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
After its two-year-old streaming dongle for Android TV developers goes by the wayside, we’ve confirmed that Google is preparing an ADT-4 streaming box for Android TV development which brings a number of upgrades.
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After launching integration with Ubisoft earlier today, Amazon Luna is bundling its Family and Retro channels in with Luna+ for the same cost.
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As Samsung’s rollout of Android 13 continues, the company keeps bringing the update to more and more new models. Here are some of the latest smartphones picking up One UI 5.0.
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Amazon Luna is one of the better cloud gaming options if you play a lot of Ubisoft titles, and it’s getting a big upgrade this week. You can now sync purchases on Luna to PC and play without a subscription.
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Seamless updates have been around for the past few years and the way in which Google Pixel smartphones get their updates, but they have a tendency to take a while. Soon, that’s set to change, though.
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Recently it was revealed that Anker’s Eufy was sending data from its cameras to the cloud, despite advertising the opposite. Now, Eufy has updated its app to with a disclosure more clearly explaining that it is sending data to the cloud when certain settings are enabled.
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Android TV OS just debuted its version of Android 13 last week, but it’s only available for one device. Google’s ADT-3 has been the go-to device for testing Android TV and Google TV releases for almost three years now, but after months of being impossible to purchase, the device has been discontinued.
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The Nothing Phone (1) launched to solid overall reviews, but many were disappointed that Carl Pei’s company opted not to bring the device to the United States. But now, it seems that course is changing.
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Fortnite is still a massive hit for gamers, and one of the most impressive things about it is that players can enjoy the same story and gameplay across consoles, PCs, and their smartphones. Fortnite Chapter 4 launched over the weekend as the latest evolution to the story, but it was having issues on Android at first.
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As the Google Home ramps up preview testing for its big redesign, Google is making more tweaks to the UI, but also apparently breaking existing Assistant routines for some users.
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Google’s Nest Doorbell lineup provides useful features and software that’s getting a whole lot better, but as colder temperatures start to arrive for many, it’s a good time to remember that the Nest Doorbell (battery) does not hold up very well in the cold.
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The Nest Doorbell (wired) supports a traditional doorbell chime, but you can now buy one as an add-on to your system to make things a bit more flexible.
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After months in preview, Google has finally launched Android 13 for Android TV OS. It won’t be available on any devices you have for a while, but here’s what it brings to the table.
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Earlier this week Google widely confirmed that refunds for Stadia hardware would be available within the next two weeks, and just a couple of days later refunds are already starting to arrive.
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Google Stadia will shut down next year and bring some exclusive games with it, sadly, but some will escape. This week, Hello Engineer has been confirmed for a release on PC via Steam next year.
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Ahead of the platform’s January shutdown, Ubisoft has delivered the last update for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on Google Stadia.
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Using your Google account or social accounts to sign in to other sites is a convenient option, but it can be easy to forget which accounts are using the option. In one of its latest updates, 1Password is now able to keep track of what accounts are using sign-in from Google and other social accounts.
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Home security cameras have gotten a lot better in recent years, but the security of your footage has always been a concern. Anker’s Eufy brand claims to keep data local, but a security researcher has exposed that the claim is far from true, with footage not only going to the cloud, but remaining visible even after it was supposed to be deleted.
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The Google TV app is starting to roll out a neat new trick, with the ability to cast TV shows and movies from multiple streaming services from one location, as well as a revamped remote for Android TV OS devices.
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As the holiday season arrives, Google is rolling out a selection of ringtones for Nest Doorbells starting this week. Here’s what you’ll have to choose from.
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Truly wireless earbuds and smartwatches have become a whole lot more popular in recent years, and it seems like Huawei wants to merge the two as shown off in a new teaser.
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As 2022 moves to a close, more information is coming out on the Galaxy S23 and its release date. Here’s what we know.
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Sapphire glass is something we usually only see on the most expensive smartwatches, but the Galaxy Watch 5 brings the scratch-resistant glass down to a cost of under $300. And surprisingly, the quality of Samsung’s sapphire glass on the Galaxy Watch 5 beats out the Apple Watch Ultra, which costs nearly three times as much in a new test.
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The cloud gaming market has been hit pretty hard following the death of Stadia and other roadblocks, and it seems Amazon’s Luna is going through some tough times too. Over the course of December 2022, Amazon Luna will lose nearly 50 games, on top of several others that left earlier this month.
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