[Update: Beta 2] Google announces Android 7.1.2 beta for Nexus and Pixel devices

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 21, 2017       

Article: 31/01/2017

Google has just announced Android 7.1.2 Beta, which is an incremental maintenance release focused on refinements, so it includes a number of bugfixes and optimizations, along with a small number of enhancements for carriers and users.

The initial devices to get Android 7.1.2 Nougat Public Beta includes, Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, and Pixel C. While, the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 won't get 7.1.2 Update.



Google says to expect the final release of latest Android version (7.1.2) in just a couple of months. For now, users can grab the Beta Factory Images from below link.


Download: Android 7.1.2 Factory Images

Via: Android Developers

Update: 21/03/2017

Android 7.1.2 Beta 2 with build NPG47I is now rolling out for selected Pixel and Nexus Devices

The update adds new Notification Gesture to the Nexus 6P and it also brings Pixel Launcher, Pixel-style nav buttons to the Pixel C.

Android 7.1.2 Beta 2 adds 'Swipe fingerprint scanner to open notification' feature to the Nexus 6P

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 21, 2017       

Yesterday, Google announced Android 7.1.2 Beta 2 for selected Google Pixel and Nexus Devices. The new Android version includes a number of bugfixes and optimizations, along with a small number of enhancements for carriers and users.

As reported by a Nexus 6P user on twitter, Android 7.1.2 Beta 2 also adds new gesture to open the notification shade using the fingerprint sensor. 



Google is expected the release final version of  Android 7.1.2 Nougat on April 3, 2017.

via: AndroidPolice

[UPDATE! Second Teaser] Samsung Posts Galaxy S8 Teaser Video, Unpacked Scheduled for March 30 in Korea

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 20, 2017       

Article: 3/03/2017

We all know Samsung is readying to unveil its flagship device of the year, the Galaxy S8. Now, Samsung has aired the first Galaxy S8 TV commercial in South Korea.

According to an industry analyst "Samsung’s rare move to release a TV ad for the Galaxy this early appears to (be an attempt to) keep LG from dominating the nation’s premium smartphone market before the S8 rollout."

Samsung will be using the metal and glass body with the S8. The Galaxy S8 will sport a big 5.8-inch screen, whereas the S8 Plus will feature a 6.2-inch Quad HD+ display. 

At the heart of the phone, there will be a Snapdragon 835 SoC and the company will release another variant of the phone with their Exynos 8895 chipset, coupled with 4GB of RAM (U.S. and Europe) and 6GB of RAM (Korea and China). Storage on the phones might go up to 256GB, according to previous rumors. 

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to launch on March 29 in the US and UK, and on March 30 in Korea.

Source: koreaherald

Update: 3/20/2017

Here's another Samsung Galaxy S8 Teaser Video

Samsung announces Bixby: An intelligent personal assistant

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 20, 2017       

Samsung has announced Bixby, its upcoming AI assistant for the Galaxy S8 and an answer to Apple's Siri and Google's assistant.

This upcoming Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus will be coming with an extra button on the left side if the phone, below volume controls. Pressing it will activate Bixby, Samsung's new voice assistant. 

With Bixby, Samsung has employed artificial intelligence, reinforcing deep learning concepts to the core of our user interface designs. 

Bixby offers a deeper experience thanks to proficiency in these three properties: 

• Completeness: Bixby will be able to support almost every task that the application is capable of performing using the conventional interface (ie. touch commands)

• Context awareness: When using a Bixby-enabled application, users will be able to call upon Bixby at any time and it will understand the current context and state of the application and will allow users to carry out the current work-in-progress continuously.

• Cognitive tolerance: Bixby will be smart enough to understand commands with incomplete information and execute the commanded task to the best of its knowledge, and then will prompt users to provide more information and take the execution of the task in piecemeal.

Starting with smartphones, Samsung will apply Bixby to all other "Samsung" appliances including your air conditioner or TV. Since Bixby will be implemented in the cloud, as long as a device has an internet connection and simple circuitry to receive voice inputs, it will be able to connect with Bixby.

Samsung plans to eventually release an SDK to enable third-party developers to make their applications and services Bixby-enabled easily.

We will get to know more about Samsung's AI assistant on March 29.

Source: Samsung

Xiaomi Announces the Redmi 4A at ₹5999 in India

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 20, 2017       

Today Xiaomi announced the availability and pricing details of the Redmi 4A in India. With 16GB of internal storage, the Redmi 4A costs ₹5999 and will be available through Amazon India and MI's website.

With Redmi 4A, you get a 5" Display with Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 CPU, 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory which can be expanded upto 128GB via a MicroSD card. The Device is packed with 3,120mAh battery and runs MIUI 8 on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow.



It comes in Dark Grey, Gold and an exclusive Rose Gold color, the Dark Grey and Gold variant will go on sale on March 23 at 12 noon, while the Rose Gold variant will be available on April 6.