The OnePlus 6T, after lots of leaks, rumors, and teasers, is now available. It does come with a price increase as usual, but starting at $549, it’s still a great choice. It’s been updated with an in-display fingerprint scanner, teardrop notch, and a battery bump to 3700 mAh. Quite an upgrade from the OnePlus 6.
Weekend Poll: Would you give up the selfie camera for no notch?
Notches. Some absolutely hate them. Some are okay with it but keep the area blacked out. Some don’t mind them at all. Notches have been essential in getting a bezel-less display—keeping aside the fact that some still have chins—while still housing the front-facing camera, speakers, and sensors. Some are as big as the Pixel 3 XL’s and some are as small as the Essential PH-1’s.
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Google might remove Voice Match unlocking on Android devices
If you want to unlock your Android device with your voice, Google allows you to with Voice Match. Simply saying “Ok Google” can unlock and give you access to the Google Assistant. However, it’s less secure than a passcode or fingerprint and a similar voice or a recording of your voice could unlock your device and give somebody total access to your device. Google’s now removing it and replacing it with “Lock screen personal results.”
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October 2018 Android distribution numbers posted, still no Pie
Google releases Android distribution numbers every month for developers to help them prioritize their efforts in supporting different devices. The month’s nearly over, so here are October’s distribution numbers:
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Popular Android phones will now have to provide two years of security updates
Fragmentation is a real problem in the Android world, and devices don’t get updated with the latest security patches regularly. This seems to be changing soon, at least for “popular” devices. Internal documents obtained by The Verge show that Google has mandated that OEMs provide at least 2 years of security updates for certain devices.
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Airtel customers in India can now use the Google Assistant to see their data usage, outstanding bills, and more
Bharti Airtel (Airtel India) announced that all their customers, prepaid and postpaid, can now ask the Google Assistant questions related to their data usage, account balance, etc. It’s currently only available in English with support for regional languages rolling out later.
Some Pixel 3 and 3 XL users are experiencing widespread software issues
The Pixel 3 and 3 XL come with arguably the best cameras on a smartphone and amazing software to match. However, it can’t be all perfect, and the Pixel 3 and 3 XL suffer from software issues that affect the user experience by a whole lot.
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Gboard can now float over apps
Gboard, apart from being a standard keyboard app that supports auto-correct and swipe typing, offers some features unique to it. It has Google Search integration, can help you learn Morse code, and will soon include smart replies for notifications. Adding to that list is a “floating” mode that lets it float over apps.
Google Maps will now include EV charging stations
Google Maps’ newest feature brings information about electric vehicle charging stations to the Map. It’ll include the types of ports available, charging speeds, and how many ports there are. You’ll also see information about the station from drivers, including photos, ratings, reviews, and questions.
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Google Keep Notes updated with Material Theme
Credit where credit is due, Material Theme, Google’s new Material Design style, is making its way to various Google apps and services much faster than the original Material Design did when it launched back in 2014. The latest app to get the redesign is Keep Notes.
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