Chromebooks still aren't ready for me to switch to using full-time
ChromeOS and web apps have come a long way in the past two years, but it’s not enough to get me off my MacBook
I really like ChromeOS. As someone embedded in Google's ecosystem and covering the latest stories surrounding the company every day, any and all of the latest and greatest Chromebooks have long intrigued me. Lately, Google has been doing a lot to make me like its desktop operating system even more. The company is rolling out the option to mirror your phone’s screen to your laptop, a big Material You revamp is on the way, and web apps are getting more numerous and ever better — and that's on top of improved Android support on the platform.
Onyx Boox Tab X review: I wish I had this in college
This is the dream come true for serial note takers and document readers, but it costs a pretty penny
Onyx has made a name for itself with its high-end E Ink readers and tablets, offering the full Android and Google experience on E Ink screens. Most recently, the company released the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra, a 10-inch note-taking powerhouse. However, tablets are growing bigger and bigger these days, and that 10-inch screen still doesn’t give you the full letter-sized paper experience. That’s where Onyx’s new tablet comes in, the Boox Tab X.
Google I/O 2023: News, schedule, dates, and what to expect
Google's big developer conference is set for May 10
Google I/O is right around the corner, and it's probably the event that Google and Android fans are looking forward to the most. Granted, the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro event that will likely take place in fall is another close contender. But until we get to have these new devices in our hands, Google I/O will almost certainly be filled to the brim with exciting Android 14 news, the launch of the Google Pixel 7a and the Pixel Fold, as well as AI announcements. Now that the official schedule is out, here is everything we know so far.
Google Chrome releases: What's new in every version
A central hub for all the things that have changed in Chrome
Google Chrome is probably the browser everyone is using. When it launched back in 2008, it was lauded as a super-small, resource-saving program that wasn't even feature-complete, but that has long changed. After its long and winding march to market domination, the browser received more features, grew in size, and is now known as an absolute resource hog and data collection engine.
Google Pixel Fold: News, leaks, release window, and what we expect
A new entry in the folding phone wars is coming on May 10th
After years of rumors, Google has finally confirmed the Pixel Fold is in the works. Although we'll have to wait until Google I/O on May 10th for specific details, the company has finally teased its existence on social media. It's a device that's been in the works for a long time, as Google first confirmed to CNET that it was experimenting with the form factor in 2019, while Android 12L's launch in late 2021 cemented its focus on big-screen experiences.
What’s new in Google Chrome 114 Beta: Auto-verify captchas
There is also some progress on the big desktop redesign launching later this year
Only a week after releasing Chrome 113 in early stable (with the full rollout beginning just a few days ago), Google is already at it with the next version: Chrome 114 has graced the beta channel, now available to anyone who is willing to test upcoming features at the expense of just a little bit of stability. The new Chrome release is packed with some new additions and progress in Chrome’s big 2023 redesign for desktop, so let’s dive right in.
Your Google Account is getting rid of its password
The company is rolling out passkey support for Google Accounts, which will eventually replace your password completely
Google and other key players in the industry have long been pushing for a passwordless future, and today, Google has announced that it’s rolling out passkey support for Google Accounts. This means that you will be able to sign in to your Google Account without a password and without confirming your login with a second factor. Passkeys replace both of these methods and are supposed to be inherently more secure than passwords and multi-factor authentication, on top of being immune to phishing.
Google is trying to get rid of Chrome’s HTTPS lock icon again
The company first tried to remove the lock icon years ago
Google is preparing a big redesign for Chrome on desktop that brings it more in line with its Material You-themed counterpart on Android. The other big change that Google has announced this week is a fundamental tweak to how browsers work since the 90s, as the company is planning to get rid of the lock icon that has been used to depict secure HTTPS connections since before Chrome even existed, replacing it with a new tune-inspired settings icon.
YouTube tests desktop redesign that litters your screen with suggestions
The video description and comments are less prominent in this new look
Google is constantly optimizing its services, showing its users ever-so-slightly different versions of its apps and websites to see what works and what doesn’t. It looks like YouTube for web is currently testing a bigger redesign that may or may not ever make it to a broader number of people. A Twitter user spotted a new video view that flips the usual layout, moving the description, title, and comments to the right of the video and content suggestions to the bottom.
Android 13: The complete guide to Google's 2022 mobile OS
The new OS version comes with some much-needed refinements following Android 12's big redesign
Android 13 was first released in August 2022 and is now available on all the best phones, including the flagship Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro. While the big version upgrade may be out in the open now, Google isn't done with Android 13 just yet. The company keeps releasing new quarterly feature drops to its Pixel smartphones, with some of their features also trickling down to other Android phones as part of monthly security patches. Even if Android 14 and its beta program may be the hot new thing in town, stay here with us for an overview of what Android 13 is, what the latest Feature Drops have added to the release, and how you can get it on your phone.
Google confirms new Pixel phone launch for May 11
Google India shared an image of something that has got to be the Google Pixel 7a
Thanks to leaks and rumors, the Google Pixel 7a is all but confirmed to launch at Google I/O 2023 on May 10, and now, Google has added some fuel of its own to its open secret. Google India has confirmed on Twitter that "the latest phone engineered by Google'' is launching on May 11. It's coming to Indian Amazon competitor Flipkart on that same date, and the tweet shows a blurred out phone that sure looks 100% in line with the Google Pixel 7a renders we’ve seen so far.
Android’s May 2023 security patch prevents downgrades to infinitely old system app versions
You can no longer downgrade system apps beyond the pre-installed version
You may not rely on it often, but downgrading to an older version of an Android app pre-installed on your phone is a vital capability. It can help you get an app up and running again when it breaks due to corrupted data, and provide a clean slate for you to upgrade back to the latest available version on the Play Store. With Android’s latest security patch for May 2023, a small change now makes that process more secure. It is no longer possible to downgrade to an app version older than the one your device originally shipped with.
How to install any add-on extension in Firefox on Android
Firefox for Android still doesn't officially support all extensions, but there is a neat workaround
In 2020, Mozilla launched a new Firefox version for Android that was rewritten from the ground up. In the process, Firefox lost a feature that set it apart from the rest of the best browsers for Android: Add-ons. While Mozilla has added a small list of allowed extensions you can install through a menu, you don't have easy access to many Firefox extensions. There is a simple workaround you can use to get any Firefox add-on you might need on your favorite Android phone.
My favorite public transit app is finally great again
Citymapper 11 drops the paywall and gives you access to all features for free
If you’re someone like me living in a big city where a personal vehicle isn’t a must-have, a reliable and intelligent public transit app is vital. Over the years of searching for my preferred service, I’ve landed on Citymapper for most of my routes. The app isn’t perfect by all means, but it’s the closest to no-frills I can get here in Berlin.
The Google Play Store blocked over a million bad apps last year
Google’s new policies and improved machine learning algorithms seem to help
The Google Play Store is often criticized for unjustly booting innocent developers and their apps from the platform. At the same time, the Play Store has to keep bad actors from entering the app market in the first place, and if you put this into perspective, it gets clear that falsely blocked accounts are a communication problem more than anything else. To show how successful its methods are, Google has released its annual overview of how it fought bad apps and actors in 2022.
Tecno Phantom V Fold review: The most affordable foldable yet
If you want to call any phone more expensive than $1,000 affordable, that is
Foldables are on their way to becoming mainstream and are among the best phones you can get today. Not too long ago, Samsung had to recall its first-generation Fold due to debris getting under the display, and today, we're at a stage where multiple companies are competing to create both the best and the most affordable folding phones out there. Tecno has also entered this race with the Phantom V Fold, and it tries to differentiate itself from Samsung and others in two key ways: pricing and processor choice.
How to make your Android phone and MacBook work well together
Apple’s ecosystem might be the best solution, but Android users aren’t left in the cold
The Apple ecosystem is the perfect solution for anyone who wants a seamlessly integrated environment where their phone, laptop, and wearable play together without a hitch. This might tempt many people to switch from Android to iOS. But if you prefer to use one of many great Android phones, there are things you can do to make it play better with your MacBook. You might never reach the same level of integration as an iPhone owner, but you can make your life easier, and things might be better than you imagined.
While Google is busy preparing a big Chrome desktop redesign using its latest Material You design elements, the company is also working on adding a lot more quality of life features. Chrome 113 is the best proof of this yet, as the new release, now out in early stable, is filled to the brim with new features for you to try on both your desktop and your favorite Android phone. Let’s dive right into it.
Leaks spill all the Google Pixel 7a specs
We now know basically everything we need to know about Google’s upcoming budget offering
If the rumors from the last few months are to be believed, the Google Pixel 7a is launching during Google I/O 2023 on May 10th. But as always, leaks have already spilled most of the beans, and the latest info dump in line gives us a glimpse at all of the phone’s specs. 91mobiles and noted leaker Yogesh Brar have teamed up to reveal new battery and display details, along with further hardware specifications.
Android’s camera and microphone kill switch is headed to ChromeOS
Google is bringing one of the best privacy features from Android to ChromeOS
2021's Android 12 added helpful privacy indicators on top of a big Material You interface redesign to all the best Android phones out there. When an app is using your microphone or your camera, you will see a small notice and a dot in your phone’s status bar. In addition to that, you can also cut off microphone and camera access for all apps using quick settings toggles. These same features are now coming to ChromeOS, as Google announced in an enterprise-focused blog post.