Video Messaging: Get creative with 8 new Skype Qik live effects.

Skype Qik - pronounced quick - is Skype's second app that is cross platform, just like it's big brother Skype. But Skype Qik still plays in the messaging category albeit exclusively video. It can be compared to Instagram in that Qik lets you capture moments by shooting videos, add predefined effects to them and share with friends or groups of friends. Besides being a video messenger app, Skype Qik is really good at making your videos a great piece of art.  And it keeps getting better at that.

In the most recent update, Skype Qik got 8 new live effects. Users will be able to pick the effects they want while shooting the videos, hence the live effects. Simply swipe over the viewfinder to scroll through the fun effects before sharing the masterpiece with friends.

Check out the update in Google Play store. 

Pushbullet lets you respond to messages from GroupMe and Blackberry Mobile.

Pushbullet is an awesome cross-platform app for sharing links, apps, send SMS and receive notifications on your computer. This app is a must-have as it let you reply to WhatsApp, Facebook, Hangouts and more on your computer when you're at your desk. Check out the tutorial I wrote about sending and receiving SMS on your PC.

Pushbullet was updated today with the following new features and fixes:

• Added support for responding to messages from GroupMe and Blackberry Mobile.
• Fixed bug where Chrome sharing screenshot instead of link.
• Fixed bug with notification forwarding not working for some people.
• Fixed bugs where some pushes were copied automatically when they shouldn't be.
• Update translations.

Download Pushbullet for free on Google Play store.

Chrome Browser gets pull-down-to-refresh gesture.

Back in January, Google introduced the pull down to refresh feature in Chrome Beta for testers to use and provide feedback. I blogged about it here. Now the 500 million users of the mobile browser for Android will enjoy this new feature that makes refreshing or reloading a website a breeze. Pull to refresh will prove very useful to owners of small screen devices - even bigger ones. While new to Chrome, the pull-down-to-refresh feature is widely used in apps like Facebook or Twitter for example. 

Chrome Browser has been updated yesterday, which also includes "lots of bug fixes" according to the change log.

Download Chrome browser here. 

Flipboard lets anyone create private groups to share magazines with friends, family and co-workers.

In an update posted this week, Flipboard now lets users create magazines and share it with friends, family and co-workers and keeping the groups private. Before the update, magazines creation were mostly personal while letting you share articles via social networks. I have not installed the update yet, but I assume the notion of groups will allow interaction between the members with each contributing their own topics.

This update also brings Twitter integration. Members of the popular micro-blogging service will be able to create a Flipboard account simply by using their Twitter credentials. The @mention is also supported thus making it possible to mention friends in flip captions and in comments.

Check out the full change log below and head over to the Play store to download Flipboard.

Pocket Casts receives major upgrade; Adds Volume Boost and Silence Removal.

My favorite podcast app for Android picked up a major upgrade today. Pocket Casts is the coolest podcast app I know and use. Like wine, the app gets better with time. This update to version 5.0 brings two new features that any podcast listeners will love: Volume Boost and Silence removal.

Volume Boost is simply awesome and is unique to Pocket Casts. How many times have you jumped when a loud notification would interrupt your listening experience through your headsets? It always happens to me when commuting, accompanied by the annoyed looks of those around me. Pocket Casts fixes that with Volume Boost which lets you listen to podcast as loud as you want without increasing the device volume. Isn't that cool?

Silence Removal is another feature that will make the listening experience very interesting especially if time is short. As its name implies, Silence Removal will remove pauses in your podcasts so you can listen more in less time.

See the full changelog below for the other changes in this major update:

• Material Design! We agonised over jokes/puns using the word 'material' for hours, but in the end we spared you. I still have 'Material Girl' playing on loop in my head though :(
• Swipe episodes to mark as played/unplayed. Viva la revolución!
• New Audio effects: Volume Boost and Silence Removal. If you can't guess what the first one does then you're beyond help.
• Up Next list now in your mini player, swipe across to see what's coming up and quickly add more.

Download Pocket Casts for free on Google Play store.

Gameloft's Pastry Paradise supports online multiplayer mode.

Pastry Paradise is to Gameloft what Candy Crush is to King. Only the theme is different. Candy Crush, if the name is no indication to you, is all about a world of colorful candies. And Pastry Paradise is all about Gingerbread Gardens, Wafer Woods and Mt. Mudcake. Cute and tasty. The bad guy's name is Mr. Moelleux. Line up three similar tasty pastry and cookie in any direction to make your way through Pastry Paradise delicious wonderland.

Yesterday, Gameloft released the first update to Pastry Paradise. Players will be able to challenge their friends thanks to the new online, real time multiplayer mode. Big rewards will be awarded to players for beating friends and nearby chefs.

This first update is really a major one as it also includes 110 new levels and a new villain. The change log does not mention its name though. See the full changelog below:

Player vs. player

• For the first time in a match-3 game, battle players in a real-time Multiplayer mode.
• Earn big rewards for beating friends and other nearby chefs.

Explore new region

• Discover 110 new levels & a new villain.
• Thanks to your ideas on Facebook, the new region's name is Fluffy Fields!

A big boost

• 3 new Boosters to overcome obstacles.

Update or download Pastry Paradise on Google Play Store.

Flipboard for Android now serves top stories in widget.

Flipboard is my favorite news magazine on Android. Unlike other numerous news apps in Google Play store, Flipboard has that distinctive feature that lets you flip through your news like you naturally do with a paper-based magazine. Of course there is more to Flipboard than the flip.

Flipboard was updated with top stories now showing in the Flipboard widget. You need to sign up for a Flipboard account to see a selection of stories you can pick from. The latest version version also brings along the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.

Download Flipboard free in Google Play store.

CNN app for Android finally lets users change font size for better readability in a way that s**ks.

To be polite, I'll say it's just funny that it took so long for CNN to bring the ability to change font size within the app. Not only is that useful for any users, not just those with accessibility issues, but it is one feature that you would expect in any news reader nowadays. Better late than never.

This font size changeability is part of an update published today by CNN to it's Android app. While it is a nice addition, it's implementation has to be reviewed though. Let me explain. In order to change the font size, users has to go into the app settings. So, say you're reading an article and want to increase or decrease the font size, you have to tap on the menu buttons on top-right of the app and select Settings and tap "Story Text Size" to change to the size you want. The choices are Smallest, Smaller, Normal, Larger and Largest. Do you see what the problem is?

Since you have to navigate to the Settings screen to change the size, you don't actually get a preview, or even better, a live preview of the size of the text. Your only option is to increase or decrease the the size and navigate back. Here's another problem. Going back does not take you to the article you were reading, but to the app main screen instead. I'm sure some of you will agree, CNN's implementation of the font size change sucks. For those of you in the "disagree" camp, check out BBC's implementation of that same feature and you will probably get my point.

The update also contains the usual bug fixes and improvements. Section headlines will also display time of publication. If that is not playing catch-up, I don't know what it is.

Download the official CNN app for Android in Google Play store.

Pushbullet for Android gets faster and more reliable syncing.

Pushbullet is an awesome cross-platform app for sharing links, apps, send SMS and receive notifications on your computer. This app is a must-have for me.

Pushbullet was updated today with some fixes and performance improvements. Check out the full change log below for details:

• Faster and more reliable syncing.
• Fixed bug with Facebook login.
• Fixed bug with WhatsApp notifications not showing up on PC.
• Added log out option to settings.
• Updated translations.
• Other minor bug fixes.

Download Pushbullet free in Google Play store.
  

Control audiobook playback from the Library in Amazon Kindle.

Amazon Kindle for Android picked up an update that brings the app to version 4.9.0. Whether you're an avid or casual reader, Kindle is the go-to app for book reading on your devices. And you're not limited to reading, since Kindle also lets you listen to audiobooks. 

In version 4.9, Amazon has added the control of audiobook playback from the library. I'm not sure how useful that is, but I assume it will make sense to "audiobook-phile". If you belong to that group, grab the update in the Play store as it also contains some experience improvements and bug fixes.