There are a lot of great third-party keyboards for Android, but one of my personal favorites has always been the colorful Chrooma Keyboard. Now, that keyboard has picked up a major update nicknamed “Hydrogen.”
Emoji usage proliferates on phones and tablets because it’s very fast to bring up that virtual keyboard on Android and iOS. Now, Google Chrome is working on making it easier to use emoji on desktops thanks to a new right-click shortcut.
Firebase is Google’s web and mobile app development platform offering services like hosting, syncing, push notifications, and crash reporting. To demo its capabilities, the company recently created a sample app that is essentially a fully functioning copy of Instagram.
Google last year revamped Editors’ Choice on the Play Store to Android Excellence with a new focus on editorial content and lists. This quarterly collection highlights the best Android apps, games, and experiences, with the latest edition now available.
Recent weeks have seen numerous leaks about Motorola’s 2018 phone lineup, with the Lenovo-owned company also appointing a new leader in March. Ahead of this month’s product announcements, the company has revamped the design of its camera app with an update rolling out to older devices.
When Google Voice relaunched in 2017, we reported that proper Voice over IP was coming to the Android client. After last spotting it in an APK Insight earlier in January, Google today has opened beta sign-ups and detailed the upcoming ability to make calls with data
Early last month, we spotted Gboard testing a redesigned interface for voice input with a dedicated key and centered look. Google’s keyboard app for Android is now testing another minor tweak to that interface.
Following last week’s Play Movies & TV update that made the app a centralized streaming directory, Google Search is boosting its own movie features. Thanks to a new interface, movies that are currently in theaters will be easier to lookup and compare.
Google apps like Gmail and Calendar have long had a useful “Access checker” tool that determines whether the recipient of a shared Google Drive file has access permission. New updates today make the functionality smarter and more convenient.
Hangouts Chat finally launched to the public in February, joining Hangouts Meet and reflecting the move towards Hangouts becoming an enterprise service. The video conferencing app is today adding the ability to make free phone calls.
Cryptocurrency may one day revolutionize finance, but until then, the new tech is still facing a number of growing pains. Mostly notably, “crytpojacking” by apps and even ads that maliciously mine currency without a user’s awareness. To protect devices, Google is now implementing a new Web Store policy that bans mining extensions.
The YouTube Android client has received a number of new features in recent weeks, including a dynamic video player and coming soon a dark theme. Google has also been A/B testing several others, with the latest being a richer notification.
The goo.gl link is very common on the web and was first launched by Google in 2009. However, the company announced today that it’s winding down the URL Shortener beginning next month, with a complete deprecation by next year. Fortunately, existing links will continue to work.
Last month, Motions Stills hit version 2.0 with a redesigned interface and a neat AR Stickers feature that brings a taste of what the Pixel 2 is doing with ARCore to any device. A small update this month adds a handful of new stickers and more realistic shadows.
Twitter is making it easier for you to share a particular moment from a live video stream by introducing a YouTube-style timestamp feature in its Android and iOS apps …
Since launch, Google Duo has required a phone number to both set-up and reach other users. Last November, Google began working on an email address option that is finally rolling out this evening. Version 31 allows users to link their Google Account to the video calling service.
The Android P Developer Preview introduced a handful of changes to the Pixel Launcher like a more clearly defined shelf and a shortcut to launch Assistant. Google might be testing another tweak that adds an interesting and new “bubble” design for the search bar.
When a company releases a phone with a fairly stock build of Android, you generally expect relatively quick updates. That’s what we were hoping for with the Razer Phone, but sadly, that wasn’t delivered. Today, though, Razer is getting the ball rolling with the arrival of Android Oreo for the Razer Phone.
In January, Google added audiobook support to Play Books, while the Play Store gained a new section for the long-form audio format. After integrating with Assistant Routines earlier this month, Google is updating Play Books with “Smart Resume,” Bookmarks, and greater speed controls, as well as expanding Family Library to more countries.
Following a big update earlier this month that added email address suggestions, universal media search, and several new languages, the next version of Gboard has arrived in the beta channel this evening. Version 7.1 makes the notable addition of a very convenient “auto-spacing after punctuation” option.
Google Assistant has been on an absolute roll in recent weeks with new features, third-party support, and expanded developer capabilities. The latest addition allows users to enter their phone number so Assistant can help with certain tasks.
Following the rebrand of the wearable platform earlier this month, Google is today launching a developer preview for Wear OS. Android P for smartwatches introduces features announced for phones and tablets, a dark UI system theme, and smart battery saving features.
Last month, our APK Insight revealed that Google Home was working on letting users pair their Assistant device to Bluetooth speakers for a multi-room audio setup. This extension of the smart speaker’s existing Bluetooth capabilities is now rolling out today.
There are a ton of ways to access Reddit from your mobile device, but for many, third-party clients are the way to go for their features alone. A couple of years ago, though, Reddit introduced an official client for mobile devices, and this week that app is getting a new look on Android…