Latest from Android Central

The Seven Deadly Sins are really pretty OK, once you get to know them.If there's an upper limit to the appetite for mobile games based on popular manga and anime properties, we haven't hit it yet. The latest example is The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Netmarble's RPG that takes the story of a group of notorious and treasonous knights and quickly turns it on its head. The game doesn't subvert expectations quite as much in terms of its mechanics, but it's fair to say that there are just enough interesting facets to combat that it isn't a completely paint-by-numbers gacha-based mobile RPG — and the fact that it's visually gorgeous doesn't hurt either.It's also free to play, meaning there's no reason not to download The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross and give it a try. And if you need some help getting your bearings once you do, you're in luck: This very article contains the best tips and tricks to get started and make sure the Holy Knights regret the day they ever crossed your ...

The new "Explore" tab includes landing pages for different types of content.What you need to knowThe 'Trending' tab in the YouTube mobile app is being replaced by 'Explore.'The new tab has everything the 'Trending' tab did, plus links to destination pages for various categories of videos.These include Gaming, Music, Fashion & Beauty, and more.Google is making a slight change to the YouTube mobile app. A new 'Explore' tab will be taking the place of the 'Trending' tab. The redesign is a result of experiments the company has been trying since 2018. The blog post announcing the change explains it as follows: With Explore, you not only have access to Trending videos, but also to destination pages for some popular content categories like Gaming, Music, Fashion & Beauty, Learning and more – all from one place.Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like users will be able to create their own destination pages, so you'll only get to choose from a list of pre-made options...

The company has looked at Facebook and Johnson & Johnson as potential partners.What you need to knowStartup Magic Leap is looking to partner with other companies, exploring options up to an acquisition.The company has been looking at interested parties like Facebook and Johnson & Johnson.Facebook has reportedly shown little interest due to its own Oculus business and occupation with the coronavirus pandemic. AR startup Magic Leap is looking at a few options, including partnering with another company or selling a large stake in its business.According to Bloomberg who broke the story this week: Magic Leap, which counts Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. among its largest investors, is gauging potential interest from large tech companies including Facebook Inc. and medical giant Johnson & Johnson, the people said. An initial meeting between Facebook and Magic Leap never progressed to deal talks, according to a person familiar with the ...

A real Ultra.Galaxy S20+ reviewWhere does the Plus fit?A pefect displayA Samsung legacyThe fingerprint sensorThe camerasIncredible battery lifeTypical Samsung softwareShould you buy it?The other S20sGalaxy S20 reviewGalaxy S20 Ultra reviewIf the Galaxy S20 Ultra is too much of a good thing, the Galaxy S20+ is just the right amount of goodness. Or greatness. It's the best phone I've used in a long time, and will hopefully get better with a few camera-tweaking updates sure to come in the next few months.It also surprised me — I've had access to all three Galaxy S20 phones for nearly two weeks now, and where I thought I'd immediately gravitate to the inimitable camera of the S20 Ultra, or the perfect-in-the-hand size of the Galaxy S20, it's the Goldilocks-just-right middle ground of the S20+ that I think will appeal to most people this year.Let's get into it.A message from this review's sponsor, IncipioIncipio is offering a new case for eco-cons...

G Suite boss Javier Soltero also suggested the company is looking at better integration between apps for the future.What you need to knowG Suite now has over 2 billion active monthly users, the GM and VP of G Suite revealed this week.Bringing smart compose to other apps beyond just Gmail and Docs is one of the ways the company is looking to improve its productivity suite.It's also looking at improving integration between the different apps.No longer is G Suite a fledgling underdog to Microsoft Office. As Google GM and VP of G Suite, Javier Soltero, revealed in an interview with Axios this week, Google's productivity suite just crossed a significant milestone: 2 billion active monthly users.And while Soltero, who previously occupied the top Office job at Microsoft, refused to break down those numbers further between paid and free users, back in 2019 at least, as many as 5 million businesses were paying for G Suite. In comparison, Microsoft's Office 365 service, on the othe...

Verizon solidifies its mmWave 5G lead in the latest FCC spectrum auction.What you need to knowVerizon bought the most 5G mmWave spectrum ever, spending over $1.6 billion for 4,960 licenses.AT&T came in second with 3,267 licenses, while T-Mobile is in third with 2,384.This auction is the largest auction the FCC has ever held, both monetarily and in measured spectrum licensed.In a move that's both surprising and expected at the same time, Verizon has just bought up a metric ton of millimeter-wave 5G spectrum from the FCC in Auction 103, as noted by Light Reading. Verizon spend over $1.6 billion to purchase 4,960 licenses from the FCC to bolster their already impressive 5G network, which is built upon the same mmWave spectrum technology in this auction. In fact, Verizon purchased 50% more spectrum than AT&T, which was the next-highest bidder at $1.186 billion for 3,267 licenses. T-Mobile took third place with 2,384 licenses purchased. In total, Auction 103 covered the ...

Deeper and deeper into The Oldest House.What you need to knowControl is the latest game from Remedy Entertainment.It launched in 2019 to quite a bit of critical success.A free DLC, Expeditions, was released in December 2019.The first paid Expansion, The Foundation, is now coming on March 26.Today, Remedy shared some exciting news. The first paid expansion for Control is on the way! The Foundation is the first major paid expansion for Control, taking Jesse further, deeper and deeper underneath the Bureau. Remedy has previously stated that with this expansion, players should "Expect things to get weird."pic.twitter.com/7hw0DQkByt— Control (@ControlRemedy) March 12, 2020According to this brief teaser, The Foundation will be available on March 26. If you don't currently own Control, you can try it out on PlayStation Now, as the full game has been added to the PlayStation Now service for a few months. After this, there's one more expansion planned according to the conte...

Never go over your monthly data allowance ever again.We all like using our phones, but as you continue to run apps, games, websites, etc., it doesn't take long to eat up your mobile data. I think we can all agree that this is something we generally are not a fan of.You may not think you use that much data during the month, but if you aren't paying close attention to how you're using your phone and how long you're on it, it can go by quicker than you'd expect. Thankfully, there are built-in tools in Android to help you cut back on your data usage and prevent you from going over what your monthly phone plan allows for.In this guide, we're going to be explaining those tools and how you can put them to work for you right now. Ready to get started? Let's go!How to use less mobile data on your phoneThere are two main features we're going to be covering in this article, and the first is a feature on your Android phone called "Data Saver." Data Saver was first introduced all the wa...

Smartphones are slowly but surely getting rid of the 3.5mm audio jack from smartphones and tablets, so users are turning to wireless as the next viable option. The Jabra Elite 75t are currently the best overall true wireless earbuds you can buy. They feature solid sound, long battery life, and they're incredibly comfortable and portable.Best Overall: Jabra Elite 75tThe Jabra Elite 75t features a very bass-heavy sound out of the box, which is surprising. The bass is boosted quite a bit to the point where some may dislike the bass overall. For bass heads, this will be the earbud for you. Fortunately, you can adjust the Elite 75t's sound signature with its smartphone companion app.Battery life is excellent here as well with up to 7.5 hours of listening on a single charge. The included charging case gets you roughly 20 additional hours of listening, totaling around 28 hours of listening time with the charging case. Unfortunately, they still don't feature wireless charging for the...

You spend all day with your phone, setting it down on tables, chairs, public benches, bathroom counters, and even more unsightly places. Then there's the more visible grime that gets on or in your phone from dropping it in the dog park, leaving it in your sweaty jean pockets, or letting your child pour Cheerio dust all over it. Phones get dirty easily, but thankfully getting them clean again can be easy, too, if you know what to use.Products used in this guideAll the nooks and crannies: DanziX Phone Cleaning Kit ($7 at Amazon)Safe on screens: Zeiss Mobile Screen Wipes ($11 at Amazon)Overboard but efficient: PhoneSoap 3 ($80 at Amazon)What NOT to use when cleaning your phoneLysol or Clorox wipes might seem like an easy way to clean grime off a phone, but fight this instinct with every phone-loving fiber of your being. Bleach, vinegar, alcohol, and most harsh disinfectant chemicals can clean the sides and back of an Android phone or iPhone, but those chemicals need to sta...

A Raspberry Pi is a sensitive electronic device. We tend to forget that when we're making it do all sorts of tasks or even just making lights blink, but it's a computer and subject to the same dangers as any other. Putting it inside a case is a must! Here are a few of the top recommended cases to put your Raspberry Pi 3 B+ in to keep things from shorting out.Active coolingMiuzei Rapsberry Pi 3 Model B+ CaseStaff pickYour Raspberry Pi can get hot when you're playing games or streaming HD video. This case from Miuzei was built to keep things cool, even if you've put your entire setup under the TV or inside a media cabinet.$16 at AmazonHeat SinkFlirc Raspberry Pi CaseThe Flirc Raspberry Pi case not only looks good but is a great heatsink. Built from solid aluminum with its thermal pad integrated, this case is an excellent supplemental cooling solution.$12 at AmazonCrystal clearKuGi PC protective caseIf you want an inexpensive option that still protects your...

Eero Secure is honestly a pretty great service. Offered by Amazon to owners of its eero mesh networking hardware, it provides users with greater control over their network, along with myriad tools for keeping both devices and users safe. Whichever plan you choose to subscribe to — eero Secure or eero Secure+ — the setup process is the same.Recommended eero ProductsTo get you started: eero Mesh WiFi 3-pack ($249 at Amazon)For a bit more 'oomph': eero Pro Mesh WiFi System ($199 at Amazon)How to set up eero SecureBefore you get startedMake sure eero isn't in Bridge modeRegister your eero Secure subscriptionSign up for eero Secure + partnered apps (optional)A few final notes on eero SecureBefore you get startedIn order to use eero Secure, you'll need a few things. First, make sure you've configured your eero account and set up at least one eero gateway device. You'll need the eero app to do this, since it functions as the control panel for your entire mesh netw...

If you're unsure what kinds of credit card offers are out there right now for a limited time, we're bringing them under one roof. Credit card companies are constantly changing promotional welcome offers that give new cardholders extra cash back, points, or miles. The offers can run for months or weeks, and missing one can cost you potentially hundreds of dollars in rewards. In order to help you grab the best offers possible, we've assembled some of the best limited-time credit card offers on the market right now.Best credit card offers right nowMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card: 100,000 bonus pointsSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: 100,000 bonus pointsIHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card: 140,000 bonus pointsCredit card companies typically offer potential customers some type of introductory offer to entice them to apply and award them for being approved. These offers vary in value and length of time that the promotion is avai...

New phones and monthly data plans are incredibly expensive lately, with many service plans costing over $70/month and phones like the new Samsung Galaxy S20 starting at nearly $1,000. The big carriers offer ways to break the price into more digestible monthly fees, but they still entail expensive data plans. Now, Visible is selling the Galaxy S20 and S20+ with an affordable plan that majorly undercuts major carriers.Visible is offering the Samsung Galaxy S20 starting from $41/month with 0% APR, letting you break up the cost of the phone over 24 months instead of paying a huge lump sum. The Galaxy S20 Plus is also available for $49/month, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra is set to go on sale later in March.The monthly installment plan isn't the only way Visible is making it easier to get the Galaxy S20 devices. You'll also get a $200 Samsung gift credit if you're switching to Visible and porting in your phone number. That gift credit will be good at Samsung.com, where you can buy accessor...

Playing your PlayStation 4 on the go can be a tricky and cumbersome experience, but it doesn't have to be thanks to the portable monitors. While it won't be portable in a handheld sense, you can make it far more comfortable to not only pack up and travel with your PS4 but also play it anywhere you can find a power outlet. We've highlighted these monitors based on some factors including portability, ease of use, and resolution.Big and LightLepow 15.6 portable monitorStaff pickWant a bigger screen without breaking your back to carry it? This 15.6-inch, 1920x1080, Full HD, IPS monitor weighs in at under 2 pounds — 1.76 to be precise. Thanks to the included screen cover-stand, you have one and a half fewer things to worry about when packing.$185 at AmazonMulti-compatibleKenowaThis Kenowa portable monitor is 15.6 inches and has a resolution of 1920x1080. It also has a dual HDMI input, headphone port, and built-in speaker. You can power this device through the USB por...

May even offer buyback programs for older devices.What you need to knowThe EU plans to introduce new "right to repair" rules for phones, tablets, and laptops by 2021.It is part of a greater initiative to cut down on e-waste and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.Manufacturers will also be offered incentives to produce products more sustainably as part of the greater Circular Economy Action Plan.The EU has been in the news a lot lately with its plans to introduce new policies to cut down on e-waste. In January, we learned of its plans to require phone manufacturers to use one standard port and cable for charging. This would allow consumers to use the same cable and charger for longer and lead to fewer of them ending up in the landfill.And in February, we reported about how the EU was working on a proposal to make it easier to get your smartphone battery replaced. The battery is often the first component in a phone to degrade, and one of the biggest reasons people upgrade. ...

Your phone is the grossest thing you own.What you need to knowSamsung will be offering free phone sanitizing services in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.It will clean Galaxy devices from phones down to Galaxy Buds.The service is rolling out in 19 markets and plans to expand to other countries later down the line. As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the globe, companies are helping stop the spread by restricting travel and encouraging working from home. In all cases, an emphasis has been placed on personal hygiene to minimize the speed of transmission.Samsung, in particular, is encouraging users to clean their phones by offering free Galaxy Sanizitzing services in select regions.SamMobile reports: The Galaxy Sanitizing Service is being offered for free through official Samsung Service Center and Samsung Experience Stores in select countries currently and the service is being expanded continuously. It simply sanitizes the phone with UV-C light, no harsh cl...

Working from home can be a daunting thing if you've never done it before, but truth be told, it doesn't have to be. In fact, as someone that's been working from home for a few years, it's pretty darn great. However, that does come with a big caveat — you need the right gear. Specifically, you need to invest in an ergonomic chair, keyboard, and mouse. That might seem like overkill, but trying to work from a dining room chair and using the cheapest mouse from Walmart will put endless strain on your body. To prevent that from happening, here's the gear we recommend picking up.ChairsBest for mostSmugdesk Ergonomic Mesh ChairStaff PickWhen it comes to the best overall ergonomic office chair, the Smugdesk Ergonomic Mesh Chair is hard to argue with. There's a lot on offer here, so let's dive right in. Right off the bat, Smugdesk offers full lumbar support to make sure you're comfy at all times. The waist pillow can significantly reduce spine fatigue, the armrests are adjusta...

Whether you're leery of Google's data collection practices, fed up with Nest WiFi's lack of advanced functionality, or simply browsing the market for something better, we've rounded up some of the best alternatives to what Google has to offer. Check them out below — there should be something for everyone!Best overalleero ProStaff pickThe eero Pro offers incredible speed, consistency, and range, outperforming Nest WiFi in a lot of areas. Plus, with Eero Secure, you gain access to a ton of advanced security features, and the option for a password manager, premium antivirus, and VPN — all at a reasonable price point.$299 at AmazonPremium and powerfulNetgear Orbi 6Netgear has been in the home networking game for a long time, and it shows. Its recently-released Orbi 6 system is extremely powerful, bundling support for Wi-Fi 6 with a tri-band wireless signal that provides up to a maximum of 6 Gbps. The main drawback is that this serious performance comes with ...

By preventing manufacturers from using both Android and forked versions of Android.What you need to knowBy licensing Android, a company agrees not to manufacture another device running a fork of Android, or it will lose access to Google apps and the Play Store.That prevents companies from producing TVs running both Android TV and a fork such as Amazon's Fire TV OS.The policy also extends to other products, stopping companies like LG and Samsung from using Fire TV OS on TVs or else they could lose access to the Play Store and Google apps on smartphones.When a company licenses Android from Google for a smartphone, it does so with specific stipulations. One of the requirements being that it bars you from producing devices with a forked version of Android. If you do, then you take the risk of losing access to Google apps, including the Play Store.That's a pretty big incentive to not make a phone or other device running a forked version of Android. As we've seen with the whole...

Prepare for Hell on Earth.What you need to knowDoom Eternal has a new launch trailer, showing more glimpses of what players will be fighting through.The trailer also shows an absolutely massive new monster. Doom Eternal is scheduled to release on March 20 for most platforms except Nintendo Switch.Doom Eternal is almost here. Ahead of its release, Bethesda has released one last new look at the game through a launch trailer, which gives us a glimpse at some really, really big foes. You can check out the Doom Eternal launch trailer below.Doom Eternal is bringing tons of new features for players to enjoy, such as the ability to customize the look of the Slayer in the campaign. You can even grab a unicorn-themed skin from a Twitch Prime promotion.If you'd like to learn more about Doom Eternal, our senior staff editor Carli Velocci got a chance to play a few hours of the game at a preview event. You can check out her thoughts right here. There's also some new gameplay in ...

Only four Samsung Galaxy phones run UI 2.1 currently.What you need to knowA Samsung Community moderator has "confirmed" that the One UI 2.1 update will be rolled out for the company's older flagship phones.Samsung flagship phones confirmed to receive the One UI 2.1 update include the Galaxy S10 & Note 10 series as well as the Galaxy S9 and Note 9. There is no word yet on when the One UI 2.1 update will begin rolling out. Samsung introduced the latest iteration of its custom Android skin with the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Z Flip last month. Unlike One UI 2.0, however, One UI 2.0 is only a minor upgrade. A moderator on the Korean Samsung Community forum (via SamMobile) has now confirmed that Samsung plans to release the One UI 2.1 update to some of its older flagship models this year.According to the moderator, the One UI 2.1 update will be rolled out for the Galaxy S10 series, Galaxy Note 10 series, Galaxy S9 series, and the Galaxy Note 9. Just like the One UI 2...

Best answer: As many as you need. There's no hard limit to the number of Beacons an eero router can support. That said, eero recommends taking your home's size, the number of rooms/floors, and other potential sources of interference into account when figuring out how many Beacons to install, as after a certain point you'll likely see diminishing returns.Build your eero Network: eero Mesh WiFi 3-Pack ($249 at Amazon)Get more Beacons: eero Beacon Mesh WiFi Range Extender ($149 at Amazon)Powered ethernet: TP-Link AV600 Powerline Ethernet Adapter($33 at Amazon)Within reason, you can add as many eero beacons as you needeero built its mesh network for flexibility and expandability. That means you're free to configure, install, and expand it in whatever way you see fit. It also means that as long as you have at least one eero Mesh Router, you can add as many new devices as you want. That applies to all eeros, not just Beacons.There are some caveats here, mind you. For best resul...

If you reside in the UK and have been waiting for Disney Plus to become officially available, the wait is nearly over. Starting March 24 customers across the UK, Italy, Spain, and more will have access to all the content, and signing up before then scores you a nice extra discount on the annual subscription. Normally, Disney would charge £59.99 for the yearly subscription, but right now you can save £10 on that price, making it just £49.99 for 12 months.This breaks down to just £4.17 per month, which is around the same price as a single cup of coffee. The offer is available through the end of March 23, and if you sign up on March 24 you'll be stuck paying the full £59.99 price. Given the recent Coronavirus concerns, odds are that you'll be spending much more time indoors, whether you planned for it or not. Streaming services like Disney Plus are a great way to help pass that time.Disney PlusSign up for £49.99 at Disney PlusSign up to get access to all of Disney's gre...

None of this is surprising, but it's incredibly disappointing.What you need to knowThe Last of Us Part II was delayed from February to May.Naughty Dog is infamous for its terrible crunch culture.A new report details the crunch going on to finish The Last of Us Part II.Crunch is ubiquitous in the games industry. Nearly all developers undergo crunch in some form to get their games finished on time, but some are worse than others. A new report from Kotaku sheds light on the disturbing crunch culture within The Last of Us Part II developer Naughty Dog.The studio's affinity for crunch is no secret. Past and present employees, speaking under anonymity, have told horror stories about what it was like to work under the pressure of crunch at Naughty Dog. Though management can say crunch is never mandated and all employees have a choice of working longer hours, the culture and peer pressure essentially forces their hands."You feel obligated to be there later, because everyone els...

A new 3-tier pricing plan, friendlier smartphone app, and VR cloud gaming on the Oculus Quest.What you need to knowShadow is adding two new pricing tiers to its cloud gaming service; one more affordable, one more powerful.10 additional states are supported, making Shadow available in all 48 contiguous states in the U.S.Oculus Quest owners can sign up for the Shadow VR beta, which brings PC VR cloud gaming to the Quest.Shadow is revamping its cloud gaming offerings with a brand new 3-tier pricing plan, brand new smartphone apps with fast launching for your favorite games, and the ability to stream PC VR games straight to your Oculus Quest. The new 3-tier pricing plan includes a more affordable pricing plan that's half the price of the original, as well as an "infinite" tier plan that offers a significantly more powerful gaming experience. Both the existing "ultra" plan and the new, more expensive "Infinite" plan include the ability to utilize NVIDIA's RTX ray tracing on new ...

Best answer: The Eero mesh router and eero Pro each have two auto-detecting Ethernet ports. When one of these is hooked up to a modem or other connection source, the second can be used to connect another device to the Internet. The eero Beacon is exclusively a mesh network extender, and as such has no Ethernet ports.The standard for mesh networking: eero Mesh WiFi 3-Pack ($249 at Amazon)Tri-band power: eero Pro ($199 at Amazon)Easy expansion: eero Beacon ($149 at Amazon)Most eeros have two Ethernet portsEven with a top-notch wireless mesh network, sometimes it's better to do things the old-fashioned way. For high-intensity stuff like PC gaming, even the best Wi-Fi might not provide the necessary speed or stability. Eero's devices allow you to have the best of both worlds, which is one of the reasons why they topped our list of best mesh networks.Both the eero mesh router and eero Pro feature a pair of auto-detecting Ethernet ports on their back and include a CAT6 Ethernet...

It may sound crazy, but toilet paper inventory is at an extreme low at retailers across the United States. As the Coronavirus continues to spread and the fear continues to grow, people are starting to stock up on more and more everyday essentials. Normally, you'd be able to walk into just about any store out there and buy some toilet paper, but right now the shelves at many retailers are totally empty, and even online you have to be in the right place at the right time to get some.There's no guidance right now that loading up on toilet paper is recommended, that doesn't appear to be stopping anyone from buying it in large quantities. The Coronavirus is impacting just about every part of our daily life, from supplies and essentials to tech, and even the gaming industry right now.Toilet paper is something that most people can't live without, and not everyone has time to drive around to a hundred different stores in hopes of finding some. We've taken the time to round up all the ret...

Let's chat with the AC forums.The debate of glass vs. plastic smartphones is one that we've had a lot over the years. Plastic isn't as premium but is cheaper and more durable, whereas glass has a more luxury feel but is prone to easily breaking.It's a debate that'll likely continue for the foreseeable future, and every now and then, it becomes a more heated topic.Recently, someone in our AC forums shared a picture of their Note 10 with a shattered back and brought up the point of glass being too fragile. As you might expect, that resulted in a lot of opinions from other forum members. egood71 03-10-2020 12:03 PM “ Need to start making these phones out of titanium. Reply B. Diddy 03-10-2020 12:05 PM “ But then no wireless charging. Phone manufacturers just have to get off their high horses and...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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