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The colorful, plastic phone that never was.You see a lot of unreleased products at CES, but rarely one that's never coming to market (unless it's from Razer). This year, though, I got to hold a prototype of the unreleased Nextbit Robin 2, the phone the Kickstarter darling was working on before it was acquired by Razer in early 2017.The Nextbit Robin came to market in February 2016 after finding remarkable success on Kickstarter five months earlier. The company raised over $1.3 million dollars, far more than its initial goal of half a million. It billed itself as a cloud-first smartphone, keeping storage capacity to a minimum and running as much data through the cloud as possible, all to keep the price down. While the first batches sold for $299 or $349, it would eventually sell for $399 from Nextbit directly.When Nextbit was acquired by Razer, it pivoted almost immediately to work on what would eventually become the Razer Phone, but engineers and designers at the company were...

With a MIL-STD810G rating and 20-day battery life, the T-Rex could just be the rugged smartwatch you've been looking for.Huami has been making fitness bands for Xiaomi all the way from the 2014 Mi Band, and in recent years the brand decided to launch its own range of wearables under the Amazfit label. Like Xiaomi, Amazfit's core tenet is delivering great value for money, with smartwatches like the Verge offering an exciting set of features for less than rival brands.At CES 2020, Amazfit is making its foray into a new wearable category: rugged smartwatches. This particular segment has been dominated by brands like Garmin, Casio, and Suunto, and Amazfit believes that its value-focused strategy will allow it to gain momentum. Its first product in this category is the T-Rex, so let's take a look at what the smartwatch is all about.The T-Rex looks big, but it isn't bulky at all. Coming in at just 56g, you'll barely feel it on your wrist. For context, my regular Promaster Skyhawk wei...

It's not just sleep tracking. It's sleep apnea detection.At CES 2020, Withings launched its latest high-end hybrid smartwatch, the ScanWatch. Using a similar design as Withings Steel HR, the ScanWatch has a round watch design with an analogue face. In the top center of the face, there is a PMOLED display that will show text messages and notifications, as well as, your heart rate, steps walked, calories burned, and more. It's biggest new feature is an oxygen saturation sensor, which combined with a dedicated sleep tracker, can help potentially identify if you have symptoms of sleep apnea.Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that happens when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. People who suffer from sleep apnea often don't even know it. Because they're asleep (or at least they think they're asleep). Sleep apnea can cause sufferers to feel tired, even after sleeping a full night, and can potentially be dangerous if sufferers struggle to breath while asleep.Using a ligh...

This year, Vizio continues what it does best — making great (and, hopefully, affordable) televisions and home audio equipment.Everyone is thirsty in the desert. From phones with cameras that disappear to robots that bring you spare rolls of toilet paper to concept cars that breathe, there absolutely is no shortage of products at CES 2020 fighting for even just a brief glimpse of attention.Walk into Vizio's showroom in the Vdara hotel and casino in Las Vegas' CityCenter, however, and you get the sense that — well, everything's the same. That's not to say that Vizio's newest televisions aren't worth a look. They most certainly are. And that's not to say that there's nothing noteworthy about its 2020 lineup. There most certainly is.But you also get the sense that it's very much business as usual for Vizio. That in this futuristic world of 8K televisions and modular displays, Vizio is content to just do its thing. To make good televisions for normals folks at price points no...

Despite this investment, the studio remains independent for now.What you need to knowPlatinumGames announced that the studio has received an investment from Tencent.With this investment, PlatinumGames will begin exploring self-publishing. The studio will still be independent for the future. Kenichi Sato, President and CEO of PlatinumGames, announced today that the studio has recieved an investment from Tencent. With this investment, PlatinumGames will begin exploring self-publishing, while still remaining an independent studio for the future, continuing to otherwise operate as it has been. The studio will also strive for a "wider global perspective" while continuing to focus on the development of high-quality games.Tencent owns or has invested into a near-innumerable number of studios and publishers, owning companies like Riot Games and Supercell, with investments in companies including (but nowhere near limited to) Frontier Developments, Epic Games, Ubisoft and Activisio...

These are the stories that have us excited.January is a significant month. It marks the start of a new year, new goals, and — most importantly — new tech. The beginning of the month is always home to the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, more commonly referred to as CES.CES 2020 is upon us, and as with every year, it is chock-full of announcement after announcement. Some are more interesting and important than others, and with this guide, we're rounding up the best of the best so you can stay up-to-date on what matters the most.We'll be regularly updating this as new gadgets and gizmos are unveiled, so be sure to check back often throughout the next few days.Related: Biggest Apple news from CES 2020Related: Biggest Windows news from CES 2020 Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite and Note 10 LiteOnePlus Concept OneTCL 10 5GSamsung Galaxy ChromebookLenovo Duet & Flex 5 ChromebooksLenovo Smart Tab M10 FHD PlusSkagen Falster 3Suunto 7Diesel FadeliteWithing...

From practical to aspirational, Samsung had plenty to share.Samsung is one of the largest consumer technology companies in the world, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that it regularly has a significant presence at CES — the annual Consumer Electronics Show. From a massive exhibitor booth, flashy press events, and tons of product announcements, this is an important time of year for Samsung.CES 2020 proved to be more of the same, with Samsung dominating the trade show in a few different areas. Samsung unveiled a lot at this year's event, ranging from budget-minded smartphones to artificial humans.Here's a recap of Samsung at CES 2020, the announcements it made, and why they matter.Galaxy S10 and Note 10 LiteKicking off this list, let's talk about the only two smartphones Samsung had to share at CES — the Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite. As the names suggest, these are essentially "lite" variants of Samsung's more powerful Galaxy S10 and Note 10 flagsh...

Businesses can service customers in up to 29 languages with just a Nest Hub.What you need to knowGoogle is expanding Assistant's interpreter mode worldwide.It's also adding a full-service solution for businesses to connect with customers in up to 29 languages.Some of the locations already using the tech include Terminal 4 at JFK International Airport, HSBC, the Mercy Corps, Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas, and more.Early last year, Google launched interpreter mode, a way for Google Assistant to step in and help you converse with people in up to 29 different languages without actually knowing their native tongue. It then rolled the feature out to smart speakers and phones, and now the company is launching a full-fledged business offering for the same.A number of big names in the private and non-profit sectors have already signed up for Google's offering. The extensive list of organizations currently using interpreter mode to broaden their horizons includes airports, airport l...

How do I sell my Android phone or tablet for the most amount of money? With these tips and tricks, you'll get the best return!So a new Android phone has caught your eye — there sure are lots of great ones to choose from — and you want to get on the boat as soon as possible. You'll need to sell your old phone to make up some of the money you're spending on that new device, but luckily there are a lot of options available. We're going to get you through some of the best practices out there for preparing your Android phone or tablet for sending off, and some places for sale that would best suit your needs.Remove SIM and SD cardsFirst up, you'll want to take out the SIM card and SD card from your phone. These are important pieces of hardware that you don't want to leave in your phone when you ship it (or hand it) off to your buyer. Your SIM card is what enables your phone to take calls at your number and is associated with your data plan. You'll need it for your new phone, ...

One of our favorite headphone makers finally cuts the cords.What you need to knowAudio-Technica ATH-ANC300TW are the company's first truly wireless earbuds.The buds have active noise canceling and Qualcomm tech for a more stable connection.The new earbuds cost the same at launch as Apple's Airpod Pro ANC earbuds.Audio-Technica makes solid headphones, good enough to be our Staff Pick for the Best Cheap Headphones you can buy. Now, the company has announced its first truly wireless earbuds, the ATH-ANC300TW, a pricey set of headphones that cost $249 at launch, the same as Apple's Airpod Pro. Like Apple's earbuds, the Audio-Technica 300TW will include active noise cancellation with Audio-Technica's own Quietpoint brand of ANC. The new set will be available this spring.The ATH-ANC300TW will give you 4.5 hours of playback time, plus an additional 13.5 hours of charging from the included battery case. The headphones will use Bluetooth 5 as well as Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo...

Availability is slated for April 2020 with a $49.99 launch price.What you need to knowThe TiVo Stream 4K is an HDMI dongle with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR built-in.It will have access to 5000+ Google Play Android TV apps since it runs a modified version of the streaming platform.Sling TV will be the preferred source for subscription TV through the TiVo Stream 4K.While TiVo is no stranger to streaming television, it is typically handled through a set-top-box. At CES, TiVo has unveiled an HDMI dongle known as the TiVo Stream 4K, and it is packed full of features.Commenting on the Stream 4K's unveiling, TiVo CEO and President Dave Shull said: With TiVo Stream 4K, we have created a dramatically better experience for viewers who are tired of hunting through apps and interfaces to find the amazing content available through online content providers. We are excited to help TV lovers and occasional viewers alike make the most of their time in front of the screen and brin...

Want your robot to vacuum when you leave home? There's an app for that.What you need to knowiRobot and IFTTT have partnered to create simple smart home integrations to better automate your life.These free recipes are available via the IFTTT app or website and can be used to automatically run your vacuum when you leave the home.iRobot is working in deep IFTTT integration into its iRobot Home app, making future routines less complicated. Have you ever cleaned up your house so that your robot vacuum can run, only to come back home and find that you forgot to actually start the robot? I've done this more than once, but by using the new IFTTT recipes from iRobot, I wouldn't ever have to worry about this again. If This Then That, better known as IFTTT, has partnered up with iRobot to help make your home a little smarter and a little more helpful by automating it in ways you may have never thought possible.If you've not heard of IFTTT before, here's how it works. Via the website...

Players really wanted Call of Duty, GTA and Star Wars over the holidays.What you need to knowPlayStation has revealed the most downloaded PlayStation titles of December 2019.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Grand Theft Auto V and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order led the top of the list. Beat Saber was the most downloaded PlayStation VR game. While 2020 is now underway, PlayStation has shared the stats of the most downloaded games on the PlayStation Store from last month. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare topped the list, with Grand Theft Auto V and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order right behind it. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition shot back up the charts to the #7 spot, which was probably aided by the popularity of the show combined with the game being on sale. Here's the top downloaded PlayStation 4 games from December 2019.Call of Duty: Modern WarfareGrand Theft Auto VStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderNBA 2K20Star Wars Battlefront IITom Clancy's Rainbow Six SiegeThe Witcher ...

Best answer: If you have an Android phone, even one not made by Samsung, your Galaxy Watch will work great with it.The OG smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Watch ($312 at Amazon)For the active lifestyle: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active ($179 at Amazon)If you have a modern Android phone, you can use the Galaxy Watch or Watch ActiveIn the past, Samsung locked its wearables to the Samsung experience. You needed to have a fairly new Samsung phone to use its watches and fitness bands. The biggest reason for this was integration. Samsung had special software on its phones that only works when you have a Samsung account. It's a lot of work to guarantee every phone would have the ability to run the additional Samsung apps without running into other problems. Instead of supporting the entire Android ecosystem, it was easier for Samsung to support only its own products. Since Samsung is the top Android manufacturer in the world, there was a good chance most of the people buying these wearables a...

Voice control is also coming to Hue Play this spring.What you need to knowPhilips Hue has new outdoor fixtures, including path lighting and up-and-down lights.Low-voltage versions of the new lights and some older fixtures are now available.Philips Hue Play will get a voice control update this spring for all your preferred voice assistants.Signify, the maker of the Philips Hue family of smart connected light bulbs, has announced new outdoor fixtures as well as feature updates coming to existing lights. There is a new pedestal light, the Econic, for pathway lighting, as well as an Appear wall fixture with Hue's new up-and-down style of lighting effect. The Lily spotlight is getting an XL version as well. Like all of Hue's recent releases, the new lights will use Bluetooth, so you won't need a Hue hub to fire them up and start lighting your lawn.Hue will also be updating the Hue Play device that works with your TV to synchronize Hue lights to the onscreen content. The Hue ...

It's not a mini rollercoaster this year, but it's a lot more fun.Google doesn't usually take up a lot of time at CES to show off something new, but instead to highlight what it's capable of doing with all of its partners. We did get some fun news about digital sticky notes, but that clearly isn't the focus. As a result, the Google booth is usually a huge way to show off a lot of different options but not a ton of necessarily new products. This gives Google the space to have some fun, which is has been doing to spectacular effect over the last couple of years. You may remember the mini rollercoaster Google built inside its booth last year, for example.This year, there are no roller coasters. Instead, there's a deeply interactive tour and a great big slide. Here's a quick look at what you're missing if you can't make it to Las Vegas this week.Everything starts off with this doorway. You are a group of six, walked through the door at the same time and told you'll need to work toge...

Finding a smartwatch that checks every box on your wish list is no easy task. The options are endless and it can be tricky to navigate them all. The Amazfit smartwatch lineup isn't as well known as, say, Fitbit, but it keeps growing and offers plenty of solid choices at great prices. The Amazfit Verge stands out from the rest as a superb lifestyle smartwatch full of useful features. At the end of the day, the watch you choose will depend on the experience you want.Best Overall: Amazfit VergeIf you're seeking a well-rounded lifestyle smartwatch that offers solid fitness tracking and features, the Amazfit Verge is the best choice. It offers a fitness-focused design that consists of an AMOLED display, a polycarbonate body, and a stay-clean silicone watchband. It comes in one size, 43mm, and is available in three colors, including Shadow Gray, Twilight Blue, and Moonlight White.Battery life varies depending on usage. You can expect five days with normal use, 34 days in basic watc...

First in India, then later in the rest of the world.What you need to knowGoogle is teaming up with weather forecaster firm ClimaCell to help bring free access to high-quality forecast data in India.Google Cloud's Public data sets will house ClimaCell's prediction data, allowing members of the public to access and make use of it.The program begins first in India and will roll out later to other regions.Google and ClimaCell are teaming up to provide access to high fidelity weather forecasting models in regions that don't currently have them.ClimaCell is starting its service rollout in India with plans to expand to more regions over time. In this region, members of the general public (like developers and business owners) will be able to make use of the Google Cloud's public dataset program to access ClimaCell's forecasts. They'll be able to use this data to build apps and services that surface this information in a user-friendly way, especially vital for India and its many w...

The company laments it still relies on the tech giant it's suing.What you need to knowSonos is suing Google in Federal Court and at the Internation Trade Commission.The company believes Google and Amazon have violated over 100 patents each.The suit seeks financial damages and a ban on Google speakers, laptops, and smartphones.Sonos is suing Google over patent infringement, according to a report in The New York Times. The speaker-maker accuses Google of infringing on five patents, though company executives say that Google has infringed more than 100 patents created by Sonos.Sonos notified Google of its infringement in 2016 and has been trying to negotiate licensing, but today filed suit in Los Angeles Federal District Court as well as before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Sonos is looking for financial damages and also wants to block the sale of all Google speakers, smartphones, and laptops.Sonos started working with Google in 2013 to integrate Google's music s...

Google's virtual assistant looks to be getting truly helpful in 2020.What you need to knowGoogle Assistant is coming to more devices this year as the company reports over 500 million users.The Assistant will get better for your household with scheduled actions and digital sticky notes for your smart displays. Google will also double down on privacy, adding new features so users can be more educated and in control of their data. Google's starting off Assistant's year with a preview of what it's got coming down the line. The firm's digital assistant is already on a lot of devices, with Google claiming that over 500 million people are using it. Google plans to increase that number by widening the list of Assistant-enabled devices this year in all categories, ranging from smart home devices from the likes of Phillips, all the way to Samsung's Smart TVs, soundbars from Acer and Anker, and so on. It'll be easier to use an Assistant-enabled device this year because there'll be mor...

Sega has been bringing its classic titles to Android. These are the best released so far.Sega deserves a lot of praise for Sega Forever, the new campaign that has been delivering classic Sega titles to the Google Play Store on a monthly basis. All the games are free to play with ads, meaning you'll have to contend with pop-up ads between levels and whenever you save. If you love a game and want an ad-free gaming experience, you can unlock the premium version for $2.The touchscreen emulation for controls is pretty decent, but Sega has also added controller support for most of the titles, so if you have a Bluetooth controller for Android, you're good to go.Though there are more than 20 games in the growing collection of Sega Forever-branded titles, these are the best of the bunch.Sonic The Hedgehog ClassicSonic The Hedgehog 2 ClassicSonic CD ClassicSonic 4 Episode 2Ristar ClassicComix Zone ClassicKid Chameleon ClassicStreets of Rage ClassicThe Revenge of Shinobi Classi...

Hey, remember that game you backed on Kickstarter eight years ago? It's finally finished.What you need to knowKentucky Route Zero is a point-and-click adventure game.The first act released in 2013 with subsequent acts following in 2014 and 2016.Act 5, the final act, will release on January 28th alongside Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition for consoles.Nearly seven years after it began, the story of Kentucky Route Zero is coming to an end. Publisher Annapurna Interactive and developer Cardboard Computer have announced that Kentucky Route Zero Act 5 will release on January 28th, 2020. This will be a long-awaited conclusion for fans of the game which began its life on Kickstarter. Kentucky Route Zero is a magical realist adventure game about a secret highway in the caves beneath Kentucky. An antique furniture delivery man trying to make his small shop's last delivery gets lost along the way and meets a haunted TV repairwoman, a young boy and his giant eagle brother, a pai...

This is the bleeding edge of what OnePlus is capable of in hardware design and materials.When OnePlus announced it'd be showing off its first "concept" phone, we didn't really know what to expect. But now we've laid our eyes and hands on the OnePlus Concept One, which shows off the bleeding edge of what OnePlus is exploring in terms of smartphone materials and design. It's good to see OnePlus move beyond just branding and do something functional with this partnership.The Concept One isn't just a OnePlus project, but instead a continuation of its work with McLaren — and this phone has the strongest influence from the carmaker yet. The back of the phone is adorned in real leather, the exact same material you'll find on the interiors of McLaren's cars, with tidy accent stitching all along. Its unique orange-ish color McLaren calls "papaya" is stunning, but the leather is also supple and feels wonderful. The feeling is particularly unique because it's bifurcated by a sheet of ...

Missed out on Final Fantasy 7 when it first released? Just want to revisit your favorite classic? Here's everything you need to know about the Final Fantasy 7 RemakeI still remember when the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trailer debuted on Sony's stage at E3 2015. I remember the disbelief at its existence; the utter awe of its cinematics; the complete euphoria of the crowd when the word "remake" appeared at the end of the trailer, squashing all thoughts that what they had just watched was for a movie or half-hearted remaster. It's a complete remake, and Final Fantasy 7 deserves nothing less. (Hello Final Fantasy 7 PS4 port! At a time when the remake was kept under wraps, you were the last thing that people wanted.)Whether you're a new fan to the legendary JRPG franchise or returning to Midgar, here's everything you need to know about the remake.Complete remakeFinal Fantasy 7$60 at AmazonMidgar never looked so goodOne of the greatest games of all time is finally getting the t...

iPhone users will have to find some other tablet to draw on.What you need to knowWacom One is a 13-inch pen display that costs $399.The display works with macOS, Windows, and some Android devices.The Wacom One is 2.2 pounds and portable, but requires dongles.The Wacom One is a new entry-level "pen display" tablet, which is to say it connects to your device through HDMI or USB and lets you draw directly on screen with Wacom's battery-free pens. The new display costs $399, making it the least expensive pen display in Wacom's lineup. Surprisingly, the new display will work not only with macOS and Windows computers, but also with Android phones and tablets. No iPhone support is currently planned, according to Wacom.The new Wacom One has a 13.3-inch display with a Full HD 1080 resolution, and it's capable of showing 72% of the NTSC color gamut. The display has a 26ms response time to pen input, and you can tilt the pen to a 60-degree angle for different drawing effects. The Wa...

Coolpad's new products continue to target underserved markets.What you need to knowCoolpad previewed an affordable 5G smartphone and a successor to its well-received kids' smartwatch.The smartphone, branded the Legacy 5G, will ship later this year for $359.The Dyno 2 smartwatch will also land in April for $190.At CES 2020, Coolpad previewed its first 5G phone, the Coolpad Legacy 5G.As per Android Authority, ,the smartphone will be priced at $359 and come with decent specs for that price point. There's a large 6.53-inch FHD+ display powered by Pixelwork's HDR technology, a 4,000mAh battery, dual 48MP and 8MP rear cameras, and a 16MP selfie cam. The handset also sports Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity with Tempow multi-device streaming.Sound like your thing? Well, you'll have to wait. Coolpad isn't releasing this phone until an unspecified time in Q2 2020.Of course, we may yet get even more affordable 5G options in the meantime. MediaTek earlier showcased 5G chips for mor...

After weeks full of rumors and speculation that Sony would have something to say about the PlayStation 5 at CES 2020, we finally got to witness the company's press conference last night.... and it was pretty laughable on the PlayStation front. Sure, we technically did see something "new" in regards to the PlayStation 5 — its logo. Its logo that is the exact same as the PS3 and PS4 before it, but this time with the number five. Please contain your surprise. Okay, that's not the only thing that was "revealed." Sony reiterated some tech specs and features of the PlayStation 5 that we already knew. Is it cool to hear once again how PlayStation will be evolving? Absolutely. But could we say that anything was really revealed or announced? No. You can't tell me that the PS5 logo was a big reveal when it's exactly as we'd expect it do be. I'd argue it was something not even worth revealing, though it did get a lot of people talking.People expecting more had no reason to. I'd b...

Launches this spring for $299.What you need to knowBelkin has announced a new Google Assistant speaker with built-in wireless charging at CES 2020.The Belkin Soundform Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker promises high-quality audio thanks to partnering with Devialet and wireless charging up to 10W.It will be available this spring for $299 in either black or white with gray.If you're anything like me, then you love using Google Assistant around your house to answer questions, set reminders, or control your smart home. It has become an integral part of my life and I have several smart speakers throughout my home, including on my nightstand.The problem is, I also like to keep my phone charged up and nearby, making the nightstand start to get pretty cluttered once you add a separate charger. Thanks to Belkin, there could be a solution in the near future to help clear up some space, with its recently announced Belkin Soundform Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker that includes built-in wireless ch...

The Nokia 6.1 is likely next in line to receive the update.What you need to knowHMD Global is now rolling out the Android 10 update for the Nokia 7 Plus.Along with all the Android 10 features, the update also includes the December Android security patch. At least five other Nokia-branded smartphones are expected to be upgraded to Android 10 before the end of Q1 2020. Earlier this week, HMD Global began rolling out Android 10 to the Nokia 6.1 Plus. Now, the company has announced that it has released the Android 10 update for the popular Nokia 7 Plus.Nokia 7 Plus just got better! These phones are now running on the latest Android 10 update. Get the latest pure Android experience and access the latest features today. What feature do you think will be your most used? Let us know in the comments below!👇 pic.twitter.com/toanRtZIhe— Nokia Mobile (@NokiaMobile) January 7, 2020The update arrives as version V4.10C and brings several new features, along with the December An...

It means a better range and motion sensing!What you need to knowLutron has added two new devices to its Caséta Smart Lighting Control System.The first is a Motion sensor.The second is a repeater that can extend the range using your power outlets.Lutron has added two new devices to its Caséta Smart Lighting Control System, a motion sensor and a repeater.As per a press release Caséta by Lutron, the industry's most connected smart lighting control system, now offers more features than ever before. Lutron Electronics, the global leader in lighting and shading controls, is announcing the addition of the Caséta Smart Motion Sensor and the Caséta Repeater.The motion sensor can be used in any room where you might need hands-free assistance with your light, such as a bathroom, laundry room or garage. It's freestanding and works with Caséta lights and also its Serena Shades. It has a 180-degree field of view and is totally wireless so it can be mounted anywhere, it als...

The Chromecast is Google's simple solution for wirelessly streaming media straight from the apps on your phone to your Chromecast-enabled TV. It's one of the easiest ways to upgrade any TV with an HDMI port, with the Chromecast Ultra representing the best you can buy with support for 4K and HDR content. Here's how to set up any Chomecast on any TV in your home.Products used in this guideGoogle's best: Google Chromecast Ultra ($69 at Amazon)For non-4K TVs: Google Chromecast (3rd Gen) ($35 at Amazon)The app you need: Google Home app (Free at Google Play Store)How to set up your ChromecastPlug in the Chromecast to a power source and an HDMI port on your TV.Be sure that you've got the Google Home app downloaded onto your phone or tablet (iOS is also supported).Connect your phone or tablet to the Wi-Fi network you want the Chromecast to be set up on.Open the Google Home app on your device.You should see an option for Set up new device but if you don't see that just tap th...

Let's check-in with the AC forums.As of yesterday, January 6, Google began rolling out the January security patch — the first one for 2020.This latest patch fixes the usual array of bugs/security vulnerabilities, along with some Pixel-specific updates for things like a fixed notification UI, a boot-loop fix, and more.Taking a look through the AC forums, a lot of our members have already received and downloaded this month's software. bhatech 01-06-2020 02:04 PM “ Side load FTW !!! Look for multiple threads and posts that i haven’t received the update for weeks Reply burrs87 01-06-2020 02:31 PM “ just checked for update and installing now. on TMobile Reply almath 01-06-2020 04:52 PM “ Just d...

Amazon's Echo Studio is an amazing product in its own right, but it was tailor-made for Amazon's newest music service, Amazon Music HD. With up to 10 times the bitrates and streaming quality of "regular" music streaming services, Amazon Music HD delivers an entirely new audio experience to your Echo.Products used in this guideBooming sound: Amazon Echo Studio ($200 at Amazon)A new aural experience: Amazon Music HD (From $13 per month at Amazon)How to set up HD music on the Echo StudioAmazon Music HD offers millions of songs in high definition audio format. What does this mean exactly? Well, pretty much the entire Amazon Music Unlimited catalog of over 50 million songs are available in Standard Definition (SD) at up to 320 kbps (already among the highest between the streaming services), and nearly as many are available in High Definition (HD) at up to 16-bit/44.1kHz or 850 kbps (more than double the standard streaming bitrate).Best of all? Millions of songs are available ...

The smartphone supports both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) 5G networks.What you need to knowRealme's first 5G smartphone is now official.The new Realme X50 5G comes with a 6.57-inch 120Hz LCD display and runs on a Snapdragon 765G chipset. It will be going on sale in China later today for a starting price of 2,499 yuan ($360). Just as it had promised, Realme today launched its first 5G smartphone at an event held in China. The new Realme X50 5G is powered by Qualcomm's 7nm Snapdragon 765G chipset, which we expect to see in quite a few value flagships this year.The 5G-enabled smartphone sports a 6.57-inch IPS LCD display panel with FHD+ resolution and an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. Realme has paired the Snapdragon 765G chipset on the phone with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB UFS 2.1 storage.Similar to other recent phones launched by the company, Realme X50 5G has a quad camera array at the back. It features a 64MP primary camera with 4-in-1 pixel binning, a 1...

Vidrian Mini-LED backlights will bring increased brightness, contrast and clarity.What you need to knowTCL has announced its new Mini-LED technologyIt uses thin-film transistors to minimize filters between the backlight and LCD, increasing brightness, contrast and clarity.It also announced that its 8K Roku TV is coming later this year.TCL has announced its new Mini-LED technology at CES 2020.In a press release TCL stated: Taking the lead in global display technology innovation once again to deliver powerful picture performance, TCL's new Vidrian Mini-LED technology is the world's first TV backlight with the driving semi-conductor circuitry and tens of thousands of micro-meter class mini-LEDs directly infused in a crystal-clear glass substrate. Vidrian Mini-LED technology is the next stage in pushing LCD LED TV picture quality to unrivaled levels of sharp contrast, brilliant luminance and highly stable long-life performance. When combined with TCL's big-screen 8K LCD p...

They come with advanced picture quality and sound capabilities!What you need to knowSony has announced new 8K and 4K televisions.The new Z8H is an 8K LED in 85 and 75-inch models.There are also new OLED models and 4K LEDs too.Sony has announced its new 8K LED TVs at CES 2020, as well as new 4K TVs in both OLED and LED.The press release states: Sony Electronics Inc. today announced new Z8H 8K LED, A8H and MASTER Series A9S OLED, and X950H and X900H 4K LED televisions. Offering a premium viewing experience consumers have come to expect from Sony, this new lineup features proprietary technologies previously only found in Sony's MASTER Series models. These new televisions aim to deliver the most immersive viewing experience in their class, with evolving technologies and premium large screens, created to deliver content the way creators intended.The new TVs feature Sony's X1 Picture Processor, and TRILUMINOS Display technology, as well as a new Ambient Optimization feat...

No hole-punch cutout here.What you need to knowCAD-based renders of Sony's next flagship phone have surfaced.The phone, which could be called the Xperia 5 Plus, will apparently feature a 6.6-inch OLED display. It will have a triple camera setup at the back, along with a ToF sensor for portrait shots. Sony had introduced the Xperia 5 at IFA last year as a "compact" alternative to its flagship Xperia 1, featuring fairly similar tech specs. It now looks like Sony's struggling smartphone division is set to launch a "plus-sized" variant of the Xperia 5, which could be called the Xperia 5 Plus. CAD-based renders of the upcoming phone have now surfaced, courtesy of tipster OnLeaks and SlashLeaks.The renders show a fairly similar design to the current Xperia 5, although the top and bottom bezels do appear to be slightly thinner. It also looks like the Xperia 5 Plus will have an identical 21:9 aspect ratio as the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5. According to @OnLeaks, the phone will have a ...

India is only the second market where the Echo Auto has been launched.What you need to knowAmazon has quietly launched the Echo Auto in India.The Echo Auto enables users to access Alexa in their car to do things like play their favorite music, make phone calls, set reminders, and more. It has been priced at ₹4,999 ($70) in the country and will be available for purchase starting January 15. Amazon today launched the Echo Auto in India, a device that lets you add Alexa to your car. The device can draw power from your car's 12V charging socket or USB port and connects to the stereo system via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm auxiliary cable. Amazon had announced the Echo Auto in September 2018 and showcased it at CES in Las Vegas last year.The Echo Auto features a total of eight microphones with far-field technology, which means it can hear you clearly even over road noise. Once set up, the device enables you to use your voice to do things like play music, make calls, listen to audiob...

Finally, Mixed Reality is starting to get good enough for people to enjoy at home.I was a Day One adopter of Google Glass, complete with the four-hour bus ride to NYC for a custom fitting and all of the awkwardness which followed. I immediately saw a future where computing would happen in front of my eyes, instead of down on a screen. I have continued to be incredibly excited by that future. Google lacked the ability or the willpower at the time to have an honest conversation about privacy, and so Glass never really left the commercial space. The current spectrum of wearable computing runs the spectrum from the incredibly passive yet stealthy Focals by North to the massive yes highly functional Microsoft Hololens. But for me, nothing in that spectrum has yet felt ready for someone to casually use in their day to day lives.After a demo with the final release hardware, Nreal Light has very nearly convinced me this the thing for which I've been hoping.Unlike fully standalone pla...

The tiniest taste of what is down the road.What you need to knowAt CES 2020, Sony shared updated sales figures for the PlayStation 4.Sony also shared the official logo for the PlayStation 5.The company will be talking more about the PlayStation 5 "in the months ahead."At CES 2020, Sony shared a quick update on the PlayStation brand. Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, took to the stage to talk about PlayStation. He revealed the new PlayStation 5 logo and if your money was on "the PlayStation 4 logo but the four is now a five" then you win. Jim Ryan also shared a list of hardware features that the PlayStation 5 will be focusing on, all of which have been mentioned in the past.That's it for the PlayStation 5 news, though Jim Ryan did note that Sony would be sharing more in the months ahead. In other PlayStation news, updated sales figures were released for the PlayStation 4, as well its games and peripherals.Over 106 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been...

It'll also bring Bluetooth support to hearing aids, opening up the burgeoning world of wireless audio to the hearing impaired.What you need to knowThe Bluetooth standard is getting a new audio platform.Dubbed LE — for low energy — Audio, the new standard reduces both power consumption and improves sound quality.In addition, it'll allow for sharing audio between multiple users and boasts better compatibility with hearing aids.There's a new Bluetooth audio platform in town, what the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is calling the "next generation of Bluetooth audio." Dubbed LE Audio, it will operate using the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) radio, hence the 'LE' in LE Audio.As the name suggests, the tech promises better energy consumption for audio devices, while at the same time improving sound quality, thanks to a new, improved codec and the use of the low energy radio mentioned above.The standards organization included a handy graph comparing the new LC3 codec foun...

It'll be available in the second half of 2020 for $899.What you need to knowRoyole is introducing its first-ever smart speaker at CES 2020.The speaker has a one-of-its-kind design with a wraparound touch screen.It's also got three full-range drivers and support for Amazon's Alexa.You might remember the folks from Royole from earlier in the year. Back when the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X were but rumors in the ether, the Shenzhen-based company nabbed the distinction of releasing the first functional foldable phone. While the FlexPai was not received well by critics — we even called it a 'hot mess' — it did put the spotlight on the previously unknown company.Now, the Chinese tech maker is looking to peel your eyes away again with its new smart speaker (via Android Authority). The Mirage, as the company calls it, features a truly unique design and digs into the company's pedigree for flexible displays by wrapping one around the speaker's cylindrical outer s...

It'll allow for more users and more Wi-Fi networks in the same place.What you need to knowRegulators around the world may be opening up the 6GHz band to use by Wi-Fi devices.As a result, the Wi-Fi Alliance is introducing the Wi-Fi 6E branding for devices capable of operating in this spectrum.The change will allow for 14 additional 80 MHz channels and 7 additional 160 MHz channels, according to the Alliance.If better, faster, and more reliable internet is at all interesting to you, you've likely heard about the new Wi-Fi 6 standard. The new set of technologies is set to revamp Wi-Fi for our increasingly more connected world and facilitate our vociferous hunger for more data.While Wi-Fi 6 — also known as 802.11ax — is set to provide all that with a 3x higher theoretical throughput than Wi-Fi 5, most of us will likely never really have an internet connection that comes anywhere close to the 9.6 Gbps limit it boasts. One of its most tangible benefits of the new tech, then...

Having a powerful processor doesn't mean you can do powerful things unless you can keep it cool.Samsung's new Galaxy Chromebook looks stunning and has specs that are just as amazing. This is expected, seeing as it starts at $999. But it's also going to suffer the same way the Pixelbook — another $1,000 Chromebook — does because it's thin and light and that means there is no way to keep that high-performance Intel CPU cool if you get into something that makes things hot and heavy.I'm not going to tell anyone that it isn't worth the asking price. If the display were 3:2 instead of 16:9 I'd really, really want one of my own. Premium is more than a buzzword when you use it to describe something you use every day and anyone who spends all day in front of a computer knows the value of a great display, keyboard, and trackpad. I'm just disappointed in the same way I am with most other highest-end Chromebooks by the lack of any thermal solution that's worth a darn. The Spin 13 is th...

Minimize noise by cancelling feedback and feedforwardPanasonic has introduced a pair of new truly wireless earbuds, the RZ-S500W and RZ-S300W, both of which offer noise cancellation technology. The higher-end RZ-S500W earbuds include Panasonic's Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling Technology, which will offer FeedForward Noise Cancelling (FF-NC) and Feedback Noise Cancelling (FB-NC), in addition to digital and analog processing. Panasonic says that the RZ-S500W offers the best noise cancellation in its class, at least as of the day it's announced. Things move quickly in consumer electronics.Both sets of earbuds will maintain a stable connection by using an independent left and right reception system with proper sound balance. A MEMS microphone combined with a "unique labyrinth structure" will help suppress wind noise and other unwanted sounds.To control the earbuds, users can tap to switch between silent noise cancellation and an Ambient Sound mode that lets you hear oncoming traffic....

Now maybe my pizza place will finally call me Phil instead of Bill.What you need to knowQualcomm's aptX Adaptive audio technology is getting an aptX Voice codec.The new codec offers HD quality voice response over the narrow Bluetooth frequency range.Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 765 devices will work with next-gen accessories with aptX VoiceQualcomm is improving voice quality on your Bluetooth accessories with the new aptX Voice codec, part of Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive audio technology suite. Now, voice calls will come through with a wide 32kHz frequency range, similar to the HD quality audio provided by aptX for music. The new codec relies on compatible hardware, and Qualcomm says the latest flagship and midrange phones with Snapdragon 865 and 765 chips will support the next round of Bluetooth devices to use Qualcomm's Bluetooth Audio system-on-chip later this year.Qualcomm details a number of improvements that better frequency range and the flat 16kHz frequency response ...

Partnering with TCL to debut the first TVs with the new gaming-enhanced feature.What you need to knowTHX Certified Game Mode enhances contrast and color while simultaneously reducing input lag.TCL will be launching the first certified TVs later this year, with other manufacturing partners to be announced.THX AAA debuts new audio quality and better battery life for wireless headphones.When you think of THX, it's likely the first place your mind wanders off to is a movie theater. After all, THX has been partnering with great studios since 1983 to create one-of-a-kind quality sound experiences in theaters and at home. But what if you could bring THX audio excellent to the wonderful world of video games? THX, in partnership with TCL, is launching a brand new THX Certified Game Mode for TCL TVs, helping gamers get the most out of their brand new 4K HDR TV from the nation's fastest-growing television brand.THX Certified Game Mode can be selected for each input and provides fast...

The Mandalorian takes place well after Yoda becomes one with The Force.What you need to knowYoda is long gone at this point in the timeline of Star Wars, nixing any possibility that this could actually be Yoda.The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau won't comment on speculation of Baby Yoda's actual origins.Season 2 of The Mandalorian will reveal more, but that won't be available until Fall 2020.Curious minds have been wondering about the origins of Baby Yoda ever since the character was introduced in The Mandalorian TV series on Disney Plus. Given that Baby Yoda has quickly become one of the most iconic Star Wars characters of all time, you might be surprised to learn that the name "Baby Yoda" is more of a false pretense than anything. In fact, the name Baby Yoda isn't even mentioned in The Mandalorian at all. In the show, it is simply referred to as "The Child."Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian, spoke with USA Today in the lead-up to the Golden Globes 2020 about B...

There's a lot being announced — let's dive in.What you need to knowAt CES 2020, Hisense unveiled a slew of new televisions it's bringing to market.The company is utilizing technologies like ULED and quantum dot on some of the models.Hisense is making use of multiple platforms, including Roku and Android TV.Hisense may not have the same brand notoriety as a company like Samsung or LG, but in the TV space, Hisense has established itself as a top player for budget and mid-range options. During CES 2020, Hisense unveiled a ton of new televisions it has planned for the year, featuring a variety of technologies and smart platforms.One of the more interesting options is the L5 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser TV projector. The L5 uses blue laser light, and as a result of this, is able to be more energy-efficient than standard LCD displays and more true-to-life colors "that exceed the standard 4K color range."Hisense says that the blue laser light also cuts back on light dispersion...

The company mentions "safety" 19 times in its announcement.What you need to knowQualcomm Snapdragon Ride Platform will assist Level 1 and Level 2 driver assistance systems.Snapdragon Ride will power Level 4 and Level 5 fully autonomous urban driving.Qualcomm is using air cooling and its mobile tech prowess to lower power consumption.Qualcomm will put a Snapdragon behind the wheel of a car by 2023, if the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Ride Platform is adopted by automakers and Tier-1 manufacturers. Snapdragon Ride consists of three components: a system-on-chip (SoC), a safety accelerator system and software, and an autonomous driving software stack. The company expects its Ride platform to benefit all levels of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), from Level 1 and Level 2 systems that brake automatically and recognize traffic signs, through Level 4 and Level 5 systems that will drive autonomously navigate urban environments.Those high-end systems will draw up to 130 watts ...