Articles by Michael L Hicks

How will Samsung improve on the best phones of 2021?

Now that the Pixel 6 and the iPhone 13 have closed out 2021, the Samsung Galaxy S22 (and Galaxy S21 FE) are the next highly anticipated releases on the calendar. While we don’t have a hard release date yet, we expect the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra to arrive in February 2022 — their release date pushed slightly back to make room for the latest Fan Edition phone.

The Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra both topped our list of the best Android phones for most of the year (before the new Pixels supplanted them); how will Samsung follow up on such great hardware? Based on leaked info, the baseline S22 will mostly tread water with a smaller display and similar specs — though the new Snapdragon will give it a boost. It’s the S22 Ultra that will make waves, thanks to its alleged S Pen slot and hard-edged design reminiscent of the Galaxy Notes of yore.

If you’re deciding whether to buy an S21 for cheap during the upcoming Black Friday An…

Google’s “fast” charging barely lives up to the word.

What you need to know

A charging test showed that Google’s 30W charger hit just 22W at maximum with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
Other third-party 30W+ or 45W chargers hit the same 22W max output.
Android Authority found that the average charging speed was just 13W, with dramatically reduced speeds after reaching 50% charge.

When Google announced it was selling a 30W Fast Charger for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro that could juice up your phone to 50% capacity in just 30 minutes, you might naturally assume the Pixel 6 can actually charge at 30W speeds, or that it would fill up the remaining 50% capacity almost as fast. In both cases, you would be mistaken.

Android Authority got their hands on Google’s official 30W charger — which it didn’t provide for our review — and tested its maximum power output. It found that both phones could only reach 22W, never taking full advantage of Google’s official charger.

Overall, it took t…

Back up your screeching alarm with warnings and recommendations courtesy of Alexa.

What you need to know

Amazon’s new smart home device will detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, dust and allergens, or volatile organic compounds in your home.
You’ll receive an air quality score and warning notifications through the Alexa app, or verbal warnings through your Echo devices.
Amazon’s monitor also tracks your home’s temperature and humidity.

Amazon is selling a device that will let us know if our homes are full of “indoor allergens and toxins.” The Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor is a Works with Alexa device that warns you of poor air quality conditions, so you know to open a window or turn on an air purifier. It has a color-coded LED on its front; if it turns yellow or red, you know you need to take action.

It also purports to detect carbon monoxide levels, though the product store page notes that this monitor is “not a substitute for a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm, and is not…

Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion would be amazing in VR.

During the recent Connect 2021 event, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas would be ported to play in virtual reality. Even if you’re not a GTA fan, this could mark an intriguing trend all gamers will care about: the Quest 2 could grant second lives to tons of video game classics.

Most recently, the beloved action horror game Resident Evil 4 was converted from third-person to first-person for VR on the Quest 2, and it arguably plays better with motion controls than it ever did with traditional controls. People have also modded classic FPSs like Half-Life, Doom, and Quake 2 to work through SideQuest.

With this latest GTA announcement, my mind began spinning with all the possibilities. The Quest 2’s limited mobile hardware and storage space possibly can’t handle more modern games, but it appears games from the Gamecube/ PS2/ Xbox era (or earlier) could be fair game. The …

Five Netflix Android games are available with your subscription, with more to follow.

What you need to know

Netflix is adding a dedicated mobile games row to Netflix on Android phones and tablets.
Apps are free with your subscription, downloaded through the Google Play Store with no IAPs or fees.
You can download games to multiple devices, up to your device limit.
Some games will require an online connection, while others will allow offline play.

Netflix wants to expand beyond streaming into gaming. Starting Wednesday, November 3, Netflix subscribers on Android devices will see a section called “All mobile titles” where you can download Android games for free through your membership. Netflix Games promises there won’t be any in-app purchases in these games.

At the moment, Netflix’s mobile offerings are limited to five games: Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up. Not exactly the best Android games or at the scale of Play P…

Acquisitions and partnerships will help Facebook/Meta steal loyal customers for its future platform.

What you need to know

Meta has acquired VR company Within and its exercise app Supernatural, one of the most popular games on the Oculus Quest 2.
Within was founded in 2014 and has released dozens of virtual movies, documentaries, animated experiences, and games.
Supernatural will use Meta’s resources to add new workout types, licensed music, and “more social experiences.”
The virtual gym simulator with daily workouts and coaching currently costs $19/month.

On Friday, Meta (formerly Facebook) announced it had bought Within VR and its exercise game Supernatural, one of the best Oculus Quest 2 games available today. Supernatural will remain an independent group inside of the Meta Reality Labs umbrella.

Supernatural was one of the first VR games to charge a subscription. You pay a hefty fee per month in exchange for new daily workouts and licensed music. Other VR exercise apps tend…

Any child, teen, parent, or guardian can request to have search results for image URLs removed — though there are exceptions.

What you need to know

Google has implemented a policy to “give young people more control over their digital footprint and where their images can be found on Search.”
You can remove any photo search result “with the exception of cases of compelling public interest or newsworthiness.”
This removal only affects Google Search, not the site where the photo is posted.
Google already allows adults to remove personal information as well, specifically related to personal info, doxxing, or sexually explicit content.

Google will allow anyone under the age of 18 to remove any photos of themselves from Google Search thumbnails and Google Images. Parents, guardians, or an “authorized representative” can make the request as well, though they’ll need to explain their relationship to the minor in question.

To remove the offending images, you’ll go to this Google suppor…

30 hours of GPS activity and a 1-ounce design make the Pace 2 a proper workhorse.

Most hardcore runners, cyclists, and triathletes tend to stick with Garmin smartwatches; that brand gives you quality hardware, tons of metrics for various sports, suggested workouts based on your stats, and other intangibles. But Californian brand Coros has made waves in recent years, partnering with top ultramarathoners and mountain climbers to push its watches as rugged, long-lasting devices for “serious” athletes.

The Coros Pace 2 is a no-nonsense fitness smartwatch that’s best for athletes who want to strap on a watch and then forget about it. Weighing 29g (1 ounce) with the nylon strap, the Pace 2 feels incredibly light on my wrist, making it perfect for long races or training sessions. Its epically long battery life — I have yet to recharge it after weeks of testing — also makes it well suited for active lifestyles.

An easy pick for one of the best running watches available today, the Coro…

The Tab S8 is slated for upgrades, but not in terms of design or display.

What you need to know

Zouton has revealed potential specs for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, including an 11-inch LCD display, Snapdragon 888 chipset, and 8,000mAh battery.
Leaker OnLeaks produced renders of the Galaxy Tab S8, showing a similar design to its predecessor, the S7.
They revealed no renders of the Galaxy Tab S8+ and S8 Ultra, which are expected to have more premium designs and displays.
The tablet is currently expected to ship in early 2022, possibly alongside the Galaxy S22 series.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series is on the way, and we have our first potential glimpse at how the tablet will look when it arrives early next year. @OnLeaks has created renders of the standard Tab S8, showing a fairly similar design to last year’s model.

Compared to the Galaxy Tab S7, you’ll note @OnLeaks shows the S Pen magnetic strip ending before the rear camera module, while the S7 had no gap. Sam…

Google will add multiple app icons to help you juggle different accounts.

What you need to know

Google is bringing work profiles to Android users in 2022. They were previously only available for managed Android Enterprise phones.
You’ll be able to see separate icons for Google apps like Gmail and Calendar, each logged into different email profiles.
Google will start with Workspace apps, then offer work profiles for other productivity apps later.

For anyone sick of having to swap between your personal and work emails, calendars, Drive files, Keep notes, and other apps, take heart. Google will add a work profile to the best Android phones at some point next year, so you can keep your work life and personal life separate more easily.

Google Enterprise created the work profile for managed devices earlier this year. Work profile apps would have stricted security measures, data protection, and IT monitoring. Once you were done with work, you could turn that profile off and use person…