Latest from Android Central

As more of our appliances get smart, certain things we use daily begin to stand out and seem even dumber if they are not yet integrated into our smart home setups. Meross offers a number of accessories to smarten up dumb devices, and a bunch of their most popular products are on sale at Woot with prices starting at just $11. This means you can save up to 33% on these popular items.Whether you use Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit to control your smart home, this sale has got something for you.One of the best deals in the sale is on the Meross smart garage door opener. It's down to $27.99 which is lower than we've ever seen it drop at Amazon.This super popular smart garage door opener adds remote and voice control easily to your existing garage door opener and doesn't require any extra hub or anything like that. It's compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and you can use the Meross app to turn your phone into a garage door remote control. You can get not...

If high-end phones continue to demand $1000+ price tags, superior zoom capabilities are a non-negotiable requirement.What's coming in 2021Samsung needs its own MagSafeAndroid apps on tablets need a boost — for foldables' sakeOur 2021 Google predictionsHey YouTube, get it together in 2021Prepaid carriers need to offer more than the basicsBattery tech is getting a huge boost in 2021We need more camera quality, not quantityRay tracing will take 2021 by stormWill cloud gaming ruin mobile games?Why we need a better mobile AlexaSuperzoom cameras are the futureOur 2021 PlayStation predictionsRural internet needs a 5G boostSamsung's environmental focusOur 2021 Samsung predictionsGoogle TV needs to keep getting betterWhat happened in 2020Value flagships came into their own60fps became the norm on consolesWeird phones are backThis was the year of the ChromebookSamsung rediscovered the joy of flat displaysSmall phones are fun again5G tried and failed to imp...

German league leaders Bayern Munich travel to old rivals Mönchengladbach in today's big Bundesliga clash. Don't miss a moment with our Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Bayern Munich live stream guide.Though Der Klassiker has come to mean Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund in recent years, it's Borussia Mönchengladbach that went toe-to-toe with FCB in years gone by. Back in the 1970s, these two sides were fierce rivals though Bayern have been the team to maintain their success in more recent times.Having won the Bundesliga for a record eighth consecutive time last year, the Bavarians are in a good spot to claim another league win in 2021 sitting two points clear at the top of the table after 14 games.Hans-Dieter Flick's men are coming into today's game off the back of three consecutive victories and have not suffered defeat in any competition this season since their shock 4-1 defeat at Hoffenheim in week two.Borussia Mönchengladbach finished fourth last season, a few points sho...

The upcoming budget phone will have a near-identical design to its predecessor.What you need to knowThe first CAD-based renders of the upcoming Nokia 6.4 have surfaced.Like its predecessor, the upcoming budget phone will have a waterdrop notch display.On the back of the phone will be a quad-camera system housed within a circular bump.HMD Global refreshed its budget smartphone lineup last month with the launch of the Nokia 5.4. The company is soon expected to launch a few more new Nokia phones, including a follow-up to last year's Nokia 6.2. While there's no word yet on when HMD Global plans to launch its first 2021 devices, CAD-based renders of the upcoming Nokia 6.4 have now surfaced, courtesy of reliable leaker @OnLeaks. The renders suggest the Nokia 6.4 will not look very different from its predecessor. It will have a similar waterdrop notch at the top of the display and a circular camera bump at the rear. Fortunately, the 3.5mm headphone jack appears to have been...

Woot currently has the refurb iRobot Roomba 960 robotic vacuum cleaner marked down to just $249.99, which is around $150 lower than it regularly sells for in refurbished condition at Amazon. Today's price is the lowest we have ever tracked for it and saves you even more when compared to a new model. Despite being refurbished, your robot vac will look and work like new and comes backed by a 90-day warranty.We named the Roomba 960 our favorite overall robot vacuum cleaner in 2020 so this is a deal you don't want to miss. You can schedule it to run via the free iRobot HOME app, or by using your voice through one of Amazon's Alexa-enabled Echo devices, making it super convenient. You can also tell it not to clean a specific area. The included sensors warn the device if it is getting near an obstacle or if it's about to fall down a flight of stairs.It can run for 75 minutes before needing to be recharged, and it has the ability to recharge and then resume cleaning from the same place....

The Exynos 2100 is expected to be even more powerful than Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888.What you need to knowSamsung will unveil its next-gen Exynos 2100 chipset at a dedicated event on January 12.The Exynos 2100 will power most variants of the upcoming Galaxy S21 series phones.It is expected to be a major upgrade over last year's Exynos 990 both in terms of performance and power efficiency.Samsung is holding a dedicated event to unveil its next-gen flagship Exynos chipset on January 12. The special broadcast event will begin at 9 AM ET and will be live-streamed on Samsung's YouTube channel. Expected to be called the Exynos 2100, the upcoming chipset will power the international variants of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S21 series phones.Like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888, which is expected to power nearly all the best Android phones this year, the Exynos 2100 will be built on a 5nm EUV process. As per a recent leak, the Exynos 2100 will have an "ultra-high-performance" core ru...

WhatsApp is being inexorably linked to Facebook, and you won't be able to use the service unless you agree to share data with Facebook. Thankfully, there are decent alternatives available, with Signal being the frontrunner. Here's how you can seamlessly transition your group chats from WhatsApp to Signal.Here's why you should switch to SignalSignal is one of the best Android messaging apps around; it uses the same end-to-end encryption protocol as WhatsApp, and it safeguards your privacy. But most of all, it has nothing to do with Facebook and won't sell your data to any third-party companies — and it got an endorsement from Elon Musk.In addition to one-on-one messaging and group chats, Signal has voice and video calling baked in — just like WhatsApp. You even get the option to use Signal as your default SMS client, and the app is free to use. Signal is a non-profit and relies on donations for development, servers, and bandwidth costs.So now that you have a high-level ove...

Which carrier delivers the best 5G experience?5G coverage is rapidly expanding across thousands of U.S. cities. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have each launched 5G networks with both high-capacity mmWave and long-range sub-6 bands. If you're ready to jump into a new 5G phone, make sure to keep up to date on which carrier has the best coverage for you. Notably, T-Mobile's 5G network is adding capacity to its network in over 1,000 cities already thanks to the spectrum it got from Sprint. Once fully deployed, 5G service will provide faster speeds and reduced response times, allowing for new services and cloud computing not previously available but for now, it's still very much a work in progress.5G is taking hold in the U.S., and it's no coincidence that many of the best 5G phones are also some of the best Android phones in general. For now, the major difference between LTE and 5G will be speed, but as coverage continues to roll out to new areas, more services that rely on instant...

Xiaomi just can't seem to deliver a problem-free software update to its Android One phones.Xiaomi has a chequered history with Android One. The brand makes some of the best Android One phones, and it in fact kicked off the second wave of the Android One program with the Mi A1 back in 2017. Both the Mi A1 as well as its successor — the Mi A2 — were well-received, but they weren't without their share of problems, particularly around software updates.The Oreo platform update for the Mi A1 was riddled with battery and fingerprint issues, and the Mi A2's Android 10 update had problems with the microphone and calling features. Xiaomi had to halt the rollout of the update numerous times to fix problems that surfaced with every subsequent rollout.Xiaomi has once again run into issues while delivering the Android 11 update to the Mi A3, and in this instance the build ended up bricking phones. Here's the timeline: Xiaomi started rolling out the stable Android 11 update to the Mi A3 o...

The virtual A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day! is bringing together artists from around the world for a special event dedicated to the life and legacy of David Bowie. Along with a slate of popular musical guests, alumni band members from Bowie's previous studio albums will appear during the show as well.This full-length concert livestream is set to last for more than three hours and will feature performances and appearances by Trent Reznor, Andra Day, Billy Corgan, Adam Lambert, Perry Farrell, Joe Elliott, Gavin Rossdale, actor Gary Oldman, Macy Gray, Ian Astbury, Yungblud, Peter Frampton, Kind Heaven Orchestra vocalist Etty Lau Farrell, Ian Hunter, Anna Calvi, Atticus Ross, Mariqueen Maandig Reznor, Charlie Sexton, Catherine Russell, Lizzy Hale, Gail Ann Dorsey, Michael C. Hall, Bernard Fowler, Corey Glover, Duran Duran, Lena Hall, Judith Hill, Boy George, Taylor Momsen, Ricky Gervais, Gary Barlow and Ground Control.As livestreams have leveled up in the past year, so has the c...

One UI 2.5 made its appearance on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20. It's now coming to older flagships as Samsung now promises up to 3 major updates.Samsung has updated One UI, its own opinionated take on Google's Android software, version 2.5. The update first made its debut on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, and now the company has committed this update bringing it to at least three generations of past flagships.What's new in One UI 2.5Samsung first released One UI 2.5 on the Note 20. It bundles in updates to many of Samsung's core apps including the Notes app, wireless Samsung DeX, and Reminders. Notes become far more powerful, allowing users to bookmark sections of audio recordings and edit PDF documents. Samsung's also added syncing so that you can keep your notes in sync across all your devices.DeX also becomes a lot more powerful with wireless DeX support. Now you can use any compatible smart TV and instantly create a larger workspace while using your Galaxy ph...

The OnePlus Band is closer to becoming a reality.Update, January 7 (7:20 pm ET): A bunch of new watch faces were uncovered from the app, hinting at a smartwatch as well as a fitness band.What you need to knowA new OnePlus Health app has appeared on Google Play with information about the OnePlus Band.The app will be able to manage the OnePlus Band's health data and change watch faces.The OnePlus Band is expected to be announced early this year.OnePlus got fans of the company excited when it announced that it was working on a smartwatch and surprised many when CEO, Pete Lau, tweeted last month that the watch would be launched in early 2021. Well, early 2021 has arrived, and more information about the watch has slowly crept up, such as the fact that it's more of a fitness band than a full-on smartwatch. That was pretty much solidified with this week's teaser, and now a new OnePlus Health app has been spotted on the Google Play Store which actually shows off the OnePlus Band,...

YouTube will now suspend accounts that violate their policies.What you need to knowYouTube has announced more stringent actions against accounts that violate its policies.Accounts that receive a strike will be temporarily banned.The move comes just a day after the U.S. Capitol was stormed by pro-Trump rioters.YouTube is putting its foot down when it comes to accounts that are spreading false claims about the election. The company was one of several social media sites to remove Trump's video addressing the rioters at the U.S. Capitol. Now YouTube is announcing stricter repercussions to channels that violate its policies and promote misinformation about the election in their videos.1. Due to the disturbing events that transpired yesterday, and given that the election results have now been certified, starting today *any* channels posting new videos with false claims in violation of our policies will now receive a strike. https://t.co/aq3AVugzL7— YouTubeInsider (@YouTubeIns...

If you want to get the most out of your favorite music or podcast, noise-canceling headphones are the way to go. They block out ambient noise around you, making it easy to focus on what's playing — something that's especially useful when flying, working at a coffee shop, or just being out in public. We've rounded up eight of the best ones you can get for less than $100, including the Soundcore Life Q30 as our top overall pick.Best Overall: Soundcore Life Q30Anker's Soundcore brand has been at the forefront of the best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones, and the Life Q30 are another reminder of why Soundcore is one of the most compelling players in the game.When it comes to active noise cancelation (ANC), the Soundcore Life Q30 feature three customizable modes to help you get the perfect listening experience. Transport Mode helps block out things like an airplane engine (remember those?), Outdoor Mode reduces traffic and wind sounds, and Indoor Mode fights against...

Google had sold a Verizon exclusive Pixel 4a 5G with the white colorway.What you need to knowThe Pixel 4a 5G will now come in Clearly White from late January.Google had earlier sold a variant of the handset in that hue for Verizon customers who paid $100 extra for the privilege.Now, it's being made broadly available to all.Like the Pixel 4a, the Pixel 4a 5G launched in a singular Just Black colorway. Sure, there was a model of the Pixel 4a 5G that was in white, but it was a Verizon exclusive. Again, like the Pixel 4a, Google is now making an additional color variant of the 4a 5G available for purchase months after launch. It's still the same Clearly White variant that Verizon sells, but it's now coming to all customers.The Verge spotted a now-defunct link for the upcoming phone on B&H, and was late able to confirm with Google that the phone would be launching at the end of the month, specifically the 28th of January.Google's Pixel 4a 5G remains one of the best pho...

This marks the debut of Google TV outside of Chromecast.What you need to knowSony has just announced its new Bravia XR lineup featuring Google TV.This is the first time the Google TV interface is featured on a TV.Pricing and availability have not yet been made available.CES 2021 continues to ramp up and even though most companies here focus on TVs, laptops, and home appliances, many of these products offer tech that's focused on connecting with other devices like smartphones and smart home.Sony's lineup of smart TVs already came pre-installed with Android TV, making them some of the most ideal TVs to have, particularly for Android users. Now Sony's newest lineup of Bravia TVs is taking things to the next level, launching with the Google TV interface pre-installed.For some clarification on what Google TV is, it's basically Android TV but with an additional layer that Google has created for a more personalized experience. Users can access Google Assistant, connect with ...

New year, new you.If you're like most people, your resolutions revolve around living a healthier lifestyle, reorganizing your budget, or trying to build some new habits. Those aren't easy for anyone, but with the help of these apps, you can ensure you have the best chance possible to stick with your resolutions and come out the end of 2021 happier and healthier than ever before.Doing this on your own can be pretty tricky, but with the help of these apps, you can put yourself in the best position possible to stick with your goals moving forward.Top 4 Apps:1. Google Keep2. FitNotes3. Grow - Habit Tracking4. MonefyStay ProductiveTodoistGoogle CalendarCalendar Widget by Home AgendaHabiticaGet fit and healthyNike Training ClubFood DiaryMyFitnessPalTake time for yourselfCalmWhat's UpControl your financesMintAndroMoneyRobinhoodWhat are the best New Year's resolution apps?Trying to start and keep your resolutions throughout the year can be...

Google set to continue building helpful technlogy with a thoughtful new use for an old gimmick.What you need to knowGoogle is making a new Nest Hub with Soli on board, as per a new report.The report also adds the upcoming Nest Hub will use the technology to track sleep. A Soli-equipped Nest Hub was spotted in the FCC this week.Google may have stripped Soli from smartphones with the Pixel 5, but it's working at putting it to better use with other products. An FCC listing already leaked the upcoming Nest Hub with a Soli chip, but a new report from 9to5Google adds a little more detail to the story of the chip's inclusion.Citing sources close to the matter, 9to5Google reports that the Soli radar technology would be used to power sleep tracking in this nest hub. Smart displays like this are often used as alarm clocks and bedroom speakers, so using Soli to help users track their sleep could stand out as a unique selling point.It's a step up from what Google used Soli for in t...

Anything is your weapon, now in PSVR.What you need to knowHitman 3 concludes the latest series of the Hitman franchise..A new trailer shows how differently Hitman 3 looks and plays in PSVR. Hitman 3 is scheduled to release on January 20, 2021. Hitman 3 is playable in PlayStation VR (PSVR) and IO Interactive shared a new trailer today, giving another look at how differently this stealth simulator plays out in VR. You can check out the new trailer below.Hitman 3 allows players to experience Hitman and Hitman 2 with new graphical enhancements if they've already been purchased and this extends over to PSVR. So if you've never played the past two Hitman games and you own a PSVR headset, just purchase them before grabbing Hitman 3 and you can go through the entire trilogy in VR.The PS5 version of Hitman 3 includes a free PS4 copy for playing in PSVR, since right now all PSVR games are backward compatible PS4 titles. While you can't play the PS5 version in PSVR, it include...

A whole Galaxy worth of S21s to keep track ofWhat you need to knowInformation uncovered by leaker Evan Blass point to over 900 Samsung Galaxy S21 variants.Blass said the URLs were discoverable and posted an image of them on the Voice social platform.SKUs point to multiple configurations and at least 11 different color options.Noted leaker Evan Blass has uncovered another interesting bit of information about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S21 product lineup. According to URLs generated by Samsung's web team, Blass discovered over 900 versions of the Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup that will be made available worldwide throughout 2021.The many SKUs indicate various models, chipsets, storage and/or RAM variants, and color options for countries around the world. While there may only be a handful of color options available at launch, the leak appears to show that there could be as many as 11 different colored Galaxy S21s to come, including navy, red, and brown. Blass notes that this ...

Using one of the best free VPN services could end up bringing a lot of advantages to your daily work flow. Not everyone who uses a Virtual Private Network needs everything that a paid service offers, and often the free ones are enough to get by. We've compared the advantages between free VPNs vs. paid VPNs. If you're looking for the best VPN to use, we have you covered.As of right now, we have ProtonVPN as the best free VPN option in 2020, followed closely by Hotspot Shield Free. With ProtonVPN, you get unlimited bandwidth on a single device when using the free plan, and Hotspot Shield also offers a generous data allotment and rich feature set.Free VPNs aren't for everyoneA note about free VPN optionsThere are a bunch of great free VPN options (which we've highlighted lower on this page), but it's worth noting that these aren't the best picks for everynoe. With free VPNs you will make some sacrifices in overall user experience, but if you want to avoid that we've also highlight...

Source: StackCommerceNot everyone has the luxury of a personal massage therapist on call. But with the REATHLETE Fold Percussive Massager, you can get the same treatment at home. This portable device is currently 28% off MSRP at just $249.99.Muscle pain and stiffness is a constant problem for many of us. This discomfort is usually a result of tightness, damage, or past injuries.In all of these circumstances, the REATHLETE could have a really positive effect. Rated at 4.3 stars on Amazon, the device vibrates between 1200RPM and 3200RPM to knead away the pain and speed up recovery.The REATHLETE has four different speeds to choose from, and five different heads to target different areas of the body. It also has an adjustable arm to help you reach awkward spots, such as your upper back.You get five hours of use from a single charge, and the massager is small enough to take anywhere.It's usually priced at $350, but you can get it today for just $249.99 with a carry case and gi...

No longer want to use WhatsApp? Deleting your account is easy.If you no longer want to use WhatsApp, or if your WhatsApp data becomes corrupted, you can take care of this by deleting your WhatsApp account. Many people are now considering this drastic option ever since it was announced that WhatsApp will now require you to share your chat data with Facebook.Deleting your WhatsApp account is a decision that should not be made lightly, as doing so will permanently erase all of your data. Even if you choose to reactivate your account in the future, your deleted data will still be gone and unable to be recovered.With that out of the way, if you still want to know how to delete your WhatsApp account, we'll show you how in just a few simple steps.How to delete your WhatsApp accountOpen WhatsApp on your phone.Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.Tap Settings.Tap Account.Tap Delete my account.Enter your phone number.Tap Delete my account.Indicate your reason for ...

If your budget for a pair of headphones allows, then one among the best wireless headphones under $100 is within reach. They range from over-ear headphones to true wireless earbuds, giving you some variety to select from. For the best of the bunch, you'd have to start with the Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT because of their excellent sound quality, comfort and consistency.Best Overall: Sennheiser HD 4.40 BTSennheiser doesn't often compete on aesthetics, but the company is very consistent in its audio prowess. Even at a price range like this, the HD 4.40 BT are the best wireless headphones under $100, proving that you get real bang for your buck. It might be somewhat surprising, given they came out in 2017, but they're still available and sound just as good as today's headphones.Granted, the sound signature here isn't on Sennheiser's regular audiophile level, opting to go with a more crowd-pleasing soundstage that slightly boosts the bass. Despite that, it works really well for multipl...

JBL unveils a whole slate of personal audio devices this CES.What you need to knowJBL today unveiled new updates to its personal audio line, including on-ear headphones, over-ear headphones, and true wireless earbuds.It's also launching a new Tour line, aimed at business customers.These new products are rolling out from March.JBL makes some of the nicest headphones, and the company today expanded its lineup with new updates to the Live series, the launch of a new Tour series, and an addition to the Reflect series.The more interesting ones consumer wise in this launch are the update to the JBL Live series with the inclusion of the new JBL Live Pro+, JBL Live 660NC, JBL Live 460NC, and the Live Free NC. These run the gamut from truly wireless earbuds to over-ear headphones, to on-ear headphones.JBL is touting their new smart ambient technology, paired with active noise canceling, this allows buyers to listen to engage with the real world without needing to take their ear...

What you need to knowAcer is debuting a Ryzen-powered 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook at CES 2021.The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 starts at $479 and the Enterprise Spin 14 starts at $749.In addition to up to 128GB eMMC internal storage, there's also a slot for an M.2 SSD, something seldom seen in Chromebooks.There will be three colors available: Pure Sliver, Steel Gray and Mist Green.The Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 514 will include an HDMI port, a protective sleeve and a mouse.CES 2021 is off to a good start for Chromebook fans, with Samsung showing off the Galaxy Chromebook 2 as a more affordable, more reasonable version of last year's $1000 4K beauty, but Samsung isn't the only manufacturer showing off the new hotness today. Acer delivered one of the Best Chromebooks of 2020 in the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 — a Project Athena Chromebook that was actually built to get work done instead of just look thin and pretty — and now it's back with the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 and the...

While you can store your photos on your phone, a great all-in-one printer is great for making photo prints to keep for posterity. But the best portable photo printers make it easy to quickly print photos that you can take with you anywhere. We live in a world where pictures help us express what we're thinking and feeling. Most of us post them online on social media sites or in cloud services like Google Photos and share them that way, but sometimes you want to preserve those images in a way that you can touch and hang on your wall. That's where these portable instant photo printers come into play. These will give you speedy prints, with zero hassle.Instant and rechargableCanon Selphy Square QX10Staff PickCanon's Selphy instant printer is easy to fit into your bag or even your pocket and prints 2.7-by-2.7-inch photos that are rated to last up to 100 years using dye-sub technology. The Selphy Layout app lets you add stickers and filters, and the built-in battery means you w...

Starting the New Year off strong, Best Buy has the PS5 in stock.Didn't grab a PS5 before the holidays? Now's your chance to get one from Best Buy. The retailer has stocked up on the popular console with a few caveats in place to make sure they don't sell out too quickly. If you try adding it to your cart, you may be asked to wait a few minutes before more stock is released.Next-genPlayStation 5See at Best BuyGet it fast while it's in-stockThe New Year is here and if you weren't able to grab a PS5 in 2020, Best Buy is giving you another chance today. Sony's machine has been sold out for months now since it's release in November for good reason. It plays some of the very best games on the market. With titles like the upcoming God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West, it has a bright future.Per Best Buy:Every few minutes, we're going to release more inventory.Shortly, the button below will turn back to yellow (unless we sell out).At that point, try adding...

The Oculus Quest 2 is the newest VR headset on the block, delivering a stellar experience with no wires to trip over. The best accessories for the Oculus Quest 2 will help you get an even better experience, but first you'll need to make sure the headset is a good fit. You want a fit that is firm so it won't slip off your head while playing, but without being too tight. After all, you are going to be wearing this for a while, right? Here's how to adjust the Quest 2 strap.How to get the best fit with Oculus Quest 2The headstrap that ships with the Oculus Quest 2 is very different from what Facebook used on the original Oculus Quest, so even if you've owned that device in the past you'll need to retrain your brain on how to adjust the Quest 2. First, we'll want to adjust the side straps to wrap comfortable around your head.Remove your Oculus Quest 2 from the box. Remove any plastic inserts from the headset and unwrap the cloth straps.To adjust the circumference of the straps, h...

"The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden."What you need to knowMark Zuckerberg says Facebook has suspended President Trump from both Facebook and Instagram indefinitely.The suspension will last for at least two weeks until Joe Biden is inaugurated.Zuckerberg said Trump's decision to "condone rather than condemn violence on the platform" had "rightly disturbed" people around the world. Mark Zuckerberg has stated that Facebook has suspended President Trump from both Facebook and Instagram indefinitely.In a recently uploaded post, Zuckerberg stated: The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden. His decision ...

WhatsApp is doing the exact thing it said it wouldn't do when it was acquired by Facebook seven years ago.Facebook acquired WhatsApp back in February 2014 for a staggering $19 billion. At that time, the service had 500 million users; it now boasts over 2 billion users today.Facebook tried a lot of methods to monetize WhatsApp over the years, introducing business accounts to allow brands to chat with customers and even turning the platform into an e-commerce destination. That said, the app was left as its own entity, and Facebook didn't meddle too much into the core service itself.That's changing now. WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy, and the new terms requires users to share data with Facebook as well as its associated companies, including Facebook Payments, Onavo (a web analytics service and controversial VPN), and CrowdTangle (a social analytics tool). The data that will be shared with Facebook and its companies as part of the new terms includes the following:Profil...

Best answer: Yes. The Sony Xperia 1 II is still a solid buy. With a Snapdragon 865 processor, 6.5-inch 4K screen, 8GB of RAM, and 256 GB onboard storage, this phone is already amazing. Plus, you can grab it for under $900. Add to that Sony's superior photography experience, and this is a phone that stands on its own.6.5-inch 4K Screen: Sony Xperia 1 II ($895 at Amazon)What more could you want from a 2020 phone?The Sony Xperia 1 II debuted in the middle of 2020 with a particular emphasis on photography. A set of 12-megapixel sensors and a completely customized Pro camera mode allow you to get the photo you're after, but it's more than just a photography champ.The phone is a true premium phone, sporting a Snapdragon 865 processor, 128 or 256 GB of storage, 8 or 12 GB of RAM, and a 4,000 mAh battery. It's the top of the line in most departments, and on release, it came with a top of the line price tag as well. An introductory price of almost $1,200 didn't make it the most expe...

The all-new PlayStation 5 is officially available for purchase, but finding a retailer that actually has stock of the new console available to buy isn't such an easy task just yet. With that being said, there are still plenty of opportunities to pick up the new PlayStation 5 or the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition if you know where to look.As of January 2021, we're noticing that the PlayStation 5 generally sells out of stock on the same day as it becomes available for purchase at most major online retailers. While that outlook may seem grim, the bright side is that retailers are consistently receiving stock of the console and you generally don't have to wait too long before they return in stock somewhere.TargetTarget is where you should purchase the PlayStation 5 when given the chance, since there's a way you can actually save $25 on its purchase there when you check out using the RedCard. There's a free debit version with no fees that every Target shopper should have, and if yo...

The company's upcoming OnePlus 9 series may deliver a much-improved camera experience over their predecessors.What you need to knowOnePlus co-founder and CEO Pete Lau has said that the company is focusing its R&D efforts towards improving the camera capabilities of its upcoming devices.The executive expects OnePlus to become the industry leader in terms of image quality in the future.OnePlus' current devices aren't up to par with the competition when it comes to camera performance.There is no doubt that OnePlus makes some of the best Android phones on the market, but its phones aren't quite as impressive as the competition when it comes to image quality. However, things could finally change this year, as the company has shifted its focus to providing a top-notch camera experience.In response to a question from a Weibo user, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau said that the company will invest "huge resources" on improving the camera capabilities of its devices this year and strive t...

This could be the start of something beautiful for Amazon Alexa and Windows PCs.What you need to knowAmazon Alexa's Show Mode will be available on select PCs from Lenovo.PC users will have access to many of the features found on Echo Show devices.Alexa Show Mode will roll out to select PCs starting in Q2 2021.Amazon Alexa has become a staple of many homes over the past several years. In addition to Amazon's great lineup of Echo speakers, there's also a number of Echo Show displays that are, frankly, among the best smart displays on the market. Amazon has even included an Alexa Show Mode for its Fire tablets, which lets them act as their own Echo Show devices. Now for the first time, Amazon is bringing Show Mode to PCs, thanks to Lenovo's Yoga and IdeaPad 5 laptops.With Show Mode for PC, your Lenovo PC will have full access to Alexa's many features by basically turning it into an Echo Show-like display complete with reminders, weather, updates, and even smart home controls...

The Lenovo Tab P11 takes things down a notch but still offers great value.What you need to knowThe Lenovo Tab P11 launches with an optional pen and detachable keyboard pack.The new tablet offers Google's new Kids Space to keep children entertained with curated apps.The Tab P11 will be available this month, starting at $229.99.Last year, Lenovo launched the Tab P11 Pro, which was a respectable competitor to some of the best Android tablets on the market. This year Lenovo is coming into CES 2021 with a non-pro version of the tablet, featuring lighter specs and a lighter price tag that could make this an ideal tablet for families and kids who are working or schooling from home.The Lenovo Tab P11 takes many design cues from its sibling from the sleek dual-tone finish to the aluminum-alloy chassis. It features a slightly smaller display at 11-inches, and while it keeps the same 2K resolution as the Pro variant, the standard P11 uses an LCD panel instead of OLED ― no doubt ...

With more reasonable specs — and a price tag to match — the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is ready to compete in 2021.What you need to knowSamsung is kicking off CES's Chromebook showcase with the Galaxy Chromebook 2.It swaps a 4K screen for 1080p and offers two distinct spec configurations, one with an Intel i3 and one with a Celeron.The Active Pen is no longer included or garaged in the chassis; you'll have to buy it separately if you want it.The Celeron/4GB/64GB model will cost $550 and the i3/8GB/128GB will run $700.The battery is a little smaller than the original Galaxy Chromebook, but with the lightly lower specs, it should last a full workday before needing a charger.CES may not officially start until Monday, but that isn't stopping Samsung from jumpstarting things with the announcement of a follow-up to last year's Galaxy Chromebook. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook was bold and cutting-edge, but it was $1000, so while it turned heads at CES 2020 and earned a spot in Best...

It's never too soon to start saving. Sure, the Google Pixel 5 is still brand new, but thanks to carriers and stores competing for your business, it's usually not too difficult to find an early discount on a popular product such as this. Pixel 5 deals may be limited at first, but we expect we'll be seeing plenty of offers in no time with carrier discounts arriving first and deals on unlocked devices following.Best Pixel 5 Deals Available NowWhere to buy the Pixel 5Carrier Deals: Trade-in and port-inUnlocked deals: Up to $100 offThe Google Pixel 5 offers a number of solid improvements upon the Pixel 4. Though its predecessor received some flak for its bad battery life, the Pixel 5 includes a 4080mAh battery that's miles better than the 2800mAh battery found in the Pixel 4. The cameras are receiving an upgrade as well; the telephoto lens from the Pixel 4 has been replaced with a standard and ultra-wide camera, along with a new motion blur mode and an audio zoom feature....

The Moto G Fast is one of the best cheap Android phones that you can get, but you're still going to want to protect it. Finding the best Moto G Fast cases is much easier than when the phone was released. There are quite a few great options to choose from, helping to keep your G Fast protected through whatever comes your way.Simple and elegantStarhemei GreenLace TPU CaseStaff PickStarhemei is known for some great TPU cases, and that's no different with the GreenLace Case. There are more than ten different designs to choose from, but the GreenLance is one of our favorites. The case itself is clear, minus the design on the back, and all four corners are reinforced for added shock absorption.$6 at AmazonClassic protectionOtterbox Commuter LiteOtterbox has been making cases for just about every phone, so it makes sense to see one for the Moto G Fast. The Commuter Lite is thin and lightweight while sporting a polycarbonate and TPU design. This offers shock absorpt...

The WD Easystore 5TB external USB portable hard drive has dropped to $99.99 at Best Buy. That's about $30 off what it normally sells for and $80 off its MSRP. With today's deal it actually matches the same price as the 4TB price so you're getting a full terabyte for free. You won't find it going for this low anywhere else, either. It's currently up to $120 on Amazon.The Easystore is just that... easy. It's a simple portable hard drive that you can use to store and transfer data, whether that'd be music, movies, photos, or video games. The 5TB of space is all there for you to use, and it's in a convenient device that won't let you down. Since its portable, you can take it with you as well, so it can be a great storage companion for your laptop.Connect via USB 3.0 for an easy-to-use interface that is super compatible with a wide range of devices. It's also backwards compatible with USB 2.0 just in case you need to plug into an older port. You won't get quite the same transfer speed...

Chatting with the AC forums.WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps on Android, but starting next month, a big change to its privacy policy could push many people away.Beginning February 8, WhatsApp will require all of its users to share their data with parent company Facebook. If you don't agree to the policy, WhatsApp suggests deleting your account.Given all of the bad press we've seen around Facebook for the past few years, it's understandable why a change like this is being responding to so strongly. Taking a look through the AC forums, some of our members have already begun discussing the matter. Jockyspider 01-07-2021 02:56 AM “ Could'nt find anything that detailed. Thank you. Would you recommend accepting it as use it to communicate with my bosses and family. Its uk version btw Reply hallux 01-07-2021 08:00 AM ...

Best Oculus Quest 2 Deals Available NowOculus Quest 2: as low as $284Oculus accessories: starting at $39More on the Oculus Quest 2The next step in VR hardware has arrived, and now that the Oculus Quest 2 is available on store shelves, you can discover an immersive virtual reality of gaming starting as low as $299. Of course, if you know where to shop, you might even be able to score a discount on this new VR system.While deals don't come around every day on this new release just yet, it's not too soon to score a discount on the Oculus Quest 2. In fact, we could be seeing some major savings sooner than you'd think. If you have yet to decide whether this VR headset is the right one for your home, our Oculus Quest 2 review can help you learn more about the new model.Best Oculus Quest 2 DealsThe Oculus Quest 2 was only just released in mid October, so it will still be some time before we see any crazy discounts on the new model. However, we already know of a consistent wa...

Get serious about fitnessFitbit Premium$10/month or $80/year at FitbitProsGuided programsSeveral workout optionsHealth and fitness statsThree-month free trial with purchaseOptional upgrade to 1-on-1 coachingOn more devicesConsNo option to share with family membersFitbit Premium has been around a while now and it offers a more hands-on approach than Apple Fitness+ does. The most important difference is that you can pay more for 1-on-1 coaching, which will help you improve your fitness game if you're looking for extra motivation.A great place to startApple Fitness+$10/month or $80/year at AppleProsGuided programsSeveral workout optionsHealth and fitness statsThree-month free trial with purchaseOption to share with five family membersConsNo 1-on-1 coaching optionsApple devices onlyApple Fitness+ just launched in December, so it's a fairly new service. It certainly follows in Fitbit Premium's footsteps with a series of guided work...

Everyone wants to own one of the best Android phones, but not everyone can or should pay full price for one. Some people are happy to pay retail, but others are looking for a deal — and one of the ways to find discounts is to look for refurbished phones. As you'd expect, buying a refurbished phone isn't as simple as walking into a store and asking for one — it takes a bit more research and understanding. To help you navigate it, we have all of the information you need right here to make a good choice in buying a refurbished phone.What does "refurbished" mean?Even though we see the word "refurbished" get thrown around a lot, that doesn't mean it's necessarily a standardized term. You may often see it used interchangeably with "recertified," "reconditioned," or just "open box," or "pre-owned." No matter the exact word, it generally refers to a product that was manufactured to sell as new, but for whatever reason was returned to the manufacturer — either by a store, resell...

Keeping a clean house with kids, pets, and a gravel road is tough — the Roborock S6 Pure makes it so much easier.In preparing for my Roborock S6 Pure review, I had flashbacks to when I got my first robot vacuum five years ago. It was a base model Roomba, and I thought it was the greatest device ever. That was until I upgraded to the Roborock S5 after a few years of using the basic Roomba. That's when I saw what one of these fantastic cleaning machines was really capable of. My family loved that thing, as much as you can for a robot, I suppose. That is until that nightmare of a robovac going on its scheduled clean up in the middle of the night with an aging pup who was unable to hold it until morning — yup, gross.In my quest to find a replacement vacuum, it became quickly apparent how much my family relied on that robotic vacuum to help out around our home. See, there are two adults, two young kids, the previously mentioned aging dog, and two cats, living in a country home of...

Samsung's next big version update is now available.One UI 3.0 — Samsung's custom interface for Android 11 — is finally starting to arrive. Between official rollouts and public betas, Samsung's well underway with its update process for the new software. The stable release is now rolling out to the Galaxy S20 and Note 20 devices as well as older Samsung flagships.One UI 3.0 comes with exciting new features, subtle UI tweaks, and optimizations across the board. Here's what you need to know about the One UI 3.0 update, the list of eligible phones slated to receive the stable update, and when you'll get the stable OTA update on your Galaxy phone.The default choiceSamsung Galaxy S20+$950 at Amazon$950 at Best BuyA great all-round optionThe Galaxy S20+ is one of the best phones on the market today, with a gorgeous design coupled with enticing hardware. You get a stunning 120Hz AMOLED panel, global 5G connectivity, Snapdragon 865 chipset, outstanding cameras, and all-d...

Stephen King fans are in for a treat as CBS has adapted the horror author's critically acclaimed novel The Stand into a new miniseries and we have all the details on how you can watch it online.This isn't the first time The Stand has been adapted though as during the 1980s, Stephen King tried unsuccessfully to make the novel into a feature film with director George Romero. The film adaptation spent more than 10 years in development before ABC eventually made it into an eight-hour miniseries in 1994.For the past two years, CBS has been working on bringing The Stand back to TV once again in the form of a new miniseries. However, according to showrunner and executive producer Benjamin Cavell "none of us could have imagined that Stephen King's 40-year-old masterpiece about a global pandemic would come to be so eerily relevant".The nine episode miniseries features an all-star cast that includes Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden, Greg Kinnear, Amber Heard and more....

A perfect personal productivity powerhouse.From the moment it was announced at CES last year, I knew that I would like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. I just didn't know how much I would come to love it.We at Android Central have had the Duet ranked high on our list of the best Chromebooks for months, and it is also prominently featured on best Chromebook for students. It is hands-down the best Chromebook tablet available, and in my opinion, it gives lower-cost iPads and the best Android tablets a run for their money. Others in the tech industry have also taken notice, including notable Chromebook advocate Kevin Tofel, who named it his Chromebook of the year.It's been a little over a month since I purchased this device on a Black Friday sale, and nearly two weeks that I've been using it on a daily basis (it was a Christmas gift — from me, to me). During that time, it has become my go-to device here at home, whether I'm on the couch, in bed, or at the breakfast table. I had hoped ...

The new Galaxy M02s is a solid upgrade over its predecessor in quite a few areas.What you need to knowSamsung has unveiled a new entry-level Galaxy M series phone.The new Galaxy M02s comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 450 chipset, and a 5000mAh battery.It will soon go on sale in India for a starting price of ₹8,999 ($123).Samsung today expanded its budget-friendly Galaxy M series of phones with the launch of the Galaxy M02s. The phone succeeds the Galaxy M01s, which was launched in July last year. It brings quite a few major upgrades to the table, including improved performance and better cameras.The Galaxy M02s sports a 6.5-inch Infinity-V HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 450 chipset, coupled with up to 4GB of RAM and 32GB storage. As you would expect from an entry-level Galaxy phone, the M02s does include a microSD card slot for further expansion up to 1TB.Around the back of the phone is a triple-came...

The next-gen tracker is expected to launch sometime later this year.What you need to knowTile is reportedly working on a new device that will take on Apple AirTags and Samsung's Galaxy Smart Tag.The next-gen tracker will utilize UWB (ultra-wideband) tech to allow users to find missing items.Along with the next-gen tracker, Tile is also working on an AR-enabled camera view to make it easier to find lost items.Earlier this week, a leak revealed that Samsung is going to launch its first Bluetooth tracker alongside the Galaxy S21 series and the Galaxy Buds Pro at the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 14. Now, a report from TechCrunch claims Tile is working on a next-gen tracker that will rely on ultra-wideband (UWB) tech, instead of Bluetooth.Similar to Bluetooth, UWB is a short-range, wireless communication protocol. Unlike Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, however, UWB operates at much higher frequencies, allowing it to capture spatial and directional data. Due to its spatial awareness c...