We reported yesterday that trusted places — Android's method for keeping your device unlocked when it's in certain locations such as your home — was no longer an option in Smart Lock settings. But surprise: it's back! Is this our doing? Well, no, probably not.
Read More[Update: It's back!] Trusted Places seems to have been removed as a Smart Lock option
Smart Lock, a feature that lets Android users specify conditions under which their devices will unlock without requiring the usual fingerprint, PIN, or pattern authentication, now has one less use case. Trusted Places could previously set a phone or tablet to remain unlocked when it was in a (well) trusted place, like at home, but that option seems to have disappeared.
Read MoreGoogle removes GApps 100 device limit for uncertified devices, fixes device registration page
Late last month, Google announced it would block the Play Store and Google Play Services from running on 'uncertified' devices. This was meant to keep OEMs from sideloading the Play Store on devices not approved by Google. The company offered a way for custom ROM users to register their devices, but it was a complicated process, because the registration page didn't actually provide instructions.
Read MoreGoogle is starting to block GApps on 'uncertified' devices, but you can register an exemption for ROMs
Google has always controlled which devices ship with its proprietary GApps—a package that includes such necessities as the Play Store and Google Play Services. Until now, they've even been pretty lenient about allowing custom ROM users to flash the necessary payload on top of their modified OS. Unfortunately, some OEMs used that loophole to their advantage, ignoring Google's CTS certification process while shipping devices with GApps or shamelessly encouraging users to sideload them.
According to XDA Developers, that loophole has now been closed. Google Play Services will soon check the build date for a given system image, and if that date is after March 16th, it will be blocked from completing the sign-in process—though custom ROM users can manually register their devices for an exemption.
Read More[Update: Rolling out] Google finally preparing a fix for Nexus Player remote sleep bug from last November
Since late last November, Nexus Player owners have had the frustrating experience of erratic behavior from the remote. After about 5 to 10 minutes, the remote would seemingly go to sleep. Pressing any button causes the remote to blink for a few seconds, then hopefully reconnect. While not precisely broken, the erratic functionality from the remote has been a point of pain for owners of Google's streaming hockey puck. Finally, Google is preparing to roll out a fix.
Read More[Update: Finally fixed] Nexus Player remote going to sleep randomly and frequently, responding slowly thanks to faulty Play Services update
Not a dull moment passes by in the land of Google product issues. Not long after Google Assistant functionality was added to the Nexus Player, Google's digital media player has begun to put its remote to sleep. Many people are complaining about the problem on Google's Issue Tracker, and the culprit has been revealed to be a Play Services update. It's similar to an issue NVIDIA fixed with SHIELD Experience 6.1 on the SHIELD Android TV.
Read MoreGoogle announces Fast Pair for Android 6.0+ devices, allowing you to connect your Bluetooth devices quickly and easily
Technology is all about making things faster and easier, and that's exactly what the newly-announced Fast Pair by Google aims to do. If you have a device running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or above, your days of fiddling with Bluetooth settings will soon be over (with some select devices).
Read More[Update: Fixed in a recent beta] Latest Google Play Services seems to have broken casting using Android hotspot for WiFi
Around the world, a lot of people rely on their mobile devices as their only point of access to the internet and don't have a WiFi connection or router at home. For many of those people, using a Chromecast would have been impossible if it weren't for one small logical workaround: creating a hotspot with their phone that the Chromecast can connect to. Unfortunately, that workaround is no longer, uhm, working right now and it sounds like the latest Google Play Services is to blame.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
LOL: Play Services is getting ads in the Play Store with random taglines, including "Be your own Boss, Dreams"
If you've ever set up an Android phone, chances are that you've seen notifications or prompts that say something along the lines of "Xxx app will not run without updating Google Play services." That's because Play services is the backbone of many Google services. But did you know that Play services also serves as a motivator, or that it simultaneously fits into many unrelated app categories?
Read MoreRelease notes for Play Services v11 have been posted with a new API for smooth SMS verification and several significant additions and deprecations
Now that Google is through with its biggest developer conference of the year, it's time to deliver a few updates and fulfill some of the promises made during the event. Some of that is happening through an update to Play services. Google posted the release notes for the update and it includes a lot of additions, both big and small, and a few deprecations.
Read MoreLatest Deals
-
1
8 of our favorite tech sales, discounts, and deals this week: Galaxy S9, Arlo Pro 2 set, Roku Ultra, and more
-
2
[Deal Alert] Arlo Pro 2 6-pack drops to $849 ($251 off) on Amazon
-
8
51 temporarily free and 44 on-sale apps and games to finish the week
-
5
[Deal Alert] UE BOOM 2 drops to just $75 on Amazon for today only
-
11
[Deal Alert] Gear S3 Classic LTE refurb just $240 with our exclusive code at Daily Steals
-
1
Latest Poll
Loading ...Recent Reviews
-
7
Cielo Breez review: Smartening up your air conditioner, the easy way
-
107
Nokia 7 Plus review: A flagship at heart, a midranger in price
-
28
Hands-on with TV App Repo: Create a shortcut for any non-Leanback app on your Android TV
-
38
The Elder Scrolls: Blades shows potential in first public demo (hands-on)
-
9
AsteroidOS 1.0 is a promising open-source smartwatch OS with plenty of room for improvement
-
7
Latest Roundups
-
12
20 of the best keyboard compatible Android games for Chrome OS
-
6
21 new and notable Android games from the last week including ARK: Survival Evolved, Bloons TD 6, and Silly Walks (6/11/18 - 6/16/18)
-
2
24 new and notable Android games from the last week including Eden Obscura, Deep Space, and Make Squares (6/4/18 - 6/10/18)
-
3
16 new and notable Android apps from the last week including Google Lens, CARROT Weather, and Clean Share (5/29/18 - 6/9/18)
-
0
[Bonus Round] Deep Space, Quarto, In The Dog House, Super Fancy Pants Adventure, Nightmarish Spawns, Make Squares, and Jurassic Hopper 2
-
12
Recent Apps and Games
-
12
20 of the best keyboard compatible Android games for Chrome OS
-
15
Gmail v8.6 adds unsubscribe tips, prepares priority-based notifications and email bundling [APK Teardown]
-
6
21 new and notable Android games from the last week including ARK: Survival Evolved, Bloons TD 6, and Silly Walks (6/11/18 - 6/16/18)
-
30
Tip: Tell Google Assistant where you parked and it will add a pin to Maps
-
36
Action Launcher v37 adds desktop shortcuts, faster settings changes, and more
-
12
Blast from the Past
-
53
1 Year Ago Today
[Deal Alert] Galaxy S8 for $525 or S8+ for $625 when you trade in your old phone
-
187
2 Years Ago Today
Google changes the Allo and Duo icons in the Play Store
-
139
3 Years Ago Today
[OTA Download] New Cyanogen OS 12 Build For The OnePlus One Fixes Touchscreen And Bluetooth Issues
-
11
4 Years Ago Today
Google Preparing Expansion Of App Discoverability With Listings On Official Chromecast Site [Update]
-
15
5 Years Ago Today
MyFitnessPal Gets Updated To v2.7 – From Horrendously Ugly To Holo In One Easy Step
-
100
6 Years Ago Today
[Weekend Poll] Do You Regularly Purchase Tracks/Albums Using Google Play Music?
-
23
7 Years Ago Today
Crackle Drops Subscription Fees, Launches Brand New Free TV/Movie-Streaming Android App
-
5
8 Years Ago Today
Gang Up On Apple And Win One Of 5 Free Android Phones, Including The EVO 4G [Contest]
-
53
