The Flight Attendant season 2: Everything we know about the HBO Max series https://ift.tt/3yurIKx

Credit: WarnerMedia

The Flight Attendant, one of HBO Max‘s first original series after the WarnerMedia streamer launched in May 2020, became a huge, buzz-worthy hit, and a welcome distraction in the early, uncertain days of COVID-19.

Kaley Cuoco, best known for roles in 8 Simple Rules and The Big Bang Theory, shone brightly as the star of this sleeper hit about a flight attendant pulled into a dark world of murder and espionage after a bender overseas. Cuoco nabbed well-deserved Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her inspired performance.

Equal parts Alfred Hitchcock and workplace comedy, The Flight Attendant was a 2020 standout.

The first season of The Flight Attendant premiered November 26, 2020, on HBO Max. It was HBO Max’s number one series overall during its run. The show was a huge hit with critics too, and it earned several award nominations.

With season 1 well behind us, what’s next? Read on for everything we know about The Flight Attendant season 2.

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• $9.99 at HBO Max

What happened in season 1 of The Flight Attendant?

Season 1 of The Flight Attendant follows Cassie Bowden, the titular flight attendant who quickly gets embroiled in a deadly conspiracy involving one of the travellers on her flight to Bangkok.

Cassie wakes up after a characteristically boozey one-night-stand with the handsome, fabulously wealthy Alex Sokolov. But there’s a problem. Her bedmate is dead, seemingly murdered while she slept beside him.

The Flight Attendant is a dark, witty, and fun modern-day send-up of Hitchcock classics like The 39 Steps and North By Northwest.

Afraid of taking the blame (or that maybe she did it before blacking out drunk), Cassie returns home to New York, where she juggles FBI agents, assassins, suspicious friends, rich people behaving badly, a thorny family history, and Alex’s ghost.

Cassie has to fight for her life and to find out what happened in Bangkok in this dark, witty, and fun modern-day send-up of Hitchcock classics like The 39 Steps and North By Northwest.

When does The Flight Attendant season 2 come out?

Credit: WarnerMedia

HBO Max announced a second season of The Flight Attendant December 18, 2020, just one day after the first season finale.

The new season comes as something of a surprise, as season 1 was billed as a limited series. The Flight Attendant joins shows like HBO’s Big Little Lies and The Great which earned second seasons despite being launched as mini or limited series.

So far, very little is known about when production is set to start on The Flight Attendant season 2. HBO Max stated that the new season will bow in spring 2022. No firm premiere date has been revealed.

“To say that I am elated would be an understatement! The positive response to our show has surpassed all of our expectations and I’m so proud of the entire team behind its success,” said star and executive producer Cuoco. “We are committed to delivering diverse and quality entertainment, including an exciting (and probably a little crazy) TFA season 2!!”

Is it still based on the same book?

Credit: WarnerMedia

Season 1 of The Flight Attendant is based on the novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian.

It’s safe to say season 2 will move away from the novel’s inspiration since the whole thing was adapted in the first outing.

Setting aside plot differences between the book and series, The Flight Attendant novel has no sequels as of yet. Its story is complete, and it already played out onscreen.

That means the show’s writers will have to come up with a new storyline. It’s still based on the novel, in that the characters are borrowed from Bohjalian, but anyone who’s done the reading ahead of time will go in just as unspoiled as the rest of us.

Who’s involved in The Flight Attendant season 2?

Credit: WarnerMedia

Kaley Cuoco is back as Cassie in The Flight Attendant season 2. But beyond that, the show could go in just about any direction, adding new characters and maybe leaving some behind.

Depending on who’s asked back and how negotiations go, safe money is on the return of Cassie’s friends and colleagues, as well as her brother. We may see more of Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet, Michelle Gomez, T.R. Knight, and Griffin Matthews, among other season 1 cast members.

And maybe Cassie’s not quite finished with her visions of Alex, who was played by Michiel Huisman in season 1.

Behind the camera, the first season was produced by Warner Bros. Television, Berlanti Productions and Yes, Norman Productions. Greg Berlanti, Kaley Cuoco, Steve Yockey, and Sarah Schechter served as executive producers. Suzanne McCormack co-executive produced.

What can we expect from season 2?

Credit: WarnerMedia

HBO Max has not shared a lot of information about season 2 of The Flight Attendant yet. Still, we can piece together a few details from the information we do have.

“Season 2 will feature Cassie in a new adventure,” HBO Max said in a statement soon after announcing the second season. But the streamer has been pretty mum about any other details.

Cuoco has told Deadline that season 2 will likely focus on Cassie’s “sober journey” following the booze-heavy first season. “I think she’s going to learn very quickly that this is a life-long struggle and she’s going to be way over her head.”

“The CIA is definitely interested in her,” she added. That means the espionage and intrigue of season 1 should still be a big part of season 2. And presumably the Hitchcock influence will be too. Before the renewal, showrunner Steve Yockey told The New York Times that, “If we did have a second season, it probably would be a whole new adventure, like a new Hitchcock movie for Cassie to stumble into.”

Sounds like fun!

That’s everything we know about The Flight Attendant season 2, heading to HBO Max in spring 2022. We’ll be sure to update you as soon as we learn more.

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Chipolo One review: Free features and flashy colors for everyone https://ift.tt/3A1uwiB

Bluetooth trackers are having a bit of a moment, and who can blame them. We all lose things now and again, so why not make life a little bit easier? The problem is that most options come in gray, black, or white — not exactly thrilling hues for most people. Now, Chipolo is here to shake things up with its vibrant One tracker, as well as the Apple Find My-enabled One Spot. Find out how they stack up in our Chipolo One review.

See also: The best Apple AirTag alternatives

$25 .00

Chipolo One

Buy it Now

Chipolo One Buy it Now

$25 .00

What you need to know about the Chipolo One

Credit: Luke Pollack / Android Authority

• Chipolo One (One-pack): $25/€25/£22
• Chipolo One (Four-pack): $75/€75/£66
• Chipolo One Spot (One-pack): $28/€30/£28
• Chipolo One Spot (Four-pack): $90/€100/£90

The Chipolo One is a small, disc-shaped Bluetooth tracker that you can attach to just about anything. It features a small hole perfect for keyrings, pet collars, and even some camera straps. Although it sports a lightweight, plastic construction, the six color options are unlike most you’ll find from competitors. You can pick up the Chipolo One in black, white, red, blue, yellow, and even green — or you can buy a multi-pack to mix and match.

Chipolo’s top competition comes from the Apple AirTag and the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, though it’s most similar to the Tile Mate tracker. It’s not roped into either Android or iOS, so you download the app and share your account across both ecosystems. The companion app is the only accessory you’ll really need for your tracker, and it’s your hub for all things Chipolo. You’ll need it to set up alerts, manage your ringtone, and register each new Chipolo you pick up.

There are two types of Chipolo One — the One and the Apple Find My-powered One Spot.

Once you get your Chipolo One set up, you can press it twice to ring your phone. If you misplace your One, just head back into the app and press the Ring to Find button. When you find your Chipolo, a single press silences the ringtone.

There are actually two different versions of the Chipolo One to try out — the classic One, which uses Chipolo’s community for tracking, and the One Spot, which taps into Apple’s Find My network for improved tracking. The latter is only compatible with Apple devices with the Find My app, such as iPhones and iPads. Sadly, the Chipolo One Spot only comes in black. Boo.

The handy $25 Bluetooth tracker boasts a nigh-unrivaled two-year battery life, and you can replace the battery yourself. All it takes is another CR2032 cell, and you’ve got years more tracking in front of you. Overall, the Chipolo One sounds pretty impressive, so let’s put the claims to the test.

What’s good?

Credit: Luke Pollack / Android Authority

The all-plastic design keeps Chipolo’s One feeling light as a feather. It’s not much different than a large coin, and it’s easy to forget that you’re carrying it around. Another perk of the plastic approach is the rainbow of color options. There’s nothing wrong with a simple black or white tracker, but it’s nice to show a little bit of personality now and then. You can also remove the rear battery color and swap it with another Chipolo One for even more color combinations.

Chipolo’s free features are some of the best around. You can tap into handy extras that some other third-party trackers like the Tile Mate would charge you for. The app pings you as soon as your Chipolo One falls out of range from your phone — especially handy if you’re tracking car keys. The One even doubles as a camera shutter if you want to snap the perfect shot without any camera shake. Enter the in-app camera, and you can double press to snap to your heart’s content.

The Chipolo One is top of the class when it comes to free features.

One last feature you’ll need the app to control is your ringtone. I currently have mine set to the Pixel Dance to match my Pixel 5, and it’s plenty loud. Chipolo claims that the One can reach an output of up to 120dB, and I can’t argue with it. I had no trouble hearing the chime from a few rooms away, even if I tossed the Chipolo One into my laundry hamper. For comparison, AirTags and SmartTags are both rated at around 90dB.

If you choose to pass your Chipolo One to a friend or a family member, you can also remove it from your account with just a few taps in the app — something you can’t do with a Tile tag.

What’s not so good?

Credit: Luke Pollack / Android Authority

There’s a lot to love about the Chipolo One, but it’s not a perfect Bluetooth tracker. Chipolo claims that the battery is replaceable — and it is — but it’s a bit harder than you might expect. You have to pry the entire back panel off, which is tough unless you have tiny fingers. It’s easier done with a small screwdriver, though you run the risk of scratching the plastic finish. At least with two years of battery life, you shouldn’t have to worry about this very often.

My other main gripe with the Chipolo One comes in the app. It’s not a bad app overall, but the ringtone options are very limited. They’re free, it’s true, but three of your seven options are Christmas-themed. You might not mind too much if it’s December and you celebrate Christmas, but it seriously limits your flexibility for the rest of the year.

If you don't like Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, or Merry Christmas, then your ringtones are fairly limited.

The Chipolo One comes advertised with an impressive Bluetooth range of 200 feet. However, that’s almost impossible to achieve. You can’t have any interference of any kind — no trees, rocks, or walls. As soon as you introduce a barrier into the equation, the range drops to around 40 or 50 feet.

Chipolo also complicates things when it comes to anti-stalking features. The Find My-based Chipolo One Spot will send you a notification on your iPhone if an unregistered Chipolo tracker is close to you for an extended time. This mirrors Apple’s AirTags. However, there aren’t any anti-stalking features for the regular Chipolo One to speak of. A Chipolo representative noted in a Reddit thread that the omission is “something we have to make a priority,” and hinted at a firmware update, but also noted that there is currently, “no set date” for any upgrades on this front.

You’ll want to be extra careful around water, too, as the Chipolo One only bears an IPX5 rating. It should handle splashes without issue, but you may have trouble if it gets dropped in a lake or a pool. Tile’s top tags and the AirTag offer a little more protection here.

Chipolo One review: Should I buy it?

Credit: Luke Pollack / Android Authority

If you want a truly flexible Bluetooth tracker, the Chipolo One should be near the top of your list. It blends excellent free features with remarkable battery life while maintaining a wallet-friendly price point. You can’t get an AirTag in blue or a Galaxy SmartTag in green, but you can grab a Chipolo one in both shades and more.

The Chipolo One is closest to the Tile Mate, but Tile only holds an edge regarding battery replacement. After all, two minutes of inconvenience every two years beats an annual battery change and extra subscription fees. Chipolo may not offer as many shapes or sizes as Tile does, but the One is small enough and thin enough for most uses. Don’t forget, Chipolo doesn’t lock you into Android or iOS like its Apple and Samsung rivals do — you can bring this tracker to any new device you grab.

If you want a truly flexible Bluetooth tracker, the Chipolo One should be near the top of your list. The Chipolo One Spot is a fantastic AirTag alternative too.

As for the Chipolo One Spot, it’s a fantastic alternative to Apple’s own AirTags. While you lose out on a few features (notably no precision finding or contact sharing when in lost mode) due to some lacking hardware, the One Spot is louder and cheaper than Apple’s tags and still has access to the Find My network.

Those of you who dread Christmas music may think twice, but there are still other ringtones to try. At just $25 (or just a few dollars more for the Spot), this is peace of mind that most users will be happy to pay for.

Chipolo One

The Chipolo One stands out in a crowded segment with plenty of free features, a few loud ringtones, and more color options that the AirTag or Galaxy SmartTag can shake a stick at.

• $25 at Amazon
• £22 at Amazon
• €25 at Amazon

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The best Visible deals: Get a free $200 gift card when you switch https://ift.tt/2TOAwJG

If you want to switch to a contract-free prepaid carrier in the US, but you also want to keep the nationwide coverage of Verizon’s 5G network, then Visible is the best option for you. We’ve dug deep and put together a list of the best Visible deals that are active right now.

Our own Andrew Grush even gave Visible a try as an alternative to satellite internet and found a change for the better.

Related: Visible buyer’s guide: a truly unlimited data plan

Visible keeps things simple plan-wise by offering just one. However, the real opportunities for savings pop up when you purchase a new phone or add a line of service. You can choose from any phone in the Verizon arsenal, which means that the Samsung Galaxy S21 is more affordable than ever.

Here are some of the best Visible deals currently on offer.

Featured deal: Get a $200 gift card of your choice when you switch to Visible

Credit: Visible

Out of the many deals that Visible is running this month, this gift card deal may be the one that tops the rest. If you’re looking to switch carriers, now might be the best time to do so as Visible is offering a $200 gift card of your choice when you make the switch.

This deal will help you save on essentials that you would otherwise have to pay out of your own pocket to buy such as cases, screen protectors, earphones, etc. Or, if you’re not looking for these accessories, the range of brands that Visible is offering is vast, ranging from versatile options like Amazon and Mastercard to more specialized ones such as Hotels.com, Chevron, etc. All you have to do to take advantage of this deal is to bring your current number, switch to Visible, and active an eSIM or order any eligible phone from their list.

Read more: Verizon’s Visible now has 5G, eSIM, and Canada/Mexico calls

All in all, it’s a great deal that gives you tons of versatility if you’re looking to switch. Check out the deal via the button below, or keep scrolling to find out what other treats Visible is offering right now.

Get a $200 gift card from Visible

Best Visible deals:

1. Get the new Samsung Galaxy A42 and free gifts
2. Get a Nimble charging bundle when you buy a new phone
3. Get a free Amazon Fire Stick and more when you buy a new phone
4. Trade-in your old phone and get a new Android for free
5. Pay as little as $25 per month with Party Pay
6. Get a year-long subscription of Calm for free
7. Get up to 50% off your current phone when you upgrade
8. Get $100 when you switch

Editor’s note: We will update the list of Visible deals periodically as the offers change.

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1. Get the new Samsung Galaxy A42 and free gifts

Credit: Visible

As part of the Galaxy A range of phones, the Samsung Galaxy A42 has mainly been available from limited carriers so far. Visible is one of them, and you can get some epic extras for free when you purchase.

The Galaxy A42 offers 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Its 6.6-inch, 60Hz AMOLED screen won’t make others envious, but the Snapdragon 750G chip, 48MP triple rear camera setup, and under-screen fingerprint reader make it a solid choice. Plus, you’re instantly ready for Visible’s 5G network.

Read more: The best cheap Samsung phones you can get

The phone itself is on offer for just $408. On top of that, you’ll get a gift card worth $100 dollars and a year-long Calm subscription — all for free.

Save on the Galaxy A42

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2. Get a Nimble charging bundle when you buy a new phone

Credit: Visible

Right now, Visible is offering a great deal to accessorize your new phone. If you grab a new device from Apple, Visible will hook you up with a charging bundle from Nimble for free.

You’re not just getting a simple charging block and cable, either. This setup comes with a power bank and a wireless charging pad so you can get some juice on the go. Best of all, Nimble uses recycled materials where possible, so you’re not harming Mother Nature with your purchase.

Read more: Google Pixel 5 buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

As we said, you can pretty much get this deal with any of the latest iPhones that Visible has to offer. Visible also has Apple’s iPhone 12 family in the brilliant new purple shade if you’re hoping to upgrade.

Click below to grab this deal while you can, or keep scrolling to see all of the best Visible deals available right now.

Grab a free Nimble bundle

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3. Get a free Amazon Fire Stick and more when you buy a new phone

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

It seems like there’s always something to upgrade in our lives whether it be our phone, laptop, TV, or some other piece of smart tech. Visible is helping customers simplify that process by giving away an Amazon Fire Stick and a prepaid gift card with many of its phones.

Related: Our review of the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

If you grab any of the eligible iPhones that they have listed, Visible will throw in a free Fire Stick and $50 in the form of a giftcard. Although the eligible devices are previous generation iPhones, they’re all on affordable deals and are quality phones, especially if you don’t need the newest phone.

Get a free Amazon Fire stick

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4. Trade-in your old phone for a new one for free

Credit: Visible

There’s no reason to let an old phone hold you back from a powerful new carrier. If your current phone doesn’t work on Visible, you can trade it in for one that will work for free. Their selection of free devices is constantly evolving, but right now, the only device available as part of this offer is the Visible ZTE Blade A7 Prime.

Trade-in for a new phone  

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5. Pay as little as $25 a month with Party Pay

Credit: Visible

Visible’s service for a single line costs $40 per month, but just like a real party, everything is better with friends. That is to say that when you add more lines on Party Pay, you can save up to $15 per month. Two users can pay $35, and three pay just $30, and four or more pay $25 per month for service. You won’t have to worry if someone else in your party slips up one month. With this Visible deal, everyone in your party has an individual account, so you won’t have to manage anyone else’s service.

All you have to do to get started is head right to the Party Pay section of your account and invite your friends. Learn more via the button below.

Save with Party Pay

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6. Get a full year of Calm for free

Credit: Visible

Staying calm and getting good rest is important in a world where it seems like everything is flying past a million miles a minute. That’s why Visible added a deal to get a full year’s subscription to Calm — an award-winning iPhone and Android app for meditation —  for free when you purchase an eligible device. Calm is usually priced at $70 a year for its subscription services, so Visible is offering a great deal. Plus, the range of phones it’s offering is good as well as it includes the iPhone SE, iPhone 11, Galaxy A42, and more. 

Click on the button below to learn more.

Get a full year of Calm for free

7. Get up to 50% off your current phone when you upgrade

Credit: Visible

If you’re still rocking with an old iPhone 8, Pixel 3, or Galaxy S9, there’s no judgment here. Still, if you’ve been thinking about upgrading, Visible makes the process cheaper and easier as it will pay off up to 50% of your current phone when you upgrade to an eligible model.

Now is definitely a great time to upgrade to a next-generation smartphone as the rollout of 5G continues nationwide and new software updates are expected soon like Android 12 and iOS 15 from Apple.

You can check out the eligible phones using the button below.

Get 50% off on a new phone

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8. Get $100 when you switch

Credit: Visible

If you don’t want to go down the eSIM route mentioned in the featured deal at the top of the post, you can still grab yourself some free spending money. If you activate your current phone on a new SIM at Visible and keep your current phone number, you’ll get a free $100 gift card sent out to you after two full month’s service payments.

There are tons of gift card options to choose from, including Amazon, Best Buy, Chevron, Uber Eats, and more. Click below to see if your current phone is eligible.

$100 gift card when you switch

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There you go — the best Visible deals that are online right now. We’ll update the post with new deals when they launch.

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5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week – Android Apps Weekly https://ift.tt/2V6mOEM

Welcome to the 391st edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here are the big headlines from the last week:

• WhatsApp has a social hacking problem. Apparently, people are stealing other people’s Facebook or Instagram credentials, and then message you with your own family’s profiles. It then encourages you to help them log in. This is an easily avoidable problem by simply not giving out WhatsApp credentials online anywhere and maybe giving your family members a call to make sure it’s actually them. Hit the link for more details.
• Google detailed a new Play Store policy where a mandatory privacy tab is included in the Play Store. The tab will tell you things like whether or not the app encrypts data, shares data with other sources, what information the app collects, etc. Developers can start adding this in October 2021, but it will be mandatory by April 2022. Basically, Google wants developers to explain why they need your info and it wants users to understand why developers need it. Hit the link for more.
• WeChat had to stop allowing people into the app if they lived in China. New laws cracking down on companies in China forced WeChat to suspend new people there until they could update the app to fall in line with local laws. It is one of many companies in China that have faced anti-privacy scrutiny, including LinkedIn, TikTok, and others. You can read more about it at the link.
• A few years ago, Apple launched its first Android app. It was an app to help Android users switch to iOS. It seems Google is working on a similar app. It would help iOS users switch to Android. Information about this came from an APK teardown of the Data Recovery Tool app, another recent addition to the Play Store. Hit up the link to learn more.
• Google TV is updating itself with some new UI elements and support for more streaming services. The new UI adds things like 16:9 banners for stuff like sci-fi thrillers or other discovery-oriented things. Additionally, Google TV will soon support Cartoon Network, Discovery Plus, Viki, PBS Kids, and Boomerang. Hit the first link to learn more.

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Garena Contra Returns

Price: Free to play

Garena Contra Returns launched in other countries as many as four years ago. However, the North American, European, and Latin American release of the game happened this last week. This one is a 2D shooter that pays ode to old Contra games. The game leans heavily on its PvP experience, which is fun for some players and not so much for others. There is also an upgrade system and other stuff to keep players occupied. It’s a reasonably decent game, even if the world is only just now getting into a game some have been playing for years.

Get it on Google Play

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Videoleap by Lightricks

Price: Free / $7.99 per month / $35.99 per year / $69.99 once

Videoleap is a new video editing app. It boasts the ability to create high-quality clips in a short period of time. It uses the timeline style like most competent video editors. It also includes green screen support, the ability to cut clips to fit, unlimited undo and redo, and the ability to zoom in and edit on a frame-by-frame basis. You also get the usual array of filters and effects to make things flow better and look nicer. The iOS version still has more features, but we imagine the Android version will get improvements over time. There is a subscription needed for all of the features or you can buy the app once for $69.99.

Get it on Google Play

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Potato Smash

Price: Free to play

Potato Smash is a cutesy little tower defense game. Players collect, upgrade, and place little potato characters to defend you from the enemy. There is a merge mechanic to upgrade your potatoes so yes, there is a bit of an idle tap element to this one. After that, your potatoes defend you, rack up points, and let you create more potatoes. The game has an online PvP mode, a co-op mode, and a solo player mode so you can play with or against other people or alone. The ads are a bit annoying and the game seems to lag pretty badly on lower-end devices, but otherwise it’s a fun time killer.

Get it on Google Play

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Data Restore Tool

Price: Free

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Data Restore Tool is a new app from Google. It basically functions as, well, a backup and restore tool. It lets you connect one phone to another phone and import your data. This is very similar to the one you can find in the settings menu of any Android phone. However, having a dedicated app makes it a bit easier to find and use. You can use a cable to do most of the work. It’s simple and relatively easy to use. I didn’t personally test this one, but it functions very similarly to the one you use in the settings, which I have used before. It’s also free.

Get it on Google Play

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NieR Re[in]carnation

Price: Free to play

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

NieR Re[in]carnation is a new gacha RPG from Square Enix. Like most games in the NieR franchise, the game revolves heavily around its serious, goofy, and occasionally dark narrative. Combat is a relatively simple thing. You issue commands to your character or allow the auto mode to do it for you. You can attack pretty much constantly but special abilities have cooldowns. Battles also come in waves with a fun third-person perspective instead of the usual side perspective. The graphics are outstanding for its genre and the soundtrack is quite good in general. I’m still pretty early into the game, but it seems like it’s going to be quite a bit of fun, just like every other NieR game.

Get it on Google Play

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If we missed any big Android app or game releases or news, tell us about it in the comments!
Thank you for reading! Try these out too:

• The best shooting games for Android
• The best video editor apps for Android
• The best Android tower defense games
• The best Android backup apps
• The best gacha games for Android

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Spotify and Apple Music need to recruit more indies to corner the market https://ift.tt/37bcePp

Credit: Lily Katz / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Roger Fingas

While on-demand music streaming got off to a slow start — Spotify was founded in 2006 — it is now the default music option for many people. Monthly subscriptions are cheaper than buying dozens of albums, and even people who use… unconventional methods to get their music have to admit that an on-demand library is more convenient.

Permanent downloads from services like Bandcamp remain popular for a few reasons, but the main one is simple: missing content. Sometimes this is due to exclusivity deals or contract fights, but a lot of artists and indie labels just don’t consider streaming worth their time. Giants like Spotify and Apple Music will need to attract these holdouts to become one-stop shops. While there are a few tactics these companies could try, they’ll probably continue to refuse the most effective one.

The first and easiest fix involves UI. The home screen of Spotify and Apple Music alike currently focus on major artists and a person’s existing listening habits. This translates into a sea of related playlists and previously played items — the result being that listeners can get stuck on a narrow road, especially if their tastes already veer towards the mainstream or just one or two genres. A person who starts off listening to Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, for instance, might not get to hear much indie rap.

It’s even less likely they’ll be exposed to genres outside of their comfort zone, such as ambient or industrial, which might have limited appeal anyway but need all the exposure they can get if their artists are going to have a chance. An industrial label won’t sign up for streaming if it can reach more people via Bandcamp, where it gets to keep more of the money. More on that later.

See also: YouTube Music vs Spotify — Can Google even compete?

Streaming services are trying to encourage discovery, it’s just to a limited extent. Spotify has an auto-updated Discover Weekly playlist for example, and a service called Qobuz relies on manually-crafted staff recommendations. What’s needed perhaps is the creation, promotion, and standardization of a wider range of auto-generated discovery playlists. Listeners should be able to hear new genres daily, and be just a few taps away from what’s popular locally or with friends. Spotify and Apple Music have social features, but could do better at exploiting them.

Streaming music needs both tech and business upgrades

The next step is better marketing. Apple and Spotify throw some of their weight behind indies, but seem scared to take risks. Perhaps the most obvious example is Apple Music’s “Up Next” artist promotion, which — in the US at least — is dominated by pop, rap, and hip-hop artists. Acts in those genres may deserve exposure, but they already slot neatly into the mainstream and major labels. Even country and EDM artists rarely get attention.

There’s a balancing act going on, of course. From a business perspective, it doesn’t make sense to throw millions of dollars behind artists who appeal to a few thousand people. Yet without marketing, even the most talented and least controversial musician is going to play to an audience of zero, and genres that could take off never will. The balance needs to be adjusted — perhaps by giving small labels a spotlight day on the home screen instead of mixing them up in generic indie-themed playlists. A similar approach could be taken with genres. This would enhance exposure, without hinging everything on individual bands people don’t recognize.

The biggest obstacle to getting more indies on board, though, is revenue sharing. It’s no secret that most musicians can’t live off of streaming revenue — the New York Times reports that in 2020, only about 13,000 Spotify artists earned $50,000 or more in payments. Even with services like Apple Music, YouTube, and Pandora factored in, that leaves a lot of artists dependent on touring and merch.

Many aren’t in a position right now to tour much, or at all. As a result, their labels may decide it’s better to make albums available only as downloads or physical copies. A $10 download or $30 vinyl might not reach as many people, but the math can work out better than fractions of a cent per stream.

The biggest obstacle to getting more indies onboard ... is revenue sharing.

Increasing pay to rights holders would make streaming more sustainable, but platforms have resisted this due to their own unfortunate economics. Spotify is already paying out as much as 70% of what it earns in royalties, according to the Los Angeles Times. While companies like Apple or Google might be able to take a loss on fairer revenue splits, Spotify is entirely dependent on music and podcast income, and only recently began turning a quarterly profit. No one wants the industry controlled exclusively by businesses for whom music is second fiddle.

It could be that there will never be a way of getting every indie onboard. The economics and marketing will probably never work out perfectly, and some labels are no doubt ideologically opposed to streaming — anarchist punk bands aren’t likely to warm up to companies with trillion-dollar market caps and supply chain abuses. Yet there are things platforms like Spotify and Apple Music can do and should do to become more indie-friendly, and, by extension, friendlier to a wider variety of tastes.

Read next: 15 Spotify tips to get more out of your Spotify Premium or free account

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