Android Central RSS Feed

Samsung starts the Samsung Galaxy S20 off with 128GB of memory. Still, if you like to download movies for trips like me or are just an absolute shutterbug that needs to capture literally every moment of your or your kid's life, you'll probably want to invest in a microSD card. It's the perfect thing to expand and offload your media so that the internal memory can be used for apps and those super-duper slow-mos. Here are some of the best Galaxy S20 SD cards you can buy right now.Best for appsLexar Professional 1066x 256GB microSDXCStaff PickLexar's Professional 1066x 256GB microSD card supports speedy 160MB/s read speeds and 120MB/s write speeds and it's upgraded from previous models for storing and running apps directly on the card.$38 at Amazon $38 at B&H $60 at Newegg4K-readyPNY 128GB Elite-X Class 10 U3 V30 microSDPNY's card is rated V30, which is a fancy way of saying it supports up to 30MB/s write speeds for recording video. It also has an A1 certificatio...

The chip promises best-in-class performance and power efficiency.What you need to knowMediaTek has announced a new Kompanio chipset designed for premium Chromebooks.The chipset is built on a 6nm process and uses a five-core ARM-Mali G57 GPU.Acer's Chromebook Spin 513 is the first device to feature the new chip.MediaTek has quietly announced a new Kompanio series chipset for premium Chromebooks. The Kompanio 1380 isn't vastly different from the Kompanio 1300T that the company introduced last year, but lacks 5G connectivity.The "flagship-grade" chipset is built on TSMC's 6nm process and comes with an octa-core CPU. It uses four high-performance Cortex-A78 cores and four efficiency-focused Cortex-A55 cores to handle background tasks.Like MediaTek's Kompanio 1200, the new 1380 chipset features a five-core Mali-G57 GPU for "vivid visuals and great experiences." On the connectivity front, the Kompanio 1380 supports Bluetooth 5 and Wi-Fi 6 standards.The Kompanio 1380 also in...

Pluto TV is one of the easiest ways to watch live TV right now. Operated by ViacomCBS Streaming, the free live-stream television service offers more than 250 ad-supported, curated live channels. Pluto TV also makes it easy to find your favorite programs by grouping together similar content into categories such as Movies, Entertainment, News + Opinions, Reality, and Crime. And the best part? You don't have to create an account! Here's what you need to do to watch Pluto TV from anywhere.How to watch Pluto TVIf you're planning to access Pluto TV on a smart TV or via a streaming device, all you need to do is download the Pluto TV app. Here's how to download the Pluto TV app if you're using an Amazon Fire TV Stick:From your home page, scroll to the right and select Find. Under that label, select Search, and type in Pluto TV. Select Pluto TV from the list of options.Click the Get or Download option. It's worth pointing out that downloading the Pluto TV app on Roku device...

Of all the phones that came out in 2021, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was my favorite. It took the Z Fold 2's design and added water-resistance, S Pen support, better built-in screen protectors, and a better outer display with a higher refresh rate. But foldables are still a pretty new concept and, as such, there are plenty of things to improve.Surprisingly, most of the things I want to see improved from the Galaxy Z Fold 3 are not hardware-related changes — although there are still a few improvements I'd love to see. Mostly, though, it's the software that I want to see improved and refined. Android 12L was made with foldables in mind and I expect those improvements to carry on to foldables that debut in 2022, like the Galaxy Z Fold 4.Flattening the creaseThere's little doubt that most Galaxy Fold users — no matter if that's Galaxy Fold 1, 2, or 3 — would agree that they could go without the giant crease in the middle of their smartphone's screen. I said the same thing o...

Less than a month until Aloy's massive new adventure.What you need to knowHorizon Forbidden West has gone gold for PS5 and PS4.This means development of the game for launch has officially finished and physical copies can start to be printed.Horizon Forbidden West is slated to launch on Feb. 18, 2022.Horizon Forbidden West has gone gold, Guerrilla Games shared via PlayStation Blog on Thursday. Going gold is a game development phrase meaning that the development phase is finished. Physical copies can now be printed and the content in digital copies is finalized, though of course there could still be a day one patch for something if the team deems it necessary.Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, noted on Twitter that it had been an "extremely challenging" development cycle but that he was proud of the team at Guerrilla Games, adding that "...the depth, scope and sheer quality of what they have achieved has blown me away."Horizon Forbidden West is slated to launch on...

Uplift any space with an incandescent glow for an irresistible price.Smart lights come in dramatically different shapes and sizes today. ECOLOR aims to bring smart lighting to the budget segment while keeping compromises on the down-low. You get cute little portable lamps in the shape of eggs and crescent-shaped ambient lights from the brand. When it comes to the form factor, the sky's the limit as long as you keep your mind open. If you're looking to add an ethereal glow to your living room fittings or car interior though, smart light strips are your best bet.Apart from strangely shaped ambient lights, ECOLOR also offers assorted smart LED light strips. This review will take a look at the ECOLOR Rainbow LED Strip Lights, ECOLOR Smart LED Strip Lights, and ECOLOR Interior Car Lights. While they share the same heart and soul, these three products have a few key differences here and there. Happily, they do have one enticing feature in common: inexpensiveness.ECOLOR Smart Light ...

They're an easy sell if you're active and want to keep your ears free.It's not unfair to suggest bone conduction headphones are an acquired taste. By and large, most want to cover their ears to hear the tunes they want, but for those times where you may want to free them, bone conduction headphones are one way to do it.Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) usually steps up as one of the best options, and that's what the OpenRun Pro clearly turn out to be. They're presented as more active in focus, but that's not really necessary to enjoy them for what they can do.Shokz OpenRun Pro review:Price and availabilityWhat's good What's not goodThe competitionShould you buy?At a glanceShokz OpenRun Pro review Bottom line: The OpenRun Pro continue to show why Shokz is the premier brand for bone conduction headphones by doing th...

Unlike the Apple Watch, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 allows you to use third-party watch faces and even third-party watch face stores such as Facer and WatchMaker. You can change your watch face two ways: directly on the watch, or through the companion app on your phone. I highly recommend customizing through your phone whenever possible as it takes fewer swipes, scrolling, and taps to get things how you want them. Some watch face packs from Google Play you'll have to edit from the watch, but most you can edit from your phone. Either way, it means you can get almost any watch face design you want on your wrist.How to set a new watch face with Complications from your phoneOpen the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.Tap Watch faces.Tap Show all.Tap the watch face you want to set.Tap the pencil icon in the watch face's icon.For third-party watch face apps like Facer and WatchFace, this is when you'll need to head to that app on your phone. For Samsung's watch faces, you'll ha...

Even if today is the first time you've touched YouTube Music, it has years of history on you.Even if you've never used the YouTube Music app or shiny new desktop site before, chances are your profile is already chock-full of recommendations. YouTube Music shares a library and a history with the main YouTube app, and so that means that every video that you've searched for or watched with your account is being used to calculate what music you'd like to listen to.Unfortunately, not everything in our YouTube history is something we want affecting our recommendations or Your Supermix — especially those Disney songs your niece demanded to sing along to while you were babysitting. Here's how to clear out the clutter and improve your YouTube Music offerings.Regularly rate recommendations Hit that thumbs up to the right of the song title.While you're listening to any radio station, don't just skip past songs you don't like; thumb them down so they leave and don't come back. If you...

LG benefited from an increase in demand for OLED and large-screen TVs in several markets in Q4 2021.What you need to knowLG Electronics has posted its 2021 financial results.The company achieved its highest full-year revenue in 2021, thanks to strong demand for home appliances and OLED TVs.LG's Q4 revenue increased 20.7% YoY, although operating profit was down 21.4%.LG, which quit the smartphone business last year, has announced that it achieved its highest annual revenue in 2021, with full-year sales reaching KRW 74.72 trillion (about $63.16 billion). That's an increase of 28.7% over 2020. LG has attributed its strong performance to robust sales of OLED TVs and premium home appliances.LG also witnessed record sales in the fourth quarter of the year, with consolidated revenue rising 20.7% over the same period last year to KRW 21.01 trillion (about $17.76 billion). Operating profit, however, declined 21.4% over Q4 2020. LG says this was due to higher raw material global lo...

Samsung expects the Galaxy S22 series to help it secure strong profitability during the first quarter of 2022.What you need to knowSamsung has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2021.The company posted KRW 76.57 trillion (about $63.6 billion) in revenue and KRW 13.87 trillion (about $11.5 billion) in operating profit during the quarter. The record quarterly revenue was driven by strong sales of the company's premium smartphones, TVs, and home appliances. Samsung Electronics on January 27 reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2021. The company posted KRW 76.57 trillion (about $63.6 billion) in consolidated revenue, setting a new quarterly record. Its quarterly profit record also reached a four-year high.As for the full year, Samsung reported KRW 279.6 trillion (about $232.4 billion) in revenue and KRW 51.63 trillion (about $42.9 billion) in operating profit. Samsung attributes the strong growth in revenue and operating profit to...

"Meta Quest" is just so fetch.What you need to knowMeta changes the social media accounts of its VR brand to Meta Quest.The change follows Meta's company rebrand that was announced in late 2021.No one liked it then, no one likes it now.Facebook, or Meta, as it now likes to be called, is going through with the rebranding of its popular Oculus Quest 2 VR headset, changing the beloved name to "Meta Quest."A cursory glance at all of the Quest's renamed social media accounts will show the same meme highlighting the decision between Oculus and Meta Quest. Probably because Meta finds it amusing to poke fun at our emotions and lighten the mood in an attempt to get us to go along with the name change. Well, Meta was wrong.New Name. Same Mission. pic.twitter.com/USJafAPEdW— Meta Quest (@MetaQuestVR) January 26, 2022The response on social media has shown that fans are anything but amused, with people criticizing the move as a betrayal of the brand, with some asking why the c...

The massive outage forced gamers off the platform.What you need to knowDiscord was down for many users.The outage started around noon PT and lasted for a couple of hours.Discord says that it has addressed the issue, and users should be able to log back in.Discord users were left in the cold on Wednesday when one of the best messaging apps suddenly became unusable. It turns out a massive outage had kept many users from logging in.The outage began sometime before noon Pacific time. Since then, Discord kept users abreast of any updates on Twitter and its status page, saying earlier that it identified and was working to fix the problems.As of 2:19 p.m. PT, an update was posted to Twitter informing users that the chat app should be back up and users should be able to log in.Hey @ everyone connection should be fully restored now! Hope you touched a little grass while we were out. Thx for the patience. https://t.co/smYJJdJm3e pic.twitter.com/fx35pnU3eW— Discord (@discord) ...

It's like CES all over again.A health checkpoint at Mobile World Congress 2022Update, Jan 26 (8:30 p.m. ET): Corrected claim that Lenovo owns TCL; it in fact owns Motorola. We regret the error.What you need to knowLenovo has announced it will no longer have an in-person booth at Mobile World Congress 2022.Lenovo will have a virtual booth, whereas Sony has said it will skip MWC 2022 entirely.Techradar received confirmation that Huawei, OPPO, and Xiaomi still intend to have in-person booths in Barcelona next month.Other OEMs like Samsung, HMD Global/Nokia, and ASUS are slated to attend as well.Many popular tech brands abandoned in-person CES 2022 at the last minute due to the Omicron surge, including Google, Meta, and Twitter. Now, with not much changed from a pandemic perspective, and MWC 2022 set to arrive in about a month, mobile brands have to decide whether or not to go virtual — or skip the event entirely.MWC UPDATE: Due to the ongoing trends surrounding COVID, L...

Better late than never.What you need to knowNetflix has updated its list of HD and HDR-supported smartphones.Google's 2021 lineup has been added to both lists, including the Pixel 5a and Pixel 6 series.HD streaming will also depend on your subscription and carrier plan.Every so often, Netflix updates its list of phones that support HD and HDR streaming on the platform. The latest additions to Netflix's higher-quality viewing: The Google Pixel 5a and the Pixel 6 series.The change was spotted on the Netflix support page (via 9to5Google). That means owners of Google's 2021 smartphone lineup will be able to binge "Arcane" in higher resolution. Of course, that also depends on your Netflix plan.Currently, the Basic plan does not include HD streaming, which might sound a bit odd in 2022. You'll need to upgrade to the Standard plan if you want HD streaming or the Premium plan if you want to step it up to Ultra HD.Of course, it doesn't help that Netflix recently jacked up the ...

Best answer: No, PlayStation VR2 will not be wireless. It will, however, feature a single cord and a "simpler" connection to the PS5.PS VR2: Not ready to cut the cord ... yetWhen it launches on the PS5, the PlayStation VR2 will not be wireless. Sony revealed this somewhat disappointing news when it officially announced the PS VR2. While many gamers were hoping that Sony would follow Facebook's lead in delivering a totally wireless VR solution, it seems that the technology isn't ready for wireless VR from a PlayStation console at this time.In many ways, Sony is following Facebook's lead on more powerful VR experiences by announcing that a single-cable solution will be employed with the PS VR2 on PS5. Facebook's official solution for playing PC VR games on the Oculus Quest 2 is via an Oculus Link cable, a single 15-foot-long USB Type-C cable. Since the PS5 has USB Type-C ports — the same port used on PC to link up VR headsets — Sony will be ditching the processing box from th...

PlayStation VR is becoming an increasingly larger platform, especially with the upcoming PS5 VR release. But no matter where you play your VR games, whether on a PS4 or PS5, you're in for an incredible experience. With PlayStation unleashing new games almost every month, it's easy to get overwhelmed by what's out there. Here are some of the unreleased VR games slated to hit PSVR in the coming months. We look forward to adding more upcoming PlayStation VR games to this list as they become available. For now, we hope some of our favorite picks on this list catch your eye.Jump to:StrideZenithWandererStrideEver wonder what Mirror's Edge would look like in virtual reality? Well, this is the closest thing you might get. Since you probably can't do parkour in real life, do it in the safety of VR with Stride. It's not exclusively about parkour either since you'll have to fight enemies on rooftops of the metropolis you're turning into a jungle gym. Stride will feature an A...

More Windows 11 users get to play with Android apps.What you need to knowWindows 11 Insiders can now access Android apps on the Release Preview Channel.Android apps are accessible via the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11.Microsoft is launching a public preview of Android apps on Windows 11 in February.Microsoft is taking another step towards making Android apps on Windows 11 a thing. On Wednesday, the company announced in a blog post that Android apps are now available for Windows Insiders on the Release Preview Channel.This isn't the first time that Android apps have been available on Windows 11, although previously it was limited to Insiders on the Beta Channel and later the Dev Channel. Now, more users can get in on the action, which is good news for anyone not brave enough to dive into the deep end of the Insider pool that is the Dev Channel.The Release Preview Channel is available for Insiders that want to get a taste of the latest Windows features and builds right be...

If you recently got your hands on the Garmin Venu 2, you know this smartwatch is both brains and beauty. You'll want to protect it from unwanted damage, so you'll need to find the best Garmin Venu 2 and 2S screen protectors for your watch. It's important to remember that this wearable now comes in three sizes. The standard Venu 2 is 45mm, and the smaller Venu 2S is 40mm. The latest model, the Venu 2 Plus, falls right in the middle at 43mm. We've rounded up some of the best Garmin Venu 2 and 2S screen protectors for you to pick from.Perfectly transparentSupershieldz Garmin Venu 2S and 2S Screen Protector (3-pack)Staff PickIf you know a thing or two about screen protectors, you know Supershieldz is one of the most reputable names on the market. So it should come as no surprise that it's also the best Garmin Venu 2 and 2S screen protector you can buy. You get high-quality TPU film for easy installation with no residue. You also get real touch sensitivity and high-definition ...

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are the first Pixels to go above the basic 18W Power Delivery for wired charging, but there's been some controversy over how many watts it actually can pull down. You don't need Google's 30W charge, but here are the best Pixel 6 chargers that will also charge all the other gear in your life.Compact and powerfulAnker Nano II 45W Fast ChargerStaff PickAnker's 45W charger has everything your Pixel 6 needs except a cable. Thanks to PPS support, this 1.4-inch cube is a hefty little charger ready to fast charge your laptop, your tablet, or your Pixel 6.$40 at Amazon $40 at Best Buy $40 at WalmartCharge more at onceAukey Omnia Mix3 90W 3-Port PD ChargerWant to fast-charge your Pixel 6 Pro and your laptop at the same time? Not a problem for the Omnia Mix3; when both USB-C ports are used, your laptop can charge up to 60W while your Pixel can pull down up to 30W.$50 at AukeyGalaxy-geared, Pixel perfectSamsung 25W Travel AdapterWh...

Or is the S Pen trade-off enough?Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S22 series on February 9, and while the standard and Plus models aren't expected to change too much, the S22 Ultra may see the most drastic change of the S series. However, not looking beyond the inclusion of the S Pen, Samsung is expected to make a rather curious change to the configuration of the S22 Ultra.Rumors and leaks have pointed to Samsung lowering the base RAM of the Galaxy S22 Ultra to 8GB, down from 12GB on the S21 Ultra. RAM would top out at 12GB instead of 16GB. Yet, rumors indicate that the phone will arrive with the same launch price as its predecessor.We want to know if our readers care if Samsung lowers the base RAM on its upcoming premium flagship.Do you care if Samsung lowers the RAM on the Galaxy S22 Ultra?One might argue that your Android phone doesn't need 12GB or 16GB of RAM and that 8GB should be just fine for most people. Especially when you take into account optimizations i...

It's not quite "retina-level" yet, but it's much closer than before.What you need to knowIn its weekly report, Display Supply Chain Consultants said that the PS VR2's display will sport greater than 800 pixels-per-inch density per eye.This comes as a massive improvement over the original, which was lower than 200 PPI per eye.Sony will continue using an RGB stripe OLED panel, which is also important to display density and quality.The PS VR2 is expected to launch later in 2022 but has no confirmed release date.Update January 26: We've added more information on PPI vs PPD.The PlayStation VR2 is set to have the most pixel-dense display of any modern VR headset, according to a report by Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC). In its weekly industry supply chain report, CEO of DSCC, Ross Young, says that it won't reveal the display provider for Sony's upcoming next-generation PS VR2 but that the display itself features a greater than 800 PPI (pixels per inch) display density ...

Angry Birds Journey brings contemporary mobile design philosophies to the franchise in the worst ways.As a kid, I remember Angry Birds' infamous Mighty Eagle microtransaction was a bragging right on the playground because it almost always guaranteed a perfect score on each level. Players could pay a small fee to summon this powerful bird, which flew faster and hit harder than any other bird in the game before bombing the level with sardines, essentially wiping it clean. It was a welcome crutch for relatively inexperienced players faced with a tricky level.The Mighty Eagle set a precedent for a lot of mobile games, but never invaded a player's experience. If my classmates and I were playing Angry Birds Journey, the new mobile title that came out last week, however, I'm pretty sure microtransactions worse than the Mighty Eagle would have prevented us from playing much beyond the first handful of levels.The mobile game market has evolved since the first Angry Birds game. Microtran...

Great coverage, prices, and features for less.Tello Mobile has some of the best wireless prices with a ton of flexibility, but it probably isn't the first carrier that comes to mind when shopping for unlimited data. Wireless providers are a dime-a-dozen these days, especially MVNOs that piggyback off larger networks and deliver their same coverage for less money each month.Tello's simple plan structure paired with the speed and coverage of T-Mobile's network with 5G makes it one of the best cell phone plans for light users. With so much competition focusing on huge data amounts, it's interesting to see how it stacks up against large plans, especially those from brands like Mint Mobile and Visible. If you're looking for an easy way to save some money on phone service, Tello might be the perfect fit for you.Tello review:PlansCoverageData speedPhone selectionCompetitionShould you join?Changelog, January 2022Great choiceTello Mobile ...

As more and more work-related meetings are held virtually, Zoom has become a helpful tool for many people. But not every room in your home comes with the best lighting, which means you need a nice set-up so your colleagues can see you clearly and clients can connect with you visually as you chat. Lighting is a huge part of that equation offering softer color temperatures and an overall better experience. So for those looking for the best webcam lighting, here are some of our favorite options.Everything you needLume Cube Video Conference Lighting KitStaff PickGet everything you'll need in this kit, including light with adjustable brightness, adjustable color temperature from warm orange to cool white, a built-in frosted lens, and a white diffuser. Use the suction cup computer mount to secure it to your laptop or desktop monitor. The battery lasts for hours or plugs into the computer's USB port for continuous lighting.$70 at Amazon$80 at Best BuyTravel-friendlyFDKOBE V...

Probably not.Google has abandoned its controversial FLoC (Federated Learning of Cohorts) plans and now has a new idea that's supposed to bolster our privacy while on the web: Topics.It's the next iteration of Google Chrome's Privacy Sandbox, and if we take the announcement at face value it is a much better option than the current wild-west of third-party tracking cookies that also addresses some of the concerns over the FLoC method that Google has trialed over the past year.Of course, nobody is taking any of it at face value and nobody should.What is the new Topics API?After watching the video and reading through the technical notes about Topics, it sounds pretty simple.A list of things you like is kept by your web browser that an advertiser can query so it knows what ads you're more apt to click on. We'll have some control over the list and can delete a topic, and the list itself only lives for a limited time before it gets rebuilt. In theory, this makes it harder fo...

The Nord 2T could be OnePlus' first mid-range phone to support 80W wired charging.What you need to knowA new leak has shed light on the specs sheet of OnePlus' next mid-range phone.The upcoming OnePlus Nord 2T is tipped to be powered by MediaTek's unannounced Dimensity 1300 SoC.OnePlus could unveil the phone sometime next month. OnePlus is soon rumored to expand its Nord lineup of value-focused phones with at least two new additions. If a new report from Digit is to be believed, the upcoming Nord 2T may not be a massive upgrade over last year's Nord 2.Per the report, the upcoming Nord 2T will be powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 1300 chipset. While the chipset is yet to be officially announced, rumors suggest it could bring significant performance improvements over the Dimensity 1200 chipset that powered some of the best budget Android phones launched last year.Besides a faster chipset, the phone is also tipped to offer faster charging speeds than the Nord 2. The Nord 2T ...

Both games still shine bright, but this remaster turns in fairly minimum effort.Naughty Dog is one of the biggest names from PlayStation Studios, building its brand on blockbuster titles like the Uncharted franchise. With Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, two of those games, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which launched in 2016 and 2017, repsectively, are being bundled together with a handful of PS5 specific-improvements.Uncharted 4 follows the final adventure of treasure hunter Nathan Drake, who is experiencing married life before dealing with the appearance of his long-lost brother, Sam. Drake subsequently finds himself resuming a hunt for lost pirate treasure. Meanwhile, The Lost Legacy is a spinoff title, following Nathan's part-time compatriot, Chloe Fraser, as she seeks an ancient artifact called the Tusk of Ganesh.Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a comfy, nostalgic trip with two games that hold up well. Overall, this PS5 versi...

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is here with outstanding camera upgrades, instant dictation/translation thanks to Google Tensor, and a curved 6.7-inch screen with a variable refresh rate. Anyone who's ever owned a curved-screen phone knows, protecting the sides of that phone is crucial to keep it intact and alive. With that in mind, here are the best Pixel 6 Pro cases to keep your shiny new flagship safe.Slim, but secureSpigen Liquid Air Armor Designed for Google Pixel 6 ProStaff PickIf you don't want to bulk up with a super-sized Pixel 6 Pro case, what you want is something slim but still thick enough to provide some impact protection and significantly add grip. The Liquid Air Armor has great textures both across the back and on the sides, which is why I recommend it over its classic Rugged Armor sibling.$16 at AmazonDesigned for dropsIncipio GripIncipio knows how to make cases that will protect your precious Pixel 6 Pro without turning it into a brick. Of course, 14-foot...

A clear sense of identityNest Hub Max$230 at Best BuyFrom $209 at Walmart$229 at GoogleProsExcellent facial and voice recognitionAccess to YouTube and YouTube Music nativelyBuilt-in access to Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, and moreGoogle Assistant works wonderfullyConnects with Google PhotosConsFewer video calling features than the Portal+The smaller screen isn't great for watching videosCan't tilt the displayNot physical privacy shutter for the cameraThe Nest Hub Max is a full-featured smart display from Google that brings the brains of your Google Assistant with the convenience of touchscreen controls. It offers some helpful video calling tools to go along with all of your favorite streaming entertainment. But the smaller display may not be the best for watching videos.Video calling beastFacebook Portal+$299 at Amazon$300 at Best BuyProsExcellent hardwareGreat sound qualityGood camera with lots of video calling featuresDual voice assist...

Take your Synology NAS to the next level with these tips and tricks.Synology makes the best NAS for Plex streaming and general home use, and it also has plenty of productivity-focused systems tailored for businesses. While NAS enclosures from all manufacturers have similar hardware, Synology's differentiator is the software. With DiskStation Manager (DSM), it has created the best operating system you'll find for NAS enclosures.I've been using Synology NAS enclosures for nearly a decade now; I rely on my DiskStation DS1520+ for Plex streaming and backing up data from all the phones and Windows machines in my home, and I also run a VPN server directly on the NAS. If you're just getting started with a Synology NAS or are looking to learn more about all you can do with DSM, here are the best Synology tips and tricks to get the most out of your NAS enclosure.A truly fantastic NASSynology DiskStation DS220+$300 at Amazon$300 at Newegg$300 at B&H PhotoEverything you ne...

Netflix gives you access to thousands of shows and movies with new options appearing regularly. For as little as $10 a month, you can pay to stream on one screen at a time with SD resolution. Viewers looking for a more substantial streaming experience can upgrade to a standard membership for $14, which ups your viewing to two screens at once with HD resolution. Netflix also offers a premium membership for $18, which increases viewing to four screens at once with HD and Ultra HD resolution. But if this streaming service's offerings aren't doing it for you, it might be time to cancel. Follow these easy steps to cancel your Netflix membership.Products used in this guideThe original streamer: Netflix (From $10/mo. at Netflix)How to cancel NetflixLogin to your account on Netflix.com.When the page loads, click on your main account. It will open up to the Netflix streaming page. Hover over your profile image in the top right-hand corner of the screen. A drop-down menu appears...

The global Redmi Note 11 series lineup includes four models.What you need to knowXiaomi has announced the global variants of its Redmi Note 11 series phones.The lineup includes four models: Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11S, Redmi Note 11 Pro, and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G comes with a 108MP main camera and Qualcomm's 6nm Snapdragon 695 chipset. Xiaomi's Redmi Note 11 series, which made its debut in China in October last year, is finally global. Just as expected, however, the global variants of the Redmi Note 11 series phones are slightly different from the ones on sale in China.The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 695 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. It sports a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, and claimed peak brightness of 1,200 nits.In the camera department, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G has a triple-camera setup with a 108MP Samsun...

Leaks suggest the Tab S8s will take everything excellent about the S7 series and add the fastest performance available.Since mid-2020, if you wanted to buy the best Android tablet, your only real choice was between the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 Plus. Now, finally, the Galaxy Tab S8 series will launch in early February, with a brand new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra that'll compete with the iPad Pro for screen size and productivity.Samsung reportedly plans to announce the new tablets alongside the Galaxy S22 at the next Unpacked event. You can currently reserve a pre-order slot for Samsung's new tablet and phone, with a promised $50 credit if you buy both. But leakers suggest both devices will cost an arm and a leg, so be prepared to spend a lot to "save" that credit back.The biggest alleged upgrade to the Galaxy Tab S8 will be its processor: leakers suggest the new tablets will use either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200, both at the cutting-edge of 2022 computing. The S7 series used the...

The vanilla Galaxy S22 will apparently pack a smaller battery than its predecessor.What you need to knowA massive new leak has revealed all the key specs of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S22 series phones.All three phones will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset in North America. The phones are set to be formally unveiled at Samsung's Unpacked event on February 9. Yesterday, we got our best look yet at Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S22 phones, courtesy of renders shared by leaker Evan Blass. The complete specs sheet of all three Galaxy S22 series phones has now been leaked by German tech publication WinFuture.As per the publication, Samsung's vanilla Galaxy S22 will arrive with a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display featuring FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1,500 nits. The European variant of the phone is going to be powered by Samsung's in-house developed Exynos 2200 chipset with AMD RDNA 2 graphics. It will have Qualcomm's Snapdrago...

The best Samsung Galaxy phones have all been updated to the One UI 4.0 update, bringing features like emoji pairs to their devices. If you're in the dark about this feature, here's how you can use emoji pairs on a Samsung Galaxy phone.How to use emoji pairs on a Samsung Galaxy phoneOpen any messaging app and start typing to open the Samsung Keyboard.Swipe left on the top bar on the keyboard.Tap on the emoji pair icon.Select two emojis of your choice and tap Next.Choose the animation style of your choice.Tap Send.Just like regular emojis, your recent and most used emoji pairs will be saved in the Samsung Keyboard. It may seem similar to emoji mashups in Gboard, but the result moves in your chosen animation style, making it all the more fun and expressive.Our top equipment picksTo access this cool emoji pairs feature, you need to own a Samsung phone. It also needs to be running One UI 4.0 based on Android 12, which is available on all the best Android phones from S...

Like the previous P-series models, these ones don't come preloaded with Google apps.What you need to knowHuawei announced today the global launch of the P50 Pro and P50 Pocket.The Huawei P50 Pro costs €1,199 while the clamshell foldable phone retails for €1,299.Both phones will be rolled out in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Latin America.Huawei today announced the global launch of its latest flagship device and Galaxy Z Flip 3 challenger. The Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pocket will be available for €1,199 and €1,299, respectively.Like their P-series predecessors, the new devices won't have access to Google's various apps and services such as the Google Play Store. It's not unexpected, though, in light of the existing U.S. trade ban that prevents the Chinese firm from doing business with American companies.The Huawei P50 Pro brings with it the same specs as the Chinese variant that debuted in July of last year. It sports a 6.6-inch OLED display wit...

YouTube CEO reveals a new milestone for Shorts and new ways to help creators monetize their videos.What you need to knowYouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has revealed that Shorts creators have amassed a total of five trillion views.She also unveiled new ways to help creators make money with Shorts beyond the $100 million fund announced last year.The service is testing the integration of shopping features with Shorts.YouTube Shorts made its debut only a year and a half ago, but creators using the TikTok-style feature have already amassed over five trillion views across multiple platforms, including Android phones and laptops, thanks to the growing craze over short-form videos.Susan Wojcicki, YouTube CEO, unveiled the new milestone for Shorts in a blog post published on Tuesday. She also revealed YouTube's $100 million fund for Shorts creators, announced last year, is now available in more than 100 countries. In August of last year, YouTube began paying creators between $100 and $...

The semiconductor shortage isn't going away any time soon.What you need to knowSince the start of the pandemic, multiple industries have been struggling to meet demand due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage.The U.S. Department of Commerce has released the results of its investigation on the supply chain issues.Companies point to multiple factors, one of which is the lack of wafer production capacity.Supply chain issues are expected to continue through 2022 while solutions are being drawn out.Anyone following the tech industry for the past couple of years should be aware that a supply chain problem has affected semiconductor production, which has a trickling effect on many industries. The U.S. Department of Commerce has looked into the reason behind these issues and has just released its findings.The Request for Information (RFI) was launched in September and published on Tuesday, highlighting the "perfect storm" of factors that led to the supply issues. Among them was...

We have about two weeks for the big Galaxy S22 reveal!What you need to knowSamsung will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event virtually in early February.The event is set for February 9 at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET.Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S22 series, including the Galaxy Note successor.Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked is a-go for early February. On Tuesday, the company announced that its next major launch event will occur on February 9 at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET. While Samsung hasn't yet named its next flagship series, the company is expected to announce the Galaxy S22 series at Unpacked.Official specs and features are yet unknown, but Samsung's president and head of MX, Tim Roh, teased experiences borrowed from the Galaxy Note series.While the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first S series smartphone to include S Pen support — which was then followed by the Galaxy Z Fold 3 — we expect the S22 Ultra to succeed the Galaxy Note series by including a built-in S Pen. Thi...

It's a big step for keeping your voice searches off the cloud.What you need to knowQualcomm and SoundHound have come to a multi-year agreement to provide on-device speech recognition with SoundHound technology.SoundHound voice recognition is able to understand complex speech patterns, multiple voices, and follow-up commands.This speech recognition tech would reside on the Snapdragon chipset and is processed entirely locally, keeping data from being sent to the cloud.No specific chipsets have been announced with the functionality at this time.Qualcomm and SoundHound have announced a new multi-year deal to bring SoundHound's voice recognition technology to Qualcomm chipsets on the best Android phones in the future. This deal will provide a turnkey solution for device manufacturers and app developers to implement voice search and other voice commands directly into apps and devices.If you've been in the smartphone game long enough, you probably remember the name SoundHound. ...

Text watermarking ensures that your document is properly marked as confidential or draft.What you need to knowGoogle Docs now allows you to create and import text watermarks.When exporting or importing documents from Microsoft Word, the feature also preserves watermarks.Text watermarks will appear in the background on every page of your document by default.Google Docs users who frequently work with legal or business files are in for a treat, as Google has announced a new feature that allows them to protect the confidentiality of a document or simply label it as a work in progress.The search giant has added native support for text watermark to its online word processor, allowing you to create or import watermarks directly from the application. It will show up in the background to clearly indicate whether a document is confidential or simply a draft that needs to be edited by someone else.Text watermarks in documents imported from other word processors, such as Microsoft ...

With so many options, you may get overwhelmed finding the best Arlo cameras. While many of Arlo's best cameras have traditionally been pretty expensive, the company now offers plenty of options for every budget. With consistent updates and some of the greatest features, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option. With that said, the Arlo Pro 4 is our favorite camera thanks to having almost all of the bells and whistles one could want, to the point that it's one of the best smart home security systems overall.Best overall Arlo camera — Arlo Pro 4The Arlo Pro 4 became our pick for the best Arlo Camera, thanks to its improvements over the Pro 3. The Pro 4 sports 2K video recording with HDR, allowing users to zoom in on objects and take clearer pictures. There is Color Night Vision, so you can view night recordings in color without relying on the traditional black and white video.With the Pro 4, you can set the camera up either inside or outside, providing extra versatility ...

Best answer: Yes. The new PS5 VR will feature completely redesigned controllers, dubbed the PS VR2 Sense controllers, with better tracking and more functionality than the PSVR's PS Move controllers.New PS5 VR controller: A whole new lookSony is changing everything up with PS5 VR (PS VR2), starting with the controllers themselves. Gone is the wand design of the PS Move. In its stead are controllers that look like an almost perfect mashup of the Valve Index's Knuckles controllers and the Oculus Quest 2's Touch controllers. The only real similarity between these controllers and the PS Move controllers is their elongated handle, making it easy to grip. It also has a wrist strap to keep the controllers from flying away if you were to let go of them. The new ring tracking system is considerably more accurate and offers total freedom of movement.We're looking at a completely different experience outside of all of that, starting with the tracking. The new PS VR2 Sense controller d...

The free, ad-supported Samsung TV Plus app gives users access to more than 190 curated "live channels" spanning sports, news, entertainment, and more. Users also have access to a selection of channels in 4K. But what do you do if you don't like, or don't plan to use, all the channels already programmed within the app? Thankfully, we've created this step-by-step guide explaining how to remove channels from Samsung TV Plus.How to remove channels from Samsung TV PlusAmong the nearly 200 channels offered on the free Samsung TV Plus app are ABC News Live, TV Land Sitcoms, The Walking Dead Universe, Pac-12 Insider, QVC, MTV Pluto TV, and PBS Kids. If you're picky about which channels you'll see each time you open the app, Samsung TV Plus also gives you the option to personalize your streaming experience. Here's how to remove channels from Samsung TV Plus.Press the Home or Guide button on your remote control.Navigate to the Samsung TV Plus app and select All Channels. Up in the t...

Disable your contacts from sharing memes in other groups.Telegram is way ahead of its major competitor, WhatsApp, regarding features. The app already offers a slew of features that aren't available on the Facebook-owned messaging service. It is only extending its lead by introducing new ones with each update.Telegram recently rolled out an update that allows users to restrict their contacts from forwarding messages and media to other groups. The feature, Restrict Saving Content, was released last month with Telegram 8.3 update. Here's how you can enable content protection in your group or channel.How to restrict Telegram contacts from saving or forwarding messagesDon't let your contact use your wit and share your original memes in other Telegram groups or channels. You can restrict group/channel members from saving or forwarding content on Telegram. Here's how:Open Telegram.Tap on the group/channel you want to apply the content sharing restriction on.Tap on the group nam...

What color do you want?What you need to knowLeaked renders show off the upcoming Galaxy S22 phones.The phones will launch in four colorways, which will be largely similar across models.The Galaxy S22 Ultra will have a darker shade of pink, similar to Mystic Bronze.With Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked scheduled for sometime in February, we're coming to the last stretch of leaks before the Galaxy S22 series is announced. The latest is a massive dump of renders showing the devices at every angle and in each of their colorways.Based solely on the renders, which were posted by none other than leaker Evan Blass, you'd think the base model and the Galaxy S22+ were the same phone. Although, for all intents and purposes, they pretty much are the same aside from the size difference. Both models will apparently be available in black, white, bright pink, and dark green. On the other hand, the Galaxy S22 Ultra appears to be a bit more exciting. While the colorways are largely th...

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6Best Android tabletFrom $389 at AmazonProsBetter displayMore base storageBuilt-in fingerprint scannerMore RAMIncludes S PenConsHigher price tagKeyboard must be purchased separatelyThe Galaxy Tab S6 presents the best that Samsung has to offer in the tablet market from 2019. It's powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of RAM, and has a built-in fingerprint scanner, so it gives you everything you could want. And if you want to get some work done, you can pick up Samsung's Keyboard case.Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 LiteSolid for most$269 at AmazonProsLess expensive3.5mm headphone jackIncludes S PenBetter battery lifeConsSlightly smaller displayLess RAM and storageNo first-party keyboard coverNo Samsung DeX supportWhile there are a few features that are surprising, like the included S Pen and 3.5mm headphone jack, that's about it. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is designed for those who just want an And...

Now that's it's officially out, the PS5 is pretty hard to find due to low stock and high demand. However, as PlayStation fans continue to check the PS5 restocks, one of the most essential accessories many players need alongside this extremely in-demand system is a headset. Not only does a headset enhance your gaming experience with its immersive qualities, but thanks to the variety of incredible multiplayer games available, you'll need something to interact with your friends and other players. Thankfully, there are tons of wireless options available, so we put together a list that features some of the best wireless PS5 headsets on the market. These are just some of the best PS5 headsets available right now.The best Wireless PS5 Headsets 2022, at a glance:SteelSeries Arctis 7P for PlayStation 5: Best overall: The best bang for your buck.Pulse 3D Wireless Headset: Best official: The official model and supported headset for the PS5.Sennheiser GSP 370: Best audio quality: A reliabl...

A better option for VR developers than sideloading apps.What you need to knowThe Quest App Lab allows smaller developers to publish their VR apps and games for Quest headsets without being listed in the main Quest Store.The program now contains 837 apps, more than double of the apps in the main store, since its launch last year.The best rated App Lab game is platformer Daedalus, while the most popular game is Gorilla Tag.The Quest App Lab store now contains more than double of the apps within the main Quest Store at 837 apps approved since the launch of the program last year. The Quest Store currently offers 341 apps in comparison, but has been live for more than two and a half years.Meta created the Quest App Lab program in February 2021 alongside the v25 update to allow indie or smaller developers to publish their apps on Quest 2 and other Quest VR headsets without official approval. The apps and games would receive a store page, but could only be accessed through a dir...