You may have acknowledge Google launch a succession of cut - down , lightweight , basic apps underthe Go label . The idea is they ’re intended for countries where a combination of spotty internet and tight data caps making using all the nerveless apps on your earphone a task . Only those issues are n’t just happening overseas . patched internet and tight data caps can happen in the US too . Which means Android Go apps can be just as useful here .
It ’s worth noting that not all these apps are going to be available to you through the Google Play Store , as they ’re region - engage in some cases . The ones that you ca n’t get through the normal means can be sideloaded by visitingAPKMirrorin your Mobile River web internet browser and search for the relevant app .
They ’re all marry into theAndroid Go operating system , which itself is a cut - down variation of the main Android OS intend for entry - level smartphones and less - than - reliable connexion . Keeping clutter and bloat down to a minimum is the order of the day , and that means some of the common bells and whistles get lost along the way .
Image: Google
Something to note about all of these apps is their small file sizes , often just a few megabytes ( yes , that ’s MB ) . Not only does this intend they download more quickly , but it also means they open up in a snap , even on honest-to-goodness computer hardware . There are compromise along the way though and we ’ll get to those .
It should be noted that the only app we were n’t able to get working on our phone , for no apparent intellect we could figure out , wasGoogle Assistant Go . As with the other apps here , it serves up a lightweight version of the Assistant — we were n’t able-bodied to test it , but smart home controller and reminders are two of the features that are missing compared with the principal app .
Gallery Go
The most recently set in motion Go app is designed around photos . The key dispute in this stripped - down edition of Google Photos is that there ’s no on-line access code — you ca n’t see your pictures and video recording on the web , just what you ’ve got stored locally on your gimmick .
Despite that want of memory access to the cloud processing that Google Photos offers , there is some local AI at work here , because your picture will get classify into basic folders like selfies , animals , nature , and food for thought . you may also make folders manually to make it easier to get around your library .
The app does n’t include any menus or configurations , just a Photos tab or a Folders tab . And editing is special . you’re able to rotate and crop photo , apply an auto fix , apply one of several filter , and that ’s it .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
Do you want to instal it ? It works well as a lightweight photo looker and may even be well-to-do to use than Google Photos in term of getting around pictorial matter in reality saved to your phone . But if you have a web connexion you ’re always going to turn to Google Photos first .
Files Go
file cabinet Go or rather just Files by Google is one of the more capable Go apps , and seems to be just as capable as the Files app you get as part of Android these days ( though perhaps not as easy on the center ) . you’re able to dig into the folders on your equipment , as well as browse by file type ( downloads , images , video , audio , and so on ) .
If Files Go does have a special missionary station in life-time though , it ’s helping you free up space on your Android twist : It has a consecrated Clean tab just for this purpose , where you ’re advised to delete duplicate files , rubble file you do n’t need , and file cabinet mechanically backed up from exigent messenger . This is all optional but the app shew you just how much quad you could save in each font .
you could also use the Files by Google app to share files with other multitude nearby who also have the app installed . It exploit like an ad hoc wireless fidelity connection , so no data point is used up — it ’s very much along the personal line of credit of the AirDrop feature article you get with iOS .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
This is very much an app that anyone can make role of ( which might be why Google dropped the “ Go ” from its name ): the clean - up and file sharing features are really useful , especially if you need those features to work with the minimum of effort on your part . The actual file browse works really well too .
YouTube Go
This is one of the Go apps that makes the most changes from its full - sized , full - featured equivalent , and they ’re in reality really fresh changes too . For a scratch line the interface is much less cluttered , with no Stories , or links to YouTube Movies , or accession to your own videos , or motorcar - play preview as you scroll .
you may basically see commend videos , your subscriptions , and apply the search role , and that ’s it . But in terms of useful feature , the key one is the power to download videos rather than play them — you get the choice every time you tap on a video , to play it or download it for later on .
Not only that , you get a excerption of three video quality setting to opt from as well ( data saver , standard , and gamy ) . The app demonstrate you how much storage infinite each one will take up , and how much you ’ve got left on your phone . you may also opt to swarm the video mightily off at any of those three quality setting .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
That prepare YouTube Go very utilitarian for travel or take to places with spotty wifi where a link might amount and go ( you may do this on regular YouTube , but only with a YouTube Premium subscription ) . Extra feature like high - quality 4 K playback , the Google Cast button , and subtitles , are off the table , but you might be capable to live without them .
Gmail Go
In contrast to YouTube Go , Gmail Go is very interchangeable to the app it borrows from . in reality , it ’s a lot like the main Gmail app used to be in term of looks and functionality — there ’s no smart replying , and no email snoozing , and no suggestion when you try a hunting .
You do n’t get the big search boxful up at the top ( it ’s back to a overdraw glass at the side ) , and you do n’t get inline attachment previews either . It ’s like step back in time to before Gmail on Android last had an redevelopment , but multiple accounts are supported , as are labels and category and all the Gmail BASIC .
cut out all those newer features entail the app is much more lightweight , and it ’s quicker getting around ( especially with a slower connection to the cyberspace ) . you’re able to also compile messages and response to emails offline , but then you’re able to do this in the main Gmail app too ( base on our warm tests at least ) .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
With all that in idea , there ’s really no rationality to instal Gmail Go if you could use Gmail — it cuts out a substantial number of features for only one reward , which is that the app is smaller and more lightweight . Unless you ’re really struggling on an old and slow Android machine , stick to Gmail right .
Maps GoandNavigation for Maps Go
The lightweight Maps Go actually turn tail as a web app , though all sign of a web browser window are hidden . The big welfare of that coming is that data point is only download as you need it — Google says Maps Go is around 100 time smaller in term of single file size than the principal Google Maps .
All the key features are here ( like directions and information on place ) , the interface is just more skin down . The Explore tab ( for finding places nearby ) and the For You tab ( for advocate places to you ) are gone , but you could still see dealings , and terrain , and time of the next bus to your goal .
Plot out a route , and Navigation for Maps Go takes over . This basically just sharpen on the route , and differentiate you about traffic , and that ’s it — you ca n’t search for place en route , you ca n’t see the directions in progression , and you ca n’t partake your trip advancement with other citizenry . Recently added features like a hurrying reading are missing too . It ’ll get you from A to B and that ’s about it .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
There ’s really no indigence to establish Maps Go and Navigation for Maps Go unless you struggle for storage space on your phone or datum connectivity while you ’re out and about — Google says both these apps are optimized to keep working on patched connections . The full Google Maps has an offline feature film that lets you cache map tile ahead of prison term , and we think that might be a better option for multitude lead towards areas with crummy net .
Google Go
Last but not least , the Google Go app , which covers all the same job as the main Google app — search the World Wide Web , getting the atmospheric condition prognosis , open up web links in a basic , built - in browser app . Google order the search results are optimized to save “ up to 40 per centum ” of data and the app is certainly quick and slick ground on our testing .
You do n’t get all the news box and video results in Google Go that you get in a regular Google app search , so it ’s actually a middling adept way of cut down on the clutter if you want to get around the web faster . There ’s also an interesting feature that will read aloud web Sir Frederick Handley Page to you if you want to give your eyes a repose . The app ’s front screen is n’t taken up with advocate articles either , though you’re able to come up them with a hydrant .
apart from the bring down - down upshot and the meter reading aloud feature film , the differences really are just in the minimum way the app is presented and coded , with bloat kept down to a lower limit and a extra emphasis on canonical navigation that only takes a few taps . It ’s less demanding on your speech sound and it ’s less demanding on whatever connectedness you ’ve get .
Screenshot: Gizmodo
We ’re not sure we ’d necessarily recommend using it over the chief app , even if you ’re on your travels , but it might be ready to hand to have around just in pillow slip you ’re in a spot where the main Google app ( or your main internet web browser ) is struggling to dilute — it’ll certainly avail you get to your results fast . And if you ’d rather Google stuck to the business of hunting rather than offering up personalized clause proffer every 24-hour interval , it ’s worth a look too .
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