Category: Android

Top 5 Android Lollipop Features That Will Change the Way You Use Your Smartphone

Google’s new Android platform Lollipop 5.0 has already got rave reviews. The OS has begun rolling out to select Nexus and Motorola handsets and tablets. You must be preparing yourself for your Android Lollipop update, or you’re just getting the grip of the OS on your new tablet or smartphone. Let us tell you, the new update makes you feel like you own a new device altogether.

We are listing top 5 features of Android 5.0 Lollipop that will change the way you use your smartphone.

1. Project Volta

Android smartphones have a bad reputation for short battery life. The amount of juice sucked by the apps and screen has forced Android phone makers to fit larger batteries than iPhone and other rivals to get through the day, but all that may change, thanks to ‘Project Volta’. At its core, Volta represents a concerted effort by Google to address one of the biggest problems affecting smartphones today: battery life. Project Volta is Google’s new initiative for improving battery life. It’s weaved deep into the Lollipop coding. It reorganises background app activity into batches to save unnecessary battery drain. It also automatically detects when you are in an area of weak or no signal to stop the continual network data requests, which is a major source through which your phone’s battery churns out.

2. Interactive Notification

With the new Material Design, notifications do look different. But, the change is not just a cosmetic accessing your updates and interacting with alerts from emails, your social feeds have become more intuitive. It also brings notifications to the lock screen and lets you use them right there, so you can perform tasks without even unlocking your phone. And if you don’t want some of them to bother you every second, you can just put them to your ‘redacted’ list of private notifications. Alerts not only offer quick actions and quick access to settings, but they are incredibly dynamic. They can be expanded or contracted to see more or less information, individually muted for a specific period (e.g. stop Facebook Messages, but not SMS) and prioritised according to your privacy requests.

3. Super Easy Multi-tasking

With the new update, multi-tasking feature in Android has gone some fundamental changes. Mostly, the new changes catch up with the trends set by iOS. However, this time around, Google has actually stepped ahead of Apple. Now, instead of just switching between apps, your phone can now switch between operations within the same app. This means you can now switch between two different documents you were working on and also between different browser tabs in Chrome. This basically changes the fundamentals how you use your Android device.

4. Pin Apps

If your phone is borrowed several times a day by friends and family, then this feature will be your favourite one. Pin Apps mode is a simple and very useful addition to Android Lollipop that lets you add an extra layer of security to your phone when somebody borrows it. When enabled, you can lock down your device so that the person using it only has access to one app. Undoubtedly, a convenient feature for those who often offer a device to a child to play games or a friend to check his or her e-mails. Once the app is pinned, the user can navigate anywhere within the app, but he or she can’t leave it. So if you pin Chrome, the user will be able to browse the Internet, but that’s it. Exiting a pinned app requires you to touch and hold the back and overview buttons at the same time. After a couple of seconds, your device will switch to the overview screen.

5. Faster App Response – ART

Earlier, Android used the Dalvik engine to run third-party and core Google applications. Now, the company has switched to ART with Android Lollipop. ART provides larger install footprint and can, as Google says, operate in an ‘always ready’ mode. So when you select it, the application will spring into life faster than it would with the old engine. According to the company, ART is 4x faster than Dalvik and will improve the performance of any Android handset it runs on.

November 17, 2014
Here’s How You Can Get Android Lollipop 5.0 Right Now on Your Nexus 5
Google has started rolling out Android Lollipop 5.0 update for Nexus 5. You can expect the new update soon on your device via OTA in the coming days. However, there are some of us who don’t want to wait anymore. It is true that the OTA method is the most convenient way to upgrade your phone. However, we don’t mind doing some hard work to get the new upgrade.

So, here is how you can get Android Lollipop 5.0 right now on your Nexus 5.

Things you’ll need:
- A Windows computer installed with ADB and Fastboot.
- Android Lollipop ROM for the Indian version of the Nexus 5. Download it Here.
- USB drivers for Nexus 5. Download it Here.
How to do it:

1. Go to the phone Settings and make sure the Developer mode is enabled.

2. Put the downloaded Lollipop Zip file into a new folder in the desktop and rename it according to your preference.

3. Make sure the USB debugging option is on; you can find it under Developers option in your phone’s ‘Setting’ window.

4. Switch off your phone. Now press Volume Down + Power button simultaneously. This will switch on the phone in Fastboot. You will see Start written in big letters on the top of the screen. Use volume buttons to navigate to Recovery Mode. Once found, select it using the Power button.

5. You’ll see small Android robot lying flat with a red mark over its belly. Now press the Power button for a couple of seconds and press the Volume Up button once while holding the power button. This will turn on the ADB mode in your device. If it doesn’t, try it again starting from step 4.

6. Once the phone is in Recovery Mode, use volume buttons to highlight ‘apply update from ADB’ and press Power button to select it.

7. Connect your phone with the PC via USB. Make sure the PC recognises the device as Android phone with Android Composite ADB Interface functionality in your computer’s Device Manager. If not, uninstall the drivers and install them again.

8. Now press ‘Windows+R’ on you keyboard to launch RUN and type ‘cmd’ to open the Command window.

9. Type ‘adb sideload <name of the Lollipop zip file>’. For example, if your file name is Lollipop.zip, then write: adb sideload lollipop.zip and press Enter.

10. Now, you will see that the ROM will be copied onto your phone. This way, Lollipop will be installed. The whole process will take around 10 minutes.

TIP: If you get confused or lose the track somewhere in between, press the Volume Up, Volume Down and Power buttons together to reboot the phone. And remember, never ever pull it off charging.
November 14, 2014
To Strengthen Android Security, Samsung Partners With Blackberry

Smartphones are not just a communication device anymore. They are business gadgets and a storage for tons of personal information. With the number of revelations of hacking and stealing content from users phones and cloud account, security of the smartphones has become an important topic of discussion amongst all stakeholders. Samsung has decided to step up its game on security and has partnered with Blackberry for the effort.

Samsung’s own Knox was reported to have a flaw that apparently left the system ‘completely compromised.’ Here Blackberry can come really useful as it has been unanimously praised for having one of the best enterprise security.

This will also be a good opportunity for Blackberry to share the limelight with the global consumer electronics giant. Blackberry has had serious issues in the recent past with the rapid decline in sales.

Blackberry will provide its expertise to enhance the performance of Samsung’s Knox system. It will integrate its BES12 end-to-end encryption system with Samsung’s Knox. The offspring of this alliance will be introduced early next year.

The security option is essential for corporate and government sectors as they deal in sensitive information. These sectors also consume massive inventories from the companies so it would be important for Samsung to convince them of its security standard.

November 14, 2014
CyanogenMod 11.0 M12 is Now Ready for Download

If you are into installing custom ROMs onto your phones, you definitely know about CyanogenMod. It is also the default OS on the legendary OnePlus One. ROM has one of the best customisation features and is regularly updated. Having said that, CyanogenMod is ready with the next in its line-up (CM 11.0 M12) for supported devices.

CyanogenMod 11.0 M12 has been released for the following devices: HTC One (M8), Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4 Mini, Motorola Razr, Sony Xperia Z, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Tablet Z, Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7, HTC One Max, and Nexus 7 Wi-Fi.

The new build brings many new features over its predecessor. 9to5google reports that this new update is based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. They also report that the new update offers “range of bug fixes and improvements: a fix for signal strength on certain devices, updates to frameworks and core apps, a list of devices connected to tethering and more.”

On its Twitter page, Cyanogen teased the new pin scrambling feature. It jumbles the numbers when asking for pin so that the perpetrator would have to work harder to get access to your phone. This seems like a simple, yet elegant solution to pin code theft.

Worry about people catching a glimpse of your PIN code strokes? Check out Scramble PIN Layout feature on Cyanogen OS http://t.co/nqJtPHfhim

— Cyanogen Inc. (@CyanogenInc) November 10, 2014

If you were wondering, then yes, CyanogenMod is already working on the Android Lollipop update for its ROM. All good things ask for patience and for something as sweet as CyanogenMod, the wait has been worth it in the past, so you should do the same this time around.

November 13, 2014
Motorola Starts the Android Lollipop Roll Out Process with Moto G

With the smartphone market getting concentrated, the companies are now being judged on the speed of update deliveries. Companies have also recognized this, and they are now working proactively to bring the updates to its consumers. With the Android 5.0 Lollipop out in the world, the race is on to be the first company to bring the update as fast as possible. Seems like Motorola, which had previously been the front runner in the KitKat race is taking the lead in the Lollipop side of things too.

Motorola has begun the process of officially rolling out the new operating system update for Moto X Pure Edition and second generation Moto G. At present the rollout is meant for unlocked GSM phones sold in the US. But soon enough the update will start showing up for users in other markets.

Motorola had previously released an update for testers and clearly the process is all done for the final rollout. This is a commendable feat as even the older Google Nexus devices haven’t received the update yet. LG is also expected to bring out the Android 5.0 update for the G3 by sometime this week.

Android 5.0 Lollipop is the best Android OS, and it’s a really good news that companies are focusing on bringing this update to its users. Lollipop comes with a refreshing new look along with several other features including increased battery life. To know more about what’s in store with the Android 5.0 update, click here.

November 13, 2014
Moto X and Moto G First in Line to Get Android Lollipop Update

Surprisingly, according to the recent reports, some 2014 Moto X users have already received the Android 5.0 Lollipop update notification. It is said that the company posted and then pulled out documents for the Moto X and Moto G Lollipop update on its website.

“The very first Moto X variant getting the update is the ‘Pure Edition’ — an unlocked version of the phone, and for right now it’s going out to people who signed up for the ‘soak test’ — a limited rollout in preparation of a wider release,” Ars Technica reports. “Next up for Moto will be making sure none of the soak testers report major problems over the next day or two and getting carriers on board to approve the update.”

Earlier, Motorola announced that they will be rolling out Android 5.0 update for Moto X and Moto G devices soon, and the company may roll out the official update for these handsets soon after upgrades for Google’s own Nexus devices.

Meanwhile, Ar Technica pointed out that there hasn’t been any Lollipop update for Google’s Nexus devices, presumably because Google didn’t want to steal the Nexus 6’s thunder, which will be released on November 12.

November 11, 2014
LG to be the First Ones to Give Out the Lollipop

LG has so far had a good year. The company got back into focus with its G3 family of devices. Its smartwatches are getting quite an appreciation in the market, and it is ready to bring out devices with its own line of chipsets. In between all of this, the company will also become a customer-darling with its announcement of bring out the new Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

It was expected that Motorola would be the first one to deliver the new OS update to its users, but LG seems to have beat them to it. The company will begin the update delivery process from Poland by this week. It will then start the update process in other important markets.

The first update will be for G3 users. LG will later announce a schedule for its other devices. In the fast updating and concentrating market, the company who delivers the fastest updates may move forward in the food chain. Motorola has released the Android 5.0 update for its testers on the Moto X devices. A full update will be out this month or early next month.

The latest Lollipop update is, in fact, the best Android update yet which takes the operating system to the next level. The update adds better battery backup to the devices, and the new material design and animations have been appreciated for introducing a fresh look to the operating system. Here’s a list of all the devices that will be getting the Android Lollipop update.

November 10, 2014
Xiaomi to Join Hands With Leadcore to Offer Cheaper Handsets

Chinese technology powerhouse Xiaomi is all set to acquire chip maker Leadcore. The company might take a 51% stake in the company. It is expected that with the inclusion of these chips, the price of Redmi phones might go even further down.

Xiaomi presently uses Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets in its handsets. It’s the power of the snapdragon line of chipsets that has given a boost to Xiaomi to take on the world market. Its inclusion of high-quality equipments even on its lower-end devices has created a trust factor amongst its present and future customers.

The company debuted with the Xiaomi Redmi line. But the spec-sheet of these devices helps them to take on other available devices with much higher price tag. Xiaomi has to be very cautious about the quality of its products. They should make sure that the Leadcore chipsets provide the same level of performance as they got from Snapdragon chipsets. Xiaomi will still be using Snapdragon chipsets for its devices that are higher up in the food chain.

There is also a great news for the potential consumers with this development. With Leadcore chips under their belt, the Redmi line of devices can see a major price cut. The phones are expected to lose as much as Rs. 2,000 off their price tag. The device will then truly become disruptive for the market and may cause loads of worry for the competitors. The ones who will seriously feel the brunt will be local manufacturers like Micromax, Lava and others. Guess we just have to wait to see another bloodbath, courtesy again by Xiaomi.

November 8, 2014
Facebook Plans to Take on Apple’s Monopoly Over the App Business

It is no secret that Apple has dominated the $45 billion market with its App Store. Even though Android ecosystem has proliferated to almost 80% of the market globally, iOS has taken over the major chunk of the app store revenue on its side.

The main reason being iOS users are more than ready to spend money on apps than Android users. Android being an open source OS comprises of users that may or may not like to spend money on apps, hence, the revenue differs. So the best apps are developed first for Apple’s iOS mobile operating system. Only if they are successful do companies produce an Android version, often months or years later. However, Facebook is planning to change this game.

According to the folks at Facebook Europe, the dominance of Apple is about to weaken soon. Facebook’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa platform director Julien Codorniou while talking to Business Insider suggested that the new trend he is seeing is going to favour Android. According to him, Android is very rapidly catching up iOS in terms of revenue generation. He also mentioned that there days, many developers, especially game developers, are going for Android first in the European market.

Facebook is planning to tap into situation with its own Parse app development platform, and favour Android big time.

“There is a pattern coming from Eastern Europe. The Russian developers develop on Android first because of a big audience, and it maybe being easier to develop. They liked the fact that they could submit a new version of the app every day. [With Apple, you have to get each new version of the app approved before it hits the App Store. There is no version approval for Android.] This is a trend that I see and I think it is going to accelerate.”

Facebook is planning to tap into the situation with its own Parse app development platform and favour Android big time. Codorniou believes that Parse virtually erases the two-step iOS/Android development process, letting companies release new apps on both platforms at the same time. If apps are released at the same time on Android, it erases one of the key selling points of the iPhone, which is users who want the cool new apps must be Apple users in order to get them.

Codorniou has a team of promoters for spreading the word: “As of today, I have four guys from my team in Paris talking to Android developers about the greatness of Parse, Facebook login, app links, app events, all of these things we introduced at f8. It’s a very important bet for us.”

November 8, 2014
Android 5.0 Lollipop Encounters Wi-Fi Bug, Roll Out Delays

A few days back, Google announced that it had started rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop, but as of now, it appears the update has been delayed as there is no news of any new devices receiving the same. The reason, according to reports, seems to be a Wi-Fi bug in the software build. According to a report from Android Police, Google has delayed the release of Android 5.0 after a Wi-Fi bug drained the battery in Nexus 5 devices.

Google’s Trevor Johns acknowledged this bug and said, “Android Engineering is aware of an issue affecting Nexus 5 users running Android 5.0 which causes significant ‘Miscellaneous’ battery usage while Wi-Fi is enabled. This appears to be caused by an abnormally high number of IRQ wakeup events. We are continuing to investigate this issue.”

Sources now expect that Google plans to release the Android 5.0 update for Nexus devices starting November 12. There were rumours earlier that Google has not been able to make a stable version of Android 5.0 update for models like Nexus 4 and 5 along with 3G/4G-enabled Nexus 7 and 10 tablets.

Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google’s most ambitious project yet, brings a slew of new features such as user customisation options, better battery performance, improved security and support for multiple user profiles on the same device.

The likes of Motorola, Sony and HTC have already confirmed the Lollipop update on their popular devices. Meanwhile, other manufacturers such as Samsung and LG have not yet announced their plans as to when their devices will get the updated version. For a complete list of devices scheduled to receive the Android 5.0 Lollipop update, click here.

November 6, 2014

Lava becomes Number 2 Indian Mobile Brand, While Micromax Leads

The emergence of Chinese companies into the Indian market has taken most of the sheen off the Indian phone makers. Even Motorola’s high specification, low priced devices have taken customers away from the Indian handset manufacturers. But with the combined strengths of feature phones and smartphones, the Indian brands have continued to grow. The companies have benefitted from the shift to smartphones in the lower segment, and their offerings are perceived as affordable. These factors have helped Lava reach the second spot on the podium amongst the Indian handset model.

The report was published by market research venture called Cybex Exim. The company took into consideration the following handset manufacturers: Micromax, Lava, Motorola, Karbonn, Gionee, Lenovo, Spice, Intex, XOLO, Panasonic, Zen, Maxx, Videocon, Xiaomi and Lemon.

To elaborate on their findings, Mr. Amit Gupta, Cybex Exim said, “To understand the market dynamics, we track the import shipments of various players on a daily basis. Domestic players have shown remarkable growth over the last two quarters; majorly credited to the success of Indian brands like Micromax, Lava and Karbonn. With local vendors reducing the price gap between the entry level smartphones and feature phones, usage for mid-price phones is expected to increase at a high rate. At the same time, the recent launch of Android One devices is expected to drive more volumes in the price sensitive market with many other local players geared up to introduce their devices in the coming quarter.”

Cybex Exim’s findings is as follows:

Volume data of Top 5 Indian players (in Mn) July – September’14 – Cybex Exim Solutions Pvt Ltd
Company	Feature Phones	Smart Phones	Total Volume	% Volume Share
MICROMAX	5,058,002	3,723,445	8,781,447	31.2%
LAVA	5,307,184	1,968,575	7,275,759	25.8%
KARBONN	4,591,947	1,803,583	6,395,530	22.7%
INTEX	2,542,483	965,627	3,508,110	12.5%
SPICE	1,764,181	426,992	2,191,173	7.8%

This has been a good year for Micromax. According to a study by Counterpoint Research, Micromax outsold Samsung in Q2 of 2014 to become India’s biggest smartphone supplier. Also, Micromax finished on the pole position of Cyber Exim’s report. The company is also taking some risks like introducing a Cyanogen-powered smartphone in the coming future.

Lava has said that the company will be investing about 500 crores in a phased manner to set up its own manufacturing unit in India over the next couple of years. This would be a positive step towards increasing tech-based manufacturing workforce in the country.

It’s great to see these Indian companies on a growth track. But looking at the competition they are facing against the Chinese companies, its time the companies up-ed their game. The phones need to get better in terms of specs and overall quality. The Indian companies may also want to take a leap into the flagship business and challenge the name brands.

November 6, 2014

Nexus Owners Get Ready! Android 5.0 Lollipop Officially Rolls Out Today

The long wait is at last over! Five months after Google announced the all new ‘Android L’ and ‘Material Design’ at Google I/O 2014 and nearly a month after it officially confirmed the name ‘Android 5.0 Lollipop’, the new operating system has been released.

In an official blog, Google has put out a post saying that Android 5.0 Lollipop has started rolling out already. Google has confirmed that Android 5.0 Lollipop would be coming to all the Nexus devices – Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and tablets Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013 editions) and Nexus 10. The Nexus 9, which has launched internationally, comes pre-loaded with the new operating system, and so will the Google Nexus 6 when it comes out.

Android’s official blog reads: “If you’re like me, you jump between a number of different devices throughout the day—reading a magazine on your tablet, checking the time on your watch, chatting with your friends on the phone, even plotting your route in the car. More and more, our screens work together, each helping make your life a little bit easier. But if the design is the way they communicate with us, it often feels like each one is speaking a different language. That’s why we unveiled material design earlier this year: one consistent design language flexible enough to span devices across mobile, desktop, and beyond. Design is a major focus for Lollipop—the latest version of Android—which begins to roll out today.”

Last night, Google launched the new Gmail 5.0 app along with the Calendar app, both of which come with Material Design. The company is slowly updating all of its official apps in the ‘Material Design’ style. Google describes Material Design as a “bold, colourful, and responsive UI design for consistent, intuitive experiences across all your devices. Responsive, natural motion, realistic lighting and shadows, and familiar visual elements make it easier to navigate your device. Vivid new colours, typography, and edge-to-edge imagery help to focus your attention.”

Motorola has already confirmed the update for most of its phones available in the market, which includes the Moto X (1st Gen. & 2nd Gen.), Moto G (1st Gen. & 2nd Gen.), Moto E, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx and Droid Mini. HTC confirmed that it will be releasing the Android L update within 90 days of receiving the final software from Google. Here’s a full list of devices confirmed to receive the update, to see if your device made it, click here.

Meanwhile, you can check out our hands on with the update:

November 4, 2014
Flipkart Launches the First Indian E-Commerce Android Wear App

All the industry giants are pointing towards wearable technology as the next leap in consumer electronics. But the market has given the segment a lukewarm response. It must have to do with the technology being relatively new and in its beginning stages. But Flipkart seems to be confident of the success of this form factor and so, they have launched the first Indian e-commerce app on Google Android Wear.

To get the app on your device; you need to update the latest version of the Flipkart app. Once you have paired the device with your wearable, the app will be available automatically on it.

The Android Wear app can assist you in your shopping by giving you tracking information, one-touch wishlist, notifications about price drop and personalized offers’ notifications. It has also got support for voice-based searches.

Flipkart is the exclusive address for the Moto 360, which has been the best smartwatch yet. It will surely try to target the segment in the future. Introducing an app in a new operating system environment will give Flipkart some first-mover advantages. We’ll wait and see how it works out for this e-commerce giant.

November 3, 2014
Google Nexus 6 ‘Coming Soon’ to a Flipkart Near You

Google’s latest collaborative flagship device is the best Android phone out there. The phone sits on a pedestal and sets a standard for other phones to achieve. It is one of the highly sought-after phones in the market and will be available soon. But Indians were surprised and elated this morning to find the phone listed on Flipkart.

Nexus 6 was listed with a ‘Coming Soon’ tag on the e-tailers website. The price hasn’t been listed yet, but it is expected to cost top rupees, considering its high specs. In the US, the phone is available on the Google Play Store. The 32 GB variant is available for $649 (about Rs. 40,000) and the 64 GB variant costs $699 (about Rs. 43,000). You can expect the phone to come in the Rs. 45,000-55,000 price bracket in India.

The listing though should not be seen as an indication of its availability anytime soon. The phone might take a good couple of weeks before it is finally available for purchase in the country. In some countries, the phone was expected to be introduced for pre-orders today, but it is being reported that the pre-orders will be delayed till 18th of this month.

Google Nexus 6 is in-demand for its top of the line features. It comes with a 5.96-inch QHD (1440×2560 pixels) display with a pixel density of 493ppi. It is powered by a 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor and supported by 3 GB of RAM. This Google flagship is available in 32 GB and 64 GB internal storage variants. The device will run on the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system. It will get its juice from a 3220mAh battery and with the Lollipop, it is expected to give a better battery backup. For imaging, Nexus 6 has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera.

So, if you want to be one of the first ones to get hold of this phenomenal phone, then you just have to be patient for some more weeks. You will appreciate it and looking at the spec-sheet, it surely looks worth the wait.

November 3, 2014
Here’s the First Look at the Working Prototype of Google’s Project Ara

Remember Phonebloks, the folks who came up with a revolutionary concept of a phone that can be easily updated and save the environment with the massive e-waste generated each year? The project was taken up by Motorola and named project Ara. The project got passed on to Google after Motorola’s departure from the company, and it seems that they have been working hard to get the concept to reality.

Dave Hakkens, the Dutch designer who was the brains behind Phonebloks paid a visit to one of the contractors working on Project Ara. NK Labs is one of the dozen contract partners who are assisting Google in bringing out this new generation product.

In the video, the engineer assembled various modules onto the device, and it worked. The device is operational and is running an Android operating system. The modules included the LED, battery, application processor, loudspeaker and USB charging bits. The camera and other complex features may be added later, but this is a great start for the project.

Google had announced last week that it will be establishing independent stores where users can go and buy their choice of swappable modules. Paul Eremenko from Google had said that they will be creating a free and open platform on the lines of the Android project. The devices are expected to run Android Lollipop, and the “Spiral 2? prototype will be introduced on January 14th, 2015 at the next developers conference. Now this is one technology we can’t wait to get our hands on, not only is it economically viable, it has an environmentally conscious approach towards technology.

October 30, 2014