Google tipped to release two Nexus phones this year, no tablet in sight

Last year's flagship Nexus, the Nexus 6

We won’t be getting a Nexus tablet this year but two Nexus phones, if rumours are to be believed, that is. Android Police spoke to an unnamed source claiming there will be two Nexus smartphones this year, one made by LG and another by Huawei.

The LG model is codenamed Angler and will feature a 5.2-inch screen, run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor (similar to the LG G4), and have a 2,700mAh battery. The Huawei version is codenamed Bullhead and will sport a 5.7-inch display, run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, and have a 3,500mAh battery. Again, these are still rumours so they should be taken with a grain of salt. These devices aren’t making their debut at Google I/O and would most likely be released around October, which is the usual time frame for new Nexus devices.

Source: Android Police | Via: CNET

Microsoft plans to bring Office to more Android tablets

With plans to get into as many platforms and devices as possible, Microsoft is bringing its Office apps into more Android devices. According to the Redmond-based tech giant, its Android hardware manufacturer program is expanding to 20 more companies, leaving them now with 31 “partners” in its program. This extends to Android tablets from those 31 companies, including a new LG tablet and the Sony Xperia Z4 tablet. These slates will be getting Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, and Skype pre-installed in the coming months.

The new deal is said to be a global initiative, but the company’s specifically targeting Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

Source: TechCrunch

BlackBerry cuts back its smartphone workforce

Things aren’t getting any easier for smartphone maker BlackBerry as they lay off people from their smartphone business. The Canadian company won’t say how many or where the job losses are going to be coming from but that it would affect “a number of employees around the world.” According to BlackBerry, the job cuts are a result of moves to consolidate its device software, application, and hardware business. It isn’t a secret that the company is struggling to keep up in the big smartphone market. BlackBerry could look into entering new opportunities like in the Internet of Things market or bolster the software side of their business.

Source: SlashGear

Periscope comes to Android

If you're runing an Android device with KitKat 4.4 or later and wish to subject or regale your Twitter followers to livestreaming, you can do so using the Periscope app that's just been rolled out for Android. Check it out here. Periscope broke ground on iOS a few months ago and became the alternative to Meerkat, the Android app features some Material Design touches as well as Android specific controls.