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Whether you're in a house or apartment, making sure your home is safe while you're away is a key priority, and there's no better way to do that than with one of the best smart video doorbells on this list. Our favorite smart doorbell that can deter thieves while providing you with peace of mind is the Nest Doorbell (Wired), formerly known as Nest Hello. But Nest isn't the only great smart doorbell available; we've compiled a list of eight of the best on the market! See which one works for you.Best smart doorbell overall: Nest Doorbell (Wired)I loved the Nest Hello when it first launched in 2018. Since then, it's been rebranded to the Nest Doorbell (Wired), but it still holds its own as the best choice in 2021. It costs a little more than other alternatives, but you get plenty of features that make the price worth it.For one thing, you can set it up to give you alerts whenever it detects motion in specific areas of your yard. What's more, it has facial recognition abilities, s...

What you need to knowBoost is launching Carrier Crusher plans to take on the Big Three directly.These plans include an unlimited everything plan for $25 per month with a 12-month prepay.Carrier Crusher plans are also available for 3, 6, or 12 months and will be available December 9, 2021.Dish-owned Boost Mobile is introducing a set of new Carrier Crusher plans targeted squarely at the Big Three carriers. These plans include a new unlimited everything plan with 12GB of hotspot data as well as a few 5GB options. These plans are billed multiple months at a time with increased savings when you pay for the longer-term upfront.This new unlimited plan breaks down to $25 per month when you prepay for 12 months. You can also get it for three months at a time for $30 per month. Boost plans come with 4G LTE and 5G support if you have a compatible phone and speed is unlimited until you use 35GB in one month. This plan also comes with 12GB of hotspot data per month so you can share your...

The charming Blaston Arctic Blast update proves the future of VR is in mixed reality.I don't know how Blaston slipped past my VR radar. Released in late 2020, it's a dynamic duel shooter where you duck and weave in a small arena to dodge bullets while snatching various floating guns in the air around you to blast your foe away. With the strategic body contorting of Superhot mixed with multiplayer strategy, Blaston has remained a popular title with an active community on Discord.The big news today for Blaston fans is the new Arctic Blast DLC, which adds a charming, winter-themed casual playlist for violent snowball fights that won't affect your game ranking. It also adds a new "Knockout!" tournament mode for 2 to 8 players, with a massive trophy and bragging rights for the winner. Having tested the new free modes, they only make this $10 game even more appealing. Blaston may be the first official Oculus Store game to add proper mixed reality.Most excitingly for Meta Quest 2...

Earbud prices can run all over the place. Unfortunately, the ones you typically hear about most often are super expensive. Still, there are some great budget options out there, such as the Creative Outlier Air V3, which offer fantastic battery life, exceptional comfort, and superb sound quality. But besides those, we've done the research and gathered some of the best cheap true wireless earbuds for any style and budget.Best overall: Creative Outlier Air V3It's hard to beat the Outlier Air V3 on battery life. Even compared to the best wireless earbuds, they outperform most of them with up to 10 hours of audio playback per charge at default volume. Add another three charges in the case, and you've got about 40 hours of total listening time. Creative also finally added wireless charging, making charging easier when you don't want to plug in.Creative largely based the design on the previous Outlier Air V2, which are a little bigger, though used the same ear tips for improved fit ...

There's also a "Special Edition" model with a 60MP under-display selfie camera.What you need to knowMotorola has announced the world's first phone featuring Qualcomm's all-new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.The new Motorola Edge X30 comes with a 144Hz display, a 60MP selfie camera, and 68W charging. It will be available in China for a starting price of 3,199 yuan (about $500). Motorola has unveiled the first phone featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, dubbed the Edge X30. As you'd expect, the new Motorola Edge X30 is packed to the gills with features and has the specs to give the best Android phones a run for their money.The flagship phone sports a 6.7-inch AMOLED display featuring FHD+ resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 576Mhz touch sampling rate. Housed within the centered hole-punch cutout at the top of the display is an impressive 60MP selfie camera.On the back of the phone is a triple-camera setup that includes a 50MP main sensor, a secondary 50MP ultra...

Listen to just about anything with these apps on Android.Over the years music fans have gradually changed how they listen to their music and what they listen to it on. With the rise of the smartphone, it's only natural that the one device we carry with us everywhere is also our primary media player. On Android devices, in particular, there's a huge community of developers creating some of the best Android apps. Whether it's a combination streaming service and music player, or an app dedicated to playing your local music files, here's a roundup of the best music player apps on Android right now.Streaming/music player appsSpotifyYouTube MusicAmazon MusicApple MusicThe best of the restTidalPoweramp Music Player CloudPlayer by doubleTwist Nyx Music PlayerTop streaming service and music player appsWhen it comes to listening to music on the go, it's safe to say that some of the best music player apps on Android are also the top music streaming services: Spotify,...

You can now restrict message forwarding and screenshots, as well as delete messages by date.What you need to knowTelegram has rolled out a slew of updates that focus on privacy.You can now restrict anyone from saving content and forwarding messages in your groups and channels.The update also allows you to delete messages from specific dates.Telegram has picked up a bevy of new features that boost privacy and give users more control over their connected devices. And as usual, the latest update includes a ton of new capabilities.On the privacy front, the messaging app now lets group and channel owners limit the ability of others to forward, screengrab, or save their content. The goal is to protect your posts from unwanted audiences. To do that, you can go to the group settings and turn on the "Restrict saving content" option.Another nifty feature is the ability to delete messages by date. However, this option is available only in one-on-one conversations, and you can sele...

I've been waiting for a tablet like the Duet 5 to give me the screen I deserve.The 2020 Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is the best Chromebook on the market for its near-perfect blend of performance and price, but this year's Flex 5i just didn't feel as exciting. It didn't have that spark of fun, but then Lenovo announced it was making a larger version of its highly popular Chrome OS tablet the Lenovo Duet.The Lenovo Chromebook Duet was one of the most fun devices of 2020 and quickly became one of the best ways to introduce new users to Chrome OS, but it's a bit small for doing more than browning social media or thumbing through ebooks. Lenovo fixed that with the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook, the beautiful love child of a Lenovo Flex 5 and a Lenovo Duet. I waited months to get my hands on this bright-screened beauty, and while she's not perfect, she gets pretty close.At a glanceLenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook ...

The built-in storage just doesn't cut it.Last year, I bought two Chromecast with Google TV as Christmas gifts: one for my mother to use in the kitchen and another for a very, very dear friend in Waco because his Vizio's apps were just too damn slow. Both are still very happy with their Google TVs — and considering I use mine 4-12 hours a day, I'm still happy as a clam with mine. (I listen to reruns while I work, it helps keep certain parts of my brain entertained while the rest tries to get things done.)However, a somewhat fatal flaw hides underneath that adorably intuitive remote and easy-to-use Google TV interface, one that makes me think twice before I recommend it to others. For all of Google TV's phenomenal algorithmic powers, its itty, bitty storage space can easily spoil the experience if you use more than a couple of streaming services. I miss when my installed apps all fit on my Google TV.This morning, the December update for the Google TV arrived on my Chromecast....

The Google Pixel 5a packs a big battery into a very familiar design, and while it might look a little boring on its own, that's what cases are for: protecting your phone and making it look even better! The limited release of the Google Pixel 5a had me concerned we wouldn't see many big-name, high-quality cases, but those fears were unfounded. We've got the best Pixel 5a cases right here to help you protect your new phone, whatever your tastes prefer.Sage colors, serene patternsCaseology Parallax Compatible with Google Pixel 5a Case (2021)Staff PickSince the Pixel 5a lacks color options, Caseology has given us the best of the Pixel 5's colors along with its tried and true favorites. The Parallax features a fun cubist pattern that adds grip and style across the back. The bumper has a new ultra-textured section, but some might find it abrasive.$16 at Amazon $16 at WalmartGrippy and understatedSpigen Liquid Air ArmorIf you want grip without a case that glows like a ra...

Shoot zombies, harvest their essence, upgrade your guns. Repeat.Fans of the Left 4 Dead series are probably very happy with the year 2021. First, we got Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead that was created by the actual developers of the original title. That one changed up some key gameplay components but is a compelling title, nonetheless.Now comes After the Fall, a new zombie shooter from the developers behind Arizona Sunshine, one of the best Quest 2 games you can buy despite being several years old now. At its core, After the Fall is Left 4 Dead meets Killing Floor. It takes the familiar level formula from Left 4 Dead, adds in the killing currency and upgrade components from Killing Floor, and cranks up the cheese with an 80's theme that feels all too right from the start.It's incredibly impressive to see Vertigo Games not only launch the game simultaneously on three platforms — that's Quest 2, PSVR, and PC VR — but to also provide a way for players to ...

It remains to be seen if Google's decision to post security bulletins for Android TV will lead to more frequent updates.What you need to knowGoogle will reportedly start releasing security bulletins for Android TV.Currently, Google releases regular security bulletins only for Android devices. Google's latest Pixel update bulletin included references to two Android TV security patches that have been fixed in the December update. Android TV devices could soon get regular security patches to keep them secure. A Google spokesperson told 9to5Google that the company plans to "soon" start publishing security bulletins for Android, similar to the one it publishes each month for its best Android phones. However, it isn't clear if security bulletins for Android TV and Google TV platforms will be posted every month.As you can see in the screenshot above, Google accidentally referenced two Android TV security patches of moderate severity in its latest Pixel update bulletin. The se...

Almost seven years after the best-looking Android watch debuted, we finally have a wearable that's not trying to look like a regular old timepiece.The Moto 360 (the real 2015 Moto 360, not the 2020 imposter) was not a perfect piece of wearable technology. The battery life sucked, only barely lasting a working day with the always-on display enabled. It was sluggish even by the standards of Android Wear at the time, thanks to its unusual choice of CPU. And it had that frequently ridiculed "flat tire" display cutout, a necessity because of the LCD tech that was used to allow edge-to-edge watch faces.But even today it's one of my favorite wearables of all time, precisely because it was so unorthodox. It wasn't trying to take a traditional watch design and shoehorn smart technology into it. Instead, as a product of the golden age of Motorola design under Jim Wicks, it tried to imagine how a watch would look if it were built, from the ground up, for the smartphone age. The OG Mot...

Expand your horizonsSamsung Galaxy Watch 4From $130 at SamsungProsGPS, HRM, NFCNew Wear OS 3Optional LTEImproved health trackingCapacitive rotating bezelConsMore expensiveIf you simply cannot help but get your hands on the latest and greatest tech, you'll be glad to know the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is one of the best options right now. The sleek design carries over some familiar elements, including the capacitive rotating bezel. You also get a BioActive sensor, improved health/fitness tracking, and Wear OS 3.Effortless classicSamsung Galaxy Watch Active 2From $200 at AmazonProsGPS, HRM, NFCOptional LTEExcellent health/fitness trackingCapacitive rotating bezelMore affordableConsNo Wear OS 3 supportIt's been around for a while now, but the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is still one of the best Android smartwatches you can buy for many reasons. It may not have the successor's new BioActive sensor, but you still get heart-rate monitoring, EC...

Marshall should've gone with silicone or foam tips.Marshall is a brand known for its longevity and legacy in the music business, and when it launches headphones or speakers, it often tries to harken back to bygone eras as inspiration for a modern twist. As a result, it usually features classic designs and a look that just comes off feeling a bit different than its competitors. The Minor III earbuds are definitely on-brand in that way, bringing a degree of simplicity to go with their promised performance.These are supposed to be the company's more affordable option as compared to its more feature-rich Motif ANC, and that means it cut a few corners to create a price gap between them. The cuts are one thing, but it's one particular design choice that may have ultimately cut the Minor III down too much.Marshall Minor III review:Price and availabilityWhat's good What's not goodThe competitionShould you buy?At a glanceMarshall Minor III ...

The streaming device gets a handy storage management feature and more.What you need to knowChromecast with Google TV has picked up a new update that improves its storage capacity.The streaming device also makes it a lot easier to remove unnecessary apps.However, the update does not include the recently released Android TV 12.The Chromecast with Google TV was a highly anticipated follow-up to Google's legacy streaming dongle, that is, until it started to rear its ugly head. For example, it doesn't take a while before the streaming device runs out of internal storage space, but Google is now addressing that issue with a new update.Its standout improvement is the ability to manage the device's storage and free up space for more important stuff. This is courtesy of the new "Uninstall apps" option found in the "Free up storage" section. With this feature, you can now quickly remove apps you no longer need without having to open each app.Google is also giving some relief to u...

Taking a screenshot is one of the most basic things you can do with the best Android phones. The Pixel 6 is no different, as there are quite a few different ways to take a screenshot on the Google Pixel. Along with using the traditional hardware button combinations, Google has implemented other methods for you to take a screenshot.How to take a screenshot on the Google PixelTake a screenshot using the hardware buttonsHold down the power button on the phone's right side.Immediately afterward, hold down on the down volume button.Release both buttons at the same time.If you performed the combination properly, you should see a smaller version of the screen you took and a notification.Take a screenshot without buttonsThere are several different methods to take a screenshot without using the hardware buttons. These depend on the type of navigation you are using on the Google Pixel. For reference, here are the different navigation methods available on Google Pixel:Gestu...

The launcher now lets you quickly search for the screenshot folder in Google Photos.What you need to knowThe Pixel Launcher now includes a new feature that allows you to quickly search for screenshots stored in Google Photos.As usual, the new capability is only available on Google Pixel phones.A dedicated share button is also available in the results page for quickly sharing a screenshot.Google is making it much easier to find your screenshots hidden in Google Photos with a new update to the Pixel Launcher. The launcher has picked up a new integration with Google Photos to enable the new capability.A quick search for the keyword "screenshot" in the launcher's search bar immediately brings up the Photos icon along with three of the recent screenshots you've taken. The new feature first popped up on the Google News channel on Telegram (via Android Police).It's also a lot faster to share images with the latest update. When you long-press a screenshot, the Pixel Launcher wi...

OPPO claims the Find N fills a gap in the foldable phone segment by addressing issues such as display crease and overall durability.What you need to knowOPPO has teased its first foldable phone, the OPPO Find N.OnePlus CEO Pete Lau will oversee OPPO's development of the foldable device.The phone will officially see the light of day on December 15 at OPPO's Inno Day.While many phone makers such as Samsung, Motorola, and Xiaomi were quick to hop on the foldable bandwagon, OPPO seems to have taken its time. Now, OPPO has finally announced its answer to the best foldable phones, the OPPO Find N, after several years of work.Pete Lau, co-founder and CEO of OnePlus and chief product officer at OPPO, has revealed in a blog post that the Find N took four years to develop. The first prototype came out as early as April 2018, but the company managed to keep it hidden from public view.As it stands, the current version of OPPO's first foldable device represents the sixth generation....

This is the strangest bug I've ever heard of, and it's perhaps the most perilous.What you need to knowA culprit has been found for the 911 bug impacting a limited number of Pixel uses.Microsoft Teams somehow prevents Android from making emergency calls when the app is installed but not logged into an account.To avoid this bug and ensure your emergency calls go through, uninstall and reinstall the app if you currently have Microsoft Teams installed but aren't signed in.Google has released a statement saying they are aware of the issue, and both Google and Microsoft are working on a permanent fix.A little over a week ago, reports began to arrive on the Google Pixel subreddit of users being unable to call 911. That is highly alarming for obvious reasons, and the issue thread by u/KitchenPicture5849 quickly gained attention from Google as users, and the Pixel Team itself investigated the issue and tried to pin down the source.The cause has been located and confirmed by Googl...

It's been 84 years...What you need to knowInstagram head Adam Mosseri announced that he plans to introduce a chronological feed on the app.Instagram changed its feed algorithm back in 2016 to show posts it thinks users want to see.Mosseri defended Instagram's practices in a Senate hearing on Wednesday.Instagram has been under quite a bit of hot water lately over its effects on users, but in the midst of it all, has introduced new features aimed at helping protect teens. On Wednesday, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced during a Senate hearing that the company is working on bringing back the chronological feed to its app.Mosseri made the announcement after U.S. Senator John Thune questioned him about whether Instagram would support giving users more control over their feeds."Senator, we believe in more transparency and accountability, and we believe in more control," Mosseri answered. "That's why we're currently working on a version of a chronological feed that we hope...

The latest Amazon Halo device gets a proper display, up to 7 days of battery life, a year of Halo Fitness and Nutrition, and a sub-$100 price.Update, Dec 8 (5:15 p.m. ET): Now available for purchaseWhat you need to knowAmazon Halo View is a new $80 fitness tracker with an AMOLED display, a follow-up to last year's Halo Band.It comes with a year's free subscription to Amazon Halo, which includes new tools like Halo Fitness workouts and Halo Nutrition health data.Halo View will help track your heart rate, body fat percentage, posture, sleep, and other health information. Halo View sports bands come in 15 colors and will cost $15, while the metal, fabric, or leather bands will cost $30.The Amazon Halo Band stood out as a new kind of fitness tracker, but not always in the best ways. On the plus side, it was extremely comfortable and lightweight; had useful health sensors like ECG, skin temperature, and electrodermal to track your health in-app; and gave you tons of actionabl...

It's time to understand texting.The messaging apps AC usesConvenience vs. privacy: Which is more important?Instagram's bigger than you thinkDo Slack and Teams count as "messaging"?RCS vs. SMS vs. iMessageGoogle's messaging failuresHow to switch your family to a new serviceTelegram vs. Signal vs. WhatsAppPrivacy and security in messaging apps, explainedWhen people choose a new messaging app for texting friends and family, they typically choose an actual app. So they'll weigh Telegram vs. Signal vs. WhatsApp, which give you reliable encryption, support for multiple devices, and other perks. But for your default texting app, you may not know the difference between RCS, SMS, and iMessage.Your phone's built-in texting app may appear pretty basic on the surface. But there's more going on behind the scenes than you may initially think. And by having a stronger grasp of everything going on, you can be more confident about your messaging experience and understand why thi...

Bose is one of the most widely known brands for high-end audio. Regardless of whether it's speakers or headphones, Bose knows audio. The QuietComfort 35's catapulted the brand to become one of the best wireless headphones on the market, and the new Bose QuietComfort 45 continue that legacy. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, now is the perfect time to pick up a pair of these headphones at $50 off!While Bose didn't completely overhaul the QC 35's when it released the QC 45 in September 2021, it didn't have to. Because the predecessor was so good, to begin with, all that was needed were some well-thought-out tweaks to make the QuietComfort 45's a success. Things like improving the battery life, shaving off a few ounces, and upgrading the charging port to USB-C were some of the improvements that were made.The QC 45 keeps the iconic design of the QuietComfort 35, including the super comfortable leather earcups. When it comes to using the headphones, the QC 45 has physica...

Twitter Explore is basically TikTok-Lite.What you need to knowA new Twitter Explore beta is a full-screen feed which lets you swipe between different tweets and videos.The interface resembles a stripped-down TikTok, with options to view Trending or personalized For You videos.The beta is available "for some of you who use Twitter in English on Android and iOS," but you may not have it yet.Twitter is the latest app to try and piggyback on the popularity of TikTok, with a new simplified interface that emphasizes one tweet or video at a time instead of showing a crowded newsfeed.While the tweet doesn't really explain how it works, it appears to be a vertical-scrolling feed where each tweet fills up the screen, letting you swipe through them one by one. It's not clear from this example if Explore will focus on video / GIF tweets, or if you'll see regular text tweets as well.*checks Explore tab*If it's looking different, then you're in our latest test: a new Explore experien...

DJI's Mini 2 Drone is an incredible compact drone with 4K video capabilities and up to 31 minutes of flight time. If you're looking to get into aerial videography or want to find the perfect gift for an aspiring photographer, this is a great drone to get started with. If you're ready to take flight, Adorama has some great bundles to get you started with everything you need including a memory card for just $449 which is a 35% savings. There's no reason to pass up these extras when you buy your DJI drone.The DJI Mini 2 can shoot up to 4K video at 30fps with a maximum bitrate of 100Mbps. This drone can also shoot at a variety of other frame rates including 24 and 25 at 4K and 24, 25, 30,48,50, and 60 at 2.7K. This lower resolution will actually be the better fit for many content creators since it will have plenty of quality for a 1080p crop with the ability to shoot at higher frame rates.If you're fine shooting at 2.7k or 1080p, you could also save a little money with the DJI Mini SE....

When it comes to the best wireless earbuds, Sennheiser is easily at the top of the list. This may come as a bit of a surprise if you aren't familiar with the company's over-the-ear offerings. However, after moving into the wireless earbud space, Sennheiser has come out swinging with options like the Momentum True Wireless 2 and the more-recent CX True Wireless Earbuds.During the Black Friday / Cyber Monday rush, we saw some pretty solid discounts on these headphones. And if you missed out on those deals, you're in luck as both sets of these earbuds can be had at some pretty steep discounts.Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2$189 at AmazonWith the Momentum True Wireless 2 from Sennheiser, you'll enjoy industry-leading audio quality, along with Active Noise Cancellation and incredible battery life. The touch controls are customizable, and Sennheiser includes a few extra great features in its flagship wireless earbuds.Sennheiser CX True Wireless Earbuds$100 at Amaz...

The Galaxy S21 FE could take the lead over the Galaxy S22.What you need to knowThe Galaxy S21 FE may run Android 12 out-of-the-box.This would likely make it the first new Galaxy smartphone to do so, ahead of the Galaxy S22.Samsung is expected to launch the S21 FE in January, with the S22 series likely coming in February.Samsung has pushed the S21 FE back for so long, no one was quite sure that the device would actually arrive. However, evidence continues to point to a January release ahead of the Galaxy S22, and the late launch is now said to come with the added benefit of running Android 12 out-of-the-box.SamMobile claims to have the firmware for the Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990E), which indicates that it's already running Samsung's One UI 4 based on Android 12. Since Samsung is already rolling out its latest software on the Galaxy S21 and is set to bring it to plenty more devices in January, it's not too surprising.However, that would put it ahead of Samsung's upcoming Gala...

You can now toy with Android 12L on compatible Google Pixel phones.What you need to knowGoogle has released the first Android 12L beta update for large screen devices and supported Pixel phones.The update brings with it a handful of improvements to user experience and bug fixes.It also includes the December 2021 security patches.It is no secret that Google is planning to release a feature drop for large screens in the form of the Android 12L update early next year. The search engine giant announced today that the first Android 12L beta update is now available for testing on foldable phones, tablets, and Google Pixel phones.The first beta update, as usual, includes several bug fixes and changes to improve the user experience on large-screen devices. Developers are also encouraged to test the release on their apps in advance of the feature drop, which is scheduled for early 2022.The first Android 12L Developer Preview made its way to the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro earlier this mo...

When you're picking the perfect Chromebook for your needs, it can be easy to pay for a bunch of parts and upgrades you don't need. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 on the other hand keeps its eye on the ball with a sensible set of specs that still packs plenty of punch for daily driving and browsing. To make things even better, Best Buy has this PC on sale for just $329, that's $200 off sticker. This Spin 713 also has a high-resolution touch screen that can fold flat for flexible tablet-style browsing.This version of the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comes with an Intel Core i3 10110U CPU, a two-core, four-thread CPU that should have no trouble keeping up with web browsing, streaming, and video calls. It's paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of flash storage. It's all running on Google's ChromeOS, an operating system that has gained a lot of popularity among students and those that work online. It's no wonder that the Spin 713 is one of the best Chrombooks you can buy.Perhaps the most impressiv...

The stable update is reportedly bricking Samsung's foldable phone and causing a slew of other issues.What you need to knowSome Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 devices are reportedly having various issues after the stable One UI 4 update.The Android 12 update appears to be bricking some devices while booting others into recovery mode.Samsung is supposedly planning to halt the rollout until these issues are resolved.Samsung is reportedly considering holding back the stable One UI 4 (Android 12) rollout for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 due to mounting customer complaints just a few days after the update was released.Some South Korean users have taken to Samsung's community forum to report various issues that have occurred on their devices since installing One UI 4. According to one of the complaints, the update bricked Samsung's foldable devices.In some cases, the phone entered recovery mode after the update, and rebooting did not appear to resolve the issue. In other ins...

5G, AT&T, and what it means for you.AT&T has one of the most developed 5G networks out right now, with millimeter-wave coverage alongside low-band coverage. Both networks are available to customers with phones capable of connecting to both networks. AT&T has been aggressively expanding its 5G network and now approximates coverage for 250 million people, with mmWave expansion continuing to add capacity in high-traffic areas.Jump to:When will my area get 5G?Cities coveredWhich phones work with 5G?Which plan do I need?What tech is AT&T using?What is 5Ge?Is 5G worth it for most people?Sub-6 and mmWaveAT&T Unlimited ExtraFrom $75/mo. at AT&T5G access with 50GB of premium dataAT&T's Unlimited Extra plan is one of the best ways to use AT&T's network thanks to 50GB of premium data, 15GB of mobile hotspot data, and 5G accessWhen will my area get 5G?As far as 5G goes, AT&T is building two networks with C-band coming in 2...

Life360 sells user location data to companies that offer it to "virtually anyone who wants to buy it."Life360 is a family safety app that over 33 million customers around the world use. It has a single purpose — to track your children's location in real-time through their smartphones. A story at The Markup discovered that the company is doing more with that data than just keeping parents informed of where their children are (and have been). Apparently, it is selling this location data to about a dozen companies that broker data to "virtually anyone who wants to buy it."This isn't anything new, and there is a good chance that your location data has been sold in a very similar way. We've seen carriers and ad networks do something very similar when it comes to the location data collected from us. So many different companies collect user data that it's tough to keep track of where it's going and who can access it. It doesn't matter if you buy one of the best Android phones, or one ...

Samsung brings color, comfort, and ANC to its entry-level earbuds.I have a theory that may or may not be true, but it's one I think makes sense. Samsung, in its quest to build the AirPods of the Android world (or at least the AirPods for Samsung users), switched to a jewelry box design because it wants users to think of its products not necessarily as the best wireless earbuds but as a natural extension of the phone. It's much like how earrings or a necklace accent the wearer's features without drawing overt attention.AirPods are so good because wearers don't have to dwell on the mechanics of how they work. From pairing to pausing to transparency, they just do. And the magic comes from Apple's ownership over the entire technology stack.Samsung's been increasingly approaching that level of seamlessness with its Galaxy Buds lineup, but never before have all the pieces been so effortlessly integrated than with the Galaxy Buds 2, the new $150 earbuds that complement the existing Bu...

The YouTube TV app will soon be restored to Roku's channel store.What you need to knowRoku says it has reached a multi-year agreement with Google for YouTube and YouTube TV.While YouTube will continue to be available to Roku customers, the YouTube TV is expected to soon return to the platform. YouTube TV was removed from Roku devices in April this year.Streaming hardware maker Roku has announced that it has signed a multi-year deal with Google to keep YouTube and YouTube TV on its platform. The announcement comes just a day before YouTube was scheduled to be removed from the best Roku devices.Effective today, we have agreed to a multi-year extension with Google for YouTube and YouTube TV. This agreement represents a positive development for our shared customers, making both YouTube and YouTube TV available for all streamers on the Roku platform.— Roku (@Roku) December 8, 2021The multi-year extension means that both new and existing Roku customers will continue to ha...

Nothing makes a party better than some music, and nothing makes playing music easier than a Bluetooth speaker, especially as more phone manufacturers omit the 3.5mm headphone jack. Fortunately, you don't need to spend a fortune to get the best Bluetooth speaker and get the good times rolling.Best overall: Tribit StormBox MicroTribit sure knows its way around audio accessories, and the StormBox Micro is no exception. This Bluetooth speaker isn't just compact. It puts out a huge kick with deep, booming bass and 9W of power.One of the most distinctive features of the StormBox Micro is its ability to be easily mounted to bikes, backpacks, belts, or nearly anything else — get creative! The IP67 water and dust resistance mean you don't have to worry about getting caught in the rain, and you can pair two of these speakers together for an immersive stereo effect.The only downside is that the StormBox Micro only has 8 hours of battery life — enough to cut some parties short. But...

Ring ring, no one's home.What you need to knowAmazon Web Services, known as AWS, experienced an outage throughout the day on December 7, 2021.The outage started spiking around 11:20 am Eastern Time and continued on well into the evening.Ring, Alexa, iRobot, Disney+, Venmo, Prime Video, Prime Music, and many other services that rely on Amazon's cloud systems were affected.Update at 10:00 am ET, December 8: All services appear to be back online and operating normally.In the late morning hours of December 7, 2021, AWS — that's Amazon Web Services, or Amazon's massive cloud system — began experiencing connectivity issues with servers located in the East Region, which is located in Virginia. Any services that utilize servers in this region will likely continue to experience issues until the connectivity issues have been resolved. Richard Rocha, an Amazon spokesperson, had this to say about the outage: "There is an AWS service event in the US-East Region (Virginia) affe...

The new Memories collection isn't widely available just yet.What you need to knowGoogle Photos' "Best of 2021" Memories collection has started rolling out.The collection highlights some of the "best" photos that you uploaded to the service over the last twelve months. You'll be able to view the new collection alongside other Memories in your photo grid. Google has started surfacing a "Best of 2021" Memories collection in the Photos app, highlighting users' finest photos from the last twelve months. As reported by 9to5Google, the "Best of 2021" Memories collection should show up at the top of your photo grid when opening the app.Unlike a few themed collections in Google Photos, the "Best of 2021" collection only surfaces a random number of photos that you have uploaded to the service in the last year. Even though the collection is generated using AI, the featured photos aren't arranged by date or follow a specific pattern. For now, it looks like the "Best of 2021" c...

Private Safe lets you password-protect sensitive data on your phone.OPPO introduced a nifty feature in ColorOS 6.0 called Private Safe that allows you to safeguard sensitive data — including photos, videos, and documents — behind a passcode. With OnePlus using ColorOS 12 as the foundation for OxygenOS 12, the feature is making its way to OnePlus devices as well.How to configure Private Safe in OxygenOS 12It's very straightforward to set up and use Private Safe. You will need to set a privacy password for the feature, and you can do so during the initial configuration. Here's how to get started with Private Safe in OxygenOS 12:Go to Settings. Scroll down the page. Select Privacy.Choose Private Safe. You'll get a dialog box asking you to set a privacy password. Select Set password to do so. You'll see a message that the privacy password controls features like App Lock, Hide Apps. Private Notes, and Private Safe. Hit Set unified password to continue.The privacy pa...

Samsung's AirPods Pro competitors sound sweet.It's all been leading up to this. As with Samsung's first few Android phones, its first couple attempts at building wireless earbuds were ambitious but rife with problems: the original IconX, from 2016, had terrible battery life. The successor, a year later, had finicky controls. The first pair of true wireless earbuds to sport the Galaxy brand, 2019's Galaxy Buds, experienced major connectivity problems that required months of updates to fix.It wasn't until 2020 that Samsung's true wireless earbud line hit its stride with the austere, affordable, and ridiculously long-lasting Galaxy Buds+ in February followed up by the now-iconic (and still-weird) bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live in August. The Buds+ laid solid sonic foundations while the Buds Live introduced a welcome redesign to the case and, more importantly, active noise cancelation.Now we have the $160 Galaxy Buds Pro, and in the ways it counts, I'm floored. Samsung continues to r...

For just $15 a month, HBO Max provides subscribers with access to a massive streaming library that includes more than 10,000 hours of film and television content from HBO and WarnerMedia. While the most straightforward way to sign up for HBO Max is through HBO, you can also access HBO Max through cable and mobile providers. Here are the options for getting HBO Max through cable and mobile providers right now.How to get HBO Max through your cable providerIf you already subscribe to HBO through your cable provider, you may already get access to HBO Max at no additional cost or for an extra fee. Here are the providers who offer HBO Max free of charge as part of your current HBO plan.1Tennessee BroadbandAcenTekAcme CommunicationsAdams Cable ServiceAlbany Mutual TelephoneAll West CommunicationsAllen's CommunicationsALLO CommunicationsAlpine CommunicationsAltice OneAltice USAAntietamArmstrongArthur Mutual TelephoneAT&TATC BroadbandAtlantic BroadbandATMCBaldwin ...

If Nokia phones don't get speedy Android 12 access, it could be the straw that breaks the brand's back.The Nokia 9 PureViewSince HMD Global acquired the Nokia Mobile brand in 2016, its smartphone business has mostly stood on three legs: affordability, clean and secure software, and speedy, reliable updates. If you take away one of those legs, a stiff breeze could send its business tumbling, with budget brands like Motorola — or major OEMs with budget phones like Samsung — eager to fill the gap.With the news last week that the Nokia 9 PureView wouldn't receive Android 11 — the second of two promised updates for a flagship phone — HMD Global has broken trust with its loyal customers. And it needs to approach 2022 like it has something to prove."Smartphone updates have been the cornerstone of HMD's value proposition basing it on the vanilla Google Android experience," says Counterpoint Research's VP of Research, Neil Shah. "Deviating from this core promise especially for t...

When it's time to switch from your older Android phone to a new one, you'll want to make sure all of your data makes its way across safely. Thankfully, Google makes it extremely convenient to migrate your texts, call logs, contacts, music, and photos over to your new phone seamlessly.How to back up data on your old Android phoneYou'll need to make sure that all the relevant data on your old phone is backed up to the cloud before you make the switch to your new phone. Google automatically backs up contacts, call logs, texts, and settings — including Do Not Disturb details — to Google Drive, so you'll be able to restore all that data to your new phone just by logging in with your Google account during initial configuration.Best of all, the data that's automatically backed up by Google doesn't count toward your 15GB free Drive storage quota, so you don't have to worry about running out of storage. The feature backs up call history, app data, contacts, device and home screen se...

You're shopping for the best Android TVs the market currently has to offer. But "best" can be subjective. For example, is 4K enough, or do you want specific perks like HDMI 2.1, Dolby Vision/Atmos, or local dimming zones? Do you want an LCD or an OLED? Are you OK with the old Android TV OS, or do you want an upgrade to Google TV? Most importantly, what's your budget? We've gathered our top picks to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, so you'll find the choice that's right for you.What are the best Android TVs?Overall, the Hisense H9G Quantum Series is the best Android TV you can buy in 2021. The television has an excellent 4K ULED display, HDR and Dolby Vision support, and a modern design with plenty of HDMI ports. Even better, you get all of this for an outstanding price.Budget shoppers who see 4K as more than enough should consider the TCL 4-Series for their next Android TV. It's one of the more affordable picks on this list, but still looks pretty stellar for its low pr...

Another year goes by.What you need to knowGoogle has released its Year in Search results for 2021.The list shows trending searches throughout the year for as many as 70 countries.Squid Game, Pokémon Unite, and Bernie Sanders' mittens were among the top trending searches for 2021.With the year coming to an end, Google has released its Year in Search for 2021. Google normally provides this list as a snapshot of trending searches throughout the year, although they don't necessarily represent top searches. Google says that the data is used to identify "topics that saw huge spikes in 2021, which means they're unique to this year compared to last year."As Google highlights in its Year in Search video, many searches highlight just how 2021 was about healing from 2020, whether it be the rollout of vaccines or coming together to fight racial injustice. That said, there were many categories that Google tracked throughout the year, and these are just some of the notable trends ...

Ring ring, no one's home.What you need to knowAmazon Web Services, known as AWS, is experiencing an outage.The outage started spiking around 11:20 am Eastern Time.Ring, Alexa, iRobot, Disney+, Venmo, Prime Video, Prime Music, and many other services that rely on Amazon's cloud systems were affected.Update at 8:20 pm ET: Services are slowly being restored. At this time, it appears that most services are back and operational, although some apps may experience longer than usual load times.Earlier today, AWS — that's Amazon Web Services, or Amazon's massive cloud system — began experiencing connectivity issues with servers located in the East Region, which is located in Virginia. Any services that utilize servers in this region will likely continue to experience issues until the connectivity issues have been resolved. Richard Rocha, an Amazon spokesperson, had this to say about the outage: "There is an AWS service event in the US-East Region (Virginia) affecting Amazo...

Do it all from your couch and remote.What you need to knowAmazon is rolling out a ton of new features for select Fire TV devices.The new Smart Dashboard allows users to easily view and manage their smart home devices from their TV.Alexa Shortcuts brings quick access to certain controls with the click of a button.Fire TV devices can connect to Echo speakers for an immersive home theater experience.Amazon is also bringing support for AirPlay 2, HomeKit, and Zoom.While Amazon deals with its AWS outage, the company has taken the time to drop a ton of new features for its Fire TV devices which turn its smart TVs into smart displays.The first major feature arriving on its TVs is the new Smart Dashboard, which sounds a lot like what it is. For Fire TV users in the U.S. and Canada, this new screen gives users quick and easy access to their smart home devices straight from their television. Users can easily manage their devices from this screen like they can on some of the best ...

More places to play Stadia games.What you need to knowGoogle is adding official Stadia support for LG Smart TVs with a native app starting today.The Stadia app can be downloaded from the LG Content Store for televisions running webOS 5.0 and webOS 6.0.A Stadia controller, compatible third-party controller, or smartphone virtual gamepad is required to play Stadia games on a supported LG Smart TV.Stadia now officially supports LG Smart TVs with its own app beginning today, Google announced. The integration was initially revealed earlier this year by LG.The Stadia app can be downloaded directly to the television from the LG Content Store with no external streaming stick or device required. The app only works with LG Smart TVs running webOS 5.0 and webOS 6.0, which covers the 2020 and 2021 series of LG televisions.All that is required for LG owners is a Stadia account and a compatible controller to start playing some of the best Stadia games streamed to their televisions. T...

New name, new features, same excellent service.Update, Dec 7 (6:45 p.m. ET): Alexa Together is now availableWhat you need to knowAmazon launches Alexa Together, a new version of Alexa Care Hub.Alexa Together has many of the same features as Care Hub, with new additions like a 24/7 Urgent Response helpline and support for third-party fall detection devices.A subscription costs $19 per month or $200 a year, but early adopters can get six months free.A year ago, Amazon announced the Alexa Care Hub as a way to give families peace of mind by giving them a direct line to loved ones that may require extra care. Now, Amazon is upgrading that service and giving it a new name, too: Alexa Together.At its core, Alexa Together is the same service that Amazon launched last year, but gains a few new features that will enhance long-distance caregiving.Alexa Together gives aging loved ones access to 24/7 Urgent Response in case something happens. Another helpful feature is the added s...

One of the biggest perks of having a PlayStation Plus membership is the free games you get every month. The free PlayStation Plus games offered this month include three major titles, all available on either the PS4 or PS5. Check out the list of games below, with downloads available starting Dec. 7. Enjoy the price of free until Jan. 3, 2022.★Unleash magic on your enemiesGodfall: Challenger Edition (PS5 & PS4)Godfall: Challenger Edition doesn't launch until Dec. 7, and it will arrive right on PlayStation Plus when it does. This version of the game comes with a few bonuses for fans, including the ability to jump your character straight to player level 50, the ability to dive right into the endgame, and a handful of new boss rewards.See at PlayStation★ Fun for everyoneLEGO DC Super-Villains (PS4)One of the latest new entries in the DC lego adventure games allows players to try their hand as some of the more iconic villains ever to grace the world of...