Google’s cracking down on Play Store apps that include lock screen ads

Intrusive lock screen ads, your time has come.

We’ve all been there at one point or another. You download an app from the Play Store, all appears to be well, and then it happens – intrusive advertisements start popping up on your lock screen. This has been an issue on Android for years, but it looks like Google is finally taking the right steps to stop this from happening any longer.

First spotted by Android Police, Google Play’s Developer Policy Center has been updated with a new section under the Lockscreen Monetization portion that reads:

Unless the exclusive purpose of the app is that of a lockscreen, apps may not introduce ads or features that monetize the locked display of a device.

Some of the biggest offenders of this include ES File Explorer and Hotspot Shield VPN, and while it’s unclear what Google will do to apps that are currently violating this rule, it’s reassuring to see that some guidelines are finally in place.

Apps like S’more and Slidejoy that are created around the idea of serving ads to your lock screen aren’t affected by this, but those that try to sneak ads in there without the you being aware are getting the boot they deserve.

Well done, Google 👏

Google reported to absorb Nest into its own hardware division

Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV is fun but a little rough

Fishing in VR with a Monster Hunting flavor.

Monster of the Deep is a spin off VR game, based on the Mini game from Final Fantasy XV where Noctis goes fishing to gain AP. This VR game is essentially a fishing game with the occasional crossbow shooter thrown in for good measure, which winds up being a good bit of fun.

Unlike the main game, you play a nameless hunter in the world of Final Fantasy XV instead of the whiney hero Noctis from the main game. You do bump into others in the game however, so far I’ve met Noctis and Cindy, the amazing mechanic who is entirely underdressed for this game, with more showing up as you play.

Read more at VRHeads

Video: HTC U11+ review

It’s become something of a sad cliche to preface an HTC review with a grim recap of just how far the Taiwanese company has fallen in the past half-decade. Sure: HTC has indeed seen better days, but it still knows how to make great Android phones, as evidenced by the quality of this year’s U11 handset.

Now, as the year draws to a close, there’s a new model on the horizon — boasting a larger, taller screen, a gigantic battery and Android Oreo out of the box. The HTC U11+ sees HTC join the 18:9 club while further refining its “liquid surface” glass design and introducing a smattering of new software features — all while retaining the key features that made the U11 a great device. Unfortunately, there’s no U.S. launch planned for the U11+, but it’s out now in parts of Asia, and coming to Europe soon.

Check out our video review above for a full rundown on what’s good — and not so good — about the latest phone from everyone’s favorite Android underdog.

• Android Central on YouTube
• HTC U11+ preview
• More on the HTC U11 series

Google Assistant now helps you find a local plumber or electrician

Finding local assistance is just one “Ok, Google” command away.

If you’ve ever tried finding a handyman or woman to hire for a project at your house, you know the experience of searching through various companies and trying to figure out which services they offer can be a big pain in the rear. Thankfully, a new update to Google Assistant makes this ordeal a lot more bearable.

To get started, simply start talking to Google Assistant by saying, “Ok, Google, I need a plumber.” You’ll then get a list of common orders to choose from, such as installing a faucet, unclogging a drain, etc. Once you’ve chosen which services you need, the Assistant will then confirm the address at which you need the work done.

After confirming this, you then have the option of having the Assistant call the first plumber it finds or getting a list of the ones in your area that provide the services you need.

You’ll be able to use this feature not only with plumbers, but also electricians, house cleaners, and other service providers. Google will be rolling this out to Assistant on phones and smart speakers (like Google Home) over the coming weeks in the United States, and in certain cities, recommendations are prescreened by HomeAdvisor and Porch.

‘Hey, Google’ command now rolling out to Assistant on Android phones

Google Home Max might be released on December 11

Time to start counting down the days.

It’s hard to believe that Google’s big hardware event was almost two months ago, but time sure flies when you’re waiting for a release date for the company’s awesome Assistant-equipped home speaker.

We’re obviously talking about the Google Home Max, and when it was unveiled back in October, we knew that it’d be released at some point in December. However, according to a Best Buy listing spotted by 9to5Google, that December release date could be here sooner than some were expecting.

Best Buy has the Home Max listed on its website with a “coming soon” label attached to it, but next to the model and SKU information, there’s also a release date of December 12, 2017.

In addition to this, one commenter also noted that the terms and conditions section on the Google Store for the YouTube Red promo with the Home Max reads that the promotion is open to “participants in the U.S. who purchase and activate a Google Home Max between December 11, 2017 and February, 2018.

We can’t say for certain whether or not the Home Max will launch on December 11 without a direct confirmation from Google, but it certainly does look like that’ll be the case.

Everything you need to know about Google Home Max

Essential Phone joins the portrait mode photo party

The Essential Phone’s camera was one of its bigger weak spots at launch. A few months (and a handful of updates) later and things have gotten better. The latest patch adds a portrait mode along with an exposure compensation control. As Android Police notes, the patch also includes a tweak to the device’s JPEG compression algorithm that’ll hopefully boost image quality, along with the usual stability fixes.

These new features were announced when the speed-focused patch was released in October. At least Essential recognizes that its camera is far from perfect and seems intent to keep tweaking things until they’re right, though. You can judge the results of today’s patch for yourself below.

We’re excited to roll out a new camera update that includes portrait mode, reduced compression to improve image quality, and more. Download the update here: https://t.co/zXoZ765GHF pic.twitter.com/rCFJlLCYAm

— Essential (@essential) November 30, 2017

Via: Essential (Twitter)

Source: Google Play

Stanford begins irregular heartbeat research using Apple Watch data

Back in September, Apple announced improvements for the heart monitoring features of its Watch. Specifically, Apple wanted the Watch to be able to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), or irregular heartbeats, in its users, which often has no symptoms and goes diagnosed. Today, Apple launched the Apple Heart Study app with Stanford Medicine. The goal is to study and improve upon the technology we currently use to detect AFib.

AFib is currently the leading cause of strokes; it leads to 130,000 deaths and 750,000 hospitalizations every year just in the US. The app uses the heart rate sensor of the Apple Watch in order to specifically identify irregular heart rhythms. The Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor works by using a green LED that flashes very quickly in order to gather data on how much blood is flowing through your wrist at any given point in time.

To participate in the study, you can download the Apple Heart Study app. You must be 22 years or older and have an Apple Watch. If an AFib is detected, users will receive a push notification, as well as a free consultation with a doctor that’s a part of the study and an electrocardiogram patch for further monitoring of the condition.

Apple has discussed wanting to improve the health features of the Apple Watch, and this new study makes it clear how serious the company is. With the release of both HealthKit and ResearchKit, and now this study, Apple is positioning the Apple Watch as a true health monitoring device that can be crucial for preventative care. Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO, said, “Working alongside the medical community, not only can we inform people of certain health conditions, we also hope to advance discoveries in heart science.”

Via: Venture Beat

Source: Apple

David Fincher’s ‘Mindhunter’ will return for season 2 on Netflix

David Fincher’s first show for Netflix may have run into serious trouble, but his second is faring better. The streaming service has renewed the serial killer drama Mindhunter (which is also produced by Charlize Theron) for a second season less than two months after its mid-October debut. This wasn’t a complete surprise when the show premiered to reviews that were almost entirely positive, but it’s still good to hear if you can’t get enough of open case investigations. There’s no mention of a premiere date so far.

As Deadline notes, Netflix has generally had good luck with new shows in 2017: 13 out of 18 have landed renewal deals to date, and only two haven’t made the cut. Three more are still in limbo but likely to receive the go-ahead. And that kind of success is important — when Netflix can’t count on getting many big-name movies and TV shows in the future, it needs as many stand-out originals as possible.

We need to talk to more subjects. pic.twitter.com/7pTnxAhM0G

— MINDHUNTER (@MINDHUNTER_) November 30, 2017

Via: Deadline

Source: Mindhunter (Twitter)

Best Buy claims Google Home Max will be on sale December 11th

The Google Home Mini might be 40 percent off right now, but if you’d rather have a Google smart speaker with a little more oomph you might not have to wait much longer. Mountain View’s self-calibrating Home Max will be released on December 11th according to a Best Buy listing spotted by 9to5Google. This could be a gaff, but Google did say the $400 device would be out before year’s end. And, well, today being November 30th means the company doesn’t have much time left to fulfill that promise.

The 11th feels like an odd placeholder date, though. Usually retailers will list for December 31st for items that have an ambiguous release window, so maybe there’s something to this. Speaking of ambiguity, Apple delayed its own smart speaker, the HomePod, until sometime early next year. If the Best Buy listing is accurate, that’d give Google a pretty big leg up this holiday season. We’ve reached out to Google for more information and will update this post should it arrive.

Source: Best Buy

Marriott wants guests to save and share their shower door doodles

Who doesn’t get their best ideas in the middle of a shower? The Marriott hotel chain is piloting a new addition to customer rooms that lets them jot down notes on their shower door — which can be digitally recorded and sent to guests later.

Guests at the Marriott in Irvine, California can stay in a ‘Splash of Brilliance’ room equipped with the device. It’s not terribly fancy: Like any glass door, it gets foggy during a hot shower and becomes a makeshift canvas to doodle on. Guests can save whatever they sketch out to a file in a paired tablet, whether it’s casual notes or serious architectural plans.

To its credit, this lo-fi solution is likely a lot cheaper and simpler than sticking a waterproof tablet setup in every shower. The pilot program will last for the next two months, and may be rolled out further depending on feedback.

Source: YouTube