Articles by Shruti Shekar

Google nailed its pricing strategy with its latest flagship phones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, according to industry analysts. They add that the tech giant has a unique opportunity to undercut some of the best Android phones in the market, but that it still has a ways to go to “improve distribution compared to the Pixels of the past.”

The tech giant announced on October 19 that the new phones would be powered by its first-ever in-house system-on-a-chip, Google Tensor. The Pixel 6 starts at $599, while the 6 Pro starts at $899. Both phones can be purchased unlocked at physical or online Google stores and major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon. Both phones are also available through all carriers in the U.S., where prices may differ.

By comparison, Samsung’s latest Galaxy Fold 3 and Flip 3 cost $1,799 and $999, respectively, and the Galaxy S21 starts at $799. Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone 13 starts at $799 and the 13 Pro at $999.

In their brief Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro hands-on with b…

Microsoft’s new Surface Go 3 “faces a long uphill battle” against Google’s Chromebooks, especially in the U.S., where schools have adopted Google’s easy-to-use system, experts say. They add that Microsoft has to make a compelling case to convince schools to use their systems, including better experience, integration, and better pricing models.

Microsoft announced the 10-inch 2-in-1 PC on Sept. 28. The convertible PC has different pricing tiers that start at $399 and can now be purchased through Microsoft’s website or Amazon or Best Buy.

The Surface Go 3 is exactly identical to the Surface Go 2 except for the processing, which means that even though there are no new design changes, the new version is 60% more powerful than the entry-level Surface Go 2.

But Microsoft will face a tough challenge to try and beat Google at penetrating schools, says IDC’s research manager of worldwide device trackers, Jitesh Ubrani.

“Microsoft faces a long uphill battle against Chrome, especially in th…

The European Union plans to make USB-C connectors the standard charging port for all smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices. Its proposal would come into effect in 2024, assuming the European Parliament approves it; at that point, manufacturers would then have to adopt USB-C to sell their products in the European market of 30 countries.

Experts say that this decision could immediately impact the global market, whether or not other countries follow suit and mandate a USB-C standard. If everything goes as planned, manufacturers will develop products for international markets that follow EU guidelines. In time, they say, the decision will help eliminate e-waste and prove “dramatically more convenient for consumers.”

“Chargers power all our most essential electronic devices. With more and more devices, more and more chargers are sold that are not interchangeable or not necessary. We are putting an end to that,” Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, said las…

Many of Chrome’s biggest competitors have already FLoC-blocked.

Update, Sept 30 (6:30 p.m. ET): Google updates the timeline

Update, July 26 (5:55 p.m. ET): Google posts detailed timeline of Privacy Sandbox initiatives

What you need to know

Google is delaying phasing out third-party cookies on Chrome to 2023.
The company says it is working with authorities to “get this right.”
It is subject to engagement with the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority.

Google is delaying its plans to phase out third-party cookies in the Chrome browser until 2023, a year later than when it was originally going to happen, Google said in a blog post.

The tech giant said that while there is “considerable progress” with the initiative the company requires more time “across the ecosystem to get this right.”

This initiative is part of the company’s bundled project called Privacy Sandbox, which includes several proposals for Chrome and the web.

“The Privacy Sandbox initiative aims to cre…

Last week, the iPhone 13 lineup was finally available to the public. But the phones aren’t cheap. The 13 Pro Max with 1TB of storage starts at $1,599. That’s nearly the same price as the Samsung Z Fold 3 with 256GB of storage, priced at $1,799.

While the iPhone boosts extraordinary photo and video capabilities, faster charging speed, and more storage, Android Central’s Nicholas Sutrich says Samsung made all the right changes with the Z Fold 3 by “finally giving people a good reason to consider a foldable phone without making serious concessions.”

Which one would you choose? Do you prefer the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Samsung Z Fold 3?

While I have no intention of getting either phone, I was curious to find out what all I could buy for the same amount of money these devices cost.

Best budget phone

The first thing I wanted to figure out was how many budget phones I could get instead of buying these high-end phones?

The Google Pixel 4a, which starts at $349.99, is considered one…

Samsung is changing its aftercare device protection service for the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3 devices by having customers voluntarily subscribe to its Care+ program. While it may seem like they’ll be spending more money this way, experts disagree and think customers will actually benefit from the service. Furthermore, they add that Samsung believes in its products enough to offer mainstream care protection.

With previous generations of the foldable devices, Samsung offered Z Premier Service, which it called a “new approach to owner care.” The service was only available for the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G, Galaxy Z Flip, and Galaxy Z Flip 5G. The service will run through the end of 2022, at which time customers will have the option to subscribe to Samsung Care+.

The Z Premier Service was added to Samsung’s foldable repertoire after the initial batch of Galaxy Fold units suffered a reputation hit when early reviewers found dust could easily enter the phone’s hinge an…

The lawsuit alleges that Amazon is not favorable to third-party resellers.

Update, Sept 13 (10:45 a.m. ET): DC AG files amended lawsuit targeting Amazon’s ‘Minimum Margin Agreement’ with first-party sellers

What you need to know

DC’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Amazon alleging that the company fixes online retail prices.
DC AG says that the practices aren’t helping third-party resellers.
Amazon has been under anti-competitive scrutiny for over a year now.

DC’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Amazon to end anti-competitive practices that have raised prices for consumers and stifled innovation and choice across the platform.

Karl Racine alleges in a press release that Amazon’s fixes online retail prices through contract provisions and policies to third-party sellers. The press release said that these provinces and policies are considered the “most favored nation,” which prevents third-party sellers from offering the same products at lower prices on othe…

In a wide-ranging executive order released in early July, U.S. President Joe Biden made a call to the Federal Communications Commission to reinstate net neutrality rules that would require companies to treat all internet traffic equally. Net neutrality is important, some experts say, but its importance is cyclical, coming and going with different seasons. They say that consumers should be paying attention to what happens now, but they shouldn’t be too worried about it.

The Biden administration has seen the digital divide grow over the past year as the COVID-19 pandemic affected households across the country. Admin officials say that the lack of competition is what is causing this divide.

The administration believes that reinstating the net neutrality rules adopted in 2015 under former President Barack Obama will ensure that big broadband companies do not abuse their power over their networks. Those rules were repealed under a Republican-led FCC during the Trump administration.

“Bi…

Normally, I don’t write reviews. But I got an opportunity to try out Twitter Blue, the social media’s subscription service, and I have a lot of thoughts about it. I’m also on Twitter, A LOT, so I was very excited to test this new service.

The service is currently only being tested by users in Canada and Australia. I’m based in Toronto, so lucky me. I tried the service on my iPhone, but it’s also available on the best Android phones out there.

According to a blog post from Twitter when the service launched, it noted that free Twitter was not going away, and never will, so anyone who wants to keep using the platform as is can still do so.

Twitter also said that the “initial set of features was developed based on feedback we received from our very own power Twitter community.”

The service is CAD $3.49 per month, and just to get it out of the way, I want to note that Twitter offered me a CAD $10 credit so I could try the service.

Right off the bat, this feature isn’t worth the money…

Facebook and Twitter banned the former president following riots on Capitol Hill in early January.

Update, July 7 (11:20 am ET): Donald Trump is filing a major class action lawsuit against Facebook, Google, and Twitter.

What you need to know

Former President Donald Trump is planning to sue Facebook and Twitter.
The annoucement is to come at 11 a.m. during a press conference.
Twitter and Facebook banned the former president after riots on Capitol Hill in early January.

Former President Donald Trump is planning to sue Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, according to Axios.

Sources familiar with the matter told the publication that this will raise the stakes in his battle against the companies that blocked him.

Trump plans to host a press conference at 11 a.m today, during which he plans to announce the class-action lawsuits.

Android Central reached out to Facebook and Twitter, but neither company responded to a comment in time for publication.

Twitter …