Google launches an Android for Work app for Android 4.0 – 4.4 users

Google’s Android for Work initiative gives businesses a mobile platform flexible and suitable enough for the secure workplace, but those lucky enough to get in on the fun in the early days have been forced to use Android 5.0 Lollipop to take advantage. That is no longer the case.

Google has released an Android for Work app in the Google Play Store specifically for those with phones between Android 4.0 and Android 4.4. Pre-4.0 users need not apply, though if you have a phone with legacy software you might be well overdue for an upgrade.

Android for Work isolates and encrypts your work-related data and keeps it separate from your personal stuff, giving your network administrators peace of mind whenever you need to conduct business on the go. It’s a big step for the Android platform and one that had to be made if Google wanted its usage in the business sector to grow.

Unfortunately the program is only available for select businesses who have signed up for Android for Work right now. If your company doesn’t yet know about it you should urge your IT department to contact Google and see if you can’t get setup. For those who do have it but aren’t fortunate enough to have a Lollipop device you can get your app right here.

Google’s official YouTube app will cease to work on the earliest Google TV devices

Folks still rocking some of the original Google TV devices — such as the Logitech Revue and Sony’s Google TV box — will find themselves out of a YouTube app the next time they go to use their devices. Google has moved on to using their newest YouTube APIs, and only those who can update to certain recent versions of the YouTube app will be supported.

The problem is that many of the devices that haven’t moved on from Google TV software versions 1 and 2 have no way of getting a more recent version of the app. As such, they’ll either need to upgrade to newer devices or use the HTML5 version of YouTube from their web browser. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the sort of stuff you often have to deal with if you aren’t interested in upgrading.

You can check which version of Google TV your device has by heading to Settings > Customer Support > Android Version. If you have 3 or 4, great — head to Google Play and make sure you have the latest YouTube update. Otherwise you should probably start thinking about your options for upgrading to something more contemporary.

[via Google]

Playboy NOW app for Android is surprisingly safe for work, might actually read it for the articles

The best part about owning a mobile device is the ability to keep up with news and other random going-ons from around the internet. Oh — and hot babes. The internet is full of them, but because man cannot liveth on boobs alone, Playboy has introduced a new app into the Google Play Store that puts a focus on articles… and babes.

Since Playboy knows you’re probably not going to be browsing for nudes on-the-go or while at work, the all new Playboy NOW app is more or less suitable for work. Don’t get us wrong, there are still plenty of busty babes to be found, but this is more PG-13 content. It’s essentially a retooled version of the Playboy for Android app that launched last year which had articles, but required you to pay for the girly galleries. Playboy made the move after they discovered that nearly 80% of their traffic was now coming from mobile devices so they felt it was time to cater to these users.

This time around Playboy NOW features more written articles and viral news from around the net, plenty of videos and of course, galleries of scantily clad women. It’s basically a men’s magazine in easy to digest app form, with content being repackaged from Playboy.com’s recently relaunched website (only without all the nudes). There’s also a section called The Daily list which features 5 articles (either written, photo galleries, or video) from the day and of course, exciting content revolving around Playboy’s endless well of Playmates.

Suddenly that lame excuse you told your wife about reading Playboy for the articles might actually be true.

Playboy NOW (Playboard) | Playboy NOW (Play Store)