Category: App Update

In a bit of a surprise, Google has released the Chrome 64 based update to Chrome for Android.  The update is rolling out now and brings a significant number of security improvements to the browser.  The new build is version 64.0.3282.116 for those keeping score at home.  The surprise is that the Android version of the browser was released before the update to the Windows, Mac and Linux version.  Usually Chrome for Android and Chrome OS are the last two to be updated in the monthly flow of updates from Google.

There are a number of security updates in this release but three in particular stand out.  First is a crack down on auto-redirects.  After this update, Chrome 64will block 3rd party iframes unless the users has to interact with it.  There is also a new infobar that appears when new tabs or windows are attempted to open by the site you are browsing.

After accidentally leaking the news over the weekend, Google has officially announced that audiobooks have come to Google Play Books.  The update requires that you have the latest version of the Play Books app for both Android and iOS, which is version 4.0 for those on Android.  Once you have it, you will be able to listen to your books on your phone or tablet.

Even better, Google has fully integrated the experience with Google Assistant and Google Home, meaning you can tell Assistant to read a book to you and it will read it on your Home.

An update to the PayPal app for Android is making its way into the Play Store today, bringing a new personal QR Code for receiving funds and a QR scanner to send them.  The update, version 6.20.1 for those keeping score at home, a new “Scan to Send Money” button on main home display.  Tapping it will bring up a built-in QR code scanner which has a second “Share” tab which will display your own QR code so you can receive funds from friends.

The introduction of QR Codes into PayPal is aimed to cut down on the time it takes when you are with friends or family to setup and transfer funds between each other.  No more having to request their linked email address to the service or even their PayPal.me link.

There is a new update rolling out to the Fandango app this morning.  The only change, outside of bug fixes and stability improvements, is the app now indicates support for Google Pay.

If you don’t remember, Google Pay was announced at CES last week as a single payment solution for sending money to friends, making retail store purchases, online purchases and in app purchases.  It is a merging of Android Pay and Google Wallet.  Fandango was one of the apps mentioned that would have it in short order and it is now live.

Microsoft Edge for Android has a new update rolling out that brings a handful of new features and improvements.  The update is build 1.0.0.1552 for those keeping score at home and if you are an Android Oreo users, this will be an update you like.  This update brings support for Oreo’s Adaptive icons so it will look more natural based on your device’s icon strategy.

Sharing of links and texts is now supported from other apps into Microsoft Edge.  If you open a link in one location, you can now share that with Edge and have it open there.  Likewise, if you snip text and share it with Edge, it will use the browser’s default search engine to find that search result for that text.

If there is a flagship app from Microsoft on Android, outside of the Office 365 apps, it is Microsoft Launcher.  The launcher has proven to be very successful for the Redmond company, especially for those who are tied closely to the Microsoft ecosystem of other apps.  Now the company is rolling out an update to Launcher that brings more enterprise ties and other creature comforts to let you customize things more in it.

The update is version 4.5 for those keeping score at home and is rolling out now in the Google Play Store.  From an enterprise perspective, if you work for a company that leverages Microsoft Intune for data protection policies, you can now configure Microsoft Launcher to view that corporate data.  While you have always been able to add a corporate Office 365 account to the launcher, this new addition will give users with more strict data protection policies to leverage it on their phones.