Versatility, powerful audio, and comfort are the big selling points of the recently-announced Turtle Beach Stealth Pro wireless gaming headset. Out soon, the audio device is part of an upcoming range from the popular gaming peripheral brand, including various specialised controllers.
One of the best things about the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is its cross-platform compatibility. Plenty of wireless gaming headsets get locked into particular platforms’ ecosystems, meaning you can use them with some devices but not others. This is commonly the case with PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as Xbox uses a proprietary wireless technology while third-party headsets usually connect to PlayStation via a USB dongle. Although there is a PlayStation-specific version of the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro, the Xbox version supports just about any games platform you can think of. In addition to PlayStation and Xbox, you can also connect to Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and mobile devices via Bluetooth.
As its “Pro” moniker suggests, this headset is a premium-level product, which the price reflects. At $599.95, it’s comparable to the lauded SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro X headset. However, what’s inside the Stealth Pro promises to be an impressive gaming companion.
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro: big sound, big features
Aside from the generous multiplatform support, the upcoming Turtle Beach headset has a long list of audio features worth examining. Generating the device’s sound are 50mm Nanoclear drivers, said to have 56% more surface area than the 40mm drivers used by many other gaming headsets. In addition to better handling bass while balancing left and right speakers, these drivers also help produce the 3D surround sound effect supported by the Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) comes included with the Stealth Pro, powered by four internal microphones. Fully adjustable, you can set the ANC to reduce external noise by up to 25db or allow noise in so you can hear people near you. Noise reduction also extends to the headset’s in-built mics and external boom mic, the latter of which uses a cardioid microphone to isolate your voice. Games and tech companies love an acronym, so this technology has the label Sonic Measurement Audio Reduction Tuning or SMART.
Another major aspect of the Stealth Pro is that you get more than just a headset in the box. Included are two 12-hour battery packs so you can have one on the go while the other is charging. Plus, the Bluetooth 5.1 connection supports dual-device connectivity. While you play games on one device, you can listen to music or take calls from another, which is handy.
Although expensive, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro seemingly offers a lot in return for the investment. Pre-orders are open now at various retailers ahead of its 26 May release date.
Peripherals aplenty
Not content with pushing out a new headset and being done with it, Turtle Beach also has several other bits of equipment out now aimed at enhancing your game-playing experience. There’s the $249.95 VelocityOne Flightstick for PC and Xbox gamers, designed to make games like Microsoft Flight Simulator even more realistic. Alongside the Flightstick is the VelocityOne Rudder, a set of $479.95 pedals that are for hardcore flight simulator enthusiasts.
Outside of the flight sim space, Turtle Beach also launched two new controllers. One is the Atom Controller, a split-grip gamepad that slots onto either side of Android phones. It retails for $189.95 and pairs well with mobile game services, like cloud-enabled Xbox Game Pass games. If you want a more conventional controller, you can grab the Recon Cloud Hybrid Controller. At $189.95, it connects to Android devices, Xbox consoles, and Windows PC.
So there you have it: Turtle Beach has an impressive-looking headset to look forward to, and several specialist controllers out now if you want to upgrade your games setup.
Do you back up regularly? 31 March is World Backup Day, a yearly reminder to check that your data – from precious photos to essential info – is safely backed up and secure. It might not sound like a big deal, but have you thought about what you stand to lose?
A backup is a second copy of a file or piece of data, stored on a device separate from your computer, mobile, or tablet. You can create a backup in the cloud using an online service, but for full control, you need a backup you can keep for yourself. That means using a device like an external hard drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), or a slim portable flash drive.
What is World Backup Day?
World Backup Day, which has its own website, is an initiative supported by many manufacturers of backup devices, but why is backup so important? Because data is never 100% safe from mechanical and electrical failure or ransomware. The best solution is an effective backup routine.
Why everyone needs backup
Once, the idea of ‘personal data’ maybe just meant a few photos, a couple of old uni or school assignments, and not much else. Today though, more and more of our lives rely on digital records that we keep ourselves. Sure, you can get another copy of your birth certificate, or pay to have your licence reissued, should you lose either. But what about your contacts list? Or years of precious memories in the form of your photographs? Even losing your emails can be a major inconvenience, if not a total disaster.
There are plenty of ways you can lose data. Your computer or mobile device is very reliable, but hardware failures still happen. Most of all though, is the risk of a hack. Even with antivirus software, all it takes is a moment of inattention and clicking on the wrong link: some malicious actors can delete all your data just for the thrill of it. But none of this means disaster if you keep a regular backup. It means copying your data to a separate device, not just once, but on a schedule you set for yourself. That means new files, new photos, and new data are saved too.
Bad things happen, even when you’re careful. Western Digital backup devices help protect your digital life should your computer or mobile device become lost, stolen or compromised.
How to make World Backup Day easy peasy
It used to be that backing up was a bit of a fiddle, and meant wrestling with your computer’s file explorer or finder. Drive letters, directories, drag-and-drop, ugh! Fortunately, backing up has never been easier, with a new generation of products that come with software that helps you back up what you want, when you want, and will even remind you when your next backup is due.
So, what should you be looking for in a backup device? Your needs will be slightly different, when backing up from your computer versus a mobile device, such as a phone or tablet. Let’s take a look at what you need, starting with your computer.
Backing up on computer
Computers are broadly split into Windows and Mac these days, but the following advice applies to both. If you use a computer regularly, chances are it has become the main repository for all your essential data. Your emails and contacts of course, but also passwords for websites and government services, and even your phone contacts, if you use a cloud service such as Google or iCloud. This means your computer holds a lot of data, measured in gigabytes. And in the age of 4K video and other high-resolution file formats, the amount of data is only increasing.
So, you need a high-capacity device, such as a portable hard disk drive. This can be either a mechanical drive, which is usually cheaper and holds more, or a solid-state drive which can be more expensive but does backups faster, though you might have to trade off on capacity. These devices have capacities ranging from 500GB (gigabytes) up to 5TB (terabytes), so they have plenty of space for all your stuff.
You don’t have all day to sit around waiting for backups to complete, of course, so a portable HDD or SSD should also use the latest interface technology. Right now, that’s USB-C, which is supported by most new computers and some older ones. This can turn an hour-long backup into one that only takes a few minutes, even if you’re transferring gigabytes of data.
And let’s not forget the importance of security and encryption. In the unfortunate event a portable device is lost or stolen, you want no one to get anything of value from it. Devices now come with powerful encryption technology, enabled by a password you can select, and can also connect to cloud services such as Google Drive and Dropbox for the ultimate in backup peace of mind.
Many drives also come with backup software preinstalled, to help you organise and schedule backups and make the whole experience plug-and-play… or in this case, plug and save.
Three solutions for backing up your computer
There are many backup products available, so here are three of your best options to make protecting your data easy.
Cloud backups are made easy thanks to the WD My Cloud Home.
WD My Passport HDD: Aimed at everyday users and students, Western Digital’s My Passport HDD is easy to use, and its slim form factor means you can take it wherever you go. To further secure your data, you can enable password protection by using WD Discovery, adding another layer of security to the drive’s 256-bit AES hardware encryption. It also comes with Backup software to automatically save your data on a schedule that suits you. Plus, the My Passport HDD is available in a range of capacities from 1TB to a whooping 5TB.
WD My Passport SSD: If you have a lot of important work documents to save, the My Passport SSD is an ideal solution. Most importantly, it’s fast. With USB 3.2 and NVMe technology at its disposal, you can transfer data quickly, benefitting from read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1000 MB/s. In addition to quick save times, My Passport SSD comes with password protection and is drop resistant up to 1.98 metres. If you want a reliable and fast drive, this is what you need.
WD My Cloud Home: Consistently backing up multi-device households doesn’t need to be tricky. With the WD My Cloud Home, you can wirelessly sync data between computers, smartphones, and USB devices using cloud technology. Supported by many of Western Digital’s convenient backup features, the My Cloud Home also enables automatic updates, and the ability to stream saved videos to connected devices.
Backups don’t have to be boring either. Many solutions come in various colours, like the WD My Passport SSD.
A summary of essential backup habits for computers
Backing up on a computer doesn’t have to be a chore, but you should think of it as essential. Here’s a quick checklist to make sure you’re keeping your data safe:
Backup regularly: Whether once a fortnight or once a month, choose a schedule that suits you. Remember: files change, and everything is precious. Losing a month’s worth of photos or documents can be as bad as losing it all.
Password-protect your device: The encryption technology in portable drives is powerful, but it only works if you set a password! Make it something easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess, and avoid birthdays!
Use backup software: Make backing up easy on yourself. Set it up once, choose the files and folders you want to back up, so every time from then on, backing up is just plug and play.
Make use of automatic backups: Scheduling is one thing, but do you trust yourself when it comes to something so important? Automatic backups can be set up using software, so you’ll get a reminder to back up. Or if you leave your external hard drive plugged in, the backup will just happen all by itself.
Backing up on mobile devices
For many of us, the mobile phone is becoming our central data repository. Photos, information, passwords, and of course contacts – it’s all there inside that tiny, slim, droppable, smashable, losable device. Horrors!
Backing up a mobile device (and this applies to tablets too) doesn’t just mean creating a second copy of files and data, it means moving that data onto the device, and deleting from your mobile to free up space.
This creates conditions for you to make a terrible mistake: deleting something you thought you had already backed up. That’s where a device such as an SSD or flash drive supported by a backup app becomes so important.
The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe makes it easy to transfer data between Apple devices that use Lightning connectors.Meanwhile, USB-C devices are also served by the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go.
Three solutions for backing up your mobile devices
Just like computers, there are multiple methods to secure your mobile device’s data. Here are three of the best backup solutions:
SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe: This is an easy way to transfer data between iPhones, iPads and other hard drives. The iXpand Flash Drive Luxe has both a Lightning connector and a USB 3.0 connector, making it easy to generate physical backups of your Apple devices. Features such as password protection and backup software are available via the iXpand Drive app, as well as a compact design that’s easy to take with you.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB Type-C Flash Drive: As its name suggests, this flash drive can save data from any of your USB-C devices. This includes smartphones, tablets, and computers with USB-C ports. It also has a USB-A connector, so you can still use the drive with older computers. Through the SanDisk Memory zone app, you can automatically back up your latest photos, videos, music, documents and contacts. Sleek and portable, the Ultra Dual Drive Luxe makes it easy to free up room on your mobile device so you can easily take more photos and videos.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C Flash Drive: Like the Luxe, the Go is perfect for transferring data between USB-C mobile devices and USB-A computers. A fun bonus is that the Go comes in several bright colours to help it stand out from your other devices.
A summary of essential mobile devicebackup habits
Regularly backup. Not just your photos, but also your contacts, email, and other data such as passwords. You use your mobile every day, so data changes quickly.
Be aware of capacity. Your mobile phone especially has a pretty tiny amount of storage, by today’s standards. Use your phone’s settings app to keep an eye on how much capacity you still have. There’s nothing worse than being unable to capture a precious moment in a photo because your phone is full!
Backing up turns a disaster into an inconvenience. Take the pledge to backup regularly as part of World Backup Day, on 31 March.
Use a backup app. Mobile backup devices come with handy apps to help you streamline the backup process. Install these apps from your mobile’s app store, and turn backups into a simple, plug-and-play process.
Set a password. Like backup devices for computers, flash drives also have powerful encryption. Take advantage of this by setting a password that you can remember easily, but which others will struggle to guess. And as always, avoid using birthdays or other personal details to make a password!
Set reminders. Your mobile device can remind you to back up, either using the reminder system that comes with your phone, or the backup device’s app.
To wrap things up on this World Backup Day, here’s where you can find all the latest Western Digital and SanDisk storage solutions:
There’s big news in the electric vehicle space today, with Ford Australia announcing the local availability of its first all-electric vehicle: the Mustang Mach-E SUV.
Announced with Daniel Ricciardo in tow ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, the eight-time F1 race winner drove the premium GT model around the Melbourne circuit in a hot lap. Available later this year, the Mustang Mach-E will come in three different models: GT, Premium, and Select.
Between the three models, the incoming EV offers up to 600km of range and will be the fastest accelerating car from Ford available in Australia. Bringing the Mach-E down under is part of Ford Australia’s plan to have at least five electrified vehicles available locally by the end of 2024.
Mustang Mach-E promises an electrifying drive
At the top of the Mach-E range is the GT model. It uses a 91kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery paired with dual electric motors that generate 358kW/860Nm of torque to all four wheels for maximum performance. To illustrate the point, Ford Australia lists the performance model’s 0-100km/h time at a speedy 3.7 seconds. The company also claims a 490km range between charges.
For longer-distance driving, the next Mustang Mach-E model is the Premium. It uses the same 91kWh battery, but only has a single electric motor, generating 216kW/430Nm of torque, favouring distance over raw power. Distance certainly is its strong suit, rated as being up to 600km between charges, putting it close to the 2024 Polestar 2 vehicles’ maximum range.
Rounding out the Mustang Mach-E range coming to Australia is the Select model. This version of the EV contains a 71kWh battery with a single electric motor delivering 198kW/430Nm of torque to the rear wheels. Positioned as the entry-level model, the Select version targets a 470km range between charges.
As mentioned by Ford Australia in the announcement, the Mach-E electric vehicles are designed for both convenience and performance. Across all three versions is an Untame drive mode intended to yield improvements across acceleration, braking feel, and steering response.
Other features
Although exact specs and pricing details aren’t out yet, Ford Australia revealed some of the details about what to expect when you step into the Mach-E. Each vehicle will have a 15.5-inch infotainment screen running on Ford’s Sync4 software. Alongside the main console is a 10.2-inch digital cluster, wireless charging for compatible devices, and a 10-speaker sound system from luxury Danish audio company Bang & Olufsen. Plus, every Australian Mach-E comes with a panoramic sunroof for letting in light.
Until precise release details emerge, you can register your interest via Ford’s website to be among the first to hear about reserving a vehicle. In New Zealand, slightly different versions of the Mach-E start at NZ$79,990, so expect Australian prices to begin around $75,000. This means MG Motor is likely to hold onto its status as one of the most affordable EV brands locally. However, at least one of the Mach-E models should qualify for the Federal Government’s Electric Vehicle Discount.
Motorola is stepping up its 2023 range of phones, announcing three new models due out across the next few weeks. Included among the new devices are the Moto G53 5G, Moto E13, and the enterprise-focused Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola.
Aimed at several different types of users, there’s something for people wanting affordable 5G, professionals needing seamless connectivity between phones and PCs, and an entry-level budget option.
In a positive move for inclusivity, the Moto G53 5G and Moto E13 will be the company’s first devices to come with te reo Māori language support. It comes as part of Motorola’s partnership with UNESCO aimed at digitising endangered Indigenous languages over the next 10 years.
Moto G53 5G: an affordable 5G phone
Billed as a premium mid-tier phone, the Moto G53 5G brandishes a generous 6.5-inch 120Hz display made for multimedia consumption and smooth internet browsing. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 480+ 5G processor alongside 4GB of RAM. Photographers can use its 50MP main camera, supported by a 2MP Macro sensor, rounded out by an 8MP selfie camera. As for battery life, its 5000mAh capacity should get you around two days of use between charges depending on your usage.
Moto G53 5G
When looking at the specs, the Moto G53 5G is comparable to Samsung’s recently-announced A14 5G model. There are a lot of similarities between the two phones, although the Moto’s 120Hz display trumps the Samsung’s 90Hz, while the Samsung device has a larger camera array.
Available starting on 18 April, the Moto G53 5G will be stocked by various stores including JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Officeworks, Big W and Lenovo.com.au at an RRP of $329. Alternatively, Telstra will stock the phone as a prepaid handset for $269. You can check out the G53’s full specs over on the product website.
ThinkPhone gets friendly with Windows
Although aimed at the enterprise market, the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola seems to be a flexible device if you’re constantly working between multiple devices. As for its slightly convoluted naming convention, Motorola is a subsidiary of Lenovo, and the phone is marketed as being friendly with Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops. In reality, you can just as easily connect the ThinkPhone with any Windows 10 (or above) desktop or laptop PC to seamlessly swap files, access clipboard content and more between devices using the “Ready For” integration.
Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola
It’s also a reasonably specced-out phone, too. In our review of the ThinkPhone, we praised its power and capacity to handle multimedia content. The fact that it also integrates so well with modern Windows devices is the cherry on top. A 6.6-inch phone, it runs on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 platform, which isn’t the latest but is still a powerful processor nonetheless. It’s also highly durable, carrying an IP68 dust and water-resistant rating.
Out now, the ThinkPhone carries an RRP of $999 at JB Hi-Fi and Lenovo.com.au. Even though it’s labelled a business-y device that IT managers can easily integrate into a workplace, I also see the potential for creatives who need to quickly drop images and assets between phones and laptops. Think AirDop, but for Windows.
Moto E13 phones home
Last but not least is the entry-level Moto E13 handset. For $149, you get a phone with a 6.5-inch 60Hz display that’ll last for a while on its 5000mAh battery. While clearly not as powerful as its counterparts, there’s still value for anyone who doesn’t need raw performance as part of daily use.
Moto E13
The Moto E13’s full specs are available on the Motorola website ahead of its 26 April launch as an Optus prepaid device. Later, it will join Telstra’s prepaid lineup on 9 May.
Bringing together desktop and mobile computing for people who work on the go, the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola aims to unify your world.
While some people spend their workday chained to a desktop PC, the shift to working from home and the hybrid office means that a growing number of people tend to jump between locations and devices during the day or the week. This naturally creates challenges when it comes to staying on top of things and keeping everything in sync.
This is where the idea of unifying your mobile and desktop experience makes sense. The idea is to seamlessly switch between your smartphone and your notebook and easily pick up working where you left off. With everything you need at your fingertips, you can be productive anywhere, anytime.
That’s one of the promises of the ThinkPhone. As the name suggests, it’s designed to work in tandem with a Lenovo ThinkPad notebook (Lenovo owns Motorola these days). Lenovo’s “Ready For” mobile and desktop apps manage everything, meaning the ThinkPhone can actually work its magic with any computer running Windows 10 or 11.
To be fair, the idea of unifying your mobile and desktop experience isn’t new and there’s more than one way to tackle it. A decade ago, smartphones like the Motorola Atrix were designed to slot into a notebook shell, so you could use your smartphone as the brain of a laptop. It was a rather clunky experience, relying on Android/Linux’s early efforts to mimic a Windows-style desktop powered by a mobile device.
Of course, a lot has changed since then. Firstly, notebooks have become lighter, more powerful and more affordable – so it’s easier to keep a notebook in your travel bag rather than rely on your smartphone to get things done when you’re on the move.
Secondly, the rise of powerful tablets has made it easier to combine a mobile and desktop-style user experience in the one device. Thirdly, the rise of the cloud and more powerful mobile apps has made it easier to seamlessly switch between mobile and desktop interfaces without the need for a special smartphone. Plus, there are Ready For rivals like Samsung Dex.
With a sleek, dark look and a slightly boxy “Carbon Black” design, the ThinkPhone looks very much like it’s built for work. It matches the premium ThinkPad aesthetic, right down to the red button on the side which harks back to the iconic red TrackPoint found in the middle of early ThinkPad keyboards.
On the right edge of the handset, you’ll find volume controls along with a power button below. The power button doesn’t double as a fingerprint reader. Instead, there’s one built into the screen, which is actually easiest to reach with your thumb (or your pointer finger on the other hand).
Over on the left edge, you’ll find that distinctive red button, which can be programmed to perform a range of tasks. A single press opens any app of your choice, while a double-press launches the “Ready For” app for linking with your Windows notebook.
At the bottom of the handset, you’ll find a USB-C port, but music fans might be disappointed at the lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack. There’s some consolation though, as Motorola does throw in USB-C earbuds.
There’s also Dual SIM 5G support, which is handy for travellers who find themselves needing to regularly switch between providers.
The phone features a generous 6.6-inch 2400×1080 pixel display, with a 20:9 aspect ratio, but still sits comfortably in the hand. With an aluminium frame and fibre inlay, the handset feels solid but not too heavy.
The pOLED screen delivers an impressive 1200 nits brightness, which helps it support HDR10+ for greater contrast when watching movies. As a 10-bit display, it supports the DCI-P3 colour space, with refresh rates up to 144 Hz. That’s accompanied by dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
That’s the kind of high-end screen and speaker array you’d expect in an entertainment powerhouse, not a productivity workhorse. Likewise, the 50 MP and 13 MP ultrawide rear cameras (with a separate depth sensor) and 32 MP selfie camera are impressive for a phone that’s supposedly intended more for work than play.
Assuming you’re not distracted by all that entertainment potential, the phone will certainly keep you up and working for a long time – with a generous 5000 mAh battery which means it should go all day without recharging. The supplied 68W fast charger is powerful enough that it can also charge a ThinkPad.
Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola specs
Display size
6.6 inch, 20:9 aspect ratio
Display resolution
2400×1080
Display technology
pOLED, HDR10+, 144 Hz
Bands
5G: sub-6
4G: LTE
3G: WCDMA
2G: GSM
Chipset
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
GPU
Adreno GPU
Rear cameras
50 MP1/1.5″ optical format
1.8 aperture
1.0μm pixel size
Quad Pixel Technology for 2.0μm
Omni-directional PDAF
Optical Image Stabilisation
On-screen fingerprint reader
ThinkShield for mobile
Moto KeySafe
Ruggedness
IP68 (withstand dust and water immersion with a depth of up to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes)
Dimensions
H 158.76mm x W 74.38mm x D 8.26mm
Weight
189 gm
Features
The ThinkPhone packs a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 power plant, which is no slouch, yet considering it’s such a premium handset it’s a shame it doesn’t feature the new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2. There’s also 8 or 12 GB of RAM, to ensure the handset can cope with serious multi-tasking and the demands of “Ready For” integration with your Windows computer.
The handset runs Android 13 and is thankfully light on bloatware, as we’ve come to expect from Motorola. It promises at least four years of security updates.
That said, there are a lot of software and security features that you don’t find on a standard Android phone. At launch, the ThinkPhone will come with Microsoft 365, Outlook and Teams preloaded.
As for security, there’s Lenovo’s ThinkShield suite for protection and management at the hardware and software levels. There’s also Moto Secure, an app that serves as a security and privacy hub. This includes the ability to create a secure folder for storing apps and files where others can’t access them.
Combined with Moto OEMConfig or Moto Device Manager, IT administrators can remotely configure Moto Secure features on the phone. Additionally, the ThinkPhone comes with Moto KeySafe, a separate processor running on Android, which adds an additional layer of security to better protect the most sensitive data in the phone.
Of course, unless you’re self-employed, none of this security should be your problem – that’s for your employer to worry about. Many of these security features are designed for corporate IT departments managing fleets of devices – something to keep in mind if you’re looking to buy the handset for yourself, rather than receive one issued through work.
The handset is also designed to survive the rough and tumble of life on the road. MIL STD 810H certified, it’s made from lightweight aramid fibre (supposedly stronger than steel), an aircraft-grade aluminium frame and tough Gorilla Glass Victus.
As with many of Motorola’s current handsets, there’s a basic transparent protective case in the box. It offers some impact protection but doesn’t seem as robust as something like a Tech 21 case.
Ready For integration
There are plenty of high-end Android devices on the market, but the big selling point of the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola is its “Ready For” integration with a Windows notebook or desktop.
Ready For is surprisingly easy to get up and running, assuming both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. The Ready For app is already on the handset, you just need to also install it on your computer from the Windows app store. Once installed, the desktop app displays a QR code which you can scan with the mobile app to link the devices.
Lenovo also offers “Think 2 Think” connectivity, which offers even tighter integration between the ThinkPhone and an actual ThinkPad.
Thankfully, when you’re out on the road, Ready For works over a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the smartphone and computer. Alternatively, you can connect them via USB.
If you’re an Apple user then some of this will already seem like old hat, thanks to Apple’s features like Continuity which make it easier to jump between macOS and iOS devices. This works automatically between devices using the same Apple ID, without the need to mess around with QR codes.
Yet in other ways, Ready For ties together Windows and Android in ways that Apple devices will never match, because Apple wants iPhones, iPads and Macs to work together rather than potentially make each other redundant.
Ready For aims to seamlessly bridge the Android and Windows ecosystems.
Considering that Microsoft has failed to find success with smartphones, while Android/Chrome/Linux still struggles to stack up against Windows on the desktop, this alliance between Microsoft and Android makes a lot of sense against their common enemy in Apple.
There’s a lot to cover with Ready For, GadgetGuy did a deep dive on it a while ago. The highlights include unified notifications between devices, a unified clipboard and the ability to easily drop files. You can create an instant hotspot link and even use the phone as a second screen, or as a webcam for your computer.
Building on this, you can mirror the smartphone’s screen on your computer, or stream apps to the computer. The latter gives you the ability to use different Android apps on your computer and smartphone at the same time, which could certainly come in handy when multitasking.
The fact you can now run Android apps on Windows takes some of the shine off this, but streaming the app from your phone ensures that it behaves as intended. It also offers the convenience of using the same Android app as on your phone, rather than needing to run a duplicate on your computer.
Thankfully, the ThinkPhone has enough grunt to ensure this all runs pretty smoothly. Using GeekBench 6, the handset delivers respectable but not earth-shattering scores of 1783 single-core and 4711 multi-core.
You’re obviously also at the mercy of the power of your Windows laptop and a low-powered netbook might give you some grief.
In terms of performance, there’s surprisingly little overhead, with GeekBench 6 still delivering similar results when streaming the GeekBench app from the ThinkPhone to a Windows laptop. But don’t expect miracles when it comes to high-end graphics and video. For example, streaming the YouTube app gets rather messy.
It’s worth noting that Ready For can run on other Motorola smartphones, so if it’s your primary interest in the ThinkPhone then there are other options.
Ready For mobile desktop
Here’s where things get really interesting, with Ready For able to run a Windows-esque, Android-based desktop in a window on your Windows computer. That desktop is actually running on your phone, with full access to the phone’s apps, settings, data and notifications.
Alternatively, you can plug the ThinkPhone into a monitor or television, and then connect a keyboard and mouse so you can use the phone like a PC.
Of course, it’s not a full Windows desktop replacement, because you can’t run Windows applications. This might not bother you if you can achieve everything you need to do by just relying on desktop versions of the Android apps and the built-in browser, not dissimilar to using a Chromebook.
The browser is a version of Chrome that can sync with your Google account. You also find Microsoft Edge in the Google Play app store, along with Office apps and a lot of other productivity apps,
Even so, the mobile desktop can be a little sluggish at times. The performance overhead when running the mobile desktop from the ThinkPhone is also significant, with GeekBench 6 scores dropping to 1090 single-core and 3909 multi-core when you run GeekBench on the mobile desktop.
So how useful is all of this? It all depends on what you’re trying to do. Running the phone’s mobile desktop on a Windows desktop might seem redundant when you’ve already got Windows at your fingertips. Especially if the browser struggles with some of the websites and services you typically access via your Windows desktop browser.
The mobile desktop could be useful if you want to work on documents stored securely on the smartphone. That’s assuming you can’t just sync those documents to the cloud and then access them on your laptop.
Meanwhile, plugging the smartphone directly into a monitor means you don’t need to carry around a notebook – but it assumes you’ll also have a keyboard and mouse at hand.
GadgetGuy’s take
There’s a lot to like about the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola, just as a handset alone. It has impressive multimedia credentials but, if that’s your primary concern, then you might find better options elsewhere. Yet whether the ThinkPhone is right for you will probably depend on how much value you’d get out of the advanced security and tight Ready For desktop integration.
Ready For is great when working with your smartphone and tablet side-by-side, reducing the need to switch your attention between devices. But the practicality of using the mobile desktop is another question.
With the increased portability of notebooks, the rise of tablets, the power of the cloud and the vast improvement in the mobile versions of desktop applications, you’d have to decide for yourself how often you’d consider the phone’s Windows-esque mobile desktop as the best tool for the task at hand. Some people will have specific use cases, but for most people, the mobile desktop wouldn’t be useful very often.
Would I buy it?
Only if I was sure I’d get the productivity value out of Ready For.
Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola
Unifying Android and Windows for those who work on the go, the Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola aims to be the productivity king.
Features
9
Value for money
8
Performance
8.5
Ease of use
8
Design
9
Positives
Plenty of grunt
Great for multimedia
Tight Windows desktop integration
5G
Negatives
Ready For mobile desktop isn't always the best tool for the job
