Category: App Update

Microsoft’s continual update of their apps for Android continues and the big news today is concerning OneDrive.  The cloud-based storage app OneDrive for Android has been updated to version 3.2 for those keeping score at home and now has the ability to cast your photos and files to your television via Chromecast.  It is a sign that Microsoft’s commitment to Android remains strong but also another app in the ever-growing Play Store that supports Chromecast.

OneDrive for Android – Free – Download Now

The collage making app Layout from Instagram has been updated today, bringing with it the ability to access your photos from your Google+ or Dropbox account.  The app is a relatively new photography app that allows you to put together a photo collage and share it on Instagram.  The latest version, build 1.1.1 for those keeping score at home, leverages your Instagram account so there is no separate sign up required.  The app is also free.

Layout from Instagram – Free – Download Now

If you are a user of Evernote for Android, there is a new and significant update for you to get today.  This afternoon version 7.0.5 for those keeping score at home, dropped into the Google Play Store with a fairly significant list of updates to it.  The two biggest updates to this build come in the form of a user adjustable passcode timeout setting and visual enhancements to be more in line with the material design of Lollipop.  The update is free of course and you can try Evernote Premium for 30 days by clicking this link which will give you added benefits such as offline notebooks, presenting of notes, allows others to edit your notes and to PIN lock your Evernote app.  Evernote Premium can be purchased via an In-App purchase and is $4.99 per month or $44.99 per year.

Microsoft has released an update to the Office for Android apps today and it is an utter mystery what is addressed in the update. All three of the Office apps – Excel, PowerPoint and Word – have received an update and they are available now for those who have Android Tablets and if you are in the Office for Android Phone preview, you will see them available on your phone.  The version of the builds is 16.0.4201.1004 for those keeping score at home.  While mysterious “bug fix and performance improvement” updates are common in the Google Play Store, updates with literally no release notes are not as common (but not unheard of).  What Microsoft addressed in these updates is only known to them at this point but I think it is safe to assume that they are aimed at the phone builds.

Microsoft Word for Android – Free – Download Now

Microsoft Excel for Android – Free – Download Now

Microsoft PowerPoint for Android – Free – Download Now

The latest update to the Google Search app for Android has brought some minor but noticeable changes to Google Now, the at-a-glance page on your Android Jelly Bean or higher device.  The update was released over the weekend and if you look at the release notes, the only thing that is mentioned is “get new features, plus speed and reliability improvements“.  Reasonably generic.  However, there does seem to be at least two changes I have noticed in Google Now since updating and there may be others I’ve just not found yet.  Regardless, version 4.7.13.19.arm for those keeping score at home is now in the Google Play Store and worth the small download to get the update.

Google has released a significant update to the Google Camera app and if you own a Nexus 4, 5 or 6 you will certainly want to get it on your device.  While most of the improvements in this release are focused on the Nexus lineup, there are a few features and improvements for everyone regardless of which Android device you are using.  This new update bumps the version to 2.5.052 (2005148-30) for those keeping score at home and is available now in the Google Play Store.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, Google Camera is a camera alternative for your device.  It is a simple, easy-to-use camera app that covers all the basics of smartphone photography.  You can read my review of Google Camera here on the site and it remains the primary camera app I use on my OnePlus One.