Technologies

I Ditched My Android for an iPhone, and I Don’t Regret It

Commentary: I now get the Apple hype.

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For a decade, I defended my choice to own an Android to countless haters. But at long last, I’ve traded in my beloved Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus for an iPhone 14 Pro. And so far, I have no regrets. (Especially now that I’m no longer teased for having green texts — more on that later.)

It may sound like I’m being overly dramatic, but that trip to the Verizon store signaled a big shift for me. I’ve always prided myself on not buying into the Apple hype. Despite years of pestering from friends to switch to an iPhone, I pushed back, maintaining that I liked being different from the masses. Everyone around me has an iPhone. It felt good to defy the norm. And so for years, I stuck with my Samsung Galaxy devices, which I still believe are incredible phones.

But after conversations with friends and family about what I could get from the iPhone that I could never get with my Android, I started to reconsider my stance. Yes, I loved my Galaxy S10 Plus and everything it offered: a top-notch camera, a customizable interface and Object Eraser, which removes any unwanted people or objects from your pictures (Pixel phones have a similar feature). But at the end of the day, there was one big thing my Android could never offer: a seamless way to communicate with all my friends on the iPhone.

I’ve been told countless times that I ruin group chats by turning all the texts «green.» This is because Apple refuses to make iMessage compatible with Android phones, so when you message someone who isn’t on iOS, you’ll see green text bubbles instead of the standard blue ones. Because this felt like a superficial complaint — and is 100% Apple’s fault — I brushed it aside.

Until I realized I was missing out on other, more significant benefits of owning an iPhone.

Unless you use a third-party app like WhatsApp, there’s no easy way to send high-resolution photos and videos directly between an Android phone and an iPhone. I was OK with just using WhatsApp… until I began to envy my friends who were instantaneously AirDropping pictures and videos after our hangouts. WhatsApp also diminishes the quality of videos, and Google Drive takes a lot longer to upload videos to.

It also was frustrating that apps like TikTok diminished my camera quality on Android. Comparing TikTok videos taken on an iPhone — even an older version like the iPhone X — with those taken on my Galaxy S10 Plus is like night and day. On my Galaxy, TikTok distorted the colors and blurred everything in the most unflattering and unrealistic way. On the iPhone, videos are crisp and clear and appear just as they should. For someone who uses TikTok as much as I do, this was important.

These reasons, along with the fact that I already use a MacBook and would therefore benefit from the Apple ecosystem, led me to start changing my mind about owning an iPhone. Throw in features like the new always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro models — something I absolutely loved on my Galaxy devices — and fun new elements like Dynamic Island, and suddenly I was sold on the idea of switching over.

A growing number of people are feeling the draw to switch to an iPhone, according to a report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. Fifteen percent of people who bought an iPhone from March 2022 to 2023 switched from an Android phone. That’s up from 11% the previous year. So, I have company.

Yes, I had to fight off feelings of being a sellout. But I realized that ultimately, it’s just a phone. And no matter what you do, people will have unsolicited opinions about what device you’re using. My Galaxy worked well for me for many years. Now I was ready for something new. And so far, I have no regrets.

Check out the video above for more of my thoughts on switching from an Android phone to an iPhone. Also, here’s my comparison of the iPhone 14 Pro versus the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

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Technologies

Beats Solo 4 Headphones Are Just $100 Right Now, but Not for Long

This 50% discount on these popular headphones is incredible — but it’s only a limited-time deal, so don’t miss out.

Are your old headphones barely hanging on? While you might know you need to upgrade, the price of the best headphones can be a bit off-putting for many people. Well, that’s where we come in, because we’re always on the lookout for deals — like this one on the Beats Solo 4 headphones.

Thanks to a massive discount on Amazon, you can currently get your hands on a pair of the Beats Solo 4 for just $100. That’s not only 50% off, but also $30 cheaper than they were a month and a half ago during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. We’re not expecting this deal to last long though, so grab it quick if you want it.

As far as headphone deals go, you won’t want to miss these. The Beats Solo 4 headphones have plenty going for them, including a 50-hour battery life, so you won’t need to reach for the charger that often. But when you do need to charge them up, a 10-minute charge will give you five hours of listening time. If you prefer to listen with a cable rather than wirelessly, the Beats Solo 4and includes support for high-quality audio, too.

CNET’s audio expert David Carnoy rated the Beats Solo 4 highly in his full review last year, but advised readers to wait for them to drop to $130 or so.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

The colors on sale include matte black, pink and blue, and all feature custom acoustic architecture and updated drivers to offer that iconic Beats sound. If you’re a fan of bass — you won’t be disappointed. The adjustable earcups and so-called UltraPlush cushions ensure long listening sessions won’t be uncomfortable.

Why this deal matters

The Apple-owned Beats brand is iconic and this is your chance to put a pair of the company’s headphones in your tech bag at a huge saving. Getting anything for half the price is an incredible opportunity. Being able to pick your color sweetens the deal, but the limited-time nature of the deal does mean you need to act sooner rather than later.

Technologies

How to Use AirPlay to Mirror Your iPhone on a TV

Display photos and videos from your iPhone or Mac to a bigger screen in a few taps.

Sometimes, browsing through photos or watching a video on your phone or laptop just doesn’t cut it. Beaming to a TV can be a great way to enjoy content on a bigger display and share it with everyone in the room. With the help of AirPlay, doing so with an iPhone, iPad or Mac is super easy.

AirPlay is Apple’s system for screen mirroring, and it’s supported by a growing number of smart TVs, as well as Roku and Apple TV streaming devices.

Here’s how to use the handy feature and which devices are compatible.

Which devices support AirPlay?

To use AirPlay, you’ll need a compatible Roku TV or streamer (the list includes Roku TV, Roku Streambar and Roku Streaming Stick 4K), an Apple TV streamer or a 2019 or newer smart TV from LG, Samsung, Sony or Vizio. Amazon’s more recent Fire TV models also support AirPlay, but Fire TV sticks don’t.

Any iPhone or iPad running iOS 4.2 or newer has AirPlay built in. Note that Roku and smart TVs require AirPlay 2 on your Apple devices, which is available with iOS 12.3 or later and MacOS Mojave 10.14.5 or later.

Before getting started, make sure your Apple device and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Mirror your iPhone or iPad

Swipe down from the top-right corner on newer iPhone models, or up from the bottom of the display, to access Control Center.
Tap the Screen Mirroring button. (It shows two overlapping rectangles)
Select your TV.
If prompted, enter the passcode shown on your TV.
A checkmark will show up next to your TV’s name when a connection is made.

Now, use your phone or tablet like normal, and everything you do will be displayed on your TV. To stop mirroring, go back to Control Center and open the Screen Mirroring section, then select Stop Mirroring.

Mirror your Mac’s screen

Click on the Control Center icon in the menu bar. It should be next to the time in the top-right corner.
Click Screen Mirroring.
You’ll see a list of devices that are available on your network to mirror your screen. Click the device you want to use. Your screen will flash and a few seconds later it will show up on the TV.

Now, whatever you do on your Mac will show up on your TV. When you’re done, click the Screen Mirroring button in Control Center again, then click the name of the device you’re connected to to stop mirroring.

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Technologies

Dangerous TikTok Chromebook Challenge: Avoid Sparking a Fire in Your Laptop

Well, this is a bad idea: Kids are jamming metal into their school computer USB ports.

TikTok is full of entertaining cat videos, humorous dances, and yes, even challenges — the famed ice-bucket challenge has returned and is promoting mental-health support. But now a dangerous TikTok challenge is spreading through the short-form video app and through schools across the US.

The Chromebook Challenge, named for Google’s line of laptops, encourages students to insert metal items into the USB port on their school-issued computers, intending to create sparks, smoke and possibly a fire.

A representative for TikTok told NBC News that the challenge videos were not exclusive to their platform, and that search terms like «Chromebook Challenge» have been blocked.

A representative for Google didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment

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Searching TikTok will bring up videos showing kids attempting the dangerous and damaging challenge. Schools, as you might expect, are not happy.

David Winston, principal of Lincoln Park Middle School in Morris County, New Jersey, sent a letter home to parents about the dangers of the act, as reported by NorthJersey.com.

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«We expect our students to make responsible choices and refrain from any behavior that could result in injury, property damage, disciplinary action, or the loss of privileges,» Winston said in his letter. «This type of act is considered a form of vandalism and, if a fire results, could be treated as arson.»

And kids might not be laughing when their parents get the bill for a damaged or ruined laptop.

«We’re asking for your help in talking to your child about the importance of taking care of their school devices and thinking twice before participating in online challenges like this,» reads a letter sent to parents of kids in Virginia’s Prince George’s County Public Schools, as reported by FOX5. «As a reminder, families are responsible for the cost of any deliberate damage done to school-issued Chromebooks.»