Category: Android

We all have those apps that we can’t see how we would get along without them and for me, Transit App for Android is one of them.  The app provides bus, training and city bike information for a wide range of metro areas globally and given that I do not actually own a car I’m very reliant on buses, trains and what we call our B-Bikes.  That’s where an app like this one comes in handy and Transit App is in my opinion one of the best.

This week the makers of Transit App have released a new build of the app which brings an all important reminder feature so you know when your next bus or train is leaving or, more importantly, when the last bus or train is leaving so you don’t get stuck paying for a taxi home.  This latest update, version 3.7.1 for those keeping score at home, brings this easy-to-configure alarm along with some other improvements that bike riders will appreciate.

I should point out that Transit App isn’t just about public transportation but gives you all the options to get from point A to B including services such as Uber and Car2Go.

Transit App for Android – Free – Download Now

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

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

Google’s SMS app, Google Messenger, has been updated today and brings with it the ability to send your location or stickers to those with whom you are texting. Now instead of having to type out your location, you can simply send it to someone so they can more quickly find you.  This latest update is build is version 1.4.046 (2073855-38) for those keeping score at home and is available now in the Google Play Store.

If you have not checked out Google Messenger and are looking for a more powerful option to the built-in SMS app on your Android phone, I would encourage you to give it a go.  I reviewed it earlier this year and it remains my default texting app on my OnePlus One.

Google Messenger – Free – Download Now

Google has issued an update to the Google Maps app for Android, bringing with it the ability to send Google Maps search results on your PC to your mobile.  It gives you the best of both worlds: Search on your larger display PC then have that result show up on your mobile device.  The best part is you don’t really have to do anything to make all this work.  This new version, build 9.11.0 for those keeping score at home, is for both Android Phone and Android Tablet powered devices.

Google Maps – Free – Download Now

Microsoft has released a new update to the OneNote for Android app that brings several new and advanced editing features to the note taking app.  The update, version 15.0.3931.1008 for those keeping score at home, follows up on the general release of the entire Office for Android Phone yesterday.  While a part of the Office suite as a whole, OneNote for Android has been out for Android phone and tablets for some time now and is on a different development cycle.  This app is also free and it uses your OneDrive account to store and sync your notes.

OneNote for Android – Free – Download Now