Despite packing an impressive and versatile array of camera hardware, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's imaging performance leaves much to desire. Its HDR performance is a bit iffy, and the telephoto cameras also fail to impress. Samsung did roll out an update in late March to improve the Galaxy S24's camera performance. But rumors indicated the company had a bigger camera-focused update in the pipeline for April. If you were eagerly looking forward to this new firmware, your wait just got longer.
Have you ever sent a quick DM on Instagram and realized it was incomplete or had a few embarrassing typos? With Meta's new update, you can edit your direct messages for up to 15 minutes after you send them. Before this update, your only option was to unsend the message and send a new message. This guide explains how to edit your DMs through the Instagram app. Before you begin, update the app to access this feature on your flagship or budget Android phone or iPhone.
With so many different Android devices, there are also various versions of the popular mobile operating system. Some Android device manufacturers may provide multiple methods of rolling back to an older version of Android. Others may only offer minimal options. Google Pixel phones, for example, are known to have some of the best support for developers, which makes the downgrading process easier. From the automated Android Flash Tool to installing a system image manually, we cover everything you need to know in the guide below.
Whether you're at the office cranking out vital emails or on the go on one of the best Pixel phones and need a quick answer, sometimes a response can't wait. Google doesn't have an urgent flag in Gmail for outgoing mail. However, there are ways to make sure your email gets the attention it deserves and you get the timely response you need. You can also mark messages in your inbox as urgent to sort them by importance.
What is the QUIC network transfer protocol?
It has the potential to improve speed and efficiency when browsing online
While most of what we do is online, we don't think twice about how everything works. A lot happens in the background when you open the Google website on your Android phone. Constant network packets are sent to your router and then back to your device without you realizing it. Even when browsing on the go, your device sends and receives packets to cell towers. This guide explains the QUIC network transfer protocol and how it can change how we interact with web applications.
How to connect to Alaska Airlines in-flight Wi-Fi
Alaska Airlines offers fast satellite Wi-Fi on almost all its flights
Airplanes connect to the internet through two methods. The antennas mounted on aircraft pick up signals from ground-based cell towers or orbiting satellites. Alaska Airlines has some aircraft outfitted with air-to-ground (ATG) antennas and most with satellite connections. Your flight's Wi-Fi method is determined by the type of aircraft and its age. New additions to Alaska's fleet are being built with satellite connectivity because it's faster and more reliable than ATG connections.
Your Chromebook now lets you open OneDrive docs right from the Files app
Microsoft 365 is now a first-class citizen on Chromebook
Today's Chromebooks are a far cry from the budget machines that began flooding schools back in the 2010s. Although those machines were utilitarian and rugged enough to survive a year's worth of cafeteria lunches, today's Chromebooks are strong enough to handle almost any computing task you throw at them, and they're only getting better. Case in point, Google and Microsoft just dropped a new collab: you can now edit Microsoft 365 documents and access Microsoft OneDrive directly from your Chromebook.
Google might have an official stylus and keyboard for the Pixel Tablet soon
A 'relaunched' Pixel Tablet could finally get the accessories it needs
We've been hearing about an official Google stylus and keyboard for the Pixel Tablet for a while now. Even before that tablet's official release, there were little tidbits of information floating around that hinted that the accessories were coming. As the release of the tablet came and went with no accessories at launch, folks managed to find evidence hidden in code, but almost a year has passed, and we've yet to see these devices come to retail.
Google's plan to grow Pixel with pop culture ads and sponsorships is working
The key to overcoming Pixel's late start is putting them everywhere
It's no secret that Google was starting at a severe disadvantage when it launched the first Pixel smartphones. The original Pixel and Pixel XL were released in 2016. While that's a long time ago now, Apple released the iPhone nearly a decade earlier, in 2007, and the first Android phone would follow in 2008. Google indeed made phones under the Nexus brand starting in 2010, so the smartphone market wasn't exactly foreign to the company when the Pixel was created. Still, a ten-year head start in the world of consumer tech is often an insurmountable obstacle for another company to overcome. And yet, Google is slowly, but steadily growing Pixel market share in 2024.
Google Messages could soon let you turn off its new screen and message effects
A new settings toggle will make it easy to disable those annoying visuals
Back in February, we reported that Google Messages was rolling out Screen Effects to more users worldwide. This feature, which included over 15 visual effects triggered by specific keywords in your messages, was a fun addition. For instance, saying I Love You to your fiancé could splash a big heart on the screen. However, if these Screen Effects were not your cup of tea, Google Messages is now working on a new setting that allows you to turn them off, enhancing your messaging experience.
Google Podcasts' export tool is rolling out worldwide ahead of June shutdown
Google finally decides to gift non-US users an export tool for Podcasts before pulling the plug on global access
Google Podcasts officially bit the dust for good in the US earlier this month, leaving its millions of users in search of a new podcast platform. The shutdown wasn't a surprise; Google announced it way back in September 2023. Now, YouTube Music has stepped in to fill the void, but Google has given users a way to shift their podcast data over to other platforms. And for those outside the US, the export tool is up and running now.
Google Meet is making it easy to jump between your computer and phone in video calls
Users will now have a new and seamless way to hop from one device to another while on calls
Well, that didn't take long at all. After reporting on a feature last week that would let users seamlessly transfer calls in Google Meet from one device to another, we're now seeing it go live for the first time. This feature is going to bring major changes to the way users will now be able to communicate when using the app.
Despite its somewhat confusing name, it’s easy to see the appeal of the Nothing Ear (a). Just think of the (a) standing for affordability because that’s what they are compared to the flagship Nothing Ear non-(a). At least on paper, the Nothing Ear (a) promises to provide the core experience of the sans-(a) version at a significantly lower price point. It and its more expensive sibling represent the third generation of Nothing’s earbuds.
I was just a teenager at the time, but I vividly remember snagging a Gmail invite weeks after it launched 20 years ago. I raved about the free service, its novel cloud-based structure, and how it'd be the Next Big Thing online — insofar as an email account can really be a big thing. All my family members and most of my friends got beta invites from yours truly, as I was definitely the biggest nerd around.
Google has a really annoying habit of killing popular services and sending them to its infamous graveyard. On April 2, the company's dedicated podcasting app, Google Podcasts, was shut down in the US to be replaced by YouTube Music. Despite YouTube Music's advancements in podcasting, it still can't hang in the same crowd as Spotify and Apple Music — we honestly think it kinda sucks. But the app has no intention of abandoning podcasts and now has its sights set on becoming the "ultimate destination for podcasters and fans alike."
Your Samsung Galaxy Buds can now launch the Samsung Music app
Its surprising we had to wait so long for such functionality
The wireless earbuds market is now teetering at the point of oversaturation, with potentially thousands of options available for consumers. Customers are spoilt for choice whether they’re looking for budget earbuds or feature-packed flagship options. Samsung is one of the manufacturers that inevitably features on either list, and Android users stand to benefit from integration with the brand’s product ecosystem. However, an update to the Samsung Music app reveals what we’ve been missing out on.
The Pixel 9 Pro could be the reasonably sized Android flagship I've been waiting for
I'm just hoping it doesn't cost four figures
We've been following developments around the Pixel 9 series, expected to debut this October, for months now. Personally, I've kept up to speed on the broad strokes — Tensor G4, a new design, and Google potentially branding its next foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. One detail in particular has piqued my interest, though: we're getting a smaller, non-folding Pro model this year.
Google Calendar is one of, if not the, most used digital calendars in the world, competing alongside Microsoft’s Outlook Calendar and Apple Calendar. It undergoes constant small tweaks and updates, such as its recent enhancement that makes it easier to switch between creating an event or a task on Android. In addition to its excellent integration among the entire suite of Google services, there’s little sense in recommending any other app for creating an appointment calendar. Continuing its trend of tiny tweaks, Google just added a small quality-of-life enhancement that will make it easier to schedule events in the far future on Calendar for Android.
Google Gemini's conversation mode could make interactions with AI easier
Gemini keeps the conversation going even after answering your question
Google constantly tries to improve Gemini to make it more appealing than Google Assistant. One clear advantage Assistant has over Gemini is that it has a better response time, but Google is working on making it much faster on Android. Its next improvement could be related to ChatGPT's Voice Conversation feature, which allows users to continue the conversation with voice commands. It's a feature we had already seen with Google Assistant — even on smart speakers — so it seems like it would find an ideal home with Gemini.
Right-to-repair laws are now in effect in Europe to the dismay of manufacturers
Spare parts for self-made repairs will be available to consumers
In the US, right-to-repair legislation has appeared on some state ballots, aiming to give consumers more authority over how they maintain their products. Rather than having to exclusively contact manufacturers for device repairs, these laws can open up the door to more options — consumers can contact third-party repair services, for example, to have their technology fixed. In some instances, this can also result in cost savings for consumers, but manufacturers have become wary of the impact on their business. Falling in line with some US states that have adopted such measures, the European Parliament has now ruled in favor of similar regulations.