Author Archives: JC Torres

Windows 11 came out a day earlier than planned, but it didn't take long for PC makers to jump on board and announce support for the newest Windows release. In addition to Microsoft's own Surface line, the likes of Acer and Razer have been quick to debut new laptops that come with Windows 11 right off the bat. LG, in contrast, is taking a slightly different route and isn't announcing anything new. Instead, it's simply saying that its 2021 line of Gram notebooks now have Windows 11 pre-installed if they haven't shipped out just yet.

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Google just announced the availability of new smart cameras under its Nest smart home brand, but those are hardly the only options available in a rather congested market. When it comes to security cameras and video doorbells, Arlo's name is right up there, especially when it comes to integrating with Google's own smart home platform. Once again demonstrating its close ties with Google, Arlo just updated its Motion Detection system to allow Nest Hub and other Google Assistant speakers or devices to audibly notify homeowners when people or a package have been detected.

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Although it isn't by any means a big name in the Android market, NVIDIA has earned quite a reputation for how it has so far managed its SHIELD TV devices. Even those models nearly half a decade old continue to receive updates, something few manufacturers have been able to pull off. That said, NVIDIA did categorically deliver some bad news about Android 10, but it seems that it is also working behind the scenes to deliver an even more recent version of Android to its users.

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Smartphones and tablets have become extremely powerful to the point that some of them can even give cheaper laptops a run for their money. The processors that power these mobile devices can stand toe to toe with some laptop-class chips, as Apple's M1 Silicon easily proved. There are, however, some things these mobile chipsets still can't do, but Samsung is promising to narrow that gap with the Exynos 2200 and its ability to perform ray tracing on smartphones, tablets, and maybe even some laptops.

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In the music streaming business, Spotify is still king, and Apple Music is often portrayed as its biggest rival. Of course, there are also other players in that field, including what was once separately Google Play Music and YouTube Music. The latter has now become Google's one and only contender in that arena, but it still has to make a blip in many music lovers' radars. That's because it has been lagging in some core features its rivals have long had, which is finally starting to change in one small but important way.

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Earlier this year, T-Mobile embarked on a partnership that established closer ties with Google beyond just carrying Android phones. In other words, the Un-carrier is moving to integrate more of Google's services into its products while also giving Google a more prominent spot on its network. After a brief leak a few months back, T-Mobile has now confirmed the availability of an exclusive Google One deal for its subscribers.

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Google just "launched" Android 12 in its AOSP (Android Open Source Project) form, suggesting that the Pixel 6 might not be that far behind. Of course, that could be anywhere between this week and the end of the month, as some of the rumors go. While waiting for that date, however, the rumors and leaks surrounding the Pixel 6 phones continue to trickle in, and the latest bits about the Pixel 6 Pro's cameras could raise fans' hopes for another laudable effort from Google.

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It seems that Google is going on a spree to turn its web browser into a portal to its other products and services. Whether that campaign will ruffle competitors' and regulators' feathers remains to be seen, but there doesn't seem to be any stopping Google from its push. Most of these new and upcoming features revolve around search results and the New Tab Page, the latter of which is getting a new module that will surface your Google Photos whenever you think of opening a new browser tab.

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As game consoles become more powerful, one particular aspect seems to have taken a small step backward instead. Internal storage naturally has to be a bit limited, but the latest PlayStation and Xbox generations have also made expanding that storage either more difficult or more expensive. While the Xbox Series X|S has long had storage expansion, the available choices aren't exactly accessible, making the sighting of this 512GB card from Seagate an early holiday treat for Xbox gamers.

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Android updates haven't exactly been the best in terms of timing. Things are getting better but, considering there are so many players and moving parts, it's unsurprising that it still isn't on Apple's level. Much of the blame has been placed on carriers which are often the last stop before an update rolls out to phone owners. In an attempt to dispel that image, T-Mobile is revealing which phones are currently in line to get Android 12 without actually committing to when it will happen.

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Apple's September event focused entirely on its mobile family, both iPhones and iPads, but not all of its customers are in the market for a new portable device. These are probably still waiting for the new MacBook Pros to land after having been rumored all throughout the year. That's still happening and probably in a few weeks even, and it will come with a new Apple M1X Silicon that could further widen its lead over equivalent Intel chips on MacBooks.

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Almost like a one-hit-wonder, Clubhouse's prestige seems to have started waning now that Facebook and Twitter are also in the running. Of course, there are still many creators and users who prefer to keep their content away from those social media giants, but they are also searching for more features and more control over their live sessions. That's fortunately coming in the latest set of features for Clubhouse, including one that could prove to be quite controversial.

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