Category: Android

eBay has become one of the latest apps to support the new app shortcuts in Android Nougat 7.1.  The update was release last week and most users will have it by now.  If you have a Nexus device or Pixel device that is running Nougat 7.1, you will be able to long press the app’s icon and quickly navigate to items you are following, selling or watching in the shopping site as well as a shortcut to search for things on eBay.

For those of you who don’t have Nougat 7.1, you can still take advantage of the app shortcuts in the eBay app (or any other that supports them) depending on your launcher.  Users of Action Launcher and Nova Launcher, which supports them, are good options to try if you are on an earlier version of Android.

Google Docs for Android had a nice update last week that brings more document editing power to the mobile app.  The update is still rolling out so it may be another day or two before you see it.  Once you do have it, you will find that you can now edit the headers and footers of your documents from within the app.  You can also now drag-and-drop text in a Docs file.

In addition to manipulating text, you can also manipulate images that you have inserted into your Docs file.  You can resize, rotate and move images within the file as well as adjust the text wrap around that image.

Google Hangouts has an update rolling out for Android that is probably best described as a house cleaning release.  The update takes the messaging app to version 16 and cleans up contact lists and improves search within the app.  Contact lists in this update are more streamlined with the Contacts option in the menu now gone.  It has been removed from this part of the app as it was redundant to the Floating Action Button in your chat lists.  You can use that FAB to add a chat with any contact(s) so they are effectively listed there for you.

Search within Hangouts has also been improved around contacts.  Now when you tap the FAB to start a new conversation, when you start to type in the name of a contact, you will see four different lists:  Frequent, On Hangouts, Your Groups and Not on Hangouts.  The idea here is to quickly identify what communication paths are open for a contact so you can chose the best one for them.  For those who are not on Hangouts, you will see an “Invite” link by their name.

Google Maps has rolled out a new feature that gives you an idea of how difficult parking will be once you get to your destination.  The new feature is a behind-the-scenes update so if you have the latest build of the Maps apps installed, the new feature will appear in the metro areas in which it is enabled.

Factoring in time for parking can make or break a night out, let alone making it to that big meeting on time. So in 25 metro areas throughout the U.S., we’ve introduced a new parking difficulty icon in Google Maps for Android that’ll give you a heads up on what kind of parking crunch to prepare for when you’re on the go.

This should make sure that you are on time to that dinner reservation or meeting as it builds in some time for you to go park your vehicle.

You may want to put your shocked face on because it looks like Facebook is going to start putting ads in Facebook Messenger.

That was sarcasm folks.

The company announced today that they are going to begin testing ads in Messenger in Thailand and Australia with businesses having the option to have their products advertized below your recent conversations in the app.  It is a small start and really, it makes a lot of sense for Facebook to do this, like it or not.  Facebook Messenger has over a billion users per month which makes it an ideal platform to surface ads.

Today’s Deal on Amazon is a limited time and quantity offer from BLU.  Starting at 11AM EST (8AM PST), you can pick up the brand new BLU VIVO XL2 for just $99.  Normally this dual-SIM phone is $149 and for what you get at $99, is a pretty good deal.  It is powered by the MediaTek quad-core process running at 1.4GHz and coupled with the Mali-T720 GPU.  It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage built in.  That internal storage can be expanded an additional 64GB thanks to the MicroSD slot.  It has a 3150 mAh battery and supports Quick Charge technology for faster charging.  Camera wise, the VIVO XL2 has a 13MP main camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus while the front camera is an 8MP shooter.

Screen wise, you will be getting a 5.5″ screen that renders HD quality.  It is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 while to go along with the great display, you get DTS surround sound audio from the ample speakers built into the phone.

Like other BLU devices, the VIVO XL2 is sold unlocked and works with GSM carriers here in the United States like AT&T, T-Mobile and Cricket.  Here are the GSM and LTE bands for reference so you can double-check that it will work for you.

• HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
• LTE band 2(1900), 4(1700/2100), 7(2600), 12(700), 17(700)

Finally, VIVO XL2 runs Android Marshmallow but be aware that BLU has given no indication of when a Nougat update will come for the phone.

The $99 deal on the VIVO XL2 will go until supplies run out.  Head over to Amazon to get more details and to order yours starting at 11AM Eastern.