Saturday 30 November 2019

Skip the Cyber Monday deals and buy this USB-C hub instead

Sometimes you have to step outside the deals section to get the best bang for your buck.

I spend a lot of time fawning over USB-C hubs because they make my life easier, and if you use a laptop that only has USB-C ports like a MacBook or a Pixelbook Go, then a USB-C hub is an absolute necessity. There are plenty of USB-C hubs scattered through the Cyber Monday sales going on this weekend, but I'm here to tell you to save yourself some money and sanity and skip them all for the excellently-priced and newly improved AUKEY Link PD Pro.

Awesome everyday price

AUKEY Link PD Pro USB-C Hub

This upgraded model adds an Ethernet port to our favorite USB-C hub on the market and supports for 100W Power Delivery pass-through charging. This price is lower than most Cyber Monday deals while offering better build quality.

$33 at Amazon

I've used AUKEY hubs for about three years now and they've never let me down. The Link PD Pro improves on the 7in-1 Link PD, which was an improvement on my former favorite USB-C hub, the shiny little AUKEY CB-C59. If you're wanting a single hub that you can use on the go or at home as a workstation dock, AUKEY's hub will not disappoint, and to find an 8-in-1 hub with Ethernet under $45 is a rare thing.

If you're not a fan of using a USB-C hub with a cord that short — the AUKEY's six inch cable is the same length as most USB-C hubs — you might also want to take a look at the uni USB-C Hub. It's available in 6-in-1 and 8-in-1 form factors and has a detachable cable you can swap out for longer cables, a feature I take advantage of at my standing desk so that my hub sits flat on the table while my Chromebook sits atop my makeshift laptop stand.

Black Friday!



Here are all of Cyber Monday's best unlocked phone deals

How to get a great deal on a discounted phone this Cyber Monday.

You don't have to spend a lot these days to get a pretty decent Android phone. We've seen manufacturers push the limits to bring the prices down, and for just a few hundred bucks you can get a truly capable device. From Nokia and Samsung to Google and OnePlus, just about everyone offers affordable Android phones these days, and Cyber Monday is sure to bring these prices even lower.

Some of the biggest Cyber Monday deals on smartphones have already hit the online stores, so if you see a deal on the phone you want, be sure to take advantage of it immediately instead of waiting, as it could expire at any time.

Best Cheap Android Phone Cyber Monday Deals

  • Nokia 2.2 ($120 at Best Buy)
  • Nokia 4.2 ($159 at Best Buy)
  • Nokia 7.1 ($299 at Best Buy)
  • Nokia 9 PureView ($399 at Best Buy)
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 10 ($750 at Amazon)
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ ($900 at Amazon)
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 ($700 at Amazon)
  • Samsung Galaxy S10+ ($800 at Amazon)
  • Samsung Galaxy S10e ($550 at Amazon)
  • Google Pixel 4 ($755 at Amazon)
  • Google Pixel 4 XL ($899 at Amazon)
  • Google Pixel 3 ($449 at Amazon)
  • Google Pixel 3 XL ($535 at Amazon)
  • Google Pixel 3a ($398 at Amazon)
  • Google Pixel 3a XL ($460 at Amazon)
  • OnePlus 7 Pro ($549 at OnePlus)
  • OnePlus 6T ($449 at OnePlus)
  • Razer Phone 2 ($300 at Amazon)
  • Moto G7 Power ($180 at Amazon)

Pixel 3a and 3a XL

The Pixel 3a was one of the more exciting phones released in 2019, offering the outstanding Pixel software experience and camera at a mid-range price. It's definitely worth keeping an eye out for deals on this phone throughout Cyber Monday as we're expecting to see an additional $100 in savings here.

Here's why it's the only Black Friday phone deal our editor, Daniel Bader, was recommending this year.

The smaller option

Google Pixel 3a

$299 at Amazon $299 at Walmart $299 at B&H

A more affordable Pixel.

Google's intention with the Pixel 3a lineup was to deliver the same great Pixel experience at a mid-range price. It's smaller size means you get less battery life, too, so that's the major trade-off for settling for the smaller phone.

More to love

Google Pixel 3a XL

$379 at Amazon $379 at B&H

Flagship size at a mid-range price.

The Pixel 3a XL is a solid phone that doesn't skimp on size or capabilities. It's flagship-sized, and most importantly, has a battery that's over 20% larger than the base Pixel 3a — you'll want that extra screen space and battery longevity.

Nokia 2.2, 4.2, 7.1, and 9 PureView

Best Buy has got some pretty solid deals on four Nokia phones that are all part of the Android One program, which means you get a streamlined Android experience and two years of OS and security updates on the Nokia 2.2 and 4.2, as well as Nokia's more upscale offerings in the Nokia 7.1 and the Nokia 9 PureView. These deals will run during Cyber Monday week from November 24 to December 2 and then once more from December 16 up until Christmas Eve.

You can also take advantage of Best Buy's "Activate Today" deal and save an additional $50 on top of these deals.

Great starter smartphone

Nokia 2.2

$120 at Best Buy

One of the best Android budget phones you can buy.

The Nokia 2.2 is a capable phone at a bargain price that offers 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage with a microSD slot and a sizable 3000mAh battery. It offers streamlined Android software along with a dedicated button for triggering the Google Assistant.

A phone that really glows

Nokia 4.2

$160 at Best Buy $159 at B&H

Looks way more expensive than it actually is.

Just because a phone is priced as a budget phone doesn't mean it needs to look like a budget phone. The Nokia 4.2 is a fine example of this, with a unique LED-lit power button that doubles as a notification indicator, a trendy looking display, and a 3000mAh battery that delivers all-day battery life.

A mid-range flagship

Nokia 7.1

$210 at Best Buy

It's actually on clearance right now.

Nokia knocked it out of the park with the Nokia 7.1. It looks and feels great, has a gorgeous display, excellent battery life, and much more. Performance can be a little sluggish at times, but you're definitely getting far more than your money's worth — especially so with this discounted deal

Five cameras are better than one

Nokia 9 PureView

$400 at Best Buy $400 at B&H

A phone with a ton of potential for photography.

The Nokia 9 PureView is a beautiful phone that has a lot going for it, but to get the most out of the impressive five-lens camera set-up, you're going to need to familiarize yourself with editing RAW photo files to get the sort of results you'd expect. Still a great value at these discounted prices

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+

The Galaxy Note 10 just might be the best phone of 2019, and it can be yours for $200 its regular price if you act fast. This limited time deal is available for both the Galaxy Note 10 and the larger Note 10+, and you can get the phone bundled with a pair of Galaxy Buds ($120) at no additional cost.

A deal to take Note of

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 256GB

$750 at Amazon $750 at B&H

Give yourself the power of the S Pen.

The Galaxy Note 10 is one of the best phones of the year. It features an incredible nearly bezel-less display and the latest S Pen which brings even more features and functionality to the table. The 256GB of internal storage is ample and the massive battery should last you well through the day. Plus, this deal includes a free pair of Galaxy Buds so you just can't beat the value here.

Even bigger canvas to work with

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 256GB

From $900 at Amazon $900 at B&H

Great discount on Samsung's biggest phone.

The phone du jour among large phones aficionados, there's so much to love about the Galaxy Note 10+. The 6.8-inch Infinity-O display is incredible for all your media watching and productivity needs, and with 12GB of RAM, it will easily handle any task you throw at it. You can save $116 on either the 256GB or 512GB version in your choice of colors and a free pair of Galaxy Buds for a limited time.

Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e

Samsung has rolled out some steep discounts for the entire Galaxy S10 line up, while also bundling in a pair of free Galaxy Buds for the 128GB versions of the Galaxy S10 and S10+. Don't miss out on these great deals on Samsung's best phones of the year.

Don't forget the free Galaxy Buds

Samsung Galaxy S10 128GB

$700 at Amazon $670 at B&H

Great deal on a great phone.

Right now, your best deal for the Samsung Galaxy S10 is the 128GB version bundled with a free pair of wireless Galaxy Buds. If you'd prefer the 512GB version, you should probably opt for just the phone and pay just $850 — a savings of $300 off the regular price.

Maximum display

Samsung Galaxy S10+ 128GB

$800 at Amazon $680 at B&H

Larger phone at a smaller price.

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ is a top choice for fans of large phones. The best available deal is for the 128GB version bundled with a free pair of wireless Galaxy Buds, while the 512GB model's price doesn't dip below $1000 with or without the Galaxy Bud bundle.

E stands for Excellent value

Samsung Galaxy S10e

$550 at Amazon $550 at B&H

Bigger is always better.

The Galaxy S10e is the smallest phone in the S10 line up that still manages to offer a near-complete Galaxy S10 experience for less. While there isn't a Galaxy Buds bundle available, you can enjoy the S10e for $200 off the regular price for either the 128GB or 256GB configurations.

Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL

Every year, Google reliably offers a nice discount on its latest Pixel phones for Black Friday shoppers. Its a perfect excuse for thrifty consumers eager to read the reviews as they roll in and then snag the phone at a to hold off on buying the latest Pixel until you see those Black Friday prices start rolling out.

Get it for less

Google Pixel 4

$599 at Amazon $799 at Walmart $599 at B&H

A flawed flagship with an amazing camera.

The Pixel 4 does everything the 4 XL does, which is a boon for small phone fans. However, its battery life is so bad that you may be better off negating the Black Friday discount and snagging the XL version.

The one you want

Google Pixel 4 XL

$699 at Amazon $699 at B&H

Bigger is always better.

It may be $100 more, but the Pixel 4 XL also has decent battery life. It also has a bigger display to give you more room for work and play.

Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL

Now is a great time to upgrade to a Pixel 3 or 3 XL and enjoy a pure Android experience along with the best phone cameras from 2018. These Pixels are already discounted by up to 44% with even more enticing deals potentially on the horizon.

Last year's gem

Google Pixel 3

$452 at Amazon

Still a winner in 2019.

The Pixel 3 is a simple, powerful phone with an excellent camera and simple software that anyone will enjoy using.

Go big or go home

Google Pixel 3 XL

$549 at Amazon

Bigger is always better.

The Pixel 3 XL offers the same great Pixel experience with a larger screen and battery that allows you to get more use out of your phone throughout the day.

OnePlus 7 Pro and 6T

OnePlus has built its reputation on delivering outstanding flagship smartphones at prices that drastically undercut the competition. This year, OnePlus has announced its Black Friday deals a bit early, so you can save an additional $150 when you buy either the OnePlus 7 Pro for $549 or last year's OnePlus 6T for $449 until December 2 while supplies last.

One of the year's best phones

OnePlus 7 Pro

$549 at OnePlus

An outstanding phone at a great price.

The OnePlus 7 Pro is an outstanding device with a near bezel-less display that offers a buttery-smooth 90Hz refresh rate with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Don't sleep on this deal because at these prices they won't be available for too long.

Save even more

OnePlus 6T

$449 at OnePlus

A phone deal that's hard to beat.

Even a year on, the OnePlus 6T remains an impressive smartphone with great hardware design and specs that often performs and feels like a $900 flagship but can be yours for under $500.

Razer Phone 2

For the past couple years, Razer has been dabbling with Android and delivered two gaming smartphones offering great specs for gamers in a unique chassis that's unlike any other flagship on the market in 2019. It's been just over a year since the Razer Phone 2 launched and you can snag your very own at a deep discount for a limited time only. Deals are available for just the phone itself or the phone bundled with a Junglecat mobile gaming controller.

Get your game on!

Razer Phone 2

$300 at Best Buy $425 at Walmart $300 at Razer

This is a great deal for mobile gaming fanatics.

The Razer Phone 2 is a dazzling phone that offers a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, big front-facing speakers featuring Dolby Atmos, a massive 4000mAh battery that supports wireless charging, and stands out with a customizable glowing Razer logo on the back.

Moto G7 Power

Motorola released three versions of the Moto G7 device this year, and the Power model is the best of the three when it comes to battery life, as it features the ability to last for three days straight before needing to be recharged thanks to its 5,000mAh battery. It's also equipped with a 6.2-inch HD+ Max Vision display, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a microSD card slot where you can expand its memory with a microSD card up to 512GB. It runs Android 9.0 out of the box with the option to upgrade as future software becomes available.

Battery for days

Moto G7 Power

$180 at Amazon $180 at B&H

Still a winner in 2019.

This Moto G7 variant has a 6.2-inch display and is accompanied by a 5000mAh battery to help you get through more than two days without needing to charge.

What should you look for in a cheap phone?

Everyone loves a deal on a brand new phone, and Black Friday is a great time to upgrade to something new for less. Of course, not all phones are made equal and when we're talking about cheap phone deals you're still going to want to avoid spending on budget devices from brands you're not familiar with.

We're going to be updating this article with the best Black Friday deals we find, but for now, we know to look out for steep discounts from some of the big phone makers such as Motorola, Nokia, OnePlus, and Google. In the case of Google, you can expect to find its brand new Pixel 4 and 4XL discounted by $100 or more, with even steeper discounts available for older model Pixels such as the 3 and 3a.

Check out our Best Cheap Android Phone Buyer's Guide for a comprehensive breakdown of the best cheap Android phones you should keep an eye out for this Black Friday.

Is it worth buying an Alexa Built-In Phone?

Amazon has been busy integrating its Alexa voice assistant into all sorts of devices, from speakers, smart displays, tablets, streaming boxes and more. While Amazon does not offer an Alexa-branded smartphone of its own built around Alexa, it does partner with brands like Motorola, LG, and Sony to get a collection of Amazon apps pre-installed on the devices including Amazon Shopping, Amazon Music, Audible, and Alexa of course.

If you've already got some Alexa-enabled devices set up around your home, an Alexa Built-In phone makes a lot of sense, since you'll get another convenient way to access information using just your voice.

Moto G7

The Moto G7 is a mid-range phone with a sleek glass design, giving it a nice premium feel despite the steeply discounted sticker price. You'll enjoy Motorola's software optimizations, which include the always-on Moto Display and Moto Actions that let you, for example, launch the camera with a twist of the wrist. All of that, along with hands-free support for Alexa, makes the Moto G7 a phone worth considering this Black Friday.

Hands-free Alexa support

Moto G7

$180 at Amazon

Sleek design and software

Moto G7 is a stalwart mid-range phone that offers well-rounded features in a stylish package. It's also an absolute steal at this discounted price.

Motorola One Action

From a hardware standpoint, the Motorola One Action has a lot to offer. Its 6.3-inch Full HD+ display has a unique 21:9 form factor, giving you an extra tall and narrow canvas. There's also a snappy Exynos octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, a 3,500 mAh battery, and NFC. The triple-camera system on the back delivers with a 16-megapixel "action camera" lens, which lets you shoot landscape video while comfortably holding your phone in portrait mode.

This might be the One

Motorola One Action

$240 at Amazon

The best Alexa Built-In phone you can buy

The Motorola One Action stands tall as one of the best Alexa built-in phones you can buy. It offers a great display and camera package at a competitive price.

LG G8 ThinQ

The G8 ThinQ is LG's flagship device for 2019. With this phone you get solid and attractive hardware built around a 6.1-inch display that looks great and also doubled as a speaker through LG's "Boombox" technology. There are also some legacy features you might enjoy, such as a proper fingerprint sensor on the back, microSD card slot, and a headphone jack with a built-in DAC.

Your biggest savings

LG G8 ThinQ

$400 at Amazon

Save 50% off the regular price

The LG G8 is a solid and well-designed phone with great battery life. It features some old faves such as a fingerprint sensor on the back and a headphone jack.

LG Stylo 5

When you think of phones with a built-in stylus, you probably think of Samsung's (crazy expensive) Galaxy Note series. However, you can enjoy the full convenience of a stylus without breaking the bank with the Stylo 5. You can use the stylus for handwriting notes, drawing pictures, or just navigating around the phone on its 6.2-inch display. Other notable features include NFC for contactless transactions via Google Pay, expandable storage via microSD, and push-to-talk support for Alexa that uses the phone's power button.

Push-to-Talk with Alexa

LG Stylo 5

$160 at Amazon

The best Alexa built-in phone with a stylus

If you like the idea of a stylus-touting phone but don't have the kind of cash for a Note, the LG Stylo 5 is calling your name.

Where is the best place to buy a cheap Android phone on Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is a misnomer these days, given that the sales typically start trickling out well before Black Friday and extend over the weekend and into Cyber Monday and beyond.

To be sure you don't miss out on a great deal on a new phone, you'll undoubtedly want to check out everything being offered on Amazon's Black Friday, where new deals are updated every hour. You'll also want to follow the deals at Best Buy and also check out Walmart to be sure you don't miss out on anything.

Black Friday!



Google Home Mini on sale for just $20 at multiple US retailers

With Black Friday sales in full swing, there's no better time to thin those wishlists that we've been making throughout the year. If the Google Home Mini is on your wishlist, we have the perfect deal for you.

Typically selling for $50, Google's smallest and cheapest smart speaker, the Home Mini is now on sale at multiple US retailers for just $20. Even offers a $30 discount on the smart speaker, which comes in four different colors: Aqua, Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral.

Three other retailers have the Google Home Mini on sale for the same price: Best Buy, B&H Video, and . offers ...

Target Cyber Week sale starts one day early, here are the best deals

Target announced that its Cyber Week sale will start one day early this year, on Sunday, December 1, to offer customers more time to take advantage of its deals. There will hundreds if not thousands of products on sale during the sale throughout the next week, from electronics and apparel to toys, home goods, beauty and more.

Unlike previous years, Target's Cyber Week sale this year has been organized a little bit differently, so check out below what's new:

Online doorbusters available December 1 and 2, with new daily deals through Green Monday (December 9).Online orders ready in ...

New Apple Music subscribers receiving six months of service for free

Apple is trying to make Shazam, , more popular among audiophiles and music lovers in general. The Cupertino-based company now offers a six-month trial to all new Apple Music subscribers, but the redeeming procedure goes through the Shazam app.

From now until Cyber Monday, if you've never been subscribed to Apple Music you'll be getting six months of service for free. If you for some reason dropped your subscription, you're still eligible for the deal, it's just that you'll receive three months of free Apple Music instead of six when you resubscribe.

To redeem the Black Friday offer, ...

The best Samsung Galaxy Fold cases

Samsung Galaxy Fold review upright

The Samsung Galaxy Fold, with its foldable and flexible display, is also one of the most expensive smartphones ever released. Even with a cost of nearly $2,000, Samsung is urging people who buy the phone to take extra special care when using the device. Ironically, even with its high price and extra warnings on its use, Galaxy Fold cases are actually in short supply, at least at the moment.

samsung galaxy fold case

Samsung seems to be aware of this lack of third party Galaxy Fold cases, so the phone actually ships with one out of the box. This black cover is made of synthetic aramid fibers and is supposed to be of a slim design. However, there are a few other first and third-party Galaxy Fold cases you can currently buy if you are not happy with the default case. Here’s a look at the best current Samsung Galaxy Fold cases

Best Samsung Galaxy Fold cases

Editor’s note: We will update this post as more Galaxy Fold cases are released.

1. and 2. Official Galaxy Fold leather cases

samsung galaxy fold leather case

Samsung currently sells just one design for its Galaxy Fold cases. This official case is made of a premium calf leather, but it is still slim enough that the phone won’t feel bulky while in its folded state. Keep in mind that this case design does not cover the hinge in the back of the phone. Mobile Fun is selling the case in black and white colors, but be prepared to pay a lot for both of these products.


3. Spigen Thin Fit case

spigen thin case

Spigen was the first out of the gate with third-party Galaxy Fold cases. The cheapest of the lineup is the Thin Fit case. It’s made of a scratch-resistant PC material that’s designed to have a slim profile. Like the official Samsung cases, this Thin Fit case does not cover the hinge on this phone. It also exposes the power and volume buttons on the side.


4. Spigen Ultra Hybrid

spigen ultrs hybrid case

If you want to show off your new Galaxy Fold, consider getting this clear Ultra Hybrid case from Spigen for the phone. The transparent case is made of a durable PC material and comes with a TPU bumper that allows the phone to take shocks if it falls from a few feet. The hinge isn’t protected, but the buttons are covered. Also, the raised bezels on the screens and cameras help protect them from scratches.


5. Spigen Tough Armor case

spigen tough armor case

If you want some better protection for the Galaxy Fold, the Spigen Tough Armor case is for you. It’s also made of both TPU and polycarbonate materials, but it is thicker than the Ultra Hybrid model so it can withstand even more punishment. Also, the crucial hinge in the phone gets its own cover with this case, along with raised lips for the screens and cameras.


6. Urban Armor Gear Monarch

urban armor gear galaxy fold case

For the ultimate in protection, Urban Armor Gear is working on a rugged cover for the phone. It meets the military MIL STD 810G 516.6 rating for drop tests, meaning it should keep the phone working even if it falls from several feet in the air. There’s even more protection for the hinge for this case, and it also a water resistance non-slip coating as well.


As you can see, the current case lineup for the Galaxy Fold is not that extensive, but more are on the way from makers like Otterbox and Gear4.



Alexa is the new Grinch; digital assistant reveals a 10-year old's holiday present

People complain about how much personal data virtual assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant collect. But what makes it worse is when the digital helper blabs without even offering up a spoiler alert. , 41-year old Lizzy Nuttall of Wrotham, Kent had ordered her 10-year old daughter Alice a £130 ($168 USD) Instax camera for Christmas. The order was placed on Black Friday and Lizzy was excited for her daughter because she had been talking for months about buying this particular camera.

Now anyone with a smart speaker or display knows that Alexa, Google Assistant, ...

Suck up those Cyber Monday savings with this sensational Dyson vacuum deal

I'll be honest with you, I'm having some trouble typing this over my insides crying out for retroactive justice. See, when I bought my Dyson Ball Animal 2 upright vacuum, I paid full price for it. But that full price at the time was, let's just say, a lot more than it is today. So when I saw this regularly $500 vacuum on sale for $240, I just had to put my hat in the ring for a recommendation.

Dyson is kind of like Apple: their products are really good and extremely, often prohibitively, expensive. They're also well-designed and generally perform well, though they have a few quirks to figure out. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is no exception: it's really powerful, and can extract dirt from floors and carpets most other vacuums can't. It's also really easy to maneuver around tight spaces despite the massive head and ball-rotating turbine.

This deal doesn't suck

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum is one of the best purchases I've ever made. It's powerful and yet easy to maneuver around the house, with plenty of attachments to get at hard-to-reach places, plus a cord that's simple to store. Two HEPA filters keep dust particles out of the air, and the canister is easy to clean. At $240, this is a must-buy.

$240 $500 $260 off

See at Amazon

This vacuum has a lot of things going for it. Its brushes dig into surfaces and extract whatever's there for the suction to more easily do its job. Its ball head pivots around corners and, when the main head is too wide, there's a narrower tube you can use, with any of the attachments for areas taller or further away than you can reach by hand.

There are two HEPA filters to keep dust and other particles from spreading around, and they're also easy to extract and clean — which you only have to do monthly. The actual head, too, is quite well designed, and I've had no issues getting hair and other objects out of it so it's able to do its job.

The canister has a capacity of just over half a gallon, which is pretty big for a bagless design. And when it's full, it's one button to dislodge it and open it above a garbage can.

I rewarded myself with a Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum a while back, and it was one of the best purchases for my home I've ever made. At $240, this is a ridiculously good deal.

And if a more portable, cordless Dyson vacuum is more your style, this V7 Animal Pro+ at $265 is also an amazing deal. Plus there are other Dyson vacuums and fans on sale for Black Friday, so take a look at all of them.



Ola Said to Lay Off Nearly 350 Employees Ahead of IPO

Ola has decided to restructure and redesign the company, starting with trimming its 4,500-strong workforce by 5-8 percent which will be nearly 350 employees, company sources told IANS on Friday.

Google Pay Spotted Working on a New Gold Gifting Option: Report

There is no clarity on when this Google Pay Gold Gifting feature will roll out or how it will work.

Mi Credit Platform for Personal Loans to Be Re-Launched in India on December 3

Xiaomi will re-launch its Mi Credit platform for personal loans in India on December 3, the company has revealed. Given the Chinese smartphone maker had originally launched Mi Credit in May last year.

Scammers Increasingly Using Browser Push Notifications to Defraud People: Kaspersky

The monthly number of users affected by fraudulent browser push notifications as a means of phishing and advertising has grown from 17.2 lak

TikTok Owner, Huawei Are Helping China's Campaign to Repress Uighur Muslims, Report Finds

Australian Strategic Policy Institute's International Cyber Policy Centre concluded that many Chinese tech companies "are engaged in deeply unethical behaviour in Xinjiang”.

WhatsApp: Government Plans Security Audit of Chat App After Hacking Attempt

India wants to conduct an audit of WhatsApp's security systems following revelations that a spyware exploited vulnerabilities in the Facebook-owned messaging platform, technology minister said on Thursday.

Facebook, Instagram Back Online After Major Outage

Facebook said it had restored service following a major outage on Thursday that hindered access to the social platform and its other apps such as Instagram.

Sony's a7 III, the camera I use every day, is $200 off

By far one of my favorite things in my tech kit is my camera, which has been to countless cities and countries with me for both work and pleasure. I love shooting video (and the occasional photos), and few cameras nail both quite as well as the Sony a7 III.

If you've watched any of my Android Central videos in the last year, you've already seen plenty of footage from the a7 III. It's an incredibly versatile camera that does amazingly well in virtually any lighting conditions, even near-pitch dark environments, making it a great option for anyone who shoots in often unpredictable situations.

Right now for Black Friday weekend, the a7 III is 10% off, which may not sound like much, but for such a pricey purchase, that sale will save you hundreds of dollars.

My daily camera

Sony a7 III

Incredibly slim 4K full frame mirrorless camera

The a7 III shoots stunning 4K video with incredible depth of field thanks its full frame sensor. The battery is good for hours of shooting, and Sony pulls off incredible low light performance. It also has modern appointments like USB-C and wireless transfers to your phone.

$1798.00 $1998.00 10% off

See at Amazon $1630 at Walmart

I travel a lot for work, and for the sake of portability (and my back), I try to pack as lightweight as possible. With the a7 III, I don't need to pack separate photo and video cameras. Sony's full frame mirrorless cameras have been incredibly popular for years because they're incredibly well-suited for both types of media, with great imaging and unmatched lowlight performance.

One of the biggest downsides of Sony's ultra-slim body has typically been poor battery life, but that's been resolved in the a7 III with a much larger battery that lasts for three hours of 4K video shooting. This means I rarely need to break out my spare battery, and you can even recharge the camera through its USB-C port.

That port isn't the only modern ammenity here, though. You also get dual SD card slots, which is fantastic for on-the-fly backups, 4K30 or 1080p120 video capture, LOG color profiles, and wireless capabilities that let you transfer photos and videos to your phone or even use your phone as an external monitor. Of course, you also get both microphone and headphone jacks, making it easy to record and monitor high-quality audio with an external microphone.

By far the best part of the a7 III, at least for me, is its low light capabilities. Covering events at various locations means I never know what the lighting situation will be, and on more than one occasion I've been on show floors with incredibly inconsistent lighting that makes shooting a nightmare. With the a7 III, I never have to worry too much about it; even if I need to crank up the ISO, the resulting image is relatively noise-free — something my old GH5 never could've pulled off.

The a7 III is on Amazon for $200 off through Black Friday weekend. If you've been hoping to start shooting more photo and video, now's a great time to jump on this stellar camera!

Black Friday!



This HP Envy Photo Printer is crazy cheap for Black Friday / Cyber Monday

Do you ever take a selfie and think, "man, I should print a load of these out and stick them up around the place to remind myself of how awesome I am?" No? Well, even still, this photo printer is pretty rad, and it's on sale.

We live in an age of Instagrams, Tiktoks, and Snapchats. Nobody ever prints their photos anymore, wishing them away into a digital ether never to be seen again. Every now and then it's okay to indulge your inner boomer and go for something a little more analog, like, oh I don't know, physical photographs. Insane I know.

Few people actually print and keep their own photos nowadays, but they can be fun to create gifts or mementos for loved ones, commemorate a special occasion, or create postcards.

This printer comes with extra ink, photo paper, and everything you need to get started printing pictures wirelessly or via USB. You can use the HP Smart app on a mobile phone to send images across as well, skipping the need for a full-blown PC.

Print 'em up

HP ENVY Photo 6222 Wireless Printer

$70 (was $90) at Amazon

Rip those selfies out of cyberspace

What if photographs could be physical like the good old days? This $20 cheaper photo printer can make that a reality. It can't make any of us more attractive though, sadly.



Huawei will sue to stop the FCC from blocking purchases of its networking gear

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Snapseed tutorial: How to edit a photo with your smartphone

Snapseed photo editing app

Snapseed is among the best photo editor apps around. Google purchased the company responsible for making Snapseed back in 2012. Since then, its popularity has continued to increase. It is known for its simplicity and abundant feature set. The app is also free, so you might as well give it a go. The only tricky part is learning how to use Snapseed, which is what this post is all about.

Modern smartphones can take stunning photos, but any photographer will tell you taking a shot is only half the battle. Editing is a fundamental part of the photography process, as it can turn good shots into stunning imagery.

We will take you through the editing process of a single image shot with a smartphone, using the most important settings. We won’t cover all options available in Snapseed. That would require more time and involvement. Instead, these Snapseed image editing tips and tricks are meant to get you started with the basics, upon which you can improve as you learn more about editing and photography.

  1. Presets and filters
  2. Exposure
  3. White balance
  1. Crop, rotate, and perspective
  2. Brush tool
  3. Healing

Photo shot with a smartphone

Snapseed tutorial Original

I wanted the image to be a general photo any person can shoot, so I took a quick snapshot of a wooden statue I keep at home. No overthinking, no lights, no reflectors, no nothing. This is a simple shot we can turn into something awesome through the power of photo editing.


1. Consider Snapseed’s presets and filters

Snapseed screenshot LOOKS 1 Snapseed screenshot LOOKS 2 Snapseed screenshot LOOKS 3 Snapseed screenshot LOOKS 4

I am no fan of presets or filters, but there is no denying they make life easier than learning a plethora of editing parameters. After importing an image into Snapseed, you will see a tab at the lower-left corner that says LOOKS. Tap on it and look through Snapseed’s filters.

In addition, you can go to the TOOLS tab and find the HDR Scape, Glamour Glow, Drama, Vintage, Grainy Film, Grunge, Retrolux, Noir, Portrait, Lens Blur, and other special effects.

These automated edits may be all you require, or it could be a good starting point you can further fine-tune. As for me, I will keep the original image and edit to my liking.


2. Fixing exposure

Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 1 Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 2 Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 3 Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 4

The first step to take is to fix exposure to your liking. Your phone isn’t always smart enough to correctly measure lighting. Even if it does, you might want an image to be darker or brighter for creative reasons. Snapseed has a way to fix this problem. Tap on the TOOLS tab and select Tune Image.

Also read: Photography terms explained: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and more

You can edit parameters like brightness, contrast, saturation, highlights, shadows, and more. Drag your finger up and down to select which parameter to edit. Then drag your finger left and right to edit whichever parameter you chose.

I want to make the image a little brighter, to make everything look more clear, but I also wanted exposure to be uniform across the frame. To accomplish this I lowered the contrast and highlights, while increasing the shadows. Being at the beach, I felt a warmer tone would also give the photo a special touch, so I increased the warmth by a bit.

Ambiance is a special type of contrast that can balance exposure in a photo. It can create an unnatural look if overdone, so I usually don’t play around with it too much. I use it very slightly when I do. This time I increased it by 10.

Here are the changes so far. Not too shabby, but there is much more that can be done to improve it.

Snapseed tutorial Original Snapseed tutorial Tune Image

3. Fix white balance using Snapseed

Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 1 Snapseed screenshot White Balance 1 Snapseed screenshot White Balance 2 Snapseed screenshot White Balance 3

Fixing the white balance is usually one of my first edits. Cameras often read lighting wrong, which creates odd hues or tints. Make sure you find the balance between blue and yellow, as well green and magenta. Alternatively, you can get creative and give images a hue or tint that wasn’t there when the shot was taken. Color theory is an important part of photography.

Also read: What is white balance in photography

I want to keep this image more traditional and I already added some warmth in previous edits. In this case I will simply add a bit of magenta to the tint, just because that purple touch gives beach photos a special look.

Snapseed tutorial Tune Image Snapseed Tutorial White Balance

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4. Crop, Rotate, and Perspective

Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 1 Snapseed screenshot Rotate 2 Snapseed screenshot Rotate 1

I don’t have an issue with perspective here, or want to crop, but Snapseed has the option for those who want it. The perspective parameter can make a photo straight if you notice you shot it a bit crooked. Cropping can also be convenient for fixing composition or cutting off unwanted elements.

In this case I will simply use the rotate function because the horizon line is not leveled.

Snapseed Tutorial White Balance Snapseed tutorial Rotate

5. Selective edits using the brush tool

Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 1 Snapseed screenshot Brush 1 Snapseed screenshot Brush 2 Snapseed screenshot Brush 3

The brush function can be used to make selective edits to your image. I would like to add a more dramatic look to the sky, ocean, and sand in the background, without affecting the wooden statue. To do this I will go to TOOLS and tap on Brush within Snapseed’s parameters. This section will give me the option to locally edit exposure, temperature, saturation, and more. In this case I want to saturate the background, so I will select Saturation and bring the parameter up to 10. After doing this, one can simply drag a finger over the areas that need change.

Tap on the eye icon to see the affected areas highlighted in red. If you accidentally edited sections you didn’t want to, bring the saturation level down to zero (labeled “eraser”) and drag your finger over the affected areas.

Snapseed tutorial Rotate Snapseed tutorial Brush

6. Get rid of unwanted objects using Snapseed

Snapseed screenshot Tune Image 1 Snapseed screenshots Healing 1 Snapseed screenshots Healing 2 Snapseed screenshots Healing 3

Have you ever taken an amazing picture only to find out it was ruined by an ugly piece of trash? It happens to the best of us. Healing makes it possible to highlight objects or elements you want gone. Snapseed’s smart fill then takes information from the object’s surroundings and intelligently cleans the picture. I will get rid of some of the seaweed in the sand and the rocks to the right of the image.

To do this go to TOOLS and select the Healing option. You can zoom in and out to get a better look at imperfections and change the size of your healing brush. When ready, simply drag your finger over whatever you want to remove and the application will work its magic. Keep in mind it’s not always perfect, especially if you want to remove elements that take a large part of the frame.

Snapseed tutorial Brush Snapseed tutorial Healing

Snapseed editing results

We have been showing you the step-by-step development of the photo, but seeing the original shot compared to the fully edited one is something else. The differences are simply astounding.

Snapseed tutorial Original Snapseed tutorial Healing

We can’t stress the importance of editing enough, especially as these tool become more available and user-friendly. This photo was produced from beginning to end using only a smartphone. The Google Pixel 3 XL has an outstanding camera, but there are plenty of phones with amazing cameras. It’s also worth mentioning you don’t need to spend too much on a camera phone to get good results.

We would love to see what you can do with Snapseed, so go ahead and show us some of your best edits in the comments!