Apps and Updates

1,647 'Apps and Updates' stories June 2013 - June 2014

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Google+ for iOS updated with Stories and photo filters

Mark Hearn Jun 2 2014 - 1:21 pm PT

Last month, Google updated its Google+ app for Android with a set of new visually stimulating features known as Stories and Movies. While that latter launched with parity across multiple platforms, Mountain View just released Stories for iOS today. Now available to download on devices running iOS 6.0 or later, this new feature takes pictures, videos and location tags and rolls them into a stylish trip summary without the need of a third-party photo editing software.

Further maintaining the update’s photography-centric theme is the addition of a new photo editor equipped with new filters and creative tools. These should help you snap the perfect shot of your pet, baby, lunch or whatever else people are posting to social networks these days. However, if any of said items are found offensive, Google+ members can now report abusive communities directly from their iOS-powered devices. If you haven’t pulled down the update yet, head on over to the App Store and check it out.

Google’s XSS game tests your web security IQ (update)

Mark Hearn May 30 2014 - 9:13 am PT

Google has openly stated that it takes web security very seriously, but the company might be playing around a bit by releasing a browser-based challenge created to test developers’ understanding of XSS. Allegedly made by Google’s security team, the game features six levels that resemble real world applications vulnerable to XSS. Players are tasked with finding a level’s problem and exploiting its weakness.

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Original Samsung Galaxy Gear drops Android in favor of Tizen

Mark Hearn May 30 2014 - 6:57 am PT

Samsung is dumping Android for Tizen. Well not completely, but the company is moving its Galaxy Gear smartwatch to its in-house operating system. An update for the first Galaxy Gear is now available through Samsung’s Kies software and in addition to a platform jump the download brings a trove of new features to this smart timepiece.

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BlackBerry announces upcoming BBM for Android update with easier signup and friending

Mike Beasley May 29 2014 - 6:29 pm PT

BlackBerry has announced an upcoming release of its BBM client for Android devices that includes an easier signup flow and an improved process for adding new contacts.

The new simplified registration process will request only a name, password, and email address, as opposed to the current app which requires much more information. The update will also improve the process for adding new contacts. Currently users who get an invite need send their own PIN back to the other party so they can be mutual contacts. In the new version that step will be automated. Tapping the invitation link in the email will complete the entire process.

The update also adds new emoticons to the app’s existing selection. BlackBerry Messenger 2.2 will be available on the Google Play Store later tonight.

Google Play will no longer accept legacy AdMob apps on August 1st

Mark Hearn May 29 2014 - 2:51 pm PT

Google announced today that it has finished the rollout of its new AdMob to more than 200 countries and as a result the company will stop accepting apps into Google Play based on its old SDK on August 1st. Following this initiative, the search giant will sunset AdMob’s legacy platform on August 31st. After this, legacy ad units will stop working and the outdated AdMob UI will no longer be accessible.

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Android Device Manager updated with new guest-mode feature

Chance Miller May 29 2014 - 1:13 pm PT

Over the past few months, Google has greatly beefed up its Android Device Manager service, partly due to legislation in many states, and partly due to increased competition from Apple’s new Activation Lock service. Today, Google has updated its Device Manager app to version 1.2.

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Google Maps 8.1 update for Android reintroduces Terrain Mode

Mark Hearn May 29 2014 - 11:12 am PT

Google Maps for Android recently received an update and while it’s not too heavy on features, it does bring back a feature that a lot of people have missed. Version 8.1 reintroduces Terrain Mode, which lets users view a topographic layer that shows elevation changes in surrounding hills, mountains, and valleys. Absent for nearly a year, this standout feature could be useful to would-be adventurers looking to experience the great outdoors. In addition to a mountain view from Mountain View, Maps users will notice a slightly modified UI, with previews for the first available route beings added to biking and walking views. Other adjustments include font changes and some onscreen information being repositioned. If you haven’t installed the update yet, head on over to our source link below to get brought up to speed.

(via Google Play)

Chrome Beta for Android’s new update brings back Doodles and squashes bugs

Mark Hearn May 28 2014 - 10:02 pm PT

Chrome Beta for Android was updated today with a slew of new performance features that should be welcomed by any user. Now available to download from Google Play, the 36th version of Mountain View’s portable browser brings improved text rendering to non-mobile websites and reintroduces Doodles to the new tab page. Chrome Beta users will also be treated to better suggestions for text entry, along with a several bug fixes and performance improvements. If you’ve already updated this app and are tinkering with its new features, be sure to let us know how it’s treating you and your device.

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Beats Music drops subscription price to $99 amidst Apple acquisition, Android app will stay around

Benjamin Mayo May 28 2014 - 2:31 pm PT

Amidst the news that Apple is officially acquiring Beats for $3 billion, the service has announced a price cut. The subscription service now costs just $99 a year, down from $120. In addition, Beats users can now trial the service for free for fourteen days. The Beats Music app for Android also been updated to reflect these changes, alongside the usual performance tweak and bug fixes.

What’s New

Version 1.0.9:

* We’re stoked to announce that our no strings attached trial has been extended to 14 days to ensure everyone gets ample time to explore the full Beats Music experience.

* We’ve dropped the price of our yearly subscription to $99.99, down from $119.88.

* To top it off, we pushed tons of bug fixes so the whole experience runs smooth as silk.

Android users will also be happy to know that Apple has no plans to shut down the Android app just yet. In an interview with the Financial Times, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the Beats app for Android and Windows Phone will remain available.

https://twitter.com/tim/status/471755140761149441

Beats Music can be downloaded, for free, from Google Play.

Google Camera for Android updated w/ new cropping options, picture timer

Chance Miller May 28 2014 - 2:07 pm PT

Google has just released an update to its Camera app on Android, as part of its “Update Wednesday” regiment. The update bumps the app to version 2.2 and adds several new features. One of the biggest new features is the ability to shoot photos in either 4:3 or 16:9 cropped resolutions. Although, it’s important to note that the cropping affects the total resolution of the image. So if you were to shoot in 16:9 on a Nexus 5, the resolution maxes out a 6MP. This changes depending on the phone you’re using, of course.

Google has also added the timer feature back to its Camera app with this update. The company removed it earlier this year, for some odd reason. The picture timer allows you to choose either 3 and 10 second timings for taking an image.

The update also adds new modes for shooting panoramas, including a fisheye setting. There’s also now a small settings icon on the first launch.

Google’s Camera update is available on the Play Store now.

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Google Maps now serving up driving directions in North Korea

Mark Hearn May 28 2014 - 8:33 am PT

North Korea may not have a reputation for being a warm and friendly place, but if you ever managed to get your Dennis Rodman on and visit the country, it would be helpful to know your way around. Thankfully driving directions for select areas in North Korea are now available from Google Maps. Last year, with the help of its Google Maps Maker tool, Mountain View managed to scale its efforts to survey North Korea’s landscape. As a result, more local driving directions are starting to surface.

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Skype to gain live voice translate beta feature later this year, will eventually hit all Skype devices

Mark Gurman May 27 2014 - 6:05 pm PT

On the Code Conference stage in California, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced an upcoming feature for Skype: live voice translation. The demonstration showed a German speaker speaking to an English speaker. The English words automatically were repeated by the computer in German, while the German speech was automatically spoken back by the computer in English…

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Google’s Text-To-Speech app updated with support for Indian-English, Polish, Dutch, and Russian

Chance Miller May 27 2014 - 1:43 pm PT

Google this afternoon released a small update to its Text-To-Speech app on Android. The update bumps the app to version 3.1, and while it may not be the biggest update, it certainly packs some useful changes for a handful of users. The update adds support for selecting and speaking text in Polish, Dutch, and Russian. It also improves its already existing support for some English dialects spoken in India.

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Reader for Glass: Get word definitions and translations while reading with new Google Glass app

Stephen Hall May 27 2014 - 12:47 pm PT

A new app for Google Glass has been prototyped, which intends to bring the conveniences of online reading — namely, quick definitions and translations — to the offline hard-copy book reading experience. The app is called Reader for Glass (not to be confused with Google Reader), and is being developed by Jacob Funch, a graduate school student working on his master’s thesis …
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Spotify hacked, plans to guide Android users through an app update over the coming days

Stephen Hall May 27 2014 - 8:12 am PT

Spotify took to the company blog this morning, warning its users that one — yes, just one — user had their Spotify profile hacked recently. But, as you would expect from a company like this, they’re taking matters into their own hands and approaching this with caution. The company will be asking users to reenter their passwords when opening the app for the next few days, but they also made clear that they aren’t aware of any increased risk for users:

Our evidence shows that only one Spotify user’s data has been accessed and this did not include any password, financial or payment information. We have contacted this one individual. Based on our findings, we are not aware of any increased risk to users as a result of this incident.

Also, Spotify says that it plans to release an updated version of the service’s Android app over the coming days as an extra measure of caution. Sadly, the company notes that any offline playlists you’ve downloaded in the app are going to have to be downloaded again after the update is released. iOS and Windows Phone Spotify users can rest easy, as Spotify says they don’t have any recommended action at the current time.

More images of Gmail for Android redesign leak, more simplistic interface shown

Chance Miller May 23 2014 - 2:39 pm PT

Over the past couple of months, rumors of major changes to Gmail on Android have been circulating. Geek.com leaked screenshots of a redesigned interface that was very colorful compared to the current app. We reported on some new features coming to the app, as well, including a snooze functionality. Now, Google+ user Yoel Kaseb has posted some images of what he claims is a redesigned Gmail app for Android. Kaseb also leaked images of a Google+ update that ended up being almost entirely true.

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PSA: Google+ for Android with new Stories feature now available from Google Play

Mark Hearn May 22 2014 - 11:41 am PT

Despite some folks declaring it clinically dead, Google+ recently received a new feature known as Stories that lets users share artsy images of places they’ve been while geotagging the locations they’ve visited. Think of it as a way to create a virtual scrapbook for your next vacation. Google said that its new app would be available sometime this week and today appears to be the day. Now available to download from Google Play, the refreshed software also features an updated menu and quick hangout chat access and directions to friends who share their location with you. So there you have it folks. Google+ is alive and well and ready to share your latest adventures.

Google Apps Mobile Management for Android blessed with four new security features

Mark Hearn May 21 2014 - 10:27 am PT

Bring your own device (BYOD) is more common than ever in the working world and of course Google is looking to capitalize on this opportunity. Today, the company announced four new features for its Google Apps Mobile Management for Android service. First up to bat is inactive account wipe, which clears an inactive user account from a device after a predetermined number of days. An ideal scenario for this feature is a misplaced or stolen smartphone or tablet loaded with sensitive information. Google’s second new feature for people taking their devices into the corporate world is the addition of Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). This will let your company’s admins distribute CA-based certificates for EAP networks.

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Facebook to launch TV Show and Music ID apps for iOS and Android today

Mark Gurman May 21 2014 - 9:09 am PT

According to multiple sources, Facebook will unveil a new service today that can identify television shows and music playing in the background. The new software, which will be available via an updated App Store app on iPhone and a Google Play app on Android, will work in tandem with your smartphone hardware’s microphone. Facebook is said to be integrating the feature so Facebook users can more easily share what music they are listening to or what TV show they are currently watching to their Timelines. In iOS 8, Apple will unveil a new Siri feature in partnership with Shazam to identify songs playing in the background.

Update: Official announcement after the break…
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Anonymous social app Secret now available on Android

Zac Hall May 21 2014 - 8:48 am PT

A lot more people are about to be in on your Secret.

The app was already picking up funding from Google Ventures, and now Android users can join in on the anonymous social network too. The secret social app that debuted on iPhone earlier this year launched on the Play Store today and added support for countries around the world as it goes cross platform and cross continent. The Android version even includes a friends-only tab before the feature is available for iPhone users.

Secret, of course, ties into your contacts to identity other friends using the app without actually identifying which friends are really using the app.

Since its debut, Secret has been a platform for gossip and rumor pushing – some with merit and some without – and now even more people can join the fun. What could go wrong, right?

Download Secret for Android on the Play Store for free.

Chrome for Android updated with undo tab close, Chromecast video, multiwindow support, & more

Chance Miller May 20 2014 - 2:20 pm PT

Just a short while after releasing an update to Chrome OS, Google is now pushing out an update to the Chrome browser on Android. Although minor, the update does include a few improvements. The update bumps the app to version 35.0.1916.122, as well.

With this update, the app now has an undo tab close button, which allows you to undo closing a tab, should you have done it by accident. The app also now supports fullscreen video with subtitles and HTML5-based controls. Google also notes that Chrome now has support for some multi-window devices, as well as support for casting “some” videos with Chromecast. It’s unclear, however, what devices and videos this update adds support for. Nevertheless, casting videos with Chromecast is a great addition. Most of these features have been in beta for about a month now.

Undo Tab Close
Fullscreen video with Subtitles and HTML5 controls
Support for some multi-window devices
Support for casting some videos with Chromecast
Other bug fixes

The update to Chrome for Android is available on the Play Store now, although it appears to be a staged rollout and may take a little while to hit your device.

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Apps and Updates

Twitter for Android now rolling out multiple photo uploading feature

Jordan Kahn May 20 2014 - 11:25 am PT

[tweet https://twitter.com/twittermobile/status/468815228243701760]

After announcing back in March that a Twitter for Android update bringing multiple photo tweeting and more was on the way, Twitter confirmed today that the update is now rolling out to Android users. Both iOS and Android users previously gained photo tagging features, but up until now Android users didn’t have the ability to upload multiple photos at once like iPhone users.

Share up to 4 photos in a single Tweet.. And now, you can also share a series of photos that automatically create a collage. Just tap on a preview to get the full image and slide through the group

Twitter for Android is a free download on the Google Play Store.

Box for Android updated with a refined UI and a snappy file previewer

Mark Hearn May 20 2014 - 9:57 am PT

Cloud storage provider Box announced an update for its Android app today that introduces a trove of new tweaks and features. Users of version 3.0 will be greeted by a simplified menu and an overhauled previewer that can handle over 100 file types without flinching. This means that PowerPoint presentation will load directly from within the cloud for fast access on your Android device. This spiffed up previewer also displays page thumbnails and lets you search text in any document. While Box’s new apps isn’t exactly a Drive killer, it may come in handy as a back-up plan if you often find yourself working with funky file types.

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Gmail for Android updated with interface tweaks, ability to save attachments directly to Google Drive

Chance Miller May 19 2014 - 5:48 pm PT

Ahead of its tradition “update Wednesday” regiment, Google has pushed out a minor update to the Gmail app on Android today. The update bumps the app to version 4.8 and includes some various interface tweaks, most notably in the slide-out navigation menu (via +Gmail)

One of the changes includes profile images next to individual profiles on the slide-out navigation menu, and should you have more than one account, there’s also now a checkmark to better indicate which account you’re currently using. The Settings and “Send Feedback” options have also been crammed into the slide-out panel, whereas they previously were located in the action overflow button in the upper right corner.

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