cnet.com - The latest chapter of the mobile war is in full swing. In conjunction with Monday's 2017 solar eclipse, Google revealed the official name of its latest mobile OS as Android Oreo. The update is undergoing carrier testing for Pixel ($597.99 at Amazon.com) phones and the Nexus 5X and 6P, and should roll out "soon," according to Google. The Pixel C ($645.95 at Amazon.com) and Nexus Player will also be compatible with the update. Select phones from Samsung, LG, Motorola, Essential, HTC, Huawei, Sony, Nokia, Kyocera and Sharp will either launch with or update to Oreo through the end of 2017.
The OS was first announced in May as Android O, during Google's annual I/O 2017 developer conference. It was there that the company gave a first taste of its forthcoming software for phones, tablets and Android TV.

forbes.com - Next week will see the launch Samsung's latest phablet, the Galaxy Note 8. Thanks to the fiery fate of the Galaxy Note 7, this phablet will effectively be replacing the Galaxy Note 5. It's been a long wait for Note fans for a new device, and the South Korean company is ready to satisfy the fans. But to be a success the Note 8 needs a much wider appeal.
The Note 8 has that potential. Here are three areas I believe Samsung should focus on that could be the difference between a solid performance and a spectacular success.

mashable.com - Android phones sometimes follow Apple's lead when it comes to key functionality features, and the next generation of smartphones could be no different. Future Android devices are expected to mimic one of the upcoming iPhone 8's most anticipated new features: 3D facial scanning.
Qualcomm's next generation of Snapdragon chips, which will be announced at the end of the year, will have greatly improved, new image signal processors (ISP) and will likely enable even better depth-sensing capabilities for smartphone cameras, according to a report from CNET.

cnet.com - With its superb camera and elegant design, the Google Pixel (and its larger counterpart, the Pixel XL) hit it out of the park last year. So it's no surprise that Google wants to keep the good times rolling with its pair of premium flagships. The company's hardware chief, Rick Osterloh, already confirmed that a follow-up is coming in 2017, and while he didn't say exactly when, we'd guess it'll launch some time in October, a year after the Pixel was born.
We don't know much about the next Pixel (unofficially known as the Pixel 2), but rumors say that it'll have a slimmer design and an even better camera. Until its unveiling, however, we've gathered all the facts and rumors we know about the phone so far. Be sure to check back as more information rolls out; we'll keep the updates coming.