Googler Kirill Grouchnikov has today shared a handful of images that show a redesigned interface that is soon coming to Google Play. In the images, you can see that almost every aspect of the app’s interface has been redesigned, as has the main way of navigating.

First off, there’s a new splash screen followed by a pair of screens explaining what has changed with the new layout. For one, the app is now broken into two main sections: “Apps & Games” and “Entertainment.” As you’d expect, those are the two tabs on the main homepage of the new Play Store. You can either swipe between the two or tap on the titles. It’s a much simpler interface when compared to the current layout of six shortcut buttons for Apps, Games, Movies & TV, Music, Books, and Newsstand.

Within each tab are sub headings for Top Charts, Categories, new releases and updates, popular titles, and more. When transitioning between the two tabs, there’s a new smooth animation that seamlessly replaces the headings and tags for whatever heading you’re viewing at the time. Along the top of each of the two sections are hero images showcasing content presumably curated specifically by the Google Play team.

Grouchnikov didn’t specify exactly when this redesigned Play Store interface would begin to rollout, but he did claim that it was coming “soon,” so we shouldn’t have to wait too much before our eyes are graced with this refreshed interface.

In the meantime, Google has updated the current version of the Play Store with the ability to copy and paste changelogs from the Play Store, a feature that is certainly welcome by bloggers everywhere (via Android Police).

Continue reading more about Android, Google, and Android at 9to5Google.

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Niantic Labs isn’t part of Google anymore (it’s actually Niantic, Inc. as of this past summer), but it does look like Google still has a marked amount of interest in the famed Ingress maker. According to a report from TechCrunch, Niantic, Inc. is about to secure $20 million in investments from Google, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company. This comes just a month after the group came out to announce an upcoming mobile game called Pokémon Go that ties in a real-world social aspect much like Ingress…

Don Harrison, Google's Vice President of Corporate Development, told TechCrunch that the company was "excited to continue supporting the [Niantic] team on their journey."

The initial $20 million are on the way from the three aforementioned companies, but Niantic reportedly is also possibly getting an additional $10 million in funding “if it hits certain agreed-upon milestones.” At this time, those milestone haven’t been disclosed, but it’s likely that they have something to do with the launch of Pokémon Go. Perhaps Google, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company are waiting to see how the launch goes before dishing out the extra cash.

And things are looking good. Niantic already has a religious following from those who still praise aging Ingress to this day, and Pokémon Go is surely to build upon that mechanic. In fact, we’ve already been told that there’s going to be a “Pokémon Go Plus” accessory that connects to your phone and flashes an LED light to tell you when there are players nearby and in-game Pokémon you might be able to catch. We’ll see how that catches on, but if the PokeWalker is any indication, the answer will be “very well.”

Check out 9to5Google for more breaking coverage of Android, Google, and Android.

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This is really important. Google, a company that is definitely no stranger to Easter eggs, is at it again. This time, in the recently launched Marshmallow landing page, the company has hidden a curious chemical equation on an otherwise-blank chalkboard. Usually, these kind of Easter eggs are figured out pretty quick, but as far as I can tell, no one has solved this one yet…

If you’re heading over to the Marshmallow website trying to find this piece of text, you might be a little confused. To get it to show up, you have to head into the Inspect Element tool in Chrome (or the developer tools in any of the other mainstream browsers), and hide the little element that’s covering it up. Once you’ve done that, you see this: g.co/C12H22O11+C7H8N4O2.

The first part of the equation is easy. C12H22O11 is table sugar, otherwise known as sucrose. The second molecule likely refers to theobromine, one of many molecules that make of chocolate — it’s a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant. But what do you get when you put table sugar and a component of chocolate together? My instinct is to assume that Google is suggesting some kind of sweeter milk chocolate.

And that makes me think of KitKat, which was previously the name of an Android release. That didn’t yield any results, as g.co/kitkat and g.co/KitKat and pretty much every other variation of that answer  leaves me with 404 errors. Alternatively, I think the answer also might have something to do with s’mores. Google left this comment in the code: "don't you wish you had s'more? I do!"

As far as I can tell, no one has yet solved this little mystery (and it’s obviously still unclear what lies on the other side). It could be some kind of prize or minigame, or it could very well just be… pretty much nothing. But until someone figures it out, we don’t know. Some fervent hunters have started a public list of URL phrases they’ve tried already, and you can find that here.

For more information about Android, Google, and Android continue reading at 9to5Google.

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can't miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $430 shipped (Reg. $600+) | eBay

Daily Deals: Anker Charger w/ 2-Port USB Solar Panel $50, Misfit Shine Activity and Sleep Monitor $50, more

Free MP3 Downloads: Greatest Hits from TLC, Muddy Waters, more plus Shakira Deluxe Edition

Turn your old system into a Bluetooth speaker with the Mpow Streambot for $16 Prime shipped (Orig. $36)

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 32 GB LTE GSM (unlocked): $570 shipped (Reg. $740) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 32 GB on Verizon (w/ two year contract): $50 shipped | Best Buy

HTC One M9 32 GB flash on Sprint (w/ two year contract): $1 shipped | Best Buy

More new gear from today:

Amazon and Toys R Us give a peek at this year's must-have holiday gifts

• Apple 64GB iPad Air 2 (New, open box) Silver: $430 shipped ($170 off)
• NBA 2K16 hits iOS and Android with new gameplay, controls and updated graphics
• The original Bluetooth-enabled August Smart Lock drops to $199 (Orig. $250)
• Games/Apps: Final Fantasy Type-0 HD from $24, Nintendo NFC amiibo reader/writer $16, more
• Free MP3 Downloads: Greatest Hits from TLC, Muddy Waters, more
• Up to 65% off Complete TV Series: Family Ties $100, Beverly Hills 90210 $125, more
• Samsung Gear Virtual Reality headset for Galaxy S6/Edge $100 shipped (Reg. $200)
• Amazon slashes prices on Levi's jeans for Men, Women and Boys
• Anker iPhone 6s/Plus cases in multiple styles and colors from $2 Prime shipped
• Anker MFi Lightning Cables: 3-ft $4, 9-ft $7 (Prime shipped), more
• iPhone 6s Wallet Case $3 Prime shipped (Orig. $20)
• OtterBox SYMMETRY Series iPhone 6/6s Case $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)
• Apple's new 4K & 5K iMacs already seeing the first price cuts and tax-free options
• Apple 12-inch MacBook 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB from $1,190 or $1,150 w/ .edu (Reg. $1,299), more
• Apple Watch 42mm Stainless Steel Case w/ Black Sport Band: $520 shipped (Orig. $599)
• Cost-Effective Apple Watch Bands: Deals from $12 Prime shipped on leather, milanese loop, more

More deals still alive:

Storage: Samsung 500GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $150 (Reg. $170), WD My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 Portable HDD $70 (Reg. $85)

• Aukey adjustable wireless selfie stick w/ Bluetooth $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $11+)
• Lumsing 4-port 21W USB wall charger $8…add a 3-ft MFi Lightning Cable For $5 more
• RuggedTec FlashBang mountable Bluetooth Speaker/Flashlight: $28 shipped (Orig. $79)
• Sony SRSX3 Portable Bluetooth/NFC Speaker: $60 shipped (Orig. $140)
• Two D-Link DCS-934L Wireless IR Surveillance Cameras: $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
• Smart HDTVs: 55-inch Sony 120Hz 4K $850, 43-inch LG 60Hz 1080p $350, more
• Lenmar MAVEN iPhone 6 MFi 3,000mAh Battery Case $29 shipped (Orig. $100), more
• Audio-Technica Headphones + Blue Microphones USB Mic $200 shipped ($292+ value)
• Brother Color Duplex Laser Wireless Printer w/ AirPrint: $150 shipped (Reg. $200)
• Bluetooth Speakers: Inateck Honeycomb $30, SOL REPUBLIC DECK $40
• Klipsch HDTV home theater sound system w/ Bluetooth $155 shipped (Reg. $199)
• Aukey Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones $17 (Reg. $25), more
• Headphones: Sony Bluetooth $135 (Reg. $199), Beyerdynamic from $170
• Sony announces official PlayStation 4 price drop, bundles now start at just $349
• Mac Bundle: 14 Mac Apps incl. RapidWeaver, Voila Screencapture, Kinemac 3D, more: $18

New products & more:

Electric Jukebox doesn't want to be Spotify or Chromecast, so what is it?

• This is the Apple TV remote that Cupertino should've made…
• The BLOCKS modular smartwatch has flown past its Kickstarter goal in a just a few hours
• Turn heads at any Halloween party with one of these high-tech DIY costumes
• Koto's smart sensors track your home's health and can even forecast storms
• New Halo 5: Guardians trailer drops as retailers ramp-up pre-order deals
• This clothes-folding washing machine brings first-world laziness to defcon zero
• The new Light digital camera uses 16 lenses (!!!) to craft the perfect picture

For more information about Google, Android, and Samsung continue reading at 9to5Google.

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After enjoying one of the most successful multi-platform runs in recent memory, Minecraft is back again with its newly released Story Mode title on Android and iOS, as well as other platforms. This new rendition, from Telltale Games, builds on the success of the original title by bringing campaign-style play to the mix.

Jesse, the main character, adventures through the Overworld in the first episode The Order of the Stone. For the first time, Minecraft gamers will experience dialogue and have choices that effect the outcome of each episode. The voice-overs are handled by a number of celebrities including Patton Oswald, Ashley Johnson, Scott Porter and others. There are a total of five sections to the game, which can be purchased at a 25% discount through the app.

Minecraft: Story Mode is available today in Android and iOS app stores for $4.99.

Description:

THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME IN THE WORLD OF MINECRAFT

***Save over 25% on additional episodes in Minecraft: Story Mode by purchasing the Multi-Pack [Episodes 2-5] via in-app***

In this five part episodic series, you'll embark on a perilous adventure across the Overworld, through the Nether, to the End, and beyond. You and your friends revere the legendary Order of the Stone: Warrior, Redstone Engineer, Griefer, and Architect; slayers of the Ender Dragon. While at EnderCon in hopes of meeting Gabriel the Warrior, you and your friends discover that something is wrong… something dreadful. Terror is unleashed, and you must set out on a quest to find The Order of the Stone if you are to save your world from oblivion.

• Created by award-winning adventure game powerhouse Telltale Games, in partnership with Minecraft creators, Mojang

• Featuring the voices of Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Brian Posehn (The Sarah Silverman Program, Mission Hill), Ashley Johnson (The Last of Us, Tales from the Borderlands), Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, X-Men), Martha Plimpton (The Goonies, Raising Hope), Dave Fennoy (The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series, Batman: Arkham Knight), Corey Feldman (The Goonies, Stand by Me), Billy West (Futurama, Adventure Time), and Paul Reubens (Tron: Uprising, Pee-Wee's Playhouse)

• You will drive the story through the decisions you make: what you say to people (and how you say it), and what you choose to do in moments of thrilling action will make this YOUR story

Continue reading more about Android, Google Apps, and Minecraft at 9to5Google.

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Yahoo is rolling out an update to its Mail app for Android that introduces a refreshed design, as well as new features including smarter search, contacts management and rich compose. Alongside the updated app, Yahoo Mail is for the first time introducing account integration for third-party email services including Outlook.com, Hotmail, and AOL Mail.

In addition to a fresh coat of paint for the app, the app gets improved search functionality that taps into all messages, contacts, files, etc, while Yahoo says you'll notice better performance across the board. It also gets an enhanced compose window with the ability to attach multiple photos and videos simultaneously, and a quick shortcut for sending yourself messages by long pressing the compose button.

And rolling out globally today is support for third-party email services, allowing users to connect their Outlook.com, Hotmail, and AOL Mail accounts in the Yahoo Mail app to manage mail from those services alongside their Yahoo Mail accounts.

Lastly, the new app introduces "Yahoo Account Key," a new effort by the company to make passwords less frustrating by letting users log-in to their accounts using a code sent to their device through SMS.

The updated Yahoo Mail app for Android is rolling out on Google Play starting today.

Check out 9to5Google for more breaking coverage of Android, Apps and Updates, and Google Play.

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YouTube has today announced that its Gaming platform is getting a couple of really big updates, just as the service reaches more than 144 billion minutes of gaming videos watched per month. As of today, uers of the newly-updated Android app will be able to stream the games they’re playing on their phones, and certain creators can monetize their viewership with sponsorships…

Mobile Capture

Mobile Capture, as was previously speculated, lets you quickly and easily record your Android gaming session and stream it on YouTube Gaming. To make things clear: Yes, this is only going to work on Android for the foreseeable future.

You can now record and live stream mobile gameplay on-the-go directly from Android devices using Mobile Capture on YouTube Gaming. You don't need any additional hardware or software—just tap Go Live (or your avatar on a phone) in the YouTube Gaming app, turn on your selfie cam and record your commentary with your phone's microphone.

This is probably the easiest entry into starting a YouTube Gaming channel. You don’t have to install anything, and you can record your face using your phone’s selfie camera as well as your voice by way of the phone’s microphone. Super simple.

Sponsorships

Secondly, Google is today launching something it calls “Sponsorships,” which let you support your favorite creators with… real money. This feature is currently in beta for a small number of creators, and Google says it will be expanding the program soon. Right now, this essentially means paying $3.99 per month to go ad-free and get access to “extra perks including a live chat badge”.

Creators looking for more information on the sponsorship program are sadly out of luck at the moment. Twitch.TV takes pretty much half of the subscription fee that larger broadcasters offer, but Google hasn’t specified yet how much it will keep. The only hint we have is a statement provided to Ars saying “The majority of the Sponsorships split is given to the creator.”

More

And there’s more features coming in the to-be-released app updates as well. It’s now going to be easier to see when there are live streams to watch for games in your collection, you can more easily bookmark videos with Watch Later, there’s better search navigation in the iOS app, you can import existing subscriptions from YouTube, and more:

Here are some of the other requested changes we've made to date. Thanks for the feedback and keep it coming!

• More easily see when there are live streams for games in your collection
• Easier video bookmarking with Watch Later
• Improved performance and a redesigned watch page on gaming.youtube.com
• Better search navigation on iOS by remembering your previous searches
• Import existing subscriptions anytime from YouTube via Settings

 

Check out 9to5Google for more breaking coverage of Android, update, and iOS.

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Not long ago, BLU announced its brand new flagship Android phone which — by its own standards — is highly specced and priced. The BLU Pure XL is a 6-inch monster with a QHD screen, costs $349 and has finally landed on Amazon.

By any standards, the specs are pretty solid. The 6-inch display on the front has a resolution of 2560 x 1440, giving it a pixel density of 490ppi. Powering the phone is the Helio X10 octa-core 2GHz processor, paired with 3GB RAM and a PowerVR GPU. What’s more, its sapphire crystal-coated primary camera boasts 24 megapixels, dual-tone flash and optical image stabilization. If all that wasn’t enough, it supports 24-bit/192kHz audio, quick charging and has a fingerprint sensor which can detect and verify your fingerprint in less than 10ms. It also has an 8MP wide angle front camera and 64GB internal storage which can be expanded up to a further 64GB.

Back in September when it was announced, the phone seemed like a no-brainer purchase for just 64GB. It’s not often you get an all-metal phone with these specs for anywhere near that price. Last year’s Nexus 6, however, has recently seen a huge drop in price thanks to the arrival of the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. On eBay you can pick up a Nexus 6 for just $300, while Amazon is still selling them for $349.

Continue reading more about Android, Android, and Amazon at 9to5Google.

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At long last, I've got my hands on the affordable, premium-looking Honor 7 handset by Huawei. In Europe, the Honor brand is known for releasing good quality phones, at cheaper-than-expected prices. Considering the specs, the £249 price-point is fantastic. In the US, the $440+ price isn't as appealing, but you might like the phone nonetheless…

The packaging is very attractive, and well-organized. Underneath the plastic tray holding the phone, there are three boxes. One contains the paperwork (or would if it was a retail version) and a SIM removal tool. Another box has the wall adapter which, in my case, is the European model. The last has the Micro USB to USB 2.0 cable, which has nice textured casing around the ends.

Taking a look at the phone, the back is made almost entirely from metal and is covered in a large piece of protective film which indicates what all the buttons and points are. While metal is the material used most on the back, there are two plastic end-caps on the top and the bottom, giving us our first real sense that this isn’t a premium device.

There's also a 20MP camera and fingerprint sensor, all neatly designed to match the body. Around the front is an 8MP front facing camera and earpiece.

The right edge features the usual combination of volume and power buttons. The power button in this case has a concentric circle pattern, and is one of the nicest, clickiest buttons I've used in a long time. On the other side, there's a smart key that can be customized to launch different apps and a SIM tray. Like many phones these days, it has two slots. You can either have a nano SIM and make use of the expandable storage using a MicroSD card, or use its dual SIM support. The top edge has a 3.5mm jack, microphone and an IR blaster while the bottom edge features a Micro USB port and a couple of grilles for the speaker and microphone.

Front has a 5.2-inch full HD display which, on first impressions looks fantastic. Whites are crisp, colors are vivid and text is sharp. Perfect for showing off some of the nicer elements of EMUI, Huawei's custom skin running on top of Android 5.1. Huawei's software divides opinion, and you're either going to love it or hate it. In the past, I've not been a fan of the iOS-ified elements or fiddly toggles, but I'm happy to give it another try.

Other specs include an octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 935 processor, paired with 3GB RAM and 16GB Storage alongside a 3,100mAh battery.

Overall, first impressions are better than I was expecting. In the UK, pricing is competitive enough that it's definitely worth considering if you want to spend less than £300 on a smartphone. In the US, it's hard to ignore the fact that the new Moto X Style costs a lot less, and has a more impressive spec sheet. And — more importantly — ships with a pure version of Android.

The Honor 7 wasn’t really intended for the American market, so it’ll be interesting to see how well it does on the usual ‘unofficial’ channels like Amazon and eBay. In Europe, it’s hard to think of many phones that cost this little and offer the same design and performance, from what I’ve seen so far. It comes in black, silver and gold and is available to order now.

Visit 9to5Google to find more special coverage of Android, Android, and Huawei.

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From 9to5Toys.com:

The Google Play Store is at it again, offering a number of free MP3 Downloads of playlists and more. There are 12 new The Very Best Of… playlists plus Shakira’s self-titled Deluxe Edition album (Reg. $11 at Amazon) available for free. You must be signed into your Google account to be able to see these MP3 deals.

The Very Best of… Playlists:

• Kansas
• TLC
• Earth, Wind & Fire
• Michael Bolton
• Ted Nugent
• Muddy Waters
• Gladys Knight & the Pips
• Dionne Warwick
• Donovan
• The Outfield
• Herbie Hancock
• Mister Mister
• …the full list of current free The Very Best of…

Be sure to check out 9to5Toys’ daily freebies roundup of the best cost-effective deals!

Continue reading more about Google Play, Google Play, and mp3 at 9to5Google.

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Starting on January 1st, Ontario will become the first province in Canada to open its roads to testing of automated vehicles, according to a recent report (via CBC). The province will allow testing of self-driving cars (Google has been a pioneer in the space with both its Lexus models and its smaller, prototype EVs), as well as “related technologies,” starting on January 1st 2016…

“For Ontario, the benefits of being part of automated vehicle innovation are clear,” said Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca in a speech at the University of Waterloo earlier this week. “In order to compete, Ontario needs to be consistent with the approach of U.S. jurisdictions.”

Brad Duguid, the province’s minister of economic development, agreed: “We intend to be leaders in this disruptive technology,” he said.

Ontario is also giving an additional $500,000 to the Ontario Centres of Excellence Connected Vehicle/Automated Vehicle Program, a program that “brings academic institutions and business together to promote and encourage innovative transportation technology,” according to the official Ontario newsroom. This is in addition to the $2.45 million in funding provided already.

Google has been testing its self-driving cars in both Silicon Valley and, more recently, Austin, Texas. According to the latest Google self-driving car monthly report, there are currently 48 of Google’s self-driving cars on the road in the United States. 14 of these vehicles are in Austin, and 34 of them are being tested in Google’s hometown. Maybe Ontario will be the next obvious candidate.

In a similar vein, Tesla just yesterday launched version 7.0 of its car software, being pushed out today to the Tesla Model S owners. This update brings several new “Autopilot” features, including Automatic Emergency Steering and Side Collision Warning, “Autosteer” (Beta), Auto lane changing and “Autopark”. Unlike Google’s self-driving vehicles, however, this system leaves all responsibility with the driver — and Tesla even suggests that drivers keep their hands on the wheel.

Tesla — which only produces electric vehicles — does expect to have a fully autonomous vehicle within a couple years, although that vehicle will likely not have a 600 mile range contrary to many reports that have misquoted Elon Musk.

For more information about Google Corporate, Google, and Self-Driving Car continue reading at 9to5Google.

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Like the LG G4, the LG V10 ships without wireless charging built in to the cover as standard. But, like the G4, it does support Qi-standard charging and you’ll need to buy a cover to make it work.  LG hasn’t mentioned anything publicly so far, but a “low power receiver” accessory made by LG has shown up in the Wireless Power Consortium’s filings (spotted by etnews), confirming that the Korean tech company is working on a Qi receiver…

The listing confirms that LG is testing a wireless battery cover with the model name CPR-120 (for reference, the Quick Circle wireless battery cover for the LG G4 is model CFR-100). It also shows that it’s compatible with several models of LG V10. Although the phone’s name isn’t included in the listing, those model numbers listed are versions of the V10 for various markets across the globe.

With the LG G4, the option for covers is pretty limited. You either have to pay over-the-odds for an unattractive Quick Circle case or pay little money for a cheap, terrible Quick Circle knock-off. If you want a standard rear shell and not a flip-over cover, your options are even more limited. But, there is a way around that. As I showed you recently in a video, you can snag a Qi coil-equipped sticker for less than $15 and install it in to your existing G4 rear shell (leather or plastic). We’d be surprised if it wasn’t the same scenario with the V10, once that’s more widely rolled out.

In the mean time, check out Dom’s unboxing and first impressions of the LG V10, the phone which will surely make G4 owners more than a little jealous with its upgraded spec list and build.

[youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeUhjcO_sQo]

Check out 9to5Google for more breaking coverage of Android, wireless charging, and lg v10.

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