Articles by Derrek Lee

Just in case you need to take a moment to cleanse your eyes.

What you need to know

Instagram is testing a new feature called “Take a Break.”
The app will remind users to take a break after an allotted time that users can define.
This feature was previously teased amid increased scrutiny over Instagram’s effects on teens.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced on Wednesday that the app is testing a new feature called “Take a Break” that will let users… take a break.

The feature will allow users to define a set amount of time for the app to send out the prompt. It appears 10, 20, and 30 minutes are available options, after which it will remind you to close Instagram and do other things.

Mosseri says that some users should start seeing the feature this week across iOS and the best Android phones, and if tests go well, Instagram will roll it out widely in December.

Testing “Take a Break” ?‍?We started testing a new feature called “Take a Break” this week. This opt-in con…

WhatsApp threw quite a bit in its latest update.

What you need to know

WhatsApp beta has been updated with several new features.
More users are receiving an updated Contacts UI as well as new options for disappearing messages.
The update also removes the notification about security code changes.

WhatsApp beta is receiving a new update that brings a few new features and changes to more users.

As spotted by WABetaInfo, among the changes is a new UI for the contact page. It looks more akin to the contacts page that you would find from Google or Samsung on their respective apps, with a photo above and contact methods directly below it, followed by media and links.

This differs from the current layout, which places media and links under the photo and contact methods towards the bottom, making these options more readily accessible.

Additionally, WhatsApp is adding new timer options for disappearing messages. Now users can select 24 hours or 90 days, in addition to the 7-day timer, …

YouTube hopes this will help creators stay motivated.

What you need to know

YouTube is hiding the dislike count from the site.
The move was introduced to help stop abuse of the feature.
Users should start noticing the change today as it gradually rolls out for users.

YouTube announced on Wednesday that it will begin hiding the dislike count on videos. This was done in response to some users of the service abusing the feature.

In general, viewers have used the dislike button to help gauge the quality of content on a particular video, and creators use it to assess their own content and work out how they can improve. However, there has been a trend of some using it for less-than-helpful purposes.

Some will dislike a video simply because they don’t like the author, while others will conduct dislike attacks just to drive up the count for no particular reason. The latter move, in particular, can harm creators, and YouTube experimented earlier this year with hiding the dislike count …

The Pixel 6 has been experiencing a ton of bugs.

Many people have received their Pixel 6 devices, but the phones are still relatively hard to come by for some. Google has waitlists in place for those trying to snag a device, but you’d be hard-pressed to find them readily available. However, that may be for the best, as some people have reportedly canceled their orders in the wake of various bugs affecting the phones.

Did you cancel your Pixel 6 order?

No phone is perfect, and even the best Android phones are not without flaws. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have only been on the market for a few weeks, but there seems to be problem after problem with the phones.

Among the first to crop up were display-related issues, with a weird flicker happening when pressing the power button while the device was turned off. Some users were also reporting a green tint on the display. Google quickly stated that the display flicker would be addressed with the December update.

Users have also repor…

Let’s hope we get a matte black option.

What you need to know

Alleged renders of the OnePlus 10 Pro have emerged.
The render shows a new triple camera array on the rear.
The device is expected to launch in early 2022.

A new leak may have provided us with the first look at the OnePlus 10 Pro design, showing a different rear camera array than what we’re used to from OnePlus.

The renders provided by Onleaks (via Zouton) show only the back of the phone, but give us a look at what appears to be a raised stove for the cameras, not too unlike what Samsung has done with the Galaxy S21 series.

It also appears that the Pro variant is downgrading to three cameras instead of four like on the OnePlus 9 Pro. Hopefully, that means the company is doing away with its largely pointless 2MP tertiary sensor.

Onleaks didn’t provide any specs for the device, but it should go head-to-head with the best Android phones of 2022, including the Galaxy S22 series.

Onleaks states that the renders are b…

Google really wants you to get a good night’s sleep.

What you need to know

Google is updating its second-gen Nest Hub with more sleep tracking features.
The Nest Hub can now detect your sleep stages and show you how long you were in each stage.
Users can now set a detection area so that their sounds aren’t confused with others.
Nest Hub owners will soon have access to Calm meditation content.

The Soli-powered Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is getting some love with a new update that enhances its sleep detection features to make it more useful and allow users to get more insights into their sleep patterns and behaviors.

With the new update, Google gives users a better look into how they sleep by enabling sleep stage detection. This is a feature found on many of the best Android smartwatches and determines when the user is in light, deep, or REM sleep, and even determines periods when the user is awake.

Google says that using this in tandem with other sleep information can “help you better …

Last year’s Galaxy flagship preps stable One UI 4 update.

What you need to know

Samsung is reportedly rolling out the One UI 4 beta for its Galaxy Note 20 series.
The arrival comes just after reports that Samsung was preparing to open the beta program for the S20 series.
One UI 4 is on its fourth beta update, which brought plenty of bug fixes.

After opening its One UI 4 beta program to its 2021 flagship smartphones, Samsung is now reportedly opening up the beta program for some of its 2020 flagships, namely the Galaxy Note 20 series.

SamMobile spotted the update along with the full changelog, which should largely match what we’ve seen in One UI 4 beta thus far with devices like the Galaxy S21. That includes enhanced privacy settings, updates to the overall look with a new theming engine akin to Material You’s dynamic color, new widgets, and more.

The latest One UI 4 beta that rolled out for the Galaxy S21 was filled with bug fixes, as we’re close to the stable version of the u…

Alexa turns seven today!

What you need to know

Amazon celebrates seven years after the release of Alexa on the original Echo speaker.
Many Alexa-powered devices are on sale right now, as much as 50% off their original price.
Echo owners can tell Alexa “Happy birthday” for a special surprise.

Today, Amazon celebrates a special birthday, marking seven years since the launch of the first Alexa-equipped Echo speaker in 2014.

To celebrate, Amazon is offering early deals on some of its most popular devices, with as much as half-off on some items. These include some of the best Alexa speakers like the Amazon Echo (4th Gen).

I’m turning 7 on November 6th, and joining the fun is a piece of cake! ? Here’s a hint…on Saturday, wish me a “Happy Birthday”! #AlexaHappyBirthday pic.twitter.com/byt5GOyAJb— Alexa (@alexa99) November 3, 2021

You can already find plenty of these offers and more in our best Black Friday smart home deals, and with the holidays around the corner, now is a …

Manners are important.

For those who use smart assistants or own smart speakers and displays, you know they can be very handy to have around the house. They perform various tasks such as controlling the lights, answering the door, securing your home, and so much more. It seems like virtual assistants gain new abilities every day, especially if you own devices powered by Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

While we know these smart assistants aren’t sentient (yet), we understand that some people like to practice their manners when asking them to perform an action or answer a question. Some Android Central staff even say “Please” and “Thank You” to their assistants, so that got us wondering just how many of our readers practice good manners with theirs.

Do you say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to your smart home assistant?

Saying “Please” is easy enough on smart assistants, but saying “Thank You” requires an extra step. Usually, once a virtual assistant performs an action, they stop list…

What you need to know

JerryRigEverything puts the Pixel 6 Pro through a durability test.
The Pixel 6 Pro is made with aluminum on the edges and glass on the front and back, with plastic used in some parts.
The phone manages to stay structurally sound throughout the video, despite some damages.

The time has come to watch one of the latest smartphones get put to the ultimate test as JerryRigEverything handles the Google Pixel 6 Pro to see just how durable it is.

While the software has been the main focus on the phone, thanks to the Tensor chip and the latest Android 12 additions, the hardware remains just as important. Our Nick Sutrich states in his review of the Pixel 6 Pro that it’s “probably the most unique-looking phone of the year and certainly the most unique design Google has ever made for a Pixel.”

But how does that unique design hold up? Especially when there’s a protruding camera bump to take into account?

Surprisingly well, actually. The phone is constructed with Gori…