Latest Articles
Flutter 2.10 arrives with stable support for building Windows apps
Flutter is already used by thousands of Android and iOS apps, but now Windows support has officially left beta status.
Google has been working on Flutter for a few years now, with the goal to create the cross-platform software framework of developers' dreams. Flutter can be used to build applications for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, and even the web — all with a shared codebase and visual design. Flutter 2.10 is now available, which includes stable support for Windows.
Google Messages is the primary text messaging application for Android devices, though some manufacturers still prefer to ship their own alternatives. Messages has received a few changes over the past few months, and now it looks like another significant update could be on the way, according to a report by 9to5Google.
GitHub becomes Patreon for developers, with new sponsors-only repositories
GitHub is rolling out the ability for software developers to create code repositories only accessible by sponsors.
Microsoft-owned GitHub is one of the most popular software repositories in existence, powering countless software projects and hosting critical infrastructure for many products. GitHub has been slowly encouraging people to financially support their favorite software projects, and now the company is rolling out another feature for developers hoping to increase to boost project donations.
Raspberry Pi OS now available in 64-bit, improving app compatibility
Raspberry Pi OS, the default operating system for Raspberry Pi boards, is finally available in a 64-bit version.
The Raspberry Pi series of single-board computers has been a runaway success over the years, thanks to its fantastic versatility and low cost. From powering DIY electronics projects to functioning as cheap PCs for learning programming, the Raspberry Pi series can do it all, and now another significant upgrade has arrived: a 64-bit version of the default operating system.
Microsoft starts testing 'Lists' task manager with personal accounts
Microsoft Lists, the company's advanced task management system, is now available to free personal Microsoft accounts in a limited trial.
Microsoft To-Do has been available for years as a simple task management application for mobile and desktop, but the company has also maintained a more powerful alternative for businesses and other large organizations. Microsoft Lists is a super-charged task manager with a greater focus on collaboration, and now Microsoft is starting to open it up to personal accounts.
Samsung finally released the Galaxy S21 FE ("Fan Edition") last month after an extended period of delays, and while the finished product is a good phone, the suggested retail price of $700 is not a great value at all. Thankfully, the real discounts are starting to show up, not just pre-order bonuses or free earbuds. Now you can get the 128GB Galaxy S21 FE from Amazon for $599.99, a $100 discount from the original price.
Google One VPN now available on iPhone and iPad
The VPN feature in select Google One subscriptions is now available on iOS devices, but we're still waiting on desktop clients.
Google One is the primary subscription service from Google, offering increased cloud storage, cash back with Google Store purchases, and a few other benefits. Back in 2020, Google added a VPN to the package, intended for use on public Wi-Fi networks and other places where you trust Google more than the internet service provider. That feature was initially limited to Android devices, but now it's available on iOS too.
YouTube TV now has a referral program that pays in bill credits
YouTube TV has rolled out referral links, giving you $20 in bill credits if someone signs up for YouTube TV with your link.
Google's YouTube TV service has been through a rough time over the past few months, between dealing with carriage disputes and fighting Roku. It's likely that at least a few people have given up on YouTube TV over the never-ending problems, especially as prices fluctuate ahead of anticipated channel lineup changes, which might be why Google has now set up a referral program to help attract new subscribers.
Chromebook and tablet shipments are dropping worldwide
The International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that tablet and Chromebook shipments were much lower in Q4 2021 than Q4 2020.
The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic kickstarted a surge in working from home, which led to shortages of everything from laptops to webcams. Thankfully, production eventually ramped up enough to meet demand, but now we're starting to see the booming sales trail off. New industry reports indicate shipments of tablets and Chromebooks all saw a decline from 2020 to 2021.
Wordle has been acquired by The New York Times
Wordle, the hit puzzle game that you've probably seen mentioned on Twitter, is now owned by The New York Times.
The spelling puzzle game Wordle has become a sensation over the past few months, with more and more people posting their scores and results to Twitter and other social networks each day. The game's success has already resulted in countless clones, and now the original game will soon have a new owner.
Discord officially rolls out PlayStation integration, complete with game status support
Discord can now connect to PlayStation accounts, adding the game status and other info to a Discord profile.
Monday was already a big day for PlayStation news, as Sony revealed that it's working to acquire Destiny 2 developer Bungie, but that's not all. Discord, the popular messaging platform primarily aimed at gaming, is finally rolling out PlayStation account integration. The new functionality gives PlayStation players the same game status indicator that PC and Xbox players have had for a while, and a few other helpful features.
Repainter, the Material You theme customizer, is now out of beta
Repainter, the app that allows you to customize the Material You theme engine in Android 12, is now out of beta.
Material You dynamic theming was one of the highlight features of Android 12, as it could change the colors used in applications and across the system based on your current wallpaper. However, it's not super customizable, which is where the Repainter application comes in. After a short time in beta, the first stable release of Repainter is now available on the Google Play Store.
Sony acquires Bungie, developers of Destiny series, for $3.6 billion
Sony is purchasing Bungie, developers of the Destiny series and the creators of Halo, for a reported $3.6 billion.
Microsoft rocked the gaming world earlier this month when the company revealed it was purchasing game publisher Activision Blizzard for a whopping $68.7 billion. Now we're seeing two significant consolidations in the games industry in the same month, as Sony announced today that it's acquiring Bungie, developers of the Destiny series and the original creators of Halo.
ProtonMail revamps 'Bridge' utility for using third-party mail apps
ProtonMail Bridge, the utility for using ProtonMail email accounts with third-party desktop email apps, is receiving an overhaul.
ProtonMail is an end-to-end encrypted email service, adding an extra layer of security on top of traditional email messaging. The additional security features means you can't connect a ProtonMail account to a third-party email application, like you can with Gmail or Yahoo accounts. ProtonMail's solution to this is the ProtonMail Bridge application, which has been around for a while, but has now received a significant update.
TWRP arrives on OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, Nokia 2.2, and other devices
TWRP is now officially available on six more phones and tablets, including the OnePlus 8 series and the Nokia 2.2.
TeamWin Recovery Project, or TWRP for short, is by far the most popular custom recovery for Android devices. It can help you do everything from performing full-device backups to flashing custom ROMs, and thanks to the wide-reaching TWRP community, more devices are added to the official lineup all the time. The last time we checked in on the project, nine more phones arrived, and since then six more devices have been added to the roster.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Review: Good phone, wrong price
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a great smartphone, but you should not buy it at full price. Click to read our full review.
The Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) was one of the best smartphones of 2020 back when it was released. This wasn't because it had incredible cameras or unique hardware features, but because it brought some of the best features of the Galaxy S series at a much lower price. While the main Galaxy S phones approached or surpassed $1,000, the Galaxy S20 FE was available for $699 at launch and often dipped down to $550. Flagship-class smartphones are rarely that affordable in the United States, and Samsung's decision to make the Snapdragon-powered model available in many regions that previously only had Exynos-based Galaxy phones made it a success internationally too. For those regions, you could finally get a good Samsung flagship with a Snapdragon processor, meaning you could game on it better than you could on the main S-series flagship of that region.
FAA says Verizon and AT&T can continue rolling out C-Band 5G near airports
The FAA is continuing to check airports off the list for possible C-Band interference, paving the way for more C-Band 5G coverage.
Verizon and AT&T started rolling out 5G on C-Band spectrum in the United States last week, finally giving both carriers an answer to the success of T-Mobile's mid-band 5G. The rollout was delayed due to concerns from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and some airlines, because it could interfere with equipment in some airplanes and control towers, which briefly caused travel disruptions. Now the FAA, Verizon, and AT&T have apparently worked out their issues.
Android 12L Beta 2 now available for Lenovo Tab P12 Pro
Two weeks after Pixel phones could try it out, the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro now has a beta build available for Android 12L Beta 2.
Android 12 is still rolling out to many phones and tablets, but Google is already in the middle of working on the next major version, Android 12L. The upcoming update is primarily aimed at foldables and tablets, and since Google doesn't make Android tablets anymore (RIP Pixel C), the main tablet test device has been the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro. Two weeks after the Android 12L Beta 2 arrived on Pixel phones, the release is finally available to install on the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro.
Google Chrome tests warning for closing all tabs on Android
Google is now testing a confirmation prompt for closing tabs when using Chrome on Android. Read on to learn more.
Google Chrome is still the most popular browser on Android devices, mostly because it's the default option on most phones. New features are tested on a frequent basis, usually first showing up in the 'Canary' unstable release channel, and another one has just appeared that might save people from accidentally losing tabs.
USB Type-C finally shows up in power tools, fulfills its destiny as the One True Port
DeWalt and Ryobi have both announced removable batteries for their tools powered by USB Type-C. Read on to find out more.
USB Type-C was intended to be the universal connector for almost all data and charging needs, and with evolving USB Power Delivery standards and higher-quality cables, it's slowly replacing countless types of proprietary chargers. Now everyone's favorite port is making its way to power tools, as two companies have announced batteries and tools with the connector.