Other Reviews - 7/15 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Jun

SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB UHS-I microSD Review: Like An F-22 For Nerds

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Accessories, Other Reviews

For most, a generic off-the-shelf microSD card is probably just fine. It may slow things down and take a little longer to access, but that's alright in return for lower cost. For some people, though, having their device slowed down by a budget microSD card isn't an option. Other people need high performance for recording 3D and 1080p video. It's those two groups that the SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDHC UHS-I card is for.

^{I think SanDisk caught Sprint's case of diu nominibus.}

SanDisk touts the Extreme Pro as being "the fastest microSDHC memory card on the market." I haven't tested every card on the market, but they're probably right.

Jun

[Lightning Review] Philips SHL9705A On-Ear Headphones With In-Line Controls And Control App

Posted by David Ruddock in Accessories, Other Reviews, Reviews

While earbuds and wireless headsets are an ever-expanding consumer electronic market thanks to the proliferation of smartphones, on-ear cans remain something of a niche (unless you count Beats - I don't). Even more niche than that are smartphone-friendly on-ear headphones. And somewhere between particularly obscure red wine varietals from Germany and Super Audio CDs lies the selection of specifically Android-friendly wired on-ear headphones. (Not really, but I wanted to make a ridiculous analogy.) The point is, if you're looking for wired on-ear headphones with Android in-line controls, your options aren't exactly endless.

The big houses such as Sennheiser either still only make in-line control products for iOS devices, or like Grado have forsaken the notion of such things altogether.

Jun

[Lightning Review] Geneva Model XS Portable Bluetooth Speaker: Really Cool, Just Don't Ever Buy It

Posted by David Ruddock in Other Reviews

The portable Bluetooth speaker market is rapidly heating up, and one of our favorite designs in recent memory in the super-portable range was the Geneva Model XS. It's sleek, minimalistic, and so retro. Unfortunately, one crippling design flaw (along with some strange control choices) means this $250, almost art-like speaker / clock-radio just doesn't work in the real world.

The flaw? The hinge on the outer case is made of like, paper-thin plastic. That's it. So, when I was first playing with the Model XS and figuring out how its interesting folding mechanics functioned, I dropped it - from a staggering height of about one foot.

Jun

Review: For Those Willing To Part With The EVO LTE's Paper-Thin Frame, Seidio's Surface, Active, And Convert Combo Cases Offer A Full Spectrum Of Protection

Posted by Liam Spradlin in EVO 4G LTE (Jewel), Other Reviews, Reviews, Sprint

Although I've dropped a phone a total of about three times in my life, and although manufacturers are continually touting more and more durable glass, polycarbonate plastic, and even metal that's 3x stronger than stainless steel, there lingers in the back of my mind the question of what may happen if and when that fateful day comes – the day when I finally drop my phone onto an unforgiving concrete, asphalt, or otherwise hard surface. Looking to calm the fears of high-end device users everywhere, Seidio created their signature Surface, Active and Convert Combo cases.

I recently got my hands on a set of cases for my new EVO LTE, a device that (despite its quirks) is certainly worth protecting.

After living with the cases for a while, I've learned a few things – first, Seidio has covered the full spectrum of protection from super light and compact to ultra-durable monster case that would keep your EVO unscathed through a hurricane.

Jun

[Quick Look] Arkon Desk & Travel Stand For Tablets: Simple, Compact, And Convenient

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Other Reviews, Tablets

If you own a tablet, then you probably realize a good tablet stand is clutch. The thing is, though, there are so many stands on the market, it's almost impossible to find exactly what you want. Personally, I want something as minimal as possible, functional, offers a variety of viewing angles, and doesn't take up a lot of room in my bag. Enter the Arkon Desk & Travel Stand for Tablets.

As you can see, this stand is not only extremely compact, but equally as versatile. I've spend the last few weeks using this stand, and I have to say that the overall quality of the product has left me impressed; in fact, it actually surprised me in ways that I didn't expect.

Jun

Spigen Ultra Thin Air Case For HTC One X: A Good Choice For Those Who Think Less Is More

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Other Reviews

I'm not much of a case person. I was never very clumsy with my gadgets and didn't think the added bulk was a worthy trade-off for the added protection, especially in the day and age of ultra-durable plastics and Gorilla Glass screens. But on both fronts, that's changing; it's a lot harder to guarantee the safety of my gadgets when I've got kids (we're both likely to drop things) and there are some very sleek cases on the market. Enter the $20 Spigen Ultra Thin Air case for the One X.

The Ultra Thin Air is, as one would surmise, very thin and very light.

May

[Quick Look] Hand Stylus: Not All Styli Are Created Equal, And This One Proves It

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Other Reviews

When using a tablet for things like playing games, browsing the web, or other general activities, I really like using a stylus. While I have several different styli, there is one thing that consistently bothers me about all of them: the tip size is just too big. I understand that it's made to emulate a fingertip, but I think a smaller tip would lead to more precision, especially when browsing sites that aren't necessarily touch-optimized, or for things like natural-writing, as well as any sort of digital art. Enter the Hand Stylus, a new Kickstarter project that aims to address those very concerns.

May

Logitech Z515 Bluetooth Speaker Lighting Review: Twice The Size Of The Jawbone Jambox, But At Half The Price

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Other Reviews

I use my Android devices to stream music and movies a lot. However, the sound quality directly from a phone or tablet leaves much to be desired, to say the least. For that, you could just wire in some earbuds, but that doesn't help if you're trying to listen to music or watch a flick with other people. In that case, you need an external source of sound. Enter the Logitech Z515 Bluetooth speaker.

I've spent the last couple of weeks using this speaker on a daily basis, and I have to say, I'm quite impressed with what it has to offer for the money.

May

SPIGEN Klasden Levanaus Backpack Review: Meet The Swiss Army Knife Of Backpacks

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Other Reviews

We cover a lot of very Android-specific gear here at AP, narrowing certain things all the way down to the device-specific level. For this review, though, we're going broad. Really broad. Instead of a way to carry your phone, your tablet, or just an Android device in general, we're taking a look at a backpack for all your gadgets, gear, and other stuff.

When I first laid eyes on the Klasden Levanaus backpack that SPIGEN SGP sent us to review, one thing was clear to me: I was looking at a quality product. Of course, I expected nothing less, because every SPIGEN product I've ever touched has been nothing short of awesome - in both form and function.

May

[Lightning Review] Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard For Android 3.0+ Devices

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Other Reviews

Earlier this week, I took a look at the new Bluetooth keyboard for mobile devices from ZAGG, the ZAGGkeys Flex. Since one can never have enough gadgets for their gadgets, today we're going to look at Logitech's offering to the Android tablet realm. While this keyboard isn't brand-spanking new (it has been out for a year or so), it's still just as relevant as it was on release day; given the increase in popularity of Android tablets, perhaps even more so.

Before we get into the the good and bad aspects of this keyboard, though, let's first take a look at the details.