The latest Google Messages beta fixes Apple’s annoying iMessage reaction texts on Android

For so long, Apple has had a sizeable lead over Google when it comes to texting, with iMessage featuring a number of exclusive features such as per-message emoji reactions and end-to-end encryption. In response, Google released RCS, bringing the messaging experience on Android much closer to that of Apple. However, one big problem that remained unresolved was cross-platform texting. For every reaction on iMessage, the same message is returned again to the other Android user, prefixed by their reaction, clogging up the chat thread with meaninglessly long messages, just because it’s not an iPhone-to-iPhone conversation. Well, it looks like those days will be over pretty soon. In fact, you could end this peril as soon as now.

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Why Google’s Pixel 4a still has a chance

Not so long ago, Apple caught almost everyone by a surprise with their latest iPhone, the iPhone SE. The formula is very simple: old-school hardware, upgraded internals for cheap. And in an era where a $900 OnePlus 8 Pro is considered a great value for the money, a $400 brand new iPhone looked like the bargain of the century. I, for one, believed that Apple might have stolen Google’s thunder before even releasing their own Pixel 4a. But, as the dust settled, I began to think otherwise. Without further ado, here is where the Google Pixel 4a could give the iPhone SE a good run for its money.

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Google Duplex is rolling out to non-Pixel phones in the US

Google announced Duplex back at I/O 2018. It enables the Google Assistant to call businesses and make reservations or appointments for you. In March, it started widely rolling out to only the Pixel phones and turned out to be pretty reliable too. Now, according to a report from XDA-Developers, Google Duplex is rolling out for iPhones (with the Google Assistant app) and most Android phones in the US.

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Weekend Poll: Would you give up the selfie camera for no notch?

Notches. Some absolutely hate them. Some are okay with it but keep the area blacked out. Some don’t mind them at all. Notches have been essential in getting a bezel-less display—keeping aside the fact that some still have chins—while still housing the front-facing camera, speakers, and sensors. Some are as big as the Pixel 3 XL’s and some are as small as the Essential PH-1’s.

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How to reduce the amount of blue light emitted from your tech devices

Unless you’ve been living under a rock all this time, I’m sure you’ve seen or at least heard of by now the recent study conducted by researches at the University of Toledo in which everyone is freaking out about. Apparently, the blue light people encounter—from laptops, televisions, phones, and even the sun itself—prompts a chemical reaction that kills photoreceptor cells thus damaging your eyesight and slowly making you blind when you reach your 50s or 60s. Fortunately, all is not lost, and there are several things that you can do to reduce the blue light emitted from your tech devices. Biohackers Lab has created a useful guide for techies who want to test blue light filter levels.

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