Marshmallow starts rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is currently receiving its update to Marshmallow in the U.S. The update is for both the 8- and 9.7-inch Wi-Fi-only versions of the tablet, and weighs in at over 1GB.

The Marshmallow update brings a number of enhancements and user experience improvements, including Doze, which helps cut down on battery usage. The update should roll out automatically, but you can always check in Settings to grab it manually.

Discuss the update in our forums!

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

• Read our Galaxy Tab S2 review
• Galaxy Tab S2 specs
• The latest Tab S2 news
• Join the forum discussion!

9.7-inch model:

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8-inch model:

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Which Canadian carrier is the best at pushing Android updates?

Avoid all of these issues by buying a Nexus. But if you don’t want to, here’s some advice.

I get asked this question a lot: Which carrier updates its Android devices the fastest? It’s not an easy one to answer, since there are so many factors. But thanks to data from the carriers themselves, we can finally come to some sort of a consensus on the matter.

If you want the fastest and most transparent updates, bring your service to Telus.

Why Telus?

There are a few reasons to go with Telus if you want the best experience updating your Android phone.

• First, Telus is generally the fastest, especially when it comes to Samsung devices.
• Second, Telus is the most transparent, consistently keeping its easy-to-understand Software Updates page current and relevant.

At the end of the day, these are the two most important factors when deciding which carrier will respect the update process of most carrier-sold Android phones.

It can be argued that Telus is more invested in offering expeditious Android updates because delivering on customer service promises is a core tenet of the provider’s marketing strategy. So too is the reason for a distinct lack of bloatware on said Android devices; I usually ask for a Telus loaner device from a manufacturer because it is the least encumbered with unnecessary apps. Telus is also better at scheduling monthly security updates for its Android devices, something we’ve seen U.S. carriers like Verizon do a better job of in recent months.

If you want the fastest and most transparent updates, bring your service to Telus.

Rogers and Bell have content strategies to push, which usually involves embedding video and commerce apps on their devices. Telus, with no such ties, approaches Android software like it does its entire aesthetic: clean, and simple.

Finally, Telus is usually slower to roll out features like Wi-Fi Calling and VoLTE that may impede the update release schedule of various Android phones. Rogers, for example, twice halted the rollout of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop to the Galaxy S6 last year due to bugs in Samsung’s implementation of Voice Over LTE on the carrier’s network.

What about Bell and Rogers?

Being the three biggest carriers in Canada, priority is usually given to Rogers, Bell, and Telus when OEMs like Samsung and LG deliver big-time updates. As we’ve already explained, Telus is often the first, but not always: Bell and Rogers are generally quite good at staging simultaneous rollouts unless there are specific reasons for such a delay.

For whatever reason, Rogers has struggled to push updates to its growing Galaxy line in recent months, offering its versions of Android 6.0 Marshmallow weeks or months after Bell and Telus. Given that Bell and Telus share a network, updates can be pushed to devices sold by those carriers at the same time, but as with all things, it comes down to priorities.

Give me the data, punk

Sure. Let’s look at the last few months.

LG G4 (6.0)	Feb 2, 2016	Feb 3, 2016	Feb 10, 2016
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (6.0.1)	April 5, 2016	April 5, 2016	June 1, 2016
HTC One M9 (6.0)	Feb 4, 2016	Jan 19, 2016	Feb 5, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S6 (6.0.1)	April 17, 2016	June 22, 2016	June 22, 2016

Telus isn’t always first, but as the data show, it is usually among the first to receive the updates, and is never solely last.

Why is Canada usually second to the U.S.?

Are you talking about in hockey? Because in that case we’re not. If you’re referring to phone updates, then you’re right.

Canada is a relatively small market in relation to the United States. Manufacturers deal with limited resources internally, and would rather customers buy a new phone than update an existing one. Still, a certain number of them are expected within the lifespan of a handset, and after speaking off the record to representatives of a number of Canadian carriers, it’s clear that the country is pretty low on the priority list — rarely, if ever, will we receive a significant update before the same device in the U.S. Indeed, many of the updates are formatted for American versions of the handset and adapted to fit the slightly modified Canadian SKUs.

Rarely, if ever, will Canada receive a significant update before the same device in the U.S.

The odd time that Rogers or Telus pushes out an update before Verizon or AT&T, it’s usually the result of extended network testing on the part of the U.S. providers, or significant changes to the network code that require additional quality testing. All updates must meet the stringent requirements of both countries’ regulators to ensure that 9-11 and other emergency services are always available and working correctly.

Over the past few years, not only have updates to Android devices become more frequent, but intra-version bug fixes have become more common, if not the norm. Much of this can be chalked up to Google’s own commitment to monthly security updates on its Nexus phones, but some of it must be attributable to a normalization within the carriers of an update culture.

An investment in your future

Android updates aren’t always about flashy new features; they are just as often about important bug fixes that protect you from unforeseen exploits and hackers. Back when the Stagefright exploit was a big concern in the Android community, Telus was not only the first carrier to post important information for its customers to easily digest the information, but it was proactive about releasing fixes for as many older Android devices as it could. It could have done better, but it was comforting to know the issue was earnestly being addressed.

Of course, Telus is still a carrier, and must balance available resources with its desire for customer service. It’s not going to release every update ahead of Rogers and Bell, and will occasionally be last, or be fraught with issues. Indeed, if you want the fastest and most comprehensive update schedule on an Android device, purchase a Nexus 5X or 6P — either from Telus, or directly from the Play Store — which affords you the best of both worlds.

But if it’s an LG G5, a Samsung Galaxy S7, or a BlackBerry Priv you’re after, and want to pursue the road most subsidized, then Telus is your best bet for a comprehensive Android update solution.

How to share a picture from your Android phone to Facebook

How do I share pictures from my Android phone to Facebook?

Maybe you took a trip somewhere exotic, or maybe the kids were doing something extra cute. Whatever your reason, uploading pictures to Facebook is a very popular sharing method. Android and Facebook provide several methods to share your photos — use the Facebook app, use your phone’s photo gallery, or use Facebook from a mobile web page — and we’re here to walk you through it.

Download: Facebook (Free)

• How to share a picture to Facebook using the Android app
• How to share a picture to Facebook from your photo gallery
• How to share a picture to Facebook using the mobile web page

How to share a picture to Facebook using the Facebook app for Android

Launch the Facebook app from the Home screen or the app drawer.
Log in to Facebook if you’re not already logged in.

Tap Photo.

Tap Allow if your phone prompts you to allow Facebook access to your photos.
Tap one or more photos you’d like to share.

Tap Done when you’re satisfied with the photo(s) you’d like to share.

Tap Public or Friends to choose who to share the photo(s) with.
Type or add any information you find pertinent: your location, tagged friends, emoticons.

Tap Post.

How to share a picture to Facebook from your Android photo gallery

Launch the Photos app from your Home screen or the app drawer.
Tap a photo you’d like to share to Facebook.

Tap the Share button. It looks like < with a dot at each point.

Tap the Facebook button.
Type or add any information you find pertinent: tag friends, add location, add feelings.

Tap Post.

How to share a picture to Facebook using the mobile web page

Launch your browser from the Home screen or app drawer and go to Facebook.com.
Log in to Facebook if you’re not already logged in.
Tap Add Photos.

Tap the Plus button.

Tap Allow if your phone prompts you to allow Chrome to take pictures and record video.
Tap Documents for existing photos, or Camera to take a new photo.

Tap the photo you’d like to share or take a new photo. You can add more than one photo by tapping the Plus button again.

Tap Preview.
Type or add any information you desire: location, feelings, or friend tags.

Tap Post.

Android Marshmallow

• Read our Marshmallow review
• Will my phone get updated to Marshmallow?
• Welcome to the Marshmallow era
• Join the discussion in our forums

Google Play Movies & TV finally gets Android TV playback right in new update

A much-needed tune-up in Google’s latest Android TV app updates.

It seems odd that the Android TV apps I liked the least were Google’s own.

But nevertheless, it was. Sure, all my purchases are in Google Play Movies & TV and all my subscriptions are in YouTube, but pausing was a two-click job, and seeking with any precision was a nightmare. As someone who does a lot of rewinding and scene-skipping, that made my viewing more complicated, as I’d often overshoot my marks or stop short thanks to the seeking system in place.

No more.

Last week, Google began pushing out an update to its Play Movies & TV app for Android TV. It got rid of the complicated playback controls we had before and replaced them with a simple timeline and an option beneath for captions. Rather than tap back and forth between playback buttons then activate them with Enter/A, your simple tap left and right to seek and tap Enter/A to pause/play.

This makes rewinding just a few seconds a single tap on your remote, in case you just missed the last joke because someone was talking over the movie. It’s great, it’s glorious, and I’ve only got one question now: when is is coming to YouTube?

Yeah, YouTube still has the old controls, with its extra taps and its awkward seeking. YouTube is even worse because there’s one or two carousels below the playback controls as well. I often accidentally switch videos when all I really wanted to do was restart my video. It’s over-complicated. It’s annoying. It needs to change.

The new playback controls from Play Movies & TV will fit in nicely with YouTube, in fact they’re quite similar to the new timeline on the YouTube Android app. The new controls are also more in line with the controls we already know and enjoy in Hulu, Netflix and other streaming apps.

The other change in this update is minor; the Play Movies & TV app got a new banner for your home screen. Hooray! (Or not, if you preferred the old one.)

So what are you thoughts on the update? Any other binge-watchers out there rejoicing over the new controls?

How to print from your Android phone or tablet

How do I print straight from my Android phone or tablet?

As Android technology progresses, so does your ability to get everything done right from your Android phone or tablet. Google has designed a cloud printing app that works with your printer connected either to your wireless network or to your computer via USB. Here’s how to set up Google Cloud Print within Chrome on your computer and how to start printing directly from your Android device.

• How to add your printer to Google Cloud Print
• How to add the Google Cloud Print app to your Android phone or tablet
• How to print from your Android phone or tablet
• Printers compatible with Google Cloud Print

How to add your printer to Google Cloud Print

Launch Chrome on your computer.

Click the menu button in the top right corner. It looks like three horizontal lines.

Click Settings.

Click Show advanced settings.

Scroll down and click Manage under the Google Cloud Print heading.

Click Add printers.

Click the printers you want added to Google Cloud Print.

Click Add printer(s).

How to add the Google Cloud Print app to your Android phone or tablet

Launch Play Store from your Home screen or app drawer.
Tap the search field.

Type cloud print.

Tap the Search button. It looks like a magnifying glass.
Tap Cloud Print by Google Inc.

Tap Install.

How to print from your Android phone or tablet

As long as the Google account you have activated on your computer is the same Google account activated on your phone or tablet, you’ll be able to see your printer. If you don’t know how to add Google accounts to your Android device, check out our guide.

How to print a local file from your Android phone or tablet

Open the file you’d like to print. You can open files stored locally (found in Photos, Gmail, Docs, file manager apps, etc.) or files stored on cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox. In this case, we chose a picture in Photos.
Tap the menu button in the top right of your screen. It looks like three stacked dots.
Tap Print.

Tap the drop-down arrow. It is located near the top of your screen.

Tap the printer you’d like to print from.

Tap the print button. It looks like a printer.

How to print a file from the internet on your Android phone or tablet

Tap the menu button (looks like three stacked dots) when you’re viewing the webpage with the content you want printed. The menu button might look a bit different, depending on your browser.
Tap Print.

Tap the drop-down arrow. It is located near the top of your screen.

Tap the printer you’d like to print from.

Tap the print button. It looks like a printer.

Printers compatible with Google Cloud Print

Most modern printers are compatible with Google Cloud Print. There are some exceptions, so to avoid frustration, Google has created a list of all printers compatible with Google Cloud Print.

Don’t fret quite yet if your printer isn’t compatible with Google Cloud Print. Some manufacturers have created their own apps for printing from their phones and tablets; Epson, Brother, Samsung, and HP are included in this list.

Printing is achieved by downloading the manufacturer’s app off the Play Store, opening the app, choosing a document from your internal phone storage or cloud storage, and printing to your wireless printer. It’s easy, it’s streamlined, and it works great if you only have one printer.

How do you print?

Let us know how you print from your Android phone or tablet in the comments section below.

Android Marshmallow

• Read our Marshmallow review
• Will my phone get updated to Marshmallow?
• Welcome to the Marshmallow era
• Join the discussion in our forums

Sony’s powerful Xperia X Performance now available in Canada

Sony Canada has released its impressive new flagship, the Xperia X Performance, on two Canadian carriers: Rogers, and Bell.

Available for $199.99 on a 2-year plan, or $699.99 outright, the device is available to purchase today at Bell, and can be reserved at Rogers for a July 14 release date. Rogers’ version comes with a free pair of Sony headphones with every reservation.

Sony’s Xperia X Performance is a more powerful version of the Xperia X, which Android Central reviewed and mostly enjoyed. It features a 5-inch 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 23MP rear Exmor RS camera with an f/2.0 lens, a 13MP front-facing camera, and a 2,700mAh battery, running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Aside from the more powerful processor over the Xperia X, the X Performance also features IP65/IP68 dust and waterproofing, along with Category-9 LTE support with the Snapdragon 820’s X12 baseband solution.

• Sony Xperia X Performance at Rogers
• Sony Xperia X Performance at Bell

In addition to the Xperia X Performance, Bell and Virgin Mobile have also released the cheaper Xperia XA, which substitutes Qualcomm for MediaTek, and cuts some corners in the camera, storage, and battery capacity. It starts at $0 on a 2-year term and $349.99 outright.

• Sony Xperia XA at Bell
• Sony Xperia XA at Virgin Mobile

Xperia X series specs

Operating System	Android 6.0 Marshmallow	Android 6.0 Marshmallow	Android 6.0 Marshmallow	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Display	5-inch 720p	5-inch Full HD 1080p	5-inch Full HD 1080p	6-inch Full HD 1080p
Processor	MediaTek Helio P10	Qualcomm Snapdragon 650	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	MediaTek MT6755
Storage	16GB	32GB	32GB	16GB
Expandable	microSD up to 200GB	microSD up to 200GB	microSD up to 200GB	microSD up to 200GB
RAM	2GB	3GB	3GB	3GB
Rear Camera	13MP with Exmor RS	23MP with Exmor RS	23MP with Exmor RS	21.5MP with Exmor RS
Front Camera	8MP with Exmor R	13MP with Exmor RS	13MP with Exmor RS	16MP with Exmor R
Networks	LTE (4G), LTE Cat4, GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G), UMTS HSPA+ (3G)	LTE (4G), LTE Cat6, GSM GPRS (2G), UMTS HSPA(3G)	LTE (4G), LTE (4G) Cat9, GSM GPRS (2G), UMTS HSPA (3G)	LTE (4G), LTE Cat6, GSM GPRS (2G), UMTS HSPA(3G)
Charging	micro-USBPump Express+ 2.0	micro-USBQC 2.0	micro-USB QC 2.0	micro-USB QC 2.0
Waterproofing	None	None	IP65 / IP68 dust-tight & water resistant, Capless USB	None
Battery	2300mAh	2620mAh	2700mAh	2700mAh
Dimensions	143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm	143 x 69 x 7.9 mm	143.7 x 70.4 x 8.7 mm	165.1 x 78.7 x 7.6 mm
Weight	138g	156g	165g	189.9g

Want to learn more? Read our reviews and hands-ons for the Xperia X series.

• Sony Xperia X review
• Sony Xperia XA hands-on
• Sony Xperia X Performance hands-on

Instagram’s ‘Explore’ tab gets more personal with recommended video channels

Finding videos you like in Instagram should now be a little easier thanks to the latest update to the app’s Explore section. When browsing Explore, you’ll now see “Picked for You” channels loaded with videos based on your favorite topics.

From Instagram:

Diverse communities flourish on Instagram — from comedians and bakers to skateboarders and hip-hop dancers. Now, you’ll see new channels filled with the best videos from around the world based on topics you find interesting.

Video channels were introduced to the Explore feed in April after also allowing videos up to 60 seconds in length. Both changes must have had a decent impact, as Instagram notes that it has seen the time people spend watching video jump by 150% in the past 6 months.

In any case, it sounds like you should start seeing video channels that will be of greater interest the next time you start browsing your Explore tab. Do note, however, that this feature is only currently available in the U.S., but it should be on its way to the rest of the globe soon.

Boston Dynamics made a robot dog that can do your dishes

While it may not be as heartwarming as Cal Worthington’s dog, Spot, Boston Dynamic hopes its newest quadrupedal robot, SpotMini, will find a place in your home. The SpotMini is a smaller version of BD’s existing BigDog line of robotic pack animals. It’s roughly 55 pounds — compared to the Alpha Dog’s 240 — and stands about two feet tall. Unlike the larger versions, SpotMini doesn’t rely on hydraulics. It’s completely electric — reportedly the quietest Dog that BD has ever built — and can run for up to 90 minutes between charges.

The SpotMini will come equipped with a suite of navigation, guidance and perception sensors which will enable a degree of autonomy, though it will still require its human to dictate its high-level functions. That is, it’ll will be able to handle a variety of household tasks but isn’t quite Rosie the Robot just yet (fingers crossed that the Atlas will fill that role).

The SpotMini’s coolest feature, however, has got to be its manipulator arm (which sometimes doubles as its face). So, remember when BD showed off its Big Dog hucking concrete cinder blocks around like empty soda cans?

SpotMini does the same except way more gently. Rather than hurling bricks, the SpotMini leverages its arm to load glasses into a dishwasher, throw trash into a garbage bin or right itself after falling down.

The SpotMini is still in its prototype phase. We’re likely to see a couple generations of domestic robots like the Buddy or Pepper before the SpotMini makes it to market. But once it does, your next pet might need a power outlet.

Source: Boston Dynamics (YouTube)