Category: Android Phone

Google has released an update to the Google Device Assist app for Nexus, Google Play edition and Android One devices running Android Lollipop.  The new 1.2 version for those keeping score at home, brings several new tips as well as rich media content for more engaging tips for users.  If you are not familiar with the Google Device Assist app, it is designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced users of Google devices that gives you tips and tricks as well as a great resource of information on how to get the most out of your device.  There are also a issue detector built into the app that can proactively inform you of issues so they can be addressed.  You can also get live tech support (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, UK and USA) through the app to help you troubleshoot issues or get help with something.

Google Device Assist (Google Nexus, Play Edition and Android One Devices required) – Free – Download Now

I will admit that I’m a bit retentive when it comes to my work space. Everything has a place and everything should be easy to reach but equally, it needs to be tidy and organized. I don’t like seeing cables sticking out everywhere and I certainly don’t like my devices sitting on the desktop. They take up space and I already have a small enough desk space.

When I started looking for a desk stand for my Nexus 6 and Nexus 7, there were plenty out there but I couldn’t find that perfect one. That was until I discovered the Kbtel Micro Suction stand on Amazon. The aluminum body is angled perfectly for device viewing while you are stat at your desk. It also has a unique micro-suction technology that securely holds your device in either landscape or portrait mode. Add to that cable management on the back of it and the Kbtel stand is an elegant and simple design that just works.

Kbtel Universal Micro Suction Stand – $16.99 – Amazon

Yesterday Google released an update to the Google Search app for Android.  While that itself isn’t really news worthy, it is what is in it that makes it so.  Google Now on Tap is included in this build, something that was mentioned at Google I/O at the launch of Android Marshmallow but to date hasn’t made an appearance.  With this new version, 5.3.19.19 for those keeping score at home, Now on Tap is enabled but you have to be running the Android Marshmallow developer bits to get the benefits.

Google Search for Android – Free – Download Now

So there have been a lot – and I mean a lot – of new devices the past few weeks.  Some have been great, some not so great but most have had some pretty spiffy wallpapers to go with them.  One of those is the Moto X Play and I’ve managed to get the stock wallpapers for this device and put them up on the Wallpaper page.

Mobile Wallpaper Page

Over the past several weeks I have been migrating my office productivity apps from Microsoft Office to Google Docs. This is part four of the four part series and will cover Google Slides, the presentation application of the Google Docs suite.

If you have not read the first three parts of the series, that may be a good place to start if you are interested in making a similar migration yourself. If you are only wanting to learn my thoughts & opinions on Google Sheets, this article will do it for you.

My Migration to Google Docs Part 1 – The Setup

My Migration to Google Docs Part 2 – Google Docs on All The Toys

My Migration to Google Docs Part 3 – Between the Google Sheets

With this final part of the series, I will be keeping the same format as I have on the other three parts:  Focusing on how Google Slides performs in Chrome, on a Chromebook and on Android devices.

As a reminder to everyone who is thinking of making this migration, a word of advice-meets-warning I posted as part of the first article.

Take your time.  You will find that the majority of features in Microsoft Office are in the Google apps but they will be in different places.  It may take you a few menu clicks to sort it out.  Be patient.  Give it a chance.  Sure it may turn out that it isn’t right for you and your needs but I would suggest trying the experiment over a week or two before you make a final verdict.  It isn’t as big a migration from say a PC to a Mac but it is similar to moving from Internet Explorer to Chrome in many ways.  Same thing, but bits in different places and this process or that process may be a little different.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and your migration to Google Docs won’t happen that fast either.  Patience is the word of the day.

This morning the Rovio team dropped a small update to Angry Birds 2, the sequel to the popular game that came out in July.  This is the 2nd update to the game and it brings 20 new levels to your Android phone or tablet and follows up the 1st update just a couple of weeks ago.  If you have Angry Birds 2 installed on your devices then you should receive the update OTA.  If you haven’t installed it, you can via the link below.  It is free although there are plenty of in-app purchases available.

Angry Birds 2 for Android – Free (In-App Purchases) – Download Now