APK BRO™ - Download APK Android Apps: 04/23/15

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Twitter Intros ‘Highlights’ for Android, Delivers the Best Tweets Via Push Notification

Today, Twitter introduced a new feature for Android users called Highlights. With this enabled, users will be given a deep, yet brief look into the big things happening on Twitter. For example, if there is a big sporting event going on that everyone seems to be talking about, or a really cool TV show going on, Twitter will recognize this and then recommend the conversations to you via a simple push notification.

So, what exactly will be in these Highlights, you may ask? Well, I shall let Twitter do the explaining for you.

To create your Highlights, we look at things like the accounts and conversations that are popular among people you follow, Tweets from people you’re closely tied to, topics and events that are trending in your area or within your network, and people that are popular or trending among people you follow.

To enable this new feature, you will of course need a Twitter account and be following a few people to help Twitter get a sense for what things interest you. In the settings menu on the stock Android application (this is not available for 3rd-party app users), there is a new settings for Highlights. Simply turn it on and let Twitter do the rest.

If Highlights sounds like no fun, just don’t enable it in the settings menu.

Sound cool?

Introducing Highlights. Get the best of Twitter every day, sent to your Android device: https://t.co/9ZUWgX9lcC http://ift.tt/1HrHqbN

— Twitter (@twitter) April 23, 2015

Via: Twitter

Twitter Intros ‘Highlights’ for Android, Delivers the Best Tweets Via Push Notification is a post from: Droid Life

Google+ is Testing a New “Collections” Feature That Seems to be Part Pinterest, Part Blogging

A new feature called Collections is coming soon to Google+, according to sources of ours. While we have limited information about Collections at this time, from what we understand, the feature wants users to create “collections” of their interests, which makes it sound a lot like Pinterest meets a blogging platform.

In Collections, which should be available on mobile and the web when it launches, users can create collections of photos, links, and videos, or follow other users’ collections. Google suggests to early users of Collections that these are themed channels of content that could focus on anything from Salsa in San Diego to Paragliding.

As you can see from the image above, you will be able to discover new Collections through your G+ circles or quickly create your own from just about anything that interests you. A shortcut to Collections will also likely live in the Google+ drop-down menu, where you currently find links to your Photos, Communities, Events, Stream, etc.

It’s tough to say when Collections will rollout out to everyone, as it seems to be in a private beta of sorts for now. Should we learn more, we’ll pass that info along.

Google+ is Testing a New “Collections” Feature That Seems to be Part Pinterest, Part Blogging is a post from: Droid Life

LG Posts More Teasers for G4, Highlight 16MP Camera and QHD Display

The hype continues to build for the G4 from LG, and the company seems more than happy to oblige potential customers with more teaser videos of the smartphone to come.

In the last video posted to LG’s YouTube channel, the manufacturer showed off the quality and craftsmanship that goes into the leather-backed models of the G4. In the latest two 15-second videos, LG quickly shows off how impressive their new 5.5″ QHD LCD panels should be with deeply saturated colors, as well as the attention to detail that was paid to the rear-facing 16MP camera.

Unlike other companies, who would rather save all of the hype for the grand reveal, LG has taken a much different approach with the G4. We know what it looks like, and basically everything that it will feature. The only next thing to do is get one into our hands.

Still pumped for the G4? We are less than a week away from the reveal.

Display

Camera

Cheers Ayan!

LG Posts More Teasers for G4, Highlight 16MP Camera and QHD Display is a post from: Droid Life

Tip: Send Directions to Your Phone by Typing “Send Directions” Into Google

How many times over the years have you found yourself looking up directions to a restaurant or meeting location on your computer just before you run out the door and wishing you could quickly get those directions to your phone? Even if only a couple of times, you will love this new trick from Google, which allows you to quickly send directions from Google directly to your smartphone or tablet.

All you have to do is go to Google.com, type in “send directions,” and hit “enter.” Google will then include a Maps box in the search results with your device’s current location and another input box waiting for your destination. Type in the destination, select it, choose the device you would like to receive the directions to, and click “Send directions to my phone.”

If done correctly, your phone should open Google Maps within a few seconds and pull up the location you wish to travel to. From there, you can tap the navigation button and be on your way.

Pretty easy, right?

(Or you could just open Maps on your phone and say, “Navigate to…”)

Via: +Google

Tip: Send Directions to Your Phone by Typing “Send Directions” Into Google is a post from: Droid Life

Giveaway: Enter to Win a Huawei Watch From the DL Deals Store

Through a giveaway currently taking place on the DL Deals Store, you have an opportunity to win the yet-to-be-released Huawei Watch. This smartwatch was shown off during this year’s MWC over in Barcelona, and from what we know so far, it’s a very luxurious looking timepiece.

Entering these giveaways is very easy. All you need to do is head on over to our deals page, sign up (takes less than 1 minute), then enter the contest. To gain more entries, you will need to share the giveaway through your social channels (Facebook, Twitter), but that is only if you need more of a chance to win.

This giveaway is scheduled to close in 27 days.

As you should know, the Huawei Watch is not yet available, and as of right now, we don’t know exactly when it will hit the market, or for how much. With that said, as soon the watch begins shipping to markets, you shall receive your prize.

Giveaway Link

Giveaway: Enter to Win a Huawei Watch From the DL Deals Store is a post from: Droid Life

Google’s Two New Project Fi Videos Help You Decide a Data Amount, Text and Call From Any Device

Look, the Nexus 5 2015 in all white!

Now that I have you attention with that placeholder device, let’s talk about a couple of new videos that Google added within the last 24 hours to its FAQ for Project Fi. The two videos focus on deciding how much data you should choose to start with on your Fi plan and how you can use your Fi number to call and text from almost any device, including tablets and computers.

If you are interesting in Project Fi, but are trying to decide how much data you need to pay for – because remember, Google only charges you for the exact data you use at $10 per 1GB – this handy little video walks through how you can check out your current usage. With Android’s built-in data usage monitor, you don’t even need to check in with your current carrier, for the most part, your phone can already give you that info. But, you probably already knew that, so let’s move on.

What about all this talk of using Hangouts to text and call people using a Project Fi number on other devices? It’s true, you can do both things without your Project Fi-activated Nexus 6 in hand. All you need to do is have Hangouts installed on your Project Fi phone and be signed into the Gmail account that’s associated with your Project Fi account to get started. You can then make calls with your Project Fi number from almost anywhere, including Gmail.

If you want to text, you just need to tell Hangouts to accept SMS and voicemail. Then, you can go to your tablet, for example, and send a text through the associated Gmail account.

More info will likely continue to pop-up over the coming weeks as the first people get service. We’ll continue to share!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our early guide on Project Fi.

Cheers Joshua!

Google’s Two New Project Fi Videos Help You Decide a Data Amount, Text and Call From Any Device is a post from: Droid Life

Swiftkey Introduces “Swiftkey Hub” for Quick Settings Changes, Adds Dashlane Support for Password Filling

Today, Swiftkey introduced what it is calling “Swiftkey Hub” through its beta channel, along with the early stages of testing of a collaboration with Dashlane to help provide you with easier password filling when needed. Both new features are a part of the latest beta, which can be grabbed through the official Swiftkey beta group.

With Swiftkey Hub, users get easier access to the keyboard’s best features and settings. The Hub lives as a hamburger menu in the top left corner of the keyboard, that when pressed, opens an overlay that gives you access to the Swiftkey Cloud, themes, and other settings, like keyboard resizing.

As for Dashlane, we are talking about the password manager that is slightly lesser known that LastPass, but more popular than 1Password. It’s one of the better password managers that also has Mac, Windows, and iOS companion apps. By integrating with Swiftkey, Dashlane is able to present your saved passwords to apps or forms “exactly when you need” them in a “safe, easy way.”

This new Dashlane integration is only available to beta testers who also have Dashlane installed.

Still using Swiftkey?

Via: Swiftkey

Swiftkey Introduces “Swiftkey Hub” for Quick Settings Changes, Adds Dashlane Support for Password Filling is a post from: Droid Life

Chrome Beta 43 for Android Gets Faster Checkouts With Help From Google Wallet

Chrome Beta for Android is receiving an update today to version 43.0.2357.38 that attempts to speed up your online shopping experience. It also squashes bugs and speeds up the app’s performance.

As for the shopping changes, Google is claiming that this new update will speed up checkouts by helping you “quickly and securely” complete checkout forms with data from Google Wallet. The update hasn’t gone live yet, at least as I type this, so we haven’t been able to test out the new process or even see how it works. Once that happens, we will try and update this post.

Play Link

Via: Chrome Releases

Chrome Beta 43 for Android Gets Faster Checkouts With Help From Google Wallet is a post from: Droid Life

Report: Yahoo Planning Google Now, Siri Competitor Codenamed ‘Index’

According to sources of Business Insider, Yahoo is hard at work, making a competitor to Google Now and Apple’s Siri. Reported to feature the ability to index a users’ entire email archive, then spit it back at you in a contextual and helpful manner, the project has been codenamed Index.

Overseen by Yahoo executives Jeff Bonforte and Peter Monaco, who came to Yahoo after their company, Xobni, was acquired, it is reported that the service will be made into an application for smartphones, and will also be ad-supported.

Where Yahoo thinks they have an advantage on Google and Apple is their long history with users, which spans almost 20 years for certain folks who signed up for Yahoo’s service way back in the day. As stated by Business Insider’s source, “Gmail users have only had their accounts for 10 years. Yahoo has many 20 year old accounts. Back then people used to email themselves a lot — store things. To surface that kind of data usefully is exciting.”

Another key element for Yahoo is CEO Marissa Mayer’s involvement. Marissa was employee #20 at Google, and was actually the first female engineer to be employed at Google. She was a key player in many of the services that most of still use to this day, including Maps, Gmail, and Google News. If anyone would know where to align a product directly against one of Google’s offerings, it would be Yahoo’s CEO.

As to when we may see what Yahoo is cooking up, sources state Mayer is pushing for a Q2 pilot launch.

Now, speaking personally, I don’t think I know anyone that would be willing to give a Yahoo personal assistant a try. Siri and Google Now both leave users fulfilled enough, offering plenty of helpful data whenever it may be needed. There are plenty of Yahoo users left, but could the number of those users seriously penetrate the digital personal assistant market? Yahoo will need to add more than just the ability to index decade-old email to get me excited.

What is your take on Yahoo’s ambitions? Need another assistant in your life?

Via: Business Insider

IMAGE

Report: Yahoo Planning Google Now, Siri Competitor Codenamed ‘Index’ is a post from: Droid Life

Quick Look: Spigen’s Galaxy S6 Edge Cases

Now that our reviews of the Galaxy S6 (review) and Galaxy S6 Edge (review) are out of the way, it’s time to start thinking about life with each phone in the near future and beyond, and that means getting are hands on things like accessories to either add features and functionality to the phone or protect it. Since the S6 Edge is the most interesting of the two because of its dual-edge display, we wanted to start there. And since the folks at Spigen sent us over a boatload of cases for the device, we may as well show off theirs.

In the video below, we went ahead and grabbed three of their Galaxy S6 Edge cases – the Neo Hybrid, Tough Armor, and Thin Fit. They have more than these three, but these happen to cover most of the reasons you would want a case – protection, thinness, and variety.

Our focus here was really to see how accessory makers are approaching the Galaxy S6 Edge and that curved display. We wanted to see how they would offer protection while also keeping that curved display open and free to use without getting in the way. Companies like Spigen seem to have really fine-tuned their cases, so that you can swipe in and out of the Edge, but still feel like a pocket drop won’t ruin your incredibly expensive phone.

To see the cases in action, the video below is live.

If you want to pick up any of Spigen’s Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge cases, hit up their Amazon store.

Quick Look: Spigen’s Galaxy S6 Edge Cases is a post from: Droid Life

Google Keep Update Brings Note Browsing to Android Wear

Google Keep may not be the best note taking or to-do list app around, but it has Google’s support and therefore makes it impossible not to use at times. I actually find myself using it quite often, just because of its simplicity for when I want to make something as simple as a grocery or shopping list that can be easily shared with my wife. After today’s update, I may find myself using it even more.

In an update that is rolling out now, Google Keep gets better Android Wear support which means you can now browse notes on your watch and also interact with them. Previously, you could use Android Wear to take a quick note in Keep, but that was about it. Now, you can pull up all of your notes by saying, “Ok, Google, open Keep.” Once opened, you can open individual lists, tap on check boxes to mark things as done, create new notes, and take care of tasks without pulling out your phone.

It works pretty well. Feel free to grab the update below.

Play Link | Download Link (apk)

Via: Official Android Blog

Google Keep Update Brings Note Browsing to Android Wear is a post from: Droid Life

Looks Like Samsung’s Next Gear Watch Will be Round

You all remember Samsung’s line of Gear devices, don’t you? They were the wearables that were originally rushed to market, featured nipple cameras, and only worked with Samsung devices. They also ran Tizen, were re-done a number of times yet never seemed to catch anyone’s attention unless they are a part of an eBay flash sale, and always had questionable designs that weren’t really classic or mainstream. Remember now? Get ready for a new one!

According to Samsung, the 7th generation Samsung Gear device is on the way and they want developers to help create awesome apps for it before it launches. But that whole developer thing isn’t really the story here – the teaser image for the device is. It looks like Samsung is going to produce their own fully round smartwatch.

The teaser poster, which is included below, says “Get ready for the net Gear,” and is joined by a circular watch face, along with circular apps from companies like CNN and Yelp.

Samsung did not say when we should expect this new Gear device, only that this is the first time they are offering up a chance for developers to get a hold of a new SDK ahead of time. My guess is that it will join the Galaxy Note 5 later this summer.

If Samsung makes a new Gear watch that is round, are you interested?

Via: Samsung

Looks Like Samsung’s Next Gear Watch Will be Round is a post from: Droid Life

Noodlecake Publishes Beatdown! to Google Play, a Beat ‘em Up Game With Epic Boss Battles

This morning, a new title from popular publisher Noodlecake has hit Google Play, called Beatdown! In this beat ‘em up styled title, you go through 20 levels of baddies, fighting your way to 5 epic boss battles.

Over the course of your adventure, you shall play through 5 different environments, featuring 30 different enemies. Your character is capable of performing combos and “Rage Attacks,” which should lead to a few fun-filled battles.

If you have played a Noodlecake game before, the styling of Beatdown! should look rather familiar, as many of their games feature a somewhat dry, yet entertaining look to them. Most characters are quite pixelated, which adds a bit of arcade feel to them.

The games costs $0.99, but be aware, there are also IAPs. Check it out on Google Play.

Features

20 Levels
Endless mode
5 Bosses
5 Environments
30 Enemies
Combos / Rage Attacks
3 control schemes (new control scheme, analog and d-pad)
Google Play Achievements

Play Link ($0.99)

Noodlecake Publishes Beatdown! to Google Play, a Beat ‘em Up Game With Epic Boss Battles is a post from: Droid Life

OnePlus Celebrates One’s First Birthday With One Dollar Price Cut

The OnePlus One has turned a year old, and to celebrate, the manufacturer that “Never Settles” is slashing the price of their device, by a single dollar. While that may not seem very cool at all, the OnePlus is already priced starting at $299, which leaves very little margin for the company to profit from.

With this “price cut,” the company states, “Slashing the price by just $1 is a symbolic gesture, showcasing our commitment to delivering amazing hardware at cost, and ultimately making it more accessible for more people.”

Now, even though the phone itself is not seeing a huge dip in price, OnePlus is also giving a 50% off discount on select accessories through its store, such as screen protectors, their special ear buds from JBL, and OTG cable. The full list can be viewed here. In addition, you can even pick up a OnePlus t-shirt for 50% off.

If you would like to pick up the OnePlus One for its special price of $298 or $348, buy it here.

Via: OnePlus

OnePlus Celebrates One’s First Birthday With One Dollar Price Cut is a post from: Droid Life

Samsung Gear VR for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Arrives May 8, Preorder on April 24

The latest version of Gear VR, Samsung’s virtual reality headset that was once only available for the Galaxy Note 4, will soon be purchasable by owners of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Labeled as an Innovator Edition, units will go on sale May 8 for an undisclosed price, but a pre-order for units will take place April 24 (tomorrow) on Best Buy’s website.

As for what price you can expect, the first Gear VR was priced at $199 for Note 4 owners, and we don’t see any reason Samsung should move away from that price point. While content for VR devices is still rather limited, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge feature extremely high resolution displays, making whatever content that is available, much more enjoyable.

During my time with the Gear VR for the Note 4, I was sometimes shocked that I could still see pixels, even though the Note 4 features a QHD display. However, with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge featuring more compact displays with higher pixel-per-inch counts, maybe that won’t be an issue.

Pre-orders go up tomorrow. Are you getting one?

Samsung Gear VR for Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Arrives May 8, Preorder on April 24 is a post from: Droid Life

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Thursday, April 23, 2015

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