Phone Review: 'Google Pixel 10 Pro'

 

The Google Pixel 10 Pro isn't just a smartphone upgrade; it's the realization of a future promised by artificial intelligence. Powered by the revolutionary Tensor G5 chip, this device redefines what a pocket companion can do, seamlessly integrating the digital and physical worlds with unprecedented predictive power and processing speed. This is, without a doubt, the most intelligent and best-connected device Google has ever engineered.

The star of the show is the suite of new Gen-AI features baked deep into the operating system. Gone are the days of simple search or command-based assistance. The Pixel 10 Pro’s new “Proactive Assistant” anticipates your needs before you even articulate them. For instance, when composing a long email, the AI doesn’t just suggest the next word; it drafts entire, contextually relevant paragraphs based on your recent meeting notes and calendar schedule, offering three distinct tonal options for the final output. In photography, the evolution of Magic Editor is astounding. It’s no longer just about fixing mistakes; the Generative Composition feature allows users to dynamically alter lighting, weather conditions, and even swap entire backdrops with photorealistic fidelity, all processed instantly on-device thanks to the G5's dedicated machine learning core.

The camera system, already a leader, gains an enhanced "Depth Capture" mode, using AI to compute hyper-accurate distance and material data, resulting in portrait mode effects that are indistinguishable from professional DSLR shots. The live translation capabilities are also dramatically improved, now offering real-time, non-intrusive voice transcription during international video calls, making global communication genuinely effortless.

Beyond the raw processing power, connectivity is paramount, and the Pixel 10 Pro excels when paired with T-Mobile. Thanks to optimizations in the Tensor G5's modem and Google's deep carrier partnerships, the phone takes full advantage of T-Mobile’s expanded 5G network footprint. We tested speeds across urban centers and suburban sprawl, consistently achieving peak performance on T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity (UC) network. Crucially, call quality is noticeably superior; the use of advanced Voice over New Radio (VoNR) technology results in crystal-clear, lag-free voice calls, even in highly congested areas where older phones struggled. The seamless handoff between Wi-Fi and the T-Mobile network (a feature affectionately known as "Network Nirvana") means streaming never stutters, and downloads finish in the blink of an eye, solidifying the Pixel 10 Pro as the benchmark for a connected mobile experience.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is more than an incremental update; it’s a fully realized AI powerhouse. For the user who demands bleeding-edge intelligence and the fastest, most reliable connection that T-Mobile provides, this phone is the undisputed champion of the premium smartphone market.

T-Mobile provided device for review.

Broadway in Tucson Review: 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'

 

The 2001 "Moulin Rouge" was such a dizzying experience that it still seems ahead of its time, nearly a quarter century after release. 

The stage musical adaptation elevates the source material, updating several song and dance numbers with fare released over the past couple decades, injecting new life into the audio-visual feast of a risque romantic tragedy. Credit John Logan's book for overwhelming the shortcomings of the messy, melodramatic story with sheer energy and poetic virtuosity. The winner of the 2019 Tony for Best Musical now can-cans its way across the country, leaving audiences awestruck and spellbound.

The juxtaposition of modern music embedded in a period piece echoes the tone of "& Juliet," which Broadway in Tucson brought in last month, and even shares some songs. "Moulin Rouge" aims for a more solemn and profound tone. While "& Juliet" took a somewhat mocking tone toward its musical selections, "Moulin Rouge" embraces even the corniest lines with refreshing new takes that make them seem prophetic.

Arianna Rosario rises to the occasion in the title role as Satine, the weary diva who shoulders the burden of attempting to save the sinking dreams of her bohemian colleagues. Belting out tunes with aplomb, and strutting silk-smooth moves with the assurance of a queen bee, she owns the spotlight from the moment she is first introduced on a swing, crooning "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend."

Her equal is co-star Jay Armstrong Johnson, who takes on the quixotic quest to win Satine's heart through sheer force of will, greased along by his vision for setting a venue-saving stage musical starring Satine. His sneaky athleticism and booming voice make him an ample match for Satine's sultry appeal. Lurking in the background is the Duke of Monroth (Andrew Brewer), the villain who all but twirls his moustache as he seeks to take over the Moulin Rouge and render Satine a piece of property. 

Bobby Daye high-steps along as the energetic show master, Harold Zidler, providing a self-important, P.T. Barnum-style chorus to the proceedings.

"Moulin Rouge" wins hearts with boisterous, intricately choreographed numbers that are heavy on joyously gratuitous dance breaks. The sheer energy and skill on display is mesmerizing, and the coordination underscores a chemistry necessary to make such a show function. 

The backgrounds and stagecraft are just as inspired and gorgeous, seamlessly mixing projection and practical set pieces to whisk the cast along through various Parisian settings. It's hard not to get lost in the star-studded skies overlooking the Eiffel Tower as Satine and Christian dance their doomed tango.

"Moulin Rouge" is not only for fans of the film, but those who felt it fell short and were yearning for something more. My take is that the movie was just a dress rehearsal for this grand, sweeping event. 

"Moulin Rouge! The Musical" plays through Dec. 7. Buy tickets here.