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.

  • FuboTV Picks Up 4.0 Update With Complete Redesign, New Startover Feature

    FuboTV Picks Up 4.0 Update With Complete Redesign, New Startover Feature

    FuboTV, which is the best streaming TV service for soccer fans, has always had trash apps. I know that sounds harsh, but the fuboTV Android TV app currently sits with a rating of 1.5 stars, while the regular Android app sits hardly higher at 3.3 stars. These are bad apps. With that said, fuboTV announced a major update to v4.0 today for the regular Android app! This could be the start of something great.

    The app sports a “complete design overhaul and enhanced user interface,” as well as improved content discovery, a better program guide, and a new central location for managing streams or DVR recordings, called My Fubo.

    Additionally, across the platform, fuboTV is introducing a new feature called “Startover.” With Startover, users who tune-in slightly late to a live game or TV show can jump to the very beginning to start playing catch-up. This is only available on select channels to start, with more on the way.

    Since this appears to be an update for the mobile Android app only, we’ll cross fingers that the Android TV app gets updated similarly before long.

    You can sign-up for fuboTV right here.

    Google Play Link

  • PUBG Mobile Soft Launches in Canada for Android, No Word Yet on US Release (Updated)

    PUBG Mobile Soft Launches in Canada for Android, No Word Yet on US Release (Updated)

    UPDATE 3/19: PUBG is now live for all Android users in the US!

    PUBG, short for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, is one of if not the biggest battle royale game in the world right now. Yes, I know, Fortnite is also popular, but I’m not here to discuss Steam rankings or anything of the sort.

    Earlier this month, Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite, announced a mobile version for its insanely popular Battle Royale game mode. Well, PUBG has now done the same, providing a soft launch of PUBG Mobile in Canada published by Tencent Games.

    And yes, before you have to ask, this is an officially licensed port of the PC version running Unreal Engine 4. It should be pretty dope.

    In this game, you will drop onto an island with 99 other players, searching for loot and guns, then eliminating all of your opponents. Should you be the last to survive not just enemy players, but an always decreasing map size, you win.

    If you follow the link below and you’re in the US, expect to see none of your devices compatible to download. As soon as we hear about US availability, we’ll let you know.

    Google Play Link

    // Touch Arcade

  • Swiftkey 7.0 Brings New Toolbar, Editable Stickers

    Swiftkey 7.0 Brings New Toolbar, Editable Stickers

    Swiftkey, the second most popular keyboard on Android behind Google’s Gboard, received a big update today. In fact, Swiftkey is calling this the biggest update since they were bought by Microsoft. That’s a weird way to announce an update, but let’s move on.

    swiftkey update stickers toolbar

    The update includes a new Toolbar, which is an expandable menu that gives you quick access to the features you use the most. You’ll access it with a “+” button on the left side of the prediction bar.

    In addition to the Toolbar, Swiftkey has added a bunch of stickers, as well as a way to edit them to your liking. Stickers are like emoji, only often animated and a bit bigger and more colorful. Android Messages has these for a long time, but it makes sense for others to get in on this action – we love colorful, shareable things, right?

    Finally, in the US, users will be able to share location and calendars within conversations.

    The update arrives as Swiftkey 7.0 and you can download it right away.

    Google Play Link

    // Microsoft

  • ‘Wheelchair Accessible’ Routes Incorporated Into Google Maps

    ‘Wheelchair Accessible’ Routes Incorporated Into Google Maps

    Navigating city centers, as well as bus and train stations can sometimes be complicated for those in a wheelchair or with other mobility needs. To help those, Google Maps now offers a selectable Wheelchair Accessible route option, hopefully leading to easier trips around town for those who need it.

    To access this function, type your desired destination into Google Maps, tap Directions, then select the public transportation icon. Once there, tap Options and under the Routes section, you will find “wheelchair accessible” as a new route type. When you select this option, Google Maps will show you a list of possible routes that take mobility needs into consideration.

    According to Google, this feature is rolling out in major metropolitan transit centers around the world, starting with London, New York, Tokyo, Mexico City, Boston, and Sydney. As Google continues to work with transportation agencies around the world, this list will continue to grow.

    Google Play Link

    // Google

  • Google Opens Up the Maps API to Game Developers

    Google Opens Up the Maps API to Game Developers

    We may soon see an explosion of real-world based games using augmented reality, thanks to the opening up of the Google Maps API to game developers.

    With this, developers will be able to create new worlds on top of our existing one, using all of the data found inside of Google Maps. For example, let’s say you wanted to create a zombie game using your own neighborhood. Google has gone ahead and integrated the Google Maps data into the Unity game engine, meaning developers only need to texturize and stylize the map to fit their needs, then of course, make the game itself.

    Here’s how Google puts it.

    Game studios can easily reimagine our world as a medieval fantasy, a bubble gum candy land, or a zombie-infested post-apocalyptic city. With Google Maps’ real-time updates and rich location data, developers can find the best places for playing games, no matter where their players are.

    In the end, I believe Google and a few game studios envision a worldwide game that can be played by anyone and anywhere, similar to what we saw with Pokemon GO. There is probably a long ways to go before we ever see that, but this is the first step.

    // Google Maps

  • Oh, Dark Mode for YouTube Android App is Coming Soon

    Oh, Dark Mode for YouTube Android App is Coming Soon

    YouTube recently rolled out a Dark Mode to its website, and frankly, it’s hot. All Dark Modes are hot. According to The Verge, a Dark Mode will now also come to the YouTube app for both iOS and Android.

    With the Dark Mode, essentially all of the White you see in the UI will be turned Black, making for a much darker browsing and viewing experience.

    The iOS version is apparently rolling out today, with the Android version “coming soon.” Not the first time we’ve heard that phrase as Android users, but that’s life.

    Let us know if you see Dark Mode hit your YouTube app at some point!

    // The Verge

  • Googler: We’re in the Process of Making Allo Usable on Independent Devices

    Googler: We’re in the Process of Making Allo Usable on Independent Devices

    For people like myself, Allo is difficult to use. While I appreciate the mobile app experience, things fall apart when it comes to using the web client and app simultaneously, then switching phones every now and then.

    As of right now, using Allo on the web means opening the Allo app on your phone, then scanning a QR code to gain access to your account. It’s not just a simple login system, since Allo specifically requires a mobile number for usage. Don’t ask me why Google decided on this, but that’s what we have.

    However, good news may be on the horizon. According to Justin Uberti on Twitter, a lead engineer at Google working on the Duo and Allo services, “We are in the process of migrating the backend system to support completely independent devices.”

    Independent devices, you say? If this change occurs, it means users should be able to use the Allo service independently from one another, meaning no more QR code scanning to gain access via the web client. This would definitely be a step in the right direction, but could take some time considering we’re talking about the migration of the entire backend system. There’s no way to know what that all entails for Allo, but I assume it’s complicated.

    So, yeah. Allo could soon be more useful for people like me and this makes me happy!

  • Deal: Super Mario Run’s Full Game In-App Purchase Down 50% to $4.99

    Deal: Super Mario Run’s Full Game In-App Purchase Down 50% to $4.99

    The in-app purchase (IAP) inside of Super Mario Run that unlocks the full game is typically priced at $9.99. Today, though, the price is set to $4.99, making it 50% off. If you’ve been waiting for this day to come, now would be a good time to pick this title up.

    Super Mario Run never seemed to catch on in popularity for Android as it did for iOS. To me, this is thanks to the exclusivity period iOS had for quite a while, so by the time it came to Android, people weren’t as excited for it. Not only that, but $10 is quite a bit to spend on a mobile game, even if it’s Mario related.

    If you’re ready to run, jump, and scream “Woohoo,” follow the link below.

    Google Play Link