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Microsoft Outlook can now create To Do tasks from emails
Better integration with Microsoft's To Do app
Microsoft has been rapidly improving its Outlook email client for Android. In just the past few months, the company has added third-party calendar sync, customizable notifications, and an 'Ignore Conversation' feature. Outlook is now adding a feature that will make users of Microsoft's software ecosystem happy — direct integration with Microsoft To Do, the company's task management app.
OnePlus has been rolling out a few software upgrades over the past few days, including the final update for the OnePlus 7 and 7T and OxygenOS for the Verizon OnePlus 8. Now it's time for the OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and 8T to get a handful of bug fixes and the January security patches — even though we're now in February.
Google's terrible Drive desktop client will soon be replaced by enterprise version
Ding dong, the wi...Backup and Sync client... is dead.
Google Drive is a decent service on its own, but one aspect of it is absolutely dreadful: the desktop sync client for Mac and Windows. 'Backup and Sync,' as it has been called since 2017, is so buggy and slow that it makes Cyberpunk 2077 look like a flawless creation. At long last, Google is phasing out the client in favor of the syncing software developed for Google Workspace enterprise customers.
Microsoft Lens drops Office branding, introduces new scanning features
The update is live on the beta channel
There is no shortage of document scanning applications on Android, and Microsoft released its own scanner back in 2015. The app has continued to receive updates since then, turning it into our favorite document scanner, and now Microsoft is giving the app a branding overhaul with some new features.
Samsung discontinues security updates for 2017 Galaxy A series
Samsung's 2017 budget phones have their last hurrah
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Samsung's software strategy has improved significantly over the past few years, turning the company from one of the worst OEMs for updates to one of the best. Last year, Samsung announced most of its devices would get three years of Android OS updates, and now it has updated its list of supported devices with a few additions and removals.
Google Meet can now test your setup before joining calls
Figure out if you're on the right camera before talking to others
Have you ever joined a video call, then realized your camera wasn't plugged in or your microphone was muted? Maybe you've had to try a few "how do I sound?" prompts before figuring out which audio input is the right one. Those are all problems that Google wants to put in the past, as the company is now rolling out a feature for testing your setup before you talk to others.
Even Google doesn't want to make games for Stadia anymore
Games industry veteran Jade Raymond is leaving the company
Google has had massive ambitions for its Stadia gaming platform, and the service finished 2020 on a high note, especially after it delivered the most usable version of Cyberpunk 2077. Google has repeatedly stated it's dedicated to Stadia's long-term success, but today the company announced that its internal game studio is shutting its doors.
LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM around, as it has extended the life of many phones and tablets that would have otherwise been abandoned. Even for phones still receiving software updates from the original manufacturer, Lineage can sometimes work better than the stock software, and it's a popular option for 'de-Googling' Android devices. Since our last roundup, several more phones have been added to the official Android 10 build roster (and a few have been removed).
Google reinstates federated chat app Element on Play Store after wrongful removal
The app was supposedly removed for abusive content
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Element is a popular client for the federated chat protocol Matrix, and we highlighted it in our roundup of the best open-source alternatives to Google Hangouts last year (back when it was called Riot.im). Unfortunately, the app has been pulled from the Google Play Store without warning, in what seems to be another instance of Google mistaking third-party client applications for hosting all viewable content.
LG might not sell a lot of flagship phones in America, but the company does have its budget and entry-level devices in nearly every prepaid carrier store. The K22 is one of LG's latest phones, and while it has been available in other countries for a few months, it only recently arrived in the United States as a Boost Mobile exclusive.In a time when flagship phones are easily surpassing $1,000, and millions of people in the US (and elsewhere) are looking to save money wherever they can, phones like the K22 will likely receive more attention than ever. I was surprised by how capable the K22 was in my time with the phone, but it is about as cheap as a smartphone can reasonably be, which means a lot of corners were cut.
Microsoft Remote Desktop adds dark mode, native 64-bit Chromebook support, and more
It also drops support for Android Marshmallow
Microsoft overhauled its Remote Desktop application for Android last year, complete with a new rendering engine, support for Windows 10 virtual desktops, and more. Microsoft has now released another major update, this time focused on Chromebooks and other devices with physical keyboards.
Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra: Best deals, pricing, trade-in values, and availability
You can get an S21 for as low as $99 with a valid trade-in
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Samsung's new Galaxy S21 series is now shipping to buyers, and just like last year, there are three models to choose from. Even though all of them — the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra — are cheaper than their S20 counterparts, they can still cost you up to $1,200. Finding the best deal possible could save you hundreds of dollars.
Honor says it's no longer affected by Huawei's trade sanctions
The company plans to produce more high-end phones and expand overseas sales
Huawei was one of the world's top smartphone manufacturers only a few short years ago, but ever-increasing trade sanctions by the United States took a toll on the company. Huawei sold off its Honor sub-division late last year to save the budget brand from the same sanctions, and according to a recent interview with Honor's CEO, the move seems to be working.
Samsung's One UI 3.1 adds Google Home device controls to quick settings
The change is live on the Galaxy S21 and Tab S7/S7+
One of the most noticeable changes in Android 11 was the addition of smart home device controls to the power menu, but Google didn't require all phones with Android 11 to display the new controls. Samsung stuck to the old power menu design with its version of Android 11, known as One UI 3.0, but the smart home controls have now made an appearance on the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy Tab S7/S7+.
Samsung's Galaxy Note10 Lite is next in line for Android 11
The budget-oriented Note10 refresh is getting One UI 3.0
Samsung released the Galaxy S10 Lite and Note10 Lite at the start of 2020, as a pair of budget phones aimed at select markets like Europe and India. Both devices shipped with Android 10 (One UI 2.0) out of the factory, but now Samsung is updating the Note10 Lite to Android 11.
The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro were released about a year ago, and alongside the carrier-unlocked models, OnePlus partnered with Verizon to sell a special OP8 capable of using Verizon's mmWave 5G network. Android 11 started rolling out to the regular OP8 and 8 Pro earlier this month, and now the same update is arriving on Verizon's model.
Sony's smartphones have historically not been popular, but that hasn't stopped the company from... not really changing anything. The company's main flagship phone for 2021 is due for release soon, and now we have our first good look at it, thanks to a series of leaked renders.
Even though millions of Android tablets are sold each year, and Chromebooks use many of the same applications through the Play Store, most of Google's apps are not optimized for large screens. Google Photos is one app that has always looked horrible on Android tablets, but that's finally changing.
Samsung revived its classically-designed smartwatch line last year, with the release of the Galaxy Watch3. Among other features, it included hardware support for blood oxygen and blood pressure monitoring, even if neither feature worked all that well. Now it looks like the next Galaxy Watch could add a heavily-requested feature: blood glucose monitoring.
Should Galaxy S20 Fan Edition owners upgrade to the Galaxy S21?
Even with Samsung's generous trade-in values, the S21 is more of a side-grade
The Galaxy S20 Fan Edition was one of the best smartphones of 2020, as it included most of the features of Samsung's more expensive phones at a lower $700 (or 0, or $550) price point. It clearly served as inspiration for the newer Galaxy S21 series, as the phone has the same plastic casing and flat display as the Fan Edition.