Articles by Joe Maring

Let’s talk about one of 2020’s most anticipated smartphones.

Starting in 2016 with the release of the original Pixel, Google’s lineup of Android phones has been marketed towards people looking to buy premium, high-end flagships. That notion has continued to hold true, but in May 2019, Google decided to try something a bit different with the release of the Pixel 3a.

The Pixel 3a was the first mid-range Pixel phone to be released by the company, and it was an instant hit. Critics and consumers alike were immediately drawn to the 3a, thanks to its offering of great specs, solid build quality, and outstanding camera performance — all for less than $400.

We were absolutely smitten with the Pixel 3a here at AC, and now, the rumor mill is buzzing with information regarding its successor. From specs, design, features, and more, here’s everything we know about the Google Pixel 4a.

There may only be one model
The design is pretty interesting
Mid-range specs are expected
There looks …

A digital version of yourself, just for Facebook.

If you’ve spent any time on Facebook recently, you’ve probably seen a lot of your friends and family sharing digital avatars of themselves on the social network. If you’ve been wondering what the heck these are, you aren’t alone.

Facebook recently rolled out a new feature aptly-named “Facebook Avatars,” which allows you to create a Bitmoji-like version of yourself that you can use as your Facebook profile picture and make sticker packs. With these stickers, you can share them as comments on Facebook posts and in Facebook Messenger.

Eager to make a Facebook avatar for yourself? Here’s everything you need to know!

How to make a Facebook avatar

First thing’s first, let’s talk about how you go about making your Facebook avatar. Getting to the right spot is simple, but the process for making your avatar is rather thorough.

Open the Facebook app on your phone.
Tap the search icon in the upper-right corner.
Search “avatar”.
Tap Facebo…

Having a chat with the AC forums.

As hard as it is to believe, it’s now been about three months since the Galaxy S20 was released. The initial hype and craze for the phone has obviously died down, but there’s no denying that it’s still one of the very best Android handsets you can buy in 2020.

If there’s one aspect of a phone that needs long-term use to fully analyze, it’s battery life. The battery of any phone is prone to aging and degrading as time goes on, making it one of those things that’s worth checking up on every now and then.

Some of our AC forum members recently got into a conversation about how their S20 battery life is holding up, with a lot of them talking about their average battery drain per hour.

monty Stinson
05-28-2020 09:09 AM

“

Idle time at night from 10:30 pm to 6:30 am, go from 99-100% to 93-95% on an average night.

S20 Ultra
Reply

…

Well, that’s not good.

What you need to know

On June 1, Google began rolling out the latest monthly security patch for Pixel devices.
Instead of a boring patch, some users were given the Android 11 beta ahead of schedule.
The build number for the OTA beta update is RPB1.200504.018.

A new month is a signal for a new monthly security patch for Pixel devices, and the latest June update has proven to be more exciting than usual for a couple of reasons. In addition to a new Pixel Feature Drop that adds improvements for better battery life and new safety tools, some Pixel owners were also treated to the Android 11 beta ahead of schedule.

Rather than be super vague about this, I’ll just say it up front:Two people DMed me saying they got the Android 11 beta OTA update on their Pixel 4 XL.Build #: RPB1.200504.018— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) June 1, 2020

XDA’s Mishaal Rahman recently shared that some users who expected to download the June security patch were instead given an O…

12-hour time is really common here in the U.S., but in many other parts of the world, 24-hour time is used. There are a lot of reasons why you may want to switch to 24-hour time, and whatever they are, this is how you do it on an Android phone.

How to change your Android clock to 24-hour time

I used a Google Pixel 4 (running Android 10) for this guide, so depending on the phone you’re using, things might look a little different. With that said, the process should be mostly the same.

Open the settings on your phone.
Scroll down and tap System.
Tap Date and time.
Tap the toggle next to Use 24-hour format.

And that’s all there is to it! With that out of the way, the time on your Android phone will now abide by 24-hour rules.

Our top equipment picks

Pure Android

Google Pixel 4

From $627 at Amazon
From $799 at Best Buy

Stock Android with the best camera

Google’s Pixel 4 is still the de-facto choice for many who want a combination of a fantastic camera to go along with stoc…

Most stock keyboards on Android are pretty great, but whether you’re after more customization options, want a new layout, or anything else in between, switching to a new keyboard takes just a few taps and a little bit of patience. Need some help figuring this out? Here’s a step-by-step guide on exactly what this process looks like.

Products used in this guide

The Google phone: Google Pixel 4 (From $627 at Amazon)

How to download a new keyboard

First thing’s first, you need to download a new keyboard from the Play Store. Let’s get that knocked out.

Open the Google Play Store on your phone.
Search “keyboard”.
Choose whichever keyboard you want to download (we’re using SwiftKey for this example).
Tap Install.

How to change your keyboard

Now that you’ve downloaded a keyboard (or two) you want to try, here’s how to start using it.

Open the Settings on your phone.
Scroll down and tap System.
Tap Languages & input.

Tap Virtual keyboard.
Tap Manage keyboards.

Tap the t…

Let’s chat with the AC forums.

If you’re in the market for an Android handset but don’t have a lot of cash to spend, picking up an older flagship can be a great way to get quality features and specs while staying on a budget. For example, if you’re eyeing the Galaxy S20 but can’t stomach its $1000 price tag, you may be better off considering the S10 or S9.

Recently, someone in our AC forums asked if it was still worth picking up the Pixel 2 XL here in 2020. Here’s how our other members responded:

Morty2264
05-27-2020 01:52 PM

“

I still think the Google Pixel 2 line is a great deal today. What is the price? If you can get the 2 XL at a bargain, go for it!

Keep us posted on what happens!
Reply

SactoKingsFan
05-28-2020 01:18 AM

“

Wouldn’t get the 2xl unless it was dirt cheap. It’s about to be 3 ye…

One UI

Samsung Galaxy S20

$800 at Samsung

Pros

Designed around one-handed use
Ample customization tools
Kids and Easy Mode
Blue light filter
Endless features to play with

Cons

Can feel a little overwhelming at times
Design might be too cartoony for some

Samsung’s software has changed and evolved a lot over the years, with the most recent iteration taking the shape of One UI. One UI has a distinct appearance, which you may love or hate compared to the stock-like design of OxygenOS. It’s also loaded with feature after feature, making it one of the most capable Android experiences on the market. Things can feel a bit overloaded at times, but there’s no denying One UI’s sheer utility.

OxygenOS

OnePlus 8

From $699 at OnePlus

Pros

Clean, simple UI
Tons of customization options
Incredibly smooth performance
Alert slider
Reading, Zen, and Fnatic Mode

Cons

Hasn’t received a significant UI update in a while
OnePlus is slow to release new features

Some people mi…

(And also the most subjective).

All of us at AC recently got together for a fun roundtable talking about features in a phone that we think are the most important.

Out of all the features that were mentioned, “camera” stuck out as the thing that was brought up the most — and rightfully so. It’s a hugely important feature, as our phone is often the only tool we have to preserve family gatherings, sleepy pets, and jaw-dropping sunrises.

Cameras also happen to be one of those features we talk about quite frequently when a new phone comes out. It’s a spec that we can judge and compare next to something else, just like we do for so many other aspects of a device. The same goes for the processor, display, RAM, storage, and battery.

All of those things play a massive role in how a phone performs, but for me personally, there’s something that stands above all of that. Something that’s even more impactful in deciding which phones I’m interested in — software.

Whenever you do anythin…

Stay connected, stay safe.

Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do while behind the wheel. It puts you and everyone else on the road at risk, and while it should go without saying, is obviously something we don’t condone.

That said, there are times when you need to stay connected even when in your car. Whether you’re following turn-by-turn navigation, making a hands-free phone call, or controlling your music while on a long road trip, having a device to do all of these things is a must.

Google is aware of that, and that’s why it created Android Auto. Android Auto is software that’s available on your phone and in your car, and it gives you a way to do all of the things mentioned above as safely as possible. Ready to learn more? Keep on reading!

Here are the basics
Android Auto is on your phone
It’s also in your car
The Assistant is here
There are a bunch of apps
A new phone UI is coming

Auto upgrade

Sony XAVAX3000

$300 at Best Buy

Elevate your A…