Google Stadia: A Future Here Too Soon

With the release of the Google Stadia, the company has teased to make the dream of every gamer a reality: a take it everywhere service that allows for high quality games to be played no matter the circumstance. Though promising when it works, Google Stadia’s launch brings forth just enough issues to make this latest idea one that I will stay away from.

It’s when you unpack the Google Stadia experience, that you start to notice that Google may have brought us this future too soon. By observing different reviewers, I quickly came to notice that YouTubers with close to or over 1 Million subscribers truly enjoyed their time with Stadia, most likely due to the smooth experience provided by their high-speed office WiFi. Smaller channels on the other hand, who tested Stadia in a more every day scenario, had a rougher experience, many times reporting the experience as unusable.

Furthermore, Google Stadia serves as yet another proof that whilst Google can create great services, it cannot provide customer service that matches the quality of their products. Roughly a few days after its release, users were still reporting lacking their Stadia codes, making those who trusted Google enough to purchase the pricey preorder very quickly regret it.

When it works however, Google Stadia seems to fulfil every promise it has ever made, allowing a steady switch between the TV, Chrome and mobile devices. Yet even at its best, Google Stadia seems rushed at best. Not only does the service not offer a large enough variety of games people have not already played, but the two games that it does ship with, Destiny 2 and Samurai Shodown, can be found so cheap that it makes Stadia’s preorder experience mediocre at best.

It’s ability to be played on a mobile phone, whilst cool, is also very underwhelming. Currently, the service is only offered on Google’s own Pixel lineup, meaning that only a small portion of Google Stadia owners can truly enjoy all the services it has to offer.

Google Stadia is a product that in concept brings many of my childhood dreams to fruition, but in actuality, it lacks many features and the finesse required to truly succeed in today’s competitive video game market. While it may be super awesome to play Red Dead 2 in the comfort of my bed, I think I’ll just stick with its PS4 version for the meanwhile.

Google Pixel 4: Travel Review

Whether it be a honeymoon to the Bahamas or your world-tour, technology has evolved from simply an utility to a travel companion. On my recent trip to Toronto, I brought my new Google Pixel 4 with me in the hopes of answering one simple question: Can it stack up to my extreme needs?

“My Needs”

Before throwing a thousand words at you about what the Google Pixel 4 does well and what it lacks, I think it’s important to define what “my needs” are - especially since in a world so vast, everyone’s will be well different. As an university student travelling across Canada to Toronto, my needs were as follows:

My phone needs to last a full day of use

My phone needs to have good WiFi and Data connectivity no matter where I am

My phone needs to take photos good enough to serve as polished memories.

It may sound like a simple list, but I can assure you that not all phones I’ve had in the past fit all three of these criteria, and some - didn’t fit any. Take my iPhone SE for example, not only did that phone had to be charged after thirty minutes of Google Maps usage, but it struggled to maintain WiFi even at home, let alone in the go. And its cameras, for the lack of a better word, simply reeked.

A Companion During the day - and night

As I mentioned in my early impressions, the Google Pixel 4 had an average battery that somehow lasted an entire day of normal use. During a trip however, my usage can range from a full day of video streaming as I wait for my plane to departure, to about an hour of Google Maps as I struggled to find my way around downtown Toronto. In both cases, the Google Pixel 4 faired better than expected.

In a full day of streaming, which happened to be the day I arrived in Toronto, I got to my airbnb after hours of music and video streaming with about 5% of juice left to spare. Whilst this may not be as impressive as some other phones in the market, it got me through the boredom of a two hour bus ride to my local airport, a tedious four hour flight, and a thirty minute Uber ride.

When the day was less crowded however, the Google Pixel 4 really shined, lasting me two days of full usage with one hour of Google Maps each day and the annoying, but most needed, alarm every morning. Though it passes my tests, I still question the phone’s ability to be used as a map and an entertainment tool, so for those types of travellers, I would seriously recommend a battery pack in the event your tech companion decides its time to go home.

Connected Everywhere

My experience with WiFi and data reception was also very positive. Not only was I always able to get good WiFi strength no matter where I was, but I also received stronger data signals than reported with my iPhone SE. This was surprising, as I was under the impression that I would lose LTE connection as soon as I left Calgary’s downtown core, but the Google Pixel 4 kept me connected the entire way.

As Toronto is a bigger city, my experience only improved once I arrived to my destination, with WiFi hotspots located essentially everywhere. This, paired with Google’s smart AI capabilities that warned me of an unsafe network kept me navigating danger free through the streets of Toronto. With this said, the Google Pixel is very much a phone designed for the North American markets, and I am curious to test out the device further when I return to Asia over the winter break.

A Camera Paired with a Phone

Google’s AI and the Pixel’s 4 lenses result in a picture of my girlfriend that brings me joy every time I look at it

At night the Pixel 4 still captures a fair bit of detail

This average picture of a delicious plate of chicken makes me wonder what Google’s AI is up

A fantastic view from the balcony of my Airbnb

As every Google Pixel reviews, the camera is always the device’s most raved about feature, and with the Google Pixel 4 - this is no different. Throughout my week in Toronto, I shot most photos as I would normally to really get a feel for how the average consumer would experience their trip through Google’s dual cameras.

My findings were that camera quality ranged from insanely mind blowing to average, with others around me noticing the varying quality just as much. At times photos of my girlfriend or buildings were simply stunning, with multiple people asking me if I had brought a DSLR alongside me.

At other times however, photos were a bit dull, lacking the detail and finesse necessary to make a photo truly bring a memory to life. It was during these moments that I was left scratching my head the hardest: How was it that Google’s AI was so powerful in making portrait and landscape shots so magnificent, but failed so miserably at making food pictures deserving of an awe. Whilst the answer is beyond me, I can only hope that Google may eventually update its camera software, making it work similarly to Huawei’s or Xiaomi’s whenever it recognises a juicy piece of chicken posing for the camera.

Overall however, the Google Pixel 4 was a joy to use as a camera, as it not only made me extremely excited to experience the end result of every shot, but made me hopeful that future smartphones can truly make every photo awe worthy.

Conclusion

After returning home and reliving life from the comfort of my couch, I am glad I chose the Google Pixel 4 as my travel companion this time around. Not only was it a dependable device for the tasks in which I needed it to achieve, but it brought me a certain joy in using all its levels of technology as diverse tools throughout my stay.

Is it the best travel phone though? This is a question that unfortunately has no answer, as my needs may very well be different from someone else’s. In fact, as I mentioned previously, if you see yourself using your phone intensely during your trip, then perhaps the Pixel 4 is not the phone for you - but for my needs, it’s more than perfect.

Haylou GT2: 5 Things To Love

The Haylou GT2s have just released, and after spending a while using them, we have found a great deal to love about the successor to one of our favourite value buds of last year. With that said, below follow simply 5 of those reasons:

A Value Beast

With most of the consumer market finally coming to accept that Bluetooth earbuds were an idea for the better, major tech companies have been quick to produce fantastic, but unfortunately also fantastically expensive audio experiences. The Haylou GT2s however, come at under $20, making them not only a viable option for every tech consumer, but one that can be easily replaced without breaking the bank.

Small and Compact

Unlike most modern wireless earbuds, which take the gen 1 AirPods toothbrush design, the Haylou GT2 feels like a very minimalistic piece of technology. If to be described to the everyday person, I’d go as far as saying these are one of those earbuds that can simply disappear in your ear when you wear them, making them perfect with just about every outfit.

Long Lasting Fun

Part of the massive convenience of Bluetooth earbuds is the ability to use them away from your phone. When your battery doesn’t last however, this convenience can then become an awful disturbance - thankfully, this is no problem for the Haylou GT2. After using them with medium volume for about 2 and a half hours, our Bluetooth settings told us that we still had 50% charge on the earbuds themselves, meaning you can expect at least 4 to 5 hours of pure listening experience.

A Better Case

As some may remember, our experience with the original Haylou GT1s were not very pleasing, with our case breaking in the very first day. With their successors, we are happy to say that we feel more confident that the case will stand the test of time this time around.

Just as great is the fact that this case now comes with a built in charger, allowing you to easily and quickly charge your earbuds in the event that they do ever need more juice.

Button Controls

Another major complaint that we had with the first gen Haylou earbuds were their less than superb touch controls. But with the new button controls, that problem has since been fixed. While they weirdly enough exclude the ability to control volume, they offer a more than sufficient method change your tracks without having the terrible feeling of pushing the earbuds into your ears.

There’s much more to love about the Haylou GT2s, but we hope that these 5 reasons may be enough to keen your interest in what just may be our new favourite value king of 2019.

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Pixel 4 After The Buzz: Perfect - While It Lasts

I’m not one to usually buy flagship phones, I just find them oddly unnecessary seeing as the budget market is as capable as it is. This year for my birthday however, I decided to treat myself, and got my hands on a Google Pixel 4, the most expensive phone I’ve yet to own. After spending roughly a week or so with it, I can say that for the most part my experience was perfect - but I’d still have a hard time recommending this device to anyone.

Original Impressions

Upon first unboxing the Pixel 4, I was in awe, in both the best and worst ways. Holding the phone case less made me just appreciate the machinery that went behind constructing such a beautiful device. From its perfectly aligned speaker grills to the soft finish in the back, I felt from the very start that I was getting what I paid for.

Unfortunately, once covered with a case, which you will most likely want to do, the phone’s squared camera has an awful resemblance to Apple’s new IPhone 11 Pro. This resemblance is so striking in fact, that upon laying my phone on a table with the camera facing upwards, most of my friends asked me how I was liking my new iPhone 11.

Google Pixel 4 in “Clearly White”

Perhaps more striking than the phone’s resemblance to Apple’s iPhone 11, is the lack of accessories bundled with the phone. Besides the phone itself and its charger, there is nothing else to be found in the box. This is disappointing, especially when you’re already paying so much money for what should be a premium device. Personally, I opted to purchase an Otterbox case, which provides military grade protection at the cost of style points, and Google’s own pair of USB C earbuds, which for 35 Canadian, offer what I can easily call “decent” audio quality

The Good

I’m going to phrase this as simply as humanly possible: The Google Pixel 4 is an absolute blast to use. From its beautiful 90hz OLED screen to the extreme fluidity that comes with Google’s stock Android powered by the beastly Snapdragon 855, this phone flies through everyday tasks.

But the Pixel is more than just an everyday performer - it’s also a great audio companion. With its stereo speaker setup, I found myself not needing my Bluetooth speaker as much as I did with prior phones, a feature that is definitely nice to have when you’re spending as much as you will be with this device.

When the fun is over (and trust me, it will be - more on that later) the Pixel 4’s quick charge feature should give a full charge in around 50 minutes, meaning that you can get a sufficient enough boost for a couple more hours of fun within a typical shower’s time.

It is no understatement by now that I feel like the Google Pixel 4 absolutely blows it out of the water as a phone - but how does it handle as a camera? The answer is: really good actually. Comparing my photos with that of my friend’s three thousand dollar camera, the Pixel 4 offers a surprising amount of detail. This detail, when paired with Google’s AI smarts, can result in photos that will leave everyone in awe.

Having never personally owned another Pixel phone, I can’t exactly comment on just how much of an improvement the Pixel 4 is, but when side by side with all other modern smartphones I have had a chance to test, I am quick to say that the Pixel 4 offers the most true to life colours, and vest dynamic range that I’ve yet to see coming from a smartphone.

The camera experience is by no means perfect however, in fact, while I’m writing this review, I still can’t come to understand any logical excuse that can explain Google’s choice to opt for a 2x telephoto camera instead of an extra wide lens now that the Pixel lineup finally has moved on from its single lens infancy.

The Ugly

With so many predominantly awesome features, you may be wondering why I am not recommending anyone to rush to their nearest tech store and grab themselves a new Pixel 4. The main answer: battery life. Featuring a 2800 mAh battery capacity on my smaller variant, the Google Pixel 4 lasts me the entire day - but that’s because as a busy university student, I barely interact with my phone as much as the average user.

Throughout my days of use, the Pixel 4 never managed to give me more than 5 and a half hours of screen on time. To make this matter worse, I must specify that these hours were mainly spent on apps such as Google Chrome and WhatsApp, making me wonder how it might stack up for someone who sees themselves using this device as a video streaming or gaming device.

Equally as bad are the memory options. With the roughly 1000 Canadian Dollar version sporting only 64 GB (with no way to expand its memory), I often find myself wondering if I - despite Google’s 5 years of guaranteed software updates - made a wise long-term investment.

Also as “eh” worthy were the new “features” Google introduced to the device, like the smart 90hz display and its radar gestures. Attempting to force the phone to always run at 90hz proved itself disastrous, with almost an hour of usage being discounted from the already mediocre battery life. As for the gestures, I - along with the few people I demonstrated these features to - found them not more than a “gimmick”, specially considering just how easy it is to use the phone’s touch screen to complete the same functions the radar achieves.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Google’s Pixel 4 is a reliable, beautifully (and unoriginally) designed phone that carries as much potential to be your daily driver as it does to be your hobbyist camera. With that said, not all is perfect, and with what feels like weird gimmicks and less than subpar battery life, I find it hard to recommend the Pixel 4 to anyone that may consider themselves a “power user”.

AirPods Pro First Impressions: Surprisingly Good

Since the debut of the original AirPods a few years ago, fans have been wondering what the pioneers of truly wireless earbuds would bring to the table with the Airpod’s next iteration. After briefly testing out the AirPods Pro however, all I have to say is: a lot.

Picture From Mobile Syrup

For your discretion, I must make it clear that the following impressions were based on a short in-store demo given at the Apple Store in my local area. I haven’t bought, or received the device, making my first impressions genuine and unbiased. With that said: For as much as I hate to admit it, Apple has just created what are in my opinion the best premium truly wireless earbuds.

Feature wise, the AirPods Pro finally add one much needed feature: noise cancellation. Being an owner of the previous generation AirPods for a while, my biggest complaint was simply just how much outside noise was able to penetrate my music listening experience. With the new technology it packs, the AirPods Pro allow for what is a much quieter and personal listening experience.

Unfortunately this comes with one big caveat. Whilst I was sure that the predecessors would stick in most people’s ears, as it used Apple’s tried and true headphone design, the new silicone tip feels oddly un-Apple like, and leaves me worried that the same universal magic is lost in transition.

As for sound itself, the AirPods Pro sound clearly better than its predecessors. For comparison sake, I would rank it as well as the Samsung Galaxy Buds, except that I felt that the AirPods Pro had a bit clearer base that is so typical with modern Apple and Beats audio products.

Picture From CNET

One concern of mine that was gladly solved upon first impressions was the charging case itself. In videos and marketing materials, the case can often look oversized, which made me rather worried that the AirPods Pro would not fit a regular person’s pocked. Upon inspection however, I came to a quick relief upon realising that the case is roughly the same size as that of its predecessor, simply trading length for height. 

A concern that sadly wasn’t answered during my testings though, were with the earbuds themselves: they’re just so tiny. Don’t get me wrong, I love this new, minimalistic design, as it not only looks better in the ear, but can more easily blend in to most outfits. This however, does not make me less worried that the individual buds will be incredibly easy to lose, and - knowing Apple - very expensive to replace.

Before concluding my first impressions, I’d like to bring some emphasis to one specific word in my original statement: premium. For those of us who can afford to spend between $150 and $300 for audio, I’d truly recommend the AirPods Pro for their great audio quality, and slew of sleek features it provides. For those of us who need every penny justified however, it becomes simply impossible to ignore offerings such as the Awei T10Cs.