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A spoiler-free dive into this beautiful and dangerous world.What you need to knowPlayStation has introduced a new video series called Inside The Last of Us Part II.This series of videos will examine the story, characters and themes in The Last of Us Part II.The Last of Us Part II is scheduled to release on June 19, 2020. The Last of Us Part II is just a few weeks away and ahead of its release, Naughty Dog is sharing a new look at everything about the game. The team is introducing a new video series titled Inside The Last of Us Part II, which examines the characters and themes present. You don't need to worry about ruining your experience by watching these, as all the episodes are spoiler-free. You can take a look at the first episode below.This is just the first entry, so there'll be more videos to look out for as we get closer to the game's launch.The Last of Us Part II is set to release on June 19, 2020 exclusively on PlayStation 4. If you'd like another look at t...

Amazon's Fire TV service has lots of free content, this new tab will surface it better.What you need to knowAmazon adds a new "free" tab to Fire TV devices.The new tab will highlight free content from Amazon as well as third-party providers.U.S. users will begin to see it starting today. Amazon is rolling out a new "free" tab for Fire TV devices. The new experience will help highlight free content on the platform, pulling out apps, and themed selections of tv shows and videos. The goal of this new tab is to help customers find new media to stream for free based on what they've consumed earlier. It'll also show off apps that offer free content, improving all-round discoverability on the platform.The addition of this new tab will make the platform more attractive to users. Streaming services currently are in high demand, and each one has a chance to convert short-term customers into loyal users with smart, customer-friendly decisions.Writing about the new tab, Amazon's Mi...

Interested in the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G smartphone? Verizon has the hookup for you. You can save as much as $700 at Verizon and get a $150 gift card on top of that plus a bunch of other free stuff. If you switch to Verizon and grab the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G Verizon smartphone you will get a direct $150 discount just for going for that phone. You can also save up to another $550 through the Verizon trade-in program. Plus, if you're switching to Verizon and picking up an Unlimited plan, you can get a $150 gift card sent to you after eight weeks.Plus, if you're adding the phone as a new line with a port-in, you'll get an email with a unique link that will allow you to claim a free gift of an Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Smart Plug. That's another $65 in value you're getting absolutely free.Verizon is also looking out for all its customers impacted by COVID-19. You won't have to worry about late fees, and you can get free international calling to any country with a level 3 advisory f...

Whether you're just starting with your smart home or have been building it up for a while, a smart display (or two) can be the perfect addition. A smart display is essentially a Google Assistant or Alexa speaker with a screen attached to it, allowing you to perform your usual array of voice commands while also watching YouTube videos, following recipes, and more. The smart display we recommend the most is the Nest Hub Max, but if it isn't catching your fancy, we have five other options that are also worth a look.Best Overall: Google Nest Hub MaxIf you want the very best smart display that money can buy, you'll want to check out the Google Nest Hub Max. This is the latest smart display to be released under the Google Nest brand, and it's darn impressive.Right off the bat, the Nest Hub Max makes a strong first impression with its 10-inch 1280 x 800 HD display. It's nice and crisp for watching videos, and the Ambient EQ light sensor allows the color temperature of the display to...

Jabra's official eBay store has the Jabra Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds on sale for $139.99 refurbished. These are in "Like New" condition and come with a 180-day warranty from Jabra. New versions of these earbuds sell for $200 at retailers like Best Buy.This price is even less expensive than the regular Jabra Elite 75t, which go for around $180. Although you can find them going for just $99.99 refurbished by Jabra through Newegg. Check out how the Elite 75t compare to the Elite Active 75t, and decide for yourself which one you should go for.The Elite Active 75t earbuds are powerful, feature-rich earbuds. They have Bluetooth 5.0 technology, which improves power efficiency and keeps your audio from getting interupted. The earbuds are also extremely durable with an IP57 rating that makes them resistant to dust and water, including sweat. That's why they're called "Active," after all. Take these earbuds to the gym and you'll be able to use them through any workout.You won...

If you prefer your historical dramas with a bit of comedy mixed in then Hulu's latest original series The Great just might be for you. The satirical, comedic drama follows the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to Russia's longest reigning female ruler and we have all the details on how you can stream the new miniseries online from anywhere.Elle Fanning stars as Catherine who has just arrived in Russia for her arranged marriage to Peter III of Russia who is played by Nicholas Hoult. While Catherine hopes for love and sunshine, instead she finds that her new husband isn't the man she pictured him to be. She then decides that killing Peter and taking the throne for herself may be her best course of action.The Great is the latest creation from Tony McNamara the screenwriter of last year's award-winning film The Favorite. It originally started off as a stage play in Sydney, Australia back in 2008. Before partnering with Hulu, McNamara was having a hard time adapting The Great'...

Let's hope this isn't a trend.What you need to knowToday, Epic Games revealed Unreal Engine 5 for next-generation consoles and other devices.The demo showcased stunning gameplay. Unfortunately, the resolution was "1440p most of the time." Hopefully, the PlayStation 5 will be able to output at a higher resolution consistently even with advanced effects. Today, we got our first look at Unreal Engine 5 running on PlayStation 5 (PS5). Unfortunately, it looks like it only supported 30 frames per second (FPS), featured no ray-tracing support, and rendered at "1440p most of the time."Eurogamer did an in-depth analysis of the footage and even interviewed Epic Games developers. Vice President of Engineering, Nick Penwarden, said the following. Interestingly, it does work very well with our dynamic resolution technique as well. So, when GPU load gets high we can lower the screen resolution a bit, and then we can adapt to that. In the demo, we actually did use dynamic resolut...

The Philips Hue Play light bar is one of Philips' newest additions to its Hue lineup, and today you can score one of its best deals ever. Over at Best Buy, you can pick up the Philips Hue Play Starter Kit for only $119.99 today only, saving $30 off its usual cost. It comes with two of the smart Play light bars, though the added value of the starter kit comes with the included Hue Bridge which is normally priced at up to $60. It's required to set up these smart lights, so you would've had to buy one anyway if you don't own any Philips Hue smart lights already.You'll receive free shipping with today's purchase, too, or you can choose free curbside pickup where available to receive your order even faster.These smart LED bar lights can be controlled using an app on your phone, allowing you to choose from millions of colors to illuminate your room. They can be voice controlled too, as long as you have a device like the Echo or the Google Home. New to Philips Hue? This guide can tell y...

With Amazon Prime Day not set to occur until mid-July and Black Friday quite a long ways off, Memorial Day is the next big sales event we'll see for the next few months. That means you'll want to be fully prepared and ready to shop when that day comes, and our guide below is designed to help you do just that.Memorial Day may not be here until May 25, but retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Lowe's, and Home Depot are already getting shoppers ready and unveiling deals to watch for once the big day arrives. From home appliances and patio furniture to electronics, mattresses, and more, you might just get lost in all the discounts being offered on Memorial Day. We've even created a full guide on Memorial Day TV deals.We'll be compiling each of the best offers in every category for our list below so you can keep track of all the price drops on products worth buying. Be sure to check back as more deals are added closer to the Memorial Day weekend.Best Memorial Day 2020 DealsAmazon: app...

Best answer: The Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power are now available for purchase as unlocked devices from Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and Motorola's own website. If you'd prefer to buy the phones through your carrier, availability differs slightly between the two models.For creatives: Moto G Stylus ($300 at Amazon)Massive battery: Moto G Power ($250 at Amazon)You can buy unlocked models of the Moto G Stylus and G Power at a few different retailersIf you're interested in buying the Moto G Stylus or Moto G Power, we recommend getting an unlocked model. This is simply a version of the phone that isn't tied to a specific carrier, meaning you can use it on whatever phone service you currently have and bring it with you somewhere else should you happen to switch providers down the road.Unlocked models of the G Stylus and G Power are widely available at the following retailers:AmazonBest BuyB&HAdditionally, you can also buy the phones directly through Motorola.Motorola...

The 2019 models might be phasing out these days, but that just means you have a few more opportunities to catch them at super low prices before they're gone forever. For example, the now-discontinued Vizio M658-G1 M-Series Quantum 65-inch 4K HDR smart TV is going for just $599.99 at B&H at the moment. That's a really low price considering it is sold out at some retailers and going for as much as $750 at places like Best Buy. In fact, Best Buy was the last place we saw this TV on sale and even then it only dropped to $670. Today's deal from B&H is rare. You won't even be able to add more than one to your cart if you decide to go for it. While the TV is purchasable for this price, the shipping and stock may be delayed, but I think it's worth it for the price.The M-Series Quantum has a ton of smart functionality. For one thing, there's a Chromecast built in so you can access all your favorite streaming apps, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime VIdeo, and others. Vizio even ...

If you're looking for a good, affordable smart speaker but don't know where to start, fear not! We've lined up a list of the best smart speakers in various categories to help you decide which one to add to your home. Our best overall choice is the Sonos One due to its price, performance, and interoperability with multiple platforms.Best Overall: Sonos OneLike most Sonos products, the Sonos One offers audiophile quality sound at a compelling price. The One in particular punches above its weight class considering its relatively small size at less than four pounds. This allows the device to fit in just about any space, from a bookshelf to a fireplace mantel, to your kitchen counter.The One packs two Class-D digital amplifiers, one tweeter, and one mid-woofer in that small-ish frame. You can combine it with other Sonos devices in multi-device groups, or you can create a stereo pair. The device has a far-field microphone array to enable it (and whatever smart assistant you use) to...

So many G's, such little time.If we're asked to recommend a good, cheap Android phone that doesn't break the bank, more often than not we'll recommend a Moto G. This is a segment of the market that Motorola's dominated for years, and for 2020, we're treated to more G devices in a single year than ever before.For folks in the U.S., we have the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power — two great mid-rangers that continue Motorola's trend of offering good Android experiences on the cheap. In other markets, you'll find a plethora of Moto G8 phones that are both similar and different in more ways than one.If you need help making sense of this release strategy, or just want to learn more about the Stylus and Power, you've come to the right place.Start with our reviewsIf it's specs you're looking forYou may want to upgradeFierce competition for the iPhone SEUnderstanding the Moto G8 lineupThere are some great accessoriesHere's where to buy the phonesPerfect balanceMoto G Powe...

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will be available in India starting May 18 on Amazon India .What you need to knowOnePlus is set to commence sales of the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro in India.Both phones will be available starting May 18 on Amazon India and broad availability from May 29. The OnePlus 8 costs just ₹41,999 ($550) in India, with the OnePlus 8 Pro starting off at ₹54,999 ($720). India is usually one of the first markets where OnePlus launches its phones, but an extended nationwide lockdown has prevented the manufacturer from selling its phones in the country. That's finally changing, as [OnePlus has announced in a community post](http://that the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will go on sale in India starting May 18. That's for the first sale on Amazon India, with general availability kicking off from May 29 across Amazon and retail stores.The launch is a big deal for the company because India is OnePlus' biggest global market, accounting for over 35% of its sales. There was a backla...

Unlike the Galaxy A51, however, it will not have a centered hole-punch cutout.What you need to knowPress renders of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy A21s have surfaced.The renders reveal a design that looks fairly similar to the mid-range Galaxy A51 and A71 phones.Samsung Galaxy A21s is expected to debut later this month.Samsung is soon expected to introduce a new budget Android phone to expand its 2020 Galaxy A-series lineup. Ahead of the phone's imminent debut, press renders showing the phone from nearly all angles have surfaced online, courtesy of German tech publication WinFuture.de.The renders reveal an Infinity-O display with a hole-punch cutout in the top-left corner of the phone's display. On the back of the phone, we find a rectangular camera module with an L-shaped quad-camera array, similar to Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A51 and A71 phones. Since it is a budget phone, however, it also has a fingerprint sensor on the back.Samsung Galaxy A21s is likely to be powered ...

The general manager for the Pixel division is also gone.What you need to knowAccording to The Information, Marc Levoy and Mario Queiroz have both left Google.Levoy was known for being in charge of the Pixel camera division.The Pixel 4a should be announced soon and come with a price of $399.In an alternate timeline where Google I/O still took place, May 12 likely would have seen the announcement of Google's Pixel 4a. Given that this year's conference didn't happen, however, Google had to push things back. A new report from The Information sheds some light on the Pixel 4a's availability, along with two internal shakeups that have happened within Google's Pixel division.Starting first with the 4a, it's reported to cost $399 (the same price as the Pixel 3a) and "make its debut online sometime soon." The latest rumors prior to this hinted at a launch in June, which still seems likely given that Google is hosting a livestream to launch the Android 11 public beta on June 3.Tha...

You may have heard of ProtonMail already, but did you know that the company also makes a VPN service? If you didn't, now you do. ProtonVPN offers many of the same features that the best VPN providers do, but where it stands out is that there are plan options for as little as $0 a month. That's right, Proton offers up its VPN service for free (with limitations) each month, making it a perfect option for those who want to try a VPN out without spending a ton.For those who anticipate using a VPN heavily, there are several different paid options that offer up various features, all of which are worth looking into.ProtonVPNTry it for free at ProtonVPNProtonVPN has a bunch of different pricing options that range from a free plan to as much as $24 per month. The best offer is the two-year plan which has a discount of 34% right now.The Basic plan comes in at just $4 a month and offers connections for two devices at the same time, access to all the various servers that ProtonVPN ...

Epic is making sure developers have an easier transition this time.What you need to knowToday, Epic Games revealed Unreal Engine 5.Epic has revealed that developers can begin projects in Unreal Engine 4 and carry them forward to Unreal Engine 5.Unreal Engine 5 will be available in preview form in early 2021, with a full release coming in late 2021. Today, Epic Games unveiled Unreal Engine 5, the next major evolution in the ongoing Unreal Engine. In addition to enhanced graphics features and toolsets, Epic is working to made developers lives a lot easier. In a press release, Epic Games shared that it is designing all its features around forward compatibility, meaning developers can start making next-generation games in Unreal Engine 4.25 and port them over to Unreal Engine 5 when it becomes available.This is completely unlike the transition between Unreal Engine 3 and Unreal Engine 4, the latter of which was not compatible with projects in the former because of how many ne...

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is one of the best store credit cards on the market. If you already have a Costco membership, this card is a solid way to earn rewards across a wide range of purchases, including eligible gas, restaurants, eligible travel and at Costco — both in-store and online.Now that more people are staying home and spending more on groceries, it makes sense to look into how you can maximize the rewards you earn at the stores you frequent most, such as Costco, Target or Walmart. While there are plenty of cards that earn transferable currencies currently offering rewards on groceries, wholesale clubs such as Costco are almost always left out of the rewards category.I'...

Epic unveiled 9 minutes of Unreal Engine 5 running real-time on PS5 and it looks gorgeous.What you need to knowEpic unveiled 9 minutes of Unreal Engine 5 footage running on PS5.The demo is meant to demonstrate two core features of Unreal Engine 5: Lumen and Nanite.Both Sony and Microsoft's consoles are still expected to hit store shelves this holiday.Geoff Keighley teased today's announcement as "one of the more important moments this summer," and he wasn't kidding. Epic gave us our first glimpse at Unreal Engine 5 working its magic. The following footage showcases some tech demos running in real-time on PlayStation 5.The tech demo is meant to demonstrate two core features of Unreal Engine 5: Lumen and Nanite. Lumen is a fully dynamic global illumination solution that immediately reacts to scene and light changes, according to Epic. Nanite is virtualized micropolygon geometry that allows artists to create incredible geometric detail. Film-quality source art comprising...

There comes a time in any phone's life when you decide to sell it, give it away, or trade it in for a newer model. Before you do decide to get rid of your old OnePlus phone, you should really perform a factory reset on it to erase all of your settings and personal data. Luckily, while it's a little buried in the settings, it's not difficult to do. We'll show you how to erase your phone's data properly and set it back to factory defaults so that you can feel comfortable and confident handing it over to somebody else to use.How to reset your OnePlus phone to factory settingsBefore you reset your phone, be sure that you've backed up your personal data appropriately. Read our guide on how to prepare your phone for a factory reset before undergoing this process.Open the Settings app.Scroll down and tap on System.Tap on Reset options.Tap on Erase all data (factory reset).Toggle Erase internal storage.Tap ERASE ALL DATA.Now your phone is ready to be returned, resold, or r...

You probably already have some kind of Amazon Echo device in your home, be it the Echo Dot, Echo Input, or even the full-sized Echo, and while chatting with Alexa is fun and all, if you don't have an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription, you're seriously missing out on one of the best features the devices have to offer: music streaming. Amazon usually offers just one free month for those looking to try out Music Unlimited, but new members can score three months of service absolutely free for a limited time.Tens of millions of songs, exclusive Alexa voice features and programs, unlimited skips, and ad-free programming are just a few of Amazon Music Unlimited's features. You can even download songs for offline listening. Best of all, the Amazon Music application is available to download on your computer, smartphone, tablet, and even some smart TVs so you can listen wherever, whenever.The service is affordably priced at $7.99 monthly for Amazon Prime members or $9.99 for non-members,...

The new Fire HD 8 Plus offers Qi wireless charging as well.What you need to knowAmazon has introduced an updated version of its Fire HD 8 tablet.The new model comes with a faster processor, double the storage, and a USB Type-C port.Along with the refreshed Fire HD 8, Amazon has also launched new Fire HD 8 Plus and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablets. Amazon has unveiled an overhauled version of its affordable Fire HD 8 tablet, alongside new Fire HD 8 Plus and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablets.Amazon's updated Fire HD 8 runs on a 2GHz quad-core MediaTek 8168 processor, which is claimed to be 30% faster than the MediaTek 8163 powering the tablet's predecessor. The faster chipset has been paired with 2GB of RAM and up to 64GB storage. Unfortunately, however, the rest of the specs remain the same, except for the addition of a USB-C port.The new Fire HD 8 Plus, which has been priced at $110, comes equipped with 3GB of RAM and is also the first tablet from Amazon to support Qi wirele...

More bang for your buckArlo Video Doorbell$150 at Amazon$150 at Best BuyProsHDR video with wider aspect ratioDigital zoomAI-based object detectionPre-recorded responses for answering the doorbellBuilt-in siren for scaring off intrudersConsRequires hardwiringNeeds subscription to unlock all featuresNo 5GHz Wi-Fi supportThe Arlo Video Doorbell features some of the most advanced object detection on the market, so it can tell you if it saw an actual person versus just a cat or a car. It also has some amazing security and convenience features, like the ability to respond to the door using one-touch pre-recorded messages or to sound a siren if someone shouldn't be there.When wireless is the only wayRing Video Doorbell 3$200 at Amazon$200 at Best BuyProsOption to go battery-poweredPrivacy Zones5GHz Wi-Fi supportConsMotion detection isn't as precisePricier up-frontRing continues to offer one of the most advanced wireless video doorbe...

Things continue to slow down but sales are strong.What you need to knowSony has provided its Q4 results and overall report for the past financial year ending in March 2020.The PlayStation 4 has reached 110.4 million units shipped overall.From January through March 2020, 66% of games sold were digital. Sony has shared its Q4 results and overall financial year report. During the report, Sony shared the PlayStation 4 (PS4) has reached 110.4 million units shipped, meaning a total of 13.6 million PS4 units were shipped in the financial year. While this is down from 17.8 million shipped the previous financial year, it's still a strong result.For the last quarter, Sony also shared an interesting note on the digital share of games: for games sold from January through March 2020, 66% of games sold were digital, the highest digital share ever reported by Sony. This has likely been somewhat affected by the ongoing global pandemic.Another factor of the pandemic is the forecast for ...

Sengled's 4-pack multi-color A19 smart bulb starter kit is back and has matched a low price! Grab it for $64.99 at Best Buy as part of Best Buy's deals of the day. This 4-pack usually sells for around $120. We've only seen it drop this low a couple times before with the most recent deal about a month ago. Don't miss your chance this time around as this price expires at the end of the day.Normally Sengled smart bulbs are frustrating because they don't connect instantly to your smart home, but thanks to this starter kit you don't have to worry about that. The kit includes the hub you need to connect your bulbs, and you can then connect your new hub to your smart home ecosystem, giving you full control over the whole set. The hub connects to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network band. Even if you don't have a smart home, use the Sengled Home app on your iOS or Android smartphone to control the lights, turn them on or off, set the brightness, and more. If you do have a smart home, you can use Amaz...

Today only, Woot is holding a sale on the Anker Nebula Mars II Projector, dropping the price to just $339.99. It usually goes for $500 at Amazon and elsewhere. It also has the Nebula Prizm II on sale at 30% off. Shipping is free with Amazon Prime, so be sure to take advantage of that if you don't want to pay the regular $6 fee.The Nebula Mars II is down to $339.99, a huge $160 off its usual price. The Nebula Mars II can create an HD picture up to 1280 x 720 resolution with DLP IntelliBright tech for a clear image. It has two 10W audio drivers for powerful sound. Set the projector down wherever you want it, at any distance or angle, and get an autofocus picture in one second.The projector has Android 7.1 built-in so you can run streaming and media apps like Netflix, YouTube, and more. You'll need that access because a lot of those services don't allow themselves to be screencast from a device to a projector like this. Compared to the original model, the Mars II adds an extra hour ...

Whether you're trying to save some money on your calling plan, or if you just want to take advantage of your strong home Wi-Fi signal while you're stuck working from home, you should learn how to enable Wi-Fi calling on your smartphone. While there might be a slight discrepancy between carriers or geographic locations, following the steps below should do the trick in toggling on Wi-Fi calling for your OnePlus phone.How to enable Wi-Fi calling on a OnePlus phoneNote that options may vary by carrier and location. The example below was done on a Mint Mobile SIM running on T-Mobile's network.Open the Settings app.Tap on Wi-Fi & internet.Tap on SIM & network.Tap on your active SIM.Toggle the Wi-Fi calling switch to the on position.Tap Calling preference.Tap Call over Wi-Fi as your preference.Now you can make your phone calls over Wi-Fi when on one of your selected Wi-Fi networks (like at home), and potentially save some money on your plan.Just remember that d...

Commit and save.Verizon sells all kinds of phones. From top-of-the-line flagships to discounted budget devices. From iPhone to Android. From phones focused on watching media to phones focused on cameras. No matter what you're looking for, you're probably also looking to save some money. Who isn't? Verizon releases new and interesting deals all the time. The majority of these deals work in a similar fashion, too. You will get the discount on the phone through a series of promotional credits applied to your monthly bill. It may take up to two years to earn all your savings, but that would be worth it when we're talking about hundreds of dollars.Best Verizon Plan DealsWhile some people (and even other carriers) like to poke fun at Verizon for being more expensive, if you look in the right places you can actually get a plan that meets your needs without spending too much cash. The carrier does offer a variety of different options, and you'll want to do a little research to figure o...

Having a chat with the AC forums.Yesterday, Google took a big step forward with its efforts to consolidate its music streaming options. Google Play Music and YouTube Music have co-existed alongside each other for nearly two years at this point, but now, there's a transfer tool to bring over all of your songs, playlists, and listening history from Play Music over to YouTube Music.This is a shift we've been expecting for a while, and thankfully, the transfer process Google's created is just about as easy as we could have hoped for. That said, not everyone is excited about the change.Taking a look through the AC forums, there are plenty of people that aren't ready to leave Play Music quite yet. Morty2264 05-12-2020 11:29 AM “ Oh, no... I am OBSESSED with Google Play Music. This cannot be! Reply Kirstein Gourlay 05-12-2020 11:33 AM ...

It had shipped 1.1 million smartphones in Q1 2019.What you need to knowSony announced its latest quarterly financial results today.It posted an operating profit of 35.45 billion yen ($331 million) during the January-March period. Smartphone sales fell 63.7% YoY during the quarter, due to lower demand and supply disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic.Sony today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2020. The Japanese tech giant reported an operating profit of 35.45 billion yen ($331) billion during the quarter, down from 82.73 billion yen a year earlier. Sony has blamed the decline in operating profit on lower demand for consumer electronics due to the coronavirus outbreak. Sony was forced to halt production at some of its manufacturing facilities across various countries due to restrictions imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19.For the current year, Sony expects operating profit to tumble at least 30% compared to the previous year. While the co...

This was bound to happen sooner or later.If you're a Wink Hub owner, doubtless you've heard the news. Starting on May 20, your Wink Hub will either be a completely useless brick, or you'll be paying $5 per month for services you used to enjoy for free. Owners of the Wink Hub have been understandably outraged. It doesn't matter if you bought a Wink Hub back in 2014 or if you just purchased one last week; you bought it under the guise of paying for the hardware and getting a service for free.Let's look at the bright side of things before we begin, though. We've seen tech companies go out of business overnight and, as an effect of products requiring an always-on connection to some server, the products you love are suddenly completely useless. Anki, the company behind great connected toys like Overdrive, Cozmo, and Vector is a perfect example of this happening when it went out of business last year. Wink could have done that, but it didn't. Instead of bricking the Wink Hub you know a...

And recognize that the system of classifying phones into these buckets is flawed to begin with.When we say a phone is "mid-range," what does that even mean nowadays? Do its specs land under a certain level overall? Is it based on specific missing features? Or is it purely defined by price? Any of those calculations can be easily confusing, if not outright flawed.I'm not sure how or when, exactly, the nomenclature was developed, but for some reason technology enthusiasts are eager to put phones into buckets: "budget," "mid-range," and "flagship," at a minimum. Problem is, the lines between these made-up categories differ from person to person, and just keep getting more and more blurry.OnePlus 8 vs. Galaxy S20: Which should you buy? For some reason, we're eager to put phones into broad groups — but it doesn't make any sense.I suppose "flagship" (as silly as the name is) can always make some sense, as it's always going to represent the best and most expensive phones avai...

A message falsely warns users they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.What you need to knowScammers are reportedly preying on the UK's upcoming contact tracing app.UK mobile users are receiving malicious texts, falsely stating they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms.The attack could be used to steal personal information or compromise bank accounts. A report suggests that scammers have already starting targeting UK mobile users with fake, malicious contact tracing warnings before the UK's contact tracing app has even been released to the public.As Independent reports: A text scam is trying to scare people into believing they could have contracted COVID-19. The false message tells them that they have been near someone who has shown symptoms for the disease and that they should get tested. But if they are to follow the instructions in the message, the scam will actually just try to steal their persona...

This pair of earbuds became the perfect partner when I went outside for walks.I've always preferred headsets to earbuds because the latter never felt secure in my ears. For years, they would all too frequently fall out or fit uncomfortably — leading me to only use wired pairs. Despite manufacturers improving the ergonomics over time, I still didn't really care for earbuds. Then, I had a chance to try out the SYNC Pro true wireless earbuds from SOUL Electronics. I don't know if I'd personally choose them over a good headset, but they virtually eliminated all of my previous problems with earbuds.The SOUL SYNC Pro offer up to 150 hours of battery life thanks to a 3000 mAh portable charging case, and they feature Qualcomm aptX and AAC codecs, an IPX5 water-resistant rating, dual microphones, and Bluetooth 5.0. Some of these features are par for the course and what you'd see on other competitors, but the battery life afforded by its charging case is nearly unprecedented.I've been ...

Some users are now able to react to messages with emojis in RCS conversations.What you need to knowGoogle has begun testing the much-anticipated 'reactions' feature in its Messages app.For now, only a small number of users are seeing the feature in their RCS chats.Google is expected to begin rolling out the feature to users sometime in the coming weeks.Earlier this year, an APK teardown had revealed that Google was working on adding emoji reactions similar to iMessage to its Messages app. It now appears that Google has started testing the feature for RCS chats in the Messages app.As spotted by Android Police, a few users on Reddit have confirmed that message reactions have started appearing in Google Messages. To select an emoji reaction, users have to long press on a message. As of now, however, it appears there are only seven emoji reactions to choose from. When a user who has the feature enabled sends a message reaction to another user who does not, a fallback te...

Whether you're a casual or professional athlete, GPS is often one of the most sought-after features when buying a smartwatch or fitness tracker. Depending on your budget and what other features you're seeking, there are some great options out there, but you'll often have to pay more for the privilege. If you're serious about tracking your activities and want all of the details plus built-in GPS, we'd recommend the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music. It has plenty to offer, especially if you're a highly active individual who's committed to detailed fitness tracking.Best Overall: Garmin Forerunner 245 MusicIf you enjoy exercise just as much as you enjoy tracking it, you'll love the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music. It comes with built-in GPS that's reliable and accurate. It also promises at least seven days of battery life in smartwatch mode. You'll get a total of six hours in continuous GPS mode with music playing, which is more than enough juice to track even your most active day of workou...

Its relatively affordable price tag could help make foldable phones a lot more popular.What you need to knowSamsung could be working on an "affordable" foldable phone called the Galaxy Fold Lite.The phone is tipped to be powered by a Snapdragon 865 processor and feature a smaller outer display than the Galaxy Fold.Just like the Galaxy Z Flip, it is expected to lack 5G support.Samsung's Galaxy Fold, despite being an impressive engineering feat, has failed to achieve commercial success. The biggest reason behind that is the phone's steep $1,980 price tag. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip, which isn't quite as impressive as the Fold in terms of specs, has managed to grab a lot more attention from consumers, thanks to its significantly more affordable price tag. If a new rumor is to be believed, Samsung could launch an even more affordable foldable smartphone later this year.I have some info on the Galaxy Fold Lite. -Galaxy Fold Lite 4G-256GB storage-Mirror Black, Mirror Purple-Displa...

Xiaomi's 2019 5G flagship is stuck on Android 9.0 Pie, and it doesn't look like it will be updated to Android 10.Xiaomi introduced MIUI 12 last month in China, and is set to introduce the global version of the ROM in the coming weeks. MIUI 12 comes with a host of exciting new features and much-needed privacy controls, and will be rolling out to devices starting next month.But one device that has fallen by the wayside is the Mi Mix 3 5G. The phone debuted last year to much fanfare as Xiaomi set its sights on the 5G segment in European markets, but lackluster sales have dampened those ambitions. As a refresher, the Mi Mix 3 5G was announced at last year's Mobile World Congress, and featured a 3800mAh battery and the Snapdragon 855 along with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem.Xiaomi announced 5G partnerships with Vodafone, TIM, Three, Orange, and Sunrise, and the Mi Mix 3 5G went on sale in May 2019 for €599 ($645). A year later, the phone is still on Android 9.0 Pie, and it doesn't l...

Keeping the kids entertained while schools are closed and the world focuses on social distancing hasn't been easy. Luckily, the Disney Family Singalong is back with a whole new slate of stars and performances for little ones to look forward to, along with host Ryan Seacrest.The first Disney Family Singalong aired on April 16 and featured stars like Ariana Grande, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Demi Lovato, and Christina Aguilera singing covers of classic and modern Disney tunes, from The Lion King's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" to Frozen's "Let It Go". Volume II comes just three weeks later and is scheduled to feature performances by Halsey, Shakira, Idina Menzel, Miguel, Keke Palmer, and Donald Glover, among others.If you haven't seen the first Disney Family Singalong, you'll want to catch up on that now!The Disney Family Singalong: When & whereThe second Disney Family Singalong premiered on Mother's Day and was hosted by Ryan Seacrest. It's now available on both Disne...

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.Changes in grocery spending are the biggest shifts in consumer behavior that we've seen during the coronavirus pandemic. Along with an uptick in online grocery deliveries, there has been an increase in grocery spending relative to other purchases. Credit card issuers have responded to these changing spending patterns, with temporary grocery bonuses and statement credits.For those of us with an arsenal of cards to choose from – especially with so many new grocery bonuses recently announced – it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which card to use for grocery spending right now. It's time to break down these bonuses.Cards that provide the most value nowWith credit card companies scramb...

Slack was down for a few hours, but the issue has been resolved.What you need to knowUsers across the world are unable to connect to Slack right now.Slack's status dashboard shows the problem originated around 7:30 pm ET. The company is now trying to fix the issue, but there's no timeline on when it will be resolved. Update: Slack fixed the issue, and the service is back to normal.Original story follows:Slack is down right now, with users from all around the globe unable to connect to the service. The problem originated at around 7:30pm ET on May 12, and isn't limited to one region. I'm not able to log in to the service from India, with Slack returning a 503 error (service unavailable).Slack's status dashboard details the outage: "Users are unable to connect to Slack. We are investigating and will provide an update shortly." The company posted an update that some users may be able to connect to the service, but that it is still investigating the issue: Some custom...

No more nickel-and-diming based on just how many cameras are in your home.What you need to knowThe new pricing structure announced at the "Made By Google" event in October are rolling out.This means that all of your Nest devices will be covered under a single Nest Aware subscription, but you might lose some third-party app integration if you migrate to the new plan.You'll now have to choose for the whole house whether you want 30-Day or 60-Day access to recordings and whether you need continuous recordings, which now require Nest Aware Plus.Nest has long had a slight disadvantage compared to its competitors when it comes to its cloud security subscription. While most cost the same whether you had 1 camera or 10, Nest made you pay for Nest Aware for each camera separately. At the Made By Google event last fall, Google announced it was revising this strategy to instead have Nest Aware cover all the devices in your home — because after all, why punish the people who are alre...

The upgrade includes data layers, quizzes, and more.What you need to knowGoogle Earth is getting a fresh coat of paint.The search experience for the service is receiving a massive upgrade, with both UI and functional features.The changes are already live on the web, iOS, and Android apps.Google Earth has been the recipient of a lot of love from Google in the past few months. Having brought the starry sky to the mobile app after years, the company has now turned its sights to improving the overall experience, especially as it relates to search.A new blog post from the Google Earth term indicates the search experience has been almost entirely revamped. It now includes personalized search history, featured content, and what the company considers 'must-see views.' Check out the new desktop search below:The differences become far starker when comparing the before and after pictures from the mobile apps, courtesy of Google: The mobile revamp features a similar theme,...

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

When the ESA is away, the publishers will play.E3 2020 was cancelled but that isn't stopping various parts of the gaming industry from rallying together and figuring out new events. Of particular note is Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest, which is acting as a wider umbrella for several different announcements. There's already been a couple of game events so far this year, but we're looking ahead to the future. Naturally, we'll also be updating this list as more events and showcases are announced.Summer Game Fest showcase and interview — May 13, 11:00 a.m. ESTWe don't what this will be but there's a showcase and interview with Geoff Keighley happening on May 13 at 11:00 a.m. EST. Keighley referred to this event on Twitter as "...one of the more important moments this summer."State of Play: Ghost of Tsushima gameplay — May 14, 4:00 p.m. ESTSony is bringing back the State of Play format to show off the upcoming Sucker Punch blockbuster Ghost of Tsushima. This show will beg...

Humble Bundle is holding an insane sale on The Walking Dead comic series this week. There are several tiers you can choose from, though the best catches you up on the entire series (volumes 1 through 32 specifically) for only $18. The bundle also includes a handful of bonuses to keep you busy reading over the summer. In total, you'll be scoring over $450 worth of comics for less than $20, and there's no telling how long it will be before we see a deal this good on the series again — if ever.This is an insane offer if you've been wanting to read The Walking Dead series. As a fan of the show, waiting for the next season to come out is always brutal - yet I didn't want to pay over $10 per volume to catch up on the comic series either. This deal is a no-brainer for those who've almost bought previously, plus it's all digital so you don't have to find space in your room for a large collection of heavy books. You'll thank yourself later during your next move to a new home.Humble Bund...

Smart lighting isn't just limited to turning your bulbs on and off from your phone or changing their colors. With the right smart bulbs, you can even soup up your gaming rig with lights that follow the rhythm and beats of your games, turning your entire room into a living visualizer.Bulbs for your lampsPhilips Hue White and Color AmbianceStaff pickIf you don't already have an elaborate smart lighting rig, why not start simple with a couple of bulbs? The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance kit comes with two bulbs that connect directly to Wi-Fi, no hub needed. Philips Hue partners with gaming brands like Razer so that your lights can match the changing colors of your Chroma-powered peripherals.$90 at Amazon $90 at Best BuyAmbient glowPhilips Hue Light StripJust like the light bulbs, Philips Hue's LightStrip Plus can connect with Razer Chroma devices like Razer's RGB gaming mice and keyboards and match their colors to give a unique ambience to your room. You can st...

Huawei's P30 Pro returns. Again.What you need to knowHuawei is launching the P30 Pro New Edition again.It's the first Huawei 'flagship' this year to ship with Google apps.The company says this is to celebrate the one year anniversary of the P30's launch. Huawei is once again relaunching the P30 Pro after an initial relaunch last year to add a new finish. Unlike all other Huawei phones released this year, the P30 Pro stands apart from them by being able to use Google's apps and services.Huawei made the announcement today (via Android Police): The new fan-favourite smartphone will provide users with increased RAM to 8GB, expanded ROM to 256GB, as well as the return of the award-winning Leica Quad Camera. After setting a new standard in DxOMark scores, in August 2019, the European Image and Sound Association (EISA), a group comprising of 55 of the world's most respected consumer electronics magazines, named HUAWEI's P30 Pro the "EISA Best Smartphone 2019-2020". The ...

Just because live events are cancelled for the time being doesn't mean you're out of luck when it comes to seeing your favorite artists perform this year. Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms have been taken over with live and pre-recorded performances from some of the world's most talented performers, and now one of the biggest shows to date is about to hit ABC: Taylor Swift's City of Lover concert.Recorded back in September of last year, the show took place in Paris at the L'Olympia Theater where Swift performed 16 songs from various albums, including live performance debuts of Lover tracks like "Death by a Thousand Cuts", "Cornelia Street", and "The Man" as well as radio hits like "I Knew You Were Trouble", "Love Story", and "Shake It Off". While there's no word on whether the televised performance will include every song, the show is sure to bring some relief to Swifties upset by Taylor's upcoming Lover Fest dates being rescheduled from this summer to 2021.Taylor Swift's...