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Avatar for Stephen Hall

Stephen Hall

stephenjhall

Stephen is Growth Director at 9to5. You can find his current work at 9to5Mac, 9to5Google 9to5Toys, Electrek, and more. If you want to get in touch, follow me on Twitter. Or, email at stephen (at) 9to5mac (dot) com, or an encrypted email at hallstephenj (at) protonmail (dot) com.

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Here’s everything that’s new in Android ‘M’ developer preview 2 [Gallery]

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 9 2015 - 7:37 pm PT
3 Comments

Screenshot_20150709-205436

It was back at Google I/O 2015 that the company released the first developer preview of the upcoming Android M, and now, right on cue, the company has released the second developer preview. Just like we did with the initial release of M, it’s time to dissect developer preview 2 and really figure out what kind of progress the Android engineers over in Mountain View have been making over the last few weeks. And based on our initial impression, it looks like a lot has changed — and for the better…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Asus ZenWatch $150, New LG G4 (unlocked) $500, 802.11ac Router (refurb) $30, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 9 2015 - 12:33 pm PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

ASUS-ZenWatch-03

Asus ZenWatch Android Wear (Silver / Rose Gold / Brown): $150 shipped (Reg. $200) | Newegg

LG G4-970-80

LG G4 brand new smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

dir-850l-3d-box

Networking: D-Link 802.11ac Wireless Router (refurb) $30 (Orig. $130), TP-LINK AV500 Powerline Kit $30 (Orig. $60), more

motorola-moto-360-champagne

Champagne Motorola Moto 360 18mm Android Wear: $230 shipped (Reg. $330) | Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7 - Best Buy 2015-02-19 11-54-02

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T230 7″ White 8 GB: $100 shipped (Reg. $200) | GameStop

s6

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

jbl-charge-clip-bluetooth-speakers

Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package designed for outdoor activity

HERO4 Session (PRNewsFoto/GoPro)

GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera is the size of an ice cube with an iceberg-sized price

amazon-prime-day

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

More new gear from today:

amex-express-checkout

American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it out

More deals still alive:

wd-elements-2tb

WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive $70, Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD $150, more

gopro-hero4-silver

GoPro HERO4 Action Cameras: Silver $350 shipped (Reg. $400), Black $399 shipped (Reg. $500)

New products & more:

dot-bluetooth-kickstarter

Dot is the “world’s smallest” set of Bluetooth earphones with a battery life to match

slip-cup-beer-pong-kickstarter

Slip Cup Beer Pong inserts keep your balls clean and your cups full

mega-man-capcom-helmet

Capcom’s official life-size Mega Man helmet includes working LED lights

OnePlus 2 will be smaller than OnePlus One, have larger 3,300 mAh battery

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 9 2015 - 10:19 am PT
0 Comments
qdWzOZV

OnePlus One with a OnePlus 2 underneath

OnePlus held an AMA on Reddit this morning, and actually used the opportunity to give us some more details about the upcoming handset. According to various OnePlus team members (who did indeed verify themselves), the phone will have a slightly larger 3,300 mAh battery (up from 3,100 mAh of the OnePlus One), while the physical size of the phone will actually be moderately smaller than that of its predecessor…
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LG G4 Beat is a mid-range G4 variant with a Snapdragon 615 SoC, 1080p IPS display

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 9 2015 - 7:32 am PT
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The LG G4 has definitely been one of the most widely-loved Android flagships this year, and now LG has introducing a mid-range variant of the device to be launched in Europe, Latin America, and other non-US markets. The LG G4 Beat packs the same form-factor as its much more powerful older brother, but has specs that make set it apart as a completely different device intended for a different audience…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Gold Moto 360 $200, GoPro HERO4 $350, Sony 128GB SDXC Memory Card $40, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 8 2015 - 12:47 pm PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

motorola-moto-360-champagne

Champagne Motorola Moto 360 18mm Android Wear: $200 shipped (Reg. $330)

gopro-hero4-silver

GoPro HERO4 Action Cameras: Silver $350 shipped (Reg. $400), Black $399 shipped (Reg. $500)

sony-128gb-memory-card

Sony 128GB SDXC Class 10 Memory Card: $40 shipped (Reg. $65+)

Android smartphone cases for Samsung S6:Edge, S5 and others from $2 shipped | 9to5Toys 2015-07-08 14-47-04

Android smartphone cases for Samsung S6/Edge, S5 and others from $2 shipped

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7 - Best Buy 2015-02-19 11-54-02

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T230 7″ White 8 GB: $100 shipped (Reg. $200) | GameStop

s6

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

 

jbl-charge-clip-bluetooth-speakers

Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package designed for outdoor activity

HERO4 Session (PRNewsFoto/GoPro)

GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera is the size of an ice cube with an iceberg-sized price

amazon-prime-day

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

More new gear from today:

wd-elements-2tb

WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive $70, Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD $150, more

More deals still alive:

 

hootoo-wireless-router

HooToo TripMate portable router w/ 6000mAh power bank: $33 Prime Shipped (Reg. $45)

 

New products & more:

palette-modular-system

Palette puts Adobe’s Creative Suite in the palm of your hands with its new modular control surface

rayman-adventures-ios-android-new-011

Ubisoft unveils the debut trailer for its new Rayman Adventures mobile game

Google’s Messenger 1.4 lets you send animated stickers, quickly share your location

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 8 2015 - 9:27 am PT
1 Comment

Google has today updated its default Messenger app to version 1.4, bringing some minor enhancements along the way. In the new version, you’ll find you can now send cute little animated stickers as well as more easily send your location to others…
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Google Glass ‘Enterprise Edition’ brings new larger prism, Intel Atom CPU, optional external battery pack

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 8 2015 - 6:06 am PT
3 Comments
google-glass-stock-image

Google Glass Explorer Edition

We told you last week that Google is internally referring to its next iteration of Google Glass as “Enterprise Edition” or “EE,” and now we’ve uncovered information about the soon-to-be-launched device’s hardware. According to several sources familiar with advanced prototypes of the device, the Enterprise Edition includes a larger prism display, as well as an Intel Atom processor that brings better performance and moderately improved battery life…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy Tab 4 $100, WD 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $70, Galaxy S6 $500, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 7 2015 - 12:42 pm PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7 - Best Buy 2015-02-19 11-54-02

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T230 7″ White 8 GB: $100 shipped (Reg. $200) | GameStop

wd-elements-2tb

WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive $70, Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD $150, more

s6

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

hero-GalaxyNote34-devices-D-1

25% off many Galaxy Note 4 and Note 3 cases at OtterBox w/ free shipping

jbl-charge-clip-bluetooth-speakers

Review: JBL’s new Charge 2+ and Clip+ deliver big sound in a portable Bluetooth package designed for outdoor activity

 

HERO4 Session (PRNewsFoto/GoPro)

GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera is the size of an ice cube with an iceberg-sized price

amazon-prime-day

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

More new gear from today:
denon-avr-s700w-7-2-channel-network-av-receiver-with-bluetooth-and-wi-fi

Daily Deals: Denon 7.2-Ch Network A/V Receiver $299, Logitech Spill Proof Bluetooth keyboard (refurb) $25, more

rayman-adventures-ios-android-new-011Ubisoft unveils the debut trailer for its new Rayman Adventures mobile game

More deals still alive:

sandisk-connect-32gb

SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive: 32GB $40 (Reg. $80), 64GB $55 (Reg. $120)

logitech-mx-master

Logitech Master MX Wireless Mouse $87 shipped (Reg. $100)

 

New products & more:

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Must-have gear to take on summer concerts and festivals like a pro

samsung-850-pro

Samsung takes the wraps off a pair of monstrous 2TB internal solid-state drives

Sony Mobile CEO: Cash flow is ‘very healthy,’ no plans to leave the smartphone business

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 7 2015 - 8:49 am PT
0 Comments

sonyxperiaz4_1024-x-640

Following news of intense mobile unit layoffs and more than underwhelming 2014 results, rumors began spreading that Sony Mobile had plans to essentially shutter its smartphone business. These were proven false for the time being when the company launched its Xperia Z4 handset (and the subsequent Xperia Z4v for Verizon stateside), but now Sony Mobile CEO Hiroki Totoki has come out (via Arabian Business) to further reiterate that it has no plans to leave the smartphone business…
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Google Glass for Work partner CrowdOptic in acquisition talks w/ Fortune 500 firm

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 7 2015 - 8:03 am PT
0 Comments

google-glass

CrowdOptic is one of the most well-established of the 10 current Glass for Work parters, and now the company is in acquisition talks. According to people familiar with the matter, the company has been in advanced discussions with a Fortune 500 firm that intends to build software applications for the upcoming iteration of enterprise-focused Google Glass hardware…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Galaxy S6 (unlocked) $500, Belkin WeMo devices $31+, Samsung 64GB SDXC $30, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 6 2015 - 12:48 pm PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

s6

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $500 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

wemo-light-switch

Amazon Gold Box – up to 38% off Belkin WeMo devices with prices starting at $31 Prime shipped (Reg. $50)

samsung-sdxc-card-deal

Samsung 64GB PRO Class 10 Memory: SDXC $30 shipped (Reg. $46+), microSD $38 shipped (Reg. $47)

sennheiser-momentum-over-ear-headphones-sale-01

Sennheiser Momentum headphones: on-ears $70 (Reg. $80+), over-ears (open-box) $120 (Reg. $170), more

HERO4 Session (PRNewsFoto/GoPro)

GoPro’s new HERO4 Session waterproof action camera is the size of an ice cube with an iceberg-sized price

amazon-prime-day

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

More new gear from today:

sandisk-connect-32gb

SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive: 32GB $40 (Reg. $80), 64GB $55 (Reg. $120)

da-inquisition-sale-01

Games/Apps: Dragon Age Inquisition $30, Logitech Optical Gaming Mouse $30 (Reg. $70), iOS freebies, more

Daily Deals: CyberPower 1500VA/900-Watt UPS $98, Google Chromecast $25 w/ pick up, more

More deals still alive:

logitech-mx-master

Logitech Master MX Wireless Mouse $87 shipped (Reg. $100)

 

New products & more:star-wars-battlefront

Amazon is now treating its Prime members to extra savings on new/upcoming video game

Site default logo image

You can use this Chrome extension to hide 2016 election coverage

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 6 2015 - 9:35 am PT
1 Comment

2016 Election - CNNPolitics.com 2015-07-06 11-33-16

If you’re not located in the United States or you simply already have your mind set on a candidate, you might be interested in dodging media coverage of the 2016 election completely. And if you’re a Chrome user, you’re in luck. Thanks to a new extension hilariously named “I haven’t got time for the ‘Paign”, you can completely clean all of your favorite news and social media sites of any mention of 2016 American politics.
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Future YotaPhone handsets will have Sailfish OS instead of Android

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 4 2015 - 7:26 am PT
7 Comments

YotaPhone :: 2015-03-04 10-21-30

Update: While we can’t verify the authenticity of this quote, it seems that Yahoo News might be wrong..

We do not have any ongoing development of Jolla version of YotaPhone. I can’t say how things will turn in the future. Maybe Sailfish will obtain a certain market share as mobile OS.

At this point of time, we are fully committed to Android and recently migrated our customer base to 5.0 and working on the next generation of Android OS.

Yota, the Russian company behind the dual-screened YotaPhone, has reportedly decided (via Yahoo News) to no longer pack Google’s Android on its future handsets. Instead, the phone maker will be going with Jolla’s Sailfish, a spin-off of Nokia’s former MeeGo Linux distribution. Sailfish, which was built by many of the same engineers that worked on MeeGo, reportedly beat out Samsung’s Tizen in Yota’s search for an Android alternative…
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Google Chrome for Android hits 1 billion installs

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 3 2015 - 1:54 pm PT
1 Comment

google_Chrome_android

Not many apps have managed to hit 1 billion installs on the Play Store, but today another has been added to the list. Facebook Messenger became the 10th app to hit 1 billion installs early last month, Google Hangouts managed to hit the same milestone just a couple weeks ago, and now Google Chrome is following suit to become the 12th app to hit 1 billion.

Not many apps have reached this number, and third-party apps from Zuckerberg and Co. are the only outside of Google to do it. Only three, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, have managed to see this many users. As you might expect, other popular Google-made apps like Google Maps and Gmail passed 1 billion a while ago.

(via Android Police)

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto E 2014 $45 on VZW or $100 unlocked, HP Chromebook 14 $250, LG freebies, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 3 2015 - 12:47 pm PT
1 Comment

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Motorola-Moto-E-20151

Verizon Wireless Prepaid Moto E 4G w/ 8GB flash: $45 shipped (Reg. $70) | Best Buy

Motorola Moto E 2nd Generation 4G LTE (unlocked): $100 shipped (Reg. $150) | Amazon

hp-chromebook-14-new-version-snow-white

HP Chromebook 14 (14-x013dx) 2.3GHz/2GB/16GB: $249 shipped (Reg. $299)

LG G4 Genuine Leather Back Phone Cover | LG USA 2015-07-02 19-36-45

LG offering free leather back, battery, charger to LG G4 buyers

usb-3-1-type-c-vinsic-hi-speed-usb-3-1-type-c-to-standard-type-a-usb-3-sale-01

USB-C cables $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $11), Anker 16,000mAh + Anker 3,200mAh Power Banks $37 shipped ($20 off)

thomas_s-musical-day-for-percy-free-01

Google’s Family Friendly Free App of the Week: Thomas’s Musical Day for Percy (Reg. $5)

9835147_sd

Asus ZenWatch silver/rose gold/brown: $150 shipped (Reg. $200) | ASUS

owen-fred-leather-pad

LAST CHANCE! Giveaway: Owen & Fred’s Desk Essentials collection ups your work game while looking good, $250+ value

Review: Logitech’s Anywhere 2 Bluetooth mouse shines w/ adaptive scrolling

Review: MPOW’s pocketable iStick is the best Bluetooth selfie stick you can buy today

More new gear from today:

logitech-mx-master

Logitech Master MX Wireless Mouse $87 shipped (Reg. $100)

splatoon-nintendo

Games/Apps: Wii U bundle w/ Power A Gamer Kit $275, Car Club Tuning Storm free, more iOS freebies

Get access to every Nintendo 3DS game for only $65 shipped w/ this refurbished 2DS deal

seagate-backup-plus-8tb-desktop-external-hard-drive-with-200gb-of-cloud-storage-mobile-device-backup-usb-3-0-stdt8000100

Daily Deals: Seagate 8TB Backup Plus USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $230, HP Chromebook 14 $249, more

More deals still alive:

 

New products & more:

sony-bluetooth-speakers-2

Sony’s three new Bluetooth/AirPlay compatible speakers with price tags to match

 

The next Google Glass is ‘Enterprise Edition,’ expanded testing later this year

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 3 2015 - 11:43 am PT
0 Comments

Wearable Intelligence 2015-07-03 12-51-39

We told you yesterday about a new device that passed through the FCC—codenamed GG1—and many have speculated that it’s the next generation of the Google Glass hardware. While it’s often suggested that the device is soon going to get some iterative Explorer Edition overhaul and see its first official consumer launch, it’s much more probable that Google is first going to push this hardware toward the one place it has seen success: the enterprise market.

As we reported earlier this year, there are many different prototypes of a future Glass hardware revision being tested within some Glass for Work startups. We’ve come to learn from people familiar with the matter that the next hardware is being referred to by Google internally as “Enterprise Edition” or “Google Glass EE” (If you remember, Explorer Edition was referred to as “Google Glass XE”)…
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HTC’s new ads have the One M9 winning three ‘blind test’ battles (Video)

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 3 2015 - 8:50 am PT
2 Comments

Battle of the smartphones blind test – Selfie - YouTube 2015-07-03 10-47-14

HTC is really struggling to sell its One M9 flagship, and personally, I don’t think that today’s new ads are going to help it very much. The company has released three new spots to show off some features of the One M9—selfies, sound, and speed—through “blind test” videos, comparing the handset to the iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6. Of course, the M9 wins in all three tests…
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Image of forthcoming ‘Venice’ Android-based BlackBerry slider phone leaks out

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 3 2015 - 7:18 am PT
2 Comments

CI_sS-hWoAAvffK

Evan came out last night to post an image of what looks to be a BlackBerry Passport running Android, and many were confused thinking it was the rumored slider phone coming to AT&T. Well, that picture was “just a Passport” according to Blass, and now he has posted a press render he says is indeed Venice, the phone that Reuters told us about in a report early last month…


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OnePlus’ Google Cardboard viewer is now available for $0 + shipping

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 3 2015 - 6:56 am PT
1 Comment

contest01_forum

One of the biggest reasons of going with cardboard for Google Cardboard was to get these viewers into the hands of as many people as possible. But while many vendors are selling their Cardboard viewers for around $20 (and up), OnePlus has decided to sell its new viewer—which will help you watch the VR launch of the company’s next handset—for just $0 plus shipping. And it’s available now.


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This might be our first look at BlackBerry’s Android smartphone (Update)

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 2 2015 - 5:56 pm PT
0 Comments

CI8z7k5WsAAA9IP

Update: As I thought, this isn’t the slider. It’s just a Passport.

Evan Blass just can’t stop. Earlier today he came out on Twitter to say that BlackBerry’s Android-powered “Venice” smartphone is on its way to AT&T, and now he has shared an image of what looks to be some kind of BlackBerry device running Google’s mobile operating system.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Free LG G4 accessories, USB-C cables $8, Family Friendly Free App of the Week, more

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 2 2015 - 5:38 pm PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

LG G4 Genuine Leather Back Phone Cover | LG USA 2015-07-02 19-36-45

LG offering free leather back, battery, charger to LG G4 buyers

usb-3-1-type-c-vinsic-hi-speed-usb-3-1-type-c-to-standard-type-a-usb-3-sale-01

USB-C cables $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $11), Anker 16,000mAh + Anker 3,200mAh Power Banks $37 shipped ($20 off)

thomas_s-musical-day-for-percy-free-01

Google’s Family Friendly Free App of the Week: Thomas’s Musical Day for Percy (Reg. $5)

9835147_sd

Asus ZenWatch silver/rose gold/brown: $150 shipped (Reg. $200) | ASUS

wooden-american-flag-diy

Add creative decorations to your 4th of July picnic and save money w/ these easy do-it-yourself projects

The best lawn games to make your 4th of July cookout a success

Look like a real American hero at your 4th of July BBQ with this over-the-top USA garb

owen-fred-leather-pad

LAST CHANCE! Giveaway: Owen & Fred’s Desk Essentials collection ups your work game while looking good, $250+ value

Review: Logitech’s Anywhere 2 Bluetooth mouse shines w/ adaptive scrolling

Review: MPOW’s pocketable iStick is the best Bluetooth selfie stick you can buy today

More new gear from today:

bose-solo-tv-sound-system

Daily Deals: Bose Solo TV Sound System $230, Samsung 40″ LED 1080p Smart HDTV $490, more

More deals still alive:

powerbeats2-wireless

Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones (multiple colors): $140 shipped (Reg. $200)

 

New products & more:

 

garmin-radar-system

Garmin’s Varia radar and lights system alert bicyclists of approaching traffic

The next Android Wear update might be coming July 28th

Avatar for Stephen Hall Jul 2 2015 - 2:55 pm PT
0 Comments

ASUS-ZenWatch-03

Google announced the last major Android Wear update in late April, and that update only just about a week ago started hitting the Moto 360. But that doesn’t mean it’s not almost time for another update to the Mountain View company’s smartwatch flavor of Android. According to the well-connected Derek Ross, Google has another update in the pipeline, and it’s scheduled to be released on July 28th.

There’s no telling what the update might include, but it doesn’t seem likely that it will be any kind of massive overhaul. Rather than introducing a major new version each year as Google has been doing with Android for several years, Android Wear seems to be getting much more iterative updates slowly over time. Derek says that he will have more information to share about the update at some point “soon.”

Until then, don’t get too excited.