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Are Sites Like G2A Legit? Best Steam Alternatives

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Wondering if online game store sites like G2A are a legitimate source for grabbing the latest game titles for a great price? Here’s everything you need to know about G2A and a quick look at some other great Steam alternatives online that are nothing short of a gamer’s safe haven.

Ever since the scientifically developed technology of artificial intelligence was domesticated into the personal computer, gaming has been in focus. We’ve certainly come a long way from the pixelated age of gaming that was brought upon by Asteroids and Tennis for Two in the 80’s, and as we progressed into the late 90’s the trend of offline multiplayer was in full swing. However, it wasn’t until the inception of Valve Corporation, and its now-popular Steam client that the course of PC gaming was changed forever.

In the year 2003, the Steam client started off as this bothersome application that users needed to have installed in order to play the revered Half-Life 2. The Steam client allowed players to connect with other online players for a multi-player gaming experience in real-time. Soon enough as the internet made its way to homes all across the United States, and then around the world, so did the reach of Steam increase by ten folds. Today, Steam stands as the most expansive digital game distribution marketplace.

Steam isn’t the only one – Sites like G2A exist too

More than a decade ago when the gaming industry was heavily invested in big-box retailers and gaming stores such as GameStop to get their products across to the customers, Steam reshaped the business model by taking the concept of buying games online and being able to play them instantaneously. Valve Corporation may have been the pioneer in the industry of online gaming, but it certainly isn’t perfect, which is apparent from the thousands of dissatisfied customers ranting about it on the community website.

Whether it is the fact that you don’t have much control over the games you buy from Steam that puts you off, or it’s the mediocre customer support you receive, there’s are plenty of reasons you’d want to check out sites like G2A and dozens of others that have gained recognition over the years. However, there’s a reason Steam is used by millions of gamers every day and has the support of the top developers in the business, so is it advisable to go forward with any other online game marketplace?

Why Steam alternative sites like G2A are worth a try

Depending on how many hours of your week you dedicate to gaming, you’ll seldom find the need to look for games elsewhere. However, the growing popularity of online game marketplaces apart from Steam stems from the following benefits they have to offer:

Games for cheap

The first and foremost reason why you would want to deviate from the mainstream channel of purchasing games online is to save some of that cold hard cash. Albeit Steam puts away a fair amount of games at a decent price during those yearly sales, they’re still priced at a premium most of the year. In comparison, alternative marketplaces offer game titles for a lower cost, since they are able to trim off some of the 30% revenue cut that Steam keeps for itself.

Indie game titles

Some of the most action-packed and invigorating game titles known to man have come from independent game studios. Although Steam has bolstered its support for independent developers in recent years, you can find some of the up and coming game studios on Steam. In fact, there are alternatives sites like Steam that focus specifically on independent games, making them stand apart from the rest.

Best game marketplace sites like Steam  

Whether you’re an old-timer who has stuck with Steam right from the start or a rebel who is done with how Valve Corporation treats its customers – there’s more out there for you to discover. Here’s our personally curated list of the top game marketplace websites that are waiting to be uncovered, offering tons of benefits and steep discounts on the most popular titles available.

1. GOG Galaxy

You’d be a pariah in the gaming community if you don’t already know about CD Projekt, the talented game studio that is behind the Witcher series of adventure-packed open-world games. To start things off on the right foot, you should rest assured knowing that GOG (Good Old Games) comes as an initiative by CD Projekt that was rolled out as a game platform to showcase some of the old and forgotten gems that are hard to find online.

The online gaming marketplace has come a long way from its origins and stands today as a leading distributor of some of the most well-known mainstream titles and indie games. What makes GOG prominently different from Steam is that each and every game title offered here is 100% DRM-free. While this does limit the catalog of game titles offered by GOG, it keeps gaming simple and direct – the way it was always intended to be.

2. Green Man Gaming

Consider this online game marketplace as a free-trade zone for customers to look for games and actively compare the prices for which they are sold across different platforms. Green Man Gaming offers every major title that you can think of, and then the ones that you cannot find on Steam either. Similar to Steam, you can purchase titles from the same game studios or games that belong in the same genre as a bundle for greater discounts, along with a dedicated Indie games section for exclusive offerings.

What sets Green Man Gaming apart from the rest of the competitors out there is that it holds its very own special sales under the Hot Deals section where you can get popular titles for a fraction of the price. The platform comes with a direct refund policy where your money is safeguarded in case the key that you’re provided is faulty. Additionally, there are features such as the VIP section for early access to new titles and a student discount that you can avail online.

3. G2A

Consider this online marketplace as a free-for-all platform where sellers can openly offer games, subscription services, online gift cards, and so much more. G2A can be compared to an online buyer’s service such as eBay, where you can grab the best deals at astonishing prices, but it isn’t perfect by any means. Over the years, G2A has been home to some genuine sellers who get you the latest and greatest in gaming for a discounted price, but it has also been infested by some shady dealers who have given out fake or stolen game codes.

To curb these disingenuous activities on the platform, G2A has set up a protection plan where your money is always secure when you make a verified purchase. In our experience, you’ll usually end up getting a great deal on a popular game title with little to no problem as long as you stick to a trusted seller who has a track record on the platform.

4. Origin (EA Games)

When you’re a multi-million-dollar game studio with more than a dozen legacy game titles like The Need for Speed and FIFA to your name, you don’t need Steam to keep you afloat in the business. Managing its very own multiplayer client across PC, consoles, and even mobile platforms, Electronic Arts offers the Origin marketplace as a safe haven for those who want nothing more than what the game-studio has to offer.

You can expect the library of content to be fairly concise, with hundreds of game titles available for you to purchase and start playing right away. The main reason you would want to browse through Origin is for the large variety of demo games that you can try out before purchasing them, and the access to all of the EA Games exclusive content that is available only to Origin members.

5. Humble Bundle

For most of us gamers, Steam sales twice each year seem nothing less than Christmas coming early, with hundreds of games offered at a reasonably lower cost. But what if you ended up missing the Steam sale but don’t want to shell out the full amount for a game title? Humble Bundle brings you a service where you can either choose to get a single game at a steep discount or get a bunch of them together for a fraction of the price.

The DRM-free games sold over at the online distribution platform puts a special spotlight on the independent game developers, while still features big names in the game business such as Square-Enix and 2K every now and then. You can even subscribe to the monthly service that starts you off with 3 games and get a mystery game sent you each month just to keep things exciting.  

6. Epic Games Store

Rising to popularity among the gaming community after the release of Fortnite Battle Royale, Epic Games has turned its game client into a full-blown marketplace. While the Epic Games Store is a premature baby in comparison to the Steam client with its thousands of game titles, but the fact that the platform is picking up exclusive titles right from the game studios is helping its popularity surge.

Albeit the game distribution platform is still pretty much a work in progress, but there is plenty of potential for growth now that its flagship game has helped popularize the brand. You certainly don’t get the vast library of content that you’ve come to expect from the top marketplace sites like G2A and others. However, the hand-picked list of games that are available on the Epic Games Store is easy to browse, and the platform is built for social interaction with built-in features and a dedicated chatbox.

Final Words

From being a growing pastime for the youth and adults of the developed nations to becoming a billion-dollar industry that has made its way even into the developing world – gaming has changed the way we entertain ourselves. For the pro-gamers out there, getting your hands on the latest game titles is similar to binge-watching the latest TV series online on Netflix, and they can’t seem to get enough of it. At the forefront of this growing business, has been the distribution platform of Steam, but the crowned champion is being contended for its top spot.

Whether it is the corporate greed that is forcing game studios such as Epic Games, EA Games, Bethesda, and Ubisoft to develop their very own game store services or the growth of sites like G2A that are giving out game titles for cheap, us gamers have plenty of ways to tickle our fancies. Which of these alternatives to Steam is you hooked on? Be sure to share your favorite down below in the comments section right now.

10 Best Wearable Camera Gadgets to Buy Right Now

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Are you ready for the best wearable camera gadgets to capture those fleeting moments at the right time? We’ve reviewed the most popular choices out there to bring you a hand-picked collection of the best camera gadgets that you can buy right now.

For as long as humans has inhabited the planet Earth, we’ve been obsessed with being able to capture its beauty. Whether you go all the way back to the age of Neanderthals who hand painted vivid sceneries of the natural world, or the modern age where everyone is trying to capture that perfect shot, photography and our passion for finding a way to eternalize that fleeting moment has not changed one bit. With the tremendous advancement in wearable technology and high-powered cameras, the combination of both has helped bring to life create wearable camera gadgets.

Having a lens to shoot in the right place, at the right time, is now a reality, and there are plenty of ways to do so. The very reason wearable camera gadgets have been developed, is to help you have a camera on you at all times, since you never know when the right moment could pass you by. While your mobile phone may be a great way to have a camera with you at all times, you might need more than just that when shooting a vlog for your YouTube channel on the go, video casting sports activities in real-time, and everything in between that requires high-quality video and image capturing on the go.

10 Best Wearable Camera Gadgets of 2019

There are plenty of gadgets out there to fulfill your craving for the perfect shot, and we’ve browsed through them to find the very best and present them to you. Here’s our curated list of some eloquent and multi-purpose gadgets that come with high-definition cameras equipped right into them, so you never have miss a shot, no matter what.

1. Snapchat Spectacles

Bringing together the best of social media and photography, Spectacles by Snapchat is your way of sharing the beauty of the world through your eyes. Designed to help you create mesmerizing 10-second videos in the click of a button, or a longer 30-second one by double-pressing, Spectacles also allow you to capture still images through the camera embedded on the left temple of the glasses, with an LED ring on the right side.

Compatible with both Android and iOS devices, you get to share your content wirelessly right away through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Available in Nico, Onyx Moonlight, Ruby Daybreak, Sapphire Twilight, and Veronica models, you get to choose your style. Built for travel with USB charging that lasts for days and a water-resistant design, the Snapchat Spectacles are also rechargeable up to 4 times directly through its charging case itself.

Get the Snapchat Spectacles

2. Samsung Gear 2 Smartwatch

Although Samsung has dropped this particular line of smartwatch series, the Samsung Gear 2 continues to be available online, and for all the right reasons. Packing a crisp and clear SAMOLED display that makes it easier to read messages and glance at notifications, the design and build quality of this smartwatch from Samsung is sure to make heads turn. While it may not be compatible with iOS, you do get widespread support with Samsung Galaxy devices.

Thanks to the S Health fitness service that works seamlessly with the heart rate sensor and pedometer built into the Samsung Gear 2, fitness always comes first. As the cherry on top, this wearable camera gadget comes with a camera lens right above the display, allowing you to capture life in action. The camera is able to record videos at 720p HD resolution, while being able to take still shots in Full-HD 1080p resolution, giving you a way to hold on to those daily moments.

Get the Samsung Gear 2 Smartwatch

3. GoPro HERO Session

A popular brand in the world of action cameras that has set the standard for the industry, GoPro has gone all-in with the HERO, minimizing things to the limit. Small and portable enough to fit into your palm, the GoPro HERO is no lightweight when it comes to handling rough environments. Offering water resistance up to 10m without any kind of protective housing needed, this wearable camera weighs just about 2.60z.

The no-nonsense single-button control allows you to start and stop recording the easy way, while offering HD video quality of 1440p at 30FPS, 1080p at 60FPS, and 720p at 100FPS. Albeit the GoPro HERO does not come with a built-in display like its siblings, the minuscule size more than makes up for it, making it a more comfortable choice to be mounted to a helmet and carried around in the pocket anywhere.

Get the GoPro HERO Session

4. OPKIX ONE

GoPro may currently be the go-to choice for most, but OPKIX hopes to makes waves with a product that is nothing short of a leap into the future. The OPKIX ONE is one of a kind wearable camera that combines the portability of a device such as the Apple Airpods, along with the sharp video quality of an action camera. The “Egg” includes a tiny rectangular camera that can be strapped on to your hat, the side of your eyewear, or worn around your neck.

Weighing just 12 grams, the OPKIX ONE is housed in aluminum for a durable and premium recording experience, marked with IP-67 rating to be water and dust resistant, and high resolution of 1080p at 30FPS. The in-app electronic imagine stabilization makes sure that you don’t end up with a shaky footage, the sapphire glass lens offers added protection when you’re out and about.

Get the OPKIX ONE

5. Google Clips Camera

The Mountain View company knows how to work with cameras, which is apparent from the fact that Google Pixel offers the highest-rated smartphone camera year after year. But the reason behind developing the Google Clips is to create a way to capture all of those moments when we don’t necessarily have a camera or our phones ready. Google Clips does not have the most impressive camera specs, since the lens is not movable, which limits the viewing angle.

Add a hefty price tag to that, and it may not seem like the right solution for most, but rather than the hardware, it is the software where you’re spending your money. The live feed or still shots from the Google Clips Camera gets synced to Google Photos, and you get unlimited full-resolution storage space to do this, while the machine-learning connects everything together by recognizing faces, creating location and time-based “Clips”.

Get the Google Clips Camera

6. FrontRow FR

Ever wanted to take up vlogging but the idea of carrying around a GoPro or a full-fledged camera around hours every day give you a migraine? Creating an elegant solution is the FrontRow FR wearable camera that allows you to create first-person time lapses that runs for hours at a stretch. Offering both, a front and rear camera with an LCD touchscreen panel and a dedicated media button as well, you also get fast-charging USB Type-C connector.

The built-in media capabilities of the FrontRow FR allow you live-stream directly across social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. The BATTERY does last a long time too, with an estimated standby time of 50 hours, live streaming time of a maximum 1 hour and 45 minutes, while the circular display allows you to preview content before pushing it online.

Get the FrontRow FR

7. MIUFLY Mini Body Camera

Ever wanted to have a body camera like the cops do? Well, the MIUFLY Mini Body Camera is just what you’ve been looking for, but this brilliant gadget is not just for those in the law enforcement. Ideal for security personnel or for adventure seekers who wants to record their experience in first-person, the MUIFLY 1296P comes with an LCD monitor built right into the rear panel, so you can grab a preview of how the footage has turned out to be.

Powered by a mega 2900mAh battery, you get to record upwards of 10 hours of video in multiple high-definition formats. The MUIFLY wearable camera comes with a HDMI and USB connectivity, along with water and dust resistance, making it ideal for outdoor situations as well. Apart from the rugged exterior, the internals of the body camera are secured as well, thanks to the password protection in place that safeguards your photos and videos.

Get the MIUFLY Mini Body Camera

8. MIOTA Camera Glasses

If you like the concept behind Snapchat Spectacles that offers you a true first-person video recording experience, but you aren’t too excited about the price tag that it comes with, then here’s another interesting offering for you. The MIOTA Camera Glasses are designed to be minimalistic and blend into your regular attire, with a pinhole camera hidden between the ridge of the frame that is capable of recording videos in Full-HD 1080p resolution at 30 FPS.

Built out of ABS Plastic, which is durable enough to last everyday usage, and comfortable on the eyes too. The device is capable of recording footage of up to 80 minutes on a single charge, and comes with a MicroSD Card slot that can handle up to 32GB storage. The 5MP CMOS sensor may not be the most impressive one on the list, but the discreetness of it all. along with a multifunctional button to capture those shots, makes it worthwhile.

Get the MIOTA Camera Glasses

9. Veho MUVI HD PRO

The base model in the lineup of action cameras that are offered by Veho, the MUVI HD PRO is surely built to impress. The tiny device is capable of capturing videos in 1080p Full-HD resolution with its 5MP camera at 30FPS, while giving you about 4 hours of footage duration, thanks to the 4GB memory card that comes included in the box. The 1.5-inch LCD panel may not offer the richest colors, but does allow you to preview videos and images.

What makes the MUVI HP PRO a great option for outdoor video recording is the healthy collection of accessories that it comes with right out of the box. From helmet and bicycle mounts to hook up the camera for your next adventure, to the wrist strap and wireless shutter button that makes clicking those perfect images even easier, you won’t have to go around looking for add-ons when you have this wearable camera by your side.

Get the Veho MUVI HD PRO

10. MOFILY Yocam Life Camera

The last one on the list but certainly not the least, MOFILY Yocam is one of the more premium offerings available in the world of body cameras. Designed to be portable, stylish, and appealing, the Yocam Life Camera is an action camera, a selfie camera, a baby monitor, and so much more, all combined into one device. The camera is nothing short of phenomenal, packed with the option to record footage in 2.7K at 30FPS, 1080p at 60FPS, and 720p at 120FPS.

Unlike some of the third-party manufacturers out there that offer no software support with their cameras, MOFILY Yocam Life comes with an official mobile app. Through the mobile app, you can enjoy live preview, create, manage, and edit videos on the fly, and even share your recordings with others through social media integration. The best part about the MOFILY Yocam Life is that it is water resistant, so you can take it for a dive any time.

Get the MOFILY Yocam Life Camera

Final Words

The world is going digital, and the best way to connect it is through the power of the internet and video streaming. Websites such as YouTube have redefined the way people enjoying video entertainment, and has given people a platform where they can share videos and even live-stream from anywhere at any time. The growing demand for high-definition content in action-packed situations is the very reason that most of these wearable camera gadgets exist in the first place. Apart from offering you the convenience of having a lens on you at all times, some of these awesome gizmos make it allow you to record underwater footage and capture shots that were never possible before.

Are you among the life-casters looking for an ideal wearable camera gadget to supercharge your vlogs, or do you need an entry-level device that gets the job done, while offering awe-inspiring footage? We’ve done our best to include a wide range of gadgets that come packed with a camera, but feel free to suggest more in the comments section that you believe should be on this list.

Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – Battle of the Budget Streamers

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Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – Battle of the Budget Streamers

Can’t decide who to pick between the competition of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV to select for your entertainment streaming experience? Here’s a close look at both of the budget streaming devices from Google and Amazon, so you can choose the right one to buy.

The television is more than just an entertainment system – it is a piece of technology that is able to bring alive the party and adds to the home space for some family time. For decades, the visual entertainment industry has been tied down to the cable company, which strictly limited the content you could enjoy on the big screen. But the recent pushback possible with the help of the internet, has ushered in an era of streaming entertainment, made possible by smart devices that allow content to be played over the wireless network.

In the fight to cut the cord and reclaim the easiest way to watch our favorite movies and TV shows, the biggest brands in the tech business have come up with some nifty solutions. Streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, and many others are offering millions of customers across the world the ability to enjoy entertaining content on the go as well as from the comfort of their living rooms. What makes it possible for users to stream content on the big screen are devices like the Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – The Fight

Web entertainment services can be expensive as it is, which is why most users are weary of stepping up and spending hundreds of dollars on a premium streaming device. The idea behind the Google Chromecast as well as the Amazon Fire TV Stick is to create an entry-level solution for customers to access online entertainment. By bringing down the price point and making online entertainment accessible, both the budget streaming devices are here to help you explore a world of content, while cutting out the hefty recurring fees, viewership restrictions, and advertisements that the traditional cable company dumps on you.

Are you planning to get onboard with wireless entertainment, but can’t decide on whether you’re all about Amazon, or want to be a member of team Google? We’re here to help you understand the best features of the both these wildly popular budget streaming devices, so you can choose the one that suits your needs the best.

Design and Build

Starting off with the Amazon Fire TV Stick, you get a rectangular structure which resembles an extra-large USB drive by its design. But instead of the USB connector, you have an HDMI port that plugs into your TV, along with a Micro USB port at the rear of it, which takes in the power supply. There isn’t any element to the design of the Amazon Fire TV Stick that would stand out, but since it will mostly be tucked away behind the TV panel, the aesthetics should not be much of a concern. A useful addition in the box is the HDMI extension adapter, which should come in handy if the boxy structure of the Fire Stick TV obstructs the HDMI port.

Speaking of the Google Chromecast, you get a rather unique look in the form of a circular structure with the HDMI cable dangling out from one end. The pebble-shaped Chromecast conveniently tucked into the back side of the TV, while the flexible HDMI cable ensure that it never gets in the way either. Available in Black and White color schemes for you to choose from, the rear side of the HDMI cable and the Chromecast itself is magnetic, allowing you to fold it over for an even more minimalist appearance. Unlike the Fire TV Stick, Chromecast does come with a button right next to the Micro USB port, which acts as a reset button.

Winner: Google Chromecast

Remote Control

The competition of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV starts heating up when it comes to the remote control options, especially since the latter comes with a physical remote control. Amazon offers the Alexa Voice Enabled Smart Remote along with the Fire TV Stick right out of the box, which comes with a physical voice assistance button built right into it. Apart from allowing you to easily access content using your voice, the added ability of having a smart voice assistant on the big screen allows you to perform a quick online search, look up the weather, and even check the latest sports score right away.

With a circular navigation panel at the center which resembles the old Apple TV Remote, you get the Back, Home, Options, Rewind, Play/Pause, and Fast-Forward buttons embedded in it. A physical remote control makes it easier for the less-tech-savvy users to operate the smart streaming device, hence giving the user a more traditional way of enjoying big-screen entertainment. The Amazon Fire TV for both, Android and iOS allow you to ditch the remote, and makes it easier to type in your searches, which is quite a slow experience when done through the Alexa Voice Remote.

On the other hand, Google Chromecast takes a different approach entirely, by ditching a physical remote control and turning your phone or tablet into one. Google has integrated the Chromecast service into thousands of apps, which makes the transition from the mobile phone’s display to the TV screen almost instantaneous. The user interface that the app provides you to control the Chromecast from a phone or tablet is fairly easy to understand, and the entire ecosystem of Google apps such as YouTube, Google Play Music, and many others, makes the experience fairly gentle and intuitive.

While Google Chromecast may beat the Amazon Fire TV Stick app, it does beat the actual interface that comes with the convenience of a physical remote control. For instance, when you choose to cast a movie or TV show from your Netflix app on the phone to the Chromecast, you can’t choose to watch anything else on Netflix from your phone without interrupting the playback on the big screen. Additionally, your phone or tablet must always be well within the range of the Wi-Fi network to which the Chromecast is connected to, if you want to enjoy uninterrupted streaming.

Winner: Amazon Fire TV Stick

Apps and Content

Amazon follows the same process of app deployment for the Fire TV Stick that it does for the Fire tablets, choosing to run its own version of Android. The company chooses to filter out Google Apps suite such as the Google Play Store, Google Movies, Google Play Music and several other, in an effort to minimize the monetization for its closest rival in the online media streaming business. The Amazon App Store still gives you a healthy choice of apps to choose from, including everything from news, games, productivity, and more, and there’s the option to sideload apps such as Kodi media player by enabling “Unknown Sources” from the Developer Options, just like you would on an Android phone or tablet, and the built-in 8GB storage should give you enough room to do so.

Google offers the ability to include the Chromecast option in almost every major media streaming app available on the Google Play Store, which is in the thousands. You get seamless integration in all of the popular names such as YouTube, Netflix, Hotstar, Hulu, Plex, Kodi, and there’s even the ability to cast non-supported ones through third-party apps such as AllCast. Amazon once again goes head to head with Google, by not offering the casting feature in the Amazon Prime Video app, thus putting your hopes of cross compatibility between Amazon and Google to rest. Additionally, Chromecast does not come with any built-in storage like the Fire TV Stick does, so all of the apps that you use with it need to be installed on your phone or tablet.

Winner: Tied

Display Mirroring

The Chromecast Vs FireStick TV showdown gets even closer when you are comparing two devices’ ability to perform screen mirroring. The feature allows users to use their TV screen as a duplicate display for their phone or tablet, allowing them to essentially view all sorts of media on the big screen effortlessly. Amazon Fire TV Stick comes with Miracast support right out of the box, which makes it possible for Android users to easily select the streaming device as a casting display and get going. Albeit there is lag when it comes to casting motion content such as videos, but the Mirroring feature on the Fire TV Stick is self-sufficient in handling photos, documents, and even music content.

Google Chromecast is a power-house when it comes to the ability of casting and mirroring content, allowing you to not only use the Cast button that is supported by thousands of apps, but also to cast directly using Google Chrome web browser. Just like its rival, the streamer does lose a few points when playing high-definition video content using screen mirroring, especially when the wireless router is not built to handle it. But the seamless integration of Google Photos makes the experience viewing images on the big screen a lot more fluidic and comfortable to navigate through.

Winner: Tied

Value for Money

Amazon is creating an ecosystem of products and services that are intertwined, and it has been successful in the form of Prime service. The chances are that as someone who is purchasing an Amazon Fire TV Stick, you are also an Amazon Prime member, which grants the Amazon Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Photos service bundled in. Considering that you can get the Fire TV Stick for cheaper as a Prime subscriber during the Amazon Prime Day sale, it makes the device even cheaper to get. The base price of the Fire TV Stick is set at $39.99 as of now, which includes the Alexa Remote along with it, making it a standalone media streaming solution.

Google Chromecast on the other hand is just a few dollars cheaper than its competitor at $35.00, but it does come with a lot less than the Fire TV Stick. You don’t get any form of physical remote control with the device, or is there an HDMI extension adapter included in the box. Google does have its very own streaming services such as Play Movies & TV, and Play Music as well, but these services are offered separately and not bundled along in the sense that Amazon has been able to achieve, which makes them an added entertainment expense for you to bear.

Winner: Amazon Fire TV Stick

Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – ExpressVPN is Essential

Regardless of the streaming device that you have your mind set on, it all comes down to the quality of your viewing experience with the numerous streaming services that are available. Services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many others tend to offer varying catalogs of content based on the region you access the website from. Additionally, you may not be able to enjoy premium streaming services in certain regions due to regional copyright conflicts, but your way around it all is ExpressVPN. 

Bypassing Geo-restrictions – If you reside in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other regions where there the federal authorities have blockaded access to streaming services, you won’t be able to access the service through Kodi either. Whether the functionality of the add-on is censored in your region or the service is entirely unusable, ExpressVPN allows you push forward with hundreds of remote servers across the world for you to connect to.

Avoid ISP Logging – Even if the service is not explicitly banned in your region of residence, the ISP (internet service provider) can still keep tabs on your usage. The online activity that you perform  can be logged, which poses not only a privacy threat, but the problem of the ISP fining you for unauthorized usage as well. With ExpressVPN and its military-grade encryption to secure your online activity, rest assured that your online browsing experience is 100% secure.

High-speed Streaming – Although you can find plenty of free and barely-secure VPN services out there that can help you connect with Kodi and make the most out the services, most of them offer sub-par streaming quality. When using ExpressVPN, you are automatically recommended servers which offer top upload and download streaming speeds, so you don’t ever have to sit in front of the screen, waiting for the buffering circle to load up.

Final Verdict

Amazon may essentially be an e-commerce company, but it is attempting to conquer the streaming entertainment world as well. Although there is plenty of competition in the space, thanks to Apple TV, Roku Player, Android TV, and others, Amazon is reaching out to the consumer base by offering a unique entry-level streaming device in the form of the Fire TV Stick. The only real competitor to the service at the same price point and similar features is the Roku Streaming Stick, but it also pales in comparison when you consider how well Amazon Prime Video and its supporting streaming services are cross-integrated.

BUY AMAZON FIRE TV STICK

BUY GOOGLE CHROMECAST

Google may have been first to market with the Chromecast, but the streaming device has always been more of an accessory, rather than a standalone streamer. In the battle of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV, the fact that the latter has its own user interface that is free from the requirement of a mobile phone or tablet, makes it a better choice. Google still has a huge stake in the industry, thanks to Android TV, which gives the Fire TV platform a run for its money. But when comparing the budget offerings from two of the biggest names in the tech industry today, Amazon Fire TV Stick is our preferred choice.

Is your home entertainment system powered by the enclosed, self-sustaining ecosystem of Amazon Fire TV Stick, or is Google Chromecast your choice of weapon against the cable company? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section on which side you’re on in the battle of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV and specify why so.

Best Android Voice Recorder Apps to Get Right Now

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Are you on the lookout to find the best Android voice recorder app but can’t select one from the long list of options available? Here’s our personal pick of the best audio recorder apps that you can find on the Google Play Store right now for free.

Back in the day when mobile devices were intended to be nothing more than communication devices, you’d expect nothing more than text messaging and voice calls. However, as the technology behind mobile phones has evolved, so has the number of features that the manufacturers are able to pack into a single piece of technology. The modern smartphone can do a whole lot more than just be used for day-to-day communication, thanks to the power of internet connectivity, high-quality camera hardware, and plenty of software features built into the system.

One such feature comes through the secondary use of the microphone that is embedded into each and every mobile phone, which doubles up as a voice recorder. For years, the voice recorder app was a complimentary feature offered my almost every major smartphone manufacturer by default. With the inception of the Google Play Store, there has been an influx of Android voice recorder apps available for users to try out. Whether you’re a journalist who needs to record an interview on the go, want to save a voice note as a reminder, or just a musician trying to get some tunes right, a voice recorder app always comes in handy.

Best Android Voice Recorder Apps

Now that so many options to choose from, how do you settle upon the best audio recorder app for you? We’ve boiled it down to the best and brightest voice recorder apps that is ideal for capturing those voice notes anywhere at any time.

1. Easy Voice Recorder

This is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a voice recorder app that works as your daily companion for audio notetaking, capture class lectures, take down personal notes and more. You can choose the different compression formats to record in, and there’s no limit to the duration of the voice recordings that you take. You can easily share the saved audio notes, use the Easy Voice Recorder widget to quickly capture voice notes, and the support for Android Wear allows you to make recordings right from your smartwatch.

Get the Easy Voice Recorder App

2. Voice Recorder

One of the highest-rated Android voice recorder apps that you will find on the Google Play Store, this app comes provides you with the ability to create high quality sound recordings. The simplified user interface makes it easier for users of all age groups and experience to use the app with ease, and supports the two major audio formats of MP3 and OGG to create voice notes during business meetings, interviews, lectures, and more. The Voice Recorder app comes with a live audio spectrum analyzer, microphone gain calibration tool, and more.

Get the Voice Recorder App

3. Samsung Voice Recorder

Now available as an app that is free for use across the Android platform, Samsung Voice Recorder is your gateway to a high-quality sound recording experience. This Android voice recorder app is available in three modes – Standard where you get a basic and simplified sound recording experience, Interview mode that makes use of the two microphones on your device to measure the different waveforms separately, and the Voice Memo more than includes STT (on-screen text).

Get the Samsung Voice Recorder App

4. Music Maker JAM

While this specific app is designed to be a rival to the GarageBand virtual music studio that Apple has crafted, Music Maker JAM doubles up as a vital audio recording app. Designed to help up and coming musical talents to create their very own music and even record instrumental music, vocals, and sound effects right from the smartphone, Music Maker JAM makes it easier to share, manage, and even edit the voice recordings that you’ve created.

Get the Music Maker JAM App

5. Otter Voice Notes

Made for the professional notetaking use that many need during college lectures, important office meetings, and journalistic use, Otter Voice Notes is a step towards the evolution of Android voice recorder apps. Giving you the ability to easily transcribe all sorts of media and spoken content, the widget on your phone’s home screen will get you started right away, while the ability to include picture at a certain point in the recording, highlight key points, and the AI-powered engine for added punctuation makes Otter Voice Notes revolutionary.

Get the Otter Voice Notes App

6. Sony Audio Recorder

The Japanese tech giant seldom releases an app for open use across the Android platform, but when it does release products like the Audio Recorder app, you can expect the best from it. The simplified user interface will almost make you forget that the app comes packed with powerful features such as speech-to-text transcription, easily manage voice notes and edit them on the fly, easily share work across different media platforms, and the best part is that you get all of these premium features absolutely free.

Get the Sony Audio Recorder

7. Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder (Free)

Packed with the ability to record audio notes in MP3 format (which is universally compatible with every sound playback device and software), making the files compact and easily transferrable. You can change the quality up to 320-BIT and the format as well, along with the choice to transfer files wirelessly to a computer across a Wi-Fi network, or back it all up to the cloud, all thanks to the Dropbox integration.

Get the Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder App

8. WaveEditor for Android

If you are an audiophile who is not just looking for an Android voice recorder app that can not only save voice notes but also edit the recording to the very core, then the WaveEditor app is the one for you. Built with multi-track mixing and editing, support for both MP3 and WAV formats, and packed with sound editing features such as 32-BIT signal processing, amplitude meter, sample editing and more, you can break down the audio notes to bits, process and analyze them further, and comes with a bunch of premium features in the paid version.

Get the WaveEditor for Android App

Final Words

Audio recording is a handy feature to have, and if you are among the smartphone owners who don’t get the feature right out of the box, third-party apps are the way to go. The fact of the matter is that most people are going to download one audio recorder app and stick with it for years to come. Rather than just mentioning a list of Android voice recorder apps that top the list on the Google Play Store, we’ve cherry-pick the most unique offerings that are available for users to download for free.

Which of these audio recording apps for Android devices are your absolute favorite when it comes to creating audio notes and transcribing lectures, meetings, and interviews? Be sure to share your favorite and if we’ve missed on a great product, mention it in the comments and we’ll surely review it and add it to the rest of the good ones.

Headphone Ear Pads Buying Guide

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Headphone Ear Pads can massively impact both sound quality and comfiness. But, which type should you choose? There are so many to pick from. No need to worry. We’re here to help. Let’s check out the different types of ear pads and what you can expect to get from them!

A Couple of Side Notes

Before we start, let us note that ear pads will impact your sound quality. We’ve noticed that most of the negative reviews on 3rd party ear pads are talking about that and it’s amazing that so many people are not aware of this. 

Now, the amount of change that you’re going to experience in sound largely depends on what kind of ear pads you’ll get, which is what this article is about, how much distance they put between the headphones and your ears, and if you’re getting a set that is specifically made for your headphones or not. 

With that being said, let’s move on. We obviously can’t list every pair of headphones out there and that’s why we’re going to be checking out ear pads from 3rd parties. More specifically, Brainwavz. After all, they are the most popular and reliable in this niche right now. 

1: Leather And Pleather

headphone ear pads

Leatherette is one of the most common ear pads. It’s kinda like the pop culture of headphones and headsets really and there’s a good reason for that. 

Leather offers good sound isolation. Thanks to that, not only you won’t be able to hear any noises from the outside (depending on your headphones) but others won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to either. 

Other than that, thanks to the tight fit and the leather itself, you do also get more bass with balanced mids and highs. 

Well, that sounds Perfect! Right? No need to check out anything else then! Well, just hold on there a minute. Leather ear pads may be offering the best audio quality in terms of both base and balance, but they are also the most uncomfortable – at least compared to other types. 

No matter how soft, leather cannot compete with velour in terms of comfiness. No matter if we’re talking about real leather or pleather, it’s just naturally a bit tougher/harder on your ears. 

While we’re at this subject, rumor has it that real leather is far more endurable compared to pleather. So, do keep that in mind. Though, we can neither confirm or deny that. 

Pros: 

  • Decent noise isolation
  • Decent bass

Cons: 

  • A bit uncomfortable compared to other options
  • Soundstage is a bit narrow

Check out Leatherette ear pads on Amazon

 

2: Velour

headphone ear pads

As far as headphone ear pads go, velour is quite possibly the softest material that you can get for this kind of use. However, it offers poor sound isolation which can be both a positive and a negative thing depending on who you ask. 

For example, if you are looking for a more “open” feel with a wider soundstage then you can definitely take advantage of velour. After all, sound flows almost freely through it which is what gives this kind of ear pad its unique profile. 

At the same time, if sound isolation is a big deal for you, like if you’re living on a noisy environment or you don’t want to annoy others with whatever you’re listening to, then this can become quite an issue. So, it’s a matter of personal preference. 

Another negative thing is that velour ear pads almost sacrifice the low-end sounds while boosting mids and highs which can make for an almost painful experience – depending on your headphones, equalizer, and how much distance there is between the headset and your ears. 

Overall, as comfortable as they are, velour ear pads are a major turn off for numerous people because they sacrifice bass and offer poor audio isolation. 

Pros: 

  • Very comfortable
  • Can offer a wider soundstage

Cons: 

  • Poor audio isolation
  • Poor bass and audio balance (depending on headphones and equalizer)

Check out velour headphone ear pads on Amazon

 

3: Hybrid Headphone Ear Pads

headphone ear pads

Hybrids are using a combination of both velour and leather in order to offer the best of both worlds. How? You get velour on the top of the pads in order to get the comfiness of velour while the sides are covered with leather. And in that way, you get both comfiness and audio quality along with noise isolation in one package. 

However, do keep in mind that this is not as breathable as full velour and not as soundproof as full leather. The sound is closer to what stock leather gives you, though. 

Overall, hybrid ear pads are pretty close to perfection and you can hardly go wrong with them. If you want the comfiness of velour ear pads and the sound quality of leatherette, do definitely consider getting a hybrid pair. 

The only ones who are likely to be totally disappointed with this pair are those who need the soundstage that velour offers. In which case, you can always just ignore this set and go with whatever you prefer. 

One thing to keep in mind is that they are a tiny bit more expensive than a leather set. But, only for about $4 usually. So, not a big deal. Especially if you consider that you’re not going to be replacing them for a long time. 

Pros: 

  • Comfortable
  • Good audio quality and balance

Cons: 

  • Relatively narrower soundstage compared to velour
  • A tiny bit more expensive than the stock options

Check out hybrid ear pads on Amazon

 

What Headphone Ear Pads Should I get? 

  • Leather: Suitable for both music lovers and competitive gamers as it offers good audio isolation and good audio balance/quality
  • Velour: Suitable for those who want a wider soundstage and value comfort over audio quality. Also if you don’t care about noise isolation and bass all that much. 
  • Hybrids: Suitable for those who want the comfiness of velour and the sound that leather pads offer

Hopefully, that helped you find the right ear pads for you. Before buying, make sure that the ear pads will fit your headset. You can do that by either checking on the Amazon questions, description, or by taking the measurements for yourself.