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We all love the comfort that comes with the little things just  like the ability to carry on texting without walking into a tree. Apple apparently thinks so anyway.

A patent that Cupertino filed back in September 2012 has just surfaced with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (via AppleInsider) that shows the company thinking up ways to help people keep walking and texting without bumping into stuff.

The transparent texting system replaces the background of a mobile device’s text messaging app with a continuous real-time video feed, using the device’s rear camera, so the user can both see what’s being said, and where they’re going. Who says Apple can’t do disruption anymore?

The patent describes how the transparency feature could be activated by the user pressing a transparency button within a texting session that switches on the video feed. The feature would then ensure text bubbles appear overlaid over the live background video. The text bubbles themselves could be opaque or semi-transparent, the patent notes.

Apple added transparency overlays to iOS, as part of the major makeover it gave its mobile operating system in iOS 7. The transparency element was more of a minor makeover, however, providing only a subtle hint of what’s underneath iOS elements, such as the keyboard, or Control Centre. It certainly does not offer anything as radical as the full transparency described in this texting patent filing (U.S. patent no. 20140085334).

The patent goes on to detail potential extensions of the concept of transparent texting — i.e. beyond an iMessage-style texting use-case, including replacing the background of a webpage with a live video feed, so that the text of a website is overlaid over whatever environs the device user is moving through. Or even replacing the static white background of an e-book – so iPhone users on the way to work could keep reading their iBook and not bump into any lampposts.

“Alternative embodiments of the invention can be applied to virtually any computer-executable application in which text is presented over a background,” the patent application adds.

• More sort categories: In addition to Social, Promotions, Forums and Updates tabs, Google is adding Purchases, Travel and Finance sections.
• Pinning: This feature allows users to "pin" an email to the top of the Inbox. A toggle will allow users to view only their pinned emails or their entire Inbox.
• Snoozing: Users can snooze an email, which will mark it as read for a period of time that they set. Once the time expires, the email will reappear as unread.

Google is adding some new customization to the Google bar that appears on the top of Google related pages when the users logged in.

Users can now add boxes for Google products they use, such as Google Maps, Gmail and Google Docs. When you view the available button category, pretty much every Google product available is represented, including products you may have forgotten about such as Orkut and Picasa.

This feature is similar to a Google toolbar feature that many users remember fondly, where users could add similar button on the toolbar for quick access to Google products. That toolbar is still available, but only for Internet Explorer. And unfortunately, this new Google bar that works cross browser does not have a PageRank display option as the old toolbar did.

The new Google bar is rolling out of the next couple of weeks, so if you don't have it yet, it should be available shortly.

It’s being reported that Android 4.4.3 is being tested. The update, incremental in number and without a new name, is likely incremental. The Nexus 5 camera issue is said to be solved in this update, but there isn’t much else to go on just yet.

The camera issues dogging the Nexus 5 are pretty profound. A blue-ish tint can be found in even the least sensitive lighting situations, rendering the camera on the device almost useless in many cases. The fix has been attempted a few times, but nobody has been abe to crack the code for getting the Nexus 5 camera to where it needs to be.

The report doesn’t note much else in the way of upgrade features, so we’re unclear on just what’s in the pipeline for this one — if it exists. If it’s going to be an Android update proper, we could see other minor tweaks and fixes. It’s unlikely Google would dedicate a system update to address the woes of one device’s camera, even if it is their flagship.

The days of massive Android updates are likely behind us, too. A mature ecosystem, Android doesn’t need to make any sweeping changes to keep up anymore. We’re now left to enjoy minor updates that don’t affect the big picture much — if you’re at least moderately current with your Android version, that is.

 WhatsApp today used a few hundred to promise us that it has "respect for your privacy" and that having been bought by Facebook for umpteen-billion-dollars (it was $16 billion) won't go to its head, leading it to steal all your personal data. "If partnering with Facebook meant that we had to change our values, we wouldn’t have done it," WhatsApp's Jan Koum wrote in a blog post

"Speculation to the contrary isn’t just baseless and unfounded, it’s irresponsible. It has the effect of scaring people into thinking we’re suddenly collecting all kinds of new data. That’s just not true, and it’s important to us that you know that."

Fair enough. And WhatsApp isn't alone in that feeling. But, again, actions speak louder than words. Don't let us down, WhatsApp.

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Google is now pushing out updates to both the Google Play Store and the Google Search app. Let's start with the Play Store update, which is by far the more significant of the two. The new version of the Google Play Store brings the app up to v.4.6.16 and includes a number of new features and tweaks that are sure to please power users. Here's a rundown of what's inside, courtesy of Android Police:

• Batch install apps: Users can now navigate to the My Apps > All tab and batch install apps that they don't already have on their device
• Require password for purchases: This option allows the user to select how often their device requires a password for Google Play purchases. Options include always, every 30 minutes or never.
• Settings and Help options have moved: Both Settings and Help are now located in the slide-out navigation menu
• Force Play Store update: Users can now force the Play Store app to check for an update by repeatedly tapping on the "Build version" option in the app's Settings menu
• In-app purchases part of permissions: If an app includes in-app purchases, that will now be listed as part of its "App permissions" in the Play Store
• Small UI tweaks: Include blue "Add" buttons, bold user names, slightly revised account selector

That's a pretty beefy update, no? The ability to select how often Google Play will ask your password for purchases will come in handy for folks that give their phone out to others frequently, like a parent giving a device to a child, and the ability to batch install apps will be useful when folks get a new Android phone. The force update option is another nice addition that will appeal those of us that drop everything at the news that an app update is available.

The Google Search app is also receiving an update today that adds support for cricket to Google Now, just in time for the ICC World Twenty20 championship. Also included is the ability to display traffic incidents on a route, support for setting reminders for chains and "Ok Google" hotword functionality for German and French.

As is usually the case with updates, expect these new versions of the Google Play Store and Google Search to slowly roll out to users over the next week or so.

UPDATE: Google has also started pushing out an update to the Google Maps for Android app. The update brings with it the ability to view upcoming events and performances, tap and hold anywhere on a map to drop a pin and save or share that location and some unspecified bug fixes.