News

LG jumps ahead in Android Nougat rollout race

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LG G5 front

Android Nougat is the most mature and well-designed operating system to ever come out of Google’s labs. Too bad less than a percent of the population has it.

In the latest distribution data from the Android development team, the seventh version of the OS holds a total of 0.3 percent of the entire market. It would be dead last in the rankings if not for the 0.1 percent distribution of Android 2.2 Froyo.

Android distribution chart November 2016

Android’s version distribution as of November 7, 2016

We’re not surprised. Google’s mobile OS is experiencing the worst fragmentation of any active platform; every new version rolls out at a snail’s pace because of poor adaptation from third-party device manufacturers and heavy aftermarket modifications from brands and mobile network operators.

Fortunately, we have LG coming to the rescue.

The Korean electronics giant was the first to announce a smartphone with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. Even though it was overshadowed by the newer 7.1 version built into Google’s recently launched Pixel phones, LG’s V20 can claim better software integration than its rivals.

And now, the G5 will be the first non-Google phone to be updated to Nougat. The 5.3-inch flagship of LG was announced in February this year, and came with partial modularity in the form of “Friends.”

Although only South Korean users will get a taste of the latest flavor beginning today, consumers in other parts of the world will experience it too in the coming weeks.

This development puts LG at the forefront of Nougat distribution — way ahead of the likes of Samsung, Sony, HTC, and rival Chinese brands.

With the exception of the LG flagships and Google’s lineup (Pixel, Nexus, and Android One), there are no official means of enjoying Android’s latest variant at the moment, which is a real shame. The beta preview of 7.1 Nougat is already available on Nexus devices, and that’ll worsen the distribution percentage even more.

As mentioned in our Android Nougat article last August, you must consider yourself lucky if you’re part of the minority, because Marshmallow users and older are definitely missing out on some useful productivity features.

[irp posts=”4025″ name=”Nougat is Android’s best, but there’s still room for improvement”]

Sources: Android Developers, GSMArena

Lifestyle

Nike’s Alphafly 4 is built for the part of the marathon ~that actually hurts~

Made to protect your stride when fatigue sets in.

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Every marathoner knows the exact moment the race truly begins.

It’s not at the starting line amidst the early morning excitement, but around the 32-kilometer mark, when your legs begin to feel heavy and your form starts to fall apart.

Nike designed its latest marathon racer specifically for that critical window. The Alphafly 4 shifts the focus away from chasing sheer top-end speed, targeting instead the physical breakdown that happens late in a long run.

By studying how fatigue alters a runner’s mechanics over time, Nike rebuilt its flagship distance shoe to help athletes maintain their stride when energy starts to dip.

Holding the line when fatigue sets in

On the road, the shoe operates as a complete, unified system designed to protect your stride.

A redesigned Atomknit upper wraps the foot with breathable support, using targeted midfoot cables and an integrated heel unit to keep your fit secure without adding unnecessary weight or friction over long distances.

Underfoot, the new ZoomX LT foam layer works alongside Nike’s contoured carbon-fiber Flyplate. The lighter foam returns maximum energy with every footfall, while the plate smooths out your rolling motion.

Together with dual forefoot Air Zoom units and a durable Fast Shot outsole, the setup keeps your cadence consistent and your legs feeling fresh well into the back half of the race.

As Emily Farina from the Nike Sport Research Lab notes, their goal was to help runners stay confident, balanced, and capable from the start line all the way to the finish.

Built on the miles that came before

That focus on real-world endurance stems directly from athlete testing.

Nike developed the shoe using feedback from its Project Dreamweaver initiative and extensive trials with women distance runners, prioritizing stability and comfort alongside high performance.

The lineage carries significant weight. The Alphafly family has grounded some of distance running’s greatest moments, from historic sub-two-hour efforts to major course records.

With the Alphafly 4, that legacy translates directly into everyday marathon training, helping athletes hold their target pace just a little bit longer. Marathoners won’t have to wait long to feel the difference on race day.

The Nike Alphafly 4 drops in an early, limited release on September 17 at nike.com, followed by a wider global release on October 29 online and at select retail stores.

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Entertainment

SEGA, Netflix announce Crazy Taxi film adaptation

1st in planned slate of film adaptations, including Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN

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SEGA and Netflix have announced a new Crazy Taxi film adaptation. This will usher in a new collaboration era with the parties also developing adaptations for Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN.

Such a slate of future adaptations reflects the range of SEGA’s library as it draws on Netflix’s experience bringing beloved game worlds to new audiences.

The first project features Crazy Taxi, which will be written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The beloved writing duo was behind the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun.

Also on board to help helm the production are the same visionaries behind the Sonic franchise: Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara.

Crazy Taxi has been an arcade hit since 1999, putting players behind the wheel of a fearless cabbie racing the clock through chaotic city streets.

There’s flying off ramps, dodging traffic, and chasing tips with punk-rock energy that has become the series’ signature.

The latest title in the franchise, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, is set for a 2027 release. You can watch its trailer below:

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Finance

HONOR, Fidesmo partner for contactless payments across Europe, Middle East

Enabling contactless payments on the HONOR Watch 6

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HONOR and Fidesmo have partnered to launch contactless payments across Europe and the Middle East on the HONOR Watch 6.

Powered by Fidesmo Pay, the integration enables users to connect an existing Mastercard or Visa card to their watch and complete contactless transactions directly from the wearable device.

This brings Fidesmo’s network of over 900 banks and financial institutions to HONOR’s customers. Users can connect an existing card to the HONOR Watch 6 instantly through the HONOR Health App, which installs a unique token directly onto the watch.

Acting as a secure reference to the payment method, this token allows customers to pay without storing their actual payment details on the device. Once installed, users can tap the watch at any
contactless terminal to pay, just as they would with a card or phone.

HONOR joins a group of device partners that already includes Swatch, Polar, and Mondaine as Fidesmo continues to build momentum across categories.

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