[Special Feature] I love tech: Inbox by Google

There's lots of things we have to do with our lives on a daily basis, and pouring over email is definitely a 1st world problem that loads of people manage every day.  In fact, this new "electronic mail or e-mail" phenomena has spawned common vernacular terms like "spam" and "reply all" - Google has fueled their advertising and search business with its free Gmail product that it seems like 90% of the free world uses.  That's why it was a bit of a surprise when it was announced they were producing a new product, called Inbox, which aimed to do....exactly the same thing as Gmail.  Turns out Inbox does it in a different way though.  This is why I love tech - focused on Inbox by Google.

[Opinion] 5 things I love about the Pixel

So I've had the Pixel XL as my daily driver for a little more than a month now, and couldn't be more happy with it.  And it appears to be a home run for Google, as Fortune recently reported that analysts anticipate and almost 6 billion dollar revenue bump over this year and the next from Pixel sales.  While some will argue that that's only a drop in the bucket in terms of overall sales figures (compared to iPhone sales, and that is correct) for Google to have sold around 3 million of its new handsets in such a short time since release is a good sign for the search giant's burgeoning mobile device business.

Having said all that, I wanted to give a quick follow up of the 5 things I enjoy most about being a Pixel owner, and perhaps help convince some who might be on the fence about purchasing the device.  All this assumes you've already read our Pixel XL review, but if you haven't, start there.  Then read on...

[News] Android users should check out Google's new app - PhotoScan

Google made a sneaky low-key announcement today, via their blog about a standalone app called "PhotoScan" - and what it does is in the name.  It is a photo scanning app that uses that camera of your smartphone to scan your physical photos and then (more importantly) back them up, either to Google Photos or to a backup service of your choice.

For Android users; if you aren't already using Google Photos to back up your smartphone pictures automatically, start.  Like, today.  I mean it.  Don't risk losing those pictures and videos of your family and friends when your phone takes a bath or crashes or (heaven forbid) runs out of room.  And if you are like me and lived a life pre-digital photos and have a bunch of pictures or Polaroids or whatever laying around, try this app and see if you like it.  Personally, I'd much rather have a low resolution copy of the photos and memories than no copy at all.  Check it out!

Google PhotoScan Link

[News] Our Daydream View is on order!

One of the perks of a Pixel pre-order was the promise of a free goodie - the new Daydream View VR headset coming straight from Google.  The initial guesstimate was that the codes would go out about 4 weeks after the device shipped (to avoid people getting the freebie and still returning their Pixel device) and since that window has elapsed, codes are starting to show up in email inboxes everywhere.  Including ours at Silicon Theory!

So - coming soon, we'll give it a real world test and let you know our thoughts and a full review.  In the meantime, if you're curious about VR and all its promise for the future, check out this article on whether VR is here to stay or is just a fad of our modern times.  

[Opinion] The new and improved (and controversial) MacBook Pro

As was mentioned last week, one of the big events in tech last week was the long anticipated refresh of Apple's MacBook Pro lineup, and in much the same way as the iPhone 7 launch was met with some pushback (mostly due to the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack) the new MacBook Pro has been met with some criticism.  Why that is encompasses a bigger topic, which I'll explore in this article.  So let's discuss; shall we?

[News] Google Home in store; Daydream View to follow this week

Two more pieces of Google hardware are in the process of being released this week - the first of which is the Google Home product, which should be in stores as of now.  This Amazon Echo competitor is the first foray of the new Google Assistant software into a home environment.  The Google Home is being touted as the tip of the spear with respect to Google's Smart Home suite, which will also include the yet to be released Google WiFi product (and also work conjunction with the Pixel phones released last month)

Coming up next: the Daydream View VR headset, a demo of which can already be seen in most Verizon stores near the Pixel and Pixel XL displays.  It's a comfy looking cotton wrapped pair of goggles that when used with a Pixel (or other Daydream compatible smart phone) will allegedly transport you to far away places,  allow you a more immersive movie experience, and also play more realistic games.  I believe it should be in stores starting Thursday.

We'll have a review of the Daydream View device as soon as it comes in...as part of the Pixel promotion, we are getting one free.  Yay!  Stay tuned for more details.  As always, if you have any tech questions you want answered, hit our inbox up at silicontheory@gmail.com

[Special Feature] Silicon Theories - October Edition

So....you might be wondering what the "October Edition" of this special feature is doing here in November.  Well, I had some thoughts about things I wanted to write on and as is often the case, real life got in the way.  And since its only a day or 2 past the end of October, I feel like I'm well within the margin for error on these kinds of things.  But, I digress....so, without further ado, here are this month's (see what I did there?) Silicon Theories...