Latest from Android Central

Yet another Microsoft app reached the 500 million installations milestone.What you need to knowSwiftKey recently hit 500 million installs on the Google Play Store.SwiftKey is one of many Microsoft apps to have over 500 million installs through the Google Play Store.Microsoft purchased SwiftKey in 2016.Microsoft's SwiftKey recently passed 500 million installations through the Google Play Store (via MSPU). It joins a growing club of Microsoft applications to reach this milestone, including Excel and PowerPoint. Microsoft's OneDrive and Word have over 1 billion installations.Microsoft purchased SwiftKey in 2016. The app is one of the most popular third-party keyboards for Android and maintains a 4.4/5 rating on the Google Play Store with well over three million reviews. It allows you to type by tapping or swiping and learns your writing habits to create more accurate predictions.Microsoft's focus on Android and iOS is proving to be the right callMicrosoft's array of apps...

Some of you may have to wait a few days to get the update.What you need to knowOnePlus has started pushing a new OxygenOS update for the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro phones.The update brings improved photo quality, optimized RAM management, faster app launch times, and the November security patch to the two phones. As per OnePlus, broader rollout of the update will begin "in a few days."OnePlus began pushing the OxygenOS 10.0.3 update for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro phones last week, bringing the November Android security patch to the two phones. The company has now started rolling out a new OxygenOS update for the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro phones as well.The update arrives as OxygenOS 10.0.5 for the OnePlus 7T Pro and OxygenOS 10.0.7 for the OnePlus 7T. As per a post on the OnePlus Community forums, the update is being rolled out in stages, which means it will take a few days for the broader rollout to begin.OnePlus says the update improves the launching speed of certain apps, bring...

Much has been made about many aspects of the Pixel 4 that hinder its usability, chief among them being battery life. But one thorn that's continually poked at my side since first receiving my Pixel 4 XL has been weak app support for face unlock authentication. Face unlock's problem isn't technology, it's app developers.As I noted in my Pixel 4 XL review, "face unlock's problem isn't technology, it's app developers." Face unlock works incredibly well, and I actually prefer it to a fingerprint sensor, but it's entirely useless if apps don't support it. And when they don't, you're worse off using a Pixel 4 than a Pixel 3 or any other phone out there because you don't have a fingerprint sensor to fall back on. You're back to using usernames and passwords on your $800+ phone.We maintain a list of apps that support face unlock, and while I can't claim it includes every face unlock-enabled app I know we have most — and all of the notable names. And the list is sad: it's still...

In fact, the top four all belong to the Facebook family...What you need to knowFacebook was the most downloaded app of the decade according to App Annie data.Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram saw Facebook take the top four.Netflix was the top app in terms of user spending. According to data from App Annie, Facebook was the most downloaded app of the decade across the iOS App Store and Google Play.In terms of the data, combined iOS and Android data only runs from January 2012, onwards, figures prior include iOS data only, and the 2019 portion runs from January to November.Overall, the most downloaded app of the decade was Facebook. In fact, Facebook holds the top four spots thanks to Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram (in that order. The full list was as follows:FacebookFacebook MessengerWhatsAppInstagramSnapchatSkypeTikTokUC BrowserYouTubeTwitterThe top 10 spending apps were led by Netflix, and the entire top 10 is do...

Realme also launched its first truly wireless earbuds alongside the Realme X2.What you need to knowRealme X2 was launched in India today at an event held in New Delhi.The Snapdragon 730G-powered smartphone was first unveiled in China in September. Realme X2 will go on sale in the country from December 20 for a starting price of ₹16,999 ($240).Realme launched the Realme X2 in the Indian market today, nearly three months after its launch in China. In Europe, the smartphone had made its debut in October, alongside the company's flagship Realme X2 Pro.The Realme X2 features a 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and boasts an impressive 91.5% screen-to-body ratio, made possible by the small waterdrop notch at the top. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 730G processor, which has been paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage.Similar to the Realme XT, the Realme X2 comes with a quad camera array on the back. It has a 64MP primary sensor...

"This practice creates additional hassle and can put someone off from switching altogether..."What you need to knowUK telecoms regulator Ofcom is proposing a ban on the sale of locked mobile phones.It says that the process of paying to unlock a device creates additional hassle that could put people off switching all together.Three major UK carriers sell devices locked to their networks, including Vodafone and BT/EE.UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is proposing to ban the sale of mobile devices locked to a specific network, according to a consultation document published today, December 17.As reported by MacRumors, the document is titled **'Fair treatment and easier switching for broadband and mobile customers - Proposals to implement the new European Electronic Communications Code.'**The overview states that the priority of Ofcom is fairness for customers. It then outlines a significant plan to help people shop with confidence, "make informed choices", switch easily and get ...

The "early surprise gift for Stadia Founders" will also help Google's game streaming service increase its user base.What you need to knowGoogle has announced a new freebie for Stadia Founders.If you bought the Stadia Founder's Edition bundle, you can now redeem an extra Stadia Buddy Pass.You can share your extra Buddy Pass by opening the Stadia app and tapping the envelope icon in the top-left. Just in time for the holidays, Google has announced that it is giving away an extra Buddy Pass to all Stadia "Founders." Stadia Founder's Edition owners can share the Buddy Pass with a friend or family member, allowing them to join Stadia and enjoy a 3-month trial of Stadia Pro subscription.If you have purchased the Stadia Founder's Edition bundle, you will need to look for the envelope icon in the Stadia app. Once you see the icon, you can send your Buddy Pass to a friend or family member from the Stadia app. Simply tap on the envelope icon and then use the "Send your Buddy Pass" ...

The One UI 2.0 update is currently rolling out only in Germany.What you need to knowSamsung has finally started pushing the stable Android 10 update for the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ phones.Currently, however, the update is only available in Germany. The update is likely to become available in at least a few more countries very soon. After rolling out the stable Android 10 update for the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy M series phones, Samsung has finally started updating the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ to Android 10. As reported by the folks over at SamMobile, the stable Android 10-based One UI 2.0 update is now seeding to Note 10 and Note 10+ users in Germany, including those who hadn't signed up for the beta program.The stable Android 10 update arrives as version N970FXXU1BSL7 for the Galaxy Note 10 and N975FXXU1BSL7 for the Galaxy Note 10+. While the update is currently rolling out to users only in Germany, we expect the update to become available for users in a few additio...

Developers, speak out. Where is the software industry going next? The new Developer Economics survey Q4 2019 is now open to all developers around the world until January 17th. Every year, more than 40,000 developers from 165+ countries participate in the Developer Economics surveys to set new trends in software development. This is a chance for all developers to be part of something great and set the industry trends, opportunities, and challenges for 2019.What skills do you think are necessary for today's developers? Which popular dev tools, platforms, technologies, and frameworks do you enjoy using or you have tried but disliked or want to learn more about? Answers to such questions will help us discover what's missing in the industry.Answer a few questions about your favorite tools, languages, and frameworks, and you may win one of the awesome prizes up for grabs — including a Samsung Chromebook 3, Microsoft Surface Pro 6, JetBrains IDE, Oculus Rift S, AWS Deep Racer, Sa...

A look at the tech that makes the Pixel 4's cameras so magical.What you need to knowThe Pixel 4 is capable of taking portrait shots for subjects that are up closer and far away.This is achieved by using the Pixel 4's dual cameras along with dual-pixel technology.Google is also able to pull-off a bokeh effect that looks more like a real SLR.The biggest selling point for Google's Pixel 4 is its camera performance. This has been the case since the first Pixel came out in 2016, and that superiority has continued year after year. The Pixel 4 stands out as the first Pixel to ship with two rear cameras, including a 12MP primary camera and 16MP telephoto camera.In addition to enabling you to zoom in on subjects that are far away, the telephoto lens also allows for better portrait shots. In a recent post published to the Google AI Blog, Google took some time to explain how the Pixel 4's improved portrait photos work behind the scenes.With the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3, Google achieved...

This is the sporty smartwatch people are looking for ... held back by low memory and Wear OS shortcomings.Fossil's biggest accomplishment in smartwatches is being able to bring together an incredibly diverse set of well-known brands under a common platform. It's unlikely that Puma would be able (or willing) to make a competent smartwatch on its own, so this partnership with Fossil is a complete win-win like every other brand partner. Puma gets to leverage its well-known brand and design capabilities, and let Fossil handle the internals and capabilities.The result is a Wear OS watch that feels incredibly familiar, sharing its platform with several other smartwatches, but one with a unique style that separates it from the rest of the fashion-focused market.The best Android smartwatches you can buyAt a glancePuma Smartwatch ...

Take a look at new art pieces and detailed renders.What you need to knowSquare Enix has released several new artwork pieces and character renders for Final Fantasy 7 Remake.These images include characters like Tifa, Sephiroth, Shiva and Shinra.Final Fantasy 7 Remake is currently slated to release on March 3, 2020. You can preorder the game on PlayStation 4 for $60 on Amazon. Square Enix has shared some nifty new images from Final Fantasy 7 Remake. There's a couple of new pieces of redone art and character renders to take a look at. In the artwork below, Tifa stares out into the night sky, while infamous villain Sephiroth stands back turned amidst flames.There's also a couple of detailed renders of Sephiroth, which you can take a look at below.Then, Square Enix also shared a render of Shiva, who is as cold and deadly as she is stunning. Shiva is a summon in Final Fantasy 7 Remake.Finally, there's also renders of President Shinra, of the Shinra corporation, as we...

The camera is pretty barebones, though.What you need to knowThe Vimeo app picked up a couple of new features with its latest update aimed at making mobile content creations a little easier.You can now recording and upload your videos from within the app.Livestreaming is also supported, although it requires a Premium subscription.YouTube is, by and large, the king of online video, but ad-free competitior Vimeo is still beloved by many. If you're one of those creators who love Vimeo's laid-back style, the latest update to its Android app may be welcome news for you, as the company will now let you record and live stream your content right from the mobile app (via Android Police).Head over to the 'Upload' tab at the bottom right and alongside the usual previews that let you select media from your gallery to upload to the site's servers, you should also see new 'Record' and 'Live' tabs. The latter will let you live stream your vlogs on the go, though that'll also require you ...

Being the ultimate warrior, the titular Mandalorian has a large arsenal at his disposal. Here's how we rank them.The Mandalorian (available on Disney Plus) has taken the television world by storm with its superb blend of humor, action, and quality character writing. Throughout the varied adventures that the show's protagonist Mando and his "son," Baby Yoda, have been on thus far, Mando has made use of a variety of different types of munitions to solve his problems. So, we thought it would be a fun idea to rank them based on coolness, power, efficiency, and more. Here's our list of all of the weapons used by Mando, ranked worst to best.Honorable mention: Mandalorian armorWhile it's not technically a weapon, we still felt we couldn't finish this article without mentioning Mando's armor. Made out of beskar, it's one of the most durable and effective types of armor in the entire Star Wars galaxy. Beskar is capable of withstanding several direct blaster bolts, and can even hold up...

LG Chem is reportedly making the S11's 5,000 mAh batteries for Samsung.What you need to knowLG Chem previously helped Samsung with batteries for the Note 10 series.The Galaxy S lineup could have a version with a battery capacity of at least 5,000 mAh. The largest battery from the Galaxy S10 lineup was a 4,500 mAh unit in the S10+ 5G.Rumors of the upcoming Galaxy S11 phones from Samsung are starting to pile up, and today we get one in terms of who may be helping with the batteries. PhoneArena reported today that LG Chem looks to be on board to aid Samsung with the power cells in its upcoming S11 devices.In terms of capacity, LG Chem is already the world's largest producer of lithium-ion batteries and it isn't the first time that they will supply Samsung with batteries for its phones. While this will be the first time a battery with LG on it is going to appear in a Galaxy S device, Samsung did use LG in the Note 10 lineup. Aside from Samsung reaching out to another compan...

You can explore uncharted space in virtual reality thanks to Star Trek: Bridge Crew.What you need to knowStar Trek: Bridge Crew is now available for the Oculus Quest.The game places you aboard a U.S.S. ship exploring uncharted space.It's available for $30 from the Oculus Store.You can now boldly go where no one has gone before without having to go anywhere. Star Trek: Bridge Crew is available for the Oculus Quest, allowing you to explore uncharted space and overcome obstacles. The game places you aboard the U.S.S. Aegis, your mission, to find a suitable homeworld for the "decimated Vulcan populace."The game requires you to plan a strategy and to coordinate your crew to make it through your mission. The Klingon Empire works against your goals, so you'll have to make your way around them to help the Vulcans.The game also has a co-op mode that allows up to four players to serve as the Captain, Helm, Tactical, and Engineer.Star Trek: Bridge Crew$30 at OculusThis g...

Most of the settings found in the side menu have been relocated to the account switcher.What you need to knowGoogle's navigation app is getting a new design.The app ditches the slide-out menu on the left in favor of an expanded bottom bar with more shortcuts.The account switcher now houses many of the settings previously found in the hamburger menu.The newest version of Google's mapping application comes with a fresh coat of paint, thanks to a new UI that eschews the hamburger menu of yore for a redesigned bottom bar with more shortcuts to your favorite parts of the app (via Android Police). Explore on the bottom menu has been renamed Map, and is joined by Commute, Saved, Post, and Latest.Map does exactly what you'd expect and lets you navigate the world around you using a — surprise! — map. The Commute tab is the only one that hasn't been changed in any way since the last update. A welcome change, the Saved tab now lets you access your favorite locations with...

Job listing indicates new hire would oversee growth.What you need to knowSony Interactive Entertainment has seen major leadership shifts over the past few months.A new job listing indicates that Sony is seeking a new Head of Strategy for WorldWide Studios. This job oversees growth and planning from a business perspective.According to a new job listing, Sony is seeking a new Head of Strategy for Sony Worldwide Studios. This new hiree would be responsible for overseeing growth from 2020 through 2024, while identifying market trends to react to and planning any mergers and acquisitions. The Head of Strategy would also be collaborating with the leaders of the different Sony Worldwide Studios, while reporting directly to the Head of Worldwide Studios.A new hire as we head into 2020 isn't too surprising. There's been a fair bit of corporate restructuring and leadership changes at Sony Interactive Entertainment over the last few months. Shawn Layden, former Chairman of Sony Worl...

Los Angeles marks the 18th city that Verizon has rolled out 5G in.What you need to knowLos Angeles marks the 18th market Verizon's Ultra Wideband 5G network is available in.7 devices in total support Verizon's 5G network, including the Galaxy S10 5G and LG V50 5G.Coverage is only available in parts of the city right now, with a wider rollout planned soon.Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network continues to grow with the flip of a switch as Los Angeles, California marks the 18th market that Verizon has brought 5G to. If you're rocking a Galaxy S10 5G or an LG V50 5G and live in LA, you might be seeing some significant speed increases while browsing the web on your phone today. As we've seen in other cities where Verizon's millimeter wave 5G has rolled out, such as New York City, you're not going to find coverage on every single street corner in all of LA.Right now, Verizon hasn't updated its coverage maps to include Los Angeles just yet, so it's anyone's best guess as to which...

The dispute arose over the ability to change the default search engine on Android.What you need to knowTurkey's competition authority has fined Google over competition concerns and is asking the Palo Alto giant to change its software.The dispute relates to the ability to change the default search engine on Android.Google has informed its partners in the country that it will no longer work with them on new smartphone releases in the country for the foreseeable future.Google seems to be in quite a pinch in Turkey. The company was fined to the tune of 93 million lire ($17.4 million) last year by the country's competition authority and asked to change its software to comply with local law. Despite changes, the inability to change the default search engine on Android left the agency dissatisfied, resulting in an additional fine of 0.05% of Google's revenue per day until the appropriate changes were made. The government has also asked Google to change its software distribution ag...

If you're planning to walk into the new year with the goal of getting in shape, you're going to need a quality fitness tracker to help you get there. There are so many options out there and it can be challenging to figure out which one is right for you. With these fashion-forward fitness trackers, you'll not only have the ability to track your activity, but you'll look stylish while you do it.Most stylish of them allFitbit Alta HR Fitness TrackerStaff pickEveryone knows that Fitbit is one of the leaders in the fitness tracker industry, but you might be surprised to learn that it offers some pretty stylish options as well, like the Alta HR. With the addition of heart-rate monitoring, you'll be able to better track calories burned. The Alta HR also tracks sleep stages, resting heart rate, steps, distance, calories burned, and more. The battery will last an entire week before needing a recharge.$160 at AmazonLightest optionMotiv Fitness RingThe Motiv Fitness is...

When Mando lets the guns talk, we listen. Here's every time someone dies.Yes, this a list of every kill in The Mandolorian, but first we created some ground rules. Victims who are punched or shocked are not confirmed kills. If someone gets shot and doesn't get back up, we assume they were killed, since the only shots we see that don't kill when they hit are blocked by beskar steel. Some offscreen kills are implied, so they count, as noted. Also when we say "pop" we specifically mean disintegrate, and those are our favorite kills. When you're ready to play along at home, here's a list of all the fun toys from The Mandalorian so you can look on disapprovingly, just like The Child/Baby Yoda.Chapter 1Total Kills: 3502:17: The Mandolorian (Mando) kills the Alpha Trawler with his own knife.02:30: A Quarren Trawler gets cut in half when Mando pulls him into a closing iris-shaped door.05:55: Guest star Brian Posehn's speeder pilot is taken into the ice by a Ravinak.29:39: IG-11 B...

OnePlus isn't the only company making sub-$500 flagships.With flagships from Samsung, Google, and others creeping to and beyond the $1000 marker, it's no surprise that there's a demand for "lite flagship" phones that offer a premium experience at a fraction of the cost.This is a market OnePlus has dominated for years, with 2019 seeing the OnePlus 7 Pro and 7T further cementing the company at the top. However, that's not to say other brands aren't offering compelling options of their own.Back in August, ZTE launched the Axon 10 Pro in the U.S. ZTE isn't really synonymous with affordable flagships in the country, especially after all of the controversies it's faced with the U.S. government over the past year. This might have caused the Axon 10 Pro to slip under your radar, but I'm here to tell you that it's absolutely worthy of your attention.UnderdogZTE Axon 10 Pro ...

So, how big is the Xbox Series X? Our 3D interactive size comparison offers the best look yet at how the Xbox Series X stacks up to its closest current contemporaries.How big is the Xbox Series X? Microsoft hasn't offered exact dimensions yet, but extrapolating on the size of the USB-A port in the official renders gives us some pretty close estimations. Our best guess puts the Xbox Series X at around 12.28 in (312 mm) x 6.2 in (157 mm) x 6.2 in (157 mm), which, if accurate, gives us a good sense of scale for comparing it to other known consoles.Our 3D printing team whipped up some three-dimensional models based on the glimpses Microsoft has shown us of the Xbox Series X, as well as some of our own expectations. The scaling is based on the estimated sizes of the Series X, and the known sizes of the PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4) and the Xbox One X. The below embeds show how the Xbox Series X stacks up when compared side by side to its contemporaries.These embeds are all interactive, an...

Bug affects third-party apps that use Chrome for WebView.What you need to knowChrome 79 has paused its rollout after a bug that caused users to lose data in third-party apps.It's possible third-party apps that used Chrome to display webpages could have signed you out or lost your data.The Chromium team is aware of the issue and is weighing options on how to best fix it.Did one of your apps randomly log you out or lose your data recently? If so, you could be the victim of a bug present in Chrome 79 which causes data to be lost. The reason this could be affecting an app outside of Chrome itself is that many developers rely on the Chrome engine to display websites or to log you into your account.In fact, many apps may be nothing more than a website dressed up as an application. That generally doesn't cause an issue, until an update with a bug that forgets to migrate your data rolls out, as it did with Chrome 79. Thankfully, this bug has already been addressed on Chromium bug...

With adjustable warm lighting and subtle design tweaks, the Kindle Oasis 2019 is a great upgrade to a fantastic e-reader.How do you improve on something that is already the best in the market? That is the question Amazon had to ask itself with the Kindle Oasis 2019. It debuted earlier this year, and while there you may not make out any differences in design from its predecessor, there are a few notable features.Of course, you don't need to buy an Oasis if you're looking to get started with e-readers. Amazon has devices starting from $80 that are good enough for reading on the go. With the Oasis, it's all about getting the best possible features: it has the highest number of LEDs, the largest screen of any Kindle, and physical page turn buttons.With the Oasis 2019 coming in at nearly twice the price of the Kindle Paperwhite, do these extras justify the added cost? Let's take a look.The best aroundKindle Oasis 2019 ...

Watch movies with your friends every week in VR, no matter where everyone is.What you need to knowBigscreen and Paramount Pictures partner to bring four movie premieres every week in Bigscreen Cinema.Bigscreen is a free app available to most major VR headsets and can be used to watch movies or virtually hang out with people.Premieres happen every week through January 10 and virtual tickets begin at $3.99, available in 10 countries.Friends and family away for the Holidays? Bummed that you can't catch a couple of movies with your friends while they're out of town? Never fear, because Bigscreen Cinema is enabling you to catch up with your friends while you watch a great movie from Paramount Pictures, all in the comfort of your warm living room. Never used Bigscreen before? It's a free download for nearly all virtual reality headsets that brings a virtual movie theater, living room, or even campfire to your VR headset and makes it easy as pie to connect with your friends and fa...

The holidays are just around the corner, which means traveling to meet friends and family. However, that also means you need something to help keep a vigilant eye over your home. With the RemoBell S, you can monitor your front door from anywhere in the world, and it’s on sale today for just $91.The RemoBell S packs a doorbell, camera, and microphone all in one to safeguard your front door when you’re away. It uses a 180° wide-angle HD camera with night vision to monitor whoever approaches your home. Once you install the remo+ app on your phone, the RemoBell S’s advanced motion detection will send you instant alerts whenever it senses movement in its field of view. You can stream your camera feed straight from the remo+ app and even converse with guests thanks to the built-in microphone. Finally, you can access up to 3 days of stored video so you can sift through any missed visitors.Your home can never be too secure, especially over the holidays. The Rem...

Smartphone touchscreen controls offer a unique opportunity for puzzle game developers. Our pocket devices are uniquely suited for clever puzzle games because they're easy to pick up and play whenever you have a few free moments. If you're looking for a game to test your brain, check some of these out.Beautiful and hauntingThe Room seriesStaff PickThe Room is a widely celebrated puzzle franchise developed by Fireproof Games for mobile. There are four games in the series that each offer hours of challenging puzzle fun. These games are very reminiscent of point-and-click classic adventure series like Myst and Siberia that you can easily sink many hours into. The latest game in the series is The Room: Old Sins, which we've linked to below, but the whole series is worth checking out if you love a good puzzle.$5 at Google Play StoreColorful chaosDissemblerDissembler is a colorful and relaxing puzzle game that's deceptively simple to play and features fantastic puz...

If you have little ones who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa this Christmas, then you might want to look into getting a Santa tracking app. This is a great way to get them excited, and you can also use it to make sure they go to bed before he gets there. There are dozens of apps out there to choose from, but not all of them are the best to use or the greatest quality. I was able to find all the trackers out there, and here's exactly how they rank in terms of usefulness and fun.1. Google's Santa TrackerIt's no surprise that the best app out there for tracking the man in the big red coat is the one made by Google. Not only does it allow you to track Santa, but it comes with fun activities for your kids to do leading up to his arrival. You can play fun games like Elf Maker or Penguin Dash, and you can watch cute videos the elves made.It even has a countdown to takeoff, where the tracker will unlock on the app and you can watch him make his way to your town. It's the b...

Don't screw this up, Google.Ever since I got my hands on the Pixel 4 XL back in October, I've been defending it every chance I get. This year's Pixel lineup has been met with a heap of backlash and criticism, largely regarding the phones' poor battery life.I've been enjoying every second of using my 4 XL, but I also understand that these phones simply do not work for a lot of people. Google will always have its little group of die-hard Pixel fans, but if the company wants to make its hardware more enticing to other buyers and not risk losing its current customers to the growing competition, some things need to change in 2020.We're still quite a ways off from the Pixel 5, but when it's inevitably released next October, these are the five key areas Google absolutely has to get right.Battery lifeWithout a doubt, the biggest knock against the Pixel 4 is its battery life. Especially on the smaller Pixel 4 (and the 4 XL for some people), the battery just doesn't last long enoug...

It's 2019, and flagship smartphones are all nearly a thousand dollars or more. But as high-end phones get more expensive, cheaper phones are getting better. Phones under $300 are beautifully designed, with great screens, super-long battery life, excellent cameras, and awesome speakers. We've researched and ranked all of the best cheap Android phones you can buy, and with our buyer's guide, you'll find the perfect phone for you.Best Overall: Moto G7The Moto G7 and its other budget counterparts on this list have impressive, high-resolution touchscreens, reliable software, and great cameras. Some features, like NFC, drive up manufacturing costs, so you have to weigh whether you need NFC-enabled features like mobile payments. And the Moto G7 also lacks the same graphical power as its more expensive competitors, but most games play without issue, even at medium or high settings, because Android games are designed to play on hardware of all sizes and prices.At the same time, Motoro...

The button displays on the photo frame view when you are close to the device.What you need to knowGoogle is testing a new home button on its Nest smart displays.Pressing the home button will bring up the card display.It is uncertain if this is just a test or if Google will roll it out more widely in the future.One of the great things about smart speakers and displays is the fact that they are always evolving. Thanks to processing in the cloud and regular updates, your home will continue getting smarter over time.A prime example of this would be the new ultrasonic sensing Google-enabled on Nest displays back in November. With this new feature, your Nest display was able to detect whether you are near or far away from the device and change what is shown on the screen. For example, when setting a timer, if you are further away the size of the numbers will increase to make it easier to read. This feature currently works with timers, commute times, and weather. Soon, it will r...

Time to chat with the AC forums.Over the years, Samsung's been building up its ecosystem of Galaxy devices to do what it can to compete with Apple's famous walled garden.Galaxy Buds seamlessly pair and charge with Galaxy smartphones, the Galaxy Watch lineup works best with Samsung's own phones, etc. For people that take the time and money to get invested in this ecosystem, it can be a pretty great experience.Recently, some of our AC forum members got to talking about it. Here's what they had to say. wbcolon 12-13-2019 08:09 AM “ I have the 11 pro max and the note 10 plus. For each device I always try to get the trifecta (buds,watch,phone) of that brand device. You can use either wireless earphone on mixed devices but you lose the features they were released for. Open the box and use the trifecta for a week and put you iPhone away or you’ll be tempted to go back to it. I know because ...

Another day, another messaging platform from Google — but don't worry, this isn't another full-blown chat app. Instead, Google Photos is making it easier to share and discuss photos with a new self-contained messaging section. It works similarly to direct messaging in social apps like Instagram, and no longer requires you to create shared albums. Here's how it works.How to use Google Photos' new messaging featureMessaging in Google Photos is still new and fairly rudimentary, but it's easy enough to start using with anyone else who uses the app. It uses the same sharing menu that previously required creating entire albums and quickly starts to feel like second nature.Open Google Photos and tap any image or video in your gallery that you'd like to share.Tap the Share icon in the bottom left corner.Under Send in Google Photos, tap the name of the user you want to message. You can create a group to message multiple people at once, or tap more to search by phone number or...

When watching Disney Plus (Disney+) on your laptop during that long holiday layover or cross-country flight, you don't have to hassle with the on-screen controls when a crying kid behind you covers up the punchline to your favorite Genie joke. Disney+ has keyboard controls that are available when watching through the Disney+ website or when using the Android app on a Chromebook. Memorize these controls because they're going to make your life much easier when you're neglecting your work to watch some Winnie the Pooh.Disney+ keyboard shortcuts when streaming on DisneyPlus.comIf you've used media apps before, a lot of these will look familiar to you.Spacebar — play/pauseLeft arrow — rewind 10 secondsRight arrow — fast forward 10 secondsM — mute/unmuteF — Enter fullscreen modeEsc — Exit fullscreen modeThese controls work on all supported desktop and laptop computers, including Chromebooks, but if you have a Chromebook, you have two ways ...

One of the best parts about Google Photos is the automatic face tagging feature, which makes it easy to quickly find photos of your friends without having to scroll aimlessly through years of backups. Up until recently, though, you could only label faces Google Photos had already detected. Now, you can add those face tags yourself, with a few caveats.How to manually tag facesTagging faces is a great way to easily index your photos, but before, you needed to let Google do all of the work, with the only manual option being confirming automatic tags. Now, you can do the tagging yourself in just a few simple steps.From your Google Photos gallery, tap a photo with the face or faces you want to tag.Tap the three dots in the upper right corner, or just swipe up to access additional options.Under People, you'll either see faces Google has already identified, or simply see "x faces available to add." Tap the pencil icon to edit these labels.Under Available to Add, tap a face you'd...

It won't really matter in the long run, but right now it's near-impossible to explain what 5G is.The build-out of consumer 5G networks is difficult from a technological and logistical standpoint. Varying network standards between carriers, coverage issues resulting from necessary infrastructure upgrades, and limited availability of 5G phones early on are all hindering the 5G rollout. But one of the biggest problems underlying it all is that "5G" isn't just one thing, and it's both confusing and difficult to explain for just about everyone. There's no simple answer to the question of 'what is 5G?'5G comes in a ton of different flavors. There's Sub-6, which you can deploy in low-band or high-band, and also in so-called stand alone or non-stand alone mode, and then also with or without DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing). Then there's mmWave 5G, which uses ultra-high-frequencies and is considerably different in its operation because of the challenges introduced by the spectrum it op...

When it comes to promoting your brand or project and growing your audience, nothing is more important than creating high-quality video content.The Complete Videography Bundle: Beginner to Expert will teach you how to create and share pro-level videos so you can give your projects the attention they deserve, and it’s currently available for over 95% off at just $29.99.With ten courses and over 45 hours of instruction, this bundle walks you through everything you need to know in order to master the art of videography.You’ll learn how to use the latest software and tools in order to create polished edits of your work, how to add a wide variety of effects to your video projects, how to apply a range of contrast ratios and lighting to your edits, how to work with animated infographics, and much more—all through instruction that utilizes real-world examples.Get the skills and tools you need to start creating polished video content with the Complete Video...

Marton Barcza stops by the show for a chat with Jerry Hildenbrand and Daniel Bader about the best and worst tech of 2019.Listen nowSubscribe in Google Play Music: AudioSubscribe in iTunes: Audio Subscribe in RSS: AudioDownload directly: AudioShow Notes and Links:Curiositystream + Nebula BundleTechAltar - YouTubeTechAltar (@TechAltar) | TwitterProduct Review Community | CrrowdCrrowd (@crrowdapp) | TwitterSponsors:Thrifter.com: All the best deals from Amazon, Best Buy, and more, fussily curated and constantly updated....

It's the most wonderful time of the year — especially for package thieves.You're not the only one excited to see a UPS truck in front of your house this time of the year. For a lot of people a brown box with barcodes and big labels on it means a chance to hit it big and get whatever it is you ordered at an awesome discount by stealing it right off of your porch.You've heard the stories and probably seen the funny videos, but package theft is a very real problem. It's also one I encountered for the very first (and hopefully last) time this past weekend. I got a text that something I was expecting had been delivered but sometime between then and the time I got home the package was gone. But it wasn't hard to see what happened, because my Arlo Pro camera system caught every detail.I was lucky. Not just because I had the camera setup, but because what the thief ended up stealing was an 8-pound bag of Dr. Earth Organic Cactus potting soil. Yes, the idiot stole a box of dirt. A...

It's not pretty, but that's kinda the point.When Amazon announced the Echo Flex at its September 2019 event in Seattle, the product received a mixed, if muted reception among the tech press and Echo/Alexa fans. Some saw it as another example of Amazon just throwing a bunch of crud up against a wall (which, ironically, is where this thing goes) to see if it would stick, some didn't pay it much attention at all, and some thought it was possibly the most important product announced at the event.If you're wondering "what the heck is the Echo Flex anyway?" then let me back up a step. The Echo Flex is basically a souped-up smart plug that is meant to bring Alexa functionality to those spaces in your home that are not conducive to placing a larger smart speaker or similar device. It plugs directly into any standard wall outlet and allows you to make queries of Alexa and hear her responses.My initial feelings on the Echo Flex were somewhere between the "throwing stuff against the wall"...

True wireless earbuds have gotten great over the past several years. The ones you typically hear about are super expensive, but there are some great budget options out there, such as the Creative Outlier Air, which offer fantastic battery life, great comfort, and superb sound quality for under $100.Best Overall: Creative Outlier AirBattery life is one of the standout features of the Creative Outlier Air. Even compared to some high-end true wireless earbuds, the Outlier Air outperforms most of them with up to 10 hours of audio playback on the buds themselves. The included charging case nets you an additional 20 hours of audio playback, which equates to up to 30 hours listening time. The only real downside is that the case does not feature wireless charging, which is unfortunate.Comfort is excellent, but only if they fit your ear. Unlike most other earbuds and true wireless earbuds, the Outlier Air only come with one extra set of ear tips in the box. Typically, earbud companies...

For the Disney nerd and the undercover Disney nerd, this yule log is a refined take of the classic holiday staple.What you need to knowTis the season for yule log videos, and Disney+ has a new one that's Frozen-themed.The Arendelle Castle Yule Log features Anna and Elsa's hearth with mementos placed around and over the fireplace.Some of the decor gives nods to the original Frozen film as well as Olaf's Frozen Adventure.We're deep into December and I don't know about you, but sometimes I need some Christmas cheer without hearing a 101st rendition of Deck The Halls — Seriously, eight was enough! — so a new arrival yesterday on Disney+ caught my eye immediately: Arendelle Castle Yule Log. If you've had your head under a rock for the last six years, Arendelle is the kingdom that Anna and Elsa rule in Frozen, and this is a tasteful take on a franchise yule log video that everyone and their grandma whips out for Christmas.I've watched the first 45 minutes of this th...

If you're sick of belting out your favorite tunes in the shower Acappella, you may want to consider getting a speaker to use in the shower. We've compiled a list of the best shower speakers you can find to help you sing like nobody's listening.Lots of powerUltimate Ears Boom 3Staff PickTaking the Boom 3 into your shower is no problem as it has a very high water-resistant rating, allowing it to be submerged in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. It's also protected against dirt and mud, but you can hand-wash the speaker with warm, soapy water just in case it gets messy. Plus, if you truly want the Boom 3 to live up to its onomatopoeic name, you have the option to set up another one to make a stereo pair and raise the roof.$120 at AmazonLots of colorsUltimate Ears Wonderboom 2This Bluetooth speaker is as cute as a button! The Wonderboom comes with a big sound, a lovely design, and an IPX7 rating, meaning it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes &mda...

I like everything about my Pumpkin Spice Pixel 4 except for its crappy battery life. I should have gone extra-large.It seems like everyone (well, almost everyone) hates the Pixel 4. That's OK and hating things you never planned to buy is the secret fuel that powers the tech side of the internet. I'm not one of those people and think the Pixel 4 was a great upgrade from the 3 in almost every way. It's just that one place where it wasn't that's killing me.I'm talking, of course, about the battery life. I know, I know. You've heard it a million times and you want to click away or tell me to shut up we already know the small Pixel 4 has horrible battery life and that I'm just whining because I'm something or another. but I know when I bought it that it had "bad" battery life. I just didn't know it would be this bad. I'm not on my phone all day long, which is good because with the Pixel 4, I couldn't be.I'm not one who has their nose glued to their phone all day long. Normally,...

We're a bunch of nerds and avid video game lovers. Console wars aside, we love both Xbox and PlayStation, and we want to show you what makes each so great.Xbox One XMost powerful console on the market$350 at Best BuyProsMore powerfulXbox Game Pass cheaper than PlayStation Now, and is now bundled with Xbox LiveXbox Live services are faster and more reliable than PlayStation NetworkBackward compatibility using discsSmallerConsMore expensive Fewer exclusive gamesThe Xbox One X arrived on the market at a time when Xbox was heavily critized for being underpowered. Thanks to a big GPU boost, it now holds the title of being the most powerful console currently on the market, capable of rendering games at 4K resolution and 60FPS.PlayStation 4 ProBest exclusive experiences$400 at Best BuyProsBetter first-party selectionBetter reputationSupports virtual reality with its own dedicated headset (purchased separately)ConsLargerLess powerfulBackward ...

All you need is ESPN+. (And Amazon Fire TV.)UFC 245 is nearly upon us. It's the final UFC event of 2019, and it's going to be good. (At least it better be good, because we keep saying it will be.On tap this Saturday, Dec. 14, is Kamaru Usman, who's taking on Colby Covington in the welterweight division. The fight is coming to us from Las Vegas.Like all big UFC events, this one's on Pay-Per-View. And like all UFC Pay-Per-View events, it's on ESPN+. That's the streaming-only flavor of ESPN. And if you don't already have it (it's very good), you'll need it to watch UFC 245. That's true whether you want to watch on your phone, or on a Roku — or, yes, on your Amazon Fire TV. Which is what brings us here today.The ESPN+ is excellent on Amazon Fire TV, whether you're using the Amazon Fire TV Cube, or the Fire TV Stick 4K, or even the new Anker Nebula Soundbar, which is a Fire TV Edition joint.There are two things you'll need to have if you're going to watch UFC 245 on an Ama...

Wireless earbuds don’t tend to enjoy a very great reputation among serious listeners—due to the fact that they almost always lack the kind of Hi-Fi clarity that most audiophiles crave.These HUB: Hi-Fi Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, however, manage to break the mold by offering supreme sonics along with an incredibly compact and comfortable design, and they’re currently on sale for 70% off at just $74.99.With Bluetooth 5.0 technology and a whopping 100 hours of total playback time with the included charging case, these intrepid earbuds were made with serious listeners in mind.They deliver a rich low-end alongside crystal-clear highs and a solid midrange, and you’ll be able to take them with you on any adventure thanks to an IPX5 waterproof rating. Making and taking calls on the go is also a breeze thanks to voice assistant support.The included charging case also doubles as a power bank to recharge your other devices on the go, and it can even r...

Amazon announced at its Fall 2019 event that it would soon be enabling celebrity voices on Alexa for purchase, starting with Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson. If you want to shake up how you interact with your Echo device, consider purchasing and enabling the Alexa Skill now while it's on sale!Products used in this guideHold on to your butts: Samuel L. Jackson Alexa Skill ($1 at Amazon)Keeping in clean: The Tonight Show Alexa Skill (Free at Amazon)How to enable a celebrity voice on your EchoType in Samuel L. Jackson - celebrity voice for Alexa into your search engine of choice (alternatively, you can search for The Tonight Show Alexa Skill if that is more your jam).This should pull up the Alexa Skill on Amazon.com as your first result. Click on this search result.If you haven't already, log in to your Amazon account.Click on the yellow 'Buy now with 1-Click*' button. This Alexa Skill is just $1 during its introductory period, but the price will go up to $5 in the nea...