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.
While every Android phone will come with a SMS app, there are plenty of alternative apps available in the Google Play Store. One of those is from Google themselves, the Google Messenger app. It is a solid alternative to native text apps, giving you both SMS and MMS capability in a clean, simple UI that is quite colorful at the same time. I’ve been using the app for a couple of weeks now on my BLU VIVO IV phone and after trying several others, it has become my default texting app. Here are my thoughts and review of the app which is free in the store.
Earlier this week I posted that Nexus 9 owners were teased with an update to Lollipop 5.0.2 and how it was a bit silly that other Nexus devices were seeing the 5.1.1 update like the older Nexus 7. Well it seems that Google has been on the ball behind the scenes – or has been shamed at least – getting the 5.1 update ready. It is dropping today and you should see the update on your device via an over-the-air update.
Any smartphone you buy today be it Android, iOS or Windows Phone, will come with a camera app for the built-in camera of the device. Some of these are appallingly bad while others are fantastic. Fortunately, regardless of the platform you chose, you have a lot of camera apps available in respective app stores to help fit your needs a bit better. In the case of Android, one of the simplest yet easiest to use camera apps is Google Camera. Yes it is made by Google and it is a robust camera app alternative. It doesn’t have the huge number of filters or other special tricks but it does do one thing really, really well: Take photos. With its simple user experience and focus on the taking of the photo itself, Google Camera gives you all you need to take a great picture with your Android phone, leaving it to other apps for post processing. Personally, I’m good with this approach and having used this app for a week or so now, I’m pretty pleased with it. I think you would be too.
Microsoft has released another update to Outlook for Android today, bringing improved navigation and several bug fixes to the app. The update, version 1.2.5 for those keeping score at home, is available now and is highly recommended for those who are using the email app. While the improve navigation elements actually were release last week in version 1.2, they have been smoothed out a good bit in this update. You shouldn’t see the hesitation many users were experiencing when moving between accounts or from mail to calendar or people for example.
Google has released an update to Google Maps that will be a welcome update for those who use Gmail. The update will have a varying version number based on your device but on my BLU VIVO IV phone running KitKat 4.4, I’m on version 9.8.1 for those keeping score at home. The biggest update is much improved Gmail integration where you can easily find your next reservation.
For owners of the Google Nexus 9 Android tablet, today is a good day. The over-the-air update to Android Lollipop 5.0.2 is now rolling out and you should check your device to see if you have it available. Navigate to Software Update under About Device and you can check for the update there (or if it is already downloaded to your device, you’ll be prompted to apply the update.
Now for those of you scratching your head and thinking, “But didn’t Google release Android 5.1.1 for other devices, including the older Nexus 7 tablet?” Why yes, yes they did.
A couple of weeks ago I reported that after the purchase by Google of Softcard, the NFC payment app and service, that support for Windows Phone would end. This was according to Softcard’s own FAQs answer the question of if support would continue. It is unfortunate and shortsighted by Google to immediately kill the solution on Windows Phone and it further shows the one sided relationship between the tech giant and Microsoft. Now we know for sure when the support will end. March 31, 2015.