Lily Katz / Android Authority
High switching costs have made it increasingly difficult to jump from one platform to the other. The Apple AirPods (3rd generation) build on the company’s dominance in the true wireless earbuds market by introducing more features limited to Apple devices. Similarly, Samsung has locked the software features of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 behind an app that is only available on Android devices.
Even with these platform limitations in mind, Samsung and Apple users may be peering over the walls of their garden to see what the other side has to offer.
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Planet Computers has launched a 5G smartphone with a physical keyboard. The device has received a major downgrade and a few upgrades since its first reveal. Update: January 19 2021 (5:46 AM ET): Planet Computers has confirmed that its crowdfunded Astro Slide 5G Transformer smartphone will be undergoing several spec changes ahead of its new June 2021 shipment window. The firm has downgraded the chipset from a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 SoC to a mid-range Dimensity 800 processor, claiming that the former chip suddenly became unavailable for purchase.
Although the Samsung Neon website and its related social media accounts are vague on details, there are a few things for certain. First, Neon is definitively not a next-step for Bixby, Samsung’s AI assistant that competes with Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa. Neon makes that very clear in this tweet.
Second, the official description of Neon is “artificial human,” as confirmed by the image above as well as this tweet.
You knew this battle was coming. Gary Sims has pitted the Snapdragon 888 version of the Galaxy S21 against the iPhone 12 in a realistic speed test, giving you an idea of which flagship should emerge triumphant in practice, not just in theory. As it turns out, this was a close fight — but there was still a clear winner.
Like it or not, the iPhone 12 beat the Galaxy S21 in all three tests.
If there’s one thing we know to anticipate when it comes to Google, is that the features and products it introduces today have a high probability of getting killed off some years later. Sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes not. It turns out, though, that one feature of Google Pixel phones is pretty popular for our readers and they’d like it to stick around: Active Edge.
To be clear, the HTC U11 did this first, but HTC is…well…HTC.
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The Blu X Link watch has an introductory price of $50, but lacks the WearOS platform. Blu’s watch might not have an app store, but it does have cellular connectivity via 2G networks. The wearable also offers a heart rate monitor, pedometer, and sleep tracking functionality. If your name isn’t Apple, chances are good that you’re not selling loads of smartwatches. Now budget U.S. mobile brand Blu has taken a different approach with its X Link watch.
Update, November 29, 2018 (12:10 PM EST): The October 29 launch date of the Aqua-colored Google Home Mini came and went without a peep from Google. Now, a month later, you can officially buy a Google Home Mini in the newest color option via the Google Store, as well as from Walmart.
The Aqua-colored Google Home Mini is the same price as the other colors: $49. Click one of the buttons below to get yours!
Meet Pixel 5a with 5G from Google. It’s all you want in a phone: a big battery, a great camera, water resistance, and superfast 5G.
Exclusive offer for our loyal mobile customers: Get $65 off Pixel 5a with 5G — redeem your offer below. Terms apply.
*This promotional code offer is provided by LG Electronics USA for use on the Google Store only, and is subject to the following terms. Save $65 on Pixel 5a with 5G.
Andy Walker / Android Authority
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Google has released a new app called Stack. Stack allows users to better scan, save, and organize critical physical documents. It’s only available in the US for now. Google has a new useful app in its arsenal for those who want a complete way to scan, store, and organize important documents. Dubbed Stack, the app is developed by the company’s Area 120 division — the team behind old favorites like Reply and Grasshopper.
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The YouTube TV price has gone up immediately from $49.99 to $64.99 a month. This is the biggest single price increase for the live TV streaming service since it first launched in February 2017. YouTube also added eight new channels to the base service and recently added HBO Max and Cinemax as add-on channels. In a blog post, Google revealed the YouTube TV price tag is going up by $15, from $49.