Dear Google: I Need Better Performance NOT Prettier Software…

Lollipop and Material Design are starting to filter out to more Android handsets. LG G3 and G Flex 2, Galaxy Note 4 and S6. Unfortunately my experiences have been somewhat mixed.

Google has taken some interesting steps in improving the look and feel of their newest operating system. Nice sliding transitions and animations, yet I’ve found issues with phones lagging and stuttering while multi-tasking. Button presses delayed long enough to make the user question whether the press was registered at all.

Screenshot_2015-05-08-09-58-40Most recently, formatting on Material Design apps breaking functionality. Running my Youtube channel, I LIVE out of the Youtube Creator app which helps me manage comments on my videos. It recently got a Material Design makeover! Terrific! It’ll be prettier to interact with!

Except, the app wont scroll up to show the comments field anymore.  The keyboard blocks the end of the comment and the area where I’d reply. Prettier doesn’t help me if I can’t interact easily with viewers while I’m on the go.

Of course it’ll get fixed in a future update, but I’m getting tired of waiting out a future update to address real and current concerns. I’m tired of the promise that eventually these things will work better in the future, especially when “updates” make them work less good than they used to work on older software.

Such is progress I suppose…

Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for Galaxy S6 Available Online for $199

samsung gear vr innovator edition galaxy s6VR tech is heating up and we’re getting more options for consumers.

If you’re a Galaxy S6 owner, you can now pick up a Gear VR headset built on Oculus Rift tech. Utilizing the screen and processing power of your S6, you can strap this puppy to your face to experience immersive gaming and video.

Samsung is also touting their Milk VR service which streams 360 degree video, similar to Youtube’s roll out of their 360 video service.

The Innovator Edition is available online now for $199 and thankfully works with both the S6 and the S6 Edge (unlike the Note 4 version of the Gear VR). The headset should be available to purchase in store at Best Buy later this month.

Gear Innovator Edition for Galaxy S6 (Samsung)

Review: OtterBox Symmetry Bumper Case for LG G3

I’ve been a long time fan of OtterBox Cases. Their new Symmetry line of bumper cases seeks to balance style, durability, and ease of use. Do they live up to hype? Let’s take a look…

Shop OtterBox Symmetry on Amazon.
More info on OtterBox Products.

LG VR for G3 Review and Google Cardboard Tour

People keep saying Virtual Reality WILL be the next big thing, but there still aren’t very many ways for consumers to try out VR without investing a ton of cash. LG sent over their headset, which uses the G3 as the display, for us to test out some VR apps and the Google Cardboard ecosystem!

Shop other Cardboard compatible viewers on Amazon.
More info on Google Cardboard.

Glucose Monitoring App Coming to Android Wear for Diabetics Using Dexcom Monitors

xdrip nightwatch glucose monitor app android wearThis is a perfect example of where we can start pushing the boundaries on consumer wearable technology.

Dexcom makes medical equipment to help manage diabetes. Patients were a small sensor, plugged into their skin, which continuously monitors their blood sugar. This is a far more convenient and accurate way to get a sense of trends and to manage health than solely relying on individual blood tests on strips.

Of course there’s always room for improvement. Dexcom’s CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) sends a Bluetooth signal to a little standalone unit, which is another little gadget to keep track of and charge. What if we could send that monitoring info to consumer devices like phones or watches to get near real-time data?

Dexcom has brought an official app to the Apple Watch which displays info and graphs, but using the same general connection protocols, a developer is working on the same connection for Android Wear watches. Unofficial Apps xDrip and NightWatch pull the info from the Dexcom unit and send it to an Android Wear watch.

Once connected, users can get updates every five minutes with their blood sugar and can see daily trends displayed as a graph.

You can check out the XDrip and NightWatch projects via Stephen Black’s page on GitHub for more info.

 

LG G4 Trial Giveaway Program Live in the USA! Trial Submissions End May 7th!

LG G4 trial programLG wants to get their new flagship into smartphone fans hands! Sure we tech bloggers like to share our thoughts, but never underestimate the value of real users getting hands on and showing their experiences.

If you think you’ve got the chops to go hands on with the new G4, and posts your thoughts to social media channels, you can submit an entry via their trial page. Submissions will be accepted through May 7th at 11:59pm Eastern Time. Two Hundred and Seventy Six people will be selected so get cracking!

Samsung Announces New Faster MicroSD Memory Cards Which Galaxy S6 Users Can’t Use

ProEvo_Main_1Samsung is releasing newer, faster SD and MicroSD cards.

The EVO+ line of cards will feature 80MB/s Read and 20MB/s write speeds. There’s definitely more of a focus on listening to music and watching high resolution video from these cards. EVO+ will arrive in 64GB and 128GB flavors.

Their new Pro line will step up to 95MB/s read and write speeds for the full sized SD card and 90MB/s read and write speeds for the MicroSD card in 32GB and 64GB flavors. These are cards focused on content creation, especially for folks shooting UHD video like that found on the NX1 or Galaxy Note 4.

Samsung is a premier manufacturer of flash memory products, we’ve reviewed their EVO Solid State computer drives, so it’s just a bit of a shame that Galaxy S6 owners wont be able to utilize these faster cards. No pricing or availability yet on these new EVO cards, but they are expected later this month.

If you’re curious how much of a speed advantage you might find moving to a faster memory card, we did perform a test of a 90MB/s Transcend card, which you can watch below.

Continue reading “Samsung Announces New Faster MicroSD Memory Cards Which Galaxy S6 Users Can’t Use”

Review: Samsung Galaxy S6 on AT&T – Form Over Function?

The Galaxy S6 represents a radical change from the S5 and the Note line of phones. Samsung’s response to criticisms, and lagging sales, showcases a renewed focus on fashion, design, and style. Is it just a pretty face? Let’s take a look…

Shop the Galaxy S6 on Amazon
Galaxy S6 Full Camera Review
Galaxy S6 Speaker Test
Galaxy S6 vs LG G4
Galaxy S6 vs Moto X
Galaxy S6 vs Lumia 930
GS6 Front Facing Camera Test (VLOG)
GS6 UHD Video vs Lumia 930
GS6 UHD Video vs LG G4