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Wyze Lamp review: Dumber (and better) than you probably thought
I wish it had Assistant integration, but the remote is handy and the price isn't bad
Wyze might be known for its smart home gadgets, but the new and unimaginatively named Floor Lamp isn't exactly "smart." There's no Assistant support, and controls are Bluetooth only (via the app and bundled remote). For a smart light, it's honestly pretty dumb. But, while I wish I could tell Google to turn it on and it could be taller, I actually like it.
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Lots of Google products begin life as a public beta. In some cases, that can last years, and it's a major milestone when they leave that branding behind. Today Google Fi's VPN graduates out of beta status. Not only does that mean it's getting a new spot in a redesigned "privacy & security" section of the Google Fi app, it also means it's coming to iPhones.
A successor to the Lenovo Smart Clock may be inbound, according to a recent FCC filing. The new device calls itself a "Lenovo Smart Clock 2" and may also support a wireless charging dock accessory. As seemingly the world's only super-fan of the original model, let me tell you: I am psyched.
Android 12 Beta 2 gets a bug-fixing update
Beta 2.1 fixes a handful of issues, and it should be rolling out soon
Android 12 Beta 2 just got a bug-squashing update. Following in the footsteps of earlier Android 12 releases, this new version fixes a whole bunch of issues, including a buggy lock screen, broken At a Glance widget functionality, stuck privacy indicators, and a few other problems. The Android 12 Beta 2.1 update should be rolling out soon.
'Hey Google, where do babies come from?'
An *adult* toy company made an Assistant action to answer all your *adult* questions
If there's one thing more terrifying for repressed parents than explaining the birds and the bees to their kids, it's the fact that their Google Assistant smart speaker can do it now, courtesy of a third-party Assistant action. Meet Pleasure Finder, advertised as "the first ever sexual education Google Assistant action dedicated to improving sexual health and performance."
Summer is finally here, and so are Samsung's 'Summer of Galaxy' freebies
Go check and see if your recent Samsung phone is eligible
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Samsung has given its folding phone customers perks like golf discounts and Michelin-starred deserts, but this summer, the non-folding hoi polloi can also enjoy some Galaxy-owning benefits. On June 21st, anyone with a Galaxy device can snag a 3-month YouTube Premium subscription, a $5 voucher for Uber Eats, a $5 Twitch gift card, and a three-month Billboard Pro membership, plus a new referral program for the Galaxy S21 that gets you a Galaxy Watch 3 discount, and a handful of smaller perks.
Google just ran out of last year's Pixel Buds
The US Google Store is out of stock and Walmart has them on fire sale
The 2020/2nd gen Pixel Buds are now listed as "out of stock" at the Google Store. This follows the release of the new, cheaper, slightly awkwardly named Pixel Buds A-Series and sizeable discounts for the older model over the last two months at several retailers, raising questions about whether or not the older model has been discontinued.
Google Chat picks up extra filters for search
Live in Android now, coming to iOS and the web in July
The transition from Hangouts to Google Chat was a lot less bumpy than I expected, though it took ages. Now that many of us have moved over, we have a steady influx of new features to look forward to, including today's development. Google is rolling out filters for search in Google Chat to make it easier to find what you need, starting with the Android app.
Upgrade your whole house to Wi-Fi 6 with this all-time low Eero deal on Prime Day
Three routers for $226 ($168 off!) or a router and two extenders for $181 ($98 off)
In the long-long ago, our distant forefathers lined the floor of their caves with reeds and dried grasses, painted its walls with ochre or charcoal, and used single, squat, bug-looking Wi-Fi access points for their home internet connections (and they didn't even support Wi-Fi 6). With the rise of civilization, we have given up on such primitive things — most of us anyway. If you're still using one of those ancient single-point systems, today is Prime Day, and that means big discounts on things like mesh Wi-Fi systems, including this pair of deals for Amazon's Wi-Fi 6-equipped eero three-pack, in both router-and-extender and router-only combinations.If you've yet to make the switch to a mesh-based Wi-Fi system, you're really doing yourself a disservice. I know, I was sticking with an aging — but, I convinced myself, still perfectly good — Netgear R7000, suffering through issues like marginal signal in certain spots and congestion problems. (Admittedly, the last is sort of first-world-tech-blogger issue, with reliability dropping off around 40 devices connected.)
Fix your awful internet situation with a pair of Nest Wifi routers for just $209
That's $90 off the usual $300
Most of us yet to make the jump to a mesh Wi-Fi system are used to signal issues, dead spots, and intermittently middling performance. It's not the sort of upgrade you think will be life-changing, but if you work from home, it kind of can be, and a two-pack of Google Nest Wifi routers can be snagged right now for 30%/ off as part of the Prime Day festivities.We loved the Nest Wifi in our review, but you still might need to do a bit of research to see what sort of setup is better for you. Nest Wifis points are available as both routers (you'll need at least one) and points. Routers and points can both be mixed and matched as part of a single mesh home setup, but the prices for each vary, and there are advantages and disadvantages for each.
If you need extra ethernet ports where you'll be placing your nodes to wire a few gadgets in, it's better to use a more expensive Nest Wifi Router in that location, as they have ethernet. But the ethernet-less points do have one perk the routers don't: They serve double-duty as Assistant-integrated smart speakers.Two Nest Wifi modules should be enough to serve up to 3800 square feet, according to Google, which likely covers the footprint of most homes, and if the ethernet ports sound like a good idea, you might want to snag today's deal before stock runs out or Prime Day is over.Buy: Amazon
Weekend poll: What email service do you use?
Are you hip with the Gmail, rolling a vintage AOL address, or self-hosting?
Following the expansion of Google's "Workspace" branding to encompass personal Gmail accounts, I've been thinking about the subject of email. Specifically, Gmail's almost total dominance in the personal email provider market. These days it's even a little weird to see someone with a personal Yahoo or iCloud address; Gmail is so prevalent. While I know our readers are likely to slant to the Googly-end of most product spectrums, I'm curious to know how many of our readers use other email services and which.
Why the hell are Google's Nest cameras so expensive?
Companies like Wyze changed the game, and Google didn't change with it
By all appearances, I'm Google's perfect smart home customer. I'm already deeply invested in the Assistant ecosystem, I've got tons of smart displays and speakers, and as the new owner of a house, I'm constantly in the market for little ways to update and automate things. But as I'm currently shopping for a set of smart security cameras, Google's first-party Nest hardware is at the very bottom of my list — the prices are simply ridiculous.
Reports of the Z Fold2's death turn out to be (slightly) exaggerated
Unlocked Galaxy Z Fold2 sales resume at Samsung's store, but things are messy with carriers
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Earlier this week, Samsung seemingly ceased selling last year's flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold2. The product listing at Samsung's store was temporarily replaced with a disclaimer that "The Galaxy Fold is no longer available for purchase on Samsung.com," directing customers to other options. While that quickly sparked rumors that Samsung was ending sales in anticipation of its next-gen foldables, the company now assures us that the Fold2 has not been discontinued.
What's going to happen to your Kindle after the AT&T 3G shutdown?
We hope for the best, but Amazon's not saying
AT&T's plans to shut down its 3G network next year will have a wider impact on devices than just your uncle's dated flip phone. Although AT&T is handing out free smartphones to affected subscribers, there's one other big category of gadgets that will be affected by the shutdown, and so far, none of the companies involved have said a word about what they're going to do. See, Amazon's 3G Kindles for most of the last decade use AT&T's network for their Whispernet data connections. So, what's going to happen to all the 3G-connected Kindles out there when they don't have data anymore?It's a big question, and we asked Amazon about it as we spent the last month trying to dig up details about it, but the company refused to answer our repeated inquiries on the subject. Whatever it's planning is still secret — and that's assuming it's not just going to leave 3G Kindle owners in the lurch after AT&T refarms its spectrum. Some 3G Kindles also have Wi-Fi, but not all do, which means some models may effectively turn into bricks or live their life tethered with sideloaded ebooks.In the absence of an official explanation or roadmap, we reached out to a couple of network and device analysts for expert commentary on the possibilities.
'Enhanced notifications' replace Adaptive Notifications in Android 12, but they're basically the same
Except they can now be updated through the Play Store
One of the first things you'll spot launching Android 12 Beta 2 is a big notification that explains that Android's Adaptive Notifications are being replaced. Going forward, Android has "enhanced notifications" instead. The bundled explanation is a bit impenetrable, and there aren't any observable changes in notification behavior. Turns out that's because it's basically the same thing, Google's just changing the name and moving what controls it.
The blobs are back in the latest Emoji Kitchen update, together with contextual recommendations
All in beta
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Gboard's emoji mashup stickers are one of the best things about using Google's software keyboard these days. They cover a gamut from cute, to funny, to even a bit disturbing — avocado spider will haunt your dreams. Now Gboard is adding another trick that makes it even easier to use them, offering up emoji kitchen stickers contextually based on what you type. Better, the much-loved blobmoji that were retired with Android 8.0 Oreo are also back in the new Emoji Kitchen mashups.
Google Messages end-to-end encryption for RCS Chat is rolling out to everyone
For one-on-one conversations, not group chats
As part of today's big announcements from Google, the company snuck in a bit of a surprise: Separate from the embargo details we were provided, Google is also announcing that end-to-end encryption for Chat/RCS messages in Google Messages is now out of beta — at least, for one-on-one conversations.
Controlling your Android phone with your voice has never been easier
Google announces that Voice Access and the Assistant are both getting an upgrade
Android's various voice input methods, from the Google Assistant to the accessibility-minded Voice Access, are all getting an upgrade. The Assistant will let you search for actions or activities inside third-party apps, and Voice Access is getting improved support for password input and a beta "gaze detection" feature that restricts it to work only when you're looking at your phone.
Android's earthquake alerts are expanding around the world
Seven new countries today, and most of the world by the first half of 2022
Google's been rolling out a new earthquake alert and detection system that harnesses the vast number of Android devices in the wild, and now it's set to expand to more markets after landing on phones in New Zealand and Greece earlier this year. Starting today, the Android Earthquake Alerts System is available in seven more markets: Turkey, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. On top of that, Google promises that "most countries" will get it by 2022.
OnePlus has another phone with a forgettable name, but you may look twice at these specs
At least, of the specs we can talk about
OnePlus continues its Moto-like flood of phones for every price point with the new Nord N200 5G. Like all phones in the Nord lineup, it's priced aggressively. You get a 6.49" 90Hz display, Snapdragon 480, 4GB of RAM, 5,000mAh battery, and a "triple-camera system," plus 5G connectivity, and all for $240 — a pretty stunning price. Unfortunately, that's about all the specs we can share, OnePlus tells us the rest is still under embargo for some inexplicable reason. Sales open Friday, June 25th at 11AM ET, and the phone will also be available via T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile.