Category: Android

The April security update for Android was announced last week along with the factory images of the new build being available.  For most Nexus device users, the OTA updates will start rolling out this week if you are not carrier locked.  If you are, it could be a few more weeks after that.  Along with the images, Google has released the Security Bulletin for the update too and it has a wealth of information on what was fixed in the update.

It has been a long wait and one that more than a few (Clinton raises his hand) thought would happen.  Android Marshmallow has finally comes to the OnePlus One thanks to the release of Cyanogen 13 for the device.  While Cyanogen has been working on Marshmallow for a variety of devices, it wasn’t clear if the OnePlus One, OnePlus’ original phone from 2014, would see it as the companies have parted ways from a business perspective.  For now, at least, those concerns are settled.

You may have seen some posts today around searching with an Emoji in Google Photos on Android.  Although it is April Fools day, the fact is that this type of searching actually really works – today at least.  Google is infamous for their elaborate and often high number of jokes on April 1st each year and when this one started up late last night, many (me included) dismissed it as a joke.  Then I tried it and was shocked that it actually worked.

Verizon has started rolling out the Android Marshmallow update to customers who have the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge on their network.  The updates will come to users as an OTA update and it could be several days before everyone sees it.  The updated version you are looking for on your device is build MMB29K.G920VVRU4CPC2 and that is the same build for either device.  This update is a big one, approaching 1GB in size, so you will have to make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi before the update will download.

The Angry Birds franchise is still going strong and one of the first games in the series, Angry Birds Seasons, has just been updated once again.  Angry Birds Seasons is updates about 4 times a year, around particular seasons or events.  The latest update is a new chapter titled Marie Hamtoinette which brings a whole set of new levels and brings the episode count in the app up to 26 in total.  Not bad at all and with over 2 billion downloads, clearly the game has been and remains a hit.

It has taken a long time but for those who have the OnePlus 2, your wait for Android Marshmallow is coming to an end.  OnePlus today announced that a preview of OxygenOS 3.0, the Marshmallow based OS running on the 2, is now available for download for members of the community who want to try it.  The preview means that it is still in beta and it is possible (likely) that you will run into issues if you decide to load it on your device.  If you use your OnePlus 2 as your daily driver, it may be best to wait until the software is released to the general public.