Amazon Android app disappeared from Google Play store

Amazon’s primary Android app is rather mysteriously missing from the Google Play store. The application is not completely gone of course, but has been pulled from the official store and no longer pops-up in searches, although it is accessible through a direct store link.

This comes as a direct consequence of Amazon’s fairly recent addition of an “Apps and Games” section into its main application.

Hangouts for Android gets Material Design update, stickers, video filters, and more

If you have been using Hangouts for some time now, you’d know the app was in some serious need for overhaul. Not only was it not updated to Google’s new Material Design but also had several other issues.

That all seems to have been taken care of in the latest update, however, which not only brings an updated design but also several other features and improvements.

Here Maps for Android is now available from the Google Play Store

The Nokia that still exists after Microsoft bought off its mobile device-making unit has been working on a version of its Here Maps app for Android for quite a while now. A beta version has been available through sideloading since October, and today it arrived in the Google Play Store.

This will surely make it a lot more accessible for more people, as not everyone with an Android device knows what sideloading is or how to do it.

VLC for Android drops beta tag, brings bug fixes and improvements

After spending over 2 years in beta, the VLC for Android app has finally graduated to stable release. Although the stable release brings a host of bug fixes, no new features have been added. In fact, Chromecast streaming support, which was promised earlier this year, is still missing.

Specifically, the release fixes Android 5.0 crashes as well as issues that affected devices with ARMv8 processors.

YouTube for Android is the latest app to get material design

YouTube for Android got received a major update. Version 6.0.11 of the application brings Android 5.0’s sleek material design to the popular video sharing platform.

In addition to the fresh new look, the latest YouTube for Android offers revamped navigation panel.Search has also been improved – it now offers new filters.

Google Messenger updated, now allows you to choose contact colors

Just a few weeks after releasing it, Google has updated its Messenger app with the ability to allow you to choose your own colors for individual contacts, a feature requested by many. Earlier, the app used to do this automatically.

To access the feature, go to the “People and Options” button from the overflow menu and select the color you want to assign to the contact.

Nokia disses Google Maps, calls its offline functionality “a glorified screenshot”

Free from Microsoft influence, Nokia quickly reoriented and made its HERE maps available on Samsung devices. And it would have you know it’s so much better than Google Maps where the offline mode is “a glorified screenshot.”

Google is an Internet company so offline mode was never much of a priority, while Nokia has been offering navigation software on its phones since less than 10 people had mobile Internet.

Skype 5.5 for iOS comes with interactive notifications

Skype has just released the latest version of its app for iOS in the iTunes App Store. Thanks to enhancements in iOS 8, Skype 5.5 now features support for interactive notifications.

These allow you to quickly and easily manage calls and messages from the lock screen, banner notifications, as well as the notification center in iOS.

Tim Cook writes open letter regarding Apple user security

The fallout of the massive iCloud hacking scandal that leaked numerous private photos of female celebrities is is surely yet to play out.

And although Apple has taken the matter very seriously and is still investigating how their iCloud servers were compromised – if that is what, in fact, happened – Apple CEO Tim Cook has issued an open letter assuring the company’s commitment to user privacy.

4K video recording app for iPhone 5s now available, costs $999.99

This isn’t a joke! Apple has approved the Vizzywig 4K app for iPhone 5s, which enables 4K video recording with 24 fps on the 2013 smartphone. It costs $999.99 (€899.99) and works only on iPhone 5s with 32GB or 64GB storage.

The app captures 24 burst images per second in 4K resolution and then stitches them together in just 1s footage. This means you’ll lose about 72MB for each second of your video.

HTC’s Sense 6 lock screen can now be found in the Play Store

HTC’s been releasing many of its apps that are preinstalled onto its smartphones in the Play Store over the past few months. And today a new one has become available: the Sense 6 lock screen.

It follows in the footsteps of the Sense launcher, SenseTV, and the HTC Service Pack.

Android apps make their way to Chrome OS

Google announced availability of the first set of Android apps for Chrome OS. The list of four applications includes Vine, Duolingo, Evernote, and Sight Words.

HTC’s Sense 6 lock screen can now be found in the Play Store

HTC’s been releasing many of its apps that are preinstalled onto its smartphones in the Play Store over the past few months. And today a new one has become available: the Sense 6 lock screen.

It follows in the footsteps of the Sense launcher, SenseTV, and the HTC Service Pack.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that the Sense 6 lock screen app can now be installed on any Android smartphone out there. It’s still limited to HTC’s wares as it was before.

SwiftKey Keyboard with cloud support arrives to iOS

The famous SwiftKey Keyboard app has finally made its way onto iOS for the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The popular keyboard app that has become well known in the Android community for its ability to make typing on touchscreen devices easy, brings its hallmark autocorrection and word prediction to iOS users.

Opera Mini beta for Windows Phone now available for anyone to test

WhatsApp Messenger for iPhone gets updated

WhatsApp, the popular messenger for mobiles that recently fell under Facebook’s wing, has received an update to its iOS version.

The latest build includes the ability to share slow-motion videos directly from within the app, add captions added to photos, and archive chat logs and contact groups.

Sony Xperia Z3 launcher ported to Android 4.2+ Xperias

Sony unveiled the new Xperia Z3 on Wednesday, which brought some improvements over the Xperia Z2. The changes weren’t groundbreaking though (the 6-month update schedule means smaller upgrades) and now Z2 owners have even less to feel envious about since the Xperia Z3 launcher and widgets have been ported to Android 4.2 and above.

Owners of other Sony smartphones can join the party too, it’s not a flagship-only event.

Oppo to offer Color OS on LG G2, recruits beta testers now

Did you like the so called Color OS running on the Oppo Find 7 and Find 7a? Oppo’s take on the default Android looks and behavior was quite good, with lots of new eye-candies, features and services.

As of today Oppo is recruiting beta testers with LG G2 willing to test the Color OS ROM on their smartphone. Once completed, Oppo will launch the Color OS ROM to all compatibles LG G2.

Google details Android Wear updates for the rest of the year

Today Google has posted an official list of features it will add to the Android Wear platform before 2014 ends. The company has also confirmed once again that all smartwatches running Android Wear will get the updates as soon as these are going to be ready.

This is no surprise, as Google is pretty much in charge of the update process for Android Wear devices, looking to avoid the fragmentation situation that’s persistent in its smartphone and tablet operating system.

Opera Mini beta goes live for Windows Phone devices

Opera Mini beta is now available for Windows Phone devices. The developers behind the popular web browser have for users who are willing to join the beta testing group.