Latest from Android Central

Skullcandy's latest wireless earbuds pack high-end features into an affordable package.There are a lot of excellent wireless earbuds these days. While many of the top options out there are quite expensive, there are still some pretty great cheap wireless earbuds too — but not all cheap earbuds are good earbuds. Many have poor sound quality and lack modern features we have come to expect from our tech. The new Skullcandy Grind Fuel and Push Active are looking to break that stigma and offer great sound and a host of high-end customization, but at an affordable price.Skullcandy has been making audio accessories since 2003, and though the brand isn't new to the headphone or earbud game — its new Skull-IQ Smart Feature is. The introduction of Skull-IQ brings a custom voice assistant as well as some audio personalization options to the Grind Fuel and Push Active. Skullcandy is doing this while keeping the price of these new earbuds under the $100 mark — is it worth it? Let's find...

It's complicated.Android 12 — or "Snow Cone" if you prefer — officially launched October 4. But good luck finding an official update on any existing phones, outside of public beta builds for Samsung and OnePlus devices. So instead, Google's official announcement of Android 12's release to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) states: Keep an eye out for Android 12 coming to a device near you, starting with Pixel in the next few weeks, and Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi devices later this year.It's highly unusual for the open-source release of a new version of Android to not be accompanied by official updates for Google's phones. Even before the Pixel series, Nexus phones were guaranteed day-one updates when a new version dropped. So what's going on here? Is Android 12 really finished and ready to go, or is Google pulling a fast one? The Android bits are done, but the Pixel bits aren't.To answer this, we need to unpick the Android...

Having dispatched the Rams in clinical fashion last weekend, Kyler Murray and co will be looking to once again underline their growing reputation as the league's team to beat.Read on for full details on how to watch 49ers vs Cardinals, no matter where you are in the world.The 49ers will be hoping for more of the same from Murray, who completed 24 of his 32 passes for 268 yards, with two touchdowns, adding a further 39 yards on the ground, ensuring Arizona hold the mantle as the lone unbeaten team in the NFL.The Redbirds today come up against a 49ers side laid low by big injuries with rookie quarterback Trey Lance set to start thanks to a crisis that has claimed key men George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo.Despite making an impressive appearance stepping in for Garoppolo for the 49ers during their 28-21 defeat to the Seawahks in Game Week 4, it looks like a tough assignment for Lance who would come up against a defense that forced two turnovers against the Rams last weekend.Read ...

The new and upcoming features are meant to make the platform "more inclusive and accessible."What you need to knowYouTube has announced a bunch of new caption and audio capabilities meant to improve its accessibility.The platform's live auto captions feature is now live for all creators.A slate of upcoming audio and caption features are also set for launch later this year.YouTube has lifted previous limitations to its accessibility features for live streams with new improvements for its caption and audio capabilities, along with more features meant to make content more accessible to all types of viewers.One of the platform's useful capabilities that's seeing an expansion is automatic livestream caption. The feature is no longer restricted to creators with over 1,000 subscribers, as YouTube has made it available to all creators. The most recent change should make live streams more accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.YouTube intends to expand the featur...

It may not have been the fight the majority of the boxing world may have wanted - but this trilogy showdown between the Gypsy King and the Bronze Bomber has all the potential to deliver in spades - read on for your full guide to watching a Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 live stream.Fury's expected Battle of Britain unification fight with Anthony Joshua earlier this year was scuppered following Wilder's successful court battle to line up this third and final fight, and with Joshua's defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month, who tonight's victor fights next now looks unclear.The last time these fighters met was last February's match up which saw Fury end Wilder's five-year championship reign after dropping the American twice before the fight was stopped in the seventh round.That fight followed the original meeting between the two men which saw the Gypsy King somehow manage a super-human comeback from two heavy knockdowns to earn a split decision draw.Having originally been scheduled ...

No longer want to use WhatsApp? Deleting your account is easy.There are all sorts of reasons you may want to delete your WhatsApp account. Maybe you decided it falls short compared to Telegram or Signal, or you're leery of how WhatsApp shares your data with Facebook. More likely, you were hit by the recent six-hour Facebook outage — the second such outage this year — and decided enough is enough.Whatever your reasons, deleting your WhatsApp account is a decision that should not be made lightly, as doing so will permanently erase all of your data. Even if you choose to reactivate your account in the future, your deleted data will still be gone and unable to be recovered.So before you decide, choose which app will replace it. That way, you can save your chat history to the replacement app before you delete WhatsApp, making the transition less final. For example, we have guides on how to transfer your WhatsApp messages to Telegram or transfer them to Signal.With that out of ...

Dodgy monetization practices are casting a shadow over Roblox's kid-friendly reputation. Is it still worth it?Roblox is the free-to-play massively popular online game platform and game creation system that allows users to program and share games online. Its incredible popularity stems from its availability since it's free on PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and Xbox One. Because of this, Roblox has attracted millions of younger gamers to its virtual playground ever since it launched in 2004.A question often asked by people curious about Roblox is if paying for the game is worth it. Like other free-to-play games, Roblox can be enjoyed for free but offers bonuses for those willing to pay for a Roblox Premium membership. So is paying for Roblox worth it? It can be, depending on how you play.What does the Premium membership include?Roblox offers three different Premium monthly membership options for players. Each tier costs $4.99, $9.99, and $19.99, respectively, and offers a monthly sti...

Gotta catch 'em all, or at least the couple of dozen in Pokémon Unite at the moment.Pokémon Unite is officially out for the Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. For anyone who hasn't picked up the game just yet, fans can already begin to look ahead to figure out which potential Pokémon they'll want to use in what promises to be one of the best Android games out.For those unaware, Pokémon Unite pits teams of five trainers against each other, each armed with just a single Pokémon. Pokémon can evolve, hold items to improve their standing, and even learn new moves during battle. Here are all of the Pokémon Unite playable Pokémon characters so far.Jump to:Pokémon Unite rosterRoles and Battle Type systemsAre more Pokémon coming?Pokémon licensesAre any Pokémon free? Pokémon Unite playable charactersOnly 25 Pokémon are currently available in the game, each broken up by one of five types — Attacker, All-Rounder, Defender, Speedster, and Supporter. More P...

New smartphones are slowly coming down in price, but the best are still pricey.Every year, smartphones get better and smarter, but those improvements come at a price. Literally. A decade ago, paying $1,000 for a new smartphone seemed absolutely ludicrous. But today, it's more or less the norm for a high-end iPhone or Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Sure, things are starting to come back down and level out a bit, but if you want the best of the best, you're expected to shell out a pretty penny.With that in mind, we want to know how much you'd be willing to pay for a new smartphone.Poll: How much would you be willing to pay for a smartphone?While smartphone prices appeared to be getting out of hand, there have been signs that things are improving. For instance, Samsung lowered the starting price of this year's Galaxy S21 series, as well as the still-pricey foldable. Sure, you're still paying $1800 for a Galaxy Z Fold 3, but it's cheaper than its predecessor was at launch.Apple al...

The big leak that we've been waiting forWhat you need to knowThe Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro product pages have been accidentally published.This confirms many of the new features that are coming to the devices.Features coming include 'Magic Eraser', camera-based translation, and more.Google recently announced that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro launch event will be held on October 19. But that hasn't stopped the leaks from appearing anyways, as we've seen with the leaked Pixel 6 Pro assembly video and a series of images provided by Evan Blass (@evleaks).Blass is at it again, at least kind of, as the latest leak shows us pretty much everything there is to know about the upcoming Google phones. It seems that someone over at Carphone Warehouse (based in the U.K.) didn't get the memo, and has published the landing pages for both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.Pretty much all of the images line up with what Blass revealed early in the week, showing off both phones, the U.K. charger, a...

These are the best shows on NBC's Peacock streaming service right now.NBC's Peacock streaming service is the digital hub for new and old NBC series, Peacock originals, and a variety of content from other networks. And with both a free tier and two premium plan options, there's lots of content to choose from. With that in mind, we've rounded up the best Peacock shows available right now.PeacockFind your NBC favorites and moreFrom $5/mo. at PeacockAll the shows, movies, and sports you wantNBC's Peacock streaming service is the exclusive home for iconic NBC series like The Office and shows from a collection of other networks. You also find a rotating lineup of free and premium movies.Best Peacock showsOriginal series on PeacockCurrent series on PeacockWWE on PeacockComedy series on PeacockThriller series on PeacockPeacock OriginalsIn addition to various classic series and shows that are currently airing new episodes on TV, Peacock features a lineup of...

You could DIY a local storage camera system, or you can sort through all the different plans from all the different manufacturers. Or you could just say, screw it, and forget about it.Are you in the market for a new smart camera setup for your home or small business? The good news is, you have plenty to choose from. The bad news is, you'll probably end paying for cloud storage. You might even end up paying for things you never needed or wanted.I'm not picking on any single manufacturer here. Whether you go with the big dogs like Amazon's Ring or Google's Nest systems, a well-regarded name brand like Arlo, or even the cheapest models from China, each comes with several different tiers of cloud storage above and beyond the free level. And even the best wireless home security cameras usually don't have the best option of all: expandable local storage.Case in point: Amazon's Ring doorbell comes with "free" cloud storage. Or does it? A quick look at the plans show that nothing your ...

America's longest running late-night sketch comedy show returned to TV for the start of its 47th season last week but this week Kim Kardashian West will be hosting the show for the first time and we have all the details on how you can watch Saturday Night Live on TV or online.After filing for divorce from her husband and rapper Kanye West back in February, Kim Kardashian West is ready to move on with her career and what better way to do so than by hosting SNL.In a first-look video released ahead of Saturday's episode, the reality TV star joked to SNL cast member Cecily Strong and this week's musical guest Halsey that hosting the show will be easy. However, Kim may have been playing things cool as she has apparently reached out to Kanye for advice and she feels a lot of pressure and wants to wow the show's live studio audience as well as fans watching at home. Apparently the rapper has advised her on her performance, her opening monologue and even the costumes she'll wear on SNL. ...

All Pokémon are S+ tier in my eyes. Except Stunfisk. I do not much care for Stunfisk.A new take on a long-established formula, Pokémon Unite pits teams of 5 trainers against each other, each armed with just a single Pokémon. Pokémon can evolve, hold items to improve their standing, and even learn new moves during battle, but some Pokémon have natural advantages over others which is why we're heartlessly ranking them here. But let the record show that if my editor let me, this would be a tier list based on how huggable these cuties are.Tragically for me, we're instead ranking them based on how well they perform overall, along with how they perform in their respective categories of All-Rounder, Attacker, Defender, Speedster, and Supporter.Only a fraction of all (extremely huggable) existing Pokémon are currently represented in Unite—there are just 25, including a limited-time Zeraora. That may be good news for early adopters, though, as a more concise roster makes it easi...

It's compatible only with a handful of Arlo cameras, though.What you need to knowArlo cameras now let Google Assistant speakers and displays send you voice alerts when motion has been detected.You'll receive voice announcements when an Arlo camera detects a person, package, vehicle, or even an animal within its field of view.The new feature requires an Arlo Secure subscription and is compatible with a few Arlo camera models.Arlo has updated its Google Assistant integration to support voice alerts, allowing your Nest Hub to verbally alert you when an Arlo camera detects motion.The latest update expands the capabilities of Arlo's smart motion detection alerts. When you connect your camera to Google Home, Assistant-powered speakers and displays will make voice announcements when Arlo detects a person or animal outside your door. Other activities, such as when a package arrives or a vehicle passes by, will also be detected.Of course, you'll have to connect your Arlo camer...

It wasn't as bad this time.Update, Oct 8 (18:00 ET): Instagram is back upWhat you need to knowFacebook's apps and services are reportedly down again, particularly Instagram.The company is aware and working to fix the problem.This comes just after a massive outage took Facebook's platform down earlier this week.Facebook can't seem to get it together. After dealing with a massive outage earlier this week that left its services unusable for nearly six hours, the company is dealing with yet another outage affecting its apps, including Instagram.It's unclear how widespread the problems are for each particular app, but Downdetector has shown an increase in reports across Facebook's services.The company is aware that users are facing issues with its apps and says that it's working quickly to get service restored.We're aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We're working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and we apologize...

Best answer: Just like the PS4, the PS5 supports external hard drives and SSDs up to 8TB, so that's the maximum amount of storage you can have in addition to its built-in SSD. When it comes to internal storage options, your SSD can only go up to 4TB.Why do I need more storage on my PS5?Every PS5 comes packed with an 825GB internal SSD, and only about 667GB of that is usable for your games. When games can reach 50GB to even 100GB each, that only leaves room for a handful. And if you happen to buy smaller games around 20GB, you're still looking at a few dozen that you can store at any one time. If you play games frequently, you likely have more games than that. Since it can be a hassle to continually delete and redownload games, you'll want to pick up some extra storage.Does the PS5 support internal SSDs?Though the PS5 didn't launch with internal SSD support, it was later added in an update for all players. It can be a bit of a hassle to add an SSD because you need to take the ...

A chaotic, high-energy take on arcade dungeon crawling, wrapped up in a delightfully spooky setting.The spook train does not stop this month, and I'm determined to keep digging up as many spooky, scary games as I can get my hands on. The thing is, after a head-scratching puzzler like last week's featured game, I'm more in the mood for something a bit less pensive and a bit more smack-a-ghost-in-the-face. Enter Candies n' Curses, a sugary cute arcade rogue-lite with all the Halloween flare required for playability this month.Candies n' Curses opens on a party full of kids playing truth or dare. Molli Pop is one tough cookie, and she would never choose truth like a pansy, so her friends dare her to go into the town's haunted mansion. Full of the adrenaline and stupidity that only comes with youth, she agrees and bikes down the road to the terribly imposing house of horrors. It's much scarier than she expected, and once she's through the front door, a sinister breeze blows it closed...

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 across the back that adds grip and style. The bumper here has a new ultra-textured section, but some might find it abrasive.$16 at Amazon $17 at WalmartGrippy and understatedSpigen Liquid Air ArmorIf you want grip without a case that glows like...

The 2021 Formula 1 season continues after an upset at last month's Russian Grand Prix which saw Mercedes' Hamilton take the lead over Red Bull's Verstappen. This weekend teams and drivers will be in Akfirat, Turkey for the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix and we have all the details on how you can watch the race on TV or online.The first Turkish Grand Prix was held in 2005 immediately after the $40 million Hermann Tilke-designed Intercity Istanbul Park finished construction. The German engineer and racing driver has designed a number of Formula 1's best tracks including the Red Bull Ring in Austria, the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan and even the Sochi Autodrom where last month's Russian Grand Prix was held.The Intercity Istanbul Park has a total of 14 turns, a circuit length of 3.29 miles (5.33km) and drivers will complete 58 laps before finishing the 192 mile (309km) race. Columbia's Juan Pablo Montoya currently holds the best lap record of one minute and twenty four seconds which he s...

Custom and cheapTelloFrom $5/mo. at TelloProsFast T-Mobile coverage with 5GCreate your custom planWorks with most unlocked phonesChange plan at any timeHotspot on every planConsNo multi-line discountsPhone selection is weakTello keeps it simple with just one plan that can grow or shrink with your needs. With as much as 25GB of high-speed data and unlimited talk and text, even heavy users can create a plan that works. Light users can also get a cheap plan with just the basics. Tello includes calling to more than 60 international locations for free.Tons of dataStraight TalkFrom $30/mo. at Straight TalkProsChoose from Big Three networksTons of data with the top planMobile Protection optionMulti-month plans are availableHotspot on most plansConsQuite expensive for a prepaid carrierInternational limited to 15 unique numbersStraight Talk's plans are true to the carrier's name with straightforward data amounts, features, and pricing....

The phone could debut sometime early next year.What you need to knowA new rumor claims Xiaomi's Redmi Note 11 series phones could support 120W charging speeds.Xiaomi's Redmi Note 10 series phones only support 33W fast charging. Currently, the only Xiaomi Android phones with 120W wired charging are the flagship Mix 4 and 11T Pro.Xiaomi's Redmi Note 10 Pro Max successor could be its first budget phone to support 120W charging, according to a new Weibo post by tipster Digital Chat Station.Xiaomi's best budget Android phones — including the Redmi Note 10 Pro and Pro Max, support 33W wired charging. The Chinese variant of the Redmi Note 10 Pro is the only budget phone from Xiaomi to offer 67W fast charging.Currently, 120W charging is limited to a handful of flagship Android flagship phones. Xiaomi's Mi 10 Ultra, which was launched in August last year, was the first phone to come with ultra-fast 120W charging. Xiaomi's 2021 lineup includes just two Android phones with 120W ...

It's good that we have so many great messaging options.What you need to knowAfter the massive Facebook outage this week, we wanted to know which messaging platforms our readers relied on.Fully 30% of WhatsApp users pivoted to their default SMS app.Almost an equal number took up Telegram, while nearly as many switched to Signal.When a service as large and interconnected as Facebook goes down, it affects just about everyone and everything we do, including how we communicate with each other on our Android phones. Monday's outage not only affected Facebook proper, but its messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and even Instagram DMs. Given that billions of people worldwide rely on these services, we wanted to know how their absence affected our readers and which messaging apps they turned to during the outage (and after).It seems at least some of the major competitors fared well, with Telegram saying it gained 70 million new users this week, and Signal also reported a ...

All of the essentials in one efficient wearable.Garmin has maintained a reputation for offering wearables that are rich with many essential features, and the Vivoactive 4 continues that trend. If you're looking for a model that's not super advanced but does a super job of tracking key health and fitness metrics, this is probably the best Android smartwatch for you. Some of the main features include activity and sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, onboard GPS, blood oxygen tracking, stress monitoring, on-screen workouts, and more.This wearable is an ideal option for those who want more than a basic activity tracker, but don't want to spend a fortune on a premium watch that's loaded with features they won't use. The Vivoactive 4 is a perfect mid-range option, which happens to be pretty affordable compared to some of the other top Garmin smartwatches on the market right now.You won't have to worry about an overly bulky design that puts a damper on your sense of style. The Vivoa...

While I have dabbled in smartwatches on other platforms, I always go back to using Wear OS in the end. The same can be said for music when picking my favorite from the list of excellent music streaming services. However, my primary was always Google Play Music, and when it rolled into YouTube Music — I gravitated that way as well. One thing that didn't transition over to Wear OS devices when Google Play Music shutdown was a wearable app for the new music service. Thankfully, that's changed. While initially, the app was only for the Galaxy Watch 4, it started showing up for older watches running Wear OS 2.. With that said, let's get into how you can start using YouTube Music on Wear OS watches.How to download music from YouTube Music onto Wear OS smartwatchesIn its current form, YouTube Music for Wear OS is only for offline listening. So you won't be able to stream your music directly through your watch.So, before we go over how to use YouTube Music on your Wear OS watch, you'...

Galaxy S21 UltraThe default choiceFrom $1,000 at SamsungProsQHD+ AMOLED with 120Hz dynamic refreshSnapdragon 888 delivers incredible powerWorks with the S PenIP68 dust and water resistanceThree years of Android updatesTakes great photos in any lightingConsNo microSD slotDoesn't last as long as the iPhoneThe Galaxy S21 Ultra continues to set the standard for Android. You get the latest hardware that breezes through demanding games, a 120Hz screen that's one of the best you'll find today, cameras that take beautiful photos in any condition, water-resistance, wireless charging, and three Android version updates.iPhone 13 Pro MaxOutstanding battery life$1,099 at AmazonProsTruly amazing battery lifeSublime 120Hz screenFastest internal hardware on a phoneIP68 dust and water resistanceStandout cameras with class-leading videoFive years of software updatesConsUses a Lightning connectorNo always-on modeCutout is annoyingThe iPhone 13 Pro ...

As the OG Pixel and Pixel XL celebrate their fifth birthday, we look back on two groundbreaking phones from Google and HTC.This month marks the fifth anniversary of the Google Pixel series — half a decade of ups and downs as Google has attempted to navigate the notoriously competitive global smartphone market. In just a few weeks, the company will take the wraps off its most ambitious handsets yet, with the launch of the Google Pixel 6 series. But until then, there's time to reflect on five years of Pixels — devices which are often trailblazing and confounding in equal measure.Before the Pixel, the closest thing to a Google phone was Nexus, and with that product line, things worked a bit differently. Google would solicit designs from manufacturer partners each year and then choose a winner to work with, bringing a new Nexus-branded phone to market with a fresh version of Android each winter. The resulting devices were often unique but rarely among the best Android phones mone...

Working from home is a reality for many people now, and whether it's full-time or part-time, having a pair of the best headphones for Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and other video calls is even more important. These come in a variety of different types — and for different devices — which is why the Bose NCH 700 lead the way at the head of the pack through their great balance of sound quality, active noise cancelation (ANC), and microphone performance. Here are some of the best headphones to consider for your home office.Best overall: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700While not technically headphones made for office productivity and communication, nothing gets in the way of the Bose NCH 700. Their sound quality is already excellent, with a balanced soundstage that delivers a nice mix of highs, mids and lows that will make listening to music during work hours more than enjoyable. That sound signature pays off for talking to people through video, too.If your home is about as lo...

The Amazon Echo Show 15 not only hangs on your wall but can learn to recognize your face. That's because it has a new piece of Amazon-designed silicon inside dubbed the Amazon AZ2 Neural Engine.Yes, Amazon custom designs ARM chips. The AZ2 isn't even the first one (hence the 2), but it's a lot more capable than the AZ1, which powers some of the best Alexa speakers and offers something new for Amazon — edge computing.If you're not sure what edge computing is, this chip and what it does actually makes it easy to understand. All the processing to learn and recognize your face is done using machine learning through the chip itself and nothing needs to be sent across the internet to make that happen.I still think any computer learning to recognize human faces is pretty creepy but doing it locally instead of through a remote server is pretty cool. Also, you have to opt-in for this feature, so you can still buy Amazon's new Echo Show 15 even if you think it's creepy like I do. But e...

After its most-watched season in three years, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran and the rest of the Sharks are back with brand new episodes and we have all the details on how you can watch season 13 of Shark Tank on TV or online.Shark Tank first premiered in the US back in 2009 but the business reality TV series is based on the format of the UK series Dragons' Den which debuted in 2005. However, Dragon's Den is actually a spin-off of the Japanese show The Tigers of Money.In each episode of Shark Tank, four different entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists (known as the Sharks) with the hope of securing financing from them. However, before pitching their ideas, the entrepreneurs have already named a specific amount of money they wish to get as well as a percentage of their business that they're willing to sell to the investors. If the Sharks like an idea, they will negotiate with the entrepreneurs as well as with each other for a percentage of the ...

You can now access the web right from your smartwatch, albeit on a tiny screen.What you need to knowSamsung's internet browser is now available on the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic.The browser offers some handy featues for browsing on a small screen such as zooming in and swipe gestures.You can download the browser from the Play Store for Wear OS.Samsung has finally rolled out its internet browser to the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, allowing you to browse the internet straight from some of the best Android smartwatches.According to TizenHelp, the browser includes a slew of features designed to make browsing on a small screen easier, such as voice input and swipe gestures. You can also zoom in on a page to see what you're reading more clearly. For uninterrupted browsing, you can open your current page on a paired smartphone through the "Show on Phone" option. However, you shouldn't expect the same browsing experience as you would with the app's smartphon...

Google is taking a stance on climate change and cutting off content that spreads misinformation.What you need to knowGoogle has announced an update to its monetization policy on advertisers and creators.The company will prohibit content that promotes false claims about climate change.The move comes just after Google announced a bevy of new features aimed at tackling climate change.The new policy will go into effect on December 6.Google is going all-in on its efforts to fight climate change and the company's latest move takes a stab at ads and content that would otherwise challenge its efforts.On Thursday, Google updated its content monetization policy in a bid to weed out ads and creators promoting climate change misinformation. Google says that starting this December, it will prohibit ads with "content that features claims about climate change which run contrary to scientific consensus."In case you're curious about that consensus, it's that the Earth is warming and th...

This name change includes cash prizes.What you need to knowFacebook Horizons is getting a rebrand to Horizon Worlds to better represent the VR social network's content.Horizon Worlds is Facebook's way to socially network people in a VR-focused way, including thousands of user-created worlds to explore.The new Creator Fund is designed to incentivize content creators with up to $10k in cash prizes.After two years in beta, Facebook Horizon is getting some big changes, including a brand new name. Facebook Horizon, the VR extension of the company's social network, will henceforth be known as Horizon Worlds to better fit the app's function. Facebook is also launching a new creator's program as it shifts to using its own world creation tools exclusively, hoping to entice content creators to join them in making rich VR worlds.If you're an Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2 owner, you can head to the sign-up page to register for the Horizon Worlds beta and see what all the hubbub is a...

Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier operating on T-Mobile's network that sells its plans in multi-month bundles so you can save money. You can buy three, six, or 12 months at a time. Plans come in 4GB, 10GB, 15GB, or even unlimited and include 5G. If you decide to try out Mint Mobile, porting your number from another carrier is relatively simple and painless. Best of all, it's free.Products used in this guideUnlimited calls, texts, and 4GB: Mint Mobile ($45 for three months at Mint Mobile)Unlocked with LTE and 5G: Samsung Galaxy S20 5G ($1,000 at Best Buy)Bring your number to MintBefore starting the porting process, it's important to note that your phone number must remain active on your previous carrier throughout the process. If you cancel your old service before moving to Mint, you likely won't be able to recover your phone number — at least, not without going through a much more tedious process.Once you've decided on a plan and received your Mint Mobile SIM card, star...

If you are looking for an affordable, mid-range smartphone, we think the Google Pixel 4a remains the best Android phone under $400 — assuming you can still find it. You get the same software, features, camera experience, and software updates as the higher-end Pixel 4, much less than the new Pixel 5a. The only shortcomings come in the hardware and a couple of the specs — a fine trade-off to save hundreds of dollars.Best overall Android phone under $400: Google Pixel 4aThe Pixel 3a from 2019 stood out as one of the best Android values for well over a year, only for the Pixel 4a to fill its shoes — and then some. However, if you want a small, affordable phone with reasonably high-performing specs, plus a camera that outperforms its specs, the 4a still fits the bill. More so than the Pixel 5a, a larger mid-range device for bigger spenders.With the Pixel 4a, you get a Snapdragon 730 that doesn't lag too far behind the 765G found in the Pixel 5, 6GB of RAM, and a guaranteed, ...

From cloud storage to free Play credits and hotel deals, this is Google One.Google One made its debut in May 2018 as a rebranding for paid Google Drive storage. However, Google One's a lot more than a fresh coat of paint. With new storage plans and extra member benefits, there's never been a better time to upgrade your cloud storage game.With Google getting rid of the ability to upload unlimited high-quality photos to Google Photos in June 2021, you may need to use Google One to pick up additional storage to continue using Photos.Here's everything you need to know about Google One!Jump to:What is Google One?Plans and pricingFeaturesFamily storageExtrasGoogle One is now the place for buying paid Google Drive storageIf you want to buy more cloud storage for your Google Drive account, that's now handled through Google One. Google provides 15GB of storage for free to all users, and that's shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Should you exceed that...

The OnePlus 9 RT is expected to launch next week.What you need to knowA leak reveals what could be the first images of the OnePlus 9 RT.The device looks similar to other OnePlus 9 series smartphones and will apparently feature a triple-camera setup.The 9 RT is expected to launch this month, likely on October 13.While we've heard that OnePlus is skipping its usual mid-cycle T-model this year, we learned that the company is instead preparing a limited-release OnePlus 9 RT. Leaker Evan Blass has gotten hold of what appears to be the first images of the upcoming device.From its looks, the OnePlus 9 RT will feature a design that closely resembles the rest of the 9-series smartphones. In fact, it will likely use the OnePlus 9R as a base for much of its hardware, although it will feature an upgraded 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor for the primary camera.While the images don't appear to show the front of the device, it's expected to feature a 120Hz AMOLED panel similar to its predece...

Sony's veritable army of developers are working on a new slate of games for the PS5.The newest generation of PlayStation gaming is in full swing, with the arrival of the PS5. Sony acquired and closed multiple studios over the last few years, leading to an interesting reshuffle for the following lineup. From bringing in the longtime partners at Insomniac Games to closing down teams like Manchester Studio, PlayStation is a different entity now than it was when starting the PS4 generation back in 2013.With a new generation comes new games, including some of the best PS5 games available. This is a list of everything we know about what the leading 13 development studios at Sony Worldwide Studios are currently working on, or are at least fairly certain to be developing for PS5, PSVR, and possibly PC down the road.Current Sony studios, primary and supportSIE Bend StudioBluepoint GamesFirespriteGuerrilla GamesHousemarqueInsomniac GamesSIE London StudioMalaysia StudioMedia ...

All you need to know to pick the perfect Hulu plan.Hulu boasts a massive media library that gives subscribers access to thousands of hours of new and classic content at the touch of a button. But with so much to watch, it's important that every subscriber can curate their individual streaming experience. With that in mind, Hulu offers three different subscription plans, as well as a bundle option that also includes access to Disney+ and ESPN+. Here's a rundown of all the Hulu plans and prices, so that you can decide which is right for you.Streaming made easyHuluFrom $7 at HuluAll the shows and movies you'll needHulu offers three different subscription plans. Pick which plan works best for you and start exploring Hulu's massive library of classic movies, trending series, Hulu Originals and more.Hulu's most popular planHulu offers three different tiers when it comes to signing up for a monthly subscription. Starting Oct. 8, 2021, the most popular plan is also th...

When trying to figure out the best phone for kids, there are many factors to consider. Deciding what age your child should get a phone is entirely up to you, but when it's time, you want to make sure you're getting something worthwhile. As a parent or guardian, the most important features to look for include security, ease of use, and of course, budget. Lucky for you, there are tons of great handsets that your kid, and wallet, will equally love. We think the Pixel 4a is the best all-around choice, but if it's not catching your fancy, there are plenty of other stellar phones on this list.Best overall: Google Pixel 4aBuying a phone for your kid is a balancing act of getting something they'll want to use and having excellent security, all without spending a fortune. In our eyes, the Pixel 4a best fits that bill.The value proposition offered by the 4a is phenomenal due to the fantastic camera, good battery life, and regular security updates. Plus, there's no breaking the bank to ...

Put on your thinking hat for these games!Smartphone touchscreen controls offer a unique opportunity for puzzle game developers. Our pocket devices are uniquely suited for clever puzzle games because they're easy to pick up and play whenever you have a few free moments. If you're looking for a game to test your brain, check some of these out.And when you're done here, be sure to check out our best games for Android!The gamesBomb ClubBrain It On!Bridge Constructor PortalChess LightThe Eyes of Arahocus.The House of Da VinciI Love Hue & I Love Hue TooLara Croft GOMekoramaMini MetroMonument ValleyPatternsThe Room seriesSamsara RoomThrees!Total Party KillTransmissionTurn It On!Two DotsBomb ClubDo you like great writing, colorful characters, challenging puzzles, and explosions? Then Bomb Club is just the game for you. Featuring a charming cast of safety-minded bomb enthusiasts, Bomb Club has you make your way through a huge map of puzzle levels, ...

Amazon's latestAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max$55 at Amazon$55 at Best BuyProsAmazon's best Fire TV Stick everIncludes Wi-Fi 6 supportUpdated Voice Remote provides more controls than previouslyPlugs right into your TV setSupports HDMI ARC outputConsLimited to Amazon Alexa for smart home controlsNo expandable storageIt took Amazon three years, but the Fire TV Stick 4K Max provides many of the upgrades we have been waiting for compared to the Fire TV Stick 4K.Best from NVIDIANVIDIA Shield TV$150 at Amazon$150 at Best Buy$150 at WalmartProsAndroid TV and Google Assistant integrationCan be used with Amazon AlexaExpandable storage (via microSD)AI Upscaling is greatThe best Android TV experienceConsAlmost 3x more expensiveNot ideal if you don't want to run cablesIf you want the best Android TV streaming device with the benefit of a compact form-factor, it doesn't get much better than the NVIDIA Shield TV.Amazon's introduction o...

All the best movies streaming on HBO Max today.HBO Max launched in 2020 as the digital hub for all of HBO's exclusive content. It features a rotating lineup of hundreds of television series and movies from Warner Bros., DC, Studio Ghibli, and more. HBO Max will also launch brand new films from WarnerMedia in 2021 without waiting for them to play in theaters first. Here are the best movies on HBO Max right now, from new drama and comedy films to the best in action franchises and classic films.The best movies on HBO MaxJust added on HBO MaxBest action filmsBest comedy filmsKids & family filmsBest documentary filmsMovies and moreHBO MaxFrom $10 at HBO MaxFind new releases and old favorites on HBO MaxHBO Max provides streamers with access to film and television content from HBO, WarnerMedia, and DC, among other studios. Subscribe now to check out new blockbusters or your longtime faves.Just Added on HBO MaxWarnerMedia announced at the end of 2020 t...

Next-gen immersion in a hands-on fashion.The PS5 doesn't just bring in better graphics and higher framerates — it also gives players a new controller, the DualSense. This successor to the DualShock 4 features a higher-quality built-in microphone, a refined touchpad, an improved battery, and most importantly, haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.Those latter two features can be used by game developers in unique ways. Haptic feedback can give unique sensations, like the pattering of rain or a blast of energy, in a way that is more focused and accurate than rumble motors. Meanwhile, adaptive triggers can provide a variety of functions with different weapons due to the special physical functions that have been implemented.To provide a couple of examples, adaptive triggers are being used in Arkane Studios' Deathloop so that if a gun jams, the trigger physically locks. Meanwhile, in Insomniac Games' Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, you can pull a trigger partially to fire one barrel...

You'll just have to say "stop" to dismiss a ringing alarm.What you need to knowGoogle Assistant's quick phrases features has started rolling out to Android phones.You'll no longer have to use "Hey Google" just to dismiss an alarm or answer a phone call.The feature will eventually let you skip saying "Hey Google" on other Assistant devices such as smart speakers. In June this year, a teardown of the Google app revealed a new feature called "quick phrases," which would allow users to interact with the Assistant without saying "Hey Google." Nearly four months later, the feature has finally started rolling out to users.According to XDA Developers, the feature is making its way to Pixel devices running Android 12 beta. Even though the feature hasn't yet been officially announced by Google, there's a good chance that it will expand to the best Android phones from other manufacturers in the coming weeks. Once the feature becomes available, you'll be able to answer a phone...

Best answer: Google Stadia launched in 2019 as a way for players to access the games they love without needing a console or dedicated gaming PC. Since its initial launch, Stadia's modest amount of playable games continues to grow, with a ton of new titles available in the months to come and many more on the horizon.Full Google Stadia game listA Place for the UnwillingARK: Survival Evolved Assassin's Creed Odyssey Assassin's Creed OriginsAssassin's Creed SyndicateAssassin's Creed UnityAssassin's Creed ValhallaAttack on Titan 2: Final BattleAVICII InvectorBaldur's Gate III Early AccessBorderlands 3Cake BashCelesteChronos: Before the AshesControl Ultimate Edition Cosmic Star HeroineCraytaCthulhu Saves ChristmasCyberpunk 2077Darksiders Genesis Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition Dead by DaylightDestiny 2Destroy All Humans!Dirt 5 Disco Elysium: The Final Cut DOOMDOOM 64DOOM EternalDragon Ball Xenoverse 2Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive AgeDreamWo...

Thoma joins the fight, bringing Genshin Impact's total character list to 42.Following Genshin Impact's one-year anniversary celebration, developer miHoYo will be releasing Update 2.2 on Oct.13. The popular free-to-play title has become one of the best Android games since its release, garnering tens of millions of players worldwide. Though update 2.2 won't be as big as 2.0, it will still add a healthy amount of content and a new character that players have been expecting since his introduction in Inazuma.Update 2.2 will be free for all players across PS5, PS4, PC, Android, and iOS. Here's everything that players can expect when it releases.Genshin Impact Update 2.2: Welcome to Tsurumi IslandThe nation of Inazuma was added in Update 2.0, though only a couple of its islands were available to explore at the time. Update 2.2 is set to add the final major island, Tsurumi, described as being "shrouded in fog." Being an area that appears to ward off travelers, it's unknown what s...

If you're searching for the best Android smartwatch or the best fitness tracker, you've probably come across a Garmin wearable or two along the way. The company is known for offering a wide range of devices that cater to both fitness and smartwatch enthusiasts, including the Garmin Vivoactive 4. With stellar battery life, advanced tracking, and some neat smartwatch features, you can't go wrong. While this is the best Garmin smartwatch you can buy, there are several other options to consider. So whether you're a serious athlete or a first-time runner, you'll be able to find what you're looking for.Best overall: Garmin Vivoactive 4The Garmin Vivoactive 4 may not be the newest Garmin smartwatch on the market, but it's overflowing with features that make it a worthy upgrade from the previous model. Choose between two sizes: 45mm and 40mm. The larger model gives you an extra day of battery life in smartwatch mode at eight days. It'll last six hours when it's in GPS and music mode. T...

Fixing the latest bugs and exploits in Android every month.Google has detailed the latest Android Security Bulletin and released the fixes for Pixel devices.These are exploits and other security concerns that affect Android as a whole. Issues with the operating system, kernel patches, and driver updates may not affect any particular device, but these need to be fixed in the Android base by the folks maintaining the operating system code. That means Google, and they've detailed the things they have improved for this month.Updated factory images for Pixel devices that are still supported are available, and over-the-air updates are rolling out to users. If you don't want to wait, you can download and flash the factory image or OTA update file manually, and here are some handy instructions to get you started. The company that made your phone uses these patches to send an update out to you.These changes have been released to the people making the best Android phones for at le...

Japan's Fair Trade Commission will look into allegations that Google is using its dominant market position to eliminate competition and limit app options for smartphone users.What you need to knowJapan's Fair Trade Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Google and Apple.The investigation aims to determine whether the two companies are leveraging their dominance in the mobile operating system market to stifle competition.Apple dominates Japan's smartphone operating system market with a 70% share, while Google's share stands at 30%.Antitrust regulators in Japan will soon begin investigating whether Google and Apple are abusing their dominant position in the mobile OS market to hurt competition and limit options for consumers, according to Nikkei Asia.The Commission's report will outline the OS market structure in the country and the reasons why competition has "remained static." It will also itemize practices followed by Google and Apple that the Commission...