Google Hangouts update rolling out, merges SMS and Hangout conversations

Google is rolling out a new update to Hangouts today, which includes several changes such as a new feature that allows SMS and Hangouts conversations to merge together under one place for each of your contacts. There’s also simplified contact lists and much more.

To get a better idea of what’s different in the latest update, here’s a change-log noting some of the biggest changes, courtesy of Google engineer Mike Dodd:

• Merged conversations: SMS and Hangout conversations with the same recipient are now combined into a single conversation. You can control whether you want to send a message via Hangouts or SMS with the flip of a switch, and different message types will be easy to tell apart in the conversation. Of course, you can always merge and unmerge conversations if you’d like.
• Simplified contact list: now there’s two main sections in contacts — People you Hangout With, and Phone Contacts — making it simpler to navigate, and easier to use for SMS.
• Homescreen widget: add the Hangouts widget to your homescreen for quick access to your recent conversations.
• Performance improvements: today’s update includes better quality video calls, as well as improved SMS and MMS reliability.

In Google’s usual fashion, it may take a few days before the update reaches everyone — though you can always check Google Play just in case. For those that have already received the update, what do you think of the changes? Anything else worth mentioning that isn’t in the (unofficial) change-log noted above?

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Android 4.4.2 KitKat update begins rolling out for Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition may have launched in September with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but today the tablet is making the jump to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The new update is only for those with the Wi-Fi variant of the device, though 3G and LTE models are expected to follow suit in relatively short order.

As for what’s new here? Like we’ve seen with Samsung’s other KitKat updates for devices like the Galaxy S4 and Note 3, not a whole lot. The Android 4.4.2 update adds a host of KitKat features like immersive mode, cloud printing, white status bar icons and tweaks that provide faster performance. Samsung has yet to highlight if there are any Samsung-specific changes, though we’d imagine that there are at least a few minor changes.

According to SamMobile, the update has only been officially spotted in Columbia, though it should be making its way to other regions as soon as today. Regardless of what region you live in, you can always attempt to check for the update manually by going into settings > general > about phone > software updates.

So how about it, received the update yet? If so, what region are you in?

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New Android 4.4.2 replace rolling out for LG G2 2014

New Android 4.4.2 replace rolling out for LG G2 2014

Placing down roots in Berlin after six years of touring is a serious step for Kris Carlon, who has spent extra time living out of a tent these days than sitting at a desk.

Kris comes to the AndroidPIT Editorial Team via a lengthy period spent writing on art and culture in Australia and other places he has lived. He joined the Android community while resurfacing in civilization back in 2010 and has never looked back, using technology to replace his actual presence in other people's lives ever since.

While every other major US carrier has already released the Android 4.4.2 update for the LG G2, poor Verizon customers continue to wait. Meanwhile, customers on AT&T's network are getting a new update with some bug fixes and new features.

More KitKat updates for some while others continue to wait. / © AndroidPIT

The new Android 4.4.2 update is a tiny sub-6 MB file but fixes issues with Google+ and Google Wallet. The update only just started last night and will, as always, be rolled out in phases, so don't worry if you don't already have it. The Tap & Pay issue in Google Wallet should be resolved after the update, along with an unnamed Google+ problem.

Not all phones are equal, and not all carriers are either./ © LG/AndroidPIT

To check manually for the update, go to Settings > General > About Phone > Software Update > Update Now. If you still haven’t made the first update to KitKat and are still running Jelly Bean, you'll get a much larger OTA update at around the 700 MB mark. If Verizon customers have read this far, the Android 4.4.2 firmware is reportedly in testing, but due to Verizon's supposedly more stringent testing process than other carriers it is taking a little longer to be released.

What version of Android are you currently on? How much does update pace affect your alternative of service? 

Posted by: http://gosspot.com/

Writted by: totor

Source: AT&T

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Android 4.4.2 update rolling out for Verizon One Max, come Monday

Just last week Sprint rolled out KitKat to the HTC One Max, and now we have received word that it’s almost Verizon’s turn. According to HTC’s director of product management Mo Versi, the One Max’s Android 4.4.2 and Sense 5.5 update has received approval on Verizon’s network and should be making its way out to users sometime on Monday.

As we’ve seen with a lot of other KitKat updates from major manufacturers, there’s not a lot new here other than the goodies that come with Android 4.4.2. We don’t have a full-change log just yet, but we imagine there are at least a few minor HTC and carrier-specific bug fixes and minor tweaks as well.

As you’d expect, this is a staged rollout so it could take at least a few days before it reaches everyone. If you have yet to receive a notification prompting you to download the update, you can manually check for an update by going into your device’s settings. Keep in mind that this is going to be a fairly sizable update, so you’ll want to be on Wi-Fi if data usage is a concern.

Be sure to check back with us Monday, as we’ll be sure to update the post as soon as we receive word that the update is live.

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An improved version of Google Drive's spreadsheets webapp, simple called Sheets, is now rolling out

An improved version of Google Drive's spreadsheets webapp, simple called Sheets, is now rolling out to all users. Improvements include offline editing, better speed, support for larger spreadsheets, and a variety of other small features. Read more here.

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Google Starts Rolling Out New Version Of Sheets With Offline Editing Support To Everybody

Last December, Google announced a new version of Sheets, its online spreadsheet app that’s part of its Google Drive productivity suite. Until now, this new version was opt-in only, but starting today, Google will roll it out to everybody.

The new version of Sheets is one of the biggest updates in the product’s history, though the one feature users will likely appreciate the most is support for offline editing. This only works in Chrome, but if that’s what you use, you can now work on your spreadsheets even if you are offline and then Google Will sync your edits once you get a connection again. Both Google Docs and Google Slides already featured offline support before.

Earlier on, there were a few features that didn’t work in the new version and it seems Google has indeed decided to retire a few underused features with the update. These include support for the Solver tool in Sheets, autofill using Google Sets and a couple of other functions.

In return, though, it’s now easier to select multiple cells and add hyperlinks, for example. The new Filter views also make it easier to share different views of your data with your collaborators and those who need extra-large spreadsheets with millions of cells can now use Sheets for those, too.

Earlier this month, Google also rolled out support for third-party add-ons for its productivity apps and those, of course, are also available in Sheets.

Google says it will upgrade everybody to the new version over the next few weeks, so it may take a little while before you get access to it.