Tag: App Update

The Chrome for Android beta app has been updated today in the Play Store, upping the base code to Chrome 66 for the mobile browser.  The new version is build 66.0.3359.30 and represents the first Chrome 66 beta for Android.

Unlike other beta programs in the Play Store, there is no sign up to get the Chrome beta for Android.  You can download it here and install it on your compatible devices.  Like all beta software however, its not recommended to run it as your daily browser or deploy it into production as there are likely still bugs to be found and there could be performance issues.

The Google Camera app for the Google Pixel lineup of phones has a new update rolling out that brings some UI changes as well as some new features.  The update is version 5.2 for those keeping score at home and has been released to the Play Store.  You should see the update over the course of the next few days.

From a UI perspective, the top menu bar has been cleaned up with the grid control settings moved to the menu in the app as a setting.  Given that the grid view is normally something you set and forget, this makes sense and makes the upper bar in the app a bit less cluttered.

A new update to Pocket for Android is rolling out in the Play Store and it brings a long requested feature to the read it later app.  Now when you look at your list of articles you have saved, you will see an estimated reading or viewing time for that article.

For those who aren’t familiar with Pocket, it is an app that allows you to save content to read later.  It is aimed to simplified your life by having one repository for your content so you are not having to create a bunch of bookmarks.

The Microsoft To-Do app has a new update rolling out that brings support for hashtags and improved readability of reminders in tasks.  The update is version 1.26.58 for those keeping score at home and has rolled out to the Play Store.  If you have it installed, you should get the OTA update over the course of the next few days.

The big new feature is hashtag support.  Now you can use them in your notes for tasks and can search for those hashtags later.  Think of it as tagging of notes, something that other apps have done for a while now.

Version 3.0 of Android Messages, Google’s SMS app, has started rolling out in the Google Play Store today.  While it doesn’t sport a lot of changes, mostly bug fixes and performance improvements, it does drop support for Android KitKat.

KitKat was released back in October 2013 so dropping support for the now 4 year and a bit year old version is not entirely shocking and it fits with Google upping the minimum supported API level in other apps.  Frankly, at this point nobody should be using KitKat purely from a security perspective.

A new update to the Google Movies & TV app for Android is rolling out that brings some UI changes as well as improved integration with Rotten Tomatoes ratings on movies.  The new build is version 4.2 for those keeping score at home and should be rolling out to everyone over the course of the next few days.

The most noticeable change to the Movies & TV app after this update is the new bottom navigation in the app.  This falls in line with other Google apps and is the overall trend they have going on for Android.  That navigation has also been slimmed down with tabs for Home, Library and Watchlist only.