Google Play Services is both a blessing and a curse. Over the years, the software has become the essential motor driving Android devices, with a lot of former system APIs being transferred to the all-encompassing software. Push notifications, background operations, fast GPS functionality, and more are bundled within the application. Unfortunately, this means that any bugs with Play Services will affect almost all devices running a Google-sanctioned version of Android. Such a bug has surfaced with the latest update to version number 18.3.82, which churns through standby battery regardless of which phone you're using.
Read MoreAndroid Beam could be replaced with AirDrop-style 'Fast Sharing'
If you're already missing Android Beam and the way it allowed you to share links or files from your device to another easily, there's some good news and bad news all rolled up into one item: Google is planning on rolling out a new "Fast Share" protocol through a Play services updates that will allow Android devices to share assets to other devices, primarily using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct connections.
Read MoreGoogle Play Services drops support for Android 4.0 ICS
Android 4.0, nicknamed 'Ice Cream Sandwich,' was an exciting release. It brought all the improvements in Honeycomb back to smartphones, and for the first time ever, Android had a somewhat-cohesive visual style. However, those days have long since passed, with 4.0-4.0.4 now representing less than 0.5% of the overall Android install base.
Read More[We did it!] Trusted Places has returned to Smart Lock
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 MoreThe Best Of AP
[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 MoreLatest Deals
-
2
[Update: Back] Satechi's 75W multi-port USB-C PD and Quick Charge 3.0 charger is down to $48
-
6
Get a Nest Hello doorbell cam for $164 ($65 off), watch Amazon manhandle your deliveries
-
17
The dual-SIM Note10 and Note10+ are as low as $776 and $900, respectively
-
2
25 temporarily free and 82 on-sale apps and games for the weekend
-
18
Grab a refurbished 128GB Pixel 3 in black for $400 ($200 off) on Amazon
-
2
Latest Poll
Loading ...Recent Reviews
-
17
The Motorola One Action gives the Moto G a run for its money
-
46
The Nest Hub Max is the best smart display, but not the best security camera
-
7
Form AR goggles review: The coolest and most accurate swimming tracker
-
0
Jackery Supercharge 26800 PD is the mid-range gold standard for a portable charger, but it's a bit expensive
-
11
Jaybird Vista true wireless earbuds are perfect for outdoorsy fitness buffs
-
17
Latest Roundups
-
13
Use these apps to keep that beach bod through the winter — or get one for next summer
-
0
18 best new Android games released this week including This Is the Police 2, Slender Man Dark Forest, and inbento
-
2
17 new and notable (and 1 WTF) Android apps from the last two weeks including Automatic Dark Theme for Android 10, Vivaldi Browser Beta, and Disney+ (8/31/19 - 9/14/19)
-
187
The best web browsers for Android
-
7
24 best new Android games released this week including NBA 2K20, Tropico, and Fist of the North Star
-
13
Recent Apps and Games
-
0
All the Android games and phones that support high frame rates (90/120FPS)
-
13
Use these apps to keep that beach bod through the winter — or get one for next summer
-
0
18 best new Android games released this week including This Is the Police 2, Slender Man Dark Forest, and inbento
-
8
Chrome 77 broke printing for Google Calendar, but there's a workaround
-
2
17 new and notable (and 1 WTF) Android apps from the last two weeks including Automatic Dark Theme for Android 10, Vivaldi Browser Beta, and Disney+ (8/31/19 - 9/14/19)
-
0
Blast from the Past
-
64
1 Year Ago Today
WhatsApp might have a dark mode soon
-
11
2 Years Ago Today
Kick off the weekend with 23 temporarily free and 18 on-sale apps
-
54
3 Years Ago Today
[Update: Video drawing too] WhatsApp Beta adds image drawing and stickers, bigger emojis, front-facing flash, one-finger video zoom
-
47
4 Years Ago Today
Snapchat 9.15 Lets You Buy Additional Replays, Apply Snazzy New Animated Lenses To Your Selfies, And More
-
84
5 Years Ago Today
Photos Of The Nexus 9 Keyboard Case Surface As It Passes Through NCC Certification
-
72
6 Years Ago Today
[APK/Website Teardown] Next Up For Android Device Manager: Remote Password Changing And Device Locking
-
55
7 Years Ago Today
Aliyun App Store Confirmed To Be Distributing Pirated Android Apps, Many From Another Pirate Site
-
5
8 Years Ago Today
Video: DROID BIONIC Boots Into CyanogenMod 7 For The First Time
-
5
9 Years Ago Today
Dual Display-Rocking, 4G-Packing, Russian Device Makes Its Debut... In The (Russian) President's Office
-
64
