Author: Clinton

HTC One M8 and M9 Marshmallow Update Starts Tomorrow on AT&T

After months of delays, the Android Marshmallow update for the HTC One M8 and One M9 is finally coming to those on AT&T.  HTC’s Mo Versi tweeted yesterday that the software update had finally been approved and would start hitting devices tomorrow, May 12th.

While it is not expect that every M8 or M9 will see the update tomorrow, it should come to you as an OTA update over the course of the next week or so.  Once you have it, all of the goodness that is Android Marshmallow will be there for you.

Google Calendar Update Adds Ability To Dial Conference Call Passcodes

The latest update to Google Calendar is one that frequent conference call users will want to update to as soon as it is available. Seriously.  Stop what you are doing and see if you have the update.  I’ll wait….. Okay, so here is the deal:  Before now, when you had a conference call scheduled in Calendar, you could have it dial the number easy enough (it would just switch over to your Phone app) but if that conference call had a passcode, you had to enter it manually.  That’s no big deal if you are sitting at your desk.  But if you are driving or otherwise using your phone one handed, that can be a bit of a pain.  No more.  The latest update will allow you to select the passcode for the call (if it is in the invite) and the Phone app will automatically dial it for you when your call is connected.

Android Pay Adds Support For Over 5 Dozen New Banks

Android Pay’s continued growth and support by the banking industry marches on with an additional 55 new banks adding support for the service.  While the majority of the new banks are Credit Unions and small in size, it is good to see them added for those who do not have a major US bank in their area.  Equally, the list is no where near complete but it feels like we are close to the point where there are more banks than physical locations that have touch-to-pay terminals.

Google Cardboard Now Available In Several More Countries

Google’s inexpensive Virtual Reality viewer, Google Cardboard, has been added to several local Google Stores around the globe for purchase.  Now Android users in Canada, France, the UK, and Germany can order the viewer from their local Google Store online so they can experience Google’s low cost entry into VR.  To this point the viewer, which essentially wraps around your phone and is made of, you guessed it, cardboard, was only available in the US.  For those that don’t remember, Cardboard began life as a freebie handout at Google I/O 2014 but earlier this year the company began selling it on their site along with some other, more stylish viewers.

Google Photos Update Brings Commenting to Shared Albums

Google has pushed out an exciting new feature for Google Photos:  Commenting on shared albums.  This has been a much requested feature of the photo service and the good news is it is coming to Android, iOS and Web all at the same time.  Now when you share an album, you can allow those you share with to add comments to those photos in the album.  It is a great way for friends and family to share their thoughts about the latest photos from your holiday or the kids.

Google Adds OTA Images for Nexus Devices To Developer Site

Google has made a small but important update to the Android Developer site that brings the OTA images of the latest updates to Android Marshmallow for Nexus devices which can be downloaded.  Before now, Google has had the full images of updates available for Nexus owners to update their devices but it required a full install and subsequent reset of their devices.  Now developers and users who like to flash their devices manually can do just the OTA update instead of having to do a full reset of their device.

TripIt Update Brings Support for Android Wear

If you are a user of the TripIt app to manage your travel itenararies, the latest update to the app brings a host of improvements as well as Android Wear support.  The updated build is version 4.6 for those keeping score at home and the big update is Wear support.  Now you can access your trip details from your watch without having to take your phone out of your pocket.  Even better, there is also a new flight countdown timer, exclusive to Android Wear, so you can keep track up to the second when your flight is to depart.

Instagram Launches A Major Revamp of Their Android App

Instagram has begun rolling out a major update to both their Android and iOS apps today with a focus on content while maintaining the app’s easy navigation.  The revamp of the photo sharing app is the first major redesign in several years and it does away with the darker theme of the app and brings with it a light, white UI with content dominating the screen instead of it being a mix of photos and text.  And yes, even the icon for the app is changed up in this release.

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