About Jules Wang
Jules joined the Android Police team in 2019. He currently contributes art for our stories and edits our podcast. Before that, he managed weekend news and wrote AP's newsletter.
Jules also contributes to our sister sites XDA-Developers and Pocket-lint. He also was editor at our now-sister site, Pocketnow.
Latest Articles
Amazon Echo devices in the US can now translate conversations as they happen
Someone needs to be speaking English
Amazon is bringing live translation to Alexa in the U.S. The voice assistant can now be called upon to detect a conversation in two languages and translate between them sentence by sentence or phrase by phrase.
Searching for a premium Android tablet that won't break the bank? Samsung's really the only place you'll find them, but because they hold value so well between generations, you can still enjoy a Galaxy Tab S6 with 256GB of storage for just $430!
Excessive demand forces Stadia to end Cyberpunk 2077 promo early
In Canada, stock ran out on the first official day of the campaign
Google seems to have massively underestimated the demand for its Cyberpunk 2077 promotion on Stadia. The company has announced that it has had to close its offer of free prerequisite gaming hardware to those who ordered the game about halfway through its intended campaign period.
Nest Hub Max doubles down on video calls with new Zoom support and big Google Meet improvements
Not so smart of a display if it took this long to get Zoom on it...
For a year defined by videoconferencing, our smart displays have not been able to keep up as a worthy companion — mostly because the apps either aren't there or aren't very good. But there's a giant improvement due for the cross-section of Nest Hub Max owners and Google Meet users and even bigger news for those on Zoom.
Google opens the door for 50 new AR animals to jump into your living room
Create your own barnyard!
Is it a barnyard in here or just me? Google is bringing 50 new animals as 3D models users can mess around with in augmented reality when using Search on mobile — some of them previously found in an APK teardown.
The forced switch to YouTube Music is leaving Sonos users in the cold
Google's feet have been dragging on this for more than a year
People who own Sonos speakers aren't having the best time dealing with the death of Google Play Music. YouTube Music, the app meant to replace it, has yet to adopt the seemingly basic ability to cast audio from mobile devices to robust thousand-dollar soundbars, much less achieve the promise of complete feature parity. As with many conflicts, there's no good reason for this chasm to exist and everyone to blame. But who should fix it?
The Stitcher app finally gets the makeover it needs with custom show groups and finer speed control
We're awaiting wide distribution of the upgrade
Stitcher, the podcast app fresh off an acquisition by Pandora, is about to roll out an overdue makeover for its Android users with better fine-tuning when it comes to browsing, playing, and tracking the shows you want to listen to.
Stadia is finally letting users live-stream their gameplay direct to YouTube
As of today, the option is slowly, but officially rolling out
More than a year after it was teased, it appears Stadia is prepared to roll out one of its most important features — some would say vital to its survival. Players may be able to stream their sessions directly to their YouTube accounts without the need for third-party software like OBS Broadcaster starting as soon as today.
Earlier today, we reported on Google Photos reaching the 5 billion install mark on Android. Well, the hits seem to keep on coming: Google Keep has planted its own landmark with its billionth load-in.
Google Photos frames up 5 billion installs on Play Store
The only Google app this year to do so
Google Photos has built its userbase off of free cellphone picture backups. Even as the company takes away the very perk that shot the service to popularity, things are still looking up: the app has garnered its 5 billionth installation.
YouTube's got 22 James Bond films free to stream, ready to fuel all your best-007 arguments
lol no daniel craig tho
It's that time of year where everyone's stuck in the house for one reason or another, so why not put on a movie? Maybe even a James Bond title? YouTube is offering 22 selections from the 007 universe for free viewing in the U.S. during the month of December.
Google letting News Showcase readers break through paywall at partner publishers
Feeding the need to know
In a bid to support the news publishing industry that's seemingly in constant financial crisis, Google has stepped up its commitment to the new News Showcase carousels with new placements and incentives to get readers engaged, including a way to swerve around paywalls.
Google's finally starting to highlight text messages from verified businesses
Verified SMS becoming more useful to Google Messages users
Companies engaging with their customers are now able to flip on an updated API to show their status as a verified business as well as a short profile while texting through Google Messages. Owners and representatives will also be able to chat with their customers through the Google Maps app.
Amazon's Alexa-enabled hi-fi amp on sale for a record low $210 ($90 off)
The Echo Link Amp is ready to pump 60W of power into your old speakers
High-fidelity audiophiles who are looking to keep around their legacy gear well into the 21st century can still smarten up their local airwaves with Amazon's Echo Link Amp — available today, away from the direct influence of consumerism holidays, for 30% off.
Discovery+ streaming service launching in January with up to a free year for Verizon subscribers
Series from Food Network, Trvl Channel, others available from January 4
Discovery, the name behind broadcast brands like the Food Network and Animal Planet, has announced that it will launch a non-fiction streaming catalogue of more than 2,500 programs called Discovery+ starting January 4. In the U.S., Verizon customers who sign onto new home and wireless internet plans will get up to 12 months of viewing for free.
Stadia makes Bomberman's free-for-all party game free for all to play
Pro subscribers also getting a week of free access to The Elder Scrolls Online
Online party games from the likes of Among Us to Jackbox Games are soaring in popularity as we all remain more distanced than we'd like to be this holiday season. Stadia hopes to drop a bomb of an option onto your table by making Super Bomberman R Online free to play for everyone starting today.
More glossy Galaxy S21+ renders appear for your viewing pleasure
Why are the rear cameras the most remarkable design elements this year?
Want new renders of the Galaxy S21+? You got 'em. Some more intelligence has surfaced on what's expected to be the middle child of three in Samsung's S21 generation of phones.
Dead Zebra gets nostalgic with limited-edition Google 20th anniversary bugdroid figurines
Technically should be 2017, but it's 2018 all over again
Read update
Dead Zebra is releasing vintage stock of a special edition bugdroid vinyl figurine celebrating Google's 20th anniversary. The figurines were originally distributed to Google employees back in 2018 — though the Google.com domain was registered in 1997 — but you can get your hands on some fresh stock while it lasts.
Ajit Pai stepping down as FCC chairman ahead of Biden inauguration
Conservative took heat for massive deregulation, fending off Trump moves
FCC chairman Ajit Pai has announced his intention to step down from his post when President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20. Pai's commissionership will be remembered for its intensive deregulation agenda and its somewhat adversarial relationship with the Trump administration.
Lenovo Smart Clock Essential review: It's a (time)keeper
If you need a clock and want a speaker, what more can you ask for?
The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential is not a massive leap in technology—it's a clock radio. A glorified clock radio. A more sensible, smart clock radio. But it's still a clock with a speaker. It tells the time and weather, and it's got Google Assistant. It's missing a few features, and the audio is about what you'd expect for $50, but I found it to be a great addition to my home. Whether or not you agree depends on what you want out of your Assistant devices, but there's a lot to like about the Smart Clock Essential.