If you checked out the beta of the complete Opera browser app back in March and want to see the progress that was made, you can now try the complete real deal. Released this morning to Google Play, Opera brings a full-web experience, complete with custom features that make browsing the web painless and quick. 

The browser features two very unique features, among many others. The first one is Speed Dial, basically a bookmarks page, but it gives the pages the look of apps. You can place pages in folders for easy access to multiple categories. The second feature is Off-Road mode. With this enabled, users are able to browse the web at high speeds even without a good mobile data connection. For people who can’t stand page loads, this is something to check out.

You can grab it for free right through Google Play.

Play Link

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full Version of Opera Released for Android, Features Speed Dial and Off-Road Mode is a post from: Droid Life

On top of all the other exciting news from Yahoo! today, the company just launched an update to their official Flickr Android app through Google Play, bringing a very polished look with it. The app’s UI is centered solely on photos and Yahoo doesn’t seem scared to recommend some great photographers that you should start following. Within seconds I was greeted by gorgeous landscapes and classy nudes. Thanks, Yahoo! 

As a cherry on top, Flickr is offering 1TB (yes, a whole terabyte) of storage when folks sign up for the service. That’s enough to get anyone signed up just the sake of having it.

Play Link

Via: Flickr

Cheers Nick S!

Flickr App Updated, Brings High-Res Photo-centric Look is a post from: Droid Life

How many times has a new Android app update been issued for a major app, yet you find yourself without the ability to update on your phone or tablet? All of your friends are showing off the new features, and there you are stuck in times of old, refreshing and tapping frustratingly, hoping that you’ll receive the satisfaction that accompanies the “Update” button. What if there was a way around the wait, at least in most cases? There is, actually. 

I’m surprised we haven’t shared this trick in the past, but never the less, it’s time that we do. Should you know of an app update in the wild, you can almost always install it directly from the web version of Google Play even if your device isn’t showing that you have an update available. As soon as you see the Play store listing of the app change over to today’s date, meaning it was recently updated, you can tap “Install” followed by a selection of the device you wish to install the update on, before sitting back as it updates over-the-air.

Take today’s Google+ update as an example. None of my devices are showing it as being available at this time on device (pictured above), however, I installed it just fine through the web Google Play on both my HTC One and Nexus 7. Also, if you got really desperate and weren’t anywhere near a computer, I’d bet that you can do the same trick through the Chrome browser on your phone.

Tip: If an Android App Update is Not Showing as Available on Your Device, Install From the Web is a post from: Droid Life

Before last week’s Google I/O, rumors were almost certain that we would see a new version of Android announced. In case you haven’t heard, we didn’t get one. Nothing.

Although, during the conference, Google wasn’t prude about dropping some clues/hints about the next Android release during certain developer sessions. The image above was taken from a video during one of the developer presentations and looks to show our little Android eating some Key Lime Pie. 

Of course, that was not the only reference that was found either. Below, you can see that one of powers listed is Key Lime Pie, along with Jelly Bean and Chrome. These two little easter eggs are not a confirmation that the next version of Android will be named Key Lime Pie whenever we see it, but Google has been known to do little jokes like this before.

According to reports last week, we will more than likely see Android 4.3, still known as Jelly Bean on June 10. That’s right around the corner.

Via: Reddit

Did Google Tease Us With Key Lime Pie During I/O Developer Sessions? is a post from: Droid Life

At Google I/O last week, the Google+ team unveiled the new web UI for their social sharing service along with a number of new features. We wondered at the time when all of this new goodness would arrive on Android – that time is now. The update for Android is being described as a “a brand new Android app.” So this is somewhat of a new beast altogether, with new ways to explore content, “great” photo experiences, and location sharing with Circles. There is a lot in here, so let’s talk about it. 

With the new photo features, users are getting auto backups, auto highlight (top shots from your sets of photos), auto enhancing (subtle improvements to photos), and “Auto Awesome” (way to create “fun” new versions of pictures). When you upload photos to your G+ account, you can head into the Photos section to view these new Highlights, review Google’s enhancements, and check out the “awesome’d” pictures you have yet to see. The update also includes some of Snapseed’s photography tools.

On a location front, there is now a dedicated tab for “Locations.” This new section allows you to see where you friends are on a map, so that you can places to meet up should a Hangout not be in the cards. You can turn off location sharing if you’d like.

Last, we get the new card UI and exploring features we are seeing from the web version of G+. Tags are shown at the top right of posts, so that you can easily browse by topic. Notifications have been updated as well and are “nicer to look at and use,” plus profile fields can be edited on the go.

It’s a big update, so head to the Play store and look for it.

Update:  The update is now live! If you aren’t seeing the update on your device, try this trick.

*Note – The update doesn’t appear to be live yet.

Via:  Google+ Project | Play Link

Brand New Google+ App Introduced for Android With Location Sharing, “Great” Photos, and Better Stream Exploring is a post from: Droid Life

We were the first to report the codename of “Babel” as Google’s new unified messaging service, which ended up as Hangouts at public launch, but if you needed actual proof that Babel was around for some time, we thought we’d share this screenshot. It’s taken from my Google Dashboard listing of sites authorized to access my account. You can see that the Hangouts app for iOS is indeed referred to as “iOS Babel App.” (It’s on an iPod Touch that I use for work purposes, don’t kill me.)

You can also hear Google’s director of product management, real-time communications mention it in this video at the 1:40 mark.

Cheers Matt!

Incase You Needed Proof That Hangouts was Codenamed “Babel,” Here You Go is a post from: Droid Life

A new device made by Google recently made its way through the hands of the FCC with model number H2G2-42, product name of “H840 DEVICE,” and a description that says it “functions as a media player.” Yes, a media player. This new device is powered by an external source (AC adapter), so it’s likely not a smartphone or tablet, can connect via WiFi over 802.11 b/g/n, and has the ability to be hooked up to a display. So what is it? The FCC filing only gives us what I just listed, so it’s tough to tell. One thing we do know is that Google made a media streaming device last year with all of these characteristics, which you may be familiar with as the Nexus Q. 

As you know, the Nexus Q did not arrive again at Google I/O after failing to launch after last year’s unveiling, nor did many things that most of us were expecting (new Gmail, new Nexus 7, etc.), but sources of ours told us a week ago that there is another Nexus Q-like device potentially in the works from Google. It’s currently codenamed “Wolfie,” has an RGB LED light, and when (or if) it is released, will have an “emphasis on gaming.” We still aren’t sure if this is it or if we’re even going to see it reach customers hands. With that said, FCC filings are almost always a good sign of things to come.

Plus, we would love to see Google make up for the current Nexus Q situation. The current model has suffered from streaming errors for months now. And with the newest release of Google Music, the current Q is no longer even supported (at least for the time being).

Via:  FCC | Tablet Guide

Cheers Frits!

New Media Streaming Device Made by Google Hits FCC, Please be a New Nexus Q is a post from: Droid Life

Now that Google I/O is over with and a potential Android 4.3 release date is in the wild, the hypebeasting of features will undoubtedly start to pick up. The first to kick off the fun is one of our favorite apps, Light Flow. For those not familiar, Light Flow is the best notification manager in the business, as it provides you with more tools and options for notifications settings than any other app. It’s also designed incredibly well and always seems to have a major update around the corner.

So what does Light Flow have to do with the next version of Android? 

In their latest update that was released this afternoon, they are claiming to have made a change towards a mandatory persistent notification icon because Google has requested this become a standard in an “upcoming version of Android.” Their description for this new requirement mentions that any app running in “foreground mode” must place a persistent notification icon in the notification bar. I’m assuming this is a lot like how Pebble works when it’s paired to your phone – there is always a Pebble icon showing that you are connected.

The update also includes support for Hangouts, including pushing text to DashClock, and fixed notifications with Chat Heads for more devices.

But the big mention here has to be with the “upcoming version of Android,” which we are all expecting to be Android 4.3. I know this doesn’t give us much, nor is it a feature that anyone will run and show off to friends, but this potentially adds to the thought that we will see the next version of Android at any moment.

Cheers MG and Evan!

Light Flow Update Teases New Version of Android, May Require Persistent Notifications for Some Tasks is a post from: Droid Life

Google mentioned during its unveiling of Hangouts that it would gradually rollout to Gmail over the coming weeks, but if you’d like to turn it on immediately, you can do that today. All you need to do is sign-in to your Gmail account, login to Google Talk in the left sidebar, click on the image associated with your Talk account, and then tap the “Try the new Hangouts” option that appears at the top of the list.

Bam! Enjoy.

*Note – This trick does not seem to be working in Google Apps accounts, online Gmail.

Via:  reddit

Cheers Leo!

Tip: Manually Turn on Hangouts in Gmail With This Trick is a post from: Droid Life

Now that Google I/O is wrapping up here in San Francisco and we finally have a chance to take a minute and breathe, we decided to sit down and do an overview of the new Google Play Music app along with its accompanying All Access service. Announced on Wednesday as a subscription-based Pandora and Spotify competitor, All Access is an important piece to the media puzzle for Google. The future of music appears to be in streaming services. 

So in the video below, we try to walk through it all, from starting radio stations to saving music to your library to navigating around this beautifully designed app.

Keep in mind that All Access is currently available as a 30-day free trial, but will jump up to $8 per month after the trial ends. Also, that $8 price is only good as long as you continue your subscription or sign-up before June 30. Once June 30 hits, the service will run $10 per month. If you sign-up for the free trial, you will be automatically billed once the trial ends, so should you not want to get charged, be sure to cancel it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video: Overview of New Google Play Music and All Access is a post from: Droid Life

Shortly after Google announced their new unified chat service called Hangouts, users discovered a handful of Easter Eggs embedded deep within. Actually, they aren’t deep at all and can be accessed with a simple command in a chat box on either Google+ or through the Chrome app (no mobile version support here). The whackiness of the Easter Eggs’ ranges from colorful ponies to KONAMI cheat codes, all of which are listed above thanks to Googler Moritz Tolxdorff. To tell you the truth, I thought there might be even more, but this is the entire list.

To flood your box with ponies, pitchforks, or a shy dino, type the commands listed into the text box of a Hangout.

Which is your favorite?

Via:  +Moritz Tolxdorff

Here are the Easter Eggs Built Into Hangouts [Ponies!] is a post from: Droid Life

Hugo Barra and Hiroshi Lockheimer sat down this afternoon with Reto Meier to talk a bit about the Android-related happenings around Google I/O this week. They didn’t reveal anything new, like the release date for Android 4.3, but when they were asked what their all-time sentimental pick for favorite device was, we couldn’t help but smile at Hugo’s answer. 

Hiroshi went with the G1, but Hugo picked a phone straight out of our past – the “OG” Motorola DROID. He even dropped a little “DROOOOOID” after mentioning it.

His pick was the DROID because of that was the time we got turn-by-turn navigation, voice search, and “all those cool things,” that helped push the platform in a big way.

We couldn’t agree more, Hugo.

Hugo Barra Picks the Motorola DROID as His All Time Sentimental Device is a post from: Droid Life

It’s probably safe to say that we were all a little disappointed when yesterday’s 3-hour keynote finished at Google I/O without an announcement for a new Nexus 7 tablet. Rumors have circulated for months, suggesting that I/O could be the time for Google to show us a retooled model with a higher-resolution display and new Qualcomm processor. But again, we left the show yesterday without one. Is there a chance that we saw the oft-rumored follow-up in a promo video for Hangouts, though? 

Google played a quick clip during their announcement of Hangouts that featured a handful of Google products, including a Nexus 4, Chromebook Pixel, and what appears to be some sort of Nexus 7 variant. We’ve captured the two sightings of the tablet in question in the image above, so that you can decide for yourself. Is this the new Nexus 7?

As you can see from the image on the left, there is a notification light telling the girl that she has a new Hangout to join. And as you all know, the Nexus 7 doesn’t have a notification light. Also, the silver-ish rim around the edge of the device certainly looks identical to that of the current Nexus 7. Interesting, right? So is this it?

Eh, I wouldn’t go that far. This entire promo clip is filled with minor issues like the male lead using his Nexus 4 upside down and having Advanced Task Killer installed on his device. His N4 is also running what appears to be Ice Cream Sandwich, since it has the old camera icon and stock Android browser instead of Chrome.

For all we know, this blinking light on the Nexus 7 could be an effect that the marketing company was trying to achieve when putting together the clip. It could be a new Nexus 7, but I wouldn’t bet the world on that idea.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via:  reddit

Cheers Tyler!

Is Google Trolling Us or Did They Tease a New Nexus 7 in This Hangouts Promo Video? is a post from: Droid Life

Well, now I can see myself paying $1500 for the developer version of Google Glass. Following the announcement of a Twitter application, Facebook has arrived! Announced today, Facebook can now be found for Google Glass users, allowing them to post photos directly to their timelines. In addition, you can simply speak the photo’s description to have it added to the post. 

Facebook says this is only “step one” for their development process for Glass. Hmm, I wonder what else we can expect to see from Zuckerburg’s crew.

You are now completely sold on Glass, right?

Via: CNET

Facebook App Now Available For Google Glass, Allows For Posting Pictures Straight to Timeline is a post from: Droid Life

Twitter announced official support for Google Glass this morning. The social network will allow users to take and share photos directly through Glass with the text “Just shared a photo #throughglass” included. You can also keep up notifications for mentions, DMs, and Tweets from users you have given that power to. Last, you can reply, favorite, and retweet. 

In order to access Twitter on your Google Glass, head over to http://google.com/myglass and turn on Twitter.

Via:  Twitter

Cheers E!

Twitter Announces Official Google Glass Support – Share Photos, Tweet, and More From Glass is a post from: Droid Life