Apps and Updates

1,634 'Apps and Updates' stories June 2013 - January 2019

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10 Android applications to kick-start your 2019 [Video]

Damien Wilde Jan 2 2019 - 10:48 am PT

There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps to choose from the Google Play Store, the issue is that most of these are downright terrible. For that reason, we’ve collated a few core apps that you need to really kickstart your 2019. Some you might already have or heard of and with good reason, many are near the top of the download charts because of just how good they are. But even with that said, there are bound to be some that you may never have even considered.
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Moto Z3 Android Pie

Moto Camera for Moto Z3 and Z3 Play update includes new selfie portrait mode, AR stickers and more

Damien Wilde Dec 11 2018 - 6:07 am PT

I wasn’t massively impressed with the Moto Z3 Play, it wasn’t exactly a fully realized device in my opinion. That said, it had some great camera controls and a nice clean camera experience. The most recent Motorola camera updates have added a slew of new features including a brand new selfie portrait mode — which is available for all Moto devices — AR Stickers for the Moto Z3 and Moto Z3 Play alongside new image watermarking features.
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Google has reinstated SMS and call access to Tasker

Damien Wilde Nov 19 2018 - 6:09 am PT

Google Play Store Android

We reported last week that popular Android automation app, Tasker, had been denied access to call logs and SMS send, receive and read functions. That meant the disabling of a multitude of app features due to Google’s policy to protect the privacy of users. Google has since restored Tasker access to these functions so long as the developers adhere to some rules and regulations.
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OnePlus Switch application now supports iPhone data transfer

Damien Wilde Nov 7 2018 - 9:58 am PT

The OnePlus Switch application makes the often frustrating process of swapping or upgrading your phone a bit more simplified. But until now, those switching from iPhone to a OnePlus device couldn’t switch as conveniently. Now, a new update today changes that. iPhone users can now download the OnePlus Switch on their phone and use it to transfer contacts, photos, videos and even messages.
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OnePlus 6T receives release day update w/ Nightscape, face unlock improvements

Damien Wilde Nov 1 2018 - 5:55 am PT

The OnePlus 6T has barely been announced, let alone made available, but OxygenOS has already received an update to tweak a few of the new software additions as well as some general bug fixes.
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WhatsApp introduces long-awaited stickers, rolling out in the next few weeks

Damien Wilde Oct 26 2018 - 3:07 am PT

The world’s most popular messaging platform has finally added the ability to send stickers in conversations and group chats. Having been available in just about every other messaging platform, this will be a welcome addition to the millions who use WhatsApp daily.
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Google News

Google News bug burns through excessive data, one user sees $240 bill

Damien Wilde Oct 23 2018 - 6:13 am PT

Spare a thought for one poor Google News user who, due to an application background refresh error, received a data bill for $240 having used 7.65GB of extra data whilst charging overnight.
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Adobe Premiere Rush CC launches on Android in 2019, YouTube-centric video editing app

Damien Wilde Oct 15 2018 - 7:23 am PT

Adobe has officially announced their latest mobile-targeted video editing software called Premiere Rush CC, which is now available on desktop and iOS devices, with Android support expected in 2019. A stripped down version of the bigger Adobe Premiere Pro, this software is clearly targeted at YouTube creators or those who create content for social media.
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Expanded version of Google Safety Center now available in six European countries

Damien Wilde Oct 8 2018 - 6:25 am PT

Google Safety Center

As of today, the expanded version of Google Safety Center will now be available in six European countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. More countries and languages will be available in the coming weeks.
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Apps and Updates

New NASA Android app lets you take selfies in space

Ben Lovejoy Aug 23 2018 - 4:27 am PT

If selfies in front of famous world landmarks don’t cut it any more, NASA now lets you go one better: a new app lets you take selfies in space …

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Apps and Updates

Secure chat app could prove key to unmasking violent Charlottesville white supremacists

Ben Lovejoy Aug 8 2018 - 4:34 am PT

A secure chat app called Discord could prove the key to revealing the identities of white supremacists attending the Charlottesville rally last August – and proving that they went there with intent to commit violence …

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Apps and Updates

Do you know your monthly spend on digital subscriptions? A survey suggests not …

Ben Lovejoy Jul 30 2018 - 7:14 am PT

A survey of 2,500 Americans suggests that most people have got very little idea how much they spend on digital subscriptions – on average, underestimating the cost by a factor of three …

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Apps and Updates

Match-owned Hinge dating app uses ‘stable marriage’ AI algorithm for its matches

Ben Lovejoy Jul 12 2018 - 5:26 am PT

If you’re single and tired of swiping on photos or browsing endless profiles in the hope of the perfect match, a dating app is now using an AI algorithm to do the work for you …

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Google’s Jacquard jacket gets new ‘Illuminate’ and ‘Find My Phone’ abilities

Stephen Hall Dec 15 2017 - 2:12 pm PT

Google and Levi’s Jacquard-enabled jacket only just became available for the average consumer at the end of September, but Google is now pushing out its first substantial app update. It adds a couple of interesting, albeit minor, new abilities to the capacitive-fabric-bearing garment.

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Niantic wants Harry Potter to work his magic on its next AR game after Pokémon GO [Update]

Noah Stahl Nov 8 2017 - 8:34 am PT

[Update: we do have confirmation from Niantic this game is currently in development.]

Niantic is now famous for one of the highest grossing mobile games of all time with Pokémon GO. But what is next for the developer? Niantic seems to have set its sights on yet another enormous fan base with plans for a Harry Potter mobile augmented reality game.

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Split-Screen Creator brings the Galaxy Note 8’s ‘App Pair’ feature to any Android phone

Joe Maring Sep 1 2017 - 7:59 am PT

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 is a fairly modest upgrade from the Galaxy S8/S8+ and deceased Note 7. While the dual-camera system is a nice addition to Samsung’s product lineup, the truly interesting tidbits for the Note 8 lie within its software. Thanks to a new app called “Split-Screen Creator”, you can now get one of the Galaxy Note 8’s most interesting features on any Android phone.

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YouTube TV is now available in 12 more US cities, total count now up to 41

Joe Maring Aug 31 2017 - 11:21 am PT

YouTube TV trial

Exactly two weeks ago, YouTube TV was expanded to 14 additional areas throughout the United States. This made the service available in 29 different markets throughout the US, and today, YouTube TV is being added to 12 more popular locations.

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Pixel Launcher for any Android device updated with new 8.0 Oreo features

Joe Maring Aug 25 2017 - 3:50 pm PT

In June, a launcher from developer AmirZ popped up that mostly brought Google’s Pixel Launcher to any Android device — including the Google Search pill, Google Feed cards, and plenty more. With the recent release of Android 8.0 Oreo, AmirZ has released a new 2.0 version of the launcher that brings a lot of new features and goodies to sink your teeth into.

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Google is bringing video previews in search results to Android

Joe Maring Aug 18 2017 - 3:23 pm PT

When searching for something on your phone, you typically want to find what you’re looking for ASAP so you can get on with the rest of your day. Today, Google is helping you do just that with the release of video previews in search results on Android.

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The Google app now helps you keep track of pollen during allergy season

Joe Maring Aug 16 2017 - 9:50 am PT

As great as summer is for having cookouts with friends and swimming, it’s also one of the worst times of year for people that suffer with seasonal allergies. Thanks to a new update to the Google app, you can now keep tabs on the pollen count in your area to see when you’re most likely to be all sorts of stuffed up and congested (Yay!)…

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Google testing a fresh coat of paint for current location menu in Google Maps

Joe Maring Aug 15 2017 - 6:37 am PT

Update: It turns out Android Police spotted this feature back in July, so it’s not as new as we thought.

Following a couple of in-the-works features we discovered in the Google Phone and Contacts app yesterday, our latest finding has to do with Google Maps. This recently-uncovered change in Maps is far from ground-breaking, but it’s a nice visual revamp that adds to the overall aesthetic of the app.

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Google Contacts app could soon bring QR codes, slightly redesigned contact cards

Joe Maring Aug 14 2017 - 1:17 pm PT

Following the release of Google Contacts for most Android devices earlier today, more people than ever now have access to the app. After digging into the latest version of Google Contacts, we managed to enable a couple unreleased features in the latest version that could make managing your contacts with it even easier than it already is…

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Google is working on a new in-call home screen floating bubble for the Phone app [Video]

Joe Maring Aug 14 2017 - 9:18 am PT

With spam warnings, visual voicemail, a super clean UI, and more, Google’s Phone app has quite a lot to offer to folks rocking Pixel, Nexus, and Android One devices. We recently discovered a new feature deep in the Phone app that makes managing calls from your home screen much easier than before, and we managed to enable it in the latest version of the app so you can see it in action…

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Google Contacts is now available on all devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop or later

Joe Maring Aug 14 2017 - 8:26 am PT

One of the highlights for Pixel and Nexus phones is having access to all of the latest and greatest services from Google. Some of these features are limited to Google’s own phones, and while the Google Contacts app was previously one of those, that’s now thankfully changing.

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