Technology - Google News

This $70 S Pen/case combo won't turn your S21 Ultra into a Galaxy Note - Engadget
Facebook vs. Apple: Here's what you need to know about their privacy feud - CNET
The Cheapskate Hall of Fame: Best cheap products of all time - CNET

This $70 S Pen/case combo won't turn your S21 Ultra into a Galaxy Note - Engadget

Posted: 10 Feb 2021 06:00 AM PST

It seems more likely than ever that the Galaxy Note line as we know it is on its way out, and that's sure to be dire news for fans of the S Pen. Or will it? With the launch of this year's Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung is apparently trying to give its fan-favorite stylus a life of sorts beyond the Note — but you'll have to find one yourself.

If you have an old Galaxy Note lying around, you're golden — just pop that S Pen out and sketch away. If you don't, you can buy a brand new one for $40 from Samsung, or shell out an extra $30 for a silicone case/S Pen bundle. That last option seems like the most comprehensive option because it gives Samsung's stylus somewhere to live, but after living with it for a week… well, let's say it's been a mixed bag.

Mind you, that's not because of the S Pen itself. In fact, I actually really like this thing — it's one of the most comfortable S Pens I've ever used. That comfort is all thanks to the S Pen's size. At just over four inches long, its heft and feel have more in common with a classic ballpoint than the diminutive stylus built into Samsung's Galaxy Note smartphones.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra S Pen case photos | 7 Photos

This $40 S Pen packs all of the requisite bits needed to play nice with the invisible Wacom digitizer inside the S21 Ultra's massive display. That obviously means you can write with it, but you can also hold the S Pen above the screen and tap its button to bring up a palette of handy options and shortcuts. It very much feels like the S Pen experience from the old days, which is fine if you're the type who mostly jots down quick reminders and grocery lists. (For other fun features like support for air gestures and camera control, you'll have to wait for the more expensive S Pen Pro coming later this year.)

The S Pen is also fast, which frankly came as a bit of a surprise. When I was working on our S21 Ultra review, I noted that stroke latency — that is, the lag between starting a stroke and seeing it on-screen — wasn't quite as low as on devices like the Note 20 Ultra. I wrote that after testing the S21 Ultra with a Lamy S Pen Samsung gave away after some launch event, but the issue seems to be gone with this first-party stylus. Our review unit hasn't received any software updates after publication, so I'm comfortable chalking up that discrepancy to the S Pen I was using.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra S Pen case — Chris Velazco/Engadget

If all you need to use the S Pen for is writing, you're in good shape here. That said, I'm a little hesitant to recommend it to artists. For the last few years, Galaxy Notes have been able to detect the angle at which the S Pen was being held to produce appropriately angled strokes. That still happens on the S21 Ultra with this somewhat less intelligent version of the S Pen, and from what I can tell, the effect works about as well here as it does on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. There are probably some edge cases here I'm not fully accounting for, but the experience still feels pretty close.

So, as I said, the S Pen itself isn't the problem here. It's the case that leaves me wanting. For one, it suffers from all the issues other silicone cases do — it's quick to pick up lint and dust, and clings to the inside of your pocket. That seems even more unavoidable here because of how damn big the S21 Ultra becomes when it's inside this case. It was already a little bigger and heavier than last year's S20 Ultra, but this case makes it even more unwieldy. I get that this was unavoidable — after all, the case has to house a physically larger S Pen all the time. Still, people accustomed to the Galaxy Note's easy-to-grip frame may find this package unwieldy.

Samsung Galaxy S21+ in use — Chris Velazco/Engadget

It's also worth noting that, because of all the buttons on the S21 Ultra's right side, the S Pen slips into a slot on the case's left side. That's great news for lefties, but not so much for everyone else; I haven't been able to train myself to pull out the pen with my left hand yet, so using this stylus/case combo always requires an awkward little juggle. Thankfully, the S Pen is quite easy to pull out and reinsert when you're done.

Despite the case's heft, it feels surprisingly shoddy in some places. Most notably, the trim right around the charging port cutout feels very flimsy; I could definitely see it snagging on something and snapping when being pulled out of a bag. Unfortunately, at time of writing there are no other S21 Ultra cases available that also comfortably house the S Pen, so people looking to turn their new flagships into ersatz Galaxy Notes just have to make do.

In fairness, I'm not sure what Samsung could have done to make this package nicer to use — apart from picking better materials, that is. The S Pen's size demands an oversized case, and like I said, this is the only game in town right now for anyone who wants to use an S Pen with an S21 Ultra without losing it. Let's be clear, though: As pleasant as the S Pen can be, this stylus/case combo is nowhere near as thoughtful or as elegant as a proper Galaxy Note, and probably wouldn't win over Samsung's die-hards. For that reason alone, I hope Samsung doesn't kill off its line of power-user phablets completely — with any luck, that ship hasn't sailed just yet.

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Facebook vs. Apple: Here's what you need to know about their privacy feud - CNET

Posted: 10 Feb 2021 05:07 AM PST

Facebook and Apple are sparring over privacy.

James Martin/CNET

A privacy change coming to the software that powers Apple's popular iPhone has prompted a war of words in Silicon Valley.

The iPhone maker will in the coming months roll out an update to its iOS 14 operating system that prompts you to give apps permission to track their activity across other apps and the web. That change may seem small. Lots of apps already track our web activity through default settings we accept when we install them.

Facebook, however, has been fuming about the change, which threatens the source of its $86 billion in annual revenue: targeted ads. The social network has waged a months-long campaign against Apple, running full-page ads in national newspapers and testing pop-ups inside the Facebook app to encourage users to accept its tracking. It's also alleged that Apple's changes are designed to help the iPhone maker's own business, rather than protect consumer privacy.

"Apple may say that they're doing this to help people, but the moves clearly track their competitive interests," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in January during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call. Apple CEO Tim Cook says the change is rooted in the company's belief that "users should have the choice over the data that is being collected about them and how it's used."

The dispute underscores a fundamental difference between the tech giants: how they make money. Apple sells smartphones and laptops and takes a cut of fees charged to app developers. Facebook sells ads that it can target precisely based on the trove of data it collects on its 2.8 billion monthly users. Those business models inform their approach to privacy.

Here's what you need to know about the fight between Apple and Facebook:

I've got the basic idea. But would you go back to the beginning?

Sure. It's complicated and it's been a slow boil. Apple said at its annual developers conference in June that it would introduce a feature to iOS that required users to give apps permission to track them across various apps and websites. Like we've said, this is a common practice, but users are often unaware of it because it's buried in the terms of service or privacy policies. Who reads those?

With the iOS update, iPhone users will see a pop-up that explicitly says an app wants to track them. App developers can use this pop-up to explain how user data will be used. Facebook, for example, uses this data to show people personalized ads.

The pop-up will also give users a chance to opt out of tracking. Many probably will.

"Tracking refers to the act of linking user or device data collected from your app with user or device data collected from other companies' apps, websites, or offline properties for targeted advertising or advertising measurement purposes. Tracking also refers to sharing user or device data with data brokers," Apple explained to developers in a blog post about the iOS 14 updates.

How could this change affect me?

Depends how often you look at advertisements. If you don't deal with them very often, you probably won't notice much of a change by opting out of tracking.

If you rely on Facebook's advertising to direct you to services and products you buy, expect the ads you see to be less relevant if you opt out.

The prompt will also give you a sense of which apps are tracking you across other apps and websites to serve you ads.

How did Facebook respond to the upcoming change?

Facebook was clearly unhappy with Apple, and the company made that known publicly. The social network ran full-page newspaper ads in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post arguing that Apple's update will harm small businesses and consumers. The social network's claims have been challenged by academics. (More about that below.)

The social network also launched a website where small businesses could share their stories. The page includes videos from small business owners who support personalized ads and encourages others to tell their story by using #SpeakUpforSmall. Many of these small businesses say they rely on social media ads to attract more customers.

Now playing: Watch this: Facebook slams Apple's privacy changes, FTC requests...

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Facebook's arguments also reflect its own interest in the effects of the change, which will surely weigh on its revenue. During its fourth-quarter earnings call, Zuckerberg repeatedly revisited the topic and complained about Apple.

"We have a lot of competitors who make claims about privacy that are often misleading," he said. He added that Facebook, which has its own messaging service, Messenger, and which also owns WhatsApp, sees Apple as a competitor because of the popularity of iMessage.

Dan Levy, who runs Facebook's ad business, said in a blog post that Apple's policy change is "about profit, not privacy." He said the iOS change would force some apps to turn to in-app purchases and subscription fees, from which Apple can take a cut of up to 30%. (Apple launched a new program earlier this year to reduce the commission to 15% for small businesses with proceeds of up to $1 million per year.)

Facebook has a poor track record when it comes to user privacy, and it seems unlikely that users will give it permission to track them. The company's reputation for protecting privacy was tarnished by the 2018 scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, a UK political consulting firm that harvested the data of up to 87 million users without their permission.

Zuckerberg defends Facebook's business model, saying ads allow the social network to offer the site to users for free. "If we're committed to serving everyone, then we need a service that is affordable to everyone," he said in a 2019 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal.

What's Apple's argument?

Apple says its changes give users more control over their data and transparency into what is collected.

"If a business is built on misleading users, on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, it does not deserve our praise," Cook said during a speech last month in a thinly veiled jab at Facebook. "It deserves reform."

The view isn't new. In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Cook told tech journalist Kara Swisher and MSNBC's Chris Hayes that "if our customer was our product, we could make a ton of money. We've elected not to do that."

Is Facebook overreacting?

It depends on who you ask. Facebook says in its blog post that "without personalized ads powered by their own data, small businesses could see a cut of over 60% of website sales from ads."

The Harvard Business Review says Facebook's findings are "misleading" and suggests the impact will be modest. "These customers would have generated high revenues anyway," the Review found. "That's why they were targeted in the first place. So it would be a mistake to conclude that these customers spent more because of the personalized ads."

Cook has also pointed out that Facebook can still track users. It just needs to get their permission first.

Facebook isn't alone in cautioning that the changes could harm their ad sales. Snapchat expressed support for Apple's changes, but CFO Derek Andersen said during its earnings call that the change represents "a risk of interruption" to demand for advertising. Twitter suggested in its fourth-quarter shareholder letter that the changes could have a modest impact on its performance but didn't elaborate.

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The Cheapskate Hall of Fame: Best cheap products of all time - CNET

Posted: 10 Feb 2021 05:30 AM PST

I've been at the cheapskate game for over 13 years, and in that time I've tested hundreds of products and written about thousands more. Along the way, I've identified a select few that really stand out, that offer an unbeatable blend of performance and value. Every so often, I find myself thinking, "This is really a hall-of-fame deal."

And that's the story behind the Cheapskate Hall of Fame, my newly created pantheon of all-time greats. To kick things off, I'm inducting seven products and services. Over time I'll add more, while also revisiting the list to make sure everything still qualifies. (This isn't like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where spots are permanent. If a product gets discontinued, for example, or no longer represents the same amazing value, I might pull it.)

Now playing: Watch this: The Cheapskate Hall of Fame: The first 7 inductees

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Read on for my picks, and be sure to let me know what products or services you think deserve to be included.

Lexy Savvides/CNET

I've been enamored with the Amazfit Bip for years now, and the newer S model is even better. For a mere $70 (sometimes $60, if you catch a sale), you get a smartwatch with an always-on transflective display, one that's more readable in direct sunlight than even a high-end Apple Watch. Plus, it can run for weeks on a charge, even if you use features like GPS and heart-rate monitoring.

No, you can't reply to text messages or invoke Alexa, but a few compromises are to be expected at this price. Read CNET's Amazfit Bip S review to learn more.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Think back just a little. When iPads burst on the scene in 2010, the starting price was $500. The Amazon Fire 7 costs literally one-tenth as much, yet it can do even more than Apple's original tablet. Sure, the iPad has matured greatly since then, but it still starts at $329.

The Fire 7 may have a lowish-resolution screen and old-school Micro-USB power port, but it's $50. (Very often, it goes on sale for $40, and occasionally even less than that.) With it you can stream video, read books, play games, check email, listen to music -- all the things.

Yes, the smarter buy is the Fire HD 8, which offers a host of improvements for not a lot more money. But the Hall of Fame nod goes to the Fire 7, just for destroying expectations for what a $50 tablet can do.

Bitwarden

I've already given my family instructions to put this on my tombstone: "You need a password manager!" Maybe I should include an asterisk: "...but you don't have to pay for one." Bitwarden is an open-source (read: no-cost) password manager that's fast, versatile, easy to use and secure.

For me it replaced a not-free, overly bloated app that was increasingly causing problems on my PC. Bitwarden has been smooth sailing for nearly a year; I'm glad I made the switch.

There's a Premium option available (just $10 annually) and a six-user family plan as well ($40), but I suspect most people won't need either. Bitwarden works on all your devices and offers the all-important capability of automatically synchronizing between them. I can't recommend it highly enough.

David Carnoy/CNET

I've lost count of how many AirPods alternatives have crossed my desk. But the EarFun Air stood out for one simple reason: Good sound, lots of features, low price. OK, that's multiple reasons, but they combine to make this the current Hall of Fame earbuds pick. (Note to EarFun: A lot of very good competitors are gunning for you.)

The noise-isolating Air 'buds don't offer ANC, but they do come in a USB-C case that can also charge wirelessly. And they have one of my favorite features: in-ear detection. Take out a 'bud, the music pauses. Put it back in, the music resumes.

EarFun lists these at $60, but they're almost always on sale. At this writing, for example, there's an on-page coupon that takes 20% off, bringing the price down to $45. And I've occasionally seen deals that drop them below $40. That's an awful lot of bang for your earbud buck.

Hulu

Assuming you're not interested in live TV, Hulu is the best value in streaming, period. Your $6 buys you access to a mammoth library of current and past TV series, some award-winning original content and, OK, a so-so selection of movies.

Yes, Apple TV and Disney Plus are competitive at $5 and $7, respectively, but they don't offer anywhere near Hulu's breadth of content -- much of it exclusive to the service. You'll find comfort viewing (Seinfeld, Happy Endings), cutting-edge creations (Devs, Mrs. America) and FX superstars (Fargo, Legion, What We Do in the Shadows). I think the Hulu original Palm Springs was perhaps the funniest movie I saw in 2020.

The bad news: The $6 plan includes commercials. You can get rid of them, but it'll cost you double. At least you get the choice, unlike when you're watching cable.

New Wave Toys

With rare exception, all power banks are the same: flat, black bricks. Bo-ring! This one looks exactly like the Sony Walkman cassette player of my youth, and even has working (though non-functional) buttons and sliders on the side.

The Hotline's 16,000-mAh battery can charge up to three devices simultaneously: one via a Type-A USB 3.0 port that supports QuickCharge, one via a USB-C port and one via Qi wireless charging. There's even a little LED flashlight and a bank of tiny lights that show how much power is remaining.

So this is no mere novelty device, something that gets by on looks alone. It's a terrific mobile charger, and yet it's priced like a fairly ordinary one: just $40.

Wyze

I still get looks of disbelief when I tell people about the Wyze Cam, which does everything a smart security camera should but costs only $20 (plus shipping). It's a hall-of-famer in its own right, but I'm giving the nod to the $30 ($38 shipped at Amazon) Wyze Cam Pan, which can rotate a full 360 degrees on its base and has a 93-degree vertical range to boot.

The Pan would be a great deal at twice the price, given that it streams razor-sharp HD video (day or night) to your phone, provides two-way audio, alerts you when it detects sound and/or motion and stores video locally or in the cloud -- at no extra charge.

Wyze makes a number of startlingly affordable smart-home products that are also Hall of Fame contenders. For now, however, the Cam Pan is a slam-dunk addition. Read CNET's Wyze Cam Pan review to learn more.

Congratulations, Cheapskate Hall of Fame inductees!

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for deal texts delivered right to your phone. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest Walmart discount codes, eBay coupons, Samsung promo codes and even more from hundreds of other online stores. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Answers live on our FAQ page.

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