Category: Android

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

While there are plenty of note taking and task management applications available today, one of the best and leading applications is Evernote.  It’s multi-platform agnostic and you can get to your notes and to-do’s offline as well as online no matter what device you happen to be using.  This now includes your Android Wear device.  Evernote for Android Wear is an extension of your Evernote app on your Android phone and allows you to quickly and easily create notes and to-do’s, and find notes be it your most recent or notes that you have created near the location you happen to be in at the time.  It is also fully integrated with Google Now so you use voice commands to create notes and reminders while on-the-go.  If you are an Evernote user (I have been since 2011) and want to be able to get to notes quickly from your Android Wear device without touching your phone, this is the app for you.

Evernote for Android Wear – Free – Download Now

If you are a baseball fan and remember collecting baseball cards, Topps BUNT is the app for you.  It allows you to electronically collect and trade baseball cards with friends and others in the game.  It’s a lot fun and there are daily contests to help you win coins to buy more cards (or you can spend real money to get them).  Yes it’s geeky but for baseball fans, especially those of us in our 40s and older, its a great bit of nostalgic fun.

Today Topps BUNT has been updated with a minor update that should dramatically improve the performance of the app.  The update is version 1.01.82 for those keeping score at home and if you have the app I highly recommend you get this update.

Topps BUNT for Android – Free (In-App Purchases) – Download Now

Microsoft’s continued mobile app development on iOS and Android continues seemingly non-stop and today’s release of Microsoft Translator shows they are both serious about it and really good at it.  Microsoft Translator allows you via typing or speaking, translate between 50 different languages and it comes with out-of-the-box support for Android Wear, something that is not supported in Google Translate.  It also has far smoother audio playing of the translated text than Google Translate, sounding far less “robotic” than Google’s offering.  If you are looking for a translation app, this is one to seriously consider.  It’s free and in my testing of it today has performed flawlessly.

Microsoft Translator for Android – Free – Download Now

When the OnePlus 2 was publicly announced online on July 27th, it was branded as the 2016 Flagship Killer.  Apparently a lot of people are believers.  Just days after the launch, OnePlus announced they had hit the 1 million reservations mark and today they have posted on Twitter & Google+ that they have reached the 2 million mark.  That’s two million people willing to buy just 10 days after launch.  For a start up – for really any device manufacture – that’s an impressive clip.

Over 2 MILLION reservations for the #OnePlus2. Thank you for your overwhelming support! http://t.co/7CBjiXrOgp pic.twitter.com/F7nSSwwyRK

— OnePlus (@oneplus) August 6, 2015

The OnePlus 2 will start being available here in the United States on August 11th, next Tuesday, with those reservations starting to be filled.  While there are a few of the devices out and about, there are not a huge number available yet and the reservation system is how OnePlus will be fulfilling orders.