Articles by Derrek Lee

It’s okay — you can admit to us that you use Apple products.

Preorders for the iPhone 13 have finally arrived, with people scrambling to get their hands on the latest and greatest from Apple. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, though, with many facing errors when trying to order with their Apple Card, Apple Pay, or through iUP upgrade flow.

Not only that, but many orders are now expected to arrive in mid-October.

Despite the errors, many people were still able to process their orders for the new phone. And while our viewership mainly consists of Android fans, we know there are plenty of readers who use Apple products. In fact, some Android Central staff are fans of devices like the iPad Pro (2021), and we want to know if you’ve preordered any of Apple’s new products.

Did you pre-order any of the new Apple products?

The iPhone 13 isn’t much of a significant change from the well-received iPhone 12. Still, it brings an upgraded A15 Bionic chip, improved cameras with better video …

Samsung could be going “mini” with the Galaxy S22.

What you need to know

Samsung is tipped to launch the Galaxy S22 with a smaller display than previous-generation flagships.
The Galaxy S22 could feature a 6.06-inch display, which is smaller than the Galaxy S10.
Samsung is also rumored to decrease the battery capacity of its next flagship.

With Samsung’s new foldables out and in consumers’ hands, the focus has started to shift on what the company could release next. The latest rumor points to an interesting design choice for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22, which could please many users depending on their tastes.

According to Ice Universe, Samsung’s next flagship could launch with a 6.06-inch display. For comparison, that’s smaller than the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20, which both feature 6.2-inch displays, and even a hair smaller than the Galaxy S10 display which measures in at 6.1-inches. In fact, the S22 display size would fall between the S9 and S10.

6.06— Ice universe (@Un…

Google wants to help you save while you shop without relying on extensions like Honey.

What you need to know

A new commit has been spotted, hinting at a handy new shopping feature in Chrome.
The feature could allow Chrome to automatically fetch retail coupons when online shopping.
The feature has yet to roll out onto developer or beta versions of Chrome.

Everyone loves saving money, and it looks like Google wants to use Chrome to help you find the best discounts on products, according to a new commit found in Chromium Gerrit.

Chrome Story spotted the commit, which shows that Google is working on a feature that would allow Chrome to automatically fetch coupons for discounts when shopping online. It would display a notification with the coupon description and discount percentage for items in your shopping cart.

The feature sounds a lot like Honey, which is one of the best Chrome extensions for working from home thanks to its ability to quickly pull up discount codes. It’s also a…

Windows 11 isn’t quite ready to bring Android to the party.

What you need to know

A preview of the Amazon Appstore has been spotted on Windows 11.
The preview doesn’t appear to be ready for public use yet and is still being tested internally.
Android app support won’t be available when Windows 11 rolls out in early October.

Android app support may be delayed for Windows 11, but there are healthy signs that the feature is still well on the way thanks to the latest Microsoft Store listing for the Amazon Appstore.

The listing was spotted by leaker WalkingCat, who provided a link to the listing for the Amazon Appstore preview.

Amazon Appstore https://t.co/mryFYtdrT9 pic.twitter.com/xxBM1Ey5Dx— WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) September 17, 2021

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to try it, as noted by the “Amazon Confidential – For testing purposes” label slapped on it.

The Amazon Appstore will be the official way Windows 11 users can natively download Android apps, whether the devic…

It would be a free alternative to YouTube TV.

What you need to know

Google is reportedly working on bringing free TV streaming channels to Google TV.
The channels would include ad breaks and will likely be featured on a linear guide with other streaming services.
The feature could launch as early as this fall or some time in 2022.

Google could be working on bringing free streaming channels to your Google TV device, according to the latest report from Protocol.

Google is reportedly in talks with various companies to provide the platform with FAST (free, ad-supported streaming television) channels. These are similar to what you’d find on some of the best Samsung TVs where the Korean manufacturer provides its TV Plus service. Other companies like Vizio and Roku also offer free TV channels of a similar nature.

Because the channels would feature ad breaks and graphics, it would give users the feeling of live TV. They will likely sit alongside paid services like YouTube TV on a line…

The Galaxy Tab S8 is also said to feature quite a large display.

What you need to know

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is said to feature an LTPO OLED display.
This follows rumors of the Pixel Fold featuring the same display technology for a variable refresh rate.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is tipped to feature s 14.6-inch OLED display.
The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro is set to launch this fall, while the Pixel Fold is also rumored to arrive this year.

With Apple having just launched the iPhone 13, Google has started to ramp up its promotion of the upcoming Pixel 6. While we still don’t have all the details, the latest insight gives us an idea of what to expect from Google’s flagship.

Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), says that he has “confirmed” that the upcoming Pixel 6 Pro will feature an LTPO OLED display, providing it with a variable refresh rate similar to some of the best Android phones from OEMs like Samsung.

He separately confirms some display specs of the rumored…

WhatsApp deepens its connection with businesses.

What you need to know

WhatsApp is piloting a new in-app business directory.
The directory will display nearby businesses based on different categories.
The pilot is taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, but will likely expand to other cities.

WhatsApp is giving users more ways to connect with businesses by testing a new in-app directory. The feature will allow users to browse local businesses nearby through several categories such as automotive, apparel, food, and more.

The feature was announced on Wednesday by the head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart. In a series of tweets, Cathcart explains that the feature is built with privacy in mind and that search queries or locations won’t be logged by the company.

I’m excited we’re starting to pilot a local business directory within @WhatsApp. This will help you find and contact local businesses, like your neighborhood coffee shop, florist, clothing store and more.https://t.co/kNvUtn7FWR— Wi…

The new emoji take a step in the right direction.

Update, Sept. 14 (7:45 p.m. ET): New emoji are coming

What you need to know

New emoji have been revealed as part of the upcoming Emoji version 14 update.
The draft includes a more inclusive selection of emojis, including a multi-colored handshake.
The new emoji are expected to be finalized later this year and could arrive on devices in late 2021 or early 2022.

The Covid-19 pandemic may have delayed things a bit, but the latest emoji have been revealed in a draft for the upcoming Emoji 14 update.

The new additions offer a look into the more inclusive direction that emoji are taking. The list included more hand positions with multi-color selections and even a new mixed-color handshake.

Most notably, the new emoji now include a pregnant man and pregnant person, which sheds more light on the trans and non-binary communities and highlights how pregnancy is also possible for these individuals.

While the addition of more inclusive…

Long-live Nexus.

What you need to know

The Google Nexus Twitter account has sent its first tweet in four years.
Google continues teasing the upcoming Pixel 6 amid the new iPhone 13 launch.
OnePlus and Samsung have also joined in, poking fun at Apple’s new smartphone.

Apple unveiled its new iPhone 13 on Tuesday, and of course, Android manufacturers are taking a moment to poke fun, most notably Google, who is preparing for the launch of its own flagship Pixel 6.

However, the company did not go through normal channels to tease Apple about its newest flagship. Instead, the company appears to have resurrected its old Google Nexus Twitter account with a simple tweet.

The tweet is notable in that Google has not been active on the Nexus Twitter account in roughly four years, moving its hardware-related tweets to the @MadeByGoogle account. And since the account is private, only those that follow it are able to see it.

Google has also updated the Pixel 6 splash page with a new image …

The new Android Auto UI is still pretty buggy, it seems.

What you need to know

Google is reportedly testing a new interface for Android Auto.
The UI change could make multitasking easier on cars with smaller displays.
The new UI doesn’t appear to be widely available just yet.

As Google prepares to ditch the dedicated Android Auto for phones screens app on the best Android phones, the company is constantly trying to make Android Auto better on your car’s screen. The latest test shows how the company could improve the experience for cars with smaller displays.

A new UI has been spotted by AndroidWorld, which brings easier multitasking capabilities to Android Auto. The company recently launched a split-screen view for cars with large devices, but the new UI, codename “Coolwalk,” brings similar functionality to small displays with a new overlay.

From the looks of it, the new “Coolwalk” UI allows for tabs to appear over the map to give users access to music apps and notifications. …