Apps and Updates
Zerocam zero-process camera launches on Android
After a closed beta program, the anti-AI camera replacement Zerocam is now available on Android via the Google Play Store.
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Our favorite Android apps to replace Google Podcasts
For those in the US, Google Podcasts is set to shut down after today, April 2. We’ve tested quite a few other podcast apps on Android and selected our favorite replacements for Google Podcasts.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle is preparing an ‘App Mall’ for Chromebooks
Google is readying a new online ‘App Mall’ to help you discover your next favorite app or game for your Chromebook.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s Google’s new ‘Switch to Android’ app for iPhones [Update: All Android 12 phones]
Google is preparing to launch a brand new way to move from Apple’s iPhones to an Android device. Here’s your first look at Google’s “Switch to Android” app running on an iPhone.
Update: Google’s Switch to Android app now supports all Android 12 devices, not just Pixels.
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Spotify update is causing playback and notification issues for some on Android [U: Fixed]
A recent update to the Spotify app for Android has been causing issues, with playback being interrupted or the notification-based controls disappearing.
Update: Spotify has now resolved this issue.
Expand Expanding CloseStadia for Android finally gains party chat, nearly two years after launch
Since Stadia launched in late 2019, the Android app has been the farthest behind in its playability, simply because it lacked the ability to talk with friends and strangers via voice and party chat. Today, that’s changed.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wifi app to begin shutting down in May in favor of Google Home
As it stands today, Google has two distinct apps for managing your Google Wifi and Nest Wifi networks, with Google Wifi and Google Home. Starting next month, the older Google Wifi app is shutting down in favor of the all-in-one Google Home.
Expand Expanding Close‘Dogfood’ build of Google News rolling out via Play Store
If you open up the Google News app today and see a notice that you’re using a confidential “dogfood” build, you’re not alone.
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All Android phones can now use Bedtime Mode and Sunrise Alarm in Google Clock
One of the cooler recent features of Google Pixel phones, Bedtime Mode, including the previous Pixel Stand exclusive “Sunrise Alarm,” is now becoming available for all Android phones through the Google Clock app.
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[Update: Fixed] TikTok likes and views disappear following talk of US ban, fix on the way
Over the last few years, and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic gave many of us a lot more free time, TikTok has become one of the leading social media apps worldwide. Today, following talk of the United States officially banning the service, likes and view counts have disappeared from the TikTok app, but a fix is on the way.
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All-in-one Microsoft Office app now available on Android
If you do a lot of different kinds of document and office editing, it can be frustrating to constantly switch between applications to get things done. To counter this, Microsoft has launched an all-in-one Office application on Android that puts the best of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint under one roof.
VLC beta update brings picture-in-picture mode to Chrome OS
Regardless of whether you’re on a desktop or mobile device, one of the best free video players on the market is VLC. Today, a beta update to VLC for Android has brought support for Chrome OS’s new picture-in-picture video player.
GitHub for Android beta now available for download, shows you everything but code
Last year, Microsoft announced official GitHub apps for Android and iOS and opened early registration for the app. Today, those who registered are being sent invitations to download the official GitHub app for Android, but it might not be all that you expect.
Google Sounds 2.2 adds 100+ ringtones, notifications, alarms, w/ holiday-themed sounds
Since the Google Pixel 3, Pixel phones have had their own dedicated Google Sounds app with collections full of ringtones, notification sounds, and alarm tones. Today, Google Sounds version 2.2 is rolling out to all Pixel phones, bringing with it over 100 new sounds, including some fantastic new Halloween, Christmas and other holiday-themed tones.
Google Messages 5.2 beta adds handy reminders and fun Easter egg [Gallery]
Have you ever gotten a text message but didn’t quite feel like responding right away, then in the course of your day you end up forgetting that message altogether? It certainly happens to me more than I care to admit. The latest Google Messages beta, version 5.2, brings reminders so you don’t forget to message your loved ones back, along with a fun little easter egg.
Twitter’s ‘Lights Out’ dark mode rolling out on Android, here’s how to manually enable
Since the unveiling of Android 10, dark mode has been one of the most hotly requested features for almost every app. As of today, Twitter is finally rolling out their AMOLED-black “Lights Out” dark mode on Android, but you might need a trick to enable it.
Here’s where to download the ‘Personal Safety’ app for Pixel phones
Yesterday, it was discovered that Google would soon be launching a new app for Pixel phones, called “Personal Safety” that would, among other helpful things, detect car crashes. If you want to test out Personal Safety on your Pixel phone today, here’s where you can download it.
[Update: July 2019] Best Android games in every category
There are so many awesome games for Android that trying to build a comprehensive best android games list isn’t practical. What I have put together is a list of great Android games across every genre. I’ve played and enjoyed every game on this list, and while I’m certain you will recognize a number of them, hopefully it also includes some that you haven’t tried yet…
Files by Google gets early dark mode on Android Q w/ beta update
Dark mode on apps and services is becoming more and more pervasive, slowly we are seeing a shift to the less eye-blasting muted color scheme and we couldn’t be happier. Next up in the Google stable is Files by Google, which has added a dark mode in its latest beta build but it appears that it only works on the Android Q beta.
10 of the best third-party Android apps with native dark mode [Video]
We’re deep into 2019 and we’re still having issues with Android apps not supporting Dark or Night modes despite millions of devices now using AMOLED displays. Here’s a list of our favorite Android apps that support the dark side…
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Hands on: Kiwi Browser brings full Chrome extensions to Android [Gallery]
One of the coolest parts of the modern web is being able improve and personalize your experience through extensions. Thus far, however, Google has not made it possible to use Chrome extensions on Android. The latest update to Kiwi Browser is doing what Google hasn’t, with support for full Chrome extensions.
[Update: OS dependent] Messages for Web updated with RCS settings, now available on Google.com
Last year, a change to Chrome OS revealed that Messages for Web would be transitioning from Android.com to Google.com. This lined up with the recent transition from the “Android Messages” name to simply “Messages.” Today, a slightly updated version of Messages for Web with RCS settings has gone live on Google.com.
Firefox Lockbox brings your saved Firefox passwords to Android’s autofill
If you’re like me and use Firefox wherever possible instead of Google Chrome, you probably realize you’re missing out on a lot of useful integrations between Chrome and Android that are tied to your Google Account. While Mozilla isn’t launching an alternative to services like Google Pay any time soon, the company is launching Firefox Lockbox which offers secure access to passwords saved in your Firefox Account and Android autofill support.
Opera for Android now comes with a free unlimited VPN
Opera might not be able to match the install base or popularity of Google Chrome, but it now improves our internet safety by including a fee VPN service within the Android application.
