Android

ZTE Spro 2 with Android Touchscreen is a Surprising Pico Projector Standout

The ZTE Spro 2 is an Android-based pico projector with a built-in 5” touchscreen that, when paired with an activated Verizon SIM card, can serve as a wireless hot spot with 4G speeds. It has an internal speaker and battery as well, making it a great all-in-one solution for presentations on the go. The Spro 2 currently sells for $499.98. Breaking the mold from conventional pico projectors, the ZTE Spro 2 has a built-in touchscreen tablet so that it’s easy to operate and can used with or without a separate media player. With Android 4.4 KitKat running, you’ve got access…


Saying Goodbye To Google Project Fi

I joined Project Fi in August of this year. Project Fi is essentially a prepaid phone service for which Google acts as an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). This is just a fancy term for a company which doesn’t own the cellular towers but merely purchases a bulk block of service from the carrier(s) and resells it.


Get Great Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals on the Huawei Watch

Did you read my Huawei Watch review? If you did, you’ll recall that it is currently my favorite smartwatch. If you’re interested in one, this is the time to buy! On Black Friday, Huawei will be offering $50 to $100 off select watch models through GetHuawei.com, BestBuy.com, select Best Buy stores, Amazon.com, Target.com and Google Play store.


Mattel View-Master is a Blast from the Past

So many of us, especially as we enter the holiday season, fondly remember our favorite childhood toys – Barbie, G.I. Joe, Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, Lite-Brite, Legos, etc. For me it was the View-Master, that handheld plastic stereoscopic viewer that connected me with exotic locations around the globe. Now Mattel has relaunched the View-Master for the modern, high-tech era.


OnePlus X Set to Be the Next Phone You Never Knew You Wanted

The OnePlus One was one of the best-priced Android phones to come out in the last few years; made in small batches which created demand from those without invitations to purchase, it combined many of the features that people liked from different phones to create one single shockingly inexpensive, well-built and well-featured device. Dan and I both bought one.




An Android User’s Thoughts on iOS: Likes and Dislikes

I’ve been an Android user ever since I received a G1 as a gift. I’ve only ever had Android phones and tablets, so I haven’t had a lot of exposure to iOS. When my workplace offered us a phone for work use, I had a choice between a Galaxy Note 4, a Galaxy S6 and the iPhone 6.


Always Have a Charging Cable Nearby with the Echo Connect Key!

We’ve all panicked while out and about, realizing that our phone battery is low, and either we scramble to the car to get the cable, or we turn off every setting possible in attempts to keep enough battery to make it home. The Echo Connect Key by the company named, you guessed it, Echo, is a small charge key that you can attach to your keyring so you’ll never find yourself without a way to charge your device. Now what if you have an iPhone and your friend offers you their Micro-USB cable? Well there’s a solution to this as well!…



Is a $300 Savings on a Smartphone Worth It to YOU?

I asked the Gear Diary team a question last night: if you had an additional $300, how would you spend it? The reason I asked, was that $300 seemed to be the average cost difference between an iPhone/Galaxy phone, and the new Nexus phones (Nexii?) and the Moto X Pure; was it enough to lure switchers?






Google Surprises Everyone with Android Wear on iOS

Do you use an iPhone but drool over the Moto 360? Or have you been eyeing up the beauty of the LG Urbane while staring forlornly at your 6+? Google has some good news for you: Android Wear is now available on iOS, though with some restrictions (both Google and Apple-related).


The Frogurt is Also Cursed, or, Why Smartphones Have Become Boring

One of my favorite exchanges in “The Simpsons” comes from “Treehouse of Horror III”, where Homer goes to buy a doll for Bart and has an exchange about the tradeoffs (doll is good, but cursed, but comes with a free frogurt, also cursed). It seems like the same good/bad tradeoffs exist in smartphones these days as well!


Does HTC Have a Future?

HTC is not doing well. Their stock is trading badly right now, and their reputation as a top-tier smartphone company is under a great deal of pressure. The HTC One M9 landed with a whimper rather than a bang, and they had to delay their Grip fitness band. So does HTC have a future?




GIV Mobile Is a Great Service Provider If You’re on a Budget

You can ask anyone about one thing they would love to change about their cell phones, and most will tell you: They’d like more data, and a lower bill. As someone who has been grandfathered in on data, I know for a fact that having to pay full retail for my phones every two years sucks.