Life Style

Texting between iPhones and Androids used to be a slog. That's because Apple limited its users to SMS when messaging Androids, which stripped away many of the modern chat features we've gotten used to—like, say, functioning group chats. That radically changed once Apple rolled out support for RCS: This messaging protocol had been standard on Android for years, but by allowing iPhones to use it rather than SMS, suddenly "green bubbles" conversations weren't so crummy. On the contrary, RCS adds most of the key iMessage perks you might expect, like typing indicators, high-quality image and video sharing, and, of course, functioning group chats. But the transition isn't complete yet. RCS actually supports more features than these, though just not on iOS. That includes end-to-end encryption (...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Credit: Amazon. Prime Day 2025 starts next week, but the early deals are already here. While Target, Walmart, and Best Buy are starting their competing sales this weekend, Amazon's won't officially kick off until July 8, but you can already find early deals on Amazon devices, like this 75-inch QLED TV going nearly 50% off. But if you're looking to spend a bit less but still score a bargain, consider these early Prime Day tech deals under $25. ...

Samsung is urging Galaxy users to activate anti-theft features available on their devices: Thieves are increasingly targeting smartphones, and these security precautions are designed to protect your sensitive data should your device fall into the wrong hands. The upgrades are built on broader Android anti-theft features, which rolled out with One UI 7 on the Galaxy S25 series earlier this year. According to Samsung's release about the measures, older flagship devices are now able to utilize these protections too. You should activate them as soon as they're available on your device. Anti-theft features on Samsung Galaxy phonesThe anti-theft features available to Galaxy users are not brand new or previously unannounced. Google has built up its theft protection suite for Android alongside sca...

I use as many ad-blocking programs as possible, but no matter how many I install, real-life advertising is still there, grabbing my attention when I'm just trying to go for a walk. Thankfully, there may be a solution on the horizon. Software engineer Stijn Spanhove recently posted a concept video showing what real-time, real-life ad-blocking looks like on a pair of Snap Spectacles, and I really want it. Check it out: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The idea is that the AI in your smart glasses recognizes advertisements in your visual field and "edits them out' in real time, sparing you from ever seeing what they want you to see. While Spanhove's video shows a red block over the offending ads, you could conceivably cover that...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Garmin has just announced an absolutely massive feature update via public beta for the Fenix 8, Enduro 3, and Fenix E watches. This adds in all of the newly announced Forerunner 970 running features, the new Venu X1 features, plus a few entirely new to Garmin features as well. This beta release (version 17.11) pulls together features that were previously exclusive to specific device lines and makes them available across their flagship outdoor watch series. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Fenix E—which has struggled to find its market position—is receiving the same treatment as the more expensive Fenix 8 and Enduro 3. Let's take a look at what new features you can start using, depending on your Garmin device of choice.F...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. This week, I saw some news that made me a little sad: Peloton has closed a few of its large showrooms, which limits options for in-person buying. Below is a list of the cities that still have in-person showrooms, plus a variety of resources for making a Peloton purchase online, whether you're in the market for a Bike, Bike+, Tread, or Row.Where are the Peloton closures and where can you still shop?Peloton recently closed showrooms in Los Angeles, Georgia, Illinois, and New Jersey. That means there are 13 American cities left with in-person showrooms:California: Newport Beach and Palo AltoNevada: Las VegasNew York CityNorth Carolina: RaleighOregon: PortlandTennessee: NashvilleTexas: Dallas, Plano, Southlake, and Houston...

The tide rises, the sun sets, and Google pushes AI summaries onto yet another product. This time, it's YouTube that's getting the AI Overview treatment. The new feature will add "carousels" of clips that AI determines are relevant to the top of certain searches. For now, the feature is only available to a very (very) narrow set of users.It's a similar feature to the one you've probably seen in Google Search. Typically, if Google finds a YouTube video with a relevant portion to your search, it will present a highlighted clip that you can watch without leaving Google itself. These new YouTube AI carousels are populated with many of these relevant clips, and are paired with generative AI text summaries of the clips.How to turn on YouTube's AI overviews Currently, AI-powered carousels are a...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Mountain bikers, listen up: Garmin recently launched its latest cycling computer specifically tailored for you. The Edge MTB is designed to meet the unique needs of off-road riders.For context, the Edge MTB represents a departure from Garmin's traditional one-size-fits-all approach to cycling computers. This device focuses pretty exclusively on mountain biking scenarios, incorporating specialized tracking modes and trail-specific functionality that road cyclists would never need.Here's how the Edge MTB works, and what sets it apart from other cycling computers.Profiles for different riding stylesThe computer introduces two distinct ride profiles designed for different mountain biking disciplines. The "enduro" profile r...

Android users got a whole host of security and privacy upgrades with the release of Android 16, including expanded in-call scam protection, live threat detection for malicious apps, and more. These features are well worth enabling, as they'll help secure your data and your device against theft, malware, and phishing attacks. Google also extended its Advanced Protection Program to include stricter device-level features aimed at reducing the risk of compromise. Advanced Protection offers the most robust all-around security available on Android under a single setting—an incredibly useful tool for journalists, activists, and anyone with access to sensitive data that could be targeted by threat actors. Those who are especially privacy- and security-minded may also want to enable Advanced Protec...

Sometimes the help you need doesn't fit in one of the pre-recorded number dial options, and speaking with a human on the other line is really what you need. With Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale on the horizon, many shoppers will likely need some assistance. I have found that it's easy to get a hold of someone in customer service to help you—here is the easiest way to do so.How to speak to a Best Buy customer service representativeBest Buy's Contact Us page has a lot of different options that will make your head spin, but if you just need to talk to someone ASAP, call 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289). When the recording picks up, say "speak with a live agent" or press "0." You'll have to narrow down your reason why you're calling to get to speak to someone, or Best Buy will hang up on y...