Welcome back to our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most frequently upgraded apps for the week. We’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to find the ones that are actually being updated by the developers rather than selecting the apps with the most installs. As in the past, we’re going to filter out minor updates for the super-popular apps that have over 10 million installs, but we’ll make exceptions for apps that have had significant updates. We hope you enjoy this weekly feature and that you discover some apps that end up being useful.

Watch ABC – Version 2.5.0

What’s new in this version:

• Casting now available via Google Chromecast

Cash – Version 2.0.0

What’s new in this version:

• Send cash to any mobile phone number via text message.

ESPN Championship Drive – Version 4.0.0

What’s new in this version:

• Brand new enhanced design
• Scores tab with separate section for quick access to scores from your favorite teams.
• Champ Drive tab with editorially curated top stories, as well as an all-video section.
• Rankings tab includes information about how the new Playoff Committee rankings work.
• Play tab with quick access to College Football fantasy games.

OneDrive – Version 2.7.0

What’s new in this version:

• Pin code lock
• OneDrive for Business support
• Sign in with both your personal OneDrive and your OneDrive for Business accounts
• Organize and open your OneDrive for Business files
• Save new files to your OneDrive for Business account
• Updates to camera backup

Greenify – Version 2.4.0

What’s new in this version:

• Giant leap in non-root mode – Automatic Hibernation finally comes true. Forget about hibernation shortcut and enjoy your life. (Needs to be enabled in experimental features setting)
  You can also use “Hibernation and Lock Screen” shortcut (with pull-up gesture on Home softkey) if auto-hibernation is not working for you.
• Greenify system-apps without Xposed. (experimental)
• Migrate donation package from Amazon Appstore.

Pushbullet – Version 14.8

What’s new in this version:

• Reply to text messages right from your computer!
• Reply to text messages from your computer by clicking the text message notification, typing your reply in the popup, and hitting enter. It’s that easy.

NPR One – Version 1.1.0

What’s new in this version:

• NPR One now supports Chromecast. Experience public radio at home on your TV by casting NPR One from your mobile and tablet device. Enjoy beautiful story images on your TV while listening to the best of local and national public radio.
• We’ve also fixed a number of minor issues.

CBC News – Version 2.0.0

What’s new in this version:

AllCast – Version 1.1.4.2

What’s new in this version:

• Make the AllCast receiver splash screen an optional setting
• Add a new “Recents” drawer section to quickly get back to folders or media that you had viewed recently
• Add Crashalytics support

ESPN SportsCenter – Version 4.1.0

What’s new in this version:

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1qRMGM0
via IFTTT

Google has finally revealed the next big project to come out of its Google X labs: Project Wing.

Project Wing is Google’s totally Googly and totally autonomous take on drone delivery. Under development for the last two years now in the more drone friendly, “progressive” Australian countryside, Project Wing has the brightest minds at Google tackling the problem of moving small items from one area to another.

According to Google, they see the information and prototypes to come out of Project Wing being first used in emergency situations. When resources are running low, travel is dangerous and emergency supplies are needed, Google’s Project Wing drones would swoop in to the rescue. Things like defibrillators, water cleansing supplies, emergency blankets and more would all be delivered automatically, without the need for human control, to any destination.

The drones Google is using weigh roughly 20 pounds including package weight and feature four electrically-driven propellers. They have a “blended wing” design, “where the entire body of the aircraft provides lift.” They can fly horizontally or vertically with the benefits of a plane and a helicopter. And they can cover more area than the drones currently available on the market.

Google says they can eventually see Project Wing being used with consumer goods, but they’re still a couple years away from a real, usable product. To check out Project Wing in action, watch the video below.

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1qNDI2D
via IFTTT

If you’ve been thinking about starting a new line through AT&T and want to use the company’s Next program, there’s never been a better time. From now until September 30, both new and current customers who activate a new line of service with AT&T Next will receive a $100 credit towards their bill.

AT&T’s Next program is very similar to what T-Mobile does with all of their smartphones. You essentially pay nothing down for a phone, but make monthly payments until it’s paid off. You can choose an AT&T Next plan that has you paying your smartphone off in either 20 months or 24 months.

For more details on the promotion, visit AT&T’s Consumer Blog via the source link below. Anyone gonna jump on this opportunity?

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1llADXf
via IFTTT

The HTC One (E8) is finally available in North America! Sprint has announced that the HTC One (E8) is the newest HTC smartphone in its lineup, featuring all of the power of the One (M8) and wrapped up in a more affordable polycarbonate shell. The switch from aluminum to polycarbonate knocks $100 off the One (E8)’s on-contract price when compared to the One (M8). If you plan on paying full retail price, the One (E8) is $150 less than its metal counterpart.

While the main difference between the HTC One (E8) and the One (M8) are their exterior shells, the One (E8) does have a different camera setup as well. It loses the Duo Camera/UltraPixel setup for a standard 13-megapixel imaging sensor, similar to what HTC has been using on the HTC Desire 816. The phone is available from Sprint’s website in  Polar White or Misty Gray with silver accents. We expect retail store across the country to get their first shipments of the HTC One (E8) by next week.

At this point, the HTC One (E8) is only available from Sprint, but the press release did claim that the device is an exclusive. We could see the phone pop up on T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon in the coming weeks or months. At the rate HTC is moving, customers should have two or three HTC smartphone options on every US service provider.

Price

• No-contract: $499.99
• 2-year contract: $99.99
• Payment plan: $0 down (plus tax) and 24 monthly payments of $20.84

HTC One (E8) specifications

• 5-inch 1080p display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC)  quad-core 2.3GHz processor
• 2GB of RAM
• 16GB of storage with microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
• 2,600 mAh battery
• 13 megapixel camera rear camera
• 5 megapixel front-facing camera camera
• Size: 46.42 × 70.67 × 9.85mm
• Weight: 5.8 oz

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1zSdZH9
via IFTTT

Mark your calendars, folks, because we now know the date on which T-Mobile will announce its next Un-carrier move.

T-Mobile is now sending invitations for its Un-carrier 7 event, which will take place on September 10 at 1 p.m. PT, 4 p.m. ET. The big shindig is happening in San Francisco, but there’s no word yet on exactly what T-Mo’s got planned.

So what might Un-carrier 7.0 be all about? Well, the caption for the invitation says “this time it’s personal,” so perhaps T-Mobile’s got some sort of individual plan or offer up its sleeve? We’ll have to wait for September 10 to find out for sure, but until then you can swing by the comments section below and tell us what you’d like to see from Un-carrier 7.0!

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/XYQKzM
via IFTTT

It’s widely expected that the Sony Xperia Z3 will make its debut at IFA in Berlin next month. After that, well, it looks like the device could hit Sprint and SoftBank.

Reports from Reuters and the Wall Street Journal claim that a new flagship Xperia smartphone will soon launch on both Sprint and SoftBank. Neither report explicitly names the Xperia Z3 as this device, but the Z3 is likely Sony’s next flagship phone, so it’s probably the one that’s headed Sprint and SoftBank’s ways.

The rumor mill has suggested that the Xperia Z3 could sport a 5.15-inch 1080p display, 20.7-megapixel rear and 2.1-megapixel front cameras, a 2.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 16GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. While that wouldn’t make the Z3 hugely different from the Z2, it’d still be a high-end handset. Plus, since Sony has been working almost exclusively with T-Mobile in the U.S. recently, it’d be nice to see Sony hardware on another operator.

Sources: Reuters, Wall Street Journal

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1qn9wtM
via IFTTT

Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap of new game releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know in the comments section if you have any suggestions for next week’s post.

Tiny Tower Vegas

Description: Tiny Tower is back, and this time we’re going to Vegas, baby! – Build and manage your own hotel & casino filled with shopping, dining & entertainment floors! Amass a fortune of bux by betting chips in a multitude of casino games! Earn chips when your friends visit and play the games in your tower!

Strike Wing

Description: Strike Wing is a single player space combat simulator that combines sharp controls, beautiful graphics and adaptable missions to create an unique space combat experience for mobile devices.

Max Gentlemen

Description: Max Gentlemen is an arcade-style extreme manners simulator about stacking hats, inspired by a spam email for male enhancement. Challenge your friends. Prove once and for all who is the most gentlemanly.

Armies of Dragons

Description: Defend your kingdom from rampaging hordes in this new kind of strategy and fortress defense game! Summon the power of the four elements, and elementally charge your armies before sending them to defend three lanes! 

Z Steel Soldiers

Description: In the bloody aftermath of ‘Z’ comes Z: Steel Soldiers. All your favourite strategies and gameplay from the classic version, with graphics that have powered into the 21st century, vivid 3D landscapes, and a state of the art engine that brings your game to life. Meet the new breed of robots, with a taste for war and a warped sense of humour. Z: Steel Soldiers – you’ve never had it so good!

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Description: Welcome to your new summer job at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, where kids and parents alike come for entertainment and food as far as the eye can see! The main attraction is Freddy Fazbear, of course; and his two friends. They are animatronic robots, programmed to please the crowds! The robots’ behavior has become somewhat unpredictable at night however, and it was much cheaper to hire you as a security guard than to find a repairman.

Deep Under the Sky

Description: FLING, JET, GRAPPLE and ROLL your way through 80 levels of physics fun. Time your bursts just right to explore every cleft and cranny of the floating beasts inhabiting the mysterious DARK SIDE of Venus.

They Need To Be Fed 3

Description: “They Need To Be Fed” is a platformer game in which you can walk in all directions: 360 degree gravity ensures you can never fall off. The series has received very positive reviews so far, and is even bigger now!

Appointment with F.E.A.R.

Description: Travel back to the 1980s as a superpowered defender of justice in this all-new edition of Steve Jackson’s Appointment With F.E.A.R.! This dynamic edition is stylized as an interactive graphic novel. Your choices guide you towards new villains, super dilemmas, and ultimately, the Titanium Cyborg himself!

Back To Bed

Description: Back to Bed is a 3D puzzle game set in a unique and artistic dream world, wherein you guide the sleepwalker Bob to the safety of his bed. To achieve this, you must take control of Bob’s subconscious guardian named Subob.

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1AZ6O2i
via IFTTT

You can’t say Verizon and Motorola aren’t doing their part to keep device saturation down to a minimum. Released today on Verizon’s website, the low-end Motorola Razr M has been rebranded and made available for prepaid customers as the Motorola Luge.

The Motorola Luge has the same exact specs and physical appearance as the two year old Razr M, kevlar back, 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, 2,000mAh battery, 8GB storage, micro SD slot, Android 4.4.2 and all.

You can buy the Motorola Luge for $199 with service, or $299 without. But if we’re being honest, you probably shouldn’t do that. We wouldn’t.

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/VTBJNV
via IFTTT

We’re going to be closing out the week here at Android and Me with what will undoubtedly be a ton of IFA news. Which is going to be nothing compared to next week. This year’s IFA feels like one of the most significant in recent memory, with Samsung, Sony, LG and more all releasing big hardware this year.

Posted on the official Sony YouTube channel, Sony has revealed a video trailer teasing what the company has in store for us at this year’s IFA. The video doesn’t show any type of hardware teaser whatsoever. But if we were to guess that what they are showing can be taken as some kind of hint, we would guess Sony is going to release something centered around fitness, physical customizations, long battery life and powerful hardware. That’s not a whole lot to go on, but it has us excited nonetheless.

Sony’s presser kicks off on September 3, just under a week away now. Keep it locked it to Android and Me for more IFA coverage as the event starts just next week.

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1qGlujo
via IFTTT

Announced just last night with no release or pricing information attached, the LG G Watch R looks like its going to be the new Android Wear smartwatch to beat. The question on everyone’s mind, at least everyone at LG, is how much will you be willing to pay for the G Watch R once it finally does launch? Thanks to LG Germany, we may have an idea just how much that will be.

According to the LG Germany press release for the G Watch R, the smartwatch is going to be released in October, just a couple months from now, at 299 euros. If that’s true, we may end up seeing a price along the lines of $300-$350 in the US, putting the G Watch R some $50 to $100 more than the often leaked $250 price tag for the Motorola Moto 360.

We won’t know the exact price of the G Watch R until LG puts it on sale later this year, but there’s a good chance it’s going to cost more than the G Watch and Moto 360. If it does, would you be willing to pay the premium? Until we can get our hands on both of this years most anticipated round Android Wear powered smartwatches, that’s going to be a tough call to make.

from Android and Me http://ift.tt/1mZbRaU
via IFTTT