Latest from Android Central

Ambient EQ is making an entrance first on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook.What you need to knowGoogle has spotlighted two new Chrome OS features coming this month.The operating system now supports Ambient EQ, allowing for adaptive displays that adjust color temperature and white balance based on the environment.Netflix's Picture-in-Picture mode also now works on Chromebooks via the Android app. Google has announced two new features that are ready for Chrome OS users this month. Well, one of them is ready for all users, while the first is more controlled by the hardware you're using and won't actually be coming this month.The first of these is Ambient EQ. Ambient EQ is a display feature that adjusts how your display looks in relation to your environment. Pixel 4 and 4 XL users might be familiar with it, as well as Nest Hub users since Google equipped those displays with Ambient EQ support.Google's Alexander Kuscher, Director of Chrome OS Software, writes: With Ambient ...

The company is counting on support from public media to help it compete with Spotify's 'walled garden.'What you need to knowThe BBC has invested an undisclosed amount of capital into Pocket Casts.The public broadcaster is throwing its weight behind Pocket Casts' vision of an open and free ecosystem for podcasts.This is in contrast to Spotify, which has recently been trying to grow its subscriber base by offering more exclusive content.Unlike Spotify's plans for building a massive library of exclusive content, Pocket Casts argues for an open and free ecosystem for podcasts. And its found natural allies in the world of public media, the latest of these being the BBC, which has decided to invest in the Spotify-competitor.While neither party has disclosed the amount of the investment, Pocket Casts CEO Owen Grover was quick to point out the BBC's support of his company's vision: [The BBC is] incredibly aligned with the model that we're pursuing. We're focused around open e...

Evolve to match every single challenge this fantastical world throws your way.Biomutant takes open world action and throws in tons of unique mechanics. While things have been quiet lately, it's very much still in development and is still one of the most ambitious upcoming games from THQ Nordic. Here's everything we know about Biomutant so far.What is Biomutant?Biomutant gameplay and featuresWill Biomutant have multiplayer?Is it an open world game?Is Biomutant cancelled?All the Biomutant collectors editionsBiomutant release dateWhat is Biomutant?Biomutant is a third-person action-RPG that has players take on the role a cat-like creature that knows martial arts. The story has you attempting to save the Tree of Life, which is being poisoned by an oil and gnawed on by dangerous creatures.Biomutant is being developed by Experiment 101, a Swedish studio that was acquired by Embracer Group (formerly THQ Nordic) in 2017.Biomutant gameplay and featuresBiomutant is a ...

Make good use of the new HIVE Operator Skill and become a deadly adversary on the field.What you need to knowCall of Duty: Mobile Season 4 is now live.The season, called Disavowed, adds a new battle pass, map, and skill.Call of Duty: Mobile is free on the Google Play Store.Players can jump into the latest season of Call of Duty: Mobile as Disavowed is now live. Like other seasons before it, a new Battle Pass has been added which includes St. Patrick's day themed items this time around. A new map and skill have also been added. Activision detailed what players can expect in Disavowed on its website.Those looking for a little extra than what the normal Battle Pass offers can buy the Premium Pass instead. By completing Elite Tasks and progressing through tiers, Premium Pass owners can earn the Operator Soap from Modern Warfare, a new female Operator, the Urban Tracker, the Knife Rainbow camo, and the RUS-79U Viking. Regular Battle Pass owners can earn the Brambles camo varia...

The March feature drop is the second of Google's promised Pixel quarterly feature drops.What you need to knowGoogle has released the March feature drop for Pixel 2, 3, and 4 family users.With this update, the firm has added new features like Motion Sense improvements for the Pixel 4, fast access to cards and passes, and new AR features for Duo.UK and Australian users can also expect to find access to Car Crash Detection added to their devices.Last year, Google announced that it would be releasing quarterly feature drops for Pixel users. The feature drops were supposed to represent a much faster cadence of updates than the annual updates, and provide a bit more structure than Google's A/B rollout of updates to apps and services. Users would know exactly what to expect and precisely when to expect it. The first such update came out in December, and the second was rumored to be arriving in March.Well, it's March now, and like Spring, the first Pixel feature drop for 2020 is ...

Amazon's Echo range of Alexa-powered smart speakers is great for controlling smart home devices. With smart bulbs installed throughout your house, you can use Alexa to turn individual lights and even entire rooms off and on, change the colors of your bulbs, and more. The only trouble is deciding on the right bulbs to buy — luckily, we're here to help.Best overallLIFX ColorStaff pickLIFX bulbs can be controlled remotely by Alexa without the need for a hub — the bulbs connect directly to Wi-Fi. The LIFX Color supports 16 million colors and is available with threading for either A19 or BR30 lighting fixtures. It's also the brightest and most vibrant bulb of the bunch. Put that all together, and the LIFX Color is our top recommendation.$60 at AmazonMost popularPhilips Hue White and Color AmbiancePhilips Hue's new range of smart bulbs has built-in Bluetooth so you can control your lights without a hub. But to use them with an Amazon Echo, you'll still need a ...

Put your pitchforks down because it'll be available on Steam, don't worry.What you need to knowDeath Stranding was originally exclusive to PlayStation 4 since November 2019.It is coming to PC on June 2, 2020.It will be available through Steam and the Epic Games Store.The PC version will include Half-Life content in some form.We finally have a release date for Death Stranding on PC. Kojima's latest project is set to come to Steam and the Epic Games Store on June 2, 2020. Previously it was only available on PlayStation 4.The PC version will feature all of the good stuff: high frame rate, photo mode, ultra wide support. The usual of what you've come to expect. But in a bit of a surprise, the release date announcement trailer revealed that Death Stranding on PC will be getting some form of Half-Life content. 505 Games has not detailed what this content will entail, but it was teased in the form of a Headcrab hat that Sam wore at the end of the trailer.For now, it looks...

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

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.Does the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express have an annual fee?Best answer: Yes, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express does have an annual fee of $95, but the rewards far outpace the cost of entry to this card.More card details: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressThe Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is by far the most rewarding credit card when it comes to earning the most on the purchases you make every day. From picking up groceries, pumping gas, and watching Netflix, you will consistently earn elevated rewards on the common things you do.That said, does the Blue Cash Preferred Card have an annual fee that comes with it? The answer is...

Until it is fixed there are a couple of workarounds you can try.What you need to knowUsers are reporting Bluetooth connection issues with Google Home speakers.Reports date back to 2018, with users describing an issue where the speakers disconnect after several minutes when using Bluetooth.Google has finally acknowledged this issue and says its team is working on a fix.Most people that buy a Google Home speaker use it to stream music directly from the internet. Usually, by either giving a voice command or casting from their phone. However, Google Home speakers also feature Bluetooth for those times when you want to connect directly with your phone or pair it with a better speaker. For instance, using a Nest Mini paired with a larger Bluetooth speaker for better sound quality.Unfortunately, many users of Google Home speakers have been experiencing issues with the Bluetooth connection repeatedly cutting out. For some users, it happens after only a minute, while others descri...

You might not know it, but your Amazon Prime subscription comes with a ton of benefits for UK users besides the free one-day shipping. With streaming video and music, books and audiobooks, photo storage, and much more either included with your subscription or available at a discounted rate for Prime members, it's much more than just an expedited delivery service.Whether you're new to Prime or have subscribed for years, there's probably more value you could get out of your subscription in the UK. Here's how.Prime VideoOne of the best benefits of Amazon Prime in the UK is access to streaming content via Prime Video. You may have already used it, but there are a ton of great shows on there including Amazon Originals that you won't be able to watch anywhere else. Prime Video even has exclusive rights to live sport these days, too.Prime Video works great across all manner of devices too with apps for phones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming sticks, and more. Pretty much anywhere that c...

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

You can get a lot of phone for a modest price these days. Motorola has been a leading name in midrange options for years, and that holds true with its excellent new Moto G7. For an extremely competitive price, you get capable specs with a big display and simple software that anyone can figure out. Plus it has TurboPower fast charging, and finally uses USB-C.Best Overall: Moto G7The Moto G7 has just about everything you could ask of a phone at this price. The software is clean yet clever with Moto Actions and Moto Display, and it's quick to recharge with Motorola's TurboPower charging. The G7 also has decent specs, including a Snapdragon 632, 64GB of expandable storage, and 4GB of RAM — and it finally charges over USB-C!The design is sleek and modern with trim display bezels and a rear fingerprint sensor, the camera is impressive for its field, and it's even splash-resistant (though keep in mind that that's not the same as full-blown water resistance). Plus, you'll always be...

Having trouble finding the FF7 Remake demo on the store? Have no fear.The Final Fantasy 7 Remake may have been delayed until next month, but everyone can get a little taste of Midgar right now. It isn't much, but it should be enough to satiate your appetite until its launch. Square Enix has released a demo for the remake on PlayStation 4. If you're having trouble finding it depending on your region, we'll walk you through exactly how to download it on the console itself and through the PlayStation Store's desktop website.How to download the Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo on PS4On the PS4 homescreen, go to the Store.Scroll down to Games.If you don't immediately see the demo, move the left thumbstick to the right again to open up another menu.At the bottom of this menu, select Demos.Select the Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo. If it is not the first to show up, sort by Release Date: Newest First.Select Try Free Demo on its store page. How to download the Final Fantasy 7 Rema...

The server-side test is currently limited to a few Android 10 phones.What you need to knowGoogle has quietly added a new Theme setting for some Android 10 devices.The setting lets users switch between Light, Dark, and System default modes. It is possible that a wider rollout will begin within the next few weeks. Google began rolling out dark theme support for the Play Store in September last year. However, unlike a few other Google apps, the PlayStore doesn't allow users to switch between light and dark modes from within the app. Currently, the Play Store automatically switches between light and dark modes based on the system-wide theme that you have enabled.As spotted by the folks at Android Police, Google has now started adding a dedicated dark theme toggle to some users running Android 10 on their phones. With the new theme toggle, users can enable the dark theme without having to set their system theme to dark.The new theme setting is currently visible on some dev...

It seems to be a long, dark road to success for NVIDIA.What you need to knowThe Long Dark is no longer available to play on NVIDIA GeForce Now.Developers requested NVIDIA pull the game because a specific license wasn't requested or granted.Many gamers are outraged at both NVIDIA and Hinterland Games, developers of The Long Dark.Game Director for The Long Dark, Raphael van Lierop, took to Twitter to announce that The Long Dark will no longer be offered on NVIDIA's GeForce Now cloud gaming service. Hinterland Games requested that NVIDIA pull its game from the library of available games on GeForce Now citing that NVIDIA didn't request permission to use the game and therefore has no right to provide gamers access to the title.The Long Dark is the latest game to be pulled from NVIDIA's virtual cloud gaming service in recent weeks, following Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard. While GeForce Now still enjoys a library of over 500 supported games that can be played on any device wi...

Privacy is a commodity, and, unfortunately, the more technology advances, the less of it we seem to have. If this is something you're concerned about, any way to take control of who can view your information or who is able to interact with you on certain apps is valuable. Google Stadia allows you to change multiple settings that dictate who can send you friend requests, join or invite you to games, see your online status and achievement list, and more.How to change your privacy settings on Stadia for AndroidOpen up the Google Stadia app on your phone.Tap on your icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Select Friends & privacy.Under multiple sections, select from a dropdown box either No one, Friends, Friends & their friends, or All players when it concerns who can interact with you and in what ways while you are playing Stadia.All privacy settings that can be changed include:Who can send you a friend requestWho can see your friends listWho can see your...

I tried to switch, but I can't fully commit just yet.A new year is a sign of new beginnings and starting fresh. For 2020, I decided to finally give YouTube Music a fighting chance after being a Spotify customer for years. You might remember me talking about this in an editorial back in January, in which I stated that I wouldn't be going back to Spotify after using YouTube Music for a month.Well, a little over a month after I published that editorial, it turns out I am going back to Spotify 😅.I stand by a lot of the praise I gave YouTube Music, but as I continued to use it day in and day out, my annoyances began piling up more and more to the point where it just didn't make sense to keep fighting with it. There are a few key reasons I ended up changing my mind, with it ultimately boiling down to three things — music discovery, Spotify Connect, and the generally unpolished feel of YouTube Music.Repeats, repeats, repeatsI'm not sure how you listen to music, but for me, ...

Rumors suggest the phone could be powered by a Snapdragon 720G chipset.What you need to knowRedmi Note 9 series will debut in India on March 12.The official teaser suggests the phone will come with a quad-camera setup at the rear. It is also expected to offer faster charging speeds and an improved gaming experience. Redmi India today confirmed on Twitter that the Redmi Note 9 series will be unveiled at an event in India on March 12. The Redmi Note 9 series is expected to feature an upgraded camera setup and an improved design.According to Redmi India, the upcoming Redmi Note 9 series phone will come with "Pro Cameras" and deliver "Max Performance." As can be seen in the official teaser below, the phone will have a square quad-camera module at the rear. The current Redmi Note 8 Pro sports a vertical quad-camera array, featuring a 64MP primary sensor. It is likely that the upcoming Redmi Note 9 series phone will have the same 64MP primary sensor as the Redmi Note 8 Pro.Br...

With phones getting taller with every generation, it's not feasible to access quick toggles one-handed anymore. Thankfully, the Galaxy S20 has an option that lets you pull down the notification pane from anywhere on the screen. Here's how to set it up.Products used in this guideTrue powerhouse: Samsung Galaxy S20 ($1,000 at Samsung)How to quickly access notifications on Galaxy S20Open Settings from the home screen. Select Display.Scroll down to the bottom of the page.Select Home screen. Toggle Swipe down for notification panel to On.You can now go back to the home screen and try it out. Just pull down the notification panel by swiping down anywhere on the home screen. You can use the same gesture to pull down the notification pane once again to reveal the full set of quick toggles.This feature is particularly handy on the S20 because Samsung's One UI is designed to facilitate one-handed usage. Actionable elements like toggles on the notification pane are locat...

This is your chance to see the Midgar reimagined before the game's release.What you need to knowFinal Fantasy 7 Remake has had a long-rumored demo listed on the PlayStation Store for some time.Square Enix announced today that the demo has been released.Final Fantasy 7 Remake is currently set to be available for PlayStation 4 on April 10. Great news Final Fantasy fans. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo has been released on PSN! Square Enix finally announced the long-rumored demo earlier today and the listing has gone live.We've just released the free #FinalFantasy VII Remake demo on PlayStation Store.What are you waiting for? Download it now and experience the beginning of the story for yourself! #FF7R👉 https://t.co/Gi4onqN0Cb pic.twitter.com/rX0ELUINHO— FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) March 2, 2020You can download the demo right here. If you download and try it out before May 11, you'll get a special theme to download. Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a timed ...

Indus OS' app store has over 400,000 apps, and Huawei wants to leverage that in India.What you need to knowHuawei is looking to India's homegrown Indus OS as a way around the Google Mobile Services ban.Indus OS' App Bazaar has over 400,000 apps in 12 Indian languages. The partnership is kicking off in India, and it could extend to a global stage if things go well.With Huawei being cut out of Google Mobile Services — prohibiting the Chinese manufacturer from offering Gmail, Play Store, Drive, and other Google services on its phones — the brand is looking at alternate options. The manufacturer is positioning its own AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services as an alternative to the Play Store in European markets, and Huawei set up a global fund of $1 billion to court developers to build apps for its store.It now looks like Huawei is taking a different approach in India. According to ET Telecom, the Chinese brand is said to be in talks with India's homegrown Indus OS as an a...

Competition makes for better products, and the Android ecosystem is more competitive than ever. The best of the best right now is the Galaxy S20+, bringing an excellent combination of hardware, display, specs, features and cameras into a single package. If you want a new Android phone at any price range, we've done the research to separate the great from the good, and the good from the bad. This list will help you make your next purchase easier.Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy S20+Before the Galaxy S20 series came out, our top pick here was the Galaxy S10+ — and everything Samsung did this year made it an easy move to recommend the S20+. The S20+ makes improvements across the board, with a bigger display that has a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, larger 4500mAh battery, more RAM, and a new Snapdragon 865 processor. Every Galaxy S20+ is 5G capable as well, which isn't the biggest deal right now but will become more important later in 2020.The huge move up is in the cameras, wit...

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.$464 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 ...

Pre-orders for the 128GB version are now live in the country.What you need to knowOPPO launched the global variant of the Reno 3 Pro at an event held in India today.The Reno 3 Pro is the world's first phone to feature a 44MP dual hole-punch camera. It will be going on sale in India starting March 6 for a starting price of ₹29,990 ($415). OPPO today unveiled the global variant of the Reno 3 Pro in India. The mid-range smartphone comes with quite a few unique features, including an impressive 44MP primary selfie camera and a 64MP quad-camera setup at the back.OPPO's newest mid-ranger sports a 6.4-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display and a 90Hz refresh rate and an in-display fingerprint sensor. It is the world's first smartphone to be powered by MediaTek's Helio P95 processor, which was announced last week. While the chipset isn't a major upgrade over the Helio P90, it comes with an upgraded AI Processing Unit that brings a 10% performance improvement over the previous generation....

The P40 Pro is expected to have a quad-camera setup with an additional time-of-flight sensor.What you need to knowA set of hands-on images showing a Huawei P40 series smartphone have surfaced ahead of its formal debut later this month.The phone seen in the images is equipped with a vertical triple-camera array and a time-of-flight sensor.Additionally, the images confirm the phone will not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack.Chinese smartphone maker announced the foldable Mate Xs phone last week, bringing a few significant upgrades over last year's Mate X. At the Mate Xs launch event, the folks at DigitalTrends got to spend some time with a P40 series prototype. Being an "early prototype," you can see that the phone has "Polarie" and "Blink" branding, instead of "Huawei" and "Leica". As noted in the report, Huawei usually uses codenames on prototype devices in this way. Huawei is expected to launch at least two P40 series phones at its global launch event next month – th...

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

AKA, how to use the best version of Twitter.We've all been there. It's late at night or early in the morning, you open up the Twitter app to kill some time, and you're blinded by its harsh white background. Yuck. Thankfully, there's an easy fix for this.The Twitter app on Android has had a built-in dark mode for a while, and it's pretty great. Even better, getting it set up takes just a matter of seconds. If you're ready to start living that #DarkModeLife, here's what you need to do.How to turn on dark mode in the Twitter appOpen the Twitter app on your phone.Tap your profile icon at the top-left corner.Tap the light bulb at the very bottom-left corner of the page that pops out.If you want to disable dark mode, simply follow the same directions above and you'll be taken back to the regular stark white layout.How to change your dark mode settingsManually turning dark mode on/off is one way to go about things, but there are actually some settings you can mess with t...

Watch La Liga big guns do battle in crucial clash that could be pivotal in the title race.La Liga is on a knife edge with just two points separating both these two teams. The timing therefore couldn't be better for this latest installment of EL Classico. Don't miss a kick by following or Barcelona vs Real Madrid live stream guide below.With Real currently sitting in second and having suffered a 2-1 midweek loss at home to Man City in the Champions League, there's added intrigue as to how Zinedine Zidane's side respond to that damaging defeat.Barcelona head coach Quique Setien is just two months into his new job and will be desperate to endear himself to the Nou Camp faithful by claiming victory in his first Clasico.The Blaugrana certainly seem to have improved since the 61-year-old took charge, and look to be reverting back to their familiar style of playing the ball out from defence.The away side are however experiencing something of a defensive crisis with first pick full...

Keeping all of your gadgets charged can be one of the most stressful parts of traveling. Nobody wants to pack half a dozen charging bricks in their bag, and using the same chargers you keep around the house means undoing and redoing your home charging setup every time you go on a trip. Here are some travel-focused chargers that will make your life easier.Charging bricksMulti-device chargersTravel adaptersCharging bricks are getting more powerfulIf all you need to power on your next trip is your phone or tablet, you can easily get by with a simple charging brick. While the one that comes with your device works just fine, the ones listed below offer higher output than what's typically included with a phone, partially thanks to the advent of gallium nitride technology (GaN), which allows for high output charging in significantly smaller chargers compared to silicon.Compact, high outputRAVPower Pioneer 90W GaN ChargerStaff pickRAVPower's newest GaN brick is an incredi...

Now we know what developers think.What you need to knowGoogle Stadia is a game streaming service from the search giant.It still doesn't have a lot of games that would attract a lot of people to the service. Business Insider managed to interview developers who have concerns about compensation and long-term survivability. You can purchase a Stadia: Premiere Edition for $130 on the Google Store. Google Stadia is a cloud game streaming service that launched late last year. Since then, it hasn't really seen a tremendous influx of games and it seems like a lot of developers don't support the platform even after all this time. Additionally, image quality is also questionable since many games run at lower resolutions and sometimes frame rates than the Xbox One X.Recently, Business Insider spoke with a number of game developers about their thoughts on Stadia. Unfortunately, some significant issues emerged during those discussions. The outlet said the following about the topic o...

Lukewarm reaction to Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra shows just how high the expectations are for a $1400 smartphone.I'm old enough to remember when the four-figure smartphone was an anomaly, back in the heady days of the Galaxy Note 9. Now, at the high end, it's increasingly the norm. Look no further than the $1,400 Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, with its comma-wielding asking price, for a curious case study on the sky-high expectations for such a device.As reviews — including our own — have started to trickle out over the past few days, a consensus has started to emerge: the S20 Ultra is a great phone which nowhere near justifies its exorbitant price tag. When your starting price is so much higher than everyone else, your product needs to be damn near perfect. And the Galaxy S20 Ultra — again, while great — is not perfect. There are obvious flaws that the customer, nearly a grand and a half lighter for their S20 Ultra purchase, should not expect to see.Outside of being an abs...

Can Pep Guardiola's men make it five League Cup triumphs in seven seasons?Having won four out of the last six League Cup finals, it almost feels strange when Manchester City aren't involved in the Carabao Cup Final. Pep Guardiola's Sky Blues this time face an Aston Villa side that has cast aside its struggles at the foot of the Premier League to put themselves in contention of winning their first silverware since lifting the League Cup back in 1996.If the task in front of Villa wasn't daunting enough, they'll be heading into Sunday's showdown at Wembley against a side that will be bristling with confidence following their stunning midweek Champions League victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.Man City have previously lifted the League Cup trophy six times, while the Villans, who were the tournament's inaugural winners back in 1960, have won the Cup on five occasions. Should any of City star's Fernandinho, David Silva or Sergio Agüero take to the field on Sunday, they will ...

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 Mindustry 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, ...

Sports games have wide appeal, letting you live your fantasy of crafting the perfect team and leading your favorite players to victory. They give you a way to enjoy your favorite sport during the off-season or try games that would be impossible, or at least illegal, in the real world. Whether your a hardcore fan or a casual competitor, the PlayStation 4 has a wide selection of titles to choose from.Featured favoriteRocket LeagueWhy play soccer with people when you can do it with customized Battle-Cars? Face your friends in the arena through local multiplayer and online play that lets you also share games with people playing on PC. The impressive physics engine is easy to pick up while adding realism to the fantasy sport.$25 at AmazonPop a wheelieFutureGrindStaff PickA sci-fi version of freestyle BMX, FutureGrind challenges you to master tricks and speed while avoiding electrocuting yourself by riding on the wrong rail. Each model of bike handles diff...

Good news for early adopters.What you need to knowGalaxy S20 units appear to be arriving as much as five days early.Phone officially goes on sale Friday, March 6.Early buyers should expect a camera patch shortly after release.Samsung made Galaxy S20 buyers wait almost a month between announcement and release, but the wait is going to be slightly less interminable for some users. Some buyers, including Android Central's own video editor, Hayato Huseman, appear to be getting their devices as early as Tuesday, March 3, instead of the actual Friday, March 6 release date.My S20+ will be here on Tuesday 👀 pic.twitter.com/BzESfvkIyp— Hayato Huseman (@hayatohuseman) February 29, 2020Another friend of the site, XDA Developer COO, Brandon Miniman, is set to receive his Galaxy S20 tomorrow, March 2, after paying for expedited shipping.Oh sweet my S20+ pre-order from https://t.co/ivOc3KvsMu just shipped. Delivers Monday (I paid for expedited shipping). Can't wait!— Brand...

Data savingsMint MobileFrom $15/month at Mint MobileProsBulk savingsCheaper dataNo overagesCompatible with most phonesConsInternational roaming is extraMinimum of three monthsNo unlimited optionMint Mobile can save you money on data with three months of service and can save even more with six and 12-month plans. With enough data for most people and no risk of overage fees, data can be cheaper than ever. You also get T-Mobile's large LTE network behind you.Worldwide coverageGoogle FiFrom $20/month at Google FiProsFree roaming data in 200+ countriesData is free over 6GBUnlimited plan availableMultiple networksConsExpensive dataFew phones support full networkData slowed at 15GB on the Flexible planGoogle Fi is a great premium option with no contracts. You get the benefit of more than one network with a supported phone that keeps speeds and coverage higher than many other carriers. You can also take that data with you internationa...

Do you ever look at your living room and think "this is really dull"? There's an easy fix: replace your old TV with the VAVA Ultra Short Throw projector. Here's what it adds to your home.Private theater experience at homeTVs keep getting bigger, but they are far away from offering a real theater experience. The biggest TVs are ridiculously expensive and not at all friendly to regular homes. For example, an 86'' TV easily costs you more than $5,000. With VAVA's 4K UST projector, you can project up to 150 inches on your wall for just $2,799. The projector also comes with 4K quality and a built-in Harman Kardon stereo soundbar. No more driving to the cinema and sitting with strangers who can't stop talking. Instead, grab a drink and enjoy a nice and peaceful movie night with your loved ones.Lightweight and easy to set upUnlike a 100-pound TV, VAVA's projector only weighs 24 lbs - lighter than most puppies. You can easily move it around the house as often as you want. Carrying...

Tonight, Mikey Garcia will step into the ring with Jessie Vargas in an attempt to show those doubting him that he's a force to be taken serious in the welterweight division. The fight takes place in Frisco, Texas on Saturday February 29, which is a Leap Day. Both are former champs, and the winner of the match could get a title fight against Pacman, so there's a lot at stake here.Garcia has a record of 39 and 1, with 30 of the wins being knockouts. Vargas has an equally impressive 29-2-2 record with 11 knockouts to date.The Undercard event begins at 6 p.m. Eastern, and the Main card is slated to start at 8 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night.Use a VPN to watch DAZN from anywhereUnfortunately, you can only access DAZN in a few countries, like the U.S. and Canada, which limits who can actually watch the content. If you live outside of these two regions, don't worry you can still access the content. ExpressVPN is an easy way to connect to a server in a different country to be able to wat...

Chromebooks are fantastic for so many people, but there are few environments they thrive in better than schools. Between easy management and maintenance, enterprise-grade security, and drop-dead easy workflow — not to mention all those lovely, lovely keyboard shortcuts — Chromebooks are in most cases, quite literally, made for the classroom. Before you head back to class for another year of learning and making dope memes with your friends at lunch, here are some accessories that can make your Chromebook slicker and sweeter than ever.Expand your spaceSanDisk UltraStaff pickChromebooks tend to have less internal storage than traditional Windows or Mac laptops, and with microSD card so drop-dead affordable, I'm okay with that, as just about every Chromebook on the planet has a MicroSD slot. Available in sizes up to 512GB, you can expand your Chromebook's storage as much as you want with a reliable UHS-1 card.From $6 at AmazonSpare storage sticksJUANWE Metal Key 32GB ...

Today, Saturday February 29, Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo step into the octagon together in the flyweight bout of the evening to see who will be crowned the new champion. Weighing in at 125 pounds, Benavidez has been in more fights to date, though Figueiredo has quite an impressive record for the matches he's fought.Joseph Benavidez has a 28-5-0 record to date, while Deiveson Figueiredo sits at 17-1-0. The two have similar KO/TKO stats, with Benavidez going for the Southpaw stance while Figueirdo opts for Orthodox. Figueirdo is an inch taller and has an extra three inches of reach over Benavidez, which could prove to be the determining factor in this bout. The fight takes place in Norfolk, Virgina this time around, and streams exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S.You'll want to make sure you check out all the details below so that you are prepared to tune in when the fight begins instead of scrambling to set your accounts up.UFC Fight Night 169: When & whereUFC Fig...

Your Raspberry Pi 4 doesn't have any internal storage of its own so all of the software, including the operating system, runs off the SD card you supply. That means it's essential to find the right card; one that's fast enough, robust enough, has enough storage, and won't break the bank. You can use any SD card, but here's a list that will help you get the most out of your Pi.Best all aroundSamsung EVO+ 32GBStaff PickSamsung's 32GB EVO+ card ticks all the right boxes when it comes to using it in your Raspberry Pi 4. It's fast enough, hits the maximum native format size, and it's nice and inexpensive. If you're not sure which card to get, pick this one.$8 at AmazonMore storage for the proSamsung EVO+ 64GBOffering all the benefits of the 32GB version, the 64GB version of Samsung's EVO+ card doubles the storage space as long as you correctly format it using the FAT32 file system. If you need the extra space, it's worth it.$20 at AmazonNice and cheapLe...

Don't miss a single MLS game this season with our guide to watch all the action onlineWhile England's Premier League and Spain's La Liga are more than halfway through their 2019-20 seasons, America and Canada's Major League Soccer (MLS) season is just getting started. The MLS 2020 regular season kicks off on Saturday, February 29th and will run all the way to October when the best teams in the league will compete in the MLS Cup Playoffs to see which two teams will battle it out in this year's MLS Cup.Keep reading to find out how to watch every single MLS game this season as we'll show you all of the best options for watching the matches on TV or to stream them online.What is the MLS?MLS, which stands for Major League Soccer, is the highest level of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. While the league was founded in 1993 as part of the United States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the first season took place several years later in 1996 with just 10 teams...

Wireless PowerShare is a pretty nifty feature that lets the Galaxy S20 charge other devices wirelessly. While you can technically charge other phones, the feature is designed to be used with Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Watch Active 2. Here's what you need to know about the feature, and how to get started.Products used in this guideTurbocharged: Samsung Galaxy S20 ($1,000 at Samsung)Power up your music: Samsung Galaxy Buds+ ($149 at Amazon)How to use Wireless PowerShare to wirelessly charge devices with the Galaxy S20Pull down the notification panel by swiping down from the top of the screen. Swipe down once more to reveal all the quick toggles. Select Wireless PowerShare. Put another device on the back of your S20 to charge it wirelessly with Wireless PowerShare.Ideally, you'll need to put the device you want to charge at the center of the back of the Galaxy S20 because this is where the wireless charging coil is located. For accessories like the Galaxy Buds+, ...

Samsung's biggest and most expensive phone delivers in almost every way.Galaxy S20 Ultra reviewHardware and designDisplaySoftware and performanceBattery lifeCamerasLiving with 5GShould you buy it?I've been through this so many times before. Samsung has a new flagship phone. It's undeniably better than its last flagship phone. And it's once again more expensive than its predecessor. The Galaxy S20 Ultra is taking that formula to an even higher level for 2020, with an absolutely massive screen and an all-new camera system that's a step above Samsung's other Galaxy S20 models. And the price? A big one: $1400.But following up on a Galaxy S10 series that was pretty conservative, it's good to see Samsung really going for it with a super-high-end "Ultra" model this year. This is supposed to be the one for the enthusiasts, the fans, the nerds who all want the biggest and best Samsung can offer, no matter the cost. Honestly, it's pretty much the playbook the Galaxy Not...

A $200 million fine means carriers still made money selling our location; and since it was ours, do we get a cut?The FCC has finally stepped up and fined the four major U.S. carriers — AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile — $200 million for selling real-time live customer locations to third-party resellers without user consent. Stepped up is a slight exaggeration because a small fine is more like the cost of doing business than any sort of deterrent. Yes, $200 million is a small fine when you consider how much data was sold and how much even the smallest of the Big Four carriers is actually worth.Here's the gist of it all, in case you're not aware of what's going on: in 2018 it was discovered that all four U.S. carriers were selling live customer location data to third-party services like Zumigo or Microbilt (dubbed "shady" companies by privacy organizations). These companies then resold that same data to people like bounty hunters, used car salesmen, and debt collectors....

Spam calls are a real nuisance, and thankfully there are services that do a great job weeding out robocalls and spam numbers. The Galaxy S20 has a spam protection service integrated into the dialer, and here's how you can get started.Products used in this guideCut the noise: Samsung Galaxy S20 ($1,000 at Samsung)How to enable Caller ID and spam protection on the Galaxy S20Open the dialer from the home screen. Tap the overflow menu (three vertical dots on the right). Choose Settings.Toggle Caller ID and spam protection to On. Read Hiya's privacy policy and select the boxes. Hit Agree to finish.The Galaxy S20's caller ID and spam protection is powered by Hiya, a fraud detection and phone number lookup service. Hiya works particularly well with robocalls, and while the service's premium tier usually costs $15 a year, Samsung customers get it for free since it's baked right into the dialer.The best part about Hiya is that it isn't Truecaller. Although Truecaller ...

Discover and chat bots are out, speed and simplicity is in.What you need to knowA report has revealed Facebook's plans to overhaul its Messenger app.Developer screenshots show that the Discover tab is on its way out.Chat bots, business and games are being hidden from view, and chat bots are being demoted.A new report has revealed Facebook's plans to overhaul its Messenger app, an update Facebook says will begin rolling out shortly.As reported by TechCrunch: Chat bots were central to Facebook Messenger's strategy three years ago. Now they're being hidden from view in the app along with games and businesses. Facebook Messenger is now removing the Discover tab as it focuses on speed and simplicity instead of broad utility like China's WeChat. The changes are part of a larger Messenger redesign that reorients the People tab around Stories as Facebook continues to try to dominate the ephemeral social media format it copied from Snapchat. The People tab now defaults 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.Update: The 50K bonus point offer on the Marriot Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is set to expire on March 4, 2020.If you have been holding off on picking up a Marriott co-branded credit card, now might be the time to make the jump. Marriott's 50K bonus point offer on the Marriot Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, which came back after missing fro...

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 knowMarriott has launched a new 100K bonus limited time offer.The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is still eligible.The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card has a bonus of 75,000 points.Jump in on Marriott's biggest offer for a limited time.Update: The 100k bonus point offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is set to expire on March 4, 2020.If you have been holding off on picking up the a co-branded credit card from Marriott, now might be the best time to make the leap. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is currently offering new cardholders 100K in bonus points, but the offer is only good for one more week.When Marriott acquired...