Articles by Michael Allison

Google is unifying its desktop backup apps.

What you need to know

Google today announced Google Drive for desktop, a unified sync client for businesses and consumers alike.
It will rename Drive File Stream to Google Drive for desktop today, while Backup and Sync will remain indedpendly.
Later in the year, Google will shutter Backup and Sync and move all users over to Drive for desktop.

Google is launching a unified desktop sync client for Windows and macOS later this year. Currently, there are two such sync apps. Google Drive File Stream if you’re a business, or Google Backup and Sync if you’re a consumer.

That’s set to change in the coming months. Google will be replacing both apps with Google Drive for Desktop, a single unified app that’ll work for both audiences.

Writing today, the Google Workspace team explained:

Some of our Google Workspace customers have deployed both sync solutions, which can be confusing for end users and challenging for IT departments to manage. …

Microsoft offered a pointed rebuke of its competitor.

What you need to know

Microsoft today came out in support of Australia’s proposed News Media Bargaining Code, a new measure aimed at making search engines pay news publishers.
The company criticized Google for threatening to pull Search away from the country if the move was implemented.
Google had previously criticized the Bargaining Code as “unworkable.”

Microsoft has risen up in support of an Australian law that requires search engines to pay publishers for news while issuing a sharp critique of Google.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Microsoft President Brad Smith highlighted the power imbalance between digital news platforms and Australian news businesses. Microsoft supported the proposed News Media Bargaining Code, arguing that it was a reasonable move that would help support Australian news businesses. The company isn’t currently subject to the legislation, but Smith says that it would happily abide by those rules …

Android TV gets another social media app.

What you need to know

TikTok is now available on the Android TV platform.
The app was released this week according to its Google Play Store listing.
It may not work for everyone, with some users reporting incompatibility with the Nvidia Shield.

The social media app, TikTok, is now available for download on Android TV. The app was discovered courtesy of Android Police shortly after it debuted earlier this week.

Once installed, TikTok offers a lot of the same benefits you’ll get on your mobile phone or tablet. You can scroll through videos, like, save, and even log in to your account via the company’s clever use of QR codes.

It’s not available to everyone yet. Android Police notes that while the app even works with the Chromecast with Google TV, it does not work with the Nvidia Shield TV, nor is it available in Lebanon at the moment. It’s likely the rollout will continue over the coming weeks, at which point Google or TikTok may make an…

One of the best email clients for Android gets even better with a new update.

What you need to know

Edison today launched Edison Mail+, a subscription service for its email app.
It’ll cost you $14.99 for the monthly option, with $99.99 to pay annually.
The subscription is launching with two anti-phishing features, but Edison says more will be coming later.

As we move into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more of our communications remain virtual. There’s also a lot of emailing going on for people looking for new jobs, looking for grants, or even seeking government assistance, and scammers can take advantage of that to target people who are vulnerable. One of the best Android apps, Edison Mail, today is getting a new tool, Edison Mail+. It’s a subscription-based service that you can get via the app store for $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year. A very steep price if you don’t email that much, but one that some may consider being worth it.

Its primary safety featur…

Samsung just dropped the pricing of one of its most futuristic phones.

What you need to know

Samsung today dropped the pricing of the Galaxy Flip 5G down to $1200 from $1450.
That’s the same price as the S21 Ultra, the company’s current top-end phone.
Reducing the barrier to entry for consumers means Samsung can get more users onboard its foldable future.

The Galaxy Flip 5G, despite being a phone that represents the future of Samsung phones, was also one that was priced out of reach for most. Starting at $1450, it was more of an aspirational device than something most people would realistically consider.

Samsung has now dropped the pricing to $1200 (via 9to5Google), cutting it by $250. It’s still expensive, but it is priced more like something the company expects users to purchase in appreciable numbers. It also helps that the Galaxy Flip has already been superseded by the Galaxy Z Flip 2, so Samsung doesn’t mind taking a little hit on the pricing. For those who simply want the…

The spotlight is on privacy in messaging apps, and Signal wants it that way.

What you need to know

Signal is taking advantage on the current spotlight signed on WhatsApp to emphasiaze its privacy focus.
The company released a new ad on social media starring Empire’s Taraji P. Henson.
Signal has seen an increase in users over the past few weeks, and has even launched new features to make adopting the app easier for WhatsApp deserters.

Signal wants to attract new customers as it launches an ad featuring Empire star, Taraji P. Henson. The video highlihs several privacy issues inherent in current technollgy, including always listening microphones, data collection, and so on. “Big tech collects every click and conversation you have and sells it out,” Henson says.”That’s some bulls–t.” The ad concludes, exhorting users to “protect [their] s–t” and download Signal.

You have more followers than you think, but Signal is different. It’s built for you even though we know nothing about y…

With no links to Huawei, Honor wants to strike at the big boys.

What you need to know

Now an independent brand, Honor wants to overtake Huawei and Apple in the smartphone market.
Huawei spun off Huawei late in 2020 in an effort to save the brand.
The now-liberated Honor has yet to release any phones with Google Play Services preinstalled, but it’s expected to do so when the View 40 launches outside of China

As everyone expected, Honor can now make competitive phones with Google Play Services included after being disentangled from Huawei. Free to go its own way and strike partnerships with anyone they choose, the company explained that it planned to take on larger brands including Huawei, Apple with its own-branded flagships later this year.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Honor CEO George Zhao Ming said:

Our core mission this year is to make flagship phones that can compete with Apple and Huawei in China. No matter who the competitors are, we have a target to surp…

The Xiaomi Mi 11 prepares to go international.

What you need to know

Xiaomi is launching the Xiaomi Mi 11 on February 8.
The phone made its debut in China earlier in January.
Xiaomi may also launch the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Lite at that event.

Xiaomi just launched the Mi 11, its 2021 flagship, in China at the end of December. It’s now preparing to launch the smartphone in Europe on February 8th, as per a new report from TechRadar.

Xiaomi is hosting an online event on February 8th at 7 am ET to announced the flagship. It may also launch the much-rumored Mi 11 Pro and a Mi 11 Lite alongside that. The company has been expected to be bringing those phones to the market soon, and a European launch would be the perfect arena to debut rivals to Samsung’s hyper-expensive, uber-powerful Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The Mi 11 is a powerful handset on its own, and one that comes with the accouterments you’d expect of a high-end flagship, but absent the high-price. It has a powerful Snapdragon 888 pr…

Switching just got a lot easier.

What you need to know

Telegram version 7.4 is now live with a game-changing feature.
Users can now import their messages from rival apps including WhatsApp and Line.
This change drastically reduces the barrier to entry for prospective users.

Telegram is now enabling a powerful new feature, letting you switch quickly from rival apps like WhatsApp, KakaoTalk, and Line Messenger. With version 7.4 on Android and iOS, users can now import their WhatsApp conversations into Telegram with ease.

It takes advantage of WhatsApp’s ‘Export Chat’ feature. Tap the overflow button at the top right of any chat, select ‘More’ and then select ‘Export chat’. When the share sheet pops up, choose Telegram as your target, wait for the import to complete, and you’re just about done. It should be the same for Line and KakaoTalk.

Telegram notes that you’ll only be able to do this with someone who’s a mutual contact with you, but that shouldn’t be an issue if both parti…

Google had sold a Verizon exclusive Pixel 4a 5G with the white colorway.

Update, January 28 (12:40 pm ET): The Pixel 4a 5G is now available from Google in Clearly White.

What you need to know

The Pixel 4a 5G will now come in Clearly White from late January.
Google had earlier sold a variant of the handset in that hue for Verizon customers who paid $100 extra for the privilege.
Now, it’s being made broadly available to all.

Like the Pixel 4a, the Pixel 4a 5G launched in a singular Just Black colorway. Sure, there was a model of the Pixel 4a 5G that was in white, but it was a Verizon exclusive. Again, like the Pixel 4a, Google is now making an additional color variant of the 4a 5G available for purchase months after launch. It’s still the same Clearly White variant that Verizon sells, but it’s now coming to all customers.

The Verge spotted a now-defunct link for the upcoming phone on B&H, and was late able to confirm with Google that the phone would be launching at the end o…