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Playing DOS games on your Chromebook requires jumping through a few hoops, but it opens the door to a vast library of classic games. This process is more complicated than playing GBA or PS2 games through one of our top Android game emulators. However, this doesn't mean it's impossible, and once you're done, you can play your favorite DOS games on Android devices.
How to back up your Android phone or tablet
Back up your data to the cloud, a flash drive, or a computer
For most of us, the majority of our important data lives in the cloud. However, your phone or tablet might still have some information that's never made its way to Google's servers.
Whether you're rocking an Nvidia Shield TV running Android 11 or you've opted for the latest Chromecast with Google TV, your television is likely running some version of Android TV. Google is paying more attention than ever to the streaming field, even planning to launch additional low-cost gadgets to compete against the likes of Amazon and Roku. Just like on your phone, Android TV is an open platform, which means any missing applications can be substituted quickly by sideloading apps. As you might expect, downloading APKs on your TV isn't quite as simple a process as they are on a Pixel 6 or Galaxy S22. These are the two best methods for sideloading APK files onto any Android TV or Google TV device.
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Google first introduced app bundles a few years back, allowing developers to distribute their software by splitting up the individual components of their apps, and then having the Play Store only send users those parts that their specific phones or tablets actually need. The feature has managed to drastically reduce download sizes, and now Google is about to require developers to support app bundles for newly-published applications.
Chrome Labs makes it easy to try out upcoming browser features
Google recently made Chrome Labs available for Chromebooks on the Dev channel
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Google regularly introduces new features in Chrome through 'flags,' toggles that are only accessible through the chrome://flags page. Even though the flags page is hidden, Google also sometimes enables experimental features automatically in limited tests, leaving some to wonder what changed. Now it seems Google is working on a more obvious place to try unfinished features.
Sign up for Ubisoft+ through Stadia to get access to 20 games
Not all games on Ubisoft+ are available on Stadia, but you can also use it on other platforms
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Not everyone is a fan of monthly subscription services, but in some cases, they can end up being cheaper than buying everything you want individually. Ubisoft+ is a subscription that includes most of the titles published by the French game company of the same name, and Google has announced you can now sign up for the service right through Stadia.
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Samsung has so many budget phones that it can be hard to keep track of them all. One of the company's more recent releases is the Galaxy A11, a low-end device with an MSRP of $179.99. However, the sub-$200 price bracket is a highly competitive one, and the Galaxy A11 is fighting the new Moto E, Nokia 2.3, and even other Samsung-made phones for your hard-earned cash.The Galaxy A11 sits near the bottom of Samsung's phone lineup in the United States, alongside last year's Galaxy A10e and the Galaxy A01. It's a capable smartphone, but depending on what features you care about, there are better options out there.
Wyze launches $60/year home monitoring service with proactive 911 dispatch
The package includes a network hub, door keypad, and motion sensors
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If there's a speedrun record for releasing tech products, Wyze might be on track to break it. In November alone, the company announced new sprinklers, vacuums, thermostats, third-gen Wyze Cams, and smartwatches. Wyze isn't stopping there, as it has come through on the launch of its home monitoring service.
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We've clearly got a little bias on the subject, but Android has a long and storied history filled with its own triumphs and pitfalls. It's been well over a decade now since that first HTC G1 landed, the inaugural Android smartphone, and things have changed drastically since then. Being "first" might make you think the G1 was the most influential Android phone — but was it, really?
Robot vacuums are already pretty great, but self-emptying models go one step further by removing the need to constantly empty the vacuum's built-in dust bin. The Shark IQ RV1001AE is one popular model that can charge itself and empty its own dust, and now you can get a refurbished model for just $269.99. By comparison, buying the same vacuum new from Amazon would cost you 9 right now.The Shark IQ has most of the features you would expect in a high-end robot vacuum: floor mapping, scheduled cleanings, a self-cleaning brushroll that should keep pet/long hair from clogging, and a high-efficiency filter. It automatically returns to its charging station when the battery is low, and while it's charging, the station empties the dust bin into a larger container. Shark says the larger container holds "up to 30 days of dirt and debris."
Google Meet brings live captions to four new languages on mobile
It's only available in Europe and Asia Pacific for now
The sudden surge in working from home has led Google to heavily invest in its video chat tools, including Google Meet (formerly Hangouts Meet). Last month it gained the ability to accept multiple join requests at once, and now Meet's live caption feature will support more languages.
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Chrome 88 was released only last week, marking the release of the Manifest V3 extension API, changes to password management, and the official death of Adobe Flash support. Chrome 89 has now arrived in the Beta Channel, and it seems to be an even bigger release — even if many of its changes are hidden to most people. Let's dive in!
Get the Sony WF-SP800N wireless earbuds for $134 ($64 off) today only
Nine hours of battery life with ANC on
Sony's WF-SP800N wireless earbuds are some of the best audio accessories you can get, thanks to their incredible battery life and good ANC performance. Now you can get a set for just $134.00 from B&H Photo, a savings of $64 over the usual price.
Google Chrome was one of the first mainstream software projects to establish fast and regular updates, with a new version coming about every six weeks. This helped start an industry shift that is still ongoing today, but now Google is about kick Chrome's release schedule into high gear.
Samsung rolling out February security patch to Galaxy S9 outside the US
The update is also showing up on more Galaxy S21 phones
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Even though each Android security update has a specific month in the name, the patches are usually provided to manufacturers a week or two in advance, so phone makers can have the system upgrades ready in time (or not). Samsung has been known to pull the switch before the first day of a given month, and that's happening again for the February 2021 patches.
Stadia gets three more games this week, including Saints Row: The Third Remastered
There are also sales on Watch Dogs and THQ Nordic games
Google might be done producing its own games for Stadia, but the company is still working with other developers and publishers to expand Stadia's catalog. PixelJunk Raiders (a Stadia exclusive) arrived on the platform yesterday, and now two more titles are available on Stadia with another on the way.First up is It came from space and ate our brains, a top-down shooter with bright visuals and four-player local multiplayer developed by Triangle Studios. The game originally appeared on PC in 2015, and can be purchased for $14.99 on Stadia, the same amount as the usual Steam price.[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phmpD_y6QC8[/EMBED_YT]Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 is also arriving today, as a simultaneous release across Stadia, PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. You can pick from "38 of the greatest trucks in Monster Jam history" in 12 different stadiums and game modes. It costs $39.99 on the Stadia store.Finally, Saints Row: The Third Remastered will show up on Stadia on March 5th. It's an action-adventure title originally released in 2011 to generally positive reviews, and the remastered version arrived on PS4, Xbox One, and Windows in May 2020.Besides the new games, Google is also having a sale on the Watch Dogs series and various titles published by THQ Nordic. The full list of discounts is below, and as usual, Stadia Pro members get lower prices:
Three Motorola Wear OS watches planned for 2021, at least one with Snapdragon Wear 4100
But not from Motorola
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Motorola has been out of the smartwatch game since 2016, but in late 2019, a manufacturer called eBuyNow released a Wear OS watch licensing the old Moto 360 product name. The end result was a decent (if overpriced) watch, and now eBuyNow is planning three more to be released this year.
The OnePlus 8 Pro is nearing a year old at this point, but it's still the most high-end device the company has released (the 8T never had a Pro variant). The phone has been available for $799 for a while, but now OnePlus is sweetening the deal by knocking an extra $100 off the price tag and throwing in a pair of OnePlus Buds Z at no extra cost — a $50 value.
Time was, you'd just screw in a light bulb and flip a switch. We live in a much more dynamic era when lightbulbs are connected to the internet, and the cost of smart light bulb tech has come down dramatically. It's no longer just lighting companies that are pushing Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled bulbs, which has led to a very crowded marketplace. Some of them need hubs, a few work with Bluetooth, others connect directly to your Wi-Fi, and still others link up with Google smart speakers automatically. It's confusing! We've got some experience with all this stuff, though. We think these are the best light bulbs on any budget for your Google Home and Assistant-enabled smart home.In this guide, we'll summarize the most popular smart light bulbs, and what you need to know about how they work. We'll mostly focus on A19-style smart bulbs.
Galaxy A52 camera and screen details leak, following early render images
The phone will come in 4G and 5G versions
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Samsung's Galaxy A51 was one of the company's best phones last year, offering a large 6.5-inch screen and good performance for the relatively low price of $400 (before all the sales started). Unsurprisingly, Samsung is working on a sequel, and now we have images of the phone from WinFuture.