Tech Talk

The magic of a Pixel isn't on a spec sheet. It's in the software. I hate the word flagship . It's a fine word to describe a company's best product, but the way it gets thrown around when talking about tech makes it meaningless. Unfortunately, it's really the only way to describe the top-tier category of mobile devices in a way everyone understands. So we all use it. In that context, I want to talk about Google and its place among the most flagship-ish best phones . Specifically, how Google didn't offer one in 2020, and how that's a really smart move by a company that is slowly but surely increasing its hardware revenue . The only words worse than Flagship Phone are Flagship Killer. Google shipped three new Pixel phones in 2020 and none of them qualify as flagships according to Android enthusiasts: the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G , and the Pixel 5 . That wasn't an accident, and any conspiracy theory about Google being unable to source flags

Do you have a family you never knew about? Are you genetically likely to develop a certain disease? Do you enjoy saving a bunch of money? You can discover the answers to all of these questions and more with the 23andMe DNA test that's on sale for $99 thanks to an early Black Friday sale. That's a huge discount, saving you $100 off its regular price. It's also a match for its Prime Day price. These at-home kits are pretty simple to use. All you need to do is provide a DNA sample using your saliva. Then you send it back to the 23andMe lab, the people there analyze it, and you get your reports within eight weeks. The $99 test includes more than 125 reports about your health, wellness, ancestry, and more. The Ancestry Service includes over 35 reports that detail things like your ancestry composition, maternal and paternal haplogroups, Neanderthal ancestry, and your DNA family. It also has the DNA Relative Finder that can match and connect you with relatives through the 23

You will need to update the SmartThings app on your phone to start using the service. What you need to know Samsung has launched a new service called SmartThings Find. The service, which will be available within the SmartThings app, will help you locate your lost Galaxy devices. SmartThings Find is compatible with Galaxy devices running Android 8 or later. Samsung's SmartThings Find service, which was showcased by the company at its Unpacked event in August, has finally been officially launched . The new service, which will be available within the SmartThings app , will help users find their connected Galaxy devices. The service uses Bluetooth Low Energy and ultra-wideband (UWB) to help you locate your misplaced Galaxy phone, tablet, smartwatch, or wireless earbuds. You will be able to use the SmartThings Find even when your Galaxy device isn't connected to the internet. This is possible as SmartThings users can now choose to use their Galaxy phone or tablet to hel

Losing things can be an expensive habit but, fortunately for you, an early Black Friday deal just arrived at Amazon with a solution to your problem that doesn't break the bank. Tile's Bluetooth Item Trackers are the perfect way to make sure you can always find your keys, wallet, or any other important items you can't afford to misplace. Today only, they are discounted by as much as 30%. All of the Tile trackers on sale today are the updated 2020 models. Prices start at just $24.49 for a single Tile Pro tracker, and you can save even further by choosing one of the bundles that includes more than one. The prices are a match for the discounts we saw during Prime Day a couple of weeks back, though you don't have to be a Prime member to make the most of the savings today. There are a few different models of Tile trackers, though the Tile Mate is the most versatile. It has a built-in keyring hole that lets you easily attach it to your keys. It's also small and thin e

Though we're still about a month away from the event itself, a major Black Friday discount just reached the Beats Solo3 wireless headphones at Amazon. For a limited time, you can score a set of Beats Solo3 in the color of your choice for only $119.95. That's an $80 discount and the lowest price we've ever seen for the on-ear Bluetooth headphones and one of the best Beats deals out there right now. You only have today to make the most of the deal, though. The Solo3 headphones are great for travel with up to 40 hours of battery life, fine-tuned acoustics, an adjustable fit, and foldable design. They support quick charging, so five minutes on the charger gets you three hours of playback. The W1 chip helps connectivity remain seamless with Apple devices, though they'll work just fine with any device that's got Bluetooth, and the audio sounds great. There are also on-ear controls that are easy to use and can help you take calls, change your music, and activate Siri wit

Accurate multi-room tracking Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat $227 at Amazon $208 at Walmart Pros SmartSensors for temperature / occupancy tracking LCD Touchscreen Built-in smart speaker for commands Works with Alexa, Google Home and HomeKit Provided PEK for non-C wire installation Three-year warranty Cons No learning schedule or suggested energy savings Mics, speakers aren't very receptive or loud Boring design Mostly refurbished units available Geofencing only tracks one phone The Ecobee4 is a versatile machine that works with multiple apps, speakers, smart homes, and sensors, giving you all the methods you need to schedule, control, and track your home temperatures through all the rooms in your home. Unfortunately, Ecobee isn't manufacturing more of them, so grab new units while you can. Colorful but stripped down Nest Thermostat $130 at Best Buy $130 at B&H Pros Multiple color options for IPS mirror display Unique touch strip temperature contr

OnePlus 8T Everything you need $749 at Amazon Pros Sublime 120Hz AMOLED display Android 11 out of the box 65W wired charging Snapdragon 865 with 5G connectivity 12GB RAM and 256GB storage by default Cons No wireless charging No IP rating Average camera The OnePlus 8T delivers the latest hardware you can buy today. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset and has 5G connectivity, and you get a flat AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and insane 65W fast charging. Add the fact that the phone runs Android 11 out of the box and you get a great overall package. OnePlus 8 Pro All the extras $899 at Amazon Pros Stunning 120Hz AMOLED display Exciting cameras 30W wired and wireless charging IP68 water resistance Snapdragon 865 chipset with 5G Now on Android 11 Cons No 3.5mm headphone jack Costly by comparison The OnePlus 8 Pro takes things to the next level with a curved QHD+ AMOLED screen wi