Google to penalize poorly-made apps

While Apple keeps a tight rein on the apps that show up on the App Store, Google has always had a more lax approach. But it seems the tech company wants to finally punish apps that demonstrate poor stability and power efficiency. Announced at the recently concluded Google I/O, Google is introducing Android Vitals for its developers. This initiative aims to analyze various metrics and scores of an app in relation to speed, security, and stability.

Google will be looking at things like “App not responding (ANR) rates,” “Crash rate,” “Slow rendering,” Frozen frames,” “Stuck wake locks,” and “Excessive wake-ups.” Using these metrics Google will see which apps are ranked at the bottom 25 percent. The penalty for these apps is they might no longer be visible on the Play Store. If this helps improve the quality of apps that show up on the Play Store, then we’re all for it.

Source: Android Authority

Apple Music reportedly stopped offering free three-month trial in three countries

If you want to try out Apple Music for the first time, you still get a free three-month trial here. Unfortunately, for those in Australia, Spain, and Switzerland, that’s been taken away. Instead of the first three months being free, Apple is charging $0.99 in Australia, 0.99 € in Spain, and Fr. 0.99 in Switzerland. The tech company hasn’t commented yet on this changes but 9to5Mac speculates the move is most likely fueled by competition. Music streaming service Spotify charges the same small fee for three months in the same countries. It’s unclear if Apple Music plans to introduce this scheme to other countries. But if ever they will, we should hear about it at WWDC next week.

ROLI NOISE comes to Android, with a few caveats

Musician Grimes has been quoted before saying “ROLI BLOCKS will democratize music production.” And now the app to control this modular music studio, which makes it easy for anyone to make music, is on Android. The ROLI NOISE app comes to Google’s mobile platform but with a limitation: a compatible device. ROLI is only letting devices with “Pro Audio” to run the app and this is defined as a “set of requirements that handle complex audio data in real time.” And at the moment, there are only three devices that meet these requirements: Google Pixel, Google Pixel L, and Samsung Galaxy S8. According to ROLI, they are testing more devices to add to the list.

ROLI NOISE is currently in beta so you can’t expect it to work similar to how the iOS app does. But if you have a compatible phone and just want to try it out, the app is free to download and still works without the extra BLOCKS.

Source: Android Police

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup 05/14-05/20

Review: Philips Hue Smart Lighting System

Samsung technology grants 150 STEM-based community solutions for Canada’s 150th year

Moto X and Moto E line coming to some markets as per leak

Hackers claim to have pirated upcoming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film

Downloading Netflix on rooted Android phones won’t work now

1.25 million RAM pickups recalled by Fiat Chrysler for fatal software glitch

Philips Hue adds new bulbs and fixtures to its smart-bulb catalog

Apple amping up activities and events at retail locations with Today at Apple

TomTom Sports lets you sync your Google Fit and Apple Health data

Instagram isn’t done taking Snapchat's features, introduces ‘face filters’

Google Home will be able to make calls to US and Canada

How the Smartphone has reinvented basic marketing

Google Assistant is now officially on iOS

Netflix download zones are coming to Ontario cottage country

UNIQLO launches collection of Nintendo UT Grand Prix winning designs

BlackBerry KEYone now available for preorder in Canada through Rogers

Sago Mini brings all games into one hub, introduces subscription service

Google Photos focuses on sharing with new features

Important technical services every business owner should be aware of

You might soon be able to see Messenger and Instagram notifications on Facebook

Bug exposed email addresses and phone numbers of Vine users