In the fast-paced world of digital transformation, smart contracts have become one of the most impactful innovations in blockchain technology. They automate agreements, reduce operational costs, and eliminate the need for intermediaries. Yet, building a secure and efficient smart contract is not simple. That’s why more organizations are partnering with a smart contract development company – to ensure their blockchain solutions are reliable, scalable, and aligned with business goals.
The Growing Role of Smart Contracts in Modern Business
Smart contracts are self-executing pieces of code that enforce the terms of an agreement automatically when specific conditions are met. They operate on decentralized networks like Ethereum or Polygon, which ensures transparency and immutability.
Today, businesses use smart contracts for a wide range of purposes: automating payments, managing supply chains, verifying identities, and creating decentralized applications. Their adoption is no longer limited to fintech or crypto startups. Industries like logistics, healthcare, and real estate are increasingly exploring blockchain-based automation.
Why Companies Need Expert Development Support
Developing a smart contract requires much more than knowing Solidity or Rust. It demands a deep understanding of blockchain architecture, cybersecurity, and compliance requirements. Even a small coding error can result in vulnerabilities that hackers exploit to drain assets or disrupt operations.
A professional development partner performs detailed audits, applies secure coding standards, and tests the contract across multiple environments. Experienced teams also ensure that the code remains flexible enough for future upgrades — a crucial aspect as blockchain platforms continue to evolve.
Organizations seeking these advantages often collaborate with teams like those at !0Clouds, a global digital product studio known for its blockchain expertise. Working with an established smart contract development company helps reduce project risk while speeding up the deployment process.
Key Benefits of Partnering with Specialists
Working with a professional blockchain development team offers several tangible benefits:
Security and auditability: Experts follow best practices for code review, ensuring each smart contract is free from vulnerabilities before deployment.
Scalability: A skilled team designs the architecture to handle growth without compromising performance.
Compliance: With increasing regulations around crypto assets, developers make sure your project adheres to legal and security standards.
Faster time to market: Experienced engineers use frameworks and templates that streamline development while maintaining quality.
For startups, this support can mean launching faster and attracting investors with greater confidence. For enterprises, it ensures that large-scale systems remain stable and secure.
The Strategic Value of Blockchain Expertise
The demand for blockchain professionals continues to rise, but the talent pool remains limited. Hiring an in-house team can be expensive and time-consuming. Partnering with a smart contract development company gives access to top-tier expertise without the overhead of maintaining a full-time department.
Since Google’s Wear OS is, in my opinion, the greatest wearable experience, I’ve been alternating between different Google and Samsung Galaxy Watch models for the past few years to pair with my Android. Long-lasting batteries are a characteristic I’ve grown to value in smartwatches, and the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is among the finest in that regard.
My biggest complaint about Wear OS smartwatches has been resolved by the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro‘s marathon battery life, which has allowed me to run, row, bike, and sleep with it for months.
Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro
eaturing a stylish and functional 1.43-inch OLED screen (466*466 high-resolution) with auto-adjustable brightness and Sapphire Crystal Glass. The interchangeable 24mm strap is made of durable and sweat-proof Fluororubber material.
The smartwatch that lasts all week: once-weekly charging made real
For low-power standby use, its enormous 628mAh battery features a distinctive dual display architecture. This corresponds to a claimed battery life of up to 45 days in Essential Mode and 90 hours, or almost four days, in Smart Mode. Even better, the battery can last up to two days with just 30 minutes of quick charging.
I use the outdoor running mode with GPS tracking on while I run outside, and based on my consumption calculations, the Pro 5 Enduro should be able to follow my location for up to 15 hours. Wearing the watch to measure my 24/7 activity and sleep, I usually row on the Hydrow a couple of times and run a couple of times a week (30 to 45 minutes each time).
The four days or 90 hours of usual usage seem correct to me because I’ve been charging the watch once a week with this usage pattern.
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will last me into the third day before dying, whilst the Google Pixel Watch 3 dies on me on the second day. If a long-lasting battery is your first priority, I highly recommend the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro. It is the undisputed leader in battery life.
Although it is presently running Wear OS 3.5, the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 Wearable Platform helps to provide the remarkable battery life and will facilitate a future update to Wear OS 4. This warning is important to remember because Mobvoi hasn’t demonstrated a history of providing timely updates. Given that Wear OS was first made available in the fall of 2023, this new model ought to have come pre-installed with Wear OS 4, let alone Wear OS 5.
All about battery life
Extremely helpful is the dual-display technology with interactive and adaptable ultra-low-power display options. The always-on display, which is located on the top layer of the watch and provides important metrics like the number of steps taken, heart rate, battery life, time, and date, may be highlighted with any of 18 background colors.
A full-display heart rate measurement, blood oxygen level, and compass heading are displayed when the huge rotating crown button is spun in this dual-display mode.
This ultra-low power display layer will illuminate in six colors that correspond to your current heart rate zone while you’re exercising. In the middle of a workout, this feature is quite helpful for quickly determining which zone you’re in without having to concentrate on tiny numbers. Additionally, this mode links the ultra-low power display with third-party apps like Strava and Nike Run Club to display information like elevation, pace, and heart rate.
More than 100 workout options are available on the TicExercise app, along with stats like speed, VO2 Max, GPS tracking, and recuperation time. Regretfully, the data screens for the different workouts cannot be altered. For casual athletes, this might be acceptable, but I would want to see some basic adjustment to give priority to the most crucial information. Fortunately, you can download third-party services like Strava to get the most of your experience because this watch has Wear OS.
Following your workout, the TicHealth app offers comprehensive information on your health and performance indicators, including your heart rate history, sleep patterns, daily and weekly goals, and much more. One of the key improvements to this watch over the TicWatch Pro 5 model, which was introduced in late 2023, is TicHealth.
Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro
eaturing a stylish and functional 1.43-inch OLED screen (466*466 high-resolution) with auto-adjustable brightness and Sapphire Crystal Glass. The interchangeable 24mm strap is made of durable and sweat-proof Fluororubber material.
A larger and sharper user interface display, a redesigned rotary knob, sapphire crystal glass on the display rather than Gorilla Glass, and additional third-party interaction with the ultra-low-power display are some of the other enhancements made to the Enduro model over the Pro 5 model.
More than 7,000 watch faces are also available for the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro, and you can change the face every day if you use the TimeShow app. All Wear OS apps, including Google Maps, Messages, Wallet, Keep Notes, and many more, are compatible with the sizable 1.43-inch display. Messages and phone calls run well on a linked phone, and the voice-to-text feature works perfectly as well.
With its 7000 series aluminum and fiberglass nylon case, the Pro 5 Enduro weighs only 44.7 grams and has dimensions of 50.15 x 48 x 11.95 mm. With its convenient quick-release pins, the 24mm watch band is incredibly comfortable, and the sapphire crystal display is scratch-resistant. With a 5 ATM rating and MIL-STD-810H certification, the watch is also very robust.
For precise tracking, the device has a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 make it simple to connect to your network and phone. Nevertheless, the watch itself lacks cellular functionality.
Ticwatch Pro 5 Enduro
eaturing a stylish and functional 1.43-inch OLED screen (466*466 high-resolution) with auto-adjustable brightness and Sapphire Crystal Glass. The interchangeable 24mm strap is made of durable and sweat-proof Fluororubber material.
The Mountain View tech giant has more good news for Android users than just the recent announcement that call recording will be available in all areas where Pixel phones are sold.
Android Auto gets Call Screening and Call Notes in latest update
Android Auto can now screen calls in your car using your phone thanks to a recent upgrade. Later this year, Call Notes will also be available on Android Auto for crucial talks in which you are unable to take notes since you are ostensibly driving at the time.
These two Android Auto improvements are quite useful. Particularly useful is call screening, which can spare you time by preventing you from taking pointless calls while operating a motor vehicle.
Unknown callers and those not on your contact list can use the service. After it asks the caller who they are and why they are calling, you will receive this information. In this manner, you have the option to accept or reject the call.
Conversely, Call Notes generates a text synopsis of your conversation. The Pixel 9 series was the first to implement the functionality. If it’s a business call, this Android Auto feature will be quite useful.
Call Screening is becoming a must-have feature for smart car systems
These two new features make it even more practical. Apple, Google’s primary rival, has the Call Screening feature on its most recent iPhone models (which come with the just released iOS 26). The feature is compatible with CarPlay, Apple’s technology for connecting your phone to your vehicle’s infotainment system.
The ability to screen calls is quite helpful, particularly when driving. Bravo to Google for introducing it to Android Auto, as it removes annoying calls without requiring you to answer or handle them.
I’m thrilled that Google is adding these two fantastic new capabilities to Android Auto. In fact, I believe they are far more helpful for Android Auto than for your phone, and the same is true for Apple’s version. When I’m driving, I would absolutely appreciate these two features. I now hope that things will function well and without any issues.
After a few weeks of using the Xiaomi Band 10, I’m starting to see why the company is attempting to market this wearable as more than simply a fitness tracker. By combining convenience, adjustable design, and health tracking into a single small device, the Band 10 lives up to its marketing slogan, “Fit in Style.”
The Xiaomi Band 10 is intended for consumers seeking a harmonious blend of fashion and functionality. It’s helpful for someone who values a wearable that looks well in both casual and business contexts, is health-conscious, and wants to track their progress.
Design and display
The 1.72-inch AMOLED display was among the first features I liked. With a resolution of 212 x 520 pixels at 326 PPI, it is crisp, and at 1500 nits, it becomes bright enough to be seen outside. Additionally, compared to previous versions I’ve tried, the 60Hz display rate makes navigating menus feel more fluid.
I appreciate that Xiaomi allowed for some design freedom with the Band 10. It feels high-end thanks to the ceramic frames and aluminum alloy, and I can quickly switch up the style with the many strap alternatives (TPU and fluororruber in various colors). I wasn’t limited to a few static designs because there is even more personalization space because to the 200+ watch faces. However, I don’t update it very often. I’ll be stuck with a design for months after I feel familiar with it. Additionally, I didn’t have to worry about splashes if I perspired while working out because of its 5ATM water resistance.
Fitness and health tracking features
The Band 10 has more than 150 workout options for fitness. I primarily used it for strength training, indoor cycling, and jogging, and the monitoring was reliable. I also utilized it for hula hoops and jump rope.
One of the advantages is health monitoring. When combined with other devices, I found the heart rate broadcast capability to be helpful, and the heart rate sensor performed well for both daily monitoring and exercise. In addition to recording my number of hours slept, sleep monitoring provided me with tailored advice on how to enhance the quality of my sleep. The Band 10 does a good job of keeping me informed about my health when combined with all-day SpO2, stress, and activity tracking.
All of this is synchronized with the Mi Fitness app, which displays the data in an uncluttered, readable format. I like that the app allowed me to establish precise targets and monitor long-term changes.
Battery
Another advantage is battery life. Xiaomi says that the 233mAh battery may last up to 21 days of normal use. In my tests, I was able to use it for around two weeks with the brightness, workouts, and alerts set fairly high. Considering that many smartwatches only survive three days, it’s still excellent.
It’s also convenient to charge. It is simple to top up even between hectic schedules because the magnetic charger clips on simply and I was able to get a full charge in approximately an hour.
The XiaomiBand 10 is compatible with iOS (12.0 and above) and Android (8.0 and above), and it supports Bluetooth 5.4. It was easy to pair, and the connection held.
I was able to view call alerts and read messages on my wrist without continually checking my phone thanks to the effective notification system. Convenience was increased by the seamless operation of basic controls including music playback, weather, and reminders.
What struck me after wearing the Xiaomi Band 10 every day was how effectively it struck a balance between being a fashion piece and a health tool. The lightweight design makes it simple to wear all day and even at night for tracking sleep, yet the screen is bright enough to make it feel like a tiny smartwatch.
That’s precisely what I want in a fitness band—I didn’t feel the need to take it off frequently. I seldom ever had any latency, the user interface is straightforward, and the touch reaction is fast. It concentrates on elements that make sense for its intended audience rather than being overburdened with extraneous features.
Xiaomi Mi Band 10
Enjoy stunning visuals and a seamless touch thanks to the huge 1.72-inch AMOLED display.The screen-to-body ratio can be increased from 66% to 73% thanks to symmetrical 2.0mm ultra-thin bezels made possible by vacuum filling sealing technology.
For those who wish to move up from a simple fitness tracker without going all smartwatch territory, the Xiaomi Band 10 seems like a logical upgrade. It is practical due to its extended battery life and fast charging, dependable in terms of tracking health, and fashionable enough to wear in a variety of contexts.
In summary, this fitness band has more than 150 sports modes, precise health tracking, and a long battery life that eliminates the need for continuous charging. Its design can be altered to fit individual tastes in watch faces, bands, and frames.
The Xiaomi Band 10 fulfills company’s promises regarding pricing and features, allowing you to stay active and healthy while still looking stylish.
The OnePlus Watch 2 is now available on Amazon for $250, which is $50 less than its usual price. Because of this, it is among the greatest and easiest smartwatches we have tried.
In 2021, OnePlus released the OnePlus Watch, and I ordered it right away because the hardware looked amazing and it cost $159. I sent the item back after a few weeks because it did not provide anything useful.
Since many smartwatches operate lean and mean, the Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) used by the original OnePlus Watch was ideal. With a dual-engine design, the OnePlus Watch 2 this year goes one step further by providing both Wear OS 4 and RTOS on a single watch. The gadget has a longer battery life than any other Google Wear OS or Apple Watch thanks to its innovative design, making it the most effective Wear OS watch on the market right now.
OnePlus Watch 2
32GB, 100-Hour Battery, Health & Fitness Tracking, Sapphire Crystal Design, Dual-Engine, Wear OS by Google
OnePlus has produced one of the most stylish smartwatches on the market right now, in addition to a strong operating system strategy. The watch features a 2.5D smooth sapphire crystal face, a sturdy silicone band, and a stainless steel watch case. With an oval button on the bottom and a round button on top, the buttons on the right are elegantly integrated into the bezel.
With its IP68 rating and 5 ATM water resistance, the OnePlus Watch 2 is safe to wear when swimming and engaging in other outdoor activities. Furthermore, the device surpasses even the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro because it was constructed to meet MIL-STD-810H specifications.
According to OnePlus, the watch may last up to 12 days in power-saver mode, 100 hours in Smart Mode, and 48 hours when used extensively. Its battery is 500 mAh. I was able to charge the watch every three to four days and wear it around the clock during my two weeks of testing. I used the gadget for active heart-rate monitoring while indoor rowing, GPS tracking while running and walking, and more.
The always-on display mode will use up the battery more quickly. However, when I first tested it, I left the always-on display off because I discovered that the lift-to-wake feature worked great.
The OnePlus Watch 2 boasts a great battery life, but it also supports 7.5W VOOC fast charging, which allows you to charge it to 100% in just one hour and wear it for a day much faster. Fast charging, CPU efficiency, and a long battery life are the ideal combinations for a smartwatch.
Both L5 and L1 satellite positions are available, and Beidou, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and QZSS GNSS are supported. The tracking of the watch was nearly identical to that of my specialized GPS sports watches. Additionally, Wear OS support allows you to utilize your favorite watch apps instead of OHealth. The watch’s heart-rate tracking was precise as well.
The OnePlus watch does not function with an Apple iPhone, and you must have the OHealth software installed on your Android phone. The OHealth app is used to control the watch apps and settings, as well as the health and wellness functions, thus the Wear OS app is not used.
OnePlus Watch 2
32GB, 100-Hour Battery, Health & Fitness Tracking, Sapphire Crystal Design, Dual-Engine, Wear OS by Google
I find the OHealth app to have a more user-friendly UI than the Fitbit and Google applications that come with Pixel Watches. OnePlus has stated publicly that it has intentions to offer syncing to other services, like Strava, in the future, but for now, the data gathered by the OnePlus Watch 2 is still in OHealth.
You can measure your heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, sleep, workouts, and more with the OHealth app and OnePlus Watch 2. The Wear OS tiles that show up when you swipe left and right on the watch face may also be managed through the OHealth app. I found the OHealth app to be more user-friendly than the Wear OS app on a Pixel phone, and it has a lot of settings.
Check out the many workout and health options, such as heart-rate alerts, breathing tests while you sleep, auto-workout detection, and even the ability to customize the screens for your preferred routines.
There is potential for development even if the OnePlus Watch 2 is a far better watch than the original model. The watch lacks cellular connectivity, has a single 47mm diameter and weighs 80 grams, is not the best for people with smaller wrists, does not support fall detection, can not control a OnePlus phone camera from the watch (though this will be fixed in a future update), does not have any features for tracking women’s health, can not record ECG readings, and does not have a skin-temperature sensor.
But I really enjoyed wearing this classy watch and used the face swipe to access my favorite tiles. I can not use the Google Pixel Watch since it is very small and has a limited battery life. Better solutions at affordable prices are possible, as demonstrated by the OnePlus Watch 2.
OnePlus Watch 2
32GB, 100-Hour Battery, Health & Fitness Tracking, Sapphire Crystal Design, Dual-Engine, Wear OS by Google
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are still a few weeks away, but if you want to finish your holiday shopping early, there are a ton of great tech discounts readily accessible right now.
In this single guide, we’ve compiled all of the finest early Black Friday discounts on everything from tablets and TVs to smartphones and watches.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is currently $200 off, and several of our favorite smart home devices are currently up to 50% off. Naturally, we anticipate seeing additional deals in the upcoming weeks.
If you didn’t find anything today, stay reading to see what else is currently available, and bookmark this page since we’ll keep adding fresh offers to it up to the start of Black Friday.
PHONES
The following is only a small sample of the many Android phones that retailers are discounting ahead of Black Friday. For a larger list of offers, take a look at our guide to thebest early Black Friday/Cyber Monday phone deals.
Kicking things off is this deal that slashes a whopping $200 off the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This phone is peak Android technology, with a built-in stylus, some outstanding camera tech, and the customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip.
Similar to the Pixel 7a deal we just mentioned, Amazon will hook you up with a FREE pair of Galaxy Buds Live earbuds when you purchase an unlocked Galaxy A54 5G. That’s a value of $120, but if you don’t need earbuds, you can still save $40 when you buy the phone alone.
Looking for a phone with a built-in stylus? The Moto G Stylus 5G is one of the better options if you don’t want to break the bank, featuring a 5,000mAh battery, great camera, and a vibrant 120Hz display. Right now, Amazon is slashing $100 off the price of the phone, bringing it down to just $299.99.
Buy the 256GB version of the super-balanced Galaxy S23 Plus and you’ll get a straight $200 dropped off your purchase at Best Buy. The retailer will also throw in a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Buy the innovative Galaxy Z Fold 5 directly from Samsung and you’ll be eligible to receive up to $1,000 off with trade-in, plus a free S Pen slim case (a $99.99 value). They’ll also give you $180 off the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro if you want to bundle the phone with a sweet pair of earbuds.
The fitness trackers and smartwatches that are now on sale at retailers in advance of Black Friday are just a few examples. Check out our guide to the greatest Black Friday smartwatch deals for a longer range of offerings (so far).
The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic might be a few years old, but with a 30% discount, who’s complaining? More powerful and slightly more traditional-looking than the standard Watch 4, the Classic boasts some stainless steel heft and a real rotating bezel that we absolutely love.
Right now you can snag a Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch for $179, which is an epic price reduction of 40%. This hybrid timepiece boasts an efficient Qualcomm chip, loads of activity-tracking features, and great battery life with super-fast charging.
It’s far from cheap, but the Garmin epix (Gen 2) is a great choice if you can afford it, with a rugged stainless steel construction, unique map features, and outstanding battery life. Right now you can soften the blow of the big purchase with a sweet $250 discount at Amazon.
Although the price might drop lower when Black Friday hits next month, you can buy a Pixel Watch through Amazon today and save an epic 30% on the LTE version of the watch in Silver.
Stylish, versatile, and feature-packed, the Vivoactive 4 reigns as one of the best intro smartwatches for most people, and now you can get your very own at the discounted price of $279.95.
The tablets below are just a few of the many that are now on sale from shops in advance of Black Friday. See our guide to the top early Black Friday tablet bargains for a longer list of offerings.
The top pick in our list of best Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus comes complete with a large 12.4-inch AMOLED display, an ultra-efficient Snapdragon processor, and software support through 2027. Right now, you can snag one of these tablets and save 145 bucks!
Despite being a few years old, the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus still performs with the best of them, thanks to a Snapdragon 865+ processor, vibrant 12.4-inch AMOLED display, and an included S Pen stylus. Now pair those specs with a 41% discount and you’re looking at a truly fantastic deal.
The Galaxy Tab A8 is a mid-range tablet with a few surprising specs, such as a Snapdragon processor and massive 7,040mAh battery. Amazon is currently dropping a nice 24% off the price of the tablet, making now a great time to buy.
The following is only a small sample of the many smart TVs that retailers are discounting ahead of Black Friday. For a larger list of offers, take a look at our guide to the best Black Friday Android TV deals.
Nowadays, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a 65-inch smart TV for any less than $500, and yet that’s exactly what’s happening with this awesome pre-Black Friday deal. Head to Best Buy now and you’ll save $160 on the Class C350 Series TV from Toshiba, a versatile entertainment machine with 4K upscaling and immersive DTS Virtual: X audio.
If you’re a Prime member, head to Amazon now and you can save a whopping 45% on this 32-inch 2-Series Fire TV. Sure, it’s not the most feature-packed smart TV in the world, but it gives you access to all of your favorite streaming services in 720p HD with Dolby Digital Plus audio, and most importantly, it only costs $110.
For a limited time, Best Buy is dropping a full $1,000 off the price of the Class S90C Tizen TV from Samsung. This entertainment powerhouse boasts AI-powered 4K upscaling, immersive Object Tracking Sound, and more.
Okay, yes, this isn’t a smart TV, but a 50% discount on a Fire TV streaming stick is no joke. For just $20, this device gives you instant access to all of your favorite streaming services in Full HD, plus you’ll get an Alexa Voice Remote and six months of MGM Plus for 100% free.
Head to Amazon now and you can get a whopping 48% off this 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV. That’s a bigger discount than the TV received during Prime Day! This model delivers vibrant picture in 4K UHD resolution with HDR10 and HLG, plus you get four HDMI and six months of MGM Plus for free.
The day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, is November 24, however many businesses start advertising their sales as early as late October or the first week of November. So that you don’t have to wait to uncover the finest tech discounts, we’re keeping track of all the best deals as soon as they become available.
Should purchase now or to hold out until Black Friday?
If you find something now for a record low price, you might want to take advantage of the offer since it’s unlikely that the price will fall further lower once Black Friday arrives. Of course, we’ll inform you in our bargain guides if we believe you should purchase or not.
Because they are capable of far more than just turning on and off, smart bulbs are intelligent. You can create schedules to deter would-be burglars while you’re on vacation, dim them with the press of a button on an app, or change their colors with a simple voice command (or just reduce your carbon footprint). Many third-party apps can allow you execute some cool tricks that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do with the official mobile app. Certain smart bulbs can even be designed to function with third-party apps.
The greatest smart lighting solution we’ve ever evaluated is the Philips Hue lighting system, which is a very adaptable smart lighting platform.
There are many apps available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store that can let you quickly access some of these “unlockable” tactics. Some of these apps even integrate with other smart bulb systems, making it possible to manage many smart bulb brands from a single platform.
To set these things up yourself, you also don’t need to be a top-notch programmer. With just one of the mobile apps from our list and a little perseverance, you can combine a few instructions to control your smart lights even more.
HueDisco (Android and iOS)
HueDisco is a lot of fun. Anytime they want, everyone can turn their home into a dance party because it is accessible to both Android and iOS users. The app connects your lights and music, causing the lights to change color in time with the music.
The microphone sensitivity and color range control settings allow you to fine-tune how accurately the bulbs pick up the sound recorded by your phone’s microphone and prevent your lights from bouncing from one end of the spectrum to the other. Even without playing loud music, you can establish the mood for the Hue lamps with a range of strobe patterns and arrays.
The Hue Basics app is a respectable substitute for the Hue app by default for Android users. It has a beautiful layout with an easy slider control for each bulb and a shelf that contains quick links to other connected lights and their respective groups. Moreover, Hue Essentials provides rapid settings tiles, which are useful if you like to set the mood for group activities. Additionally, you can activate the Quick Settings toggle to enable push-button access from within the Android notification shade.
This software also includes a useful feature that synchronizes your Hue lights with the music, similar to Hue Disco. The Hue Essentials app also provides control for many bridges at once for individuals who enjoy fiddling with settings.
The iConnectHue for Philips Hue app is a comparable substitute for iPhone customers looking for Hue Essentials. The Philips Hue light system now has automation, customization of individual and group lights, support for multiple bridges, and even Apple Watch capabilities thanks to this app. Even if you’ve connected your Hue lights to other smart bulbs or bec led, such as Cree, Osram, or GE Link, this app may be the best way to control them all from one location since it supports several lesser-known lighting manufacturers as well.
IFTTT, which stands for “If This Then That,” is a perfectly good substitute for the complexity of Stringify and Yonomi if you don’t want to spend the time learning about home automation in-depth. It works with most of the well-liked smart lighting platforms now available, including Philips Hue, LIFX, TP-Link, Sengled, and others. Additionally, it integrates with a wide range of other services, including social networking accounts like Twitter and Facebook as well as cloud accounts like Dropbox. If you haven’t got the chance to plunge into automation yet, IFTTT is the ideal approach to whet your taste for it.
If you use YouTube Music, you’re probably aware of the app’s Smart Downloads feature. It’s essentially a feature that saves mobile data by downloading some tunes offline anytime you’re connected to Wi-Fi. On the video side of things, the YouTube app for Android is experimenting with something similar. The YouTube app’s Smart Downloads feature will download a handful of videos for you every week based on an algorithm for recommended videos.
Some Android users in Europe have gotten a reminder on their devices to try out the new Smart Downloads function, according to 9to5Google. When you sign up to try it, the YouTube app will automatically download a collection of 20 videos per week while connected to a Wi-Fi network. The videos will be tailored for you based on an algorithm that analyzes your viewing history as well as the types of material you consume on the platform. The downloaded videos, along with any other videos you’ve manually downloaded in the app, will be added to your offline playlist.
While many individuals may find the feature unneeded, it can be useful for those who have limited mobile data and wish to view material while commuting or who do not have frequent access to an internet connection. Users with limited storage on their devices will be warned before any downloads take place, allowing them to take appropriate action to free up space. Only the most recent version of Android, Android 12, currently supports this functionality.
Smart Downloads is currently available only for a few people to try out and only in specific regions. It’s also available only for YouTube Premium subscribers and users who receive the prompt can enroll to try the feature till 14 February. If you are one of the chosen ones, you should see a banner when you open the YouTube app or you can try heading to Settings > Try new features to see if you can find the option there.
