Latest

Hands-on: Fortnite finally arrives on Android, here’s what you need to know [Video]

fortnite android

After much anticipation, Epic Games has finally announced Fortnite for Android, which is exclusively available for a handful of Samsung devices for the next 3 days. This is definitely shorter than the 30 days that we expected prior to the Note 9 launch, but if you have a compatible Samsung smartphone then you can now play the world biggest game from anywhere.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Hands on: The top 5 features of Android 9 Pie [Video]

Google’s last few Android releases haven’t exactly been groundbreaking, but with Android 9 Pie, there are a few really notable additions. We’ve covered a lot of our favorite new additions to Android throughout Google’s beta releases, but now that the final version is out, let’s take a closer look at some of the most important changes.


Expand
Expanding
Close

HTC Desire 12 review: Gorgeous design but with mixed performance [Video]

HTC

Mid-range smartphones aren’t what they used to be — the gap between middling performance and affordable price-tag is now closer than it ever has been.

Unless you plan on keeping a phone for a seriously extended period of time, or want the highest end specifications or camera, then you seriously might be better off towards the true middle market of the smartphone arena.

HTC’s recent releases, the Desire 12 and 12+, hit that ‘budget’ price point. Personally, I’m unsure if they can stake a claim for the crown of best budget smartphone with the HTC Desire 12.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Chromecast at 5: How it became Google’s first big hardware win [Video]

Five years after it was first released, the Chromecast is one of the finest pieces of hardware that has come out of Google. There, I’ve said it and you bet I stand by it.

Let’s examine just how Google made the Chromecast such a runaway success and better understand what this means for devices such as the Home and Home Mini.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Friday 5: How to get the most out of YouTube Music

YouTube Music

The transition from music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and even Google Play Music to YouTube Music might seem confusing and daunting, but it’s actually pretty straightforward once you understand just how the system works.

We just spent a month with YouTube Music — comparing it directly with rivals Spotify and Pandora — and here are the five things we did to get the most out of Google’s latest streaming offering. For the love of lyric videos, make sure you do these things once you’ve signed up.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Friday 5: Reasons you should still buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 [Video]

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 February patch

Looking back at Samsung’s return to form with the Note 8 last year, it’s clear that cost was a significant reason it was unable to receive our unhindered recommendation in our initial review.

In this week’s Friday 5, we’re going to take a look at why the Note 8 is now a more compelling option for the budget-conscious tech enthusiast even with the flagship field being a packed one.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Hands-on: Google News keeps you updated on stories you care about w/ Google’s new Material theme [Video]

Ahead of I/O we caught wind that there was a revamp of Google News incoming, and on stage at the event, the company officially revealed one of the biggest redesigns of the service we’ve seen in its 15-year history. Not only does it deliver a ton of new functionality, but it’s also an excellent example of the company’s new “Material Theme.” Let’s take a closer look…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Here’s everything new in the Android P Beta so far… [Video]

After a developer preview earlier this year gave us a peek, Google officially gave us the first look at what it has planned for Android’s next release at I/O 2018. We’ve spent the past day digging through the release to find out what’s new, and we’ve discovered quite a few new things. So, let’s take a closer look.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Samsung Galaxy S9+ Review: Refining a top Android phone w/ cameras that rival the Pixel [Video]

Samsung’s yearly “S” flagship is the biggest phone of the year in the Android world. Last year, the company completely overhauled basically everything with the debut of the Galaxy S8. For 2018, however, we’re getting a very iterative update, to the point where it feels like the same phone all over again.

The easiest way to sum up the Galaxy S9 is that it takes the years of refinement we saw in the Galaxy S8, and fixes all of its problems. That said, is it worth paying the price for a flagship that isn’t all that different from the one before? Let’s take a closer look.

Expand Expanding Close

Hands on: Google’s ‘Reply’ app uses AI for quick responses and automatic replies in your notifications [Video]

We all get a ton of notifications every day, and a vast majority of them come from messaging apps. In the past year or so, Google has made strides in making it easier to reply to emails with “Smart Replies,” and made that same tech available to the likes of Android Messages. Now, after being announced a couple of weeks ago, “Reply” is bringing that same functionality to your notifications.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Huawei Mate 10 Pro Review: An overpriced but gorgeous sequel to 2016’s underdog [Video]

There are two phones that really stick out in my mind from last year. The Google Pixel because of its superb performance, excellent software, and incredible camera. The other is the Huawei Mate 9, a phone that caught me by surprise and easily became one of my favorite phones ever. Now, there are a lot more phones on the market that are worth your attention, so Huawei’s latest, the Mate 10 Pro, has some stiffer competition. Is it worth your hard-earned dollar, though? Let’s take a look.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Rootless Pixel Launcher v3 brings the best Pixel Launcher features including ‘At a Glance’ to any Android phone [Video]

GAlaxy s8 and note 8 android 11

Third-party launchers are an awesome part of Android, especially because you can customize them in a lot of ways. However, it’s often the case that official launchers still work better in some ways.

The Pixel Launcher Google installs on its Pixel devices is easily one of the best in terms of usability, but it lacks a lot of features people want. Now, a developer has added quite a few features to Google’s launcher…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google’s CES booth had hundreds of Assistant devices, donuts, a swirly slide, and more [Video]

Google Assistant Recordings Investigation

CES usually isn’t the biggest of deals for the Google world, but for 2018, Google had a bigger presence than almost anyone else at the show. Left and right there were Google Assistant representatives, and the highlight of CES was the company’s outdoor booth. Once it was cleaned up from the rain, we got a chance to check it out in person, and it was basically the most Googley thing ever.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Hands on: ‘Clear ID’ puts a fingerprint sensor inside of your display, and it’s awesome [Video]

Biometric security has been a core part of our smartphones for the past several years, and fingerprint sensors have only been getting better over the years. Now, though, as a war mounts up against smartphone bezels, fingerprint sensors are losing out. That is, until they end up under the display, as Synaptics is doing with its new Clear ID sensor.

Expand Expanding Close

Hands on: Google’s Daydream VR has a shining future w/ standalone headsets like the Lenovo Mirage Solo [Video]

Virtual Reality has never really impressed me all that much, but that’s mainly because my experiences have primarily been restricted to smartphone powered headsets. I think Google’s Daydream VR platform is solid, but rarely end up using it because of what’s required. Now, Daydream is finally coming to standalone hardware, and I’m finally excited…


Expand
Expanding
Close