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The $50 instant credit can be used towards Samsung smartwatches, tablets, and accessories.What you need to knowSamsung has opened reservations for its upcoming Galaxy Note 20 series phones in the U.S.If you reserve "the next Galaxy" between today and August 4, you will get $50 instant credit from Samsung.The Galaxy Note 20 series will be unveiled at Samsung's first-ever virtual Unpacked event on August 5. Samsung's first-ever virtual Galaxy Unpacked is expected to be a jam-packed event. As confirmed by the company earlier this week, it will be announcing a total of five new devices on August 5, including the Galaxy Note 20 series. Ahead of the event, Samsung today opened pre-order reservations for "the next Galaxy" in the U.S.If you reserve the Galaxy Note 20 between today and August 4, you will receive $50 instant credit when you complete your pre-order. To reserve the Galaxy Note 20, all you need to do is head over to the Samsung website and enter your contact informati...

The Google Pixel 2 XL is a big, awesome phone with a huge 6-inch screen. That screen is great for watching movies, playing games, and browsing the web, but it won't do you any good if it's completely shattered. To make sure that doesn't happen, pick up one of these tempered glass screen protectors to keep it safe for years to come.Best there isWhitestone Dome GlassStaff pickWithout a doubt, Whitestone's Dome Glass is the very best Pixel 2 XL screen protector you can buy. The installation process is a lot more involved than anything else on this list, but the quality of the protector is second to none. It costs a lot of money, but the Dome Glass will protect your Pixel 2 XL unlike anything else.$40 at AmazonA reliable choiceamFilm Screen ProtectoramFilm was one of the first brands to release a tempered glass screen protector for the Pixel 2 XL, and it's continued to improve the adhesiveness and effectiveness of their product. The protector is guaranteed to be free ...

Kicking off the next generation of wireless.All of the major U.S. carriers are hard at work on their 5G strategy. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have launched 5G networks and are aggressively expanding those networks through 2019 and into 2020. Recently, Sprint's 5G network was devoured by T-Mobile and taken offline as T-Mobile refarms Sprint's spectrum. 5G service not only provides faster speeds but also reduced response times allowing for new services and cloud computing not previously available. 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 connectivity should become possible.Jump to:VerizonT-MobileAT&TFrequencies and coverage Carrier Bands Verizon n261 (28GHz) T-Mobile n71 (600MHz) n260 (39GHz) n261 (28GHz) n41 (2.5GHz) from Sprint AT&T n5 (850MHz) n260 (39GHz)Building a 5G network is a balance between capacity and c...

The best Moto G Stylus cases offer a perfect combination of protection without hiding the subtle beauty of the phone itself. This is easily one of Motorola's best-looking phones to date, so we've assembled a comprehensive list of the best cases to keep your Moto G Stylus looking its best for years to come.Matte and ruggedSpigen Rugged ArmorStaff PickSpigen is arguably the best in the game when it comes to making a low-profile case that is sleek and offers excellent protection. With the Rugged Armor, you'll get a flexible TPU case with a spider-web pattern on the inside to provide better shock absorption. And all four corners are reinforced, as that's usually the first point of impact if your phone falls.$13 at AmazonLightweight and ruggedUAG ScoutThe UAG Scout is a great option for those who want a rugged case that is both protective and lightweight. UAG states that this meets the MIL-STD 810 Military drop-test standards, and it sports a non-slip TPU grip al...

The Moto G Power could have the potential to steal the scene in 2020 with its humongous 5,000mAh battery and triple rear camera system. Plus, with the 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable storage, you get everything you could want in a budget package. You'll still need to pick up a case to keep the G Power chugging along and here are the best ones you can get.Scout's honorUAG Scout SeriesStaff PickThe UAG Scout Case is great for those who want something that is both rugged while offering a minimal profile. The case comes in just a matte black colorway, but offers a non-slip grip and has a soft inner shell to help protect against drops.$30 at Amazon$20 at Best BuyClearly beautifulPULEN TPU CoverPULEN's TPU Cover is one of the more basic cases available but is still great for those who want a clear case to show off the new G Power. This case also offers reinforced corners and raised edges around the screen and camera module for added protection.$8 at Amazon...

AT&T has one of the most developed 5G networks out right now with millimeter-wave coverage alongside low-band coverage in several cities. Both networks are available to customers with phones capable of connecting to both networks. AT&T has been aggressively expanding its 5G network and now approximates coverage for 120 million people with 190 markets. 80 Million are covered by the more accessible low-band network. Here's what you need to know if you are considering switching to, or upgrading your phone on AT&T.Jump to:When will my area get 5G?Cities coveredWhich phones work with 5G?Which plan do I need?What tech is AT&T using?What is 5Ge?Is 5G worth it for most people?When will my area get 5G?As of July 23, 2020, AT&T has officially launched its nationwide 5G network.As far as 5G goes, AT&T is building two networks. One network is a low-band sub-6 5G deployment at 850Mhz. The majority of customers will see 5G on this network. The other ne...

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.For all the differences between the major card issuers, their credit card offerings have started to look more and more alike in recent years.Don't believe me? Let's play a little game: I'm thinking of a credit card with a $400+ annual fee, hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits, high-value bonus categories, a Priority Pass Select membership and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100). Can you guess which one? If you said any of the following you would have been right: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige® Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card an...

The name won't appear in any official channels.What you need to knowAndroid VP Dake Burke this week revealed the dessert name for Android 11.His team at Google has taken to calling the next Android release RVC, short for Red Velvet Cake.In line with Google's change in policy, though, the name won't be appearing in any of Google's official channels.While Google's decision to move away from branding its OS releases with the most delicious of desserts may have helped allay some confusion surrounding their names, it's certainly a lot more boring, no? In a bid to stir up some excitement among the Android faithful, VP Dave Burke this week revealed the dessert name his team's been using internally for Android 11 (via Android Police).And you can bet Google's engineers are going to be putting on a few pounds at the Android 11 launch party later this year because Android R is, in fact, RVC — short for Red Velvet Cake.Of course, this is not a reversal of the change to the Androi...

The Samsung Gear S2 might be a few years old by now, but if you're really still loving your watch — or don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on an upgrade — you can make your watch feel brand new without breaking the bank. The price of replacement bands is surprisingly low, so you can completely revamp the look of your Gear S2 at a price that's affordable.Solid swappable bandsV-Moro Soft Silicone BandsStaff pickIf you're a fan of giving your technology a bit of personal flair, V-Moro offers a nice variety of silicone bands in a multitude of solid colors. This is the go-to choice if you're replacing the band and want something close to the original in your own style.$8 at AmazonGet creativeLinkshare Soft Silicone Sport BandWant to get creative with your Samsung Gear S2 band? These options from Linkshare will do the trick. Choose from various designs, including floral, camouflage, mosaic, and plaid. It's unique while still offering a soft silicone materi...

PlayStation Now can't hold a candle to Game Pass... but it could in the future.Microsoft's big Xbox Series X showcase went off without a hitch, featuring the gameplay reveal of Halo: Infinite along with a quick tease of the rumored Fable game coming from Playground Games. I wasn't really impressed by most of these announcements, personally — though I do look forward to Avowed — but regardless of how I felt about the games themselves, more importantly, Xbox Game Pass stole the show. Sony's PlayStation Now service just can't compete right now. That's going to be an issue when the PS5 comes out.An Xbox Game Pass subscription usually goes for $10/month, going all the way up to $15/month if you buy Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes a subscription to Xbox Live Gold. For $15 a month, you're getting access to Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass, and soon, Project xCloud. This is a huge win for Microsoft. Members get day one exclusive games and they can be streamed to your phone or tablet...

Like other laptops, the trackpad on a Chromebook works well enough for most situations. However, you might find yourself in a situation where you could make use of a separate mouse. It might help, for example, if you're using a larger display to multitask, when you need to scroll through various files, or during video gaming time. Most wireless mice will work with Chromebooks but here are some great options if you're looking to find the perfect one to meet your unique needs.No risk, easy set-upSeenda Wireless MouseStaff pickAvailable in tons of cool colors including this pastel-like mint green, this versatile mouse is compact enough to throw into your bag and easy to set up via the USB dongle and instant connection via a 2.4GHz network without the need to install drivers. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty that promises a free replacement if it's defective.$12 at AmazonFrom $14 at WalmartSuper quiet operationShhhMouse Wireless Ergonomic MouseWith a reported ...

Best answer: Yes. VR games purchased in the Oculus store can be played on the Oculus Quest, and the Oculus Rift S. However, not every game in the Oculus store supports this. Thankfully, there is a list of games available so you can find out which games can be cross purchased.Get the games: Oculus Account (Free at Oculus)VR on the go: 64GB Oculus Quest ($399 at Best Buy) More robust VR experience: Oculus Rift S ($399 at Best Buy)What is cross purchasing?OK, so you have or want both an Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift S, but you don't want to buy the same game twice. No worries because with cross purchasing, you can purchase and share games on both headsets, provided you know which ones are compatible. Cross purchasing is simply buying a game on one system and being able to play that game on a different system without having to rebuy it.There are a good number of games in the Oculus store that you can play on the both Oculus Quest and the Oculus Rift S using this method. Oculus...

One of the biggest reasons to buy a high-end phone is for the cameras. Whether through computational processing or versatility through the use of as many lenses as possible, phones are taking good enough photos these days that most people don't even consider a dedicated camera. Luckily, there are plenty of options for people that want effortless point-and-shoot style photography, as well as those who want to go more in-depth or have different needs in a phone beyond the camera. The best Android camera is on the Google Pixel 4 XL because it's simple to use yet produces amazing photos in all conditions.Point and shootGoogle Pixel 4 XLStaff pickGoogle's Pixel 4 XL doesn't have best-in-class camera hardware, but it still manages to take amazing photos in almost every situation thanks to its incredibly advanced processing. It takes excellent portrait and zoom shots enhanced by its top-notch data processing, and it can practically see in the dark with its industry-leading Night S...

The outage is expected to last through the end of the week.Update, July 23 (2:50 pm ET): The outage has been linked to a ransomware attack and is expected to go on for another day at least.What you need to knowGarmin Connect has been suffering a multi-hour outage, affecting all services.This includes the Garmin Connect app, website, and call centers.Garmin tried to attribute it to a brief maintenance side-effect, but eventually admitted it was an outage.If you're having trouble syncing your phone with your Garmin smartwatch, it's not your fault. Garmin Connect has been suffering an outage that has stretched on for several hours, starting at around 11:30 p.m. ET on July 22 according to comments on Twitter.At first, the company tried to brush it as a maintenance issue that was being quickly addressed. As the hours stretched on, it eventually admitted it was suffering an outage that affected almost every consumer-facing area, including its app, site, and even customer supp...

Considering how many of the electronics we use are USB-powered these days, there's no reason for the power strips you own to solely have AC outlets. USB outlets integrated into your power strips makes plugging in your devices a lot simpler, and right now the Poweradd Travel Power Strip is a great choice if you need to upgrade as it's currently 50% off at Amazon. Just use promo code DRCA7KQ5 during checkout to snag one for $14.99 today. This deal brings its price lower than it's ever reached without a code before.The PowerAdd USB-C Travel Power Strip was designed so you can power up to eight devices all at once. It's equipped with five AC outlets, two USB ports, and a USB-C port. There's a retractable power cord which only extends out as far as you need it to, and it's not too long either at just 3.3 feet. That gets rid of any unsightly tangled messes which might occur otherwise.This power strip utilizes smart IC technology so that any devices plugged into the USB ports are detect...

Game day is finally here! After so many delays, Major League Baseball has returned with, as the Genie from Aladdin might say, "a few, uh, provisos... a couple of quid pro quos." The biggest change, of course, is that at least at first there won't be any fans in the stands. That means if you want to see the games, even if you live nearby and usually go to the ballpark, you're going to have to watch from the comfort of your own home. We have already shared how to watch pretty much any baseball game from anywhere, but here we're specifically going to talk about how to watch the Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles game.The Red Sox vs. Orioles is an AL East divisional matchup from two teams that had less than spectacular years in 2019. Both teams missed the playoffs. However, with only 60 games in the season there's no telling where teams will end up. This could be a comeback year for either clubhouse, and really all they need to do is get hot at the right time to swing the division in ...

"Gorilla Glass Victus provides consumers and OEMs with significantly better drop and scratch performance compared to competitive aluminosilicate glasses from other manufacturers."What you need to knowA new type of Glass could spell a big change for consumer electronics.Corning has today announced Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.It can reportedly withstand drops from up to 2 meters.Corning has just debuted Gorila Glass Victus, what it calls a significant improvement for the drop and scratch resistance for the Gorilla Glass family.Succeeding Gorilla Glass 6 (and switching branding tactics), Victus's primary claim to fame is its improved drop performance, reportedly surviving falls of up to 2 meters on hard rough surfaces. It also features improved scratch resistance, being twice as good as its predecessor in resisting nicks and cuts. The company focused on both of these attributes rather than choosing one or the other as it did in the past.John Bayne, senior vice president a...

The old-school foldable train continues.While Samsung gets a lot of credit for being at the forefront of folding smartphones, it's far from the only one working in this niche. Motorola was the first company to unveil a foldable with a flip phone-like design, with the Motorola RAZR and Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip popularizing this form factor.The Motorola RAZR's mixed execution, rocky launch, and exclusivity to Verizon in the U.S. held it back from being the standout hit that it could have been. Even so, it's not difficult to see that the RAZR is filled with good ideas and a lot of potential.That's what makes us all the more excited for its successor, the Motorola RAZR 2. Motorola has its work cut out for it for the phone, and if handled correctly, it could be one of the best folding phones in the pipeline. From specs, leaked renders, and a ton more, here's everything we know about the RAZR 2 so far!What's old is newMotorola RAZR$1500 at VerizonThe rebirth of a classic, ...

You can use it to open bank accounts or use government services.What you need to knowGalaxy S20 users will be able to use their phones as official ID in Germany later this year.The change is part of an ongoing partnership between Samsung and the German government around digital IDs.It's enabled via the embedded Secure Element (eSE) security chip found in the S20 series.Imagine a future where your smartphone is your ID. That futuristic (or dystopian, depending on who you ask) vision is soon going to be a reality — in Germany, at least.As Samsung announced this week, the company has partnered with the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Bundesdruckerei (bdr), and Deutsche Telekom Security GmbH to allow its Galaxy S20 series to become the first smartphones capable of serving as official ID in the European nation.All of that's thanks to the embedded Secure Elements (eSE) dedicated security chip found in the Galaxy S20 series, which Samsung claims is the ...

Evolve to match every single challenge this fantastical world throws your way.Biomutant takes open world action and throws in tons of unique mechanics. While things have been quiet lately, it's very much still in development and is still one of the most ambitious upcoming games from THQ Nordic. Here's everything we know about Biomutant so far.Jump to:What is Biomutant?Check out the gameplay and featuresWill it have multiplayer?Is it an open world game?Has it been canceled?Check out the collector's editionsWhen is the release date?Genre-bustingBiomutant$60 at Amazon$60 at Best Buy$60 at WalmartAdapt, improvise and overcomeBiomutant is an action-RPG that gives players the ability to mutant and evolve with biomechanical upgrades, taking on every challenge as they attempt to save the Tree of Life from being corrupted.What is Biomutant?Biomutant is a third-person action-RPG that has players take on the role a cat-like creature that knows martial...

Google believes in the practical side of augmented reality. For the last couple of years, it's been expanding its collection of 3D animals and objects on mobile devices, from land animals to underwater creatures to birds, house pets, and even dinosaurs. There's also a growing collection focusing on the human anatomy and the internal biology of our organs and cells, along with planets and other objects in our solar system. It's pretty amazing!Unfortunately, Google doesn't make it easy to see every animal or object that you can view in 3D. That's where we come in. We're going to show you every single 3D animal and object Google offers below, along with instructions on how to use them.Jump to:How to access 3D Animals and ObjectsLand AnimalsUnderwater & WetlandsBirdsHouse PetsDinosaursHow to use Object ViewHow to use AR ViewUnderstanding Object BlendingA lot of phones are supportedSound makes animals come to lifeThe full list of objectsSummaryHow do you acce...

Your internet connection is only as fast as the slowest piece of equipment in your network. If you feel like you're not getting the speed you pay for with Optimum, one of the first things to do is find the weakest link and look for ways to improve it. Getting the speeds you need is possible whether you need to simply restart some equipment or need to look at upgrades.Products used in this guideDOCSIS-compatible speed: Netgear Cable Modem CM1000 ($190 at Dell)Support Optimum 1 Gig: TP-Link Archer AX50 ($150 at Dell)Find the weakest linkYour internet connection needs to make it through quite a few pieces of equipment before it can reach your connected device. Typically, it starts at the modem, goes to the router, and then to your device's network adapter. Your connection can only ever be as fast as the slowest link in the chain.If your Optimum connection isn't living up to your expectations, start by finding the weakest link.Find out how much you pay forCheck your bi...

AT&T will also offer 5G free of charge to current Unlimited customers.What you need to knowAT&T announced the nationwide rollout of 5G today.It will also be offering a free 5G upgrade to users of its Unlimited Starter, Extra, and Elite plans from August 7.The carrier has stocked 5G equipped phones, including the LG Velvet, Samsung Galaxy A71, and the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5G.The march of 5G continues as AT&T today announced the deployment of the new standard across the U.S. Looking at AT&T's coverage map, it's nowhere near as ubiquitous as LTE, but it's not as limited as it was at the start of the year.For existing customers and subscribers, AT&T is adding support for 5G to its AT&T Unlimited Starter, Extra, and Elite plans from August 7. Individuals on any of these (or their Business Unlimited equivalents) would be able to take advantage of faster connectivity without paying more. Pre-paid customers will have to purchase either a 5G enabled devic...

With how affordable true wireless earbuds are these days, it makes total sense to free yourself of wires completely. You don't even need to spend $30 to get a set of reliable Bluetooth 'buds with the Boltune true wireless earbuds discounted to just $27.99 at Amazon. These usually go for nearer $40, but you can snag them at that low price by clipping the coupon on their product page and then entering 6JVFDCNL during checkout.Boltune's Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds let you listen to your music wirelessly. Touch controls let you switch songs, adjust the volume, and answer calls without having to pull out your phone. With an IPX8 waterproof nano-coating, you can take these earbuds out for a run in the rain or to the pool without worrying about sweat or splashes ruining them. In fact, tests show these earbuds can withstand 10 hours of soaking in sweat which is (hopefully) longer than any workout you would ever do.These earbuds last for about six hours on a single charge, though with the inclu...

A few lucky users will be able to purchase the OnePlus Nord starting July 29.What you need to knowOnePlus fans will be able to get their hands on the OnePlus Nord before everyone else by participating in an online pop-up event till July 26.The invitation codes to purchase a OnePlus Nord pop-up box will be sent to the winners by July 30. In addition to the phone itself, the OnePlus Nord pop-up box will include a Nord Creator phone case, Nord stickers, and a Nord Brave water bottle or Nord Determined tote bag. Earlier this week, OnePlus unveiled its affordable new Nord line at the world's first AR launch event. Even though the OnePlus Nord isn't available to purchase yet, it has already received over 4 million 'notify me' requests on Amazon India and is sitting at the top of the 'best-seller' smartphone category on Amazon in the UK.While the OnePlus Nord won't be going on sale in India and Europe until August 4, the company is holding online pop-up events till July 26, giv...

Last year's NL East champs travel to one of the outside bets for the division in their first match of the coronavirus-delayed new season.Read on for full details on how to get a live stream of Atlanta Braves at New York Mets with our guide below.With no crowds watching on and a condensed schedule of 60 matches over a period of just 66-days, the 2020 will be a MLB season like no other.Thankfully, some familiar elements of the game haven't been lost, including the intense rivalry between these two sides.Atlanta won 97 games on their way to capturing last year's division title, only to slip up against St. Louis in the division series. This time out the Braves will be looking to Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley to step up and maintain their elite offense following the departure of Josh Donaldson and Nick Markakis.The Mets, meanwhile, will be looking to win their first division title since 2015, and maybe one of the teams to have benefited most from the lockdown. The perennially-...

What you need to knowThere's a playlist bug impacting a number of YouTube Music users on iOS and Android.For some users, songs are randomly showing as unavailable in both playlists and albums.This bug first started surfacing a week ago, and clearing downloads and app data does not fix the issue.Google support is aware of the issue and engineers are working on a fix.This has been a roller coaster week for YouTube Music users: first YouTube finally announced it was rolling out collaborative playlists a couple days ago, and then a playlist bug that initially reared its head a week ago came back and impacted a far larger number of users, making songs randomly appear unavailable in some playlists and albums (since albums are technically a sub-type of playlists in YouTube Music).Is this happening to others? Happened a week later with 1 playlist, now it's with all of them from r/YoutubeMusicYou'd be forgiven if you saw this in a playlist and initially thought "Oh, great, the ...

Finally after weeks of delays and negotations, the Major League Baseball season is starting up again! It will be shorter, of course, since it's limited to just 60 games, but at least there will be some live action to watch. With only 60 games compared to a normal 162-game season, every game is going to be important. Each win or loss could mean something by the end of the season.There are some other restrictions in place, too. For example, teams will only play other teams that are either in their division or in their corresponding division in the other league. The New York Yankees versus the defending-champion Washington Nationals is a fantastic matchup to kick off the season, and it still manages to follow those rules since the Yankees are AL East and the Nationals are NL East.One of the more unique changes to this season will be a universal designated hitter put in place as part of the health and safety protocols. While designated hitters have been a part of baseball for a long ...

Aloy is back in action for the next generation.One of the biggest games revealed at the PS5 showcase was Horizon Forbidden West. Developed by Guerrilla Games, this PS5 title is bringing the Decima engine and everything it's capable of to next-generation hardware.Jump to:What is Horizon Forbidden West?Check out its trailersStory, gameplay, and featuresDoes it have multiplayer?Is it coming to PS4?Is it coming to PC?When does it release?Aloy returns as a protagonist, heading into the former western U.S. There are new threats, new machines, and new lush lands to explore. It's currently set to release at some point in 2021. Here's everything we know about Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 so far.What is Horizon Forbidden West?Horizon Forbidden West is a sequel to Guerrilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn, released in 2017. It's an action role-playing game that takes place in the 31st century, in a world where humanity now exists in tribes and gigantic mechanical lifeforms r...

An LG G9 by a different name.With so many phones that are released during a given year, it only makes sense for some of them to slip between the cracks. Companies get fiercer, prices get more competitive, and those that aren't truly amazing often get left to the wayside.Unfortunately, that seems to have been the case for LG for the last few years. The company makes solid devices, but a handful of quirks or missteps keep them from achieving true greatness.2020 is here, and this time around, we have the LG Velvet (aka the successor to 2019's LG G8). This is the phone we were expecting to be called the LG G9, but LG wanted to do something a bit different rather than a traditional year-over-year upgrade.Is the Velvet what the company needs to turn things around? Here's everything you need to know about the phone!Silky smoothLG Velvet$600 at AT&TThe 2020 LG flagship tries something differentLG tried something bolder than usual with the Velvet, and while it didn't...

Another week of new games added to GeForce Now sees another Ubisoft title join the fray along with new title Rogue Company.What you need to knowNVIDIA GeForce Now is a streaming service that allows PC players to stream games they own on various devices.9 games are making their way to the service in the latest update.Rogue Company, Steep and SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE are some of the standout additions this week. Another Thursday update to the NVIDIA GeForce Now library is upon us and while it's a smaller week in terms of quantity, there are still some big names joining the mix.The first highlight is Rogue Company, the new competitive shooter from Hi-Rez, alongside the newly released SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE as well as continued support from Ubisoft with Steep.Here's the full list of this week's new games.Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break Rogue Company Tacoma (Free on Epic until July 30)FTL: Faster Than Light (Epic)Steep (Epic & Uplay)SUPERHOT: MIND CO...

You need to know about the VoLTE transition, but it won't effect you for over a year.AT&T customers have been receiving a worrisome email or text message from the carrier indicating that their phones are on the brink of no longer being supported, and that has caused quite an outcry. The issue, AT&T says, is that it plans to shut down its 3G network, meaning all calls will have to be made over VoLTE (aka HD Voice instead. And because only certain phones work with AT&T's VoLTE system, all other non-approved phones will no longer be able to make calls when that shutdown happens.But there's no need to fret — this warning from AT&T is incredibly premature, and your calling service will be retained until at least the end of 2021. Here's what's really going on.VoLTE: How to use it and why you should careJump to:Why (and when) is AT&T moving to VoLTE?Does my phone support AT&T VoLTE?Do I need to upgrade my AT&T phone?Why (and when) is AT&amp...

"Turning your room into a Facebook Live broadcast makes it easy to go live with up to 50 people."What you need to knowFacebook is adding a new feature to Messenger Rooms.You can now broadcast them live. Users can broadcast a room with up to 50 people.Facebook has today announced a cool new update to Facebook Messenger Rooms, live broadcasting.In a blog post today Facebook stated: Today, we're introducing a new way to broadcast live to Facebook from Messenger Rooms. Turning your room into a Facebook Live broadcast makes it easy to go live with up to 50 people. Whether you're hosting a book club with friends, interviewing a panel of experts, teaching a fitness class, or broadcasting with your friends for fun, going live from a room lets you interact with audiences of any size.Messenger Rooms are Facebook's answer to Zoom calls, joinable video group calls of up to 50 people. With this new feature, you'll be able to broadcast a call of up to 50 people live as it happen...

Many of us use different devices from various manufacturers and in different ecosystems, even macOS and iOS (no judgment here). Whether it's a MacBook Pro that we're editing on or the latest iPhone that we're comparing to an Android flagship, we use these devices too. If you also have a foot in each ecosystem, you may be wondering how you can access your iCloud data from your Android phone. It's actually easy, if clunky. Don't worry; we'll show you what you need to do to get the best of both worlds.How to access your iCloud data on your Android phoneOpen Google Chrome (or your preferred browser) on your Android phone.Go to icloud.com.Log in and validate your credentials (hopefully, you're using some sort of two-factor authentication!).Apple will ask you to trust this browser. Tap Trust.Once logged in, you will be able to access Apple's Photos, Notes, Reminders, and Find iPhone (or Find My) apps.Tap on one of these apps (I'll tap on Notes) to access content, add content, o...

Tune in for some major games.With E3 2020 canceled, different gaming events spread all across summer have loosely taken its place. The Xbox Games Showcase is coming up, where Xbox will be presenting big upcoming games like Halo Infinite and other Xbox Game Studios titles. For any PlayStation fans who are interested, here's how you can watch the Xbox Games Showcase.How to watch the Xbox Games Showcase on July 23The Xbox Games Showcase is scheduled to begin on July 23. The pre-show is being hosted by Geoff Keighley and will begin at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET. The full showcase starts at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET. There's a few different streaming platforms that the presentation will be hosted on.If you want to watch on YouTube, you'll find the official channel here.For watching on Twitch, you'll want to tune in here.For anyone who wants to watch on Facebook, just go here.Finally, you can watch on Twitter from this link.Please note that the pre-show hosted by Keighl...

The issues started at around 12:30 PM UK time today.What you need to knowMobile and broadband users across the UK are facing issues connecting to the internet.Problems are being reported on BT, TalkTalk, EE, and Plusnet. The outage is being reported across all major cities in the UK, including London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Glasgow. Thousands of mobile and broadband users across the UK are reporting problems connecting to the internet. According to Downdetector, there have been over 2,500 reports of TalkTalk's broadband service being down in the last 24 hours. However, TalkTalk isn't the only provider affected by the outage. BT, EE, and Plusnet customers are also reporting problems with connections.The outage is affecting customers in several major cities across the UK, including London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Durham, Newcastle, and Glasgow. Most of the providers have not issued an official statement yet, so the reason behind the outage isn't c...

Chatting with the AC forums.The open-source nature of Android is a pretty cool thing. In addition to users being able to customize and tweak how their phone looks, companies that make your phone are also able to create special interfaces and features that only their phones offer. This is why we have things like One UI, OxygenOS, etc.One of these custom Android interfaces isn't necessarily better than all of the others, but there are certain ones that people tend to prefer. Recently, one AC forum member asked what the rest of our community thought about OxygenOS and how it compares to Google's software for its Pixel phones.Here's how that conversation went down: Javier P 07-22-2020 06:45 AM “ OOS is very close to stock Android with only a few addition that are very good. Performance is excellent and the phone runs smooth and fluid, you'd like OOS. Depending on the model you can get very good...

Head over to Back Market and get a Google Pixel 3a unlocked smartphone for just $239.99 in refurbished condition. The phone would be $400 brand new, and this price is better than refurbs elsewhere. Of course, Google just discontinued this phone, so you're not going to find it in stock many places for much longer. And if you do, the price might actually go up. You should take a look at this refurb deal while you can.Back Market promises a 30-day money back guarantee, a minimum one-year warranty, and free shipping on all products. So all of that is a part of the deal automatically. This phone will also work with the four major U.S. carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. The phone is in "Very good" condition, which means it will have some light scratches on the body. The screen will be perfectly fine, and the phone itself will be 100% functional. Just put an inexpensive case on it and you won't even notice it's used.With the Pixel 3a you also have the power of Google beh...

Right now, the best smartwatch for Android users is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. It's optimized for Samsung phones but runs well on all Android devices and has all the smartwatch and fitness features you'd expect. It's compact and lightweight but still offers good battery life. But if you're not into that one, the good news is that there are so many other amazing options from Fossil to Garmin to Fitbit and more.Best Smartwatch Overall — Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2You don't have to use a Samsung phone to enjoy the benefits of owning a Samsung smartwatch, and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 provides the most well-rounded wearables experience for Android users right now. It's compact and lightweight but features an extremely sharp and vivid touch display that's easy to navigate and fun to use thanks to the new capacitive bezel. The Tizen OS is smooth and battery-friendly, unlike Google's own Wear OS, and while the app selection isn't massive, the core tenets are there, like Sp...

Sometimes, especially when you're sharing devices, you don't necessarily want others to know what you were searching for or which sites you were visiting online. Perhaps you had to look up the best way to treat an unfortunate rash, or maybe you are just embarrassed that you can't remember how to jump start your car (neither one was me; why do you ask?). For situations like this, Chrome's Incognito Mode can be a welcome reprieve from those judgemental eyes of friends, family, or coworkers.What is Incognito Mode?Chrome's Incognito Mode is a toggle that you can switch on to keep the browser from "remembering" the search queries you make or the sites you visit. This means that when you later go to view your browsing history, there will be no record of the sites you visited or the terms you used to search. This does not mean that the websites visited won't have a record of a visit from your IP address, nor does it mean that the network you are using (be that school, work, or ISP) won'...

Samsung's Note 20 is either an exercise in restraint or a downgrade depending on who you ask.What you need to knowFollowing leaks of the Note 20 Ultra, the regular Note 20 has leaked in full.It's a less spec-heavy version of the S20 Ultra, ditching the 120Hz display for 60Hz, dropping the RAM to 8GB, and featuring a slightly less responsive S-pen.That said, It'll still carry the same Exynos 990 SOC and 5G support.Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 has leaked in full, courtesy of German tech publication WinFuture. It's a lot less impressive than the Note 20 Ultra which was leaked earlier in the day by the same site.Running through these new specs, the Note 20 will ship with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED 60Hz FHD+ display. It'll have a triple camera with a 12 MP main shooter, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 64 MP telephoto with 30x space zoom. Inside, you'll find 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The S-Pen will be slightly slower than that on the Note 20 Ultra, with a latency of 26ms as oppo...

Messages keeps adding more and more features, but it's not clear how many customers will ever get to really use them.What you need to knowGoogle Messages now supports Facebook-Messenger reactions for RCS.Messages has other nifty new features, including easier access to voice notes, a media editor, and smart sticker suggestions. Finally, Google's premier consumer video chat app, Duo, is now integrated with Messages.Google today announced a couple of changes rolling out to Messages. Some of which have been spotted during Google's usual "will they or won't they" server-side testing phasing, all of which are available now.First, Google is adding reactions to the app. Just like Facebook Messenger, iMessage, Twitter, you can now long-press on a message in a chat and react to it with one of seven emoji to indicate "like, love, laughter, surprise, sadness, anger, and dislike". Google is also adding a new media editor for quick edits to a photo before you send it off. It's somethi...

You're scrounging for loot — not paying for it.What you need to knowArekkz Gaming held an interview with Richard Heyne, Technical Producer on Godfall.During the interview, Heyne confirmed there are no microtransactions in Godfall.Godfall is meant to be a PS5 launch title, though it's also coming to PC via the Epic Games Store.Godfall is an upcoming PS5 console exclusive being developed by Counterplay Games and published by Gearbox. Set in a fantastical world of knights who use artifacts called Valorplates, it's described as a "looter-slasher."We've got some new interesting details to pour over. Arekkz Gaming held an interview with Richard Heyne, Technical Producer at Counterplay Games on Godfall. During the interview, Heyne confirmed that Godfall has no microtransactions. Heyne also talked about the design philosophy of Godfall, how loot works and more. You can watch the full interview, as well as some gameplay footage, in the video below.Heyne also noted that whe...

You need to know about the VoLTE transition, but it won't effect you for over a year.AT&T customers have been receiving a worrisome email or text message from the carrier indicating that their phones are on the brink of no longer being supported, and that has caused quite an outcry. The issue, AT&T says, is that it plans to shut down its 3G network, meaning all calls will have to be made over VoLTE (aka HD Voice instead. And because only certain phones work with AT&T's VoLTE system, all other non-approved phones will no longer be able to make calls when that shutdown happens.But there's no need to fret — this warning from AT&T is incredibly premature, and your calling service will be retained until at least the end of 2021. Here's what's really going on.VoLTE: How to use it and why you should careJump to:Why (and when) is AT&T moving to VoLTE?Does my phone support AT&T VoLTE?Do I need to upgrade my AT&T phone?Why (and when) is AT&amp...

Unhappy with your service? Moving to another country? It's time to free yourself from AT&T. Since carriers have essentially done away with traditional two-year service agreements, you'll likely be on the hook for the remainder of your billing month, and then whatever you owe on your phone. Here's what you need to know.How to cancel AT&T serviceAT&T doesn't offer two-year service agreements anymore, which means you can essentially cancel at any time. If there is still time left in your billing month, then you'll have to pay that off, but that's it in terms of service.If you're financing a phone through AT&T then you'll have to pay out the remainder of what you owe on your phone. To see how to pay off your installment balance, you'll need to go on your AT&T phone to Manage device & features in your settings.Is there any way around the fees?There's no guaranteed way to avoid paying any of the fees associated with canceling AT&T, but you should check...

This could massively shake up the semiconductor industry.What you need to knowNVIDIA has allegedly approached SoftBank Group Corp with an offer to purchase full stakes in Arm Holdings.This would likely be the largest-ever acquisition in the chip industry.NVIDIA's shares have risen by 76% in the last year.ARM chips power an enormous number of electronics worldwide, including virtually every phone and tablet, and according to a report from Bloomberg, it seems that NVIDIA could potentially be eyeing a takeover of the Cambridge-based company.Arm Holdings is currently owned by SoftBank Group Corp, a massive holding company operating in countless segments such as broadband, e-commerce, advertising, and telecom services — including Sprint in the U.S. Following a report earlier this month that SoftBank was reviewing options to sell Arm Holdings, NVIDIA Corp (based in Santa Clara, CA) has allegedly made an offer for an undisclosed amount. This comes following a 76% rise in NVIDI...

Announced alongside the Moto G7, the G7 Power is a bit beefier than its brethren thanks to its 5,000mAh battery, which should last for days. Considering this is the priciest phone of the G7 family, you'll want to make sure it's protected, and we have you covered with the following case options.Trusted brandSpigen Rugged Armor CaseStaff pickSpigen is one of the best case-makers around, due to their reliability and customer support. The company has finally released a fan-favorite for the G7 Power with the new Rugged Armor case. This offers a considerable amount of protection, without adding too much bulk.$12 at Amazon$25 at SpigenDual layerPoetic Full-Body ArmorPoetic makes some of the best cases in the business, and the company has released its Full-Body Armor case for the G7 Power. This case comes in two pieces, with the back case being made of polycarbonate and TPU, and the front polycarbonate shell including a built-in screen protector.$17 at Amazon$17 at Po...

Facebook Messenger's new features make it easier to keep your private messages private.What you need to knowFacebook today announced new privacy features for Messenger.It's adding an App Lock, coming to Android customers in the coming months.Messenger will soon add its own advanced message controls, letting you choose what can land in your inbox.Facebook will soon roll out a couple of privacy-enhancing features for Messenger on mobile. Aimed at putting privacy in the hands of users, these range from keeping your messages safe when handing your phone off physically to keeping your message inbox itself safe from unwanted contacts.First, just like with WhatsApp, Facebook is adding App Lock to Messenger. Users will be able to password-protect their messages or even use a biometric lock to keep from prying eyes. Unfortunately, while that's coming to iOS users today Android users will have to wait an unspecified period of months until we do, probably before the end of the year....

The professional connectionTicWatch Pro 4G/LTE$292 at AmazonProsDual-layer screen technology for battery and visibilityStandalone cellular connectivitySwimproof and durableConsRunning aging Snapdragon 2100Design is a bit chunky for some folksThe TicWatch Pro 4G/LTE is a beast of a watch in many aspects. Its design isn't going to appeal to everyone, although the specs are good with 1GB RAM and 4GB of storage, even though it still utilizes the over the hill Snapdragon 2100 processor. However, the dual-display and cellular connection can, in many situations, make up for those snagging points of contention.Next genFossil Gen 5$249 at AmazonProsFantastic hardware with a refined designVibrant, colorful screenNewest Snapdragon 3100 processorConsScreen brightness struggles in sunlightBattery life is less than impressiveFossil created a wonderful watch with necessary adjustments to Gen 4 devices. The physical design is well done, but it ut...

All your friends are, apparently, already dead.What you need to knowThe planned co-op feature has been scrapped in favor of a more immersive single-player adventure.Survios points out deep tie-ins with AMC's The Walking Dead show, including a customizable Alexandria base.Onslaught also focuses on hyper-realistic gore and physics systems for a satisfying undead experience.If you've been following the development saga on The Walking Dead: Onslaught since its announcement in early 2019, you'll know that it's been a bit of a rollercoaster. Originally slated for a Fall 2019 release, The Walking Dead: Onslaught got delayed over a full year and is now on course for release sometime later in 2020. While the details of the delay were a bit muddy for the past several months, developer Survios put out a blog post on Steam to talk about the big changes that have been made since the delay. In a nutshell, Survios is focusing on a cinematic, immersive single-player experience in order to ...