Caleb Potts
Contributing since May, 2020
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690articles
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About Caleb Potts
designer, writer, cat person.
Latest Articles
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S21 phones may not come with chargers
I hope you've got a few extras lying around
Samsung is preparing to launch its new lineup of Galaxy S21 devices early next year. We got a look at some of the first official renders today, and while they seem like solid upgrades so far, there's one key feature that may be left out in some markets: a charger.
Google and Samsung team up to make smart home products more interoperable
Is this a sign that Bixby might be on the way out?
Google has been trying to convince Samsung to drop Bixby in favor of Google Assistant for some time now. While we don't know for certain how those conversations are going, Samsung did add support for Google Assistant to some of its smart TVs last month. And today, a joint partnership was announced that will see Samsung SmartThings gadgets add integration with Nest products — as well as the Google Assistant.
Google's latest accessibility app lets your eyes do the talking
Look to Speak lets users quickly communicate common phrases
One of the coolest things about technology is the myriad of ways in which it can be utilized to assist people with disabilities. Google's newest experimental app allows people who might not be able to speak out loud to express themselves verbally via a surprising method: their eyes. 👀
The only Chrome OS tablet worth buying is at an all time low price
Lenovo's 128GB Chromebook Duet is $70 off at Best Buy right now
It's been over six months since we reviewed the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, but it's still one of the only options on the market when it comes to tablets running Google's Chrome OS. It also presents a pretty great value for the price — and now that price is even lower than usual. Right now, Best Buy is offering the 128GB storage model of the Chromebook Duet for just $229, a savings of $70.
Google Play Pass brings its curated selection of ad-free apps and games to 7 new countries
New users can still sign up for a free month-long trial
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Google introduced Play Pass last year as a way for users to access a curated selection of apps and games for a single subscription price. It expanded into 24 new regions back in October, and today another batch is being added to the list of supported countries.
Google partners with Billboard to chart the top 100 songs IDed by humming in 2020
Baby Shark is on the list — you've been warned
Google first introduced "hum to search" capabilities for the Google app back in October. Now the company has partnered with Billboard to publish a list that charts the top 100 songs people have searched for by humming or singing into the Google app and Google Assistant.
Google brings Stadia cloud gaming to players in 8 new countries
The more gamers the merrier
Stadia celebrated its first anniversary last month. Google's cloud gaming platform was only available in 14 countries when it launched last November. It has added a number of features since then, and now it's adding support for additional countries as well.
Latest Galaxy S21 leaks offer our best look yet at lineup's next-gen camera hardware
New renders have surfaced along with a photo of the phones in the flesh
Samsung may not have had the hit it wanted with the S20 this year, but the company is primed to take another shot at the premium flagship market in early 2021 with the Galaxy S21 series. We published a roundup of what to expect from the new phones last month, and now new renders have surfaced, along with our first real-life look at the camera hardware.
Waze rolling out integration with Amazon Music
It's been over three years since Waze first introduced audio controls
Long road trips are some of the best times for trolling the vast depths of your music library, but it can be hard to stay focused when switching back and forth between streaming apps and navigation. Waze teamed up with Spotify to bring more accessible music controls to the road back in 2017. More partners signed on in the years following, and now Amazon has finally seen fit to connect its own Amazon Music app to the navigation platform.
Fire TV now has access to free local news in 12 cities
Because more news is just what everyone wants right now
Amazon's Fire TV platform offers plenty of entertainment options, and now the list is expanding to include content a little closer to home. The Fire TV news app is rolling out live and on-demand local news to 12 major cities across the nation.
Samsung's 2021 phones may not work with older Gear smartwatches
Time to get a new watch?
Samsung has been making wearables for the better part of forever, but like all companies that make money off hardware sales, it can only offer support for so long. Now it looks like Samsung may be ending support on upcoming 2021 smartphones for some older Gear wearables — including the Galaxy Gear 2 and Gear S.
Stadia levels up its website with quick access to Pro games, news, and more
There's still no search bar though
One of the big selling points of Stadia is that users can log on and play games right from the Stadia website (provided they use the Chrome browser, of course). However, the interface there has remained simple to the point of frustration for some players. A new home page design appears to be rolling out now that improves the situation somewhat — although there's still no search bar in sight.
FCC kills plans to allow in-flight phone calls to either your great relief or mild disappointment
The proposal had been in the pipeline since 2013
There are plenty of ways to pass time on a plane during long flights, but making phone calls or using personal data plans aren't going to be one of them. Today, the Federal Communications Commission canceled plans to set rules that could have allowed in-flight voice and data services via passengers' personal phones — it only took seven years of hearing arguments from both sides.
Plant some beans in your ears with this sale on Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for $110 ($60 off)
Some of the cutest and comfiest ANC earbuds around
Samsung's latest pair of truly wireless earbuds might have an unusual shape, but the bean-like design made them one of the most comfortable pairs we'd ever used when we reviewed them earlier this year. Now you can get a pair of your own to plant for just $109.99 from Woot today — a $60 savings off the usual price.
YouTube tests video appeals, a new way for suspended channels to beg for clemency
Get back on YouTube's good side by incorporating a dance routine into your appeal
YouTube has always had a complicated relationship with its creators, having to enforce consequences for rule-breaking channels on the platform. The problems come when the ne'er-do-wells get mixed up with the law-abiding channels, which isn't a rare occurrence. Now YouTube is testing out a new way for innocent creators to appeal channel suspensions — and it sounds like a lot more work.
Pixel 5 rises from the dead after withstanding torturous teardown video trials
1000° heat is mere child's play for the Pixel 5
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Google may have gone wild with bio-resin on the Pixel 5, but does that make it any less sturdy? JerryRigEverything's newest teardown videos put Google's latest flagship up against formidable foes like a cup of acetone and a powerful heat gun — and although the phone does die by the end of the first video, it makes a surprising comeback in the second.
YouTube Music's personalized 'Year in Review' playlists are rolling out now
Pretty basic compared with what competitors are offering
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One of the coolest things Spotify gives to long-time users is Wrapped, a deep dive of the music they listened to throughout the year. Now that Google is concentrating its efforts on improving YouTube Music, the company is offering its users a similar — though much more basic — feature, along with a selection of new playlists celebrating the most popular songs of 2020.
Chrome 88 is available now in the beta channel (APK Download)
Brave souls can download it now
Google regularly updates its Chrome browser with new features, security enhancements, and bug fixes. Last month, Chrome 87 hit the stable channel, and now it looks like Chrome 88 is rolling out to desktop and mobile users on the beta channel.
OnePlus Zen Mode gets new sounds to complement recent visual refresh
It's time to disconnect, but wait until after you read this article
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OnePlus only recently released a new flagship, but new hardware isn't the only thing it worked on. Zen Mode debuted last year and gained new features worthy of a 2.0 label in October, including support for group rooms so you can disconnect together and five new themes that bring a revamped look and feel to the experience. And now a smaller 2.0.1.0 release has added sounds complementing the five distinct looks.
Samsung's latest Galaxy Watch3 is $300 ($100 off), plus extra 20% off for Amazon Prime card members
The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 offers a stylish design, polished software, and plenty of health tracking features. When we reviewed it earlier this year, we called it "the best smartwatch Samsung has made yet." And right now, the watch is discounted a full $100 off both the 41mm and 45mm models — and if you have an Amazon Prime Card, you can save even more.The Watch3 runs Samsung's Tizen OS — which is arguably the best smartwatch OS for you if you use an Android phone. The Exynos 9110 dual-core processor runs on a single gig of RAM, but that's plenty for a smooth and snappy experience on Samsung's flagship wearable. The acclaimed rotating bezel is back, which offers a unique way to navigate around the interface quickly. This watch excels at health tracking, with both a heart rate monitor and an ECG sensor.