Cody English
Contributing since September, 2019
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124articles
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About Cody English
Cody is a biologist by training and a lifelong enthusiast for all things related to science or technology. When he isn't obsessing over tech, you may find him hiking/photographing his way through the National Parks or lost in a science fiction novel.
Latest Articles
LG's Dual Screen hardware finally getting a game with exclusive second-screen functionality
Enhanced gaming has been one of the most consistently promoted features of LG phones that support its Dual Screen hardware. Until now, the only gaming-centric improvement available for these devices has been the ability to use the second display as a dedicated gamepad. Now we're finally seeing games introduce some bespoke functionality for that second panel, with the release of a dual-screen edition of Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War.
Mobile accessory maker Anker made a name for itself by producing products that are both affordable and reliable. Our review found that this held for the original Nebula Capsule, but it needed improvements in a few areas such as image resolution and brightness. Anker has since introduced the Capsule Max, which addresses these issues with improved brightness and clarity, and you can already get one at a new low price of $400 ($70 off.)The Capsule Max produces a 200-lumen 720p image up to 100 inches in size and features automatic focus and keystone correction. Its built-in rechargeable battery should be able to handle a nighttime outdoor movie viewing with an estimated four hours of playtime (three hours with Wi-Fi enabled). HDMI and USB ports ensure compatibility with a wide range of media devices.One thing to note: this projector runs a version of Android 8.1, not the full-fledged Android TV found on the Capsule II. This choice of OS limits the selection of available apps and makes accessing Netflix content a somewhat convoluted experience.The Anker Nebula Capsule Max is currently available at a discounted price of $400 directly from Anker or Amazon. According to Anker's dedicated Nebula site, this deal runs through November 1.Buy: Amazon, Anker
In his review, our very own Corbin found the Fossil Sport to be an easy recommendation for anyone in need of a Wear OS smartwatch. It remains an excellent choice to this day, and now Fossil is sweetening the deal with the introduction of some new color options.Six new colors (two shades of red, two blues, dark green, and yellow) are launching today, although available options will vary depending on whether you choose to go with the 41mm or 43mm version. Every available color of the Sport has had its $275 price reduced—with most shades available for $199, and a few that can be picked up for only $149.
In the market for a slim battery pack that doesn't compromise on capacity or features? The Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD may be precisely the product you need. Even better still, this portable charger is currently available for only $30 ($12 off) from Amazon. Making this the lowest price we've seen yet for this model — albeit only by $2 less than the last time we spotted it on sale.This power bank features a sleek design, 2 USB ports (one USB A and one USB C), and three charging modes to ensure compatibility with a variety of devices. The PowerCore Slim can be fully charged in as little as three and a half hours using the USB-C port and a PD compatible wall charger.
Disney and Verizon have announced a partnership that will give customers on Verizon's Unlimited plans a free year of Disney+. The upcoming streaming service, which features content from Disney and its ever-expanding list of subsidiaries (Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic), is set to launch on November 12. Eligible Verizon customers will receive one free year of Disney+ — a $70 value.
Securely managing the payment information of millions of users is a massive responsibility—one that many retailers, unfortunately, seem unable to handle. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep your data safe. The latest update to the Starbucks mobile app finally brings this extra layer of security to the nation's most popular mobile payments platform.
[Update: Rolling out] Google Maps expands Waze-like crowdsourcing with new incident types
Ever since Google purchased fellow map maker Waze in 2013, crowdsourced contribution features have slowly made their way to Maps. We've been seeing this support grow with the ability for users to report things like speed traps, slowdowns, and just last month, road construction. Now Google's formally recognizing that construction expansion, as well as announcing the addition of a few other obstructions.
Get an Anker Soundcore Flare Mini Bluetooth speaker for an all-time low of $30 ($20 off)
Consumers can face an overwhelming number of choices when shopping for a Bluetooth speaker. This number quickly dwindles when looking for features such as water resistance, 360° sound, or stereo pairing. Anker's Soundcore Flare Mini manages to bring all of these together into one already affordable package. Amazon is currently offering the Flare Mini for an all-time low of $30, which is a $20 savings off list price.The Soundcore Flare Mini features IPX7 waterproofing that will keep the device safe from rain or even complete submersion for up to 30 minutes. It's two 5W drivers provide 360° sound to fill your room or outdoor area with music. The battery on the Soundcore Flare Mini will probably outlast your party with an estimated battery life of 12 hours.
The recently announced Nest Mini appears to be an improvement on its predecessor, the Google Home Mini, in almost every way. Audio quality, Assistant response time, and the inclusion of a wall-mounting slot are all welcome additions. One of the most exciting changes, however, might be the restoration of a forgotten feature: the capacitive play/pause button that was included and subsequently disabled on the Google Home Mini has returned on the Nest Mini.
Most of today's news has revolved around the new products added to the Google Store. However, Google has removed several older products, as well. These include the Daydream View VR headset, the Google Clips camera, and the first generation of Pixel Buds. Store listings for these devices are no longer visible without a direct link. If you attempt to access the Google Store pages for these products directly, you'll find a "no longer available" message that has replaced the purchase option.
4K TV prices just keep dropping. This product category was once exclusively populated with sets priced in the thousands of dollars, but now it includes TVs at a wide variety of price points. As we've noted in the past, TCL's 4K offerings are an excellent choice for those looking to upgrade on a budget. The 55" model from TCL's 6 Series is currently on sale for $429.99 at Best Buy—which includes $70 in savings off its already reduced list price.
One of LG's latest flagship phones is currently on sale at Amazon. The LG G8 ThinQ was already decently discounted last month, albeit with some extra Amazon bloat. We even saw the T-Mobile edition going for just $375. Now we've finally spotted a deal on the regular, carrier-friendly unlocked G8 for just $500, which is a $350 discount off list price.Our review found the G8 ThinQ to be the most polished LG smartphone yet, although some of the more gimmicky features weren't particularly useful and did little to set the phone apart from its competition. LG has since expanded the G8 lineup with the launch of the G8S and G8X.Key specs include a 6.1" OLED display, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, and a Snapdragon 855 processor. The dual rear camera setup offers one 12MP primary shooter and one 16MP wide-angle lens, both of which feature OIS.
Grab Anker's 19,000mAh battery with 27W USB-C and a charger for $60, an all-time low ($70 off)
If you're in the market for a product that can charge multiple devices at once and doesn't skimp on features, the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD may be the power bank for you. This battery can charge up to three devices simultaneously, doubles as a USB-C hub, and includes a 30W USB-C wall charger. Today a new deal brings its price down to an all-time low of $60 ($70 off).Anker's PowerCore+ 19000 PD initially hit the market with an MSRP of $130. We've covered past discounts on this particular charger, with prices as low as $70.The single USB-C port can deliver up to 27W using USB-PD—enough power to charge USB-C compatible laptops. This includes select Macbooks, which can be fully charged in only two hours. Although, other laptops may require more than 27W in order to charge. Because of this, we highly recommend checking to see if your laptop is compatible before charging with this power bank.
[Update: Niantic response] Xiaomi users allege they are being banned from Pokémon Go
Read update
- Niantic has issued a statement regarding its investigation into these bans. The developer has yet to resolve the underlying problem, but it is investigating reports linking the bans to Xiaomi's GameTurbo feature. Resulting punishments and account strikes are currently being revised.
Banning problematic users from online games and services is nothing new. Accounts are often banned for violating terms of service, community guidelines, or outright cheating. A group of Pokémon Go players believe that they have been banned for a less conventional reason—using a Xiaomi phone.
Despite a recall being issued for all first-iteration Galaxy Fold devices, iFixit managed to obtain a unit for review. However, Samsung pressured the site to remove its initial teardown. In this first teardown, which can still be found via Archive.org, iFixit provided its typical in-depth hardware examination while offering recommendations as to how Samsung could improve the device's design in future iterations.
HTTPS has largely replaced its less secure predecessor HTTP as the default choice for sending resources over the internet. The key difference between the two is that HTTPS transmits data using an encrypted connection, while data loaded over HTTP is not. Google began marking all sites still utilizing HTTP connections as 'Not Secure' with the release of Chrome 68 last year, and today, Google announced additional plans to inform users when sites utilize an insecure connection. With these latest changes, the Chrome team hopes to address the problem of mixed content.
Nest, the Google-owned hardware manufacturer, has proven its ability to produce some of the best smart home devices on the market. This includes their well-received (if expensive) line of security cameras. B&H Photo currently has one the best deals yet on both the indoor and outdoor varieties of Nest Cam.
OnePlus tends to put a great deal of effort into its launch events and the upcoming release of the 7T looks to be no different. Following in the footsteps of the OnePlus 6T before it, the company will be offering its latest device to eager fans at a series of pop-up events around the world. Eight cities around Europe, eight more in India, and one in the US will host the launch.
Google Fi is joining the growing list of apps with a built-in dark theme. We saw hints that this theme was being developed — starting with a data usage widget —back in April. Now, it seems that the full theme is finally ready for deployment.
With a Made by Google event just around the corner, it should come as no surprise that we are seeing some great deals on Google and Nest hardware. Those looking to start equipping their smart home should look no further. This bundle includes our favorite video doorbell, the Nest Hello, and a free Nest Hub. This latest deal is available from both Best Buy and Home Depot for $229.