Adios, mi amor: the Nexus 6 is no longer available from the Google Store
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Honestly, it’s surprising that the Motorola-manufactured Nexus 6 has lasted so long – we thought the Nexus 6’s days were numbered once the Nexus 6P was released but it’s survived a good few weeks even after been discounted. Sadly, though, it’s officially time to say goodbye – if you visit its Google Store page now (which is now only accessible directly via link) you’ll see that the Nexus 6 is no longer available for purchase, which is usually Google-speak for this product has been discontinued.
The Nexus 6 won’t be remembered fondly by everyone – it was the most recent Nexus smartphone to bring premium to the table and its high price and large size was off-putting for many. Those objections have obviously subsided in time for the Nexus 6P, and perhaps we can start to look at the Nexus 6 for what it was – the start of a new trend for Google that has led to more premium products. Of course, the owners of the Nexus 6 will remember it very differently (especially if they’re still using it), and it’s the type of device that you have to use to understand how good it is. Of course, if you do still want to get on the Nexus 6 bandwagon, there’s likely going to be a few floating around at various retailers, but stock is going to be finite from now on, so get on it!
What are your fondest memories of the Nexus 6? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Google Store via Android Police
The post Adios, mi amor: the Nexus 6 is no longer available from the Google Store appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google’s Pixel C tablet now available in the UK from £399
Google’s Pixel C might not be the tablet to replace your laptop, but it’s still a beautifully put together device with oodles of power. If you’ve had your eye on the convertible after first seeing it a few months ago, know it’s now available through Google’s online store, but it don’t exactly come cheap. The 32GB model is will set you back £399, while the 64GB configuration demands the pricier sum of £479. But you wanted a physical keyboard to go with that, right? Well, be prepared to pay £119 extra for either the regular or folio options. Still, at least the tablet itself is cheaper than our original guesstimations based on US pricing. With the launch of the Pixel C in the UK, Google’s latest product line is now available in its entirety, just in case you’re wondering what to get the gearhead in your life this Christmas.
Via: Geeky Gadgets
Source: Google Store
Google wants you to trick out its OnHub router
With its first two OnHub routers, Google has a simple goal: to make the WiFi network in your home a stronger, simpler and more beautiful experience. Its debut hardware, built in partnership with TP-Link, is an already attractive piece of kit, but now the company is going a step further with customisable shells. From the Google Store you can buy one of three new exteriors, which come in either wood, a split black-grey or split white-gold combination. They look quite classy and support Google’s vision that routers should be kept in plain sight, rather than tucked away behind a dusty bookcase. This, it believes, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve WiFi strength and reliability in your home.
The three Pinterest-worthy shells, which cost between $29 and $39 in the US, are only part of Google’s new strategy though. The OnHub team is also encouraging people to mod their existing router housings and, if they have access to a 3D printer, to make their own from scratch. To get you inspired, the company recruited a handful of artists, designers and makers to trick out the TP-Link OnHub router in different ways. The result is a colorful bunch incorporating rope, plants, leather and other unusual materials. They’re all displayed on a special “OnHub Makers” site and from there, you can download a blank template to decorate and wrap around your router, or access a 3D file so that you can tinker with the original dimensions.
Google hopes you’ll get creative and share your best work with other OnHub owners online. Whether or not it catches on, it’s a neat attempt at spicing up what has long been a pretty stagnant product category.
Via: Google (Blog Post)
Source: OnHub Makers, Google Store
The 32GB Nexus 6P can be had for €499/£382 from Amazon France or £410 from an EE store
I think it’s safe to say that Huawei’s Nexus 6P has been warmly received by just about everyone, other than those odd videos showing it being bent. If you live in Europe and haven’t managed to get your hands on one yet, then this could be for you. While the 32GB Nexus 6P is £449 from the Google Store, you can save £40 by grabbing one for just £399 plus a £10 Top-up from a bricks and mortar EE store in the UK, unfortunately, the offer isn’t available online.
You can save a little more if you don’t mind waiting for the handset to be delivered. For today only, Amazon (France) is offering the 32GB Nexus 6P in Steel or Black for just €499 plus €5.76 shipping, or around £382 if purchasing from the UK. The currency conversion rate will depend on your specific bank. Some have reported that the final price has been as low as £363 but I have just gone with Amazon’s conversion for simplicity. That’s a saving of almost £70 over buying direct from the UK Google Store. Of course, if something goes wrong with the handset, you will have to send it back to Amazon France. If that’s a worry, there’s the option of buying one from the EE store instead, albeit for a little extra.
Is this the Christmas present you’ve promised yourself? Let us know if you are picking one up in the comments below.
Source: Amazon France
Come comment on this article: The 32GB Nexus 6P can be had for €499/£382 from Amazon France or £410 from an EE store
Instagram brings 3D Touch-style feature to Android
The ability to detect pressure in touch screens and turn it into functionality: whether you see it as a gimmick or not, we can’t deny we do need more layers of interaction to make smartphones flow better. We love our long presses and and right clicks, but these are input methods we haven’t bee exploiting to their fullest in the mobile universe. Sure, you can move apps around and pull up menus, but that can’t be it… right?
See also: Apple iPhone 6S Impressions… from an Android user
The good news is it’s not so hard to replicate this feature, even if Android’s ability to recognize force and do something with it is not evolved yet. It can still be imitated with a long press. That is exactly what Instagram did with the Android version of the app (7.13.0).
In Apple’s implementation, Instagram is able to show a preview of an image when pressing harder on photo icons within the Search section. It works similarly in the newest version of the Instagram Android app, but you don’t have to press harder…. just press longer.
See also: 15 best Android apps of 2015
The feature seems to work like a charm, but as it goes with these updates, they roll out periodically. You could either wait a around for the Google Play Store to push it to your device or you could opt to manually install this APK file.
What do you guys think of this added functionality, though? I feel like it still needs to evolve and become more adopted by the community. At this point it seems people are a bit confused by it. But that is why I am not too upset that Apple is making it mainstream first. Keep in mind the iPhone maker is not good at introducing new technology, but they certainly have a talent for making it popular.
Android Marshmallow increases its Android Distribution share to 0.5%
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Google has released its Android Distribution numbers for this month, and Android Marshmallow has shown some sizeable growth. After recording a population of 0.3% last month, Android Marshmallow has grown to 0.5%, which seems like nothing, but considering the total population of Android that’s included is close to a billion devices, that’s a a pretty huge number of smartphones and tablets that are now enjoying the latest version of Android. It’s still going to take some time for Marshmallow to gain sizeable traction, but plenty of manufacturers have queued up their updates for the near future – let’s hope they come before the new year.
Other notable changes include Android Lollipop increasing its share from 25.6% to 29.5%, while KitKat, Jelly Bean and Ice Cream Sandwich all saw their share decrease this month. And for those interested, Gingerbread and Froyo are still hanging around with 3.4% and 0.2% respectively.
What do you think about the Android Distribution numbers for December? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Android Developers via Droid-life
The post Android Marshmallow increases its Android Distribution share to 0.5% appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google Store kisses the Nexus 6 goodbye
It is a new era for Google. One in which users don’t have to opt for a supersized smartphone just to get the Nexus experience. The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X have come to complete the equation with a couple form factors, varied prices and different levels of performance. The time for the Nexus 6 to die was imminent, and Google has pulled the chord today.
See also: Nexus 6P and 5X vs the competition
In what appeared to be a very quiet move, the Nexus 6 has disappeared from the Google Store. There is no available comment or announcement from the Search Giant, so we are not sure if this is really a permanent thing, but I would probably bet on it.
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This gets some of us a bit melancholic. Regardless of whatever inconveniences it may have brought, it was a special phone. Made by Motorola, it introduced a great design and build quality that didn’t need anything fancy to offer a solid experience. It also happened to be the first Nexus device to come at this (nearly) 6-inch size. And though its initial price was a bit high, it was worth every single penny.
I say it was a great smartphone with one compromise… a large one (yes, I am talking about the size). It will be sad to see it go, but better things are coming… and some are already here! Oh, and if you are really having a hard time saying goodbye, you can still get the 32 GB Nexus 6 from Amazon for only $349.99!
Google Fiber sets its sights on Los Angeles and Chicago
More than six million people might be getting access to Google’s famous 1Gbps internet. Today, Google publicly invited city leaders from both Los Angeles and Chicago to consider bringing Google Fiber to their respective cities.
Long the dream of high bandwidth users fed up with traditional internet service providers, Google Fiber is currently limited to eighteen major cities across the United States. Tech fans nationwide are eager to give the service a spin for themselves, but bringing Fiber to a new area isn’t as easy as turning on a switch. It takes extensive cooperation between Google and city governments, so Google must convince each city that Fiber will bring more benefit than hassle.
See also: Want Google Fiber? The Fiber team tells us how to get it!
Google is pitching that higher internet speeds in Chicago will benefit the 40,000 pre-existing tech jobs in the area, and will probably even lure in a fair amount more. For Los Angeles, and its concern with the entertainment industry, Google is suggesting that faster internet speeds may mean artists and musicians can spend more time on their work and less time dealing with bandwidth issues, possibly shortening the gap between project releases.
This is pleasant marketing work, but really the biggest argument for Google Fiber rests in a simple fact of reality: the future will take place on the internet. If a city hopes to stay engaged and functional throughout this century, investing in better internet infrastructures and faster internet speeds is a must.
Google isn’t guaranteeing Fiber to Chicago and Los Angeles just yet. A lot depends on how city leaders will respond to this offer. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on this development? Are you a Chicago or Los Angeles denizen? What’s your current internet speed like, and what do you stand to gain from Google Fiber? Let us know in the comments!
Next: 10 best android gifts under $50 (2015 holiday gift guide)
Goodbye Nexus 6, you will be missed
Out with the old and in with the new. Google released the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, and immediately started selling the last gen Nexus 6 at a discounted rate. It was only a matter of time before they discontinued it completely, and that day has come.
If you check the Google Store, it says “The Nexus 6 is no longer available for purchase”. Not only that, but the Nexus 6 isn’t even on the main phones page anymore. We doubt Google sold literally every Nexus 6 they had in stock and will probably continue to sell them in other locations like Amazon for the time being.
Come comment on this article: Goodbye Nexus 6, you will be missed
Facebook’s Security Check comes to Android
Facebook’s account security feature, dubbed Security Check, landed on Android this Tuesday. It allows users to quickly review their current account settings and tighten sharing controls, log out of the network on unused devices, enable login alerts and change their passwords. The service came to Facebook’s desktop version this July and will reportedly arrive on iOS next.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Source: Facebook
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