Android Nougat beta update rolling out to Honor 8’s testers

Honor is now rolling out EMUI 5.0, based on Android Nougat, to the Honor 8 for those who signed up for its beta program. Honor teamed up with the folks at XDA Developers to recruit the beta users on November 7, and now the 60-or-so selected applicants can test an early version of the software before its official release.

EMUI 5.0 has already been seen on the Huawei Mate 9 (Huawei owns EMUI and the Honor brand) and includes a new design inspired by the colors of the Aegean Sea, tighter security and the ability to add an app drawer to the home screen – for those who prefer a more traditional Android setup.

See also:

Android 7.0 Nougat review: an Android version for Android fans (Update: what's new in Android 7.1?)

October 21, 2016

In our Honor 8 review, we found some aspects of the software experience to be frustrating, but were pleased to learn of Honor's commitment to delivering updates and new features every three months for the first year.

There's no indication of when the final software might roll out to over-the-air to the Honor 8, but we'll keep you informed.

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The OnePlus 3 will get updates just as long as the OnePlus 3T

Following the arrival of the updated OnePlus 3T and discontinuation of the original OnePlus 3, owners of the original device were feeling a little trepidatious that they may be left behind. We've already confirmed that updates for both devices will arrive at the same time, but we now have confirmation that the OnePlus 3 will get every update the OnePlus 3T receives, effectively adding six months to its update shelf life.

See also:

Android Nougat update: when will you get it?

October 19, 2016

To be clear, the OnePlus 3, despite coming out six months earlier than the 3T, will continue to receive updates alongside the OnePlus 3T until the newer device reaches the end of its update life cycle. This is obviously great news for any OnePlus 3 owners worried about the update fate of their now "old" device.

The OnePlus 3 will continue to receive updates alongside the OnePlus 3T until the newer device reaches the end of its update life cycle.

Unfortunately, OnePlus doesn't make any guarantees on exactly how long a device will receive support, so it's hard to predict which Android version will be the last update you can expect for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T. Of course, even if we had a solid end date for support, that still leaves the question of OnePlus' ability to deliver a new Android version in a timely manner.

Software has always been OnePlus' biggest weak spot. Not the quality of the software, mind you, just the company's ability to actually get it out. On this front it's safe to say that OnePlus' update reputation is… let's say, besmirched. But it looks like the company is at least trying to turn that reputation around. Let's just hope that this time the promise pans out.

What Android version do you expect to be the last for the OnePlus 3 family?

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Deal: Square Enix offering 80% off selected games ($0.99 each)

If you're a gamer and looking for a new and exciting game to play on your Android device, we have some great news. Square Enix, the Japan-based developer, has launched a flash sale and is now offering 80 percent off a few of its popular game titles.

• Best Black Friday 2016 deals

You can download Deus Ex GO, Lara Croft GO, Hitman GO or Hitman: Sniper from Google Play for only $0.99. The flash sale is available for a limited time only, but the developer hasn't revealed when exactly it will end. Our best guess is that it won't last for more than a few days.

See also:

10 best new Android games of October 2016!

3 weeks ago

So we suggest that you act fast to ensure you're able to secure the 80 percent discount Square Enix is offering. You can follow the links above or head over to the developer's page on Google Play by clicking the button below, where you'll also be able to check out some of the other games Square Enix has to offer.

But, if you would still rather hold on to your money — despite the discount — feel free to check out our list of the 15 best free Android games of 2016.

Get the deal

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Xiaomi will make its CES debut in January with a global product launch

Xiaomi has announced its first attendance at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, along with a global product launch. The Chinese manufacturer made the announcement on Twitter yesterday but didn't reveal what the upcoming product would be.

CES 2017 will take place between January 5 – January 8 and is expected to see thousands of exhibitors display new and upcoming consumer tech products across a variety of industries. Though Xiaomi is known to many as the manufacturer of smartphones, the company has a number of other consumer electronics products in its catalog, including smart home devices, fitness bands, TVs and laptops.

Hey Vegas! Will be at @CES for the first time launching an all-new product globally. Guesses? Place your bets now! https://t.co/kjAzE0hPO1 http://pic.twitter.com/NWx802raKJ

— Mi (@xiaomi) November 22, 2016

Xiaomi is yet to officially launch a smartphone in the US and this is often the source of speculation. In August, Vice President of Xiaomi International Hugo Barra told Bloomberg: "Of course, everyone expects us to launch smartphones [in the US] in the near future. We don't have a date set for that yet but we are in the process of launching a few products in the US market."

When asked why Xiaomi wouldn't enter the US on a larger scale, Barra said "We have to take things slowly," stating that Xiaomi is still a small company and had to be careful on how it approached its international expansion.

See also:

Xiaomi is a huge hit in India, but not everyone is happy

21 hours ago

What product do you think Xiaomi will launch at CES 2017? Let us know in the comments.

 

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Lenovo Vibe K6 Power expected to be launched in India soon

Lenovo has teased the launch of its next K-series smartphone in India. Gadgets 360 spotted a teaser that Lenovo India shared on Twitter. Since the hashtag for the post was #KickassPower, we assume it would imply Lenovo K6 Power, or Lenovo Vibe K6 Power as the recent branding suggests.

We know, you can't get enough of the K series. Can you guess the name of the upcoming K?
Hint: It's got #KickassPower. http://pic.twitter.com/Q8LsoNNJdM

— Lenovo India (@Lenovo_in) November 21, 2016

The K6 Power was unveiled at the IFA 2016 in Berlin earlier this year along with the K6 and K6 Note smartphones. The smartphone was launched in Dark Grey, Gold, and Silver color variants, and comes in two memory variants – 2GB/16GB and 3GB/32GB.

Lenovo Vibe K6 Power Specifications

• Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• Display: 5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080)
• Processor: 64-bit Snapdragon 430 octa-core | Adreno 505 GPU
• RAM: 2GB/3GB
• Internal Storage: 16GB/32GB; expandable via microSD card
• Battery: 4000mAh
• Camera: 13MP rear camera with LED flash | 8MP front camera

The teaser by Lenovo India does not indicate any launch timelines, but expectedly, it won't be too far away. We'll of course keep you posted on the same.

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The Asus ZenFone 3 Max now available in the US for $149

Back in July, Asus announced the Zenfone 3 Max. The device, which went on sale in India a few weeks ago, is now also available in the US.

The ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL) is already for sale on Amazon and can be yours for $149 – shipping included. It is unlocked, has a US warranty and comes in Glacier Silver. You can also pre-order the smartphone from B&H. The retailer is selling it at the same price point as Amazon but, unfortunately, doesn't specify the exact date as to when the device will be in stock and ready to ship.

The ZenFone 3 Max is best suited for those looking for a budget smartphone with a great battery. It packs a large 4,100 mAh battery that, according to Asus, offers up to 38 days of 4G standby time and 17 hours of 3G talk time. In addition, it doubles as a power bank and can be used to charge other devices as well.

See Also:

Asus Zenfone 3 family hands-on

May 31, 2016

Its other specs include a 5.2-inch 720p display, MediaTek MT6737M processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of expandable storage, a 13 MP camera, and a fingerprint scanner. Android 6.0 Marshmallow runs the show, with the Zen UI 3.0 on top. Specs-wise, the ZenFone 3 Max won't blow your socks off, but given the price point, it's still a solid device.

If you want to get your hands on one, head over to Amazon's or B&H website to place your order/pre-order by clicking the button below.

Are you considering buying it? Or would you rather opt for a different device? Let us know.

Order it from Amazon Pre-order it from B&H

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Google Wifi beats competitors in independent test

Google's upcoming Wi-Fi router, Google Wifi, is designed to provide a reliable internet connection throughout the home on all devices. In an effort to see how it stacks up against the competition before it ships on December 5, Google asked an independent company, Allison USA, to put Google Wifi up against two similar systems, Eero and Luma.

The three products are all "mesh" systems, which means they use a group of routers that communicate wirelessly with each other to create a single Wi-Fi network. Instead of just one router, mesh systems allow for multiple sources of Wi-Fi throughout your home, theoretically providing better coverage.

See also:

OnHub to be compatible with Google WiFi

October 5, 2016

Though Google considers mesh systems to be a superior alternative to the typical single router setup in most households, there are, of course, different levels of efficiency offered by each product.

In the test, Allison connected two units from each of the three systems in a 3,000 square foot, two story home. It then measured the Wi-Fi speeds at four different locations with a Macbook Air. You can see the results in the graphic below which shows the average speed in Mbps (megabits per second) from more than 60 measurements.

Google Wifi came out on top, with the fastest Wi-Fi speeds at each location – sometimes providing more than double the performance. In one of the upstairs bedrooms, for example, Google Wifi was five times as fast as Eero (228 Mbps vs 42 Mbps).

Of the results, which were posted on its blog, Google said: "Google Wifi is able to outperform other mesh routers because we built it from the ground up to provide fast Wi-Fi in every room. Each Google Wifi point packs high-gain antennas along with powerful amplifiers that make the signal stronger and farther-reaching."

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Deal: Google Home on sale for $99 ($30 off) at Google Store and other retailers

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Google also reaffirmed its commitment to providing better, faster home Wi-Fi and said Allison would continue to run tests on its system in the coming weeks.

Google Wifi is available for pre-order now at the Google online store for $129 for a single unit or $299 for three.

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