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Online multiplayer on PlayStation 4 usually requires two things: a stable internet connection and a PlayStation Plus membership. If you don't have both, you probably won't be able to play online games with your friends. There are two exceptions: free-to-play games, like Fortnite, don't require you to need PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer. You'll also be able to play any multiplayer games included with PlayStation Now when you're signed up for that service, even if you don't have a PlayStation Plus subscription.Products used in this guideOnline membership: PlayStation Plus 12-month ($60 at Amazon)Direct connection: Cat 7 Ethernet Cable (From $7 at Amazon)How to connect to Wi-Fi on PlayStation 4From the home screen, go to Settings.Scroll down to Network.Select Set Up Internet Connection.Select either Use Wi-Fi or Use Lan Cable.If using Wi-Fi, select your Wi-Fi network and enter your Wi-Fi password as prompted. If using a LAN cable, connect it to the back...

On May 26 at 1PM ET, Wholesome Games released the Wholesome Direct 2020 video showing 54 "cute and cozy" indie games that will release on various platforms within the next few years. If, like me, you've been playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons and are looking for something similarly relaxing to play then you really ought to give these games a look.Every game listed during the Wholesome DirectOver 50 indie games were shown during the Wholesome Direct. Here's a brief description of each one, along with the release date, and the platforms they'll be releasing on.Button City — Steam (2020)You play as Fennel the fox who is trying to work with his friends to save the local arcade from being torn down. It's inspired by 90s kids movies like The Little Rascals and The Mighty Ducks.Errand Boy — Epic Games Store & Xbox One (Q2 2021)You play as a little monster who delivers errands for the creatures in his town. Bring joy to others as the world around you is falling...

AI smarts push Pixel ahead.What you need to knowThe strengths of the Google Pixel line lies in the power of AI and machine learning.The onboard speech to text is so speedy, it outperforms much more powerful iPhones.Google has also released a recorder app for older Pixels.Google's Pixels rarely compete on pure power, but machine learning and AI pick up the slack and push overall performance to a place where it can be compared with an often overhwleminlgy powerful iPhone. One area where this is most evident is Google's transcription speed when using speech-to-text on Pixels. It's fast, as this video reminded us today.I don't think that people appreciate how different the voice to text experience on a Pixel is from an iPhone. So here is a little head to head example. The Pixel is so responsive it feels like it is reading my mind! pic.twitter.com/zmxTKxL3LB— James Cham ✍? (@jamescham) May 27, 2020As you can see from the short video, Google's speech-to-text is power...

You can charge your DualShock 4 controller by attaching it to a USB cable via your PlayStation 4. However, that only works for one controller at a time, which is inefficient if you like playing multiplayer games. Having a cable sticking out can also make your setup look cluttered and your controller can disconnect if jostled. With a little extra investment you can solve all your power needs and even add some extra functions with one of these controller charging docks.Best overallPowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging StationStaff pickThe PowerA DualShock 4 Controller Charging Station is the only officially licensed charging dock for your PS4 controllers. It works off of AC adapters to make it easy to plug your controllers in and get a charge without any additional hassle. This dock fits easily onto an entertainment system and doesn't take up a lot of room.$25 at Best BuyFast chargeHyperX ChargePlay DuoThe HyperX ChargePlay Duo quickly charges two controllers at on...

Hand tracking is finally here.The Oculus Quest is a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset that doesn't require any cables to be connected to your PC. The device has received a number of new features in recent months, but hand tracking may be the most significant. With firmware version 17, the Oculus Quest will automatically detect the presence of controllers and switch to hand tracking when no controllers are detected.No longer an experimentOnce an experimental feature that needed to be separately enabled, hand tracking on the Oculus Quest now simply "just works" whenever the headset doesn't detect any controllers in use. To begin using your Oculus Quest with only your hands (and without controllers), simply put the Oculus Quest on your head and power it on. Your hands will be automatically detected and you can navigate through the entire Oculus Home screen with just your fingers.What's more, whenever you'd like to switch from controllers to hand tracking at any t...

Get ready to drop in for the fourth season.What you need to knowCall of Duty: Warzone Season 4 has been revealed with a new trailer.This trailer confirms that Captain Price is joining the ranks of available Operators.Season 4 is set to begin on June 3.Call of Duty: Warzone Season 4 has been announced with a new trailer. In it, Infinity Ward confirmed that Captain Price is indeed a new Operator for players to acquire. You can check out the trailer below.Call of Duty: Warzone is available as a free-to-play standalone game, separate from the rest of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. That hasn't stopped Modern Warfare from continuing to sell extremely well, with the game continuing to appear near the top of NPD charts month after month. As of April 30, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the best-selling game of the year in the U.S.Infinity Ward has been working to curb the cheating problems in Call of Duty: Warzone, implementing new systems that force suspected cheaters to pla...

Spotify and Apple Music also offer a similar feature.What you need to knowYouTube Music will now let users pre-save unreleased albums to their libraries.Some tracks which have already been released as EPs or singles can be downloaded and played as part of an unreleased album.Rival streaming services, Spotify and Apple Music offer this as well.Google has added a slightly new feature to YouTube Music, the ability to pre-save unreleased albums to your libraries (via Reddit). Typically, some albums appear on the platform before their official release date, showing off a preview of unreleased tracks to tantalize potential listeners. In the past, you wouldn't be able to add them to your library. Now you can — with some caveats. The most obvious one is that you won't be able to play the unreleased songs on an unreleased album. YouTube Music instead marks those as "unavailable" instead of "unreleased" Another caveat, albeit a positive one, is that for some of those tracks, they ...

Will a remix lose some of what made the original great?In recent years, the story mode for first-person shooting (FPS) games has started to feel like an afterthought, something to shoehorn into your multiplayer experience. There are exceptions to this, of course, and some FPS have started to use the story mode in earnest, so now seems the perfect time to bring back an FPS that spent hours telling a great story. XIII, the PlayStation 2 classic, is getting a remaster for the PlayStation 4, and from what we are seeing it could be a good one.What is XIII?So is XIII - Remake a sequel?What is the XIII going to look like?What is the XIII release date?What is XIII?Based on the comic book of the same name, XIII is a Jason Bourne-style story of an assassin that loses his memory. In the case of XIII — you are called XIII because you have a tattoo of it on your chest — you have also been accused of killing the President of the United States. What follows is an excellent and st...

WorldWideStereo on eBay has the Sonos Playbar HiFi soundbar on sale for $399 refurbished. WWS is a Sonos authorized dealer, and this refurb unit is covered by a full Sonos one-year warranty. New versions of the Playbar still sell for around $600 or more at retailers like Best Buy. Finding it on sale at all has always been unusual, so finding it for this low and fully covered by Sonos is a tremendous deal.Earlier this month, Sonos announced the followup to the Playbar called the Sonos Arc. The Playbar is one of Sonos' older devices for sure, so it's nice to see a new version coming out. However, the Arc is going to launch at a starting price of $800 and won't come down from that price anytime soon. If you're looking to break into the Sonos ecosystem in a more affordable way, the deal above is how to do it.The Sonos Playbar is a great sound bar, especially if you're interested in getting a full-blown Sonos home audio system eventually. It's easy to set up and use (seriously, one co...

Watch and pay for HBO Max, all from your YouTube TV account.Google's YouTube TV has quickly become one of the top sources for live television. It's most definitely in the Top 3, right alongside Hulu With Live TV (which has been the official No. 1), and Sling TV. In addition to a rather solid stable of channels available for $49.99 a month, there also are a number of premium add-ons available.And for the first time, those add-ons now include HBO and HBO Max, as well as Cinemax. The former has been available on other streaming services, like AT&T TV (AT&T is the parent company of WarnerMedia, which owns HBO and HBO Max) and Hulu. And while YouTube TV has offered monthly subscriptions to the likes of Showtime, HBO had eluded customers, leaving them to subscribe elsewhere.Today, that's changed, meaning you can now watch HBO and Cinemax directly from within your YouTube TV account, as well as pay for it via your YouTube TV bill and your Google account. (This actually was one...

Next time someone says "Knock knock?" just open your Eufy app and identify the culprit! Grab the Eufy Security Wi-Fi 2K video doorbell on sale for $99.99 and sold by Anker Direct (Eufy is an Anker brand). We have seen this video doorbell go on sale before, but the previous best price ever was a drop to $108 about a month ago. Today's deal is a brand new low.Don't let strangers ruin your routine anymore. You can view a live stream of who's at the door and go over recorded footage later with Eufy's video doorbell. It has a 2560 x 1920 resolution for images and video, and it uses advanced HDR with distortion correction to ensure you get quality video every time.With two-way audio, you can hear and speak directly to anyone who approaches your door. This is a great way to communicate with delivery drivers, to let guests know you've stepped away for a second, or to have a quick conversation with the neighbor about the tool he insists you have.The camera uses advanced AI technology an...

One of the benefits of having a smartwatch is the ability to add small apps onto it. There are apps from as complex as a web browser to as simple as a calculator. Samsung smartwatches access the Galaxy Store to find watch faces, games, utilities, and more from both the phone or the watch itself. Adding a new app is simple both from the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone as well as through the Galaxy Store on your watch.Products used in this guideReady when you are: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 44mm (From $300 at Best Buy)The control center: Galaxy Wearable (Free at Google Play Store)How to install an app on a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch using the Galaxy Wearable appUsing the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone is a great way to find apps because you'll have a larger screen to see more info regarding the app before downloading. Here's how to get it done.Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.Tap on Discover in the lower right corner of the app.Select View more in the Fe...

As you work from home, you'll find online storage space is invaluable for keeping all your notes, research, and projects in one place. There's more to consider than just pricing, but how much cloud storage you get for how little is probably the first thing you're going to want to know. The best option right now is Google Drive. You get the most space for nothing, and if you do choose to pay for more storage, its pricing and options out-pace everyone else.Best Overall: Google DriveGoogle Drive starts out by giving you 15GB of cloud storage for free. With this storage, you also get access to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides which will automatically save in your online Drive folders as you work in them. To get started you just need a Google account, which is essentially a Gmail account. You can upload and save images and files from mobile devices to your Drive storage, or access them from your cell phone or tablet at any time.If you use Google Meet for video conferencing, you can...

The Brother HL-L5200DW wireless monochrome laser printer has dropped to $169.99 at Best Buy. This deal is a price match of a similar sale going on through a couple of retailers like Office Depot. However, the same printer is still going for $200 at some places like B&H.If printing isn't a huge burden for you, there are certainly less expensive models you can go for, even in the Brother lineup. However, if you have a home office or run a small business or just depend a lot on your printer for documents and files and other things, the HL-L5200DW is a powerhouse machine that won't let you down.It's one of the Brother's fastest printing models at 42 pages per minute. And it has a resolution that can get as high as 1200 x 1200 for printing high-quality documents and even crisp images and photos. It also has duplex printing so you can use both sides of the page, letting you get jobs done with less paper waste.If you do need this for an office, you may want to protect the files yo...

Every kid wants a tablet. But deciding to invest in a tablet for your child is a big step, and there are several features to consider: price, parental controls, and perhaps most importantly, durability. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is a top pick not only for offering tons of great content for kids but also for its included protective bumper case and parental controls. You can manage what your kids do and not worry that they might be accessing questionable websites or web content.Best Overall - Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids EditionThe Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is packed with some of the best hardware and software features you could ask for as a parent. Amazon took its top-of-the-line tablet and loaded it with parental controls, kid-specific content, and wrapped it up in a durable and functional case. While the screen size could be difficult for some children to hold, the provided case does include a fold-out kickstand to prop up the tablet.At 1080p, the full-HD display pr...

With E3 out of the picture, Sony looks to do its own thing.Update May 27: According to a report from Bloomberg, the alleged Sony event is set to take place on June 3, though this date isn't final as anything can change with the ongoing pandemic. Sony is not expected to reveal all PS5 information at this time, and instead plans to hold other presentations throughout the summer.There's been a rumored PlayStation 5 reveal event set to take place every month this year, and while nothing has materialized yet, that is set to change. According to VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb, PlayStation allegedly plans to hold an event in early June. His sources indicated that the event was originally planned for June 4, but that appears to have changed by a matter of days.This event is expected to showcase a variety of PS5 launch games, from both first-party and third-party developers. There is speculation that Horizon Zero Dawn 2 will be one of the titles shown, but this has not been confirmed. It's un...

Five member states wrote a fairly passive-aggressive letter, clearly aimed at Apple and Google.What you need to knowFive EU states have written a letter about contact tracing apps.Without mentioning Apple and Google by name, they were highly critical of the companies. They suggested Apple and Google were "imposing technical standards", calling the move a misstep and a missed opportunity. Five EU states have come together, penning a passive-aggressive letter clearly aimed at Apple and Google over their contact tracing technology.FAQ: What is the Google-Apple COVID-19 (coronavirus) Exposure Notifications system?In the letter, titled "Tracing Apps for a European way out of the crisis," ministers from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal highlighted the need for a joint effort to help restore normality to Europe, particularly when it comes to digital and technological solutions. The letter states: Based on the works of epidemiologists, we see technology as a usef...

A new "Watch others play" section could be added to game listings on the Play Store soon.What you need to knowGoogle is reportedly showing related gameplay videos sourced from YouTube in Play Store listings on some devices.The videos appear under a new "Watch others play" section.It remains to be seen if the new "feature" will be included in a future Play Store update.Google began testing new search filters for Play Store listings earlier this month, allowing users to refine search results by rating, the "Editor's Choice" badge, and "New." Google Play Store is now testing another new "feature," which shows videos from YouTube within game listings.According to a report from Android Police, a new "Watch others play" section has started showing up for a small number of users within game listings on the Google Play Store. The section includes YouTube videos that feature gameplay related to the listing. However, it isn't clear at this point if the recommended videos play dir...

Smart displays powered by Google Assistant have been around for a little while now and we've collectively figured out their place in our smart homes. As the form factor has matured, we've also seen some pretty stellar deals on smart displays with one more cropping up at Verizon where the JBL Link View is down to just $99.99. Considering it sells for $300 at Best Buy and elsewhere, this is a deal that is worth snapping up while it is still available. Add it to your cart to see the savings.With a number of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled smart displays out there, a third-party model has to offer something to differentiate itself from a crowded market that is dominated by the first-party options.JBL's smart display aims to do so with an 8-inch touchscreen, stereo front-facing speakers with JBL's excellent sound, and IPX4 splash resistance, so you don't have to worry about keeping it on your kitchen counters near the sink, and spill-able, splash-able ingredients. Like the L...

Sit down and get comfy — we've got a lot to talk about.Starting in 2016, the Fall season has become one of the most exciting times in the Android space. Sure, Samsung, OnePlus, and other companies are usually down with their announcements at this point in the year, but come mid-October, that's when Google gets to show off its latest and greatest flagships.The Pixel 4 and 4 XL were the big stars for 2019, and they're both packing a serious punch.Google's offering a lot of new tech with the Pixel 4 series, including things like dual rear cameras, 90Hz displays, and its Soli radar system for the first time. These are some of the biggest upgrades we've ever seen for the Pixel lineup, and as such, we have a lot to talk about.Check out our full reviewThere are two models —4 and 4 XLGet familiar with the specsPitting the Pixel 4 against the competitionThe 90Hz display is a big dealGoogle joined the dual camera clubLet's talk about SoliThere are three colorsWe should men...

The SiliconDust HDHomeRun Scribe Duo 1TB DVR is down to $149.99 at Best Buy. This sale is part of Best Buy's deals of the day, which makes it very temporary. The Scribe Duo normally goes for $200, so you're saving $50 on it today.You can also get the HDHomeRun Servio 2TB DVR on sale for $129.99 today. That's also a $50 discount off the regular price. The Servio does not have a tuner, so it is mostly used for storage. It's perfect if you already have an HDHomeRun device like the Scribe Duo and just need more space for recording and storing your favorite shows.So the Scribe Quatro is the top of the HDHomeRun lineup these days, and CordCutters considers it the best of the boxes available. However, it also usually costs around $230 or more. The Scribe Duo is very much the same except that it only has two tuners instead of four, and it costs significantly less. You can do plenty with two tuners, and it's still loaded with all the same features. CordCutters also gave HDHomeRun's lineup...

Play as your favorite Marvel heroes and save the world from horrific evil.The Marvel Cinematic Universe brought to life our favorite comic book heroes like never before. Due to its success, we've seen the team grace nearly every form of media recently. Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics, along with several other studios lending a hand, were tasked with creating a new video game to do the Earth's Mightiest Heroes justice.Avengers, reassemble!What is Marvel's AvengersWhich characters are in itWhat's the storyWhat's the gameplay likeIs it connected to Spider-Man on PS4?Platform exclusive contentNo loot boxesYou can play it in SeptemberSave the planetMarvel's Avengers$60 at Best BuyAn ever-expanding online gameAfter a horrific event leaves San Francisco in ruins, the Avengers have been disbanded. However, an even bigger evil threatens the planet five years later, and it's up to you to assemble the crew and save the world once again.What is Marvel's Avengers?...

There are four major wireless carriers in the U.S. and they all have a different approach to the same goal. Luckily for the consumers, this competition helps drive these companies to make a better product. No matter your needs, there is a carrier for you. For most people, all of these carriers are likely to have some coverage for you. Overall, T-Mobile has great network performance and looks likely to continue to improve in the next few years in both 4G and 5G.Best Overall: T-MobileT-Mobile has continued to improve its network consistently over the past few years with some of the biggest improvements coming in its 5G network. T-Mobile has used to start its 5G network as well as improve its LTE network, with a focus on a wide range of 5G spectrum. With the conclusion of its purchase of Sprint, T-Mobile has added even more spectrum at the mid-band, which can adapt to work with its 5G phones, adding even more capacity and speed. You should always make sure you have coverage now be...

Pokémon GO Fest is now a two-day experience, and Trainers can, for the first time, play on both days.What you need to knowPokémon GO Fest will take place this year.It's happening on July 25 and 26.It will be a fully virtual event, and you'll get to take part on both days.Niantic has just announced that Pokémon GO Fest will take place July 25-26 as a full virtual event.In a press release the company stated: In 2019, our Pokémon GO Fest lineup was our biggest celebration ever. We held events in Chicago, Dortmund, and Yokohama, bringing together 600,000 Trainers for the special summer events. We're bringing back Pokémon GO Fest on July 25–26 as an all-new, completely reimagined global event in a virtual format. The adventures of Pokémon GO Fest are coming direct to Trainers and neighborhoods around the world so anyone can participate from home.The new Pokémon GO Fest event will be a two-day experience, and because its virtual, trainers can partake on bot...

It's 2020, and flagship smartphones are all nearly a thousand dollars or more. But as high-end phones get more expensive, cheaper phones are getting better. Phones under $300 are beautifully designed, with great screens, super-long battery life, excellent cameras, and awesome speakers. We've researched and ranked all of the best cheap Android phones you can buy, and with our buyer's guide, you'll find the perfect phone for you.Best Overall: Moto G PowerYear after year, Motorola stands out as one of the best companies to watch for delivering good, cheap Android phones. 2020 saw the release of the Moto G Power, and if you're in the market for an affordable smartphone, it's hard to do much better than this.The Power name is a reference to the phone's best feature — battery life. With a 5,000 mAh battery crammed inside, you can easily get two or three days of use on a single charge. In a world where it's the norm to throw your phone on the charger every single night, being able...

Wireless earbuds are easily lost, equipping them with Tile's technology means it's also going to be easy to find.What you need to knowSkullcandy and Tile have partnered up, making earbuds that are easier to find.The collaboration has yielded four true wireless earbuds from Skullcandy.The new earbuds range from $59.99 to $99.99.Tile is parenting with Skullcandy to make wireless earbuds less prone to being permanently misplaced. If you know Tile, you know it's all about keeping track of your small items, and if you know how easy to lose wireless earbuds are, it's a match made in heaven."Anyone who has owned a pair of wireless headphones knows just how easy it is to lose them," said CJ Prober, CEO of Tile. "Skullcandy understands this disruption and has partnered with Tile to eliminate that worry for customers by making their new suite of true wireless products completely findable."Skullcandy's new earbuds are the Push Ultra, Indy Evo, Indy Fuel, and Sesh Evo, all of which...

It is set to launch later this summer.What you need to knowSamsung has teamed up with SoFi to launch Samsung Money by SoFi.Samsung Money by SoFi brings a cash management account and a Mastercard debit card within Samsung Pay. The account rewards users for saving by offering a higher interest and in-network ATM fee reimbursement at over 55,000 locations in the U.S.Samsung today introduced a mobile-first money management experience called Samsung Money by SoFi. It brings a Mastercard debit card and a cash management account with exclusive Samsung Pay benefits, in partnership with San Francisco-based fintech company SoFi.Sang Ahn, Vice President and GM of Samsung Pay, said in a statement: Samsung's goal is to make everyday life better by putting powerful tools in the hands of Galaxy users. Samsung Money by SoFi is our biggest move yet to help users do more with their money. Samsung Pay is already the most rewarding shopping and payments experience driven by numerous inno...

Go farther with fitnessSamsung Galaxy Watch Active 2$280 at Best BuyProsOptional LTETwo size optionsBuilt-in GPSA lot of fitness perksDigital rotating bezelConsElectrocardiogram feature not active yetApp selection could be betterMore expensive with LTEOne of the biggest advantages of buying the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is that it offers optional LTE. Keep in mind that you'll pay more for this perk, but if you want to stay connected when you're on the go, this is a great feature to have. You also have built-in GPS, automatic exercise recognition, heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and mobile payments.Classy as can beSkagen Falster 3$295 at SkagenProsSleek, classy designNew Snapdragon Wear 3100Built-in GPSGoogle AssistantFinally, a built-in speakerConsShort battery lifeOnly one size optionLacks LTE connectivityThose who are familiar with Wear OS might prefer the Skagen Falster 3. While LTE connectivity isn't present, this wat...

Chatting it up with the AC forums.The past few days have been filled with lots of info for the upcoming Galaxy Note 20 series. Leaked CAD renders for the Note 20 and Note 20+ were both recently shared, giving us an early idea as to what the two phones will look like.Unsurprisingly, the phones look to share a lot of the same DNA with the S20 lineup. There are large displays with hole-punch cutouts, glass backs, and sizeable camera bumps.Taking a look through the AC forums, here's what some of our members have to say about these leaks. Mike Dee 05-25-2020 12:32 PM “ I hope the colors aren't as boring as the S20 series. That won't stop me from buying but I prefer flashier options. Reply donm527 05-25-2020 03:45 PM “ If dimensions are correct... A little bigger than the Note 10+ by a couple of mm ...

Eye-tracking, wireless PC streaming, and a 4K display for under $1,000.Pico is pivoting to an enterprise-only strategy with its second-generation Neo VR headsets. The Pico Neo 2 and Pico Neo 2 Eye are standalone VR HMDs (head-mounted displays) that were unveiled earlier this year at CES 2020 but are now available for purchase. The Pico Neo 2 retails for $699, while the Pico Neo 2 Eye ups the ante with eye-tracking for $899. Both headsets can be purchased from Pico's website.Both models feature identical specs and a near-identical design, with the only differentiating factor being eye-tracking. The Pico Neo 2 sports Tobii eye-tracking, the same technology found on the more expensive HTC Vive Pro Eye, which is a huge advantage for Pico since the Neo 2 family also supports VR connectivity with PCs. That, effectively, makes the Pico Neo 2 Eye the least-expensive way to get business-class eye-tracking with both standalone and PC-powered options.Since the rest of the specs are the sa...

This is my Android phone. There are many like it, but this one is mine.There are a lot of ways that people like to paint the differences between an Android and an iPhone: Google vs. Apple, chaotic vs. organized, cheap vs. overpriced. To my mind, though, there's no better way to distinguish the two than by simply looking at their respective home screens. iPhone home screens all look the same: pages of app icons and a wallpaper.Androids can play that tune, too, if you're lazy. But if you're willing to take just a little bit of time, you can make the home screen of your Android phone look like anything you want.I'm prone to spending hours and hours fine-tuning detailed themes and trying to get things set up just so — much to the dismay of my editors — but don't worry, you don't need hours to make your phone uniquely yours. You just need a spark of creativity and a few of the assets from my robust theming toolbox.Wallpapers set the toneThe fastest way to personalize you...

The Note line is falling deeper into obscurity with no stand-out features to bring on new customers.We're expecting the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20+ to be announced by the end of August, just a few months away. And the rumors we have to work with are pointing to another year where the Galaxy Note does little to justify its existence, beyond simply having the tried-and-true S Pen stylus. Now I recognize that the S Pen, in itself, is a selling point for longtime Note fans. But it also seems clear at this point that Samsung isn't really picking up any new Note fans, particularly since the Galaxy S line has expanded to sizes matching Notes.Samsung's last two generations of the Galaxy Note have frankly been snoozers. The Galaxy Note 9 introduced new wireless S Pen functions, but nothing fundamentally groundbreaking on the stylus front, and most importantly not substantially different from the Galaxy S9+. Then the Galaxy Note 10 series simply added more fringe wireless S Pen features,...

With $1,000 flagships being the new normal, Android device makers need to match Apple when it comes to software updates.The iPhone X set the stage for $1,000 flagships back in 2017. Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 wasn't far behind, with the phone launching at $929. Ever since then, phone prices have been regularly trending upward, and the latest Android flagships now start off at $1,000. The regular Galaxy S20 retails for $1,000, with the Galaxy S20 Ultra starting off at $1,400. Then there's the Verizon-exclusive Motorola Edge+ which also costs $1,000, and even Xiaomi is getting in on the action with the Mi 10 Pro, which retails for €999 ($1,080) in the UK.Sure, the corresponding hike in prices is attributed to improved hardware, with phones these days sporting much better displays with high refresh rates, larger camera modules with dedicated telephoto lenses, and 5G connectivity. The new connectivity standard alone has led to a $100 to $200 increase in prices from the previous genera...

Amazon's Cloud Cam Security Camera is designed to let you keep an eye on any room of your home no matter where you are, and for just one day only, you can snag one for your home at its best price in history. Woot's limited-time deal drops the Cloud Cam down to just $29.99 while supplies last. That saves you $90 off its original price of $120.This indoor camera has notifications for when it spots activity, a 1080p HD video stream, night vision, two-way audio, and much more. You have access to the last 24 hours of motion alert clips for free and the free Cloud Cam app will push notifications based on the settings you select. Also, the Amazon Cloud Cam can now respond to specific sounds, such as a baby's crying or glass breaking.If you want to save your recorded clips for a longer time, Amazon offers a few different Cloud Cam Plans, starting at $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year and going up to $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year, depending on your needs. You can try out this plan free for...

CatchUp's voice calling doesn't need video capability, or a Facebook account to use.What you need to knowFacebook is releasing a new app.It's called CatchUp, and is designed to help friends and families in the U.S. make phonecalls.The calls are audio-only, and users can flag when they are available to make a call.A new app from Facebook called CatchUp is being tested, and it's designed to help friends and families in the U.S. coordinate phone calls.As reported by TechCrunch: Facebook's internal R&D group, NPE Team, has today launched a new app called CatchUp that makes it easier for friends and family in the U.S. to coordinate phone calls or set up group calls with up to 8 people. While there are a number of group chat apps available to users today, what makes CatchUp unique is that the calls it enables are audio-only, not video, and it flags when users are available. In addition, CatchUp won't need a Facebook account to use the service — the app works with your...

Samsung and Huawei have also started working on 6G.What you need to knowXiaomi CEO Lei Jun has confirmed that the company has shifted its focus to 5G phones for the Chinese market.Along with an increased focus on 5G phones, the company is said to have started work on 6G as well. It could take nearly a decade for 6G to become a reality. Yesterday, Xiaomi launched the Redmi 10X in China, its most affordable 5G-enabled smartphone yet. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has now revealed that the company is going all-in on 5G and has already started working on 6G (via GizChina).Speaking to China's Xinhua News agency, Jun said that the company has begun doing preliminary research on 6G. However, Xiaomi isn't the only smartphone maker to have started working on 6G. Huawei and Samsung both confirmed last year that they have started working on the next-generation cellular technology. In addition to 6G, Xiaomi is also working on satellite internet and how it could work with smartphones.Jun also ...

Whether you're using your phone at night or just have sensitive eyes, the blue light filter on your Samsung Galaxy phone is a great way to instantly reduce any strain or discomfort you might feel while looking at your screen. While you can treat it as a simple on/off toggle, there are a few settings you should definitely check out.How to turn on the blue light filter on your Galaxy phoneFirst thing's first, we want to make sure we're on the same page when it comes to knowing what your Galaxy phone's blue light filter is.Part of your phone's display uses blue light to produce all of the apps, games, and videos you consume on it. Studies show that blue light can be dangerous and irritating to your eyes, however, which is why you might have a hard time falling asleep after using your phone right before bed.A blue light filter does exactly what the name suggests — filters out the blue light from your phone's display so that it's less strenuous on your eyes. Enabling this featur...

Woot's having a huge sale on Anker tech essentials and accessories with prices starting as low as $9. From Bluetooth speakers to charging cables, power banks, and more, this sale has a good variety of products to help you stay prepared in any situation. You can even score free shipping by logging in with an Amazon Prime account.Anyone looking for a new pair of headphones has a few discounted options to choose from in today's sale, like the Soundcore Vortex Wireless Headphones. These over-ear headphones feature Bluetooth so you can listen to your music wirelessly and last for up to 20 hours on a single charge. You'll receive an 18-month warranty with the purchase too, and at just $42.99, today's deal saves you almost $30 off their usual price.Another pick in the sale is something everyone should keep in their vehicle: a car charger. You can choose between a few different options in today's sale with the most affordable being this 42W PowerDrive USB-C Car Charger on sale for $17.99...

Most Googlers can continue to work from home through the end of the year.What you need to knowGoogle plans to open its offices in several cities starting July 6.By September, Google hopes to increase occupancy at its offices from 10 percent to 30 percent. It has also announced a $1,000 stipend for employees to buy equipment and furniture for working from home. In early March, Google instructed its workforce across the globe to start working from home amid coronavirus fears. Roughly three months later, the company has decided to reopen its offices with a gradual, phased approach.Starting July 6, Google will open its office buildings in various cities, giving a small number of its employees "the opportunity to return on a limited, rotating basis." To ensure the safety of its employees, Google will have strict health and safety measures in place at its offices and aim for roughly 10 percent building occupancy.The rotation program is expected to be further scaled by Septemb...

The annual event for all things Blizzard won't be held this year.What you need to knowBlizzCon, Blizzard Entertainment's annual event, won't be held in 2020.This decision was reached after Blizzard evaluated the state of the world with the ongoing pandemic. There may however be a replacement event sometime in early 2021. Another big event in 2020 is being canceled. Today, Blizzard Entertainment announced that BlizzCon 2020 is canceled due to the the state of the world and the ongoing pandemic. While this news will certainly be disappointing to Blizzard fans, it certainly isn't surprising, with other events in 2020 such as GDC, E3 and others all being canceled. Meanwhile, Gamescom 2020 has shifted to an all-digital presentation.There is still some hope for a Blizzard event though. In the announcement, Blizzard explained that it is discussing some kind of online event that could "channel the BlizzCon spirit" in a safe way. That said, it won't happen until early 2021 at the ...

The seventh and final season of The 100 has arrived. After months of unending war and terror on the ground, followed by over a hundred years in Cryosleep and the discovery of a new planet, season seven picks up right where the last left off as Clarke, Bellamy, Raven, and the rest of the crew seek to put an end to the malicious Primes, find Octavia, and uncover the secrets of the mysterious anomaly.The 100 was one of the few shows filming this year to finish production right as the TV industry was shut down in mid-March, so there won't be any delays in airing the season. Below we've compiled all the ways you can watch the show live wherever you are so you don't risk having any of the biggest moments spoiled.The 100 Season 7: When & whereSeason 7 of The 100 airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on The CW in the U.S., with the first episode premiering on May 20. Episodes can be watched the day after they air for free on The CW's website, though if you're hoping to watch the show ...

Trying to find the best VPN is a struggle on its own, but when you then mix in trying to find the best deal on a VPN you find yourself down a whole new rabbit hole. Odds are you've heard a lot about VPNs and are already aware of the reasons that you need one, but now you need to find the best price, right? We've looked through deals on hundreds of different VPN providers and have brought only the best options to the table here to make things easier for you.Best VPN DealsExpressVPN: 49% off annual sub + 3 months freeIPVanish: $200 off + 250GB SugarSync freeNordVPN: Save 70% on 3-year planPureVPN: 7-day trial for $1PIA VPN: 2 months freeSurfshark: From 7 cents/dayFastestVPN: Lifetime access for $20More Deals: Tunnelbear, Cyberghost & moreOdds are that you have heard of VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, before but may not have signed up for one just yet. There are some common misconceptions about VPNs, especially that they are super expensive, but that's not at all...

The full immersion experience, where your physical world is replaced by the virtual one, has a lot to do with hearing sounds from all around you. Being able to hear from any direction is a big deal for you to know when to turn your head. If you can hear the real world too, it will just take away from the experience. The higher quality the headphones, the better the immersion is in the VR World. If you're looking for headphones to upgrade the PSVR experience we've found the perfect options for you to consider.Sony's bestPlayStation Gold WirelessStaff pickThese headphones support 7.1 surround sound, so you'll never miss a thing. They also have an internal noise-canceling microphone to make sure your friends can always clearly hear what you're saying when you play together. If you prefer a wired setup, these headphones rock a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can plug them in physically.$69 at Amazon$100 at Best BuyRunner upCOWIN E7 Wireless HeadphonesThese headphones wi...

For the first time in nearly nine years, Americans will return to space in our own rocket via a mission being called the Demo-2. It's being conducted by Elon Musk's space exploration company SpaceX, and the 2-person crew includes NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley who have been aboard previous trips to space. NASA is making it easier than ever to watch as the shuttle blasts off.SpaceX Launch: When & wherePending acceptable launch conditions, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is to takeoff at 4:33 p.m. EDT this Wednesday, May 27. There is a 60% chance of favorable conditions as of Tuesday morning, though if the mission is scrubbed, the next two potential launch dates are set for Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. and Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.The Demo-2 mission will send Behnken and Hurley to orbit on a 19-hour journey to the ISS and viewers will be able to watch right from their TVs at home on Discovery and Science Channel (beginning at 2 p.m. EDT), streaming on servic...

Amazon Game Studios has released Crucible. It's been getting a lot of play by streamers on Twitch, but many people have been experiencing connectivity issues with the game. Speaking of Twitch, it continues to grow by leaps and bounds as it dominates game streaming.The gang also chat about the remakes of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2, which are being updated to bring the skaters to their current ages.There's more talk about Ghost of Tsushima as Jen recounts her interview with the game's creative director. Rebecca delves into the real-world economic parallels of Animal Crossing. And in some cases, the actual real-world economy of the game.Hosted by: Jennifer Locke, Carli Velocci, and Rebecca SpearGot feedback? Hit up Podcast@androidcentral.com and tell us something!LISTEN NOW:LINKS:Crucible currently undergoing connectivity issues at launch | Windows CentralSystem Shock 3 development now supported by Tencent | Windows CentralAs the streaming industry booms, Microsoft'...

Space Force lands at Netflix later this week. The new comedy series co-created by and starring Steve Carell focuses on the establishment of the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces, the Space Force. Carell stars as Mark Naid, the general in charge of the entire operation, while other castmembers include John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, and Tawny Newsome, as well as recurring stars Jane Lynch, Lisa Kudrow, and more.As with most Netflix shows, all ten season 1 episodes of Space Force are set to debut on the same day at the same time so you can binge them all this weekend or watch one at a time. If you're hoping to watch the series but aren't a Netflix member, we'll get into how you can make that happen below.Space Force Season 1: When & whereSeason 1 of Space Force premieres on Netflix this Friday, May 29, with all ten episodes available to watch beginning at 12 a.m. PST / 3 a.m. EST. The show is a Netflix original, so you won't be able to watch it any...

In a world where even gaming networks are being targeted and compromised by nefarious characters, it never hurts to add an extra layer of protection to our accounts wherever we are able. Two-factor authentication requires you to use a secondary key when logging into your account — so even if someone gets your password, they still can't get into your account easily — and since PlayStation supports Two-Step Verification, you should absolutely use it on your PS4!How to set up Two-Step Verification on your PlayStation 4From the dashboard of your PS4, select Settings.Scroll down and select Account Management.From the Account Management page, select Account Information.Select Security. Scroll down and select 2-Step Verification.Select Set Up Now.On the first Set Up page, enter the cell phone number where you want to receive texts.Select Add.A test SMS message with a verification code will be sent to your cell phone. Enter your two-factor code.Select Activate.With...

Only Android version 9 and below could be exploited by this new method, but it's been fixed in the latest Android monthly security patch.What you need to knowSecurity researchers have found another exploit similar to the original Strandhogg discovered back in December.This version is more sophisticated, allowing it to pose as a legitimate app that users are putting their passwords into permission hijacking.This exploit does not work with Android 10 and has been patched in the latest Android security fixes.Looks like Strandhogg is back with an even more evil twin — and this is coming from someone who is an evil twin herself. Strandhogg 2.0, announced today by security researchers, once again tricks users into thinking that they're putting their passwords into a legitimate app when they're actually putting it into malware. The exploit is a more sophisticated version of the original Strandhogg exploit found back in December that made users think they were interacting with a ...

With E3 out of the picture, Sony looks to do its own thing.There's been a rumored PlayStation 5 reveal event set to take place every month this year, and while nothing has materialized yet, that is set to change. According to VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb, PlayStation allegedly plans to hold an event in early June. His sources indicated that the event was originally planned for June 4, but that appears to have changed by a matter of days.This event is expected to showcase a variety of PS5 launch games, from both first-party and third-party developers. There is speculation that Horizon Zero Dawn 2 will be one of the titles shown, but this has not been confirmed. It's unclear whether Sony will choose to finally show off the PS5 design at this time.Regardless of whether this event actually happens in early June or not, it has to happen sooner rather than later. By all accounts, the PlayStation 5 is still on track for a holiday 2020 release alongside Microsoft's Xbox Series X, the latte...

A phone number-free Duo means a viable Facetime alternative.What you need to knowGoogle no longer requires Android tablet users to register their phone numbers on Duo.Prospective users may now access the service with just a Google account.Google dropped the requirement for phone numbers on the web late last year.Google's video calling app, Duo, has been updated for Android devices to remove a particular bug-bear, the phone number requirement. But first, a caveat, Duo will still ask you for a phone number if you're using an actual phone -- it just doesn't do so if you're using an Android tablet (and presumably a Chrome OS one too).This means that you can sign in to the Duo service with just your Google account and make and receive calls from there. Previously, only users of the Web-app could do so, with Android users being prompted for a phone number before they could register for the service. The update was spotted by the folks over at Android Police.This change for Du...