Google+ Android app gets web snippets and better hashtag support

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AppId is over the quota

One of our biggest gripes about the Android Google+ app was that it didn't include a sexy web snippet when sharing a URL. With today's update, that has been addressed, and sharing web links through the Android intent system (that's the "share" option in your menu) now presents the same sort of pretty magic as it does from the desktop. 

This is enough of an update for many of us to be happy, but wait -- there's more! You'll also get support for #hashtags, and the obligatory bug fixes and performance enhancements. All for the low, low price of free -- the download link is after the break.

via: +Anish Acharya

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Facebook Messenger updated, with updated visuals and better support for ICS

That other Facebook app, Facebook Messenger, just received an update that among other things is supposed to make it play better with Ice Cream Sandwich. 

The visuals have also been updated, and while not a major update, things do look crisper all round. They haven't totally bought into the ICS way of things though, as on the Galaxy Nexus for example, the menu button is still the 3 little dots next to the onscreen buttons. 

So what else do we get then? Faster ways to start conversations and group conversations -- faster than using the full bore Facebook app that's for sure. Hitting the + button brings up a list of your more recently contacted friends, and right at the top is the "new group conversation" button. 

Otherwise, we're treated to the usual smattering of bug fixes, and performance and battery life improvements. We've got the download links for you after the break.

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The EVO 4G LTE isn't the HTC One X — it might be better

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"But I wanted the HTC One X!"

So we've noticed. But here's the deal, Sprint fans. You're getting the EVO 4G LTE. The Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE. And you know what? It might actually be better than the One X.

Crazy talk, I know. But think about it. No, wait. First, go back and read our HTC One X review. Now let's think about it. How much of the EVO 4G LTE (or the E4GLTE for not-so short) is exactly in line -- on paper, anyway -- with the One X? Quite a bit. And, more important, it's in line with features of the One X about which we're still shouting from the rooftops.

And it doesn't stop there. Consider:

• Both have a 4.7-inch Super LCD2 display. It's gorgeous.


• Both have 720x1280 resolution. Beat that.


• Both have the Qualcomm S4 processor at 1.5 GHz. (Which, by the way, really isn't "slower" than the Tegra 3 variant because it has half the cores.)


• Both have HTC's excellent new camera and app.


• Both have Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.


• Both have Sense 4.


• Both have Beats Audio.


• Both get you 25-gigabytes of online storage from Dropbox free for two years.

But, no. It's still not the One X.

Google+ Android app gets web snippets and better hashtag support

One of our biggest gripes about the Android Google+ app was that it didn't include a sexy web snippet when sharing a URL. With today's update, that has been addressed, and sharing web links through the Android intent system (that's the "share" option in your menu) now presents the same sort of pretty magic as it does from the desktop. 

This is enough of an update for many of us to be happy, but wait -- there's more! You'll also get support for #hashtags, and the obligatory bug fixes and performance enhancements. All for the low, low price of free -- the download link is after the break.

via: +Anish Acharya

Instagram coming to Android “very soon,” reportedly better than iOS version

Okay, we know, we’ve said this before, and Instagram has been “coming soon” for quite some time now. This time, the words come straight from the horse’s mouth, as Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom announced yesterday at the South by Southwest Conference that the Android version of the insanely popular photo-sharing service would soon launch on Android.

The service has amassed a total of 27 million users on iOS, and expects similar successes on Android with Mr. Systrom calling it “one of the best Android apps you’ll ever see.” While certainly a lofty claim on Instagram’s part, Mr. Systrom went on to bolster that the Android version of Instagram is much faster than its iOS counterpart, and that the Android version is better in some ways than the iOS one.

We can’t help but get a bit excited for Instagram to finally launch. Sure, there are other applications out there that do similar things, but not ones that are so focused on social sharing and feature a user-base of 27 million people. The wait for Instagram should be over very soon, perhaps by the end of the month.

Who else is anxiously awaiting Instagram’s release? Or have you found another application to suit your photo-sharing needs?

Google Earth updated to better share, new gestures

Google Earth has just had a bump to Version 6.2, which provides a number of new improvements. Probably the most important is the addition of the Gallery of the Earth, which highlights of things like the new updates to Imaging, earthquakes in real time, the flights in time real and other cool layers. He ' s also a mode of update of hiking which allows you to launch balloons of the gallery or to the Interior. Sharing is updated so that you can push through Google + (or other social networks), and there are new zoom and pinch, with bugfixes gestures.

We ' ve got links to the download after the break, if you need ' em.

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