Disclosure: Some links on this page are monetized by the Skimlinks, Amazon, Rakuten Advertising, and eBay, affiliate programs. All prices are subject to change, and this article only reflects the prices available at time of publication.
Google has rolled out updates for 6 of its Android apps, including Google Search, Google Drive, and Google Maps. The updates bring new features including support for re-routing your directions when a faster route is available and viewing animated GIFs uploaded to Google Drive.
The new version of Google Search also gives the stock Launcher app on the Nexus 5 a new name. It’s now called the Google Now Launcher… which could be a sign that Google plans to give users of other devices the option of using the same launcher.
In fact, if you install the app on a device other than the Nexus 5 (and use the Nexus 5 GoogleHome.apk), you’ll get an option to import your home screen settings from the stock Launcher app.
Here’s a roundup of tech news from around the web.
- Google updates half a dozen Android apps
Google Search, Drive, Hangouts, Maps, Search, Play Newsstand and Cloud Print are all updated. Some apps get more notable new features than others. [Droid Life] - Google employee 16 Susan Wojcicki is now in charge of YouTube
One of Google’s first employees and the former head of the company’s advertising business is now in charge of the biggest user-generated video site in the world. [Recode] - Adobe backtracks on DRM update that’d kill support for older devices (kinda)
The good news is that users who don’t update their apps or hardware won’t lose access to their books in July. The bad news is it could still happen… Adobe is just kicking the can downstream and leaving it up to publishers and resellers to determine when to adopt new standards that kill support for older devices. [The Digital Reader] - Report: Windows 8.1 Update 1 coming in April
Rumor had it that Windows 8.1 Update 1 was due out in March. Now it looks like the launch date has been pushed back about a month. [ZDNet] - Windows 8.1 Update 1 will bring a new Metro-style disk space manager
Tired of exiting the tablet-friendly Metro user interface to check disk space? Soon there’ll be a new Metro-style app which lets you see which apps and other items are using up your precious disk space. [WinSuperSite] - Amazon updates Kindle Worlds… now you can get paid for GI Joe, Veronia Mars fanfic
In case that officially sanctioned Vampire Diariesand Gossip Girl fanfic wasn’t doing it for you. [Amazon] - 8086tiny is a miniscule PC emulator that can run on a Raspberry Pi, android phone, iPhone, etc
You might not have much luck getting Windows 8 to run on your Raspberry Pi, but this little emulator can let you run classic 8086 software including DOS or even Windows3.0. [8086tiny]
You can keep up on the latest headlines by following Liliputing on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.