Whoop has been regarded as one of the most advanced health-tracking bands you can wear that isn’t a smart watch or ecosystem-dependent. Even still, step counting has not been a feature – until today.
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Andrew Romero is a writer based in North Carolina with his wife. Growing up, he was a tinkerer and always loved ripping things apart with the goal of putting them back together. That goal wasn’t always met in its entirety.
Over time, he spent years writing for a private publication while working in prototyping doing Mechanical Engineering and CNC Machining. After moving to a more remote area, Andrew fell in love with writing again and eventually found a home at 9to5Google.
Andrew is active on Twitter – @chaosromero – but can also be found on Threads – @organizedchaos50.
Emails are open at andrew@9to5mac.com
Google TV’s AI screensavers are now widely available on Chromecast and other devices
Following the release of the Google TV Streamer, Google TV has promised some major updates, including a new AI screensaver generator. That AI wallpaper feature is now rolling out widely to TVs and devices running Google TV.
Expand Expanding CloseMediaTek launches Dimensity 9400 as second ‘all big core’ chipset
MediaTek promises big improvements with the new Dimensity 9400 chipset built on TSMC’s 3nm process, offering more efficiency and power with an upgraded focus on generative AI.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat Satellite SOS can do on Pixel 9 and how to test it ahead of Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton is making headlines as one of the most powerful hurricanes at sea before it hits land. If you own a Pixel 9, you’ll want to make sure you know how to use Pixel Satellite SOS, just in case it becomes a necessity.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung bests Amazon Prime Day with its own Galaxy Z Fold 6 deal at $1,149
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is notoriously expensive. At $1,900 it’s recommended to find a good deal, even though it’s a great phone. Right now, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is on sale from Samsung at only $1,149 – cheaper than Amazon during Prime Day – but there is a catch.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung ends software updates for Galaxy Z Fold 2, Tab A7
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Tab A7 are no longer supported and will receive no further security updates or major Android upgrades.
Expand Expanding CloseMediaTek’s best chips will now support multimodal Gemini Nano
MediaTek is bringing Gemini Nano support to its processors, starting with the upcoming Dimensity 9400, which is set to launch soon.
Expand Expanding CloseEligible FSA and HSA accounts will now reimburse you for your Galaxy Ring purchase
It is now possible to obtain a Samsung Galaxy Ring with reimbursement if you have an eligible FSA or HSA account. This includes access to Samsung’s health suite, as there is no subscription cost.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Galaxy Z Fold 6 in ‘Online Exclusive’ colors is $300 off right now
For a while, Samsung has offered Galaxy phones in online exclusive colors, and they’ve often looked pretty great. Currently, Samsung is taking $300 off of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in both online exclusive colors – Crafted Black and White.
Expand Expanding CloseOura Ring 4 launches with improved accuracy, still requires subscription
Oura has officially announced Oura Ring 4 in a market that has become slightly more saturated than when the Gen 3 was released. Oura Ring Gen 4 improves accuracy with Smart Sensing, adapting to the users’ fingers to find the best and most reliable signal for more tracking accuracy.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung brings watch faces from Wear OS 5 to Galaxy Watch 4, 5, and 6
Samsung’s Wear OS 5 update has yet to come to any Galaxy Watch beyond the Watch 7. Instead, Watch models 4 through 6 are getting a tiny sliver of that update in the form of the new watch faces debuted on the newest Galaxy Watch.
Expand Expanding CloseSony’s open-ear LinkBuds get an updated design for better comfort
The LinkBuds weren’t exactly run-of-the-mill earbuds when they were announced in 2022. The earbuds with a ring-shaped driver are truly hear-through, though they came with some fallbacks. Sony has redesigned the LinkBuds Open to bring better design, improved sound, and a longer battery life.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube TV starts slowly rolling out background play on Android and iOS
YouTube TV is finally rolling out a feature that has been available in YouTube as a Premium-only feature – background play. It seems that the ability to listen in the background is being added to both Android and iOS YouTube TV apps.
Expand Expanding CloseHow to block faces from appearing in Google Photos Memories
Google Photos will always try to bring old photos up to the surface in the form of “Memories,” but sometimes, certain faces will creep up that you’d rather not see. Google Photos allows you to block recognized faces from the Memories feature; here’s how.
Expand Expanding CloseHow to find your Google TV remote from the Google Home app
Google recognizes, as much as anyone, that remotes go missing all the time. In the Google Home app, you can ping your Google TV remote to make a sound so you can find it when you look under all the wrong couch cushions; here’s how.
Expand Expanding CloseHow to change EQ settings on the Pixel buds Pro 2 to make them sound better
The Pixel Buds Pro lineup first got access to EQ settings months after the first model was released. Since then, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 have come out, and they bring the same life-saving equalizer feature. Here’s how to use it.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Galaxy Watch FE LTE model is finally available for $249
After announcing that the Galaxy Watch FE would be getting an LTE model back in June, the company is finally ready to release it. The new Galaxy Watch FE LTE will start at $249 and is available for pre-order.
Expand Expanding CloseRabbit says only 5,000 people use the R1 daily
Rabbit has, no doubt, been riding on rocky terrain since the launch of the R1 – an AI-driven device that turns spoken commands into complex actions. According to the company, only a small percentage of the devices it sells are used daily.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps warning shows which business profiles might have fake reviews
Google is starting to take fake reviews procured by certain businesses seriously. A new feature will showcase a warning on Google Maps when a business listing has recently had fake reviews removed.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are built for the everyday [Video]
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 feature a few key improvements over the original Pixel Buds Pro. Two years after that release, Google is trying to incorporate better sound, Gemini interaction, and better battery life into a design that takes on a few physical changes.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung Galaxy Ring gets its first update since launch and it’s incredibly small
The Galaxy Ring has been on the fingers of many since its launch a couple of months ago, and it’s just now receiving what is reportedly its first software update.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube’s conversational AI starts rolling out, but only to Premium subscribers on Android
YouTube has started rolling out its conversational AI feature that can answer questions about the video you’re already watching. The newly available feature will only be available for those who pay for YouTube Premium and use an Android device to watch.
Expand Expanding CloseMotorola is bringing the ThinkPhone back for another round in 2025
Motorola’s ThinkPhone was a no-nonsense business-oriented Android device that proved to be a strong device for just about anyone. According to a recent leak, the ThinkPhone will be back in 2025 with a few significant changes.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: The Hisense U8N with Google TV makes a strong argument to skip OLED
OLED TVs are expensive, and getting one that carries the features that reflect the price it was purchased for can be a costly endeavor. Hisense’s new U8N mini-LED TV makes a strong case for the less expensive technology while still hitting some serious marks in quality.
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