Category: Android Accessories

Google Home, in many ways, is the physical realization of the machine learning that Google has been doing for years.  Equipped with Google Assistant, this small, unassuming device that sits in your home is a gateway to Google and all of your personal information at a voice command away.  It is powerful and handy… but not perfect.  Like many first generation products, Google Home has room for growth in what it can do, the apps it can interact with and, of course, how it interacts with you.  I’ll borrow a phrase from my Google OnHub review earlier this year:  If you are an early adopter, Google Home is a great product for you to consider.  If not, you may want to give it a few months and software updates to improve.  And it will improve.  Unlike OnHub, which Google hasn’t fully abandoned but equally isn’t doing much more investing in thanks to Google Wi-Fi, Home is a central and key part of what Google considers the next technical transition we are to see.  That transition is from mobile to machines and Google Home will be at the center of this transition.

I’ve had my Google Home for about a week now and I have to say that it is very much a part of my daily routine and work flow.  It saves me from having to pick up my Nexus 6P or Nexus 9 to use the “OK Google” voice commands (if my phone is locked, I have to unlock it to get the results) and gives me a wealth of information all a voice command away.  But I can already see things I’d like to improve, particularly around app integration and more natural language discussions.  But that will come in time.  One thing is for sure:  The speakers in Google Home are impressive and have excellent sound.  For this, you won’t be disappointed.

Today’s Deal over at Amazon is on a handy accessory for home or when you are traveling.  The Anker dual-port USB wall charger allows you to charge two devices at once and works worldwide so it can be the once travel charger you carry with you.  Normally it is $19.99 but right now it is only $10.99 and they work with any Android device or an iPhone.  The charger has Anker’s PowerIQ and VoltageBoost maximize charging speed up to 2.4 amps per port.  It does not support Quick Charge but it will be efficient about charging your devices.

Finding a sports Bluetooth headset can be challenging.  Either you get stuck with sub-par sound quality or have to pay a reasonable percentage of the cost of your actual phone for them.  I’ve noted on other products that iClever has seemed to have found a balance between these too challenges.  I’ve reviewed multiple products from them over the past year and they always seem to pack a lot of punch for the price.  The iClever BoostRun headset is no exception.  With outstanding audio quality, solid battery performance and a lightweight, don’t-really-notice-it-is-there design, the BoostRun meets the need for a resilient headset that you can use in the gym or on a run.

Recently the iClever team sent me the headset, which by their product name is the IC-BTH06, for review and after using them for the last few weeks, I have no problem in recommending this headset if you need a lightweight headset for your workout.

Like many accessories for Android phones and tablets, desktop stands are, as they say, a dime a dozen.  Everyone it seems makes one but like so many things, you do get what you pay for in most cases.  I say most because the team over at iClever have made an excellent stand that is certainly a good value for this type of accessory.  The iClever Adjustable Stand, as the name suggests, is not just a fixed stand for your phone or tablet.  Rather, it has an adjustable plane where you phone rests that can be rotated 270-degrees.  It makes the stand easy to use no matter if you are viewing your device in portrait or landscape mode.  Plus, it is made of aluminum so it looks great and is rugged enough to handle a drop from your desk to the floor.  Backed with a lifetime warranty, this $13 stand is well worth the consideration if you like desktop stands for your devices.

I recently picked up two of the IC-CS01 stands on Amazon to replace two aging stands that had lost their ability to hold my devices securely.  What appealed to me was first the iClever name (I’ve reviewed many of their products and have always found them to be excellent in price and performance) but also the non-skip pads on the stand’s base and phone plane to hold my Nexus 6P and Nexus 9 securely.  That do that and do it well.

Today’s Deal is on the Anker 5-Port USB Wall Charger.  This 63W unit has two ports that support Quick Charge 3.0 technology for rapid charging of compatible devices.  Today you can pick it up for $32.99, a saving of 63% off the regular $57 price.  Anker is one of the long time manufacture of accessories for Android and iOS and I never hesitate in recommending their products.  This particular accessory I have (albeit the Quick Charge 2.0 model from last year) and it is rock solid and used every day for the myriad of devices I have plugged into it at any given point in time.

Today’s Deal over at Amazon is on the Anker PowerCore 5000.  This 5000 mAh battery is designed to give most phones at least one full charge, with some getting two, all in a compact design.  Right now the PowerCore 5000 is on sale at Amazon for $14.39.  That is a savings of 71% over the regular price.  With that price, you get the external battery pack itself which is in a slim, cylindrical design, a MicroUSB cable and a travel pouch.  This charger is the battery pack my wife has used for years (she has the 4000 mAh model as it is a few years old) and it has been rock solid in durability and performance.