Latest Articles
Nest’s new cameras are apparently so bad that people line up to buy older models at inflated prices
Color me surprised
Google acquired Nest back in 2014, and since then, the company has been looking for ways to integrate the smart home platform more deeply into its own services. As such, the business has been working on shutting down the dedicated Nest app and web app in favor of the Google Home app, but as with many of Google’s random software moves, the new product just isn’t as good as the one it’s replacing. With the latest Nest Cams only working with the Google Home app, many people are turning to eBay to get older, discontinued models that still support the good old Nest app.
Download all 457 Google Wallpapers backgrounds from the Pixel phones
Including the Pixel 6's new and exclusive wallpapers
There are thousands of beautiful wallpapers available across dozens of snazzy apps on Android, but sometimes, Google's own backgrounds are just what your phone needs. While it's simple to install the Google Wallpapers app on most Android devices, you still can't get all the backdrops it has on offer for Pixel phones — there are quite a few exclusive. We can provide you with an easy way to download each of Google Wallpaper's collections in a neat, zipped up package, making it easy to sift through the selection, all without installing an extra app.
Chrome OS 97 is here with offline grammar checking and multi-window support for the gallery app
A great first release for 2022, with much more to come
Chrome OS 97 is here, following right on Chrome 97’s heels. The OS update features the majority of the desktop-specific updates that came to the browser, but there are some more intriguing changes coming to Chromebooks, like better offline functionality, accessibility improvements, and a greatly enhanced gallery app.
Mozilla Firefox is no longer accepting crypto donation following recent community backlash
Mozilla decided against HODLing some Dogecoin
On the verge of the new year, Mozilla broke loose all hell when it reminded people with a playful tweet that it was accepting cryptocurrency donations, with Mozilla founder Jamie Zawinski and many others brutally criticizing the tweet's meme-ified “dabble in dogecoin” and “HODLing some Bitcoin” language. As such, the company has decided to review its practice and is suspending cryptocoin donations for the time being (via The Verge).
Google and Meta slapped with multi-million euro fines for cookie policy violations
Refusing cookies must be as simple as accepting them, says French regulator
Cookie banners are the bane of most people’s existence, popping up whenever they visit a new website. Many companies have a bad habit of making it harder to refuse cookies than to accept them, but Google and Meta (ex Facebook) will soon have to change this practice in France. French privacy and personal data regulator CNIL has hit the companies with 150 million and 60 million euro fines ($170 million and $68 million), respectively (via Reuters).
Samsung's Home Hub tablet wants to be your smart home's command center
Releasing internationally later this year
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Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem is among the most ubiquitous, especially if many of your appliances consist of intelligent Samsung products already. SmartThings also integrates well with third-party manufacturers and home assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, making devices connected to it easily controllable. But sometimes it’s still simpler to just use a touchscreen to command all of your devices with your fingertips rather than your voice, and that’s where Samsung’s new Home Hub comes in, introduced during CES 2022 (via The Verge).
Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 announced to further confuse you about Wi-Fi standards
Delivering ‘the best possible connected home experience’ with faster uploads, less latency, and better battery saving measures
Wi-Fi 6 is already a significant step up compared to previous wireless internet standards, with better performance even in densely populated apartment complexes or offices. There’s even Wi-Fi 6E already, which offers a better throughput thanks to its reliance on the 6GHz frequency rather than 5GHz or 2.4GHz. And to make matters just a bit more complicated, the Wi-Fi Alliance has announced another iteration of the standard during CES 2022, Wi-Fi 6 Release 2. It promises more energy efficiency and even better performance when dealing with increased device and traffic density.
Google has launched Chrome 97; here’s what’s new (APK Download)
Simpler site data controls, prettier PWAs, and more
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Right on time, Chrome 97 has been promoted to the stable channel and is now becoming available for download. The new release brings a few select refinements and improvements, but nothing too earth-shattering. You can expect some simplifications when you want to delete local data saved by a website, enhanced support for international keyboard layouts (yes, that's been a problem to this day), preparations for better HDR support, and some minor PWA advancements.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook comes with a haptic trackpad and optional 5G connectivity
A versatile business laptop
HP is one of the biggest Chromebook manufacturers, and there’s a good reason for that. The company continues to impress with its products, bringing innovation to the market and introducing novel form factors. During CES 2022, HP has launched yet another intriguing Chromebook. The business-focused HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook comes with a novel haptic trackpad and optional 5G connectivity, packaged in a convertible form factor.
Lenovo’s Smart Frame no longer requires Google Photos to work, soon compatible with Instagram
You’ll even be able to watch videos on it
The Lenovo Smart Frame is a great but pricey way to have an ever-changing display of your loved ones or favorite images right on your wall in a beautiful package, though it does come with its fair share of limitations. During CES 2022, Lenovo has announced a much needed slew of new features that makes the frame a lot more versatile.
Lenovo’s latest Smart Clock Essential comes with Amazon Alexa and some cute ambient night lights
Previous iterations relied on Google Assistant
Lenovo’s smart clocks are among our favorite bedside companions when it comes to good ol’ alarm clocks and smart speakers in one device, and during CES 2022, the company has announced another member of the family. The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential with Alexa Built-in, as it’s officially called, is a diversion from the tested formula as it relies on Amazon’s voice assistant rather than Google’s, but if that’s your jam, it could be the perfect bedside alarm clock.
Magisk is one of the best and most powerful modding tools around when you want to take full advantage of your rooted Android phone, but unfortunately, it long lost one of its killer features due to Google ramping up security: MagiskHide. As the name implies, the feature allowed users to hide the fact that their device is rooted from security-focused apps that would otherwise not run on modified phones at all, like banking services. According to Mishaal Rahman, it looks like there might soon be a new workaround for hiding the root status of your phone.
Samsung has a roaring strategy to take on Apple in 2022, the Year of the Tiger
The Korean company wants to fight Apple like a tiger
It’s undeniable that Samsung is the second biggest smartphone maker in the US market, but the company isn’t content with being second. Instead, it looks like the Korean manufacturer is aiming to overtake Apple, and has devised a plan in a closed-door meeting filled with 40 Samsung executives in Las Vegas ahead of CES 2022. The plan will follow a high-level strategy laid out in a ‘Tiger’ acronym, which is just fitting considering that 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger according to the Chinese calendar.
This might be the only good Pixel 6 Pro tempered glass screen protector
Whitestone is back for the Pixel 6 series
The Pixel 6 Pro may be the most high-end phone Google has on offer, but it also comes with its (subjective) disadvantages. Many people aren’t particularly fond of the screen that curves over the edges ever so slightly, as it makes it much harder to choose a good and capable screen protector — not to mention one that doesn’t interfere with the fingerprint scanner. That’s where the new Whitestone Dome Glass for the Pixel 6 Pro might come in.
Google is urging people to please finally update Microsoft Teams
The communication platform was found blocking emergency calls due to a bug
Microsoft Teams was found blocking emergency calls on Android accidentally, with both Microsoft and Google scrambling to find a remedy for the security loophole that made this possible. A full fix for the underlying problem is coming to Android with the January update, but as we all know, it can take quite a while until it rolls out to all phones. That’s why Google is sending out emails to users now, urging them to update their Microsoft Teams app in the meantime.
Telegram 8.4 adds spoiler styling, translations, and emoji reactions
A fine messenger becoming even finer
The Telegram 8.4 beta has just hit Android a few days ago, and now, the new version of one of the most feature-packed messengers is already rolling out in stable to everyone. Telegram 8.4 takes a few cues from other platforms and is bringing support for spoiler text styling, quick emoji reactions, translations, and more animated emoji, as the company has shared in a blog post.
Bundled Notes is (almost) the best Google Keep alternative around
It’s a subscription service, but it’s well worth it
Google Keep is a great note-taking service, and it can also double as a to-do app, no doubt about it. But even when you use all of the organizational features available, like labels, archiving, and colors, you might soon end up with an entangled mess that’s hard to undo when you’re not careful. If you ask me, alternatives like Notion or Evernote can quickly become too complex for pure personal use, and that’s where one of my favorite indie Android apps comes in: Bundled Notes.
LastPass hasn't been compromised in recent hacking scare
Master passwords were uncovered in third-party breaches - don't reuse passwords, folks
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LastPass may be one of the best-known password managers out there, and while many have turned their back on it following what was effectively the shutdown of its free tier in 2021, it’s still a popular choice. Now, a few reports have popped up with people saying that there were login attempts using their correct master passwords. While that’s bad enough for those affected, LastPass says that there is no indication that their servers were hacked, instead pointing to "third-party breaches related to other unaffiliated services." It looks like a coordinated attack can also be ruled out, with LastPass saying that a few of its recent login warnings were sent out in error.
2022 is rapidly approaching, and it’s almost time to say goodbye to 2021. This year has brought us quite a lot, both good and bad, and just so much has happened. The tech industry is still struggling to keep up with demand thanks to the ongoing semiconductor shortage, which is a shame — so many innovative products launched this year.
Telegram Beta 8.4 for Android brings spoiler styling and emoji reactions
Both features first popped up in the iOS beta
Telegram may not be the most secure messenger, but it’s one of the most feature-rich and convenient platforms out there. It’s packed to the brim with quality-of-life enhancements, and it doesn’t look like the developers behind the app are looking to stop adding new things any time soon. The latest Telegram beta for Android, version 8.4, has brought some anticipated features like spoiler text styling and emoji reactions.