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One of the biggest challenges facing Android as a platform but mobile devices in general is security.  For their part, Google has been working hard to get security updates out to devices on a monthly basis.  The problem, however, is not Nexus devices.  It is the countless other manufactures and carriers out there who are painfully slow or simply refuse to update devices with the latest security updates in a timely manner.  It leaves consumers vulnerable unnecessarily.  It would seem that Google has had enough and may be about to use a tactic to get manufactures and carriers to update devices.

Public shaming.

As has become the standard operating procedure for OEMs when they are about to release a new phone, OnePlus has dropped the price on both the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X on their site.  The OnePlus 3, the manufactures next “flagship killer” is expected to be launched next month which means you can pick up a great deal on either of these phones from 2015.  Right now the OnePlus 2 is available in Sandstone finish, has 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and a 13MP rear camera for $299.  The 2 has a 5.5″ display and is powered by OnePlus’ own version of Android, OxygenOS.  Right now it is still based on Android Lollipop but the Marshmallow update is in final beta testing and should be released soon.

TripAdvisor and Google Play Music have teamed up with a unique promotion that gives you unique stations in the music service for the locations you are searching in the travel app.  Here is now it works:  Type in a city or country you want to visit in TripAdvisor and when you find it, tap it.  Now scroll about halfway down and you will see a new Google Play Music section with unique stations for that location.  From there you can save these stations in your Music library for playing later.  The combination of the apps gives you great travel information and music germane to that location.

Google Photos on the web has received a great update this morning that brings two highly requested features to the photo service.  The first is the ability to bulk change the date and time on photos that you have imported.  This is great for those of you who have scanned in old photos (think pre-smartphone) and want to have them with the correct date (like your 17th birthday back in the 70s or 80s).  Once you have scanned the photos into Google Photos, you can select them and use the overflow menu in the upper right corner to change the date.  Once they are changed, the photos get reorganized in Photos according to that date.