New version of Google Play Store app pushing out, brings pull-out menu and little else

No secret KitKat changes came with today's Google Play store update

You may have noticed a new look in your Google Play app this evening, as the 4.4 update is rolling out to users. There's not a lot to talk about with changes, because the only thing we're able to see different is the new hamburger menu is now implemented in the app, leading to a more consistent feel across Google's closed and proprietary applications.

This does affect users who still have a menu button on their device, as now instead of opening the overflow the menu button only opens a window with a "settings" and "help" entry, while the rest of the shortcuts are in the drawer. Other than that, it's the same Play store app you're used to, with the same wish list screen, my apps pages, and shopping menu as always.

If you haven't received the update, there are a couple things you can try. There are (as always) mirrors floating around out there, but if you're not keen on trusting a file that updates a system app when you don;t know where ti comes from, we found a few ways that ended up forcing the updates here.

• Just reboot. That's how Andrew was able to get the update pushed to him.
• Uninstall updates for Google play in settings > applications. This worked for Alex.
• Clear cache and data for Google Services Framework in your settings, then reboot (advanced). This is what I had to do.

Or just wait it out, because you're not really missing anything except a cleaner app navigation system. We've got a handful of screenshots after the break.

AT&T confirms deal with Crown Castle to sell and lease cell towers for $4.85 billion

600 towers sold and 9,100 leased with the option to buy

Following up on rumors that AT&T would sell off some of its cell tower holdings for up to $5 billion, the carrier has confirmed it has entered a deal with tower operator Crown Castle for the towers. The deal will see AT&T lease the rights to operate about 9,100 cell towers in the U.S. to Crown Castle, and sell another 600 towers outright to the company. The deal totals $4.85 billion in up-front cash to AT&T, which gives Crown Castle exclusive rights to the towers.

The average lease term for the towers is 28 years, and as the leases expire Crown Castle will have the option to purchase the towers for another $4.2 billion. The deal won't reduce AT&T's coverage or network quality at all, however. The carrier will sublease capacity back from Crown Castle for a minimum of 10 years at the rate of $1,900 per month per site, with rent increasing by 2 percent per year.

The end result for AT&T is a big infusion of cash that can be used for other endeavors, while not effecting the end user's network performance. It also gives AT&T the ability to expand its network in the future by simply leasing additional capacity from Crown Castle on the very towers they sold. The deal should be finalized by the end of 2013.

HTC said to be building a smart watch for next year's market

Product said to be running Android, feature a camera and be available in the second half of 2014

We've already mentioned that HTC's Peter Chou seemed keen on the idea of wearables helping reach their goals for the future, and a new report from Bloomberg, someone "close to the matter" says HTC will release their own camera-toting smart watch in the second half of 2014.

The full details are a little sketchy, but the source says HTC's watch will run Android and have an on-board camera. this would put it squarely at odds with Samsung's Galaxy Gear, rather than compete in the more utilitarian space occupied by products like the Pebble or the Sony SmartWatch 2.

Around here, we expect everyone to jump on the smart wearable train. Companies will compete for our dollars with products that extend the functionality of their Android phones and tablets. And you know what? We think that's a pretty good thing to have happen. 2014 should be a nice ride.

Yes, the Sony SmartWatch 2 is IP57 water and dust resistant

The Sony SmartWatch 2 doesn't mind a little dunk or three

There seems to be a little confusion out there among wearable enthusiasts and soon-to-be wearable enthusiasts about the Sony SmartWatch 2 and any level of water resistance. A representative of the company has assured me that the SW2 is indeed IP 57 rated for water and dust resistance. This is the same as the Xperia Z, and it means:

• 5: Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment.
• 7: Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). 

That's all I needed to hear. Hit the break to see the Sony SmartWatch 2 meeting a glass of ice-cold West Virginia mountain spring water.

Tips and tricks for speeding up your Android device

You may have noticed over the past few months that your once-speedy Android device has slowed down considerably. Simple tasks such as switching between apps or returning home are proving more troublesome than before, and you are now experiencing lag in all the wrong places. Things don't have to be this way, however.

These simple tips and tricks can help speed up your device and make it perform like new:

1. Uninstall or disable unused apps

(Credit: Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNET)

Your device has a limited amount of internal storage and the less free space it has the slower it will perform. If you have filled your device with photos, music, or apps, it is recommended to free up space by either uninstalling unused apps or moving files to cloud storage services likeDropbox or Google Drive.

On smartphones and tablets that include expandable storage you can also move apps to the microSD card. To do this, enter Settings, go to the Apps menu, click the app you wish to move, and select the "Move to SD card" option.Uninstalling apps can be done by going to Settings, opening the Apps menu, and selecting the app you wish to uninstall. Preloaded applications from carriers or manufacturers that cannot be uninstalled, known as bloatware, can at least be disabled and hidden from the app drawer using this method.

Too many widgets can affect battery life and performance.

2. Clear app caches
Cached data can build up over time in your applications and affect the performance of your device. Deleting individual caches can be done in the Apps menu, but a number of free programs are available through the Google Play store that can automate the process. Some of the most popular ones include App Cache Cleaner and Clean Master, both of which are available for free.

3. Limit widgets and live wallpapers
Many people would argue that widgets are one of the benefits of using an Android device. They can be helpful for finding information quickly without having to open an app, but at the same time they can eat away at battery life and slow your device.

Reducing the number of widgets, especially data-intensive ones like Facebook, will help your smartphone or tablet run more smoothly and last longer. You can remove widgets from the home screen by long-pressing the one you wish to delete and dragging it to the top of the screen.

Another cool Android feature is the option to use a live wallpaper as your background. Like widgets, however, live wallpapers can slow down your device and drain the battery. You can also change your wallpaper with a long press on the home screen.

4. Disable animations
A hidden settings option in Android will give you access to commands you may have never known existed. Go to Settings, About Phone, scroll down to Build number, and tap it seven times. You will now have access to developer options. These special settings allow you to do a variety of things, but they are meant for advanced users and shouldn't be changed unless you know what you are doing.

One tweak that could speed up your device is disabling animations within the operating system. To do this, open Settings, go to Developer options, and scroll down to the Drawing option. Next, turn off the Window animation scale, Transition animation scale, and Animator duration scale. This will disable animations that occur when you open, close, and switch between apps. Although the interface will look less polished, there should be less lag in performance.

5. Get software updates
Manufacturers and carriers are continually pushing out new software updates to their devices. It is imperative that you be on the latest firmware as these updates usually include security and bug fixes, among other things that will improve the overall stability of your device. To check to see if there is an update available, go to Settings, select About Phone, and choose the "System updates" option.

6. Rooting, ROMing, and more
Risk takers and advanced users can also root their device, which will open the door to new features and even greater performance boosts. Rooting gives you the ability to overclock the device's processor, install a custom ROM, and other things; however it also voids your warranty and could cause irreversible damage to the device.

Deal of the Day: LLOYD FX Case for Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The Oct. 14 Deal of the Day is the LLOYD FX Case for Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Made from shock absorbent and scratch resistant TPU, the LLOYD FX Case provides great protection for the Galaxy Note 2 from day to day use and drops. The back features our very own LLOYD mascot in front of a blue and white background. Access to screen, camera, ports and buttons is also provided.

The LLOYD FX Case is available for just $7.49, 62% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping.

Check out many more Samsung Galaxy Note 2 cases over at ShopAndroid.com!

ESPN finally updates their College Football app to include the newest phones

Still no Nexus 7 support, but the HTC One and Galaxy S4 now work with this essential football fan app

ESPN has done a great job developing their college Football app for Android. The only problem was that it has not been compatible with the latest and greatest phones available, like the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4. We featured it in our essential football apps post this year because it's a great app, but wondered why it was taking ESPN so long to add compatibility. It has now finally been updated to support the newest phones. 

We're not sure why it took so long, but we're glad they finally did before we got too far into the college football season. The photo above shows the app working on the HTC One and since they specifically mentioned "newer" devices, we're assuming the Galaxy S4 is also included. If you have a new device and it still does not work for you, please sing out in the comments. It still does not work on the Nexus 7, which is a bummer, but maybe they will add that soon too. 

So if you have been anxiously waiting for your new Android phones to support this app, hit up the link provided.