Articles by Michael L Hicks

You’ll soon be able to play multiplayer games across two headsets after purchasing it just once — but there are some restrictions.

What you need to know

On the Oculus Developer blog, the company said all Quest store apps would have App Sharing enabled by default on February 13, 2021.
Primary Quest 2 accounts can share purchased content to secondary accounts on the same headset, or to up to two other Oculus headsets.
Secondary accounts must be associated with a Facebook account to take advantage of app sharing.

One of the consistently frustrating aspects of owning an Oculus Quest 2 or Quest 1 is that you can only have one Quest account per headset. That means that if your young child wants to play with it, you can’t set up a secondary account with parental controls and a limited library that removes mature games. It’s safe for kids to play VR games if you’re careful, but Oculus doesn’t make it easy to be careful.

Thankfully, Oculus has signalled that it will finally let you ad…

You’re now told “Zoom to 1x for astrophotography” before you can use the feature.

What you need to know

The Google Camera 8.1 update removed the astrophotography mode from the ultra-wide lens, despite it being available at launch.
There is no indication when, or if, the feature will be re-added, nor why Google removed it.
You can still shoot in Night Sight mode with the ultra-wide lens.

One of the main differences between the Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G versus the cheaper Pixel 4a is the addition of a second, ultra-wide lens to the higher-end phones. Yet, as we noted in our Pixel 5 review and Pixel 4a 5G review, it’s not as big of a game-changer as you might expect. Our reviewer described it as “perfectly average”, and said it “won’t win any awards for quality, sharpness, or reduction in barrel distortion”, but praised it as a perfectly functional camera mode.

Unfortunately, perfectly average didn’t cut it when it came to one of our favorite Pixel features: the astrophotogra…

Samsung makes some of the best Android smartwatches available for your daily fitness routines, so we’ve collected the best Samsung Galaxy Watch fitness accessories. Whether you need sporty bands, wireless earbuds, screen protectors, or health-tracking tech, this list should give you a starting point for whatever you need. You may own the new Galaxy Watch 3, Active 2 or one of the older models, but don’t worry: these accessories should work for a wide range of Samsung smartwatches, and we’ll specify when they don’t.

Virtually sweatproof audio

Jabra Elite Active 75t

Staff Pick

All recent Galaxy Watches have built-in music storage, and we prefer pairing them with Bluetooth earbuds over the built-in speaker. These Jabra buds have a near-waterproof IP57 rating, excellent audio quality with a customizable soundstage, 7.5 hours of battery life for all-day workouts, and a comfortable fit.

$150 at Amazon
$150 at Best Buy
$150 at Walmart

Take your Galaxy swimming

Wonlex Silicone…

Just a few months after the full-sized GTS 2 launched, Amazfit made it much cheaper with (mostly) the same features.

What you need to know

The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini is available now for $99.99.
It has a 1.55″ AMOLED screen, SpO2 and heart rate measurement, built-in GPS and Alexa voice commands, 5 ATM water resistance, and sleep tracking.
Compared to the GTS 2, it has a smaller display and shorter battery life, but also some new software additions like a Pomodoro calendar and phone camera controls.

In my Amazfit GTS 2 review, I had plenty of positives to say about the watch, but personally preferred the GTR 2 for its larger AMOLED display during my runs. That hasn’t changed, but many people favor a smaller and lighter watch, either because it weighs less or for the daintier look. For that crowd, Amazfit’s newest watch may be an even better (Amaz)fit.

The GTS 2 Mini lives up to its name. Ignoring its smaller size, it has the same sensors for heart rate and blood oxygen saturation mo…

All S21 owners will allegedly get access to the Discover feed as part of One UI 3.1.

What you need to know

The Google Discover feed appeared in a recent leaked video of the Samsung Galaxy S21.
Users can choose between Discover’s card-based news feed and Samsung Free, which uses a multi-tab nav structure.
Samsung is expected to officially announce both the Galaxy S21 and One UI 3.1 on January 14.

Samsung probably hoped that this day would never come. Up to this point, Samsung phones have used the company’s own newsfeed — originally Bixby Home, rebranded to Samsung Daily in 2019, and revamped again last month to Samsung Free — on its home page for some time, with no alternatives.

That will reportedly change when the Samsung S21 ships early next year. After an S21 leak showed off the actual phone and some of its features, a Twitter user spotted a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment where the leaker swiped right on the homescreen, revealing (what appeared to be) the Google Discover…

Best answer: The Arlo Essential battery will last up to six months, or up to a year with the Essential XL Spotlight Camera. Although that estimate depends on how often and when the camera is activated, with nighttime footage burning through the battery twice as fast. It can last indefinitely if you connect your Essential Camera to an Arlo solar panel.

Six months or less: Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera ($100 at Amazon)
Up to a year: Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera ($130 at Amazon)
Never worry about battery life: Arlo Essential Solar Panel Charger ($50 at Amazon)

How long will the Arlo Essential battery last?

Many wireless or wire-free security cameras have removable battery packs, so you can buy a spare and swap it in with almost no footage downtime. That isn’t the case with the Arlo Essential, which we named the best Arlo camera for people just starting out at home security. It has a built-in battery, so you’ll need to unmount and recharge it indoors when its battery runs ou…

We spotted this Lightning deal on the Wyze Cam v2 with just under six hours left, but there’s still plenty unclaimed if you want one of the best indoor security cams for a bargain-barrel price. Buy one Cam for 23% off at $19.99 or a 2-pack for $39.99. It matches the lowest price we’ve seen on this camera, which is rarely discounted.

Get Wyze to this camera

Wyze Cam v2

$20 at Amazon

Cheap price, not cheap quality

The Wyze Cam doesn’t stand out with specs like 1080p resolution and 110-degree field-of-view, but it grabbed our attention thanks to its integration with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT. You’ll also appreciate 14 days of free cloud storage for your motion-activated clips, where most companies require a monthly subscription.

Wyze Cams are a reliable purchase for yourself or as a gift for others because of their excellent compatibility with most smart home tech. You can control them using both Alexa or Google Assistant commands, for example. So if you want to pull u…

Doubles as a smart speaker

Ecobee SmartThermostat

$199 at Amazon

Pros

Built-in Alexa with far-field mics
Works with Google Assistant, HomeKit and IFTTT
Supports room sensors for temperature and occupancy
Eco+ smart suggestions
Comes with PEK as C Wire replacement
Touchscreen offers more control at device

Cons

More expensive
Only one color option

The Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control is intelligent in all the right ways. It suggests ways to reduce your energy bill, works with virtually all smart homes and smart speakers, supports room sensors for temperatures throughout the house, and can even take voice commands itself.

Multicolor mirrored lenses

Nest Thermostat

$130 at Amazon

Pros

Lower price
Simple touch strip temperature controls
Multiple color options
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Doesn’t require C Wire for installation
Google Home Routines

Cons

No built-in mics or speaker
Trim kit sold separately

The Google Nest Thermostat 2020 re…

Best answer: Yes, but only if you’re buying the new Nest Thermostat (not the Learning or E models) because it’s not included with purchase. A trim kit is the best option for covering up cracks and abrasions left behind from removing an old thermostat.

Cover up the mess: Nest Thermostat Trim Kit ($15 at Amazon)

Nest Thermostat Trim Kit A steel and trim plate

Whichever smart thermostat you buy, your first step must always be to remove your old thermostat. Typically a thermostat’s base is either screwed or glued to the wall, or attached to an electrical box. Removing it from the wall will expose holes, paint chips, and other defects, in a rectangular shape that your circular smart thermostat won’t fully cover. As for an electrical box, you can’t mount a thermostat on one without a steel plate.

If you own or plan on buying a Nest Thermostat, you will likely need either a trim plate or steel plate. Thankfully, the Nest Thermostat Trim Kit includes both, so you don’t need to worry ab…

To choose the best budget home security system, you must consider which systems will save you money upfront in equipment costs, which will in turn cut costs on long-term monitoring fees. Some, like the Ring Alarm system, achieve both. The systems on our list cut some corners compared to professionally-installed security systems but achieve excellence in particular areas without costing you thousands of dollars. Consider which of these bargain systems will make you feel safest.

Best Overall Bargain: Ring Alarm Security Kit

Ring Protect Plus is a shot across the bow for major security companies that charge $40 to $60 a month for video monitoring and to “unlock” security features that you can’t do without. Ring makes motion-activated notifications and live view free for self-monitoring customers, charges only $30/year for video storage, and $100/year for 24/7 professional monitoring. Assuming you use Ring for five years, its top-tier subscription would save you thousands of dollars …