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All Posts by Florence Ion

Everything you need to know about Bixby Voice

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Posted by Florence Ion on 22 Jun 2017 5:40 pm
We have early access to the Galaxy S8's built-in Bixby Voice. Here's another look at what's coming to a Galaxy S8 near you. We've already written plenty about the Galaxy S8's Bixby functionality, but what we haven't touched on is what to expect with Bixby Voice — ostensibly the main reason there's an extra button on the flagship device in the first place. Up until the latest preview, all we...

Flip phones are making a comeback

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Posted by Florence Ion on 22 Jun 2017 4:24 pm
With the announcement of Samsung's Galaxy Folder 2 flip phone in South Korea, it's a wonder if we're backtracking through time to when phones were simpler things. I can't believe I'm writing about a flip phone in 2017, but lo and behold, here we are. What you see here is Samsung's Galaxy Folder 2, a flip phone with a 3.8-inch display that's sandwiched in between a large keypad and an outward-...

A look at the Android smartphones still to come in 2017

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Posted by Florence Ion on 22 Jun 2017 10:00 am
Like sands through the hourglass, so does the smartphone release cycle seem churn in perpetuity. Samsung, LG, and HTC may have been first to bat with their flagship smartphones, but there are still plenty more device launches to look forward to. The year is only halfway through, and with the launch of the fourth-generation OnePlus 5, we're officially headed into the summer smartphone release...

Bixby Voice is rolling out to the Galaxy S8 for those who signed up for early access

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Posted by Florence Ion on 21 Jun 2017 4:14 pm
bixby voice
It's a bit finicky in its preview state, but Bixby's tender voice will help you forget it's still half-baked. I can't tell you how excited I was to see that the Bixby Voice preview had hit my unlocked Galaxy S8. There was a bit of a language barrier between the two of us in the beginning, but after a bit of fumbling with Google Translate and a bit of digging into the settings, Bixby is now ready...

There are still people in parts of the world who use Android Market on Android 2.1

28 Comments
Posted by Florence Ion on 20 Jun 2017 10:26 pm
android market
Google is officially ceasing support for Android's archaic app store on Eclair at the end of the month. Do you remember using the Android Market to download apps for your smartphone? Google announced that it will cease support for the relic app on Eclair devices at the end of June. In the Android Developers Blog, Google's Maximilian Ruppaner writes: On June 30, 2017, Google will be ending...

Project Fi takes the guesswork out of splitting the phone bill

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Posted by Florence Ion on 20 Jun 2017 2:55 pm
project fi
Don't fight with your friends and family. Let Google be the mediator at the end of every month. Have you ever rounded up a bunch of friends to go in on a carrier subscription in an effort to save some cash on a major family plan? I personally know people who have done this, and it's akin to the same way that I stay subscribed to my family plan to save a couple of bucks. Splitting the bill at the...

HTC's vibrantly colored Solar Red U11 will be on sale beginning tonight

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Posted by Florence Ion on 19 Jun 2017 4:16 pm
The company is kicking off its summer sale with a new color for the U11 and deals on a bunch of other stuff, too. As if almost perfectly timed with the rampant heat waves rolling through the greater part of North America, HTC has announced that the extremely attractive (the author's own opinion) Solar Red U11 will be on sale starting tonight. HTC has been slowly teasing the sale of the highly...

Project Fi's latest offer gives you a free Google Home if you buy a Pixel

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Posted by Florence Ion on 19 Jun 2017 3:43 pm
The offer is good through July 29. Who doesn't like free stuff? And who doesn't like smart little virtual assistants you can talk to? Google Home is both, and you can get one in your own home if you purchase a brand new Pixel or Pixel XL smartphone through Project Fi. You can read up on the terms for the free Google Home promotion here. The Pixel starts at $649 at Project Fi's online...

Google Play Music's exclusive station for the Galaxy S8 is a Top 40-lover's dream

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Posted by Florence Ion on 19 Jun 2017 3:21 pm
galaxy s8
Whether you love Danish pop or Nickelback (why?), the New Release Radio plays all the popular hits. I made a very, very big mistake while shuffling through the Samsung-exclusive radio station on Google Play Music. I forgot that there are a limited number of skips for those of us without monthly subscriptions — and then my last skip landed me on a Nickelback song. Anyway, if you haven't...

Smartphones are helping kill the mall

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Posted by Florence Ion on 18 Jun 2017 9:00 am
There are so many ways to "window shop" with apps from the Google Play Store, that the convenience is what convinced us to stay home. Have you heard? America's mega shopping malls are on the decline. The latest figures reveal that about one-fourth of the malls-of-yore left in the country will go the way of the Dodo within the next five years. But is anyone surprised? With the proliferation of...

Essential Accessories for Moto Z

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Posted by Florence Ion on 15 Jun 2017 2:00 pm
Essential accessories for the Moto Z Droid
What are the best accessories for the Moto Z? The Moto Z is a great phone, but it's even better with perfectly paired accessories. Here are the add-ons you need to know about.

You can back up and sync everything to your Google account starting June 28

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Posted by Florence Ion on 14 Jun 2017 4:52 pm
You're already backing up apps and documents with Google Drive, so why not backup everything else, too? Beginning June 28, you'll be able to back up all of your files and folders from a Mac or PC to your Google Drive. It's called, very simply, Backup and Sync, and once installed, it will help you keep things in check even when you're not checking them. From the official blog post: On June...

How to keep your smartphone cool during the hot summer months

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Posted by Florence Ion on 14 Jun 2017 9:00 am
Sun's out, the smartphone's out. But don't forget that in addition to slathering on the sunscreen, you'll have to keep your phone protected, too. Summer is all about streaming the hits of year's past and shooting a bounty of selfies. But while you're out doing that, remember to keep tabs on how hot your smartphone becomes as you're having fun. The warmer weather months don't offer a friendly...

Google's new Local Guides points system makes leaving reviews worth your time

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Posted by Florence Ion on 13 Jun 2017 5:02 pm
Whether you're a traveler or a homebody, the Google-led app rewards handsomely for leaving recommendations. Google Local Guides were introduced in 2014 to help foster a giant community of local reviewers who just know where all the best stuff is. When you sign up to be a Local Guide, every contribution helps you rack up points towards unlocking other elements of the service inside Google Maps...

How many Pixels has Google actually sold?

100 Comments
Posted by Florence Ion on 13 Jun 2017 4:34 pm
google pixel
The sales numbers remain a mystery to all of us, though there are a few theories floating around. With all the fervent rumormongering regarding the next batch of Pixel smartphones, it seems an appropriate time to take a look at several of the theories making the rounds about how many millions of Pixel and Pixel XL units Google has actually sold. The phone launched eight months ago and has...

Samsung's vision for the smart home is that it should be easy to set up

4 Comments
Posted by Florence Ion on 13 Jun 2017 12:00 pm
Samsung's Connect Home isn't out yet, but you might want to consider stocking up on companion SmartThings when it's on sale. The idea of the smart home isn't anything new. Technology companies have been attempting to sell us on the idea for quite a few years, though it's only recently that the idea of a souped-up home has become the norm. And even though the idea of converting your house into...

Qualcomm solidifies its role in medical tech with connected glucose meters

6 Comments
Posted by Florence Ion on 12 Jun 2017 4:52 pm
The company has teamed up with Johnson and Johnson's Diabetes Care Companies to help bring wireless capabilities to an oft-used blood glucose meter. Qualcomm's subsidiary, Qualcomm Life, Inc., announced that it is taking steps to help solidify its role in medical tech by hooking up with the makers behind connected blood glucose meters. Qualcomm plans to bring better wireless capabilities to...

A larger version of Google's Pixel XL may be in your future

53 Comments
Posted by Florence Ion on 12 Jun 2017 2:48 pm
It's probably not going to be called the Pixel XXL, but wouldn't that be fun? What's better than a big smartphone? An even bigger one. And with the Galaxy S8+ and iPhone 7 Plus making waves in their own right, it's possible Google hopes to jump on that bandwagon, too. According to Android Police, there are rumblings that Google has shelved its plans to release one of its upcoming Pixel...

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