5 lesser-known Google apps I all the time set up on my Android telephone

Because the proprietor of the Android operating system, it is no shock that Google has revealed many a cell app onto its Play Retailer platform through the years. A lot of Google’s premier providers, together with Gmail, Maps, and Chrome, are pre-installed on the vast majority of Android units out of the field, owing to numerous Google Play Companies agreements made with its OEM {hardware} companions.

Google can be the writer of quite a few lesser-known apps which can be listed on its Play Retailer web page, however that do not ship on Android by default (even on the corporate’s personal Pixel hardware). A few of these cell apps are experimental, whereas others are well-refined and of official utility. Listed below are 5 first-party Android apps from Google that I personally all the time set up when establishing a brand new Android telephone or pill.

1

Gallery

A light-weight Google Pictures various

Most Android customers are acquainted with Google Photos, which is the corporate’s flagship picture gallery suite that gives cloud storage, AI-powered photograph group, and cross-device synchronization. Lesser recognized is Gallery, which is a light-weight Google-built various for quick and handy offline photograph administration.

Gallery solely takes up about 15MB of storage, and it really works completely with out an web connection or any cloud-based subscription heckling. All of the necessities are current and accounted for, together with SD card help, computerized folder sorting, an auto-enhance picture choice, and a full darkish mode.

Associated

5 free apps that keep my data safe no matter what

In the event you aren’t already utilizing an authenticator app to safe your on-line accounts, take into account downloading considered one of these high choices.

2

Google Authenticator

A straightforward method to streamline your two-factor authentication efforts

Pocket-lint / Google

There are a number of excellent two-factor authentication (2FA) functions obtainable to select from on Android, and Google’s personal Authenticator app is a very nice place to begin for these new to multifactor safety. Except for routinely syncing together with your Google Account, the app is easy and light-weight, with out requiring a subscription price or being tied with every other paid service.

As with different 2FA apps, Google Authenticator enables you to scan a QR code to routinely enroll your accounts, after which a string of six digits will seem and refresh each few seconds. This added layer of safety makes it so that you’re much less more likely to be hacked, even when your password is on the weaker side.

Associated

You won’t find these 9 excellent apps anywhere on the Google Play Store

F-Droid is a free and open-source various app retailer for Android – listed here are my favourite apps which can be completely obtainable on the storefront.

3

Google Opinion Rewards

Reply fast surveys and obtain free Play Retailer credit score

Google Opinion Rewards is a free Android utility from Google that works by surfacing quick surveys regularly. Every time you full a survey, you are rewarded with a small sum of Google Play Store credit score, which may be redeemed on apps, video games, films, TV exhibits, books, and different digital items.

Survey questions are usually easy to reply with out having to place a lot thought into them, and you may have your telephone notify you as quickly as a brand new survey is accessible to finish. In fact, with Opinion Rewards, you are successfully exchanging privateness for Play Retailer credit, although Google does say that solutions are aggregated and shared with market researchers in an nameless trend.

Associated

5 Android apps I delete immediately from every new phone

I hate litter virtually as a lot as I hate superfluous apps — listed here are the defaults that I all the time delete when establishing a brand new Pixel telephone.

4

Snapseed

A surprisingly feature-rich photograph modifying utility

Snapseed is a Google-owned photo-editing application for Android, and it is all the time been considered one of my private favorites. The app is clear and easy from a consumer interface perspective, however appears may be deceiving: there is a dizzying variety of modifying choices obtainable to select from, starting from filters, to frames, to perspective changes, and the whole lot in between.

I’ve lengthy relied on Snapseed for fast picture touch-ups, and my fingers are crossed that Google will give the app a Material 3 Expressive visual overhaul within the close to future. Because it at present stands, the design is primary, however it will get the job accomplished with none frivolous AI gimmicks, adverts, or nagging about paid subscriptions.

Associated

5 third-party Android apps I insist on using instead of Google’s defaults

Google makes some wonderful Android apps — however they pale compared to these third-party variations.

5

Motion Blocks

Leverage Google’s AI prowess by constructing out one-tap shortcuts

One of many extra fascinating Google-published apps obtainable on the Play Retailer is named Motion Blocks. Powered by the Google Assistant, this app basically permits you to take widespread AI assistant features and rework them into actionable buttons with the backing of a graphical consumer interface (GUI). Motion Blocks works considerably equally to shortcut apps like Apple Shortcuts and Tasker, however it presents an easier interface that focuses on extending accessibility to these with age-related situations, cognitive variations, and people who merely wrestle with (or cannot be bothered with) know-how.

You possibly can set Motion Blocks as much as carry out duties like ‘ship a message,’ ‘make a name,’ or ‘play music,’ and it will also be configured to learn phrases out loud on the contact of a button, reminiscent of ‘hey, my title is’ and ‘please assist me with.’ In each occasion, the applying works like a attraction. The house display screen widgets are all well-designed, they usually slot in nicely with the Android design language as a complete. Apparently, there isn’t any point out of Gemini AI help with this app — I think about Google will transition the app over to its newer AI service as soon as the older Assistant is totally phased out sooner or later.

Associated

Why these 9 Android launchers hold a permanent spot on my phone

Making my app drawer and display screen extra customizable and arranged, these launchers proceed to be an actual display screen saver.