Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Excellent ANC, ecosystem limitations

Samsung has been a notable player in the buds game for a while now. During that time, it has dropped two generations of vanilla true wireless earbuds, mixed it up with Plus and Pro models, and even tried out new form factors like the bean-tastic Galaxy Buds Live. Those Pro buds are the flagship offering though, and we’re now on round two with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. What do they have to offer this time around and do they do enough to warrant an upgrade from the first-gen Buds Pro? Find out in our Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review.

This review comes from the audio experts at our sister site SoundGuys. Check out their in-depth take on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Who are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for?

• Samsung Galaxy device owners: Anyone invested in the Samsung ecosystem will get the most out of the Buds 2 Pro, including access to exclusive features like the Samsung Seamless Codec and automatic device switching.
• People looking for great ANC: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are some of the best noise-cancelling buds around.

What’s it like to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro?

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Samsung has been a notable player in the buds game for a while now. During that time, it has dropped two generations of vanilla true wireless earbuds, mixed it up with Plus and Pro models, and even tried out new form factors like the bean-tastic Galaxy Buds Live. Those Pro buds are the flagship offering though, and we’re now on round two with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. What do they have to offer this time around and do they do enough to warrant an upgrade from the first-gen Buds Pro? Find out in our Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review.

This review comes from the audio experts at our sister site SoundGuys. Check out their in-depth take on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Who are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for?

• Samsung Galaxy device owners: Anyone invested in the Samsung ecosystem will get the most out of the Buds 2 Pro, including access to exclusive features like the Samsung Seamless Codec and automatic device switching.
• People looking for great ANC: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are some of the best noise-cancelling buds around.

What’s it like to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro?

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A Synology NAS drive is the missing link in your home security system

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Security camera footage is only as good as what you can do with it. Most cloud-connected cameras offer motion detection-based clips and, in some cases, a few extra days of recording locked behind a subscription service. Usually, if you need additional features or long-term video retention, the best go-to solution is an IP camera paired up with a network video recorder to store videos on a hard drive. However, there’s a better way to do this.

We’ve previously talked about NAS drives and how some of the best Network Attached Storage devices on the market go above and beyond simple storage-related use cases. Synology makes some of the most feature-packed consumer and business-grade NAS solutions on the market. Most of them also ship with a built-in security package that can match most entry-to-mid level NVR options.

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Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Security camera footage is only as good as what you can do with it. Most cloud-connected cameras offer motion detection-based clips and, in some cases, a few extra days of recording locked behind a subscription service. Usually, if you need additional features or long-term video retention, the best go-to solution is an IP camera paired up with a network video recorder to store videos on a hard drive. However, there’s a better way to do this.

We’ve previously talked about NAS drives and how some of the best Network Attached Storage devices on the market go above and beyond simple storage-related use cases. Synology makes some of the most feature-packed consumer and business-grade NAS solutions on the market. Most of them also ship with a built-in security package that can match most entry-to-mid level NVR options.

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Hardware is a long-term game, and Google has commitment issues

Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Bogdan Petrovan

In July, Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees that “scarcity brings clarity.” He warned of economic headwinds and urged staff to work with “more hunger than [Google has] shown in sunnier days.”

Just two months later, scarcity is already manifesting itself in Mountain View. Google quietly canceled its next Pixelbook and dismantled the team behind it. The Pixelbook was reportedly “far along in development.” The company also gutted Area 120, its experimental product incubator.

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Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Bogdan Petrovan

In July, Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees that “scarcity brings clarity.” He warned of economic headwinds and urged staff to work with “more hunger than [Google has] shown in sunnier days.”

Just two months later, scarcity is already manifesting itself in Mountain View. Google quietly canceled its next Pixelbook and dismantled the team behind it. The Pixelbook was reportedly “far along in development.” The company also gutted Area 120, its experimental product incubator.

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What phones do the Android Authority team use as daily drivers? (2022 edition)

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

We cover loads of devices here at Android Authority, ranging from budget wares to cutting-edge flagship devices and foldable phones. But using a phone every day as your primary device or daily driver? Now, that’s another matter entirely for us.

We poll the team every year to find out about the daily drivers we use, starting in 2018 and stretching through to 2021. Over a year has passed since our last poll, so we figured that we’d survey the team once again for the 2022 edition of our Android Authority daily driver article.

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Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

We cover loads of devices here at Android Authority, ranging from budget wares to cutting-edge flagship devices and foldable phones. But using a phone every day as your primary device or daily driver? Now, that’s another matter entirely for us.

We poll the team every year to find out about the daily drivers we use, starting in 2018 and stretching through to 2021. Over a year has passed since our last poll, so we figured that we’d survey the team once again for the 2022 edition of our Android Authority daily driver article.

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Carriers should stop charging extra for using smartwatch data

Credit: Garmin

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

Tech makers can be loathe to admit it, but one of the key benefits of a smartwatch — or at least, a watch-like fitness tracker — is the ability to detach yourself from your phone. With either kind of wearable, you can avoid pulling your phone out of your pocket quite so often, which also prevents doomscrolling and other distractions. A watch will let you take some actions without interrupting a conversation or even breaking your stride.

Some watches go a step further with cellular versions, letting you leave your phone behind for hours. Examples include everything from Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 to hardcore athletic products like the Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE.

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Credit: Garmin

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

Tech makers can be loathe to admit it, but one of the key benefits of a smartwatch — or at least, a watch-like fitness tracker — is the ability to detach yourself from your phone. With either kind of wearable, you can avoid pulling your phone out of your pocket quite so often, which also prevents doomscrolling and other distractions. A watch will let you take some actions without interrupting a conversation or even breaking your stride.

Some watches go a step further with cellular versions, letting you leave your phone behind for hours. Examples include everything from Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 to hardcore athletic products like the Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE.

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is great, but its Android 12L I really love

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Ryan Haines

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 isn’t really a phone. It’s not a tablet, either. It has a big tablet-like display and phone-grade cameras, but it doesn’t fully commit to either side. As such, it needed a software experience that walks the line between phones and tablets without falling one way or the other. That’s where Android 12L comes in. It’s the shot in the arm that Samsung’s book-style foldable needed, and it sets a new bar for curated software.

See also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Ryan Haines

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 isn’t really a phone. It’s not a tablet, either. It has a big tablet-like display and phone-grade cameras, but it doesn’t fully commit to either side. As such, it needed a software experience that walks the line between phones and tablets without falling one way or the other. That’s where Android 12L comes in. It’s the shot in the arm that Samsung’s book-style foldable needed, and it sets a new bar for curated software.

See also: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review

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5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week – Android Apps Weekly

Welcome to the 450th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here are the big headlines from the last week:

• Google is putting a lot of its own projects on the chopping block. The company wants to operate more efficiently. The answer seems to be canceling unnecessary projects. The Area 120 division cut its projects down from 14 to seven. Overall, Sunday Pichai wants to increase Google’s efficiency by 20%. That likely means some apps are on the chopping block as well.
• Google Play introduced a 24-hour review delay for the Play Store. The aim is to prevent review bombing and prevent suspicious reviews. It’s no secret that fake reviews are a problem on Google Play. Developers can still reply to newly submitted reviews, but they won’t show up on the Play Store page for a day. Hit the link to read more.
• Google lost the first appeal to overturn a record-breaking EU fine from 2018. The fine was levied because Google requires OEMs to pre-load phones with Google Search and other Google products in order to use Google Play. After deliberations, the courts held up the EU’s decision, and Google is off to round two.
• Discord officially launched on Xbox this week. It was in beta for a while, and we’re happy to see it out for real. The process isn’t terribly complicated, but it takes place almost exclusively with the Discord and Xbox apps on your phone. Hit the link to learn how to connect Discord to Xbox.
• Apple’s Dynamic Island made quite the splash this week. It also only took developers about a day to mimic the effect on Android phones. It only works on Xiaomi devices via an MIUI theme, but it’s still pretty neat to see. We asked our readers if they thought Dynamic Island was cool, and, believe it or not, more than 50% of our readers said no.

---

Sniper Zombie 2: Crime City

Price: Free to play

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Welcome to the 450th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here are the big headlines from the last week:

• Google is putting a lot of its own projects on the chopping block. The company wants to operate more efficiently. The answer seems to be canceling unnecessary projects. The Area 120 division cut its projects down from 14 to seven. Overall, Sunday Pichai wants to increase Google’s efficiency by 20%. That likely means some apps are on the chopping block as well.
• Google Play introduced a 24-hour review delay for the Play Store. The aim is to prevent review bombing and prevent suspicious reviews. It’s no secret that fake reviews are a problem on Google Play. Developers can still reply to newly submitted reviews, but they won’t show up on the Play Store page for a day. Hit the link to read more.
• Google lost the first appeal to overturn a record-breaking EU fine from 2018. The fine was levied because Google requires OEMs to pre-load phones with Google Search and other Google products in order to use Google Play. After deliberations, the courts held up the EU’s decision, and Google is off to round two.
• Discord officially launched on Xbox this week. It was in beta for a while, and we’re happy to see it out for real. The process isn’t terribly complicated, but it takes place almost exclusively with the Discord and Xbox apps on your phone. Hit the link to learn how to connect Discord to Xbox.
• Apple’s Dynamic Island made quite the splash this week. It also only took developers about a day to mimic the effect on Android phones. It only works on Xiaomi devices via an MIUI theme, but it’s still pretty neat to see. We asked our readers if they thought Dynamic Island was cool, and, believe it or not, more than 50% of our readers said no.

---

Sniper Zombie 2: Crime City

Price: Free to play

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Google’s Pixel Recorder is kickass but it needs these features

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Hadlee Simons

There are plenty of reasons to pick up a Pixel phone, such as the suite of camera features, call screening functionality, and lengthy update commitment. However, another neat but often forgotten feather in Google’s Pixel cap is the Recorder app.

Google debuted its Recorder in 2019 on the Pixel 4 series, delivering a smarter experience than many other voice recorder apps. Here’s what makes it stand out from the pack and the few improvements we’d still like to see.

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Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Hadlee Simons

There are plenty of reasons to pick up a Pixel phone, such as the suite of camera features, call screening functionality, and lengthy update commitment. However, another neat but often forgotten feather in Google’s Pixel cap is the Recorder app.

Google debuted its Recorder in 2019 on the Pixel 4 series, delivering a smarter experience than many other voice recorder apps. Here’s what makes it stand out from the pack and the few improvements we’d still like to see.

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Stock Android should steal this privacy feature from OnePlus

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Hadlee Simons

One of the best things about Android is that there are a variety of skins out there, as the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi, and others add their own look and feel to the operating system.

These overlays also bring a ton of handy features that are often missing from pure Android. For example, scrolling screenshots were missing until Android 12, fingerprint scanner support didn’t show up until Android Marshmallow, and multi-SIM support was only added in Android Lollipop.

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Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Hadlee Simons

One of the best things about Android is that there are a variety of skins out there, as the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi, and others add their own look and feel to the operating system.

These overlays also bring a ton of handy features that are often missing from pure Android. For example, scrolling screenshots were missing until Android 12, fingerprint scanner support didn’t show up until Android Marshmallow, and multi-SIM support was only added in Android Lollipop.

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The Weekly Authority: 💻 Google parts with Pixelbook

Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 212th edition here, with Pixel 7 storage options, OnePlus 11 Pro renders, Sony’s State of Play and Nintendo Direct highlights, an “easier” way to make cup noodles, and more.

This week I’m feeling quite smug to be writing this from the comfort of my new couch, in my new apartment. Ok, so I’m still not unpacked, but I made it! In other news, the temperature here in Scotland dropped to 6°C this morning, so I may need to unpack my sweaters first…

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Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 212th edition here, with Pixel 7 storage options, OnePlus 11 Pro renders, Sony’s State of Play and Nintendo Direct highlights, an “easier” way to make cup noodles, and more.

This week I’m feeling quite smug to be writing this from the comfort of my new couch, in my new apartment. Ok, so I’m still not unpacked, but I made it! In other news, the temperature here in Scotland dropped to 6°C this morning, so I may need to unpack my sweaters first…

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The best original streaming shows on every major service in 2022

Credit: Paramount Plus

With a growing number of streaming sites offering huge libraries of new and old content, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the wealth of options. So, let’s break it down and start slow. What are the best original streaming shows?

Below, you’ll find our top picks, organized according to where you can watch them among the massive number of streaming services currently on the market.

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Credit: Paramount Plus

With a growing number of streaming sites offering huge libraries of new and old content, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the wealth of options. So, let’s break it down and start slow. What are the best original streaming shows?

Below, you’ll find our top picks, organized according to where you can watch them among the massive number of streaming services currently on the market.

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How to save a video from Twitter

People can share more than just tweets on Twitter, such as videos and images. The platform has been home to all kinds of content, from breaking on-the-ground footage from protests and live events to cute videos of pets. Currently, you can’t download Twitter videos within the app. Maybe that will be a new feature Elon Musk will implement. In the meantime, here are a few workarounds to save videos from Twitter and share them with those who don’t have an account.

Read more: How to download a GIF on Twitter

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People can share more than just tweets on Twitter, such as videos and images. The platform has been home to all kinds of content, from breaking on-the-ground footage from protests and live events to cute videos of pets. Currently, you can’t download Twitter videos within the app. Maybe that will be a new feature Elon Musk will implement. In the meantime, here are a few workarounds to save videos from Twitter and share them with those who don’t have an account.

Read more: How to download a GIF on Twitter

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How to get more views on TikTok

So you’ve started a TikTok account; congratulations! Now you’re hoping to get more views, right? Well, so is everyone, and they don’t just start pouring in equally. People’s time and attention are limited, so your content will have to be top-notch to get noticed. Luckily we have some tips and tricks to help get more eyeballs on your videos. Here’s how to get more views on TikTok.

Read more: How to see who viewed your TikToks

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So you’ve started a TikTok account; congratulations! Now you’re hoping to get more views, right? Well, so is everyone, and they don’t just start pouring in equally. People’s time and attention are limited, so your content will have to be top-notch to get noticed. Luckily we have some tips and tricks to help get more eyeballs on your videos. Here’s how to get more views on TikTok.

Read more: How to see who viewed your TikToks

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How to use Chromecast with Spotify

One of the many features of Chromecast is that it lets you cast Spotify to a TV using your phone or tablet as the remote. It’s a fast way to throw some music up on the big screen, especially if you’re watching a music video or filmed podcast. Here’s how to use Chromecast with Spotify.

Read more: Chromecast with Google TV: Everything you need to know about the streamer

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One of the many features of Chromecast is that it lets you cast Spotify to a TV using your phone or tablet as the remote. It’s a fast way to throw some music up on the big screen, especially if you’re watching a music video or filmed podcast. Here’s how to use Chromecast with Spotify.

Read more: Chromecast with Google TV: Everything you need to know about the streamer

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How to connect Spotify to Xbox

Did you know you can listen to your favorite playlists or podcasts while gaming directly from your console? When you use Spotify on your Xbox, the music plays in-game. You can even use voice commands to control your tunes. Here’s how to connect Spotify to Xbox.

Read more: Just got a new Xbox Series X/S? Here’s what you should do first

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Did you know you can listen to your favorite playlists or podcasts while gaming directly from your console? When you use Spotify on your Xbox, the music plays in-game. You can even use voice commands to control your tunes. Here’s how to connect Spotify to Xbox.

Read more: Just got a new Xbox Series X/S? Here’s what you should do first

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Get the Galaxy Watch 5 from $114.99, and more of the best fitness tracker deals

Galaxy Watch 5

Credit: Kris Carlon / Android Authority

A fitness tracker is one of the most helpful gadgets when it comes to getting in shape. It won’t magically make you fit, but it can keep you on top of your fitness goals and stay motivated. Some manufacturers even offer fitness trackers just for kids. We’ve gathered deals from all of the major players, and you can check out our favorites below.

Related: The best smartwatches you can buy

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Galaxy Watch 5

Credit: Kris Carlon / Android Authority

A fitness tracker is one of the most helpful gadgets when it comes to getting in shape. It won’t magically make you fit, but it can keep you on top of your fitness goals and stay motivated. Some manufacturers even offer fitness trackers just for kids. We’ve gathered deals from all of the major players, and you can check out our favorites below.

Related: The best smartwatches you can buy

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Save up to 60% with these wireless keyboard deals

Credit: Asus

Whether you hate typing on your laptop keyboard or want the freedom to keep a keyboard in your lap, it might be time to look for a wireless keyboard. After all, it does offer the flexibility to type from any position you want, even away from your screen. We’ve picked out a few of the best wireless keyboard deals to help you make the switch.

See also: Best keyboards you can get for work and play

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Credit: Asus

Whether you hate typing on your laptop keyboard or want the freedom to keep a keyboard in your lap, it might be time to look for a wireless keyboard. After all, it does offer the flexibility to type from any position you want, even away from your screen. We’ve picked out a few of the best wireless keyboard deals to help you make the switch.

See also: Best keyboards you can get for work and play

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series gets second update with performance improvements

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 update hub. Here you’ll find the latest information on software releases for Samsung’s latest smartwatches. We’ll detail the current firmware versions for the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, and alert you if there’s a new update rolling out.

The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro launched with Wear OS 3 and Samsung’s One UI Watch skin. Samsung confirmed that the series would receive up to four years of software updates, suggesting that support for both devices would be extended through 2026.

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Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 update hub. Here you’ll find the latest information on software releases for Samsung’s latest smartwatches. We’ll detail the current firmware versions for the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, and alert you if there’s a new update rolling out.

The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro launched with Wear OS 3 and Samsung’s One UI Watch skin. Samsung confirmed that the series would receive up to four years of software updates, suggesting that support for both devices would be extended through 2026.

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The upcoming Google Chromecast HD may not be so cheap after all

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

• The price of the upcoming Chromecast HD has leaked.
• It may not be much cheaper than the 4K Chromecast, but could still be a better deal.

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Google is holding a Nest launch alongside the announcement of the Pixel 7 series on October 6. All signs point to the rumored HD Chromecast’s debut at the event. Images and specifications of the new streaming device leaked recently, and a leaker has now outed its price.

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Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

• The price of the upcoming Chromecast HD has leaked.
• It may not be much cheaper than the 4K Chromecast, but could still be a better deal.

---

Google is holding a Nest launch alongside the announcement of the Pixel 7 series on October 6. All signs point to the rumored HD Chromecast’s debut at the event. Images and specifications of the new streaming device leaked recently, and a leaker has now outed its price.

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Google is canceling projects left and right in attempt to be more efficient

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

• Google is attempting to operate more efficiently by honing in only on projects it deems a priority.
• The movement to be more efficient has reportedly resulted in half of its Area 120 projects being canceled.
• The employees who were working on the canceled projects may be terminated if they can’t find another job within the company.

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As Google tries to save money and operate more efficiently, the search engine giant has canned half of its projects at one of its research and development divisions known as Area 120.

Lately, Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai, has been talking a lot about making Google more efficient. In a July internal memo obtained by The Verge, Pichai told his employees that the company would have to work with, “greater urgency, sharper focus, and more hunger than we’ve shown on sunnier days.” More recently, while speaking at last week’s Code Conference, Pichai told attendees that he wants to make the company 20% more efficient, according to CNBC. Now we could be seeing Pichai put those words into action.

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Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

• Google is attempting to operate more efficiently by honing in only on projects it deems a priority.
• The movement to be more efficient has reportedly resulted in half of its Area 120 projects being canceled.
• The employees who were working on the canceled projects may be terminated if they can’t find another job within the company.

---

As Google tries to save money and operate more efficiently, the search engine giant has canned half of its projects at one of its research and development divisions known as Area 120.

Lately, Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai, has been talking a lot about making Google more efficient. In a July internal memo obtained by The Verge, Pichai told his employees that the company would have to work with, “greater urgency, sharper focus, and more hunger than we’ve shown on sunnier days.” More recently, while speaking at last week’s Code Conference, Pichai told attendees that he wants to make the company 20% more efficient, according to CNBC. Now we could be seeing Pichai put those words into action.

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How to transfer photos from Android to a Windows PC

Accidents happen, and there’s nothing worse than losing all the photos on your phone due to damaging your device. That’s why keeping backup copies of all your memories is always good insurance. While cloud-synced apps offer cross-platform storage, there’s always the risk of forgetting a password and getting locked out of your account. The most reliable way to preserve pictures is to store them on different device drives. Here’s how to transfer photos from Android to a Windows PC.

Read more: How to transfer photos from iPhone to Android

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Accidents happen, and there’s nothing worse than losing all the photos on your phone due to damaging your device. That’s why keeping backup copies of all your memories is always good insurance. While cloud-synced apps offer cross-platform storage, there’s always the risk of forgetting a password and getting locked out of your account. The most reliable way to preserve pictures is to store them on different device drives. Here’s how to transfer photos from Android to a Windows PC.

Read more: How to transfer photos from iPhone to Android

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The best Sonos deals you can find

The Sonos One boasts a minimalist design which blends into any environment.

Sonos has long been a leading name in home audio, as any audiophile is happy to tell you. You can easily set up a Sonos speaker, and it should offer premium sound quality in any room of the house. This quality doesn’t come cheap, but we’ve done our best to round up some of the best Sonos deals available right now.

See also: Sonos 101: Spend wisely

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The Sonos One boasts a minimalist design which blends into any environment.

Sonos has long been a leading name in home audio, as any audiophile is happy to tell you. You can easily set up a Sonos speaker, and it should offer premium sound quality in any room of the house. This quality doesn’t come cheap, but we’ve done our best to round up some of the best Sonos deals available right now.

See also: Sonos 101: Spend wisely

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How to block someone on eBay

One of the benefits of selling on eBay is that you control who can bid on and buy your items. As a buyer, you can use the same method to block any sellers you’ve had issues with and prevent them from messaging you. Here’s how to block someone on eBay.

Read more: How to find a specific seller on eBay

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One of the benefits of selling on eBay is that you control who can bid on and buy your items. As a buyer, you can use the same method to block any sellers you’ve had issues with and prevent them from messaging you. Here’s how to block someone on eBay.

Read more: How to find a specific seller on eBay

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Poll: Did your current phone come with a charger?

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Back in the day, when you bought a phone, you didn’t have to worry about already having a charger because one was always packed in the box with the phone. These days, however, it’s become increasingly common for smartphone manufacturers to exclude the power accessory. In fact, Oppo recently revealed that it would stop including chargers with several of its products starting next year.

Although the practice has become more frequent, it’s not the case for every phone. So for today’s topic, we want to know if your phone came with a charger or not. Whether it did or didn’t, let us know by voting in our survey.

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Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Back in the day, when you bought a phone, you didn’t have to worry about already having a charger because one was always packed in the box with the phone. These days, however, it’s become increasingly common for smartphone manufacturers to exclude the power accessory. In fact, Oppo recently revealed that it would stop including chargers with several of its products starting next year.

Although the practice has become more frequent, it’s not the case for every phone. So for today’s topic, we want to know if your phone came with a charger or not. Whether it did or didn’t, let us know by voting in our survey.

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$400 off the 2021 MacBook Pro, and more of the latest Laptop deals

Credit: Kris Carlon / Android Authority

Looking for a new laptop can be time-consuming, not to mention mind-boggling. You have to make so many hardware and software decisions, and it can feel like you’re comparing apples and oranges. That wasn’t meant as a Mac pun, but it does bring up the fact that you have to choose everything, including your operating system. Even after narrowing your choices, it can be even tougher to narrow down the best laptop deals.

See also: Best MacBook deals

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Credit: Kris Carlon / Android Authority

Looking for a new laptop can be time-consuming, not to mention mind-boggling. You have to make so many hardware and software decisions, and it can feel like you’re comparing apples and oranges. That wasn’t meant as a Mac pun, but it does bring up the fact that you have to choose everything, including your operating system. Even after narrowing your choices, it can be even tougher to narrow down the best laptop deals.

See also: Best MacBook deals

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31 new emoji just landed today, check out what made it on the list

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

• The newest version of the Unicode Standard was released today.
• Unicode 15.0 will bring 31 new emojis to major platforms.
• These new emojis are expected to head to major platforms in late 2022 or early 2023.

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Getting tired of using the same old emojis in all of your messages? Then we have some good news for you. It looks like a fresh batch of emojis have officially rolled out today.

The latest version of the Unicode Standard — a consistent encoding, representation, and handling of text — was released earlier today. Known as Unicode 15.0, this recent update brings 31 new emojis to play around with.

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Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

• The newest version of the Unicode Standard was released today.
• Unicode 15.0 will bring 31 new emojis to major platforms.
• These new emojis are expected to head to major platforms in late 2022 or early 2023.

---

Getting tired of using the same old emojis in all of your messages? Then we have some good news for you. It looks like a fresh batch of emojis have officially rolled out today.

The latest version of the Unicode Standard — a consistent encoding, representation, and handling of text — was released earlier today. Known as Unicode 15.0, this recent update brings 31 new emojis to play around with.

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How to change the voice on Waze

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Part of the fun of navigating with Waze is that a host of celebrities and iconic characters can guide your way. The driving app regularly features limited-time promotions for exclusive voices, such as Morgan Freeman, C3PO, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to give you directions in multiple languages. You can even use your own voice for custom audio instructions. These are just some of the reasons why Waze made our top ten driving apps for Android. Here’s how to change the voice on Waze.

Read more: What is Waze? Everything you need to know about the popular navigation app

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Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Part of the fun of navigating with Waze is that a host of celebrities and iconic characters can guide your way. The driving app regularly features limited-time promotions for exclusive voices, such as Morgan Freeman, C3PO, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to give you directions in multiple languages. You can even use your own voice for custom audio instructions. These are just some of the reasons why Waze made our top ten driving apps for Android. Here’s how to change the voice on Waze.

Read more: What is Waze? Everything you need to know about the popular navigation app

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How to track your order on eBay

Now that you’ve found a bargain or won an auction on eBay, you probably wonder how long you have to wait before getting your hands on your item. eBay will usually send this info by email, but you can always check your purchase history for any updates on the expected delivery date. Whether you have an account or are a guest, here’s how to track your order on eBay.

Read more: How to search for a seller on eBay

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Now that you’ve found a bargain or won an auction on eBay, you probably wonder how long you have to wait before getting your hands on your item. eBay will usually send this info by email, but you can always check your purchase history for any updates on the expected delivery date. Whether you have an account or are a guest, here’s how to track your order on eBay.

Read more: How to search for a seller on eBay

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How to turn Disney Plus subtitles on and off

While Disney Plus is one of the most popular streaming services, it’s not without its bugs. Some users have experienced Disney Plus automatically turning on closed captioning, so this quick guide will show you the steps to shut it off. Otherwise, you can follow the same steps to turn them on. Here’s how to turn off subtitles on Disney Plus on every device.

Read more: How to change the language on Disney Plus

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While Disney Plus is one of the most popular streaming services, it’s not without its bugs. Some users have experienced Disney Plus automatically turning on closed captioning, so this quick guide will show you the steps to shut it off. Otherwise, you can follow the same steps to turn them on. Here’s how to turn off subtitles on Disney Plus on every device.

Read more: How to change the language on Disney Plus

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What is Thread, and why does it matter in a smart home?

Credit: Nanoleaf

Thread is a label you’ve probably seen increasingly often if you’ve been shopping for smart home accessories in the past year. It’s entirely possible, though, to have missed what Thread is, or why you should care — in which case here’s a primer on the technology, why you should be hunting it down, and some of the best Thread devices you can buy.

What is Thread?

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Credit: Nanoleaf

Thread is a label you’ve probably seen increasingly often if you’ve been shopping for smart home accessories in the past year. It’s entirely possible, though, to have missed what Thread is, or why you should care — in which case here’s a primer on the technology, why you should be hunting it down, and some of the best Thread devices you can buy.

What is Thread?

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Discord finally comes to Xbox: here’s how to use Discord on your Xbox

Discord is one of the most popular chat apps for gamers. It’s an easy, simple way to get into voice chats as well. While Microsoft has been beta testing Discord on its Xbox consoles for months now, the full-scale rollout is now finally live. So, in honor of the event, we’ll show you how to connect your Xbox to Discord and join voice channels.

QUICK ANSWER

To use Discord on Xbox, turn on your Xbox. Once done, go on your phone or PC, go to the voice channel you wish to join, and select the new Join on Xbox option. You’ll be transferred to the Xbox app on your phone, where you can transfer the voice to your Xbox.

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Discord is one of the most popular chat apps for gamers. It’s an easy, simple way to get into voice chats as well. While Microsoft has been beta testing Discord on its Xbox consoles for months now, the full-scale rollout is now finally live. So, in honor of the event, we’ll show you how to connect your Xbox to Discord and join voice channels.

QUICK ANSWER

To use Discord on Xbox, turn on your Xbox. Once done, go on your phone or PC, go to the voice channel you wish to join, and select the new Join on Xbox option. You’ll be transferred to the Xbox app on your phone, where you can transfer the voice to your Xbox.

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Save 25% on the WD 1TB My Passport Ultra, and more external hard drive deals

Credit: Amazon

Enough is never enough when it comes to storage, especially with many games taking up a good chunk of space. So it makes way more sense to grab an external hard drive instead of uninstalling and reinstalling games when you want to play them. If you’re ready to upgrade your storage, then we’ve rounded up some of the best external hard drive deals around.

See also: The best cloud storage apps for Android

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Credit: Amazon

Enough is never enough when it comes to storage, especially with many games taking up a good chunk of space. So it makes way more sense to grab an external hard drive instead of uninstalling and reinstalling games when you want to play them. If you’re ready to upgrade your storage, then we’ve rounded up some of the best external hard drive deals around.

See also: The best cloud storage apps for Android

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You told us: You’re split over your phones’ camera zoom quality

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

All smartphones offer camera zoom functionality of some kind, whether it’s via a telephoto/periscope camera, hybrid zoom tech, or a purely software-based approach. 

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Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

All smartphones offer camera zoom functionality of some kind, whether it’s via a telephoto/periscope camera, hybrid zoom tech, or a purely software-based approach. 

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