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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are concerns about Chinese investment in apps like TikTok.What you need to knowApple and Google have been asked about the disclosure mobile apps must provide regarding overseas ties.The chair of a U.S. congressional panel has written to both companies on the issue.Rep. Stephen Lynch cited recent press reports of national security risks over the data of U.S. Citizens.Chair of a U.S. congressional panel Rep. Stephen Lynch has written to Apple and Google regarding whether or not app developers are required to disclose overseas ties.As reported by Reuters, Lynch revealed his request in a statement on Friday. This follows concerns that have been raised about the use of data by apps that have ties or investment with overseas countries, in particular, China.In his statement he said: "Recent press reports have shed light on allegations that certain foreign companies and developers may be providing sensitive data on U.S. citizens via their mobile applications to their ...

A Darksiders experience from a new perspective.Darksiders Genesis is a top-down action game that takes you through a variety of levels. Unlike the interconnected nature of Diablo III, you teleport into various environments and are tasked with uncovering a number of secrets and defeating bosses. While the story is a little convoluted and hard to follow, the gameplay is sublime. The ability to freely move around the world and slay hordes of demons with two distinct characters feels incredible.Explore the worldDarksiders Genesis$40Bottom line: Darksiders Genesis is a great top-down action game despite some minor issues. Pros:Replayable levelsGreat visualsSatisfying combat Hilarious dialogue Cons:Short campaign Confusing story Confusing skill tree Slightly blurry on StadiaSee at StadiaDarksiders Genesis ...

Hand tracking doesn't do much at the moment.The Oculus Quest is a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset that doesn't require any cables to be connected to your PC. The device has received a number of new features in recent months, but hand tracking may be the most significant. Yesterday, Oculus updated the Quest software so that you can enable hand tracking as an Experimental Feature.Menu navigationYou can interact with the Oculus Quest menu from the Library to the Store. Just point at and pinch whatever you want to select. The same applies to fast-forwarding or rewinding trailers in the Oculus Store.Oculus servicesSelect apps like the Oculus Browser, Oculus TV, photo library, and more work with hand tracking as well. However, it's not perfect and deleting screenshots is cumbersome because you have to select minuscule trash can icons.We'll keep you updated as soon as more apps are updated to support hand tracking. Hopefully, games will be added too soon becaus...

Only official uploads to platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music will be counted.What you need to knowBillboard is changing how it determines the popularity of music on its charts.It announces this week that it will start including online music videos in its Billboard 200 rankings.However, the company noted that only 'official' views from established platforms would be tallied.The music landscape has changed significantly in the last decade, thanks to the disruption caused by tech and streaming companies in how we consume entertainment. As a result, Billboard says it's changing with the times and will start incorporating views of online music videos in its popularity rankings for albums. Notably, the Billboard 200 charts, which show the 200 most popular albums each week, will now include views from YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, and more."As the steward of the definitive charts that uphold the industry's measurement of music consumption, our goal is to continuall...

Hand tracking is finally here.The Oculus Quest is a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset that doesn't require any cables to be connected to your PC. The device has received a number of new features in recent months, but hand tracking may be the most significant. Yesterday, Oculus updated the Quest software so that you can enable hand tracking as an Experimental Feature.If you want to enable hand tracking on your Quest, just follow the instructions below.Go to SettingsTurn on your Quest and click on Settings in the menu bar towards the bottom of the screen. This should give you the option to See All of the settings.Check System VersionSelect the About tab and check if a software update is available. Make sure your Quest is running the latest software by confirming that the top right corner of the window says No Updates Available. If a software update is available, start installing it and plug in your headset to the bundled charger. Wait for it to update and go bac...

Plenty of moments to capture in the West.What you need to knowRed Dead Redemption 2 has a new update on PlayStation 4.This update adds several new bits of story content that were previously only in the PC version of the game.It also adds photo mode, allowing players to take special shots. Rockstar has released a new update for Red Dead Redemption 2 on PlayStation 4. This update adds several story mode enhancements that were previously only available on PC. It also adds photo mode to the game, letting players take unique shots with a free-form camera and apply different filters.Here's the full list of new content that's been added:Photo ModeStory Mode Bounty Hunter Missions: track down wanted criminals Herman Zizendorf, Camille de Millemont and Bart CavanaughStory Mode Gang Hideouts: Take on the deadly Del Lobos gang at Gaptooth Breach and Solomon's FollyStory Mode Treasure Maps: Landmarks of Riches and The Elemental Trail"To The Ends of The Earth" Story Mode Missio...

It's set to overtake UPS to become the largest shipping provider by 2022.What you need to knowMorgan Stanley estimates Amazon Logistics, the retail giant's in-house shipping solution, is now shipping 2.5 billion packages per year.That amounts to 50% of all its deliveries in the U.S.The investment bank also estimates that the company may overtake UPS to become the largest shipping service in the country by 2022.Amazon is rapidly expanding its shipping capabilities, with Morgan Stanley estimating that the company has more than doubled shipments in the U.S. in the last year alone (via CNBC). Its in-house shipping wing now accounts for nearly 50% of all Amazon deliveries in the country this year, up from just 20% last year. To truly understand the scope of Amazon's operation, here's another statistic: the investment bank estimates Amazon is currently shipping at a rate of 2.5 billion packages per year, compared to an estimated 4.7 billion and 3 billion packages per year for UPS...

Wi-Fi 6 was designed with the future of routers in mind. A router spends most of its time directing and managing network traffic to keep speeds high even with a ton of connections. As our homes get smarter, we have more connections than ever that need to check in consistently and reliably. Wi-Fi 6 then allows for more connections than ever and still manages to kick the speed up a notch. Wi-Fi 6 isn't just for enthusiasts anymore and even in mesh, there is an option for nearly anyone, although the Arris SURFboard mAX Plus Mesh is our top pick for people who want top speeds.Best Overall: Arris SURFboard mAX Plus Mesh AX7800Despite having a silly way of capitalizing letters, the Arris SURFboard mAX Plus Mesh is a serious set of Wi-Fi 6 routers with a fast backhaul for top speeds. Arris has some experience in networking and you may recognize the Arris name from many modems and routers provided by ISPs.Boasting support for AX7800 speeds, the Arris SURFboard series dedicates four d...

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

Will Facebook be able to merge its platforms as intended?What you need to knowFacebook is seemingly under increasing governmental scrutiny over its control of three of the biggest chat platforms in existence.The Wall Street Journal reports the FTC is looking into the social media giant's plans to integrate the three platforms into one.The FTC may seek an injunction to stop the move, according to the report.Facebook has reportedly been hard at work at amalgamating its three chat platforms — Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram — since the start of the year. The company's toil may all have been for naught, however, if recent concerns by the FTC come to pass. The Wall Street Journal reports the federal agency has become increasingly more intrigued by the company's plans and may be looking to stop it in its tracks.While concerns about Facebook monopolizing online messaging are not unfounded, the fact that Facebook already owns WhatsApp and Instagram means an injunct...

The Samsung Gear Sport is a classic smartwatch that just so happens to focus on fitness. You can load it up with your favorite Spotify playlists, connect your Bluetooth headphones, and hit the trail for a run. Whether you're tired of wearing a gross sweaty band after a workout or you simply want some stylish options for throughout the week, we've rounded up the best bands for the Gear Sport!Perfectly comfortableANCOOL Silicone Watch BandStaff PickANCOOL makes soft silicone bands that are lightweight and comfortable to wear, which is perfect if you wear your Gear Sport on the daily. There are eight different colors and you can even stock up on a bright and colorful five-pack if you want options. This is ideal for those who love to coordinate their smartwatch with their outfit.$8 at AmazonGenuinely stylishBarton Leather Watch BandIf you came here in search of a stylish watch band, this is it. Barton offers these elegant-looking bands that are made with hand-cr...

You'll need to update both Google Messages and Carrier Services for the change to take effect.What you need to knowGoogle has finally completed the process of rolling out RCS to users in the U.S.The company is well ahead of its previous promise of broad availability by the end of the year.Updates to both Google Messages and the Carrier Services app may be required to enable the new chat experience.Earlier in the week, we reported on an update to the Carrier Services app that enabled RCS for Verizon users. As it turns out, the feature update applied to all remaining users in the U.S. who didn't have RCS yet, allowing Google to complete its rollout much earlier than its previous estimates. As Google's Communications Suite Lead Sanaz Ahari announced on Twitter:Hi everyone! RCS is now available to all users in US as of Monday. Make sure to update both Messages and Carrier Services.— Sanaz (@sanazahari) December 12, 2019While Ahari suggests updating Carrier Services ...

A surprisingly competitive offering.What you need to knowGoogle's YouTube Premium has found some success in India.The firm's growth rate outpaces that of local behemoths like Gaana Music.This has mostly been attributed to Google's YouTube Music service, which pulls in more paid users than rivals.Google's paid YouTube Music service is actually competitive in some regions. According to a report from Bloomberg, the service has outpaced Spotify and local services like Gaana Music in India and signed up over 800,000 subscribers in the region.To put the numbers in context, Gaana Music has over 125 million users overall and a bit more than 1 million users for its paid service. It has been around for a decade, launching in April 2010. YouTube Premium made its Indian debut in March.According to Bloomberg, YouTube Music drives the uptake of the paid Premium service. While services like Spotify allow users to play music in the background with the occasional ads, YouTube Music need...

One of the most important features of your smartphone is its storage. This is how you download your favorite apps, save all of your special photos, download music playlists for long road trips — you name it. The longer you hold onto your phone, the more likely it is you'll start to run out of space at some point down the road. Should you find yourself in this situation, here are a few tips on how to free up storage space on your Android phone.Products used in this guidePure Android: Google Pixel 4 XL ($879 at Amazon)Add more space: Samsung EVO Select 128GB microSD Card ($25 at Amazon)We're using a Google Pixel 4 XL running Android 10 for this guide. Some of the screenshots may not look 100% the same depending on what phone you have, but the core idea of everything should be the same.Check how much storage your phone hasFirst thing's first, we should take a look at how much space is left on your phone. It's a good idea to go through and clean stuff up every now and ...

Now, where's my pretty (Not) Pink version?What you need to knowPixelbook Go's most expensive configuration is now available for immediate purchase.The i7, 16GB/256GB configuration with the 4K screen can be bought at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google Store.It's only available in Just Black, as the Not Pink is still listed as Coming Soon.The Pixelbook Go is without a doubt one of the most powerful — and beautiful, to be honest — Chromebooks of 2019, but the feature that stood out to me the most was the option of a 4K screen, which you could only get on the most expensive, most powerful configuration with the i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That option wasn't available at launch, but now nearly two months after the initial launch, it's available now.Best of the bestGoogle Pixelbook Go 4K$1399 at Amazon$1399 at Google StoreWatch your movies in gorgeous 4K.This magnificent clamshell Chromebook is the perfect machine for those who like to wor...

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

Reports of its sales have been greatly exaggeratedWhat you need to knowSamsung's Galaxy Fold probably didn't sell a million units as earlier stated.The erroneous statement was made by a Samsung exec at TechCrunch Disrupt earlier this week.A Samsung spokesperson said the exec had confused sales targets with actual units sold.Samsung probably didn't sell a million Galaxy Fold smartphones, contradicting an earlier statement that it did. The statement was made earlier this week by Samsung Electronics President Sohn Young-kwon at a TechCrunch Disrupt Berlin event. Samsung spokespeople later disputed the sales numbers, according to a report by the Yonhap News Agency. Instead, the suggestion was made that the President had simply mixed up the sales target with actual units sold. The key point being made was that Samsung hadn't actually passed that milestone.The Galaxy Fold has had a few launch issues. Crossing the one million sales threshold without those issues would have been ...

What you need to knowNew tariffs on consumer goods from China will not go into effect Sunday.A preliminary "phase one" trade deal with China has been reached.This deal nothing to do with Huawei's Entity List status.Sources at media outlets like CNBC and the Wall Street Journal say that a new agreement that would offset of halt the upcoming tariffs on specific consumer goods from China has been accepted by both Washington and Beijing.The President, who tweeted that a deal was close on December 12, accepted the terms with Bejing so the Department of Commerce will not impose tariffs on an additional $156 billion worth of Chinese goods, and will cut back on the existing $360 billion tariffs on current Chinese goods.Getting VERY close to a BIG DEAL with China. They want it, and so do we!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2019While this is great news for Americans who plan to buy goods like toys, smartphones, laptops, and clothing for the Holidays, it's...

Samsung is largely considered to be a leader in the smartphone industry but it's not just for its flagship options. Samsung's budget phones, such as the Galaxy A30s, are still extremely serviceable, and sometimes even great for what you get. These are the best Samsung phones you can get for under $250 in 2019.Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A30sIf you want a flagship-level experience without paying flagship prices, then the Galaxy A30s is perfect. This handset has up to 4GB of RAM, a beautiful sAMOLED display, and three cameras capable of handling many different shots.Perhaps even more exciting than the triple-camera setup is the 4,000mAh battery. This huge battery combined with the mid-range Exynos 7904 chipset provides you with up to 12 hours of battery life.Unfortunately, you may need to do a little bit of editing to your photos as the A30s's camera sensors aren't the greatest. Plus, you'll have to keep your wallet with you as there is no Samsung Pay support here either.P...

800,000 podcasts now available.What you need to knowApple has partnered with Amazon to bring support for Apple Podcasts to Amazon Echo.Users can now ask Alexa to play podcasts from the library of 800,000 shows.All you need to do is sync your Apple ID to the Alexa app.Apple and Amazon have partnered to launch support for Apple Podcasts on Amazon Echo devices.As reported by 9to5Mac, the news means you will now be able to access Apple's library of some 800,000 shows directly through your Amazon Echo. You'll also be able to ask Alexa to play them for you.To enable the feature, Echo customers need to link their Apple ID to the Alexa App. Once you've done this, you'll be able to ask Alexa to play a specific show, and your playback progress will be automatically synced with the rest of your Apple devices for a seamless listening experience.Mid-rangerAmazon Echo (2nd Gen)$100 at Amazon $100 at Best BuyBetter sound for a little more cashThe Echo is Amazon's best mid ...

Take the reins from your runaway subscriptions.In many ways, the rise of the subscription service has been freeing for consumers. It's allowed us conveniences like scheduled deliveries that we don't have to think about and cost savings like only paying for the channels we want instead of an entire cable package.However, like any good thing, too much can cause problems. Lots of us are subscribed to so many services that bill us at different times, so it might be difficult to get a good idea of where our money is going each week/month/year.Fear not friends! People smarter than me have come up with some creative solutions to deal with this problem, and I've decided to share some of the more interesting ideas with you. Of course, I'm sure many of you have some great ideas for managing your subscriptions too, so if there's something you're doing that I didn't mention, please let us know in the comments below.App solutionsAlexa Skills solutionsAmazon subscription solutionsHow...