Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Instant Apps
Colorist Offers A Relaxing Twist On Adult Coloring Books
The adult coloring book trend has come into its own and there are thousands of apps in the Play Store that offer a similar experience, but Colorist looks to make things even more relaxing by tossing in a few extra features. One of the most immediately noticeable differences with this app from the rest of the crowd is the music. The app offers a number of instrumentals with different moods, and they cycle as you color.
Mystery Moto P30 Handsets Appear On Official Chinese Website
At least three previously unknown Moto-branded handsets have reportedly appeared on the Lenovo-owned company’s website under the Moto P30, Moto P30 Note, and Moto P30 Play branding. Although not many details were provided by the site, which appears to have been taken down in the meantime, the appearance has led to a fair amount of speculation.
Deal: 2-Pack Of Nest Thermostat E For $318 - August 2018
Dell is currently selling a two pack of the Nest Thermostat E for just $318. That is just $20 off, but this is also one of the few times that the two pack has been on sale, and it is a great one to pick up. As you can grab a Nest Thermostat E for your home and then gift one to someone else – after all the holiday season is coming up pretty soon. The Nest Thermostat E is a pretty good smart thermostat from Nest right now.
PSA: Modded Fortnite APKs May Lead To Cross-Device Ban
You may be able to play Fortnite on Android right now with a modded APK file, no matter what device you have, but if you do, know that Epic has a number of measures in place that could ensure that you never play the game on Android, or even some other platforms, again.
Unicode 12.0 Emoji To Further Inclusivity, Add Tools & More
There are now around 179 draft candidates for new emoji that are up for consideration in Unicode 12.0 with a substantial number of those aimed at improved inclusivity while others would add tools, objects, and animals. Among the more prominent of those, changes to the couples emoji would result in an additional 55 new combinations, according to a recent publication in the official Unicode blog.
HTC Announces Which Smartphones Will Get Android Pie
Android 9 Pie was made official this week, and smartphone makers have been announcing plans for updating their current smartphones to the latest version of Android. HTC is the latest to make its announcement, and listed four devices which will get updated. That includes the U11, U11 Plus, U11 Life and U12 Plus. That covers HTC’s smartphones from 2017 and 2018 (so far). That is about what was expected from HTC – to continue updating its smartphones for two years.
Google Contacts App Update Adds All-White Material Theme
The Google Contacts Android app is currently in the process of receiving a new update via the Google Play Store which brings the version up to 3.0. The update itself does not seem to add anything new in terms of functionality, besides the usual bug fixes and improvements, although it does fairly drastically change the look of the app. This is due to the Contacts app now getting more of a ‘Material Design 2’ makeover where the primary changes come from the adoption of a new Material theme.
Ubisoft's Hungry Dragon Now Up For Pre-Registration
Ubisoft’s celebrated Hungry Shark series has now spawned a spinoff, called Hungry Dragon, that’s currently up for pre-registration in the Play Store. Those that pre-register to pilot their very own Hungry Dragon and gobble up medieval worlds will get special rewards depending on how many people do the same, with prizes ranging from a pittance of in-game gold to a special in-game pet at 3 million pre-registrations.
T-Mobile's Latest Unlimited Data Plan, "Essentials" Is Now Live
Earlier this week, T-Mobile announced a new unlimited data plan called T-Mobile Essentials, and now it is available to all. This is an unlimited data plan that only includes the essentials, as the name might suggest. This is a cheaper unlimited data plan without all of the bells and whistles that T-Mobile ONE includes – like GoGo Inflight WiFi, Netflix, and much more.
Top 10 Best Android Apps — Back To College — August 2018 | Android News
College year is about to start, and many of you are probably getting ready to go back to college, or start the experience altogether. Well, having the right set of apps on your phone may prove to be useful, as there are apps out there which can help you make that college year less painful, and they’re not exactly all study-related, quite the contrary.
Ericsson Boosts US Investments In 5G R&D And Manufacturing
Ericsson has announced that it will increase its investments in research and development and product introduction of 5G network equipment in the United States. The telecommunications equipment supplier claims that these investments should allow the company to better support the accelerated build-out of 5G networks across the country. Starting late last year, Ericsson has started opening research and development facilities in the United States that focus on the tech firm’s 5G products.
Upcoming Android 9 Pie Update Likely To Fix Back Button Issue
An upcoming Android 9 Pie update is likely to fix an issue many users have been experiencing since the developer preview stages of Android P. The severity and frequency of the issue will likely be dependent on how often an individual device owner uses the back button, and especially when viewing the ‘recents’ (overview) screen. With Android 9 Pie, came a clear change in the way in which the recents screen looks and functions.
Thunderbirds Are Go Gets A Mobile Game Adaption
Popular international children’s show Thunderbirds Are Go now has a mobile game spinoff, called Thunderbirds Are Go: International Rescue. The game casts you as one of the five Tracy brothers or Tanusha Kyrano, who fans of the older series may know as Tin-Tin.
Analysts: Epic Games Will Take $50M Out Of Google's Pocket With Fortnite
Fortnite Battle Royale launched on Android this week as a beta, starting on Samsung smartphones and then it will be available everywhere else in the coming weeks. But it’s not coming to the Google Play Store, and this is because Epic Games believes that Google is “greedy” with the revenue sharing amount that all Google Play apps and games have to do. Google gets 30-percent of all revenue from purchasing an app or game, and from in-app purchases.
Amazon Announces The Alexa Auto SDK
Amazon has announced the Alexa Auto SDK or Software Development Kit, which is basically going to open the door to bring Alexa into your vehicle. Amazon mentions that many people already enjoy Alexa in their home, and now developers can start developing for Alexa in the car. Now, Alexa is already available in the car, in several different models.
Disney, ESPN Plus & Hulu Streaming Bundle Remains A Possibility
There is a possibility the Hulu, ESPN Plus and the upcoming Disney streaming apps will become available to cord-cutters as a discounted bundle package. This is based on comments provided by The Walt Disney Company’s CEO, Bob Iger, during Disney’s earnings call earlier this week. On the topic of streaming, the main point Iger makes is Disney intends to embrace what it sees as one of the fundamental tenets of cord-cutting – the option for consumers to choose what they consume.
Google Explains A.I. Behind Android 9 Pie Smart Linkify API
Google Explains A.I. Behind Android 9 Pie Smart Linkify API Following the initial release of Android 9 Pie, Google has set out to explain the A.I. processes behind the OS’s vastly improved algorithms that create actionable links over phone numbers and addresses in text. While the concept isn’t necessarily new, the company has effectively introduced a new version of the previously used Android Linkify API called Smart Linkify.
Android-Powered BlackBerry KEY2 LE Leaks In Real-Life Image
A stitched image depicting what are said to be the front and back panels of TCL’s upcoming BlackBerry KEY2 LE appeared online earlier today, having been shared by Android Police. The photograph seen above shows a device that’s largely indistinguishable from the regular BlackBerry KEY2 launched earlier this spring but is expected to be released as a more affordable alternative to its sibling, with specs that are much closer to those of the 2017 BlackBerry KEYone than its 2018 follow-up.
Galaxy Note 9, More Phones Receive Netflix HDR Certification
Samsung’s newly announced Galaxy Note 9 and a number of other Android devices received Netflix HDR certificates earlier this week, with one of the world’s most popular on-demand streaming services expanding its mobile HDR portfolio by five new names in total. Besides Samsung’s latest Android flagship, the company’s list of HDR-certified devices now also includes the Galaxy Tab S4 tablet, Honor 10, and this year’s high-end smartphones from LG – the G7 ThinQ and V35 ThinQ.
Sonos One & Beam Speakers Now Support Alexa Announcements
Sonos One and Sonos Beam speakers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada are now receiving an update to enable Amazon Alexa’s Announcements service. The confirmation of the new feature for Sonos’s Alexa-enabled gadgets follows Amazon’s rollout of the thereof to Echo-branded devices in those regions back in early April. Amazon Announcements effectively allows any Alexa-ready device to act as the playback device in a one-way intercom system.
New Google Pixel 3 XL Video Leak Hints At Three Front Cameras
A video depicting what’s said to be a pre-production unit of the Google Pixel 3 XL appeared online earlier today, having been shared by Ukranian blogger Канал Лучкова, with the most curious takeaway from the new development being the suggestion that the upcoming Android flagship could feature three front cameras.
Deal: ECOVACS DEEBOT N79S Robot Vacuum For $179 w/ Code - August 2018
The ECOVACS DEEBOT N79S robot vacuum is on sale again, this time, it’s coming in at an even lower price. It’s just $179 from Amazon right now (when you use the promo code 7XBCBVYN), which is $20 lower than its previous lowest price, and it is good for $50 off of its regular price. Which makes this a great robot vacuum to pick up for your home and keep it nice and clean. ECOVACS DEEBOT N79S is a pretty popular robot vacuum here, which is great for cleaning up your home.
Video: Hands On With Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 is probably one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry, with Samsung itself even leaking out its own marketing video just last week. As such, there aren’t too many surprises in today’s announcement, but there are definitely enough new things to take notice of over last year’s Galaxy Note 8. First up, the S Pen, which is seeing the first major upgrade in years.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Pre-Orders Open At T-Mobile
T-Mobile has opened its pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 9 as well. And while it may not feature the BOGO promotions that AT&T and Verizon are right now. T-Mobile does offer a way to save up to $500 off of the price of the Galaxy Note 9. You can trade in your existing Samsung smartphone and get up to $500 off of the price of the Galaxy Note 9, which is still a pretty good deal. As always, the newer the Samsung smartphone, the more you’ll get for it and can put towards your Galaxy Note 9 purchase.
Moto Face Unlock App Hits Google Play Store
Motorola on Thursday released its Moto Face Unlock app on the Google Play Store. Already part of the native apps package for several of the most recent Motorola devices, Moto Face Unlock is a free app that allows users to unlock their phones by simply looking at their selfie cameras.
Pre-Order Galaxy Note 9 From AT&T, Get Second One Free
AT&T has opened up pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 9, and like Verizon, it is also offering up a buy one, get one free promotion on Samsung’s latest smartphone. This means that you can purchase one Galaxy Note 9 on AT&T NEXT and get a second one for free – via monthly bill credits. If you’d rather not get a second Galaxy Note 9, you can also opt for a Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus as well.
Mopria Alliance Adds Wi-Fi Direct Printing To Android 9 Pie
Mopria Alliance Adds Wi-Fi Direct Printing To Android 9 Pie Android 9 (Pie) will now support Wi-Fi Direct printing via Android’s Default Print Service, according to a new announcement from the Mopria Alliance. The non-profit group first teamed up with Google on the out-of-the-box printing solution back with the launch of Android 8.0 (Oreo), introducing Wi-Fi network printing via the Android Open Source Project.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Features A Massive Heat Pipe
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 features massive heat dissipation improvements compared to last year’s Galaxy Note 8, with its heat pipes being approximately three times larger, as revealed by a recent breakdown of the newly announced device. The image that can be seen above largely confirms previous reports about Samsung committing more resources toward ensuring the Galaxy Note 9 runs cooler than the Galaxy S9-series devices whose heat sinks are more akin those found inside the Galaxy Note 8.
Tribit XBoom Is A Bluetooth Speaker With 360-Degree Audio & 20-Hour Battery
Tribit XBoom Is A Bluetooth Speaker With 360-Degree Audio & 20-Hour Battery Tribit has a new Bluetooth Speaker that’s coming out soon, in the XBoom. This is a 360-degree speaker, that is also waterproof. The XBoom is not out just yet, but you can sign up on its site to be notified when it does launch in the near future – that link is at the bottom of this post. This XBoom has some pretty good bass included here as well, which is being called XBass Technology.
Moment Accessory Line Promises To Improve Galaxy Note 9 Camera
Smartphone accessory manufacturer Moment unveiled a self-titled line of accessories designed for the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung’s latest Android flagship that the South Korean tech juggernaut announced on Thursday following months of anticipation. The series consists of yet another iteration of the Photo Case designed to both protect Samsung’s newest phablet and support Moment’s add-on lenses. The new Photo Case version is available in Black and Walnut color options, with both being priced at $29.99.
Verizon Offers BOGO Promotion On Galaxy Note 9 Pre-Orders
Verizon has opened pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and it is offering a Buy One, Get One Free promotion on the device. This means that you can purchase a Galaxy Note 9 and get a second one for free – over 24 monthly bill credits. Now if you don’t want a second Galaxy Note 9 for free, you can instead opt to pick up a Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus instead – the “free” phone needs to be cheaper than the Galaxy Note 9, which is why the Galaxy S9 would be the free one.
Android-Powered Palm Smartphone Leaks With Tiny Form Factor
The first contemporary smartphone launching as part of the Palm brand leaked online on Thursday, with its first known depiction being leaked by Android Police. The render that can be seen above confirms previous rumors about the device having a relatively tiny form factor but dispels the possibility of it launching with a physical keyboard.
Google Updates Play Store With No-Fortnite-Here Warning
Google updated the Play Store with a no-Fortnite-here warning at some point in the last 24 hours, presumably so as to lower the chances of users being tricked into installing what they presume is Epic Games’ battle royale hit.
Galaxy Note 9 Up For Pre-Order At Samsung's Website
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is now up for pre-order from Samsung’s website. If you do pre-order from Samsung, you’ll be able to get the Galaxy Note 9 from any of the US carriers – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon – as well as an unlocked Galaxy Note 9. The price starts at $999 as you’d expect, and you can upgrade to 512GB for $1249. Samsung is also offering up a couple of promotions with the Galaxy Note 9 for those that do pre-order before August 23.
Motorola Possibly Making Samsung DeX Competitor 'Moto ModBook'
Motorola may be working on a solution meant to rival the Samsung Desktop Experience (DeX) platform, known industry insider Evan Blass said earlier this week. The concept is said to be an evolution of the Atrix Lapdock, a phone-to-PC solution Motorola introduced in 2011. The new project is understood to be internally referred to as the “Moto ModBook” and some of its provisional user interface designs can be seen below, with their wallpapers suggesting they’re over a year old at this point.
Mophie Unveils Galaxy Note 9 Juice Pack, Available This Fall
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was introduced yesterday with a 4,000mAh non-removable battery, and that’s not exactly a small battery pack, but the Galaxy Note 9 has a large display, and just in case you need more juice, Mophie has just announced a juice pack for Samsung’s new flagship handset. Mophie has introduced a juice pack which packs in a 2,525mAh battery on the inside, and despite that, it manages to remain rather thin.
Incipio Launches Protective Case Line For Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Smartphone accessory maker Incipio on Thursday announced a lineup of new protective cases for the Galaxy Note 9, having done so shortly after the South Korean tech giant officially announced its latest Android flagship. The company’s new offerings come in the form of the Incipio NGP and Incipio DualPro, a pair of durable cases meant to protect the Galaxy Note 9 from all at-risk angles without adding too much bulk to the device itself.
Electronics Deals - August 10, 2018: Galaxy Note 9, Sous Vide & More
Amazon has discounted a slew of different Sous Vide products right now in its Gold Box Deal of the Day, which makes it a great time to pick one up and use it to cook dinner at home. The Sous Vide is a pretty interesting way to cook, and it does make some rather good tasting food as well. On top of that, Amazon has a slew of great deals on its own hardware like the Fire TV Cube, Cloud Cam and much more.
Galaxy Note 9's Specifications & Availability In Canada
Samsung had introduced the Galaxy Note 9 yesterday in New York, and for those who live in Canada, well, here’s more info about the device. Samsung had introduced only one Galaxy Note 9, but there are some differences from market to market when it comes to specs, as the design is the same for all variants. In this article, we’ll also talk about availability of the Galaxy Note 9 in Canada, for those of you who are interested.
T-Mobile Attempts 'All-Day Unboxing' Of Samsung Galaxy Note 9
T-Mobile has kicked off a new ad campaign highlighting Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 in the run-up to its own pre-orders and promotional offers for the device. Despite the video’s title – EPIC All Day Unboxing with AskDes – this is not a typical unboxing. At just over three minutes long, the advertisement pits the longevity of the new phablet’s battery against the unbridled energy of the presenter from the company’s own Content Director and YouTuber Desmond Smith.
Qualcomm Settles Taiwan Antitrust Case, Fine Slashed By 90%
Qualcomm settled its antitrust dispute with the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission, having managed to effectively reduce the original $773 million fine it was hit with last year by nearly 90-percent, the company announced Thursday. Following nearly a year of legal battles, the company successfully concluded the case that first saw it penalized for monopolistic behavior and unfair patent licensing practices with a range of concessions, describing the new agreement as beneficial for both parties.
InvisibleShield Intros Screen Protectors For The Note 9
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 dropped yesterday, and we’ve seen quite a few accessories announced for the device, well, the latest one in line is Zagg, as the company just announced its InvisibleShield screen protectors for Samsung’s all-new flagship. The company introduced InvisibleShield Glass Curve and HD Ultra screen protectors, which are actually somewhat different in comparison.
LifeProof NËXT Case For The Galaxy Note 9 Is Official
LifeProof has just announced its very first case for Samsung’s Galaxy Note series of devices, and this particular case is made for the all-new Galaxy Note 9. The name of the company’s case is LifeProof NËXT, and the case itself is not available just yet, but it will be soon, says the company. LifeProof also said that the case is made to ‘stand up to the rigors of an active lifestyle’.
In-Display Fingerprint Readers Gaining Traction In 2018: Report
In-display fingerprint readers have been steadily gaining traction in the mobile industry over the course of this year, with their total 2018 shipments now being expected to hit 42 million units, as indicated by the latest market data collected by analytics firm Sigmaintell.
Xperia XZ3 To Sport FullHD+ Resolution, No Notch: Report
The alleged Sony Xperia XZ3 spec sheet leaked earlier today, and now some additional info surfaced. User agent profiles surfaced for three different versions of the Xperia XZ3, or at least it seems like these are Xperia XZ3 models, the H8416, H9436, and H9493. In any case, these user agent profiles confirm that the Xperia XZ3 will sport a fullHD+ (2160 x 1080) display, which means we’re looking at an 18:9 display aspect ratio here.
Ulefone Shares 5 Reasons Why You Should Buy The Armor 5
Ulefone Shares 5 Reasons Why You Should Buy The Armor 5 The Ulefone Armor 5 is one of the company’s newest smartphones, and the company has decided to promote the device by sharing five reasons why you should buy the device. Before we begin, however, it is worth noting that the phone is made out of metal and glass, despite the fact it’s a rugged smartphone, while it also sports two cameras on the back, right above its fingerprint scanner.
Xperia XZ2 Premium Gets Bokeh & Monochrome Camera Options
A new update has started rolling out for the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium, Sony’s current flagship smartphone. This new update brings some security-related improvements, but the main focus is on the camera, as you’ll be getting some new camera features and improvements with this update. This update brings the bokeh mode to the Xperia XZ2 Premium’s camera, which you can access by hitting the function key (below the shutter button).
Instant Apps, Play Store Refinement Planned By Google
Google has taken to the Android Developers Blog to outline big plans for the Play Store over the next year with a renewed focus on safety, discovery, and quality. For starters, the search giant is continuing work to find new ways and places to surface app advertisements to prospective users.
B&H Photo Discounts Pixels, Galaxy S9, GoPro's & More In Its Back-To-School Sale
B&H Photo has just kicked off its big Back To School sale, and you’re going to find a slew of great deals in this sale. From smartphones, to laptops to cameras, to just about everything in between. There’s no word on how long this sale is going to be available, but it will likely last all month long, but supplies will be limited, so you’ll want to grab them before they are gone.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Instant
Contact Instant, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack