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Google’s Googlebooks Laptops Launch with Pixel-Only Integration, Leaving Android Promise Unfulfilled
New information confirms that Googlebooks’ “Better Together” features do not yet work with Samsung phones, including recent models running Android 17. This leaves Pixel devices as the only phones offering full integration at launch, narrowing the appeal of Google’s premium laptops and complicating its promise of broad Android compatibility. The features require Android 17 and…
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Samsung’s Z Fold 8 is hundreds off ahead of iPhone Duo launch
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are discounted during October Prime Day, with prices lower than their previous best sale prices. The deals come as Apple’s iPhone Duo is expected soon, and offer savings for buyers considering Samsung’s foldable phones. The 256GB Z Fold 8 has fallen from $1,899.99 to $1,549.99…
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Surge protectors can lose protection without showing visible damage
Surge protectors contain components called metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) that degrade over time and with electrical surges, yet often show no visible signs of failure. This is important because a failed surge protector can continue powering devices whilst providing no actual protection, leaving expensive equipment vulnerable. To determine if a surge protector has failed, look for…
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Googlebooks bring useful phone links but early software feels unfinished
Google’s first five Googlebooks went on sale on 4 October, and early hands-on impressions suggest the Android laptops have promising ideas but feel unfinished. Their phone integration makes it easy to use phone apps, files and notifications from a laptop, though some features are unreliable or rough around the edges. Setup is straightforward: users pair…
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Emmy Awards Make Historic Move to Amazon Prime Video with Six-Year Streaming Deal
Amazon has revealed it will pay $20-25 million annually for Emmy rights in a six-year deal worth over $120 million total. The figure illustrates intensifying competition amongst streaming services for marquee live events, with Netflix securing the SAG Awards and YouTube acquiring the Oscars from 2029, reflecting these platforms’ commitment to establishing themselves as destinations…
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Repurpose an old digital camera as a higher-quality webcam
Old digital cameras are experiencing an unexpected resurgence in popularity, with built-in-lens camera shipments growing 29.6 per cent in 2025 to approximately 2.44 million units. Rather than discarding older DSLRs and compact cameras, owners can repurpose them as webcams for video calls, potentially offering superior image quality with better low-light performance and background blur compared…
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AI devices challenge what companies can claim counts as recording
Tech companies including Apple and Google are redefining what constitutes a “recording” as they develop new AI hardware. Rather than saving raw video or audio data, these devices would process information using AI to generate text descriptions, then delete the original data, raising fundamental questions about what companies can legitimately claim they don’t “record” even…
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Googlebooks’ phone integration works only with Pixel devices at launch
Google’s new Googlebooks (premium laptops) launched with “Better Together” features that promise seamless integration with Android phones. However, these features currently work only with Pixel phones, despite Google’s assurance that the laptops were “engineered to work with your Android phone right out of the box.” This is a significant limitation for Google’s laptop ambitions, particularly…
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Check your Android phone’s security support and update status
Android phones can continue working after their security support ends, with no warning to the user. Checking support matters because security patches fix vulnerabilities that can put personal data at risk, even when a phone appears to work normally. In Settings, users can find the Android version, latest security patch date and Google Play system…
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Mesh Wi-Fi systems conceal antennas to prioritise coverage and smooth handover
Most mesh Wi-Fi systems hide their antennas inside their minimalist-looking units because mesh networks prioritise consistent coverage and smooth handover over the longest possible range. Since nodes relay signals and most devices are nearby, external antennas offer less benefit than they might on a single router. Internal, often omnidirectional antennas can help nodes detect devices…