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FireChat off-grid messaging app arrives for Android

Following a few weeks of being available for iOS, FireChat has been announced for Android. FireChat is an off-the-grid messaging solution courtesy of Open Garden. The app makes use of Open Garden's mesh networking technology which allows users to chat even without any Internet connection or cellular coverage.



Essentially, we are talking peer-to-peer here. Being able to chat even without Internet connection or cellular coverage could very well come in handy during a natural disaster. It may also prove helpful in situations where connectivity is not always as strong such as a stadium, concert, or other large public event.


FireChat has an "Everyone" mode and "Nearby" mode. The latter is said to work best within 30 feet of your location. But otherwise, that range could be extended due to the use of Open Garden's multi-hop capability. There isn't any special logins or passwords to remember. Users can simply pop-on and begin chatting.


We'll have to see how Android users react, however Open Garden did talk a bit about the success they have seen on the iOS side. The app is said to have reached "the top 10 amongst social networking apps in 80 countries around the word." There was also mention of them adding one new user per second.


While available for Android and iOS, there is a point worth mentioning in terms of cross-platform communication. Simply put, there isn't any. Android users will be able to use FireChat to message with other Android users. And similarly, iOS users will be left chatting with other iOS users.


FireChat is free to download, free to use, and can be found in the Google Play Store.


SOURCE: PR Newswire


Intel releases 64-bit KitKat Kernel, new Chromebook SoC

In China, Intel has revealed their 64-bit aspirations on two fronts. Their newest Braswell chipset is one that will likely find its way into many Chromebooks, while their 64-bit Kernel for KitKat suggests a more mobile approach. Though both are still a bit further out than we’d like to think, it does give a glimpse at things to come.




Intel’s Braswell chipset will take the reigns from Bay Trail processors, which are typically found in Chromebooks and low-cost PCs. Braswell is a SoC offering, and will be a 14-nanometer build (read: really, really small). That will serve to keep components to a minimum while powering the device adequately.


For Android, Intel is releasing their 64-bit Kernel for KitKat, which has some scratching their heads. KitKat is currently not 64-bit, so it has no immediate implications, but this gives Developers a head start in getting to know 64-bit on Android. Intel said “With this release, the company ported, validated and tested the Android Open Source code on IA, taking on the work that developers typically would need to do on their own. This release will provide the ecosystem with 64-bit kernel support for development of next-generation devices.”


When it comes to PCs and Chromebooks, Intel has an existing platform they’re dominant in. Android is a different beast, and controlled by another player in Qualcomm. Unless Intel can somehow bring their pricing down to MediaTek levels (doubtful), they’re likely to suffer low market share, making us wonder how long they’ll stick around.


Via: CNET





Easy Guide to Insalling Android on Your PC

Android-x86

When you hear the word “Android,” you almost automatically associate this with smartphones and tablets baked in top secret Mountain View labs. However, Android isn’t only compatible with the ARM architecture. Rather, it also works with x86 personal computers like netbooks, notebooks, and traditional computers. This is of course thanks to the Android x86 project.


If you’ve ever wanted to try Android on your computer, there’s no better time than the present. Earlier today, we talked about how the Android on Intel project had been updated to Android 4.4.2 and how it was now available for the Dell XPS12 and Intel NUC. But what if you’re running other hardware? How do you get started with Android x86?


To solve all of your potential setup issues, XDA Senior Member F4uzan wrote a guide covering the installation process. With a few simple steps, your device will turn into powerful beast running the latest version of Android. You can easily set up Android as a secondary OS, and it doesn’t even need much hardware power, so it can be used successfully even on older PCs. Furthermore, the guide also covers using Unetbootin to turn your USB stick into an installation volume. If your machine doesn’t support booting from USB, you can use CD-R.


You can learn more about setting up Android x86 flavor by visiting the guide thread.


How to Extract the Boot Image From Sony FTF Files

sony-xperia-s

If you’ve been thinking of developing your first custom ROM for your Sony Xperia device, chances are that you probably need a kernel to go along with it, especially if the ROM is for devices with locked bootloaders. Because of this, it’s sometimes best to know how to extract the kernel from an FTF file in order to integrate it into your ROM.


A great place to begin with would be a tutorial by XDA Recognized Contributor matt4321 and XDA Recognized Contributor and Themer DaRk-L0rD. Divided into two parts, the tutorial first guides you through the steps of extracting a kernel from an FTF file and converting it into a boot.img file. The second part teaches you how to make a flashable ZIP package containing your freshly extracted boot.img file.


Additionally, because the kernel is located in different partitions in different Xperia devices, DaRk-L0rD also includes a handy list of just where you can find the kernel for your particular Xperia device. Just keep in mind, however, that not all Xperia devices are on the list at this time, so DaRk-L0rD also provides a simple way of finding out the directory yourself.


If you would like to find out more, check out the original thread for more information.


Latest Android Platform Stats Show KitKat Up to 5.3%, 2.x Down to 18.9%

AprilPlatformStats

AprilPlatformStats Now we’re talking! And no, this isn’t an April Fool’s Prank. For the first time since Android 4.4 KitKat was launched back in late October of last year, we’re finally seeing some significant adoption for Google’s latest and greatest. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers, shall we?


When we talked about Android’s platform distribution numbers early last month, KitKat was running on 2.5% of devices with access to Google Play Services. While this was a significant proportional rise from February’s 1.8%, the total number still remained quite low. Blame OEM’s, carriers, or even Tom Cruise, but the unfortunate reality of Android is that mass market devices will lag behind Google’s Nexus lineup.


But this past month, something changed. KitKat is now on 5.3% of devices with access to Google Play Services, which is more than double what we had last month. Not only is this a bigger jump numerically, but it’s also a proportionally larger leap. This shouldn’t really come as too much of a surprise, however, as various large OEMs such as Samsung, HTC, and LG have been issuing KitKat OTAs to their previous generation flagship and midrange devices.


april2


Now let’s take a look at the rest of the numbers. Last month, we saw that Jelly Bean was approximately the same as it was the month before, hovering at around 62%. This month is no different, as it has only dipped slightly to 61.4%. Similarly, ICS went from 15.2% to 14.3%. But the biggest “loser” this month was Android 2.x, which went from a combined 20.2% to 18.9%. OK, so this isn’t exactly an Earth-shattering change, but it’s progress.


It’s great to see KitKat on the rise, as the whole developer ecosystem benefits from users being on recent versions of Android. And in the coming months, as products announced at this year’s MWC start making their way into more consumer hands, this will only continue to rise. Here’s hoping that we break 10% by next month!


[Source: Android Developer Dashboard]


Dropbox buys Readmill, service to shut down July 1

After news that they were in late-stage discussions to join Dropbox, Readmill has announced they will be shutting their service down. The two founders were indeed speaking to Dropbox regarding joining forces, but it looks as though the talk of an acquihire was accurate. The service will shut down, but some of Readmill’s feature set will carry on in Dropbox.




It is currently impossible to create a new Readmill account, and the service will officially shut down on July 1 2014. Readmill is giving users time to export their books, and have even created a handy guide for doing so. The team at Readmill will be going to Dropbox, but their new roles are slightly unclear. From their blog post:



Our team will be joining Dropbox, where our expertise in reading, collaboration and syncing across devices finds a fitting home. Millions of people use Dropbox to store and share their digital lives, and we believe it’s a strong foundation on which to build the future of reading. We’re delighted to work alongside this talented team and imagine new ways to read together.



Via their FAQ’s just below the blog, they note Dropbox isn’t creating a reading app “similar to Readmill”, saying “since reading on screens of all sizes is essential to work and life for so many, we’ll be approaching similar challenges in new ways at Dropbox.” The team is joining Dropbox, but not bringing or creating a reading app.


It’s likely that Dropbox was interested in Readmill’s social take on documents. In Readmill, you could leave notes for someone in a book you shared, telling them of a special passage or funny quip. Dropbox also recently acquired Zulip, which was a chat service focussed on communicating within a group. It seems this acquisition was another step in Dropbox morphing into something a bit more than a cloud storage solution.





Acer event April 29 hints at new device, maybe a wearable

Acer has begun sending invitations to an event in New York on April 29. Just what’s being rolled out isn’t noted, but the announcement says “Please join us for a (their logo) touch more connected”. From there, it seems as though we’ll be getting a myriad of devices, perhaps even wearables.




The invitation does say Acer is rolling out new products, but doesn’t even hint at what they could be. We’d think that with the event title all will be touch capable. From their recent line of Chromebooks, down to the handhelds we saw at MWC this year, touch seems to be something Acer is comfortable with — and pretty good at.


With wearables, we’ve already noted Acer has committed to entering the sector this year, with previous reports putting their entry in the second half of 2014. An April announcement would likely serve as a precursor for a late Fall rollout, but does it fit the “touch” theme? A source previously put Acer as entering the wearable market with something alternative to a wrist wearable or headwear. A necklace was mentioned, but any or all could come with some touch capacity. It could be Acer’s foray into Android Wear.


Come late April, we’ll find out for sure. We are subtly looking for a new product here, seeing as how both the Acer logo and “touch” are in green on the invitation. Acer always has really nice products, and they often have the added benefit of being competitively priced.


Acer event





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