Category: Android

As expected with it being the first Monday of the first full week of the month, Google has released the March 2018 Android Security Update patches for the Pixel lineup of phones as well as the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.  The full factory images for those who want to side load them are available as well as the OTA updates.  The automatic sending of the OTA updates should begin later this week for those that don’t want to bother with a side load.

As usual, there are two patches this month although there is also a second bulletin announcement regarding fixes specific to the Pixel 2 lineup.  In the March 1, 2018 dated patch, there are a total of 16 fixes, 8 of which are considered critical.  These fixes in the first patch deal with Android issues broadly and mostly have to do with media framework and system level issues that could allow for remote code execution.

While the Samsung Galaxy S9 is now available to pre-order, if you want to save yourself a bit of money, you can pick up a good deal on last years Galaxy S8.  Right now the Samsung Galaxy S8 is available in Midnight Black for $599 on Amazon.  That’s $125 off the regular price.  Given that the S8 has its Android Oreo update rolling out, complete with Samsung Experience 9 of the Galaxy S9, you really getting close to the same device for a lot less.

The 5.8″ Galaxy S8 is powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor running four cores at 2.3GHz and the other four running at 1.9GHz.  It is coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage which is expandable up to an additional 256GB thanks to the MicroSD card.  The display renders at 2960 x 1440 QuadHD with an impressive 571 PPI.  Powering all of it is a 3000mAh battery which is charged with inductive charging.

Last week at Mobile World Congress, a concept video of the Vivo Apex caught a lot of attention.  The concept phone had a lot of cool tricks, including a pop-up selfie camera.  By building the camera into the chassis like this, it allows for a completely bezel-less design yet also eliminates the much loved or hated “Notch”.  Now it seems we have a bit more clarity on this design from a patent perspective thanks to Essential’s Andy Rubin.

In a Tweet over the weekend, Mr. Rubin pointed to a patent that is in his name, along with others, that is held by Essential.  That patent points out the pop-up selfie camera design and the patent for it was granted on August 15, 2017.

There is a new update to Microsoft’s SwiftKey keyboard app rolling out today in the Play Store.  The update, version 6.7.8.25 for those keeping score at home, brings support for nine new languages as well as a number of bug fixes.  It also brings support for Hiragana layout for Japanese language users.

As for the new languages, users of SwiftKey now have these new ones available:  Afar, Banjarese, Fulani, Gayo, Guarani, Madurese, Minangkabau, Nias, Bengkulu.  That brings the total number of languages supported by the keyboard app to well over 200.

The Blackberry KEYone Black Edition has made its way to the United States via Amazon.  The slightly bumped-up-in-specs version of the KEYone is $549.99 at the online retailer and readily available.

Powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 625, the Blackberry KEYone Black Edition sports 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage built-in, which can be expanded up to an additional 256GB thanks to the MicroSD slot.  It has a 4.5-inch display has a resolution of 1620 x 1080 and is powered by a 3505mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0.  Of course, the unique feature of this phone is the built-in physical QWERTY keyboard.

Today’s poll is for those of you who use a Chromebook.  The question is simple:  Do you use Android apps on your Chromebook?

While the majority of Chrome OS devices can now run Android apps, an informal survey of close friends found that they rarely use Android apps on their Chromebooks.  I, on the other hand, use as many Android apps as possible.  So I’m curious what you readers are doing.

[yop_poll id=”1″]

For those of you who answered yes, after the break I have a second question for you:  How many apps do you use?