We are specialists in quality batteries. We have batteries, chargers and accessories for everything you can think of. Low prices, big inventory, expert advice. Find your battery here!
（The number of Americans searching “moving to New Zealand” spiked after Donald Trump claimed the presidency.Alex Brandon / AP）
The number of Americans searching “moving to New Zealand” has spiked following Donald Trump’s presidential victory.
It was around 8.30pm (NZT) when Trump claimed victory, despite still needing three more electoral college votes to cross the 270 threshold.
“Frankly this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There has never been anything like this,” Trump said in his victory speech. “Now it is going to reach a new level of importance because we are going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help and needs help very badly.“ “This will truly be the golden age of America,” he told the cheering supporters a convention centre on his Mar-a-Lago estate.
（Google Trends data shows a spike in people searching “moving to New Zealand”. Google） Around 11.30pm (NZT) the Associated Press called the race for Donald Trump after he secured the swing state of Wisconsin, and with it the 10 electoral college votes needed to cross that threshold.
But it was before this at 9pm, after Trump claimed the win, when Google searches for “moving to New Zealand” spiked in the US.
From sitting at zero searches at noon, it jumped slightly at 1pm and then up to a big spike at 9pm after Trump announced that America was his again.
Google trend data shows that it was people in Washington that were most interested in the search topic, followed by Oregon, Maine, New Mexico and Idaho.
On X (formerly Twitter), people were waiting for the inevitable spike. One person tweeted, “The only election prediction one can make with certainty is that Google searches for ‘how to move to New Zealand‘ are going to skyrocket”. Another said “Google says New Zealand is one of the better options when moving to a new country and all ima say is I’m on my way”.
The Google Gemini app is getting more powers to interact with your Android phone.(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Google’s Gemini Utilities Extension upgrade is being rolled out
It will give Gemini more of the powers of Google Assistant
Gemini Live is still waiting for a similar upgrade
Google Geminiis taking another step closer to becoming the fully-fledged virtual assistant that we all want thanks to a new update rolling out now called “Gemini Utilities Extension” that can control your Android mobile device and apps. While the update is on the way, it could take a few days to reach everybody with an Android device.
The new update means that Gemini will be able to take over tasks like opening websites, apps, and settings that it currently has to farm out to Google Assistant. The Gemini Utilities Extension will work with apps on Android devices only,
The full list of upgrades that the Gemini Utilities Extension contains includes setting timers and alarms, taking a photo or screenshot (even from the lock screen), and controlling media playback.
While the Google Gemini app is a massively powerful upgrade to the original Google Assistant, giving you the ability to search your inbox, produce summaries, and provide helpful advice, Android devices are currently in a strange situation where the Gemini AI still has to revert back to Google Assistant it for some tasks, especially ones that require interaction with an app or Settings. Now, with Gemini Utilities Extension, you’ll no longer need to rely on Google Assistant to perform these tasks.
It’s also important not to confuse Gemini with Gemini Live, which is Google’s voice-controlled version of the AI, that enables you to have much more free-flowing conversations than the standard Gemini voice feature in the Gemini app allows. The improvements ushered in by the new Gemini Utilities Extension will not give the same powers to Gemini Live, which still can’t interact with apps and settings on your device.
There is still no news from Google about when we can expect upgrades to Gemini Live that will give it these capabilities. A note on theGemini Apps help websitesays simply, “We’re gradually releasing updates to Gemini Live, so the latest changes might not be available to you just yet.”
US President-elect Donald Trump has claimed what he calls a “magnificent victory” over incumbent US Vice-President Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, eight years after his first term as president.
As world leaders congratulate Trump on his win, Americans across the country are either mourning or celebrating the results – and some even appear to be considering leaving the country.
“Move to New Zealand” is trending on Google Search, with Google Trends data showing interest from US internet users spiked on election night, November 6.
Most of these searches came from US citizens living in Oregon on the West Coast, followed by those living in Vermont, Hawaii, Colorado and Montana.
The top five most popular related search queries included, “Immigrate to New Zealand”, “New Zealand immigration”, “How can I move to New Zealand”, “How to move to Canada from US”, and “New Zealand citizenship”.
These were followed by searches like “Can an American move to New Zealand” and “Cost of living in New Zealand”.
Google Trends searches are ranked between 0 and 100, with 0 meaning not enough data and 100 indicating peak popularity. At 9.08pm on November 6, search interest in “Move to New Zealand” sat at 100.
Meanwhile, others have taken to social media to share their desire to leave the US following the election results, with one writing, “Any good places you can recommend I move to in NZ? LOL”.
One Kiwi wrote on social media platform X, “For the US homies. Feel free to move to NZ. I got spare beds, a warm place and plenty of help.”
Another shared a link to the New Zealand Immigration website, simply writing, “Just leaving this here for the real ones”, alongside an American flag emoji.
Search interest in moving from the US to Australia has also risen, according to the search engine – with most searches coming from the state of Maine, followed by Washington, Colorado and Oregon.
Searchers queried, “Is it hard to move to Australia”, “How to immigrate to Australia”, and “Moving to Australia from USA”.
It’s reminiscent of the 2020 US election, when many Americans took to Google following the first “chaotic” debate between then-candidate Joe Biden and Trump.
The entry-level Pixel 8 might not get the same attention that the Pixel 8 Pro does, but due to its low price and impressive specs, that really needs to change.
key takeaways
ThePixel 8offers a flagship-level experience with Google’s latest AI and machine learning features, all for under $700. Right now.
With fast performance, amazing cameras, and Google’s Actua display, it’s one of the best smartphone deals available.
Compared to similarly priced phones, like the Nothing Phone 2, the Pixel 8 is a far better value.
The Google Pixel 8 Promight be getting all the attention nowadays (especially since it’s the first handset to gain access toGoogle’s new Gemini AI model), but the standard Pixel 8 might be the real MVP of Google’s lineup this year.
A big reason why this is such a compelling option is the Tensor G3 chip, Google’s latest in-house processor that powers all of the Pixel 8’sAI and machine learning features. It’s not just a solid Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 alternative but a monumental reason why the Pixel 8 is such a great phone.
The chip powers all the Google Pixel-ness of the Pixel 8, from transcribing voices in the Recorder app to letting you edit photos to your heart’s content with the AI-powered Magic Editor. The Google Assistant also takes advantage of the G3 to process your voice quicker and even summarize web pages for quickly consuming information. Alongside powering Google’s HDR pipeline for photography, ensuring Android 14 is slick and smooth, the G3 is one of the most capable smartphone chips on the market. And when paired with 8GB of RAM, you’ll never have a slow day.
The display is another huge reason to get this phone. The Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch Actua display is a bit smaller than the screen on the Pixel 7, but that makes it easier to hold in one hand. It’s also stunning to look at; with a Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,000 nits of peak brightness, it’s one of the brightest and clearest displays on the market. Plus, it’s OLED, so colors are vibrant, and inky blacks are plentiful.
Look beyond the display, and you’ll find a good-looking phone crafted out of aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus. Featuring Google’s signature camera bar on the back and thin bezels around the display, the Pixel 8 is a stunner among other sub-$700 phones. It’s also IP68-certified for dust and water resistance, and it comes in three nice finishes: Obsidian (black), Hazel (kinda green), and Rose (more of a golden peach, in my opinion).
When it comes to Pixel phones, there are two areas you have to talk about: cameras and software.
On the camera front, Google knocked it out of the park. The rear 50MP main shooter and 12MP ultra-wide are both excellent performers in broad daylight and at night. The cameras easily match or outpace what you’d get with an iPhone 15 Pro or Galaxy S23 Ultra in terms of clarity, detail, and sharpness, while colors are often far more accurate than they ever have been on a Pixel phone.
You also get all of the camera chops that the Pixel name carries like astrophotography, Super ResZoom, dual exposure controls, and Ultra HDR. That’s on top of other features like Best Take and Magic Editor that make these cameras the smartest you’ll find. Plus, video quality has been vastly improved over previous Pixels — it’s flat-out comparable to the iPhone.
On the software side, Google’s Pixel experience atop Android 14 remains my favorite way to interact with Android. It’s clean and minimal and gives you a warm, inviting feeling that no other Android skin can mimic. You get all the features of Android 14, like customizable lock screens, better security, larger fonts, and improved notifications, along with all of the Pixel features you could ask for, such as Call Screen, Now Playing, Direct My Call, AI-generated wallpapers, and –of course –the Pixel Launcher.
The Pixel 8 can also last all day on a charge thanks to the 4,575 mAh cell inside. With my medium to heavy usage, I typically end days with 30-40 percent in the tank, which means anyone using the phone a bit less could stretch it out to last a day and a half. Plus, you get 30W fast charging to juice back up as well as Qi wireless charging.
buying advice
You’re not going to find a much better value than the Pixel 8. From the gorgeous display and design to the speedy performance and amazing cameras, Google’s standard flagship phone stands on its own with an impeccable balance of high-end features for a lower price than other flagships.
Also: Google Pixel 9, Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold: Specs, features, and everything else we know so far
The closest competition happens to be theGalaxy S23 FEandNothing Phone (2), two devices that are perfectly worthy of a spot in your pocket but don’t offer the same value as the Pixel 8. Google’s phone is a proper flagship with seven years of software support, the latest AI features, and the company’s latest camera tricks. The Phone (2) and S23 FE are high-end mid-rangers that balance specs and price well but don’t feel as high-end as the Pixel does.
