The top 8 things I love and 6 things I hate about Google Pixel 6a
There's a lot to like about the Pixel 6a, but some things just don't work in its favor
We can easily list a ton of reasons why the Google Pixel 6a won AP's best budget phone award in 2022. There are so many of them! While its price is one important factor, what helps it stand out among the best budget Android phones is its superb software and camera experience. There's simply no other smartphone in its price range that can claim to take better photos than the Pixel 6a or provide day-one Android updates.
Ring Video Doorbell 4 vs Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2: Which should you buy?
Is it worth going pro with your Ring doorbell?
A video doorbell is a simple tool in itself, but when paired with robust software, it can prove critical for your home's safety. Amazon-owned Ring has nailed that combination, which is precisely why the Ring Video Doorbell 4 and the Video Doorbell Pro 2 are so well-received in their class. The two smart doorbells share the same DNA and offer feature parity on many fronts, coming from the same brand. But their fundamental approach is quite different, which could make or break the deal for you.
I can’t go back to a Google Pixel even if I wanted to
The Pixel 6a is my handy companion for taking photos, but it cannot be my daily driver
Google Pixel phones are special, and even without the kind of access they get to the latest Android software, there's a lot to be impressed about what they're capable of doing. Still, they're not for everyone, and a serious shopper will want to go in eyes-open about some of their bigger limitations.
Onyx already makes a bunch of Android-powered tablets that have Amazon Kindle-esque e-ink displays — a few pricier ones even have color variants of those paper-like screens. While we did like those big-screen devices for their use cases, Onyx wants to replicate the same approach for smaller devices as well. The Boox Palma is a pretty unique handset that looks like an e-reader but is powered by Android, making it a far more versatile device than any e-reader.
Google Calendar widgets finally embrace Material You
Calendar widgets get their long overdue facelift
Material You introduced a slew of design changes to how Android looks and feels and added a ton of customization options, too. While dynamic theming was a big part of this facelift that came with Android 12, various Google apps simultaneously picked up new interface elements to go with this major refresh. Google Calendar also followed suit, but its widgets had remained behind the curve for some reason. Not anymore, as Calendar widgets are finally receiving their long overdue Material You facelift.
This new Reddit app found a workaround for the paid API, but there are some drawbacks
The free and open source app doesn't rely on Reddit’s paid API, which isn’t entirely good news
Reddit found itself in the middle of a massive controversy following its sudden decision to charge for its API access, which had been available for free all this while. This resulted in widespread outrage as several massive subreddits decided to go dark while many popular Reddit apps like RIF and Apollo were forced to shut shops, leaving only a few clients that survived. But this new open-source app has found a free workaround to deliver your favorite Reddit content, albeit with a few caveats.
Prime Day brings the best Synology NAS to its lowest price ever
You can save a handsome $140 on the Synology DS1523+
The Synology DiskStation DS1522+ deal that we originally highlighted here has now sold out, but we're hoping it comes back before Prime Day and its aftershocks die out.
9 excellent earbuds that cost under $100 on Prime Day
Our handpicked selection of earbuds that offer the most value for your money
Buying a new pair of earbuds doesn’t mean you must pay top dollar to have a pleasant music-listening experience. Even many budget wireless earbuds come packed with features that you’d typically find only on much pricier in-ear headphones. And this Prime Day seems like a perfect time to get yourself a pair of earphones that doesn’t cost a bomb but gets you an unmatched audio experience. These are our favorite Prime Day deals on earbuds under $100 that you should check out right away.
The OnePlus 12’s leaked renders point to a major camera reshuffle
Scoot over OnePlus 11, you’re being replaced
OnePlus typically announces its phones in the first quarter of the year — the OnePlus 11, for instance, came out in February this year. While the OnePlus 11’s launch is still fairly fresh in our memories, reports have already started surfacing about the next OnePlus flagship, which could be at least half a year away. The newly leaked renders of the alleged OnePlus 12 give us an early glimpse at the direction OnePlus phones are headed.
Android 14’s Easter egg puts you in a space capsule for an endless voyage
It’s no Space Impact but hey, you can nerd out all over your spacecraft stats
The fourth Android 14 beta landed yesterday mainly to clean up any remaining bugs as it nears its stable release. But along with a long list of fixes, there is a little surprise hiding in this beta update that many Android devotees eagerly wait for every year — the Easter egg. Android 14’s new space-themed game is a big departure from Android 13’s Easter egg and will keep you occupied as you hunt for a nearby star.
My favorite Bose headphones are an impulse buy this Prime Day
Both your pocket and ears will appreciate the Bose QC45 with this terrific deal
No two headphones are created equally. Some are designed to offer bass-heavy audio, while others come with top-notch microphones for clear voice calls. But if you wear your headphones all day long and value comfort over everything else, there is nothing that can beat the Bose QuietComfort 45. And this Prime Day, you’re in luck because these excellent headphones are available for their lowest price ever, making their discount one of the most tempting tech deals this year.
Snag the Google Pixel Buds Pro at their lowest-ever price before they’re gone
You'll save $60 on these high-end Google earbuds only on Prime Day
Unlike Google’s entry-level Pixel Buds A-series, the Pixel Burds Pro are made for those who want absolutely the best audio experience with a sprinkling of Google’s trademark features. For this Prime Day, you have one more reason to skip the budget model in favor of Google’s highest-end Pixel Buds Pro as they are down to the lowest price we have ever seen.
Adding songs to your YouTube Music playlist will now require fewer steps
YouTube Music will remember your last used playlist
YouTube Music and its more popular sibling YouTube are intertwined in more ways than one. You can get access to the premium tier of both services with a single subscription, your playlists are shared across the two platforms, and you can even add YouTube videos to your YTM playlists. Bringing the two services closer together, YouTube Music is now picking up a playlist management feature that has been available on YouTube for a while.
The Galaxy S23 FE may not look like the Samsung phone you expected
These leaked renders show a resemblance to one of Samsung’s budget phones
Samsung hasn’t launched a Fan Edition phone in quite some time and is planning to get back into the budget flagship game sooner rather than later. The long-rumored Galaxy S23 FE is expected to see the light of day sometime later this year. While we have an idea of what it will pack on the inside, a new leak gives us a better look at its external design. And it appears that the Galaxy S23 FE may end up resembling one of the company's own best budget phones instead of its flagship siblings.
Google Meet will soon let you quickly reframe yourself during calls
A new action menu is coming to Google Meet for the web
Virtual meetings with your boss may not be something you look forward to, but some of Google Meet’s tasteful video effects do make them a tad more fun. You can change the background to a different setting altogether or use Meet’s reframing tool to fix your video feed. While Google Meet lets you do all that during a call, the options may not necessarily be easy to find. This is why Meet is adding a new accessible shortcut for quick adjustments while you’re on a call.
The Google Pixel Tablet’s dock is even less capable when the USB port is in use
The dock’s speakers don’t work when there is something plugged in via USB
The Goole Pixel Tablet is indeed an interesting device, with its ability to double up as a Nest Hub. But this approach has also become a reason for its identity problems, making it only a decent tablet and an average smart home hub. While the included dock has its own shortcomings, like being completely useless on its own, it turns out that it loses its core utility when you have a USB device connected to the tablet.
Google's new weather experience is more than just a visual redesign
Short-term weather predictions are getting way better
The weather experience inside the Google app got a major makeover with the arrival of the Pixel Tablet. We were recently left impressed after checking out how the new UI would look on a phone screen. While this seems to be merely a visual overhaul at a glance, Google has made some big changes under the hood that will make your local weather forecasts far more reliable and precise.
Latest WhatsApp tweaks help you overcome service blocks and censorship
Advanced controls are coming to WhatsApp’s proxy settings
With billions of daily users, WhatsApp is the default messaging app for personal chats in a lot of international markets. That kind of omnipresence also often makes it a target of blockages and government censorship tactics. To counter such restrictions, WhatsApp took a page out of Telegram’s book and allowed its users to connect to a proxy server starting earlier this year. Now, WhatsApp is working on bringing a couple of advanced settings to its existing proxy options.
Gmail will soon be the only Calendar scheduling tool you need
Some additional premium benefits are also coming to Google One subscribers
Google Calendar could be a real productivity powerhouse to manage your schedule if you use all its several handy features. But one tool that stands out is its external appointment scheduling, allowing others to reserve one of the available slots for meetings with you. Google is now integrating it directly into Gmail, making it even more convenient for your recipients. Plus, a lot more users are gaining access to this feature very soon.
If your single Wi-Fi router struggles to deliver dependable wireless connectivity through your home, it's time to upgrade. And the best way to ensure that you never have to deal with Wi-Fi dead spots or coverage issues is to get a mesh networking kit. Mesh routers provide better coverage and performance by using multiple nodes to create a seamless network, which is why many of them are also featured in our best Wi-Fi 6 router recommendations. Moreover, you can easily upgrade them to cover more area by adding another node.