Google rolled out Android 7.1.1 Nougat to Pixel devices, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9 and Android One devices earlier this month. Unfortunately the Nexus 6 was left behind. Now Google has given a time frame and the reason for delay of Android 7.1.1 for Nexus 6.
Google in a statement to Android police said that, the company encountered a 'last minute' bug for the Nexus 6, and had to delay the roll out. The issue has now been fixed and the update is ready to roll out to Nexus 6 owners in early January.
The Nexus 6 has already been updated to Nougat but 7.1.1 update is significant as it brings additional features like circular icons, GIF keyboard support, app shortcuts (Google's take on Apple's Force Touch), security patch for December and more.
The Nexus 6 is the oldest Nexus device supported for the Android update, since it was released in November 2014. There is a possibility that Android 7.1.1 Nougat could be the last major update for the smartphone. However, it will most likely continue to get monthly security patches.
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Google has already confirmed that it will launch its first smartwatch with Android Wear 2.0 on-board in early 2017. The company has also revealed list of smartwatches that will get updated to Android Wear 2.0 next year. These smartwatches will get the update following the launch of Google's first smartwatches.
Android Wear 2.0 brings new features like refreshed UI, support for standalone apps, Android Pay and Google's voice-activated Assistant. Android Pay will work on smartwatches with NFC support and equipped with necessary hardware.
Android Wear watches that will be upgraded to Android Wear 2.0 next year:Moto 360 Gen 2Moto 360 SportLG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTELG Watch UrbaneLG G Watch RPolar M600Casio Smart Outdoor WatchNixon MissionTag Heuer ConnectedFossil Q WanderFossil Q MarshalFossil Q FounderMichael Kors Access Bradshaw SmartwatchMichael Kors Access Dylan SmartwatchHuawei WatchHuawei Watch LadiesAsus ZenWatch 2Asus ZenWatch 3
Earlier this month Google rolled out fourth developer preview of Android Wear 2.0, and the fifth and final preview will be outed in January. It will include support for Google Assistant and Android Pay (on supported devices).
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The smartwatch market is cold, but Google, hasn’t lost its hopes yet. Earlier this year Android Police reported that the Pixel phone maker is working on two new Android smartwatches. Furthermore Evan Blass revealed that these smartwatches will debut in Q1 2017 and run Android Wear 2.0.
Now Google has confirmed that it is working on two new flagship smartwatches. In an interview with The Verge, Android Wear’s product manager Jeff Chang said that Google will launch two new Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches within the first quarter of 2017.
A previous report had mentioned that Google will manufacture both smartwatches, however, that's not the case anymore. Chang said that these smartwatches will be built by a company that has made Android Wear smartwatches before and also carry the brand of the company as well, though he declined to name the hardware partner.
This means that the new partnership will be similar to Google's Nexus programme, where devices are built by third party manufacturers, but under Google's supervision.
According to earlier reports Google's two Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches are codenamed Angelfish and Sword fish. Angelfish will be the bigger of the duo with a 43.5mm dial, three hardware buttons to control watch functions, heart rate sensor, GPS and LTE cellular connectivity. The Swordfish on the other hand will have a smaller 42mm dial, single button control and support Android Wear Mode. Both will have Google Assistant integration for contextual alerts.
Chang also said that after Google launches its smartwatches, other partners will release new Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches throughout 2017. More details will be revealed at upcoming CES 2017 and Baselworld trade show later in 2017.
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Google has outed the list of top trending smartphones of 2016 on Google Search in India. Surprisingly, the controversial Freedom 251 was the top trending smartphone of this year, beating Apple's iPhone 7 which is at second place.
For those unaware, the Freedom 251 was the most cheapest Android smartphone ever released in the world, which grabbed attention all over the world. It was priced at Rs. 251($4) and offered specs that you would find in a Rs. 3,000 phone. However it never really went on sale and turned out to be a ponzi scheme.
The Freedom 251 and iPhone 7 were followed by Xiaomi's sleeper hit Redmi Note 3, Lenovo's K4 Note and Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which are placed at third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Xiaomi's Redmi Note 3 was also the top trending budget smartphone of 2016. This is no surprise, since Xiaomi claims to have sold over 2.5 million units of the phone since launch.
The Moto G4, OnePlus 3, Apple iPhone SE, Google Pixel and Lenovo K5 Note were the other five most searched smartphones in the country this year. Note that the insights shared by Google represent top trending phones in the country, and do not reflect sales.
After Internet, smartphone and smartwatch, Google now wants to make its presence felt in IoT platform with Android Things. It is basically an IoT platform that lets developers build smart devices using Android APIs and Google's cloud based services, while staying highly secure with updates direct from Google.
For this, Google is combining its previous Android based IoT operating system called Brillo, with tools like Android Studio, Android SDK, Google Play services and Google Cloud Platform. Android Things is now available as Developer Preview for testing and you can use the platform to build smart devices using support hardware development kits like Intel Edison, NXP Pico and Raspberry Pi 3. Moreover, Google has promised to push Developer Preview updates that will offer infrastructure, so that developers can safely schedule regular OS patches, security fixes, and their own updates.
Google will also add support for Weave, its IoT communication platform, to make it easier for all types of devices to connect to the cloud and interact with services like the Google Assistant. Device makers like Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings already use Weave, and several others like Belkin WeMo, LiFX, Honeywell, Wink, TP-Link and First Alert will also implement it.
Google is also working towards merging Weave and Nest to enable all the connected devices from aforementioned brands to work with each other in a secure and reliable way.Source | Via
Back in May, Google released Gboard keyboard app with integrated Google search and built-in GIFs and emoji search. The app was available only for iOS devices and not on Android.
Now, six months later Google is bringing the Gboard app to Android. But instead of releasing it as a standalone app, the search giant has updated Google Keyboard as Gboard in the version 6.0. Google has not officially announced the app, or listed it on the Play Store, but the APK file is out on third party site APK Mirror.
The main highlight of the Gboard is that, it is integrated with Google Search which makes it easier to search and send information, GIFs, emojis and more without leaving the conversation.
It has Google's search icon "G" on the top left of the keyboard, when tapped, you'll be able to search nearby stores, restaurants, videos, images, weather forecasts, new and more. Also, there is a dedicated number row, support for to three active languages. Additionally you'll also be able to search GIFs and Emojis as well.It also comes with Glide Typing feature which lets you type faster simply by sliding your finger over the letters.
Gboard should make its way to the Play store soon.
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Google has added new games and apps to its Daydream VR platform catalogue. These include six new games including shooting, racing and more, and streaming services as well.
The new games that are now available for Google's Daydream VR platform include ― Lego BrickHeadz Builder; Gunjack 2: End of Shift; Wands; Underworld Overlord; Layer of Fear: Solitude and Need for Speed: No Limits.
Streaming services including HBO Now, HBO GO and Netflix are also available on Daydream VR platform. This means you can stream popular TV series like House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Daredevil, Game of Thrones, Westworld and more on a virtual big screen in Daydream.
There's also NextVR app that is known for streaming sporting events in virtual reality. It offers live 3D broadcast of NBA and NFL games, U.S open, Daytone 500 and Live Nation concerts.
To download and run the contents, you'll need to have Google's $79 Daydream View VR headset and Daydream-compatible phones, which currently supported by Google's Pixel and Pixel XL and Moto Z.
Google's Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones were launched in India with Android 7.1 Nougat, but lacked support for VoLTE (voice over LTE). However, with the latest Android 7.1.1 update , Pixel and Pixel XL are getting VoLTE support.
Besides other telecom operators worldwide, The Pixel and Pixel XL will finally work on Reliance Jio's VoLTE-exclusive network in India. To activate HD calling via VoLTE on Pixel phone go to mobile network settings and enable "Enhanced 4G LTE Mode". Once the feature is enabled, you'll see 'HD' in the status bar, which implies that the device is VoLTE-enabled.
Apart from VoLTE support, Android 7.1.1 Nougat brings Android security patch for December and double-tap or raise to wake up the phone feature, that will let users see their lock screen and notification by tapping the display or when the phone is picked up.
The Android 7.1.1 Nougat for Pixel phones comes with build number NMF260 and weighs 261.9MB, and is currently being rolled out over-the-air.
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Google's Nexus devices are finally getting new features that were already included in Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. Google has started rolling out Android 7.1.1 to Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Nexus Player, General Mobile 4G (Android One) and Pixel C tablet.
Android 7.1.1 will add new female career-oriented emoji like female astronaut and doctor, circular icons and GIF keyboard to supported apps like Google Allo, Messenger and Hangouts. With this feature users can send images and GIFs, without leaving the messaging apps.
There's also app shortcuts on home screen, where a long press on an app icon launches shortcuts on compatible apps. This feature is basically Google's version of Apple's Force Touch. Security patch for December is also included.
Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are also getting some new features with Android 7.1.1. It brings December update as well as features like double-tap or raise to wake up the phone, that will let users see their lock screen and notification by tapping the display or when the phone is picked up. These features were released in Canada last month.
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