It's not just you who's sick of waiting for the latest Android updates to arrive on your phone -- Google is too, and it has a plan to tackle it.

Sick of waiting for your phone to get the latest version of Android? So is Google, apparently. To help speed the process, the tech giant may start shaming companies that take too long to bring fresh versions of Android to their devices.

Google already has a list that ranks manufacturers by how up-to-date their handsets are, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. While this list is currently only available internally -- and to the manufacturers themselves -- Google is reportedly planning to make the list public.

In doing so, it will hopefully shine a spotlight on those firms that take too long in updating the phones.

Ultimate Ears (UE) just took the wraps off a successor to the compact UE ROLL wireless speaker. The waterproof gadget is dubbed UE ROLL 2 and features the same cool design as its predecessor, significantly improved hardware, and a neat swimming pool floatie in its retail package.




The two key areas where the UE ROLL 2 improves on its predecessor are sound and wireless range. Ultimate Ears claims 15 percent better sound experience than the first generation (the newcomer's maximum sound level is 86 dBA), as well as wireless range of up to a whopping 100 feet.


Like the first UE ROLL, the second generation features IPX 7 rating for water- and dust-resistance. This means that it can remain submerged under 1 meter of water (a tad more than 3 feet) for up to half an hour.


The speaker comes with an app for Android and iOS. It allows users to tweak its EQ settings, set alarms, pair a second UE ROLL 2 for a fuller sonic experience, and even apply firmware updates.


A feature called Block Party can pair up to three mobile devices to the UE Roll 2. It allows your guests to play music from their smartphone or tablet.


UE ROLL 2 weighs 12 ounces. Its battery can deliver tunes for up to nine hours before running out of power.


There are two wired ports on the back of the UE ROLL 2: a microUSB for charging and a 3.5-millimeter audio jack for enjoying content when wireless connectivity is not an option.

Live Impressions

Visually, it is impossible to distinguish the UE ROLL 2 from the model it replaces, and that's not a surprise. Ultimate Ears has a habit of sticking with the same design if it works (the UE BOOM 2 speaker also looks identical to the first generation).


With the above in mind, it's worth noting that the UE ROLL 2 looks just as great as it sounds. It features the signature for all UE speakers: a nylon-fabric-covered front with embroidered oversized volume buttons, and elastic bungee strap. The latter is not only cool to look at, but also quite handy, as it allows users to easily attach the speaker to just about anything.

The PlayStation 4 has not only outsold the Xbox One handsomely, but it's currently basking in the glow of AAA exclusive Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (which has received superb scores across the board), has a vibrant indie games market packed with titles like Axiom Verge and - most crucially of all - its fought back mindshare from the previous generation, where Microsoft and the Xbox 360 totally dominated.



Axiom Verge is coming to Xbox One later this year, however it has been out as a PS4 timed exclusive for months.

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That's some damn good progress considering the system has only been on the market about two and a half years. Sony has gone and done what we're guessing it aimed to do by the end of this hardware generation but at the midway point instead. They have, to put it simply, S-ranked.




The PS4 is currently riding high thanks to AAA exclusives such as Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.

And, what's more, it look like Sony is trying to carry that win streak onwards, with both the PlayStation Neo and PlayStation VR headset landing later this year along with a host of AAA titles and exclusives.

The thing is though, Microsoft has gone awfully quiet as of late regarding the Xbox One, and this - along with a number of industry whisperings of new hardware, accessories and games - has got everybody poised for a dramatic, Rocky-style fightback. And, while nothing is officially confirmed, reports of both a slimmer and more powerful Xbox One have recently reached critical mass.



Will Microsoft unveil an upgraded Xbox One Slim at E3 2016?

Firstly, mentions of an Xbox One design update are widespread, as too those about a hardware update to match or exceed the specification of the PlayStation Neo. Xbox One Slim is the name on everybody's lips right now regarding a new console in 2016 and, if we're being honest, that makes perfect sense for Microsoft at this stage.

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The Xbox 360 Slim was a phenomenal success for Microsoft, selling like hot cakes and really cementing the console as the number one place to play games. It also, and this is incredibly prevalent considering Microsoft's current position of second in a two horse race, helped to paper over the cracks that had left a vast number of gamers horribly scarred by the Red Ring of Death scandal.



The Xbox 360 Slim did gangbusters for Microsoft last generation.

By releasing a slicker, thinner Xbox One Slim this year with a few small hardware advancements such as a HDD size increase, Microsoft can come out swinging in round two of this generation with a fresh new system. If it then follows that up with yet another system - maybe a super premium tier model - in 2017, it will really bring the heat to Sony.

And that's what everyone should want, as the reason why Microsoft cleaned up last generation with the Xbox 360 was because Sony had developed a massive monopoly with the PlayStation 2 and got arrogant and lazy. There had been no serious competition to challenge the company and the result was the PlayStation 3 launching at a bloated $600 with a game lineup which, if we're being honest, was one of the worst in the history of video games.

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Competition means we, the gamers, win. We get better games, cheaper consoles and a greater variety of accessories. So everyone should want Microsoft to start hitting home runs, ideally beginning at E3 2016, with that updated Xbox One Slim.

The good The Galaxy S7 Edge has a gorgeous larger curved screen and
larger battery than the otherwise identical standard S7. It really is something special. The extra navigation tools can be useful when used judiciously.



The bad When you pile on these extra navigation tools, they slow you down rather than speed you up. It's pricier than other good phones.

The bottom line The gorgeous Galaxy S7 Edge makes the best Android phone that much better.

Here's the phone you should buy right now: This one. What catapults the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to such heights? Is it the excellent camera, the beast of a battery, the expandable storage or the seductive design that's worth more than the sum of its parts? Yes, and more. This phone kicks the already-fantastic (just slightly smaller) Galaxy S7 up a notch with a bigger battery and that wraparound design on both sides that never fails to draw me deeper into whatever I'm viewing or doing.

Everything about the 5.5-inch S7 Edge excels from the inside out, and Samsung has refined the extra navigation software that dresses up the screen's physical curves. There are of course a few minor drawbacks -- there's no such thing as a perfect device -- but something about it feels more organic than your garden-variety phone, more complete. If you've ever seen one of Samsung's curve-bcpscreen phones before, such as the S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Note Edge, you know what I'm talking about.