Author: Clinton

The Google Play Games app for Android has been updated today bringing with it a new feature that makes finding fellow players in your Circles or out one tap away.  The update, version 3.0.11 (1917563-038) for those keeping score at home, is for all Android devices and allows you to quickly and easily find your friends to compare your stats and connect with them.  The idea of course is to make it easier for you to find your friends for a bit of friendly competition.

Google Play Games – Free – Download Now

As was expected today, Microsoft has released a new build of Windows 10 Mobile to Windows Insiders who are participating in the Fast Ring.  Build 10080 is the first build to support a non-Lumia device, the HTC M8 for Windows Phone which is great to see in addition to the support for the Lumia 930, Lumia ICON and Lumia 640 XL.  As expected, there are a lot of new features and apps to test out in this build as well as a good list of known issues.  I’ll remind everyone that this is beta software and there will be issues so proceed with caution.  I personally am still not running Windows 10 Mobile on my daily phone and after playing with this build for a little bit on my Lumia 635 and Lumia 1320, it will remain that way.

It looks increasingly likely that a new build of Windows 10 Mobile will be available for those on the Fast Ring in the Windows Insider program later today.  Microsoft’s Gabe Aul took to Twitter yesterday answering a pile of questions related to the next build for Windows Phone and PC with hints being dropped that a new build is imminent.

@Typhos666 So far so good. It has a couple of tile layout bugs, but I think the Fast ring crew will not mind those.

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) May 14, 2015

Clearly this isn’t a commitment from Aul that a new build will be out today, but it is pretty close.

The official Gmail app for Android has been updated today, bringing a new recent conversations view with your contacts.  The update version will vary by device but on my KitKat driven BLU VIVO IV it is version 5.2.93061572 (say that three times real fast) for those keeping score at home.  The update also has some other new features including some that will benefit those of you who are on Lollipop.

Gmail for Android – Free – Download Now

Microsoft has announced on the Windows Blog the editions of Windows 10 that will be available later this year and unfortunately, it is as confusing as ever.  While Microsoft has made it clear that this version of Windows will be on every device – Phone, Tablet, PC and even Xbox – they have broken it down into multiple editions with different feature sets.  This is the same thing they have done since the Windows XP days and while I get it, it creates unnecessary confusion for consumers.

The biggest news is probably the fact that build on phones will be known as Windows 10 Mobile.  There has been a lot of debate on what Microsoft would call the phone edition but it seems now it is locked into this name.  And to add to the fun, there is a Mobile Enterprise version.  Oi….

Microsoft has released a big update to Outlook for Android, bringing substantially improved email composition capability to the app.  The update, version 1.2.8 for those keeping score at home, also bring improved performance and other minor update to give a better user experience with the app.  The biggest edition though is the improved email composition where you can now attach files and send users your availability or create an invitation from the app while in email.  These updates will make the app far easier to use especially those who use corporate Exchange accounts.

Outlook for Android – Free – Download Now