Latest Articles
Android has a few different methods for printing, one of the easiest and most recognizable is probably Google's Cloud Print. But setting up and using a random printer from your Android-powered phone or tablet isn't quite as easy as it is from a more traditional laptop or desktop computer. According to the folks at XDA, though, that might change with the recent addition of Wi-Fi Direct printing to AOSP.
If you're big into vinyl (records), then you probably recognize the name Discogs. If you aren't, it's a music marketplace for cataloging your collection and buying new albums. And, today, Discogs has released a beta that allows you to make purchases from inside the Android app itself.
TAG Heuer's been showing off a bunch of its watches in Geneva, and one model, in particular, has caught our eye. In addition to the new smaller and cheaper Modular 41 announced yesterday, TAG Heuer has been teasing a diamond-encrusted white gold version of its Modular 45. This Android Wear-powered ostentation can be yours for a mere $200K (190’000 CHF).
Ever since Android Nougat 7.1 (and the second N Developer Preview), developers have been able to add a second set of actions to app shortcuts in supported launchers. By long-pressing a supported app on the homescreen or app list, you can quickly access specific functions in it. Although we've had the feature for over a year, not all developers have updated their apps to take advantage of it, and plenty of us forget that the option is even there. What about you, do you use app shortcuts?
Read update
- According to Sound & Vision who appear to have visited the Qobuz booth at CES, the pricing will be the same in the US vs the UK/EU, but in dollars instead of pounds/euros. In other words:
Streaming music is usually dominated by large names like Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music, but there are some smaller services out there. Tidal might be having a tough time recently, but it's popular among those looking for higher-quality music, and now another name is entering the US audiophile-grade streaming market. Qobuz (don't ask us how to pronounce it) is bringing its high-resolution 40-million track audio library stateside later this year.
Having the word blockchain on your product or marketing in 2017/2018 is quickly becoming like "cloud" was in 2011, or adding a lowercase i or e to the front of a product or company name in the late 90's. What once was a useful technical term is now just another corporate tech buzzword, at most bolted on purely to attract interest. And in the midst of the recent #MeToo developments, Legal Fling has jumped in with its own blockchain-based app for securing contractually-enforceable sexual consent. Sounds hot.
Magisk is probably one of the most well-known and widely used root solutions these days, made famous for its root-detection mitigation strategies. Now both Magisk and the accompanying Magisk Manager have been updated to v15.3 and v5.4.4, respectively, this time bringing the convenience of fingerprint authorization to the dialog which grants root access.
SMS Backup+ was a popular app back in the day, and for many, it's still indispensable. For the unfamiliar, it's an open source app that allows you to back up your SMS and MMS messages into a simple and intuitive conversation view in Gmail, so not only are they automatically stored elsewhere, you can quickly and easily sort through them.
According to a recent article by Bloomberg, late last year Google sneakily picked up a U.K.-based startup called Redux that was working on some snazzy tech which can turn surfaces—like the screen on a phone or tablet—into speakers, and even provide more focused haptic effects. The precise date of the acquisition isn't certain, but according to Crunchbase, the deal was announced last August.
Merry (early) Christmas, OnePlus 5 owners. Oxygen OS 5.0 is now out of beta for the OnePlus 5. Not only do you get to enjoy a holiday taste of Android 8.0 Oreo, but this update also includes the latest security patches for December. The OTA is incrementally rolling out now so it could be a while before you see it, though.
According to an article yesterday published by Yonhap News Agency, LG is reportedly releasing its LG Pay service in the US by June. The report also claims that LG's upcoming G7 and V40 handsets will accompany the launch. For the unfamiliar, LG Pay service will enable users to make payments with supported LG devices on normal credit card readers, similar to the MST used by Samsung.
There have been a lot of announcements at this year's CES, but Satechi's latest Multiport Travel Charger caught our eye for one significant reason: it's able to deliver up to 75W of combined power, with 60W alone over USB-C. Not only is that enough to charge a MacBook Pro, but it's also among the highest wattage we've ever seen.Outside first-party units like Apple's massive 87W brick, there aren't many USB-C chargers that can deliver over 30W. There are a few that can hit 45W, like this one by Anker, and some 60W units from lesser-known companies like Nekteck and Grandstar exist, but this is the first one we've seen from any of the relatively bigger names.
When Lynky announced its Home Intelligence Hub last year, making it the first Google Assistant-integrated touchscreen smart home hub to be revealed, our interest was piqued. Although the company opened up pre-orders via Indiegogo, it didn't raise a ton of cash. Nonetheless, Lynky is soldiering on, further expanding its product line with two new complimentary smart home accessories: the Go Button and Go Sensor.
According to an announcement made by Google at CES, the company's Google Assistant is now on Android Auto. If you're a bit confused by this, that's understandable. Apparently, the previous implementation was just a simpler voice search. Now that things have been upgraded to the full Google Assistant experience, you'll have a wider range of functions and tools available behind the wheel.
JBL/Harman announce too many speakers and headphones, including some with Alexa or Assistant support
Samsung-owned JBL and Harman Kardon have released a flood of products at this year's CES, collectively covering an extensive range of uses. From the new Google Assistant-equipped JBL Everest Bluetooth headphone line, to a literal pile of individually sport-optimized waterproof earbuds and Bluetooth speakers, all the way up to the $4,000 re-release of the 1970's JBL L100, the company has an almost comically massive lineup for the coming year.The full list of new products by JBL/Harman (with a very quick summary and links to the press release for each) are:
Ricoh's Theta V came out just last summer, bringing 4K 360-degree recording in a diminutive package. At the time, Ricoh announced that the new camera would be able to make use of first-party plug-ins via the companion app. Now the company is expanding things to a larger audience, opening up a new "Plug-in Partner Program" for the Ricoh Theta V.
Some of you may not know that we have an Overwatch team here at Android Police. Well, by "team," I mean three of us play Overwatch together sometimes. And, by "play," I mean that two of us flail against a keyboard and get carried by Corbin. Anyway, Blizzard has just released the official Overwatch League app for following the competitive esport's inaugural league season, giving you yet another avenue to not watch us play.
As expected, this year's CES is all about the smart assistant and smart speaker. The latest company to jump onboard isn't quite what you'd expect, though. First Alert, commonly recognized as a manufacturer of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, has just announced its new Onelink Safe & Sound, which combines those previously mentioned alarms with high-end speakers and your choice of Amazon's Alexa or Google's Assistant.
There's a familiar refrain from the readers here at AP every time another smart home solution gets Assistant integration: what about Insteon? Though it might not be quite so well-known as other smart home hubs, Insteon's products have a loyal following. And now that last final complaint has been addressed, as the company has added Google Assistant support to its Insteon Hub.
iHome still, in fact, exists, and just today at CES the company announced a new Google Assistant powered speaker. With a built-in clock and alarm, it's meant to be a smart bedside companion. Although it won a CES 2018 Innovation Award, the new iGV1 pretty much just looks like a sawn-off Google Home with a clock on the front.