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COVID-19 has spread to 108 countries around the world, and the coronavirus shows no signs of abating. The pandemic is proving particularly devastating in Italy, with the country seeing over 800 deaths from over 10,000 cases, second only to China. COVID-19 has effectively shut down the airline industry, with most countries screening international passengers for signs of infections.The coronavirus has had a huge impact on the tech industry, affecting the global supply chain and causing interminable product delays. Here's the latest on COVID-19 and how it's affecting the tech industry.March 12, 2020: Twitter asks employees to work from home, U.S. bans travel from Europe as coronavirus becomes a pandemicTwitter has ordered all employees globally to work from home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In an unprecedented move, the U.S. has banned travel from most European countries for 30 days. 26 countries are affected, including Germany, France, Belgium, Finland, and Denmark...

You can work from home and be super productive with a few smart hacks.These days more and more people are working from home. Telecommuting saves you from fighting traffic, saves your employer the costs of renting or buying a big office, and cuts down on carbon emissions. There are a lot of reasons why it's great.But it can also be a bit difficult getting used to working from home. For most people, home is where you relax and wind down from a workday. But when your home is also your office, you need to find ways to mix productive time with leisure time. I've been working from home for 10 years and can tell you how I do it.Coronavirus and tech: Ongoing list of event cancellations, disruptions, product delays, and moreGet up and go to workSome people think working from home means you roll out of bed at noon and spend the day at a desk in your underwear. While that's one way to look at it, it helps if you act like you're actually going to work. You're still going to work....

The Play Store's dark theme is no longer exclusive to devices running Android 10.What you need to knowGoogle Play Store's new toggle lets you switch between light and dark themes.The toggle can be found within Play Store settings. In addition to the new toggle, the Play Store's dark theme is now compatible with all Android devices. Earlier this month, Google started adding a dark theme toggle to the Play Store on some devices. The company has now announced that the toggle is now available on all Android devices, allowing users to easily switch between light and dark themes. Until now, the Play Store's dark theme was only available on devices running Android 10.📢📢 #DarkTheme on Google Play is now available on any @Android device! Flip the switch from ⚪ ➡️ ⚫ in your Play Store settings. pic.twitter.com/fR0W1WT6jd— Google Play (@GooglePlay) March 11, 2020To find the new toggle, tap on the hamburger menu in the top left corner of the Play Store app and se...

The display is already the biggest power consumer on your phone and making it work harder does exactly what you think it would: east up that precious battery time. Here's why.High refresh rate displays are one of the best things to ever happen to a smartphone. But like everything great, there is a trade-off and in this case, it's battery life.There is no denying that a higher screen refresh — whether it be 90 Hz like the OnePlus 7 Pro and Pixel 4 or the 120Hz from the Galaxy S20 — makes your phone feel more responsive and is easier on your eyes. There is also no denying that those higher refresh rates also use more battery power, though just how much is still up for debate.Here's how Android makers can balance 120Hz screens and battery lifeBoth the pros and cons of a high refresh display are because of the same thing — the display refreshing faster means other parts of your phone have to work faster. And while it's easy to think turning pixels on and off more times each...

The new pink color variant is currently available only in South Korea.What you need to knowSamsung has introduced two new color options for the Galaxy Buds+ true wireless earbuds – red and pink.While both the new pink and red colorways are now available in South Korea, only the red Galaxy Buds+ variant has been launched in the U.S. In addition to Samsung's website, consumers in the U.S. can now order the Galaxy Buds+ in red from Amazon and Best Buy as well. Samsung's Galaxy Buds+ are among the best true wireless earbuds currently available, offering great sound quality and excellent battery life. The company has now introduced two new color variants of the true wireless earbuds – pink and red.As noted by the folks at Android Authority, the new red and pink color variants are now available to purchase in Samsung's home market of South Korea. In the U.S., the company has only launched the red color variant, which will begin shipping by March 20. You can get the Galaxy ...

With a 5020mAh battery and a large 6.67-inch FHD+ display, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is an absolute beast.The Redmi Note series has a storied legacy. The Redmi Note 3 was the first phone with a Snapdragon 650 chipset. The Redmi Note 4 was the first phone in India to sell 10 million units. That momentum continued over the years, with the Redmi Note 7 Pro becoming the best-selling phone in India last year.Xiaomi's rise is India was solely on the back of the Redmi Note series. Its phones were the default choice if you're in the market for a budget phone with robust hardware, and for the longest time, Xiaomi went unchallenged. The Chinese manufacturer doesn't have that freedom anymore. Realme has all the momentum in the budget category, and the BBK-owned brand has consistently managed to undercut Xiaomi in India over the last 15 months.As such, the Redmi Note 9 Pro comes at a crucial time for Xiaomi. It needs to reassert its dominance in this category and show that it is still the brand...

The Redmi Note 9 Pro features the largest battery in a Redmi phone to date.The Redmi Note 9 Pro series is here, and Xiaomi is going back to the basics. The phones feature a massive 5020mAh battery and interesting camera and hardware upgrades. The battery is obviously the main talking point here, and it's clear that Xiaomi is positioning the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max as devices that can easily last two days on a full charge.The phones also come with NavIC, giving it the ability to connect to India's navigational satellites. The camera is now a 48MP Samsung GM2 module and a 64Mp shooter on the Pro Max, and there's a 5MP macro lens as well this time around. Mainstays like the 3.5mm jack are back, and you also get 18W fast charging/33W on the Redmi Note 9 Pro. Here's a look at the hardware on offer: Category Redmi Note 9 Pro Redmi Note 9 Pro Max Operating system Android 10MIUI 11 Android 10MIUI 11 Display 6.67-inch 60Hz IPS LCD2400x1080 (20:9...

No matter your taste, your phone needs a case, but when cases are designed to survive years of sweat, strain, and abuse, they also tend to last a long time in a landfill once you're done with it. Thankfully, you can buy cases that are friendly for the planet — made from sustainable materials and/or for easy composting. Eco-friendly cases is still a small market, especially for the brand-new Galaxy S20, but here are the best ones you can buy today.Plant-based and prettyTech21 Studio ColourStaff pickAvailable in six colors — from the brightest Cherry Red I've ever seen to more subdued blues and black — this 32% plant-based case is thin, vibrant, and features an anti-microbial coating.$30 at AmazonBiodegradableIncipio OrganicoreIncipio's case is made with 100% compostable materials, meaning that when the end of your phone's life comes and you throw out the case, it won't take decades to break down in a landfill.$40 at AmazonClear and durableTech21 Pure Cl...

The same composer for the games will be there to help score the HBO series.What you need to knowAn HBO show adapation of The Last of Us was recently announced.Neil Druckmann, the creative director of The Last of Us, will be co-writing the series.Druckmann shared on Twitter that Gustavo Santaolalla will be helping with the show.Santaolalla is the compose for The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. Recently, we learned that HBO and PlayStation Productions are collaborating on an adaption of The Last of Us, designed as a TV series on HBO. Neil Druckmann, the creative director of The Last of Us and its upcoming sequel The Last of Us Part II, is co-writing the series.The involvement from people on the original games doesn't stop there though, as Druckmann has revealed on Twitter that Gustavo Santaolalla, composer of The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II, will be helping on the HBO series.Well this is exciting! Beyond lending his incredible musical talent to The Last ...

Alexa can now play live songs, music in different languages, and more.What you need to knowAlexa now understands what different versions of songs are, including album, live, acoustic, and more.You can also request music in different languages, even music by your favorite artists.Alexa also has a more natural-sounding voice, and some albums will now be introduced by the artist themselves.Amazon Music users in the U.S. can now ask Alexa far more specific requests for music, including the ability to request specific versions of a song or album, ask for music in a different language, and even hear popular artists introduce their own singles and albums. That means when you ask Alexa to play the live version of your favorite artists's most popular song, it's far more likely Alexa will actually be able to understand your request and deliver the exact music you're wanting to hear.Alexa's understanding of music has deepened significantly with this latest update, which includes the...

Whether you're in a house or apartment, making sure your home is safe while you're away is a key priority. One of the best ways to deter thieves while providing yourself with peace of mind is with a quality smart doorbell like the Nest Hello. We've done the research and made a list of the best smart doorbell cameras for any home. See which one works for you.Best Overall: Nest HelloI love this smart doorbell. It costs a little more than average, but you get plenty of features that make the price worth it. For one thing, you can set it up to give you alerts whenever it detects motion in specific areas of your yard. What's more, it has facial recognition abilities, so it can tell you if a particular friend is approaching before they even ring the bell. The camera operates at 1600x1200 with HDR for clear video quality. When the camera senses that it gets dark, it automatically switches to night vision. It's in grayscale, but it's clearer than many other cameras on the market.When...

120Hz displays are in, the headphone jack is out.Every year sees a heap of various Android phones released into the market. Some are good, some are bad. Some are really exciting, whereas others are a bit boring. Among all of the handsets to come out during a given year, one release that's continually met with a lot of excitement and fanfare is Samsung's Galaxy S series.One could argue that Galaxy S phones aren't always the most interesting, but there's no denying how much more attention they get compared to much of the competition.For 2020, Samsung is launching a trio of phones with the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra. These are very technically impressive gadgets with high prices to match, and if you can afford what Samsung is asking for the phones, they're bound to be some of the best the Android landscape sees all year.From hands-on coverage, detailed specs, accessory recommendations, and so much more, here's absolutely everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy ...

The company had already asked all of its North American employees to work from home, if possible.What you need to knowGoogle is now asking all of its staff in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to work from home if they can.The move comes after a similar advisory was sent to its North American workforce.It comes in the backdrop of the World Health Organisation declaring COVID-19 a pandemic.As the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Google has expanded its recommendation for all employees to work remotely if they can beyond just North America to also include offices in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East (via Business Insider).The move makes sense, as one of the company's staff in Zurich was confirmed to have contracted the virus late last month. The company had also already asked employees in Dublin to work from home after a scare involving someone in that office.Contributing to social distancing if you are able to, helps the overall community sprea...

A docking station for your Chromebook can turn a portable device into a genuine desktop replacement. Usually, you'll find plenty of ports used to handle exchanging data between devices of some sort or another, as well as a display connection so you can plug standard peripherals in and a way to power the other devices being connected. If you need to get your Chromebook connected, these are the best docking stations.A bit of everythingWAVLINK Universal Laptop DockStaff pickDual HD video, six USB ports, Ethernet, and even a dedicated EGPU port make this docking station from WAVLINK a jack of all trades. Designed for use with Chromebooks in mind, this dock should serve the needs of almost everyone who needs one.$83 at AmazonThe stylish choiceWAVLINK Aluminum Docking StationSticking with WAVLINK for this next pick, this is another docking station from the company that we really like. It gives you six full-sized USB ports, with four on the front and two on the bac...

Emergency alerts on your Android smartphone are a good thing — even if they are a bit annoying sometimes!Every so often — or frequently, depending on your tolerance level — you get an emergency alert on your phone. That horrible blaring of the emergency tone, the buzzing the vibration motor, and then the grim news. Someone's missing. Or there's a severe weather alert headed your way. Suddenly and without warning, your phone's scaring the hell out of you. It's bad enough during the day, and downright dreadful in the dead of night.And that's the idea.The U.S. carriers have worked with the federal government to come up with a way to push alerts to your Android smartphone to warn you about dangerous weather, missing persons or other matters of grave national importance. The point is they want you to see this information in hopes that it could save your life — or someone else's.Here's what you need to know about these emergency alerts and how you can control them on your A...

Six phones' updates have been delayed.What you need to knowHMD Global has released a revised schedule for updating its phones to Android 10.Updates for the Nokia 3.2, Nokia 4.2, Nokia 3.1 Plus, Nokia 5.1, Nokia 1 Plus, and the Nokia 8 Sirocco have all been delayed to sometime in Q2 2020.The schedule also clarifies the timeline for the Nokia 2.3, Nokia 7.2, and Nokia 6.2, which weren't available at the time of the first schedule.One of the biggest draws of HMD's phones is the software support. With nearly every phone in the company's lineup in the Android One program, the company promises two years of software support for all of them. Heck, it even decided to extend support for some of its earliest phones to one more year beyond what it initially promised.And while it's making good on those promises, and even updating some of its lowest-cost phones to Android 10, it's doing so at a much slower pace than it previously promised. The new schedule, posted by the company's Chie...

The Raspberry Pi is great when tucked away being part of the internet of things, but it's best when you're enjoying the web, watching a video, or doing anything else a more expensive and bigger computer can do. Best of all, there are plenty of great products that let you take it all with you. Check out these ultra-portable screens for your Raspberry Pi.Super Low PowerGeeekPi 7-inch Capacitive Touch ScreenStaff pickThis 7-inch capacitive display has a 1024x600 resolution and connects via HDMI. It also only requires 500mA of power for its backlight. There are two additional USB ports for you to take advantage of and expand and extend.$53 at AmazonFrom the sourceRaspberry Pi 7-inch Touch Screen DisplayRaspberry Pi has made a 7-inch touch screen display of its own, and sports a resolution of 800x480, along with multi-touch support. There are just two connections needed to make from the display to the Raspberry Pi board for easy installation. Raspberry Pi also in...

Another week of challenges leaks!Fortnite Chapter 2- Season 2 is officially here, and players are already diving in to try and unlock its many Battle Pass rewards. Just like when Fortnite Chapter 2 launched, weekly challenges have been overhauled for Chapter 2 - Season 2, with every challenge for the week being unlocked from the start.Epic has also tweaked the way to view challenges, allowing players to see in what general area of the map they can be completed. At the end of the day, though, they're still a set of tasks to complete to help you power through the Battle Pass. As is the case every week, the challenges for the fourth week of Chapter 2 - Season 2 have leaked, giving us a good idea of what we'll have to do in order to gain more XP.Twitter user iFireMonkey — who is well-known for datamining various Fortnite secrets — uncovered the following list.Fortnite Week 4 Challenges: pic.twitter.com/IGmUXh5Zr5— FireMonkey • Fortnite Intel 🎄 (@iFireMonkey) March 3,...

Just because the Raspberry Pi 4 is such an inexpensive computer doesn't mean you shouldn't take good care of it. That means you'll want an enclosure of some sort to keep debris out and away from the board as well as provide protection against static shock. Thankfully, like the Pi itself, a great case is just a few dollars; here are the best you can find in 2020.Package dealMiuzei Raspberry Pi 4 CaseStaff PickA wonderful acrylic enclosure, a cooling fan, heat sinks, and a 3A power supply make this case deal a steal. You'll have access to all the ports and pins so this one works with any project, too. If you're not sure what to buy, buy this.$17 at AmazonSupercoolingVilros Raspberry Pi 4 Clear CaseThis acrylic case from Vilros is easy to assemble, has a mount for a camera, and cut out channels underneath for maximum airflow. These case channels, combined with the pre-installed fan, will keep your Pi nice and cool no matter what you're trying to do with it.$1...

More and more developers are announcing digital-only events.What you need to knowE3 2020 was officially canceled this morning.Ubisoft looks to be exploring alternative methods to announce its games this year.It may take the form of a digital-only conference or some type of digital experience.After E3 2020 was officially canceled by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) this morning due to rising COVID-19 (coronavirus) concerns, publishers took to Twitter to assuage fears that this would affect any upcoming game announcements.Xbox head Phil Spencer has already stated that Microsoft would host a digital Xbox Series X event in lieu of a public one, and Ubisoft has followed suit. The Assassin's Creed developer said that it is "exploring other options for a digital experience that will allow us to share all the exciting news we have planned."An update regarding E3 2020. pic.twitter.com/cThkDIkfVm— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) March 11, 2020Ubisoft's press conferences have...

If you're in the market for a new phone, it's easy to get sticker shock when you see the mind-blowing prices of the latest flagship devices from Apple and Samsung. But, many of the great design elements and features have trickled down into the budget end of the market. You can get a Samsung Galaxy A10e from Boost Mobile for far less while still getting a modern look and feel.Here are five things that make the Galaxy A10e an exciting budget smartphone.It's all about the screenThe design that has enabled Samsung to stretch its displays to take up the vast majority of the front of its phones has reached the budget end of the market. The Galaxy A10e has a stunning 81.4% screen-to-body ratio, with only a small strip of bezel at the bottom of the display. That display is a sizable 5.8 inches. It has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, making it well suited to video content. And, thanks to a dense 295 pixel per inch, imagery will look crisp. You'd be hard pressed to see the individual pixels on ...

No console gives you a native 4K image.What you need to knowDoom Eternal is an upcoming first-person shooter from id Software.It's supposed to launch on March 20. The Google Stadia version renders at 1800p resolution and 60 frames per second just like Xbox One X.You can preorder Doom Eternal for $60 on Amazon.Doom Eternal is an upcoming first-person shooter from id Software. The game is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Doom reboot that launched a few years ago.When the title was announced, id Software proudly said that it was going to run at "true 4K" on Google Stadia, and not on other platforms. Since then, we've learned that many games don't run at 4K resolution on Stadia compared to their Xbox One X counterparts. The best example of this is Red Dead Redemption 2. When connected to a Chromecast Ultra, Red Dead Redemption 2 renders at 1440p on Stadia at 30 frames per second (FPS). On Xbox One X, it's native 4K at the same 30 FPS. Stadia can't compete with the im...

The major gathering of game publishers and developers will not take place this year.What you need to knowE3 has taken place annually since 1995.Several major events, such as GDC 2020, have been canceled this year due to COVID-19.Today, the ESA confirmed that E3 2020 has been canceled.After rumors that spread over the last couple of days that E3 2020 was going to be canceled due to the outbreak of COVID-19, we've got confirmation from the ESA: E3 2020 is being canceled."After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry--our fans, our employees, our exhibitors and our longtime E3 partners--we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles," the ESA said."Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this...

It is also issuing a cease and desist order against informing site-owners when a site is delisted.What you need to knowSweden's Data Protection Authority has fined Google 75 million kronor or $8 million over violations of the right-to-be-forgotten law.It has also issued Google a cease and desist order over informing website owners when a URL has been delisted from its search results.Google has stated it will appeal the fine with a spokesperson saying, "We disagree with this decision on principle and plan to appeal."Sweden is the latest country to use Europe's General Data Protection Regulation to fine Google. On March 11, 2020, the Data Protection Authority of Sweden issued a fine to Google for 75 million kronor or $8 million.The exact reasoning behind the fine stems from two instances where Google had not removed search listings from requests using the right-to-be-forgotten law. In 2017 the Swedish DPA performed an audit and "concluded that a number of search result list...

Upgrading from an old Samsung phone to a new one is made a whole lot simpler by using Samsung's "Smart Switch" software that's built into every one of its phones. With a cable and a few taps, you'll be able to transfer a majority of your phone's content to the new device and be up and running faster than you'd think.How to transfer from an old Galaxy phone to a new one with Smart SwitchBefore you get started, make sure both phones are turned on and have a good amount of battery. Every Samsung phone comes with Smart Switch pre-installed — locate it in your app drawer. If, for whatever reason, your phone doesn't have it, you can download it first from the Play Store. Once Smart Switch is installed on both phones, you can get started:Open the Smart Switch app on both phones and hit Send data or Receive data on the corresponding device.Select Cable or Wireless on the sending device to choose how to transfer data.By wireless, the phones will communicate automatically (using a...

Verizon's Visible sub-brand already offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $40.What you need to knowYahoo today announced the launch of Yahoo Mobile, a virtual network that uses Verizon's 4G LTE network.Its unlimited phone plan offers unlimited text, talk, and data for $40 per month.Yahoo Mobile will be available for users in the U.S. on iOS and Android starting today.In what can be described as a surprising move, Verizon today announced the launch of Yahoo Mobile, a new virtual network that is offering an unlimited phone plan for $40 per month.The Yahoo Mobile plan gives you unlimited text, talk, data, and mobile hotspot for use with one connected device at a time. While there are no data caps, mobile hotspot speeds will be capped at 5Mbps. Yahoo Mobile also says that data speeds "may be temporarily slower" in times of traffic. Subscribers will also get Yahoo Mail Pro with 1TB of cloud storage and Account Pro for 24/7 Yahoo account customer service. As of now, however...

Supply chains across the tech industry at large have been affected, and there's reason for some concern that Sony and Microsoft's next-gen plans could take a hit as well.With COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases growing worldwide and causing a global epidemic, effectively shutting down major markets, there is a chance that the PlayStation 5 could face supply shortages or even a delay into 2021 — a problem the Xbox Series X may encounter as well. A delay like this would be unprecedented for the games industry.As of earlier this week, confirmed cases of the coronavirus blew past 100,000. Italy locked down the entire country in order to mitigate the spread, and other countries have already taken similar measures like shutting down schools, cancelling large public gatherings and trade shows, and closing factories. China, in particular, saw much of its workforce stay home, and this has already affected supply chains within the tech and games industries. It's hard to predict how long it ...

Via open database on the web which now is no longer accessible.What you need to knowSecurity researchers discovered a database open to the public for the secret-sharing app Whisper.The database included "whispers" and identifying information such as the user's age, ethnicity, gender, hometown, nickname, group memberships, and location coordinates from their last post.After the researchers contacted Whisper, access to the database was removed.The Whisper app describes itself as a safe place to share your real thoughts and feelings. For years the app has allowed users to share their deepest darkest secrets anonymously on the web. Unfortunately, researches have recently discovered Whisper left those confessions exposed to the web, along with details that could be used to identify the users.While the records did not reveal the name of the person, it did include their age, ethnicity, gender, hometown, nickname, and their group memberships. Even more frightening, the data also ...

If you're thinking about buying a Wear OS smartwatch, you may have noticed there are a lot of appealing choices from top brands. However, not everyone wants to spend a fortune. Luckily, there are quality options available at lower price points. One of the most affordable yet feature-packed Android smartwatches is the TicWatch S2, which is all about rugged durability. There's plenty more where that came from.Best Overall: TicWatch S2The TicWatch S2 isn't for the faint of heart. This smartwatch was designed with the active individual in mind. Whether you're the outdoorsy type or a certified gym fiend, you'll be glad to have this level of strength on your wrist. The large 1.39-inch display is crisp and easy to read. It's not only waterproof but it was also built with military-grade durability, so you know it's tough. You won't have trouble keeping track of your stats, either. The combination of Google Fit and TicMotion will help you stay motivated with easy access to all of your w...

They've also announced Pre-Roll, new technology to capture more video prior to motion being detected.What you need to knowRing has just announced four brand new products.They are the Ring Video Doorbell 3, Video Doorbell 3 Plus, Ring Chime and Chime Pro. The new Doorbells feature better WiFi and improved motion detection.Ring has just announced four brand new products including its new Ring Video Doorbell 3 and Video Doorbell 3 Plus.In a press release they said: Ring Video Doorbell 3 and Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus are the latest additions to Ring's Video Doorbell lineup, bringing security and convenience to users' homes. Pre-Roll gives Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus users a complete picture of what's happening at their doorstep by capturing four seconds of video before motion is detected. Both new Video Doorbells include Privacy Zones, which allow users to black out portions of the camera's field-of-view from recording, and audio/motion detection toggles to disa...

Best answer: No, eero's mesh networking devices don't support Wi-Fi 6, but most networking hardware doesn't. Wi-Fi 6 is still a very new standard. The routers that support it tend to be more expensive, and there aren't many devices that can leverage it.Still the best mesh hardware: eero Mesh 3-Pack ($249 at Amazon)Premium Wi-Fi 6 Support: Netgear Orbi 6 ($600 at Amazon)Budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 alternative: Netgear Nighthawk MK62 2-Pack ($230 at Amazon)Do any of eero's devices support Wi-Fi 6?Currently, eero does not offer any Wi-Fi 6 compatible devices. While the company hasn't denied that it will eventually release hardware compatible with the standard, it also hasn't spoken to any concrete plans on the matter. According to the eero Help Center, there is currently no set timeline for enabling Wi-Fi 6 support.eero is not alone in this. In our round-up of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems of 2020, the number of devices with Wi-Fi 6 support can be counted on one hand, and Nightha...

Chatting with the AC forums.If you picked up any version of Samsung's Galaxy S20, you're probably starting to understand why we've praised all three models so much. Whether we're talking about the S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra, you'll get an incredible AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, excellent cameras, and long battery life — just to name a few of the highlights.There are a lot of reasons to get excited about these phones, but depending on who you are, some features are bound to be more important to you than others.Some of our AC forum members recently got to talking about one feature they're particularly impressed with, the S20's display. gizzyman 03-06-2020 02:07 PM “ the screen on the ultra is gorgeous...its also one beast of a heavy phone Reply DanielLoreti 03-06-2020 03:40 PM “ The ...

Signs point to Amazon taking its music service much more seriously.If you've been paying any attention to the music streaming industry, you've probably been aware of Amazon Music's rise in relevance over the past year or so. From billboards to promoted tweets, from Alexa and Echo promotion to additional artist marketing, it's been hard to escape the service's current presence and future ambitions.It certainly appears that Amazon's hard work at growing and promoting its music service is paying off. According to a report in the Financial Times, Amazon Music is now the third most popular paid music streaming service (according to subscriptions), and it has grown 50% year-over-year from 2018 to 2019. Such success doesn't just happen, not even for a near trillion-dollar corporation with Amazon's resources (um, hello Google Play Music/YouTube Music). Instead, it has come as the result of a massive effort across numerous channels to make the service relevant beyond its Prime base.Amaz...

With Android 10, Google introduced dark mode as a native Android feature — except you could only turn it on and off manually. Thankfully, with the March 2020 feature drop for Pixel phones, Google added the ability to schedule dark mode to match the sunset and sunrise. If you have a Pixel, here's how to use that scheduling feature for yourself.Products used in this guidePixel for everyone: Google Pixel 3a ($363 at Amazon)How to set up dark mode scheduling on your Pixel phoneIf you want to set up dark mode scheduling for your Pixel phone, you need to make sure you downloaded and installed the March 2020 feature drop. Google began rolling this out on March 2, meaning you should already have it. If you don't see the scheduling option, you can check for an update by going to Settings -> System -> Advanced -> System update.Ready to go? Let's do this thing.Open the Settings on your Android phone.Tap Display.Tap Dark theme.Tap Schedule.Tap Turns on from sunset...

To find the best VPN for you, it takes a bit of searching, since not all VPNs were created equal. It all depends on what you need it for. Thankfully you've come to the right place to make it easy for you to find the perfect VPN for your needs.Just in case you're not sure what a VPN is, a VPN is a virtual private network – something that allows you to appear as someone you're not and somewhere that you're not, by using servers. These servers are dotted all over the globe and are used to tunnel your data – which is encrypted for safety – through them.All that means a VPN can work to offer you greater online security, personal anonymity and can help you get around geo-restricted content like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Which is the best for you depends on what you're after.What's best for security in a VPN?If it's pure security you're after then you'll want to look out for a feature that not all VPN services offer; a double encryption. Don't get us wrong, encryption is plenty s...

One of the biggest gaming events of the year may be canceled as new consoles are on the horizon.What you need to knowThe coronavirus has caused venues all over the world to shut down.GDC was just postponed at the end of February.E3 looks like it may be following suit and may cancel its planned conference in June.The Entertainment Software Association may be announcing E3 2020's cancellation tomorrow morning due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) concerns, if rumors are to be believed. This comes after multiple games industry events like GDC and SXSW were either postponed or canceled as well. If true, this would mark the first time in the show's history that it won't take place.The floodgates opened up on Twitter Tuesday night after Devolver Digital tweeted that people should "cancel [their] E3 flights and hotels." This led others in the industry to confirm that sources speaking with them had indicated the event would indeed be canceled.Though Sony had already announced it would...

While many folks looking for a new phone will immediately race to the biggest and fanciest new flagship around, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is just too much in size, price, and problems. While the Galaxy S20+ is a more reasonable phone, as a busy woman with small hands, it's too big to use one-handed, too big for my pockets, and too big my shoulder holster.Thankfully, the "baby" Galaxy S20 is just a few hairs bigger than last year's Galaxy S10, and between a power-user's godsend of a battery, a Lindt Chocolate-smooth 120Hz screen, and the most significant camera upgrade in Galaxy history, the Galaxy S20 is without a doubt the best Android phone for non-Pixel-purists —and especially the best Android phone for women (and men who prefer smaller phones) available today.I've had my Galaxy S20 for a week now, and while I have some very, very tiny hang-ups with the phone, none take away from the great experience I've had with the S20. If you're in the market for a new phone, I think the Gala...

Do you hate that annoying key tone on your PlayStation 4? Whenever you scroll through anything, in all PS4 menus, there's a quick chime to indicate the item you've selected on screen before moving between tiles. It's an audio cue that helps you navigate the homescreen more easily, but it can be bothersome for many users. Luckily, there is a way to turn it off if it becomes annoying without actually muting everything.How to turn off the key toneOn your PS4 homescreen, go to Settings.Scroll down and select Sound and Screen.Toggle the Key Tone off.An unofficial step, browse your PS4 in peace!You can check it out in action below. This is a setting not a lot of people know is available to them, and it's something that even I recently discovered. I don't always need to mute the key tone, but there have been instances where it would have really come in handy without muting my entire television altogether.Unfortunately, if you're looking for a way to entirely change ...

Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, and other tech giants have also encouraged their employees to work from home amid the coronavirus outbreak.What you need to knowGoogle has advised its employees in North America to work from their homes due to coronavirus concerns.The search giant had previously instructed employees at its offices in Dublin, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area to work remotely. Several other tech giants, including Apple and Microsoft have also closed their offices temporarily and asked employees to work from home. With an aim to limit the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus, Google recently canceled all large gatherings and nonessential employee travel. Its also encouraged its employees in its Washington State and California offices to work remotely. To safeguard its employees from the growing coronavirus outbreak, the search giant is now recommending all of its workers in North America to work from home until April 10.Contributing to socia...

Adding a camera to your Raspberry Pi is simple and can turn the board into a great surveillance camera or a personal computer used for video chatting. Luckily, it's also a pretty inexpensive endeavor, like with most Raspberry Pi accessories. Here are our top picks if you want to add an eye to your Pi.HD and simpleLogitech C525 HD WebcamStaff pickThis USB webcam from Logitech is plug and play for the Raspberry Pi and can take record videos in 720p at 30FPS. The "fold-and-go" design makes it easy to pack up and roll whenever you need to move the camera elsewhere. Plus, the C525 features fast autofocus, so the subject is never blurry, even it's close to the camera or moving around.$32 at AmazonFrom the sourceRaspberry Pi V2 Camera ModuleThe second-generation Raspberry Pi Camera Module works great with the Raspberry Pi 3 or 3 B+ and connects directly to the MIPI connector on the board itself. It can take still images at 3280x2464 (8MP) or record 4K video at 30FP...

Samsung's biggest and most expensive phone delivers in almost every way.Galaxy S20 Ultra reviewHardware and designDisplaySoftware and performanceBattery lifeCamerasLiving with 5GShould you buy it?I've been through this so many times before. Samsung has a new flagship phone. It's undeniably better than its last flagship phone. And it's once again more expensive than its predecessor. The Galaxy S20 Ultra is taking that formula to an even higher level for 2020, with an absolutely massive screen and an all-new camera system that's a step above Samsung's other Galaxy S20 models. And the price? A big one: $1400.But following up on a Galaxy S10 series that was pretty conservative, it's good to see Samsung really going for it with a super-high-end "Ultra" model this year. This is supposed to be the one for the enthusiasts, the fans, the nerds who all want the biggest and best Samsung can offer, no matter the cost. Honestly, it's pretty much the playbook the Galaxy Not...

The Jacquard tag needs to be placed in the shoe for your dominant foot.What you need to knowGoogle, Adidas, and EA have joined hands to launch a smart insole that can analyze your footwork in real time with the help of machine learning.Called the Adidas GMR, the smart insole is now on sale for $40. Thanks to the smart tag inside GMR, it can connect your physical soccer movements to EA SPORTS FIFA Mobile. At its developer conference in 2015, Google had announced an experimental project called Jacquard. In 2017, the Jacquard team unveiled its first-generation Tag, which was integrated into a Levi's jacket and made it possible to convert touch gestures made on the jacket's sleeve into customization actions on a phone. Two years later, Jacquard 2.0 was introduced, which went inside more Levi's denim jackets and a backpack from Yves Saint Laurent.Google has now teamed up with Adidas and EA to roll out a smart insole for soccer shoes, capable of tracking physical movements ...

Disney+ catalog is now available to stream on Hotstar in India, including The Mandalorian.What you need to knowDisney+ was slated to go live on Hotstar on March 29, but it's already live for users in the country.Marquee shows like The Mandalorian are available to stream, as well as all movies in the Star Wars franchise. With the integration, Hotstar has been rebranded to Disney+ Hotstar. Disney+ was scheduled to launch on India's Hotstar streaming service on March 29, but the integration is already live. An update to the Hotstar Android app adds Disney+ vast catalog of shows, including The Mandalorian and all Star Wars movies.The update also introduces Hotstar's rebranding to Disney+ Hotstar. The new icon puts Disney+ front and center, and Hotstar's premium tier is now dubbed Disney+ Hotstar VIP. The changelog for the update notes that over 130 TV shows — including 30 originals — and over 200 movies have been added to the platform, and it looks like most of Disney's b...

COVID-19 has spread to 108 countries around the world, and the coronavirus shows no signs of abating. The virus is proving particularly devastative in Italy, with the country seeing 463 deaths from over 9,000 cases, second only to China. COVID-19 has effectively shut down the airline industry, with most countries screening international passengers for signs of infections.The coronavirus has had a huge impact on the tech industry, affecting the global supply chain and causing interminable product delays. Here's the latest on COVID-19 and how it's affecting the tech industry.March 11, 2020: E3 won't be taking place this yearOne of the gaming industry's biggest events won't be taking place this year. E3 has been officially canceled over coronavirus fears, with the three-day event originally scheduled to take place from June 9 - 11. It's a big blow to the gaming industry, and it is possible we'll see brands announce new games in dedicated virtual events. Google is now recommendin...

Imaging continues to be the one weak spot in OnePlus' arsenal — and it needs to fix that this year.OnePlus makes some of the best Android phones money can buy. The brand's obsession with performance has allowed its phones to stand out, and last year, in particular, was a coming-of-age moment. OnePlus successfully rolled out two different product lines in the OnePlus 7 Pro and the OnePlus 7T, and the latter turned out to be an incredible value for the hardware on offer.OnePlus also overhauled its software, and continual tweaks to OxygenOS have made it the best skin you'll find on Android. The interface is devoid of any bloat and has useful additions that give it an edge over Android One devices.But one area where the brand has continued to struggle is imaging. While the hardware on a OnePlus phone is comparable to that of any Samsung or Huawei flagship, its cameras never measured up to the best that Android has to offer. To rectify the issue, OnePlus set up a dedicated camera ...

One of the biggest gaming events of the year may be canceled as new consoles are on the horizon.What you need to knowThe coronavirus has caused venues all over the world to shut down.GDC was just postponed at the end of February.E3 looks like it may be following suit and may cancel its planned conference in June.The Entertainment Software Association may be announcing E3 2020's cancellation tomorrow morning due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) concerns, if rumors are to be believed. This comes after multiple games industry events like GDC and SXSW were either postponed or canceled as well. If true, this would mark the first time in the show's history that it won't take place.The floodgates opened up on Twitter Tuesday night after Devolver Digital tweeted that people should "cancel [their] E3 flights and hotels." This led others in the industry to confirm that sources speaking with them had indicated the event would indeed be canceled.Though Sony had already announced it would...

The 6-inch phone is powered by a Snapdragon 450 and 3GB of RAM.What you need to knowA listing of the devices officially supported by Play Services has confirmed many of the details about Samsung's upcoming Galaxy M11.The phone is expected to have an approximately 6-inch screen.Under the hood, there's a Snapdragon 450 paired with 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 506.Google's list of Play Store-supported devices prematurely revealed some of the specs and the design of Samsung's Galaxy M11 before the South Korean giant had the chance to announce the device to the world.Spotted by TechieJerry, the Google Play Console listing includes a render of the phone (shown above), as well as the phone's specs. While the screen size is not explicitly stated, the 1,560 x 720 resolution combined with the stated pixel density of 280ppi indicates the phone's diagonal length will be about 6.1 inches.In addition, the guts of the phone will comprise of a decidedly midrange Snapdragon 450 paired wit...

An elegant and connected Wear OS smartwatch.What you need to knowThe Summit 2+ is Montblanc's Wear OS smartwatch for 2020.It's an upgrade over the Summit 2 and prides itself on offering LTE, a full day of battery life in regular use, and interchangeable straps.It will come in three colors: black, steel and rose-gold.Montblanc has just announced the Summit 2+, a smartwatch aimed at people who enjoy nice watches, traveling, and are physically active to some extent."Montblanc is taking a bold next step in the luxury wearables sector with its new Summit 2+, offering even more capabilities through Wear OS by Google," Nicolas Baretzki, CEO Montblanc said, "Designed to be a powerful daily companion, Summit 2+ links you to the world around you, enabling to stay active and connected at all times."So let's talk specs. It's not that much different from the Summit 2, perhaps reflected by the name. The Summit 2+ will be powered by the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, it'll come with ...

Beauty mixes with functionality for these travel companion headphones.Montblanc is traditionally known for its finely-crafted and fashionable accessories, but since dabbling into the world of electronics with the Summit smartwatch, it's expanding this new category. Now with the simply named Montblanc Smart Headphones, Montblanc is bringing its signature design and quality over to the competitive world of active noise-cancelling over-ear headphones.We're all familiar with the leaders in this space, dominated by the likes of the Bose 700s and Sony WH1000XM3s (and sure, the Microsoft Surface Headphones too) all landing in the $300-400 price range. But as you'd expect from a name like Montblanc, these headphones are playing in a higher tier — at $595, you're ponying up extra for the materials, design and brand.But after seeing, wearing and listening to them, it feels worth it. The headphones come in three color options — black and gold, black and silver, grey and silver —...