Google has gone on just a little bit of an updating spree today. Google Chrome, Google Drive and Google Earth have all gotten themselves a very nice update today, bringing in new features and some new card-inspired design.

Google Chrome now has support for full-screen browsing, with the omnibox disappearing as you swipe down a webpage and reappearing when you do the opposite. Head over to Google Play to grab the Google Chrome update.

Google Drive has a completely new look and design, an absolutely fantastic ‘tab’ view and the ability to scan pages with your camera. The editing experience has also been vastly improved and you can finally Cloud Print directly from your Android device. Head over to …

Google’s Play Store was only just updated to bring users the new Holo look that came with the introduction of v4.0. The new version, which is currently rolling out, updates the client to v4.1.6.

Image source: AndroidOS

Appearance-wise, the main changes appear as soon as you open up the new application. The content button’s have switched from having a pure white (left picture) background, to a colourful (right picture) one, which matches its content. You will also notice that the old black background for the settings and menu items sections have changed to the holo design.

‘My Wishlist’ has become more consistent with the updated Play Store, in that it now displays all items in the card grid format, rather …

Over the last few days we’ve seen major updates to Google Currents and Facebook, which have made us Android-faithful a happy bunch. Both apps have become a lot more usable, with either a complete redesign or the move to a native Android application.

Anyway, Google+ has now joined the party with a whole slew of new changes. Over both iOS and Android there are a total of 24 new and exciting features, with Android alone accounting for about 14 of them.

Direct from the change log:

- New feature: Google+ Communities
- Support for full resolution photo uploads via Instant Upload
- Subscribe to any circle for notifications
- Support for time zones in Events
- Basic profile editing

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Google’s Drive app has today been updated on both Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS devices. Today’s update has included a few new interesting pieces of usability, but the most interesting among the lot is the ability to edit spreadsheets natively.

The full change log is as follows:

1. Edit Google spreadsheets in new native editor
2. Edit contents of tables in Google Docs editor
3. Formatting is maintained when copy/pasting within Google Docs
4. Single tap to enter edit mode in Google Docs editor
5. Add a shortcut to Drive files/folders to your homescreen for quick access
6. Send Link now supports copying link to clipboard

There’s quite a bit new here, so it’s definitely …

Before I start writing – if you bought a Galaxy Nexus from any of the Australian carriers then this update is not for you, sorry. You’ll have to wait for all the submissions, testing, etc. which will probably not come for a very long time seeing as though the GNex in Australia has still not been updated to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

For those of you who are lucky enough to have bought your phone from elsewhere, it’s likely you’re holding onto an international Galaxy Nexus (yakju). This is the unlocked international GNex that was not purchased from the Google Play Store.

It has been reported by Android Police that users who have the yakju variant of the Galaxy Nexus …

Great news ladies and gentlemen, the long awaited moment has finally arrived! Google+ has been updated and includes a variety of new functional features.

First of all, Google has finally included the ability to manage your page from within the mobile app (thank you!). It’s a bit clunky at the moment – you need to sign out of your personal and into your page – but it does work. I’m sure that over time Google will refine this and make it much smoother and easier to use. For the time being though, Google has listened and we can finally manage our pages on the move!

Google has also included a new ‘Find People’ tab for finding people or pages to …

Got a Nexus 7? You’ve got an update. Android 4.1.2, which was previously spotted on the rumoured LG Nexus is now rolling out to the ASUS/Google Nexus 7. The update brings some minor changes in the way of chip management and performance, which is standard for a small bump.

The update also apparently includes a landscape mode for viewing your homescreens on the side – something which Google initially ditched from the Jelly Bean tablet. If you don’t have the update yet then don’t worry, it’s likely being staggered out with so many of us owning one of these tablets.

Check your device in the Settings -> About -> Software Update -> Check Now. Let us know if you …

Google’s own cloud storage service, Google Drive, is one hell of a service. It allows for great collaboration and provides a whole host of utilities to work together and share files and documents.

The Android application, however, was not up to par with the desktop version. But this is about to change. Google has today updated the Google Drive application (which was developed in Australia) to now include most of the desktop features on your Android device.

You now have the ability to:

• Create folder, upload to folder and move to folder
• Filter folder contents by file type
• Auto-sync pinned content while on 3G
• Basic table support in Documents Editor
• Create, reply and resolve comments in Documents Editor
• View and

…

Got an HTC One X with Vodafone? Perhaps now is the time to be a bit more happy. No, it’s not the Jelly Bean updates (which we know is coming), but it is a little step closer. Vodafone has announced that the Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich with Sense 4.1 update for the HTC One X is now ready for download.

The update is available OTA so there’s no need to go running to your PC of choice.

You know the drill. Head over to Settings -> About -> Software Updates -> Check Now.

The update should be there waiting for you. So, without further ado, there’s nothing left to do but enjoy your new Ice Cream Sandwich with some …

Got yourself one of the early editions of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab with Vodafone? Well, you’re in luck! In fact, you’ve bought a Galaxy Tab 10.1V tablet from a Vodafone anywhere in the world then you’ll be getting the update!

The upgrade is available only via OTA (wireless) and is being carried out by Google, not Samsung, which is quite interesting.

You know the drill, head on over to the Settings -About -Software Update -Check Now and see if the update has hit your tab yet.

Be sure to let us know if you got the update and how it goes in the comments below!

Source: Vodafone Blog

Got a Samsung Galaxy S III on the Vodafone network? Well, you’re about to be seeing an update roll-out to your phone. Vodafone has approved the second maintenance update to the Galaxy S III, which will be bringing quite a few new features to to already capable device.

I unfortunately am quite rushed for time so will just be copying the update features directly from the Vodafone website:

Applications

• Upgrade to Google Mobile Services v4.0 r3
• Updates to included Samsung Applications (S-Memo, S-Suggest and S-Voice etc)
• Introduces AllShare Cast

Device Features

• Brightness slider now included in notifications shade
• Change to dialling animation and browser bar
• Refreshed power button pop-up menu
• Other minor user interface changes
• Support for HDCP Key

…

It seems as though Telstra has really caught onto the benefits of being as transparent as possible with Android updates. After yesterday announcing their earnings and reports for the 2012 financial year, Telstra have also launched a brand new page for device updates. Well, its not so much a page but more so a forum post – which in my opinion doesn’t work as well.

The post outlines all of Telstra’s phones (Android or not), when they expect the update to be approved and when the roll-out should begin. Telstra also gives us a bit more info with current notes on the updates and what the current status is – quite handy if you ask me.

If you’d like to …