App

Dropbox releases Mailbox App for Android

Mailbox on Android

Mailbox on Android © Dropbox, Inc

Dropbox has released its Mailbox email client for Android devices.

The cloud storage company has also announced that a desktop beta version of the service is also in development for Mac OS users.

Already available for iOS devices [link], Mailbox arrives on Android with new features, such as an “auto-swipe” function that lets users automatically archive messages.

The application has also introduced Word, Excel and PowerPoint integration as part of a collaboration with Microsoft dubbed Project Harmony.

Dropbox says that “The desktop version of Mailbox will feature a minimal design and track-pad gesture controls. Users can apply to take part in the beta via the service’s website“.

Cloud storage company Dropbox bought Mailbox last year, shortly after the iOS app launched. The app lets users organize emails with simple swipe motions, chasing the notion of having no unread messages, or “inbox zero.” When Mailbox launched initially, it was only compatible with Gmail on iOS, but CEO Gentry Underwood said he planned to expand to other platforms and email services.

Mailbox previously reported 1 million users within a month of launching and said Wednesday that the number has grown to 275 million.

The company also announced that it’s testing a desktop version of the app, Mailbox for Mac. People who want to try the OS X Mailbox can ask for a beta invite here.

While Mailbox is finally on Android, many of the service’s limitations remain in place. It only works with Gmail and iCloud, so don’t go looking to this app if you rely on Yahoo, Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail) or a corporate email account. It also gives yet another company, in this case Mailbox’s parent Dropbox, access to your Gmail account. The app is still not available on Windows Phone.

Another change is that Mailbox will require a Dropbox login to use the app, on both iOS and Android. So, if you’re a Mailbox user, you will be required to be a Dropbox user as well.

The Android edition is now available from the Google Play store for download [link].

Google releases revamped Google Drive 2.0 for iOS

Revamped Google Drive App

Revamped Google Drive App

Google has released Google Drive 2.0 — a total revamp of the cloud-storage app that lets you edit and share documents and spreadsheets. The new version of Google Drive features Google’s signature “card” layout, which lets you view documents and photos as tiled grids. However you can still view them in list view if that’s your preference.

Other changes to Google Drive 2.0 include the ability to edit documents in landscape view, an easier to access the search function, better logic when grouping folders and improved ways to copy and share files. Google Drive 2.0 for iOS is a free download.

LINE – A fun WhatsApp alternative that lets you make calls and chat for free

Line

LINE lets you call, chat and send photos to others for free, from your Smartphone, Mac or Computer.

LINE allows you to make free calls to other users of the service. This includes the ability to make calls between the iPhone and Android versions of LINE. The application is easy to set up, allowing you to register with your phone number or email address (the latter option only gives you access to text chat, though.)

The call function of LINE works really well. Although the option to make video calls is missing, the sound quality when making calls is excellent. There is a slight delay in calls both via WiFi and 3G, though the quality is still better than both Fring and Skype.

Text chatting in LINE is easy, with support for group chats of up-to 100 people, and a good selection of emoticons to add to your conversations. Unlike WhatsApp, LINE allows you to chat between the desktop and mobile versions of the application – on the go and at the office!

LINE is a viable alternative to apps like WhatsApp and Viber, allowing you to make free calls on your phone with good audio quality.

Download LINE now free for; iPod/iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Mac OS X, Windows or Windows 8

Flipboard Introduces an iPhone App

Today the popular iPad app called Flipboard has now made its way to the iPhone. Flipboard, if you aren’t familiar, is an app for browsing news in a beautiful layout.

You can browse through their news source, your own rss feeds, as well as your Twitter and Facebook streams. Since Filpboard for iPhone was such a high demand their servers have been taking a hit and they are currently not allow you to create an account or for me, use the app at all. I would expect it to be fully working by tomorrow. If you want to download it, the link inside the post!

Flip has always been one of the best reader apps, a great app to fire up in a waiting room (or, with the iPhone version, the Starbucks line) to catch up on news and articles. The iPhone version is fast, too, so you won’t finish your whole coffee waiting for it to load up (I’m looking at you, New York Times app).

The iPad version is still more attractive, which is not surprising since its extra real estate makes it a much better platform for reading.

Thanks to the Flipboard account feature, your subscriptions on one iDevice are synced to another. I loaded the app up on the iPhone and logged in, and all the sources I had subscribed to on my iPad appeared right away. There’s still no Web-based management for Flipboard accounts, though, which I see as an inconvenience. There’s also no Android version.

That said, get this app on your iPhone. Especially if you already use it on the iPad. It really makes short work of powering through your main content feeds, and it looks good and works well enough to vanish into the background as you use it.

OS X Lion Arrives in Mac App Store

Mac OS X Lion is now available in the Mac App Store. Snow Leopard users can upgrade to the newest cat-named release for $29.99. (approximately £18.58)

Apple has opted to officially drop the Mac OS X moniker for Lion — it’s just OS X Lion.

OS X Lion boasts more than 250 new features and is being billed as taking the best parts from iOS and marrying it to the best parts of OS X. I’d have to agree with that too. I’ve been using Lion full-time since the final developer build was released a few weeks ago and I would have a hard time returning to the old Mac OS 10.6.

Before you go through the installation process, be sure to check out our guide on preparing your Mac for Lion.

We’ll have more information, galleries, reviews and installation tips throughout the day. see Mashable. (credit: Christina Warren)