Did Google lie about Roku?, Surface Duo 2 initial impressions, iFixit's Apple Watch mystery, and more

October 23, 2021

It is, frankly, ridiculous that Google and Roku are having a knock-down-drag-out fight over YouTube. RIDICULOUS. And the way things are going, YouTube (and YouTube TV) may disappear from Roku in December. If you already have it downloaded, you’re good—but you won’t be able to download YouTube to new Roku devices.

And of course, it’s a “he said she said” fight where both sides are making the other out to be the bad guy. (We know the truth, everyone is the bad guy here). But… but… but. Roku has been saying Google is the bad guy for a while now because it’s making unreasonable demands for special treatment in Roku’s search and more data about you. Google denied that accusation. And now we have a leaked email that suggests someone isn’t telling the whole truth here. It sure doesn’t look good. Check out the top story for more.

Other Highlights:

• The Surface Duo is my favorite phone I ever regretted buying. And now the Surface Duo 2 is here! I went and bought it, and after a few hours with it, I have some initial impressions.
• You’re getting your holiday shopping taken care of, right? Feel like splurging on someone special with some fantastic tech? Well, we gathered up all the best tech gifts between $100 and $200.
• iFixit tore apart the new Apple Watch, which led to a couple of big surprises—and opened a new mystery.
• …and more!

-Josh

The fight between Google and Roku over YouTube went from bad to worse this week when we learned that the YouTube app would be removed from Roku devices in December. Now, to make things even more complicated, a leaked email might explain why contract negotiations are at a standstill. Read More »

The holidays are fast approaching but don’t fret—techy gadgets are always a winning gift idea, even for that person who has everything. If there’s someone special in your life that you want to splurge $100-200 on, there’s a fantastic selection of gifts here to choose from. Read More »

Last year I took the original Surface Duo out of the box and marveled at how it looked and felt in hand. And then ruined that impression by turning on. But it’s a new year, and now I have the Surface Duo 2 in my hands, and good news! It isn’t failing epically. At least not yet. Read More »

Just months after announcing its commitment to Matter, the unified smart home standard, Google is launching a set of tools to help developers integrate Matter with their products. It’s a big step toward a future where smart devices work with any app or assistant, even if they come from rival companies. Read More »

While it may not have all the bells and whistles that leakers promised, the Apple Watch Series 7 contains a wealth of mysteries. Our friends at iFixit performed an in-depth teardown to reveal some of the Apple Watch Series 7’s biggest secrets, but funny enough, we’re left with a few questions that may be impossible to answer. Read More »

Temperatures might be dropping, but that’s no reason to freeze when you’re outside. In fact, these rechargeable hand warmers are the perfect pocket companions anytime you’re out for an Autumnal evening walk or watching the big football game at a stadium. The warmers have a 10,000mAh battery life, providing you with 8-15 hours of warmth depending on which setting you choose. They take just 3.5 hours to fully charge with the included 18W USB-C wall charger, and their ergonomic anti-slip design fits naturally into the palm of your hand.

Get it at Amazon →

Most reports believe the new iPhone SE 3 coming in 2022 would be a rather dull update, sticking with the same small display and TouchID home button as previous models. However, this week a new leak is saying something different, claiming Apple will opt for an iPhone XR-like design with a huge display and ditch the home button for good. Read More »

Samsung has absolutely lost its mind. The company is practically running a fire sale at Amazon today, slashing prices on its Galaxy S21 Ultra, the new Galaxy Watch 4, the Galaxy Buds Live, and a ton of other killer products. Read More »

Cinematic mode debuted alongside the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro as a way of shooting smooth, cinematic footage with an emphasis on depth-of-field. We’ll show you how to shoot your next masterpiece with it. Read More »

There’s a lot of talk over foldable phones and whether they’re the future of smartphones. Microsoft decided to go a slightly different route to get a giant screen phone in the Surface Duo 2. The phone is out now, and so are the mixed reviews for Microsoft’s dual-screen phone. Read More »

A great keyboard is important for PC gaming. Speed, stability, and build quality are all important factors. There are so many styles and options to choose from at various price points. Here are the best ones on the market today! Read More »