After the whirlwind launch of Android 12 Developer Preview 1, we have been diving into the first build of the upcoming OS to find some hidden gems and brand new features you might have missed.
While we have already done a deep dive into what we’d formally consider the top user-facing features, the Android 12 Developer Preview 1 also includes a ton of other additions that we didn’t initially…
Foldables are the future, but they’re still incredibly expensive, and asking someone to put down over $1,000 on something they’re not sure will work for them. Now, Samsung is giving users the chance to “buy and try” a Galaxy foldable for 100 days.
Regardless of if…
Google Docs getting the ability to filter comments meant ‘for you’
February 24, 2021
Commenting in Docs can get especially unwieldy when there are several participants working on a multi-part file. Google Docs is making a pair of changes to the comments experience, starting with a filter.
Next to the big blue share button in the top-right corner of the…
Google Pixel phone saved an unconscious man from being trapped in overturned vehicle for hours
February 24, 2021
Google puts the value on its smartphones on software, not hardware, through special features. One of the most interesting features on Pixel phones is Car Crash Detection, and for one man, the feature saved him from being trapped in heavy machinery for hours.
A Reddit user (u/postnospam) by the name of Chuck Walker posted about his experience with Car Crash Detection on his Pixel phone, but it…
Nest.com now redirects to Google Store, web portal unchanged
February 24, 2021
Back in 2019, the Nest website stopped listing products and sent buyers to the Google Store. That original brand has almost entirely been replaced by Google Nest at this point, with Nest.com no more today as part of a Store redirect.
Visiting Nest.com today takes users…
The pandemic has been particularly challenging for restaurants and Yelp is out today with updates to its its apps like Yelp Waitlist and more to help with the worldwide shift we’ve seen toward takeout.
The business-facing Yelp Waitlist app/service was originally built to…
Anker beats Apple to market, new iPhone 12 MagSafe-compatible battery pack now available
February 23, 2021
The popular accessory maker Anker has officially released a new MagSafe-compatible wireless power bank for iPhone 12 users. This comes as rumors suggest Apple is developing its own similar accessory, but that it has faced some roadblocks in development. The Anker accessory was first teased at CES last month and is now available to order.
The new Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K Wireless Power Bank…
Quill launches as a team messaging antithesis to Slack with native iPhone and Mac apps
February 23, 2021
An all-new team messaging service is out today called Quill, and it’s positioned as as being “for people that focus” with “conversations designed for people, not bots.” The new team messenger features a thoughtful design with advanced features like “structured”…
Spotify Free accounts can no longer cast audio to Google Assistant speakers, Smart Displays
February 23, 2021
One of the biggest bonuses with the Spotify mobile app has always been the ability to cast audio from a “free” account to your Google Assistant-powered speakers and Smart Displays. A recent, quietly made change means that this privilege is now only reserved for Premium…
Qualcomm and Lofelt join forces with aim to improve Android haptics
February 23, 2021
The gold standard of smartphone haptics has — unfortunately — been Apple and the Taptic Engine for years at this stage. We’ve seen great improvements from the likes of Google, Oppo, Xiaomi, and OnePlus, but Qualcomm and Lofelt have now partnered with the express aim to “bring advanced haptics to the Android ecosystem.”
Often our interactions with our smartphones are brief, but nuances…
