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Mandrake Linux creator working on new fork of Android without Google services and apps

Alexandra Arici
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Once upon a time, Cyanogen Inc. partnered up with smartphone manufacturer BLU for a phone that should have landed on the market without any of Google’s popular apps baked-in.

Unfortunately, the product never became a reality and Cyanogen Inc. fell apart in 2016 after spending three years attempting to make Android ROMs into a viable business and dreaming of “putting a bullet through Google’s head”.

Well, you might not be surprised to hear that the dream in question is very much alive. In the heart and mind of Mandrake Linux founder, Gaël Duval who is apparently currently developing an open source version of Android called eelo.

Duval’s take on Android is currently in its infancy – at this point it’s merely a forked version of LineageOS with a custom app launcher and apps. But eelo still has a long way to go before becoming a fully-fledged product.

Duval has outlined his vision concerning the open source alternative in a series of articles. The main idea is to replace Google’s own services with third-party alternatives. Instead of the Google Play Store, eelo will use F-Droid and APKPure, Google Maps will been replaced with OpenStreetMaps and NextCloud/OwnCloud will probably take the place of Google Drive.

For those wondering why Dual doesn’t just use LineageOS, he explains that while the core of ASOP/LineageOS is usable and performing well, it’s lacking in certain areas. For example, the design quite unattractive. Wht’s more, he claims LineageOS is not realistically usable if you don’t want Google inside.

Duval has created a Kickstarter campaign page for eelo, so if you’re interested in supporting the cause or simply curious to find out more details, go ahead and visit the website.

OnePlus 6 rumored to arrive as early as March 2018 with in-display fingerprint sensor

Alexandra Arici
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Well, well, well the OnePlus 5T has barely been around for 2 months and we’re already seeing the first OnePlus 6 rumors appear.

A new report coming from GizmoChina claims the OnePlus 6 might come earlier next year. Traditionally, OnePlus unveils a new flagship in summer, but if the sources speaking to the publication are correct, we might see the OnePlus 6 launch as early as early March. It will subsequently go on sale by the end of the month.

We’re told the source in question has been right about OnePlus flagships before, but even so, you should still take this information with a grain of salt.

The current OnePlus 5T

Furthermore, the insider reveals that the OnePlus 6 will take advantage of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 chipset, which is not a big surprise. What’s more, the phone is said to arrive with a fingerprint sensor embedded into the display.

A few weeks ago, Synaptics announced it has parented up with a top-five OEM to produce the new Clear ID DS95000 in-display fingerprint sensor for one of the company’s flagship phones. While many assumed this OEM in question was Samsung, many were surprised to find out it in fact Vivo – a Chinese company which is part of the BBK Electronics conglomerate – who scored the deal with Synaptics.

But here’s where it becomes interesting. OnePlus is also part of BBK Electronics, so maybe just maybe the source is not wrong in making this prediction. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Instagram’s latest update allows you to send live videos in direct messages

Alexandra Arici
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With a few days to go before the kickstart of Christmas celebrations, Instagram announced a new update which allows users to share live videos in Direct Messages.

This new tool is meant to easily encourage people to watch your live videos and make it easier to share cool videos you’re watching with your friends.

Now when you’re recording video, you should notice a new Direct icon. All you need to do to share your live video with friends and followers is to tap that icon.

Instagram explains that viewers will be able to see the video if you’re currently live. When the show’s over, a message indicating that the video session has come to an end will appear.

If for some reason you don’t like the new feature, you can go ahead and disable the option from your stories settings. And if you have a private account, only your approved followers will be able to see your live videos.

To be able to see the new feature, you’ll need to have installed the latest Instagram version 26. You can grab it from the Google Play Store.

Earlier this month, Instagram pushed out an update which allows users to follow hashtags just like you would Instagram accounts. Previously in December, the Facebook-owned app made it possible to save and highlight favorite Stories.

4k 360-degree camera accessory going for $499 with the Essential Phone

Dan Bartram
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The Essential Phone was somewhat of a design standout when it came to comparable smartphones but early reviews couldn’t warrant the price tag. But with the major price job it put the device back on the charts for a pretty decent purchase.

The deals keep coming with the Essential Phone as you can pick up the device with the 4k 360-degree camera accessory on Amazon for $499.

That’s $100 less than it normally sells for so is a cracking deal. It did briefly go for $399 on Black Friday but that’s not much good now is it?

Keeping in mind the Essential Phone is $449 by itself, that puts the 360-degree accessory at a pretty bargain price. That’s some serious hardware for a really good price.

Amazon’s Prime Video app for Android TV lands in the Play Store, but there’s a catch

Alexandra Arici
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It’s no secret that Amazon and Google have been at each other’s throats lately. Not so long ago Google blocked YouTube from the Amazon Echo Show (it restored access a few weeks later and then pulled it again) and Amazon stopped selling Google products, although this has changed as of late.

Anyway, it seems the two companies are in the process of working out their differences, which might be the reason why Amazon today released the Prime Video app for Android TV in the Play Store.

Well sort of. The thing is you won’t be able to download it just yet, as the app doesn’t seem to compatible any devices just yet. The issue seems to be on Amazon’s side, who needs to enable compatibility or something like that. This incongruity indicates Amazon wasn’t quite ready to release the app.

Even so, if you have an Android TV at your disposal, you can go ahead and try to install the app on your device and see if it works for you.

So far, Amazon’s Prime Video app was been included only in the NVIDIA Shield TV which launched at CES 2017 back in January. But the service was intimately tied with the Shield TV’s firmware, so it never popped up in the Google Play Store. Well, that’s no longer the case, as of this week.

Are you excited that Amazon’s Prime Video app for Android TV has landed in the Play Store? Let us know in the comment section below.

9 tech gifts that look a lot more expensive than they are

Alexandra Arici
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Buying gifts for your friends and family members can be a difficult task – and all too often we spend much more than we should on presents that just don’t hit the mark. And if you’re on a tight budget this year, gift buying can seem even more difficult than usual.

But fortunately, there are a lot of good promotions available to take advantage of. Case in point, at Android Guys Deals we have discounted some products that could make for great gifts. And we’ve chosen a list of products that look a lot more expensive than they are, which are sure to impress your loved ones.

TRELAB X11 wireless earphones

Price: $36.99 (previously $199.99)

Have a friend or family member who loves going to the gym? Then the TRELAB X11 wireless earphones might be something to consider. They look pretty futuristic and can be used a single earpiece or as a pair.

The wireless earphones support multi-device connection and offer noise cancellation & HD sound experience.

Boosted Acoustic Wood Headphones

Price: $17.99 (previously $129.99)

What if your friend prefers over the ear headphones instead of earphones? Then you might want to look at the stylish Boosted Acoustic Headphones which come with an interesting wood (Rosewood or Walnut) design. The pair is powered by 40mm drivers to provide clear sound which escapes into the user’s ear through the comfortable earpads.

Fader Stealth Drone

Price: $69.99 (previously $129.99)

Drones are also fun gifts, so one lucky member of your family will be thrilled to find it under the Christmas tree. The Fader drone includes a six-axis gyro module and an HD camera that can record 720p in real-time, as well as LED lights which enable it to fly at night. For a bit of extra fun, the drone comes with an aerobatic “flip” capability.

8x Telephoto Smartphone Lens

Price: $12.99 (previously $49.99)

Unlock the amazing photography capabilities of your smartphone with this 8x telephoto lens. Simply clip on the accessory in order to shoot clearer images at up to 8 times closer. You can also adjust the lens like you would on a normal DSLR camera.

Ticwatch 2 Active Smartwatch

Price: $169 (previously $199.99)

While sporty watches like the Samsung Gear Sport cost around $249.99, you can get the Ticwatch 2 Active for only $169.

Mobvoi’s sleek Ticwatch 2 Active boasts a simple, clean design and runs Ticwear OS, not Android Wear. Even so, users have access to a wide range of tracking features, as well as apps. The smartwatch also features call & text capabilities, so you can remain connected even as you leave your phone behind.

FRESHeCOLOR Bluetooth Portable Speaker

Price: $29.99 (previously $249.95)

A Bluetooth speaker with a funky design that can be carried anywhere thanks to the attached handle. What’s more, the embedded LED lights react to the music adding a special ambiance to your gatherings and parties.

Users can control the volume and playlists directly from the speakers, so you can don’t need to have your phone near you at all times.

Graphene 5K HyperCharger

Price: $22.99 (previously $69.98)

Graphene 5K HyperCharger is a super-thin and lightweight external battery that features 2 HyperPort USB charging ports. The juicer can add an extra of 5,000 mAh power whenever you need it. And thanks to the built-in HyperCharging Generation 3 tech, you can get some power on your phone at superfast speeds.

JS Wireless Power Bank

Price: $68.25 (previously $97.50)

Shopping for someone who can’t stand cables? Then the JS Wireless Power Bank might be worthy of your attention. It has a 6,000 mAh battery capacity and is compatible with any Qi-enabled device or model equipped with a Qi receiver. And even if its marketed as a wireless power bank, the product does have ports for USB and micro USB charging so you can charge up to three devices at a time.

It ships out with a wireless charging adapter to make other Android devices compatible with wireless charging.

Zubot Interactive HD Surveillance Smart Robot

Price: $134.99 (previously $149.99)

For those who put home security above anything else, the Zubot Surveillance Smart Robot might be an excellent gift.

Zubot is an HD Wi-Fi robot that can be controlled via a smartphone to patrol your house while you’re away on holiday. It can take pictures and video and even survey the propriety at night thanks to its IR night vision.

Note that some of these products might ship after Christmas. But alas, it’s better to get the right present a little bit later than the wrong one on time.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is not even out and Chinese clones have already appeared

Alexandra Arici
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One of the most anticipated flagship smartphones expected to make a debut in early 2018 is the Samsung Galaxy S9.

Information about the phone has been steadily leaking online for the past few months including renders based on CAD-designs, so we have a pretty good idea of how the Galaxy S9 will look like. And so do Chinese companies it seems.

The Galaxy S9 hasn’t even been announced yet and already device manufacturer Vkworld is tempting potential buyers with a phone which appears to have all the visual characteristics of the Galaxy S9. Although it’s poised to launch with a much larger battery and a smaller price tag.

As you can see from the images, the Vkworld’s aptly named S9 model looks exactly like the leaked Galaxy S9 pictures. We have a bezel-less display with slimmed down chin and forehead, the 18:9 aspect ratio, and a fingerprint scanner on the back sitting below the dual camera setup. As a side note, next year only the Galaxy S9+ will include a dual-camera setup, while the standard Galaxy S9 will feature a single lens on the back.

If you’re wondering about the internal specs of the Vkworld S9, well the phone is expected to take advantage of a 5.99-inch 2K display with an Helio X30 chipset under the hood. The handset will ship with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and an impressive 5,000 mAh battery, which will definitely over-shine the Galaxy S9’s.

Last but not least, Vkworld’s offering will go on sale for $300 a pop – a lot cheaper than the Galaxy S9 which will probably arrive with a price tag of at least $700. The Vkworld S9 is expected to launch in Spring 2018, probably soon after the Samsung Galaxy S9 makes an official debut.

Google Pixelbook variant with Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM finally goes on sale

Alexandra Arici
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Introduced during the Pixel 2 event back in October, the Pixelbook is Google’s latest high-end Chromebook.

So far customers interested in this premium laptop could purchase only the variant with Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. But starting this week, interest parties can place an order for the more advanced version which takes advantage of a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

But a word of warning, it won’t come cheap. A Pixelbook with his higher-end configuration will set you back with up to $1,549, so it’s not a purchase for the faint-hearted.

In return for this amount of money, you’ll receive a 4-in-1 laptop with an aluminum unibody which combines the best elements of a laptop, smartphone, and tablet. It’s available with a 12.3-inch display with 2400 x 1600 resolution and 235ppi.

What’s more, the Pixelbook is the first laptop to come equipped with the Google Assistant, so you will be able to interact with it simply by using voice commands.

The laptop can be used with an accompanying Pixelbook Pen accessory, which will set you back with an additional $99. This small stylus has a latency of only 10 milliseconds, so it can aptly replicate the traditional pen-on-paper experience. It’s great for sketching and drawing.

Customers interested in purchasing the Pixelbook can do so from the Google Store. There are three variants available to choose from:

–    Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD

–    Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD

–    Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD

The high-end variant with an Intel Core i7 ships January 3.

Google offers a detailed glimpse of security enhancements in Android Oreo

Alexandra Arici
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With Android Oreo, Google has doubled down on security by making it safer to get apps, hardening the kernel or making Android easier to update. And in a new blog post this week, Google is taking a more in-depth look at the security goodness inside Oreo.

Google’s latest mobile operating system comes with support for features such as OEM Lock Hardware Abstraction Layer – which is a tool which gives manufacturers more flexibility on how to protect their own devices. Speaking of hardware, Google reminds us that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL take advantage of a specialized chipset that’s capable of verifying code in real time and resist both physical and remote data attacks and exploits. Google invites all manufacturers to take advantage of this feature on their new Oreo devices.

Android already supported Verified Boot – a security feature design to prevent devices booting up with software that has been tampered with. Well in Oreo, Google has upgraded it to Verified Boot 2.0 which includes new tools meant to enable faster updates by taking heavy advantage of Project Treble, as well as header and footer code across the board to make it easier to detect when something is amiss in boot and rollback protection.

What’s more, Project Treble now allows vendor HALs for individual device components to run sandboxed from the main core of the system, thus keeping the device safe from unwanted exploits. Platform and vendor-made code are separated to keep each component as controlled as possible.

On top of that, Oreo has been updated to include compliance with IETF RFC 7844 anonymity profile. Which means the net.hostname is now empty, and the device DHCP client no longer sends a hostname. Google has also built-in a new MAC address randomization tool in the code to make sure devices remain relatively anonymous while connected to a Wi-Fi.

Android Instant Apps now run in a restricted sandbox in order to limit certain permissions and capabilities such as reading the on-device app list or transmitting cleartext traffic. WebView has been split off from the rest of the web browsing code in Android, so Instant Apps can run safely. It includes Safe Browsing to protect against potentially dangerous sites.

To conclude, it’s worth mentioning that some of these features are already available for mobile users on Oreo, while some will be rolled out in the not too distant future.

For more info on Android Oreo’s updated security, check out the official Android Developers Blog.

Essential Phone is now getting Oreo Beta 2

Dan Bartram
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Android Oreo on the Essential Phone is getting ever more of a reality as the second beta release has been issued as an over-the-air update.

Currently Android Oreo is only in beta form and is being publicly tested to iron out the kinks before the official stable release. The second release of the software has just been released to fix a number of bugs to bring it one step closer to the final stable build.

Oreo Beta 2 (build OPM1.170911.213) for the PH-1 has begun rolling out today for those running Oreo Beta 1 as an OTA. Along with the bug fixes you’ll also get smart text selection and picture-in-picture mode activated from Oreo.

If you’re not on the beta build already then you can sideload Beta 2 of Oreo on the Essential Phone using ADB. The process is rather extensive but if you fancy having a go then go ahead and follow the instructions here.

If you are already running Oreo on the Essential Phone then let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment below.

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