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.

  • Marvel Strike Force is Here to Consume Your Time and Take Your Money

    Marvel Strike Force is Here to Consume Your Time and Take Your Money

    Many of you likely hear me talk about a game called Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes. Well, a new title published by ForNext Games is just like that game I play on a daily basis, but instead of Star Wars characters, it’s based on Marvel characters.

    Called Marvel Strike Force, you will collect different toons, including all of your favorite Marvel characters, then pair them up in squads to face opposing Marvel squads. As you advance in the game, your characters can become stronger with new abilities unlocked, but of course, your enemies will become stronger, too. Each character has a set role in a squad. Some are healers, tanks (have more health), attackers, etc,

    The main difference you’ll see in this title versus Galaxy of Heroes are the combat visuals. The developer behind this game has obviously put a ton of time into making the battles appear much more cinematic, with sweet camera angles and visual effects. It’s a solid looking game, but undoubtedly one that will take a very long time to progress in, with money always being an option to advance in a shorter amount of time.

    Marvel Strike Force is available for download right now on Google Play.

    Google Play Link

  • Digg Reader has Officially Shut Down

    Digg Reader has Officially Shut Down

    Back in 2013 when Google killed Google Reader and pissed off the internet’s outspoken batch of journalists, a bunch of alternatives launched to try and save RSS. Feedly was (and likely still is) the most popular, but others were there to try and steal some of the spotlight, like Digg Reader. If you were one of those who passed on Feedly for Digg, I have bad news for you – Digg Reader has shut down.

    Digg announced that the end was near a couple of weeks ago, and boy, time sure does fly. They are sending emails today to confirm the death, but accessing the Digg Reader site has stopped today as well.

    If you were using Digg Reader, you can still download you feeds, Diggs, and saves by heading to digg.com/settings.

    Is anyone still on this RSS thing? If so, which service are you using? We’re a Feedly crew, here at Droid Life.

  • Google Maps Rolls Out Support for 39 New Languages

    Google Maps Rolls Out Support for 39 New Languages

    39 new languages have gained support in Google Maps this week, opening the service to at least 1.25 billion additional people across the world. While all languages are notable, a few of the big additions are Filipino, Hebrew, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Norwegian.

    Google mentions these added languages are supported starting today, so check your iOS, Android, and desktop for them.

    Check all of the newly supported languages below.

    New Languages Supported

    • Afrikaans
    • Albanian
    • Amharic
    • Armenian
    • Azerbaijani
    • Bosnian
    • Burmese
    • Croatian
    • Czech
    • Danish
    • Estonian
    • Filipino
    • Finnish
    • Georgian
    • Hebrew
    • Icelandic
    • Indonesian
    • Kazakh
    • Khmer
    • Kyrgyz
    • Lao
    • Latvian
    • Lithuanian
    • Macedonian
    • Malay
    • Mongolian
    • Norwegian
    • Persian
    • Romanian
    • Serbian
    • Slovak
    • Slovenian
    • Swahili
    • Swedish
    • Turkish
    • Ukrainian
    • Uzbek
    • Vietnamese
    • Zulu

    // Google

  • Google is Handing Out Free $2 Google Play Credits Right Now

    Google is Handing Out Free $2 Google Play Credits Right Now

    Hit those inboxes up! 

    Google started sending out free $2 Google Play credits today for use on your next Play purchase. The email focuses on games, saying “Dive into a new game,” but it appears to be a straight $2 credit that can be used on anything.

    You will need to get the promo email we included above in order to get the credit, as the promotion is tied to email, from what we understand. Then again, you could always check the Google Play Games section for a banner that will offer you the credit.

    Once you “claim your offer,” Google will add $2 to your Play account balance.

    Again, hit those inboxes up and check for this email!

    free google play credit

  • Google Play Movies & TV is Getting a Huge Update

    Google Play Movies & TV is Getting a Huge Update

    Google Play Movies & TV has always been a stand-alone movie and TV store like iTunes. If you wanted to shop for a movie and TV show to buy or rent, you could do it through there. It was pretty standard stuff. That’s about to change, though, thanks to pretty sizable update headed out today.

    Going forward, Google Play Movies & TV will be more than just a store for Google to sell media. Instead, it’ll change to a content discovery platform that still allows you to buy and rent, but it’ll also show you availability on other platforms while it recommends options too.

    Once you get the latest update, these are the changes you will find:

    • Streaming service integration: When you pull up a show or movie, you won’t just see the Google Play Movies & TV buy/rent option. If the show you want is available on HBO or FOX NOW or HGTV or Hulu, options to watch there will be included. To start, Google is including support with ABC, CBS, FOX NOW, NBC, Hulu, HBO NOW, HBO Go, Showtime, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Now, HGTV, BET Now, and Comedy Central. They have plans to add even more – see the full list here.
    • Recommendations: Play Movies & TV is going to allow you to search for items you might be in the mood for with just a few taps. They are including a new scrollable bar that lets you choose things like a category, when it was released, and whether or not it was rated well, to help narrow down selections.
    • What you like and don’t like: I’m surprised this just made it in, but Play Movies will now show you films and TV shows based on “what you watch and what you like” using a thumbs up or down rating system.
    • Long-pressing: In this new update, you will be able to long-press on items to quickly vote them up/down or add them to your Watchlist.

    google play movies update

    Google says that all of this is available “now,” but it’s likely a slow rollout.

    Google Play Link

    // Google

  • YouTube TV is Rolling Out a Live Guide Editor for Custom Channel Line-Ups

    YouTube TV is Rolling Out a Live Guide Editor for Custom Channel Line-Ups

    YouTube TV, the streaming TV service that Tim and I can’t shut up about, is getting a new feature this week that will let you customize its channel order or Live Guide.

    Buried in the Settings, a new Live Guide option is rolling out now that lets you not only re-order your channel line-up in YouTube TV, but remove channels as well. As you can see in the screenshots here, you’ll get check boxes next to channels in case you want to hide or show them, along with buttons to drag and drop into an order you prefer. Then, once viewing your guide, you’ll now have a button that will let you toggle between the “Default” or the “Custom” Live Guide you just setup.

    This really would have come in handy during those first couple of NCAA Tourney rounds where I had to dig deep in the depths of Earth’s core to find Tru TV. I did survive, but you get the struggle.

    Again, the feature is rolling out now and will be available on the web and in the YouTube TV app. It does not appear to be triggered by an update and is instead a server-side change.

    Google Play Link | YouTube TV Sign-Up

    Cheers Brent!

  • Google’s Files Go App Updated With File Search, Duplicate Spotting, and Backed Up Photo Removal

    Google’s Files Go App Updated With File Search, Duplicate Spotting, and Backed Up Photo Removal

    Files Go was launched only a few months ago, but already, Google is taking feedback it received for the app and implementing changes.

    In this update, Google is adding a file search function to help you spot the files you’ve been looking for. To enhance the feature, it is completely usable offline.

    Additionally, users can now easily spot duplicate files for easy removal and clearing up of storage, as well as take advantage of Files Go working with Google Photos. For this, whenever a photo or video is backed up on Google Photos, Files Go will inform you that it is now safe to remove the file from your device, freeing up more space for new photos and videos.

    Here’s a detailed rundown from Google for what’s being added.

    • File search: You should be able to search for files on your phone just like you search the internet. Files Go is now bringing Google’s expertise at search—including instant results, search history, autocomplete and filters—to file management. Now, when you open the Files tab, you can tap the search icon and find all of your files on your phone in a split second. And best of all, it works offline.
    • Show the location of duplicates: From the start, Files Go has made it easy to free up space by removing duplicate files, but people have told us that they’d like to see where these files are located on the phone before they get deleted. So now when Files Go suggests duplicate files for removal, you can long press on the thumbnail, tap the “i” icon and see the location of the file.
    • Remove backed up photos and videos: Files Go now works seamlessly with Google Photos. Once your photos and videos are safely backed up in Google Photos, Files Go can detect that and prompt you to delete those files so you free up more space.

    The three new features are rolling out to the app right now, downloadable on Google Play.

    Google Play Link

    // Google

  • Instagram Might Actually be Fixing Your Feed

    Instagram Might Actually be Fixing Your Feed

    Instagram announced major changes for your feed this morning, changes that could rock the very foundations our society is built upon.

    In June, 2016, Instagram announced that it would move away from a feed in chronological order, instead, showing pictures it thinks you’ll be more interested in near the top. That is whether they’re old or not. Today, Instagram says this is changing, meaning we could be seeing a chronological feed again!

    This is such major news, I’ll let Instagram say it themselves.

    Based on your feedback, we’re also making changes to ensure that newer posts are more likely to appear first in feed. With these changes, your feed will feel more fresh, and you won’t miss the moments you care about. So if your best friend shares a selfie from her vacation in Australia, it will be waiting for you when you wake up.

    Even more, Instagram also states it is adding a “New Posts” button, which allows you to jump straight to the top of your feed, instead of Instagram automatically refreshing your feed and sending you to the top upon startup. Seriously, another super annoying thing getting fixed? This might be the best Thursday ever!

    Prepare yourself, Instagram fans, these changes are rolling out now.

    // Instagram