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.

  • Fortnite Battle Royale is Coming to iOS and Android!

    Fortnite Battle Royale is Coming to iOS and Android!

    Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

    Just announced by Epic Games, Fortnite Battle Royale is coming to mobile! If you’re unaware, Battle Royale is a game mode for the Fortnite title that has solo players going up against 99 other players on an island littered with guns, traps, and materials to build forts. While you’re busy trying to eliminate other players, you must also watch out for a deadly storm that makes its way onto the island. If you’re trapped in the storm for too long, you’re eliminated. I could go on and on about Battle Royale because I love it so much, but anyway, back to this epic announcement.

    Unfortunately, the first mobile launch will be for iOS devices, but Android device support will come, “in the next few months.”

    Here’s the full announcement from Epic Games.

    Hey Fortnite Community,

    Fortnite Battle Royale is coming to mobile devices! On phones and tablets, Fortnite is the same 100-player game you know from PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Mac. Same gameplay, same map, same content, same weekly updates. Starting Monday, you can sign-up for the Invite Event on iOS. Support for Android will be coming in the next few months.

    In partnership with our friends at Sony, Fortnite Battle Royale will support Cross Play and Cross Progression between PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS and eventually Android. This means players across devices can squad up with friends and play together.

    We believe this is the future of games. The same game on all platforms. Console quality graphics and action. Play when you want, where you want.

    According to Epic, anyone with an iOS device can sign up for an invite starting March 12 through the Fortnite website. Following that, email invites will begin rolling out. If you’re lucky enough to get an invite, you will also be given codes for friends, allowing you and your squad to get down on some Battle Royale action.

    As for required mobile devices, Epic states you’ll need iOS 11 on at least an iPhone 6S/SE, iPad Mini 4, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad 2017 devices.

    I know, there’s nothing about Android yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as we hear something.

    // Epic Games

  • Download: Install the New Markup App From Android P!

    Download: Install the New Markup App From Android P!

    Google has included a new feature/app called Markup inside of Android P that allows anyone who snaps a screenshot to quickly edit it with drawing and cropping. Well, the Markup app has been stripped out of Android P and is now downloadable on a number of devices for sideloading and usage.

    Once you install the APK (linked below), which should work on basically any device running Oreo and below, simply tap on the “Share” option in the notification pulldown after you’ve taken the screenshot. From the assortment of sharing options, open the Markup app you have installed. Once the screenshot is opened, you can draw to your heart’s content and also crop your screenies.

    After you save your edits, you may notice a new folder inside of your Gallery app. On my Pixel 2 XL, the screenshots are saved to a new folder called Pictures inside of Google Photos. This is separate from my usual Camera album, so you should have everything separate and neatly organized.

    For a look at other cool things inside of Android P, check out our updating list.

    Download Link

    // XDA

  • Gmail for Android Will Now Support ‘Inbox Types’

    Gmail for Android Will Now Support ‘Inbox Types’

    On the web version of Gmail, users can specifically choose how they want their inbox to act. For example, you can opt for seeing unread messages first or even starred messages, but the Gmail app for Android has never had this ability.

    That’s changing now.

    Thanks to an update that should be rolling out starting today, the Gmail for Android app will support Inbox types. With this, instead of the two options we have (Default and Priority), we’ll have five options, just like on the web. There is the default inbox, Important first, Unread first, Starred first, and Priority Inbox.

    Old vs. New

     

    Google states that it could take up to 15 days to see this hit your device, so be on the lookout.

    // Google

  • Android P Apparently Blocks Substratum Theme Engine, People Aren’t Pleased

    Android P Apparently Blocks Substratum Theme Engine, People Aren’t Pleased

    Android users are typically of the mindset that the ability to tweak the look of the UI on their device is a very good thing. Whether that’s with official software like the ones found on LG and Samsung devices or alternative, more 3rd-party oriented means, themeing has been a part of Android since the very beginning.

    According to XDA, Android P, at least Developer Preview 1, breaks the ability to install custom overlays, which means Substratum can no longer work.

    For those who have retired from the theme game, Substratum utilizes Sony’s Overlay Manager Service (OMS) that was introduced in Android 8.0. With the Substratum theme engine app installed plus a necessary add-on app straight from Google Play, users could apply downloadable themes to nearly their entire phone all without the need for root access. It was quite the breakthrough, but of course, seemingly never legitimized or supported by Google and the Android team.

    Now, Android P breaks this service and the folks who use it are not pleased. Rightfully so, though.

    According to XDA, the team behind this software will start an online petition for Google to recognize the issue and correct it, but that seems like a long shot. Much of this issue could be fixed if Google would hurry up and provide a Dark Theme, but even after all these years, we’re still waiting.

    C’mon, Google.

    // XDA

  • Ookla’s Speedtest Gets Big 4.0 Update With Fresh New UI, New Features

    Ookla’s Speedtest Gets Big 4.0 Update With Fresh New UI, New Features

    While we were busy doing that whole Android P thing yesterday, I hadn’t even noticed that Ookla’s Speedtest app received an update that brought with it a refreshed UI, as well as some new features.

    The update bumps up the popular speed test app to v4.0 and includes not only that new look (see above), but it now measures packet loss and jitter, helps you easily find new servers, and lets you adjust between Mbps or MB/s, as well as the scale, since speeds just keep climbing.

    The update is live already, so go grab it.

    WHAT’S NEW

    – All-new design and improved user experience
    – Speedtest now measures packet loss & jitter
    – Easier server selection with built-in search
    – Adjust your Speedtest gauge to use Mbps or MB/s, or increase the scale for higher speed connections

    Google Play Link

  • Download: Install the New Pixel Launcher From Android P!

    Download: Install the New Pixel Launcher From Android P!

    We’re still taking in as much of the Android P Developer Preview 1 as we can, so that we can share all of the new bits of information from it. Before we get to a big overview video and after you’ve read through the list of changes that Google shared, we thought we’d give you a bonus to get started yourself. Here is the new Android P Pixel Launcher!

    Both Tim and I installed this without an issue on our Pixel 2 XL units running Android 8.1. I also was able to install it on an Essential Phone running their 8.1 beta. Those are all the devices I have in front of me at the moment, so I can’t test on anything lower than that, unfortunately.

    This is Pixel Launcher v9-4623511 for those curious.

    Feel free to give it a shot. Let us know if your device is able to run it or not in the comments and we’ll update this post with notes.

    Download Link

    The big change here is that bottom area. It’s now more of a panel that sits on top of the home screen that you swipe up. The Google Search bar also has a voice icon now too.

    android p pixel launcher

  • Google Duo Just Got a Hell of a Lot More Fun With Video Messages

    Google Duo Just Got a Hell of a Lot More Fun With Video Messages

    Google is updating Duo this week to add in video messaging and instantly make the app more fun and useful. Going forward, if you use Duo to place a video call to someone, you can leave them a video message should they not answer or if you don’t actually want to talk to them live.

    To access video messages, just call someone over duo and as it’s ringing, look for the new “Leave video message” button above the end-call button. If you tap that, you’ll be able to record up to 30 seconds worth of video to someone. On the other end, they can view those video messages, save them for later, or call you right back. After you’ve watched one, they’ll automatically disappear, though, so keep that in mind.

    As for other details about Duo video messages, be aware that if you call someone and they don’t answer within 60 seconds, Duo will start recording a message automatically. Additionally, if you do save your video messages for later, they’ll back up to your Google Drive account, as well as to your phone. More details on that here.

    This new update begins rolling out right away, so grab it below.

    Google Play Link

    // Google

  • Upcoming Jurassic World Alive Game Looks Like a Pokemon GO Clone

    Upcoming Jurassic World Alive Game Looks Like a Pokemon GO Clone

    Pre-registration on Google Play is now up for Jurassic World Alive, a game that bears a striking resemblance to Pokemon GO. Not that that’s a bad thing, just something worth pointing out.

    You see, Jurassic World Alive will have you walking around your neighborhood, utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology to spot dinosaurs, then somehow capturing DNA from these once extinct animals for your collection. Once you have the DNA, you’ll begin creating hybrids inside of your home lab (on your phone, of course), then taking these genetic hybrids and assembling a “Strike Team” to battle other Strike Teams in a PvP arena.

    So you’re getting dinosaurs, genetically modifying them to be better killers, then battling them against other genetically modified dinosaurs? My Lord, humans could not be more deranged.

    In my mind, the big draw to this game will be seeing dinosaurs in augmented reality. I’ll definitely be interested myself in taking a look at a T-Rex through the lens of my smartphone.

    Go pre-register if you feel inclined, then we’ll let you know when it’s available for download.

    Play Link