Tag: App Update

Today Google has announced that they will start using images from the Landsat 8 satellite for Google Earth and Google Maps, bringing far superior images for both apps when you view the earth in satellite mode.  The change moves the primary imaging source of Google from Landsat 7 and both of the satellites are operated by the USGS/NASA Landsat Program.  What this means for you is far more detailed and clearer images when you use either of the apps.

Today we’re rolling out an even more beautiful and seamless version, with fresh imagery from Landsat 8 satellite and new processing techniques for sharper images than ever before. Satellite images are often cloudy, but not always over the same place, so we looked at millions of images and took the clearest pixels to stitch together this cloud-free and seamless image.

There is nothing we as users have to do.  This is a back end update from Google and you should start seeing higher quality images in both apps today.

There is a new update to Snapseed for Android available in the Play Store that brings a few but nice improvements to the photo editing app.  The update is version 2.6 for those keeping score at home and if you have the app already installed on your phone or tablet, you should get the OTA update in the next few days.

The first change is the addition of a blue filter to the Black and White filter of the app.  This allows you to create high contrast B&W images by ramping up the blue while toning down the yellow.  You don’t see the colors obviously in the black and white image but the effect creates the high contrast for your photo.

In a move that makes all kinds of sense, Evernote has moved the premium feature of being able to lock your note with a passcode to their free tier.  This means every users of the service can lock their notes from prying eyes.  This is great to see as it corrects something I personally never liked about Evernote:  Security should not be a premium option.  It should be there by default.

I have been a user of the service since 2011 and a premium user of the service (for other reasons) so the ability to associate a PIN with the app has always been there for me.  It prevents anyone from picking up your phone, opening the app, and reading your notes.  It is simple yes but does the job.  In my mind, Evernote has corrected a wrong with this change.

The podcast app Pocket Casts has received a healthy update this morning, bringing with it a host of bug fixes and other stability improvements.  Pocket Casts is by far my favorite podcast app for Android with its ability to sync between my devices and generally good performance.  The update, however, aims to improve that performance and stability.  The updated build is 5.4.1.324 for those keeping score at home and is available now in the Play Store.

The Google Photos app and service got a small tweak yesterday behind-the-scenes that will make heavy users of the app rejoice.  Now when you are viewing your albums in either the app or on the web, there is a new Slideshow feature on the overflow menu.  That feature allows you to start a slide show on your devices or, if you have a Chromecast, cast them to your TV.  It is a small addition but an important one as it is an often requested feature.

Full disclosure:  I’m a Google Top Contributor for Google Photos in the Product Forums.

The nice thing about this update is there is not app update required.  The most current version of the app on your phone or tablet will simply have the feature pushed to it.

The TED Talks app, simply known as TED in the Google Play Store, has been updated with a completely re-imagined user experience.  The updated build, version 3.0 for those keeping score at home, has been beautifully updated in Material Design, bringing a polished look & feel to the app.  If you are not familiar with TED Talks, they describe their mission and purpose best.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.

There is a wealth of information you can find by watching hundreds if not thousands of videos on a wide range of subjects and interests.