This week’s top stories: Hands-on w/ new Android O features, Android 7.1.2 beta 2, Galaxy S8 leaks, app updates & more

In this week’s top stories: Hands-on with the new Android O features, Android 7.1.2 beta 2, Galaxy S8 leaks, app updates and much more. 

We kick things off this week with our look at everything in the first Android O developer preview as we go hands-on with some of the new user-facing features. The latest Galaxy S8 leaks arrive showing the a blue metal frame and rumored pricing leaks along with new images of four unique colors. And Samsung unveils its context-aware ‘Bixby’ AI assistant ahead of the official S8 launch.

Google details its Talk transition, SMS removal for Hangouts, and other G Suite changes. The Google search app gets new features alongside other new apps and updates. And we take a look at everything new in Android 7.1.2 beta 2.

These and the rest of this week’s top stories below:

Android |

• The Pixel’s camera is powered by software that originated at Google X with Glass
• Google Pixel XL 5 months later: The ups and downs of owning Google’s first proper flagship
• Google has fixed the Bluetooth shutdown issue on the Pixel, Pixel XL w/ ‘server-side changes’
• Second public beta of Android 7.1.2 rolling out to Pixel and Nexus devices
• Here’s everything new in the first Android O developer preview [Gallery]

Galaxy S8 |

• Latest leaks give best look yet at the Samsung Galaxy S8 and its weird aspect ratio [Gallery + Video]
• New image depicts the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ with blue metal frame
• Potential Galaxy S8 pricing leaks along with new images of its four unique colors

Apps |

• Google app’s ‘Recent’ feature provides a visual layout of your search history, rolling out now
• Google details Talk transition, SMS removal for Hangouts, other G Suite changes
• Samsung unveils its context-aware ‘Bixby’ AI assistant ahead of Galaxy S8 launch
• Google’s search app now gives you quick access to its various web apps [Video]

This week’s top videos |

• Hands-on with Android O’s new user-facing features [Video]
• Here’s everything new in Android 7.1.2 beta 2 [Video]

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