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You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Developers will need to declare whether their Android apps contain advertisements
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The Google Play Store has slowly become more informative for users over the years, most recently adding labels to apps that have in-app purchases. Starting in early 2016, it appears that there will be more changes as Google is mandating that developers will need to declare whether their Android apps contain advertisements, and will show up as a similar label in the Play Store. An email has been circulating to developers this week to inform them that they have January 11th, 2016 to declare whether their app has ads in them – note that failing to do so violates the Google Play policies.
Here’s the email that’s going around:
Hello Google Play Developer,
At Google I/O, we launched “ad-supported” labels for apps in the Designed for Families program. Today, we’re announcing the expansion of this program to all apps on Google Play. Early next year, users will start to see the “Ads” label on apps that contain advertising, both inside and outside Designed for Families.
By January 11, 2016, you must sign in to the Play Developer Console and declare whether your apps contain ads (such as ads delivered through third party ad networks, display ads, native ads, and/or banner ads). After this date, the ads declaration will be required to make any updates to your apps. Please note that misrepresenting ad presence violates Google Play Developer Program Policies and may lead to suspension. You can visit our help center to learn more.
While developers are responsible for accurately declaring ad presence in their apps, Google may verify this at any time and display the “Ads” label if appropriate.
If you feel your app has been incorrectly flagged for containing ads, please contact our policy support team.
Regards,
The Google Play Team
What do you think about developers having to declare whether their Android apps contain advertisements? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Google Support, Droid-life
The post Developers will need to declare whether their Android apps contain advertisements appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 now comes with a warning not to insert S-Pen backwards
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When the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 was first released, there was a huge uproar regarding the fact the S-Pen stylus could be inserted backwards into the device, potentially permanently ruining its functionality. There were plenty of arguments on either side of the fence, but Samsung has taken the proactive approach regardless and has now put a warning on the device itself. As shown in an unboxing video by YouTube J. Williams, the Note 5 now has a printed warning on the screen protector that ships with a new device that specifically warns against this particular situation.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s still not going to happen, but at least with this warning Samsung can say “we told you so”. Having said that, expect the next generation of Galaxy Note devices to adopt the design of its predecessors where the S-Pen can only be inserted one way.
What do you think about this new warning on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 now comes with a warning not to insert S-Pen backwards appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
OnePlus introduces On-Guard extended warranty to North America
OnePlus recently announced On-Guard extended warranty for Europe, but had plans of bringing the service to other markets as well. Today, OnePlus has said On-Guard will now be available in North America too.
On-Guard insurance will be for both the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X in the US and Canada. There will be three different levels of protection: On-Guard 12, On-Guard Plus 18, and On-Guard Plus 24.
On-Guard 12: With this plan you will receive Extended Service Coverage (ESC), which provides replacement coverage for product hardware failures due to manufacturer’s defects in material and workmanship that reveal themselves in normal usage when used primarily for personal, family or household purposes.
On-Guard Plus 18 and On-Guard Plus 24: With this plan you receive Extended Service Coverage (ESC), which provides replacement coverage for product hardware failures due to manufacturer’s defects in material and workmanship that reveal themselves in normal usage when used primarily for personal, family or household purposes. You will also receive Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH), which provide coverage for accidental damage, such as drops, liquid spills, and cracks.
To purchase the insurance, you must enroll when you purchase a new OnePlus device. Currently, they are not able to offer a grace period for second chance enrollment, but plan on doing so soon.
Source: OnePlus
Come comment on this article: OnePlus introduces On-Guard extended warranty to North America
Let’s have an argument about encryption
Government officials have been vexed for quite some time now that they can’t surveil communications that use end-to-end encryption. Never mind that to crack encrypted platforms open for one spy would mean to open them up for all spies. Just being able to roll WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage into the Pentagon’s bulk surveillance programs is good enough for them, thanks. Worrying about what that might mean to the intelligence gathering capabilities of their adversaries is apparently “not in their department.”
After the devastating attacks in Paris last Friday, U.S. officials wasted no time in using fear to insist that messaging apps using end-to-end encryption be “backdoored” for surveillance access, and rolled into the Pentagon’s bulk surveillance programs.
The internet, rather than treating the officials like children who want to smash the family piggy bank to collect copper pennies, has decided to argue with them.
FDA approves world’s first GMO fish: fast-growing Atlantic Salmon
In a landmark decision more than two decades in the making, the US Food and Drug Administration announced its approval of a genetically modified Atlantic Salmon variant on Thursday. The AquAdvantage salmon, which was initially developed back in 1989 and submitted for approval in 1995, grows far faster than its conventionally bred brethren. The FDA has deemed it safe for human consumption, equally nutritious as other salmon varieties and not dangerous to the environment. And since the GMO salmon is considered nutritionally equivalent to regular salmon supermarkets will be able to carry the fish without having to label them being GMO.
Via: Mother Jones, Ars Technica
Source: US FDA
MetroPC brings BOGO deal back for Black Friday
Does anyone even realize that Thanksgiving is next Thursday? Probably not, because we’re all set on Black Friday. Around the world, stores will be stormed with customers eager to get their hands on the hottest deals of the year. So many are preparing for the massive foot traffic by launching their Black Friday deals early. MetroPCS, the prepaid carrier owned and operated by T-Mobile, has launched its familiar buy-one-get-one promotion eight days ahead of the (unofficial) holiday being honored.
Purchasing any phone from MetroPCS will provide you with one of the following phones free of charge:
- Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
- Kyocera Hydro Wave
- LG Leon
- LG 450
- ZTE Obsidian
Customers can go to any participating MetroPCS store starting today to take advantage of the deal. MetroPCS is running it through November, leaving you plenty of time to decide if any of the aforementioned phones are good gift for you or anyone on your list.
Source: MetroPCS
Come comment on this article: MetroPC brings BOGO deal back for Black Friday
You can now invite non-Google users to join Hangouts video calls
Google Hangouts is one of the more popular video chatting services out there. Believe it or not, though, there are some people who have never signed up for a Google account. How do you chat with these people through Hangouts? Well, up until now, that hasn’t been possible. But thanks to a recent announcement from Google, video chatting with people who don’t have a Google account will soon get much easier.
Google has just announced that it’s dropping the requirement to have a Google account to join a Hangouts video chat. Guests that don’t have a Google account will simply need to click on a video chat link that’s shared with them by the host. All they need to do is enter in their name and then request to join the call.
Google is also making it much easier for guests who don’t use Google Calendar by providing a link to the video call in the description of the event. This handy new feature is now available for guests joining with a web browser.
Download Hangouts from Google Play
See also: 10 best video calling apps for Android
Comcast’s new streaming app doesn’t count against your cap
Following T-Mobile’s lead, Comcast is launching a new streaming TV app that will not count against users’ data caps. The app, called Stream TV, is “an IP cable service delivered over [Comcast’s] managed network to the home” company reps told Ars Technica. Since the data travels over Comcast’s IP gateway rather than the internet proper, the traffic won’t count against a user’s monthly limit.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Comcast
Google Fit gets real-time stats and grabs data from more wearables
Just in time to outfit your holiday workout regimen, Google its updating its Fit app with a few new features. First, the activity-tracking software now provides real-time distance, steps, pace and calorie stats for your running, walking and riding workouts. When you come to a stop for some push-ups, sit-ups or squats, you can use your Android Wear device to keep a tally of your reps before adding the total to your daily activity log. Google Fit also pulls in sleep and nutrition info from other apps and fitness trackers. If you’re using MyFitnessPal (and a host of others) to track meals or Sleep as Android, Xiaomi Mi Band, Mi Band 1S, Sony Smartband 2 or the Basis Peak to keep tabs on how well you’re resting, you’ll be able access those details for a more complete picture of your overall wellness. Looking to give it a shot? You can grab the latest version of the Android app from Google Play right here.
Source: Google
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