Top Android stories of the week (September 2nd)
The amount of Android news each week can be overwhelming, but you can follow the best of the best with an app called EarlyBird – News for Android. It includes ALL of the Android news you crave and lets users decide what matters most to them.
EarlyBird has recently received a huge update that allows you to subscribe to specific topics so you never miss stories about your favorite things! Download the app on the Google Play Store or, for desktop users, find related discussion in the Android Forums News section.
Here’s what you picked as your favorite news stories for the week:
#10 – Snapdragon 800/801 Nougat
39 likes – Qualcomm has announced that it will be ending support for the Snapdragon 800 and Snapdragon 801 processors. Due to this announcement, any devices powered by these processors will not be able to support Android 7.0 Nougat.
#9 – Google Contacts update
40 likes – Google Contacts has been updated to version 1.5 and brings many new changes. The update adds user interface changes, a new way to remove duplicate contacts, and moved the overflow menu items to a navigation drawer.
#8 – Google Now commands
41 likes – Google Now is one of the most powerful services that Android takes advantage of. With the ability to control multiple apps with nothing more than your voice, some of the best commands can be lost in the sauce. This list shows you some of the best Google Now commands that you can take advantage of right now.
#7 – USB Type-C to HDMI cables
43 likes – A new cable has been announced that will allow your USB Type-C device to be connected either a TV, monitor or projector.
#6 – Android Nougat battery issues
43 likes – Owners of the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X that have upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat are experiencing some issues with battery life. A poll of over 700 people was created and 45% claimed to have extremely bad issues with battery life after upgrading.
#5 – Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones
45 likes – It seems that Google will be getting rid of the Nexus branding, instead opting for the “Pixel” moniker. The smaller device will be named the Google Pixel, while the larger one will be called the Google Pixel XL.
#4 – Android Nougat review
46 likes – Engadget has published its full review of Android Nougat and says that even though it’s more of an incremental update, it still focuses on refinement. The pros of the review state the improved notifications “are great”, there are faster app installs and performance, and the battery is much better due to the improved Doze.
#3 – Google ends Nexus
47 likes – A new report states that Google will be getting rid of the Nexus branding in favor of a different brand name. The HTC Nexus Sailfish and Marlin will be named something different when officially launched.
#2 – Google Now shortcuts
49 likes – Google is updating Google Now card with shortcuts for various topics including Weather, Dining, Movies, and Shopping. The update isn’t rolling out to everyone just yet, as it seems to be a server-side switch.
#1 – Chrome Desktop Google Cast
53 likes – Google has added Google Cast support to the Chrome desktop application without installing any extensions or applications.
What’s YOUR top news item for the week?
Disagree with the Top 10? Let us know in the comments and vote for yourself everyday by downloading EarlyBird on Google Play!