Droid Life: Opinionated Android news.

Some Thoughts on Google Selling Multiple Lead Devices to Avoid Carriers

Kellen May 15, 2012 158

The big news of the day (other than Tim now joining me at Google I/O), is the WSJ report that talks of Google including multiple partners in their "Nexus" or lead device program. Their goal is to sell unsubsidized phones (full retail) directly through the...

Kellen May 15, 2012 188

The Wall Street Journal reported this afternoon that Google may give multiple (5 to be exact) smartphone and tablet manufacturers early access to the latest builds of Android for lead devices, and then sell those directly to consumers through the Play Store....

Kellen May 15, 2012 25

Nova Launcher and WidgetLocker received updates today to include support for "unread counts" on icons for Gmail, SMS, missed calls, Google Talk, etc. TeslaCoil, the makers of these two, created an app that works with them called TeslaUnread that allows your...

Kellen May 15, 2012 396

If anyone told you back on December 15, the day the Galaxy Nexus was released on Verizon, that it wouldn't receive another update for at least 5 months, would you have believed them? I wouldn't have. But that's where we stand now that it is May 15. The G-Nex,...

Kellen May 15, 2012 32

Every time Mozilla announces that a new Firefox beta has been released (this time to the Play Store), a part of me hopes that it is nothing short of awesome. And not that I'm all that willing to give up on Chrome, but competition is good and having used...

Tim May 15, 2012 8

If you happen to be familiar with YouTube personalities and the world of Internet memes, then you most likely have knowledge of the Double Rainbow song and the Bed Intruder. The people behind the auto-tuned remixes of these classics are the Gregory Brothers...

Eric May 15, 2012 35

We have covered the FXI Cotton Candy before, the Android thumb drive that allows you to virtualize our favorite OS on any computer that you want. Since we have heard from them, they've been getting their ducks in order, and now the little USB-drive-that-could...

Kellen May 15, 2012 60

Back in early April, Chrome beta for desktops received the ability to sync tabs throughout all of your other Chrome experiences. It was essentially the same sync feature that the Android version of the browser had at launch, but this would complete the syncing...

Pixel 10a Official at $499 and the Upgrades are Tough to Find

Kellen February 18, 2026 60

Google fully unveiled the Pixel 10a today and there aren't many surprises following weeks of information trickling into our...

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Google Brings AirDrop Support to Pixel 9

Kellen February 17, 2026 60

Google has moved forward with its promise to bring AirDrop support to more phones. Today, the Search giant announced that the...

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Google’s Pixel is Getting a Now Playing App

Kellen February 16, 2026 60

Wouldn't it be cool if the Now Playing service on your Pixel phone had its own app that could get new features more regularly...

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

Kellen February 16, 2026 60

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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Everything New in Android 17 Beta

Kellen February 15, 2026 60

Android 17 Beta is officially live and we've got it up and running on a Pixel 10 Pro. You could have it on your device as...

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Android 17 Beta 1 is Actually Here for Your Pixel

Kellen February 13, 2026 60

UPDATE FEBRUARY 13 - Google tried to ship out the first Android 17 Beta 1 update a couple of days ago, but something forced...

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Pixel 10a Renders Show Flush Backside, Full Color Lineup

Tim February 12, 2026 60

We have already seen a few Pixel 10a renders, but as we have gotten closer to a launch day, the quality of said renders has...

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Android 17 Beta 1 is Releasing “Soon”

Kellen February 10, 2026 60

Google surprised the Android world this afternoon by announcing that Android 17 Beta 1 is arriving "soon." Yeah, Android 17,...

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

Kellen May 6, 2025 158

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 158

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 158

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 158

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 158

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 158

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 158

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 158

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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Some Thoughts on Google Selling Multiple Lead Devices to Avoid Carriers

WSJ: Google to Open Nexus Program to Multiple Manufacturers at a Time, Sell Directly Through Google Play Store

Nova Launcher and WidgetLocker Updates Introduce Unread Counts, Other Goodies Too

Five Months Ago Today the Galaxy Nexus was Released on Verizon, It Hasn’t Been Updated Since

Brand New Firefox Beta Released on Android, Say Hello to a New UI and Flash Support

Songify Released for Android, Time to Quit Your Day Job and Become an Auto-Tuned Pop Star

FXI Cotton Candy ICS-in-a-USB-Thumb Drive Almost Ready for Worldwide Primetime, Android on Any PC for Only $199

Chrome With Tab Sync for Desktops Leaves Beta, Why Would You Use Another Browser?