Category: Android

The Snapseed team over at Google have released another update to the Android photo editing app.  The update, version 2.9 for those keeping score at home, brings several new tools to the app as well as some improvements on preferences.  The new tools include a new Face tool which allows you to bring focus to faces, smooth skin and to add clarity to eyes.  Like the other filters in the app, you can adjust the strength of each of these elements of the tool to bring it to your liking or you can simply have Snapseed analyze your photo and make the adjustments automatically.  In testing out this new tool, the smoothing feature is very impressive.  It softens up lines and wrinkles but doesn’t over do it with too much softness.

Google Opinion Rewards, the app that pays you Google Play Store credit for your opinion, has been updated and expanded.  Now Android users in Denmark, Norway and Sweden can take part in the program just by downloading the app and answering opinion questions as they are sent to you.  For those outside of these new countries, there is an app update available which has some stability fixes and other under-the-hood improvements that you’ll want to get.

If you aren’t familiar with the program, Google Opinion Rewards sends a survey once a week or so (sometimes more, sometimes less) that asks your opinion on anything from branding to places you visited to products and services.  Answering the survey’s will give you credit, up to $1, in the Play Store which you can spend later.  Most surveys are just a few questions so they are quick and easy to complete.

It looks like the Nexus name is dying a death.  Reports are suggesting that Google is going to be hosting an event on October 4th, at which we will see the new HTC-built Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL announced.  Those phones are currently under their code names of Marlin and Sailfish respectively.  The new naming convention will mean that across all hardware types – phones, tablets and Chromebooks – there is one name to remember and will likely have some sort of suffix designation for the model.

What is interesting is that the name “Pixel” has been associated with Google as being the designer of the product.  Take the Pixel C or the Pixel Chromebook as an example.  While Google may not have built those devices, they had a very heavy hand in their design.  Is that the case for the Pixel and Pixel XL phones?  leaked mock-ups suggest no.  The Marlin (Pixel) device looks strikingly like the HTC built One A9.  While it may have different innards, outward appearances don’t suggest Google did the design.

Due to 35 reported cases of batteries exploding, Samsung has voluntarily stopped sales of the Galaxy Note 7 effectively immediately and are issuing a recall on all those sold.  The European launch of the device has also been delayed.

To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market. However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note 7.

The announcement will be a huge financial blow to the company but clearly is the right thing to do.  Demand for the Note 7 has been high but equally, the cases of battery issues has caused many to pause.  It is good to see the company responding in a proper way.

Sony introduced their new flagship Android phone, the Xperia XZ, at IFA 2016 and it is impressive.  The 5.2″ Full HD display device comes with just about everything you would want in a phone including an astonishing 23MP camera.  That’s right:  23 Megapixels.  Powering the XZ is the Snapdragon 820 processor and it is coupled with the Adreno 530 GPU.  It has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and that storage can be expanded up to an additional 256GB thanks to the MicroSD slot.

The cameras however somewhat steal the show.

Huawei took the stage at IFA 2016 in Berlin this morning and announced two new mid-market phones, the Nova and Nova Plus.  Both devices will be making their debut in European markets in October while the larger global release will happen later in the year.  Overall, both devices are nicely appointed and similar in most areas outside of the screen size.  The Nova will be around $440 when it hits the US and comes with a 5″ Full HD display.  It is powered by the Snapdragon 625 SoC processor, has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.  That storage can be expanded via a MicroSD slot.  The main camera is a 12MP shooter while the front camera is 8MP.  It supports USB-C and has a 3025mAh battery.