Android Q is nearing a stable release, but there are still tidbits of new information surfacing. Back in July, when Google accidentally pushed an internal test build to the public, XDA Developers found hints that the latest OS version could support advanced customization options for Pixels. They should allow owners to choose clocks, styles, wallpapers, and more. In Beta 6, some users saw evidence that this could indeed end up in the final release when they got the Settings suggestion to "Customize your Pixel." Tapping it leads to the pre-installed wallpaper app for now, though. Read More
Speech to text is something we take for granted a lot of the time. It's a complicated process, though — so much so that the heavy lifting is actually done remotely, and the end result is sent back to our devices. But Google has worked out a way to shrink the process to the point that it can be performed locally, and the fruits of that labor are coming to Gboard. Read More
It was just Independence Day in the States, and normally a holiday week threatens to be a slow period for tech news. But even with workers taking a few days off, the discounts and sales have shown no sign of slowing down, and this week we've got a bumper crop of offers for you to peruse. Read More
The first-generation Pixel holds up surprisingly well. It was never really praised for its looks, and its big-for-2016 bezels look even sillier in mid-2018, but it's responsive and it has a good camera, even by today's standards. You can grab a refurbished unit on Amazon for as low as $200 for the standard size and $230 for the XL, depending on your storage and color preferences. Read More
Pretty much the first question that I am half-jokingly asked once a new acquaintance discovers my profession is: What phone should I buy? In fact, when you boil it down, that's what most of this job really works out to. All this news, all these reviews, most everything we write is with the goal of educating our readers to answer that question for themselves. But one thing we often neglect to mention when you pick out a new phone is that you're buying a lot more than just one piece of hardware. Read More
I still remember when we used to bicker over iPhone vs Symbian, before Android took over the second part of that argument. I also remember when Xenon vs LED flash was the most controversial discussion in the smartphone world for several years - some of you may have been toddlers when that started. And I remember when apps weren't a thing, when 3G was the hottest novelty, when we thanked our lucky stars because companies stopped using massive proprietary charging and earphone ports, and when a smartphone with a 2.8" display (Nokia N95 8GB) counted as monstrous. Nowadays, we feel cheated when the second back lens in a phone doesn't bring a lot of improvement, or when the display's color shifts at an angle as if everyone is side-glancing at their phones all the time, when a device has a MicroUSB port and not USB-C, or when it takes a fraction of a millisecond longer for a swipe to register. Read More
As we say goodbye to 2017, I'd like you to think back to five years ago - specifically, Google five years ago. At that time, if I had told you Google was one of the world's most important consumer electronics manufacturers, you'd probably have laughed at me.
Mentally put yourself in 2012: Google's just announced the fourth Nexus phone, the Nexus 4, running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, along with the Nexus 10 tablet. At Google I/O six months prior, it unveiled the Nexus Q - a device intended to be some sort of smart entertainment hub... and proceeded to cancel its public launch. Read More
The Pixel 2 reviews might be up, but Google's original 2016 Pixel is still a capable device. It's not as if the old one has gone bad just because a new model has arrived. But, if you've been using your OG 5" Pixel to its utmost, your battery might not be what it once was. Thankfully, BrexLink's Pixel battery case can give you a big bump in capacity, and the 15 lucky winners of this giveaway will get one for free.
If giveaways aren't your thing, or your phone's battery just can't last until the drawing, you can also pick one up right now for 25% off with our coupon code. Read More
Despite numerous software updates attempting to fix the problem, one bug has persisted on Google's Pixel and Pixel XL - Bluetooth. Ever since release, both phones have had problems connecting to (and staying connected to) Bluetooth devices, and the recent Android 8.0 Oreo update seemed to make things worse. Google is once again trying to fix the Pixels' Bluetooth woes. Read More