Brian Heater
Hardware Editor
The Latest from Brian Heater
GE’s new light bulbs work with Google Assistant without a hub
What’s that you say, friend? Haven’t had enough Google news for the day? Have no fear. Here’s a little extra from the folks at General Electric. The company announced this afternoon that its C b
The Pixel Slate is Google’s premium Chrome OS tablet
This is the Pixel Slate. Announced today among a flurry of hardware at the Made By Google event in New York, the product joins the Pixel Book as Google’s flagship Chrome OS products. The device
Here’s Google’s Echo Show competitor, the $149 Home Hub
This is Google’s Echo Show competitor, the Home Hub. We knew it was coming, via an avalanche of leaks and now, moments before the event has officially kicked off, here it is in all of its glory
Here is the Google Pixel 3
There are no surprises in the world of consumer electronics. We’ve already seen the Pixel 3 from every conceivable angle, both in video and still. And now, mere minutes before today’s event is set
Fortnite maker buys anti-cheat software company
Epic’s gotta do something with the money it’s printing through Fortnite purchases. Acquisitions appear to be at the top of that list, starting with Kamu, the Finnish startup behind Easy Anti-Cheat
Microsoft announces an Xbox game streaming service
A week after Google launched a game streaming service “Project Stream“ in beta, Microsoft’s touting its own take on the category. Project xCloud is, naturally, an Xbox game streaming service
Facebook tries its hand at hardware with Portal
Portal is not Facebook’s Echo Show. Call it a case of convergent evolution, wherein two companies arrived at similar looking products after approaching hardware from different angles. The problem Fa
Echo Show 2 review
With the original Echo Show, Amazon added a new dimension to the smart speaker. To critics, the device was little more than a station tablet. For Amazon, however, the product unlocked a new vertical i
Marshall’s Kilburn II is a ruggedly handsome Bluetooth speaker
Marshall hasn’t been been shy about capitalizing on its legacy. The legendary English amplifier company has plastered its name on cans of beer and a line of refrigerators. It’s not the most crass
This is the Google Pixel Slate
Maybe there will be some surprises at next week’s Google event. At this rate, however, we’re not entirely optimistic at the prospect. Just as the Pixel 3 got the full hands-on treatment in Hong Ko
What to expect from Google’s Pixel 3 event
Apple, Amazon and Microsoft have already held their big fall events — and now it’s Google’s turn. Over the past couple of years, the October event has become an increasingly important platform,
Microsoft suspends Windows 10 update, citing data loss reports
A few day after making the latest version of Windows 10 available to users, Microsoft has suspended the update, citing multiple reports of user data loss. “We have paused the rollout of the Windows
Amazon Echo Dot 3 review
Amazon has sold a lot of Echo Dots. Like a crazy, silly, unfathomable number of the things. Over the past two generations, it has arguably become the single-largest driver of the smart speaker craze.
The comic inspired by the podcast inspired by the comic
It’s 2018, and pop culture is one giant ouroboros. Exhibit A: Wolverine: The Long Night, the new comic miniseries inspired by the podcast that was inspired by the comics. Is this a first? Maybe? Who
Spotify Podcast submissions are open to all
Statistically speaking, there are roughly five podcasts for every human on the face of the Earth. And now they all finally have a home on Spotify. The streaming music giant this week opened podcast su
Ask not for whom the bell Troncs — it Troncs for Tronc
So long, Tronc. We hardly Tronced you. Why, it seems like only yesterday you Tronced into our world as an utterly insane “Pixels to Pulitzers” marketing video that was somehow too satirical to be
Rethink Robotics closes after acquisition plans fall through
I’ve said it right here on these very pages: If hardware is hard, robotics are next to impossible. That truism is not better exemplified by this week’s closure of Rethink Robotics. A well-respecte
Rylo scores $20 million for its clever camera tech
You may recall Rylo from this time last year, when the imaging startup launched a creative take on the 360 camera. The company’s been fairly quiet in the six months since it launched some new softwa
MoviePass’ parent just raised a bunch of money
As the summer of MoviePass quickly turned into the bummer of MoviePass, the company has been trying all manner of Hail Marys to keep the dream alive. And while the movie ticket startup has been burnin
A new Nintendo Switch is reportedly arriving next year
Nintendo’s been known to upgrade consoles with some regularity. It’s an easy way to keep audiences engaged over the long life of a system. Released in March 2017, the Switch certainly seems due fo