Android N Developer Preview 2 is out

A month or so ago Google surprised the mobile world by launching the first developer preview of Android N way earlier than expected. And now the search giant is pushing out Android N Developer Preview 2 to those who've installed the first one.

While technically this is the third developer preview release for Android N, the second onecame immediately after the first and was only meant to fix some bugs.

Today's Android N Developer Preview 2 packs in some new features as well. Apps can define intent shortcuts, which users can then add to their launcher to get stuff done quicker. For example, one such shortcut would let you send a message to a specific contact, or start navigating home in a mapping app.

Emoji Unicode 9 support is baked in too, which means people emoji will look more human. There are also skin tone variations built in, and Unicode 9 glyphs such as bacon, selfie, and face palm.

Certain general API changes have made the cut, as well as bug fixes of course, and a new 3D rendering API called Vulkan should help developers offer "a significant boost in performance for draw-call heavy applications". The full developer-focused details can be found at the Source link below.

If you're already running the Android N Developer Preview, this update will be rolling out to you over-the-air in the following days. Otherwise, if you want to start testing now, just go hereand enroll one of your Nexus or Pixel devices in the Android Beta Program. You'll then receive the update shortly (also OTA), no other actions are necessary. Finally, you can download the new release and flash it manually if you're into that type of thing.

Google notes that the Android N Developer Preview is still not ready to be used as a daily driver on your main device, because it's not optimized for performance and battery life.

LG's new Rolly Keyboard 2 rolls up along five key rows

Remember the LG Rolly Keyboard? A wireless portable keyboard that could be folded into an easy-to-carry stick. Well, a successor to that device has been unveiled. Appropriately dubbedRolly Keyboard 2, the new keyboard contains several improvements over its predecessor.

While the first-gen Rolly had four rows of keys, the successor rolls up along five. LG has also added a tab at the bottom that the company claims makes it easier for users to open the keyboard. While using the same Bluetooth tech, the Rolly 2 is capable of pairing up to 3 three devices, compared to 2 devices on the original one.

The Rolly Keyboard 2 carries a price tag of around $110, and will be available for purchase in LG's home country of South Korea. There's currently no information on if and when it will be available in international markets.

New Nvidia Shield Tablet K1 update brings Android 6.0.1

Nvidia has started rolling out a new update to the Shield Tablet K1 that adds Vulkan support and brings Android Marshmallow version 6.0.1 to the tablet. Aside from the Android 6.0.1 goodies, the update - which bumps the software version to 1.2 - also includes Android security patch for the month of March, as well as several other features, improvements, and bug fixes.

Here's the complete change-log:

• Supports the new Vulkan API for high-efficiency access to SHIELD’s graphics hardware

• Adds Android 6.0.1 changes including:

        Repositioned Navigation Buttons in Landscape mode & Updated Emojis

        Double Tap Power Button to launch SHIELD Camera app

        Do Not Disturb Until Next Alarm

• Support for Android Doze mode & additional power optimizations

• Adds USB MIDI support

• Adds memory compression enhancement

• Improved Wi-Fi connectivity when waking from sleep

• Fixed Compass functionality

• Fixed Gamepad Mapper issues

• Fixed issues with moving apps to SD card

• Fixed Doom 3 HDMI output issue

• Repositioned Lasso Capture icons in landscape mode

• Update to Android 6.0 Security Patch Level March 1, 2016

• Overall stability and security enhancements

The company says the update will start hitting he original SHIELD Tablet (including LTE models) in a few weeks from now.

Mystery phone revealed: Sony Xperia X's front-facing camera shoots great selfies

We came up with a puzzle for you to solve yesterday and here's the answer - the 13MP image was captured with the front-facing camera of the Sony Xperia X (sans Performance, but the two cameras are actually identical).

Clues were abundant - so much so that we resorted to deliberately asking you to ignore them. Well, those who called our bluff were right, there were plenty of correct answers in the comments, but we didn't expect less from our knowledgeable readership.

The selfie camera of the Xperia X shoots images up to 4,160 x 3,120px resolution - fairly common for a midranger's primary shooter. It uses a Type 1/3" sensor, which is rather large for a front-facer, where the smaller Type 1/4" and 1/5" sensors are usually used. A 6-element lens directs light into it, through an f/2.0 aperture. There's also autofocus in a world of almost exclusively fixed-focus selfie cameras, so all in all, it's a pretty impressive specsheet.

Sony Xperia X selfie sample

But with cameras, numbers come second to image quality and the Xperia X's front snapper delivers. The image is sharp and detailed, colors are vivid, without being over the top and dynamic range hardly leaves us wanting. We're less thrilled about the abundance of chroma noise in darker areas, but not to the point we'd call it a deal-breaker.

So, in just two words - we like. There's more to like about the Sony Xperia X though, and we'll be sharing more of our experience with the smartphone in the coming days, so stay tuned.

LG is now selling batteries and charging cradles for the G4, G3, and V10 for $15 each, $10 when bundled

LG is holding an interesting limited time deal for accessories in the US, as it turns out. You can save 60% when you buy a replacement battery, 50% when getting a charging cradle, and a whopping 70% when combining the two into a bundle.

The smartphone models for which you can purchase these accessories at such steep discounts are the G4, G3, and V10. Do note however that only the battery is available for the G3.

No matter which one you pick, each battery or charging cradle now costs only $15. But when you pair a cradle with a battery for the same device, you'll only pay $20 total. That's quite the offer, so make sure you take advantage of it if you own one of these handsets and feel you need either a new battery, a battery charging cradle, or both.

New version of the Kindle Fire HD 8 is apparently in the works at Amazon

Amazon might be looking to add a new 8-inch tablet to its Kindle Fire-branded lineup soon. The new slate will intriguingly be mostly lower-end than the currently available Kindle Fire HD 8, so perhaps it's actually going to be a more affordable version of that.

Some of the new tablet's specs have been leaked because someone put a prototype through the paces of GFXBench. The device is identified as Amazon KFGIWI, as you can see. The only thing that's higher-end here than in the Kindle Fire HD 8 is the RAM amount, now 1.5GB compared to 1GB.

The new device has an 8-inch 1,280x800 touchscreen just like the Fire HD 8, but its processor is clocked at 1.3 GHz, 200 MHz below. The chipset powering things this time around is MediaTek's MT8163, which sports the Mali-T720 GPU and a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU.

The new tablet has 8GB of storage, a 2 MP rear camera (compared to the 5 MP unit on the Fire HD 8), and a VGA selfie snapper (that's 720p on the Fire HD 8).

It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, undoubtedly underneath Amazon's very own Fire OS fork. There's no telling when the new 8-inch device will launch, but with those specs it could be cheaper than the $149.99 Kindle Fire HD 8, even if just slightly.

HTC 10 promo code nets you 10% discount in the UK, buy the phone for just £512.99

HTC seems to be on somewhat of a discount spree for its just-unveiled new flagship, the 10. Yesterday some promo codes were outed for the North American markets which took the phone's price down by a cool $100 or CAD 100, respectively, mere hours after the launch.

And today the promo code mania has hit the UK. Only in this case you're not getting a fixed amount off the normal price of the device, instead you're treated to a 10% reduction. So you can now buy the HTC 10 for just £512.99, a nice £57 less than its £569.99 recommended asking price.

All you need to do is go to HTC's UK online store, add the 10 to your cart, and then use the promo code HTC10. You'll see the discount instantly appear. As with the American codes, there's no telling how long this one will last either, so use it quickly if you're interested in HTC's new handset.

If you're not sure whether it's worth getting, perhaps our hands-on report will be helpful in making up your mind.

Marshmallow update hits Lenovo A7000

Less than a month after the Lenovo K3 Note started receiving it, the Marshmallow update has started rolling out to Lenovo A7000. The update not only brings Android 6.0, but also includes the Android security patch for the month of March.

Weighing in at around 1.3GB, the update is being rolled out over-the-air. So, it may take some time before it hits your device. However, if you are feeling impatient, you can manually check for it by heading to the Settings menu on your device.

Oh, and make sure you have 2GB of free space on your device before downloading and installing the update.

Google Calendar gets an update for Goals that automatically fit your schedule

Google has updated Calendar for Android and iOS to support goals. Tapping the plus icon in the right hand corner now allows you to add various goals to your daily schedules and best of all - Google automatically finds the best time for them.

Calendar is smart enough to automatically reschedule if another event pops up that's in a direct conflict with a goal. Naturally, you can also postpone (defer) a goal, if now's not the time for it.

Google also boasts that the Goals feature will learn with time and make even better adjustments to fit your daily schedule.

You can expect the update to become available starting today, but it may take a couple of days to show up.

New Amazon Kindle Oasis brings leather covers, better backlight

A Voyage takes you to Oasis, naturally. No, these are not my travel plans, Amazon just announced the new Kindle Oasis, an even more premium premium e-book reader.

The new design tapers the thickness to just 3.4mm on one end, keeping the other end thicker (kind of looks like a folded magazine). AND YOU GET PAGE TURN BUTTONS BACK... sorry, just not a fan of the touchscreen page flip.

Anyway, this curved design allows for premium covers to be magnetically attached (firmly, there are 12 magnets!). The covers are bound in high-quality leather (Black, Walnut, Merlot) and have a built-in battery. This extends battery life and simplifies charging - you can read on the Kindle and charge the cover, then head out with both knowing you'll never run out of juice. Not that this is much of an issue with months of battery life, but still.

The other major upgrade is the backlighting. There are now 10 LEDs that illuminate the page more evenly, compare that to the 6 LEDs in the Voyage and just 4 in the regular Paperwhite.

The screen is still 6" big with 300ppi pixel density, same specs as the Paperwhite and Voyage. The Oasis is lighter though (131g without cover vs. 180g), though despite its name it is not waterproof in any way.

The Amazon Kindle Oasis is pricey at $290/€290 (€350 with 3G).

USB Type-C Authentication protocol aims to solve some of the standard's issues

The USB Implementers Forum together with USB 3.0 Promoter Group have announced a new Authentication Protocol for USB Type-C. The non-profit and the group of companies which includes HP, Intel, and Microsoft among others, have agreed upon a protocol, which lets host systems assess the authenticity of connected devices using 128-bit encryption before any power or data has been transferred.

For one, the authentication should help prevent damaged devices by cables, which don't strictly comply with the standard. So far that issue has been taken care of almost personally by Google's own Benson Leung and his reviews on Amazon, prompting the retailer to adoptdrastic measures.

Power delivery negotiation is only one aspect of the new standard, the other major one is security. The aim is to fight malware using your thumb drive as a vehicle to gain entry into your system. In theory machines can be set up to only accept a connection with drives that have the required security certificates installed.

Existing devices, which meet the requirements of the protocol, will be able to have their firmware and/or software updated (at the will of their respective manufacturers) to bring them up to spec. You can't update cables though, these will need to be replaced.

Meizu PRO 6 unveiled: with 5.2" AMOLED screen with 3D Press

The Meizu PRO 5 launched in September and had monster specs now half a year later the Meizu PRO 6 launches and it's... smaller? Yep, Number 6 comes with a 5.2" screen.

As expected it's a Super AMOLED with 1080p resolution, but the size took us by surprise as the PRO 6 was 5.7" and even the MX5 was 5.5". The "killer feature" of the new screen is 3D Press, Meizu's alternative to 3D Touch. In fact, it seems that Apple was the motivation behind going smaller - the iPhone SE did it. Curved Gorilla Glass 3 protects the screen.

Meizu PRO 6

The Meizu PRO 5 is powered by MediaTek Helio X25 chipset - the 10-core processor and Mali-T880 GPU have been overclocked from the X20. You get 4GB of RAM too (so much for the rumored 6GB).

The company positioned the camera as the big draw. It has an interesting 10-LED dual-tone flash arranged in a circle (but this is not a ring flash, mind you). The sensor has 21.1MP resolution and measures 1/2.4". The camera also boasts Laser and phase-detection AF.

Flash aside, the camera is essentially a match for what the PRO 5 packed. And the battery seems quite small at 2,560mAh, but at least it charges fast with the 24W mCharge 3.0.

The Meizu PRO 6 will be available on April 23 for CNY 2,500 ($385/€340) for the 32GB option and CNY 2,800 ($430/€380) for the 64GB option. Meizu may be looking at a tough sell as both the MX5 and PRO 5 have very similar features. That said the PRO 5 is actually more expensive than the PRO 6.