Google Assistant soon to be assisting other Android phone owners

Initially an exclusive feature of Google’s Pixel phones, the Google Assistant will soon be available for download on other Android smartphones.

A Google blogpost indicated that the Assistant is set to be made available to a wider range of smartphones currently running Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Starting this week, users in the United States—to be followed by those in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom—will be able to install the Google Assistant in their compatible phones.

The ‘assistant’ will also be coming to German-speaking users. Support for other languages will be rolled out next year.

Google Assistant is also expected to appear with some of the latest crop of smartphones fresh from the Mobile World Congress, happening now in Barcelona, Spain.

If you’ve been looking forward to having Google Assistant in your device, it’s about time to brush up on your “Ok Google” along with already drawing up a mental list of all the tasks you’d want Assistant to help you with. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Android 7.0 Nougat now out via over-the-air updates

Android 7.0 Nougat, the latest iteration for the popular smartphone OS, is finally being rolled out today via over-the-air updates for Nexus phones.

The devices that are expected to get the update first are as follow:

* Nexus 6
* Nexus 5X
* Nexus 6P
* Nexus 9
* Nexus Player
* Pixel C
* General Mobile 4G (Android One)

Earlier, Google announced that the LG V20 would be the first device to launch with Nougat, and it’s rather interesting that the new OS version is not being launched together with a new Nexus device, reports The Next Web.


As with the developer preview, Android Nougat will come with 72 new emojis and new Bluetooth quick setting controls. Apps will also behave differently based on location and be able to run side by side, thanks to the new multi-window support.

Android Nougat will also support Vulkan and Daydream for VR purposes. Do keep in mind that while the OS will be VR-ready, the device that it is installed on may not be.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net