Friday, December 9, 2016

RoXolid Review - Google Pixel XL



     Google has been in the smart phone game for some time, dating back to the original G1 and man, has it come a long way. In the past Google has partnered with other manufacturers to design and release their annual flagship Nexus devices. While these were the purest implementation of Android regarding software sometimes the hardware was finicky, had performance issues or simply weren’t readily available in a retail environment. In a time when people still preferred signing contracts with their providers and didn’t want to “pay” for their phones the Nexus devices, while great phones, often struggled to gain mind share. 



     Enter the Pixel and Pixel XL by Google, two new handsets designed to power Google and Android into the next generation of smartphones. With both devices they have taken what has made the Nexus series so defining and reinvented them for greater mass appeal. We’re not saying the Nexus phones were unpopular, far from it, but they never achieved the critical mass of something like an iPhone or Galaxy device. There are some gambles made, one or two corners cut and a bevy of new and exciting features that, when combined, make for one of the best mobile devices we’ve ever used. 



     This review is a bit different than others you may watch. I purchased the Pixel XL online and if I didn't like the device I was going to return it and return to using my Samsung Galaxy Note 5. The Pixel XL is not an inexpensive device so for me to make a commitment to it this phone needed to wow me. And wow it did as this is now my daily driver. 



Why it RoX!

- Fast, Fast, Super-Fast and Snappy!

- Excellent build quality

- The camera is damn good

- Phenomenal Battery Life

- Category-defining ear piece fidelity

- Google Assistant is a great evolution of Google Now

- UNLIMITED Cloud backup of photos

- Available through carriers and Google Play world-Wide



What Could Make it Better

- Phones this expensive need waterproofing

- No micro SD Card Slot

- Stock Android Apps are meh at best, such as dialer and contacts

- No Induction Charging

- The Pixel Launcher is good but no option to folder items in your app drawer

- Android Pay doesn’t match Samsung Pay

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

How to Use Netflix Offline Viewing





Something most Netflix users have been requesting for some time is finally here - Offline Viewing! How does it work? How easy is it to use? Does it take forever to download? Follow along as we walk you through exactly how the process works on our Google Pixel XL.

Should You Buy a Chromecast Ultra?





     I’ve been a huge fan of the Google Chromecast since the first one debuted in 2013. As someone who, at the time, did not own a smart TV, let alone a 4K TV, the original Chromecast made it quicker and easier to consume content without requiring I fire up my PlayStation 3 or Playstation 4. Casting Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go and other services from my phone or tablet to my TV was easy and seamless. While there were quirks with the original Chromecast the 2015 update added 5GHz support and faster internals to make Chromecasts even better. Google is back at it with the Chromecast Ultra and, while it pains me to say this as someone who currently owns 6 Chromecasts, I see little if any reason to purchase this version over its predecessor.



     When the original Chromecast came out more than three years ago the install base of smart TVs was significantly smaller. Estimates are that only 22-million households had a smart TV of some type where in 2016 estimates are that number will have nearly doubled to over 40-million households. When you figure that there are roughly 125-million total households in the USA that means almost a third of all households have at least one smart TV which eliminates the need for a separate streaming dongle.


     Next is the main features of the Chromecast Ultra, the compatibility with 4K and HDR content, is meaningless to a majority of users. I’m not saying that 4K or HDR aren’t great features, they’re amazing, however the amount of 4K content is not significant enough at this time. Netflix and Amazon Prime offer limited amounts of 4K content and with each you’ll have to pay an additional fee per month. YouTube offers free 4K content but are you really going to spend hours watching cat videos in 4K? Me either. Additionally, one of the biggest demographic for those buying Chromecasts are people who don’t have Smart TVs, right? The odds are pretty high that if you don’t have a Smart TV you’re not going to have a 4K or HDR-compatible set. Similarly to those considering a PS4 Slim versus a PS4 Pro, if you can’t take advantage of the higher resolution output from the PS4 Pro you’re spending money you don’t need to spend when you can get all the same benefits to you out of the PS4 Slim. Those uber-cheap 50” black Friday TVs that you will get for under $200? Not only are they not a smart TV but likely locked maxed out at either a 720P or 1080P resolution. Buying a Chromecast Ultra to televisions such as these adds functionality you won’t see any benefit from.
 

     And for those who happen to have 4K and HDR Smart televisions and are thinking about picking up a Chromecast Ultra  I would ask you to become more familiar with your smartphone, tablet and Smart TV. I have a Samsung Note 5, Tab S2 8” and a Samsung 60” Ultra HD 4K HDR television. I can use the cast functionality built into my phone and tablet to cast any content to my television I could have done to a Chromecast. Again, there’s no need to add redundant functionality that’s build into my television.


     In the end I can’t see a niche the Chromecast Ultra fills. If you have a 4K TV you more than likely have the apps and functionality already built-in. And with more and more devices being plugged into your TV (I have a PS4, Wii U & DirecTV receiver leaving me with just 1 more open port) there’s no need to take up precious HDMI ports with redundant functionality. If you absolutely want a Chromecast I’d highly recommend the 2015 version, it will do everything you’ll need it to for nearly half the cost of the Chromecast Ultra.