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One of the main selling points of the PS4 Pro is its power advantage over the PS4 Slim, allowing for crisper images and faster frame-rates. Not every game supports 4K resolution, but those that do are all the better for it. Though the PS4 Pro should automatically enable 4K resolution support when it detects a 4K-capable monitor, this isn't always the case. Here's how to enable 4K manually when your PS4 Pro just doesn't do its job right.Products used in this guideThe best way to play PS games: PlayStation 4 Pro ($369 at Amazon)The GuideFor starters, you'll want to make sure that your PS4 is indeed connected to a 4K-capable monitor, and that your display is also set to output at 4K resolution. How to access these settings may be different depending on the brand you are using. As for the PS4 Pro:Navigate to Settings from the home screen.Select Sound and Screen.Select Video Output Settings.Set the Resolution to 2160p - YUV420 or 2160p - RGB.2160p - YUV420 allows the c...

Google is trying to appease conservatives so it can retain important protections under the Communications Decency Act, and it's working.The Guardian broke a story that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many — Google is making sizable financial contributions to groups that deny human involvement has anything to do with climate change. This is a stark contrast to the company's public statements on the matter, which all claim to support global action to ease the threat of global warming. And it's doing it to try and convince conservative lawmakers according to the Guardian's sources.To be fair, Google isn't the only tech company with two faces on the climate change front and contribution to any group doesn't mean a 100% agreement with its agenda. A Google spokesperson tells The Guardian that "it sponsored organizations from across the political spectrum that advocates for strong technology policies". This time, though, it appears that contributions are aimed to have a direc...

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S10e doesn't have that fancy new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, but that means that screen protectors aren't a special brand of confusing. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the S10e adds a different challenge — and to be sure, there are far fewer cases around for the S10e right now than the larger models — but that doesn't mean we don't have some top-notch cases to protect the S10e's hole-punch screen.Clear as crystalSpigen Liquid Crystal AirStaff pickThe Liquid Crystal line is my favorite clear case around — well, except for the sparkly Liquid Crystal Glitter variant — because it's thin, grippy, and doesn't get in the way. Perfect port cutouts and easy application make a good case great.$12 at AmazonUnique hybridRingke Fusion-XThe Ringke Fusion-X is a unique hybrid case we can't get enough of. The clear back allows your S10e to shine through, and at the same time, there's a rugged bumper that offers reliable sh...

120Hz display support is official in the MIUI 11 beta.What you need to knowMIUI 11 has official support for up to 120Hz displays.Display refresh rate can be toggled in the system display settings.This would be the first 120Hz display phone Xiaomi brings to market.Xiaomi looks to be working on at least one new phone with a 120Hz display, if the MIUI 11 beta is anything to go by. MIUI 11 has been in beta in China for about a month now and is rolling out to more Xiaomi phones worldwide, but it's what XDA forum member kacskrz uncovered inside the code that spells out an interesting future device from Xiaomi.While the veritable Chinese company has released a handful of gaming phones like the Black Shark 2, only the Black Shark 2 Pro offers a high refresh rate display. Even still, the Black Shark 2 Pro is only 90Hz, while an upcoming phone looks to double the 60Hz refresh rate of traditional smartphones.Right in the display settings within MIUI 11 is a clear refresh rate option....

The Oculus Quest is an excellent device for VR gaming, but it's also an excellent headset for enjoying videos and other media. Whether it's streaming YouTube videos, streaming films and TV shows, or watching your own videos that are stored directly on the headset, these are the best media apps for the Oculus Quest.Watching the webYouTube VRStaff PickYouTube has billions of views for a reason; there's an almost unlimited amount of content. That only expands on the Oculus Quest with support for 360-degree videos on the headset and access to all of YouTube's other content on top of it.Free at OculusShows and filmsNetflix VRNetflix has been in the streaming business for years. Its native app on the Oculus Quest puts a giant screen in front of your eyes and makes it feel like you're watching Netflix content in a cinema. It's a great way to watch an action flick, though your head might tire during longer viewings.Free at OculusFoxy viewingFox NowThis...

MIUI 11 brings a big visual refresh and plenty of new features with it.What you need to knowMIUI 11 is one step closer to final form as the beta releases to India and other countries on October 16.MIUI 11 brings about sweeping visual changes, such as a system-wide night mode, as well as plenty of new features.Not all versions of MIUI 11 will be based on Android 10 — some will still be on Android 9 Pie.MIUI 10 marked a huge redesign for Xiaomi's custom version of Android when it launched this time last year and, right on cue, the MIUI 11 beta is making its way to a slew of Xiaomi phones outside of China for the first time since the beta program began last month. A tweet from MIUI India clearly states that the MIUI 11 beta will be rolling out on October 16. That's the same day as the Redmi Note 8 Pro's release in India.At this time, there's no clear list of countries that will be receiving the beta, but historically, a beta roll-out to several countries is not out of the...

It's the last episode of Android Central Podcast before Google's October 15 hardware event! Join Hayato Huseman, Andrew Martonik, and Daniel Bader for last minutes leaks and rumors about the products you can expect to be announced.Listen nowSubscribe in Google Play Music: AudioSubscribe in iTunes: Audio Subscribe in RSS: AudioDownload directly: AudioShow Notes and Links:Nest MiniEverything you can expect from Google's October 15 hardware event: Pixel 4, Pixelbook Go and moreGoogle Pixel 4: Leaks, Release Date, Specs, and News!Google Camera may soon focus on people you often take pictures ofSponsors:Keeps: The easiest and most affordable way to keep the hair you have. For a limited time, receive your first month of treatment for free — Go to keeps.com/acp...

Love and laughter are the most commonly expressed emotions.What you need to knowThe Unicode Consortium is the body responsible for maintaining the standards for encoding text and symbols (such as emojis).The list ranks emoji based on how frequently they're used.Frequency of use is one of the key factors that determine if an emoji will be added to the Unicode Standard.The Unicode Consortium this week released its list of the most frequenly used emoji. The body is responsible for maintaining the Unicode Standard, an industry-wide consensus for the digital encoding and representation of text, symbols and (in recent years) emojis. This is the first time the organization has released its internal data on the usage of various emoji, a statistic that it claims weights heavily in its decisions to accept new emoji into the standard.The 'tears of joy' emoji and the 'red heart' emoji are the two most popular of the bunch, with each accounting for nearly 10% and 7% of overall emoji us...

Rubin left Playground in late-May earlier this year.What you need to knowA new report reveals that Andy Rubin was paid $9 million to leave Playground Global back in May.Playground Global is a venture firm that Rubin founded In 2015.Rubin "no longer has any economic interest in or any ongoing roles at Playground Global or the related funds."Earlier this week, Essential founder — and Android creator — Andy Rubin found himself in the spotlight for the first time since reports of sexual misconduct surfaced almost a year ago. Just a couple of days after Rubin teased the awkward-looking Essential GEM phone, a new report indicates that he was paid millions of dollars to leave his own venture firm.According to BuzzFeed News, Andy Rubin was paid around $9 million to leave Playground Global back in May. Rubin founded Playground Global in 2015 and used it to fund the creation of the first Essential Phone.Per internal documents from Playground Global that BuzzFeed acq...

Best answer: Wi-Fi 6 is the new designation for what used to be called Wi-Fi 802.11ax. It was changed to alleviate some of the confusion that seemingly random numbers and letters bring. If you're buying a router today, you should buy one that supports Wi-Fi 6.Entry level Wi-Fi 6 networking: Netgear Nighthawk AX4 ($194 at Amazon)How is Wi-Fi 6 better than 5?You might have noticed that one of the specs for new phones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 is something we've not seen before on a spec sheet: Wi-Fi 6. It's new, but also something that you might have heard about under a different name since it was formerly known as 802.11ax. Don't get confused here — the Wi-Fi Alliance (the standards body that decides what happens with each new generation of Wi-Fi) has decided to stop using seemingly random letter designations for Wi-Fi versions and switch to regular cardinal numbers. It thinks this makes it easy for us to know which is newer, and therefore better. It's probably right....

The Motorola One Zoom is a strange phone debuting at an odd time from a company doing peculiar things. Word has it that it was never meant to arrive in North America — Motorola has a very particular release cadence, buoyed by the G series in the low-end and the Z series at the mid to high-end — but a particular warm response in Europe prompted the company to reconsider.I'm glad the company did, too, because as flawed as this phone is, it's a ton of fun to use, and easily my favorite Motorola phone in years.At $449 (on sale right now for $399), it's also pretty competitively priced given the robust spec sheet, but is it worth your time over something like the Pixel 3a XL?At a glanceMotorola One Zoom Bottom line: The Motorola One Zoom is a nice surprise from Motorola, with excellent hardware and a lovely, warm design. ...

Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are on Twitch, and it marks something bigger than just a different place to see them campaign.What you need to knowPresident Trump now has a Twitch channel of his own.Trump joins Bernie Sanders as the second major politician to have a Twitch channel.Both channels are being used to stream live campaign events, inviting viewers to join in the conversation.Election coverage in the US can be a dizzying affair. From networks that hand-pick candidates for debates, to the never-ending slew of negative ads, elections can be a daunting time for many Americans just looking for information.While major TV networks have traditionally been the place to find election coverage, an unexpected platform might be taking center stage as more candidates hop on board. Twitch, the streaming channel for gamers, now has two major politicians with personal political channels and it marks the beginning of big changes for the next election.Donald Trump joined Twitc...

The setting is present but currently is not active.What you need to know'Hey Google' hotword detection is showing up in the Pixel Buds' settings.Unfortunately, the setting doesn't appear to be active yet.Google is rumored to have a pair of Pixel Buds 2 in the works that might show up at the October 15 Made by Google event.The Pixel Buds launched nearly two years ago with fairly mixed reviews. Since the launch, Google's Bluetooth headphones haven't made many headlines.That was until recently when Google started giving us something to talk about. First, we learned from a source close to the matter that the Pixel Buds 2 are on the way. Now, we're seeing a new option for "Hey Google" detection pop up in the settings after a recent update.If you wanted to activate Assistant in the past, you'd have to long-press on the touch-sensitive button. With this new setting, it would allow you to invoke Assistant with the voice commands similar to Google Assistant smart speakers, your p...

Some new leaks indicate that Fortnite is getting a new map and a rebrand as Fortnite: Chapter 2.What you need to knowFortnite Season X is currently ongoing.Several players on Twitter and Reddit have spotted images indicating Fortnite: Chapter 2 is on the way.This rebrand of the game would also potentially bring a brand new map with boats. While Fortnite Season X is currently underway, players are already getting prepped for the next big change. This time though, the change may be bigger than ever before. A leak that has been spotted on Twitter and Reddit appears to indicate that Fortnite is being rebranded as Fortnite: Chapter 2. It also looks like players will be getting a new map to play on, or at the very least a heavily altered map. You can see the leaked image from the Italian App Store below:"Capitolo" is Italian for "Chapter." This image shows a river with boats, which would be the first time boats have showed up in the game. Past seasons in Fortnite haven't been af...

Sporty techAmazfit Verge$160 at AmazonPros12 sport modesMicrophone and speakerOnboard GPSAmazon Alexa built-inFitness-friendly designConsLacks 5 ATM ratingShorter battery lifeThose who are seeking more of a fitness smartwatch will be in good hands with the Amazfit Verge. In addition to heart-rate monitoring, activity and sleep tracking, and GPS, you'll also have other features, like music storage, Wi-Fi, and Amazon Alexa built-in.Modern classicAmazfit GTR$180 at AmazonPros12 sport modes5 ATM water resistanceOnboard GPSStellar battery lifeClassic, elegant designConsLacks microphone and speakerNo music storageWant to make the ultimate fashion statement with a classic timepiece that has modern features? Look no further than the Amazfit GTR. It offers heart-rate monitoring, activity and sleep tracking, GPS, 5 ATM water resistance, and unbeatable battery life.When you begin your search for an affordable smartwatch that provides plen...

HP Chromebook 14 offered up as a Pixel 4 pre-order freebie to Three UK customers.What you need to knowThe offer was shown on a billboard in Nottingham, UK.It's unclear if the pre-order bonus will make its way to other carriers or countries. At £229, the HP Chromebook 14 is a fantastic free add-on.The saga of the pre-release Pixel 4 leaks continues, with a Three UK billboard showing a pre-order freebie of the HP Chromebook 14 to customers willing to chip in for the upcoming Google phone. While in Nottingham, UK passing by the local Three UK carrier store, Redditor u/bbc472 noticed the billboard teasing the pre-order offer.At this time, we don't know if there will be similar offers, or any offers at all, from other carriers in the UK. We also haven't heard of any other countries that will be offering pre-order deals on the Pixel 4 yet either. It's not uncommon for retailers to score exclusive deals on phones or what they choose to throw in with purchases — so thi...

Whether you're just starting out with your smart home or have been building it up for a while, a smart display (or two) can be the perfect addition. A smart display is essentially a Google Assistant or Alexa speaker with a screen attached to it, allowing you to perform your usual array of voice commands while also watching YouTube videos, following recipes, and more. The smart display we recommend the most is the Nest Hub Max, but if it isn't catching your fancy, we have five other options that are also worth a look.Best Overall: Nest Hub MaxIf you want the very best smart display that money can buy, you'll want to check out the Google Nest Hub Max. This is the latest smart display to be released under the Google Nest brand, and it's darn impressive.Right off the bat, the Nest Hub Max makes a strong first impression with its 10-inch 1280 x 800 HD display. It's nice and crisp for watching videos, and the Ambient EQ light sensor allows the color temperature of the display to au...

Not everybody needs to spend upwards of a thousand dollars on their phone just to get by, especially those on prepaid carriers looking to cut down on spending wherever possible. Luckily, phones at all price ranges have gotten great lately, and that holds especially true in the budget category. It was previously a wasteland of near-unusable devices, but now you can get a shockingly good and reliable phone these days for under a Benjamin.Best unlocked phoneNokia 2The Nokia 2 is a great unlocked phone for under $100, offering a completely barebones version of Android 8.1 Oreo, great build quality with an aluminum unibody enclosure, and a quad-core processor. Best of all, it's unlocked to work on any GSM carrier — but CDMA shoppers will want to look elsewhere. The only thing it's missing — and this is a big one — is a fingerprint sensor, meaning you'll have to revert back to using a PIN for security.$89 at AmazonRunner-up unlockedMoto E5 PlayThe Moto E...

Google will announce a new rebranded Google Home Mini next week.What you need to knowSome YouTube Premium subscribers are receiving an offer for a free Google Home Mini via the Google Assistant.A Google Home Mini normally retails for $50, but with this promotion you'll only pay tax and shipping.Google is expected to announced a new and improved Google Home Mini rebranded as the Nest Mini at its October 15 Made by Google event.If you're a YouTube Premium subscriber and a fan of Google Assistant, Google may have a free gift for you. Some users have begun reporting that an offer for a free Google Home Mini is showing up in Google Assistant.Normally, Google's mini smart speaker would set you back nearly $50 at retail prices. However, if you take advantage of this offer, you'll only be stuck paying for tax and shipping which significantly lowers the price.It's not the first time we've seen a Google Home Mini promotion like this. Google seems to hand these things out like candy,...

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite is likely to carry a significantly lower price tag than the Galaxy Note 10.What you need to knowSamsung's rumored "affordable" Galaxy Note handset will reportedly be called the Galaxy Note 10 Lite.The smartphone's tech specs still remain a mystery.It is expected to be available in at least two color options: Black and Red.Last month, a report had claimed Samsung could be working on an "affordable" Galaxy Note series device. While no details regarding the smartphone were available back then, the folks over at SamMobile have now published a new report, revealing a few more details.As per the latest report, Samsung's upcoming affordable Galaxy Note series smartphone may debut as the Galaxy Note 10 Lite. Since the phone will carry the Galaxy Note 10 branding, it is likely to be released within the next few months. Unlike the Galaxy S10e, which is more affordable than the Galaxy S10 but is quite similar in terms of specs, the Galaxy Note 10 Lite is...

Sports video games used to be my go-to when I felt like kicking back and relaxing with a video game controller in my hand, but that started to change about a decade ago. It was around that time that EA Sports started rolling out Ultimate Team modes across all its sports games, which let gamers create their own teams from scratch… based on a convoluted system involving player cards, loot boxes, and the allure of spending hundreds of dollars on microtransactions. The idea of building a team made up of your favorite players was great, but the execution was a clear money grab that required you to continually open up card packs to find the rare players you really wanted.That's a hard pass from me.Needless to say, those "surprise mechanics" turned me off of EA Sports games in particular and left me yearning for a decent sports game that would just let me jump into a game and play without the grind of the free-to-play style. And to my surprise, NBA2K20 is a refreshing return to t...

Only in the U.S. and Japan for now.What you need to knowOn World Sight Day, Google began rolling out detailed voice guidance for Google Maps.The new feature will give in-depth walking instructions in Google Maps, announcing the distance to your next turn, warning of busy intersections, and notifying you if you go off-route.Currently, it is available in English for the U.S. and in Japanese for Japan with additional languages and countries coming in the future.World Sight Day acknowledges people with blindness and vision impairment on the second Thursday of October every year. The day is meant to bring awareness to the 36 million blind people worldwide and 217 million people who experience moderate-to-severe vision impairments.To mark the occasion, Google announced detailed voice guidance for Google Maps on October 10. The new feature will aid those with visual impairments by providing more in-depth spoken walking instructions when using Google Maps to navigate. This featu...

The Last of Us Part II looks to be a masterpiece in the making.Like its predecessor, The Last of Us Part II is squeezing in at the end of a console generation, right before next-gen systems are set to release next year. When it was announced, a lot of people speculated — or least hoped — that The Last of Us Part II would be a launch title on the PlayStation 5. While there's certainly a possibility it could release on that system as well, even though all PS4 games are set to be backward compatible, it wasn't specifically designed for the PlayStation 5. It's still limited by PS4 hardware, and this is honestly a good thing right now. It can optimize The Last of Us Part II to its fullest potential.Naughty Dog has surely had a PS5 devkit on hand for some time now considering it's a first-party Sony studio, and one that many believe to be the golden child. But that doesn't mean that the studio will have unlocked the console's full potential right out of the gate. It's ...

Voice commands are faster (and local), and it now rocks Dolby Vision HDR.If you've been eyeing the Amazon Fire TV Cube, and read our review of the original, but just kept saying to yourself "I really wish this thing also had Dolby Vision for HDR, and could process voice commands on the device so that they'll execute quicker and maybe be a little more private," well, today is your day.What is being billed as an "all-new" Fire TV Cube but mostly will look and act like the last one (just better) is now available for purchase today. (And also is available in Canada for the first time.)And, well, that's it. The rest of the Fire TV Cube is pretty much the same. It still does 4K video just fine. It still does Dolby Atmos audio. It still has the microphone array so you can do all that hands-free Alexa stuff through it without needing a separate Echo device.And now, thanks to some upgraded internals, it'll also handle the Dolby Vision flavor of HDR (that's still pretty much considered...

The Nest Hub Max takes all that was great about the Nest Hub and scales it up. Amazon has taken a similar approach with its Echo Show line. We'll talk through the pros and cons of each to help you decide which you should get.Nest Hub MaxNest to the MAX$230 at B&HProsFace Match feature is coolPhysical mic and camera cover switchGoogle Photos integration for a smart frameConsNest Cam features not fully bakedRear-firing speakers could be better placedThe Nest Hub Max offers a nice, large touchscreen interface to the Google world. View timers, check your calendar, or watch recipes unfold on its fantastic display. The new Face Match feature is great because it will recognize you and show you your relevant content, and the Nest integration also serves as a gateway to your smart home security.Amazon Echo Show (2nd gen)Biggest of Show$230 at AmazonProsZigbee smart hub built-inDobly processing built-inAvailable with a free smart bulbConsNo physica...

The Nokia 6.2 is guaranteed to receive two years of software updates.What you need to knowHMD Global launched the Nokia 6.2 in India today.The smartphone made its debut at IFA 2019 in Berlin last month, alongside the Nokia 7.2.It has been priced at ₹15,999 ($225) in India. HMD Global today launched the Nokia 6.2 in the Indian market, nearly a month after it launched the Nokia 7.2 in the country. Both the smartphones were unveiled at the IFA tradeshow in Berlin last month.The Nokia 6.2 has been priced at ₹15,999 ($225) in India and is now available via Amazon, Nokia.com, as well as all major phone retailers across the country. It comes in just a single variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. As for color options, the smartphone is currently available in 'Ceramic Black' but will soon be available in 'Ice' as well.Consumers who purchase the Nokia 6.2 from Amazon can get a cashback of ₹2,000 if they pay using an HDFC Bank debit card. In addition to the c...

Let's chat with the AC forums.A lot of folks have been anxiously waiting for Android 10 be be available for Samsung's latest flagships, and this week, we learned that we'd soon be treated to exactly that.Samsung announced that it's going to soon release an Android 10 beta for the Galaxy S10 series, specifically for models that are on T-Mobile, Sprint, or unlocked.Taking a look at the AC forums, a lot of our members are eager to test out the new software as soon as possible. mustang7757 10-09-2019 07:35 PM “ I always sign up for beta Reply racedog 10-09-2019 07:45 PM “ I was in the beta last year with my 9+ and will probably join again with my 10+ (TMO). Reply gendo667 10-10-2019 05:36 AM “ I'm probably in. Might hold back and see ...

There are a number of reasons why you might need to factory reset your Android phone. Maybe your phone is overloaded with apps and running slow, or you've downloaded a recent update and it's causing problems with your phone's functionality. Maybe you just want to reset it because you're selling your phone (you should always do this when selling an old device, by the way). Here's how to factory reset your Android phone through the phone settings or via the recovery mode.How to factory reset your phone from the settings menuBefore we get started, know that a factory reset will erase all the data on your phone. If you haven't backed up your contacts, pictures, videos, documents, and anything else (preferably in the cloud), you should do so now. Not sure where to back up your data before a factory reset? Read our guide on how to do that first.Given the extensive variety of phones available on Android, I'll be using the Pixel 3a and Samsung's Galaxy A50 as the examples for this gu...

Leaked marketing images gives us yet another look at the upcoming Google Pixel 4.What you need to knowGoogle Pixel 4 promo images highlighting key features such as Motion Sense and Face Unlock have surfaced.In addition to the Motion Sense and Face Unlock features, the Pixel 4 series will also offer up to 8x zoom, thanks to the secondary telephoto lens.The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be formally unveiled at the 'Made by Google' 2019 event in New York City next week. A bunch of marketing videos for the Google Pixel 4 were leaked online last week, showing off the smartphone's new Assistant UI and some of the Motion Sense gestures. Promo images highlighting Motion Sense and some of the other headline features of the Pixel 4 series have now surfaced, courtesy of reliable tipster Evan Blass. Similar to smartphones such as the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will come with 3D face unlock. However, as suggested by a leaked video that had surfaced la...

My left pinky hates me, and it voices its displeasure every time I pick up my phone. After years of using my pinky to help prop up and stabilize my smartphone, the strain has turned to pain, and so I use PopSockets to help correct my bad habits, prevent pinky pain, and to keep a better grip on my phone as I run around Walt Disney World with it in the Florida heat and rain.Best Overall: PopSockets Swappable PopGripsPopSockets were already some of the most popular and widely-used phone grips on the market for a reason: they lasted a long time, really helped reduce the stress on your hands, and came in more styles than you can shake a phone case at. PopSockets are also impressively affordable: even PopSockets with premium materials and styles like the Metallic Diamond Collection and franchised designs like Marvel superheroes still cost less than a large pizza.One of the more addictive aspects of PopSockets is its trademarked accordion design, which pops in and out in a satisfyin...

Did you know that Ring makes four versions of its popular Stick Up Cam? We're comparing the Plug-in version to the Elite variant to help you decide the best option for your home.Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-inVersatile viewer$100 at Amazon (Plug-in)ProsContinuous power sourceCan be used indoor/outdoorAlso available in battery variantConsNo back-up if the power goes outRequires more care for installationThis versatile plug-in camera is an affordable way to get comprehensive indoor/outdoor home coverage. And you can pick up two for the price of one Stick Up Cam Elite.Ring Stick Up Cam EliteSteady connection$200 at AmazonProsContinuous power and more reliable connection over EthernetCan be easily mounted to walls, ceilings, and flat surfacesBest field of view of Ring's Stick Up CamsConsTwice as expensive as regular Stick Up CamMore complex installationThe Stick Up Cam Elite gives you all of the capabilities of Ring's other cameras with the added pea...

Not everyone wants a tank of a case like an OtterBox, but if you're going to spend a grand on a Samsung Galaxy S10+, you need at least some kind of case on it. Slim cases can offer some drop protection as well as grip and a guard against everyday scuffs, scrapes, and smudges. These are the slim cases we love the most.As this as it getsTotallee Ultra ThinStaff PickThe S10+ is a lot of phone to handle, so I can "totallee" understand wanting a case that doesn't add any more bulk to the party. Totallee's Ultra Thin case is the case for people who hate cases — it's as thin as can be with grip and grace.$29 at AmazonThin hard-candy coatinganccer Ultra Thin FitHard-shell snap-on cases like anccer's Ultra Thin Fit may not give your S10+ much in the way of drop protection, but it does add grip and protect that back glass from scuffs and smudges. It's available in five colors and two finish styles — Smooth and Gravel.$6 at AmazonClear as crystalSpigen Liqu...

The 2019 Material Design Award winners include Ruff, Reflectly, Scripts, and Trip.com.What you need to knowGoogle has announced the 2019 Material Design Award winners.Material Design awards honor the apps that adapt the design system in truly unique ways.This year, winners were chosen across four categories – theming, innovation, experience, and universality.Since 2015, Google has been recognizing apps that apply the company's Material Design in unique ways to create an engaging user experience. This year, Google chose four apps that creatively used the design system across four different categories – theming, innovation, experience, and universality.Theming: RuffRuff, an app designed for writing on the go, was chosen as the winner in the Theming category for making great use of Material Design components, including the bottom sheet and backdrop. The app's floating action button and monospaced font take a refined approach to theming. Users are also given the ...

The Pixelbook Go will come in "Just Black" and "Not Pink" colors.What you need to knowSeveral photos showing Google's upcoming Chromebook, the Pixelbook Go have surfaced online.The photos show the Pixelbook Go in a "Not Pink" color with a unique ribbed back. Google will formally unveil the Pixelbook Go at its hardware event in New York City on October 15. A report published by 9to5Google last month had revealed that a new Google Chromebook called the "Pixelbook Go" will debut alongside the Pixel 4 series at the company's fall hardware event. The folks over at 9to5Google have now got their hands on a Pixelbook Go prototype, giving us a good look at the upcoming Chromebook from nearly every angle.As can be seen in the photos below, the Pixelbook Go will feature a ribbed back. According to 9to5Google, the ribbed texture feels "somewhat similar to a washboard or the roof of a dog's mount." The top panel, on the other hand, appears to have a matte finish similar to the "Not Pink"...

Pairing a wallet case with a larger phone like the Samsung Galaxy S10+ just makes sense — you're already going to have to deal with fitting a bigger device into your pocket or bag, so why not buy an accessory that protects and cuts down on your daily carry? These are the best options for carrying your cards and cash with your S10+.Carry all your cardsFYY Luxury Wallet CaseStaff pickThis FYY wallet case effectively turns your Galaxy S10+ into a wallet. You get three card slots (including a dedicated ID card slot) along with a cash pocket all made from genuine cowhide leather. It also folds over into a stand for watching media, and features RFID blocking technology. There are six colors to choose from.$34 at AmazonDesigned by SamsungSamsung LED Wallet CoverSamsung offers a multifunctional wallet case that features handy LED notifications on the screen cover and a card slot on the inside. Your Galaxy S10+ is held in place and protected by a slim shell casing wh...

Buying a wallet case for your phone lets you completely reconsider what you actually need to carry on a daily basis. With a phone as capable as the Galaxy S10, pairing it with a wallet case means you really only need to carry your ID if you can otherwise rely on using Google Pay or Samsung Pay for most purchases. Picking the right wallet case will depend on your lifestyle and personal needs, but these are the best brands and styles you should consider.Carry all your cardsCase-Mate Folio WalletStaff PickThe Case-Mate is the case you want for your Galaxy S10 if you want to add a fully-featured wallet to your phone. You get four card slots (including a dedicated ID card slot) along with a cash pocket, and it's all made from genuine pebbled leather. It also folds over into a stand for watching media, which is always handy.$42 at AmazonDesigned by SamsungSamsung LED Wallet CoverSamsung offers a multifunctional wallet case that features handy LED notifications on the sc...

It's a bit more than just a nip and a tuck; here are the big improvements in Android 10 for the Galaxy S10.What you need to knowAndroid 10 beta with One UI 2.0 is rolling out to the Galaxy S10 in some countries.A number of big UI changes and improvements are in store for users, including accessibility improvements and gestures.Digital Wellbeing and parental control additions are some of the more important changes.Samsung's beta for Android 10 has officially begun rolling out in some countries, and it carries a number of improvements to go along with One UI 2.0. PhoneArena got its hands on the new software already and found a number of changes.First up is the expected gesture navigation from Android 10, which, oddly enough, seems to be heavily modified from Google's gestures in a key area. For the time being, and this may change in the final version, there is no way to quickly swipe between apps by swiping left or right on the bottom of the screen. That's a big bummer for ges...

Suit up and aid Earth's heroes in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Damage Control.What you need to knowMarvel Studios' Avengers: Damage Control is a new virtual reality experience.This experience sees four new recruits aid the Avengers by testing experimental technology.Marvel Studios' Avengers: Damage Control was developed by ILMxLAB and is available at certain locations for THE VOID.The experience is set to open on October 18.Marvel Studios' Avengers: Damage Control is a virtual reality experience developed by ILMxLAB and available at different locations for THE VOID. This experience sees Shuri gather four new recruits to test special technology, a suit that combines Stark Industries and Wakandan tech. You can check out the story trailer for the experience below to get a glimpse of just what you'll be facing:Naturally, there are several Avengers who join the experience, including Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, The Hulk and others. This virtual reality experience is available fo...

AI has to be trained by a human, and what better way to do this than with real-world examples?What you need to knowVideo clips from Amazon Cloud Cams can be manually submitted for review when a false alarm is detected.Teams of workers in India and Romania review hundreds of clips every day.Amazon's handling of private and sensitive data is being brought into question.Amazon, who is no stranger to privacy issues with Alexa and its Ring cameras, is under fire again for alleged privacy issues regarding the use of recorded footage from Amazon Cloud Cams. A report by Bloomberg about Amazon's Cloud Cam is raising a few eyebrows today, but some of it may be unnecessary skepticism after other legitimate privacy issues have unfolded over the past several months.According to a number of Amazon employees that Bloomberg spoke with under the guise of anonymity, Amazon runs a program that helps train the AI used to identify events in the home. This AI is supposed to be able to tell the di...

Leather cases are an exclusive brand of wonderful in the wide world of phone cases. But they come with their own challenges and often high price tags, which means that even for high-end phones like the Galaxy S10, there's not a huge market to pick from. That said, this is Android Central, and so we only round up the best of the best.Dapper AFSnakehive Leather WalletStaff pickThis dapper European leather wallet case's craftsmanship wonderfully complements the S10. You can get the case in six colors, but I like Bottle Green best.$37 at AmazonThe officialSamsung Leather Back CoverAlong with giving your S10 a seriously great look, this official, genuine leather case also offers fantastic protection without adding too much bulk.$33 at AmazonFolio PurseArae PU Leather Wallet CaseThis fabulous PU leather case features four credit card slots, a money pocket, and a wrist strap. You'll be able to carry your money and your Galaxy S10 phone around in style. There ar...

T-Mobile has a good lineup of phones at a variety of price points, ranging from the top of the line all the way down to affordable entry-level phones that you might not even need to finance monthly. Samsung dominates T-Mobile's high-end Android selection, but it's far from your only option.Best of the bestSamsung Galaxy S10+Staff pickThe Galaxy S10+ gives you everything you could ask for in a high-end phone. It has all of the latest and greatest specs, an industry-leading display, three great rear cameras that let you get a closer or wider shot at the touch of a button, and software that lets you customize to your heart's content. The hardware is beautiful and robust, and there's an expansive ecosystem of accessories built to support it.$1000 at T-MobileProductivity flagshipSamsung Galaxy Note 10+The Galaxy Note 10+ is an incredible flagship, packing a huge 6.8-inch QHD display, a 4,300mAh battery, and of course, the S Pen. In addition to writing, drawing, and sig...

Unlike your typical taxi, Waymo's cabs are a truly personal experience because there's no one else inside.What you need to knowFully driverless taxis from Waymo are now driving in Phoenix, Arizona.Only a special group of 400 participants has access to these, for now.These driverless minivans could be coming to other cities in the near future, such as Los Angeles.Waymo has been publicly testing its self-driving cars since the company spun off from the experimental wing of Alphabet, Google's parent company. Late last year, Waymo launched its first driverless ride-hailing service in Phoenix, Arizona, but played it safe by keeping a human driver behind the wheel at all times. While this human wasn't actively driving, they were in the wings in case something happened.Now the robots are fully taking over, and Waymo has been successfully testing long enough to provide passengers with a new option: a fully driverless minivan. An elite group of 400 participants in a special Waymo pro...

Best answer: 5G is amazing technology, but it's not yet worth going out of your way to get it. The networks are small and inconsistent, and you have to choose a phone specifically to get 5G. They're expensive, and aren't the best phones available today.Verizon's top 5G phone: Samsung Galaxy S10 5G ($1300 at Verizon)5G for less on Sprint: OnePlus 7 Pro 5G ($840 at Sprint)5G speeds are amazing, but coverage is a problemLooking at consumer-ready 5G networks in the U.S. in 2019 is a frustrating balance of excitement and reality checks. Verizon and Sprint are the first carriers out of the gate with consumer-ready mobile 5G networks, and while the speeds are impressive the coverage maps are not. Verizon has lofty expectations by the end of 2019, but right now has a tiny 5G footprint.Verizon doesn't show 5G coverage areas on its regular network coverage map, and instead offers a list of neighborhoods within specific cities that should have 5G coverage. As of October, that con...

Samsung is facing a loss in profits from increased competition and a slowdown in sales.What you need to knowSamsung is investing $11 billion along with $336 million from the South Korean government into quantum-dot displays to stave off Chinese competition.A new quantom-dot production line will be built in Asan and is set to start operating in 2021.It will create 81,000 jobs and initially will be able to produce panels 65 inches or larger at a rate of 30,000 per month.Samsung is one of the leading tech companies in the world when it comes to manufacturing displays, memory chips, and smartphones. Unfortunately over the past few years, the rise of Chinese competition and waning sales have put a hurt on the company in these three key areas.That's a fact that is showing up on Samsung's bottom line after the company just recently reported a 50% decline in profits year over year on October 8. In the face of this news, Samsung is going on the offensive by investing 13.1 trillion wo...

Mint Mobile is all about getting great service for a fraction of the price of the big carriers, and for many, that philosophy extends to the phone they choose to use. Thankfully there are tons of great Android phones that embody the same idea: getting a great experience with the latest specs and features, and not paying an arm and a leg for it. The best example of this is the OnePlus 7T, which offers a flagship-like experience for hundreds of dollars less than the competition. It's a great phone to pair with solid-but-inexpensive Mint Mobile service.Best Value: OnePlus 7TThe OnePlus 7T continues the company's history of releasing affordable, high-end phones. This one has all of the good aspects of the more expensive 7 Pro, but skips the curved-glass, bezel-less display for something more traditional, and drops the size a tad in the process. The hardware is just as nice, but still not (officially) ater resistant.Typical superlative OnePlus software is the same as its other pho...

There are a lot of different phones, and they aren't all available everywhere.It wasn't that long ago that OnePlus had the simplest phone lineup of any company. It had a single phone that it updated and replaced with a new version every 6 months. It even did so with a predictable cadence, alternating between full-generation updates and subtle "T" refreshes. It was also really great about releasing the same phone around the world, so it didn't matter where you lived — you could get basically the same OnePlus phone.Now, things are surprisingly complicated. OnePlus introduced the "Pro" moniker, making room underneath it for a separate less expensive line ... but has so far retained the twice-yearly refresh cycle for both phones. To try and ease the logjam of new devices, OnePlus has subsequently split the releases between different regions globally. And it's also started to keep older models in the market longer than before. Then there are 5G versions of phones for certain car...

OnePlus 5 and 5T owners will have to wait until the second quarter of 2020 for the Android 10 update.What you need to knowOnePlus today announced that the Android 10 update for the OnePlus 6 and 6T smartphones will begin rolling out later this month.The older OnePlus 5 and 5T smartphones will be updated to Android 10 in Q2 2020. OnePlus had rolled out the stable Android 10 update for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro smartphones last month.OnePlus had rolled out a minor OTA update for the OnePlus 6 and 6T smartphones last month, "preparing" them for the next major update. At its OnePlus 7T series launch event today, the Chinese smartphone maker announced that the Android 10 update for its 2018 flagship phones will begin rolling out before the end of this month.According to a post on the OnePlus Community forums, the Android 10 Open Beta for the OnePlus 6 and 6T smartphones will roll out this month. Owners of the two smartphones will have to wait until next month for the stable update ...

Build across multiple planets when Astroneer comes to PlayStation 4 in November.What you need to knowAstroneer is a survival game set in space across multiple different planets.Astroneer is set to release on PlayStation 4 You can preorder Astroneer on Amazon for $30. Astroneer is a space crafting game set in the 25th century that allows players to reshape the world around them, excavating and altering the environment to build land bridges and more. Astroneer was first announced to be coming to PlayStation 4 earlier this year. You can check out the announcement trailer below:By collecting different resources, you can create and customize your base or multiple vehicles across the seven different planets included in the game's solar system. These planets are fully explorable and you can even mine all the way down to the planet core, if you are so inclined.You can craft alone or with some friends, as the game supports four-player drop-in, drop-out co-op. There's also an ex...

Face data will be saved locally on the device.What you need to knowFrequent Faces is a new feature for the Google Camera which would recognize and focus on people you take photos of frequently.Face data will be saved locally on the device, will not be shared with other apps, and will be deleted if you disable the feature.It's possible the feature could debut along with the Pixel 4 smartphones at the Made by Google event on October 15.We are now less than a week away from the Made by Google event which will launch the latest Pixel 4 smartphones and other new Google hardware. The leaks leading up to the launch have been plentiful and there appears to be no stopping them.We're even learning of new features from the most unlikely of places, such as Frequent Faces that was discovered in the Google Camera 7.1 APK for Wear OS. The new Frequent Faces feature will enable Google Camera to recognize and focus on people you take photos of most frequently.Frequent Faces was first spott...

Android or Windows? That is the ultimate question, and the answer may surprise you. It's both.Last week, Microsoft unveiled two new foldable devices that are expected to start shipping at the end of next year, which push forward Surface as a brand into new categories. One sticking point amongst fans, however, has been the decision to use Windows on the bigger Surface Neo and Android on the smartphone-sized Surface Duo. Some people don't understand why Microsoft has chosen two different OS's for these devices, and I continue to receive these kinds of questions on Twitter.I want to explain why Microsoft has chosen to use different operating systems across the Neo and Duo, and how it's important for certain form factors to be running the OS that makes the most sense for that device.The difference between Surface Neo and Surface DuoWhile Surface Neo and Surface Duo look similar externally, they are actually very different devices. One is a PC, and one is a phone. This is the ke...