Latest articles by Brady Snyder
Google fixed a critical security flaw for Pixels, but other Android phones were left hanging
Slow response A zero-day security flaw was finally addressed by Google in the June Pixel Feature Drop, but that only covers Pixel devices. Everyone else is left out in the cold.
Qualcomm admits the ‘new’ Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is really from 2021, and that’s a problem
Big mistake? Qualcomm is dominating the market for high-end silicon, but it seems to be forgetting about the low end — and it could be costly.
Google Phone's new Lookup tool will help you evade scammers
Digital phone book The beta version of Phone by Google includes a new Lookup tool, and it could be a great way to avoid scams.
Foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 need to be flagships without compromises
Flagship or fumble? Why should consumers pay double the price of a standard flagship for a foldable without top-notch features?
Apple made RCS messaging an afterthought at WWDC, why wouldn’t it?
Green bubbles RCS messaging is coming to the iPhone with iOS 18, and Apple doesn’t care about how big of a deal that really is.
Google's Find My Device network is live, but it isn't working as expected
Item not found Now that the first Find My Device network trackers are shipping, it's clear that Google's user-friendly settings have created a worse finding experience.
Apple says new Pixels and Galaxy phones will get longer software support than iPhones
Android is the winner For the first time ever, Android phones are the king of software support, led by Google and Samsung’s seven-year promise.
Nothing will prioritize AI over Phone 3, but is that the right call?
Worth the wait? In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nothing CEO Carl Pei explained that Phone 3 will be all about AI, but it won't come this year.
To keep our right to repair alive, we need to embrace aftermarket parts
Tough luck Google came under fire for a policy regarding aftermarket parts, and it sparks an interesting conversation about where they fit into right to repair.
Spotify’s price hikes and lack of HiFi make me want to own music again
Really, again? Spotify Premium now costs $11.99 per month, making it more expensive than Apple Music and Tidal, despite having less features.
After a string of carrier service outages, satellite messaging in Android 15 could bring stability
No connection AT&T, Verizon, iMessage, and Google News are just a few of the services people depend on everyday that have suffered massive outages. Could satellite connectivity be the answer?
Foldable phone shipments are up, but the biggest brands in North America lag behind
Huawei won't quit You might be surprised to learn that foldable phones are becoming more popular worldwide, and people aren't buying most of them from Google or Samsung.
Pixel 8 and 8a will soon get Gemini Nano, but it should still give you pause
Promises kept ... for now Google is set to finally bring Gemini Nano to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a as an optional setting, but the issues so far don't bode well for the devices' software promise.
Chromebook Plus wants to compete with Copilot Plus, but will it work?
AI in ChromeOS Google is bringing AI to Chromebook Plus, and it sounds kind of like what Microsoft is doing with Copilot Plus on Windows.
Annual Wear OS version upgrades will make each one a lot more boring, and that's okay
Wear OS 5 Samsung could release a Wear OS 5 beta soon, and it got me thinking about how much less exciting Wear OS updates will be moving forward.
Samsung is breaking away from iFixit's mission while Google is embracing it
R2R promises iFixit and Samsung’s partnership is over, casting doubt on the manufacturer’s true commitment to right-to-repair initiatives. Through all the mess, it’s Google that’s sitting pretty.
Google Weather app Material You redesign hits more Android phones and tablets
Spreading Beyond Pixel The redesigned Google Weather app has been spotted on a variety of Android devices, even those running versions as old as Android 11.
Spotify killing Car Thing shows why you shouldn't buy hardware from a software company
Complete disaster Spotify's tone-deaf email to customers informing them their devices will be bricked is the icing on the cake for an awful decision.
We need to stop letting companies double-dip with high upfront costs and required subscriptions
Enough is enough Samsung is reportedly weighing a subscription for its Galaxy Ring in addition to a $300 to $350 initial purchase price, and if it goes this route, consumers should boycott.
One of Google’s best generative AI features is rolling out on older Pixel phones for free
Magic Editor After debuting alongside the Pixel 8 series last year, Magic Editor is rolling out on older Pixel phones starting now — and it’s completely free.
Gemini 1.5 Pro side panel rolls out for Google Workspace Labs testers
AI & Workspace integration Google’s new Gemini 1.5 Pro side panel is now available in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive for Google Workspace Labs and Gemini for Workspace Alpha users.
OpenAI trying to steal Scarlett Johansson's voice to make AI feel 'comfortable' is the reason why it's so worrying
AI dystopia When Scarlett Johansson decided against letting OpenAI use her voice for its GPT-4o model, the company may have copied it anyway. It ended up making AI feel less comfortable, not more.
Google’s AI overviews in search might kill publishing, and it’s going to backfire eventually
Shortsighted approach Now that Google is rolling out AI overviews widely in Search, online media and publishing faces its most fervent threat yet. But if digital publishing falls, so will AI.
