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Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can now stream music videos in the app
YouTube Music beware, Bezos is coming for you
Amazon Music is just one of many music streaming services out there, but the shopping giant has been pouring some resources into making its offer a viable alternative to Spotify, Apple Music, and Co. The Android app has only recently gained support for behind-the-scenes tidbits and trivia about top songs, and no serious streaming service can go without podcast support these days. Now Amazon has decided to take on YouTube Music with its own catalog of music videos, rolling out to Unlimited subscribers.
OnePlus Buds are failing left and right
Well, mainly left since that earbud appears to be the problem
The OnePlus Buds might be great cheap Apple AirPods alternatives, but of course, that's only true when they actually work. It seems that many people who have purchased the $80 earbuds are experiencing a strange defect leaving the left earpiece completely silent, with no way to recover it. Affected customers are encouraged to exchange their Buds under warranty, though it looks like new units aren't immune to the issue, either.
Nest Wifi routers can now prioritize video conferencing as well as gaming traffic
No more "Everybody stop streaming their Netflix shows, mama's got a Zoom meeting!"
Google's routers are already packed with intelligent features like network stats, manual device prioritization, Wi-Fi pause options, or device grouping — not to mention the integrated smart speaker in the Nest Wifi. To further improve on these options, Google has decided to add the ability to automatically prioritize certain traffic via the Home app, such as video conferencing or gaming.
Spotify finally lets you edit playlist details and artworks on Android
The options are starting to pop up on a few phones
When Spotify isn't busy adding things no one asked for, such as Instagram-like stories or exclusive podcasts, the company sometimes improves existing features. It looks like revamped playlist editing for Android is up next. A few people on the Spotify subreddit report that they can now tweak their playlists' cover arts and subtitles on top of being able to change the title and song order.
Spotify is publicly testing its own version of Stories
Because that just makes perfect sense, right?
It looks like Spotify didn't want to be left out in the cold when Twitter introduced its Snapchat stories clone Fleets. The music streaming service has started publicly testing its own version of stories, an exclusive way for artists and companies to connect with their audience.
Google Photos introduces new doodle-y collage designs for showing off your pics
Populating your Recent Highlights
Google Photos is full of great memories constantly resurfacing in the Instagram Stories-like Recent Highlights that show up in the carousel at the top of your photos. The company has decided to tweak the collages consisting of multiple pictures that show up there with doodled backgrounds, making them more shareable on social media without further effort on your part.
Twitch finally supports any two-factor authentication app
Say goodbye to Authy and insecure SMS authentication
Twitch has supported two-factor authentication for a long time, but the company went out of its way to make it as inconvenient as possible. You were either limited to insecure SMS messages or had to use Authy and its proprietary 2FA API. Thankfully, Twitch has announced that it's launching support for any 2FA authentication apps, like any web service should. The streaming service even entices you with six exclusive emotes.
Asus is among the better-known Chromebook manufacturers, and it's not too long ago that it launched the Chromebook Flip C436. And now the touchscreen-equipped convertible is already discounted by $100 on Amazon and Best Buy ahead of Black Friday. You can get the i3 128GB/8GB version for $700 and the i5 512GB/16GB variant for $800.Our own Corbin Davenport liked the machine quite a lot in his review, and this deal mitigates one of his pain points: The price. At the discounted $700 and $800, the laptops still aren't exactly cheap, but they manage to justify the price with outstanding performance and an excellent build quality. Both have a full HD 14-inch screen with small bezels, Wi-Fi 6 support, and an SSD, which is a component many other Chromebooks cheap out on. For regular internet browsing, the i3 version should be more than enough, but if you need a little more storage and future-proofing, you should choose the i5 variant.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 might support biometric Bixby voice unlock
Could come as part of One UI 3.1, but details are sparse
The Samsung Galaxy S21 shouldn't be too far out if previous generations are any indications. As such, more and more details about the series consisting of three phones are surfacing — our own Max Weinbach was one of the first revealing tons of specs. Now SamMobile has come forward with additional information on the software. Its sources claim that the Galaxy S21 will come with biometric voice unlock powered by Bixby.
Google Opinion Rewards is a great tool for earning some extra money you can spend on the Play Store, potentially financing almost any app you could ever want to purchase or your subscription needs. And now, Android users in Thailand can also finally take advantage of it, seven years after the app became available in the US.
Today is Thanksgiving Day, and while a global pandemic spoils the festive spirit all around the country, Google is trying its best to make its most loyal fans happy. People who are part of the not-so-secret Superfan program are currently receiving emails telling them that they're in for a gift: Three high-quality prints of the Pixel 5, 4a 5G, and 4a.
How to install the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 theme on your phone (APK Download)
All aboard the hype train
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The OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition may be limited to China, but that shall not stop you from experiencing its theme on the phone you already own. @linuxct is back at it with ports that works on any handset running Android 8 or higher. Here are a few APKs you'll need to become a samurai.
T-Mobile OnePlus 8T gets always-on display more than a month late
Carrier-branded versions always draw a short stick somewhere
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It took OnePlus long enough, but the company finally introduced an always-on display option (and an easily toggleable dark mode) with its latest Android 11-based firmware. However, the always-on display option is missing from Oxygen OS 11 on the T-Mobile carrier variant of the OnePlus 8T, as Redditor u/konnesotan was quick to point out. When we reached out to T-Mobile, we were told that the feature should be added in December.
Hangouts group video calls are dead, with users now pushed to Meet
Hit that video call button to ... generate a Meet link?
Hangouts has been pronounced dead uncountable times, but Google's ill-fated attempt at an instant messaging service is kicking and fighting its demise. Now Google has taken another step to replace its old messenger with Meet and Chat, as group video calls have become unavailable on Android and the web following the latest app update.
Google is going all-in on turkey fun this Thanksgiving
New Duo filters and a turkey timer on the Assistant on top of a Translate easter egg
Following its English to turkey translations in Search, Google has introduced some more fun Thanksgiving Easter eggs. On smart speakers and displays, the company has added a small audible and visual surprise when you tell the Assistant to set a turkey timer, and there is a new turkey filter in Duo that you can use for some laughs with your family while socially distancing.
Stadia exec says 400 games are in development for the platform
That's quite a few more than its current catalogue of about 150 titles
Stadia wasn't off to a great start and still has trouble positioning itself as a viable alternative to the just-launched PlayStation 5 and the new Xbox Series, but Google is finally starting to gain some traction with promotions and hype. And it really looks like the company and third-party developers are committed to the platform. Stadia's director of games Jack Buser told MobileSyrup that his team "built a roadmap of about 400 games in development right now from 200 developers."
Google created a Mandalorian AR experience, only available on select 5G phones (APK Download)
This is not the way
It looks like 5G is the standard of choice in a galaxy far, far away, as Google and Lucasfilm have teamed up to create a Mandalorian AR experience that is only available on 5G Pixel phones and "other select 5G Android" handsets. Interestingly enough, you don't actually need to be on a 5G connection to get in on the fun, and when we sideloaded the app to older, 4G-only phones, we noticed that the experience is running just fine.
Gmail's right sidebar makes it easy to access information at a glance. You can view your calendar, your tasks, or your notes right next to your emails, allowing you to cross-reference information and avoid appointment conflicts. And now Google has announced a new addition to the sidebar: Contacts. Once it rolls out to you over the next two weeks, you'll be able to view all of a contact's details neatly organized next to their messages.
Google Podcasts reaches 50 million downloads on Android, so someone is clearly using it
Podcasts only became a viable product over the last year
Google Podcasts may not be superior to many third-party podcast players out there, but it's free and readily available on any device and lets you pick up your listening session on a smart home speaker via voice. That alone might be worth a lot to many people, and it seems that Google Podcasts resonates with at least 50 million users — that's the milestone the app just reached on the Play Store.
Flipboard was one of the first AI-supported news aggregators, and it's still the first choice for many people. The company only recently tried to insert itself into the conversation by launching a paid video service with partners like Variety, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal, and now it's back with something many people have actually been asking for: A dark mode.