5 Great Unheard Of Google Apps
You might think you know all about the Google brand apps that are available on the Play store. You might also think that you're Abraham Lincoln struggling to make it in musical theater so you can one day perform on Broadway. The only thing that these two things have in common is that they're both probably wrong.
Believe it or not, sometimes even Google apps don't gain a whole lot of popularity. I went through the Google developer page and found out these great apps here don't have a whole lots of downloads. Some of these apps deserve a little more attention than they receive, so I'd thought I'd share these gems with you.
Primer by Google
Primer is an app that delivers simple lessons to help you learn marketing skills. If there is anyone who is in any position to tell you a thing or two about marketing, it's Google. These lessons will come in handy for anyone trying to push any kind of product or content online. You can expect everything to look amazing as it's all done with material design. Check out these screenshots.
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Download
Arts & Culture
This app actually has under 50,000 downloads right now. That's some small time baby stuff by Google's standards. Arts and Culture will let you take 360 tours of hundreds of museums, heritage sites, and landmarks. This is pretty awesome if you're into art and culture, you animal. Next time you plan on going to the museum with your family, just sit around on the sofa instead. Did you know that in Canada they call sofas chesterfields? What a backwards country that is.
Download
Snapseed
The Google Photos app has some nice editing options in there but you probably didn't know about Snapseed. This is a photo editor that goes a little more in depth than your stock editor. Now I can move the giant disgusting moles off of my abnormally large head and not have it look like a hack job.
Download
YouTube Creator Studio
I run a popular youtube channel where I discuss different breast feeding tips and tricks. Because of the large amount of hate comments saying that I'm a man and have no right to talk about this stuff, I have a lot a comments to manage. If you've ever tried to do anything other than watch videos on the Youtube app for Android, you'll quickly learn it's pretty useless. That's why Youtube Creator Studio is a blessing. You can access almost everything in your control panel from your phone. This makes it much easier for me to delete all those comments from the haters, block people from messaging me, and delete videos that I regret.
Download
Device Assist
So your parents just got an Android phone and they have more than a few questions about how to use it. You just can't be bothered with it because you have better things to do. Instead install this app on their phone. You can have it generate tips based on a difficulty level. You can tell them to use the live support option instead of giving up if they get overwhelmed. Definitely a cool and useful app.
Download
Keep an eye out on Google's Play store developer page to see if they try to sneak any other gems in there.
Primer is a really great app, it has many lessons.
jlsrios said:
Primer is a really great app, it has many lessons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totaly agree with you. there are tons of lessons. They are very straight forward.
Okay
Thanks for sharing
YT
Youtubers Creator Studio, Best one for youtubers like me.
Nice thread
Related
..using youtube to display their work? I made a video today using an app called 'Screencast', and from finding the app to posting the youtube link on XDA took less time than creating a display image. Not to mention the benefit of people seeing the work in motion!
I'm just curious really; as we have hundreds of pages of screenshots with very few videos. Screenshots don't capture transition animations, or selection highlights etc, when the phone is actually in use.
Here's my example so that you can see what i'm talking about:
http://youtu.be/nbjwQS3pDao
I'm only using a single core device so using the app does slow down the UI somewhat, but a dual core would be perfect for this.
They're either shy, don't like exposing themselves, can't be bothered, don't have a camera, just don't want to, etc. There's no one answer to this. It does allow more exposure and a better experience. Also allows more understanding (to the viewer) and other stuff which can help people since they are actually seeing everything in "realtime".
No camera needed. This app and others like it are for screen caps. No audio so it's not like a full blown video review. It's just showing off your homescreens and customizations but in moving pictures.
The same effect could be had by using a gif editor i suppose but you either have to start with a video anyway, or a bunch of screenshots. The method i've used is so simple and fast i'm just curious as to why more people aren't using it!
'Show of your homescreen' thread? Embed youtube demo.
Simples, no?
Yep, pretty simple. Maybe it's just not "advertised" enough. As in, people don't know of it. But more will now...
I must say the video is quite impressive and the app will definitely make the process easier, and could also be used to highlight certain issues members might be having.
Thanks for pointing it out.
XperienceD said:
I must say the video is quite impressive and the app will definitely make the process easier, and could also be used to highlight certain issues members might be having.
Thanks for pointing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a self-confessed n00b, and that was my first youtube upload. (yeah, slow learner, right?) It took ten minutes from thinking of the possibility, to finding an app, making the vid, uploading it and then posting it!
With my skill set, or lack thereof, it takes me longer to come up with the usual 'display picture'. i.e:
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All the best launchers like Launcher Pro or ADW EX have options for how to handle selection highlights. I always run into the nightmare of finding a set-up i like, only to end up hating it every time i select a shortcut! I can't be the only one? Static images don't show how people handle issues like that. ADW EX at least allows a fully transparent highlight so that you don't see it at all. Not all Launchers do though.
Perhaps it's only me, but when i see somebody's glorious creations, i think 'hah...how does it look when you click on that shortcut/widget..?? In a video you can see how!
The Best Designed Android Apps
When thinking about what kind of design you want to go with for your app, you're probably pulling inspiration from an existing app that you have in mind. Have you ever downloaded an app and just been like "Wtf this is amazing!" Design goes hand in hand with functionality and these specific apps just nail that balance.
I'm going to list some of the best designed apps so hopefully you can get inspired to implement some of these looks into your own app. What I find best about these apps is that each one in very unique. Let's check them out.
Top Five Best Designed Android Apps
5. Lyft
Lyft is a taxi-alternative ride sharing app. It's so easy to use, you'll be setup and ready to go within 2 minutes tops. You can view where the local cabs are and filter through the different types of rides you want. The graphical interface is simple and to-the-point.
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4. Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts will deliver all of your favorite podcasts directly into your ears. I've learned so much from podcasts. Did you know 9/11 was an inside job?! Crazy! What's every crazier is how good this app looks. The media player is brilliant with how they display all the information you need in simple and clever icons. Check out these screenshots to see what I mean.
View attachment 3592046View attachment 3592047View attachment 3592048
3. B&H Photo Video Pro Audio
When you first launch this app you'll be expecting the usual shopping app like Amazon or Walmart. Boy are you in for a surprise. This is one of the best looking shopping apps you will find. It's worth downloading just to check it out and see how great everything looks.
2. Weather Timeline - Forecast
You're probably not used to paying 99 cents for a weather app. You're probably also not used to having a weather app that will blow your socks off and suck on your toes. This is by far the best designed weather app on the Play store. Check your forecast in style, right before the tornado hits and destroys your entire town.
1. Tumblr
The animations in the tumblr app won it a Material Design Award from Google. Tumblr is the app to check out if you want to trigger your creativity for animations and layout design. It really adds something nice to the experience when you're posting selfies of your new blue and green hair color.
These are my favorites apps when it comes to design, and they have all be featured at least once on Googles design website. What apps do you think have fantastic designs? Share them in the comments.
Sweet man
How To Design An Android App
Hey sweethearts, I've made a few threads about design resources, icons, fonts, websites and stuff like that. But maybe you're sitting here with nothing more than an app idea swirling around in your brain. You're probably wondering where to get started and what the steps are to design an Android app from scratch. So I'll walk you through the steps you need to take to have a great design that you can then develop into an app.
Step 1- Creating a Wireframe
Alright so first things first. Start with the basics. What you need to do is create a wireframe layout that will show every page, menu, option and function of your of your app. This is what a wireframe layout will look like.
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You can checkout this guide that will walk you through how to get your wireframe setup in a way that makes sense.
Putting it All Together: Wireframing the Example App
Now you'll need a wireframe kit to get started, which will contain all the graphics that you'll need. You can piece together your wireframe in a program like Adobe Illustrator or any graphic design program that you use. Checkout this thread that lists some of the best free wireframe kits.
5 Free Android Wireframe Kits
Step 2- Stickers and Graphics
Now that you have a cute little wireframe going, it's time to get to the fun part. We are going to put together the graphical interface for your app. This is where you choose the icons, font, colors and images that will be displayed throughout your app.
To do this we are going to use stickers. What are stickers? These are a set a graphics that contain premade navigation buttons, menus, icons and everything you need for that kind of stuff. So go ahead and download the sticker sheet from Google.
Resources– Sticker sheets & icons
This sticker sheet will save you a lot of time creating those little graphics that you'd rather not spend too much time on. Another great thing about using the sticker sheet is everything will snap onto a grid, so everything will be easy to align and organize.
So at this point you are ready to integrate your own graphics. Work with your sticker sheet and add your personal touches. Make it beautiful and sassy just like my dad.
Step 3- Prototype
A prototype is a demonstration of how your app will work. This is created with software on your computer but everything can function on your Android device. This is not the same as developing the app. This is more like creating an interactive slideshow that can take advantage of all of your phones functions. Now if you're thinking that you will have to shell out some cash for a prototyping program, push that thought out of your head and vomit it out of your mouth. Papa Google has gone and adopted some companies that make fantastic prototyping software and now they're available to us for free. You're going to use some software called Pixate.
What it is:
A visual prototyping platform that allows designers to create sophisticated, fluid mobile prototypes that run natively on iOS and Android devices.
What it’s best for:
Creating complete app prototypes or crafting carefully choreographed interactions that look and feel completely real, and sharing them so entire product teams or clients can experience them right on their device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pixate
Alright so your Prototype is going to be a separate thing from your finished graphical design from step 2. Both of these will be very helpful to share your idea with a developer. These will also be needed if you are doing something like kickstarter to get your app funded. People will feel much more comfortable donating if they can see a live working prototype on a phone.
Alright now you know how to design your own Android app. Getting it developed is up to you. For more complex apps you'll want to look at hiring a company, for simple apps you could try sites like freelancer, and for really simple apps you could always develop it yourself. I hope this guide has helped point you in the right direction!
The End.
We are Ken and Houtan, two developers building a personal trainer AI for wearables. Over the past year we've built out tech that can automatically recognize a user's exercises, like bench presses and squats, if they are wearing an Android Wear smart watch. We are launching the beta program for our app, YouMove, and are inviting members of the XDA community to join. We would love your comments and feedback on what we've done and would be thrilled to hear your suggestions on what we should do next!
Apply for the Beta!
We recently added the ability for the app to learn new user exercises, which we are really excited about!
Other features we are currently testing:
- Automatic, passive recognition of weight training, calisthenics and cardio exercises
- Tracking of exercises, reps, sets, resting times, calorie counts, and intensity
- Detailed display of a user's workout in a timeline on watch and phone
We know the XDA community can provide some great feedback on what we've made so far. Thanks everyone!
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This looks really cool! I've been tracking my workouts using Google Sheets for a while now, but if this works, I could totally see it replacing that. I'll let you know more of my thoughts after I sign up for the beta and try it out a bit, but I was just wondering if there is a way to see your progress by exercise type in some place on the app. I've always roughly guessed how I've improved over time at, say, bench press, and I know that I can do it now if I really wanted to, but it'd be really cool to have it readily available on the app.
Looks interesting, may take it for a spin!
Where is the link for download? Also:
1. Will you be having only dark color for the app?
2. Does it support Android Wear independently without the need of the phone?
2.1. Does it support the internal GPS of Sony Smartwatch, for instance?
sapiora said:
Where is the link for download? Also:
1. Will you be having only dark color for the app?
2. Does it support Android Wear independently without the need of the phone?
2.1. Does it support the internal GPS of Sony Smartwatch, for instance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Current it is a closed beta, so once you apply we will send an email with a link.
1. We are switching to a lighter color UI on the phone. Sticking to a dark color on watch to conserve battery life.
2. Yes, it works on the watch independently of the phone.
3. At this point it doesn't support GPS. Right now we are primarily focused on weight training and calisthenics. But when we do hit cardio, we'll make sure to use GPS on the watch.
I'm interested in trying this out. How's progress on the app?
Link not working
I would love to participate but the link is not working
I would like to apply for the beta but the link is not working.
I mostly go sporting/gym 3 times a week.
Can i get a beta because i was searching for this kinda app ?
Thanks !
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The EMUI has evolved for several years and is getting stronger and more user-friendly day-by-day. For heavy smartphone users like me, I know basically every small feature of the system, however, I found some of them particularly useful. Today I’m going to share with you some of the less-noticeable features which help me every day.
The most easy-to-use to-do list
How many of you keep the habit of listing to-dos? For procrastinators like myself, I found it difficult to get things done if I’m without a TDL (“to-do list”). And here is when the to-do of the EMUI Notes app got discovered by me!
I know some of you might wonder, there are tons of TDL apps on the market, why should I use a stock app? I’ll tell you why: easy to use and simple to maintain! You just go to your Notes app, or add a To-dos widget on your screen, and you’re good to go!
The To-dos is very straightforward yet useful enough: just add your to-do and set a timer or a location (or not), and mark the importance (if needed), and it’s done! It’s so fulfilling to cross items off, and feel the happiness of getting things done!
Multi-screen collaboration
When you talk about EMUI’s amazing features, the one feature that cannot be missed is Multi-screen collaboration.
When I’m at work, or when I have a low battery, I don’t want to raise my phone too constantly in case my thoughts are interrupted. Therefore I will enable the [Huawei Share] on my phone, and put it close to my Huawei laptop. And bang! My phone screen will appear on my laptop, and I don’t need to stare at the small phone screen anymore! I can look for files, reply to my messages, and even answer my calls on the PC!
A super cool and super-easy way to manage files
This one is not that different from the second feature. It’s actually included in the "Multi-screen collaboration" feature, but it’s so convenient and useful that I have shared with everyone who uses a Huawei phone and a Huawei laptop: File cooperation!
Just go to your phone storage and find any files which you want to view or edit. You can click it directly and start editing it on your laptop; or, you can just drag it out to a PC folder!
And, don’t worry about the screen-on time will drain out your battery. Once you start operating the phone on your laptop, your phone screen will automatically go dark, saving battery for you!
Ring-tone maker
I don’t know about you guys, but I am a person who simply hates the ringtones which come with the system. No offense to the ringtones and to those who use them, it’s just a habit of me.
If you happen to be one of my kind, you will be truly grateful for this feature: ring-tone maker!
Just download the music you like, and play it with the Huawei Music app, where you can find a small bell icon. Tap on the bell icon, and you are free to define your own ringtone!
I know some other music apps might also support this feature, but those apps sometimes cannot set 2 different ringtones for the 2 SIM cards I have. So in the end, it’s the Huawei Music app’s ring-tone maker that wins my heart!
These are the 4 small lesser-known tricks that I found truly useful for my daily life. If you haven’t tried them out, try it now! I'm also trying all the new features on my recently purchased Mate 40 Pro! If you want to know about EMUI tricks on the new flagship, leave a comment and let me know! See you next time!
For details about Huawei developers and HMS, visit the website.
HUAWEI Developer Forum | HUAWEI Developer
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