Tech Talk

You still won't find Google Play services here. What you need to know Huawei launches its new Nova 9 smartphone with a mid-range Qualcomm chipset. The new Huawei Watch GT 3 runs Harmony OS and comes in two case sizes with multiple styles. The Nova 9 will be available for €499 and the Watch GT 3 for £210. Both can be preordered now. Huawei launched the Nova 9 and Nova 9 Pro in China last month, but is now bringing the former to the global market, the company announced on Thursday. Additionally, the new Huawei Watch GT 3 is joining it, now running Harmony OS. The Nova 9 has a decent-sounding 6.57-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and responsive 300Hz touch sampling rate. On the back is a 50MP RYYB sensor, which Huawei claims can capture 40% more light than traditional RGGB sensors. There's also an 8MP ultrawide camera as well as macro and depth sensors. Of course, you won't find Google services on the Nova 9, which runs the company's own Harm

Enable RCS on your phone with Google Messages. RCS is an upgrade to the standard SMS messaging feature set that exists on all smartphones. It adds typing indicators, read receipts, emoji reactions, support for higher quality file sharing, and so on. In essence, it turns basic SMS into instant messaging and makes the Google Messages app an iMessage and WhatsApp competitor. Even though many of us have made our favorite chat apps a big part of our lives, there are times where we still need something simple and much more universal. Many Android users are ready for this upgrade , and Google has taken it upon itself to expand the service, gaining greater carrier support with Google Messages becoming the default messaging app for most Android devices sold. Where is Google's RCS officially available? Google's RCS solution has no borders but you still need the right app and data service to go with it. Google has now rolled out RCS via its Google Messages app worldwide with on

It's the first sub-$500 5G Android tablet to launch in the U.S. What you need to know TCL has announced a new budget-friendly 5G Android tablet. The TCL Tab Pro 5G comes with a 10.36-inch LCD display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 480 chipset, and a large 8,000mAh battery. It is now available to purchase from Verizon for $400. After launching a bunch of affordable 5G Android phones earlier this year, TCL has now announced a mid-range Android tablet with support for Verizon's mmWave 5G network. The new TCL Tab Pro 5G is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 480 chipset, which also powers some of the best budget Android phones on the market. It sports a 10.36-inch "NXTVISION" LCD display with FHD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. TCL's latest Android tablet also packs an impressive 8,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging and reverse charging support. As for the actual battery life, TCL claims the tablet can provide up to 17 hours of use on a single cha

If you're looking to buy a Roku streaming device, get it soon. What you need to know Roku issued a statement calling Google out on its unfair treatment of the platform. In response, Google has decided to pull the YouTube app from new Roku devices. Current users will not be affected by this change. The ongoing battle between Google and Roku continues as the YouTube app is being pulled from new Roku devices after December 9. The decision came on Thursday after Roku posted a statement calling Google out for allegedly asserting its dominance to request special treatment on the platform. More specifically, requiring YouTube as a search preference over other results and requesting special features on Roku that it doesn't require on other platforms. In response, a YouTube spokesperson told Android Central that it's pulling its YouTube app from new Roku devices. Since our negotiations with Roku earlier this year, we've continued to work with them to find a reso

No Stadia sign-in required. What you need to know AT&T Wireless customers can play Batman: Arkham Knight for free on PC through Stadia's streaming service without needing a Stadia account. This is the first example of Google lending its Stadia tech to other companies without using the Stadia name or store. Batman: Arkham Knight can be played for a limited time and is not available to purchase from the Stadia store. Google is partnering with AT&T to offer the telecommunication company's customers a free version of Batman: Arkham Knight streamed through Stadia's service without needing to sign into a Stadia account. 9to5Google reports that AT&T Wireless users can play Batman: Arkham Knight for free streamed through Google Chrome or another Chromium-based web browser on a desktop or laptop. Users sign in with their AT&T phone number and billing zip code, and can play the game in full-screen at 1080p resolution using either keyboard and mouse or a

What 2FA is, why it's important, and why you should use it. You see a lot of talk on the internet about two-factor authentication (or 2FA as it's commonly called), and most of the time, you just see people like us telling you to use it. We'll continue that trend and start this guide by telling you to use 2FA whenever and wherever you can. However, we're also going to let you know what it is and why you must use it. Ready to learn more? Read on. Lock it down Yubico Yubikey 5 NFC $45 at Amazon Keep your accounts extra safe with a physical 2FA key Everyone should be using two-factor authentication (yes, you!), and one of the best ways to start is with the Yubico Security Key. This USB key fits in any USB-A port and securely saves 2FA login codes for your Google, Facebook, Dropbox, and other online accounts. It's also extremely durable and can be attached to a key ring for easy transportation. Jump to: Understanding two-factor authentication It starts wi

Pick your favorite color, grab your hat and start making accusations. What you need to know Among Us is a social deduction multiplayer game that's rapidly grown in popularity over the last year. Developer Innersloth previously confirmed that Among Us was coming to PlayStation consoles at some point. Innersloth announced that Among Us is coming to PS4 and PS5 on Dec. 14, 2021. Innersloth's exceedingly popular murder mystery game Among Us is coming to PS4 and PS5 on Dec. 14, 2021. The developers confirmed the news via the team's website on Thursday, while also reiterating that the game supports cross-play with other consoles, PC and mobile devices. As a result, what used to be one of the best Android games available is now playable across practically everything, and friends don't have to be segmented by platform in order to play together. Innersloth previously confirmed that Among Us was coming to PlayStation consoles Earlier in 2021 during a State of Play

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is here with astounding camera upgrades, instant dictation and translation thanks to Google Tensor, and a curved 6.7-inch screen with a variable refresh rate. As anyone who's ever owned a curved-screen phone knows, protecting the sides of that phone is crucial to keep the phone intact and alive, and so here are the best Pixel 6 Pro cases for keeping your shiny new flagship safe. Slim but secure Spigen Liquid Air Armor Designed for Google Pixel 6 Pro If you don't want to bulk up your super-sized Pixel 6 Pro, what you want is something that's slim but still thick enough to provide some impact protection and especially add grip. The Liquid Air Armor has great textures both across the back and on the sides, which is why I recommend it over its classic Rugged Armor sibling. $16 at Amazon Terrific two-tone Caseology Parallax Protective Case Compatible with Google Pixel 6 Pro While the Caseology Parallax isn't packing quite as colorful a li

No more leaks and speculation: here are the facts. The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have arrived. During Tuesday's Pixel 6 launch event , Google showed off the new smartphones in all their full glory. And we now know how much they'll cost: $599 and $899, respectively. That's well below what we expected for Google's upgraded flagships. We've officially known about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro since August 2, when Google unveiled its striking design and Samsung-made Google Tensor chipset. Both phones will dramatically improve on the mid-range Pixel 5, offering true flagship specs and improved camera sensors. Plus, exclusive Android 12 features like Dynamic colors for the new Material You UI should be available at launch. Pixel sales haven't come close to competing with Apple or Samsung sales in past years, but this Pixel series could make Google flagships stand out from the crowd. Check out our in-depth Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro hands-on to see how th