Fitbit Gets Serious About Smartwatches, No Seriously...

The Fitbit Versa is a different looking watch compared to the Fitbit Ionic, most people will agree that all of the changes here have been made for the better. Fitbit says the Versa is the "lightest metal smartwatch you can buy in the U.S.".

On the Fitbit Versa you'll find three buttons (one on the left and two on the right), and the screen is taller and less wide compared to the Fitbit Ionic. Fitbit's going for a squircle design.

However, don't let the Fitbit Versa's small size fool you. The watch still tracks your steps, calories burned, your quality of sleep, distance walked, heart-rate, has 50M of water proofing, can store 300 songs for offline listening, offers 4+ days of battery life.

Just like the Fitbit Ionic, FitbitOS powers the Fitbit Versa. However, you'll find a lot more features and polish thanks to the 2.0 update that's live on the Fitbit Versa out of the box. The Fitbit Ionic is set to receive a free update that brings all of the new software features found on the Firbit Versa soon. Pre-orders for the Fitbit Versa begin today for just $199.95 at the source link below.


Source: Fitbit

Android P Developer Preview, Now Available

Android P is now available as a Developer Preview! It’s currently available to the Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, and Google Pixel 2 XL at this time.

This is the first Android P build and is labeled as an “alpha” release. It’s for developers here, rather than being used as a daily driver.

Remember this is not a beta, so this isn’t available in the Android Beta Program. Follow the source links for install instructions and file downloads.


Source: Instructions and factory images

Essential Lets Essential PH-1 Owners Join Android Oreo 8.1 Beta Via OTA

Essential is currently offering a beta release of Android 8.1 Oreo. If you've got an Essential Phone and you'd like to try the beta, hit the Essential's developer site link below, select the over the air option near the bottom of the page, and fill out the short form with info like your name, email address, and device serial number. The beta will then be automatically pushed to your device within 72 hrs.


Source: Essential Developer Site

Essential Phone Gets Android 8.1 Oreo Beta

Essential has released the long awaited Android 8.1 Oreo in the form of a beta. Previous beta testers for Android 8.0 Oreo will get an over the air update to Android 8.1 Oreo, if you're not currently enrolled as a beta tester Essential has add a link to side-load the new software on its website linked below.

What's new with Android 8.1 Oreo on the Essential Phone? Essential has add dynamic icons for the calendar and clock apps, and the most important fix of all is said to squash the "slow scrolling jitter fix."

Essential also says that the Android 8.1 Oreo update comes with Google's latest February security patch, making it the first company other than Google itself to push the security patch to its devices.


Source: Essential

Samsung Hosting Unpacked Event On February 25th For The Samsung Galaxy S9

The only thing clear about this mysterious device is “The Camera. Reimagined.” Samsung, the intends to focus on an updated and improved camera system in its latest flagship.

Samsung Galaxy S9 leaks have been surprisingly scarce leading up to this announcement, however it has been rumored that the smaller Samsung Galaxy S9 will only feature a single lens camera while the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus model will have dual cameras similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy S9 handset box has been leaked and will feature a “Super Speed Dual Pixel 12MP OIS” lens.

Essential PH-1 Oreo Beta 3, Now Available For Download And OTA

The third Essential PH-1 Android Oreo 8.0 beta build arrives as version OPM1.170911.254 and weighs in at 1 GB if you download from Essential’s website. If you’re already running Essential's Android 8.0 beta 2, you will receive an OTA that weighs approximately 106 MB.

The new beta 3 build brings Google’s January security patch that includes fixes for the Spectre and Meltdown exploits, as well as miscellaneous stability and bug fixes. In Wednesday’s Reddit AMA, Essential said "it’s working to finalize logistics of the Oreo public release, and that its development and Q.A. teams are working hard to get the release to meet the company’s quality and performance standards."


Source: Essential

Google’s Project Fi Now Offers Unlimited Mobile Data

Google's Project Fi service, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service using Wi-Fi and the cellular networks of T-Mobile, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, and Three.

The pricing model has been fairly straightforward until now, $20 per month for unlimited calls and texts, plus $10 for every gigabyte (GB) of data used. 

Simple right? Well today Google's Project Fi announced a new feature called “bill protection” a feature that effectively brings unlimited data to Project Fi subscribers with a $60 cap in place.

Before bill protection users would pay $20 for 2GB, $45 for 4.5GB, $50 for 5GB, and so on. With bill protection in place, users will pay the usual $10 per GB until 6GB after which they pay nothing extra up to 15GB. If they do hit the 15GB mark they will then begin to experience slower data speeds until their next bill cycle begins unless they opt out of the program and choose to continue paying $10 for every GB they use over 15GB.

Google's Project Fi currently works with a handful of Android devices including the Moto X4, Android One Moto X4, Google Pixel and Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, Google Nexus 6P, and Google Nexus 5X. It’s only open to U.S. subscribers, though the plans work for U.S. travelers in more than 130 countries.


Source: Google Project Fi

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL's Portrait Mode Has Been Ported To Non-Google Devices Running Oreo (APK Download)

Google Camera modder Charles Chow has created a modded Google Camera APK with portrait mode on board for the first-generation Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, the Google Nexus 6P, and Google Nexus 5X. Chow is well-known in the Android community for porting newer features to older phones. 

Charles Chow's explanation of Camera NX is more complicated than he lets on, but to the end user portrait mode simply replaces the lens blur mode. Taking a photo in this mode will produce two images: one HDR+ photo with zero shutter lag, and one with the portrait effect applied.

To get this feature on your Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Nexus 6P, or Google Nexus 5X, simply download Camera NX v7.3 via the source link below. Charles Chow's version of Camera NX is based off of Google Camera 5.1.016, which is the most recent Google Camera v5.1.018.


Source: APK 

LG Reveals Upcoming Google Assistant Powered LG ThinQ Speaker, Prior To CES

 

LG has revealed its upcoming Bluetooth speaker called the LG ThinQ Speaker. The key feature of this speaker is that it comes with Google Assistant built-in.

Along with being able to do Google Assistant tasks like asking about the weather, the news, or anything else; the Google Assistant enabled LG ThinQ Speaker will also be able to integrate with LG's line of smart home appliances.

LG has also partnered with Meridian Audio for the LG ThinQ speaker and the device is capable of streaming high quality lossless files.

The LG ThinQ Speaker will be officially announced at CES 2018 along with LG announcing Bluetooth speakers, portable party speakers, and a Dolby Atmos sound bar.


Source: LG

Google Pixel C Gets The Axe, Google Play Store Stops Selling The Aging Google Pixel C Tablet

Google launched the Google Pixel C as a premium tablet in late 2015, the Google Pixel C is no longer available following its removal from the Google Store. For several months the Google Pixel C Android device was not available for purchase in the U.S. and now the product page has been removed, the Google Store has also drops its tablet category altogether.

Meanwhile, the Google Store’s main navigation has been simplified to just laptops. However, only including chargers and the Google Pixel C’s magnetic keyboard accessory still being available at the discounted price of $99.


Source: Google Play Store