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The unlocked variant of the HTC U11 here in the United States has a new update rolling out starting today.  The update is build 2.42.617.1 for those keeping score and brings the December 2017 Android Security Update patch to the phone along with other system improvements.  The update is just over 730MB in size so users will need to download it via WiFi before installing it.

HTC highlighted in the release note the December Android Security Update patch but everything else in the note falls under “system enhancements”.  No details are given on what exactly was enhanced but given the size of the download, it is likely a significant number of fixes and performance improvement tweaks to the phone.

Hangouts Meet, the Google G Suite enterprise video conference solution, has added nine new countries to the dial-in support list.  With dial-in support, Hangouts Meet will generate a phone number for members to dial in to the meeting if they are not able to join via video.  The new countries are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Finland
• Ireland
• Norway
• Romania
• Switzerland
• Turkey

With these additions, there are now 24 countries were dial-in is supported.  International dial-in support came to the conferencing solution back in October 2017 with it mostly being in Western European countries initially.

If there is a flagship app from Microsoft on Android, outside of the Office 365 apps, it is Microsoft Launcher.  The launcher has proven to be very successful for the Redmond company, especially for those who are tied closely to the Microsoft ecosystem of other apps.  Now the company is rolling out an update to Launcher that brings more enterprise ties and other creature comforts to let you customize things more in it.

The update is version 4.5 for those keeping score at home and is rolling out now in the Google Play Store.  From an enterprise perspective, if you work for a company that leverages Microsoft Intune for data protection policies, you can now configure Microsoft Launcher to view that corporate data.  While you have always been able to add a corporate Office 365 account to the launcher, this new addition will give users with more strict data protection policies to leverage it on their phones.

Today’s Deal is on the Google Pixelbook and lets you score a free Pixelbook Pen.  Now through February 1st, if you order a Pixelbook from Amazon or the Google Store, you will get a free Pixelbook Pen, a $99 value.  There is no special code required on either site.  On Amazon, visit the Google Pixelbook page, select the configuration you want and make sure you select the Pixelbook + Pixelbook Pen option.  It will be added to your cart at no charge.  At the Google Store, add the two to your cart and you will see a $99 credit applied to your cart at checkout.

The Pixelbook Pen allows you to access Google Assistant with a press of a button on it, so you can circle something on the screen and get information about it.  It also allows for digital writing and other editing features you would expect from a digital pen.