Action Launcher’s December update fixes Android 7.1’s most annoying feature

More great stuff from Action Launcher.

Action Launcher, our favorite Android launcher replacement, has received its monthly update, and while December’s isn’t quite as noteworthy as some in the past, it’s still got a bunch of great additions.

Specifically, developer Chris Lacy has added, in alpha, badge counts for certain apps, allowing users to check how many unread texts, emails or missed calls they have. According to Lacy, the feature was one often requested over the years, especially since competitors like Apex and Nova included it, but he wanted to make sure it was implemented right. The feature is in alpha, and is not complete; it currently “displays the number of unread SMS messages, missed calls, unread Gmail/Inbox messages and upcoming calendar appointments,” he says.

In a Google+ post, he notes that he “long resisted” adding badges in Action Launcher 3, despite trialling and removing them in Action Launcher 2 Pro, because badges require permissions many Android users are reluctant to concede, and because there is no system-wide badge API like there is in iOS.

As of late 2016, I’m very pleased to report my permissions concerns are largely no longer relevant given Marshmallow’s runtime permission system (which the vast majority of Action Launcher’s users are running).

I maintain my reservations about the lack of proper, system wide Android APIs for fetching an app’s unread count that works with all apps. However, the endless stream of requests and negative reviews over the last two years due to no unread badge support have proven too much for me to ignore any longer. As of the December 2016 update, Action Launcher will begin supporting unread badges, as best it can.

Another fantastic feature is the ability to remove the white “plates” around circular icons that have been redesigned for Nougat. Specifically, should you choose the Pixel style of icons, Action Launcher looks for the version that isn’t entrenched in a circular shield.

Other notables? Quickpage, the always-accessible slide-in home screen, is no longer a premium feature. More of this, please! There’s also a new scrollable dock and the requisite bug fixes and performance improvements.

Android Things is Google’s new platform for building IoT devices

Android Things brings IoT into the development environment so many already know.

The attempt at a grand unification of “internet of things” devices is mostly a dream, but that isn’t stopping big companies like Google from making an honest go of it. The latest initiative from Google to create and unify the internet of things takes its current Brillo and Weave standards and adds more parts to create one platform: Android Things.

Google describes Android Things as “a comprehensive way to build IoT products with the power of Android,” and of course that sounds very familiar to its stance on letting manufacturers use Android to build phones, tablets, TV boxes and more. Android Things is effectively a rebranding and expansion of its previous Brillo platform, which itself was a stripped-down version of Android designed for IoT device.

You can now develop IoT devices right where you already develop apps.

So what’s the change? Well, the biggest difference is that hardware and software developers can now create IoT devices using the same Android APIs and Google Services they already know. Android Things is now available to work with inside of Android Studio with the Android SDK, Google Play Services and Google Cloud Platform. Google will also start releasing updates to Android Things similarly to how it handles other Android releases, with patches and security fixes. In many ways this turns IoT development into a first-class citizen right next to creating apps for Android phones and tablets.

Of course there’s a hardware angle to all of this, and Google is quick to point out the handful of turnkey solutions available for you to buy and start developing on, including Intel’s Edison kit and the Raspberry Pi 3. Qualcomm also announced today that it intends to work with Google to make sure Android Things works properly with Snapdragon processors.

Considering how weakly Brillo has been received since its introduction in 2015, it’s not surprising that Google made a big effort to make developing for IoT devices more like developing for other types of Android. By bringing Android Things into the core Android development experience, many barriers have been dropped and more hardware developers can experiment with using Google’s platform first. Google already has a Developer Preview of Android Things available, if you want to take a look.

The Android phones we’re using, December 2016

We switch phones a lot. Here are the ones we’re using right now.

Part of our jobs as editors here at AC is using all sorts of different Android phones. Big ones, small ones, red ones and blue ones — we try them all. And while you’ll usually find more than one phone in our pockets or bags, we always have one that we use a little more than the rest and do our personal stuff like posting on Instagram or texting our friends with it. We tend to think of that one as our phone.

When we’re talking about phones, which is like all the time, we get the same question over and over — which phone do you use? The answer will change as often as the weather, but this is what we’re using right now.

Here are the phones the AC editors using in December 2016.

Alex Dobie — Galaxy S7 edge

After a brief stint on a 32GB Pixel XL, I’m back on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, and using it with the current Nougat beta. The Pixel is the quicker of the two phones, sure, but I’m enjoying being able to use wireless charging again, as well as having a 128GB microSD installed, which basically ensures I’ll never run out of space for photos or music. There’s no question that the GS7 edge is one of the better looking Android phones, too, compared to the relatively bland “Quite Black” Pixel. Battery life is top-notch too, and I can safely use it without any explosive mishaps.

Andrew Martonik — Google Pixel XL

After some time using the smaller Pixel and enjoying its size, I’ve landed back on the Pixel XL and it all comes down to one thing: battery life. Traveling this past week and using roaming data, it just showed how much I appreciate the extra battery the XL offers. I’m still loving the software and am completely enthralled by what the camera can do, but moving to the XL means not ever worrying about the phone lasting a full heavy day of use.

Daniel Bader — LG V20

I used the Google Pixel (the smaller one) for almost the entire month of November, and loved it. From its clean-as-a-whistle software (that expression makes no sense) to its excellent software, there probably isn’t a better Android experience right now.

But for December, I decided to go big, transitioning to the LG V20, a 5.7-inch phone (in)famous for its Second Screen and removable battery. I have to say that despite dropping a decimal in terms of Android versions, the V20 holds up nicely, especially after a recent performance-improving update, and the software has no jarring deviations from Google’s own — just a number of questionably-useful gimmicks that can easily be disabled or ignored. The hardware is solid, certainly more so than the G5, and I am a big fan of the V20’s manual camera features that, combined with its second sensor, offer some unique and truly fun experiences.

Florence Ion — Really Blue Google Pixel XL

I had a seance for the Nexus 6P, but I’m hoping to revive it with Android 7.1 over the holiday to see how it fares. I’ve got sage at the ready if that backfires.

Until then, the Really Blue Pixel XL is my trusty steed and I don’t think that will change even after next year’s flagships come a-callin’. This phone is simply everything and I love it even more now that there’s a Google Home and Daydream VR to accompany it. The camera on this thing is still blowing my mind, too. Just look at the way it captured the Fiords in New Zealand.

Jerry Hildenbrand — Google Pixel

Specifically, the smaller and more superior Pixel. The phone I carry out of the house is a thing I need to depend on. I need it to be able to contact the people I need to contact in the ways I need to contact them without any extras getting in my way. Sometimes I can do more fun things, and I do have a game or two from Google Play installed, but mostly my phone is a phone — it’s for making and taking calls, sending messages and getting my email. A few phones do all this the way I like it done, but I think Google does it the best.

The Pixel gives me the no-nonsense software I want that’s always up to date. I’ll use it until another phone can do the same thing.

Russell Holly — Google Pixel XL

Because Daydream is awesome, the camera is amazing, and the battery gets me through the day.

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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Verizon

Google self-driving car project spun out as standalone company called Waymo

Google is forming a new company for its self-driving car division, which will operate independently inside Alphabet.

While Google’s official blog and Self-Driving Car Project page have yet to be updated, Tech Crunch has the news that Google is spinning out its self-driving car project to a standalone company. The new company is called Waymo, and it will operate on its own under the Alphabet umbrella, rather than as a division of Google. Jon Krafcik is the new company’s CEO.

As a standalone company Waymo will have the additional freedom to work in a way that benefits its own causes and potentially grow faster than when it was part of Google. The choice for it to spin out means Waymo can be focused on products, rather than purely on research. But concurrently, as we’ve seen many times before, it will also now have additional pressure to make it on its own without the constant flow of money from its former parent company.

Waymo CEO Krafcik made the point that the company is primarily focused on the technology of self-driving cars rather than the actual cars themselves:

“We are a self-driving technology company. We’ve been really clear that we’re not a car co. although there’s sometimes some confusion on that point. We’re not in the business of making better cars. We’re in the business of making better drivers.”

Google has routinely spun out divisions into their own companies to effectively see if they can sink or swim, while also not dragging down Google’s bottom line. With Waymo, this points to the fact that the self-driving car project is on the cusp of either breaking into the mainstream, or potentially dying if it can’t work out the business model on its own.

Android Wear 2.0 preview 4 adds easier sign-in

Swipe to dismiss also makes a comeback in penultimate Wear 2.0 developer preview build.

The Android Wear 2.0 development train keeps on rolling with the release today of a new developer preview build. The biggest change in the new build is the addition of new APIs for authenticating on your phone for a watch-based app. As Google explains in today’s blog post:

To make authentication a seamless experience for both Android phone and iPhone users, we have created new APIs for OAuth and added support for one-click Google Sign-in. With the OAuth API for Android Wear, users can tap a button on the watch that opens an authentication screen on the phone. Your watch app can then authenticate with your server side APIs directly. With Google Sign-In, it’s even easier. All the user needs to do is select which account they want to authenticate with and they are done.

Other changes include support for on-watch billing for in-app purchases, through a four-digit Google account PIN. There are also new cross-device promotion APIs for allowing developers to push users to a relevant phone app on the Play Store. And the swipe-to-dismiss gesture, removed in the earlier previews, is back in today’s builds. Support for “legacy apps” using the older Wear 1.0 app delivery mechanism has also been added. And it’s now possible to peek to actions at the bottom of items without scrolling through the entire list.

The fact that major user-facing changes are still being made shows that Wear 2.0 remains in flux even at this late stage in its development. The new builds are available for the Huawei Watch and LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE. We’re still due a fifth Android Wear 2.0 developer preview build before the new version is finalized early in 2017.

Best Playstation 4 Bundle Deals, December 2016

Looking to pick up a PlayStation 4 for yourself or as a gift but don’t want to pay full price for it? Here are some of the best bundles available right now!

Consoles are always going on sale, and there are always different deals that include games, controllers, and other accessories, but hunting them down isn’t always the easiest thing. Whether you are looking for an original PlayStation 4, the refined PlayStation Slim, or the newest PlayStation Pro, we’ve got you covered on the best deals available.

If you aren’t quite sure which console to be looking for deals on, be sure to check out our amazing comparison which breaks it all down for you.

PlayStation 4

• Amazon offers the PS4 with Call of Duty Black Ops III for $249

PlayStation 4 Slim

• Amazon offers the PS4 Slim with Uncharted 4 for $249
• GameStop is offering bundle with Uncharted 4 and $25 store gift card for $249

PlayStation 4 Pro

There are no current bundle deals for the PS4 Pro, but you can pick the standard 1TB package for $399.

• Amazon sells the PS4 Pro with a 1TB hard drive and a single controller for $399

Your favorite deals?

Have you found a great deal that isn’t listed here? If so, be sure to drop a link in the comments along with a line about what makes it such an awesome deal!

macOS Sierra 10.12.2 Removes ‘Time Remaining’ Battery Life Indicator

macOS Sierra 10.12.2, released this morning, features several key bug fixes and addresses an issue that has plagued some customers who purchased a new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar — battery life.

Apple believes that the battery life indicator in macOS Sierra is ultimately inaccurate and has led to some confusion about battery performance, and so it has been removed in macOS Sierra 10.12.2.

Going forward, the battery icon in the Mac’s menu bar will offer a look at remaining battery percentage, but it won’t provide estimates on how long the MacBook Pro’s battery will last. Here’s what Apple said about it to The Loop:

Apple said the percentage is accurate, but because of the dynamic ways we use the computer, the time remaining indicator couldn’t accurately keep up with what users were doing. Everything we do on the MacBook affects battery life in different ways and not having an accurate indicator is confusing.

Besides the apps we are working on all the time, there are a lot of things that are happening in the background that users may not be aware of that affects battery life.

MacBook Pro buyers have complained about getting less than 10 hours of battery life, reporting as little as three hours of battery life in some cases, but battery performance can vary significantly based on the apps and processes that are running.

Customers with poor performance may be using apps that are not optimized for the new MacBook Pro, and on the 15-inch machine, if an app engages the discrete GPU, battery life takes a significant hit. For MacBook Pro owners who are seeing bad battery life, it’s worth checking the Activity Monitor to make sure the dGPU is not in use.

Spotlight indexing, iCloud photo syncing, and other behind-the-scenes processes can also have an impact on battery life, especially when a machine is new.

According to The Loop, Apple has done extensive battery life testing on the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and continues to stand by its battery life estimates of up to 10 hours. It seems Apple believes reports of bad battery life are largely based on the faulty indicator, but there have been some real world tests that don’t rely on the estimate and still show poor performance.

Apple says its new MacBook Pros can get up to 10 hours of battery life when browsing the web or when watching iTunes movies.

Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
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Apple Releases iTunes 12.5.4 With ‘TV’ App and Touch Bar Support

Apple today released a new iTunes 12.5.4 update, introducing support for the new TV app that was introduced in iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 earlier this week.

iTunes 12.5.4 introduces support for the new TV app, plus it adds Touch Bar support for the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. In iTunes, the Touch Bar can be used as a scrubber to quickly fast forward and rewind through songs, movies, TV shows, and more.

The TV app is the new TV and movie hub on both iOS devices and the Apple TV, and is designed to serve as an Apple-designed television guide to help users find new content to watch. TV has a built-in store that surfaces iTunes movies and TV, along with highlighting a range of apps that offer television content.

Syncing is also an important element of the TV app, allowing users to better keep track of what they’re watching across all of their devices.

iTunes 12.5.4 can be downloaded using the Software Update function in the Mac App Store.

Tag: iTunes
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BBC and ITV launch BritBox video streaming service in the US

The BBC said toward the end of 2015 that it would launch a video streaming service exclusively for the US. Today, the BBC has confirmed the service will launch in early 2017, but in collaboration with ITV as well.

The two broadcasters have been developing the service since March 2016, and will be entirely ad-free – the ITV Hub in the UK currently includes adverts for catch-up programmes – but pricing information will be revealed when it launches in the first quarter of 2017.

US subscribers will be able to watch a variety of content from both broadcasters, including Silent Witness, Eastenders and Emmerdale. The service will also have a “now” category, that will stream shows in the US 24 hours after they’ve been broadcast in the UK. It’s a similar set up to how we get Game of Thrones here in the UK, 24 hours after it broadcasts on HBO in the US.

The BBC and ITV will also present US subscribers with some of their more classic content, including Fawlty Towers, Keeping Up Appearances and Pride and Prejudice. Let’s just hope subscribers will understand the classic British humour of John Cleese.

There are plans in place to make the service available on a more global scale, including in the UK, following the US launch. If and when it does launch in the UK, it won’t replace the already established BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub, but will instead act as a subscription service for box-set content of shows that have gone beyond the regular 30 day catch-up period window.

Although Americans already have access to popular BBC content through BBC America’s digital network, which is a joint venture with AMC Networks, the new offering will be delivered over the internet and without any involvement from a US network operator.

The BBC also offers some of its older content through Netflix in the US and the UK, but it’s not clear whether this deal will continue now the Beeb has its own subscription arm.