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It's difficult to overstate the long-term effort Google's been making to get more and more financial institutions signed up to work with Google Pay. A couple years back we were talking about the day its list of US banks might hit a cool 2,000 — a milestone that's in the distant rear-view at this point. And while you might think it would simply run out of banks eventually, we're already creeping up on 3,000. Helping us along the way to get there, we've got nearly a dozen new banks joining the club.
Arlo's second-gen Video Doorbell is fixing the original's biggest limitation
No more wires, rusty transformers, and ancient chimes to deal with
Last year Arlo filled a conspicuous hole in its smart-home camera lineup with the introduction of its Video Doorbell. The video quality and feature set were pretty compelling, made all the more so by its affordable price. And while there were a few software shortcomings early on, updates ultimately addressed nearly all of our concerns. Really, the only real sticking point was that you needed an old, wired doorbell with a transformer for power and chime. Now Arlo's finally a battery-powered alternative with the new Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell.
Galaxy A71 5G review: Samsung's going to sell a buttload of these
Big screen, premium look, reasonable price — meet the king of Samsung's mid-range line
Samsung's one of the biggest smartphone players around, and while we drool over cutting-edge devices like the Note20 or Fold2, these luxury handsets are hardly its primary business. When it comes to sheer numbers, the company's more conservative phones drive the lion's share of sales, and for good reason — these models strike a balance between flagship-level features and budget-friendly pricing. Even here, phones run the gamut from the super-cheap A21 to what we're looking at today, the beefiest of Samsung's mid-rangers, the Galaxy A71 5G. With a big 6.7-inch screen, 5G connectivity, and a 64MP-headlining quad-camera array, is this the A-series phone to finally get you asking, "who needs a flagship?"
TCL introduces pair of affordable tablets and teases some intriguing e-ink-like screen tech
The TCL 10 TABMAX and 10 TABMID start shipping in Q4
IFA 2020 may be virtual, but that's not stopping our favorite mobile tech companies from announcing all their latest hardware. TCL's already enjoyed some success this year with pretty solid budget phones, and now it's turning its attention to tablets, introducing a pair of affordable new slates and sharing word of a low-power screen technology we can hope to see in an upcoming device.
Samsung shares Galaxy Tab S7 pre-order details, including 50% off keyboard cases
Pre-orders open September 2, ahead of September 18 retail availability
Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ just about a month ago, its latest super-premium tablets for entertainment and productivity. With some high-refresh-rate screens and a new low-latency S Pen, there was a lot to like, leaving us wondering how shoppers would actually be able to get their hands on one. Today Samsung's finally sharing all the information you'll need about Tab S7 pre-orders.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ hands-on: Android's never had a tablet this good
Handsome design, powerful performance, and useful accessories — but is the cost worth it?
Android tablets have always been a bit awkward, as products. With the platform lacking the huge ecosystem of tablet-optimized apps that the iPad enjoys, or the large desktop legacy world you can access on something like a Surface Pro, many have asked the question "Why?" when it comes to an Android-powered slate. Perhaps it's not really one worth asking, though, when a company as large as Samsung is bothering to introduce an $850 tablet at all. With the Tab S7 and S7+, Samsung is bringing a capital-P "Premium" tablet hardware experience, and we've spent the last few days using the latter.
LG Velvet review: Different doesn't necessarily mean 'better'
New name, new look, new ways to be left wanting more
LG could use a win. While it once innovated with modular hardware and pushing the whole industry past 16:9 screens, it's been hard to find any unambiguous successes over the last few generations of G- and V-series flagships. That's not to say that they weren't decently good phones, but none really stood out — maybe the V40 was one of the best, but even then we couldn't recommend paying big money for it. Is it time to take things back to the drawing board?
The Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ are official, still the only premium Android tablet game in town
Samsung brings the first 5G-equipped Android tablets to the US
In a world where tablet-sized phones fold up to fit in our pockets, it's fascinating to see companies like Samsung not just continue to stand by the classic tablet form factor, but to continue to innovate in terms of features and performance. Last year brought us the powerhouse Galaxy Tab S6, followed just a few months ago by the more affordable Tab S6 Lite. Following a summer packed full of leaks, Samsung is finally announcing its next generation of Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+.
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Google Maps Street View getting AR-style markers for points of interest
Letting you discover local businesses while browsing the world first-person
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Google Maps is far more than a tool we use just for finding our way around, and there's a huge discovery component to it as well — who hasn't scrolled around Maps looking for a new restaurant to try out? And while the standard overhead view is plenty useful, sometimes you want to really immerse yourself in a place with a first-person Street View experience. So far, though, navigating Maps in Street View has come at a price, as you wouldn't see those discoverable markers for businesses and points of interest. Now that's finally changing, as Google deploys an AR-style overlay that bring place markers to Street View.
Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight review: Bright lights, big value
Cameras and floodlights are the new chocolate and peanut butter
For all of the genuinely useful smart-home products Arlo offers, sometimes it feels like the company's got a bit of a blind spot when it comes to combining them. Cameras have always been its bread and butter, but when Arlo introduced its first doorbell in 2018, it was audio-only — we'd have to wait another year for the Video Doorbell. And while Arlo's had its wireless Smart Light for years, it's only now that the company is taking one of its lauded cameras and integrating it with an extra-bright exterior light: the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight.
T-Mobile Tuesdays are coming to Sprint next week
Get ready for all the free BK and slightly discounted fuel you want
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Carriers use all sorts of promotions to entice subscribers their way, and for the past four years now T-Mobile has been been handing out weekly freebies as part of its T-Mobile Tuesdays program. We've even seen other carriers try to spin up their own versions of the deal, to mixed success. But now that T-Mobile and Sprint are one, what does that spell for access to T-Mobile Tuesdays giveaways? After confirming plans to extend the offer to Sprint users earlier this year, T-Mobile is finally flipping the switch, welcoming Sprint subscribers who can grab their first deals next Tuesday.
Marshall Monitor II A.N.C. review: Aggressive, confident styling with some key functional upgrades
This look's not for everyone, but who for those who dig it, there's a lot of audio enjoyment to be had here
Marshall's been a familiar name in music hardware for decades now, and while we're always going to think about amplifiers first and foremost, over the past few years we've seen the brand spread to a new line of consumer audio gear. That's included plenty of smart speakers, headphones, and even one really weird smartphone with two audio jacks. Today I'm checking out an updated version of the wireless Monitor Bluetooth headphones, the new Marshall Monitor II A.N.C.I was already a fan of the old Monitors, even without noise cancellation, and particularly liked the design and sound quality. Aside from lamenting the lack of ANC at the time, there were only a few other things I was hoping to see Marshall address, like a very frustrating control knob and some concerns I had with durability. Is this new pair up to the task? Let's take a look:
Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station review: Carrying around a kilowatt-hour
Forget charging your phone — this puppy can power your entire living room
There are few thoughts so fundamentally terrifying to the modern-day tech user — things able to shake a man to his core — than the idea of being without power when you need it. As someone who tops off his phone whenever in sight of a USB cord, who carries at least a 20,000mAh battery pack everywhere he travels, I'm always interested in hearing about solutions that provide not just enough on-demand power to keep you going a little longer, but such massively deep reserves that the words “out of charge” need no longer exist in your vocabulary. Enter: the Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station.
Kami Wire-Free Outdoor Camera review: Promising hardware, good value, regrettable app
If you've ever wanted motion controls for viewing camera feeds ... what's wrong with you?
When you're looking to secure your home, family, and property with the help of a wireless camera, you've got a lot of options to consider. Devices run the gamut when it comes to features and pricing, from the likes of budget-friendly Wyze to the premium polish of an Arlo. While there's a lot to like on both ends of that spectrum, I've been interested in finding a good middle ground. Would the $90 Kami Wire-Free Outdoor Camera be up to the task?I was first introduced to the Kami Wire-Free back at CES in January, where Kami pitched the camera to me as an affordable, full-featured alternative to pricier offerings. And while there would be paid cloud plans available, the existence of both a limited free cloud tier and (most critically) microSD support for local storage sure made it sound like this would be one camera worth checking out. And that's just what I've been up to doing.
Google Home finally lets you adjust 'OK Google' listening sensitivity
No, Google I wasn't talking to you. No, Google. No. NO
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There's still a little bit of magic every time you say "OK Google" and all your smart speakers, displays, and Android handsets line up to respond with a cacophony of lights and buzzes. But while that makes for a fun little display, sometimes we wish that all these smart devices weren't so sensitive, and that things like Google Home were better about knowing when you were talking to them in particular. Thankfully, it looks like a new "Hey Google" sensitivity setting is about to arrive, letting users control how responsive they want their devices to be.
Wyze finally releases add-on Keypad for its smart lock
Now you don't even need your phone to unlock doors protected with the Wyze Lock
Last year, budget-friendly smart home company Wyze announced its first smart lock, the appropriately named Wyze Lock. The company started taking pre-orders for the $90 Lock straight away, and we saw the hardware arrive a couple months back. But though the Lock itself had landed, we were still waiting to get the full picture on the optional Wyze Lock Keypad, which was announced alongside the Lock, but without pricing details or a firm release date. Now it's finally available, landing on the company's store for just about $20.
LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen review: Low-key flagship with a smart price
Power, performance, and even a secondary display could have you wondering why anyone would pay over a grand for a phone
LG's got a new design language in the works — a fresh take on its phones that's supposed to usher the company into this decade with a clean look and some updated thinking towards flagship hardware. But before we turn the page to that next chapter, we've still got its first big 2020 launch to check out, the 5G-equipped, Dual Screen, 865-packing LG V60 ThinQ.Granted, that's still a pretty steep bill, but compared to a $1,200 Galaxy S20+ or $1,400 S20 Ultra, the V60 stands out with its "mere" three-digit sticker price. We've seen what OnePlus has been able to do and slide in under that thousand-dollar mark — what about LG? Did LG make any serious sacrifices to give us a $900 phone, or is this one of the better flagship deals around? Let's take a look:
Wyze Lock review: Affordable, robust smart upgrade for your existing locks
Great hardware, great value, but some occasional software wonkiness
Installing a houseful of smart home upgrades gets expensive fast, which is why we're always excited when budget-conscious Wyze releases a new device. From internet-connected cameras, to security sensors, to smart outlets and even lightbulbs, Wyze has managed to prove itself in new product categories time and time again (well, with the occasional hiccup along the way). Now it's tackling the smart lock market, with the release of the aptly named Wyze Lock. How will it compare to more expensive solutions? Let's take a look.
Arlo Video Doorbell review: This nicely equipped, solid value keeps getting better
A new update brings much-appreciated support for local recording through an Arlo SmartHub
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[two-thirds]One slightly misleading detail is that Arlo advertises this as a 180-degree camera — with the caveat that it’s 180 degrees when measured across the diagonal. This means that the camera’s not going to see straight down, potentially missing packages right in front of your door. Testing my setup, I found that the camera's blind spot extends out about two feet from directly underneath.The Video Doorbell comes with three months of Arlo Smart service, which in addition to recording camera clips to the cloud, identifies people, vehicles, animals, and packages. To my great disappointment, though, the Doorbell’s functionality is drastically reduced for users who choose not to maintain a subscription — since there’s no connection to an Arlo SmartHub for USB storage and no local microSD slot, it can’t record video at all, so all you get are motion alerts and the opportunity to watch the camera's live feed. [/two-thirds]