Getting updated to the latest version of Android as quickly as possible is something a lot of users care about, with good reason, but it tends to be a bit of a lottery depending on which device you own. Samsung is usually one of the better OEMs for updates, and it looks like its Android 9 Pie beta program is going to launch imminently.
Read MoreInBrief
[Update: New design hits stable] Goodreads has a beta program for bookworms on the bleeding edge
InBrief
Some Google Play app listings are incorrectly showing as beta versions
A new version started rolling out to the Play Store on the web last month and the reception has been decidedly mixed. Screenshots are now viewable in a lightbox, meaning they're larger, but scrolling can be slow and you can't use the arrows on your keyboard to cycle through them. Oh, and getting out of the lightbox did mean finding the tiny arrow in the top left rather than just clicking outside of the image, although that appears to have been fixed already.
While some of the UI changes may be frustrating, it seems there's another more functional bug with app listings.
Read MoreInBrief
[Update: Open beta] Google Files Go is an unreleased smart file manager that aims to keep your phone clean [APK Download]
A ton of devices these days have built-in 'cleaners,' and it looks like Google has been developing its own. It's called Files Go, and judging from the screenshots and the description, it does a lot of the things that phones like the Galaxy S8 have within the system. The beta program is currently closed, but we've got the APK.
Read MoreProblems installing the 8.1 Android Beta Program OTA should be resolved
In our post about Google pulling the Android 8.1 developer preview OTAs, many of you mentioned that you were also having trouble downloading the OTA from the Android Beta Program. Since the OTA downloads for sideloading had been pulled, that was the only way to move to 8.1 without an unlocked bootloader. Well, those problems should now be resolved.
Read MoreAndroid Wear beta program opens up for 8.0 Oreo, only available for LG Watch Sport
Now that Android 8.0 Oreo is out of beta and making its way onto devices in earnest, the Wear team is taking a turn with its own preliminary firmware update. Starting today, Google's Beta Program page is now distributing an early version of the next release of Android Wear. However, if you were looking forward to a lot of new features, you might be disappointed to hear that this is being referred to as a "technical upgrade to API 26" – mostly an update to the underlying infrastructure. On top of that, only one watch qualifies for betas at this time: The LG Watch Sport.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
HTC adds custom per-app squeeze actions to the U11's Edge Sense
The U11, HTC's second flagship phone of 2017, stands out from the crowd with its squeezable frame. The phone's software can perform custom actions based on how intensely you squeeze the phone - something that this year's Pixels might get too. Now the company is testing a beta update for the Edge Sense app, allowing users to set their own custom actions.
Read MoreGoogle introduces a beta program for Cast for Android TV
The Google Cast Receiver app is necessary if you want to cast to your Android TV as if it were a Chromecast. Unfortunately, it's had pretty poor reviews since its release and it's about time Google did something about it. In a bid to improve the experience for developers working with the Google Cast SDK, and in turn make the app less buggy, the company is opening up a beta program that will offer early access to the latest features.
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[Deal Alert] Anker Nebula Capsule portable projector drops to $265 on Amazon ($85 off)
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[Deal Alert] Google Daydream View 2017 on sale for $40 at Verizon ($60 off)
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[Deal Alert] Grab a refurbished Sonos Play:1 speaker for $119 ($30 off)
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57 temporarily free and 41 on-sale apps and games to start the week
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[Deal Alert] Lenovo Mirage Solo drops to $320-330 ($70-80 off), Mirage Camera down to $250 ($50 off)
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Latest Poll
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Pixel 3 and 3 XL review: Come for the camera, stay for everything else
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Nimble portable/wireless chargers review: Eco-friendly designs, but high prices for such low specs
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LG V40 review: The best LG's ever built still isn't quite enough
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Owl Car Cam review: An expensive LTE-powered dashcam with quite a few flaws
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Master & Dynamic MW07 review: Exceptional sounding true wireless earbuds, but probably too pricey for most
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Latest Roundups
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20 best new Android games released this week including FIFA Soccer: Gameplay Beta, Piffle, and Badland Brawl
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15 new and notable Android apps from the last week including Dig, Adaptive Brightness Tile, and DIY projects (10/6/18 - 10/13/18)
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[Bonus Round] Skyward Journey, Allan Poe’s Nightmare, ELOH, Laser Mazer AR/VR, Zentris, Pixel Puzzle Collection, and Glory Ages - Samurais
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20 best new Android games released this week including PAC-MAN: Ralph Breaks the Maze, Dig In: An Excavator Game, and Prince of Persia: Escape
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12 new and notable Android apps and live wallpapers from the last week including Yahoo Together, Run An Empire, and Brewy (9/30/18 - 10/6/18)
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Recent Apps and Games
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Trivia Crack 2 hands on: More of the same in a prettier package
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Adobe's new cross-device video editing app, Premiere Rush CC, is coming to Android in 2019
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PLAYERUNKNOWN'S Battlegrounds passes 100 million installs on the Play Store
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Google app v8.28 beta prepares for manually hiding Slices, more changes for a general settings page, and more [APK Teardown]
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57 temporarily free and 41 on-sale apps and games to start the week
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Blast from the Past
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1 Year Ago Today
Get the new Pixel 2 live wallpapers on any Android device [APK Download]
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2 Years Ago Today
Chrome Remote Desktop 53 adds remote sound support [APK Download]
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3 Years Ago Today
Play Store v5.10: Support For Books Listed By Series, More Visible App Sizes, And More [APK Teardown]
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4 Years Ago Today
Nexus 9 Gets The Video Hands-On Treatment, Shows Its Sleek Frame, New Lollipop App Drawer, And Some Camera Samples
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5 Years Ago Today
[Bonus Round] Mr Ludo, Dream of Pixels, And Sunny Hillride
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6 Years Ago Today
HTC J Butterfly Announced, Comes Complete With 5" 1080p SLCD 3 Display And A Japanese Launch
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7 Years Ago Today
Sony's PRS-T1 Reader Hacked To Run Full Android... On Its E-Ink Display
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8 Years Ago Today
Scorching Hot: HTC EVO 4G Now $99.99 On Amazon.com, Free Of Shipping, Activation, And Tax Charges
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