Articles by Daniel Bader

The newest version of Android is finally here.

The second Android 12 Developer Preview is here, which means that the build is now more stable — though it’s still not advisable to install it on a daily driver.

Because it’s a Developer Preview and not a public beta, Google is limiting the ways you can install it. You’ll need to be adept with the Android SDK and your computer’s command line tools if you want to pull off this magic trick, but we’re here to walk you through the process.

Which phones can download the Android 12 Beta?

There are nine phones from Google that support the Android 12 Developer Preview:

Pixel 3
Pixel 3 XL
Pixel 3a
Pixel 3a XL
Pixel 4
Pixel 4 XL
Pixel 4a
Pixel 4a 5G
Pixel 5

Install Android 12 using the Android Flash Tool

New this year is the ability to use the Android Flash Tool, a web-based version of the ADB developer tool, to install the Android 12 preview onto your phone.

Head to the Android Flash Tool site.
Allow the site to access ADB in y…

Sonos has officially announced its latest speaker, and it’s coming next month.

What you need to know

The Sonos Roam is the company’s cheapest product to date at $169.
It’s a portable Sonos speaker that performs double-duty as a standalone Bluetooth speaker and a whole-home Wi-Fi speaker.
It’s fully waterproof, has a 10-hour battery and can easily “throw” music to a nearby Sonos speaker.

Sonos doesn’t release new products very often. The last consumer speaker it released was back in 2019, when a product demo involved a flight to New York, a gorgeous patio with a view of Manhattan, and demos showing the newly-announced Move speaker caked in mud, submerged in water, and dropped onto concrete. The company made a big deal about the fact that the Move, which replaced the aging Play:3 in the company’s lineup, sounded like a big, room-filling Sonos speaker that happened to easily pair with a smartphone over Bluetooth and last for 10 hours on its built-in battery.

I really like the Mov…

As high-end phones get more expensive, cheap Android phones are getting better. It’s 2021, and flagship smartphones are all nearly a thousand dollars or more, so why not spend a little less? We’ve researched and ranked all of the best cheap Android phones you can buy, and with our buyer’s guide, you’ll find the perfect phone for you.

What are the best cheap Android phones?

2020 was tremendous for Android phones in the value space, and as we make our way through 2021, we expect more of the same. You’re seeing features like multiple cameras, faster processors, and 5G hit price points that would have been unheard of just a couple of years ago. We recommend the Moto G Power (2020) as the best cheap Android phone because it hits the right balance of performance, camera quality, and battery life, with a clean build of Android that you’re sure to love.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more than the above pick, the Google Pixel 4a is a near-perfect balance of premium features at a value pri…

In the world of Assistant vs. Alexa, the Nest Audio makes Google’s case nicely.

Update, February 2021: Nest Audio, 4 months later

It’s important not to overthink what the Nest Audio is, or what it’s trying to be. Google isn’t; it was pretty clear about that fact during the product’s introduction. It’s a successor to the popular 2016 Google Home, the company’s original air freshener-shaped cylindrical Google Assistant-powered speaker, which was released during a very different time in the company’s hardware roadmap.

It wasn’t until the following year, in 2017, that the colorful, rounded-corner, fabric-covered aesthetic we know and love today was revealed in the forms of the Google Home Mini and Home Max, petite and portly versions of that original speaker designed to make the Google Assistant accessible to more home sizes, budgets, and audio enthusiasts.

In the last couple of years, there has been no shortage of Google Assistant speakers released to the market, but most of them sh…

The newest version of Android is finally here.

The first Android 12 Developer Preview is here, and it’s the culmination of a year’s-long process of making Android more secure, more private, and easier to use.

Because it’s a Developer Preview and not a public beta, Google is limiting the ways you can install it. You’ll need to be adept with the Android SDK and your computer’s command line tools if you want to pull off this magic trick, but we’re here to walk you through the process.

Which phones can download the Android 12 Beta?

There are nine phones from Google that support the Android 12 Developer Preview:

Pixel 3
Pixel 3 XL
Pixel 3a
Pixel 3a XL
Pixel 4
Pixel 4 XL
Pixel 4a
Pixel 4a 5G
Pixel 5

Installing Android 12 using the Android Flash Tool

New this year is the ability to use the Android Flash Tool, a web-based version of the ADB developer tool, to install the Android 12 preview onto your phone.

Head to the Android Flash Tool site.
Allow the site to access ADB in …

Right now, the best smartwatch for Android users is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. It’s optimized for Samsung phones but runs well on all the best Android phones and has all the smartwatch and fitness features you’d expect. It’s compact and lightweight but still offers good battery life. But if you’re not into that one, the good news is that there are so many other amazing options from Fossil to Garmin to Fitbit and more.

What are the best Android smartwatches?

Best Android Smartwatches 2021

1. Galaxy Watch Active 2 — from $199
2. Skagen Falster 3 — from $295
3. Galaxy Watch 3 — from $299
4. Garmin Forerunner 245 Music — from $306
5. TicWatch Pro 3 — from $300
6. Fitbit Versa 3 — from $199
7. Garmin Venu Sq — from $170
8. Fossil Gen 5E — from $149
9. Galaxy Watch Active — from $149
10. Suunto 7 — from $399
11. Fossil Hybrid HR — from $139
12 Amazfit GTS 2 Mini — from $100

If you’re currently in the market for the best Android smartwatch, your cho…

COVID-19 has completely upended how we experience live sports, but nothing can stop the Big Game.

Since mid-March of last year, every major sporting event in the U.S. and around the world has either been canceled or dramatically scaled back in scope. From the NBA Bubble of the shortened 2020 season to the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, there’s just been less live sport available to watch, and the tone of what is being played has been severely altered by stringent Covid protocols and the lack of fans in stands.

That’s why today’s Super Bowl is so remarkable for its near-normalcy. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have experienced minor COVID-19 outbreaks (the only team to avoid any infection was the Seattle Seahawks), but constant testing and a rigorous adherence to mask-wearing, social distancing, and good ventilation left most teams in good shape as they barrelled towards the playoffs.

One thing that struck me is that the NFL understood it …

Ever since Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 with its onboard assistant, Bixby, people have been asking for ways to disable it and forget the button ever existed in the first place. The button eventually disappeared with the Galaxy S20 lineup, but Bixby was then integrated into the power button, which made it even more frustrating to use. Now that we’re in 2021 and the release of the Galaxy S21 series, a new generation of users is discovering Bixby, so we’re back to show you how to disable it all over again.

Here’s how to get rid of as much of Bixby as possible.

Why do you want to disable Bixby?

On phones where there’s a dedicated Bixby button, one of the biggest frustrations is its placement; the button is right under the volume keys and nearly directly opposite the power buttons. On larger phones like the Galaxy S10+ or Note 10+, this often leads to accidental presses and unintended Bixby launches, especially when double-pressing the power button to launch the camera.

Starting …

Right now, the best smartwatch for Android users is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. It’s optimized for Samsung phones but runs well on all Android devices and has all the smartwatch and fitness features you’d expect. It’s compact and lightweight but still offers good battery life. But if you’re not into that one, the good news is that there are so many other amazing options from Fossil to Garmin to Fitbit and more.

The best smartwatches at a glance

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 — The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is great for all Android users, not just Samsung phone owners, with an incredible balance of features, battery life, and aesthetics.
Skagen Falster 3 There’s no better option if you want to wear Google’s Wear OS on your wrist.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 — The Galaxy Watch 3 is a solid upgrade pick that offers LTE connectivity, a beautiful design, and improved health/fitness tracking.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music — Garmin is a name pros know, and the Forerunner 245 Music has i…

Right now, the best smartwatch for Android users is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. It’s optimized for Samsung phones but runs well on all Android devices and has all the smartwatch and fitness features you’d expect. It’s compact and lightweight but still offers good battery life. But if you’re not into that one, the good news is that there are so many other amazing options from Fossil to Garmin to Fitbit and more.

The best smartwatches at a glance

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 — The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is great for all Android users, not just Samsung phone owners, with an incredible balance of features, battery life, and aesthetics.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active — If you want something a bit cheaper and need the extra sensors, this is your best option.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 — The Galaxy Watch 3 is a solid upgrade pick that offers LTE connectivity, a beautiful design, and improved health/fitness tracking.
Skagen Falster 3 There’s no better option if you want to wear Goog…