Latest from Android Central

It's almost time for Apple's September hardware event.Every year, sometime in the first week of September, I corral the Android Central team to plan how to cover Apple's inevitable hardware event, which usually happens in the first or second week of the month. As one of the diminishing number of niche tech sites on the internet, covering Apple's hardware events is a bit like racing a sports car on a parallel highway; there's no winning, but the race itself is a lot of fun.The reality is, eleven years after the iPhone 4, Apple still commands more attention than any tech company for its product debuts. Samsung's products may fold, Google's may flaunt, but Apple holds the regard of the mainstream, that average consumer that doesn't read this or any other tech blog, in ways no other company can pull off.Even as Apple has shifted from debuting new categories and unique ideas to honing and perfect existing ones, it's still important to cover the launches almost as closely as we would a...

Oscar Issac and Jessica Chastain are reuniting on screen after co-starring in A Most Violent Year back in 2014 and we have all the details on how you can watch the new limited series Scenes from a Marriage on TV or online.If the title Scenes from a Marriage sounds familiar, that's because Ingar Bergman created the original Swedish miniseries back in 1973. At that time, the miniseries was not only praised but also the subject of controversy for supposedly leading to a rise in divorce rates across Europe.Now HBO has adapted Bergman's miniseries into a new five-part limited series that will feature hour-long episodes which will air on Sundays. Scenes from a Marriage will re-examine the dilemmas probed by the original and the limited series will explore love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage and divorce through the lens of a contemporary American couple.The limited series will tell the story of Mira (Jessica Chastain) and Jonathan (Oscar Issac) as they try to navigate the ups and...

If you've tried out Fitbit's subscription service, Fitbit Premium, but don't feel like it provided enough value to you, we'll show you how to cancel Fitbit Premium. You can then apply those savings toward another tracker, explore options from other providers, or perhaps sign on with a personal fitness instructor.How to cancel Fitbit Premium on the webIn your browser of choice, log in to your account at coach.fitbit.com.Click on your name at the top right of the page.Scroll down and click on Settings.Scroll further down and click on Subscriptions and Payments.Here you can click on your plan and cancel it, effective the end of its term.If you are still within your free trial period, you will follow the same steps listed above.Note that if your free trial has expired, all sales are final and non-refundable. So if you signed up for a month-to-month plan, you'd only be out the $9.99 for one month if you missed the cut-off date to cancel before you're charged (as long as...

Best answer: Currently, Electronic Arts is preparing for a small batch of playtests for Battlefield Mobile to roll out in Indonesia and the Philippines in fall 2021.What is Battlefield Mobile?Initially announced back in April 2021, Battlefield Mobile is a game that DICE and Industrial Toys are developing specifically for mobile platforms, intending to bring a fully-fledged, skill-based experience into players' pockets. While this could mean that DICE hopes to have a general skill floor for players of all experiences, it also hints at what the developers are trying to accomplish while crafting what it believes will be one of the best Android games available.Taking the world of Battlefield and shrinking it down into a more competitive experience while trying to keep their epic scale could work, in theory. DICE has also mentioned that Battlefield Mobile will be its own standalone product and a "completely different" one than any current Battlefield iterations.When is the next pl...

You can now shoot up your cloud storage to 5TB for $24.99 per month.What you need to knowGoogle One has expanded its storage options to offer a middle option between its 2TB and 10TB plans.The new plan costs $24.99 per month for 5TB of storage space.It provides the same perks as the 2TB tier and more benefits.Google One has introduced a new storage plan that offers a more affordable option without charging for storage space that you may not need. The cloud storage service now adds a 5TB tier for $24.99 per month, as spotted by 9to5Google.The new plan offers the same perks available in the 2TB tier, including quick access to Google experts, family-sharing option and VPN access for some of the best Android phones. In addition, you will get 10% off your purchases in the Google Store.If you opt for the annual payment plan, the new tier costs only $249.99 per year. That's a 17% savings over the monthly plan. In comparison, the 2TB plan sets you back $9.99 per month while t...

History beckons for Novak Djokovic as the Serbian legend goes in search of two significant tennis records in this afternoon's grand finale at Flushing Meadows.Read on to find out how to get a 2021 US Open live stream and watch Novak Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev online no matter where you are in the world.A win here for the 34-year old would see him overtake eternal rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles won, with all three veterans currently tied at 20 wins a piece.Victory in New York this afternoon would also see Djokovic complete the first male calendar slam in the Open Era.Aiming to make a piece of history of his own but stopping Djokovic is Russian star Daniil Medvedev who will be looking to finally claim his first slam title.The 25-year-old world no.2 has been in some of the best form of his career in the Big Apple having given up just a single set on his way to today's final.The match marks Medvedev's second major showdown with Djokovic ...

While I love my Galaxy Watch 4, my tiny wrist meant that when it came, the first thing I did — before I even turned it on — was swap the watch band. Thankfully, years of quick-release bands have made changing Galaxy Watch 4 bands something you can do in a single commercial break during the morning news. A cleaner look with less flexibilityI have nothing against Samsung's bands themselves, per se, but as someone with a small wrist, the in-box band just meant the gaps between the band and the sides of my wrist were just too big. And it wasn't just me; multiple YouTubers like Thao Hunyh experienced the exact same issue. It comes from the sculpted inner edge where the band meets the watch casing: extra material keeps the band rotating freely to produce a better fit on smaller wrists.If you need to rectify this particular problem, we have several great Galaxy Watch 4 bands to choose from, and I recommend the EverAct pack listed at the bottom of this guide, as it's what I'm using...

He's the best there is at what he does, but what he does isn't very nice.Fans of superhero games, rejoice. Insomniac Games, in a clear attempt to live up its name, aren't just tackling the web-slinger anymore. During the September 2021 PlayStation Showcase, Insomniac Games announced not just one but two new superhero games that PlayStation owners can look forward to playing. One of these announcements is that Insomniac Games is working on Marvel's Wolverine. The other is Marvel's Spider-Man 2, a game starring Peter Parker and Miles Morales that also introduces Venom to the game universe.Sony was clear to stress that Marvel's Wolverine is very early in development for the PS5, possibly even being the farthest-out PlayStation exclusive game that we know about right now. Still, Insomniac Games has an excellent track record so there's no denying that this could end up being one of the best PS5 games available. Here's what you need to know about Marvel's Wolverine.Jump to:What ...

The 2021 Formula 1 season continues and this weekend drivers and teams are heading to Ferrari's home turf where they'll race at the "Temple of Speed" and we have all the details on how you can watch the Italian Grand Prix on TV or online.The Autodromo Nazionale Monza has been the home of the Italian Grand Prix since 1950 though the circuit was built in just 110 days all the way back in 1922. Monza has 11 turns, a circuit length of 3.6 miles (5.7km) and drivers will complete 53 laps before finishing the 190 mile (306km) race. Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello currently holds the best lap record with a time of one minute and twenty one seconds which he set back in 2004.Monza is an iconic circuit due to the fact that it is the fastest on Formula 1's calendar and features long straights with only six braking points. According to Brembo, which is one of the two official brake suppliers for Formula 1, Monza is one of the most demanding circuits for brakes. On a difficulty index scale...

Govee's portable smart light costs less than the Hue Go and offers an exhaustive level of customization.There's no shortage of choice if you're interested in smart lighting. Philips offers a comprehensive portfolio of devices under its Hue label, including the best smart LED light bulbs, outdoor lighting, lightstrips, ambient lights, and more.There are plenty of alternatives as well, from the likes of LIFX, Yellight, Sengled, and others delivering the same level of quality as Hue at a more affordable cost. One brand that has stood out in this category over the last two years is Govee; it makes RGB ambient lighting that's designed to stand out, and the brand has been making steady progress in this area.We've reviewed several Govee products on the site: the Flow Pro light bars add dynamic lighting to your TV or monitor, the Immersion TV is one of the best backlight solutions you'll find for your TV, the Lyra Corner Floor Lamp livens up an entire room with RGB lighting, and the re...

The new feature appears to be Android 12 exclusive for now.What you need to knowGoogle's Files app has gained a new feature that automatically deletes backed-up photos.The feature is apparently rolling out to Google Pixel phones running Android 12.Your photos will be auto-deleted 60 days after they're uploaded to Google Photos.Google has updated its Files app with a new feature that should make it easier to save storage space on your device. Files by Google now automatically deletes media files from your Pixel phones that have already been backed up to Google Photos.The new feature, dubbed "Smart Storage," was discovered by 9to5Google. It provides an automated method for deleting photos and videos saved locally on your device 60 days after they are uploaded to Photos. For now, the new capability appears to be available on some Pixel phones running Android 12 beta, including the Google Pixel 5a, Pixel 5, Pixel 4 series, and Pixel 3 devices. This means the upcoming G...

Former heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield makes an unexpected return to the ring tonight at the age of 58, as he takes on one-time UFC light heavyweight titleholder Vitor Belfort in a headline-grabbing one-off event.Read on for your full guide to watching a Holyfield vs Belfort live stream and don't miss a single punch.Widely regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound heavyweight boxers of all time, Holyfield has been parachuted into this PPV event after fellow legend of the ring Oscar de la Hoya was forced to pull out after testing positive for Covid-19.Belfort meanwhile holds the record for most knockouts in UFC history, and while the 44-year-old may have only boxed professionally once before, there is the small matter of a 14 year age gap that plays in his favor.The somewhat surreal spectacle also features 46-year-old MMA legends Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz face off in a regular boxing bout as the co-headline fight, with the bill also including 40-y...

Characters in higher tiers tend to be more powerful.Genshin Impact, the latest action RPG from miHoYo, has two dozen characters, along with many more coming soon. As with any gacha game, the best Genshin Impact characters require a fair bit of luck and/or money to add to your team. Characters each have different rarity levels and belong to different tiers. Typically, the higher up the tier they are, the more powerful they are. So, which characters should you be hoping for and investing your resources in leveling up? We're here to help and when you finish, be sure to check out our best Android games for even more mobile fun.Genshin Impact Tier ListHow many playable characters are there?S Rank CharactersA Rank CharactersB Rank CharactersC Rank CharactersD Rank CharactersComing soonHow many playable characters are there?There are over 30 different playable characters in Genshin Impact. A handful are rewards for completing certain portions of the story, including...

Android 11 users can pin and unpin an app on their phones to limit the user's access. It prevents whoever is using your phone from opening anything else on your device until you have unpinned the app. It's also very secure as your phone will need your password to grant full access to the phone once the app has been unpinned. Here's how to pin and unpin an Android app.How to enable app pinning on AndroidBefore you can pin and unpin an Android app, first you need to enable the feature. This can be done quickly through your phone's settings.Open your phone's Settings menu.Tap on Password and security.Scroll down to find App pinning and tap it.Turn on the toggle for App pinning.A warning message will pop up. Tap OK after reading it.Now that you have enabled the app pinning feature on your Android phone, here's how you can pin and unpin an Android app.How to pin an Android appOpen an app on your phone.Swipe up and hold until you can see all the open apps.Tap the t...

It's a battle of the teens at Flushing Meadows this evening as two youngsters who have stunned the tennis world go head-to-head - read on to find out how to get a 2021 US Open live stream and watch Emma Raducanu vs Leylah Fernandez online no matter where you are in the world.The last time the final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium was contested by two players yet to reach their 20s was when Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis to take the title back in 1999 in a match that signalled a new era for the women's game.While both players in that match were something of a known quantity - Hingis was already world no.1 - both of today's finalists' trailblazing journeys to today's clash has come as something of a bolt out of the blue.Britain's Emma Raducanu had to go through the qualifying stage on her incredible route to this showdown, yet has yet to lose a set so far in the tournament.The 18-year-old now stands on the brink of becoming the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title ...

Facebook's wearable vision is just getting started.The idea of Facebook hardware is a prickly one, especially considering the privacy concerns. That said, Facebook is behind the ever-popular Oculus Quest 2, which is one of the best VR headsets you can buy. Now the company is taking its eyewear to a smaller form factor with its new Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, and they might be worth a look.The glasses look almost like regular Ray-Bans except for the addition of two small cameras on either side of the lenses. They're used to capture video and take surprisingly decent photos, which can be viewed on a separate Facebook View app. Equipped with open-ear speakers and available in many shapes and styles, they're a decent offering from the company with grand visions for wearables. That said, we want to know if you'd be interested in buying the Ray-Ban Stories.Would you buy Facebook's new Ray-Ban smart glasses?Facebook is far from the first company to launch smart glasses, especial...

One of the most beloved classics in Star Wars video game history is getting the remake treatment.Whispers have been spoken about it for years as fans begged for a remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. After countless rumors and speculation, Lucasfilm Games confirmed that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is being remade during Sony's PlayStation Showcase 2021. It's been a long time coming for the illustrious game. Knights of the Old Republic has cemented itself not only as one of the best Star Wars games, but one of the best games ever made. Period. Before Mass Effect and Dragon Age, this was arguably BioWare's biggest and most influential release.The baton's now been passed on to Aspyr Media, the developer working on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake. In conjunction with Lucasfilm Games, Aspyr hopes to raise the bar for video game remakes. Here's everything you need to know about Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, coming to PS5 and PC.Ju...

If you like platformers, this list is for you.A lot of you probably remember the heyday of the platformer. Whether it was Super Mario Bros or even classic Metroid, this style of game has been around a long time and it has aged incredibly well. We still see awesome platformer games like Trine and Hollow Knight to this day. The point, however, is that "platformer" isn't really all that definitive. All it does is describe how the game in question plays. All of that being said, this style of game translates extremely well to mobile and you'll find that any one of the entries in this list are wonderfully fun additions to your Play library.And once you're finished up here, feel free to visit our roundup of the best Android games.The gamesBubble TaleCastlevania: Symphony of the NightDadish 2DandaraDan the ManDead CellsDownwellGrimvalorHuntdownLevelheadLIMBONinja ArashiOddmarOrdiaRayman AdventuresSega ForeverSuper Cat Tales 2SwordigoSword of XolanTerrariaBu...

The best shows streaming on Hulu are right here.The Disney-owned Hulu streaming platform has established itself as a strong source for original and classic series, especially for more mature viewers. With fall just around the corner and a ton of new series airing now, we've made it a little easier to decide what you want to watch next by rounding up a list of some of the best series on Hulu right now. Here they are.HuluStream your fave series nowFrom $6/mo. at HuluNew episodes, full series, and moreHulu gives you access to the best television content from networks like ABC, FX, and Freeform. Subscribe now to catch up on new series or binge your favorites again and again.Best TV series on HuluPopular on HuluDrama on HuluComedy on HuluHorror on HuluTrue crime on HuluWhat's next on Hulu Popular on HuluOne of the easiest ways to start exploring the content available on Hulu is to search the Popular section on your home page, which collects the most-stre...

The Google Pixel 6 will either be awesome or horrible, and I can't wait to find out which.I'm not someone who likes to chase hardware specs when it comes to my phone. Sure, I'm a sucker who buys a new PC video card every year, and I have spent more time and money than I like to admit on monitors or keyboards, but when it comes to my phone, I value stable and boring over shiny and new. Crazy, right? It's all about that chip.All that flew right out the window when Google finally confirmed it was putting an SoC of its own design into the Pixel 6. It's a phone I'm actually excited to buy.Don't get me wrong. I am fully and painfully aware that the Pixel 6's hardware and its fancy Google-designed Tensor chip may be a complete disaster. In fact, chances are good that it will be pretty bad doing at least one of the things I depend on my phone to do right. But it could also be something very different in a good way and change the entire game when it comes to phone hardware, much th...

All your background effects now sit in a dedicated place for quick access.What you need to knowGoogle Meet has added a new capability to access your background effects through a new settings panel.You can access the new destination for visual effects before or during a call.It should arrive for everyone over the next two weeks.Google Meet has rolled out a new option to easily access its background blur and backdrops. The videoconferencing service now lets you access all your visual effects through a new settings panel.The new destination is accessible by clicking on the three-dot menu and then selecting the "Apply visual effects" button. A sidebar menu will then show up to let you choose a blur effect or image for your background. These steps work only when you're already in a meeting using some of the best laptops.To access the settings panel prior to a meeting, you can head over to Google Meet's green room. There's a new "Effects" tab where you can set the background ...

Google faces more employee payment problems.What you need to knowGoogle has reportedly been underpaying thousands of its employees for years.The company allegedly tried to hide the problem over fears of bad press and increased cost.Google could face as much as $100 million in back pay.Google allegedly underpaid thousands of temporary workers for years and held off on fixing the disparity.According to a report from The Guardian, Google did not comply with pay parity laws in regions like the UK and Asia, where temporary workers are required to be paid the same rates as permanent employees performing the same work.The Guardian notes that Google employs thousands of temporary employees globally who are paid by staffing agencies. However, Google apparently failed to update its comparative pay rate benchmarks for similar full-time workers, which meant that the agencies were paying the employees with outdated information.Company executives allegedly became aware of the probl...

Sonos' move isn't completely out of the blue.What you need to knowSonos is reportedly raising the prices of several of its products.Some products won't see a price increase, while others will go up as much as $100.The company hinted at the price increase during its earnings call in August.Prices will go up on September 12.Sonos makes some of the best Bluetooth speakers around, but many of them are about to become more expensive as the company raises the prices of more than a few devices in its product lineup.The company has announced (via The Verge) that it will raise prices across its lineup on September 12. This includes the newly launched Sonos Roam, which is already expensive, to begin with.The price hike will affect plenty of the company's speakers, although some will be safe from the increase, such as the Sonos Move, Port, and Boost.While September 12 doesn't give prospective customers much time to process the changes, the move wasn't exactly out of nowhere. Th...

Simple data plansMint MobileFrom $15/mo. at Mint MobileProsFast T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE data networkAffordable data optionsUp to 35GB of high-speed data with the unlimited plan Multi-month savingsHotspot on every planConsMust buy at least three monthsNo multi-line discountsOnly 5GB of hotspot data on the unlimited planData slowed after 35GB on the unlimited planMint Mobile has a plan that will work for just about anyone, with a choice between 4GB, 10GB, 15GB, or unlimited data plans. You can also save money if you're willing to buy an entire year of service at once. All plans come with mobile hotspot data, and access to T-Mobile's 5G network at no extra cost.A lot of choicesUltra MobileFrom $10/mo. at Ultra MobileProsFast T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE data networkTons of data optionsMulti-month savingsSingle-month plans are availableUnlimited calling to 80+ international locationsConsExpensive unlimited planMulti-month savings aren't s...

You snooze, you lose?Update, Sep 10 (4:00 p.m. ET): Google Clock update reportedly offers fixUpdate, Sep 6 (2:15 a.m. ET): Google confirms a fix is on the wayWhat you need to knowMany angry Android users are reporting issues with Google's Clock app and alarms.The bug is apparently affecting several different devices, including Pixel phones.Customers are also reporting issues with Spotify's integration with their alarms.Android Central recently received a tip from a reader that many Android users have been experiencing issues with Google's stock Clock app over the past week. The tipster pointed us to a r/GooglePixel thread on Reddit where the issue was being discussed, and also mentioned the spate of 1-star reviews that the app has been receiving lately on the Google Play store.Angry app users have been complaining that their alarms in the Clock app are not going off as expected and that they are not receiving alarm notifications either. There have also been complain...

We're here to show you how to sign up for Fitbit Premium so that you can make more sense out of all the health data and metrics your Fitbit devices collects. You can sign up on a monthly or annual basis, and you can even try it out for free for a limited (or extended) period of time. Excited to start? Great! Let's jump into it.Products used in this guideA premium fitness program: Fitbit Premium ($80/year at Fitbit) Versatile fitness smartwatch: Fitbit Charge 5 (From $292 at Amazon) What is Fitbit Premium?Fitbit Premium offers several additional insights and services that build off the vast amount of personal data collected by your Fitbit tracker. Much of this data is yours to access and act upon as you see fit without an additional cost, but the added analysis and guided workouts, meditations, and health plans are a paid feature. If you're interested in a more detailed breakdown of the program and its features, check out our earlier review.Now that you know what is inc...

After what feels like an eternity, Google is bringing dark mode to Google Search for the desktop. The update is now rolling out globally, and like most server-side changes, you don't have to do anything to receive it — you should automatically see the toggle to enable dark mode in the Search settings.So if you've been waiting for a while to switch to dark mode in Google Search for desktop, here's how you can do so right now.How to enable dark mode in Google Search for desktopGo to Google Search and perform a query. I searched for Google. Navigate to the Settings icon (the gear icon on the right).You should see a toggle at the bottom of the settings to enable dark mode. Toggle Dark theme to enable dark mode in Google Search for desktop.That's all there is to it. If you want granular control or want Google Search to update its color scheme based on your system theme, you can do so. Go to the Settings icon, select Search settings, and go to the Appearance tab that's lo...

One step aheadSamsung Galaxy Watch 4From $145 at SamsungProsGPS, HRM, NFCOptional LTE connectivityWear OS 3 at launchSuperior health trackingImpressive performanceConsNo iOS compatibilityAs the first smartwatch on the new Wear OS 3 platform, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is one step ahead of other devices on the market. Compared to the Fossil Gen 6, you'll also get optional LTE connectivity and superior health tracking.Not far behindFossil Gen 6From $299 at AmazonProsGPS, HRM, NFCNumerous attractive designsImproved health sensorsGoogle AssistantBuilt-in mic/speakerConsNo LTE connectivityWear OS 3 not available yetToo expensive for someIf you don't mind waiting until next year to enjoy Wear OS 3, you might be interested in the Fossil Gen 6. It's a bit more focused on the physical design than the Galaxy Watch 4. Keep in mind you won't have as many health sensors, though.Fossil Gen 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: Battle of Wear ...

This is not the Samsung/apple collaboration we imagined.What you need to knowSamsung has released a new lineup of Galaxy Watch 4 watchbands and watch faces.The limited-edition bands are made in collaboration with sustainable fashion designer Sami Miró.The new bands are made from eco-friendly materials such as apple peels and other reused materials.Samsung has unveiled a new lineup of Galaxy Watch 4 watchbands as part of a collaboration with Los Angeles fashion designer Sami Miró.The new collection includes six new watchbands made from sustainable, post-consumer waste like apple peel skin and rubber-like TPU.According to Miró, the designs are meant to express our connection with the Earth and blend with any outfit. The inspiration behind the collection was to create designs that evoke positive energy and emotion for the person who really wants to be good to the planet and themselves.The LA-based designer is known for her upcycled fashion pieces, having worked...

TCL isn't giving up on the foldable phone segment yet.What you need to knowTCL has indefinitely put its foldable phone project on hold.The company's decision is due to the high cost of producing a folding device, among other factors.TCL still plans to launch a foldable in the future when it can produce it at a low cost.In the meantime, it will focus on 5G initiatives.TCL has confirmed that it will no longer launch what would have been its first commercially available foldable phone, codenamed "Chicago." The device would have been the company's take on some of the best foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.In a statement to Android Central, TCL says it has put its foldable phone on indefinite hold due to rising production costs, among other reasons. Stefan Streit, the company's chief marketing officer, explained: Although the foldable market is growing each year, it is still a premium product category. In combination with recent component shortages, th...

We expect the new Samsung Galaxy A52 will take home the crown for best cheap Android phone of the year. It's the successor to the ultra-popular Galaxy A51 from last year that was actually Samsung's best-selling phone over the course of the year. And why wouldn't you want to keep one of the best Samsung phones protected with the best Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A52 5G cases? Here are some of our favorites to add pops of color to your device, while keeping it protected for years to come.Our favorite caseCaseology Nano PopStaff PickAre you looking for a case that "pops" with your new Galaxy A52? Caseology's new Nano Pop case fits the bill quite nicely, with its two-tone color scheme providing enough contrast to help your phone stand out. The case is compatible with most screen protectors and only adds 0.14-inches of thickness, keeping your A52 slim and lightweight.From $16 at Amazon From $18 at WalmartThe next bestSpigen Liquid CrystalClear cases are some of the most...

Train to be space pirates with friends.What you need to knowSpace Pirate Trainer DX launches exclusively on the Oculus Quest platform today.The new version adds new Versus and Arena multiplayer modes.New content will be a free update for previous Space Pirate Trainer owners on Oculus Quest only.Virtual reality arcade shooter Space Pirate Trainer DX launches today exclusively for Oculus Quest 2 and other Oculus VR headsets.The updated version of the 2017 VR first-person shooter includes two new multiplayer modes. The first is Versus, where players go head-to-head in taking down waves of enemies. The gameplay is similar to the single-player mode, but shooting a droid will make a new one spawn in the opponent's game and vice-versa. Versus can be played against a friend or against a random player through matchmaking.The other new multiplayer mode is Arena and requires a much larger physical space of at least 10m x 10m (32ft x 32ft) in size to play. According to the studio, ...

Almost any phone can run free-to-play titles like Angry Birds or Subway Surfers, but for the more graphically demanding, you'll need one of the best Android phones for games. Some of the best Android games are PC or console ports that run significantly better with more powerful CPUs, a lot of memory, and faster displays even in their downgraded state. These games also drain batteries faster and take up enough storage that you may need a microSD slot to fit them all. Add in-game streaming services like Google Stadia and Xbox Game Pass for Android 9xCloud), and you have every reason to make sure your next phone is capable of handling it all in stride. We think the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best overall gaming phone, but if that doesn't strike your fancy or is out of your price range, there are plenty of other options worth considering. Here are some of the best Android phones for gamers.1. Best overall: Samsung Galaxy S21 UltraSamsung's annual offerings continue to push the limit...

The newest version of Android is here, and you can install it right now.After long months of testing, the Android 12 beta is here, which means that the build is now more stable and ready for use as a daily driver.Along with a major change to the look called Material You, Android 12 comes with a bunch of new privacy features that may or may not be useful.The public Android 12 beta is available for Pixel phones along with the best Android phones from the likes of Xiaomi, ASUS, OPPO, TCL, OnePlus, and more (full list below). The latest version is Android 12 beta 5, and here's how you can install it on your phone, whether you're using a Pixel or any of the 15 third-party phones that have joined the beta.Jump to:Eligible devicesAndroid Beta program Android Flash ToolAndroid Factory ImagesWhich phones can download the Android 12 Beta?There are ten phones from Google that are eligible for the Android 12 beta:Pixel 3Pixel 3 XLPixel 3aPixel 3a XLPixel 4Pixel 4 X...

Counting down the days until Google opens up Pixel 6 preorders.Not since the original Pixel launch have we seen this level of hype for a new Google phone. The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will dramatically improve on the mid-range Pixel 5, offering true flagship specs. And thanks to its striking two-toned design, Google-made Tensor chipset, exclusive Android 12 features like Dynamic colors for the new Material You UI, and improved camera sensors, the 2021 Pixels are set to make a big splash.Google gave us the first official peek at the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on August 2 after months of rumors, giving us our first proper glimpse of the phone outside of leaks. Since then, Google has kept silent about the phone; but recent rumors and leaks suggest we could see the final announcement soon, which will unveil the release date, price, and full specs.From price, specs, availability, and more, here's everything we know (or suspect) so far about the Google Pixel 6.Half the price, ...

The Galaxy Watch 4 bezel now brings much smoother navigation.What you need to knowSamsung is pushing out new update for the Galaxy Watch 4.The update improves the responsiveness of the Watch 4's capacitive touch bezel.It does not appear to be available on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.Samsung isn't slowing down when it comes to updates to its new Galaxy Watch 4, and the latest brings some much-needed improvements to navigation.The company is rolling out a new update for the Galaxy Watch 4, which includes the usual system stability improvements and aims to make the capacitive touch bezel better.This is the changelog included for the update, which comes in at 159.90MB:Improved usability of the following applications or features: Touch bezelImproved system stability and reliabilityWhile the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic comes with a physical rotating bezel for navigating the watch, the standard Watch 4 retains the capacitive bezel found on Samsung's older smartwatches like th...

The streaming service can now be played on Fire tablets and Chromebooks.What you need to knowAmazon Luna adds a Family Channel today with a retro-themed channel coming soon.Luna Couch allows players to invite others to local multiplayer games through session codes and without the joining players needing to be subscribers. The service is now rolled out to Fire tablets and Chromebooks.The Amazon Luna game streaming service expanded today with more games, another paid channel, new features, and support for Fire tablets and Chromebooks.In a blog post, Amazon announced another collection of more than 35 games with the launch of the Family Channel. The channel includes games such as SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom — Rehydrated, Garfield Kart — Furious Racing, DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders, Transformers: Battlegrounds, and upcoming skateboarding game SkateBIRD.The Family Channel will add more games over time and costs $3 per month. It remains separ...

Whether it's because you've got something new and exciting, something cool happened, something concerning, or any number of other things that could occur, you want to be able to share it. Any or all of those situations could apply to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series. The latest and greatest smartwatch from Samsung has lots of great features that you may want to share, including some health metrics like results from the new BIA sensor. A great way of doing that is to take a screenshot on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and share it.How to take a screenshot on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4Taking a screenshot on the Galaxy Watch 4 series of smartwatches is a quick process, and thankfully, similar to the steps needed to take a screenshot on Android smartphones.Go to the information you want to capture.Quickly press the home and back buttons (top and bottom buttons).Done correctly, the watch screen will show an animation confirming a screenshot was taken.That's all the steps needed...

When will it release?The world of Battlefield is a huge one, and has become known for its large-scale warfare, destructible environments, and cinematic moments of gameplay. Back in April, DICE announced that in partnership with Industrial Toys, the developers would be creating a new Battlefield experience specifically for the mobile audience. The game is set to release some time in 2022, and will aim to be a fully standalone game that operates completely different from the current Battlefield games that exist.While fans wait for more information, DICE has hinted at some of the things they hope to accomplish with the future title, including it becoming one of the biggest and best Android games available With that in mind, here's all we know at the moment about the upcoming Battlefield Mobile.Play the newest entryBattlefield 2042From $60 at AmazonFrom $70 at Xbox (Series X|S)From $60 at Xbox (Xbox One)From $60 at PlayStation StoreBattlefield goes back to the future...

With shades this stylish, you might forget Facebook was even part of the process.There's a high likelihood that when you think of glasses, you think of Ray-Ban. The brand is as iconic as they come, and Ray-Ban is banking on its name and trademark styles to help ease your decision between these shades and the competition. Despite the Facebook involvement in development, you won't find Facebook branding anywhere on these glasses. You won't even use the Facebook or Instagram apps to grab pictures or videos taken with the glasses — a testament to how much work was put into assuaging fears of Facebook's attachment to the product.While that's certainly a win for privacy concerns, it also represents a major missed opportunity to fully integrate these smart glasses with the Facebook ecosystem. After all, they're called Ray-Ban Stories. These glasses have cameras on them that can record video and take pictures, so what makes more sense than integrating them directly into the Stories' fu...

Best answer: Fitbit Premium is a paid subscription with guided programs, detailed health insights, advanced sleep tracking, and dynamic workouts for a more feature-rich Fitbit app. For people who want to get the most out of their Fitbit tracker and can afford the monthly or yearly fee, it's definitely worth a look.The big draw to Fitbit Premium is the Guided ProgramsThere are many different aspects to Fitbit Premium, but the feature we think most people will be drawn to is the collection of Guided Programs.Guided Programs can be found on the Discover page of the Fitbit app, and you'll find ones that aim to help you with a variety of things, including being more active, learning healthy habits, getting more sleep, eating less sugar, and more. The length of the programs depends on the topic, and after joining one, it'll be present on the main Today page of the app.All of the programs can be customized, too. For the Kick Your Salt Habit program, for example, you can choose whe...

Amazon is turning up the heat on home entertainment.What you need to knowAmazon has announced several new Fire TV devices, including the first "Amazon-built" TV sets.The more premium Fire TV Omni series offers hands-free Alexa voice control, 4K Ultra HD, and Dolby Digital Plus from $410.The company also announced the affordable first-party 4K Fire TV 4-Series and Fire TV Stick 4K Max, starting at $370 and $55, respectively.Additionally, Amazon and Best Buy have announced new smart TVs with Fire TV built-in from Pioneer and Toshiba.September is typically a busy month for Amazon when the company releases scores of new Alexa devices, including smart speakers, as well as home security and home entertainment products. This week, the company kept up this fall tradition by unveiling several new additions to its Fire TV lineup, including first-party Fire TV Omni and Fire TV 4-Series, a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and several partner Fire TV Edition sets.The biggest announcements h...

Make your life a whole lot easier with these time-saving Google Chrome tips and tricks.Google Chrome is one of the top internet browsers for desktop, at least according to our readers. It may be a little processor heavy, but when it comes to getting things done it can be very useful. If you'd like to squeeze even more productivity out of Chrome on your PC, here are some nifty tips and tricks for Google Chrome.Jump to:Use Tab GroupsSearch tabsLive CaptionRestore tabsSwitch profilesRead LaterUse Google MessagesBlock site notification popupsSnooze Google Calendar notificationsRemove suggestions on new tabsLink to highlighted textCreate shortcuts for extensionsGoogle Password ManagerExport your passwordsControl website privacy permissionsTip 1: Use Tab GroupsThe first thing you'll want to do is clean up the mass open tabs crowding up your Chrome Browser. Luckily, you now have the ability to create Tab Groups. You can then collapse or expand a set of tabs u...

The chipset is a toned down version of the Kompanio 1300T that MediaTek announced in July.What you need to knowMediaTek has rolled out a new 5G chipset for tablets and notebooks.Similar to the Kompanio 1300T, the new Kompanio 900T is built on a 6nm process. MediaTek says the first devices powered by the chipset will be available "soon."Earlier this year, MediaTek launched the Kompanio 1300T chipset for premium Android tablets. The Taiwanese chipmaker has now announced a new Kompanio chipset for tablets and notebooks, dubbed the Kompanio 900T.The Kompanio 900T is manufactured on the same 6nm process as the Kompanio 1300T. It is an octa-core chipset with two Arm Cortex-A78 ultra-performance cores, six Arm Cortex-A55 cores, and an Arm Mali-G68 GPU. As you would expect from a modern 5G chipset that promises "serious computing power," the Kompanio 900T supports LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 storage.The chipset also supports up to 2K resolution screens with a 120Hz refresh rate. ...

Over the years, water-resistance in phones has gone from being a luxury reserved only for top-shelf phones to a standard feature that's expected of any remotely expensive gadget. We've rounded up the best waterproof phones in 2021, lead by the fantastic Samsung Galaxy S21. Take a look at our list for more options that will fit any budget and lifestyle needs.Best overall waterproof phone: Samsung Galaxy S21The Samsung Galaxy S21 burst onto the scene in early 2021 and quickly became our consensus choice for the best Android phone most people should buy. That doesn't mean that it had the best specs overall or was the best-priced phone. No, we love the S21 because of how well it balances price, features, and built quality, and part of that build quality is its IP68 water and dust resistance.Unlike its higher-priced siblings in the S21 and Note 20 lineup, this phone has a plastic, or rather, "glasstic" rear panel, but that doesn't make it feel cheap or less premium to us. On the c...

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...

Google may have to pay another hefty fine if it is found guilty.What you need to knowGoogle is reportedly under renewed EU antitrust investigation for forcing Android OEMs to use Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on their devices.EU regulators had raised concerns over "attempts to restrict the number of voice assistants" on smart devices in June.Regulators are also concerned about Google and other voice assistant providers pushing their own services via default settings on smart devices.Google is facing a renewed antitrust investigation from EU regulators over "possibly forcing" device makers into using Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on Android devices, according to a tweet by Mlex reporter Sam Wilkin. Android Central has reached out to Google for a comment on the report.Scoop: Google under renewed EU antitrust investigation, this time over possibly forcing device manufacturers to use Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on Androi...

Smart Wi-Fi plugs are a dime a dozen, and they are wonderfully affordable devices. The best smart Wi-Fi plugs let you effectively turn just about anything plugged into them "smart." Once plugged in, you can control the device, be it a coffee maker, fan, or lamp, from your phone or even, in some cases, your voice. But not all of them are rated for use outdoors. Why would you want to use one outdoors? Whether it's to control your holiday lights or inflatables, set a sprinkler to water the flowers on a schedule, or turn a porch light on every night at a specific time, there are plenty of reasons these can come in handy. We have rounded up some of the best outdoor smart Wi-Fi plugs you can buy.For the full Ring of securityRing Outdoor Smart PlugStaff PickIf you have other Ring products around the home, or even if you don't, this is a solid option that works with Alexa for voice control and can connect to a Ring Bridge so you can control and customize settings right from the Rin...

If the original Chromebook Duet was an appetizer, the Duet 5 is the main course.This week, Lenovo announced several new products as part of its Lenovo Tech World event, including new wireless earbuds and a couple of exciting new tablets. One of these new tablets is the Tab P12 Pro, an Android tablet that is designed to also work as a second screen with Windows computers. The other tablet (and the one I really care about) is the successor to last year's popular Chromebook Duet — The Chromebook Duet 5.At 13.3 inches, the newer Duet 5 is significantly larger than the last Duet, so why is it called the Duet 5 instead of, I don't know, the Duet 13, or the Duet 2nd Gen? That's a good question, and I'm so glad you asked! We're not sure if Lenovo is calling this version the Duet 5 in homage to its popular Flex 5 Chromebook, which incidentally, is still our pick as the best Chromebook for most people. On the other hand, it could just as easily be because many of Lenovo's devices over 13...

Bringing some of Google Assistant Driving mode features into Android Auto would be a big boost for the automobile infotainment software.Software in automobiles that restricts phone usage while driving is a good thing — period. However, not all vehicles are compatible with Apple Car Play or Android Auto. That's what Android Auto for phone screens was for, but with it going away in favor of Google Assistant Driving mode, could that be foretelling as to what may be in the future for Android Auto proper?Finding ways to move essential phone functions like navigation, conversations, music, and phone calls to a larger display that is more within the driver's view is far better than reaching for a smaller phone screen. Not only is the screen smaller, but so are the touchpoints. Also, using voice control through Google Assistant in a noisy vehicle is hit and miss. A phone as the infotainment option in a vehicle is not a great experience for a few reasons, but it's really bad when ...