Tag Archives: google

Why I’m not buying the Samsung Galaxy S8 this year

On March 29, Samsung will announce its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8. I won’t buy one. But not for the reasons you’d think. It’s not because I’m scared it’ll catch fire. It’s not because I’m disappointed by all the photos and specs that have leaked. (They look pretty great.) It’s not because I generally …

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Goodbye, GChat! Hello, Hangouts

If you still use an alternative instant message app to connect to Google, life’s about to get harder. Google is once again streamlining its services, and that means Google Talk (launched in 2005, and also known as Gmail Chat or GChat) is being replaced with Hangouts on June 26. For most people, this won’t mean much other than now it’ll …

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Google Home on CIA and spying gets defensive

Nope, there’s certainly no CIA spying going on here. Absolutely not. In fact, don’t even bother asking your Google Home smart speaker about the CIA. But if you do, the stolid little device is going to get defensive. A YouTube clip from someone named Michael Hraba shows the voice assistant‘s jargon-filled answer to “Do you know what the CIA is?” …

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No network? No problem for Google Docs on Firefox

If you use Google’s G Suite apps and Mozilla’s Firefox browser, good news: The two are going to get along much better. The G Suite tools for word processing, spreadsheets, Gmail and other chores have worked better on Google’s Chrome than on rival browsers in one important way: You can open and edit documents even when you don’t have a …

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Get an HMDX Chill portable Bluetooth speaker for $9.99

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. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page. The Chill is also available in black. Ten bucks! HMDX This has been a rough week for Amazon-based deals. First the rapid sellout …

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Google adds new reasons to install its Duo and Allo apps

Google wants you to use its Duo app for calls — with or without video. At its Google for Brazil event in São Paulo, the search giant announced that its video-calling app for Android and iOS will now support audio-only calls for those times when maybe making a video call isn’t a great idea or when your connection is less …

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Most Android users running outdated security patches: report

Chances are, your Android phone would be easy pickings for hackers. That’s according to research released Thursday by cybersecurity company Skycure, which found that 71 percent of Android phones on the five major US carriers haven’t been patched with the latest security updates. The report highlights the risks posed by not updating smartphones, and the challenges Google faces in delivering …

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AT&T pulls ads from YouTube, other Google sites

AT&T doesn’t want its name showing up next to videos promoting intolerance and hate. As a result, the carrier on Wednesday said it’s pulling ads from YouTube and other Google “non-search platforms.” “We are deeply concerned that our ads may have appeared alongside YouTube content promoting terrorism and hate,” the company said in an email. “Until Google can ensure this …

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iPhone 7 storage options: Why 32GB is likely not enough

Now playing: Watch this: Apple’s iPhone 7 wants you to cut the cord 1:49 Last September, Apple finally did away with the abysmal, 16GB model in its iPhone lineup. Starting with the iPhone 7, you have the option of 32GB, 128GB and a whopping 256GB. Even the iPhone SE has kicked the low-storage habit, with Apple recently doubling its base …

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Apple patent application points to an iPhone

Now playing: Watch this: Apple patent application points to iPhone-powered laptop 1:30 Apple may eventually let you find out if an iPhone is all the computer power you need. A US patent application filed in September and published Thursday points to an accessory that look like a traditional clamshell laptop, but has an iPhone-sized slot instead of a touchpad. The …

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