Category: Android Oreo

So here’s a concept:  A button that actually does something.  For years, the “Check for update” button in Android pretty much did nothing.  Sure you could hit it but the odds of you getting an update were pretty slim.  Why?  Because manufactures like Google, Samsung and others as well as carriers phase updates out to their customers.  The result?  The “Check for update” button was, by-and-large, useless.

That’s changing under Android Oreo, specifically for the Google Nexus and Pixel devices.  Now when you tap that button in Settings>System>System Updates, it actually, really goes out to Google’s servers and download the latest OTA update.  No waiting on phasing.

After being launched last month at IFA in Berlin, the new Sony Xperia XZ1 is now available for purchase here in the US.  The 5.2″ phone is available in four colors and is $699 through Sony’s Amazon storefront.

The Xperia XZ1 is powered by the Snapdragon 835 SoC, has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on board.  That storage can be expanded up to an additional 256GB thanks to the MicroSD slot.  The XZ1 has a 19MP main camera and 13MP selfie camera, is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance and has a HDR 1080p IPS display.

For most who follow the Android community, this will fall under the “duh” category but it is still good to have confirmation.  Essential’s company Twitter posted last night that the Essential PH-1 will be getting updated to Android Oreo “in the next couple of months”.

Get your milk ready–#AndroidOreo is coming soon to Essential Phone. Watch for updates in the next couple months. pic.twitter.com/GEV1ntvDao

— Essential (@essential) September 18, 2017

The news certainly isn’t a surprise and reading between the lines, it looks like the update to Oreo could come at some point before year’s end. That would be great to see and would fall in line with the company’s commitment to rolling out updates quickly – both major and minor updates.

Last week, Motorola announced which of their devices would be getting updated to Android Oreo.  Notably, the entire G4 lineup of phones were missing and that created a bit of a raging storm for the company.  The problem was that the G4 lineup is well within the 2-year window for upgrades indicated by Google themselves and Moto themselves had indicated that the G4 lineup would get updated to the next version of Android.

Now Lenovo, the parent company of Motorola, has come back around and clarified that at least one of the G4 phones will get updated to Android Oreo.  That phone is the G4 Plus.

A few weeks back, HMD’s Juho Sarvikas tweeted that the entire Nokia lineup would be getting updated to Android Oreo in late 2017 through early 2018.  Now Mr. Sarvikas, the Chief Product Officer for the company, has tweeted a couple of images of the Nokia 8 being updated to Oreo.

We are on it @nokiamobile . @Android #Oreo maturing nicely on #Nokia8 , will release when perfect. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/wPxEGA4rJn

— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) September 16, 2017

While it would be great to see this update out for everyone, it is quite encouraging to see Nokia being transparent about their update process and the fact they actually have a running beta for their flagship device.

Another key manufacture of Android devices, Motorola, has confirmed that a wide swath of their phones over the past year and a bit will be receiving the Android Oreo update.  The news came through the company’s blog and it has a nice list of devices from late 2016 through today that are going to eventually be upgraded to the latest version of Android.  The question, as always, is when.  The announcement indicated “this Fall” but for the majority of the devices, it will likely be 2018.

Here is the list of devices that will be upgraded to Android Oreo

• moto z
• moto z Droid
• moto z Force Droid
• moto z Play
• moto z Play Droid
• moto z² Play
• moto z² Force Edition
• moto x⁴
• moto g⁵
• moto g⁵ Plus
• moto g^5S
• moto g^5S Plus

Interestingly, the Moto G4 and G4 Plus are not going to be upgraded.