Android Auto now places the navigation bar and turn information from Google Maps closer to the reach of UK drivers.

What you need to know

• Google Maps in Android Auto has gained a new update that optimizes the app for right-hand drive vehicles.
• The update shifts Maps' key features closer to the driver on British roads.
• Android Auto also resolves some issues related to right-to-left languages.

Google Maps in Android Auto has received a new update that should make navigating with a right-hand drive vehicle a bit more convenient. The app's user interface can now be adjusted for drivers in the United Kingdom and other countries where the driver sits on the right side of the vehicle.

In a post on Android Auto's help page, a Google representative said Maps can now reorient by placing turn-by-turn information and the navigation bar closer to the driver. The post reads:

Users across the world using Android Auto in their vehicles will now see the user interface orient itself optimally, in layout and language, depending on whether you drive a left-hand drive vehicle or right-hand drive vehicle. Worry no more about struggling to use hard-to-reach buttons.

This update relocates the app's key features to the right side of the screen, making it easier for British drivers to set destinations or tap important buttons.

Beyond the British roads, the new update also comes in handy for drivers in other regions such as Australasia, Ireland, the Indian subcontinent, Hong Kong and Japan, where drivers stick to the left side of the road while behind the wheels.

Google added that it will roll out an option to return to the default orientation in a future update to one of the best Android Auto apps. In addition to this handy update, the latest version of Android Auto also fixes a number of right-to-left language issues in Maps.

The changes are rolling out worldwide for all users of Google's car infotainment system.

Gmail brings its search filters from the web to Android.

What you need to know

• Google has begun rolling out new search filters to its mobile app for Android.
• The filters allow you to sort emails by sender or time frame.
• These capabilities were released to Gmail on the web last year.

Gmail's search capabilities on Android are getting a significant update that will narrow results to help you find a specific email. The app's new search filters were first rolled out on the web last year, with the goal of simplifying the way you sort through large amounts of search results.

The new update to one of the best Android apps introduces a variety of filters that allow you to search through emails by sender or time frame. You can further refine the results by choosing to view only emails with attachments.

These search filters will show up right below the search box in the app. You can tap any of the four buttons, including "From", "Sent to", Date", and "Attachments", independently or post-search.

Gmail will also display a list of suggested senders when you search for emails from a specific contact. Alternatively, there's an option to look for emails from multiple senders at the same time.

Google launched a similar capability to Gmail on the web last year in the form of search chips. In addition to searching by a sender's name or time, you can also filter emails by attachment type and exclude certain results such as calendar invites.

With the most recent update to its mobile app, Gmail no longer requires manual search filters (for example, label:work). The previous trick appeared to be some kind of hack only available to Gmail power users.

The new feature is available on all Workspace tiers as well as to G Suite Basic and Business customers. Google is gradually rolling out the filters, with the release set to be completed by the end of October.

With so many electronic devices throughout our homes and cluttering our desks, most of us need more than one or two sockets to keep everything plugged in and powered. To protect your gadgets from spikes and electrical surges, you can get a standard surge protector or, even better, you can upgrade to one of the best smart power strips with a built-in surge protector. Similar to smart Wi-Fi plugs but with the addition of several outlets, a smart power strip lets you plug in and control multiple devices with voice commands or through an app. These are the best smart power strips you can get.

Keep your devices up and running with the best smart power strips

If you're a fan of smart plugs like the Ring Outdoor Smart Plug but find that you're always running out of sockets in your home, you can get a smart power strip instead. These are extremely useful when you have a few gadgets that you need to keep plugged in either on your desk, in your kitchen, or on the living room floor, and would love to be able to turn them on or off with a quick voice command.

The best smart power strip you can get is the Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300, which includes six outlets along with three USB ports. However, if it's a bit outside of your budget and you don't need quite so many outlets, you can also consider the Gosund Power Strip that comes with three outlets and three USB ports. It's not only a great price, but it's smaller than some of the other smart power strips on this list, so you can easily move it around your house or take it with you when you travel.

No, it's not just you getting booted from the Slack app every five minutes.

What you need to know

• Slack reported a problem with sign-on in the Android app that was logging users out and making it difficult to log back in.
• This issue is limited to the Android app, so Slack on iOS and desktop platforms is still functioning.
• Android users using Single Sign-On (logging in with Google) are primarily impacted by the issue.
• The issue was reported shortly before 4 PM Eastern Time, and while Slack is investigating, they haven't announced a projected time for the fix.

In the always-connected, work from home age, we're blessed with the ability to stay connected to work even when we're not chained to a desk, but right now, that connection is interrupted on Android. The Slack app for Android is kicking out users with an "Invalid authorization" if they use Single Sign-On to log into the app — meaning you select "Sign in with Google" when you first open the app. Slack is aware of the issue and investigating a solution.

Slack is one of the best messaging apps today. While it's more often used by businesses and corporations as a means of team communication and collaboration, there are many who use Slack just for gossiping with friends about the latest episodes or family group chat that's outside of the Facebook and Google monoliths. Those personal Slack channels are less likely to use Single Sign-On, though, so hopefully, the only messages you're missing this afternoon are questions from your boss.

In the meantime, Slack's website is working just fine, so stay close to a computer with desktop notifications enabled if you're expecting any vital messages or meetings this afternoon or evening. Hopefully, it will be resolved soon, or at least by tomorrow morning.

This week, we make a few quick stops into Epic v. Apple and Activision Blizzard corner before signing the praises of Deathloop for PS5. Nintendo Switch has finally received a software update that enables Bluetooth audio support. Additonally, rumors are swirling about Nintendo Switch Online getting N64 games, and a curious firmware update has been released for the dock accessory of the OLED Switch model.

Hosted by: Jennifer Locke, Carli Velocci, and Rebecca Spear

Got feedback? Hit up Podcast@androidcentral.com and tell us something!

LISTEN NOW:

LINKS:

• As expected, Epic Games has appealed a court ruling in its spat with Apple | iMore
• Epic Games pays Apple $6 million as result of Epic v. Apple lawsuit | iMore
• Deathloop for PS5 review: A deadly day I didn't want to end | Android Central
• Activision Blizzard charged with violating labor laws in union complaint | Windows Central
• Nintendo Switch finally gets Bluetooth audio support with latest update | iMore
• Rumor: Nintendo Switch Online to get Nintendo 64 games and different pricing tiers | iMore

What you need to know

• The Google Pixel 6 Pro appears to have been spotted in a short hands-on video.
• The device appears to be a pre-production unit, as indicated by the logo.
• The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro may be less than a month from launch.

Google has shown off the Pixel 6 in official press videos, but this may be the first time we see Google's upcoming flagship hands-on thanks to a leaked video.

The video was uploaded by Brandon Lee from This Tech Today and shows what appears to be the Pixel 6 Pro in dark grey with the curved 6.7-inch QHD+ display turned on to the setup screen, showing "Welcome to your Pixel" and some Android 12 Material You-style animations.

I think this may be the first hands on video leak of a Google Pixel 6 Pro.

FYI: The logo would indicate that this is likely an early production test unit, so that means there may be some differences between what you see here and the actual production device. #teampixel pic.twitter.com/4QSvdktqA7

— M. Brandon Lee | THIS IS TECH TODAY (@thisistechtoday) September 21, 2021

It's a short clip, but it gives us what may be our best look at the Pixel 6 Pro in hand. The weird logo on the back would indicate that this is a preproduction unit that's not exactly ready for prime time. That said, the device looks quite stunning with its glossy finish, and we get a good look at the triple camera setup on the rear.

Following Google's August teaser, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are expected to be fully announced in October. The release seems imminent following Google's recent promotion of the device, as well as recent FCC documentation, with rumors pointing to October 19 with a release set for later that month. That's when we'll the complete picture of these new phones and how they will manage to compete with the best Android phones.

Android 12's new Privacy Dashboard is the one place where you can see exactly what apps are using which permissions and when they are doing it. It's not perfect — Android's permissions can be a little confusing, and Google isn't giving up much information about what each of them means, but it's a great addition nonetheless. Getting there isn't difficult once you know where to look. And remember, the best Android phone doesn't have Android 12 just yet, so you'll need to be using a Google Pixel with the Android 12 beta installed.

How to open the Privacy Dashboard in Android 12

1. Open your phone's settings menu.

2. Scroll to the Privacy section and tap the entry.

   

3. In the new window that opens choose Privacy Dashboard at the top of the list.

   

Once you have the Privacy Dashboard open, you can choose a category to see which apps have used the associated permission. You'll find obvious things like Google Maps using your location and the phone app using your microphone. Still, you might see more surprising things like your favorite game using your location while it's running.

A rose by any other name

As we often see with Android phones, there will be different naming conventions and slightly different methods to get to the same information based on your phone brand. Our first example of this is the Samsung Galaxy S21 with its ONE UI Android 12 beta software.

To find what you're looking for, use the exact instructions, but instead of looking for the words Privacy Dashboard, you'll be on the lookout for Permission Usage History. You'll also not see the colorful pie chart, but everything you need to know about what the apps on your phone have been doing is there all the same.

Why this is useful

The Privacy Dashboard is a single place where you can see how often applications did things you might not want "just any old app" to be able to do. Certain permissions, like location or microphone access — are critical because they can be used in real-time to spy on where you are or what you are doing.

With the Privacy Dashboard, you can see that applications accessed your location (for example). You can see how many apps accessed your area. And with a single tap, you can see a list of exactly which apps accessed your location and when they did it. One more tap teleports you right to the place where you can revoke that permission for that app, so it never happens again.

Android hasn't had a tool like this before. Apple has long shown you a list of permissions and applications, but even iOS doesn't have a single spot that's this easy to use whenever you want to do a self-audit to check what your phone's apps are up to on the back end.

The Privacy Dashboard isn't perfect, but it's already an awesome tool that you'll want to take a look at as soon as your phone gets Android 12.

Our top equipment picks

Try Android 12 today

Google Pixel 5 - 5G Smartphone

From $650 at Amazon

Google packed a lot into the Pixel 5, including a 90Hz OLED display, dual cameras, wireless charging, you name it. It's also the cheapest flagship Pixel we've had in a long time, making it a great way to preview Android 12 a little early.

The biggest reason to buy a Pixel phone may be the amazing camera, but another is that you have first dibs on new versions of Android. Android 12 is no different, and you'll find that the beta version of Android 12 is almost good enough to get shipped out the door to everyone, and the few bugs that remain are the kind most people can live with — if you're using the Pixel 5. Other older Pixel phones can take part in the Android 12 beta, but the Pixel 5 really does offer the best experience.

Metro by T-Mobile is a prepaid brand owned by T-Mobile that uses the entire T-Mobile network, including LTE and 5G. This carrier has three great plans with plenty of data and also two unlimited plans. The Metro by T-Mobile network has great support for unlocked phones and even allows a 5G connection on every plan as long as the phone supports it. The Google Pixel 5a is the perfect partner for this carrier with excellent 5G support, a low price, and a battery that's big enough to keep you running all day. If you're looking for the best Metro by T-Mobile phones, we've got you covered with more reliable choices below.

Best overall: Google Pixel 5a

The Google Pixel 5a, also known as the Google Pixel 5a with 5G, is everything a mid-range Android phone should be. It has great cameras powered by excellent software for flagship-like images and a large battery for all-day battery life. The display is also great with a 6.34-inch 2400x1080 AMOLED display with perfect blacks and rich colors. The Snapdragon 765G powering it easily keeps up with modern apps and feels good to use.

This Pixel includes 5G support for most 5G coverage in the U.S. though it does leave out support for mmWave. Still, for most people, the performance will be more than fast enough. This phone is IP67 rated for water and dust resistance so that you can take it just about anywhere. It also keeps the fingerprint reader on the back, meaning you can quickly unlock your phone even with a face covering.

Pros:

• Fantastic camera
• Large 4,680mAh battery
• 6.34-inch 2400x1080 display
• Great Android updates

Cons:

• No Wireless charging
• No mmWave 5G support

Best overall

Google Pixel 5a - 5G

• $450 at Google

High-end features with a mid-range price

The Pixel 5a is the perfect phone for an Android fan on a budget with solid performance, pure Android, and great cameras.

Best upgrade: Samsung Galaxy S21

The Galaxy S21 from Samsung is one of the best phones money can buy with a super-fast Snapdragon 888 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a solid 4,000mAh battery. This battery can last you all day, even if you take a lot of pictures. Speaking of pictures, this Galaxy has one of the best camera arrays to date with a 12MP primary camera, a 12MP wide-angle, and a 64MP telephoto camera with a 3x zoom.

The 6.2-inch 2400x1080 display is sharp with deep colors. This display also supports 120Hz for smooth motion. It's not the biggest display around, but it goes right up to the phone's edge, making the most of the available area.

Samsung has included full 5G support on this phone with both sub-6 and mmWave included. This phone even supports the upcoming C-band spectrum, so you'll get the best 5G speeds now and in the next couple of years on any U.S. carrier. Samsung is also quick to release updates with four years of security updates promised and three major Android updates.

Pros:

• Large and vibrant 6.2-inch 2400x1080 display
• Powerful Snapdragon 888 CPU
• Great 5G support
• Fantastic camera performance

Cons:

• Expensive
• No expandable storage

Best upgrade

Samsung Galaxy S21 - 5G Smartphone

• $750 at Amazon
• $800 at Best Buy

One of the best 5G phones you can buy

With a Snapdragon 888, a beautiful display, and a great camera, the Galaxy S21 is one of the best phones to try out a new carrier.

Best battery life: Moto G Power (2020)

The 2020 Moto G Power focused on delivering solid performance with a large display for up to three days on a single charge. The Moto G Power comes with a 5,000mAh battery and a solid Snapdragon 665 that work together to last as long as possible. This entry-level smartphone is a great choice for someone that doesn't need all of the power and speed of a modern flagship device.

Motorola packs in some of the nice software updates it has become known for, including gestures. The software is clean and looks like stock Android but won't get the same level of support as some Samsung or Pixel phones. Still, with Google's continued focus on security and enough horsepower to muscle through apps and web pages, the Moto G Power is still a very usable phone.

Pros:

• Large 6.4-inch 2300x1800 display
• Huge 5,000mAh battery
• Clean Android build

Cons:

• Limited updates planned
• Slow charging
• No water resistance

Best battery life

Moto G Power (2020)

• $220 at Amazon

Enough power for most people with a huge battery

The 2020 Moto G Power delivers fantastic battery life with solid cameras at an excellent price for a budget, unlocked phone.

Best value with a stylus: Moto G Stylus

The Moto G Stylus expands on Motorola's experience building good and cheap devices with the added input precision of a stylus. Paired with this phone's large 6.8-inch display, this can be a great phone for taking quick notes or even simple drawings. The stylus can also make it easier for some people to accurately touch the screen, especially on sites and apps not optimized for modern touch input.

It's powered by the Snapdragon 678 CPU with 4GB of RAM. While this isn't the most powerful phone, it's great for the low price, and it can handle most apps just fine. The battery should last you a couple of days, thanks to its 4,000mAh capacity. It also has a 48MP primary camera, so you should be able to snap some good pictures with enough light.

Pros:

• Large 6.8-inch display
• Included stylus for extra precision
• 4,000mAh battery for two-day battery life

Cons:

• Stylus isn't pressure-sensitive
• Won't get many updates

Best value with a stylus

Moto G Stylus 2021 - Smartphone

• From $250 at Amazon
• $300 at Best Buy
• $300 at B&H

Precision input

With a large battery and a great display, the Moto G Stylus is a great budget option for those who need more precision.

Best value flagship: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

While quite a few cheap Samsung Galaxy phones are available, they don't feel as nice as the S20 FE. The Galaxy S20 FE feels like an expensive flagship phone while managing to keep the cost down by cutting all of the right corners. This phone is powered by a slower Snapdragon 865 compared to the S20 but still has enough performance for everything most people do on their phones with 6GB of RAM.

The S20 FE has a great 6.5-inch super AMOLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen is also flat to the edges, a welcome change compared to the standard S20's curved edges. The S20 FE comes with 5G support for most carriers using sub-6 bands. This won't be perfect for future expansions with mmWave but will work great with the majority of T-Mobile's 5G network, including the faster Ultra Capacity band n41.

Pros:

• Large 6.5-inch 2400x1080 display
• Flat display with 120Hz support
• Great cameras
• Sub-6 5G support

Cons:

• Some performance slowdown
• A bit expensive

Best value flagship

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE - 5G Smartphone

• From $650 at Amazon
• $700 at Best Buy
• $550 at B&H

Still fantastic

The Galaxy S20 FE refines the S20 flagship into its best parts with a great display, solid performance, and great cameras.

Bottom line

The great thing about Metro by T-Mobile's network is that it supports most unlocked phones, including many international models. So if you have an unlocked phone with GSM and LTE support from the last few years, it will probably work on Metro. In fact, most of the best Android phones will work with the entire network with just a SIM.

Overall, the Google Pixel 5a with 5G is the best fit for the carrier thanks to good support for 5G, including T-Mobile's band n71 and n41. Pixel phones are also first in line to get Android updates for the latest features and the most up-to-date security. Finally, the low price compared to the Pixel 5 makes it a great bargain, and with identical camera performance, you give up very little importance.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Samuel Contreras When Samuel is not writing about networking and carriers, he spends most of his time researching computer components and obsessing over what CPU goes into the ultimate Windows 98 computer. It's the Pentium 3.

Facebook's new Portal Go can go wherever you want it to.

What you need to know

• Facebook has announced its latest video device, the Portal Go.
• The new Portal Go features a 12MP camera, a rechargeable battery, and a handle for easy portability.
• Facebook also announced a redesigned Portal+ with a higher resolution tilting display.
• Portal Go and new Portal+ are available for preorder and will ship in October for $199 and $349, respectively.

Facebook has launched a pair of new Portal video-calling devices on Tuesday, designed to take on some of the best smart displays from Google and Amazon. The new devices include the 10-inch Portal Go and the redesigned Portal+.

The new Portal Go could almost be mistaken for the Amazon Echo 8 with its simple design and fabric chassis. However, the Portal Go has a leg up over its Amazon competitor thanks to the rechargeable battery and rear handle, allowing you to take the smart display almost anywhere you want.

The device features a 10-inch HD display with a 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera. It also comes with a 4-mic array, 5W speakers, and a 20W woofer to take in your favorite tunes from Spotify, Pandora, and iHeart Radio.

The "long-lasting battery" can be recharged easily thanks to the wireless charging dock while making it easy to take Messenger, WhatsApp, and Zoom video calls from anywhere in your home. There's also built-in Alexa support for hands-off interactions.

As for the larger Portal+, the newly designed display looks a lot like the Nest Hub Max, at least from the front. It features a large, 14-inch 1440p display that tilts to give you better angles when on a video call. The smart camera is also able to follow you when you walk around the room, although the device won't physically pan like the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen).

The Portal+ also features the same speaker setup as the Portal Go, and both devices have mic and camera disable buttons, as well as integrated camera covers for extra privacy.

Both the Portal Go and redesigned Portal+ are available now for preorder, and retail for $199 and $349, respectively. Both devices will ship on October 19.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has two buttons, just like previous Galaxy Watches. Samsung still has shortcuts you can map to the back and home buttons, just like previous Galaxy Watches. There's no way to swap the home and back buttons — those coming from earlier Galaxy Watches will have to get used to Home on top rather than on bottom — but if you want to change the button shortcuts on your Galaxy Watch 4, it's a quick and easy process.

How to change button shortcuts on Galaxy Watch 4

1. Swipe down to open Quick Settings.
2. Tap Settings.

3. Tap Advanced Features.

   

4. Tap Customize buttons.
5. Tap Double press.

6. Tap the **app **you wish to trigger instead. I use Timer because it helps when baking.

   

7. Click the back button.

8. Tap Press and hold.

9. Tap Power off menu.

   

You can also change your Back button's single-click to a recent apps button, but I advise against it. Doing this means you don't have a back button at all, so if an app doesn't support the "swipe right to go back" — like RadarScope — then you can only get out with the home button.

If you need suggestions for your double-tap shortcut, I recommend Google Keep, the Timer app, or Google Pay — if you're using Samsung Pay, it has a monopoly on the "press and hold back button" shortcut. You can set Timer as a complication on your watch face, but if you don't have room for it, having it a double-click away is very handy. My double-click is set to Google Pay, just so I can bring it up and have it ready while waiting for the cashier to finish ringing up my order, but any app that you use regularly could be a good option here. Once Google Assistant arrives, that will probably replace the Pay shortcut, but until then, it's been super-handy while out and shopping.

If you want to upgrade your experience further, consider buying a better Galaxy Watch 4 band, so you can spice things up — or get a better fit if you have a small wrist like mine. For small wrists, the sculpted inner edges of the in-box Samsung band can cause wider gaps around small wrists, so you'll need to swap to something that flat near the pin.

Upgrade your experience

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

From $250 at Best Buy (Galaxy Watch 4) From $250 at Amazon (Galaxy Watch 4) From $350 at Best Buy (Watch 4 Classic) From $350 at Amazon (Watch 4 Classic)

The best Android smartwatch of 2021 is here.

The Galaxy Watch 4 is the first smartwatch to run the new Wear OS powered by Samsung, and it gives us the smoothest, fastest Android watch to date. While we're still missing Google Assistant, access to Google Play Android apps and Google services like Gboard and Google Pay ensure we get the best of both Samsung and Google.

Get some insight about a book from Reese Witherspoon herself.

What you need to know

• Google has partnered with Reese Witherspoon to bring her book club to the Assistant.
• Reese's Book Club will bring personalized reading recommendations to Google Assistant devices.
• Users can access the feature by saying, "Hey Google, read with Reese's Book Club."
• The feature will work even if you're not a member.

Google and Reese Whitherspoon have come together to bring hands-free, personalized reading recommendations to your Google Assistant-enabled devices.

Starting today, users in English-speaking countries can access Reese's Book Club from their phone, smart display, or the best Google Assistant speakers just by saying, "Hey Google, read with Reese's Book Club." First-time users will be greeted with an introduction about the service from Reese herself and jump right into learning about this month's book pick.

With Reese's Book Club, users can gain insight about monthly book picks with video and audio from Reese Whitherspoon as she discusses why she enjoyed a particular book. And if it's a book you've already read, she also provides reviews for book picks as well. Users can also take a quiz to help customize book recommendations based on their interests.

And if a book catches your eye, you can head over to Google Play Books and purchase it or add it to your "book pile."

You don't have to be a member to access Reese's Book Club, but if you already are, you can link your account to bring your personalized profile to the Google Assistant experience. If you're a new user, you can also sign up for free with your Google Account.

For a more hands-on experience, Reese's Book Club members will have access to discussions, various prizes and perks, advance notice of monthly book picks, and more, all of which can be accessed through the Android app.

Sleep better

Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)

$99 at Best Buy

Control your home with a tough or your voice

The new Google Nest Hub may look the same as the first-generation, but changes under the hood mean it's more future-proofed to handle all your smart home needs. With better audio and radar-based sleep tracking, the new Nest Hub is the perfect bedside companion.

You can now report specific messages to WhatsApp.

What you need to know

• WhatsApp is tweaking its messaging reporting feature to better protect users' privacy.
• The feature will soon allow you to select the messages that you want to forward to WhatsApp.
• Currently, when someone reports a contact, the last five messages are forwarded to WhatsApp to help moderators understand the context to decide if the person needs to be banned.

Earlier this month, a report from ProPublica raised concerns about WhatsApp's content review system and claimed that the Facebook-owned messaging app undermines the privacy of its users.

While Facebook denied the claims and stressed the system's importance in "preventing the worst abuse on the internet," WhatsApp has now added the ability to report a specific message with the latest beta version of its Android app.

The feature gives users complete control over the messages they want to be forwarded to WhatsApp. As can be seen in the screenshots shared by WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta update lets users report specific messages from both individual and group chats. You can also report specific messages received from a business account.

WhatsApp's current message reporting system only allows users to report a contact. Once you report someone, the five most recent messages are forwarded to WhatsApp's moderation team. Facebook says this is done to help moderators better understand the context and decide whether or not the person should be banned.

If you have the latest WhatsApp beta installed on your phone, you should see a new "Report" option when you select a specific message. Since the feature is already functional in the latest beta build, it may not take very long for it to make its way to the best Android phones on the stable channel. In addition to Android, the feature is now live in the latest iOS beta as well.

The change comes less than two weeks after WhatsApp became the first popular messaging app to offer end-to-end encryption for chat backups. The feature is currently rolling out to users across the globe and can be used to protect backups on Google Drive and iCloud.

Best answer: Yes. The new Fitbit Charge 5 is equipped with built-in GPS so you can conveniently track your route during activities without relying on your phone.

The Fitbit Charge 5 has GPS for easy tracking

There's a lot to consider when searching for a fitness tracker. Many users will be looking for key features such as built-in GPS to enhance their overall experience. Fortunately, the Fitbit Charge 5 has built-in GPS, which means you can leave your phone behind and still track your route with the Fitbit Charge 5.

While GPS isn't a rare feature, it's more common on Android smartwatches than fitness trackers. Since many people who shop for a tracker are looking for something affordable that can handle basic tracking, GPS is a nice bonus.

The Fitbit Charge 4 was the first in the series to offer built-in GPS. Since then, the company has remained committed to providing more advanced smartwatch-like features on their fitness trackers. When comparing the Fitbit Charge 5 and Charge 4, you'll see they both offer built-in GPS and blood oxygen tracking.

The Fitbit Charge 5 GPS is one of the tracker's many new perks.

The Fitbit Charge 5 might be on the expensive side, especially for a fitness tracker, but all the upgrades and improvements might make it a worthwhile purchase. In fact, the Fitbit Charge 5 GPS is one of the tracker's many new perks. There's a new design that makes it much more attractive than previous models.

You also get advanced health sensors, including electrodermal activity (EDA) and electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors. These new additions allow users to measure their temperature and stress level as well as check for irregular heartbeats that may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

If this sounds too advanced for your needs, you might be better off with a more basic tracker or even an older version of the Fitbit Charge. That said, health enthusiasts who want all the details will appreciate the Fitbit Charge 5 GPS and the other new features that come with it. This is the closest you'll get to smartwatch features without paying smartwatch prices.

Some people may argue that if you're going to spend this much on a fitness tracker with GPS, you might as well stretch your budget a bit further and splurge on a full-blown fitness smartwatch. I can understand this argument to a certain degree, but not everyone wants a bulky smartwatch on their wrist.

Minimalists who want something light, compact, and efficient will probably find the Fitbit Charge 5 to be a worthwhile investment. However, I can confidently say the built-in GPS feature is just the tip of the iceberg!

Use GPS to track your route

Fitbit Charge 5

$180 at Amazon $180 at Best Buy $180 at B&H

No phone required

Fitness enthusiasts will love that the Fitbit Charge 5 GPS allows them to leave their phones behind. Whether you're going for a run or embarking on a hike, this device can track your route without your phone's assistance.

Rock out without anything but your hands.

Have you ever been jamming out to a favorite song and found your fingers pretending like they're playing guitar? Even those of us who have no idea how to actually play guitar — that's me, for the record — have found myself pretending to shred the air along with a particularly fierce guitar solo more than once.

Unplugged lets you take your unfounded air guitar skill and hone it into a way to play music. It's a rhythm game with no equal, and that all comes down to the tech being used. It's truly the Guitar Hero of VR, as our Unplugged preview shows, but it doesn't require any kind of special controller. In fact, you won't be using a controller at all. This is purely a hand tracking experience on Quest, which means you'll use your hands one hundred percent of the time.

This Unplugged preview was played on an Oculus Quest 2 with access provided by publisher Vertigo Games.

A master class in hand tracking

Unplugged uses Oculus hand tracking tech — tech that has, historically, been a gimmick even on the best hand tracking games — and, subsequently, is playable only on the Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2. Unplugged gets hand tracking right in ways no other game has been able to so far, and it likely has a lot to do with how your hands are positioned.

Unplugged gets hand tracking right in ways no other game has been able to so far.

Because of how you would naturally hold a guitar, the Oculus Quest cameras can see your fingers at all times. That's the key to making sure that the system understands what your hands are doing and where many hand tracking experiences get it wrong. After all, if you're reaching out for an object and the back of your hand occludes the cameras' view of your fingers, the system has no idea what you're actually doing.

Since the guitar can be held in either right or left-handed positions, you can use either hand to hold the fretboard. To change notes through the song, you'll slide your hand up or down the imaginary neck of the guitar and hold it in one of four marked spaces. As you look at your fingers in VR, you'll note that each one has a unique color: the index finger is red, the middle finger is blue, the ring finger is green, and the pinkie is yellow. You won't use your thumb to play notes.

As you move past easy difficulty, Unplugged has you using more combinations of your fingers to hit notes. Some notes require two fingers, while others use three. Riffs only require you to strum once at the beginning of the note and hold the fret cords until the riff ends. Other notes will play off the imaginary cord vibration and have you switch your hold on the frets without adding in an extra strum.

Without having played guitar myself, it certainly feels a lot closer to how I imagine an actual guitar is played versus something like Guitar Hero, where you simply press a single button for each note. You can see me play through The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring on normal difficulty in the short video above.

At the beginning of each song, you'll position your guitar by grabbing the whammy bar with your strumming hand and the neck with your fret hand. The guitar itself is held in place throughout the song but rotates with your fret hand as you move it around. Think of it as locking the guitar to a tripod at the beginning of the song, so it doesn't float away but still gives you the freedom to comfortably rotate the guitar as you jam with the song.

Despite not having any tactile feedback at all — not even vibration since you're not using controllers — strumming on this imaginary air guitar feels surprisingly realistic.

Despite not having any tactile feedback at all — not even vibration since you're not using controllers — strumming on this imaginary air guitar feels surprisingly realistic. Part of the magic is that the guitar rotates with your fret hand — as stated above — and the other part is that you can see your hands clearly moving up and down the fretboard, no matter where in the air your hands actually are. Matching up your hands with a rotating guitar does wonders to make you feel like you're actually holding it.

Unique mechanics, familiar formula

In this hands-on Unplugged preview, I got the chance to strum through the intro — starred by Satchel from Steel Panther, a pastiche 80's hair metal band from L.A. — and four songs, each with several difficulty levels to play through. Those included:

• The Kids Aren't Alright - The Offspring
• Say it Ain't So - Weezer
• Flying High Again - Ozzy Osbourne
• Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Gameplay in Unplugged is what you would expect from a guitar-based rhythm game and mixes well with the unique mechanics.

From the get-go, you can scroll through the carousel of available songs with your finger — probably the only hand tracking mechanic that was tricky to get the hang of — or pick a song and play in succession for as long as you'd like by just tapping the "next song" button. This "next song" mechanic was particularly well done and not something you often find on rhythm games. It really helped keep me in the zone while playing rather than being interrupted by a menu every time a song ends.

Each playthrough nets you a score based on how well you did, and some rounds will even qualify for a special bonus round, as well. During the bonus round, you'll catch objects thrown at you from the crowd, with each trinket adding to your bonus score. After that, you'll be added to the global leaderboard and shown your standing, just as you might expect from a rhythm game.

While it wasn't shown off in this Unplugged preview, players will get the chance to earn additional guitars throughout their play, as you'll note in the screenshot above, which takes place in the backstage area where you begin the game. There also appears to be a fanbase that you'll grow over time and likely other features we weren't able to see in this preview build.

Like most rhythm games, lower difficulties tend to be less synched with the song itself. Unfortunately, that could actually make it more difficult to play with the music since it doesn't feel like some of the notes line up just right. It's necessary to go through these easier difficulties in order to develop your skills, but they always present their own problems in rhythm games.

Hard mode is where the real challenge begins, introducing cursed notes and lots of combos.

Harder difficulties will have you moving more quickly, using more varied combinations of cords, and add in several different types of cords that you'll need to master. My wife had a more difficult time getting acclimated to the game than I did, so it's possible that the disjointed feeling of not actually holding the guitar could take a bit more adjustment for some folks. On the other hand, I didn't start having trouble until hard mode, which falls in line with what I expect from my time with other rhythm games.

I wish there were better audio cues for when you hit or miss a note. There's a definite "oops" note that plays when you miss, but the music doesn't stop at all, and it feels a bit disjointed. Some rhythm games will drop the audio level a bit as you miss, letting you know you made a mistake without needing to see it. Given the amount of visual information presented on screen, I really do hope to see something like this added in the final game.

Unplug and unwind

Unplugged feels like an ideal addition to the Oculus Quest library, if for no other reason than the fact that it makes the nearly effortless Quest platform even more effortless. All you need to do is put your headset on and use your hands to navigate the UI, launch the game, and jam away without ever having to touch a controller.

Despite needing no controller, this game is extremely accessible for folks with certain disabilities.

That also means you can't use a controller with this game — something that might be a turn-off for some players — but it isn't any less limiting than the requirement to use a special controller on the rhythm games of yore. It's also a lot less expensive than those games since you'll only need to buy the game itself and not a special controller, too.

Folks with disabilities or other accessibility needs can be confident that developer Anotherway put some serious thought into these needs during the game's development. Cords are color-coordinated with your fingers but are also in unique positions that make it apparent which fingers you'll need to use to press on the fretboard to hit a note. Oculus already has colorblind options built into the system anyway, so between those two things, users with color impairments should be able to play without issue.

If you don't want to stand the entire time, it's easy enough to take a seat and bring the guitar down to your lap. Since the guitar doesn't move its physical position and only rotates along the base, aligning with the hand that holds the fretboard, Unplugged can be comfortably played sitting down as well as standing up.

I'm not yet clear on how players who might be missing fingers will be able to play the game, as there were no real options in the preview version, but I've asked the developer about this accessibility need and will update this preview with more information. Right now, a Valve Index is the only way to play the game with a controller since it has full finger tracking. That version will be available on SteamVR.

If you want to play with a controller, a Valve Index will be the only way to go.

Unplugged is coming to the Quest and SteamVR platforms this year. However, since the controller-tracked version probably feels quite a bit different from playing the game with just your hands, we'll reserve judgment and comment on that version of the game for a later time.

Shred it

Unplugged Air Guitar

See at Unplugged Wishlist at Steam

Fake guitar, real notes

Play along with tons of licensed songs that'll get your fingers shredding and your pulse pounding in VR.

The best MVNO carriers manage to offer a great value with solid coverage by leveraging the network of one of the major carriers. This setup can lead to a wider range of plans and keep you out of a contract if you don't want to be tied to any one carrier. It can also be a good way to try out a new network and one of the best cell phone plans without spending too much money or time moving numbers over. Metro by T-Mobile is the best overall MVNO offering great data options and plenty of ways to save money with multiple lines.

Best overall: Metro by T-Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile is owned by T-Mobile and uses the T-Mobile LTE network. Years ago, this would have been a reason to pass on the carrier, but T-Mobile's network has become one of the strongest networks in populated areas in recent times. The network has continued to gain ground in rural areas thanks to its 600Mhz spectrum for LTE and 5G. Even with all of the improvements, you should check the coverage map to ensure you're covered. 5G support is available with all plans if you have a phone that supports it.

As far as plans go, Metro by T-Mobile starts as low as $30 per month for 2GB of LTE data, although a smartphone user will be better off with a 10GB plan coming in at $40 per month for one line. This plan doesn't consume your data allowance with music streaming, saving data for big streamers.

You can also save money per line by adding more lines to your account. For example, if you sign up for the top unlimited plan with four lines, the price comes down to just $120 per month. Along with unlimited data, you'll get extra features such as 15GB of hotspot data, an Amazon Prime membership, and 100GB of Google One.

Since Metro uses the T-Mobile network, just about any unlocked phone should work without issue. It's also nice that Metro by T-Mobile has physical stores across the country if you need help setting up your phone or plan.

Pros:

• Works with most phones
• Fast T-Mobile network with 5G
• Multi-line savings
• Unlimited music streaming on 10GB plan
• 15GB of hotspot data on unlimited plan

Cons:

• Coverage not great for everyone
• Not all phones available online
• SD video streaming

Best overall

Metro by T-Mobile

• From $30/mo. at Metro by T-Mobile

Save with more lines

Metro by T-Mobile is one of the best options for a family with savings for more lines and a great unlimited data plan with perks.

Best single line: Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is a unique MVNO because the minimum amount of service you can buy is three months. You can purchase up to a year, which is the most savings, at $25 per month for 15GB of data, and if you only need 4GB, it's down to $15 per month. If you're one of the few people that requires more data each month, you can now get an unlimited plan through Mint, which comes with 35GB of high-speed data and 5GB of hotspot data. The unlimited plan has an introductory rate of $30 per month for three months, with renewal costing $40 per month. But if you sign up for a year, you can lock in this introductory rate.

Mint Mobile has many of the same network strengths and weaknesses as other T-Mobile-based MVNOs, but coverage should be solid for most people. If you're not sure, you can check your coverage on Mint's website by typing in your address. Fortunately, T-Mobile's network comes close to being one of the fastest you can get, and with 5G, one of the most advanced. If you run out of data or find you need more, you can either buy more at $10 per 1GB or upgrade to a larger plan mid-cycle.

You can bring your own T-Mobile device to Mint Mobile as long as it supports 4G LTE and VoLTE. If you're not sure, you can check with Mint's compatibility checker, but most unlocked GSM-network phones should work with Mint. Once you have your SIM card, you can activate it on the Mint Mobile app on your phone. If you want to buy a new phone, you can. Mint Mobile sells a wide range of phones, from high-end to budget devices. These are some of the best phones to use with Mint.

Pros:

• Save in bulk
• Fast T-Mobile network with 5G
• Great phone compatibility
• Easy to activate
• Multiple plan options

Cons:

• Unlimited plan only gets 5GB of hotspot data
• Must buy in bulk

Best single line

Mint Mobile

• From $15/mo. at Mint Mobile

Buy more to save

Mint Mobile offers a minimum of three months of service with up to 35GB of data. Save money when you buy more months.

Best for travel: Google Fi

Most MVNO carriers are a lower-cost alternative without offering much over-the-base carrier. Google Fi uses the best connection available from Sprint, T-Mobile, or U.S. Cellular in the U.S. While fewer phones support this entire network, if you have a compatible device, like the Google Pixel 5 or Galaxy S21, you should have great service with 5G.

Most unlocked phones still work with Google Fi, but they will be stuck on T-Mobile only, including 5G support. Luckily, you can buy a phone that you know will work with the entire network. These are some of the best phones for Google Fi.

Google Fi has three plans, including Flexible, Simply Unlimited, and Unlimited Plus. Even if you're not on an unlimited plan, you'll only pay for the data you use, and you'll never pay for more than 6GB of data, thanks to Bill Protection. After 15GB on the Flexible plan, your data speeds will slow, but you can always add more high-speed data at that time for $10 per GB. On the unlimited plans, your speeds will slow after 22GB of use.

The most significant feature that sets Fi apart is its international service on its Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans. If you're traveling in any of the 200+ supported countries, your data will cost the same as it does at home. You will also get unlimited texts but will need to pay $0.20 per minute for calls. Keep in mind that the Simply Unlimited plan doesn't include most of these international perks, and it also doesn't include hotspot tethering like the other plans.

Pros:

• Uses three networks
• International data on most plans
• Multi-line discounts
• Unlimited available
• 5G on compatible phones

Cons:

• Expensive for heavy data users
• Not all phones are 100 percent compatible

Best for travel

Google Fi

• From $20/mo. at Google Fi

Travel the world

If you leave the country a lot and want to stay connected, few options will work as well as Google Fi.

Best unlimited: Visible

Visible keeps things simple with a single unlimited plan and a large all-digital LTE and 5G network. Leveraging the power of Verizon's network, Visible provides great coverage while letting its users forget about how much data they're using. While Visible customers don't get the entire Verizon network, they do get the vast majority of it since they don't have access to 3G or analog service.

You can save some money with Visible's Party Pay that brings the cost per line down with up to four lines added. The cost is $35 per line at two lines, and three and four lines or more come in at $30 and $25. Each line is responsible for its own bill, so you can add people to your party without stressing about collecting payment. You can even join a party right from Visible's community page to bring your bill down right away.

Keep in mind, Visible offers no roaming of any kind, so if you intend to travel to an area out of the coverage map or out of the country, you'll have no service.

Android phone support is lacking compared to many other MVNOs, but the growing list of compatible phones now includes heavy hitters like the Galaxy S21 series and Pixel 5 series. Pretty much every iPhone after the iPhone 6 is supported. You can also buy a phone from Visible to be sure it works. These are some of the best phones for Visible.

Pros:

• Unlimited data
• Unlimited hotspot (5Mbps)
• Verizon LTE and 5G network
• Can buy phones through Visible
• Save with Party Pay

Cons:

• No roaming
• Limited phone selection
• 5G rollout hasn't reached all 5G phones

Best unlimited

Visible

• From $40/mo. at Visible

Unlimited in the U.S.

You can get unlimited data on Verizon's LTE network for a great price. You also get unlimited hotspot data at 5Mbps.

Best family plan: Walmart Family Mobile

Walmart Family Mobile is one of the best values in MVNOs if you have more than one line. While the top-end unlimited plan with 30GB of hotspot data and HD video streaming starts a little steep at just under $50 per month, you can add up to four additional lines for $25 per month each. You could also choose from three other plans with 5GB, 8GB, or 40GB data allotment starting at $25, $30, and $40 per month. While the 5GB or 40GB plans will be more than enough for most people, all lines have the same amount of data, so make sure you get enough for the heaviest user on the primary line.

The T-Mobile network powers Walmart Family Mobile, so you should get solid data speeds if the magenta network covers you. Just be sure to check your coverage while signing up to be sure.

Walmart Family Mobile sells a decent array of phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S20 series and Apple devices up to the iPhone 12 Pro. There are also quite a few cheaper phones available, so no matter your budget, you should find something that works. Of course, you can also bring your own phone as long as it's unlocked and compatible with the T-Mobile network.

Pros:

• Each additional line is $25/month
• Fast T-Mobile network
• Unlimited plan available
• Most unlocked phones will work
• 30GB of hotspot data and HD streaming on unlimited plan

Cons:

• Must use the T-Mobile network
• Single line prices are high

Best family plan

Walmart Family Mobile

• From $25/mo. at Walmart Family Mobile

Save with multiple lines

Walmart Family Mobile delivers solid speed and coverage on the T-Mobile network with a flat $24.88 for each extra line.

Best for multi-line perks: US Mobile

US Mobile lets you start with plans as small as 75 minutes and move up all the way to unlimited talk, text, and data. US Mobile can be an excellent fit for an emergency phone or a backup phone. It also means that you can build that plan if you don't need a ton of minutes or texts but want 6GB of data.

One of the most compelling options is the unlimited plan at $45 per month, with Ludicrous speeds, 5G, and no data caps. For $10 extra, you can add 20GB of hotspot data. On this plan, you'll even get free high-speed 4G LTE international data. You can also get three lines or more unlimited for the whole family, with each line dropping to $25 per line. US Mobile will even give you a free subscription to a streaming service if you have multiple lines.

US Mobile will use Verizon's or T-Mobile's LTE networks, depending on your phone's compatibility. US Mobile will help you pick the best network depending on your location or device when you sign up. Both networks should provide good service to the majority of Americans. With both of these networks, most unlocked phones should work, so if you're not ready for a new phone, you should still be able to sign up.

Pros:

• Create your own plan
• Unlimited available
• Verizon or T-Mobile networks
• Great phone compatibility
• International data with unlimited plan

Cons:

• Very limited phone selection on site
• Hotspot data is an extra charge on the certain plans

Best for multi-line perks

US Mobile

• From $3.50/mo. at US Mobile

Customize your plan

Whether you need unlimited or just a few minutes, you can create a competitively priced plan that works for you and your family at US Mobile.

Bottom line

There are so many good deals with MVNOs that fit all kinds of needs, whether you need unlimited data aimed at the heavy smartphone user or just a little for a spare phone. You can find MVNOs that use a network you already know has great coverage in your area, such as Verizon or T-Mobile. A carrier like Google Fi manages to pack in extra features for someone that wants great coverage and data abroad. At the same time, Visible stays focused on delivering data without limits. You also get to try out different networks since there's no contract associated with these plans.

In the end, Metro by T-Mobile is one of the best balances when it comes to the network and pricing for an MVNO. With Metro, you can bring nearly any unlocked phone and have it work on the strong T-Mobile network, including much of the same service a standard T-Mobile customer would get. It's also a nice feature that Metro by T-Mobile still has physical stores, so you don't have to do all the setup yourself.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Samuel Contreras When Samuel is not writing about networking and carriers, he spends most of his time researching computer components and obsessing over what CPU goes into the ultimate Windows 98 computer. It's the Pentium 3.

Olivia Lipski is a freelance writer for Android Central and loves testing out the latest smart home tech and discovering the best cell phone plans. When she's not busy running around NYC trying to find great food or coffee, she's in her kitchen trying to make it herself.

The Galaxy Tab S7 tablets pick up new features that were previously exclusive to Samsung's latest foldable devices.

What you need to know

• Samsung's newest tablets are now updated with new multitasking features ported from One UI 3.1.1.
• The latest update brings multi-window support and persistent taskbar to Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7, Tab S7+ and Tab S7 FE.
• These capabilities were previously available only on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3.

Samsung has started pushing new updates to the Galaxy Tab S7 series, including a handful of multitasking features first seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3.

The new features are rolling out to Samsung's best Android tablets as part of a new One UI 3.1-based update, as per SamMobile. While the firmware update is a minor upgrade from One UI 3.0, it brings with it a couple of handy features from One UI 3.1.1 that should improve your productivity experience with the tablets.

One feature being ported from Samsung's foldable lineup is the persistent taskbar. It's a useful capability that allows you to pin your favorite apps to the side of the screen so you can quickly switch between them without having to go to the home screen or open the app drawer.

You can also now manage multiple windows even for apps that don't support this capability. With the multi-window feature, you can open all apps as pop-ups or in split-screen mode.

These features can be turned on by going to the Settings menu, opening Advanced Features, and then selecting Labs. Samsung recently announced that these capabilities are also coming to its older foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and the original Galaxy Z Flip as part of an upcoming One UI 3.1.1 update.

You can access the new features by installing the firmware version T87xXXU2BUC6 on the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+. For the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, the firmware version is T73xXXU1AUH6.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

From $529 at Amazon From $530 at Best Buy

If you're looking for the best Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7 from Samsung is the ideal combination of specs and features. Along with an S Pen, you'll be able to get some real work done with the optional keyboard case or by connecting to a larger monitor via Samsung DeX Mode.

The new plan is limited to just one country currently.

What you need to know

• Netflix is giving Android users in Kenya a chance to watch some of its shows for free.
• In addition to access to many of Netflix's popular series and films, the new free plan also lets users enjoy personalized recommendations.
• The free plan will roll out to users in Kenya over the next few weeks.

Netflix has introduced a new free plan in Kenya, allowing Android users in the country to watch some of its most popular shows for free.

While Netflix did make some of its content free to watch for a limited time last year, this is the first time that the streaming giant has introduced a free tier.

The new plan doesn't require users to provide any payment information when signing up. Users only have to enter their email and confirm that they are 18 or over. Although the free plan doesn't provide access to everything that's available on Netflix, it does allow users to enjoy Netflix's personalized recommendations, parental controls, and profiles on the best Android phones.

Netflix is hoping that users who try out its free plan will upgrade to a paid subscription to enjoy its full catalog. The free plan will be rolling out in the country over the next few weeks. There's no word on whether the new plan will be launched in markets outside Kenya.

Back in July, Netflix reported that it added just 1.5 million new subscribers in the second quarter of 2021. Besides promotions such as the new free tier in Kenya, Netflix is also banking on gaming to lure new subscribers.

The company's first VR game, Eden Unearthed, was released earlier this week. It is based on the Netflix original show Eden that premiered on the platform earlier this year.

Netflix

From $9/mo. at Netflix

A Netflix subscription gets you access to a massive library of movies, documentaries, TV shows, original shows, and more. You can also download your favorite shows to watch them offline and create profiles for kids.

The Galaxy Watch is still one of the best Samsung smartwatches, even if it's getting along in years, and it deserves one of the best Samsung Galaxy watchbands. Not only to keep it secured to your wrist but also to help customize it to better fit your style. The watch allows you to choose from several watch faces to get the right look for the screen, but you can easily replace the strap using a standard 22mm watch band for the 46mm Galaxy Watch to make it even more you.

Accessorize your favorite wrist accessory

No matter your style, it's easy to find a replacement band for your Galaxy Watch. Though the Galaxy Watch isn't the newest watch, it's still very capable, and swapping out the standard 22mm straps keeps it looking fresh ... And since watchmakers have used that size for centuries, it shouldn't be hard to find the perfect watch band for you.

A watch band that can mesh with various looks while staying comfortable is key, and the Fullmosa stainless steel mesh band does just that. You get a high-quality band with so many clasp points that you're sure to get the perfect fit.

It's also hard to go wrong with a good ol' leather band. Whether you prefer more of a classic look with something like the Ditou leather band or to stand out a bit more with a cuff-style band from Coobes. Either way, you'll have a strap that will last a long time. I like to keep a perforated silicone band in my rotation for workouts, and the band from Epoosuo is my go-to with its comfort and durability.

Philips Hue is one of the most sought-after brands for smart lighting. Though its lights come with a higher price tag than some cheap smart LED light bulbs, they're some of the easiest to install and integrate into smart home ecosystems as well as operate through the newly improved Hue app or voice commands. These bulbs connect directly via Bluetooth or a Hue Bridge, often included in starter kits and worth considering if you want to take advantage of all the smart features Hue bulbs have to offer.

Philips Hue 60W vs. 75W vs. 100W: Measuring brightness

There are many Philips Hue bulbs to choose from when you're just getting started, so one of the first factors to consider is how bright you want your bulbs to be. For instance, a kitchen, bathroom, and office space will need brighter lighting than a dining room, bedroom, or hallway.

In the past, most people would look to wattage as an indicator of how bright a traditional, incandescent bulb measures, but this changed with the adoption of energy-efficient LED light bulbs. Wattage is actually a measurement of how much energy a bulb uses, while lumens measure the amount of light emitted from a bulb and thereby how bright that bulb will be. These days, you can find smart LED bulbs with significantly lower wattage than incandescent bulbs but emit just as many lumens. In other words, less energy equals more light.

Philips Hue 60W vs. 75W vs. 100W: What's the difference?

When you're shopping for a Philips Hue Bulb like the classic A19 white and color ambiance bulb, you'll notice the choice between 800, 1,100, and 1,600 lumens as opposed to watts. This chart compares the traditional wattage equivalent (60W, 75W, and 100W) with the actual wattage and lumens of Philips Hue light bulbs.

	Watts	Lumens
Philips Hue 60W	9.5W	800 lumens
Philips Hue 75W	10.5W	1,100 lumens
Philips Hue 100W	16W	1,600 lumens

Philips Hue 60W vs. 75W vs. 100W: Which bulb should you get?

Once you've decided what room or space you want your Philips Hue bulbs for, you'll need to determine just how bright you want your bulbs to be. If you plan on installing your bulbs in your kitchen, workspace, bathroom, garage, or even a home gym, you'll need the brightest bulb you can get or Philips Hue's 100W 1,600-lumen bulb. If you plan on setting up your bulbs in a big living room or dining room, you can use the 75W, whereas any hallways, bedrooms, or entertainment spaces will do just fine with the 60W 800 lumen bulb. The larger the area, the more lumens you'll need.

Also, keep in mind that a range of sizes and shapes for Philips Hue bulbs will also affect how light is distributed. And if you purchase a white and color ambiance bulb, you'll be able to dim your lighting and change the white temperature between 2,200K to 6,500K. So if you're watching a movie or hosting an intimate dinner, you can adjust your lighting to best suit the mood and not be stuck with blinding, bright light.

Welcome to Hue

Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance A19 LED Starter Kit

$199 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy

Get started with 800 lumens

This Philips Hue starter kit comes with four multicolor bulbs as well as a Hue Bridge, perfect for lighting up your living room with 800 lumens per bulb.

Once completed, the building will serve as the New York headquarters for Google's sales and partnership teams.

What you need to know

• Google is buying an office building in New York's Manhattan district for $2.1 billion.
• The building, which is currently under construction, is set to open in mid-2023.
• Google expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Google is purchasing the St. John's Terminal in Manhattan for $2.1 billion to serve as the anchor of its new Hudson Square campus. The announcement was made in a blog post by Alphabet and Google CFO Ruth Porat.

This isn't the first time that Google has bought an office building in Manhattan. It purchased the former Port Authority building at 15th Street and 9th Avenue in 2010 for $1.9 billion. In 2018, the company purchased the Chelsea Market building for $2.4 billion.

Despite embracing the new work-from-home culture, Google appears to be continuing to increase investment in office space. The company believes that coming together in person to collaborate will remain an integral part of its future.

The St. John's Terminal site is expected to open by mid-2023 and will be Google's largest office outside California. Google says it has made "substantial progress" in building out its 1.7 million-square-foot Hudson Square campus, which will serve as the New York headquarters for its Global Business Organization.

A former freight facility, St. John's Terminal is currently being reimagined into a sustainable and connected building with a biophilic design. It will feature a number of outdoor spaces and also reconnect the Hudson Square neighborhood to the waterfront.

Google expects the investment to give it the capacity to increase its workforce in New York City to more than 14,000 employees in the coming years. The search giant currently has around 12,000 employees in New York City, working in different offices across Manhattan.

Last month, Google decided to push back mandatory office return for its employees to January 10, 2022. Until January 10, it is optional for Google employees to work on campus. Like Google, other tech giants such as Facebook and Apple have also told their employees that they won't have to go back to offices until at least January next year.