Welcome to another edition of AndroidBeat’s Daily Briefing where we highlight all the latest happenings in the Android world. Today, we talk about Google extending the security patch update timeline for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, new GPS chips coming to phones in 2018, and WhatsApp being banned in China.
Google Extends Security Patch Update Timeline for Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X
For unknown reasons, Google has extended the security patch update timeline for the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. Both these handsets were slated to receive monthly security updates for three years from the day of their launch or 18 months after they were last sold on the Google Store. Technically, this meant these devices would receive their last monthly security update in September 2018. However, the company has now silently updated its support document to reflect that these two handsets would be receiving their last security update in November 2018.
WhatsApp Banned in China
WhatsApp has now been banned in China. The Chinese government has a habit of banning tools and services from foreign companies and this is another move from the government in the same direction. This is not the first time that the Chinese government has banned WhatsApp in the country. Previous bans on the messaging service were temporary in nature, with the government recently blocking file sending ability on WhatsApp for some time.
GPS Chips With 30cm Accuracy Could Launch in 2018
GPS chips currently used in smartphones offer an accuracy of up to 5m. However, a new GPS chip from Broadcom will be making its way inside smartphones due to launch in 2018 featuring an accuracy of 30cm. The BCM47755 chip is able to receive both L1 and L5 category signals thereby allowing it to quickly and efficiently determine a smartphone’s position in the concrete jungle we live in.
So that’s it for our today’s daily briefing. Are you dissatisfied with the GPS performance of your current smartphone? How do you think will an improved GPS accuracy help you in daily life?
