Author: Clinton

Google has released an update to Google Play Music for Android that should be a welcome sight… erm, I mean sound, to users.  The update, version 6.0.1995S for those keeping score at home, has completely overhauled support for Chromecast with all of the new updates and features of this release focusing on your ability to stream music through your Chromecast.  The update is rolling out now to the Google Play Store so if you haven’t received it yet, you should over the course of the next 2-3 days.  For those who haven’t tried Google Play Music, it is a free app (ad supported) that allows you to stream music and store your own music in the service.  For $9.99 per month you can get ad-free listening and the ability to download content to listen offline.

Google Play Music – Free (in-app purchases) – Download Now

Google has released an update to the Google Device Assist app for Nexus, Google Play edition and Android One devices running Android Lollipop.  The new 1.2 version for those keeping score at home, brings several new tips as well as rich media content for more engaging tips for users.  If you are not familiar with the Google Device Assist app, it is designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced users of Google devices that gives you tips and tricks as well as a great resource of information on how to get the most out of your device.  There are also a issue detector built into the app that can proactively inform you of issues so they can be addressed.  You can also get live tech support (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, UK and USA) through the app to help you troubleshoot issues or get help with something.

Google Device Assist (Google Nexus, Play Edition and Android One Devices required) – Free – Download Now

One of the most common questions I get here on the site has to do with screenshots.  The questions generally fall into two categories.  First, how to actually take the screenshot itself and second, how I create the images that you see in reviews or posts on applications.  In both cases they are easy and free to do and hopefully this How To will clear it up for you.

First, let’s focus on the actual screenshot taking process itself.  On your Android phone or tablet, when you are viewing the screen you want to capture, press the power button and volume down button at the same time.  You will know that you have captured it when your screen flashes and you see a fading image of what you captured on the display.  You will also get a screenshot notification in your Notification area.  The screenshot itself will be a PNG file and will be stored in your device’s photos folder.

Yesterday Google released an update to the Google Search app for Android.  While that itself isn’t really news worthy, it is what is in it that makes it so.  Google Now on Tap is included in this build, something that was mentioned at Google I/O at the launch of Android Marshmallow but to date hasn’t made an appearance.  With this new version, 5.3.19.19 for those keeping score at home, Now on Tap is enabled but you have to be running the Android Marshmallow developer bits to get the benefits.

Google Search for Android – Free – Download Now

Google has released an update to Google Slides today that will bring improve slide sharing, especially for those of you who share slides while using Google Hangouts.  The update is build 1.2.372.11.35 for those keeping score at home and it is a build for both Android phone and tablet devices.  It was released by Google today into the Google Play Store but it may take a few days to reach your devices.

As a reminder, for those who did not catch my series of articles on migrating to Google Docs, you can read Part 4 which covered my move to Google Slides.

Google Slides for Android – Free – Download Now

AT&T has significantly increased the point at which they begin throttling your data throughput if you are on one of their unlimited plans.  The increase from 5GB to 22GB is significant for users and for their part, should get the FTC looking the other way instead of at AT&T for a little while.  AT&T has been under rather consistent scrutiny over how they deal with their grandfathered unlimited plans, something they no longer offer many customers still have on their plans.