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  • The Best-Selling Android Phones: What’s Popular?

    The Best-Selling Android Phones: What’s Popular?

    People love their Android phones. Android is a very open and malleable operating system and allows for people who love the finer points to make their phone their own. That’s a lot of the reason why Android phones sell so well! Which one is the king of the hill, though? Today we’re looking at the best-selling Android phones of the last year.

    Best-Selling Android Phones

    Samsung Galaxy S9 Line

    The S9 line of Galaxy phones cleaned up over the last year. Of the top five selling Android phones, the S9 line of phones picked up three of those slots. The Galaxy S9 Lite sold 4 million units, coming in as the lighter, cheaper option for Samsung fans. The S9 Plus, on the other end of the spectrum, sold 8 million units, doubling its tiny cousin.

    The standard-sized Galaxy S9, one of our favorite Android phones on the market, sold a cool 10 million units, making it one of the best-selling phones of the year. It actually tied for second place with the next phone on our list. So, what made the S9 line just so popular?

    In short, Samsung knows how to make a great smartphone. The S9 line offers a huge, beautiful screen with hardly any bezels. These phones have great battery life and stellar processor performance. There’s a lot to love with these phones.

    Huawei P20

    Selling a 10 million units, and tying with the S9, the Huawei P20 managed to keep pace with Samsung. That number would have been much higher if Huawei could sell phones in North America, but that’s a story for another day.

    The Huawei P20 is a great smartphone, manufacturer notwithstanding. The screen is huge and colorful, bringing tons of vibrancy and life to bear. It also sports great cameras, snapping shots like a high-end photographer’s camera.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 9

    Samsung absolutely cleaned up the last year in Android phone sales. The Galaxy Note 9 posted a stellar 30 million units sold, making it far and away the best-selling Android phone. The huge phablet, complete with the S Pen and a huge battery, has a lot to offer.

    For productivity, there’s not a better Android phone out there. The blistering-fast processor, the S Pen for notes and the massive screen all make this a great phone for professionals. Beyond that, it’s one of the bulkiest and most powerful phones on the market, Android or otherwise.

  • Best Android Phones of 2019

    Best Android Phones of 2019

    Android is a fantastic platform for mobile phones, and many users prefer Google’s operating system over other phone OS’s. However, Android is on so many phones that it’s hard to tell which is the best choice for you. Today we’re going to break down some of the best Android phones available on the market right now.

    Best Android Phones of 2019

    Samsung Galaxy S9

    While the Galaxy S10 is out, the S9 remains an excellent choice for those looking for a stellar Android phone. The price point is right, as you can often find the S9 for less than $600, while the S10 is $1,000 at the lowest.

    The nearly bezel-free display, the fast processor and the excellent AMOLED screen all make this a killer phone. When it comes to Android, it’s hard to beat Samsung’s flagship phones. The Korean phone manufacturer really knows what it’s doing.

    Huawei Mate 20 Pro

    This phone is a bit hard to find in the US, but you can snag it off of Amazon for $900. It’s easily the best Huawei phone ever made, and one of the best Android phones. The huge QHD screen, the blazing fast processor and the great battery life all add up to make this one well-worth the price.

    Huawei might not be a name you know well. That’s because they’re a Chinese phone manufacturer that doesn’t market to the US or sell phones here. That doesn’t mean this is a bad phone, though. In fact, the Mate 20 Pro sports some of the best cameras on an Android phone, in addition to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.

    Google Pixel 3

    Google’s own Pixel range of phones is also stellar. When you made the operating system, it’s not hard to make the phone, as it turns out. This goes double for the newest incarnation of the Pixel. It’s a beast. Sporting a huge, gorgeous display and a smooth design that would make anyone jealous, it’s easy to see why people love this phone.

    Coming in at $700, it’s on the high side, but this is a luxury phone. When it comes to the bright colors, fast processing and killer functionality, you’ll be glad you went with Google’s flagship phone. It’s hard to beat how good this phone is at its price point, unless your name is Huawei.

  • The Future Unfolds: Samsung Could Unveil New Folding Phone

    The Future Unfolds: Samsung Could Unveil New Folding Phone

    Samsung’s official Twitter account had an interesting teaser on Monday. The short video shows unfolding Korean text and promises that “the future unfolds.” While this may seem cryptic, it’s likely this is a sly nod to the upcoming Samsung Galaxy F, the new folding phone the company has been teasing recently. Could it launch alongside the Galaxy S10?

    The Future Unfolds

    Samsung Folding Phone

    A prototype of the Samsung folding phone was spotted in November 2018, though it was hardly a pretty sight. The prototype was almost more proof-of-concept than an advertisement for an upcoming product. However, it did show us what to expect from Samsung’s folding smartphone.

    The outer, wrap-around screen appears to be made of an unusual material. The design is not dissimilar from a bifold wallet, though the practical usefulness of such a device remains to be seen. At time of writing, little is known about the specifics of a potential Samsung Galaxy F. It’s uncertain whether the device would even be a mass-market consumer device or an experimental prototype.

    Galaxy S10

    Samsung has many other big products on the horizon. Later this week they are set to properly unveil their newest line of Galaxy flagship phones, the Samsung Galaxy S10. The S10 will be the stock-standard version, while the S10+ will be the larger model with a longer battery life and higher price. A budget-friendly model, the S10e, is set to debut at a lower price and with less bells and whistles.

    Strange designs seem to be the current rule at Samsung: the S10 looks to forego the ever-popular phone notch for a phone pinhole instead. This punch-out screen has met with mixed responses from tech news sites, with many stating it looks unsightly. However, the phone notch received similar criticisms when it was featured on the iPhone X, though it has gone on to be regarded as elegant.

  • The Gift of Music: How to Do It the Right Way

    The Gift of Music: How to Do It the Right Way

    Everyone has those people in life that are very hard to shop for. I mean what are you to get the person that has everything? Music. Music is always the best gift,  and for the people that have everything, it’s often the only gift. Music is universal and received by everyone. No one can have all of it or appreciate all of it,  which makes it such a great gift.

    The best part about giving music as a gift is there are so many different ways to do it. You can give equipment, earbuds, speakers, listening peripherals, or just new music that you think they would enjoy. The options are virtually endless. Let’s take a look at some of the best music gift ideas you can give your friends, family,  and loved ones.

    Streaming Subscriptions

    When gifting music the first place to start is the easiest place to start. That is a subscription to new music. Starting at $9.99 a month there is a plethora of streaming music subscription services. The subscriptions will allow you to stream, download, and listen to unlimited music, new, retro or classic. Whatever you wanna hear, whenever you wanna hear it.

    The first one I would mention is Apple Music. Apple Music has the largest subscription-based of users as well as the largest database of music. They’ve been compiling music in their iTunes software since the beginning of digital music. Almost all the music you could ever want to listen to is there is a very easy to use, intuitive,  user-friendly platform that syncs perfectly amongst all your iOS devices.

    The next option is Amazon’s Prime Music. Prime Music functions mostly like the Apple subscription services. Prime music will sync across all your Amazon prime devices,  you can even download the prime music app to your iOS or Android devices.

    This provides flexibility in your multiple and various OS mobile devices. There are also services like Iheartradio, Pandora, and Spotify. All the services will run you $9.99 a month and make an excellent gift for anyone who doesn’t have unlimited streaming music service.

    Harmonica?

    Maybe you want something tangible to give? Another great option to give somebody is the gift of a musical instrument. Regardless of talent level, Giving the gift of a musical instrument is always welcome. This will give you some options as well, the classic iconic instrument, a keyboard or guitar,  or you can get interesting like a banjo or harmonica. It’s fun, always remembered, and just may improve someone’s life.  If that’s not exactly what you been looking for, Here are some specific music listening devices that will make great gifts.

    Amazon Echo

    The Amazon Echo is one of Amazon’s premier speaker systems. It is an elegant and easy to use this quality speaker. It doubles as a speaker for most of your devices and comes with Amazon’s Alexa voice-enabled assistant fully built in. Full cloud sync-ability to prime music,  you can add in that subscription for a total music package. Synchronization across your devices lets the Amazon echo provide the ultimate in home music listening enjoyment. The Echo gives the gift of high-quality speaker along with the content to play through it.

    The Sonos Vinyl Set

    Are you looking for a gift for someone who likes that hands-on music experience? Do they like the sound they can feel and touch? At the same time want to have that digital proficiency and quality without suffering the nostalgic sound of crackles and pops. Look no further than Sonos’s new vinyl set. Picture this, the Play:5, the best-sounding, most powerful speaker, matched with the Pro-Ject vinyl record player, allowing you to stream your vinyl to every room. Masterful.

    Did I mention, the Pro-Ject includes built-in phono preamp. Outstanding. They will be able to just plug in any audio device, from a record player to a friend’s phone, and listen to their favorite music on the fantastic Play:5. Like all Sonos speakers, it is expandable.  The Sonos vinyl easily let you go from streaming your favorite music and high-quality sounds to spinning from your own record collection.

    Give the gift of streaming vinyl across the connected Sonos speakers to every room in a pure, balanced sound,  unmatched by anybody else in the industry. Give the gift of their own musical completion, The Sonos Vinyl set.

    Beats Studio3

    You could just try keeping it simple and just go with the old trusty Beats headsets. When you want to give the gift of quality music look no further than beats headphones. The best of the beats headphones are the Beats. Featuring intuitive balanced, pure noise canceling functionality in the most robust and authentic sounding headphones on the market.

    These headsets function flawlessly regardless of the situation or noisy environment that you’re in,  always providing the perfect pure balance sound and they look pretty great.

  • Google Assistant is About to Take Over Your Life

    Google Assistant is About to Take Over Your Life

    Our world has in a very short time become almost totally voice controlled by an autonomous A.I. robot with a pleasant female voice. One voice is always listening,  to answer, or facilitate your every whim. She can order your food, turn on your lights, tv, and set your A/C. She can settle debates, do calculations, wake you up in the morning.

    “She” has many uses and many names, Alexa, Siri, some call her Bixby or Skynet, Clarice, Cortana, Whatever you call her, she has a name. Then there is the unnamed, just known as the assistant.

    “Hey Google”. This phrase is the next big thing in A.I. assistants. Google’s very own assistant to help you verbally command across devices, computers, speakers, Google Home, your phones, tablets, and everything else with a plug. No Google’s assistant isn’t new, but it is improving faster than the rest of the field.

    While Siri and Alexa are getting complacent with their functions, focusing on expanding. The Assistant is getting smarter at all the things she does, she is learning, evolving…

    Google Assistant will be the A.I. Assistant that wins the war and establishes dominance. Even though it looks as though Google is falling behind at the moment. Alexa is sexier, and Siri is already everywhere. Why will it be Google? Google CEO Sundar Pichai  says the companies priorities are shifting from “mobile-first to AI-first.”

    For Google, that priority will be AI-powered intelligent assistant, Google Assistant. That is why they will prevail and take over the A.I. world. A.I. first and design devices and peripherals around the assistant,  instead of A.I. just being a component or another feature.

    In short, the Google Assistant is a voice-activated digital assistant created by Google. Much like all the others out there it can perform actions on a user’s behalf and provide conversation and contextual information. Google Assistant is now the primary focus of Google’s AI-first strategy. In cohesion with the mountain of user data, Google has on all its users will create the dominant voice-enabled A.I. assistant to lead the world into the roaring 20s.

    Most of the world’s smartphones operate on Google’s Android OS, which supplies Google Assistant already for free. If you haven’t tried out the Google Assistant on your smartphone, now is the time to yank out the device in your pocket. I think you will be very impressed with your assistant. Try it, ask your Assistant to look up the last book you read, music, your favorite bible verse or send a quick text message.  See what the weather is like in Temecula or turn off your bedroom lights. Google can do it, just ask.

    Why is So Much Data Needed?

    The biggest disadvantage of the Assistant is that it requires users to give access to a lot of data. If you want it to turn off your light, you need to give it access to your home. If you want her to remind you of an important meeting tomorrow, she needs your calendar. You get the picture.  This disadvantage is also why Google will improve in the near future.

    It has all the data to play with already.  Yes, we are creating a monster, a self-serving monster. How, when, or if this will come back to bite us is all up in the air. It all seems like that is someone more important’s problem, and now is just the time to enjoy the best of all times to be alive. We want all this glorious tech without giving up any private data, which is just not possible. Or is it?

    What About My Privacy?

    Don’t be terrified, It’s going to be great. While privacy in the 21rst century is going extinct, it’s not really linked to you… think of it as one person with two personalities, the in real life “IRL” and your digital personality. You can control every part of your digital personality, it can even be a caricature of your IRL self.

    Yes, everything you say, post, think, search or learn is being tracked. What is not being tracked is you, just your behaviors, then compiled into a database with 5 billion other people and used to develop patterns. When strong enough patterns are compiled, very accurate predictions can be made. Take solace in the anonymity of it all, or you can take the next step.

    A third personality, make a second digital personality. New email, second twitter, FB, Insta, use this solely to create erratic online behaviors. Search for random things, click on ads you are not interested in, simply skew the data. If enough of us do this we can restore privacy. Maybe. Who’s with me?

  • Your iPhone or Android is About to Cost Even More

    Your iPhone or Android is About to Cost Even More

    If you complained when phones were free because you were asked to sign a contract, you probably aren’t happy nowadays! We are now at a place where a new iPhone could cost up to $1449. Just when you think phone prices are as outrageous as it could get, Qualcomm says hold my drink…

    Rising prices aren’t unusual on their own. Faster, better components like processors and cameras cost more to make. Add in the cost of researching and developing new materials into the final product, and then we have the Trump trade war and inflation to affect the cost of new tech. If all of that weren’t enough, chipmaker Qualcomm is increasing their licensing fee for each new 5G chip.

    Qualcomm reported a sharp decline in their quarterly profits, largely due to a reduction in the amount of money they obtain from licensing their patents to other companies. Qualcomm is tweaking their licensing program and will charge handset makers for their 5G intellectual property. Specifically, the company said that they could charge smartphone manufacturers up to $16.25 in royalties for every 5G phone they sell. They also stated they would cap their royalty rates at $500 for the selling price of the phone. This means the manufactures will have to pass on the cost to consumers to help cover this new charge.

    iPhone Cost and Why They’re So Expensive

    Apple has slowly increased the average price of an iPhone since 2007, but with the $999 iPhone X release last year, it made an even bigger leap than usual. A year later, after the shock value of a thousand dollar smartphone had largely worn off, Apple made yet another jump. The iPhone XS Max, which starts at $1,099 and can cost up to $1,449 for the model with the most memory, makes it the most expensive iPhone ever.

    Tim Cook, Apples CEO, does not believe the iPhone is too expensive. He states “The phone has replaced your digital camera. You don’t have a separate one anymore. It’s replaced your video camera. It’s replaced your music player. It’s replaced all of these different devices,” Cook said. “And so arguably the product is really important. And we’ve found that people want to have the most innovative product available and with that, it’s not cheap to do.”

    These steadily rising prices across Apple’s portfolio and the mobile category indicate that costlier devices are here to stay . This is our own fault for buying them in mass droves in the first place. We have no one to blame but ourselves!  I don’t regret my own decision, I’ll probably even do it again this September.

    Don’t Worry, Androids Mid-Level Phones are Still Affordable

    iPhones are expensive, rightfully so, since they are of much higher quality and consistency than some competitors. But, you can only get the iPhone from one manufacturer – Apple. The operating system used in the iPhone, iOS, is a proprietary Apple product. You can’t just get your own copy of iOS and put it on phones and sell it. Tie that in with tight distribution procedures and you have a solid way to control the market. Android does not operate this way, so that makes them cheaper, right? Not really.

    Android phones use an operating system that is open-source. Android is actually just another distro of Linux, although it runs some independently-developed software on top of the Linux kernel in place of the GNU userland tools used in desktop Linux. You can even see what kernel version you’re running in the settings of any Android phone. One would think this would help decrease cost to the consumer, but no.

    While a lot of different factors are creeping prices higher, some revolutionary tech advancements will only add to these still-rising costs. Android will have its own price increase issues in the near future. As Android phone makers struggle against premium priced components like more robust chipsets and unfathomable cameras, they’re also anticipating new designs.  These include 5G and foldable designs that are crucial to helping their brands stand out in a over-saturated and mundane line-up.

    Making newer cutting edge phones in 2019 is getting even more expensive. The 5G phones and foldable designs seen in the upcoming “Galaxy X” will be a whole new ball game, and ball games are never cheap.

    SmartPhones Will Be a Major Expense Over Your Children’s Lifetime

    Kids are getting their first smartphone at the average age of 11 in today’s world. Assuming the average cost of a smartphone stays the same, with the average amount spent per year in the U.S. on cellphones, and the average  upgrade every 32 months, things will only get more expensive.

    Factoring in the typical smartphone costs and usage patterns, your children will end up spending a staggering $75,000 apiece on their phones over the course of their lives. Mind Boggling!

  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors and Speculation

    Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors and Speculation

    While the Samsung Galaxy S9 is a relatively new phone, Samsung is likely to have another flagship up their sleeves. Notably, this is likely not the foldable phone Samsung showed off onstage in November, but another traditional entry in the Galaxy line. Here’s all the rumors and speculation about the Samsung Galaxy S10.

    Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors

    Is it Real?

    The biggest question about the Galaxy S10 is whether it even exists. It seems quite likely that Samsung will be making a successor to the Galaxy line in time for the tenth anniversary. Who would be willing to miss a marketing opportunity that huge? Not to mention, there’s a lot of competition out there for Samsung to contend with.

    For one thing, the Korean smartphone manufacturer is only just hanging on to the top spot globally. While Apple was once the company on their heels, however, Huawei, a Chinese smartphone maker, is now number 2 globally. Huawei’s impressive showing is made even more striking by the fact that they don’t sell phones in America due to security concerns.

    Potential Models

    It seems likely that, should a Galaxy S10 be on the horizon, that it would come in a variety of models. The iPhone XS, XS Plus and XR have proven that premium smartphones can succeed with a variety of models for different tastes.

    Notably, we guess that the S10 will likely have a 5G-enabled model as the Plus variant. Smartphone makers love selling the Plus models because they make more money, overall, on them, so having something other than size set it apart could be huge.

    Additionally, expect to see a “normal” configuration that is similar in size to the current S9. Finally, we would be shocked if there wasn’t a competitor for the iPhone XR that was a more budget-friendly option. The XR has less technical flourishes and is more straightforward and comes in $250 cheaper than its bigger brother.

    Release and Price

    February or March both seem like likely candidates for release window. There is currently no concrete info on these phones. However, it seems likely that the base model would come in around $1,000, with the budget model at $750 and the Plus around $1,200.

  • The New Samsung A9 Is Here!

    The New Samsung A9 Is Here!

    The Samsung A9 is one of the best affordable new options from Samsung! The new Samsung A9 smartphone boasts some serious upgrades over its predecessors. This model is a mid-grade phone that is a great option for people who want a phone with plenty of style and features but are also looking for something a lot more budget-friendly.

    You’ll get all-new design features and the latest technology such as a quad camera, a fast-charging battery, and an octa-Core processor with 6GB or 8GB RAM. With plenty of great tech in this small streamlined package, the cutting edge A9 is a much more affordable option than the S9 and really gives you your money’s worth. If you are looking for a new smartphone on a budget, read on to learn about the new Samsung A9.

    Samsung A9

    Four Cameras

    Notably, the A9 sports an absurd number of cameras on the back. The Google Pixel and iPhone X have made Bokeh-style portraits a normal sight with their dual-camera setups. However, Samsung is going crazy with the cameras on the A9, giving it four.

    The four cameras allow for a number of crazy photography tricks. Portrait mode, of course, is still here. A similar mode that allows for selective focus of subjects is also available, as are low-light modes. Additionally, there is a super-wide mode for vacation and travel shots to capture wide vistas. Pretty much any kind of normal photography you want to do is a breeze with the A9.

    The four rear cameras and a single front camera provide greater functionality, allowing you to take nearly flawless photos. This combination of cameras allows the user to adjust background blur and get a more accurate depth. The low light camera feature is also very clear and highly defined.

    Battery

    The battery in this phone is huge, allowing for a full day of apps and activity without draining the whole battery. That’s a huge plus in an era when smartphones are a huge part of our lives. Additionally, in the event your phone dies, it supports fast-charging. As a bonus, the phone also ships with a fast-charger, which is a huge value.

    While many phones support fast-charging, few of them actually ship with one in the box. With an extended battery life, you’ll rarely be separated from your phone, and when you are, it won’t be for long thanks to the included fast charger.

    Specs

    The specs on the A9 are impressive for any phone, especially a mid-range phone. It has a large 6.38″ AMOLED screen which makes watching movies and playing games much more enjoyable. This phone also has an octa-core processor and fingerprint sensor built into the screen. When it comes to the multi-camera feature things get interesting.

    The main camera is a 24-megapixel f/1.7 camera and it works in conjunction with a 10-megapixel telephoto lens for 2x zoom shots. There is also an 8-megapixel ultrawide angle 120-degree camera for landscapes. The 5-megapixel camera is the depth sensor that allows the camera to adjust for blur.

    In addition, the A9 has an octa-core processor with the option for 6 or 8GB RAM so you don’t have to worry about slow speeds. As for internal storage, you can get up to 128GB with the A9 but you can also add up to 512GB via a microSD card.

    One of the cool features that have people buzzing is the array of colors that are available. This model comes in cotton candy pink, lemonade blue, and caviar black. The texture of the phone also allows it to shimmer in the light, making it very eye-catching.

    Bottom Line

    When it comes to affordability, the A9 is hard to beat for people who want impressive performance, technology, and a quality camera like you’d find in more expensive models. The A9 will sell for approximately $450 to $500, depending on the model you want, which is about half the price of the S9 and Note 9 Galaxy models. While you won’t get the exact performance specs of those models, if you are looking for a solid smartphone alternative that is almost just as good as some of the top-of-the-line models, you won’t be disappointed in the A9. Indeed, the A9 is a pleasant surprise for the year and proves to be a real gem among the insanely priced smartphones that are flooding the market today.

  • Galaxy Note 9 “Best Phone for Seniors”?

    Galaxy Note 9 “Best Phone for Seniors”?

    I spent much of the prime youthful years of my life teaching senior citizens how to cope and use their smartphones. I would host seminars 3 times a week inside the verizon stores for just this. For years I always recommended the iphones to our senior customers, but now im starting to think the Galaxy Note 9 may be the  best phone for seniors. Here is why…

     

    While I have said the Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It most certainly boast innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of  senior users. There is 2 big reasons I believe the Samsung note is the best phone for our senior community, intuitiveness and screen size.

     

    The Intuitive Galaxy note 9

    For years the greatest generation and early gen x crowds where taught everything the way it had been taught before. There were always steps, reasons and an order to everything, weather it was building a fence or cooking a recipe. There was a memorization to everything they learned. That’s not the case with technology today, you can not memorize the steps it takes to make a phone call or send a text because its always different depending on the screen you are on. You have to look at your phone like you are Detective Columbo, Whats here that wasn’t here before? What’s not here that was here before, and what has changed? The great thing is our seniors have started to master this, and that’s why I think the Note 9 is a great step up for them.

    The Note 9 offers a lot of intuitive features that make expanding on basic use very easily. Samsung has improved the positioning of the fingerprint scanner for this large phone. This time it sits centrally, below the camera. This should be a much more intuitive fit for your index finger, particularly in a giganto-phone like this.  Making it easier for seniors to unlock their phone when they forgot their passwords.

    I Can See that Screen

    the Note 9 is the megalodon of the Galaxy line-up. And this year it’s bigger than ever, offering a 6.4in screen that pips its predecessor by an all-important 0.1in. Galaxy Note 9’s design is pretty familiar. It has a curved sheet of Gorilla Glass on the front, slightly less curved Gorilla Glass on the back and diamond-cut aluminium around the sides.   This makes it very easy to see, and in the crisp contrast of the dark on light font, smaller words and Icons tend to stand out.The Galaxy Note 9 uses one of Samsung’s ultra-bright, mega-sharp Super AMOLED panels, which lets you choose between reserved, natural colour or tones so bold they barely look real. Really makes the screen pop and extremely easy to see.

    Are you worried it’ll be too big for your pockets? The Note 9 measures 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8mm, and weighs 201g. That’s only 0.2mm thicker and 1.6mm wider than the smaller Note 8. Should fit great in those front trouser pockets, I know mine does

     

    That S pen

    One thing i’ve noticed with senior smartphone users is they like the stylus option. This is another great reason for the Galaxy Note 9 and the included S pen. The S Pen stylus can still do all of the note-taking, transcribing, and scribbling that you could want across a wide range of apps, but now it has a whole new suite of functions too. This promotes the S Pen to a surprisingly useful tool for an active senior Note 9 user.

     

     

    Where Can I Get The Galaxy Note 9?

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

  • Project Fi Becomes Google Fi

    Project Fi Becomes Google Fi

    Three years ago, Project Fi launched as Google’s exploration of cell service and now it appears that Google is ready to bring Fi to the masses. Now known as Google Fi, the service has been expanded to support more phones, including iPhones and a majority of Android devices.

    google-duplex

    MVNO

    Google Fi is what’s known as a “mobile virtual network operator,” or MVNO. This means that your actual service is still coming from larger carriers. Supported are T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular, and you are able to dynamically switch between carriers.

    Pricing Made Easy

    Possibly the best feature of Google Fi is the simple price model and a program called Bill Protection. You’ll pay just $20 per phone line and $10 per gig of data with a cap of $60 per month to prevent any surprises.

    This is particularly great for devices that you may not use terribly often. Or for devices where you want a data-only SIM.

    Commitment from Google

    We won’t mention Google Fiber, which was a broadband initiative that started aggressively before floundering. But it is nice to see Project Fi graduate beyond “project” level and become a full-blown Google service.

    Google’s expansion into supporting more phones, including iPhones, also shows a real commitment to the communication service.

    iOS Support

    Previously with Project Fi, you could purchase a data-only SIM for iPads to use as secondary devices. Fi SIMs have also historically worked in iPhones, but it was a process to adjust the data settings.

    Now, Google is supporting iPhones directly and have released a Google Fi iOS app to help ease new customers into the MVNO. Direct support of the iPhone is still in beta and some features are currently reduced or missing.

    Visual voicemails are the biggest missing feature, meaning that when someone leaves you a voicemail you will receive a text alert with a link to call and check your message rather than appearing in the native voicemail app. Furthermore, the VPN security feature that Android users can enjoy is currently missing from iOS.

    Overall, it’s a big step forward for Google’s MVNO service. Those who love Google and want a simple, dynamic phone service should absolutely look into Google Fi.