The shortening days may mean you need a bit of extra motivation to progress your fitness goals. The Fitbit Sense 2 can be that gym or jogging buddy, and at over $100 off in this latest deal, there hasn’t been a better time to buy it in 2023.
Fitbit Sense 2 for $198.04 ($102 off)
Pairing your iPhone with the Apple Watch and AirPods is pretty cool until they all need charging simultaneously. The ESR 3-in-1 Charger Stand for MagSafe solves this issue in one sleek device, and right now, the Apple charger stand is at a record-low price of just $55.99, thanks to an on-page Amazon coupon.
ESR 3-in-1 Charger Stand for MagSafe for $55.99 ($14 off)
With how fast generative AI has become a significant part of our lives, it’s easy to think governments were caught with their collective pants down. There are nearly zero regulations on the books to limit the reach of AI, and even most major discussions on what to do about it only began in the past year.
Today, we have an executive order from the desk of President Joe Biden that attempts to address this. The order — which has not been released to the public yet — is an effort from the government to put some guardrails up when it comes to generative AI systems, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard. In place of the complete order, the Biden administration has issued a fact sheet that summarizes significant points. Check the previous link to see it yourself.
Each year, Samsung launches two major flagship phone series: the Galaxy S line and the Galaxy Z line. This year, we saw the Samsung Galaxy S23 family along with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5. With these launches all wrapped up and Samsung out of flagships for the year, how are things looking?
Information from a leaker on X (formerly Twitter) gives us a little insight into this. Revegnus posted some numbers allegedly from Hana Securities Co., Ltd., a South Korean financial services company. According to the data, the number of Samsung Galaxy S23 units sold is about 22% higher than we saw for the Galaxy S22 series during the same period. Specifically, that’s an alleged 22.89 million units sold across the entire Galaxy S23 family.
On October 3, 2023, Samsung announced the Galaxy S23 FE. All its press materials said the phone costs $599 for the 128GB model. However, when the phone actually went up for sale at Samsung.com, the unlocked model didn’t cost $599 — it cost $629, a $30 increase. This was unusual, so we contacted Samsung about the discrepancy.
In its response, the company pointed out that you can still get the phone from its online store for the $599 price — if you buy a carrier version over the unlocked model. It also told us that Amazon, Best Buy, and other retail partners still sell the unlocked model for $599. The only exception here is buying the unlocked model directly from Samsung. However, the company did not explain why it made this change.
In the United States, the population is split down the middle regarding mobile operating systems. On one half of the pie, you have iPhones, and on the other, you have Android phones. However, this refers to usage, not sales. Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) showed last week that Android phones outsell iPhones yearly by a wide margin in the US.
If there’s a 50/50 split between Android and iOS usage in the US, but people are buying more Android phones than iPhones each year, that heavily suggests that Android users upgrade their phones more often than iPhone users. As it turns out, a more recent report from CIRP indicates that is the case.
This week, Qualcomm held its Snapdragon Summit, where it announced its AI-powered Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. One of the first phones that will get the new processor is the Galaxy S24 series. Now, Samsung has shown off a new impressive zoom feature that will leverage the chip’s AI capabilities.
Through a blog post and YouTube video, Samsung has announced a new feature it is working on. Called ISOCELL Zoom Anyplace, this feature uses the company’s 200MP camera to capture both close-ups and full-frame video at the same time. According to the tech giant, both full-view and zoomed-in areas can be recorded in up to 4K.
Aside from a small period of time in 2020, Samsung has been the top dog in the smartphone world globally since 2012. With each annual report for smartphone shipments, Samsung has reliably been the leader. Quarterly reports go up and down, but Samsung keeps its lead in the race.
The latest report from Canalys shows Samsung in the lead this quarter with a 20% market share. This handily beats second-place runner Apple with 17%. Xiaomi (including POCO) is in third with 14%, OPPO (including OnePlus) is in fourth with 9%, and Chinese conglomerate TRANSSION (Tecno, Infinix, and iTel) is in fifth with 9%. All other vendors make up the largest piece of the pie collectively at 31%.
Although there’s usually at least one website in your native language for any given thing, there can be plenty of exceptions — you might, for instance, have to go to a Japanese site to buy a rare Famicom game cartridge, or read a French article to find out what’s going on in a relative’s hometown. Whatever your translation needs, there’s almost certainly a Google Chrome extension for it.
You’ll probably only need one of these extensions — no points for guessing which one — but there can be reasons to consider alternatives, such as the ability to translate more than HTML text, or better results for specific languages. In any event, each of these options brings something different to the table.
Google has been releasing a number of updates for Google Wallet this month. The next batch of updates will enable transit-related features like viewing ride history, storing transit cards, and more.
In a blog post shared today, Google announced a few new features coming to Google Wallet. The new features aim to make your commute a little easier.
Original article: Every year, smartphone fans look forward to Samsung’s latest flagship Android phones. In 2023, those flagships were in the Galaxy S23 series. Next year, however, we expect to see the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. We know it’s months away, but rumors surrounding these phones are already ramping up!
Below, you’ll find all the latest credible rumors surrounding the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. We’ve also included a wishlist, which comprises things we hope to see but don’t have any evidence for yet.
In early September, it was reported that Apple may be working on a more affordable version of the MacBook. This cheaper MacBook model would be in direct competition with some of the best Chromebooks. Now Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the move may be motivated by declining MacBook sales.
On X (formerly Twitter), Kuo states that Apple has seen a significant decline in MacBook sales in 2023. The analyst claims that Apple attributes the drop to the M2 chip, which only provides a small upgrade compared to the performance of the M1. He also suggests that the reason Apple is holding an event at the end of the month is to launch a much more powerful M3 series MacBook Pro, in hopes of boosting shipments, despite low production volume.
Like most electronics makers, Apple tends to nudge people towards its latest, greatest, and most expensive products. At the moment however you’re liable to be confused if you’re shopping for Beats earbuds, since the older Powerbeats Pro can potentially be more expensive than the newer Fit Pro, depending on where you’re shopping. So weighing the Fit Pro vs the Powerbeats Pro, what’s the difference, and which one should you actually buy?
Beats Fit Pro vs Beats Powerbeats Pro: At a glance
Update, October 25, 2023 (5:15 PM ET): We have updated the Xiaomi 14 rumor hub with official renders, color details, and camera information.
Xiaomi knows how to build great hardware. While not officially available in the US, these flagship phones give the very best Android phones a run for their money.
Three years after DJI released the Osmo Pocket 2, the company is back with its successor — the Osmo Pocket 3. The third generation of DJI’s gimbal camera packs in multiple upgrades that are major improvements to what appeared before.
The time between the Pocket 2 and Pocket 3 has given DJI plenty of time to think about how to improve its portable camera stick. Arguably, one of the biggest changes to the device is a larger sensor. The Pocket 3 features a one-inch CMOS sensor capable of handling a variety of lighting conditions from night shots to bright afternoons.
We’re at the point where generative AI is finding its way into all of the best Android apps. To protect users, Google will require Android app developers to better moderate generative AI starting next year.
Today, Google announced updates to its developer policies, specifically surrounding the topic of generative AI. The company says that early next year, it will require “developers to provide the ability to report or flag offensive AI-generated content without needing to exit the app.”
We often see Google cancel projects and products alike. You can even check out our Killed by Google list to see all the things the company has pivoted away from. Something we don’t see nearly as much of is the tech giant reviving an old project. But it looks like Google may have renewed its efforts on the discontinued wearable known as Project Iris.
In an APK teardown of the latest beta for the Google app, the folks over at 9to5Google spotted something interesting. It appears there is a string of code in the app that references “iris” and gestures you can use to activate Google Assistant. There also seemed to be code suggesting there could be actions like calling friends or setting timers.
We’re finally seeing more foldable smartphones arrive in the US market. Samsung has dominated the US with its Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, and only recently did we get the Google Pixel Fold. Now, OnePlus has arrived with the OnePlus Open, heating up the competition with its superior spec sheet. But which foldable should you buy? We compare the OnePlus Open vs the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to find out.
OnePlus Open vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: At a glance
Last week, Sony unveiled the new version of the PlayStation 5. Colloquially called the PS5 Slim — not the official name — the new model is slightly smaller and thinner than the original. A new leak now tells us when we can expect the new design to arrive.
In its earlier blog post, Sony stated the new PS5 will roll out in November after inventory of the current model runs out. According to dataminer bilbil-kun, both the disc and digital version of the PS5 Slim will be released in the US on November 10, 2023. However, the PS5 Slim with Spider-Man 2 bundle will come out two days earlier on November 8.
Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best e-readers on the market and is perfectly suited for all your e-book needs, but it’s also almost two years old now. When will we see a next-generation model? While we don’t know anything solid yet, we can certainly take some guesses on when we’ll see the Kindle Paperwhite 6. We’ll also take a closer look at some of the new features we’d like to see in the future.
Simply put, a Roku TV is a smart TV with Roku OS baked in — it’s the default interface for everything, whether you’re using streaming apps, watching cable broadcasts, or playing a console game. The company licenses its platform to other manufacturers, some examples being Onn, Sharp, RCA, and Hisense. More recently the company has launched some self-branded models in the form of the Select and Plus.
With built-in speakers, a microphone, a touchpad, haptic triggers, and more, the DualSense is already a feature-rich controller. But Sony could be looking to pack in even more functionality by merging its next PS5 controller with an earbuds charging case.
According to a patent filed by Sony, first spotted by GameRant, the company is looking into potentially giving its next controller the ability to store, pair, and charge earbuds. The DualSense successor would feature a charging case-like compartment in the back where you can place your earbuds and charge them. But that’s not the only way you would be able to power up the audio device.
If the original Pixel Watch was Google’s rough draft, the Pixel Watch 2 is an edited version much more than a complete rewrite. Google gave hopefuls a solid enough first-generation smartwatch, but it desperately needed refinement to smooth off the rougher edges. The Pixel Watch 2 cleans up some of the original’s mistakes with simple, effective upgrades and key additions, but is it good enough to keep with the best smartwatches? Find out in this Pixel Watch 2 review.
Google Pixel Watch 2 review: At a glance
You have to feel for the graphic designers and digital artists. AI may be coming for all of our jobs eventually, but AI image generation already gives everyone with an internet connection fantastic capabilities beyond our imagination a few years ago. Midjourney was one of the first AI image generators and remains a leading player to this day, but the competition is hotting up fast. If you’re wondering what other options you have, we’ve compiled a list of the best Midjourney alternatives out there.
You can use the links below to jump directly to each option in our list. Some of these services require a paid subscription, some are free, and some have both tiers. We’ll make those differences clear in each instance.
An update to one of the best alarm clock apps for Android is starting to roll out. The update will bring a handful of new useful features to the Google Clock app.
First noticed by Mishaal Rahman and @Nail_Sadykov, Google is pushing out an update to the Google Clock app. Version 7.6 of the app is bringing with it four new changes that include: a weather forecast toggle, an alarm sync option, the ability to change temperature units, and a centered home clock.
A couple of new features are starting to roll out the Google Wallet app. One of those features will allow you to digitize passes and the other disables the payment animation that activates after using Wallet.
Back in June, Google teased it would introduce a “Photo” function to Wallet that would let users digitize and save passes by taking pictures of QR codes and barcodes. According to 9to5Google, some Pixel 8 Pro users are starting to see the option in the Add to Wallet section of the app. This would signify that Google is in the early stages of rolling the feature out, as it has yet to be seen on any other device.
Jabra might not have the cache of the Boses and Sonys of this world, but what Jabra devices lack in brand recognition, they make up for in value for money. In other words, more of your hard-earned cash is paying for hardware rather than logos. This approach made the Jabra Elite 7 Pro a respectable wireless earbud option at the $200 retail price. With a 45% price drop taking the buds down to $109.99 today, you’re really getting bang for your buck.
Jabra Elite 7 Pro for $109.99 ($90 off)
Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
It’s no doubt that the Pixel flagships are some of the best photography phones you can buy. A large part of the success of Pixel phones as imaging devices is thanks to the Google Camera app, and the company wants you to know, now more than ever, that you can only find it on Pixel phones. Over the weekend, Google quietly remained Google Camera to Pixel Camera.
Apart from the name change, the description of the Pixel Camera app also now highlights new features such as Cinematic Blur. There’s a separate section in there for Pixel 8 Pro exclusive camera features like 50MP high-res photos and Pro controls.
The requirements for the app have also been reworked. The Play Store listing for Pixel Camera states that “the latest version of the app only works on Pixel devices running Android 14 and above.”
The version Google is referring to here is the recently rolled-out v9.0, which has separate toggles for photo and video modes, apart from other new features. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro get an even newer version of the app — v9.1 — with more UI changes and controls.
The listing further states that the latest version of Pixel Camera for Wear OS only works on Wear OS 3 and above devices connected to Pixel phones.
The Google Pixel 8 series is now confirmed to support DisplayPort Alternate Mode, also known as DP Alt Mode. That means the phones have a USB-C port capable of transferring DisplayPort signals and broadcasting video to external display devices over a USB-C connection. The findings were confirmed by Mishaal Rahman, who, with the help of a tester, shared a video showing a Pixel 8 Pro successfully connected to a display.
The Google Pixel 8 was officially announced earlier this month. The Pixel 8 includes a new Tensor G3 processor, faster wired charging, a slightly improved camera, and the most impressive software update policy in the mobile world. Of course, it’s also a bit more expensive than previous Pixels. Should you get the new Pixel 8 or wait for the next budget Pixel? Let’s dive into everything we know about the Google Pixel 8 vs Pixel 8a to see if it’s worth spending the extra money.
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a are expected to share a lot of the same DNA, but there are certainly some differences. Please keep in mind that everything we know about the Google Pixel 8a is based on rumors and speculation.
We haven’t had many complaints about Google’s recent Pixel smartphones, but one consistent pain the rump has been catatonic charging speeds. One hundred agonizing minutes to fill the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro certainly takes the shine off last year’s models. Thankfully, Google has remedied the situation for the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. At least somewhat.
Using Google’s official 30W charger, we clocked the Pixel 8 from empty to full in 77 minutes and the 8 Pro to full in 79 minutes, versus 100 and 101 minutes last generation respectively. That’s still snail-paced compared to the fastest in the industry, but shaving over 20 minutes off the charge time still deserves a pat on the back. Importantly, the Pixel 8, in particular, hits the key 50% and 75% milestones a few minutes faster, so you’re back on your feet when you need it most. See for yourself below.
The Google Pixel 8 is now official. While the latest Pixel isn’t a massive departure from its predecessor, it does bring a more powerful Tensor processor and a few other improvements. Is it worth picking up, or should you wait for its biggest Android rival instead?
Google and Samsung might both run on Android and offer excellent photography experiences, but their approaches are fairly different. Below, we take a closer look at how they differ. Please note everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S24 series right now is based on rumors, but thanks to a ton of leaks we have a pretty solid idea of how Samsung’s next flagship is shaping up.
