Category: Android

Microsoft Teams, the company’s Slack-like app for collaboration and messaging, has an update rolling out for both Android and iOS.  The update brings a handful of new features, once of which is expanded support for cloud storage services.  To this point, Teams has only supported OneDrive, Microsoft’s own cloud storage.  With this update, services like Box and Google Drive are now supported for you to share files from within the app.

The updated version for Android is build 1.0.0.2017062601.  The update was release late last week so it should be to everyone by this week.  The update to the Android and iOS apps reflect a similar update to the desktop version of the app released a couple of weeks ago.  Now, across all platforms, you can share from different cloud storage solutions.

Today’s Deal over at Amazon is on the well appointed entry level Asus ZenFone 3 Max.  The 5.2″ phone has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage but what is really impressive is the battery.  It comes with a whopping 4100 mAh battery for all day performance.  Right now you can pick up this phone for $149.

The ZenFone 3 Max is powered by the Mediatek MT6737M quad-core processor running at 1.25 GHz.  It has a 5.2″ IPS display and as mentioned, has 2GB of RAM.  The 16GB of storage can be expanded thanks to the Dual-SIM/MicroSD slot.  You can add an additional 256GB of storage with a card.  The phone runs Android Marshmallow and it is unclear if Nougat will be coming to this phone.

Project Fi has had a pretty solid week.  Earlier in the week it was announced that those with G Suite domains can now subscribe to the MVNO service from Google.  Then yesterday, on Twitter, Fi announced that lower cost, mid-range phones will be coming later this year that will support it.

We hear you loud and clear. Keep an eye out for a new Fi-compatible device at a mid-tier price from one of our partners later this year. https://t.co/74U3bq16pa

— Project Fi (@projectfi) June 29, 2017

This is fantastic news for those who are considering moving from their carrier to Fi as it means that you will have options beyond the Google Pixel and Pixel XL which are currently the only production phones that support it. The Nexus 6, Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X also support it if you can find one and all three are at a lower cost than a Pixel.

Microsoft OneNote for Android has a substantial update rolling out in the Play Store today that brings improved navigation to the note taking app.  The update brings the same panel style navigation between notebooks, sections and pages that are in the Windows, Mac and iOS versions of the app.  It makes navigating much faster and easier as well as being the same on whatever device you happen to be using.

The new build for Android phones is version 16.0 for those keeping score and should be hitting devices with OneNote installed over the course of the next few days.

After being in beta testing for several weeks, the Twitter for Android app has been updated with a new automatic night mode for all users.  The latest update to the app, version 7.2.0 for those keeping score at home, gives you the option to enable a darkened UI anytime or when the sunset happens in your location.  The new feature is found in Settings>General>Display and sound.

Twitter for several releases of the Android version of their app has had a dark UI mode that could be enabled.  This would turn the app from having a white background to a dark blue-grey background.  This, of course, lowers eye strain when you are viewing your screen in low light.

The growth of Android Pay in 2017 globally has been impressive, particularly here in the United States.  The tap-to-pay service has added new financial institutions nearly every month in 2017 and June is no exception.  Late on Friday, 60 new financial institutions added support for Android Pay.

The vast majority of these new additions are regional or local banks and Credit Unions.  The team over at Android Police have put together a list of all the new banks which includes:

• Great Lakes First Federal CU
• Gulf Coast Educators FCU
• Hoosier Heartland State Bank
• Isabella Bank
• Lakeside Bank
• Lamar Bank and Trust
• Libertyville Savings Bank
• Lone Star National Bank
• Los Angeles Police FCU

See the post at Android Police for the complete list.