So far the focus in the new wave of headset-based virtual reality content seems to be video games, simulations, 360-degree videos and the like, but as it turns out, conventional 2D video content is easy to adapt into an immersive (if not groundbreaking) experience. Google itself offers all the content...
Netflix adds offline playback for TV shows and movies
Netflix has been rumored to be launching offline playback for quite awhile now, and today the company finally made it a reality.
Netflix has announced that offline playback is available for its customers for Android and iOS on any streaming plan. There is a brand new download button that...
Hangouts v15 adds GIF keyboard support on Android 7.1 [APK Download]
Has your meme game been suffering while you wait for Hangouts to add GIF keyboard support? Wait no longer, version 15 enables support for this quirky feature. No longer will you be stuck searching out images on the web and using archaic methods like sharing to get them into Hangouts – unless you're...
Learn tips from Memrise to increase in-app conversions with pricing experiments
Posted by Tamzin Taylor, Partner Development Manager at Google Play, & Kristina Narusk, Head of Production at Memrise
Getting people to install your app is one thing, getting them to sign up to your paid offering is quite another. It's important to understand the complete journey your users take...
Fresh Meat: 10 new Android apps worth checking out
New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. We’ve shown in the past that this community can discover great apps and propel them to new heights. Our weekly Fresh Meat column...
Netflix is finally allowing users to download movies and TV shows for offline viewing
If there's one feature that people have been clamoring for Netflix to add more than any other, it's offline viewing. It seems like the lords of Netflix have finally heard our prayers, as Netflix has just added the option to download and watch content without an Internet connection.
This...
Google Docs update adds GIF insertion to documents, not yet live on the Play Store
While not as fully featured as Microsoft Word, the Google Docs Android app is good for quick and easy document editing, if you use the Docs cloud storage. Google's adding one feature in the version 1.6.442.22: GIF insertion into documents.
Sadly, this doesn't seem to be live in the Docs update that...
Sony releases PlayStation Communities, an easier way to find friends to game with
The PlayStation Network is generally pretty good, but nothing's perfect, so today Sony is releasing a brand new app that takes the Communities feature of PSN and puts it in an app for Android (and iOS). This makes it a bit easier to find friends and people who have similar interests, which I've found...
Canary home security app adds Android Wear and tablet support
I recently reviewed Canary's home security and connected camera system and was pleasantly impressed by most of its features, especially the auto-arm/disarm based on geofence. Now the Canary app is receiving an update to add a couple of interesting features for Android users.
First up is a new Android...
[Bonus Round] Battleship Lonewolf, Ecotone Pocket, Eisenhorn: XENOS, Circularity, and Where Shadows Slumber Demo
Welcome to the latest entry in our Bonus Round series, wherein we tell you all about the new Android games of the day that we couldn't get to during our regular news rounds. Consider this a quick update for the dedicated gamers who can't wait for our bi-weekly roundups, and don't want to wade through...
MLB.com makes an extremely disorienting Daydream VR version of Home Run Derby
For the uninitiated, the Home Run Derby is an annual competition for Major League Baseball players celebrating the sport's most explosive play. The MLB already publishes an official game based on the yearly contest, a full 3D affair with licensed player likenesses and $100 in-app purchases, for Android...
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May launch new DriveTribe social network, Android app now on Google Play
If you're a car person, like me, you'll have been an avid fan of Top Gear - until the classic line up of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May departed for the big-budget 'The Grand Tour' on Amazon. The first episode aired almost three weeks ago now, but the three have something else in...
OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T both updated with new features and fixes
OnePlus is updating both the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T with new versions of OxygenOS (3.2.8 and 3.5.3 respectively). The updates are packed with fixes and a few new features. Here’s the full changelog:
OnePlus 3T OxygenOS 3.5.3 OTA:
Added emergency calling for India (triple press the power button...
Google improving fake review detection on Play Store
The Google Play Store is pretty secure, but fake reviews are still a problem (like they are across many services). Google is working hard to improve the review process and has announced that it has improved fake review detection.
Google says that if developers are using an agency to promote their...
Facebook adds games to Messenger
Facebook Messenger is getting better and better with every major update. Though some dismiss it as another part of Facebook, it has become a very competent and fully-featured messaging app.
The latest update adds an unexpected feature: video games. The chat service is adding games that people...
Vodafone announces Android 7.1.1 update for Nexus 6P
Vodafone has put up a page for the next major software update for the Nexus 6P, and it’s claiming that the update will be Android 7.1.1. The device currently has a developer preview for Android 7.1.1, but this should be the official update.
The update is scheduled to launch on December 6 at 5:00 PM...
Google Allo hit 5 million downloads in 5 days - two months later, its momentum seems utterly stalled
On September 28th, almost two months ago to the day, Allo co-lead Justin Uberti announced the app had achieved a staggering five-million downloads in just five days since its launch. It was impressive momentum, though not unexpected for a major Google app debut. Now, once at the top of the Play Store's...
The Starz streaming video app now integrates with Spotify, for some reason
Starz, the premium cable channel that offers movies and original series, now works with Spotify, the premium streaming music service. Which is... odd. An updated version of the Starz Android app now includes integrated streaming tracks from Spotify, all of which are either original music or soundtrack...
Save up to 42% on the TP-Link and Asus OnHub smart routers
Quite a few people are waiting for the launch of Google WiFi, but if you live in a small house of apartment, it may be the perfect time to pick up one of the OnHub smart routers.
With pre-orders of Google WiFi set to start shipping in early December, retailers have slashed the prices of the OnHub routers...
Microsoft's Clip Layer app lets you copy text from any screen by long-pressing the home button
Remember back in the early days of Android when it had copy and paste, and the iPhone didn't? Those were strange times. Copy and paste is just something you expect to be able to do now, but there are plenty of places in Android where the text isn't accessible. Microsoft's Clip Layer app aims to change...
Now you can play games in your conversation threads within Facebook Messenger
Anyone remember the days of playing those silly Facebook games? Since the world has changed quite radically since the heyday of Zynga, it feels like that era was so long ago. Perhaps in a bit of nostalgia or an urge to incite over-competitiveness among friends, Facebook has rolled out games within...
