I asked 10 U.S. banks when they plan to support Google Pixel 4’s Face Unlock
Google's Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL come with new Face Unlock technology that makes unlocking the phone fast. But if you want to use it to access bank apps or authenticate purchases in third-party apps, it's looking like you'll have to wait a while. I asked a handful of banks when they expect to add support.
Google’s Pixel 4 will get an option requiring open eyes for face unlock
Google's Pixel 4 will get an update in the coming months adding an option requiring eyes to be open for Face Unlock to work. The news comes after reviewers discovered the phone can unlock even if the device owner's eyes are closed, a security risk as it can be used to easily access sensitive information.
Google designer believes the Pixel 4’s camera design is more iconic than Apple’s
Do you like the iPhone 11 Pro's camera design? How about the Google Pixel 4's? The person who helped design the Pixel 4 shares his thoughts. Both phones sport a squarish camera module to house their respective camera systems. Google opted to mask the cameras with a black filter, but Apple went in another direction.
Google’s Pixel 4 could have looked like the Nexus 6P
Google's Pixel 4 is here, and we've known what it would look like for months. Now, the design team has shared photos showing concepts and what it could have looked like before they settled on a final design. The photos are packed with goodies like a Pixel 4 that looks like a Galaxy Note 10 Plus, an iPhone 11, and more.
Have a Fire TV? Got kids? Amazon’s child-friendly service is coming to your TV
Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, the kid-friendly subscription service, is now on Fire TV Sticks, offering peace of mind when your kid is in front of the TV. You can set up four child profiles on your Fire TV stick or Fire TV and set age restrictions for what kinds of content kids can watch. There's a parent dashboard for more control, too.
The $600 OnePlus 7T’s camera has a feature the iPhone 11 lacks
Shutterbug? The OnePlus 7T lets you get super close to your subjects with a new Super Macro mode that utilizes the ultrawide-angle lens. It's a feature that's not necessarily available on other smartphones, even if they have a wide-angle camera, such as the new iPhone 11. It allows for some stunning shots.
Android 10 (Go Edition) adds encryption, performance upgrades to low-cost phones
Android Go is an offshoot of the Android OS, and it's meant to run on low-cost phones. The latest version, Android 10 (Go Edition), is now available, and it brings performance improvements in the way of faster app launch times. There is also now disk encryption, allowing everyone to enjoy some measure of security.
Apple’s $330 iPad starts shipping early, iPadOS is now available
The basic model of the iPad has been refreshed with a bigger, 10.2-inch screen, Apple Pencil support, and a smart connector that allows you to use a keyboard case with it. There's also plenty of power with the A10 Fusion chip inside, and lots of new features coming via the new iPadOS. It's now shipping.
In a challenge to Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass offers ad-free games and apps
Had enough of ads on your apps and games? Google Play Pass is the latest service from Google that offers Android device owners ad-free access to select apps and games. You also won't see in-app purchases, and won't have to pay upfront fees. At the moment, only 350 apps and games are available.
Samsung’s foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, lands in the U.S. on September 27
Five months after it was supposed to debut, the Galaxy Fold foldable phone is landing in the U.S. on September 27. Hardware defects in the original model, which were discovered by tech journalists reviewing the Fold, prompted Samsung to delay the release until the issues could be fixed.
Apple’s Fifth Avenue flagship store is reopening. Here’s what it’s like inside
Apple is reopening its flagship Fifth Avenue store on September 20. It's the only Apple Store that's open for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The revamped store is double the size, with higher ceilings that let in natural light. The reopening coincides with the launch of the company's latest iPhones.
Google Photos now lets you print and pick up photos at a local CVS and Walmart
Google Photos now lets you print photos and pick them up on the same day from a local CVS or Walmart, which includes around 11,000 stores around the country. There's also an Instagram Stories-style Memories tab in the app, which uses machine learning to highlight past photos, as well as Canvas Prints.
Stick with Android One, Motorola. Your phones are better for it
The Motorola One Zoom is the first Motorola One phone that's not in the Android One program. It's a step in the wrong direction for all parties, as it means you won't get 3 years of security updates and 2 years of version upgrades. But if you voice your concern loud enough, Motorola might change its mind.
F(x)tec Pro 1, the phone with a full-size keyboard, is available for pre-order
Want a full-size keyboard? Want a larger screen than BlackBerry's Key2 can provide? Well, check out the Pro 1 from a company called F(x)tec. It has outfitted a QWERTY keyboard on a large 5.99-inch smartphone for the best of both worlds. Now you don't need to miss out on the bezel-less trend.
Google’s Ambient Mode turns phone screens into Assistant-powered smart displays
Google's Ambient Mode turns select smartphones and tablets into Assistant-powered smart displays, with an interface resembling the one on the Nest Hub. The feature is limited to the Nokia 6.2 and the Nokia 7.2, along with new tablets from Lenovo, but it's unclear if it will make its way to other devices.
ZTE Axon 10 Pro review: Great performance for $549
The ZTE Axon 10 Pro is the Chinese company's first flagship phone to make it to the U.S. in two years, after the U.S. ban that lifted in 2018. It doesn't support 5G, but it does bring killer specifications at an affordable $549 price point, giving OnePlus and the OnePlus 7 Pro a run for its money.
HMD Global’s five new Nokia phones range from cute to sophisticated
HMD has unveiled 5 Nokia phones out of IFA 2019, and they include three feature phones and two midrange smartphones. The feature phones are the Nokia 110, Nokia 2270, a flip phone, and the Nokia 800 Tough, a rugged phone. There's also the Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 6.2 midrange phones. Only one is coming to the U.S., though.
ZTE’s powerful Axon 10 Pro arrives on U.S. shores with an affordable price
ZTE is bringing the Axon 10 Pro, first announced at Mobile World Congress 2019, to the U.S. after launching it in international markets earlier this year. It's the first flagship ZTE phone available in the U.S. since 2017, offering powerful specs such as the Snapdragon 855, for not a lot of money.
5G your old phone: HTC’s 5G Hub is now available for pre-order from Sprint
The HTC 5G Hub runs Android Pie, has a Qualcomm 855 processor, 4GB of RAM, and an HD touchscreen, but it's not a phone -- it's a hot spot designed to connect to 5G. You can leave it at home or work, or take it on the go. It's ideal if you want 5G this year, but don't want to shell out $1,000 or more for a 5G phone.
