A Sexy Semi-Functional Case

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The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are beautifully crafted smartphones. Covering the iPhone with a case seems disgraceful, however, a broken screen is an equal disgrace. As a result, finding a case that maintains the level of design mastery while providing sufficient protection is a near impossible challenge. The Element Solace case almost achieves that impossible feat (for the low price of $100), but falls short in one critical area.

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Design

The Element Solace case is a beautifully crafted combination of CNC milled aluminum and poly-carbonate. The three-piece design has a top and bottom crown that are made of milled aluminum to protect the fragile weak points of the device: the corners. (More on protection in the next area.) Additionally, the third piece is a sturdy yet soft-to-the-touch piece of poly-carbonate that beautifully wraps around the body of the device. This piece has built-in aluminum buttons that give you access to both the power and volume buttons along the side of the phone. The three pieces fit together with a satisfying snap.

The case has cutouts to expose the camera, speaker, headphone port, and lightning port. It’s worth mentioning that the headphone port hole is larger than most and accommodates the majority of headphone cord sizes. I have had challenges in the past with other cases that don’t allow me to plug in some of my headphones. That wasn’t the case with the Element Solace.

My favorite aspects of this case is the polycarbonate body. Not only is it an extremely strong substance, but it also gives the phone a material that is much easier to grip during one-handed use. When I first purchased the iPhone 6 Plus, the back of the device was so slippery that there were many instances where it nearly slipped out of my hands. That simply wasn’t the case while using the Element Solace case. The material just feels good. When people saw and asked about the case, I always invited them to hold the phone with the case on and provide feedback. The response was synonymous, the phone feels incredibly good with the Element Solace on it.

Overall, the case is stunning from a design standpoint. On multiple occasions, I received compliments on the design of the case. The most negative comment the case ever received was that it made someone mistake it for an Android phone. (I represent the Apple Fanboy side of the company) I have almost nothing negative to say regarding the design of the case .

Protection

While the case received a very high score from a design standpoint, it falls quite short in area of protection. For one, to keep the case from being overly bulky, there is very little padding inside of the case. This results in a case that transfers the majority of the shock to the phone itself instead of absorbing it. Additionally, the top and bottom crown of the case do not have any padding at all.

As a result, this case does not provide much protection when it is dropped. My wife accidentally dropped the phone directly on its face on a tile floor from about 2 feet up and the shock created a small crack in the side of the screen. (Pictured right/above) In fact, the crack was likely caused as a result of the case. Take a look at the picture on the right/above. You’ll notice that the crack is in an obscure place. Upon investigation, I noticed that the crack aligns with where the bottom crown makes contact with the side of the phone. As previously mentioned, the bottom crown does not have any padding and the lip of the crown protrudes just enough to where the shock of the drop cracked the glass of my screen from a small drop.While the crack isn’t huge nor overly noticeable, it’s disappointing that the case does not provide ample shock protection, despite being one of the most expensive cases on the market.    

While the case struggles with shock protection, the metal poly-carbonate case are quite sturdy against force. For example, I was able to put all of my weight (200 lbs.) on one foot with my iPhone face down on hard-floor without causing any damage. The polycarbonate piece does have some flex and wouldn’t likely be able to withstand a heavy object resting directly on that portion of the case. However, if distributed across the polycarbonate and metal crowns of the case, it can definitely support quite a bit of weight. While I didn’t test it with a car or semi-truck, let’s just say I was able to step on my phone without being fearful that this could be the end of my beloved iPhone 6 Plus.

While protection against such force is good, most people buy cases to protect against drops. As a result, I can’t recommend this case from a protection standpoint.

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Overall, if you’re looking for a case that will keep the beauty of your new iPhone intact while offering a small portion of protection, the Element Solace could be the case to buy. It does provide protection against forces such as being stepped on and makes one-handed use of the iPhone 6 Plus much more manageable. However, the iPhone 6 is a beautiful device as it is and the case is by no means better looking (in my opinion) than the iPhone 6 Plus by itself. As a result, I personally feel you’re better off keeping your iPhone caseless than dropping $100 dollars on a case that could actually cause more damage instead of inhibit it. As beautiful as it is, I can’t personally recommend the Element Solace phone case. Let us know what you think in the comments below. 

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Drones have become extremely popular over the last 5 years, and are being used in a number of ways. There are thousands of drones available on the market today, so picking the right one will depend on your needs and the depth of your pocket. You can go out and spend $1,200 on DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with FPV HD Video Camera and 3-Axis GimbalDJI Phantom 2, or $30 on Haktoys®%20HAK903 2.4GHz 4CH RC Nano Quadcopter, 6 Axis Gyroscope, Rechargeable, Ready To Fly, Micro Quadcopter – Colors May varyHaktoys HAK903. 

If you’re looking for joy of flight at a low cost for the everyday consumer, you may want to check out the Dromida by Kodo. Hopefully, this review will help you make the right decision when deciding on your drone.

Design and Durability

The Dromida Kodo is not the slickest or sleekest mini quadcopter available. Honestly, when looking at different quadcopters on the market, I would place the Dromida Kodo in the bottom tier in terms of overall design. I am not quite sure what Dromida was shooting for when they drew up the design of the Kodo. At first glance the Kodo looks like some type of large bug connected to a circuit board, and when asking others what it looked like, I often got the response that it looks like some sort of spider or beetle. The wings that hold the body to the propellers make the Kodo look somewhat cheap and flimsy. Most mini quadcopters on the market are made out of some sort of plastic, which add a little more flare to the design compared to the Kodo.

Although the design of the Kodo is below par, the quadcopter is more durable that I expected. The first time I ran the Kodo into the wall, I thought the crash would snap an arm off. To my surprise, the Kodo took the hit and came out without a scratch. You also have the ability to attach propeller guards (which I would highly recommend, especially if you are a beginner). I noticed that if you do not put the propeller guards on low enough–or if your propellers are put on too low–then they will cut into the prop guard (which I found out after 5 minutes of flying). With that said, after countless crashes, and numerous death spirals, I have yet to replace my props or break a wing, quite the feat in durability.

Flight, Agility, and Performance

When I first flew the Kodo, I was surprised by how easy it was to fly. While the remote might seem a little daunting when first reading the instructions, if you are used to flying simple helicopters (like the Air Hog), it’s easier to fly than you would think. After an hour or two of flying I felt like a pro, and found myself pushing the boundaries far too many times.

From a flight performance perspective the Kodo is reasonably responsive. However, compared to other quadcopters, the Kodo is nowhere near the most agile or responsive. Comparatively, I felt that the Kodo was somewhat slow leaving a desire for more agility. For example, while flying the Kodo next to the Hubsan%20H107D FPV X4 Mini RTF QuadcopterHubsan X4 H107D I quickly saw how much slower the Kodo was. The Kodo could not change direction nearly as quickly or fly as fast as the Hubsan X4 H107D. Although the Kodo is slower and less responsive than the Hubsan X4, I did feel that it was easier to fly since I had more time to react and less drastic movement.

I was not that impressed with the range of the Kodo. After about 50-60 meters the Kodo would stop responding to some of my adjustments. After about 70 meters the Kodo will completely lose connection and fall from the sky (which can be extremely scary).

Also, I found that I needed to trim the Kodo each flight, and often again after 10 minutes of flight time. It can be annoying having to constantly trim throughout flight, and at times I felt that the constant trim battle negatively affected my overall flying experience. It’s worth noting that the Kodo does not have a hover mode. However.  you can hover somewhat by simply keeping the throttle stick in place. The throttle will stay without you having to keep you finger on it. However, if you do this you will have to continually trim the quadcopter, which really defeats the purpose of hovering.

The Kodo has about 12-15 minutes of flight time on one charge and takes about 45 minutes to fully charge the battery. I have yet to replace the batteries in the remote after 2 months of use.

Camera and Video 

The Kodo comes equipped with a camera that allows you to not only take pictures, but shoot video. While the video is not HD, I was impressed with the overall video quality. I expected it to be blurry and pixilated, but that was not the case as you can see in the video below.

 I did find it quite difficult to take pictures while flying. While pressing the capture button was relatively easy to do, I have yet to take a picture that is not blurry, even when I am maintaining a steady hover. I am not sure if this is due to the drone vibrating while flying, or if the camera on the Kodo is simply poor in quality. I am assuming that it is due to the Kodo constantly moving, since I am able to capture good quality videos.

The drone comes with a 2 GB micro SD card which you place into the back of the Kodo. 2 GB might appear to be small, but you are able to store more pictures and videos than you would expect. This is mainly due to the fact that the camera shoots lower quality pictures and videos which take up less space. Along with the micro SD card, in the box you receive a micro SD card reader which plugs directly into a USB port on your computer. This nifty gadget allows you to quickly and easily transfer your videos and photos to the computer.

The file format that the videos are stored in are AVI, so you will need to make sure you have a video player that can play AVI files. I would suggest using VLC media player if you do not have a supported AVI player (windows media player will not play AVI files). 

Overall

Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised with the Dromida Kodo given the price tag. Finding a durable and easy to use quadcopter under $60 is hard to come by. While you might not be blown away by the design of the Kodo, the Kodo is an excellent choice for any beginner that isn’t overly picky on design. Currently, you can get the Kodo for $55.47 on Dromida%20Kodo UAV Quadcopter RTF with CameraAmazon with free shipping. You can  also buy extra batteries, propellers, and propeller guards online which I would highly recomend you do. It is annoying having to wait 45 minutes for a 12-15 minute flight.

If you currently own a Dromida Kodo, let us know what you think. Have you been happy with the purchase? Share you opinion in the comment section below

Courtesy of Dexta Robotics

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Virtual reality has made leaps and strides in recent years. As we’ve made graphical improvements in rendering nearly life like interactive images and advancements in motion detection technology, the ability to be fully immersed is nearly upon us. The likes of Project Morpheus from Sonyand the Oculus Rift, virtual reality headsets that create both depth-of-field imaging and real time head tracking, have shown incredible promise! The biggest challenge that we currently face is touch and feedback.

Why does playing Kinect Games on the Xbox one feel so awkward at times? Because we’re flailing about with nothing to hold onto. A new proposed project on Kickstarter, The Dexmo, is looking to jump over this hurdle. The Dexmo is an exoskeleton designed to provide feedback from the virtual(or remote) world and to create an enhanced way of capturing motion. For example, picking up objects in the virtual world will feel much more immersive by stopping your fingers in space when touching virtual objects. The prototype that was created for the Kickstarter demonstrates its functionality on the hand. Check it out below:

While the current prototype merely demonstrates its promise on the hands, the concept has the potential to cover the entire body. Imagine being geared up in a full suit that hangs from the ceiling and provides feedback not only when trying to hold onto digital objects, but also when running into objects, being hit by things, running on the ground, and more. Immersion doesn’t get much better than that!

Additionally, the application of this device goes far beyond gaming and virtual reality. This technology could be used to improve upon technology that doctors and surgeons use to provide medical assistance and surgeries remotely. This would provide a much higher level of fidelity and precision required to perform complicated remote surgery.

To this point, surgeons have been using remote controls that mimics various tools (See pictured) that you hold in your hands. Using this technology combined with sensors, lasers, and haptic feedback (feedback to let the doctor know when contact with the patient is made); doctors have been achieving successful remote surgeries since 2001. But the scope of that is limited to the types of controllers available. The Dexmo has the potential to broaden the scope of remote surgeries.

Additionally, Dexta Robotics has demonstrated on their Kickstarter page that there are a wide variety of uses for the device as a controller. It will enable a new way to control various types of robotics and hardware. Their pledge page demoes possibilities ranging from playing a virtual piano or painting a virtual image to controlling lighting and computer programs. The possibilities are endless. Check out the details on the pledge page here.

As you can see, we’re pretty excited about the prospect of this technology. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below

I know that many of you are asking yourself, why is TechSmash writing an article on a cooler? Heck, I would be asking the same question if I went to a tech review and news website and saw this article. After reading about the Coolest cooler we just could not pass this one up. From a Bluetooth speaker, to an 18 volt rechargeable blender, Coolest has all the bases covered whether you are looking to spend a day at the beach, or take the family to the park. Check out the video below to see how Ryan Grepper, founder of Coolest, has been able to create the most high-tech cooler we have seen yet.

Well did you catch all of that? As we said before, this cooler is the most high-tech cooler we have seen on the market. This cooler measures at a whopping 25” x 18” x 17” and its specs include:

• 18v Batter Powered Rechargeable Blender
• Removable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
• USB Charger
• LED Lid Light
• Gear Tie-Down
• Cooler Divider/Cutting Board
• Extra Wide Easy Rollin Tires
• Integrated Storage for Plates and Knife
• Bottle Opener
• 60 Quart space for all your picnic needs.

The next best tech cooler we could find was IcyTunes by Igloo. This cooler has 2 speakers, MP3 connection, AM/FM radio, base and volume control and a LED power indicator. These are some great features for a cooler, but the IcyTunes wouldn’t be able to stand up against the Coolest cooler during a dance-off at a Mexican fiesta on the beach. Since the Coolest is not yet on the market, there are a lot of questions regarding the durability of parts, and the life of the battery; unfortunately these cannot be answered until the cooler is on the shelves. Right now you can pre-order the Coolest and get $50 off the $185 price tag when the Coolest goes public.

Beats headphones have taken the world by storm. Earbuds are slowly becoming a thing of the past and high quality over-the-ear headphones are increasing in market share; and it’s not just the music enthusiasts. When considering a pair of Beats headphones, it is important to understand that not all Beats are created equal. Just like the co-existence of the Double Cheeseburger and the McDouble, that extra piece of cheese makes all the different. We’re going to break it down for you so that you can make an educated decision; i.e. buy the extra slice of cheese if that’s your thing.

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Beats Studio

Price: $299.95

View on Amazon 

The Beat’s Studio are the premium pair of the bunch. These headphones go completely over the ear that works in tandem with the noise cancelling technology. These headphones have a rechargeable battery that lasts 20+ hours and a switch that automatically turns the headphones on and off with sound input. Additionally, there is a slick little fuel gauge to let you know how much juice you have left. In my opinion, the Studio beats have the best sound profile compared to the others, excluding Beats Pro edition. At high volumes the bass is more crisp and has less distortion compared to the cheaper options.

One drawback to Studio Beats is the size. These headphones are not compact in size. While they do fold up, you’re going to have to do some strategic space planning when lugging these cans around. At the end of the day, if you want some of the best sound, and don’t plan on lugging them around frequently; these are the headphones for you.

Beats Studio Wireless

Price: $379.95

View on Amazon 

Beats Studio Wireless headphones have all the benefits of Beats Studio headphones except you can take a chainsaw and cut that wire out of the equation. This is achieved using Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth tends to have a bit of a bad reputation in the music world from a sound quality standpoint. However, quality has come a long way and most critics agree that Beats Wireless are amongst the top sounding bluetooth headphones on the market; boasting minimal compression/distortion. The question is, do you have 79 trips to the dollar store this next week that you can sacrifice in exchange for the wireless edition of the Studio headphones.

Lastly, It is also worth noting that the headphones do come with a cord so that you can plug directly into your audio devices if the bluetooth quality just isn’t cutting it for you.  Just watch out for those door handles that constantly yank off your headphones, shock resistance was not a mentioned feature by Beats.

Beats Solo²

Price: $199.95

View on Amazon 

The Solo² was both a redesign and a sound upgrade from the previous Solo HD edition. This included a complete re-work of the sound profile touting “a more dynamic, wider range of sound, with a clarity that will bring you closer to what the artist intended you to hear.” At least according to Dre himself. (Or likely the marketing team behind the website.)

While not wireless nor active noise cancelling(destructive interference), these headphones still provide premium quality sound. Not quite as good as Studio beats, but better than most other headphones on the market. They also fold up making them far more compact and portable that the Studio Beats.

Additionally, these headphones are on-ear and not over-ear headphones, meaning the pads do not fully envelope your ears, but sit on top. Some people do find this to be less comfortable. Additionally, the on-ear headphones typically provide less noise cancellation from less padding. However, the price is right on these cans. You could feed a lot of children in Africa with the $179 you save compared to Studio Wireless. (think of the children)

Beats Mixr

Price: $249.95

View on Amazon 

These headphones were created for the hearing impaired and/or DJs of the group. They were developed with high volume in mind allowing you to still enjoy the rich crisp bass, the roaring vocals of your mid-tones, and those high pitched twangs of the treble. Also, the headphones were designed around the needs of a DJ. You can swivel the earpiece behind your ear to take in crowd requests before putting on the next big Miley Cyrus song. Then you can swivel it back into place to block out the Boos from your Miley choices.

These headphones are not wireless and do not sport active noise cancellation, but they are compact and a bit more lifeproof than the other models so that you can join in with the bouncers of the club when necessary without worying about stopping the music. Nothing like a full-on brawl with a little Beats improved Mozart in the background.

Beats Pro

Price: $399.95

View on Amazon 

On sale on Amazon for $363.48

Beats pros are the best headphones of the bunch for the audiophiles of the group. While it does boast wireless nor sound cancellation technology, these headphones were designed to deliver the most premium sound experience that Beats has to offer. If you’re a musician, music enthusiast, producer, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer; these are the headphones that you need!

As a bonus, these headphones do not require batteries and they are compact so that you can take them with you on your next slay-fest! They do come with a hefty price tag, however.

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Beats has a number of models to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Pick your poison and forever hold your peace.

What headphones do you think are best? Are you an audiosnob (the good kind) requiring the best of the best that Beats Pro has to offer? Or do you have siblings that you need to tune out using the noise cancellation of the Studio Beats? Let us know in the comments below!

There appears to be an ongoing battle the Apple vs Android battle. Each user believe the product they use is superior.Tell us which side you are on and why in the comments section below![LoginRadius_Share]

iPhone Dominance

By: Ryan Egan

My introduction to iPhone fanboyism began back in the year 2009. I purchase the iPhone 3g and my world was changed forever. I couldn’t believe what could be done by combining the power of a computer, with internet on the go, and a GPS. I’ll never forget the first time I looked at the stars through my iPhone and it identified all of the constellations using the variety of tech inside of the phone. That was only the beginning. 

Technology rapidly improved with higher speed internet with the advent of 4g LTE, higher quality cameras, improved sensors, and a rapidly changing OS that continued to bring innovative features to the masses. The iPhone was coined both a status and a sex symbol. The tech was and continues to be one of the sexiest and most coveted pieces of tech in the industry.

Then Google decided to enter the market with Android and had many people yelling from the hills,” iPhone killer.” The biggest difference between the iPhone and Android is rather subtle, but it is the reason that is has appealed to the masses more than Android, and I don’t believe it’s just because they were first to the market. The biggest difference between the two devices is attention to detail. 

Android coming to the market enabled Apple a new test bed for features. The model that Apple consistently followed was: Google would innovate and bring new features to smart phones and 

Apple stands back and watches to see what sticks to the consumers. Once identified, Apple brings those features to the iPhone, only they perfect it for the every day consumer. 

Take multi-tasking for example. This was the Android fanboy’s longstanding argument against Apple, because they took so long to bring it to the market. Steve Jobs was determined to not let it impact the user friendly experience that Apple is known for. Once it was brought to the market, they found more effective ways to multitask and still maintain optimal battery life. Plus, closing apps was an intuitive double click away. 

Android on the other hand, struggles with multi-tasking to this day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left an app open in the morning, just to find my phone nearly dead by lunch time. Not to mention, fully closing out apps on Android requires going into a secret menu to look at all running processes. You can hold down the home button and swipe those apps off the screen, but oft-times many of those apps continue to run. Google is excellent at innovating and bringing new ideas to the table. They struggle to convert those ideas into a user friendly experience.

Now, I’ll admit I have since switched over to Android, and love the phone for it’s innovative features, but I’m a tech guy, also known as an early adopter. I enjoy spending intimate time with my phone digging through menus and figuring out the intricacies of the phone. However, I know I’m a minority in the world. It is for that reason alone that I think Apple has maintained dominance in US market share. If I could give Apple one piece of advice, it would be to innovate faster, but not at the expense of impacting the smooth and friendly user experience.

My Android experience started with the HTC EVO 4G in 2011. When I purchased this phone, I was in awe of its display and speed. As time when on, I discovered Samsung, and quickly became a fanatic, as I realized Samsung was lightyears ahead of other Android phones.

My first Samsung phone was the Galaxy S3. Going from the HTC EVO to the Galaxy S3 I quickly found my second love (the first is my wife). The Galaxy S3 was packed with hardware and great software.

The same year I purchased the Samsung Galaxy S3 my wife got the iPhone 4S. I thought she would love this phone because of its simplicity but after 6 months I found her using my phone more than hers. I asked her why and I would then start he hear complaining about how slow it was and how often it would bug out on her. I had the opportunity really give the iPhone a good look and that’s when I determined that Apple was not right for me.

I first noticed that I was not able to customize anything with stock IOS for iPhone. Simple things like adding widgets was not even possible. I also love what Android does with shortcut options I use shortcuts almost every day to change different settings depending on what I need to do. Again iPhone does not have this ability.

Android is King

By: Curtis Wallen

Storage and battery upgrades was probably one of the biggest turnoffs of Apple products. Most Android phones allow the ability to add additional storage to your phone by using a micro SD card. With these possible upgrades I did not have to worry about the amount of pictures, videos, or music I had on my phone since it would not be taking the internal storage of my phone. Android phones also provide the ability to get a larger battery or to purchase a second battery for replacement. Although it is possible to change out your battery with Apple I would not recommend basic users to try and do it.

Most Apple users love FaceTime. However, the problem with FaceTime is that you can only do this with other Apple devices. This seriously restricts the ability for iPhone users to video chat with Android users. With Android having 51.2% (Apple 43.5% and others far behind with 5.3%) of the smartphone market in the US, this leaves a large amount of Apple users not being able to use FaceTime to chat with their friends and family, according to Time.com (2013).

When it comes down to it, I am simply an Android guy. I love the open sourced ability, customization, and the plethora of devices Android has to choose from. Yes there are also some things that you give up when choosing Android (such as a sleek design and a more user-friendly interface), but I am more than willing to give up some small things to get a superior product

There appears to be an ongoing battle the Apple vs Android battle. Each user believe the product they use is superior.Tell us which side you are on and why in the comments section below!

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iPhone Dominance

By: Ryan Egan

My introduction to iPhone fanboyism began back in the year 2009. I purchase the iPhone 3g and my world was changed forever. I couldn’t believe what could be done by combining the power of a computer, with internet on the go, and a GPS. I’ll never forget the first time I looked at the stars through my iPhone and it identified all of the constellations using the variety of tech inside of the phone. That was only the beginning. 

Technology rapidly improved with higher speed internet with the advent of 4g LTE, higher quality cameras, improved sensors, and a rapidly changing OS that continued to bring innovative features to the masses. The iPhone was coined both a status and a sex symbol. The tech was and continues to be one of the sexiest and most coveted pieces of tech in the industry.

Then Google decided to enter the market with Android and had many people yelling from the hills,” iPhone killer.” The biggest difference between the iPhone and Android is rather subtle, but it is the reason that is has appealed to the masses more than Android, and I don’t believe it’s just because they were first to the market. The biggest difference between the two devices is attention to detail. 

Android coming to the market enabled Apple a new test bed for features. The model that Apple consistently followed was: Google would innovate and bring new features to smart phones and 

Apple stands back and watches to see what sticks to the consumers. Once identified, Apple brings those features to the iPhone, only they perfect it for the every day consumer. 

Take multi-tasking for example. This was the Android fanboy’s longstanding argument against Apple, because they took so long to bring it to the market. Steve Jobs was determined to not let it impact the user friendly experience that Apple is known for. Once it was brought to the market, they found more effective ways to multitask and still maintain optimal battery life. Plus, closing apps was an intuitive double click away. 

Android on the other hand, struggles with multi-tasking to this day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left an app open in the morning, just to find my phone nearly dead by lunch time. Not to mention, fully closing out apps on Android requires going into a secret menu to look at all running processes. You can hold down the home button and swipe those apps off the screen, but oft-times many of those apps continue to run. Google is excellent at innovating and bringing new ideas to the table. They struggle to convert those ideas into a user friendly experience.

Now, I’ll admit I have since switched over to Android, and love the phone for it’s innovative features, but I’m a tech guy, also known as an early adopter. I enjoy spending intimate time with my phone digging through menus and figuring out the intricacies of the phone. However, I know I’m a minority in the world. It is for that reason alone that I think Apple has maintained dominance in US market share. If I could give Apple one piece of advice, it would be to innovate faster, but not at the expense of impacting the smooth and friendly user experience.

My Android experience started with the HTC EVO 4G in 2011. When I purchased this phone, I was in awe of its display and speed. As time when on, I discovered Samsung, and quickly became a fanatic, as I realized Samsung was lightyears ahead of other Android phones.

My first Samsung phone was the Galaxy S3. Going from the HTC EVO to the Galaxy S3 I quickly found my second love (the first is my wife). The Galaxy S3 was packed with hardware and great software.

The same year I purchased the Samsung Galaxy S3 my wife got the iPhone 4S. I thought she would love this phone because of its simplicity but after 6 months I found her using my phone more than hers. I asked her why and I would then start he hear complaining about how slow it was and how often it would bug out on her. I had the opportunity really give the iPhone a good look and that’s when I determined that Apple was not right for me.

I first noticed that I was not able to customize anything with stock IOS for iPhone. Simple things like adding widgets was not even possible. I also love what Android does with shortcut options I use shortcuts almost every day to change different settings depending on what I need to do. Again iPhone does not have this ability.

Android is King

By: Curtis Wallen

Storage and battery upgrades was probably one of the biggest turnoffs of Apple products. Most Android phones allow the ability to add additional storage to your phone by using a micro SD card. With these possible upgrades I did not have to worry about the amount of pictures, videos, or music I had on my phone since it would not be taking the internal storage of my phone. Android phones also provide the ability to get a larger battery or to purchase a second battery for replacement. Although it is possible to change out your battery with Apple I would not recommend basic users to try and do it.

Most Apple users love FaceTime. However, the problem with FaceTime is that you can only do this with other Apple devices. This seriously restricts the ability for iPhone users to video chat with Android users. With Android having 51.2% (Apple 43.5% and others far behind with 5.3%) of the smartphone market in the US, this leaves a large amount of Apple users not being able to use FaceTime to chat with their friends and family, according to Time.com (2013).

When it comes down to it, I am simply an Android guy. I love the open sourced ability, customization, and the plethora of devices Android has to choose from. Yes there are also some things that you give up when choosing Android (such as a sleek design and a more user-friendly interface), but I am more than willing to give up some small things to get a superior product.

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One of the most anticipated features of the Chromecast that was announced earlier this year was Chromecast mirroring on Android devices. This feature would remove many of the limitations that has plagued using Android with the Chromecast; the main limitation being the low number of apps that supported beaming.

That limitation has been officially lifted as the recently released mirroring feature allows you to mirror anything onto the screen. This includes all of your video apps; yes even the ABC player app functions reasonably well using this feature.

Quality

The quality of the stream is very good, but is dependent on the number of pixels that your phone actually displays. (There is finally a reason to have more pixels on your phone’s screen than the naked eye can see. Samsung has known all along!) The Galaxy S4 looked extremely crisp on the screen in all of its 1080p glory.

We did notice some stutter while there was either heavy network use or when doing resource intensive actions such as playing games. Speaking of which, don’t plan on playing games on your television through the Chromecast as there is about a half second delay between your phone’s screen and the television screen; making it an nonviable solution for gaming on the big screen.

Usability

This feature is extremely user friendly. You simply download the Chromecast App to your phone, open the app, and tap Cast Your Screen. From there, anything you put on your phone will be placed on the screen. This can be extremely useful when showing videos, photos, or even your gaming to friends and others around you. As was mentioned previously, any video app can now be streamed directly to your TV, even if it isn’t natively supported by the Chromecast.

The biggest downside to the release is that it only supports a small number of devices. The supported devices are as follows:

• Nexus 4
• Nexus 5
• Nexus 7 (2013)
• Nexus 10
• Samsung Galaxy S4
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (Google Play Edition)
• Samsung Galaxy S5
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10
• HTC One M7
• HTC One M7 (Google Play Edition)
• LG G3
• LG G2
• LG G Pro 2
• Sony Xperia Z3
• Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Google promises that support for additional devices is coming soon. While limited on the number of devices, I think it is safe to say that the demographic of the individuals that are most likely to utilize this feature, likely own a newer device increasing the likelihood of them owning a supported device.

Conclusion

The mirroring function is a welcome addition that helps address many of the inefficiencies that have plagued the Chromecast since its inception. While limited to a small number of devices, and its limitations in the area of gaming, the function works nearly flawlessly in 95% of our use cases for this functionality. We can honestly say that we now recommend the Chromecast to an even greater degree with this increased functionality

In the end, it comes down to what functionality you’re looking for.

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Since the release of Google’s Chromecast (view on Amazon), a couple of competitors have entered the dongle video streaming arena: The Amazon Fire Stick (view On Amazon) and the Roku Stick (view on Amazon). We’ve put together a side-by-side comparison so that you don’t have to. Check it out below:

Specs and Hardware:

	Amazon Fire Stick	Google ChromeCast	Roku Stick
Remote Included
Processor	Dual-core	Single-core	Single-core
Memory	1 GB	512 MB	512 MB
Flash Storage	8 GB	2 GB	256 MB
Dolby Digital Plus certified surround sound
Wi-Fi	Dual band/Dual antenna (MIMO)	Single band	Dual band/Dual antenna (MIMO)
Voice Search	Remote app; voice remote sold separately
HDMI extender included
HDMI video out (up to 1080p)
Fling/Cast Smart Phones and Tablet Videos			(Limited)
Phone/Tablet Screen Mirroring

Courtesy of Amazon.com

The devices are all very similar. Some hardware standouts include that the Roku Stick and the Amazon Fire Stick both include a remote. For families looking to find a streaming device for younger kids that don’t have smart phones, the Chromecast is not going to be a smart choice as it will require that they hunt down a smart phone, tablet, or computer to stream their favorite shows. Additionally, the Fire Stick and the Roku stick both feature dual band/dual antenna for Wi-fi. This equates to faster wi-fi speeds and an increased wi-fi range. If you’re looking to stream to that corner room of your house, you may be better off with either the Fire Stick or the Roku Stick.

The Amazon Fire Stick and the Google Chromecast both support screen mirroring meaning that you can stream a variety of non-video streaming related content such as social media, pictures, awkward panda GIFs, and more. It’s worth pointing out, however, that the Roku Stickdoes have some non-streaming apps such as social media, AOL news, and more as an alternative to screen mirroring.

Finally, in my opinion, the performance specs of the devices are less relevant as performance is going to vary based on how effective the software is that runs the device. The Chromecast is zippy and works extremely well. The Roku Stick also has a slick user interface that doesn’t seem to lag or stutter on a regular basis. Performance has yet to be seen on the Amazon Fire Stick, so the relevancy of the beefed up ram and processor is yet to be known. We’ll be sure to update our comparison once it is released.

Apps:

Like I always says, a device is only as good as the software that can run on it. All three of these devices have strong offerings, but it is clear that the Roku Stick is the front-runner from a streaming apps perspective.

	Amazon Fire Stick	Google Chromecast	Roku Stick
Netflix
Amazon Instant Video
Hulu Plus
YouTube
Pandora
PBS Kids
WatchESPN
Bloomberg TV
Crackle
Twitch
HBO GO
ABC
Disney Channel
NPR One
PBS Kids
MLB
Google Play Movies and TV
PLEX
VUDU
BeyondPod
Vimeo
VEVO
History Channel
NBA Gametime
Showtime Anywhere
Spotify

This is by no means an exhaustive list. The Roku Stick has over 1,200 different streaming apps putting it significantly ahead of its competition. It’s worth pointing out that the Chromecast can stream whatever is in a browser window on a computer, opening the doors to the majority of the services available on the Roku Stick.However, streaming in a browser window is prone to some stutter depending on the hardware of your computer.

When considering your streaming stick, if there are specific streaming services that you are looking for, it is best to check manufacturers website to see if it is supported. Use the following links to view supported apps for each device:

• Google Chromecast Supported Apps
• Amazon Fire Stick Supported Apps
• Roku Stick Supported Apps

Ease of Use:

The Chromecast and the Roku Stick have both shown that they are relatively easy to set up. Simply plug them in, connect them to wi-fi, choose your apps of choice, and start streaming. The Roku Stick is meant to be primarily controlled with the remote, with the exception of a few major apps that support casting from smart phone apps. With the Chromecast your are captive to your smart phone, tablet, or computer. If you don’t own one of those devices, this device will be worthless to you. Then again, if you don’t have one of those devices, you’re likely not reading this article. (Unless you’re at the library)

Due to the small form factor of these devices, they are often considered for the purpose of becoming travel companions to avoid costly hotel on-demand fees. Unfortunately, both the Chromecast and the Roku Stickboth currently don’t have an effective way to authenticate you on Wi-fi that requires you to login in a browser. Over 90% of hotels have a portal that you have to log into. (This is an accurate statistic pulled from the air)

It is worth pointing out that the Amazon Fire Stick has advertised that soon after its released the device will support logging into wi-fi that is captive behind a login. This is a big deal for individuals that travel on a regular basis and is likely to win them over.

Price:

For many consumers, at the end of the day, price is going to be a primary factor. The Chromecast and the Fire Stick are both similarly prices at $35 and $39 dollars respectively. The Roku Stick does require a premium at $49 for the device. While $14 dollars doesn’t seem like much more, keep in mind, that is 40% more than the Chromecast. Food for thought, while digging through your wallet.

Conclusion:

In short, all three of these devices hold a lot a promise and are packed with functionality. For a more integrated solution with smart phones and tablets, go with either the Chromecast or the Fire Stick. If you’re buying this for kids or individuals that don’t own smart phones, tablets, or computers; consider the Fire Stickor the Roku Stick with their included remotes. If you’re just looking for access to the most content possible, the Roku Stick is hands down your best option with over 1,200 apps. In the end, it comes down to what functionality you’re looking for. What do you think of these three devices? Which one will ultimately win you over? Let us know in the comments below.