Author Archives: JC Torres

Shelter-in-place orders and quarantines have shaken up businesses around the world. That includes not only those that require workers to come into work physically but especially those whose business revolves around people actually going out and walking around. Niantic Labs' games have been hailed for getting people to be more active, perhaps almost too active, but now the company is scrabbling to ensure players are still able to enjoy this AR experiences even when stuck inside their homes.

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Smartphones come and go but more often than not you can expect them to be available for more than a year. That's not the case with Google's Pixel phones, however, as these seem to have a shelf life of one year, at least as far as Google's own store goes. Just like its predecessor, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have now disappeared from there, clearing the market for the Pixel 4 and perhaps even an upcoming Pixel 4a.

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It shouldn't really be a surprise these days that Internet services accumulate a wealth of data from each and every user, especially those that offer said services for free. More often than not, this data collection activity is explained as a way to improve the user experience, mostly by personalizing what users see to match what they might be interested in. All of this is, of course, invisible to the user, which has been the subject of much debate and legislation. Complying with those laws, Facebook and Instagram are updating their data download tools to include not just your direct data but the information it uses to infer what users like.

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When it comes to less premium devices, Samsung doesn't often make a lot of noise when they launch in select markets. Often we have to keep our eyes peeled for press releases, presuming there is even one, or product pages that suddenly pop up out of the blue. Sometimes, however, retailers are also "generous" enough to give us an accidental sneak peek at what's to come. Case in point is Amazon Germany pushing the publish button for the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, revealing when we can expect it to launch and for how much.

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The past weeks have been difficult for everyone around the world and consumer electronics companies are no exception. Apple has had to make adjustments to its supplies and even repair programs while Samsung has reportedly seen dismal sales for its Galaxy S20 flagship phones. That, however, isn't stopping companies from pushing out their products, whether or not people will be able to pick them up anyway. Like the shiny new Samsung Galaxy Chromebook that will be marching to stores next Monday.

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Even before there were such things as quarantines and shelter-in-place orders, Minecraft players have already been building painstaking recreations of both fictional as well as real-world locations and structures. Now that there is more time available, one can only imagine the out of this world ideas some would come up with. You don't have to travel that far, though, as our very world itself is already a source of inspiration as this new project to create a 1:1 version of the Earth in Minecraft demonstrates.

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One of the biggest problems with the COVID-19 coronavirus is the lack and slowness of testing for cases. Overloaded healthcare facilities, faulty tets, and lack of equipment result in the inability to catch up with the true spread of the virus through states, let alone the entire country and the world. Private companies are now rushing to give a hand and Abbott has just announced what could be the smallest and fastest way to get a diagnosis.

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A lot of things are being postponed or canceled outright due to the COVID-19 pandemic so it is sometimes refreshing to hear that something will be going ahead as scheduled. Of course, it might not be that much of a big difference considering how Final Fantasy VII Remake, a game that has been years in the making and decades in the dreaming, should have reached its final version even before all the lockdowns. That said, Square Enix is now explaining that even when the game launches in two weeks, you might not get your physical copy on that day anyway.

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Despite all odds and talk about delayed or insufficient supplies, Apple launched what may be its biggest change to the iPad Pro line yet. Actually, the biggest change may not be from the iPad Pro itself but from its keyboard accessory. Yes, the 2020 iPad Pro, specifically the larger 12.9-inch model, has a new LiDAR for augmented reality purposes. But aside from the few hardware upgrades, it seems that this year's iPad Pros are nearly identical to 2018's iPad Pros, and not in the good ways.

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Different tech companies have had their own ways to respond to the pandemic gripping the entire world but Amazon may be the one with the largest coverage as far as services and products go. From deliveries to entertainment to smart devices, the retail giant is busy not just responding to the crisis but also responding to criticisms and allegations. Its latest action to respond to the call of the times is to equip Alexa and its line of smart speakers and displays with information and content to keep people connected to the outside world even when stuck at home.

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Just last week, Google made a rather bold and forceful stand that would be echoed by other software developers in the industry. It said that it would put Chrome and Chrome OS releases on hold during the COVID-19 crisis, a move that Microsoft would follow both for the Chrome-based Edge and even Windows 10 to some extent. In another surprising move, however, Google is now announcing that releases will be pushing through though with a few changes along the way.

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Samsung doesn't make a big fuss about its tablets outside of the Galaxy Tab S family but there are times when even those don't get enough attention. The Galaxy Tab S5e, for example, wasn't advertised as much despite the "S" in its name. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite might have the same fate as it is expected to be a mid-range offering. Fortunately, the leaks do more than enough to sate our curiosity until the somewhat silent press release comes out.

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