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Google showed off Netflix integration with Google Home at the company's October 4 event. The feature would allow users to play Netflix content on Chromecasts, or Chromecast-compatible devices, with simple voice commands. Now the long-awaited feature appears to be going live for some users, along with Google Photos integration as well.
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- AirDroid has released the 4.0.0.3 update for Android, and the 3.3.5.3 update for the Mac/Windows clients, which fixes all known security flaws. The developers claim all communication channels are now HTTPS (why wasn't it that way from the beginning?) with an improved encryption method. You can download the Android client update from the Play Store, and the desktop clients from AirDroid's website.
A few days ago, independent security firm Zimperium released details about several major security flaws in the popular AirDroid application. In summary, attackers can easily intercept insecure requests to AirDroid's servers, as well as push malicious APKs to devices which appear as AirDroid add-on updates (which AirDroid then prompts the user to accept). Granted, the user has to be on an insecure Wi-Fi network for the attack to work, but it's still a major problem.
Rockstar's 'Bully' was originally released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2, centered around 15 year-old Jimmy Hopkins as he tries to rise through the ranks of the corrupt Bullworth Academy prep school. It generally received good reviews, and two years later, the Scholarship Edition was released for the Wii, Xbox 360, and PC.
Chrome 55 was released for the desktop a few days ago, and now the Android version has followed suit. If you've been using Chrome 55 beta, most of this should already be familiar, but there are a few new changes in store as well.
If you're not familiar, Google's Accelerated Mobile Pages project aims to make the mobile web faster and less data-heavy. Websites that choose to support it offer AMP versions of their pages, which are then loaded instead of the full site. Google mobile search and the mobile Google+ site already load AMP pages when available, and now the latter's native Android app is joining in.
Google is known for periodically offering free goodies to Chromecast owners. Most recently, Google gave three free months of HBO Now with purchase of a Chromecast. In the Chromecast Ultra's first promotion, you can grab a free copy of the Ghostbusters remake in 4K from Google Play Movies. It may not be the best-performing movie this year, but you can't beat free.
The history of Android on tablets is complicated. Just as Apple had done in 2007 with the first iPhone, the iPad's release in 2010 set a very high standard for the rest of the market. The next year, Google released Android 3.0 Honeycomb on the Motorola Xoom, designed specifically with tablets in mind. The Xoom wasn't the iPad killer that Motorola had hoped for, and there have been very few Android tablets that could stack up to Apple's iPad line.
A few months ago, I started working on a companion Chrome (and Opera) extension for APKMirror. The extension simply added a button next to the Install button on the Google Play Store, which searched the application on APKMirror (thus allowing you to easily download APKs). But over the course of development, the extension gained more and more abilities that should be in the Play Store already. Today, I am excited to finally release Toolbox for Google Play Store.
The smartphone industry has evolved rapidly in the past few years, and BlackBerry was a victim of complacency for much of that time. Finally in November of last year, the company caved in and released its first Android device - the BlackBerry Priv. It was too little too late, and BlackBerry has moved from developing its own hardware to rebranding existing phones, starting with the DTEK50.
The Nucleus Anywhere Intercom is one of many modern takes on the classic intercom. Instead of wiring microphones and speakers through your walls, the Nucleus Anywhere uses your home's Wi-Fi network to connect all the rooms in your house to each other. Now you can get a two-pack for just $298 ($100 off the normal price) if you order it through Alexa.Each of these nifty devices comes with the Alexa personal assistant (if you're in the US) and simple video/audio chat functionality. The Anywhere Intercom can chat with other intercoms in the same home, intercoms in another home, or even to users with the mobile app installed.To buy the Anywhere Intercom through Alexa, simply ask "Alexa, order a Nucleus intercom." If you don't have an Alexa-powered device laying around, but you really want the two-pack, you can buy it normally through Amazon for 8.[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nucleuslife.mobileapp[/EMBED_APP]Source: Amazon - Alexa Deals
The Google Pixel has been available in three colors - Very Silver, Quite Black, and the Limited Edition Really Blue. When the Really Blue model was sold out within hours of the Pixel's release, many worried it would not be re-stocked. Google confirmed to us last month that the color would eventually be available again, and now the day has come.
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- AirDroid has responded with a blog post on its website, explaining that they hope to have a fix ready within two weeks. Sand Studio was already working on AirDroid 4.0 at the time, and put all their resources into finishing the update before focusing on fixing the bug. I'm sure most developers would agree that AirDroid should have paused development on 4.0, released a fix for the bug, and continued work on 4.0 with the fix. In the meantime, AirDroid advises users to not connect to insecure Wi-Fi networks.
AirDroid is one of several services that allows Android users to send and receive text messages, as well as transfer files and see notifications, from their computer. According to the Play Store, AirDroid has somewhere between 10 and 50 million installs (not counting anyone directly installing the APK from the AirDroid website). Mobile security company Zimperium recently released details of several major security vulnerabilities in AirDroid, allowing attackers on the same network to access user information and even execute code on a user's phone.
Pebble is one of the best Kickstarter success stories. Predating the original Samsung Gear and Android Wear, Pebble's first fundraising campaign raised over $10 million and spawned multiple generations and models of e-paper wearables. But as many tech startups eventually do, Pebble is being acquired by wearable competitor Fitbit.
The first 'phone' (I use that term loosely) with Project Tango was the Lenovo Phab2 Pro. I recommend reading our review if you haven't already, but essentially Tango is the only appealing aspect of the device. It's bulky, not very fast, and expensive.
The Huawei Watch is easily one of the best Android Wear watches on the market right now, especially when it comes to design. There are a few different styles to choose from, some costing more than others. The Jewel/Pearl model, shown above with a gold finish and tiny jewels circling the display, is down to $349.99 on Amazon, B&H, and Walmart. That's a whopping $200 off the original price, by far the lowest it has ever been (the last lowest price was $470).If you're thinking to yourself, "What's the catch," there really isn't one. We gave the watch solid marks in our review, and with it being one of two watches with the Android Wear 2.0 preview, it's safe to say it will receive the finished update. If you think the Gold/Jewel design is too flashy, several other models are heavily discounted as well.Huawei Watch - Jewel/Pearl
Ever since Twitter integrated Periscope's streaming and viewing abilities into the Twitter mobile apps, there isn't much of a reason to have the separate app installed. Just in case you still use it, Twitter has released version 1.8.1 of the application with two new minor features - app shortcuts and new options while broadcasting.
Although the Google Home has recently been released, Amazon's Echo/Dot/Tap devices are still excellent. With far more abilities than Google Assistant has at the moment, Alexa is still the king (or queen?) assistant platform for controlling smart home devices and communicating with online services. Now you can grab Amazon's various Alexa-powered devices for lower prices.The largest cut is on the Amazon Echo, the company's main smart speaker with Alexa. It's only $139.99, a very respectable $40 drop from the original $179.99 price. The second-generation Echo Dot, essentially the Echo without built-in speakers, is $10 off at only $39.99. Finally, the Amazon Tap (a portable Echo) is $40 off at just $89.99.If you're thinking about buying any of these, the links to the Amazon pages are down below.Source: Amazon Echo, Amazon Echo Dot, Amazon Tap
One of many notable sales this Black Friday is on Amazon's line of Fire TV devices. Although not compatible with Google services like YouTube or Google Play Movies, the devices themselves are still excellent for the most part.Amazon's Chromecast competitor, the Fire TV Stick, is already a good deal at the regular $39.99. As opposed to the Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra, everything runs locally on the device itself - much like an Android TV. Now the device is just $29.99.The full-blown Fire TV is also $15 off, at just $74.99. The Fire TV is a major step up from the Fire TV Stick, with 4K video playback, 8GB of internal storage, and support for the full library of gamepad-compatible games on the Amazon App Store. There's also a 'Gaming Edition' for $114 ($15 off) with a Fire TV, game controller, two games, and a 32 GB microSD card.Finally, the Fire TV + HD Antenna Bundle is only $84.99 ($36 off). The bundle has a Fire TV, an AmazonBasics Ultra Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna, and an AmazonBasics HDMI cable. You can get all the details at the links below.Source: Fire TV Stick, Fire TV, Fire TV + Antenna Bundle, Fire TV Gaming Edition
Both last year's Chromecast and the new Chromecast Ultra are great deals for the functionality they offer, but every once in a while, Google throws in extra goodies with Chromecast purchases. This time around, Google is offering three free months of HBO Now if you buy a Chromecast or Chromecast Ultra.
Solitaire has been bundled with Windows since version 3.0, released all the way back in 1990. With Windows 8, Microsoft replaced it with 'Microsoft Solitaire Collection.' The new version offered more game modes, as well as achievements and cloud saves through Xbox Live, but famously included banner and full-screen advertisements unless you paid for the Premium edition.
