It's 2021, and the PS5 finally has a launch date in India

The PS5 will be going on sale in India from February 2, with pre-orders kicking off January 12.

What you need to know

• The PS5 finally has a release date in India; the console is going up for pre-order from January 5, and will be on sale from February 2.
• The pre-orders will kick off at 12pm on January 12 at Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance Digital, Games The Shop, and retail outlets.
• The PS5 retails for ₹49,990 ($685) in India, and the PS5 Digital Edition is available for ₹39,990 ($550).

Sony launched the PS5 in most global markets on November 12, but it didn't reveal any details regarding Indian availability. Customers in the country have been hounding Sony India's Twitter account for the last two months for more information on the console's release, and Sony has finally shared information on the same.

The PlayStation 5 will be up for pre-order in India starting January 12, with retail sales kicking off from February 2. The console will be available on Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance Digital, Games The Shop, Sony Center, Vijay Sales, and Croma outlets, and both the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition will be available at most retailers. The regular PS5 costs ₹49,990 ($685) in the country, with the PS5 Digital Edition available for ₹39,990 ($550).

Pre-orders kick off at 12pm on January 12, so if you've been waiting to get your hands on Sony's latest console, you can head to Amazon India to register your interest right now.

The demand for the PS5 is so high that weekly restocks of the console in the U.S. and other markets are selling out in minutes, and it is likely that we'll see a similar situation in India. So if you want to get your hands on the PS5 in India, you'll have to act fast on January 12.

PlayStation 5

• PlayStation 5: Everything we know so far
• PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: How they compare
• PS5 Specs: What's in the next-gen PlayStation
• Will PS4 games work on the PlayStation 5?

Here are the basic steps for setting up your new Samsung Galaxy phone

Samsung makes some of the best Android phones around, but while it's streamlined its setup process in the last few generations, there are still several extra steps compared to other phones as Samsung injects its own steps alongside Google's. The process is self-explanatory, but we have all of the information and tips you need to know about as you go through each step.

How to set up your Galaxy phone

If you're coming from a Samsung phone, you can skip most of this setup process and restore from that phone. Just open up Smart Switch on your current phone, and follow the prompts on both phones. We recommend doing this with a cable rather than Wi-Fi, which significantly speeds up the process.

1. Start by selecting the language you'd like to use for setup — you can change this later. Then tap the arrow button to begin the setup process.
2. Agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy. This is mandatory to continue setup, but you can opt out of sending diagnostic data and information linking (denoted by an Optional tag).
3. Connect to a Wi-Fi network. You can skip this step and use mobile data, but it's best to use Wi-Fi for initial setup since it uses lots of data.

4. After the phone checks for software updates, you enter your Google Account email and password.

   • If you have two-factor authentication, you'll be asked for a code — so have your secondary device nearby.

     

5. After sign-in, you can choose which data and apps to restore from your Google account.
   • If you have multiple phones on your account, you can choose which one to restore data from.
   • Apps and data will start downloading in the background as you finish setup — downloads will continue for 10-30 minutes.
6. Set up your preferred security method — fingerprint is a great idea, though you'll need to set a backup method like a PIN or pattern.
7. Agree to Google's terms of service, and then review "additional apps" from Google and Samsung to install — you can always install these later if you wish.

8. Sign into or create a Samsung account — it's an annoying extra step, but you'll want to have one later, so you might as well do it now.

   • A Samsung account is used for downloading and updating apps from Galaxy Apps and using Samsung's cloud products.

     

After all of those steps, you're dropped onto the home screen of your phone to get acquainted with everything. How you configure everything from this point on is up to your personal preferences. Get all of your apps installed and set up just how you like, configure your home screen, and dive into the settings to find all of the little tweaks you want to make. Over time, your phone will become just as unique as you.

Additional tips for an optimal setup

Of course, you can arrange your device however you like, but if you're anything like me, there are a few quick things you'll want to set up once you've reached the end of the initial setup screen. Here are a few settings I'd recommend enabling or tweaking based on my personal usage with the Galaxy S20 FE.

1. Tap the weather widget on the home screen and grant access to your location data. This will allow you to display the local weather on your home screen, updated automatically every six hours.

2. Open the Settings app and fine-tune your display settings.

   • The first thing I do on a new phone is enable dark mode — it's the very first option under the Display tab of the Settings app.
   • I'm not a huge fan of Samsung's heavily saturated default display profile, so I typically tap Screen Mode and change to the Natural color profile.
   • Under Navigation Bar, change the layout from Buttons to Swipe Gestures for a modern, swipe-based interface. As an added bonus, swipe gestures allow you to reclaim the bottom portion of your display. To go even further, you can toggle Gesture Hints off, which hides the small gray bar at the bottom of the screen.
   • Tap Screen Zoom to adjust the scaling and either fit more information on the display or enlarge text to reduce eye strain. I tend to reduce screen zoom to the smallest setting to fit as much on my screen as possible.

   

3. Long press on the home screen and tap Home Screen Settings to adjust the behavior of your app launcher.
   • Tap Home Screen Grid to add more or fewer icons to your home screen layout. I typically go for a 5x5 grid, as opposed to the default 4x5 on most Samsung devices. While you're at it, you can also tap Apps Screen Grid to do the same for your app drawer.
   • Having easy access to your notification shade makes a big difference for one-handed usability. Toggle Swipe Down for Notification Panel to replace the default setting of accessing your app drawer — something you can already do by swiping up on the home screen.

The reasonable choice

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

The best flagship for most people

With the richest 120Hz screen around, battery for days, and top-of-the-line performance, Samsung makes a fantastic flagship that won't cost an arm and a leg. Its plastic back comes in a variety of eye-catching colors, and you get three great cameras.

$696 at Amazon $700 at Best Buy $699 at B&H

Become a financial expert at the cards table with The Money Deck, now 15% off

Source: StackCommerce

Most novelty playing cards are just for fun. But with The Money Deck, you get educated in the world of personal finance as you play. Right now, the casino-quality deck is 15% off at just $16.99.

Whether your game is blackjack or poker, picking up these cards might be the best investment you ever make. A successful product of Kickstarter crowdfunding, The Money Deck is a great addition to any collection.

Printed on premium paper cardstock with gold foil, the deck contains 52 cards plus two jokers and a reference card. Each card delivers a lesson in personal finance, ranging from basic knowledge to advanced ideas.

To bring these concepts to life, the cards bear illustrations from an artist who regularly contributes to the Harvard Business Review and WIRED magazine. Below the picture, there is a simple, light-hearted explanation.

Topics covered include saving and retirement, investment strategies, credit and borrowing, common money mistakes, the economy, fun facts, and more.

The Money Deck usually sells for $20, but you can get it now for $16.99.

 

The Money Deck – $16.99

See Deal

 

Prices subject to change 

Clearcover might be your ticket to saving money on car insurance

Many of us are not feeling quite as wealthy as we were a few months ago, and it's only natural that we're searching for ways to cut back.

When it comes to monthly bills, car insurance is definitely worth targeting. When's the last time you compared rates? Sure, it can sound annoying and time-consuming, but your efforts can result in some serious cost savings. Clearcover Car Insurance is making it a lot easier than you likely remember. This startup offers smarter car insurance that is more affordable than most providers, and much easier to manage.

While many car insurance companies make you fill out endless forms or wait on hold for an hour just to get a quote, Clearcover makes it easy. The process takes a few minutes, and there is a good chance your quote will be lower than your current insurer. One reviewer reduced his insurance bill by $100 a month when he switched to Clearcover. If you could even get half that — we'd say that's a win.

If you are happy with your quote, and you live in one of the eight states where they are currently available, you can make the switch quickly. Clearcover also explains every part of your coverage in plain English so you aren't stuck guessing and Googling what everything means along the way.

The customer care doesn't end there — Clearcover makes it easy to manage your auto coverage from your phone. Available on iOS and Android, the award-winning mobile app lets you file auto claims and get roadside assistance with a tap. You won't even have to pick up the phone to get started.

You can also pay bills through the app and get proof of insurance, even when you're offline. It's easy to see how Clearcover earned a rating of 4.7 stars on the App Store, and the above reviewer is just the start of what customers are saying about this exciting digital car insurance company.

Want to see if you can snag better insurance for less? Head over to Clearcover today to get a quick quote.

If you're going to get Amazon's Fire HD 8 Plus, you need this accessory

Best answer: If you're going to pick up an Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, you should absolutely plan to get the wireless charging dock accessory. Not only does it wirelessly charge the tablet, but it basically turns it into an Echo Show device when docked.

• Docking station: Wireless Charging Dock for Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus ($40 at Amazon)

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Wireless Charging Dock A must-have accessory

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is one of the best value tablets available. When you compare the Amazon Fire HD 8 vs. the 8 Plus, the biggest differences come down to the amount of RAM, faster-charging speed, and wireless charging capabilities in the HD 8 Plus. Therefore, it stands to reason that if you're going to spend the extra $20 or so on the more premium model, you're going to want to take advantage of its most compelling feature — wireless charging. To do that, you'll need to pick up the wireless charging dock. Makes sense, right? You can still charge the tablet via USB-C cable, which is helpful when you're away from the dock. However, when you're at home, you're going to enjoy having this convenient accessory handy.

Aside from that justification, the wireless charging dock accessory has a couple of other functions that make it a worthy purchase. For starters, once you get in the habit of placing your tablet on the charger, you'll very unlikely to misplace it! It may sound silly, but I'm constantly misplacing my gadgets and devices, and having this wireless charging dock has certainly helped me keep track of my Fire HD 8 Plus.

The wireless charging dock transforms your Fire HD 8 Plus into an Echo Show device!

The other compelling reason to get this accessory is that it allows your Fire HD 8 Plus to remain in Show Mode without draining its battery. Show Mode is a feature that you can enable in Amazon Fire tablets that converts them to perform like the best Echo Show devices while they are docked. Except with this combination, you get the best of both worlds — a fantastic tablet and a smart screen.

If you don't currently own an Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus and are interested in this combo, you might want to consider purchasing them together in a bundle. I am confident that you'll find the Fire HD 8 Plus to be one of the best Android tablets for the money.

Take a stand

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus Wireless Charging Dock

$40 at Amazon

Two-in-one

Not only does this wireless charging dock keep your Fire HD 8 Plus tablet powered up and ready, but it turns it into an Echo Show while it's charging.

Linksys Velop MX10 vs. Linksys Velop AX4200: Which should you buy?

A better fit

Linksys Velop AX4200

$499 at Amazon (3-pack)

Pros

• Wi-Fi 6 capable
• Optional wired backhaul
• Lots of gigabit ethernet ports on each node
• Linksys Intelligent Mesh support
• More coverage
• Better value

Cons

• Doesn't support 160Mhz channel
• No 2FA support for remote management
• Wi-Fi 6 speeds aren't as fast as others

While its 4.2Gbps wireless speeds are a little slower than the Velop MX10, there are very few people who might notice the difference. A lower price and a third included node means you're getting a great deal on blazing-fast Wi-Fi 6 speeds everywhere in your home or yard without ever dropping a connection.

Upgrade pick

Linksys Velop MX10

$699 at Amazon (2-pack)

Pros

• Even faster Wi-Fi 6 speeds
• Optional wired backhaul
• Lots of gigabit ethernet ports on each node
• Linksys Intelligent Mesh support

Cons

• Doesn't support 160Mhz channel
• No 2FA support for remote management
• Significantly more expensive

When only the fastest Wi-Fi 6 mesh speeds will do, the Linksys Velop MX10 is the system for you. It features four gigabit LAN ports on each node, as well as wireless speeds up to 5.3 Gbps, so you'll never worry about slow Wi-Fi again.

Linksys' Velop MX10 and AX4200 are some of the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems you're going to find. Linksys' naming conventions are a bit weird these days but, despite all the different names, the Velop MX10 system is Linksys' top-of-the-line mesh system. When compared to the more affordable Linksys Velop AX4200, you'll find that the Velop MX10 is generally more than most people will want or need in a whole-home Wi-Fi 6 system. Those two factors make the Velop AX4200 a better choice for most people.

Linksys Velop MX10 vs. Velop AX4200 How much speed do you need?

In our Linksys Velop AX4200 review, we noted that the Velop AX4200 came much closer to the maximum speeds offered by the ISP, while other systems tested produced a much slower result. When comparing the Velop AX4200 to the Velop MX10, aside from price, there's one clear difference between these two mesh router systems: wireless speed.

A single node is known as the MX5 or the AX5300, the latter of which helps better place it within the Velop line in terms of raw performance. Therefore, the Linksys Velop MX10 (also known as the AX5300) sports faster theoretical Wi-Fi 6 speeds than the Linksys Velop AX4200. Here's what those numbers mean:

AX refers to 802.11ax, the wireless standard that's also known as Wi-Fi 6. For reference, 802.11ac is also known as Wi-Fi 5. 4200 or 5300 is the maximum theoretical wireless speed, measured in Mbps (Megabits per second). This speed is calculated by adding up the maximum transmission speed of all 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels that the router supports simultaneously.

	Linksys Velop AX4200	Linksys Velop MX10
Node dimensions	4.5" x 4.5" x 9.6"	4.5" x 4.5" x 9.6"
Antenna configuration per node	Tri-band AX4200 with 4x4 MU-MIMO	Tri-band AX5300 with 4x4 MU-MIMO and 1024-QAM
Wi-Fi Speed	AX4200 (4.2Gbps)	AX5300 (5.3Gbps)
Rated coverage for full system	8,100 square feet	6,000 square feet
Wireless security	WPA3	WPA3
Wi-Fi 6 support	Yes	Yes
LAN ports	3 per node	4 per node
Wired Backhaul Support	Yes	Yes
USB Ports	1 per node	1 per node
QoS	Prioritize many devices	Prioritize many devices
Parental controls	Yes	Yes
Virtual assistant support	Alexa, Google Assistant	Alexa, Google Assistant
Price	$499 (3-pack)	$699 (2-pack)

As the names suggest, the Velop AX5300 can be faster than the Velop AX4200. While theoretical speeds are great and help create a clear distinction between both routers, there's a reason we call these theoretical speeds. In order to take advantage of the fastest speeds, you'll also need devices that support them. Even if your device supports Wi-Fi 6, it may not support the fastest Wi-Fi 6 speeds available. One good example is the Oculus Quest 2, which will connect at a maximum speed of 1,200Mbps even though it supports Wi-Fi 6.

Linksys Velop MX10 vs. Velop AX4200 Wired or wireless?

The biggest advantage the Linksys Velop MX10 will bring to your home is faster wireless connectivity between nodes. When nodes are connected wirelessly, the MX10 system will deliver faster speeds throughout your home overall when compared to the Velop AX4200. However, it's likely that most homes won't see much of a difference in Wi-Fi speeds between these two routers. In fact, the extra node that comes with a Velop AX4200 system will likely provide better coverage in any home because it will likely eliminate any dead zones that could happen with only two nodes.

When compared to many other wireless mesh Wi-Fi systems, Linksys Velop series offers a pretty compelling unique feature: lots of LAN ports on each node. Some mesh systems will pack one or two ports on their mesh nodes, but Linksys packs between four gigabit LAN ports on Velop AX4200 nodes and five gigabit LAN ports on Velop MX10 nodes. One of these ports on each node is intended for wired backhaul — which helps cut down latency and speed up the connection between nodes — while the others can be used to plug in any wired devices you might have nearby.

That's incredibly handy for a plethora of devices that might perform best when wired up, especially if they still use older Wi-Fi 5 tech. It's also handy if you need the absolute lowest latency between wireless nodes, as both Velop systems allow users to wire them together for an even more consistent and speedy wireless experience throughout the home.

Linksys Velop MX10 vs. Velop AX4200 A similar set of cons

Despite supporting extremely fast Wi-Fi 6 speeds, neither the Velop MX10 or Velop AX4200 support the 160MHz wireless channel. In a nutshell, 160MHz is used by a device to bridge wireless channels into a single, faster connection but, as a result, ends up hogging more wireless bandwidth per device. While Linksys hasn't explicitly specified why 160MHz isn't supported on Velop routers, it's likely that the company thought that more consistent speeds for dozens of devices was preferable over faster speeds for a few devices. Still, if you were looking for absolute top-tier speeds on devices that support 160MHz, neither Velop is for you.

Linksys' app and remote configuration service has also been a pinch point for some consumers. The biggest offender is the lack of two-factor authentication (2FA) for remote management of the router. There are a plethora of reasons that 2FA is important but, thankfully, Linksys is working on getting 2FA added to its accounts system for 2021.

Linksys app is also missing several advanced configuration options that can only be accessed via the older and clunkier traditional web interface. This interface is not very smartphone-friendly, which is a stark contrast to the extremely user-friendly Linksys app that's used for more basic tasks. While this isn't a deal-breaker and may likely never even show up on some people's radar, it's still an annoyance to have to log in to another interface just to change a setting.

Linksys Velop AX4200 The overall winner

Taking everything into account, the Linksys Velop AX4200 is a better system for most households. It's $200 less than the competition, packs in an additional wireless node that can be used to extend coverage even out into your yard. The difference in speed between the MX10 and AX4200 is likely not worth the $200 price hike for most folks and, as a result, makes the AX4200 much easier to recommend.

An incredible value

Linksys Velop AX4200

Don't sacrifice coverage for speed

$499 at Amazon (3-pack) $499 at Best Buy (3-pack) $329 at Newegg (2-pack)

The Linksys Velop AX4200 is the Wi-Fi 6 mesh system you've been looking for. It's not only more affordable but it also covers more space.

Speed demon

Linksys Velop MX10

Fastest speeds in the land

$699 at Dell $699 at Amazon (2-pack) $699 at Best Buy (2-pack)

The Linksys Velop MX10 will cover your whole home with the fastest Wi-Fi 6 speeds around, and it's even got LAN ports, too!

Samsung's Galaxy Buds Live ANC wireless earbuds are available for just $80

If you're on the hunt for true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation that don't cost as much as the Apple AirPods Pro, you'll want to consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live. These earbuds regularly sell for $169.99, though right now Best Buy has them on sale for $79.99 for just one day only.

The earbuds are offered in Geek Squad certified refurbished condition and come with a 90-day warranty so take that into account when considering the price versus going brand new.

The new Samsung Galaxy Buds Live are equipped with 12mm speakers with sound by AKG. They sit softly inside the ear and feature active noise cancellation that lets you block out disturbances around you so you can truly focus on whatever's playing. There's even a setting that will let voices and announcements through so you can hear them even with the noise cancellation on.

They're available in five colors — Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Red, Mystic Blue, and Mystic White — though only the black model are on sale this low today. That being said, the bronze and white colors are only $5 more.

These earbuds can last for up to eight hours on a single charge, and with the included charging case, you can keep them powered up for nearly 30 hours while on-the-go. In our review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, the earbuds scored a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and our badge of recommendation thanks to features like their one-size-fits-all design and support for Qi wireless charging.

This end of year deal on Amazon Kids+ can keep your children busy in 2021

How often do you find a service that can truly keep your children entertained for hours, days, weeks... even months on end?! Sure, YouTube is free but it's not necessarily safe or always appropriate. Amazon Kids+ can truly be a lifesaver.

This subscription service is dedicated to providing your kids with age-appropriate material, from shows and movies to educational games, eBooks, and more, all for a low monthly price starting at just $2.99 for one child. Though it's inexpensive even at full price, there's an even better deal to consider that could score your whole family an entire year of Kids+ for just $19.99, down from $99.

There are also "best-in-class" parental controls that can let you restrict what your child will see and set usage time limits. One great feature is that Amazon Kids+ works as a launcher for the device it's on, and you can't leave the app until a parent enters their password to allow the rest of the device to be accessed.

This is one of the most affordable services too with this deal dropping the monthly cost as low as $1.67 for up to four children. Amazon Kids+ is available as an app on various devices, including Amazon Fire tablets and Kids Edition tablets, iOS and Android devices, and Kindle e-Readers.

There is another way to score Amazon Kids+ completely free. You've probably heard about Amazon's Kids Edition devices, like the Kids Edition Echo Dot or a Kids Edition Fire Tablet. These devices have strict parental controls and don't allow Alexa to divulge any information that might be harmful to little ears, but best of all, they each include a full year of Kids+ for free with the purchase.

5 things Google needs to do better in 2021

No person or company is perfect. Here are some things Google could do better in the coming year.

Google isn't the same feel-good company it was 10 years ago. But while the "Don't be evil" motto has changed and fewer people think of Google as a benevolent overlord, the company isn't actually any more terrible than any other. It's just fun to argue about tech on the internet.

But there are a lot of places where Google can do better. Whether it's how it makes the best Android phones even better or how the company handles pressing social issues, all of us can think of a few ways Google needs to get better at doing.

1. Pay its fair share of taxes

A little back story is in order here, but I started with this because it's something all companies doing business in the U.S. need to start doing. Or start getting sued for.

This particular Dutch sandwich only tastes good to mega-corporations.

For a long time, Google used what's called the "Dutch sandwich.)" tax strategy. Google used offices in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Bermuda to pay next to nothing on billions of dollars for years. It works like this: money is moved from an Irish subsidiary to a Dutch capital holding company, then to an Irish owned company in Bermuda that has the "rights" to use and license Google intellectual property. Bermuda, it seems, has zero corporate income taxes, and this was all legal until 2014.

Part of the arrangement when Irish tax law changed in 2014 was that Google could continue to dodge taxes this way until 2020. Sounds like it's solved then, right? It's not. Incentives offered by the Trump administration drastically lowered corporate taxes and the Jobs Act of 2018 allows corporations to move money made overseas into the U.S. without paying any additional tax. This means Google is able to bring billions into the country without paying any taxes and only has to pay about 20% of income earned in the U.S.

You might think that this is smart business. You also probably pay more than 20% in taxes. Google needs to pay its fair share. Period.

2. Fix tablet apps

First, we had Android tablets that had access to over a million apps that look bad, don't work properly, or both. Next, we had Chromebooks and Chromeboxes that can run Android apps on even bigger screens, but they still aren't very good. Now every company is trying to sell us on phones that fold out into a much bigger screen and the same problem exists.

Just fix Android apps for big screens somehow. No more excuses.

This is not easy to fix. Google really has two choices — incentivize developers to make their apps look and act great on a big display, or blacklist your big-screen devices from downloading apps that don't meet a minimum of quality control standards like Apple does. Even Google can't afford to pay a million or so developers to remake their apps, and if it tried to block access Google would end up in court all over again.

But these are the only ideas I can think of. Google has to find a way to make this happen and it employs plenty of people who are really smart about this sort of thing. Maybe these user experience experts need pulled off of every other project and told to fix it, or maybe more user experience experts need to be hired, or just poach them from Samsung because its first-party apps are great on the Galaxy Tab series. I don't have the answers, but Google needs to have them.

3 Learn to be transparent

Google does a great job of being transparent with some things; the terms of service and privacy agreement for your Google account are written so normal people who aren't lawyers can understand them. We might not like what we see there, but at least we are able to check before we check the box that says "I agree".

Google knows how to be transparent so it should do it more often.

With other things, though, Google only comes forth once someone starts up a conversation. That can backfire — paying people of color to get a photo taken to train facial recognition is not a bad thing. Doing it in secret without telling anyone what it was doing makes it look like a bad thing. Transparency would have fixed this before it even needed to be fixed.

Sure, some of the things people get upset about are pretty dumb, like logging into open Wi-Fi hotspots. But others are not. Google could easily talk about projects that people might think are dicey and explain the what, how, and why so we're not so skittish once an investigative reporter tells us about them.

4. Fix its diversity image

The recent firing of Dr. Timnit Gebru, one of the world's best AI ethics researchers is a great example of this. Not because Dr. Gebru is black, but because she was working on Google's AI algorithms so they weren't "thinking" only like a white guy in his 20s who lives in a rich western country.

All AI has a bias of some sort and removing it is a big problem to solve.

White guys need to be represented, but so do people of color and women and people in third-world countries and so on and so forth. The world is a very diverse place even if some people don't realize it or even try to deny it. The algorithms that power many of Google's products need to be able to work this out, and that's exactly what researchers like Timnit Gebru are trying to accomplish.

I do not think Google is a bad place to work if you're a person of color or disabled or covered under any other protected class. But Google has made so many missteps that it certainly seems like it could be to a lot of people. Google needs to work on its image because that will benefit not only the company itself, but the programs and initiatives that help protect the rights of people who need and deserve to be protected.

5 Fix updates once and for all

Yes, updates again. It seems you can never talk about things Google needs to get better at without talking about Android updates.

I'm not talking about just platform updates or just security updates, because some ground rules about both need to be placed in the crazy set of rules a phone maker has to follow if it wants access to Google Play. If Google can force a company to put the word "Google" in a specific font of a specific size in a specific place on the retail box, it can also force phone makers to follow some basic rules about updates.

Force phone makers to give two Android updates and five years of security patches.

Every phone needs to get two Android version updates minimum. I can already hear people thinking that two isn't enough, but it is as a forced minimum because some really cheap Android phones aren't going to run very well once you start plopping too many platform updates in place.

This still allows a phone maker like Samsung to promise three (or more). Yes, your Note 9 should have received an update to Android 11. But there's a good chance an older Galaxy A phone can't handle it.

With security patches, there is no excuse. Five years. Minimum. Most Android enthusiasts would never keep a phone for five years, but Android enthusiasts are but a tiny slice of the total number of people buying phones. This makes more work for Google and more work for phone makers, but since both companies decided to charge more for phones they can eat a little cash.

This is never going to happen, but it still needs to. Next year I'm sure we'll include this in "What Google needs to do better in 2022" because I'm never going to shut up when it comes to updates.

---

This is my shortlist of where Google could do better moving forward. I'm sure there is plenty of space for even more ways Google can get better in the new year and I'm sure you can probably think of a few of them. Drop a comment and tells us what you want Google to fix in 2021.

One-day Ring Video Doorbell deal lets you smarten up your door for just $70

With all the packages we receive these days, it makes total sense to equip your front door with a smart doorbell. They used to be an expensive luxury but video doorbells are actually pretty cheap these days, especially with sales like this one at Woot offering a Ring Video Doorbell 2 for just $69.99.

Woot is offering the smart home device in used condition at half the usual cost of a refurb model and $120 off the device's full cost for a brand new model. Each unit has been tested to ensure they are in full working order, though the used devices may exhibit some cosmetic blemishes. There's also a 90-day Woot warranty included with your purchase in case of any issues.

With the Ring Video Doorbell 2, you can see, hear, and speak to visitors at your door by using an app on your phone, tablet, or computer. It's equipped with a camera that records in 1080p HD with infrared night vision so you can see what's going on outside your home no matter what time of day it is, and it's all accessible from anywhere in the world. All you'd have to do is open the app on your preferred device.

The doorbell has a rechargeable battery pack, or you can connect it to your existing doorbell setup to keep it consistently powered up. And unlike older models, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 features an interchangeable faceplate in case you ever decide to change its look.

Another great feature is its Alexa compatibility. Once the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is installed, you'll be able to receive its notifications on Echo devices like the Echo Show 5, where you'll be able to see and speak with visitors using its two-way talk functionality. It's able to alert you even when the doorbell hasn't been pressed but motion was detected.

Though there's a Ring Video Doorbell 3 out now, it's quite a bit pricier at $199.99 than today's option. The all-new Ring Video Doorbell is a 2020 model that's regularly priced at $99 however.

Woot generally charges $6 per order for shipping, though you can score free shipping on today's order by logging in with an Amazon Prime account before checking out. If you've never been a member before, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to have your orders shipped for free at Woot and Amazon. You'll also gain access to perks like the Prime Video streaming service, exclusive members-only discounts, and more.

YouTube needs to spend 2021 getting its shit together

You've had years to get this done. No more excuses!

As someone who loves YouTube, watches a non-healthy amount of YouTube, and even willingly uses YouTube Music as her primary music service, I cannot stay silent any longer: YouTube needs to get off the couch and get things done.

YouTube has a laundry list of problems and broken features as long as my arm that needs fixing, and that's on top of the FUBAR situation that is YouTube moderation and monetization policy — or more specifically, demonetization policy. 2020 was a huge year for misinformation on media platforms from Twitter to YouTube and beyond, and while Twitter and a few other media platforms have at least earnestly tried to fight misinformation on their platforms, YouTube's approach has been a lot like Facebook's: it says its taking action, but it's barely scratching the surface of what's needed.

That's why YouTube's 2021 resolution needs to be to get its shit together and stop resting on its laurels as the largest video platform on the planet.

Moderation, monetization, and the need for a more moral AI in YouTube

2020 gave us a start-to-finish fiasco of a presidential election, a pandemic whose response has been stymied by misinformation and outright conspiracies, and continued attacks on marginalized communities by extremists emboldened and radicalized on websites like — you guessed it — YouTube. This is a major problem not just for YouTube but for society as a whole.

Too little, too late is YouTube's modus operandi so far.

For example, let's take the election: YouTube tried to steer users towards official coverage of the election around November 3, but for weeks and weeks after the election, YouTube refused to pull videos spreading falsehoods and outright conspiracies about the election. In fact, YouTube didn't ban uploading this content until after Safe Harbor Day in mid-December, and it's still not taking down any of this known misleading content from before Safe Harbor Day, just adding a fact-checking blurb to the top of the search results. By contrast, Twitter started marking misleading or contested tweets about the election even before the polls closed.

YouTube's got a few reasons for not removing these videos, and no, "The First Amendment" is not one of them. These videos make money for YouTube, even if the uploader isn't making money from them. The more videos YouTube has to serve up to people who search for this bullshit, the more hours those people will spend watching YouTube and generating ad money, making comments, and sharing these videos to draw in more engagement and money.

One could argue that this is tainted money since YouTube is making it off radicalizing its users and spreading foment, but this is the 21st century, and websites will make money wherever and however they can.

AI is the future, and YouTube's needs a big injection of ethics.

The better argument to be made — both for YouTube and its users — is that YouTube's AI needs to be more ethically trained to try and guide people away from misleading content back towards factual content and, y'know, reality. Ethical AI is something Google has been having issues with the last few months after ousting one of its best AI researchers. YouTube needs as much ethical AI attention as Google Search if not more because the algorithms at YouTube so far have very, very, very little regard for ethical content.

Outside the need for better AI, YouTube also needs a more robust and more human moderation system. Yes, there are too many videos uploaded every second to YouTube for a human to judge them all, and automatic flagging/removal/suspensions are going to be a thing. Still, YouTube needs to build up some moderation teams that handle specialized content so that generic rules stop hurting the marginalized communities they are supposed to protect.

Case in point: LGBTQ creators are more prone to having videos demonetized when discussing issues around their community, and while the videos are usually re-monetized after the review process, by then, they've missed practically all of the revenue that video would've made in the first days and weeks when YouTube's AI flagged it. YouTube should create moderating teams specifically for content types that run into issues more frequently, such as LGBTQ content, BIPOC content, political content, and gaming content.

Build teams that are well-versed in this content and can more quickly and more consistently apply YouTube's policies. Not only could this make it easier to train YouTube's algorithms over time, but hopefully, by having moderation teams that focus on specific content types rather than all types of content, YouTube could help cut down on the high rate of turnover among YouTube's moderators. Having such teams could also make it easier for YouTube to react when major events happen within one content type, like this year's election and the mass disinformation campaign that accompanied it.

Half-measures for accessibility and COPPA need to come full circle

It is now harder for those with hearing impairments to watch YouTube than it was a year ago. YouTube removed community captions, a method for people to add subtitle tracks to YouTube videos for creators that didn't or couldn't caption videos themselves. This means that unless a creator goes out of its way to make a subtitle track, you're stuck with the built-in AI-generated captions.

Why break what works, YouTube? Why?!

While AI-based captioning like Live Captions and YouTube's built-in version of Live Caption can help fill some of the gaps, it still doesn't do well with non-standard words/acronyms, strong accents, and overlapping voices. YouTube took away community captions due to a "lack of use," which is the same nonsense answer Google has used to kill dozens of perfectly functional services and features in the last three years, including Google Cloud Print — which dies New Year's Eve — and Google Play Music, which was replaced by a still buggy YouTube Music that will be getting its own section in a moment.

YouTube needs to improve the accessibility of its videos, and it needs to offer a robust toolbox to both creators and viewers to help make an accessible YouTube a reality.

Another area that needs a more thought-out implementation is how YouTube handles kids' content because what they rolled out a year ago is an absolute disgrace.

YouTube's lax approach to kids' content earned them a multimillion dollar fine from the FTC. In response, YouTube announced "improvements" to kids' content and data protection. These changes included disabling comments on millions of videos, disabling the mini-player, and other features.

The problem: not only did this make it harder for creators to get engagement for their channels and content, but this straight-up broke YouTube Music for families since it prevented you from liking these songs and adding them to playlists.

There are no easy answers when it comes to protecting kids online and offering them a safe and COPPA-compatible experience. But I know that YouTube can do better than this, and they should. First and foremost, though, they can keep these restrictions from impacting YouTube Music. Disabling the mini-player, likes, and playlist additions for kid-friendly music in YouTube Music makes absolutely no sense, especially when you cannot see comments or content suggestions when you click on a kids song in YouTube Music the way you would the main YouTube app.

It just drives parents back to Spotify and Apple Music, where everything just works properly.

YouTube Music needs to fix the basic features that have been broken for years.

YouTube Music has had a consistency problem since it first launched in 2014 — yes, YouTube Music existed long before that 2018 "launch" — and there are a variety of issues that have been needing to be fixed since Day One that have never been touched.

2021 is the year YouTube Music has to get its shit together, or it's going to die a slow, painful death like Google Play Music did, and that shit starts with fixing casting.

Casting should've been fixed back in 2015.

Casting in YouTube Music is flat-out broken. If you cast a large playlist or some song-based mix, the player doesn't keep pulling in new songs once it gets to the bottom of the 15-or-so songs loaded in the queue. If you cast, you cannot shuffle or repeat songs — YouTube support says this is a "Premium-only feature," but no, it doesn't appear for Premium users, either.

Google owns and oversees the Chromecast system, and YouTube was one of the launch-day services. That casting is still breathtakingly screwed in 2020 is an embarrassment for the entire company and begs the question as to why anyone would buy a Cast speaker like the Nest Audio when YouTube Music has a worse experience with Cast than it does with Bluetooth.

Are you trying to make it harder to make playlists, YouTube??

We finally have the ability to sort our library three ways — A-Z, Z-A, Recently added — but you still can't sort a playlist that way, nor do we have the ability to save the current queue as a playlist, set custom art for a playlist or even the ability to select multiple songs at once to add to a playlist. If you migrated from Google Play Music to YouTube Music this year, your library management just got about five times worse.

And let's not forget that while YouTube Music got the music locker service this year, there is no way to edit the song info or the album art for anything you upload, so you better be damn sure you got everything right before you add it to your library.

YouTube Music showed great improvement this year and received plenty of good new features, like the Just For You Mixes and Year in Review. That said, none of them can make up for the fact that YouTube Music still absolutely refuses to get the basic needs of a music service taken care of and stable, even two years after its relaunch.

Downloads is another basic necessity that YouTube Music has continued to blunder, with songs needing to be re-downloaded at seemingly random times, a lack of a "cache while streaming" feature that its predecessor Google Play Music had, and Smart Downloads that often download playlists the user has never even seen before rather than playlists and albums in their libraries. If I can't count on having my music when the network goes down, then why pay for YouTube Music at all?!

Again, I use YouTube Music as my primary music app and have for the last two years. It's where my music and my heart are, but it enrages me that I still have to use Bluetooth rather than casting in order to repeat a song. It frustrates me that I can't sort a master mix playlist to ensure I don't have duplicate songs. It utterly infuriates me that Google decided to destroy a perfectly functional service for one that can't even show me how many times I've listened to a song. This app cannot rise about being an "honorable mention" in Best Music Apps until it straightens up and flies right.

So for all our sakes, YouTube, get your shit together.

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