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. Ben is an avid disc golf player.
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
Samsung is rolling out its September 2024 update to various Galaxy smartphones and tablets and, for once, it’s also a pretty big update. Here’s what’s new and which devices are being updated.
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While the timing feels a bit odd with new Pixel phones already on the market, Android 15 is now finally available to Google Pixel smartphones. Here’s how to install it.
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Security systems and cameras can go a long way in helping stop a break-in as it’s happening, but at that point damage has already been done. With its latest outdoor camera, SimpliSafe wants to stop burglars before they enter the home by having someone monitor your yard.
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Samsung is pushing hard for new AI features on Galaxy devices, and according to a new report, one of the company’s goals is to use AI to effectively replace the various settings menus we deal with on a regular basis.
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A new Roku update is bringing additional smart home features that lets your TV act as a security monitor for cameras.
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Mobvoi is launching its latest smartwatch, the TicWatch Atlas, alongside its first Wear OS 4 update.
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Arlo has just annoucned a new wired floodlight with video camera that comes with an affordable price tag.
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As announced earlier this month, Samsung is bringing One UI to its Tizen-powered TVs, and the updates are rolling out now.
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LG is now rolling out an update to its 2023 TVs which delivers Google Cast support.
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The Galaxy S24 FE is a confusing value on paper, but there’s an obvious reason for its existence – freebies and promotions. Currently, Galaxy S24 FE is free for Verizon customers.
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Oppo is adding a new feature to its upcoming Find X8, with a shutter button that works exactly like Apple’s new “Camera Control” feature on iPhone 16.
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Ads are a huge part of, well, everything online in 2024. That includes Google TV, but the company’s living room experience also splits hairs on what could be considered an “ad.” So, what makes something an ad?
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One of the best trends in mobile devices lately is a push for anti-reflective displays, and no one does that better than TCL. Lately, I’ve been able to try out the TCL Tab 10 NXTPAPER 5G, and the biggest standout to me has been the display, which I just want on every tablet from now on.
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When you think of Android Automotive, you probably think of cars, EVs to be specific. But that’s not the only place the OS can be used, as KTM is now using Android Automotive OS on motorcycles.
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After first announcing its intentions to launch an Android game store earlier this year, Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox app will let users buy and play games through the Xbox app starting in November.
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Motorola has a bit of an iffy track record as far as Android updates go, and the company has yet to formally announce details regarding its Android 15 update. However, an initial list has been uncovered.
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Google introduced “bubbles” as a means of keeping messaging apps easily accessible by letting them float on top of other apps. In future versions of Android, it sounds like Google may make these a lot more useful by letting you run any app in a “bubble.”
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A report has stirred up fears around how Google’s Pixel 9 series “shares” personal data, but it’s clearly not fully accurate, and missing some very important context.
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YouTube has updated how the “skip” button works with ads, and it may no longer appear right away.
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The Nvidia Shield TV remains one of the best Android TV OS devices on the market even though it hasn’t gotten a major update in a while, but a fresh update is rolling out now to users.
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Built on top of Android 15, Nothing OS 3.0 is a pretty big overhaul to the company’s Android skin, which was already one of the best on the market. After playing around with the update, I’m pretty happy with the various upgrades Nothing has made, at least for the most part.
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Amazon’s Ring has just announced AI-powered search for video events captured by its cameras, beating Google to the punch on the idea.
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While ChromeOS has become more and more capable over the years, the occasional need for a traditional desktop operating system, namely Windows, has never really gone away. To solve that, some apps and services have allowed Chromebooks to run Windows, including Parallels, which is said to be shutting down later this year.
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The upcoming release of Samsung’s One UI 7 update is confusing and unusual, and a specific quote had some worried that the beta wouldn’t be released publicly. Samsung, though, has confirmed that the beta will be available to those interested in trying it.
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