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Synology DiskStation DS923+ vs. DS920+: Which one is best for Plex?
The DS923+’s new processor has divided the jury, but we have a definite answer
The Synology DiskStation DS920+ has long been a fan-favorite NAS enclosure. That’s mainly because of how well-suited it is for running a Plex server. In fact, the DS920+ was our default choice for streaming your movie collection. But Synology recently replaced the DS920+ model with the DiskStation DS923+ as the new mid-tier champ with some major interior changes that could affect its Plex performance.
Android Auto's Google Maps is getting a sleek 3D look
3D buildings are showing up for some while navigating on their phone as well
Android Auto got a major design refresh not too long ago that allowed more efficient utilization of your car’s screen. Depending on the display size and aspect ratio, Android Auto could display multiple apps side by side, like YouTube Music running on one side with Google Maps taking up the other half. It now looks like Google Maps on Android Auto is getting a more immersive view that its phone app has supported for long — 3D buildings.
The 5 silliest Google rebrands we still can't get over
Google is in the habit of renaming its services, but these ones have been the weirdest so far
Few businesses do consumer-facing software as good as or better than Google — Android is a solid example, which powers some of the best smartphones right now. But the company is also infamous for killing products prematurely, abandoning apps untimely, and renaming its services, often without a solid reason, leading to confusion on the users’ end. Over the years, quite a few mainstream Google apps and services underwent such rebrandings, which haven't particularly gone down well with users and critics alike. Here are some of the most notable rebrands in Google’s recent history.
Google really wants you to share your Bard wishlist for 2024
Have something you wish Bard could do? Tell Google directly on Reddit
Bard is Google’s answer to the uber-popular ChatGPT from OpenAI and Microsoft Copilot (previously, Bing Chat) based on the company’s recent large language models (LLMs). While Bard has been improving consistently during its short lifespan, thanks to the integration of Gemini Pro LLM and other Google services, it still needs some work to keep up with the competition. And to get there, Google is now seeking direct feedback from users like you to improve Bard going into 2024.
It’s almost 2024, and the Pixel Tablet still can’t do these 6 things
Some things can be fixed with a software update, while others would require the Pixel Tablet 2
The underlying concept of the Google Pixel Tablet is quite intriguing — you can use it as a regular Android tablet for just about anything, and when you put it back on its dock, it magically turns into a smart home hub. While this approach gets you better value out of a single purchase, it also establishes the tablet's identity crisis. As a result, the Pixel Tablet doesn’t fully justify either of those categories, making it a difficult recommendation when you have plenty of better Android tablets to choose from. But there are a few things that the Pixel Tablet can improve to become a real smart home champ Google originally envisioned it to be.
What even is a smartwatch? We'll try to define the category
You can’t call your Fitbit tracker a smartwatch — or can you?
There was a time when it felt like Android smartwatches didn’t have a bright future, but the category got a new lease on life with the refreshed Wear OS on the Galaxy Watch 4 series. More than two years later, it’s now certain that smartwatches are far from an existential crisis. But considering how many designs and types these wristwatches come in sure indicates an identity crisis of sorts. You can tie a simple fitness band to your wrist that does a couple of things well, or you can spend big on a top-of-the-line Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. But does that mean one is less of a smartwatch than the other? We will find out.
How to translate Telegram messages
It’s getting easier to chat with your friends from across the world
How do you chat with people of different languages? Do you manually copy text to Google Translate to read and reply in your language? Perhaps you use Google Live Translate on your top Google Pixel device. What if you don't own a Pixel smartphone or copying and pasting text into Google Translate feels cumbersome?
All I want for Christmas is iPhone's new theft protection on Android
Apple’s Stolen Device Protection can potentially save the day if your iPhone is stolen
Smartphones are a bigger and more crucial part of our digital lives than we realize. Your phone enables your social life, stores your financial details, and even acts as a trusted device for authenticating your online accounts. And all that is secured behind a combination of your fingerprint (or your face scan on iPhones) and a 4/6-digit passcode. While it’s fairly tough to forge your biometric data without professional tools, your device PIN is far easier to crack with simple tricks like shoulder surfing or tracing your light fingertip marks on the screen.
Faster charging is the only thing I want from 2024 flagship phones
Can we please get over those dog slow 25W chargers already?
In racing, drivers always aim to cut down on their pit stop time (despite sometimes lasting no more than a couple of seconds), as even that short span spent stationary can prove to be game-changing. While the consequences in most cases may not be as dire for our modern, sports car-like ultrafast phones, their own pit stops haven’t gotten that short in all these years.
OnePlus Pad Go review: Bold on a budget
The second OnePlus tablet hits the right chord — for the most part
OnePlus is diversifying its portfolio this year beyond great phones, unveiling its first foldable and its first tablet earlier in the year. The company is now making its tablet lineup even more versatile, with a budget option targeted at emerging markets like India, where cheaper tablets attract a sizable audience.
Best NAS hard drives in 2024
Complete your network storage setup with reliable hard drives that are built for NAS
A powerful NAS enclosure is nothing without its bays being populated with Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) or Solid State Drives (SSDs) to store all your valuable data. Disk drives are the workhorses of network-attached storage and other servers. But you can’t just insert a regular hard drive and see what happens.
Google Drive’s latest facelift makes it more personalized on the web
The new home page looks fresh and follows Material Design 3 guidelines
Google Drive has a lot of perks, ranging from its collaborating tools to cross-platform availability, but its straightforward UI is what makes it a popular choice among users. Its home page on the web already looks well laid out with several smart tools that help make your files more accessible. But Google wants to make Drive’s home page even more helpful with additional personalization options and a Material Design 3 treatment.
Evernote tests drastic restrictions on free users
Evernote could put a limit of 50 notes for those on the free plan
Evernote has a long legacy of being one of the pioneers of digital notetaking apps and is still the go-to choice of millions of users. Even after all these years, the app manages to keep up with its competition with new features and occasional experiments. But Evernote’s latest test may not go down well with long-time users as the company wants to fundamentally change how your free account works with new usage restrictions that are bound to irk many users.
You won’t find a better Cyber Monday smartwatch deal than this one for $35, trust us
It doesn’t get better than the Amazfit Bip 3 at this price
There are plenty of Android smartwatches to choose from, but most cost upwards of $200. If you want something that's a great fitness tracker with basic smartwatch features, and doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, your best bet is the Amazfit Bip 3 Urban Edition.
Anker’s Swiss army knife of outlet extenders is a must-buy Cyber Monday deal
You're saving a whole 37% on it, but only for today
Anker makes some of the best chargers for your phone that look tiny but packs a punch. We have no reservations about recommending Anker products, be it the company’s power adapters or outlet extenders. These extenders make it easy to hook multiple devices at once, especially when traveling. One of Anker’s newest portable outlet extenders is at its best price ever for Cyber Monday, saving you a full 37% for a final price of just $19 — now that’s a deal you can’t miss.
My smartwatch keeps me off my phone, and I'm not complaining
Who said having a second screen has to be bad for your well-being?
Smartphone addiction is a harsh phrase for describing how we interact with a tool that we all rely on for getting our everyday stuff done. But it becomes a problem when you start finding it hard to put your phone down and lose yourself in an endless feed of reels, which mimics a slot machine, promising imminent gratification. A lot of phone makers these days have built-in solutions like Digital Wellbeing and Zen Mode to keep this behavior in check and help you live in the moment instead of staring at a slab of glass. Some users even resort to switching to a dumbphone entirely, which is far too extreme a solution. I found myself on the other end of the spectrum, as strapping another device to my wrist helped cut down my screen time, and I’m not complaining.
You won’t find a better Plex NAS than this budget Synology model this Black Friday
The brand-new Synology DiskStation DS224+ is already down to its best price ever
Nobody wants to use those old-fashioned disks to watch movies at home when you can simply stream them online. But replicating that seamless experience with your own collection of 4K videos isn’t possible without a Plex server to store, organize, and stream your media on the living room TV. Setting up your own Plex server shouldn’t be expensive, and the Synology DiskStation DS224+ makes it possible at an affordable price. However, for this Black Friday, you can save even more cash on this already value-for-money Synology NAS, which is perfect for home use.
The only foldable I’d pick this Black Friday is also one of the week's best deals
Get yourself the brand-new OnePlus Open for its lowest price ever
The first OnePlus phone was an iconic handset that got the entire tech community excited about what a niche startup could do. OnePlus has now entered its second decade, which it marked with its first foldable phone — the OnePlus Open.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 FE is only a month old but it's on sale this Black Friday
Save another $50 on Samsung’s already inexpensive budget tablet
If you’re in the market for an Android tablet, there's a good chance that you'll go for a Samsung model — the company makes the best Android tablets without a doubt.
Google has a ton of outstanding tools and software that many of us use every single day. But it has an even longer list of products it has killed in about 25 years of its existence. And Stadia sits on top of that list like a crown jewel as a reminder that no Google product is safe from a similar fate. While Stadia came to a foreseeable death earlier this year, it wasn’t like Google wasn’t bullish about it. A new report suggests that Google was about to buy Fortnite developer Epic Games to boost Android’s stature in the gaming world ahead of Stadia’s launch.