Category: Android

OnePlus has begun rolling out a new OxygenOS build for their new flagship, the OnePlus 5T.  The update is build 4.7.4 for those keeping score at home and brings several improvements to the device.  It is an update that 5T owners will want to get as soon as possible.

The headliner in the update is the optimization of the camera app’s UI and the overall improvement of photo quality.  The improvement in quality is especially in low-light situations.  Most owners of the 5T have been generally pleased with the camera and photo quality from the phone but there have been a few complaints around low light situations.  This update should address those concerns.

A small update to the Google Photos app is rolling out in the Play Store that gives a glimpse of what is going to be coming to other Google apps.  The update is version 3.10.0.177481342 for those keeping score at home and functionally, you aren’t going to find anything different.  What you will notice is the navigation bar at the bottom of the display.

Up until this update, the navigation bar has always been black.  Now it is white.  It is something that you are likely going to see more of over the course of the next few weeks as Chrome in the canary channel has a white navigation bar and the latest update to the YouTube app also sports it as does Gmail and Google Maps.

Microsoft has released a new update to their SwiftKey keyboard app for Android.  The new build brings a handful of new features including a new Quick Paste feature.  This new feature allows you to copy text from your screen and it will be available to you in your prediction bar at the top of the keyboard.  This makes pasting that copied text quick and easy.

Along with the new Quick Paste feature, support for seven new languages are in this update.  Those languages are Chamorro, Ju|’hoan, Lisu, Palauan, Piedmontese, Sardinian & Scots.  Related to this, there are also new layouts available for Naratgul and VEGA

With the beta program now completed, members of the Android Beta Program are now starting to receive the production build of Oreo 8.1.  Google released this final build yesterday and those with with Pixel devices and Nexus devices that were in the program should start seeing the OTA update to the production build over the next few days.

The update is very small, just over 40MB, reflecting the fact that the second and final beta of Oreo 8.1 was all-but complete.  That small of an update means very few bugs were found to be fixed.

If you are new to the Android Beta Program, there is nothing special you need to do.  The OTA will download to your phone just like any other update from Google.  It is just a matter of when it gets to your account.

As we close out 2017, the odds are better that your bank or financial institution supports Android Pay rather than it not.  That’s because the tap-to-pay service for Android devices added another 59 banks and credit unions to the support list today, bringing the total to 1,131 supported here in the United States.

I remind you that in January of this year, fewer than 400 banks were supported.

As has largely been the case over the past six months, most of the additions to the supported list are smaller, regional or local financial institutions.  Thanks to the team over at Android Police, after the break you can read the full list of new banks supported.

Microsoft has launched an all new travel app named Outings.  The app was actually released last month by the Redmond company made no announcements about it so it went pretty much unnoticed.  That’s a shame because Outings is a really beautifully designed app.

The idea behind the app is simple:  You provide at least five topics of interest and the app will provide you suggestions for those interests.  The content is curated from various travel sites and blogs with outstanding information and photography for those locations.  Once you find one of interest, you can save it or you can indicate that you have been to that location.