Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL are launching in India on May 8

A new teaser on Flipkart reveals the launch date of the Pixel 3a and 3a XL.

After months of rumors and leaks, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL are set to make their debut on May 7. Google is planning to bring both phones in India just a day later, as a teaser on Flipkart suggests the devices will be launching on May 8.

As spotted by FoneArena, the teaser shows off a silhouette of a phone with the tagline, "Help is on the way. Something big is coming to the Pixel universe on 8th May." That's the same tagline that Google used a few weeks ago to tease the devices on its store.

The latest leaks of the devices suggest a similar design as the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, albeit with mid-range hardware. The Pixel 3a is rumored to feature a 5.6-inch 1080p OLED display along with a Snapdragon 670, with the larger Pixel 3a XL sporting a 6.0-inch FHD+ OLED panel and Snapdragon 710. Both phones will come with 4GB of RAM, 32GB/64GB of storage, and the same 12.2MP camera sensor from the standard Pixels.

Given the timing of the launch, it's possible the new Pixels will be unveiled at I/O 2019, which kicks off on the same day. With just a week to go, we'll know much more about the Pixel 3a and 3a XL very soon. Who's excited?

Eric Schmidt isn't seeking re-election for Alphabet's Board of Directors

Diane Green is also leaving.

Christophe Morin via Getty Images

Just a day after Alphabet's Q1 2019 earnings call with investors, the company has issued a press release announcing that Eric Schmidt will not be seeking re-election to Alphabet's Board of Directors once his current term expires on June 19, 2019.

Per John Hennessy, the Chairman of the Board:

Eric has made an extraordinary contribution to Google and Alphabet as CEO, Chairman, and Board member. We are extremely grateful for his guidance and leadership over many years.

Eric Schmidt has been a member of the Board since March 2001, and in addition to that, he also served as Google's CEO between July 2001 and April 2011. Following that, he took on the role of Executive Chairman in April 2011 until January 2018.

In addition to Eric's departure, Alphabet announced that Diane Greene will be leaving the Board, too. Diane joined in January 2012 and was Google Cloud's CEO for just over three years from December 2015 to January 2019.

Last but not least, Robin L. Washington is joining the Board. Specifically, she'll work with the company's Leadership Development and Compensation Committee.

Per Robin:

I'm honored to join Alphabet's Board, and I look forward to the opportunity to help guide the company's important work. I'm excited to be part of a company that has such a tremendous opportunity to improve the lives of people around the world.

Eric Schmidt will stay involved with Alphabet as a "technical advisor", but after 18 years of serving the Board, we certainly think he's deserved this bit of rest.

Alphabet saw slowest revenue growth in three years during Q1 2019

Moto E6 reportedly coming with Snapdragon 430 and Android Pie

The Moto G7 series officially launched in the U.S. not too long ago, giving consumers three great options to choose from in the budget smartphone space. Now, there's already a report that Motorola's prepping yet another budget handset in the form of the Moto E6.

Per Mishaal Rahman, XDA's Editor-in-Chief, the Moto E6 is codenamed "surfna" and will be launching on U.S. carriers (though it's unclear which ones at this point). The display is expected to be 5.45-inches with a resolution of 720 x 1440, and at the heart of the phone, we can look forward to the Snapdragon 430.

In regards to the camera situation, the Moto E6 will apparently have a single 13MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, in addition to a 5MP f/2.0 front-facing camera. Other highlights include 2GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage, and Android 9 Pie out of the box.

Pricing and exact availability remain a mystery, but for what it's worth, the Moto E5 came to the U.S. in October 2018 while the Moto E5 Play and E5 Plus launched earlier in the year. As for how much it'll cost, I imagine Motorola will stick with the E5's pricing of $100.

Moto G7 review: The right price to pay

Preorders for the Oculus Quest are open!

The Oculus Quest is a standalone headset that opens up new possibilities for untethered VR.

The Oculus Quest comes from the makers of the Oculus Rift, one of the world's most popular VR headsets. It shares many design cues with its PC-tethered sibling and supports many of the same titles. The Oculus Quest also takes some notes from the Oculus Go, Facebook's more portable VR headset. The result is a portable VR headset capable of playing games and media without requiring a PC.

Immerse yourself

Oculus Quest

$399 at Amazon

Place your order for an Oculus Quest, the latest VR headset from Oculus. It's the most powerful standalone headset Oculus has made and has an impressive library of games already.

What is Oculus Quest?

Revealed at Oculus Connect 5 in San Jose, the Oculus Quest is an untethered VR headset that doesn't require a PC or any external hardware to run. It features six degrees of freedom (6DoF) meaning it can track your movements up, down, left, right, forward, and backward. It doesn't require any external sensors like the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Instead, it has sensors built into the headset. It also supports two updated Touch controllers, meaning it can be used to play popular gaming titles that require two hands such as Beat Saber.

The Oculus Quest is available for preorder now and will be released on May 21, 2019. There are 64GB and 128GB variants of the headset. The 128GB version of the Oculus Quest is listed at $499.99. The 64GB version of the Oculus Quest is listed at $399.99.

• Which size Oculus Quest should you buy?

Spatial tracking from within the headset means you can move around an enormous room-scale setup — Oculus Connect 5 had an arena-sized play area — just like you can now in Rift, Vive, or Windows Mixed Reality. A camera in each corner of the headset (total of four) track space and motion controllers from the inside out. The Quest uses the same optics as the Go for a display resolution of 1,600 x 1,400 for each eye, but here you'll be able to make lens-spacing adjustments on the fly. Also, like the Go, Quest has a built-in audio system that delivers 3D sound without the need for bulky headphones. A headset jack is included if you'd like to use separate hardware, and charging is handled with a USB-C port.

All the necessary hardware — including the processor, RAM, storage, and rechargeable battery — is worn on your head. As for an operating system, Quest runs on the Oculus OS, a variation of Android.

What does Oculus Quest look like?

The Oculus Quest looks a lot like the Rift. It's black, has a similar head strap (albeit with audio now built into the headband), and has a more rounded front with what looks like a bit more space for the internal hardware. A camera in each of the four corners of the front of the HMD makes up Oculus Insight, the new inside-out tracking system that removes the need for external sensors.

How does Oculus Quest tracking work?

Oculus Insight, the new tracking technology from Oculus, is capable of scanning all items in your VR space, including floors, ceilings, walls, rugs, art, windows, and curtains, for a true representation of your place in the real world. It looks for edges and corners and other distinct features, then builds a 3D map of the playspace and combines that data with data from the gyroscope and accelerometer to give the headset's position once every millisecond.

The Guardian system is still here to keep you from bumping into walls and furniture, and you'll now be able to save multiple rooms for quick setup. For example, you'll be able to save your standard VR play space, and you'll also be able to save your friend's living room for when you visit with the Quest and want a quick setup.

Since there are no external sensors, the play space for Quest is potentially enormous, though features such as Arena-Scale tracking will come in future updates.

How do Oculus Quest controllers work?

Along with a new headset, Quest is bringing new Touch motion controllers that are also tracked by sensors in the headset. Much like current Touch controllers, the new Quest controllers have a ring covered in IR lights that are tracked. Here, instead of facing down like on current Touch, the rings face up, making them more visible to the cameras in the headset.

There's less curve to these controllers, making them a bit easier to hold onto, and buttons have been repositioned. The same input and hand presence apply here, and new Touch controllers will be compatible with the older Oculus Rift.

What type of experience does Oculus Quest offer?

Even though the Oculus Quest is not connected to a PC, it can still run many games that developers can port over from the Oculus Rift. Oculus Quest ports of Rift games can be both impressive and immersive, though discerning eyes will be able to tell the difference between the same game being played on the Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest.

• Will Oculus Quest ports be the same as Oculus Rift games?

When will Oculus Quest release?

The Oculus Quest became open to preorders on April 30, 2019, and will be released on May 21, 2019.

How much will Oculus Quest cost?

The Oculus Quest comes in two storage variants. The 64GB version of the Oculus Quest costs $399.99 and the 128GB version costs $499.99

Immerse yourself

Oculus Quest

$399 at Amazon

Place your order for an Oculus Quest, the latest VR headset from Oculus. It's the most powerful standalone headset Oculus has made and has an impressive library of games already.

More resources

• How much space do you need for the Oculus Quest
• Will Oculus Quest ports be the same as Oculus Rift games?
• Every game confirmed for Oculus Quest
• Oculus Quest vs Oculus Go: Which should you buy?

Updated April 30, 2019: This article has been updated with the Oculus Quest's preorder and pricing information, along with other released information.

You can now sign up for the GRID Autosports beta on Android

Be among the first to test the new multiplayer mode.

It's been almost a full year since I've written about GRID Autosport for Android, mostly because there hasn't been much to write about it other than more delays that have continued to push the release date back further and further. But finally I'm able to share a bit of good news surrounding this highly-anticipated racing game as it pertains to Android gamers.

Feral Interactive has taken to Twitter to recruit Android beta testers for a private beta specific to the game's multiplayer mode — a mode that's not even available for the iOS version of the game.

Android users, we’re looking for keen racers to help us road test GRID Autosport in a private Beta programme.

Read the Google Form for entry requirements and to apply for the Beta: https://t.co/khpIuDEduX

Those accepted will be testing in 4-player multiplayer mode. pic.twitter.com/U7As88hkTm

— Feral Interactive (@feralgames) April 29, 2019

This is your best opportunity to play GRID Autosport ahead of its full Android release.

All you need to do to sign up for the beta is click through the link in the tweet and fill out the Google form with a bit of personal information about yourself and the device you'd plan to test the game on. From there it's all in the luck of the draw, or it might come down to the specific devices that the developers are looking to test. Either way, this is your best opportunity to be among the first people to play test GRID on Android and that's pretty exciting.

Developed by Codemasters Racing and Feral Interactive, GRID has been in development for Android since 2017 and seems finally set to arrive on Android devices sometimes later in 2019. The game has already been released on iOS where it has garnered rave reviews even with a $10 cost of entry. By all accounts this is one of those mobile games that tries to offer the full experience of its genre without imposing gaming limitations or exploitive loot boxes or whatever else.

Learn More

Your first steps after opening a new PS4

Did you just open up a new PS4? Here's where to start.

So you got a brand spanking new PlayStation 4 and you couldn't be more excited. You have your gorgeous new console all set up and ready to go but the only problem is you don't know where to start. That's OK! The sheer volume of things you can do with your PlayStation 4 can be a little overwhelming. Let's take a look at a few of the cool things you can do with your sparkling new PS4.

• Customization
• Apps
• Demos
• PlayStation Plus
• Streaming
• The PlayStation App

Customization

Make that baby yours! There are quite a few ways that you can make your PS4 unique to you. You could pick up some accessories, or you can set up a custom theme which will give your dashboard a special look that's different from the default. You can also set up a custom profile picture. The ways in which you can tweak your PS4 gaming experience is nearly endless so get in there and explore the options!

Apps, apps, apps

Just like any modern day console, Sony has aimed to make the PlayStation 4 a one-stop shop for living room entertainment. One of the ways they work toward that goal is in the wide, wide world of apps. From movies and TV to sports and music, if it can be streamed you can probably do it on PlayStation 4. Go to the PlayStation Store, select "Apps" and start downloading to your heart's content.

Dive into some demos

A great way to taste test the options available to you in the world of games is to download some free demos. There is a whole litany of free demos available to you on the PlayStation Store, just select "Demos". It's just like wandering around in Costco but with far fewer people standing in the way and the free samples are games instead of summer sausages.

The power of Plus!

One thing you might want to consider is signing up for a PlayStation Plus account, which is Sony's paid subscription service similar to Xbox Live Gold. There are a few reasons to go ahead and take the plunge but one of the best is that nothing else will help you build a kick-butt game library like a Plus account. As a PlayStation Plus member, you will have exclusive access to great discounts and free games. What a beautiful modern world we live in!

Stream the dream

Speaking of beautiful modern worlds, there is no longer any reason to game in a vacuum. The ability to stream your gaming sessions is built right into the PS4. Streaming is no longer relegated to those that bought all sorts of specialized hardware and software. All you have to do is press a button! Simply press the share button on your controller, select Broadcast Gameplay, and then select the service of your choice. Once you're connected, you are ready to share your epic victories and crushing defeats with the viewing public.

The PlayStation app

There's no reason to leave the PlayStation experience when you're away from the house. Thanks to Sony's PlayStation app you can stay connected to the action from your Android or iOS device. It's actually a pretty well designed little app.

You can get notifications, status updates, and message friends but the best functionality is that while you sit at your desk at work you can use the app to purchase a game and have it download directly to your PS4. That way when you finally get home from a long day at the factory you can kick back and start a brand new game without any waiting involved.

Have fun with it!

There are all sorts of things you can do on your new PlayStation 4 but the most important thing of all is to have fun. Dive in and explore all that is possible, but don't forget to play a few games every now and then!

Make it yours...

PlayStation Store Gift Card

From $10 at Amazon

Not all themes are free, maybe your favorite costs a buck or two. The easiest way to pick up those paid themes and make this PS4 yours is with a PSN card. Add a little money to your account and feel the customization in your hands.

Power of the Plus

PlayStation Plus Membership

$25 at Amazon

Got that hunger for more games? Pick up PlayStation Plus and get free games each month as well as well as access to demos and early access to new titles. On top of that PlayStation gives extra space for saves online for all those free games!

Streaming game starter

FIFINE USB Microphone

$22 at Amazon

If think you might want to stream on that new PS4 but you aren't ready to jump in with a Yeti the FIFINE USB mic is a good place to start. It is a plug and play microphone so it is easy to use but has better sound quality than most headset mics.

SOUL enhances its ST-XS True Wireless Earphones for the latest version 2

SOUL Electronics' latest addition to its true wireless headphone lineup has been unveiled: the Soul ST-XS2 High-Performance True Wireless Earphones. As a follow-up to last year's ST-XS headphones, version 2 is greatly enhanced and better prepared for your life on-the-go.

Wireless Wonder

SOUL ST-XS2 True Wireless Earphones

The new ST-XS2 true wireless earphones feature a built-in microphone, Bluetooth 5.0, and IPX7 waterproof protection that could make them your new workout buddy.

$99.99

See at SOUL

The ST-XS2 true wireless headphones were designed as a hybrid sports and lifestyle product that are just as suitable for use during a workout as they are for relaxing at home. They feature IPX7 advanced waterproof protection that will keep them safe in up to three feet of water, and that keeps them sweatproof too so you can take them for a run in the rain or to the gym safely. With Bluetooth 5.0, they connect to your device right as you take them out of the case so you can begin listening instantly. There's a built-in microphone as well so you can take calls hands-free.

SOUL's previous model, the ST-XS true wireless headphones, could last for up to ten hours with their included charging case. Thankfully, battery life is one of the major enhancements between the two versions, as the ST-XS2 feature a five-hour battery life that is extended up to 25 hours with the included case. They also now have integrated, C-shaped ear hooks which help them stay secure in your ears while you workout or go about your day. Various sizes of eartips are included with the headphones as well.

The ST-XS2's features are rounded out by a Transparent Audio Mode that lets you hear ambient noise around you more easily and a built-in button that lets you answer calls or control your music. Available in your choice of Matte Black, Navy Blue, Pure White, or Sakura Pink, the ST-XS2 earphones can now be purchased at SOUL's website for $99.99. There's also a Mother's Day sale going on currently which could save you 20% off your purchase of two pairs. If mom's a music lover, it could be the perfect gift, but you'll need to use code mothersday20 at checkout to snag that offer.

These are the best microSD cards for the Moto G7

Motorola's latest flagship is the G7, which comes with 64GB of internal storage — unless you pick up the G7 Play or Power which both ship with just 32GB. The good news is you can take some of the extra money you saved buying the phone to upgrade your storage via a microSD card. Motorola phones support microSD up to 512GB so you can go all-out if you want to.

Go Extreme

SanDisk Extreme 64GB

Staff pick

SanDisk Extreme cards are a popular choice for recording 4K video in professional filming shoots so it will absolutely deliver for your Moto G7. You also have the option of bundling a USB card reader with the card for easy offloading

$17 at Amazon

Alternate option

Kingston Canvas React 32GB

Kingston offers top-rated Class 10, UHS-I microSDXC card from Kingston features a 32GB capacity and advertises read speeds up to 80MB/s and write speeds up to 40MB/s. It's not quite as fast as others on this list, but with the SD adapter, you'll be able to easily load up all your favorite media for your phone on a computer.

$12 at Amazon

Affordable upgrade

Samsung EVO Select 128GB

The Samsung EVO Select is also available in 256GB and 512GB options, but we'll recommend the 128GB card here because it's a great price for an ample amount of storage for most people. It also comes with an SD card adapter.

$21 at Amazon

A great deal for 256GB

Samsung 256GB EVO Plus

Samsung offers card sizes of all sorts for your Moto G7, one of the best deals currently offered is for this 256GB microSD. This is a great option if you've got a large media library you want to transfer over to your phone, and the price is quite reasonable.

$51 at Amazon

400GB for less

SanDisk Ultra 400GB UHS-I

With read speeds up to 100MB/s and write speeds up to 90MB/s, this 400GB card from SanDisk will let you record HD video to your heart's content. This is a ton of space and SanDisk has sort of undercut the competition with the pricing for this card.

$64 at Amazon

An Elite choice

PNY Elite 512GB

PNY's 512GB microSD is the most expensive on our list but it's well-reviewed and was one of the first cards of this size made available. You'll be able to shoot over 80 hours of full HD video on this card or transfer an equal amount of media onto the card from your computer.

$110 at Amazon

There's no better time to buy a microSD

The prices for microSD just keep on coming down, which is great news for anyone who owns a Moto G7! If you were looking to max out the storage on your phone you can get a 512GB card for just over $100. Don't need that much storage? There are even better deals for smaller cards. Love a brand but want the card in a different size? You're likely to find just right size from the brand you trust most.

For those who love to go all-in on storage, you can get the 512GB PNY Elite right now for probably the best price we've seen for that amount of storage. The best budget pick is also our staff recommendation, SanDisk Extreme 64GB — plenty of storage for a crazy good price. And if you bought a budget phone because you're always down for a good deal, the 128GB Samsung EVO Select offers a substantial upgrade for your G7 at a wallet-friendly price.

Razer's new Hammerhead Duo aims for crisp audio for $60

Razer is growing its Hammerhead lineup with a new set of dual-driver earbuds.

Razer already has a robust lineup of Hammerhead earbuds among its other audio offerings, but its latest aims to bring an even clearer audio experience to all of your devices with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Called the Hammerhead Duo, the new buds are named after the dual-driver tech that Razer claims have been tuned to work in harmony to provide a crisp, balanced sound.

"Compared to single driver headphones, dual drivers allow for more effective sound separation and produce clearer and louder audio that is free from distortion," Razer said in a press release. The result, the company claims, should be a "more precise audio experience" whether you're streaming a show on Netflix or blasting some beats while working out.

As for the build quality, the Hammerhead Duo buds are made up of aluminum frames with braided cables. Razer is throwing three silicon tip sizes in the box so you can dial in the right size for your ears. The Hammerhead Duo operates over a 3.5mm headphone jack, so it should work with a wide variety of devices you already own.

Two versions of the Hammerhead Duo are available. The base model includes an inline switch for play, pause and volume controls and a built-in microphone. There's also a version specifically built for the Nintendo Switch, which packs an inline microphone and a mute switch.

The standard Hammerhead Duo is available now for $60 from Razer. The Hammerhead Duo for Nintendo Switch is expected to launch in the first week of June for $60.

Dual-driver Awesomeness

Razer Hammerhead Duo

$60 at Razer

Blast some Beats

The Razer Hammerhead Duo packs dual drivers that are built to work in harmony, providing crisp audio across TV shows, games, and movies.

YouTube and YouTube TV will exclusively stream 13 of the remainder of MLB's hundreds of games this season

It's a step in the right direction for sports fan, but still just a drop in the bucket.

Each of Major League Baseball's 30 teams has 162 games scheduled for the 2019 season. That's some 2,400 (give or take) games across the American and National leagues. Today, it was announced that YouTube and YouTube TV will exclusively stream 13 of those games.

Here's what you need to know:

• The YouTube stream will be free. No subscriptions required.
• The 13 games will come after the All Star break — ie in the second half of the season.
• There will be pregame and postgame shows.
• "Popular YouTube creators" will play some sort of role in the broadcast.

And, well, that's it. This isn't anywhere near Earth-shaking news, of course. That's about one-half of 1 percent of all the games on the schedule. And the prospect of Logan Paul hamming it up during the seventh-inning stretch is downright insane. Or Pat and Jen doing whatever it is they do atop America's National Pastime. (It likely won't be either of those Circles of Hell, of course. Probably.)

So, yeah. You'll be able to watch a handful of MLB games exclusively on YouTube or YouTube TV. (Here's how to watch everywhere else.)

YouTube TV, if you're looking at getting on board, costs $50 a month. There are no additional plans or options — but there are a number of add-ons available, like EPIX, Shudder, Fox Soccer Network and more. (Notably missing, however, is HBO.)

Which Oculus Quest should you buy?

We've followed the Oculus Quest since day zero and we've used all of its competitors and siblings so we know how much storage you need to enjoy VR.

Budget friendly

Oculus Quest 64GB

$399 at Amazon

Pros

• Cheaper
• Has enough storage for many users
• Supports all the same features as larger storage variant
• Supports all the same games as larger storage variant

Cons

• Not enough storage for hardcore gamers

The 64GB variant of the Oculus Quest supports all the same features and games as the version with larger storage. It has enough space for many users but will fill up if you're a hardcore gamer and its lack of a microSD slot makes storage limitations a bigger issue.

Extra room

Oculus Quest 128GB

$499 at Amazon

Pros

• Lots of room for games
• Still affordable compared to VR requiring a PC

Cons

• Significantly more expensive for just 64GB more of storage

This version of the Oculus Quest sports 128GB of storage which is more than enough for multiple games and lots of media to enjoy, though it still doesn't have a microSD slot.

Both versions of the Oculus Quest support the same exact features and have the same library of games. The only difference is the amount of storage available and the price of each device.

Oculus Quest 64GB vs Oculus Quest 128GB: What's the difference?

Storage and price. Those are the only factors to look at when comparing these devices. They both support all of the same games, features, and form factor. They're even the same colors. The only difference is the amount of storage available and the price of the device.

The price jump might be the main deciding factor for users because you don't give anything up when you opt for the option with larger storage.

Category	Oculus Quest 64GB	Oculus Quest 128GB
Hand controls	2 touch controllers	2 touch controllers
Storage	64GB	128GB
6 degrees of freedom	Yes	Yes
Oculus Guardian tracking	Yes	Yes
microSD slot	No	No
USB-C storage support	Yes	Yes
Price	$399	$499

The Oculus Quest can be used for gaming and media, but the type of content that's most likely to eat up your storage is games. On the Oculus Rift Beat Saber requires 2.34GB of storage and SUPERHOT VR requires 5.21 GB of storage. The Climb is a larger title and requires 12.88GB of storage on the Oculus Rift. These games will occupy a little less storage on Oculus Quest but should give a general idea of the size of games in the launch lineup.

How much storage do you really need?

If you're trying to be savvy with your money, or you just don't want to pay for storage you won't use, then it's important to examine how you plan to use the Oculus Quest and figure out how much storage you need.

If you're a hardcore gamer and you want to download a lot of titles on your Oculus Quest, then you should opt for the 128GB variant of the headset. The Oculus Quest doesn't have a microSD card slot so once it's full, you'll have to delete games or media to free up space.

If you plan to uninstall games as you get bored with them or finish them, then you're probably going to be just fine with the 64GB version. We don't know the exact size of games on the Oculus Quest but based off of the size of games on the Oculus Rift, you'll be able to fit multiple titles onto a 64GB device.

While the Oculus Quest doesn't have a microSD slot, it does support USB-C storage. This is a nice addition and makes it easy to import media from other devices, but it's not a permanent solution and won't work with games.

64GB is enough (for most)

While we don't know the exact size of the most popular titles on the Oculus Quest, they're likely to be large if they're similar to their siblings on the Oculus Rift. That being said, they probably won't be so large that you can't have two or three of them fit on a 64GB variant of the Oculus Quest.

If you're the type of user that plays two or three games at a time and then removes them from a device, then you probably don't need to spend the extra money for an additional 64GB of storage.

If budget isn't a factor for you, or you just want to make it more likely that you'll always be able to store your games and media on your VR headset, then you should get the 128GB variant of the Oculus Quest. You don't give up any features when you increase storage size, so it's a one-time investment to get a better device.

Enough for many

Oculus Quest 64GB

$399 at Amazon

Budget friendly with enough storage for many users

The 64GB version of the Oculus Quest supports all the same features and games as the larger version. While it's unfortunate that there isn't a microSD card slot, it has enough space for users who only keep a few games on the device at a time.

Room to work with

Oculus Quest 128GB

Enough storage for a larger library.

$499 at Amazon

This version with a larger storage capacity will be able to keep more games and media on your device at once. While it still doesn't have a microSD slot, it can store multiple games and a number of larger media files.

Android TV hits 5000 apps milestone, new hardware expected this year

A Play Store redesign for the platform is also in the works.

Android TV has struggled over the years to break into the mainstream with Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV dominating the TV set-top box market. While Android TV may not be the leader right now, new statistics show that it is on the rise.

Shalini Govil-Pai recently stated in an interview that Android TV now has a total of 5,000 apps and games up from 3,000 this time last year. This surge in app development is promising for the stagnant platform as it looks to expand its reach.

Of course, an increase in apps and games don't mean anything if it's not content people need or want. While the numbers are going up the platform is still missing many popular apps such as Discovery, DirecTV Now, Epix, Nick Jr., Watch TNT, and more. Even when some apps are available, it doesn't mean they're fully functional. For example, the Hulu app is out of date and doesn't support the service's live TV streaming.

The tide does seem to be turning, however, as Google and Amazon have recently come to an agreement to allow access to each other's respective streaming services. The NCAA's March Madness app also made an appearance this year just in time for the 2019 tournament. And while Govil-Pai had nothing to say about the missing apps, Google spokesman Ivy Chen says, "there are conversations happening, and we're optimistic for them coming on board."

Google's aspirations for Android TV don't end with video. Once more support for video apps has been added, Google will next look to expand into more fitness and education apps, as well as games for the platform. There is even a redesign for the Play Store in the works with video previews of apps in order to make the experience more cinematic.

Despite having tens of millions of users, the majority of them do not use Android TV set-top boxes. The best Android TV box to date is NVIDIA Shield TV and it is now more than two years old. Google itself hasn't released an Android box since the Nexus Player back in 2014, and we're still waiting on the JBL Link Bar to arrive, which combines a soundbar and Android TV box into one device.

Chen says we can look forward some future hardware announcements in the coming weeks, as well as even more devices expected this fall. That's good news for the platform and comes from Google assuring partners there is a renewed focus on Android TV with Govil-Pai saying:

The fact that Google is investing and is 100 percent committed to it, and we're putting our best foot forward on it, I think that is the change that people are looking for.

For now, the majority of Android TV users are those with TVs and cable boxes running Android TV.

Google is also toying with the notion of allowing users to subscribe directly to channels such as HBO, Showtime, or CBS Now similar to how Roku and Amazon currently do things, instead of using apps. Govil-Pai said, "A lot of our partners have told us that they're having success with the Channels model" and continued by saying:

At the same time, there are other partners who say they will never move away from apps, because apps give us the freedom to have that direct relationship with our consumers.

We expect to see more numbers about the platform on May 7 at Google I/O, but until then, things are looking up for Android TV.

Android TV powerhouse

NVIDIA Shield TV

$170 at Amazon

Android TV at its best

When it comes to Android TV boxes, the NVIDIA Shield TV is the king of the mountain. No other box on the market has been able to touch it in overall features and performance. Between the 4K HDR support, Dolby Atmos and DTS-X passthrough, and support for Google Assistant, you can't beat this box when it comes to Android TV.