Tech Talk

Verizon says it's time to move on. What you need to know Verizon has set a date for the shut-down of its 3G CDMA network. The carrier states that the network will be fully decommissioned at the end of 2022. According to Verizon, only 1% of its customer base still relies on 3G. Verizon is finally marking its transition into the new decade. The company has just announced the date that it plans to shut off its legacy 3G CDMA network after delaying it twice. The shutdown will happen on December 31st, 2022, which the company believes will give its customer ample time to switch to newer devices. We worked for the past several years to help those who still have 3G devices transfer to devices capable of accessing the 4G LTE or 5G networks....As a result of those efforts, we can now report that more than 99% of our customers use the enhanced features of 4G LTE or 5G, with less than 1% still accessing the 3G network. Shutting down older networks isn't unheard of, and it

A new prompt in Chrome sets PWAs apart. What you need to know Google is making PWAs more app-like with a new app install prompt. Developers can now add an app description and screenshots to the app installation flow. Twitter's Progressive Web App is already using it. Progressive Web Apps, or PWAs, are getting a lot more app-like with a new feature that now evokes the installation flow you'll recognize from an app store. A PWA, to recap, is a web-app that acts like a native app. It can launch in its own app window, can work offline in some regards, and even launches with a splash page. Previously, installing a PWA was indistinguishable from creating a shortcut to a web page or a non-progressive web app. Now, when installing a PWA that's built for this new system, you'll see screenshots, an app description, and everything you'd expect to see if the web app was listed in a traditional app store pop up as part of the installation process. It's just anot

This expansion is a real game changer What you need to know The new Hearthstone expansion Forged in the Barrens was unlocked today. Announced at BlizzConline, the set is focused on heroes of the Horde. The set features a new mechanic that makes cards more powerful when played later in a game. A little more than a month after it was announced at BlizzConline , Hearthstone's latest expansion Forged in the Barrens was unlocked today and is making one of the best Android games even better . The set is focused on the zone in Warcraft that serves as the primary leveling area for Horde characters. It's part of a theme of leveling up that runs throughout the Year of the Gryphon, which is bringing the biggest shakeup to the CCG since the game launched in 2014. The shift started on March 25 with the launch of the new Classic format, where the cards are limited to the list that was available when the game was first released. The leaderboards for the new format also went live

Smart assistants like Amazon Alexa are becoming more popular than ever, and headphone makers are jumping on board to offer it as a built-in signature feature. They're growing in number and variance, but the Sony WH-1000XM4 stand out because of the combination of comfort, sound quality, and versatility in bringing Alexa into the fold. We have plenty of options for all ranges, so here are our picks for the best headphones with Alexa. Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM4 It's a challenge for any company to follow up on a great product with something better, but in this case, Sony has fixed some key pieces to make the WH-1000XM4 one of the best pairs of headphones available. There was no need to reinvent the wheel when so much of the previous model worked so well, though good changes are always welcome. Whether the WH-1000XM4 sound any better is highly subjective. There are aptX HD and LDAC codec support, plus 360 Reality Audio for those who can actually hear it on Tidal. Tinkeri

Samsung Cloud features will be completely terminated on June 30. What you need to know Samsung is about to pull the plug on its cloud storage service for Galaxy owners. If you are a Samsung Cloud user, you should soon start migrating your data to Microsoft OneDrive. Samsung will begin deleting all files from its cloud service starting July 1. Samsung announced last year that it would wind down its Samsung Cloud service in 2021 in favor of Microsoft's OneDrive, which is one of the best cloud storage services around. As spotted by our colleagues at TechRadar , a notice on the Samsung website makes it clear that Samsung Cloud will soon stop supporting Gallery Sync, Samsung Cloud Drive, and Premium Storage. It also warns that users may lose their data in case they do not take urgent action. Since Samsung Cloud is being shut down, the Gallery and Drive sync features for My Files on Samsung's best Android phones and tablets will now be supported by Microsoft OneDrive i

The best OnePlus 8 cases keep your phone protected without covering up the beautiful design and delicate glass body. The Ringke Fusion X, for example, is our top pick to keep your OnePlus 8 safe from dings and scratches with its air-cushioned corners and clear back to show off the natural beauty of your device. Still, there are plenty of great cases available for the OnePlus 8 — including some of my other favorite case series on the market — so skip the basic in-box case and get you one of these! Clearly durable Ringke Fusion X Staff Pick Suppose you want to show off that Glacial Green or Interstellar Glow without leaving your phone exposed. The Fusion X combines a clear back with a robust bumper with air-cushioned corners. This is a divisive design, but I like it, especially that Green variant. $12 at Amazon $13 at Walmart Hybrid protection Tudia Merge Series There aren't many heavy-duty cases out for the OnePlus 8 yet, but you shouldn't need to look further th

The full package Fitbit Versa 3 $229 at Amazon Pros GPS, HRM, NFC Active Zone Minutes SpO2 tracking Built-in mic/speaker Voice assistants Cons Shorter battery life Only one size option If you're the type of smartwatch user who doesn't want to leave any features on the table, the Fitbit Versa 3 will likely have everything you need. In addition to health/fitness tracking, you get mobile payments, a mic/speaker, voice assistants, and more. Most of the essentials Garmin Vivoactive 4 From $250 at Amazon Pros GPS, HRM, NFC Body Battery SpO2 tracking A week of battery life Two size options Cons No voice assistant Lacks mic/speaker When your main goal is to score a smartwatch with excellent health and fitness tracking, you can't go wrong with the Garmin Vivoactive 4. It offers GPS, Pulse Ox, Body Battery, sleep monitoring, stress tracking, and more. It offers a week of battery life and comes in two sizes. Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs. Fitbit Versa