Help & How To

These are the router makers that have patched KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi flaws

Posted by Cale Hunt on 17 Oct 2017 12:05 pm

Vendors who have patched the KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi vulnerability

Is your router receiving the attention it needs in light of the KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi hack? An exploit that has taken the "protected" out of Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) means that your wireless network is likely not as safe as you once thought. What security researcher Mathy Vanhoef is calling "KRACK" attacks the handshake portion of the WPA2 protocol. Mobile Nations Senior Editor Jerry...

Best Microsoft apps for Android

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Posted by Harish Jonnalagadda on 16 Oct 2017 1:12 pm

Microsoft apps have come a long way on Android. Microsoft essentially shunned Android and iOS for several years, but with Satya Nadella taking the helm in 2014 and adopting a mobile-first stance, the company has turned its attention to bringing its apps and services to rival platforms. From heavy-hitters like Office to side projects developed by employees in their free time under the Microsoft...

Why don't phone makers use last year's high-end chips in budget phones?

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Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 16 Oct 2017 12:00 pm

There's more to making a phone than Megahertz. Everybody loves budget-friendly phones that are still pretty high-end devices. Motorola, ZTE, and other companies have delivered some great products at great prices, and for many, it's crazy to spend almost $1,000 to buy the best from Google or Samsung. These "budget" phones can do everything they want them to do at considerable savings. But there...

Everything you need to know about KRACK, the WPA2 Wi-Fi vulnerability

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Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 16 Oct 2017 7:15 am

Exploit in WPA2 means it's open season on your Wi-Fi network, no matter what router you use. Update: Wpa supplicant (the method used to set up a Wi-Fi handshake in Linux) has been updated and is already available. Google has implemented this fix and the November 6, 2017 security update will include it. Google Wifi will automatically install the update as soon as it becomes available. The...

Where to buy the LG V30

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Posted by Daniel Bader on 13 Oct 2017 4:10 pm

When and where can I get the LG V30? The LG V30 is one of the most interesting devices of the year so far. It's got a big, near-bezelless design that eschews many of the design characteristics of its predecessors, the V10 and V20, but maintains their focus on high-quality audio and unique camera features. While the phone was announced in late August, it's only being released, and we've got...

Common Galaxy Note 8 problems and how to fix them

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 13 Oct 2017 1:00 pm

No phone is perfect — but we can help. The Galaxy Note 8 has all sorts of power and features to take advantage of it, but that doesn't mean it's impervious to the issues that so many other smartphones have. Bad battery life, issues with radios, running out of storage and the like may hit your Note 8 in some form or fashion over the months and years you have it — but that doesn't mean it has to...

Google Home vs. Google Home Mini: Which should you buy?

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Posted by Daniel Bader on 13 Oct 2017 9:00 am

Should you buy a Google Home or a Google Home Mini? Big in importance but small in stature, the Home Mini was overshadowed by the Pixel 2 announcement at Google's recent hardware event. But it's an important addition to the company's hardware canon. At just $49, the rounded plastic puck, covered in fabric, is an inexpensive entry into Google's burgeoning smart home ecosystem. It offers a...

How to set up and get started with Movies Anywhere

23 Comments

Posted by Ara Wagoner on 13 Oct 2017 8:00 am

Set your digital movies free! Before there was Android, before there was Google Play, there were movies on iTunes and Amazon, and there were digital copies of movies that were redeemed on iTunes, Amazon, and Vudu. Well, we can free them from their unused services and bring them all together on Movies Anywhere, adding them to your Google Play library and making them watchable just about...

Should you use your Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL on Project Fi?

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 12 Oct 2017 12:05 pm

For some people, getting a Pixel is a sure thing — the next question is which carrier you should choose. If you're already set on buying a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, or even have one already, you may be thinking about switching carriers at the same time. Google's own Project Fi service is quite popular, but unless you had a previous Nexus or Pixel phone, you haven't even had the choice to use it....

How to use the Coloring feature on the Galaxy Note 8

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Posted by Daniel Bader on 12 Oct 2017 10:00 am

Coloring is one of the most enjoyable features on the Note 8. Here's how to use it! It's always been fun to use the Galaxy Note's S Pen stylus to doodle in S Note and other compatible apps, but with the Note 8, Samsung has gone one step further — it's added a dedicated coloring feature. Part of the little-known but, in some circles, wildly popular PenUP app, the coloring feature gives the S...

Should you buy an original Pixel or Pixel XL in 2017?

28 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 12 Oct 2017 9:00 am

Is a lower-priced Pixel or Pixel XL a good deal right now? The unceasing march of innovation, coupled with the desire for a predictable revenue stream for manufacturers and carriers alike, all but ensures an annual update cycle for most major smartphone brands. So is true of the new Pixel 2 series, which takes what made last year's models so good and improves on them in nearly every...

Video frame rates: 24FPS vs. 30FPS vs. 60FPS explained

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Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 11 Oct 2017 1:00 pm

Which shooting frame rate should I use, and when should I use it? The first phones that came with a camera that could capture video were an amazing breakthrough. No longer did you need to lug around a second camera if you wanted to make sure you could grab a quick video of something memorable or cool. Sure, the quality was pretty bad, but it was a whole lot better than nothing. Today the...

Best microSD Cards for the Moto G5 Plus

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Posted by Daniel Bader on 11 Oct 2017 11:00 am

Which microSD card is best for the Moto G5 Plus? Well, it depends what you need... The reality is this: if you are buying a budget phone, you're kind of over the idea of paying a lot for accessories. No fancy, expensive case; no insanely high-performance microSD slot. You just want something that works. Even though the $229 Moto G5 Plus has a pretty hefty 32GB of storage out of the box (and...

Will Google Pixel and Pixel XL cases fit on the Pixel 2 and 2 XL?

8 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 10 Oct 2017 1:00 pm

A simple question with a simple answer. There are some striking similarities in design between last year's Pixel and Pixel XL and the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. With the names as they are, you wouldn't expect the hardware dimensions or quality to change much — and in general, they haven't. That immediately leads to questions of whether or not they're actually close enough to use the same cases...

How to convert your DVDs to enjoy on the Huawei Mediapad M3

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Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 10 Oct 2017 9:00 am

Rip your own DVDs and you won't have to worry about Wi-Fi or the cloud! There are a lot of Android tablets that have an amazing screen. The Huawei Mediapad M3 is a great example. A 2560×1600 display is awesome for a lot of things, but it's really great for watching movies. It's like holding a cinema in your hands. There are also a lot of movies to watch! Places like Netflix, or Google Play...

How to take a screenshot on the Google Pixel 2

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 10 Oct 2017 8:00 am

This is one of the most fundamental features of a smartphone. Being able to take a screenshot on our phone is something we all need to do on a regular basis. Whether it's to send off to someone or save for your own use later, it's the fastest way to grab information on your phone. For all of the changes in the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, one thing has remained: taking a screenshot is dead...

BlackBerry Motion specs

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Posted by Daniel Bader on 8 Oct 2017 4:51 pm

What's inside the BlackBerry Motion? There's a new BlackBerry coming to town, the Motion, and while it's not quite as noteworthy as the return-of-the-keyboard KEYone, it's a nice mid-range handset with some interesting features. With a 5.5-inch HD display, a Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, 4000mAh battery and waterproofing, there's a lot to like here. Here's the...

What color Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL should you buy: Black, White, or Kinda Blue?

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Posted by Jen Karner on 4 Oct 2017 1:03 pm

Which Pixel 2 color will you pick? Before you buy a Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, you need to make a very important decision — what color should you get? With options for both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, there are definitely a few things to consider before you make your final decision. We aren't here to make that decision for you, but we have laid out the details of each of these colors....

Google Home Mini: Everything you need to know

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Posted by Daniel Bader on 4 Oct 2017 12:34 pm

You now have another, cheaper way to access Google Assistant. Google has announced a smaller, cheaper Home speaker, the Google Home Mini. Here's what you need to know! What is it? It's a Google Home, but smaller! It's both voice- and touch-enabled, similar to the larger Google Home. And while the speaker isn't quite as powerful as Home, Google says that the rounded design allows for 360-...

How to install and set up a VPN on the NVIDIA Shield TV

7 Comments

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 4 Oct 2017 10:00 am

No more region restrictions! Installing a VPN on your Shield TV is easy. There are plenty of reasons to use a VPN. Security and privacy come to mind, but when you're talking about a streaming device like the NVIDIA Shield TV, regional restrictions are right up there at the top, too. You don't turn into a pirate just because you're on vacation. The issue is that setting up a VPN sounds...

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