Latest from Android Central

Are you a fan of Pixel phones?What you need to knowGoogle is opening up invites to its program aimed at fans of Pixel smartphones.The program will offer exclusive access to Q&As, events, swag, and more.U.S. residents can sign up now.Ahead of the launch of its upcoming Pixel 6, Google is giving fans of its Pixel phones more ways to come together by opening up its Pixel Superfans community program.Google describes Pixel Superfans as a "VIP experience for Pixel lovers," giving members access to exclusives such as a member-only Facebook group, Q&As, events, offers, and more. We were inspired to create the Pixel Superfans community because we know many of you love Pixel as much as we do, and we wanted to create a space where we could get to know each other. It's been a blast getting to know everyone so far, and we hope you'll join this growing community.Members have opportunities to share insights and ideas with the Pixel team, which could potentially help ...

Best answer: IP ratings refer to the "International Protection Marking" ratings given after a series of tests were performed to see how much dust and water can enter your phone and under what circumstances. Each number and letter stands for a different level of protection, and the full list of them follows below.Tougher phonesManufacturers are making Android phones more rugged than they used to be. It's a big selling feature. Phones from Samsung, Motorola, and even Google now come with some degree of water- and dust-resistance. You can even pick from the best rugged Android phones. What those numbers represent are important deciding factors for many when spending cash on a new phone.You'll usually see "ruggedness" described with an IP rating or a MIL-STD rating, or both. Those are standards (loose ones in some cases) that determine how resistant something is from the elements. Things like water-resistance, shock (both electrical and physical), temperature, air pressure, and a h...

Some of the best Android phones also have the best battery life. What good is your phone if the battery dies too soon? If you use your phone hard and don't have the option to charge throughout the day, battery life is your number one priority when shopping for your next phone. Thankfully, several great options focus on battery life and won't give up halfway through the day — including the Galaxy S21 Ultra as our top overall pick.Our pickSamsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G - SmartphoneStaff PickSamsung took a modest step forward in 2021, except when it comes to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Samsung pulled out all the stops on its S21 superphone with a 10x optical Zoom, QHD+ 120 Hz screen, and 4,500 mAh battery. Of course, if you want this phone to be a battery champ, you can ratchet down the refresh rate to 60Hz and FHD+ resolution. But overall, it's hard to go wrong with the best of the best Samsung has to offer.From $800 at Amazon From $1,000 at Best BuyIs it a phone?Asus ROG Phon...

What you need to knowMetro by T-Mobile and T-Mobile are coming to 2,300 Walmart stores and Walmart.com.This deal more than doubles T-Mobile's presence in large national retailers.Metro by T-Mobile plans and devices will be available starting October 18, followed by T-Mobile on November 1.T-Mobile and Walmart announced that Metro by T-Mobile plans and devices will come to Walmart retail locations followed by T-Mobile. The carrier's services will be available in 2,300 Walmart locations as well as Walmart.com. T-Mobile is also looking to expand into around 1,000 Best Buy locations.While T-Mobile already has locations across the country inside stores, this deal with Walmart will more than double T-Mobile's presence in large retail locations, not to mention T-Mobile's own stores around the country.Starting October 18, 2021, Metro by T-Mobile's three unlimited plans and affordable 5G devices will be available in Walmart stores and on Walmart.com. Metro by T-Mobile is a prepaid ...

Best answer: It depends on the size of your house, but three or four well-placed Echo speakers should give you decent coverage with Alexa assistance. The choice now comes down to where you think you'll best use Alexa. The most popular areas would be in the bedroom, living room, and kitchen.The original, upgraded: Amazon Echo (4th Gen)Just in time: Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (4th Gen)From every angle: Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)Finding the right Echo products for the rooms in your homeJust how many Amazon Echoes do you need in your home? Deciding on the best Alexa speaker to get, along with how many, are tough questions to answer since every house is different, and everyone has a unique preference. There are many Alexa-compatible devices that you can choose to make your home a truly smart home. An Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is a great place to start because it's Amazon's best-sounding speaker for the price. From there, either an Echo Dot with Clock (4th Gen) or an Echo Show 10 ...

The lawsuit alleges that Amazon is not favorable to third-party resellers.Update, Sept 13 (10:45 a.m. ET): DC AG files amended lawsuit targeting Amazon's 'Minimum Margin Agreement' with first-party sellersWhat you need to knowDC's Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Amazon alleging that the company fixes online retail prices.DC AG says that the practices aren't helping third-party resellers.Amazon has been under anti-competitive scrutiny for over a year now.DC's Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Amazon to end anti-competitive practices that have raised prices for consumers and stifled innovation and choice across the platform.Karl Racine alleges in a press release that Amazon's fixes online retail prices through contract provisions and policies to third-party sellers. The press release said that these provinces and policies are considered the "most favored nation," which prevents third-party sellers from offering the same products at lower prices on othe...

Best answer: Yes, Tello uses the T-Mobile network for its customers, including LTE and 5G support. All Tello plans come with 5G support, but you may need to upgrade your phone to use it.Does Tello support 5g?Tello uses the T-Mobile network for all of its connectivity with full LTE and 5G support. While some customers with older Tello activations may still be using the Sprint network, these people will be transitioned to the T-Mobile network soon with a phone upgrade or may have already been moved over if they have a compatible phone.To get access to 5G on Tello, you'll need a phone capable of using T-Mobile's 5G network— that's band n71 for most coverage and n41 for improved speeds. Most of the best Android phones available today support this network, including Samsung's Galaxy S20 and S21, 5G Google Pixels, and even iPhone 12 phones. There are also cheaper Android phones with 5G, such as the OnePlus Nord N200 5G sold by Tello.T-Mobile's 5G network covers 305 million Amer...

The Snapdragon SM6375 could be positioned somewhere between the Snapdragon 690 and Snapdragon 778G.What you need to knowQualcomm is reportedly working on two new chips for mid-range and budget devices.The Snapdragon "SM6375" is tipped to be a gaming-focused chip with support for 144Hz displays.A follow-up to the Snapdragon 665 with an integrated 5G modem is also said to be on the way. A report from German tech publication WinFuture claims Qualcomm is readying new Snapdragon 600 series chipsets — including what could be its first lower mid-range gaming chipset.Per the report, the upcoming Qualcomm SM6375 is an octa-core chipset with four Gold cores running at up to 2.5 GHz and four Silver cores clocked at up to 2.2 GHz. A total of four SKUs are currently in testing, with different clock speeds. The clock speed of the GPU is also said to vary between 800 and 960MHz, depending on the SKU.More interestingly, the report claims Qualcomm is testing developer platforms featur...

Turns out, the last place our readers want Facebook, is on their faces.What you need to knowThis weekend, we asked our readers if they would consider purchasing Facebook's new Ray-Ban smart glasses.An overwhelming 85% answered, "not in this lifetime."Less than 6% said they would indeed purchase the smart glasses.Last week, Facebook announced that it had partnered with sunglass maker Ray-Ban to create its own AR smart glasses, called Ray-Ban Stories. Designed to look like the iconic sunglasses, Ray-Ban Stories adds smart photo and video capture, open-ear audio, and the ability to customize with prescription lenses. As a physical product, Ray-Ban stories certainly look impressive, but we wanted to know how our readers felt about the company behind these new wearables.We weren't all that surprised that a large percentage of our readership was opposed to the idea of a Facebook wearable, but it was interesting to see just how decisive that opposition was. Nearly 85% answered t...

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 was something I wanted so badly, but ultimately, it let me down.Like many smartwatch fans and tech enthusiasts, when all of the rumors panned out to be true that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series was going to be ditching Tizen in favor of a new Wear OS 3 — I couldn't have been more excited. From Samsung's history of excellent hardware design to the snappy performance produced by its custom processors, I was ready to give Samsung my money. So the day the Galaxy Watch 4 was announced, I placed my pre-order, and the watch has been on my wrist since it arrived — until today.Let me start by saying that Samsung did everything I could have asked for from a hardware perspective. I have a Galaxy Watch Active 2 that I enjoy for many reasons, hardware being a big one. The design changes that Samsung made from the Active 2 to the Galaxy Watch 4 were just enough to make it the perfect fitness watch for me. Then with the inclusion of the new health-tracking metho...

Arkane's experience with stealth, action, roguelikes, and kicking all come together.I've been a longtime fan of the types of games Arkane makes, so I was a bit worried going into Deathloop that it might not retain the unique structure that makes an Arkane game different. My fears were unfounded and in the 18+ hours I've spent on my PS5 exploring Blackreef and killing Visionaries in increasingly elaborate ways, I've had a blast.Deathloop is a game where you have to figure out different pieces of a puzzle, shuffling an always-resetting board of characters and actions, and manipulating it for the right outcome. With so many pieces that have to fall into place to solve the loop, it's only fitting that Deathloop is a culmination of all the immersive sims that Arkane has worked on before.The stealth and action of Dishonored, the puzzles of Prey, and the roguelike structure of Prey: Mooncrash all come together here in a whirlwind of calculated violence. I'm extremely happy to say that...

Android 12 is drifting ever closer to its final release on Pixel phones, with beta 5 available now.Android 12 is "the biggest design change in Android's history," according to Google, and it'll arrive on compatible devices before you know it. The Android 12 beta has been available since May, giving us months to explore its colorful new UI, Material You. And so far, it has truly lived up to Google's boast.The new OS customizes and enlivens your phone screen without needing an Android launcher or icon pack. Beyond that, Android 12 will add quality-of-life improvements like a Privacy Dashboard, scrollable screenshots, approximate location, faster animations, smarter notifications, and tons of other long-requested features. Compared to Android 11, Android 12 is much flashier while making equally substantive changes.The new OS will most likely arrive on Pixel phones in late September; we only have one more beta release to go. As for the rest of the best Android phones, it'll var...

The app will soon remind you to respond to important messages automatically.What you need to knowGoogle is working on a new "nudges" feature for its Messages app.The feature will remind you to respond to important texts.It will likely begin rolling out to users sometime later this year.The Google Messages app could soon offer a useful new feature similar to "nudges" in Gmail, according to an APK teardown of the Google Messages app version 9.5 beta by the folks at XDA Developers.Gmail's nudges feature, which was introduced in 2018, reminds users to follow up on emails that it thinks may be important. New strings found in the latest beta update for the Google Messages app suggest the app will soon highlight "messages you might have forgotten to respond to" at the top of the inbox. It will also show you "messages you might need to follow up on."Google Messages already supports chat reminders, but they need to be set manually. Once the "nudges" feature rolls out, the app wi...

An incredible tablet for a market that isn't quite there.Update, February 2021: Galaxy Tab S7+ review, six months laterThe Galaxy Tab S7+ is the latest and greatest in Samsung's continued effort to keep Android tablets alive — but Android tablets often get a bad rap for their lack of properly optimized apps that scale well to large screens. With such a diminutive market share, there simply hasn't been much incentive for developers to create separate tablet versions of their apps for anything but the iPad.While Samsung can't singlehandedly force developers to suddenly upend their entire business model, the company has done a tremendous job at mitigating the app support problem with clever software of its own, while at the same time offering incredible hardware that rivals any tablet to come out of Cupertino.In my time with the Galaxy Tab S7+, I've found myself both impressed by the relatively polished software experience and frustrated at the pervasive shortcomings of An...

The Mi 2K Gaming Monitor is great not just for gaming but also day-to-day use.Xiaomi is primarily known for making the best Android phones, but the Chinese manufacturer has ventured into dozens of categories over the last five years. From rice cookers to routers, robot vacuums, laser projectors, and TVs, Xiaomi offers a smorgasbord of products, and one area where it is gaining momentum is the gaming segment.Xiaomi rolled out its first gaming monitor at the end of 2019, a 24-inch 1080p option that's aimed at the Chinese market. The brand also released a 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor, and launched it in global markets last year. Xiaomi is now introducing a new monitor in this series, and there's a lot to like. The Mi 2K Gaming Monitor 27 is a 27-inch QHD monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate panel, minimal bezels, and a rotating stand that makes it easy to swivel.Best of all, the monitor has HDR, a feature that was missing on the ultrawide monitor last year. There's overwhelming c...

The supposed public release date for Android 12 is a little bit late compared with its predecessors.What you need to knowAn internal document hints at a tentative release date for the stable version of Android 12.Google's next Android version is likely to roll out to the public in early October, starting with the Google Pixel devices.However, the stable Android 12 update might take a few months to reach non-Pixel phones.The long wait for the stable version of Android 12 might be over three weeks from now. Google is highly likely to release the next version of Android to consumers in early October.An internal Google document, spotted by XDA Developers' Mishaal Rahman, claims that the company is set to release the source code for Android 12 on October 4 to the AOSP (Android Open Source Project). XDA noted that the AOSP release typically coincides with the day when Google kicks off the public release for a new Android version. Rahman tweeted: The Android 12 stable update...

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...