Latest from Android Central

You can finally listen to full LPs without that annoying skipping or pausing sound between songs on the YouTube Music app.What you need to knowThe YouTube Music app will now seamlessly play long albums without the pause that occurs in playback when switching tracks.This is a server-side update that needs to be flipped by Google before you can get the full experience.It's one more step toward YouTube Music being a viable Spotify or Apple Music replacement.If you're a fan of bands that like to make albums sound like one giant song, Google's got your back with the latest update to the YouTube Music app. Bands like Tool or Pink Floyd are famous for creating long songs that are bridged over several different tracks and, while these tracks were able to seamlessly flow together on physical mediums or other music apps, YouTube Music's playback would always have a slight pause when changing tracks. That's because the app had always needed to stop audio playback of one song before co...

There are a lot of places to watch Disney Plus, so here's a handy list.With the launch of Disney+ come and gone, now you have to figure out where to download all the apps — and there are so many platforms to find! We have a list here of all the places you can get the app right now, and I'm sure the list will grow over time.On your RokuRoku is the most popular way to stream content in the U.S., so of course, Disney would make sure there is a Roku app. It's straightforward to find too, head over to the channel store on your Roku, or click this linkA lot of Roku TVs have the Disney+ logo plastered all over them right now, so you should be able to find it easily.On your Fire StickAmazon's Fire stick is used the world over and hosts all the primary streaming services, including Disney+. Happily, getting the app for your fire stick is also the same as getting it for your Fire tablet, so the process is simplified.Just head over to the Amazon Appstore to download it to an...

Board games have been going through true renaissance over the past decade, and it doesn't take a lot of digging in the Google Play Store to see it reflected on Android as well. If you're having trouble getting everybody together under one roof or just don't have any more shelf space for another box, pick up your Android phone or tablet to grab these fantastic board games. We've also included a couple great apps to have on hand when you do get the gaming crew together.Full game with expansions availableCarcassonne: Official Board GameStaff PickCarcassonne is a polished adaptation of the classic board game. It was recently re-released in 3D and it looks and plays better than ever! Its a tile-based kingdom-building game where players each take turns trying to complete roads, cities, and cloisters. Each turn, players also drop a limited number of "meeple" onto landmarks in an attempt to claim points once the feature has been completed. If you can't fully enclose a city or fin...

A dangerous new beast seems oddly familiar.What you need to knowPlayers in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne are discovering a new monster called Safi'jiiva.Safi'jiiva is extremely powerful and cannot currently be killed. This monster will most likely be fleshed out in another update. You can grab Monster Hunter World: Iceborne for $30 from Amazon. Capcom has been providing steady updates for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, including a recent patch that added the Stygian Zinogre. Since this update, players are now discovering a new creature called Safi'jiiva. You can check out a video below from Weiss Gaming, who encounters this ferocious, powerful creature in the wild.Unfortunately, even if you manage to stay alive, that'll all you'll be able to do against it. Right now, it isn't possible to kill the Safi'jiiva, as it simply flies away after taking a certain amount of damage. Last month, the Monster Hunter Twitter account released a cryptic image hinting at the inclus...

Unlock the door to all your favorite Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars series!Disney Plus (aka Disney+) is finally available after years of waiting and dreaming. If you're in the United States, Canada or the Netherlands (and soon Australia and New Zealand), you can finally purchase a subscription to Disney+, and watch everything in the Disney vault. That includes franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also includes the Pixar family of movies and, of course, everything from Disney proper, all for only $7 a month, which is truly a magical bargain.Only one thing remains, then: it's time to subscribe!How to Sign Up for Disney PlusDisney has tried to keep everything about Disney+ as easy as possible for potential users, and that includes getting signed up for your free trial. Whether you're trying to sign up on your laptop, phone, or even on your smart TV, the signup process takes less than a minute.Keep in mind that while the Disney offers a free 7-day tria...

Google is adding on-screen buttons to manage individual photos right on the screen of your Nest Hub.What you need to knowPreviously, these options were possible by asking your Nest hub to perform the specific action.Hiding a photo will archive it in Google Photos. Some photos will also let you see other memories from that day.Google's Nest Hub lineup is a wonderful addition to a smart home for various techy reasons, with one of the best being its awesome function as a photo frame — and it just got better. Android Police found that Google is adding on-screen buttons to let you favorite, hide, or share a photo directly from the screen.While the ability to do these tasks has been there for quite some time via voice commands, the addition of on-screen buttons is welcomed. Now, remembering the exact phrase to get Google to perform the task is less important.To get to the newly added buttons, simply press and hold on a photo, and you'll see the options in the lower ri...

Disney+ is finally out in the wild so we can catch-up on so many favorite Disney classics, Marvel hits, the Star Wars saga, and much more. Disney is also offering the chance to get its new streaming service bundled with Hulu and ESPN+ — which is a great deal at $13 per month. However, if you sign-up for this bundle, the Hulu you get will be the ad-supported version. So, if you prefer your Hulu minus the ads, then follow along to find out how to bundle up and hold the ads.Products used in this guideGet it together: Disney+ bundle ($13/month at Disney+)TV Sans ads: Hulu (ad-free) ($12/month at Hulu) How to the Disney+ bundle with ad-free HuluGo to Hulu and sign-up for the ad-free plan.Enter your personal info and continue.Select your payment method to finish your subscription to Hulu ad-free.Now that your Hulu account is set up let's set up the Disney+ bundle.After clicking Sign Up Now you can enter the same email you used for setting up your Hulu account....

The program is in early access right now.What you need to knowGoogle is experimenting with a new Package Tracking Early Access Program.It allows the company to show important tracking important from within the search engine.The Early Access program does require courier services to opt-in.If you appreciate Google's Assistant's tidy little reminders of your incoming packages, you'll be pleased to know that Google is looking to do something similar for its search engine. Via the rather verbosely-named Package Tracking Early Access Program, the search giant wants to allow users to see most of their important tracking information right from the search engine.As can be seen in the example on the right, searching for 'package tracking' with the name of your courier service will open an applet within the search results that let you key in your package number and get access to all the relevant information, like the expected delivery date, as well as a timeline of where your pack...

Best answer: You can get away with some really slow internet speeds on the PlayStation 4, around 3 Mbps for download and an upload speed of 1Mbps, but it's the ping you need to watch out for. Keep it below 150ms and you should be fine.The console you need: PlayStation 4 Pro ($274 at Amazon)Stay wired: DanYee Cat 7 Ethernet cable ($8 at Amazon)Pick up some games: PlayStation Store Gift Card ($60 at Amazon)Speed mattersWhen it comes to playing games online, your online connection is extremely important. Not only does it have to be secure, but it also has to be fast, especially when you're playing on something like a PlayStation 4. Internet speeds vary by provider, but players can still look for a couple of things to ensure that they're playing at the best possible speeds for their consoles.If any of you are PC players as well as console players you will know that most games have a minimum system requirements list, and in that list is the minimum connection speed you can hav...

Best answer: Yes, and no. There's no built-in SmartCast app yet, and the built-in Chromecast feature doesn't work yet because Vizio's version of Chromecast built-in is outdated. Apple's AirPlay feature does work right now, and an update in December should enable Vizio's Chromecast built-in to work with Disney+.A galaxy of videos: Disney+ ($7/month at Disney+)Cast properly: Google Chromecast ($35 at Amazon)Here's what's going onThere's no Disney+ app in the built-in SmartCast operating system. That's a shame — especially for those who only use the built-in OS with their Vizio TV without any other sort of streaming device plugged in. And that shouldn't be (and in fact isn't quite) the end of the world because all modern Vizio TVs also serve as a target for Chromecast — Google's (and Android's) method of getting video from a phone to a TV — and Apple's AirPlay protocol.AirPlay works just fine. If you have Disney+ on an iPhone or iPad, you...

It is not currently known when it will launch or if the feature will be region-specific.What you need to knowGoogle Maps is working on a way to show which streets are brightly lit at night.The feature was discovered by XDA-Developers during a recent APK teardown of the Google Maps 10.31.0 beta app.There is no indication of when the feature may launch or if it will be region-specific when it does.Google Maps is, without a doubt, the most popular app for finding your way around this big wide world. Through the years, it has grown from a simple navigation tool to an app that can also recommend restaurants, prevent you from getting speeding tickets, or even keep you safe when taking a taxi.Now, thanks to the guys over at XDA-Developers, we're learning Google is working on another way to keep you safe when using Google Maps. According to a recent APK teardown, Google Maps is prepping a new "Lighting" layer to show what streets are brightly lit at nighttime.<string name="L...

Disney+ is here and it seems to be a hit. With hundreds of films from the most popular franchises on the planet — not to mention thousands of TV episodes from our childhood — it's little wonder that Disney+ is popular. However, when errors invade your movie marathon, things are anything but magical. There's a few different errors Disney+ can spit out when things go awry, but Error 83 is by far the most prevalent error you come across. Here's a few of the reasons you may be seeing it, and what you can do about it.Reason #1 — Server timeoutError 83 is one of the most common errors. When the servers are overloaded and your Disney+ session can't connect to the servers fast enough to pass a DRM/account check — or can't connect at all — Error 83 is what Disney+ displays when it can't play your video as requested.This is far and away the most common reason to see Error 83, and dealing with it can take a few forms:Try again. Server issues tend to be int...

The smart TV will not be sold in any other market outside India.What you need to knowNokia launched its very first smart TV in India today.The Nokia-branded smart TV has a 55-inch 4K panel with Dolby Vision support and Intelligent Dimming. It has been priced at ₹41,999 ($590) in India and will go on sale via Flipkart starting December 10. Walmart-owned Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart today launched (via Gadgets360) the first Nokia-branded smart TV in the Indian market. Built as part of a strategic partnership with Nokia, the smart TV boasts impressive specs and is claimed to deliver superior audio quality compared to its rivals.The Nokia-branded smart TV features a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD display panel with peak brightness of 400 nits and static contrast ratio of 1200:1. It comes with Dolby Vision support and also has an Intelligent Dimming feature.One of the headline features of the Nokia smart TV is the audio technology by JBL, which helps deliver "deep bass" and "...

"The FCC's order violates the Constitution."What you need to knowHuawei is suing the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S.The FCC views Huawei as a national security threat.Huawei says the FCC doesn't have any proof of this.We've been covering Huawei's feud with the United States government for what feels like forever now, and on December 4, the latest development came in the form of Huawei issuing a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (more commonly referred to as the FCC). Huawei filed its lawsuit at the United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit.Per Song Liuping, the Chief Legal Officer for Huawei, said: The F.C.C. claims that Huawei is a security threat. But F.C.C. Chairman Ajit Pai has not provided any evidence. This is a common trend in Washington these days. The F.C.C.'s order violates the Constitution, and we have no choice but to seek legal remedy.Huawei has faced unrelenting backlash from the FCC and other U.S. government branc...

While the app isn't live in the Play Store, the preview gives us a lot of info on how the app will work when it is released.What you need to knowAdobe Photoshop Camera (PsC) isn't official until 2020.The preview APK for Photoshop Camera is limited to Android 9 and above.Not all phones running Android 9 or higher can use Photoshop Camera.Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool used all over the world to allow users to add some creativity to their photos. Now, you can infuse your photos with the magic of Photoshop with your phone. As we previously reported, Adobe is making a camera app that will use Snapchat-like lenses and filters to bring an extra creative flair to your photos. Today, the folks over at XDA have found that a functioning preview build of the app is available for download and use.There are a few caveats for using the app, however. Firstly, you'll have to sideload the APK as it's not in the Play Store yet. Secondly, your phone will need to be running Android 9 or ...

There's no Wi-Fi 6 here, but that doesn't matter — the UniFi Dream Machine is the best router I have ever used.Ubiquiti is well-known in the enterprise segment, but the brand also sells routers for home users. We looked at the AmpliFi HD mesh system earlier this year and came away impressed with its performance. The AmpliFi lineup is aimed at consumers looking for an all-in-one home networking solution that's easy to get started with.The UniFi Dream Machine router I'm reviewing falls under the brand's prosumer UniFi series, and it offers a robust set of features that you don't get with the AmpliFi lineup. Ubiquiti's UniFi products are targeted at businesses, and they're highly scalable — much more so than a traditional mesh router. You can add switches, security cameras, and more access points as needed.If you're reading this, you're more interested in finding out how the UniFi Dream Machine fares as a home networking solution. The short answer? It is outstanding. I...

They'll also soon work in even more ways.What you need to knowGoogle rolled out ultrasonic sensing features last month to Nest displays, something that was inspired by a Googler's older father walking closer to the display to read information.The feature uses inaudible sound waves to detect when a person is near or far away from the display and changes the size of the text on the screen. It currently works with timers, commute times, and weather. Support for reminders and appointments are coming soon.Back in November, we reported on a new feature in Nest smart displays such as the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max which reacts based on your proximity to the device. For example, when setting a timer, the numbers on the display become larger when you're further away from the screen.Now, Google is detailing on its blog how this feature came to be and new ways it will be used in the near future. It turns out the feature originated after a Googler noticed how their father would walk c...

Thankfully, Sony has made the backup process extremely easy for PlayStation 4 users. Whether you're fully wiping your console or simply backing-up as a precaution, all you need is a PlayStation Plus subscription or a USB thumb drive.Products used in this guideUpload saves to the cloud: 12 Months of PlayStation Plus ($60 at Amazon)Copy and store your saves: 64GB SanDisk Extreme Go USB Drive ($20 at Amazon)PlayStation Plus cloud storageFor $60 you can purchase a year's subscription to PlayStation Plus if you are not already a member. Along with the free games you can download every month, and the ability to play online with friends, PS Plus members have access to Sony's cloud storage. You can upload your save data to the cloud and be sure that you will have access to it for as long as you are a member.To upload your save data:Navigate to your PlayStation 4 settings menu.Click on Application Saved Data Management to access the menu.Select Auto-Upload.Select which game...

The next-generation of consoles is almost here. And now the wait commences.What you need to knowPlayStation 5 pre-order landing pages are popping up at various retailers.You can sign up to be notified when pre-orders go live.The PlayStation 5 is set to release in Holiday 2020.We're heading into the new year and that means more information about the upcoming PlayStation 5 is imminent. There are still a lot of unknowns, like its price, but retailers are getting ahead of the curve regardless. Several online storefronts, like Best Buy, now have PlayStation 5 landing pages where you can enter your email and sign up to be notified when pre-orders go live (via Forbes).PlayStation 5: Everything we know so farWhile we don't know what the final design looks like just yet, photos of PS5 devkits have appeared out in the wild showing an interesting shape so that they can be stacked and properly venitilated. The actual design that reaches consumers will likely look very different....

Just as promised.What you need to knowSony has started rolling out the stable Android 10 update for its flagship Xperia 1.The "compact" Xperia 5 is also being updated to Android 10. In addition to all the new Android 10 features, the update includes the November Android security patch. Sony had confirmed last month that it would begin rolling out the Android 10 update for its smartphones in December. Sticking to its word, the company today began pushing the stable Android 10 update for the flagship Xperia 1 and Xperia 5. As reported by PiunikaWeb, the update is arriving as version 55.1.A.0.748.The software update is apparently rolling out across the globe currently, so if you own a Sony Xperia 1 or Xperia 5, you should try heading over to the Settings Menu and checking for the update manually. Along with several new Android 10 features, the update comes with the November Android security patch as well. However, Samsung and Google have already started rolling out the new...

Let's have a chat with the AC forums.Launched in August 2018, Google One is Google's paid subscription service for cloud storage. Plans start at $1.99/month for 100GB of space, with plans going all the way up to 30TB for $299.99/month.Subscribers also get little perks/goodies throughout the year, including things like Google Play credits, discounts on hotels, and cashback on Google Store purchases.Taking a look through the AC forums, here's where some of our members stand on whether or not they use Google One. areyes1631 12-01-2019 11:45 AM “ I did the free the months. Reply mgbosshogg 12-01-2019 03:58 PM “ Aye. I'm on the Google 2TB plan. Use about 1TB. Only back up what's important these days. Tried quite a few competitors, have to say the Google offering had worked best for me...

Best answer: Tello technically has just one plan, but it can be customized to your liking using the company's Build Your Own Plan tool. You're able to choose how much 4G LTE data and minutes you want (texting is included for free), and you can adjust your plan at any time should your needs change. No matter how you customize your plan, you'll get free calling to Canada, Mexico, and China, in addition to mobile hotspot access.Affordable wireless: Tello (From $5/month at Tello)Works like a charm: Google Pixel 3a ($399 at Amazon)You get to build your Tello plan exactly how you wantOne of the reasons we're such big fans of Tello is how it handles wireless plans. Instead of making you choose between a handful of different options, Tello has a Build Your Own Plan feature that enables you to fully customize a plan to your exact liking.By default, all Tello customers get a few things for free — including unlimited texting, calling to Canada, Mexico, and China, and hotspot ...

The Nova 6 5G combines flagship-grade hardware with a gorgeous design.What you need to knowHuawei today launched three new Nova series smartphones: Nova 6 5G, Nova 6, and Nova 6SE.The flagship Nova 6 5G is powered by the Kirin 990 chipset and has an oval-shaped hole-punch cutout with two selfie cameras. All the three new Nova 6 series phones will go on sale in China starting December 12. Huawei today introduced the latest additions to its Nova line of smartphones, the all-new Nova 6 series. The Nova 6 lineup includes the flagship Nova 6 5G, the standard Nova 6, and the mid-range Nova 6SE.Huawei's new Nova 6 5G comes with a 6.57-inch FHD+ AMOLED display featuring an oval-shaped hole-punch cutout on the top left corner. Housed within the cutout is a 32MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor. Powering the 5G-enabled smartphone is HiSilicon's latest Kirin 990 5G chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB storage.At the back of the phone is a triple camera setup wit...

5.6 billion illegal calls were made to Americans in November alone...What you need to knowThe U.S. House of Representatives has approved an anti-robocall bill.The bill, named the TRACED Act, was passed by 417 votes to 3.It seeks to protect Americans from illegal robocalls.The House of Representatives has passed an anti-robocall call bill designed to protect Americans from illegal robocalls.As reported by The Hill, the TRACED Act was passed by a nearly unanimous vote of 417-3 on Wednesday, December 4. The bill is also supported by the Senate, and as such, it is expected to be signed into law by President Trump before the year is out.The bill is sponsored by Senators Frank Pallone Jr. and John Thune, as such, it bears the name of both its sponsors in its full title, the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act.Speaking to the House floor on December 4, Pallone said: "Today the House will take strong bipartisan action t...

Hulu customers will now have to use their email and password to log in.What you need to knowHulu has started removing Facebook as a login option for users.By 2020, Hulu says Facebook login will no longer be supported. Users will have to log in with the email and password they used to sign up for Hulu. Hulu has decided to remove Facebook as a login option for users. By next year, it says Facebook login will no longer be supported on Hulu. This means the only way you can log in is by using the email and password that you used to sign up for Hulu.Unfortunately, Hulu hasn't revealed the reason why it is removing Facebook as a login option. If you have not been logging in to the Hulu app using your Facebook account, there's no action that you need to take.Here's the email that Hulu is currently sending to users regarding Facebook login changes: As of December 4, 2019, Hulu will begin removing Facebook as a login option, and by 2020 it will no longer be supported. Do...

The Motorola One phone strategy lately seems to revolve around releasing nice-looking but largely generic designs that iterate in minor ways over previous versions. It's a deliberately different approach to what's going on with RAZR, which is wholly unique and, though not without controversial designs, extremely exciting.Here at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Tech Summit in Hawaii this week, Motorola brought us behind closed doors to show off yet another entry into its Motorola One lineup, the pop-up-camera-sporting Hyper, which is available today for $400 on Motorola.com.Like all the phones in this quickly-growing segment, the Hyper is, well, hyper-focused on the camera experience, this one sporting a 32MP pop-up selfie camera along with a 64MP main sensor on the back. The embedded pop-up camera also gives Motorola the opportunity to give its first phone an unobstructed border around the 6.5-inch display, which the company is calling Total Vision.So the phone exists alongside four othe...

My opinion has immediately shifted from cautiously optimistic to incredibly impressed.After struggling with the performance shortcomings of Qualcomm's first ultrasonic fingerprint sensor in the Galaxy S10 and Note 10, I was cautiously optimistic that it made necessary improvements to its second generation sensor. It could make all the claims it wants about speed and consistency, but until I saw it in person I wouldn't be able to give it the benefit of the doubt. The day after the announcement, I had the opportunity to test the sensor at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit, and I'm incredibly impressed by its speed and capabilities.The first impressive part of seeing the 3D Sonic Max sensor in action is its size. I know Qualcomm quoted it as being 17x the size of the original, but didn't really have a sense of how big the original was — the new sensor is the size of a few postage stamps, which is way bigger than anything out there right now. It's large enough that you really don't ...

A messy situation where a studio that no longer exists is being sued.What you need to knowHuman Head Studios, developer of games such as Prey (2007) and Rune II, shut down a while ago.The entire team was acquired by Bethesda Softworks and reorganized into Roundhouse Studios.Human Head Studios is being sued by Ragnarok, publisher of Rune II.Ragnarok alleges that Human Head Studios caused multiple delays for the game and has refused to provide the source code for the game.A short while ago, Human Head Studios, the developer of games such as Prey (2007) and Rune II, shut down. Immediately following the shuttering of the studio, the entire team was acquired by Bethesda Softworks and rebranded as Roundhouse Studios, who have begun work on a new project. Ragnarok, the publisher of Rune II, is suing Human Head Studios for, among other things, breach of contract and fraudulent concealment. Ragnarok also claims it was not told ahead of time about the acquisition by Bethesda Softwor...

The Snapdragon 865 is a bigger upgrade than anyone thought it would be. And I love it when that happens.Another year means another new version of Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon mobile chip. It's always a good thing to see and even though it never measures up to Apple's A-series processors in raw computing numbers (and it doesn't need to because raw numbers usually don't mean anything), you know Qualcomm is going to bring its A-game. There will always be a thing or two that turns out to be a significant upgrade from last year's model.This year, what's a significant upgrade is best described as everything. Qualcomm spent the year fighting in court and staving off buyout attempts and building a chip where everything is newer, better, stronger, and faster.Qualcomm Snapdragon 865: Top 4 best things (and 1 bad)The Kryo CPU cores are more powerful, yet use the same arrangement that means the Snapdragon can have good battery life. The GPU is insane and is actually built with a mind f...

Did you purchase new tech over the weekend? If yes, did you get the warranty protection offered by retailers?Purchasing warranty protection is a no-brainer for anyone who only wants to buy the item one time. After all, if your device under warranty breaks, you only need to pay the deductible to get it repaired or replaced. And this time of year, when money seems to evaporate out of accounts, saving money is a novelty.Not all warranty protection is created equal, though. For example, a TV warranty purchased in-store tends to be significantly overpriced compared to Upsie. Upsie is a better, more affordable and incredibly reliable warranty option for your new tech. Check out this price comparison between Upsie's phone warranty, Best Buy's warranty and a repair shop for a smartphone repair.Upsie is clearly the most affordable option. Additionally, Upsie's deductible prices are significantly lower than retailers. In most cases, you can even get your device repaired same-day at a r...

The Snapdragon 765 will also support the standard.What you need to knowGoogle's Android Identity Credential APIs will enable electronic IDs and mobile driving licenses.Qualcomm and Google this week announced their partnership in bringing the tech to the masses.The Snapdragon 865 and 765 will be the first SoCs to support the standard.If you've ever forgotten your driver's license at home, Qualcomm and Google have some good news for you. At the company's Snapdragon Tech Summit in Maui this week, Qualcomm invited Google's Sudhi Herle to talk about the two tech giants' collaboration in making digital IDs a reality. You can see the entire announcement below (via 9to5Google):The Qualcomm execs proudly announced that the company's latest chips — the Snapdragon 865 and the Snapdragon 765 — will be the first to support Android Identity Credential APIs. To demonstrate the point, the company's reps had a cheeky animation showcasing a cluttered pile of IDs, money, key...

Qualcomm is asserting more control over GPU updates, and that's welcome news for Android gamers.The Snapdragon 865 chipset is now official, and it comes with a slew of upgrades in key areas. The chipset features ARM's latest Cortex-A77 cores, delivering a 20% boost in performance from last year, and the Adreno 650 GPU has more cores that result in a massive 25% uptick.But one feature in particular stands out: Qualcomm will start delivering GPU updates to OEMs, who will then update phones through the Play Store, similar to what NVIDIA and AMD do on PCs. These updates were previously delivered via annual platform version updates or bundled with monthly security updates in the case of hotfixes, and in both cases were reliant on your phone manufacturer or carrier. So it's a big deal that Qualcomm is able to roll out these updates directly from the Play Store through OEMs, but the fact that it's able to do so in the first place is all because of Project Mainline. Main...

In a rare rebuke, the government calls out the carriers and recommends action.What you need to knowThe FCC was suspicious of coverage maps and conducted its own drive tests.Verizon, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular were all singled out for suspicion.The report recommends an Enforcement Advisory detailing consequences.Wireless carriers are required to submit accurate coverage maps, and the keyword here is "accurate," to the FCC so that public funds can be properly allocated to support broadband access — especially in communities where coverage is sparse. The FCC recently realized that three mobile carriers — Verizon, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular — "overstated their coverage and thus were not accurate reflections of actual coverage." This comes according to a new report bumped on Twitter by Mike Dano, Editorial Director for Light Reading. By misrepresenting coverage on maps, the mobile carriers have used public dollars that should have been spent elsewhere.Wow.T...

Redmi says its quick charging tech is also better than others'.What you need to knowRedmi is continuing to slowly tease the specs of its upcoming flagship.The phone will feature a Snapdragon 765G with 5G connectivity and a massive 4,500mAh battery.The Xiaomi sub-brand also drummed up its custom 30W quick charging tech.The trickle of Redmi K30 spec teases from the company continues, with the latest spilling the upcoming 'flagship killer' killer's processor and battery capacity. The successor to the Redmi K20 will sport a better-than-expected Snapdragon 765G). That's Qualcomm's latest mid-range SoC, and the gaming-optimized version of the chipset at that. It also features an integrated 5G modem, something even the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865 doesn't have.On the battery front, there's a massive 4,500mAh cell — 500mAh more than last year's model and nearly 30% larger than Samsung's Galaxy Note 10's battery. What's more, the phone will also come with 30W quick chargin...

Believe it or not, not everyone prefers to speak English in their homes (gasp!). Some speak another language as their primary means of communication, while others may want to practice their skills when picking up a new language. The good news is that Amazon has made it easy to change the default language that Alexa will listen for and reply in. This can be done in the Amazon Alexa app or directly on touchscreen Echo devices. We'll walk you through just how to do this in the steps below.Products used in this guideAlexa, Show me you understand: Amazon Echo Show 5 ($50 at Amazon)Alexa the linguist: Amazon Alexa app (Free at Google Play)How to do change the language on your Echo in Alexa AppOpen the Alexa app on your phone.Tap on the menu icon (three lines) at the top left corner.Tap on Settings in the slide over menu, or tap on Devices on the bottom right of the screen.Tap on Device Settings, which will pull up your list of All Devices.Tap the device with the language ...

Samsung may announce the phones at an event this month.What you need to knowReliable leaker @OnLeaks has shared renders of the Galaxy S10 Lite and Note 10 Lite.The phones are tweaked versions of their non-Lite counterparts released earlier this year.Samsung could announce both phones at an event later this month.Samsung's release pattern for its flagship phones hasn't changed much at all in the past few years. The beginning of the year sees the latest Galaxy S devices, with the new Note debuting around August/September. Samsung's apparently throwing a wrench in that pattern for 2019, however, as we now have full renders for two new devices — the Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note 10 Lite.Galaxy S10 LiteLet's start first with the Galaxy S10 Lite. 91Mobiles published these renders as ones for the Galaxy A91, but it's suspected that these will essentially be the same exact phone, save for different SKUs.In any case, the S10 Lite looks a lot like the upcoming Galaxy ...

The Snapdragon 865 offers huge gains in CPU, GPU and AI performance, so let's see how it stacks up against the Snapdragon 855.Qualcomm's annual refresh is here, with the Snapdragon 865 set to power next year's flagships. The Snapdragon 855 was a reliable workhorse — powering most flagships released this year — but Qualcomm is facing increased competition in the high-end category from HiSilicon and MediaTek.With the Snapdragon 865, Qualcomm is offering massive gains in CPU, GPU and AI performance, and the chipset also features ARM's latest Cortex A77 cores, delivering a 20% uptick in CPU performance as well. We'll only be able to get an idea as to how the Snapdragon 865 performs once we get our hands on consumer-ready hardware, but let's take a high-level overview of the specs to see what's changed. Category Snapdragon 865 Snapdragon 855 CPU 1 x 2.84GHz Kryo 585 (Cortex A77)3 x 2.42GHz Kryo 585 (Cortex A77)4 x 1.80GHz Kryo 585 (Cortex A55) 1 x 2.84G...

Best answer: The older 500GB version of the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is indeed discontinued, but NVIDIA has refreshed the entire Shield TV lineup for 2019. The new and re-vamped NVIDIA Shield TV Pro uses the new Tegra X1+ processor, offers support for Dolby Vision, and ships with a much improved remote. The only downgrade is the modest internal storage, but you can add plenty of extra storage with a USB drive or a microSD card.Shiny new Shield: NVIDIA Shield TV Pro ($200 at Amazon)More storage via USB: SanDisk Ultra Fit 128GB USB 3.1 ($19 at Amazon)Or with microSD: Samsung EVO Select 512GB ($65 at Amazon) The new Shield TV Pro is more powerful than its predecessorsIt's been a long time coming, but NVIDIA has finally revamped the NVIDIA Shield TV with upgrades hardware. This has also brought the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro back from the dead after the 2017 model was discontinued from production, albeit without the beefy 500GB of internal storage that was the hallmark of the older Pro m...

iOS and Android both get an app.What you need to knowThere's now an official app for Craigslist.The iOS app has already been launched, while the Android app is in beta testing.It has a clean and minimal design that mimics the website.Craigslist has been a staple of the internet for years now but unfortunately lacked an official app for mobile platforms. That's changing starting this week, as the company officially flighted an app for both iOS and Android. And much like the website, the app eschews fancy UI elements for a simple, mostly white design that keeps the clutter to a minimum.You can browse different categories — sales, gigs, jobs, housing, and more — and can access the entirety of Craigslist's offerings on your phone. You can also see your history and saved postings for later reference. As you'd expect, there's a search bar to sort through the myriad RV listings on the platform, and you can also filter the results via location, with options for citywi...

You don't get 5G to the masses without chips exactly like this.Qualcomm's new flagship-level Snapdragon 865 is the latest lustworthy mobile platform, but it's sharing the stage with another SoC: the Snapdragon 765. Though it may not be flashy given its lower positioning, the 765 is actually incredibly important for Qualcomm and companies making sub-flagship phones.What the 765 brings to the table: Features and valueQualcomm's story with 700-series processors is consistently focused on value. It cherry-picks the biggest appealing features, and trims back in less-important areas, while integrating many features and capabilities that were only found in 800-series processors just a couple generations ago.It all starts with being built on a 7nm process, which is the smallest currently available at any price and inherently uses less power for everything it does. A smaller process gives the 765 an advantage over using an older, but higher-end, chip. The Kryo 475 cores its using ar...

Hopefully, the Un-Carrier will give enough for a venti, no-whip, extra shot mochaWhat you need to knowT-Mobile will give away $3 Starbucks gift cards to customers on Tuesday, December 10.John Legere announced on Twitter that a half-million cards will be handed out.Last year's Starbucks giveaway broke records for T-Mobile Tuesdays.As part of its ongoing T-Mobile Tuesdays giveaway campaign for subscribers, T-Mobile CEO John Legere announced that the carrier will be offering Starbucks gift cards next week. At 4 PM ET /1 PM PT, a half-million Starbucks cards will be available on the T-Mobile Tuesdays app, and will be gifted as long as supplies last. T-Mobile currently has around 84 million subscribers in the U.S., so up to 83.5 million people could come away unhappy. The gift cards are valued at $3, so while it likely won't cover your entire drink order, it should at least put a good dent in the final cost.The holidays are here, so we are going BIG on #TMobileTuesdays!! Next ...

Mid-range champGoogle Pixel 3a$399 at AmazonProsUnbeatable cameraSolid OLED displayPolycarbonate body feels sturdyClean user interfaceFirst-in-line for software updatesConsOnly 64GB of non-expandable storageThe Pixel 3a will go down in history as one of the most impressive mid-range Android phones of 2019. Google's ability to offer a flagship-grade camera in such an affordable package is the main draw to the 3a, and when you add that together with the OLED display, guaranteed software updates, and more, it becomes a darn impressive package.Great for videoMotorola One Action$350 at AmazonProsImmersive 21:9 displayUnique action camera for video captureLarger batteryAlexa built-inGreat Motorola softwareConsBleak future for software updatesCamera quality is just OKFor a bit less money, you can pick up the Motorola One Action. The One Action's camera results aren't as impressive and you don't get the same level of software support, ...

Just ask Google Assistant, "what's new at the North Pole?"What you need to knowStarting now through Christmas, you can get the latest updates from Santa's Village by asking Assistant "what's new at the North Pole?"The head elf news anchor Dimplesticks will keep you up to date with all the goings-on, as well as letting you know how many days there are until Christmas.The Santa Tracker website has also been updated with new games and activities, in addition to new holiday experiences on Google Earth.With Christmas 21 days away and counting, Google is ready to get you and your family in the festive mood with daily reports from the North Pole. Over the next three weeks, each day you can get an update from the North Pole Broadcasting Channel from Google Assistant by simply saying, "Hey Google, what's new at the North Pole?"In response, you'll get the latest news updates from the head elf news anchor, Dimplesticks. For example, today's message informs you how many days there ar...

Genius says copying its copy of lyrics is too much copying.What you need to knowGenius (formerly Rap Genius) is suing Google for copying its version of song lyrics.Genius previously asked Google to stop, but has proof the practice continued.The suit asks for at least $50 million in damages.Lyrics and annotation web site Genius, formerly known as Rap Genius, is suing Google over allegations the search company directly copied song lyrics from Genius' site then repackaged them as Google search results.Since 2014, Genius has had a deal with music publishers that allows the company to make lyrics available. Google apparently ripped off the exact text from the Genius page, including strange spacing and apostrophe placements that acted as a digital fingerprint and allowed Genius to track the theft. Genius originally complained about the practice in June.This week, WSJ reports that Genius is suing both Google and LyricFind, the third-party company that Google contracts to gener...

When you think of Cyber Monday, deals on VPN services might not immediately come to mind. But while most are considering where to get the best price on a laptop they've been eyeing, or how to get the cheapest phone or other consumer electronics device, why not spare a thought for how you might protect those devices and your privacy?VPNs are super useful for our increasingly internet-connected lives. If you spend any time at all banking or shopping online, or even surfing on public Wi-Fi hotspots at your favorite coffee shop, you could benefit from a VPN.What is a VPN?VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN takes your Internet connection and makes it more secure, by cloaking your internet activity in anonymity and stops you from being tracked across the web for advertising, having your traffic intercepted, or running into malicious sites. They are also great if you want to access content that is blocked in your region as you can use one to appear as if you are in another cou...

Inexpensive robot vacuums don't always have the best reputation, but one rises above the norm.A new challengerRoborock E35$359 at AmazonProsPath-planning via smart navigationCharge and resume where it left offMopping attachmentIntense suctionLong battery lifeConsNo virtual boundaries includedRoborock launched the E-series of more affordable robot vacuums in 2019, but did so without cutting the core component of what makes Roborock special: the navigation. This smart robot vacuum can 1plan routes around the house and cover every corner with an intelligent, logical pattern.Hands-free cleaningeufy RoboVac 30C$299 at AmazonProsSmall size can fit better under furnitureManual control via included remoteConsRandom bump-and-go style navigationShort battery lifeUnable to resume where it left off after chargingNo mopThe Eufy brand has been around for a few years now and has established itself as an easy, budget-friendly recommendation. ...

We finally have a release date!What you need to knowPillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a popular old-school role-playing game from Obsidian Entertainment.It's coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on January 28, 2020. A Nintendo Switch version is also planned. You can preorder it for $60 on Amazon. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a role-playing game played through an isometric perspective. This almost top-down view was incredibly popular in games many decades ago, but now has fallen out of favor due to traditional 3D graphics. Continuing from the end of the first Pillars of Eternity, you're tasked with pursuing a rogue god over land and sea.One of the major changes is the ability to captain a ship on dangerous voyages across the vast unexplored region of Deadfire. The goal is to bend the world to your will, as you explore the depths of infinite possibilities, including detailed character customization and more meaningful choices at every turn.Over a year ago,...

Motorola's first phone with a 64MP cameraWhat you need to knowThe Motorola One Hyper is now official.It is Motorola's first phone to have a pop-up camera module and a 64MP primary rear camera. Its headline feature, however, is support for 45W fast charging. Motorola today unveiled its latest One series smartphone, the One Hyper. Thanks to a pop-up selfie camera, the One Hyper is unlike any other One series phone from the company, at least in the design department.The Motorola One Hyper features a 6.5-inch FHD+ display, which, thanks to the 32MP pop-up selfie camera, boasts an impressive 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. As expected, the phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor inside, along with 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage.Motorola's latest mid-range phone has a dual camera setup on the back, featuring a 64MP main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. It offers an AI-powered night mode as well, which should help users capture some decent shots in low-light. As mention...

Oscar winners and cult classics are part of the catalog of films that are now available for free through Plex.What you need to knowPlex launched an ad-supported video on demand feature.The feature allows people to watch thousands of films and TV shows.The feature is available in over 200 countries.Plex announced the launch of its ad-supported video on demand feature today. Now, people in over 200 countries can watch a wide variety of films for free. The offering includes action, sci-fi, comedy, drama, thriller, anime, and family-friendly films. Plex is available on several platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, several smart TVs,Android, iOS, Xbox, PlayStation, and Amazon Fire TV.The lineup of films available for free has several well-known titles. People can watch The Terminator, Frequency, Rain Man, and many other films through Plex. While watching these films requires seeing ads, Plex emphasizes in its announcement post that personal content will remain free...

Grab some extra XP!With a brand new season of Fortnite comes brand new challenges, and Chapter 2 has once again changed up the way players will be taking them on. For the recent Chaos Rising set of missions, one of the challenges for this week will have you scouring one of the game's new loading screens to find hidden coordinates that will gift you some additional XP. This one can be tough if you don't know where to look, but thankfully we've found where to go, so you don't have to.Knowing the challengeFirst and foremost, this challenge won't be live until Thursday, Dec. 5, at 9:30 a.m. EST. After that time, you'll be able to jump in and tackle it, but just know that it won't be live until the weekly missions go live in Fortnite.Secondly, you'll only be able to do this challenge once you've completed eight of the Chaos Rising missions, which is when you unlock the loading screen.This week's loading screen features a character staring up at a handful of television screens. W...