Android News
News: 8 Best Local & Streaming Music Players for Android
Remember portable MP3 players like the classic iPod? Seems like forever ago that they were all the rage, and I don't think I've seen a real one in the wild for a good 5 years now. These devices died out so quickly as a direct result of the onset of smartphones, which allow us to do everything that an MP3 player could do and then some.
News: Here's Everything You Should Know About Samsung Pay
Mobile payment systems have been around for almost 5 years now, starting with Google Wallet. But when Apple got into the game last year with their new Apple Pay service, things really started to take off. Around this time, Samsung responded by acquiring an up-and-coming mobile payments company that owned the rights to an incredibly innovative technology called Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST).
News: How to Get Tons of Paid Android Apps for Free
Whether it's delivery drones or getting the U.S. Postal Service to ship packages on Sundays, Amazon continues to remain innovative and ahead of the game, as further evidenced with their mobile app, Amazon Underground.
Drinking Games: Android Edition
If you ever need to spice up a party, drinking games can really get things started quickly. The objectives are generally to complete tasks or challenges, but it's really all a thinly-veiled excuse for increasing everyone's alcohol intake in a hurry while testing levels of inebriation.
News: 34 Beautiful Material Design Apps to Replace Your Old, Ugly Ones
I have a personal rule when it comes to an app's interface: If it doesn't follow Android's design guidelines, it was probably written with Apple's iOS in mind first and foremost.
News: Microsoft Beat Google to the Punch with a "Now on Tap" Clone for Android
One of the biggest new features in the soon-to-be-released Android 6.0 Marshmallow is something Google is calling "Now on Tap." Essentially, this service will be able to scan the contents of any screen on your Android device, then after you long-press the home button, it will provide you with relevant information about anything—from movie times to directions or dinner reservations.
News: Making an Audiobook Player for a Senior
When eyesight deteriorates, either due to illness or advanced age, many people turn to audiobooks as an alternative to reading. With today's technology there is an abundance of services and devices one can use.
News: Best Apps for Hiding Android's Soft Keys to Reclaim Precious Screen Real Estate
If your Android device wasn't manufactured by Samsung, chances are it uses on-screen navigation buttons. Colloquially referred to as "Soft keys," these have become commonplace due to their flexibility, as well as the fact that manufacturers don't have to include extra hardware buttons with a propensity to fail.
News: 30 Relatively Unknown Google Now Voice Commands & Easter Eggs
As Android's de facto virtual assistant, Google Now lets us speak directly to our phones in plain English to answer our questions and perform many basic tasks. With the app open, just say "Okay Google," then wait for the beep, and ask almost any question.
News: The 5 Best Free File Managers for Android
One of Android's biggest strengths, when compared to other mobile operating systems is its open file structure. Google introduced a built-in file manager with Marshmallow that provides basic file management, but like with most apps on Android, there are alternatives. Third-party file managers are readily available, providing deeper access and control of all your files.
News: The 5 Most Useful File-Sharing Apps for Android
Heads up! We've done a new, more thorough review of the best Android file-sharing apps. You can check that out here. Our old file-sharing app roundup can still be viewed below for posterity.
Best Android Antivirus: Avast vs. AVG vs. Kaspersky vs. McAfee
When it comes to antivirus software, you don't want some fly-by-night developer having access to the sensitive data that these apps can scan. Luckily, most of the longest-tenured antivirus companies from the realm of desktop computers offer complete security suites for Android these days.
News: 10 Free Multiplayer Games for Android That Can Be Played Offline
Most mobile games have moved to an online-only format, meaning you need to be connected to the Internet in order to get any kind of multiplayer action going. This is great when you're at home on Wi-Fi, but when you're out and about, slow and inconsistent data speeds can cause serious lag. Or worse yet, you may be nearing your monthly data cap!
LG’s New G4 Flagship Phone: Everything You Need to Know
It's already that time of year again—LG has unveiled its latest high-end smartphone, dubbed the G4. In past iterations, LG released its flagship devices in the fall. But slowly over the course of the past 2 years, the release schedule has been bumped up to be more in line with HTC and Samsung's springtime releases, and further away from the sales-sucking iPhone event each fall.
News: If You Have a Galaxy S6 Edge, DO NOT USE This Feature
I picked up my Galaxy S6 Edge on release day and have loved it ever since. Did I spend an extra hundred bucks for the mostly-aesthetic Edge display? Yup! Did I have buyer's remorse about my frivolous spending? Not even a little.
Lollipop Update: What's New in Android 5.1
Google inconspicuously announced an Android update yesterday, and while it's not quite the overhaul that the initial Lollipop release was, version 5.1 brings plenty of bug fixes and new features.
News: Here's Your Official Look at the New HTC One M9
Today marked the official unveiling of the HTC One M9 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The newest HTC flagship will be released by the middle of March globally, and come in gold, gunmetal, pink, and silver. And if you were wondering, yes all of the leaks were pretty much spot on.
News: GravityBox Gets Lollipop Update; Most Features Already Working
The king of all Xposed modules is alive and kicking on Android Lollipop. GravityBox received an update over the weekend that will bring its bevy of UI tweaks to folks who have installed the framework on their Android 5.0+ devices.
News: Could This Be the New Samsung Galaxy S6?
With Mobile World Congress right around the corner, we're all left to patiently await the unveiling of two Android flagship smartphones—HTC's One M9 and Samsung's Galaxy S6.
News: Leaked Videos Show Off the HTC One M9
While the official unveiling will happen at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 1st, several images and promotional videos for the HTC One M9 have leaked online.
News: Google Now Gets Voice Toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, & Flashlight
The biggest pet peeve of many Google Now users has always been the fact that you can't toggle basic system functions with voice commands. In fact, this was such an annoyance that folks even went so far as to apply root mods to get the functionality.
News: The Complete List of Lollipop-Compatible Xposed Modules
Now that the Xposed Framework has finally been updated for Android Lollipop, we're starting to notice that some modules function properly, while others are a bit buggy or even worse—don't work at all. Most of this is a result of changes to elements of the Android system that KitKat modules relied upon, and such modules will need to be updated for 5.0 compatibility.
News: Xposed Framework Coming Soon for Lollipop
The main developer behind the Xposed Framework just teased Android 5.0 compatibility for his popular mod. Rovo89 posted a screenshot on XDA that shows the framework running on a Lollipop-powered Nexus 5. Android Lollipop's switch from Dalvik runtime to Android runtime—better known as ART—made Xposed compatibility a problem for the OS. But alas, our favorite modding platform is just about ready for primetime.
High There: A Dating App for Weed Smokers (Because Potheads Need Love, Too)
Dating can sometimes be a cruel and embarrassing game. You could be having a great time with someone, only for the situation to turn awkward and uncomfortable when a little bit of information is released, especially when that information is your use of medicinal or recreational marijuana.
News: Google Now Adds Cards for Lots of Third-Party Apps
Of the Google services that come bundled in Android devices, none is more useful than Google Now. By combining search with timely cards that hope to guess your next move before you even make it, Google Now is everything a virtual assistant should be.
Facebook Lite: A Smaller Version of the App with a Huge Upside
As one of the most frequently used and popular applications available, Facebook is now attempting to be a little more considerate for those Android users that don't have a bleeding-edge device or fast data connections.
News: Latest Google Maps Update Makes Sharing Directions a Cinch
As one of the most heavily utilized map applications out there, it's worth mentioning when Google Maps introduces changes big and small into its app. In the case of the most recent update, it's not so much of a change that they've made as much as it is an improvement.
CES 2015: Check Out the All New LG G Flex 2, the Gorgeous, Self-Healing Curved Phone
Korean electronics giant LG maintained a large presence at CES 2015. While their TVs and home appliances were heavily showcased, my interest was primarily on one device—the new LG G Flex 2 Android phone.
CES 2015: The W3D Gaming Phone Is Like an Android, Nintendo 3DS, & PS Vita Combined
The upcoming W3D gaming smartphone by Snail isn't like anything you've ever seen before. It's pretty much a cross between an Android phone, Nintendo 3DS, and PlayStation Vita. It runs on Android, has a 3D screen similar to the 3DS, and gamepad controls like the Vita, making it one hell of a portable gaming device (that's also a phone).
CES 2015: The ZTE ZMAX May Be the Best Android Phone You Can Get for Under $200
Sometimes specs aren't everything, especially if you prefer value over the bleeding-edge. Enter the ZTE ZMAX, an Android phone that you can get right now for less than $200—cheaper than even the Nexus 5 or OnePlus One. If you're looking for a cheap high-end phone, it's hard to go wrong with one that sports a 5.7-inch display, expandable storage, and a massive 3400mAh battery that'll easily get you through a full day of use.
News: HTC's Gallery App Updated with New Tagging & Editing Modes (APK Inside)
With most of HTC's staff working on getting Sense updated to Android Lollipop, their piecemeal approach to individual app updates now comes to their Gallery app. The new update is available for all HTC devices running KitKat, but if you have the HTC Service Pack installed, it will run on any Android device running 4.4 or above.
News: Hangouts for Android Updated with Material Design, Stickers, & More (APK Inside)
Google's original messaging service got a nice version bump today. Hangouts now sports stickers, video chat filters, an updated Material Design interface, and a few new features that should make the service a little more fun and easy to use.
News: YouTube Finally Receives Its Material Design Makeover (APK Inside)
The last of the major Google apps has finally received a much needed update to Android's new Material Design aesthetic, and it's a big one—YouTube. While the update will hit the Play Store and your device soon enough, you can download the APK right now, courtesy of our friends at Android Police, from this link.
News: Get $80 Worth of Android Apps for Free in the Amazon Appstore
Amazon is currently offering over $80 in free Android apps in the Amazon Appstore, but only for Friday and Saturday, so make sure to grab them quick before they all go back to normal price. Highlights include the Fleksy Keyboard (normally $3.99), Oxford Dictionary of English with Audio (normally $24.99), and EasyTether (normally $9.99).
News: Face Unlock May Be Faster on Lollipop, But It's Still Not Secure
The original implementation of Android's face unlock feature was a mess. It took too long to unlock (when it worked), brought up a huge interface that overpowered the lock screen, and maybe most egregiously, was able to be "hacked" by someone holding up a picture of your mug.
News: 11 Hidden Lollipop Features for Your Nexus 5
When Android 5.0 rolls out to the Nexus 5, several changes and new features will come along with it. The over-the-air update is already rolling out, and if you don't want to wait, you can get it right now.
News: Amazon Echo Is Google for Your Living Room
You have to give Amazon credit where it's due. Aside from being a retail powerhouse, they're not averse to dipping their feet in new and sometimes strange areas. Take Fresh, the first major effort at bringing your local goods directly to you in same-day fashion. Or Amazon Dash, which aimed to make adding items to your cart a breeze by allowing for scanning goods or speaking them into a small, hand-held device. Along these lines, the company has now introduced an invite-only product, the Amazo...
News: Google Calendar Gets a Huge Makeover & New Features (APK Inside)
It's been a long time coming, but Google's Calendar app for Android has finally received a visual makeover. In the spirit of Android Lollipop, Google's new Material Design permeates throughout the update.
News: This Is What Android Lollipop Will Look Like on Samsung Galaxy Devices
The guys over at SamMobile were lucky enough to get their hands on an early preview build of Android 5.0 Lollipop on the Samsung Galaxy S5, as you can see in their video below. The operating system has definitely not reached its final form yet, but the progress is very clear.
News: Android Lollipop—All the New Features You Need to Know About
We've already seen the visual changes that Android 5.0 Lollipop has brought to the table, but Google spent just as much time altering things under the hood. Awesome new functionality and hardware capabilities have been added left and right, and with the OS already out now, it's high time we had a look at some of these tweaks.