Do you use the Google Now Launcher? If so, there are a couple of new features that may be of interest to you. Google is now pushing out an update to its home screen launcher that includes bug fixes as well as new capabilities. First off, the update for the Google Now Launcher adds support for auto-rotation, meaning that your homescreen will now rotate horizontally and vertically, as nearly everything else within Android is able to do. This has been requested for a good long while, particularly as most third-party launchers allow for auto-rotation on the home screen.

The second new feature deals with icons. Google has had issues in the past with developers not following its icon sizing guidelines, so it’s taking a new step to keep them in check for users utilizing the Google Now Launcher. With this latest update, the Google Now Launcher will use software to automatically shrink overly large icons and expand overly small icons, giving a consistent icon size. This has been available in third-party launchers, too, but it’s good to see Google integrating it right into the Google Now Launcher.

The update is now rolling out, though it may take a bit of time to hit your device. Be patient and drop a comment down below when you get the update!

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While Google Cardboard certainly isn’t going to be competing spec for spec with the big boys in the increasingly crowded VR market, it is continuing to make the case that it can be the best option for those that aren’t looking to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars to experience VR.

Today’s update to the Cardboard SDK for Unity and Android brings with it something that is every bit as critical to the immersive nature of VR as the visuals, namely spatial audio. What this means is that sound will be delivered in a fashion simulating how we perceive sound in real life. Rather than isolating sounds to the left or right channel, the new SDK factors in the listener’s head as well as the position of the sounds to deliver the feel of sounds coming from one direction to the other. The SDK even allows for differentiating the sound by environment, so that  sounds in an open field would sound very different than those in a small room.

According to Google, they have optimized for mobile CPUs, and this additional functionality should have a minimal hit to performance. If necessary, developers can reduce fidelity on less critical sounds to reduce CPU load.

If you are a Google Cardboard developer interested in checking all this out, hit the source link below and you’ll find a sample Android app as well as documentation.

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New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. We’ve shown in the past that this community can discover great apps and propel them to new heights. Our weekly Fresh Meat column highlights new apps with fewer than 100,000 installs. Browse our new Android app picks below and let us know which ones you enjoy.

Trackendar

Description: This app helps you to track common events, habits and chores. Presents them on a nice monthly view so you can see at a glance what’s been going on and provides reminders so you don’t forget to log what happend each day.

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Pander – Food Delivery

Description: Harness the variety of restaurant options available, without having to trudge through tons of menus – let Pander learn what you like, and then build meals tailored specifically to you with just one tap.

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Bodyweight Fitness

Description: Level up your fitness and strength, gain flexibility and learn more about calisthenics. Make a healthy change in your life by becoming more active, aware and motivated. Exercises are presented in an easy and simple way to understand.

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Seeso

Description: Seeso lets comedy fans stream hand-picked, ad-free, and on-demand comedy from the comfort of your favorite device. Stream an extensive collection of never-before-seen Originals, quotable classics, next-day NBC late night, stand-up specials, bingeable library shows, and so much more.

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Radio Disney Junior

Description: Download the official Radio Disney Junior app! Join host Genevieve Goings (from Disney Junior’s Choo Choo Soul) and listen to Radio Disney Junior on your phone or tablet anytime, anywhere!

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PhotoAffix BETA

Description: PhotoAffix allows you to combine photos together, in vertical or horizontal orientation, to create one single image. A common use case for this is to create multiple device art screenshots of an app, and combine them together to make a showcase image.

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AT&T Landline Texting

Description: AT&T Landline Texting allows customers to send and receive text messages from an existing landline or toll-free phone number in the United States and Canada.

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Podcast

Description: Introducing the Podcasts app, an amazing way to discover, subscribe to, and play your favorite podcasts. Explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video podcasts in the Featured tab, or browse Top Charts to see what’s hot right now.

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Contact Lenses Time

Description: LENSES TIME is a reminder for contact lenses. You don’t need to remember when to change your contact lenses! Insert lenses duration and the app will update automatically the counter of days left until the expiration of your contact lenses.

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Chromium Watch Face

Description: Chromium Watch Face! Analog watch face for Android wear with a dark background with chrome numbers.

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The LG G5 is destined to be one of 2016′s biggest flagships, but the rumor mill has been surprisingly quiet regarding the device. But a new report from CNET Korea is changing that, with the site reporting that the LG G5 will have an intriguing new design to allow for a removable battery. Rather than simply peeling off the backplate to access the battery, the G5 will instead use what LG is calling a Magic Slot, which will allow the bottom of the device to be removed, so as to allow users to slide batteries in and out at will.

You can check out the render up top, which is based upon eyewitness accounts of the design. LG is reportedly utilizing the Magic Slot in order to create a unibody device while still allowing users the option of a removable battery. Very few devices continue to offer removable batteries, making the feature a bit of a selling point for the G5.

Interestingly, the bottom portion of the device also appears to house the microphone and possibly the microSD card slot, which could technically make the LG G5 one of the first modular phones on the market. That being said, the design only allows for removing and inserting a battery, so the modular flexibility isn’t nearly as great as a test device like Project Ara.

We’ll keep you posted on further news regarding the LG G5.

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When it comes to Android, Huawei clearly dominated the headlines last week during CES. The Huawei Mate 8 is possibly the most powerful Android smartphone we have ever seen, but the new Huawei GX8 is also worth considering if you’re not willing to shell out $600+ for a new device. 

With the GX8, you get quite a lot. It comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 615, 2GB of RAM, 16GB expandable storage, 13 and 5-megapixel cameras and a 3000mAh battery. It also sports a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone, but Android 5.1 and Huawei’s EMUI might make it a little tough to choose over similar devices like the Nexus 5X. On the design front, the Huawei GX8 feels as premium as the newly announced Mate 8, but it is bit chunkier in the hand. The display is bright and crisp and the camera is quick and seems to capture pretty good pictures. 

We’ll be sharing our final thoughts on the Huawei GX8 in our upcoming review. 

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With CES behind us, our focus is now zeroed in on Mobile World Congress and all the new flagship phones that will be announced at the end of February. We’re expecting Samsung, HTC and LG to show off new devices, but it looks like Sony may have something in store for us as well. Leaked images of the upcoming Sony Xperia C6 have hit the web, showing off the front of the phone and its near bezel-less display, which appears to be wrapped in 2.5D Gorilla Glass. Based on its specifications (5.5-inch 1080p display and octa-core MediaTek MT 6755 processor), the Sony Xperia C6 will likely fall into the “premium mid-range” category when it is unveiled.

There’s no word on when the Sony Xperia C6 will hit store shelves or show much Sony intends to charge for it, but it will be facing some steep competition from devices like the Huawei GX4, Xiaomi Redmi 3 and Honor 5X, which are all pretty affordable.

Are you looking forward to buying a decently-spec’d mid-range Android smartphone or are you holding out for a premium flagship device from HTC or Samsung?

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Just days after CES 2016 came to an end, LG is helping us to gear up for MWC 2016.

LG is sending out invitations to an MWC 2016 event that’ll take place on February 21 in Barcelona, Spain. On the invitation, we can see an image of a jack-in-the-box as well as the words “Play begins.”

As for what LG is planning to show at the event, that’s still up in the air. The LG G5 is the probably the first thing that most folks will think of, but the LG G4 and G3 were introduced in April and May, respectively, so while anything is possible, the G5 seems a bit unlikely. LG could be planning something totally new, too. We haven’t really seen any leaks about what LG might have planned for the show, so for now we’ll just have to wait and speculate.

What do you think LG will announce at its “Play begins” event?

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Despite being produced by the same company and even being given a name to denote its heritage, the Nexus 5X hasn’t lived up to its predecessor in the eyes of most Android fans. Naturally, launching in the shadow of its larger and more powerful sibling the Nexus 6P didn’t make things easy for the 5X. While it matches the 6P in a few areas, like camera hardware, it falls short in many others that even the average user can appreciate.

We’ve seen a number of temporary price cuts on the Nexus 5X already, but this $30 price cut to $349 appears to be permanent and should be spreading out to the rest of the retailers in the coming days.

Experience pure #Android for less with the #Nexus5X. Now starting at $349 https://t.co/Rrw2ioUG6U http://pic.twitter.com/MJwe8NNo2g

— Nexus (@googlenexus) January 12, 2016

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This cut brings the Nexus 5X price down to the launch price of the original Nexus 5, which should quell some complaints. While I personally would still recommend saving up for the 6P, the 5X at $349 is certainly a worthwhile consideration for a developer looking for an inexpensive stock device or a price-conscious consumer that wants to stay updated.

At $349, do you think the Nexus 5X will see an uptick in sales or is the mid-range competition just too stiff these days?

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Not exactly an abundance to report on here, but if you are looking to get your calendar in order for the year, you can now reserve May 18-20 for Google I/O.

I/O’16 coming to neighborhood where it all started 10 yrs ago: Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, May 18-20. More details soon. #io16

— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) January 12, 2016

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Interestingly, they are moving to the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View this year after having called San Francisco’s Moscone West home for the last several years.

No details on what the registration process will look like this year, but rest assured we’ll update you as soon as there is more to know.

What are you hoping to see at Google I/O this year?

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It seems that Google is playing with some new functionality for Google Search to kick off the new year, Reddit user tyler_shaw24 has posted some images of his Google Search after installing the January security update on his Nexus 6P and Recent Searches, What’s Hot and Nearby options now appear below his last search.

Nearby is focused on finding restaurants, gas stations, ATMs or coffee shops based on your current location.

Recent Searches — wait for it — shows your recent searches, which has been the default behavior for Google Search to date.

Finally, we have a what’s hot option that shows some current trending Google searches.

Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to check out the feature ourselves, as this would appear to either be a truly experimental feature that not everyone will see or it is slowly rolling out and won’t hit all devices for some time.

What do you think of these options? Would you find this more useful than simply seeing recent searches by default or are you happy with Google Search as it is now?

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