Author: Clinton

The official Google for Android app has been updated with some minor but important updates.  The latest build, version 5.1.16.19.arm for those keeping score at home, mainly focuses on speed improvements and reliability enhancements but there are hints of new features being on the horizon.  What those updates are exactly clear but to make sure you don’t miss them, be sure to update your Android phone and tablet with this update.  As a reminder, the Google for Android app is the foundation for Google Now that gives you relevant information about your location, your agenda and other tidbits of information that is important to you.

Google for Android – Free – Download Now

Illium Software has rolled out a key update for those who use eWallet for Android.  The update, version 8.0.7 for those keeping score at home, brings a whole lot of bug fixes and improvements that should increase the overall usability of the app.  For those who are not familiar with it, eWallet for Android is a productivity app that stores your password and other secure information in a 256-Bit encrypted “wallet” that you can sync with all of your devices and PC or Mac.  It has been my go-to wallet app since… well forever really.  I started using eWallet back in my original Pocket PC days.  It’s a solid app that I have no hesitation in recommending.

eWallet for Android – $9.99 – Download Now

The Android Wear companion app for Android phones has been updated today but it certainly falls in the category of minor update.  The new build, version 1.3.0.2139573 for those keeping score at home, is an update to the 1.3 build that was released a few weeks ago. There are not any new features or functionality to be found in the update but there are certainly tweaks and fixes that should make the app and the updating of your Wear device a bit more reliable.

Android Wear for Android Phone – Free – Download Now

Google’s Larry Page has posted a blog post today on the company’s website that is going to come as a bit of a shock for some.  Google is about to become a part of an all new start up of Larry and Sergey Brin.  The company, Alphabet, will become the parent company of Google along with many of the other projects that will become companies in their own right.  It’s a big and ambitious move.

What is Alphabet? Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies. The largest of which, of course, is Google. This newer Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main Internet products contained in Alphabet instead. What do we mean by far afield? Good examples are our health efforts: Life Sciences (that works on the glucose-sensing contact lens), and Calico (focused on longevity). Fundamentally, we believe this allows us more management scale, as we can run things independently that aren’t very related. Alphabet is about businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence. In general, our model is to have a strong CEO who runs each business, with Sergey and me in service to them as needed. We will rigorously handle capital allocation and work to make sure each business is executing well. We’ll also make sure we have a great CEO for each business, and we’ll determine their compensation. In addition, with this new structure we plan to implement segment reporting for our Q4 results, where Google financials will be provided separately than those for the rest of Alphabet businesses as a whole.

The changes coming to Google are not insignificant and they will likely impact many of the services we use today.

Google Hangouts is getting a big update today that all users of the social messaging app will want to get hold of for their Android phone, tablet and wear devices.  The updated version 4.0 is expected to be released to the Google Play Store today and with it comes a streamlined look and feel, simplified controls and improved speed.  Google indicated on their blog today that the new Google Hangouts will be available today and has started to roll out.  If you are not seeing it on your devices, give it time.  It will take a bit of time to hit everyone.

Google Hangouts for Android – Free – Download Now

Amazon has released an update to their Android phone shopping app, Amazon Shopping, that brings deep and impressive voice integration into the app.  The update is available now and is build 5.7.2.100 for those keeping score at home and it brings it on par with the Amazon app for Android Tablets which has voice search functionality.  The update for the phone version of the app is a bit more sophisticated in what you can do with it just by talking to the app.

Amazon Shopping for Android Phone – Free – Download Now