It's all about the Face!

Moto 360 It's all about the Face!

   After a couple of months using the Moto 360 I have to say I am impressed.  It is my third smart watch, and is by far the best I have owned.  I am finding it is truly all about the face.  I simply mean that whether you are looking for an easy to glance at view of the time, being able to see notifications quickly, or the most important thing battery life it is all based on the face you are using.  The stock faces that come with the watch are nice; however after a couple of weeks they get a little boring.  Kind of a silly thing since a person wearing a normal watch is perfectly content with one face for the entire life of the watch.  I think today's tech consumer naturally has a short attention span, and is expecting more.  With the stock app. (Moto Connect) you can modify the stock faces, but you are limited in what you can do.  The stock faces will allow for the longest battery life, but will not achieve that fresh look feeling of joy that we get with some of the other faces.

I started using several new faces around the same time I traded my leather band Moto 360 for the Steel band Moto 360.  Since this time I have received several positive comments on my watch, so I am not sure if it is the band, or the faces I have chosen but it is nice to hear the positive input.  Now the downside.  With the "non-stock" faces the battery life tends to take a hit.  It seems like it may have something to do with the additional features that come with them (date, temp, battery life meter, etc.) but I still make it easily through a day on one charge, and typically still have about 25%-35% left at the end of the day.  My day typically starts around 6:30 a.m. and ends around 10:30 p.m. As Android Wear evolves, so will the applications and I am sure we will see battery life and performance improve with the evolution.  Some of the more plain faces are my preference for daily use, but it is nice to occasionally install a custom picture of my kids, or an imitation luxury watch face to my timepiece.  For the developers out there Keep up the good work! Here are a few of my "GO TO FACES". 

 

Moto 360 Not Perfect but still the best yet.

Even with a few defects up front, three watches later I love the Moto 360!

There is no doubt I loved the Moto 360 from the day I got it.  It was my third Android Wear, but always my first choice, and I felt it was the best of the original three; However after the frustration of a couple of initial hiccups would I still feel the same way?

  When I first got the Moto 360 I went for the Horween Leather band.  I must say it was quite comfortable.  As time went on I began to notice the much talked about cracks on the back plastic plate were developing on mine.  I quickly brought it back, and as luck may have it Best Buy had the metal band version in stock.  They were kind enough to exchange it without the additional cost.  I'm not sure if they were supposed to; however the girl told me she wanted to take care of me.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Motorola had installed a plastic spacer on the metal band version to get the band away from the plastic back.  With the black spacer there is no way for the band to put stress on the back causing it to crack.  Upon getting it home I found that the metal band was a few links short to fit on my wrist.  I attempted to install a few extra links myself, but found I was stopped dead in my tracks when I could not remove the original pins.
At this point of frustration I decided to bring in an expert, so I drove back to town and saw the local jeweler.  After a fair charge of only $10.00 and a couple hours of their time my new watch fit perfect.  

Full of excitement I went home and began installing all of the custom watch faces I love.  When I rebooted the watch my heart once again sunk as I noticed it.  I noticed that I had a burnt out pixel dead center of the screen Noooo!  Once again I packed up the watch and headed back to Best Buy.  I was greeted warmly by the staff, and they quickly offered to help.  In no time at all they got out the last Stainless model they had, swapped my newly sized band onto it so I did not have to make another trip to the jeweler, and they once again sent me on my way as a happy customer.

I fired up my third one and quickly inspected the screen.  After finding my new display was perfect the smile was back on my face.  So after a few frustrating hiccups, I am still very happy with my Moto 360.  If you decide to purchase one, I strongly recommend going with the steel band to start.  It is very comfortable, and with the different mounting points you will not have to worry about the plastic back cracking.  Overall even with a few initial problems I still give the Moto 360 a big thumbs up.  I look forward to a writting a follow up on my experience as the Andoid Wear operating system evolves.  Rumor has it a Moto 360 2.0 is in the works already!  

Moto 360 Steel Band

If there is a problem fix it, pretend there was not a problem, then tell them the fix is an upgrade!  Brilliant! 

When I bought the Moto 360 it was my third Android Wear device, but not my third choice.  My first choice was the Moto 360;  however it was not the first one ready for release to the public.  The first three announced were the LG G Watch, the Samsung Gear Live, and the Moto 360.  The only problem, the Moto 360 was the one everyone wanted but was the last one released.  So I like many got the first one I could get my hands on (the LG G Watch), and I was probably one of the first to return it because it was ugly.  Then I tried the Gear live and felt like a member of the cast of Star Trek.  

Every product has it's problems, the LG G Watch problem was looks, it was UGLY.  Let's call a spade a spade, it's ugly.  The G watch was a blocky square box on your wrist fastened with an ugly rubber strap.  There was one button that was located out of reach on the back and could only be pushed with the tip of a pen.  It's form factor was not conducive to fitting comfortably on your wrist with a long sleeve dress shirt.  The only great thing about it's looks is that it looks great with the night rider watch face that can be downloaded from the Play Store.  In the world of cars there is a term when discussing ugly cars, and that is "there is an ass for every seat".  I don't quite know what the translation would be for a watch, but I think you can get the point.  The good news was LG saw the flaw and to their credit went quickly back to the drawing board to fix it.  In one of the quickest turn around of bad design LG developed the G Watch R.  To their credit they made a watch that turned heads, and at least brought the looks into the 90's.  With it's massive G shock like bezel it actually looks good.

On the other end of the spectrum is a watch that has come from a company that has already developed it's own OS for the smart watch world.  Now they are seeing the opportunity of being part of the next big thing "Android Wear".  Unfortunately they have not gone to the next big thing with the looks of their first android wearable.  Again to give credit where it is due, they have refined the look of their previous square face, but with its brushed metal body, and rubbery band it looks like it should be worn on the wrist of someone piloting the Star Trek Enterprise.  I will say it was actually comfortable on my wrist, and would allow me to wear it with a long sleeve dress shirt at work.  Then there is the clip on charger that was a rush to production after thought.  Yikes!

At the release of Android Wear Sundar Pichai was wearing the most anticipated of the three announced Android Wear devices.  Motorola was the only company to come to market with a watch that actually looked like a respectable timepiece.  With a Stainless steel case, a band made of real leather, and a face that looked like it had hands floating just like a real watch.  Three things that have hurt the impression of the watch were the old Texas Instruments processor, the lowest resolution display of the bunch, and the plastic back that is fragile and cracks when any amount of stress is put on the band.  While people criticize the processor, the performance is very comparable to the competition.  The Display may be the lowest PPI of the bunch; however it is beautiful in the way that it appears the faces float up to the top of the watch face.  As for the back of the watch cracking, well there is no excuse it's a problem.  People have sanded the edge of the plastic back to eliminate the pressure applied at the corners,  while others have bought ugly plastic inserts to extend beyond the plastic back to help the poor design.

Motorola then came up with the best fix of all, they decided to turn lemons into lemonade.  Motorola made a flush fitting plastic insert that connects a beautiful color matching metal band to the beautiful body of the Moto 360.  The metal band is wider than the original leather band, giving the Moto 360 a very refined, and classy appearance.  Now probably the only watch that would actually look good with a suit to date (soon to be challenged by the Asus Zen watch) the Moto looks like a winner.  It also allows the person wearing it to feel comfortable breaking a sweat wearing it, and not feeling like they are going to ruin the leather.  After all it was one of the few to have a heart rate monitor, leading you to believe maybe you should wear it when going for a run.  On top of fixing the problem Motorola made it's customers feel the fix was an upgrade that was worth an extra $50.00 on the retail shelf.  To be honest I feel like I got an upgrade when I swapped out my cracked leather band model, and purchased the Model with the steel band.  Overall I would say the Moto 360 is still the best looking Smart Watch to date. onthemovetech.com  

Moto 360

Moto 360 Stainless with Stone Leather Band

Is the Moto 360 the best "Android Wear" yet?

After the announcement of "Android Wear" and the Moto 360 to the smart watch community I knew I had to have one.  Unfortunately also announced was the fact that the Moto 360 would not be released until Late Summer.  I then set out to get the first available Android Wear Watch, the LG G Watch at the local Verizon Store.  I was excited to get it but was soon left with the feeling of "Wow this thing is Ugly", but decided to give it a try.  The G Watch seemed to have some of the better specifications for the battery, processor, and memory so it seemed like a logical first Watch.  The Charging Cradle for the G Watch was user friendly, and the watch was actually comfortable.  I just could not get past the ugly phone on my wrist look.  I quickly returned it and moved on.  

My next experience was with a watch produced by a manufacturer that had several generations in the smart watch category already.  I went to Best Buy and purchased the Samsung Gear Live.  The Gear Live immediately felt like an upgrade over the G Watch.  The Live had a more refined looking metal case, and a contour that made it more comfortable than the G Watch.  While not as ugly as the G Watch the Gear Live was still basically a block on my wrist.  The battery was significantly smaller than the G Watch battery, but to my surprise it seemed to last just as long.  This may have had something to do with the display, and some of the settings I was using.  When I was faced with charging the Gear Live I was very disappointed.  I had heard negative comments about the snap on charger breaking, or being difficult to mount to the watch.  While it was frustrating to attach, if I took my time and was gentle it seemed to snap securely in place.  

I began wearing the Gear Live on a daily basis, and found it was very comfortable.  I also found the Android Wear experience was becoming more and more useful in my day to day activities.  With moderate use viewing incoming emails, and text messages I found I was easily getting through a full day with over 40% battery remaining on average.  I did find the Gear live was not getting caught in my dress shirt sleeve like the G Watch; however I had a couple of near drops when reaching into my pants pocket and the clasp popped open.  The clasp became the only physical downfall I was having with the Gear live.  I did have a few times that the watch would randomly disconnect from my phone, but it appeared to reconnect quickly and was not a major problem.  The major problem I had was when I began seeing the Moto 360 in person, and began to regret not waiting for it to become available.  I was fortunate to run into an understanding Manager at Best Buy who was gracious enough to allow me to return my Gear Live after a couple months of use.  

After leaving the return counter at Best Buy I was able to find the last Moto 360 Stainless with the Stone Leather band in stock.  I quickly purchased it and was off to begin enjoying the watch I originally wanted.  When I opened the beautiful circular themed packaging I found a very premium looking timepiece.  I put it on and found it to be not only very light weight, but it's round design and Horween leather band made it very comfortable.  I then found it was completely discharged.  I was pleasantly surprised to find it charged quickly on the wireless charging dock included with the watch.  With built up anticipation I powered up my 360, and found the same easy set up steps as the previous two Android Wear watches.  The stock faces included with the watch also look more premium than the LG, and the Samsung basic faces.  The Moto 360 ambient screen appeared very dim but when the screen is on it is both bright and crisp.  The Moto 360 PPI resolution is not as high as the other Android Wear watches, but when looking at such a small screen it is hardly noticeable.

The first day of wearing the Moto 360 was interesting.  The response of co-workers was that of both interest, and compliments on it's looks.  Response previously with the G Watch, or Gear Live were mainly sarcastic relating them to Inspector Gadget, and Night Rider.  I started my day around 7:30 a.m. but by noon I was very concerned as my battery was less than 50% and I had not had the time to really try any of the watches features.  The watch was completely dead by 4:30 and I was beginning to question my purchase.  When I arrived home I placed the watch on the charger and left it on all night.  The long charge must have done the trick because by the end of day two I still had 40% plus remaining after 14 hours of use.  The days after have had similar positive results with between 30 and 50% remaining after moderate use.  During my average days I find I am frequently checking emails, text messages, using the pedometer, heart rate monitor, and occasionally using the voice search feature.  I am sure usage will increase with functionality of Android Wear.

The processor in the Moto 360 is made by Texas Instruments and has been another topic of conversation in online forums.  Through my personal experience the combination of the processor, memory and the Android Wear operating system make the Moto 360 a very capable smart watch.  I do not find any noticeable performance issues.  The heart rate monitor works at times but may be impaired by a combination of the small holes for the LED, and arm hair.  As a side note I would say my arms have an average amount of hair for a guy.  The pedometer seems reasonably accurate in measuring average steps, keeping in mind I have never worn any other type of pedometer to compare performance.  I have not had the guts to submerge the watch in water to test the IP67 water resistance rating, and have no desire to wet the leather wrist band.  I do find the Moto 360 to be much more responsive than the G Watch, or the Gear Live in illuminating the display when I turn my wrist to check the time or incoming notifications with a glance.

So far in my experience with the Moto 360 I am very happy with it's appearance, comfort, performance, and overall build quality.  I feel STRONGLY that of all of the Android Wear experiences I have had this far, the Moto 360 is the best Android Wear watch to date.  I look forward to the evolution of the Android Wear operating system, and feel that the Moto 360 will be not only an accessory to my wardrobe, but a great tool in staying productive in my day to day activities.  I also look forward to reporting back over the coming months on some of the updates coming to Android Wear, and the Moto 360's functionality with those updates.
onthemovetech.com

Asus Zenwatch

Asus ZenWatch!
After owning the LG G Watch, and the Samsung Gear Live What's Next?
Asus or Moto?

The Moto360 was the initial choice after watching the release of Android Wear.  Then I got the itch.  The feeling of I need one now.  I decided not to wait but to get the Samsung gear live.  After visiting every local "Big Box" store and not finding a Gear live, I settled.  I purchased the Square Block (LG G Watch) and was pleasantly surprised by the functionality, and how it was actually comfortable.  After about a week I could no longer stand the very Blah look, so I returned it and purchased the Samsung Gear Live.

The Gear Live felt surprisingly "Premium" after wearing the G Watch, and peoples reactions to it were very positive.  I still get the "what is that on your wrist" question about once a week, but it is asked with more curiosity than the way I was asked about the G Watch.  I was nervous about the battery life with only a 300 Mah battery compared to the LG G Watch 400, but was pleasantly surprised that it actually seems to last longer.  Both the G Watch and the Gear Live batteries did seem to improve after the first few charges, and both have no problem getting through an entire day without worry.

LG has already created their second watch in the Android Wear line up, but with its late 80's early 90's look it is very forgetable to me.  As with phones and other tech the urge to change your timepiece when you see the latest and greatest model appear on the market is tempting.  As Android Wear evolves as a platform, the timepiece's available will also evolve and improve.  With Samsung's evolution we have found refined looks, water resistance, and a better operating system.  For now I will hold onto my Samsung Gear Live.  I will patiently wait to see if Samsung, or the aftermarket come out with a better charging method for the Gear Live.  I will also wait to see what other watches hit the market to further complicate the "Whats next" decision.  In past generations you would hand down your high end timepiece to the next generation, but now we find ourselves not feeling like anything has a connection to us.  The highest bidder on Craig's list wins, and we move on.  Soon I am sure I will be making a post to find the high bidder and move on to the next upgrade.  What will your next Android Wear be, and why?  

Samsung Gear Live

SAMSUNG GEAR LIVE

Samsung Goes Live!

While smart watches have been on the market for a few years now, none have had a "Standard Operating System" to work with until now!  Google has released the latest wearable operating system "ANDROID WEAR" to the market and now the race is on.  As of now there are only two options available for Android Wear the LG G Watch, and the Samsung Gear Live.  There is a third much anticipated watch coming soon labeled the Moto 360, but as stated it is coming soon and not yet available.  Also rumored is the LG G Watch 2.

LG G WATCH

I began my Android Wear Journey with the LG G Watch a few weeks ago (see my blog post on the LG G Watch).    While not my first, or even second choice it was what was available to satisfy the need for new tech at that moment.  At first sight the G watch is blocky, and boring but was surprisingly comfortable on the wrist.  The common response I got when I began wearing it in public to work was "is that a phone on your wrist".  When I began to explain what it was, and show what it could do the expression on the face of the person asking the questions began to change.  For people even somewhat interested in the latest tech you could see the wheels begin to turn.  The G Watch grew on me, and as comfortable as it was in a short sleeve shirt, when I put on a button down dress shirt for work I found it was no longer comfortable, it was a nuisance.  The large block body would get caught in my sleeve making it hard to check the time, and hard to pull my sleeve back over it.  The initial excitement went away quickly and I returned the watch within two weeks of getting it.

At the point which I returned the G Watch the Samsung Gear Live became available locally, and there was no doubt this was going to be my wearable device.  When you first pick the Samsung Gear Live up after wearing the LG G Watch you notice a more premium feel.  The body of the watch has a metal case with a curved plastic back that contours to your wrist.  When you first put it on the ridged rubbery wrist band can be a little tricky; however when snapped in it feels comfortable and makes sense.  I do wonder at times if it gets caught on something if it is going to hit the floor, but this has not been a problem yet.  The next instantly noticeable difference is just how good the display is.  Samsung did not cut corners with the beautiful 1.63" 320 x 320 Super Amoled display.  While still not perfect in direct sunlight the display is definitely an upgrade.  The colors pop, and the blacks are deep and dark.  The watch faces are different from manufacturer to manufacturer but both offer ample choices within the standard setup, and even more can be found on the Google Play Store.  

The next topic that seems to have become the elephant in the room for the Gear Live is the charging system.  Not much can be said other than this must have been a last minute "how do we charge this thing" moment at the Samsung design table.  For a company that has so many great ideas, this is horrible.  I read many consumer reviews that state they have broken their clip on chargers, and so I have been super careful with mine.  The first time you try to attach it you notice that it is just not intuitive.  If you are careful and take your time lining up the two nubs at the top of the charger with the two holes at the top of the watch back you will be fine.  I can see how people have been breaking this if they try to pull it off quickly rather than slowly applying pressure to the small tab on the right side.  If Samsung would follow LG's lead and make a quick mount magnetic charging base there would be almost nothing wrong with the hardware on the Gear Live.  The battery is also smaller on the Samsung Gear Live at 300 mah vs. the G Watch at 400 mah.  Even with the smaller battery the Gear live is able to make it almost two days with light use, and over one full day with heavier use.

  The concept of the standard operating system "Android Wear" is to make the user experience virtually the same from one brand to the next, short of minor hardware differences.  Obviously look and feel between the different brands is the major draw based on consumer preference.  Samsung has developed a (in my opinion) better looking product than the LG.  One of the offerings that Samsung has over LG is the heart rate monitor that is built into the watch.  This is more of a gimmick to many, but I could see this becoming useful for me when I run if it could work live without having to keep hitting the retest button.  Currently I have been using a Garmin GPS watch that hooks up to a wireless heart rate monitor for running.  It is also nice to use the Garmin because it does not require me to bring along my giant Samsung Galaxy Note 3.  The only downfall to the Garmin is it is not waterproof, and I am on my second one due to a 5K I ran in the rain that took out my first Garmin.  Rain should not be a problem for the Samsung or the LG as they are both water and dust resistant  rated IP67 devices.

 Lets face it the main reason you buy a watch is to tell time.  What good is it if you cannot see the current time.  With both of the current models available if you leave the display toggle to the "always on mode" you will be lucky to get one day of use.  With the LG G Watch I found that the display would activate on it's own, but even more annoying was that it would not activate when you turned your wrist toward you with the intent of looking at the current time.  With the Gear live it is a much more user friendly experience.  The beautiful display seems to illuminate at the precise moment you need it, and does not appear when you don't need it.  Also the Samsung Gear Live does not get the random notification that my watch has lost connection with my phone that I got frequently with the LG G Watch.  This may be that the Samsung platforms work well together, but the design of Android Wear is to be able to use any Android Wear smart watch with any Android phone and have a Cohesive experience.

GEAR LIVE PACKAGING

Other than battery, the display, and the heart rate monitor both watches have similar hardware specs.
The Gear Live specs are as follows:
Operating System: Android Wear
Display: 1.63" Super AMOLED 320x320
Size: 1.49"x2.57"x0.54"  
Weight 2.12 oz.
CPU: 1.2 GHz Processor
Internal Memory: 512MB RAM, 4GB Internal Storage
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 LE
Sensors: Heart Rate, Compass, Gyro, Accelerometer. 

        Battery: 300mAh
        IP67: Dust and Water Resistant.

So far with the short time I have been using the Samsung Gear Live I am impressed.  The feel is good, the look is also good but could stand to be a little more low profile.  With future updates that come I am sure Android Wear will become even more user friendly, and just plain more useful.  Right now if you use any Android Wear device for receiving your basic notifications on your wrist you will find it a treat to not have to pull your bulky phone out of your pocket, or purse.  Hopefully soon these devices will allow for viewing text msgs. and email in full including pictures etc without having to pull out your phone.  Initially I intended on getting the Moto 360 by Motorola; however I have been impressed enough by the Gear live that I feel this could get me comfortably through the next couple of years without feeling like I have an old piece of technology that needs an updated look.  If you are on the fence you may want to wait to see what the LG G watch 2 looks like, or even what the Motorola Moto 360 will bring to the competition.  Any way you look at it the Android Wear OS is promising, and I am sure with the updates to come we will find an even better experience in wearable technology.
     

LG G Watch

The LG G Watch

How smart is your smart watch?



I was debating on waiting for the Moto 360 but with that not being available, and a sudden feeling of "I need a new gadget" I was willing to settle for my second choice of a Samsung Galaxy Gear Live.  After calling around to different "Big Box Stores" I found that the Gear Live was also not available in stores yet, and sold out online.  I then did what any person feeling a need for a new toy does, I settled for one that was not even in the running earlier that day.  I went with the LG G Watch!

In opening the box to my new LG G Watch I found myself questioning if this time piece was really for me.  At first glance there is nothing Awe Inspiring or even really exciting about this watch.  With a very squared off bulky body, a rubber band like strap, and the yet to be upgraded blank face I was less than impressed.  The body of the watch was thick and appeared to sit high on my wrist, but oddly enough it was actually comfortable.

Many high end non-smart watches take the time to make the back of the watch appealing, going above and beyond on a part of the watch that will never be seen.  This is not the case on this watch.  It is littered with product code, warnings of how not to dispose of the product, Federal Communication information etc.  The only product branding is not molded into but rather printed onto the plastic back.  You can also see the 5 pins for the quick mount magnetic charging adapter included with the watch.  After reading about the watch there is rumor that these pins have been corroding causing poor connection, or even discoloration of the skin.  Immediately after firing the watch up for the first time there was an automatic update that is also rumored to shut off the voltage to these pins when not in use to prevent these concerns from happening. 

When I fired up the G Watch I was surprised at the quick setup process.  I was able to quickly get through the basic questions, then pairing to my phone (a required device for any Android watch to work) was a snap.  After the basic setup I found the factory default screen was not great, so I opted to change to one of the other factory screen offerings.  I have looked at screens to download, but for now I am staying with the simple black with white hour and minute hands, with a moving red second hand.

I was surprised to begin seeing my appropriate Google Now information cards popping up on the screen like magic.  Instantly I began to feel like this Smart Watch thing may have some purpose after all.  Almost intuitively the "OK GOOGLE" screen pops up allowing you to have information at your finger tip.  Most of the information then prompts you to see additional information on your Smart Phone rather than scroll down through as you may want (a little disappointing when you can scroll through incoming emails no problem without needing your phone at the ready).  I have yet to be able to view a text on the watch.  I get the icon showing I have a new text message but again it appears I need to pull out my Smart Phone rather than view the message on my supposedly Smart Watch?

Specs for this watch are impressive for such a small package, and it does seem to perform without any lag, or hesitation.

Specs:
Chipset  Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
Display 1.65-inch LCD IPS (280 x 280)
Memory 4GB eMMC / 512 MB RAM
Battery 400mAh
Operating System Android Wear compatible with Android 4.3
Size 37.9 x 46.5 x 9.95mm
Weight 63g
Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0
Sensors 9-Axis (Gyro / Accelerometer / Compass)
Color White Gold / Black Titan
Others Dust and Water Resistant (IP67)

In a world of I need the answer, and I need it NOW can smart watches perform?  Maybe.  The Android wear operating system does seem to be a step up over some of the previous operating systems we have seen so far; however the more important part is the potential that the Android Wear operating system brings for the future.  
Thus far in my personal experience with this watch I have experienced some frustrating moments of swiping cards off the screen unintentionally, only to find out they are lost for what seems like forever.  I am finding some of the functions are becoming more intuitive as my learning curve is developing.  My kids have found it magical that I can prompt my wireless speaker to play using just the sound of my voice.  The battery can last a couple of days if the "screen always on" function is toggled off.  More importantly this watch does what it is supposed to do, and that is get you the information magically when you need it (before you know you need it) thank you Google Now.  It also does a good job of getting you the important information you need from your current stocks, email, notifying you of who is trying to call you, text you, or even reach you through Google+.  Overall I am beginning to really enjoy the unintended experience I am having with this watch, and am looking forward to the updates to come in the future that will make the user experience even better.
onthemovetech.com

JBL Flip 2 "The life of the party made portable"

 JBL Flip 2

"The life of the party made portable"

      JBL has done it again with the Flip 2.  This is one of those cases where the tag line hits it on the head!  The Flip 2 wireless Bluetooth stereo speaker from JBL lets you bring the party where ever you go.  The sound is surprisingly fantastic, and will make people do a double take in disbelief that this little package can and does deliver amazing sound!  With Bluetooth capabilities this is definitely a step up from the original flip.

This little Bluetooth stereo speaker packs a powerful 2 x 6w stereo sound with 86 dB that can power your party for an amazing 5 hours on a single charge.  It can be linked to any Bluetooth enabled device quickly with the push of a button.

The controls could not be easier, with only 5 buttons to link the phone, toggle the power, raise / lower the volume, or connect a call.  Yes I did say connect a call.  This little device also acts as a Bluetooth hands free device that comes in handy when at home, work, or even on the road.  With Noise canceling and Echo free speakerphone functionality, you can be sure the other party hears you loud and clear.  It even has an LED display so you always know your current state of charge.


JBL has had an impressive lineup of portable speakers over the past few years.  First with the portable single speaker "Clip", then the original stereo "Flip", and now the more powerful Bluetooth enabled "Flip 2".  From the powerful low notes, to the super clean high notes this speaker will impress all of your friends with its BIG sound from such a small package.  It has a solid build quality, and with a price tag right around a $100.00 it is a great buy.

Be sure to check out other great product information and reviews at onthemovetech.com .

Chromebooks in Schools!

      I don't normally post someone else's article into my blog but I feel strongly enough about this one that I felt it was appropriate.  I sent a facebook msg. to the author Karl Rivers who founded ClassThink in 2013.  Karl is a school Network Manager and IT Lead Professional based near London, England.  One of the paragraphs in his article read as follows "The building shows all the wear of decades of students passing through these corridors. A rusty radiator hangs limply from the wall, window frames are swollen and peeling from damp, and the corridors are narrow and dark..

There are no futuristic open plan spaces, no airport lounge style reception, and there isn’t a curved wall to be found. Only the colourful posters proudly announcing the school’s technological achievements give any hint as to what is inside."  

As a parent of three little girls this hit me.  We live in a great small city in NH; however the finances are very tight in our school district.  I know my city is far from the worst off in the US, but I am very concerned about the future of my girls, and all of the kids in this great small American city.  Please take a moment to read the following article and see how it may relate to your town. 

http://www.classthink.com/2014/07/19/how-chromebooks-have-revolutionised-learning-at-one-uk-school/

A special thanks to Karl Rivers who wrote this inspiring article.  

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

How big is too BIG! 
Phablet's are here to stay. 
It used to be that consumers felt that the smaller the gadgets got, the cooler they were.  Until now!  When Samsung first released the Galaxy Note series phone in October of 2011 many people thought they would not make it.  Many thought it was just too big a fad that would quickly Die.

I for one could not imagine carrying one of these "Phablets" around, never mind holding something as big, or bigger than a Pop-Tart to my ear.  That and how often would I really be able to use the S pen.  As I and many were proven wrong, it took off.  Shortly after came the Note2, and Now the Note3.

The Android based GIANT definitely feels big in the hand.  It is not really optimized for one handed use, and quite frankly can be awkward to carry around.  With all of that being said I love my Note 3!

Not only has it become a great phone, but it has also become my default tablet.  I used to sit down and spend evenings browsing on my Nexus 7, but now I often find myself reaching for the note 3.  Not only does it have a great size for easy viewing, but the display is beautiful.  It has a 5.7 inch "Super Amoled display with 1080 x 1920 (386 ppi pixel density).  At times I have found myself watching movies on it comfortably; however the sound does not quite match the display, so have a good pair of headphones at the ready.
Air command.
At first it was a question of what will I use the S pen for.

With the Note 3 came new options for the S pen.  When you remove the pen a window shows up displaying all of your Air command options.  There are five options;  however I probably only use 2 - 3 of them.  The action memo takes some getting used to, but can be a handy tool to bring screen notes to life and turn them into action.  You can write down a phone number and the phone will recognize it, then give you an option to dial.  The same can be done with hand written emails, and many other quick notes.  Scrapbook is probably my most frequently used feature from the Air command list.  It allows you to select items off the screen to save by simply drawing a circle around them.  These saved items can be later brought to life by taping on them, you are then redirected to either the website, or YouTube video.  I can see how the other items could be used, but I just have not used them as frequently in my day to day actions.

The Battery Life.
I hear mixed reviews, but based on my personal experience with it I have found the battery life is ample.  I do use my phone primarily for daily calls, reading emails, web inquiries, and random pictures.  I find my battery lasting all day no problem and I usually find it has 40% battery life remaining before I charge it at the end of the day.  The new power plug allows you to charge the large 3200 mah battery in no time.  I do find that fully closing programs so they do not run in the background, and using the task manager a couple of times a day help to extend the life.

Whats Next?
I like having new gadgets as much as the next guy, but I could definitely find this feature rich, performance packed Phablet lasting me well beyond the two year agreement.  Now the latest rumors are the new Note 4 will be released in early September during the Berlin IFA Conference.  Rumor also has it the Note 4 will also have a 5.7 inch display with 2560 x 1440 screen resolution, Exynos 5433 octa-core processor with 32 GB of Ram and 32 GB of internal memory.  Probably the most talked about rumored feature would be the retinal scanner.  With a reported 16 megapixel rear facing camera, and a 4 megapixel front facing with image stabilization, this phone could definitely become your daily go to photo shooter.  

Hopefully this latest version of the Note series of phones follows suit with it previous models and is just another great upgrade to an already great phone. Tablet?  Phablet?