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Google Assistant begins rollout to more Android phones as device requirements specified
Announced at MWC over the weekend, Google Assistant is officially rolling out to more Android phones starting today. Beyond needing Android Marshmallow or Nougat, Google has also specified some other device requirements.
The $50 NOOK tablet features Android’s adoptable storage, here’s how to set it up
Earlier today we showed you the Barnes and Noble NOOK 7″, a new competitor to Amazon’s popular $50 Fire Tablet. So far, we’re pretty impressed with what we’re seeing, but as we dig in further, we’re finding more and more about this tablet that continues to make us ask the question: how is this only $50?
ASUS announces US availability for ZenFone 3 and ZenWatch 3
ASUS first launched the ZenFone 3 lineup quite a while ago, and first mentioned its new ZenWatch 3 at IFA last month. But it wasn’t until now that we had any information on when any of these devices would launch in the US. It looks like all of the ZenFone 3 variants are now up for pre-order on ASUS’ website (watch assumably coming soon), and should be shipping within the month…
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow now rolling out to the OnePlus X
Starting today, the OnePlus X will begin to receive an over the air update to OxygenOS 3.1.3 which brings with it Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Although the company released a community build that brought the updated firmware to the OnePlus X about a month ago, this is this first stable build to roll-out to customers…
Marshmallow reaches 18.7%, Nougat below 0.1% in September Android distribution numbers
Released at the tail end of last month, Nougat has yet to be installed on enough devices to register in September’s Android distribution numbers. Meanwhile, Marshmallow continues its steady adoption at 18.7%, while all other versions are in decline.
First Nougat security patch rolling out with September update, factory images and OTAs now available
The first Android security patches for Nougat devices are rolling out now as part of the September security update. With Google having yet to upload the Android 7.0 factory images for some Nexus devices, there are several patches for Marshmallow.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow is making its way to the Asus ZenFone 2
Asus announced in a blog post today that Android 6.0 Marshmallow will finally be rolling out to the ZenFone 2. Although this update comes almost a year after Marshmallow was released, this update will bring familiar features such as Google Now on Tap, application permissions, and Doze to one of the best budget phones of 2015.
AT&T begins Android Marshmallow rollout for the Samsung Galaxy S5
As is usual at this point, AT&T and Samsung have begun pushing out yet another update to last year’s Android version… almost exactly a year late. This time it’s at least to a relatively older phone, the ye ol’ flagship Samsung Galaxy S5…
Review: Sony Xperia X Performance is a more expensive version of a too-expensive phone
I’m already late to the game on this one, but now seemed just as good a time as ever to share some of my thoughts on Sony’s mid-2016 flagship performer. Basically, this is the Xperia X with a Snapdragon 820. We already gave you our full review of the Xperia X, and most of what we said there rings true with this phone. It’s a nice handset with a high-quality build and all the features you would expect from a smartphone. Here’s what stands out to me about this version of the device, though…
XDA developer working on porting Android to the Windows Phone-powered Lumia 520 & 525 [Video]
Microsoft’s efforts to get Windows Phone off the ground have never been very successful, but there’s one thing it was very good at, cheap phones. When an Android phone costs $100 we are all impressed, but back in 2013 Microsoft and Nokia turned heads with the insanely cheap Lumia 520. That little phone later proved to be one of the most popular Windows Phone devices ever, and now a developer over on XDA has hacked Android onto it and its successor.
OnePlus releases first build of Android Marshmallow for OnePlus X
OnePlus’ lower-end and budget-er OnePlus X has drawn the short stick when it comes to software updates, but now the company has finally released — after almost a year being stuck on Lollipop — the phone’s first build of OxygenOS based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow…
Huawei’s glass-backed, dual-camera, & well-specced Honor 8 is officially coming to the US
Huawei-owned Honor has today announced that the phone it announced for China last month — the Honor 8 — is coming to the United States. Following up on the budget Honor 5X that marked the company’s first phone for the US earlier this year, Honor is now introducing a glass-backed phone at a middle-of-the-road price and specs that are definitely on the higher end…
Marshmallow now over 15% in August Android distribution numbers
Following Marshmallow’s biggest jump last month, Android 6.0 is now on 15.2% of all Android devices according to the August distribution numbers. With Nougat near release, Marshmallow is likely going to be eclipsed as the newest version of Android in next month’s data.
BlackBerry to make its Hub available to all Android Marshmallow-powered devices
We live in an era of information overload, there’s no doubt about that, and with all the apps and services we use constantly asking for our attention it has become easier than ever to feel as if we were drowning in way too many communication services.
BlackBerry has been working on a solution to this problem for Android users, which it is officially announcing today…
August security patch for Nexus devices rolling out, factory images and OTAs now available
Several leaks over the weekend suggested that the Android Security Bulletin would be released on August 5th this month. While the patch date may be set to this Friday, the Nexus factory images and OTAs are already rolling out. Like in July, there are two sets of security bugs as part of the August security bulletin.
Marshmallow sees biggest jump yet in July Android distribution numbers
Finally passing 10% last month, Android Marshmallow continues to grow in this month’s distribution numbers. At 13.3%, the 8-month old operating system has yet to surpass any individual version of Lollipop or even KitKat. Hopefully, Android 7.0 Nougat will fare significantly better this time next year.
Comment: With a single update, Huawei just re-established Honor 5X as a great budget option
The Huawei-made Honor 5X has topped our picks for a budget smartphone for quite some time, however there have always been some caveats. The heavy software skin atop Android on this device has never been great, but just last week Huawei rolled out a major update to the Honor 5X with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and EMUI 4.0 in tow. While there isn’t a lot on the surface that has changed, this one update has made the Honor 5X a much better budget smartphone.
Honor 5X now receiving Android Marshmallow and EMUI 4.0
The Honor 5X has received a lot of press spotlight this year as a great budget Android offering from Chinese company Huawei, and now it’s finally receiving something else: Android Marshmallow…
July security patch for Nexus devices rolling out, factory images and OTAs now available
Update 7/11: July’s security patch for the Pixel C is now available. Download the factory image and OTA now.
The Android Security Bulletin is usually released the first Monday of every month. With July 4th being a holiday, it was assumed that the patches would be available next week. However, Nexus factory images and OTAs with patches for a large number of vulnerabilities are actually available today.
PSA: AT&T’s Galaxy S6 Active now receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow
AT&T is today beginning its rollout of Android 6.0 Marshmallow to the Galaxy S6 active. The phone is the latest to receive the latest version of Google’s mobile OS, which was first announced in the summer of 2015…
The best Android phones you can buy [July 2016]
It’s already July, and with an ever-increasing number of notable Android OEMs reaching maturity, we’ve seen more new handsets than usual launch this summer. We had the Huawei Mate 8 and Honor 5X at CES in January, followed later by Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge and others around the time of Mobile World Congress, and last month saw the new OnePlus 3 and Moto Z. But which ones are the best buys?…
Android 6.0 Marshmallow is finally available on the AT&T Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+
If you need another reason why Google should release its internal OEM and carrier rankings, look at AT&T’s rollout of Android Marshmallow for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+. The update is only now hitting customer devices after it’s been available on Verizon and Sprint for three months.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1 update brings professional audio and split navigation button
Android has long had issues with audio latency that resulted in a lack of audio editing apps. To remedy this, Marshmallow introduced a professional audio requirement last year. Now, NVIDIA’s Shield Tablet K1 meets those requirements thanks to a software update currently rolling out.