Google's smart home speakers and Chromecasts are great when they work. You can throw any supported content on them and have it play almost instantly, without worrying about hardware compatibility and app availability as you'd have to on set-top boxes or consoles. However, Google's offers are only great when they really do work. That isn't the case for some users, with their Chromecasts and Homes repeatedly disappearing from the Home app, rendering them effectively useless for many cast-enabled apps.
Read MoreChromecasts and Assistant speakers keep disappearing from the Google Home app for some, making them near useless
Google Stadia cloud gaming debuts with $130 Founder’s Edition this November, free tier coming in 2020
Earlier this year, Google brought cloud gaming to the fore with the announcement of Stadia, its streaming platform that would bring 4K HDR visuals at 60 frames per second with very low latency to almost anything with a screen on it. The expectations have been set up, now we have a growing lineup of games to look forward to and a way to get early access to Stadia in November, but only if you're up to pay a pretty penny.
Read MoreGoogle offering consultations to people who are considering buying Google and Nest products
Google wants to sell you a phone. And a speaker. And a thermostat. Maybe a stick for your TV, too. Not convinced? The company is trying to get you to let it convince you to buy its wares with a new product consultation hotline. And if a service rep isn't breathless enough for you, customers in Southern California can even book in-home appointments.
Read MoreMX Player adds Chromecast support, but only for its online streaming content
If you're getting too giddy about the title of this post, I'll start by advising you to hold your horses. MX Player, one of the most popular video players on Android, has finally added Chromecast support, but it's not exactly where and how we wanted it to be. The feature is available inside the app, though only for online streaming content (which is currently limited to India).
Read MorePeace in our time: YouTube is coming to Fire TV, Amazon Prime Video to support Chromecast and Android TV
To say that Google's and Amazon's relationship has been going through a rough patch over the past couple of years would be an understatement. The two companies have been on a path of mutual destruction, causing services of one to disappear from devices of the other, and vice versa. It looked like a resolution was nowhere in sight, so you can imagine our surprise when we saw the news that Google and Amazon have finally kissed and made up.
Read MoreMidweek deals: $150 off HP Chromebook x360, plus savings on Chromecast, Amazon Echo Input, and more
We didn't have a deals list for you on Monday (it was a slow weekend), but we're back at it with some real heavy hitters this afternoon. Today you'll find discounts on all kinds of cool stuff, including the HP's well-equipped Chromebook x360, Chromecast, and Amazon Echo Input.
Read MorePoweramp adds Chromecast support and Google Assistant voice commands
After stalling in development for a few years, popular music player Poweramp has found the secret to rejuvenation again. The app got updated with a brand new interface in December, added Android Auto compatibility last month, and is now implementing a feature every media player should really have: Chromecast support. As a bonus, it also works with Assistant.
Read MoreExperimental 'fx_cast' extension brings Chromecast support to Firefox
One of Chrome's most useful features is its Chromecast integration. You can manually cast a tab to your TV, and some sites implement their own Cast button. Google hasn't made this functionality available in other browsers, but at least one person is trying to solve that. Developer Matt Hensman is working on 'fx_cast,' an extension that brings Chromecast support to Firefox.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
Ambient Mode on smart devices can now be told to stop being so picky, include 'objectively bad photos'
Ambient Mode is a feature on Google smart displays and Chromecast that features rotating images — artwork, news items, or your own Google Photos, depending on your preference. Previously, if you chose to display your own photos, Google's algorithms would evaluate your pics before displaying them, filtering out the crummy ones. Now, you have the option to include your less-than-ideal shots — if you want to do that for some reason.
Read MoreMidweek deals: Discounts on Chromecast, Anker Nebula Capsule portable projector, Anki Cozmo robot, and more
It's Wednesday afternoon! You know what that means: the week is more than half over, and we've got a fresh crop of deals for you. Proceed with caution — there's a lot in impulse buy territory here, from cheap Chromecasts to smart plugs and phone chargers. There are a couple of bigger discounts, too, like $45 off the best portable projector you can buy.
Read MoreLatest Deals
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Grab two TP-Link smart light bulbs for $28, the usual price for one bulb
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Arlo Baby monitor is at all-time low of $130 on Amazon ($70 off)
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22 temporarily free and 29 on-sale apps and games to start the week
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Monday deals: A cheap water-resistant speaker, plus savings on smart home gadgets and USB-C cables
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Secure your home with this weatherproof Canary Flex 2-pack camera bundle for $250 ($130 off)
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Latest Poll
Loading ...Recent Reviews
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The Anker Nebula Prizm II is a no-frills projector at a decent price
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Review: Jabra's Elite 85h noise-cancelling headphones are winners
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The GE C-Life Multicolor smart bulb is perfect for your Google Home, no Wi-Fi necessary
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Autosync for Google Drive can replace the outgoing Photos sync functionality
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Huawei makes the best $99 wireless earbuds you can’t buy in the US
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Latest Roundups
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21 best new Android games released this week including Grimvalor, Nonstop Knight 2, and Spirit Roots
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All the Android games announced at E3 2019
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20 best new Android games released this week including Angry Birds Explore, Dawn of Isles, and Auto Chess
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20 of the best Android TV games available on the Play Store in 2019
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13 new and notable Android apps and live wallpapers from the last two weeks including Audm, Anyride, and Portal from Facebook (5/25/19 - 6/8/19)
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Recent Apps and Games
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[Update: Google statement] Google allegedly used stolen Genius lyrics, caught through Morse code trick
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[Update: New gameplay trailer] Pearl Abyss will launch Black Desert Mobile globally on Android this year
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Google Docs testing refreshed Material Design UI [APK Download]
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[Update: Out now] ROME: Total War – Barbarian Invasion expansion coming to Android this year
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Dr. Mario World is up for pre-registration on the Play Store
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Blast from the Past
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1 Year Ago Today
Samsung Good Lock 2018 returns with lots more custom-UI action: Here's what it can do
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2 Years Ago Today
Niantic is adding Raid Battles, Gym Badges, and more to Pokémon GO, but it has to temporarily disable all gyms to do it [Update: APK and changelog]
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3 Years Ago Today
Weekend poll: do you think Google Allo should replace Hangouts?
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4 Years Ago Today
This May Just Be The Craziest And Most Advanced Tablet In-Car Install We've Seen Yet
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5 Years Ago Today
[Deal Alert] NVIDIA SHIELD Promotion Bundles $25 Google Play Credit With The $199 Gaming Machine
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6 Years Ago Today
LG And Qualcomm Announce 'Next G Series Smartphone' With Snapdragon 800 Processor
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7 Years Ago Today
Mystery Manor Promises Never Ending Puzzle Fun, Oh And Don't Forget The Mystery
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8 Years Ago Today
[New Game Review] Stardunk Brings Some Polish To Side-View Basketball Games
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9 Years Ago Today
Android Forum Roundup: Where Do You Go For Android Help And Discussion? Vote For Your Favorites
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