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Don't let these 'easy to get back on Instagram' emails freak you out — your account hasn't been hacked
No, you're not being spearphished
It's an email we all dread seeing in our inbox. Maybe it's from Spotify, maybe it's from Facebook. And while the subject line can read almost anything, it's the implication that sends chills down our spine: someone's been trying to mess with our account. Going back months and months now, Instagram users have been on the receiving end of pretty damn sus-looking "we've made it easy to get back on Instagram" emails, dangling some eyebrow-raising password-reset links before us. Why are you getting these, and what do they mean?
The international Galaxy S21 is finally getting the June 2021 update after a delay
The camera is buttery smooth now
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Samsung started updating its phones with the June security patch before May was out, but the S21 series seemed to be having issues. Now things seem to be back to normal as the update is rolling out widely.The June patch first appeared for Korean S21 users on May 27th, but instead of rapidly spreading to more regions, things went quiet. Another June update rolled out a short time later but, like before, failed to reach any other countries. Whatever problems or bugs were plaguing the update seem to have been squashed, with the US S21 getting it yesterday and it reaching the UK today.As well as the usual security fixes, the cameras have gotten a significant improvement. Until now, switching lenses in the S21 camera app was far from smooth, stuttering, and lagging as it zoomed in and out. That's finally been fixed, and switching between the cameras is smooth and buttery.I got it on my UK S21 Ultra today, carrying G998BXXU3AUF6 as the build number and weighing in at 477MB. Hopefully, it will arrive in other regions soon.As always we'll continue to update this post as new devices get updated.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab A7 Lite makes its retail debut at an impulse-buy price
A Samsung tablet for just $160 sounds like a pretty tempting offer
Android tablets can be a tough sell. With phone screens as stupid-big as they are these days, and laptops as light and portable as you'll find, tablets have been feeling a little shouldered-out. But even as they face fierce competition, they still shine at tasks like media consumption and video conferencing. There are quite a few solid offerings in the Android space to choose from, with Samsung really dominating. Last month we saw the company introduce the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, and today we're getting word of its very affordable retail debut.
Google Pay adds support for Coinbase, to the joy of crypto edgelords everywhere
Don't wait, and you too can get in on this crypto craze on the ... well, top floor by now
Google Pay: Convenient, accessible, an utter joy to use. Cryptocurrency: pretty much the exact opposite of all those things. Of course, despite those setbacks, there are a still a ton of reasons to be excited about crypto, from its use as an investment security to its decentralized nature. That's led companies like Coinbase to come up with solutions designed to streamline access to these finances, including its crypto-backed Visa debit card. Now Google Pay's getting in on the action, as it adds support for the Coinbase Card.
Samsung's latest wearable updates are hitting the Galaxy Watch3 and Watch Active2
Icon tweaks and stability improvements await Samsung's wearable fans
Your excuses for your sedentary lifestyle are rapidly disappearing. The weather's getting better, days are getting longer, and with any luck you may soon be all vaxed up, ready to head out and take on the world. Many of us are putting in a little bit of an extra effort to get out and be active, hoping to shed some of this pandemic weight (and maybe then some), and there's no better tool to help you with that than a good smartwatch. This week Samsung's got fresh updates landing for a couple of its recent models.
TWRP support expands to include even more Samsung, Motorola, and Sony phones
There's even an option for the 2019 Nvidia Shield TV
The last big release for the TeamWin Recovery Project was back in January, with the debut of TWRP 3.5. In addition to following some of the smaller tweaks to land since then, we've also been keeping an eye on the ever-expanding stable of devices that support the custom recovery solution. When we last checked in, that included some major handsets like the Pixel 4 and international Galaxy Note 10. Now we've got a lot more to add to that list with TWRP support arriving for a whole host of phones from Samsung, Motorola, and others.
New features are 'popping up' all over in the latest Niagara Launcher Beta
Widgets, notification, shortcuts, and more — all waiting to pop on up
Getting bored with your tired, old phone? Craving a new experience but find yourself stuck with your current handset for a while? Maybe what you need is a new launcher. Switching to a new launcher doesn't just give your phone a fresh look, but can also challenge you to interact with it in fun new (maybe even productivity-boosting) ways. Earlier this year we went hands-on with the very clean-looking Niagara Launcher, and now we're learning about a new beta release with features that are just ready to pop.
Discord celebrates turning 6 with a new logo, new colors, and a whole refreshed look
What did you do when you turned 6, except cry about the clown your parents hired?
How do you keep in touch with your favorite online communities? Most of us have graduated from the bad old days of IRC to a much more full-featured modern offering, and there's probably none more popular than Discord. As the service celebrates its sixth birthday this week, it's putting a fresh coat of paint on things with a whole bunch of tweaks to its design identity.
Latest Samsung leak shines light on budget hero plans
The Galaxy A22 could come in both 4G and 5G editions
Samsung sure knows how to give phone buyers what they want, whether we're talking about high-end foldable phones that capture the imagination of shoppers with money to burn, or well-executed budget models that still offer big screens and premium functionality while costing just a fraction of flagships. Today we're checking our what could be one of the next models to join the company's more wallet-friendly offerings, with new leaks detailing what we can expect from the upcoming Galaxy A22.
I've been flying co-pilot with Anker's new R2-D2 projector, but this isn't quite the droid I'm looking for
A bad motivator is one thing, but low brightness is harder to fix
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Today is Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you), and companies everywhere are getting in on the fun. Google's got some good stuff, including a free game for Stadia Pro users, but one of the coolest-looking new Star Wars gadgets this year made its debut just a little over a week ago: the Anker Nebula Capsule II Star Wars R2-D2 Limited Edition.A couple years back we checked out the company's uber-portable Nebula Capsule II projector with Android TV baked right in. Now that stalwart A/V solution is back with a fresh new look, dressing up like everyone's favorite astromech droid. Other than the new R2-D2 livery, this Capsule II is largely the same projector we reviewed back in 2019. And while its 720p resolution and 200 ANSI lumen output both feel a little on the low side now, there are still some good reasons to check out this extremely portable offering.
Jackery Explorer 1500 review: Glorious overkill
You may not need quite this much battery, but damn it feels good to have
Summer 2021 is so close you can almost feel it, and with vaccines already starting to reach the general populace, people everywhere are eager to make up for lost time. If your plans involve spending some time with friends and family in the great outdoors, whether that means a day at the beach or a weekend in the woods, keeping everyone's devices powered can be tricky — and that's where Jackery steps in. The company already offered a wide array of portable power solutions ranging from the easily totable to the heavy-duty, and this year it's upping its game with the highest-capacity, highest-output model yet: the Explorer 1500.
Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are coming back online following mass outage
Who forgot to pay the hosting bill?
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No, you're not alone. As of late this afternoon, Facebook-powered services including Instagram and WhatsApp are experiencing a service outage. User reports on social media reveal a broad pattern of unavailability.
STORM 2 review: The coolest-looking, most data-rich battery around
Assuming you're cool with a battery that everyone's going to think is a time bomb
How do you get excited about something as utilitarian as a battery pack? We've reviewed plenty of them here at AP over the years, and generally it comes down to measuring the specs: What charges the fastest, puts out the most power, and has the largest capacity? But while anybody can construct a big, fast battery, when's the last time you chose a battery for its design, or because of its advanced features? With a slick-as-hell cyberpunk aesthetic and real-time detailed performance feedback, the crowdfunded STORM 2 is making me seriously reconsider what I look for in a battery.
Getting started with video game emulation on Android: ROMs, apps, and everything you'll need
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Right now, it's not an easy time to be a gamer looking to play the latest and greatest titles. Between all the headaches you'd face trying to get your hands on a PS5, or afford a 3080 for your new PC rig without taking out a second mortgage, it's enough to make you want to give up on the whole mess. But if you've got even a moderately powerful smartphone, and are willing to invest a little time, there's a whole world of classic gaming waiting to be tapped into (on the cheap, no less) through the power of emulation.For the better part of the past 35 years now, gamers have been using some clever software to reproduce the functionality of older consoles on newer hardware. By faithfully emulating the behavior of all the components that built up those gaming machines — everything from the CPU, to audio and video chips, to all input/output circuitry — and pairing that with a copy of the game software (most often referred to as the 'ROM') you can relive these classic titles without needing any of the original equipment.While emulation got started on the PC, like pretty much all software these days, emulators have migrated to smartphones — and done so in spades. With the right app, and access to the right ROMs, you can play anything from a blocky Atari 2600 (or VCS to you cool kids) game to relatively modern Wii titles. So what do you need to start emulating?
Moto G Stylus 2021 review, one month later: Finding the point
Scratching that 'big screen + stylus' itch without the need for a second mortgage
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There's something about using a stylus that's just incredibly compelling. Sure, touchscreen hardware and finger-tracking algorithms are so good that few of us really need a stylus to successfully interact with mobile screens, but that hasn't stopped a few select handsets from bundling one in — and those have become some of the most popular models you'll find. While Samsung's Note range sits comfortably at the top of the food chain with its active tracking and Bluetooth features, there's also a lot of demand for budget-friendly stylus phones like the LG Stylo series. Now Motorola's back with another of its own, upgrading the Moto G Stylus for 2021. Does this model strike the right balance between affordability and functionality? And more importantly, how satisfying is its stylus experience?
Android 12 lets you limit which apps will display media controls in Quick Settings
NO, YouTube. You do NOT get to clutter up my Quick Settings with your controls
Last year Android 11 gave us a new way to control what's playing on our phones, with the introduction of a media playback interface that lived up in the Quick Settings panel. While its development (to say nothing of its arrival) was a bit rough, having those prominent controls sure proved to ultimately be a very useful addition. Now with Android 12 DP1 arriving to give us an early taste of what's next, we're starting to see some new functionality arrive for the media controls.
ZTE Axon 20 5G teardown takes an even closer look at that crazy under-screen camera
Camouflaged, maybe, but not entirely invisible
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We've got one serious love-hate relationship with front-facing cameras on our phones. Sure, everyone likes to take selfies, and their popularity has helped drive multiple social media sites into the stratosphere. But the cameras themselves are just so darn inconvenient, taking up precious phone real estate, and increasingly stealing space from the screen itself. One novel solution involves tucking the front-facer under the display, like we see on the brand-new ZTE Axon 20 5G. Now Zack from JerryRigEverything is putting this model to the test, seeing how it holds up to abuse and also giving us a better look at how this weird camera works.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ review one month later: Flirting with affordability
It's the best Android tablet solution around, but is it worth how much Samsung's asking?
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Do tablets still fit into our vision of the future? Star Trek may have its ubiquitous PADDs, but here in the 21st century, tablet sales have been declining at a pretty steady clip since 2013. Even as some of that interest fades, we're seeing the release of some of the most impressive tablets ever made. Apple turned heads last month with its new iPad Air design, while Lenovo's got its crazy folding-screen laptop. In the Android camp, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab S7 series this summer, and you'd be hard-pressed to argue that these aren't the best Android tablets anyone's produced.The Tab S7 with its 11-inch 120Hz LCD screen may be a beast on its own, but even it bows down to the Tab S7+ and its gorgeous 12.4-inch Super AMOLED panel. With specs that rival the highest-end phones out there, this hardware makes the case for itself. What about the software, accessories, and rest of the whole Galaxy Tab experience? Let's take a look at how it all comes together.
Jackery Explorer 300 review: Hitting the capacity sweet-spot
Plus going off-grid with the SolarSaga 100W panel for a Solar Generator package
If nothing else, mobile technology is about striking a balance. You might be super-productive if you always had your laptop around, but that's hardly practical to carry on your person everywhere — enter: the smartphone. Earlier this year I took a look at the Jackery Explorer 1000, an absolute unit of a battery pack. And while it has capacity for days, at 22lbs it's also a lot of heft to be hauling around. Is there a better balance we could find here? Jackery's got a number of options running the gamuts of size and capacity, and now the latest entry might just nail that equilibrium: the Jackery Explorer 300.With 293Wh of charge, support for 300W (500W surge) AC output, and tipping the scales at a petite 7.1lbs, the Explorer 300 sure sounds like a pretty smart compromise — on paper, at least. You can even hook up the company’s SolarSaga solar panel to recharge on the go. Will it get the job done without being a pain to carry?
Wyze Cam v3 review: The best $20 you'll spend this year
The best deal in smart home hardware just got even better
Wyze has been on a bit of a spree lately, expanding into additional markets with products like its new noise-cancelling headphones and its first smart thermostat, but through all that, there's no forgetting the company's roots: selling very capable, very affordable smart cameras. For a mere $20, shoppers could pick up Wyze's first-gen camera with motion detection, free cloud storage, and support for local microSD recording. Later models added pan and tilt motion control and even full-wireless operation, all while keeping prices tantalizingly low. Now we're turning our attention back to where it started as the stalwart Wyze Cam gets a new v3 hardware refresh with drastically improved light sensitivity, support for higher frame rates, and protection against the elements — all for the same $20 sticker price.