After launching its official Android app (download) only two weeks ago, Charles Schwab Bank and Brokerage has already released an update with a much-needed feature: mobile check deposit. This adds some serious power to an app that already lets you transfer money between accounts, view balances, and track and trade stocks.

To deposit a check, select either your Schwab Bank or Schwab brokerage account, enter the deposit amount, take photos of both sides of the endorsed check, tap Submit, and you're all set. But be warned: checks cannot be wrinkled or folded, and pictures need to be clear, in-focus, and free of shadows.

Since a common method of depositing paper checks to Charles Schwab accounts is via postage-paid snail mail (Schwab branches are not the most ubiquitous), the update is important to many of the financial institution's account holders. In fact, we think this feature alone might be enough to get many of them on the Schwab mobile app bandwagon.

The Schwab Mobile app with mobile check deposit is available now for Android (download) and iPhone (download).

If you've ever used public transportation, you know that buses and trains don't always run according to schedule. Things happen, and transit schedules can't always account for station delays, detours, or construction, leaving you more or less guessing what time you'll eventually arrive at your destination.

Well, starting today, Google Maps for mobile and desktop provides live transit updates in select cities, taking some of the annoying guesswork out of your commute. Instead of seeing what time your bus is supposed to arrive, you'll see what time your bus will actually arrive, meaning you'll be late to work a lot less often.

Now when you tap on a transit station icon or plan a transit route one your mobile device you'll see live departure times along with any service alerts or station delays. It works on the newest Google Maps for Mobile app for mobile devices, as well as on mobile and desktop browsers.

For now, live transit updates are only available in four U.S. and two European cities: Boston; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; San Francisco; Madrid; and Turin, Italy. Hopefully Google will partner up with more transit agencies soon, as otherwise many of us will just continue to make our bosses very angry.