Latest from Android Central

Rogue Legacy 2 is real!What you need to knowRogue Legacy is a popular roguelike that came out many years ago.Developer Cellar Door Games is working on a sequel. Rogue Legacy 2 was just revealed. It'll probably come to all platforms eventually, just like the prequel. Rogue Legacy is a popular roguelike that places you in the shoes of your descendants with unique traits. Some mutations might be advantageous, but others may end up requiring a wipe. The goal is to explore a castle and reach the final boss. However, you'll need multiple generations to achieve this because you earn currency through each run, and can unlock permanent upgrades.Rogue Legacy is available on every platform, including Xbox One and iOS, but we just got word that a sequel was in development. Hopefully, it'll refine some of the mechanics and be just as addictive as the original. Developer Cellar Door Games revealed its existence on Twitter.Your Legacy continues#RogueLegacy2 pic.twitter.com/uUGeLE9T...

There are a lot of changes coming.What you need to knowElite: Dangerous is a popular space simulator by Frontier Developments.The game is getting a massive expansion soon. The developer detailed a number of changes coming with the package. The base model Fleet Carrier costs 5 billion credits. Elite: Dangerous is an excellent space simulator that features a massive open galaxy and plenty of activities. It came out on Xbox One a few years ago and has since then received incredible post-launch support. Despite the fact that Frontier Developments has worked on titles like Jurassic World Evolution and others, Elite: Dangerous continues to get expansions and free content.Today, the team revealed a new trailer for the "Fleet Carriers" expansion. A beta test starts on PC on April 7, but you can test it out on consoles in May. The Fleet Carriers expansion is set to launch in June, but due to the coronavirus, it may be delayed.Some of the key facts are listed below.A Fl...

Powerful and versatileEufy RoboVac 15C Max$260 at EufyProsLong battery lifePowerful suction powerWorks with Alexa and Google AssistantEasy-to-use appRelatively quietConsNo floor plansThe Eufy RoboVac 15C Max offers powerful performance, excellent battery life, and works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. It also has an advanced three-brush cleaning system to ensure that all dirt and debris is picked up when it cleans. Its large 0.6L dustbin ensures you don't have to empty it every few minutes.Brand name recognitioniRobot Roomba 675$299 at RoombaProsWorks with Google Assistant and Amazon AlexaGood battery lifeThree stage cleaning systemConsSmaller capacityLower suction powerNo floor plansThe iRobot Roomba 675 doesn't have the suction power or the capacity of the RoboVac 15C, but it does still offer Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Plus, it has the brand name recognition that some might appreciate and excellen...

Another look at the characters and world of this ambitious sequel.What you need to knowThe Last of Us Part II was originally scheduled to release in February before being delayed into May.The game has again been delayed, this time indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemicYou can preorder The Last of Us Part II for $60 at Best Buy.The Last of Us Part II has again been delayed, this time without a new release date. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it's certainly understandable, if frustrating. While the extended wait will be annoying, Naughty Dog has released several new screenshots from the game, showing a glimpse of new environments and more.You can check out the new environmental shots below, tap or click the images to enlarge them.Then, there's also several screenshots of Ellie.Some more screenshots with Ellie, Joel and Tommy.Since this new delay didn't even give a release window, we honestly don't know when we'll be playing The Last of Us Part II. When...

The tech is called WaveNetEQ.What you need to knowGoogle is using machine learning to deal with packet loss of audio data on its video calling app.The feature's already available on Pixel 4 devices via the December feature drop.Other as-yet-unnamed phones are also slated to receive the same tech in the future.Google's Duo is already "the best video calling service that you're not using" — even Samsung, it seems, has seen light — but the company's not just resting on its laurels with a steady stream of new features rolling out every so often.The latest innovation from Google in this regard has to also be one of the most fascinating, as the company is using machine learning algorithms to deal with packet loss (when data is lost as it travels across the internet) by estimating what the lost audio may have been (via The Verge).While such technologies already exist, Google's implementation, the brainchild of its DeepMind subsidiary, fares far better than its competition ...

The best robot vacuum under $300.Spring is here, and you know what that means — spring cleaning. While the end result of spring cleaning is always good, the actual process can be a bit of a pain. That, however, is exactly where the Eufy RoboVac 15C Max robotic vacuum comes in — taking care of your spring cleaning for you, so you can spend your time doing other things, or simply relaxing.Robotic vacuums have been around for a while now, but it's only recently that they've started being worth buying. In the early days, the powerful-enough models were too expensive, and the cheaper models were essentially glorified toys. Now, however, you can get an incredible robotic vacuum at a very affordable price. The Eufy RoboVac 15C Max normally comes at $260, but until April 5 it's available for $50 off to customers who use the promo code WS15CMAX. That's perfect timing for that big spring clean.The RoboVac 15C Max is particularly impressive in this price range, and that's especially t...

OneDrive has embrace Android 10's biometrics API to add face unlock support.What you need to knowOneDrive for Android now supports face unlock.The feature is available through OneDrive's security settings.Face unlock joins fingerprint unlock among OneDrive's supported biometric features.Microsoft has added another biometric security feature to OneDrive for Android in its latest update. The app now supports face unlock on phones that support the feature. That's in addition to the fingerprint unlock support Microsoft already included with OneDrive."You can now set up OneDrive to unlock with your face, if your device supports it," Microsoft says in OneDrive's release notes.To get started with face unlock, you'll have to have your security settings within OneDrive set to require a passcode to login. Navigate to the "Passcode" portion of OneDrive's settings menu and set up a 6-digit passcode. From there, you can toggle "Use biometrics to authenticate" to start using face unl...

If you're ready to make the leap to a larger TV, today's deal on the Samsung 65-inch 4K UHD Smart TV with HDR (RU8000) is not to be overlooked. BuyDig has this latest 8 Series model on sale for $699, although you won't see that price until you reach the final checkout page. That saves you just over $200 off its price otherwise. Today's sale marks one of the lowest prices it's ever reached, though it won't stick around for long. Shipping is free.Samsung's RU8000 65-inch 4K UHD Smart TV features a stunning 64.5-inch LED-backlit LCD panel, along with built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity so you can connect it to your home's Internet and access apps and streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and more. Having a smart TV like this is great as you won't need to purchase a separate streaming device like an Amazon Fire TV Stick. It just has similar functionality built-in.Along with Motion Rate 240 technology, this TV also includes support for HDR formats such as HDR10, HDR10+, an...

Most of us have dealt with a glut of unwanted, pre-installed apps on our phones, but thankfully there is a solution to rid ourselves of most of them. Whether its a duplicate Samsung app or carrier bloatware, you can remove most of the offending apps by disabling or uninstalling them. Here's how to get started.How to remove unwanted apps from the app drawerFrom your home screen, swipe up to enter the app drawer.Locate the pre-installed bloatware app that you want to get rid of and press down on it to bring up a quick action menu.Tap on Uninstall.Read the disclaimer, and tap OK.Just about every Android phone includes pre-installed apps or bloatware from the OEM and the carrier, and Samsung is certainly no different here. Thankfully you can uninstall a lot of these apps right off the bat!How to disable pre-installed apps from settingsFrom the app drawer, tap on the Settings app.Scroll down and tap on Apps.Find the pre-installed app you want to disable, and tap on...

It's going to be a while longer before Joel and Ellie's story continues.What you need to knowThe Last of Us Part II was first announced in 2016.After initially being scheduled for February, The Last of Us Part II was delayed to May.Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Sony Interactive Entertainment is delaying The Last of Us Part II to an unknown future date.Iron Man VR is also being delayed. Games are being delayed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and unfortunately, more big titles are moving their dates. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has confirmed that both The Last of Us Part II and Iron Man VR are being delayed to an unknown future date.Naughty Dog issued a statement on the delay, saying that the game is essentially finished but that the delay is taking place due to potential shipping issues. As a result, the game is being delayed until these logistical issues can be solved, though there's no mention of when that might be.A message from us about the delay of The ...

A little tinkering goes a long way.Buying a new Android phone is an exciting thing. Especially if you're coming from a phone that's two (or more) years old, there are tons of new features to check out, increased performance to relish, and likely a new version of Android to familiarize yourself with.That's all fine and dandy, but what are you supposed to do with your now-former handset? You could sell it or trade it in for some extra cash, but depending on its age and condition, the amount of money you'd get may not be the worth the hassle of going through all of that. There are stores and other establishments that allow you to recycle your phone, but you may not live near one or be ready to fully give up your old friend just yet.If you don't mind getting a little creative, there are other ways to repurpose an Android device so that you can keep getting use out of it without further adding to our planet's growing pile of e-waste. Today, I'll be teaching you how to turn an old An...

The coronavirus has spread to 180 countries around the world, and it shows no signs of abating. The pandemic has proved particularly devastating in recent weeks, with total confirmed cases crossing 877,000 and fatalities of over 43,540 globally.The virus has effectively shut down all sporting leagues around the world, major gatherings including tech events and music festivals, and closed down restaurants and malls. It also put a major dent in the airline industry, and is causing panic-buying across the globe, leading to severe food shortages.The coronavirus has also had a huge impact on the tech industry, affecting the global supply chain and causing interminable product delays. Here's the latest on the coronavirus and how it's affecting not only the tech industry, but also the world at large.April 2, 2020: Google donates Chromebooks to students in California, Amazon hires 80,000 workers, and Microsoft shits to online-only events through 2021COVID-19 continue to rise globall...

We now have less choice when it comes to wireless providers and there isn't even a madman in charge to entertain us.T-Mobile and Sprint are now one, at least on paper. You might have seen the news about it, along with T-Mobile CEO John Legere stepping down to do ... something and former T-Mobile COO Mike Seivert will now lead the new company that looks and feels strangely like the two old companies — a thing that isn't going to change very soon.Of course, the victor gets to write history and T-Mobile announced the news complete with big bolded words like SUPERCHARGED! smattered about and the company pinky swears that this will be so good for everyone, including current customers of the two networks, err, now one network or the network formerly known as something or another. You know the drill: everything is good and will always be good right up until it is no longer good. Dish Network will never have a network that competes with the likes of Verizon or AT&T. But now T-M...

Take down other players' teams of Sins and Holy Knights ... eventually.It's pretty much standard operating procedure at this point for mobile RPGs to unveil all they have to offer gradually instead of throwing a bunch of game modes at new players and risk confusing them. The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross is no different in that respect, starting you off with quests that advance the story before branching out into everything else.Even by current mobile game design standards, though, Grand Cross' PvP mode is well hidden. And yes, there is one, with honest to goodness live PvP battles against other mobile gamers. You can dive into these week-long festivals of PvP action, but you have to unlock them first, so let's discuss how to do that.Where on the world map can you find PvP?PvP battles are located at the Vaizel Fight Festival, located not far from Vaizel. That's the village that is at the heart of Chapter 4 of the story mode in The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross.The quick...

Coronavirus misinformation puts lives at risk globally.What you need to knowGoogle has pegged $6.5 million to fight the spread of coronavirus misinformation by way of its Google News Initiative.The Initiative will fund fact-checkers around the world as they sift reality from fantasy. It will also assist in training a thousand journalists in India and Nigeria.Google is expanding its coronavirus support efforts by aiding in the fight against misinformation with $6.5 million pledged to fact-checkers and non-profits. As the virus spreads around the world, misinformation has followed just as rapidly. The company has already donated learning resources in partnership with Californa and set aside hundreds of millions to aid in relief and education efforts."[T]he Google News Initiative (GNI) is stepping up its support for First Draft. The nonprofit is providing an online resource hub, dedicated training and crisis simulations for reporters covering COVID-19 all over the globe," sa...

Plume takes the guesswork out of building a home Wi-Fi network with its software and hardware combination. Many people don't want to pay the subscription fee that comes with Plume or want some more flexibility. As many of us work from home, having a reliable and secure connection is more important than ever. If you want your Wi-Fi to offer more than just a connection, these are some of the best options with extended support.Secure browsingeero ProStaff Pickeero Pro, as well as the base eero Wi-Fi systems support eero Secure, which offers services like ad blocking, threat blocking, and filtering options for $29.99 per year. You can also upgrade to eero Secure+ at $99 per year that adds in a password manager, a VPN subscription, as well as antivirus software. You also get the option to ignore these options completely and simply use the eero system as a mesh network.$199 at Amazon$199 at Best BuyExpansion varietyNetgear Orbi RBK50With Netgear's Orbi system, y...

The team at Android Central (and indeed all of Future Labs) is remotely-distributed, so we are used to communicating via chat platforms like Slack and video calling services such as Hangouts Meet. Now with so many more people working from home, dozens of video calling apps and services are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and none more so than Zoom. However, as easy-to-use and universal as Zoom is, the service has not been without its problems. Recent data leakage and privacy scandals, as well as technical snafus, have impacted consumers' confidence in the platform, and many now just want to cancel their account, delete the app, and move on to the next option. I'll show you how to do that in the steps below.How to delete your Zoom accountNote: If you are currently using Zoom for work, check with your IT department and/or supervisor before deleting your Zoom account.Go to zoom.us and login to your account.Click on your profile image/icon in the top right corner.On y...

The update began rolling out in Germany last week.What you need to knowThe One UI 2.1 update for Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series phones will begin rolling out in the U.S. tomorrow.It brings select Galaxy S20 features to Samsung's older flagship phones, including Night Hyperlapse and Single Take. Additionally, the update adds Quick Share support, allowing you to easily share your content with other Galaxy users nearby. Samsung began rolling out the One UI 2.1 update to the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series phones last week, bringing quite a few Galaxy S20 features to its 2019 flagships. The company has now announced that the One UI 2.1 update for the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series phones in the U.S. will begin rolling out from April 3.The One UI 2.1 update includes quite a few "fan-favorite" camera features from the Galaxy S20 series. Some of these include Single Take, Night Hyperlapse, Pro Video mode, and an improved Night Mode for the Galaxy S10 series. In addition to...

Why just play games on your phone when you could be streaming, too.If you're not among the millions of people logging in to Twitch and YouTube to watch other people playing video games, you may not understand the trend. Back in my day, I hated having to wait my turn to play a video game with friends. These days, record numbers of people are watching Twitch streamers play all the most popular games.While Twitch has been predominately used by PC or console gamers, you do have the option to stream from your Android phone. And with some bigger titles — like Fortnite, PUBG, and Call of Duty — available for mobile, there's really no reason not to start streaming from your phone, especially if you're using a flagship released in the last few years.Here's how you can get started.YouTubeAlthough YouTube Gaming used to be here in this guide, due to Google sunsetting the Android app last year, we had to make some updates. Gaming's features were wrapped into the main YouTube app, i...

Once that year is up, things get a little tricky.What you need to knowStarting April 6, T-Mobile customers will be able to get a free year of Quibi.After the first year, you'll need to choose whether you want to keep getting Quibi or Netflix for free.The offer is available to customers with two or more lines on an account.Like it or not, a new streaming service is about to hit the market — Quibi. We understand if you're feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the streaming options that are now available, but Quibi is a bit different in the sense that it's only available on your phone and only has shows that are 10-minutes or less.Quibi officially launches on April 6, and when it does, T-Mobile customers will be able to get a year of the service absolutely free. So long as you redeem the offer by July 7 on your T-Mobile account and have two or more lines of service, the carrier will give you a full year of Quibi so you can stream your heart out. Quibi will cost $4.99/mo...

The Galaxy S20 is capable of taking some great photos, but you might be confused at first to find that holding the shutter button down doesn't take burst captures like it used to. Instead, it acts as a quick shortcut to shooting video without having to change camera modes. Don't worry though, burst capture hasn't been removed, it's just gotten a new shortcut that's just as easy to activate.Phone used in this guideThe most balanced S20: Galaxy S20+ ($1200 at Samsung)Get it for cheaper: Galaxy S20+ ($1000 at Amazon)How to shoot burst capturesBurst captures are a great way to make sure you have plenty of options to pick from when shooting fast-moving objects or fleeting moments. On the S20, you don't need to switch to any special camera modes or activate anything in the settings to shoot burst captures; all you need to do is drag the shutter button down towards the bottom of the screen in the camera software.You'll see the white shutter button fill with black, and a count...

NordVPN Why choose NordVPNA feature rich VPN service that's great for Netflix unblocking, double layer security and plenty of app support.Works withMacWindowsAndroidiPhone & iPadLinuxRoutersBest VPN forNetflix, Hulu, and streamingGamingTorrenting and downloadingSecurity and privacySee at NordVPNProsNetflix unblockingDouble kill switch Fast live chat supportDual layer encryptionConsSlightly above average pricesBrowser extensions are basicNordVPN is a very impressive service which has been around for years, perfecting its offering which is now used by over 12 million people worldwide. The Panama based VPN has a huge number of servers dotted all over the globe, offers lots of apps for various platforms, uses layers of powerful security and – crucially – is really good at unblocking N...

I think it's safe to say that we're currently living in uncertain times. People are working from home, kids are out of school, and there's a nationwide push for everyone to stay home and not go outside unless they absolutely have to.Amazon: Shop from homeLowe's: Check your local storeAce Hardware: If you need N95CVS: Your mileage may varyWalgreens: Press your luckDollar General: Super affordableStaying healthy and safe while in the comfort of your own home is pretty easy, but what are you supposed to do for those times when you absolutely have to leave to buy groceries, pick up dinner, or get your prescription? Staying at least six-feet from other people and being mindful not to touch your face is likely enough for most people, but if you have a weaker immune system or another underlying health condition that makes you more vulnerable to viruses, it's not a bad idea to wear a face mask when going out in public.A face mask isn't a 100% guarantee that you won't pick up...

The experimental app failed to gain traction among users in India.What you need to knowGoogle has decided to kill Neighbourly – an experimental app that it first launched in May 2018.The search giant says the app hasn't grown as it had hoped, which is why it has decided to close Neighbourly beta. The app will shut down on May 12, although users will be allowed to download their Neighbourly content until October 12. In May 2018, Google introduced a new experimental app as part of its Next Billion Initiative, called Neighbourly. The app was aimed at helping local communities within cities in India to learn more about their neighborhoods from local experts. Unfortunately, however, the app never came out of beta.As the app has failed to grow as it had hoped, Google has now decided to shut down Neighboutly beta. According to a report from TNW, the app is shutting down on May 12. However, users will be able to download a copy of their Neighbourly data until October 12. To dow...

The AMOLED display on the OnePlus 8 Pro is set to be on par with the best in the industry.What you need to knowThe OnePlus 8 series picked up DisplayMate's A+ rating, and a Best Smartphone Display Award.The OnePlus 7 Pro also received a similar rating last year. OnePlus confirmed that it is using a 120Hz AMOLED panel this year, matching what Samsung is offering on the Galaxy S20 series. At the start of the year, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau said that the OnePlus 8 series will offer the best smartphone display in 2020. It looks like that may well be the case, with DisplayMate once again bestowing its highest A+ rating to the OnePlus 8 series, and a Best Smartphone Display Award.According to DisplayMate, the display on the OnePlus 8 series "sets or matches more than 10 Smartphone Display Performance Records in virtually all key categories for the best displays on the market, including color accuracy, image contrast, display brightness, and screen reflection, with 4 categories marke...

If you're stuck inside and looking for ways to stay entertained, you can't go wrong with this PlayStation 4 bundle at Woot. The one-day deal is offering the 1TB PS4 Slim console with three stellar PlayStation-exclusive games for just $249.99. Considering the console alone usually goes for more than this, it's a total steal. Though we saw this exact bundle drop to $200 on Black Friday, today's offer is still well worth considering (unless you happened to score a sweet deal on a time machine). You've only got until the end of the day, or until sold out, to snag it.There are several must-play games that you can only play on PlayStation, and a few of them are included in this bundle. You'll receive The Last of Us Remastered along with full game downloads of God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, all three of which made our list for the best PlayStation Exclusives in 2020.These three games have been hailed as some of the best ever to come out. They're all single-player adv...

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 today only new members can score three months of service absolutely free.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, and at l...

It will come with 40W wireless fast charging as well.What you need to knowOPPO's next flagship smartphone will debut on April 13 in China.The phone will be called the Reno Ace 2 5G and is expected to come with 65W wired charging and 40W wireless charging. It is also tipped to have a 6.5-inch FHD+ AMOLED display and 48MP quad rear cameras. OPPO Vice President Brian Shen today announced on Weibo that the company's next Reno Ace series flagship phone will be unveiled on April 13, a day before the global launch of the OnePlus 8 series phones. The upcoming flagship, which will be called the Reno Ace 2 5G, will boast identical 65W fast charging speeds as its predecessor, which was launched in October last year.The Reno Ace 2 5G made its way through China's TENAA last month, revealing pretty much all of the phone's key tech specs and design. As per the phone's TENAA listing, the Reno Ace 2 5G will have a 6.5-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a hole-punch cutout in the top-left corn...

Chromebooks are only as good as their system, and Chrome OS could always use a few upgrades.Chromebooks are great, lightweight computers that are great not just for kids, they're great for more folks, whether you just want to browse Facebook or work full-time on one. A huge part of that success is that Chrome OS runs so well even on mid-range and budget hardware, allowing us to get a great experience out of a $300 touchscreen 2-in-1 like the Lenovo C340-11 as well as out of powerhouses like the Pixelbook Go and the ASUS Chromebook C434.Chrome OS started off as a pretty stripped down system, but it's grown and expanded in the last few years, making Android apps standard across the board and bringing Linux apps to more and more models. The experience has been continually refined for tablets and touchscreen input, but there's always more that needs to be done. From an expansion of the Chromebook/Android pairing that gave us Smart Lock to some pie-in-the-sky desires to make Chromeboo...

"However, we recognize that we have fallen short of the community's – and our own – privacy and security expectations. For that, I am deeply sorry..."What you need to knowZoom has apologized to users after a swathe of privacy and security concerns were uncovered in its service.It is going to freeze new features for 90 days whilst it focuses on fixing these issues. Zoom says that its user figures have rocketed to more than 200 million people daily in March.In a blog post, Zoom CEO Eric S. Yuan has apologized to its users for falling short of the community, and its own privacy expectations, vowing to freeze all new features for 90 days whilst it works on fixing issues.In the statement he said: For the past several weeks, supporting this influx of users has been a tremendous undertaking and our sole focus. We have strived to provide you with uninterrupted service and the same user-friendly experience that has made Zoom the video-conferencing platform of choice for en...

Unlike TikTok, Shorts will not be a standalone app.What you need to knowYouTube is said to be working on a TikTok rival called "Shorts.""Shorts" will apparently be available as a feature within the YouTube mobile app. It is expected to become available by the end of this year. Chinese video-sharing app TikTok, which was released worldwide three years back, is among the most popular social networking apps currently, with more than 3 million downloads a day. Seeing the app's meteoric rise, Google had reportedly considered acquiring TikTok competitor Firework late last year. Now, a new report from The Information, YouTube is planning to release a rival to TikTok, called Shorts. Shorts will be available as a feature inside the YouTube app and include a feed of brief videos, similar to TikTok.Users will be able to take advantage of YouTube's vast catalog of licensed music to find songs to use as soundtracks for their videos. The report claims YouTube Shorts is "the most seriou...

We've rounded up the best games, audiobooks, ebooks, movies, and sports content that's free right now.With everything that has been going around the world in recent weeks, we all need an outlet. Thankfully, there are dozens of free resources that provide a distraction from the chaos.We've rounded up all the games, movies, audiobooks, e-books, fitness services, and learning resources that are free right now. Whether you're looking to unwind with an audiobook or shoot some zombies in an online first-person shooter, you'll find something of interest in the list below.All the games that are free right nowMonument Valley 2: One of the best mobile games is free right now. Monument Valley 2 features gorgeous visuals, intricate puzzles, and a soothing soundtrack. The puzzle game usually costs $5, so grab it for free right now. Monument Valley 2 on the Play Store. Mini Metro: What's it like to build a subway system from scratch? That's what you're tasked with in Mini Metro. There ar...

WhatsApp forwards are uncontrollable, and the only way to curb misinformation is to remove the feature entirely.WhatsApp has over 2 billion users globally, and over a quarter of those — just over 500 million — are from India alone. Affordable cellular data services combined with an influx of decent budget phones allowed WhatsApp to thrive, and usage of the Facebook-owned platform is ubiquitous across the country.All of my friends are on the platform, and I get updates on everything from credit card statements from my bank, flight information from my airline, and even Netflix recommendations directly on WhatsApp. The service has even replaced traditional news outlets in parts of India, with people signing up to get news updates directly from WhatsApp groups — even paying a fee for access to these groups. WhatsApp changed how we communicate, but it is increasingly being used as a tool to spread misinformation.It's fair to say that WhatsApp has had a profound impact on ...

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 G7The Moto G7 and its other budget counterparts on this list have impressive, high-resolution touchscreens, reliable software, and great cameras. Some features, like NFC, drive up manufacturing costs, so you have to weigh whether you need NFC-enabled features like mobile payments. And the Moto G7 also lacks the same graphical power as its more expensive competitors, but most games play without issue, even at medium or high settings, because Android games are designed to play on hardware of all sizes and prices.At the same time, Motoro...

The deal is done and Sprint is now officially part of T-MobileDespite all of the opposition and debate, T-Mobile has finally completed its purchase of Sprint. Whether this ends up being a good thing for the customer remains to be seen, but in the short term, the combined company under the T-Mobile name will be a real competitor for AT&T and Verizon, especially when it comes to 5GWorks on both networksSamsung Galaxy S20+ 5G$50 per month at T-MobileBe ready for the full T-Mobile 5G networkThe Galaxy S20 series of phones was the first to be announced with support for both the T-Mobile 5G network as well as Sprint. This phone also has a huge battery, great cameras, and a high-refresh display making it one of the best Android phones to date.The corporate sideIs the deal done?Is Sprint gone?What is 5G for Good?A long and slow rideHow long until this affects customers?Will my service change?Will my coverage be affected?Will my plan change?Who's paying ...

It's back! Reality game show The Challenge is returning to MTV for a landmark 35th season this week- read on to find out how to watch the show, no matter where in the world you are. This year the show is subtitled Total Madness and is set to pit 21 veterans and seven rookies against one another in what are promised to be the most extreme challenges ever in the show's 22-year history.BMX rider T. J. Lavin returns once more to host, while this season's competition features alumni from The Real World, Are You the One?, Geordie Shore, Ex on the Beach (U.S. and UK) and So You Think You Can Dance.Notable returning players competing for a share of the show's $1 million prize include Johnny 'Bananas' Devenanzio, CT, Wes, Jenna, Tori and Nany while there's also some new familiar faces from series like Big Brother, Survivor and Amazing Race this time out.The luxury jungle houses, spacious mansions and lavish pools that have featured in previous seasons are nowhere to be seen this time ou...

March felt more like a year than a month. This year has felt like a decade. We're all stuck inside with a lot of extra time to think and fret, yes, but also consume. Here are the movies, music, TV shows, and books that we're enjoying right now. And when you're done with this list, let us know what entertainment you're enjoying right now.MoviesThe MartianI first fell in love with the book (no, I'm not being snooty) back when it first came out as a free download, and then when I saw the poster in my local Alamo Drafthouse, I was psyched. For me, it was one of those rare films that met or exceeded the book. I think it's particularly relevant now, as it's all about an isolated person making the most with what he has, and surviving despite harsh odds. And best of all, it has a happy ending (spoilers).-Jeramy JohnsonThe Hobbit TrilogyBeing stuck at home means I have the time to revisit the almost 8-hour long Hobbit trilogy, and I'm actually loving it the second time aro...

Keep this on your radars.What you need to knowCold Symmetry features man AAA game developers.The team has been working on a soulslike game called "Mortal Shell" for a while now. The title was finally revealed with an incredible trailer. It's coming to Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4 later this year. At Android Central, we always try to bring you news about exciting games. Today, a soulslike game called "Mortal Shell" was announced from Cold Symmetry and Playstack. According to the press release we received, Mortal Shell is an uncompromising, authentic, and hauntingly beautiful action role-playing game built upon the ruthless traditions of the popular genre. The trailer features stunning worlds, fearsome combat, and menacing foes. The ability to conjure such devastating and unique area-of-effect attacks is the highlight. I've never seen a game do "ice spikes" that well before.Cold Symmetry's co-founders — Andrew McLennan-Murray, Anton Gonzalez, and Vitaly Bulgarov...

Is it a package box? An intercom? Or maybe a safe place to keep your keys?What you need to knowThis is the first leak of the Ring Doorbox, a mysterious box with little more than a name and a picture at this time.The name hints at the possibility of a box that could store packages or a spare set of keys.This leak comes just days before the Ring Video Doorbell 3 launches.This might be April Fool's Day, but this new Ring product leak doesn't look like a hoax at all. Ring Doorbox, as it's called, appears to be some sort of lock box that can be placed near your front door, but not much info comes along with the picture. Zatz Not Funny! came across the info but has only been able to provide a name and a picture for this particular leak. While we don't know much about the product just yet, we can surmise a few things from the info provided.First off, there are plenty of reasons to have something called a Doorbox on the front of your home. If this is, indeed, a lockbox, it could ...

A new title is on the way to VR that lets you swing between platforms in mid-air while shooting enemies.What you need to knowA trailer just launched for Swarm, a VR grapple shooter.The game will be available on Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, and SteamVR.The game combines grappling between platforms and quick shooting.A new trailer just launched for Swarm, a VR grapple shooter that combines quick-twitch gunplay with grappling between platforms. As shown off in the trailer, the game has you swing between floating platforms while firing weapons at enemies. According to the game's developer, Greensky Games, it should launch in "a few months" on Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, and SteamVR.Moving in VR can be a bit of a challenge since some people can become motion sick from maneuvering with a joystick. Other people can be restricted when it comes to movement due to wires or limited space. Developers have come up with several solutions to bring movement mechanics into games, many of w...

Ring is one of the most well-known providers of smart home and home security solutions, and despite a rough 2019, the company has continued to produce some of the best products in this space. Ring has done a much better job of responding to and addressing the increased demand for additional data privacy controls and promises additional customer controls. With a couple of new video doorbells recently released, we thought it was a good time to review what our favorite Ring products were for 2020.Best Video DoorbellRing Video Doorbell 3 PlusStaff PickOne of the best and most popular video doorbells gets even better in 2020. It's battery-powered with improved motion detection and pre-roll recording technology, so you won't miss any visitors with this buzzer.$230 at Amazon $230 at Best BuyBest Indoor CameraRing Stick Up CamLast updated in late 2019, the Stick Up Cam is the true utility player in Ring's lineup. It works indoors or outdoors, can be powered by wire,...

It's currently in a very barebones state.What you need to knowInstagram is seemingly working on a toggle to "limit sensitive content."The news comes courtesy of Jane Manchun Wong, known for her reverse-engineering wizardry.The feature will likely be aimed at younger voters or those who want to limit NSFW content at work.In an ideal world, no one would be browsing Instagram at work, and we'd all be the efficient, busy worker bees the corporate overlords expect us to be. But since that's likely not happening anytime soon, your coworkers should, at the very least, not have to be exposed to an endless barrage of buttocks every time they pass by your desk. Thankfully, Instagram is working on a feature to help with that.As reverse-engineering wizard Jane Manchun Wong recently discovered, the Facebook-owned social media app is currently in the process of implementing a "limit sensitive content" toggle. It's unclear at the moment what Instagram would classify as "sensitive conten...

Kicking off the next generation of wireless.All of the major U.S. carriers are hard at work on their 5G strategy. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have launched 5G networks and are aggressively expanding those networks through 2019. 5G service not only provides faster speeds but also reduced response times allowing for new services and cloud computing not previously available. For now, the major difference between LTE and 5G will be speed but as coverage continues to roll out to new areas, more services that rely on instant connectivity should become possible.VerizonSprintT-MobileAT&TVerizonVerizon is starting small with two cities deploying what it calls 5G Ultra Wideband (UWB). In short, this version of 5G uses large chunks of high-frequency bandwidth that produce very high speeds but suffer in other areas such as coverage over distance and building penetration. While coverage is dense enough in cities to be included on the list, coverage is still only ava...

With headphone jacks now a relic of the past, chances are your next headphones/earbuds will connect to your phone wirelessly instead of with an ancient cable. A lot of you have probably already moved on to Bluetooth gear by now, but for those that haven't, getting used to Bluetooth and all of its quirks can be a bit confusing at first. If you just bought a pair of Bluetooth headphones but can't figure out how to get them paired with your phone, here's what you need to know.Products used in this guidePure Android: Google Pixel 4 XL (From $899 at Amazon)Truly wireless: Sol Republic Amps Air+ ($200 at Amazon)How to turn on Bluetooth on your phoneBefore you can pair anything with your phone, you need to make sure that its Bluetooth connection is turned on. That may sound like a daunting task if you've never messed with your Bluetooth settings, but thankfully, doing so is quite easy.Swipe down from the top of your screen to see your notification panel.Swipe down again to se...

The same day launch as the Google Play Store gives Huawei's AppGallery a slight credibility boost.What you need to knowGame of Thrones: Beyond The Wall will launch on Huawei's AppGallery at the same time as the Play Store.Huawei worked with the developer team to ensure compatibility with Huawei Mobile Services.It's a strategy that's been tried before on different platforms with varying effects.Game of Thrones: Beyond The Wall is coming to Android smartphones, including the Huawei P40 and P40 Pro on April 3rd. In addition to the Play Store, game developers Behavior interactive will be bringing their game to the AppGallery for a day and date launch with the other two mainstream mobile app stores.As per Tech Advisor, Huawei worked with the gaming company when building their app, ensuring that the Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) could seamlessly fill in for Google's missing Play Servies. This includes things like handling in-App Purchases, Account Kit to replace Google Play Game...

Smartphone photography has come on leaps and bounds in recent years with the majority of people being happy to use their phones as their primary cameras these days. If you need slightly more than your phone can offer, you ought to invest in some of Moment's photography gear, especially while it's on sale with as much as 60% off. Moment very rarely offers discounts, so this springtime sale is well worth your attention.You can save 20% on smartphone lenses like this Tele 58mm Lens or the Wide 18mm Lens, dropping them from $120 to $95.99. Of course, you'll need the right smartphone case to mount the lenses to. Fortunately, those are discounted by up to 60% in the sale.We've got a lot of good things to say about Moment's products. We even named them as our best universal smartphone lenses. Our only real gripe with Moment gear is the high price of entry, but this limited-time sale sure helps with that. If you've been holding out on buying something from Moment, now's your chance.Out...

Outlook is gaining support for several features from Microsoft Search to help you find your content.What you need to knowOutlook on iOS and Android will gain several new features to improve the search experience.The features center around Microsoft Search, which helps find contextual content based on your queries.The new Search experience will start rolling out in April 2020.Microsoft is rolling out a new search experience to help people find content within Outlook on iOS and Android. The experience around Microsoft Search, and aims to provide you contextual information based on your searches. Microsoft breaks down all of the features in a recent post. The new Search experience should start rolling out in the beginning of April for Microsoft 365 customers in the U.S., including both business and consumer Office 365 customers.Outlook will soon support natural language searches on iOS and Android. This feature allows you to speak or type a question in "everyday language" to...

Everyone knows about Microsoft Excel, but only few take the time to learn the ins-and-outs of the popular spreadsheet program. Even fewer realize that being proficient in Excel can lead to a sizable increase in both productivity and salary. According to a report by Burning Glass Technologies, workers who have basic digital skills (such as Microsoft Word and Excel) tend to make 13% more than their digitally unskilled counterparts.Luckily, the experts are here to help, and if ever there has been a time to hunker down and learn some new skills, it's now. Learn from Excel masters Alan Jarvis and Chris Dutton in The 2020 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle. You'll gain lifetime access to 43 hours of Excel instruction ranging from introductory to advanced, and learn at your own pace with 10 available courses., all for just $49.Alan Jarvis has nearly 30 years of teaching experience and has held senior management positions at numerous blue chip and Times Top 100 compan...

No one likes a photo that comes out blurry, terribly crooked, or, worst of all, with part of a finger blocking it. Stability is essential in photography, and with a smartphone, it's arguably all the more important. Stabilizing photos comes in many different forms — some within the phone itself through optical or digital stabilization and others that are up to you. Here are keys to remember as you go about lining up your best photos and video.How to use your hands wiselyOne of the consequences of thinner phones and curved displays is slippery handling. Disappearing bezels increase the chances of accidental taps, forcing you to maintain a better grip on your device, lest it fall and suffer serious damage. The best way to shoot a stable photo is with two hands. That might seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how often people don't do that.Why two hands? The most obvious reason is for balance, but it's also because it makes it ergonomically easier to actually tap the ...

The new generation of earbuds will, however, feature four color choices.What you need to knowThe OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z will not be truly wireless, after all.Leaked images of the earbuds show they're connected by a cable.OnePlus is expanding color choices, though, with green, blue, black, and white variants.While the internet has recently been abuzz with rumors that OnePlus will finally be jumping onto the truly wireless bandwagon with the latest generation of its Bullets Wireless earbuds, prepare to be disappointed when the company's April 14 launch of the OnePlus 8/8 Pro and OnePlus Z comes around.Images of the earbuds leaked by Evan Blass (via 9to5Google), who has a spectacular record when it comes to airing tech companies' secrets, show that the Bullets Wireless Z are also connected by a cable, much like their predecessors.In our review of the Bullets Wireless 2, we found the earphones to be an excellent buy, but in a year when almost everyone major player in th...