Latest Articles
Unlimited-length Google Meet video calls remain free for all through March
Well, the time limit is actually 24 hours, but it's way more than a half-hour
You may remember way back when in May of 1920 2020 that Google made its relatively new enterprise-focused videoconferencing program Meet free for anyone to use. Everyone would be able to make free calls of unlimited length* through September 30. Well, just a day ahead of its expiration, the company has decided to extend that grace through March 31, 2021.
Citations formatter arriving¹ on Google Docs (1. Perhaps for all users?)
Officially still exclusive to G Suite customers, but who knows?
Read update
For most scholars in 2020, Google Docs will probably be the go-to choice to type up their five-page essay or 500-page dissertation. Unfortunately for said writers, the word processor has lagged behind its competitors when it comes to including an built-in citation management feature, forcing them to do it all by rote memory or with third-party add-ons and websites. But that will be the case no longer for G Suite customers as citation formatting has finally come to Docs!
OnePlus Nord's super-limited closed beta is now open — apply now
Here's what you need to join the group of 200
OnePlus runs one of the more public-facing software-testing operations among the phone makers we cover at Android Police and it's little surprise to see another launch of beta testing groups — this time for its latest phone, the Nord.
Chromecasts and Nest displays will soon show date and location of pictures in Google Photos slideshows
Date info was already sorta in there, so maybe it will be more 'in there?'
Read update
Call it a quality-of-life update or maybe even a "quality-of-memory" update: Google will soon begin listing dates and locations of users' own pictures if they have turned on Google Photos slideshows for their Nest displays and/or Chromecast screens. Display and Chromecast owners were emailed about the change which begins rolling out September 15.
Get Sony's big-chonkin' 26 lb. Bluetooth speaker today for just $198 ($152 off)
FM radio included! No, seriously
In many cases, bigger is better. Bigger also usually is louder and if louder is what you need, then you'll want to go as big as you can. How big? How about 26 pounds big? If you're ready for a lift, Sony's GTK-XB72 multi-purpose speaker is on sale today for $150 off.Ideally, you're not using this thing at your apartment, but maybe at a large backyard or at a (socially-distanced) function as an all-in-one party-maker: LEDs light up the box with its massive drivers — a trio of 2" tweeters and a pair of 6⅜" woofers — that takes power via AC. It can source audio from phones and tablets via Bluetooth, NFC pairing, and USB plus a line-in port and a built-in FM tuner. It can also use Bluetooth to daisy chain other wireless speakers for wider coverage.
Here's what a Pixel 4a 5G looks like in an alternate dimension
If, by 'alternate dimension,' you supposedly mean Vietnam...
We've gotten a few sneak peeks over the past couple of weeks of what the Pixel 5 might look like in full. The indications are there to say that Google is completely done with the dual-tone back design. But one should never turn down a venture into an alternative timeline — so it doe looks like with this one picture of what appears to be a Pixel 4a 5G prototype from Vietnam.
Check out monuments like the Brandenburg Gate, Moai from Easter Island, and Chichén Itzá in AR right from Google Search
37 historical and cultural sites have just been added
This year, Google's Arts & Culture project dove into a global exploration of cultural and historical wonders as a salve to the travel restrictions inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic — it was dubbed as a way to take a vacation without crossing borders. Now, the showcase is getting more than three dozen 3D models of artifacts and monuments for your eyes to take in, right from Google Search.
Samsung appears to be planning a change in battery capacity for the successor to the Galaxy S20+
A small bump for one large Galaxy
We know hardware obsessives like big batteries and they cannot lie. And with the way phones are growing these days, there comes the desire, maybe even a need to expand the power plant, too. As it is, we now have evidence that Samsung will pack in a bigger battery on the Galaxy S21+/S30+ than it did on the S20+.
Stream Disney+ on Nest Hub and other Google smart displays now
You can also Mickey-fy your Nest Mini!
Google is getting a good injection of Disney magic today with Disney+ shows now playing on smart displays and some new attire for your Nest Mini speaker.
Sony's premium 65" 4K HDR Android TV is on clearance at Best Buy for $1,620 ($180 off)
Looks super for a price you can't complain about
If you're looking for a flagship-tier TV for your lengthening chain of movie marathons, but can't afford the giant step up to OLED, you have a chance to get pretty darn close with a clearance deal on Sony's 65" Z9F 4K HDR set at Best Buy.
Here's what's changing as Google hands off Science Journal to Arduino
A new app is out, the old one goes away on December 11, and you can expect no functional weirdness except more Arduino board integrations
Like the world at large, schooling is a bit of a mess right now in these pandemic times. For students at home, that means missing out on precious laboratory time. Science Journal was a Google app that let amateur scientists use the sensors on their phones to perform simple, yet valuable experiments. We say "was" because open-source microcontroller designer Arduino has acquired the app and we have just learned from Google when a big transition will take place.
TikTok and WeChat spared from US bans for now (APK Download)
Still available on the Play Store and APK Mirror
The Trump administration's prospects for bans on Chinese social apps TikTok and WeChat appear to be shelved for now. The shutdowns that were supposed to commence today —as mandated by executive orders signed in August — have been delayed.
iRobot Roomba 960 hits record low price of $326 ($124 off) at Walmart
It's a classic yet functional robovac that won't have long to stay with a deal like this
We do like our robot vacuum cleaners here at Android Police and we certainly are keen to review them these days. If cleaning your floor has become enough of a drain to do, you might be like us, too. Lucky for you today that iRobot's Roomba 960 is available at Walmart for $124 off current market price.
Here's where West Coast states plan to test Apple and Google's express coronavirus notification program
UCSD and UCSF are confirmed, Oregon's reportedly talking with colleges and universities, no details from Washington yet
California, Oregon, and Washington have announced that they are participating in tests of Apple and Google's Exposure Notifications Express program. ENE integrates a set of contact-logging Bluetooth APIs that were deployed in public health apps earlier this year into a streamlined distribution flow for all Android and iOS phones while minimizing time and monetary costs for the states.
Nvidia Shield TV Pro gets AI upscaling to improve GeForce Now and GameStream graphics (APK Download)
Also, Steam games can be synced to GeForce Now as they are available
We live in a great age for video games where a lot of new stuff's pretty good and all the greats of yore are being remastered for our shiny 4K TVs. But say you're taking advantage of cloud-streamed games and you're really looking for that extra punch of detail? Perhaps it's best to own last year's Nvidia Shield TV Pro — the complementary Nvidia Games app has been updated to enable AI upscaling on the company's GeForce Now and GameStream platforms.
Amazon lets you share Alexa routines — Google should follow suit with Assistant
Nothing more simple than a URL to make your smart life that much easier
In July, Google announced that smart home appliance makers would be able to publish Assistant routines featuring their own Actions and ones recommended from partner brands. Amazon seems to be raising that move with its own: user-shareable Alexa routines.
Instagram Lite is back and barely changed after a 4-month hiatus (APK Download)
It was reported that the shutdown would make way for a completely rebuilt app, but evidence of that isn't clear at the moment
Facebook has quietly revived Instagram Lite, a boiled-down, visually-identical version of the social media app. The company pushed its first update to the publicly-listed APK in 11 months after having officially shuttered the service in May, purportedly for a revamp.
Amazon Music jumps into the podcasting game with original and exclusive shows
Podcasts are still where the money is in audio streaming
Spotify is pushing nearly all of its chips onto podcast browsing and production as a way to drive its revenues. Amazon may be looking to do the same for its Amazon Music service as it has enabled podcast streaming and is making a splash with what it can call its own shows including "Disgraceland," "That Scene with Dan Patrick," and new shows from Will Smith.
Google wants people to use Meet with its own Meet-y hardware bundles
Will managers spend thousands for AI-ified A/V kit for their socially-distanced offices?
Google is once again expanding its hardware offerings by getting into the webcam business — though, this bid screams more of Cisco than Logitech. The company is selling videoconferencing equipment bundles, titled Series One room kits, that revolve around the somewhat ubiquitous Google Meet conferencing service and what group meetings may look like in the near future.
Video shows how the pivot 'wing' in the LG Wing works
We've got the 'how' but we're still waiting on the 'why'
The LG Wing is the latest consumer handheld device to test the limits of people's wills to not go click-clack back and forth while flipping — or, in this case, swiveling — it open. With two screens, a pop-up camera, and a lot of screen real estate to go around, some will have questions about its durability and the company is trying to address them with performative CGI in a new video.