Michael L Hicks
Michael spent years freelancing on every tech topic under the sun before settling down on the real exciting stuff: virtual reality, fitness wearables, gaming, and how tech intersects with our world. He's a semi-reformed Apple-to-Android user who loves running, D&D, and Star Wars. Find him on Twitter at @Michael_L_Hicks.
Latest articles by Michael L Hicks
Early Black Friday smartwatch deals — Samsung, Fitbit, Garmin, Apple, and more
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Black Friday Black Friday is weeks away, but smartwatches are getting discounts now! Check out the best active deals with this guide.
Instead of buying a watch for Black Friday, stock up on watch bands instead
By Michael L Hicks published
Affordable face lift You can 'save hundreds' on a brand new watch, or you can give your current watch a style or comfort upgrade for cheap.
Leaked Galaxy Fit 3 renders show a larger display to challenge the Fitbit Charge 6
By Michael L Hicks published
Fitness refocus The wider display will make the Fit 3 more convenient to navigate, but also less comfortably light. Its success will depend more on software upgrades than hardware upgrades, however.
Spotify takes the fight to Audible with 200,000 'free' audiobooks, but there's a catch
By Michael L Hicks published
Free until it isn't Spotify is adding hundreds of thousands of audiobooks for Premium subscribers, but you won't be able to listen to them all at once.
Garmin GPSMAP 67i review: I'm not smart enough for this handheld GPS
By Michael L Hicks published
Asking for directions This handheld mapping tool comes built in with dual-frequency GPS and satellite functionality, so you never get lost and you can send an SOS or message even when there's no cellular signal.
Uninstalling Android apps on other devices is about to become a lot easier
By Michael L Hicks published
App management Need to clear out some storage space or remove an app from your phone, tablet, watch, and Chromebook at once? It's about to become a lot easier.
The Pixel Watch 3 could ditch its crown for this Galaxy Watch trick
By Michael L Hicks published
But why? Do you want Google to follow in Samsung's footsteps and use a touch bezel instead of a crown? Because a new patent suggests they could go that route.
Best Link Cable alternatives for Meta Quest in 2023
By Michael L Hicks, Nicholas Sutrich last updated
No weak link Aside from the useful but occasionally buggy Air Link, you can find other options than Meta's official Link Cable.
Here's how Fitbit can make the Charge 7 a better fitness tracker for runners
By Michael L Hicks published
Vital upgrades From better safety features to improved training recommendations, here's where Fitbit needs to evolve before its next fitness tracker.
Meta Quest 3: Everything you need to know
By Michael L Hicks last updated
MR + VR The Meta Quest 3 has been officially announced and we've assembled everything we know about the next-generation VR headset from Meta in one place.
Samsung has Apple's 'pathbreaking' blood pressure tech already, but it may not matter
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Putting pressure on Samsung Samsung has had blood pressure detection since the Galaxy Watch 4; Apple's next watch could have similar tech, but might actually bring it to U.S. users.
Google Pixel Watch 2: Specs, new Fitbit tools, and everything you need to know
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Fitbit + Wear OS With a new Snapdragon processor, improved battery life, four new or improved health sensors, and faster charging, the Pixel Watch 2 is ready to compete with the Galaxy Watch 6.
Google Pixel 8: Everything you need to know
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Pixel power! The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro ups the ante in many surprising ways, improving the hardware, software, and adding in tons of new AI-powered experiences that make the phone feel incredibly unique.
Best smartwatch for fitness 2023
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Time to get fit There are fitness bands — and then there are smartwatches. But some smartwatches can pull double duty in the fitness space, too. These are the best ones.
The Garmin Venu 3's best insights are making their way to your favorite Forerunners
By Michael L Hicks published
Nap time The Garmin Forerunner 255, 265, 955, and 965 are all receiving several useful tricks in this beta update, with the public build in the wings.
Fitbit Charge 6 specs and features: Everything you need to know
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Charge toward fitness Two years after the Charge 5, the Charge 6 mostly keeps the same design but adds new Google apps, a button, and Bluetooth pairing.
This is the one Garmin watch deal I'd buy before Black Friday
By Michael L Hicks published
Deals Most of the latest Garmin watches won't get major Black Friday deals, so there's no need to wait if you're looking for a discount now.
Apple and Samsung lost market share to a phone brand you've never heard of
By Michael L Hicks published
Q3 2023 Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, and OPPO still claim the top four spots, but Transsion has leaped past Huawei and vivo for the fifth spot in global phone sales.
Fitbit Charge 6 review: Familiar hardware, Googleified
By Michael L Hicks published
A Google/Fitbit chimera Put a Charge 5 and Charge 6 side-by-side, and you couldn't tell them apart. It's all about the Google-branded smarts beneath the surface.
Best Bluetooth adapters for PS5 2023: Connect any wireless headphones
By Michael L Hicks last updated
Adapted audio If you want to connect your Bluetooth headphones to the PS5 without using the DualSense controller's 3.5mm port, you'll need a PS5 Bluetooth adapter.
Will wireless Bluetooth headphones work on Quest 3?
By Michael L Hicks published
Latency is a problem Issues with latency and performance mean you shouldn't use Bluetooth headphones wirelessly, but there are alternative methods to consider.
Maybe fitness bands don't need built-in GPS after all
By Michael L Hicks published
Sunday Runday The Fitbit Charge 6's GPS issues aren't as bad as I initially feared, but they're enough to make me wonder why Fitbit and Google didn't fix the problem.
VR news of the week: SteamVR 2.0, hidden Quest 3 tricks, and Steph Curry in XR
By Michael L Hicks published
All of the VR, AR, and XR news for the week of October 22nd that we weren't able to fully cover.