Articles by Chris Wedel

Best answer: Yes, you can install a third-party screen protector on top of the non-removable factory-installed screen protector for your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Keeping your new flip phone screen safe

When folding phones started to become a reality, tech fans got super excited at the prospect of getting a larger display in a more portable form factor. Samsung has been leading this charge, and the new Galaxy Z Flip 3 is one of the latest in that line of devices, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

However, one of the biggest roadblocks when it came to previous Flip phones was the fragile glass. Like most phones, the UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) used for the folding screen needs to be kept safe with a screen protector, and in line with the necessity of it here, it has one installed from the factory. However, for extra protection can you install a third-party on top of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 screen protector?

Though the short answer is yes, the complete answer is a bit more complicated. I…

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has some really great improvements over the 2020 model. It’s definitely an exciting device, from the larger external display to the new material protecting the internal display. Unfortunately, while Samsung included water resistance with the phone, it doesn’t mean that it’s more durable. Though you can’t remove the factory-installed screen protector on the inner display, you can still use a third-party screen protector for extra protection. These are the best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 screen protectors you can get for your new flip phone.

Leading the charge

Whitestone Dome Silk for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 screen protector

Whitestone is pushing the limits with its ultra-thin glass screen protectors. Instead of a plastic film, this screen protector lets you enjoy the enhanced clarity and feel of glass. Luckily, it also keeps your Galaxy Z Flip 3’s screen looking as clean as the day you unboxed it.

$60 at Amazon

Fully covered

Orzero Samsung Ga…

Google has the ability to save the family wall calendar with its smart displays, but it hasn’t.

Being organized is an essential part of today’s world — especially for families. Between juggling personal appointments, work obligations, and activities for the kids, it’s easy to miss something without a good event tracking system. One of the most long-standing options for doing this is the family wall calendar. However, with digital tools like Google Tasks and Google Calendar, the paper calendar is dying — but a central hub for the family to stay on the same proverbial page shouldn’t go by the wayside.

Growing up, we were always busy with something happening with school activities and sports. One of the staples in our home was the trusty wall calendar, which would have things scribbled down for what we had going on for the month. Of course, these were times before smartphones, little to no internet, and even texting wasn’t much of a thing early on, so that means communication was …

The new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are the latest folding phones from Samsung. From the looks of it, these phones should do well to keep Samsung at the top of the best folding phone list for a while. However, these are expensive phones, and keeping them protected is a priority to keep your investment safe. Samsung knows this and offers some tremendous first-party Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 cases and accessories.

Galaxy Z Fold 3 Cases and Accessories

Fits the mold

Silicone Cover

Samsung’s Silicone Cover is an excellent everyday case option for your new Galaxy Z Fold 3. It’s been meticulously molded to fit the phone perfectly so it offers excellent protection, grip, and fit. Plus, it will help protect both the front and back of the phone. You can get the Silicone Cover in white, black, and green.

$40 at Samsung

Standing for attention

Leather Flip Stand Cover

The Leather Flip Stand Cover is crafted from high-quality leather to perfectly fit your Galaxy Z Fol…

Google Messages was once thought of as a simple SMS text messaging app from Google, but since it has continued to expand on features like RCS messaging, it has become one of the best messaging apps for Android. With more and more Android users hopping on board with the messaging app since it has become the default option by most phone manufacturers, ease of use is essential. So when you’re working away at your desk, you may not want always to have to pick up your phone to handle text — thanks to Google Messages on the web, you don’t.

How to activate and use Google Messages on the web

Using Google Messages on the web is a relatively painless process, and all you need is your computer and your phone — now let’s get started.

On your computer, open your web browser and go to Google Messages.
Click on Messages for web in the upper-right corner.

On your phone, open Google Messages.
Tap on the three dots in the upper-right corner.
Select Device Pairing.
Tap on the QR code scanner …

With its high price tag and nearly all-glass construction, you’re going to want to get one of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 cases around. Even with its unique form factor and build, there are still some ways to add some protection to your device. Here are the best Galaxy Fold 2 cases available right now.

Best of both worlds

Spigen Ultra Hybrid

Staff Pick

The Spigen Ultra Hybrid case brings two fantastic features together. It provides all-around protection without being too thick. The case offers great protection for your phone’s front and back by utilizing a dual-layer system with a hard outer shell surrounding a shock-absorbing TPU inner layer. There are also raised bezels that help to keep the screen and camera up off of surfaces.

$40 at Amazon

Luxury on luxury

Samsung Leather Case

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a device with a luxurious price tag and feel, so it should have a case that matches it in every way. Made from high-quality genuine leather, this cover offers …

When times get dark, we need bright light to see our way out — and the brightest LED smart bulbs make it that much better. A high-lumen (unit for measuring the quantity of light) bulb can do the trick in a small or large room. Adding in some smarts to that bulb gives it the flexibility to control from your favorite smart speaker or phone. So whether you want a standard A19 E26 bulb or the BR30 for recessed lighting, there’s a bulb for you. The Feit Electric OM100 is our top pick for its incredibly high lumen rating and hubless smart controls, which means it only needs Wi-Fi and your phone to control.

Best overall: Feit Electric OM100 – RGBW

While Feit Electric may not be the well-known smart bulb, it’s been innovating and creating high-quality lighting solutions since 1978 — and the OM100 RGBW bulb continues that trend. Since this bulb doesn’t require extra hardware such as a hub, this Wi-Fi-enabled smart LED bulb is simple to set up. It has a peak output of 1,600 lumens, mak…

The bright white app is gone in favor of a much darker look as well as 3D renders to show you what’s blocking your internet.

What you need to know

Starlink’s new app is now in a much more dark mode-friendly look in the new version.
The check for obstructions tool has been refreshed to give a 3D view of obstructions and estimate the severity.
An outage log has also been included in the app update.

The SpaceX Starlink satellite internet app was just completely overhauled this week with a new look and refreshed features. The great thing is that whether you are using one of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers or the Starlink router, all of the features are available to you.

When we first reviewed Starlink, the companion app was stark white with basic sans-serif text — very utilitarian. The refresh gives the app a fresh coat of dark mode paint throughout the app, and it has a much more polished feel to the UI overall. When opening the app, there’s even a very nice animation to Dishy McFla…

There are many Wear OS smartwatches out there that might fulfill your needs. If you want support for contactless payments, be sure to check out the watches that support Google Pay. If you’re not familiar, this handy software lets you pay anywhere that contactless payments are available using only your watch. Fortunately, there are many options when shopping for watches that support Google Pay, so without further ado, here are the best ones.

Top of the line

TicWatch Pro 3 GPS Smart Watch

Staff Pick

The TicWatch Pro 3 keeps much of the design lineage from previous generations of the Pro watches. However, the newest model brings an updated secondary display which includes a backlight, improved and new health monitoring like a SpO2 sensor, but the most significant may be the new Snapdragon 4100 processor — it’s very fast. That speed translates to faster payments within Google Pay as well.

$300 at Amazon $280 at Walmart $300 at B&H

Work smarter

Fossil Men’s Gen 5E

…

It appears that Google is finally getting into the smartwatch game with the first Pixel Watch this year — here’s what we know so far.

From the beginnings of Google’s wearable strategy, it has always relied on other OEMs to carry the hardware torch for its software. However, that doesn’t mean fans of Wear OS, and Android Wear before it, haven’t been clamoring for an official smartwatch from the software giant.

After years of rumors for a Google-branded wearable that always ended in disappointment for Wear OS fans, 2021 looks to be the year that a Google Pixel Watch may actually arrive alongside the Pixel 6 lineup. Here’s what we know so far about the Pixel Watch.

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Pixel Watch: Announcement and release date

As of right now, we don’t have anything official from Google in terms of a Pixel Watch being released this year. However, far more leaks and information have pointed toward this being the year a Google…