Google Play Music now powers locally themed music stations within TripAdvisor’s Android app

Here’s something of a surprising Wednesday morning announcement: You can now listen to Google’s music-streaming service directly within the TripAdvisor Android app. 

Starting today, any Google Play Music user can launch the TripAdvisor Android app and access music stations based on specific locations, for example “Rio de Janeiro” or “Paris.” It’s seemingly designed to help travelers get in the mood by listening to soundtracks relevant to their destination or current location.

For example, if you’re doing some research into a Cuba holiday, you’ll be able to play Cuban-themed songs right then and there. Or if you’ve already landed in Argentina, you may be able to tap some tunes to tango around your hotel room while researching things to do nearby. 

If you’re not a Google Play Music subscriber, you’ll be able to nab a 2-month free trial directly through the TripAdvisor app, which isn’t bad considering you can normally only get a 30-day free trial to the music service. Whether TripAdvisor users are the types to sign up to a new music-streaming service on a whim remains to be seen, but this latest tie-up gives an interesting glimpse into Google’s plans to battle Spotify and Apple Music through third-party partnerships. Google reckons it can gain mindshare by shoehorning its service into other popular services, and you never know, it might just work.

Android N release date news: Alpha preview already being tested; final version said to launch in September

Android 6.0 aka Android Marshmallow has been a massive success for Google, particularly with its introduction of multiple features. But according to a report from Tech Radar, the company is already at work on Android 7.0 aka Android N, which is now speculated to launch in September. 

As a matter of fact, Google did not wait for their big Google I/O event to launch the alpha build as the developer preview has already been available for some time now. Only select phones can download the unfinished build of Android N such as the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, and a few other select devices. 

The report states that the new Android version will be out most likely by late September, although this can be pushed to October if the developers need more time to refine a few features and clean out some of the bugs. The new Android is particularly going to take time given that it is aiming to come with several key features.

Google Steps Up Pressure on Partners Tardy in Updating Android

Getting phone makers and carriers to update to the latest version of Android has been one of the thorniest challenges facing Google as it tries to widen the use of its mobile software and generate more sales from its apps and web services.

Now, Google is getting serious about remedying what ails Android, and it’s using both carrots and sticks to get partners to keep the world’s most popular mobile operating system more up to date.

The issue -- a mishmash of different smartphones running outdated software lacking the latest security and features -- has plagued Android since its debut in 2007. But Google has stepped up its efforts recently, accelerating security updates, rolling out technology workarounds and reducing phone testing requirements. 

The Alphabet Inc. unit is also getting tougher, drawing up rankings that could shame some phone makers into better behavior, according to people familiar with the situation.

Keeping Android fresh and unified is crucial because that’s how Google delivers its money-making search engine and new offerings, like the Daydream virtual reality system, in an increasingly mobile world. This only works when phone makers and wireless carriers quickly update devices to newer versions of the operating system. 

Finally, Must-Have Free Apps From A–Z!

With over 700,000 Android apps in the Google Play Store, finding useful, must-have apps can be a difficult process. It becomes more difficult when most of them are available for free. The following is a list that showcases 26 Must-Have Free Apps From A–Z! , that you may or may not be familiar with, which includes applications for social, news, productivity, games, messaging, photography, file sharing, and finance.

If your favorite android app isn’t listed here, do tell us in the comments below!

1. ANY.DO TO-DO LIST & TASK LIST

We’re all occupied with making schedules and sticking them in our bags, on the front door, in our pockets and tapping them into note applications on our telephones. Any.do is the most ideal approach to stay top of every one of those last details, because of its cloud syncing and sharing aptitudes.

2. Battery Dr saver+ a task killer

Battery Dr android application can help Android users to save power on their phone battery and boost the battery life. If you want to get fast performance and more storage for your Android Device, this is one of the best Free Battery saving apps. This app can show details like Temperature, power management, low Battery notification. In addition, the killer utility kills unwanted tasks.

Udemy says interest in Android, iOS app development skyrocketed after I/O and WWDC 2015

As Google and Apple have developer conferences on the horizon, app development is at the forefront. According to Udemy, interest has never been higher; it notes enrollment upticks for both its iOS and Android development courses.

On the Android side, Udemy says it has seen 925,000 enrollments all time, in over 300 courses. Since Google I/O last year, there has been a 68 percent rise in people wanting to learn how to build apps.

For iOS, Udemy has over one million enrollments to its 400 courses, and a 59 percent increase since WWDC of last year.

Android app pirate pleads guilty to criminal copyright infringement

An individual involved in running third-party Android app marketplace Applanet has pleaded guilty to criminal copyright infringement, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) announced. According to the DoJ, Aaron Blake Buckley entered his guilty plea in response to charges that he sought to help distribute pirated versions of Android apps normally available on Google Play worth over $17 million. An associate of Buckley's, Gary Edwin Sharp II, previously plead guilty to the same charges in January.

According to statements made in court, the conspirators identified themselves as members of the Applanet Group. From May 2010 through August 2012, they conspired to reproduce and distribute more than four million copies of copyrighted Android apps through the Applanet alternative online market without permission from the victim copyright owners, who would otherwise sell copies of the apps on legitimate online markets for a fee. On Aug. 21, 2012, the FBI seized the Applanet website, which marked the first seizure of the domain name for a website involving a mobile device app marketplace.

The release also notes that Sharp has also admitted to having a role in running a separate third-party app marketplace called SnappzMarket Group. Both Buckley and Sharp are scheduled to be sentenced on August 1.