Yahoo Mail gains new theme colors, subfolders, stars and more

Yahoo Mail for Android has received an update that brings a number of new features along with it, including 11 new theme choices. The app now features a simpler, more personalized experience, allowing you to even select different themes for each account you have added. From red to purple, orange and more, there is likely a theme here for just about every style preference.

The other changes, according to Yahoo, include:

• Rename Accounts: Long-press any of your accounts in the account switcher to give them new names like “Personal” or “Work.”
• Photo Options: Preview or save any photo or image you’ve received in a message by tapping on it. In compose, move any image between the message body and the attachment tray by pressing on the “…” on the image.
• Subfolders and More: Long-press on any folder to rename it, delete it or create a subfolder.
• Stars: In settings, enable tappable stars to see them in your inbox and other message lists. Also, don’t forget that you can set custom swipes, so you can star any message you like with just a swipe

You can download the latest update from Google Play.

Google’s March Security Update is now live — here’s what you need to know!

Keyring vulnerability fixes top this month’s list of fixes to the Android operating system.

Google’s monthly update system continues to offer important fixes to vulnerabilities many folks aren’t aware ever existed in Android, and the March list includes 19 issues all over the OS. These updates are rated either Moderate, High, or Critical in their Severity, and along with the update released to address these issues is a detailed explanation of what is being fixed. As is often the case with these monthly updates, contributions come from all over the world as well as Google’s internal security teams to ensure Android is always getting better.

Here’s what you need to know about the fixes being made available in Security Level March 01, 2016, as well as when your phone or tablet will get the update.

The March update for Android addresses six Critical issues, eight High issues, and two Moderate issues. These include elevation of privilege vulnerabilities, remote code execution vulnerabilities, remote denial of service vulnerabilties, and mitigation bypass vulnerabilities all over the OS. The most significant of these issues, according to Google, was a remote code execution vulnerabilities found in Mediaserver and libvpx. These issues could have allowed a third party to use MMS media or browser playback media to execute code on your phone or tablet by means of a specially crafted file that behaved maliciously instead of just playing media. Google has released fixes all the way back to Android 4.4.4 to address these issues.

As is often the case with these updates, Google claims no evidence of active attacks using these vulnerabilities exists.

Elevation of privilege vulnerabilities in MediaTek drivers and Qualcomm’s performance components were also addressed in this update, as well as in Mediaserver and Keyring. If exploited, these vulnerabilities could have made it possible to access more than the app had been given permission to access. The same goes for information disclosure vulnerabilities in telephony, libstagefright, WideVine, and the Android Kernel, only instead of access to more of the system functions a malicious app could have had access to more of your information than you’d given permission to access.

As is often the case with these updates, Google claims no evidence of active attacks using these vulnerabilities exists. Images for Nexus phones and tablets containing this March update are now available on the Google Developers site, with Over-The-Air updates expected within the week. Google provided these updates to all of their Android partners at least 30 days ago, and the companies that have committed to providing security updates as quickly as possible — like BlackBerry which is already shipping the March update on the Priv — will be detailing their update plans as soon as they can.

Google hires 4chan founder Chris Poole

Christopher Poole, who founded the popular Internet community board 4chan, is now a Google employee. Poole, who goes by “moot” online, revealed his new job on his personal blog.

Poole didn’t reveal any specifics about his new job at Google but seemed to offer some hints in his announcement:

When meeting with current and former Googlers, I continually find myself drawn to their intelligence, passion, and enthusiasm — as well as a universal desire to share it with others. I’m also impressed by Google’s commitment to enabling these same talented people to tackle some of the world’s most interesting and important problems.

I can’t wait to contribute my own experience from a dozen years of building online communities, and to begin the next chapter of my career at such an incredible company.

4chan was founded by Poole in 2003 and has since become one of the world’s most popular community message and image boards. Poole announced his departure from 4chan in early 2015, followed by the site’s sale to 2channel founder Hiroyuki Nishimura.

Pebble Time snags jumbo emoji, expands in-app language support

Pebble is pushing out a new set of updates to both the Pebble Time firmware as well as the Pebble Time Android app, bringing along some notable tweaks such as expanded in-app language support and jumbo emoji. On the firmware side of things, the most notable change is the addition of jumbo emoji. Now, when you’re sent a single emoji, you’ll see a bigger version than normal. The firmware update also refines some of the watch’s Health activity notifications.

The Pebble Time app for Android, on the other hand, has expanded its language support to include six languages. The app update also includes improvements for the Send Text app, along with some general bug fixes.

Here’s the full breakdown of what’s new in these updates, from Pebble:

Pebble Time Firmware 3.10 Release Notes

• Jumbo emoji. Jumboji? See the big change when you receive a single emoji.
• Refined Pebble Health activity notifications.
• Support for iOS notification filtering and other features introduced in version 3.10 of the Pebble Time app for iPhone.
• Bug fixes and performance improvements.

Pebble Time App for Android 3.10 Release Notes

• Improved the Send Text app based on user feedback.
• In-app language support now includes English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
• Bug fixes and performance improvements.

To grab the latest firmware, you can check inside of the Pebble Time app by heading to Menu > Support > Update Your Pebble.

You have only 3 days to order this ‘Kiss Me! I’m Android!’ t-shirt

It’s March, the month that’s filled with madness, spring and St. Patrick’s Day. In the spirit of St. Patty’s Day and the spirit of Android, we’re offering a limited edition t-shirt featuring Android Central’s mascot Lloyd. For just 3 days, you can order the “Kiss Me, I’m Android!” t-shirt.

The front features Lloyd with a jaunty hat, a pipe and a smattering of clovers. We’re still not sure of Lloyd’s heritage, other than to say he’s 100% Android!

Show your support for Android Central by picking up a t-shirt or hoodie today. We also have women’s t-shirts!

Orders may not arrive prior to March 17th, but we’ll do our best (and we’re keeping an eye out for four-leaf clovers). We also can’t be responsible if random people come up and offer to kiss you!

See at Teespring

Portal to take center stage in Valve VR demos at GDC 2016

Valve will be showing off new virtual reality demos next week in San Francisco during the 2016 Game Developers Conference. The demos will almost certainly be using the HTC Vive headset which the smartphone company has developed in partnership with Valve and its SteamVR platforms.

Valve’s brief email announcement on the demos is as follows:

Valve has announced plans to debut “The Lab,” a compilation of new VR experiments, at next week’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA. Set in a pocket universe of Aperture Science, “The Lab” offers multiple ways to enjoy room-scale VR. It will be offered free of charge via Steam this spring. More information will be made available next week at GDC.”

Aperture Science is, of course, the main setting for Valve’s popular Portal series of puzzle games, which has already been used in at least one SteamVR demo.

Valve’s Robot Repair Center for HTC Vive puts you inside Portal’s Aperture Labs

While you patiently await the arrival of your HTC Vive virtual reality headset, you can get a new look at what the gaming experience will be like. Polygon has posted a walkthrough of Aperture Labs Robot Repair Center, a VR game set in Valve’s Portal universe that puts you inside Aperture Labs so you can perform, you guessed it, repairs on robots.

Unsurprisingly, it seems Valve has a hidden joke or two in the game. Keep an eye on the phone early in the walkthrough.

Robot Repair Center isn’t the only game set in Aperture Science bound for the HTC Vive. Valve will also be showing off demos set at Aperture Labs at GDC 2016.

If you haven’t already, you can pre-order the Vive directly from HTC for $799.

See at HTCVive.com

Marshmallow update now rolling out to T-Mobile HTC One M8 and LG G Stylo

If you’re using an HTC One M8 or LG G Stylo on T-Mobile, your wait for Android 6.0 Marshmallow is now over. T-Mobile’s support documents indicate that the Marshmallow update has started rolling out for both phones, bringing along a number of improvements, including features like Doze Mode, granular app permissions and more.

According to T-Mobile, the update for the HTC One M8 should bring it up to software version 6.20.531.5, while the LG G Stylo will move up to software version H63120b. Keep in mind that, since the update only just began rolling out, it may take some time to reach everyone. Once you do get your hands on the update, however, be sure to shout out in the comments below, and chime in on our forums with your thoughts on the update!

Google Project Fi ditches the invite system, now open to all in US

Project Fi is no longer available by invite-only.

Despite Google I/O 2016 being just around the corner, Google has made an announcement about Project Fi, which we expected to get an update on during the company’s annual developer conference. The project debuted 10 months ago. It’s a cross-carrier network that automatically switches carriers and finds open Wi-Fi for your device to provide you with a solid connection at all times.

It’s been available for Nexus device owners so long as they had received and accepted an invite from Google. But that’s no longer the case.

“We launched Project Fi as an invitation-only Early Access program to make sure we could deliver the best quality of service to our first customers,” Google explained through a blog post. “Today, we’re excited to be exiting our invitation-only mode and opening up Project Fi so that people across the US can now sign up for service without having to wait in-line for an invite.”

Project Fi appears to still be limited to Nexus devices however. In fact, for the next month, Google is discounting the Nexus 5X to $199. Project Fi connects to the cellular networks of both Sprint and T-Mobile and requires you only pay for the amount of data you use each month.

You can learn more about how Project Fi works from our breakdown piece.

READ: Google I/O 2016: Here’s what to expect from the keynote

New in our buyer’s guide: The Xbox One wireless adapter and more!

Before we set about reviewing all the phones announced at Mobile World Congress last month, we decided to give our gaming and audio buyer’s guides a refresh. In addition to culling some older products, we’re inducting a few new ones. The most recognizable of the bunch is perhaps the Xbox One wireless adapter, though you might also be familiar with the wireless Bragi Dash earbuds that we reviewed recently. Rounding out the list, we’ve added Master & Dynamic’s $549 MW60 wireless over-ears — for those who can afford it. Check out our full guide here, and stay tuned for further updates in the coming months.

Source: Engadget Buyer’s Guide