Today Google has released the first Developer Preview of the upcoming Android N release. And yes, this is just called “N” for now, expect the official desert name to be outed alongside its final build many months from now.

It’s a surprise, this, because Google has so far introduced developer previews of its new Android versions at the annual I/O conference, which generally takes place in May. This time, however, the search giant is giving developers a taste of a build that’s even earlier in the development cycle than usual, which means it should have more time to incorporate feedback into the final thing. It will also let Google “hand off the final N release to device makers this summer, so they can get their hands on the latest version of Android earlier than ever”.

What’s new

The big new headline feature in Android N, at least so far, is the addition of a multi-window mode. Or call it split-screen multitasking if you want, it’s the same thing. This will be incorporated by developers into their apps by using a new manifest attribute. Once engaged, multi-window mode will look like you can see in the screenshots below. Notice that it’s not limited to tablets, but will also work on phones, and even TVs – where you’ll even get a picture-in-picture mode.

Next up, in Android N you are able to reply to incoming stuff directly from the notification. This uses the same API as Android Wear, so any app that works with Wear will work with it without the need for any code changes at all.

While we’re on the subject of notifications, the new release also lets developers group notifications from the same app together. The bundled notification can be expanded into individual ones by tapping a newly-introduced expansion button or by using a two-finger gesture.

Doze Mode was put into Marshmallow in order to enhance standby battery life. But while that only works when your device has been stationary for a while, the new revamped Doze Mode in Android N also sometimes kicks in when the screen is off and the device isn’t stationary. Project Svelte has also been worked on some more – it’s an effort to reduce the operating system’s memory use so it can be more usable on low-end hardware.

And in a bit of news that will surely only concern actual developers, Java 8 language features have now come to Android, and you can use them through the Jack compiler.

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Google has already posted factory images for the Android N Developer Preview on its dedicated website. These are available for the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C. The company stresses that this initial release is only intended for developers to fiddle with, and not for daily use or consumers.

It is however making it easier than ever before to test it. Later today a special page will allow you to sign up for the new Android Beta Program. And once you’ve done that you’ll get this Developer Preview build, along with all the others that are coming in the future as over-the-air updates. So you won’t have to flash those factory images to take a peek at Android N.

Google says that it will invite consumers in to have a look the new Android version once it gets closer to a final…

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Nothing speaks status more than a golden phone right? If you share this opinion then you have surely heard of Goldgenie – the company enjoying the plentiful financial support of millionaire James Caan. Now, as Samsung is preparing for the first wave of mass shipments of its latest flagship duo, Goldgenie has already gotten its hands on the devices and is offering them with a golden exterior.

Currently, there is only one modification of the S7 family on offer, complete with a sparkly golden dust effect on its curved back. The 24-karat gold also extends to the frame and buttons, even the camera and flash frames, leaving only the front it its original black color and Gorilla Glass finish for protection. The design is quite reminiscent of the Galaxy S6 edge Stardust model, also currently on offer at Goldgenie, but we hardly think it’s wise to splurge for a full gold treatment and not get the latest tech at hand.

Goldgenie is offering the service with the purchase of a new Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, or your own unit, if you have somehow managed to already get one. The former options come with 64GB of storage and will set you back GBP 2,097.00 for the S7 and GBP 2,297.00 for its edgy sibling.

Source 1 | Source…

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The Buy One, Get One free (BOGO) deal that was leaked two days ago has now become official at T-Mobile for both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge. The offer will become available online tomorrow, and will stay so “for a limited time”, according to the carrier.

Here’s how it works. You grab an S7 or S7 edge with an installment plan, and you get a second one for free after a rebate card. You do have to add a line for the free phone, however. You also receive the Samsung Gear VR headset for free as well as a full year of free Netflix if you purchase before March 18.

The 32GB Galaxy S7 will cost $669.99 upfront, or $0 down followed by 24 monthly installments of $28. It will be out in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum. The 32GB Galaxy S7 edge will be priced at $779.99 upfront, or $59.99 down and then 24 monthly payments of $30. For this model you’ll be able to choose between Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Gold…

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It is no secret that HTC is struggling big time on the Android market. But, while other major players like Samsung and LG are focusing on increasingly more impressive handset offers to wow fans, HTC might have decided to adopt a more business approach in the face of an alleged long-term partnership with Google.

Some yet unconfirmed information was spotted on Chinese social network Weibo, claiming that HTC has struck a partnership with Google to manufacture Nexus devices for the next three years. This comes along with a hint that two new Nexus handsets are already planned for this year, one with a 5-inch display and the other a 5.5-inch one.

If this story holds water then HTC might have just secured its future on the mobile market for quite some time. Nexus fans can also be fairly sure of the well-being of their beloved brand, as HTC does have a history of doing it justice.

The Nexus One was quite impressive when in came out and the same goes for the Nexus 9 tablet, which offered superb performance, an early taste of Android 5.0 and also stunning looks with aluminum edging….

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US carriers are doubling down on the Samsung Galaxy S7 – literally! AT&T is offering a “buy one, get one free” deal for new and existing users, even business users are welcome.

You can get the Galaxy S7 edge instead, but the second phone will still be an S7. That’s if you want it for free, you can instead use the credit to purchase an S7 edge if you splurge some extra.

Note that the first phone can be a new line or an upgrade, but the second must be a new line on AT&T Next 24. In fact, both phones need to be on a Next plan.

You can get unlimited data if you have DirectTV or U-Verse, otherwise you get a 10GB plan (you have the option to keep your old one).

If you already bought an S7 earlier (starting February 26), don’t shake your fist at the sky – your account will be credited for the second phone.

At sale you just pay the taxes on both phones, then after three months you will start receiving up to $695 in credit spread over 30 months. It’s a complicated deal, so ask around your local AT& shop.

By the way, T-Mobile will allegedly launch a similar “2-for-1″…

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After launching an upgrade program in the UK a few days ago, Samsung has it to its home turf as well. The deal sound quite attractive to those who always want to have the latest and greatest from the Galaxy lineup.

As per the official announcement, you can purchase a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge in South Korea and sign up for the 24 month plan, at 7,700 won ($6.35) on top of the cost of the unit. This will apparently allow you to get the latest Galaxy device 12 month later, once it becomes available. That amounts to just roughly $76 for an upgrade.

Factor in the hassle-free upgrade experience and you have a no-brainer. However, we are not entirely sure what happens with the payments during the remaining 12 months of the upgrade plan. Our best guess is that you end up paying them as well, which could mean that you can upgrade only once every two years, or have double payments after the first 12 months.

However, even if this is the case, it still sounds like a pretty good deal. Plus, there was also mention of a Galaxy Note in the source, which could possibly mean that Samsung’s productivity phablet series is also eligible for the plan, or perhaps even better, it might suggest a cross-matching scenario, in which you can pick between a few eligible models each year.

Source |…

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Nexus 5X users have been experiencing a some issues and a few of them are getting squashed today. The big ticket item is “general slow/sluggish performance.” It’s not clear if the camera sluggishness is included in that.

Additional changes include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi improvements (users report choppy playback after long uptime). The issue of the next DND alarm disappearing has been fixed too. Additionally, there are carrier-specific fixes.

The new update (MHC19J for most Nexus 5X devices out there) is rolling out today, so be on the lookout for the notification.

The security updates for March have been included in this…

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One of the greatest new bits about the Galaxy S7/S7 edge is their 12MP camera, with 12 million phase detection agents, as Samsung puts it. That’s the essence of the dual-pixel term that we’ve heard every time the latest top-shelf Galaxies have been mentioned.

The sensor used in the smartphones was so far known to be Sony’s IMX260, but apparently Samsung has its own imager in production with the same capabilities. Announced today, the Samsung-made sensor sounds very much the same as the Japanese one – 12MP, dual-pixels for PDAF, 1.4 micron pixel size, the lot. Plus the added ISOCELL tech, that is, which stands for isolated individual pixels to help reduce color cross talk.

Now, there’s no word in the press release if the sensor is going to be fitted in the S7, but with it already rolling off the production line, that seems to be a likely scenario. Samsung has been known to source sensors from Sony while also using its own in parallel fashion, and the Galaxy S6 was one such example, so it’s no precedent. Forum threads praising one and dissing the other are the natural outcome, we’ll just need to wait for a critical mass of devices to…

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IDC posted a forecast for the development of the tablet market in 2016 and it expects a few major changes. According to it, traditional tablet shipments will decrease by 5.9% in 2016, as the form factor is pushed aside by 2-in-1 devices.

While the latter concept is definitely nothing new, it is seeing a major revival in recent months with new offers coming in from traditional players on the tablet market, as well as new ones, like Huawei and Alcatel bridging the gap.

The form factor makeс sense, as you are not really sacrificing any of the tablet functionality, but you do get the possibility of more productivity, especially now with x86 mobile chips and the full power of Windows 10 and its software ecosystem. Ryan Reith, Program Director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers, commented on the trends:

This momentous shift in form factor will bring along the first significant impact of Windows-based devices that the tablet market has seen,”  “Windows 10 seems to be making headway in both the PC and tablet markets, mainly driven by devices with larger screen sizes. Despite the free licensing on products under 9 inches the growth for Windows-based tablets will be primarily on devices with displays between 9 and 13 inches. Until we see a day where touch is introduced for Mac OS X and inroads are paved to bring Android and Chrome more closely aligned, we believe Windows remains the logical choice for detachable products.

The numbers seem to show that in 2016, the detachable tablet market will show a whopping 73% year over year growth. Even more optimistically, hybrid device shipments are expected to raise from 16.6 million in 2015 to 63.8 million in 2020. The trends also show that more and more users will be opting for Windows 10 devices, mostly at the expense of iOS. Android is expected to maintain the same popularity on tablets to 2020.

Last, but not least, it is worth noting that the push towards increased productivity will also bring about an elevated interest towards larger devices – screen sizes 9-inches and up. These will surely thin out the numbers of the smaller 7-inch or less devices, but it might still take some time, considering the lack of Widows licensing charges on the…

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While 3D is fairly common for movies in the cinema, 3D at home is dead. Samsung and a bit earlier Phillips have officially confirmed that their 20616 TV lineup will not feature 3D screens.

Samsung cites lack of consumer interest and lack of content as some of the main reasons. And if you thought 3D content was rare now, keep in mind that the new Ultra HD Blu-Ray format, the one that will be used for 4K video, has no support for 3D.

Instead, Samsung will focus on image quality with its SUHD TVs, a technology focused on delivering more colors and dynamic range.

Rival LG will still put out 3D TVs, but unofficial reports state that it will halve the number of new models that support the extra dimension compared to last year. Sony will only have 3D on a couple of flagship 55″ and 75″ models.

If you still believe in the 3D dream, Panasonic seems to be the only remaining major player that remains committed to three-dimensional…

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