Patrick Lucas Austin

Tech NewsSamsung

The Samsung Galaxy Watch is Cute, But Way Too Big

At Samsung’s Unpacked event, the company confirmed what we already knew, and announced its Samsung Galaxy Note 9 phablet. It also announced a new wearable: The Samsung Galaxy Watch, the fourth device in Samsung’s line of wearable gadgets. With LTE connectivity, a slew of new health features, and three different colors, it seems Samsung is … Continued

Tech NewsGoogle

If This Leak Is Legit, the Pixel 3 XL Will Be Google’s Ugliest Phone Yet

If you’re worried that Google might change its mind about including the hated notch on its rumored Pixel 3 smartphone, don’t be: You’re still getting that terrible notch, if this alleged unboxing of a Pixel 3 XL is the real deal. According to Android Police, a Ukranian blogger published images and video on Telegram of … Continued

Tech News

Snapchat Files All-Caps DMCA Takedown After the Source Code It Leaked Hit Github

A portion of Snapchat’s source code was leaked and hosted on the code repository platform GitHub (recently acquired by Microsoft) before a copyright takedown request from Snap led the company to remove the offending leak. The leak occurred after a botched update to the company’s Snapchat iOS app in May. While the leak itself was … Continued

ReviewsHeadphonesBose

Bose Has a Pricey Winner With Its Sleep-Friendly Earbuds

Sleeping on the weekends is rough. My apartment is across the street from a bar that grows only louder and more crowded in the height of summer, so a good Saturday night snooze is usually out of the question. Raucous drinkers, the thump of the bass from the building, and the sound of my air … Continued

ReviewsSmart HomeRouters

Plume Made Good Wifi Cheap

I’ve always had a frustrating relationship with the Internet thanks to where I lived. Long hallways or brick walls were in the way of a strong connection, requiring me to get inventive with Ethernet cables, antenna extenders, and SSID names. Mesh networks, which use multiple routers working in tandem to eradicate dead spots, have largely … Continued

ReviewsPhonesAlcatel

The Cost of Buying a $100 Phone

No one gets a cheap phone because they want to have a sub-par experience filled with stuttering and lagging apps. People get cheap phones because they’re cheap, and usually work just enough to justify the low price point. Take the Alcatel 1X, for example. It’s neither novel nor intriguing. It’s not trying to impress you. … Continued

Tech NewsSamsung

Samsung, U OK?

Another day, another “leak” of what appears to be Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 9 smartphone. It’s natural Samsung would be more than willing to express excitement for its sequel to the Galaxy Note 8—a phone that didn’t exactly take the world by storm. But for this device to so thoroughly and steadily leak prematurely, just … Continued

Tech NewsNews

Generation Z Will Have to LipSync in Front of Dying Grandpas on a Whole New App

Musical.ly, the lip-syncing video creation app harnessing the heinous amounts of free time teens possess (with mixed results), has grown considerably since its 2014 launch. But just like the transition from middle to high school, sometimes it’s time for a reboot. Today, Musical.ly is being shut down, and its users are being migrated to TikTok, … Continued

Tech NewsFacebook

Facebook Starts Showing You How Much Time You Waste on Facebook

Facebook is finally releasing its time-management feature, which will definitely not make you feel bad about yourself. As expected, the new feature, which is being integrated into Facebook and Instagram apps on iOS and Android, will show you exactly how much time you’ve spent staring into the void that is your Instagram or Facebook feed, … Continued

Tech NewsGoogle

Gee, I Wonder What People Will Look at in Google’s New VR Web Browser

First it was the Kindle that allowed the world to enjoy its romance novels without fear of public embarrassment. Next, Google will let everyone browse the web in the privacy of virtual reality with its Chrome browser and Daydream VR headset. Chrome is now available for the VR platform, bringing the dream of a web … Continued

Tech NewsNews

LinkedIn Just Gave You a New Reason to Make Fun of LinkedIn

LinkedIn, a social network for people who enjoy soul-crushing banality, knows you get more than a few emails from randos wanting to add you to their “professional network.” Sick of reading messages from these random acquaintances looking to discuss synergy-based solutions and B2B services? Well, now you can listen to them instead, thanks to voice … Continued

Tech NewsGoogle

Google’s Smart Speakers Are Getting a New Feature I Can Actually Get Excited About

Google has been steadily improving its smart speaker with updates facilitating more fluid conversations, as well as the addition of routines for chaining together multiple tasks with a single command. Now Google is adding scheduling to the mix, which means your mornings can start just the way you want them, at the same time, every … Continued

Tech NewsAmazon

Now Every Alexa Device Should Know Which One You’re Yelling At

Keeping multiple voice assistants in your home can lead to the occasional misfire, causing a far-flung device in the bedroom to react while you’re attempting to extract the weather forecast from the one in your living room. Amazon addressed this quirk with its own Echo devices in 2016, and now it’s bringing that improved listening … Continued

Tech News

Japan’s Emperor Is Stepping Down Soon, Which Could Cause Major Headaches for Computer Calendars

For most people, resigning from your job doesn’t necessitate the invention of any new computer characters, just a new Twitter bio. But as The Guardian reports, when Emperor Akihito, Japan’s current ruler, abdicates the Chrysanthemum Throne next year, that’s exactly what the country will need. Currently, there’s no computer character available to represent the next … Continued

Tech NewsGoogle

The Future of Self-Driving Cars Is… Getting Rides to Walmart

If you already rely on ridesharing services to run errands or grab groceries, a self-driving car that shuttles you to pick up your pre-bagged tailgate party snacks may sound like a no-brainer. And that’s essentially what Waymo is up to: In Phoenix, Arizona, Waymo is expanding its self-driving car program by targeting the customers of … Continued

Tech NewsGoogle

Here’s Why Google Chrome Is Telling You Your Favorite Sites Aren’t Secure

Google’s throwing its weight around and using its latest edition of its Chrome browser to make the web a little safer by shaming sites that haven’t implemented the more secure data transfer protocol HTTPS—which keeps bad actors from digitally watching over your shoulder as you browser. BBC reported the browser’s URL bar will now show … Continued

Tech NewsSamsung

Samsung’s Giantest Giant TV Could Be Coming to Homes Next Year

At CES 2018, Samsung showed off “The Wall,” a 146-inch 4K TV that uses MicroLED display technology to make TVs larger than anything currently available. According to a report from the Korea Herald, Han Jong-hee, president of Samsung’s visual display business, claimed a consumer version of The Wall is on the way, and will be … Continued

Tech NewsGadgets

PC Sales Are Up, But Only a Little, So Play It Cool

After more than five years of declining sales, nerds and APM enthusiasts everywhere can gently rejoice: The PC has made a comeback so far this year, thanks in part to businesses switching operating systems and the insatiable appetites of gamers. The second quarter of 2018 “showed shipments of traditional PCs (desktop, notebook, and workstation) totaled … Continued

Tech NewsDesign

‘Full Version’ of Adobe Photoshop is Reportedly Coming to iPads

Adobe is bringing the “full version” of its industry-standard Photoshop app to the iPad, and its other desktop apps may follow suit, according to a report from Bloomberg today. Get ready to unsharp mask all the things. Bloomberg reports that the “full version of its Photoshop app for Apple Inc.’s iPad” is on the way, … Continued

Tech News

Sprint Still Fails to Understand What ‘Unlimited’ Actually Means

Sprint, mirroring its competition, has engaged in some grammatical gymnastics with its new unlimited strategy, announcing not one, but two different unlimited plans, each with their own limitations. One might almost say they’re not unlimited plans at all, and instead amount to yet another attempt by carriers to squeeze consumers’ wallets. “Today we’re introducing Unlimited Plus—a feature-rich … Continued