I’m a writer for 9to5Google with a background in IT and Android development. While I have a soft spot for stock Android, I’m typically juggling two to three devices at once running both Android and iOS. My previous work can be seen on Phandroid, Android Central, and AndroidMeter. Email me at justin@jaduino.com. Tips are always welcome.
Today we found out that by just installing an APK onto the Samsung Galaxy S8, you could “replace” the preinstalled navigation buttons with another OEM’s design. While this technique doesn’t actually remove Samsung’s keys, it does allow users to make them appear like stock Android’s. Is there a particular company’s navigation buttons that you like most?
The Huawei Mate 9 was one of the best smartphone values of 2016, and after its US release in January, we believed it to be the best alternative at the time to the Google Pixel. Here are five cases that we’ve taken a look at over the last few months, ranging from straight protection from bumps and scratches all the way to a case that’s waterproof…
For the last couple of days, there has been rumors and speculation floating around that LeEco might be letting go of some of its staff. A report came out yesterday saying that roughly 80 percent of the US-based hires could be cut. LeEco followed that up by officially laying off 70 percent of its staff due to a “lack of funding” so now we’re curious… Did you ever purchase any of LeEco’s products?
Love it or hate it, when you use Google Cast to cast content to your big screen, a notification usually pops up on every Android device on the network. While this is great because it allows you to quickly pause, mute, or stop the media from playing, it also allows troublesome roommates and significant others to mess with you. Now, Google is allowing you to turn these notifications off.
In the enterprise world, IT administrators are always working on ways to keep networks secure. One way they do this is by giving employees hardware that is managed by the IT department, running software that has specific policies in place. With the new Chrome enterprise bundle, Chrome can now also be better managed, with new tools to make it work better in enterprise environments…
The smartphone has basically become a human appendage. Not only is it always in people’s hands or pockets, it stores all of our banking information, photos, and private messages. To protect them, companies like Samsung offer biometric security features like iris scanning to unlock phones. While it might seem secure, a hacker just proved how easy it is to bypass Samsung’s iris scanner…
Over the last couple of years, Google I/O has become less of a spectacle where people are literally skydiving onto the top of the Moscone Center and more of a place for Google to talk directly to developers. Because of this, people have started calling Google dull. Do you think that this year’s Google I/O developer conference was boring?
Nest, an Alphabet-owned company, is known for its high-tech smart home devices — like its thermostat and smoke detector. In particular its descendants-of-Dropcam home WiFi security cameras have been popular for the last couple years, thanks to being extremely user-friendly. Now, Nest is reportedly prepping to release a 4K indoor security camera to add a new option to the top of the lineup…
Google I/O 2017 might have ended last week but if you missed any of it, don’t worry as Google has now posted its yearly highlight video to showcase the best things to happen at this year’s developer conference…
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are arguably two of the best Android smartphones on the market, but unlike other major handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6, there aren’t that many cases out there for it. Today, there’s another option on the market as mophie, a well-known battery accessory company, has announced the availability of a battery case for the Pixel XL…
One of the best features tucked away in the Chrome browser for Android application is the ability to create shortcuts to your favorite websites as well as web apps and have them placed onto your home screen. With Android O, these shortcuts take advantage of the OS’s new adaptive icons feature and add a background layer to the website’s logo…
It has been over six years since the start of the Syrian Crisis, and it doesn’t look like it is going to get any better any time soon. Because of everything happening in the country, many have turned to Google to ask about the crisis, the country, and the refugees. To answer all of these questions and more, Google has partnered with UNHCR to create Searching for Syria…
Although Google Photos is all about backing up all of your photographs to the cloud, Google announced that you can now turn your favorite memories into photo books. This feature was enabled online right after its announcement, but it now looks like the feature is rolling out to the Google Photos app on Android.
One struggle felt by all developers is getting users to pay for mobile applications. This issue affects developers creating $0.99 games as well as those coding $5 photo editing applications. To make up for lost revenue, developers have turned to using in-app purchases as well as subscription-based models. To make subscriptions a more viable option for companies and individual developers alike, Google has introduced several new tools within the Google Play Console…
The Samsung Chromebook Pro, the higher-spec version of the Chromebook Plus that we reviewed earlier this year, is finally coming to the market. After first showing up on Amazon for pre-order last week, Samsung has now confirmed that the long-awaited Chromebook will be available for purchase on May 28th…
When Google announced that the Android O Beta Program was being opened during the I/O 2017 keynote, I immediately went and enrolled my Pixel XL. For me personally, I end up running buggy software even on my daily drivers just so that I can have the latest and greatest ASAP. To my surprise, though, Android O Developer Preview 2 is actually quite stable and enjoyable.
But don’t just take my word for it, below are comments from several other 9to5Google authors with their thoughts on Android O after using it for several days…
At I/O 2017, Google announced that it would be rolling out the second Developer Preview build of Android O and along with it, the O Beta Program. Just like with Android Nougat’s Beta Program, you enroll in the program online and shortly after, Google will send an OTA update to your registered device. Here’s the how to enroll and unenroll in that program…
This past week at I/O 2017, Google finally introduced a long-awaited and requested feature for Google Assistant: keyboard input. Although it is already quick and easy to trigger Assistant with your voice and ask a question, you couldn’t use it when in a quiet environment. Now that keyboard should be rolling out to all, which form of input do you prefer using?
Google I/O 2017 has now wrapped up, but before it did, someone made sure to ask the Android development team about Google’s Fuchsia OS. The question was passed over to Dave Burke, Android’s VP of Engineering, who stated that Fuchsia was being developed independently from Android…
Android Auto is arguably one of the best in-dash systems on the market, especially compared to the receivers that come pre-installed in some new cars. Thankfully, if your new car’s entertainment system doesn’t include Android Auto, you can swap it out for a number of Pioneer aftermarket units. Plus, Pioneer has just announced three new in-dash receivers that are more budget friendly…
Today is day three of I/O 2017, and that means that we are nearing the end of this year’s Google developer conference. So far we have seen the company announce new features coming to Android, VR, a bunch of new tools for developers to help them make great apps, and much more.
However, if you missed any of the keynotes or sessions, don’t worry at all because Google recorded every single one of them so that you can go back and watch them when you’re ready…
Last weekend, Netflix was in the news because the company made it so that rooted devices and those with unlocked bootloaders could no longer download the application. Netflix quickly confirmed that it would start blocking the installation of the app from the Play Store for devices that didn’t pass Google’s Safety Net. Now, Google has updated the Google Play Console to make it easier for all developers to do the same thing…
For years now, Google’s emoji have stood out from the crowd because they didn’t share the typical round design seen on other smartphones. Many called these emoji “blobs” because of their shape and it was pretty hit or miss as far as if someone liked them. Now that they have been updated in Android O, do you miss them or are the new emoji better?
Update: After several of our staff updated, it appears that Android Pay is fully working for some, but not all. Two of us previously had our credit and debit cards set up in the mobile wallet, and they appear to be working fine. But for one of us and the individual who didn’t previously have a card setup, the application won’t let them add their cards to the application.
Alongside the unveiling of several new features coming to Android O, Google announced that it would be pushing out the second build of the developer preview. This meant that the program was now in beta and people could enroll to have new beta builds sent to them via OTA updates. A day later and now Pixel and Nexus owners are receiving another update…