latest
WhatsApp is testing a redesigned picture-in-picture mode (APK Download)
But it still only works with links from Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
WhatsApp is the most used instant messaging app on the planet, which makes the recent outage all the more frustrating. The fact that it's owned by Facebook at least means that it integrates really well with the company's other services, like Instagram and the Facebook app. WhatsApp has a picture-in-picture mode that allows you to play videos shared from Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube without leaving the chat. It's a feature that I have found pretty useful to skip fully opening links to quickly view some content. Now, WhatsApp is taking the time to redesign its PiP UI, but it kind of feels like change for the sake of change.
Download all 310 Pixel ringtones, alarms, and notifications from Google's Sounds app
Including Android 12's new alarm and notification sounds
Read update
The Pixel Sounds application comes pre-installed on Pixel phones and is stock-full of ringtones, alarms, and notification sounds for you to choose from. It also works on some non-Pixel phones too, like a few Galaxy S phones, but not on all. That's why we've decided to share with you all the sound files included in it, so you can use them on any device (including your desktop, if you like that).
Your Pixel phone is picking up some colorfully adorable new wallpapers for Mental Health Awareness Day
Sit down and relax
Mental Health Awareness Day was first observed in 1992, at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members in over 150 countries, to bring attention to mental illnesses and their effects on people worldwide. If you want to show your support on your Pixel device, you can now do so, as Google has released a handful of colorful wallpapers to observe the day.
YouTube gets official video downloads on the web, saving you from using some very sketchy sites
For Premium members only, of course, and only for a limited time
Downloading content for playback later is most useful on mobile, where your connection quality is determined by your location. But there are plenty of us whose home connection isn't so great either, or who prefer to play back media on laptops that are likewise limited by location. To that end, YouTube is now testing downloaded video on the desktop for Premium subscribers.
It feels like Google is bumping up Chrome's version number every other day, with one release following right after the other, but things are about to get even worse. As the company announced in March, new Chrome releases will come to our devices every four weeks from now on instead of every six. Chrome 94, which has just been released to the beta channel, is the first version to live on that fast four-week cycle. You can download it over at APK Mirror right now.
SwiftKey is further bridging the gap between Windows and Android
Clipboard syncing incoming in the latest beta
Cross-platform syncing clipboard apps got a serious blow when Google restricted clipboard access starting with Android 10, but the world is slowly adapting. Since the clipboard restriction only applies to background apps that aren't keyboards, you can still use third-party keyboards to get your clipboard contents synced across all your devices. And that's where SwiftKey comes in. The latest beta release of the Microsoft keyboard has added support for cloud clipboard syncing with Windows.
You can now download Chrome 93 Beta
The last release before Google switches to an even faster four-week cycle
Google is constantly releasing new versions of Chrome, and the beta channel has been promoted to v93 this week. The latest browser variant continues testing some controversial interface changes that first popped up in Chrome 91, but there are also things to look forward to. Chrome 93 is now rolling out on the Play Store, and the download is available for you over at APK Mirror, too.
What's new in Chrome 92 (APK Download)
Better performance meets more security and tons of new features
Read update
Google releases new Chrome builds every six weeks, and the latest version to launch is Chrome 92. The new browser is available for download since yesterday, and it comes filled to the brim with interface experiments, security improvements, web app enhancements, and performance upgrades. Here's what you need to know.
Firefox 90 introduces new tracking blocker to fix broken site logins (APK Download)
No more broken Facebook logins in Firefox
Read update
As always, Mozilla started rolling out Firefox 90 for Android ahead of the official release on July 13, and we've already spotted quite a few changes on our own. But now the company's official changelog is up, filled with some more details on what's new in Firefox 90. Let's dive in.
Signal is catching up to WhatsApp in the voice messaging department (APK Download)
The latest Signal Beta introduces playback controls, including a slower option
Signal is probably the best option out there if you want a truly secure and private messenger on your phone, even despite the recent controversies around its server code and its crypto features. The private chat app has long been trying to outdo WhatsApp in the feature department to give people even more incentives to switch, and now, the service is continuing this effort with new features concerning voice messages.
We've all been there, frantically downloading media just before the signal cuts off, you get out of Wi-Fi range, or the plane starts taxiing out from the gate. And it's a bummer if your download doesn't finish in time. Thankfully, if it's a Netflix download that gets interrupted, now you'll still be able to watch at least part of it next time that happens.
Google Chrome 91 is now available for download (APK Download)
Coming with better visuals for websites using forms and buttons
Read update
Like clockwork, Google has just published the latest Chrome release, version 91. It brings a slew of visual changes to websites using fillable forms and buttons, a GravitySensor interface so web apps can more easily implement motion-controlled interactions, and a lot of other, smaller changes. You can download the latest version of the Android browser right here, over at APK Mirror.
The OnePlus Store app is now available on the Play Store in more places (APK Download)
Just in time to buy a OnePlus 9
Read update
After introducing its brand-new store app to the US and Canada shortly before launching the OnePlus 9 series, OnePlus has expanded the application to Europe, as it announced in a blog post. After a short exclusive beta phase that forced you to download the app manually from the manufacturer's website, it's now available in the Play Store for European, too.
Twitter is notorious for compressing images and videos, and it isn't surprising to see photos shot from professional cameras retain little detail when shared on the platform. However, last year, the iOS app was given the ability to load images in "4K." Almost a full year later, the "Load 4K" option has finally made its way to Android.
Here's how to use the new Google Play Store interface that's arriving now
Say goodbye to the hamburger menu
If you take a look at the Google Play Store on your phone today, you may notice things have shifted around a bit. A new version of the interface has been appearing for a small number of users over the last week or so, but seems to rolling out more quickly now. This slight shift to the UI gets rid of the familiar hamburger menu (the three horizontal bars that used to be on the left of the search bar at the top), and instead has you tapping on your Google profile icon to get to more of the non-obvious elements of the Store.
Facebook just announced that Instagram Lite is now officially available in 170 countries, but there are still many people who don't have access to this much tighter, 2MB small Instagram experience just yet. That applies to countries like the US, the UK, and many more in Europe. But luckily, there's a simple way to get your hands on it right now via our sister site APK Mirror.
Not everyone has the latest flagship smartphone, and even those of us who do sometimes run out of space or would prefer to use less resource-hogging apps when possible. That's where Lite variants of heavy and bloated applications come in, like Instagram Lite. Facebook has been testing the 2MB big app in select markets for a long time, and now, it has finally officially launched it in 170 countries around the world.
Netflix introduced its Smart Downloads feature three years ago, which automatically downloads the next episodes of a show you're watching while on Wi-Fi, for easier viewing away from reliable internet connections (or on capped mobile data plans). Now the company is expanding the feature to automatically download anything Netflix thinks you might want to watch.
The Gmail app may lack some basic features like access to filtering rules, but at least the Android app is a little less overwhelming than the website. And when Google is not busy adding bottom bars with spam or a new icon nobody asked for, the company sometimes does tweak the user experience in satisfying ways. As an avid Redditor noticed, the Gmail app now offers vibration feedback when you use swipe gestures.
TikTok is now available for Android TV in the UK, Germany, and France (APK Download)
Works on Chromecast with Google TV
The internet is generally a great place to waste time, but TikTok is the current king in this respect. I've resisted installing it on my phone since I get enough secondhand short video smoke from my girlfriend, but this new development is a worrying one. TikTok for Android TV is now available on the Play Store, which could put an end to any semblance of productivity we were pretending to still be capable of.