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The integration may rely on RCS services.What you need to knowGoogle and Samsung are seemingly collaborating on tighter integration between their apps.A report from South Korea, as well as an examination of the Samsung Messages app, reveals One UI users could soon use Duo video calling from within the SMS app.A partnership with carriers and the use of RCS may even help bypass data charges.Samsung Messages, RCS, and Google Duo. What happens when you combine the default SMS app on the majority of Android phones sold today with the next big thing in messaging and possibly the best video calling app on Android? Something really awesome, we hope, because that's what Samsung and Google are working on.A report from The Korea Herald suggests Samsung is looking to integrate its Messages app with Google Duo and allow future One UI users to call each other directly via Google's awesome video calling app. An app breakdown by 9to5Google reveals the same and goes into more detail about...

Now more than ever before, speakers are more than just a singular tool for listening to your favorite music. Modern speakers often have built-in ways to play songs from your preferred streaming service, talk to digital assistants, and connect to other speakers in your home for multi-room audio. Sonos has become one of the most popular brands in the current speaker world, offering a multi-room system that's proven to be among the best out there. However, if you're ready to move beyond Sonos, there are a ton of options out there — including the Amazon Echo Studio — that are just as good.Best Overall: Amazon Echo StudioAmazon's kicked out a ton of Echo speakers over the years, but the Echo Studio is the first one that's really taken audio quality seriously. For the price, this is easily one of the best-sounding speakers you can buy.The Echo Studio sounds every bit as good as the similarly-priced Sonos One, with its three 2-inch mid-range speakers, front-facing 1-inch tweeter...

Best answer: There are a number of price tracking services that you can use to monitor products on Amazon. Our favorite right now is Honey because it's free, is offered on multiple platforms, and is super easy to use. It's not the only great price tracker though, so we've decided to highlight some other good options as well.Prime time prices: Amazon Prime (From $13/month at Amazon)Sweet savings: Honey (Free at Honey)Honey is a sweet saverWe like Honey for a variety of reasons, particularly its ease-of-use, ubiquity, and extensive feature set. Here's a quick rundown of the service's features.First and foremost, for these services to really gain traction, it's important that they offer the customer value (savings) and that they are low cost, or free. Honey is a free-to-use service that claims to save its customers an average of $126 per year, at an average discount of 17.9%. The company also claims that it has over 30,000 participating merchants offering up data on their p...

When Diablo Immortal was announced, fans were ready to jump into the world of Diablo on mobile. While players continue to wait on more information regarding the game, those on Android can still get ready for the game by pre-registering. Doing so is extremely easy, and if you have an Android device, doesn't take much time at all.When does Diablo Immortal launch?Unfortunately for fans waiting, Blizzard has yet to release any concrete information on when Diablo Immortal will launch. Because the game is available to pre-register, though, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the game launch sooner rather than later. Because this is the first of its kind for Blizzard, though, the company is likely trying to spend some extra time in order to make sure everything works as intended by the time the launch actually occurs.In the meantime, pre-registering for the game will allow players to sign up, which will in turn ensure they have the game on their device as soon as it's available. At t...

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.Marriott's original offer on the Bonvoy Bold card is back after almost a year of absence.What you need to knowMarriott has launched a new limited-time offer for its Bonvoy Bold credit card.Earn 50,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.This offer has not existed since Marriott launched the card last summer.When Marriott launched the Marriot Bonvoy Bold Credit Card last year, it introduced the first Bonvoy branded credit card without any annual fee. It also kicked off the card's introduction to the market with a really impressive welcome bonus for a card of its class.Now, that offer is back. New cardholders can once again earn 50,00...

PUBG Mobile is a graphics-intensive game that demands a powerful phone. If you want the best results and get more Chicken Dinners, you're going to need a phone for gamers that truly stands out from the pack, and in 2019 that's the ASUS ROG Phone 2. Not only is it a great phone that was specifically designed with gaming in mind, but it also includes some of the most advanced smartphone features for those who love to live on the bleeding edge.Best Overall: ASUS ROG Phone 2The ASUS ROG Phone wasn't the first gaming smartphone to hit the market, but it did deliver a number of compelling features that helped it stand out from the pack. For the follow up, ASUS stepped up the specs with an upgrade to the Snapdragon 855 Plus, 12GB of RAMm and a massive 512GB of internal storage. That's plenty of power and storage to get the best performance playing PUBG Mobile — and anything else you do with your phone.You'll also be able to play longer thanks to the massive 6,000mAh battery. Thing...

Developers can get started on making content for the Surface Duo and dual-screen devices.What you need to knowMicrosoft released a dual-screen preview SDK for the Surface Duo.A preview SDK for the Surface Duo is available now.A pre-release version of the Windows 10X SDK will be available "in the coming weeks."Microsoft released a preview SDK for the Surface Duo and discussed upcoming previews for Windows 10X. A new blog post from Microsoft breaks down Microsoft's plans for dual-screen devices, and how developers will gain access to relevant SDKs over time.Microsoft announced the availability of the preview SDK for the Surface Duo. Microsoft states that the preview SDK allows developers to see how they can take advantage of dual-screen experiences, including: Native Java APIs to support dual-screen development for the Surface Duo device, including the DisplayMask API, Hinge Angle Sensor, and new device capabilities. An Android Emulator with a preview Surface Duo i...

The AI hardware startup's second-gen true wireless earbuds miss the mark.There's no shortage of true wireless earbuds to choose from these days, but that hasn't stopped Chinese hardware startup Mobvoi, most well-known for its growing line of TicWatch smartwatches, from trying to make a splash in the nascent market.With its TicPods 2 Pro, the company has tried to offer what it thinks users want from a pair of TWEs: impressive portability, high-quality sound, and low-friction interaction at a relatively low price.And it's done a fairly good job at building a case for its $130 offering. But the TicPods 2 Pro are lacking a couple of things that, at least to me in early 2020, can't be missing from this form factor.At a glanceMobvoi TicPods 2 Pro Bottom line: Mobvoi's latest true wireless earbuds try to turn a bunch of intere...

Huawei's flagship will also be available in five other colors.What you need to knowYet another P40 Pro render has popped up this week.It shows a new color option for the phone: mint.The leak comes courtesy of @evleaks, making it quite likely to be accurate.In the last week alone, we've seen three new sets of P40 renders pop up back-to-back, with a new one rearing its head each day. It's been five days since the last one, so I guess we're overdue for one, and thanks to @evleaks' latest leak, balance has finally been restored in the Androidverse.This render, too, showcases a phone with four cameras, instead of the rumored five, lending credence to another set of renders from last week with the same design and camera placement. The discrepancy may be resolved by another P40 leak from last week, this time by Teme:This is I think the right way to compare.S20>P40S20+ P40 ProS20 Ultra>P40 Pro (Premium Edition)#GalaxyS20Series #HuaweiP40Series— Teme (特米) (@RODENT9...

A new Collections tab makes its way to the Google app.What you need to knowGoogle is refreshing its Collections feature with sharing and collaborative features.The firm will also now dynamically suggest new content for your Collections with AI.Suggested Collections will roll out to the U.S. first, but collaborative content will come to all regions today.Google is taking its little known bookmarking feature — Collections— from a back seat feature to one that sits at the forefront of its search experience. Previously relegated to the "more" menu of the Google app, the firm is now pushing it front and center with a new Collections tab that sits front and center on the homepage of the app.But that's not all that's going on, Google is making Collections much more useful for everyone. It's applying two of what you could say are its core strengths - collaboration and suggestion - to supercharge the feature, and it kind of works.Suggestions are something that Google does...

We're rounding up the best Android games you can play.If you're looking for the best new games available in the Google Play Store, you've come to the right place. We update this list whenever a new game comes out that's worthy of being added to this list, so you'll always know about the latest and greatest games.Whether you're new to Android and need some fresh, new games to start building out your Google Play library or simply looking for the latest trendy games that are worthy of your time and attention, these are the best Android games you can find right now.Call of Duty MobileVectronomStardew Valley Graveyard KeeperPUBG Mobile NBA 2K20Brawl StarsOddmarHoledownBattleChasers: NightWarChameleon RunThe Room: Old Sins Pokemon GoJYDGETesla vs LovecraftDeath Road to CanadaStranger Things: The Game Reigns: Her Majesty Call of Duty MobileThere was a ton of hype surrounding Call of Duty Mobile throughout the beta and ahead of it's global launch, and to the ...

Nest HelloOur pick$220 at WalmartProsMuch better dynamic rangeUses facial recognition to announce who's at the doorBetter Wi-Fi connectivityConsSubscription service is more expensiveCan't use with Amazon Echo/AlexaThe Nest Hello isn't just a great-looking piece of hardware. Its camera has an excellent dynamic range that keeps glare from the sun from blowing out your live feed, and it makes use of Nest's facial recognition technology to announce who's at the door — so long as you've identified them before.Ring Video Doorbell ProRunner-up$249 at AmazonProsCheaper subscription serviceSubscription stores 60 days vs. Nest's 5-30 daysConsNo continuous recordingNo facial recognitionDoesn't play with Google Assistant anymoreThe Ring Video Doorbell Pro integrates great with Amazon services, allowing Echo speakers to announce when someone rings your doorbell. Where the Ring Pro wins out big is in its cheaper subscription service, which offers a...

One of the top LCD makers bets big on the other side.What you need to knowBOE will invest heavily in AMOLED and flexible OLED in 2020.Up to 70 million AMOLED screens will be produced, with up to 20 million flexible displays.BOE is rumored to be in the running for a future iPhone display supplier contract.BOE technology, a display company that is one of the world's largest supplier of LCD panels, will be ramping up production on AMOLED displays significantly in 2020, up to doubling the number of screens the company currently products. A report on Gizmochina predicts the company will make up to 70 million AMOLED panels this year, and up to 20 million of those will be flexible displays. The industry definition for "flexible" display is somewhat malleable, so this could mean displays that are bent in addition to those that actually flex.BOE is rumored to be in the running to supply screens for an upcoming iPhone. Apple does not announce supply partners, but the company report...

Best answer: Yes, as long as Android devices are updated to Android 10 and iOS devices are updated to iOS 13, DualShock 4 controllers will be supported via Bluetooth. PC also supports DualShock controllers with a wired connection.Plug it in: DualShock 4 controller (black) ($47 at Amazon)How can I use my DualShock 4 on PC or Mac with PS4 Remote Play?In order to use a DualShock 4 on PC, you'll need to connect it via USB. It will not work with PS4 Remote Play wirelessly on your computer through a Bluetooth connection. This may not be the case in the future if Sony finally allows support for it wirelessly, but you're stuck with a USB connection until that happens.Macs received support for DualShock 4 controllers via Bluetooth back in October 2019 with the macOS Catalina update.Is a DualShock 4 natively compatible with PS4 Remote Play on any mobile device?Yes. So long as you are running Android 10 or iOS 13 (or later), DualShock 4 controllers will be compatible through Bluetoo...

"The impact on Huawei's business would not be very significant."What you need to knowHuawei says it is ready for a U.S. escalation of what it sees as an anti-Huawei "campaign".The telecoms firm has been under a prolonged siege by U.S authorities as they allege espionage. The firm spent "billions" building out a plan B in preparation and is now preparing to launch its P40 and P40 Pro without Google Play Services.After being blacklisted from working with American tech companies, Huawei says it is ready for a U.S. escalation this year, according to CNBC. Speaking at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei said: This year the U.S. might further escalate their campaign against Huawei, but I feel the impact on Huawei's business would not be very significant. This year in 2020, since we already gained experience from last year and we got a stronger team, I think we are more confident that we can survive even further attack.Huawei had always been r...

Wireless headphones are great, and once you find a pair that works for you, you'll never want to go back to the wired life ever again. The biggest difference between wired and wireless headphones is that they need to be charged when the battery dies, and to make your life a whole lot easier, you want to pick up a pair that charges via USB-C (the same connector that's probably on your phone). Here are all of the best ones we were able to find!Some of the bestSony WH-1000XM3Staff pickHave a lot of money to throw down on your next pair of wireless headphones? Go for the Sony WH-1000XM3. These have quickly asserted themselves as having some of the best sound quality and active noise cancelation of any wireless headphones on the market, and all of that goodness is packed in a sleek design with 30+ hours of battery life. When it comes time to charge, the USB-C port can be easily found on the left earcup.$348 at AmazonBudget pickBluedio T5If you like the idea of the WH10...

Amazon has transformed nearly all of its free users into paying subscribers.What you need to knowAmazon now has almost as many paying subscribers as Apple Music, with the firm citing nearly 55 million subs in comparison to Apple's 60 million.Amazon's growth has been buoyed by savvily offering a bevy of paid options, with different price ranges for different wallet sizes.The firm sees the U.S., Japan, the UK, and Germany as its strongest markets.Amazon might be your shopping center and library right now, but it's also more likely than not to be in the running as your next home DJ.Amazon Music has now acquired over 55 million users, with nearly all of them being paying customers according to a report from the Financial Times. The retail giant has been working on building out its music offerings, offering a number of price increments to capture as broad an audience as possible. Apple, in contrast, has 60 million users. Spotify sits in a class of its own as the market leader ...

Tetris and Tetris Blitz have already been removed from the Play Store and App Store.What you need to knowEA is ending support for its Tetris games on April 21, 2020.Tetris and Tetris Blitz have already been preemptively removed from the Play Store on Android and App Store for iOS.Players can continue to enjoy the games if they already have it installed, but they will become unplayable after April 21, 2020.If you're anything like me, Tetris has been one of your go-to time wasters since you were a child. I began my Tetris obsession back on the original Nintendo and have since played on various platforms over the years.Unfortunately, EA has announced that it will be ending support for the beloved puzzle game on April 21, 2020. Ahead of the game's retirement, EA has already pulled the listings on both the Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS, making it impossible to install the app if you don't already have it. However, Android Police points out that you can still acc...

You should be happy that all the games you've been looking forward to have been delayed.2020 has quickly become the year of delays. From Cyberpunk 2077's single and multiplayer modes, to Marvel's Avengers, and even the entire 2020 Ubisoft lineup, it's clear that developers have one thing in mind: get it right the first time. Because, let's face it, most of us are sick and tired of paying to be beta testers. Too many games have launched over the past few years that completely ignore the fact that the consumer was the one paying for it, oftentimes taking months of patches before the game finally gets to a proper shipping state. We've seen this with games like No Man's Sky, which quite literally took years to reach the maturity required to sustain the interest of the millions of players that now enjoy it. Then there are titles like Fallout 76, which were a horrific, buggy, nearly unplayable mess at launch.This horrific monster is made worse because of a rushed, unfinishe...

As our connected lifestyles and smart homes continue to merge, we are finding new ways to secure our houses and belongings. One of the best devices for keeping tabs on our stuff is a smart security camera, and there certainly are tons to chose from. In light of recent data breaches and privacy scandals, many are looking for options that feature local storage solutions (a.k.a. don't use the Cloud), so we've put together a list of some of our favorites here for your reference. My favorite out of the bunch is the eufy Security Cam. I like that it has all of the features I want, with none of the added expenses (subscriptions).Best Overall: eufy Security CamEufy makes a line of quality smart home products like the Indoor/Outdoor camera, but one of the things we like best about its products is the one-time fee model they espouse. You don't have to purchase an ongoing cloud storage subscription to access or store your videos, and this device even comes with a 16GB microSD card, which ...

The European variant only supports up to 27W fast charging.What you need to knowMotorola's mid-range One Hyper smartphone is now on sale in several markets across Europe and the UK.The phone starts at €300 in Europe, while in the UK it has been priced at £270. It is Motorola's first phone with a 64MP rear camera and a pop-up selfie camera. Motorola's One Hyper, which was launched last month, is now on sale in the UK and Europe. Until now, the phone was on sale only in a few markets such as Brazil and the U.S.As reported by GSMArena, the Motorola One Hyper starts at €300 in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and a few other European markets. In the UK, the mid-range smartphone is available for purchase from the Motorola UK website for £270. For now, however, consumers in the UK can get the phone in just a single color – Deep Sea Blue.The phone comes with a 6.5-inch display featuring Full HD+ resolution and ultra-thin bezels. It runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 675 c...

Online multiplayer on PlayStation 4 usually requires two things: a stable internet connection and a PlayStation Plus membership. If you don't have both, you probably won't be able to play online games with your friends. The exception is free-to-play games, like Fortnite, which don't require you to need PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer.Products used in this guideOnline membership: PlayStation Plus 12-month ($60 at Amazon)Direct connection: Cat 7 Ethernet Cable (From $7 at Amazon)How to connect to Wi-Fi on PlayStation 4From the home screen, go to Settings.Scroll down to Network.Select Set Up Internet Connection.Select either Use Wi-Fi or Use Lan Cable.If using Wi-Fi, select your Wi-Fi network and enter your Wi-Fi password as prompted. If using a LAN cable, connect it to the back of your PS4 and router.How to redeem a PlayStation Plus membershipNow that you're connected you need to make sure your PS Plus membership is on and ready. If you need to r...

It's a brand new year, and that means it's time to up your organization game so you can become more productive both at work and in your personal life. Here are five top-rated apps that will help you simplify and manage everything from your emails to your finances, and each one is available at a significant discount for a limited time.1. Rethink Files 2TB Cloud Storage + OrganizationMSRP: $3117 | Sale Price: $49 (98% off)This universal file hub makes it easier than ever to stay on top of your files across multiple apps and devices. It's compatible with popular tools, like OneDrive, Slack, Outlook, and more, and it supports rich previews for over 100 different file types.2. Cogsworth Solo Plan: 1-Yr SubscriptionMSRP: $108 | Sale Price: $20 (81% off)Running a small business? Forget all about double-bookings and endless back-and-forth with potential clients. Cogsworth is the smart scheduling platform that lets customers book your services through an mobile-friendly inte...

What you need to knowIngress will be introducing a new event structure during the first half of 2020.Niantic has announced three events for 2020.Players can register now for the first of these events.Niantic's first AR game, Ingress is still going strong and players from around the world will be excited to hear that on Wednesday, January 22 Niantic announced that it will be introducing a new event structure this coming year. It also announced the first three real-world events for 2020. Registration for the first of these events, the Perpetua Hexathlon, is already open. Players can head over to Ingress Events to register in one of 15 cities.On February 29, the Perpetua Hexathlon will be held in several cities around the world, including San Antonio, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Miami, Florida; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Tijuana, Mexico; Porto, Portugal; Milan, Italy; Lille, France; Bratislava, Slovakia; Ruse, Bulgaria; Christchurch, New Zealand; Adelaide, Australia; Naha, Oki...

Samsung's hardware still shines, and One UI 2 keeps things fresh for 2020.With the way Samsung's phones continuously stay in the conversation of the high-end competition, it's easy to forget just how long they've been on the market. It definitely snuck up on me that the Galaxy S10+ was several months old at the end of 2019, as it kind of gets combined with the Galaxy Note 10 in my mind and still feels "fresh."But now we're quickly approaching a year since the Galaxy S10+ was released. And that's a perfect time to reflect on how the phone's held up, while also gaining some perspective on that'll come in handy when we see the Galaxy S20.Aged gracefullySamsung Galaxy S10+$790 at AmazonSamsung's hardware still shinesThere's still a ton of value in a Galaxy S10+ for a few hundred dollars off its original price. Samsung's strengths in hardware still shine, and One UI 2 just gave it another year of usefulness.Samsung Galaxy S10+ What I still likeSamsung's biggest s...

Let's chat with the AC forums.Every year, Google announces and releases a new version of Android. That new version often brings a combination of new features, tweaked UI elements, improved performance, etc.These updates can be quite exciting, but depending on which phone you have, it can take a while to actually get your hands on the latest and greatest software — assuming your phone is eligible for it at all. Some of our AC forum members recently got to talking about this very subject. RadeonHD 01-21-2020 01:26 PM “ I'm writing this on a Note 9 possibly a few days from the last major system overhaul. It's crazy because the Note 9 is more than capable of running whatever you throw it at for the next years to come. The Note 8 also capable, but already left behind in the dust. Then comes the Note 10. By this time next year, it will also be at the end of its' "life" in terms of "feature...

Chargers always seem to be getting faster and smaller, faster and smaller, and with the wide adoption of the Power Delivery (PD) standard, one high-powered PD charger can serve all the gear in your life, from your power-hungry laptop to your phone, power bank, and even your battery-sipping headphones. There's quite a few 60-65W chargers out there we trust with our gear, but the RAVPower 61W GaN charger is the best for size, adaptability, and reliability.Best Overall: RAVPower 61W GaN ChargerHigh-capacity chargers don't get any smaller than this right now, and RAVPower's top-quality charger is actually one of the more affordable in the lineup. That adds up to the hands-down best single-port 60W charger on the market, especially when you add in the excellent build quality and responsive customer service.You might need to flip this charger over to be completely sure the second plug on your wall outlet isn't obscured, but RAVPower has the smallest footprint and is the easiest to ...

Software support will end in May for the devices, launched between 2006 and 2007.What you need to knowSonos is ending support for several of its oldest products.Software updates will cease in May for the original Zone Players, Connect, Connect:Amp, Play:5 (1st gen), CR 200 and Bridge.Sonos is giving users the option to trade in these devices with a 30% credit for each product you replace.Sonos has announced that it will end software support for several of its oldest products as of May 2020.In a press release the company stated: Since launching our first products, technology has advanced at an exponential rate; from streaming services and voice assistants to wireless networking and Bluetooth capabilities. Through all of this transformation, we have continued delivering new features via software updates. We're extremely proud of the fact that we build products that last a long time, and that listeners continue to enjoy them. In fact, 92% of the products we've ever shipp...

It may take at least a few weeks before dark mode becomes available on the stable channel.What you need to knowThe latest WhatsApp beta for Android brings the highly anticipated native dark mode.If you have the latest WhatsApp beta installed on your device, you will be able to enable dark mode by going to Settings > Chats. There is no word yet on exactly when a wider public release will commence. After a long wait, WhatsApp dark mode is finally here. As reported by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has started rolling out dark mode to beta testers on Android. If you are on the WhatsApp beta channel, you will be able to access dark mode once you are on the latest 2.20.13 version.After you install the latest WhatsApp beta update on your device, tap on the three-dot menu at the top right corner, and choose Settings. Next, tap on Chats > Theme. In the next window, you will have to tap on "Dark" to enable the new dark mode. You can also have WhatsApp automatically switch between Ligh...

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.What you need to knowThis is the last week to earn the current promotion on Capital One's Spark business credit cards.Earn 200,000 miles on the Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business.Earn a $2,000 cash back bonus on the Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business.Earn big whether your business takes you local or abroad.This is the last week to take advantage of some of the biggest welcome offers we've ever seen for the Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business and Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business credit cards. The company launched these limited-time bonus offers back in October of 2019, but both are set to expire on January 27, 2020.The Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business is cur...

Xiaomi has carved out a niche for itself by offering phones that redefine value for money. The Chinese manufacturer now sells in the UK and other Western markets, making it easier for a global audience to get their hands on Xiaomi's products. From $100 entry-level phones to true flagships with innovative features like slide-out screens, Xiaomi makes some of the best phones you can buy today.Ultimate valueXiaomi Mi 9T ProStaff pickThe Mi 9T Pro is one of the best phones you can buy for under $500. It's powered by the Snapdragon 855, has a bezel-less AMOLED display thanks to a retractable camera module, a 48-megapixel camera at the back, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and a 4,000mAh battery with Quick Charge 4. In terms of sheer value, few devices come close to the Mi 9T Pro.$380 at AmazonJust as goodXiaomi Mi 9TThe Mi 9T may turn out to be an even better option if you want to save some cash. It has the same design and retractable camera as the Mi 9T Pro, and you even get the ...

Sony is expected to launch a new mid-range phone as well at the upcoming event.What you need to knowSony will reportedly launch a new flagship phone with a 4K display at MWC 2020 next month.The smartphone is expected to be powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 865 flagship mobile chipset. Unlike Sony's previous phones with a 4K display, the upcoming flagship will come with 5G connectivity. Sony sent out press invites for its MWC 2020 press conference last week, confirming that it will be launching new smartphones at the upcoming trade show in Barcelona. Now, reports suggest the star of the show could be the company's very first flagship phone with 5G connectivity.Just like last year's Sony Xperia 1, the upcoming flagship phone is expected to feature a 4K HDR OLED display with an ultra-tall 21:9 aspect ratio. However, the display size is rumored to be slightly larger at 6.6-inches. Under the hood will be Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor, paired with a Snapdragon X55 5...

Google offers end-to-end encryption for Android backups, and it won't be able to decrypt the data if you lose access.A bombshell report from Reuters suggests Apple ditched end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups at the behest of the FBI. Citing several former Apple employees and FBI officials, the publication notes that Apple planned to switch to end-to-end encryption for iCloud — putting it on the same level as iPhones and iPads — but reversed course after consulting with the FBI.iCloud data is also encrypted by default, but Apple holds a key to decrypt it. So in a scenario where an iCloud user is locked out of their account for whatever reason, Apple has the ability to decrypt the contents of that iCloud library. It is this reasoning that Tim Cook gave in defence of the move last year: We do this because some users lose or forget their key and then expect help from us to get their data back.According to Reuters, Apple was considering switching to end-to-end encrypti...

Using a Pixel 4 XL without Soli makes it very obvious just how frivolous the feature really is.When Google launched the Pixel 4 and 4 XL last year, it spent a considerable amount of time showing off Motion Sense, a gesture system that lets you control the phone by waving your hand over the display. While that sounds incredibly cool, the final implementation was far from perfect. All you could do with the feature was dismiss calls, snooze alarms, and control media playback on select streaming services. Motion Sense is still very limited in its capabilities, and there just isn't a good enough reason to use it.Three months after its launch, Motion Sense is still limited in its capabilities. There isn't any compelling reason to use the feature, and that makes it all the more frustrating because it was due to Motion Sense that Google didn't launch the Pixel 4 in India.Motion Sense relies on specialized radar hardware that Google developed over the last four years — called Sol...

Updating any phone is hugely important. Software updates bring improved security, new features, and sometimes even a complete visual overhaul through new Android platform versions. Everyone likes getting updates, and often your phone will notify you of them automatically. On Huawei phones, the process for updating is as simple as it is on most Android devices. Here's how to handle updates on your Huawei or Honor device.How to update the software on your Huawei phoneOpen the Settings app on your phone.Tap System.Tap Software update.Tap Check for updates to manually see if there's an available update.If you want even more control over your software updates, tap the settings icon in the upper-right corner of the update page. Here, you'll find settings for automatically downloading updates when connected to a Wi-Fi network, along with an option to have updates install to your phone automatically overnight (between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m.).Before you head to the route of manuall...

The latest Twitter for Android update is crashing immediately upon launch.What you need to knowTwitter rolled out an update that's causing the app to immediately crash.You're advised to hold off from installing the update while Twitter investigates the issue. If you've already installed the app, you'll have to clear the cache or storage to get it to work again. It's uncommon to find wide-ranging bugs affecting a lot of users, but that's exactly what's going on with the Twitter for Android app right now. The company rolled out an update to its first-party app today — bringing it to version 8.28 — but the update is now causing the app to immediately crash upon launch.Twitter is now advising users to hold off from installing the update until it fixes the issue:We're investigating a problem with the latest version of our Android app that causes it to crash immediately once it's opened. If you use Twitter for Android, we suggest not updating it until we let you know it's...

Could this help Stadia reach more people quickly? It may be too small a pool.What you need to knowVerizon and Google are teaming up.If you sign up for Fios Gigabit internet, you will receive a Stadia Premiere Edition.The offer starts on January 29, 2020.Today we received a press release that could significantly increase the number of people using Google's Stadia platform. Verizon has announced a partnership with Google to give away a free Stadia Premiere Edition to any new Fios Gigabit subscriber. It's no secret; Verizon Fios is the perfect platform for gamers, and we've now taken it one step further by teaming up with Google for a significant gaming announcement. Verizon and Google are partnering to deliver the best games to more gamers than ever before. Starting January 29, new Fios Gigabit internet customers will get a Stadia Premiere Edition on us.As of January 29, 2015, new Fios Gigabit subscribers will receive a Stadia controller, Chromecast Ultra, and three mo...

New durability standards, and new colors spice up the latest generation of HP Chromebooks.The BETT show is underway in London — an education-focused technology conference — and while CES 2020 may have showed us a new generation of luxury Chromebooks, BETT is where more practically-minded Chrome fans can come for shiny new laptops that actually justify their price tags. HP is here to unveil a whole slew of laptops for educators, including not one but four new Chromebooks, and they have this girl quite excited for the future.Best of all, we don't have to wait for summer to roll around in order to buy them.First up, we have two new versions of the HP Chromebook 11: the Intel Celeron-powered HP Chromebook 11 G8 and the AMD A4/A6-powered HP Chromebook 11A G8. Apart from the processor, both models are almost identical: there are touchscreen and non-touch models and there are 8GB memory options for both. The 11A has lower storage options — stay away from that 16GB option, pl...

Mine is pronounced Berne like burn not Berne like Bernie.What you need to knowGoogle may soon add a feature that lets you speak a name pronunciation to teach it.Currently you can spell a name phonetically to force a better pronunciation.The new feature appears in source code but has not yet made it to beta.Intrepid sleuths at XDA-Developers have uncovered code in the latest Google App, buld 10.93, that may be part of a new feature to improve the apps pronunciation abilties when it comes to proper names. Right now if your name is hard for Google to pronounce (I often hear "bur-NAY" instead of "BURN"), your best option is to find the Nickname settings and enter a more transliteral spelling that forces Google to say it the way you prefer. Quite inelegent.The new feature gives you the option to "record your own" pronunciation. It is unclear what happens then, once Google has a recording. At best there will be some sort of AI methodology to analyze the way you pronounce the ...

No matter where you go, no matter what you face, keep your phone charged and ready.There's a lot of accessories I research and recommend for readers like you, and while cases are super-fun — yes, I am the rare tech writer that adores writing about cases — the category that I have true passion for is perhaps the least sexy around: chargers and power banks. These are accessories that once you get a good one can last you for years and years and charge everything you throw at it.Unfortunately, a lot of people tend to buy bigger, bulkier ones than they need. Many tech enthusiasts tend to fawn over massive "power all of your shit for the weekend" slabs like the Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD, but I don't need to keep a MacBook alive for eight hours of editing and rendering, and I'm betting you don't either.Most of us need to keep maybe 1-3 phones alive between lunch time and a very late bedtime. So for most of us I am here to spread my gospel: never leave home without the Trinity of Powe...

Get your Star Wars, Marvel and so much more a little earlier this spring.Live in Europe and been waiting for March 31 for the official launch of Disney+? There's a bit of good news. The streaming service everyone wants to have will launch a week earlier.Pricing has been confirmed at £5.99 or €6.99 a month, or £59.99/€69.99 if you're paying annually.And the countires that will see the expedited — OK, at least seven days early — release are the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland.Disney Plus has basically scorched the streaming industry since its launch in November 2019. The app itself saw more than 30 million downloads in the fourth quarter, according to some estimates. And that's not overly surprising given that it's the new streaming home for the bulk of Disneys holdings, including Disney proper, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a little franchise known as Star Wars. It's also where you'll find National Geographic content, as wel...

The shipping date is reportedly set at March 13.What you need to knowSamsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S20 series at its Unpacked event on February 11.Fans may not be able to get their hands on the phones for at least a month after that date.Multiple sources claim device shipments will commence on March 13.With the reveal of the phones' expected pricing, I'm sure many of you are already considering whether to take the leap and buy one of Samsung's new Galaxy S20 series. And while I hate to be the bearer of bad news, you may need to curb your enthusiasm for a while yet, even if you're willing to take the $1,200 hit to your wallet that the S20 Ultra could be.Frandroid is reporting that the Galaxy S20 may not actually ship for well over a month after the flagship series' official unveiling at Samsung's Unpacked event set to take place in San Francisco and scheduled on February 11. The French publication cites multiple sources for its claim, making it likely to be tr...

Henry Cavill in "The Witcher," which Netflix says has been viewed by at least 76 million households.The streaming giant has changed the way it reports whether someone has watched something.Netflix has released its Q4 2019 earnings. As far as earnings reports go, it's pretty standard. You can ready the highlights here. But the most interesting thing tucked amid all those numbers is that Netflix has changed the way it's reporting — crowing, really — about how many people watched a particular thing.Previously if you had watched 70 percent of a show or a series or a film, you were considered to have watched it. But the thing is that shows and series and films are of varying lengths. So 70 percent of a 5-minute short (that's about 3 and a half minutes) is a bit different than sitting through 42 minutes of an hour-long special.Going forward, Netflix will consider you to have watched something if the following criteria are met:You chose to watch it andYou watched it for at ...

One step back and 108 million steps forward.What you need to knowThe Galaxy S20 will drop the dual-aperture feature from its camera, according to Twitter leaks.Dual-aperture helps with low-light photography and creating bokeh effects.Another leaker claims the Galaxy S20 Ultra will lose phase-detect autofocus, a DSLR-level focus technique.Dueling leakers on Twitter are claiming the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S20 camera will see some apparent downgrades, though we'd bet Samsung has some tricks up its sleeve to make up the difference. First, XDA's Max Winebach, whose recent leaks suggest he has traveled to the future and knows exactly what Samsung will launch next month, simply drops the hint that the Galaxy S20 will not use dual-aperture mode on its camera.S20 kills dual aperture.— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) January 19, 2020Dual-aperture is a neat hardware technique Samsung has been using since the Galaxy S9, and on all flagship phones since then. The camera can open or...

Not sure if your phone will get Android 10? You've come to the right place.Android 10 is upon us, and whether you're excited about its new permission settings for apps or the glorious dark mode, there are plenty of reasons to be eager for Google's latest and greatest.However, as with all Android updates, there's a difference between when Google launches the final build and when the new software actually arrives on your smartphone. Today, we'll be taking a look at all of the major OEMs and breakdown when exactly you can expect an Android 10 update for your device.Google PixelSamsungHuaweiMotorolaNokiaOnePlusOdds & EndsGoogle PixelLet's start with Google's own phones, the Pixel series. Android 10 has been guaranteed for every existing Pixel device, with the full list being as follows:Pixel 3a / Pixel 3a XLPixel 3 / Pixel 3 XLPixel 2 / Pixel 2 XLPixel / Pixel XLAs of September 3, Android 10 started rolling out for all of these handsets, making them the f...

A 30-minute snooze for when you really want to use your phone for just that bit longer.What you need to knowGoogle's Wind Down feature encourages digital wellbeing by reducing distractions at bedtime.The firm is now adding a new feature to let you pause wind down for half an hour.It's rolling out automatically in the Play Store to Beta users. When it comes to getting you off your phone, Digital Wellbeing's Wind Down is pretty effective. Aside from muting all your notifications, it also strips all the colors from your beautiful screen with greyscale, gently nudging you off to bed. However, like an alarm clock that foes off too soon, it's quite tempting to simply turn off Wind Down to do one task or the other while promising to get back to it in 'one more minute', and then never turn it on again.Today (spotted by the folks over at Android Police), Google has started rolling out a new feature to Beta users of the Digital Wellbeing app that lets you temporarily turn Wind Down...

The 4G models will cost about EUR 100 less than their 5G counterparts, while prices in the U.S. will unsurprisingly be lower than those in Europe.What you need to knowSamsung's Galaxy S20 series will start off at around EUR 900 - 1,000 in Europe for the 5G variants.Their 4G equivalents will likely cost around EUR 100 less.The Galaxy Z Flip, on the other hand, may cost as much as EUR 1,400.With the internals and externals of the phones all but divulged, there's really only one thing of interest left to know about Samsung's upcoming flagships: their pricing. And thanks to Max Weinbach, who's been on a roll with leaking everything Galaxy S20 in the past few weeks, we now have a good idea about that, too.So just heard S20 prices. Expect these to be lower than listed but at the moment we are expecting:S20 5G: €900-1000S20+ 5G: €1050-1100S20 Ultra 5G: €1300Galaxy Z Flip is supposed to be about €1400 but I expect that to change before launch.— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebac...

Best answer: We recommend picking up a 128GB or 200GB microSD card to handle your Fire Tablet media storage needs.Best bang for the buck: SanDisk 200GB microSD Card ($27 at Amazon)Why do you need a microSD card at all?Amazon's popular line of Fire Tablets are beloved because they provide a great entertainment device for a low price, but one of the reasons for that low price is a low amount of included internal storage. In years past, Fire tablets have shipped with as little as 8GB of storage, which is practically nothing. As it currently stands, the lowest option available on a modern Fire tablet is 16GB, which is better than in previous years, but still not great (especially if you want to download lots of media content).True, you can pay more to get a 32GB or even 64GB variant, but that may not always be the best (or most affordable) option for everyone. Just going from the 32GB to the 64GB on the Fire HD 10 can run you as much as $40 more.What takes up all that space?...

Today, a slew of Project xCloud additions threaten to rip Google Stadia of its, well, reason to exist.With one single library update, Microsoft just ripped Google Stadia of one of its only reasons to exist. Today, without any fanfare or warning, Microsoft included Destiny 2 to its Project xCloud game streaming library, at no extra cost, complete with synchronicity for those of us who have been playing on Xbox or using save syncing.Here are the games Microsoft added just today, alongside the rest of the full library.Halo: The Master Chief CollectionDestiny 2Sid Meier's Civilization VIBatman: The Enemy Within – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5)Batman: The Telltale Series – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5)The Wolf Among UsWasteland 2: Directors CutThe SurgeSUPERHOTPortal KnightsGoNNER - BLÜEBERRY EditionKingdom Two CrownsSparkliteTracks – The Train Set GameTrain Sim World 2019Destiny 2 remains an incredibly popular game, and is practically the only serv...

The S10 was incredible. Here's what Samsung's doing to improve for 2020.Samsung's Galaxy S series is always one of the most anticipated smartphone releases year after year. Following a modest upgrade with the S9 series, 2019's Galaxy S10 lineup shook things up with an all-new Infinity-O design for the display, triple rear cameras, and even a third "budget" model.In the coming months, it'll be time for Samsung to take the wraps off of the Galaxy S20 (Samsung's expected to ditch the Galaxy S11 name). The phone has big shoes to fill, but knowing Samsung, it'll be up to the task.Without further ado, here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S20!There will probably be three versionsThe S20's design has been revealedHere are the specs we're anticipatingWhy isn't it called the S11?Expect a high priceIt'll be announced on February 11Don't count out the Galaxy S10 just yetFlagship in every waySamsung Galaxy S10From $900 at SamsungSamsung's 2019 flagship ...