Latest news with #CScottBrown
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
I finally have tech geek paradise nearby, and I'm so excited
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority When it comes to buying the latest and greatest smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, and more, Americans have a pretty limited set of options for shopping in a physical retail store. Over the past 15 years, the number of stores focused exclusively on electronics has dwindled. Even Best Buy, the largest physical electronics retailer in the US, is struggling. One retailer, though, is bucking the trend by not only surviving, but thriving. That retailer is Micro Center, a small-ish company that caters to hardcore tech geeks rather than the general tech consumer. When I lived in New Haven, Connecticut (where I spent most of my life), my nearest Micro Center was in Brooklyn, New York, which was quite the hike. However, it was always a worthwhile trip, for reasons I'll explain in a bit. When I moved to California's North Bay area in 2022, though, I was dismayed to find only one Micro Center in the entire state: the location in Tustin, more than eight hours away. Thankfully, the twenty-ninth Micro Center location just opened in Santa Clara, CA, a much more reasonable 90-minute drive from my house. On invitation from the company, I attended an early access opening of the store — and it was amazing. What is Micro Center? C. Scott Brown / Android Authority If you're a very old American, like me, you probably remember visiting a Radio Shack. In its heyday, it was one of the few places to get all manner of electronics and tech accessories, including hard-to-find items like uncommon batteries, unique adapters, and even soldering equipment. You probably also remember, though, that Radio Shack stores were cramped, disorganized, and staffed by unsupportive workers. Radio Shack went bankrupt in 2015. Decades before Radio Shack folded, a few guys who worked for the company saw its problems early and knew they could fix them. They left their Radio Shack jobs and started Micro Center, determined to create a welcoming space catered directly to tech-savvy consumers. Today, in 2025, Micro Center is one of the most respected and lauded privately owned retailers in the US. Micro Center was started by former Radio Shack employees determined to make a store by tech nerds and for tech nerds. The secret sauce for Micro Center is made up of two pillars. The first, and most integral, is knowledgeable staff. If you're a frequent reader of sites like Android Authority and have ever visited a Best Buy, you likely have experienced that company's biggest problem, which is that you, the customer, know more about the tech than the employees. That's not likely to be the case at Micro Center. Just like you and me, the people on staff in all its stores know their stuff. If you've never experienced it, I can assure you that it's quite the thrill to ask a tech question during a purchase and have someone who actually knows what they're talking about answer. The second pillar of Micro Center's success is that it understands and respects its customers. Rather than trying to appeal directly to the general tech consumer, Micro Center prioritizes being unabashedly nerdy. Yes, the general tech consumer — people who don't live and breathe tech but still need to buy a phone, laptop, TV, etc. — are more than welcome in Micro Center stores. But people who are passionate about tech are what Micro Center focuses on, and everything it does — store layouts, product categories, service offerings, etc. — always keeps that consumer category in mind. In other words, it's a store created by tech nerds for tech nerds. It's like a store made specifically for me C. Scott Brown / Android Authority Since I work at Android Authority, you know I love smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and all the other things we regularly cover here. However, I'm into tech-related stuff that we rarely talk about. I built my own gaming PC, for example (4090 gang, represent). I also have a Plex server, am very into smart home tech, and dabble in flying drones. I'm also a content creator, so I have a growing collection of tools for that, including cameras, lights, microphones, and more. Micro Center carries products related to all of these categories — and much, much more. In addition to everything I've already mentioned, Micro Center also has TVs, computer monitors, laptops, 3D printers (and filament for those printers), repair tools, board games, mechanical keyboards — the list goes on and on. It is a paradise for anyone passionate about a tech-related hobby. Regarding common tech categories, Micro Center has a distinct advantage in that it usually has a broader selection than most other stores. Just look at the laptop section of the Santa Clara store above. That is way more selection than you'll see in any Best Buy, Costco, Target, etc. For the less common categories, Micro Center is likely one of the very few physical retail stores to carry them. For example, in the US, it's not easy to buy a Raspberry Pi without doing so online. However, Micro Center has them, along with tons of add-ons, kits, and STEM-related tools to use with one. Likewise, if your laptop battery dies and you need an immediate replacement, you'll probably need to order online and wait for it to be shipped. At Micro Center, though, there's a whole wall of batteries you can run in and grab and be back up and running in no time. Need the proper tools to do that repair? Micro Center has them, too. Don't want to do the repair yourself? The service center is the first thing you see when you walk into the store, and it has an open-air design, so you can see the technicians doing their jobs. All of this makes Micro Center convenient, but what really makes it a joyous experience is the physicality of it all. I love being able to touch tech before I buy it C. Scott Brown / Android Authority When I was doing my most recent gaming PC build, I knew I wanted a new case. I have limited space in my small house, though, so it needed to fit within precise dimensions. Of course, I also wanted it to look cool and provide the necessary features. During this process, I did all this research — and the final purchase — online, and the first time I actually saw the case in person was when it arrived at my home. This works, but is certainly far from ideal. At Micro Center, though, I could have seen and touched the case before purchasing it. What's more, I could have compared the case to my current one to see the difference in size while also comparing it to cases from other brands. Given that very few physical retailers sell PC cases, Micro Center is one of the only places I could have gone to experience this. Micro Center knows the value of being able to see and touch something before buying it. That's just one example, but there are literally dozens more. Where else can you go to clack on a dozen different keyboards from multiple manufacturers to figure out which one feels and sounds the best? Where else can you pick from over a thousand filament colors to get the precise look you want for your next 3D printing project? Where else can you compare 50 laptops to one another, touch twenty desk microphones, hold dozens of Android phones, and even sit in a racing sim rig to see what that feels like? You can do all of this and more at Micro Center. Ultimately, the only real problem I have with Micro Center is that it's not everywhere. The company has opened three stores in the past year, which is a lot, but it still seems like a tiny portion of Americans have one within a two-hour drive. After all, the company has been around for nearly 50 years, and this is only its twenty-ninth store! I can only hope that this new Santa Clara location bolsters the company's success, and it continues expanding to more areas. For myself, though, I'm already dreaming about my next tech purchase happening in person while I chat with a fellow tech geek about it. I've missed those days.
Android Authority
7 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
We're about to witness a critical moment for Google Pixel phones
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority If you're a Google Pixel fan, the future of the smartphone series has never looked brighter. Yesterday, a new report claimed Google won't just have TSMC produce the Tensor G5 chip in the Pixel 10, but it will keep that TSMC partnership going for up to five years. In other words, we could see TSMC-made Tensor chips starting with the Pixel 10 and lasting through the Pixel 14. Google's Tensor chips have never been known for their incredible horsepower, battery efficiency, or thermal management. Since Google introduced its Tensor chips in 2021, the blame for those shortcomings has largely been put on Samsung, which has manufactured Google's Tensor chips since the beginning. But with Samsung exiting the picture and TSMC supposedly filling that role for the next several years, we could be looking at the best phase of Google Pixel phones yet. This is a big bet for Google, and if it pays off, it'll mark the beginning of a grand new chapter for both Tensor chips and Pixel phones as a whole. But if the switch to TSMC doesn't work, it'll be one of the biggest fumbles in Google Pixel history. Do you think switching to TSMC will solve Google's Tensor problems? 43 votes Yes, Samsung has been holding Google back. 65 % No, Google's bad chip design is to blame. 35 % A chance to correct years of Tensor trouble Robert Triggs / Android Authority Complaints around Google's Tensor project have existed since the first Tensor G1 debuted with the Pixel 6, and they've continued right up to the latest Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 series. If you've followed Google's Pixel phones during this time, you know exactly the complaints I'm talking about: lacking horsepower, poor thermals, and disappointing battery life. These shortcomings were most aggressive with the Tensor G1 and G2 chips in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series, respectively. Those phones regularly had performance hiccups, could barely last a full day on a single charge, and would quickly turn into an overpowered handwarmer if you pushed them too hard. Those issues subsided a bit with the Tensor G3 powering the Pixel 8 lineup, and things are even better yet with the Tensor G4 chip in the Pixel 9 phones. But for all the improvements Google has made over the years, it's never been enough to best or match the alternatives. The Google Pixel 9 Pro is an outstanding Android phone, but its performance benchmarks, battery longevity, and thermal management are still lacking compared to any competing Android phone with a flagship Qualcomm or MediaTek chip. And this has been Google's biggest issue ever since it started this Tensor experiment. Google's Tensor chips have never been enough to best or match the alternatives. With each new Tensor generation, Google has moved at a snail's pace to correct the drawbacks of the previous version, rather than trying to take on the competition. While things improve year over year from Pixel to Pixel, Google never has a chance to fully compete on the same level as the latest Snapdragon or Dimensity chip. And with every year that passes, that discrepancy becomes more challenging to contend with. This is a cycle Google has been incapable of breaking, and a large part of it is almost certainly due to Tensor chips being manufactured and produced by Samsung. Samsung's chipmaking division (Samsung Foundry) has a proven track record for being one of the weaker players in the semiconductor game. TSMC, meanwhile, is one of the best. Rita El Khoury / Android Authority When Qualcomm made a similar change in 2022, the TSMC-made Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 offered a 10% performance boost and 30% better power efficiency over the Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The chip designs were largely identical, but that difference in manufacturing alone still yielded incredible, tangible improvements. Now, imagine what kind of upgrades we could see going from a Samsung-made Tensor G4 to a TSMC-made Tensor G5. We're talking a brand new generation of chipset technology, plus a much better foundry producing it. And if that TSMC partnership continues the way this new report suggests, Google could very well have the resources it needs to finally put its Tensor chips on the same level as a flagship Snapdragon or Dimensity one. If all goes according to plan, this is the shakeup Google has desperately needed. A modern Pixel phone that's no longer shackled by the usual Tensor troubles is an exciting thing to think about, and it could very well be the future we're headed toward — especially if Google is working with TSMC for years to come. But that future is not guaranteed. Google's last opportunity to fix things Paul Jones / Android Authority There is another outcome to this scenario, and it's one where a TSMC-made Tensor chip doesn't live up to our expectations. There's a very strong possibility that Samsung is what's been holding Tensor chips back, but it's also worth considering that Google's core chipset designs may not be particularly good. If that's the case, then going from Samsung to TSMC won't matter, and we'll continue having Pixels with the same issues we've had for the last several years. As big of a win as the TSMC switch will be if it works out, it'll be just as damning for Google if it doesn't. Either this will be one of the best moves Google makes for the Pixel lineup, or it'll be one of the most disappointing. Think about the position Google would be in if it goes through this massive foundry change, just to keep producing chips that continue to offer lackluster performance and efficiency. Not only is this likely an enormous financial investment, but it's a move with a lot of eyes on it, too. It's also the last big move Google has up its sleeve to rejuvenate its Tensor chips. If Google still can't figure things out with TSMC manufacturing, it doesn't have another big foundry to turn to. At that point, Google either keeps chugging along with disappointing Tensor chips year after year, or it throws in the towel and admits defeat. Joe Maring / Android Authority Unfortunately for Google, there's no real middle ground here. Either the company gets its Tensor chips back on track with Tensor G5 and starts producing the flagship silicon we've been waiting for, or it doesn't. Either this will be one of the best moves Google makes for the Pixel lineup, or it'll be one of the most disappointing. No matter the outcome, we're heading towards a critical shift in the future of Pixel phones as we know them, and — hopefully — one for the better.
Android Authority
26-05-2025
- Android Authority
Full Pixel 10 wallpaper collection leaked: Download them all here!
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority Pixel 9 Pro TL;DR 40 new Pixel 10 series wallpapers have leaked. The latest sets include both dark and light variations of each wallpaper belonging to the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL. Colorways for the three new Pixel 10 series phones have also been revealed in the same leak. The Pixel 10 series is still a few months away from its official launch, but thanks to numerous leaks, many of them from our exclusive sources, we already know quite a bit about Google's upcoming phones. We've also gotten early glimpses of the entire Pixel 10 lineup, which is expected to include the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Previously, we had only seen a handful of wallpapers associated with the three non-folding Pixel 10 models. But today, a major leak from a reliable source, Mystic Leaks, has revealed a much larger collection of Pixel 10 series wallpapers. What was once a modest set of 12 wallpapers has now expanded to 40, many of which are brand new. Among the fresh additions is the Limoncello series, a vibrant new design. The latest sets include both dark and light variations of each wallpaper belonging to the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL, giving users more customization options depending on their preferences. Naturally, the wallpapers are themed to match the official colorways of the upcoming devices, details of which have also been leaked. According to leakers, these are the colorways we can expect for the Pixel 10 series: Pixel 10 colors: Obsidian (Black) Blue (Blue) Iris (Purple) Limoncello (Yellow) Pixel 10 Pro / Pixel 10 Pro XL: Obsidian (Black) Green (Green) Sterling (Grey) Porcelain (White) Unfortunately, we still don't have leaked wallpapers for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Android Authority
23-05-2025
- Android Authority
Samsung seems to be getting seriously close to releasing the One UI 8 beta
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR The Samsung Members app has a new notification for an update to the beta program. The message details how the beta program is changing going forward. Samsung appears to be preparing for the launch of the One UI 8 beta. Samsung is still in the middle of finishing up the rollout of One UI 7. A recently updated release schedule shows that the company plans to complete the process by July. Rumors have suggested that we could see the beta for One UI 8 before the rollout is done. A new notification in the Members app now hints that the One UI 8 beta could happen very soon. Samsung Members app users around the world are starting to see a notification in the app. This notification is alerting users that some changes are coming to how the beta program works. The changes are meant to simplify the process of joining or leaving the test. Going forward, there will now be a dedicated section for the beta program. This is a nice change from the banner that would appear at the top bar as it can easily be overlooked. On this page, you can also see what beta you're participating in and check out beta tips. If there are no beta programs available at the moment, this page will let you know. The One UI 8 beta is not ready yet, so if you head over to this new page, you'll see the 'No beta programs are available' message. However, these changes appear to be in preparation for the eventual release of the update. Samsung even mentions One UI 8 in a screenshot included in this notice. It seems like we won't have to wait much longer until the beta for the Android 16 skin comes out. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
23-05-2025
- Android Authority
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge gives me battery anxiety. Here's the proof.
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority When we first picked up the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, we marveled at its delicately thin frame. However, our wonder quickly turned to concern once we saw the phone's 3,900mAh battery capacity. That's not tiny, but it's a pretty conservative cell for a 2025 flagship smartphone, especially one as tall and wide as the Galaxy S25 Plus. For comparison, the S25 Plus houses a sizable 4,900mAh cell, while even the compact Galaxy S25 nudges ahead of the Edge with 4,000mAh. But it's also worth noting that the Edge features a larger display with a higher QHD resolution and a more demanding 200MP camera — factors that could all draw more power than those in the regular S25. Samsung itself claims the Edge should have battery life somewhere between the Galaxy S24 and S25, but our testing has found this to be rather optimistic. Let's take a look at the results from our automated battery longevity tests, all conducted at a consistent display brightness of 300 nits. For comparison, we also tested both models of the S24, as well as the S25 and S25 Plus. Robert Triggs / Android Authority Unfortunately, the Galaxy S25 Edge underperforms across the board. It clocks fewer minutes than the Galaxy S25 in every test and fares worse than the Galaxy S24 series in most categories — except for our Zoom call test, where it beats the Snapdragon version of the Galaxy S24. It also matches the Exynos model in the 4K recording and Zoom tests. The only consistent result across the board is in camera capture time, where all phones performed similarly. Otherwise, the performance gap is significant and well outside the margin of error. The Edge's battery life is clearly inferior to its siblings. In fact, the Edge's real-world battery life is far worse than the seemingly minor 100mAh difference with the compact Galaxy S25 would suggest. On average, I calculate a roughly 20% reduction in video recording and playback longevity compared to the regular S25, and 27% worse performance in Zoom call duration. Web browsing fared a bit better, with only about an 8% decline, but that's still worse than the battery size would lead you to expect. The Edge's beefier specs drain the 3,900mAh battery even faster than the S25. Software optimization may play a role, but the Edge's larger, sharper display undoubtedly draws more power than the regular S25. Combined with the smaller battery, this is a recipe for disappointing screen-on time. Ryan Haines / Android Authority Setting aside the comparisons for a moment, let's focus on screen-on time itself. Based on our tests, the Galaxy S25 Edge delivers about four and a bit hours of constant content capture, seven to eight hours of moderate use (like web browsing and video calls), and up to 17 hours of offline 4K video playback. These figures aren't terrible in isolation, but fall an hour or two behind its siblings. And keep in mind that this is under ideal, out-of-the-box conditions. Add background tasks, heavy data use, or gaming, and things quickly deteriorate. Cutting it fine is an understatement, there's no headroom for aging battery health here. Samsung has built the Edge with a battery capacity that clearly cuts it very fine for a full day of use. While the Galaxy S25 Edge might manage modest usage today, consider how it will perform after two or three years, especially at a price point of $1,100. A modest decline to 90% of its original battery capacity after two years could already spell trouble; a drop to 80% will have you reaching for a charger before the day is over. Additionally, we noticed the thin metal frame heating up frequently during use, which not only accelerates battery degradation but can also cause the battery to discharge inefficiently and increase self-discharge. This might explain why the phone seems to perform particularly poorly in demanding tests, like our Zoom call, and why Samsung has stuck to sluggish 25W charging again. Either way, it didn't take a crystal ball to predict battery concerns with the Galaxy S25 Edge, but now we have the data to prove it. If you plan to keep your next phone for a few years, you might want to steer clear of Samsung's ultra-thin flagship.
