Google appears to be working on support for YouTube Music integration with its Gemini AI.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini may soon add a YouTube Music extension and some handy shortcuts
Author
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
Are 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?
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Nothing 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.
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Best 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.
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You 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.
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Pixel 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.
Expand Expanding CloseMediaTek will finally power a ‘premium’ Android phone in the US this year
MediaTek is usually known for powering cheap devices, but the company has been building up some really good high-end chipsets too and, finally, it sounds like one of those chips will power a “premium” Android phone in the US market.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung isn’t bringing AI features to Galaxy S21 and Flip 3, only Circle to Search
Samsung is bringing One UI 6.1 to its Galaxy S21 series and foldables from 2021, but the company is solely bringing Google’s Circle to Search to these older devices, whereas others are getting nearly the entire Galaxy AI suite.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung brings One UI 6.1 and AI features to Galaxy S22 and more foldables
After announcing it last month, Samsung has started rolling out its One UI 6.1 update and AI features to the Galaxy S22, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4, as well as some surprising additional devices too.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Search testing useful ‘custom filters’ that you can save to your account
Google Search is starting to roll out what might be a handy new feature, “custom filters.”
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Now the Nothing Phone (2a) has ChatGPT widgets too
A new update is rolling out to Nothing Phone (2a) that brings ChatGPT widgets and more with it.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Photos will soon more easily let you block someone’s face from Memories
One of the best features of Google Photos is the app’s ability to show old photos as a “Memory,” but sometimes showing a specific person isn’t what you want. Now, Google Photos is preparing to make it easier to hide someone’s face from Memories.
Expand Expanding CloseT-Mobile now owns Mint Mobile with ‘commitmint’ to $15/mo price, adds free roaming
Last year it was announced that T-Mobile would acquire Mint Mobile and, now, that deal has officially closed. Here’s what that means for you.
Expand Expanding CloseFossil is getting rid of the rest of its Wear OS watches for $79
Fossil confirmed early this year that it was done with smartwatches and and, following some steep discounts back then, the company is trying to get rid of the rest of its Wear OS smartwatches for a mere $79 a pop.
Expand Expanding CloseMobvoi teases a new TicWatch Pro as Samsung starts testing Wear OS 5
The TicWatch series has been a Wear OS staple for years, and Mobvoi is now teasing a new model that will release in a matter of “days.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle has made it really hard to find its 3D animals in Search [U]
For the past several years Google has been building out a ton of 3D models of animals and other objects that you can view in augmented reality but, recently, Google has all but removed the vast majority of these fun models from Search.
Expand Expanding CloseWalmart’s ‘Pro’ Google TV box will cost $50 with 32GB storage, always-on Assistant
After its existence leaked earlier this month, one customer has managed to get their hands on the upcoming Walmart Onn “Pro” Google TV box, revealing its price, specs, and support for being a Google Assistant speaker.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Rabbit R1 is based on Android after all [U]
AI hardware has the potential to be super interesting, but it’s off to a pretty rough start. The new Rabbit R1 looked fun ahead of its launch, but most early users have asked why it’s not just an Android or iOS app. As it turns out, there’s a smartphone app that does all of the same things.
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