MrMobile normally only covers technology that takes you from your doorstep to distant destinations. But there’s an awful lot of interesting tech made for the home that’s cropped up over the past year that you’ve been asking about … and frankly, I don’t know much about any of it! So I hopped a plane to Pensacola Florida to meet up with someone who does. Join me as Modern Dad teaches us all about the coolest home tech of 2017!
This may be the summer of the Tesla Model 3, but GM will always be able to say that it got here first. The Chevy Bolt EV is an all-electric car boasting an EPA-estimated 238-mile range, a zero-to-sixty time of 6.8 seconds, and enough storage and cabin space to qualify as a crossover (in Chevy’s terms, at least). It’s neither the sexiest nor the most luxuriously appointed electric car on the road, but its combination of range and power make those shortcomings easy to forgive … and its $37,500 starting price –before incentives– make it all the more alluring if you’re in the market for a car that doesn’t run on splodey-juice. Find out if “the electric car for everyone” is the best electric car for you – in MrMobile’s Chevy Bolt EV review!
MrMobile’s Chevy Bolt EV Review was produced following six days with a Chevy Bolt LT and a Chevy Bolt Premier on loan from Chevrolet. DISCLOSURE: The Provincetown test drive mentioned in the video included a hotel stay and meals provided by Chevrolet. No other promotional consideration or compensation was provided for this review.
[LINKS]
“Mapping How The U.S. Generates Its Electricity” [Washington Post]:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/power-plants/?utm_term=.f9ed4d218f4b
“A Simple Guide To DC Fast Charging” [fleetcarma]:
http://www.fleetcarma.com/dc-fast-charging-guide/
“Federal Tax Credits For All-Electric Vehicles” [fueleconomy.gov]:
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml
“Chevy Bolt EV Is Already Being Discounted” [electrek]:
It only took me two flights to lose my brand-new DJI Spark drone forever. A little research has since shown me that this phenomenon (which is called “drone flyaway”) is actually not at all unique to the DJI Spark. But one thing many lost drones have in common was in abundance during my fateful flight: pilot error. Check out MrMobile’s DJI Spark video to see all the things that I did wrong to lose my drone forever, and hit the link above if you want to help convince dbrand I’m not a world-class moron (or, more to the point, if you just want a drone skin like the one in the video). And don’t worry: I’ve got a replacement DJI Spark coming for the full review in the next few weeks. And I promise to follow my own advice so I don’t lose that one.
[SPONSOR]
Brought to you by dbrand. Skin your DJI Spark here: https://dbrand.com/mrmobile-spark
Light up bluetooth speaker: http://mrmobile.tech/229
Borg cube rug: http://mrmobile.tech/22c
[ABOUT THE DJI SPARK VIDEO]
MrMobile’s DJI Spark video was produced following two days of flight operations with a DJI Spark review unit on loan from dbrand. The drone was flown using a Samsung Galaxy S8+ and Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. As of presstime, it remains lost somewhere near Arlington Center MA. If found, please contact Justus Perry: justus [at] mobilenations [dot] com.
[MUSIC]
“Overflowing” by Score Squad, available at Premium Beat:
https://www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_free_music/songs/overflowing
“New Media” by Olive Musique, available at Premium Beat:
https://www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_free_music/songs/new-media
In five years reviewing smartphones I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so full of contradiction as the HTC U11. A stunning backplate mated to a forgettable face; fast software blunted by extraneous gimmicks; slick multimedia features without a big battery to back ‘em up. Even the name “U11” seems an awkward compromise of last year’s simplicity and this year’s … peculiar claptrap. But despite all the flip-flopping, the HTC U11 is a good smartphone with some unique features; find out whether they’re enough to make it matter, in MrMobile’s HTC U11 Review!
mStand by Rain Design:
https://www.raindesigninc.com/
[STUDIO DECOR COURTESY OF THINKGEEK]
Light Cube: http://mrmobile.tech/1lf
Supernova Sphere: http://mrmobile.tech/228
Light up bluetooth speaker: http://mrmobile.tech/229
Borg cube rug: http://mrmobile.tech/22c
Ganymede plush: http://mrmobile.tech/22b
[ABOUT THE HTC U11 REVIEW]
MrMobile’s HTC U11 Review was produced following seven days with an HTC U11 review unit on loan from HTC. The device was tested on Sprint in Greater Boston and was not paired with a wearable. Due to the pre-release nature of the HTC U11 review device, final conclusions are subject to change following retail availability.
The father of the Android platform just announced a smartphone, which is kind of a big deal. It’s called the Essential Phone – not just because Andy Rubin wants you to think it’s indispensable, but because it represents the essence of what Rubin believes a smartphone should be: personal, open, premium, helpful and simple. The Essential Phone PH-1 was built to correct some of the problems Rubin says Android created, with an open ecosystem and intuitive software wrapped in a drop-resistant ceramic/titanium body bearing a magnetic attachment port for accessories. Also, no Essential Phone would be complete without an Essential Home to go along with it; in addition to its smartphone showdown, Essential will be going head-to-head with the Google Homes and Amazon Echoes of the world. But such lofty ambitions sometimes bamboozle those who should remain skeptical – especially given the crowded graveyard of tech companies who’s walked this path before. So how excited should you be for the Essential Phone? MrMobile won’t know for sure until he gets a device in his hands; until then, join him for some early impressions from afar!
Samsung DeX promises a lot. With nothing more than the DeX dock and a monitor, keyboard and mouse, you’re supposed to be able to “leave your computer behind” and “make anyplace a workplace” … by converting your smartphone into a desktop computer. And you know what? It works pretty well. If Microsoft’s competing Continuum product weren’t already effectively dead, DeX would stand a pretty good chance of killing it. Plus, it’s not that hard to imagine a laptop-less future where everyone just plugs their phone in to a dumb terminal when they need a computer. But that future is still far off … and DeX doesn’t deliver quite enough to get us there all on its own. Learn the full story in MrMobile’s Samsung DeX review!
With about 3 million apps to choose from in the Google Play Store, a little app-choosing guidance never hurts. Y’all have been asking me for nigh on a year to tell you what’s on my phone, so tune in as I run down my top 40 apps, from games to song-streamers to the magic titles that give me those wallpapers you’re also fond of asking after. Be sure to stick around till the end for a special heads-up on the future of MrMobile sponsorships, and hit the links below (if you use an Android phone) to download any of the apps mentioned above!
Depending on where you get your nerdy news, Google I/O 2017 was the story of a boring company doing important things or an important company doing boring things; either way, much of the coverage from Mountain View bore mentions of mundanity, the sense that the sizzle had fizzled. But Google I/O isn’t *supposed* to be a gadget carnival, and it doesn’t need to wow the masses anymore. At I/O 2017, Google returned to the roots of a dev conference: giving developers more tools to build the future. Join Michael Fisher in Mountain View, CA for MrMobile’s Google I/O 2017 impressions!
MrMobile’s Google I/O 2017 Impressions video was produced following a trip to Google I/O 2017 in Mountain View California. MrMobile attended the conference for all three days. Travel and accommodations were provided by Mobile Nations.
[FURTHER READING]
Android Central’s Google I/O 2017 Coverage:
http://www.androidcentral.com/google-io-2017
Google is boring now, and that’s sad [Mashable]:
http://mashable.com/2017/05/19/google-is-boring/
[MUSIC]
“The Ballad of MrMobile.” Mobile Nations, 2016
“Dubday” by Cymatix, available at Premium Beat:
https://www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_free_music/songs/dubday
One thing you gotta give HTC: it’s not afraid to try new things. So when it needed to follow up its solid 2016 smartphone with something better-suited to mirror-plated 2017, it blended the branding, doubled down on ditching the headphone jack, and traded a dedicated function button … for a little squeeze. I’m MrMobile and I took some time out from Google I/O 2017 to shoot a belated hands-on with the HTC U11. Join me for a squeeze!
[CORRECTION] HTC has confirmed for me that while the front faceplate is indeed Gorilla Glass 5, the backplate is Gorilla Glass 3. MrMobile regrets the error.
MrMobile’s HTC U11 Hands-On was produced following an afternoon with an HTC U11 review unit at Google I/O 2017. The device was a preproduction HTC U11 with a preproduction software build.
[FURTHER READING]
Android Central’s HTC U11 Hands On Preview:
http://www.androidcentral.com/htc-u11
[MUSIC]
“The Ballad of MrMobile.” Mobile Nations, 2016
“Beach” by JAM Studio, available at Premium Beat:
https://www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_free_music/songs/beach
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