April 12, 2020   7:00 AM ET

Maria Godoy – Senior Editor, NPR Science Desk, and Host, The Salt

The vast majority of the country is under lockdown right now. But stay-at-home orders come with a few exceptions — like grocery shopping.

Many of us are still venturing out to stock up on food and toiletries. But what’s the safest way to shop during this pandemic? And what should you do once you’ve brought your haul home?

We asked infectious disease, virology and food safety experts to share their tips about safe grocery shopping — and what you can stop worrying about.

Know the dangers — focus on the people, not the food

Many people worry about the possibility of picking up the coronavirus from things like grocery store conveyor belts or cereal boxes. But every expert NPR spoke with agrees that the biggest risk when it comes to groceries is being inside the store itself with other people who may be infected.

“While it is possible to contract the virus [from contaminated surfaces], the majority of transmission is probably going to be from respiratory droplets, which you’re exposed to when you’re around other people,” says Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

Avoid crowds and shop quickly

Donald Schaffner, a food microbiologist and distinguished professor at Rutgers University, advises that you look for a grocery store that limits the number of shoppers who are allowed to go in at one time. While that might lead to a long line outside, it’s also likely to make it easier to practice social distancing inside the store — staying at least 6 feet away from other people. And once you are in there, he says, focus on getting in and out as fast as possible to minimize your risk.

“Be as efficient as possible in the store,” Schaffner says. “Have a list. Move through the store quickly and efficiently. Get out of the way. Be respectful of other people. Maintain social distance while you’re in the store.”

Wear a face covering

Given the growing evidence that people can shed the virus before they are showing symptoms, they might not know they’re infected either. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that people wear cloth face coverings out in public, and some stores now require shoppers to wear them — not so much to protect you as to protect other people from you in case you are infected.

Go alone

Dr. David Aronoff, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says to go to the store alone if you can, because bringing the whole family shopping is just going to add to crowding in the aisles — and could potentially raise your household’s risk of infection too.

“If you have three people living together and all three people go to the store, even if all three people have a low risk of getting infected at an individual level, as a group they’ve tripled their risk, essentially,” says Aronoff, who recently wrote about safe food practices during this pandemic in the medical journal JAMA.

Sanitize carts and hands

Once you are in the store, make sure to sanitize the handles of your cart or basket. Many stores do this for customers now, but it doesn’t hurt to bring your own hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes if you have them. Be sure to avoid touching your face while you are there, until you can sanitize your hands again.

One other tip, from Rasmussen: Don’t use your cellphone while you’re in the store, because a “phone is a great way to get your hands right up next to your face.”

Skip the gloves

“Gloves are not magic,” Schaffner says. “Gloves don’t make you invulnerable. As soon as you touch something with your gloved hand, that contamination is on the gloves.”

Rasmussen agrees. “I’ve seen a lot of people wearing gloves out in public, and they just kind of wear them all day and do a lot of normal activities, like talk on their phone, potentially eat, potentially handle food that they’re going to eat later with those gloves on,” she says. “And that’s not great practice.”

She leaves the gloves at home and sanitizes or washes her hands instead — before entering the store, after leaving and again once she gets home.

Rachel Graham, a virologist who studies coronaviruses at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, also skips the gloves. But if you do choose to wear them, she says be sure to remove them properly: “The best way to remove gloves that might be contaminated is to basically grab them from the inside on your palm side and pull them out like you’re pulling off a sock, so you end up turning them inside out.”

Give the cashier some space

While grocery shopping may stress you out, it’s the workers at the grocery store who are more at risk, because they interact with many customers daily. Protect them by making sure you stand 6 feet away, or as far as you can, while checking out.

As for whether to use self-checkout or a cashier, look for the option that allows you the most room to maintain social distance. It all depends on how the store is set up. Some checkout counters now have plexiglass between the cashier and the paying customer. In that situation, says Aronoff, going to a cashier is fine, especially if one or both of you is wearing a mask or face covering.

Choose no-touch payment when you can

If you’ve got a no-touch option like Apple Pay or Google Pay, use it. If that’s not an option, a credit card machine with a chip reader can be no-touch, notes Graham. She’s personally avoiding cash at the moment, because earlier research has found that cash currency can harbor lots of microorganisms.

However, Rasmussen notes that we don’t know how long this coronavirus survives on cash. And she says that if your credit card transaction requires you to touch a keypad, that’s a “high-touch surface” that could potentially harbor other pathogens, if not the coronavirus. That said, “I don’t want to encourage people to be extreme germophobes,” Rasmussen says.

Cash or credit, she says, just make sure to sanitize your hands (and your credit card) after the transaction.

Don’t drive yourself crazy disinfecting your groceries

Many shoppers are now following elaborate routines to disinfect their groceries, thanks to a viral video put out by a Michigan family doctor. But all of the experts we spoke with say that disinfecting and hand-washing every last item in your grocery haul is really not necessary. You might find it comforting to know that none of these experts are doing this themselves.

Rasmussen explains that the probability of getting infected from a contaminated surface is not zero, but it is fairly low. That’s because respiratory droplets would have to have landed on the exact spot on, say, a box of cereal that you are touching. And even then, you’d have to get enough residual virus on your hand to start an infection — and you’d have to transfer that virus to your face. Bottom line: If you follow good hand-hygiene practices — washing your hands after unpacking your groceries, before cooking and before eating — then, she says, your risk is probably “very, very low.”

As Aronoff notes, “Time is really on your side here.” That’s because as soon as the virus lands on a surface, it starts to lose infectiousness. “After 24 hours, the vast majority of virus is no longer infectious,” he says. And after 72 hours, it’s undetectable, research has found. So if you know that you’re not going to use a can of soup for two or three days, he says, just put it away, wash your hands and go about your day. And one more thing: Make sure to wipe down your countertops after you unpack.

If you’re still worried and it’s a food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, Graham says just leave it out for 24 hours.

If you really want to wash your groceries, don’t use disinfecting spray or wipes

If it somehow lessens your anxiety to wipe down every last jar of jelly, there’s no harm in that, experts agree. But Graham warns that if you feel compelled to wipe, it might be wise to stick to soap and water. “A lot of the packaging that groceries come in is really not meant to be sprayed with disinfectant, and you [could] actually end up contaminating your food,” she says.

Schaffner adds that disinfecting sprays and wipes are meant to be used on hard surfaces, which would not include many of the kinds of plastics or cardboard used for food packaging.

Rinse fresh produce in plain water — and eat your veggies!

Some people are advocating washing produce in soap and water. But Schaffner says that’s a bad idea because it’s possible that if you ingest soap residue, it could lead to diarrhea or vomiting. He says the best thing is just to rinse your produce in cold water. If it’s an item with a tough skin, you can use a vegetable brush.

And Schaffner says, please don’t reduce your consumption of fresh fruit or vegetables. “There’s just no evidence that these foods can transmit the virus or can cause COVID-19,” he says. Plus, he says, produce offers valuable nutrients that are especially important in these stressful times.

Should you shower or change clothes after shopping? It depends

“I personally don’t like to do a full de-con [de-contamination] when I get home from the store,” Rasmussen says. “I wash my hands. I’m not routinely putting my face and mouth all over my clothing.”

But, she adds, “people with small children might consider otherwise, since kids — especially little kids — are maybe not so concerned about where they put their mouths or their hands.” She says it comes back to personal comfort. “If you feel more comfortable changing clothes and taking a shower after you come back from an essential errand, then by all means do so,” she says.

Graham adds that if you live with someone who is at high risk for severe disease with COVID-19, showering and changing might be a reasonable precaution to take.

Still anxious? Order online

One simple way to stop worrying about grocery shopping and to practice social distancing is online delivery. You can pay ahead of time online and have the groceries delivered outside your door with no face-to-face contact. Just remember, while you’re staying home safe, workers are putting themselves at risk to collect and deliver your food. So be sure to tip generously. As for what to do with unpacking those groceries, experts say the advice is the same as if you’d gone to the store yourself.

A word about frozen food

Some of you have asked if freezing food kills the virus. The answer is no. Refrigerating or freezing would actually help the virus survive longer — that’s why research labs freeze virus samples to preserve them, as Graham notes. But if you’re worried about handling a frozen dinner, just remember to wash your hands and throw away the packaging after you’ve removed the food, Rasmussen says.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were financially-smart kids. The secret to setting your kids up for a solid financial future is to start with the basics. Deeper than the value of a dollar, budgets and why it’s so important to save lies the very basic lesson of: wants and needs are not the same thing.

While the difference between wants and needs may feel straight forward to grownups, the concept can be complex to kids. Breaking down needs, wants, the fine line between the two and how to make trade-off decisions is critical for instilling money management and financial planning skills.

KNOW YOUR NEEDS

Needs are essentials. When teaching your kids how to determine what a need is, it’s important to highlight what is a true necessity and what is a needy request —it’s all about perspective. Here are the categories we consider bare necessities:

• Shelter
• Clothing
• Food
• Water

We find that getting as specific as possible when explaining necessities helps kids master the concept and begin to apply it in real-life trade-off decisions.

TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT

If you’re a parent, you’re probably used to hearing the rally cry “I want _____” from your kids. Wants can be described as the things your kids may circle in a magazine or put on an Amazon wish list for the holiday season.

Wants are often inspired by peers, pop culture and hobbies. Here are some hopeful requests made by Greenlight kids. We’ll wait while you have a giggle or two.

When raising financially-smart kids, it’s important for parents to let their kids know that wants are a part of life but making smart choices around those wants will set them up for success.

THE GRAY AREA 

No lesson in needs and wants with a child is going to be easy peasy lemon squeezy, so it’s important to get specific for clarity’s sake when dealing with such an abstract conversation.

Is ice cream a food? Yes, but ice cream is certainly not a necessity. Are Yeezy’s shoes? Yes, but $300 for a pair of shoes is not necessary or a requirement.

It’s important for parents to let their kids know that it’s okay to want certain things. But making smart choices around those wants will set them up for success. In general, having a discussion around “wanting” things in life can be a powerful and inspirational discussion. You can want to make the soccer team. Want to be president. Want to have a family when you grow up. It is wants and dreams that put humans on the moon and brought us Beyonce. But when it comes to finances – you can’t always get what you want.

Being able to tackle these types of questions head-first will help kids understand the true meaning of a necessity instead of something they very much want, crave or think they need to meet the status quo.

One way to help kids fully understands wants and needs would be to have them write a list of what they think are needs and what they think are wants. From there, break down needs — if they are a true necessity or not — and tackle what goes into getting a want (such as saving for that pair of Yeezy’s or picking up extra babysitting opportunities to help pay for the spring break trip to New York City). To take it a step further, discuss a budget of $1,000 with your child and include a mix of needs (rent/groceries/phone or car payment) and wants (a new iPhone/concert tickets/new shoes) to showcase that all needs must be met before money goes to wants.

WANT IT? SAVE FOR IT 

Wants and needs make a perfect opportunity to teach the importance of saving money to reach a goal. Want a new pair of jeans? Save for it. Have $100 extra each month after covering necessities? Add extra money to your savings goal to buy a new MacBook. These wants can act as perfect motivators to increase saving.

Setting up clear savings goals with Greenlight will not only teach kids how to set a savings goal and budget to meet their desired goal, but it will motivate them to save more in the long run. We’ll be talking more about saving in November, so stay tuned for tips from Greenlight families on how to have the right money talks.

SAVE WITH GREENLIGHT 

Set up a Greenlight savings goal today!

This evening, I watched as my daughters made there first debit card purchase! With Greenlight I’m teaching my girls to learn how to manage money and form strong healthy habits that will serve them as adults. Greenlight is a debit card that helps kids learn to effectively manage the money they’ve earned, as opposed to spending money they may not have.

I’ll also tell you what not to do when cleaning your iPhone or Android screen to avoid damaging it.

Make sure you’re cleaning your phone the right way.

Your hands touch everything, from shopping carts to public door handles — which could be harboring viruses and bacteria. And without thinking, you touch your phone’s screen right after. Not to mention, your fingers leave an oily residue on your phone, causing the screen to get smudgy. Fortunately, there are several techniques to get your phone’s screen clean again — and the best approach will only cost you a few bucks.

On the flip side, there are the cleaning agents and techniques that you never want to use, because — although you might initially see good results — they can be too harsh and damage the screen you’re working so hard to protect.

I’m going to tell you which products to avoid, and the best ways to clean off fingerprint smudges, sand and lint from the ports, tenacious makeup off the screen (hint: never with makeup remover) and even how to disinfect your phone. I’ll also tell you how to care for phones rated for water-resistance.

Note that while keeping your phone screen clean goes a long way, remembering to wash your hands is also an important step to keeping your phone clean.

9 things you should never use to clean your phone

I’m not here to shame you, but drop that bottle of Windex, stat. This is how not to clean your screen.

Window cleaner

You clean your mirrors and windows with window cleaner, and they’re squeaky clean, so it must be OK to use on your phone? Wrong! Some newer phones, such as the iPhone XR ($749 at Amazon), have a protective coating that resists water and oil, which can wear out over time. Using harsh cleaners can strip the coating and could leave your phone more vulnerable to scratches.

Kitchen cleaners

A screen’s scratch-resistant properties won’t get ground down by cleaning agents, but stripping that protective coating is still a problem. That’s why Apple also suggests not using household cleaning products to clean your iPhone. Bar Keepers Friend, for example, states that its abrasive formula may harm the protective layer. Bon Ami states not to use on glass with coatings.

Drop the window cleaner and counter spray, now.

Paper towels

They may be the go-to for cleaning your desk, but keep them away from your phone. The paper can shred, making the debris on your phone much worse. Paper towels can even end up leaving scratches on your screen.

Rubbing alcohol

Since many newer phones have a protective coating, rubbing alcohol can wear it away quicker over time, causing your phone to be more prone to scratches. Make sure to check for alcohol in product ingredients on any “safe to use” phone screen cleaners. Apple says to avoid alcohol when cleaning its devices.

Makeup remover

Some makeup removers may have chemicals that can be harsh to an electronic screen. LeBeau suggests avoiding makeup remover and instead use a soft cloth with a little bit of water.

Compressed air

Your phone is delicate, so blowing an intense amount of air into its portals can cause some damage, specifically to your mic. Tech companies, like Apple, specifically warn not to use compressed air.

Dish soap and hand soap

While your dish and hand soaps may be gentle, the only way to use them is to combine them with water. Most phone companies suggest to keep water away from your phone, so again, stick to a damp cloth.

Vinegar

This is a no-no. Vinegar will strip the screen’s coating. You could, as Lifehacker suggests, use very diluted vinegar to cleanse other parts of your phone. Android Central suggests a 50/50 mix with distilled water for cleaning the sides and back.

Disinfectant wipes

The warning label on these reminds you to wash your hands after each use, so using them to clean something that touches your face often isn’t a great idea. According to MIT’s LeBeau, these wipes typically contain alcohol that will strip off the oleophobic (oil-repellant) and hydrophobic (water-repellent) coatings.

How to clean fingerprint smudges from your screen

Fingerprint smudges are hard to prevent because your skin constantly produces oils. That means that every time you pick up your phone, it’s bound to get fingerprints all over it.

Remove your fingerprint smudges and other muck with these cleaning tips.

The safest and most effective way to clean your screen is with a microfiber cloth. If the screen is in desperate need of cleaning, use distilled water to dampen the microfiber cloth and then wipe down your screen — avoid squirting the water directly on the screen. This method can be used on the back and sides of your phone, too.

You can also try a microfiber screen cleaner sticker, which you stick to the back of your phone and can pop off when you need to give it a wipe-down.

Check out Samsung’s tips on cleaning your phone, too.

Remove sand and lint with this trick

Lint and sand can get stuck in the small ports of your phone and in the crevices where the screen meets the body.

The best solution for removing sand and lint is Scotch tape. You can lay it along the creases and speaker, and roll it up and gently place it in the ports. The tape’s stickiness will pull out any lint or sand that may be stuck in your phone.

For the smaller speaker holes that tape can’t reach, use a toothpick or try to vacuum the debris out with a small crevice tool. These tools can also be used for other small appliances or hard-to-reach areas in your car.

Disinfect your phone

If you touch your phone after handling raw meat or a public door handle, you may immediately think to clean it with alcohol, but as mentioned above, don’t. It can strip the oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings. Other sites suggest using a mix of alcohol and water, but they have warning notes, so we suggest staying away from that to be on the safe side.

Alcohol and detergent can damage your screen because they’re so caustic. Instead, use the (say it with me now) damp microfiber cloth, or invest in a UV light, like PhoneSoap. This UV light company claims to kill 99.99% of germs and banishes bacteria.

Remove makeup safely

When you have a full face of makeup and need to make a call, guess what that foundation is about to stick to? That’s right, your phone screen. And while you may use makeup remover to take off your makeup every night, you shouldn’t use it as a screen cleaner due to some chemicals that could be lurking in the ingredients. Organics.org explains the chemicals that could be in your makeup remover.

Instead, you could get your phone its own makeup remover, like Whoosh. The company claims it’s safe for all screens and contains no alcohol, chlorine, ammonia or phosphates that could damage the various screen coatings.

You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean it — and then throw that cloth in the wash. Make sure you use a spray bottle to spritz the cloth, rather than running it under water. The less water, the better.

Can you wash waterproof phones?

If you have a water-resistant phone, rated for IP67 and above, you can rinse it with water. Although these phones, like the iPhone 7 ($550 at Boost Mobile) and newer and the Galaxy S phones, can withstand submersion for up to 30 minutes in up to 3 feet of water, it’s a much better idea to use a damp or wet cloth to clean your phone. Then dry your phone with a dry, soft cloth to remove the water. Make sure to pat dry all speakers and ports.

Dunking the phone in water or running it under a faucet will get water into the ports, which means you won’t be able to charge it until they’re dry, and that can take time. Remember that having a water-resistant phone is more about peace of mind than it is about purposely taking your phone for a swim.

Now that your phone is clean, you’ll want to move on to other things that you own. Here’s how to prevent mold from growing in your washer and how to kill it if you have it. Also, you’ll want to check out this science hack for degunking your shower head in one hour.

Greenlight is all about helping parents raise financially-smart kids, which starts with providing children with opportunities to make smart decisions about their money. The child version of the Greenlight app helps introduce those opportunities and sparks natural conversations between parents and kids.

KIDS CAN MONITOR THEIR OWN BALANCES

With the trend toward more digital purchases, kids no longer see their wallet getting smaller as they spend cash. Greenlight gives your kids the ability to check and manage their balances to make sure they’re within budget.

REQUEST GREENLIGHTS

Kids can send requests, also known as Greenlights, when they want to make purchases outside of their Spend Anywhere account or any of the Greenlights you currently have set up.

For kids, this gives them a path to request money if they’re in a pickle. And for parents, this gives you the ability to safely distribute funds for purchases you’re comfortable with.

SHOWCASE THE POWER OF SAVING

Saving for short and long-term goals can be challenging, especially when the satisfaction of taking a full piggy bank to the local teller is a figment of banking past.

With the Greenlight app, kids can see how they’re progressing toward saving goals line-by-line. They can watch that money grow as you add Parent-Paid Interest and see balances update in near real-time. Bet your old piggy bank couldn’t do that. 🐷

Greenlight kids save 3x more than the national average. It’s never too late to kick off conversations, and present kids with real world scenarios to encourage saving.

HOW TO SET YOUR KIDS UP

Want faster internet on the go? These companies will soon have 5G-ready phones

Who doesn’t want faster access to the internet when out and about? The next generation of mobile internet, 5G — short for “fifth generation” — is on the way, and it’s bringing exceptional data download and upload speeds with it.

But there’s still a way to go until 5G is as ubiquitous as the widely available 4G, and I’m still taking our first baby steps into a faster future. Whether you think we need 5G or not, we’re going to see more and more manufacturers start picking up the new standard — and I expect to see the first commercially available 5G phones in 2019. Here is every phone that supports 5G, and a whole bunch of rumors about some that might.

APPLE

There is absolutely no doubt Apple will pick up 5G eventually, the only question is “when?” At the moment, the whispers indicate that the iPhone giant won’t be looking to release a 5G iPhone until 2020 — so expect 5G capabilities on the iPhone XIS, or whatever numerically nightmarish name Apple adopts.

This is no surprise, really. Apple can be slow to adopt new technology, just look at how long it took for it to adopt wireless charging and water-resistance. That’s not because Apple is lazy — far from it. Instead, Apple will likely only include the standard once it’s sure it works well and is not a waste of time. Being in a dominant market position, Apple can afford to wait.

Apple phones rumored to support 5G

• iPhone 2020

GOOGLE

There haven’t been any rumors from Google about a 5G update for the Pixel range but it’s early days yet. The Pixel 3 has only just come out and if Google sticks to its usual schedule, we won’t be seeing the Pixel 4 until October 2019.

However, that Pixel 4 range would likely include the upcoming Snapdragon 855, a chip widely suspected to support 5G connections. If that’s true, it’s highly probable that 2019’s Pixel 4 range will support 5G. We’ll keep this updated as more details emerge.

HMD GLOBAL (NOKIA)

Like a few other manufacturers, there has been no word on when Nokia handsets will support 5G. However, Nokia has been very active in helping to build up 5G infrastructure and is involved with the city of Tokyo to provide 5G networks in time for the 2020 Olympics. In July 2018, T-Mobile also announced it was working with Nokia to help build a U.S. 5G network. It could also make $3.50 for every single 5G phone released, thanks to its work on the standard.

While HMD Global, the manufacturer of Nokia branded phones, hasn’t yet let rumors slip that it’s working on a 5G phone, we can’t imagine it will be too long before we hear about one.

HONOR

While Honor will likely be working closely with sister company Huawei, that hasn’t halted its ambition to beat its bigger sibling to the finish line in launching a phone with 5G support. While Honor was originally intending to be the first phone company to release a full 5G phone, its pushed its schedule back to the second half of 2019.

At the moment, it’s likely any 5G phone will be a flagship-level device. We’ll keep you updated as news rolls in.

Honor phones rumored to support 5G

• Unnamed Honor phone

HTC

There’s been little on HTC’s 5G plans, but the latest rumors say we’ll be seeing a 5G HTC smartphone in the second half of 2019 at the earliest. We’ve no idea which phone this would be, though the HTC U13 would be the obvious pick.

But it’ll likely work well, despite being one of the later phones to market. HTC was confirmed to be one of the companies working with Qualcomm to bring 5G support to 2019 handsets, and you can expect HTC to implement the tech well.

HUAWEI

Huawei has made no bones about its ambitions for 5G, and first spoke about a handset with 5G support in February 2018. Back then, 2019 was the target date for release, and it seems Huawei is still pushing that deadline.

Many early rumors pointed to Huawei’s folding smartphone as being the first hotbed for Huawei’s 5G ambitions, and Huawei has stoked those fires further. If it turns out to be true, a foldable 5G phone would be a double-whammy of technological goodness indeed. Otherwise, the Huawei P30 Pro would be another obvious choice for the tech, but that is just speculation at this stage.

Huawei phones rumored to support 5G

• Huawei folding smartphone

LG

LG is another of Qualcomm’s confirmed 5G partners but the South Korean veteran has been busy outside of that partnership. LG is also shooting for the goal of getting the first 5G phone on the market and teamed up with Sprint to deliver a 5G device for release in early 2019. This phone is separate to the LG G8 ThinQ, and seems to be the rumored LG V50 ThinQ 5G.

LG phones rumored to support 5G

• LG V50 ThinQ 5G

MOTOROLA/LENOVO

Motorola is in something of a unique position on this list because it has technically already released a phone with 5G capabilities. The Moto Z3 uses Motorola’s Moto Mod attachment to add a 5G power pack accessory onto the back of the phone, making it possible to access 5G networks. At least, it will when the accessory becomes available in early 2019 and even then, it’ll only be available to Verizon customers. So while Motorola technically has a 5G phone already, most people aren’t really counting it as the first 5G phone released. That accolade is being saved for the company that releases a phone with built-in 5G support.

But it does mean Motorola has shown its hand in terms of 5G, and we can definitely expect to see even more 5G connectivity hitting Motorola phones in 2019. We will update you when we have a better idea which phones will contain it.

Motorola phones that support 5G

• Moto Z3 (with Moto Mod)

ONEPLUS

OnePlus is another manufacturer that has committed to a 5G-capable smartphone in 2019 but that statement may not be all it seems, according to some rumors.

At the Shanghai Mobile World Congress in June 2018, OnePlus CEO and founder Pete Lau confirmed OnePlus plans to release a 5G-ready smartphone in early 2019. However, a new report alleges OnePlus will be seeking to introduce a new range for 5G support, essentially meaning the OnePlus 7 or 7T would be unlikely to have 5G capabilities.

The logic is clear: 5G tech is likely to be expensive and may push the OnePlus 7 out of OnePlus’s usual midrange pricing, making it a huge departure for the company. Therefore, a new model might be introduced to sidestep this issue. However, OnePlus hasn’t shied away from introducing cool new tech in its flagship line so far — the OnePlus 6T debuted an in-display fingerprint scanner, so it wouldn’t be a total shock for OnePlus to slip 5G connectivity into the OnePlus 7. We’ll be keeping an eye on this for sure.

OnePlus phones rumored to support 5G

• Unnamed 2019 OnePlus phone

OPPO

Oppo recently made waves by claiming an Oppo phone was the first to access a 5G network. According to a claim made by Oppo Global Vice President Brian Shen, the connection was made on a pre-commercially available Oppo R15. Even more recently, Oppo claims to have held a WeChat video call using 5G.

If these claims are true, then it seems Oppo could end up climbing the winner’s pedestal for the first real 5G-enabled phone. But the proof will be in the pudding on release.

Oppo phones rumored to support 5G

• Oppo R15

SAMSUNG

Samsung is the largest mobile manufacturer in the world, and it would be silly to expect it to sit back and ignore the 5G bandwagon. Samsung already announced it would create a 5G handset for Verizon, and one for AT&T. These will likely be the same 5G model of the Samsung Galaxy S10 — rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy S10 X — that’s widely expected to support 5G. Interestingly, Samsung may launch a second 5G phone with AT&T later in 2019 too, and this phone will supposedly support the sub-6-GHz spectrum which will lead to broader 5G coverage.

Earlier this year, Samsung’s CEO Dong-Jin Koh confirmed in a press event in South Korea that the S10 won’t be Samsung’s first 5G device. That may mean carrier-branded handsets may come first, or it may be planning to wow us with a completely different smartphone. With Samsung’s new focus on its midrange phones, could one of them be thrust into the spotlight? Or perhaps it will be Samsung’s folding phone? We’ll have to wait and see.

Samsung phones rumored to support 5G

• Samsung Galaxy S10 X
• Later 2019 Samsung 5G smartphone for AT&T
• Potential non-S10 5G phone

SONY

There has been next to nothing on the 5G front from Sony, so we have no idea when a 5G Xperia smartphone might be released. However, Sony is on Qualcomm’s list of 5G partners, so you might see one in 2019.

XIAOMI

Chinese juggernaut Xiaomi has laid its cards on the table, announcing a 5G-capable model of its Mi Mix 3 will be available. However, despite trumpeting it on Twitter, this model will not be available until later in 2019. Will it be out early enough to be the first? There has been no indication it will be — but at least we know exactly what Xiaomi is offering.

Xiaomi phones that support 5G

• Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 (5G model)

ZTE

ZTE is named as another of Qualcomm’s 5G partners and originally planned to release a 5G smartphone in early 2019. Unfortunately, ZTE has had to delay its first 5G phoneuntil later this year for an unknown reason. So while ZTE is still on the 5G wagon, don’t expect it to be the first to market.

Although Windows updates are notorious for forcing a reboot when you need your computer most, the latest upgrade was set to bring a host of new features that promise to be useful.

But once files started disappearing on various users after the October update, Microsoft promptly cancelled the rollout.

Your computer may have already downloaded the update, however. If so, you’re advised to wait before allowing the installation. If you are among the unlucky users to have lost files, the company says you should get in touch through Microsoft Support.

Once Microsoft has dealt with the problem, users can look forward to a range of new functions, including smartphone and to-do app integration. Here are four of the biggest changes.

Smartphone connection: After installing the new app “Your Smartphone”, users can access a connected Android smartphone directly from a PC. This means you can, for example, drag and drop photos from the phone into an Office document or read SMS messages on the PC. The app requires Android 7.0 or higher.

Smartphone timeline: This feature allows users to see what files and programs they have accessed in the past seven days. Users can also see this information on their iPhone or Android smartphone, provided they are logged in with their Microsoft account.

To-do integration: The To Do app for task reminders now integrates better with Outlook and Skype. For example, users can drag a task from To Do into the Outlook calendar or drag emails from Outlook into To Do. Users can also edit tasks directly in Skype.

Improved pen input: There are several Windows 10 devices that can be used with a pen. Microsoft has now improved pen input by using AI to automatically transform sketches into slides, flow charts or diagrams. New pen gestures have also been added.

Even after this problem is solved, however, you’re best advised to back up any data before letting Microsoft make changes to the system.

It’s nearly four years to the day since Marvel announced Captain Marvel was going to be part of its Cinematic Universe. Since we’ve waited, civil wars have been fought, Thanos has come and culled half of existence, and little by little we’ve had teases of her arrival. And now we finally have our first look at her in action.

As unveiled by Carol Danvers herself, Brie Larson, on Good Morning America today, Marvel has released the very first footage from Captain Marvel, marking the first Marvel Studios film with a female lead since the company’s cinematic initiative began with Iron Man over 10 years ago. Set primarily in the ‘90s, Captain Marvel sees Carol Danvers catapulted to the stars as she wrestles sharing a heritage between humanity and the alien race known as the Kree, granting her unthinkable power.

The trailer gives us great looks at not just Carol—in both the Kree-themed variation on her superhero suit and the more familiar red and blue get up she wears in the comics—but Hala, the homeworld of the Kree Empire (and Carol’s allies, the Starforce), and the threat she’ll be facing: The Skrulls, the shapeshifting race of Marvel aliens that have had a long and infamous history with the Kree in the comics. Here’s a new poster as well, featuring Carol in her red and blue suit:

Higher. Further. Faster.     Photo: Marvel Studios

Captain Marvel, which also stars Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, Gemma Chan, Lashana Lynch, Lee Pace, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou, Ben Mendelsohn, and Annette Bening, soars into theaters March 8, 2019.