Latest Articles
Spotify's latest shortcut should help streamline casting
One of its best features is getting even better
Apple Music might be upping its game on Android, but Spotify is no slouch. From karaoke mode to offline playback for free users, the defacto music streaming service has been experimenting with a lot of new additions recently — and we've spotted another that makes one of Spotify's best features even better.
AT&T introduces Unlimited Your Way plans — and you could save some serious cash
Downgrade Grandpa's data while keeping your multi-line discount
AT&T went to great lengths to resist changing its misleading 5G icon, but it needs no encouragement when it comes to changing up cellular plan options. Over the weekend, the company rolled out updates to its unlimited plans — and it looks like customers with multiple lines could save some significant cash.
Routines are replacing Nest Home/Away Assist, but it's a little confusing
Google Home routines will live alongside similar functionality in the Nest app for now
Earlier this month, an update to the Google Home app revealed a new presence sensing feature in the works, along with a revamped setup process for Home/Away routines. Now new information on the changes has hit online support documentation, giving us more details on what to expect as Google pushes customers away from the Nest app and toward Google Home.
Jaybird Tarah wireless headphones can be yours for just $30 from Best Buy ($70 off)
Music to the ears of deal seekers
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Wireless headphones are becoming a necessity these days with more and more devices removing their headphone jacks. Jaybird has some solid options, but they're usually pretty expensive. The Tarah is one of its lower-priced offerings, and now they're even cheaper thanks to a substantial discount from Best Buy.
Pixel 2 camera curse continues — and it's spreading to newer Pixels
Cross your fingers and say a prayer to the Google gods
Pixel phones are renowned for stellar photography — when the camera app is working correctly. Pixel 2 owners, in particular, have complained about camera failures for a long time. We reported on it at the start of 2020, in fact. But even though the worst of this year is hopefully behind us, Pixel 2 users are still having camera problems — and things might be getting worse.
Some Pixel 4 owners are experiencing rapid battery discharge and random shutdowns
The issue has a telltale sign: the battery indicator gets stuck at 50%
Pixel phones combine solid specs and clean software for an really nice, overall Google-y experience — but they don't come without their fair share of issues. From cameras problems on the Pixel 2 to touchscreen bugs on the Pixel 4a, being first in line for software updates can sometimes have a price. Pixel 4 owners have complained about a weird battery bug for months now, and it seems like the recent Android 11 update hasn't fixed anything — and may have only exacerbated the issue.
Amazon hops on the cloud gaming bandwagon with its own Stadia competitor
It's available on Fire TV, Mac, Windows, and iPhone & iPad — but not Android
Streaming video games is the hot new thing; everybody's doing it. Google launched Stadia last year, and Microsoft took xCloud live just a week or two ago. Now Amazon is getting in on the fun, and it has some unique tricks up its sleeve — get ready to meet Luna, a new cloud gaming service from Amazon.
Pinterest has more than 500 million Play Store installs for some reason
It's as popular as Reddit — at least when it comes to app installations
500,000,000 is a huge number, especially when it comes to app installs on the Google Play Store. Google Contacts and YouTube Music achieved the milestone earlier this month, and now another developer is joining the 500 million installs club: Pinterest, the app for visual inspiration.
Todoist Boards challenges Trello with powerful new project management features
It organizes tasks into a horizontal, multi-column layout
Todoist is one of our favorite apps for keeping on track. Whether it's a simple grocery list or an advanced checklist broken down into subsections, Todoist can handle it. And starting today, Todoist Boards is rolling out to help users and teams alike organize their projects in a more versatile way.
Pick up a Pixel 4 XL with 128GB of storage for just $650 from Amazon ($350 off)
The Pixel 5 won't have Face Unlock or a fancy radar sensor
Ever since Google started the Pixel project back in 2016, it's been one of the best Android options on the market. When the Pixel 4 XL was released last year, it packed in some solid improvements over the Pixel 3 XL. Sure, it may not have boundary-breaking specs or design, but the Pixel 4 XL is still the phone to get if you're after a pure Google experience that comes with a top-rated camera. And right now, Amazon is offering a brand-new unit with 128GB of storage for just $650 — a savings of $350 off the MSRP.The Pixel 4 XL's Snapdragon 855 processor, aided by 6GB of RAM (the first RAM increase since the Pixel line began), is capable of achieving smooth and fast performance. The 6.3" 90Hz screen is a noticeable step up from the Pixel 3, especially when scrolling through social media or playing games optimized for high refresh rate displays. And this model is fully specced out with 128GB of onboard storage to keep your collection of Matías Duarte shirt photos saved locally.
Wikipedia's desktop site is getting its first redesign in a decade
A new emphasis on letting content take centerstage
Wikipedia is one of the cornerstones of the internet, a place that we've probably all visited to learn about new topics or find statistics to win a forum debate. While the mobile app has seen design improvements over the years, the desktop site has remained virtually unchanged since 2010 — that's the same year the Nexus One debuted. After almost a decade, Wikipedia is finally ready for a refresh.
Apple Music for Android adds a crossfade feature
YouTube Music seen crying in the corner of the club
Apple Music gained a bunch of fresh new features in iOS 14, and they're enough to make YouTube Music jealous. The changes that landed on Android in beta version 3.4 include autoplay, a new smarter search experience, a revamped Now Playing interface, and one that got lost in all the other new stuff: crossfade.
A more modern Material UI comes to VLC for Android in version 3.3 (APK download)
UI tweaks, under-the-hood optimizations, and cleaned-up settings
In a world where competing media codecs run rampant, VLC is a lifesaver. Version 3.2 came out last year, bringing UI improvements, a new TV interface, and support for Chrome OS keyboard shortcuts among other things. Now 3.3 is ready to go, and it completes the UI revamp with a more modern Material look that's right at home on Android 11.
OnePlus just upped the ambient display ante with OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 2 for OP8 phones
Ambient display has never been so aesthetic
Google may have set the pace in releasing a stable version of Android 11 for its phones earlier this month, but OnePlus isn't far behind. After debuting Open Beta 1 for OxygenOS 11 on September 8, the company is already pushing out Open Beta 2 to devices in the OnePlus 8 family. The new update fixes bugs and improves stability, but it also introduces a new feature that takes ambient display to the next level aesthetically.
You can already save $100 on a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE pre-order at these retailers
Snapdragon 865, 8GB of RAM, and a super smooth 120Hz display
The Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) keeps the Snapdragon 865, 120Hz display, and triple-camera setup from the higher-end S-series phones while landing at a much more attractive price point. Samsung just unveiled the S20 FE earlier today, but it looks like you can already save $100 off the already-low $699 MSRP by ordering from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.With a powerful 5G-equipped processor and 8GB of RAM, the S20 FE should fly through most everyday tasks. (That's right, these savings are on the higher-end model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.) It even has both wireless and reverse wireless charging so you can power up your Galaxy Buds right from the phone itself. And the 120Hz display makes monotonous social media posts more fun to scroll through.
LG brings hole-punch selfie cams to 3 new entry-level devices in the K-series
The K42, K52, and K62 have 6.6" HD+ displays, side-mounted fingerprint readers, and quad-camera systems
LG may not move as many units as Samsung or Huawei, but its recent Velvet flagship brought some interesting things to the table. The company's latest phones aren't quite as luxurious in name — the K62, K52, and K42 (pictured above) are value-oriented devices aimed at lower price brackets. But just because they don't cost as much doesn't mean they won't be worth checking out.
The battery life on Arlo's new wireless outdoor cameras is insane
The Essential Camera lasts up to 6 months on a single charge, and the Essential XL Spotlight stretches that up to 12 months
Arlo is one of the top tier options when it comes to smart security cameras. We liked the company's floodlight security camera it released earlier this year, and now Arlo is giving customers two new options: the budget-friendly Arlo Essential Camera and the slightly higher-end Essential XL Spotlight. These two new products promise to deliver on outdoor home security essentials while lasting up to a year on a single charge.
New UI spotted in testing on Nest Hub Max that gives quick access to contextual controls
Tabs for home controls, media controls, communication, and more
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Google's a company that's always experimenting with new features and tweaks for its software to improve the user experience. Now a new video has surfaced showing a completely revamped UI on the Nest Hub Max that makes touch controls easier to access — and it looks promising.
Spotify testing a new feature that lets listeners tell podcasters how they really feel
Polling + podcasts = more engaged Spotify users?
Spotify might be the frontrunner when it comes to music streaming, but it's still a new player in the world of podcasting. There are plenty of issues that the company needs to work on to improve the experience, but today podcasts on Spotify are starting to get a little more interactive thanks to a new test that lets podcasters connect to their audiences through polling.
Upgrade your home security with a Nest Cam 3-pack for $300 ($90 off)
Two-way audio, motion detection, and night vision
Google took Nest under its wing in 2014 and released the original Nest Cam the very next year. The Nest Cam is capable of capturing 1080p video and streaming it through the Nest app so users can keep an eye on what's going on at home. A pack of three normally retails for $389.99, but right now you can grab it for $299.99 ($90 off) from Amazon and Best Buy.These Nest Cams are capable of capturing wide-angle 1080p video with night vision and two-way audio. Being Google products, they're well integrated into the Google Home ecosystem that you're probably already invested in using. They're even compatible with Alexa if you lean Amazon's way. Each camera comes with an adjustable stand and a wall mounting plate, so they can be placed wherever works best.