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Google Fi, Google's self-branded, low-cost MVNO, often has some pretty compelling deals on new phones. Though its selection is small, it typically includes all of the current Pixel phones (naturally) and a smattering of high-profile Android devices from other manufacturers, including Samsung and Motorola. A recent change in the promotion terms means that more people are eligible for the service's steep phone discounts: specifically, people who've tried Google Fi before and left for less Googley pastures.
Google Search is picking up new tools for deal hunters
'Deals related to your search' in Shopping and a new section in Search planned for specific queries in October
There are whole industries built around hunting for the very best deals (we do what we can to point out ones our readers express interest in), and now Google is rolling out a couple of new tools for Search and the Shopping tab that should make bargain shopping and Black Friday deal-hunting a little easier.
We all like saving money, but much like everything else on the internet, there are just so many sales, deals, promotions, and special offers going on at any given moment that trying to stay on top of the best ones can feel like a full-time job. When Google gave users the ability to split their Gmail inbox into multiple tabs, it wisely chose to designate one just for promotions, making it easy to check out the latest deals you care about with a glance. Now we're witnessing some new behavior that goes even further in drawing your attention to the best deals around, though we've got a few questions about exactly what it's doing.
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An update to Google Photos landed earlier today. So far, we haven't come across any visible changes, but there are a few topics for a teardown. Hints can be found suggesting Google may be building a new movie editor. Improvements to the search interface could be forthcoming, as are helpful suggestions about features that may not be obvious to all users. As always, a link to the latest updates is available at the bottom.
Google never paid much attention to Google Wallet, but the change over to Android Pay came with some new marketing muscle. It's been almost a year since Android Pay landed in Australia, and now Google is rolling out a huge promotion to get more Aussies using it. The program starts today and runs through the end of 2017, but it's only open to new Android Pay users.
Samsung has a history of running promotions to encourage people to give Samsung Pay a shot. Now, it's launching a revamped rewards program to keep you coming back. Samsung Rewards gives you points each time you use Samsung Pay, and that can eventually lead to free gift cards, cash back, and even free Samsung gear. It's a more extensive program compared to the Samsung Pay Rewards card that rolled out a few months ago.
If you enjoy a juicy public relations screw-up, then grab your spirituous drink of choice and take a seat: this one's a doozy.
Google has added six new countries to the list of countries with the ability to redeem Google Play balance promotional codes: Austria, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. To be clear, this doesn't mean that users can redeem app promo codes generated by developers: that functionality has been available since mid-January, and is available to any country where users can buy apps, as long as the specific app is available to download in that country.
Promo codes aren't new in the Play Store. Google has been using them for a while to redeem apps (like the free family apps it offered for a few weeks) and other types of media. However, the option for developers to generate their own codes and issue them to their users was only added a few days ago.
Samsung is cranking up the promotions this holiday season, which is great if you already have or are planning to get select Galaxy devices. Signing up for Samsung Pay can net you $200 to blow on Samsung products (this one is football-themed for some reason), and a Tab S2 can keep you streaming with a free year of Netflix. As usual, many, many restrictions apply.
Verizon completely revamped its plans a few months ago when it ditched contracts with the aim of making the options easier to understand. Verizon's data is still more expensive than some carriers, but there's a holiday promotion that might make the cost more justifiable. If you sign up for one of Verizon's two highest data tiers, you can get 2GB of free data on each of your lines forever.
Google never really promoted Wallet in all the years it existed and was capable of NFC payments, but at least it's trying with Android Pay. If you've got a Jamba Juice nearby, you can (maybe) get a free Android mini figurine if you pay with Android Pay. If you like Android and could go for a smoothy, it's a win-win.
Google seems to be making a final push to get people buying Chromecasts before Christmas. If you buy one between today and December 21, you'll get a $20 Google Play credit to buy some new movies to stream on your TV. They don't make it too clear, but it appears you will need to buy from the Play Store to redeem this offer. Update: As commenter SEJ326 points out below, Chromecasts from both Amazon and Best Buy are also eligible for the offer.
Cricket Wireless might not be top of mind among US carriers, but it's starting to get aggressive as it goes after T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers. After introducing a $100 bill credit promotion last month, Cricket is now boosting data caps by up to 100% later this week. And what's better, existing customers get the increased caps too.
T-Mobile has really been stepping up the rhetoric against Sprint since the backroom acquisition deal allegedly fell through a few weeks ago. T-Mobile's latest promotion takes direct aim at the Now Network, but it targets the other big carriers too. Starting next week, if you bring a friend over to T-Mobile on a Simple Choice plan, you and they both get a free upgrade to unlimited LTE for one year. Also, there will be awkward dancing, if T-Mobile's promo image is to be believed.
Happy Collectibles Week, everybody! What's that? You've never heard of Collectibles Week? That's okay. Neither have we. Apparently Google is highlighting a bunch of games that offer in-app collectible items because Google knows what anyone who's played a game ever doesn't: that in-app items are the key to a game's success. Special items for Collectibles Week include (and these are all real) an Android habitat in Zoo Tycoon-style game, a "Bunny headphone" in a virtual aquarium and, just for you dads out there: an exclusive Deer Hunter Ugly Tie, coinciding nicely with Father's Day this weekend.