ClintonFitch.com

Many like to compare Google Play Newsstand to Flipboard, the news and information curation app and service.  While Flipboard certainly has its strengths and features that Google Play Newsstand doesn’t offer, the Google alternative does have some great features.  Frankly I look at these as complementary apps more than anything because Google’s app, while Flipboardesque in many ways, equally has some features that make it stand out.  Most notably, it is your source for magazine reading for your Google Play subscriptions through the Play Store.

The latest update to Google Play Newsstand is available now and it brings a great new feature that allows you to pin a news source from the app directly onto your Home Screen, saving you from having to tap into the app.  You love everything you read on AP (Associated Press)?  Then pin it to your Home Screen.  To get this new feature you need to be running the latest version of Google Play Newsstand, build 3.4.2 on Android phones for those keeping score at home, which is available as now in the Play Store

Google Play Newsstand – Free – Download Now

With over 3 billion downloads and a host of theme and mini-sequel games, Angry Birds is arguably one of the most popular download ever for mobile devices let alone a game.  Now Rovio Entertainment, the company behind the franchise has announced “the mother of all sequels”, Angry Birds 2.  The announcement came on the company’s blog and while few details were given on how the game will play, Angry Birds 2 will be released on July 30th.  That’s right peeps, a mere 14 days from now.  Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I have an Angry Birds addiction problem.  Angry Birds 2 will keep that addiction going, I’m confident.

I’ve have stated many times publicaly that single biggest limitation to mobile technology is battery power. It seems every time that we make an advancement in battery technology, we shove more stuff onto the phone to consume that advantage. It is, as they say, what it is.

That means carrying extra batteries or an ability to charge the built-in battery on your device is a must. Portable, battery powered chargers have been around a long time but the team at Hisgadget recently sent me their Introcircuit Power Castle to review. It is nothing short of awesome. It packs a 15,000mAh battery with dual USB charging ports, each able to put out 5 volts and 2.4A of power to charge your smartphone or tablet.  It also uses a SmartID technology to identify the type of device you are charging to give maximum charging efficiency.  Even better, the Power Castle has built-in LCD display to tell you exactly how much power is left in it.  While the Introcircuit Power Castle is not the smallest external battery you can buy, it is certainly one of the most powerful and priced at only $39.99, its a great value.

Google has released an update to the Google Keyboard app for Android, the keyboard replacement app for phones and tablets.  Keyboard, like Google Messenger and Google Camera, are apps that Google has been harvesting out of Lollipop and releasing as stand alone apps.  As I posted a few weeks ago, this is great for the platform and apps like Keyboard gives everyone the opportunity to try it out without having to worry about Lollipop on their devices.  Personally I’m a big fan of Google Keyboard and highly recommend it.  This latest update, build 4.1.22123.2053724 for those keeping score at home, brings a lot of improvements on typing accuracy as well as significantly improved auto completion of words if you use the gesture typing the keyboard offers.

Google Keyboard – Free – Download Now