Articles by Derrek Lee

Roku continues to claim that Google asks for special treatment, and that might have some merit.

What you need to know

A 2019 email allegedly shows Google requesting special treatment for YouTube on Roku’s platform.
The email reportedly says that Roku must include a dedicated results shelf for YouTube.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar weighs in on the matter amid her push for new legislation to prohibit this conduct.

A new component has been added to the ongoing spat between Google and Roku. A two-year-old email has allegedly surfaced that shows a Google executive asking to give YouTube special treatment on Roku’s streaming platform.

The email, which was viewed by CNBC and dated back to September 2019, reads: “YouTube Position: A dedicated shelf for YT search results is a must.”

This would throw Google’s defense against Roku’s claims out the window, as the company has maintained that it has not asked the streaming platform for any special treatment for YouTube on the best Roku devices.

This…

The Pixel 6 Pro is it.

What you need to know

Most of our readers are interested in buying the Google Pixel 6 Pro.
A third of our poll responses voted for the standard Pixel 6 as the phone they want.
Some readers are undecided, while a smaller percent are not interested.

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are up for preorder, and they seem to be selling like hotcakes with Google already sold out of many models and putting buyers on waitlists. However, there are still plenty of places where you can purchase one of the new smartphones, and we asked whether or not our readers were interested in buying either model.

While both phones share much of the same internals, the Pixel 6 Pro does have a higher refresh rate display, additional telephoto lens, and more RAM. That’s why it may come as no surprise that the Pixel 6 Pro was the most popular device in our latest poll, with more than 54% saying they’ll buy it. The standard Pixel 6 came in with less than 30% of votes, with a smaller p…

You still won’t find Google Play services here.

What you need to know

Huawei launches its new Nova 9 smartphone with a mid-range Qualcomm chipset.
The new Huawei Watch GT 3 runs Harmony OS and comes in two case sizes with multiple styles.
The Nova 9 will be available for €499 and the Watch GT 3 for £210. Both can be preordered now.

Huawei launched the Nova 9 and Nova 9 Pro in China last month, but is now bringing the former to the global market, the company announced on Thursday. Additionally, the new Huawei Watch GT 3 is joining it, now running Harmony OS.

The Nova 9 has a decent-sounding 6.57-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and responsive 300Hz touch sampling rate. On the back is a 50MP RYYB sensor, which Huawei claims can capture 40% more light than traditional RGGB sensors. There’s also an 8MP ultrawide camera as well as macro and depth sensors.

Of course, you won’t find Google services on the Nova 9, which runs the company’s own Harmony OS. The devic…

The Surface Duo 2 is here, and it’s a beauty!

What you need to know

Our friends at Windows Central managed to get their hands on the Surface Duo 2 for review.
The device offers several upgrades from its predecessor, from the processor to the displays and the cameras.
The Surface Duo 2 is available now, starting at $1500.

Our friends over at Windows Central have just published their review on the Microsoft Surface Duo 2, and spoiler alert it gets four out of five stars.

That’s a notable improvement over the original Surface Duo, which in our review was described simply as a “hot mess.” However, that’s to be expected given all the upgrades Microsoft stuffed into this relatively thin device.

The new Surface Duo 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset found in this year’s best Android phones. With that comes faster performance and, most notably, 5G, which was missing from the first-generation Duo.

The camera situation has been improved now that Microsoft isn’t relying on a sin…

Google is going as low as 10% for some services.

What you need to know

Google has announced that it is changing its developer Play Store fee structure.
All subscriptions on Google Play will have reduced fees from 30% to 15% on day one.
Some services like ebooks and music streaming apps will be eligible for as low as 10%.

Google announced some changes to its Play Store fee structure on Thursday that should benefit app developers and is likely put more money in their pockets.

The company states that starting January 1, 2022, all subscription-based apps on the Play Store will have a reduced service fee, from 30% to 15%. Google says the change was made after acknowledging that while subscriptions “have become one of the fastest growing models for developers,” they still face challenges with consumer churn.

This contrasts the current model, which charges 30% from the start and drops it to 15% after the first year.

Additionally, Google is making changes to the Play Media Experience…

If you’re looking to buy a Roku streaming device, get it soon.

What you need to know

Roku issued a statement calling Google out on its unfair treatment of the platform.
In response, Google has decided to pull the YouTube app from new Roku devices.
Current users will not be affected by this change.

The ongoing battle between Google and Roku continues as the YouTube app is being pulled from new Roku devices after December 9.

The decision came on Thursday after Roku posted a statement calling Google out for allegedly asserting its dominance to request special treatment on the platform. More specifically, for requiring YouTube as a search preference over other results and requesting special features on Roku that it doesn’t mandate on other platforms.

In response, a YouTube spokesperson told Android Central that it’s pulling its YouTube app from new Roku devices.

Since our negotiations with Roku earlier this year, we’ve continued to work with them to find a resolution that bene…

Sticking with the entry-level Pixel or going Pro?

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are finally here. On Tuesday, Google fully unveiled its latest smartphones in all their glory, to largely positive impressions. Both phones offer many of the same internals, including the powerful new Tensor chip at the heart of all the new AI tricks. However, the larger Pixel Pro brings with it a better display and a more versatile camera setup. In contrast, the smaller Pixel is much cheaper, undercutting many of the best Android phones.

So we want to know if you’re buying either of the new Pixels and, if so, which one are you buying?

Which Pixel 6 model are you buying?

If you’re looking for a powerful yet affordable smartphone, the standard Pixel 6 may be the way to go. At just $599, you’re getting a 6.4-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate covered in Gorilla Glass Victus. The camera system affords you a 50MP primary camera capable of capturing richer tones and fast motions. There’s also…

Samsung’s Galaxy brand is home to a wide array of various gadgets. Whether you’re shopping for a new Android phone, smartwatch, or wireless earbuds, there’s something in the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem that can fit the bill perfectly. So if you’re looking to up your Galaxy game without going broke this holiday season, check out the top Black Friday deals that are available right now!

Samsung Galaxy S21 | Huge Trade in Offers at Samsung

From $250 at Samsung

One of the best Android phones released this year, the Samsung Galaxy S21 has so much to offer. It has a compact design, a stunning 120Hz display, incredible performance, and great cameras. It’s about as premium of a smartphone as you can buy.

Best Black Friday Samsung Galaxy deals:

Smartphones
Tablets
Smartwatches
Earbuds

The Galaxy S21 is a highlight among all the Samsung Galaxy deals currently available, but of course, it’s far from the only thing that’s on sale. Just about every major Galaxy product is discounted t…

It’s apparently still happening, though, so there’s that.

What you need to know

The Google Pixel Watch will allegedly not launch with the Pixel 6 on Tuesday.
The watch has been rumored for some time and will reportedly launch in Q1 2022.
The Pixel Watch will likely run Wear OS 3 at launch.

Wear OS fans may be disappointed to learn that Google is allegedly not planning to announce the rumored Pixel Watch at its upcoming smartwatch launch.

Leaker Jon Prosser, who has had a pretty good track record lately with Google/Pixel leaks, suggested on Monday that the Pixel Watch will not launch until Q1 2022.

Pixel Watch Don’t expect it at the event tomorrow. Last I heard, it was delayed until Q1 2022.It’s still happening, just not tomorrow. https://t.co/Rd0dGN3yek— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) October 18, 2021

Prosser has previously stated that the Pixel Watch was slated for either an October or Q1 2022 launch, but apparently, an announcement is unlikely to happen tomorrow. We’ve reac…

The Pixel 6 is already rumored at a crazy good price, but this takes the cake.

What you need to know

A new leak shows that users could get a freebie bundle when preordering the Pixel 6 through Target.
The bundle deal will include a free pair of Pixel Buds A-Series.
The deal will allegedly start October 19 at 11 a.m., likely just after the Pixel 6 launches.

There’s less than a day until Google fully unveils the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, and while we seem to know just about everything, some tidbits are still trickling in about the phones, including a launch day deal spotted at Target.

Android Police has gotten their hands on an alleged image of Target’s internal system showing a Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro deal that will save users $99 when purchasing either smartphone with the new Pixel Buds A-Series. Essentially, you’re getting some of the best wireless earbuds for free when you preorder the new Pixel.

As noted by the image, the preorder deal will start on October 19 at 11 a.m., whic…