A trio of interesting updates hit the App Store Tuesday as Google brought its Helpouts live video tutorial service to iOS and A&E Networks launched live streaming of its A&E and History channels to the iPad.
Google Helpouts
Google Helpouts takes advantage of the company's Hangouts video chat platform to connect users with subject matter experts. Consultations are available in a variety of categories including art, electronics, cooking, education, fashion, and fitness.
Users can rate each expert, and helpouts can be scheduled in advance. Many helpouts are free, but experts can also set prices per minute or in 15-minute intervals.
Google Helpouts version 1.0.1 is available now as a free, 16.1-megabyte download from the App Store.
A&E streaming
International television network A&E has enabled live streaming for two of its most popular channels -- A&E and History -- through their apps for Apple's iPad. Users will still be able to access on-demand content including clips and full episodes of past shows.
A cable subscription is required to watch the channels' live streams. Users will need to authenticate with their cable company, and A&E says the streams are only available to viewers in the United States for now.
A&E version 2.0.0 is available now as a free, 11.9-megabyte download from the App Store, while History version 2.0.0 is a free, 10.9-megabyte download.