Category: Android

Earlier today, Microsoft released the preview for Office for Android phone apps.  The separate Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps are now individual apps and brings in line while the company is doing around the Office apps across all platforms – Windows Phone, Android and iOS.  The goal of course is to have a consistent user experience regardless of the device that you are using.  Today, if you use Office for Android tablet, it is a far different (and superior) experience to the Office Mobile app on Android Phone.  That now has changed with this preview.

To get the Office for Android phone apps, you will have to join the preview program.  After the break I’ve outlined what you need to do in order to get into the program and to download the apps.  Once they are installed, you will be able to update them via the normal update process in the Google Play Store.

YouTube for Android has been updated today bringing with it a much improved music search functionality and a tab on the app’s home screen for you to find music videos.  The update is version 10.18.55 for those keeping score at home and solidifies YouTube as becoming an ever growing source of music videos with many top artists posting their videos through VEVO.  Now you can quickly and easily find videos in a wide range of categories just by swiping to the Music tab in the YouTube app and play them straight away without having to search for them.

YouTube – Free – Download Now

Google has updated their activity tracking app Google Fit with improved Android Wear support along with many bug fixes.  The update, version 1.51.07-000 for those keeping score at home, works on a wide range of Android devices and while Android Wear devices are supported, are not required.

If you aren’t familiar with Google Fit, it is an app that uses the sensors in your Android phone to track your physical activity such as running and walking.

Google Fit – Free – Download Now

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 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

Canadian carrier Rodgers is reporting that the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will be receiving the Lollipop 5.1 update later this summer.  In a post on Android Central today, the carrier is slating the June time frame for the release of the update which will bring several new features including a guest mode and the ability to shoot photos in RAW format.

For those scratching their heads, yes, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge did ship with Lollipop but it was the 5.0 version.  The 5.1 update, in addition to the features I mentioned, brings other substantial improvements to the platform including better security and battery performance.