Ben Schoon is a Senior Editor at NewGeekGuide, working for the publication as one of its primary news writers since 2016.
In 2013, Ben helped start an independent tech publication where he learned the skills used at NewGeekGuide including writing, product photography, and videography. He is located in the city of Winston-Salem in North Carolina where he lives with his wife Melissa. Ben is an avid disc golf player.
He primarily covers Android products, including Google Pixel devices, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, as well as devices from OnePlus, Oppo, Motorola, and more. Beyond just covering news about these products, Ben also spends time using these products himself, speaking from experience with the articles he writes. Some of Ben’s most recent hands-on reviews include; Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Motorola Razr+, HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, and more.
Ben is also a leading source for information about Google’s Android TV, diving deeply into important parts of the platform including its powerful Operator Tier, explaining future changes to the platform, and reviewing its products such as Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, and more.
In 2019, Ben leaked one of the first in-person photos of the Pixel 4 before later revealing the Recorder and Pixel Themes apps months ahead of launch. In 2020, Ben also reported on multiple upcoming Pixel devices including Pixel 5a and the first report of Google working on a foldable Pixel smartphone. That same month, he was also the first to correctly report the $49 price point of what became the Chromecast with Google TV.
Ben Schoon is active on Twitter, @nexusben, but can also be found on Instagram and LinkedIn. For questions or tips, you can email him directly, and his portfolio is also available online.
Email: schoon@9to5mac.com | Encrypted Email: benschoon@protonmail.com
If you’re noticing some issues with your Android Auto experience as of late, you’re not alone, as users are reporting problems with the display looking washed out, as well as the Spotify app having broken controls.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 just hit the market last month and while some of the best pre-order perks are gone, Amazon has a stellar offer that throws in a 4-pack of Galaxy SmartTags with your new watch at no extra cost.
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Sling TV, a streaming alternative to cable, is introducing a much more affordable way to access its service with new “Day Pass” subscriptions that start at just $5.
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Ahead of the company’s launch event later this month, the official case options for the Pixel 10 series have just surfaced, showcasing the magnet ring for the “Pixelsnap” ecosystem.
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While we’re still waiting on a wider rollout, Google is detailing how to use its new “Remix” feature in Photos, which allows users to turn their pictures into cartoon art styles.
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It’s been more delayed than many have expected, but Samsung is finally making progress on its Android 16 rollout, with the One UI 8 beta today expanding to a handful of 2024 Galaxy devices ahead of its stable release next month.
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Following an early preview in March, the final design of the Pebble Time 2 reboot has been revealed alongside information about the build.
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Perplexity, an AI startup, is putting together a bid to buy Google Chrome. There are just two potential problems. First, Chrome isn’t actually for sale. Second, the bid is worth twice as much as Perplexity.
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Google has started rolling out its Android Auto 15.0 release, but the update doesn’t deliver on long-awaited features, and the tidbits that are coming to the surface still aren’t available.
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Pebblebee is expanding on its new “Alert” functionality with a new “Alert Live” subscription that adding live location sharing at the press of a button on the Find Hub-compatible trackers.
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Wyze is launching a new “Duo Cam Pan” that cleverly puts two cameras into the same device, with one showing a wide view while the other can spin and tilt to track individuals in view.
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Waze is going to soon cut off access to new app updates for older Android devices, as a new update is raising the requirements.
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Last week we showed off the unreleased Pixel Tablet Pen, which was wildly up for sale on outlets such as Amazon. Now, another user has gotten their hands on the stylus, this time showing the magnet case that would have come with Pixel Tablet Pen, and even Google’s finished instruction manual.
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The Pixel Watch 4 is set to introduce a brand new charger – the third one in four generations of Google’s smartwatch – and while it really seems like the pros outweigh the cons here, I’m dreading a couple of small things.
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Ahead of Google’s upcoming launch event, a new leak reveals the updated design of Pixel Buds 2a.
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According to a new rumor, Google’s Pixel 10 series might invest more heavily into eSIM, and largely do away with physical SIM cards as a result.
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ADT’s Nest-integrated security system is one of my favorite parts of my smart home, in part because it has a lot of futuristic ideas. Recently, ADT added a new smart lock option to its lineup, and the fingerprint-enabled lock is such a welcome upgrade.
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As announced earlier this year, Google Photos is now rolling out a redesigned editor on Android, which is a massive update, and the company is taking the time to explain how it all works for those who may be confused.
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The Pixel Tablet, unlike the bulk of other tablets on the market today, was never given an ecosystem of accessories to improve the experience, but that doesn’t mean Google never tried. It was clear through a series of leaks that Google was working on a “Pixel Tablet Pen,” but it never saw a proper release. Despite that, though, you can just go buy one on Amazon today.
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After announcing it earlier this year, Samsung has started rolling out Gemini support for its Galaxy Buds 3 lineup, but you can only access it while running One UI 8 based on Android 16.
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Sony Xperia phones make up just a tiny fraction of the overall smartphone market, and the brand isn’t exactly exuding confidence in its future. Sony, however, says that Xperia is a “very important” part of its business and that it will continue to “nuture” it.
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Nearly a decade after Google’s first striking blue, leaks continue to show off the new “Indigo” Pixel 10 that’s got everyone’s attention, and it continues to look absolutely stunning.
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In the lead up to the Pixel 10 launch later this month, the leaks (and teasers) keep coming. Today, we’ve got some of the first software leaks, as well as the first clean images of Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro XL.
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Over the past month, Google has been rolling out a battery reduction update for the Pixel 6a in the interest of user safety, and now the company has also stopped selling refurbished Pixel 6a devices.
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