Victoria Song, Author at Gizmodo

It May Be Time to Say ‘Goodnight, Sweet Prince Bixby’

Google and Samsung are apparently working out a deal that would give Google products a boost on Samsung smartphones, according to a Bloomberg report. That means Google might get greater access to Samsung users, while Samsung’s own ecosystem takes a hit. Samsung is the biggest smartphone maker in the world, and Google’s Android is its…

Tech News Victoria Song

Nintendo’s Latest Solution for Its Cloud Problem Is Still a Half Measure

My birthday gift from my partner this year was a Switch Lite. Actually, it was part of an elaborate upgrade scheme we cooked up. His regular Switch was kinda broken—you have to jiggle it a few times in the dock for it to connect properly to the TV. I almost never hook my Switch up…

Games Victoria Song

This Is the Best Smartwatch for Under $200

It used to be that smartwatches were a sort of “luxury” gadget. They couldn’t do as much as your phone, and frankly, didn’t offer much more than a much cheaper fitness band. Shelling out several hundred for one seemed like a waste of money. But these days, there’s a heck of a lot more options…

Reviews Victoria Song

Researchers Made This Medical Wearable Out of Pencil and Paper

While smartwatches and fitness trackers are probably the most well-known consumer tech for health monitoring, researchers from the University of Missouri published a study showing they can do the same thing… with a paper and pencil. The study, which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this month, detailed how a…

Tech News Victoria Song

I Was Horrified at How Many Ads the New Brave Browser and VPN for iOS Blocked

Brave announced today that it's partnering up with Guardian to launch a new version of its iOS browser

Reviews Victoria Song

The Polar Unite Makes a Good Case for Simpler, Cheaper Fitness Watches

Fitness doesn’t have to be complicated, but that’s never stopped some wearables companies from turning exercise into an advanced course in data analysis. Most people who ask me which smartwatch they should buy aren’t looking for a metrics dump. They want the basics: a decent price, an easy way to track progress, and notifications. The…

Accessories & Wearables Victoria Song

And… Garmin’s Back After Massive Outage. Sort Of.

After all of Garmin’s services were knocked offline last week, it looks like the company’s various platforms are slowly sputtering back to life. Users on Twitter have joyfully noted that activities since Wednesday are starting to sync, while Garmin’s website lists which services have returned online. That doesn’t mean everything is up and running at…

Tech News Victoria Song

Oh God, Please Let Me Unlock My Mac With My Face

Look, OK, some of you are going to blast me as a chump who’s willing to give up her face to Big Tech for convenience, but I really hope this rumor that Face ID may be coming to Macs is true. 9to5Mac discovered code in the third beta of macOS Big Sur that refers to…

Tech News Victoria Song

Garmin Hit by Major Outage in Potential Ransomware Attack

Few things are more devastating to self-quantifying fitness nerds than not getting credit for that run, bike, or walk—but that’s exactly what’s happening to owners of Garmin wearables. Since yesterday, Garmin’s website, app, and call centers have been offline due to a major outage that may have been caused by ransomware. The outage was first…

Tech News Victoria Song

Looks Like the Surface Duo Will Be Launching Really Soon

Murmurs that Microsoft’s Surface Duo might appear earlier than expected have been floating around for a while—but an FCC filing earlier this week and Bluetooth SIG certification that popped up today are strong hints that we’re probably a just a few weeks away from launch. The Surface Duo was announced last October at Microsoft’s Surface…

Tech News Victoria Song

Just Buy a Damn Rice Cooker

It all started with a video dropped into our cooking Slack. In case you don’t feel like watching, it’s Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng’s alter ego Uncle Roger losing his shit at a BBC Food show, in which the host completely fucked up cooking Egg Fried Rice. There are several things wrong with the host’s rice…

Gadgets Victoria Song

iOS 14 Beta Hints Smaller iPhones Are Back on the Menu

Good news for people who hate big phones: Yesterday, Apple released the third developer beta of iOS 14, and hidden in the code of the Display Zoom feature is a hint that the iPhone 12 lineup will include a 5.4-inch iPhone. What does Display Zoom have to do with a tiny phone? Well, according to…

Tech News Victoria Song

There’s No Reason Not to Use a Screen Protector

I used to laugh at my neurotic friends who used screen protectors. You probably know the type of person I’m referring to. This person will refuse to unbox a new phone, tablet, or even a laptop without having first bought a case and an avalanche of other protective accessories. When it comes to screen protector…

Gadgets Victoria Song

Apple Glasses Rumors Have Me Stressed About AR’s Biggest Unsolved Problems

The hype behind Apple’s rumored augmented reality headset and glasses just won’t die. Every few weeks, almost like clockwork, some sort of Apple AR rumor or news makes its way through the tech blogosphere, even as other smart glasses and AR companies are capsizing left and right. This has always irked me, but it wasn’t…

Tech News Victoria Song

Google Might Be Tinkering With a Dual-Screen Chromebook

One screen? Pfft. In the past few years, we’ve seen plenty of dual-screen laptops and even some folding phones. Now, it would appear that Google is also experimenting with a Chrome OS gadget that has two touchscreens and a trackpad. The device, which is codenamed “Palkia”, was first reported by 9to5 Google. Palkia is described…

Tech News Victoria Song

AccuWeather’s Making a Play for Dark Sky’s Android Users With a Redesigned App

When Apple bought Dark Sky back in March, it was a death knell for Android fans of the app. A small reprieve was granted earlier this month, when Dark Sky co-founder Adam Grossman said the Android app would work an additional month before shutting down on August 1. Well, that day is fast approaching, and…

Tech News Victoria Song

I Put a Fitness Tracker on My Lazy Dog. It Did Not Go as Planned.

There are two things you should understand about my dog, Daisy. First, she hates walking. She’ll get excited if you take out the leash, but it’s a farce. She just wants to pop out and then go immediately back inside. This is partly because she doesn’t understand that if you go all the way around…

Biology Victoria Song

Here Are All the iOS and Android Emoji Coming This Fall—but I Really Only Care About the Turtle

Today is World Emoji Day, a “holiday” that is apparently a thing. To celebrate, both Google and Apple have shared some new emoji coming to Android 11 and iOS this year. For iOS, yesterday Apple previewed to Emojipedia 13 new emoji, including a dodo, a matryoshka doll, piñata, a tamale, anatomical heart, beaver, boomerang, lungs,…

Tech News Victoria Song

This Sex Toy’s Virtual Orgasm Coaching Service Gives New Meaning to Telehealth

Sex tech made a splash as a new category at CES 2020—an event that was somehow just months ago—but it was specifically Lora DiCarlo’s Baci toy that dominated the show floor. The award-winning Baci is launching today alongside the company’s new virtual sexual wellness coaching service—because, you know, staying at home is boring and there…

Gadgets Victoria Song

Time to Build Your Own Jurassic Park Because Someone Is Auctioning 50+ Life-Size Animatronic Dinos

Gather the coins in your couch cushions and whatever’s left of your Trump bucks. On August 6, 2020, you can bid for over 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs on AbleAuction. This is not a drill. I repeat: this is not a drill. The listing, which was spotted by BoingBoing, says that this treasure hoard of robot…

Tech News Victoria Song

Victoria Song

It May Be Time to Say ‘Goodnight, Sweet Prince Bixby’

Nintendo’s Latest Solution for Its Cloud Problem Is Still a Half Measure

This Is the Best Smartwatch for Under $200

Researchers Made This Medical Wearable Out of Pencil and Paper

I Was Horrified at How Many Ads the New Brave Browser and VPN for iOS Blocked

The Polar Unite Makes a Good Case for Simpler, Cheaper Fitness Watches

And… Garmin’s Back After Massive Outage. Sort Of.

Oh God, Please Let Me Unlock My Mac With My Face

Garmin Hit by Major Outage in Potential Ransomware Attack

Looks Like the Surface Duo Will Be Launching Really Soon

Just Buy a Damn Rice Cooker

iOS 14 Beta Hints Smaller iPhones Are Back on the Menu

There’s No Reason Not to Use a Screen Protector

Apple Glasses Rumors Have Me Stressed About AR’s Biggest Unsolved Problems

Google Might Be Tinkering With a Dual-Screen Chromebook

AccuWeather’s Making a Play for Dark Sky’s Android Users With a Redesigned App

I Put a Fitness Tracker on My Lazy Dog. It Did Not Go as Planned.

Here Are All the iOS and Android Emoji Coming This Fall—but I Really Only Care About the Turtle

This Sex Toy’s Virtual Orgasm Coaching Service Gives New Meaning to Telehealth

Time to Build Your Own Jurassic Park Because Someone Is Auctioning 50+ Life-Size Animatronic Dinos

Sun’s Latest Outburst Complicates Planned Launch of Artemis 2

Instagram Will Finally Let You Lurk to Your Heart’s Content—for a Price

Popular Sweetener Found in Protein Bars Tied to Stroke, Blood Clot Risk

HBO’s Boss Has Yet to Be Approached About Partnering on ‘Doctor Who’

AI Agent Runs the ‘I’m Being Censored’ Playbook After Getting Banned from Wikipedia

‘Scream 7’ Comes Home With Deleted Scenes We Hope Will Improve the Movie

A QR Code Too Small to See Hints at a New, Non-Annoying Use for the Format

Andy Weir Apologizes After ‘Star Trek’ Comment Backlash

Scientists Discover Hidden Behavior in Water That Helps Explain Why Ice Floats

The ‘Paradise’ Season 2 Finale Paved the Way for a Wildly Sci-Fi Season 3

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets