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DayDream is Google's next-generation VR platform, designed for Android. AP Photo/Eric Risberg

The way you access apps on Android is going to change significantly

And it will remove the commitment of downloading an app.

ANDROID COULD END up solving a problem with app downloads and storage space as it changes the way they’re downloaded.

Instant Apps will roll out later this year and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Giving smartphone users access to an app straight away but how it does it and what it allows is far more interesting.

Instead of downloading the whole app first, it only downloads the part that you need or want to look at. In the example provided at Google I/O, the company’s developer conference, someone could send you a link to an app.

When you click on it, instead of downloading it, it just opens up the part that’s been linked. The app is split up in modules so Google Play only installs the part that’s necessary.

Think of it like this. If an app was a website, then Instant Apps only loads up the page you need instead of the entire site. If you like it, you can then download the entire app for use later. If not, you can still jump into the app again provided you have a link, found either through search or sent by someone.

Google instant apps Google Developers / YouTube Google Developers / YouTube / YouTube

It’s unclear whether this will work for all apps or just smaller, specific apps – the idea of jumping into a demanding 3D game immediately would be amazing if it works – but it would be very useful for those with limited storage space.

And the best part? The feature works on Android phones using software as old as Jelly Bean. That means phones that were launched back in 2012 will be able to take advantage of it.

That’s probably a good thing considering how fragmented Android’s userbase is as only 7.5% of Android users have the latest version, Marshmallow, on their devices.

Not that Google has anything to be worried about. More than 65 billion apps were downloaded in the past year while more than 200 million Android smartphones were activated in the same period.

New platforms

AS part of the developer conference, it also revealed a number of updates that will be included with the next version of Android.

Android N is already available in beta, something that usually happens after Google I/O, but some of the new features coming include split-screen mode, a feature appearing on many other phones, and quick notification options. By holding down on a notification, you can choose to make them silent or block them entirely.

The other major Android announcement concerned DayDream, a virtual reality platform running on Android.

As well as requiring a smartphone and basic headset – presumably fancier than Cardboard – it will also be using a basic motion controller to control what is on screen.

Google VR 3

The next generation of Android phones will be able to run DayDream and will work with a number of makers including Samsung, LG, Huawei, HTC, and Xiaomi.

Read: Forget taking over your phone, Google wants to take over your home and life >

Read: Microsoft just gave its biggest hint that it will be ending Lumia phones >

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12 Comments
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    Mute D_D_H
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    May 1st 2025, 5:10 PM

    Alcohol action need to keep justifying their exitistence and salaries by continually coming up with ideas such as little salon doors, labels, min pricing, can’t get points in supermarkets etc etc.

    193
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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    May 1st 2025, 5:16 PM

    @D_D_H: Considering alcohol consumption has been declining for years, I wonder at what consumption level AAI will declare their job done and disband. Or will they keep going until prohibition is implemented. Maybe they should declare their genuine intent.

    113
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    Mute Karen Marten
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    May 1st 2025, 5:35 PM

    @D_D_H: Saloon. Salon .is where you get your hair done

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    Mute Oweke 68
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    May 1st 2025, 6:06 PM

    @Soundy Sound: it’s declined because of price and that the younger generation are smoking weed instead. You don’t see too many people drunk anymore but you can smell weed for miles . That’s more of a problem now than alcohol.

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    Mute Colette Byrne
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    May 1st 2025, 6:22 PM

    @Oweke 68: coke and keth is the biggest problem now,weed in the halfpenny place

    23
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    Mute John
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    May 1st 2025, 7:18 PM

    @Oweke 68: no it’s not. You don’t see people fighting after a joint, or causing any where near the problem people cause when drunk.

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    Mute Orban Orban
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    May 1st 2025, 7:27 PM

    @Oweke 68: I don’t there is more people smoking weed now than the 90s. It’s just it’s very smelly so you notice it more

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    Mute Oweke 68
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    May 1st 2025, 10:41 PM

    @Colette Byrne: same difference all drugs . Not alcohol.

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    Mute bruce banner
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    May 1st 2025, 5:00 PM

    Would prefer warnings on stuff we dont know about, like contaminated water, contaminated food we buy from animal feed compan… I mean food companies.

    121
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    Mute Athena
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    May 1st 2025, 7:49 PM

    @bruce banner: These carrots were treated with Glyphosate. Yes, I like that.

    9
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    May 1st 2025, 5:29 PM

    Firstly should that not be the duty of the “health” minister to announce that??
    Secondly, are Alcohol Action so blinded by their own ineptness that they think people actually read the labels.
    Thirdly, I am peed off with people telling me what I should be doing, I am a pensioner and well able to make up my own mind!
    Alcohol Action are a totally unnecessary waste of time and money!!

    148
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    Mute Daniel Skelton
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    May 1st 2025, 4:57 PM

    What isn’t delayed in this country?

    92
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    Mute Jerry LeFrog
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    May 1st 2025, 5:10 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: politicians’ pay rises

    185
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    Mute Brian Molloy
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    May 1st 2025, 5:21 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: pay increases and bonuses for themselves and their cronies

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    Mute Richard Starling
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    May 1st 2025, 5:36 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: TD junkets and salary increases.

    33
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    Mute The Firestarter
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    May 1st 2025, 5:25 PM

    Luckily we have such a caring government who brought in minimum alcohol pricing, banned alcohol promotions, you can’t get an off-sale after 10pm etc. We really are blessed in this country.

    79
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    Mute Áine G
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    May 1st 2025, 5:35 PM

    Alcohol Action, give me a break. The average heavy beer drinker switched to Spirits because there cheaper. Made a bad situation worse.

    74
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    Mute David O Brien
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    May 1st 2025, 5:03 PM

    Thank god I didn’t know what I was drinking.

    49
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    Mute John Darker
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    May 1st 2025, 5:42 PM

    When you read that they are withholding health warnings because of possible negative sales, that tells everyone it’s not about health, but about the bottom line of profits… health warnings are only considered as long as it doesn’t affect the bottom line of profits

    48
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    Mute Karl Phillips
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    May 1st 2025, 5:06 PM

    Simon, your nose is getting longer.

    60
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    Mute Stiles
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    May 1st 2025, 5:54 PM

    **WARNING THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOTTLE THIS WILL MAKE YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME AND MAYBE EAT TAKEAWAY**

    57
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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    May 1st 2025, 7:01 PM

    The warning should read ‘ by buying this bottle of alcohol you are paying tax yet again on your nett salary which was already double taxed. The tax on this bottle comprises of three more taxes…vat, duty and minimum pricing. Are you sure you want the government to steal from you again? ‘

    38
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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    May 2nd 2025, 10:21 AM

    @Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: minimum pricing isn’t a tax. It doesn’t go to the state.

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    Mute Tracy Reddy
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    May 1st 2025, 5:51 PM

    Is there anything with this government that’s not a lie or delayed???

    42
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    Mute David Goddard
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    May 1st 2025, 5:55 PM

    @Tracy Reddy: The bonuses & they paid themselves.

    34
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    May 1st 2025, 5:58 PM

    @Tracy Reddy: that’s because they have done nothing since last September. A total circus of a government!! The only difference is that it ain’t funny!!

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    Mute Tracy Reddy
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    May 2nd 2025, 10:27 AM

    @John Doe: Just 27 thousand in travel expenses, 42 thousand for loss of earnings from a previous job because they had to travel europe as a dotting politician. TD Brendan Smith from Cavan. All information freely available on the CSO

    2
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    Mute Be Lucky
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    May 1st 2025, 6:00 PM

    I live between home in Dublin and London, there is drink and promos everywhere yet my intake is no more than when at home. But it’s very nice tho to be able to pick up a bottle when you want , where as at home my family and friends stock up and end up drinking more because of the restrictions.

    29
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    Mute RP McGuinness
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    May 1st 2025, 6:00 PM

    The Irish Government – here to suck the last bit of joy out of everything and tax you for it in the process

    41
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    Mute S Os
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    May 1st 2025, 7:41 PM

    I don’t think alcoholics are going to be put off by the warning and yhe rest of us certainly won’t. Most of my drinking these days (once every 6 months) is in a bar where my drink is served to me in a glass so I don’t even see the bottle . It’s such a waste of time and money

    23
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    Mute Teresa Joyce
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    May 1st 2025, 6:01 PM

    Of course it’s delayed! Absolutely every new initiative or plan agreed by recent governments have been delayed or never brought in at all. It’s very frustrating even if this one isn’t the most urgent.

    17
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    Mute big john
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    May 1st 2025, 6:41 PM

    What about proper health warnings on Sugar…. and the marketing and placement of junk food in shops???

    Like if we’re serious about our health and critical of the wild cost of healthcare, wouldn’t our efforts be better used to promote healthy lifestyles?

    17
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    Mute Teresa Joyce
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    May 1st 2025, 7:02 PM

    @big john: Also most takeaway foods.

    8
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    Mute Richard Hennessy
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    May 1st 2025, 7:36 PM

    The war on alcohol is over. The amount of people drinking is in serious decline. More nanny bs

    18
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    Mute giles wolohan
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    May 1st 2025, 9:27 PM

    Yea but never a delay on increasing the price of alcohol

    13
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    Mute Colette Byrne
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    May 1st 2025, 6:19 PM

    So not deemed important enough, to save Irish lives from drink.
    Cause God forbid we effect profits of large drinks companies.

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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    May 1st 2025, 6:34 PM

    @Colette Byrne: The drinks industry in Ireland directly employs around 90 000 people in Ireland. It’s just something to consider.
    And it’s not just large companies. There’s a significant craft sector employing a lot of skilled and professionally qualified people from 3rd level institutions.
    I’m not saying there should be a free for all but we already have extremely high duty rates and draconian licencing laws (again, comparatively). It’s already a very difficult sector to operate in for smaller companies.

    14
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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    May 1st 2025, 6:47 PM

    @Soundy Sound: it’s also a highly addictive group 1 carcinogen which costs us all massively through lost productivity, the extra strain on the health service, its prevalence in anti social behaviour, sexual crime, domestic abuse, child abuse, child neglect, violent crime and of course murder. It also plays a massive role in our cocaine use in this country which is at epidemic levels. It’s is, was and continues to be the gateway drug for young people. As far as drugs go, it’s by far one of the worst in the harm it causes individuals, families and society.

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    Mute Richard Hennessy
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    May 1st 2025, 7:37 PM

    @Declan Doherty: yes but it is in serious decline. I have worked in the industry never seen a product to nosedive like alcohol is.

    3
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    Mute jn
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    May 1st 2025, 7:58 PM

    @Declan Doherty: well said truth hurts for many

    4
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    Mute Soundy Sound
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    May 2nd 2025, 10:19 AM

    @Declan Doherty: well, are you calling for prohibition? If not why not?
    If you are calling for prohibition, step up and say so. I don’t think that destroying a legal productive industry with a thousand cuts is a correct way to implement harm reduction. I think the message needs to be clear.

    1
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    Mute Spanner
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    May 1st 2025, 7:14 PM

    Imagine a government plan that’s not delayed, it’s easy if you try, no lobbiests interfering, no kicking the ball down the road. OK its hard to imagine but no surprise really

    6
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    Mute Ciaran Goggins
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    May 1st 2025, 6:35 PM

    Most bottles have different labels when they are shipped abroad,bow to pressure from the alcohol companies

    4
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    Mute Peter Wall
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    May 1st 2025, 6:58 PM

    Drinking alcohol is extremely bad for your physical and mental health, it needs to be banned

    2
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    Mute dave forde
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    May 1st 2025, 7:49 PM

    @Peter Wall:

    1
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    May 1st 2025, 8:40 PM

    @Peter Wall: It has affected you terribly. Where did you get your degree??

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    Mute Derek O Gorman
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    May 2nd 2025, 10:47 AM

    More wasted money..put ads on TV regarding alcohol effects as in depression anxiety physical effects etc. not this waste

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