Samsung is ready to release yet another smartwatch. Well, kind of. Called the Simband, this modified Gear S will allow developers to take fitness tracking to an unprecedented new level, at least should things go well. Built into an unassuming Gear S, things get interesting when you take a look at its band, complete with a dizzying array of sensors. The device, along with its accompanying SAMIIO software, was announced back in late May, with limited developer distribution.

David Imel / Android Authority TL;DR Sony has rolled out a new Android 11 update to its Xperia 1 II. The update brings a number of features once unique to the Xperia Pro. This includes the ability to use the phone as a Sony Alpha camera monitor. Sony launched the Xperia Pro as a professional photographer aid and a smart external video monitor. Now, it seems that this aspect of the phone is no longer unique.

What’s the best smartphone of 2017? Which one beat out all the competition to rule them all? Which ones are the best of the rest? On Monday, we set out to answer this with Best of Android 2017, and across 7 features, we’ve dissected ten of the best phones this year. Now it’s time to reveal the winner, but before we do that, let’s recap Best of Android 2017 as a whole.

TL;DR July 16 is World Emoji Day 🎉. For the 2021 iteration, Google is updating 992 of the cartoon images. Some of the updates will simply make them cuter. However, some updates will make them more accurate or more flexible in meaning. Additionally, certain apps will now see Emoji updates faster, without needing to wait for an OS update. Usually, around this time, we start seeing new Emoji land on our phones, apps, and other devices.

Samsung has finally started rolling out Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean to the popular mid-ranger Galaxy Ace 2. The update is rolling out in phases and owners can expect it very soon. To see if you’ve received the update, navigate to your phone settings or connect your device to a PC and run Samsung Kies. Here are the official firmware details: Android Version: 4.1.2 – Build JZO54K PDA: I8160XXMC8 CSC: I8160TMNMC3 MODEM: I8160XXMC8 Build Date: 26 March 2013 Changelist: 1016990 This latest update brings a bevvy of improvements to the Ace 2, and should breath some new life in a rather quaint device.

Buying Android smartphones from China can be advantageous in terms of pricing, however the whole process is not as simple as just walking into your local cellphone shop and buying a new device. Potentially you are buying a phone from half way across the world, from an unknown company, based on a few specifications and a couple of photos! For the uninitiated this can be quite daunting!Without a doubt there is an element of risk, but I am sure someone’s grandmother said somewhere that there is an element of risk in everything we do.

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Since its launch, Disney Plus has been the go-to source for everything from Star Wars to animated classics. Not only that but it’s been your best bet to find new Marvel shows like WandaVision. Now, Disney Plus is getting an even bigger boost with Oscar nominees, the Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale, and more adult animation than you can shake a stick at. Here’s what we know.

Driving and mobile devices don’t mix well if your smartphone or tablet ends up breaking your focus on driving. But with voice-enabled apps, you can still interact with your device for much-needed information. Chief among these are location and reading messages aloud. Dragon Mobile Assistant now offers these enhancements in its latest update. Nuance — which powers the technology behind Siri — launched Dragon Mobile Assistant in 2012, which came with dictation features, which would usually come in handy when you need to type in a message while using the device hands-free.

Hardcore hardware fans love to see mobile phones with more cores in their processors (if you know what we mean, and we think you do). Chinese-based Vernee is stepping up to the plate in that area, announcing it will show the Apollo 2, the first phone with MediaTek’s 10-core X30 processor, in two weeks at the 2017 Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain. MediaTek's Finbarr Moynihan talks smartphones and more at CES 2017

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR A new rumor suggests an Oppo flip-style foldable phone could land this year. The rumor also suggests the phone could have a lower price than one would expect. Oppo’s only foldable launched so far is the Find N, which hasn’t left China yet. Oppo has launched one foldable phone so far: the Oppo Find N. The phone is like a more compact version of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, and we thought it was pretty cool.