Team17's 2D arena game 'Penarium' is now available on the Play Store for $1.99

Team17, perhaps best known for its long-running Worms series, released 'Penarium' on Steam back in 2015. The game is centered around a sadistic arena-like circus show, where you take on the role as Willy as he tries to survive the death traps. Now the game has been released on the Play Store. Much like the PC version, the Android port has very low requirements - it even works on Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread. The price isn't too bad either - just $1.99 for the entire game. Read More Team17's 2D arena game 'Penarium' is now available on the Play Store for $1.99 was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Samsung's new parental control app Marshmallow has nothing to do with Android Marshmallow

Samsung just launched an app late last night for parents to keep track of their children's smartphone usage, but this one has an interesting twist. Instead of just being forced to follow whatever guidelines are set by the parent, this app relies on positive reinforcement via your offspring's initiative. They set their own limits, and the app rewards their self-control and independence. That's actually pretty awesome. The name of the app, as well as its overall methodology, probably comes from a psychological experiment done in the 60's and 70's at Stanford, in which children were told they had a choice between a small reward now, or a larger reward later. Read More Samsung's new parental control app Marshmallow has nothing to do with Android Marshmallow was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Chrome Beta 59 adds Animated PNG support, works with more payment apps, and disables some security risks [APK Download]

Chrome 58 just recently hit stable, which means Chrome 59 has been moved up to the Beta branch. This time around, Chrome is finally adding support for the Animated PNG standard. There are also a few other important changes, so let's take a look. Animated PNG Support GIFs are far from perfect. They have a low color depth, can slow webpages down, and can have a massive file size (relative to compressed video). Read More Chrome Beta 59 adds Animated PNG support, works with more payment apps, and disables some security risks [APK Download] was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Deal: BLU R1 Plus on sale for $109.99

Right on schedule, the BLU R1 Plus has had its price cut by $50. Amazon and Best Buy are now selling the new BLU R1 Plus for $109.99, which is $50 off its normal asking price. This deal is only available today, April 29, so you don't have long to act if you're thinking about taking advantage of this deal. The BLU R1 Plus is Prime-eligible, so Amazon Prime subscribers can get their phone with free two-day shipping. Best Buy is offering free shipping, too, but it's not two-day shipping. As a refresher, the BLU R1 Plus features a 5.5-inch 1280×720 display, 13-megapixel rear and 8-megapixel front cameras, MediaTek 6737 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a microSD slot, and a 4000mAh battery. It comes with Android 6.0, but BLU says that an update to Android 7.0 is planned. BLU's R1 Plus is a GSM unlocked device that is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. It offers support for VoLTE on T-Mobile, but not Wi-Fi Calling. Are you going to snag a BLU R1 Plus at its sale price? Sources: Amazon, Best Buy Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Kodi 18 will support Leanback suggestions and Google voice search on Android TV

Kodi, formerly known as XBMC, is an open-source media player that is available on a variety of platforms - including Android. If you use Kodi on your Android TV, you'll be happy to know that the next major release will support Leanback suggestions and voice search. This means that Kodi will fill the home screen of Android TV with content suggestions from your library, much like YouTube and Google Play Movies. And as you can probably guess, the voice search functionality means you can ask to play anything in your Kodi library from Android TV's Google search (it will not return results from add-ons). Read More Kodi 18 will support Leanback suggestions and Google voice search on Android TV was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Onkyo and Pioneer add Chromecast functionality to receivers via software update

It's not often that major functionality comes to older products via a free software update, but that's exactly what's happening with Onkyo and Pioneer receivers. The two companies have announced that their newer receivers are getting an update with Chomecast functionality. Unlike many streaming functions, Chromecast doesn't actually need special hardware. Thus older receivers with WiFi can be updated to support casting. This will allow you to send media to your home theater without any extra devices, wires, or apps. If you're interested in more info about the update and which models will get it, hit the source links to read more. Via: Pioneer Source: Onkyo, Pioneer Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Samsung Galaxy S8 home button shifts to prevent burn-in

If you've been using technology for a while, burn-in is nothing new to you. It occurs when an image stays on-screen long enough to permanently show, even when the image changes. Though some types of displays are more sensitive to burn-in than others, it's a phenomenon that can happen to almost any display. OLED displays are especially vulnerable. If you own an Android Wear smartwatch with an OLED display, you might have noticed that the watch face shifts around when in ambient mode, almost always being off-center. This is to prevent the static elements like the numbers and details from permanently burning into the display and is enabled by default on many watches. The first gen Moto 360 did not have this feature enabled, and despite being a regular LCD,  suffered from burn-in issues. It seems Samsung has taken the same route with the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, though not with the entire display. The new on-screen home button shifts around a little bit to prevent burn-in. Though the home button is always at the bottom when in portrait, you would see it in fullscreen or landscape apps if it burned in, so this is a good decision on Samsung's part. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Rumors of an LG G6 Mini unclear

Rumors of an LG G6 Mini began yesterday with TechnoBuffalo publishing an article stating that a leaked internal document speaks of an LG G6 Mini. LG recently released its G6 flagship smartphone, and the Korean manufacturer has previously released mini versions of major devices. In this case, however, it is unclear if the G6 Mini will make it to market. The article refers to the device as having a 5.4-inch display with the same 18:9 aspect ratio as its larger sibling. Internal specifications of the device weren't revealed in the document, but many of LG's past mini devices have featured lower-end hardware as a means to target emerging markets and budget-conscious shoppers. Fans of the rumored device may be let down. Pricing and release details weren't disclosed and a date from early 2016 was mentioned in the document, making it a plausible alternative that the G6 Mini was simply a proposed device that was later cancelled. The lack of other rumors regarding the device lends some credence to this option. If other details regarding the LG G6 Mini emerge, we'll be sure to keep readers in the loop. Stay tuned. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

[Deal Alert] Get your weekend started with 18 temporarily free and 23 on-sale apps

Friday is here and that means we all survived another week. For me, that means a weekend of homework and studying, but I hope not all of you share the same fate as I do. It being Friday also means it's time for another round of apps that are free or on sale! As always, the free apps will remain in your library unless you uninstall them within the Play Store's refund window. Read More [Deal Alert] Get your weekend started with 18 temporarily free and 23 on-sale apps was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ to get Nougat update next week

If you own a T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, you're in for a treat. T-Mobile announced that the Android 7.0 Nougat has finally been approved for the device and will begin rolling out early next week. The Nougat update is a big one and includes a new Doze mode for better battery life, split-screen multitasking, switching between the last used apps by double tapping the recent apps button, improved notifications with quick reply, and a lot more. Start checking for updates come Monday and let us know when you get it! Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Google WiFi now available in Canada for $179 CAD

Google WiFi is a great little router that's capable of building a mesh network. You can set up multiple devices together that wirelessly extend your network, though one alone does a pretty good job. It's supplemented by a very simple and intuitive mobile app to control it. The little router is now for sale in Canada for $179 CAD on the Google Store, which is about the same price as it is here in the US. You can also pick up a three-pack for large homes for $439. Canada is only one of three markets to sell the Google WiFi, the others being the US and the UK, so let us know if you pick one up! Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Sony Xperia XA1, XA1 Ultra Coming to Canada in Next Few Months

If you're a fan of Sony smartphones, then we have some good news for you today. According to a report, the Sony Xperia XA1 and Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra will arrive in Canada soon. The Sony Xperia XA1 will be available starting May 5 from Videotron and from May 12 onwards from Freedom Mobile. As for the Ultra version, it will land with both carriers on June 22. At the moment pricing specifications are unknown, but we'll update you as soon as the information becomes available for us. Both smartphones were introduced back at MWC 2017 in Barcelona with the Xperia XA1 being the most advanced of the two. The device features a 6-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution and 367ppi, while the standard Xperia XA1 offers only a 5-inch display with 1280 x 720 resolution and 294 ppi. Both versions take advantage of a MediaTek Helio P20 octa-core processor clocked at 2.3GH, but the Ultra carriers 4GB of RAM with 32GB/64GB of internal storage, while its little brother has only 3GB and 32GB of internal storage. The duo features a microSD card slot which facilitates memory expansion up to 256GB. When it comes to photography, both phones feature a 23-megapixel 1/2.3 Exmor RS sensor with hybrid autofocus. The base model has an 8-megapixel selfie snapper with autofocus, while the Ultra version comes with a better 16-megapixel with optical image stabilization and autofocus. The two Xperias run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. [Mobile Syrup]   The post Sony Xperia XA1, XA1 Ultra Coming to Canada in Next Few Months appeared first on Android in Canada Blog. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Samsung Develops App to Prevent Distracted Driving

Distracted driving due to smartphone usage has become one of the most common causes of car accidents. In a bid to prevent drivers from focusing on their smartphone while driving, Samsung announced a new app called In-Traffic Reply. What this app basically does is prevent you from picking up any calls or replying to messages while in transit. Thanks to the smartphone's sensors, the app will be able to tell when a user is driving and will send automatic replies to any callers trying to reach him/her. In-Traffic Reply will send out messages like "I'm driving, so I can't answer at the moment", but users can customize it anyway they please – even adding a few fun animations. The app is being developed by Samsung Netherlands, following a recent PanelWizard study which found that approximately one third of Dutch drivers use a smartphone while driving a car or riding a bike. The app is currently still in beta, but it should make it out into the Google Play Store in mid-May. While the app does not completely lock the smartphone while the user is driving, it might be quick enough to respond to a call or text before the driver has the chance to reach for the phone. [Samsung] The post Samsung Develops App to Prevent Distracted Driving appeared first on Android in Canada Blog. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default