Technology - Google News

Peloton takes on strength training with its $495 Guide camera system, coming in 2022 - The Verge
7 awesome Google Pixel features you probably forget to use - Android Police
As the holidays arrive, retailers are forcing more PS5 restocks behind paywalls - CNET

Peloton takes on strength training with its $495 Guide camera system, coming in 2022 - The Verge

Posted: 09 Nov 2021 06:02 AM PST

Peloton is moving into strength training with its latest product, the Peloton Guide, a TV-connected camera that can display workouts and track your movements in real time to help make sure you're doing things properly.

Peloton Guide is also the company's cheapest product yet, set to cost $495 at launch in "early 2022" for a bundle that includes the Guide camera, the company's newly updated Peloton Heart Rate Band, and a remote. You'll have to provide other workout equipment like weights or resistance bands on your own, though.

Additionally, Guide owners will need a $12.99 per month membership (the same price that Peloton charges for its app-only subscription) to use the service, although if you already own a Tread or Bike and pay for the $39-per-month All-Access Membership, you won't have to pay more to use a Guide.

Technically, Peloton has already offered strength training classes for a while now (the rotating screen on the Peloton Bike Plus is even designed to help facilitate them). But the Guide aims to provide a more comprehensive experience by offering what the company calls "Self Mode," which uses the Guide's built-in camera to track your movements and show your workout on the screen alongside the instructors to make sure you're doing exercises properly.

That said, with the cost of membership the same between using the free app on an existing set-top box and buying Peloton's $495 bespoke hardware, Peloton's tracking will have to be very impressive to justify the added cost here. It's about on par with competitors like the Tempo Move ($495 at launch), although that bundle simply uses an iPhone for a camera and does include weights.

In addition to the camera for tracking movement, the Guide also features a built-in microphone, allowing you to play, pause, rewind, or fast forward through a class without having to put down your weights or stop whatever exercise you're doing.

Of course, with any smart device that features a microphone and a camera that lives in your living room, there are the obvious questions of privacy. Peloton promises that customers will be able to fully control the device with an integrated camera cover for when you're not using it and a physical switch to disable the microphone.

To start, the Guide will only offer strength-focused classes (both bodyweight only and with added weights), although Peloton says that it plans to add support for more types of workouts over time. The company's announcement also conspicuously doesn't have any information about whether the Guide will offer live classes for strength workouts like those Peloton offers for its Tread and Bike products.

In addition to the Guide, Peloton is also debuting a new heart rate monitor (which will be included with all Guide purchases). The updated monitor is an armband, instead of a chest strap, and features integrated LEDs to allow you to more easily check your heart rate with a quick glance. The new strap will be sold separately for $89 in "early 2022," a $40 increase over the company's soon to be discontinued $49 chest strap.

The Peloton Guide is set to launch in the US and Canada in early 2022, and in the UK, Australia, and Germany "in 2022."

Adblock test (Why?)

7 awesome Google Pixel features you probably forget to use - Android Police

Posted: 09 Nov 2021 05:42 AM PST

It's tough to talk about Pixels without having the conversation steer itself toward the shiny new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro right now. And it's no wonder: Google's latest and greatest Pixels are pretty darn phenomenal inside and out. They're packed with power and oozing (yes, oozing!) with interesting new tricks.

But guess what? You don't have to own a Pixel 6 to treat yourself to fresh and exciting phone features. The beauty of the Pixel world is that your device's software is constantly getting updated, and that means piles o' worthwhile treasures are lurking beneath the surface. Most Pixel-owners just never notice 'em — or maybe they see 'em once and then promptly forget.

So today, we're gonna step back a bit and think about some standout Pixel features that don't get the attention they deserve. Whether you're using one of the new Pixel 6 phones or cradling an older model, they oughta work for you — even, in most cases, if your Pixel is old enough that it didn't receive the recent Android 12 update.

Read on to unearth some exceptional Pixel gems, then keep the party going by signing up for my Pixel Academy e-course. It's a seven-day email adventure that teaches you tons of time-saving Pixel knowledge, and it's completely free for my favorite Android Police pals.

Pixel feature #1: Easy automation

Android has no shortage of advanced automation opportunities, but your Pixel packs its own native rules system that can make your phone meaningfully more intelligent with virtually no effort.

It's called, rather fittingly, Rules — and with about 30 seconds of setup, it can allow your phone to change its ringing and notification behavior based on where you are or what Wi-Fi network you're connected to at any given moment.

Here's how to get it up and running:

Head into your Pixel's system settings (by swiping down twice from the top of the screen and then tapping the gear-shaped icon in the lower-right corner of the panel that pops up).
Tap "System" followed by "Rules."
Make sure the toggle at the top of the screen that says "Always allow location for Rules" is in the on position.
Look for a line that prompts you to allow the feature to run in the background. If you see that, tap it and then tap "Allow" on the confirmation that appears.
Pause to take a sip of the nearest fizzy beverage.
Tap "Add rule" and then consider your options.

So what next? Well, that part's up to you. You could have your Pixel set itself to ring whenever you're connected to your home network, tell it to enter Do Not Disturb mode anytime you're at the movies, or ask it to vibrate for incoming alerts without making a peep when you're at work, for a few possible examples.

Image Gallery (2 Images)

Think through what patterns might make sense for you, set 'em up once, and then know your phone will always be one step ahead of you whenever you get to one of your regular haunts.

Pixel feature #2: Smarter storage scrubbing

Next, another bit of automation-oriented intelligence baked into your Pixel and just waiting to be caressed: It's a hassle-free system for monitoring your phone's local storage and then clearing out copies of images and videos you've already backed up to Google Photos whenever your space gets low.

You can always do that on your own, of course, but that requires (a) actually remembering to do it on a regular basis and (b) taking the time to go through the various manual steps involved with the process. And I don't know about you, but my brain is approximately 97% oatmeal these days, so anything I can take off my plate and automate is a pretty significant win in my book.

Your path to effortless storage nirvana will vary depending on what Android version your personal Pixel companion is running:

With Android 12

If you've got a current Pixel with the snazzy new Android 12 software on it, open up the Files by Google app (or go download it, if it isn't already on your phone).

Then:

Tap the three-line menu icon in the app's upper-left corner.
Select "Settings" in the menu that comes up.
Flip the switch next to "Smart Storage" into the on position and confirm that you want to activate the feature.

Image Gallery (2 Images)

Easy peasy, right?

With Android 11 or earlier

If your Pixel is on an older version of Android (howdy, Pixel 2 partners!), you'll find the same option within your phone's system settings:

Open up your settings and tap "Storage."
Look for the line labeled "Smart Storage." Tap it — tap it with gusto, damn it!
Choose whether you want your already-backed-up items to be deleted when they're 30, 60, or 90 days old.
Activate the toggle at the top of the screen.

Either way, you'll just need to make sure you're set to sync your photos and videos to Google Photos — by tapping your profile picture in the Google Photos app and then looking for the "Backup" line in the menu that comes up — and you'll never have to think about your storage running low again.

Pixel feature #3: Intelligent image extracting

The next time you need to snag an image from somewhere — a website, a text message, a forum for earwig enthusiasts, or whatever the case may be — save yourself some steps and let your Pixel make it easy.

Your Pixel phone's Overview interface has the hidden ability to extract an image from practically anywhere. And all it takes is a single swipe and a couple of quick taps to tap into its magic:

While you're viewing any app with a visible image, open up the Overview interface — by swiping up about an inch from the bottom of your screen and then stopping, if you're using the current Android gestures system, or by tapping the square-shaped icon along your screen's lower edge, if you're still using the old legacy button-nav setup.
Touch and hold your finger onto the image within the app's preview.
Select the option to copy, share, or save the image — or use Google Lens to analyze it, if you really want to get wild.

This will work in most any app where an image is present — even if it's an app where you couldn't typically save an image in any easy way (Gmail, Twitter, Earwiggalicious, etc).

Image Gallery (2 Images)

Let's all say it together now: Pixel features can be incredibly beneficial once you remind yourself of their possibilities and then learn to properly take advantage of them! (Okay, so that rallying cry might need a little work.)

Pixel feature #4: Time-saving text extraction

Following up on our previous Pixel feature, your fancy Google phone can help you pull text out of practically anywhere imaginable and then copy it, share it, and search for it to your heart's content.

What's especially useful here is that just like with the last item, this feature works even in places where you couldn't typically copy text — your feed in social media apps, parts of the Play Store, or even sections of your system settings.

Image Gallery (2 Images)

And it's right in the same place as the image extractor we just finished exploring:

Head back into your Pixel's Overview area.
Touch and hold your finger onto any text in the current app's preview — or, if you'd rather (and if your Pixel is recent enough to be running Android 10 or higher), tap the "Select" text at the bottom of the screen and then highlight the specific text you want from there.
Choose "Copy," "Share," or "Search" from the menu that comes up.
Smirk knowingly at any iPhone users in the vicinity.

Pixel feature #5: Simpler screenshots

One of the most common complaints I hear from my fellow Android-adoring primates is that capturing a screenshot on a Pixel can be a real pain. 'Twas a time, y'see, when Pixels had a simple on-screen option to take a screenshot as part of the system power-button menu. But then, well, Google Googled. It revamped that menu — and, erm, revamped it again a year later — and the option went AWOL.

Hold the phone, though: If you aren't a fan of the old-fashioned physical button mechanism for capturing a screenshot, there is still another way.

It's right there in plain sight on that same Overview screen we were just gawking at, in fact, and yet hardly anyone seems to notice it.

Look closely, though. See it?

Image Gallery (2 Images)

Yup, that's it — right there at the bottom of the screen. No matter what app or area of Android you're lookin' at, as long as you've got Android 11 or higher, your Pixel will always offer up a "Screenshot" option right inside its Overview interface. And tapping that option will capture whatever's present on the current process's screen.

As an added bonus, screenshots you capture that way won't show the system status bar, the bottom-of-screen navigation area, or any other extraneous elements, which is a noteworthy and at times valuable distinction from Android's typical physical-button screenshot-capturing approach.

Pixel feature #6: Wakey, wakey

Pixels have plenty of options for easy screen activation. Maybe you like using the always-on time and info system, for instance. Or maybe you're more of a lift-to-check kind of Pixel owner.

Whether you're using any of those features or not, though, your Googley phone has another useful system for waking up its display in a jiff. It harkens back to an earlier Android era, and it's one of the Pixel's most overlooked possibilities.

Ready? Anytime you want to turn your Pixel's screen on, you can simply tap twice on the display. That's it — two fast taps, and your phone will wake up. Who knew?!

The option for this is typically activated by default, but if it isn't working for you, you can confirm it's on and enabled by opening your system settings, selecting "Display," then selecting "Lock screen" and looking for the "Tap to check phone" option. (On Pixels with older Android versions, you'll have to tap "Advanced" before you'll see that option, and it'll be called "Double-tap to check phone.")

Pixel feature #7: Scheduled screen smarts

Last but not least in our collection of forgotten Pixel features is a two-parter your peepers will absolutely appreciate.

First, your Pixel has the ability to automatically activate its screen-tinting Night Light mode based on either the sunrise and sunset in your current location or your own custom schedule. That way, when the evening hours arrive and the lights grow dim, your phone's screen will take on a gentler, less harsh kind of coloring that'll be easier on your eyes. And when the morning crawls around, it'll instantly flip back over to the standard daytime setting.

To set up your automated Night Light activation pattern, mosey your way back into your Pixel's system settings, tap "Display," and then tap "Night Light" followed by "Schedule." There, you'll see the options to choose from the sunset-to-sunrise setup or to specify your own custom hours for dim-environment optimization.

And while we're thinking about screen smarts, consider whether having your phone's theme switch over to a darker motif in the evening and a brighter arrangement in the daytime hours might be a nice complement to your new Night Light intelligence. Personally, I find those two patterns to be a delightful and very natural pairing — standard screen coloring and a light theme during the day and then Night Light along with Android's dark mode at night.

If you want to give that double-display whammy a whirl, back out to the main "Display" menu and look for the "Dark theme" line. Tap it, then tap "Schedule," and you'll see a selection that's identical to the one you just configured for the Night Light.

Image Gallery (2 Images)

Get 'em both set the way you like, and rest easy knowing your eyes will always be happy — no ongoing effort required.

And remember: There's lots more where this came from. Come join my completely free Pixel Academy e-course for seven full days of experience-enhancing Pixel knowledge — from Pixel-specific camera sorcery to out-of-the-way options for eliminating common phone annoyances, next-level tweaks for adding advanced smarts into your smartphone's screen, and oodles of other practical time-savers.

You've already got the best all-around experience available on Android. Now it's time to unleash all of your Pixel's hidden powers and let it start working for you.

Here's why unlocked Pixel 6 phones on Verizon aren't getting updates (yet)

Users are also facing SIM card issues when activating

Related Topics

About The Author

JR Raphael (2 Articles Published)

JR Raphael has been writing about Android since the early 1800s and is honored to be an honorary Android Police officer-person. You can check out his favorite Pixel tricks in his completely awesome Pixel Academy e-course, keep up with his madman musings in his Android Intelligence newsletter, or shout his name into the nearest dark abyss to see what manner of menacing spirits you summon.

Pay for play -- literally

On Oct. 29, Walmart announced it was going to have a PS5 restock with a twist -- anyone willing to sign up for Walmart Plus could access the checkout button one hour earlier than everyone else. Walmart Plus was originally unveiled as the retailer's answer to Amazon Prime, with discounts on grocery delivery, gasoline and more. But now Walmart was using the PS5 as an upsell, effectively dangling the possibility that you could access sales before the products sold out. All you have to do is pay $13 per month or $98 per year, and you're part of this not-so-secret club.

This year, Walmart is also offering its members early access to online Black Friday sales. But Walmart isn't the first to offer customers the ability to pay extra money to buy something on its site. Best Buy granted early access to PS5s to people who signed up for its $200 per year Totaltech program, and GameStop offered consoles to its PowerUp Rewards Pro subscription, albeit at a more modest $15 per year. If you don't count Sony, which has been aggressively staging its own PS5 restock events through the PlayStation Direct service, these retailers are the most common places to find a console in the US by far.

Best Buy and Walmart did not respond to our requests for comment on the increasing number of PS5 restocks targeted only at their membership programs.

Members only

While access to a PS5 during a restock has not been entirely hidden behind a paywall yet, in some cases it has come close. GameStop has had multiple restock events where the consoles were sold out before the public access pages were live, and by the time Walmart's last restock had become public the site was so inundated by shopping bots and technical errors it was nearly impossible to check out. One bot service boasted it had purchased 30 PS5 consoles amid the chaos while many regular customers struggled.

PS5 Restock — When Best Buy limits access to consoles to its Totaltech program, this is what nonsubscribers will see.
Best Buy/Screenshot by Russell Holly/CNET

Walmart and Best Buy have made several attempts to curb bot purchases over the last year, from creating virtual queues and multiple Captcha-like authentication layers to limiting how many purchases can be made in a single checkout session. These efforts appear to have slowed down a lot of the bots, making it possible for many people to check out in between bot purchases.

Creating these member-only early access events, meanwhile, does not exclude shopping bots, but it does limit them while creating a dedicated time and space for those eager to get a console to show up. Like the PlayStation Direct shopping events, members are notified when a restock will happen and can plan to be there at a set time to make a purchase. Basically, it's an elite shopping club where you can line up without the riff-raff -- in this case, bots and nonmembers.

Everything's a subscription

To be sure, these membership programs offer other benefits. For some, the unlimited Geek Squad consultations that come with the Best Buy Totaltech membership may be worth the price of admission. The same goes for the nickel discount for each gallon of gas that Walmart Plus members get when filling their tank. It's a path that Amazon blazed long ago with Amazon Prime: Give members a set of "free with membership" perks (two-day shipping, video streaming), but only after they pay a hefty yearly fee.

But as those perks extend to private shopping queues on hard-to-get items, it undeniably creates two tiers of shoppers: those who are "in the know" and have paid for early access, and more casual shoppers trying to get a gift for someone else, only to find "the good stuff" increasingly out of reach.

Again, bots have been buying up products to resell them online for other people well before a component shortage on this scale occurred. But instead of helping all of their customers sidestep the bot problem, retailers are opting for a pay-to-play option for those who can afford it. The cynic in me thinks it's to help boost their bottom line even more. And it's not just the membership fees: Unlike bots, consumers can buy the protection plans and accessories these companies actually make their bigger margins on. Now those same people are being asked to pay for the ability to pay for something else, and it's unlikely this trend will go away anytime soon.

Adblock test (Why?)