Jordan Kahn

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play
• Skype
• log-in

Skype 5.5 for Android remembers log-in details, adds web link previews

Jordan Kahn Jul 14 2015 - 2:47 pm PT

0 Comments

Skype for Android is getting an update today that brings two notable new features. The app now remembers log-in details making it faster and easier to sign-in, while chat gets the web link previews feature that first arrived on the Mac and iOS.

With the improvements we’ve made to battery use and notifications, you can comfortably leave Skype running on your Android devices without signing out. However, for those of you who still want to sign out, we’ve made it easier for you to sign back into the app.

With the app’s new ability to remember log-in details, users will be to decide whether or not a password is required for each log-in. The app will remember your password by default, but you can switch it off in Settings in the Privacy section.

Skype also notes that web link previews, a thumbnail showing a preview of webpages for links shared in chat windows, will start appearing for Android users over the next few weeks with the latest update.

Version 5.5 of Skype for Android is available on Google Play now.

• Android
• IPhone
• Microsoft
• Amazon
• iPad

Microsoft’s $99 Universal Foldable Keyboard for Android & other devices now available

Jordan Kahn Jul 14 2015 - 7:27 am PT

0 Comments

Microsoft’s new Universal Foldable Keyboard, first unveiled earlier this year, is now available to purchase online and through Microsoft stores. The super portable Bluetooth keyboard folds in half when not in use and allows users to connect to two mobile devices at once including Android, iPhones, iPads, and Windows devices.

Microsoft notes that the keyboard has full-size keys, a spill-resistant, water-repellent keyboard and outer material, and a built-in rechargeable battery that will get you around three months of use on a charge. There’s also an “OS” button for switching between connected devices. Here’s a closer look at the keyboard:

The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard is available for $100 on Amazon, and it’s also available through Microsoft retail stores and online.

Microsoft made a new video for today’s launch to show off some of the keyboard’s features and its compact, 5mm thin design:

[youtube=https://youtu.be/zNrop5Mwv0g]

• Apps & Updates
• Google
• Apps and Updates
• iOS
• app
• go

Google releases ‘Ivy’ app for iOS, an experimental big number calculator

Jordan Kahn Jul 10 2015 - 12:21 pm PT

2 Comments

Google has quietly launched a new iOS app today called Ivy that it describes as an experimental big number calculator.
Expand
Expanding
Close

• Apps & Updates
• Apps and Updates
• Gmail
• Google Hangouts
• photos
• Inbox by Gmail

Google Hangouts now lets you drag and drop images on the web

Jordan Kahn Jul 9 2015 - 1:33 pm PT

1 Comment

Google Hangouts on the web now lets users drag and drop images directly from their computer or web browser. That goes for the little chat window within your Gmail inbox and through the standalone Hangouts Chrome app. Googler Mayur Kamat shared the news and the image above demonstrating the new feature through a post on Google+ today.
Expand
Expanding
Close

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Google
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play
• Google Docs

Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides for Android get improved editing, collaboration features

Jordan Kahn Jul 9 2015 - 11:15 am PT

1 Comment

Google is rolling out updates today for its Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android, bringing a few improvements to editing and collaboration features in the process.

First up, Google will now offer quick access to editing titles for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations directly from the app’s overflow menu in the top right corner of the UI across all three apps (as pictured above).

In addition, the Google Slides Android app gains the ability to switch layouts of existing slides: individuals can now change the layout of an existing slide to one of several predefined layouts, allowing them to update presentations on mobile more effectively.

Lastly, the Docs app get improved collaboration features for those using the Office Compatibility Mode:

People can now reply to comments when working in Office Compatibility Mode in the Docs app. In addition, when in OCM, suggestions and comments now appear in the Comments panel in the order they were made—rather than as all comments first and all suggestions second.

All three app updates should be arriving on Google Play for Android users sometime today.

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Apps and Updates
• iOS
• Instagram
• SDK

Pinterest announces IFTTT & Polyvore apps as first developer platform integrations

Jordan Kahn Jul 8 2015 - 9:42 am PT

0 Comments

After introducing a new developers platform and SDK in May, Pinterest is today announcing a couple of the first integrations developers have come up with starting with popular automation platform IFTTT and community based shopping/fashion site Polyvore.

For IFTTT, the service that lets users automate common web and app-based tasks based on a set of rules known as “recipes”, users will now be able to link products and devices on Pinterest to their automated workflows. The company shared some examples: automatically save Pins to a board from simple actions in other apps such as liking a photo on Instagram, upvoting a post on Reddit or favoriting an item on Etsy. There are more than 20 Recipes to choose from starting today. The Pinterest integration for IFTTT is available through desktop and the service’s mobile apps including Android.

For Polyvore, users can login to the site using their Pinterest account to quickly and easily get access to pinning items from the fashion community/shopping site to Pinterest boards via the company’s iOS app. Support through the Android app, however, is coming soon. 

In addition, Pinterest noted that new SDKs and documentation for developers are available to all through the company’s new developers site. The new SDKs give devs access to the Pin It button and JS and OAuth support.

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Apps and Updates
• update
• app
• free

Fleksy keyboard gets new features & themes as app goes free indefinitely

Jordan Kahn Jul 8 2015 - 7:47 am PT

1 Comment

After around seven million downloads of its popular third-party keyboard app, Fleksy is today announcing that its mobile apps will be completely free for all going forward.

The company was originally charging $4 for the app but had dropped the price to $1 and even made the app free temporarily a couple times in the past. Starting today, however, Fleksy says its apps for both iOS and Android will be free forever.

For everyone that has paid for the app and feels left out, Fleksy is offering a free gift that it says is worth $8 to make up for it. The in-app download includes a selection of new themes and extensions, which also arrive with today’s update. While the app is going free for all to download and use, the company will continue offering premium themes and extensions as paid in-app purchases.

In addition to going free, the company highlighted some other new features and improvements arriving today:

Going free is not the only big update today.  We also launched an improved rich content view called Highlights. Meaning, Fleksy will better assist with GIF, sticker and other content discovery based on what you type. Instead of manually searching for stickers and GIFs on separate pages, now you’ll only need to tap on the auto-recommended hashtag (Highlight) and Fleksy will take you to an integrated page of relevant content all in one convenient place.

The Fleksy Keyboard app for Android is available now. A full list of what’s included in the update below:

What’s New

• Android
• Google Store
• Nest
• France
• nest cam

Google Store now selling Nest Cam in the UK, Belgium, France, Ireland, & Netherlands

Jordan Kahn Jul 7 2015 - 7:26 am PT

0 Comments

Google has expanded availability of its new Nest Cam product to more countries after officially unveiling the device last month. Starting today, customers in Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands, & United Kingdom will be able to pick up the device through the online Google Store. Google previously launched the device for customers in Canada and United States through its online store.

The product, alongside other new Nest products shown off in June, are the fruits of Google’s acquisitions of smart thermostat maker Nest and connected security camera company Dropcam last year. Nest Cam offers a lot of what made Dropcam cameras popular, offering 1080p HD video, 130-degree field of view, 8 infrared LEDs, night vision video support, companion mobile apps, and cloud recording and video history through a subscription service.

Nest Cam is available for $199 USD from the Google Store.

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Apps and Updates

Hangouts for iOS gets Material Design UI tweaks, multiple photo attachments, Android update incoming

Jordan Kahn Jun 29 2015 - 2:07 pm PT

0 Comments

Google has updated Hangouts for iOS today with a handful of new features and what it says is an overall improved user experience. While iPhone and iPad users get the update today, Google says an Android version will arrive in the near future. 
Expand
Expanding
Close

• Google Chrome
• Apps and Updates

Google launches new $1999 Chromebox for meetings hardware w/ support for up to 20 people

Jordan Kahn Jun 24 2015 - 11:54 am PT

1 Comment

Google announced today that it’s expanding the virtual meetings it launched last year using new Chromebox hardware to allow larger groups of up to 20 people. The expanded support will accommodate larger meeting rooms with more people, but it will also require new Chromebox for meetings hardware that provides pan-tilt-zoom camera features, additional mics and speakers for the larger groups, and improved support for dual screen setups:
Expand
Expanding
Close

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• app
• search
• Instagram

Instagram Android app adds revamped Explore tab w/ trending content, improved search

Jordan Kahn Jun 23 2015 - 11:43 am PT

0 Comments

Instagram is rolling out an update today for its Android app bringing two major new features, including a redesigned Explore tab and improved search functionality. The company said the updates will “help connect our community to the world as it happens,” or in other words, a more real-time experience thanks to new trending Tags and Places within the Explore tab. 

With more than 70 million photos and videos posted to Instagram every day, wherever something is happening, chances are you can see it here. Whether it’s behind the scenes at the NBA Finals, on the runway with the latest fashion trend at a favorite club with a local band, people are capturing moments large and small on Instagram. But, until now, there’s never been an easy way to find these moments.

On top of the new trending tags and places in Explore, the company said it will be adding curated collections of images based on various themes, such as specific people or places, and featuring content from across the network.

The updated Explore feature is first rolling out to users in the US as part of the 7.0 update for Android that also adds improved search functionality:

For everyone on Instagram, we’ve dramatically improved the ability to find what you’re looking for. With the new Places Search, you can now peer in at just about any location on earth, allowing you to scout out your next vacation spot in the South Pacific, get a look inside that hot new restaurant or experience your favorite music festival — even if you couldn’t make it this year. The new Top Search also lets you search across people, places and tags all at once.

You can grab Instagram version 7.0 for Android on Google Play today. 

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Video
• Spotify
• beta

Spotify 3.1 beta for Android arrives with new Running feature, audio/video shows, and more

Jordan Kahn Jun 19 2015 - 9:26 am PT

1 Comment

After first announcing a handful of new features and redesigned apps last month for iOS users, today most of those features are arriving for the Spotify beta for Android ahead of a public release. The highlight changes include Spotify’s new Running feature that automatically detects an ideal tempo to creates playlist based on your running pace, more content, and a redesigned Now start page.

The update, version 3.1, also brings audio and video shows that were first introduced to web and iOS users last month in addition to other new content and UI tweaks throughout the app. The new content includes videos and podcasts from ABC, BBC, Comedy Central, Condé Nast Entertainment, ESPN, Fusion, Maker Studios, NBC, TED, Vice News, and more.

The new features are currently only available to users in the US, UK, Sweden and Germany, and will likely roll out to all users beyond Spotify’s beta channel in the near future.

(via AndroidPolice)

• Google Sheets
• features
• customization
• Stars
• filters

Google Sheets web app updated with new features, filters, and more

Jordan Kahn Jun 15 2015 - 1:19 pm PT

0 Comments

Google is updating its Google Sheets spreadsheet app on the web today with a few new features and improvements. First up, the updated app now includes new customization options for charts including the ability to add data labels as well as shapes to denote data points including stars, triangles, and pentagons.

Some of the other new features arriving today include a preview for formula results in real-time when typing, the ability to filter rows and columns by “greater than” and “text contains”, and an option to add calculated fields “to pivot tables when you want to apply formulas to pivot table data.”

Google adds that you’ll also now be able to “Use the GETPIVOTDATA function to more easily retrieve data from your pivot table.”

Lastly, Google has a new option to present a customized warning message to collaborators that attempt to edit something they shouldn’t (pictured below):

You can check out the updated Google Sheets web app now.

• Google
• Apps and Updates
• Google Hangouts
• update
• Thumbnail

Google Hangouts gets improved ‘full-view’ screen sharing

Jordan Kahn Jun 11 2015 - 1:32 pm PT

1 Comment

Google announced today that it’s rolling out an improved experience for sharing your screen with others through its Google Hangouts chat app. Now, when you decide to share your screen with someone else in Hangouts, you’ll get a new “full-view” experience that Google says brings the following two notable improvements:

• The screen shared content will use as much visible area of the screen as possible. The thumbnail photos of meeting attendees will overlay the content at the bottom of the screen by default.
• A new button will be added to the control bar at the top to allow participants to hide the thumbnail photos of meeting attendees as desired.

The updated experience will be available to anyone that shares their screen using the ‘Present to everyone’ mode in Hangouts as well as when a Hangout member pins a person currently screen sharing.