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.

  • Out There Chronicles Ep. 1 Free for First Time to Tease Sequel’s Launch on January 25

    Out There Chronicles Ep. 1 Free for First Time to Tease Sequel’s Launch on January 25

    The Out There Chronicles, an interactive graphic novel game based on the Out There science fiction universe, is now free for a limited time to hype up the sequel’s launch on January 25.

    To give you a bit of the story, without spoiling too much, the character you play awakes after a million year-long sleep in a world called America. However, these Americans are descendants of those who fled the original Earth, and things are very different in this new America. As you proceed through the story, your choices will directly impact how others act around you as well as  outcomes in the adventure.

    If you played the original Out There game, a true classic for Android, then you have to check out Out There Chronicles. It’s free, so, just do it.

    Once the sequel launches, we’ll post it up.

    Google Play Link

  • Chrome 64 for Android Helps Stop Sh*tty Ads That Open New Windows

    Chrome 64 for Android Helps Stop Sh*tty Ads That Open New Windows

    Googled push out an update to both Chrome and Chrome Beta on Android last night, an update that includes an ad blocker of sorts. With this latest version of Chrome for Android, Google will do its best to “prevent sites with abusive ad experiences from opening new windows or tabs without your permission.” That sounds pretty great.

    Google says to expect stability and performance improvements too, so there’s that.

    Chrome stable is getting an update to v64.0.3282.116 and Chrome Beta will apparently receive the same.

    Google Play Links: Chrome | Chrome Beta

    // Chrome Releases [2]

  • Plex VR for Daydream Makes Your Media Library Consumable in Virtual Reality

    Plex VR for Daydream Makes Your Media Library Consumable in Virtual Reality

    Plex users, ready your VR headsets. The company launched Plex VR this morning, a standalone Android application made specifically for Google’s Daydream VR platform.

    With the app, you’ll be able to watch all of your Plex content in virtual reality, whether it be movies you have stored, television shows, or anything else. To help set the mood, Plex has created various scenes you can watch your videos in. To start, there is a luxury studio apartment, complete with powered shades whenever a show is started. There’s also a drive-in theater scene complete with classic car and working horn you can honk when clicking on it, as well as a Void scene that has you floating in space among the stars.

    While having a VR app to watch all of your Plex content is already pretty special, there’s another element that brings this app to new heights and helps separate it from anything else available. For those of you with a Plex Pass, you’ll be able to watch things with your Plex-using friends/partners inside of the same scene. Essentially, you’ll be given your own VR screening room, with up to 4 people able to watch shows together, as well as interact with the scenes. Each user inside the room will have a customizable avatar, with the Daydream system tracking head movements so everyone can see what people are looking at. I caught a demo of this from the Plex team earlier this week and it looks quite fun.

    Plex VR is a standalone application, downloadable right now from Google Play. It’s free to all Plex users, though, you will need a Plex Pass to watch content with your friends. However, Plex is offering this feature free of charge for the first week, so go have some fun.

    And make sure to honk the car’s horn when you’re sitting behind the wheel at the drive-in theater.

    Plex VR: Website Link | Google Play Link

    ;

    // Plex

  • Chrome Adding HDR Support, Starts Off With Windows 10 Devices

    Chrome Adding HDR Support, Starts Off With Windows 10 Devices

    We’ve been hearing about Google adding HDR support for Chrome for Android since last year, and things are apparently starting to come together. In a post to Google’s blog, the company announced Chrome will now support HDR video on Windows 10 devices, as well as other platforms in the future, hopefully including Android as has been hinted.

    With HDR support, whether it be on desktop or mobile, users should see more vibrant colors, darker blacks, and brighter whites. This, of course, is a good thing.

    Not only should users be excited about HDR support, but Google also mentions VR for the web, which would be virtual reality experiences powered solely by the web. Google spoke about this last year, too, but clarifies that we will be seeing much more of it in 2018.

    If you are on a Windows 10 device today and using Chrome, congratulations, you now have HDR support (so go buy a new 4K + HDR monitor!).

    // Google

  • Instagram Adds GIF Stickers for Stories, Teases Ability to Change Photo Sizes

    Instagram Adds GIF Stickers for Stories, Teases Ability to Change Photo Sizes

    For the people who can’t post enough Stories to Instagram, the app is adding GIF stickers for usage on your photos and videos that go directly into Stories.

    When selecting a photo or video to add to a Story, you’ll see many GIF stickers to choose from, like funny faces, a dog with sunglasses, a floating cheeseburger, plus plenty more.

    Not only did Instagram introduce GIF stickers, but they also teased the soon-to-be-released ability to change the size of photos inside of Stories. For example, if you have a photo that was taken in landscape, the upload of the photo should no longer cut off the sides, unless you want it to. It’s like when Instagram added this ability to its main feed, bringing more variation in the images you see (not just 1×1 squares).

    GIF stickers are rolling out now, and once Instagram makes the photo sizing option available, we’ll let you know.

    // Instagram

  • Google Play Audiobooks Section Now Live!

    Google Play Audiobooks Section Now Live!

    Over the weekend, hints of an Audiobooks section launching on Google Play surfaced, leading us to believe that Google would announce details at some point early this week. As it turns out, today is the day – Google Play Audiobooks are now official.

    With Audiobooks from Google Play, you can buy single audiobooks (no subscription required), add them to your Family Library, tell Google Assistant on your phone or Google Home to read your books (including setting timers), Cast them to supported devices, and pick-up where you left off from one device to another. Android Auto support is coming soon.

    Google is rolling out Audiobooks to 45 countries starting today and in nine languages on Android, iOS, and the web.

    If interested in audiobooks, Google will knock 50% off your first purchase. Just hit up that Google Play link below and look for the “50% off Your First Audiobook” banner.

    // Google Play | Google

  • YouTube TV Has Over 300,000 Subscribers a Year After Launch

    YouTube TV Has Over 300,000 Subscribers a Year After Launch

    According to a source of CNBC, YouTube TV is off to an impressive start. Launched last year in February, the service is reported to have over 300,000 subscribers, though, Google has not made these figures public and would not provide a comment on the report.

    Providing a bit of context for that number, CNBC also reports that Hulu’s live TV option, launched last year in beta, has around 450,000 subscribers.

    Considering Google and YouTube don’t appear to be making the largest effort in marketing the service, and it hasn’t even been available to all Americans this entire year (we’re always writing up the latest markets to gain support for the service), 300,000 subscribers is nothing to scoff at. As people likely become more comfortable with cutting the cord and ditching their regular cable/satellite provider, these numbers should continue to trend up.

    While I have no idea how much it costs Google to operate YouTube TV, with the licensing, tech, and all of that, the $35/month subscription price multiplied by 300,000 subscribers comes out to $10.5 million a month for Google. That doesn’t seem like a lot of money (when compared to the money Comcast likely brings in a month from cable subscriptions), but at least YouTube isn’t bankrolling a ton of original content like Netflix and Amazon. As a happy customer myself, my fingers are crossed for many more years of YouTube TV.

    Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Are you loving it?

    // CNBC

  • Alexa App Update to Bring Actual Alexa Voice Commands

    Alexa App Update to Bring Actual Alexa Voice Commands

    According to Android Police, an incoming update for the official Alexa app on Android will soon bring a feature that you may have thought should’ve been there for quite some time. That’s right, actual Alexa voice interactions! I know, truly innovative.

    Until this update, which isn’t even live for everyone yet, the Alexa app purely managed Alexa on your various Echo devices. However, with this addition, you’ll be able to access skills for Alexa, control music playback, plus more.

    Sadly, it appears there will be no hotword detection while outside of the app, though, if you’re in the app the hotword (“Alexa”) will apparently be supported. Sweet.

    Keep your eye on Google Play for the update and let us know if you get it.

    Google Play Link

    // Android Police