Articles by Derrek Lee

The Google Pixel 6 apparently won’t ship with a charger, and some people have a problem with that.

Great phone chargers are everywhere, and there’s a good chance you’ve got some lying around. However, smartphone OEMs are slowly starting to move away from shipping charging adapters with their smartphones, a move that hasn’t been popular with many people. Google is the latest to follow this trend, announcing that the upcoming Google Pixel 6 won’t ship with a charging adapter. We want to know if you’re okay with this new trend or if you think companies are shortchanging us.

Does it matter if your smartphone doesn’t come with a charger in the box?

The subject of removing charging adapters is a trend that started with Apple and the iPhone 12, and it caused quite an uproar. But despite that, Samsung followed suit with the Galaxy S21 series, and now the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 don’t ship with them either.

Back when phones used a variety of proprietary standards alongside Qualc…

The Galaxy Z Fold 3’s display won’t be cheap to be replaced.

What you need to know

Screen replacement pricing has been revealed for Samsung’s new foldables.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 will be cheaper to repair when compared to previous foldable models.
Samsung discusses the durability of both devices in a new video.

When Samsung launched the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, it talked a lot about the improved durability of its new foldables. Now Samsung is taking more time to discuss the measures they took to make its phones more durable, which is reassuring considering how much it will cost to fix the device displays.

Samsung used an enhanced aluminum material dubbed “Armor Aluminium” that the company claims is thinner and lighter. This should make the phones less prone to scratches or dents. Samsung also discussed the challenges of making its foldables water-resistant, particularly because of the hinge mechanism. Because of this, Samsung had to use an anti-corrosive sol…

Check out the Galaxy S21 FE from every angle.

What you need to know

The Galaxy S21 FE is shown off in new 3D renders.
The renders allow you to see the device from every possible angle and in different colors.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S21 FE in September or October.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE may have missed out on the recent Galaxy Unpacked event, but we’re still expecting the device to launch at some point. Meanwhile, new 3D renders of the device have just been posted by Evan Blass, aka Evleaks, giving us what may be our best look at the upcoming smartphone.

From the looks of it, the Galaxy S21 FE is expected to launch with a nearly identical design to the original Galaxy S21, complete with a flat display with a hole-punch selfie camera and the camera hump with a triple-camera array. Several renders show off the device in several different colorways that were shown off in previous leaks.

SGS21FE in 3Dhttps://t.co/JVdBFRUmFQ— Evan (@evleaks) August 20, 2021

…

OPPO is gearing up to show Samsung how to make an under-display camera.

What you need to know

OPPO unveils new camera technology at its Future Imaging Technology event.
Its new Continuous Optical Zoom maintains image quality at different magnifications.
The company shows off a new RGBW sensor and 5-axis Optical Image Stabilization.
OPPO also highlights its next-generation under-display camera with a high pixel density.

With companies like Samsung and ZTE touting their new under-display camera tech, OPPO is showcasing its own imaging advancements at the 2021 OPPO Future Imaging Technology Launch Event.

One of the biggest advancements announced at the event is OPPO’s new Continuous Optical Zoom. Thanks to a new structural module, the lens system can physically move and capture images between 85mm and 200mm focal lengths. OPPO says that the module can move with precision thanks to a tunnel magnetoresistance sensor, providing “sharp images at every magnification level, from up clos…

The Pixel 5a is definitely worth it at this price.

What you need to know

Google Fi is offering an upgrade program for the Pixel 5a.
The phone is discounted over a two-year period and includes device protection.
After two years, you get to keep the Pixel 5a and upgrade to a new device.

Google Fi is at it again with great deals on new smartphones. The carrier continues to offer its subscription program for phones, with the offer now being extended to the new Google Pixel 5a.

While the Pixel 5a normally costs $449, Google’s Fi’s subscription would bring that cost down to just $15 per month, or $360 over a two-year period. That’s with the optional $6 device protection, which you would probably want. However, without protection, the phone only costs $9 per month.

After the two-year period, you own the phone, although you won’t be able to trade it in for your next device. According to Google, “you decide if you want to stay in the program and receive the next device in the subscript…

The Snapdragon Wear 4100+ has a notable advantage over the non-Plus variant.

What you need to know

The Fossil Gen 6 just got its first major leak.
Images show a design similar to its previous Gen 5 series watches.
The smartwatch may be the first Wear OS watch to feature the Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset.
Fossil may launch Gen 6 by the end of September.

While the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 grabs its moment in the spotlight, Fossil is preparing to launch its “way faster” next-generation smartwatch. Thanks to a new leak, we might finally have an idea of what to expect from the Fossil Gen 6.

Images of the Fossil Gen 6 emerged from WinFuture, which shows a smartwatch with a design, not unlike the Gen 5e smartwatch. It looks like it will feature a ridged stainless steel casing and a rotating crown flanked by two buttons. The watch is said to feature a 1.28-inch OLED display with a 416×416 resolution. There will likely be 42mm and 44mm case sizes, two different styles, and several colorwa…

You might be able to get by without it. Maybe. Maybe not.

What you need to know

CES organizers will require proof of vaccination to attend the trade show.
They are “assessing” whether or not a negative test will be sufficient for entry.
CES 2022 will take place on January 5-8.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is already gearing up for next year’s event, and some changes will be made to ensure a successful live, in-person show. This includes new COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced in a press release that attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination to attend the event. This comes as more venues and even employers in the U.S. are making similar moves. Even Google is requiring employees to be vaccinnated if they plan to return to the office.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CTA, believes it’s the right call in helping to ensure the safety of attendees.

Based on today’s science, we understand vaccines …

YouTube is making it easy to skip chapters you won’t need.

What you need to know

YouTube is rolling out new search and discovery features for the mobile app.
Users can now dive into specific chapters of a video directly from the results page.
YouTube will automatically translate videos into the local language for easier viewing.

Google has announced a few new changes coming to the YouTube app on iPhone and the best Android phones, which will make videos more accessible and improve the search experience.

The first new feature allows viewers to jump straight into a video chapter. From the YouTube app search results page, you’ll find a bar underneath a video thumbnail that will display available chapters when selected. The chapters will be timestamped so you can dive into a specific part of a video instead of having to first open the video and scroll to the chapter.

It’s a neat feature that gives users a more visual view of what each chapter might consist of before going into t…

The Pixel 6 will be the latest smartphone to ditch the adapter.

What you need to know

The Google Pixel 6 will reportedly not ship with a charging adapter.
The recently launched Pixel 5a is said to be the last Pixel to chip with a charger.
The move follows similar strategies from Apple and Google.

Pixel fans may be happy to know that the recently launched Google Pixel 5a ships with a charging adapter, but the same may not be said for the upcoming Google Pixel 6.

According to The Verge, the upcoming Pixel flagship won’t ship with a charging adapter in the box, making the Pixel 5a the last of its kind for Google’s smartphone lineup.

We’ve reached out to Google for details, but the company reportedly told The Verge that it will omit the adapter from future smartphones because most people already have a charging brick. And even for those that don’t, many of the best USB-C chargers are quite affordable.

The move isn’t exactly a surprise, as more smartphone OEMs have taken to omitti…

OnlyFans isn’t just for adult content.

What you need to know

Onlyfans has launched a new app for iOS and Android.
The app will focus on safe-for-work content from creators, with no adult content available.
There are no ads, and the app is currently free to use.

As if the return of Yik Yak wasn’t enough of a surprise, OnlyFans has launched its mobile app and it’s available on iOS and the best Android phones. However, there’s a catch — the OFTV app doesn’t feature any of the adult content that the service is popular for.

To be fair, OnlyFans isn’t just an adult entertainment app but also a membership platform not unlike Patreon, aimed at creators of all kinds to showcase their work, including chefs, photographers, fitness instructors, and more. That hasn’t changed, but the safe-for-work (SFW) content has been overtaken by the not-safe-for-work stuff (NSFW), especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of employment that ensued.

In the press release, OnlyFans CE…