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XDA Xposed Tuesday: Modify the Look of Your Volume Control – XDA TV

statusbarvolume

How many screenshots have you seen with a volume status bar in the middle? How often do you wish that your volume statusbar didn’t pop up right in front of your YouTube Video? Well, with the power of the Xposed Module, you have the option of customizing your volume status bar.


In this episode of XDA Xposed Tuesday, XDA TV Producer TK reviews an Xposed Module that lets you customize the display of your volume statusbar. Xposed Developer niko001 created the StatusbarVolume module. TK shows off the modules and gives his thoughts, so check out this Xposed Tuesday video.




Be sure to check out other great XDA Developer TV Videos



The post XDA Xposed Tuesday: Modify the Look of Your Volume Control – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.


Did Google confirm that Android L will be Lollipop?

If you believe that lollipops have business being on top of (or even in) cakes, then please disregard this piece of guesswork. People are buzzing (maybe with too much cake) because of Google's 16th anniversary birthday cake which they posted yesterday. But instead of candy flowers or cupcake toppings, they used lollipops, fueling speculation that the upcoming Android L will indeed be named after the round candy on a stick treat.



Lollipop has been a frontrunner for the Android upgrade coming out before the end of the year. But suddenly, another sweet treat became the number 1 suspect for Android L: Lemon Meringue Pie. While that is a somewhat long name for a usually one-word name for updates, several sources and documents showed Android L being referred to as "lmp", giving credence to the lemon meringue pie name. Google hasn't yet made an official announcement since the build isn't final yet. But yesterday's 16th birthday cake may indicate that it came back to the original plan of using lollipop.


While the launch of Android L is still a few months away, not much is known until now, except for the things that Google teased during the I/O earlier this year. Initial leaks say it will allow multiple-user accounts in smartphones and tablets. The new Material design is being rolled out not just with the upgrade but with all Google products and some apps have already capitalized on this by updating their look and design. Android L will also have ART runtime by default.


We still have to wait a few more weeks maybe to find out which of our sweet tooth cravings will be satisfied, digitally. We're still hoping out for Lime (Key) Pie, or maybe, based on Google's birthday cake, Layer cake is even a possibility.


SOURCE: +Google



The upcoming Google Nexus 6: What we know so far

We have been inundated with a lot of news about this new “whale” phone from Motorola, which is very much likely the Nexus 6. Details are becoming clearer now as news about specs keep flowing in d. The fact of the matter is, pretty soon we will be seeing the new phone that will bear Google and Android’s stamp of approval for the next year or so.



Firstly, there is good reason to believe that it’s going to be a very, very large phone – due mainly to its 5.9-inch screen. For comparison, it will be almost as large as Nokia’s gigantic Lumia 1520 phone (with its 6-inch screen). I’ve personally had a go at a Lumia 1520 and there is just no way of holding that monster in one hand comfortably. The screen on the Nexus 6 is purportedly Quad HD resolution, powered by an equally large 3,200mAh battery.


nexus_6_mock up


It is also reported that the phone will be rocking Android 5.0 – or as you know it, Android L – which has not launched yet, leading people to believe that the launch dates of both the Nexus 6 and Android L are somehow linked. The phone will also, according to sources, have a 13MP/2MP camera combo, and a mechanism for superfast charging. On the record, Motorola says that 15 minutes of charging through this process will give you 8 hours of battery life. Not bad at all.


The final question will be the obvious one – will there be a smaller version of this whale of a phone for those who don’t fancy holding and carrying a huge slab of phone? Sadly, the answer is that there are no logical indications that Motorola will be manufacturing a smaller Nexus 6. Either that OR they have totally kept the smaller Nexus 6 a secret, which is very highly unlikely. So bring on the launch event then.


VIA: Android Police



FM Radio app for Moto E and Moto G updated, now with Bluetooth support

Motorola Mobility has been updating a number of apps lately for some of its Moto handsets. The latest recipients of an app update are the Moto E and all generations of Moto G with the newly enhanced Motorola FM Radio. The app offers free FM radio streaming right on your Android smartphone. You can scan for stations, make a favorites list, and see live information about the song currently playing.



The Motorla FM Radio features a navigation that can be controlled with a simple swipe. However, you still need to have a wired headset as it will work as the FM antenna. With the recent app update, Motorola has improved on issue scanning frequencies in Colombia which have been experiencing some errors. Playing, seeking, or pausing/stopping a song from the lock screen is now possible too. Motorola also added seek up or down buttons to FM radio notification controls. No need to open the app to just change FM bands. And of course, the developer did some stability fixes for a better FM radio listening experience.


What’s new on the app is that it now features Bluetooth support. Listening via a paired Bluetooth headset, car head unit, or portable speaker has been enabled. This means you can listen to FM radio even without a wired headset. Simply put on a Bluetooth earpiece and connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth.


Note that Motorola released the update on the Google Play Store even if the FM Radio app is exclusive to Moto E and Moto G phones for owners to be immediately notified of the release. Even without a system upgrade, the FM Radio app can now be easily updated.


Moto E and Moto G device owners can download the updated Motorola FM Radio app from the Google Play Store



Motorola’s new DROID Turbo appears at GFX Bench

One of those things we love about smartphone manufacturers is when they need their egos stroked (or destroyed) in wanting to see how their new unlaunched, super-secret phones stack up against others – hence the need to use benchmarking software. It practically gives us a full look into the innards of their new phones, like this new Motorola DROID Turbo, which recently made an appearance at GFX Bench.



The DROID line is Motorola’s special agreement with Verizon – a full line of DROID devices exclusive to the carrier. There have been conflicting reports about the specs of the new phone that’s set to launch before the year ends, but this appearance will give us some clarity. First up, the DROID Turbo is benched here sporting a kickass, top of the line Snapdragon 805 quad-core 2.6Ghz processor – whereas it was rumored that it was going to be the slower, much older Snapdragon 800.


droid_turbo_gfx


We also get a confirmation of a 5.2-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440) screen being powered by an Adreno 420 graphics chip and 3GB of RAM. There might possibly be 32GB of internal storage and a 19MP main shooter capable of capturing 4K video. The unit is still running the latest version of Android Kitkat (4.4.4), but it remains to be seen if the model will launch with Android L.


Our question here is this – these are flagship level specs. Is Motorola endangering the existence of their flagship Moto X device by putting out a niche market smartphone that has slightly better specs? I for one questioned why the Moto X wasn’t running the Snapdragon 805 beast, but I guess that was a nod to make pricing a little more reachable. Let’s see if this new DROID Turbo turns up in Verizon’s catalogs soon.


SOURCE: GFX Bench



Prepare Your Nokia X2 for Battle with Nokia X2 Tools

NokiaX2Tools

Unveiled in June this year, the Nokia X2 is the Finnish company’s second crack at an Android-powered device. With a 4.3 inch IPS display, a dual core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a price tag under $200, the X2 is a device unique for its dual Windows-Android experience, with Nokia replacing any indication of Android OS with Nokia and Microsoft counterparts. Perhaps not for the wider mainstream market, the Nokia X2 is an interesting device that will definitely perk the interests of some folks. If you happen to be one of these people or have already bought one, you might want to check out Nokia X2 Tools.


Developed by XDA Forum Member Mplus, Nokia X2 Tools is a program which does two of the most important things you can do with your X2 – root it, and install the Google Play store and Google services. After you’ve connected your phone to your PC, run the program and you’ll be prompted with numerous options you can select including:



  • Install Nokia X2 drivers

  • Install/uninstall Google Play store and Google services

  • Root/unroot

  • Boot into recovery


If you would like to check this out yourself, head over to the Nokia X2 Tools thread for more information.


The post Prepare Your Nokia X2 for Battle with Nokia X2 Tools appeared first on xda-developers.


Moto 360 update brings drastic improvement on battery life

Just last week, we mention a Moto 360 firmware update rolling out and we’re quick to note how it improved battery life among owners of the smartwatch. Over at an Android Wear Reddit page, Moto 360 users are reporting drastic improvements on battery life.



One user said he wore the Mote 360 for 14 hours and it still had 70 percent when he was about to charge it. Another one reported watch still had 53 percent left after 30 hours. People are commenting how battery is “much more efficient” and how battery life is “insane”, thanks to the new Android Wear software update. Some lags have also been fixed according to some Reddit members.


This is good news for Moto 360 users who’ve been clamoring for longer battery life but unfortunately, there’s no mention whether the screen burn-in issue has been fixed. Motorola and Google could still be working on it. Once the issue is screen issue is fixed, we’re guessing more people will consider buying the Android Wear-powered smartwatch.


As we earlier mentioned, the update is expected to also improve on Bluetooth connectivity between the Android device and the smartwatch. Hopefully, those momentary disconnects will be lessened, if not completely eliminated. A message to confirm that the smartwatch is charging will also be added.


I think we can all agree that the round smartwatch is beautiful and elegant. It looks like any ordinary wrist watch but Android Wear makes it hi-tech. Smartwatch was first shown off last June but it was only officially released last month. It's been getting good reviews from early adapters except some are seeing burn-ins on their screens and Bluetooth connectivity getting disconnected at times.


SOURCE: Reddit