Google today released a new app from the Google Photos team called PhotoScan. It lets you skip the flatbed scanner and scan photos using your phone.
Although scanning photos with a smartphone isn’t a new concept, Google hopes to make the process easier than ever. When you open the app, you first take a picture (of a picture) inside of a frame. Then, a dot appears on each corner of your photo. Center your phone over each dot, like shooting a photosphere.
Once each dot is covered, the photo is scanned. Google applies its machine learning algorithms to remove any glare from the photo. Each photo is also automatically cropped, rotated and color corrected. You can have your photos uploaded to Google Photos or saved to your camera roll.
David Lieb, product development leader at Google Photos, told The Verge that the goal of PhotoSnap is to help people preserve their print photos in the cloud before they are lost forever.
“These photos are at risk…of being lost when you move, they’re at risk of fires, floods and theft. And with every day that passes they fade away a bit – they literally fade away.”
Google is combining this with an update to Google Photos that brings even more enhancement. The update improves auto enhance, brings 12 new looks that tailors the style to each individual photo, and adds Light and Color editing. Light editing lets you control exposure, contrast, whites, highlights, shadows and blacks. Color editing is all about saturation.
Both PhotoScan and the Google Photos update are rolling out to Android and iOS.
PhotoscanBehind The Scenes with Nat & Lo
For the last several days, I have been using 91 Launcher and 91 Locker as my only launcher and lock screen on my phone. My experience with them has been mixed so let’s take a look at 91 Launcher first. Unlike other big name launchers, 91 Launcher does not try to make everything look like stock Android but instead relies on a theme system that allows you to change the entire look of your phone with one click. Pressing and holding anywhere on the home screen will bring up a menu with several personalization options. There are normal options here for adding apps and widgets to the home screen, but others such as Effects, Quick Beauty, and Personality might not be recognizable at first glance.
Finally, you have a Settings button that I assumed would take you into the settings for the app, but it actually takes you into a phone settings menu but not stock one on your phone. You’ll see options for WiFi, Bluetooth, and Battery but tapping on any of them will take you to the stock page for that setting on your phone. If you are looking for the settings of the app itself, you need to tap on Preferences instead.
My biggest complaint with 91 Launcher can be summed up in a single word – inconsistency. I first noticed this when the Settings button redirected to a separate settings app but clicking on a setting would open the stock option. Why not just have the Settings button redirect to the stock settings app on your phone? Also for most things, tapping the home button on your phone will take you back to the homescreen, but when you are on the Quick Screen Search page or in a folder, you have to hit the back button to return to the homescreen instead. Inside the Preferences menu, some options were labeled with capital letters while others were fully lowercase.
91 Locker is a much simpler app and replaces your lock screen with a more customizable option. In order for the app to work as best as possible, you need to give it access to your notifications so they can be displayed on the lock screen as well as your camera so you can take advantage of the quick launch feature. In the app itself, you can select from a ton of different lock screen themes that you can add your own pictures to. One thing I would like to see is the option to search for a theme as the only options currently are to pick from the latest or trending themes.
Since you have to disable your stock lock screen to get the best experience, you might be worried about losing your security, but 91 Locker has you covered with some passcode options. There are two very reminiscent of iOS’s number pad and Android’s pattern lock, but the others add a bit more style. While the rest are all in the passcode style, instead of the standard grid of numbers you can choose between several shapes and even add pictures to each of the buttons for a more personalized and probably more secure lock screen.
As far as using the lock screen, I had mixed feelings. While the customization features were a welcome addition, I missed the ability to unlock my phone with my fingerprint. Also, the “quick launch” camera option takes considerably longer than I expected. In fact, I don’t think you’re saving much time over just unlocking your phone and opening the app that way. That being said, 91 Locker does exactly what it promises and adds a nice dose of personality to your lock screen, and those looking for that will be pleased with the options this app offers.
Samsung is kicking the rewards program in big style, by announcing it’s also awarding “Instant Win” prizes. The first includes trips to Napa Valley and Las Vegas, so get your Samsung phones out, shoppers!
If you manage to take the number of transactions up to 30 or more, you’ll be granted Gold status and your points will triple with every purchase. To make it to Platinum you need to log in at least 31 monthly transactions, which multiplies your points four times times on every purchase.
Google is probably looking to promote its own Android-related services and products through this account, but for the time being only 6 posts have been made (which make up a collage) welcoming followers to the page.
Samsung includes a few tablets and wearables into its list of promotions, but the discounts aren’t mind blowing.
LG
With the withdrawal of the high-end 
The LG V20 offers a dual camera setup with a main 4K-ready 16MP/8MP combo with laser autofocus, OIS and LED flash plus a 5MP selfie camera. A removable 3,200 mAh battery keeps everything alive onboard and there’s also a fingerprint scanner.
Andromeda is Google’s initiative at unifying Chrome and Android and if word on the street is right, we’re going to see the OS make an appearance on an upcoming Huawei 7-inch tablet. It might even be launched as soon as the end of 2016.
Build
House of Marley went with simplicity when it comes to the controls. There are only four buttons located at the top of the speaker. The small remote control allows all the same options as the physical buttons on the speaker with the addition of dedicated buttons for skipping and rewinding music.
The back of the speaker features a recycled plastic enclosure. There is a bass port on the side to let the large woofers move air in and out allowing for a fuller sound. Red and white stereo auxiliary inputs, and a 3.5 mm auxillary input are located on the back to play music from devices that do not have Bluetooth. The addition of a USB port allows charging of various devices even while the Get Up Stand Up speaker is turned off.
Sound
The location of the speaker also had a huge impact on how it sounded. I played 
I primarily used the speaker in the living room and connected it via stereo audio auxiliary input into my television. I previously had a sound bar connected to the television and this speaker blew it out of the water. Those people who don’t want to invest in an expensive surround sound system can opt out for this less pricier option. It was effortless to connect my phone via Bluetooth and play Spotify from the comfort of the couch. 
For those unfamiliar with the ONE plan, we’ll remind you it’s a pretty controversial plan by T-Mobile. In theory users get unlimited LTE data, talk and text as well as free roaming in Mexico and Canada for $70 (for one line). However there are a few catches. The plan comes with unlimited tethering – at max 3G speeds (according to T-Mobile’s page). If users want LTE tethering they will need to pay more.
As you can see the ONE plan has a few disadvantages, but with the latest @Work All-In bundle, T-Mobile hopes to make it more attractive in the eyes of business users.