Sometimes Google forces you to find a workaround
Even though Android is wide open to any installation file found on the web, an overwhelming majority of users trust the Google Play Store to discover, download, and update their library of apps and games. It's not perfect, of course. Developers can...
15 new (and 1 WTF) Android games from the last week: The best, worst, and everything in between (7/25/21 - 7/31/21)
Final Fantasy I, II, and III, plus NieR Reincarnation and Contra Returns
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....
Your ancient Android Gingerbread phone is about to become even more useless
Google account sign-ins will be blocked in September
When was the last time you thought about your old Gingerbread phone? Google launched Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to the public nearly ten years ago, ushering in the days of its Tron-inspired Holo UI, but some legendary Android devices — including...
Google Pay adds support for 43 banks in 22 countries around the world
And yet somehow, probably still not the one you were hoping for
Google Pay is nothing less than an unchecked madman when it comes to signing on new banks in the US, blowing well past 3,000 supported institutions just a few months back. But while the lion's share of action may be taking place in the...
Telegram has created a whole new social experience for you to dread with 1,000 person video calls
Plus screen sharing, new animations, and more
It was just a couple of days ago that we first got our hands on Telegram's latest beta, adding screen sharing, video speed controls, and new options for clearing out your chat history. If you gave that version a spin only to find it seemed a bit buggy,...
Google freshens up Gmail on Android with some bolder colors
Orange is the new yellow
Google's going through a bit of a creative phase right now. With Android 12 and Material You just weeks away from a stable build, you can expect plenty of its apps to gain UI changes big and small over the coming months. Gmail is giving a fresh coat of paint to its labels,...
This is the simplest way to discover and install apps on your Wear OS watch
The Play Store on your phone can now help you with that
A few months ago, Google said that it was working on improving the way you discover and install apps on Wear OS watches, by allowing you to browse the watch's Play Store from the larger screen on your smartphone. At the time, we thought this...
Chrome 93 Beta is all about convenience, progressive web apps, and glimpses of Material You (APK Download)
Cross-device OTP support, tons of PWA improvements, and first few glimpses of Material You incoming
Chrome 93 is rolling out to the beta channel as we speak, and it packs some exciting things. We're in for better cross-platform compatibility when it comes to OTP codes, prettier (or at least more useful)...
23 temporarily free and 46 on-sale apps and games for Friday
Don't miss out on the sales for Space Marshals, Titan Quest, and Golf Peaks
Welcome to Friday, everyone. It's almost the weekend, and so I have some solid dales to share with everyone, including a few noteworthy standouts. First up is Space Marshals, an enjoyable third-person tactical shooter that's...
You can now download Chrome 93 Beta
The last release before Google switches to an even faster four-month cycle
Google is constantly releasing new versions of Chrome, and the beta channel has been promoted to v93 this week. The latest browser variant continues testing some controversial interface changes that first popped up in Chrome...
Google Duplex could soon get you a spot on your favorite restaurant's waitlist
Finally, your chance to get a table at Dorsia
Google Duplex still feels like magic to this date, allowing you to place reservations, order food, and get accurate business opening hours without ever placing a phone call yourself. And it looks like you'll soon also be able to get a spot on a phone-based...
The setup app for Google TV is now in the Play Store
You probably won't ever need to manually download it
When you first turn on the new Chromecast with Google TV, you're put through an extremely simple setup process: choose your language, connect to Wi-Fi, log in to Google, select your default streaming apps. There's not much to it, but just in case...
Not so sweet: Google responds to 'sugar daddy' Play Store app ban
The new restriction is based on its existing policy regarding sexual content
Update
Google Statement
Today, Google published a handful of changes to its Play policies, and nestled among precise legalese refinements and some advertising ID tweaks is a bombshell for a certain type of dating crowd....
An upcoming Chrome test fills its homepage with even more useless clickbait
There's no hiding from the Discover feed
Update
New test
Google is no stranger to pushing its popular Discover feed across its various platforms and products. You can even find it in Chrome's new tab page on Android these days, with its curated news feed based on your interests. Discover was first...
Google Contacts is already getting its Material You UI makeover
Complete with rounded corners and squircles
We're still a beta or so away from a stable build of Android 12 becoming available to the public, but that doesn't mean we haven't already seen some ripple effects from its upcoming makeover. A few apps, like Chrome and Camera, have already received minor...
Google Fit's health data is now more beautiful and more functional (APK Download)
A new "Browse" tab centralizes your data and adds more options
Google Fit is seeing a renaissance of sorts. After being quasi-abandoned for a long while, the app reemerged with a new UI and keeps adding new features every now and then, like the impressive heart and respiratory rate measurement on...
Mi Control Center and other Treydev apps have a new owner, and customers are pissed
$30 a month seems a bit steep for a notification shade
A company snapping up a popular Android developer can be a precursor to shenanigans. And shenanigans aren't anything new for Treydev Inc, a Romanian developer which we've reported on before. The dev makes popular custom user interfaces that mimic...
Google Reader is returning from the dead and haunting Google Chrome
Currently available behind a flag in Chrome 92
Update
Article updated
Google Reader used to be the pinnacle of RSS news consumption before it was discontinued in 2013, and many people are still bitter about its demise. While Google probably won't ever properly resurrect the service, it's currently...
Android Auto gets a new navigation app for your off-road adventures
Gaia is now compatible with Android Auto
It took several years for Google to allow Android Auto head units to run third-party navigation apps instead of its own Maps service. As expected, Waze was the first on board, then more followed suit, including TomTom NaviGO. But all of those are made for typical...
Google bans 'sugar daddy' apps from Play Store
It's part of the company's restrictions on sexual content
Today, Google published a handful of changes to its Play policies and nestled among precise legalese refinements and some advertising ID tweaks is a bombshell for a certain type of dating crowd. Google's updated its inappropriate content policy...
Google will start enforcing its new anti-spam Play Store policies in September
Your Play Store search results should start to look a whole lot cleaner
Update
Dates for policy changes
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...
Google Voice is letting you go scorched earth on your SMS thread history
Along with a bunch of other new fan-requested features
It might not be one of Google's most-used services, but Voice fans are as dedicated as they come. Although the app doesn't receive attention as often as many of us might wish for, today's your lucky day. Voice is getting four long-awaited features...
Videoleap editor makes the jump from iOS to Android
But you'll have to pay up quite a bit to get the full version
Do you take videos on your phone? Do you subsequently need to remove and/or rearrange portions of those videos, along with more subtle changes? Do you find the app that came with your phone to achieve this purpose underwhelming? Then You...
Final Fantasy I, II, and III launch on Android a day early as pixel-art remasters
And they're gonna cost ya
On July 1st, Square Enix tweeted that the first three Final Fantasy titles would be coming to mobile as remasters on July 29th. Well, it would appear someone has pulled the trigger a little early, and so all three are now available on the Play Store. This is why the...
NieR Re[in]carnation lands on Android with one small caveat
You can't play yet, but the servers should go live soon
We've known for a while that NieR Re[in]carnation would land on Android on July 28th, but thanks to a recent tweet that hinted at a delay, some were left wondering when the game would actually launch. Well, right now, you can indeed install the...
Dr. Mario World is at death’s door a little over two years after its release
A tough pill to swallow, but it's ending November 1st
It looks like all those pills Dr. Mario was prescribing willy-nilly have ended his career. Nintendo has announced that Dr. Mario World isn't long for this world, and so the game will be shut down on November 1st. Starting today, the title's...
Here's what the Play Store's take on Apple's privacy labels might look like
The mockups for the new safety section are "directional" and for developers, but Google says they may pan out
Back in May, Google announced that the Play Store was also getting App Store-style privacy labels, one-upping Apple's implementation by requiring extra information about customer security,...
Waze's new pre-drive display shows all the crap you want to avoid on your morning commute
Get to your destination just a little bit faster
Whether you're headed out on a road trip or back into the office, knowing the best way to drive from one place to the next is essential to avoid headache-inducing obstacles. Waze is already one of the best alternatives to Google Maps, utilizing crowdsourced...
14 temporarily free and 22 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday
Don't miss out on the sales for Lovecraft's Untold Stories, Runic Curse, and Arrog
Welcome to Wednesday, everyone. It would appear that things have cooled down for the middle of the week, but I still have a few standouts to share with everyone. First up is Lovecraft's Untold Stories, an enjoyable...
Telegram beta lets you share your screen during a video call
Plus video playback speeds and more
It's no secret that Telegram development moves at 10x the speed of other messengers. No sooner had we learned about some new features than we discover there's a newer update with even more interesting things to try. This is the case today with an update to Telegram...
Spotify is getting a redesigned mini player UI with a more modern look
Rounded corners and fancy colors seem to be the order of the day
The Spotify design team likes to keep moving, which means we often get fresh elements here and there, either in testing or rolling out for real. This latest redesign is one of the most expressive we've seen for some time, introducing...
All the free games included with Stadia Pro
Five new games in August, including Killer Queen Black and new release Grime
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...
Samsung's Good Lock modules prep exciting new features in anticipation of One UI 3.1.1
Icon theming is already available to try
Back in June, Samsung's Good Lock module NiceCatch confirmed the existence of One UI 3.1.1 by mentioning it in its changelog. Now the manufacturer is set to launch the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 next month, and we're expecting to see the debut of One UI 3.1.1...
Google TV on your phone now supports more streaming services, including YouTube TV
Also Google stretched out the interface a little bit
Google's TV-focused branding is kind of weird. So when I say Google TV, am I talking about A) the short-lived precursor to Android TV, B) the new interface that runs over Android TV (but isn't exactly the same thing), C) the thing that let you buy...
Google Photos is all click-click-click now and it's enormously satisfying
A more tactile experience for your cloud library
It's no secret that haptics are becoming an increasingly important factor in smartphones. Android haptics have always been a bit of a mixed bag, requiring a mix of premium hardware and excellent software. As these components continue to improve each...
It looks like Google is building an iOS-to-Android migration app
After the Data Restore Tool surfaced on the Play Store, teardowns point to Google's plans
Update
Teardown points to a 'Switch to Android' iOS app coming
You might not be familiar with the name Data Restore Tool, but odds are most of our readers have actually seen the app in action before — if not...
Here are 817 apps and games available on Google Play Pass right now
All the apps you can get for free on Play Pass (that we've found)
Google Play Pass, a program that gives subscribers no-charge, ad-free access to premium apps and apps with premium features, launched in 2019 with over 350 titles on its roster. Thing is, though, Google doesn't make it easy to suss...
The Google Phone app is getting a streamlined settings menu
Along with new categories and icons
Google loves to shuffle up its settings menu every so often. Whether it's adding a splash of color to Android's settings (before taking it away on a whim) or introducing a search bar to help you find exactly what you need, even the slightest tweak can streamline...
The Google Pay virtual card for retail stores is now appearing in the app
At least for some users
Update
Virtual cards now rolling out
Google relaunched its Pay app last year, placing a greater focus on sending money between friends and family. Having a built-in Venmo alternative on Android is great, but users who actually want to use their newfound cash have been stuck...
Marvel's next collection-based beat 'em up finally has a release date
Arriving August 25th
Latest update
Marvel Future Revolution is arriving at the end of next month
Marvel recently revealed at PAX East 2020 that its next game is coming to mobile as an open-world RPG called Marvel Future Revolution. This title will serve as a follow-up to Netmarble's Marvel: Future...
Google brings Android Data Restore Tool to the Play Store following backup overhaul
The timing strikes us as curious
You might not be familiar with the name Data Restore Tool, but odds are most of our readers have actually seen the app in action before — if not when setting up a new phone for the first time, then occasionally as an aside in our coverage when we cover the topic. It's...
Discord teases threaded conversations, which might make you hate it less
Feature launch comes tomorrow after a month of testing
Messaging client Discord is about to give its users a ball of yarn, teasing a threading feature that will officially debut tomorrow.
The announcement was posted to the company's Twitter account midday today.
pic.twitter.com/EbkxHNSVc0
— Discord...
Google Pay's big push past 3,000 US banks continues with 17 more
No, YOU'RE a bank
Latest update
17 new ones
Google Pay has come a long way over the years, most recently with a complete redesign now under its belt. Not too long ago we crossed an eagerly anticipated milestone for the mobile payment app, with the service finally surpassing more than 3,000 banks...
The best racing series you've never heard of is about to get a new mobile entry
Rush Rally is ramping up for a new release on Android, pre-registration now available
It's official, a new Rush Rally is coming to Android, and it recently entered into pre-registration on the Play Store. This is the long-awaited follow-up to Brownmonster Limited's Rush Rally 3, and this time around,...
Contra blasts its way onto mobile as a side-scrolling shooter, and so far fans aren't happy
It's called Contra Returns, and we'd all be better off if it hadn't
Contra is a classic run and gun shooter from Konami that has seen many followups since its debut in 1987 as an arcade game. It would seem Konami saw fit to lend the license to Tencent, so TiMi Studio developed a free-to-play interpretation...
