Sudoku is one of the older puzzles, and it is over 100 years old. However, it’s still quite popular today as both a brain teaser and a relaxing activity. Newer folks may recognize puzzle games from newspapers, but you can buy full books on puzzles on Amazon. Of course, you can also get them in app format on Android. Sudoku is a difficult game to screw up, so most of the Sudoku games on Android are pretty good. Most poorly made Sudoku apps are due to UI or input issues rather than actual game mechanics. In any case, some stand above the rest. Here are the best Sudoku apps for Android!

The best Sudoku apps and games for Android

AI Factory Sudoku

Price: Free 

Microsoft Authenticator is a security app for two-factor authentication. It competes directly with Google Authenticator, Authy, LastPass Authenticator, and others. You may run into the app when updating your Microsoft account settings or enabling two-factor authentication there. Alternatively, you may want to have a TFA available for your own security purposes. You can download Microsoft Authenticator from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Let’s talk about Microsoft Authenticator and how it works.

Read more: The best two-factor authentication apps for Android

Existing or potential T-Mobile customers frustrated by the Device Connection Charge (DCC) fee may be in for some relief. A leaked internal document obtained by The Mobile Report reveals a surprise move by T-Mobile to significantly reduce the DCC for a limited time.

The DCC is a one-time unified fee charged for both phone upgrades and new line activations. It’s something that has long been a point of contention for customers. This flat fee, typically $35, could add a significant upfront cost, especially for families adding multiple lines.

SpaceX plans to launch its Direct to Cell satellite phone service later this year. The service is powered by SpaceX’s fleet of Starlink satellites and is currently being tested. According to the company, it appears everything is working as well or even better than expected.

First spotted by PCMag, SpaceX has sent a letter to the FCC to report on its initial satellite service tests. In the letter, the firm boasts that Direct to Cell is “meeting or exceeding testing objectives.”

The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G launched in December and immediately took a spot in our list of the best budget camera phones you can buy. It’s remained at retail price until today, with Amazon now offering a 12% cash discount on the model.

Samsung Galaxy A25 5G for $264.99 ($35 off)

Google’s video conferencing platform, Google Meet, might be making a play to become a bigger part of our daily mobile communication. While it started primarily as a business-focused tool, it’s become a popular option for 1-on-1 video calls as well. Now, it appears Google is testing a new feature that could further increase its use — a way to easily switch from a regular phone call to a video call with just a tap.

iPhone users have long enjoyed easy video calling through Apple’s FaceTime feature built directly into the iPhone dialer. Now Android users could have a similar experience with this integration of video calling into the phone app.

In April of 2023 T-Mobile introduced two new plans, dubbed Go5G and Go5G Plus. These plans weren’t dramatically different from the existing Magenta and Magenta Max offerings. The biggest changes were adding more hotspot data and access to killer deals previously reserved for new customers only. T-Mobile isn’t done yet, as it recently announced a third plan called Go5G Next. This new plan goes into affect today. 

This new plan is almost literally identical to Go5G Plus, but it has a secret weapon that helps it stand out: yearly upgrades. In this guide, we take a look at T-Mobile Go5G Next vs Magenta and the other pre-existing T-Mobile plans. Is this finally a plan worth switching to for Magenta subscribers?

Samsung took the wraps off of its latest flagships, the Galaxy S24 series, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra setting the early benchmark for other Android smartphones this year. It’s another year of refinement as far as the design goes but with a significant focus on AI-driven software and features. If that sounds familiar, it’s the exact intro we could have used for Google’s 2023 flagship, the Pixel 8 Pro. Interesting design refinements, upgraded hardware, and a plethora of new software features make for an interesting comparison between the two flagships. Here’s a look at the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: At a glance

Update: March 8, 2024 (2:32 PM ET): We have updated our iPhone 16 series rumor hub to include leaked CAD renders for the iPhone 16 Pro.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Samsung’s mid-range tablet, is slated to get a 2024 update. However, a new leak suggests that the update will be a fairly minor one.

A leak from WinFuture has provided a few renders and details of the 2024 version of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Based on the leak, it appears there won’t be much of a difference between this device and the one that came out in 2022.

Big deals on the PlayStation 5 are still rare, even three years on from its release. Today’s GameStop offer is the best we’ve ever seen, with $160 off the Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Console Digital Edition: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Bundle, and the Friday timing couldn’t be more perfect if you’ve got the weekend free.

Sony PlayStation 5 Slim: Spider-Man 2 Bundle for $399.99 ($160 off)

The Motorola Edge Plus (2023) was possibly the best flagship phone Motorola has released in years. We won’t know if its successor will surpass it until we have it in our hands. But until then, a new leak has given us a good look at the upcoming phone’s design while also providing a few new details.

The folks over at Android Headlines have obtained renders of what’s believed to be the Motorola Edge 50 Pro. In the US, this phone will likely be called the Motorola Edge Plus (2024). While in China, it will go by the name of the Motorola X50 Ultra.

Samsung unveiled its first 2024 flagships, the Galaxy S24 series, and if you were undecided about picking up a Pixel 8 series device or waiting for Samsung’s latest, now is an excellent time to choose. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 8 Pro make all the headlines, Samsung’s and Google’s smaller smartphones are far better value propositions. They offer many of the high-end features of their respective larger siblings while being significantly cheaper. But what’s the best choice between the two? Here’s a look at the Samsung Galaxy S24 (and Galaxy S24 Plus) vs Google Pixel 8!

Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Google Pixel 8: At a glance

It’s hard to keep track of which streaming service is premiering which new show or movie from week to week. Netflix used to be king, but the streaming field is full of alternatives, and they’re all regularly pumping out new content. So, what are the best new streaming shows and where can you watch them? Every week, we answer that question for you, offering some exciting new and returning titles, including streaming originals, from services like Max, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, and, yes, Netflix. 

We’ll be updating this list every week, so stay tuned for more new streaming shows on every major service. Looking for even more? We keep an archive of our recommendations going back at least 30 days. 

There is a lot to watch on the various streaming services available in 2024 — sometimes, it almost feels like too much. To simplify things for you, we’ve compiled some of the best new streaming movies to watch that are new this week.

Check out our top picks from major streamers like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and will sometimes even bring you an exciting new VOD movie or two. In addition to the latest movies from this week, we also give you other recommendations for shows that have arrived on a new streaming platform in the last 30 days. 

Many of us would love a Bose soundbar, but you might have notions that you’d have to part with a four-figure sum for such high-end audio. The Bose TV is an affordable alternative, especially in this excellent Friday deal. There’s $50 off the device right now on Amazon, reducing the price to just $229.

Bose TV Speaker for $229 ($50 off)

It’s nowhere close to Google or Facebook, but Reddit stays firm on the list of the most popular websites in the world. The network covers pretty much any subject, and has a strong following. The community is known for its loyalty, so we can understand how frustrating it can be when you have problems with Reddit not working.

This rarely happens, so it might come as a shock. An outage is often the cause, but it could also be an external problem. Here’s a quick guide on how to fix any issues you might experience.

The Discover Samsung Spring Sale wraps up this weekend, but that means you still have time to catch the best deals from the event. A standout offer for us is the potential savings on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. You can stack instant savings with trade-in credit to save over $1,000 on the most powerful Samsung tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra from $299.99 ($900 off)

Every year, Google launches two flagship Pixel phones and they’re never made equal. However, there’s even more reason to be disappointed about the differences between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro — Google’s current crop of premium Android handsets.

Just yesterday, we were told that the vanilla Pixel 8 model would not be getting one of the biggest attractions of the Pixel 8 Pro — the Gemini Nano AI model. It appears that Google will skip adding the on-device AI to the base Pixel 8 owing to some “hardware limitations.”

Wallpapers don’t have to have a specific meaning. Nor do they have to portray recognizable things, places, or characters. There is beauty in random shapes and colors that just happen to look good. That is why Samsung wallpapers have become so popular. These look great and certainly evoke some feelings, but they have a very non-representational nature. We have put together a collection of awesome abstract wallpapers for your phone. Let’s get to them!

Download these abstract wallpapers for your phone

We have to let you know how things work with our wallpaper posts before moving forward. You will need to download whichever wallpapers you prefer first, but don’t just save the images you see below. These are wallpaper previews, and have been compressed for improved website performance. This means they aren’t full-resolution images, and won’t look as good. Instead, click on the button below the previews to download the full-resolution abstract wallpapers for your phone.

The Raspberry Pi 5 arrived with the potential promise of compatibility with NVMe solid state storage, specifically M.2 SSDs. However, this feature was not immediately available upon its release. The Pi 5’s access to a PCI connector made this possible, but official Raspberry Pi solutions are still unavailable. Nevertheless, third-party solutions have emerged. In this article, I explore the NVMe Base by Pimeroni, which allows you to connect an M.2 NVMe drive to your Pi 5 and boot from it, effectively saying goodbye to SD cards.

SD cards or NVMe drives?

Google has released two new and exclusive wallpapers for Pixel fans and they are all about minty fresh beaches.

We’ve been hearing about new cross-device features Google is readying for a while now. We’ve now found more evidence suggesting how the new “Call Transfer” cross-device feature could function across linked Android devices.

It looks like there might be an issue with the latest Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 release. According to 9to5Google and some other users on Reddit, sideloading the newest update is soft-bricking Pixel devices.

The publication reports that while sideloading for QPR3 Beta 2 works typically, any attempts to restart Pixels once the process is complete results in the device being stuck on the Google logo.

The Pixel 8 Pro has Gemini Nano, leaving Pixel 8 owners wondering when the on-device AI will come to the base model. It’s looking like the answer to that question is it won’t.

Today, Google pushed out the latest episode of the #TheAndroidShow, where it discussed a number of topics including MWC, Android 15, and Gemini Nano. When the show got to the Q&A portion, however, there was an interesting revelation.

Google today released Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 for Pixel devices. This update continues the cycle of Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs) that bring improvements and bug fixes to the Android 14 platform.

While not introducing any new features, QPR3 Beta 2 focuses on squashing a significant number of user-reported bugs. Pixel users had earlier got access to the Circle to Search feature with Beta 1 of QPR3.

Fairphone, the Dutch phone manufacturer known for its focus on sustainability and repairability, has announced the indefinite suspension of its phone subscription service, Fairphone Easy.

Launched in 2022 as a pilot program in the Netherlands, Fairphone Easy offered users a way to access a Fairphone smartphone through a subscription model, with guaranteed repairs, replacements, and proper end-of-life recycling included. The program also incentivized users to hold onto their phones for longer, with decreasing subscription costs for existing customers. This longer lifespan aimed to reduce electronic waste, as Fairphone would refurbish and recycle returned devices at the end of their lease.

The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is forcing Apple to shake things up with its walled garden in a way it has never done before. As it attempts to comply with the regulation, the company will make it easier to switch from an iPhone to an Android.

First spotted by The Verge, Apple has now released a document that outlines how it will comply with the DMA. Within the document, the firm details it is working on “user-friendly solutions to transfer data from an iPhone to a non-Apple phone.” However, it looks like we’ll have to wait until fall next year for that data transfer solution to arrive.

Cell towers blanket most parts of the United States and other developed nations, but they still don’t reach many remote areas. If you’re ever in an emergency without cellular connectivity, you’d better hope you were prepared for such a situation, let someone know beforehand about your plans, find an area with limited connectivity, or use a device capable of satellite connectivity to send an emergency SOS. The vast majority of Android smartphones currently don’t support sending text messages via satellite, but Google might be changing that in Android 15.

When Apple launched the iPhone 14 series, one lauded feature was Emergency SOS. Emergency SOS uses special phone antenna hardware to establish a direct connection with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This lets the iPhone send text messages to emergency services without cellular connectivity. During the devastating Maui wildfires last August, several people were able to text for help after the fires destroyed the local cellular infrastructure.

Adobe’s generative AI technology, Firefly, is now accessible to a broader audience with the launch of a new beta app for Adobe Express, bringing the power of Adobe’s AI to our mobile devices.

Firefly first gained recognition for its disruptive capabilities in Photoshop, allowing users to manipulate and generate creative content with AI assistance. Since then, Adobe has also incorporated Firefly into the desktop version of its lighter, mass-friendly design platform, Adobe Express. Now, Adobe is bringing this powerful technology to even more people through a new Adobe Express mobile app.

After rolling out iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, Apple laid out the rules on how it would handle third-party app stores on its platform. In a support document, the company revealed that EU users would lose access to certain sideloading features if they leave the EU for too long, but didn’t specify the length of time. Apple has now updated that support page to provide more clarification.

Yesterday, Apple published a support page explaining that eligibility for alternative app marketplaces is “determined by using on-device processing.” It also mentioned that if customers venture outside of the EU for any reason, there would be a “grace period” before they lose access to some features like updating apps through third-party app stores.

While it’s not the case for everyone, a fair number of people rely on a second phone number. The reasons can range anywhere from keeping work and personal life separate to having a number to replace a landline. Although this often leads to needing a second phone, Verizon is introducing a plan to keep your phone numbers on a single device.

Today, Verizon announced it is introducing a plan called Second Number. This new plan will let customers add a second phone number to their phone.

While all eyes may be on the Galaxy Ring at the moment, Samsung’s upcoming smart ring is still a ways away from launching. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Ring’s biggest rival, the Oura Ring, is currently available, and the company has made it easier than ever to pick one up.

Today, Oura announced it’s extending the availability of the Oura Ring. Shoppers in the US will now be able to order an Oura Ring from Amazon’s website, in addition to Oura’s own web store. And if you have Amazon Prime, you can get the smart ring with free shipping.

The recent MWC in Barcelona saw the launch of OnePlus’ latest wearable: the OnePlus Watch 2. The Wear OS 4 device retails for $299.99, but there are two simple ways that you can already drop that price to $249.99 and be an early smartwatch adopter.

OnePlus Watch 2 for $249.99 ($50 off)

When you download more than one app from the Google Play Store, you have to wait for one app to finish before the next one starts the download process. But that could change in the future with the implementation of parallel downloads.

As discovered by TheSpAndroid, Google appears to be working on allowing users to download multiple apps at once in the Google Play Store. This isn’t the first time the tech giant has toyed around with this functionality, but it looks like Google is experimenting with the idea again in version 40.0.13.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 have been extensively leaked, from renders and specs to full product listings. Thought the leaks were over? Well, you can now try buying the mid-range phones in Germany via a major retailer.

German retail chain Otto (h/t: WinFuture journalist Roland Quandt) has posted product listings for the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55. Starting with the cheaper device, the A35 is listed at €379 (~$413) for the 6GB/128GB base model. Expect to pay €449 (~$489) for the 8GB/256GB variant.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) goes into effect in the European Union (EU) this week, forcing various big tech companies to adapt their platforms and services. Apple is one such company, and it’s been forced to make a number of changes to its iPhones in particular.

iPhones in the EU will need to offer alternative app stores, allow users to change their default web browser, and offer alternative billing solutions. These are the biggest tweaks to iOS we’ve seen in years. Unfortunately, these changes are limited to the EU.

Update: March 7, 2024 (07:55 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Z Flip 6 rumor hub with apparently leaked colors to expect.

Original article: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has been a very popular smartphone amongst consumers, more so than the larger, book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The lower price and the accessible size are some of the reasons why users prefer this clamshell foldable. With 2024 now underway, we can look forward to Samsung refreshing this lineup with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Here’s what we know about the Flip 6, what we can expect, and what we want it to be!

Despite being available for around 16 months now, the Surface Pro 9 is still the latest in Microsoft’s line of iconic 2-in-1 laptops. With the Surface Pro 10 still looking a way off, you might be thinking of investing in the current model. While it isn’t expensive in laptop terms, it’s still a significant outlay — the cheapest option in the US still costs $850 plus tax. What you might not know is that the retail price is different in every country, which raises the prospect of buying abroad to get a better deal. But first, you’ll need to know the cheapest place to buy the Surface Pro 9. We’ve done the research, so you don’t have to.

We’ll find out if there are better prices to be had in other nations, but there’s another potential incentive to shop abroad. Many countries, including the US, levy a sales tax on their residents, but visitors to their shores can often avoid paying it. This is why duty-free shopping in airports is popular. As a US tourist, you may be able to avoid paying the sales tax on the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 in another country. We’ll consider this a little more below.

Update: March 7, 2024 (07:50 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Z Fold 6 rumor hub with possible colors and recently leaked renders.

Original article: We’re deep into 2024, and it’s about time we learn more about Samsung’s next wave of foldables. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 are expected to be the highlights of Samsung’s foldable ambitions, refreshing its lineup a bit past the middle of the year. Leaks and rumors have begun flowing in, and we now have a fair idea of how the book-style foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, will shape up. Read on to learn more about this upcoming device!

When a new device hits the market, the initial focus often gravitates towards peak performance. Take, for instance, the recent launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 range. Numerous videos, including mine, have discussed its peak performance, examining Geekbench and 3DMark scores. While these metrics are undoubtedly intriguing, considering sustained performance is equally important. How does the device fare after an extended period of use? In this article, I’ll be delving into the sustained performance of various flagship processors, including those from Samsung, Qualcomm, Apple, and more.

Why is sustained performance important?

There are several ways to evaluate the performance of a system-on-chip (SoC). Peak CPU and GPU performance provide insight into what a mobile SoC can achieve under optimal conditions. However, these conditions are fleeting. Therefore, examining sustained performance is beneficial, revealing what happens when the test is run multiple times. How do the thermals behave? Does the processor slow down? Is the peak performance somewhat deceptive, as it can only be maintained briefly? This approach provides a more accurate reflection of performance during prolonged use, especially during gaming sessions.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 in Q3 2024, and the leaks are slowly starting to come in. We’ve already seen apparent Z Fold 6 renders, and a source has now dished out Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 colors.

Display analyst Ross Young posted colors for the two upcoming foldable phones on X. Young claimed that the Z Flip 6 will be available in Light Blue, Light Green, Silver, and Yellow. Meanwhile, the Z Fold 6 is said to be available in Dark Blue, Light Pink, and Silver.

The Pixel Watch series offers Watch Unlock functionality, allowing your Bluetooth-toting phone to unlock your wearable. It seems like Google will upgrade this feature when the Pixel Watch 3 comes out.

9to5Google dug into a recent version of the Play Services app and found references to “UWB ranging” for Watch Unlock. The outlet also found a few references to UWB-based Watch Unlock not working in countries that don’t allow the connectivity protocol.

Big tech companies are getting their ducks in a row to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act. The new competition rules came into effect on March 6, following which the likes of Google and Meta have announced how they plan to comply and what’s changing for end users.

Foldable laptops have seen growing interest for their promise of a large screen without compromising portability. For Apple MacBook fans, latest rumors are pointing to the possibility of a foldable MacBook arriving in as short as three years.

Apple’s rumored 20-inch foldable MacBook is scheduled to go into mass production in 2027, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who shared the update on X Thursday.

Like many other popular apps, Instagram includes a dark mode you can enable to make the majority of its interface black. You might want to turn on the option for a couple of reasons. One of the more practical ones is that using dark mode across your apps can help your device save on battery life. It also happens to look very cool! Regardless, we’re here to show you how to turn on Instagram dark mode.

Related: How to turn on dark mode in Google apps

Google has detailed its plans for complying with Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into effect on March 6. The policy is one that targets and holds accountable larg tech companies and their services — “gatekeepers,” — as it calls them. Everything you’ve been hearing about Apple allowing app sideloading on iPhones and iPads, interoperability of messaging services like Signal and WhatsApp, upfront choices for Android users, and more — all come under the purview of the Digital Markets Act.

Google is rolling out a document scanner to the Files by Google app (h/t Mishaal Rahman). The feature seems to be part of a server-side update. That means you won’t need to install a new version of the app to get it. We can confirm that the feature is visible on version 1.2729.610141523.0 of the Files by Google app on Pixel phones.

Samsung’s budget “Fan Edition” phones are a great buy, but a lower price tag doesn’t mean you should throw all caution to the wind. The Gorilla Glass 5 used for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is significantly less resistant than the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 found in the flagship S23 lineup, so if you want it to last you’ll need to take care of it. To that end, here are the best Samsung Galaxy S23 FE cases you can buy.

Want to learn more? Check out our in-depth guides to the best phone cases and the best phone accessories you can buy. Also check out our list of the best Galaxy S23 FE screen protectors for full protection.

Google is now rolling out Fast Pair for modern Google TV devices more widely. The feature was first announced in 2022 but only made its way to the Chromecast with Google TV last month.