Tag: Android

For readers who have their Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus in the company’s Android Oreo beta program, you have a second beta build coming your way.  The new beta is build R16NW.G955FXXU1ZQLE and is just over 600MB in size.  The updated beta has been released but it could take a few days before all beta testers see it on their phone.

This new build contains a significant number of bug fixes and performance improvements over the first beta and seemingly nothing on the device was left untouched.  The new beta addresses issues with Bluetooth connectivity, smart device connectivity, Bixby issues, profile issues… it goes on.  This update should also address general unresponsiveness of the device in all situations and uses.  It isn’t uncommon for manufactures to offer a lot of updates to things in their 2nd beta builds and this one certainly is no exception.

Microsoft has released an update for their Bing app for Android.  The update brings a significant number of changes and improvements to the search app including a new home screen.  The update is version 8.0.25268601 for those keeping score at home and if you have Bing installed on your phone, you should see the update come via an OTA update over the course of the next few days.

The first change you will note is the improved Home page.  Now you have the familiar search section of the Home page, but below that you now have news cards of top stories more visible.  The page also gives you easy access to your voice assistant and camera.  Microsoft has injected Machine Learning into the app now and over time, it will learn your habits and what you like to read so it will bubble up more relevant information to you.  Like other apps, the more you use it, the smarter and more personalized it will become.  Also, you can explicitly dislike a story or source by tapping the overflow menu (the … menu)  on the card.

Google Photos has been quietly rolling out a new AI-driven movie to many users over the past few days.  The new video will show up in your Assistant tab in the app and it titled “Smiles of 2017”.  With the hint in the name, you’ve probably guessed that this short video consists of photos of people smiling, be it selfies or other people that you have photographed over the past year.

The video falls under what is commonly referred to as the “auto awesome” features of Google Photos.  That is, the app which is driven by Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, will scour your photos to create photos or videos based on the content of your photos.

OnePlus has released an update to the OxygenOS platform that brings Android Oreo to the OnePlus 5.  The update comes a little earlier than expected as the company had indicated the update would be in early 2018.  But, after months of testing in their beta channel, it appears the company is ahead of schedule and has released a little early.

The actual roll out of the update to the OnePlus 5 began yesterday but, as OnePlus typically does, it went to only a small percentage of customers yesterday and will gradually expand out to the entire customer base over the course of the next few days.  The update is 1.5GB in size so you will want to make sure you download it via WiFi and install it with at least 80% of your battery remaining unless you are connected to AC.

The change log on this update is massive and brings Oreo, the December Android Security Update and multiple other new features or improvements to the phone.

Verizon has become the first US carrier to update the Moto Z2 Force to Android Oreo.  The carrier has released build ODX27.109-34 for the Z2 Force, bringing Oreo and all of its goodness to the July 2017 flagship device from Moto.

As you would expect, the update is sizable at around 900MB, making it one that you will want to download while you are WiFi and have at least 80% battery life.  Installation should take 10-15 minutes and a reboot is required.

Today’s Deal is on the entry level but well appointed LG X Charge.  This is one of the Amazon Prime phones and right now you can pick it up for $119 with the Prime ads on the lock screen.  Normally this version of the phone is $149.

The LG X Charge is a 5.5″ 720p display phone powered by the MediaTek MT6750 SoC.  It has 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a MicroSD slot for memory expansion.  That memory can be expanded up to 2TB.  It has a 13MP main camera and a 5MP selfie camera.