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Insta360 Flow review: Instantly one of the best
The first smartphone gimbal from Insta360 is doing almost everything right
Just as smartphones have become increasingly capable pocket cameras, smartphone gimbals have evolved quite a bit over the years, moving beyond merely stabilizing your videos to becoming smart robots that do the shooting for you. Even so, recent models have been a bit stagnant, leaving many asking if they’re just repackaged versions of the previous generation.
Owning a NAS has become significantly more common over the last few years, largely due to a rise in remote work and the popularity of maintaining a local digital content library. TerraMaster has made a name for itself in this market with a lineup of NAS boxes with specs that match or exceed many of the best NAS solutions while keeping prices low.
BenQ GS50 review: The perfect portable projector for some summer fun
Watch a movie on the deck or by the pool, take it camping, or just let the kids play with it in the backyard
Some of us wait all year with big, bright plans of summer fun, saving up our time and money to enjoy every minute of nice weather with outdoor activities. Even just watching a movie can be that much better under the stars or in the backyard. But if you plan on watching with friends or family, you might want to consider a portable projector, and the BenQ GS50 is a pretty good choice, with powerful sound and a big, bright picture you can even use during the day (in the shade, anyway).
Lenovo Smart Clock 2 review: A luxurious way to wake up in the morning
You don't absolutely need a tiny smart display for your nightstand, but I love having one
I unabashedly loved the first-gen Lenovo Smart Clock. It’s one of my favorite smart home gadgets, and I use it literally every day. Perhaps its only drawback was its relatively high launch price and cut-back features compared to a “normal” Assistant-powered smart display — admittedly, a requirement of the much smaller footprint. The new Lenovo Smart Clock 2 takes everything I loved about the original and tosses on a 10W Magsafe-compatible Qi wireless charger.
Your Pixel 4a has been a good phone, right? Its unflashy exterior may not be much to write home about, but for the price and pocketability — which is a real selling point given today’s expensively gigantic devices — it’s an undeniably endearing handset, even in 2021. If you’re looking to hold onto your Pixel 4a for another year or so, you should really consider wrapping it in one of our favorite cases below.
Here's what the Pixel's new underwater photography looks like
Courtesy of a KRH04 dive case, a Pixel 4, and my friend Matt
When Google announced that the Pixels were getting an update to add a whole underwater photography mode, we were pretty curious what its results would look like. Sure, the company provided samples, but there's no telling how curated the collection was, or how it would work anecdotally. Unfortunately, none of us at Android Police have the time (or money) to invest in diving — it's an expensive hobby. Thankfully, Matthew Franklin, a friend of the site, was able to take his Pixel 4 and a compatible diving case on a recent trip underwater.
Five great looking cases for your Galaxy S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra
Protect your shiny new investment in style
Samsung may have just launched a duo of hot new foldables for the 2021-2022 season, but the S21 series from earlier this year is still no slouch. Equipped with a Snapdragon 888 chip, impressive camera arrays, and a beautiful display, we even called it “the 2021 smartphone to beat (so far).” Here are just some of our favorite cases that’ll help you keep your S21 in good condition for years to come.
The next iteration of the Pixel A series is right around the corner, but unless you’re willing to spend the money to upgrade, that Pixel 4a 5G in your hand is more than good enough to last another year or more. Whether you’re just now coming around to the idea of wrapping it in a case, or you’re looking for something new, these are our seven favorite case options for the Pixel 4a 5G.
Review: The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 is the Microsoft Surface killer I've been waiting for
A windows detachable for keyboard fans
I can't tell you how many times I've almost bought a Microsoft Surface Pro, but I must have had one in my cart at least a dozen times. I like to plug in a small mechanical keyboard when I need to do a lot of typing on the go, and the detachable form factor makes that easier. However, once you add things like a Core i5 CPU and more RAM, the Surface costs well over a thousand dollars. That's before you add Microsoft's mediocre keyboard cover. So, I never pull the trigger, and now I might never have to after using the Lenovo ThinkPad X12. It offers the same detachable form factor as the Surface, but it comes with everything you need plus a few nice-to-have features.
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When Apple announced MagSafe for the iPhone 12 range, I hoped someone would find a way to make it work with Android devices. MagSafe allows you to magnetically attach various accessories to the back of a compatible phone, including wireless chargers, battery packs, wallets, and car mounts. After using Mophie’s MagSafe adapter with my S21 Ultra for a few weeks, I must say I’m impressed.
Apple's new M1 chips have been making headlines in all of their new products because of the great performance and battery life. We've seen the M1 in devices like the MacBook Pro and even the iPad Pro, which now blows away all other "mobile" devices in benchmarks. So when Apple threw this chip into the iMac, it made Apple's mainstream desktop immediately interesting. And after using the M1 iMac for a few months, I can easily say it's one of my favorite computers I have ever used.
The Pixel 5's time to shine may be over now that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are here, but that doesn't mean the phone in your hand is any less stellar than it was a year ago. Keep that bio resin back look clean for another year or two by wrapping it in one of our favorite cases for the Google Pixel 5.
I put an Outrun arcade machine in my dining room so you don't have to (but you'll still want to)
All it's missing is a mini fridge and cup holder
I've always wanted a home arcade. This is something that has appealed to me since I saw my first arcade cabinet as a child, playing Mario Bros. at a local strip mall. My affinity for arcade games only grew as I aged, but even in my 40's, I've never really had the spare cash or room to pull the trigger on a legit, full-sized cabinet for my home. This is why Arcade1up's machines are so appealing.
Since landing in Paris, I've been on a quest to put together the perfect work station. After all, if I left my pharmacy in Lebanon and was going to commit to this blogging thing for a while, I needed my setup to be as comfortable and as practical as it could be. I started with the desk itself (but that's a story for another day), a new blue iMac to complement my Pixelbook, and went all the way down the price meter to smaller and cheaper accessories. I've already talked to you about my new USB-C desk lamp and now it's time we addressed my minimalist Ugreen headphone stand.I've always watched YouTube videos of cool tech bros and sisters with their pristine desks and neat headphone stands and thought that this was the most first-world accessory ever. I mean, you could always just put the headphones on your desk, in lieu of the stand, right? Who's goofy enough to want to show off their headphones?
I never knew I needed a portable USB-C desk lamp in my life, but here we are
This Baseus contraption is the most versatile desk lamp out there
I didn't set out looking for a desk lamp, I was simply researching ways to provide a bit of extra light for my Android Police gadget photography. You know, for images like the ones you see on top of our articles. For weeks, nay months, I've been lost among the small LED panels, the portable photo studios, the huge light umbrella-looking thingies, and every apparatus in the middle of that range. Then it occurred to me that for one, Parisian apartments are small enough that I didn't have the space luxury to store big paraphernalia, and for two, maybe I just needed a small light or two to put near me when taking pics like... a bedside lamp or... a desk lamp?! Then I could also use them as a regular lamp too — what a novel idea!Long story short, I ended up on Baseus' site trying to decide whether the rechargeable USB-C desk lamp or the magnetic under cabinet lamp was a better fit for my needs. In the end, the former won, and I'm glad it did, because it turned out to be a lot more versatile than I thought it would be.
This smart wallet doesn’t look like one, and has a neat trick up its sleeve
The Ekster Modular Bifold can be located with the help of Google Assistant
The last decade has seen a rapid rise in digital payments, so much so that you can easily spend a day out in the city, making payments with smartphones or smartwatches, without breaking a sweat. However, we're far from completely ditching our hard and plastic cash; this means wallets are still a thing. Like a gazillion other everyday carry items, they too have been given the tech treatment — they protect you from theft with RFID blocking and you can ring them when they’re out of sight. Well, not all of them, but the one in my pocket can be located with the help of Google Assistant or Alexa.
Review: Aukey's portable generator and solar panel saved me during a power outage
The PowerTitan 300 is a big battery, and the PowerHelio Y100 is a big solar panel, and together they solve big problems
It's a slightly different sort of work day as I sit down to write this review. My power is out, the house is dark, and I'm outside on the deck with my laptop, phone as a hotspot, blogging and Slacking and what have you. But I'm fine, and excluding the distraction of a breeze and the nicer view, I'm still able to get my job done. In fact, the only reason I can is because of the subject of this review: The Aukey PowerTitan 300 and PowerHelio Y100.I know this sounds like the premise for some marketing copy or sponsored content, but it's not. I'm just a blogger who took way too long to get around to reviewing this big battery I got sent in the middle of January. Of course, it was winter, and testing a solar panel in the snow sounded like an awful time to me, so I marked my calendar for an outdoor trip this summer and forgot about the hardware in my closet until the power was scheduled to be out for an entire workday. "That's right," I thought, "I have something for that."
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.
These $2,000 Samsung desserts are the second-priciest but only fourth-tastiest I've had this week
A French bakery in Greenwich, CT can easily outdo Daniel's world-famous dessert, and it's embarrassing
When Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold2, it came with a revamped Galaxy Z Premier service that aimed to provide a bit more than mere software support or troubleshooting. It started to come with exclusive rewards, gifts, and promotions. One of the most recent (if you consider six weeks ago recent) was for a dessert box from Michelin star Chef Daniel Boulud. At a $75 value, Samsung and Daniel included a total of 6 desserts, 2 Lemon Madeleines and 4 Cannelé de Bordeaux. (Though the image showed off some sort of open-face macaron, that sadly wasn't included.)
I've traveled 4 years with this backpack and I wouldn't trade it for any other
Cities and adventures, work and leisure, the Bobby has been with me through it all
I love traveling. I enjoy throwing on some comfy clothes and shoes and going on adventures, exploring new cultures and places, discovering new activities, and meeting new people. But I also love gadgets and I research every accessory that I buy for days before committing to the purchase. So when it comes to what I take with me on any trip, I'm very selective with what makes the cut, regardless if it's a weekend getaway or a 10-day work + leisure vacation. Over the past four years, one item has been a mainstay of all my urban and wild adventures, and that's the Bobby backpack by XD Design. It's so good that my husband and I now own two of these, and we don't plan on replacing them with anything else.