Latest from Android Central

I keep trying to love my smart home stuff, but sometimes I don't know if it loves me back.Why are "smart homes" a thing? Why do companies continue pushing this idea of automating our home devices when there is so much fragmentation and inconsistency when trying to use them — even with the best of the best smart home products? And knowing about their shoddy track record, why do I keep buying smart home devices?Perhaps it's because, for decades, movies and TV shows have perpetuated the idea that having a home that can handle tasks for me will free up time to do other things. I love all things tech-related, and finding ways to intertwine it into my life has been something that I've been enamored with since I was a child. At the same time, I enjoy simple things in life that just work.So do smart homes call to me because I'm lazy? No! ...Ok, maybe to a point. But in the realm of smart home devices, you can rarely depend on simplicity or consistent, automatic performance. They take...

TikTok expects longer videos to pave the way for "even richer storytelling and entertainment" on its platform.What you need to knowTikTok is rolling out the option to create longer videos.TikTok says the expanded format will give creators more flexibility and reduce the need for multi-part posts. The new option will roll out to users over the coming weeks. TikTok has started rolling out the ability to create videos up to three minutes long, enabling users to "captivate the community with their creative expression." TikTok began testing three-minute videos on its platform in December last year. Until now, longer videos were only available to a few top creators. It believes creators will now have the "canvas to create new or expanded types of content."As you may have seen, many creators on TikTok create multi-part stories for cooking demos, beauty tutorials, and comedic sketches. With support for longer videos, creators on the platform finally have more flexibility.TikTok...

OPPO is touting video as a key differentiator for the Reno 6 series.If there's one beneficiary to Huawei's continued ban, it would be OPPO. The Chinese manufacturer was able to take advantage of Huawei's downfall in global markets, positioning itself as the ideal alternative. Thanks to a strong portfolio of devices like the Reno 5 Pro and the Find X3 Pro, OPPO is now the world's fourth-largest smartphone brand, posting a 35% year-on-year increase in sales.The Reno series in particular is driving a lot of momentum for the brand. The Reno 10X Zoom was aimed at the flagship segment, but OPPO pivoted the lineup to focus on the value segment — going up against the best cheap Android phones — and that has proved to be a fruitful decision. With the Reno 6 Pro now slated to make its global debut (the phone is launching in India on July 14), I talked to Tasleem Arif, VP and R&D Head at OPPO India, to get a better sense of what the phone has to offer.The Reno 6 Pro is coming just...

Google failed with Android Go in India, but its partnership with Jio will finally allow it to target the masses.Over four years ago, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that smartphones need to cost as little as $30 to gain widespread adoption across India. Although the country is the second-largest smartphone market in the world — with over 700 million users — there's still a sizeable chunk of the Indian populace that hasn't made the switch.Xiaomi and other Chinese manufacturers have significantly lowered the barrier to entry for smartphones, offering decent options for as low as ₹6,799 ($90), but that is still out of consideration for millions of Indians. Google tried to target the $50 to $75 segment with Android Go devices in the past, but those efforts have failed to gain momentum, much like its tryst with Android One.But all that is changing thanks to Google's partnership with Jio in India. Jio announced the JioPhone Next, an entry-level phone that's running an "optimized"...

Google is continuing to offer freebies to loyal YouTube TV subscribers.What you need to knowGoogle is reportedly offering free Chromecast with Google TV devices.The offer is going to YouTube TV subscribers to promote the new 4K streaming option.Eligible subscribers must live in the U.S. and have made at least one valid payment.Google really wants YouTube TV subscribers to get the best possible experience. The company is reportedly emailing subscribers and offering free Chromecast with Google TV devices.The promotion was first spotted by Droid Life and specifically mentions the new 4K Plus add-on that was recently announced for YouTube TV: To ensure our loyal YouTube TV members have a great viewing experience (including the ability to watch 4K content on our optional, new add-on service), we would like to offer you a free Chromecast with Google TV device — while supplies last.Coming off the heels of the 4K announcement, it seems Google really wants users to sign u...

Samsung is still expected to launch the Galaxy S21 FE, but it may be limited.What you need to knowA new press image leaks of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and its colorways.The image corroborates previously leaked renders of the S21 FE colors.The Galaxy S21 FE could receive a limited launch due to the chip shortage.Renders of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE have just leaked again, this time in the form of what appears to be a press image of the upcoming smartphone.The image was obtained by Android Headlines, who just leaked the renders of the Classic variant of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. The Galaxy S21 FE is shown in its different colorways, which appear to be black, green, white, and purple, although you can expect Samsung to put its own spin on the color names.The colors match with previous renders of the Galaxy S21 FE from leaker Evan Blass, which showed the same colorways.Given the visual similarities between this and the vanilla S21, it's expected that Samsung will follow...

Sony is clearing stock of its former flagship earbuds.What you need to knowThe Sony Xperia 1 III is up for preorder in the United States.Sony is offering a free pair of wireless ANC earbuds for a limited time.The smartphone retails for $1300 and ships on August 19.The Sony Xperia 1 III (read "one mark three") is finally available to preorder in the United States. The device will not come cheap, retailing for $1300 with seemingly no carrier partnerships available for device installments.Sony hopes to justify the price with tempting add-ons to sweeten the pot. The company is offering a free pair of its previous flagship wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM3. They were released in 2019 but still feature impressive active noise cancellation that rivals even the best wireless earbuds.For gamers, Sony also includes 43,200 CP points for Call of Duty: Mobile, valued at $540. These points are used to purchase items and weapons in the game to enhance your player.These freebies ...

One of the biggest perks of having a PlayStation Plus membership is the free games you get every month. The free PlayStation Plus games offered this month include three major titles, all available on either the PS4 or PS5. Check out the list of games below, with downloads available starting July 1. Enjoy the price of free until July 30, 2021.★Survive at all costsA Plague Tale: Innocence (PS5 Only)Often heralded as one of the best games of the last generation of gaming, A Plague Tale: Innocence is getting the full upgrade treatment, as it's coming to the PS5 with full 4K native resolution, targeted 60 FPS gameplay, improved visuals, and faster loading. Following the tale of young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, A Plague Tale: Innocence focuses on the two family members trying to survive in a world filled with Inquisition soldiers, swarms of rats, and much more.See at PlayStation★ Futuristic warfareCall of Duty: Black Ops 4Call of Duty: Black Ops 4...

These games are offered to Prime Gaming users on top of July's free games.What you need to knowOne of the benefits to being an Amazon Prime subscriber is that it offers free games under its Prime Gaming umbrella.Prime Gaming subscribers can pick up three classic LucasArts adventure games throughout summer, including The Secret of Monkey Island and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.The first game you can download, Monkey Island, is available today, as are the seven other games Amazon is offering for free through the month of July.Amazon today announced it'd be offering a series of classic LucasArts games to its Prime users throughout the summer. In total, Amazon will give three games out to Prime users: The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on July 1, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis on August 1, and Sam & Max: Hit the Road on September 1.All three games are adventure games with the classic point-and-click style of gameplay. Secret of Monkey Islan...

PUBG: New State is an upcoming mobile-only entry in the PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds franchise, set decades in the future, though not as far out as the upcoming science-fiction horror game, The Callisto Protocol. While PUBG: New State is currently slated to arrive at some point later in 2021, players on Android can pre-register right now, so you won't miss out on what could be one of the best Android games when it is available. Here's how to pre-register for PUBG: New State on Android devices.How to pre-register for PUBG: New State on AndroidPre-registration is a simple process, as you'll just need a Google account, and then you'll make your way over to the Google Play Store.From your computer or Android device, make your way to the Google Play Store.Using the search bar, search for PUBG: New State. Click the title; it should be the top result.Click the green Pre-register button. Just like that, you're good! If your Android device works with PUBG Mobile, you'll likely...

Recording calls can be handy for several reasons, from taking notes afterward to personal security. You can manually record calls on Android phones. Still, Google dialer allows you to automatically record calls from numbers not in your contacts and selected numbers in your contacts. Unfortunately, these features are not available everywhere, but if you can record calls in your region, we'll show you how to do it, but first, a word about recording calls.It's imperative to check your local regulations and laws to determine how legal call recording can be. Laws vary from state to state and from country to country, but it usually boils down to single-party consent or two-party consent. One-party consent means that you can record your calls because you are the one party giving consent. Two-party consent actually requires the consent of everyone on the call, whether it's two or more. Regardless, it's considered polite to inform others that the call is being recorded. Indeed, automatic ca...

Though there used to be a free trial for Sling TV, right now Sling doesn't have one available. However, there are a few excellent deals that new subscribers can snag to lower the cost of becoming a member. Plus, the Sling Free section is still available to let you watch select on-demand content for free without even needing an account!Sign up at Sling TV nowSling TV is easily one of the best live TV streaming services out there right now. Not only is it affordable with plans starting at just $35 per month, but it includes many of the most popular cable channels and local broadcast channels as well. Whether you're a sports fan who can't live without ESPN or someone who's obsessed with HGTV and discovering new ways to reinvent spaces and furniture in your home, Sling TV has you covered.Though Sling has offered free trials of its service in the past, currently there is no free trial available at Sling. However, there are some great deals for new members to consider — one of whic...

The best OnePlus Nord N200 5G screen protectors can save your new phone from a nasty fall and keep scratches away from its flawless 90Hz Full HD+ display. Paired along with one of the best OnePlus Nord N200 5G cases, a great screen protector will add an extra layer of security and keep this extremely affordable 5G phone looking new. So if you've gone ahead and purchased the latest OnePlus device, these are some of the best OnePlus Nord N200 5G screen protectors to choose from.Good temperedGoTo Tempered Glass Screen ProtectorStaff PickYou can't go wrong with tempered glass, which is why the GoTo Tempered Glass Screen Protector from T-Mobile is a great choice when it comes to protecting your OnePlus Nord N200 5G case from scratches and cracks. This screen protector conveniently comes with a tray that makes installing the tempered glass onto your phone a simple process, so you'll end up with perfect results.$30 at T-MobileScratch freeGoTo Film Screen Protector (2 p...

Striking out from the shadows on PS5.What you need to knowGhost of Tsushima Director's Cut is coming on August 20.It'll be available on PS4 and PS5, with a new storyline taking place on Iki Island.It'll be $60 on PS4, while the PS5 version is $70. Sucker Punch Productions announced Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on Thursday. This new version of the game is coming to PS4 and PS5, with new features and a new adventure taking place on Iki Island. You can check out the announcement trailer below.While Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut will be available on both the older and newer PlayStation hardware, PS5 players will get some special features, such as 3D audio support. The game will also take advantage of the DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is scheduled to be available on August 20. The PS4 version is $60, while the PS5 version is $70. An existing PS4 owner of the original game can upgrade to the PS4 Director's Cut for ...

Google is joining forces with famous entertainers to help you find movies and shows to watch.What you need to knowGoogle is introducing a new way to get recommendations on Google TV.Popular entertainers, artists, and cultural icons will share their top movie and TV picks in Google's new Watch With Me series.The new series kicks off with Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox. The Google TV platform integrates with nearly all major streaming services out there, making it easy to find interesting movies and TV shows. Google is now making it even easier to get recommendations on its smart TV platform.The search giant has teamed up with entertainers, artists, and cultural icons on a new series called Watch With Me, where they will share their top picks and also give viewers a "behind-the-scenes look at the TV shows and movies that inspired them."The first episode features Emmy-nominated actress and LGBTQ+ advocate Laverne Cox. Although she spends most of her time in front o...

How much money do you really need to spend to get a good Windows laptop? While Best Windows Laptop guides across the net are filled with $1,500to $3000 ultrabooks and beastly gaming laptops, you don't need to spend even half that number to get a good experience these days. The quality is still too unpredictable in the sub-$400 market to reasonably recommend a Windows laptop over the best Chromebooks outside specific circumstances, but in the $450 to $700 segment, there's fierce competition for your money and your primary PC. These are the best cheap laptops you can buy today.What are the best cheap laptops?When it comes to cheap laptops, it's all about finding the features you want most — and the features you're willing to sacrifice for it. There are few touchscreen laptops in the cheap category and even fewer 2-in-1s, which helps the Lenovo Flex 5 (14") stand out all the more. You get a good touchscreen — except in sunlight, where all but the Microsoft offerings wash out immed...

Wanna get ready to protect the world in Marvel Future Revolution? Pre-register now.The future looks bright for Marvel Future Revolution, the upcoming open-world action RPG coming to Android. It's set in a future where Hank Pym and Tony Stark fail to stop alternate worlds across the multiverse from physically colliding together. This forms one Primary Earth, made up of bits and pieces from alternate earths. And like other earths, the Primary Earth needs heroes to protect it. That's where you come in.While Marvel Future Revolution doesn't have a release date just yet, you can get in early and begin pre-registration now with just a few clicks. Here's how to pre-register for Marvel Future Revolution.How to pre-register for Marvel Future Revolution on Google PlayPre-registering for Marvel Future Revolution is easy and even has benefits like free pre-registration costume box with a costume for one of the 8 available heroes. Just follow these steps.Head to Google Play on your...

With accessories like hard drives, charging cables, flash drives, PlayStation Move controllers, and PSVR headsets fighting for life on your PS4 or PS5, you'll find there just isn't enough USB ports to go around. If you want to avoid endless amounts of cable swapping, you can easily remedy the problem with the best PS4 USB hub. Here are some of our favorites you can find right now.Our pickAnker 4-Port USB 3.0 Unibody Aluminum Portable Data HubStaff PickIt's our favorite USB Hub for more than just the PS4. The Anker's slim aluminum design and premium quality finish make it a great addition to your PS4 setup, and the four USB 3.0 ports give you high-speed access to more peripherals. It's perfect for your PlayStation 5 as well.$23 at AmazonGive me moar!Anker 7-port USB 3.0 hubIf three extra USB 3.0 ports aren't enough for your peripheral crazed life, how about six more? The Anker seven-port hub is a powerhouse with a two-amp port for charging your smartphone whi...

The app won't replace the existing Google Fit app.What you need to knowGoogle may be working on a new Health app.The app will let you easily manage your medical records. You will also be able to share them with your friends and family. Google is developing a new Health app that will enable Android users to get easy access to their medical records, according to an exclusive report from 91Mobiles.The app will essentially serve the same purpose that Google Health did when it was launched in 2008. Google had hoped that the service would have a "real impact" on the day-to-day health experiences of people by giving them access to their personal health and wellness information. Unfortunately, Google decided to kill the service in 2012 as it failed to have a broad impact.As you can see in the screenshots below, the Google Health app will give you a "unified view of your health" with information from "doctor's visits, labs, and more." The app appears to have dedicated tabs for C...

Best friends Twig, Leaf, Very Berry and Rocksy are back with ten brand-new episodes from the backyard and we have all the details on how you can watch DreamWorks' animated series The Mighty Ones online.Created and executive produced by Gravity Falls' Sunil Hall and Samurai Jack's Lynne Naylor, the first season of The Mighty Ones first premiered on Hulu and NBC's streaming service Peacock last year. The show stars Josh Brener (Twig), Alex Cazares (Very Berry), Jessica McKenna (Rocksy) and Jimmy Tatro (Leaf) with guest stars Fortune Feimster as "Vibez", Manila Luzon as "Firefly" and Stephen Root as "Bernard".The animated series tells the story of a twig, a pebble, a leaf and a strawberry that live in a suburban backyard. Off in the distance they can see a trio of humans (whose backyard they live in) that they mistake for gods due to their much larger and imposing size. Although the self-proclaimed Mighty Ones are small, their misadventures in the backyard are big.In the show's se...

Google Meet isn't always the first to offer new video calling features, but it gets around to them eventually. More than a year after Zoom popularized the feature, animated backgrounds have finally arrived on Google Meet. There aren't that many options to choose from right now, but we're so glad that they're finally here. If you've ever changed your background on a Google Meet call, this is all going to feel very familiar, but it's amazing what a difference a little motion makes. Let's get into how to set up animated backgrounds using Google Meet.How to set up animated video backgrounds in Google MeetOpen a Google Meet session.Before you join, click on the three-dot menu at the bottom center of the screen.Click on Change background.There are currently three preset animated backgrounds to choose from. Pick the one you like best, including a party with fun blob characters, a tranquil forest scene, and a cute classroom with fruity classmates.Depending on how many custo...

Best Answer: NBC's Peacock streaming service offers a free tier that allows you to stream shows and movies on-demand at no cost. If you choose to sign up for a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus paid subscription, you can unlock even more content.Peacock offers one of the best values on the market right now. After all, how many streaming platforms do you know of which have a free streaming tier? Unlike Netflix, Disney+, and other popular services, you don't need to pay a cent to start streaming Peacock. The platform also offers Premium and Premium Plus subscription tiers, which offer access to exclusive content for a small monthly fee. If you're wondering what the difference is between Peacock Free vs paid, or how to sign up, we've got the scoop.PeacockStream it freeStarting for free at PeacockWatch new shows and movies for freePeacock's free tier gives you access to a collection of new and classic series, as well as a rotating lineup of films and live programming. You can...

Rapid-fire growth.What you need to knowNixxes Software is a team known for its work on PC ports.Sony Worldwide Studios head Hermen Hulst announced that Sony is acquiriing Nixxes Software for PlayStation Studios.This comes shortly after the acquisition of Housemarque, the development team behind titles such as Returnal.Just days after announcing the acquisition of Returnal developer Housemarque, Head of Sony Worldwide Studios Hermen Hulst announced via Twitter on Thursday that Nixxes Software is also joining the PlayStation first-party family. Nixxes is primarily a PC port developer, having worked on ports of titles like Marvel's Avengers and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The price of the acquisition was not disclosed."I highly respect Nixxes and am excited for this very experienced team to become part of the world-class development community at SIE," said Hermen Hulst. "They have a passion for improving games and for delivering the best possible experience for gamers. Nixxes...

Xiaomi hasn't made any changes to the prices of its mid-range and flagship Mi series phones.What you need to knowXiaomi has hiked the prices of its budget Android phones in India by up to 6%.The company has blamed the hike on the shortage of components and higher shipping charges. Prices of Xiaomi's smart TVs have also gone up by a similar percentage. Xiaomi has increased the prices of its best smart TVs and budget phones in India by up to 6%. The global semiconductor shortage and higher shipping charges are said to be the main reasons behind the price hike.According to a report from Livemint, Xiaomi has been dealing with shortages across the supply chain since last year. Apart from chipsets, the company is also facing a shortage of display panels, display drivers, back panels, and batteries.It is worth noting that some of the company's best cheap Android phones have already witnessed a price hike. Prices of the Redmi Note 10 were hiked twice by ₹500 in the last one m...

Google Calendar is one of the most understated products in the Google Suite. If you live and die by your calendar, Google made an improvement that could change your life. You can finally snooze notifications that you get from Google Calendar on your desktop PC or Chromebook. There are a couple of caveats, however. First, you have to have Google Calendar open in a tab. Second, you have to allow Google Calendar to send notifications to your PC. If both of those conditions are met, you can snooze the notifications you get as events come up. We'll show you exactly how to do that.How to snooze notifications in ChromeFirst, you have to make sure you have allowed notifications to be sent.Go to Settings in Chrome.Click Privacy and security.Click Site settingsScroll down and click NotificationsScroll down to Allow and make sure calendar.google.com is in there.If it is not, click Add.Type https://calendar.google.com:443 and click **Add.That should do it. You'll get no...

What you need to knowMint Mobile is offering 25 years of wireless service for $2,500 ($100 per year).This Bobby Bonilla Plan celebrates the former pro baseball player who is paid over $1 million by the New York Mets annually until 2035.This deal is live for one day only, July 1, 2021.Mint Mobile's newest plan is only available for one day and comes with an unprecedented 25 years of service. July 1, 2021, Mint Mobile is offering the Bobby Bonilla Plan with 25 years of Mint Mobile service for just $2,500. The price breaks down to $100 per year or $8.33 per month.This plan celebrates baseball star Bobby Bonilla's deal with the New York Mets to settle a $5.9 million contract buyout with a 25-year deal. Starting in 2011, every July 1, Bonilla collects over $1 million from the New York Mets and will continue to do so until 2035. Mint Mobile has partnered with the former pro baseball player to give customers a 25-year wireless deal to celebrate his big payday.This 25 year deal m...

Best answer: The beta is available in India and the Philippines at the moment. It'll soon expand to Indonesia, Peru, Colombia, Egypt, and Lebanon. It's expected to roll out to more countries later this year. Pre-register now: Apex Legends Mobile on the Google Play StoreWhy you can't sign up for the Apex Legend mobile betaElectronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment first announced their intentions to release Apex Legends Mobile not long after the game launched on consoles and PC. Respawn announced in April 2021 that it'd be opening regional betas for the game this year, intending to roll the beta out to different regions throughout the year.At the moment, the beta is only available to some players in India and the Philippines. On June 23, Respawn announced that "in a few weeks," it'd be expanding the regional mobile beta to Indonesia, Peru, Colombia, Egypt, and Lebanon.The Apex Legends mobile beta is currently available only on Android. Respawn promises in the mobile game's FAQ ...

Painting your walls can be labor-intensive and messy, but when you use a light capable of 16 million colors — it's so easy.For years, the idea of a light source in our homes was a light bulb that only turned on or off with the flick of a switch; that is no longer the case. In 2021, the range of lights for homes is extensive in both form and function — and Govee is at the forefront of pushing that innovation. Because of this, I was very excited to check out the Govee Lyra corner floor lamp.While Govee may not be the first name you may think of when it comes to smart lights, it's quickly becoming one that should. Though Govee does make some products that skew traditional in design, the company is pushing this sector forward with unique products like the Govee Immersion TV backlight and the Govee Glide Wall Lights.From a technology standpoint, there are tons of excellent smart light bulbs that are in a traditional form-factor, to immersive lights for an incredible gaming exper...

Safety and support for those epic training sessions and even more epic races.I've been slowly getting back into running after years of relative inactivity, and thankfully for me, this period of increased movement has coincided with the release of a number of awesome smartwatches and fitness trackers that I've been able to test out. Of course, I'm miles away from being an elite runner (literally and figuratively), but I nevertheless was excited to be assigned this Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE to review.To this day, I'm still learning and diving into the amazing number of training modes, metrics, and analyses that Garmin provides with its advanced fitness wearables, but what really intrigued me with this device was the new LTE option. Not because it has cellular connectivity — many smartwatches have this feature — but because it is unapologetically focused on safety, and that's pretty much it. Aside from a ton of fitness features, there are no unnecessary "smart" extras here. To m...

The widget will cycle through photos from your "Memories" albums.What you need to knowThe Google Photos app for Android may soon get a new "Memories" homescreen widget.It will allow users to "rediscover moments from Google Photos." Google added a similar widget to the Photos app on iOS last year. Google rolled out a bunch of new widgets for iOS in October last year — including a Google Photos widget that cycles through the 'Memories' albums to allow users to relive their best moments right on the homescreen. A teardown of the latest Google Photos update by XDA Developers has now revealed that a similar widget could soon be released for Android users.Version 5.49 of the app includes references to a new "Google Photos widget" that will let users "rediscover moments from Google Photos." Unlike the iOS Google Photos widget, however, it looks like the Android widget will only show you photos from "this week last year."Unsurprisingly, the widget cannot be added to the homes...

Microsoft doesn't sell phones anymore, but it has a vested interest in Android's future.One of the more interesting announcements around Windows 11 is the fact that the operating system can run Android apps. Microsoft has teamed up with Amazon to bring the Amazon Appstore to Windows 11 using Intel Bridge, a run-time post compiler that allows Android apps built for Arm devices to function on the x86 platform.What's particularly interesting is that you can even sideload Android apps on Windows 11, opening the doors for the best Android apps on the desktop platform. Although Microsoft doesn't sell phones anymore — the Surface Duo is more a technical showcase than a mainstream consumer device like the best Android phones — it cares deeply about Android.Microsoft pivoted to a cloud-first strategy under Satya Nadella's leadership, ensuring its core services are available on all platforms. It also entered into a "long term commitment" with Samsung to pre-install the Office product...

The latest version of DiskStation Manager is here, and you should install it right now.Synology makes the best NAS enclosures you can buy today, and the brand's main differentiator is the software. DiskStation Manager (DSM) has powerful features that let you easily back up data, host your own mail, office, and VPN server, and so much more.DiskStation Manager 6.0 launched back in 2016, and while the software picked up a lot of updates in the last four years, the core features have remained unchanged for the most part. That's why it's exciting to see that Synology is now rolling out the stable version of DiskStation Manager 7.0. DSM 7.0 brings a ton of new features, including a unified photo management service, fresh user interface, better system monitoring tools, new sharing and collaboration features, and more.Here's everything you need to know about all the new features in DiskStation Manager 7.0, what NAS enclosures are eligible for the beta, and how you can install DSM 7.0 o...

Alongside the Galaxy Watch 4 Active, Samsung might be releasing a Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.What you need to knowNew leaks purport to show the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.The phone is rumored to be launching alongside the Galaxy Watch 4 Active. Both are to make an appearance at Unpacked later this summer. Samsung has been working on the new Galaxy Watch 4, as it's presumed to be called, and leaked renders from Android Headlines give us a look at one of the models.Aside from the Galaxy Watch 4 Active, which might actually just be the regular Galaxy Watch 4, the company is launching a more conventional Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Both will run the new One UI-based Wear experience co-developed by Google, but the Classic model would be aimed at a more mainstream audience than the fitness-focused Active model.Android Headlines reports that the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic will come in three sizes and three colors. A 42mm size, a 44mm size, and a 46mm size will offer ...

Google chalks up another win for RCS adoption thanks to AT&T.What you need to knowGoogle Messages will be the default messaging app on AT&T Android smartphones.This is likely to fuel the use of RCS messaging on Android after a slow initial rollout.The announcement comes months after T-Mobile pledged to make Google Messages the default.Google's push for RCS continues as AT&T commits to making Google Messages the default messaging app on its Android smartphones.David Christopher, the executive vice president and general manager of AT&T Mobility, says that the company looks forward to "working closely with Google to extend these benefits to even more of our customers as they enjoy richer conversations with others around the world."The announcement comes months after T-Mobile announced its own partnership with Google, including offering more of the best Android phones on its network and making Google Messages the default.Samsung also pushes for RCS on its...

5G phones are still rare in the sub-$200 markets, but phones like this will help encourage uptake.What you need to knowT-Mobile today launched the REVVL V 5G+, its cheapest 5G phone under its homegrown REVVL band.The company bills it as the cheapest 5G phone in the U.S.It's available for $199.99 outright or $8.34 for a 24-month plan.T-Mobile is launching a cheap Android phone under its REVVL brand with the new REVVL V 5G +. Billed as "the most affordable 5G smartphone ever in the U.S.", this phone is a T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile exclusive, launching on July 12.You're not going to confuse this for one of the best smartphones, but the specs aren't terrible for the price you pay. The phone has a 6.82-inch HD+ LCD with face unlock and fingerprint sensor for biometrics. There's a triple camera setup with the standard 16MP main and a pair of 5MP and 2MP secondary cameras. For selfies and video calls, you'll find a 16MP front-facing camera. You'll find 64GB of storage paired...

That'll make it harder for third-party app stores to attract content.What you need to knowGoogle seems to want to move away from Android app formatted as APKs in the Play Store.It's now started mandating that new apps entering the store from August should use its new AAB format.The move is likely to harm third-party app stores as Google remains the only store that uses the AAB format. Google this week announced that it would be mandating the adoption of the Android App Bundle (AAB) over Android Packages (APKs) for new apps submitted from August 2021. The company had previously introduced the Android App Bundle as a new way of formatting apps for publication to the Play Store in 2018. It had seen adoption from developers as high-profile as Netflix and Adobe.Android App Bundles offered benefits for users in the form of smaller downloads. To put it simply, an APK install would have to be compatible with all supported device configurations and languages, while an AAB-packaged...

When your PlayStation or peripherals do things you've never seen before, it's understandable to get worried. The DualShock controller light doesn't usually flash white. There are two main reasons you might see the flashing white light on your DualShock controller: either the battery is dying, or the controller failed to connect to your PlayStation console. Both these things are fixable. We just need to troubleshoot the problems so you can get back to enjoying your games with the best PS4 controllers available. Here's how to get started.Jump to:Check your USB cableReset your consoleReset the controllerStart in Safe ModeUsing a DualShock 4 on PS5Products used in this guideAmazonBasics PlayStation 4 Controller Charging CableDualShock 4 Wireless ControllerCheck your USB cableUSB cables can be fragile. One of the most straightforward problems to fix is replacing your old USB charging cord and replacing it with shiny new ones. Just some basic USB charging cables wo...

Best answer: A fair amount. Although the core gameplay will be very familiar to PUBG fans, a new map, graphical enhancements, and fresh mechanics differentiate New State's experience enough from its predecessor. A key difference is that New State is being developed by PUBG Studios, the original team behind the first iteration of the game and the first mobile game to be developed by them. While PUBG Mobile was a port by Tencent games, New State represents a true evolution of the popular battle royale and is expected to release this year.PUBG differences:Which game should I play?Graphical improvementsNew mechanicsControl changesMinimum requirementsNew state vs mobileWhich game should I play?Despite New State being touted as the next big thing for the multiplayer phenomenon, players still have a reason to play PUBG Mobile. The free-to-play nature of the title represents a low barrier to entry, as does the option of a lite version for players with less powerful devic...

You'll be able to show your COVID status with ease if your local healthcare provider supports this new API.What you need to knowGoogle Pay will now support COVID-19 status cards with an update to the Passes API.Only approved developers from recognized health organizations will be able to take advantage of this.It's also being limited to the U.S. first, though Google notes that it'll be coming to other countries later. Google today announced support for digital COVID-19 vaccination cards in the U.S. in Google Pay. Today, developers who are affiliated with healthcare organizations or public health authorities will be able to use Google's Passes API to create a digital card that will enable Android users to demonstrate vaccination status or test results.Accessing a card or pass created with this method is easy, as users will be able to create a home screen shortcut for it and access it in areas with weak internet access.Google is working on making this secure and private...

Using one of the best robot vacuums to help you keep your house clean may be one of the best decisions you can make. Over the past few years, robot vacuums have become much smarter; they last longer and clean better. Options like the Roborock S5 Max, which happens to top the list of our best robot vacuums, lets you control it with just your voice. It can be set to run on a schedule, always vacuums in tidy, back and forth lines, and its sensors help prevent it from bumping into everything.What are the best robot vacuums you can buy today?There are a LOT of great robot vacuum models available right now, and picking the right one can be a difficult task. We've done the research, though, and narrowed down all the picks into a concise list of only the top robot vacuum picks.Our full list is below, but we believe that when you look for a single best overall pick, the Roborock S5 Max is the best robot vacuum on the market today for most people. It offers all the standard features you'd ...

What you need to knowAT&T will move its 5G mobile network to the Microsoft cloud.This is a path for Microsoft Azure to manage all of AT&T's 5G traffic.Microsoft will acquire AT&T's Network Cloud technology as well as its engineering team.Microsoft announced that AT&T will run its mobility network on Microsoft's Azure for Operators cloud. Starting with the 5G core, AT&T will bring its current and future workloads to the Azure cloud. The 5G core is responsible for linking connected devices to the internet and other services on the network. The press release claims that AT&T will be able to increase productivity and cost-efficiency so it can focus on delivering new services to meet the evolving needs of its customers.Andre Fuetsch, executive vice president and chief technology officer at AT&T said: AT&T has one of the world's most powerful global backbone networks serving hundreds of millions of subscribers. Our Network Cloud team has proved...

Microsoft and Google have been cordial for nearly six years, but that may be coming to an end.What you need to knowGoogle and Microsoft's truce came to an end in April after a failure to renew it.The truce brought closer cooperation between the companies, who also agreed to handle matters internally without litigation.The end of the truce could spell conflict between the two companies.Google and Microsoft have reportedly ended a nearly six-year-long truce between the two companies, Financial Times reports. The end of the agreement could signal the return of very public drama between the two companies as pressure from regulators rises.The 2015 agreement between the two companies put an end to ongoing legal battles and public bickering, with the companies instead handling any conflicts internally, according to Financial Times. The pact also led to increased cooperation between the two companies, which can be seen in the deep integration between Windows computers and the bes...

The main perk of VR workouts is that you don't need to buy gym equipment or even go outside to burn calories. All you need is your headset! Yet without the right tools, you're liable to turn your Oculus Quest 2 into a sweaty, germy mess, or even potentially damage your equipment or injure yourself. Here are the best VR workout accessories that'll make your daily indoor fitness routine that much cleaner, safer, and more fun.Stylish non-slip sweat-catcherTreadBands All Terrain Tieback Non Slip HeadbandStaff PickThe default Quest 2 facial interface is a sweat sponge, while replacement covers repel sweat, so it drips down your face. You need a headband for prolonged workouts, and this moisture-wicking TreadBands accessory is especially great for VR because it has a soft rubber strip on the inside that helps it stay in place, where others would likely slip onto your face. There are over 30 stylish and silly designs to choose from, but all of them are comfortable and a must-hav...

What you need to knowCalls originating on the T-Mobile network are 100% STIR/SHAKEN compliant.T-Mobile has implemented STIR/SHAKEN with 15 other carriers.STIR/SHAKEN works with T-Mobile's Caller ID to make sure the displayed number is accurate.T-Mobile announced that it has filed a certification of completion of STIR/SHAKEN implementation in the FCC's Robocall Mitigation Database. With this, alls originating on the T-Mobile network are 100% STIR/SHAKEN compliant. Scam and spam calls can often come from a number that looks familiar or spoofs another trusted number so a traditional caller ID may not be effective against these calls. STIR/SHAKEN works to verify that a call is coming from the claimed source.John Freier, Executive Vice President of T-Mobile Consumer Group said: Number Verification, along with Caller ID, and the scam identification and blocking tools in Scam Shield, gives our customers the industry's most comprehensive free scam and spam protection. We were f...

I started researching the best smart doorbells compatible with Alexa because I'm an introvert by nature. Indeed, one of the things I love most about smart doorbells is the ability not to have to get off of my keister and answer every knock or ring at the front door. We've compiled a few great picks here, but my favorite is the Ring Video Doorbell 3. There are plenty of good devices on this list, so be sure to check them out and see what might be the best fit for your situation.Best overall for Alexa: Ring Video Doorbell 3It may seem a cop-out to pick a Ring product as my top choice, but the fact is that since Amazon purchased the smart home products company, it has been churning out quality products that work well with Alexa. Once again, the company took what was popular and successful from the previous generation device (the Ring Video Doorbell 2) and made some tweaks to make it even better.The Ring Video Doorbell 3 brings 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi support, advanced motion detection, an...

It remains to be seen if Samsung will include a charger in the box with the phone.What you need to knowSamsung's Galaxy S21 FE may have passed through the FCC.The FCC documents reveal the phone will support 45W fast charging. Samsung introduced 45W fast charging in 2019 with the Galaxy Note 10+. Last week, a report out of South Korea suggested Samsung is planning to launch the Galaxy S21 FE only in the U.S. and Europe due to a shortage of Snapdragon 888 chipsets. The same report also claimed that the phone will debut sometime in October.It now looks like the upcoming value flagship has received certification from the U.S. FCC (via MyFixGuide). The FCC documents suggest the SM-G990U and SM-G990U1 variants of the Galaxy S21 FE will have 45W fast charging. This means the phone will have an advantage over other Galaxy S21 series phones in terms of fast charging capabilities. Samsung's best Android phones of 2021 only support 25W wired fast charging.The Galaxy Note 10+, whic...

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 MaxPopular moviesBest action filmsBest comedy filmsBest documentary filmsBest classic filmsMovies and moreHBO Max$15 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.Popular Movies on HBO MaxWarnerMedia announced at the end of 2020 that it would ...

Creators will have tools to understand and grow their audience.What you need to knowFacebook is launching a subscription-based newsletter that is very similar to Substack.Creators will be able to keep all of their subscription revenue for the time of their partnership.Creators will also have ways to connect with users more with tools to help understand their audience.Facebook wants to take on Substack by launching its version of a subscription newsletter called "Bulletin."The company announced the new product on June 29, which will allow writers to publish free and paid newsletters that can be posted on the internet and also sent to subscribers. These newsletters can also be shared on Facebook, the company said in a blog post.Facebook says that it will allow writers to keep all of their subscription revenue for the time "of these partnerships, and will have the ability to take their subscriber lists and content with them."It noted that payments will be handled by Face...

The newest Halo feature aims to help improve your movement health.Update, June 30 (12:00 pm ET): The Movement Health feature is now rolling out.What you need to knowMovement Health is the latest feature addition to Amazon's Halo experience.The new feature will analyze your movement health and suggest corrective exercises to help you improve. Movement Health will be available via Amazon's Halo app in the coming weeks. Amazon has added a new feature to Halo to help improve the way you move. The feature, which is dubbed Movement Health, will be available to Halo members within the Halo app in the coming weeks.The new Movement Health feature lets you easily assess your functional fitness, which is defined as the body's readiness to perform everyday movements like bending, reaching, lifting, pulling, pushing, and walking. Maintaining good movement health is essential to perform basic movements such as picking something up from the floor, lifting up your child or pet, carryin...

Best overallSamsung Galaxy S21$700 at Amazon$800 at Samsung$800 at Best BuyProsGaming-optimized Snapdragon 888Aggressive trade-in dealsSmaller, trimmer designNewer One UI 3.1 softwareConsNo microSD slotNo charger in the boxThe Galaxy S21 is a compact, affordable flagship with three great cameras and the latest One UI 3.1 software. The screen is better than ever, and with Samsung's current trade-in offers, you can grab the S21 for an unbeatable price.Even better valueSamsung Galaxy S20 FE$600 at Amazon$600 at Best Buy$600 at B&HProsExpandable microSD storageOptical 3x telephoto cameraRetails for $100 lessLarger batteryConsOlder specs and softwareLess generous trade-in The S20 FE is a terrific phone at a great price, with many features as the newer S21. It's the most affordable option in the Galaxy S series, with a larger screen and plenty of great colors to choose from.When the Galaxy S20 FE launched last fall, ...