Latest from Android Central

Call of Duty is retaining the lead, with Star Wars on its heels.What you need to knowThe December 2019 NPD report has been released.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the bestselling game of the month and on PlayStation 4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was the second-bestselling game of the month. You can grab Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PlayStation 4 for $47 on Amazon. Every month, the NPD Group releases information on the top-selling games across all video game platforms in the United States. While it doesn't account for worldwide sales, it does provide a good snapshot of one the largest video game markets. Mat Piscatella, an analyst for NPD, has shared the results for December 2019. For this month, data was tracked from December 1, 2019 through January 4, 2020.For the month of December, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare took the top spot overall for the the third month in a row. Meanwhile, Respawn's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order took the second spot. The PlayStation timed ...

Revisit the Scrapyard map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.What you need to knowThe update adds Scrapyard map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.Adds new Rapid Fire Multiplayer game mode and a 20-vs-20 Warfare mode in Battle Royale.The new Season 3 Battle Pass kicks off on January 19.After earning recognition as the Best Mobile Game of 2019 from Android Central and Google Play alike, Call of Duty Mobile is kicking off 2020 with a major update that primes players for the Season 3 Battle Pass while also introducing a new map and new game modes for multiplayer and Battle Royale.The new Battle Pass is sure to be enticing for those players that like to chase achievements and work their way up the ranks to unlock new rewards. The most notable new reward for the Premium Battle Pass is the Phantom player. First introduced in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, I'd best described the Phantom combat rig as a cross between Predator and a post-apocalyptic warrior. There's also a futu...

This is the goal we want, but not necessarily the best way to get there.Those of us who have been using smartphones for several years know how frustrating the transition has been from proprietary chargers to Micro-USB and finally to USB-C. And even though most phones have moved to USB-C there are still many significant holdouts with Micro-USB — to say nothing of Apple's ongoing use of Lightning. The European Union is fed up with it, and is pushing to unify all portable devices on the USB-C port. That's a really great move in many ways — but its implementation won't be free of compromise. Standardizing on USB-C will immediately reduce charger and cable waste as they're reused for multiple devices.The EU tried things the "easy" way back in 2014 with a voluntary initiative that attempted to get smartphone (and other portable device) companies to standardize their charging ports; although USB-C wasn't named specifically. But the results "fell short of the co-legislators' obj...

It wants to remove support for third-party cookies from Chrome within the next two years.What you need to knowGoogle wants to make third-party cookies a thing of the past.With new standards like its proposed Privacy Sandbox, it hopes to make them obsolete and eventually drop support for them in Chrome.In the meantime, it'll start making changes to its policies for cross-site cookies beginning this February, with the aim of making them more secure.Google is charging ahead with its idea of a Privacy Sandbox that both improve users' privacy across the web and allows online advertisers some semblance of control and insight into user habits necessary for them to keep running their businesses.To that effect, Google this week announced its intent to eventually phase out the use of third-party cookies in Chrome. It hopes to do so within two years. Other browsers have already jumped on the anti-tracking and anti-cookies bandwagon a while ago, but Google claims their approach may b...

You can guess the next big company, and it rhymes with Macebook.What you need to knowAlphabet has earned a market capitalization value of $1 trillion, according to CNBC.Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon have all hit $1 trillion, in that respective order.Analysts predict the next trillion-dollar company will be Facebook.Investors were not scared by Alphabet's CEO and President stepping down at the end of 2019, as the company's market value has hit $1 trillion, according to a report by CNBC.Alphabet is the fourth American company to hit the $1 trillion mark, following Apple, then Microsoft, and then Amazon. Amazon's current market cap stands at only around $931 billion, Apple is worth $1.38 trillion, and Microsoft checks in today at a cool $1.27 trillion. With a value of $632 billion, Facebook is largely seen as the next competitor to cross the $1 trillion line.Five years ago, when Alphabet was created as an umbrella to cover Google and all of its projects, the market cap stoo...

While only one person can own a Google Nest Mini or other Google Assistant speaker, it's a device that everyone in your home can interact with, so why not allow Google Assistant to be as personal for them as it is for you? Google Assistant speakers like the Google Nest line have allowed multiple users for a while now, but the methods for linking doing so doubled this fall, and here's how both of them work.Products used in this guideGoogle Assistant in every room: Google Nest Mini ($49 at Best Buy)How to link your account to someone else's Google Nest Mini or Google Assistant speakerBefore we get started, you can link your account with a single Google Assistant speaker/display or become a home member and link your account to every Google Assistant device in the Home View setup.Open the Google Home app on your phone.In the Home View tab (left-most bottom tab, with the house icon), tap the device you want to link your account to.Tap the settings gear.Tap Link your accoun...

True wireless earbuds have gotten great over the past several years. The ones you typically hear about are super expensive, but there are some great budget options out there, such as the Creative Outlier Air, which offer fantastic battery life, great comfort, and superb sound quality.Best Overall: Creative Outlier AirBattery life is one of the standout features of the Creative Outlier Air. Even compared to some high-end true wireless earbuds, the Outlier Air outperforms most of them with up to 10 hours of audio playback on the buds themselves. The included charging case nets you an additional 20 hours of audio playback, which equates to up to 30 hours listening time. The only real downside is that the case does not feature wireless charging, which is unfortunate.Comfort is excellent, but only if they fit your ear. Unlike most other earbuds and true wireless earbuds, the Outlier Air only come with one extra set of ear tips in the box. Typically, earbud companies will include s...

Get rid of the Galaxy's most disappointing feature.Ever since Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 with its onboard assistant, Bixby, people have been asking for ways to disable it and forget the button ever existed in the first place. With the Galaxy S9 and Note 9, that chorus became even louder. And with the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 released in 2019, a whole new generation of customers will be looking to disable Bixby.While the hardware button's not going anywhere, we can definitely do something about the software. Here's how to get rid of as much of Bixby as possible.Why do you want to disable Bixby?One of the biggest frustrations with the Bixby button is its placement; the button is right under the volume keys and nearly directly opposite the power buttons. On larger phones like the Galaxy S10+ or Note 10+, this often leads to accidental presses and unintended Bixby launches, especially when double-pressing the power button to launch the camera.On the Note 10 and 10+,...

Ring security cameras are a great way to make your home smarter and a bit safer. The cameras can be mounted high for you to see the whole surrounding area around the front of your house, and they feature speakers and microphones so you can speak to guests or potential intruders. Ring cameras come with a mounting kit to get you started, but that doesn't mean you have to stop there, oh no. Just take a look at all of these great accessories available for the various Ring camera models!Power of the sunWasserstein Solar Panel for Ring Spotlight CamStaff PickWhile there is a version of the Ring Spotlight camera that comes with its own solar panel, this is an excellent upgrade for those that started with a battery-powered version. The panel connects to the battery inside your Ring camera, so even if it's a gloomy day, your camera will have enough juice to keep going. It comes in black or white, and there are screws included to keep it in place.$35 at AmazonBetter batteryRing...

The change did require some content to be cut, unfortunately.What you need to knowXiaomi pulled its popular theming app from the EU back in February 2018, likely due to GDPR compliance issues.MIUI Themes will start rolling out to all 28 states in the Union again.The website will also be available in the region once again.It took Xiaomi two whole years, but the company has finally brought MIUI Themes back to the European Union after its rather unceremonious departure from the bloc back in February of 2018. The company didn't really explain why it was pulling what is one of the most popular components of its Android skin, but the change was likely necessitated by the impending GDRP regulations, set to take effect in May of the same year.Well, it's back now and, the company says, "stronger than ever." In fact, some devices in the region should have already begun receiving the prodigal app, with a complete rollout across Europe expected by mid-may.The Themes website, too, w...

Secure your Instagram account with just a few taps.From sharing your very best photographs to uploading short videos or snapshots of your day, Instagram is the go-to platform for all of it. If there's a picture to share, chances are you'll do so on Instagram.With so many people on Instagram and your public profile being easy to find, it's a good idea that you make your account as secure as possible. Having a strong password is a good start, but if you want to really crack down on things, we recommend setting up two-factor authentication (2FA).If you have 2FA enabled, you'll need to enter a random passcode each time you log in to your Instagram account on a new device, adding an increased layer of security to your account and making it harder for intruders to access it.How to set up two-factor authentication for your Instagram account with textingThere are two ways to enable two-factor authentication with your Instagram account, the first of which uses SMS texting to send yo...

Wireless Bluetooth headphones have become increasingly popular over the last several years. The best wireless headphones have support for great, high-fidelity sound. That's why the Sony WH-1000XM3 are our best overall pick. They have excellent sound quality, battery life, and are comfortable for long-term use — and their noise cancelation is second-to-none.Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM3By far, the most significant feature of the XM3s is their class-leading active noise canceling (ANC). Not only does it make traveling much easier by completely drowning out things such as planes and trains; they're excellent at blocking out higher-pitched sounds as well. The ANC you get out of the XM3 is legitimate, and it sometimes feels like you're in an empty room.In terms of sound quality, bass heads will rejoice here. The sound quality of the XM3s lean heavily on the bass giving it a ton of thump and rumble. So much so that it can often sound overbearing and muddy. The mid-range is relati...

We highly recommend the Fitbit Versa 2 for a wide variety of styles and uses, including automatic activity tracking, on-screen workouts, Fitbit Pay, music storage, and so much more. It's no wonder that Fitbit continues to be one of the many highly regarded names in the industry with all it has to offer. However, don't worry if that's not your cup of tea. There are quite a few other options to choose from. Whether you're looking for specific software, design, or feature set, you'll be able to find a fitness tracker that checks all the boxes on your wish list.Best Overall — Fitbit Versa 2Fitbit Versa FeaturesHeart rate monitorAltimeter5-day battery lifeSleep trackingMusic playerAmazon Alexa built-inWater resistance to 50 metersAMOLED screenFitbit PayReplaceable bandCompatibility with Android, iOS, and Windows Once again, swapping out the Versa 2 band isn't as easy as some other Fitbit models we've seen. Trying to attach a new band is a bit of a challenge. Not o...

All of the latest info in one place.Looking back on 2019, one of the best phones to be released was the Huawei P30 Pro. Most people in the U.S. likely overlooked it due to its lacking availability in the country, but if you did manage to get your hands on the phone, you were treated to drop-dead gorgeous hardware, insanely capable cameras, and some of the best battery life around.The P30 Pro is still holding its own here in 2020, but its successor is right around the corner.Huawei continues to be in its ongoing feud with the U.S. government, but in spite of that, we're expecting big and exciting things for the new P40 lineup. From the rumored specs, design, price, release date, and more, here's everything you need to know about the phones.We're likely getting three modelsHere's what the phones look likeThese are the specs we knowGoogle Play Services will be missingExpect the phones to be expensiveThe phones might be announced in MarchYou still can't go wrong with the P...

You'll also be able to use the Stadia controller wirelessly on the web.What you need to knowStadia will add over 120 games in 2020, including at least 10 that will be exclusive to the platform at launch.In the next three months, Stadia plans on adding 4K on the web, support for additional Android phones, and additional Google Assistant functionality on the web.Wireless support with the Stadia controller is coming to the web as well.To say that Stadia launched with mixed reactions would be a bit of an understatement. One of the biggest complaints was the overall lack of features when the service debuted. Even a simple feature such as playing on your phone or the web with the Stadia controller wirelessly was missing. Not to mention, the lack of support for any phone other than a handful of Pixel smartphones.Fortunately, Stadia is a living and breathing platform with a devoted team bringing new features to the service month after month. We've already seen the team roll out u...

It's a move that makes a lot of sense.What you need to knowGoogle plans to replace the built-in Chrome for Android Voice Search with Assistant.The upcoming change was spotted in a Chromium commit.It's expected to debut in Chrome 85, scheduled for September.Google is making a common-sense decision to simplify its voice offerings on mobile. Courtesy of comments made on a Chromium commit, it has become clear that the firm is planning to replace the built-in Voice Search in the Chrome browser with a handoff to the Google Assistant.What this means is that instead of relying on the current Google Voice Search interface, you'll get the newer and more capable Google Assistant to aurally parse your queries.As per XDA Developers who originally spotted the commit: The comments and code change reveals that once the commits are merged, a new flag called "Omnibox Assistant Voice Search" will appear in chrome://flags#omnibox-assistant-voice-search for Android devices. According t...

You can now completely uninstall it.When it comes to paying conveniently, Samsung Pay makes using your phone as a bank card an easy process. There may come a time when you don't want to use the app anymore and need to get rid of Samsung Pay. Once upon a time, you couldn't uninstall Samsung Pay, only disable it, but these days, Samsung has seen the error of its ways and allows you to completely uninstall the Samsung Pay app.Before you jump straight to the nuclear option, though, if you just want Samsung Pay to stop popping up when you don't need it, there's a setting to help with that.How to keep Samsung Pay from activating on your home screen or lock screenIf you still want to keep Samsung Pay around in case you left your wallet at home and really need that six-pack of beer from the 7-11, you can just turn off the somewhat intrusive "Favorite cards" that appear at the bottom of some screens on your phone.Open Samsung Pay.Tap the three-line menu icon in the top left corner...

What a waste of a good woofer.What you need to knowA Reddit user has posted a photo of a wall-mounted Google Nest Hub Max.The owner wanted a professional installation but was refused because of the speakers.Google does not currently sell a mountable smart display.A homeowner who wanted a wall installation for a Google Nest Hub Max took it upon himself to cut a hole and fit the smart display inside, ending up with a surprisingly elegant solution that has blown up on Reddit. An account from a professional installer claimed that the installation company refused to mount the Nest Hub Max, saying that burying the back and bottom of the smart display in the wall would obscure the speakers. The speakers are arguably a key selling point for the Hub Max, which costs more than $200.We wouldn't suggest trying this at home unless you're a certified electrician, but this owner may have made a smart move using Google for his wall control needs. It might seem a waste of the device's aud...

Best answer: Yes, Visible offers financing through Affirm on phones purchased through its web store. You can choose to pay for your new phone in 12, 18, or 24 monthly payments at 0% APR.Unlimited data for your phone: Visible ($40 per month at Visible)Pay a little at a time: Google Pixel 3a (From $17 per month at Visible)Financing with Affirm and VisibleVisible doesn't handle phone financing directly. Rather, it works with Affirm to provide this service. Furthermore, your loan will be made through Cross River Bank and will be available at 0% APR. If you want to learn more about Affirm, you can visit its help page for more information.Depending on the cost and credit-related factors, a down payment may be required. Still, any down payment will be less than the cost of the phone outright. You can split up your payments in 12, 18, or 24-month terms with the longer terms bringing down your monthly costs.For example, at the time of writing, a Pixel 3a can be paid for in 12 m...

Best answer: The Note 9 is still a capable and modern phone in late 2019, over a year after its release. Most of what makes its successor, the Note 10, great can be found in the Note 9 with the latest software. The only question is whether you really need an S Pen, because if you don't you can save a bunch of money buying a Galaxy S9+ instead.Good at a discount: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 ($630 at Amazon)Savings potential: Samsung Galaxy S9+ ($510 at Walmart)The Galaxy Note 9 is still good, and priceyGalaxy Notes seem to hold their value over time better than the Galaxy S models. Sure the Note 9's gone on sale over the past year since it was released, but not nearly as often as the mass-market Galaxy S9. With a higher starting price, its discounts don't feel so dramatic either. Now over a year after it first went on sale, the Note 9 is still over $600, even with the new Note 10 and Note 10+ available. The Note 9 still feels modern from top to bottom — improvements in the No...

Huawei predicts sales revenue of 850 billion yuan ($123 billion USD) for 2020.What you need to knowHuawei has reportedly shipped more than 240 million smartphones worldwide in 2019 despite the U.S. ban.Of that 240 million, 6.9 million were 5G smartphones — giving Huawei a record market share.Huawei is predicting sales revenue of 850 billion yuan or $123 billion USD for 2020.Huawei had a rough year in 2019 thanks to butting heads with the U.S. government, an unfortunate occurrence that saw it placed on the Entity List preventing American companies from doing business with the Chinese tech giant.However, you wouldn't know that by looking at its sales numbers. According to a recent report, Huawei shipped more than 240 million smartphones worldwide in 2019. In particular, sales of its Mate and P series phones increased more than 50% year-over-year.It's no surprise that the P and Mate series are fantastic phones. Our own Harish had high praise for the P30 Pro when he revie...

There's never been a better time to invest in real estate, thanks to a strong economy and a growing number of property types that you can rent out with minimal effort.Mashvisor makes it easier than ever to find the best and most profitable properties on the market, and a lifetime subscription is available for over 95% off at just $39.This all-in-one real estate tool helps you find investment properties in a fraction of the time it would take searching the old-fashioned way.You'll be able to find both traditional properties and potential Airbnb rentals in a matter of minutes and gauge their profitability without having to wade through complex spreadsheets and esoteric data.It's even easy to get summaries of all the key calculations you'll need to decide whether or not to invest.Enter the booming real estate market the easy way with a lifetime subscription to Mashvisor for just $39—95% off its usual price for a limited time.Prices are subject to change....

"One script could collect the location data of every BlackVue user who had mapping enabled on the eastern half of the United States every two minutes."What you need to knowVice tech outlet Motherboard was able to pull GPS location data for BlackVue users.It reverse-engineered the iOS app and tracked users over a week-long period.BlackVue has confirmed that this wasn't supposed to be possible and appears to have fixed the problem.A report has revealed that GPS location data from the dashcam app BlackVue was available to be viewed and stored in real-time over days or even weeks, highlighting a significant security flaw in the app.As revealed by Motherboard, Vice's tech branch, the report states: BlackVue has an app that shows the location of drivers that opt-in. The creators say it shouldn't be possible to track its users in bulk; we found otherwise... BlackVue is a dashcam company with its own social network. With a small, internet-connected dashcam installed insi...

Sony PlayStation has made it clear to us that the plan is to make PlayStation 5 backward compatible. All our PS4 games we have been collecting over the years won't be tossed to the wayside this time around. Much like the PS4 Pro allowed for certain enhancements of games, PS5 should offer the same to companies who want to refresh their graphics. These are the games we would most like to see touched up.★ Featured favoriteThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntStaff PickThe Witcher 3 has been a popular game since its release in 2015. A wide variety of landscapes fill the Northern Kingdoms, from snowy mountain peaks to flowering fields, and a well-written story fills each one as you venture though. With the sudden resurgence of The Witcher 3 player base thanks to the Netflix series and a release on the Nintendo Switch, PS5 enhancements would make a lot of sense.$40 at AmazonA tribal futureHorizon Zero DawnThis is admittedly already a beautiful game but we love it so ...

Chrome Extensions aren't going anywhere.What you need to knowGoogle will end support for Chrome Apps beginning this year.Submissions for new apps will end in March and support for Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux will go away in June 2020.Chrome Extensions aren't going anywhere and developers are being encouraged to transition to Progressive Web Apps or Chrome Extensions.Google has finally announced a timeline for phasing out Chrome Apps. It will begin in March 2020 when the Chrome Web Store will no longer accept new submissions. However, developers will be able to update their existing apps all the way into June 2022.That doesn't mean many people will be able to actually use them, however, because starting in June 2020, support for Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux will end. This will leave Chrome Apps only available on the Chrome OS platform until June of 2021 when it will begin to end support for them there as well. The full timeline can be viewed below, tak...

Unlike the Mate X, which has so far remained confined to China, the Mate Xs is likely to be sold in Europe and a few other markets as well.What you need to knowA new report out of China suggests the upcoming Huawei Mate Xs could be cheaper than the Mate X.The report also claims the Mate Xs will have a sturdier hinge design and a more durable screen. Huawei is expected to unveil the Mate Xs in March. Huawei had announced in October last year that it would release an upgraded version of the Mate X with the Kirin 990 chipset in March 2020. If a new report out of China is to be believed, the upcoming Mate Xs will not be as expensive as the Mate X.Citing supply chain sources, Chinese publication MyDrivers has claimed that the Mate Xs is likely to be cheaper than its predecessor as its foldable display isn't as difficult to manufacture. Additionally, the production output is said to have increased by a small margin.Huawei's second foldable phone is expected to feature a stron...

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 anticipatingExpect 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 is still worth a look.The G...

From settings and Smart Lock to apps and extensions, make this Chromebook home!A Chromebook is amazingly quick to set up, but there's a difference between setting a laptop up and really settling in with it. I've been working full-time from a Chromebook for three years and after leapfrogging from review unit to review unit last year, I think I've gotten it down to a science. If your new Chromebook feels new and awkward and not as fun as you were expecting, let me help you make this your new computing home.Adjust your keys and trackpadTurn on Smart LockCustomize your dockInstall a text expanderLearn the secrets of your keyboardChange up the browser's lookAvoid overworking with Night LightGet h-appy with Google PlayExpand your Chromebook with microSDMake each new tab an adventureAdjust your scroll and function keysThis first tweak is going to sound a little weird, but bear with me for a minute. See, when you're using a touchscreen and a touchpad on a Chromebook, it ...

Real VR is no longer overly expensive or overly complicated.What you need to knowStandalone VR headsets, like the Oculus Quest, accounted for 49% of all VR headset sales in 2019.PC VR headset shipments shrank 8% year-over-year, despite cheaper headsets coming onto the market.VR game revenues rose 41%, mainly thanks to the Oculus Quest.2019 was VR's biggest year yet, and it's mainly thanks to Facebook's excellent Oculus Quest. Ever since its launch on May 21, 2019, the "VR console" has sold incredibly well, and Facebook has stated several times that the Oculus Quest is selling as fast as Facebook can make it. While some have argued that Facebook is arbitrarily holding back stock of the standalone VR system to create artificial demand (it's currently on backorder everywhere), the year-in-review from SuperData, a Nielson Company, show that 49% of all VR headsets sold in 2019 were standalone VR headsets like the Oculus Quest.But it's not just the number of units shipped or...

At $50, are these true wireless buds worth your money?True wireless earbuds were immensely popular in 2019, and for 2020, we aren't expecting anything to change on this front. The convenience and trendiness for this style of buds are just as strong as ever before, and now that the form factor has been out in the wild for a few years, we're seeing more and more affordable options.Perhaps even more important, the lower-cost true wireless buds that are coming out now are shockingly good — so much so that spending $100 or $200 on a pair of them just doesn't make sense for most people. One of the newest contenders in the space comes from TaoTronics with its new TT-BH079. While the name may not be all that exciting, the TT-BH079 deliver a good design, long battery life, and Bluetooth 5.0 — all for just $50.Good valueTaoTronics TT-BH079 ...

Huawei is doing everything it can to create a successful app ecosystem of its own.What you need to knowHuawei is offering developers $26 million to create apps for its phones.Since Huawei has been cut off from Google's services, it has been forced to come up with its own app ecosystem. Some of the popular apps currently available on Huawei's AppGallery include Amazon, Fortnite, Snapchat, and TikTok. Ever since Huawei was placed on the 'entity list' by the Trump administration last year, Huawei has been trying to lure developers to help build its own app ecosystem. The company hosted a developer day in London this week, where it announced (via Business Insider) a $26 million investment aimed at enticing app developers from the UK to create apps for its AppGallery.Huawei executives pointed out at the developer day that the company only takes a 15% revenue cut from developers, as opposed to the 30% cut that Apple and Google take. Jamie Gonzalo, Huawei's European VP of consum...

Wyze announced the feature would "temporarily" disappear in November of 2019...What you need to knowApple has confirmed the successful acquisition of Seattle AI company Xnor.ai.It means that Xnor.ai's on-device people detection technology is no longer available on some Wyze cameras.In 2019, Wyze had previously stated that the feature would "temporarily" disappear this month.Following Apple's acquisition of Seattle AI company Xnor.ai, the company's people detection software is no longer available on Wyze cameras.News of Apple's successful acquisition of Xnor.ai broke on Wednesday, January 15, in a deal reportedly worth around $200 million.Now, The Verge is reporting that as a result of this acquisition, beta firmware to remove people detection from Wyze cameras has started to roll out. The report states: Cameras from fellow Seattle-based company Wyze, including the Wyze Cam V2 and Wyze Cam Pan, have utilized Xnor.ai's on-device people detection since last summer. But...

The phone's "In-display fingerprint 3.0" is claimed to be 45% faster than the previous generation.What you need to knowOPPO F15 made its global debut at an event held in India today.The smartphone runs on a MediaTek Helio P70 chipset and comes with a quad-camera setup at the back. It has been priced at ₹19,990 ($282) in India and will be available for purchase starting January 24. OPPO today launched the latest addition to its F series smartphone lineup in India. The new F15 isn't a massive upgrade over its predecessor but does bring a few new features and a more refined design.The latest F series smartphone from OPPO has been priced at ₹19,990 ($282) in India and comes in just a single variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. It will be available in Lightning Black and Unicorn White color options starting January 24 via Amazon.in, Flipkart, as well as the company's own online store. Launch offers include one-time screen replacement and 10% cashback on purch...

The POCO F1 has aged really well, and the hardware still has a lot to offer in 2020.I'm incredibly priveleged to be able to use the latest and greatest phones, but the frenetic pace of the industy means there isn't a lot of time for reflection. Thankfully, there's a lull in the launch cycle before the inevitable flood kicks off next month at Mobile World Congress, so I decided to go through all the phones I've accumulated over the last two years and revisit a few standouts.The obvious starting point is the POCO F1. Xiaomi's sub-brand left an indelible mark in the smarthone industry in 2018, and while the hardware spoke for itself, what stood out was the fact that Xiaomi pulled off such a feat in the first place. In this age of endless leaks and teasers, Xiaomi was able to prevent any details from becoming public knowledge ahead of the launch of the POCO F1, which made the unveil that much more exciting.The brainchild of Jai Mani and a select team of hardware engineers working o...

Xiaomi is seen as a budget player in India, but it is aiming to change that in 2020.What do you think of when you hear the Xiaomi name? For Indian consumers, the brand is synonymous with budget phones, and for good reason. For the last five years, Xiaomi flooded the Indian market with a wave of entry-level and budget phones, allowing it to rise up the ranks and become the country's largest phone manufacturer. Xiaomi held that title for more than two years now, and it did so purely on the back of the Redmi series.That's why it's interesting to see that the brand is now focusing its attention on the premium segment. At a roundtable held in Delhi earlier this week, Xiaomi's category head Raghu Reddy charted out the brand's commitment to the premium category, stating to Gadgets 360 that several "Mi premium flagship devices" will make their debut in India over the course of 2020. Xiaomi will have a tough time casting off its budget roots and establishing itself as a premium brand ...

What you need to knowSpotify is debuting a new type of playlist this week, one that's based on your pet.The playlist uses the magic of artificial intelligence and some user-provided information to meld your tastes with your pet's.The streaming giant says it was inspired by a survey suggesting 71% of pet owners play music for their pet, while 80% believe their pet likes music."Have I got a pawfect playlist for ya!" No, that's not a typo. And, yes, that really is Spotify's pitch for its latest — and perhaps weirdest — personalized playlist idea. It's already got you hooked on its all-you-can-eat music buffet so why not bring your cat, your dog, and your iguana into the mix as well, muse the hot-shot marketing maestros at Spotify's executive branch.So, they dug their paws in — again, their words, not mine — and the end result is a playlist that's made for both you and Mr. Muffles.The company's even got a bunch of 'furry' facts to justify the whole endeavor from a sur...

With SmartThings, you can use a motion sensor to keep watch over areas of your home, allowing you to receive alerts, sound an alarm, unlock a door or even just turn on a light. Not all motion sensors are created equal, however, so we've compiled a list that won't give you any headaches — like our favorite option, the Ecolink Motion Detector — so you can monitor your home no matter where you are.Top PickEcolink Z-wave Plus Motion DetectorStaff pickThis highly-rated detector from Ecolink offers a 5-year battery life (the best of the bunch) and flush or corner mount options. It can be set to ignore pets up to 55lbs and is the best option of quality and price.$39 at AmazonOEM OptionSamsung SmartThings Motion SensorSamsung's own offering is also one of the cheapest on our list. With motion detection up to 15 feet and a 120-degree view range, this sensor can be set to monitor nearly any area in your home.$20 at AmazonUp AboveBeSense ZWave Ceiling PIR Motion De...

The comment history is restricted to only the current channel, however.What you need to knowYouTube is launching a new feature called Profile Cards, which it hopes will encourage users to "explore comments, build connections with others."When scrolling through the comments on a video, you can now click on a person's name to launch their Profile Card.This contains information like their name, subscriber counts, and their entire comment history on the channel in question.YouTube hopes its new Profile Cards (via TechCrunch) will foster a cooperative spirit among the YouTube community and help them "explore comments, build connections with others, and contribute to a more welcoming YouTube overall." However, it's hard to disregard the potential for abuse and generally troll-like behavior that it could also enable.With the change, clicking on a user's name or profile picture while scrolling through comments on a video will open up their very own 'Profile Card.' Among other th...

Be rewarded for what you've done.What you need to knowPlayStation is giving away seven avatars and a theme for users who check their year in review.The year in review tells players what games they played the most and how many hours they played.Players also get a unique title depending on what games they played the most. PlayStation is still giving rewards for players who check their MyPSYear2019 stats. There are seven avatars and one theme, with each avatar named after a title players might earn, depending on what genre of games they played the most in 2019. Here's the full list of rewards.Action HeroMaster ExplorerSports PhenomSpeed DemonMarksmanLegendary WarriorMaster StrategistPlayStation Wrap-up 2019 themeIn order to grab these free rewards, here are the steps you need to take after going to the appropriate website.Sign in to your PlayStation account. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Click Redeem your Prizes. A new sidebar will open, click View ...

An email address by itself is just fine.What you need to knowGoogle has removed the phone number requirement from Duo's web app.Users now only need their Google account to make use of the service.The change is rolling out now to non-G Suite account holders.Google has now reduced a barrier to using Duo, making it so that users are now able to use it without a phone number. The feature was first spotted by 9to5Google in an APK teardown and later confirmed by a Google employee in Duo's help forums.Now, as per a report from Android Police, it's rolling out to non-G Suite account holders, albeit on the web only.I've been able to confirm this using my alternate Gmail account, and Duo works exactly as it's supposed to. You can make video and voice calls without confirming a phone number on the web app.It never really made sense for a company as web-focused and future-looking as Google to tie Duo to phone numbers when our online identities are more often tied to our Google ac...

Build your own custom timeline with lists.What you need to knowTwitter is bringing pinned lists support to its Android app.The firm introduced it nearly a whole year ago for iOS users.While the feature can be enabled with some tweaking, it's not exactly clear when it'll become generally available. In 2019, announced list pinning, a feature that lets you effectively create custom timelines by pinning lists to the app's home page. Lists, if you recall, are another feature of Twitter that enables users to build a themed timeline around users they may not even necessarily follow.With list pinning, you can now effortlessly navigate between your main timeline and your curated lists — if you have an iPhone. Twitter rolled it out to iOS during the summer, but the Android app has yet to be updated, at least, until now.Customizable timelines that are easy to access? We’re thinking about ways to do this! One idea we had is for you to be able to swipe to your lists from home. ...

When it comes to putting up a security system in your home you want to make sure you purchase the right one for your needs. With many options on the market, it can be hard making sure you've picked the one best suited to you. Familiar brand names such as Nest and Ring are ones most people gravitate towards, but there are other great brands out there that you may want to consider as well. We've rounded up a selection of outdoor cameras to help you decide.Bright floodlightsRing Floodlight CamStaff pickIf you want a quality security camera/lighting combination with great Amazon Alexa integration, then the Ring Floodlight Cam is a good pick. When motion is detected, the floodlights come on, you're notified and the camera rolls. There's 2-way audio to speak to whoever is on the other side of the lens and the ability to activate a siren to ward off intruders. The two floodlights shine at 1,800 lumens, casting a bright light on your chosen area. The camera is weather-resistant a...

Another detailed look at the upcoming horror.What you need to knowThe Resident Evil 3 remake is the next big game from Capcom.Capcom has released several new screenshots, giving another glimpse into what players can expect.The Resident Evil 3 is currently set to be available on April 3.You can preorder the Resident Evil 3 remake for $60 at Amazon.The Resident Evil 3 remake is on the way and Capcom is sharing more of what players will be seeing when they step into Jill's shoes to survive Raccoon City. There are several gorgeous new screenshots, including a look at the different survivors, such as Jill, Carlos and Mikhail. Capcom is continuing to maximize what the RE engine is capable of, with several visual upgrades even over Resident Evil 2 (2019).There's also a new look at the Hunter, which is much brighter and more detailed than the glimpse in the trailer. The Hunter is a reptilian foe that veteran players will remember well.We get to see more of Jill as she make...

Choosing a phone with a great camera is only part of the equation. The apps that you use with it — and after the fact — are equally important. But once you've taken the photo, how do you make it better? These are the best apps that help you get the most out of your photographs.Tweak and edit everythingSnapseedStaff PickGoogle's Snapseed is one of the most accessible photo editing apps for Android, with a wide range of features for experienced users and newcomers alike. The range of features is diverse. It has everything from basic automatic color and contrast enhancement, to cropping and sharpening, to selectively adjusting color properties within a particular radius.Free w/IAP at Google PlayBetter than you thinkGoogle PhotosGoogle makes editing photos a breeze. The app has a number of non-descructive (meaning you can undo them if you don't want them) tools so you can quickly and easily make changes and share them to various social networks. Plus, with A...

Breathing a bit of life into old bones.What you need to knowGoogle has added Live Caption support to the Pixel 2 line of devices.The feature automatically adds captions to any video playing on the device, whether it is via streaming, download, or a recording.Google brought it first to the Pixel 4 and then later to the 3 and 3a.Google's Live Caption is one of the most genuinely useful Pixel features to debut with Android 10. While a Pixel 4 exclusive at launch, Google earlier brought the feature to the Pixel 3 and 3a lines with its first Pixel feature drop in December. Now, the firm is preparing to roll it out on the Pixel 2 series.The discovery was made on Reddit when a user manually updated Google's Device Personalisation app, causing the Live Captions interface to appear (via Android Police), with a few users chiming in to confirm.Despite the Pixel 2 being an aging device, Google continues to support it with its latest features, including Night Sight and now Live Capt...

Apple ranks first with a 54.4% share after shipping 58.7 million units in 2019.What you need to knowApple dominates the true wireless headphone market with over 50% of sales.Xiaomi comes in second with 8.5% of the market.Samsung is a distant third after shipping 7.4 million units in 2019 for 6.9% of the market.When Apple introduced the AirPods, it pretty much created an entirely new category of headphones. One where Bluetooth earbuds cut the cord and were no longer connected by a wire. Instead, the buds now featured a truly wireless design along with a charging case, and thanks to the removal of the headphone jack in many of today's flagship phones, the market is booming.Not only is Apple responsible for this trend, but it also currently dominates the market with a whopping 54.4% share after shipping 58.7 million AirPods in 2019, according to data from Strategy Analytics (via Yonhap). While it's not unexpected to see Apple with the lion share of the TWS headset market, th...

Best answer: Downgrading your phone to an older version of Android can be easy or impossible. It all depends on the company that made it. If you want to be sure you can install any version you want on your Android phone, your best bet is to buy a Google Pixel.Cheap and easy to to flash: Google Pixel 3a ($354 at Amazon)Same phone, bigger package: Google Pixel 3a XL ($446 at Amazon)Not everyone loves updatesMost of us here are update junkies. When a new version of Android (or anything, for that matter) is announced, we start talking about when we'll get a chance to try it and take a look at the changes the changes. We look at all the leaks or legit news about an update, and we're ready to install it as soon as we can. It's half the fun of owning an Android.But not everyone feels this way.There are a few cases where upgrading to a new version isn't something you ever want to do. Enterprise software is notorious for being slow to adapt and new versions of any software may no...

A few weeks after the iOS release.What you need to knowGitHub has finally released its Android app as a beta.The firm earlier launched a corresponding iOS app with an Android app promised a few weeks ago.The new beta app is aimed at helping developers work with their teams while on the go.GitHub has finally released its mobile app for Android, albeit as a beta. The firm initially launched this for iOS in late 2019 with an Android app promised as forthcoming.GitHub's Ryan Nystrom explained the reason behind the new mobile app in a blog post, saying: There's a lot you can do on GitHub that doesn't require a complex development environment, like sharing feedback on a design discussion or reviewing a few lines of code. We're making these tasks easier to complete while you're on the go, with a fully-native experience. With GitHub for mobile, you have the flexibility to move work forward and stay in touch with your team, wherever you are.Like you'd expect from a mobile G...

First on iOS, then Android later.What you need to knowGoogle will add filters to its YouTube app, letting users now tab between select categories on its subscription page.These new filters are coming to iOS first, and then Android soon after. Google first introduced content filters on the homepage.If you're anything like me, your YouTube subscription tab is chockfull of half-watched videos sandwiched between a torrent of new content pushed by YouTubers. It can be overwhelming, and YouTube's design on mobile doesn't really help with that. The company is now making some changes to the YouTube mobile app to make that content glut easier to handle.Spotted by XDA Developers, Google is now rolling out a new set of filters to the Subscription tab on iOS first, with an Android update to come later.As per Google, here are the filters you'll be seeing:All lists all videos from channels you're subscribed to (like it does today) from latest to oldest. This will continue to be ...

Lau also shared his thoughts on foldable phones.What you need to knowOnePlus CEO Pete Lau confirmed we will see the disappearing camera tech in a consumer product in the future.The invisible camera tech was shown off at CES 2020 with OnePlus's first-ever concept phone, the OnePlus Concept One.On the topic of foldables, Lau believes that currently the benefits are "outweighed by the shortcomings or the disadvantages of the current state of the technology."OnePlus CEO Pete Lau recently made his first podcast appearance with The Verge on January 14, 2020. During the nearly half-hour podcast, the big topics of discussion included the new OnePlus concept phone shown off at CES 2020 and foldables.With OnePlus making a big show of its first-ever concept phone at CES 2020, it was no surprise that The Vergecast kicked off with some questions about the first-of-its-kind device. For those that may have missed it, the OnePlus Concept One's main attraction is the disappearing camera....