Latest from Android Central

Don't you hate when you need an image immediately, but it's buried deep within your library? There's a handy new shortcut for Google Photos that eliminates the hassle of digging around looking for screenshots. It should appear automatically, but if it doesn't, you need to carry out a few extra steps to get it. Here's how you can quickly find screenshots in Google Photos.How to quickly find screenshots in Google PhotosOpen Google Play Store on your Android phone.Search for Google Photos.Update Google Photos to version 5.68.0.410913581.Open Google Photos after updating to check if screenshots appear at the top.If you don't see the shortcut, take a screenshot.Open Google Photos again and you will see the screenshots shortcut on top of your gallery.The screenshots shortcut appears automatically once you have updated Google Photos. Note that your Google Photos app must be on version 5.68.0.410913581 to get it, though. Google started rolling out the screenshots shortcut on...

Customize when your sensitive WhatsApp messages disappear.What you need to knowA new update brings more options for disappearing messages.Now, users will be able to select between 24 hours or 90 days for messages.The update is rolling out to WhatsApp users everywhere.It's been an up and down year for WhatsApp as the Meta-owned company has seen a bit of trials and tribulations in the seucrity department. One of the key features of any of the best messaging apps is the ability to hold private conversations that essentially "self destruct" after a certain amount of time. WhatsApp has had this functionality, but a new update is rolling out providing users with even more options.Once the update arrives, the company states that you will "have the option to turn on disappearing messages by default." Of course, whenever the feature is enabled, the messages will disappear at whichever time you select when setting up the conversation.It's here where we have another change, as Wha...

Acknowledging the safety elephant in the room.What you need to knowUber will allow passengers or drivers to record encrypted audio of their trip through the app.Audio recording is currently only available in three U.S. cities — Kansas City, Louisville, and Raleigh-Durham — as well as twelve Latin American countries.Uber RideCheck has been expanded to detect early stops or route deviations.New "audible seat belt alerts" will ask you to secure yourself at the start of a trip.Even if 99.99% of rideshare trips end without incident, the tiny fraction of outliers can prove traumatic or deadly for passengers or drivers. Case in point, an Uber safety report indicated 9 murders and 3,000 sexual assaults took place in 2018 across 1.3 billion Uber rides.Last week, Uber announced some new safety features in its app to help make rides safer for all parties involved.The company has made some vital updates to Uber RideCheck, its automated tool for contacting drivers and passeng...

Google has promised to bring "more ways to watch for free" in 2022.What you need to knowGoogle has teamed up with Pluto TV to give Google TV users access to over 300 free live TV channels.You can access all the free TV channels from the Live tab. The Pluto TV integration will roll out to all Google TV devices in the coming weeks. Just in time for the holidays, Google has announced that it is joining hands with Pluto TV to bring over 300 free live TV channels to the Google TV platform.Google says the Pluto integration will be available on Chromecast with Google TV and the best 4K TVs from Sony and TCL in the coming weeks. Once the integration rolls out, you'll be able to see what's on from the Live tab and access free live TV recommendations in the For You tab.For a limited time, Google TV users can also get six months of Peacock Premium for free, when activating a new Google TV (or other Android TV device) in the U.S. To redeem the offer, head over to the For You or A...

A workout isn't the same for everyone. You could be lifting in a gym, going for a long run, or out riding a bike, and that's why having the best headphones for your workout can add to your motivation to keep going. Whether it's music, podcasts, or audiobooks that propel you while breaking a sweat, all of these options are capable of delivering something inspirational when you're pushing yourself. So here are some of the best wireless headphones for working out.Best overall: Jaybird Vista 2For durability and audio customization, the Jaybird Vista 2 stand out as one of the best you can find. The original Vista earbuds were a big step in this direction, but this second attempt gets a lot of the otherwise missing pieces right.An IP66 rating gives these a higher water and sweat resistance level for starters, making them well suited to any run or workout. Jaybird considers them to be waterproof, crushproof, drop-proof, and sweatproof, so it's reasonable to expect these earbuds to s...

The Office of the Attorney General says there is nothing in local or federal law that can shield Facebook and other large tech platforms from "the consequences of their own deception."What you need to knowAG Racine has filed a brief that urges the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to allow a private lawsuit that challenges Facebook's claims about removing hate speech from its platform.The brief also urges the court not to grant sweeping immunity to large tech platforms like Facebook.Muslim Advocates had filed a lawsuit against Facebook in April last year to hold the social networking giant accountable for "misleading consumers about the safety of its product." District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine on December 6 filed a brief supporting effort from Muslim Advocates, a national civil rights organization, to hold Meta-owned Facebook responsible for "falsely claiming to remove hate speech from its platform."Urging the Superior Court of the District of ...

The Galaxy Tab S8 series is expected to enter mass production in the first quarter of 2022.What you need to knowMore renders of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab S8 series have leaked.The renders suggest the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will be the only Tab S8 series device to feature a display notch. Rumors suggest the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will feature a 14.6-inch display and Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. Back in October, we got our first look at the design of Samsung's rumored Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. New renders of the upcoming Galaxy Tab S8 series have now surfaced, courtesy of veteran leaker Evan Blass.Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Plus, and S8 Ultra. pic.twitter.com/tQZNW30Dn1— Ev (@evleaks) December 6, 2021The latest renders reveal the Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus will look very similar to the Tab S7 series tablets. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, however, will have a "fresh" design with slimmer bezels and a notch in the top bezel. The leaked render of the Ultra mo...

Put some patina in your step.If you've ever considered putting a skin on your phone, you've undoubtedly heard of Dbrand. The company has been around for a full decade now, offering up precision-cut vinyl skins with plenty of attitude. Coinciding with that 10-year anniversary, Dbrand has launched a limited-time drop of leather skins for most of the best Android phones around, like the Google Pixel 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3.Dbrand sent me a pack of skins for the Galaxy S21, Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 in each of the three available colors, tan, brown, and black. These phone skins are made from real leather and will make your phone smell as wonderful as you'd expect.They'll also patina properly since they're real leather, an effect that takes more time than I have for this review period but can be spurred on more quickly by using Dbrand's leather oils. You apply them just as you would expect — that means peeling it off the 3M paper and sl...

Its new content discovery-oriented design comes to more Android TV models as well.What you need to knowAndroid TV's new Discover interface makes its way to additional TV models.The new experience, which focuses on easy content discovery, is also available in more countries.It introduces a minor change to the home screen interface to help you easily find your streaming apps.Google appears to be expanding the new Android TV interface to more TV models and regions. The new design, inspired by Google TV, includes the Discover tab, which was introduced earlier this year, as well as a minor change to the home screen interface.The new UI for Android TV focuses on making it easier for users to find content that may be of interest to them. It was released in the United States in February, and Google updated the system in July to include new features such as a watchlist in the Discover tab.The new Discover experience is now available on additional TV models, including the Xiaom...

As NVIDIA proclaims in every piece of marketing, the Shield Android TV box is "the streamer for gamers." It also happens to be the best TV streaming box for playing games developed for Android TV from the Google Play Store. Want to start playing? Here are some games to try.If you're wanting some more games to play on the go, then be sure to check out our best Android games list!Note: The NVIDIA Shield TV (2019) is not quite as gamer-ready as its predecessors and the Shield TV Pro (2019). NVIDIA went with a 32-bit version of Android TV and also downgraded the RAM on its tube-shaped streaming dongle to just 2GB. This has affected the base model's compatibility with some 64-bit games from the Play Store including several on this list (Metal Gear Solid 2, Half-Life 2, The Witness, and Portal). Meanwhile, the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro (2019) is still fully compatible to play all games developed for the Shield lineup.Best Android games for NVIDIA Shield:Bridge Constructor PortalClus...

It's time for Wear OS to shine, and experts say more manufacturers are going to adopt it moving forward.The best decision Google made was partnering with Samsung on Wear OS, a much-needed move for the operating system that many people complained about, experts say. However, they have mixed thoughts on why Samsung saw its highest quarterly smartwatch shipments, per a recent report.Published on Nov 22, Counterpoint Research notes in its report that Samsung achieved its highest quarterly shipments with the launch of the Galaxy Watch series, "narrowing the gap with Apple.""With Samsung's move to use Wear OS, the OS's share in the smartwatch market increased to 17% in Q3 2021 from 4% in Q2 2021," the report says.Overall global smartwatch shipments in the third quarter this year increased 16% compared to the same period a year ago. The report notes that the Wear OS market share grew to 17.3% in Q3 2021, up from 3.2% in the same period a year ago.Counterpoint's senior analyst Su...

The update is expected to become widely available for both phones before the end of this month.What you need to knowSamsung's latest foldables have started receiving the Android 12-based One UI 4 update.It could still take a few weeks for the stable update to become widely available.Samsung had expanded its One UI 4 beta program to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 in October.After rolling out the stable One UI 4 update to the Galaxy S21 series, Samsung has now shifted focus to its best foldable phones.According to SamMobile, the first stable Android 12-based One UI 4 update has started rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 phones.The update reportedly arrives as version F711BXXU2BUKM for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and includes the December 2021 Android security patch. For now, however, the rollout appears to be limited to Serbia. Samsung is likely to expand the rollout to a few more countries soon.The One UI 4 update for the Galaxy Z Fold 3, on the other han...

It mostly consists of bug fixes.What you need to knowSamsung is now rolling out another One UI 4 beta update for the Galaxy Note 20 series.The latest beta builds address many of the issues previously found in the Android 12-based software.The update also suggests that the stable One UI 4 for last year's flagship series is just around the corner.Samsung appears to have begun seeding the third One UI 4 beta update based on Android 12 to the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra in the United States, just a few weeks after rolling out two One UI 4 beta builds to the series.The most recent beta update is now available for version ZUL1 of the Note 20, and it contains a host of bug fixes, as spotted by Twitter user Tron. For example, it addresses a previous issue with the battery draining much faster than normal.In addition, Samsung has addressed an authentication error with the fingerprint sensor, as well as some issues with screen brightness and Galaxy Watch 4 crashes. There are...

The OnePlus 10 series joins the first batch of devices to come with Qualcomm's latest flagship SoC.What you need to knowThe upcoming OnePlus 10 series will be powered by Qualcomm's latest flagship processor.Pete Lau made the announcement shortly after the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 was unveiled.OnePlus could introduce its next-generation device in April 2022.Soon after Qualcomm unveiled its latest premium processor, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau confirmed that the company's next-generation flagship series will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.Lau stated on his official Weibo page that the new chispet will be included in the company's next-generation devices (via PhoneArena). He didn't mention the OnePlus 10 and 10 Pro, but that's what the company's next phones will most likely be called.The OnePlus 10 Pro's alleged renders leaked last month, with a design that appeared to be inspired by the Samsung Galaxy S21. The renders revealed a different rear camera array than that foun...

Amazon makes some of the best smart speakers on the market. From the small but helpful Echo Dot to the 10-inch swiveling display of the Echo Show 10, these speakers can do a lot, all from just the sound of your voice. Amazon saves a voice history of your interactions with the smart speakers, along with four other data points to try and improve your experience with the smart speakers. You can view and control everything from the Privacy Hub. Should there come a time where you want to delete the entire Alexa voice history — here's how.How to delete your entire Amazon Alexa voice historyThe Alexa app on your phone does so much to manage your Echo speakers. You can add a smart home device, create Alexa routines, and more, including managing your voice recordings. If you want to review and delete the recordings, here are the steps.Open the Alexa app on your phone.Tap on More, with the three lines in the lower right corner of the screen.Select the gear icon beside Settings.Find...

Latest and greatestSamsung Galaxy Watch 3From $299 at AmazonProsPhysical rotating bezel New sleep and running featuresTrip detectionBuilt-in GPSLTE optionOver two days of battery lifeConsOver $100 more than Watch Active 2Blood-pressure monitoringThe Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 builds on the successes of one of the most popular "Android" watches ever with new features, new colors, and a greater focus on healthy lifestyles. It's truly a next-generation smartwatch aiming to compete with the best from the likes of Apple and Garmin.Still one of our favoritesSamsung Galaxy Watch Active 2From $149 at WalmartProsDigital rotating bezelBuilt-in GPSLTE optionLighter, more streamlined lookMuch cheaper than Galaxy Watch 3Two-day battery lifeConsNo trip detectionBlood-pressure monitoringThe Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has been our favorite smartwatch for Android users since it first debuted in late 2019, and it's likely to stay high on our l...

The phone sets the bar for other manufacturers wanting to build a sustainable device.What you need to knowThe Fairphone 4 has received a top mark on iFixit's repairability standard.iFixit commended the phone's modular design and easily accessible spare parts.The perfect score, however, doesn't mean the phone has a perfect design.The Fairphone 4 debuted in September with significantly improved hardware over its predecessor while maintaining its sustainability and repairability. As a result, it's no surprise that the device has now received an impressive rating on iFixit's repairability scale.The device received a perfect 10/10 from iFixit for its modular design, easy access to critical components, and easily accessible spare parts and repair information. The Fairphone 4 has a removable battery, easily replaceable internal parts, and long-term software updates, in keeping with Fairphone's mission to promote sustainability and reduce e-waste.As iFixit demonstrated, the pho...

New and exciting PS4 releases seem to come out each month, giving dedicated gamers plenty of worlds to choose from. With the PS5 officially here, fans now keep track of multiple new releases and updates more than ever. Fortunately, we've gathered all of the best titles and listed other worthy games for you to consider adding to your collection. Here are all the PS4 and PS5 releases to look out for in December.★ A gigantic expansion - Dec. 7Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker - PS5 & PS4Staff PickWhile technically not a full game release, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is perhaps one of the year's biggest releases, if not this month. The highly-anticipated fourth expansion pack to the Final Fantasy XIV MMORPG arrives as a standalone release for new players. It includes an increased level cap, new areas, two new character classes, and more.$40 at PlayStationDec. 2Solar AshSolar Ash is an adventure platformer that sees players navigate various brightly lit, neon-col...

As big brands support their phones for longer, picking up a year-old flagship might make sense.Flagship smartphones are often where all the hype is in any given release cycle. Yet, in recent years the costs of the super-high-end handsets has advanced far north of the $1,000 mark. If you're buying outright, without a trade-in, one of the best Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will set you back $1,200 before tax. For foldables, it's even more, pushing towards $2,000.Yet, at the same time, the generation-to-generation improvements are often iterative, and the commoditization of smartphone hardware means that older models often sell for much less. The aforementioned S21 Ultra offers improved telephoto cameras, autofocus, and battery life compared to the previous S20 Ultra, but the core experience is largely the same. And the difference in price is striking — a refurbished S20 Ultra can be yours for as little as $699, $500 less than the top-of-the-line 2021 model. ...

Leaked marketing images reveal a smartwatch with no physical bezel.What you need to knowOfficial marketing images of the rumored Google Pixel Watch have cropped up.Google's first smartwatch will likely run Wear OS 3 at launch.The wearable is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2022.Google has been skipping developing its own Wear OS smartwatch for many years, despite having the resources to do so, let alone its long-standing Android wearable platform. However, renders of the Google Pixel Watch surfaced earlier this year, courtesy of Jon Prosser, raising hopes that Google's first smartwatch would be released soon.While the long-awaited Pixel Watch did not make an appearance alongside the Google Pixel 6 series in October, a new report emerged a few days ago claiming that the smartwatch would be unveiled early next year. A new leak now gives us what looks like a solid proof that Google is indeed preparing to launch its own Wear OS smartwatch soon.Jon Prosser has r...

Looking for a new e-reader? We're here to help.There's no shortage of choice if you're in the market for an e-reader, with Amazon alone offering three Kindles across various price points. Amazon has made e-readers for well over a decade now, and in that time, it has dominated thanks to a combination of hardware chops and an outstanding e-book store.The current Kindle lineup starts at $90 and goes all the way up to $250. Whether you're looking to get started with e-readers or are interested in upgrading to a more feature-rich model, these are the best Kindles you can pick up today.Jump to:KindleKindle PaperwhiteKindle OasisBuying ebooksKindle: The ideal starting pointThe $90 Kindle has a lot going for it: incredible battery life, the ability to stream audiobooks over Bluetooth, and now front-facing LEDs so you can read in the dark.The current-generation Kindle is also thinner and lighter than its predecessor, but there are a few drawbacks. It doesn't offer nearl...

The best part is they don't require a Nest Aware subscription as they have in the previous years.What you need to knowGoogle has rolled out new holiday ringtones to both the Nest Doorbell (battery) and Nest Doorbell (wired).The new ringtones do not require a Nest Aware subscription as they have in years past.You can use the holiday-themed chimes to greet your visitors until January 4, 2022.Nest Doorbell owners can now get into the holiday spirit with the rollout of new holiday-themed ringtones for Google's best smart doorbells, including the battery-powered and wired (formerly Nest Hello) versions of the Nest Doorbell.Like last year, the new holiday ringtones include Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's, Winter, and Christmas. However, unlike in the previous years, these ringtones are free this time around, with no Nest Aware subscription required.Each theme features various tones including Jingle Bells, Winter Sleighbells, Ma'oz Tzur, Hanukkah Dreidel and Auld Lang Syne. The ...

An Android media player with Play Store access and the right price would mean never buying another iPod again.I've had a lot of Android devices over the years. Among all the phones and tablets and TV boxes though, my favorite is the lowly Samsung Galaxy Player. I got more mileage out of it than any other Android device, at half the cost of the others. It was cheap as dirt and had a great Wolfson DAC that drove my headphones almost to the breaking point. I used it until it literally stopped working, no matter how many new batteries I stuck in it.That's why one thing I really wanted to see over the Black Friday weekend was a new Android Media player. My wishlist wasn't very long: it needed to have access to the Play Store, it needed to have a decent set of audio specs with a headphone jack, and it needed to be under $300. Needless to say, I was disappointed.You can buy a media player that runs Android. But unless you're willing to spend a ton of money on something that's already ...

Samsung Internet is the stock browser for every Galaxy phone and tablet out there. It's very straightforward to use, so you can opt to use it as your Android browser even if you don't have a Galaxy device. While the navigation bar sits at the bottom, the URL bar is usually found at the top of the browser. To the delight of many users, a new update enables you to change that awkward position. Here's how you can move the URL bar to the bottom of your screen with the Samsung Internet Browser.How to move the URL bar to the bottom of your screen with the Samsung Internet BrowserOpen Samsung Internet Browser.Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner.Select the Settings option.Tap Layout and menu.Choose Bottom under the Address bar position.With that, your Samsung Internet Browser will show the URL bar at the bottom of your phone's screen. It looks far better and is easier to reach with your fingers. All the other controls sit at the bottom, so it doesn't mak...

The company will wait until the new year to determine when US employees will be able to return to their offices.What you need to knowGoogle has canceled its plan to require US employees to return to their offices on January 10.The search giant is deferring decisions on hybrid work setup timelines to its local offices.Google still encourages employees to work in the office "where conditions allow" to gain "muscle memory."Google appears to have pushed back its target date for the mandatory return to office of its US employees to next year. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, announced in August that employees would be required to return on January 10, 2022, but this will not be the case.In an email to employees, security vice president Chris Rackow said Google will no longer adopt a hybrid work setup come January 10 in any of its US offices (via CNBC). Instead, the search giant will let its local offices decide on the timelines for their employees safe return to their offices. Go...

What is VoLTE, and should I even care about it?VoLTE, or Voice over LTE, is how our phones and carriers transmit our voices during a call, so there's good reason to know how to use it and why you should care. All of the major U.S. carriers have rolled out the red carpet for VoLTE on LTE, or what most of us call 4G. By now, VoLTE is most likely available in your area, and if you upgraded your phone in the last few years, you can probably use it. Once you have the right phone and carrier, setting VoLTE up on your phone is very easy and well worth it.Let's take a deeper look.Jump to:What is VoLTE?Which U.S. carriers support VoLTE?How can I use VoLTE?What else do I need to know about VoLTE?Do I need to upgrade my phone to use VoLTE?What is VoLTE?As the name suggests, Voice over LTE happens when your carrier allows you to place a phone call over your LTE connection instead of the older legacy voice networks. For example, Verizon Wireless traditionally used 1XRTT fo...

If you're looking to improve your fitness routine by tracking workouts with an Android smartwatch, there are several options. We recommend the Garmin Vivoactive 4 as the best fitness smartwatch for many reasons. First, you'll have tons of perks, including GPS, activity/sleep tracking, music storage, and full waterproofing. You get a perfect blend of smartwatch perks and fitness tracking features, so it might be just what you're looking for. But other top picks will fit any style or budget, and they're all right here.Best overall: Garmin Vivoactive 4The Garmin Vivoactive 4 isn't the newest watch on the market anymore, but it's still one of the best fitness smartwatches you can buy. Most importantly, it offers some significant upgrades compared to its predecessor, including on-screen workouts, two size options, and music storage is now a standard feature. It's not quite as expensive as it once was, but it's not the cheapest option either. With that said, it's a phenomenal fitnes...

Sony first-party games wouldn't necessarily launch day one into the service.What you need to knowAccording to Bloomberg, Sony is working on a new gaming service codenamed Spartacus.The service would combine PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus, with different tiers available.The service is currently being planned to launch in early 2022. Sony is planning to launch a service to rival Xbox Game Pass, according to a report from Bloomberg. The service, codenamed Spartacus, is meant to combine PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now, and could launch as early as Spring 2022.Spartacus reportedly has three tiers, with the first essentially being PlayStation Plus as it currently exists. The second would add a library of PS4 and PS5 games. The third tier would bundle in game streaming, including access to older PlayStation titles across PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP, similar to how PlayStation Now currently allows subscribers to stream games. The report also suggests that with the introducti...

Setting up festive lighting is one of the most fun parts of decorating for the holiday season. But it can also be frustrating, especially for outdoor lighting. Limited outlets makes placement tricky, inclement weather makes outdoor power bars risky, and having to go outside to turn lights on and off is a pain. In each case, smart plugs or smart strips can really help here, just as they can when setting up for other occasions like Halloween. Here's how they can simplify and improve your holiday lighting, both inside and out.Get smart plugs with multiple outlets, power stripThe best way to maximize a single power outlet is to get one of the best outdoor smart plugs with several outlets, so you can plug in more than one string of lights into it. If you have two power outlets on your porch, for example, getting two smart plugs that have two outlets each will turn that into four so you can plug in more lights, as well as things like holiday inflatables.For the inside or a covered ...

The Locked Folder feature rolled out to Pixel phones in June this year.What you need to knowGoogle Photos' Locked Folder feature has started rolling out to more Android phones.The feature lets users save private photos and videos to a folder protected by their device screen lock. You will find the Locked Folder option inside the Utilities section of the Google Photos app. Earlier this year, Google's Pixel phones became the first devices to get Google Photo's Locked Folder feature. Nearly six months after rolling out to Google's best Android phones, the feature is finally making its way to more Android devices (via Android Police.As per reports, the Locked Folder feature has started showing up on several Samsung, OPPO, and OnePlus phones within the "Utilities" section of the Google Photos app. It is likely that the feature will expand to even more Android phones in the coming weeks.As you'd expect, items moved to the Locked Folder will not be backed up to the cloud. In...

It might stop working accurately after December 13, though.What you need to knowA new browser extension brings back YouTube's dislike counts.The extension relies on data from YouTube's own API to show the dislike counts on videos.However, because the extension uses cached data from YouTube, the dislikes are only updated every two to three days.Google's decision to hide the dislike count on videos might have irked many users, but a group of developers has devised a neat trick to restore that feature, at least for the time being.While the latest change has already kicked in for some users, YouTube's dislike count has now returned through a new open-source extension called "Return YouTube Dislike" (via 9to5Google). It uses a combination of Google's API data and scraped data to fetch dislike counts as well as other details such as views and like counts.When used for public data, YouTube's API still displays dislikes and restores the video sharing platform's old layout. This...

Finding the best Android Auto USB-C cables means looking for a few specific qualities. The cable needs to be able to withstand bends, sudden removals, spills, and so much more. Whether you're learning how to use Android Auto for the first time or are a seasoned veteran, there's always a reason to get a new, or extra, cable. We have found some of the best USB-C cables that you can get for Android Auto.Perfect optionAnker Nylon USB-C to USB-C CableStaff PickAnker's charging cables are practically unmatched in terms of quality and value. This Nylon USB-C cable is extremely impressive with the braided nylon exterior, which is said to last for more than 12,000 bends and is offered in a few different colors and two lengths: 3.3 and 6-foot.From $12 at AmazonStrain reliefCable Matters 3-Pack Slim Series USB-C cableIf you want a no-frills, yet reliable cable to use with Android Auto, then Cable Matters is a great option. This 6.6-foot cable offers "molded strain reli...

The sun is setting on Motorola's budget empire.Considering the price of most new phones these days, $200 is a drop in the bucket. But if you're in the market for something new and only have $200 to spend, it's unlikely that you'll want to pick the new Moto G Power (2022).The best Android phones under $200 are usually well-rounded, but Motorola's latest entry into its G Power series focuses a bit too much on an improved display at the expense of performance. Motorola eschewed Qualcomm for a MediaTek chipset this year, and the dip in performance compared to other Moto phones is painfully noticeable. You'll wait seconds for your phone to respond to inputs or open apps, and you'll rarely notice the 90Hz display upgrade because the processor just can't deliver that refresh rate.Thankfully, the battery life lives up to the series's namesake: it delivers a solid three days on a single charge. But for anyone who wanted an upgrade to one of our favorite budget phones with epic battery l...

The Pixel 6 can be the most personal Android ever — once you fully set it up!The Google Pixel 6 may only be a month old, but Verizon and AT&T were practically giving them away during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. If you got the best Android phone on the market for free last week, congrats! (If you haven't, those deals are still active right now, so go trade up to greatness.With wonderful features, insanely-fast AI thanks to the Google Tensor processor, and a flashy new design to show off its upgraded camera array, Google has worked hard to make it more personal, colorful, and fun. While the initial setup process tries to cover as much as Google can conceivably cram in there, there are always things that you need to configure afterward — assuming you know where to find them. From little-known settings to the most prominent parts of your phone, here's how to make the most of your Pixel 6.Jump to:Call ScreeningQuick SettingsSystem GesturesWi-Fi CallingAss...

You'll need to have the latest Google app beta installed on your phone to use the home screen shortcut.What you need to knowGoogle has added a new home screen shortcut to launch Assistant's Driving Mode.The change appears to have rolled out to users with the latest Google app beta (v12.47). You can also have Driving Mode launch automatically as soon as your phone connects to your car's Bluetooth. Last month, Google made it easier for users to enable Assistant's Driving Mode with a new Bluetooth-based auto-launch feature. As reported by the folks at 9to5Google, the company has quietly introduced a new way to launch Google Assistant's Driving Mode on the best Android phones.The latest Google app beta (v12.47), which began rolling out earlier this week, brings a new home screen shortcut to initiate Driving Mode. If you have the latest Google app beta installed on your phone, you should see the "Add driving mode to Home screen" suggestion chip at the bottom of the app grid. O...

New Alexa features turn your smart speaker into a sound detector for running water and beeping appliances.What you need to knowAmazon has expanded Alexa's sound detection capabilities to recognize water running and appliance beeping.Alexa's motion detection is also now available on more smart speakers to trigger routines when someone is near your device.The Echo Show 15 is also now available for pre-order in the US.Amazon has expanded the sound detection capabilities of Alexa along with more features that make the digital assistant a little smarter.Alexa can now identify the sounds of running water and appliances beeping. This means you can set up an Alexa routine to notify you when the washer beeps to indicate that your laundry is finished. When Alexa detects that your faucet has been left open, it will send you a notification as well so you can take appropriate action.Amazon previously promised at its fall event in September that it would add the ability to program Al...

Spotify Wrapped is getting all the attention, though.What you need to knowYouTube Music Year in Review has started rolling out for some users.It will apparently appear for users with more than 10 hours of listening.Spotify Wrapped has effectively taken over the world in its absence.While everyone is busy posting their Spotify Wrapped stats everywhere you look, YouTube Music appears to be slow on the uptake. However, it seems that some users can access the app's new Year In Review, but the results may vary.As pointed out by 9to5Google, a user on Reddit posted a video of their YouTube Music "2021Recap," which suggests that the feature may be renamed for this year. It appears that the recap is accessible from the settings menu found in the user profile thumbnail.From the video, you can see that the feature lists your top artists, playlists, songs, and even new music discovered over the year and in the last 30 days.Interestingly, the feature doesn't appear to be widely ...

Qualcomm's plan is working.What you need to knowThe Federal Trade Commission has announced that it's suing to block NVIDIA's Arm merger.The Commission claims that the acquisition would stifle competition.The move comes after a lengthy investigation by the FTC that began earlier this year.In what could be the biggest setback to NVIDIA's proposed acquisition of Arm, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is suing to block the merger.The reasoning behind the move echoes what other government agencies and regulators have been saying since the acquisition was announced; that the merger would stifle competition and innovation."Tomorrow's technologies depend on preserving today's competitive, cutting-edge chip markets," says FTC Bureau of Competition Director Holly Vedova in a statement. "This proposed deal would distort Arm's incentives in chip markets and allow the combined firm to unfairly undermine Nvidia's rivals. The FTC's lawsuit should send a strong si...

PS5 stock is selling out fast, so be sure to have your credit card ready.Looking to buy a PS5? Well, so are millions of other people. It doesn't help that stock levels remain really tight, even nearly a year after its launch. Every time a retailer puts stock up for sale, it sells out super quickly. The longest we here at Android Central have seen PS5s stay in stock is between 15 to 20 minutes (often just a few minutes, though). That's also at random times, so finding a PS5 is a truly challenging task. Sony warned it will be hard to find stock throughout the year and well into 2022, but retailers promise more are coming and that Sony has secured additional semiconductor chips to make them.In our PS5 review, we called the system a technical marvel with a groundbreaking controller. And after spending a few months with the PS5, it's nearly impossible to go back to the PS4. Everything about the PS5 is better, from the games to the DualSense haptic feedback. So you'll want to experienc...

Yet another Pixel Watch launch rumor...What you need to knowGoogle's first smartwatch is tipped to launch sometime in 2022.The device will track health metrics and currently requires daily charging.The watch could arrive in the spring, although that depends on feedback from testers.Pixel Watch rumors have been a bit scarce leading up to and following the launch of the Pixel 6 series. However, Insider is drumming up more anticipation for the elusive device with a few more tidbits, including when we might expect a launch.We stress "might" because rumors of the Pixel Watch have come and gone, and years later, we're still left without anything concrete. However, Insider says that the launch could occur as early as spring 2022, depending on how testing goes.Sources told Insider that work on the watch has accelerated this year and that Google has been "dogfooding" the device for feedback. That refers to the process of letting employees outside of the smartwatch team test the ...

Smart home devices are becoming more common these days, and that's in part to the excellent Google Assistant speakers and that the best smart lights don't have to be the most expensive ones. Smart lights are one of the easiest ways to add voice control to parts of your home, and being able to set up smart lights in the Google Home app is the first step to hands-free lighting in your house.How to set up your smart lights in the Google Home appBefore you can add lights to your Google Home app, you'll need to set them up in the app that works with the brand you purchased. So, if you bought Philips Hue lights, you'll first add them in the Hue app, LIFX in the LIFX app, and so on. Once you have done that, you're ready to add them to the Google Home app.Open the Google Home app on your phone.Tap the + in the upper left corner.Select Set up device.Choose the option Works with GoogleFind the brand of the device you added by either scrolling or tapping on the magnifying glass and...

While most eyes are drawn to that distinctive back and camera bump on the Google Pixel 6, the screen upfront is nothing to sneeze at either. This 6.4-inch 90Hz screen already has the protection of Gorilla Glass Victus, but to be perfectly honest, that's not enough. After all, glass can still scratch, and if your phone falls face first, the only real way to avoid a shattered green is a high-quality tempered glass screen protector. While tempered glass screen protectors still have some caveats right now, these are the very best Pixel 6 screen protectors you can buy right now.Made for Google certifiedZagg InvisibleShield Glass Elite+Staff PickZagg's tempered glass screen protector is a slim handful that is certified Made for Google for the Pixel 6. This means you won't have to worry about any wonk with the fingerprint sensor, and you get a top-quality tempered glass protector to help your screen avoid shatters.$50 at Best BuyMilitary toughnessTOCOL Google Pixel 6 Tempere...

Because the U.S. healthcare system is just a hot mess.What you need to knowGoogle is adding new features to Search to make it easier to find healthcare.Users will be able to filter for doctors that accept Medicare.Doctors can now list what languages are spoken at their offices.Open Enrollment is upon us for those of us that live in the U.S. That means it's time to shop around for healthcare plans for 2022. However, if you live in the U.S., you know how much of a mess the healthcare system is and how confusing it can be to find the right doctor. Google wants to help alleviate some of that confusion with a couple of new features it's introducing in Google Search.Google highlights how when using Search or Maps to find doctors in your area, you can quickly look up the types of insurance they accept. This is usually found in the business information under the operating hours.Google is expanding on this by allowing users to easily filter for doctors who accept Medicare, typic...

More party games to stream.What you need to knowThe Jackbox Party Pack 7 launches for Stadia on Dec. 7.Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires will be coming to Stadia, though no release date announced yet.The game will be coming to PC and consoles in North America and Europe on Feb. 15, 2022, but the Stadia version will receive a different launch date.Google revealed two more games coming to the Stadia platform: The Jackbox Party Pack 7 and Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires.The Jackbox Party Pack 7 includes five games with Quiplash 3, the cooperatively chaotic The Devils and the Details, drawing fighting game Champ'd Up, on-the-spot public-speaking game Talking Points, and pop culture guessing game Blather 'Round. The party game collection launches for Stadia on Dec. 7, almost a month after its sequel, The Jackbox Party Pack 8, initially released for Google's service.Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires will also be coming to Stadia, though no release date has been announced specifically for the St...

If you're the proud owner of an Oculus Quest 2 (or Meta Quest 2, whatever you want to call it), PlayStation VR, or are just looking forward to the PSVR 2, developers just unveiled a ton of new games on the Upload VR Winter Showcase for you to celebrate.The bi-annual Upload VR Showcase is now on its fifth show and has previously revealed tons of new titles with every show. It's a bit like the PC Gamer's PC Gaming Show in that it's designed to be an industy-wide showcase of upcoming titles for all of VR, although the industry primarily supports the Quest and PlayStation VR platforms due to their popularity. Without further ado, here's everything announced at the 2021 Upload VR Winter Showcase!Cities: VRQuest 2, Spring 2022Cities: Skylines is coming to VR for the first time ever as the appropriately-titled Cities: VR. Just as you'd expect from the series, Cities: VR brings the city-bulding sim into a more personally interactive medium exclusively on the Quest 2 this coming s...

Smart lighting isn't just limited to turning your bulbs on and off from your phone or changing their colors by asking Alexa. With the best smart light bulbs, you can even soup up your gaming rig with lights that follow the rhythm and beats of your games, turning your entire room into a living visualizer. These are some of the top smart lights for gaming to consider.Bulbs for your lampsPhilips Hue White and Color Ambiance - LED Smart BulbStaff PickIf you don't already have an elaborate smart lighting rig, why not start simple with a couple of bulbs? You can start with one, two, or however many Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance bulbs you want and connect directly to your phone via Bluetooth. No hub needed. Philips Hue partners with gaming brands like Razer so that your lights can match the changing colors of your Chroma-powered peripherals.$100 at Amazon (3 Pack)$100 at Best Buy (3 Pack)$112 at Walmart (2 Pack)Ambient glowPhilips Hue Bluetooth Smart LightstripJ...

The first beta build for the Note 10 series is currently available only in South Korea.What you need to knowSamsung's One UI 4 beta program is now live for the Galaxy Note 10 series phones.The first One UI 4 beta has been rolled out to beta testers in Samsung's home market. Samsung is expected to release the stable Android 12 update for the Galaxy Note 10 series sometime in January 2022. Samsung has released the first Android 12-based One UI 4 beta for the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+. While the beta program is currently live for the two phones only in South Korea, it is likely to expand to users in other countries soon.One UI 4 Beta for Galaxy Note10 / Note10+ has started in Korea.4GB RAM Plus (virtual RAM) included. pic.twitter.com/VBtU0Fmfg4— Tron ❂ (@FrontTron) December 2, 2021Once the beta program goes live in your country, you'll be able to join it from the Samsung Members app. After you finish signing up, head over to Settings > Software update to downlo...

Synology unveils its first Wi-Fi 6 router alongside key updates to Surveillance Station and cloud networking products.Synology had a great 2021; it extended its lead as the manufacturer of the best home NAS servers, and while it hasn't released as many new models as it usually does, its existing portfolio continues to sell remarkably well.The biggest change came not in the form of hardware, but software: the brand's long-running DSM interface got an update to DSM 7.0 with a fresh design and exciting new features. With 2022 around the corner, Synology is showing off what's on the horizon at its Synology 2022 and Beyond launch event.Synology highlighted a lot of products, and in this post I'm going to focus on four areas: networking, DSM updates, Surveillance Station, and the brand's cloud networking products. So let's take a look at what Synology has in store for the coming months, and why you should be excited.Jump to:Wi-Fi 6 routerDSM 7.1Surveillance StationC2 cloud...

While PlayStation Plus is usually a requirement to play online multiplayer, there are notable exceptions to this rule. Most free-to-play games allow people to enjoy online multiplayer matches without needing to be active PlayStation Plus subscribers. If you're wondering which games fall into this category, we've created a list of some of the best online games you can play without PS Plus. Should you want to see the complete list of free-to-play games offered on PS4 and PS5, Sony has an entire section of its store dedicated to just that.Jump to:Genshin ImpactRocket LeagueCall of Duty: Warzone DauntlessApex LegendsFortniteFinal Fantasy 14NeverwinterSmiteBrawlhallaDC Universe OnlineWarframePaladins: Champions of the RealmStar Trek OnlineGenshin ImpactThough it has a PS5 version in the works, Genshin Impact can be played on Sony's latest console through backward compatibility. This fantasy RPG thrusts players into the world of Teyvat, where elemental gods a...

The best tablets and large-screened smartphones are designed for you to use your fingers to navigate menus and screens, type, select, and more. But you can also use the best stylus for Android phones and tablets to do all of the above. A stylus offers better precision, particularly with tasks like coloring, jotting down digital notes, or selecting items in a detailed document or spreadsheet. They're beneficial for those with large hands, fingers, and/or thumbs who find it difficult to manipulate small text on the screen. The absolute best option for a Samsung Galaxy device is an S Pen Pro, but if you're looking for an alternative or have another tablet brand or smartphone, there are alternatives worth considering, too.Fine-point stylusAdonit Dash 4Staff PickThis universal stylus for Android phones and tablets features a fine-tip point that mimics a paper-like drag. You can replace the nibs and top-up the charge via a unique wireless USB C dongle. With a 15 hour up time, thi...