Google Asking Users What 'Android N' Should Be Called

Google has started asking people what Android N should be named via its Google Opinion Rewards app. The move is in line with what Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed in December during his India visit, saying the company may use an online poll.

Android Police reports that the Google Opinion Rewards Android app is now letting people answer few questions and win Play Store credits in return. For those unaware, the Google Opinion Rewards is an app created by Google Consumer Surveys and let's people answer quick surveys and earn Google Play credits. 

(Also see: Android N Features: What's New and Improved)

The first question the app asks people is about the food that comes to mind that starts with letter "N" and the second question lists some names of "tasty treats" starting with letter N. Some the treats listed include nachos, noodles, nougat, Neapolitan ice cream, and Nori.

It's worth noting that the questions are not available to all users and regions as the app is not available in India.

Considering Google had last year confused people with a video that claimed to have included possible names of Android M. We can expect to see more of such campaigns from Google I/O 2016 - which kicks off May 22.

(Also see: Android N Developer Preview : How to Install It)

In separate news, Google is reportedly internally referring to its next Android version as New York Cheesecake or NYC. Android Police spotted the codename first and adds that the "nyc" naming showed up in the AOSP repository a few times. To place this in context, Google had for past Android versions used "klp" name in repository for KitKat, "lmp" for Lollipop, and "mnc" for Marshmallow, using different dessert names like Key Lime Pie internally to ostensibly misdirect speculation.

Google last week released its latest Android N Developer Preview and also introduced the Android Beta Program offering enthusiasts the chance to stay up-to-date with the latest pre-release builds of Android. Apart from the release, Google also looked determined to "hand off" the final Android N release to device makers by summer.

Microsoft Hub Keyboard App Launched for Android; Next Lockscreen Updated

Microsoft has new apps for your Android smartphone. The Windows Phone maker on Tuesday announced the release of Hub Keyboard, a keyboard app that aims to make your sharing experience easier on Android. The Redmond, Washington-based company also released Sprightly and Kaizala apps that are aimed at small businesses and teams, apart from updating its Next Lockscreen offering.
After its recent purchase of SwiftKey, it's clear Microsoft is very interested in keyboard technology. The Hub Keyboard offers a range of features that enhance your typing and chatting experience on the phone. For instance, it lets you check the things you had saved in your clipboard earlier and quickly use them again.
Hub Keyboard also has a better integration with Microsoft products and services. If you have a PowerPoint slideshow named "report" saved in your OneDrive account, for instance, simply mentioning the word "report" when talking to your colleagues will give you the option to share the download link of that file. You can also search for your SharePoint documents from your work, school, or university Office 365 accounts.


But that's not all, Microsoft is also making it easier for you to access information about different people in your contacts. When you mention a friend's name when talking to some other person, Hub Keyboard prompts you with an option to share that friend's contact. You also get the option to translate one language to another without having to switch across any other app.
Microsoft has also released an update for its Next Lockscreen app for Android. The update brings support for PIN, pattern, and fingerprint sensor - provided your phone houses a fingerprint reader, of course. Another new feature now changes the wallpaper on your lockscreen based on your location. The new update dubbed 2.6.0 also has a new feature called Smart Contacts, which learns and displays contacts of people whom you've called or texted.
 The company also quietly launched two apps aimed at business and small groups. Sprightly allows uses to import their images, mould them into different templates to create catalogues, price lists, or e-cards that can be easily shared. Kaizala, on the other hand, is a workplace management and communication app. It offers group and private chats, location requests for team members, and the ability to share photos. In addition, it also offers the ability to assign different tasks to people in the group and others.

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Telenor Announces 'Project Sampark' Expansion in Uttar Pradesh

Telecommunications company Telenor India on Monday announced the expansion of "Project Sampark" the company's unique initiative to bridge the gender gap in mobile usage to new areas in Uttar Pradesh.

The project will now be extended to the rural areas of Bareilly, Dehradun and Moradabad districts in the UP (west) circle covering nearly 50-80 villages in each zone.

"The success of 'Project Sampark' in Aligarh has given us the confidence to expand it to new areas and take it beyond the pilot phase," Sharad Mehrotra, CEO, Telenor India, said in a statement.

"Giving a phone in hands of women is not just about connecting her to the information age but also about giving her a tool to take informed decision that can change the socio-economic condition of the entire family," he said.

The new areas will replicate the model piloted in the first phase launched in August 2014 across 87 villages in Aligarh district.

These 87 pilot villages have seen an improvement in tele-density among women and of the more than 52,000 "Project Sampark" subscribers 50 percent are women.

In the second phase, the villages will be covered by 30-40 trained women promoters who will be hired from the adjoining areas.

"Project Sampark" is a combination of retail and product innovations that has resulted in a unique model that addresses some of the key barriers of women's access to mobile telephony.

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