Don't miss out on the sales for Star Wars: KOTOR II, Chrono Trigger, and Pascal's Wager
Welcome to Friday, everyone. I have a packed list of sales today, and of course, I have a few standouts. First up is Star Wars: KOTOR II, and this looks to be the first time this fantastic RPG has gone on sale...
Microsoft Edge's newest feature gives Android users a reason to get the app
You'll soon be able to send tabs back and forth between Android and Windows
Microsoft's Chromium-based Edge browser is often faster and less resource-demanding than the competition from Google and co. But while it beats Chrome in some key metrics, it still lacks some features that Chrome users take...
Google plans to pre-install Meet and Chat on future Chromebooks
Expected from Chrome OS 90 or soon after
Google's Chrome OS is naturally a breeding ground for its apps and services. Google Docs, Drive, Sheets, Keep, and many more come pre-installed on Chromebooks. This list of apps is soon going to grow as Google is preparing to add Google Meet and Chat to the...
Samsung Internet is getting a handy bookmark bar
Currently available in beta
Samsung phones come pre-loaded with not just Google Chrome, but also with the Samsung Internet browser. While you might be inclined to disregard the latter, you may want to give it a second thought, especially if you care for customization. Samsung's browser recently received...
Google's tired of crappy Play Store titles and screenshots, and it's finally doing something about them
The updated guidelines will go into effect later this year
As a blogger focused on Android, I see a lot of spammy app names in the Play Store. Apps with extraneous descriptors trying to pop up in more searches, apps that include the name of other, more popular apps, or even (shudder) emoji in the...
YouTube tests SoundCloud-style comments linking to specific times
It's available for a very small number of users right now
The other day I watched a YouTube video of a man throwing a grenade into an ATM, "for science." It's the kind of mindless fluff that's perfect for YouTube, but it did have quite a lot of buildup when all I wanted to see was a grey box go boom....
Mozilla's VPN service is expanding into Europe
France and Germany are first on the list, but it's pricier than elsewhere
Mozilla is trying to set itself apart from Google and Microsoft in the browser space with a focus on privacy and security. Part of that is a new product, Mozilla VPN. It came out of beta last year, but was previously only available...
ChargePoint picks up Android Auto integration, making it easier to find and top-up at charging stations
You'll also receive notifications when a spot is available
Last year, Android Auto finally added support for all-new categories of apps. Navigation, parking, and charging software all became an option for developers to start building. That support left beta testing earlier this month, and already...
Google Pay can now save you time and money at Safeway grocery stores
Public transit payments are coming to San Francisco and Chicago, too
If Google was a person, it would be really, really into Google Pay right now, in the way of recent religious converts or someone who just got a compliment from their crossfit instructor. In addition to multiple free money...
Vivaldi browser wants to get rid of those annoying cookie banners once and for all
And other improvements coming with version 3.8
Vivaldi is among the most customizable and powerful Chromium-based browsers out there, and today, the company is launching yet another intriguing update. Vivaldi 3.8 helps you get rid of the pesky cookie banners that pop up whenever you visit a new website....
EA tests the limits of good taste, purchases Glu Mobile for $2.1 billion
Bigger pipeline, bigger revenues
Update
Electronics Arts acquires Glu Mobile
Perhaps Electronic Arts figured it was about time to start milking the cash cow that is mobile gaming: it has announced its intent to buy publisher GluMobile, known for its freemium all-encompassing titles like "Kim Kardashian:...
Spotify's new and better library-management UI is rolling out next week
Complete with new tags and filters for easier sorting
For several months now, Spotify has been testing a new interface for its library on mobile devices. Redesigns can be controversial, but the response to the UI changes on Android has mainly been positive. Although many of Spotify's users have had...
Activate this TeamViewer setting to make connections much more secure
The company is introducing two-factor authentication for connection approval
TeamViewer is among the most established remote support services that may have been a boon to your family during the pandemic — it helps remote into their computers to fix all of their tech problems. But remote computer or...
Tidal finally gets a playlist organization feature that Spotify has had for years
Organize your playlists with folders
Besides industry giants Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, there are a few more niche services on the music streaming market. One of them is Tidal, the platform focused on high-fidelity, lossless audio. The latest version of the streaming service's Android...
Dashlane's new Essentials plan gives users unlimited passwords for less
Device access is still limited, though
Password managers have been on our minds lately, and with good reason. Not only are data breaches a regular occurrence on the web these days, but apps like LastPass have made it difficult for non-paying users to log in on multiple device types. Dashlane has always...
Stadia is getting two new features it should have had on day one
Search? In a Google product? How novel!
Google might not be making its own games for Stadia anymore, but the platform is still very much alive and kicking. Today, the company announced a handful of tweaks that'll make using Stadia on desktop a smoother experience — including a couple that should have...
Firefox 89 Beta simplifies cross-device syncing and tweaks the new tab page (APK Download)
Subtle design tweaks make for a better experience, but we're still waiting for more add-ons
Mozilla is fighting hard to stay relevant in the browser market, and it's punching out Firefox version after version in a similar monthly fashion as Google Chrome. As such, Firefox 89 hit the beta channel on...
Google Pay's latest promo is handing out even more referral cash than before
There's a maximum of $45 to claim, but you only have a week to get it done
The revitalized Google Pay isn't everyone's cup of tea. But if there's one thing that'll get you to try something new, it's free money. Google hasn't shied away from straight-up paying people to use its service before, and...
9 temporarily free and 37 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday
Don't miss out on the sales for aCalendar+, Cultist Simulator, and Rusty Lake Hotel
Welcome to Wednesday, everyone. The middle of the week tends to be slow when it comes to sales, but we still have a few standouts today. First up is aCalendar+, one of the best third-party calendar apps on the Play...
Typewise wants to revolutionize smartphone keyboards, but is it actually better than Gboard?
Version 3.0 of the keyboard is rolling out now, and we went hands-on with it
Typewise stirred up the mostly stagnant software keyboard market on Android and iOS when it launched its reimagined hexagon keyboard layout back in 2019. While the key arrangement takes quite some getting used to, the Swiss...
Telegram is launching its own Zoom competitor
Video conferencing, Telegram-style
Telegram is on a roll this month. After announcing not one, but two new web apps and significant updates to its mobile offerings, the company has now set its sights on Zoom, Slack, and co. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has just announced that the company wants to add...
Samsung Reminder gets a UI refresh with better sorting options
Organizing your tasks has never been easier
Samsung Reminder is one of the best pre-installed apps that comes with One UI. It looks good, has plenty of options for organizing your tasks, and even syncs with Microsoft To Do. The app is picking up a design refresh today that makes it easier to sort...
Google Play Store in India is swapping millions and billions for lakhs and crores
Following in YouTube's footsteps
Last year, Google acknowledged the Indian numbering system by changing the count of views, subscribers, likes, and more such number elements on YouTube from millions and billions to lakhs and crores. Now, Google is bringing over this change to the Play Store.
If your...
Google Messages gets One UI-inspired makeover for Galaxy S21 phones and it looks damn strange
Frankenstein's messaging app
The Galaxy S21 series surprised many of us when it came with Google Messages as the default SMS app rather than Samsung's own. Google even made some changes to make the app fit in, altering the color palette to match Samsung Messages and adding support (finally!) for Galaxy...
Google Pay is adding support for UPI payments over NFC
Faster than scanning a QR code or typing in a UPI ID
In India, Google Pay primarily revolves around sending money via UPI, the country's leading digital payment platform. It was only last year that the India-exclusive version of the app got support for debit and credit card payments over NFC. Now,...
It's about time: Google's Clock app hits 1 billion downloads
Android's default alarm app is also its most popular
For most of us, the days of dedicated alarm clocks are long gone. All you need is your smartphone placed on a bedside table, and you're ready to be woken up the following day. From timers to stopwatches, the clock app on your phone is an essential...
YouTube Kids is now available in eight more countries
All the latest additions are in the Middle East and North Africa
Latest update
More new countries in the Middle East
YouTube Kids has proven to be a popular way for parents to give their children access to a limited collection of YouTube content, even if that collection occasionally includes videos...
Apple Music now lets you annoy your friends with song lyrics
In version 3.5 you can also search by record label, if that's your Def Jam
For all that we've heard of Apple intentionally keeping Android out of its walled garden, the Apple Music streaming service seems to be a notable exception. Version 3.5 of the app is now rolling out to Android devices on the...
Spotify’s paid podcast subscription service one-ups Apple’s offering
Creators won't have to pay a cut for the first two years
With the video streaming market starting to feel a little saturated, audio and podcasts, in particular, could be the next big focus. Apple reiterated its commitment to the medium by introducing a paid subscription service. Shortly after, arch-rival...
All the free games included with Stadia Pro
Four new games in May, one still unannounced
Stadia's $10-a-month premium subscription, Stadia Pro, includes access to an ever-expanding catalog of games at no additional cost. The selection of redeemable games varies — Google adds a few each month, and sometimes removes some. Here, for your convenience,...
Ryzen-powered Chromebooks can now run virtual Windows machines with Parallels
Still only for enterprise users, but it's something to get excited about
Parallels, a Windows virtual machine app for Chrome OS, is now available on more Chromebooks with the inclusion of AMD Ryzen processor support. VM users are also getting further access to USB and other peripherals as well.
The...
Google Tasks UI tweak speeds up task creation on the web
Every click saved is a step in the right direction
Google Tasks is not the most comprehensive to-do solution out there, but it integrates well with other Google services and that's the reason why it hasn't faded into irrelevancy. While it's not getting a complete makeover, a tweak to the web version...
Google Assistant's web page reading tool gets a visual makeover
No new features, though
Google constantly experiments with the UI of its applications. While some changes go down well with users, others — like the recent redesign of the YouTube resolution picker — spark criticism. The latest product to get a makeover is Google Assistant's web page reading tool...
Sony's Playstation app hits 100 million installs five months after the launch of the PS5
Too bad you still can't buy Sony's latest console
Any time an application hits 100 million installs on the Play Store, it's worth taking note. From podcast players to streaming services, it's a sign that an app has truly cemented its legacy on Android. It's not often that three apps reach this milestone...
The latest Telegram overhauls payments, introduces a new web app, and lets you schedule Voice Chats
Plus a whole lot more
Telegram is rolling out a chunky new update, which includes a bit "Payments 2.0" overhaul, scheduled voice chats (plus "mini profiles" for voice chats), improvements to photos and videos, and new animations for the Android app. On top of that, Telegram is also launching two...
Chrome 91 Beta launches with prettier buttons, OTP autofill improvements, and battery-saving optimizations
And much more!
The latest beta of Chrome, version 91, has just hit the first few phones, and while you might not notice too many differences on the surface, there are quite some things going on if you know where to look. The most significant visual changes you'll see on Android are probably the redesigned...
18 temporarily free and 41 on-sale apps and games for Monday
Don't miss out on the sales for The Last Remnant Remastered, Baldur's Gate II, and Kingdom Rush Frontiers
Welcome to Monday, everyone. It was a busy weekend, and so there are many quality sales available today, which means I have a couple of standouts to share. First up is The Last Remnant Remastered,...
You can download Chrome 91 Beta right now
Coming with better visuals for websites using forms and buttons
Like clockwork, Google has just released the latest Chrome Beta, version 91. It brings a slew of visual changes to websites using fillable forms and buttons, a GravitySensor interface so web apps can more easily implement motion-controlled...
WhatsApp may add a new option for disappearing messages soon
A new 24-hour time limit has been spotted in a test build
Late last year WhatsApp added the option to force your messages to disappear, a la Telegram. At the time the only setting was for the messages to vanish after 7 days, but according to a leak uncovered by some fanatical fans of the platform,...
Registration is open for early access to The Witcher mobile game
The developers say they'll be selecting players at the end of April
It's been eight months since CD Projekt announced that it's working on an augmented reality mobile game set in its beloved Witcher franchise. Think Pokemon Go, only with a lot more swearing and murder. The developers say that the...
BlueDriver for Android: The affordable digital car mechanic
Uncovering your vehicle's problems doesn't have to be expensive
Bluetooth helps link your smartphone with your car, and already grants you the power to play music wirelessly over the sound system, pull up audio cues for road navigation, and enhance the hands-free calling experience. Now imagine also...
You can now host Twitter's Clubhouse-style chatrooms on the Android app
The non-beta app has added the option to host Spaces
It seems like every major tech company is in a mad dash to create a feature that's at least somewhat similar to Clubhouse. Twitter is no exception: it's been slowly integrating Spaces into the beta version of its Android app. As of yesterday, at...
16 new (and 1 WTF) Android games from the last week: The best, worst, and everything in between (4/19/21 - 4/25/21)
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, Raging Loop, My Exercise, plus more
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. Today's list is broken up into several segments, ranging from best, average, to mediocre. So whether...
12 new and notable Android apps and live wallpapers from the last three weeks including Weatherback Wallpaper, Microsoft Edge Canary, and Sketch 360 (4/3/21 - 4/24/21)
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous three weeks or so. Today's roundup is sponsored by Weatherback Wallpaper, a unique wallpaper app that can display real-time weather effects on your...
Play Store picks up new animated indicators for pending 'notifications & offers' and Play Points
A little swinging bell and a number
Update
Play Points
Hot on the heels of the recent iOS-like Play Store UI tweak, Google also appears to be rolling out (or at least testing) a further change. Today several of us here at Android Police have received a new bell indicator that pops out of the profile...
