Latest from Android Central

Sharing a sense of community around your music is often just as important as the service itself.I've been critical of YouTube Music since it launched. There are still gaps and shortcomings that are inexcusable considering Google's resources, but it's come a long way in the last year and feature for feature it's not that far behind the competition. But of all the issues with YouTube Music, the biggest hurdle I keep coming up against is a social one — everyone I know uses Spotify, and that's a massive barrier to one of the biggest parts of music: sharing.YouTube Music vs. Spotify: Which is the better streaming music service? Sending a YouTube Music link is often both the start and end of that conversation.Sending someone a YouTube Music link instead of Spotify is the music equivalent of being a green bubble on iMessage. Everyone uses YouTube, but practically nobody uses YouTube Music — it's an entirely foreign experience, to the point where most people don't even...

Messages gets even better.What you need to knowGoogle is making Messages more secure for consumers with the addition of Verified SMS and Spam Protection.Verified SMS tackles phishing by letting you know that the organization that's texting is you really who they claim to be.Spam Protection isn't really new for everyone, but it's now rolling out to US users. On December 12, Google highlighted a few changes it is making to the Google Messages experience to make it more secure and user-friendly. The first such change is the addition of Verified SMS. Verified SMS is a feature that lets Google determine whether a business that's sending you a message is who they claim to be and not simply an imposter. If Google can verify the identity of the business, you'll see the logo of the business along with the now ubiquitous verified tick symbol at the top of the messaging thread.Businesses like 1-800-Flowers, Kayak, and SoFi have signed up for Verified SMS. Google Pay India and Google...

Support will be limited to certain vehicles and phones with support for Android Auto wireless.What you need to knowAndroid Auto is coming to select BMW vehicles starting in July 2020.It will work with Android Auto wireless and require one of the latest Nexus, Pixel, or Samsung flagship phones.Previously, BMW offered Apple's CarPlay system, but thanks to consumer demand Android Auto support is finally coming.BMW has finally announced it will be adding support for Android Auto to some of its vehicles in 2020. Unfortunately, it won't be happening anytime soon, as Android Auto won't begin hitting the cars until July of next year.When support finally does begin rolling out, Android Auto will be available on BMW vehicles running iDrive 7.0 with the company's "Live Cockpit Professional" hardware. That limits Android Auto to the following vehicles.2019 and 2020 models3 Series5 Series7 Series8 Series X3X5X6 (2020)X7 If you do happen to have one of those cars, don't ...

Hey Google, teach me French.What you need to knowGoogle is using its machine learning smarts to turn Assistant into a real-time translator for users.This feature is known as interpreter mode, and it'll help you converse in a foreign language either through speech or text. It's tolling out today for both iOS and Android users.Just in time for Christmas, Google's Assistant is getting far more helpful for international travelers. The company is rolling out a new feature known as interpreter mode. As its name suggests, this is a feature that'll let you communicate back and forth while abroad even if you don't know the language.First, you'll need to have Google Assistant set up on either your iPhone or your Android phone. Once that's done, invoking the Assistant with prompts like "Hey Google, be my German translator" or "Hey Google, help me speak Spanish" will turn on interpreter mode. You'll then be able to have your conversation partner either type or speak in the language ...

Rolling out to Pixel 4 users now.What you need to knowAutomatic Call Screen is now rolling out to Pixel 4 users.Call Screen is also gaining a new feature to record call audio.The new automatic Call Screen feature should come to older Pixel phones running Android 10 in the coming weeks.One of the biggest highlights of the first Pixel feature drop on December 9, was the update to Call Screen. With the update, Call Screen has now gained the ability to automatically screen calls for you, something that should help save you from all of the endless robocalls we receive these days. I myself receive up to 4-5 of these calls a day, and at this point, anything that could help is extremely welcomed.The feature has already begun rolling out to Pixel 4 phones, and it has been said that Automatic Call Screen will be expanding to all Pixel phones running Android 10 in the coming weeks. Once it rolls out to your Pixel phone, there will be some new options to help you more granularly cont...

Dark mode and a big battery equal even more staying power.What you need to knowMotorola is now rolling out Android 10 for the Motorola One Power.The rollout is expected to last between December 10 and January 10, 2020.The update brings expected features like dark mode, permissions, and more to the mid-range handset.Motorola has begun its Android 10 rollout, and it's done it with a surprising choice of debut device. Not opting for the more popular Moto G line, Motorola is rolling out the Android 10 update to users of the Motorola One Power starting this month.As per a Motorola support document (spotted by XDA Developers): The upgrade to Android 10 began on December 10, 2019, with a staged approach. We expect all devices to receive the update by January 10, 2020.As the Motorola One Power is an Android One device, it'll more or less be the same stock Android One experience that users know and love. That means with the release of Android 10, you'll find the new dark th...

It could possibly be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2020 in Barcelona.What you need to knowOPPO has confirmed that a successor to the Find X will be launched in Q1 2020.The Find X2 will be powered by Qualcomm's new flagship mobile processor, the Snapdragon 865. In addition to the Snapdragon 865, the flagship phone will also come with an improved display and an all-new custom image sensor from Sony. The OPPO Find X, which was announced in June last year, was the first phone to boast a true "all-screen" design, made possible by motorized pop-up cameras. While a successor to the Find X wasn't launched this year, OPPO has now confirmed (via XDA Developers) that it is working on the Find X2 and expects to unveil the flagship phone sometime in the first quarter of 2020.Like most flagship phones that will be released next year, the Find X2 will run on a Snapdragon 865 chipset. Weirdly, even though the phone will have a Snapdragon X55 5G modem, OPPO says the upcoming flags...

The camera's great, but the Pixel 4 is so much more than that.Whenever a new phone comes out, there are some features that get marketed and talked-about more than others. For the Pixel 4, that includes its top-notch photos, the 90Hz display, and clean software that's backed with guaranteed updates.Those flagship features define the Pixel 4, but as with any device, there are a ton of smaller, lesser-known things that also contribute to how good or bad it is.After using the Pixel 4 XL as my daily driver for a little under two months, I've found five smaller features that have proven to be some of my favorite parts of the phone. Some of the things here are available on other Pixels, but either way, this is what's kept me coming back to the Pixel 4 time and time again.Exposure controls in the camera appThe Pixel 4 taking gorgeous pictures is far from an unknown fact, but there's a specific aspect of the camera that's absolutely enthralled me — Dual Exposure Control.Wh...

A TV is usually a major purchase for any entertainment setup, especially when you're looking for one that can display in 4K and HDR. The Chromecast Ultra is a great streaming device to get the content you love at the highest resolution and dynamic range, but you need a TV that supports the standards as well. Nowadays, you're getting a lot of TV for the money as prices on mid-tier models drop and the high-end fluctuates regularly. It's a buyer's market, so if you're thinking about buying now, it's the time to act!OLED stunnerLG 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TVStaff pickLG's OLED TVs are a thing of beauty. They bring perfect blacks and vivid color with incredibly sharp images and crystal-clear motion. If you want the best of the best in a TV, you'll look for LG OLED. The base 55-inch model comes complete with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built in, plus Dolby Atmos sound, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG for 4K HDR content.From $1,245 at AmazonAmazing valueVizio P-Series Quant...

You'll also need Tidal's "HiFi" plan to take advantage of the spatial audio.Tidal today announced that it's offering a new experience for its music service — Dolby Atmos. That's the proprietary audio format that gives additional depth to sound via dozen and dozens of "objects," which let sound engineers truly steer where sound is coming from.We're mostly used to Dolby Audio when it comes to watching movies. It's what lets sound sort of "hang" in the air all around you. And now, through Tidal, it's available for streaming music. But there's a catch. While Tidal is available pretty much everywhere, the new Atmos-enabled jams can only be had on Android devices.The good news there is that some of the more popular Android devices are included in the Atmos-friendly list. It reads thusly:Axon 7GM 9 ProLenovo Phab 2Lenovo Vibe K5Nokia 6OnePlus 7 ProOppo RenoRazer PhoneRealMe XSamsung Galaxy Note 9Samsung Galaxy S 10Samsung Galaxy S9Sony Xperia 1Tidal is a s...

Another camera beast from HuaweiWhat you need to knowHuawei's P40 has already started leaking.The smartphone is expected to launch early next year.It'll come with powerful hardware features like a 120Hz display, five rear cameras, and a 5,500mAh battery. Huawei is set to continue its string of solidly-built hardware releases with the rumored Huawei P40. While there's nothing official yet, details from leaker Yash Raj Chaudhary gives us an idea of what to expect from the new handset.As per the leaker, the Huawei P40 will have a 6.5 inch 2K OLED Waterfall display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It'll be nearly all-screen, having an approximate 98% screen-to-body ratio. On the rear, you'll find a Leica-branded penta camera setup specced with a 64MP Sony IMX686 with OIS, a 20MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto lens with a macro camera + ToF sensor to wrap it up. It's all very impressive, but that's not where it ends. Huawei will reportedly be throwing in a 5,500mAh battery...

Let's have a chat with the AC forums.When it comes to smart TVs, you have endless options to choose from. Not only do you have to decide which manufacturer of the television you want to go with, there's also the decision of if you want Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, etc.Or, you could just get a streaming box that adds one of those platforms to your old dumb TV. Your options are kind of endless.Android TV is a great choice if you want something that'll tie in nicely with your Android phone and the rest of your Google account, and recently, some of our AC forum members got to talking about their top TV recommendations. JessicaSmith9 12-12-2019 02:04 AM “ The Best Smart TV is Samsung 75" Class RU7100 Smart 4K UHD TV. Buy it and you wont regret. Reply me just saying 12-12-2019 04:19 AM “ make...

Samsung's first mid-range phones to ship with Android 10 right out of the box.What you need to knowGalaxy A51 and A71 are the latest editions to Samsung's mid-range smartphone lineupBoth the new phones feature Infinity-O displays with a centered hole-punch cutout and and come with a quad-camera setup on the back. The Galaxy A51 will go on sale in Vietnam on December 27 for 7,990,000 VND ($350).Samsung today introduced its first 2020 Galaxy A series phones at an event held in Vietnam. The new Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 phones come with hole-punch displays and an L-shaped quad camera setup at the back.The Samsung Galaxy A51 has a 6.5-inch Infinity-O Super AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood is an Exynos 9611 processor, paired with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. On the back of the phone is a quad-camera setup with 48MP primary lens, 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, a dedicated 5MP macro lens, and a 5MP depth sensor for portrait shots. ...

Amazon's Echo Show and Fire TV devices are great for watching videos, listening to music, and managing your smart home, but they also make nice electronic photo frames. In the steps below, we'll show you how to configure your devices to create the ultimate family photo slideshows from your Amazon Photos collection!Products used in this guideAlexa, Show me my photos: Amazon Echo Show 5 ($60 at Amazon)Alexa the linguist: Amazon Alexa app (Free at Google Play)There are actually a few different ways to accomplish this task. You can customize your photo slideshow from within the Amazon Photos app, you can start the process in the Amazon Alexa app, or you can do so directly on the Echo Show or Fire TV devices themselves.Amazon Photos AppAmazon Alexa AppEcho ShowFire TVHow to customize photo slideshows in Amazon Photos appIn my opinion, customizing your Amazon photos slideshows is best done from within the Amazon Photos app itself.Open the Amazon Photos app.Tap on Mo...

Amazon Echo StudioAlexa goes Hi-Fi$200 at AmazonProsMulti-directional, immersive soundSupports multi-room audio Can be paired with another Echo Studio or Fire TVSupports multiple music services and Apple Airplay 2Physical microphone mute switchConsFirst-gen product Most expensive Echo deviceAfter years of making decent sounding smart speakers, Amazon has finally heeded the call for a high-end, Hi-Fi home for Alexa. The Echo Studio features five speakers for room-filling sound, and can automatically sense the acoustics of the room and tune the output accordingly.Sonos OneA smart speaker classic$170 at AmazonProsDynamic, room-filling soundIntegrates with Sonos ecosystemSupports a wider variety of music services than the EchoSupports Alexa and Google's AssistantConsLess powerful sound than Echo Studio or other Sonos SpeakersNo Bluetooth supportSonos pioneered the connected speaker setup, and the Sonos One has been one of its most ...

Both phones were launched with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box earlier this year.What you need to knowSamsung has started pushing the stable Android 10 update for the Galaxy M20 and M30 phones.Both the phones were expected to be updated to Android 10 next month, as per the official Android 10 update roadmap. Currently, the update is rolling out only in India. In what can be described as a pleasant surprise, Samsung today began pushing the stable Android 10 update for its budget Galaxy M20 and M30 phones. According to the official update roadmap shared by the company on the Samsung Members app, Android 10 was slated to be rolled out to both phones in January.As per the folks at SamMobile, the Android 10 update arrives as veersion M205FDDU3CSL4 for the Galaxy M20 and M305FDDU3CSL4 for the Galaxy M30. While the update is currently rolling out to users only in India, that should change within a week or two.Along with the new Android 10 and One UI 2.0 features, the update co...

The update is being rolled out in stages to OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro users across the globe.What you need to knowOnePlus has started pushing the OxygenOS 10.0.3 update for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro.The update brings the November security patch to the two phones. Additionally, it includes several bug fixes and brings improved system stability. OnePlus has announced) that it has started rolling out a new software update for the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro phones. The latest update, which arrives as OxygenOS v10.0.3, comes with the November Android security patch. Needless to say, it is certainly disappointing that the two flagship devices are only now getting the November Android security patch, when Google and Samsung are pushing the December security patch to their phones.Aside from the November security patch, the update doesn't bring any new feature. However, it does come with improved system stability and general bug fixes. Despite being a minor update, OnePlus says the updat...

The new rules are coming into force nowWhat you need to knowGoogle has announced new changes to tackle harassment and bullying on YouTube more rigorously than it currently does.It now prohibits implied as well as express threats.It will also come down harder on YouTube partners who toe the line repeatedly.As of December 9, Google is tightening up its rules as regards to harassment. The company has now instituted several policies that ban the most insidious forms of bullying on its platform, including veiled threats and repeated near-violations. "This includes content simulating violence toward an individual or language suggesting physical violence may occur," YouTube's Matt Halprin, Vice President, Global Head of Trust & Safety said in Wednesday's blog post.As it stood before this change, if a veiled threat could be interpreted innocently, YouTube moderators would be more likely to let it fly. This lead to criticism of the platform earlier in the year. Now, an applica...

Celebrate the start of winter with some vehicular combat and much more!What you need to knowVersion 0.16.0 update is rolling out starting today with a slew of new features, weapon rebalances, and bug fixes.The most exciting addition is the new RageGear mode featuring team-based vehicular combat with roof-mounted guns.You can also try your hand at snowboarding on Erangel, one of the more intriguing features added with this Winter-themed update.Christmas has arrived early for PUBG Mobile fans. The latest update delivers a fresh winter theme for the game along with an exciting new EvoGround mode called RageGear centered around team-based vehicular combat. The massive 0.67GB update begins rolling out today.You can check out the full 0.16.0 patch notes which details everything newly added or updated in the game, but I'll break down the most important updates below.First up is the RageGear mode, which continues to expand the unique ways you can play PUBG Mobile beyond the c...

Your Phone calling is now generally available to all.What you need to knowYour Phone calling is now generally available to everyone.The feature allows you to make and receive calls from your PC.The feature underwent months of testing with Insiders ahead of general availability.Microsoft's Your Phone app is finally ready to add one of its biggest missing features: calling. The app already allows you to relay text messages, sync notifications, and share images between your phone and PC. Starting today, you'll also be able to make and receive calls with a PC that's connected to your Android phone.Within the Your Phone app on your PC, you'll now be able to dial a number of search contacts to make a call. You should also be able to check out your call history and transfer calls from your PC back to your phone. Combined with the rest of Your Phone's features, you'll essentially never have to pull your phone out of your pocket while working at your PC.Thank you #WindowsInsider...

Power banks are wonderful tools that can help keep your lifeline from turning into a portable paperweight while you're trying to survive just another ridiculously long day, but buying one you can trust shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. These are some great power banks that won't break your bank... account.Portable powerhouseAukey 10,000mAh Battery PackStaff pickThis pack is phone-sized for charging on the go and in addition to 18W Power Delivery charging, it has a QC 3.0 port and a second USB-A port for charging a third device.$30 at AmazonReliable RAVPowerRAVPower PD Pioneer 18W Power BankRAVPower's bank has 18W charging, same as Aukey's, and it's a phone-like size that makes it easy to grab and go for charging during a night on the town.$27 at AmazonPretty pocket powerXcentz USB-C Power Bank 5000 PDThis bank is affordable, reliable, and frankly adorable with its candy-bar size and cute pastel colors. The 5,000mAh capacity can recharge your phone at leas...

The band on your TicWatch E2 or S2 should already be a good option in a lot of cases, but it's always a good idea to have some extra bands around when you want to switch things up. It isn't just about making a fashion statement. These bands will be useful in case of damage, or if you're looking for a more comfortable fit than what that you've got now.Ideal for sporty usersMoKo TicWatch S2/E2 Perforated Silicone BandStaff pickIf you're a highly active individual, you'll appreciate these perforated silicone bands from MoKo. They come in four different color combinations and feature a unique airhole design for maximum breathability as you work out and go about your day. The metal parts are made with hypoallergenic nickel-free stainless steel, which means skin irritation will never be an issue.$8 at AmazonElegant and strongKartice TicWatch S2/E2 Leather BandThese elegant leather bands are available in black and brown leather with a strong stainless steel buckle....

The next Half-Life game isn't coming to PSVR...yet.What you need to knowValve recently announced Half-Life: Alyx for PC VR.Many PlayStation VR owners have wondered if a port could be in the works.Valve has confirmed that a port is not happening at the moment but that it has "not ruled anything out." Since Valve officially revealed Half-Life: Alyx, many PlayStation VR owners have been wondering if a port of the game for Sony's VR headset was in the works. As it turns out, Push Square received an answer from designer Greg Coomer, who stated that "We believe Sony's VR platform has been a huge success for the medium, and we assume that lots of Sony customers would love to experience this new chapter of Half-Life." Still, a port of the game for PlayStation VR is not in development.Coomer went on to explain that the reason it isn't being developed is so that Valve can focus on the initial launch of the game. Still, despite not working on it at the moment, Valve has "not ruled a...

Not everybody needs to spend upwards of a thousand dollars on their phone just to get by, especially those on prepaid carriers looking to cut down on spending wherever possible. Luckily, phones at all price ranges have gotten great lately, and that holds especially true in the budget category. It was previously a wasteland of near-unusable devices, but now you can get a shockingly good and reliable phone these days for under a Benjamin.Best unlocked phoneMoto E6Staff pickThe Moto E6 is a lot of phone, with a 5.5-inch 18:9 display, a 3,000mAh battery, and modern Android 9 Pie software powered by an octa-core processor. It works on virtually any carrier (even CDMA networks), and it's one of the few remaining phones with a user-replaceable battery. It's also somewhat water-resistant, protected by a p2i coating. The one thing it's missing — and this is a big one — is a fingerprint sensor, meaning you'll have to revert back to using a PIN for security.$100 at Amazo...

PlayStation fans can look forward to more big games.What you need to knowHermen Hulst was previously the managing director of Guerrilla Games.Recently, Hulst was promoted to Head of Sony Worldwide Studios.In a recent interview, Hulst mentioned that PlayStation will continue to focus on "big, spectacular experiences."A few weeks ago, a change-up at Sony saw Hermen Hulst, the managing director of Guerrilla Games, promoted to Head of Sony Worldwide Studios. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Hulst talked about the process of managing Guerrilla Games for the past several years, seeing the studio switch from Killzone to Horizon Zero Dawn, which has also seen Guerrilla grow to over 300 staff and preparing to move into a new studio.During the interview, Hulst also talked about PlayStation's focus. Hulst stated that "We are very committed to the types of games we've been making at Worldwide Studios for the last decade: big, spectacular experiences with story and characters a...

As nice of a console as the PlayStation 4 is, it can have the same issues that plague any electronics system. Corrupted data can seem like an especially scary problem for the PS4 because it has a closed case that doesn't allow much for tinkering. Thankfully, you aren't entirely out of luck when things start going sideways.Products used in this guideProtect your game saves: PlayStation Plus 12-Month Subscription ($60 at Amazon)Corrupted GameThe most common corrupted data issue players encounter will usually be a corrupted game rather than anything critical. Typically labeled as errors CE-34875-7 or NP-32062-3, this occurs when you first install a game. The installation halts, an error message appears, and you're left with an unplayable mess. Perhaps, your game seems to be installed correctly but as you are playing the game stutters, crashes, and then you get the error code.Error during installThe easiest way to deal with this type of corrupted data will be to remove the ...

Under-display cameras are gonna be the next big thing in 2020.What you need to knowSelfie cameras are migrating under the display soon.OEMs like Xiaomi and OPPO have been working to eliminate the notch by moving the front camera and hiding it as part of the display.A live OPPO prototype shows how this would work in practice.OPPO announced at MWC Shanghai 2019 that it would be bringing its under-display cameras to smartphones in the near future, and that seems more likely than ever. This week, OPPO shared prototypes of devices with the new in-display camera.Here is it in action. Thanks to @sisasaid for modeling the feature! pic.twitter.com/Wv2tU9yqlf— David ImeI (@DurvidImel) December 10, 2019The new under-screen camera system blends nigh seamlessly with the front of the phone, only appearing visible in certain angles. During day to day use, you'd probably be hard-pressed to even remember it was there.It's the end of 2019 and our selfie cameras have gone from r...

Get your fitness onSamsung Galaxy Watch Active$165 at AmazonProsBuilt-in GPSActivity and sleep trackingSamsung PayGreat battery lifeConsNo cellular connectivityHeart-rate tracking is basicTizen OS has a learning curveGalaxy Watch Active has "active" in the name for a reason. It's a robust fitness smartwatch that's ideal for athletes with plenty of perks, which include built-in GPS, activity, sleep, and stress tracking, up to two days of battery life, music storage with Spotify, and more.A smartwatch lover's dreamApple Watch Series 3$199 at AmazonProsBuilt-in GPSActivity trackingApple PayOptional cellular connectivityConsShorter battery lifeLacks dedicated sleep trackingCellular model is more expensiveThe Apple Watch Series 3 may not be marketed as a fitness smartwatch, but it can serve as one. You'll have nearly a day of battery life, built-in GPS, health and fitness tracking, superior app support, music storage with Apple Mus...

PlayStation perpetuates Pornhub parodies and portrayals.What you need to knowPornhub has released its 2019 year in review report, showing literally every trend or statistic on porn people care for.For 2019, PlayStation 4 users beat out every console platform for porn watching.The share for PlayStation 4 users is slightly down year-over-year. Pornhub has published its 2019 report, and as usual, human beings are watching a lot of porn. Of particular note however, is the breakdown in usage based on console ownership. PlayStation 4 owners were responsible for the majority of watched time through gaming consoles, at 51.5% of all watched time. Not only was it the platform most used but it was actually used more than every other console put together. So, if you've ever wondered which console userbase was spending the most time with themselves, you've got your answer.Of course, that number is no doubt also affected by the sheer size of the PlayStation 4 userbase, with over 102 mi...

It's manufactured by eBuyNow.What you need to knowThe third-generation Moto 360 is officially available for pre-order.The stainless steel body comes in three different colors and it will set you back $350.Orders will begin shipping on January 10, 2020.Back in October, we covered the return of the Moto 360, the first fully circular Android smartwatch. At the time, it was said the watch would go on sale at the beginning of December, and now it's officially available for pre-order from Moto360.com.The new Moto 360 will set you back $350 and shipping begins on January 10, 2020. The stainless steel body comes in three color options including Steel Grey, Rose Gold, and Phantom Black, with matching silicone and leather straps included in the box.For a quick refresher on the specs, the third-gen Moto 360 sports a 1.2-inch circular AMOLED display with a 390 x 390 resolution that is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It is powered by the latest Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, 1GB of R...

It takes just 1.5 hours to become a better mobile photographer.Our smartphones are increasingly cameras first, communicators second. For many people, a phone is the only camera they own, used for everything from casual snapshots to professional portraits and award-winning landscapes.But as the number of sensors and lenses on our phones skyrocket, so does the complexity of actually taking and editing photos. What lens should I use for this shot? What edits does it need to eke out as much style, color and emotion as possible? And what are the best places to share those photos?We've developed an eCourse to guide you through all of those problems, and more. It's available on Udemy starting today, and through 11 episodes spanning over an hour and 20 minutes, you'll learn everything you need to know about taking and editing incredible photos using an Android phone.Yes, while this course does provide the basics for anyone taking photos on a phone, it's specifically designed for ...

Oculus Quest is Facebook's last piece of hardware in its first generation of VR devices. It has six degrees of freedom, movement tracking so you can game throughout an area and two Touch Controllers, which facilitate a wide range of gameplay. The Oculus Quest now has over 100 games available, ranging from first-person shooters to musical saber swinging. We marked the latest titles with "new," and at the top of the list, so you can keep track of all the latest games.New titlesAvailable nowSupported Oculus Go gamesFuture titlesNewSunny zombiesArizona SunshineNewArizona Sunshine is a VR classic, and I'm thrilled that it's coming to the Oculus Quest. If you've never played, it's a high action, high scare zombie shooter but based in the beautiful Arizona landscape.$40 at Oculus StoreVertigo inducingThe ClimbNewThe Climb is already a fan favorite with Rift users, and it will only benefit from the wireless freedom of the Oculus Quest. Having the freedom ...

Fast data speeds, customizable plans, and reliable coverage make this a winner.Although the United States may only consist of four main wireless service providers, there are a plethora of smaller MVNOs out there that piggyback off of The Big 4's service and use it to offer cellular plans that are more affordable and contract-free. Some of the most popular include the likes of Mint Mobile, Ting, and Cricket Wireless, but today I'll be talking about one you likely haven't heard of: US Mobile.US Mobile is a relatively new MVNO, but after testing it out for a few weeks, I'm inclined to say it just might be one of the best.Fast and reliableUS Mobile Bottom line: US Mobile is a flexible and powerful wireless provider that offers highly customizable plans, fast data speeds, and affordable pricing. The phone lineup is disappointing...

Best answer: Google Stadia gives players the freedom to play on a Pixel phone, through a Chrome browser on PC or Mac, or on any TV with a Chromecast Ultra. Currently, Google's Stadia controller is your only option for playing Stadia games on your TV. For Stadia gaming on a Pixel or PC, you're better off using an Xbox One controller or any Bluetooth controller you may already own and love.A versatile controller: Xbox One controller ($39 at Amazon)Designed just for Stadia: Google Stadia Premiere Edition ($129 at Google)What's "best" really depends on how you want to playI wish I could just say that the best and easiest controller to use with Google Stadia is Google's own Stadia controller. That would make everybody's life easier. We're talking about a controller with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity that promises to deliver the lowest input latency and was specifically designed for Google's unique cloud-based game streaming service.It could have (and should have) been a...

For unlocked users.What you need to knowAndroid 10 beta with One UI 2.0 is now rolling out for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Note 9 in the U.S. for unlocked users.To sign up, it will require registering via the Samsung Members app.The update includes the latest December security patch for both models and comes in at a little under 2GB.Samsung has been on a roll lately beta testing the latest version of Android and One UI 2.0. After successfully testing on its latest flagship phones the Galaxy S10 and Note 10, it is set to push out the stable version of Android 10 for the devices next month.Thankfully, the previous models aren't far behind with the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 receiving the Android 10 beta back in November in South Korea and the UK. Testing must be going well, because now Samsung is ready to roll out Android 10 for unlocked users in the U.S. beginning today.To sign up for the beta program, you'll need to first be using an unlocked variant of either the Samsung Galax...

The Snapdragon 865 variant of the Galaxy S11 could be more widely available than the Exynos 990 variant.What you need to knowA new report out of South Korea claims the Snapdragon 865-powered Galaxy S11 will not be exclusive to the U.S., Japan, and China.Unlike the company's 2019 flagships, the Snapdragon 865-powered Galaxy S11 will apparently be sold in a large number of countries. The Exynos 990-powered Galaxy S11 variants will be limited to Europe. Samsung has been selling both Exynos- and Snapdragon-powered variants of its flagship smartphones since 2011. In most markets, however, the company only sells the Exynos-powered variants of its flagship phones. Now, a report from Korean publication The Elec claims Samsung is planning to sell the Snapdragon 865 variant of the Galaxy S11 in more markets than the Exynos 990 variant. Until now, the Snapdragon variants of flagship Galaxy phones have been limited to the U.S., China, Japan, and Latin America.If the report is to be b...

Everyone has a bit of wanderlust in them, but one thing that holds many people back is the language barrier. Understanding the language of the country you’re visiting can give you the confidence to finally book your travel plans, and Rosetta Stone is here to help. In fact, you can get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone for just $189.Rosetta Stone is an award-winning language learning service that uses practical exercises to teach you new skills. Rosetta Stone strongly believes that the best way to learn a new language is by introducing it to us the same way we learned our native language as children. This means associating words with images, which is much more fun and effective than reciting lines from a textbook.Once you’ve learned the fundamentals of your new language, you’ll learn how to speak with interactive lessons that utilize TruAccent, Rosetta Stone’s proprietary speech recognition technology. This will provide you instant feedback on y...

You can also get Spotify Premium and PlayStation Plus for free.What you need to knowUS Mobile is launching a new $40/month unlimited plan with faster data speeds.You can get free perks, like Disney Plus, Spotify Premium Family, and Xbox Live Gold.There are also more options for custom plans.US Mobile is one of the many affordable wireless phone service options out there, and on December 9, the company announced completely revamped plans and perks for its customers that aim to offer more value than ever before.The big change is with US Mobile's Unlimited plan. Previously, you'd spend $40/month for unlimited talk, text, and Standard data speeds. If you wanted to upgrade to Fast or Ludicrous data, that'd be another $5 or $15 every month, in addition to an extra $10/month for hotspot access.With the new Unlimited plan, you spend $40/month for unlimited talk, text, and Fast data (up to 5Mbps). You can add hotspot access for $5 more per month, or upgrade to Ludicrous speeds...

Sony finally approved the new version.Recently, the Minecraft Bedrock version hit PlayStation 4 (PS4). While many users are enjoying the experience which requires you to sign into Xbox Live, there have been some issues.You can take a look at the problems we've seen below.Trouble signing inMinecraft Bedrock- PS4 only: We believe we have identified the problem with players trying to sign into a Microsoft account & getting an error that the account is already in use. We are working on a fix on the backend. Thank you for your patience. - HZ— Mojang Status (@MojangStatus) December 10, 2019Many PS4 owners are saying that they're having issues signing into the Bedrock version of the game. The team has been working on them and it appears to be a problem with the servers. While these issues appear to have been resolved for the time being, there are still some users who say they can't sign in.Minecraft Earth errorsMinecraft Bedrock - PS4 only: If you have not yet l...

The Your Phone app on Windows 10 now supports pen input for Insiders.What you need to knowYour Phone for Insiders now supports pen input.The pen input supports pressure sensitivity, allowing for more precise drawing and notes.Your Phone now supports keyboard, mouse, touch, and pen inputs.The Your Phone app for Insiders now supports pen input (via Neowin). The update means that Your Phone supports keyboard, mouse, touch, and pen inputs. Analy Otero Diaz, the Principal Program Manager Lead at Microsoft working on apps, announced the functionality on Twitter.Hey #WindowsInsiders! In addition to touch, mouse, and keyboard, you can now use pen in phone screen to interact with your mobile apps! It will respect pressure sensitivity on apps that support it. Check it out in the #YourPhone app! pic.twitter.com/XbFLMMuTZ8— Analy Otero Diaz (@AnalyMsft) December 10, 2019Pen input works with active pens and supports pressure sensitivity, which gives people more options for d...

Fear shouldn't be what drives you to make your home smarterMy partner wanted to buy a video camera doorbell sometime around Thanksgiving. We live in … well, I'm not going to tell you where we live, because I talked her out of it, so we do not have a video camera guarding our stoop. There is something about video doorbells that have always put me off.It isn't just the surveillance state thing. I mean, it totally IS the surveillance state thing, but not exactly. Gizmodo covered this issue in some depth recently. I just didn't think we needed that level of home security, and I don't really want to live in a neighborhood where that level of security is the norm. When I first heard Ring founder Jamie Siminoff with his ubiquitous radio commercials, I was enticed by the idea of a video doorbell for all the nicest reasons. I could spot cute animals like armadillos and badgers wandering across the yard at night! I imagined squirrels in various poses somehow perfectly fra...

We take a look at some of the great games of the last decade, while Rebecca updates us on Pokemon and Russell talks about Steven Universe: Unleash the Light.Got feedback? Hit up Podcast@androidcentral.com and tell us something!LISTEN NOW:LINKS:Pokémon Sword and Shield: Every Wild Area den and what Max Raid Battles spawn from them | iMore...

Let's check-in with the AC forums.Following the launch of AirPods in 2016, true wireless earbuds have been everywhere. Just about every company has entered this market in one form or another, resulting in a heap of choices for folks that want truly wireless audio.Recently, some of our AC forum members got to talking about which true wireless earbuds they're rocking right now, and this is what they had to say. jadenerd 12-06-2019 07:27 PM “ I find the Jabra Elite 65t comfortable enough for sleeping and with excellent sound. Reply Mr Bojangles1 12-06-2019 11:45 PM “ Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo true wireless earbuds are great for a cheaper pair. Great sound, nice fit, and I think they look good. $50 on Amazon Reply encelle111 ...

The Xbox controller is already one of the best Bluetooth controllers for Android and is a versatile controller that easily connects to so much more than your Xbox One, including Stadia on your phone or Chrome browser. Here's how to get things set up on either platform.Products used in this guideA versatile controller: Xbox One controller ($39 at Amazon)How to connect your Xbox One controller to Stadia on your phoneBefore powering on your Xbox One controller, unplug your Xbox One so that it doesn't automatically turn on and pair with your controller.Hold down the pairing button on the top of the controller until the Xbox button starts to flash.Go to the Blutooth settings on your phone.Tap Pair new Device.Find and tap Xbox Wireless Controller to pair the controller to your phone.Once the controller is connected to Bluetooth open the Stadia app.In the top right, tap the controller icon.If you see a generic looking controller and the words Supported Controller Linked,...

The Pixel 4 is easily one of the best phones around when it comes to photography, with phenomenal dynamic range and the ability to pull off miraculous low light shots using its Night Sight and Astrophotography shooting modes. There's just one problem: where's the ultra-wide lens?During the Pixel 4 launch event in New York a few months back, Google engineer Marc Levoy boldly made the claim that telephoto is more important than ultra-wide — something that baffled attendees like MrMobile and myself. For some people, I'm sure that's true, but as Google itself proved with the Pixel 4, telephoto can be replicated very well with computational data. You can always zoom into a shot digitally, but you can't zoom out without physically moving back.That's where Moment comes in. The Seattle-based company has long been one of the leading brands in mobile camera accessories, with a range of high-quality interchangeable lenses that mount onto its matching cases to expand your phone's imagi...

One thing that Google has done right with Stadia so far is to open up the breadth of connectivity available to you. Whatever your favorite controller is, Stadia likely supports it, at least on the PC (on Pixel phones, it can be a little more selective). For those of us who like to use their Nintendo Pro Controller to play games, here's a handy guide on how to get it working on Stadia.Products used in this guideComfy little controller: Nintendo Pro Controller ($62 at Amazon)How to connect your Pro Controller to Stadia on your phoneMake sure your Pro controller is turned off.Press and hold the connect button on the top of the controller. You should see lights flashing at the bottom.Go to your Bluetooth page on your phone.Tap on the Wireless controller that appears in available devices.Once the controller is connected to Bluetooth open up the Stadia app.In the top right, tap on the little controller icon.You should see a generic looking controller and the words Supp...

The Reno 3 Pro 5G will be OPPO's first phone to feature the new Snapdragon 765G chipset.What you need to knowOPPO today announced that its Reno3 series phones will be unveiled in China on December 26.The Reno 3 series is expected to comprise of two models – Reno 3 5G and Reno 3 Pro 5G. Similar to the recently launched Redmi K30, the Reno 3 Pro 5G will have Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC inside. Popular Chinese Android OEM OPPO today confirmed that the company's Reno 3 smartphone lineup will be launched at an event in Hangzhou, China on December 26. While the Reno 3 Pro 5G is expected to be the main highlight, the company will also launch a more affordable 5G-enabled smartphone called the Reno 3 5G.The Reno 3 5G, going by the images revealed by TENAA earlier this month, will have a waterdrop notch display measuring 6.4-inches diagonally. It is rumored to be powered by a MediaTek SoC, paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. On the back of the phone will be a quad c...

Canadian Galaxy S10 users won't have to wait much longer for the One UI 2.0 update.What you need to knowCanadian carrier Telus says the Android 10 update for the Galaxy S10 will begin rolling out in the country on December 16.Samsung had started rolling out the stable Android 10-based One UI 2.0 update for users in Germany last month. So far, the update has been released in over 40 countries around the world. The stable Android 10-based One UI 2.0 update for the Galaxy S10 may soon begin rolling out to users in Canada. According to the software update schedule shared by Canadian carrier Telus on its support page, the Android 10 update will begin rolling out to the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, and Galaxy S10+ users in the country on December 16. Rogers and other Canadian carriers, however, haven't confirmed the release date yet.As noted by the carrier in its support page, the posted dates only reflect when the update will begin rolling out to users. Only a small number of devi...

After North America and Europe, Amazon has finally launched its first Fire TV Edition smart TVs in India.What you need to knowAmazon has partnered with Onida to bring Fire TV Edition smart TVs to the Indian market.The Onida Fire TV Edition comes in two sizes – 32-inch and 43-inch. Both models will be available for purchase via Amazon.in starting from December 20. Amazon today announced the launch of new Fire TV Edition smart TVs in India, in partnership with domestic electronics brand Onida. The announcement comes just a week after rival Flipkart launched the first Nokia-branded smart TV in India.The Fire TV Edition TVs come in two sizes: 32-inch and 43-inch. Apart from Amazon's Prime Video, the TVs come with YouTube, Netflix, Sony LIV, Hotstar, ZEE5, and Apple TV apps pre-installed. Thanks to the bundled voice remote with Alexa, you can launch apps, search for movies or TV shows, control your smart home devices, and more, with your voice. You can also easily mirror...

Disney+ will make a great gift for the Disney nerd who has everything — assuming they don't already have it.Finding that perfect gift is a needle in a haystack, and in an age where physical gifts are losing their edge for so many of us, a subscription that can be used all year makes for a heck of a gift. Disney+ is one such gift and it's the hottest new streaming service on the block. As such, it makes perfect sense that you'd want to buy it for your niece or grandkid, but until now, you could only buy Disney+ subscription cards at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or at Disney Store locations in the continental United States.Now, Disney has opened up a digital storefront for Disney+ gifting subscriptions through DisneyPlus.com, allowing you to send a subscription to your friends or family via email, and you can even schedule when the gift is sent, since you can't really do a "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 25" tag on an email.Gift the gift of magicDisney+ Digital Subscription...