Highlights Diabetics should eat at regular intervals Diabetics need to keep their calorie intake in check Diabetics should refrain from simple carbs Call it suji, [...]
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“The Natural Networks V” Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal
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The only commonality between vegetarian and vegan is – avoiding meat
While veganism is a lifestyle/diet, organic is a method of farming
To adapt to veganism, major challenge for Indians is to cut dairy product
To say that the discourse around veganism is often rife with misinformation or even pre-conceived notions is an understatement. For many, a lot of information obtained – whether fully incorrect or partially presented – serves as a major hurdle towards adopting, or even attempting to adopt a vegan diet. And so, World Vegan Day – observed annually on 1st November is perhaps the most fitting day of all to highlight some of the more commonly held notions about the diet, as well as paint a clearer picture as to what veganism actually entails.
Myth 1: Veganism and Vegetarianism are “basically” the same.
Perhaps one of the most common misunderstandings surrounding veganism is due to it being conflated with vegetarianism. The only commonality between the two is a shared avoidance of meat products. Both vegans and vegetarians categorically do not consume. However, the similarity ends here – to be vegan is to avoid all animal based products (meat is just one animal based product) – including dairy (milk, cheese, ghee, butter) and products like honey. This does not apply to vegetarians as many vegetarians in India have a heavy dairy inclusive diet. Hence, these people are often called Lacto-vegetarians, precisely for this reason.
Myth 2: Vegans only eat organic produce
While veganism is a lifestyle/diet, organic is a method of farming/producing. These are in no way linked. Eating only organic is certainly not a requirement to be vegan. To eat organic fruits and vegetables is entirely a preference. Many vegans consume traditionally grown fruits and vegetables as well. And the science on which is ‘better’ is still evolving and mixed, in terms of consensus.
Interestingly enough, Indian diet is perhaps even more suited to veganism than most across the world. Not only does India have a significantly large amount of vegetarians, but as such the culture for many is already primed to include veggies, fruits, dals, legumes, grains and cereals in their diets – all of which are plant-based by default. To adapt to veganism, the major challenge for Indians is to cut dairy products – we love our ghee coated rotis, curds and raitas (as part of bigger meals) as well as our ice creams and lassis. But alternatives are now available, with comparable taste to boot.
Myth 4: Veganism can lead to poorer nutrition
A common misconception around the diet is that pursuing it leads to overall poorer nutrition. This is only true if one doesn’t do cursory research before committing to a diet change – be it vegan or not. Diet change is often a significant decision that warrants at least some research about the diet in question.
In the case of a vegan diet, once all animal products are left out, there is the possibility of a reduced consumption of protein, iodine, calcium, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and omega 3 fatty acids. Each of these nutrients has a viable alternative (especially protein) that is either based on food substitutes or simple supplements.
Myth 5: Vegan food alternatives are hard to find, and expensive
Actually, plant based alternatives are quite easy to find/obtain, and are becoming more and more affordable due to the rising vegan community in India. Plethora of alternatives exist – for protein, soya products are often widely consumed; with lentils and beans being another good source. There’s actually a host of plant-based dairy products to choose from – even a simple staple like milk can be substituted with soya milk, almond milk, cashew milk, and so forth. Hemp milk can serve as a great source of omega 3, too. A healthy portion of leafy vegetables takes cares of vitamins, and as for Vitamin D – it can be tackled by (socially distant for now) exposure to sunlight.
Myth 6: Veganism is a mere trend that will fade eventually
But perhaps the myth with the most longevity of all is the assertion that people pursuing a vegan diet are doing so as part of a social trend, in order to gain societal clout. As abstract a claim as this is, it’s also hard to ‘disprove’ – how do you prove the genuine intentions of every single vegan on earth? There will be a few who view it as fashionable! But for the vast majority of vegans, the diet is one that aligns with their values of stopping their share of unabridged animal cruelty done in the name of producing food items for consumption. It also objectively takes a lesser toll on the environment, an outcome that is collectively favourable (or at least should be) to all of us.
And so, ironically the longest running misconception about veganism is one that critiques its very longevity, something that has only been growing as the years roll by, and the affordable alternatives roll in. Perhaps, then, on World Vegan Day, it is better to contemplate not how long veganism will ‘last’; but how long we can make it last, to the day it is akin to the new normal.
About Author: The author is the Executive Director of the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO). She switched to a vegan lifestyle over 15 years ago and can vouch for tremendous benefits, both physically and mentally, after making this switch.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
There was a time when robot vacuum cleaners were once only the stuff of futuristic Jetson-like dream homes. But they’ve become today’s reality. In fact, they’re far advanced than ever before, with many models boasting an array of sophisticated sensors, CPUs, lasers, and even AI-enhanced software. The fact is that if you’re looking to keep your home nice and tidy, these robots are useful tools and will do the trick.
Despite all this sophistication, however, none of these machines can really replace a mop and human exertion.
Now playing: Watch this:
Battling bot vacs: iRobot Roomba S9 Plus vs. Neato Botvac…
8:07
To choose the best robot vacuum, I spent over 120 hours (that’s a lot of time) torture-testing a group of 12 robotic cleaning vacuums for things like suction power, their ability to perform on carpets and hard flooring, and how well they performed during each cleaning cycle. Among them are brand-new models that have recently launched, flagship models, and compelling options offered across numerous online retailers. I excluded older models that likely won’t be sold for much longer. I’ll continue to update this list periodically as new options hit the market.
CNET Smart Home and Appliances
Get smart home reviews and ratings, video reviews, buying guides, prices and comparisons from CNET.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
If someone were to give you a blank check and tell you to buy the best robot vacuum, this is the bot to get. That said, the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus costs a whopping $1,100. For that staggeringly steep sticker price though, this robotic vacuum delivers powerful suction and superb dirt and dust removal.
On hardwood floors this Roomba picked up an average of 93% of our test sand, the highest amount in our test group, but it struggled a bit cleaning sand from low-pile carpeting and area rugs, earning a low average dust and sand pickup of 28%.
That said, the Roomba robot vac removed an average 71% of sand from our mid-pile carpet while vacuuming. Again, this is the best result that we saw on this specific test. It also cleaned up more dog hair, pet dander and allergens than any vacuum in this test group, and the bot navigates and maps multiple rooms and floors. iRobot has also updated its app to let you designate “keep out zones” that you want the S9 Plus to avoid when cleaning. The app also lets you use voice commands to immediately clean a room using Alexa or Google Voice Assistant.
The robot zipped through our test room in a short average time of 25 minutes, too. You can link the S9 Plus to the Roomba app and your home Wi-Fi as well. Best of all is the Roomba S9 Plus’ CleanBase docking station. The dock both charges the robot’s battery and empties its dustbin automatically, making cleaning even easier and keeping you from worrying about battery life. Now that’s convenient.
For roughly half the price of the Roomba S9 Plus, the $600 Neato’s D7 vacuums up dirt, dust and messes almost as well, making it the best robot vacuum at a midrange cost. On average this robotic cleaner picked up a greater amount of sand (36%) across low-pile carpet and rugs than the Roomba did.
This automatic vacuum cleaner narrowly beat the S9 Plus for cleaning power on hardwood bare floors, too, collecting an average of 95% of the sand we put down. The vac cleaned dirt, dust and sand from midpile rugs less effectively though, notching a pickup average of 47% while cleaning.
While the Neato can’t match the Roomba’s prowess at removing pet hair or empty its own dust bin, the D7 navigates more efficiently around furniture yet covers more ground thanks to smart robot vacuum built-in lidar laser navigation mapping. You can also control the cleaning robot using the Neato app as a remote control, as well as link it to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The app allows you to designate areas of your home as off-limits to cleaning, too.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Here’s a robotic vacuum that proves you don’t need to blow your budget to purchase a solid robot vacuum cleaner. Even though the Robovac 11S Max costs just $227 right now, it cleans floors effectively. That’s especially true when cleaning bare hardwood floors.
It managed to remove an average of 71% of our test sand from this type of surface. The bot didn’t work as well cleaning carpets, earning sand-pickup averages of 21% and 27% on low-pile and mid-pile, respectively.
And thanks to this vacuum’s basic navigation system, it took well over an hour to negotiate our test room. As far as time goes, that’s a lot. Still, the Eufy used its runtime wisely. The vacuum covered the space well, cleaning up and leaving almost no spots untouched. The Eufy is also self-charging, so again, no need to worry about battery life or factor that into overall cleaning time. It’s the best robot vacuum for value.
Our method for evaluating robot vacuums is straightforward, yet grueling. There are two types of tests we run. The first trial is to figure out how well a robot covers the floor while cleaning. We built an industry-standard testing room as specified by the International Electrotechnical Commission, just for this purpose. The IEC is an international standards body responsible for managing robot vacuum testing procedures, among other things, for vacuum manufacturers.
Obstacles in our test room mimic what robot vacuums run into in the real world.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Inside this room are objects designed to simulate typical obstacles a robot vac encounters for navigation as it cleans. These obstacles include wall edges, table and chair legs, couches and other furniture, and so on, plus bare tile and hardwood floors, as well as carpet.
Here’s a coverage photo of the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus as it moved through our test room. You can see the Roomba S9 covered the floor well, except for one slight section in the center (left, bottom).
Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET
We mount LED lights to the top of each vacuum cleaner. The dimensions of the lights correspond to the measured nozzle width of each particular robot vacuum we test.
Now playing: Watch this:
Lasers, sensors and robots, oh my: Some robot vacuums…
3:43
As robots move through the room while cleaning, a camera overhead captures a long-exposure image of the entire room in low light. That photo will then have a light trail, created by the LEDs, that shows the exact areas where the robot traveled (and its nozzle position) during its runtime. We can also see areas of the floor the vacuum may have missed or gotten stuck.
This is the coverage pattern created by the Neato D7. Its movement through our test room was very orderly, logical and effective.
Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET
You can see the navigation results of all the robot vacuums in our test group in the gallery below.
Some robot vacuums have a better sense of direction than others
The second type of test reveals exactly how much physical debris a vacuum is able to pick up off of the floor. To mimic dirt of small particle size, we use a mixture of play-sand and landscaping sand. For bigger particle soil, we use grains of uncooked black rice. Robots then run in straight line mode across three types of flooring (low-pile carpet, medium-pile carpet and hardwood bare floors).
We test robot vacuums on three types of floor surfaces.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
We control for the specific nozzle width of each vacuum, too. We constructed an adjustable tool to soil our test floors. It lets us lay down a strip of precise area of soil to match the nozzle dimensions for every robot. The mass of soil isn’t chosen at random either. We measure a proportional amount that’s related to the flooring material, type of debris, plus each vacuum’s nozzle width.
Our custom-built tool lets us match soil area to a robot vacuum’s nozzle width.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
We conduct three cleaning runs (at minimum) on each floor type. We also perform cleaning tests with sand and rice separately. That comes to at least 18 tests per robot vac. We weigh the robot’s dust bin both before and after each run. From there we can calculate the percentage of debris pickup for every cleaning run and the average amount of soil a machine manages to remove. Additionally we run anecdotal (visual) pet hair tests for each robot, on all three floor types.
We run robot vacuums in a straight line during the debris pickup tests.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
The chart below shows the fine particle cleaning performance data for all of the robot vacuums we tested. It should give you a pretty good idea about their cleaning performance on different kinds of flooring surfaces. Our rice-based, medium-size particle test didn’t show enough differentiation between each cleaner, which says they can all handle larger particles without trouble. For fur removal for pet owners, we judged anecdotally.
Percent soil removed
Neato Botvac D6 Connected
Legend:
Sand from low-pile
Sand from hardwood
Sand from medium-pile
Note:
Results listed are the average percentage of total material removed from test surface
Want more robot vacuum options? Here’s a list of the other robot vacuums we tested besides the models listed above.
Amazon is discounting all three of its Fire TV Sticks right now, allowing you to grab a Fire TV Stick for as low as $17.
The Fire TV Stick Lite is $17. While the Fire TV Stick is $28, and the Fire TV Stick 4K is $30. At these prices, the only real options are the Fire TV Stick Lite and the Fire TV Stick 4K. At $28, the regular Fire TV Stick isn’t really worth it, since you can spend $2 more and get 4K HDR support.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a small HDMI stick from the company, that is able to stream all sorts of apps onto your TV. This includes apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, YouTube TV, Hulu, and much more.
And it does also support both 4K and HDR here, so you’re going to get a really great looking picture out of this stick. On top of that, it also includes Dolby Vision, so you can really take full advantage of the image quality. But, your TV will need to support 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision to really take full advantage here.
If you don’t have a 4K TV, then the other Fire TV Sticks are a better option, and a bit cheaper. Below, you can see the differences between the three.
There is Amazon Alexa built-in here, which can make for a really great experience. Alexa is able to control your smart home devices from your TV. As well as find something to watch on TV and much more. Everything you can do with an Echo, you can do with the Fire TV Stick.
The new Alexa Voice Remote is included too. Which is going to have a microphone built-in to talk to Alexa. But, it is not always listening. So simply press the microphone button when you need to talk to Alexa. On top of that, the new remote brings much needed buttons like volume buttons. It’s still incredible that those weren’t available in the first place.
If you have been using the Linux operating system, you would be familiar with installed apps and services through the package manager. It allows you to install the software or service just through the commands. The process remains the same for almost every repository out there.
For Windows operating system, there’s a community-supported package manager named Chocolatey. However, Microsoft is also working on its own Windows Package Manager which is currently available in Preview mode.
In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to install the Windows Package Manager on your computer. Before proceeding further, make sure that you are running the Windows 10 version 1709 (build 16299) or later.
Method 1
For computers running the latest Windows 10 or version 1709 and above, the Windows Package Manager Client is distributed through an updated version of the App Installer from the Microsoft Store.
You just need to make sure that you are signed up for the Insiders Program and your Microsoft Account is the same as the one you access the Store with. From there, you can have access to the Client and install packages.
Method 2
Step 1: Go to the Windows Package Manager Client release page on GitHub. For this, you can click here.
Step 2: Now, download the “appxbundle” for the latest release.
Step 3: Go to the location of the downloaded file and open it.
Step 4: Now, click the “Update” button to start the installation process.
Once the installation is completed, you are ready to start getting the packages. For this, you can either use the Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, or the newer PowerShell 7 to use winget-cli.
A recently leaked photo by Slashleaks has revealed the Moto G 5G, Motorola’s next 5G budget phone with Qualcomm’s brand-new Snapdragon 750G chipset. This could be one of the first smartphones to carry the Snapdragon 750G SoC, following the likes of Xiaomi and Samsung.
Source: Slashleaks
According to XDA-Developers, the Motorola Moto G 5G will have a fairly competitive spec sheet, especially as a budget phone. In addition to the Snapdragon 750G processor, the phone is rumored to have a 6.66-inch display with a 2400×1800 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, as well as a gigantic 5,000 mAh battery.
The phone will also have 3 cameras on the back including a 48MP primary sensor. On the front, there’s a minimal hole-punch camera, which is a 16MP sensor.
Interestingly enough, the Moto G 5G will also have a Google Assistant button on the side much like LG’s recent devices. However, it seems to be missing on the Verizon-variant intended for the US market.
With all these specs and features in mind, the Moto G 5G seems to be a relatively fully-featured phone. Judging from the leaked photo, it seems to have reduced bezels and a more modern design compared to previous devices in the Moto G series. While it will likely miss out on wireless charging, it doesn’t miss out on essentials such as NFC and microSD support.
Although certain details such as the release date and price tag are currently unknown, it’s good to see more budget 5G phones coming out of the woodworks. With the ongoing pandemic and economic climate, well-worth budget phones are more imperative than ever before.
LG makes a lot of different products and almost all of them are best-in-class. Whether it’s a washing machine or a television, you owe it to yourself to check out what LG has to offer. The same thing could be said about the company’s phone business, if only it could fix its horrible software.
Normally, this is not a problem I would waste any internet bandwidth on. Lots of companies make phones that very few people buy for one reason or another, but with LG, things are different. LG makes really excellent phones that look good and are built extremely well. And every one of them is spoiled by the software running on them.
LG has never been afraid to make quirky phones that were beautiful and well-built.
I’m not going to be shy — LG is my favorite phone manufacturer when it comes to quality. The company also isn’t afraid to keep doing something different, like tiny ticker-style windows on the original V-series phones, cases that also hold a second screen on the G8, or even a swiveling phone that unfolds into some sort of tomahawk on the Wing. Some of these ideas are well-received, others not so much, but LG keeps on trickin’ and the next thing we’ll see is a screen that rolls up according to the internet rumor mill. Compared to an army of black slabs, this is what innovation looks like.
Samsung does the same thing. I remember when everyone was trying to figure out why Samsung would build a phone like the first Galaxy Note. It had a big screen and came with a stylus, but it was basically just a Galaxy S phone. Fast forward to today and everyone loves the Note series. The same will happen with foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 — questions today will turn into purchases in the future.
There’s one big difference between Samsung and LG though: Samsung put in the hours to make the software on its phones really good and LG hasn’t.
You might be thinking that I’m just some sort of hater and nobody should bother taking this idea seriously. But spend a few hours reading reviews of LG phones and you’ll find that almost everyone takes issue with the software. That’s because it is not great at all, and when you compare it to any other company which takes the time to rewrite Android into something more custom, it looks even worse.
Phone makers should build custom versions of Android, but they should do a good job, too.
I think it’s great that LG wants to turn Android into something custom and self-identifying instead of leaving it generic and boring. I know a lot of enthusiasts like generic and boring Android (me, too) but that doesn’t mean companies like LG or Samsung or Oppo shouldn’t be doing something more. Android was designed to be customized and even Google is all for doing it.
But you have to do it right. If you’ve used any recent LG phone like the V60 or the sexy little Velvet (seriously, this thing is a work of art) or even the LG Wing, you know LG’s software looks a lot like Samsung’s One UI, but it lacks the same level of polish and user-friendliness Samsung offers. It also gets oddly sluggish at times, gets jumpy when scrolling, has a horribly slow fingerprint scanner, and gestures can be hit or miss. This is unacceptable.
You also can’t ignore LG abysmal track record when it comes to updates. You will probably see a major update and some security fixes, but don’t count on getting either very quickly. When a company is unable to update its software in a timely manner, the software needs to be really great to start with. LG’s software definitely is not really great.
This seems to have been the LG story since forever. Classic LG phones like the G2 or the Optimus V were wonderful in terms of build but the software was janky as hell. There have been some issues — the whole motherboard issue that caused a ton of phones to bootloop comes to mind — but people still stuck with LG because the hits were good enough to put up with bad software. That was at a time where most third-party versions of Android were bad though. Today things are different, and we see LG’s market share slipping lower and lower.
We need a phone manufacturer to compete with Samsung so the competition makes both work harder.
I’m not just being nitpicky here; I honestly want LG to succeed. Two of my favorite Androids were the V10 and Optimus Black and both of them were amazing phones with cringeworthy software. I can’t deal with that today and don’t have to because other companies like OnePlus and Samsung make great phones with great software. Their software might not be my style, but everything runs really well.
I just want LG to do the same and start to compete, at least a little bit.
The LG Wing is not a perfect device, but even so, there’s no denying just how unique and creative its design is. You can use it as a regular phone whenever you want, but in the blink of an eye, the secondary screen allows for all-new possibilities not found on any other device. If you can deal with software that needs a lot of spit and polish it’s a pretty cool phone.
Recently DxO announced the totally new PhotoLab (Click here to read all info and get the 30% discount). You can also download the free trial (Click here) if you want to test it before to buy it. Anthony Morganti tested…
With the Pixel 5, Google’s tried something a bit different than it has in years past. Rather than attempting to create the most powerful and technically impressive phone on the market, the company instead focused on delivering a high-end smartphone at a competitive price. The end result is a smartphone that’s considerably cheaper than options from Samsung and Apple, and especially during this year, that’s something we’re happy to see.
Something that hasn’t changed with the Pixel 5, however, is its focus on delivering unique and helpful features not found on any other phone. No one makes smartphones the way Google does, and similar to past releases, the Pixel 5 has a few tricks up its sleeve that really add to the overall user experience.
If you’ve purchased the Pixel 5, here are a few tips and tricks to help you get the absolute most out of it.
Master the on-screen Google Assistant gesture
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
Ever since the Pixel 2, Google has offered its Active Edge feature that allows you to squeeze your phone to prompt the Google Assistant. With the Pixel 5, however, Active Edge is no more. While I know a lot of people weren’t so keen on it in the first place, I am sad to see it go. You can still say “OK Google” or “Hey Google” at any time to get the Assistant’s attention, but if you want to start talking to the Assistant without saying those words, you’ll want to make sure you master the Pixel 5’s on-screen gesture.
No matter what you’re doing on the Pixel 5, you can swipe up from the left or right corner of the screen to initiate a Google Assistant command. You’ll feel a small vibration, see a pop-up with the Assistant asking how it can help, and you’re ready to start talking.
This is something that’s existed in Android for some time now, but with Active Edge no more on the Pixel 5, it’s a gesture you’ll want to make sure you’re familiar with if you aren’t already.
Check out Extreme Battery Saver
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
We’ve all been there before. Your phone is running out of juice, you need to keep it on for a while longer, and you’re nowhere near a power outlet. What’s a person to do? With the Pixel 5, these situations are a lot less stressful thanks to the new Extreme Battery Saver mode.
With this enabled, Google says you can expect up to 48 hours of total use before your battery dies. Extreme Battery Saver helps conserve energy by only allowing you to use select apps that you’ve approved, with everything else being disabled until the mode is turned off.
You aren’t going to want to use Extreme Battery Saver all the time, but when you really need to stretch out your battery life for as long as possible, it can be immensely helpful.
Pick up a wireless charger for easy refueling
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
Pixel phones have always had a weird relationship with wireless chargers. The Pixel 3 was the first phone in the series to support the feature, but it only got max 15W charging speeds with the Google Pixel Stand and a handful of other options. The Pixel 4 expanded fast wireless charging to work with more third-party options, but only if they supported the specific EPP standard, and even then it wasn’t always guaranteed togive you the full 10W speeds.
With the Pixel 5, Google got rid of all the compatibility headaches. (Mostly.)
No matter which of the wonderful wireless chargers you purchase for your Pixel 5, so long as it uses the same 15W EPP profile that LG and other manufacturers have used for years, you’ll get full speed wireless charging. It’s kind of hilarious that it took three generations for Google to figure this one out, but regardless, it’s a good thing to know if you plan on using the feature.
Use it to charge your other devices
Source: Google
Speaking of charging, the Pixel 5 is the first in the entire series to support reverse wireless charging. In other words, you can place your other Qi-supported devices on the back of the phone and use its battery pack to juice them up.
The 5W charge speeds you get from the feature isn’t the fastest out there, but for those times when you need to quickly juice up your wireless earbuds or other accessories, it can be rather convenient.
Always know what song is playing
Source: Joe Maring / Android Central
One of the best Pixel features Google’s ever released is Now Playing. First ushered in back in 2017 with the Pixel 2, Now Playing constantly listens for any music playing in the background, identifies it, and saves the record for later so you can go back and reference it at any time. The best part? This all works 100% offline.
Now Playing has returned to the Pixel 5, and while that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, we’re thrilled that Google continues to offer the feature. It’s one of those things that’s hard to live without once you’ve used it for a while, so whether you’re a longtime Pixel owner or new to the series, it’s definitely something to check out.
Record cinematic videos
If you want a phone that can take incredible pictures, it’s no secret that you should get a Pixel. When it comes to recording video, however, that’s a different beast entirely. Video has never been a strong suit for the Pixel lineup, but the Pixel 5 has started to change that conversation with its new Cinematic Pan feature.
Utilizing Google’s ever-impressive processing and machine learning, Cinematic Pan allows for ultra-smooth panning shots when you’re recording video. Google says it’s “inspired by the equipment used in Hollywood movies,” so all of your shots should look buttery smooth.
Whether you’re recording family videos or plan on using the Pixel 5 as a creative tool, it’s definitely a feature to have in your arsenal to make your shots look as smooth as can be.
Set up the Safety app
Source: Andrew Martonik / Android Central
Features like Now Playing and Cinematic Pan are a lot of fun to play with and show off, though that’s not something we’d say about Google’s Safety app for Pixel phones. It isn’t something that’s overly flashy or an app you’ll use every single day, but there’s also no denying its importance.
As the name implies, the Safety app is all about keeping you safe in a variety of situations. You set it up by entering emergency contact info and medical information, all of which can be accessed in a time of need by just holding down your phone’s power button.
Once you’re in the app, you can set up features like Safety check, Emergency Sharing, Crisis alerts, and Car crash detection. Should you find yourself in a bad spot and need assistance, the Safety app is there to lend a hand.
Automatically screen spam calls
Source: Andrew Martonik / Android Central
Getting calls from unknown numbers is annoying — mostly for the fact that the vast majority of them are spam calls. Lots of companies are trying to combat this unending annoyance, but we think Google’s approach is one of the best yet.
In the Google Phone app, there are a few handy settings that you’ll absolutely want to turn on. These include:
See caller and spam ID — Identify business and spam numbers
Filter spam calls — Prevent suspected spam calls from disturbing you
Verified calls — See caller ID and call reason for incoming calls from businesses
With all of these enabled, you’ll be able to see who’s calling you, why they’re calling you, and (hopefully) never have your phone ring from most spam calls. If an unwanted call does get through, you can have the Google Assistant answer on your behalf and see if it’s worth your attention. These may all sound like small features, but in day-to-day use, they’re beyond useful to have.
When you call a company on your Pixel 5 and are asked to wait for the next available agent, you’ll see an option to have the Assistant hold your call for you. Once you enable this, you can set your phone down, go do anything else, and rest assured that your spot in line is safe.
When someone on the other end finally picks up, the Assistant springs into action. It alerts you that you need to pick up the phone, tells the customer service agent that you’ll be on the line soon, and this all happens automatically for you. We’ve all been through long wait times to talk to someone at a massive company, so anything to make this process less terrible is something we can get behind.
Turn your conversations into chat bubbles
Source: Joe Maring / Android Central
The Google Pixel 5 ships with Android 11, and out of all the features Android 11 brings to the table, one of the most interesting is the ability to move your conversations into chat bubbles.
Similar to what Facebook offered for a while with its chat heads feature, chat bubbles are easily accessible anywhere on your screen and offer quick access to your ongoing conversations. Since this is now a system-level feature and not restricted to a specific app, however, chat bubbles work with any messaging app that supports it — including the likes of Google Messages, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.
It isn’t something that’s exclusive to the Pixel 5, but if you’re coming from an older phone that’s not yet running Android 11, it’s a fun thing you’ll want to check out.
Get the most out of your Pixel 5 experience
Whether you’re a longtime Pixel fan or are just coming to the series for the first time, hopefully, you learned something new on this list that’ll help make your Pixel 5 experience just a little bit better. It may not have the same specs as some of the other devices we consider to be the best Android phones, but it certainly makes up for that with unique experiences and features.
Pixel phones always tend to be some of the smartest and most helpful, and with the Google Pixel 5, that’s not changing. With features like Extreme Battery Saver, the Safety app, and so much more, it has ample ways to make your life easier.
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