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CES 2024
MoreGoogle Wallet finally adds flight boarding pass support to Wear OS
Hop onto flights without taking your phone out every few minutes
Google has been on a roll through 2023, adding features and expanding support for available options on Google Wallet. In the last year alone, we saw support for government-issued ID cards expand to more states in the US. Google also made flight and event boarding passes shareable in the Wallet app. Now, the equivalent app for Wear OS is picking up support for boarding passes, so you don’t need to whip out your phone while traveling.
OnePlus Open 2: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
The OnePlus Open was our favorite foldable of 2023, and the OnePlus Open 2 could only make things better
The OnePlus Open is the company's first foldable, and it impressed us in almost every key aspect. It's among our favorite foldables. The large displays and design make using the phone a breeze. Excellent multitasking features in OxygenOS allow you to use the big inner folding screen to its potential and boost your productivity while on the go.
Time’s running out on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 free credit promotion
Why would you ever leave money on the table?
It's been a long time coming, but we're finally coming up on the finish line of the Samsung Galaxy S24 launch on January 17. Now, we've seen just about everything there is to be seen about this phone, and if you're planning to buy one, chances are you know by now. And even if you don't, if Samsung is willing to give you a $50 credit just for an email address, why leave anything to chance?
Amazon Echo Show: 16 incredible tips and tricks for your smart display
Make the most of your smart display
Smart displays are an excellent way to add convenience to your household, helping you control lights, thermostats, and other devices. They're also useful for streaming content and video calling friends and family. With its Echo Show lineup, Amazon produces a range of recommendable smart displays that achieve these tasks and offer options to make your life easier. Some of them are designed by Amazon and meant to be used as part of the Echo Show experience. Others are hacks we whipped together to help you do more with your smart display, such as watching YouTube videos.
How to get the most out of your YouTube Music subscription
Get the most out of your monthly subscription cost
If you love YouTube Music and want to make the most of it, consider getting a subscription. A YouTube Music subscription has many benefits, but you'll want to ensure you're getting your money's worth. You can enjoy all the perks of YouTube Music Premium whether you sign up for it directly or as part of YouTube Premium. You can also switch from Spotify Premium to YouTube Music Premium.
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How to change the keyboard on your Android phone or tablet
Don't like the default keyboard? Android's got you covered
Your phone's keyboard is an essential part of your user experience. Most of us have wrestled with a default keyboard on an unfamiliar Android device. Some Android users prefer the pre-installed keyboard. You have a choice of several keyboard options if you use a top Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or another Android smartphone or tablet. Let's look at some of the best and show you how to switch to one that suits you.
Best earbuds with microphone for $25 or less in 2024
Strapped for cash but need an audio upgrade? Here's a roundup of the best basic earbuds
Wireless earbuds truly are a wonder, and wearing them sure beats being tangled in a throng of wires. However, if you're looking to get a pair with all features like Active Noise Cancelling or 3D spatial audio, the best wireless earbuds don't come cheap.
Is GigaChat Russia's ChatGPT killer? Everything you need to know about the Russian-made AI
GigaChat, Russia's alternative to ChatGPT, promises AI unbiased by Western values and norms
Is GigaChat Russia's answer to ChatGPT? All indicators point to da, tovarishch. That's about all the Russian we know. GigaChat could rise to rival the capabilities of the internet's AI presence. It isn't going to happen yet, not when the machine learning model powering the chatbot is in its infancy. Still, the potential is there, ready to be fine-tuned over time.
WhatsApp text formatting picks up bullets, quotes, code, and more
Say it how you mean it in the latest Android beta
If you write code, you know the challenges of communicating it digitally. Depending on how you are sending it, the code can become altered, or you may not be able to share it digitally at all. Now, many instant messaging services are beginning to integrate features that allow for the transmission of code. Meta has updated WhatsApp for iOS to support text formatting, and now, it looks like Android users could soon receive it as well.
What’s new in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 and earlier
Google’s latest QPR2 release packs many surprises and some long-awaited features
Google doesn't only release new Android versions each year. In between, the company makes smaller jumps in the form of quarterly Feature Drops, improving its Pixel phones like the new Google Pixel 8 Pro ever further. These releases also have to get tested, and that's what the Quarterly Platform Release betas are for, QPR for short. Testing for the March Feature Drop is currently underway as the QPR2, and here is everything new spotted in all the beta releases so far.
When Apple released the first iPhone in 2007, it popularized a new way of interacting with handsets: a capacitive touchscreen. Today, about 17 years later, most mobile phones, including affordable smartphones, use the same touchscreen technology, allowing for modern user interfaces and customizable options for applications and other devices.
Smart home devices, particularly intelligent light bulbs, are key to building home automation and adding convenience. LIFX bulbs stand out as innovative and sought-after smart lights known for their reliability and expandability. These bulbs are an excellent choice if you're purchasing new smart lighting.
Best NAS deals: Save on enclosures, drives, and more
You won't want to miss these limited-time deals
Network-attached storage (NAS) enclosures and drives can cost a small fortune, especially when looking at more powerful servers and higher-capacity storage drives. It's possible to spend anywhere from $200 up to $2,000 on the best NAS, depending on what you want to use the server for and how much data you have to store.
Best LIFX smart lights, bulbs, and strips in 2024
Illuminate your world with any (or all) of these fun and colorful smart lights from LIFX
When it comes to budget-friendly smart lighting, one of the best brands in the business is LIFX. Offering numerous smart light bulbs and LED light strips, as well as more niche items, LIFX smart lighting products are easy to install, simple to use, and boast all kinds of features. Plus, they’re usually very inexpensive, which is a big win for those looking to add automation on the cheap.
As advanced as modern electronic gadgets and appliances are, they still depend on a reliable supply of power to work. So, while one of our best power bank recommendations can help during a pinch for a phone or two, it won't be very useful for extended power outages, off-the-grid vacations, or running AC-powered household appliances. This is where power stations come into play.
Android’s new 3D mascot has a name, and it's not Bugdroid
CES 2024 finally revealed what the iconic green android is called
CES 2024 is in full swing right now, and Google has made a ton of new announcements, ranging from Google Cast support for LG TVs to a new intuitive way of sending media from your Pixel phone to the Pixel Tablet. But among those big announcements, one little detail went under the radar. The new 3D mascot for Android actually has an official name, and it isn’t something we’ve been calling it all along.
Poco’s latest mid-range smartphones pack a display you’d expect on a flagship
The Poco X6 Pro even runs Android 14-based HyperOS
Xiaomi's sub-brand Poco has made a name for itself with its flagship killers and budget phones packing powerful hardware. While not perfect, the company's Poco F5 Pro from 2023 was an impressive mid-ranger and a great alternative to the Pixel 7a if you wanted a phone with more horsepower. Kickstarting 2024, Poco has announced its mid-rangers for this year — the Poco X6 and X6 Pro. They feature Qualcomm and MediaTek's latest premium chips, upgraded cameras, and bezel-less 120Hz AMOLED displays that you'd typically find in flagship phones.
Best Chromebook for kids in 2024
These great Chromebooks are best suited for younger users, whether they're heading to school or they need something around the house
Finding the best Chromebook for kids may sound daunting, but it's a lot simpler than it seems. Google's user-friendly laptops are renowned for their affordability, and ChromeOS makes it easy for anyone to use its system — kids included. This translates to a low-cost device that can be used to learn and play efficiently without encountering technical jargon or fretting over accidental spills.
Best Google Pixel 8 accessories in 2024
These are the best add-ons to complement your new Google Pixel 8
The Pixel 8 is a refinement of the Pixel 7 in several ways. From its smaller but sharper 120Hz display to its larger battery capacity paired with faster wired charging, or even its longer software support, there's a lot to love about it. Sadly, like its bigger and more expensive sibling, the Pixel 8 Pro, the only accessories you get in the box are a USB-C charging cable and a USB-A to USB-C adapter, which means you'll have to purchase a couple of additions like a case, screen protector, and a power adapter yourself.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6: Should you upgrade?
The Pixel 7 is a more refined version of the Pixel 6, but is either worth buying in 2024? Largely, no.
The Google Pixel 6 launched in 2021 and instantly became one of the best Android phones you could get, despite a few stumbling blocks from Google's first-gen Tensor chipset. The Pixel 7 launched a year later, fixing many of those issues and providing a more polished experience. Both phones look, feel, and act very similarly, and at this point, both have been made obsolete by the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 7a.