Android phones now get Microsoft Office apps

Microsoft’s goal to expand its cross-platform development bears another fruit today. The company just released its Office apps to Android smartphones. Office for Android tablets has been around since the start of the year. Now, the apps have been optimized for a smaller screen. One of the big changes is the placement of the formatting settings at the bottom of the screen to make editing that much easier. OneDrive integration is a given but the app also adds support for Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox. Microsoft said some Android manufacturers will also be preloading Office apps into different Android phones. It’s bloatware admittedly but at least it’s something useful. You can find the free download links for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel below.

Source: Mashable | Download: Word + PowerPoint + Excel (Free)

Apple to protect users’ privacy further by preventing iOS apps from seeing other installed apps

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook released a letter last fall emphasizing how their company works to sell products and not harvest data, which is a criticism for the likes of Google and Facebook. Taking it a step further, the company plans to not let apps access download data for advertising purposes. Apps like Facebook and Twitter make use of this data so we’re not sure what will happen after the changes will reportedly happen once iOS 9 is released.

Source: Apple Insider

Instagram introduces a new search and explore section

Instagram’s explore section isn’t exactly the most vital part of the photo-sharing app. Instagram hopes the latest update for Android iOS might change that perception. Version 7.0 of the app introduces a new explore and search section that brings rather similar features to Twitter. You get trending tags to show the most popular images up top. You also get trending place as well as a way to search for places in addition to being able to search for people and tags. You can look view all these categories at once through the “top results” shown across the service. It’ll now be easier than before to see event-related photos.

If you want to view amazing, curated images (which is a concept you’ve probably seen on VSCO), Instagram is also introducing curated collections. It’ll feature things like “interesting accounts and places, from musicians and extreme athletes to stunning architecture and gorgeous beaches.” You’ll be able to see banners for these collections at the top of the explore section. The update is rolling out first in the US. According to Instagram, “We’ll work to bring it to the rest of the world after we fine tune the experience and set it up to work well in other countries.” You just need to keep an eye out for this and it should make it to your device soon.

Source: Instagram | Via: The Verge

GMC and Buick cars to get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto to follow

Two more car brands will be getting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support in the near future. General Motors announced the GMC and Buick models that will be Apple and Google’s car software. The 2016 GMC Canyon, Yukon, and Sierra models will be getting an 8-inch IntelliLink infotainment system that has Apple CarPlay. The base model Sierra is unique in the sense that it gets a smaller 7-inch version of IntelliLink. The first three models will get Android Auto at a later date, while the entry-level Sierra will launch in 2016 with both CarPlay and Android Auto support. For Buick, the 2016 Buick Regal and LaCrosse models will be betting an 8-inch IntelliLink system as well. CarPlay will also be arriving first before Android Auto.

CarPlay on both brands will have a similar implementation. The software will give full-screen access to navigation, audio controls, etc. It’ll also let you toggle between Apple’s software, onboard OnStar 4G LTE-connected IntelliLink software, and, eventually, Google’s Android Auto.

Source: CNET