ClintonFitch.com

The Google app for Android has a server-side update rolling out today that brings detailed Pollen forecasts at a glance thanks to the Weather Channel.  The update, much like the weather forecast feature of the app, will give you detailed information about how much pollen is in the air for your location as well as the different types of pollen.  The good news is, you don’t have to do anything to get the update.  Since it is a server-side update, so long as you have the latest Google app on your phone, it will come to your phone automagically.

To get to the new forecast, use the Google app to search for pollen forecast.  Using the location services on your phone, you will see the level of pollen in your area as well as the main type of allergen.  For those of us who suffer from seasonal allergies (Clinton raises his hand), it will mighty helpful in deciding how much time you spend outdoors or if you open up the windows at home.  Or maybe make double sure you take your allergy medication for the day.

USB charging stations for your desk are, frankly, dull.  Most of them, while functional, are black or white boxes with a row of USB ports and not much pizazz.  That’s what makes the Jelly Comb Charging Station stand out.  This 5-port USB station for your desktop has a unique design that makes it easy to plug in your accessories while not looking like a slap of plastic on your desk.  It supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology and has a blue LED light to let you know when it is powered on.  It’s a different take on what is usually a utilitarian accessory for most of us.

The team over at Jelly Comb sent me the charging station a few weeks back to test and review.  It is the first product from the China-based company I have reviewed and for its unique look and technology supported, the $14.99 price tag is hard to beat.  Here’s my review.

Today’s Deal is on a great USB desktop charger that is a bit future proof.  The AUKEY Amp USB Charger has four USB-A ports and one USB-C port built in and, with a coupon code provided to you by AUKEY, you can get it for only $13.  The deal is over at Amazon and when you check out, simply use the code N79URQMX.  This will drop the price in your cart from $24.99 to the sale price.

The AUKEY Amp USB Charger supports 2.4A output, per port, on the USB-A ports while the USB-C port supports rapid charging thanks to 5V/3A support.  That means it can charge any of your Android phones or tablets that support USB-C.  AUKEY has done a great job in designing this desktop charger as you can actually use all five ports at once if you wanted to do so.  Many desktop chargers drop the number of ports you can use or the amps down to the point where it is unusable if you plug into all the ports.  Not so with this one which makes that $13 price tag pretty awesome.

There is a new update to the Google Camera app rolling out in the Play Store that brings a new double-tap to zoom feature.  The update is version 4.4 for those keeping score at home and it works on the Google Pixel lineup as well as the Nexus and Android One devices.  The update brings features that were actually in the app during the Android O beta cycle (Developer Preview 3) but it has now been ported out to all devices running Marshmallow or higher.

The primary new feature is the ability to double-tap the screen while you are in viewfinder mode to zoom.  If you double-tap, it will zoom in 50% and will return to the normal wide angle when you double-tap once more.  The new tapping works in both photo as well as video mode.