Kick off your holiday weekend with 16 temporarily free and 71 on-sale apps

Here we are on the eve of a holiday weekend in the U.S. (might already be there for some of you) and I'm back once again to let you all know about the latest round of app sales! In addition to these, you might have noticed that the Play Store is running some summer deals, including a $0.99 movie rental. Check out this blog post to get started. And while you're at it, head over to the article I had on Wednesday. Read More Kick off your holiday weekend with 16 temporarily free and 71 on-sale apps was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Canadian Google Home Set to Get New Bluetooth Streaming Feature Soon

Google Home recently landed in Canada and while the speaker is a great product that can do a lot of things – one thing did escape from it – streaming music via Bluetooth. An often requested feature, Bluetooth streaming was promised by Google at its I/O 2017 conference in May. And now it seems the feature is finally rolling out, at least for users in the US. But as Mobile Syrup has been able to confirm, the new feat will soon be upon Canadians with a Google Home too. The feature reportedly becomes available in system firmware version 90387 which once installed will allow the Home to act as another Bluetooth device that can stream music from an Android (or iOS) device. Once the latest software becomes available, the Google Home app will reveal a new Paired Bluetooth devices option under Device settings. By activating the "Enable Pairing Mode" button located at the bottom of the page, you'll be able to connect a device which will then show in the list above. Back at I/O 2017, Google also revealed more new features are headed for its popular AI-powered speakers including Proactive Assistance – a tool for providing contextual, useful information, as well as Hands-Free calling. Are you seeing the new firmware version on your device? [Mobile Syrup] The post Canadian Google Home Set to Get New Bluetooth Streaming Feature Soon appeared first on Android in Canada Blog. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Rogers Giving Away Free Samsung Galaxy S8+s, Pixel XLs Through Spin the Wheel Contest

This summer one of Canada's largest carriers, Rogers is hosting a contest which will be giving existing subscribers the opportunity to win $100,000 worth of prizes. That sounds pretty exciting doesn't it? In order to be eligible to be part of the "MyRogers Spin to Win" campaign, customers will need to sign up for MyRogers before June 28. Download the iOS or Android MyRogers app on your phone and once you sign up tap on the "Spin to Win" banner up to five times for a change to win some amazing prizes including 5 Grand Prizes Air Canada travel vouchers worth $5,000 CAD each and dozens of the hottest devices including 25 Samsung Galaxy S8+, 25 Google Pixel XL and 15 Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablets. Additionally, Rogers notes that extra daily plays can be unlocked by visiting your local Rogers Wireless dealer and asking a representative for a Spin to Win code. Rogers subscribers can enter the contest from June 28 to September 26, which gives them plenty of time to try their luck as much as possible. The contest is open to all legal residents of Canada who have reach the age of majority in their territory of residence and were a Rogers customer in good standing before the start of the Entry Period. [Rogers] The post Rogers Giving Away Free Samsung Galaxy S8+s, Pixel XLs Through Spin the Wheel Contest appeared first on Android in Canada Blog. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Finally Getting Android 7.1.1 Nougat Update

Remember that a few days ago we told you the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom was available for purchase with a hefty discount from Best Buy? Well, if you placed an order for the phone then you'll be glad to know that the phone is finally receiving the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update. The public release for Android O is not far away from us, but some smartphone models are still waiting to get updated to Android N. This was the case of the ASUS ZenFone 3, not so long ago. The update brings some extra additions in terms of functionalities, as follows: Portrait mode as well as RAW image support – to better maximize the smartphone's photography-related capabilities Multi-Window View – Run two apps side by side Quick App Switch – Switch between apps with a double tab Notification Directly Reply – Reply to messages right inside the notification screen 72 New Emojis – Select new emoji genders and skin tones Data Saver – Limit how much data the device uses Notification Controls – Choose app notification preferences Display Size – Change the size of texts and icons The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom was launched back in February 2017 with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box. The phone comes packing a 5.5-inch display with fullHD resolution and a Snapdragon 625 under the hood. The product also includes 4GB of RAM and a dual 12-megapixel camera setup with laser/phase detection autofocus, 2.3x optical zoom and dual-LED flash. [ASUS] The post ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Finally Getting Android 7.1.1 Nougat Update appeared first on Android in Canada Blog. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Low-End ZTE Jasper Is Available at Chatr for $100

Rogers' sub-brand, Chatr just unveiled a new budget phone. It's called the ZTE Jasper and can be purchased for only $100 CAD. New subscribers will also have to pay an extra $10 CAD for a SIM card. Anyway, the ZTE Jasper is a low-end device, but if you're on a tight budget it's just what you need. The product includes a 4-inch display with 480 x 800 resolution and a Snapdragon 210 nestled under the hood. There's also 1GB of RAM and a decent 2,000 mAh battery, which ZTE claims will be able to sustain up to 9.6 hours of life onboard. While the phone only includes 8GB of internal storage, the presence of a microSD card slot onboard will allow customers to expand up to 32GB. The phone also packs a 5-megapixel main camera, but if you want to take a selfie you're out of luck, as there's no secondary snapper available on the Jasper. The phone runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box and is LTE-compatible with networks that operate under 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz frequencies and Bands 2, 4 and 5. The ZTE Jasper provides you with the basics at an affordable price. It's a great first phone for someone who hasn't used smartphones before. [Chatr] The post Low-End ZTE Jasper Is Available at Chatr for $100 appeared first on Android in Canada Blog. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

HTC U11 is $50 off for a limited time

The HTC U11 is an impressive handset with a standout feature in Edge Sense, which lets owners control certain elements by squeezing the sides of the phone. And if you've been waiting for a discount to hit the unlocked variant of the U11, well, HTC might have the right one for you. The company behind one of this year's best flagships is hosting a $50 discount on the handset for a limited time. To get the discount you'll just need to input the promo code "AMAZINGU11″ at checkout. After the code is applied, the HTC U11′s price will drop to $599. The deal applies to all four colors of the U11, including the brand new Solar Red option (which is a pre-order and starts shipping in July), and it's for the unlocked version that works on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon's networks. HTC's U11 features a 5.5-inch 2560×1440 display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, a microSD card slot, a 12MP rear camera, Android 7.1 Nougat, and a 3000mAh battery. If you haven't already picked up an HTC U11, is this price drop going to convince you to buy? Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Facebook expands in-app WiFi finder globally

Cellular data is all well and good when it works, but maybe you're in an area with spotty coverage, or perhaps you are traveling in a foreign country. That's when you need some WiFi, and now Facebook would like to help you find it. The "Find WiFi" feature that was being tested in a few countries is now rolling out globally. You will see the Find WiFi option under your More tab in the Facebook app. Re ad More Facebook expands in-app WiFi finder globally was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Moto X4 said to arrive on Project Fi in Q4 2017

Recently, the official Project Fi Twitter account confirmed that the MVNO will host a "mid-tier price" smartphone at some point before the end of 2017, but ut didn't provide any other details. Thanks to VentureBeat, the identity of that device may have been revealed. It's said that Project Fi will host the Moto X4 on its network later this year. Specifically, today's report states that the X4 will launch sometime in the fourth quarter of 2017, but there's not much else to go on at this point. If the Moto X4 is the next Project Fi-ready phone, it will be the first non-Nexus and non-Pixel handset to be offered. As far as we know at this point, based on a picture showing off Motorola's lineup for 2017, the Moto X4 will feature a 5.2-inch FHD display, 3D Glass, and a "SmartCam" feature. Other than that, however, we'll have to wait for a few more leaks (or for Motorola to announce the handset) before we have a complete picture. Motorola didn't launch an X-series handset last year, so this would be a bit of a triumphant return for the brand if the report pans out. Are you waiting to sign up for Project Fi until it has a cheaper handset to pick up? Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

ML Manager update adds option to upload multiple APKs to APK Mirror [APK Download]

You might be aware of a little thing we run called APK Mirror. It's a site that hosts (safe) free APKs so you can sideload them instead of waiting for staged rollouts. There are a few ways you can upload your APKs to the site, including the ML manager app. An update today makes that even easier with multi-APK uploads. ML Manager isn't just for APK Mirror (you can save your APKs anyplace), but we've worked with the developer to make uploading to APK Mirror an option. Read More ML Manager update adds option to upload multiple APKs to APK Mirror [APK Download] was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Android Things Hackster Community

Posted by Dave Smith, Developer Advocate for IoT Android Things makes building connected embedded devices easy by providing the same Android development tools, best-in-class Android framework, and Google APIs that make developers successful on mobile. Since the initial preview launch back in December, the community has turned some amazing ideas into exciting prototypes using the platform. To empower these makers and developers using Android Things to share and learn from each other, we have partnered with Hackster.io to create a community where aspiring IoT developers can go to showcase their projects and get inspired by the work of others. Hackster.io is a community of 200,000 engineers and developers dedicated to building internet-connected hardware projects. They also seek to educate and challenge members through live workshops and design contest s. We are eager to see the projects that you come up with. More importantly, we're excited to see how your work can inspire other developers to create something great with Android Things. Visit our Hackster.io community to see the amazing projects others have already built and join the community today! Android Things Webinar We will be hosting a webinar in cooperation with Hackster.io on July 7th, 2017 at 10AM PST titled Bootstrapping IoT Products with Android Things. During this time, you will learn how we have designed Android Things to address many of the pain points experienced by developers attempting to build IoT products. You will also have the opportunity to send in questions you have regarding the platform and ecosystem. Register today to join us for this exciting event! Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

YouTube for Android TV v2.0 brings a major redesign and finally allows autoplay to be turned off [APK Download]

Holy cow, there's an update to the YouTube for Android TV app! It has been a long time–fourteen months, to be precise–and judging by a major bump to the version number, this isn't just a bug fixer. In fact, it carries an entirely redesigned interface, not to mention a few functional changes, as well. This update probably doesn't address many of the requests users have had over the last year, but it's a great step forward and solves at least one major issue: Auto-play. Read More YouTube for Android TV v2.0 brings a major redesign and finally allows autoplay to be turned off [APK Download] was written by the awesome team at Android Police. Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Moto E4 launches on Republic Wireless

A little more than a week after launching at Verizon, the Moto E4 is now hitting another US carrier. The Moto E4 is now available at Republic Wireless. The handset is priced at $99 outright, or Republic Wireless will also let subscribers finance the handset through the company Affirm for $16.98 per month for six months. If you need a refresher, the Moto E4 features a 5-inch 720p HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage and a microSD card slot, and an 8-megapixel camera on the back. There's a 5-megapixel camera on the front, a 2800mAh battery, Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and a fingerprint reader for good measure. The Moto E4 is another handset in the long-running budget family for Motorola, and it certainly offers a low price tag without skimping on the specs too much. If you're a Republic Wireless customer looking for a new phone, will the Moto E4 be your next daily driver? Android Match ae http://androidmatch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default