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vendredi 31 décembre 2021

Last Telegram update in 2021 brings some highly anticipated features

The messaging app picks up iMessage-style reactions and a new formatting to hide spoilers.

What you need to know

  • Telegram has rolled out its last major update for this year.
  • The update introduces a few new capabilities that users have been waiting for.
  • It now has iMessage-style reactions, spoilers, translation, and more.

Telegram has a new treat in store for its users before 2021 ends. The service has released a new update containing a bunch of new features including message reactions, hidden text formatting for spoilers, themed QR code, and translation.

While majority of the best messaging apps for Android such as Facebook Messenger and Slack already support emoji reactions for quite some time, Telegram hasn't had this feature until now. Although it is a little late to the game, it has now added message reactions that clearly take inspiration from Apple's iMessage.

You can bring up the emoji reactions by tapping or holding down on the message, just like you can with other message reactions. Each reaction has its own animation, and you can even assign a specific reaction to the double-tap gesture so it can be triggered quickly.

Spoilers are also a new format that allows you to discuss what happens in a movie you've seen with friends in a group chat while hiding the key events or twists from the rest of the group who haven't seen it yet. You can use the Spoiler formatting to hide specific texts by selecting certain sections of a message and applying the Spoiler formatting. This will also hide the chosen parts in the chat list and notifications. However, people can still view the hidden message if they tap it.

Another handy feature that Telegram picked up is the translation option, which adds a dedicated translation button in the message's context menu. You can switch on the new capability via the language section in the app's settings.

You can, of course, disable message translation for languages you already speak or understand. This option is available on all of the best Android phones, though the number of languages available varies depending on the operating system.

Telegram has also enabled the creation of themed QR codes for anyone with a public username, as well as QR codes for bots, groups, and channels. This feature is intended to make it simpler to share usernames or group chats.

Finally, the messaging app has gained more interactive emoji. This means that after sending an emoji, you can tap it to watch its amusing animation. These new features are included in Telegram 8.4.



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Piffle: It's brick-breaking, but better

Back to basics in adorable style.

I don't know about you, but the holidays are a hectic time in my world. Between decorating, friends, family, and travel, it's hard to keep up with my usual gaming schedule. So around this time of year, I'm on the hunt for simple games that punch above their weight in fun. Piffle, an adorable arcade puzzler from Hipster Whale, does just that.

A silly good time, Piffle doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, but it does give a much-needed facelift to one of the oldest gaming genres around—the brick-breaker. Piffle is proof positive that good games don't have to be complicated, and this one is definitely going on the list of best Android games. Dating back to the late 1970s with games like Atari's Super Breakout, brick (or block) breakers revolve around one of the most simple concepts imaginable: chuck something at blocks to break them.

That describes Piffle perfectly, but it doesn't properly encompass the many ways that Piffle elevates its simple concept to a whole new level of block-breaking delight. You're in control of a small person (it looks humanoid, but this has actually not been confirmed) wearing a full-body catsuit. Not the sexy kind either, the fluffy kind with kitty ears and a tail. Your little cat enthusiast is on a quest to take down the dastardly Doc Block. To do that, it's going to need as many piffles as possible.

Piffles are bouncy, aerodynamic cat heads! It's not as creepy as it sounds, I promise.

What are piffles, you ask? Why, they're bouncy, surprisingly aerodynamic cat heads, of course! In portrait orientation, your cat enthusiast aims at descending blocks overhead and must use careful level geometry to eliminate all blocks without letting any reach the bottom. There's no time limit here; blocks just tick a row down after each piffle toss.

You start each level armed with a set number of piffles and acquire more by shooting them down right alongside the blocks you're smashing. You're going to need a lot of piffles, too, since you need to hit the blocks a certain number of times before they'll break. Some blocks only need a couple of hits, while others may need upwards of 20 before you can finally clear them, making creative angles and maximum bounce your top win conditions.

You also accumulate power-ups as you go. They range from helpful sunglasses that allow you to see more of your throw's trajectory (and that also make you look wicked cool) to bombs that destroy everything they hit regardless of a block's numeric value. Levels get increasingly difficult, so be wary of challenges like moving ice blocks and fun new mechanics like lightning to supercharge your piffles on the fly. Piffle does a solid job of continuing to add new mechanics at a nice clip while also giving you plenty of time to acclimate to new ones.

The real charm of this block-breaker comes from the A+ design choices.

But the real charm of Piffle comes from the A+ design. The soundtrack is bright and poppy, the art style is joyously cutesie, and the sound effects are extremely satisfying. Watching your piffles ping pong around the screen while you rack up a mega-bounce or killer combo never gets old. Similar in vibe and playability to Railways, I look forward to my brief moments of respite each day when I snag a few spare minutes to knock a couple more levels out.

The icing on the cake is that Piffle is 100% free to play, monetized through blissfully non-intrusive ads and in-app purchases. It's a rare free game that gives you such a quality experience while asking so little in return, making Piffle well-worth your consideration. It's a delightful little game, and there's absolutely no reason not to give it a try, so pick up this adorable, endearing puzzler and start breaking blocks today!

Everything old is new again

Piffle

Free w/ ads, IAPs at Google Play Store

Don your cat onesie and go get those Piffles!

Classic brick-breaking gameplay gets a much-needed facelift with Piffle, a cute, fun arcade puzzler.



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The 8 worst outages of 2021: AWS, Google Cloud, Fastly, and more

2021 was an ignominious year for apps and websites backed by the cloud — which is basically all of them.

Cloud service outages are nothing new. However, 2020's shift to working from home exposed tons of vulnerabilities, as carriers, cable and fiber companies, and every popular app under the sun experienced some temporary, catastrophic collapse. It placed an unprecedented burden on the cloud infrastructure systems that back your favorite streaming and productivity sites. These outages were an inevitable consequence.

You'd have hoped 2021 would show marked improvement. Instead, it proved that the internet is a deck of cards ready to collapse if the wrong foundational piece folds. Whether it's due to frugalness or poor planning, many sites put all their data and traffic eggs in one cloud basket; just one node failure can take out some of the highest-traffic sites, when we'd expect these sites to have much better contingencies in place.

We saw our favorite messaging apps, smart homes, gaming networks, productivity suites, and social media sites collapse at one point or another this year. Beyond that, the Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Facebook outages proved how much of our daily lives depend on the cloud, from smart home tech to our package deliveries.

Looking back on the worst outages of 2021, we can only hope things improve in 2022. But there's no reason to assume they will unless cloud infrastructure companies and content delivery networks (CDNs) change the way they do things — and unless companies start adding offline functionality to cloud-reliant tech.

1. AWS outage stops deliveries, cameras, and cat feeders

The recent December AWS outage is likely still fresh in your mind. Amazon Web Services allegedly runs about 33% of cloud infrastructure services, so when AWS fell apart on Dec. 7, it may have taken about a third of cloud services with it.

According to the AWS team, the AWS internal network for monitoring, internal DNS, and authorization services somehow triggered a "large surge of connection activity that overwhelmed the networking devices between the internal network and the main AWS network, resulting in delays for communication between these networks." Because this internal network is linked to the global AWS servers, it caused traffic delays or outright site shutdowns internationally for about 7 hours until the devs could fix the internal network.

During holiday shopping, Amazon delivery drivers' apps with routes and addresses went down, leaving them unable to complete deliveries. Nor could consumers make new Amazon orders, which means companies missed out on almost a day of revenue. First-party Amazon services — Alexa, Ring cameras, Prime Video, and Music — all went down, meaning their smart video doorbells and baby monitors became temporarily worthless. And popular third-party apps like Disney+, Venmo, and iRobot all broke down thanks to their choice of cloud provider.

According to CNBC, the AWS outage effects even rippled out to disrupt final exams at colleges, since some exam services relied on the cloud to work. Even some "smart" automatic cat feeders stopped feeding their cats for the day.

Following this outage, Android Central readers said they were warier than before about cloud-dependent smart home tech. And while experts think Amazon needs to incorporate offline controls into its smart home tech, they also think it's unlikely. Again, this is because the cloud lets them sell cheap, underpowered tech that wouldn't have the ability to run without it.

2. The Meta-verse falls apart

If we're talking messiest 2021 outages, we have to mention Facebook. Right before its Meta name change, Facebook accidentally shut down its own cloud services due to "configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic between our data centers," which cascaded and brought down all of their online services. It ensured no one could access any Meta services worldwide, including its own employees.

Even though Meta's cloud servers only power its own businesses like Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp, this outage still rippled out to hurt other companies. Any sites reliant on Facebook logins became inaccessible to their users, while other shopping sites or games reliant on Meta's servers or tokens shut down as well.

Plus, of course, this Facebook outage undermined its own cloud-powered peripherals. Quest 2 owners could no longer access their library of games due to the Facebook account requirement, while Ray-Ban Stories smartglasses lost their smarts. We commented at the time that Facebook needs to add offline support for its tech in the future.

Above all, the 6-hour Whatsapp outage proved the worst fiasco for the company. For the millions who use the app as their primary way to communicate with family, even a single day without it was one day too many. After the outage, Telegram reportedly got 70 million new members. That doesn't necessarily mean Whatsapp lost that many users, but it definitely saw a significant exodus that it might never win back.

Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram had a similar outage in April 2021, though that one lasted a mere 45 minutes.

3. Fastly takes down the internet

When something works, you don't pay attention to it. So a lot of people had never heard of Fastly's content delivery network (CDN) until it broke in June, dragging down some of the most popular websites with it.

A CDN helps cache content for faster loading times and reduced bandwidth load on hosting servers, which is why so many companies rely on them. They deliver data at high speeds across the globe, ensuring that data transfers to different locations around the world to keep load times low regardless of where the user lives.

But in the case of Fastly, a faulty service configuration "triggered disruptions across our POPs globally," which hurt the sites that relied on its edge computing. Specifically, sites like Amazon, Twitter, Reddit, Google, CNN, the Guardian, and The New York Times all went at once in early June. Fastly restored "95%" of its services within 49 minutes, making this a broad but relatively short-lived outage compared to the rest.

4. Four PSN outages made for a messy PS5 year

Assuming you've managed to buy a PS5 this year, you likely ran into problems accessing your library or playing multiplayer games at some point in 2021. Sony and CDN Akamai Technologies have dealt with several outages throughout the year.

The worst, most protracted PSN outage occurred from late February through early March, ensuring that some PS5 and PS4 players couldn't access their gaming libraries sporadically across several days.

Yet three more outages in subsequent months indicated that Sony had fundamental network issues to work through. In each case, players around the world would encounter error messages about maintenance when accessing online services, with outages lasting anywhere from 1 to 5 hours.

Among the best PS5 games, many require constant online connections or revolve around multiplayer. If Sony can't keep its PSN service functional for days at a time in 2022 as well, that's bound to make its loyal fans unhappy.

5. Google can't Assist its smart Home customers

Our first major outage of 2021 came in February courtesy of Google Assistant's sudden bout of amnesia. If you attempted to ask your Nest or Google Home speaker a question, you'd be told the "device is not yet set up" despite all evidence to the contrary. That made it impossible to connect to your Google Home devices associated with your account, from smart lights to Nest security tech. Plus, the Google Assistant Android app also had issues answering questions.

This appeared to impact all Google Home users that evening, with users taking to Reddit and support forums for help. Google did fix the issue that evening, a few hours after the issue became widely known, though it's not clear when exactly it started.

6. Wink's smart home winks out

Most of the worst 2021 outages affected a wide range of sites for a relatively short time. The award for the truly worst outage of the year, however, goes to Wink Hubs, which shut down for 10 days. Due to their new dependence on cloud services to work, these hubs could no longer control Zigbee or Z-Wave products at all, making them all but worthless.

Wink offered a 25% discount on its subscription costs as an apology but as far as we know never actually explained what caused the issue — only stating it would "optimize the Wink Backend and our API now that it is back up." Many customers saw this outage as a sign that it was time to abandon Wink for good.

7. The Android Exposure Notifications System goes kaput

When it comes to contact tracing and preventing COVID-19 exposure, any delay in knowing your condition can lead to further spread and sickness. So when the NHS COVID-19 app glitched due to issues with the Android Exposure Notifications System in Google's backend, that wasn't a good look for Google.

People wanting to check their status found an indefinite "Loading" screen. Google announced it would look into the issue after about 12 hours of bug reports, then took an additional 5-6 hours to resolve the bug. Add in the creepy "phantom notification" glitch from 2020 — incorrect notifications that users had been exposed to COVID-19 would pop up, then vanish before you could tap on it — and people had plenty of reasons to distrust the app by that point.

8. AWS outage redux

Following the major AWS outage on Dec. 7, we saw a second AWS outage on Dec. 15 caused by issues at Amazon's Oregon and Northern California Amazon Web Services facilities. This time, it took out Twitch, DoorDash, Xbox Live, PSN, Ring, Disney+, and T-Mobile.

Then, we saw a third AWS outage on Dec. 22 that shut down Fortnite, Hulu, Quora, Slack, and Imgur. In this case, a power outage at an east-coast facility caused the issue. So that made three outages in three weeks. The latter two outages only lasted an hour or so, though that's certainly long enough to cause problems.

Will the outage problem diminish or grow in 2022?

These various events highlight how fragile our current cloud-dependent system can be. With so much of our internet use concentrated on a few apps and services — most of which use a few major cloud infrastructure providers — a single crisis can cripple our productivity or render our expensive tech useless.

So can we hope for fewer mishaps next year?

To see fewer outages, we'd need to see more investment in cloud infrastructure. The recent infrastructure bill has billions allotted for improving high-speed, rural broadband access and civilian cybersecurity, but most of the worst 2021 outages came from company errors, not hostile actors. So we may have to count on (or pressure) companies to invest more in cloud infrastructure themselves.

As it stands, Gartner predicts companies will spend $482 billion on cloud services in 2022, a 21.7% increase. That should be a step in the right direction, at least.

It's important to note that many of the worst outages stemmed from companies' internal monitoring networks or from third-party CDNs, not the main servers. The very systems meant to oversee and prevent outages can bring the whole system down in the wrong circumstances, where human error can have disproportionate consequences. And while CDNs are vital for providing the fastest possible traffic, they do add one more potential step where something can go wrong.

When a single node, server, or data center can topple the system, it doesn't matter how much you invest. For major outages to decrease in 2022, we need companies to structure their data better, so backups can kick in quickly until the problematic node is fixed. We're in much better shape than we were two years ago, but we have a long way to go until outages become less persistent.



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Are the Elite 7 Pro better for your ears than the Galaxy Buds Pro?

Doing it right

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

$200 at Amazon

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality
  • Effective ANC
  • Great fit and comfort
  • Outstanding call quality
  • Reliable button controls
  • Solid battery life

Cons

  • ANC must be customized
  • No multipoint yet

Jabra carries on its penchant for making earbuds that find themselves in the conversation among the best in the industry. The Elite 7 Pro fall well within that, starting with fit and comfort to set the soundstage for sonic excellence, clearer call quality, and solid battery life.

Standing firm

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

$125 at Amazon

Pros

  • Bolder sound
  • More custom fit
  • Solid ANC performance
  • Dynamic ambient mode
  • Significant water resistance

Cons

  • Lower battery life
  • Fit requires more fidgeting
  • Ambient mode not as good

Samsung squeezed everything it could into the Galaxy Buds Pro, leading to a collection of features that converge into a successful pair of earbuds worth considering. Fit and comfort are hard to read for everyone, but you do get active noise cancelation, ambient mode, and 360 Audio.

A lot of companies that make earbuds like to use "Pro" to define a particular pair as having more than just the basics. That's why you see it pop up a fair bit, even if not all of the best wireless earbuds include it. Jabra addressed a couple of key things in making the Elite 7 Pro stand out as one of the best you can find, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are more than capable in stacking up against the best. With that much at stake, these two make for an interesting matchup.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: Proving themselves

Specs provide clues and sometimes set expectations, and these two are hardly just about what's on paper, but some points do stand out. Both have the same water resistance, except the Elite 7 Pro are the more durable pair because they also include dust resistance, making them better suited for all-around activity. Jabra went with a more rubberized design in the Elite 7 Active, though unlike past years, it maintained the same IP rating for its more flagship pair.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
Durability IP57 IPX7
Bud battery life Up to 8 hours Up to 8 hours
Charging case battery life 30 hours (38 without ANC) 18 hours (28 without ANC)
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2 Bluetooth 5.1
Digital assistant support Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Bixby, Google Assistant, Siri
Supported audio codecs SBC, AAC SBC, AAC, Scalable
Speaker size 6mm drivers 13mm drivers
Active noise cancelation Yes Yes

Battery life also takes a turn for the better for Jabra because the rated numbers refer to when active noise cancelation (ANC) is on, rather than off. For Samsung, it's the reverse, with the Galaxy Buds Pro maxing out at closer to five to six hours with ANC on. Indeed, the Elite 7 Pro probably play for up to two hours longer per charge than the Buds Pro do. Granted, Jabra didn't put in drivers as big and powerful as those in the Buds Pro, but you wouldn't necessarily tell the difference in most instances.

Samsung has the smaller case for better portability, matching Jabra by offering three extra charges for the earbuds. Both pairs also come with three sizes of ear tips for a better fit, and it's how these two brands built their respective earbuds that sets them apart in certain ways.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: Noting the contrasts

Jabra made the Elite 7 Pro to address a design flaw in the otherwise solid Elite 85t, which was to thin out the body. It worked because they are among the most comfortable pair you're likely to wear right now. Their contoured and thinner frame works for a variety of ear types, and that's a big reason the other elements come together to make them so effective.

Samsung equipped the Galaxy Buds Pro with a slew of features that necessitated making the earbuds larger. That noticeable bump may not fit quite as snugly in the inner ear (concha), and it's very possible those with smaller ears will feel it more than others. It's one of those design tweaks that can make all the difference when comparing two earbuds that are both objectively good choices. Samsung has also been dogged by issues related to skin irritation.

It worked because they are among the most comfortable pair you're likely to wear right now.

I would say the same is true about the onboard controls. Jabra has long made them physical buttons for more reliable and consistent performance. Like so many others, the Galaxy Buds Pro use touch-sensitive controls, and while reasonably good here, they're not going to match the effectiveness of actual buttons. In addition to their respective apps, both pairs have "Find My" features to track the earbuds in case you misplace them, so you know their last location.

They diverge a little when it comes to ANC. For some reason, Jabra forces you to personalize the feature first before you can even turn it on to use it, a mandatory point that doesn't always feel necessary. You can adjust its intensity later, much like how Samsung offers high and low settings for ANC on the Galaxy Buds Pro. It also paired ANC with the ambient mode for Voice Detect, a feature that the volume of whatever you're listening to, so you can hear and talk to someone without taking them off.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: Sounds and calls

Both earbuds sound great, so you start off from a good sonic position, though there are some interesting caveats between them. I already mentioned the fit, and that plays a big role in how good the sound comes through because of how tightly sealed the earbuds are when you put them on. Jabra holds an edge there, but its Sound+ app also gives you an equalizer (EQ) to tailor the sound the way you want.

Samsung's Galaxy Wearable app is deep, yet only gives you a select number of EQ presets. You can't manually adjust the EQ to create your own like Jabra lets you do. If only Samsung did open it up the same way, as it would enhance the sound even further. The Galaxy Buds Pro have a hearty bass response to go with solid mids and highs. It's a balanced soundstage that works for a variety of genres. They offer excellent ANC and ambient performance, only adding to the package. And 360 Audio is cool when watching a show or movie — a feature Jabra doesn't have.

Both earbuds sound great, so you start off from a good sonic position, though there are some interesting caveats between them.

The Elite 7 Pro offer great balance in the same vein, with excellent sound quality made all the better by the fit and app support. Not to mention the excellent ANC and HearThrough ambient modes, too. While both are also great at phone calls, Jabra carries the day because of its MultiSensor Voice Technology, which clears up phone and video calls using proprietary tech coming straight from the company's hearing aid business. Improved mics help the cause, only simplifying how you access voice assistants, record voice notes, or leave voice messages. Physical buttons also give you a mute button you can use for calls, super handy when you need it.

What's disappointing is that Jabra didn't include multipoint connections out of the box. Until Jabra releases a firmware update in early 2022 to fix that, you can only pair with one device at a time. The Galaxy Buds Pro don't have that issue, letting you pair with two devices simultaneously via Auto-Switch. Moreover, if you have two compatible Galaxy devices, the earbuds will automatically switch from one to the other when prompted, like taking a call on a phone, while watching something else on a laptop or tablet.

Color options do vary, with Jabra's Elite 7 Pro coming in black, Titanium Black, and Gold Beige, while the Galaxy Buds Pro come in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Violet.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: Which should you choose?

There really isn't a bad choice between these two. The Elite 7 Pro bring a lot to the table that is easy to like, and only grows on you once you put them on and press play. Combine the fit, comfort, audio quality, battery life, and app support, and you have great value for the money. The Galaxy Buds Pro are competitive in their own right, checking a lot of the right boxes. It's just that the design and limited EQ options could be mitigating factors.

Samsung is going to replace the Galaxy Buds Pro before Jabra does the same with the Elite 7 Pro, so this matchup will change as the Buds Pro continue to drop in price. If you're deep into Samsung's ecosystem, they won't disappoint, though that's not a prerequisite to try them out. The Elite 7 Pro edge out the Buds Pro in a tight race, and will work well no matter what device you're using.

Slick finish

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

An Elite performer

$200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy

The Elite 7 Pro are Jabra's best combination of all the features and functions that make wireless earbuds great.

Striding ahead

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

Good sound and more

$125 at Amazon $130 at Best Buy $130 at B&H

Samsung takes its best true wireless earbuds to the next level by adding new features that set them apart from past versions.



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These are the best Galaxy S21 Ultra screen protectors that you can buy now

When it comes to big screens, you'll want to keep them scratch-free, which is why you'll want to use the best screen protectors for your Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The phone measures in at a whopping 6.8 inches, which means there's a lot of real estate that could get scratched. Luckily, there are already quite a few great options if you're looking for the best Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra screen protectors to match up with your new phone.

Ultra-thin

Whitestone Dome Premium Film (3+2 pack)

Whitestone Dome is primarily known for its tempered glass screen protectors. But the company also offers a five-pack of "EPU" film screen protectors. These are designed to be self-healing, and the kit includes three film screen protectors, an installation guide, and two tempered glass protectors for your rear camera bump.

$15 at Amazon

Worth it

amFilm 3D Curved Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Staff Pick

The amFilm 3D Tempered Glass Screen Protector requires a few more steps for installation. It also uses a UV Gel application, as this is the best way for you to keep the screen protected while using the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. After that, you'll just need to re-scan your fingerprints after the installation is complete.

$40 at Amazon $41 at Walmart

Protect your eyes

ZAGG InvisibleShield GlassFusion VisionGuard+

Staring at your phone for hours on end isn't the greatest for the health of your eyes. While some software tweaks can help alleviate the blue-light emission, the GlassFusion VisionGuard+ from ZAGG provides a little bit of extra help. There's a dedicated layer on the screen protector designed to block the blue light from hitting your eyes which will alleviate any potential concerns of eye strain.

$48 at Amazon $50 at Best Buy $37 at Newegg

Perfect compatibility

Mowei 3D Curved Tempered Glass Screen Protector

With the Mowei 3D Curved Tempered Glass Screen Protector, you'll need to be prepared to take some time for the installation. Three screen protectors are included, but it also involves using a UV light with the installation tray. This installation process is done to ensure compatibility with the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

$36 at Amazon

Film protection

ESR Liquid Skin (3-pack)

Tempered glass screen protectors may be better for protection, but they aren't everyone's cup of tea. The ESR Liquid Skin offers screen protection by using a polymer film instead of glass. ESR includes three screen protectors in the box, along with an installation kit.

$11 at Amazon

Keep it private

Omnifense Matte Privacy Screen Protector (2-pack)

If you want a tempered glass screen protector but want to keep the contents of your phone to yourself, then you'll enjoy the Omnifense Matte Privacy Screen Protector. The screen protector is made from a soft film material and sports a matte finish to combat fingerprints showing up on the screen. It also supports the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner so that you won't have any issues on that front.

$20 at Amazon

Just the camera

Ferilinso Camera Lens Protector (3-pack)

Whether it's because you are OK with using the pre-installed screen protector or for another reason, some folks just want to protect the camera module. Thankfully, Ferilinso has you covered with this four-pack of tempered glass protectors for the rear camera module.

$18 at Amazon

Clear film

Supershieldz Clear Shield (2-pack)

Tempered glass screen protectors aren't for everyone, and Supershieldz makes some pretty awesome "PET" film screen protectors. Not only do you get two of these in a single pack, but they are effortless to install, and you don't have to worry about any screen distortion.

$7 at Amazon $8 at Walmart

Everything you need

PULEN Silicone Case with Screen Protector

Sometimes you just want to know that your screen protector and the case will work together. PULEN has you covered with its Silicone Case, which provides a rugged polycarbonate front cover combined with a silicone back cover for protecting your phone. But the company also includes a TPU film screen protector so that you can get the best protection possible for the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

$9 at Amazon

Make sure you get the best Galaxy S21 Ultra screen protectors

With its larger display and S Pen support, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is definitely one of the more intriguing options of the Galaxy S21 series. However, it's easily one of the best Android phones and will continue to be up until its successor is introduced. But that's all the more reason to find the right screen protector to pair with the best Galaxy S21 Ultra cases.

While some pretty solid options are available already, our favorite is the amFilm 3D Curved Tempered Glass Screen Protector. The installation process can seem a bit intense, given that you have more than a few steps to follow, along with using the included UV light and solution. However, you won't even notice a screen protector's even there once it's installed.

If you want a more traditional installation process for your screen protector, our pick is the Whitestone Dome Premium Film. There are a total of five screen protectors in the box, with three film protectors for the big screen and two more glass protectors for the glass rear-camera module. The best part has to be the easy and bubble-free installation, which won't leave any residue behind if you need to swap the screen protectors out.



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Here's everything you need to know about 5G on T-Mobile and Sprint

Tons of spectrum and coverage

T-Mobile has one of the most ambitious 5G plans of any carrier out there, and with its purchase of Sprint, T-Mobile has a ton of spectrum and a great platform to build a strong 5G network. T-Mobile has already deployed a nationwide 5G network on its low-band Extended Range 5G spectrum and is adding even more speed and capacity with its Ultra Capacity 5G spectrum. T-Mobile also has mmWave spectrum that has been deployed in a few cities. This combined network is poised to be one of the strongest in the nation.

Do I have 5G coverage on T-Mobile and Sprint?

Most people that have T-Mobile 5G coverage right now are covered by a low-band network built on its 600MHz band n71 spectrum. T-Mobile calls coverage on this band Extended Range 5G. Reclaimed from broadcast TV, Extended Range 5G has allowed T-Mobile to upgrade its existing towers with 5G equipment and provide the same level of coverage people have come to expect from 3G and 4G.

T-Mobile states that it already covers 308 million people with Extended Range 5G with Ultra Capacity available to over 200 million people. With a large number of urban and suburban areas now covered by the faster Ultra Capacity network, T-Mobile customers are starting to see massively improved speeds. T-Mobile has also upgraded its network to standalone 5G, which means your phone doesn't need to connect to an LTE network to then connect to 5G.

The best way to know if you're covered is to check the T-Mobile coverage map. T-Mobile also shows the places where it has Ultra Capacity 5G on its map so you can get a good idea of what kind of speeds will be available to you.

While our initial tests weren't that impressive, we have since seen improved results on our tests of T-Mobile prepaid options like Ultra Mobile.

T-Mobile is still building a high-band, millimeter wave, 5G network in a few cities. This deployment of 5G is on bands N260 and N261 at 39Ghz and 28Ghz, respectively. With some coverage in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, and Atlanta, the number of cities is high compared to other carriers, but the actual 5G coverage is still quite low. C-band spectrum will also be used in the next couple of years to add a bit of capacity in a few key areas where T-Mobile expects high traffic.

Which phones work with T-Mobile 5G?

T-Mobile phones will be compatible with different networks depending on their software and hardware. For the most part, most of the best Android phones will work with T-Mobile's 5G. With T-Mobile's growing 5G coverage and plenty of new phones with 5G support, if you're buying a new phone, it should have 5G.

To be sure you get the best possible results from T-Mobile's network, make sure your new phone supports both band n71 and band n41. Most newer 5G phones, including those from Samsung, Google, and even Apple, will support the full network.

T-Mobile is using the 2.5GHz spectrum it got from Sprint to bolster its own 5G network and, to do so, has taken the Sprint 5G network down. Sprint customers with a Galaxy S20 device got an update that enabled access to T-Mobile's 5G network, but that's it. Older devices like the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G or OnePlus 7T Pro 5G will not be getting an update to support T-Mobile's 5G.

All T-Mobile plans come with 5G

All T-Mobile plans can access the 5G network, which is great since some of the best cell phone plans you can get use the T-Mobile network. T-Mobile makes no distinction between its networks, so any customer with a compatible phone should be able to access it. This has also carried over to T-Mobile Prepaid and MVNOs such as Mint Mobile and Google Fi. T-Mobile has also enabled 5G on all Sprint plans.

Boost Mobile is now owned by Dish and is transitioning its customers to the new T-Mobile network with the goal of eventually moving all of its customers to its own standalone 5G network.

What tech is T-Mobile using for 5G?

5G comes in several different forms with a variety of results depending on what resources a carrier can throw at it. T-Mobile started with high-band 5G on 28Ghz and 32Ghz bands. With this network, T-Mobile should be competitive with what Verizon and AT&T have been doing once the network has more time to mature. This high-band deployment should be capable of very high speeds, but building penetration and coverage are much more limited than we're used to with 4G.

T-Mobile launched a 600Mhz, low-band, Extended Range 5G network in December of 2019. With new equipment, T-Mobile was also able to update its 4G LTE service on the same tower. AT&T and Verizon have also deployed low-band 5G networks with similar coverage capabilities.

Of course, there's Sprint's 2.5GHz spectrum. We got an early look at Sprint's 5G, which was a good indicator of things to come. T-Mobile has more than 160MHz of spectrum at 2.5GHz in the top 100 US markets and has already shut down Sprint's 5G network and its Ultra Capacity 5G built on the same spectrum covers more than 200 million people.

On August 4, 2020, T-Mobile launched its standalone 5G (5G SA) network. 5G SA can work alone without devices needing to connect to an older, less efficient LTE network first. Previously, 5G phones required this existing infrastructure to work properly.

Functionally, this is essentially the same network as before with some nice improvements. According to T-Mobile's announcement, 5G SA improves coverage by 30 percent since phones will no longer need to connect to a mid-band LTE signal that doesn't reach as far a 5G at 600MHz. While there were still many improvements with non-standalone 5G compared to LTE in speed, the 5G network was held back. T-Mobile estimates a 40 percent improvement in latency thanks to the switch, which should help data access be much more immediate.

What happens to Sprint's 5G customers?

T-Mobile's purchase of Sprint is complete, and with it comes great potential. Many people will have flashbacks to older failed mergers, but T-Mobile points to its well-handled Metro PCS integration as a model for this joining. T-Mobile estimates that fully integrating the networks will take up to three years so however, both Sprint and T-Mobile customers are starting to see some new benefits.

Sprint customers have gained access to LTE roaming on the T-Mobile network when Sprint's signal is low. Also, Sprint customers with the Galaxy S20 can now connect to T-Mobile's 5G network, including low-band 600MHz 5G as well as the 2.5GHz 5G network. Sprint customers looking for 5G can switch to a T-Mobile SIM if they have a compatible phone or are ready to upgrade.

Is T-Mobile 5G worth it?

On T-Mobile, it comes down to if you want the phone because there is no current separation of plans. Most new phones you can buy for T-Mobile support 5G, so most new T-Mobile customers and upgrading existing customers will be using the network. If you're looking for a good reason to upgrade your phone, 5G isn't it, but it's a nice perk when you do upgrade.

While 4G LTE will continue to be fast enough for most people for a few years into the future, eventually, everyone will transition to 5G. Still, speed improvements have been consistent, and T-Mobile has been hitting its coverage goals throughout 2021, so if you've been waiting for 5G to mature before signing on, now's the time.

What is 5G for Good?

5G for Good is an initiative to use the power of 5G to help the community. While some people have accused T-Mobile of putting on a show to grease the government's wheels in approving its merger with Sprint, it's nice to see technology making a positive impact on the world.

It's worth noting that all of the projections here depend on the merger going through, and T-Mobile likely won't be able to get it done without the extra spectrum from Sprint.

Connecting Heroes Initiative

The Connecting Heroes Initiative is a program that intends to bring free 5G access to first responders in America. This includes public and non-profit law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies. It's first-come, first-serve for those that sign up, so if you want your agency to get connected on 5G, get registered as soon as possible.

Project 10Million

It's been shown that children without access to the internet likely won't receive as good an education as those that do. Of course, this is also linked to income inequality.

Project 10Millions aims to eliminate the homework gap caused by millions of children not having access to the internet for school work. The project intends to offer free service, hotspots, and reduced-cost devices to 10 million households over the next five years.

T-Mobile Connect

T-Mobile connect is simply a low-priced phone plan with access to the 5G network. Plans are offered at $15 per month for unlimited talk and text with 2.5GB of high-speed data. There is also a $25 per month plan with 5.5GB of data. Interestingly, the plan is set to grow as usage does by increasing the data allowance by 500MB a year for five years. This is by no means a huge amount, but for a low-income family, this can be a lifesaver.

These plans are already available on T-Mobile prepaid.

The next big thing in connectivity

5G: Everything you need to know

Samsung Galaxy S21

Galaxy S21 from $800 at Amazon



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Samsung's Galaxy Book Pro is the best Samsung laptop you can buy

Samsung doesn't operate in the same vein as Dell by releasing new laptops on a semi-quarterly basis. However, those looking for the best Samsung laptops will want to strongly consider the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro. This is one of the best laptops you can find, which is impressive considering how stiff the competition is currently in the laptop market.

Best Samsung laptop overall: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro

Our previous favorite, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro, has finally been succeeded by the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro. This laptop comes in two different sizes, 13.3-inches or 15-inches, with both options taking advantage of Samsung's gorgeous OLED displays. Powering these laptops are Intel's 11th-gen processors, which have integrated Intel Xe graphics that will help play some games or get some photo editing done on the go.

As you might expect from a Samsung laptop, the Galaxy Book Pro includes a suite of apps designed to work in tandem with the best Samsung phones, such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Those who need to get work done when away from home will enjoy the lightweight design, as the 13.3-inch model is just 11.2mm thin. Plus, you'll be able to load up an LTE SIM card, giving you network connectivity wherever you are.

The port selection is a bit lacking on the 13.3-inch model, as you won't find the HDMI port available on the 15-inch variant. Although it won't be much of a problem with the smaller Galaxy Book Pro, the FHD resolution on the 15-inch model could be construed as a limitation.

Pros:

  • Powered by 11th-gen Intel processors
  • Includes a series of apps that integrate well with Samsung phones
  • Can be used with an LTE SIM card
  • Measures just 11.2mm thin

Cons:

  • No HDMI port on 13.3-inch model
  • Limited to FHD (1080p) resolution

Best Samsung laptop overall

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro

A great laptop for everyone

The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro skips the rotating display, but provides flagship specs and a great overall experience.

Upgrade pick: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360

If you're looking for one of the best laptops, regardless of budget, the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 could be the one for you. Like the standard Galaxy Book Pro, we have the latest Intel 11th-gen chipsets with Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a thin and lightweight design. Even with the thinner design and the touchscreen display, Samsung promises fantastic battery life, with a rating of up to 20 hours on a single charge.

You'll be able to choose between either 13.3-inches or 15-inches for your display sizes, and we already mentioned that these are touchscreen enabled. However, you can use an S Pen with these, but there's also support for Windows inking. This goes hand-in-hand with the ability to rotate the hinge 360-degrees, turning your laptop into a true digital notebook.

In the review, Daniel Rubino of Windows Central found that while the display is great indoors, it may be too dim for you to use even on the patio under an awning. There's also no place to actually put the S Pen if you decide to grab one for your new laptop. Finally, those who were hoping to combine a great display with great speakers will be a bit disappointed with the underwhelming dual speakers.

Pros:

  • Solid battery life
  • Thin and lightweight design
  • S Pen compatible with Windows inking support
  • Display can be rotated
  • Latest Intel processors

Cons:

  • Display may be too dim for outdoor usage
  • No dedicated S Pen holder
  • Underwhelming speakers

Upgrade pick

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360

Flip over the display and use the S Pen

Between flagship specs and a rotating display with an S Pen, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is a fantastic productivity laptop.

Best Samsung Chromebook: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

Truth be told, if the original Samsung Galaxy Chromebook were still readily available, that would be on the list versus the Galaxy Chromebook 2. However, since Samsung has released its successor, it's becoming increasingly difficult to get your hands on the last-generation option. That's not to say that the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a slouch, as you're getting a body made from aluminum, along with the same 2-in-1 functionality paired with a QLED display.

One huge improvement that Samsung made with the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is in battery life. Whereas the previous iteration was limited to eight hours, the new model is rated for up to 13 hours, even with that QLED display. You'll also be able to take advantage of Active Pen support, but you'll be disappointed with the lack of a "garage" to put it when not in use.

Chrome OS is extremely wonderful for most people, but there are still certain limitations, and there's a bit of a learning curve. This isn't the biggest problem, but it's important to point out that this laptop is different from the others on the list. One of our biggest complaints with the Chromebook 2 is that it's overpriced for the specs that you get, with the Core i3 model being more expensive than other considerations for the best Chromebook.

Pros:

  • Body is made from aluminum
  • 2-in-1 functionality
  • QLED display is vibrant and beautiful
  • Up to 13 hours of battery life
  • Active Pen support

Cons:

  • Chrome OS has its limitations
  • Overpriced for the specs
  • No built-in stylus

Best Samsung Chromebook

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

One of the best Chromebooks

If you're okay with using Chrome OS, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 provides a solid experience with some awesome color options.

Best Samsung laptop with ARM: Samsung Galaxy Book Go

If you haven't been aware, Microsoft, Samsung, and a few other Windows laptop makers have been dabbling in the world of ARM processors. This includes devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro X and the Samsung Galaxy Book Go. Unlike its predecessor, the Book S, your only option is to go with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.

Two of the biggest benefits of using an ARM chipset are that you'll find incredible battery life, along with sporting a slim and lightweight design. This is the thinnest and lightest option in Samsung's laptop before you get into the best Samsung tablets. Plus, you can take the Galaxy Book Go with you anywhere and stay connected with the built-in SIM card slot. And if you need to get into your laptop fast without Windows Hello, you'll enjoy the fingerprint reader embedded into the power button.

The reason there aren't more ARM laptops on the market is simply that Windows optimization is still in development. Essentially when using an ARM Windows laptop like the Galaxy Book Go, you'll have an Edge-powered Chromebook. The Book Go is also limited in its configurations, as you can only get 4GB of RAM, with no options for more or less. However, if you want a lightweight Windows 11 laptop, this might just be your best bet, provided you spring for the option with 5G connectivity.

Pros:

  • The thinnest and lightest Samsung laptop
  • Can use a 5G SIM card
  • Power button doubles as a fingerprint reader
  • Intel or ARM processors available
  • Storage expandable via microSD card

Cons:

  • ARM is not optimized for Windows yet
  • Limited to 8GB of RAM
  • Not very durable

Best Samsung laptop with ARM

Samsung Galaxy Book Go

Experience the future with ARM

The Samsung Galaxy Book S is one of the thinnest laptops, thanks to its ARM processor, bringing long battery life.

Best portable Samsung laptop: Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha

The Galaxy Book Pro and Pro 360 received much fanfare when Samsung unveiled its latest lineup of laptops. One series of laptops that were also released, but were done so under-the-radar was the Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha lineup. There are two display sizes to choose from while offering similar specs to the Galaxy Book Pro 360 at a lower price. These laptops also offer much better battery life, with a rating of up to 18.5 hours on a single charge.

This is rather impressive for a laptop sporting a two-in-one convertible design, complete with a 1080p display. The QLED display panel is absolutely stunning and will continue to be useful and stay bright even if you're using it in direct sunlight. Prop it up to watch some movies, fold it back around to get some work done, or fold it all the way back and take some notes. The Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha can do it all!

There are some configuration limitations with the Book Flex2 Alpha compared to others, as the 13.3-inch model can only be configured with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Meanwhile, the 15-inch version doubles both of those specifications, so you won't be able to get the most power on a smaller display. One key difference between this and the Book Pro 360 is the lack of true Thunderbolt support, although there is a single USB-C port at your disposal.

Pros:

  • Offers similar specs to the Galaxy Book Pro 360 at a lower price
  • Up to 18.5 hours of battery life
  • 2-in-1 convertible design
  • QLED 1080p touchscreen display

Cons:

  • Storage maxes out at 512GB
  • Lacks Thunderbolt connectivity
  • Cannot get 16GB/512GB configuration on 13-inch model

Best portable Samsung laptop

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha

Flagship experience without the flagship price

The Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha features many of the same features as its more expensive family, but doesn't include the high price tag.

Best gaming Samsung laptop: Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey

Samsung already makes some of the best gaming monitors, so it would only make sense for the company to get into the gaming laptop business. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey. This is one of Samsung's latest laptop offerings, powered by Intel's 11th Gen chipsets and paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti GPU. The display measures in at 15.6 inches, making this a great companion laptop to enjoy your favorite games without being tied to a console or a desktop computer.

What helps the Galaxy Book Odyssey stand out from the crowd is just how thin the laptop is, considering that you get a desktop-like graphics card built in. There are three different configurations from which to choose, with Samsung offering between 8GB and 32GB of RAM along with either 512GB or 1TB of storage. And for those times where you need to step away from your games, the Book Odyssey is a productivity powerhouse, with up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and Dolby Atmos-tuned speakers.

On the security front, Samsung has you covered there too as there's an integrated fingerprint scanner that doubles as your power button. Those who enjoy backlit keys will love the keyboard, as Samsung makes some of the best laptop keyboards on the market, and that trend continues. There's a lot to like about the Galaxy Book Odyssey, as this is a great option for gaming or getting work done.

Pros:

  • Dedicated NVIDIA graphics card
  • Dolby Atmos-tuned speakers
  • Built-in fingerprint scanner
  • Available with up to 32GB of RAM
  • Backlit keyboard is a typist's dream

Cons:

  • Display doesn't match up with expectations
  • Lacks Thunderbolt connectivity
  • Only available in one size (15 inches)

Best gaming Samsung laptop

Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey

Sit back and game or get some work done

If you want one of the best Samsung laptops we've ever seen, then the Galaxy Book Odyssey is the choice for you.

The Galaxy Book Pro is the best Samsung laptop

Samsung may not have a lineup as robust as Dell or Lenovo, but deciding on the best Samsung laptop is still tough. When you take a look at something like the Galaxy Book Pro or the Galaxy Book Pro 360, there's really no wrong choice, as it just depends on your budget.

With the combination of the latest 11th-gen processors from Intel and an ultra-slim and sleek design, the Galaxy Book Pro makes for an easy choice. For those who want a great laptop and don't care about rotating or flip the screen around, the Galaxy Book Pro is the way to go for just about everyone.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Daniel Rubino is executive editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft since 2009, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.

Rich Edmonds is a word conjurer at Windows Central, covering everything related to Windows, gaming, and hardware. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a device chassis. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, and accessory coverage, as well as the emerging world of VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.

Andrew Myrick is a regular freelancer at Android Central. He has been a tech enthusiast ever since the original iPhone was released and continues to flip-flop between devices. You might as well hook him up to an IV filled with coffee to get him through the day. If you have any questions, you can find him on Twitter, and he'll get back to you.



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