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Overseeing the food, the drinks, the festivities, and the delinquents you invited into your humble abode is enough to drive any party planner mad, but don't worry about not getting to have any fun playing host! You can make your party look effortless with the help of Google Assistant and the many devices it can interact with before and during your party.Products used in this guideAssistant with a screen: Google Nest Hub ($130)Bring Assistant to any room: Google Nest Mini ($50)Google Play: Google Home app (Free)Pre-party prep with Google AssistantGoogle Assistant is just as much of an asset when planning or preparing your home for a party as it is during the actual event, and you can command it to do thousands of party prep activities such as:Step-by-step recipe guides by asking "How do I make [sugar cookies]?"Set reminders for yourself by saying "Remind me to [take out the trash] [at 4 PM tomorrow]."Add items to shopping list before heading to the store by saying "Ad...

Big business and big government have a long history of exploitation when it comes to Africa and its people. It's time to start making things right.Recently Google, Apple, Microsoft, Tesla and other tech companies were named in a lawsuit that claims each knew that forced child labor is being used to mine the cobalt that goes into a lithium-ion battery. The cobalt in question is being mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and if history is any indication everything in the lawsuit is likely true.Africa is an actual and literal gold mine when it comes to many of the metals and other raw materials that are used to build the tech products we use every day. And it's no secret that how these materials are gathered is done in a way that makes corrupt African officials rich and keeps the price down for companies who make goods from the materials in question. I've worked in Africa, and several people that work at Future Labs were born in South Africa. During my time in ...

It's part of an effort to "address existing and emerging threats".What you need to knowThe US Navy has banned TikTok from government-issued mobile devices.It says it's part of an effort to deal with "existing and emerging threats".Users of government issue phones who do not remove the app will be denied access to the Navy Marine Corps Intranet.The US Navy has banned TikTok from government-issued mobile devices, stating that any users who do not remove the app will not de granted access to the Navy Marine Corps Intranet.As reported by Reuters, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Uriah Orland said the move was part of an effort to "address existing and emerging threats." No further information was given as to what danger the app presents. TikTok has come under increasing scrutiny recently because of its ties to China.The report states: A Navy spokesman said Naval and Marine personnel who use government-issued smart devices are generally allowed to use popular commer...

The Scuf vantage 2 is the best controller I've ever used, and I have used a lot of controllers in my time.When it comes to professional gaming controllers, there are few names in the business bigger than Scuf. Professional players around the world reach for a Scuf controller when they go into battle, and it's easy to see why. The Vantage 2 is the updated model from the original Vantage and is a practically perfect gaming controller.I've spent several weeks and hundreds of hours using the Vantage 2 that Scuf sent me for review, and it's easily the nicest controller I've used for the PlayStation 4. Let's deep dive into what makes it so good.At a glanceScuf Vantage 2 Bottom line: The Scuf Vantage 2 is hands down the best controller I have ever used. The interchangeable parts may be a gimmick, but the responsiveness and build...

Best answer: No. While the Galaxy S7's hardware is great, its software isn't expected to be updated for much longer. Instead, you should opt for the Galaxy S8 with its updated specs, design, and improved software experience.Old bessie: Samsung Galaxy S7 ($180)Get the upgrade: Samsung Galaxy S8 ($370)Why the Galaxy S7 isn't the right buy in 2019The Galaxy S7 was released back in March of 2016, meaning we are coming up on the third "birthday" of the device. At launch, there were mixed reactions as Samsung continued to lead the charge in hardware, but the software left a bit to be desired.In our original review, we gave the S7 good marks for providing a great camera, and "excellent refinement of the GS6." However, software features, carrier bloatware, and the lack of future-proofing made it tough to really recommend the Galaxy S7.Things have slightly improved for Galaxy S7 owners over the years, and Samsung has even brought over Android 8.0 Oreo to device owners. However, a...

It's a tiny but powerful computer that does a lot more than you think. Until you think of it.There is a really cool non-profit in the UK called the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It's a group of really smart people who decided that kids needed a way to learn to do more with a computer than just scroll through Facebook if they wanted to, and found a way to make it affordable so almost anyone can.But the Raspberry Pi, now at version 4, is not a kids toy. It's a full-on computer with support for things like 4K video in a tiny package that's also super-affordable. This has also fostered a huge developer community as well as a long list of after-market accessories that will let you do almost anything with a Raspberry Pi 4 without spending a lot of money. And you'll probably learn something on the way, too.It's a Desktop PCMost people with a desktop computer aren't using it for any really heavy lifting. We surf the web, maybe buy something online once in a while, use social media or st...

From live wallpapers to 2020 Supporter wallpapers, v45 is here to make your phone more festive.What you need to knowAction Launcher v45 is rolling out to users now along with an ActionDash update.Quicktheme now can pull colors from live wallpapers, but there's a few caveats to keep in mind.New ActionDash integrations allow you to see your usage in a widget or pause apps for the rest of the day.Support 2020 is here with 5 new supporter wallpapers, including a darling winter scene and a trippy rainbow ride.Christmas came early for Action Launcher users this year, as v45 rolls out today with new enhancements to ActionDash, Quicktheme, search, dual apps support, and the new Supporter badge for the new year. Action Launcher is also touting Android 10 gesture compatibility with v45, but that's contingent upon our phone being a Pixel that got the most recent batches of "feature drops", so if you're on a Samsung Galaxy S10 that just got One UI 2.0, I'm sorry to say you're still pr...

Dynamic Fixed Foveated Rendering will help performance and image quality improve.What you need to knowDevelopers can now choose to let the Oculus Quest decide what level of Fixed Foveated Rendering is best.This change will improve performance in games as well as visual quality when not needed.Developers need to implement this, so there's no changes for you to make on your Quest at this time.Thanks to a development kit update, Oculus Quest developers can now allow the Oculus Quest to decide when to use Fixed Foveated Rendering (FFR). UploadVR noticed this change in the latest development tools update, and it's probably one of the biggest changes in helping developers more easily translate games to the Quest since the system launched in October. While you may never have heard of FFR, you've likely seen it if you've ever taken screenshots on your Oculus Quest or looked around at the edges of the screen.Think of it like this: stare at something right now and try to take in th...

The company says it's not aware of any attacks exploiting the vulnerability, but it can't be sure.What you need to knowTwitter this week revealed a major vulnerability in its Android app.The exploit could allow an attacker to get access to sensitive information or even take control of a Twitter account.The company is communicating mitigation strategies to users it believes are at risk and is advising everyone to update the app.Twitter's Android app was exposed to a nasty vulnerability for a bit, the company informed users in a new post on its privacy blog. The exploit could allow an attacker to "see nonpublic account information or to control your account (i.e., send Tweets or Direct Messages)."The exploit, which involved uploading malicious code to restricted storage areas of the app, has not yet been used to the company's knowledge, but the Twitter is cautioning users that it can't be sure. It's already fixed the issue in the latest version of the app and is asking all ...

Issues have been resolved.What you need to knowCD Projekt had been in a legal disagreement with the author of The Witcher novels, Andrzej Sapkowski.An agreement was reached today, with both parties cooperating moving forward. The agreement also granted CD Projekt new rights to The Witcher. CD Projekt (the parent company of CD Projekt Red) had recently been in a legal disagreement with Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of The Witcher novels. When Sapkowski originally sold the rights for The Witcher to be developed into a game series, it was in the form of a lump sum payment, instead of CD Projekt's initial offer of a percentage of the overall profit.After the rousing success the games have seen, Sapkowski's lawyers argued that the initial deal was unlawful and that additional reparations of roughly $16 million USD were needed. Today, CD Projekt announced that both the company and Sapkowski have reached an agreement, with CD Projekt gaining "new rights" and reaffirming the comp...

Navigate those on-screen elements a bit more elegantly from your phone.What you need to knowThe casting menu in the YouTube app is getting an overhaul with more advanced control methods.A new directional pad will allow users to navigate on-screen elements on the YouTube app for smart TVs.This update is a server-side rollout and should be made available to all users soon.Ever since Google debuted the Chromecast, people have gotten used to sending videos and other media from their phones to their TVs or smart speakers throughout their homes. Most of the time, though, casting functionality has been limited to basic functions like pausing or resuming the media playing, as well as adjusting the volume on supported devices. Now, Google is trying to make controlling those on-screen elements on the TV a bit easier by including a virtual remote that can control the YouTube apps on your TV.In most cases, smart TVs that include a YouTube app can have videos sent to it by a smartphon...

Fulfillment fees for third-part sellers will go up by 3% next year.What you need to knowAmazon is informing merchants on its platform of an impending fee hike of 3%.The company says its increased spending on improving delivery times is part of the reason behind the increase.However, it says it's committed to the Fulfilled by Amazon program, and the investments should help sellers grow sales overall.While Amazon makes or stocks a lot of what it sells, it also boasts the largest community of third-party sellers on an e-commerce platform in the U.S., thanks to its Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) program. The venture allows sellers to not only list their items on Amazon's online storefront but also rely on the tech giant for warehousing and shipping their products.It's these services that Amazon is planning to charge more for. The company is already known for having the fastest delivery times in the business, and now also ships the majority of its packages via its in-house shipping...

Amazon offers an affordable way to start building out a voice-activated home automation system for your house or apartment with its Echo devices and Alexa smart voice assistant. On its own, you can use Alexa to play music and find news, sports, and other information. But things get really interesting when you start to connect Alexa up to smart devices, including connected LED bulbs, smart hubs, and smart switches, around your house. We've collected some of our favorite Alexa-enabled smart lights below. If you use Alexa to control your smart home, you should consider picking some of these up.The home automator's favoritePhilips Hue White Ambience BulbStaff FavoritePhilips Hue is the OG of smart lighting, and they make a wide variety of bulbs, lamps, and lighting accessories. They require a hub or bridge to work with smart assistants like Alexa, but this is one expansive ecosystem that also works well with Apple's Siri/Homekit and Google Assistant/Nest. They may be a bit pr...

The ecosystem of smart home devices that work with Amazon's Alexa smart voice assistant is vast, and one of the most popular categories of smart home products is smart lighting. With so many options out there, how are you supposed to know which ones work well, or which ones work well with Alexa? My top choice is the Philips Hue White Ambiance Bulb, because it is an industry-leading product, has a massive ecosystem of other Hue products it will work with, and it plays well with Alexa.Best Overall: Philips Hue White Ambiance BulbChance are that when you think about smart lights, the brand that comes to mind first is Philips Hue. The product line was introduced way back in 2012 and has arguably maintained its status as the dominant brand in the smart lighting space to this day.Even though Philips Hue makes a lot of different smart lighting devices like bulbs, light strips, and even lamps, I wanted to focus on an easy entry point into this rather expansive ecosystem. The Philips ...

He will also take home an annual salary of $2 million for his new position as CEO of Alphabet.What you need to knowAlphabet's CEO is going to be $240 million richer in the next three years.The Google parent is promising Pichai the largest stock grant in its history.The award will be dependent on the company's performance in the next three years.Being the CEO of one of the biggest tech companies in the world may come with its own headaches, but it's also one of the most financially lucrative things you can do in life. Sundar Pichai, the Google CEO who recently also took the reins at parent company Alphabet, is in line to get a massive $240 million award in stocks over the next three years (via Reuters).Pichai, who cut his teeth working on Chrome and Chrome OS in his early years at Google, became CEO of Google back in 2015 after the company's reorganization under the newly-formed Alphabet Inc. He was immediately awarded stocks amounting to nearly $200 million — the la...

As an introvert by nature, one of the things I love most about smart doorbells is the ability for me not to have to get off of my keister and answer every knock or ring at the front door. All I have to do is ask Alexa to show me who is at the front door. We've compiled a list of great smart doorbells that work with Alexa, but my favorite is the Ring Video Doorbell 2. There are plenty of good devices on this list, so be sure to check them out and see what might be the best fit for your situation.Best Overall For Alexa: Ring Video Doorbell 2It may seem a cop-out to pick a Ring product as my top choice, but the fact is that since Amazon purchased the smart home products company it has been churning out quality products that work well with Alexa. Once you install your Ring Video Doorbell 2 and ask Alexa to discover new devices, you can start checking on who is at the door on the Fire TV from the comfort of your couch. Interacting with people at the door while you are elsewhere is c...

The investigation was the result of a complaint alleging Google shuttered a company's Google Ads account without notice.What you need to knowThe French authorities have reprimanded Google over arbitrary and ambiguous ad rules.Google is being fined $167 million over the alleged breach of competition law.The company plans to appeal the ruling.In what must feel like a recurring nightmare for Google execs, the company is being fined yet again over competition concerns. The French authorities have criticized Google's "opaque and unpredictable rules" (via Reuters) for its advertising platform and levied a $167 million fine against the internet giant.The dispute arose after French corporation Gibmedia accused Google of arbitrarily shutting down its Google Ads account without any notice. In the aftermath of the four-year-long investigation that followed, the French antitrust regulator said it found Google in breach of competition law and said it wielded undue over small business....

Best answer: Playing Google Stadia on a TV only works with a Chromecast Ultra for now, and beyond that, you also need a Stadia controller. Anyone who owns an earlier Chromecast model should upgrade to an Ultra if you want to play Stadia on a TV, or wait on Google to eventually add support for older Chromecasts.Stadia-ready: Google Chromecast Ultra ($69 at Amazon)Get the bundle: Google Stadia Premiere Edition ($129 at Google Store)You need both a Chromecast Ultra and Stadia controller to play on a TVBy most accounts, Google pretty much bungled the launch of Stadia. As it stands now unless you've bought the Stadia Founders Edition or Premiere Edition you're not going to be able to play Stadia games on your TV.That's because you'll need both a Chromecast Ultra that has the latest Stadia firmware updates, along with a Stadia controller. That's the only configuration that currently works for TV play, so even if you already own a Chromecast Ultra you will still need to buy a s...

That's 30 million more units than last year.What you need to knowHuawei's consumer group CEO estimates his company will have sold a total of 230 million mobile devices this year.That's 30 million more than last year, despite the onset of U.S. sanctions and restrictions on the company earlier this year.Slowly but surely, the company is gaining on Samsung to become the largest smartphone company by market share.2019 has been a tough year for Huawei. It's CFO, who also happens to be the CEO's daughter, was arrested in Canada, while the U.S. government has waged a relentless war against its networking business. It was also placed on the U.S. Entity List, preventing American companies from supplying crucial hardware and software that Huawei depends on for its products.Despite that pressure, Huawei has continued its forward march toward dethroning Samsung and becoming the biggest smartphone maker in the world. Thanks to the willingness of its partners to bend the rules, patriot...

Here's the rundown on Mando's protective covering.One of the most important and valuable pieces of gear for Mando, the protagonist of The Mandalorian, is his armor plating. Capable of taking several direct blaster bolts, it's an extremely effective type of protection — and the fact that it routinely saves his life means he can adequately protect Baby Yoda. What is it specifically that allows the armor to be as capable as it is? What are some of the special tools hidden inside of it? Here's our breakdown of everything you could ever want to know about Mando's shiny suit.A magical streaming serviceDisney+$7/month at DisneyAll your Disney favorites, and so much moreFrom Disney classics to National Geographic, from Marvel to Lucasfilm to 20th Century Fox and beyond, Disney+ delivers a streaming service for all ages.It's all in the materialsThe core of what makes Mando's armor so effective is the material it's made of: beskar, which is an exceedingly rare met...

If you thought the first and second-generation of the 10-inch Echo Show was a tad too big, you're in for a treat. Amazon makes its smart screen in two more manageable sizes — a 5-inch and an 8-inch model. Let's see which one you should get.Echo Show 8Goldilocks zone$80 at AmazonProsGreat compromise sizePhysical cover/off switch for microphones and cameraSimilar specs to more expensive Echo Show (2nd Gen)ConsNo Dolby processingNeed a stand to adjust viewing anglesThe Echo Show 8 has taken pretty much all that was good from the Echo Show (2nd Gen) and the Echo Show 5, and fit them into a perfectly-sized smart screen speaker. On-device privacy controls, a better screen resolution than the smaller Show 5, and better speakers make this a great buy.Echo Show 5Bedside buddy$60 at AmazonProsCompact design to fit anywherePhysical cover/off switch for microphones and cameraBetter speakers than Echo Dot or Echo SpotConsAuto-brightness is...

With the holiday season fast approaching, you may be starting to plan some parties and gatherings with friends and family. Here's how to use Alexa and Amazon Echo products to be a more efficient party planner.Products used in this guideTiny dancer: Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) ($25 at Amazon)Best speaker for most: Amazon Echo (3rd Gen) ($80 at Amazon)Best sound: Amazon Echo Studio ($200 at Amazon) Bring in the bass: Amazon Echo Sub ($130 at Amazon)Smart screen: Amazon Echo Show 8 ($80 at Amazon)Smart lights: Philips Hue White and Color A19 Starter Kit ($200 at Amazon) Smart doorbell: Ring Video Doorbell 2 ($130 at Amazon)Use Alexa for party prepThere are several ways that Amazon Echo products powered by Alexa can be leveraged for planning your next party, whether we're talking about a raging dance party or a more intimate holiday dinner party with close friends.It all starts with party planning, and Alexa can help you with stocking up with what you need in two ways. ...

The first time you saw The Child from The Mandalorian on Disney Plus, or Baby Yoda as everyone calls him, didn't you just want to eat him up? Dessert-makers all over had the same idea and went to work. From extravagant cakes and pies, to well-decorated cookies, to coffee drinks you can order now at Starbucks, there are plenty of sweet options to gobble up the Baby Yoda goodness. Enjoy!Yoda CakeBaby Yoda cakeStaff PickNatalie Sideserf of Sideserf cakes in central Texas has created a phenomenal likeness of the little Baby Yoda. It's so lifelike that it's jarring to see the cake cut, but we'd still take a piece ... with the ears, please.Sideserf cakesYoda PieBaby Yoda raspberry pieThis incredibly detailed pie is from pie evangelist Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin, aka @thePieous on Instagram. She runs Pies Are Awesome (we agree!), and though you can't buy her pies, she does offer tutorials that show how she makes them.Pies Are AwesomeYoda CookiesBaby Yoda c...

Stop wondering which service has what and watch more.What you need to knowGoogle Play Movies has now added support for Netflix and Disney Plus.With these services added, you'll now be able to search for even more movies and TV shows within the app.You must still have the apps installed and subscribe to the services, Google Play Movies can only help you find which service the movie or TV show you are searching for is currently streaming on.These days, the video streaming landscape is already pretty crowded, and in the future, it's not going to get any better. As the number of services continues to add up, it can make keeping track of what titles are available on which service a bit of a headache.Thankfully, Google Play Movies has the ability to search through most of these services, making it easier to find what you want to watch without hopping between several apps.The problem, however, is that the service must be supported by Google Play Movies, and up until recently, ...

Portal is one of my favorite video games of all time. I love the concept and the gameplay, along with those the storyline twists, but above all else, I love the GLaDOS, the AI system with the razor-sharp wit that controls everything in the test environment.So you can imagine my reaction when I stumbled upon this indie game called $ S.E.B. >, an indie puzzle-platformer that just so happens to be a wonderfully minimalist homage to Portal. Check out the trailer to see what I mean.The game has you control a SEB square, just one of the thousands of identical test subjects that are stuck in a simulated test environment controlled by GUSTAV, an omnipotently present AI system that exists to configure and guide you through the testing protocols (sound familiar?).You control the black square by tapping anywhere on the screen to make the square jump in the exact opposite direction. Each time you tap the screen, you'll see a line and angle that seems unnecessary at first, but you so...

Android 10 isn't the biggest platform update, but it has a good set of features that can be tweaked to improve your battery life. Coincidentally, some of the changes you can now make to protect your privacy also have knock-on effects in saving power as well. Here's how you can maximize your battery life with a few simple changes on Android 10.Options for Google Pixel and Android OneBattery savers for OnePlus Oxygen OSSome options for Samsung One UI 2For all Android 10 phonesGoogle Pixel and Android OneMake sure Adaptive Battery is turned onThis tip is as simple as it gets, and every Pixel owner should make sure it's turned on: Adaptive Battery. This is a system that looks at how you use your phone, and limits how often infrequently-used apps can run in the background. Google says this only gets better over time as well.Go into your phone's Settings, select Battery and then Adaptive Battery and make sure the toggle is turned on. After that, there's nothing else to do....

Let's not let subscriptions become the dominating revenue stream for the next decade of mobile gaming.The 2010s was a huge decade for mobile gaming, both in terms of the quality of games released and the heaps of money that publishers raked in through exploiting freemium models and in-app purchases.Some of the most notable examples that come to my mind are classics like Clash of Clans and Candy Crush Saga — both are still among the Google Play Store's top-grossing games in 2019 — and more recent trendsetting games such as Pokémon GO and PUBG Mobile.While each of those games is unique in its own way, the common thread that ties them all together is how the developers and publishers capitalized on the free-to-play model of getting the game installed on millions of phones and then enticing hooked gamers to drop obscene amounts of cash in exchange for in-game currency or items.This has proven to be a lucrative model that continues to dominate the app store &mda...

The Huawei P40 and P40 Pro are slated to be launched at an event in Paris in March 2020.What you need to knowAnalyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the upcoming Huawei P40 Pro will use an 8MP telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom.If the information is accurate, the P40 Pro will have an edge over the Samsung Galaxy S11, which is expected to have a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The standard Huawei P40 is said to offer 5x optical zoom. Yesterday, we got our first look at the design of Huawei's upcoming P40 and P40 Pro flagship smartphones, courtesy of early CAD-based renders. Famed industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now claimed (via HuaweiCentral) that the P40 Pro will be Huawei's first phone to come with a 10x optical zoom camera.The Huawei P40 Pro will apparently use a new 8MP periscope zoom lens with an f/4.0 aperture. Unlike the P30 Pro, which uses just a prism lens, the P40 Pro's periscope module is said to feature two mirrors as well as an extended field o...

Achievements can only be viewed via Chrome or Chromecast at this time.What you need to knowYou can now view achievements in Stadia using Chrome or Chromecast.Achievements have been counted since Stadia's launch, and now you can view all the ones you've racked up while playing.There is currently no way to view achievements with the Stadia app.If there is one thing that gamers love to do, it's to rack up achievements. Unfortunately, when Stadia launched it lacked the ability to view achievements, among a laundry list of other features. However, even though you couldn't see the achievements, Google said they were being counted in the background all along.Starting on December 19, Google finally pushed out a way to view your achievements. True to its word, achievements have been silently racking up in the background all this time, and now there is finally a way to view them.You can check out all the awards you've earned the past few weeks by viewing it with either the Chrome...

A trusty laptop is essential for any businessperson these days, and if you're open to the idea of not getting a Windows machine or a MacBook, there are quite a few Chromebooks out there that work incredibly well in the office. Today, we're going to highlight six of our favorite business Chromebooks, including the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 as our top overall pick.Best Overall: ASUS Chromebook Flip C434Kicking off this list is the Chromebook we think is best-suited for spreadsheets, an endless stream of emails, and presentations. It's the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434, and it's one heck of a package.Right off the bat, the C434 impresses with an outstanding aluminum design. It gives the C434 an unmistakable premium look and feel, along with making it extremely durable. The 14-inch display looks fantastic thanks to the Full HD 1920x1080 resolution, Intel's Core m3 processor offers plenty of horsepower, and you have your choice of 4 or 8GB of RAM. You can even flip the screen all the ...

I love the camera on this thing, but in most other areas the Pixel 4 XL comes up short.Another year, another Pixel launch that's dominated by hardware shortcomings. I thought Google would take a good look at the hardware side of things after all the issues with the Pixel 3 series last year, but clearly that was too much to ask for.So in the Pixel 4 XL we get a flagship phone with a flagship camera and corresponding pricing, but internal hardware that fails to pass muster yet again. To its credit, Google made a few welcome changes — the 90Hz screen is a great addition, and 6GB of RAM means you can actually use the camera and not having everything else in the background automatically close.But because this is a phone made by Google, there are bound to be drawbacks, and this time it's battery life. The 90Hz screen is particularly power-hungry, so much so that the 3700mAh battery just isn't able to keep up.I used the Pixel 4 XL for just over a month, and here's what I think...

We take a look back on some of the best, worst, and weirdest things to happen in games over the last decade.The 2010s sure flew by, didn't they? 2020 is almost here, so the Android Central gaming team decided to sit down and discuss some of our favorite games, characters, and more that graced our lives over the last decade. Some picks were easier than others, and a few strong voices managed to get nominations onto the final list. Take a look at what we loved (and didn't) over the last 10 years in gaming, starting with the best PlayStation 4 exclusives.Decade in games retrospectiveBest PS4 exclusivesWorst things to happen in gamingBest things to happen in gamingBest gaming twists and surprisesBest new IPBest lead character in gamingBest PSVR gamesHardest video gamesGames that made us cryMost annoying video game villainsBest video game dogsBest flushable video game toiletsBest gaming beardsBest gaming dadsBest romance optionsBest video game soundtracksBest phot...

My Pixel 4 came off the charger at 4 a.m. to head to the airport. Walking out of the airport at 11:30, it was down to 33%. That's when I reached for my trusty power bank. If you don't have one for your Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL yet, then you should get on that right now because your phone won't do you any good if it's dead.Phone-sized phenomAukey 10,000mAh Battery PackStaff pickThis bank is the same size as the Pixel 4 and can recharge it twice before it'll run dead. Since this bank charges over USB-C, you can use the same cable your phone does with it.$30 at AmazonGreat for accessoriesAnker PowerCore 10000 PD ReduxFor a bank that's basically the size of a Milky Way candy bar, this 10,000mAh bank is good for your Pixel 4 and for accessories as well. You can double-click the button to trickle-charge smaller devices.$46 at AmazonBudget pickXcentz USB-C Power Bank 5000 PDThis tiny bank may not have the biggest capacity, but it's the most pocket-and-purse-friend...

Time to chat with the AC forums.2019 saw a lot of smartphone advancements, particularly when it comes to cameras. Additional sensors were added, low-light modes further improved, and so much more.Samsung, Huawei, Google, and others all had great years in regards to their phones' cameras, and as you might expect, our AC forum members have their own thoughts about which phone does the best in these regards.Here's what some of them had to say. mgbosshogg 12-19-2019 09:29 AM “ I'm impressed by the note 10+. I have used the pixel 3a, 4, OP7P. The OP7P was not great. Not bad, but definitely noticeable. In 99% of situations the rest are only a ball hair different. As usual the main differentiator is behind the camera. Reply DARK Vader777 12-20-2019 12:03 AM “ That note 10 plus cam...

Best answer: The Note 9 is still a capable and modern phone in late 2019, over a year after its release. Most of what makes its successor, the Note 10, great can be found in the Note 9 with the latest software. The only question is whether you really need an S Pen, because if you don't you can save a bunch of money buying a Galaxy S9+ instead.Good at a discount: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 ($825 at Amazon)Save more: Samsung Galaxy S9+ ($550 at Amazon)The Galaxy Note 9 is still good, and priceyGalaxy Notes seem to hold their value over time better than the Galaxy S models. Sure the Note 9's gone on sale over the past year since it was released, but not nearly as often as the mass-market Galaxy S9. With a higher starting price, its discounts don't feel so dramatic either. Now over a year after it first went on sale, the Note 9 is still over $800, even with the new Note 10 and Note 10+ available. The Note 9 still feels modern from top to bottom — improvements in the Note 10...

The stable One UI 2.0 update for the two phones is expected to begin rolling out in January.What you need to knowThe third Android 10-based One UI 2.0 beta has been released for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.It comes with the January 2020 security patch, along with a few bug fixes. Both the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are slated to begin receiving the stable Android update next month. Samsung rolled out the third Android 10 beta build for the Galaxy Note 9 earlier this week. Just days later, the company is now pushing (via SamMobile) the third Android 10 beta for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus phones as well. The latest update is currently available only in India but is soon expected to become available in other markets as well.Interestingly, the latest One UI 2.0 beta for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus includes the January 2020 security patch. Along with the latest Android security patch, the third beta includes a few bug fixes and updated Samsung apps. Since the list of bug fixes is rela...

Ok, we all know who's number one, but what about the rest?Pictured: The Mandalorian.Disney Plus's first and biggest hit to date has been the Star Wars universe series entitled The Mandalorian. While we've all gone goo goo ga ga for The Child, aka Baby Yoda, there is a whole host of other fascinating characters in the show. Here is our initial ranking of all of the characters in The Mandalorian, in descending order from worst to first. Do you agree with our assessment? Oh, and a spoiler warning is in effect. So, if you haven't caught up, you should!The also-ransThe secondary crewThe show-stealersThe also-rans 32 through 13Pictured: Jawas.#32 - WintaWinta is the daughter of Omera, a villager in a krill farm on the planet Sorgan in the Outer Rim. She is cute but has a very minor roll in episode four, mostly limited to playing with The Child.#31, 30 and 29 - Trapper Wolf, Jib Dodger, and Sash KetterThese may be some of the silliest "human" names in the series thus far...

Dish claims its wireless service will go live within 30 days of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger deal closing.What you need to knowDish chairman Charlie Ergen has said that his company's new wireless service will compete with the largest operators in the U.S. right from day one.He added that it would be suicidal for the company not to build its own 5G network. Dish is set to become the country's fourth major wireless player after T-Mobile's merger with Sprint is completed. Dish Chairman and co-founder Charlie Ergen has revealed his plans (via CNET) for the company's wireless service and expressed confidence that it would be able to emerge as a strong rival to the new T-Mobile/Sprint entity. Ergen had testified earlier this week at an antitrust trial in New York as a witness called by T-Mobile. A coalition of state attorneys general are seeking to block T-Mobile's merger with Sprint, claiming that the deal would result in prices going up for consumers as it would reduce competiti...

Kicking off the next generation of wireless.All of the major U.S. carriers are hard at work on their 5G strategy. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have launched 5G networks and are aggressively expanding those networks through 2019. 5G service not only provides faster speeds but also reduced response times allowing for new services and cloud computing not previously available. For now, the major difference between LTE and 5G will be speed but as coverage continues to roll out to new areas, more services that rely on instant connectivity should become possible.VerizonVerizon is starting small with two cities deploying what it calls 5G Ultra Wideband (UWB). In short, this version of 5G uses large chunks of high-frequency bandwidth that produce very high speeds but suffer in other areas such as coverage over distance and building penetration. While coverage is dense enough in cities to be included on the list, Verizon is being conservative and offering much more specific ...

AT&T has perhaps one of the most developed 5G networks out there right now. With millimeter wave coverage alongside low-band coverage in several cities. AT&T, however, has only rolled out millimeter-wave 5G service to its business customers.At some point, this network will be available to more customers, but AT&T currently does not have a date set for this. If you do have a business account, it makes a lot of sense to buy into this network with some of the best data speeds we've seen from any carrier. For consumers, with only the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G being able to access the low-band network, it still might be worth it to wait.When will my area even get 5G?Which devices should I get to be ready for 5G?Which plan do I need for access?What tech is AT&T using?What is 5Ge?Is 5G worth it for most people?When will my area even get 5G?AT&T has a lot of cities listed for its 5G+ network. 5G+ refers to real 5G NR used in AT&T's network. 5G NR is wha...

5G is the next big technology and every carrier wants in on that action. With the exception of AT&T's 5Ge network, seeing 5G on your device means that you are using the newest and fastest wireless technology available. The only problem is that every carrier has a different plan for implementing it. Verizon, for example, is making sure it's at the front of the pack in terms of deployment and overall speed.Understanding how each carrier will deploy 5G can be confusing but we've been keeping tabs on all of them. Here is everything you need to know about Verizon's newest and fastest wireless network.When will my area even get 5G?Which devices should I get to be 5G ready?Which plan do I need for access?What tech is Verizon using?Does it do home internet?Is 5G worth it for most people?The 5G GalaxySamsung Galaxy S10 5GFrom $55 per month at VerizonFast, smooth, and cutting edgeOne of the most complete feeling flagship phones only gets better with 5G support and ...

It is expected to be unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note 10 Lite before the end of this month.What you need to knowKey specs of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite have surfaced.The smartphone will have a 6.7-inch Infinity-O Super AMOLED display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset under the hood. It will have a triple camera setup on the back, featuring a 48MP main camera with "tOIS."Samsung is soon expected to take the wraps off two new affordable flagship phones: Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite. Ahead of their official unveiling, German publication WinFuture.de has shared nearly the complete spec sheet of the Galaxy S10 Lite.According to the report, Galaxy S10 Lite has a 6.7-inch Infinity-O Super AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio. Powering the phone will be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. Like most Samsung phones, it will have a microSD card slot for further storage expansion up to 1TB.On t...

Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Spirit.At the Game Awards 2019, we got our first look at in-engine footage for a PlayStation 5 game, Godfall. Developed by Counterplay Games and published by Gearbox Publishing, Godfall is a new IP, set in a world of knights and realms of magical elements. Described as a "third-person Looter-Slasher," this game is the first official PlayStation 5 that has been revealed. Here's everything we know about Godfall.What is the story in GodfallGodfall gameplay and featuresIs Godfall coming to PlayStation 4?Is Godfall coming to PC?When is the release date for Godfall?Godfall storyGodfall is set in a world with multiple, distinct realms: Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Spirit. You play as a member of the Knight's Order, who are attempting to keep the apocalypse at bay. Counterplay Games says the world was inspired by works such as Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive and Isaac Asimov's Foundation. You can take a look at the reveal trailer from the G...

You can get some sweet deals on Redbox's used video games while supplies last.What you need to knowRedbox is leaving the video gaming rental business.The company wants to quickly get rid of its video game inventory.Right now you can purchase used Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch games for ridiculously cheap.The best options will go quickly, so you'll want to snatch these deals up fast. Unfortunately, some kiosks don't have any video games or don't have very many to choose from.Earlier this month, Redbox revealed that it was getting out of the gaming rental business in order to focus solely on movie rentals. Given that Redbox has been renting out video games for the past few years, the company has acquired a rather large inventory of Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch games. As part of their transition to movie-only rentals, Redbox is selling off this enormous inventory for ridiculously low prices.The thing is that you can only purchase these games ...

The leaked information included Facebook IDs, phone numbers, and real names.What you need to knowA massive data leak affecting 267 million Facebook users was publicized this week.The database was exposed on the internet and accessible without any authentication or password requirements.It contained users' IDs, phone numbers, and real names.While Facebook's busy making its own OS, millions of the company's users' data has been leaked, thanks to one of the largest data leaks in the company's history.Cybersecurity firm Comparitech and researcher Bob Diachenko say they've found a database containing the Facebook IDs, phone numbers, and names of 267 million users on the web. The database, they claim, was entirely exposed on the internet and did not require a password or any other form of authentication to access.They posit that the origins of the database probably lie in Facebook API abuse by criminals in Vietnam or an illegal data scraping operation. While Diachenko immedia...

Silicon Labs, the producer of Z-Wave radios, is opening up parts of the standard to better compete in the internet of things realm.What you need to knowZigbee and Z-Wave are the two primary standards for smart home devices.Up until today, only one company had provided all of the chips for Z-Wave radios. Zigbee Alliance, along with Google, Amazon, and Apple, joined forces to create a new connectivity standard for smart home products on December 18.Z-Wave is one of two main smart home standards, but it's also found itself closed off from outside manufacturers in terms of making chips to power the device's radios. Well, according to The Verge, that changes today as its owner, Silicon Labs, has announced a plan to open up the smart home protocol.On December 18, Zigbee Alliance — the other main play in smart home connectivity standards — along with Google, Amazon, and Apple created a new group to create a new standard that will improve connected devices. Z-Wave has...

Development is being led by a former Microsoft veteran.What you need to knowFacebook is reportedly working on its own OS to replace Android.The company is reportedly aiming for an Apple-esque hardware strategy, with complete control over its hardware and software.A former Microsoft veteran is leading the OS' development.Facebook may be looking to reignite the OS wars in a big way: by creating its own operating system to take on Google. The Information reports that the company's ambitions go far beyond just creating a new smart display or releasing a payment platform for its apps. If its desire to control the future of currencies (if things go its way) and transport us from this reality to a virtual one wasn't enough of an indication of Mark Zuckerberg's grand ambitions, The Information says the company is looking to create its own operating system, and possibly pursue an Apple-esque model for first-party hardware in the future.We've already known for a while that Facebook...

The new Telltale wants to do things differently.What you need to knowTelltale Games was revived by LCG Entertainment after the original company closed.The new Telltale is trying to make a crunch-free studio. The first new project under the new Telltale is a reboot of the The Wolf Among Us 2. After Telltale Games began shutting down, it was eventually restarted by LCG Entertainment, who purchased Telltale's assets. While the new Telltale is still growing, it appears that leadership wants to avoid the mistakes that led to problems with the original company, including crunch.In an interview with IGN, Telltale said "All we can do is be forthcoming; we can't control whether critics hear or believe us. The truth is we are a new company — with different ownership and management, and a different approach as to how we structure a studio in today's market." Telltale also stated that "We are taking a measured and methodical approach to growth in order to ensure we can provide ...

You'll be waiting for a while before there's news of Destiny 3.What you need to knowDestiny 2's latest major event, the Season of Dawn, recently kicked off.In a recent interview, Bungie stated that it'll be a while before there's any news on Destiny 3.Destiny 2: Shadowkeep Deluxe Edition is $60 for PlayStation 4.Destiny 2 first released in 2017 and since then, it's seen plentiful new expansions and updates, alongside some bold changes after Bungie took full control of the game and began self-publishing it, moving away from Activision. Still, players shouldn't expect news of a sequel quite yet. In a recent interview with PCGamesN, David Dague, comms director at Bungie, stated that it's going to be a while before players hear anything about Destiny 3.When asked directly about any news of what's coming past Destiny 2, Dague stated that "Right now our commitment and our attention is to make the seasons that will unfold over the course of the next year interesting and sustain ...

The company plans to have 4,800 customer support agents by the end of next year.What you need to knowGoogle is doubling down on its Operations Centers.The company will expand its in-house customer service facilities in India and the Philippines — and build a new one in Mississippi.Operations Center staff is expected to grow from 1,000 to 4,800 by the end of the next year.Tech companies have often outsourced call center and customer service jobs to countries with cheaper labor around the world. While the tactic has resulted in massive savings for these institutions, customers have often found the resulting quality of service lacking. For companies like Facebook, outsourcing the oversight of its platforms to third parties has resulted in massive controversies and the sub-par moderation of its platforms. Moreover, these jobs are often cited as being incredibly low-paid and often exhibit poor conditions for workers.As a result, Google last year decided to experiment wit...