Latest from Android Central

The design was rolled out to mobile devices almost a year ago.What you need to knowGoogle is making some changes to the way search results are shown on the desktop.Starting this week, search results will be displayed alongside icons for the websites they link to.The redesign was propagated to mobile devices last year.Google is redesigning desktop search results to put greater emphasis on website branding. This, the company argues, can both help websites increase their exposure to users and also allow searchers to quickly identify exactly where the information they've found is coming from. With this new design, a website's branding can be front and center, helping you better understand where the information is coming from and what pages have what you're looking for.To that effect, the name and icon of the website can now be found at the very top of the results cards. The color of the text indicating the name of the site was changed from green to black. Webmasters can ...

The Korean giant's pricing is set to be somewhere between $860 and $1,300.What you need to knowA Korean publication has reiterated a previous rumor that the Galaxy Fold successor will be much cheaper.The report suggests Samsung is planning on an asking price of between 1 million and 1.5 million Korean won for the Galaxy Z Flip.That's equivalent to $861 and $1,292, respectively.Even with its many flaws — and Samsung's eye-watering $2,000 asking price — customers have flocked to the company's first foldable phone, which has already sold half a million units. That's half of what a Samsung exec previously claimed, but it's impressive nonetheless.All of which makes us wonder just how successful Samsung's follow-up to the Fold — dubbed the Galaxy Z Flip — could be, especially if the latest reports out of South Korea are to be believed.iNews24, citing sources within the country's mobile carriers, suggests Samsung is in the process of negotiating a price for the Galaxy ...

The S20 and S20+ are mostly similar. However, the S20 Ultra gets a considerable bump in camera specs, alongside its gargantuan screen.What you need to knowWeeks before Samsung officially unveils its flagships, nearly everything about them has already leaked.The Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra will come in at 6.2", 6.7", and 6.9", respectively.While all three phones share broadly similar specs, the S20 Ultra does get a few noteworthy upgrades over the other two in the camera department.There's a lot of excitement in the Android community these days about Samsung's Galaxy S20 series. So much so, in fact, that I fear not much excitement may be left when the company finally reveals the phones on February 11, especially since we know almost everything there is to know about the phones already.First, there were the leaked renders, which gave us our first glimpse of what Samsung's latest and greatest would look like. These were soon confirmed to be quite accurate via actual hand...

All of the latest info in one place.Looking back on 2019, one of the best phones to be released was the Huawei P30 Pro. Most people in the U.S. likely overlooked it due to its lacking availability in the country, but if you did manage to get your hands on the phone, you were treated to drop-dead gorgeous hardware, insanely capable cameras, and some of the best battery life around.The P30 Pro is still holding its own here in 2020, but its successor is right around the corner.Huawei continues to be in its ongoing feud with the U.S. government, but in spite of that, we're expecting big and exciting things for the new P40 lineup. From the rumored specs, design, price, release date, and more, here's everything you need to know about the phones.We're likely getting three modelsHere's what the phones look likeThese are the specs we knowGoogle Play Services will be missingExpect the phones to be expensiveThe phones might be announced in MarchYou still can't go wrong with the P...

Sure, casual games like Angry Birds and Candy Crush are still wildly popular, but thanks to Unity now offering fantastic cross-platform support for developers, indie developers and big publishers alike are able to make full-scale games initially developed for consoles or PC over to and Android and iOS devices. This, along with game streaming services like Google's Stadia and Microsoft Project xCloud, means the time is right to make sure your next phone is capable of handling it all in stride. While we wait for the newest phones of 2020 to start rolling, your best option at the start of 2020 is still the OnePlus 7 ProBest Overall: OnePlus 7 ProWhile OnePlus didn't market the OnePlus 7 Pro specifically as a gaming smartphone, it sure did a great job including all the key features that make for a great gaming experience.First off, the display is plenty big and bright, with the 90Hz refresh rate making everything look and feel buttery smooth. Thanks to a lean Oxygen OS running ...

Rockstar Games has the reigning champion for the decade.What you need to knowThe final NPD report of 2019 has revealed the best-selling games of the decade.Grand Theft Auto V is the best-selling game of the decade. Several other games on the list are Call of Duty titles. While the December 2019 NPD report has been released, there's also some additional information available that pertains to the entire past decade of gaming. The NPD Group provided GamesIndustry.biz with the details on the best-selling games in the U.S. over the past decade. You can see the list below (which is based on dollar sales, not units). Do note that digital tracking began in 2012.Here's the best-selling games of the decade:Grand Theft Auto VCall of Duty: Black OpsCall of Duty: Black Ops IICall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Black Ops IIICall of Duty: GhostsRed Dead Redemption IICall of Duty: WWIICall of Duty: Black Ops IIIIMinecraftCall of Duty: Advanced WarfareCall of Duty: M...

More and more often, phones are being released with shiny glass backs, smooth metal frames, and other design elements to make them as attractive as can be. That's great if you prefer form over function, but what about if you're in the market for a smartphone that you don't need to baby nonstop? Here are the best rugged Android phones we could find!Excellent valueBlackview BV5500Staff pickRugged phones don't always have to be expensive, and the Blackview BV5500 is a perfect example of just that. This rugged phone features a MIL-STD-810G and IP68 rating, meaning that it's drop-proof and you can submerge it in two meters of water for up to two hours. There's also a big 4,400 mAh battery, a 5.5-inch HD screen, and dual rear cameras.$110 at AmazonDoes it allCAT S61Do you know the Caterpillar brand that makes construction equipment? That same company also makes Android phones, and the CAT S61 is its best yet. The S61 can be submerged in water up to 3 meters for 30 minut...

I carry both an Android and an iPhone, but I only keep one set of headphones on me. When it was time to go wireless, I tried a number of different pairs, and ended up settling on a set of AirPods. I mostly loved them — past tense, because I ran them through the washing machine and they died. This is a problem that wireless earbuds will need to fix, and I suspect that true waterproofing will come to headphones eventually, but for now I am in the market for a new pair and the timing couldn't be better … or worse.With CES 2020 behind us, we saw so many new pairs of wireless sets in the new category we call True Wireless Earbuds. Following in Apple's AirPods Pro footsteps, the common feature thread among all of the new earbuds seems to be active noise canceling (ANC). Panasonic claimed that its headphones lead the category in noise cancellation prowess. That's a dubious claim, because earbuds will never be able to truly block and cancel noise like good over-the-ear headphones. When...

Similar technology is often found in higher-tier TVs.What you need to knowOnePlus' next flagship is slated to feature a 120Hz Fluid Display.To improve its users' overall experience, the company is planning on integrating Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation (MEMC) technology into its phones.The tech, usually found in TVs, allows for 30fps content to be upscaled to the 120fps for a smoother viewing experience.Much like the shift from Full HD to 4K content, while the industry at large is racing to adopt higher refresh rate displays, there actually isn't a lot of content out there that can take full advantage of the superior tech. 90 or even 120Hz displays are becoming all the rage among modern smartphones, but most of the movies you'll watch are still distributed with frame rates of only 24 or 30 frames per second.As a result, while phones like the Pixel 4 tout buttery smooth transitions in apps and a generally more pleasant UI experience, when it comes to content consu...

Sairento and Red Matter come bundled together this weekend for 20% off.What you need to knowRed Matter is an impressive adventure puzzler set during a sci-fi Cold War on a distant moon.Sairento: Untethered puts you in the shoes of a ninja and features some of the most intense action you'll find in VR.Both games are bundled together for $10 off ($35.99 total) until 1/20/2020 10 AM PT.If you're one of the millions of gamers that have picked up an Oculus Quest, you know just how much fun VR gaming can be. Like any good gaming platform, the Oculus Quest is full of amazing experiences that you may never have heard of, or ones that you've stuck on a list to purchase later when the price drops. If you fit into this latter category, or if you're just looking to begin some of the very best Oculus Quest games around, Oculus has your back with a special bundle that's available only this weekend.Red Matter and Sairento: Untethered have been bundled together this weekend with a specia...

Smartphones are slowly but surely getting rid of the 3.5mm audio jack from smartphones and tablets, so users are turning to wireless as the next viable option. The Sony WF-1000XM3 are currently the best overall true wireless earbuds around for Android. They feature solid sound, long battery life, and class-leading active noise cancelation (ANC).Sponsored Pick: Boltune Bluetooth 5.0 True WirelessThe Boltune True Wireless Earbuds have been consistently reviewed highly for what they offer in the truly wireless category. They're capable of lasting for up to 6 hours on a single charge for a total of 34 hours when combined with the charging box. When it does come time to charge them, you'll be all set in short time due to the USB-C quick charging.The 6mm dynamic speakers and noise isolation ensure clear in-ear calls and listening while also delivering great sound. The lightweight ergonomic design means you won't grow tired of wearing them while their IPX7 sweat and water resistance...

Buying new controllers when your controller stops working can get expensive. One first culprits you should suspect should be the controller's battery. Fortunately, batteries are cheap and easy to replace. We have the guide you need to make that job a snap.Products used in this guideReplace and repower: DualShock 4 1st Gen replacement battery ($16 at Amazon)Repower the new hotness: DualShock 4 2nd Gen replacement battery ($12 at Amazon)Tools of the trade: 21pcs Precision Screwdriver Set ($8 at Amazon)Note: This How-to is specific to the DualShock 4 1st Generation. It will work with both types of the controller, but make sure you have the right battery. The general rule of thumb is that if you can see the light shining through your touchpad then you have the newer generation of DualShock 4, and you should use this battery. If you don't see the light on your touchpad then you need the other battery in the list.Big thanks to the team over at iFixit for figuring all this out. ...

There aren't a ton of great Android tablets out there, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 offers the best overall Android tablet experience of the bunch. It has a big screen, high-end specs, tons of features, a stylus, and support for a full keyboard. It's expensive, and not the right pick for anyone who wants a smaller and more portable tablet, but as an all-around device, it can't be beaten. For those who have different needs (or budgets), there are a few other picks that work well as media consumption devices and won't break the bank.Best Overall — Samsung Galaxy Tab S6The most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen, loud speakers, robust build quality, and software that makes use of the extra screen size. That's what makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 the best Android tablet — it has a combination of everything.Its spec sheet leaves little to be desired, with a super-fast Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM, plenty of storage and well-optim...

It's hard to believe that the first Amazon Echo was released over five years ago, and since then, it's evolved from a standalone smart speaker into an entire ecosystem of radically different products. You'll find an Echo on just about every website and in every store these days, but with so many different models to choose from, how do you know which one is best for you? Well, we're experts on Amazon's Echo lineup, and below you'll find a detailed guide on buying an Alexa-powered speaker or screen for your smart home. We think the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is the best choice for most folks, but if that's not your cup of tea, there are plenty of other options to choose from. Let's dive in.Best Overall — Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)Start simple. If you're just not sure about this whole Alexa thing and really don't know how much you'll get out of an Amazon Echo, it's best to not spend a lot of money. So start with an Echo Dot!The Echo Dot is insanely affordable, and the 3rd Gen model we ...

Korean optics manufacturer makes no mention of components for 10x optical zoom in the Galaxy S20.What you need to knowA report out of Korea shows that optics manufacturer Optrontech is supplying prisms that support 5x optical zoom for the Samsung Galaxy S20.That contradicts previous rumors that the Galaxy S20 Ultra will sport a camera with 10x optical zoom.It's still possible that the S20 Ultra could feature a 10x digital zoom though.With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S20 less than a month away, leaks and rumors have been circulating like crazy. In particular, we've seen a lot of leaks regarding the cameras on Samsung's latest flagship. Several days ago, it was rumored that the cameras on the Galaxy S20 Ultra would include a 108MP main, 48MP with 10x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide.However, we are now seeing a conflicting report out of Korea that optics manufacturer Optrontech is supplying Samsung with prisms for the Galaxy S20 that only support 5x optical zoom. No...

Larger network, more phonesMint MobileFrom $15/month at Mint MobileProsLarger T-Mobile networkUnlimited talk and text on all plansHotspot includedWorks with most unlocked phonesSave in bulkConsMust buy in bulkData maxes at 12GBMint Mobile uses the strength of the T-Mobile network to provide a reasonable amount of data with great coverage and speed. You can save more money by buying several months at once but you must buy at least three months. Unfortunately, there is no option for users that need more than 12GB of data per month.Custom plans, more dataTelloFrom $5/month at TelloProsLow pricesTons of data optionsWide range of phonesHotspot includedConsSmaller Sprint networkFewer compatible phonesTello has some of the best data prices anywhere with an unlimited (25GB) plan at a competitive $40 including hotspot and international calling options. While the Sprint network is slowly growing, coverage is still a weak point and withou...

The biggest NFL game of the year, Super Bowl 2020, takes place on February 2 which isn't very far away. Whether you are attending a party, planning to stay home, or will be traveling, one thing you may be wondering is how to watch the Super Bowl. Well, there are a lot of different ways, and a lot to know about the various ways.It's been a crazy season so far, and while we don't know exactly who will be playing in the Super Bowl just yet, we do know that for once the New England Patriots won't be making an appearance.Whether you care about football or not, there is a whole lot to enjoy about the Super Bowl. From the epic Super Bowl half-time performances to the amazing commercials that will debut, you are going to want to find a way to tune in and watch. Luckily, it doesn't matter very much where in the world you are located, it's pretty easy to find a way to tune in and watch the Super Bowl for free.How to watch Super Bowl 2020 online from anywhere in the worldA Virtual Private...

We're rounding up the best Android games you can play.If you're looking for the best new games available in the Google Play Store, you've come to the right place. We update this list whenever a new game comes out that's worthy of being added to this list, so you'll always know about the latest and greatest games.Whether you're new to Android and need some fresh, new games to start building out your Google Play library or simply looking for the latest trendy games that are worthy of your time and attention, these are the best Android games you can find right now.Call of Duty MobileVectronomStardew Valley Graveyard KeeperPUBG Mobile Brawl StarsOddmarHoledownBattleChasers: NightWarChameleon RunThe Room: Old Sins Pokemon GoJYDGETesla vs LovecraftDeath Road to CanadaStranger Things: The Game Reigns: Her Majesty Call of Duty MobileThere was a ton of hype surrounding Call of Duty Mobile throughout the beta and ahead of it's global launch, and to the credit of...

Whether you're just beginning your weight loss journey or you're deep into a workout regimen and just want to start tracking your weight, BMI, and more, a smart scale is an awesome way to keep your fitness goals in check. These scales connect to a corresponding app on your phone or tablet and show you comprehensive results that you wouldn't get from a regular ol' bathroom scale.Best valueEufy Smart Scale P1Staff pickThere's not much the Eufy P1 can't do. It tracks 14 different measurements, can work with up to 16 users, and syncs with popular health apps.$45 at AmazonGreat ecosystemFitbit Aria 2The Aria 2 is another powerful scale, tracking your weight, lean mass, BMI, and more. The biggest downside is that it only syncs with the Fitbit app.$100 at AmazonAlexa integrationWithings Body+What's better than a smart scale? A smart scale that works with Alexa. That's what the Withings Body+ brings to the table, and it's a great pickup.From $79 at AmazonBud...

According to the Director of Product Management for Chrome OS.What you need to knowValve and Google may be working together to bring the Steam store to Chromebooks.The news was revealed when Android Police recently spoke with Kan Liu, the Director of Product Management for Chrome OS at CES 2020.Liu was light on the details but believes the project is possible by running Steam through Linux on Chrome OS.If you love your Chromebook but also like to game, there could be some good news coming for you in the future. Apparently, the Chrome team is working to bring Steam to Chromebooks.The news comes after Android Police's David Ruddock recently spoke with Kan Liu, the Director of Product Management for Chrome OS, at CES 2020 last week. During the discussion, Liu revealed that the Chrome team is working on bringing Steam to Chromebooks by using Linux. It may even be working directly with Valve to accomplish this.That would make sense, because it would benefit Valve to open up ...

Repeat after me, my friends: No matter your taste, your phone needs a case. You just dropped a thousand dollars on a Samsung Galaxy S10+, and carrying it around without a case is just begging for Murphy's Law to come pay that phone a visit. We've got thin cases, clear cases, fun cases, butch cases, and even more. There's something here for everyone, but please, don't leave this article without getting your new phone some protection!New look on a classic winnerSpigen Neo HybridStaff PickGone is the Herringbone on this award-winning case series, and in its place is a new pattern that Spigen promises is grippier than ever.From $14 at AmazonHigh class carry-allSnakehive Vintage Leather WalletThis U.K. brand makes a dapper case indeed, available in six suave shades of European nubuck leather that match each of the S10+'s colors and then some.$37 at AmazonHard as crystalRingke Fusion XWith clear, hard-shell backs, rugged colored bumpers, and a robust lip aroun...

Disney+ is going to play a bigger part in this than was originally expected.What you need to knowTaika Waititi is being courted by Disney to create a new Star Wars movie.This movie will likely be released in the next few years alongside other standalone films, replacing the trilogy format for the next phase of Star Wars.Additional Disney+ shows and movies are likely to be created by Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Taika Waititi, according to rumors.When Disney originally purchased the Star Wars franchise for $4 billion at the end of 2012, the direction of the series seemed pretty clear. A new trilogy, a couple of solo movies featuring the antics of one or two characters at a time, and a bright outlook on the horizon. Fast forward half a dozen years and the future has become less clear. While the trilogy turned out to be a big financial success for Disney, grossing $4.3 billion as of this writing, the critical reception of Disney's Star Wars projects has been quite mixed. That...

The least surprising piece of information to not yet be confirmed? It's certainly possible.What you need to knowSony has not officially confirmed the name of the PlayStation 5 controller.If history has any precedent, it'll be called the DualShock 5.A now-removed FAQ listing on PlayStation France may have confirmed the DualShock 5 name. The PlayStation 5 is set to release sometime in Holiday 2020. It's now been removed, but as noted by IGN, an FAQ page on PlayStation France originally listed the "DS5" as being compatible with the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro. DS5, naturally, would be the abbreviated name for the DualShock 5.DualShock 5 being the name of the new controller would not even remotely be surprising. PlayStation 4 compatibility might at first glance be a little more eyebrow-raising however, it's important to keep in mind that the DualShock 4 was compatible with the PlayStation 3 and the DualShock 2 was compatible with the original PlayStation. There's d...

A Wear OS smartwatch is a great way to mirror notifications, calls, and texts from your phone to your wrist. There are plenty of great smartwatches available across various price points, and while the underlying hardware is largely the same across all smartwatches, you get to choose from a variety of interesting styles. If you ended up deciding on a Wear OS smartwatch, here's how you can configure it with your phone.How to download the Wear OS app from the Play StoreOpen Play Store from the app drawer or home screen. Type Wear OS in the search bar at the top. Tap Install on the first result (it should be Wear OS by Google Smartwatch).How to set up a Wear OS smartwatch with your Android phoneAfter downloading the Wear OS app on your phone, you can begin setup. First, you'll have to switch on Bluetooth so your phone is able to locate the smartwatch. Then you'll have to turn on the smartwatch itself and pick your preferred language. After that, you'll see a prompt to downl...

Best answer: Yes, as far as we can determine Ring products are safe — as in, the hardware is secure. However, as with any connected devices, it is crucial for users to understand how to take basic security precautions with their login and password info to safeguard their valuable data and privacy.Stick 'em up!: Ring Stick Up Cam ($100 at Amazon)Why Ring's safety is in question scandals aboundAlthough it's one of the most popular and prolific manufacturers of personal security devices, Ring is not the only player in this space by a long shot. Heavy hitters in home security also include Nest (Google), Arlo, eufy, and August, among others. Ring, however, has been hit particularly hard in the past several months by a series of controversies and privacy scandals to an extent that none of its competitors truly have.News about one of the biggest (and scariest) examples of Ring user data being leaked online broke late in 2019 when ne're-do-wells were able to "hack" into custome...

Checking in with the AC forums.Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ were two of the most powerful phones to be released last year, offering top-of-the-line performance, an incredible AMOLED display, the wildly popular S Pen, and much, much more.It's now 2020, however, and all eyes are on what Samsung's going to do with the upcoming Galaxy S20 lineup. And, after that, it'll be time to look forward to the Note 11/Note 20.Even so, someone in our AC forums recently mentioned that they just picked up the Note 10+ and have really been enjoying it. robinhelenehebert 01-15-2020 01:42 PM “ Hi folks. I had the Note 9 for over a year! Wow what an accomplishment lol. Still a good phone but the camera was lacking and I am a photographer so this camera impressed me. I have to say after using the phone for a day it's amazing. Do we need screen protectors on this? I heard it has a built in one but I can't t...

There are very few situations in which you need to hear your phone ring.Any smartphone from the last couple of years will have a good speaker. And if you spent some more money, it probably has a pair of really good speakers — with tuning and optimization that makes it sound great. I regularly use my phone's speakers to listen to podcasts and music around the house when I don't want to bother with a Bluetooth speaker. But that's where my usage ends: those speakers are for media, not for ringtones and notification sounds. How often are you in public within earshot of your ringtone but not able to tell it's vibrating?Please do us all a favor and put your phone on vibrate, because nobody needs to hear your phone. If you're in public, the people around you really don't want to know that you just got a Facebook message or an email, or your Ring camera saw motion at your front door. Much like not every app on your phone deserves the highest priority when it comes to notification...

Signing up on a carrier without stores can be a scary, especially if something isn't working the way you expect. If you need to contact Visible's customer service, you can chat on Visible's website or through the Visible app on Android or iOS. You can also chat on Facebook Messenger or Twitter.Products used in this guideUnlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon LTE: Visible ($40 per month at Visible)Use Visible service: Google Pixel 3a ($349 at Amazon)Use the appOne of the first things you'll want to do when you sign up for Visible is to download the app on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.Open the visible app.Tap the question mark symbol in the top right corner.Tap Live Chat.Enter your first name, last name, and email address. You can also enter your phone number.Tap the purple button to chat with an agent.Use the Visible websiteIf it's not possible or inconvenient to use the Visible app, you can chat on the help page on Visible's website.Navi...

But it is still hoping to monetize the app through the Status feature...What you need to knowFacebook is "backing away" from plans to sell ads inside of WhatsApp.The Wall Street Journal reports that the team working on the feature has been disbanded in recent months.The code they'd written into to WhatsApp has also been deleted.Facebook has reportedly abandoned efforts to sell ads inside WhatsApp, plans that resulted in co-founder Jan Koum leaving the group in 2018.According to the report: Facebook Inc. is backing away from efforts to sell ads in WhatsApp, in a retreat from a controversial plan that drove the creators of the popular messaging service to resign more than 18 months ago, according to people familiar with the matter. WhatsApp in recent months disbanded a team that had been established to find the best ways to integrate ads into the service, according to people familiar with the matter. The team's work was then deleted from WhatsApp's code, the people said...

The brand is expected to launch a successor to the incredibly popular POCO F1 later this year.What you need to knowXiaomi has announced that its POCO sub-brand will now be an independent brand.The brand started off in 2018 with the launch of the POCO F1, which still remains hugely popular. POCO is expected to launch its second smartphone sometime later this year. Xiaomi is spinning off its POCO sub-brand as an independent brand. Announcing the news on Twitter, the company's global vice president and India head Manu Kumar Jain said that the company feels "the time is right" to let the sub-brand operate independently.Excited to share: #POCO will now be an independent brand!What started as a sub-brand within Xiaomi, has grown into its own identity. POCO F1 was an incredibly popular phone. We feel the time is right to let POCO operate on its own.Join me in wishing @IndiaPOCO all the best.— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) January 17, 2020The news comes just two days af...

The P40 Pro is rumored to feature a new periscope lens with 10x optical zoom.What you need to knowYet another render of Huawei's upcoming P40 Pro has been leaked.The render shows off a five-camera array at the back of the phone, along with a ceramic body. Just like the standard P40, Huawei P40 Pro will not include a 3.5mm headphone jack. Earlier this week, an alleged press render of the Huawei P40 had been leaked online, giving us a look at the upcoming smartphone from every angle. A render of the P40 Pro had also surfaced yesterday, revealing all the color options that the phone will be available in. Now, reliable leaker Evan Blass has shared a new render of the flagship P40 Pro, giving us a good look at its design from all sides.The latest render of the Huawei P40 Pro reaffirms the presence of a pill-shaped hole-punch cutout on the top left corner of the display, housing dual selfie cameras. While the previously leaked render of the P40 Pro had shown a quad camera array...

While we thought we'd get just the Pixel 4a in 2020 (with no XL variant), Google may be looking to drown us in a sea of mid-range Pixel phones instead. That's just as well, given the company's penchant for using fish names to describe its phones internally. And also because those fishy code names are behind these latest musings about Google's plans for Pixel this year by XDA Developers.Buried within the open-source code for Android — called AOSP — XDA's Mishaal Rahman found codenames for possibly three new Pixel devices: sunfish, redfin, and bramble.Sunfish is the candidate most likely to be the regular Pixel 4a. The code revealed the device is using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 730, which means it can only connect to 4G networks. Not much else is known about the phone, but if it really is the Pixel 4a, we do have some idea of what it might look like. There are also two builds for it, one based on Android 10 and one on Android 11.Redfin is the more refined among the bunch, featu...

Android Central's top-ranking Chromebook reviews rankedThe best Chromebooks of 2020 can provide a top-notch computing experience, perfect for students and anyone looking for a trouble-free laptop with long battery life. We've reviewed and rated the absolute best Chromebooks so that you can find the best value at any budget. Our buyer's guide will help you find the perfect Chrome OS laptop or tablet.Best OverallLenovo Chromebook C340 (11.6")$260 at Best Buy (32GB)$320 at Amazon (64GB)The best Chromebook just got better.With double the USB ports and 8GB models on the horizon, Lenovo's aluminum-lidded laptop is more than a pretty face.Lenovo Chromebook C340 (11.6") Features11.6-inch 10-point IPS touchscreenAluminum lid, plastic bodyIntel Celeron N40004-8GB RAM, 32-64GB storageUp to 10 hour battery lifePretty pink or silver color optionsThe best Chromebook balances size with productivity, style with substance, and panache with a price. It's a Chromebook that...

The advertising trade groups asked Google to not commit to its moratorium until 'meaningful alternatives' are found.What you need to knowGoogle recently announced its intention to phase out support for third-party cookies in Chrome.Within days, major trade organizations involved in advertisement have come out against the move.They cite the potential loss of revenues for startups that depend on advertising and ask Google to walk back on its plans until alternatives can be found.Google this week announced its plans to develop new web standards that would make third-party cookies 'obsolete'. The Mountain View hopes to do so within two years, at which point it will stop supporting them on its browser, which currently holds a 69% share of the desktop browser market.It's only been two days since Google made its plans public, and it's already meeting stiff resistance from advertisers. Both the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's) and Association of National Advert...

Call of Duty is retaining the lead, with Star Wars on its heels.What you need to knowThe December 2019 NPD report has been released.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the bestselling game of the month and on PlayStation 4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was the second-bestselling game of the month. You can grab Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PlayStation 4 for $47 on Amazon. Every month, the NPD Group releases information on the top-selling games across all video game platforms in the United States. While it doesn't account for worldwide sales, it does provide a good snapshot of one the largest video game markets. Mat Piscatella, an analyst for NPD, has shared the results for December 2019. For this month, data was tracked from December 1, 2019 through January 4, 2020.For the month of December, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare took the top spot overall for the the third month in a row. Meanwhile, Respawn's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order took the second spot. The PlayStation timed ...

Revisit the Scrapyard map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.What you need to knowThe update adds Scrapyard map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.Adds new Rapid Fire Multiplayer game mode and a 20-vs-20 Warfare mode in Battle Royale.The new Season 3 Battle Pass kicks off on January 19.After earning recognition as the Best Mobile Game of 2019 from Android Central and Google Play alike, Call of Duty Mobile is kicking off 2020 with a major update that primes players for the Season 3 Battle Pass while also introducing a new map and new game modes for multiplayer and Battle Royale.The new Battle Pass is sure to be enticing for those players that like to chase achievements and work their way up the ranks to unlock new rewards. The most notable new reward for the Premium Battle Pass is the Phantom player. First introduced in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, I'd best described the Phantom combat rig as a cross between Predator and a post-apocalyptic warrior. There's also a futu...

This is the goal we want, but not necessarily the best way to get there.Those of us who have been using smartphones for several years know how frustrating the transition has been from proprietary chargers to Micro-USB and finally to USB-C. And even though most phones have moved to USB-C there are still many significant holdouts with Micro-USB — to say nothing of Apple's ongoing use of Lightning. The European Union is fed up with it, and is pushing to unify all portable devices on the USB-C port. That's a really great move in many ways — but its implementation won't be free of compromise. Standardizing on USB-C will immediately reduce charger and cable waste as they're reused for multiple devices.The EU tried things the "easy" way back in 2014 with a voluntary initiative that attempted to get smartphone (and other portable device) companies to standardize their charging ports; although USB-C wasn't named specifically. But the results "fell short of the co-legislators' obj...

It wants to remove support for third-party cookies from Chrome within the next two years.What you need to knowGoogle wants to make third-party cookies a thing of the past.With new standards like its proposed Privacy Sandbox, it hopes to make them obsolete and eventually drop support for them in Chrome.In the meantime, it'll start making changes to its policies for cross-site cookies beginning this February, with the aim of making them more secure.Google is charging ahead with its idea of a Privacy Sandbox that both improve users' privacy across the web and allows online advertisers some semblance of control and insight into user habits necessary for them to keep running their businesses.To that effect, Google this week announced its intent to eventually phase out the use of third-party cookies in Chrome. It hopes to do so within two years. Other browsers have already jumped on the anti-tracking and anti-cookies bandwagon a while ago, but Google claims their approach may b...

You can guess the next big company, and it rhymes with Macebook.What you need to knowAlphabet has earned a market capitalization value of $1 trillion, according to CNBC.Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon have all hit $1 trillion, in that respective order.Analysts predict the next trillion-dollar company will be Facebook.Investors were not scared by Alphabet's CEO and President stepping down at the end of 2019, as the company's market value has hit $1 trillion, according to a report by CNBC.Alphabet is the fourth American company to hit the $1 trillion mark, following Apple, then Microsoft, and then Amazon. Amazon's current market cap stands at only around $931 billion, Apple is worth $1.38 trillion, and Microsoft checks in today at a cool $1.27 trillion. With a value of $632 billion, Facebook is largely seen as the next competitor to cross the $1 trillion line.Five years ago, when Alphabet was created as an umbrella to cover Google and all of its projects, the market cap stoo...

While only one person can own a Google Nest Mini or other Google Assistant speaker, it's a device that everyone in your home can interact with, so why not allow Google Assistant to be as personal for them as it is for you? Google Assistant speakers like the Google Nest line have allowed multiple users for a while now, but the methods for linking doing so doubled this fall, and here's how both of them work.Products used in this guideGoogle Assistant in every room: Google Nest Mini ($49 at Best Buy)How to link your account to someone else's Google Nest Mini or Google Assistant speakerBefore we get started, you can link your account with a single Google Assistant speaker/display or become a home member and link your account to every Google Assistant device in the Home View setup.Open the Google Home app on your phone.In the Home View tab (left-most bottom tab, with the house icon), tap the device you want to link your account to.Tap the settings gear.Tap Link your accoun...

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.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 will include s...

Get rid of the Galaxy's most disappointing feature.Ever since Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 with its onboard assistant, Bixby, people have been asking for ways to disable it and forget the button ever existed in the first place. With the Galaxy S9 and Note 9, that chorus became even louder. And with the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 released in 2019, a whole new generation of customers will be looking to disable Bixby.While the hardware button's not going anywhere, we can definitely do something about the software. Here's how to get rid of as much of Bixby as possible.Why do you want to disable Bixby?One of the biggest frustrations with the Bixby button is its placement; the button is right under the volume keys and nearly directly opposite the power buttons. On larger phones like the Galaxy S10+ or Note 10+, this often leads to accidental presses and unintended Bixby launches, especially when double-pressing the power button to launch the camera.On the Note 10 and 10+,...

Ring security cameras are a great way to make your home smarter and a bit safer. The cameras can be mounted high for you to see the whole surrounding area around the front of your house, and they feature speakers and microphones so you can speak to guests or potential intruders. Ring cameras come with a mounting kit to get you started, but that doesn't mean you have to stop there, oh no. Just take a look at all of these great accessories available for the various Ring camera models!Power of the sunWasserstein Solar Panel for Ring Spotlight CamStaff PickWhile there is a version of the Ring Spotlight camera that comes with its own solar panel, this is an excellent upgrade for those that started with a battery-powered version. The panel connects to the battery inside your Ring camera, so even if it's a gloomy day, your camera will have enough juice to keep going. It comes in black or white, and there are screws included to keep it in place.$35 at AmazonBetter batteryRing...

The change did require some content to be cut, unfortunately.What you need to knowXiaomi pulled its popular theming app from the EU back in February 2018, likely due to GDPR compliance issues.MIUI Themes will start rolling out to all 28 states in the Union again.The website will also be available in the region once again.It took Xiaomi two whole years, but the company has finally brought MIUI Themes back to the European Union after its rather unceremonious departure from the bloc back in February of 2018. The company didn't really explain why it was pulling what is one of the most popular components of its Android skin, but the change was likely necessitated by the impending GDRP regulations, set to take effect in May of the same year.Well, it's back now and, the company says, "stronger than ever." In fact, some devices in the region should have already begun receiving the prodigal app, with a complete rollout across Europe expected by mid-may.The Themes website, too, w...

Secure your Instagram account with just a few taps.From sharing your very best photographs to uploading short videos or snapshots of your day, Instagram is the go-to platform for all of it. If there's a picture to share, chances are you'll do so on Instagram.With so many people on Instagram and your public profile being easy to find, it's a good idea that you make your account as secure as possible. Having a strong password is a good start, but if you want to really crack down on things, we recommend setting up two-factor authentication (2FA).If you have 2FA enabled, you'll need to enter a random passcode each time you log in to your Instagram account on a new device, adding an increased layer of security to your account and making it harder for intruders to access it.How to set up two-factor authentication for your Instagram account with textingThere are two ways to enable two-factor authentication with your Instagram account, the first of which uses SMS texting to send yo...

Wireless Bluetooth headphones have become increasingly popular over the last several years. The best wireless headphones have support for great, high-fidelity sound. That's why the Sony WH-1000XM3 are our best overall pick. They have excellent sound quality, battery life, and are comfortable for long-term use — and their noise cancelation is second-to-none.Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM3By far, the most significant feature of the XM3s is their class-leading active noise canceling (ANC). Not only does it make traveling much easier by completely drowning out things such as planes and trains; they're excellent at blocking out higher-pitched sounds as well. The ANC you get out of the XM3 is legitimate, and it sometimes feels like you're in an empty room.In terms of sound quality, bass heads will rejoice here. The sound quality of the XM3s lean heavily on the bass giving it a ton of thump and rumble. So much so that it can often sound overbearing and muddy. The mid-range is relati...

We highly recommend the Fitbit Versa 2 for a wide variety of styles and uses, including automatic activity tracking, on-screen workouts, Fitbit Pay, music storage, and so much more. It's no wonder that Fitbit continues to be one of the many highly regarded names in the industry with all it has to offer. However, don't worry if that's not your cup of tea. There are quite a few other options to choose from. Whether you're looking for specific software, design, or feature set, you'll be able to find a fitness tracker that checks all the boxes on your wish list.Best Overall — Fitbit Versa 2Fitbit Versa FeaturesHeart rate monitorAltimeter5-day battery lifeSleep trackingMusic playerAmazon Alexa built-inWater resistance to 50 metersAMOLED screenFitbit PayReplaceable bandCompatibility with Android, iOS, and Windows Once again, swapping out the Versa 2 band isn't as easy as some other Fitbit models we've seen. Trying to attach a new band is a bit of a challenge. Not o...

All of the latest info in one place.Looking back on 2019, one of the best phones to be released was the Huawei P30 Pro. Most people in the U.S. likely overlooked it due to its lacking availability in the country, but if you did manage to get your hands on the phone, you were treated to drop-dead gorgeous hardware, insanely capable cameras, and some of the best battery life around.The P30 Pro is still holding its own here in 2020, but its successor is right around the corner.Huawei continues to be in its ongoing feud with the U.S. government, but in spite of that, we're expecting big and exciting things for the new P40 lineup. From the rumored specs, design, price, release date, and more, here's everything you need to know about the phones.We're likely getting three modelsHere's what the phones look likeThese are the specs we knowGoogle Play Services will be missingExpect the phones to be expensiveThe phones might be announced in MarchYou still can't go wrong with the P...

You'll also be able to use the Stadia controller wirelessly on the web.What you need to knowStadia will add over 120 games in 2020, including at least 10 that will be exclusive to the platform at launch.In the next three months, Stadia plans on adding 4K on the web, support for additional Android phones, and additional Google Assistant functionality on the web.Wireless support with the Stadia controller is coming to the web as well.To say that Stadia launched with mixed reactions would be a bit of an understatement. One of the biggest complaints was the overall lack of features when the service debuted. Even a simple feature such as playing on your phone or the web with the Stadia controller wirelessly was missing. Not to mention, the lack of support for any phone other than a handful of Pixel smartphones.Fortunately, Stadia is a living and breathing platform with a devoted team bringing new features to the service month after month. We've already seen the team roll out u...

It's a move that makes a lot of sense.What you need to knowGoogle plans to replace the built-in Chrome for Android Voice Search with Assistant.The upcoming change was spotted in a Chromium commit.It's expected to debut in Chrome 85, scheduled for September.Google is making a common-sense decision to simplify its voice offerings on mobile. Courtesy of comments made on a Chromium commit, it has become clear that the firm is planning to replace the built-in Voice Search in the Chrome browser with a handoff to the Google Assistant.What this means is that instead of relying on the current Google Voice Search interface, you'll get the newer and more capable Google Assistant to aurally parse your queries.As per XDA Developers who originally spotted the commit: The comments and code change reveals that once the commits are merged, a new flag called "Omnibox Assistant Voice Search" will appear in chrome://flags#omnibox-assistant-voice-search for Android devices. According t...