Chris Welch

Former Senior Reviewer

Google is ending the year with a big update for Pixel devices

Chris WelchDec 6, 2023

Google is hell bent on getting you to notice its free TV channels.

Google brought hundreds of free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels to its TV platforms this year. They’re already deeply integrated with the Google TV interface, and now Google has crammed a bunch of them into a “Free TV Channels” app that appears on the homescreen of older Android TV products like the Nvidia Shield. There’s no escaping FAST content.

In other news, the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) was briefly cracked to allow custom OS installations. It’s already been patched, and even if you haven’t updated your device, the process of taking advantage of said exploit is a real doozy.

Executing a Chromecast Exploit – Times Three

[DirectDefense]

Chris WelchNov 29, 2023

Tell everyone you know to stop worrying about NameDrop already.

I have no doubt that most Verge readers understand that iOS 17’s NameDrop feature isn’t anything to be worried about. But with alarmist TikToks, nightly newscasts, and even police departments making a fuss over supposed privacy risks, it’s worth emphasizing to your friends and family that no, it’s not that easy for nearby strangers to sneakily obtain your contact information.

And if assurances from experts aren’t enough, it’s easy to turn the feature off altogether if you so choose.

How to turn off NameDrop in iOS 17

Barbara Krasnoff

Sep 21

Chris WelchNov 29, 2023

Paste Magazine is bringing Jezebel back.

After shutting down Jezebel and laying off its remaining staff earlier this month, G/O Media has now sold the trailblazing feminist website to Paste Magazine.

“I think of it as the quintessential site for millennial women who grew up on this, and it’s a site that taught them what they could be,” Paste co-founder Josh Jackson told The New York Times. “And I want the same for Gen Z, and to bring in Gen Z voices.”

The new Jezebel could start publishing as soon as Wednesday. First things first, though: Jackson is looking for an editor-in-chief and writers to preserve the site’s pioneering, important voice.

Splinter, which G/O Media shut down in 2019, was also part of the sale and is expected to return next year.

Jezebel to Be Resurrected by Paste Magazine

[The New York Times]

The best Cyber Monday deals you can get on headphones and earbuds

Chris WelchNov 27, 2023

This is a great time to buy nice wired earbuds that will outlast any pair of AirPods.

Sennheiser’s lauded IE 600 wired earbuds are down to $499 for Cyber Monday. Yes, that’s objectively a lot of money. But they normally run 700 bucks and are widely considered one of the best sounding pairs of earbuds on the market today. Here’s a detailed video review on them. No gimmicks. Just pristine audio.

If you take care of these buds, they’ll last many, many years to come. No need to worry about deteriorating battery life when you’re plugged in the old fashioned way — with a USB-C dongle nowadays, I guess.

If the IE 600s are firmly outside what you’re willing to spend, then consider the IE 200s, which have a similar sound tuning and can be had for $120 today.

Note: If you buy something from these links, we might get affiliate revenue.