Articles by Derrek Lee

Get rewards for using the new Google Pay app.

What you need to know

Google Pay is offering $30 cashback rewards for using the new app.
Users will gather stamps by performing various tasks within the new Google Pay app.
The challenge is available to Google Pay users in the United States.

When the new Google Pay launched late last year, Google was really hyping up its social features and one-stop-shop design for all your payment needs. Now that the app’s old version has been stripped of most features, Google is introducing ways to make the new app more appealing, and that brings us to the new Spring Challenge.

Beginning April 12, the Google Pay Spring Challenge will offer cashback rewards for completing various actions within the new app. When performing tasks like completing transactions, sending payments, and even answering fun quizzes, users will collect cute animal stamps within the app. Once five stamps are collected, users will receive a $30 credit in their Google Pay balan…

The Pixel 5a is now officially called the Pixel 5a 5G.

What you need to know

The rumored Google Pixel 5a 5G will see a limited release.
Apparently, the global chip shortage has affected its production.
We’re told that Google will continue to focus on the Pixel 4a 5G in most markets.

Production of the Google Pixel 5a 5G is reportedly being affected by the global chip shortage. The upcoming mid-range smartphone, which was expected to be launched at this year’s Google I/O developer conference alongside the rumored Pixel Buds A, will be released later this year to align with when “last year’s a-series phone was introduced,” according to Google. In the statement, Google also confirmed the phone’s full name, the Pixel 5a 5G.

Earlier, Android Central corroborated a leak by Jon Prosser about the phone’s possible cancelation, which turned out to be incorrect. According to two sources familiar with the matter, Android Central came to believe that the Google Pixel 5a was canceled in its e…

In case you’re curious about what it’s like to have a Galaxy smartphone.

What you need to know

Samsung is giving iPhone users the chance to try out Android through a web app.
The iTest web app demos the Galaxy experience without requiring an actual Galaxy smartphone.
It appears to be advertised in New Zealand, but anyone can try out the experience.

Samsung is the largest Android manufacturer globally, meaning it has no shortage of customers using its devices. That doesn’t mean it should stop trying to lure more people into buying its phones, and it seems now that Samsung wants to tempt iPhone users to move over to the dark side. The company has launched a new web app experience called iTest that puts the Galaxy experience on an iPhone.

According to MacRumors Samsung is advertising the app in New Zealand, although the experience is open to everyone with an iPhone. iTest allows iPhone users to play around with a mock version of Android, complete with apps and notifications. Obvio…

What you need to know

JerryRigEverything manages to snap the Legion Phone Duel 2 easily.
The device features two batteries on either end of the device with symmetrical antenna lines on both sides.
The Legion Phone Duel 2 launched today starting at €799.

JerryRigEverything is back with another gaming phone, this time the new Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2. The device features the latest flagship specs necessary for this year’s best phones for gamers, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, up to 18GB of RAM, and a 6.92″ FHD+ AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 720Hz touch sampling. It can achieve an impressive 90W charging with its dual-charging/dual-battery setup, which is somewhat similar to the ASUS ROG Phone 5. Unfortunately, this will also become its downfall.

Because the device features batteries on either end of the device, it tends to create something of a weak spot in the center. Lenovo may have thought that the center-mounted cameras and other internals may have s…

4K is still on the way for Amazon Luna.

What you need to know

Amazon rolls out lower HD streaming for its Luna gaming service.
The feature has been highly requested for gamers with slower internet connections.
4K game streaming is still in the works.

Amazon Luna is currently one of the best game streaming apps on Android and a worthy contender to Google Stadia. While it’s available on the best Android phones via your smartphone browser, the best way to play Luna is on your PC or Fire TV set. The streaming service offers tons of games that can be played at 1080p/60fps, which sounds great, but while Amazon has been working to bring 4K support, gamers have actually been asking to lower the resolution.

In response, Amazon has announced Thursday that it’s rolling out the ability to set the resolution to 720p:

More options for controlling your Luna experience.You can now adjust your resolution down to 720p should you need to limit your data usage.Try it now in the settings menu unde…

Nokia’s new X-series offers affordable 5G options.

What you need to know

Nokia is launching six new smartphones today, four of which are part of new lineups.
The X-series brings 5G smartphones to an affordable price point, and the G series offers extended battery life.
The new smartphones will start arriving globally later this month at a starting price as low as €75 ($86).

Since its return to the smartphone market, Nokia has made some of the best cheap Android phones on the market thanks to HMD Global. The designs may not stand out like the Lumia days of yore, but Nokia’s smartphones often feature very sturdy builds, inoffensive designs which you can see in devices like the Nokia 5.4. That continues with Nokia’s latest launch, which introduces six new smartphones and two new smartphone series, all of which offer great value, impressive battery life, and years of updates.

Nokia X-Series

Nokia’s new X-series represents the cream of the crop in Nokia’s new mid-range smartpho…

Google I/O returns after skipping out on last year’s conference.

What you need to know

This year’s Google I/O page is live with a puzzle to figure out the dates.
Someone already figured out the puzzle, which stated that the event will be held from May 18 – May 20.
We could see new hardware at this event, similar to the 2019 Google I/O.

Google I/O is back this year. After canceling last year’s event at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Google has set a date for this year’s event. Unlike previous years where it could be attended in person alongside a virtual live stream, this year will be entirely virtual. Adding a little normalcy to the event, Google hid the dates behind a cryptic puzzle that takes some figuring out. Fortunately, someone has already cracked the code, and the dates have been revealed.

The annual Google I/O developer conference will occur on May 18, 19, and 20, which lines up closely with last year’s dates. There’s likely to be a lot of talk about Google’s pla…

Now anyone can get their hands on the Motorola One 5G… if they want it.

What you need to know

The Motorola One 5G is now being sold unlocked at several retailers.
The smartphone was originally exclusive to Verizon and AT&T in the United States.
Most retailers are offering the device at a discounted price for a limited time.

Motorola makes many of the best cheap Android phones on the market and normally offers something at just about any price point. Lately, the company has been doubling down on its G series smartphones, bringing flagship features to its mid-range devices like the Moto G100. Unfortunately, many of those devices aren’t hitting the U.S. anytime soon, but the company is now making it easier to purchase another solid device — the Motorola One 5G.

Starting today, the Motorola One 5G is being offered unlocked in the United States. The device was previously exclusive to AT&T and Verizon when it launched last year, but now, anyone interested in a decent, aff…

The Echo Scho 10 (3rd Gen) is the second Amazon display to support Zoom.

What you need to know

Amazon has added support for Zoom and Chime on the new Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen).
Owners can now make a Zoom call and have the device track you when you move.
The update is rolling out now on Echo Show 10 devices.

The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is one of the best smart displays on the market, thanks to its impressive swivel design and tracking features. Unfortunately, it was slightly hindered at launch by the lack of support for video calling services outside of Skype and its own Alexa calling service. That changes now that Amazon has added support for Zoom and Chime.

Chime is Amazon’s own video conferencing service, so its omission from the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) launch is a bit curious. And then there’s Zoom, one of the most used video conferencing applications since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and definitely a welcome addition. With more people working from home, Zoom more …

Make sure your Facebook information is safe.

What you need to know

Facebook has just suffered a massive data breach, exposing more than 500 million accounts.
The breach includes user names, phone numbers, email addresses, and more.
There are a few ways to check and see if your information was affected by the breach.

Facebook is no stranger to large data breaches, and there seems to be a new one every year. Unfortunately, a past breach is catching up to the company, with data leaked online containing millions of users’ personal information. According to Insider, the information was posted publicly and for free on a low-level hacking forum and included more than 500 million accounts in 106 countries.

The exposed data includes the personal information of over 533 million Facebook users from 106 countries, including over 32 million records on users in the US, 11 million on users in the UK, and 6 million on users in India. It includes their phone numbers, Facebook IDs, full names…