Author: Clinton

A small security and bug fix update is currently rolling out for most devices in the Chrome OS Stable channel.  The update takes devices to build 58.0.3029.112 (Platform version: 9334.69.0).  This build from the Chromium team appears to be for a wide range of devices with no exceptions noted in the release notes.  This is somewhat different than the last few major releases as there have been specific devices excluded from the updates.  Those devices have been for the most part the handful of Chromebooks and Chromeboxes that can run Android apps.

As for what is fixed in this update or patched, that information was not released.  That is the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for the Chrome OS team as they tend to not release specifics on an update until the majority of devices have been updated.

Today’s Deal is on a range of Bluetooth speakers and headsets from Anker.  Anker has been known for a long time for their Android and iPhone accessories and I feature their products often as part of Today’s Deal.  Their products are rock solid and their range of speakers and headsets are no different.  Amazon has a range of them on sale today that you should check out.

Perhaps the best deal of the bunch is on the Anker SoundCore Sport XL.  This Bluetooth speaker sports 16W of audio output and has 2 subwoofers.  It is IP67 rated so it is dustproof and waterproof.  It has 15 hours of play time and a 66′ range from your phone when you pair it.  Normally this is $159.99 but today it is down to $44.99.    That’s a savings of 72% and for any outdoor speaker that has an IP67 rating, is a great deal.

One of the most common questions I get about ClintonFitch.com is how I make the screenshots that you see in reviews, how to’s and articles like this one.  The answer is Screener.  The app is made by Toastcode and they just released a nice update to the app in the Play Store.  The updated build is version 2.5 for those keeping score and it brings a redesigned user experience and some other nice features that make taking screenshots of you Android devices easy.  A bit about Screener.  It is an app that allows you to take a screenshot you have taken on your phone (most often this is the combination of Volume Down + Power button) and put that into a frame of a popular Android device (and iPhones too).  There are hundreds of frames, some of which are 3D, and there are frames for both phones and Android Wear devices.

This update to the app brings improved Notifications so you can be informed of when new device frames are available, app updates are available or other information from the developer.  You can now control which, if any, you get notifications for on your device.  To change this, go to Menu>Settings>Notifications.

AccuWeather Platinum, the pay version of the free weather app in the Google Play Store, has been updated today with several new features and enhancements.  The updated build is version 4.7.2-paid for those keeping score at home and if you have Android Nougat 7.1.1 on your device, you can take advantage of the new app shortcuts.  Long pressing the app’s icon will get you to shortcuts that will take you directly to the Daily Forecast, the Hourly Forecast or a Map with local weather radar.  All three of these can be dragged to your Home page so you can have them just a tap away if you want to do so.

The Widgets for the app have also been updated.  You can now select to see what AccuWeather calls “RealFeel” temperatures on the widgets.  RealFeel is the temperature with considerations made for windchill or humidity to give you a more accurate idea of what it feels like outside.

The Bing search app for Android has a small but nice update rolling out to users today.  The update is version 6.8.25183598.D2C for those keeping score at home and who like to play version number Bingo.  On the surface, you are not going to find massive changes.  Functionally the app is the same as the previous version.  However, when you do a search, the results page are much more aligned to what you see when you use the desktop search in your browser.

Search results now offer a mix of links, branded results (if you are searching for a brand) and photos.  The idea is to bubble up not just text links to information but also provide more relevant media too.

Microsoft has released an update to Outlook for Android that Office 365 users who use Groups will find helpful.  You can now access groups from within the client, allowing you to see and send messages to teams within your organization.  To this point, Groups has been something that has only been available through the Outlook client on PC and Mac.  For those that may not know what Groups is exactly, think of it as a dramatically improved distribution list.  Now you can send emails to the group and everyone will get those emails (like a distribution list) but it also allows for much easier document sharing and collaboration over sending endless versions out to people.  Files can be shared from OneDrive which makes version tracking much easier and it eliminates the risk of multiple version of a file running around within your organization.

Groups was introduced for Windows users last year and to Mac users in the Outlook client back in March.  With it now available for Android, it will make it easier for those who use the feature to keep up with things (and keep others informed) while on-the-go.