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
We’ve been hearing about the Matter smart home standard and what it could do for ages now, and things are on track to finally arrive later this year. In an interview ahead of this week’s Google I/O, the company has teased what Matter will mean for the Google Home app going forward.
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After debuting on PC earlier this year, Risk of Rain 2 has officially released its “Survivors of the Void” expansion on Google Stadia, months ahead of when console players will get their chance to play the long-awaited DLC.
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The Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S21 Ultra share one of the best camera arrays you can find on any smartphone today, but it seems Samsung is ready to change things up on the next generation. According to a new report, the Galaxy S23 Ultra will offer a 200MP camera sensor.
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New types of displays are helping to push the smartphone market forward and while foldables have taken up the spotlight so far, “rollable” devices have shown a lot of promise. According to a new report, Motorola is seeking to release a rollable smartphone that carries the codename “Felix.”
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Samsung’s next foldable lineup is set to bring some welcome new tweaks to the Fold and Flip, and details have been slowly coming out over the past few months. This week, a few new leaks around the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 offer context around the battery size, displays, and the somewhat limited charging speeds.
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Google TV is picking up one of its most notable changes in months, as the platform appears to have started rolling out a revamped screensaver with “proactive personal results.”
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The crown jewel of the foldable market has generally been devices in the form factor of the Galaxy Z Fold series, but the winner in terms of sales volume has been the traditional flip phone form factor. Motorola previously confirmed a “Motorola Razr 3” foldable was in development, and now a new report is giving us our first look at “Maven.”
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It’s been almost two years since Google revealed its updated take on Android TV – and its first streamer with a remote. The Chromecast with Google TV ushered in a new era for the company’s streaming endeavors, but as we continue to move forward, time hasn’t been particularly kind to the Chromecast, and we’re itching to see what’s next for Google’s vision.
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Microsoft’s ambitions in cloud gaming so far have largely been limited to mobile and building on the console experience, but the company hasn’t been shy about a future where it sells Xbox hardware that relies fully on streaming. Now, we might finally have a timeline for the first Xbox streaming device.
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The pace of new games on Google Stadia in 2022 has been slow, to say the least, with merely 20 new games available as the month of May starts.
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TCL’s Google TV lineup delivers on great displays, but the software has always been a little rough. This week, though, another update rolling out to TCL Google TV owners brings the April patch and even more performance improvements.
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With the first beta now behind us, Android 13’s formal debut is only a few short months away. This week, one of Google’s coming security changes has been uncovered, as Android 13 is set to strip accessibility features from sideloaded applications.
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Smartwatches and fitness trackers can be a big help in improving our ability to see the state of our health, and heart health is especially important. Fitbit is now rolling out support for Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, which can detect and notify you of signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).
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A few years ago Spotify opened up a second app that offered an experience based around “radio” stations. Now, Spotify Stations is shutting down later this month.
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The to-do list app Google Tasks is finally picking up an overdue feature. Rolling out now, Google Tasks is adding support for recurring tasks in your lists.
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Following a brief delay, the hit party game Overcooked: All You Can Eat will officially arrive tomorrow on Google Stadia.
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Google’s crackdown on in-app billing on Android has resulted in changes to quite a few apps. Now, the main Amazon Shopping app for Android has removed the ability to purchase digital content on Android.
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In its continued series, Google TV is rolling out a new “Watch with Me” row on the homescreen, this time focusing on picks from musician Andra Day.
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The Galaxy Watch 5 series is set to debut in the coming months and some recent rumors suggested that a “Pro” model was on its way. Now, another leak supports the existence of the Galaxy Watch 5 “Pro,” and clears up the branding that Samsung will use.
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A couple of years after its debut, Nvidia GeForce Now is finally expanding its streaming options on PC and Mac. Starting today, GeForce Now supports 4K streaming on Windows and macOS.
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Ushering in a new era of AMD chips on Chrome OS, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is getting a 2022 refresh with a Ryzen 5000 series chip and other new tweaks. And we’ve had a chance to take an early look at the device.
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The vast majority of Chromebooks on the market today run on top of either Intel or ARM-based chips from brands such as MediaTek. But as Chrome OS enters a new era that includes support for Steam, there are new options coming out. Today, AMD is announcing Ryzen 5000 “C-Series” chips for Chromebooks.
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In celebration of Star Wars Day, one of the latest Made for Google partners, Casetify, is debuting limited edition Star Wars cases for the Pixel 6 Pro as well as select Samsung smartphones.
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After launching on PC last month, the developers behind Risk of Rain 2 have unfortunately confirmed that the “Survivors of the Void” expansion, the game’s first paid DLC, will be delayed to a Q4 release on consoles and Google Stadia.
UPDATE: Survivors of the Void was released on May 10, 2022 for Stadia.
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