That’s rich: Apple VP knocks classroom Chromebooks for being cheap
In an interview with CNET, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, dismissed Google's Chromebooks "cheap testing tools." He further added that Chrome OS computers can never inspire kids and believes an iPad or a MacBook will allow a child to be more creative and successful.
Google will offer checking accounts as latest tech company to enter finance
Google is the latest tech company to enter the financial world by offering checking accounts starting next year. Google’s financial project, dubbed as Cache, would have accounts run by Citigroup. The financial institutions would be the main focus on Cache, rather than Google creating a separate financial brand.
Google is bringing some Translate features into Google Maps
Google is bringing Google Maps and Google Translate a little closer together by adding part of Translate to Google Maps. You can tap on a button within Google Maps to have the name of your destination and the address read out in the local language. It will be available to users over the next month in over 50 languages.
Digital Trends Live: Disney+ debuts, Snap Spectacles 3, Google Stadia’s lineup
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Ryan Waniata discuss the biggest trending tech topics of the day, including Disney+’s shaky start, the Snap Spetacles 3 launch, Google’s “Project Nightingale,” Google Stadia’s lineup, a foldable bike, and more.
Google Stadia vs. Nintendo Switch: How do the gaming platforms compare?
Google Stadia releases on November 19, but is the game streaming service a worthwhile alternative to the Nintendo Switch, or should you stick with Nintendo's hybrid console? We compared the two to help you decide, breaking down things like performance, game library, unique features, and cost.
Pirates are using publishing platform Medium to distribute bootlegged movies
Scammers have been found to be abusing the publishing platform, Medium to distribute bootlegged copies of the latest movies such as Joker. The posts feature links to the video files and a range of search keywords. Most sources lead visitors to registration pages that demand credit card details.
The CastAway adds a Chromium-powered second screen to your smartphone
Dual-screen and foldable phones are the future -- but it's likely to be an exceptionally expensive future. In a new IndieGoGo campaign, CastAway is offering to add dual-screen functionality to your existing smartphone for just $200. Powered by Chromium, the CastAway can be used as a book, laptop, or a second device.
Honor V30 to launch November 26, and it’s going to have 5G
Honor will launch the V30 smartphone on November 26, and not only will it have a dual-selfie camera inside a cutout on the screen, but it will also have 5G, making it the first Honor phone to be released with the new connectivity. While the date is likely only for China, the V30 should also be released internationally.
Switching back to a dumbphone was the smartest thing I’ve ever done
Smartphones are designed to hold our attention, and we often end up spending hours on them each day. I set out to see if a smarter feature phone, like the Nokia 8110, can help us break those habits and restore balance in our digital lives. With support for WhatsApp and more, I really didn't miss my smartphone.
What Blade Runner got right (and wrong) about 2019
1982's Blade Runner is rightly considered a masterpiece among science fiction movies. But how accurate were its predictions about the future? With November 2019 being the far-flung month and year in which the movie is set, here’s what the movie got right and, in one case, very wrong.
Frustrated by slow websites? Google Chrome may have a solution
It's no fun waiting for a slow website to load, so Google is planning a badge system that warns users when a page is likely to take a long time to appear. It's hoped the system will also nudge developers into optimizing their websites, making the web a less frustrating place for everyone that uses it.
Google is secretly gathering personal health data on millions of Americans
Google is reportedly working alongside one of the nation's largest health care systems to collect and analyze the personal health information of Americans across 21 states. The joint effort with the St. Louis-based company Ascension began last year, but increased dramatically over this summer and fall.
The Google Stadia launch lineup is looking a little barren
Google has revealed the games available for those who purchase Google Stadia access on November 19. Though some big games are included, it is much smaller than players were likely expecting. A handful of additional games will be made available by the end of the year, including Ghost Recon Breakpoint.
Your Alexa speaker can be hacked with malicious audio tracks. And lasers.
Smart speakers are awesome. But they're also subject to some pretty terrifying vulnerabilities, as two recent proof-of-concept demonstrations show. Whether it's adversarial sound attacks or laser hacks, here are two ways researchers have found to exploit smart speaker weaknesses.
Two of our favorite Jabra Elite true wireless earbuds are on sale on Amazon now
AirPods may be all the rage among Apple fans, but most people around the world aren’t iPhone users. There are now a bunch of awesome true wireless earbuds on the market for the Android crowd to choose from, and two of our favorites, the Jabra Elite 65t and Active 65t, are on sale right now from Amazon
Android is a dead-end for new devices — and Google knows it
Google launched Android over a decade ago but has struggled to replicate the explosive success of the OS beyond phones. There was only one Android-powered device at Google's hardware event. Is Android a one-trick pony? As Google increasingly focuses more on the Assistant, where is Android really headed?
The Samsung Galaxy S11 will have a massive battery, according to leak
A new leak suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S11 will seriously step things up on battery life. The leak, which comes from known Samsung leaker Ice Universe, suggests that even the smallest Galaxy S11e will have a 4,000mAh battery, meaning that the Galaxy S11+ could have up to a 5,000mAh battery.
Digital Trends Live: HoloLens 2 and Stadia available, James Dean is back
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Sam Slaughter dig into the biggest trending stories in tech, including the HoloLens 2 ships, Google Stadia now available, Twitter accused of spying, A.I. deemed “too dangerous” to release, James Dean reappears, and more.
Phantom text messages were sent around the country last night
According to a slew of posts on Reddit and Twitter, a number of users received text messages that weren't actually sent. According to some reports, the messages are actually duplicates of messages sent on February 14, and the issue could be related to a cross-carrier messaging system update.
Philips’ kitchen-friendly, 24-inch Android TV finally available for $299
After a long delay, Philips has finally launched its 24-inch Android TV aimed at those who like to watch YouTube videos while cooking in the kitchen. Thanks to the Google Assistant onboard, the $299 TV and smart speaker combo can play all kinds of media without needing to touch the included remote control.
Why wait? You can download the Google Stadia Android app right now
Google has released the official Stadia Android app ahead of the streaming service's official launch later this month. The only mobile phones compatible at launch are the Pixel 3 and newer. Additional mobile devices will be compatible at a later date, and the free Base Edition arrives in 2020.
YouTube launches fresh new homepage on iOS and Android tablets and desktops
YouTube is making it easier to navigate your homepage on tablets and desktop devices with its new interface changes. The new homepage will combine larger thumbnails with longer titles, and will add channel icons into the mix. You'll also get some additional features, such as adding to Now Playing playlists.
The ZTE Blade 10 Prime and Blade A7 Prime are now available from Visible
ZTE has announced three new phones, two of which are destined for Visible exclusivity. The ZTE Blade 10 Prime and Blade A7 Prime are available from the Verizon-owned network, while the Blade 10 is the same as the Blade 10 Prime, but works on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon instead.
Valve appears to be working on its own Google Stadia cloud-gaming competitor
A Valve code shows off hints of what could be a Steam Cloud Gaming platform in the works. It may help Valve compete with Google Stadia and other inbound platforms. A move by Valve to introduce Steam Cloud Gaming makes perfect sense, and it's almost a surprise to see it showing up this late.
Google Pixel 4’s astrophotography mode is now rolling out to older Pixels
Google Pixel 4's astrophotography mode is now making its way to a bunch of previous-generation Pixel phones. Google has begun rolling out the version 7.2 update for its default camera app, which enables the astrophotography mode for the Pixel 2, Pixel 3, and Pixel 3a, among other additions and changes.
New research finds that smart speakers can be compromised by lasers
A new study about the vulnerabilities of smart speakers, like Amazon Echo, Apple Home Pod, and Google Home, has been released. All the researchers at the University of Michigan and Japan's University of Electro-Communications had to do was shine a special laser on the smart speakers to manipulate them.
The Google Pixel’s last update will be released in December
Google announced the end-of-software updates for the original Pixel and Pixel XL. According to the company, the phones will get one final update in December, which will largely focus on security patches. The phone already got more updates than were expected, having received Android 10.
Samsung Galaxy S11’s codename hints it may pack a periscope zoom lens camera
Rumors are saying the Samsung Galaxy S11 range will introduce some major camera improvements, but the device's codename may have just given a big new feature away. According to leaked rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S11 is codenamed "Hubble," and may come with a 5x periscope telephoto zoom lens.
A 108-megapixel sensor is just one of 5 lenses on the back of Xiaomi’s new phone
Xiaomi has announced the Mi CC9 Pro, a new smartphone with five camera sensors, one of which has 108 megapixels. It has strong specs and fast charging, but won’t cost more than $500. Xiaomi also revealed the Mi Watch, a stand-alone smartwatch to take on the Apple Watch.
Points mean prizes as Google Play Store rewards program comes to U.S.
Google has launched a rewards program for Play Store users in the United States. Play Points gives Android users the chance to earn discounts and win prizes for their purchases in the store. The more purchases you make, the better the discounts and the bigger the prizes.
Microsoft’s new Edge browser to launch January 15. Here’s what you need to know
Aftersix months of beta testing, Microsoft is finally getting ready to launch its new Chromium-based Edge browser. Announced November 4, during the first day of the Microsoft Ignite conference, the browser will be set to launch on January 15 on Windows 7, 8, and 10, and MacOS.
TikTok and Kakao revive the trend of social companies launching smartphones
Bytedance, the company behind the TikTok video app, and South Korea's Kakao, which operates KakaoTalk, have both announced smartphones, restarting a dormant trend of social firms making hardware with quick access to their respective apps. Time has not been kind to these examples in the past, but that could change.
The Galaxy S11’s camera may jump from 12 megapixels to 108
The Galaxy S11 is rumored to get a serious camera upgrade over the Galaxy S10. Gone will be the 12-megapixel main lens, replaced by a massive 108-megapixel camera lens, according to the latest rumors. The sensor will enable better low-light images, and allow cropping without losing detail.
Google Maps’ Incognito mode finally goes live for Android users
Six months after discussing the privacy feature at its Google I/O conference, the company is finally rolling out Incognito mode for Google Maps on Android. It can be turned on in a few taps, but keep in mind that when it’s on, you’ll lose access to things like Offline Maps and Your Places.