Author Archives: Derek Walter

Our first look at Android 7.1 came courtesy of the Pixel phone, but now we’re learning more about what sets it apart from the first iteration of Nougat.

Android Police got some info direct from Google, and combined with that and our time at yesterday’s “Made by Google” event we have an unofficial changelog of what’s headed to the Google Pixel and other Android phones (eventually) in terms of specific software features. Here’s a breakdown:

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Samsung just can’t catch a break. The company would rather be touting the one million replacement smartphones it has shipped to customers, which by all accounts is a rather swift response to the exploding phone crisis.

Instead, Samsung is dealing with new reports that replacement Note7 units are running too hot to place next to one’s ear. Samsung told The Wall Street Journal there is no safety concern with these Note7 models, though it may a major irritant for those who had to turn in their phone and wait for a replacement only to find that it has another annoying problem.

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The official Android Twitter account caught our attention this morning with a rather mysterious tweet. It features the Android mascot with a hand whisk and a bowl of eggs surrounded by KitKat bars, marshmallows, and nougats.

We’re whipping up something sweet for a big day tomorrow. 🎂 #Android pic.twitter.com/I4idH0F4am

— Android (@Android) September 23, 2016

You probably get the reference to the Android versions, but beyond that it isn’t clear exactly what’s going on here, other than Google having some fun at our expense.

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Samsung has announced it has just finished a shipment of 500,000 units of the Galaxy Note7 to carrier and retail outlets.

The devices are to be available on Wednesday, September 21, meaning you can finally get a non-exploding model in exchange for the one you own. Those who were issued a temporary device by their carrier should also be eligible to swap it for a Note7.

Those who have been forced to wait to buy a new Note7 also may be in luck. The Note7 is available on the online store for Verizon and Sprint right now. Other carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T still redirecting Note7 information on their site to a dedicated page with recall details, but they may very well resume sales soon.  If you were thinking of buying a Note7 but got stuck waiting because of the battery fiasco, your best bet is to contact your carrier.

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Samsung is offering detailed plans for how you’ll be able to tell the difference between a faulty Note7 or one that’s safe to use.

Big blue S

The company says the new barcode features a white sticker with a large, blue “S” at the top right corner and a small, black square on the bottom. If your Note7 box has the big blue “S”, it should be safe.

Samsung

There is a growing consciousness about the desire to keep one’s messages private. Some are concerned about hackers, or worry about the government spying on them, but most people just agree with the general principle that what you say in your chat conversations ought to stay between you and the people you chat with.

It’s not a pleasant idea to think that your messages could be archived for perpetuity on a large company’s server or analyzed by some algorithm. The quest for privacy has birthed a whole generation of apps that promise to give you exactly that. Services like Telegram and Signal have turned the phrase “end-to-end encryption” into a popular discussion. We’re here to help you figure out what this is all about and which apps to try.

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One of the most frustrating parts of driving somewhere unfamiliar is trying to find out the speed limit. You don’t want to make that discovery after you’ve been issued a ticket for driving too fast.

Google Maps is here to help. Some users on the Maps Beta are seeing speed limit signs pop up in when driving using both the Android app and with Android Auto.

Samsung is trying to douse the flames from the growing Galaxy Note 7 dumpster fire. The company confirmed it’s working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. government’s arm for ensuring products do no harm, on procedures for replacing the handsets with new models that won’t spontaneously catch fire.

The latest statement by Samsung says in no uncertain terms that everyone should power off and stop using their Note 7 immediately. The Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed the issue with lithium-ion battery was leading to fires and should not be ignored. What to do next, however, is when it starts to get fuzzy.

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Project Fi may finally let you bundle multiple friends and family members into one group wireless plan.

According to Android Police, which dug into the latest Project Fi app’s APK, there are several references that allude to a forthcoming family plan. There’s no set launch date, but the work is clearly underway since it’s hiding in plain site in the latest version of the Project Fi app.

Why this matters: Project Fi is Google’s strange but intriguing take on wireless service. You need a Nexus phone, which is engineered to bounce between Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and open Wi-Fi networks for service. The service is pretty cheap with data costing only $10 per GB, but the lack of any type of group plans and limitation to Nexus phones has made it impractical for most consumers.

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Those who have yet to return their faulty Galaxy Note 7 are literally playing with fire.

Two incidents this week illustrate just how seriously Note 7 owners ought to take the threat of the phone’s faulty battery. One example comes from a St. Petersburg, Florida man who left his new Note 7 charging inside of his Jeep while unloading furniture. He returned to find the car consumed in flames. The aftermath is pretty devastating.

Fox 13