Tag: App Update

Chrome for Android has a new update rolling out today that brings several security fixes to the browser.  The new version is build 62.0.3202.84 for those keeping score at home and should be hitting all devices over the course of the next few days.

The update contains a number of security updates to the browser that have been identified by external sources.  While the exact details of what was addressed are not disclosed, Google did link to the GIT repository for the update on all of the changes.  The abridged version is that this update fixes some buffer overflow issues, credentials issues and invalid printer URIs being used.

Ultimately for consumers, the bottom line is that this build is going to protect you against malicious code that could compromise your phone or your data.

Good news for those of you who use OneDrive in the enterprise.  A new update to the app is rolling out now in the Play Store that brings support for SharePoint 2013 and 2016 to it.  The update brings the app to version 5.0 for those keeping score at home.

With this new version of OneDrive installed on your Android phone, you will now have access to file that are stored in SharePoint.  That means you can open and edit them and you will have the ability to do so even if you are offline.  It is a big step forward for enterprise users who were limited to pretty much having to use their desktop to access SharePoint and edit files.

Google has begun rolling out an improved look to the overflow menus in the Google app for Android.  The update is a server-side change, meaning that as long as you have the latest version of the app on your phone, it will be pushed down behind the scenes to your phone.

That latest version is 7.13.28.21 for those keeping score at home.

Previously, when you were looking at cards in the Google app or in the Google Pixel or Now Launcher page, you would get a pop-up card on the display when you wanted to dismiss a card.  Now, when you tap the three vertical dots in the right-hand corner of any card, you get a bottom-up card.  It looks much cleaner and refined over the pop-up card.

Microsoft Launcher has a new update rolling out that should get those of you who are on the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 excited.  The updated version of what was once known as Arrow Launcher is build 4.1.1.37741 and it brings with it a Fluent Design inspired look to the Utility page.

For those who are not Windows users, Fluent Design is Microsoft’s take on the semi-transparent look of apps that you find in MacOS and mobile.  To this point, the Utility page has had two themes:  Light or Dark.  Now you can change that to be transparent and can adjust how much blur you want behind the cards or widget.

The popular save it for later app, Pocket, has a new update rolling out to Android users.  The update, version 6.6.3.2 for those keeping score at home, brings the ability to have articles read to you while you are on the go.

For those that aren’t familiar with Pocket, it is an app and service that allows you to save an article or other find on the web for viewing or reading later.  There are apps for Android, iOS and plug-ins for popular browsers like Chrome.  It is a great way to save and share articles of interest.

The new text-to-speech feature works great.  Once you have an article open in the app you want read to you, go to the menu (three vertical dots) and tap on “Listen (TTS)”.  The app will automatically start reading the article to you.  The voices used by the app are a little robotic but not to the point of distracting and the app supports playback in the background too.  If you are playing it in the background, the ability to play/pause the reading is available to you in the notification shade.

For those of you are in the Early Release program for Microsoft Edge, look for an update to hit your devices today.  The update for the Android port of the Windows 10 browser is mainly aimed at bringing stability and performance improvements to the app.  No specific items were called out in the release notes other than these general statements.

It has been widely reported by those in the testing program that the Android version of the app is slower and less stable than the preview that is available on iOS.  This update is aimed at addressing some of those issues.

I’m part of the Early Release program on Microsoft Edge and I’ve already received the update.  In my very preliminary testing for this post, the browser certainly feels faster than the original build with improved rendering speeds on pages.