Facebook app gets new permissions for Facebook Home.

Finally it's Friday and the Play store has a couple of updates for us. If my memory serves me well, it's today that Facebook will push out it's Home launcher to supported Android devices. And my Galaxy Nexus is not on the official list of supported devices. I'm pretty sure the wizards of the Android community will make it available to the unsupported devices that the majority of us own . After all, I was able to use Facebook Home on my Galaxy Nexus for a short while after a leaked version appeared on the web and before Facebook pulled the plug. No matter what, I'm not looking forward to the release of Facebook Home. It's not an exciting technology and is not even a match for Microsoft People hub.

As the title, Facebook app got an update that seems to prepare for the imminent release of Facebook Home on supported devices. The change log list only two items: the usual bug fixes and "new permissions for Facebook Home". Facebook Messenger also gets updated with the ability to keep chatting while using other apps.

Chrome Beta for Android lets you experience full-screen browsing.

In its latest update for Chrome beta, Google added the ability to browse web pages in full-screen. It doesn't require any fiddling in the settings to enable this feature. Simply visit a web page and start scrolling for the toolbar to disappear. This nice update is currently only available for Chrome Beta and I assume will find its way to the Chrome for Android in about a month. 

The update also includes other useful features. Search has been simplified so that queries remain visible in the omnibox to make it easy to edit. Client-side certificate is now supported. This comes in handy when visiting websites that require certificates. Chrome will let you select installed certificates. A nifty feature ported from the desktop for tablets is that you can access and view history by a long press of the Back button.

Check out the post on Chrome Releases blog for more details about the updates, fixes and known issues.

Download: Google Play Store

Google Search, Google+, Chrome & Twitter updated. Chrome gets password sync & autofill.

Updates, updates and updates. 

This is just a quick post about updates for the above-mentioned apps. Check out the change logs below before heading to the Play Store. The Chrome update is my preferred one. 

What's new in this version of Chrome for Android:

1. Password and autofill sysnc: Access saved desktop passwords and autofill entries from your Android device.
2. Fix for blank page loads in some scenarios.
3. Several stability improvements.

Google+

1. Set bigger cover photos, with a better aspect ratio.
2. Support for strikethrough formatting
3. Additional bug fixes and performance improvements.

Google Search

1. Real time package tracking from select carriers
2. Quick feedback and settings on cards.
3. Faster Google search results.

Twitter

1. Brand new look and feel crafted for Android 4.0+. Navigate seamlessly between your favorite parts of Twitter with a simple swipe.
2. It's easier to connect with friends and join conversations with @username and #hashtag suggestions that appear as you search or compose a Tweet.
3. Discover, install and launch your favorite apps from Tweets.
4. Other bug fixes and performance.

Google Translate supports offline translation.

Google Translate is one of those apps that I do not use heavily, being bi-lingual. But it did prove itself useful at times. However, it was utterly useless when no data connection was available, thus rendering Google Translate frustrating. That has changed now with the update that was published to Google Play that brings offline mode to Google Translate. All that is required is to download the language packs you need to do translation on the go with or without internet and not get lost in translation. Of course, Google Play, loke any other Google apps for Android, is free. 

Facebook and 500px app updated.

Facebook app for Android got a little bump today that lets you change your profile picture within the app. I thought this was a built-in feature. Users can also hide stories and report spam in news feed and start a new group message with fewer taps. And there are no bug fixes and performance enhancement. Download Facebook on Google Play.

500px also got a few updates labeled as the "biggest update for Android is here". The new features are:

Flow - Your automagically curated photo experience, based on your friends' actions (available on phones only).

Find friends - find and follow your friends from Twitter and Facebook with the new friend Finder.

Download 500px

Manage new "Gmails" right from the notification center.

With the update published today in Google Play, owners of Android devices running version 4.1 or higher will be able to manage new emails in the notification center without the need to open the Gmail app. Productivity obsessed will like this feature. 

While this feature applies only to Android 4.1 and up, owners of Android 4.0 and up are getting faster and offline search plus bug fixes and improvements. Android 2.2 and up gets new labels API for third party developers.

The update should be waiting for your action in the notification are on your device. If not, download from Google Play.

HTC explains how to create an all-metal phone.

With the HTC One, HTC prides itself of being the first to make an all-metal phone. Other phone manufacturers attempt at that failed - looking at you Apple. The video below explains how it was done. Check it out.

Contacts+ - Your free all-in-one contacts manager.

Basically, Contacts Plus is more than just a simple contact manager. The free app lets you pull data from Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, Foursquare and have them all in one place. Your friends who have a presence on any of those networks will have their data in Contacts Plus so you can interact with them in one place. A bit like the People hub for Windows Phone. I'm using Contacts Plus in place of the stock Android contact manager. I recommend this app. It is very efficient in that you won't have to move in and out of several apps to stay in touch with your friends.

Download: Google Play.

Features:
★ Beautiful contacts design
★ Integrated Dialer, Call log and Messages list (swipe left/right)
★ Light / Dark themes
★ Groups & favorites contacts display
★ Grid / List contacts view
★ Smart contacts prioritization by Frequency or sort by A-Z / Recents
★ Send FREE & regular text messages to your contacts from one place
★ View contacts messages history (thread) in their profiles
★ Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin & Foursquare integrated in your contacts
★ Navigate to your contacts addresses from their profiles
★ Auto pictures and birthdays sync with Facebook, including cover photos
★ Auto pictures sync with Google+
★ Merge duplicate contacts (supports most devices)
★ Contacts widget
★ Birthdays reminders
★ Fast T9 & Gesture search by names, numbers, emails and company
★ Quick call - press & hold a contact pic to call from your main contacts screen
★ Speed dial!

Google celebrates first Play store birthday with freebies and discounts.

To mark the first year of existence of the Play Store, Google is offering plenty of free and discounted apps, books and movies. The offerings will differ depending on your location. You may not see the movies or books if these services are not available in your region. These offers are time-limited, so waste no time and head over to the store after watching the video below and help yourself with the goodies. Happy Birthday Play Store.



Source: Play Store

Evernote releases security update after service is hacked.

Evernote has released a security update after its services has been hacked on February 28. The hackers were able to access usernames, email addresses and encrypted passwords. The company, however, was prompt to reassure users that no contents were accessed. And it did not stop there.

All Evernote users will be forced to change their passwords. "While our password encryption measures are robust, we are taking additional steps to ensure that your personal data remains secure.", Evernote posted on its blog. Users accessing the service online, on computers and mobile devices will be required to change their passwords.

Evernote also published an update for Android devices that "addresses a security issue that requires you to reset your password." Of course, I strongly recommend you download this update.

Source: Evernote blog

Download: Google Play Store