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Amazon's fork of Android is known as Fire OS, and it ships on all of the company's tablets and TV devices. The current version, Fire OS 5, is getting a bit long in the tooth; it's based on either Lollipop or Marshmallow, depending on the device. Amazon revealed quite a few new products recently, but one announcement flew under the radar - Fire OS 6.0.According to a developer page on Amazon's site, the update is based on Android 7.1.2, instead of the Android 5.1 or 6.0 that Fire OS 5 used. That's quite the leap in features, and for Fire TV devices, some Android TV abilities like Picture-in-Picture and Content Recording will be included. It's not clear if multi-window will be supported on Fire OS 6, as some OS forks drop the feature (like MIUI), but the post primarily focuses on the improvements for Fire TV devices.Amazon hasn't revealed much about updating its existing devices, except that all existing Fire TV products will not be updated to Fire OS 6 (at least, for now). These include the Fire TV Stick first/second-generation, Fire TV first/second-generation, and Fire TV Edition. The wording is a bit vauge, as Amazon simply says, "At this time, the previous Fire TV devices will not uplevel to Fire OS 6." That seems to leave the door open for an update in the future, but if so, it won't happen anytime soon.Fire OS 6.0 will premiere on the 4K Fire TV, which is available for pre-order from Amazon and will ship in October. Hopefully we'll find out more information about v6.0 for Fire tablets soon.Source: Amazon developer documentationThanks: Faheem
Sony's Concept is an optional program for Xperia X owners, which switches out the custom Xperia software for a nearly-stock Android ROM. Android 7.1.2 was released for Nexus and Pixel phones only two weeks ago, and it looks like Sony will be the first OEM besides Google to push the update.
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Google's Android beta program allows the more intrepid among you to take a first crack at new updates, but it can be a little irksome to then move to the final build. For example, the 7.1.2 testers are still running the beta while the final version has rolled out to non-testers. Now, it looks like Google has started updating the beta build to final, but only for the Nexus 6P so far.
After just posting the April security patch builds based on Android 7.1.1 moments ago, Google has now published Android 7.1.2 builds for Pixel and Nexus devices. You can find the images here and the OTAs here. The Nexus Player and Pixel C started to receive 7.1.2 just days ago.
Android O is expected later this year, but there's still (at least) one more update to Android 7.1. Google released the first 7.1.2 Beta back in January, followed by a second beta in March. We've now received multiple reports of 7.1.2 being pushed to users outside the beta program.
Roaming isn't something that those of us who live in more populated areas encounter often, but it can be a common occurrence for people in more rural or less-developed places (or Europe, as many of you have pointed out). Android has always been pretty terrible at showing what kind of data connection you're roaming on in the status bar; thankfully, the latest 7.1.2 Nougat beta has brought this much-needed, yet simple update to this indicator.
In light of all of the Android O news and highlights, let's take a step back and look at something new in the latest 7.1.2 beta build that landed a few days ago. The battery section of the Settings now includes a "Usage alerts" option in the overflow menu, which lists any apps that are consuming too much battery (if any).
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The Pixel C is still the flagship Android tablet from Google, even though it's more than a year old now. Although, it wasn't really living up to its name. Despite all the new things happening with the Pixel brand, the Pixel C didn't even have the Pixel Launcher. That changes with the new 7.1.2 beta, which adds the Pixel Launcher and Pixel-style nav buttons.
If you're using the Nexus 6P and enrolled in the beta program, you should be checking your phone for a new update. The 7.1.2 Beta is rolling out now, bringing the larger 2015 Nexus in line with the other Google devices. Those of us who felt snubbed last month when our phone was left out should feel better now.
Android 7.1.2 started rolling out a few days ago with bug fixes and cryptic "enhancements" for Pixels and Nexuses. One of the more visible changes you'll notice if you own a Nexus 5X is a new option under Settings -> Moves. There's a new Swipe for notifications toggle that enables you to swipe down on the fingerprint sensor on the back of the 5X to drop down the notifications. It's a nice gesture that lets you check notifications without removing your index from the back of the phone or trying to reach the top of the display with your thumb.
Google has just announced Android 7.1.2, a maintenance release focused on fixing bugs and improving performance. The initial devices eligible for the update are the Nexus 5X, Nexus Player, Pixel C, and both Pixel phone models. The Nexus 6P will be eligible, but not yet, with Google saying they expect the 7.1.2 beta will be "released soon."