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Google Assistant-powered headphones might soon be a thing

Alexandra Arici
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It was recently revealed that Google might be working on a next-gen Pixel Chromebook and a mini Google Home portable speaker.

But if the APK teardown of Google’s latest app (version 7.10) is any indication, a pair of Google Assistant enabled headphones are also on the way. The alleged AI-infused ear accessories are codenamed Bisto, a moniker which previously appeared a few months ago in the beta version of the 7.0 version of Google’s app.

Back then it was speculated Bisto could be a portable audio device, but recent findings suggest we’re looking at a pair of headphones instead. For example, the code reference below taken from Google’s latest app hints you’ll be able to employ the help of the Google Assistant to ask your questions and tell it to do things:

<string name=”bisto_magic_pairing_assistant_prop_text”>”Your headphones have the Google Assistant. Ask it questions. Tell it to do things. It’s your own personal Google, always ready to help.”</string>

Based on other strings of codes we’re seeing, we can speculate the Google Bisto headphones will come equipped with at least two physical buttons, one you can press and hold in order to summon and talk to the Google Assistant and another one to activate verbal notifications alerts. This means users will be able to hear incoming notifications and have them read out loud to them.

“<string name=”expand_bundle4_1″>To hear them, press the Google Assistant button” and “<string name=”expand_bundle_1″>To hear them, press and hold the top button.</string>”

At this point, it appears that Bisto will be running Android Wear, so it will be a first to see the OS operate on a non-smartwatch device.

With the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL launch coming up, who knows maybe the Bisto headphones will be unveiled alongside them and offered as part of the bundle.

Virtual assistant-powered headphones aren’t exactly a novel idea. For example, Inspero Inc. and Arrow Electronics successfully raised funds on Indiegogo for the Vinci – “a smart, wireless headphone that is controlled by your voice and powered by cloud technology.”

The US market might get a customized Nokia 8 version

Alexandra Arici
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Nokia’s come back flagship, the Nokia 8 is expected to hit retail shelves in early September in Europe. But what about Nokia fans who don’t live on the old continent?

Unfortunately, at launch HMD remained mum on the topic of whether the Nokia 8 will make it on the US market. Now a new report coming out of NPU gives us hope.

According to sources familiar with the matter who have talked to the publication, HMD is planning a US (and Chinese) launch for the Nokia 8. However, we’re told the company will offer a “customized version” of the handset, but whatever that means exactly we’re yet to find out.

By looking at HMD’s previous strategy, it makes sense to assume the Nokia 8 will eventually land in the US. The company launched the Nokia 6 in China six months before making it available in other markets including the US one.

The same report reveals the Nokia 8 destined for America will be compatible with all the carriers in the country (or at least GSM ones). The Chinese version is expected to pack more RAM and internal storage than the global variant which packs 4GB of RAM + 64GB storage.

Previously HMD introduced the Nokia 6 with 3GB of RAM + 32GB storage on the international market, while the 4GB of RAM + 64GB storage version was sold only in China.

The same sources also reveal that the US market does not have a high priority for HMD, but the Chinese one does.

In related news, rumors have surfaced that Nokia and HMD are prepping a second flagship which will make a debut with a larger display. It could be the Nokia 9 model which has previously made an appearance in the rumor mill.

Google tipped to be preparing new Chromebook Pixel, mini Google Home version

Alexandra Arici
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With the Android 8.0 Oreo announcement behind us, Google is now preparing for the next-big event – the launch of its next-generation Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

But according to a report coming out of the Android Police, Google is also gearing up to introduce an all-new Pixel-branded Chromebook, as well as a miniature Google Home product, alongside the two new phones.

While not many details are currently available about the upcoming Pixel Chromebook – the successor of Google’s 2015 Chromebook Pixel – there are signs the new laptop is actually a continuation of the fabled “Project Bison”.

A couple of years back, rumors surfaced that Google was working on an Android and Chrome OS “merger” of sorts dubbed Andromeda that would launch on a convertible laptop in late 2017. That obviously didn’t happen, but according to the report at hand, it’s quite possible that in the meanwhile “Project Bison” has been repurposed for Chrome OS.

Project Bison was supposed to launch as a convertible PC with a tablet mode, a spacious 12.3-inch display, optional Wacom stylus and $799 price tag. So who knows maybe the next Pixel Chromebook will come boasting one of these characteristics.

On the other hand, the new Chromebook might turn out to be the often leaked Eve, which according to recent information could arrive with the Google Assistant onboard.

While we can’t be 100% sure regarding most of the details related to the new laptop, it makes sense Google is getting ready to launch a successor given the two gap year between the 2013 and 2015 models.

Google is also reportedly prepping a smaller version of its Home smart speaker. Like Amazon who has the Echo and Echo Dot so will Google soon start offering a miniature Home version which will most likely sell for a more affordable price tag.

Android 8.0 Oreo OTA now available for devices in the beta program

Alexandra Arici
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Google officially announced Android 8.0 Oreo a few hours ago and now the new software version has started rolling out to compatible devices.

We’re talking about the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C or Nexus Player that have been enrolled in the beta program. If you too own one of these devices, you should know the Android 8.0 Oreo OTA is available for download.

If you haven’t enrolled in the Android Beta Program until now don’t worry, you can easily do so now. Just visit the official Android Beta Program page, sign in with your Google account and click on “Enroll Device” to get your phone or tablet on board.

Some users initially reported the update failed to install on their Pixel devices running the Developer Preview 4, but since then Google fixed the issue so there’s nothing preventing you from installing the update on your Pixel if you want to.

Android 8.0 Oreo arrives with a host of enhancements in tow. One of its key features is superior battery life. A new copy/paste feature and highlighting tool have also been added into Oreo, as well as a picture-in-picture mode for making multitasking easier and improved notifications.

Read more about some of Android 8.0 Oreo’s killer features in our in-depth piece.

Android Oreo to land on new and existing hardware by the end of 2017

AndroidGuys
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Android 8.0 is officially known to the mobile world as Android Oreo, and we’re happy that the baton has passed from Nougat to the newest sweet treat. Now that the next sweet treat of a mobile update has been announced, the question on everyone’s mind is, “When is my device getting Android Oreo?” This question is easy to answer if you have a Google device such as a Pixel or Pixel XL; if you don’t, then prepare for what could be a complicated situation.

In line with increasing tech-savvy customer expectations of faster update releases, Google has provided a statement that Android OEMs will have Android Oreo on new and existing devices by the end of 2017.

We’ve also been working closely with our partners, and by the end of this year, hardware makers including Essential, General Mobile, HMD Global Home of Nokia Phones, Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp and Sony are scheduled to launch or upgrade devices to Android 8.0 Oreo. Any devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also receive this final version.

As with all promises, though, not everything comes true. In the case of Google, the search engine giant will push out Oreo to the recent Pixel and Pixel XL as well as the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Determining when Android OEMs release Oreo is another matter entirely.

Normally, Android OEMs would release the update to carriers, who would then have to check for compatibility before it lands on carrier customer devices. And yet, if we can take anything from Google’s newly-announced Project Treble, it’s that vendor implementation may be easier than ever in the future such that device compatibility won’t be a question any longer. What that means for the Android Oreo release isn’t clear, but perhaps Oreo will really prove to be “sweet” for update-hungry fans.

While it’s unlikely that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 will see Oreo immediately, the LG V30 could prove to be a possible candidate because its predecessor, the LG V20, was the first Android-powered smartphone to feature Android Nougat out of the box.

In the final analysis, it’s easy to release Android Oreo on new smartphones rather than update existing ones, so Oreo-powered hardware is most likely. Android OEMs are working hard to improve on update releases, though, so here’s to hoping Google’s promise is more fact than fiction.

Android 8.0 Oreo update list

Android 8.0 Oreo update list

Matt Adams
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https://www.androidguys.com/2017/08/31/androidguys-ten-for-ten-giveaways-celebrating-ten-years-of-android-week-1/

Android 8.0 is here and it is as sweet as ever. With new upgrades and under-the-hood fixes, it promises to be a fantastic upgrade. We’re excited to see how the floating picture-in-picture and grouped notifications change how we use our phones on a day-to-day basis. While it’s a given that the newest flavor of Android will hit the most recent Pixel and Nexus devices, pretty much everything else is a mystery. We’ve reached out to a number of phone manufacturers to see what their plans are. The list below is a combination of official responses and information we’ve picked up along the way.

We’ll continue updating this list as more devices are confirmed to get the update.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry hasn’t released many Android devices yet, but its most important and up-to-date device, the BlackBerry KeyOne is confirmed to get Android Oreo. We’ve yet to get any word on the Priv, DTEK50 or DTEK60.

  • Confirmed: BlackBerry KEYOne

Blu

Blu makes cheaper devices that generally don’t get OS updates. In the rare occasion that they do, they’re delayed by a significant amount. Blu reached out to let us know that if any of its devices did receive the Oreo update, it would be at least February 2018 before we see it.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: None

Google

You can already flash Android Oreo on one of your Pixel or Nexus devices. Head on over to the Android System Image page and flash the image but be aware, flashing the image will wipe your device. If you don’t want to lose your data, you can wait on the Over the Air update that should be coming soon.

  • Confirmed: Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, Google Pixel 2 XL, Nexus Player, Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X

HTC

HTC has been pretty decent about quick and long-term updates in the past. However, the company has lost money for seven straight quarters so you have to wonder how much capital it is going to invest in updates to older phones. We expect to see updates for the flagship and midtier lineup from the last 12 months.

Update (8/22/17): HTC has issued the following statement: “We’re excited to bring Android 8.0 Oreo to HTC U11, HTC U Ultra, and HTC 10 owners worldwide! Timing, additional devices, and other details to be announced in the near future.”

  • Confirmed: HTC U 11, HTC U Ultra, HTC 10
  • Possible: HTC U Play, HTC Desire 10 Pro, HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle, HTC 10 Evo

Huawei

We know that the Huawei-made Nexus 6P will get the Android Oreo update, but nothing is confirmed beyond that. We reached out to Huawei and they have declined to share their update plans at this time. We expect to see most of Huawei’s most popular devices from the last year updated to Android 8.0 eventually.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: Huawei P10, Huawei P10 Lite, Huawei P10 Plus, Honor 9, Honor 8 Lite, Honor 8 Plus, Huawei Mate 9 Porsche, Huawei Mate 9, Huawei Mate 9 Pro, Huawei Nexus 6P

LeEco

LeEco hasn’t gotten much press since hitting the pause button last year. We’re not expecting to see updates for the devices it released in the last 12-24 months.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: None

Lenovo

Lenovo has been a bit of a mystery since it acquired Motorola. We’ve reached out for comment on updates going forward but we don’t expect many devices, if any, to get the update.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: Lenovo Zuk Edge
  • Possible: Lenovo Zuk Z2, Lenovo Zuk Z2 Plus, Lenovo Zuk Z2 Pro

LG

LG has been fantastic about updating older devices to current software and we don’t expect that to stop. Most, if not all, devices released since the LG V10 should be updated to Android Oreo at some point.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: LG G6, LG V20, LG V30, LG G5, LG V10, LG Q8, LG Nexus 5X, LG Q6, LG X Venture, LG Pad IV 8.0
  • Possible: LG G4

Motorola

A large part of why people are interested in Motorola’s devices is the near-stock experience. This helps Moto roll out quick updates to its entire lineup. We’re expecting to see pretty much everything released in the last 18 months updated to Oreo.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: Moto Z2 Force, Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z, Moto Z Force, Moto Z Play, Moto G5 Plus, Moto G5, Moto G4 Plus, Moto G4

Nexbit

Nextbit’s only phone, the Robin, will not receive the Android Oreo update.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: None

OnePlus

OnePlus has gotten a black eye around software updates after not supporting the OnePlus One, Two, or X for very long, but we’re expecting to see fairly quick updates for the OnePlus 5, 3, and 3T.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: OnePlus 5, OnePlus 3T, OnePlus 3

Samsung

Samsung has a reputation for extremely slow updates, but it’s probably just because they are trying to support so many phones. Samsung puts out more phones than anyone and more software updates than anyone else too. Most of the phones released in 2017 and the second half of 2016 should receive the Android Oreo update.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Samsung Galaxy A3, Samsung Galaxy A5, Samsung Galaxy A7, Samsung Galaxy A8, Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro, Samsung Galaxy J7 Max, Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime, Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016), Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016), Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016), Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016), Samsung Galaxy Note FE

Sony

Sony, like Motorola, has a pretty light skin on top of Android which makes it pretty easy to update. Most of the devices released in the last 18 months or longer should see the Android Oreo update.

  • Confirmed: Xperia X, Xperia X Performance, Xperia XZ, Xperia X Compact, Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZs, XPeria XA1, Xperia XA1 Ultra, Xperia Touch, Xperia XA1 Plus, Xperia XZ1, Xperia XZ1 Compact

Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s MIUI skin is so heavy that you could get the Android Oreo update and not realize it. We do expect to see Android Oreo eventually on a lot of device but not for a while.

  • Confirmed: None
  • Expected: Xiaomi Mi 6, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, Xiaomi Pro 2, Xiaomi Mi 5s, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, Xioami Mi Max, Xiaomi Mi Max 2, Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus, Xiaomi Mi Note 2, Xiaomi Mi Mix

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2018) appears in case render with Always On Display and home button

AndroidGuys
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Samsung will announce its Galaxy Note 8 on August 23rd, but its new high-end smartphone isn’t the only one in the works. The Korean giant manufactures a number of smartphones, of which the Galaxy A series is one of the most beloved. Just earlier this year, Samsung announced its Galaxy A3 (2017), Galaxy A5 (2017), and Galaxy A7 (2017) phones; with only 4 months left in the year, Samsung is nearly ready to bring out the Galaxy A (2018) series. Today’s leaked case render shows us a little of what to expect about the Galaxy A5 (2018).

The Galaxy A5 (2018), like its nearly year-old sibling, the Galaxy A5 (2017), is expected to serve as the middle of the mid-range Galaxy A (2018) series, but that doesn’t mean Samsung won’t give the A5 features worth noticing. First, it should be pointed out that the leaked case appears to be a flip case, one used with Samsung smartphones that sport the company’s Always On Display first announced in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. That Always On Display appears here, a return of the AOD to the Galaxy A5 (2018) after its appearance on the Galaxy A5 (2017) earlier this year.

There’s a date of “August 13th” on the AOD, which has passed now, of course, but with this new case leak, we’re presuming that Samsung won’t wait until August 2018 to release it. And, of course, the presence of the AOD on the Galaxy A5 (2018) hints that, yes, like the A5 (2017), the company’s trademark Super AMOLED display will grace the A series once more. The Galaxy A5 (2018) has a dual-curved back cover but the front display is a flat panel with no dual-edge display in sight.

The case render shows the front display of the phone, with the A5 (2018) maintaining its top and bottom bezels – a sign that the Galaxy A series will not go the way of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The bottom bezel houses a home button, a likely candidate for the housing of the fingerprint scanner.

The back of the Galaxy A5 (2018) shows the Gold color offering of the device, the same color offering of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. The device has been leaked on Amazon India in Gold and Midnight Black colors. There’s also a single rear facing camera with a dual-LED flash and heart rate monitor. The power/standby button is to the right of the front display, and we’re assuming that the case “binder” to the left of the display conceals the up and down volume buttons.

The new case render shows the AOD, single front and rear cameras, home button/fingerprint scanner, dual-LED flash, heart rate monitor, and top and bottom bezels, but there are still some unknown factors with the device. From the Galaxy A5 (2017), there will be some feature carryover to the 2018 model such as IP68 water and dust certification, Samsung Pay support, USB Type-C connectivity, and the coveted 256GB-capable microSD card slot. Samsung gave a 5.2-inch panel with 1080p Full HD resolution, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of onboard storage to the Galaxy A5 (2017), and these specs are likely to return in the updated model in addition to the others just mentioned.

From the looks of it, the Galaxy A 2018 series will get the “hand-me-down” design of the Galaxy S7 series. That isn’t a bad thing, though, considering that the Galaxy S7 series was the most beloved Samsung smartphone series of 2016.

8 killer reasons you will want Android 8.0 Oreo

AndroidGuys
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After months of rumors and speculation, the Android 8.0 release is officially being dubbed ‘Oreo’. Much like it did with 4.4 KitKat, Google has partnered with a major brand to help promote its latest version of its platform.

With every new release of Android comes one key question: What’s new? It seems that each time a flagship model is released or a new version of Android is offered up the first thing we’re asked by friends and family is what’s different or whether it’s worth upgrading.

We’ll let you be the judge as to whether you will need Android 8.0, but we’ll at least suggest that you want it for your devices. As Google tells us in the launch video, Android Oreo is safer, smarter, more powerful, and sweeter than ever. Let’s take a look at the major improvements in Android and what the future has in store for smartphones, tablets, and more.

One of Oreo’s key features is its focus on battery life for the hardware. Yes, again. Not a release goes by without Google doing its best to improve battery life. For devices running Oreo, background apps won’t be able to do as much with location updates as it has in the past. This will keep the phone from sipping (or chugging) battery life on unnecessary processes.

A new copy and paste and highlighting tool shows up in 8.0 Oreo, making it easier than every to highlight text for copy, pasting, and sharing. Moreover, Android can detect if the info is an address, prompting you to open Maps or another dedicated app. A double tap of a phone number, for example, hands things off to the dialer app.

Multi-tasking gets even easier with the Oreo release as picture-in-picture mode finds its way into Android at the platform level. Developers can write their apps work in tandem with other apps, giving users the ability to run, say, YouTube with a video chat.

Notifications get smarter yet again with Android 8.0 as app badges receive an update. Now, whenever there’s a notification, the app icon will show tiny dots to alert the user. Users can long press an app icon to read the respective app’s notifications. Not only that, but it’s also possible to snooze notifications for a period of time – not unlike how Inbox works for email.

As much as we liked the yellow blob emojis for Android, they’re gone with the Oreo release. Looking more realistic than ever, the new emojis promise to help better express yourself. More than 60 new emoji icons join the group this time around, too.

We should see more timely updates for Android now, thanks to Project Treble. A pain point for as long as there have been new versions of the platform, users hate to wait on getting the new updates. Even though the big stuff only happens about once a year, it’s a real nuisance to be stuck with something you know to be some six or eight months old.

Time will tell, of course, as to how well this works, but we’re optimistic that Google will get hardware vendors to update quicker for 8.0. As a point of reference, only about 13.5% of the devices accessing the Google Play Store over the last few weeks are running the nearly year old 7.0 Nougat release.

Ever run into the problem of entering the same username and password in apps over and over? Wouldn’t it be nice if the phone remembered things for you in a manner consistent with how Chrome treats them, giving you a quick auto-fill? That’s the case with Android 8.0 as third party apps can let users store combos behind a master password or fingerprint.

The recently launched Google Play Protect tools are being built into Android at the system level. This means more regular checking of apps and games, scanning for malware, and general protection. In a related note, users can now whitelist sources for downloading apps from outside of the Play Store. No more is it a blanket case of leaving yourself vulnerable to sideloading apps or games.

These are not the only features in Android 8.0 Oreo. Heck, this isn’t even all of what you’ll find on the surface. Indeed, there’s much more happening under the hood than you can imagine. As Android continues to evolve, it becomes less revolutionary on its face and more evolutionary. But, look deeper and you will find there’s a lot more going on with the newest versions of Android.

Is there something specific you are looking forward to in Android 8.0 Oreo? What is it about the new release that you’ve got your eyes on?

Android 8.0 officially launches as Oreo

Dan Bartram
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The wait is finally over for the mystery of the next name for Android O. Google has officially announced that Android O is to be called Android Oreo.

With many different options being considered over the past few months and a number of Google teases, it seems the company have settled on the option that seemed most likely, probably securing a nice brand deal in the process.

Google previously teamed up for a brand deal for Android KitKat to raise some awareness of the Android operating system. Oreo marks a similar opportunity and is the natural and most likely name for Android 8.0.

Google also unveiled a superhero-themed statue for Android Oreo complete with a mascot and capes as it does with every version of Android.

Android Oreo is available today via AOSP with OTA’s hitting Pixel and Nexus devices following carrier testing.

Bixby ready for global launch

Dan Bartram
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If you have a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ then you may have noticed that a few updates have hit the devices overnight that update various elements of Bixby. There’s good reason for this as Samsung have begun to update the core of Bixby to get it ready for a global launch.

Bixby in its current form has only been available as a glorified news feed. Some lucky users in the U.S got an early access beta to test the functionality. To say Bixby is delayed is putting it lightly.

The wait could be coming to an end as Samsung are readying for a global launch of Bixby on 22nd August 2017. Sounds strangely familiar? Well, it should because that’s exactly 24 hours before the Note 8 launches. Coincidence? I think not.

We already know the Note 8 will have the same dedicated Bixby button the Galaxy S8 does so seems an appropriate checkpoint to ensure Samsung finished off the virtual assistant. We know it wasn’t ready for the S8 but there’s no way Samsung would launch another device without it being ready, especially with the same dedicated button showing the company are going all-in on Bixby.

Will it be worth the wait? We won’t have long until we find out.

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