[Update: September 15th] Microsoft xCloud launches September 15th on Android with over 100 Xbox games

Update 1 (08/05/2020 @ 09:12 PM ET): Microsoft has announced that they’ll launch their xCloud game streaming service on September 15th. They have also shared a partial list of titles that will be supported at launch. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on July 16, 2020, is preserved below.

Don’t own a powerful PC or a newer console? No problem: Thanks to cloud game streaming services, you don’t have to dish out hundreds of dollars to enjoy the best that the gaming industry has to offer. For example, NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud gaming service lets you play Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding with DLSS 2.0 enabled while Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service offers arguably the lowest latency and highest quality for its selection of games. Microsoft’s competing Project xCloud, which offers up a range of popular Xbox titles, has been in preview for a few months but will soon launch for everyone later this year.

Gaming hardware keeps getting more and more expensive: consoles like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X are not expected to cost any less than $500 at launch, while a decent gaming PC that can play AAA games will set you back even more. That’s why game streaming has become attractive; you can play many games without needing expensive hardware aside from a controller and a decent Internet connection. The three major game streaming services have wildly different models: NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW lets customers play from select titles in their existing Steam/Epic Games library, Stadia requires users to purchase titles from its online store, and Project xCloud lets users play over a hundred Xbox Game Pass titles. NVIDIA has a free tier with limited playtime and fewer quality options, Stadia has a Pro tier that gives users free games from time-to-time, and Project xCloud requires a monthly subscription fee but offers many games upfront.

In September, Project xCloud will be exiting preview, so invites won’t be required anymore. Microsoft is combining Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass, and xCloud game streaming into a single $15 per month subscription called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. According to The Verge, Microsoft won’t always limit xCloud to the $15/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription tier, though Microsoft did not share concrete details on future subscription plans. At launch, you’ll be able to play from over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on supported devices, including Android phones or tablets. However, Microsoft hasn’t shared a list of games that will be available at launch, nor have they shared which specific phone and tablet models will be supported.

Support for DualShock 4 controllers and PC streaming are still planned to happen, though no specific announcements have been made today. Microsoft hasn’t announced which countries they’ll launch the service in, though the current preview includes multiple European nations. Lastly, Microsoft told The Verge that Project xCloud won’t be the final name of the service, though the company hasn’t settled on what they’re going to call it at launch.

Here’s what Microsoft announced on their official Xbox blog earlier today:

Finally, today we’re announcing that this September, in supported countries, we’re bringing Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud together at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With cloud gaming in Game Pass Ultimate, you will be able to play over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on your phone or tablet. And because Xbox Live connects across devices, you can play along with the nearly 100 million Xbox Live players around the world. So when Halo Infinite launches, you and your friends can play together and immerse yourselves in the Halo universe as Master Chief—anywhere you go and across devices.

Cloud gaming in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate means your games are no longer locked to the living room. You can connect more than ever with friends and family through gaming. And just like you do with your movie and music streaming services, when cloud gaming launches into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can continue your game wherever you left off on any of your devices.

Are you excited about Project Cloud?

Source: Microsoft

Via: Windows Central ||| The Verge

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Update 1: September 15th Launch, Partial Game List Revealed

In a blog post published yesterday, Microsoft revealed that it plans to launch its cloud gaming service, xCloud, on September 15th. As the company had previously revealed, access to xCloud will require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate monthly subscription, which will cost $1 for the first month followed by $15 per month after that. At launch, users will have access to over 100 titles, 36 of which Microsoft revealed today to publications like The Verge.

Here’s the partial list of games that will be available at launch:

Partial list of supported Xbox titles on Microsoft xCloud

• Ark: Survival Evolved
• Bleeding Edge
• Costume Quest 2
• Crackdown 3 (campaign)
• Destiny 2
• F1 2019
• Forza Horizon 4
• Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
• Gears of War 4
• Gears 5 Ultimate Edition
• Grounded
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Killer Instinct Definitive Edition
• Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
• Minecraft Dungeons
• The Outer Worlds
• Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps
• Quantum Break
• ReCore: Definitive Edition
• Ryse: Son of Rome
• Sea of Thieves: Anniversary Edition
• State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
• Sunset Overdrive
• Super Lucky’s Tale
• Tell Me Why
• The Bard’s Tale Trilogy
• Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut
• Wasteland 3
• Wasteland Remastered
• Yakuza Kiwami 2

Here are the 22 countries that Microsoft says xCloud will be available in at launch:

List of countries where Microsoft xCloud will launch in

• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Spain
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Microsoft partnered with Razer and PowerA for new mobile gaming controllers designed for Xbox. Pre-ordering the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will allow you to redeem PowerA’s new controller as well as a free 3-month Xbox Game Pass subscription. The future of xCloud on iOS is up in the air, though, as The Verge notes that Microsoft recently ended its xCloud preview for the platform without specifying plans for a future launch.

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These are the best cases for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is here, and with a starting price of $1299, it’s definitely an investment. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the heaviest Samsung smartphones to-date, and trust me from personal experience, the added weight and large proportions of my similarly-sized Galaxy S20 Ultra resulted in more than one drop. Thankfully, I had a case on it and it survived, and some of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases featured below could also save your shiny new phone. We’ll be updating this post with new options as they pop up so check back frequently!

Samsung Kvadrat Cover

Eye-catching and beautiful

One of a handful of first-party accessories, this Kvadrat Cover might be one of Samsung's best looking accessories. It's made from sustainable materials and looks and feels great!

$35 at Samsung

Ringke Air-S Case

Slim-line and mighty fine!

Why put a thick case on a thin phone like the Galaxy Note 20? Keep those sleek curves and guard against scratches with this minimalist case from Ringke, which protects without being too bulky.

$11 at Amazon

Caseology Parallax

Grippy fun that looks good!

Add style and texture to an already stylish phone with the Parallax series from Caseology. Not only does it protect, but it also adds a colorful pattern to the rear of your phone!

$11 at Amazon

Samsung Leather Cover

The perfect leather look

Samsung's official leather cover remains the best choice, and there's this year, your color choices include black, brown and green. Based on previous Samsung leather covers, this one should also survive many months of use.

$50 at Samsung

dbrand Grip Case

The Ultimate in Customization!

If you want something truly custom that also protects your phone, the dbrand Grip Case fits the bill. It's extremely protective, but you can customize the design using one of the many skin types available.

From $30 at dbrand

Spigen Liquid Armor Case

Slim-line and mighty fine!

When it comes to cases, you've probably heard of Spigen. The company has a lot of popular products, but the Liquid Air brings added grip and a beautiful symmetry and uniformity that really appeals to us.

$12 at Amazon

Incipio DualPro

Top-notch protection

If you're looking for a case that really protects your phone, the Incipio DualPro is designed with protection in mind, including a drop test rating of 10 feet, shock-absorbing inner core and raised bezels to protect your screen.

$30 at Incipio

Ringke Fusion X

Show off your Note's beauty

The Ringke Fusion X is one of the company's most popular case line-ups, combining a clear back so you can show off your stunning new smartphone with protective features like a raised lip and rugged exterior.

$13 at Amazon

Caseology Skyfall Case

Slim yet protective

Instead of a thick case, show off your phone's natural beauty while keeping it protected with this beautiful Caseology Skyfall case, which is available in 3 colors. I've used one before and it's a fantastic case!

$11 at Amazon

Samsung Silicone Cover

Minimalistic and Grippy!

Want a case with some grip that matches the color of your phone perfectly? Look no further than Samsung's official silicone cover, which comes in Black, White and 'Brown', which is actually Pink in color.

$30 at Samsung

ESR Metal Kickstand Case

Prop your phone up anywhere!

Being able to prop up your phone while you're out and about is one of the big selling points for this case. Others include raised screen and camera bezels to protect against scratches, and additional grip.

$19 at Amazon

anccer Ultra Thin Slim Cover

Slim-line yet colorful

If all you want is a super-slim case, look no further. This won't provide you a lot of protection against drops, but your phone will still remain sleek. It's also available in gorgeous Red and Blue colors.

$13 at Amazon

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a large phone with a considerable amount of weight to it, so you’ll want to factor this in when deciding which case to buy. The larger size also means you’ll want to look at how much grip a case provides. If you’re set on a slimline case, the Ringke Air-S case provides protection without being too bulky. Our favorite pick is the Samsung Kvadrat Cover which looks stylish while protecting your phone.

If you need something a little more rugged, the Incipio DualPro comes with some serious claims, including being able to withstand a 10-foot drop and helping to protect against scratches with raised bezels. Considering the $1300 starting price tag of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, this might be the most protective case for your investment.

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Android TV’s new recommended content carousel will also show sponsored content

Google is making it easier to discover content on Android TV. The search giant on Wednesday introduced a feature that brings a carousel of recommended content above your favorite apps row.

Google says the types of content that will show up in this carousel includes cinematic teasers for the most popular movies and shows, and the content will be chosen by Google Play’s entertainment experts. Suggestions from other streaming services can also show up in this space if you link them to your Google account.

Sponsored content from media partners will also show up in this carousel, Google said. The good news is all content will be clearly labeled, so you’ll know when something is a paid advertisement.

Google is also making it far easier to subscribe to a third-party service. If a show you want to watch is on Epix Now, for example, and you don’t have an account, Google will make signing up a breeze by using the email address you have on file. Google first teased this feature during I/O 2019 last year and started piloting it earlier this year with a limited number of apps and services.

The new “Subscribe and install” feature will work with the Starz app, DC Universe, and Epix NOW, with support for other services coming soon.

It’s been a while since the last significant Android TV update, so it’s nice to see new features. Recently, we uncovered evidence that Google is gearing up to launch a new Android TV, so perhaps these new features are preparing consumers for something bigger to come.

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Source: Google

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Google no longer stores audio recordings by default for all users of Assistant

Starting today, Google has opted out all users from having their audio stored by the company. The move is the result of Google reimplementing a program that will use humans to analyze and rate audio snippets.

If you do want the search giant to store your audio recordings, you’ll actually have to opt in to the program by enabling the Voice & Audio Activity (VAA) setting.

Google is reportedly sending out emails to anyone who has interacted with Google Assistant, whether it was through a smart speaker or via an application such as Google Maps. The Verge shared a copy of the email, which explains that Google uses saved recordings to improve the search giant’s audio recognition technologies.

Email sent to some users. Via: The Verge

If you do opt in to Google’s program, you’ll be able to delete them at any time through your Web & App Activity dashboard. The company said it will also delete audio recordings when they aren’t needed to develop products and technologies.

As The Verge points out, your audio recordings will at first be associated with your account, and Google will use these snippets to improve voice matching. Following that, your audio will be “anonymized” and reviewed by human reviewers, some of whom will from third-party vendors.

Google’s new policy changes come after the search giant and other large tech companies were revealed to be storing and reviewing audio recordings. The practice became a big scandal last year, causing companies to be much more transparent about their practices. Google made significant changes to its audio retention policies last year, saying it wouldn’t allow humans to review recordings without user permission. Today’s new program appears to be these new policies being put into action.

You should get an email in the coming days that will explain the new program and provide information on how to delete your audio recordings.

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Via: The Verge

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These are the full specs of the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra

Samsung just unveiled its 10th-gen Galaxy Note lineup at the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked launch event. As part of the new Galaxy Note 20 series, the company has launched two devices — the regular Galaxy Note 20 and the high-end Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The latest Galaxy Note flagships from Samsung feature top-of-the-line hardware, including Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC or Samsung’s Exynos 990 chip (depending on your region), up to 12GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 512GB of high-speed UFS 3.x storage.

Much like previous devices in the Galaxy Note lineup, the new Galaxy Note 20 series offers two of the most feature-rich Android smartphones out there. Not only do the smartphones pack in some impressive hardware, but Samsung has also introduced a host of new software features with the devices. We’ve already taken a look at some of the new software features in our announcement post for the Galaxy Note 20 series, and here we’ll be taking a look at their complete hardware specifications.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy Note 20	Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Dimensions & Weight	161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm 194g	164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm 213g
Display	6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 2400 x 1080 Flat display 60Hz refresh rate HDR10+ support Gorilla Glass 5 Infinity-O Display	6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 3088 x 1440 Curved display 120Hz refresh rate Adaptive refresh rate support HDR10+ support Gorilla Glass 7/Victus Infinity-O Display
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus, or Exynos 990	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus, or Exynos 990
RAM & Storage	8GB LPDDR5 + 128GB UFS 3.0 No microSD card expansion slot	12GB LPDDR5 + 128GB UFS 3.1 12GB + 512GB Dedicated microSD card slot for expansion up to 1TB
Battery & Charging	4,300mAh 25W wired fast charging support 15W wireless charging support Reverse wireless charging support	4,500mAh 25W wired fast charging support 15W wireless charging support Reverse wireless charging support
Rear Camera	Primary: 12MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, 1/1.76″ sensor Secondary: 12MP, f/2.2, ultra-wide-angle, 120° FoV Tertiary: 64MP, f/2.0, telephoto, 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom	Primary: 108MP, f/1.8, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS, 1/33″ sensor Secondary: 12MP, f/2.2, ultra-wide-angle, 120° FoV Tertiary: 12MP, f/3.0, telephoto camera, 5x Optical zoom
Front Camera	10MP, f/2.2, 1.22µm	10MP, f/2.2, 1.22µm
Connectivity	5G: NSA, SA, Sub6/mmWave LTE: Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20 – Up to 2Gbps Download / Up to 200Mbps Upload Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4GHz + 5GHz, HE80, MIMO, 1024-QAM Bluetooth 5.0 USB Type-C NFC MST GNSS: GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou	5G: NSA, SA, Sub6/mmWave LTE: Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 7CA, LTE Cat.20 – Up to 2Gbps Download / Up to 200Mbps Upload Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4GHz + 5GHz, HE80, MIMO, 1024-QAM Bluetooth 5.0 USB Type-C NFC MST GNSS: GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou
Other Features	S Pen: 5.8 x 4.35 x 105.08 mm 3.04g Bluetooth enabled Up to 24 hrs of battery standby 4096 pressure levels 0.7mm pen tip diameter IP68 IP68 dust and water resistance In-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor Wireless DeX support	S Pen: 5.8 x 4.35 x 105.08 mm 3.04g Bluetooth enabled Up to 24 hrs of battery standby 4096 pressure levels 0.7mm pen tip diameter IP68 IP68 dust and water resistance In-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor Wireless DeX support Ultra Wide Band (UWB) chip for device-to-device connections and fast file transfers
Android Version	One UI 2.5 based on Android 10	OneUI 2.5 based on Android 10
Colors	Mystic Green Mystic Bronze Mystic Gray	Mystic Bronze (matte) Mystic Black (glossy) Mystic White (glossy)

What do you think of the Galaxy Note 20? Let us know in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy Note 20

A true flagship, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra features a lot of premium specifications. The Galaxy Note 20 definitely feels like a compromise, but the smaller size and lower price may appeal to you. Whichever one you buy, you likely won't regret it!

From $999 at Samsung

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Google adds link previews, Smart Compose, and more to Docs, Sheets, and Slides for Android

Google on Wednesday introduced a slew of new features for Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Android. The new features, which include Smart Compose and link previews, were previously made available for G Suite users on the web.

Smart Compose aims to save you time by providing Docs users with suggestions for what to type next. Google says the feature will help users write faster and with more confidence. It will be on or off depending on your setting on the web, and it will only be available to G Suite customers.

Links previews will let you click on a link and preview it in a card without leaving the document you’re editing. In Docs, dynamic information about the content will appear, such as title, description, and thumbnail images. This feature will be enabled by default and cannot be disabled, and it will be available for both G Suite customers and users with personal accounts.

Google is also adding vertical navigation in Slides, so a presentation is much easier to view on a mobile device. You no longer need to swipe to view slides one-by-one. While vertically scrolling through slides, users can pinch to zoom and easily switch to editing, presenting, and casting content. This feature is gradually rolling out and will be available for both G Suite customers and users with personal accounts.

Additionally, Google is making it easier to edit Microsoft Office documents in Docs, Sheets, and Slides, while users can now see a unified interface for comments, rather than having to tap through them individually.

These improvements make the G Suite experience on Android much more in-line with what’s already available on the web. They also improve the reading experience following the introduction of a dark mode last month. You can download the latest version of the Sheets, Slides, and Docs apps from the Google Play Store links embedded below.

Google Docs (Free, Google Play) →

Google Sheets (Free, Google Play) →

Google Slides (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Google (1), Google (2)

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Best Galaxy Note 20 wireless chargers you can get right now

Over the last couple of years, Samsung has made some significant improvements to its Galaxy Note lineup, especially in the battery capacity and charging departments. And this year’s Galaxy Note 20 lineup is no different. The new Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra pack in large 4,300mAh and 4,500mAh batteries, and include support for 25W fast wired charging and 15W fast wireless charging.

While the devices do ship with a fast wired charger in the box, if you wish to make use of the fast wireless charging support, you’ll need to purchase a supported charger separately. However, since all wireless chargers aren’t made the same, choosing the best wireless charger for your Galaxy Note 20 could prove to be a bit of a hassle. In order to make the process simpler, we’ve shortlisted some of the best Galaxy Note 20 wireless chargers in this post. The wireless chargers mentioned below have been selected after a careful assessment of various parameters, including charging speed, price-to-value ratio, design, and the unique features they bring to the table.

Samsung 15W Wireless Charger Stand

15W fast charging support

The Samsung 15W Wireless Charger Stand is one of the best wireless chargers that you can get for your Galaxy Note 20 as it supports the Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 standard and is capable of charging the device at 15W. The charger is convenient to use, comes with a supported AC adapter and USB Type-C cable. The charger also features a built-in cooling fan to prevent your device from overheating.

View at Amazon

Samsung Wireless Charger DUO pad

Charge two devices at once!

In case you are planning on getting the Galaxy Watch 3 or the Galaxy Buds Live with your Galaxy Note 20, then the Samsung Wireless Charger DUO pad is the best option for you. The device features a Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 capable pad that you can use to charge your Galaxy Note 20 at 15W, along with a second wireless charging pad that you can use to charge your supported accessories.

View at Amazon

Samsung Wireless Portable Battery

Wireless charging on the go!

Unlike other wireless chargers on this list, the Samsung Wireless Portable Battery is a 10,000 mAh power bank that supports 25W fast wired charging and 7.5W wireless charging to help you charge your devices while you are on the move. The power bank can charge 3 devices at the same time and has enough juice to charge your Galaxy Note 20 two times over. This charger is highly recommended by one of our team!

View at Amazon

Anker PowerWave Pad Alloy

Best budget pick

In case you are on a tight budget, the Anker PowerWave Pad Alloy is a decent pick, even though it does not support the Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 standard. The wireless charger only supports 10W output for the Galaxy Note 20, but it can be used to charge a supported Google Pixel or LG device at 15W. Do note that the charger does not ship with a wall adapter and you'll need to purchase a supported adapter separately to charge your Galaxy Note 20 at 10W.

View at Amazon

Anker PowerWave 10 Stand

Charge multiple devices simultaneously!

If you are looking for a versatile wireless charging solution that can charge multiple devices at the same time, then the Anker PowerWave 10 Stand is the one for you. The wireless charger can charge your Galaxy Note 20 at 10W and it features two USB Type-A ports that you can use to charge two more devices at the same time. The charger comes with a supported 36W wall adapter and a 5ft power cord.

View at Amazon

Belkin Dual Wireless Charger

Charge two devices at once without breaking the bank!

The Belkin Dual Wireless Charger is an affordable alternative to the Samsung Wireless Charger DUO Pad and offers two charging surfaces that support 10W output each. This should be fast enough for a lot of devices, but won't match the top 15W speed of the Note 20 series. The charger comes with a supported wall adapter and it is capable of charging your smartphone through most lightweight cases.

View at Amazon

Out of all the wireless chargers mentioned above, the Samsung 15W Wireless Charger Stand and Samsung Wireless Charger DUO Pad are our top picks. This is due to the fact that both these wireless chargers are capable of charging the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra at 15W, which is significantly faster than any other wireless charger on this list.

If you had to choose between the two, I’d recommend the Wireless Charger DUO Pad as it’s a bit more versatile and lets you charge another device at the same time. However, if you’re looking for a wireless charger for your desk at work, the Samsung Wireless Charger Stand would be a better bet as it doubles up as a stand and lets you easily use the device while it’s charging.

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