Category: Android

Microsoft Launcher has a new update rolling out that should get those of you who are on the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 excited.  The updated version of what was once known as Arrow Launcher is build 4.1.1.37741 and it brings with it a Fluent Design inspired look to the Utility page.

For those who are not Windows users, Fluent Design is Microsoft’s take on the semi-transparent look of apps that you find in MacOS and mobile.  To this point, the Utility page has had two themes:  Light or Dark.  Now you can change that to be transparent and can adjust how much blur you want behind the cards or widget.

Essential Phone owners, you have a small but important update rolling out to you today.  The company Tweeted earlier today that build NMJ20D is rolling out to owners that fixes some vulnerabilities as well as adding a few new features.

First, before you get all excited, no, this is not bringing you Oreo.  The update is only 75MB in size so this is truly an incremental update.

As for what is fixed, a fair amount.  First, this build patches the KRACK WiFi vulnerability and brings the October Android Security Update patches to the phone.  There are also improvements in the touch screen performance as well as overall system improvements for performance.

The big new feature, fingerprint scanner gestures.

If you are looking to have the new Pixel 2 launcher look and feel on your current phone, the latest update to Action Launcher is your ticket.  The update, version 30.2 for those keeping score at home, brings all of the goodness that is in Google’s new default launcher to any phone without rooting.  In fact, looking at it side-by-side with the Pixel 2 launcher, it is all-but identical plus you have a lot of tweaks that you can do that are not available in the Google launcher.

Action Launcher in this update has brought the At A Glance feature, giving you the date and weather at the top of the display on your Home page and updating with calendar notifications when you have an upcoming appointment.  Functionally, it is the same as the Pixel 2 launcher and it looks identical.

To say that the launch of the Google Pixel 2 lineup is off to a rocky start would be an understatement.  There has been a huge amount of debate about the display on the devices and audio issues that have cause distorted audio or “popping” sounds.  Google’s addressed the display issues both with an explanation and some software tweaks that will be coming to the devices.  Now we know that there will be fixes for the audio challenges too.

According to CNET, Google has told them that fixes for the audio issues on the Pixel 2 are in the works and will be rolling out “in a few weeks”.  When is a few weeks exactly?  Not sure but it is unlikely to be bundled in the November Android Security Update.  That should be released next Monday, November 6th.  It will likely be a supplemental update for the phones.

For those of you who have not tried out the Photo Book service through Google Photos, now is a good time to consider it.  Today through November 9th, you get free shipping on any hardcover photo book that you order through the service.  Photo Books start at $9.99.

The service allows you to select any photos from your Google Photos library and add them to a book.  You can then edit those photos, arrange them on the pages and through various templates to create a truly personalized book for yourself or as a gift.  In all, you can have up to 100 photos in a book a

I personally have ordered several Photo Books through Photos and I’ve not been disappointed in the quality of the product.  They make a great gift.

It has been a while since the Chromium team has updated the Chromebook and Chromebox list of devices that support Android apps.  In fact, the last significant update happened back in August.  Now the team has made a big update to the list, updating it with the current status of Android apps on Chrome OS.

The list can be found here and as I’ve suggested before, I recommend readers who use Chrome OS to bookmark the page.  This is the official list of devices that do or will support Android apps.  Yes, it is often slow in getting updated but it is the official list nevertheless.