SoundCloud rolls out "play related track" to Android devices.

Listening to music on SoundCloud just got better today thanks to a new algorithm that lets users select a track and then select "play related tracks" from the menu overflow. This feature is meant to make "discovering your next favorite even easier", according to the company. This new feature is part of an update that raises the version number to 15.07.15, which addresses other issues as well as per the change log below:

• Uploading of files work again.
• We fixed sticky notifications for users an Android 4.x.
• For our Cyanogen Mod 12.1 and 11.x users: you should have a crash-free experience now.
• And many, many more bug fixes and stability improvements.

 Head over to Google Play store to download the update and enjoy a new listening experience.

Pushbullet brings your phone's full SMS conversation on your computer.

Late last year, Pushbullet introduced a new feature which allowed users to send SMS on their Windows computer or through Chrome browser. The ability to chat is in fact handled by the phone and Pushbullet simply pushed the message to your computer in a way similar to Facebook chathead. While it was a very welcome feature, it had a limitation. The app was only capable of showing one message. Today, Pushbullet was updated to allow Android users to see the full SMS conversation, further reducing interaction with the phone while working on a computer.

The update, which raises the version number to 16.3 was published today in Google Play store and does not contain any other changes or fixes. 

Microsoft fixes error 0x204 in Remote Desktop app for Android.

Microsoft has today updated its Remote desktop app bringing it to version 8.1.19. This release fixes some issues which, according to Microsoft, was brought to their attention by users of the app. The change log mentions a fix to the zoom which works better now, Microsoft having increased the zoom. 

The second item in the change log fixes a 0x204 error. We all love those cryptic Microsoft errors, don't we? This fix "now try all of the redirect addresses a broker provides, instead of just one of them." 

Head over to the Play store to download this update.

Send directions from PC to Android with Google Maps update.

Asking for directions to passers-by is something of the past thanks to Google Maps or apps like Waze. With these apps getting better and better at what they do, planning an outing is such a breeze. Remember those animated discussions about which route is the best? Google Maps helped us start the day with zen. However, there was just one irritating omission in Google Maps. While it was great at offering the directions on Google Maps desktop, the app was not good at sharing the directions with our phones. That also is now something of the past. 

Google has updated Maps with a new feature that will let users send places they search for on Google Maps desktop to their mobile devices. A zen way to start your journey. 

Download the update from the Play store. I have updated the app but have yet to see the "send to device" link to appear in Google Maps desktop. It may be that this feature is not available yet in my region. 

Microsoft updates Outlook app for Android with individual email browsing and integrated UserVoice.

Many call it the new Microsoft since Satya Nadella took over the company about  year ago and it surely is doing things differently with Microsoft apps flooding the Google Play store. Among the first apps to land in Google land was obviously the Outlook email client. The latter picked up an update today.

Part of the new Microsoft is their openness. Not only with making apps for competing platforms, they are seriously listening to users' feedbacks. We saw that with the very first technical preview of Microsoft's Windows 10 OS, due for release at the end of July. They extended the experience to other products as well namely Office and Windows Mobile.

Back to today's update. Microsoft received several requests from users wanting to be able to browse email as individual messages instead of conversations. Now users can do just that by turning off the "Organize mail by thread" in the app settings.

Microsoft also bundled a UserVoice right into Outlook for users to easily send their feedbacks and suggestions to the team over at Microsoft. Finally the update also includes some improvements to mail and calendar sync and notifications.

Microsoft Outlook pp for Android is available free in Google Play store.

Microsoft's OneDrive app for Android now supports Chromecast.

Microsoft is hard at work bringing their services to Android. Since cloud services is now an important part of their strategy, Microsoft is making sure you want to use their cloud offering with the OneDrive app for Android. The latter got an update that lets users cast their photos and videos to a TV with Google's Chromecast. A feature that I welcome, being a user of OneDrive and owner of a Chromecast. 

The update is of course free for download on Google Play store. This update does not contain any performance improvement or bug fixes.

Flipboard introduces privacy feature in new update.

Flipboard is not just any news aggregator. Besides serving news, Flipboard builds an entire community around the topics that are of interest to you, letting you share and build groups with people who share similar interest. Add to that the magazine-like animation while perusing your topics and you get to experience what makes Flipboard unique.

Now all that sharing thingy is awesome, but like anything on the web, things can get out of control with the bad guys lurking in the background waiting to pilfer any data you share. With this in mind, the folks behind Flipboard added a new feature in an update published yesterday. Flipboard users will now be able to block unwanted followers with a new privacy feature. The update also contain the usual bug fixes and performance improvements.

Head over to Google Play store to download the update and enjoy some privacy.

Pocket Casts lets you browse podcasts on Android Wear devices.

Pocket Casts, my favorite podcast app for Android, picked up an update today. An update that Android Wear device owners will likely appreciate as they will be able to browse Pocket Casts on their wrist. The change log does not give much details on how this feature actually works. But it does recommend buying a watch just for browsing your podcasts. It would have been awesome if Shifty Jelly had bundled a watch with that update for folks like me who do not own one - the Microsoft Band I own is not a smartwatch but more of a fitness band.

This update brings Pocket Casts to version 5.1.3. Here's what's new:

We're back! Did you miss us? We kinda missed you a bit. We did have a shiny Material Design Award to keep us company though, so you know, it wasn't all bad. We've stopped fondling it (don't judge us, you would have too!) for long enough to bring you all an update!

If you love browsing, and you love Pocket Casts, you'll love browsing Pocket Casts on your Android Wear device! It's worth buying one just for this. Do it.

This release has plenty of fixes in it too, because we know you love those.

Source: Google Play

Chrome Remote Desktop updated with interface improvements and reduced network usage.

With its ever expanding ecosystem, Google had to come up with another layer of connecting all their services and devices and with most people owning at least one phone and a PC, it's natural that Google made Chrome Remote Desktop available so users can connect to any computers they have online.

In order to access your computers from your Android device, you obviously need the free Android app and your PC, which very likely has the Chrome browser installed, only requires a Chrome extension which is available free from the Chrome Web store. With both these elements in place, a secure connection is established to access files on your online computer.

Chrome Remote Desktop received an update today and here's what's new:

• User interface improvements.
• Reduced network usage when running in the background.

Download Chrome Remote Desktop free on Google Play Store.

Microsoft updates Remote Desktop for Android with multi-session support for launching RDP files & handler links.

Remotely access files on your Windows PC from an Android device is possible thanks to Microsoft Remote Desktop app. It is free for download in the Play store and Microsoft keeps updating the app quite regularly, listening to users feedback. The latest update, released on May 8, addresses some important issues brought to Microsoft's attention through its feedback channel. 

The update brings the app version to 8.1.12 and includes the following:

• New: Multi-session support for launching RDP files or RDP protocol handler links.
• Fixed: Connection issues that caused errors 0x107 and 0x207.
• Fixed: Connection issues where the certificate dialog kept reappearing.

If you have have not tried Remote Desktop yet, get it free in the Play store and you can connect to your PC and your work from almost anywhere. The description in the store states that Windows Professional and Windows Server edition are supported. However, I recommend you check the Remote Desktop Client on Android FAQ to get a full list of supported Windows versions. The FAQ also provides how-tos as well to get you started.