Author Archives: Derek Walter

The Nvidia Shield Tablet K1 is probably the best Android tablet you can get right at this time, and now it has Android Nougat.The update is also coming to the original Shield, while the Pixel got a helpful update to fix an annoying audio bug.

Each week, we round up all the major software updates to hit the Android ecosystem, including phones and tablets on U.S. carriers, unlocked phones, smartwatches, and Android TV devices. Making sure your device is running the latest available software is a good housekeeping practice, ensuring you have the latest features with fewer bugs and security holes.

Nvidia

Shield Tablet, Shield Tablet K1: This is the Nougat update you’ve been waiting for. The software upgrade 5.0 brings the main Nougat highlights like split-screen mode, improved notifications, and all the under-the-hood improvements that is makes Nougat faster and more efficient.

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Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this week, and as the story goes this means six more weeks of winter. If only the critter was carrying a smartphone, perhaps that would give us a better idea of when Nougat would be coming to your favorite device.

Fortunately we didn’t need a groundhog to find out about a few releases, such as a beta update for the Pixel, Nexus phones, and Sony surprising us by being first with the monthly security patch.

Each week, we round up all the major software updates to hit the Android ecosystem, including phones and tablets on U.S. carriers, unlocked phones, smartwatches, and Android TV devices. Making sure your device is running the latest available software is a good housekeeping practice, ensuring you have the latest features with fewer bugs and security holes.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Google Voice was recently sprung from a long stay in digital purgatory. Google unveiled a refreshed design for the mobile apps and website that updated the look and dropped in a few new features.

It was long overdue. Google Voice was so old and neglected, the last version right before the update looked like this:

Google Play

Despite the tendency to feel that getting work done from your smartphone means you’re “always working,” there are still those moments when it’s liberating to be able to finish off a quick task or respond to a company message without opening your computer.

I find that the real key is knowing the type of work you want to do and getting your setup right. This is especially important when you head off on a trip or you’re at a conference where you’re more likely to have access to your phone when you’re crammed in a presentation or running from one room to another.

If you’re looking for a guide on what you need, or just some ideas for getting started, let us offer you a helping hand. There are plenty of good apps and services that you may not have heard of, or maybe you just need a tip about how to make them work best for you.

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I’m not prone to outbursts of joy, especially when it comes to technology. 

One of the few times it’s happened, however, was when I discovered how much you can do with IFTTT. Suddenly tasks that required multiple steps or continuously logging in to services were done automatically. As much as every company here and there promises to simplify your life or “automate” things, IFTTT is one of the few services that does it successfully and with relative ease.

I find it essential for both saving me time and performing tasks that your smartphone wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. And as IFTTT has become more popular, the number of services it integrates with has grown fast. You’ll be hard-pressed to find something that you use without some type of supported recipe.

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The lengthy wait for Nougat is finally coming to an end for those with a Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

Samsung is pushing out the final build to those using the company’s beta program. Final releases will then follow, although the specific release dates are going to vary by carrier.

Each week, we round up all the major software updates to hit the Android ecosystem, including phones and tablets on U.S. carriers, unlocked phones, smartwatches, and Android TV devices. Making sure your device is running the latest available software is a good housekeeping practice, ensuring you have the latest features with fewer bugs and security holes.

Samsung

Galaxy S7, S7 Edge: As spotted by SamMobile, beta users with the current Samsung flagships are getting their taste of Nougat. Note that this is Android 7.0 instead of the current build of Android 7.1.1. However, the report indicates that the software does include the January security patch. If you’re on the beta program look for the update to hit you in the next few days. For everyone else, stay tuned. Carriers must then approve the update, so your wait is going to vary.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

The lengthy wait for Nougat is finally coming to an end for those with a Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

Samsung is pushing out the final build to those using the company’s beta program. Final releases will then follow, although the specific release dates are going to vary by carrier.

Each week, we round up all the major software updates to hit the Android ecosystem, including phones and tablets on U.S. carriers, unlocked phones, smartwatches, and Android TV devices. Making sure your device is running the latest available software is a good housekeeping practice, ensuring you have the latest features with fewer bugs and security holes.

Samsung

Galaxy S7, S7 Edge: As spotted by SamMobile, beta users with the current Samsung flagships are getting their taste of Nougat. Note that this is Android 7.0 instead of the current build of Android 7.1.1. However, the report indicates that the software does include the January security patch. If you’re on the beta program look for the update to hit you in the next few days. For everyone else, stay tuned. Carriers must then approve the update, so your wait is going to vary.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here