It was a quiet week this week with no major Android news. But there’s always stuff of interest for Android, Chrome or Telco news in Australia. Indeed the most amount of news came from apps, and there’s a bunch of new apps or trials for you to see.
Before we take a look at what you might have missed, let’s take a look at what’s coming up:
- HTC is likely to launch their next flagship on Tuesday night (Australian time). We’ll tell you everything you need to know as soon as we can.
- LG’s G5 local launch is getting closer. It won’t be this coming week, but we should know more the following week.
- Vodafone’s VoLTE rollout is continuing, and more devices should be getting access in the next week or two.
Let’s check out what you might have missed last week.
Telco
Looks like Aldi Mobile Customers are finally going to get 4G service on their phones, with Aldi transitioning service to 4G during April.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/09/aldi-mobile-hinting-4g-coming-may/
Optus are taking advantage of the recent Telstra outages, offering new customers signing up to a 24-month contract their first 30 days of use (including Access Fee and Handset repayment) for free. If you don’t like it, hand back the phone and you’re done.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/06/optus-adds-another-reason-change-offering-30-days-service-free/
Android Apps
Google announced their Google Play apps will get a refresh. We said it was a slow news week for Android ;).
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/05/google-play-icons/
Pokémon GO is going to start field tests in Australia and New Zealand – Go Sign up now!!
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/08/niantics-pokemon-go-field-test-heading-australia-new-zealand/
If you care about getting your eggs from an ethical source, Choice has released CluckAR as a fun way to use your phone to check eggs in-store.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/08/make-sure-eggs-really-hen-friendly-free-range-eggs-new-augmented-reality-app/
If you have Cardboard, then check out this Aussie made Cardboard experience called Whales Dream of Flying.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/08/au-cardboard-focus-try-vr-whales-dream-flying/
If you’re a juice fanatic, you’ll probably have drunk a Boost Juice at some stage. Hit up their new game ‘Free the Fruit’ to win prizes including free juice.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/07/free-fruit-game-gives-chance-win-free-boost-juice-products/
reddit finally released their official apps. The Android app isn’t bad, but it’s not the great experience most people wanted. The bonus of 3 months of reddit Gold for people logging into it in the first week is enough to convince you to try it out at least.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/07/official-reddit-app-hits-google-play-free-reddit-gold-logging-first-weel/
Australian developers Hipster Whale’s hit title Crossy Road has launched their Disney themed version, it’s pretty awesome.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/07/disney-crossy-road-now-available-brilliant/
Android Wear
While Motorola hasn’t launched the Moto 360 V2 in Australia officially, Qantas Frequent Flyers can get them from the Qantas store for either points, or points+cash:
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/07/disney-crossy-road-now-available-brilliant/
Hardware
Huawei had a big launch event in London this week. They took the wraps off the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus, as well as the updated Talkband B3.
P9/P9 Plus – http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/07/huawei-announces-two-new-phones-huawei-p9-p9-plus/
Talkband B3 – http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/07/huawei-launches-talkband-b3-fitness-tracker/
Huawei also announced the details on the launch of the Huawei Watch for Women, announcing the pricing and release dates for the Huawei Watch Elegant and Huawei Watch Jewel.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/05/huawei-australia-announce-jewel-elegant-versions-huawei-watch-australia/
Vodafone will begin selling the HTC One X9 on contract (or outright for $699) this month. If you want you can also buy it from JB Hifi starting in May.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/05/htc-one-x9-coming-australia-exclusively-vodafone/
Nestle released a fitness band for kids. At $40 it’s not a bargain, but it works fairly well now that they’ve updated their Android app.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/05/milo-champions-band-fitness-band-kids-coming-soon-australia/
Credit Card company Square released their reader at retailers in Australia, you can now purchase the reader for $19 at Bunnings, Officeworks and Apple stores across Australia.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/05/square-reader-now-available-retail-stores-across-australia/
Last weeks April Fools pranks included Emoji Search for Google Photos – but it’s no joke, it works really well and Google are keeping it round. Try searching using Emoji on desktop and mobile.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/06/googles-emoji-search-photos-no-joke-works-staying/
‘What does the Fox say?’ While Google doesn’t answer that one, it will now play you the animal sounds for 19 animals if you search it.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/05/google-search-animal-sounds-cool-new-search-result/
You can now add items to your shopping list in Google Keep using Google Voice commands. ‘Ok Google add a Nexus 6P to my shopping list’.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/04/new-ok-google-feature-now-live-australia/
Bargains
Don’t forget to pick up your app and game deal of the week. This week Pencil Sketch Ad-Free and Space Grunts have been dropped to just 20c each.
http://ausdroid.net/2016/04/06/google-play-app-game-deal-week-now-live-20c-new-game-new-app/
