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Top 5 most popular Android apps from last week: Apex Weather, Lemmings

Every week we cover new Android apps with Fresh Meat on Wednesday, followed by Android Gaming on Thursday and Top 10 App Updates on Friday. When Monday rolls around, we look back to see which apps were the most appealing to our audience. Read on for the five most popular Android apps from last week. These apps are ones that are most likely new and haven’t appeared in the top five list more than three times.

1. Memoria – Photo Gallery Pro

Memoria App info: Welcome to Memoria, the most personalized Photo Gallery on Google Play store. Created with gorgeous Material Design, Memoria is made for fast, smooth and organized browsing through all your favorite photos, with our main goal to provide immaculate user experience. Fast. Secure. Beautiful. Personalized.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

2. Apex Weather

Apex Weather App info: This weather widget is a full featured, completely customizable digital clock and weather forecast app. With this thermometer app, you can get daily and hourly forecasts, severe weather alerts, daily&7 day weather updates, fancy clock weather widgets, weather news and global weather. 

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

3.  Lemmings

Lemmings App info: The only Official Lemmings game! Lemmings is back and bigger than ever! The classic 90′s puzzle game, re-imagined for the best experience on your mobile device! Embark on an epic journey through the wonders of the universe, rescuing cute, lovable Lemmings by guiding them through levels filled with hazards and traps.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

4. Mint Browser – Lite, Fast Web, Safe, AdFree

Mint Browser App info: Mint Browser is one of the best web browsers for Android phones. Breakneck speed, privacy, and security all come in a single tiny package. Our 10 MB app is a lifesaver when you prioritize user experience over pricey specs.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

5. Hummingbird

Hummingbird App info: Hummingbird uses the latest AI and search technology to help you locate stories. In Hummingbird, you can find stories and videos on topics you care about and from sources you trust on the web. You set it up with just a few taps.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Note:  To ensure that all apps receive a fair chance to make the list, we will retire any app that has made the list for three consecutive weeks and identified with an * after the name.
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First look: Google Duo tests group calling feature and low light mode

Group calling and a low light mode in Google Duo have been rumored for some time, but we now have our first glimpse of the features in action. Cody found evidence for groups in a teardown back in March, with hints of low light mode appearing in November. Thanks to an anonymous source, we have screens of both.

One of the most requested Duo features since launch has been group calling, something Apple's FaceTime now supports for up to 32 users at once.

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First look: Google Duo tests group calling feature and low light mode was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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Nokia 9 PureView leaks in high-quality image

Nokia has been busy updating several of its phones to Android Pie lately, but the company is also prepping a brand new device with five rear cameras, and today we’re getting an early look at it.

An image of the Nokia 9 PureView has leaked out, showing off a penta-lens setup and Android One branding. Shared by Evan Blass, the image also shows a screen with rounded corners and a fingerprint, hinting that the Nokia 9 PureView will include an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Blass also mentions the name “Beholder”, suggesting that that may be the Nokia 9 PureView’s codename.

Despite the fact that we’ve gotten a couple of looks at the Nokia 9 PureView so far, spec details for the phone remain up in the air. A 5.9-inch QHD screen and USB-C charging are rumored, though, and if HMD Global does include five rear cameras and an in-display fingerprint reader, you’d think that this would be a fairly high-end device. Here’s to hoping we find out more soon.


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ExaGear app review: A Windows emulator with questionable utility

Wine, the popular cross-platform Windows compatibility layer, has been officially available for Android since early 2018. However, it only translates API calls; there's no built-in emulator to convert x86 instructions for ARM processors. ExaGear is a paid emulator for Android that attempts to solve this problem, by adding an x86 emulator to a modified version of Wine.

ExaGear's current price of $29.99 doesn't seem unreasonable to me, especially considering its the only Windows emulator on the Play Store with anything close to decent performance (CrossOver aside, which only works on x86 devices).

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ExaGear app review: A Windows emulator with questionable utility was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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11 best new Android games released this week including Bendy and the Ink Machine, Golf Club: Wasteland, and Orbt XL

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. Thanks to Christmas there haven't been many games published on the Play Store this past week, but that doesn't mean there weren't a few quality games that squeaked out, such as the challenging orbiting game Orbt XL, the unique post-apocalyptic golfing game Golf Club: Wasteland, and the gorgeous episodic survival horror Bendy and the Ink Machine. So without further ado, here are the most notable games released in the last week.

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11 best new Android games released this week including Bendy and the Ink Machine, Golf Club: Wasteland, and Orbt XL was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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Google’s Messages app now getting spam protection

Google’s Messages app is a clean and simple way to text, lacking customization but making up for it with simplicity and web messaging support. The latest addition to the app is spam protection, though it comes with some caveats.

This seems to be a server side rollout as most devices aren’t getting this option yet. However, those who do are getting a pop up at the bottom of the app offering the feature and allowing you to turn it off.

Why would you turn it off? Spam protection can’t be a bad thing, can it? Well it does require Google to collect data from you. Message contents are safe, but data about the messages themselves will be collected and sent to Google for this feature to work.

If you’re all about privacy, you’ll want to turn this feature off. You can do it from the pop-up or by heading to Settings > Advanced > Spam protection. For the rest of us, if SMS spam is an issue, this should help quite a bit. The feature should be rolling out to everyone soon so keep an eye out!


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Essential discontinues PH-1, teases “next mobile product”

Essential has had an interesting year and a half since the release of the Essential Phone. The phone was released with a few major issues and some serious bad press, but it also impressed with its fantastic build quality and stock Android.

Now it’s known as the device that gets updates on the same day as Google. Whether it’s monthly security updates or the official Android Pie release, the device is mere hours behind Google’s update announcements.

Unfortunately, the device has now been discontinued. Essential has announced that the phone is sold out and will not be back in stock on its website. Other resellers may still have stock but it likely won’t last long.

Fortunately, the company has something up its sleeve. It’s teasing the “next mobile product,” and despite not giving any details, we’re already excited. It could be the rumored AI phone or something else entirely, but with no official details, we’ll have to wait and see. Here is Essential’s full statement:

“We are sold out of Essential Phone on essential.com and won’t be adding any new inventory. We are now hard at work on our next mobile product and will continue to sell accessories and provide speedy software updates and customer support to our existing community.”

If you’re a current Essential Phone owner, you’ll still be getting your monthly updates. Accessories are also still available if you haven’t already picked them up. We can’t wait to see what Essential has planned for 2019!


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Samsung is reportedly working on another Galaxy Home smart speaker

Remember the Galaxy Home? The smart speaker featuring Bixby that Samsung announced earlier this year? Well, it’s still listed as “coming soon”, but that isn’t stopping Samsung from working on another one!

According to a report from SamMobile, Samsung is indeed prepping another smart speaker with the Galaxy Home brand. The new model is number SM-V310, while the unit that Samsung announced earlier this year is model number SM-V510. The report also states that the new model will be sold in black whenever it does launch, but otherwise there isn’t much else to go on here.

This new model may be cheaper than the Galaxy Home that was announced earlier this year, which may mean it has fewer microphones and other tweaks to help reduce the price. The report also indicates that this may be a “Galaxy Home Mini” of sorts, so that could help drop the cost, too.

So, there’s another Galaxy Home on the way! And Samsung hasn’t quite yet launched the first one. What do you think of that particular strategy?


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Samsung Good Lock adds Nice Catch, a tool that provides a detailed history of app actions on your phone [APK Download]

Samsung has been steadily building up the tool library for its Good Lock 2018 customization app since it arrived in June of this year. From replacing your navigation buttons with adorable little animal emoji to split-screen multitasking that improves Android's native implementation, Good Lock offers an impressive array of customization apps for Samsung users. Now, an app called Nice Catch has joined the Good Lock library, offering a vigilant digital watchman of your apps and what they're up to when you're not looking - but unfortunately committing an embarrassing security gaffe itself in the process.

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Samsung Good Lock adds Nice Catch, a tool that provides a detailed history of app actions on your phone [APK Download] was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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LG G8 may feature teardrop notch, 3D camera, and no 5G

While the Android smartphone market appears to be moving away from the notch design as we head into 2019, LG won’t be making the jump just yet according to a new report.

ET News is reporting that the next flagship smartphone from the Life’s Good crew is going to be called the G8 and it will have teardrop notch at the top of its screen, similar to what we’ve seen from OnePlusand Essential in the past. The LG G8 will allegedly launch with a 3D camera system as well.

Unfortunately that’s all we know about the handset at this point. The handset will reportedly launch at the end of March, though, so the wait isn’t going to be too much longer.

And if you were hoping 5G would be on board, well, you can stop. According to the report, LG is planning on launching a separate device at some point later in 2019 that will have 5G connectivity. It won’t have the G-series label on it, either.

So that’s what we have on the upcoming G8 so far. Not much! It will more than likely be a flagship handset when it does arrive, though. How it stacks up against the likes of the Galaxy S10 will certainly be exciting.


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57 temporarily free and 151 on-sale apps and games to finish the Christmas week

Android Police's app sales roundup is back after a break for Christmas, so I hope you're ready. Today's list is very large, due equally in part to the holiday and to the fact that I was not able to write one of these up until now. New Year's is coming up, so we'll have one last roundup to send off 2018. Until then, enjoy.

Free

Apps

  1. NewfyMoji $2.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 hours
  2. Password Saver $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 hours
  3. Root Checker Pro $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 hours
  4. Hanuman Chalisa -Multiple Language & Audio- No Ads $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
  5. Hydro Coach PRO - Drink water $5.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
  6. Stop Backup Screenshots - PinSync $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
  7. Sarathi $5.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 2 days
  8. Death Clock Pro $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  9. Easy Accounting $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  10. Grocery list app: BigBag Pro $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  11. MyCal Pro - Percentage & General Calculator $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  12. Protect Note Pro $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  13. Noise FM - Unlocker $4.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  14. Notesonly Pro - Simple Notepad $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  15. Typatone $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  16. QR Reader & Generator PRO $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 5 days
  17. Cleaner - Boost Mobile Pro $3.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
  18. Gallery Vault Pro - hide photos hide videos $4.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
  19. Selfie Camera Pro $3.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days

Games

  1. Stardash - Remastered $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 hours
  2. Glow Puzzle Ads Free $4.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
  3. Grow Zombie VIP - Merge Zombies $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
  4. Manoir $3.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
  5. Bull vs Bull - Bull Fight $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 2 days
  6. Fliplomacy $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 2 days
  7. Tap Tap Fist VIP $2.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 2 days
  8. Word Rush Pro: Find Words $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 2 days
  9. IMAGEine Premium $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  10. Ruby Square: logical puzzle game (700 levels) $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  11. RUN VR $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  12. Shan Gui $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  13. Stack And Bomb $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  14. Word Flood PRO $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  15. Age of Civilizations Africa $1.95 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  16. Connect - colorful casual game $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  17. God of Battle VIP $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  18. Hills Legend $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  19. Mystery Tiles $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  20. Patatap $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  21. Planetarix $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  22. A-2481 $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 5 days
  23. CashKnight ( Combo Event Version ) $9.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 5 days
  24. Lone Hero RPG | VIP $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 5 days
  25. Survive: The Lost Lands $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 5 days
  26. VR Army Museum (CardBoard) $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
  27. VR Sport Tuning Cars Show $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 6 days
  28. Angry BaBa $2.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days
  29. Dungeon Defense $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days
  30. Infinity Dungeon VIP: RPG Adventure $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days

Icon packs & customization

  1. Castle 3D Pro live wallpaper $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 hours
  2. Deep Space 3D Pro lwp $0.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 1 day
  3. Glow Icon Pack - 8880+ icons $3.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 2 days
  4. EUI - Icon Pack $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 3 days
  5. Iconix - Icon Pack $1.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  6. Mandala Icon Pack $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 4 days
  7. Quick Arc Launcher ( Smart One Swipe Launcher ) $2.99 -> Free; Sale ends in 5 days
  8. CrapCons Icon Pack $1.49 -> Free; Sale ends in 7 days

Sale

Apps

  1. Broken Sentences PRO $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 1 day
  2. All Notes $2.99 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 3 days
  3. How to Tie a Tie Pro $3.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  4. Intello X+ $2.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  5. MiXplorer Silver - File Manager $4.69 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 3 days
  6. ModPE IDE – Ultimate Edition $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  7. Origami Instructions Pro $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  8. Scarf Fashion Designer Pro $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  9. Atlas Reminder PRO $3.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  10. AquaCalculator $9.99 -> $4.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  11. BernerMoji - Bernese Emojis $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  12. BlackJack Trainer Pro $5.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 4 days
  13. BZ Reminder PRO $4.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 4 days
  14. CalenGoo - Calendar and Tasks $5.99 -> $2.39; Sale ends in 4 days
  15. Chemistry Dictionary $2.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  16. Dalmoji - All Dalmation Emojis $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  17. doubleTwist Pro music player (FLAC/ALAC & Gapless) $7.99 -> $5.59; Sale ends in 4 days
  18. Drum Looper PRO $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  19. Lotto Generator and Statistics $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  20. Nudge - Block Distracting Apps $2.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  21. Retro NDS Pro - NDS Emulator $2.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  22. English-Spanish Dictionary Premium $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  23. Keep Screen Awake $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  24. KnowledgeBase Builder $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  25. Techo Note+ (memo/sticky note) $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  26. The Three Little Pigs $2.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  27. TXD Tool $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  28. Unicorn Blocker - Adblock, Fast & Private $3.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  29. Ultra GPS Logger $7.99 -> $3.49; Sale ends in 5 days
  30. Weather Forecast Pro (Radar Weather Map) $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
  31. AG Contacts, Premium edition $8.49 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 6 days
  32. Bicycle Maintenance Guide for Android $5.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 6 days
  33. Countdown Calendar $3.49 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 6 days
  34. Geometry Calculator $3.95 -> $1.59; Sale ends in 6 days
  35. Glitch Editor (NO ADS) $2.99 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 6 days
  36. Hourly chime PRO $5.49 -> $2.00; Sale ends in 6 days
  37. Inventory Management Premium $2.99 -> $1.79; Sale ends in 6 days
  38. My Wallets $3.49 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 6 days
  39. Stock Exchange $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
  40. Weather Forecasts $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
  41. Codenza Pro $9.99 -> $4.99; Sale ends in 7 days
  42. Learn Hebrew Premium $2.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 7 days
  43. Screen Brightness Control $3.49 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 7 days
  44. Screen Master Pro: Screenshot, Photo Markup $3.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 7 days

Games

  1. Gunslugs $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 hours
  2. Gunslugs 2 $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 hours
  3. Heroes of Loot $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 hours
  4. ReturnState $4.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 4 hours
  5. Sir Questionnaire $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 hours
  6. Quantum Contact: A Space Adventure $4.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 hours
  7. Quadropoly Pro $8.99 -> $4.49; Sale ends in 1 day
  8. AntVentor $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 2 days
  9. Seven Mysteries $2.99 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 2 days
  10. Aralon: Forge and Flame 3d RPG $4.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  11. Balance Blox Full $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  12. Brain App - Daily Brain Training $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  13. Human Resource Machine $4.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  14. PictoParty $3.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  15. Rusty Lake Hotel $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  16. Rusty Lake: Roots $2.99 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 3 days
  17. Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  18. Tap Blox Full $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  19. Tribal Pass $3.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
  20. Birdie Bubble Shooter $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
  21. Daedalus $5.99 -> $4.19; Sale ends in 4 days
  22. Denki Blocks!
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57 temporarily free and 151 on-sale apps and games to finish the Christmas week was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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Amazon Digital Day sale now live with deals on movies, books, apps, and games

After being teased earlier this month, Amazon’s Digital Day sale is now underway.

The Digital Day deals are all about offering discounts on apps, games, digital comics, e-books, digital movies, and more. Amazon says that there are thousands of deals available, but the sale is only running for one day, so you don’t have long to take advantage of these discounts.

Some of the deals available include discounts on movies like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Incredibles 2, free Amazon credits with subscriptions to channels like Showtime and ESPN+, and a discounted subscription to Kindle Unlimited. There are savings to be had on digital comics from Marvel and DC, too, as well as deals on select Kindle e-books.

When it comes to apps and games, Amazon is offering deals on in-app purchases for games like Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Friends Saga, and The Walking Dead: Road to Survival. If classic games are more your thing, you can get a deal on Sega Classics for Fire TV, which includes titles like Sonic The Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, and The Revenge of Shinobi. There are kid-focused apps on sale, too, and a deal on TurboTax 2018 to help you when tax time rolls around.

There are lots of deals to be had with Amazon’s Digital Day sale, and so whether you’ve got a new device that needs to be filled with content or you’re just looking for some entertainment over the holidays, these offers are worth a look. You can find them all right here.

Amazon is also offering some nice deals on its hardware devices. There are discounts on products like the Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers, as well as the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets.



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Spam protection is going live in Messages for some

Earlier this month, we spotted the first signs that spam protection was finally ready to roll out to Android Messages after over half a year of development. Based on reports from a handful of tipsters, that spam protection feature is now going live, though not everyone seems to have it just yet.

The change appears to be server-side and in a limited rollout for the time being, as other devices we've tested, including my own, don't have it just yet.

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Spam protection is going live in Messages for some was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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SanDisk 400GB microSD card now on sale at Amazon

Get a new smartphone, tablet, or gaming console during the holidays? If so, a discounted microSD card can help make your new device even better.

Amazon is now offering a nice discount on SanDisk’s 400GB microSD card. This is one of the better prices we’ve seen on this model, which offers up to 100MB/s transfer speeds, A1-rated performance for faster app loading, and a 10-year limited manufacturer warranty.


This SanDisk 400GB microSD card ships from and is sold by Amazon, so Prime customers can get it with two-day shipping.

With this 400GB card, you can quickly add almost half a terabyte of storage to your phone, tablet, or gaming console. It’s a nice way to give yourself lots of storage for movies, games, or music on your phone or tablet, and tossing it in a console like a Nintendo Switch will let you carry a huge game collection everywhere you go without having to fumble with physical games.

To score a discounted 400GB microSD card of your own, visit the link below.


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Nokia 5.1 Plus receiving Android 9.0 Pie update

‘Tis the season for software updates! Several devices have received updates in the past couple weeks and the Nokia 5.1 Plus is the latest device to join the club. HMD Global’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas has announced that the Nokia 5.1 Plus is now receiving an update to Android 9.0 Pie. The update is beginning to roll out today, and will reach all devices within the next week or so.

Along with the usual features of Android 9.0 Pie, Nokia is bringing Pro Camera to the Nokia 5.1 Plus. If you’ll remember, Pro Camera was introduced way back when Nokia made its Lumia devices that ran on Windows Phone OS. Pro Camera includes full manual controls, allowing you to adjust your phone’s camera in much the same way you would a DSLR.

The Nokia 6.1 Plus will also receive Pro Camera as part of its regular December update.

Android 9.0 Pie brings in a refreshed UI that features gesture- and swipe-based navigation. It also features Adaptive Battery, app actions, Slices, and Digital Wellbeing, which allows you to monitor and control how much you’re using your phone and what you’re using it for.

Do you own a Nokia 5.1 Plus? If so, let us know when you receive the update to Android 9.0 Pie!

Sources: Juho Sarvikas, (2)


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Trump administration may block Huawei, ZTE purchases

The war between the Trump administration and Chinese tech companies is continuing to escalate. According to Reuters, the White House is considering an executive order that would prevent U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment manufactured by Huawei and ZTE. Following the script that we’ve heard throughout 2018, the Trump administration claims that ZTE and Huawei work on behalf of the Chinese government and could use their technology to spy on American citizens and companies.

While the administrative branch of government does have the power to prevent purchases of equipment, it’s unclear if it has the power to force companies to remove existing equipment. If this executive order comes to fruition, this will likely prove to be a point of contention. Smaller, rural U.S. operators currently use a significant amount of ZTE and Huawei technology. The forced removal of this equipment would come at great cost, and would likely require compensation by the U.S. government for losses.

While the U.S. government has been barred from using ZTE and Huawei equipment, this order would extend the action much further. Consideration of the bill is unsurprising, considering that U.S. carriers are frantically rolling out 5G networks. With the deployment of new technology, the Trump administration wants to prevent Chinese equipment from being used, while also striking another blow in the ongoing trade war.

While a decision hasn’t been finalized, we could see this executive order come to life as early as January.

What are your thoughts on this latest step in the U.S.-China standoff?


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Motorola P40 appears in renders with hole-punch display and 48MP rear camera

First Samsung announced a smartphone with a hole-punch display, then Huawei followed suit. Now it looks like we can add Motorola to the list of companies prepping a new phone with a hole-punch screen.

The Motorola P40 may have just been revealed by a new set of renders. Posted by @OnLeaks and 91mobiles, the images show a phone with a hole-punch display that’s said to measure 6.2 inches. There are slim bezels around the screen, save for the chin that’s large enough to fit Motorola’s branding.

Around back we can see a dual camera setup, including one sensor that’s said to be of the 48MP variety. There’s a fingerprint reader with Motorola’s logo on it, too, as well as Android One branding that suggests that the P40 should have a relatively untouched build of Android. These renders also appear to show a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The details we still don’t know about this device include its launch date and its price. The Motorola P30 that launched earlier this year is a mid-range handset that starts at 2099 yuan ($306 USD) in China, so it’s possible we’ll see something similar with the P40, though there’s also a chance that that 48MP rear camera could make the P40 a little pricier.

With Samsung, Honor, and possibly now Motorola adopting the hole-punch display design, it’s increasingly looking like that could be a popular smartphone trend in 2019. It does help phone makers get a bit closer to that all-screen design that everyone wants, and while there’s still a cutout for the front camera, the hole-punch is at least in the corner and not right at the top of the screen.

What do you think of this Motorola P40?

motorola-p40-leak-2-aam


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Instagram accidentally rolls out horizontal scrolling interface

Instagram is on a mission — a mission to make its mobile app harder to use. Between forcing an algorithmic timeline and bloating the app with more and more unrelated features, it has turned from a simple photo-sharing app to Facebook's way of capturing the post-Facebook generation. Users of the service caught a glimpse of an in-development UI, after Instagram accidentally rolled it out to everyone.

Instead of a timeline that scrolls vertically, the new interface has posts on a horizontal scroll.

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Instagram accidentally rolls out horizontal scrolling interface was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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Kick-start your New Year’s resolutions with Google Fit

January is fast approaching—and that means it’s almost time for New Year's resolutions, even though most people seem to abandon them about a week into the new year. But if 2019 is the year you want to stick to your goals, you may want to get a head start. In fact, our New Year's resolution is to make it easier for you to get healthy, and have fun doing it. Here's how you can put health and wellness first in 2019, with a little help from Google.

Step 1: Get in the game.

Go to the Google Fit app to join a 30-day challenge designed to kick-start your journey to a healthier, more active life. The challenge begins on January 1, but you can sign up starting today (running shoes optional). You’ll earn Heart Points from activities that you log or actively track with Google Fit. Better yet, Google Fit will automatically detect and log walks, runs or bike rides for you. Your goal is to get as many points as possible—and we’ll be cheering you on along the way.

Step 2: Learn the ground rules.

You’ll score Heart Points for any activity that gets your heart pumping. Get one point for each minute of moderate activity, like picking up the pace while walking your dog, and double points for more intense activities like running or kickboxing. Hit 150 Heart Points per week to meet the American Heart Association (AHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s physical activity recommendations shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve sleep and increase overall mental well-being.

Step 3: Get moving.

We hear you: It’s tough to get motivated when it’s cold outside. Here are some ways you can earn Heart Points while you’re going about your winter routine:

  • Want to involve the whole family? Go sledding with your kids and earn double Heart Points.  
  • Skip the snowblower and grab a shovel. Extra points if you do your neighbor’s yard, too.
  • You’ll probably make a hot cocoa run at some point. Park at the farther end of the lot and squeeze in a brisk walk.
  • If you find yourself on the mountain this winter, skiing and snowboarding are all intense activities that can earn you double Heart Points.
  • If the hot cocoa didn’t warm you up, catch a spin class and earn a Heart Point for every minute you’re on the bike.

Step 4: Find a buddy.

For more inspiration, we’ve teamed up with 36 influencers from nine countries around the globe to show us how they’re earning their Heart Points. Follow #GetFitWithGoogle on Instagram and YouTube to see how others are tackling the challenge, or share your own tips and tricks on how you #GetFitwithGoogle with your favorite Heart Points workout.

Are you up for the challenge? Sign-up today in the Google Fit app. If you’re new to Google Fit, try it here to start the year right with Fit.


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Google Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 XL Lite may launch on Verizon in early 2019

Google launched the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones earlier this year, partnering up with Verizon yet again for the release.

Now it turns out Verizon may be seeing a pair of additional Pixel smartphones early next year. Android Police is reporting that Verizon will launch the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL in the spring of 2019. As far as the rumor mill is concerned, both will be mid-range handsets, scaling back some of the flagship features in an effort to reduce prices.

As far as specs are concerned, we’ve heard that the handsets could feature 4GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage. The devices may use either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 or 710 processor, and both handsets will reportedly also feature a 3.5mm headphone jack. The rear camera is said to come in a 12MP shooter in both devices, too, with a single 8MP front-facing camera on the other side. The Pixel 3 Lite will reportedly boast a 5.5-inch display, while the Pixel 3 XL Lite will have a 6-inch display.

Exact details, pricing, and a specific launch date remain a mystery for now. But if an early 2019 launch window is the plan, we may be hearing something official from Google soon. If these devices are the real deal, would you pick one up?


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LG’s new soundbars feature Google Assistant and Dolby Atmos

Putting Google Assistant into things is a pretty common move these days, especially in devices that can be considered smart in one way or another. That definitely includes speakers.

And LG is getting ready to release three new smart speakers into the world after their big debut at CES 2019 next month. We’ve got the SL10YG, SL9YG, and the SL8YG, each of which was made in partnership with Meridian Audio. The new smart speakers should boast impressive sound as they are equipped with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

LG’s new speakers are also all equipped with Google Assistant, which makes it possible to control each with voice commands. If you’re playing a song you can ask the Assistant to tell you which song it is or control the volume with your voice. And the new speakers can be used as a smart home hub, too, so you can control other smart devices in your home that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

One other interesting detail: The SL9YG model has a gyroscope inside which LG says “gauges the position of the product (fixed to a wall or on a flat surface), adjusting sound directionality to guarantee the optimal listening experience”.

No word on pricing or a release date yet, but LG will have more information for those interested when CES rolls around. What do you think of the minimalist design?


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Top 10 New Android Games This Week: Lemmings, Angry BaBa

Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap of new game releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know in the comments section if you have any suggestions for next week’s post.

Past For Future 

Description: A man struggling to accept his current life and time discovers the story of a brilliant and eccentric woman who was able to travel through time to escape her present unhappiness. As a player you travel to the beautiful coastal town of Taranto to uncover her real tragic story, track her down through time and maybe escape your own present. 

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Lemmings

Description: The only Official Lemmings game! Lemmings is back and bigger than ever! The classic 90′s puzzle game, re-imagined for the best experience on your mobile device! Embark on an epic journey through the wonders of the universe, rescuing cute, lovable Lemmings by guiding them through levels filled with hazards and traps.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Rome: Total War

Description: Experience the full glory of ROME: Total War on Android. Conquer and rule the ancient world by fighting spectacular real-time battles in an enormous turn-based campaign.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Angry BaBa

Description: I am angry. How do you relieve your stress? This game that will blow your stress away! Angry baba. Become a barbarian today and blow your enemies away. Angry BaBa with an exciting sensation of hitting the targets! Dynamic and vibrant 3D game graphics! Hit all the objects that fly over such as meteors, UFO, missiles, space worms, waste, and so on, and knock them away.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Knights of the Card Table – Dungeon Crawler

Description: Master over 100 dungeons and 3 worlds in this free dungeon crawler card game that puts YOU in control of the dungeon cards. Rearrange the dungeon cards to collect loot before rolling dice to slay foes with your nunchucks.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Uncharted Ocean

Description: Uncharted Ocean, a simulation sailing game is now released! It is set in the Age of Discovery, in the time when European Fleets have been expanding their trading areas by exploring uncharted oceans and waters to find new routes and partners. 

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

TotAL RPG

Description: Become the most powerful warrior liberator of the great towers! Join the battle in this new Action RPG!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Planetary Pew Force

Description: Blast your way through endless waves of alien invaders in this free 2-bitish pixel art shoot’em up!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Quantum Contact: A Space Adventure

Description: After scientists discovered how to send a simple quantum message, an unexpected distress call arrived as data from outside the scientists systems, and outside our solar system. As the mysterious data is deciphered, you’ve been assigned as ship commander to respond to the distress call on a specialized craft. Your first mission is to explore one of Jupiter’s moons.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 

Bendy and the Ink Machine

Description: Bendy and the Ink Machine™ is a first person puzzle-action-horror game with a unique cartoon atmosphere and an intense, frightening storyline that keeps you guessing throughout.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

 


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