Category: Android

The last 24 hours have seen a flurry of updates from Google on their Android apps.  Google Photos, Google Play Music, Google Chrome and Google+ have all been updated in the last 24 hours and the latest to be added to that list is Google Translate.  For those who are not familiar with the app, Google Translate allows you to convert spoken or written text from one language to another.  It supports over 90 languages and is the closest thing to the Star Trek Universal Translator available today.  Simply speak to your phone in your native tongue and it is translated to your audience’s tongue and scarily accurate.  Or if you see a sign in one language but need it in your native language, point your camera at it and it will magically appear in your native language on your phone’s screen.

Now Google has smoothed out 40 of those conversations in this update to Google Translate while also improving the accessibility features of the app.  The update is version 4.0.0.RC08.99220384 for those keeping score at home and it is available for free now in the Google Play Store.

Google Translate for Android – Free – Download Now

All indications are it has been a busy week for the Google team.  Earlier today I told you about the update to Google Photos and Google Play Music that brought some improvements and fixes.  Now in the Google Play Store there are updates for Google Chrome and Google+ for Android available.  Both of these absolutely fall into the bug fix and performance improvement category so don’t look for any new functionality or features.  But, as always, you should update to the latest versions of Google Chrome and Google+ to keep up-to-date.

The Google Chrome build is version 44.0.2403.128 while the Google+ build is version 6.0.0.99065591 for those keeping score at home and like playing version number bingo.  The updates are for both Android phone and tablet devices.

Google Chrome for Android – Free – Download Now

Google+ for Android – Free – Download Now

Google has released another update to the Google Photos app for Android, bringing with it several new features aimed at giving you more editing functionality on your Android phone or tablet.  I’m personally a big fan of Google Photos and since the major update to it announced at I/O in June, it has become my first source for storing and editing photos.  If you haven’t given it a try I would suggest you do so.  I don’t think you will be disappointed.  This latest update, build 1.2.1.99143001 for those keeping score at home, allows you to edit your albums and photo descriptions all from your mobile device instead of having to go to the web to do it.

Google Photos for Android – Free – Download Now

Oh glorious bird day!  It has taken several years and many sub-genre of games later, but today we finally have the sequel to Angry Birds.  Angry Birds 2 is available now in the Google Play store and the team at Rovio state it is the biggest mobile game prizes ever.  The opening cut scene of the game is brilliant and all the birds you are familiar with in the original game are back with each having their own special purpose or power.  There is however an updated theme song in Angry Birds 2 and the overall game imagery is far superior to the original game.  If you are expecting to see the same game, think again.  This new Angry Birds is not the same as the original.

Earlier today Motorola made several new device announcements, chief among them is the new Moto G 2015 model.  The mid-range phone has reasonable specs for a phone that starts at only $179 and it can be completely customized using the Motorola Moto Maker service on their website.  The Moto G 2015 is the latest update in a successful series of devices for Motorola and this new Moto G comes with some nice updates.

The AccuWeather app for Android phones and tablets has received a nice but small update that brings support for Google Now to the app.  It is the latest in a long line of apps that have started to support the Google Now feature which is part of the Google Launcher.  With the update, you will start receiving weather information cards in Google Now on your device.  The AccuWeather update is 3.4.2.1 for those keeping score at home and is available now in the Google Play Store.  There are two versions of AccuWeather:  A free, Ad-supported version and a non-ad version for $2.99.

AccuWeather for Android – Free – Download Now

AccuWeather for Android Platinum – $2.99 – Download Now