Android
Relive the massive Google I/O 2016 keynote in full right here!
Happen to miss all of the awesomeness that was the Google I/O 2016 keynote? Never fear, as you can now watch a replay of all of the announcements in full.Over the course of the two-hour keynote, you can watch Google introduce everything from its Amazon Echo competitor, Google Home, to its new messaging and video platforms, Allo and Duo.
Source:https://youtu.be/862r3XS2YB0
Of course, there's much more to check out, including the introduction of Android Wear version 2.0, so be sure to give the keynote video above a watch. If you'd rather skip the two-hour commitment and get straight to the juicy details, we've got you covered with all of our Google I/O 2016 coverage. And you can continue to follow Android Central throughout the rest of the week as we bring you the latest from the ground.
I had the honor of live streaming this event via Google's IO Extended Sri Lanka thanks to GDG Sri Lanka.It was amazing.It didn't take much to convince me to attend next year's Google's IO Extended.. I hope you can come to conclusion how good the event was......
Android Studio 2.2 to feature test recording, new layout designer and more
Google has detailed some of the changes coming to Android Studio with its 2.2 release. Android Studio, which is used in the creation of 92% of the top 125 Android apps, will be faster at building apps, and will give developers new tools to make going from an idea to a working app easier.
There are a number of new features coming with Android Studio 2.2. Test recording will allow you to test your app locally or in a cloud test lab, and get an automatically-generated test report. There's a new layout designer, which automatically adds restraints when designing your UI. The designer will also help you design for multiple layouts and screen sizes.
Amongst the other tools coming to Android Studio are the new layout inspectork, expanded Android code analysis, and enhanced C++ support. It will also feature support for new Android Nfeatures.
Android N will support seamless updates similar to Chrome
During today's Google I/O 2016 keynote, the company announced that the upcoming Android N OS will support seamless updates.
This new feature will be similar to how Chrome handles its updates. In this case, the older version of Android N will be able to seamlessly switch into the new version, separate from the rest of the phone's data. That means all those "Android is upgrading" prompts after system updates will be gone.
All of this is due to the new JIT compiler, which speeds up the update process for Android N. It should also lead to 75% faster app installation. Also, the amount of installation storage space for Android N apps will be 50% less than before.
Stay tuned for more news from the Google I/O 2016 keynote event.
Android Instant Apps will soon let you run apps quickly without installing first
In an effort to help people start using apps faster, Google has introduced Android Instant Apps. These apps startup instantly, without the need to actually install themselves onto your device, instead running from the cloud, just like tapping a link to load a webpage.
Apps are split into modules, allowing Google Play to download only the parts that are necessary at a given time. With a couple of taps, you can install the rest of the app while you use the parts you need at the moment. With Instant Apps you can, for example, tap on a link for a product on an online store, which will then take you to that products page in the store's app without installing the app first.
Developers can update existing apps, modularizing them for Google Play to take advantage of this feature, and users will be more readily able to find your apps in more ways, not just through Google Play. Instant Apps will also be backward compatible with devices running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
Google notes that Instant Apps won't be prevalent for some time. For the moment, it is working with a small group of developers on the feature, which will roll out to more developers over time. Users should start seeing Instant Apps later this year.
First beta-quality Android N release is now available
Update: The first beta update appears to be rolling out right now. Be sure to enroll your device at the link below, and check for the update.
Google has announced that it will be releasing the first beta-quality Android Nrelease later today. This release is supposed to be good enough to install on the phone and tablet that you use daily. This is a huge step, as the previous releases were called Developer Previews, and had various issues that may have prevented you from using it daily.
You can enroll your device at Android.com/beta if you want to be ready for when it releases. Will you be enrolling your Nexus for the program, or will you be sticking to an official release for now? Sound off in the comments and let us know which side you are on.
With Daydream, Google hopes to up the ante for VR on phones
Google took some time to talk about virtual reality at Google I/O 2016. The company announced Daydream, its program for building great experience for mobile VR across phones and headsets. While Daydream will include a reference design for a headset and controller, there will be Daydream-ready phones coming from companies like Samsung, HTC, and Xiaomi.
The goal of Daydream is to create high quality VR experiences on Android phones. To that end, there will be heavy support for VR in Android N when it launches later this year. It feature OS-level VR performance enhancements, as well as less than 20ms of latency for super-smooth performance. There will also be a VR system interface, as well as a VR app launcher.
As noted above, Google will launch reference devices for both controllers and VR headsets. The devices will arrive this fall, and have been seeded to partners already to help them create their own Daydream-ready VR devices.
As for apps, Google will have a new Google Play for VR store, which will allow people to easily find virtual reality-oriented applications. There are a number of partners that Google is working with to provide great VR experiences, including The New York Time, The Wall Street Journal, Hulu, andIMAX. A number of game publishers will also be coming on board. Google's own Play Movies and Photos apps will be VR-ready, and YouTube will be rebuilt from the ground up for VR, with voice search and spatial audio taking bigger roles.
Google Play has seen more than 65 billion app downloads to date
During the Google I/O keynote today, Google announced that Google Play has now seen a total of 65 billion app downloads. According to Google's most recently stated numbers from last fall, those installs come from a total of 1.4 billion Android users across the globe.
That's quite the staggering number of downloads, and it speaks to Android's continued rise. In addition, Google says that more than 600 Android devices have launched in the last year, further expanding the platform for those apps.
Google wants your help in naming the Android N update
Google wants you to submit your awesome naming ideas for the upcomingAndroid N release. The company says that it is having a hard time deciding on a name, and has opened a new site for you to submit your ideas, as long as it isn't "Namey McNameface."
There are a number of obvious suggestions, like Nerds, Nutella, Nilla Wafer and more, but dig deep and think of some new and original names. What will your suggestion be? Let us know your best ones in the comments!
Millions of Gmail accounts said to be impacted by data breach
A Russian hacker is apparently claiming to have obtained hundreds of millions of login credentials for various email services. While the single-largest set of data appears to have come from Mail.ru, details from millions of Gmail, Microsoft, and Yahoo accounts are said to be part of the breach.
The data breach was uncovered by Hold Security, according to Reuters:
After eliminating duplicates, Holden said, the cache contained nearly 57 million Mail.ruaccounts - a big chunk of the 64 million monthly active email users Mail.ru said it had at the end of last year. It also included tens of millions of credentials for the world's three big email providers, Gmail, Microsoft and Yahoo, plus hundreds of thousands of accounts at German and Chinese email providers.
In total, it appears that 40 million Yahoo Mail credentials were compromised, along with 33 million Microsoft accounts, and almost 24 million from Gmail. Thousands of these accounts are said to belong to employees of major U.S. companies.
Now might be a good time to change your password, and perhaps enable two-step authentication for your accounts.
Machine learning, AI, post-mobile search lead 2016 Google Founders' Letter
Alphabet CEO gives Google's chief a huge megaphone, as he lays the current and future vision of both companies.
The Founders Letter is a powerful statement for Google. Start with the original "Don't be evil" mission of 2004, to last year's opus that formed Alphabet and marked a major restructuring of Google. Today, in a 2016 Founders' Letter, Alphabet CEO Larry Page hands the virtual pen to Google CEO Sundar Pichai for an update.
"I wanted to give him most of the bully-pulpit here to reflect on Google's accomplishments and share his vision," Page writes, noting that we'll see him, Pichai and Sergey Brin share that space in the future.
Search remains key to everything, Pichai writes. That hasn't changed, and it won't change.
It's easy to take Search for granted after so many years, but it's amazing to think just how far it has come and still has to go. I still remember the days when 10 bare blue links on a desktop page helped you navigate to different parts of the Internet. Contrast that to today, where the majority of our searches come from mobile, and an increasing number of them via voice. These queries get harder and harder with each passing year—people want more local, more context-specific information, and they want it at their fingertips.
Having a stockpile of results is just part of the equation, though. To truly make them useful, you have to be able to work with them. That's where things like machine learning and artificial intelligence will play a big role in the future. (And make no mistake, that future is now.) And the line between your mobile device and a desktop computer — and anything and everything else that's connected — will continue to blur.
A key driver behind all of this work has been our long-term investment in machine learning and AI. It's what allows you to use your voice to search for information, to translate the web from one language to another, to filter the spam from your inbox, to search for "hugs" in your photos and actually pull up pictures of people hugging ... to solve many of the problems we encounter in daily life. It's what has allowed us to build products that get better over time, making them increasingly useful and helpful.
He also mentioned Google's efforts to add more and faster ways to access content, such as launching Accelerated Mobile Pages for faster mobile news sites and YouTube Red, its ad-free version of its video service with original content.
Pichai wrote about how Android now has 1.4 billion active devices, but that it is working to change how we access content via AI assistants:
Looking to the future, the next big step will be for the very concept of the "device" to fade away. Over time, the computer itself—whatever its form factor—will be an intelligent assistant helping you through your day. We will move from mobile first to an AI first world.
Pichai says that Google will continue to create services that will help others worldwide:
Source:http://www.androidcentral.com/sundar-pichai-offers-hints-about-googles-future-plans-new-letterFor us, technology is not about the devices or the products we build. Those aren't the end-goals. Technology is a democratizing force, empowering people through information. Google is an information company. It was when it was founded, and it is today. And it's what people do with that information that amazes and inspires me every day.
What's new in Android N ... so far
Android N — the next major release of the Android operating system — is in its infancy. This is our living document of what's new. There will be updates. Many updates.
The yearly cycle of Android upgrades has started early in 2016, with the first Android N Developer Preview dropping a full month and a half ahead of the annual Google I/O developer conference. That change in and of itself should be an indicator that big things are at work here, even if they're not entirely apparent at first.
And because this is Android we're talking about, it gets a little complicated. There are lots of things that go into a major new release. Open-source code drops. Device factory images. New APIs for developers. Minute features for a small subset of Android devices that, while important, will change once the mass market starts seeing updates many months from now.
There's an awful lot to take in here. This is our living document explaining it all. It will be updated as we get new releases ahead of the "final" (nothing is ever "final") public release of Android N.
What is Android N?
Every major release of Android gets a version number and a nickname. Android 6.x is "Marshmallow." Android 5.x is "Lollipop." Android 4.4 is "KitKat." And so on and so forth. (You can check out the full rundown of Android versions here.)
ANDROID N DEVELOPER PREVIEW
The Android N Developer Preview is just that — a developer preview. It is not intended for daily use. That doesn't mean it's not cool, and that you shouldn't poke around. But know that things will break. Tread carefully. (And have fun!)
Alphabetically, "N" is next. We don't yet know what version number Android N will be — Android 7.x is a pretty good guess, but not certain, as Google is only predictable in its unpredictability.
And we also don't yet know what the nickname will be. Google chief Hiroshi Lockheimer teased that"We're nut tellin' you yet." Maybe that's leaning toward "Nutella" – which pretty much is the most tasty treat ever to be tasted — or maybe it's some other sort of "nut." Or a red herring. Point is, we don't have any idea just yet.
We do, however, have a fairly good idea for when we'll actually see Android N be released. We've been told to expect five preview builds in total, with the final public release (including the code push to the Android Open Source Project) to come in Q3 2016. That lines up with previous releases, between October and the end of the year.
That's all ancillary. What is Android N? It's a whole lot of change, from the looks of it.
Android Developer Beta
Until Android N, Developer Previews were a decidedly nerdy affair. They still are, in many respects, but they've also become much more accessible to a lot of people.
Google still keeps these previews relatively close to the vest. You have to have one of Google's "Nexus" devices to run the Developer Preview. Generally those have been limited to a scant handful of devices. This year, with Android N, we've got six. The Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P phones all can run the N preview, as can the Nexus 9 and Pixel C tablets. The aging Nexus Player — Google's Intel-powered media player from 2015 — also can run the N preview and is important for a few media-specific (TV-specific, actually) reasons.
The Android Developer Beta makes it far easier to play, however. Previously you'd have to manually flash factory restore images to the supported devices. That generally involves some command-line work and SDK-type stuff — not really anything a casual user wants or needs to get involved in. But the Android Developer Program allows anyone with a supported device to opt in and receive over-the-air updates for the Android N Developer Preview. All your app data remains as it was (unless and until you opt out, in which case you'll receive a downgrade over-the-air "update" and end up with a clean device.
That's good and bad. It makes it easier for anyone with a Nexus device (and for these purposes the Pixel C fits that bill) to enter the Android Developer Beta.
Android N could make updates easier on everyone
We've been peeking inside the factory images for the Android N developer preview and have noticed what appears to be a pretty major sea change for Android. The code appears to now be arranged to make it easier for device manufacturers to update their own features and settings without disturbing the core Android parts. (At least not nearly as badly.) We're doing a bit of educated guesswork here, but that means a few things.
It would mean less development overhead for manufacturers. That means less time and money getting updated code to your phone. It also means that regular security updates — an increasingly important part of this whole ecosystem — theoretically will be easier to apply, which means you might actually get them if you're on something other than a Nexus device.
So what's new in Android N?
If you had to boil what a major release of Android (or any operating system) means to just a single acronym, it'd be this: APIs. That's short for Application Program Interface, and it's what allows apps to do, well, anything. There are a ton of new ones coming in Android N, and we've only gotten a small taste thus far. More should be announced as we get new preview builds.
Some, however, are more anticipated than others.
Multi-window
This is the big one we've been waiting for. Multi-window support — that is, two apps running side by side on the same display — was hidden deep within the first Android M preview in 2015, before being unceremoniously removed in a subsequent build. It was never really meant for public consumption, nor was it ever really publicly mentioned.
That is, until Google released the Pixel C tablet in late 2015. It's a bit of an odd product with an odd 1√2 aspect ratio — the same as a standard sheet of paper. That lets you fold it in half and have the same aspect ratio — perfect for running apps side by side.
Only, the Pixel C launched without that feature. So it was pretty clear then that we'd probably see multi-window with the N release in 2016. And we now have it. And not just on tablets — it works on phones as well. This is going to be one feature that developers need to take a look at very quickly.
Direct reply notifications and bundled notifications
Google Hangouts took this a step further, allowing you to reply to messages right from the notification try, without having to open the app, or the message itself. It's slick.
You'll now be able to have bundled notifications. Or, rather, better bundled notifications. Think off it as more information in one place. Have a half-dozen emails come in through Gmail? You'll be able to see more subject lines at one time in the notification area.
Projects Doze and Svelte
Two major features from the past year are Doze and Svelte. The former has to do with all but shutting down your phone when it's not in use, allowing minimal communications to come through and maximizing battery life when the phone was at rest and not plugged. In Android N, it gets smarter, saving even more battery when the screen is merely off. That's a big deal.
Also a big deal is even better memory management and power consumption as part of Project Svelte. The short version here is that apps shouldn't wake up as often when a change in network connectivity occurs. If you've got a lot of apps that use the particular broadcast receiver in question (and you almost certainly do), then this will help a lot. The catch here is that the app has to be updated for these Android N features for them to work.
More widespread is that Google is reining in how apps interact with the camera. Instead of every app that hooks into the camera waking up any time the camera fires off for a picture or video, they'll stay dormant. That's a good fix, and it applies to any application, not just one that targets Android N.
New accessibility features
Android N includes a new screen zoom feature as part of the accessibility suite. It appears to be pretty straightforward, making everything on the screen larger and easier to see. There are some behind the scenes things added in N to help with this.
Equally important is that you'll see accessibility features — specifically magnification gesture, font size, display size and TalkBack — available during the initial setup process. That's a really good change.
Android For Work
There are a lot of changes coming to Android For Work in Android N. This is Google's system for allowing a company to have some control over your work phone.
One big change is that companies will be able to provision phones for Android for Work by simply scanning a QR code. Here's a quick rundown of other new Android for Work features that may be coming to a work device near you:
- You might see a security challenge when trying to open a work-controlled application.
- New rules for password policies — different required password lengths, for example.
- Apps can be temporarily suspended. (We warned you that you were spending too much time on Facebook.)
- A work profile could force a VPN connection, which would fire up when the device boots.
- Better integration of work and personal contacts, if permitted.
- Devices can be remotely rebooted — useful if you have, say, a tablet tucked in some sort of kiosk housing where the power button isn't accessible.
- Better device activity logging to keep an eye out for nefarious actors. Like Stephen Dorff.
- Disabling of location functions for work apps while still allowing them for personal apps.
- Custom lock screen messages. "Think different." Or something like that.
- And other little things like locking down the wallpaper and user icon.
So, a lot of stuff that you might or might not ever see. But it's still cool to have available for businesses.
Data saver
But Data Saver only kicks in when you're on a "metered" connection, and your Android device generally is smart enough to tell when this is. A mobile network is the obvious example here, but there can be metered Wi-Fi networks as well (as set by the DHCP lease).
In addition to living the in settings, Data Saver gets a notification icon and can be toggled in quick-settings.
Direct boot
This splits things into two groups when you first power up your phone. One group is able to do things before you unlock the device. Apps like SMS messages and alarm clocks and accessibility features may need to use this.
Anything else gets siloed off in a separate storage area until the device is unlocked. That's a very cool preview feature.
Language and locale
This one gets to be a little confusing for those of use who only do English, but Android N is making languages and locations a good bit smarter, particularly for app developers. Say your device is set to the Swiss version of French, but an app only contains a different regionalization of French. Previously it would fail over to, say, an English default — without actually knowing (or caring) if the user understands English.
Now it'll be smarter about things and look for similar regionalization before running back to the default language.
Scoped directories tighten access to storage
This is pretty cool. Previously if an application needed access to a storage folder beyond its own data folder, you'd have to grant it a pretty sweeping permission — reading or writing to all of external storage.
Scoped directories tightens things up both from a security standpoint as well as a matter of organization. If an app always (and only) needs access to your pictures, this new API makes it so the app only gets access to the Pictures folder and not the whole smash. It's neater, and it's safer.
Picture-in-picture and TV recording
The PIP window opens at 240x135 in a corner of the screen determined by the system. (It'll be smart about what else is drawn on the screen.) Users will have access to a menu (via holding down the Home button) that allows the PIP video to be expanded to full screen, or closed. If another video starts playing on the main display, the PIP window will close.
Android TV also is gaining some proper TV recording features. (This will be good if you have a television with Android TV baked in.) You already can pause and rewind channel playback. But in N you'll be able to save more than one session. That allows you to schedule recordings or hit record as you start watching — basic DVR functionality, really.
Edging toward Java 8
With Android N, Google is bringing support for new Java 8 features to Android. Using the open-source Java Android Compiler Kit — JACK for short — Google allows developers to use native Java features while building applications.
This means developers won't need to write as much support code — known as "boilerplate" code — when they want to do things like create events that listen for input. Some of the features will be supported back to Gingerbread when using JACK, while others are going to be strictly Android N and above.
Maybe the best news is that Google says they are going to monitor the evolution of Java more closely and support new features while doing everything they can to maintain backwards-compatibility. These are things that the folks building the apps that make Android great love to hear.
Keeping a Developer Preview in context
We're going through a lot of features as we see them on Nexus devices running the Android N Developer Preview. And while this is important (and fun!) if you're dabbling in the Developer Preview, it's also important to keep things in context.
We can't say this enough: Developer previews are for developers, and not for use as daily drivers.
The first thing to know is that things are going to change. Developer Previews are like that. None of this is final yet.
Second is that we need to remember that the public release of Android N is still a long ways off. Months. August at the earliest, most likely.
Third is that just because Android N code becomes public doesn't meant that you're going to see an update any time soon. Unless you're on a Nexus device, that is. For everyone else, the usual rules still apply. Manufacturers do their thing to the code, carriers sign off on it, and updates eventually trickle out. As we pointed out, Android N very much appears to be laying the foundation to streamline this process. But that's still a good ways off in the future, and your device will still have to be updated to N first.
And we still have absolutely no idea what Android N features the manufacturers will be required to use. Some — Motorola, for example, and HTC more recently — keep their user interface more in line with Google's vision and what you'll find on Nexus devices. Others — Samsung, LG, Sony, etc. — do more custom work on their own, for better or worse.
The point is that any examples of Android N features that you see on Nexus devices might well not look or behave the same on your device when it eventually gets Android N.
In other words, we all need patience here. It's exciting, but this is not end-user stuff. The Android N Developer Preview is for developers.
Here's the new Android N Wallpaper
If you're anything like us, when new wallpapers hit from Google you like to share the love across your devices that don't have the update yet. The Android N Developer Preview is no exception, and so while we're busy taking a peek at all of the new features Google is playing with we figured you'd like to look through the wallpapers in the preview image. The bad news is there's only one new wallpaper in the stack we found in this image. The good news is you can grab it for yourself right here.
Download the Android Wallpaper zip from the link below, and you'll find all of the options made available in the Android N Developer Preview. From there you can grab yourself a look at stunning purple sunset, and enjoy it as your new wallpaper for a while. Of course, if you want to go all out and check out the whole N Developer Preview for yourself, you can flash the images yourself. Either way, there's something fun in it for you.
How to download the Android N Developer Preview
So you want to run the Android N Developer Preview? Cool. Here's how.
Google is making it easier than ever for anyone with a (relatively) current-generation Nexus device have a test of the Android N Developer Preview, as part of the new Android Beta Program. The short version is that you'll no longer have to manually flash a factory image to use the beta software. You can enroll a Nexus device online, receive an over-the-air update, and go about your business.
Here's what you need to know:
The following devices can take part in the Android Beta Program:
- Nexus 6
- Nexus 9
- Nexus 5X
- Nexus 6P
- Nexus Player
- Pixel C
To enroll a phone or tablet in the Android Beta Program, go to google.com/android/beta. You'll see a list of your eligible devices.
Once you're in the beta program you'll get an update every 4 to 6 weeks, Google says, until the public launch of N, sometime in the third quarter of this year.
To un-enroll a device from the beta program, just go to that same site — google.com/android/beta and chose "UNENROLL DEVICE." Warning: The device will receive another over-the-air update that puts it back on the latest stable public version of Android. It also will factory reset itself and wipe any data. Repeat: You will lose whatever data is on the phone (and not backed up) when you exit the beta program.
And know that there will be bugs. Things will break. This is a Developer Preview.
Otherwise, that's it. Google's made it easier than ever to take part in a developer preview program. The question now is whether you should.
ANDROID N DEVELOPER PREVIEW
The Android N Developer Preview is just that — a developer preview. It is not intended for daily use. That doesn't mean it's not cool, and that you shouldn't poke around. But know that things will break. Tread carefully. (And have fun!)
The Android N Developer Preview is just that — a developer preview. It is not intended for daily use. That doesn't mean it's not cool, and that you shouldn't poke around. But know that things will break. Tread carefully. (And have fun!)
Inside the different Android Versions
The basic building blocks of Android come in many flavors, with each major release receiving a tasty nickname. This is your guide to the different Android versions over the years.
If you've heard of Android, chances are you've heard all about its various versions. Some call it fragmentation, some say it's the nature of open-source, but in reality it's both a curse and a blessing. Regardless, it's good to have a little context about what all these version numbers and names mean when you see them posted on the Internet.
Each major version of Android has a dessert-based nickname, and they are all in alphabetical order. We like to think it's because of the delicious things they each have offered, but the folks at Google are pretty tight-lipped about why they used the internal code names they did. They certainly have a good sense of humor, and seem to like tasty deserts.
This is your quick primer on the the different versions of Android that are still alive and kicking, from newest to oldest.
First Android N Developer Preview factory images are now available
The first Android N factory images are now available for select Nexus devices. While the Developer Preview is not meant to be run on daily driver phones, that won't stop people from trying it out on personal devices. Right now, you can download the factory images for some of the latest Nexus phones and tablets. Google has posted links for:
- Nexus 5X
- Nexus 6
- Nexus 6P
- Nexus 9
- Nexus 9G
- Nexus Player
- Pixel C
If you own one of these, and are looking to install the Developer Preview, you can grab the files here. Google will also offer a way to install these over-the-air, but that is not yet available. Not sure how to update yourself? Be sure to check out our guide on how to manually update your Nexus device for more information.
Android N is now available as a Developer Preview
There's no waiting for Google I/O this year, the Android N Developer Preview is available right now.
Google's Developer Preview program has been a great way to get the important parts of the next version of Android out into the world early, so developers can prepare their apps for whatever Android does next. In the past, this new version of Android is announced — and early code released — at Google I/O alongside some sessions that make it easier for developers to hit the ground running. This year Google has decided to release the next Developer Preview before I/O, so developers are able to get familiar with the system before the conference.
You know what that means. Android N is here in Developer Preview form. It's time to flash partially broken images to Nexus phones and tablets to see what we can expect when it is officially available to everyone.
There are a handful of interesting visual changes in this Developer Preview, but it's important to remember that nothing is ever set in stone with these images. Google has added and removed features during this Developer Preview period in the past, and there's no reason to think they won't do so again. That having been said, it looks like a big focus in Android N is going to be further tweaking the notification system in Android. Bundled notifications will stop any one app from filling your tray with icons, and the tray itself has been adjusted so quick settings are available on the first swipe down instead of the second. This means faster access to things like Wifi and Do not disturb toggles, and a cleaner overall interface.
Anyone who was paying attention to the folks poking around the in Marshmallow Developer Preview last year shouldn't be surprised to see one of the big features Google is rolling out in N will be multi-window support. Developers will have tools available to support this feature in their apps, and in doing so make it so you can run two apps side by side. The notes for this Developer Preview also mention a Picture-in-Picture mode where apps can live in smaller floating boxes, which also requires individual developer support in order to function.
Visual changes are fun, but it looks like Google's pushing forward with improvements to performance and power management as well. Project Svelte enhancements ensure more low-end phones can update to Android N with no problem, and it looks like Doze is going to work a little differently throughout this new version of Android. Where currently Doze drops the phone into a low power mode when the phone is not connected to power and entirely stationary, it looks like some of the Doze features will now work when the display is off anywhere. This increases the control Google has on how certain apps behave in your pocket, which means better battery life overall for just about everything.
Eager to get your hands on Android N? You can find the Developer Preview images on Google's Developer site as usual, there is also an Over-The-Air update mechanism that you can sign up for, which will install the Developer Preview without having to jump through any hoops. If you're not sure you want to jump into this with your existing hardware, Google is offering a $150 discount on the Pixel C to anyone looking to jump onboard and help test. Google is clear in pointing out that these images are far from ready for use on daily driver machines, and should only be installed on developer equipment for now. Judging from our experiences with early versions of the Marshmallow Developer Preview, you probably don't want to put this on a phone you're actually relying on for important things. This Developer Preview is expected to have five updates before the final release to AOSP in Q3 this year, which means monthly updates will be happening while the software is being tested.
We'll be diving into this to see what other goodies Google has tucked into Android N, so keep an eye out for all of our coverage. In the mean time, drop a comment below for what you think the tasty treat that starts with the letter N Google will choose this year!
Android fingerprint sensors, ranked
Google's Accelerated Mobile Pages project picks up steam
Google has released an update post on how the Accelerated Mobile Pages project is progressing. It's stated that numerous publishers, technology providers and developers have pledged support for the project by expressing interest and/or implementing support. Googlemade the project official back in October, which aims to make the web faster and more responsive for those on mobile hardware.
Publishers who have expressed interest in AMP include BBC, Sankei, New York Times, News Corp, AOL, International Business Time/Newsweek, and Washington Post. The Local Media Consortium, composing of more than 70 media companies and representing 1,600 local newspapers and TV stations has also voiced support. Since AMP is an open source initiative, it's fully unlocked for partners to adopt. Many in the advertising market have already done so, including the likes of Outbrain, AOL, OpenX, DoubleClick, and AdSense.
Google has also won the support of various analytics services, with comScore, Adobe Analytics,Parse.ly, Google's own Analytics and Chartbeat all stating intentions to provide analytics support for AMP pages within available tools. As for developers, more than 4,500 have signed up to follow the projects ongoing discussions on GitHub. It's expected AMP will hit search next year. Should you be interested to learn more about AMP, head to the official blog, website and check out the GitHub.
Android Studio 2.0 Preview brings faster build and deploy times for developers
Source:https://youtu.be/AefJXhCxrK8
Google is previewing a big update to Android Studio, bumping it up to version 2.0 with some big speed improvements. The key feature of this update is its speed, and how much faster developers will be able to build and deploy their apps. A new instant run feature allows you to quickly see the changes running either on your device or an emulator.
In addition, it has added a GPU Profiler, which is in early preview. With this, you'll be able to see details about the GL State and Commands, and record the entire sessions and walk through the GL Framebuffer and Texures as your app is running. These changes are just the beginning, and over the course of the next few weeks Google will be adding more. If you're a developer who is interested in more information, be sure to hit the link below for full details on Android Studio 2.0.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow factory images now available from Google
Google has just posted the first batch of Marshmallow factory images. The first release is available for a variety of smartphones, tablets and Android TV devices. Links have been posted for the following:
- Nexus 6
- Nexus Player
- Nexus 9 (Wi-Fi)
- Nexus 5
- Nexus 7 (2013)
Be sure to check out our complete guide to updating your Nexus here. If you take the plunge and update today, be sure to let us know in the comments below how the experience is for you.
Google's September 29 event is official
Mark your calendars, boys and girls, because Google's September 29 event is now official. It will take place at 9 a.m. PT, and we're expected to finally get a good look at the hardware offerings Google has up its sleeve for the final half of the year and more.
Nothing is confirmed until Google announces it, but we're expecting to get a good look at Google's next Nexus smartphones, rumored to come in two flavors, along with a new Chromecast and more.
In any case, keep it locked to Android Central on September 29, where we'll be bringing you all of the latest Google news right from the event.
Google App update enables Now on Tap on Marshmallow, brings new app drawer to earlier versions
Things are a little wonky still, but Now on Tap is finally ready for M Preview testers to tinker with — as part of an app update that also re-vamps the app drawer for those on Lollipop and earlier.
Now on Tap, Google's "in the moment" contextual assistant feature, has been conspicuous in its absence fromAndroid 6.0 Marshmallow preview builds up until now. But now Nexus owners with the latest Marshmallow preview build can start tinkering with one of the new OS's most notable features, as an update to the Google App finally enables Now on Tap.
Now on Tap uses Google's predictive magic to conjure up Now cards about the app you're currently using, for example a movie mentioned in an email or instant message, or a location associated with a calendar appointment. On the current Marshmallow preview build, it's activated by long-pressing the home key, and this pops up helpful context-sensitive cards, similar to what you might see on the main Google Now screen.
Only there's a bit of wonkiness right now, and Now on Tap doesn't seem to be 100 percent reliable just yet. While it is working for some, we've had difficulties getting it to do anything besides show an error message, and others have reported app crashes. That's to be expected, of course, as Marshmallow isn't quite ready for prime time itself just yet. If you're lucky and it does work, you'll be able to explore functionality similar to what was demoed at Google I/O back in May.
The new update also brings the updated Google Now experience, launched for Lollipop and earlier devices a couple of weeks ago, to M Preview testers.
For those running Lollipop, the new Google app update adds the Marshmallow-style vertical scrolling app drawer, complete with suggested apps at the top of the screen. There's also a bit of a bonus for Moto X Playowners, as we've noticed a significant performance improvement in the Google Now Launcher on that phone compared to the previous version.
If you've updated to the new Google App — on a Marshmallow device or otherwise — let us know how you're getting on down in the comments!
Samsung packs Microsoft Office apps with the latest update for Galaxy S6 devices
Samsung recently released a new update for its Galaxy S6 devices. The latest update weighs in around 220MB, and it brings some Microsoft Office apps such as Office, Word and PowerPoint with it. Previously, Samsung only packed OneDrive and OneNote with its S6 devices, however, with the latest update the company is adding more Microsoft apps for its S6 devices.
For those wondering, the latest build number seems to be LMY47X.G925FXXU2COH2. It’s worth noting that the update may not be available for you based on your region and carrier.
Personally, I won’t be surprised if Samsung packs Cortana for Android on its flagship devices sometime soon. That said, if you own a Galaxy device, do you like the pre-installed Microsoft apps? Discuss in the comment section below.
Following Windows Phone, Skype Room Remote comes to Android
Last week, our friends over at WMPU reported about the arrival of the Skype Room Remote app for Windows Phone. Alongside the Windows Phone Store, Microsoft released the app to the Google Play Store as well. For those unfamiliar, the Skype Room Remote app lets you control the Room sessions from your Android (or Windows Phone) smartphone. With the app, users can adjust the volume, and add new members to a sessions, etc.
Skype Room Remote app for Polycom RoundTable 100 for Skype for Business. Use this app to control online meetings on the Polycom RoundTable 100 for Skype for Business meeting device. Sign in with your Office 365 credentials, join the Skype Meeting, and start collaborating with remote participants in seconds.
Keep in mind that you’ll need a Polycom RoundTable 100 device, as well as a Skype Rooms account to be able to use the app. The app is available on the Google Play Store for free, and you can grab it here.
Microsoft Expands Availability Of Send App For iOS Devices, Announces Android App Preview
Microsoft today announced the expanded availability of Send app for iOS devices. Microsoft is also announcing an preview version of Send app for Android. In addition to U.S. and Canada,Send for iPhone and Android will be available in app stores in the UK, Brazil and Denmark.
Recently, Microsoft added the ability to delete conversations, add people to conversations, send direct messages to people from a group conversation, share your location, make a phone call and more. Also, they have added support for GIF sharing.
Another important thing is that Windows Phone version of Send app is also in the works. Headover to this link to get the app.
Skype for Android gets the ability to quickly share photos with the latest update
Microsoft today released a new update for the official Skype app for Android. With the latest update, Microsoft is adding a few new features. The first one is the ability to quickly share photos in a conversation. Additionally, Microsoft is also adding support for Skype Mojis with the latest update. Microsoft states:
We’ve added a couple of new ways to express yourself. You may have heard that we’re rolling out Skype Mojis to everyone on the latest Skype app on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. You can send a Moji by tapping on the emoticon icon in a chat. We’re also excited to announce that we’re bringing location sharing to Skype for Android. Seeing friends or family and want to tell them where to meet you? From any conversation, just tap the location icon on the media bar to send a map that shows them where you are.
As usual, the latest update also packs a couple of bug fixes and perofmrance improvements. The latest update, version 6.2 is already live on the Google Play Store and you can grab it from here.
Examining how good Microsoft apps actually are on Android
Today's Microsoft is one that is everywhere. Its most popular apps and services, even some of the less so ones, are available across platforms.
Whether you're using OS X, iOS or Android, you can fill your phone, tablet or computer with Microsoft without having to use Windows. Sure, Microsoft would prefer everyone used Windows, but it also recognizes that however hard it tries, that's just not going to happen.
Case in point; Android. Our pal Russell Holly over on Android Central has examined how good an experience you can get by using Microsoft apps and Microsoft services instead of Google. And the results are pretty surprising.
A snippet:
"Between Arrow Launcher and Next Lockscreen for personalized access to apps and features, and half a dozen clever extras like Word Lens and On{X}, Microsoft as the default on an Android phone starts to look not only feature complete, but downright enjoyable."
The piece examines whether or not a Microsoft loaded Android phone would be a good experience. We've had past efforts which included a tie-up with Verizon to pre-load Bing as default search in place of Google, and of course, the Nokia X. Neither were particularly well received.
But as Microsoft readies its latest iteration of its own mobile OS, it has been working hard to produce compelling applications for other platforms. Comments frequent on Windows Central like to begrudge Microsoft's 'priorities' with launching everything on Android and iOS, but the truth is, it's necessary. It's necessary, important, and Microsoft is really good at it. Microsoft is, after all, a software and services company first and foremost.
I've been trying a similar thing these past couple of weeks on an Android phone. Partly because I've moved as much as I can away from Google apps out of personal preference, and partly to see what it's like. Android still needs Google. Amazon proved that forking it just doesn't work that well, but Microsoft has done the next best thing. Outlook can replace Gmail while still pulling in those accounts, Cortana can replace Google Now, Office, Groove, Xbox One Smartglass, the MSN apps, they're all there. And they're fantastic.
We all want a better life for and with Windows 10 Mobile. But as it turns out, Microsoft is making a serious play at not just having its stuff everywhere, but being the best at it, too.
You'll find the full post from Android Central at the link below.
Source:http://www.windowscentral.com/examining-how-good-microsoft-actually-androidIf you're using Android Pay, don't plan on using a third-party lock screen
If you're a fan of third-party lock screens on your Android phone, don't count on using one if you're also a fan of Android Pay.
I've been using a Samsung Galaxy S6 for a while now, and while I love the phone itself (or 98 percent of it at least) I don't particularly care for the lock screen. Coming off a Moto X 2014 and Nexus 5, I was used to having a simple lock screen with simple, one-tap notifications. On the S6 and its Samsunged lock screen however, I've been turning to third-party options like Hi Locker or CM Locker to get the job done. The only issue is that if you now use Android Pay, third-party lock screens are no longer an option.
If you've used the Galaxy S6 (or any recent Samsung device) you know that the lock screen works a bit differently than on stock Android devices. It's a bit clunkier, requires a few extra taps, and still requires you to swipe to open a notification — even if you aren't using any security like a pin or pattern. For that reason I turned to simpler, cleaner options over the months I've been using the Galaxy S6.
Enter Android Pay. Anyone with who has an Android phone with NFC, running 4.4 or higher, will be able to get in on the fun — but only if you're not using a third-party lock screen. The reason being is that Android payrequires that you use some level of system security — pattern, pin, password, or fingerprint. Third-party lock screens aren't supported, thus you'll have to choose between either using Android Pay, using a third-party lock screen, or using both and having to unlock your device twice each time. If you choose to disable the system security, a rather angry message pops up telling you a "secure screen lock is needed" and threatening that you'll have to "set it now or your cards will be removed".
While I don't really like the fact that I can't stick with a more favorable lock screen, I do respect the fact that Google is protecting their assets — your assets — by requiring security measures to be in place while you have cards added to Android Pay. Technically you can still use another app for your lock screen, but then you'll actually be unlocking your device twice every time, which isn't an ideal solution.
Microsoft is surprisingly close to making a decent Android phone
A Microsoft-based Android phone may not be for everyone, but it seems more than likely we'll see one soon.
Anytime you see the words Microsoft and Android in the same sentence suggesting a new products, fans will come out of the woodwork to remind everyone of that dark time four years ago when Verizon forced Bing on a bunch of phones. In the minds of these users, the event was followed by a grand angry rebellion that banished Bing to the Netherspire and restored Google to its rightful place at the top of our phones and tablets. The people had spoken, Microsoft had been defeated, and there's no need to consider ever going down that dark road again.
The truth is a little less exciting, with Google inviting manufacturers to participate in legally binding agreements that ensured Google search sat atop everything in exchange for access to the Play Store, but the end result isn't all that different. Microsoft could make its own phone without access to the Google Play Store, but that usually ends poorly for everyone involved. In order to have their apps and services installed on something running Google-powered Android, Microsoft needed to go the long way and offer compelling apps that users would want to install and use instead of the pre-loaded Google counterparts.
You may not be aware of it, but Microsoft is surprisingly close to making this a reality.
The key to making an app people will actually consider using in replacement of Google's defaults these days, in many cases, is to go all out and try to replace all of Google's apps at once. Google's integration and cross-app functionality makes it hard to replace a single app with something that doesn't play nice with the rest, even if that one app has features you prefer. Going all in and replacing the whole suite of Google apps isn't easy, but Microsoft has been slowly moving in that direction for years now.
Microsoft as the default on an Android phone starts to look not only feature complete, but downright enjoyable.
Mobile versions of Office apps to replace Drive, Outlook to replace Gmail, OneNote to handle Keep, Skype for messaging and video chat, Groove Music instead of Google Play Music, Nokia Here to replace Maps, and of course OneDrive to connect them all together an offer cloud storage. This handles your basics, and even two years ago might have been enough to help people make the switch, but Google's integration goes a lot deeper than cross-app chatter nowadays.
Microsoft needed Cortana to replace voice search and act as a virtual assistant now that Google Now was baked in to all of the search functions. Between Arrow Launcher and Next Lockscreen for personalized access to apps and features, and half a dozen clever extras like Word Lens and On{X}, Microsoft as the default on an Android phone starts to look not only feature complete, but downright enjoyable.
The one big gap in Microsoft's plan for total Google Service replacement at the moment is a browser. While there are dozens of alternatives to Google's Chrome in the Play Store, it'd be nice to eventually see Edge come to Android with some of the features that make it interesting on Windows 10.
Looking at all of these apps installed and used in place of the current Google Apps demonstrates just how close the company is to a complete thought.
Perhaps more important than drawing on a web page in screenshot form and better overall performance is the continued integration efforts. Things like in-app searches like Chrome has, or the ability to quickly export a line from a website to OneNote, or even the ability to save something you're downloading from the web directly to OneDrive. There's a lot of potential there, and Microsoft has clearly demonstrated the potential to make this happen.
If the long-term goal for Microsoft's adoption of Android is to make a phone with this software deeply embedded in the system, either through continued cooperation withCyanogen or a full on Microsoft-made Android phone with all of this software onboard, looking at all of these apps installed and used in place of the current Google apps demonstrates just how close the company is to a complete thought. It may not be what many Google fans are looking for in a smartphone, but it could absolutely be what Windows 10 users who aren't interested in the current crop of Windows-based phones are looking for, and that group isn't nearly as small as many Android enthusiasts would like to think it is.
Microsoft and Verizon messed up a couple of years ago by trying to force something on everyone, and as it stands right now trying to assemble all of Microsoft's apps into a cohesive thought out of the box is a lot of work, but there's a place somewhere in the middle that could have genuine appeal if done in a way that offers this complete alternative way of doing things in a compelling package. If nothing else, it'd be interesting to see that middle ground come to life.
Mobile Nations Weekly: Applestravaganza
Google introduces a new space for Hangouts on the web
Google has introduced a new central location for Hangouts on the web. The new site presents you with all of your Google contacts, and options for getting in contact with them. You can easily initiate a video or phone call, as well as a new message thread by clicking one of the three big new buttons for that purpose.
From Hangouts engineer Jordanna Chord:
We are launching another way to use Hangouts today. From our new site you'll be able to take advantage of the best of Hangouts in the browser, along with an inspiring image to get you through the day. Check it out and let us know what you think.
You can also quickly access your contact, text conversations, and stored phone numbers by choosing from the readily-available side menu. Opening up the expanded menu will offer links to the Hangouts apps for both Android and iOS, as well as the Chrome app and Hangouts Dialer app for Android.
The new Hangouts experience is rolling out right now.
Grab the new Android Marshmallow wallpapers
Want to get a little of that Android Marshmallow look, but don't want to flash beta preview software or don't have a phone to install it on? The nine new wallpapers from Android 6.0 are a good start.
Included are several new geometric Material Design inspired wallpapers, as well as several great new nature-themed walls. They all look really nice, and are worth checking out.
Developers can now submit apps to Google Play that use Android Marshmallow's API 23
Alongside revealing Android M's actual name, and releasing the new Android 6.0 SDK, Google has announced that developers can now submit apps that use Marshmallow's API 23. This means developers can now build their apps against the official SDK, and submit them for testing on Developer Preview devices.
Google Play is now ready to accept your API 23 apps via the Google Play Developer Console on all release channels (Alpha, Beta & Production). At the consumer launch this fall, the Google Play store will also be updated so that the app install and update process supports the new permissions model for apps using API 23.
With this, app developers can begin adding official support for the new features like auto-backup and app permissions, though those features won't start working until we see official Android 6.0 Marshmallow hardware — AKA the next Nexus — in the wild. If you are a developer and plan to submit your app with API 23 features soon, be sure to let us know all about it!
Android 'M' is for Marshmallow
As is tradition, Google has revealed the version name for the upcoming sixth version of Android with a new statue in front of its Mountain View, CA HQ. Android M will stand for Marshmallow, and while it's still not available for public consumption (check out ourpreview from June), the company is encouraging developers to get their apps ready now, with a new SDK and "near-final" preview versions to use. The name shouldn't be much of a surprise however, since it's the one most of you guessed in our poll, where it nabbed 37 percent of the votes.
Google ramps up the Android M mystery hype
We may soon find out what the M in Android M stands for, as a new video which showcases all of the previous releases, and then teases about the new one has surfaced. Each year, there are tons and tons of guesses about what Google decided to call the upcoming Android release, and this year is no different. With this year being the M release, names like Marshmallow, Milkshake, Moon Pie and others have already been tossed around plenty of times, though no one really knows yet.
So, what are your thoughts on what Android M may be called? Be sure to drop them in the comments below!
OnePlus rolls out OxygenOS 1.0.2 update to address 'Stagefright' vulnerability
OxygenOS version 1.0.2 has just been released to the public. OnePlus has provided the means to flash the update, which is set to address the "Stagefright" vulnerability that could lead to your phone becoming compromised.
OnePlus One owners are advised to back up data before flashing, and those already using OxygenOS will not be required to reset their smartphone. It's positive to see more manufacturers working to get said security vulnerability holes plugged.
Rocking OxygenOS? We highly recommend you take the time to update. More details about installation and flashing can be found over on the OnePlus website.
Top 10 things to know about the OnePlus 2
Source:http://www.androidcentral.com/top-10-things-know-about-oneplus-2
Google offers more details on the closure of Google+ Photos
Following Google's announcement earlier this week that it would shut down Google+ Photos in favor of the new Google Photos service, head of Google Photos Anil Sabharwal clarified the changes taking place.
Sabharwal mentioned that users will still be able to share, comment and +1 photos and videos from within Google+, with all shared content unaffected by the switch. The backup, editing and creation tools will be transferring to the new Photos service:
The great photo and video sharing service that's part of Google+ is unaffected. You can continue to post photos and videos, and your followers will be able to comment and +1 as before. No change. All of the photos, videos, and albums you have already shared on Google+, including their posts, comments, and +1s are also unaffected. An easy way to find these is to visit the Photos tab of your Profile page. The private photo management component of Google+, which includes backup, editing, creations, private album management (album management for shared content is still available on Google+), and sharing to other apps, is being replaced by Google Photos.
Sabharwal went on to add that the similarities between the two services was a factor in the closure of Google+ Photos:
I sincerely appreciate for many of you #3 is still a hard pill to swallow. And I promise we don't take decisions like this one lightly. The reality is that maintaining both Google+ Photos (the private photo management component of Google+) and Google Photos poses several challenges. Most notably, it is confusing to users why we have two offerings that virtually do the same thing, and it means our team needs to divide its focus rather than working on building a single, great user experience.We are working very hard to bring all the best features of Google+ Photos to Google Photos, and this focus will allow us to deliver even more features at a much faster pace.
Galaxy S6 edge+ dummy images give a first look at Samsung's larger GS6
Samsung is reportedly launching a larger version of the Galaxy S6 edge, dubbed the Galaxy S6 edge+. The first leaked images of a dummy model of the phone next to a Galaxy Note 4 give us an indication as to the size of Samsung's upcoming GS6 model.
The images further reinforce the rumors that we'll see a 5.7-inch display on the S6 edge+.The design similarities with the standard S6 edge are also highlighted, with a dual curve display at the front and identical camera placement at the back of the phone. Samsung is allegedly launching the S6 edge+ alongside theGalaxy Note 5 in New York on August 12, so stay tuned for more.
Until then, what are your thoughts on a larger Galaxy S6 edge?
Source: http://www.androidcentral.com/leaked-images-galaxy-s6-edge-give-us-first-look-samsungs-upcoming-flagship
Google makes setting Inbox snooze timers a tad more convenient
Snoozing emails in Inbox by Gmail is getting a bit more convenient for things like hotel reservations, package tracking, and more. Google has announced a new one-tap option when snoozing that will allow users to set emails with dates and times to pop back up at just the right time.
Now, when you swipe left to snooze an email, the popup box that allows you to set the snooze duration will have an extra option for emails with dates and times included. For example, if you're snoozing a restaurant reservation, you'll have the option to set the reminder for an hour before your reservation time. Here's a list of the types of emails that the option will cover:
- Package tracking updates
- Restaurant and event reservations
- Calendar invites
- Flight confirmations
- Hotel reservations
- Rental car reservations
It's not a huge change, but it should be welcome as a nice improvement over fumbling around with setting the exact date and time manually. If you want to try the feature out, Google notes that it should be available starting today.
EU launches two antitrust investigations against Qualcomm
The European Commission has launched two formal investigations against Qualcomm to determine whether or not the chip maker engaged in antitrust practices. It's alleged the company has abused its market position by undercutting rival parties to force them out of the industry.
The first investigation will examine whether Qualcomm offered financial incentives to customers if they purchased baseband chipsets exclusively (or almost exclusively) from the company. The second investigation will look into whether Qualcomm sold its products below cost in order to drive rivals out of the market.
Both investigations will cover chips used for 3G and 4G technology, working off probing that has been underway since 2010. This isn't the first time the European Commission has investigated Qualcomm, with a 4-year long enquiry that ended in 2009. The company also had to fork out $975 million in China after settling with the country's National Development and Reform Commission in an antitrust dispute.
Update: Qualcomm released a statement commenting on the new European Commission investigation:
"We were informed that the European Commission has taken the procedural step of "initiating proceedings" against Qualcomm with regard to the two ongoing investigations into Qualcomm's sale of chipsets for mobile devices. This step allows investigators to gather additional facts, but it represents neither an expression by the Commission on the merits of the case nor an accusation against the Company. While we were disappointed to hear this, we have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate with the Commission, and we continue to believe that any concerns are without merit."
Lollipop is now installed on 12.4 percent of active Android devices
Google has just released its June 2015 report on Android platform versions, showing that Lollipop has jumped over the 10 percent milestone.
Google's monthly report on how many active Android devices are running on each version of the software, has been released for June 2015, and it shows shows that Lollipop has exceeded the 10 percent park, with 5.0 and 5.1 combining for an 12.4 percent share. Those numbers compare to 9.7 percent for Lollipop installs for May and 5.4 percent in April. KitKat dropped slightly from 39.8 percent in May to 39.2 percent in June, while Jelly Bean moved down even more, from 39.2 percent in May to 37.4 percent in June.
Android 2.2 Froyo remains at just 0.3 percent in June, the same install share it had in May, while Android 2.3 Gingerbread went down slightly from 5.7 percent in May to 5.6 percent in June. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich also went down from 5.3 percent in May to 5.1 percent in June.
Android 5.1.1 update for the Galaxy S6 gets detailed on video
Quite a lot has already been said about the upcoming update to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Its rollout should happen in June or July, according to past mumblings, and it's going to bring a few new features to the two devices.
All the stuff that Samsung will unleash alongside the bump in OS version to Android 5.1.1 is neatly detailed in the video below by the folks from SamMobile.
They've used some test builds to get the news out, which means certain things may still change before the update starts rolling out. Speaking of which, it's likely that the S6 models will be the first Samsung handsets to get Android 5.1.1. After them, the Galaxy Note 4 should follow, with older flagships receiving the goods even later.
Samsung will add iPhone-like exposure controls to its camera app, RAW support, and there will also be a Guest Mode baked in. More subtle things are going to be in too, such as the ability to disable the S Finder and Quick Connect buttons from the notification dropdown. The home screen wallpaper can take on a motion effect, while the Themes menu gets a Themes Store button at the bottom of the installed themes list.
The Android Central Google I/O 2015 Preview
Hands on with Microsoft's unannounced OneClip sharing app
This morning, an unannounced app by Microsoft for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Windows 10 was revealed. OneClip leverages OneDrive to easily copy and paste documents, photos, text, phone numbers and more to share between your devices. We go hands-on with the apps on Android, Windows 10, and Windows Phone. Watch our video.
Setup is easy. You synchronize devices by using temporary pairing codes. There is no limit to the number of devices you can pair. You can copy photos, screenshots, phone numbers, addresses, or other text from any of the devices and OneClip makes them available on all your paired devices.
We've installed OneClip on Android, Windows, and Windows Phone. The apps work surprisingly well. Items show up within seconds, but that may vary depending on your internetCONNECTION
. iOS is also supported, be we didn't get a chance to install it yet.
T-Mobile approves Wi-Fi calling update for the Nexus 6, rolling out to small number of devices this weekend
T-Mobile has finally approved an update for the Nexus 6 which enables Wi-Fi calling, a small group of people will receive the update hitting their devices this weekend.
Customers have been waiting for Wi-Fi calling to hit their Nexus 6 on T-Mobile, and now the update has finally received approval. T-Mobile Product Evangelist, Des, has confirmed that a small number of customers will begin seeing the update hit their devices as soon as this weekend. If all goes well they hope to roll it out to everyone over the next few weeks.
THIS JUST IN!!! @TMobile has approved the #Nexus6 WiFi Calling Software Update! Happy Memorial Day weekend! pic.twitter.com/4dcS4ATEKt by
The update was rumored to hit the devices early in 2015, but unfortunately some issues have pushed the release back. T-Mobile has also just updated its support page with information about the Android 5.1.1 build LYZ28E update that is pushing out, which also includes Device Anti-Theft, as well as bug fixes and other improvements
How to use Samsung Smart Switch
Samsung makes it mostly effortless to switch away from just about anything to something with Galaxy in the name.
Migrating from one Android device to another got marginally easier with Android 5.0 — especially if your old device is NFC-enabled and most of your data lives in Google's clouds — but it's not perfect. More important is that if you're moving from an iOS device, it's still kind of a hassle. Samsung's solution for this is Smart Switch, and it is now baked into the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge at startup. If you're planning on moving to a shiny new Galaxy in the not-so-distant future, you probably want to familiarize yourself with this software. With that in mind, lets take a quick tour through Samsung Smart Switch.
Smart Switch exists exclusively for when you've decided to move from one phone to another. You can use it to move from one Android or iOS device to a Galaxy device, but you can also use it to move from one Samsung device to something else. The software is designed to be installed on the host device first, so the app can grab all of the relevant information and give you pairing instructions for your new device. If you're using an Android phone, this is as simple as installing an app and tapping "next." If you're on iOS, it means connecting the device to your computer and using the desktop version of Smart Switch to pull data from either iTunes or iCloud and prepare it for your new Samsung. Assuming you're migrating to a Galaxy S6 or S6 edge, your next step is just turning the phone on and tapping "yes" when prompted to use Smart Switch to grab data from another phone.
Once the two devices have communicated with one another, you'll be able to choose what content you want moved to the new device. Samsung Smart Switch is surprisingly thorough when moving from Android to Android, allowing you to move contact and photos as well as Wifi connection data and even alarm clock preferences. The backup and restore process will vary significantly based on how much local data you have, and since the restore process is wireless it could easily take upwards of an hour if you're restoring a lot of content. You'll want to be connected to power when restoring data to your new phone, but once the process is complete you'll have everything you wanted from the previous device.
Samsung Smart Switch is your best option for moving to a Galaxy S6 or S6 edge from just about anything else, and is a fantastic argument against the Google method of "cloud everything" backup. It's a simple, powerful system transfer solution, and absolutely worth taking a look at if you decide to pick up a Samsung device this year.
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The best text messaging apps for the Samsung Galaxy S6
Android Wear can now help you find your lost phone
Running around the house trying to find your phone is basically a thing of the past, at least if you have some battery life left. The same tools from Apple, Google, and Microsoft designed to curb theft can also make your phone ring, even if it's silenced. The only rub is having to make your way to a computer, or using someone else's phone to do it. Google's taken that extra step out of the equation as long as you have an Android Wear device. A new update introduced to Google's Android Device Manager app lets you say "Ok, Google. Start. Find my phone," into your Android Wear device and your Android phone will start ringing at full volume. You can also enable the tracker by tapping a new "Find my phone" option that shows up in the Start menu after the update.Yes, this is the 2015 edition of the Sharper Image key finder. But there are no extra apps to install, or extra things to buy. Now, just try not to lose your watch too.
Samsung Galaxy Smartphone Android 5.0 Lollipop Release Roundup: Galaxy S5, S4, and More
Here's the latest roundup on the Android 5.0 Lollipop release for Samsung's most popular smartphones, the S series, plus other variants including the Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy S5 Mini, S5 Active and S5 Sport versions.
In the weeks since our last Galaxy S Series Android 5.0 Lollipop release update, some fresh news has developed to excite anxious Samsung smartphone owners, especially in the U.S. A major U.S. carrier has confirmed and announced their Galaxy S5 update, and international progress was made as well with the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 Active, which indirectly bodes well for U.S. release of the updates. Here's a breakdown of what has occurred.
Galaxy S5: The big news here is that AT&T has announced officially via its twitter account that it is actively working on the Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update for its customers, though an exact release date has not been given. Speculation is that the update will roll out this month. While Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all rolled out their Galaxy S5 Android Lollipop 5.0 updates back in February, anxious AT&T customers are still holding their breath, along with subscribers to U.S. Cellular, the country's fifth largest carrier. On the international front, an update was just released in Korea today to owners of the Galaxy S5 LTE-A, a limited international variant that sports a Quad HD display.
Galaxy S4: Just last week, one international variant had a software leak posted on the web allowing owners of that model to flash their S4