Microsoft’s Windows software will support technology called HEIF to shrink photo sizes — the third big operating system to embrace the JPEG alternative along with Apple’s iOS last year and Google’s Android P this year. Windows 10’s wallpaper Stephen Shankland/CNET A test version of Windows 10 — a step on the road to a version …
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Android P’s HEIC halves photo sizes but won’t work on lower
The good news is that the next version of Google’s Android smartphone software, Android P, has a feature to shrink your photos to half the size of an ordinary JPEG. The bad news is there’s no guarantee that every phone will actually be able to use it. That’s because of hardware and patent licensing limits on the technology used, called …
Read More »iPhone X vs. Pixel 2 camera comparison
Editors’ note: This comparison was originally published Nov. 28, 2017 at 4 a.m. PT. Since that time Google added a technology called RAISR to the Pixel 2 which uses computer learning to make zoomed in pictures look sharper and more detailed. After testing a Pixel 2 with this update, we found improvement with zoomed in photos taken in good light. …
Read More »Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus specs vs. iPhone X, Pixel 2 XL
Last month, Samsung took the wraps off its two new flagships, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. They feature many expected upgrades, including Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 processor and Google’s Android 8.0 Oreo software. But the phones also pack a few unexpected things that once started out as only rumors. The Galaxy S9 Plus, for example, now has a second 12-megapixel rear-facing …
Read More »Google adds wheelchair
It’s not easy to use public transportation if you’re in a wheelchair, on crutches or even pushing a baby stroller. While many cities around the world are required to have some accessible subways and trains, it’s often challenging to know exactly where the right stations are. That’s where Google says it can help. Google has added a feature in its …
Read More »Get the Moto G5 Plus, the ‘best budget phone,’ for $209.99
CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter! The Moto G5 Plus has looks and performance that belie its $210 sale price. Motorola Until last month, …
Read More »Android Wear needs more than a new name to fight Apple Watch
Google just rebranded its Android Wear watch platform with a new name: Wear OS. This news arrives less than two months before Google I/O, the annual developer conference in which Google announces its new initiatives and software broad strokes. New Google hardware generally (though not always) hits around October. Maybe Wear OS is an indicator that Google’s smartwatch strategy is …
Read More »Spotify takes on Siri and Alexa with experimental voice assistant
Streaming service Spotify is testing its own voice assistant, which could give navigating its app a significant speed boost. The feature, spotted first by Twitter user Hunter Owens, is available to some users through its iOS app and can be found inside the search bar. It appears to allow users to skip tapping and typing in order to find and …
Read More »Google changes Android Wear name to Wear OS
It’s a real name-changer. Google announced Thursday that it’s got a new name fo Android Wear, its software that powers a wide-ranging lineup of wearables like smartwatches. From here on out, you’ll know it as Wear OS, and reminder, it’s not connected to Google’s mobile operating system. A big part of the reason for the change: One-third of new Android …
Read More »iPhone 8 vs. Pixel 2 comparison: Which one’s better?
The iPhone 8 and Pixel 2 belong in the upper ranks of any best phone list. They’re some of the fastest, most comfortable phones made to hold in the hand. And they have nearly every feature you could want in a handset. But no phone is perfect, and buying either one means you’re trading off some features to gain some …
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