Droid Life: Opinionated Android news.

Google Won’t Kill Its Nexus Program in Favor of Android Silver

Kyle June 27, 2014 153

Despite numerous reports to the contrary, Google evidently won't kill its Nexus line of smartphones and tablets in favor of Android Silver devices. That's according to the company's own David Burke, head of Android engineering and the Nexus program. Android...

Google Makes “Ok Google” System-wide Hotword Detection Official

Tim June 26, 2014 128

Yesterday, after downloading the newest version of Google Search (3.5.14), we discovered that a new setting for system-wide "Ok Google" hotword detection had been placed inside of the application. Previously, users would need to be on the home screen of their...

Hands-on With the Moto 360 Smartwatch

Tim June 26, 2014 262

To say the Moto 360 is in a league of its own, with regard to just smartwatches, is an understatement. Pictures don't do Motorola's hardware justice, and after finally spending time with the device at this year's Google I/O, it's safe to say that this is the...

Android L Features: Interacting With the New Lock Screen

Kellen June 26, 2014 57

Up next in our tour of new features in Android L is a detailed, on-video look at the revamped lock screen experience. If you have used Android at all over the years, a lot of the new concepts will make sense once you see them in action. There are quick swipes...

Android L Features: Do Not Disturb Mode

Kellen June 26, 2014 68

Our series on new Android L features kicked off moments ago with Battery Predictor, but now it's time to move on to an addition that probably should have been built into Android long ago. This is Do Not Disturb mode. For those not familiar with a feature like...

Android L Features: Battery Predictor Tells You How Long Until Your Phone is Charged

Kellen June 26, 2014 90

The Android L Developer Preview has only been available for a little over an hour, yet we have already gone hands-on with it. But after whipping through a quick preview, it's time to start really looking at the newest version of Android. What's new? What has...

Android “L” Preview Hands-on

Tim June 26, 2014 164

The Android "L" preview is now live for all to try, as long as you own a Nexus 5 or Nexus 7 WiFi (2013). After flashing the system images to the Nexus 5, then spending 10 minutes with it, we have gone ahead and posted up a hands-on video to show all of you...

Gmail API Available for Developers in Beta

Kyle June 26, 2014 8

The Gmail app for Android doesn't always keep up with the pace of innovation - third-party mail clients like K-9 mail and MailDroid introduce features faster, and are infinitely more customizable. Until now, though, that meant compromise - IMAP was the only...

Galaxy S26 Ultra Lookin’ Round and Wobbly

Kellen December 30, 2025 8

The Galaxy S26 Ultra should arrive in the coming weeks, assuming Samsung sticks to a familiar timeline. It has launched...

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Current Galaxy Z TriFold Pricing Has Samsung Losing Money With Each Sale

Tim December 29, 2025 8

A report out of South Korea is painting a suboptimal picture for Samsung and its current nice guy pricing of the Galaxy Z...

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Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1.1 Released for Pixel Phones!

Tim December 23, 2025 8

A small fixer update is rolling out to Google Pixel devices, labeled as Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1.1. It doesn't appear to be...

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Pixel 10 Pro XL at $400 Off is Crazy Stuff

Kellen December 22, 2025 8

Last minute shoppers, the greatest Pixel 10 Pro deal in history is here at the perfect time. You can take up to $400 off the...

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Google Decides That Google Assistant Can Stick Around a Bit Longer, Pushes Gemini Switch to 2026

Kellen December 19, 2025 8

You may have forgotten the timeline, but Google was pushing to force all off of Google Assistant and onto Gemini by the end...

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What’s New in Android 16 QPR3 Beta: At a Glance, Flashlight, Navigation Buttons, More

Kellen December 18, 2025 8

Google may have released Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 at the worst possible time of the day, but we're still going to dive into it...

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Android 16 QPR3 Beta Program Goes Live for Pixel Devices

Kellen December 17, 2025 8

Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 released. Google shipped Android 16 QPR2 to stable channels this month as the December Pixel update,...

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Verizon Pixel 8, Pixel 9, and Pixel 10 Devices Get New December Update (Updated)

Kellen December 17, 2025 8

All of Google's still-supported Pixel devices received a huge QPR2 update in early December with new features and tons of bug...

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Google’s Latest Ad Pokes at iPhone for Copying Its Features, iPhone 17 Rumors

Kellen May 6, 2025 153

The iPhone 17 won't arrive for months, likely after Google releases its Pixel 10 series. For the most part, all talk around...

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Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen October 11, 2023 153

Some of you have been lucky enough to receive your Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro pre-orders a day early, thanks to Google's wildly...

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Pixel Watch 2 Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen October 11, 2023 153

The Pixel Watch 2 has been on my wrist for a full week and my list of notes has only grown. I've tested sleep tracking, put...

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Video: Galaxy Z Flip 5, Z Fold 5 Unboxing!

Tim July 27, 2023 153

Samsung was gracious enough to send us its latest foldables devices, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5. Naturally,...

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Google Pixel 7a Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen May 10, 2023 153

Because the Google Pixel 7a is available today for you to run out and buy at $499, you may not want to wait around for our...

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VIDEO: Galaxy S23 Ultra Unboxing!

Tim February 3, 2023 153

Unboxing time, baby! We have the Galaxy S23 Ultra in-house, a bit before they're set to make their way to buyers later this...

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Pixel 7 Pro: First 10 Things to Do!

Tim October 13, 2022 153

Fancy new Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro just show up at your doorstep? Perfect, then this video is for you. As is tradition, we've...

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Pixel Watch: First 10 Things To Do!

Kellen October 13, 2022 153

The day that most of you will receive your Google Pixel Watch from pre-orders is here. It's time for you to slap Google's...

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