Sometimes the built in speakers on your phone and tablets just don’t cut it for the sound you want to hear. That’s why more wireless bluetooth speakers are becoming available. Not too long ago I did several reviews of wireless bluetooth speakers, which had good sound and a little bass. Now I thought it was time to check out a new player that is hitting the market, the LuguLake bluetooth speaker.

Introduction

Out of the box you’ll get the LuguLake bluetooth speaker, which has two 3W speakers (one on each end). You’ll also get an auxiliary cable for those times you need to conserve battery or are using a device without bluetooth support. To recharge the built in 1000 MAH battery, you get a USB charging cable but no wall adapter. So you will have to use one you have for other devices, charge it through your computer, or buy one. The LuguLake speaker currently comes in coffee, silver, and blue colors according to Amazon.

Design and Features

The LuguLake speaker is shaped like a tube with a stand on the front for your phone, tablet, or iPod. It measures 7.9 x 2 x 2 inches and weighs just 14.1 ounces. The slot for your device is thick enough for probably any device without any type of case on it. The only thing is there is no protection between the metal and your device which makes me cringe. I would suggest putting some type of felt or thin foam inside the slot to keep from metal on metal or plastic and limit scratches. One good thing about the metal finish is that it is fingerprint resistant which makes it easy to keep clean. On each end of the tube you’ll find a 3 watt speaker and grill instead of on the front like most speakers or docks. For the controls and connections, you’ll find them on the back side which consists of the power switch, auxiliary input, and DC input for power. There is also a small LED light that flashes blue twice if connected to bluetooth and blue/red when in pairing mode. Keep in mind this is just a speaker, so there are no extra volume controls or built in microphone for calls.

Sound Quality

I was very skeptical about trying out this little speaker, especially with a name I hadn’t yet heard of. That feeling changed quickly as soon as I connected it to my phone and turned on my playlist. Of course the sound was dramatically better than the built in speaker of the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the iPad Air. But as soon as I heard the music play, I could tell how clear and crisp the sound was along with the adequately added bass for such small speakers. I just didn’t realize how much better the LuguLake speaker was until I started switching back and forth between it and the Kitsound Boombar speaker. One concern I still have is how it would sound if the speakers faced the front instead of the sides. Either way, the sound is phenomenal for this small setup.

LuguLake Bluetooth Speaker Hands-on Review Video

Verdict

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a high end sound system by any means. For the price, however, it is definitely a top contender for the range it is in.

The post LuguLake Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

There are several wireless charging options available out there and you don’t necessarily have to have specific wireless charging pads according by brand of phone. But Samsung wanted to get in on the action by making the Samsung Wireless Charging Pad for their Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note. Granted, the charging pad works with several devices.

There a few ways to use the wireless charging pad to charge your S4 or Note. Since the Qi technology was not included on these two devices, you must also purchase a Qi adapter or battery cover. Depending on your needs and to make things easier, Samsung also has a Wireless Charging  Kit which includes both the charging pad and the QI battery cover. Keep in mind you’ll need to use your current wall charger to plug into the pad. For the Note 3 you’ll need a micro USB charging cable since it comes with the USB 3 cable. The wireless charging pad comes in white or black depending on your preference.

Samsung S Charger Pad Video Review

Samsung Wireless S Pad Use

To charge your device wirelessly once you have the wireless charging pad and adapter or battery cover is very simple. If you purchase the adapter, simply remove the battery cover and attache the wireless Qi adapter and reattach the cover. For the wireless capable backplate, just replace the stock battery cover. Next connect the charging pad to power outlet and lay your phone on the wireless charging pad. You should see your phone charging and the LED light on the pad will illuminate green but not too bright.

Some people may say “what’s the difference in the wireless charging pad versus connecting the cable?” The answer is that you don’t have to fumble for the end of the USB charging cable and the convenience of laying your Galaxy S4 or Note 3 down and it is charging. This comes in handy for beside the bed at night in the dark for sure.

If you have a Galaxy S4 or Note 3, I recommend the Samsung Wireless Charging Pad for simplicity and not having bright lights to annoy you especially at night.

The post Samsung Wireless Charging S Pad Review appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

Most consumers purchase external hard drives that are already in an enclosure and ready for plug and play action. But what about those of us who already have a hard drive or solid state drive that we want to turn into an external hard drive? That’s where external enclosures come in, but not all are equal.

Today we will be reviewing a HDD enclosure from Inateck that supports USB 3.0. To make the best of the enclosure we will be using a Solid State Drive (SSD) and only on the Mac as that is what we mostly use.

Inateck External Enclosure: In the box

• USB 3.0 Hard drive enclosure for 2.5 inch SATA HDD
• USB 3.0 cable
• USB power cable
• Screws and screwdriver

Inateck External HDD Enclosure Features

The Inateck 2.5 inch hard drive enclosure is made of a durable aluminum material with a side vent for heat dissipation. It supports both HDD and SSD that are SATA and 7mm-9.5mm thick. It comes with UASP technology to accelerate read and write speeds of SSD hard disks only. Mounting screws are provided to hold the hard drive in place within the enclosure. Compatible with Windows (2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8) and Mac OS 9.1 and above.

We used a Samsung 840 EVO SSD while testing the Inateck enclosure. Although there were no directions, we figured everything out pretty easily. The tray slides out of the drive enclosure  and the drive slides right into the SATA slot. There was no special drivers or anything, just plug and play. We didn’t get to test on a Windows machine but instead used a Mac running 10.9.2 Mavericks. The drive was recognized instantly and a blue led light flashed within the vents.

We ran a benchmark test for read and write speeds and got 412.7 MB/s Write and 431.6 MB/s Read. Not bad at all. Overall, we were impressed with the ease of use, compatibility, quality, and performance for the price of $19.99. Right now, you can only find this product on Amazon so check it out.

Unboxing and Demo Video

The post Inateck External USB 3.0 HDD Enclosure Review appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

Wallet phone cases are nothing new to the market as I’m sure you’ve seen many or even own one. But there usually is a lack of quality for the price. Fliptroniks is looking to change that by focusing on better workmanship and competitive pricing. They currently offer the Leather Wallet Flip Case and the Black Panther Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 5 & 5s as well as other devices.

Fliptroniks Black Panther Wallet Case Design & Quality

The Fliptroniks Black Panther wallet case is made of high quality genuine leather with superb hand stitching. To keep the iPhone case from opening unintentionally, there is a magnetic flap to ensure it remains closed.  On the inner sides of the wallet case, you’ll find microfiber material stitched to the leather creating pockets for IDs, credit cards, debit cards, business cards, and cash. And don’t worry, your iPhone will remain snapped into the built-in holder until you are ready to pop it out. The overall design of this iPhone 5 case from Fliptroniks still allows all buttons, ports, and speakers to be accessed with it closed yet provides a stylish “all in one” carrying solution.

Fliptroniks Back Panther Leather Wallet Case Protection

The iPhone 5s Black Panther wallet case provides protection all around for your device. The sides, front, and back are completely covered and the phone stays locked into place so no worries about accidental drops. The outer leather protects from harmful drops while the microfiber interior protects the screen.

Conclusion

I look forward to other accessories that Fliptroniks puts out because this Black Panther Wallet Case comes in handy. Now I don’t have to carry my phone in whatever case along with my wallet, I can just put my phone and necessary IDs, credit cards, and cash in this case and be on my way. This is the best way to go to the gym, pool, beach, etc.

Retails for $39.99

The post Fliptroniks iPhone 5 & 5s Black Panther Leather Wallet Case Review appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

With the announcement of Samsung’s Galaxy S5 came the heart-rate monitor and fingerprint sensor. Among more exciting features is the 16-megapixel rear-facing camera which trumps its predecessor at photos and video. Samsung has clearly put in work to refine the camera which now shoots 4K video.

Until recently, the quality of cameras on phones weren’t a focus but Nokia took the initiative with their Lumia. With smartphone photography taking off, other big-name vendors are taking the leap to improve their camera technology. The Sony Xperia Z2 sports a 20-megapixel with 4K support, so the Samsung GS5 will give it a run for its money.

Most prerelease, user-made videos often don’t do justice but the detail and sharpness of the Galaxy S5’s video is spectacular as you’ll see below. You will need to select the 2160p option to fully realize the finer details, especially on a retina display.

This particular video is captured from a good vantage point, and gives us an idea of how much of an improvement the GS5 video camera is over the Galaxy S4. While some have criticized the Galaxy S5 for not offering much of an improvement over the GS4, those looking for robust photography and videography features may beg to differ after watching that 3840 x 2160 clip.

The post Galaxy S5 4K Video Impression appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

Giveaway Ended March 17th @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

* Congratulations to Darby in Vermont for being chosen as winner of this giveaway!

We’ve reviewed the Spigen Neo Hybrid Case before, but thanks to Mobile Fun we are giving one to a lucky winner. We have the Satin Silver Galaxy S4 case available free to whomever wins this contest.

The Galaxy S4 Neo Hybrid is an assembly-type case with a TPU back cover and a polycarbonate frame. The Neo Hybrid is form-fitted to effectively protect your device from external impact. The Galaxy neo Hybrid is designed to highlight the curves of the Galaxy S4. It fits precisely onto the phone for a natural and sleek look. The Galaxy S4 Neo Hybrid is a 2 part case that can be dissembled into a TPU back cover and a polycarbonate frame. The Neo Hybrid uses premium TPU material for extra durability. The TPU back cover will not sag or expand due to heat from the device.

• Form-Fitted
• Hybrid Material of TPU and Polycarbonate parts
• Interchangeable and Customizable look
• Durable and Stylish

Galaxy S4 Spigen Neo Hybrid Case Giveaway

The Rules:

• Entries are handled through the Gleam widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter by any of the allowed options though we may offer for extra entries. The information you provide (except passwords) will be kept, but it will not be given to third parties.
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winner will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will each receive one (1) Spigen Neo Hybrid case
• If you are chosen, you will be notified. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
• This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Spigen, Mobile Fun and Digital Tweaker are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
• Entries can be submitted until March 17th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

The post Giveaway: Galaxy S4 Spigen Neo Hybrid Case appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

Design

At first glance, this folio case is simple and sleek with its contrasting dark black and light brown leather look. It just seems professional looking for those who carry their iPad Air for work. The looks isn’t the only thing that makes this Cygnett case stand out, as it feels like leather and is made of quality material and workmanship. The Vintage Tailored Folio Case holds the iPad Air by sliding the tablet into the side from the fold instead of snapping into a plastic mold. Once you slide it in, you can velcro that side so it won’t slip out. Don’t worry though, it has all of the cutouts for the speaker, charging port, buttons, cameras, headphone jack, and the both microphones.

Not only can the Cygnett Vintage Folio case hold your iPad Air, it also has pockets on the interior cover. These are perfect for carrying your ID, drivers license, note paper, or credit cards.

The Vintage Tailored Folio case has a built in stand feature that allows you to position the iPad Air in 2 different positions. Simply flip the cover around the back of the case and lodge into the backside of the closure strap. One position allows it to stand in landscape mode with a slight angle perfect for watching movies, etc. To change the stand position, you simply lay the stand down and turn the iPad around which is perfect for a comfortable typing position or browsing the web.

Protection

This Cygnett vintage folio case not only looks good, but offers real protection for your iPad Air all around. And it does this without adding extreme bulk, keeping the slim profile the iPad Air was meant to have. The inside of the case has a soft microfiber lining to ensure nothing semi abrasive contacts your tablet screen. Just be sure not to put anything to bulky in the inner pockets as they could touch and harm your screen depending how you store it. The magnetic closure ensures the case remains closed when not in use. Unfortunately, there is not a magnetic wake/sleep feature along with this.

Conclusion

For the professional look and overall protection from the Cygnett Vintage Tailored Folo case, I have to say it is worth what it retails at $59.99. I wasn’t a fan of the way the built in stand worked at first, but it is slowly growing on me.

The post Cygnett Vintage Tailored Folio Case Review For iPad Air appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

Charity Miles

Usually you have to sign up for charity walks and runs to participate in raising money for charities. If you are a walker, runner, or biker you can earn money for your favorite nonprofit with the Charity Miles app while you train. All you have to do is choose which nonprofit you wish to support and the app will donate 10 cents for every mile you bike and 25 cents for every mile you run. Charity Miles will continue to donate until it exceeds the $1 million provided by corporate sponsors. Dozens of reputable organizations such as Stand Up To Cancer and Special Olypics participate. This is a free app available on iOS and Android.

Feedie

For those food bloggers out there or those that are just food fanatics, now there’s a better reason to share those food photos. Whenever you take a photo of your food using Feedie and post it on social media, participating restaurants donate to The Lunchbox Fund. This organization provides lunches to schoolchildren in South Africa. Through photos and donations, Feedie claims to have provided over 12 million meals.This app is available on iOS for free.

Donate A Photo

Photo sharing has become such a widespread act in society today, why not use it to contribute to those in need? Johnson & Johnson will donate $1 to a charity of your choice for every photo you share through the Donate A Photo app. You can donate one photo daily to earn money for Operation Smile, Save the Children, and other organizations. You even get notified when your cause reaches their goals and you can track all the causes you’ve helped. Once a cause reaches its financial goal or its donation period ends, it is replaced with an additional charity. So far more than 127,000 photos have been donated. Don’t worry, your photos will never be used for commercial purposes. The Donate A Photo is available for iOS for free.

I Can Go Without

The I Can Go Without app operates on the principle that conscious consumers can provide help to good causes. For instance, the price of one latte can provide one person with clean, safe, accessible water. Users can pledge to reduce daily consumptions and give that money to people in need. Once pledges are met, they are converted into donations through the app’s secure donation center. This is a simple app but has been very an effective fundraising tool for charity partners such as Thirst Relief International, ONEXONE and Sightsavers. I Can Go Without is free for iOS.

The post Apps That Give Back For A Cause appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

ART isn’t yet the default setting in Android 4.4 but you can easily enable it. In doing so you get more speed with apps launching twice as fast and better battery life up to 30%.

There are a couple of drawbacks though. Android RunTime doees use more storage at around 10% to 20% and some apps are still incompatible. A full list of compatible apps can be found here: http://www.androidruntime.com/list. Keep in mind it is possible to switch back to Dalvik if necessary.

How To Enable Android RunTime

1. Go to settings and then click “About Phone”
2. Enable developer mode by tapping “Build Number” repeatedly until it says you’re a developer
3. Go back to settings where you should see “Developer Options” and tap it
4. Now change “Select Runtime” to “Use ART”

Now your phone will reboot and take about 10 to 20 minutes to convert your app installations to be ART compatible. Don’t worry, your app data is safe and will not be lost when converting to ART or back to Dalvik.

The post Make Your Android 4.4 Device Faster And The Battery Last Longer appeared first on Digital Tweaker.

This is good news for Apple TV 2 owners who haven’t updated to 6.0 yet. There has been a tethered jailbreak for the 5.3 software but Seas0nPass 2.4 adds the untethered hack so power up/downs are hassle-free.

Announcement from FireCore:

Today we’re excited to announce the release of new versions of aTV Flash (black) and Seas0nPass that allow for an untethered jailbreak of Apple TV 5.3 (ATV2 only). Big thanks goes out to @iH8sn0w, @winocm, and @SquiffyPwn for their help with the new version of Seas0nPass. Additionally, there has been some encouraging progress made on Apple TV 6.0+ thanks to our friends @evad3rs and @nitoTV, and we hope to have more news available soon.

Jailbreaking the Apple TV 2 enables users to install aTV Flash (black), which adds new features to the second generation Apple TV such as web browsing, Last.FM access, support for HTML5 sites, stream media from NAS devices, Boxee support, and more. aTV is a paid software available for $29.95, but existing users will be able to upgrade at no additional cost.

What is new in 2.4?

• Added support for untethered Apple TV 5.3
• Improved reliability of installation process
• Improved diagnostic reporting
• Other various fixes and improvements

You can download the latest version of Seas0nPass 2.4 and the user guides at seas0npass.com.

The post Apple TV 5.3 Untethered Jailbreak With Seas0nPass appeared first on Digital Tweaker.