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Developers can now start building new categories of Android Auto apps
Tools for developing navigation, parking, and charging apps have entered open beta
Earlier this summer, Google announced new categories of apps coming to Android Auto, including navigation, parking, and electric vehicle charging apps. Starting today, developers everywhere can begin testing out these categories with the Android for Cars App Library open beta.
Talking trash on Discord is much more fun now with stickers
But they probably aren't coming to your country yet
Discord is a popular platform for communicating these days, and it's not just for gamers. The app has tested bottom navigation and added support for Google Play subscriptions recently, but there's one thing it hasn't had: stickers. Stickers are one of the most fun ways to express ourselves, and now they're coming to Discord officially.
Hey Google, what's the song that's all: da daaaa da da daaaa na naa naa ooohh yeah
Humming is now the simplest way to search for songs
Google Search has long been able to identify songs playing nearby. After waiting anxiously for it to arrive, it finally rolled out for Google Assistant in 2017. Now Google's music identifying capabilities are getting an upgrade: finding the song stuck on the tip of your tongue is now as easy as humming into your phone.
PlayStation 5 now supports Remote Play on Android (APK Download)
Of course, that's pretty much useless right now
Gaming has always been one of the most fun ways to spend your time, and it has only become more accessible recently with the introduction of cloud gaming services like Stadia and xCloud. Sony brought its Remote Play app to all Android devices last year, and now it's being updated with support for the upcoming PlayStation 5 console.
Google Assistant is on everything from alarm clocks to refrigerators. The latest move to bring the helpful AI assistant to more places sees Google and Samsung teaming up to integrate Assistant with Samsung's latest lineup of smart TVs.
Ever since Google announced back in 2017 that Hangouts would be split into the Chat and Meet apps, consumers have been curious about when to expect major changes. We started seeing the first signs of the transition earlier this year, and now Google is letting Hangouts holdovers know what to expect going forward — including the plans for Google Fi and Google Voice customers.
US unlocked models are now eligible for Samsung's public beta release of One UI 3
Only three devices are eligible right now
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Samsung has been hard at work preparing the next One UI release based on Android 11. We got a taste of what's in store thanks to a changelog seen earlier this month, and yesterday, the public beta began rolling out to S20 devices in South Korea. Now it looks like users from other areas are getting in on the fun — and here's how you can too.
Google Play Store takes hamburgers off the menu in latest UI test
This is probably better for gesture navigation and big screens
The Google Play Store is one of the most important apps on any phone, which is probably why Google is always tweaking it here and there. Last year, the Play Store received its biggest visual overhaul in a while, and this summer the app starting rolling out new search filters and experimenting with a redesign of the My Apps screen. In this latest test, Google is getting rid of the Play Store's hamburger menu.
YouTube Music now lets free users download playlists containing uploaded songs
Uploads get a little bit closer to being first class citizens
YouTube Music has been picking up features like crazy over the past few months. Google's latest music streaming effort has added support for asking Assistant to play personal playlists, viewing lyrics on the web, and even an improved Android TV experience. The latest change to the platform sees free users gaining the ability to download uploaded songs contained in playlists.
OnePlus 8T earns coveted honor of being the first phone this week to get an A+ from DisplayMate
Better than an F, I guess
OnePlus has been releasing some phones featuring pretty well-received displays, and it looks like the new OnePlus 8T is no different. We praised the panel in our review, and now DisplayMate has awarded the OnePlus 8T with its highest A+ grade ever — just like it did earlier this year with the OnePlus 8 and last year with the OnePlus 7 Pro.
Amazon has a Moto phone for everyone with savings of up to $205
From the Moto Edge to the Moto E, there are options at every price point
Motorola may not be the same company it once was, but the phones it produces are still some of the best in the US when it comes to value. For Prime Day, Amazon is offering savings of up to $205 off a variety of Motorola's best phones, from the high-end Moto Edge to the basic Moto E, there are options for every budget.The flashiest phone on sale right now is definitely the Moto Edge. It's normally $699.99, but it's currently discounted to just $494.99. When Ryan reviewed it earlier this year, he said the battery "lasts so long on a charge you'll get tired of holding it." There are also tons of choices from Moto's G, E, and One lineups, like the Moto G Stylus (it's like a cheaper Galaxy Note) and this year's Moto E, which brings everything a basic smartphone needs to the table for just over a hundred bucks.
Check your email: Google is giving out $10 store credit for some recent purchases
Sadly, I'm not one of them
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At its event last month, Google introduced a bunch of new hardware, including a refreshed Chromecast and a new Nest Audio speaker. There's already some killer promotional bundle pricing, but now Google is making the deals even sweeter by sending out $10 credits to people who have recently purchased a Google product — but not everyone is getting lucky.
In an effort to forget 2020, Sony brings Android 9 Pie to select TVs
The company plans to upgrade many models released between 2016 and 2019
Android TV is being rebranded as Google TV, but who knows how long that will take. In the meantime, Sony has been working on updating older devices. The company's Android TVs from 2015 got updated to Oreo a few months ago, and now it looks like Android 9 Pie is coming to many devices from 2016 and later.
Searching Google for the wrong thing at the wrong time could put you on the police's radar
Court records show Google is giving data to police based on search keywords
Google has been talking big about user privacy lately, but how far does that actually extend? Newly released court documents show that Google has given authorities broad swaths of information revealing not just an individual's search history, but disclosing everyone who has searched for specific keywords at the wrong time.
Pick up a 4K Pixelbook Go with 16GB of RAM for $1,200 on Amazon ($200 off)
If you're going to get a Chromebook, this is one of the best
Google released the company's newest laptop, the Pixelbook Go, last year alongside the Pixel 4. It's a beautifully designed computer with specs that go up against the best in the category. We liked it, but the price was too high for most people to seriously consider buying it. Right now, though, Amazon is offering savings of up to $200 on select Pixelbook Go models like the top-of-the-line i7 variant with 16GB of RAM.The Pixelbook Go can go toe-to-toe with other high-end laptops thanks to an 8th Gen Intel i7 Processor and 16GB of RAM. Considering that Chrome OS is built to run on lower-end hardware, this should make the experience buttery smooth on Google's flagship Chromebook. Chrome OS might have started as a cloud-based operating system, but the Pixelbook Go has a full 256GB of storage. It also lasts up to twelve hours on a charge while weighing barely two pounds.
Forget the 3.5mm jack and snag Anker's Soundcore Liberty Air 2 wireless earbuds for just $70 ($30 off)
Bluetooth 5.0, wireless charging case, and 7 hours of battery life
Bluetooth earbuds are quick and convenient to use, and as wireless audio products grow in popularity, higher-quality options get cheaper. Right now you can snag a pair of Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds for just $69.99 — a full $30 off from Amazon and Best Buy.The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 might not have the same Assistant integration as Google's Pixel Buds, but they provide a reliable experience when it comes to the essentials. These Bluetooth 5.0 buds provide a full seven hours of listening on a single charge, and the charging case extends that with an additional 21 hours. Audio quality should be adequate for all but the most discerning listeners with driver domes "inspired by the ultra-hard structure of diamonds" that maintain their rigidity even when vibrating at high frequencies.
Google could be forced to sell Chrome if the Justice Department gets its way
A potential path to curbing Google's advertising dominance
Google has been in hot water with government authorities time and time again, most recently when it comes to its acquisition of Fitbit in the EU. Now it looks like Google might have more tough times ahead in its home territory as the US Justice Department is reportedly considering forcing Google to sell the Chrome browser along with parts of its advertising business.
The days leading up to Black Friday are some of the best times to get great deals on a new TV. Sony is one of the most reputable names out there, and right now, you can save up to $800 on some of the company's 4K Android TVs from Amazon and Best Buy — including both OLED and LED options.There are four sets on sale currently, including three from the MASTER series. These models include 55", 65", and 77" sizes with gorgeous 4K OLED panels powered by Sony's X1 processor for pure blacks, peak brightness, and natural colors. They run Android TV (soon to be Google TV) and support Google Assistant, Alexa, and Homekit integration.Also on sale is a 75" set that also runs Android TV with a 4K display, although it's an LED panel rather than OLED. This means it won't achieve the same levels of pure blacks, but this TV still runs the X1 processor and supports the same smart home integrations.
Facebook Messenger attempts to keep things fresh with new logo and smattering of features
Look, it has a gradient now!
Facebook has been working on unifying Instagram's messaging system with its own Facebook Messenger app since earlier this summer, and now the company is announcing a refreshed look for Messenger complete with new chat themes, custom reactions, and a more colorful logo.
Upgrade your TV on the cheap with Roku deals starting at $21
The Roku Express, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick+ are all on sale
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Google may have released a new Chromecast earlier this month, but Roku was offering dongles paired with remotes long before Google joined the scene. In order to compete against the Googz, Roku is now offering deals on three of its most popular streaming sticks — and they start at prices as low as $21 from Amazon, Best Buy, and Roku.Roku Express, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick+ are the dongles on sale. These streaming sticks have an understated, compact design. They might look boring compared to Google's new product, but they aren't made to stand out — the Roku Express even comes with mounting adhesive so you can stick it wherever it blends in best. Amazon and Best Buy are both offering these deals, but Best Buy tacks an extra ninety-nine cents onto the price tags.