Android 8.1 Oreo Officially rolling out starting today!!!

 By Vaibhav Jain on December 05, 2017       

Android 8.1 Oreo is rolling out today (Tuesday) with December Security Patch. The update will be available through OTA for eligible Pixel and Nexus Smartphones.

Android 8.1 eligible devices includes Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P.

If you are enrolled to Android 8.1 Oreo Beta you'll automatically get a stable release within a few weeks.

Android 8.1 Change-log: 

Neural networks API

The Neural Networks API (NNAPI) provides apps with hardware acceleration for on-device machine learning operations. The API supports on- device model creation, compilation, and execution. Apps typically do not use NNAPI directly; instead, NNAPI is meant to be called by machine learning libraries, frameworks, and tools that let developers train their models and deploy them on Android devices.

Notifications

Apps can now only make a notification alert sound once per second. Alert sounds that exceed this rate aren't queued and are lost. This change doesn't affect other aspects of notification behavior and notification messages still post as expected.

Improved targeting for low-RAM devices

Android 8.1 (API level 27) adds two new hardware-feature constants, FEATURE_RAM_LOW and FEATURE_RAM_NORMAL, to Package Manager. These constants allow you target the distribution of your apps and APK splits to normal- or low-RAM devices. 

These constants enable the Play store to promote a better user experience by highlighting apps especially well-suited to the capabilities of a given device.

Autofill framework updates

Android 8.1 Developer Preview (API level 27) provides several improvements to the Autofill Framework that you can incorporate into your apps.

Programmatic Safe Browsing actions

• You can control whether your app reports known threats to Safe Browsing. 
• You can have your app automatically perform a particular action—such as going back to safety—each time it encounters a URL that Safe Browsing classifies as a known threat.

WallpaperColors API

Android 8.1 Developer Preview (API level 27) adds support for managing wallpaper colors. This feature lets you create a WallpaperColors object from a bitmap, a drawable, or by using the first three most visually representative colors. You can also retrieve details of the first three noticeable colors of a wallpaper.

Shared memory API

Android 8.1 (API level 27) introduces a new SharedMemory class. This class allows you to create, map, and manage anonymous shared memory that can be used by multiple processes or apps.

Nokia 9 Release Date Revealed!!!

 By Vaibhav Jain on December 04, 2017       

Nokia's next generation device is expected to feature a total overhaul with new design and major improvements under the hood.

We have already seen the Nokia 9 via Design Leaks. The device is expected to feature bent display just like the Galaxy Note Edge, faster processor, upgraded camera, and tiny chin and top.

HMD hasn’t confirmed a release date for the Nokia 9 and is unlikely to reveal anything until a few weeks before the launch.

However, although 2017 launch looks almost certain, Chinese media Mydrivers is confident that the Nokia 9 won’t arrive this year.

They say that HMD is planning to announce the Nokia 9 with a new Smartphone "Nokia 8 (2018)" on January 19. The Nokia 8 2018 would feature similar specs just like the Nokia 8 but with Full Screen 18:9 Display.

Nokia 8 comes with Outdated 5.3-inch QHD IPS display with huge chin and top bezels. It is powered by the Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. The phone comes dual rear cameras with Zeiss Optics, Splashproof (IP54), OZO 360-degree Audio, and includes USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. The phone runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

Xiaomi reveals the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus

 By Vaibhav Jain on December 04, 2017       

Xiaomi is now all set to announce the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus with 18:9 screens on December 7th.

Donovan Sung, director of product management at Xiaomi has just revealed the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus in a set of tweeted photos.

As of now, there's no information regarding the official specs and pricing. However as per leaks, the Redmi 5 would feature a 5.7" Display with Snapdragon 450 processor while the Redmi 5 Plus would feature a 6" Screen with Snapdragon 625 SoC.

Both the devices will be available in 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB ROM.

Motorola to launch limited edition Star Wars Style Mod

 By Vaibhav Jain on December 03, 2017       

A Few months back Motorola and Lenovo announced the variety of special edition Moto-Mods to commemorate the the release of the Transformers: The Last Knight. And this time they are planning to offer limited addition of Star Wars Style Mod, which are likely to be available in limited numbers.

The Star Wars Limited Edition Moto Style Mod looks Insanely cool and I really can't wait to attach one of those to my Moto Z Play. The Overall package will be available in ¥129 (19.50USD).

Let me be perfectly clear, Just like Transformers Moto-Mods, Motorola plans to sell the Star Wars Style Mod in the China only and there's no indication if or when it will come to other regions. There's also likely to be a limited number available, so if you want one, better start looking on how to import products from China or those who can make it to the China, it would be great if you can bring me one too when available.

Motorola is expected to launch the Star Wars Limited Edition Moto Style Mod in a few weeks. That said, we will let you know if Motorola plans to release these special edition Moto-Mods in any other regions. How bad you want one of these for your Moto Z? Let us know in the below comment section!

Thanks Stuart

Nokia 3 will jump straight to Android 8.0 Oreo

 By Vaibhav Jain on December 03, 2017       

The Nokia 3 will forgo Android 7.1.2 Nougat and will be upgraded straight to Android 8.0 Oreo, HMD has revealed. Juho Sarvikas, Chef Product Officer for HMD Global made the announcement in a response to a Nokia 3 user.

Recently Nokia announced that Nokia 6 and Nokia 5 will be the next Nokia devices to get Android 8.0 Oreo Beta Build. Note that Nokia has already updated the Nokia 8 to Official Android 8.0 Oreo. 

The Nokia 3 is on the last of the list and may get Android 8.0 Oreo by early 2018. The device currently runs Android 7.0 Nougat.

Android 8.0 Oreo is the latest version of Android. The update comes with new features like PIP (Picture in Picture), new emoji, Notification timeout, and redesigned settings menu.