The Matter smart home standard is getting another update, with version 1.3 bringing support for more home appliances, EV chargers, and more.
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Ben Schoon is a Senior Editor at 9to5Google, working for the publication as one of its primary news writers since 2016.
In 2013, Ben helped start an independent tech publication where he learned the skills used at 9to5Google including writing, product photography, and videography. He is located in the city of Winston-Salem in North Carolina where he lives with his wife Melissa.
He primarily covers Android products, including Google Pixel devices, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, as well as devices from OnePlus, Oppo, Motorola, and more. Beyond just covering news about these products, Ben also spends time using these products himself, speaking from experience with the articles he writes. Some of Ben’s most recent hands-on reviews include; Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Motorola Razr+, HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, and more.
Ben is also a leading source for information about Google’s Android TV, diving deeply into important parts of the platform including its powerful Operator Tier, explaining future changes to the platform, and reviewing its products such as Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, and more.
In 2019, Ben leaked one of the first in-person photos of the Pixel 4 before later revealing the Recorder and Pixel Themes apps months ahead of launch. In 2020, Ben also reported on multiple upcoming Pixel devices including Pixel 5a and the first report of Google working on a foldable Pixel smartphone. That same month, he was also the first to correctly report the $49 price point of what became the Chromecast with Google TV.
Ben Schoon is active on Twitter, @nexusben, but can also be found on Instagram and LinkedIn. For questions or tips, you can email him directly, and his portfolio is also available online.
Email: schoon@9to5mac.com | Encrypted Email: benschoon@protonmail.com
Comment: Apple killed Google’s Pixel Tablet ‘relaunch’ before it even happened
Yesterday Google announced that the Pixel Tablet would be available for sale without a dock, effectively re-launching the tablet for an entirely new type of customer. It would have been a bit exciting, had Apple not set a new bar for tablets just hours prior.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle offering solid trade-in values towards Pixel 8a for previous A-Series phones
Google just launched the Pixel 8a and, through the Google Store, it’s offering the device for free with select trade-ins. If you’re upgrading from a previous Pixel A-Series device, too, Google has some pretty decent trade-in deals to offer with Pixel 8a.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Search now hides the number of results by default
Google Search has, for decades now, shown the number of search results that come back for a given query. That’s not going away, but Search is no longer showing that number by default.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has been the most popular Android phone of 2024 so far
Samsung’s flagship lineup is off to a good start, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra being the world’s most popular Android phone of 2024, at least so far.
Expand Expanding CloseGalaxy Z Fold 6’s wider outer display will ditch rounded corners, new leaks suggest
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 comes as the foldable series is due for significant changes, and it seems that’s exactly what’s coming, with new leaks suggesting a wider outer display with sharper corners.
Expand Expanding CloseApple’s new iPad Air channels the Pixel 3a’s ‘Purple-ish’ on the phone’s 5-year anniversary
Five years ago today, Google launched the Pixel 3a at I/O 2019 with a cheeky “Purple-ish” color variant and, with its latest batch of iPads, Apple is channeling that color again.
Expand Expanding CloseYou can now buy Walmart’s ‘Pro’ Google TV box online, but only in some locations
Walmart is working its way toward the formal launch of its new “Onn Pro” Google TV box and, finally, the box has made it to the website, allowing you to find out if your store has any in stock and even purchase it.
Expand Expanding CloseMediaTek Dimensity 9300+ doubles down on AI ahead of potential US launch
MediaTek has just announced its latest flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9300+, ahead of plans to launch in a “premium” Android phone in the US this year.
Expand Expanding CloseMotorola’s next Razr foldable just leaked, and it looks exactly the same
The Motorola Razr is an excellent foldable flip phone, but it’s nearing time for a sequel. This week, images of a new Motorola Razr have leaked, but it looks like hardly anything will change this time around.
Expand Expanding CloseApple is losing market share to Android tablets ahead of new iPads
For years it’s been widely accepted that, even if you use an Android phone, Android tablets are just largely not worth it. But that’s been changing a bit in recent years and, now, a new report shows Android tablets continuing to grow, right in time for Apple to launch new iPad.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle TV’s ‘Magic’ button will finally launch on Walmart’s ‘Pro’ box ahead of the next Chromecast
Google TV is finally about to launch its new “Magic” button that’s customizable and, ahead of it arriving on the next Chromecast, Walmart’s new “Pro” streaming box is showing how it works.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini may soon add a YouTube Music extension and some handy shortcuts
Google appears to be working on support for YouTube Music integration with its Gemini AI.
Expand Expanding CloseAre the Pixel 8a’s bezels too big? [Poll]
The Pixel 8a is coming up soon, and yet another new leak today shows off the front of the phone which begs the question – what do you think of the Pixel 8a’s bezels?
Expand Expanding CloseNothing Phone (2a) seems to be a hit with most models out of stock
The Nothing Phone (2a) is a really solid budget phone and it seems the market agrees, as supposedly higher-than-expected sales have left the device largely out of stock.
Expand Expanding CloseFossil’s Wear OS smartwatches are gone now – don’t overpay at third-party retailers
Fossil announced earlier this year that it was leaving the smartwatch market and, after a fire sale last week, the company’s inventory of Wear OS smartwatches has been depleted.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid may soon support faster data transfer for new phones that works ‘anytime’
Google appears to be working on an updated setup and data transfer process for Android that could make everything a whole lot faster.
Expand Expanding CloseEven the worst smartphone seems better than these new AI gadgets
AI hardware is finally shipping and with big promises, but given how the experience seems to be with the first high-profile launches, it really seems like even the worst smartphone would probably be better.
Expand Expanding CloseBest Buy finally realized Fossil smartwatches are worthless, caps trade-ins at $15
Fossil smartwatches are pretty much dead at this point, as the company announced early this year that it would stop making new ones. And, now, Best Buy has realized that it shouldn’t be handing out hundreds of dollars when you trade in a Fossil smartwatch.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle brings more Pixel Watch bands to Amazon with cheaper prices
Google’s official bands for the Pixel Watch are the best options out there, seeing as the third-party market is pretty rough, but Google is at least making it easier to find a good deal as it has expanded more Pixel Watch bands to Amazon recently.
Expand Expanding CloseYou can now summarize long-winded LinkedIn posts with this handy (and funny) Chrome extension
LinkedIn can be a handy tool, but it’s often full of long-winded posts that take forever to get to the point. Now, there’s a handy Chrome extension that can summarize long LinkedIn posts and maybe give you a bit of a chuckle too.
Expand Expanding CloseWalmart’s new Google TV remote has a giant ‘Free TV’ button, but at least it’s backlit
Walmart’s new Google TV box is coming – but has not released yet – and early units are revealing all of the details. Now, a Reddit user has shown off the remote that comes with the Walmart Onn Pro Google TV box and it’s got a couple good features, and one that’s a little obnoxious.
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on: Honor Magic 6 RSR gives one of Android’s best phones an even better design
The Honor Magic 6 Pro quickly, and surprisingly, became one of my favorite Android phones when I reviewed it earlier this year, and now the Magic 6 RSR is giving that device a fresh coat of paint.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 8a has a matte finish and is made with ‘recycled materials,’ leaked product page says
The Pixel 8a is likely only a couple of weeks away from its debut and the leaks keep on coming. In another new leak, a Pixel 8a product page reiterates and confirms details about the upcoming device, including that it has a matte finish on the back.
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