The best thing Google can do for the Pixel line is stay consistent https://ift.tt/Mpj1nvk

Credit: Google

Opinion post by

Hadlee Simons

Google first showed off the Pixel 7 series back in May at its I/O 2022 conference, revealing two phones that seemed more iterative than revolutionary.

Both devices offer similar designs to the Pixel 6 series, featuring those camera visors, center-mounted punch-hole cutouts, and near-identical camera specs to last year. You’d be forgiven for thinking these were Pixel 6 variants. But there’s a strong argument to be made that this is exactly what the Pixel line needs.

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The Galaxy Book 2 Pro made Samsung’s ecosystem worth my time https://ift.tt/7YVugJs

When you hear the name Samsung, you don’t typically think of laptops; you think of foldables, smartphones, or even their watches and TVs. Samsung as a brand has a strong legacy, so much so that a college of mine recently made a case for why it deserves to be the “face of Android.” As the company has grown in popularity, so has its portfolio of devices and the interconnectivity between them. The Galaxy ecosystem is growing.

I have owned Samsung phones since the Galaxy S8 and only bought my first pair of Galaxy Buds last year, but I never expected to use a Galaxy laptop. The Galaxy name carries the weight of high expectations, but the promise of a portable PC that could double as a central hub for my Samsung products was appealing. At the end of my experience, I found the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro to be a reliable work machine that has quickly become the central orbit of my Galaxy devices.

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AI will help phone photos surpass the DSLR, says Qualcomm https://ift.tt/6vJtuHW

Today’s best smartphones are photography and videography beasts. Typical high-end devices sport multiple rear cameras across various zoom factors, a ton of horsepower for processing images and videos, and comprehensive camera apps with loads of modes.

We’ve already familiar with technologies like 10x periscope cameras, 8K video recording, advanced object-erasing smarts, and more. What’s next for the industry though? We spoke to Judd Heape, vice-president of product management for cameras at Qualcomm, to look at the future of smartphone photography.

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I finally upgraded my power banks and chose these powerful 65W and 100W units https://ift.tt/0ZHJ2C1

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Finding a good power bank is both a simple and complicated matter these days. Choices are unlimited and odds are you’ll get something that does the job, no matter what you pick. But the multitude of charging protocols, power inputs and outputs, and ports means that you’ll be a bit confused by all of it.

I’ve been meaning to upgrade from my 18W 10,000mAh Anker battery for about a year, but I kept delaying the decision until I could get a replacement that’d provide a significant upgrade. The choices I settled on? Two power banks from Baseus — a Xiaomi sister brand — that each serve a different purpose.

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Motorola Edge 30 Ultra camera tested: Here’s what 200MP can do on a phone https://ift.tt/uDgdkva

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

It’s the age of megapixels and, for better or worse, 200MP cameras are soon about to become the norm. Motorola is taking the, well, edge here with its Moto Edge 30 Ultra smartphone and Samsung’s new HP1 sensor with a whopping 200 megapixels. Flanked by a 50MP ultrawide sensor and even a 60MP front-facing camera, the focus here is on better imaging by tossing more pixels than you can shake a stick at.

That said, the proof is always in the pictures. We’ve taken the Moto Edge 30 Ultra cameras out for a spin to see if Motorola has managed to end the megapixel war once and for all and beat some of the best camera smartphones on the market.

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Use your smartwatch to get the best sleep ever: Practical tips https://ift.tt/N4ncfQM

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Considering we sleep every day, you’d think we’d be better at it. Instead, most people don’t get nearly enough shut-eye. If you find yourself yawning through the afternoon or relying heavily on overcaffeinated beverages, you might be running low on rest. Luckily, a device you’re already wearing can help: that’s right, the best smartwatches can also help you get better sleep.

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This small Bluetooth dongle is now my essential travel and road trip companion https://ift.tt/yTocK4C

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Flights are boring, longer ones even more so. Since I have picky ears that despise nearly every earbud shape or size, I’ve often struggled with the default in-plane entertainment options. For the past few years, I’ve resorted to downloading some podcasts and playlists and listening to them with my own tried-and-tested comfortable Bluetooth buds. It’s a minimalistic setup, but it works for me and allows me to skip cramming a tablet or laptop in the small space in front of me.

Glancing at my husband next to me, though, I still envied how he could simply grab any plane-provided earbud or headset and use it with the in-flight entertainment system. On our four-hour trips back home to Lebanon, he can catch two movies, while I struggle to pass the time after the second or third hour.

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