Articles by Jeramy Johnson

Chrome on Chromebooks is no longer Chrome?

What you need to know

Google has been working on a standalone version of the Chrome browser for Chrome OS.
This new browser is based on the Linux version called Lacros.
The goal is to keep the browser updated and more secure even after a Chromebook’s AUE.

Chromebooks are great personal computers because they are affordable, they get regular feature updates, and they are among the most secure internet-connected devices you can buy. One of the reasons that Chromebooks are so secure is because of the way that they sandbox the Chrome browser and downloaded apps, but also because they get automatic security patches for upwards of eight years. However, once a Chromebook has reached the end of its update life, its users will no longer be protected from possible security exploits through the Chrome browser. One important way that Google is working to correct this potential flaw is by completely rewriting the current Chrome browser and replacing…

Chatting with the AC forums.

Here at AC, we’ve reviewed dozens of the best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones for years now, and each member of the team certainly has our own favorite brands and devices. From the more audiophile-targeted Jabra 85t earbuds to more affordable earbuds like the Creative Outlier Air V2, there really is a pair for every ear, and every phone. That got us wondering what the fine folks on the AC forums were wearing…

2kchevy
02-02-2021 03:49 PM

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I use samsung galaxy buds. They work great for me.
Reply

bandofbrothers2112
02-05-2021 01:03 PM

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After using the Samsung Galaxy Buds I then moved to the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and really like how they fit and sound.
Reply

o4liberty
02-12-2021 11:15 AM
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Chatting with the AC forums.

During good and bad economic times, one surefire way to either make some money or save some money is to dabble in the smartphone and tech gadget reseller marketplace. If you’re anything like us, you probably have a drawer (or closet) full of old gadgets that could use a new home or be of use to someone else. Even if those devices are beyond salvage, you can still responsibly donate or recycle them. Alternatively, you might be in the market for a new device but are considering buying a used phone to save some money.

We noticed a discussion on the AC forums about this very topic:

1814
03-11-2021 08:15 PM

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Just curious if anyone has bought off of SWAPPA, they have Mint Note 20 Ultra for around 800.00. Is it trust worthy?, good deal? I would buy unless the seller has an excellent rating and has sold at least a 1000 items.
Reply

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The best Chromebooks are generally affordable, well-built, and easy-to-use for general productivity tasks, whether you’re a student or you’re working from home. I’ve been using a Chromebook as my primary device for the past month or so, and I keep finding new ways to eke out even more productivity from it. One new (to me) trick that I discovered is how I can turn my Chromebook into an external monitor. Mind blown! I’ll show you how you can use the $10 Duet Display app to turn your Chromebook into an affordable, portable, and useful second monitor for your PC or Mac.

Products used in this guide

Force multiplier: Duet Display ($10 at Googly Play)
Best value Chromebook: ASUS Chromebook Flip C214

How to use Duet display from your PC or Mac desktop

Download Duet Display for your Mac or PC from duetdisplay.com.

Start the installation process and create an account.

Agree to the terms of service.

Click on the Profile tab on the left navigation menu and click the checkboxes for w…

Chatting with the AC forums.

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series came a new product called the Galaxy SmartTag. Ostensibly, the idea behind the SmartTags was that you could attach them to things that you might frequently lose, such as keys, luggage, or pets (meow?).

In practice, they’re not really any different from any of the other best Bluetooth trackers. Still, we were curious how the AC community was using the new Galaxy SmartTags (or if they were).

billyjoebob007
03-10-2021 08:45 PM

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I never got mine that i ordered with my phone on Jan 28th. I contacted samsung order dept and they said it would be shipped feb 24th,still nada 🙁 MY order page says “delivered” but no tracking # available.
Just curious if anyone else has had issue.
Reply

shook187
03-10-2021 08:54 PM

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Trust me you…

A subscription strap to help unlock your beast mode.

I hate to begin this Whoop Strap 3.0 review on a sour note, but I have to say that I didn’t particularly enjoy wearing this fitness band over the past week or so.

I’m generally a pretty positive person, and I always try to look for the upside in products, even if they’re not necessarily a good fit for me. Therefore, even I can acknowledge that just because I didn’t get much from the Whoop Strap 3.0, that doesn’t mean it’s not the perfect health companion for you. In fact, I think that for some people, the Whoop training system is going to be a better fit and just might deliver more measurable results than any product/service combo that Fitbit, Apple, or Garmin has to offer.

Unlike many of the other best fitness trackers, the Whoop Strap 3.0 is not one that you can purchase as a stand-alone device. It comes included as part of a monthly (or annual) subscription package, which offers stats, analysis, training, and more for about $…

Another reason to stay on the couch.

What you need to know

Fandango is launching its Vudu On-Demand streaming service on all Amazon Fire TV devices.
Fire TV users will be able to access over 150,000 titles from Vudu.
Any purchases or rentals from Vudu’s website will be immediately available on the Fire TV app.

It seems like every other week, there is a new streaming option for Amazon Fire TV customers, and the latest is arguably one of the biggest and most exciting. Vudu is bringing its on-demand streaming service to all Amazon Fire TV devices, including the best Fire TV Edition smart TVs, the best Fire TV sticks, and even the Fire TV Cube.

Owned by move ticket giant Fandango, Vudu offers viewers more than 150,000 movies, TV shows — including fan favorites, classics, and new releases. Popular new releases coming to Vudu this month include “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,” “The Mauritanian,” and Disney Pixar’s “Soul.” Vudu also has recent seasons of shows like “The Wal…

Turning heads

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

$250 at Amazon
$250 at Best Buy
$250 at B&H

Pros

Massively improved camera
Better speakers
Rotating display
Faster processor
Enhanced privacy controls

Cons

Most expensive Echo Show ever
Biggest Echo Show ever
Rotating display and camera may be a turn-off for some

The Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is Amazon’s newest Alexa-enabled device, and it’s the more advanced and innovative Echo ever. It brings an improved camera, screen, speakers, a rotating display, and advanced privacy and security features. But it is also the priciest Echo ever.

Still capable

Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen)

$230 at Amazon
$230 at Best Buy
$195 at B&H

Pros

A more affordable large screen Echo
Smaller than Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)
No moving parts to worry about

Cons

No physical camera cover
Screen is lower-quality
Camera is much worse

The Echo Show (2nd Gen) is still a great value, even two years after its release. It still has a better camer…

The Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is the most advanced and innovative smart speaker from Amazon to date. In addition to a vastly improved camera and speaker setup, the device also features a state-of-the-art AZ1 Neural Chip and a silent motor that help track your movements and keep the screen within your view. This is excellent for video calls or following a recipe when moving around the kitchen, but there may be times when you don’t need or want that feature enabled. We’ll show you how you can disable the automatic motion tracking on your Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) and customize the tracking settings to your preferences.

How to disable automatic motion tracking on the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

Swipe down from the top of your Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) device’s screen.
Tap on the Motion icon.
You should see a line through the Motion icon, indicating that automatic motion tracking has been disabled.

Tap on the Settings icon.
Tap on Motion.

Toggle the first setting off if you don’t want yo…

The Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is Amazon’s most advanced Echo Show device yet. It can perform all of the entertainment and smart home functions of previous Echos and do so even better thanks to a larger display, better cameras, and improved speakers. Perhaps its most interesting features, like video chatting and home security monitoring, are enabled by its microphone and enhanced camera. As useful as those features are, there might be times when you don’t want Alexa listening or watching what’s going on in your home. If you’re interested in some additional privacy, we’ll show you how easy it is to disable the microphone and camera on your Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen).

Products used in this guide

Hear no evil, see no evil: Amazon Echo Show 10 ($250 at Amazon)

How to disable the microphone on the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

As with all of the best Alexa speakers dating back to the original Amazon Echo, the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) has a physical mute switch that kills the microphone’s conn…