Miller Lite’s QR code jerseys turn 1K Super Bowl viewers into beer ads

Dive Brief:

  • Molson Coors brand Miller Lite is foregoing a Super Bowl commercial this year in favor of a “Running of the Beer Ads” program that tasks 1,000 football fans to serve as the brand’s official advertisement, per details shared with Marketing Dive.
  • Consumers starting Feb. 1 can sign-up online to receive a Miller Game Time Jersey emblazoned with a QR code that they can wear while stepping out during Super Bowl commercial breaks, including to get more beer. The jersey, which will be offered to 1,000 consumers total, can be scanned for the chance to win beer money.
  • Molson Coors also teamed with actor and comedian Rob Riggle, who will serve as the “lead beer runner” and encourage consumers to participate. The move follows the brewer’s “High Stakes Beer Ad” commercial in last year’s big game. 

Dive Insight:

Miller Lite’s decision to engage in unofficial advertising during Super Bowl LVIII is a departure from last year’s strategy, which put a heavy emphasis on its on-air advertisement. This year, instead of the brand being on-screen, Miller Lite is looking to 1,000 of its fans to handle its advertising through the “Running of the Beer Ads” effort.

“We’ve always been excited by [the Super Bowl] as an opportunity to engage fans in creative and unexpected ways. That’s not going to change just because we can buy a national ad now,” said Ann Legan, global vice president of marketing for the Miller Family of Brands, in emailed comments to Marketing Dive. “We’ve always tried to show up in ways no other beer could, and we’re confident we will this year, too.”

Consumers beginning Feb. 1 can sign-up online to receive the official Miller Game Time Jersey along with $100 and a Big Game Ad kit. On Feb. 11, the day of the

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Samsung Galaxy A13 gets Android 14 (One UI 6.0) update in the USA

While Samsung’s high-end phones received the Android 14 update two months ago, most of its entry-level smartphones started getting the update last month. The carrier-locked versions of those phones received the new update even later. The Galaxy A13 is now getting the Android 14 update in the US.

Two weeks ago, the global model of the Galaxy A13 received the Android 14 update. Now, the carrier-locked version of the Galaxy A13 has started getting the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update in the USA. The new update comes with firmware version A135USQU7DXA2 and includes the December 2023 security patch. Unfortunately, the update doesn’t bring the January 2024 security update to the device.

Watch all the features that Android 14 (One UI 6.0) brings to Samsung’s smartphones in our video below.

If you have the carrier-locked version of the Galaxy A13 in the US, you can now check for the Android 14 update on your device. To do that, navigate to Settings » Software update » Download and install. Alternatively, you can download the appropriate firmware file from our firmware database and flash it manually using the Odin tool and a computer running the Windows operating system.

One UI 6.0, which is based on Android 14, brings a new Quick Panel layout, more lock screen clock widget fonts, a new media player widget in the notifications and lock screen areas, new designs for all new emojis, and a new default font. Samsung has improved all the stock apps that come with One UI. The Gallery app shows editing suggestions, while the built-in Photo Editor has more prominent editing. The video editor has been renamed to Samsung Studio, and it now supports drafts.

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How to Uninstall Unwanted Apps on Android

Key Takeaways

  • To uninstall a normal Android app, you can walk through a quick process on your Home screen or in the Settings app.
  • Removing preinstalled Android apps can be tricky, but there are alternative options like ADB.
  • Installing a custom ROM is a “nuclear” option that completely wipes your device, but gives you control over unwanted apps.


While uninstalling most Android apps from your device is simple, preinstalled apps on Android can be a pain. These clutter your Home screen and app drawer, are often useless, and can’t be uninstalled in the usual way. We’ll show you how to delete Android apps, whether ones you installed or pesky pre-installed junk.

Uninstalling some system apps can brick your Android device. Consequently, take care when using these tools and methods.


Standard App Removal on Android

Uninstalling apps that are on your Android phone by choice is simple. On many versions of Android, you can long-press on an app in the app drawer (as well as the Home screen, in some cases) and drag it up to the Uninstall bubble that appears. Confirm the action, and you’ll delete the app from your phone.

If your phone doesn’t offer this option, the next best way is to open the Settings app and go to Apps > See all X apps. Scroll through the list, tap the app you want to remove, and hit the Uninstall button on the app’s info page. Once you confirm, the app will be removed from your device.

Depending on your phone, this basic process may work for some factory apps, but only if they are appropriately configured by the manufacturer. For example, you can easily uninstall some of Samsung’s preinstalled Android apps (like Samsung Health), whereas others (including Smart Switch) require alternative solutions.

If you can’t uninstall

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Chromecast with Google TV is now auto-playing full-screen product ads on the home screen

Chromecast with Google TV Autoplaying video ads 3

TL;DR

  • Chromecast with Google TV owners are complaining of a new ad on their TV’s home screen.
  • This ad is an auto-playing, full-screen ad for a physical product rather than the usual “recommendations” for digital content.

Many users have loved the Chromecast with Google TV for being a good option for watching movies and TV shows on dumb TVs. But many have also complained of the increase in ads that the Google TV variant of the streaming stick brings over its predecessors. The latest complaints on this end come from users who are now being served auto-playing video ads for food rather than the usual media recommendation.

Reddit users thevincentasteroid and MMD3_ posted about an auto-playing video ad (with sound) on the home screen. The ad is for Chicken Tender Wraps from Carl’s Jr. When it begins auto-playing, it pushes all the other UI elements out of focus and goes almost full-screen, returning to the home screen after it has played through once.

While Google TV has had video ads on the home screen for a while, these have usually been restricted to digital media content, like new TV shows and movies, served around under the guise of “recommendations.” Ads for non-media content (physical products) have usually been limited to static images. This appears to be the first time an advertisement for a physical product has appeared as an auto-playing full-screen video directly on the home screen.

Many users have tolerated “recommendation” ads as they can serve legitimate discovery needs in certain instances. But physical product ads on the home screen seem to have ruffled some feathers. As a workaround, annoyed users can install the Projectivy Launcher on their Android TV streaming device for a cleaner home screen experience.

The Chromecast with Google TV also received a software update recently.

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3 Advertising & Marketing Stocks to Watch From a Booming Industry

The rise in service activities, along with increased digital marketing services and the success of the work-from-home trend, is enabling the Zacks Advertising and Marketing industry to counter the prevailing revenue softness.

Customer-centric approaches to business, digital strategies and technology investments are helping Publicis Groupe S.A. PUBGY, Omnicom Group Inc. OMC and WPP plc WPP to sail through the current testing times.

About the Industry

The Zacks Advertising and Marketing industry comprises companies that offer an extensive range of services, including advertising, branding, content marketing, digital/direct marketing, digital transformation, financial/corporate business-to-business advertising, graphic arts/digital imaging, healthcare marketing and communications and in-store design services. Prominent players from the industry include Interpublic and Omnicom. The pandemic has changed the way industry players have conducted business and delivered services so far. Currently, the industry’s key focus is on channelizing money and efforts toward media formats and devices. To position themselves suitably in the post-pandemic era, service providers are increasing their efforts toward formulating strategic initiatives and identifying sources of demand.

What’s Shaping the Future of the Industry?

Economic Recovery: The sector is a major beneficiary of the broader economy and service activities. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.5% in 2023 compared with 1.9% growth in 2022. Economic activities in the non-manufacturing sector are in good shape. The Services PMI measured by the Institute for Supply Management has stayed above the 50% mark for the past 12 months, indicating continued expansion.

Reviving Demand: The industry is mature, with demand for services remaining stable over time. Revenues, income and cash flows are anticipated to gradually reach pre-pandemic levels, aiding most industry players in paying out stable dividends.

Digital Marketing Gathering Steam: Digital media consumption has shot up, with consumers spending more time on various

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How to Downgrade Android Apps to Older Versions (And Keep Your Data)

Key Takeaways

  • You can downgrade most Android apps by going to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps and choosing to “Uninstall Updates” for a particular app, but this will also log out and remove all your app data.
  • To downgrade an app and keep your data, set up Android Debug Bridge and sideload an app using the APK file for the version you want.
  • Finally, avoid unwanted updates in the Play Store by going to Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-Update Apps and selecing “Don’t Auto-Update Apps.”


Sometimes an update breaks an app’s functionality or slows it down. Sometimes developers redesign the UI or leave out the features you like. But you can get your favorite interface and features back by downgrading the app to an older version.


What You Need to Downgrade an App

The Android UI lets you downgrade some apps with a single tap. Just go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps. Select the app you want to downgrade. Then tap “Uninstall Updates.” But for most apps, you’ll have to uninstall the current app and sideload the older version using an APK file. Either way, both methods log out all your accounts and erase any saved progress or preferences, which is far from ideal.

For a seamless downgrade that keeps the data intact, you need to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) instead. Here’s what you’ll need to do that:

  1. A computer (I used one running Windows)
  2. A cable to connect your device to the computer
  3. An APK file for the older app version

This method may not work perfectly for all apps on devices with Android 9 or older.

Back up your phone, including any important login credentials or app data before proceeding. Secondly, watch out for critical security updates. We don’t recommend skipping or

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