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This year's I/O is officially done for.What you need to knowGoogle has canceled all of its I/O 2020 plans.The company cites the ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19 Coronavirus as the reason.Previously, Google was planning to host a livestream in place of a physical event.It's official — Google I/O 2020 is no more. The reason? COVID-19 Coronavirus.The news broke on March 20 via the Google Developers account on Twitter, with the company saying:A #GoogleIO update: Out of concern for the health and safety of our developers, employees, and local communities — and in line with “shelter in place” requirements by the local Bay Area government — we sadly will not be holding an I/O event in any capacity this year. (1/3)— Google Developers (@googledevs) March 20, 2020In reply to that initial tweet, Google continued with: Right now, the most important thing all of us can do is focus our attention on helping people with the new challenges we all face. We'll conti...

Sony has offered such sorely-needed clarity regarding backward compatibility in its upcoming console.What you need to knowEarlier this week, Sony revealed the specs of the PlayStation 5.Due to the way comments by lead architect Mark Cerny were phrased, confusion ensued over the number of backward compatible PS4 games that would run on PS5.Sony has issued an update to provide more context. Players can expect the "vast majority" of PS4 games to run on PS5.Earlier this week, when the specs of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) were revealed, lead architect Mark Cerny mentioned that almost all of the top 100 games on PS4 should be playable on PS5. To say this prompted confusion would be an understatement, with many people (including us) unsure of whether this was intended as an example, with far more than just the top 100 games being available, or if it was intended literally.Fortunately, Sony has provided an update for the situation on PlayStation Blog, stating that "With all of the a...

Samsung may not be the first company that comes to mind when you think of audio gear, but in recent years, the company has been growing its line of earbud offerings so that it has quality first-party accessories to go along with its smartphones. The Galaxy Buds+ stand out as the best Samsung earbuds you can buy right now, but if those aren't your cup of tea, there are plenty of other options worth considering. Let's check them out!Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Buds+As of right now, the best Samsung earbuds you can buy in 2020 are the Galaxy Buds+. These are the latest true wireless earbuds from Samsung, and they offer meaningful improvements over the original Buds in a few meaningful ways.For starters, battery life is substantially better. Samsung promises up to 11 hours of continuous use with the Galaxy Buds+, and that's just for the actual earbuds. The charging case has enough juice for one full recharge, offering total endurance of around 22 hours. In other words, if you wa...

If you are one of the millions who already work from home, or one of the now tens of millions compelled to do so due to the coronavirus pandemic, chances are you're going to need to make some improvements to your personal workspace to optimize for comfort and efficiency. Whether you have a dedicated office space in the house or you've managed to carve out a corner of the dining room, guest room, or bedroom, you're going to want to make sure it's as organized and tidy as possible.Space betweenHomury Wood Dual Monitor StandStaff PickI've used a version of this wooden dual monitor stand for over four years now, and I love it. It gets my 27-inch iMac up at just the right height to view from my preferred chair, and it has enough space on the sides, and storage area underneath, to tuck away most of my desk clutter.From $33 at AmazonHang tightVIVO Dual LCD Monitor MountWhen I worked in an office environment, many of my colleagues had this dual monitor mount to lift...

It's the first time Xiaomi has surpassed Huawei.What you need to knowXiaomi sold more phones than Huawei in February this year.The former beat the latter by just 500,000 units.Smartphone sales also took a massive hit in the month, falling nearly 40% year-on-year due to the coronavirus.As the U.S. ban continues to squeeze Huawei in the smartphone market, we may finally be starting to see its adverse effects on Huawei's sales, despite the company's spectacular performance in 2019.According to Strategy Analytics' latest numbers, the Chinese tech titan gave up its third-place spot in the world to rival Xiaomi in the month of February (via Sina Tech). The former had sales of 5.5 million units, while the latter barely edged out a victory with 6 million units.Samsung dominated the pack, however, with almost three times as many sales during the month. Apple, meanwhile, occupied the number two spot with a comfortable 10.2 million in sales.But it's not just Huawei that's stru...

Your PlayStation 4 is a behemoth when it comes to delivering awesome games, movies, and VR content. However, you may start to notice some slow down if you let dust build up over time. To keep your console running as efficiently as possible, you definitely need to keep it clean. Thankfully, this is an easy task that should only take about 10 minutes of your time so long as you keep up with the maintenance.Products used in this guideMust have: 3-Pack of Compressed Air Cans ($18 at Amazon)Safe cleaning: 24-Pack of Microfiber Cleaning Cloth ($14 at Amazon)Dust protection: PlayStation 4 Dust Cover ($12 at Amazon)Safe wet cleaning: Babyganics Alcohol-Free Sanitizing Wipes ($11 at Amazon)How to safely dust your PlayStation 4Point the nozzle of the compressed air at the vents. Make sure to keep it about 1-2 inches from the vent.Make sure the can is upright to prevent any moisture from going into your console. Spray in short measured bursts.Periodically look into the vents ...

A not-so-hidden codename.What you need to knowThe Oculus Quest is a standalone VR headset with built-in cameras for tracking.It has made waves in the VR world for its aggressive pricing and wire-free experience.While it's too soon to announce a successor, we may have confirmation it exists.A codename 'Del Mar' hints that an Oculus Quest 2 may be in development.The Oculus Quest is still a fledgling VR platform, but it looks like Facebook may already be looking to the future, according to a find from UploadVR. Documentation in the developer portion of Facebook's site shows multiple references to an in-development 'Del Mar' headset paired with a new 'Jedi' controller. This naming scheme matches the codenames given to past Oculus projects (beaches or cities in California,) so it's safe to say this is a headset.Further investigations into the API's present in the developer documentation also indicates that the headset is a mobile standalone headset, ruling out someting in th...

Full Throttle ramps up the difficulty significantly and debuts scene events for some truly crazy action.What you need to knowFull Throttle is the 13th scene for Pistol Whip and features increased difficulty over past scenes.Scene Events are a new type of scripted even in Pistol Whip that future levels will be able to take advantage of.Two new modifiers, three new guns, as well as new skins and metal are also making an appearance in this update.Full Throttle will be featured in the upcoming Pistol Whip tournament.A brand new scene is making its debut in the March update of Pistol Whip, and it's the most difficult scene yet to grace the theater walls in Pistol Whip. Lucky scene number 13 is entitled Full Throttle and takes some heavy inspiration from the Mad Max series; maybe a timely release given the current bleak times we live in. Full Throttle throws players into the desert amidst vehicular mayhem with the patented formula of shooting, dodging, and pistol-whipping any op...

Android Central's top-ranking Chromebook reviews rankedThe best Chromebooks of 2020 can provide a top-notch computing experience, perfect for students, grandparents and anyone looking for a trouble-free laptop with long battery life. We've reviewed and rated the absolute best Chromebooks so that you can find the best value at any budget. Our buyer's guide will help you find the perfect Chrome OS laptop or tablet.Best overallLenovo Chromebook C330$299 at AmazonLast year's Lenovo is still the best Chromebook to buy.This zippy little Chromebook can last 10 hours and won't weigh down your backpack during an all-day excursion.Lenovo Chromebook C330 FeaturesBright 11.6-inch touchscreenTrue 10-hour battery lifeExcellent performance for the price4GB RAM, 32-64GB storageBalanced weight and sizeBright, shimmery 2-in-1 designThe best Chromebook balances size with productivity, style with substance, and panache with a price. It's a Chromebook that anyone can pick up ...

Fortnite is an intense game that needs a pretty capable Android phone to run it properly. A multiplayer match involving up to 100 unique players is bound to push a phone to its limit, but these phones are sure to run those matches without any hiccups. The ASUS ROG Phone 2 is our favorite pick with its huge display, and specs that are better than some computers that are used to run Fortnite.Best Overall: ASUS ROG Phone 2The ASUS ROG Phone was one of the first "gaming" focused phones to hit the market and impressed with its capabilities. The ROG Phone 2 is now here and is even more impressive with its 6.6-inch AMOLED display and 120Hz refresh rate, which will ensure Fortnite will run smoothly and look amazing. This is better than other flagship devices like that the OnePlus 7T and Pixel 4, which tout 90Hz refresh rates.As for the specs, you get Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855+ chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and a humongous 6,000mAh battery. This should last you through more than jus...

Save $30 on Stadia Premiere Edition before midnight tonight.What you need to knowGoogle is running a one day sale on the Stadia Premiere Edition, dropping the price from $129 to $99.The limited-time sale coincides with the launch of the highly anticipated Doom Eternal, the latest game in the Doom franchise.All orders must be placed on March 21, 2020, by 11:59PM PT or 2:59AM ET to be eligible for the $30 discount.Google's game streaming service Stadia launched with more of a fizzle than a bang. Early reviews were harsh on the cloud game streaming platform over the lack of features and limited support for devices. However, since the initial launch back in November, Google has been hard at work improving the service, adding new features and games.One of those new games is the highly anticipated Doom Eternal, which was just released today. To mark the occasion, Google has given the Stadia Premiere Edition a rare $30 discount, but you better act quickly. The sale is only good ...

It even has Quick Draw!What you need to knowSocial distancing has got us all a bit shook now.That's why lots of people are turning to face-to-face video app Houseparty.It works for both Android and iOS and features games like Quick Draw! Group video chat app Houseparty is taking off thanks to social distancing.The coronavirus pandemic has got us all staying indoors more as we move to distance ourselves socially in order to "flatten the curve". It's no surprise then that as we turn to remote ways of staying connected, popular apps like Houseparty are taking off.House party is a face-to-face social networking app that lets you contact your friends by video, and compete in fun arcade games like Quick Draw. The best bit? It works on both iOS and AndroidFrom the app's App Store listing: Houseparty is the face-to-face social network where you can connect with the people you care about most. The app makes connecting face to face effortless, alerting you when your friends...

One-time chargeeero Beacon$149 at AmazonProsWorks with any eeroCompact plug-in designNo subscription requiredOptional security featuresConsNo Ethernet portsOnly dual-bandIf you have an eero mesh system and need to expand your Wi-Fi coverage, the eero Beacon is a great option with a compact design that plugs directly into the wall. Its dual-band Wi-Fi will provide more than enough speed for most normal usage.Fast with featuresPlume SuperPodFrom $99 per year at PlumeProsFast tri-band SuperPodGreat security featuresDual Ethernet portsConsRequires a Plume subscription to buyLarge sizePlume has turned home WI-Fi into a subscription service that includes a tri-band SuperPod mesh router and easy expansion. Plume makes mesh networking easy and comes with some great security features, as well as great customer service options.If you're looking to expand your Wi-Fi coverage with a mesh system you have a couple of options. Plume gives...

Despite only seeing a few usage peaks, YouTube decided to act to reduce the stress on the old continent's internet infrastructure.What you need to knowYouTube has become the second company after Netflix to reduce streaming quality in the European Union to lessen the strain on the internet amid coronavirus spread.Several European telecom providers, including Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom have reported a spike in internet traffic in recent days. All traffic in the EU is being switched to standard definition by default. With an aim to lessen the strain on the internet amid the coronavirus pandemic, Netflix announced yesterday that it will be throttling streaming across Europe for 30 days. As per a report from Reuters, YouTube has also decided to switch all traffic in the EU to standard definition by default.The move comes after EU industry chief Thierry Breton urged all leading streaming platforms to switch to standard definition to help lower the strain on the internet duri...

If you're already a Sling TV customer, you'll be happy to learn that you now have a few more channel options to consider while you're stuck at home. Now through mid-April, Sling is offering extended free previews of channels like FX, CNBC, Hallmark, Game Show Network, and more. Some of these are even available into May, which is pretty awesome.The company announced in a new post that due to the current coronavirus situation subscribers will be able to access these at no cost, and it is working with other networks to bring additional trials into the mix. Some of the options are only available to those who are subscribed to the Blue + Orange package, but most work on any option that Sling offers.Sling TVGet started at SlingSling has added some additional channels at no cost to current subscribers. If you aren't already signed up, here's another reason you should be.By adding these channels, Sling opens up a bunch of extra content that you can watch when you need to distra...

You don't need a wizard's staff to summon Disney's latest movie.What you need to knowWith most theaters closed, Disney has decided to push Onward's home release up.The films will be available for digital purchase today, and on April 3, Onward comes to Disney+ for the US.This marks the first Disney film to be significantly moved up for home release.No word on when Onward will be available for purchase/Disney+ in other countries yet.Well, this was a bit of unexpected magic. Onward just hit theaters on March 6, two weeks ago today, and wasn't expected to hit digital stores until sometime later this summer, but with most theaters closed for at least the rest of the spring, Disney's moving up its home release. Onward will be available for digital purchase in the U.S. today with the film being able to stream starting at 8PM EDT — 5PM PST, for you best-coasters.#PixarOnward is coming to the US tonight on digital download and will be streaming on #DisneyPlus on April 3rd. pic....

A good audiobook can inform, inspire, or just distract you during difficult times.I'm an introvert by nature who has been working remotely for over 18 months now, but even I can acknowledge that being cooped up in the same spot for long periods can do crazy things to your psyche. There are tons of things you can do to combat boredom, malaise, or depression, such as going for a walk, hopping on a Google Duo or Skype call for virtual companionship, or even catching up on some home office organization and spring cleaning.One of the best ways I've found to deal with the stress of the COVID-19 closures and uncertainty is to lose myself in a good Audible audiobook. Whether you're looking for tips on how to hunker down, inspiration to restore your faith in humanity, or a total distraction — even if just for a minute — Audible has nearly half a million audiobooks and spoken word content to help get you through it.Here are some audiobooks that I've recently found some comfort in lis...

It can be hard to stay optimistic at a time like this, but don't let those negative thoughts overwhelm you.So the world's ending, huh? It's easy to be facetious — and sometimes situations like this warrant some dark humor — but COVID-19 should be taken seriously. That's what all of these quarantines and social distancing recommendations are for. Even if you personally don't fall ill, many others will, and much of society has effectively shut down. It's a scary time, and games are the perfect way to provide a little escapism.Truthfully, I'm less worried about contracting COVID-19 myself because, in all likelihood, I'll be fine. It's my family that I'm worried about. And what scares me, even more, is how society is reacting to it. In situations like this, it never hurts to be over-prepared, and the guidelines in place only serve to save lives, but that doesn't make them any less stress-inducing. There are a lot of unknowns. Games right now are providing me some comfort.Ori an...

Disney+ catalog is now available to stream on Hotstar in India, including The Mandalorian.What you need to knowDisney+ was slated to go live on Hotstar on March 29, but it's already live for users in the country.Marquee shows like The Mandalorian are available to stream, as well as all movies in the Star Wars franchise. With the integration, Hotstar has been rebranded to Disney+ Hotstar. Update: Disney has mentioned in a statement that it is pausing the rollout of Disney+ on Hotstar. The service was scheduled to go live in March 29, but several shows were already available to stream on Hotstar three weeks early. Disney now says it will announce a "revised premiere date" for the service shortly. The content that's already live is available to stream, but users will have to wait a little bit longer to stream Disney's back catalog: We recently announced that Disney+ would launch in India through the Hotstar service in conjunction with beginning of the Indian Premier League...

The Charge 4 is expected to be a relatively minor upgrade over its predecessor.What you need to knowPress renders of the upcoming Fitbit Charge 4 have been leaked.In terms of design, the Charge 4 will be identical to its predecessor.The tech specs of the upcoming wearable currently remain a mystery.Fitbit's upcoming Charge 4 fitness tracker was "accidentally" listed online by UK retailer MobileFun earlier this week, revealing some of its key features as well as the different color options that it will be available in. The wearable was also spotted at the FCC recently, although the listing didn't actually reveal much. Now, the folks at 9to5Google have obtained the first press renders of the Fitbit Charge 4, revealing a very familiar design.As you can see in the images above, the Fitbit Charge 4 looks no different from the Charge 3, which was launched in October 2018. The renders also suggest that the Charge 4 will continue to use a monochrome OLED touchscreen and feature...

Taking what the first game did right, Nioh 2 is the best Souls-likes have ever been.Many games have tried to copy what made Dark Souls so great. While some people might give these copycats silly nicknames like Clunky Souls, Sci-Fi Souls, Anime Souls, and so on, the point is that the Soulsborne games are beloved for many reasons, not just the punishing difficulty. Not every wannabe has understood that.The original Nioh was initally lambasted by some as another derivative, this time with a Geralt of Rivia lookalike. In reality, it turned out to be a more complex version of the now classic Souls formula. Sure, it still had the hallmarks, but it added new elements like stances, the Ki Pulse system, and Guardian Spirits to name a few. It was a great game, even better than some entries in the Soulsborne series itself. I know, pure heresy to put a Souls-like up there with the ones who spawned this genre.Nioh 2 is more of the same as its predecessor, so much so that I initially wondere...

I know I'm not the only one who's started up a game only to realize that part of the screen is cut off. Whether this means I can't read text or see my health bar, it's going to be an annoyance. Some games allow you to adjust your screen display, but others do not. It's at this point that you'll want to try going into your PlayStation 4 (PS4) settings and adjusting the screen display size. Should even that fail, you'll need to fiddle around with your television's settings. Either way, here's how to fix the problem in the PS4 settings.How to adjust the display area on PS4From the PS4 homescreen, go to Settings.Scroll down and select Sound and Screen.Select Display Area Settings.Adjust the display area to fit your screen by making it larger or smaller.Press X to confirm your new settings. You may find that some games still seem to be cut off on your screen. At this time you'll likely want to adjust the UI parameters within the game's menus. Not every game offers this fea...

Android 10 breathes new life into the phone, but older hardware trends are still welcome.It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of new phones, especially when they're as well-received as the Galaxy S20 lineup — and all the more so when Samsung is offering such high trade-in values towards those new phones. But after revisiting the S9 before sending it off for credit towards my S20+, I was struck by how well it's held up over these last two years.Thanks to continued software support, it's gotten considerably better over time, and there's a lot about the hardware that I actually prefer on the S9 over Samsung's newer designs.Old dog learns new tricksSamsung Galaxy S9$462 at Amazon $500 at Best BuyA design that stands the test of timeEven two years later, the Galaxy S9 still feels ultra-modern thanks to continued software support and excellent build quality. Now that it's available at a fraction of its launch price, it's an excellent budget flagship choice....

While wonderful cases for the Note 10 and Note 10+ are available from just about every case maker on the planet, Samsung's official cases are still definitely worth considering. Samsung stepped things up a notch to provide some rather unique case options for its new lineup of Note devices.Galaxy Note 10Luscious leatherLeather Back CoverSamsung's leather cases are certainly not its cheapest cases, but they are incredibly well made, and our managing editor swears by them. Available in Black, Silver, White, Tan, Red, and Blue.$44 at AmazonColor-matches gripSilicone CoverTPU cases come in every color under the sun, and this minimalistic solid-shaded silicone model from Samsung is available in six colors: Black, Silver, White, Pink, Red, and Blue.$22 at AmazonShine like a diamondLED Back CoverThis cover looks like a standard plastic cover at first, but when you get in a notification, the LEDs embedded in it light up like stars in the night sky. Available in B...

All of the carriers are talking about 5G. Here's what it means for consumers.If you follow phones or technology, you've seen 5G popping up everywhere. New phones are listing 5G as a major feature and the carriers love to tell you that they have the best 5G, but what does 5G actually mean to a normal customer? For now, 5G means that if you live in just the right area and have just the right phone or hotspot, you can get a faster and more reliable phone connection that won't bog down when the network is congested. Beyond that, it gets a bit more complicated.More data demand than ever5G is spreading fast and for many people, it's not quite what they expected. 5G refers to 5G NR (New Radio) which contains many different technologies with different implementations. What a 5G connection actually means to the consumer varies greatly between carriers but one thing it has in common across the board is the promise for better speed and capacity.Technically speaking, 5G is the next gener...

With HMD Connect, you won't have to go through the hassle of purchasing a local SIM card when traveling.What you need to knowHMD Global has introduced a global roaming data SIM card called HMD Connect.The SIM card works in 120 countries across the globe and offers plans starting at €9.95 ($10.7). You can activate your SIM and manage bundles using the HMD Connect App, which is now available to download from the Play Store.HMD Global introduced the Nokia 8.3 5G, Nokia 5.3. and Nokia 1.3 smartphones at its online-only event held in London earlier today. In addition to the new phones, the Finnish company has also announced HMD Connect, a global roaming data SIM card, which it claims can help you save up to 70% on roaming charges.The HMD Connect data SIM lets you stay connected when roaming in more than 120 countries. To get started, you will need to shell out €19.95 ($21.5) for the starter kit. The starter kit includes a SIM card, along with 1GB of data valid for 14 days....

Huawei's ongoing trade ban has affected its Honor sub-brand as well, with the manufacturer launching fewer devices than usual last year. That said, we got to see a few standout phones in the likes of the Honor 20 and the Honor 9X. These are the best Honor phones you can buy right now.Mid-range marvelHonor 20Staff pickThe Honor 20 has all the hallmarks of a great affordable flagship: it has an evocative design with a hole-punch cutout, powerful hardware in the form of a Kirin 980 chipset, and four cameras at the back with a 48-megapixel primary lens. There's also a 32-megapixel front camera and a 3,750mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging.£269 at Amazon UKNew hotnessHonor 9XWith the Honor 9X, the brand is offering a retractable module that hides the front camera, leading to a bezel-free screen. It is powered by the mid-range Kirin 710F chipset, has a 48-megapixel camera at the back, and the 4,000mAh battery should last two days between charges. Oh, and the design a...

When you're looking for a video chatting platform, chances are you're interested in something that you can use on any device, not just your phone. Google Duo is a really good option that is available not only on your Android phone but also in a browser window or on your Chromebook or Chromebox device. I'll show you how to get set up on each computer-based option so that you can start connecting with your friends, family, and colleagues over Google Duo.Products used in this guideOur favorite student Chromebook: ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 (From $222 at Amazon)Our favorite Chromebox: ASUS Chromebox 3 (From $279 at Amazon)How to set up Google Duo for the webIn your web browser of choice, type in the address duo.google.com.Verify the phone number your Duo account is associated with by entering it on the screen.Click Get verification code.You will receive an SMS at the number you provided with a one-time code.Enter the one-time code on the screen.You should now be logge...

If you're not using Duo for video calls, you're missing out.Google Duo has been around now for several, and during that time, it has become one of the most feature-rich video calling services available in the market. Duo launched alongside Allo as Google tried to simplify its messaging strategy — offering one app each for text messaging and video calling — and while Allo was waylaid last year over low usage figures, Duo has grown from strength to strength. The service has amassed over a billion downloads and is now pre-installed on all new Android phones.Here's everything you need to know!Duo is lightweight and easy to useYou can also make audio-only callsLink Duo with your Google accountThere's finally a web clientGet a live preview with Knock KnockEnd-to-end encryption is enabled by defaultMake group calls with up to eight peopleSend video and voice messages easilyDuo also works with Smart DisplaysData saver lets you save bandwidthThe new standardGoogle D...

Get the most out of working from home with these phone plans.Working from home has become more and more popular over the years, and thanks to recent events, a lot of people are going to be doing it for the very first time. Working from home can be a difficult shift, but you can make the necessary changes to ensure it's as seamless of an experience as possible.There are a lot of different factors you'll want to consider when working from home, one of which is your phone plan. Your phone is likely your primary method of communication, and as an at-home-worker, there are some things you need to keep in mind:Does your current phone plan offer good coverage at your house?Do you have enough mobile data?Can you use your phone as a hotspot if you want to work outside of your living room?Shopping around for a new phone plan is a good idea at any time just to be sure you're getting the best deal/features possible, so take advantage of your new working situation to assess your curre...

Google's Pixel phones have something for everyone. They take phenomenal pictures, Google's policy for software updates is unmatched, and so on. We commend Google's clean Android interface for being easy to use, but there may come a time when you just get stuck. Thankfully, Google makes it incredibly easy to get in touch with its customer support team.Products used in this guideFree customer support: Google Pixel 3a ($363 at Amazon)How to contact Google about issues with your Pixel phoneIf you own a Pixel, easy access to customer support is baked right into your phone. Knowing how to access it isn't the most obvious thing, however, so here's a step-by-step guide on what to do.Open the Settings on your phone.Scroll down.Tap Tips & supportTap Chat to initiate a live text-based chat.Tap Phone to request a callback from Google.As you can see above, there are two options available for getting in touch with Google. If you start a chat request, you'll describe you...

Google's cranking Android up to 11.Last year's Android 10 update was a big shift for the operating system. Not only did we get the long-awaited dark mode and important changes to app permissions, Android 10 also marked Google's departure from dessert names and ushered in a new Android logo/brand.Android 10 was a year of growth and maturity for the operating system, and those same principles are being carried over to Android 11. We're still a few months out from the final build being available for everyone, but with a developer preview now out in the wild, we have a good idea of where Google wants to take Android in 2020.Ready to learn all about what Android 11 is packing? Here's everything you need to know!Developer Preview 2 is outThese are the top featuresTons of messaging improvementsPermissions keep getting better5G is a big focusYou can flash it right nowThe final build is coming in Q3The Pixel 4 is first-in-line for Android 11Fast updatesGoogle Pixel 4 ...

During the coronavirus outbreak across the US, it's clear that not everyone will be able to pay their bills on time and this includes their phone service. Luckily, Chairman Pai of the FCC has asked carriers and internet providers across the nation to pledge to keep people connected, even if they are unable to pay their bills.If you are thinking this means free phone and internet service, it does not. These are programs to help people that might not be able to pay right away. You'll still need to pay the total amount before everything is said and done.Stay informed with our coronavirus updates so you know what to expect. You can also make the most of your time at home by working from home.Which carriers are waiving fees?A large list of internet providers including some of the largest in the nation have signed on to keep service active for people that may need some extra time to pay their bills. On the phone side, this includes all major carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T...

VPNs, or virtual private networks, are used in a variety of different ways these days. Some use them for personal gains, like spoofing locations and securing connections, while others need them in order to be able to access important work-related files and sites. With how much of our day is spent connected to the internet, and how much sensitive information is sent around, it's vital that you keep your connections secure. If you aren't totally sure on the benefits, here's more about what a VPN is and why you should consider one.Best Business VPNsPermiter 81: Our top pickEncrypt.me: Two user minimumExpressVPN: Great for individualsNordVPN Teams: Most secure optionVyprVPN: Fastest of allPureVPN: Reliable & affordableWith a VPN, your data is funneled through a provider's server and then gets to the destination, which helps mask what's going on and prevent people from being able to get into it. With some recent health concerns around the Coronavirus, more and more co...

Video games are amazing, but they usually don't do a great job of burning up physical energy. That's where VR and the Oculus Quest come in. If your kids are stuck at home and are bouncing off the walls, you can let them blow off some steam with the Oculus Quest. These games will get your kids and the family jumping, dancing, and spinning around.Note: When you let kids use VR, remember to take breaks for ten minutes every hour. You can check out more guidance on letting your kids use VR in this guide.⭐ Featured favoriteBeat SaberBeat Saber is an incredible game for all ages. It has a low learning curve and different skill levels, so anyone can enjoy it. You swing digital sabers at blocks to the beat of music. It feels like a bit of a mixture of Guitar Hero and Star Wars.$30 at Oculus StoreSolving mysteriesThe Curious Tale of the Stolen PetsStaff pickThis is a charming puzzle game that's a bit different than the other entries on this list. Rather t...

Netflix started out as a service focused on movies, but now fans tend to think of great shows first. Netflix has so many great TV shows that it can be hard to know where to begin. You might have a lot of time on your hands all of a sudden, and want to watch shows on Netflix that you know are worth your time on the couch. Here are the best 21 Netflix shows in 2020, separated by original series and library shows.Best Netflix Original SeriesNetflix is the gold standard for streaming service original series. It now has an excellent original show empire, from the co-produced Lilyhammer, to its first big in-house hit with House of Cards, and beyond.We're not in Hawkins anymoreStranger ThingsStaff pickStranger Things has racked up love from fans, critics, and Netflix, as the show has delivered attention and views. Dive into the supernatural, conspiracies, and the Upside-Down with local, small-town kids and the superpowered Eleven.Watch on NetflixBreads & Cakes &a...

Bluetooth headphones and earbuds are all the rage these days, and rightfully so. For some people, however, Bluetooth headsets that are less bulky and only focus on delivering a great hands-free phone call experience are a better purchase. Especially if you're now working from home, a headset is an easy way to stay on top of your work in a distracting environment. We think the Plantronics Voyager Legend is the best overall choice, but there are plenty of other options on this list worth considering.Best Overall: Plantronics Voyager LegendThere's a surprising amount of Bluetooth headsets still kicking around in 2019, and among them all, we think the best pick for most people is the Plantronics Voyager Legend. The Voyager isn't the most premium Bluetooth headset out there, but we think it offers the best overall experience and value.Plantronics' design for the Voyager Legend is simple and minimalistic in all the right ways. It hooks over your ear with ease, and thanks to Smart S...

The Samsung Galaxy S20+ has everything you could want from a 2020 flagship. There's a powerful Snapdragon 865 processor, multiple rear cameras, and a gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED display. That display is one of the main reasons to pick up the S20+, but if it happens to get scratched or shattered, the experience won't be the same. Prevent that from happening by picking up a screen protector. Trust us; you want one.Complete packageCaseology Film Screen Protector (2-Pack)Staff PickAfter picking up the Galaxy S20+, chances are you don't want to spend a ton of money on a screen protector. Thanks to Caseology, you don't have to. This package gives you two protectors at a great price, in addition to an impressive feature-set. The protectors are crystal clear, scratch-resistant, compatible with the in-screen fingerprint sensor, and can self-heal themselves.$11 at AmazonTour de forceDome Glass Whitestone Screen ProtectorWe know that Dome Glass's protector won't be for every...

The Galaxy S20 comes with its own plastic screen protector, but it's not of great quality. If you want the best possible experience, you'll want a better quality screen protector that also works with the ultrasonic screen protector. It's still early days, though, so stay tuned for lots of new additions in the weeks and months ahead.The gold standardWhitestone Dome Glass (2-Pack)Incredible protectionGlass screen protectors can be more finicky with the Galaxy S20 because of the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, but the UV curing system Whitestone uses is one we know works. It's expensive, to be sure, but it also holds really well to the phone and lasts a long time.$70 at AmazonAmerican-madeArmorSuit MilitaryShieldStaff pickThis oleophobic film protector comes in compact roll and uses a wet application to avoid bubbles and misalignments. ArmorSuit is also one of the few screen protectors made in the USA, if you prefer to buy domestic.$8 at AmazonName brand protect...

I am so excited for the PlayStation 5, but this backward compatibility situation is a mess.Backward compatibility was a staple on Xbox One, so of course Microsoft is doubling down on this philosophy with the Xbox Series X. Considering the overwhelmingly positive response that backward compatibility has gotten, Sony appeared to be poised to adopt that same type of program on PlayStation 5 (PS5). All comments seemingly indicated that backward compatibility would be a major feature on the PS5, but judging by Mark Cerny's canceled GDC talk, which was streamed online Wednesday, this doesn't appear to be the case.Cerny mentioned that 100 of the most popular PS4 titles were being tested for backward compatibility on PS5, but this confused some people who didn't know if that meant that only those 100 titles would playable on PS5 or if those were just the games being tested at the moment. An official post on the PlayStation Blog did not assuage fears, and only added to the confusion. ...

With Sony having gone well past 30 choices for controller color options, both in standard releases and limited editions, it can be hard to keep track of what is still available out there. Even finding a basic white second-generation controller can be difficult as colors are starting to be discontinued. Some of the limited edition controllers solely came in console bundles making pre-owned your only option, that is, short of buying a new console. But we have you covered; these are all the DualShock 4 controllers you can still get your hands on.★ Lovely Limited500 Million Limited EditionThe 500 Million Limited Edition PS4 controller was made to commemorate the sale of 500 million PlayStation consoles. This controller is quite possibly the most beautiful DualShock controller we will ever see. It features a deep translucent blue casing with complimentary rose gold lettering and PS button. It's sold out at several retailers, but there is still stock available if you know where...

The new UI matches what's found on iOS and Android.What you need to knowGoogle has modified the UI for its automatic webpage translations in Chrome, powered by Google Translate.The new design features a tabbed interface.It brings the desktop UI more in line with the current iOS and Android designs.Google is making a slight change to the UI of the Google Translate widget you'll see automatically translating webpages in a foreign language when using the Chrome browser. As Techdows reports, the company has updated the Translate "bubble" with a new tabbed UI, that's quite similar to what's now found on Chrome for iOS and Android.When Chrome detects a foreign language, the Translate bubble will show up in the URL bar. Clicking on it reveals the new, tabbed UI shown above. It'll show the language that the page is in as one tab, and if you want to translate the page into another language — say English — you simply click on the tab for that language.In addition, the three...

Switch to standard definition when HD is not needed to prevent breaking the internet.What you need to knowEuropean Union Commissioner Thiery Breton is urging people to switch to SD quality when streaming Netflix to save the internetNetflix CEO Reed Hastings and Breton have already spoken once on the matter and will discuss it again today.During the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people are sheltering in place, putting a strain on the internet while they work remotely, stream content, or stay in touch with friends and family.If you're like many of us around the world right now, you're staying at home as much as possible due to the coronavirus. Whether you're practicing social distancing or self quarantining, it's just the smart thing to do. As a result, we're finding a lot of hours in the day and night we need filled with something to do.Enter streaming services, many of which have free trials to take advantage of, in case you don't already subscribe. Without a doubt, N...

HTC isn't the heavy hitter in the smartphone space that it used to be; in fact, the company hasn't released a consumer-facing phone since 2018. However, its existing lineup is still worth looking into, especially now that each phone is available for a fraction of its original price. Here are the best ones you can grab right now.Best overallHTC U12+Staff pickThe U12+ takes after its predecessor the 11+ with a 6-inch, 18:9 LCD panel, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a whopping 3500mAh battery, and Android 9 Pie running Sense UI. It features dual cameras, one wide and one telephoto, along with Digital Buttons that replicate true power and volume buttons with haptic vibrations, and comes in three striking color options.$439 at AmazonRunner upHTC U11Despite being nearly three years old, the HTC U11 is still a solid phone with respectable specs like a Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a 5.5-inch display. The U11 was also the first phone to feature Edge ...

The legend himself is coming back.What you need to knowThe next update for Ghost Recon: Breakpoint is called Deep State.This content drop is bringing Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell series.Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Deep State is set to release on March 24. Sam Fisher is back. No, not in a new Splinter Cell game but he's again being called in to help the Ghosts. In a new story adventure in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, players will again get the chance to work with this legendary operative. We don't know many details right now but the update is called Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Deep State.You can check out the teaser trailer for Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Deep State below. In it, you'll get to hear Michael Ironside once again voice Sam Fisher, as he goes over some of the recent events in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, amusingly addressing many player complaints.Ghost Recon: Breakpoint is set to arrive on March 24. We don't know exactly what else is included in this new mission but fo...

Whether you want an easy way to check the weather, control smart home devices, stream music, or any other multitude of things, Google Assistant speakers are the way to go. They come in many shapes, sizes, and prices, but no matter which one you buy, you get the same core experience. If you're in the market for your first Assistant device or need another for your growing collection, here's a list of our current favorites — including the Google Nest Hub as our top overall choice.Best Overall: Google Nest HubKicking off our list, let's talk about the Google Nest Hub and why it's our favorite Google Assistant speaker currently on the market. If your ideal speaker strikes a good balance of design, features, and price, the Nest Hub is perfect.Starting with that first point, this thing looks great. The fabric base is available in a bunch of fun colors, and the way the screen is positioned on it gives off the impression that it's floating in mid-air. The quality of the 7-inch scree...

Essential was shut down in February this year, these renders show off what could have been.What you need to knowKevin Hoffman, a lead designer at Essential, shared images of upcoming projects.These include the Essential PH3 and Essential GEM, devices the company had been working on for a launch later in 2020.Essential was shuttered in February 2020.Andy Rubin's Essential was shut down in February 2020, but we still have a chance at seeing what the company was cooking up for a summer launch if all had gone as planned.Kevin Hoffman, a former Essential designer, shared images of the Essential GEM and Essential PH3, devices which could have launched as the Essential Phone 2 and/or 3 if the company hadn't closed down. Of the PH3, Hoffman comments: Essential PH3 was a project I led as a designer in an effort to create an inclusive phone with contemporary tech & aesthetic, at a low price point. The design was constrained to low BOM costs using a preexisting OLED dis...

The data could act as an early indicator of the coronavirus' spread.What you need to knowKinsa has used its smart thermometers to map illness around the U.S.The visualization shows fever-related illnesses.An atypical uptick in a given region could represent evidence of the coronavirus' spread.Kinsa, a health-tech company that makes smart thermometers, recently released its "Health Weather Map," which uses data from its thermometers to map the prevalence of fever-inducing sickness across the United States. Take a look at its map of observed illnesses across the country.While that's a lot of sick people, it's important to note that this is also flu season. So, many of these cases are what you'd expect this time of the year. More telling is the company's map of 'atypical illnesses,' which shows how much higher the rate of illness in a given region is compared to Kinsa's expectations based on previous data:This data shows an unusually high rate of illnesses in pockets a...

Finnish firm unveils Nokia 8.3 5G, Nokia 5.3 and Android Go-powered Nokia 1.3.HMD Global has today taken the wraps off new Android devices that were originally to be unveiled at the cancelled Mobile World Congress show last month. Leading the pack is the company's 5G standard-bearer, the Nokia 8.3 5G. Powered by Qualcomm's high-mid-tier Snapdragon 765G platform, the €599 phone offers a balanced feature set, global 5G support in a single model, and future-proofing for standalone 5G networks.The phone's chassis follows Nokia's established design language, with an attractive reflective glass rear in "polar night" blue and circular camera module. That rear camera hump houses a quad-camera setup that's impressive for the price. The star attraction is a 64-megapixel main shooter with Zeiss optics, and that's backed up by an 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with large 1.4-micron pixels, capable of being pixel-binned down to 2.8-micron equivalent size in 3MP video mode.Nokia 8.3 5G spec...

Best answer: Most Chromebooks on the market today have 4GB of RAM and that is indeed enough to get by. If a model you're considering has options for 8GB of RAM, though, I'd highly recommend it now that Chromebooks are getting significantly longer support lives.4GB is enough: Lenovo Chromebook C330 ($250 at Amazon)8GB is better: ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 ($645 at Amazon)What is RAM?RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Think of it as a container where the things you're doing on your Chromebook — both what you can see and what's happening behind the scenes — can store and retrieve data randomly. That means it can access any byte of that data without affecting the preceding or trailing bytes. That makes it fast, because the location of the data you need has no effect on the time it takes to read, write or overwrite it. With no moving parts, there are no mechanical limitations on access times.RAM is also volatile — once the integrated circuits lose their power, the data d...