Tag: Android

The path that Motorola has taken with the Android lineup over the past couple of years has been interesting.  They have produced some great phones like the Google branded Nexus 6 while others like the Moto E lineup have been lackluster at best.  But through late 2016 until now, the company has been hitting its stride and that is powerfully evident with the new Moto Z2 Force.  This 5.5″ phone runs the latest Android Nougat 7.1.1 build and has all the makings of a true hit.  With battery life that is above average, a zippy Snapdragon 835 processor and excellent cameras, it should be on your shortlist of phones to consider as we wind down 2017.

Motorola recently provided a Moto Z2 Force to review (via my work over at Gear Diary) and I have to say, it’s one phone that I’ll be a little sad to depart with when it goes back to them.  Here’s my review.

Yesterday during the launch of the new Galaxy Note8, Samsung indicated that there would be a trade-in program for eligible devices if you bought the phone from them directly.  That program has gone live now and it is pretty extensive.

The discount for your trade-in varies depending on the model you are giving up to get in the new Note8.  Here is the breakdown:

• $200 Off:  Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+
• $200 Off:  iPhone SE, iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus
• $300 Off:  Galaxy Note5, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge
• $300 Off:  Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, LG G4, LG G5, LG G6, LG V20

That’s a fairly comprehensive list and clearly Samsung is aiming to convert iPhone users over to the Note with these discounts on the older iPhone devices.

2017 has been a stellar year for the growth of Android Pay.  The tap-to-pay service added 17 new banks and credit unions today which brings this years total of new institutions to over 300.  That’s a staggering number when you consider we still have a quarter of the year remaining.

As with many of the additions this year, today’s additions of banks & credit unions that support the tap-to-pay service are mostly regional and smaller institutions.  The vast majority of the major banks in the United States have supported it for a long while now, just as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

AT&T has announced that the Blackberry KEYone will be coming to the carrier starting September 1st in an exclusive color.  The phone will be available in Space Black and will be priced at $16.67 per month for 30 months.  That adds up to just over $500 which is less than the unlocked GSM version which is $619.99 on Amazon.

For those that don’t recall, the Blackberry KEYone is a 4.5″ device that is powered by the Snadragon 625 processor.  It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.  It runs Android Nougat 7.1.1 out of the box and has the same cameras as you will find in the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.  It is powered by a 3505mAh battery and has a physical QUERTY keyboard.

The main camera on the KEYone is a 12MP shooter that has Sony technology & optics.

The storage on the KEYone is expandable thanks to the MicroSD slot and charging is done via the USB-C connector.

Android apps on Chromebooks continues its slow march but has started entering into a second phase of sorts.  While support in general continues to new Chrome OS devices, those that already have the support are starting to see an update to Android Nougat 7.1.1.

If you recall, when Android apps started rolling out to Chrome OS, it was based on Android Marshmallow.  It worked well but you didn’t have the benefits like split-screen natively as you do in Nougat.  Now devices which have had the ability to run Android apps are starting to see an update to Nougat.

In the Stable channel, there are three Chromebooks that are supporting Android Apps, based on Android Nougat 7.1.1:

• Lenovo Chromebook Flex 11
• Samsung Chromebook Pro
• Acer Chromebook R 13

Keen followers of Chrome OS will know that these devices have had the ability to run Android apps for a while, in the case of the Samsung Chromebook Pro, since its release.  This update to their stable builds of Chrome OS will bring the Nougat update.

Last week, the Essential Phone, the PH-1, became available for both those who had pre-ordered as well as those who want to pick one up.  The unlocked variant of the phone is $699 through the Essentials site.  You can also purchase it through Amazon for the same price but orders placed at the online retailer won’t ship until September 1st.

While you are waiting for your PH-1 to arrive, you can at least have the benefit of the stock wallpapers that come with the phone on your current device.  Over on the wallpaper page, I’ve added all six of the default wallpapers for you to freely download and use on your devices.  I’ve also added them to this post after the break so those who want to move along can do so without having to download them.

The six wallpapers are a mix of scenic views and abstract images, all of which look great.