If you’re in the market for a deal on a new Android smartphone, BLU’s got just that for you.
BLU today introduced the Vivo 8, and the new handset is now available on Amazon. Normally it’s priced at $299.99, but between August 31st and September 1st at 11:59 pm ET, it’ll be $100 off. That’ll leave the...
Google Photos v3.4 prepares to add favoriting and offer one-time permission to do backups over cellular [APK Teardown]
Version 3.4 of Google Photos started rolling out earlier today, and like so many other recent app updates, you're probably not going to see much in the way of changes. This is a pretty common theme around this time of year as Google prepares to launch new hardware and services. But investigating the...
Google Camera HDR+ port updated with bug fixes and zero shutter lag
The Google Camera app with HDR+ from the Google Pixel was recently ported to other Snapdragon-powered devices, but it had a lot of bugs keeping it from being a main camera app. 60 FPS video was broken, the front camera wouldn’t work on some devices, and there were a multitude of crashes.
The latest...
SoundHound updates its music ID and discovery app with a fresh new look
Sometimes there's nothing nicer than seeing an app you like get a new coat of paint. Today the popular app SoundHound was updated to v.8.0.2, bringing with it a brand-new look that makes it even easier to navigate and help you find the songs you love. Or, at least, the songs on the tip of your tongue...
Google Assistant is coming to more devices, including speakers and appliances
Much like Amazon has done, Google is opening up Google Assistant to third parties. Though the companies virtual assistant has so far resided on smartphones and watches (and of course the Google Home), you’ll soon start to see it in products like speakers and appliances.
Google mentions that...
T-Mobile likely launching Samsung Galaxy Note 8 BOGO deal soon
New leaked documents show that T-Mobile is already planning a Buy One, Get One deal for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8. If you have a T-Mobile One or Simple Choice Unlimited plan, you’ll be able to buy a Note 8 on EIP and open a second line to get a second Note 8 free.
This is nothing...
Here are 36 temporarily free and 41 on-sale apps, plus the Game of the Week
It's already the middle of the week and the last app sales post for August. Today's list is more substantial than most that we see on Wednesdays, so prepare yourselves. And the first of the ten-cent apps has appeared, and it's a good 'un. Just remember that we in the U.S. are more often than not excluded...
9 new and notable Android Wear apps and watch faces from the last month (7/20/17 - 8/30/17)
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android Wear apps and faces that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous month or so.
Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the widgets, which include ratings and pricing info. Looking for the previous roundup...
Hardening the Kernel in Android Oreo
Posted by Sami Tolvanen, Senior Software Engineer, Android Security
The hardening of Android's userspace has increasingly made the underlying Linux kernel a more attractive target to attackers. As a result, more than a third of Android security bugs were found in the kernel last year. In Android 8.0...
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...
New BlackBerry Phone with IP67 certification and Big Battery Coming Soon
The BlackBerry KEYone has reportedly seen great success, so naturally TCL – the company which now manufacturers BlackBerry handsets – is eager to launch more great products.
According to one of the company’s officials who spoke to Engadget, we can expect a new BlackBerry smartphone to make a debut...
Amazon and Microsoft partner up to make Alexa and Cortana play together
If you don’t like using only one digital personal assistant, Microsoft and Amazon want to help you.
Both companies announced today that they are partnering so that Amazon’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana can interact with one another. That means you’ll be able to ask Alexa to book a meeting through...
Samsung officially unveils Gear Sport smartwatch, Gear Fit2 Pro, and Gear IconX 2018 earbuds
In June of last year, Samsung debuted the Gear IconX wireless earbuds as well as the Gear Fit2 fitness wearable. Now the successors to each of those devices, as well as an all-new smartwatch, have been unveiled.
Today Samsung officially announced three new devices: the Gear Sport smartwatch,...
The Walking Dead: Our World AR Game Coming to Android and iOS Soon
Love AMC’s The Walking Dead? Soon you’ll be able to join in on the action. AMC has partnered up with Next Games to bring Android and iOS fans a new mobile game in AR called The Walking Dead: Our World.
The developers are harnessing the power of Apple’s ARKit technology to infuse the game with augmented...
Armor Games has remade their popular turn-based RPG 'Sonny,' and it is out on the Play Store
Armor Games has remade their popular flash-based strategy RPG Sonny and have released it on the Play Store. It contains all of the content found in the Steam release and is available for free with intermittent advertisements after every other battle. There are no extra purchases, no wait...
Essential Phone buyers being targeted by phishing scam
Essential, which recently started shipping its Essential Phone, is in the midst of an apparent phishing scam.
Several people have taken to social media to voice their concern that they’ve been targeted by a phishing scam via email. The first post on Reddit was published by user “Cygnosity,” and...
[Update: Live] Alexa is finally rolling out to Amazon's Android app, starting this week
Update 1: 2017/08/30 4:47am PDT
The Amazon Shopping app was just updated with a new changelog stating that Alexa is now integrated. Give it a try and let us know if it works for you. WHAT'S
Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant is best known for being on its Echo line of speakers, but it's available...
[Who Needs Humans?] Alexa and Cortana will start talking to each other later this year
Some companies see competition in the same field as an adversary that needs to be eliminated in the most cutthroat way, and others see it as a potential for synergistic growth. That latter approach seems to be the philosophy Microsoft and Amazon are taking when it comes to voice assistants. The two...
Verizon begins pushing Android 8.0 Oreo update to its Pixel and Pixel XL
Verizon Pixel and Pixel XL owners, it sounds like you’ve got an Oreo treat coming your way.
Verizon says that it’s starting to push Android 8.0 Oreo to its Pixel and Pixel XL today, August 29th. The update is version OPR6.170623.012 and includes features that you’d expect from an Oreo update. That...
Instagram adds format choice when sharing multiple photos
Standing strong as the image-centric social network, Instagram continues to add new features in its quest to remain relevant. It wasn’t long ago that the company introduced the ability to share multiple photos in a single post. The feature had been heavily requested by users and its introduction served...
31 new and notable Android games from the last week (8/23/17 - 8/29/17)
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android games that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous week or so.
Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the widgets, which include ratings and pricing info.
Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them...
Instagram now allows multiple photos/videos posts to be in aspect ratios other than 1:1, adds minor design tweaks
Back in February, Instagram began allowing up to 10 photos/videos in one post. However, they were restricted to a 1:1 (in layman's terms, a square) aspect ratio. With the latest version 12 update for Instagram on both the Play Store and Apple's App Store, those multiple photos/videos can now be in...
Samsung Set to Launch “Star Pink” Galaxy Note 8, But You Won’t Be Able to Buy It
Samsung unveiled the highly anticipated Galaxy Note 8 last week during a press event in NYC. At launch, we were told the phone will be available in four colour options including Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Maple Gold and Deep Sea Blue.
Well as it turns a fifth colour version is in the pipeline, but...
YouTube v12.32.60 includes new logo and video speed controls [APK Download]
Earlier today, YouTube started enabling the Material Design YouTube site for everyone, and announced a new logo. But a few changes were also revealed for the Android app, which are included in today's YouTube 12.32.60 update.
Speed controls
The YouTube desktop site has had video speed controls for...
Safe and Secure Smartphones Will Soon Bear the “Certified Android Devices” Label
In its latest attempt to make Android safer, Google announced it will be branding devices which comply to a specific set of requirements as “Certified Android devices”.
The branding will sit alongside the “Google Play Protect” inscription and will be visible on the product’s retail package.
In case...
OnePlus offering 10% discount to students
For a lot of folks, it’s back to school season. Some may have already started, while others are gearing up to go back. In light of that, OnePlus is offering a discount to students.
It’s called the OnePlus Student Program, and it’s pretty straightforward: get 10% off on any order placed from...
YouTube gets a new logo and adds new features to mobile app
The YouTube logo has been the same for quite some time, but everything is eventual, so a change has finally arrived.
Today YouTube officially announced several updates, including a new logo, the dark theme finally rolling out to everyone in a new desktop experience, and new features for mobile users....
Google Maps adds even more parking features
Google Maps isn’t just about getting you to where you want/need to go, but also a way to find out what you should do when you get there, and an easy way to remember where you parked when you arrive. And now Google Maps is getting even more features when it comes to parking your car.
Google is...
YouTube enables desktop Material Design interface for everyone, reveals new logo
Google started testing a Material Design makeover for the desktop YouTube site over a year ago. The design went into open beta a few months ago, and now Google is finally flipping the switch for everyone. Also, YouTube has a new logo.
The interface hasn't changed since the public beta went live,...
Google launches ARCore for augmented reality experiences
Google is no a stranger to augmented reality by any means thanks to Project Tango, but that project might not have been the perfect match for the general consumer. Another project was inevitable, and today Google unveiled just that.
It’s called ARCore, and it appears that to be a direct...
Amazon Echo gets multi-room audio
Amazon is gifting Echo owners with a new feature.
Starting today, Amazon Echo owners can use multi-room audio on their devices. This feature enables Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show owners to synchronize their music playback across multiple devices in different rooms.
To enable multi-room audio on your...
Biliscreen is an app that could use selfies to to help diagnose pancreatic cancer
It may seem unthinkable that the much maligned 'selfie', a photo of oneself taken by oneself, could be used in any sort of meaningful, useful way. Yet that's exactly what is being proposed by researchers at from the University of Washington. They've developed an app called Biliscreen which could utilize...
ARCore: Augmented reality at Android scale
Posted by Dave Burke, VP, Android Engineering
With more than two billion active devices, Android is the largest mobile platform in the world. And for the past nine years, we've worked to create a rich set of tools, frameworks and APIs that deliver developers' creations to people everywhere. Today,...
