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903 'update' stories May 2011 - July 2015

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Android 5.1 update for HTC One M9 on AT&T and T-Mobile coming very soon

Cam Bunton Jul 14 2015 - 12:53 pm PT

Good news for HTC One M9 users with the AT&T and T-Mobile variants: Your Android 5.1 software update should be landing on your devices very soon. Mo Versi, the manufacturer’s VP of product management announced that AT&T owners should see it arrive from tomorrow, July 15th.

The update has passed technical approval and will come alongside some camera improvements:

HTC One (M9) AT&T Owners! We have received technical approval on Lollipop OS 5.1 which includes camera improvements. OTA to start on 7/15!!

— Mo Versi (@moversi) July 14, 2015

Of course, a T-Mobile customer replied to the tweet asking when #TeamMagenta subs might see the software arrive on their phones. Turns out, that’s pretty soon too. As of right now, the OTA update for HTC One M9 on T-Mo is on course to arrive on July 20th, just six days away.

@a_ferriola on track for 7/20

— Mo Versi (@moversi) July 14, 2015

Big Blue users, be sure to check your phones for updates from tomorrow if you don’t get a notification informing you of its availability. T-Mo customers, hold on tight, you have less than a week to wait.

Ingress updated, lets you hack portals from your Android Wear smartwatch

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 8:54 am PT

Google said back in February that Android Wear support would be coming to Ingress sometime “soon” (with some assuming March), but it looks like the app missed that launch date by, well, a lot. As of today, version 1.81.0 of Ingress is starting to roll out on the Play Store, and with it comes Android Wear support as well as the usual bug fixes…
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BBC iPlayer Radio app for iOS and Android gets offline listening at last

Cam Bunton Jul 14 2015 - 3:24 am PT

The BBC announced in a blog post this morning that mobile downloads are coming to its iPlayer Radio app just in time for the BBC Proms. For the first time – using the iPlayer Radio app – customers will be able to download radio shows (and the Proms) to listen offline and keep them for up to 30 days. To make use of this new service, all you need to do is ensure you have the latest version of the BBC iPlayer Radio smartphone or tablet app for iOS, Android or Kindle.

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AdWords Express for Android updated w/ Material Design makeover, other tweaks

Chance Miller Jul 13 2015 - 3:07 pm PT

Google today has released version 2.0 of AdWords Express for Android. For those unfamiliar with the app, AdWords Express allows users to quickly create ads via their smartphone. Google says ads can be created in less than 15 minutes, and advertisers only pay when potential customers click the ad. Today, AdWords Express has been updated with a new, Material Design interface to fall more in line with Google’s other applications for Android.

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Android 5.1 Lollipop landing on Sprint’s Galaxy Note Edge

Stephen Hall Jul 13 2015 - 12:18 pm PT

The Galaxy Note Edge wasn’t exactly the most popular smartphone that Samsung ever sold, but it was the prototype to what would become the hugely popular Galaxy S6 Edge. If you’re still rocking the Note Edge on Sprint, though, you might be happy to hear that the device is receiving Android 5.1 Lollipop as of… right now.

According to Sprint’s website (via Android Police), the OS upgrade comes with a bump to Android 5.1, as well as “various bug fixes and enhancements.” The OTA should be rolling out over the next couple of days. The version number is N915PVPU4COFE, and you should be prompted to install the update at some point soon, after which your phone will walk you through the process.

Deal Alert: Grab a refurb LG G Watch for just $75 from Woot

Stephen Hall Jul 12 2015 - 6:08 pm PT

Woot offers the LG G Watch Android Wear smartwatch in black for $69.99 with $5 shipping, which is well below its list price of $229. This model was initially surpassed by the LG G Watch R and, more recently, by the top-of-the-line LG Watch Urbane — which ships at prices above $300. So if you’re not completely sure about jumping into the smartwatch world, the G Watch for just $75 might be a good option.
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Here’s everything that’s new in Android ‘M’ developer preview 2 [Gallery]

Stephen Hall Jul 9 2015 - 7:37 pm PT

It was back at Google I/O 2015 that the company released the first developer preview of the upcoming Android M, and now, right on cue, the company has released the second developer preview. Just like we did with the initial release of M, it’s time to dissect developer preview 2 and really figure out what kind of progress the Android engineers over in Mountain View have been making over the last few weeks. And based on our initial impression, it looks like a lot has changed — and for the better…
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Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides for Android get improved editing, collaboration features

Jordan Kahn Jul 9 2015 - 11:15 am PT

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.

Unlocked 1st gen Moto G LTE gets Android 5.1 update

Cam Bunton Jul 9 2015 - 6:24 am PT

Android 5.1 is available to download over-the-air on to the unlocked original Moto G LTE smartphone for the first time. Motorola started rolling out the update for the 1st gen Moto G over the past 24 hours or so. As with almost every modern Motorola device, the software is essentially stock Android.

Motorola states in the release notes that you can’t downgrade to a previous version after installing and that it contains a number of improvements and fixes. Along with some of the user interface changes in 5.1, the new software also includes a bunch of bug fixes including:

Clock in the status bar is not updating and alarms not going off
Unable to delete SMS messages when the SIM card is full
No ringer audio while making an outgoing call
Calculator floating point calculations
Chrome crashes when launched
Frequent restarts while watching Netflix
Wi-Fi not automatically reconnecting to home Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi not connecting after being idle all night
Wi-Fi connection issues with multiple routers in one location
Bluetooth discovery is not triggered when you refresh settings
CPU wakelocks that contribute to heavier battery drain
Connection and synchronisation issues with MS Exchange servers
Incorrect default APN
Cannot unlock the SIM with a PIN/PUK code
Cannot play ‘pinned’ content

If the update doesn’t show up for you right away, be sure to check your settings menu and search for updates manually. It appears that only unlocked Moto G LTE models in the U.S. are receiving the update right now. If you’re in another country, be sure to let us know when it lands for you.

Google’s Messenger 1.4 lets you send animated stickers, quickly share your location

Stephen Hall Jul 8 2015 - 9:27 am PT

Google has today updated its default Messenger app to version 1.4, bringing some minor enhancements along the way. In the new version, you’ll find you can now send cute little animated stickers as well as more easily send your location to others…
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Fleksy keyboard gets new features & themes as app goes free indefinitely

Jordan Kahn Jul 8 2015 - 7:47 am PT

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

Fleksy 6.0

INTRODUCING

★ 10 new themes!!

★ All new Emoji, Gif and imoji navigation

Just pull down to go back

EXTENSIONS

★ Consolidated Gifs, imoji and Fleksy #highlights to one view for faster and smarter media content

OPTIMIZED

★ Blazing fast keyboard pop

★ Smoother emoji scrolling

★ Reduced APK by another 3 MBs

★ HD theme images

★ Consolidated notifications

★ Localized app in 8 languages

BUGS SQUASHED

★ Way too many…

Instagram rolling out support for high-res images on iOS and Android

Stephen Hall Jul 6 2015 - 12:23 pm PT

Instagram has announced today that it is rolling out support for higher resolution 1080 x 1080 pixel images. This doubles the previous upload resolution of 640 x 640 pixels, and you’ll probably notice very soon that the photos in your stream are looking a bit crisper.
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The next Android Wear update might be coming July 28th

Stephen Hall Jul 2 2015 - 2:55 pm PT

Google announced the last major Android Wear update in late April, and that update only just about a week ago started hitting the Moto 360. But that doesn’t mean it’s not almost time for another update to the Mountain View company’s smartwatch flavor of Android. According to the well-connected Derek Ross, Google has another update in the pipeline, and it’s scheduled to be released on July 28th.

There’s no telling what the update might include, but it doesn’t seem likely that it will be any kind of massive overhaul. Rather than introducing a major new version each year as Google has been doing with Android for several years, Android Wear seems to be getting much more iterative updates slowly over time. Derek says that he will have more information to share about the update at some point “soon.”

Until then, don’t get too excited.

AT&T Galaxy S5 and G3 receiving updates with performance & security enhancements

Chance Miller Jul 2 2015 - 11:22 am PT

AT&T today has revealed a pair of minor software updates for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3. For the Galaxy S5, the update comes in at 296MB and includes performance and security updates. The changelog doesn’t specify specifically what changes have been made, but improvements to the overall speed and safety of your device are always welcome. After updating, your phone will carry the software version G900AUCU4BOF2.

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Swappa releases app to quickly evaluate the value of your phone or tablet

Tom Maxwell Jul 2 2015 - 8:17 am PT

Swappa is a relatively small player in the online marketplace space, only dealing in mobile phones and tablets, but it’s quite popular in the Android community and has a new app out that should make it even easier to decide whether or not now is the right time to buy or sell a device.
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Verizon HTC One M9 buyers can get $100 in Google Play credit for a limited time

Stephen Hall Jul 1 2015 - 8:53 am PT

Convincing educated buyers to grab the HTC One M9 might not be the easiest task, but Verizon seems to want to take a crack at it. For a limited time, buyers of HTC’s latest—and less than well-received—flagship handset will get $100 in free Google Play credit…
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Sprint’s HTC One M9 updated to Android 5.1 (and LG G4 gets a minor update)

Stephen Hall Jul 1 2015 - 8:23 am PT

The HTC One M9 might not be the most popular flagship of the year, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get its share of software updates. Those who have the device on Sprint will be happy to learn that they will be getting Android 5.1 Lollipop starting today, according to Sprint’s website.
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Knowledge Graph cards in search are no longer showing Google+ posts

Stephen Hall Jun 30 2015 - 9:18 pm PT

Despite things “going really well,” it looks like Google is backtracking on a decision it made long ago to include Google+ profile links in Knowledgr Graph cards for popular brands. A Google spokesperson talking to Search Engine Land has confirmed the change, saying that it’s intended to bring “more consistency.”

As you can see below, the section was labeled as “Recent posts on Google+”:

Notably, this minor change isn’t going to affect Google+ results showing up in regular searches. And while you won’t find a featured link to the Google+ profile of a company you search for, Google has been putting social links to most popular networks, including Twitter, Facebook, and others, in its Knowledge Graph cards since January.

The change started rolling out at some point last week.

Google brings new emoji, hundreds of new customizable themes to Gmail

Jordan Kahn Jun 30 2015 - 11:48 am PT

Google announced today that it’s rolling out a ton of new themes for Gmail — the built-in feature that allows customization of your inbox with color palette options and background images — as well as new emoji.
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Pushbullet for Android gets updated with rethought interface, more

Stephen Hall Jun 30 2015 - 10:09 am PT

Pushbullet has redesigned their app a bunch of times since the service launched, and now they’re pushing yet another big update. With the latest version of Pushbullet, things have been reorganized to be split between three distinctive categories: friends, me, and following….

We’ve completely reorganized our app, putting things where you expect them to be. Instead of a big chaotic list of messages, they’re now categorized based on where they came from. The most important category is Me, which are things you’ve shared between your own devices.

The company has also completely re-thought how messaging with friends works. Instead of a confusing list of all the pushes you’ve received, messaging friends looks a lot more like… well, messaging. You can tap any friend, see your messaging history with them, and quickly send a message or file.

This move toward the Pushbullet app being more similar to any other messaging client is odd to me, as it makes the app seem parallel with other —more popular — offerings such as Facebook Messages and Hangouts. But Pushbullet makes sure to note the difference here: “They’ll receive your message on whatever device they happen to be using, whether phone, tablet, or computer.”

The company’s Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Opera extensions have also been updated, along with the Pushbullet desktop client for Windows and the company’s web interface. The Windows app in particular has some nice features, including real Facebook-inspired chat-heads for messaging.

Head over to the Play Store to grab the Android client update for free.

AT&T’s HTC Desire Eye getting Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA starting today

Stephen Hall Jun 30 2015 - 7:36 am PT

Owners of the super-selfie-shooting HTC Desire Eye on AT&T are about to throw a party. HTC’s Mo Versi has announced on Twitter today that the phone received technical approval yesterday and that the rollout of its OTA to Android 5.0 is to start rolling out today.

I actually own an HTC Desire Eye, and I have yet to see the update hit my device. It’s rolling out in stages over the next couple of days, though, so it probably won’t be long. In other Lollipop news today, Sprint’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge seem to be getting Android 5.1.

Great news for HTC Desire Eye AT&T owners! We've just received technical approval for Lollipop update! OTA to start tomorrow!

— Mo Versi (@moversi) June 30, 2015

Google Apps admins can now see download events in Google Drive audit logs

Stephen Hall Jun 26 2015 - 2:07 pm PT

Google lets the administrators of Google Apps accounts view an auit log of all the activity happening in their company’s Google Drive account. Before today, you could see in these logs all of the events when someone would view, create, update, delete, or share Drive content. Starting today, Google says that admins can now see download events in these logs as well.

To help analyze and monitor the use of Google Drive content in their organizations, Drive for Work and Google Apps for Education admins are able to access audit logs in the ‘Audit’ section of the Admin console Reports area and via the Reports API. The current Drive audit logs include events such as create, view, and delete, among others. With today’s launch, we’re adding download event support to the Drive audit logs.

Google says that these new “download events” will include user file downloads for both Google and non-Google file formats. As if the case with other types of audit events, admins will be able to filer by document name, user name and timestamp. Finally the company says that they’ll add more sources in the future including “Sync Client downloads and exports of documents through the Google Docs editors.”

Google App Launcher for Apps users getting updated w/ additional row, ability to move apps

Stephen Hall Jun 25 2015 - 10:09 am PT

The familiar Google App Launcher that you may or may not use on a daily basis — found on Google’s many web properties — has four rows of icons and the ability to move them around to organize them the way you’d like. You probably didn’t even notice when these features were added, but they’re nice to have. If you have a Google Apps account too, though, you may know that the App Launcher is stuck in the past for Apps users.
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Spotify updated with support for Android Wear, here’s how it looks [Gallery]

Stephen Hall Jun 25 2015 - 6:59 am PT

Spotify told us last month that support for Android Wear was on the way, and now it looks like it’s finally here. With the latest version of the Spotify app, rolling out on the Play Store right now, you’ll be able to access new menus for controlling your music on your Android Wear device…
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