Sony Xperia XZ1 starts shipping on Amazon in the US with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box

A Google Pixel isn’t the first Android-powered device to ship Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, the honor this year goes to a Sony. Yes, Sony’s newest device launched at IFA in Berlin, the Xperia XZ1 has started shipping on Amazon in the US with Android 8.0 out of the box. The phone comes with a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage, 2,700mAh battery, and 19-megapixel rear and 13-megapixel front shooters. This device is also Netflix HDR-compatible. It’s not a cheap phone, though. It retails for US$699.99 (around CA$865) and comes in Moonlit Blue, Venus Pink, Warm Silver, and Black.

Source: Android Police

Ron Howard’s latest tweet hints at possible plot point for Han Solo movie

We don’t know much about the untitled Han Solo movie. We know there’s been a bunch of trouble behind the scenes, we know the cast and crew, but beyond that we’re being purposefully kept in the dark (which we expect from a Lucasfilm production). But a new tweet from its director Ron Howard could be pointing us at a possible plot point in the film. The tweet, accompanied with a photo, was just one word: “Spicey?” The photo is an elevator shaft and io9 speculates this could be an entrance to a spice mine and when you think of a spice mine, you’d think of Kessel. And if we link that to Han Solo, then perhaps he’s doing a run.

We can’t say with certainty that’s the case. For all we know, Howard could be trolling us. But there have been rumours persistently saying that the film will touch on many parts of Solo’s past including Kessel Run, Chewie’s life debt, winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian, etc. All we can do now is wait and see what Howard has up its sleeve. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long for the first trailer or poster to come out. The Han solo film is expected to hit theatres on May 25, 2018.

Fox is premiering new show ‘Ghosted’ on Twitter

Twitter has undeniably been a good TV companion for a lot of its users when new episodes of hit shows are aired. It makes sense the social network wants to capitalize on that with its new partnership with Fox. They will be premiering the pilot of a new paranormal comedy called Ghosted at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Twitter between September 21^st and 24^th. The show will be airing on TV on October 1^st. Each airing of the episode will precede an introduction of the show by its stars Adam Scott and Craig Robinson and a Q&A session on the platform. You can submit your questions via the hashtag #GhostedPremiere.

Aside from that, there is also a pre-show stream for each episode of Empire’s latest season starting September 20^th at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time (which is 30 minutes before the show starts in the US). Fox also started showing on September 19^th The Mick star Kaitlin Olson’s favorite episodes from the first season. It’s an interesting marketing move that can benefit the shows from the buzz and Twitter for getting people to use its service again.

Source: Engadget + The Verge

Google purchases HTC's Pixel team for US $1.1 billion

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

After weeks of speculation that Google would purchase HTC's smartphone business, we finally learn that the search giant has bought the Pixel team from HTC for $1.1 billion, while HTC will continue its own smartphone business. 

The team in question was the R&D team behind last year's Pixel and Pixel XL. This means around 2,000 people will move to Google. According to the agreement this grants Google a non-exclusive license for HTC's intellectual property. The deal is expected to be approved and closed by early 2018.

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