Latest Articles
Sure, you can use a smartphone to take control of your smart home, but a smart speaker is a much easier way to go about things. Not to mention, they often function as a smart home hub, especially if there are multiple people in your household. Adjusting the lights, locking the door, and setting the thermostat is much easier when you don't have to reach for your phone to talk to Alexa or Google Assistant. All you need to do is use your voice.
Apple Vision Pro brings into focus Google's failure with AR
But Google might be cooking something in the wake of Apple’s efforts in VR
As with everything else it makes, Apple has drawn a lot of attention towards its new VR headset, the Vision Pro, which is being portrayed as the next big thing to happen since the iPhone. The hype is so much that it feels like Apple has invented an all-new category of devices from scratch — which couldn’t be further from reality. Other companies including Meta and HTC already make highly sophisticated VR headsets while Google once famously had and then abandoned its AR glasses.
Wi-FI 6, also known as IEEE 802.11ax, hit the market in 2022. It has been a game-changer for wireless networking and is still going strong with newly released Wi-Fi 6 devices still hitting the market. Though the first Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers are now here, Wi-Fi 6 is still a great buy. This high-efficiency Wi-Fi version delivers ample bandwidth, with firmware that is designed to optimize channel use and minimize collisions and interference. And the updated version, Wi-Fi 6E, utilizes the 6 GHz frequency band to offer incredible tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) networking with gigabit speeds.
How to use Synology Drive as a Google Drive alternative
Synology Drive has got what it takes to replace Google Drive, given you're okay with the upfront cost
Google Drive is great for storing files in the cloud, accessing them when needed, and collaborating with a team. However, the internet isn't always reliable and can cause issues when accessing files. In such cases, you need an offline solution, and Synology may have the best options. Synology has awesome NAS enclosures. Its accompanying software, Synology Drive, packs goodies similar to Google Drive while adding an extra layer of privacy.
Roku’s extensive streaming device and smart TV selection offer a myriad of ways to enjoy popular apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. The company isn’t the be-all-end-all of streaming hardware, though. There are devices and smart TVs from numerous brands, including Sony, Google, Hisense, Nvidia, and many others. You can also stream entertainment apps through next-gen game consoles like the Xbox Series X/S.
Google Assistant needs personality, and 'Gemini' is the solution
Renaming Assistant to Gemini can prove to be a momentous change for Google’s voice bot
Google is laser-focused on its AI efforts right now. It already has a large language model (LLM) called Gemini with multimodal capabilities and a user-facing chatbot in the form of Bard to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. And Bard is consistently getting better by the day, as it recently got support for image generation as well. With Google's changing priorities, Assistant took a back seat, leading to a fantastic voice bot, unfortunately, slowly losing both its features and reliability.
It’s been ten full years since Meta (then Facebook) acquired WhatsApp. While it was a controversial takeover back then, considering Facebook’s iffy stance on user privacy, it isn’t like WhatsApp crumbled after that point. Quite the contrary, WhatsApp flourished as a messaging app, found billions of takers across the globe, and actually got better at what it’s supposed to do: keeping people connected. In fact, most WhatsApp features that we can’t live without today were introduced by Meta — and you’d be surprised by a few of them. Here are the top features WhatsApp added in the last decade that have completely changed the way we use the app.
TerraMaster enclosures are renowned for offering unprecedented features at reasonable price points. That’s one big reason they are a preferred choice among many home users and small businesses for their data storage needs and why they made it to our favorite NAS enclosures list. Even compared to other brands like Synology, Asustor, and QNAP, you will often find that TerraMaster products get you more features per dollar, be it a desktop NAS, a rackmount unit, or a DAS.
OxygenOS 14 is the least interesting thing about the OnePlus 12
Nailing the fundamentals is crucial, but you can't forget to offer eye-popping features
There is no doubt that OnePlus has a winner on its hands with the OnePlus 12. Unlike previous years, this is a true-blue flagship, with the company also addressing the few grievances from previous generations like the exclusion of wireless charging and a proper IP rating (albeit not IP68). Our review gave the OnePlus 12 a 9/10, a reflection of all the improvements that make it an easy recommendation for Android users sick of Samsung or Google.
Synology’s new BeeStation aims to be a no-fuss NAS for home users
It makes setting up and using your network storage device super easy
Synology makes some of the best network-attached storage (NAS) devices, but they often require quite a lot of technical know-how to set up and operate. That’s a hurdle for home users and freelancers who want something uncomplicated for basic stuff like safekeeping family photos or frequently accessing work files. Synology has worked out a solution for such users in the form of the BeeStation, which is much less involved than a typical NAS.
What is the Rabbit R1? The AI phone without apps explained
And why is the internet going crazy for it?
CES is home to some of the whackiest tech out there, but the one product that caught our attention above all others this year is the Rabbit R1. It is a smartphone, technically, but unlike any other smartphone you might’ve ever used. It’s at the very forefront of innovation, embracing AI at a level no smartphone maker has thought of today. The Rabbit R1 doesn’t have apps like the phone in your pocket right now, but relies on a generative AI-based voice bot that gets things done for you — and people are quite keen to know more about this novel approach to smartphones. But how exactly does this bright orange puck-shaped phone work, and is its underlying concept even practical?
Upcoming Gmail feature wants you to speak to Google's AI
How soon you can try out the feature is still up in the air
Gmail already offers a bunch of AI-based features that help you quickly draft your emails. While in-line suggestions have been around for a long time, Gmail recently got the ability to draft emails on your behalf using AI with simple prompts, as you can do with ChatGPT and Bard. This feature is part of a limited experiment, but Google is adding a new way to get Gmail to draft your emails by simply asking it on the Android app.
Your Samsung Galaxy phone works as a webcam with One UI 6.1
The feature turns your Galaxy phone into a webcam for your tablet
It felt like a magical feature when Apple first showcased Continuity Camera which lets you use your iPhone’s main camera as a wireless, high-quality webcam for your MacBook. Android 14 got a similar feature last year for all recent Pixel handsets, and it now looks like Samsung is also joining the fray. As it turns out, the latest One UI version introduced with the Galaxy S24 lineup has a built-in tool that lets you turn your Galaxy phone into a wireless webcam.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s S Pen may malfunction with your MagSafe case
Samsung’s latest flagship has a peculiar compatibility issue with some third-party cases
The year has just begun, and we’ve already seen a plethora of launches, first at the CES extravaganza and more recently at the Galaxy Unpacked event where Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 line. While there was a lot of chatter about all the AI features coming to these phones, the hardware has remained unchanged for the most part. That also means the phones are still stuck with the old Qi standard. And if you plan to make up for that with a MagSafe-compatible case for your brand-new Galaxy S24 Ultra, chances are it will break your phone’s S Pen functions.
The top 7 Google TV tips and tricks you must try today
There are a ton of things to play with on your new Chromecast with Google TV
Google TV has been around for the better part of a decade. Launched as Android TV in 2014, the smart television operating system Google developed as a solution for top streaming boxes and TVs to provide app integration and facilitate streaming.
Ring Video Doorbell 4 vs Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2: Which should you buy?
Is it worth going pro with your Ring doorbell?
A video doorbell is a simple tool in itself, but when paired with robust software, it can prove critical for your home's safety. Amazon-owned Ring has nailed that combination, which is precisely why the Ring Video Doorbell 4 and the Video Doorbell Pro 2 are so well-received in their class. The two smart doorbells share the same DNA and offer feature parity on many fronts, coming from the same brand. But their fundamental approach is quite different, which could make or break the deal for you.
One UI 6.1 could supercharge lock screen customization on the Galaxy S24
A new leak suggests the arrival of downloadable fonts for the lock screen
The Samsung AI Unpacked event is just around the corner where the company is expected to announce its flagship Galaxy S24 lineup. While a bunch of leaks have already given away what the Galaxy S24 phones are going to look like, Samsung is also likely to unveil a new version of its Android 14-based skin — One UI 6.1 — at the same event. According to the latest leak, this One UI version will introduce better lock screen customization features with downloadable fonts.
The Android ecosystem is fracturing, losing a key strength against Apple
When there is a rift within the family, solidarity takes a critical hit
In the long-standing debate of Android vs. iOS, Google’s operating system has time and again earned the name of being the more open choice. While Apple is known for its closed garden whose walls are only going up by the day, Google has been the ‘nicer’ alternative. But in the name of creating an interoperable ecosystem, Android is gradually turning into a closed-off system that keeps others out — including other Android brands. It’s almost like multiple versions of Android have come to exist simultaneously instead of one cohesive system, which is not only worse than Apple’s approach but is breaking a lot of things for the users.
Bitwarden’s passkey support spreads to its own vault
You can now set up a passkey to log into the Bitwarden web app
Bitwarden was among the first few password managers to support passkeys late last year. With the new feature, you could replace traditional passwords for your accounts stored in Bitwarden with passkeys for easier access. However, the password manager continued to rely on a master password and your device’s biometric lock to keep its vault secure. That’s changing now with the arrival of passkey login for your Bitwarden account, starting with its web app in beta.
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.