How to find your Android phone if you lost it
Don't sweat when you lose access to your Android phone
A smartphone stores our personal data, banking apps, media files, documents, browsing history, and more under biometric protection. Losing access to your Android phone can put you in a compromising situation. Before heading to the nearest carrier to purchase a new Android phone, use Google's Find My network to detect its whereabouts. If the trick doesn't work, you can factory reset the device, change login credentials for essential services, deactivate your SIM card, and take other steps to safeguard your digital data.
Apple's loosened App Store restrictions attract another big-name emulator
Provenance is bringing PlayStation and Sega emulation to iPhones
Civilizations used to build walls around their cities to prohibit outsiders from accessing the inside and protect their people from invaders. The App Store's strict rules and policies acted just like that wall for Apple. With limited sideloading, hefty commissions, and virtually no chance of downloading apps from third-party stores, Apple built a formidable fortress to maintain its reign. However, history teaches us that even the greatest walls can't last long.
This OnePlus phone we recommend and called ‘impressively powerful’ is down to just $265 right now
Get it while you can because supplies are limited
If you're looking to buy a powerful phone on the cheap, then it doesn't get much better than the OnePlus 10T. Although it's a little bit older, originally released in 2022, it's still got plenty of power under the hood, along with a sleek design, good software, and excellent charging speeds.
How to set up your iCloud email and contacts on an Android phone
Checking your iCloud emails on Android is a breeze with these tips
Many of Apple's services, including iCloud, aren't available on the Google Play Store. This makes transitioning from Apple to Android challenging because you might lose app data and emails. Still, you can access your iCloud emails and files from your new Android phone or tablet. However, the experience isn't as smooth as using the iCloud app from your iPhone or iPad. Nevertheless, you can access them in a pinch on your Android device. We show you how.
Netflix sparks concern after confirming it will no longer share subscriber stats
Co-CEO Greg Peters cites changes to the company business model
Long before the height of streaming, Netflix established itself as one of the pioneers of the industry. While there is now an abundance of service providers to choose from, the company has remained one of the go-to streaming options, but not just for its content. Password-sharing between friends and family had become a common practice among Netflix subscribers, if only to save a few extra bucks. Ultimately, the streaming giant dropped the hammer on sharing, and some believe Netflix may now be paying the price.
YouTube moves to AV1 by default to the dismay of some Android users
Those with phones that lack hardware decoding have voiced battery concerns
As video continues to evolve, the demand for new technology to handle its complexity is growing. With the arrival of 4K video, for example, developers quickly became aware that existing video codecs like H264 were no longer going to cut it. To that extent, AV1 has started to become the popular standard for decoding and encoding on devices. Now, Google is ready to adapt to the changing times, and it will soon be reflected on YouTube.
The best new movies you can watch at home right now
There's plenty to watch at home these days, and we're rounding up the best (and worst) movies you can stream
Streaming services have taken over as one of the best ways to catch the latest movies. Whether they're making a stop in theaters before rolling out digital rentals or they launch as first-run originals from the likes of Netflix, Apple TV, or HBO; we're rounding up the best titles so you're not left in the dark — until it's time to start the film, that is. Check back each week (usually on Friday) to see the latest additions for movies that are now available to stream, the latest theatrical releases, and movies coming next week.
Google Pay can now create a virtual version of your Citibank card
More payment options are always welcome
You can't help but feel a little scared when you have to enter your credit card information when buying something online. You hear about big companies such as AT&T suffering a data breach and wonder if your information will ever be a part of one. Even Roku is reeling from a data breach that exposed user credentials. It's good to hear that Google has added support for another virtual card to give users more options.
WhatsApp Communities could soon make managing events easier
Event scheduling in WhatsApp Community has been spotted in the newest beta
WhatsApp was spotted working on an event scheduling feature since October 2023. A follow-up report from March this year detailed how the feature will work and the improvements Meta has made to event scheduling since 2023. It appears WhatsApp is ready to start trialing the feature, as it has popped up for some beta testers on the latest WhatsApp beta for Android.
Samsung's budget A-series has always offered great value for money while packing in some premium features we don't see on phones for twice the price. The Samsung Galaxy A35 improves on many of our gripes about last year's Galaxy A25, but the price increase puts it among dangerous competition.
Tile Sticker vs. Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2: Which is more suitable for you?
Never lose track of what matters
Tile has an excellent smart tag selection to choose from. While some feature a key ring cutout, others cater to niche use cases. The Tile Sticker is one such specialized smart tracker that lacks a cutout for attachments but boasts an adhesive back. Its unique form factor has some advantages, but you must also deal with some drawbacks, like a non-replaceable battery. You can avoid these drawbacks by going with Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2, which has a user-replaceable battery and a big cutout to attach it to your belongings. But, like any other smart tracker, the Samsung offering isn't ideal for everyone.
Your credit card may soon light up with an OLED screen
NFC terminals will power the screen remotely when it's time to pay
As the technology behind flexible screens advances, more and more uses are trickling out.Konica Minolta's flexible OLED lighting panel is finally coming into its own with the help of the financial tech industry, specifically Sentry Enterprises who runs the Radiance card illumination platform, adding OLED screens to credit cardsthat arepowered by NFC terminals when transacting.That's right, your credit cards may soon contain flexible OLED screens that offer a light show when it comes time to pay for things. Neato.
Best eSIM-compatible Android phones in 2024
Tired of dealing with physical SIM cards? Get a phone that doesn't need one
Are you fed up with having to rip a SIM card out of your phone whenever it's time to switch carriers - or devices? Fortunately, more and more mobile device manufacturers are hopping on the eSIM-ready bandwagon.
Google Messages is working on advanced parental controls
Select conversations can be hidden from view
Google Messages is bundled by default on some of the best Android phones available today. Like most messaging apps, Messages also undergoes occasional changes, like the recent and somewhat controversial revamp of the in-app camera UI. We're now stumbling upon another new, under-development Google Messages feature pertaining to parental controls.
WhatsApp recently moved the tab bar to the bottom of the screen, giving us the convenience of swiping between tabs for chats, calls, communities, and updates. The logo design and search bar placement was suitably adjusted thereafter. The flurry of UI changes isn’t unexpected, because the app interface was left largely unchanged in the decade Meta owned WhatsApp. Now, this popular instant messaging app could get rid of tabs in the image attachment UI.
The fear of losing a wallet can send a jolt of panic through anyone. After all, it houses some of our most important documents, credit cards, and cash. Fortunately, a smart tag is a modern solution to monitor and locate your precious wallet. Smart tags come in various form factors, but a slim card-style design is most optimal for wallets. Here are the top options for the best wallet trackers to help you get started.
Samsung confirms fix for another annoying One UI 6.1 bug
A Secure Folder update will allow you to uninstall the app in One UI 6.1
Samsung recently rolled out the One UI 6.1 update for its 2023 flagship and premium devices, like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 5. Since this was a significant update, some bugs inadvertently slipped through the company's testing, leading to excessive battery drain, the fingerprint scanner not working correctly on the lock screen, etc. Samsung quickly acknowledged the problems and confirmed they would be fixed soon. Now, Galaxy users have run into another annoying bug in One UI 6.1.
Best Samsung tablets in 2024
Samsung has Android's best lineup of tablets — here are the ones you should consider buying
For years, Samsung has been producing fantastic tablets. While the Android tablet platform still has room to mature, it's undeniable that Samsung has been at the forefront of creating impressive hardware. With a range of tablets available at various price points, there is an option to fit any budget.
Google Pixel 8a: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Not sold on the Pixel 8? Google's next midrange phone might be for you
With one Google Pixel launch out of the way, it's time to start looking forward to the future. And while we're sure there's plenty on the table for Google's future hardware lineup — new tablets, smartwatches, foldables, you name it — there's one device we know for sure is on its way. The Pixel 8a is set to succeed last year's Pixel 7a, and assuming it gets the same attention and care we recently saw with the Pixel 8, it could be one of the best budget phones of 2024.
21 of the best Android app and game sales this week
Don't miss out on limited-time sales for these Android apps and games
The best Android apps and games aren't often cheap but do go on sale. This week, we've selected some of the Play Store's most notable titles, so you can get some of the best apps for less. This week's sale highlights include AppLock Pro and Sleep as Android, with brilliant Android Games like Bloons TD6 and Dicey Dungeons also available for a good deal. For those interested in saving even more cash, Play Pass includes various great apps and games with a subscription.