Telegram CEO Says Apple Has Been ‘Preventing’ iOS App Updates Since Russia’s Ban in April

In April, the Russian government banned secure messaging app Telegram and this month asked Apple to remove it from the iOS App Store completely in the country, citing the potential for terrorist communication via the app since Telegram refused to allow Russia to read user messages. As this unfolds, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov posted an update for users early this morning in an effort to explain why some features “don’t work correctly under iOS 11.4” (via ArsTechnica).

According to Durov, Apple has been “preventing” the Telegram iOS app from updating on a global scale, dating back to when Russia banned the app in April. Durov says that his company chose to do the “only possible thing” and refused to provide Russia with decryption keys to access user messages, “preserving the right of our users privacy in a troubled country.”

He continued by stating, “Unfortunately, Apple didn’t side with us.” The CEO says Apple’s restricting of Telegram dates back to mid-April and while Russia represents a small subset of its user base (7 percent), Apple’s actions affect all Telegram users around the world. Because of this, the launch of iOS 11.4 on Tuesday has broken some Telegram features like stickers, and caused the company to miss its deadline for compliance with the GDPR for users in the European Union.

Apple has been preventing Telegram from updating its iOS apps globally ever since the Russian authorities ordered Apple to remove Telegram from the App Store. Russia banned Telegram on its territory in April because we refused to provide decryption keys for all our users’ communications to Russia’s security agencies. We believe we did the only possible thing, preserving the right of our users to privacy in a troubled country.

Unfortunately, Apple didn’t side with us. While Russia makes up only 7% of Telegram’s userbase, Apple is restricting updates for all Telegram users around the world since mid-April. As a result, we’ve also been unable to fully comply with GDPR for our EU-users by the deadline of May 25, 2018. We are continuing our efforts to resolve the situation and will keep you updated.

By missing the deadline, Telegram users in Europe won’t have the same level of security and privacy in comparison to compliant apps, and a lack of updates could put the platform at a higher risk of vulnerability. Apple has yet to comment on the issue or explain its stance, but Durov hopes to “resolve the situation” soon as the company continues its efforts to get the iOS app up to date for all users.

This is far from the first time Telegram has been in hot water with both Apple and Russia. Earlier in February, Apple pulled Telegram from the App Store due to reports of “inappropriate content” being hosted on the messaging service, but it made a return a few hours after disappearing, once Telegram put additional protections in place.

For Russia, the government previously threatened a ban on Telegram last summer after repeated efforts to obtain more information about the company were ignored. While seemingly innocuous, Russia’s request for a “form with information” on Telegram would effectively add the company to the state regulators’ registry, further requiring Telegram to retain users’ chats and to share encryption keys with Russian authorities if asked. Similar requests date back to 2014.

As of writing, Telegram Messenger for iOS was last updated on March 24, 2018.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: Telegram
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Gurman: WWDC 2018 to Have Software Focus, New Macs, iPad Pros, and Larger-Screen Apple Watches Coming Later

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference commences on Monday with an opening keynote, where the company previews the next major versions of its software platforms, and usually shares some other announcements.

Ahead of the keynote, Bloomberg’s well-sourced Mark Gurman has outlined what he expects Apple to discuss on stage:

• A series of Digital Health tools in the Settings app on iOS 12 that will help users monitor how much time they spend using their devices and individual apps, helping to address concerns about smartphone addiction.
• ARKit 2, including a new mode that allows for a multiplayer mode in augmented reality games. Another mode is said to allow objects to be dropped into an area and virtually remain in place.
• Apple could reveal its reported plans to allow iOS apps to run on Macs as early as this year. The wording suggests it’s not entirely clear if Apple plans to discuss the project at WWDC or later.
• Minor new features for snoozing notifications, tracking the stock market, making video calls, and sending Animojis via FaceTime.

Overall, Gurman expects this year’s software updates across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS to be more “muted,” with “bigger changes later,” as Apple has decided to focus more on the quality and stability improvements this year, according to an internal meeting the company reportedly held earlier this year.

Planned new iOS 12 features that have been shelved until 2019 are said to include a redesigned home screen with more information, an artificial intelligence upgrade to the Photos app, and new file-management tools for iPads.

Unfortunately for those hoping to see Apple refresh its product lineups at WWDC, Gurman suggests that “a suite of new gadgets is unlikely,” although a surprise hardware announcement or two cannot be entirely ruled out. Hopefully, an update will also be provided about Apple’s AirPower charging mat.

Gurman claims Apple is working on refreshed MacBook, MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch models, and a new low-cost MacBook, but he doesn’t expect any of those devices to be ready until “later this year.”

• Refreshes to the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro lines with next-generation Intel chips ready “later this year.”
• A new low-cost notebook to succeed the MacBook Air ready “later this year.”
• A redesigned iPad Pro line with Face ID is also expected “later.”
• A pair of new Apple Watch models that keep the overall size of the current models, but include slightly larger, edge-to-edge screens. The new models are expected to support watch bands from existing models.

Gurman outlined most of these expectations in his previous reporting over the past year.

WWDC’s opening keynote begins on Monday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. MacRumors will be in attendance at the keynote, with live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.

MacRumors will also have pre-event coverage, beginning around 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and post-event hands-on coverage if applicable.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2018Tag: bloomberg.com
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Apple Backs New USB Standard for Using Braille Displays Across Ecosystems

Apple has voiced support for a new Human Interface Device standard that will bring versatile support and overall improve the technology of future USB-connected Braille displays [PDF].

Set forth by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), a non-profit organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, the new standard will help make it easier for blind and low-vision users to use Braille displays “across operating systems” and with “different types of hardware.” This way, users won’t be locked into one ecosystem and can more easily go about reading and interacting with their devices no matter the manufacturer.

Additionally, the standard is set to simplify the development process by removing the need for Braille devices to have custom software and drivers created for a particular operating system or screen reader. According to Apple’s director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, Sarah Herrlinger, the company is “proud” to help advance the new USB-IF standard.

“Technology should be accessible to everyone and Apple designs all products with that in mind,” said Sarah Herrlinger, director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives at Apple. “We’re proud to advance this new USB-IF standard because we believe in improving the experience for all people who rely on braille displays to use their Apple products or any other device.”

A few other executives from other companies chimed in on the news as well, including Microsoft accessibility program manager Jeff Petty, who said, “Developing a HID standard for braille displays is one example of how we can work together, across the industry, to advance technology in a way that benefits society and ultimately improve the unemployment rate for people with disabilities.”

Helen Keller Services president and CEO Joseph Bruno applauded the USB-IF and its members like Apple, Intel, HP, Microsoft, and others, pointing out that the new standard will greatly reduce the friction that visually impaired, blind, or deaf-blind users can face when navigating between accessible devices. “It allows these individuals to more seamlessly connect to their favorite devices, which is a major step in helping them connect to the world around them.”

Since the standard has just been detailed, no physical USB hardware products have yet to be shown off from any company. Currently, Apple has an entire accessibility store on Apple.com so users with disabilities can use devices crafted just for them to create music in GarageBand, navigate a Mac with a custom trackball, and more. There are no Braille-enabled devices sold by Apple yet, however, so the incoming HID standard could mark the first time that such a device is sold on Apple.com and potentially in retail locations.

Tag: accessibility
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Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 11.4.1 to Public Beta Testers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming iOS 11.4.1 update to its public beta testing group, one day after seeding the beta to developers and just a few days after releasing iOS 11.4, which introduced AirPlay 2 and Messages in Cloud.

Beta testers who are members of Apple’s beta testing program will receive the iOS 11.4.1 beta update over-the-air after installing the proper certificate on an iOS device.

Those who want to join the beta testing program can sign up on Apple’s beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas. iOS betas are not always stable and should not be installed on a primary device.

There were no notable features discovered in iOS 11.4.1 in the first developer beta, suggesting it focuses on bug fixes and other minor improvements.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Apple Releases First Beta of tvOS 11.4.1 to Public Beta Testers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 11.4.1 update to its public beta testing group, one day after seeding iOS 11.4.1 to developers and a few days after releasing tvOS 11.4.

The tvOS 11.4.1 public beta can be obtained by going to the Settings app on the Apple TV and navigating to the Software Updates section under “System.” “Get Public Beta Updates” will need to be toggled on, and once it is, the Apple TV will download the beta software.

No notable features or changes were discovered in the first developer beta of tvOS 11.4.1, suggesting this is a minor update.

Most tvOS updates have been minor in scale, and Apple does not provide detailed notes outlining what’s new, so we may not know just what’s included in tvOS 11.4.1 if it’s only bug fixes.

Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Apple Releases First Beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 to Public Beta Testers

Apple today released the first beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 update to public beta testers, one day after releasing the 10.13.6 update for developers. macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 comes as macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 remains in beta testing.

Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program will be able to download the new macOS High Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.

Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas.

No notable features or changes were discovered in the first beta of macOS 10.13.6 provided to developers, suggesting the new software focuses on bug fixes and other under-the-hood updates.

macOS 10.13.6 is likely to be one of the last updates to macOS High Sierra, as Apple is transitioning to macOS 10.14. macOS 10.14 will be unveiled next week at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Related Roundup: macOS High Sierra
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I tried living the dual phone life — it just isn’t for me

Having two phones and two SIMs to manage was just too much for me.

A couple of months ago, I wrote about carrying two phones at once; why you might want to, and some of the strategies that go into making it easier to manage. I’ve been dual-wieding phones since a little bit before then — right around the time I picked up an iPhone X — but I’ve finally given up on the prospect and gone back to carrying just one phone at a time because, for me at least, two proved to be more hassle than they were worth.

There are plenty of valid reasons to carry two phones, some work-related and some personal. I’m somewhere in-between; as a phone reviewer, it can be helpful to carry and test more than one phone at once, but I don’t really take full advantage of that. One of my pockets is almost always occupied by my iPhone X, despite me being an employee of Android Central. What can I say — I like having both mobile operating systems at the ready, and some of the conveniences when paired with my MacBook Pro (Airdrop and iMessage, in particular) make the iPhone hard to leave at home.

But eventually, the inconveniences of having to manage two devices outweighed any advantages brought on by Apple’s or Google’s ecosystems. Having to charge two phones every day, keep two SIM cards active, keep both of my front pockets free (which is especially frustrating when I carry my wallet in my front pocket and always worry about my cards scratching my phones if I keep both in a pocket), and so on — it just became too much for me to want to deal with.

I carried two phones for platform diversity, but that might’ve been my downfall.

In fairness, things might’ve been a fair bit easier had I been carrying two Android phones. In my aforementioned piece, I recommended Google Voice as a way to use one phone number across multiple devices, but that doesn’t work with iMessage. Neither does T-Mobile DIGITS, in case you’re wondering. Photos would’ve also been a bit easier to manage; while you can use Google Photos for unlimited photo backups on either platform, iOS is aggressive enough in its background app management that I’ve checked Google Photos countless times to see a week’s worth of photos still waiting to upload.

In any case, the dual phone experiment is over for me — at least, when I’m not traveling. This isn’t the first time I’ve carried more than one phone at a time and I doubt it’ll be the last, but having one phone just feels comfortable, and I’ve finally backed away from iMessage and moved my main SIM to the current phone I’m reviewing — which is the HTC U12+, in case you’re wondering. Life is simpler now, though I already hate being back on SMS as the media I send and receive reverts to what the internet lovingly calls “potato quality.”

One of the things I enjoyed most about carrying two phones was being able to use two different networks, always being able to fall back to Verizon when AT&T loses coverage or vice-versa. The obvious solution when carrying only one phone is to use a dual-SIM phone, which can switch back and forth internally, either manually or automatically based on coverage. In he States, your options for a dual-SIM phone are fairly limited but they’re not totally barren. Most of Huawei’s phones are dual-SIM capable, including the long-lasting Mate 10 Pro and the affordable Honor View 10. If you’re willing to import, you can also snag an international Galaxy S9, which makes use of the increasingly common microSD/nanoSIM hybrid tray to offer dual-SIM support.

I think for most people, though, the best option may be the OnePlus 6. Not only is it one of the more affordable options, but it’s one of the best phones currently on the market, with high-end specs and a surprisingly good set of cameras, though it’s still not quite up to par with true flagships like the Galaxy S9 and Pixel 2. It also works great on GSM networks — sorry if you were looking to use Verizon or Sprint. This means that even if you have a T-Mobile personal SIM and an AT&T work SIM, or some other combination of GSM networks, you don’t have to carry two phones around all the time unless you really want to.

See at OnePlus

What’s your take? Do you carry two phones, and if so is it by necessity or choice? Would you rather use a dual-SIM phone? Let us know in the comments below!

OnePlus 6: Everything you need to know

Unlock the secrets.

The OnePlus 6 is now available, and it’s a compelling option for someone looking for an unlocked phone at a reasonable price — starting at $529 to be specific. But price aside, it’s a great choice for anyone, even those considering more expensive options, thanks to a combination of hardware and software, and a community that continues to support the company and one another.

Here’s everything you need to know about the OnePlus 6!

The latest OnePlus 6 news

May 31, 2018 — Battery percentage coming to the status bar, fix for rear camera autofocus issue, and more

As part of a Q&A session OnePlus held of its forums, the company answered a lot of burning questions on users’ minds. You can read through the full rundown here, but the highlights include:

• The three dots in the status bar will be removed in the next update.
• A battery percentage is coming to the status bar in the next update.
• Scheduled Do Not Disturb will be added in the next update.
• The next update will fix low volume for calls and notifications.
• Future updates will correct issues with the rear camera’s autofocus.
• Your network will properly work when using an IDEA as a non-data card in the next update.
• A fix in the next update will resolve an issue that causes sound to stop working when switching to the speaker from the earpiece.

May 29, 2018 — JerryRigEverything tears down the OnePlus 6 to see how waterproof it really is

It was expected that OnePlus would have to cut a few corners in order to keep the OnePlus 6’s price as low as it is, and one of those cuts came in the way of a proper water resistance rating.

Unlike other flagship phones, the OnePlus 6 doesn’t come with a proper IP rating. However, OnePlus does note on its website that the phone “is well-equipped to survive a drop in the sink or a spilled glass of water.”

To test out just how “water resistant” the OnePlus 6 actually is, JerryRigEverything cracked open the phone and determined it’s about as protected as other phones that have a proper IP rating. Check it out above!

Read our review and watch the video

First thing’s first, watch the video and read the review. There’s plenty about the phone to learn, even though much of it is familiar. But the essential question a review tries to answer is, Should you buy this thing? And the response is an unrestrained, Yes.

The OnePlus 6 is the company’s finest phone ever, with excellent design, build quality, battery life and, for the first time, cameras.

Read the review

Review the specs

Once you’re done reading the review, you should, ahem, review the specifications. The phone is powerful — like one of the most powerful on the market today — with plenty of headroom and legroom (it’s proverbially spacious is what I’m trying to say) for whatever you want to throw at it. Apps-wise, not like object-wise.

OnePlus 6 specifications

How does it compare to other phones?

Of course, the OnePlus 6 doesn’t exist in a bubble — you have to compare it to other devices if you’re going to decide whether you should buy it. Thankfully, we’ve done most of the work for you, comparing it to the best flagships on the market right now.

• OnePlus 6 vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: Which should you buy?
• OnePlus 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?

What about to other OnePlus phones?

Yeah, OnePlus owners like to keep it in the family, so to speak, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see many upgrading, or thinking of upgrading, from an existing OnePlus device, like a 3, 3T, 5, or 5T. Of course, with the company releasing two phones a year these days, it won’t be long until the next upgrade cycle hits, but that also means that the existing phones age quite well, thanks to frequent software updates (the joys of not going through carriers).

If you have a OnePlus 5 or 5T, you can probably hold onto those phones for a bit longer — unless you need the camera improvements. OnePlus’s 2016 phones, on the other hand, may be getting a bit long in the tooth and could use a replacement.

• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: Should you upgrade?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?

Is the OnePlus 6 camera that much better than before?

This photo was taken in nearly pitch-dark conditions. OnePlus ramps up the light sensitivity to ISO6400, which would normally produce a lot of grain, but this photo is totally usable thanks to better software processing.

Yes! The OnePlus 6 has a larger 16MP sensor than previous OnePlus devices, with pixels that are 19% bigger, so low-light photography is immensely improved. It’s not going to overtake the Huawei P20 Pro or Pixel 2 for Low Light Champion Of The World, but it’s reliable in all conditions, and that’s more important than anything else.

The camera is probably the biggest improvement over previous OnePlus models.

The phone’s main sensor is aided by a fast ƒ/1.7 aperture, so true depth of field is a thing, along with drastically improved image signal processing from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845. Together, the phone is able to detect the correct settings more quickly, take multiple shots if necessary, enable HDR mode automatically, and reduce or eliminate grain in dark conditions.

There’s also Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which was in the OnePlus 3 line but removed in last year’s series for unknown reasons. It’s back now, and paired with a larger sensor and faster main lens, the results speak for themselves.

On the other hand, the OnePlus 6’s secondary camera has less to do — it’s a 20MP sensor with an ƒ/1.7 lens, but its main purpose is to facilitate portrait mode which, while good, isn’t enough reason to have a second sensor in the first place.

Is the notch distracting?

The notch is what it is. You may hate it out of an aversion to all things Apple, or you may learn to live with it and forget it’s there. Most people will fall somewhere in the middle — it’s a character trait, like a freckle or a certain hairstyle.

What it does, though, is open up spme additional real estate on the 6.28-inch screen, which is great. But it also limits the number of icons that can be seen in the notification area, which is a bummer. Plus, the clock on the left side of the notification bar will never make sense. If you watch the video below, though, you can see ways to tweak the notification area to your liking. And you can also disable the notch altogether if you want to.

How’s the software?

It’s good! Running Android 8.1 Oreo, OxygenOS has turned into one of the most enjoyable, reliable versions of Android to date. OnePlus has also added a number of additions to make the whole thing run more smoothly, especially if you’re looking to maximize your screen real estate.

One of the more interesting changes to the software is a set of gestures that eliminates the bottom navigation keys, relying on swipes up from different areas of the bottom edge to go back, home, and enter multitasking. It’s different, but not bad. You’ll have to try it yourself.

As for tips and tricks, we’ve already got that list going, so if you’re looking to make the most of your OxygenOS experience, we have you covered.

• How to enable navigation gestures on the OnePlus 6
• How to disable the notch on the OnePlus 6

What’s it cost?

The OnePlus 6 starts at $529 USD for the base model and goes up to $629 for additional RAM and storage. There are three configurations and three colors, though one of the colors, Silk White, is only going to be available in early June and will be manufactured in limited capacities.

Here’s how the pricing breaks down in various regions.

6/64	$529	€519	£469	$699
8/128	$579	€569	£519	$769
8/256	$629	€619	£569	$839

See at OnePlus

Tell me more about the colors

There are three colors: Mirror Black, Midnight Black, and Silk White.

• Mirror Black is going to be the most common, since it’s the only color offered in the cheapest tier. It’s shiny, reflective glass, so it gets fingerprint-y, but that’s OK because you’ll likely put the phone in a case (see below). It’s also a little slippery, which is to be expected. Mirror Black is offered in 6GB / 64GB configurations for $529.

• Midnight Black is the color we’ve come to expect from OnePlus over the years, though the matte-looking finish belies a glass back, too, like the Mirror Black. Midnight Black is only available in 8GB / 128GB and 8GB / 256GB configurations for $579 and $629, respectively.

• Silk White is the most limited of the three colors, and will be available June 5. It’s also covered in glass, but like the Midnight Black model it has a matte finish and is easier to grip. Its white back has rose gold accents, and it’s definitely the nicest and most unique of the three colors. It will only be available in the 8GB / 128GB configuration, for $579, and once the run is sold out, OnePlus is not making any more.

I heard there’s an Avengers version — TELL ME EVERYTHING

Yes, you heard right: OnePlus has once again worked with Disney on licensing a special version of the OnePlus 6 for the Chinese and Indian markets. Last year, OnePlus offered an understated Start Wars variant of the OnePlus 5T, and now the Avengers version takes advantage of the hype behind the recent film release.

The Avengers version comes in a unique box and includes an Iron Man case and a OnePlus/Avengers co-branded medallion, which is neat. And while there’s a familiar glass back on the Avengers Edition, it has a Kevlar-style design underneath. Because Kevlar=superheroes, or something.

While the special edition isn’t coming to the U.S. officially, I’m sure that some entrepreneurial Indian and Chinese resellers will do the dirty business of importing some of them at a huge premium to this side of the world.

This is the OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Edition

The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Sprint or Verizon

The OnePlus 6 technically supports the CDMA bands for Verizon and Sprint in the U.S., but the phone lacks certification for their networks, so those users — just under half the smartphone-wielding U.S. population, is out of luck.

We’ve got your full technical explainer below.

The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Sprint or Verizon

Do you like cases?

As it does with all of its phones, OnePlus has unveiled a series of first-party cases for the OnePlus 6, and they’re all pretty great.

This year, there’s a fancy new protective bumper made of woven nylon, and while it adds a bit more bulk than the typical snap-on, I think it looks and feels awesome.

These are the official OnePlus 6 cases you can buy at launch

What are your thoughts on the OnePlus 6?

Let us know in the comments!

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

Save big on popular graphics cards, power supplies and more today only

Perfect time to upgrade!

Amazon is running a big one-day sale on a variety of PC components and accessories, saving you up to 25% on the purchase. With popular brands like MSI, ASUS, AMD, Seagate, WD, and more included, you’ll want to take a few minutes out of your day to check this out.

Some of the deals include:

• AMD Ryzen 7 Processor – $214.99 (Was $309)
• MSI Gaming Radeon RX 580 Graphics Card – $299.99 (Was $380)
• Corsair RM750x Modular Power Supply – $99.99 (Was $130)
• Seagate 4TB Internal 3.5-inch Hard Drive – $139.99 (Was $175)
• WD Black 250GB SSD – $93.49 (Was $120)
• Corsair Carbide Series Gaming Tower – $74.99 (Was $100)
• ASUS Curved VA326H 31.5-inch Monitor – $294.99 (Was $399)

There’s plenty more to check out as well, but keep in mind these prices are only good for today, May 31.

PlayStation 4: The Ultimate Guide

The extended user manual for all things PlayStation 4

Some of us have been PlayStation fans from day one, but this most recent generation of Sony’s infamous game console has really turned heads. The PlayStation 4 is not only a capable competitor in the market, the list of incredible games available for it is unrivaled. But there’s a whole lot more you can do with this console if you know where to look, and like all gadgets sometimes things go wrong and you need to troubleshoot a problem. So whether you’ve just bought your first PlayStation 4, or you just need a little help getting started, we’re here for you. In this article, we are going to document all of the resources you will need to ensure that your PlayStation experience is the best it possibly can be.

• What to do once you’ve finally set up your PlayStation 4

If you haven’t bought a PlayStation yet, we’ve also go the tools to help you out. Choosing your PlayStation might be difficult and if you ever plan on using a PlayStation VR you definitely want a PlayStation Pro. Aside from performance, you want to save money, and we want to help you do it. Buying products in bundles, especially if you already need the whole kit, can save you boatloads of money.

• Do you want a PlayStation 4 Classic, PlayStation 4 Pro or Slim PlayStation 4?
• The difference between a PS4 and a PS4 Slim
• Which PlayStation 4 is best for virtual reality (VR)?
• Save money buying these PlayStation Bundles!

Update March 8th – 5.50 is releasing as an official update and coming out of Beta

Today PlayStation is launching a new 5.50 update for their consoles that will be coming with a whole lot of cool new content. If you have recently bought a PS4 for your child you’re gonna absolutely love the new Play Time Management feature that will now allow you to control how long your child’s account will be allowed to play their games. It isn’t even just subject to “4 hours a day” as the controls are so extensive you can change the settings to something like, “My child is allowed to play between 4pm-7pm on Wednesday for 4 hours, and 2pm-8pm on Saturday for 3 hours!” Not just that, but these settings can be controlled from the parental account on your PlayStation, Sony’s website or even the PlayStation App on your phone!

Your library will be getting a few more tabs in the update as well, making it easier to sort out and find new content. If you’re a PlayStation VR user, now you don’t have to guess which titles are VR supported by their names or descriptions. After this update all VR supported devices will have a VR icon next to them in the PlayStation Store, allowing you to organize your searches that much better.

The Quick Menu is also getting some nifty updates including a drop-down friends list for you to see who’s online and send them messages or invitations directly from a shortcut option! On top of this PlayStation Music and Spotify users will get a shortcut option with the Square button for volume control. USB Music Players will be using the Triangle button for play/pause, and the Square button for volume control! On the topic of Quick Menu’s, there will be a new option to permanently delete your notifications! No more clutter!

Now, onto the Tournament page updates! In addition to now being able to import your pictures from USB to use as your Team Logo, tournament page background you can also use then for your PlayStation Home background! Also, you can now schedule events directly from the tournament page, and more easily filter between Team vs Team and 1v1 events.

Finally, in regards to the performance, PlayStation Pro is receiving an update called Supersampling Mode which will allow the PS4 Pro to run a new resolution scale that goes up to 2160p!

Get to know the best hardware

Just like buying a new car there is always the option to get your possessions in a “fully loaded” style. Well, from the controllers to the headsets we’ve got all the information you’ll need to deck out your gear for the PlayStation. These accessories and upgrades aren’t just to improve the visual of your command center, but you can also improve the performance.

Last but not least, let’s take a moment to appreciate all the save files to our favorite games. The ones that, even if you don’t play for a few years, you never want to lose. PlayStation used to have an interchangeable memory card, but now it’s all on their internal hard drive. So if you’re running out of memory but don’t want to lose anything, you can also check out this list for the best external hard drives.

• Where to buy the new PlayStation Gold Wireless headset
• Best PS4 decal kits
• Best portable monitors for your PS4
• The best PS4 controllers to own
• The best headset available for the PS4
• The best accessories available for your PS4
• The best travel accessories for your PS4
• The best charging stands for your accessories
• The best vertical docs for your PS4
• The best external hard drives for your PS4
• The best phone mounts for the PS4

The best fun to have on your PlayStation 4

While there are plenty of super cool apps to lose yourself in, one of the main reasons for owning a PS4 is for the games. As you know, exploring the PlayStation store from your console or even online can take hours and the only thing you’re going to do is wish your wallet was fatter. Well, you can save your time knowing that we’ve done most of the research for you! So instead of window shopping, check out these links here to get an idea of what people are already playing, and what you should be playing too!

Don’t forget to stay updated with our here on Android Central! Most of these articles are updated on a montly basis, so if you keep checking in we’re bound to have new content for you!

• Your favorite titles from PlayStation 2 that are available on PlayStation 4
• The best games for PlayStation 4 as of December 2017
• The best strategy games
• The best Indie games
• The best PS4 exclusives
• The best multiplayer games
• The best games for under $30
• The best free games
• Super cool demos you need to try out
• Every game that will release to PS4 this month

Recommendations when owning a PlayStation console

So you’ve got everything settled, you know how your system works and everything is set up just the way you like it. Now you’re wondering if there’s anything more you can do to make your PlayStation scream “YOU” just a little bit more. Check out these links to see what choices you have, and how to get them done!

• What is PlayStation Plus and why do I need it?
• Should you wall mount your PlayStation 4?
• Customizing the lights on your PlayStation Conrollers
• What you can get with a PlayStation Plus account

Help and how-tos

From troubleshooting to figuring out all the new commands for your console, we’ve got plenty of resources to help you out. Whether you’re a new PlayStation owner or just trying to figure something out you’ve never tried before, check out these links to see if any of these can help you out!

When buying a new PlayStation after already owning one

• How to transfer data from your old PlayStation 4 to your new PlayStation4
• How to set up parental controls

Navigating your PlayStation Store

• Should you buy physical games or digital games?
• How to make a PlayStation Store Wishlist
• How to use PlayStation gift cards
• How to download from the Japanese PlayStation Store

Helpful how-to

• How to organize your games
• How to delete your games
• How to change the theme of your PlayStation 4 home screen
• How to set up two-factor authentication
• How to eject a disk from your PS4
• How to use the share function on your PS4
• How to share your images off of PlayStation Network
• How to turn off auto-update for your games
• How to configure your audio controls
• How to wake up a PlayStation 4 with your phone

Troubleshooting

• The 5 most common controller issues
• How to fix ps4 controller jitters
• What to do when your PS4 Pro is running loud
• How to fix your PlayStation 4 from starting in Safe Mode
• How to deal with Blu-Ray problems
• How to get your PlayStation Move controllers to work with your Christmas tree (or any other crazy lights)
• How to fix your overheating issues
• How to use an external hard drive with your PS4
• How to enable HDR for PlayStation 4 on popular 4K TVs

Tips, Tricks and Everything you need to know!

• God of War: Everything you need to know!
• Detroit: Become Human – Everything you need to know!
• What to play after you beat Far Cry 5
• What to play after you beat God of War

Thoughts?

Do you have any questions regarding your PlayStation 4? What helpful hints would you like to see more of? Let us know in the comment section below!

Updated May 2018: We’ve added more articles — from buying the new PlayStation Gold Wireless headset to how to control your controller jitters, we’ve got your back!

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

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