Articles by Derrek Lee

Samsung is on an update spree with One UI 3.0 (Android 11).

What you need to know

Samsung has begun rolling out the One UI 3.0 Android 11 update to the Galaxy Z Fold 5G.
The update is currently rolling out to users in Switzerland but should reach more people in the coming weeks.
The update comes with Android 11 enhancements as well as improved camera quality.

The world’s largest Android manufacturer is clearly on a roll with its One UI 3.0 Android 11 update, as it has been updating an increasing number of devices over the past couple of weeks. Starting with the Galaxy S20 series, the update has trickled to the S20 FE and Note 20 series as well, rounding off many of the best Samsung phones. The latest device to get the update appears to be the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, becoming the first of Samsung’s foldable devices to receive One UI 3.0.

According to SamMobile, Galaxy Z Flip 5G owners in Switzerland have reported receiving the update. It appears to be isolated to those users so far, b…

Google Search is bringing car shopping to you. Test drives not included.

What you need to know

Google Search now includes interactive 3D models of over 200 vehicles.
The feature uses AR to put the vehicle in your space.
Users can change the color and even check out the interiors of some of their favorite cars.

Are you in the market for a new car, but don’t wanna head over to the dealership just yet? Or maybe you’re just a car aficionado and wanna check out some of your favorite rides without needing to leave the house. Google Search is making it easier to get detailed looks at a number of cars with its interactive 3D models.

The feature was announced back in October at Google’s SearchOn event, and it seems the feature is being widely rolled out, including a variety of supported vehicles to join the already long list of Google 3D animals.

On Android, we launched our first cloud streamed 3D content in Search, enabling users to see cars in high fidelity and with a set of cinemati…

Motorola just released the list of smartphones slated to receive Android 11.

What you need to know

Motorola’s list of Android 11 smartphones mainly consists of devices from 2020 and some from 2019.
One Lenovo branded smartphone is included on the list.
The update for the Motorola One Action will be limited to certain regions.

Several smartphone OEMs have started rolling out stable Android 11 updates, but there are some that apparently still need more time before they can begin their rollout. LG has only just begun a limited Android 11 beta test, and until now Motorola was mum on its update plans outside of some feature announcements with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 launch. The company isn’t known for swift updates despite its fairly pure take on Android, but it has now provided a list of smartphones that are set to receive the update:

motorola razr 5G
motorola razr 2019
motorola edge
motorola edge+
motorola one 5G
motorola one action¹
motorola one fusion
motorola one fusion+…

One step towards the dream smart home that can do it all.

What you need to know

Dyson is adding support for Google Assistant to several of its products.
This includes a number of air purifiers, humidifiers, and vacuums.
Dyson owners must connect their Dyson account to Google Assistant.

Some of you may be young enough (or perhaps old enough), to remember the Disney Channel Original Movie, Smart House, where a home AI was able to perform almost any task in the house, including cooking, cleaning, and even a hostile takeover. That last part may not sound appealing, and we may not quite be at the level of home automation that the film presented, but we’re getting closer.

Dyson has just announced support for Google Assistant in several of its products, allowing owners to control their machines with the sound of their voice. With the added support, users can say things like “Hey Google, turn on my purifier”, “set the fan speed to five”, “increase the temperature”, and so on. Support f…

International variants of the Galaxy Note 20 should start seeing One UI 3.0 coming their way.

What you need to know

Unlocked variants of the Galaxy Note 20 series start receiving One UI 3.0 (Android 11).
Samsung has been pushing ou the update to a number of models in the past week.
More devices and regions should see the update arrive soon.

Owners of unlocked and global variants of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series can rejoice, as it seems Samsung is rolling out the One UI 3.0 (Android 11) update to those smartphones. This push comes right on the heels of some of this years’ best Samsung phones already receiving the update for carrier-locked models in the U.S., starting with the Galaxy S20 on Verizon. Soon after, the Note 20 series started receiving it on the three major U.S. carriers, and now it seems like global and unlocked variants are receiving the update as well.

One UI 3.0 with Android 11 | Note 20 Ultra Unlocked…:) pic.twitter.com/rwyFdEuqQf— Nikhil Mistry (@nikhil1…

Bosch’s new AI chip can automatically detect your workout and even learn new ones.

What you need to know

Bosch has launched a new AI chip for fitness trackers that can automatically detect workouts as they’re being performed.
The new BHI260AP sensor can even learn new workouts based on user input.
Since the AI is on the sensor, the information doesn’t have to be bounced to the cloud.

Working out may not have been as easy this year amid a global pandemic, but for those of you who try to keep up with your fitness routines amid the turmoil, or are just interested in getting into one, having the right fitness tech can really enhance the experience. It’s always nice to be able to keep track of your workouts, whether it’s a run or weightlifting. Bosch Sensortec designs sensors based on microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems used in products like VR headsets, drones, wearables, and more. The latest sensor, BHI260AP, aims to take fitness trackers a step further by allowing automatic dete…

Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

What you need to know

Leaked prices for the upcoming Galaxy S21 smartphones paint a mixed picture.
The Galaxy S21 will start at a lower price than its predecessor, while the S21 Ultra will be priced higher.
Previous leaks pointed to at least five different memory configurations between the three devices.

There have been rumors that the Samsung Galaxy S21 series smartphones were going to start at a lower price than the Galaxy S20 series, and that’s partly true. According to new leaks, the base Galaxy S21 will be priced at €849, which is quite a step cheaper than the €999 of the S20 that it’ll replace. On the flip side, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will start at a staggering €1,399, which is a €50 higher starting price than any of the best Samsung phones this year. It’s likely this is due in part to the S-Pen support, which is reportedly exclusive to the S21 Ultra in this upcoming trio of smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S21 128GB: €…

Google is feeling defensive right now about its role in search.

What you need to know

Google responds to the allegations that it has a monopoly on search.
The company says that redesigning Google Search could actually harm consumers.
Antitrust allegations against Google could last for the next few years with a trial date set in 2023.

Amid the bombardment of antitrust allegations against Google, the company has issued a couple of statements defending its practices. The first came through a blog post about privacy on the web and how businesses can grow by navigating the use of cookies and more responsible use of online data.

We strongly believe that advertising and privacy can coexist. Helping businesses adapt to a privacy-safe web isn’t just good business practice—if done right, and done collaboratively, it can be an engine for economic recovery and growth.

It’s a curious stance for Google to take, considering what it’s being accused of. The allegations against Google all…

Fitbit is new to the ECG game and is already trying to jump ahead.

What you need to know

Fitbit discusses the work that it’s doing to improve ECG’s and make them more useful on wearables.
With its new PPG technology, Fitbit aims to bring continuous heart rhythm tracking.
There is currently no timeline for when the technology will reach wearables.

When the Fitbit Sense launched in August, it was without the ECG functionality. It was still a great smartwatch without it, as noted in our Fitbit Sense review, but the feature was finally approved and added in October, cementing the Fitbit Sense as one of the best Android smartwatches available today. The ECG app allows the watch to analyze the rhythm of your heart to check for cardiac problems like atrial fibrillation (AFib). It hasn’t been very long since the feature was enabled, but Fitbit is already working on ways to greatly improve the technology.

The company spoke with Wearable on a new PPG technology that is currently in clini…

A judge has set the earliest estimated time for Google’s antitrust trials to take place.

What you need to know

The judge presiding over the DOJ’s antitrust case against Google has set a tentative date for the trial.
A 2023 date will loom over Google and any potential business moves.
The case with the DOJ is likely to be joined by two other lawsuits filed by state attorneys.

As if Google didn’t have enough to worry about, now it has to endure a major lawsuit looming over the company for the next couple of years. Judge Amit Mehta, who is presiding over the case filed against it by the Justice Department, has issued a tentative date for the trial to begin, and its September 12th, 2023. In addition to this case, Google is also facing two other antitrust cases that could be combined with this one.

The cases all allege that Google holds an illegal monopoly over the ads that appear in search results. They also claim that making its search engine the default on a number of devices, suc…