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Google brings its hearing assistance app to older Android phones (updated)
Google's app for the hard of hearing is now within reach of many more people. The tech firm's Sound Amplifier app now supports devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later, not just 9.0 Pie like it did months ago. You won't need a relatively cutting edge device to understand a conversation or sound from a TV -- just a decent set of headphones. There's a new look with a visualization feature, too.
Android Pie hits 10 percent adoption two months ahead of its ancestors
Google left people in the dark regarding Android Pie's adoption for more than half a year, but it's finally lifting the curtain -- and Pie is doing better than its predecessors. Updated stats supplied to VentureBeat show that 10.4 percent of active users were using Pie after eight months. That may not sound like much, but it took about 10 months each for Oreo and Nougat to reach the 10 percent milestone. Google's efforts to spur Pie's uptake appear to have paid off, even if it's not a night-and-day difference.
Samsung's latest app could help curb your kid's screen addiction
Samsung has an idea for how to encourage kids to use their devices responsibly. With its Marshmallow app (not the outdated version of Android), kids earn points by following their self-set usage plan. With the application installed and running, kids are limited to using eight apps, parents can filter which apps are and aren't appropriate and they can set a bed time for the phone as well.
Google Assistant comes to recent Android phones
Yes, the leaks were true: You no longer have to buy a Pixel (or launch Allo) if you want official support for Google Assistant on your Android phone. As of this week, the AI helper will start rolling out to Android phones running Marshmallow or Nougat. So long as your phone has Google Play Services and meets some basic specs (at least 1.5GB of RAM and a 720p screen), you too can use Android's native search app to get answers and issue commands through Google's conversational companion. Just where and when you'll get it will vary, though.
BlackBerry releases its Hub+ apps on Android
Even if Kim K ends up ditching BlackBerry, she could still replicate part of the BB experience with an Android phone. The Canadian phonemaker has released its Hub+ suite of applications on Google Play for devices running Android Marshmallow. BB's Hub shows all your mail and social media notifications in one interface, while the suite as a whole comes with the Calendar app and a password manager. As the company wrote in its announcement post, we once described Hub as the "closest [thing] to [a] universal inbox." The Hub+ used to be exclusive to BlackBerry 10 and to BB's Android phone the Priv, but the company's sluggish sales hinder the software from reaching as many users as possible.
Samsung won me with VR but is losing me with updates
I want to get a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, I really do. I like my Galaxy S6 Edge, with its striking curved screen, and the new model improves on it in nearly every way. Most importantly, I like to dabble in virtual reality -- I'm not ready to commit $700+ to a PC-based headset yet -- and I can still get a new Gear VR headset free with the S7 Edge. Shamefully, though, my S6 Edge hasn't received an update to Android 6.01 Marshmallow, leaving me high and dry with Lollipop. I certainly didn't expect that with a $800 flagship phone, and I refuse to let it happen again.
Android can launch apps based on where you are
Google really wants the apps you use to take the context of where you are into account. Thus Nearby, a feature that uses Bluetooth and your device's GPS to deliver you apps based on where you are. The post on Google's official Android blog gives a few examples of how this might work: printing photos directly from your phone when you're in a CVS Pharmacy or using the Mobile Passport app to duck the customs line at certain airports.
Marshmallow is now on 10 percent of Android devices
The latest version of Android just hit a big, big milestone. Google's early June developer stats have revealed that Marshmallow is now on just over 10 percent of Android devices, representing a huge jump from just 2.3 percent in March. Notably, only some of that surge can be credited to people upgrading from Lollipop. While the not-quite-current version's adoption did go down (to 35.4 percent), the biggest declines in usage were for Jelly Bean and KitKat. In essence: many of those moving to Marshmallow may well have been replacing devices that were 3 or more years old.
Samsung has a new music app for Galaxy users to test
Have a new Galaxy S7 or other Samsung Galaxy device running Android Marshmallow? Then the electronics giant wants you to kick the tires on Samsung Music. I'd explain what it is, but its name does that for me. The music app plays MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC files, however, it's still in beta so it might not run without a hitch. But hey, your horoscope suggested opening yourself up to new things, so you might as well give it a shot.
Lollipop becomes the most popular version of Android
At last, there's a new flavor of Android on top of the heap. Google has published updated stats which show that Lollipop is now the most-used version of Android, snagging 36.1 percent of device share in early March versus former champ KitKat's 34.3 percent. It's a big milestone that suggests many Android users are using a reasonably modern take on the mobile platform.
Pictures of Huawei's dual-camera P9 surface
It seems like just last week we were at Mobile World Congress in Spain checking out all the new phones. Oh wait, that was last week. Then why in the hell didn't Huawei show off the P9 handset there instead of having a leaker steal its thunder? The world may never know, but VentureBeat has photographic evidence of the new handset and some of its key specs, regardless.
Nextbit Robin review: This ambitious 'cloud phone' is beautiful but flawed
The crew at Nextbit is something of an Android phone dream team: Tom Moss used to run Google's Android business, Mike Chan was a longtime Android engineer and Scott Croyle designed phones that made people fall in love with HTC. Is it any wonder, then, that people are curious about the phone they've been working on together? Robin, as the device is called, is more tightly integrated with the cloud than just about any other smartphone, and the creators promise it will change the way we think about managing files on our tiny pocket computers. That's a big plan for a small company, but luckily for them, they mostly pulled it off.
LG's 'Specialist' phones each bring one high-end feature
We still haven't seen all of LG's next premium phone, the G5, but tonight it's unveiling two interesting midrange handsets. Dubbed the Specialist X Series, the X cam and X screen are both fairly basic phones with Android Marshmallow 6.0, quad-core CPUs, 2GB of RAM and a smallish 16GB of storage for what we assume will be a reasonable price. As you can probably guess, each one then brings a extra...special feature.
Valentine's Day sale drops prices on Nexus 6P, 5X
If the earlier price drop for the Nexus 5X wasn't quite enough to make you pull the trigger, you might want to look again. Google has quietly slashed its official store's price on the 5X once again, to $299; we understand that European prices have dropped, too. It's not clear how permanent this cut will be, but it's making the reference Android phone that much more tempting compared to upper-mid-range competition from the likes of Motorola or OnePlus. Just be patient -- we've seen at least some reports that the Nexus 5X is out of stock, so you may have to wait a little while to plunk down some cash. Update: The Google Store listing reveals this is part of a Valentines Day promotion, which also includes a $50 price cut on the (matte gold-only) Nexus 6P. Also, 6P buyers can get an additional $50 off towards the purchase of a Huawei Watch.
Motorola opens up Verizon's Moto X to custom software
When Motorola declared that it wouldn't support Android 6 "Marshmallow" on carrier-locked versions of its nearly-new 2014 Moto X, owners of the $500 flagship phone were rightly pissed. The Lenovo-owned company is at least throwing owners of the Verizon version a bone, though. It's now handing out codes that make it a snap to unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs from the likes of CyanogenMod. However, in a statement on its forums, it added that "unfortunately, we can't do this for devices on other carriers," including AT&T.
Huawei's flagship Mate 8 phone goes global, we go hands-on
Huawei earned a new legion of fans after crafting the surprisingly good Nexus 6P, but its new flagship — the Mate 8 — is a drastically different beast. The company announced at its CES press conference that the Mate 8 will get a global launch, but I've been fiddling with the phone for a few days already. I plan to put it through the wringer by using it all the way through the nightmare that is CES, but one thing is clear even after a few days: Huawei knows how to craft a lovely phone. Now, if only its software chops were as good.
Google Now on Tap gives you flights and related news
Google is apparently bent on stuffing Now on Tap full of features in a short amount of time. On top of adding screenshot support, it's introducing both flight statuses and related news stories to Android Marshmallow's signature search feature. If a friend sends you a flight number, you only have to hold the home key to get that trip's status. And if you find an interesting news piece, Now on Tap will show you more articles covering the same subject. It may take a few days before you see these options popping up on your phone, so don't fret if your queries come up empty for a little while.
Google Now on Tap update helps you take Android screenshots
To take a screenshot on an Android phone so far, you've typically had to press an awkward button combo -- or, worse, use a palm gesture. It's getting much easier, though. Google is pushing a Google search app update for Android that lets Marshmallow users take screenshots using Now on Tap. All you do is invoke Now on Tap and hit a share button to send it to your app of choice. This isn't a straightforward replacement for the hardware command, since it doesn't save images right away (you need to choose a destination first) and has a long delay. However, it's both easier to use and gets rid of the usual notifications mess. If you've ever wanted to show off your home screen or a new app without jumping through hoops, you'll want to upgrade as soon as you can.
CyanogenMod gives select smartphones an Android 6 update option
Lots of folks still don't have Android 6 "Marshmallow" on their shiny new phones, but owners of some older models can now get it from CyanogenMod. The Nexus 7, LG G4, Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, LG G3 Verizon, Moto X 2014 and, yes, the OnePlus One models are all primed to receive a "nightly" version of CyanogenMod 13. There are certain caveats, however. If you're moving from a stable CyanogenMod 12.1 (Android 5.1) version, the team said to prepare yourself for a "dip in quality," due to the fact that nightly releases are considered experimental. Users moving from previous versions will also have to update their Google apps (via OpenGapps, etc.). However, if you're willing to try it you probably already know the risk -- and believe that the bragging rights are worth it.
You get what you pay for with Walmart's $10 Android phone
Walmart is known for its heavily discounted goods, and in another display of price-slashing has just announced that it will sell two Android smartphones for $10 each. Prior to this offer, the cheapest smartphone on the market was the $35 Firefox OS phone. Wondering what you get for $10? Well, not a whole lot. Both TracFone LG handsets (the Sunrise L15G and Lucky LG16) offer low-grade specs and old software, running Android 4.4 KitKat, the version released two years ago. However for that price, you shouldn't expect them to run Marshmallow. You also get WiFi, but no 4G and no front-facing camera which means it's going to be a lot harder to take a selfie. On the plus side, the phones support a microSD card which means you can ramp up the measly 4GB of storage. With all that said, there's no clear difference between the two models as all the specs and software are the same. However, if you want a bare-bones yet functional smartphone for less than the price of dinner, we're sure you know where to find a Walmart. [Image credit: LG]
