Tag: Nexus 5X

LineageOS has started posting several experimental and nightly builds for various devices, including the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.  The posting of the new software builds came as promised by the Lineage team and ironically keep Cyanogen elements in their versioning and naming conventions.  Right now the downloads page has builds for the two Nexus’ but also for the Nextbit Robin, Motorola G4/G4 Plus and the Xiaomi Redmi 1S.  Each build has the devices code name as part of the build name (Angler for the Nexus 6P for example) and the version numbering is what Cyanogen was using prior to their demise.  Builds 14.1 in LineageOS are Android Nougat 7.1.

The Android team at Google has released what is slated to be the last Developer Preview of Android Nougat 7.1.1.  The update is already pushing out to devices that are enrolled in the beta program which now includes the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9 and Pixel C.  The builds you are looking for are NPF26F (Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9), NPF26H (Pixel C). For developers, Google has outlined that this is a near complete version of what will ship in early December to consumers and are urged to get their apps ready.

Developer Preview 2 is a release candidate for Android 7.1.1 that you can use to complete your app development and testing in preparation for the upcoming final release. In includes near-final system behaviors and UI, along with the latest bug fixes and optimizations across the system and Google apps.

To help developers, API Level 25 Platform updates have been rolled out to Android Studio 2.2.2 as part of the announcement today so final preparations and updates can be made to apps.

Earlier this week I told you about a deal over at eBay on the Nexus 5X, 16GB storage model for $199.  That’s a great deal but if you want one with 32GB, you can also get a great deal on that model as well on eBay.  Currently the 32GB model of the Nexus 5X is down to $239.99, a savings of about 40% over what you can pick it up from Google directly. The nice thing is, the 32GB model is available in Carbon and Quartz where as the 16GB model is only available in Quartz.

Obviously with the new Marlin and Sailfish Nexus devices on their way, we can expect to see the prices starting to drop on the 5X and 6P but these are still solid devices.  Plus, as you probably already know, the 5X is upgradable to Android Nougat.

Earlier this week I told you about a great deal running on eBay for the Nexus 5X.  That deal is still going and available in Quartz (white) for just $199.  That’s a savings of $150 off the regular price that you get from Google direct.  The phone is brand new, unlocked and is the 16GB model from a storage perspective.  While the price itself is outstanding, even better is that this device will see the Android Nougat update that was released earlier this week and is a bit future proof in that it will see Android O (yes, I went there) when it is released next year.

So first, let me be clear.  This update to the Project Fi app that is rolling out to the Google Play Store does not enable U.S. Cellular support.  Yet.  If you are a Fi users then you will be seeing the update come to your Nexus 5X, Nexus 6 or Nexus 6P over the course of the next few days and it is part of the puzzle for U.S. Cellular support with Google’s MVNO.

As readers will know, U.S. Cellular was announced as the 3rd carrier that makes up the service, joining T-Mobile and Sprint.  That announcement was last month and the expectation has been that an update to the Fi app would be required to make all of it work on the back end.  That, effectively, is this update.

Android N is nearly upon us and the question that everyone wants to know is if their phone or tablet will see the update.  For their part, Google has clearly outlined which Nexus devices will get updates and for how long after it is no longer for sale.  While the definition has been roughly outlined and discussed by Google, to this point there has never been a document outlining which devices will get updates and when those updates will stop.  That, thanks to a post in the Google Support pages, has been formally defined.