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Open box Verizon Galaxy Note10+ costs just $600 ($300 off) on eBay
It's a big bargain if you have a use for it
We're gonna be frank with you: you want a huge-ass 5G phablet with a stylus for $600? You can get a Verizon-branded Galaxy Note10+ right now from eBay.
For a company that's been on a years-long downhill toboggan, HTC still has hopes of playing catch-up in 2020. There's a 5G phone in the works, we're tracking another entry in the budget-minded Desire series, and now, for some reason, we're looking at some AirPod clones.
Venmo rolling out new design so you can pay or request in fewer taps
It's also a lot brighter in here...
PayPal-owned Venmo is rolling out a new paintjob for its app, cutting down on its signature blue for more white and making it easier to get to paying or requesting money.
Affordable Galaxy A21s brings quad rear cameras plus a headphone jack starting June 19
Not as sparkly as the forthcoming A21, but fits right into the €200 tier
It didn't take long for yesterday's leak to turn official — Samsung has announced another budget-tier Galaxy A phone for Europe. The Galaxy A21 has no sibling to speak of just yet, but the Galaxy A21s has the essentials for a phone of its price: a big screen, big battery, multiple cameras, and a headphone jack for good measure.
New Microsoft Surface Duo specs leak, raising eyebrows about missing features
Will NFC and wireless charging miss the cut?
How does Microsoft build an Android device? The Surface Duo would be its first and as we're rapidly tumbling toward an expedited summer release schedule, we now have a better idea of what to look forward to on the spec sheet for this dual-screen folding phablet.
Facebook acquires Giphy, plans to fully integrate GIFs into Instagram
Unclear how much was paid in cash or STONKS
Facebook has acquired GIPHY, a social platform centered around GIFs. Axios is reporting from sources that the company paid $400 million in the deal.
Huawei cut off from chip suppliers as US adds new trade restrictions
Washington claims Huawei uses US tech in designing chipsets
The U.S. Department of Commerce has moved on its intent to divide Huawei from its semiconductor suppliers, announcing international manufacturers will need to obtain a license if they trade Huawei-designed chipsets as well as those designs with the company.
Verizon LG V60 sale offers the cheapest Snapdragon 865 phone you can get
At least $400 off, could be good as free...
It costs much to own a smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 inside — some would say too much — and it doesn't look as if prices will tide off soon. But if you're hungry for a spec upgrade and are willing to jump hoops for it, you can get an LG V60 with complimentary Dual Screen case for $550 if you start a new line on Verizon and as low as free if you trade in a phone.
Spotify offers new subscribers 3 months of Premium free, $10 for prior users
Making money is hard these days
As with most businesses hurting from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the name of the game at this point is staying above water. That means making offers you'd otherwise not in normal times. For Spotify, that means bringing on new customers to Spotify Premium free for 3 months and bringing back lapsed subscribers at a discounted price.
Simple Dialer is a free, open-source alternative to your default phone app
No superfluous permissions for an app that makes phone calls
We've highlighted apps from Simple Mobile Tools before as great, open-source, data-light alternatives to the basic tools Google provides for your Android phone. Now you can notch another one into that belt as the developer has just come out with a Simple Dialer app. And it's free.
Dozens of updates. No file size. No version change. And they're happening all the time. What's up with the Google Play Store refreshing apps that apparently don't need it?
Huawei hangs onto Google apps with second P30 Pro re-release
Should we expect another one of these in 6 months?
As the U.S. continues to shun Huawei away from using any of its suppliers, the Chinese manufacturer is keen on retaining its foreign audience who are fans of their hardware but won't use an Android phone without Google apps. Enter the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition, the second reboot of the P30 Pro launched a year after the original P30 Pro came about.
T-Mobile, already eating Verizon's 5G lunch, building thousands of mid-band sites a month
Two-and-a-half-times all of Verizon's 5G coverage just in Philadelphia
T-Mobile is getting busy building out 5G with Sprint's prized 2.5GHz spectrum. The company is working towards transitioning legacy customers over to the new network over the next few years — albeit in an ugly way for some — and that means making sure the new technology's robust enough to be attractive. The bottom line, then, is that we should expect to see 2.5GHz everywhere and soon.
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Social media platforms have maintained slimmed-down versions of their apps in the past few years to grab more users from developing markets with low-end hardware. Facebook, however, has decided to shut down Instagram Lite and is now redirecting users to the main app. The company has not said why.
Google Authenticator gets its first update in years, finally lets you transfer accounts between devices (APK Download)
It also doesn't look so painfully 2017-ish now
The Google Authenticator app has undergone its first facelift since 2017, making the jump from version 5.0 to 5.10. But the visual makeover — including a much-needed adaptation to newer phones' aspect ratios — belies a major change that will make it easy for you to port your keys over to another phone.
New report seems to confirm next-gen Chromecast will run full-on Android TV
We might need to get used to a bunch of new branding
Chromecast today, Nest Cast with Google TV tomorrow? Google's next-generation streaming dongle may be different both in brand and software according to multiple sources close to the project.
Pixel 4 Face Unlock broken after reverting from Android 11 developer preview
Google now warns of this behavior in DP4
If you plan on just dipping into the latest developer preview for Android 11 with your Pixel 4 or 4 XL before proceeding back to normal life, be warned: a number of users are reporting that they cannot enroll in Face Unlock after reverting to a stable Android 10 build.
Grab a Kasa Indoor Wi-Fi Camera for $45 ($35 off) at Best Buy
Other Kasa cameras for inside and outside your house on sale, too
If you're looking to stock up on wireless home security cameras, you might want to grab a few from TP-Link's Kasa brand. Indoor, outdoor, and pan-and-tilt cameras are all on discount from some online retailers. But your best crack at getting available inventory as well as an extra discount is at Best Buy.
Buy a Moto razr and get a second one free, because one of them will probably work
Give the working one to your mom, take the loss for the other
When it comes to flip phones with folding displays, the Galaxy Z Flip might be a snazzy little number, but some people still prefer the Moto razr. Sure, it has its shortfalls, but if you're all about the form factor above everything else, then you probably might want to grab two of them for the price of one while supplies last at Motorola.
Galaxy S and Note phones on Samsung Premium Care can get $29 screen repairs through June 1
Qualifying repairs need to be fulfilled at a uBreakiFix shop
If you've enrolled your Samsung flagship Android phone onto Samsung Premium Care, there's good news for the month of May: screen repair deductibles have been reduced for any job that can be dispatched at a uBreakiFix location.