Check for Update Really Works in Oreo on Nexus & Pixel Devices

So here’s a concept:  A button that actually does something.  For years, the “Check for update” button in Android pretty much did nothing.  Sure you could hit it but the odds of you getting an update were pretty slim.  Why?  Because manufactures like Google, Samsung and others as well as carriers phase updates out to their customers.  The result?  The “Check for update” button was, by-and-large, useless.

That’s changing under Android Oreo, specifically for the Google Nexus and Pixel devices.  Now when you tap that button in Settings>System>System Updates, it actually, really goes out to Google’s servers and download the latest OTA update.  No waiting on phasing.

Google Fit Update Brings Improved Workout Mode

A new update to Google Fit for Android is rolling out with several new features and enhancements.  The update is version 1.73 for those keeping score at home and most of the updates are aimed at improving your workout experience and summaries.

The most visible change in the update is the redesigned workout mode and you can now review summaries of past activities on your Android Wear device.  With Android Wear devices, you can now hear spoken announcements while you are running too.

Galaxy S7 on T-Mobile Sees Roaming Improving Update

T-Mobile has released an update for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on their network that is aimed at improving roaming on the devices.  Build G930TUVU4BQH7  for the S7 and build G935TUVU4BQH7 for the S7 Edge are the updates you are looking for on these respective devices and they should be hitting your device over the course of the next few days.

The biggest change in this smallish 200MB update is improved IMS Roaming.  What is IMS Roaming you ask?  Essentially it is an interconnect between T-Mobile and other carriers to allow you to make VoLTE calls, video calls and media sessions to someone on another carrier in another country.  It isn’t super sexy and unless you do international travel, it isn’t a big deal frankly.  But it is good to see T-Mobile improving support for it (and Samsung for that matter).

Today’s Deal – Lenovo Yoga Book for $299 on Amazon

Today’s Deal is on the powerful and ultra thin Lenovo Yoga Book Android tablet.  The 10″ 2-in-1 tablet is on sale right now at Amazon for $299.94 in Gunmetal Gray.  That’s a savings of $200.

The Yoga Book has a 10.1″ display that gives Full HD resolution of 1200 x 1920.  It is powered by the Intel Atom x5-Z8550 processor, a quad-core processor that is clocked at 2.4GHz.  That is coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.  That internal storage can be expanded up to an additional 256GB thanks to the MicroSD slot.  Also, the Lenovo Yoga Book can take advantage of Adaptive Storage in Android Nougat so once you have a MicroSD card installed, it can act as part of the main storage on the device.

What really makes the Yoga Book stand out is its size.  It measure just 6.72 x 10.1 x 0.38 in and weighs 1.52lbs.  That’s 256.00 x 170.80 x 9.60mm and 690 grams in new money.  When you open it up, it is 4mm thin.  It has a beautiful hinge that allows the keyboard to rotate completely around to the back of the tablet to use it in tablet mode.  Camera wise, there is an 8MP main camera and 2MP front camera for selfies and video calls.  All of this is powered by a whopping 8500mAh battery that gets you 15 hours of use between charges.  Charging is done via a MicroUSB connector and it supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology for fast charging.

Chrome for Desktop Sees Stable Channel Update

Chrome build 61.0.3163.100 is now rolling out to desktop users of the browser on Windows, Mac and Linux.  The update is purely a security fix and performance update with no noted new features.

The update addresses three security issues in the browser, two of which were discovered as part of Google’s continuing bounty program.  Those fixes, including the reward given to the one who found it, is below.

  • [$7500][765433] High CVE-2017-5121: Out-of-bounds access in V8. Reported by Jordan Rabet, Microsoft Offensive Security Research and Microsoft ChakraCore team on 2017-09-14
  • [$3000][752423] High CVE-2017-5122: Out-of-bounds access in V8. Reported by Choongwoo Han of Naver Corporation on 2017-08-04

The other critical security issue found was found internally and no details were reported on it in the Release Notes.

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