Droid Life: Opinionated Android news.

Google Updates Maps API, Allows App Developers to Completely Utilize Software

Tim December 3, 2012 11

Today, Google released an updated Google Maps API, allowing developers to take advantage of the insanely advanced Maps software that Google has slaved over for years. With new access to vector-based imagery, gesture features such as tilt/zoom, and Map layers (...

Kellen December 3, 2012 65

Google is pushing a Gmail update to the Play store this morning, one that includes all of the goodies found in the Android 4.2 version of the app. Once updated, as long as you are running Android 4.0 or higher, you will be able to pinch-to-zoom in emails,...

Tim December 3, 2012 115

This morning, DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD owners are waking up to Jelly Bean. Verizon has started to push out build number 9.1.41 to devices in batches, as usual. With the update, owners will be able to take advantage of Google Now, enhanced notifications,...

Tim December 3, 2012 42

As we await the launch of the Swiftkey Flow beta, the developers have published a video that makes the wait incredibly worse. The keyboard itself looks great and that light-purple tracer is perfect. As you can see, typing sentences "without lifting a finger"...

Tim December 3, 2012 38

Up here in the Northwest, it's getting colder and the nights are getting longer. Not that it isn't like that all year round basically, but at least we have holidays to now look forward to. To celebrate or signify the coming of winter, we wanted to share this...

Tim December 3, 2012 20

Late last night, the development team at XBMC released the second beta for their application that brings a lot of bug fixes, and console controller support. For anyone using an Xbox 360, you can now use your controller to control the application, which is...

Kellen December 3, 2012 911

If you follow us on Twitter (you are following us, right?), then you already know that we're giving away five (5) $25 Google Play gift cards this week (one per day). Each year, as we approach X-mas, we try to give DL readers an opportunity to win a variety of...

Kellen December 3, 2012 79

Manu Cornet, a Googler and cartoonist, drew the picture above on November 30, a representation of the evolution of Android. The drawing starts with Cupcake, moves onto Donut then Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich,and Jelly Bean. It's...

Galaxy Z TriFold US Sales Open January 30, Priced at $2,899

Tim January 27, 2026 79

Samsung has confirmed Galaxy Z TriFold availability for the US. The trifold will go on sale starting January 30, priced at $2...

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T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Device Unlock Policies

Kellen January 27, 2026 79

One of the hottest topics of the moment for the US wireless industry is device unlock policies or SIM unlock policies. With...

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Galaxy Z TriFold In US Samsung Stores Tomorrow, But You Can’t Buy It

Tim January 22, 2026 79

Galaxy Z TriFold launch is literally right around the corner, with units headed to select Samsung Experience Stores across...

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Verizon Wastes No Time Switching Device Unlock Policy to 365 Days

Kellen January 20, 2026 79

When the FCC cleared Verizon of its 60-day device unlock policy a week ago, we talked about how the government agency, which...

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Samsung Makes New Bixby Official in One UI 8.5 With Perplexity AI

Kellen January 20, 2026 79

The betas of One UI 8.5, as well as supposedly leaked screenshots, showed a potentially renewed investment in Bixby from...

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How to Claim the $20 Verizon Outage Credit

Kellen January 15, 2026 79

Verizon announced today that it would give all of its customers a $20 credit after experiencing a 10-hour outage yesterday....

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Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 Just Released for Pixel Phones

Kellen January 14, 2026 79

Google has released Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 for all of its still-supported Pixel phones, tablets, and foldables. After...

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Google Just Gave Gemini “Personal Intelligence”

Kellen January 14, 2026 79

Google's Gemini now has Personal Intelligence and can reason across your data, assuming you give it access. For AI as an...

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

Kellen May 6, 2025 11

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 11

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 11

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 11

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 11

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 11

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 11

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 11

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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Google Updates Maps API, Allows App Developers to Completely Utilize Software

Gmail Update Released – Includes Pinch-to-Zoom, Swipe-to-Delete, Improved Attachments, and More

Verizon Rolling Out Jelly Bean Build 9.1.41 to DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD

Video: Swiftkey Flow Beta in Action

Lonely Tree Live Wallpaper, Because It’s That Time of The Year

XBMC Beta 2 Released for Android, Xbox 360 Controller Support and Audio Fixes

Contest: Win a $25 Google Play Gift Card From Droid Life! (Update: Winner Picked)

Google Employee Draws Android Evolution Cartoon, Includes Key Lime Pie