Accessories
#MadeByGoogle round-up: Pixel 2 and more highlights
Google has just announced their latest lineup of products and, boy oh boy, the excitement around the new gadgets has not waned. The #MadeByGoogle event exhibited some serious technology, so I’ve come up with a round-up of said devices and event highlights because really, no one has the time to watch the whole thing.
With the announcement of the highly anticipated Google Pixel 2 came a slew of other products #MadeByGoogle and a cool new color palette that makes these powerful contraptions look candy cute. I could honestly spend hours harping on Google’s color theme, but that would be a disservice to the power-packed devices they’ve just announced.
Before we move on, though, here’s a look at the color scheme that made many non-techie girls’ heads turn because of their gadget flatlay capabilities:
Most of the device releases will come in the above colors.
Now, on to the announced devices:
The Pixel 2 and 2 XL
The second-generation Pixel phones are looking great with smaller bezels, an aluminum back, 5-inch screen for the Pixel 2, and 6-inch display for the Pixel 2 XL.
The Pixel 2 XL comes in just black or black and white — or as we have decided to call it: Panda.
The Pixel 2 comes in three colors: kinda blue, just black, and clearly white. But, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, it’s not really kinda blue but clearly periwinkle. Names aside, it’s such a pretty color — a departure from the previous really blue Pixel which, honestly, didn’t appeal to my aesthetic.
The phones also have the cutest detail with these bright power buttons with varying colors depending on the model.
What you need to know about these phones:
The Pixel 2 and 2 XL don’t have a dual-camera setup but as early as now, the cameras on these things have been given the highest-ever DxOMark rating at 98. This speaks volumes, as the Apple iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are tied at only 94.
Oh, and did I mention the cameras are capable of AR Stickers (AR stickers!!) and Motion Photos (which are basically Google’s version of Apple’s Live Photos)?
READ: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL stick to proven single-camera setup
Google Home Mini and Google Max
The Google Home Mini was also announced. This smaller version of Google Home is a less obtrusive version of the smart speaker as it will, most likely, be easier to match to the rest of your furniture. It comes in coral, chalk, or charcoal.
Designed to integrate more into your daily life, it has Google Assistant built in and is a more budget-friendly option if you want a connected home.
The Google Home Max, which is a bigger digital assistant with powerful speakers built for an optimum music experience, was also unveiled. Equipped with Smart Sound, the Home Max automatically adjusts speaker settings to room size and background noise to ensure the best acoustics for whatever you’re listening to.
READ: Google Home smart speaker gets Mini and Max versions
Google Pixel Buds
These are wireless earphones that won’t be as easy to lose — unless you lose the whole thing. The Google Pixel Buds are wired to each other and use Bluetooth to connect with your smartphone or music player of choice.
These Buds have Google Assistant built in, gesture controls, and they come with a charging case. BTW, these are the earphones that can translate languages in real time thanks to Google Translate.
They come in three colors that will match that future Pixel you plan to own: black, white, or blue.
READ: Google Pixel Buds break language barriers in real-time
Google Clips
When we talk about cameras, we talk about specs and not about how smart they are. That may just change with Google Clips.
The teeny camera is powered by machine learning and is programmed to capture your best possible candid moments. All you need to do is turn it on, set it down, and it will take the best photos for you. It’s a camera and photographer in one — the answer to your Instagram boyfriend dependency!
READ: Google Clips captures best moments with machine learning
Google Pixelbook
Google’s very own Chromebook is looking pretty sleek. The modern-looking device has a 12.3-inch Quad HD touch display and glass details on the front. Pretty, but I’m also thinking this may be pretty fragile.
The Pixelbook is a convertible that has Google Assistant integrated — it even comes with a dedicated button!
A perfect partner to the Pixelbook, the Pixelbook Pen was also unveiled for all your writing needs.
READ: Google still has best Chromebook with Pixelbook and Pixelbook Pen
Google Daydream View
Google’s VR headset has also been updated. The new Daydream View looks great with its more solid and textured look in gray, black, or coral — finally a color that’s a little more appealing to my senses! They’re looking more premium than they ever have.
They’re not only designed to look better, though; they also supposedly feel cozier on your face, because, let’s admit it, no one really looks cool wearing VR headsets.
READ: Google beefs up AR and VR with stickers and new Daydream View
SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 2 full coverage
[irp posts=”21597″ name=”Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL stick to proven single-camera setup”]
Accessories
CASETiFY Match: Finding the right case for your Galaxy Z8 Series phone
Cases that match your personality
A phone case can be more than protection. It can also be a way to show off your interests, personality, and the little things that make you, well, you.
For our CASETiFY Match for the Galaxy Z8 Series, we asked the team one question: Why was this CASETiFY design your Match?
From Spider-Man fandom and capybara obsession to feline-inspired art and snake motifs, here are the designs that found their way into our team’s everyday carry, plus a couple of bonus picks worth checking out.
Rodneil: A little New York energy for a certified web-head
If it wasn’t obvious enough, I’m a certified web-head. I love anything and everything Spider-Man, especially the iconic red-and-blue motif. Though, if we’re being honest, I’m more partial to the red.
I had my eyes on the Spider-Man suit design for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and the Spider-Man Mask Snappy Grip Stand. Unfortunately, those designs aren’t available for the Galaxy Z Fold8.
So, I went with a design that gives off a bit of New York energy instead. It still pairs nicely with the Spidey Snappy Grip Stand, letting me bring a little of that Spider-Man vibe to my everyday setup.
V: Keeping it cool with capybaras
I’ve been a capybara stan since 2020, long before the world finally caught up with just how cute and chill these animals are. Seeing them get the recognition they deserve has been a source of much excitement.
Finding cool and cute capybara cases and accessories for the phones I use every day, however, hasn’t always been easy.
That’s where Deville Dewil’s capybara collection comes in. It fills that gap while making my Galaxy Z Fold8 feel like an even more personal accessory.
At this point, I’d like to identify as a capy/bara.
Luigi: A cat design that’s playful without being too loud
There’s no shortage of cat-themed cases out there. If you’re a cat lover like me, chances are you’ve considered one at some point.
The tricky part is finding a design that isn’t too whimsical or loud. I love the little furballs, but I still want something sleek and clean.
CASETiFY’s cat collection speaks to that balance. In particular, this design by Catwheezie blends artistry with a touch of whimsy. It lets me show off my personality without being too flashy.
MJ: A little reputation energy
I’ve always had a soft spot for snake motifs, and CASETiFY’s Transparent Kingsnake case gives me Taylor Swift’s reputation era energy.
I love how snakes symbolize transformation. As someone who’s always evolving and never afraid to reinvent himself, that meaning feels personal.
The black-and-white design also brings a sleek, rebellious edge. Paired with my Galaxy Z Flip8, it’s giving statement accessory with a little bite.
Bonus Match: Sunglasses at Night
Sometimes, keeping it simple is the way to go. The Sunglasses at Night design is tasteful and understated, letting me show off the actual color of my phone without competing with it.
Bonus Match: Pink Weekly Planner
For the girls (and gaes) who plan their days–and life–ahead. And of course, for when they need to keep their Wednesdays pink.
Find your Match
There’s no single way to find a phone case that feels right. It might be a favorite character, an animal you’ve loved for years, a piece of art, or a symbol that means something to you.
For our team, the right CASETiFY design is the one that brings a little more personality to a device we carry every day.
So, which design would be your Match?
As one of the wisest sages of the 2000s once said, “He was a punk, she did ballet. What more can I say?” Sometimes, opposites attract. Now, two of those opposites in the audio space are coming together: the punk Skullcandy and the ballet-loving Bose.
Today, Bose has announced its acquisition of Skullcandy. The latter will continue to operate as a separate brand but now officially under the Bose umbrella. Although, it’s not a new collaboration as the two brands have previously worked together on devices before. Skullcandy will just have more access to Bose’s technologies moving forward.
Alternatively, Bose will now have access to Skullcandy’s more varied audience. Compared to Bose’s focus on premium products, Skullcandy caters to more alternative lifestyles. Though the brand has since mellowed from its more radical roots, it is still known as one of the alternative brands.
Bose, on the other hand, is still a household name for home audio and noise-cancelling headphones. The new relationship between two polar opposites might be seen as a weird one, but it’s ultimately beneficial to both parties. Besides, both brands were very strong in the 2010s. Keeping both brands going is a boon to audiophiles of the past decade.
Accessories
Fujifilm’s new instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 make room for more creative memories
A new pocket camera and a collage-making printer join the instax family.
Seeing a memory take shape beyond your screen changes how it feels. A favorite photo becomes a print you can tuck into a journal or pin beside your desk, and the everyday moments you capture get a little more room to live.
That was the spirit of Fujifilm’s instax Playhou2e launch in Makati, where visual artist Jill Arteche brought her signature illustrations into the event space.
Her artwork surrounded the latest additions to the instax family, the instax Pal 2 and instax Link WIDE 2. Both devices treat photography as a form of personal expression, from the snapshots you take throughout the day to the printed memories you want to keep close.
A pocket-sized camera that goes wherever you do
The original instax Pal made the case for carrying a camera without a full-sized setup. Its successor, the instax Pal 2, builds on that with a refreshed design and improved image quality.
The palm-sized camera is built for everyday adventures and can capture angles that are awkward to get with a smartphone. Its compact body also makes it easy to bring along if you like documenting your day as it happens.
Fujifilm gave the Pal 2 a semi-matte finish. A new monitor on top lets you review shots right after you take them, and the added viewfinder, control dial, and lever give it a more tactile feel to shoot with.
The specs have moved up, too. The Pal 2 captures 10-megapixel images, double the original’s five megapixels, and its internal storage holds up to 100 images compared with 50 before. A separately sold microSD card adds more room.
The creative options are where the Pal 2 gets playful. It offers 30 effects, so you can give images different moods without editing each one from scratch. Its instax Animation mode strings up to 10 consecutive shots into a flipbook-style animated video.
Transferring your photos is straightforward. The Pal 2 supports wireless Bluetooth transfers, and a USB Type-C connection offers faster transfers to compatible smartphones. From there, you can edit the images and post them to social media or keep them in your camera roll.
Because the Pal 2 is part of the instax ecosystem, its digital photos can also be printed on instant film through compatible instax printers. That means you can shoot first and decide later which moments deserve a physical copy.
Turning your camera roll into something worth keeping
Taking photos is only half the fun. The other half is deciding what to do with the hundreds of images that pile up on our phones.
The instax Link WIDE 2 is Fujifilm’s answer for anyone who collects travel photos or documents celebrations. As the brand’s WIDE-format smartphone printer, it prints at twice the image area of the instax mini format, which leaves more space for group photos and landscapes.
Its biggest new feature is Photo Mixer, which builds scrapbook-style collages from multiple images you pick in the dedicated app. Instead of printing a single photo, you can combine highlights from a trip or a gathering into one larger keepsake.
The app suggests layouts based on your chosen photos and adjusts image sizes, angles, text placement, and fonts to keep the design cohesive. You can then add your own text and stamps. A cutout function identifies people and objects in your photos so you can layer them into the collage.
With Photo Mixer, printing becomes part of the creative process, and your camera roll turns into material for building a visual record of an experience in a single print.
The Link WIDE 2 also gets a design refresh, with two-tone finishes in Duo Beige and Duo Blue. The light and dark surfaces give it a polished look on a shelf or desk, and an illuminated instax logo glows while it prints.
Connectivity has expanded, too. Beyond smartphones and tablets, the printer works with PCs, Fujifilm X Series cameras, and the instax Pal 2, so digital artwork and other compatible images can become physical prints.
A more personal way to keep your memories
The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 share the idea that photography is a way to express yourself. The Pal 2 makes it easy to capture moments as they happen, and the Link WIDE 2 gives those images a place in the physical world.
Jill Arteche’s artwork at the launch backed that idea up. Her illustrations filled the space with personality and showed how photos and art can make an environment feel more personal. The event also made a case for revisiting and reinterpreting the images we collect.
Taking a photo takes seconds, and printing one can make the memory feel more special. The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 bring that into everyday life and give your snapshots room for creativity, from the moment you press the shutter to the moment you find a place for the print.
In the Philippines, the Fujifilm instax Pal 2 retails for PhP 10,599, while the Fujifilm instax Link WIDE 2 is priced at PhP 10,999. Both devices are now available on Fujifilm’s authorized stores and retailers nationwide.
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