natural, lifelike, and completely unlike any speaking AI we have heard before.

    Complete with pauses and “ums,” Duplex manages to navigate conversation better than some humans and will be revolutionary for those with phone anxiety or those who simply don’t have time to make phone calls in their busy day.

  • Soon the OnePlus 6 Check Out What We Know Already

    Soon the OnePlus 6 Check Out What We Know Already

    We have a launch date for The OnePlus 6  and it is May 16, which is next week, and with a huge number of leaks – and official teasers from OnePlus itself – we have a pretty good idea of what you can expect. OnePlus will reveal its next all-powerful flagship at an event on 16 May. The Oppo-owned brand has even sold 1,000 tickets to fans ahead of the launch, just as it did for the OnePlus 5T, except on a larger scale. The London-based event will kick off at 5PM BST local time (6pm CET/12pm Eastern Time/9am Pacific Time).

     

    Dubbed “The Speed You need”, OnePlus’ big launch event will be livestreamed on YouTube. The OnePlus 6 will be replacing the OnePlus 5T (which is now off sale in the UK, Europe and US). The 5T was already one of the more impressive phones of 2017, finally bringing the taller display that’s fashionable among the big brands, as well as improvements to the camera. The OnePlus 6 promises to be even better.

    What We Know

    There have been a few details released so we have a pretty good idea of what to expect.  First off it will The internals will be powerful, with the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 platform as well as up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It’s going to feature a longer screen, complete with a notch, and that the back panel is going to be built from a custom designed glass consisting of five nano-coating layers. I’ll also be a waterproof device.

    As for the look of this thing we have gone from a thin, plastic OnePlus One to a OnePlus 5T built from a solid block of beautifully finished aluminium within four years. The Midnight Black and Sandstone White finishes are among the finest you’ll see on a solid metal device. Its a good looking device, no issues there.

    The Final Thought

    A big part of the appeal is that the phone rarely has any major compromises in a mobile that costs significantly less than the likes of the Samsung and Apple flagships. The OnePlus 6 will be a flagship killer and will defenitley be a phone to watch this year, ill have a full Smartphone spotlight on this mambojamba as soon as it is released.