Tech news today: April 2021

Friday, April 30, 2021

Google Play to Enforce Guidelines to Eliminate Misleading, Spam, or Clone Apps Later This Year APP_NEWS

The new strict policy change brings restrictions to app metadata and new guidelines for Store listing preview assets. For instance, an app cannot use graphic or text to indicate ranking, promote deals, incentivise deals, or for any tactics that can be misleading to users. These changes are set to go into effect in the ‘second half of 2021’.

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Google Play to Enforce Guidelines to Eliminate Misleading, Spam, or Clone Apps

Samsung Galaxy M32 Specifications Tipped via Benchmark Listing

Samsung Galaxy M32 specifications have been tipped through a listing on Geekbench. The new Samsung phone is said to be a rebranding of the Galaxy A32 4G.

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VPN Hack Within US Federal Agencies Faces Government Probe

The US government is investigating a hack against federal agencies that began during the Trump administration but was only recently discovered, according to senior US officials and private sector...

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Oppo F11 Pro Getting Android 11-Based ColorOS 11 Update

Oppo F11 Pro is receiving Android 11 update in India, the company confirmed via a tweet reply. There has been no official confirmation from Oppo regarding the changelog or the firmware version of the...

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Global Smartphone Market Sees 27 Percent Growth, Samsung Tops List

Smartphone shipments worldwide grew 27 percent on a year-on-year basis in the first quarter of 2021, as per a report by Canalys. The market research firm said that smartphone vendors shipped a total...

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'Disaster Girl' Zoe Roth Turns Her Meme Into $500,000 NFT

The girl had shot to Internet fame after her father had shot a photograph of her smiling in front of a burning house in 2005.

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iPhone 12 Series in Purple Colour, AirTag Go on Sale

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini Purple colour variant and AirTag are now on sale in India, just days after their debut at Apple's Spring Loaded event last week. Apple is also set to start taking...

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From Lucifer to Army of the Dead, What to Watch in May

Radhe, Army of the Dead, Lucifer season 5 part 2, Love Death + Robots season 2, Toofaan, Sardar Ka Grandson, Castlevania season 4, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Jupiter's Legacy, Master of None season 3...

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IBM to Acquire Software Provider Turbonomic for Over $1.5 Billion

IBM said it has agreed to acquire Turbonomic, a provider of software that helps companies monitor the performance of their business applications, the latest in a series of cloud computing acquisitions...

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Microsoft to Take Smaller Cut From Video Game Developers: Report

Microsoft will cut its charges for video game developers who publish games in its online store, starting August, the New York Times reported.

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Army of the Dead, Lucifer, Toofaan, and More: May 2021 Guide to Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Prime Video APP_NEWS

Radhe, Army of the Dead, Lucifer season 5 part 2, Love Death + Robots season 2, Toofaan, Sardar Ka Grandson, Castlevania season 4, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Jupiter’s Legacy, Master of None season 3 — the biggest movies and TV shows on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5 and Apple TV+ in May 2021.

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IBM to Acquire Software Provider Turbonomic for Over $1.5 Billion APP_NEWS

IBM said it has agreed to acquire Turbonomic, a provider of software that helps companies monitor the performance of their business applications, the latest in a series of cloud computing acquisitions by the tech giant.

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Microsoft to Take Smaller Cut From Video Game Developers: Report APP_NEWS

Microsoft will cut its charges for video game developers who publish games in its online store, starting August, the New York Times reported.

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NASA Postpones Mars Ingenuity Helicopter's Fourth Flight

NASA's Mars Ingenuity helicopter missed its fourth scheduled flight on Thursday, with the space agency blaming a software glitch and vowing to try again the next day.

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Twitter Warns of Rising Costs, Slow User Growth as Pandemic Boost Fizzles

Twitter posted revenues and user numbers mostly in line with analyst estimates in stark contrast to the better performing digital ad firms like Facebook and Alphabet.

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Twitter Warns of Rising Costs, Slow User Growth as Pandemic Boost Fizzles; Meets Revenue Expectations APP_NEWS

Twitter posted revenues and user numbers mostly in line with analyst estimates in stark contrast to the better performing digital ad firms like Facebook and Alphabet.

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Amazon Expects Sales Windfall as US Economy Reopens, Posts Record Profits APP_NEWS

Amazon, one of the biggest winners of the pandemic, posted record profits and signalled that consumers would keep spending in a growing US economy and converts to online shopping are not likely to leave.

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Amazon Expects Sales Windfall as US Economy Reopens, Posts Record Profits

Review: The Snapdragon 7c holds back the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 android os

I want to love this laptop, but it still needs a bit more refining.

The processor diversity on the best Chromebooks has expanded nicely over the last year, with Ryzen processors arriving on the ThinkPad C13 and the Snapdragon 7c first announced for Chromebooks last October. We've been waiting on the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 for a solid six months now, with some questioning if the model had been canceled after the silent delays surrounding its release.

Now, the wait is over for the Acer Chromebook Spin 513, and while there's generally a lot to like about this laptop, what makes it unique also makes it a liability for at least the next few months: it's using a budget processor that's not fully optimized yet. In short, the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is a perfectly fine laptop being held back by its chipset.

At a glance

Acer Chromebook Spin 513

Bottom line: The first Chromebook with the Snapdragon 7c processor is a lightweight laptop in every sense of the word. While the battery will last you all day with ease and the screen looks good, the processor is a little lackluster, with Acer focusing more on efficiency than raw power.

The Good

Excellent battery life
1080p touchscreen with USI stylus support
4G model coming soon

The Bad

Snapdragon 7c is efficient but underpowered
Limited ports

$400 at Walmart (Wi-Fi)

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Price and availability

Acer released the Chromebook Spin 513 on April 30, 2021, after first announcing the device back in October of 2020. The base configuration runs $400 for 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, but there will be models with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and even an LTE-capable version for those who are working on the go and don't want to hassle with constant tethering.

Right now, the Spin 513 is only available at Walmart, but it should be coming to more retailers — and more international markets — in the coming weeks and months.

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Straightforward hardware

Category	Acer Chromebook Spin 513
Display	13.3-inch IPS touchscreen 1080p • 16:9
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
Memory	4-8GB DDR4
Storage	64-128GB eMMC
Expandable	❌
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 4G LTE (optional)
Ports	2x USB-C 1x USB-A 3.5mm Audio jack
Peripheral features	Backlit keyboard USI stylus support
Audio	Stereo speakers two microphones Google Assistant Lab Certification
Battery	Up to 14 hours
Dimensions	310 x 209.35 x 15.55 mm 12.2 x 8.24 x 0.61 in
Weight	1.2kg / 2.65lbs
Auto Update Expiration Date	June 2029
Model number	CP513-1H-S60F

Acer's been in the Chromebook business for a long time, and they've got the hardware and design down to a predictable science by now. As with the Acer Spin 311 (3H), Acer tapered the sides of the laptop while ditching ports they found extraneous, but we still get a USB-C port on each side, along with one USB-A port and a headphone jack. There's no microSD slot on this Chromebook, but given that the base model starts with 64GB of storage, I'm not too disappointed to see it left out.

Once you open up the Spin 513, you'll find a backlit keyboard, the same trackpad as the 311 — it's smooth and responsive if a little small — and the 13.3-inch 1080p touchscreen. The screen is bright enough to use in the shade outdoors, but like most Chromebooks, it's not bright enough to see comfortably in the sun. Inside, the screen is pretty good for reading, working, or the occasional three hours of FreeCell. It also has USI stylus support, meaning you'll be able to use the best Chromebook styli with it for doodling or signing documents.

The backlight keyboard is a boon for working late into the evening, with the backlighting soft and even. The typing experience is just okay — nothing's wrong with it, and there are no standout qualities to the way the keypresses feel under my fingertips — but it's comfortable enough to bang out 3000 words a day whether I'm at my desk or curled up on the couch (where I am right now) or sitting in the Japan pavilion at EPCOT people-watching.

At 2.6 pounds, the Spin 513 isn't the lightest Chromebook ever, but it's easy enough to carry one-handed from the couch to the desk — or to haul around for eight hours in a backpack if you intend to grab this for school. You won't need to haul around the charger every day, that's for sure: even when I had screen brightness cranked up, I still had exemplary battery life during my two weeks with the Spin 513. I went almost two full workdays without charging the 513, and I can say that Acer isn't just showboating with the 14-hour battery life claim: you'll get pretty close, especially if you tend to keep your screen moderately low as I do.

Much of that battery life can be attributed to the Snapdragon 7c compute platform processor that Acer used here. Originally designed for budget Windows — and specifically, education laptops that needed 4G for kids without home internet — the 7c takes full advantage of Qualcomm's ability to optimize for efficiency, which will be extra important for the LTE version of the Spin 513 coming out next month. I'll update this review with the battery life of the LTE model once I can test it, but until then, the Wi-Fi version of the Spin 513 is a battery champ, but that isn't to say that it's a performance champ.

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Processor pain points

It's always exciting to see new chipsets become available for Chromebooks, but it's a process. A Chromebook launches with a new processor, there are some minor — or not so minor, in cases like the Pixel Slate and ASUS C436 — bugs that arise and are squashed within the first couple of Chrome OS updates as they're discovered and reported by users.

Bugs can be fixed, but this lag is more than just bugs.

Thankfully, the Snapdragon 7c seems to fall on the minor side of the bug spectrum, with a few instances of lag and wonk that I'm mostly convinced are a result of Chrome OS still being optimized for the chipset. I'm mentioning it because early adopters might see a little bit of bugginess from the Spin 513 in the first few months, but I can all but guarantee that it'll get fixed.

What won't get fixed is that the 7c just isn't powerful enough to run multiple monitors or windows without noticeable lag when swapping between tasks. Most users probably won't be using a Chromebook with an external monitor — although there are some excellent reasons you should — but if you're using a Chromebook to work from home (as I do), the Spin 513 might not cut it. Once I plugged into my BenQ monitor and booted up a Google Meet call on one screen while having notes and articles pulled up on the other, the Spin 513 got downright sluggish, with a noticeable delay in closing or opening new tabs.

Now, I'm under no illusions about the Snapdragon 7c trying to compete with Intel Core Chromebooks. The 7c is meant to compete with the Celeron and MediaTek Chromebooks that dominate the budget-end of the market, and it does that decently — or at least it will once Google finishes optimizing for it. But I know many of you are interested in this Chromebook for the processor, so I need to be blunt about its limitations: it's a budget-minded processor that's geared towards casual computing and battery efficiency, and it shows.

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Competition

This Chromebook is designed to compete with Mediatek and Celeron Chromebooks like the Lenovo S340 and HP Chromebook 14 G6, with a few added comforts like the backlit keyboard, stylus support, and extended battery to help justify the extra cost. The bigger problem Acer has in convincing you to buy the Chromebook Spin 513 is that Intel Core-powered Chromebooks can be found for basically the same price and with most of the same features.

Case in point, the Lenovo Flex 5 has been out for roughly a year now and is still the leading champion of our best Chromebooks roundup because it offers an i3, a 2-in-1 touchscreen, backlit keyboard, and front-facing speakers all for $380-$400. There's no 4G option like there is for the Spin 513, but for a workhorse Chromebook, that's the better value unless you want a fanless Chromebook or you need a Chromebook that'll easily go 11-13 hours between charges.

The 4G version of the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 has significantly less competition — 4G Chromebooks have been ridiculously rare the last three years — and if there's anything Qualcomm knows how to do, it's how to create a very efficient 4G system. The only other 4G Chromebook announced in 2020 is the Dell 3100, a two-year-old model that had a USB port taken out and a 4G modem shoved in. The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is one of the only other LTE Chromebooks on the market, and it still runs $600, and its battery life is less-than-stellar, so the Spin 513 will beat it hands-down.

In short, the Wi-Fi version of the Spin 513 might have trouble standing out in a crowded pack, but the 4G LTE model coming in the coming weeks will be a hot commodity.

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

You want an LTE Chromebook with a decent battery
You want a lightweight laptop for casual computing
You need an extra computer for the family to share
You're curious how Snapdragon runs Chrome OS

You should not buy this if ...

You use multiple monitors or Linux applications
You need plenty of ports
You have a low tolerance for lag or bugs

This is the first Snapdragon-powered Chromebook to hit the market, and I'm sure it will not be the last. Hopefully, we'll even see Qualcomm and Google come together on a Snapdragon compute platform that's geared specifically to Chrome OS and Google Assistant, but for now, the 7c Qualcomm does a decent job so long as you keep your tabs under control. The problem is, why would you settle for that when there are more reliable $400 Chromebooks with the same feature set out there right now.

3.5 out of 5

If you still want to take a chance, the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 may not be the cheapest Chromebook on the market, but it'll go literally all day, and it's good enough for light work and general browsing while we wait for the bugs to get tamped down. The backlit keyboard, USI stylus support, and the durable build quality help bring the level of comfort we'd expect in a mid-range Chromebook while still keeping the price reasonable.

Lightweight laptop

Acer Chromebook Spin 513

$400 at Walmart (Wi-Fi)

Don't leave me hanging.

With all-day battery life, a decent touchscreen with stylus support, and the ultra-efficient Snapdragon 7c processor, the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 isn't as powerful as we'd hoped it'd be. Still, it could do well in the budget segment with some price cuts and some further optimizations. The LTE version is also shaping up to be a compelling option, but beefy, this is not.

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We wish Samsung would include its 65W GaN charger with its next flagships android os

Samsung didn't ship a charger with the Galaxy S21, but we can still hope for its next flagships. Or not.

What you need to know

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Book Pro with a new, smaller USB-C charger.
The fast charger is based on Gallium nitrate (GaN) and can achieve 65W charging speeds.
Samsung has stated that it will gradually remove chargers from the in-box packaging of its smartphones, meaning it's unlikely its upcoming flagships will ship with GaN chargers.

Samsung just launched its new Galaxy Book Pro laptops at its recent Galaxy Unpacked event, with impressive design, specs, and mobile-focused features. Both offer thin designs, FHD AMOLED displays, and fairly large batteries. Samsung claims as much as eight hours of battery life from a 30-minute charge thanks to its new 65W fast charger, but the real story might be what the new charger is made with.

Samsung made quite a deal over its new Gallium nitride (GaN) charger at Unpacked. If you're not familiar, Gallium nitride is a chemical compound found in many electronics but only recently made its way into smartphone chargers. The benefit of this is that GaN-based semiconductors can be made much smaller than silicon-based ones while providing the same output. This means a laptop charger can provide a large amount of power at just half the physical size and using fewer materials.

A few years ago, our Jerry Hildenbrand wrote about how important Gallium nitride could be for charging, and it continues to be true now as Samsung highlighted during its presentation, including how its new fast charger can handle power more efficiently.

Following Apple's example, Samsung did not include charging adapters with its latest Galaxy S21 flagships, a move that it says will gradually extend its other smartphones to as part of the company's efforts for more sustainable practices. That means anyone buying the latest Galaxy flagships will have to use chargers they already had lying around or purchase a new one.

While this move could possible affect the rumored Galaxy Z Fold 3 and other 2021 flagships, Samsung did point out during its presentation that its new charger could be used on its latest flagship devices for a quick top-up. Of course, these latest devices only support 25W fast charging, which is admittedly slower than many of the best Android phones that have been launched this year, including the OnePlus 9 Pro. That's not to say that Samsung won't follow suit and up the charging speeds of its next flagships, but that remains to be seen. For now, we can chalk it up to wishful thinking.

If you're picking up one of Samsung's new Galaxy Book Pros, you'll be able to take advantage of the included charger. For anyone else looking for a good charger, particularly anyone with a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, we've already compiled a list of some of the best GaN chargers that are available today.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro

$1000 at Samsung

The new Galaxy Book Pro is one of Samsung's most powerful Galaxy devices. It features a sleek design, a 13 or 15-inch AMOLED display, and plenty of features to connect seamlessly with Samsung's family of Galaxy devices, making it perfect if you already have one of Samsung's newest smartphones.

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Google Pay expands US transit support, partners with Target and Safeway android os

These new updates are available in the U.S.

What you need to know

Google Pay in the U.S now works better with local stores and transit systems.
The app can now highlight deals from Target and Safeway.
Google is also adding Chicago and the Bay Area to the list of supported transit systems.

Google today rolled out several new updates to the Google Pay app in the U.S., helping users with the best Android phones manage their money better.

First, the app now offers integration with Safeway and Target. It will surface deals from either store when a user searches for Safeway or Target in the app. Alternatively, enabling location access and passing by these stores should pop up a notification that'll show off weekly deals.

Google's Josh Woodward explained in a blog post:

We teamed up with Safeway to make it easy to find weekly grocery deals from the Google Pay app. You can find deals on thousands of items across more than 500 Safeway stores nationwide. You can also discover similar deals at Target stores nationwide.

Google is also adding support for transit passes in Chicago and the Bay Area. Now users will be able to travel using just their phones via contactless readers or by showing the tickets visually to staff. You'll be able to access this with a new "Ride transit" shortcut on the homepage.

Finally, Google Pay is also going to act a lot more like a smart bank. Google is adding a new "Insights" tab to the app that'll let users see how much they spend and on what. For example, if you search "food," you'll see how much you've spent on food through Google Pay. Counting those calories? Search burgers or pizza, or even Burger King and Pizza Hut. Expense categorization is a useful tool for regular banking apps, and it's good to see Google roll it out here.

You'll need to be on the new Google Pay app to see any of these features. The new version of the app is only available in a select few countries, but Google will likely bring it to other countries soon.

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Amazon confirms Prime Day for later this quarter as revenue grows to $108B android os

Moving Prime Day should help Amazon in Q2.

What you need to know

Amazon's Q1 2021 financial earnings have been released, showing a 44% increase in sales.
The company expects the momentum to continue into Q2 as a result of increased online shopping.
Prime Day has been moved to later this quarter, which is expected to bolster the company's Q2 earnings.

Amazon has just announced its Q1 2021 financial earnings, reporting a substantial gain in earnings. That includes a 44% year-over-year increase in sales, which helped Amazon accrue more than $108 billion in revenue. The growth is undoubtedly a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which led to more online shopping in many countries that faced lockdowns. It also shows its continued strength as it prepares for the upcoming transition to its new CEO-elect.

Amazon CFO Brian Osofsky discussed how the company expects this strong momentum to continue in Q2, despite the pandemic seemingly winding down and more countries starting to open up. One major reason for this is Amazon Prime Day, which was pushed to October 2020 due to the pandemic. The two-day sales event has been rumored to take place this June, which Osofsky hinted to in the earnings call:

July is a big vacation month, so it might be better to have for customers, sellers, and vendors to experiment with a different time period. We experimented the other way, obviously in 2020, by moving it into October, but we believe that it might be better timing, later in Q2. So that's what we're testing this year.

The annual Prime Day event provides exclusive sales on many products and services. It's also a big opportunity for small and medium businesses, which make up a large amount of Amazon's third-party sellers and helped drive a 29% Q1 revenue growth in North American alone. A specific date wasn't announced during the call, but we should expect details about Prime Day soon, given that Q2 ends after June.

Other highlights from Q1 earnings include lower-than-expected COVID-19-related operating costs and higher revenue from AWS, which grew 32% year-over-year to $13.5 billion and undoubtedly continues to benefit from the pandemic as companies and employees continue to operate largely from home. AWS also benefits from services like Disney+ that rely on Amazon's cloud infrastructure, especially as more users take to video streaming. On the streaming front, Amazon Prime Video, which is included with the Amazon Prime subscription, also saw a 70% increase in streaming hours, a metric that nearly doubled for Twitch.

Going forward, Amazon hopes to continue improving its delivery times, which were challenged by the increase in online shopping but should improve thanks to initiatives like In-Garage Grocery Delivery. It also remains focused on improving its AI capabilities on the best Alexa devices and looks forward to new content for Prime Video, such as the Lord of the Rings project that's currently in production.

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Thursday, April 29, 2021

Apple May Start Shipping Successor to Its M1 Chip as Early as July

Apple may start shipping the successor to its M1 chip in July, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. Speculated to be called M2 or M1X, the new Apple Silicon is said to have entered mass production.

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1.32 Crore Vaccination Registrations in One Day Through CoWIN Portal: Centre

The registration process began 4pm on Saturday, April 28, and the government has announced that over 1.32 crore people registered in just one day. There were initial glitches, probably because the...

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Tencent Said to Face Substantial Penalty From China in Antitrust Crackdown

China is preparing a substantial fine for Tencent as part of its sweeping antitrust clampdown on the country's Internet giants, but it is likely to be less than the record penalty imposed on Alibaba...

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Among Us Getting 6 New Colours, Enhanced Art Style, 15-Player Lobbies, More APP_NEWS

Among Us developer InnerSloth is updating its popular game. The game will get new features including 6 new colours, enhanced art styles, and more, along with various bug fixes and improvements.

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1.32 Crore Vaccination Registrations in One Day Through CoWIN Portal APP_NEWS

The registration process began 4pm on Saturday, April 28, and the government has announced that over 1.32 crore people registered in just one day. There were initial glitches, probably because the portal was handling more than 50,000 API calls per second.

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Tencent Said to Face Substantial Penalty From China in Antitrust Crackdown APP_NEWS

China is preparing a substantial fine for Tencent as part of its sweeping antitrust clampdown on the country's Internet giants, but it is likely to be less than the record penalty imposed on Alibaba earlier this month, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

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Netflix’s Play Something Button Rolls Out for All Users Globally APP_NEWS

Netflix’s shuffle play “Play Something” button on TV is here for everyone. You hit the Play Something button and Netflix will pick a title from its catalogue — a film or a TV show — that draws on your existing tastes.

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Spotify Now Has 158 Million Subscribers, Company Posts Rare Profit APP_NEWS

Spotify posted rare net profit in the first quarter and a sharp increase in paid subscribers as the music streaming giant launched in dozens of new markets, but disappointing total users sent shares tumbling. The company said in a press release that it now has 158 million subscribers.

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Netflix's Play Something Button Rolls Out for All Users Globally

Netflix's shuffle play "Play Something" button on TV is here for everyone. You hit the Play Something button and Netflix will pick a title from its catalogue - a film or a TV show - that...

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PUBG Lite Will Not Be Playable Anymore Starting Today, April 29

PUBG Lite has reached its end of service as of today, April 29 and players will no longer be able to play the game like they did. The player service will remain active till May 29 and the Facebook...

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Indian Smartphone Market Sees 11 Percent Shipment Growth: Canalys

Smartphone shipments in India grew 11 percent on a year-over-year basis in the first quarter of 2021, as per a report by Canalys. The market research firm said that smartphone vendors shipped a total...

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Spotify Now Has 158 Million Subscribers, Company Posts Rare Profit

Spotify posted rare net profit in the first quarter and a sharp increase in paid subscribers as the music streaming giant launched in dozens of new markets, but disappointing total users sent shares...

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Facebook Benefits From Pandemic Ad Spending but Apple Could Spoil Its Party

Facebook beat Wall Street expectations for both quarterly revenue and profit but warned that growth later this year could "significantly" decline as new Apple privacy policies will make it more...

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Luca Trailer Out Now, Sets Up Pixar’s Coming-of-Age Italian Adventure APP_NEWS

Pixar’s Luca gets a new trailer. Luca release date is June 18 on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar. Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer lead Luca voice cast. Enrico Casarosa directs.

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Facebook Benefits From Pandemic Ad Spending but Warns Apple Privacy Policies Could Spoil Its Party APP_NEWS

Facebook beat Wall Street expectations for both quarterly revenue and profit but warned that growth later this year could "significantly" decline as new Apple privacy policies will make it more difficult to target advertisements.

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Watch the Trailer for Pixar's Luca, Out in June

Pixar's Luca gets a new trailer. Luca release date is June 18 on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar. Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer lead Luca voice cast. Enrico Casarosa directs.

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Vivo V21 5G to Launch in India Today: How to Watch Livestream

Vivo V21 5G is all set to launch in India today. The phone was unveiled in Malaysia just two days ago and now it is set to arrive to the Indian market. The launch event in India will be livestreamed...

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Facebook Blocks #ResignModi Posts for Hours 'By Mistake'

Facebook blocked posts tagged #ResignModi before restoring them hours later, stoking a controversy that's erupted over government requests to remove social media content as India grapples with an...

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Apple Rides 5G iPhone Demand to Soar Past Sales, Profit Targets

Apple posted sales and profits ahead of Wall Street expectations fuelled by 5G iPhone upgrades but warned a global chip shortage could dent iPad and Mac sales by several billion dollars.

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#ResignModi: Facebook Blocks Posts ‘by Mistake’ for Hours as India’s COVID-19 Crisis Grows APP_NEWS

Facebook blocked posts tagged #ResignModi before restoring them hours later, stoking a controversy that’s erupted over government requests to remove social media content as India grapples with an escalating COVID-19 crisis.

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Cheaper HBO Max ad-supported tier could challenge Netflix, Disney Plus android os

HBO Max could offer users more value with its new ad-supported tier.

What you need to know

HBO Max could charge $9.99 for its upcoming ad-supported tier.
The company has already announced that the cheaper tier will be available this June.
The price could undercut other streaming services like Netflix, which doesn't have an ad-supported tier.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has driven more people to streaming services. HBO Max launched at an opportune time to take advantage of this, bringing several theatrical movie releases to the platform. While not cheap at $14.99/month, it does offer more than one simultaneous stream and supports 4K HDR on many of the best streaming devices. WarnerMedia has already announced plans to launch its cheaper, ad-supported tier this June, and now we may have an idea of how much it'll cost.

According to a report from CNBC, WarnerMedia plans to charge just $9.99 for its ad-supported tier. That would challenge rival streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix, the latter of which has a basic plan for $8.99 that only offers one stream and no HD support. Netflix does have a $13.99 plan that offers two simultaneous HD streams, although as it stands, HBO Max already supports 4K and three simultaneous streams. If the service keeps these perks in its new ad-supported tier, it could seriously undercut Netflix.

Apparently, some TV distributors aren't too happy about the cheaper tier since they apparently receive a large share of the HBO subscription charge. According to CNBC, Comcast could take as much as $9 per $15 subscription. AT&T isn't too worried about it, and CEO John Stankey seems eager to embrace more customers with this more affordable subscription:

Whether a customer chooses to buy the ad-supported product or buy the straight subscription product, it's accretive in the same ways to our business.

With June just around the corner, it's only a matter of time before WarnerMedia announces the full details of its upcoming ad-supported tier for HBO Max. Is this something any of our readers would be interested in?

HBO Max

$15/mo. at HBO Max

HBO Max offers plenty of content to keep you occupied while you're stuck at home, including new movie releases like Zack Snyder's Justice League. And with up to three simultaneous 4K streams, you can bring your family and friends into the mix.

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Google I/O 2021 schedule features Android 12, Wear OS, Google TV, and more android os

What are you most excited about for Google I/O?

What you need to know

The schedule for Google I/O 2021 has finally been released.
The three-day conference will go over plenty of Google products like Wear OS, Android 12, Google TV, and more.
Google I/O 2021 is virtual and free for anyone to attend.

Google's annual developer conference is only a few weeks away, but there's already a lot to be excited about. We continue to speculate about what to expect at Google I/O 2021. Fortunately, Google is helping out a bit with the speculation thanks to the event schedule that's just been released.

Amongst the keynotes, meetups, and workshops, there's quite a lot going on. Fortunately, those that already registered and selected their interests will have certain sessions marked as "suggested for you." Google also has curated schedules based on different topics or interests, and sessions can also be favorited to create your own personal schedule. Many of the sessions seem to overlap, making it very difficult to get to all of them.

One highlight includes sessions on Wear OS and developing Tiles for the platform. Google recently opened up the Tiles feature to third-party developers, which could help bring more functionality to the platform. There is also a session on foldables and large screens, something that Google has been working with Microsoft to improve for devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Surface Duo. Of course, there will be plenty of Android 12, which is currently in its third and final developer preview and is expected to hit beta when the conference begins.

Google I/O 2021 will commence on May 18 with an opening keynote at 1 pm ET. Even if you don't attend any of the breakout sessions, the keynote is always fascinating to watch and highlights many updates and features that will reach the best Android phones later this year.

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Qualcomm continues to rise thanks to 5G sales, despite global chip shortage android os

Qualcomm has high hopes for 2021.

What you need to know

Qualcomm reported a 52% year-over-year increase in revenue in its recent quarterly earnings.
The company has expressed a positive outlook on the state of the global chip shortage later this year.
Qualcomm partially attributed its endurance in the chip shortage to a "reduction on orders from an OEM."

Qualcomm announced its quarterly financial earnings on Wednesday, beating analyst expectations with $7.93 billion in revenue, a 52% increase when compared to the same quarter last year. That's despite not only a global pandemic but also a global semiconductor shortage that has affected several different industries, not to mention the availability of devices like the PS5. Outgoing CEO, Steve Mollenkopf, attributed Qualcomm's strong growth to its strong position in the market:

Demonstrating the strength of our strategy and our success in execution, we delivered another quarter of year-over-year growth driven by sustained demand for smartphones globally and our ability to increase the scale of our non-handset revenues.

The impact of the global semiconductor shortage has reportedly affected companies like Samsung who makes many of the best Android phones. When questioned about the company's strategy in dealing with the shortage, CFO Akash Palkhiwala alluded to the "reduction on orders from an OEM," which allowed the company to redirect its supply. It's possible that this could refer to LG's recent exit from the smartphone industry. Despite said reduction, the company was still able to manage more than $4 billion in handset revenue, a 53% increase compared to the same quarter last year. That could be thanks to cheaper 5G chipsets like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480, bringing 5G to lower price points.

Qualcomm also presented a positive outlook on the shortage, stating that it expects the situation to improve in the second half of the calendar year. This follows similar remarks from CEO-elect Cristiano Amon during his Reddit AMA earlier this month:

If anything, this semiconductor shortage highlighted the importance of our technology to the future of our economy and the significance of the opportunity ahead of us. We are optimistic that the semiconductor supply constraints will improve in the second half of the calendar year.

While Qualcomm does expect a slight decline in the following quarter, the company noted that the current supply constraints would help drive demand, particularly when more flagships like the rumored Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 launch in the second half of the year and in time for the Holiday season. Qualcomm has been known to launch mid-year refreshes to its most popular chips as it did with last year's Snapdragon 865+. Given that the company estimates as 5G shipments to reach as much as 550 million units, we might expect the same treatment with its flagship Snapdragon 888.

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Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Asus ZenFone 8 Launch Date Set for May 12, to Sport Hole-Punch Display

Asus ZenFone 8 will be launched at an event scheduled for May 12 at 7pm CEST (10.30pm IST). Asus is likely to livestream its event on its social media channels. The smartphone will have a display that...

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Samsung Galaxy M42 5G With 5,000mAh Battery Launched in India

Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is the latest smartphone to launch in the Indian market by the Korean tech giant. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC and has a quad rear camera setup. It...

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Man Tweets To Google CEO Sundar Pichai, for Help Resetting His Gmail Password

When Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted to talk about how Google will aid India in the fight against COVID-19, he probably wasn't expecting a tech support request.

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Apple Music Launches Top 25 Playlists for 100 Cities With iOS 14.5 Update

Apple Music is launching Top 25 Playlists in more than 100 cities around the world. Users who aren't subscribed to Apple Music can access the playlists through its Web player. Alongside, Apple Music...

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Zomato Files for Rs. 8,250-Crore IPO as Food Delivery Surges in Pandemic

Zomato has filed for an IPO of up to Rs. 8,250 crores as consumers increasingly turn to ordering food online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Realme Confirms India Launch Event for May 4, Realme X7 Max Expected

In the latest #AskMadhav podcast, Sheth revealed that Realme will be hosting a launch event on May 4. At the event, the company will unveil a new flagship smartphone with a MediaTek Dimensity 1200...

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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration to Open for All Adults in India From 4pm Today

COVID-19 vaccine registration in India for people aged between 18 and 44 years will begin from 4pm today (Wednesday, April 28). You can register using the CoWIN portal or through the Aarogya Setu or...

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Microsoft Rides Cloud Strength to Post Growth in Sales

Microsoft met analysts' quarterly sales expectations and beat profit estimates, but its shares fell slightly reflecting some scepticism about one-off benefits included in the results and high hopes...

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Apple Music Launches Top 25 Playlists for 100 Cities Around the World With iOS 14.5 Update APP_NEWS

Apple Music is launching Top 25 Playlists in more than 100 cities around the world. Users who aren’t subscribed to Apple Music can access the playlists through its Web player. Alongside, Apple Music will allow record label searches so listeners can find songs and albums from a particular record label.

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Zomato Files for Rs. 8,250-Crore IPO as Food Delivery Surges in Pandemic APP_NEWS

Zomato has filed for an IPO of up to Rs. 8,250 crores as consumers increasingly turn to ordering food online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration to Go Live in India for People Aged 18-44 Years From 4pm Today: How to Register APP_NEWS

COVID-19 vaccine registration in India for people aged between 18 and 44 years will begin from 4pm today (Wednesday, April 28). You can register using the CoWIN portal or through the Aarogya Setu or Umang app.

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WhatsApp Testing Feature to Help Migrate Chats Between Android and iOS

WhatsApp is testing a new feature for Android devices that will let users import their chat history from iOS devices. Previously, the instant messaging app was working on an export chat feature on...

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SpaceX Plan to Deploy Over 2,000 Starlink Satellites Gets US FCC Approval

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it had voted to approve a SpaceX plan to deploy some Starlink satellites at a lower Earth orbit than planned as part of its push to offer...

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WhatsApp Chat History Migration Tool Is Being Tested for Android Devices APP_NEWS

WhatsApp is testing a new feature for Android devices that will let users import their chat history from iOS devices. Previously, the instant messaging app was working on an export chat feature on iOS. Google Drive may be used to import chat on Android.

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Apple Fined $12 Million by Russia for Alleged App Market Abuse APP_NEWS

Russia said it had fined Apple $12 million (roughly Rs. 90 crores) for alleged abuse of its dominance in the mobile applications market, in the latest dispute between Moscow and a Western technology firm.

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Samsung Galaxy M42 5G to Launch in India Today: All You Need to Know

Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is all set to launch in India today. The launch event is scheduled to begin at 12pm IST and the phone is already confirmed to be available via Amazon. Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is...

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Apple Fined $12 Million by Russia for Alleged App Market Abuse

Google Parent Alphabet Rides Online Consumer Activity to Post Record Profit

Google owner Alphabet reported record profit for the second consecutive quarter and a $50-billion (Rs. 3,72,780 crores) share buyback but warned a surge in usage and advertising sales during the...

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Instagram to Create Marketplace to Connect Brands, Influencers; Will Help Creators Earn From Recommendations APP_NEWS

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company will build new features starting with Instagram for content creators to earn money from recommending products on the app and a marketplace to help connect brands with influencers.

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Instagram to Create Marketplace to Connect Brands With Influencers

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company will build new features starting with Instagram for content creators to earn money from recommending products on the app and a marketplace to help connect...

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How Dozee Is Helping Hospitals Build Makeshift ICU Beds During COVID-19 Crisis

With startup culture thriving in India and the need for 'going local' becoming increasingly popular, we take a look at all the hottest tech startups grabbing headlines in the country. Gadgets 360...

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Realme 8 5G First Sale in India Today at 12 Noon: All Details

Realme 8 5G will go on sale for the first time in India today, April 28 via Flipkart, Realme.com, and other retailers. The smartphone was launched as an upgraded version of the Realme 8 a day after...

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The OnePlus Watch will be back in stock tomorrow, if you still care android os

Let's see how long the OnePlus Watch lasts this time around.

What you need to know

OnePlus has announced that its smartwatch will be back in stock on April 28.
The first batch of OnePlus Watches ran out of stock extremely quickly.
OnePlus has already started rolling out the first update for the watch, with more features coming soon.

The OnePlus Watch may not have had the best reviews, but the company's first smartwatch managed to sell out in about a minute after going on sale earlier this month. The device has been out of stock ever since, but OnePlus has just given some hope to those who are still wanting to get their hands on it. The company has announced via Twitter that the OnePlus Watch will be back in stock tomorrow, April 28.

It's almost here again! 🤩

The OnePlus Watch will be re-stocked tomorrow at 11 am EST!
⌚️ https://t.co/mFgJAK2ckH pic.twitter.com/bdDGKEwNbp
— OnePlus➕ (@OnePlus_USA) April 27, 2021

When the OnePlus Watch went on sale, it was missing a few features advertised at launch, most notably the 110+ workout modes. Not only that but the watch was plagued with inconsistent notifications and shoddy stability. Fortunately, OnePlus has heard the complaints and is issuing an update to the watch that should hopefully fix some of the problems. The company also announced that other features, like Always On Display, will be coming in later updates, which could end up making the OnePlus Watch one of the best cheap Android smartwatches on the market, given its low price.

As noted in the tweet, the device will go on sale at 11 am EST, so you should act fast if you want to grab one! You can use the link below to purchase the watch.

Work in Progress

OnePlus Watch

$159 at OnePlus

Improvements are coming.

As OnePlus' first smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch manages to get a lot of things right. It offers good-looking hardware, decent fitness tracking, and amazing battery life. OnePlus has committed to making the watch even better with new features like Always On Display, remote camera control, and more.

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Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Telegram Update Brings Features Like Payments 2.0, Mini Profiles, Scheduled Voice Chats, More APP_NEWS

Telegram update brings a ton of new features like Payments 2.0, Mini Profiles, Scheduled Voice Chats and more. There is no information regarding when the update will be released.

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Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition Teased to Pack 5,065mAh Battery, 67W Fast Charging Support

Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition will launch on April 27 and fresh teasers give away details of the battery and fast charging support. In the past, the phone has been tipped to feature a triple rear...

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Apple Releases iOS 14.5 With Ability to Unlock iPhone Using Apple Watch

Apple has released iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, macOS Big Sur 11.3, watchOS 7.4, and tvOS 14.5 for all its compatible devices. In the series, the iOS 14.5 update brings the ability to unlock your iPhone...

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Amazon Transports Medical Equipment to Indian Hospitals Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Amazon has announced that it is airlifting over 8,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore to donate them to hospitals in India in order to boost their capacity to help COVID-19...

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Elon Musk's Tesla Just Sold Some of Its Bitcoins: Find Out Why

Elon Musk said Tesla had sold 10 percent of its Bitcoin holdings to demonstrate the cryptocurrency's liquidity on balance sheet, while he has retained his personal Bitcoin investment. The Tesla and...

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Moto G10 Power review: Awesome battery life, underwhelming hardware android os

The G10 Power has a massive 6000mAh battery, but the underlying hardware is far from ideal.

Motorola has seen its fortunes fade under Lenovo's tutelage, but the brand continues to roll out a cavalcade of budget phones that seemingly don't differ all that much from their predecessors. While it doesn't have the same level of cachet as five years ago, Motorola makes some of the best cheap Android phones and continues to do well in markets like the U.S.

But the brand's sales have taken a nosedive in countries like India, where the Chinese contingent of Xiaomi and Realme effectively rule the budget category. Motorola's answer to this is to decrease the price of its budget devices with each generation. The Moto G9 Power launched back in December for ₹11,999 ($160), and Motorola launched its successor — the Moto G10 Power — just three months later.

The Moto G10 Power is available in India for just ₹9,999 ($133), and the fact that it has the same 6000mAh battery as its predecessor makes it an interesting option to consider. But to bring the phone to under ₹10,000, Motorola had to make a few unwelcome changes — the G10 Power is running the Snapdragon 460, which isn't quite as powerful as the Snapdragon 662 featured in the G9 Power.

The camera has also been downgraded, with the G10 Power offering a 48MP primary lens at the back. With the phone coming shortly on the heels of the G9 Power, let's take a look at what you're getting with the G10 Power and whether you should pick it up over what Xiaomi and Realme have to offer in this category.

Moto G10 Power

Bottom line: The Moto G10 Power is one of very few budget phones to offer a clean interface without any bloatware. The phone also has a 6000mAh battery that outlasts every other device in this category, and you get IP52 water resistance. However, the sub-par display and underwhelming hardware make it a tough recommendation.

The Good

Insane battery life
Android 11 out of the box
Clean software without any bloat
Decent camera for daylight use
IP52 dust and water resistance

The Bad

Underpowered hardware
Mediocre display
Won't get many software updates

₹9,999 at Flipkart

Moto G10 Power: Price and availability

The Moto G10 Power was unveiled on March 10 and is on sale in India for ₹9,999 ($133). The phone is launching in other markets as the Moto G10; the only difference is that the G10 Power has a 6000mAh battery while the G10 has a 5000mAh battery. The G10 Power also has 20W fast charging, whereas the global G10 has 10W fast charging.

Moto G10 Power: What you'll like

The Moto G10 Power has a fresh design with a wave pattern at the back, and the device itself feels great to hold and use. The back and mid-frame are made out of plastic, and at a thickness of 9.9mm, the phone is not as svelte as the likes of the Redmi Note 10 Pro or other budget options.

Coming in at 220g, the phone is quite heavy as well, but Motorola nailed the weight distribution, and you don't necessarily feel the heft. The camera housing is pretty standard fare, and the module itself doesn't protrude from the chassis. There's a traditional fingerprint sensor at the back housed within the Motorola logo, and the module itself is reliable in daily use.

The Moto G10 Power has a no-nonsense design, and it doesn't miss out on the extras.

The power and volume buttons are located on the right, and there's a dedicated button for launching Google Assistant that sits above the volume rocker. The power button has a textured finish that allows you to easily locate it with your thumb. There's a 3.5mm jack up top, and the phone charges over USB-C.

The G10 Power has an older waterdrop-style cutout, and the bottom bezels are huge. Most brands have switched to hole-punch cutouts and thinner bezels even in the entry-level segment, but it looks like Motorola hasn't received the memo. That said, the design should feel familiar if you're switching from an older phone.

You get a dual-SIM card slot as standard, and the hybrid tray lets you add a microSD card in lieu of the secondary SIM card. An interesting addition with the G10 Power is IP52 water resistance; it gives the phone added resilience against dust and water, and it's always great to see a budget phone with ingress protection.

The marquee feature on the Moto G10 Power is the gargantuan 6000mAh battery. Motorola offers 20W fast charging, and as the phone is rocking a 6.5-inch 720p display, you get fantastic battery life. The phone lasts over two days without any issues whatsoever, and if you're in the market for a phone with stellar battery life, you won't find many devices that can outmatch the G10 Power.

There's plenty to like on the software front as well. The Moto G10 Power comes with Android 11 out of the box, and Motorola continues to deliver a clean interface without any bloatware. It's refreshing to use a budget phone with a clean UI, and the G10 Power doesn't have any spam notifications or ads within the interface.

The G10 Power is a battery beast like no other, and the clean UI is a clear differentiator.

There are far too few options in the budget category that offer a vanilla Android interface — Nokia is the only other manufacturer to do so — and that makes the G10 Power an enticing choice. As the phone comes with Android 11, it includes all the features that Google introduced with the OS; you'll find one-time permissions, Conversations view in the notification pane, smart home controls in the power menu, and new privacy controls.

While the interface itself is clean, Motorola has added powerful customization features. Moto Actions have been a mainstay on Motorola phones for nearly a decade, and you'll find the same set of options on the G10 Power as well. There are plenty of off-screen gestures to choose from, including a three-finger screenshot that lets you take screenshots easily, a twist gesture for launching the camera, lift to unlock the screen, and much more.

You also get a decent theming engine that lets you tweak the look of the icons and change accent colors. The Moto G10 Power is the first Motorola phone I've used in a few years, but because the core features have been unchanged for a while, the phone felt immediately familiar. If you're on an older Motorola phone or an Android One device, you will feel right at home on the G10 Power.

The Moto G10 Power has four cameras at the back: a 48MP primary lens, 8MP wide-angle module, and a 2MP macro along with a 2MP portrait lens. The only camera you'll end up using most of the time is the 48MP lens, but for what it's worth, the 8MP wide-angle lens takes shots of the same caliber in daylight conditions.

The 48MP camera on the Moto G10 Power does a great job in daylight conditions, delivering photos with good dynamic range and accurate colors. The phone struggles in low-light scenarios, and although HDR manages to salvage highlights and bring out details from the edges, there is a lot of noise. The dedicated Night Vision mode fixes this problem to a degree, but low-light photos are strictly average.

The phone doesn't quite hold up to the likes of the POCO M3 or the Redmi Note 10, but the camera is serviceable if you're just looking to share photos on social media.

Moto G10 Power: What you won't like

The Moto G10 Power has a 6.5-inch LCD display. While that's standard fare in this category, the phone has a 720p (1600 x 720) panel, and that makes things less than ideal. You can make out artifacts on the screen, and the viewing angles aren't great either. The screen gets bright enough for outdoor use, but it just does not hold up to its budget rivals.

Specs	Moto G10 Power
Software	Android 11
Display	6.5-inch (1600 x 720) IPS LCD
Chipset	1.80GHz Snapdragon 460
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB
Rear Camera 1	48MP ƒ/1.7 (primary)
Rear Camera 2	8MP ƒ/2.2 (wide-angle)
Rear Camera 3	2MP ƒ/2.4 (macro)
Rear Camera 4	2MP ƒ/2.4 (portrait)
Front Camera	8MP ƒ/2.2
Connectivity	Wi-Fi ac, BT5.0
Battery	6000mAh \| 20W
Security	Rear fingerprint
Colors	Blue, Grey
Dimensions	165.2 x 75.7 x 9.9mm
Weight	220g

Then there's the hardware: the G10 Power features a Snapdragon 460 chipset, and you will notice lag in daily use. There's a noticeable delay in everything from launching the camera, browsing in Chrome, or just opening WhatsApp, and the lag makes using the phone tedious.

Motorola could have avoided this particular issue by reusing the Snapdragon 662 that powers the Moto G9 Power, but that wasn't the case. Hardware has gotten to a point where there's no lag even on entry-level hardware, and that's why it's puzzling to see pervasive issues on the G10 Power.

It's great that the G10 Power has clean software, but the sub-par hardware mars the overall experience. There aren't many choices if you want a budget phone with a clean UI, and as much as I like the fact that there's no bloatware or spammy ads on the G10 Power, the phone just doesn't cut it in terms of hardware.

Motorola's software update policy is also less than stellar. The manufacturer guarantees one platform update and two years of security updates, and that limits just how long you can use a Motorola phone. Motorola justifies its policy by stating that most budget phone buyers upgrade every two years, but that's a poor excuse for not meeting the minimum requirements laid out by Google.

Moto G10 Power: The competition

There are dozens of great options in this category, and the POCO M3 in particular stands out for the hardware on offer. The phone has an interesting design with a large camera housing at the back, the same 6000mAh battery as the G10 Power, a 6.53-inch FHD+ display, a 48MP camera at the back, and a faster Snapdragon 662 chipset. At ₹10,999 ($145), it costs just a little more than the G10 Power while offering a lot more value. That said, the phone is still on Android 10, with no word on when it will switch to Android 11.

Of course, the Moto G9 Power is still a great alternative, with that particular phone available for ₹11,999 ($160). You are getting the same chipset as the POCO M3 and the same 6000mAh battery as well as 20W fast charging, and the phone slows down in regular use. The 64MP camera also holds up marginally better than the 48MP module on the G10 Power, but what isn't great is that the device runs Android 10 out of the box. With Motorola only offering one platform update, the phone will not be updated past Android 11.

If you're looking for better cameras, the Redmi Note 10 is a very interesting choice in 2021. The phone starts at just ₹11,999 ($160), and you get a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel, Snapdragon 678, IP53 dust and water resistance, and a standout 48MP camera that takes amazing photos. The 5000mAh battery lasts two days with ease, and you get 33W fast charging.

Moto G10 Power: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

You want a phone with incredible battery life
You're looking for a phone with a clean UI and zero bloatware
You want a device that runs Android 11 out of the box
You need a phone with IP52 water resistance

You shouldn't buy this if...

You want lag-free performance
You want a phone with a good display
You need a phone that will get two platform updates

Overall, the Moto G10 Power has the same shortcomings as recent Motorola phones. The hardware on offer just doesn't measure up to its rivals, which is a real shame because Motorola continues to deliver on the software front. The interface on the G10 Power is clean, free of any bloat, and is generally a delight to use. With most Xiaomi and Realme phones in this segment still running Android 10 out of the box, the Moto G10 Power is one of very few devices that offer Android 11 out of the box.

Then there's the battery life. With a 6000mAh battery, the Moto G10 Power outlasts just about every other device in this category. And the fact that the Indian version is getting 20W fast charging as default is welcome news. The 48MP camera at the back is also decent enough for daily use, and the phone itself has a fresh design that allows it to stand out from its predecessors.

3.5 out of 5

However, there are a few downsides. My main issue with the device is the 6.53-inch 720p display; it is a poor showing by Motorola, and one that ultimately makes using the G10 Power far from ideal. Motorola should have offered a Full HD panel and removed one (or two) of the camera lenses at the back, but the brand instead wanted to go with quad cameras as a differentiator, and as a result, you get an inferior screen.

The Snapdragon 460 ends up being laggy even for mundane tasks, and with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for the base model, the Moto G10 Power doesn't really give you a lot when it comes to the hardware. But if you're looking for a phone for basic tasks and need a clean UI without any bloat and over two days of battery life, the Moto G10 Power has you covered.

Moto G10 Power

Bottom line: The Moto G10 Power gets a few things right. The software is clean and devoid of any bloatware, and you'll only need to charge it once every two days. But the phone is lacking in other areas — the display just doesn't cut it, and the hardware is laggy even in daily use. If you don't mind those shortcomings, the Moto G10 Power is a decent choice.

₹9,999 at Flipkart

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House of the Dragon Filming Begins, to Release in 2022 on HBO and HBO Max APP_NEWS

Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon has begun production and will release in 2022 on HBO and HBO Max. Expected to air on Disney+ Hotstar in India.

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House of the Dragon Filming Begins, to Release in 2022 in India

Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon has begun production and will release in 2022 on HBO and HBO Max. Expected to air on Disney+ Hotstar in India.

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Itel Vision 2 With Octa-Core SoC, Triple Rear Cameras Launched in India

Itel Vision 2 has launched in India as a successor to Itel Vision 1 that was launched in February 2020. It is an entry-level offering that costs Rs. 7,499 and comes with decent specifications. It...

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Blue Origin Protests NASA's Awarding of Moon Lander Contract to SpaceX

Blue Origin, the space rocket company backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is formally challenging the $2.9-billion (roughly Rs. 21,650 crore) Moon lander contract awarded by NASA to rival Elon Musk's...

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Apple to Establish North Carolina Campus, Increase US Spending Targets

Apple said it will establish a new campus in North Carolina that will house up to 3,000 employees, expand its operations in several other US states and increase its spending targets with US suppliers.

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Apple Ad Tracking Changes' Impact Will Hinge on App Developers: Privacy Chief

The impact of Apple's new privacy controls over digital advertising tracking is likely to depend greatly on how app developers implement a new pop-up notification, Apple's user privacy chief said.

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WhatsApp Group Admin Not Liable for Objectionable Post by Others: Bombay HC

An administrator of a WhatsApp group cannot be held criminally liable for an objectionable post by another member of the group, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has held and quashed a case of...

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Apple Advertising Tracking Changes’ Impact Will Hinge on App Developers, Company’s Privacy Chief Says APP_NEWS

WhatsApp Group Admin Not Liable for Objectionable Post by Other Member: Bombay High Court APP_NEWS

An administrator of a WhatsApp group cannot be held criminally liable for an objectionable post by another member of the group, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has held and quashed a case of sexual harassment lodged against a 33-year-old man.

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Facebook in Process to Build Its Own In-App Podcast Player: Report

Facebook is building its own in-app podcast player, the company reportedly confirmed. According to The Verge, the new addition will be separate from its new in-app Spotify player.

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Facebook Users Can Now Play Spotify Music, Podcasts on App

Spotify said it has partnered with Facebook to allow listeners to play music and podcasts directly from the social network's iOS and Android apps.

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VPN Deals 2021: Best discounts, coupons & more android os

Trying to find the best VPN can be a struggle on its own, but when you then mix in trying to find the best VPN deal you find yourself down a whole new rabbit hole. You've probably heard a lot about VPNs recently and are already aware of the reasons that you need one, but now you need to find the best price, right? We've looked through hundreds of VPN deals that are out there to bring you only the top options that are actually worth considering.

Best VPN Deals Right Now

FastestVPN: $17 lifetime membership
ExpressVPN: $6.67 per month (49% off)
Surfshark: $2.49 per month (81% off)
PIA VPN: $2.69 per month (77% off)
NordVPN: $3.71 per month (68% off)
IPVanish: $2.63 per month (75% off)
CyberGhost: $2.25 per month (83% off)
PureVPN: $0.99 trial
More Deals: Tunnelbear, Cyberghost & more

Today's best VPN deals include 49% off ExpressVPN, access to Surfshark VPN for less than $3 per month, and a $17 lifetime license for FastestVPN. See below for all the details.

FastestVPN

$17 lifetime license

Pros

Affordable one-time payment
Works on 15 devices at same time
Fast speeds with Smart Connect feature
Easy bypass for geo-restricted content

Cons

Sparse support site
Finicky kill switch

$16.60 at FastestVPN

FastestVPN is running a new promotion that offers you lifetime access to its service for a one-time $20 fee. Better yet, that price falls to just $16.60 when you enter code special2020 during checkout. That was a holiday special code that could expire at any point, though.

It offers a Smart Connect feature that lets you automatically connect to the fastest server for your location every time without worrying about picking the right one. That's a great feature for those who aren't super familiar with VPNs and want something that is easy to use. You can also pick the server you want, and Fastest VPN has them available in more than 30 countries around the world.

You can use it on a wide variety of devices, including phones, tablets, computers, routers, Fire TV sticks, and more. It can run on up to 15 devices at the same time, meaning you won't need to disconnect one device to connect another. There are no monthly bandwidth limits, so you can leave it connected all the time if you want, and the company offers a 15-day money-back guarantee if you aren't satisfied.

Be sure to check it out before this deal is gone!

FastestVPN

If you are looking for something that you can sign up for today and pay once and have access for indefinitely, this may be the best option for you. FastestVPN offers great speeds at an affordable rate, and it's easy to use. Remember to use code special2020.

$16.60 at FastestVPN

ExpressVPN

From $6.67 per month (49% off)

Pros

3,000+ servers in 94 countries
No user logs (British Virgin Islands jurisdiction)
Excellent customer support
Apps for all major platforms

Cons

Comparatively expensive

ExpressVPN is one of the providers that's been around for quite some time already and is highly-regarded by many people. It may not be the cheapest option, but sometimes the best VPN comes with a more expensive price tag than the others.

Luckily, right now you can get 15 months for the price of 12 with this promo that scores you three months free. It also happens to save you a cool 49% on the annual cost, making it just $6.67 per month. While charging a little more than the competition, ExpressVPN makes up for it with the features and reliability it offers.

With ExpressVPN you get a balanced combination of speed, ease of use, security, and customer service. The app interface is easy to use, and getting it set up on a new device should only take a few minutes of your time.

Luckily, there is usually a great ExpressVPN deal to take advantage of, and it is one of the best Android VPNs out there.

We can't sing enough praises for ExpressVPN. If you're in the market, you should definitely give it a shot today. If you don't like it, you can get your money back without a problem.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our top pick for VPN providers in 2020, and right now you can save big when you sign up for an annual plan. Get an extra few months free, plus save 49% on the purchase. Sign up now.

From $6.67 per month at ExpressVPN

Odds are that you know what a VPN is but may not have signed up for one already. There are some common misconceptions about VPNs, especially that they are quite expensive, but that doesn't have to be the case — especially if you know where to look for the best deals (hint: it's here). In fact, you can actually score a VPN subscription for less than the price of one cup of coffee each month. We've already showcased the absolute best VPNs you can sign up for, and now we want to help you save money on some of those picks and more.

Don't spend hours scouring the web and trying to figure out which VPN service has the best features for you at the best price. We've already done the work for you. All you have to do is the scrolling. Let's take a look at the best VPN deals, discounts, and coupon codes from top-rated providers to help you get started on your way to better privacy and protection in 2020.

Surfshark VPN

From $2.49 per month (81% off)

Pros

Servers worldwide
No user logs (British Virgin Islands jurisdiction)
Unlimited device connections
Apps for all major platforms plus smart TV platforms

Cons

Sparse support site
Finicky kill switch

Surfshark VPN is a relatively new service, though it has quickly gained a solid reputation for itself thanks to its balance of features and affordability. It has 1,000+ servers in 60+ countries, strong encryption, and keeps no logs. There are apps for major platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows, as well as smart TV apps for Apple TV and Fire TV, games consoles, and more. You can also connect as many as you want with one subscription.

Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs out there offering 81% off with its 24-month plan. That means you're only paying $2.49 per month over the course of the two years versus paying per month for that length of time, though you can essentially try Surfshark free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark VPN

Surfshark offers one of the best cheap VPN options already, but this discount makes it an even better value. It's hard to beat this deal, especially considering everything that Surfshark does already and how well it performs. The deal won't be around forever, though.

From $2.49 at Surfshark

Private Internet Access

$2.69 per month (77% off)

Pros

3,300+ servers in 32 countries
Strong performance, unlimited bandwidth
Apps for all major platforms
10 simultaneous connections
Affordable pricing

Cons

U.S.-based
Email ticket support

Private Internet Access is pretty popular, partially thanks to its already-affordable pricing such as its 1-year plan that costs just $3.33 per month. But right now, you save even more when you go for its discounted 2-year plan with two months extra thrown in free. Billed as $69.95 upfront, it saves you 77% versus paying month-to-month for that length of time and drops the equivalent monthly cost to just $2.69.

It has over 3,000 servers, though they are spread across only 32 countries. It has apps for all of the major mobile and desktop platforms as well as browser extensions. One downside of PIA is that it's based in the U.S. which means any information it has could be requested by intelligence agencies. That being said, PIA states it keeps no logs so there would be nothing to hand over, but it's still worth considering when you are looking around.

Private Internet Access

PIA is a U.S.-based VPN provider that gives you an unlimited amount of data to use each month and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

From $2.69 at Private Internet Access

NordVPN

From $3.71 per month (68% off)

Pros

Plenty of servers in many locations worldwide
No user logs (Panama jurisdiction)
Anonymous payment options
Apps for all major platforms
Lots of extra features

Cons

Fluctuations in server performance
Recent security concerns

NordVPN is one of the best virtual private network (VPN) providers out there, due to its lack of user logs, plenty of servers, and P2P connectivity. It has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and, and you can use one subscription across six devices simultaneously.

With NordVPN, the longer you prepay the cheaper your monthly cost becomes. It goes from $11.95 per month down to just $4.92 per month when you commit to its 1-year plan, for example. However, the best NordVPN deal right now is on its 2-year plan. Not only do you save 68% by going for that option, dropping the monthly cost to just $3.71, but you will also win an additional month or year on top of that for free in a limited-time deal there right now.

It's worth noting that NordVPN was the center of a security blunder previously. One of its hundreds of servers was accessed by an outside party, though Nord assures customers that nothing major was taken during the attack and that the security has been enhanced as a result. While it may not be a make or break point in your decision process, it's worth keeping in the back of your mind.

Be sure to always check for a NordVPN discount before signing up, though.

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most well-known VPN providers out there right now, and it's plans get extremely affordable when you commit to using it long-term. You can sign up and prepay for two years to ensure you are always connected and protected and get some extra time on top of that for free.

From $3.71 per month at NordVPN

IPVanish

From $2.63 per month (75% off)

Pros

1,300+ servers in 50+ countries
Reliable, speedy service
Apps for all major platforms
10 simultaneous connections
Free cloud storage

Cons

U.S.-based

IPVanish falls in the middle of the pack for features, server availability, and price. None of that is bad necessarily, as a fairly-priced and reliable VPN service is the kind of product you want to get behind. It offers unlimited P2P traffic, powerful apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and even Fire TV, as well as a speedy connection.

With its current promotion, you can snag the one-year plan at an $81 discount. Billed as $31.49 upfront, you're effectively paying less than $3 per month for the service in your first year. Alternatively, you can bundle IPVanish's VPN service with a year of SugarSync cloud storage. If an extra 500GB of cloud storage sounds like something you need, you'd be paying just a few bucks more over the course of the year to get it.

Better yet, IPVanish is one of the few VPN providers offering a discount on its one-month offering. Right now, you first month costs just $3.49 — a discount of 65% on the regular cost.

IPVanish recently moved from a 7-day money-back guarantee to a 30-day guarantee so you can try it out for longer risk-free.

IPVanish

The price is a bit higher than some of the others, but when you factor in the cloud storage that you are getting you quickly see how much value is actually provided here. Sign up today and try it out.

From $2.63 per month at IPVanish

CyberGhost

From $2.25 per month (83% off)

Pros

6,300+ servers in 90+ countries
Automatic server matching for geo-restricted content unblocking
Apps for all major platforms

Cons

Connection speeds are slower than competition

CyberGhost has all of the basic features you want and need from your VPN provider plus a couple of added extras that make it worth considering, especially when it is offering such a big price cut.

One neat feature is the ability to help you find the right server from its list of over 6,000 depending on what task you're doing. You can simply select the geo-blocked service that you want from a list, such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, etc., and then CyberGhost shows you the best options so you can get straight to streaming.

The current best deal gives you 3 additional months for free when you go for the 3-year plan which means you're paying just $2.25 per month and saving 83% in the process. It's $87.75 upfront which renews every three years after your first 39 months. There's a 45-day money-back guarantee, one of the longest of any provider, in case you change your mind too.

CyberGhost

You'll get some stellar month-to-month savings by going for CyberGhost's long-term plan as well as a few extra months thrown in for free in your first billing cycle. There's even a 45-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free.

From $2.25 per month at CyberGhost

PureVPN

$0.99 7-day trial + 47% off 1-year

Pros

2,000+ servers in 140+ countries
No user logs (Hong Kong jurisdiction)
Apps for all major platforms plus smart TVs and Wi-Fi routers
31-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Slower speeds than competition
5 simultaneous connections

PureVPN is super affordable but reviewers have had some issues with its reliability and speed. It does have one of the broadest server availabilities with over 2,000 servers in 140 countries, so it may be worth trying out yourself to see if you experience any problems.

Right now, its best savings are offered in the form of a 7-day trial for $0.99 that gives you chance to try out all of its features in your daily life with very little risk attached. Better yet, after your trial ends you'll be moved onto the $69.95 annual plan that saves you 47% versus paying monthly. There's also a 31-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind at any point.

PureVPN has got apps for all the major platforms, plus add-ons for devices like Kodi, Fire TV, and Wi-Fi routers making it a good choice for those niche use cases. If you skip the trial deal, its price is pretty low with its 2-year plan going for just $3 per month.

PureVPN

The $1 trial is hard to pass up, especially if you are unsure if PureVPN is right for you. If you've been considering signing up, this may be just what you need to take the plunge and give one a shot right now.

$0.99 at PureVPN

More VPN Deals

We've mentioned our favorites above, but there are plenty of other VPN providers out there offering some great savings. Each company has a slightly different advantage, some offering better customer support, some have cheaper plans, and some even have free trials. Here are some more VPN deals in case you couldn't commit to one of the above.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear is ideal for VPN novices with super easy-to-use apps, 24/7 customer support, and a free trial for those wanting to test it out before buying. Opting for a 2-year plan will save you 67% off its regular price.

$3.33 per month at TunnelBear

ZenMate

This discounted 3-year VPN plan protects your data online at 85% off. ZenMate gives you one-click ease-of-use, a speedy connection, and 24/7 support with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, and more. You can use it on all of your devices at once, too. There's a 7-day trial if you want to give it a spin first.

$1.64 per month at ZenMate

Namecheap VPN

You may know Namecheap as a domain registrar but it also has its own VPN service. You can get your first month free ($5.88 thereafter) or sign up for a whole year for just $12.

$1 per month at Namecheap

hide.me VPN

You can score two years of hide.me's Premium VPN subscription for $130 and get a further two months thrown in at no extra cost. That drops your equivalent monthly cost down to just $5 from the regular price of $13. Alternatively, try out the free plan.

$4.99 per month at hide.me

StrongVPN

Protect yourself with a VPN subscription at just $3 a month with this half-price deal. 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage is also included free. The discount is only available this month.

$2.91 per month at StrongVPN

VyprVPN

Save 87% by going for the current 36-month offer at VyprVPN. It's got a fast, reliable connection for streaming, strong encryption, apps for all the major platforms, and servers all over the world.

$1.66 per month at VyprVPN

ProtonVPN

While you can try the free version of ProtonVPN without spending a penny, you can remove the limitations with a paid plan. Plus, signing up for a 1-year or 2-year plan saves you as much as 33%.

From $3.29/month at Proton

Windscribe

Windscribe offers a free VPN plan with a 2GB data allowance. You can move that up to 10GB by signing up with an email address, or you can pay to upgrade your account to a Pro account for no data limit.

Free at Windscribe

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN takes your Internet connection and makes it more secure, by cloaking your internet activity in anonymity and stops you from being tracked across the web for advertising, having your traffic intercepted, or running into malicious sites. They are also great if you want to access content that is blocked in your region as you can use one to appear as if you are in another country.

VPN 101: What is it?

You can run a VPN on everything from your computer or phone, to devices like your smart TV, Wi-Fi router, games console, and more. They come in at all different price points, so you're likely going to want to find a great VPN deal or discount to take advantage of when signing up.

How do you pick the best VPN provider?

There's a lot to consider when it comes to picking the right VPN provider for your needs. Firstly, you need it to be available on all of the devices you want to use it with, but you also should think about things like speed, reliability, server variety (both in number and physical location), what data is logged (if any), strength of encryption, as well as the quality of the customer support in case of any issues. On top of all of that, the price may be a huge factor in your decision-making.

Why is it important to use a VPN?

As with many things in life, you tend to get what you pay for with VPNs. Most VPN services offer some kind of free trial or money-back guarantee so you can try them out without risking any money and see how they work for you. We've gathered up the best VPN deals above with the most pertinent information to help you make an informed choice.

How to get the Best VPN Deals

VPN providers generally offer better discounts the longer you subscribe for, so opting for a 3-year or 2-year plan is usually going to save you the most money. The majority of services have money-back guarantees so you can try out the apps on your devices and cancel your subscription if it's doesn't work out for you. Be sure to read the terms when signing up.

A few VPN services have free plans but these are usually restricted in terms of bandwidth. However, it can serve as a useful way to dip your toe into the VPN waters with no financial commitment. That being said, there are sometimes privacy implications with totally free services. If you're not paying for their product, they have to make their money back somewhere so make sure you take an in-depth look at the privacy policy for such services so you know what you're getting yourself in for.

We keep this list updated with the latest offers from the most reputable VPN providers, so bookmark it and check back in whenever you're in the market for a new VPN service. If you're unsure of which to choose, we have also put together a comprehensive guide on the best VPN services in 2020. We've also got a separate roundup highlighting the Best Free VPN Deals that you might want to check out.

Are there any free VPNs?

The short answer here is yes. You can find some free VPN providers, but they may not be the best option for everyone. Often times you are trading off speed, reliability, data limits, and more to get a free VPN, which makes it ultimately more of a pain to actually use the service. With the costs mentioned above, you are better off spending a few bucks each month on your privacy instead of trying to make a free one work for you.

Some providers offer free trials, and some have money-back guarantees. If you aren't sure whether or not a VPN is right for you, this is a great way to test the waters.

Can you use a VPN on your phone and PC?

Most VPN providers allow you to have simultaneous connections, which means that you can connect up to a set amount of devices to the VPN service at the same time. Most companies offer up to five devices at once, though some are slightly lower or higher than that number. This allows you to keep it running on your phone, tablet, PC, and even streaming hardware without worrying about whether you need to disconnect another device to connect the new one or not. A neat way around this, if your provider of choice supports it, is running your VPN on your router so any device connected to your Wi-Fi network is automatically on the VPN while only using up 1 device slot!

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Friday, April 30, 2021

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Acer Chromebook Spin 513

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Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Price and availability

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Straightforward hardware

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Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Should you buy it?

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Moto G10 Power

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Moto G10 Power: Price and availability

Moto G10 Power: What you'll like

Moto G10 Power: What you won't like

Moto G10 Power: The competition

Moto G10 Power: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

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Moto G10 Power

Best VPN Deals Right Now

FastestVPN

$17 lifetime license

Pros

Cons

FastestVPN

ExpressVPN

From $6.67 per month (49% off)

Pros

Cons

ExpressVPN

Surfshark VPN

From $2.49 per month (81% off)

Pros

Cons

Surfshark VPN

Private Internet Access

$2.69 per month (77% off)

Pros

Cons