Outlook.com for Android gets full server search and offline access.

Microsoft has updated its Outlook.com email service for Android that lets users make server side search on their devices when connected. Before the update, searching emails was limited to what was synced to the phone or tablet. However, if you worry about such a feature taking its toll on your data plan, Microsoft also added unlimited sync of emails for full offline access. Another useful feature is the ability to use Outlook.com aliases to send your emails. An excellent addition for those who use more than one Outlook.com email address.

The other features include the addition of eight colors for the customization of the app interface; the ability to set and manage vacation replies. Finally, Outlook.com gets support for traditional Chinese language.

Microsoft's Outlook.com app and service for Android is available free in Google Play Store.

Skype 5.0 now connects to your Android address book.

Skype



Unsurprisingly, the Skype looks more and more like a Windows Phone app and this is in line with Microsoft strategy in regards to its other apps that the software giant has ported to Android. Just take a look at OneDrive and Outlook apps to see what I mean.

Today, Microsoft published an update to Skype for Android that allow users to connect Skype to their address book. The result of this integration is once you verify your phone number when prompted by the app, friends in your address book will show up in your Skype contacts making it so much easier to find friends with Skype accounts. This is not limited to phone numbers as Skype will also check your friends with Microsoft accounts, these are Hotmail/Outlook.com/Live account, and suggest you connect to them.

On the privacy side of things, phone numbers are not made public. If you still worry about, say your phone number being accidentally made public, it is possible to deactivate this feature so you cannot be found by your phone number. Unless you're paranoid, I don't see any reason to disable this feature.

This update brings Skype for Android to version 5.0. However, the change log states that the connect to address book feature will be deployed "in the coming weeks". Until then, download or upgrade Skype in Google Play store.
 

TripAdvisor for Android gets offline support for maps and reviews.

In the digital age, reading travelers' reviews before scheduling your vacation is made possible by such apps like TripAdvisor. This helps not only potential customers choose the best travel and hotel experience, but also let hotels or any hospitality business to easily reach out to the billions of people on the get set to go on vacation. TripAdvisor can also make these businesses freak out when someone's vacation goes awry. This is understandable when you consider that the app has more than 50 millions downloads on the Play store alone. TripAdvisor is a multi-platform app, so you can find it on Apple's iOS and Microsoft Windows Phone. The app has been updated today.

Travelers will be happy with this update that brings offline support. They will be able to download maps before they leave home, thus save on data charges and not having to wait until they get home to share their vacation experience with the world. There's more though. The update also allows users to download reviews for free; Handy while you travel. Make sure you update the TripAdvisor app before you leave home as this update also lets you make restaurants tables reservations worldwide.

Check out the change log:

• Offline support
• Download maps, reviews, and your saves for over 300 cities worldwide and take them with you while you travel. All for free!
• Redesigned flights experience with a clean and intuitive presentation, leg by leg shopping and improved filtering.
• Now you can find and reserve tables at thousands of restaurants worldwide.

Source: Google Play Store

LokLok - You're going to love this Android app.

The Play store is home to millions of apps, but there are some apps which are so cute you just want to share with the Android community. It would be useless to keep it to yourself anyway since we live in a connected world. LokLok is one of these apps. LokLok just let you connect with your friends via your lock screen. Imagine you want to remind your friend to bring a bottle of red wine to a party you're both attending. There are a couple of scenarii that applies in this situation.

You can send a sms or email to your friend or create a reminder in your calendar and add your friend. Basically there are quite a few solutions that are available to you on your Android device. The usual stuff. How about changing that.

LokLok has been design to offer you an new way to leave a note, a drawing and photos on your friends lock screen. All that is requires is that you both install LokLok which is currently in beta and therefore is free for tablets and phones. It is for the time being an Android exclusive. After you've both installed the app, you start by drawing something on your lock screen. You double tap the screen to do that. Once done, whatever you've drawn or written will appear your fiends lock screen like magic. Chances are that your friend checks his phone several times a day. So once he unlocks his Android device, he/she will see your reminder. How about that?

Check out the two videos below to see how it works and how to connect your lock screens.





After watching these videos, head over to Google Play store to download LokLok. Enjoy!
 

Yammer speaks 11 additional languages and does on-the-fly translation.

Yammer, the enterprise social network, was acquired two years ago by Microsoft for $1.2 billion when Steve Ballmer was then the Software giant CEO. "The acquisition of Yammer underscores our commitment to deliver technology that businesses need and people love," said Steve Ballmer. Today Yammer is integrated into SharePoint and Office 365. It is also a multi-platform app.

The Android version of Yammer received an update today that adds 11 languages to it. The available languages are: Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian and Spanish. In addition, Yammer also gets the ability to do on-the-fly translation.

Finally, there is the usual bug fixes. I like the wording used to describe the bug fixes which is very unlike the traditional "Bug fixes" we see in every app update. It reads: "Bugs have been terminated. They will not be back." Like :-)

Source: Google Play Store

Google Keep now works with Android Wear.

With the current wearable trend, it sounds like we are heading in a future where our beloved devices are destined to remain in our pockets as smart watches take over and fetches the data we consume from our pockets to our wrist. While wearable is still in its infancy, it is nonetheless an exciting technology. Before you ask, I do not have a smart watch and yes I would love to get my hands on one.

Shortly after Google and its partners, LG and Samsung, announced their wearable devices, it was a matter of time before updated apps would take advantage of the new Android Wear OS. Google is gradually updating its own app and today, Google Keep is being blessed with Android Wear support.

Google Keep is a note taking app made by Google that available free in the Play store. Here, I must admit that I have never used it, being very happy with Evernote which has the definite advantage of being a multi-platform app.

With Android Wear support, lucky owners of LG or Samsung's smart watch will be able to create notes and see reminders; view and check off lists right on the watch without taking their phones out of their pocket. I don't feel particularly excited about this. Anyway, the update also includes the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.

Source: Play Store

Feedly gets another update, fixes duplicate image and crashes.

Yesterday I blogged about Feedly 21.1 which received an update that contained fixes and optimizations. 24 hours later, the developer behind the popular news reader for Android has released another update with two fixes. The first is to fix duplicate image issue and the second one fixes crashes for Android 2.x and Android 4.x. I did notice the duplicate image issue on a Motorola G and my Nexus 7 running Android L. Fortunately, no crashes. Anyway, I'm proceeding with the update and I invite you to do the same. This update brings Feedly to version 22.0.

Go to Google Play Store to update/install Feedly on your device.

Feedly update brings fixes and optimization.

Shortly after Google killed Google Reader last year, Feedly quickly stepped in to fill in and provide a better news source. Since then the app has got over a million download and is regularly updated with new features and fixes. The latter is what the latest update is all about. The update brings Feedly to version 21.1 and is mostly about fixes and optimization as listed in the change log below:

• Fixes long press to save issue with Android 4.3+
• Fixes custom font size issues with Android 4.3+
• Fixes pull to refresh issues
• Fixes left to right swipe lag issues
• Better support for Samsung 10" tablets
• Smoother image processing and rendering
• Optimized start up experience.

Feedly is available free in the Google Play Store.