Into the Android-Verse: The History of the Android Robot

July 6, 2023

Did You Know?

Although The Lord of the Rings trilogy earned nearly three billion dollars in worldwide receipts, none of that money went to the Tolkien estate (The Tolkien Trust). J.R.R. Tolkien sold the movie rights to the trilogy (and The Hobbit) in 1969 for £10,000 plus a 7.5 percent royalty (after costs) from any films based on his works (a royalty that was never paid).

It’s Thursday! The Fairphone 4, an Android phone with a focus on repairability, is coming to the United States with a special twist.

Deals Spotlight

With Prime Day ramping up, here are some great sales we’ve found today. Amazon and online stores like to inflate the posted discount, but this list is based on the actual previous prices.

1. Samsung T7 500GB Portable SSD for $50 ($10 off)
2. Samsung 256GB A2 microSD card for $20 ($3 off)
3. Echo Show 5 3rd Gen for $45 ($45 off), Amazon Prime required
4. Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $25 ($30 off), Amazon Prime required
5. Fire TV Stick 4K for $23 (~$10 off), Amazon Prime required
6. Apple iPad 9th Gen for $250 ($29 off)
7. Anker 20W USB Type-C charger for $12 ($3 off)
8. Samsung 980 Pro SSD 2TB for $100 (~$20 off)

The Android operating system powers billions of phones, tablets, embedded devices, and other hardware. Since its inception, a green robot has served as a mascot, serving as inspiration for many more variants over the past 15 years. Here’s a look back. Read More »

Remote eliminates barriers to international hiring so great companies can build great teams, no matter where those people are. Hire, manage, and pay your international team with Remote – the single platform for all your global HR needs.

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With Twitter at perhaps one of its weakest points in history, many have awaited the perfect “Twitter replacement.” Mastodon, Bluesky, and others have sought to fill this spot. One of probably the strongest candidates, Threads, is now available for (almost) everyone to try. Read More »

An internet protocol (IP) is a set of rules used to move packets of information through the internet to their intended destination. There are currently two IP versions in use: IPv4 and IPv6. We’ll start with how IP addresses work, then get into what IPv4 and IPv6 are. Read More »

A good smart plug can make a world of difference regarding morning routines and lower energy bills. The Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa, turning any product into a smart home device. Whether you want to schedule your coffee maker to kick on at 7 a.m. or make sure your smart lights cut off at a reasonable time, you can control it all with your voice or smartphone.

For the Early Prime Day sales, you can get this great plug for just $13. It’s quite the steal!

It’s a common conundrum; disposable or rechargeable batteries? One is cheap and easy, but perhaps more expensive in the long term, while the other costs a pretty penny at first, but might turn out to be the better deal. Read More »

Millions of people remember Windows 7 fondly, but speak of Windows 8 and you get mostly scowls in response. What went wrong with Windows 8 and does it really deserve the disastrous reputation it has? Read More »

Vinyl is making a resurgence, and while it doesn’t put a dent in streaming numbers, records are outselling CDs. If you’re building a vinyl collection, you’ll need a great turntable, and one that fits into your ideal budget. Read More »

Formatting your USB flash drive using the FAT32 file system is as easy as selecting a few options or running a command on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. We’ll show you both ways to accomplish the task, so your drive is formatted in your preferred format. Read More »

We’re living in a golden age of podcasts, so no time like the present to get a good player to enjoy it all. Here are our top picks for listening to podcasts on your iPhone and Apple Watch. Read More »

The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 follows its Legion gaming laptop predecessors in its (mostly) outstanding form and function. Rugged and ready for users to game or complete various PC tasks, the latest beast of the Legion Pro 5 line performs well, but its bulk won’t be for everyone. Read More »

Fairphone is known for its environmentally-friendly phones, and the most recent Fairphone 4 is no different. Now, the repairable phone is coming to the United States, albeit it won’t be the exact same phone that launched in other international markets. Read More »

Sleep sound apps have millions of downloads in the App Store and Play Store. Whether it’s good ‘ol white noise or rain sounds, people seem to love sleeping with noise. If you’re one of them, it’s time for an upgrade. Read More »

There’s always some great summer sales around the Fourth of July, including in the technology sector. And even though the holiday itself is over, there are still some great deals out there, from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, Apple Watch Series 8, Samsung’s 980 PRO 2TB SSD, and more. Read More »

So you’ve treated yourself to a shiny new upgrade on one of your electronics. Now what should you do with the old device? These tips will help you determine the right way to dispose of your old electronics. Read More »

We’ve all seen hot products on Instagram or TikTok that seem life-changing. Many of them have gone viral because people swear by them. But, no one wants to spend their hard-earned money on things that don’t actually make life easier or better. Read More »

Calling all adventure seekers and hydration enthusiasts! The HydroFlask All Around™ Travel Tumbler has entered the arena as the latest contender to challenge the legendary Stanley Cup. Read More »