Android Authority this week – December 27, 2015

Happy Holidays, Android fans! This week brought us rumors about the Galaxy S7’s release date, Marshmallow update news, rumors about Google’s plans for a new messaging service, the release of the Galaxy A9, HTCOne X9, and new generation LG G Pad, more reports about the Xiaomi Mi 5, and a slew of Google Play store deals.

Inside AA HQ

We’ve worked hard this year, bringing you news, features, reviews, and how-to’s around the clock, so we think we deserve some downtime. The entire AA team is taking a little time off to be with family and enjoy the Christmas spirit. But we’ll be back before you know it!

Before we left for holidays this week, we brought you our top apps of the year, our top games of the year, and our Best of Android 2015 awards. Check them out!

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The stuff you shouldn’t miss

• Review: Lanh reviews the controversial Pixel C
• Opinion: Adam argues that everyone should learn how to code
• Review: OPPO R7s: just how good is it?
• Review: Gary reviews the Mini version of the ZTE Axon
• Tech talk: Which SoC performs the best? Gary compares chips from Intel, Samsung, and Qualcomm

Top news of the week

Galaxy S7 release

https://www.androidauthority.com/china-mobile-galaxy-s7-in-march-663792/

Marshmallow updates

• Marshmallow hits NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1
• Moto X Pure Edition (2014) now updating to Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• How to install the Android 6.0 Marshmallow beta on your Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge
• (Update: UK too) Samsung launches a Marshmallow beta program for the Galaxy S6 in Korea
• Marshmallow arriving for the HTCOne M9 (unlocked) within 24 hours

New Google Messenger and Ford partnership

• Log in to your Google account on the PC using your phone, no password needed
• Google may be building a bot-heavy messaging service
• Google’s immersive 360-degree Spotlight Stories make their way to YouTube
• Google and Ford rumored to announce partnership at CES; yes, it’s about self-driving cars

LG G Pad II

• LG introduces the G Pad II 8.3 LTE, stylus included

Play deals!

• (Or 75% off a movie rental!) Get a 50% discount on any one album, courtesy of the Google Play Store
• Google Play sale: $1 for 3 months music, 75% of movie rentals, and more
• Update #4: 85+ great Android games are on sale right now

Galaxy A9: 6-inch goodness

• Samsung makes the Galaxy A9 official: Snapdragon 652, 3GB of RAM, 4000mAh battery

Xiaomi Mi 5 rumors

• (Update: purported live images) Xiaomi Mi5 specs, images and pricing info leak

One X9 released

• HTC One X9 officially announced in China

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