Author Archives: Derek Walter

Right after you’ve given thanks for friends and family, and eaten an excessive amount of food, it’s time for that other holiday: Black Friday.

As fashionable as it is to say you’re not interested and would rather do something else, it’s hard not at least be mildly curious if there are some good deals to be found. If so, make sure you grab your smartphone and get it ready for all the shopping madness. You’ll want to tap into the best shopping apps and some Google services to survive this day.

Here’s a brief guide that will help you find deals you didn’t know you needed and navigate through the chaos so you don’t spend all day in a fruitless chase.

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So you want to head over to that trendy new taco stand, but you’re not sure if the line is going to be around the street corner.

Well, Google Maps now has the answer. A new feature the company highlighted on its Keyword blog now estimates how busy or slow things are in real time, thanks to Google’s data powers.

The Keyword

Google’s Pixel is apparently a hit over at Verizon. According to a report from Fiercewireless, Google’s first smartphone accounts for 7.5 percent of new activations during the last month.

That’s a high number for a premium priced, first-time phone that isn’t from Apple or Samsung. It indicates that the $15 million Google spent on advertising and $12 million from Verizon during a campaign from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 is paying off. Google’s ad campaign has played up the Pixel’s photo prowess, while Verizon has regularly run an ad where a group on a train uses the Google Assistant (which has awakened my phone and Google Home more than once).

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It seems like every good idea gets stolen at some point, especially when it comes to social networks. The latest inspiration comes to Twitter in the form of QR code profile links, a feature that’s been lifted from Snapchat.

Just as with Snapchat, you can scan someone’s code and immediately follow their account. On iOS, you find your code by going to profile > gear > QR code. On Android, launch the slide-out menu and touch QR code to see it.

Samsung is a major believer in the adage “go big or go home.”

According to several reports the company is building two phablet-sized phones with dual-edge screens for the upcoming Galaxy S8 line. Venturebeat says one model will come in at an eye-popping 6.2 inches, with the smaller variant at 5.7 inches.

At least the bigger model, to be called the Galaxy S8 Plus, will also reportedly ditch Samsung’s long-standing home button and capacitive keys for on-screen navigation. 

Another clue is in Samsung’s naming mechanism. 

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In an effort to show full contrition for the Note7 debacle, Samsung took out a full-page ad in three newspapers Tuesday to apologize.

The ad appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. The letter is attributed to Gregory Lee, the president and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America.

Rurik Bradbury

Ever the dealmaker, T-Mobile CEO John Legere is at it again with an attempt to lure Pixel owners over to his network.

The latest stunt offers you half the cost of Google’s phone, or $325, if you bring your Pixel to the company’s T-Mobile One unlimited plan. He took to his favorite platform, Twitter, to make the announcement and of course take a few shots at the competition.