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Apps are an integral part of any operating system, and keeping them updated is of the utmost importance. Updates bring new features and fix stability and security issues. If you turn on automatic updates in the Google Play Store, you don't need to worry about keeping apps up-to-date. However, if you want to update an app using something other than the Play Store or need an older version of an app, you have options.
Telegram Premium may give you a whole new way to use stickers
The beta allows users to send whole messages of stickers
Instant messaging app Telegram introduced emoji reactions at the beginning of the year. They have proven to be a hit, becoming the go-to quick response whenever a one-word reply just won't do. A sequence of emoji can be used for an in-line reply to a message, giving them a personalized feel. However, you may have more than just emoji to choose from soon eough if the latest Telegram beta is indicative of anything.
Nintendo Switch Online finally adds friend requests... after five years
But you still have to accept requests on the Switch, the app can only send them
Nintendo has done the unthinkable, the gaming giant has finally added friend requests to its Nintendo Switch Online app, and it only took the company five years to see this basic feature come to fruition. Thanks to the latest update, users can now send friend requests directly from the Nintendo Switch Online app, but to accept any requests, you'll have to do so from the console. After all, did you seriously think Nintendo, of all companies, would actually implement a basic online feature without hobbling it somehow? To accept any request, you're forced to jump over to your console for invites sent from the very app that can't accept them. It's a head-scratcher for sure but lines up with Nintendo's long history of pitiful online support.
The Nintendo Switch Online 2.0 app update finally lets you see which friends are active
Plus, you can view your friend code for easy sharing
When it comes to online functionality in video games, Nintendo tends to struggle, and the Nintendo Switch isn't free from the company's short-sightedness, thanks to an Android and iOS app that's necessary to get the most out of your online games on the system. Standard functionality like in-game voice chat has been cordoned off to the app for many Switch games, and since Nintendo Switch Online is tied to a subscription service, the lackluster app has been a sticking point for ages.
Amazon's making ComiXology much worse with its latest update
And digital comic book collectors aren't happy
Way back in 2014, Amazon purchased ComiXology, setting its sights on digital comic books after conquering the e-book world. As one would expect, Amazon has slowly moved over a few features from the ComiXology app to the Kindle app, and so the ever-popular Guided View was added to the Kindle app in 2017.
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Google has just been spotted testing iOS-like update progress indicators. It's almost certainly a limited test (we don't have it, ourselves), but if you aren't familiar with the concept, that means Google is showing icons in the launcher for apps currently being updated or installed as grayed out, with a progress bar that indicates update progress and text that replaces the app name explaining what is currently happening.
We've all learned a whole lot more when it comes to how Android places emergency calls recently when one unfortunate customer discovered the Microsoft Teams app was able to trigger a bug in Android that might break 911. It will take another few weeks for the fix to land in Android itself, but a solution on Microsoft's end has been deployed. A 911-friendly version of the Microsoft Teams app is now rolling out.
The Pixel Sounds app is now equipped with Material You and tons of new ringtones (APK Download)
Google is getting everything ready for the Pixel 6 launch
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The Pixel 6 launches today, and it looks like Google is making sure as much as possible is in place ahead of the release. After already updating many of its relevant core apps with its new Material You design language, the company has now started rolling out an update for the Pixel Sounds app, with new visuals and tons of new ringtones, and you can download it right now over at APK Mirror.
VLC media player revitalizes its Android Auto app in latest update
Along with bookmarks and improved onboarding
No matter the device, VLC is pretty much essential for all of your video, audio, and streaming needs. It's always one of the first apps I download when setting up a new computer, and it keeps getting better with each new update. It's been more than two months since we saw VLC 3.4 hit beta, but it's finally ready for primetime.
Google has updated so many of its apps to fit Material You guidelines, it's getting hard to keep track. While Contacts got a facelift a few weeks ago, its matching dialer app had yet to see the same attention. With the release of a new beta, that's finally changing.
Latest Telegram beta adds group read receipts to stop you from ghosting your friends
How are you going to avoid your social plans now?
Group chats make setting up plans so much easier, no matter whether you're choosing which restaurant to reserve a table at or arranging an entire week-long vacation. Sometimes it's not enough to just speak with your friends — you need to know who has or hasn't seen a specific message. It's a feature supported by apps like Facebook Messenger, but up until now, something Telegram has completely lacked.
Nova Launcher 7 goes live with a visual refresh and new features in tow (APK Download)
Widget corner radius, swipe down gesture, and more
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Nova Launcher has always been among the most popular third-party launchers, even with great alternatives like Niagara popping up left and right. After what felt like months of stagnation, the latest visual refresh and rewrite of Nova is finally starting to roll out on the Play Store, dubbed Nova7. It's based on the latest AOSP launcher code and comes with new animations, styles, and features.
Google Podcasts gets a fresh UI that simplifies sorting through your endless library of episodes
The 'Activity' tab is dead, long live the 'Library' tab
Google Podcasts might not be everyone's first choice in podcast apps, but it's become a pretty popular service with Android users nevertheless. Throughout the last couple of years, it's gained a proper playback panel and support for custom RSS feeds, making it feel a lot more complete than its initial barebones launch. A new design is now arriving on Android devices, providing some minor but notable tweaks to Google's podcast player.
Feel like Android TV keeps looking worse? Plex's latest interface is all about giving users control
Make your streaming library look as modern as you'd like
Plex is the go-to media server solution for millions of streamers around the world. No matter how powerful it is, the interface has never been a highlight of the service. It's not bad by any means — it's just nothing special, lacking the je ne sais quoi of other modern streaming platforms. If you've been hoping Plex would get a stylish reboot, you're in luck — the company has put all of its control into your hands.
Google Phone call recording is available on Pixels in these countries
No luck for North America or much of Europe
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It's been nearly a year since Google announced that call recording would be possible on Android, as long as you had a compatible device and lived in a country that legally allows it. The feature first went live on Nokia then Xiaomi phones, and later gained the ability to automatically record calls from unknown numbers. It's now making its way to the Pixels too.
Telegram has created a whole new social experience for you to dread with 1,000 person video calls
Plus screen sharing, new animations, and more
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It was just a couple of days ago that we first got our hands on Telegram's latest beta, adding screen sharing, video speed controls, and new options for clearing out your chat history. If you gave that version a spin only to find it seemed a bit buggy, you're in luck. Telegram 7.9 is already making its way out to users today, and it's got all of those beta features and a whole lot more.
Google Contacts is already getting its Material You UI makeover
Complete with rounded corners and squircles
We're still a beta or so away from a stable build of Android 12 becoming available to the public, but that doesn't mean we haven't already seen some ripple effects from its upcoming makeover. A few apps, like Chrome and Camera, have already received minor Material You touch-ups, and today, it's Contacts' turn. A new update to the app brings along some automatic themes, but you can take advantage of some of its fresh look even if you're running Android 11.
Telegram's latest beta includes a screen sharing tool: here's how to try it out
Plus video playback speeds and more
It's no secret that Telegram development moves at 10x the speed of other messengers. No sooner had we learned about some new features than we discover there's a newer update with even more interesting things to try. This is the case today with an update to Telegram beta, which brings a bunch of interesting additions like video playback speed controls and screen sharing — though the latter seems very buggy for now.
Spotify is getting a redesigned mini player UI with a more modern look
Rounded corners and fancy colors seem to be the order of the day
The Spotify design team likes to keep moving, which means we often get fresh elements here and there, either in testing or rolling out for real. This latest redesign is one of the most expressive we've seen for some time, introducing a new mini player UI that follows the current trend of rounding corners and adding more color.
The Google TV app now supports YouTube TV, which it didn't before for some reason
Also Google stretched out the interface a little bit
Google's TV-focused branding is kind of weird. So when I say Google TV, am I talking about A) the short-lived precursor to Android TV, B) the new interface that runs over Android TV (but isn't exactly the same thing), C) the thing that let you buy and rent TV episodes via Google Play, or D) the new app that also lets you do that, but kinda sorta controls Google TV (the one from B)?