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The repairable Fairphone 2 gets an Android update five years after launch
Ethical phone company Fairphone's first modular handset, the five-year-old Fairphone 2, is getting an Android 9 update.
Android 'Slices' start offering control over phone settings
Android's Slices have typically only offered shortcuts for functions in third-party apps (and then only in limited form), but they're now ready to control the phone itself. The team at 9to5Google has noticed that Slices are rolling out for device settings on Pixel phones using Android 9 Pie. If you want to turn on your Bluetooth or check your WiFi network, you can find a toggle through a search in the Google bar.
Android Pie rolling out now to OnePlus 5, OnePlus 5T
The OnePlus 5 and 5T are finally getting Android Pie. The latest version of Google's operating system is being made available to the OnePlus handsets via an over-the-air update. The rollout started this morning and will make its way to most devices over the next couple days according to OnePlus.
Google rolls out Digital Wellbeing tools for Android
Earlier this year during its I/O conference, Google announced new tools to help users manage their screen time. Now, it's rolling out Digital Wellbeing to Google Pixel phones and Android One devices with Android 9 Pie. Digital Wellbeing gives Android users a look at how much time they've spent on apps as well as how often they've unlocked their phones and how many notifications they've received. It also offers the ability to set time limits on app usage. Additionally, with Wind Down users can limit what notifications come through during a certain time period and have the option of switching their screens to grayscale.
Google: Android Pie will hit more devices in 2018 than Oreo did in 2017
Google has long been criticised for the long delays between Android upgrades. While iPhone users are merrily chowing down on regular OS updates, Android users have to wait for long intervals, with lower cost handsets never seeing an update at all during their lifespans. Google's update framework, Project Treble, seeks to rectify this, and the company has just announced that all devices launching with Android 9 Pie or later will be Treble-compliant. The picture above shows off a range of Trebled-equipped devices displaying the same Generic System Image.
Pixel 3 and 3 XL review: Google’s hardware takes a backseat to software
Even if they hadn't been leaked to death before their official announcement, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL probably wouldn't surprise anyone. The hardware has barely changed (at least on the outside). And there's no difference between the two handsets apart from size -- you no longer have to spring for a bigger, more expensive phone for the best features. From more powerful camera algorithms to a smarter Assistant, the standout features on this year's models are almost all in the software. The question, then, is this: If all the best stuff about these phones is basically software updates that even older devices will ultimately get, is there a point in shelling out for the new hardware? The answer, surprisingly, is yes, but only if you can live with a giant notch.
Google Pixel 3 XL hands-on (again): Everything you didn't already know
We technically already spent some time with the Pixel 3 XL outside a dinky electronics store in Hong Kong, but this is one of the most important phones of the year. So it definitely deserves a little more scrutiny. Thankfully, Google's presentation here in New York has just wound down, so it's time to take a closer look at what the company has managed to pull off this year. I already know what some of you are probably thinking: Can a phone that has been leaked this thoroughly actually offer any surprises? Well, maybe not. What has been surprising, though, is just how complete and competent the 3 XL feels despite the fact that Google mostly played it safe with this generation of hardware.
Google announces the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
Google's press conference is well underway in NYC, and the most important order of business is formally announcing the new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones. To say we're already acquainted with the devices would be an understatement. Between our own early hands-on with the XL, the left-in-a-Lyft incident and many other leaks, we knew what we were in for: A pair of handsets that, on the hardware front, are not really designed to break to new ground, but to update the Pixel brand for 2018.
Sony explains why Android updates take so long
If you're like many smartphone owners using non-stock versions of Android, you're probably twiddling your thumbs waiting for your device maker to release an upgrade to Android 9 Pie. But have you wondered why you're waiting so long when your Pixel- and Essential-toting friends already have their upgrades? Sony can explain. In a blog post promising Pie updates for recent Xperia phones (the XZ Premium, XZ1 family and XZ2 series) in November, the company also provided an infographic outlining the steps between Google's OS release and seeing the new software on your handset. It's a simplified take on what's happening, but it does provide a good summary of what's involved.
Android P is for Pie
Sorry, peppermint, pancake and Pop-Tarts fans -- the "P" in Android 9.0's name stands for Pie, and it has officially arrived. You'll get an over-the-air update for the new platform very, very soon if you have a Pixel, since it's rolling out to Google's devices starting today. If you have a non-Pixel phone, though, you'll likely have to wait a few more months to get the software upgrade, even if you're already using its beta version. Google says that devices that were part of the Android P beta program (that includes devices from Sony, Xiaomi, HMD Global, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Essential) and "qualifying" Android One devices should have the update by the end of the fall. The tech giant says it's working with partner manufacturers to give more people access to the platform, and most of them plan to roll out Android 9 Pie to their devices before the year ends.
