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After 4 years with a smart robot vacuum, I’m happier with a dumb one
I like it so much I clean my floors at least twice a day
My best friend likes to use the term "germ freak" when describing me. Although she might be exaggerating, she's not too far from reality. I'm also a very practical person and don't like spending too much time on chores, which is why I bought a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner back in 2017. Although I've been very happy with it, I've recently bought a "dumb" cordless vacuum-mop combo that I literally use several times a day. In fact, I'm so satisfied with my purchase, the Roomba now sits in the corner collecting dust (which I then clean).
One of Sony’s best ANC headphones is cheaper than ever
That’s almost 50% off their MSRP for one of the best sounding wireless ANC headphones on the market
When it comes to ANC headphones, Sony's WH-1000XM3 are considered one of the best models in the category. They're not the newest one, though, as they were released back in 2019. However, they still offer great audio quality and noise cancelation, and, most importantly, they're down to just $170, which is almost half their original price.
Corning’s new Gorilla Glass with DX to let phones take better pictures
It offers great protection against scratches and light reflection
The majority of modern smartphones boast a bunch of rear cameras, including a regular shooter, a telephoto one, and a wide-angle lens, amongst others. Most of these cameras are usually protected by a glass layer, which can scratch over time. When it comes to the front display panel, manufacturers have been using protective materials for a while, the most popular one on the market being Corning's Gorilla Glass. The latter is about to be featured on the back of some smartphones as well, protecting their camera lenses while ensuring they take high-quality photos.
Back in 2020, the Unicode Consortium decided it was better to delay the release of Unicode 14.0, potentially meaning there wouldn't be any new emojis in 2021. Thankfully, Emoji 13.1 was created as an interim release, bringing 217 new ones to our devices. We're getting closer to the release of Unicode 14.0, which, thanks to Emoji 14.0, would bring a handful of new ones on our phones.
Google Chat now suggests group chats for everyone involved in a meeting
Months after adding support for 1:1 conversations
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We've all been late to an upcoming meeting, especially when running from one Google Meet call to the next. Common courtesy is to let people know you're going to be late, but this should be as easy as possible, especially when you're already short on time. Google Workspace introduced a feature a few months ago that made it convenient to chat with people with whom you're about to meet, and with its latest update, it's even easier to reach out to groups.
Out of Milk will kick tons of users off the service, here's what you need to know
The app's new owners don't want anything to do with anyone outside the US or Canada
There are plenty of apps to help you remember what to buy from the supermarket. Some people, like me, like to have everything in a single place and use to-do list apps to keep track of what they need to buy. There are also more specific apps, like Bring or Out of Milk, that focus specifically on making grocery shopping easier. The latter, however, just got bought by an American company that doesn't want to deal with users outside of the US and Canada.
Google Maps Go passes 500 million Play Store installs
It's a good indicator of Android Go sales figures
Android Go is designed for phones with limited resources and comes with a variety of apps, including Maps Go. The latter offers limited functionality compared to the main version, but doesn't require a lot of resources to run. The fact that it just passed 500 million downloads on the Play Store is a good indication of the platform's success.
Huge Nest sale has something for everyone, including smart displays, speakers, cameras, thermostats, and doorbells
Who said Nest product couldn't be marked down on Prime Day?
If you've been online today, you've most probably noticed the avalanche of Prime Day deals. Although these include a lot of tech products, there are no Nest products in there. Thankfully, these products are also marked down and available from a bunch of online and physical retailers.
Get a pair of Samsung's Buds+ true wireless earbuds for just $85 right now
All colors are discounted for Prime members
Samsung's Galaxy Buds+ are one of the best-sounding true-wireless buds around. They're not the brand's latest model and therefore miss out on the latest tech, such as active noise cancellation. However, if these aren't essential to you, you can get them for just $85, which is a real bargain given what they have to offer and compared to their traditional $150 MSRP.
The Galaxy Buds+ offer an outstanding 11-hour playback time on a single charge, which the case can even double. You also won't have to worry about cables either, as the case can be charged wirelessly, alleviating one of the most common complaints people have with bluetooth earbuds. If you'd like to know more about the Galaxy Buds+, make sure to read Taylor's full review before buying them.All colors are currently down to $85 for Prime members on Amazon.Buy: Amazon
This Android-powered portable projector is $180 off for Prime Day
The Anker Nebula Mars II is down to just $370
If you enjoy watching movies and series in different places, a portable projector is the perfect companion for you. Anker's Nebula Mars II is a great choice, and it's currently down to just $370, which is $180 less than its usual price.
Get a pair of Sony's great ANC earbuds starting at $88
Including the WF-1000XM3 down to just $148 + a free $20 gift card
Sony is known for making some of the best true wireless buds on the market. These include the WF-1000XM3, which are one of the market leaders in their category, as well as the WF-SP800N, which are specifically designed for workouts.Sadly, such great devices usually come with a high price tag. Indeed, the WF-1000XM3 usually cost a whopping $250, but they're now down to just $148 this Prime day and ship with a free $20 gift card that you'll be able to use later on. Similarly, the WF-SP800N traditionally sell for $200, but you can get them for $78 today.
Despite the newer model that recently came out, the WF-1000XM3 remain very capable. They have proven their value to the market and are known for featuring one of the best noise cancellation performances in the category, combined with excellent audio quality. They can achieve about five hours of playback, which can be extended to 24 hours, thanks to the charging case. The latter is filled up using a Type-C port, so you can connect it using the same cable you use for your phone or laptop.In his review, Ryan appreciated their sound quality, design, noise cancellation, and battery life. However, he found their price was relatively high. Thankfully, this deal helps alleviate the drawback, especially since both black and silver versions are on sale.
Alternatively, if you're looking for a pair of workout buds, the WF-SP800N are a great option, thanks to their IP55 sweat and splash resistance. They also feature digital noise cancellation and a playback time of nine or thirteen hours, depending on whether you use noise cancellation or not. The charging case can extend these figures to a total of 18 or 26 hours, respectively, and is filled up using a USB-C connector.The orange model is heavily discounted, as it's down to just $78 this Prime Day. If these are too bright for you, you can also get them in black or blue, selling for $88 or $89, respectively.Buy: Amazon (WF-1000XM3, WF-SP800N)
Google Messages now lets you adjust the font size using pinch to zoom
Because you shouldn't struggle to decipher your texts
Google is constantly improving its text messaging app with new features. It recently got a bunch of enhancements, such as the ability to automatically declutter your inbox and send encrypted RCS messages. These are significant improvements, but there's one simple yet essential feature that has been missing from the app for a while: the ability to pinch to zoom in your conversations. Thankfully, the feature is now available in the app's latest version.
The Pixel Buds A-Series are now available for sale
They’re just $99 and come in White and Olive colors
We've been expecting the Pixel Buds-A Series for a while. We've been hearing about them since they surfaced in FCC listings in March. Google has also been teasing us about them, first in April, by featuring them in a promotional email and then bluntly tweeting about them. Thankfully, the wait is finally over, as you can now buy the buds from various online retailers for $99.
The Nest Audio is not even a year old. It's some sort of a hybrid between a more modern and better-sounding replacement for the original Google Home speaker and a slightly less powerful Home Max. Thankfully, the Nest Audio is more affordable than the latter, traditionally selling at $100. However, it's currently $25 off at most online retailers, bringing its price down to just $75.
Facebook Messenger is learning to follow system dark mode settings
You won't have to manually switch from one mode to another when texting friends
After testing dark mode for a few months, Facebook Messenger rolled it out globally to all users in April 2019. Unfortunately, people had to manually turn it on or off in their app settings, meaning it couldn't follow your system preferences. This would have been particularly inconvenient for people who only turn on dark mode at night, for instance, as they would have to manually switch their Messenger settings as well. Thankfully, the app is starting to receive a new feature, allowing it to follow Android's global settings instead of manually having to fiddle with the app's color scheme.
Fitbit users who don't realize they snore are in for a rude awakening
Find out if you sleep like a bear or a dolphin
Fitbit wearables have been able to track your sleep for quite a while now. In essence, they use heart rate and movement sensors to measure your sleep cycles, providing insights as to how well you've slept. The company is working on further improving these measurements by monitoring ambient noise and even telling if you're a heavy snorer. This data could then be used to assess what type of or what "sleep animal" you are.
This Pixel 3 deal is so good you won't even notice those bezels
It's $160, it's pink, and you can't unlock the bootloader... but did we say it's $160?
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The Pixel 3 is starting to age, considering it was released in October 2018. However, that also means you can get it at a very low price, especially considering it remains a capable device. It's currently selling for just $160 on Woot. At this price, though, you'll only get a pink phone.
We were thrilled when Anker introduced its new Liberty Air 2 Pro earbuds, thanks to their premium feel, active noise-cancellation, and affordable price tag, at just $130. The product's ratings have also confirmed they offer great value for money. They're now even cheaper, as they're down just $80 on Best Buy, representing a $50 markdown compared to their original price.
You can now password-protect your Google account's My Activity history
Because only you should know what you've done online
Whenever you use a Google product, such as your Android phone, an Assistant-enabled speaker, or even Chrome, your activity history is stored on the company's servers, and available for you to review through the My Activity service. I personally check it out to understand why my so-called "smart" speaker gave me a meaningless answer by actually reviewing what it thought it heard. My Activity also saves what apps you've used on a given day or what places you've checked on Maps. Because all of this data is private and sensitive, Google just added an extra layer of security to make sure only you can access it.
Samsung Notes passes 1 billion installs on the Play Store
It only works with Samsung devices, though
Back in 2019, we reported Samsung's in-house email client passed one billion installs, showing how popular the brand is. Indeed, as the app is pre-installed on most Samsung devices and only works with the manufacturer's handsets, it gave a good picture of Samsung's representation on the Play Store. This time, it's the Korean firm's note-taking app that just passed the same threshold.