Droid Life

Category: Apps

The latest selection of Android apps, both free and paid, are found right here. If you were looking for that fresh list of trending Android apps, we have you covered on a daily basis. Want to know the newest Android application releases first? Want to know which Android applications are free for a limited time?

Whether it’s Gmail, Google Calendar, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, or lesser known apps like Nova Launcher, Trello, Sling TV, and Philips Hue, you will know the best Android apps at all times.

Got a suggestion for a new app you think we should check out? We are all ears and regularly accept user-submitted applications, so that you won’t pay until you know if we approve.

  • Google Play Music’s New Release Radio Now Open to All

    Google Play Music’s New Release Radio Now Open to All

    After a short exclusive access period for Samsung Galaxy S8 owners, Google Play Music’s New Release Radio is now open for all to enjoy.

    The station first launched almost a month ago and provided Galaxy S8 owners a new radio station that played a “personalized mix of newly released songs.” It turned out to be a pretty good way to catch new tunes that Google thinks you might enjoy. Google says that the station uses “machine learning to select singles and album releases from the past two weeks based on your listening history and musical preferences.” So if you can’t stand Taylor Swift and never listen to her, you hopefully won’t get her latest in this radio.

    Previously, you needed a direct link to the station if you didn’t own a Galaxy S8 or S8+, but as of today, you’ll find the station available no matter your device.

    To access New Release Radio, hit up this link.

    // Google

  • Google Adds Direct Spa and Salon Reservations to Search and Maps Results

    Google Adds Direct Spa and Salon Reservations to Search and Maps Results

    Back in March, Google introduced a new feature that allowed you to book your next yoga class or pilates session directly within Google Search or Maps results. Today, they are expanding on that by allowing you to do the same with salons and spas.

    To take advantage, just search for the place you typically get your haircut, nails done, etc., and if they are a part of Google’s reservation system, you’ll see the option to “Book” in the results. Checkout the listing below as an example of a place here in Portland that participates. If you look off to the right, the business listing has a big “BOOK” button that lets you direct book.

    As you search from mobile, the experience will look like this:

    If you aren’t finding any good results through Google Search, you can also use this “Reserve with Google” page to see participating fitness and beauty spots near you.

    // Google

  • Google Releases Improved Backup and Sync Desktop Tool for Google Photos and Drive

    Google Releases Improved Backup and Sync Desktop Tool for Google Photos and Drive

    Google launched its new Backup and Sync tool for desktops today, made specifically for users of Google Photos and Google Drive who are looking to keep their photos and documents in a safe space attached to their Google account.

    The new tools replace the existing backup tools, so if you already use those, be prepared for the update. The backup tool works for both Windows and MacOS, but as of right now, we’re not seeing Linux support. Curse you, science!

    To get started, simply follow the links below to set yourself up.

    Downloads: Google Drive | Google Photos

    // Google

  • Google Play Movies & TV Gets HDR Playback

    Google Play Movies & TV Gets HDR Playback

    Your Google Play Movies & TV viewing experience is ready to be cranked up a notch in the contrast, brightness, and color departments, thanks to High Dynamic Range (HDR) support launching today in the US and Canada. Of course, you’ll need an HDR-equipped TV and a movie that can play in both 4K and HDR.

    Google says that when you purchase 4K Ultra HD (UHD) movies, many will be compatible with HDR playback. If available, and your internet connection is solid, HDR and 4K should stream automatically.

    This also means that your Chromecast Ultra can now stream HDR content from Google Play Movies & TV as well.

    You can find out more about HDR in Google Play Movies & TV at Google’s support site.

  • 5 Android Apps to Try: July 2017

    5 Android Apps to Try: July 2017

    Need some new Android apps to kick off July with? We’ve got 5 of them for you below. You’ll find a good range of apps too, from weather and wallpapers, to internet security and calorie counting. Everything should be free to use, but some may include in-app purchases to remove ads.

    Today Weather

     

    Today Weather has been out for a handful of months now, but it’s definitely worth giving a shot even though there are dozens upon dozens of weather apps to choose from. It’s free and features a truly beautiful, dark-themed yet minimal UI. It does have ads here and there, but you can pay to have them removed.

    You’ll find forecasts, photos that correspond to the weather and the day, air quality and UV indexes, sunrise and sunset info, what’s currently going on with the moon, and severe weather alerts. Of course, you can follow the weather of multiple locations, choose your weather source, and pick from a long list of widgets. It does a lot more than that, but those are a few of the info bits you’ll find.

    Google Play Link

    PureEarth Wallpapers

     

    You guys know how much I love a good satellite image of this beautiful Earth, so it’s no surprise that I’m a big fan of PureEarth Wallpapers. This app is constantly refreshing its wallpaper options, plus it’s free and there are no ads.

    When viewing a wallpaper, you’ll see who captured the image, as well as controls over color, the amount of blur you’d like to see, and download and share options. PureEarth also lets you submit your own satellite images, if contributing sounds like something you’d be interested in, it keeps a history of the wallpapers you’ve chosen, and will select random photos for you to keep that home screen as fresh as ever. Oh, it even has Muzei support.

    Google Play Link

    Bitesnap

    It’s going to take some solid testing to see if Bitesnap can be the next great calorie tracking app, but I sure like the approach. With Bitesnap, you pull out your phone and take a picture of the meal you are about to eat. The app then tries to use “advanced image recognition” to pull out the different food items to hopefully let you quickly add items to your daily log. The whole idea here is to keep you from having to type out each item, because that can be hell throughout a day. Food loggers know what I’m talking about.

    This app uses your food images to track calories, help you stay on target to reach weight goals, and even has barcode scanning in case you don’t fully trust its food image recognition skills. And everything is displayed in a well-designed app.

    Google Play Link

    Changes

    Apps like Changes aren’t necessarily new, but I certainly find them useful from time to time. The purpose is to help you keep track of the changes to your apps as they update. Since most developers are terrible at updating the “What’s New” section of their apps, you may have stopped looking long ago. This app will let you know should something actually change.

    The app is designed well, now has a dark theme option, lets you search through your apps, and allows for apps to be ignored.

    This is technically an “unreleased” app that could be unstable, but the developer does seem to be actively working on it.

    Google Play Link

    Firefox Focus

    firefox focus

    We actually wrote up Firefox Focus a couple of weeks ago, but I think it’s worth sharing again. In a time where privacy is so important, especially as you browse the internet, these types of browsers will only become more popular.

    With Firefox Focus, you get a browser that is fully private, free, and “always on your side,” according to its makers. It does its best to block web trackers, it erases your browsing history when done, and should allow for a faster web experience since it blocks ads.

    Google Play Link

  • Twitter Reworks Notifications to Save You From the Spam

    Twitter Reworks Notifications to Save You From the Spam

    Spam and abuse take place on pretty much all social networks, so there will never be a cease to the work these companies put in to save you from it all. Announced today, Twitter is reworking its notification system, highlighting the ability to mute accounts that don’t follow you and new accounts.

    To check out all of the new notification settings that can save you from seeing crappy spam and all that, head into your Notifications, tap on the little gear button, then tap on Advanced Filters. Inside this space, you’ll be able to toggle options for muting new accounts, accounts with default profile photos, accounts with no confirmed email address, and plenty more.

    Twitter has all of the notification greatness detailed on its website, which you can find by following the link below.

    Death to spam!

    // Twitter

  • Amazon Echo Devices Now Notify You When Orders are Out for Delivery

    Amazon Echo Devices Now Notify You When Orders are Out for Delivery

    Back in May, Amazon told us that they were going to allow services to start sending notifications to your Amazon Echo devices that were equipped with Alexa. That means Accuweather could update you on changing weather conditions or the Washington Post could ping you with breaking news. But before we get there, the first notifications features comes from Amazon and it includes all of the stuff you order from them.

    The next time you order something via voice through an Echo device, Amazon should let you know that it now has the ability to notify you of the item’s delivery status. You can also enable those notifications in the Alexa app by heading into Settings>Notifications>Shopping Notifications.

    With this option enabled, you’ll get a glowing yellow ring when a notification is there, just like you see as you send messages or receive them on Alexa-equipped devices. With Shopping Notifications turned on, those messages should be Amazon letting you know that items are out for delivery and that you should be on the lookout for them.

    PlayLink

    amazon echo shopping notifications

    Buy Amazon Echo:

  • Spotify Testing an Auto Mode to Make the App Safer to Use While Driving

    Spotify Testing an Auto Mode to Make the App Safer to Use While Driving

    According to at least one user on reddit, Spotify is currently testing an Auto Mode internally. This mode makes the app safer to use while driving, but it doesn’t appear to be quite ready for widespread rollout yet.

    With this mode enabled, the buttons for playback are made very large (for easy pressing), while the existence of other buttons seem to vanish. It’s basically a trimmed down version of the UI, perfect for those who find themselves distracted when it matters most. Additionally, a voice-powered feature will let you speak commands to the app, but the feature isn’t yet working.

    This test does not seem to be made for the public, as a Google Doc leading to feedback asks for a @spotify email address, meaning it’s purely for internal use. These apps do find themselves leaking online from time to time, though, so instead of going to look for it, just know that Auto Mode may be something the music service is working on to make public sometime in the future.

    Personally, Google Play Music > Spotify.

    // reddit