Fresh Meat: 10 new Android apps worth checking out

New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. We’ve shown in the past that this community can discover great apps and propel them to new heights. Our weekly Fresh Meat column highlights new apps with fewer than 100,000 installs. Browse our new Android app picks below and let us know which ones you enjoy.

YouTube Music

YouTube Music

Description: YouTube Music lets you watch and listen to a nearly endless catalog in an app designed for music discovery. Just tap a track you love, and see where your music takes you.

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Pool – Photo Sharing Assistant

Pool - Photo

DescriptionPool is like a personal assistant for your photos! It groups your event photos together and reminds you to share them with friends and family. Pool makes it super easy to privately share photos with your friends with one swipe. 

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LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Programmer

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Programmer

DescriptionBring your LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 robots to life! This is the official LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programmer app for use with the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 (31313) robotics construction set.

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Hivemapper

Hivemapper

DescriptionFlying a drone without Hivemapper is like using a smartphone without an internet connection. Sure, it can fly but it has no information about the world around it. Hivemapper’s real-time 3d map of the earth connects you to gigantic amounts of critical information

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Thanksgiving for Android

Thansgiving for Android

DescriptionFeatures: Date, Digital Time, Resolution:400*400, Round & Square Watch Face, Concise & Power saving.

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Runtastic Results

Runtastic Results

Description: Transform your body in 12 short weeks with no equipment. Results is your ultimate bodyweight and strength training app for losing weight, building muscle, burning fat or boosting endurance.

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Patreon

Patreon

DescriptionPatreon is a recurring crowdfunding platform for all types of artists and creators. For fans, this is a way to support your favorite creators for making the stuff you’re crazy about. For creators, Patreon is a way to get paid by your fans for making the things you’re already making (videos, songs, webcomics, anything!).

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HomeUX (Beta)

HomeUX (Beta)

DescriptionHomeUX provides a simplistic yet highly functional launcher user interface with full integration of Google’s Material Design.

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Watch Face: Scooter

Watch Face-Scooter

DescriptionJust imagine, you are traveling around some countryside together with your old, but trusty friend – blue scooter. This elegant watch face has a cute and stylish design with a special speedometer in moto-style. Nicely animated arrow goes around.

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Fatboy Watch Face

Fatboy Watch Face

DescriptionTap to change screen. Large size font-type. Configurable weather metric celsius / fahrenheit. Features: Current weather, Steps count from google fit, Meetings scheduled for today, Phone and watch battery percentages.

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New Sprint promotion promises to cut your cellphone bill in half

The Sprint countdown has run down, revealing a new promotion that promises to cut your bill in half and give you up to $650 to cover your termination fees if you switch to Sprint from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile. Sprint’s new promotion starts on November 20 and runs through January 6 of next year. As with Sprint’s earlier promotions, the reduced monthly rates will only last until January 8, 2018.

Since the promotion is based on your current plan, everyone switching to Sprint will be getting a slightly different deal. Fortunately, Sprint has put together a few examples of what your savings could look like based on sample rates offered by its competitors.

Sprint 50% rate plan discount examples

  • T-Mobile: T-Mobile offers 10GB for $80 per month. T-Mobile customers switching to Sprint can get unlimited talk and text with the same amount of data for $40 per month and that’s with high-speed for your video at Sprint.
  • AT&T: A family paying $100 for 15GB at AT&T can get the same amount of data for $50 if they switch to Sprint. Customers also save 50 percent on the access fee.
  • Verizon: Verizon customers paying $80 for 12GB of data will pay $40 for 12GB if they switch to Sprint, and they will save 50 percent on the access fee, too.

We can imaging that a lot of people will take advantage of Sprint’s new deal and make the switch from T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T over the next month and a half. Sprint’s network reliability has been improving, but we’d still choose T-Mobile’s network, even if it will cost slightly more.

Will you be switching to Sprint to save 50% on your current cellphone bill?

Show Press Release

Sprint Celebrates Launch of LTE Plus Network; Introduces Biggest Wireless Offer in U.S. History – 50% Off Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Rate Plans

No gimmicks, no tricks – Available on almost all consumer plans

Savings guaranteed until 2018

Plus, Sprint will pay fees up to $650 for anyone switching to Sprint

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), November 18, 2015 – In celebration of the launch of its new LTE Plus network, which has been clocking blazing speeds nationwide, Sprint (NYSE: S) is introducing the biggest wireless offer in U.S. history – 50 percent off the price of most Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile rate plans1. This unprecedented opportunity invites wireless subscribers to try the Sprint network that is performing better than ever – it’s faster than Verizon and AT&T, based on analysis of a recent study by Nielsen2. New customers can sign up for this offer nationwide Nov. 20 through Jan. 7, 2016.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here:http://ift.tt/1PA9Bt5

50 Percent Off Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Rate Plans

T-Mobile

Example: T-Mobile offers 10GB for $80 per month. T-Mobile customers switching to Sprint can get unlimited talk and text with the same amount of data for $40 per month and that’s with high-speed for your video at Sprint.

AT&T

Example: A family paying $100 for 15GB at AT&T can get the same amount of data for $50 if they switch to Sprint. Customers also save 50 percent on the access fee.

Verizon

Example: Verizon customers paying $80 for 12GB of data will pay $40 for 12GB if they switch to Sprint, and they will save 50 percent on the access fee, too.

“We’ve made tremendous strides with our network because we know consumers want wireless service that provides consistent speed and reliability,” said Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO. “We are so confident that customers will have an amazing experience that we are encouraging them to give us a try with the biggest wireless offer in the history of our industry. Customers switching to Sprint will never need to look elsewhere. They will learn what our 58 million customers already know – Sprint offers the best value and an award-winning network.”

To reward existing customers for their loyalty, Sprint is offering a free tablet with one year of free service with a two-year contract3, while supplies last. A $360 value, this will make a great holiday gift.

“Our company would be nothing without our existing customers so we wanted to make sure we showed our appreciation to them, too,” Claure said. “They will be able to take advantage of this great offer during this holiday season.”

Sprint LTE Plus network

LTE Plus, available today in 77 major markets, takes advantage of Sprint’s rich triband spectrum portfolio, and it uses some of the world’s most advanced technologies in wireless, such as carrier aggregation and antenna beamforming.

Respected third-party testers are recognizing Sprint’s network improvements. For example:

  • Nielsen looks at how consumers use their wireless devices and their most recent tests showed that the Sprint network is faster than Verizon’s and AT&T’s2.
  • Lowest latency: Latency is the delay between the time wireless information is sent and received. Low latency means faster transmissions, and that’s a great thing! In the third quarter this year, Sprint had the lowest LTE latency, according to OpenSignal. Sprint beat AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile – the second consecutive quarter Sprint held this lowest latency ranking.
  • RootMetrics is recognizing Sprint for substantial improvements in overall, reliability, speed, data, call, and/or text network performance. As of Nov. 17, Sprint has achieved 108 first-place (outright or shared) RootScore Awards in 67 metro markets published in the second half of 2015 (up from 70 awards a year ago)4.

John Saw, Sprint chief technology officer, describes in this blog post the performance improvement seen by leading third-party testing organizations.

Cutting your rate plan by 50 percent is easy

This pricing plan is simple with no gimmicks or tricks. Customers who switch get 50 percent off most current rate plan prices from their current carrier. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon customers switching to Sprint also can take advantage of iPhone Forever, where they are eligible to upgrade every time a new iPhone launches.

  • This is a worry-free offer. Customers have 28 days to experience Sprint service. If they are not satisfied, customers can return their device with no restocking fee5.
  • Visit your local Sprint store, Sprint Store at RadioShack, www.sprint.com or call 1-800-Sprint1 to switch.
  • Get your new device with Sprint Lease, iPhone Forever, Sprint Easy Pay installment billing or pay full retail price for the device. Or bring your own compatible device.
  • Customers must port one line, and can add up to 9 additional lines on the account.
  • Customers must choose from the 50 percent off rate plans available from their current carrier.
  • Cricket and MetroPCS customers also can switch and save 50 percent off their parent company’s postpaid rates.
  • 50 percent off pricing remains valid until Jan. 8, 2018, for activations between Nov. 20, 2015, and Jan. 7, 2016.
  • Sprint will pay your switching fees up to $650 per line via an American Express® Reward Card after online registration and phone turn-in6.

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Google Play paid app minimum reduced in 17 global markets

After successfully testing out lower paid app minimums in India earlier this year, Google has informed developers that they can now lower the price of paid apps in 17 additional markets. While it sounds a bit crazy, app developers have been asking Google to lower paid app minimums for quite some time. The lower app prices will allow developers to make more money by offering tailored prices for each unique market. Buying an app for $0.99 in the US doesn’t sound like a whole lot, but that’s not the case if you live in the Philippines and only make $250 per month at your full time job.

Lower paid app minimums also mean that developers can start charging for apps which were previously only available for free. The list below shows the new paid app minimums, which are now available for 17 markets across the globe. There’s no indication that paid apps will be getting cheaper in the US or major markets in Western Europe, but we’re sure Google will consider it if they see sales increases in these 17 markets.

New Google Play paid app minimums by county

  • Brazil: R$ 0.99 (US$0.26) — was R$2.00
  • Chile: CLP $200.00 (US$0.28) — was CLP $500.00
  • Colombia: COP$ 800.00 (US$0.26) — was COP$ 2000.00
  • Hungary: Ft 125.00 (US$0.43) — was Ft 225.00
  • Indonesia: Rp 3,000.00 (US$0.22) — was Rp 12,000.00
  • Malaysia: RM 1.00 (US$0.23) — was RM 3.50
  • Mexico: MXN$ 5.00 (US$0.30) — was MXN$ 9.90
  • Peru: S/. 0.99 (US$0.30) — was S/. 3.00
  • Philippines: ₱15.00 (US$0.32) — was ₱43.00
  • Poland: zł1.79 (US$0.45) — was zł2.99
  • Russia: руб 15.00 (US$0.23) — was руб 30.00
  • Saudi Arabia:﷼ 0.99 (US$0.26) — was 4.00﷼
  • South Africa: R3.99 (US$0.28) — was R10.00
  • Thailand: ฿10.00 (US$0.28) — was ฿32.00
  • Turkey: ₺0.59 (US$0.21) — was ₺2.00
  • Ukraine: ₴5.00 (US$0.21) — was ₴8.00
  • Vietnam: ₫6,000 (US$0.27) — was ₫21,000.00

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Moto X Pure Edition is getting a trio of limited designs from designer Jonathan Adler

While Motorola already offers a series of options in terms of customization for its Moto-branded devices, for those that might want to get their hands on a “limited design” from a noteworthy designer, an option is finally arriving in the near future.

Motorola has just announced a trio of new designs for the Moto X Pure Edition, created by designer Jonathan Adler. Motorola will launch a pre-order period for the new designs, which is set to go live on Tuesday, November 24. The new designs will go up for sale beginning Thursday, December 3.

The 32GB Moto X Pure Edition with the limited design will retail for $474.99, which means it’s been attached with a $25 markup from the standard Moto X Pure Edition.

The three new designs can be seen in the image with Adler. So what do you think of them?

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HTC One M9(s) crams the One A9′s camera into the One M9′s shell

Not digging the look of the HTC One A9? If you live in Taiwan, you’ll soon have the option of buying a phone that looks identical to HTC’s flagship One M9, but is equipped with the same 13-megapixel sensor and OIS setup as the HTC One A9. The new HTC One M9(s) sounds like a good compromise phone for those who want the HTC One A9′s camera melded with HTC’s classic all-metal design, but the phone doesn’t really compare to the One M9 when it comes to performance.

Rather than featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM, the HTC One M9(s) is powered by a MediaTek Helio X10 processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, microSD expansion slot, and a 2840mAh battery. Fortunately, there is a bit of good news for those still interested in the HTC One M9(s): The phone does retain the UltraPixel front-facing camera, and its price is set at NT$12,900 (US$393 USD), 30% less than the HTC One M9 and more than 13% less than the One A9. HTC is accepting pre-orders now and will start shipping the phone on November 20.

There’s no indication that the HTC One M9(s) will ever make it to Europe of the US, but we honestly doubt anyone will be disappointed to hear that.

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Redesigned Google+ now rolling out

Google+ is now getting a full redesign across the web, Android, and iOS. The redesign looks pretty much the same across all platforms and is meant to put the two main features of the service at the front: Communities and Collections.

It seems that Google realizes that people don’t use Google+ as a regular social network, rather as a place for like-minded people to share information and talk about certain topics. Communities and Collections both contribute to that, giving people the chance to find others with their interests.

If you’re interested in checking out the new Google+, you’ll have to opt in to the new design. Check out the source link for more info. It’s not entirely finished, so you will be able to toggle between the old and new designs to use all the features.

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Pushbullet introduces new Pro paid accounts, takes features away from free accounts

If you’re into Android at all, there’s no doubt you’ve heard of Pushbullet. It’s a program that connects your phone to your computer to your tablet, whatever you like. You can use it to send texts from your computer via your phone, check notifications, and a lot more.

Pushbullet has now announced a Pro version, which will cost either $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. A company has to make money somehow, right? The blog post details how the company doesn’t want to show ads or sell user data, so this was the best way to make some money. And if you love a service, paying as little as $3.33 a month isn’t absurd.

However, there’s a downside to current users. Pushbullet is making some previously free features Pro only, which means current users may have to start paying to continue using the service. This may leave a bitter taste in some people’s mouths.

Pushbullet Pro comparison

This is the breakdown of the free and Pro account features. I think the biggest problem for free users is the 100 message per month limit. A lot of people used Pushbullet for sending messages from their computers, which they will no longer be able to do for more than a few days (or hours). And with Motorola Connect killed off, we have fewer and fewer free options to text from our computers.

Do you use Pushbullet? What do you think of this move? Let us know in the comments!

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Long distance wireless charging is now a reality

Wireless charging is a great technology (that I miss so much ever since I switched to the Moto X Pure Edition), allowing you to charge without dealing with cables or worn out USB ports. Just place your phone on a wireless charging surface and you’re good to go. Unfortunately, using your phone means stopping wireless charging.

Si-Ware Systems and Ossia have introduced a system called Cota that can charge compatible devices within a 30 foot radius. It can transmit 10 watts of power, while devices can pull a maximum of 6 watts. It isn’t nearly as fast as Quick Charge 2.0, but it’s still pretty decent all things considered. The radio frequency technology also means that direct line of sight isn’t necessary, so devices will still charge through minor obstructions.

This technology isn’t limited to smartphones and wearables, though. Even things like wireless keyboards could be charged this way, without ever having to plug anything in. As long as you’re near the charger, your devices are getting charged.

While there are some things to consider, like the effect of constant charging on a device that’s at home for 12 hours a day, but it’s an awesome step forward.

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Google Photos will now let you easily free up space on your device when you need it

One of the strengths of Google Photos is the ability to access unlimited cloud storage for “high quality” photos, and videos as well. Unfortunately, devices don’t have unlimited storage, so Google is hoping to make it easier to free up some space on devices that might be running low.

With the new “Free Up Space” feature, which is available in Settings within the app, users can simply tap the option to have Google Photos excise some images and videos from the built-in storage on their device. These photos and videos will have already been backed up to Google Photos, of course, and the cloud service says that you’ll be able to access them, both on device and on the web, whenever you’re connected.

The update to Google Photos, which should be available now, also includes the ability to have Photos tell you when your device is running low on storage and then automatically delete photos and videos that are 30 days or older and have already been backed up to the cloud.

The update rolled out to Android users beginning earlier today, and it will be available to iOS user at some point in the near future as well.

Do you think you’ll use this feature a lot?

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Lumoid Listen is the new way to test audio products

A few weeks back, we reviewed Lumoid, a try-before-you-buy service for wearables, drones and photography equipment. We came out of it impressed with the excellent experience and the opportunity that Lumoid provided. Today, Lumoid is launching a new branch of service, Lumoid Listen. Lumoid Listen is a new way to test out audio products before you pull the trigger and purchase.

Lumoid Listen divvies up the products into three categories of home audio, portable audio and personal audio. We’ll take a look at all three and what they entail.

Home audio consists of in-home speaker systems. The types of things you’ll find in this section are Sonos systems, Marshall speakers and more. These products each have a per-product trial fee that varies from $20-$50 depending on the product. That amount gets you the product for two weeks to test it out and see how you like it. If you decide that you want to keep it, you can let Lumoid know that you want to purchase the product and they’ll send you a brand new unit and have you send back your trial unit. As an added bonus, 100% of your trial fee goes towards your purchase, so you get a bit of a discount from the usual price.

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Portable audio is made up of portable Bluetooth and wireless speakers. This selection includes products like the UE Roll, Bose SoundLink Mini II and Harmon Kardon Esquire Mini. For portable audio units, customers can pick out any three devices and test them out for two weeks at a low cost of just $30. If you decide to purchase one, they’ll send you that unit, you’ll send back the trial units and $25 of your trial fee will go towards the cost of the device you purchased.

Personal audio is made up of in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear headphones. The rental structure of this is a bit different, as the headphones are divided into categories. Check out the bulleted list below for the categories and their respective trial pricing:

  • Audiophile: Three for $55. $35 goes towards purchase.
  • Fitness Junkie: Three for $30. 100% goes towards purchase.
  • Under $300 Wunderkinds: Three for $30. 100% goes towards purchase.
  • Fashion forward: Three for $45. $35 goes towards purchase.
  • Noise canceling: Three for $50. $40 goes towards purchase.
  • In Ear: Three for $30. 100% goes towards purchase.

Lumoid Listen is a fantastic way to get a feel for which product you like, before you drop a lot of money on it. It’s convenient, easy to use and offers a seamless way to try and then purchase the product. Best of all is the very affordable pricing, which is much lower than the cost of the devices you’re trying, particularly when you can try headphones that cost nearly $2000.

Follow the source link below to take a look at Lumoid Listen and definitely think about trying out some products. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised.

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