Jason Hahn
Contributing since October, 2017
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118articles
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About Jason Hahn
Jason is a corporate communicator by weekday, freelance writer by weekend. His Android days go back to the atrocity that was the HTC ThunderBolt, but his love for Android began in earnest with the Nexus 5. Jason lives in New Jersey and is always down to chat fantasy basketball (which he used to blog about).
Latest Articles
[Update: More info] T-Mobile Galaxy Note8 will receive Android 8.0 Oreo starting April 1st
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- T-Mobile has published the support page for the update. The OTA clocks in at 1.3GB, and has a build number of N950USQU3CRC2.
A couple weeks ago, unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note8 users in some countries began receiving the long-awaited Android 8.0 Oreo update. In the US, AT&T was the first major carrier to roll out Oreo to its Note8 users, and Verizon and Sprint did the same a few days later. On Sunday, April 1, it will be T-Mobile's turn. And no, this is not a cruel April Fools' Day joke.
F-Droid v1.1 update brings full-screen app screenshots, search results sorting, privacy preferences, and more
F-Droid, the most popular open-source app store, got a rather significant facelift last May and was further refined with the release of v1.0 in October. Now it's been updated to v1.1, which brings privacy preferences, search enhancements, UI improvements, bug fixes, and more.
[Deal Alert] Anker's new PowerWave 10W fast wireless chargers are up to 20% off with codes, other accessories are up to 25% off on Amazon
Wireless charging for smartphones endures, and Anker is pushing further into this playing field with its new line of PowerWave wireless chargers, which the company first announced at the 2018 Mobile World Congress and began selling a few days ago. If you own a phone with Qi-enabled fast wireless charging, Anker's coupon codes for its new wireless chargers sold on Amazon may be of interest. There are also a few other deals on Anker charging and car accessories.Anker's PowerWave fast wireless chargers have a 10W output, which the company says will top up a compatible Samsung phone in 2.6 hours. They're available as either a stand or a pad, and both versions have an internal fan to keep things cool and fast. These come with a Quick Charge 3.0 AC adapter included.Anker is offering 15% off a purchase of one of these new wireless chargers, and 20% off if you purchase two on Amazon (though I'm finding that the 20% discount can be had if you order at least two of either charger; you can also mix and match between the two versions). Here are the codes, which expire on March 29th:
Samsung began rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in early February (only to hit pause for about a week to fix random reboots), and Verizon became the first US carrier to roll out Oreo to those devices a couple days ago. Now there's word that Oreo is rolling out to Galaxy Note8 users in France and possibly some other countries.
Xiaomi promised that the Mi A1 would receive Oreo by the end of 2017, and the company hit a buzzer-beater by rolling out Android 8.0 to the Android One device on December 30th. But the kernel source code was nowhere to be found, a violation of the GNU General Public License, version 2 (GPLv2), and an affront to the development and enthusiast community. It's about two-and-a-half months late, but Xiaomi has finally released the Android 8.0 Oreo source code for the Mi A1.
OnePlus 5T gets Android 8.1, February security patch, improved gesture navigation with Open Beta 4
The latest Open Beta for the OnePlus 5T brings Android 8.1, the February security patch, and a handful of other updates. This comes just a day after the OnePlus 5 got an almost identical set of updates in its latest Open Beta.
If you've been looking for a pair of wireless in-ear Bluetooth headphones to use at the gym, while jogging, or during your commute, here's another great deal for your consideration. Jaybird is a recognized brand in this space, and while the company's Freedom 2 earbuds aren't the most groundbreaking pair out there today, they warrant attention at an all-time low of .93 on Amazon.The Freedom 2's look just about the same as any other pair of Bluetooth earbuds that are linked by a slim cable, which is meant to wrap around your nape. (I've seen too many people putting these cables under their chin.) They also have something called SpeedFit cord management, which keeps the cable more comfortably secure behind your head or neck. Other than that, these sweat-proof and water-resistant buds have 4 hours of playback time; a charging clip that attaches to the volume/mic controller adds another 4 hours of battery life. Tips and fins are included to further customize the fit in your ears. They're charged using a MicroUSB cord.These in-ear headphones launched last fall with an MSRP of $149.99, but the price has steadily dropped since then. A couple weeks ago, we noticed the Freedom 2's were going for $82.95. Now the Carbon (i.e., black) version is going for $72.93, a whopping $77.06 off and the lowest price observed on Amazon, according to CamelCamelCamel. The Gold (i.e., white) version is going for $85.99, which isn't phenomenal but still gives you savings of $64. If you're interested, go on and click the link below.Source: Amazon
Having a Google Home Mini around is often an enjoyable, futuristic experience. But for some, it can feel bizarre saying things aloud to seemingly no one in particular and waiting for a disembodied Google Assistant to respond. Thanks to the wonders of 3D printing, you can make these encounters a little more palpable by giving that virtual assistant living inside your smart speaker an adorable Android robot body.
YouTube TV just became a more appealing option for sports fans thinking of cutting the cord. Starting today, the live TV streaming service now has NBA TV and MLB Network in its lineup of channels. These additions come less than a week before Google increases the subscription price from $35 per month to $40 per month.
Android Auto-compatible head units aren't too difficult to find these days, but they cost a pretty penny and usually won't fit properly in older cars. A developer created a solution called Crankshaft to address both of those issues, and all you need to make it a reality is a Raspberry Pi 3 and a touchscreen.
Snap Inc. is doubling down on its losses, looks to ship two new versions of Spectacles in 2018 and 2019
Oh, Snap. Read that in a voice filled with pity and bewilderment to get the tone here, because the company behind Snapchat is apparently pushing more of its chips into the financial black hole that is its Spectacles. Yes, Snap Inc. is on tilt and has plans for not one, but two new pairs of its eyewear despite lukewarm interest for the first version of the product.
Android P may give users a preemptive call-blocking feature, so long as carriers don't screw it up
Over the past several months, I've become increasingly familiar with how to block phone numbers in Google's Phone app: reject a suspicious call, go into my call history, long-press the dubious number, then tap "Block/report spam." This process is simple enough, but it's still just a reactionary, case-by-case measure. Android P may improve this call-blocking experience by giving users a smarter, preemptive way to block types of phone numbers — that is, so long as your carrier doesn't get in the way
T-Mobile website bug exposed customer logins to hackers, carrier says no accounts compromised
In the words of a famous disc jockey: "Another one." A young hacker-turned-security researcher in England found a critical vulnerability on T-Mobile's website that basically left records of user logins exposed online for hackers to pillage. The bug was reported and patched in December, and T-Mobile says no customer information was compromised as a result of this flaw.
SwiftKey Beta update includes ‘Toolbar’ for quick access to features, customizable stickers
The latest SwiftKey Beta fixed an annoying bug that made typing in comment forms like Disqus in Chrome a headache. Well, it turns out that the update brought a few new features, including an expandable toolbar that sits atop the prediction bar and stickers. If you're the creative type, you'll be happy to know that you can even make your own stickers within the keyboard.
LastPass began its winding path to support Android Oreo's autofill API in August, but the day is finally here: The popular password manager has pushed support for Oreo autofill to its stable, non-beta app. Accessibility-based autofill is still available for older apps (and Chrome) that don't yet support the new implementation.
SwiftKey Beta v6.7.8 appears to fix annoying bug when typing in comment forms like Disqus in Chrome
SwiftKey remains the keyboard of choice for many Android users, myself included. While the app is undoubtedly bloated, its autocorrect and next-word prediction are tops. Sadly, those strengths have gone to crap lately when using SwiftKey to type in comment forms like Disqus in Chrome. The latest SwiftKey Beta appears to fix the issue.
MoviePass announces new annual plan, costs nearly as much as monthly plan but includes a free year of Fandor
If you're a frequent patron of your local cinemas, you've likely heard of MoviePass, the service that gives you a movie theater ticket a day (with restrictions, of course) for a monthly cost. If you haven't heard of the service before or aren't generally interested in enduring the inconveniences involved with going to a theater, maybe this will pique your interest: MoviePass has just announced a new annual plan that works out to a slight savings of $0.34 a month. MoviePass is disingenuously claiming this new plan works out to $7.95 per month, but the $19.95 processing fee pushes it up to $9.61 a month. In fact, the only real benefit to this new annual subscription is a year of free access to the movie streaming service Fandor.
WSJ: Amazon to launch its own delivery service in Los Angeles with plans to expand it to other US cities later this year
Amazon is no stranger to dipping its toe in different stages of the shipping and delivery process. It already uses local couriers to make two-hour deliveries in select US cities, offers consumers the option to allow for in-home deliveries, and operates its own fleet of cargo jet planes and trucks. The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Amazon plans to launch a delivery service of its own in Los Angeles in the coming weeks with plans for a wider rollout later this year.
[Deal Alert] Amazon's Game Day Deals include the Echo Spot for $114.99 ($15 off), Echo Show for $149.99 ($80 off), and more
It's Super Bowl Sunday, which means the culmination of the NFL season is here, an evening of gluttony and imbibing is awaiting some of us, and corporations are ready to flaunt some big-swing commercials. Apparently, this unofficial American holiday also means it's time for Amazon to offer some deals on their Alexa products, including a first-time discount for the Echo Spot.Here's a rundown of Amazon's Game Day Deals:
HMD Global, the exclusive manufacturer of Nokia-branded phones, has done a pretty good job of keeping their devices up-to-date. Late last month, for instance, the company opened up the Android 8.1 beta for the Nokia 8. But this doesn't change the fact that it's been 136 days since HMD's Chief Product Officer, Juho Sarvikas, tweeted that the kernel source code for the Nokia 8 would be shared with the open-source community — and it still hasn't happened.