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Review – CruzerLite Bugdroid Circuit TPU Case for the Galaxy S5

Kevin Krueger — Thu, 29 May 2014 12:00:23 +0000

CruzerLite continues to hit that sweet spot for thin, lightweight, protection with their Bugdroid Circuit TPU case for the Galaxy S5.

Available in eleven colors, it is super thin and doesn’t add any bulk to an already large device. I like that the volume and power button areas are notched out instead of covered since it gives your finger and thumb a place to land without looking down. The bottom cutout for the charging port area is wide enough not to interfere with opening that stupid waterproof cover Samsung used. Something a little different, and a nice detail, is the teardrop shaped cutout around the IR blaster and ambient noise microphone.

The Bugdroid Circuit pattern remains similar to the previous year’s models, but with the addition of a CruzerLite “C” logo on the Bugdroid not seen on the Galaxy S4 case. Of the eleven colors available, red and blue are my favorites, especially on the pearl white Galaxy S5. As you can see in the video, this combination just really pops out at you.

You can find the BugDroid Circuit case on CruzerLite’s website for $13 or in their official Amazon store.

Image Credits: CruzerLite

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Review – CruzerLite Bugdroid Circuit TPU Case for the Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Review – TechMatte AmFilm Premium HD Clear for Galaxy S5

Kevin Krueger — Wed, 28 May 2014 12:00:45 +0000

Like many of us, I am pretty leery of all these new accessory brands popping up and if what I am spending hard earned cash on is worth it. Not having heard of TechMatte or their AmFilm screen protectors, I was not sure what I would receive when asked to take a look at these. Turns out their AmFilm Premium HD clear screen protectors are really good ones and I had no cause for concern.

The AmFilm Premium HD Clear is a plastic film screen protector, but of sufficient hardness and thickness that it has not picked up pocket scratches in the week of use. Installation was easy enough since AmFilm includes stickers you can use to align the screen protector and remove dust. The included wipe is a quality microfiber type and not one of the cheap paper wipes you find in the disposable 99 cent 5 packs. The adhesive AmFilm uses doesn’t have any rainbow effect and this really is crystal clear. The alignment of the cutouts is pretty tight and the flim covers edge to edge and around the camera and speaker, but they did leave the area under the home button open.

I would certainly recommend these if you are looking for a premium type screen protector that isn’t ridiculously overpriced like other offerings. You can find these at TechMatte’s Amazon store for $5-7 which includes a lifetime replacement warranty.

Image Credits: TechMatte

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Review – TechMatte AmFilm Premium HD Clear for Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Review: TechMatte AmCase Hybrid Bumper for Galaxy S5

Kevin Krueger — Tue, 27 May 2014 12:00:42 +0000

The AmCase Hybrid Bumper Case from TechMatte is a well made, lightweight, protection option for your Galaxy S5. The case’s construction is a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) outer bumper ring bonded to a transparent frosted polycarbonate back panel giving your phone a light drop protection while still letting the Samsung’s “Glam” show through. The case pops on easy and fits snug as to not add bulk to an already large device. Volume keys and the power button are covered by the TPU bumper, but the tactile feel and responsiveness are not lost. Cutouts around the microphones, speaker, camera and other sensors are tight, but without interfering which strikes a good balance between protection and usability.

TechMatte, maker of the AmCase and AmFilm brand of accessories, is a relative newcomer, but are quickly establishing themselves with quality products and customer service. Definitely check them out if you are in the market for a case. You can find their AmCase Hybrid Bumper on Amazon for $6 to $10 in black/frosted as shown here.

Image Credits: Techmatte

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Review: TechMatte AmCase Hybrid Bumper for Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Netflix Streaming Service Price Increase Now Official

Kevin Krueger — Fri, 09 May 2014 16:00:46 +0000

Netflix officially announced a price increase this morning for new HD streaming subscribers, bringing the service from $7.99 to $8.99. Current Netflix members received the below e-mail letting them know their rates would remain at the same rate for the next two years. As an alternative to the $8.99 HD plan, Netflix added a new SD streaming plan for $7.99 which is also limited to a single screen at a time.

What is interesting about the price increase is that this comes after an arrangement to pay COMCAST for direct connection to their subscribers, a definite blow to net neutrality and even stronger case against the pending Time-Warner Cable merger (see page 5).

Is an extra dollar a month enough to make you shop for other streaming services or you sticking with Netflix? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Netflix Blog

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Netflix Streaming Service Price Increase Now Official appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Google Docs App Released on Google Play – Again

Kevin Krueger — Thu, 01 May 2014 01:55:51 +0000

Remember back when Google Docs made the jump from the browser to Android back in 2011? It gave us a way to natively edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on our Android devices. I remember it too, and it actually kind of sucked. Then came along Google Drive, and the two became one. It sucked less and really got quite good as the product matured. Then Google bought Quickoffice and made it free. With Google Drive integration, that definitely didn’t suck.

Well, Google Drive is still Drive, but now we have a new, separate, Google Docs app for editing documents and Google Sheets app for, you guessed it, editing spreadsheets. The third of the three amigos is a presentation app still in the works. A notable feature is the ability to create a document from a photo using the apps’s optical character recognition feature, similar to Google Goggles. The new editors are available for users on Android 2.1+ from the Google Play store. What remains to be seen, is what direction Google is going with Quickoffice, and why can Quickoffice handle .docx files while the new editor does not?

Should Google have stayed with a combined Google Docs editor, Google Drive, Quickoffice, some mash-up of the three, or this current mess of document apps? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Source: Google, Google Docs, Google Sheets

Image Credits: Google

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Google Docs App Released on Google Play – Again appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Google Camera Hits Play Store for any Android KitKat Devices

Kevin Krueger — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 00:02:07 +0000

Google released their new camera app, called Google Camera, replacing the existing stock camera on Nexus devices. In the tradition of other Google apps that have jumped from OS updates to Google Play, Google Camera can also be used on any device running Android 4.4 KitKat and higher.

Lens Blur

HDR is still there and being able to use this on other KitKat devices means Photo Sphere is no longer a Nexus only feature. Additional modes include a new Lens Blur that gives you an “SLR-like shot with shallow depth-of-field” and a much cleaner Panorama with a “line-up the dots” Photo Sphere sequence to capture the images.

The interface is very clean with the right edge of the view-finder being a translucent button that lets you see the whole image. To access the varies modes, you can swipe in from the left and a swipe in from the right edge will bring you to +Photos if installed. Settings are minimal (for better or worse) with flash, front or rear camera selection, and a grid overlay toggle. Tapping the screen still sets the point of focus.

If you are running Android 4.4 KitKat or higher, you can grab Google Camera directly from Google Play. Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments.

Download: Google Play
Source: +Android

Image Credits: Android Fan Network/Kevin Krueger

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Google Camera Hits Play Store for any Android KitKat Devices appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Review – Trident Aegis Series Case for the Samsung Galaxy S5

Kevin Krueger — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:00:14 +0000

The Trident Aegis Series cases are some of my favorites for drop protection of my devices and the Aegis case for the Galaxy S5 is not an exception. The Aegis is a two-part affair with a hard outside shell and shock absorbing inner sleeve. The cutouts for your ports are good and there is enough clearance in the design that you can get the bottom charging port cover open without issues.

Drop protection is the name of the game with these, being tested to MIL-STD-810F and rated for protection up to four feet on concrete. Having dropped a Moto X from that height, I can attest they live up to the task. Even though the Galaxy S5 is water-resistant, there is a screen over the rear speaker to further protect the opening from dust intrusion and additionally they provide a plug for the headphone jack. Trident includes a high quality screen protector with their cases as well which is clear with no rainbow effect and doesn’t pickup rub marks from normal use.

If you need even more hardcore (and bulkier) protection for your phone, they also have the Kraken A.M.S. series of cases, but the Aegis should fit the bill for most of us. You can buy these for $34.95 on the Trident website in black, blue, and pink.

Image Credits: Trident

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Review – Trident Aegis Series Case for the Samsung Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Review – Trident Perseus Gel Case for the Samsung Galaxy S5

Kevin Krueger — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 16:00:37 +0000

Trident’s Perseus Gel Case for the Samsung Galaxy S5 is their lightweight protection option, but lightweight is only safe to say when compared to their other cases. The Perseus is fairly substantial compared to other TPU cases because of the thickness of it and should offer superior protection.

Cut outs were all sized right with no issues getting the charging port cover open on the bottom. Buttons were stiff compared to other cases due to the thickness of the TPU material, but still completely usable. I liked the raised edges at the top and bottom of the side edges since they gave a lot of grip to the case. The screen protector is a premium one and does not have the oil-slick rainbow effect to it. In the past few days of use, it has not picked up any signs of wear and is of sufficient hardness that it should look good for a long time.

The Trident Perseus Gel case is a solid choice for a TPU with the screen protector being a nice add-on. You can find these in Smoke or Trident Green on their website at a list price of $19.95.

Image Credits: Trident

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Review – Trident Perseus Gel Case for the Samsung Galaxy S5 appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Root your Samsung Galaxy S5 with CF-Auto-Root

Kevin Krueger — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 19:15:12 +0000

Chainfire updated his CF-Auto-Root tool yesterday to support the just released Samsung Galaxy S5 on T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular. CF-Auto-Root requires an unlocked bootloader so AT&T and Verizon customers, once again, are out of luck. I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I do with a new phone is void the warranty and root that sucker. If you want to root your Galaxy S5, or any other phone, vote with your wallet and get a developer edition if available or buy a carrier model that has an unlockable bootloader if not.

To get started, hit the XDA thread linked below for CF-Auto-Root and download the correct package for your Galaxy S5. Extract the .tar.md5 file from the zip and flash it with Odin using the instructions in the thread. Once done, your phone will reboot and you will have SuperSU installed and root access. Keep in mind, tripping the KNOX flag not only voids your warranty, but also breaks features that require KNOX environment such as privacy mode and containers. Most of us are going to be flashing custom ROMS like CyanogenMod or Omni so that really doesn’t matter.

So now that you have root on your Galaxy S5, what are you doing first? Let us know in the comments and please consider showing your appreciation of the work Chainfire has done with a small donation.

Source: XDA via +Chainfire

Image Credits: Android Fan Network

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Root your Samsung Galaxy S5 with CF-Auto-Root appeared first on Android Fan Network.

Review – Limefuel L28N5 Nexus 5 Battery Case

Kevin Krueger — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 17:48:37 +0000

The Limefuel L28N5 is a 2860mAh battery case for the Nexus 5 that effectively doubles your time away from the plug. Everything from the retail packaging to the combination micro-USB/Lighting cable to the battery case itself reflects the quality of what you are getting and helps justify the $80 price tag.

The battery case is well made and fits the Nexus 5 like a glove. Cutouts for the camera and headphone jack are deep but should not interfere with using the phone. Both power and volume buttons are responsive and the clicky feeling is not lost in the case. The finish on the case complements the phone quite well with a rubbery coating over the plastic that feels similar to the Nexus 5′s own finish. As a case, it is sturdy enough to provide basic drop protection that I would say is similar to other hard shell styles.

The size of your Nexus overall doubles carried in the battery case, but that is the trade-off of convenience. The additional weight was not much of an issue and neither this or size made the phone uncomfortable to use. In the week and a half I used the case, I had no problem going two days with the combined 5160mAh of freedom. Which brings me to the only downside – recharging. The phone and case together take quite a while to recharge so this is a task best left for overnight.

The micro-USB port is designed to pass through charging current so you will need to make sure the case is switched off before charging the pair. If left on when both are near drained, the Nexus battery will slowly decline while the case sucks up the available charging current. The end result is your Nexus could power off before the battery case can start charging it again. Leave the case turned off while charging and there is no problem.

Overall, this is a solid case and much more convenient that packing an external battery on the go. I would recommend those in the market for something like this to give it strong consideration.

You can find the L28N5 online for purchase direct from Limefuel.

Image Credits: Android Fan Network, Limefuel

About Kevin Krueger

Self-proclaimed "know-it-none," I prefer HTC hardware with AOSP ROM's. When not writing about technology or shooting YouTube videos, I like to tinker with motorcycles and R/C cars.

The post Review – Limefuel L28N5 Nexus 5 Battery Case appeared first on Android Fan Network.