Moto G GPe gets Android 4.4.4 update

As Google started slowly rolling out its 4.4.4 update, the guessing game as to when certain gadgets will get it has begun. Well Moto G Google Play edition owners will not have to wait any longer (or wait a little longer, in some cases) as Motorola has started a staged OTA rollout of the update. They will be taken straight from 4.4.2 to 4.4.4 since they did not even receive the earlier update that Google sent out a few weeks before.

However, not all devices will get the update in the first wave rollout. While there’s no official schedule released, you can head on over to this Moto G GPe stock firmware thread in order to follow the discussion on the OTA updates. Most were surprised when Google announced the 4.4.4 update just a few weeks after 4.4.3 was rolled out for most devices and despite much ado about the latter’s new features which included a new look for its dialer.

While it is still unclear as to why an immediate update to the update was needed, this time around there was no huge fanfare when 4.4.4 arrived. It is described as more of a security fix rather than having a major change in appearance and features. It has also been proven that it was not a response to the Towelroot app, as some had speculated.

The LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition was one of the earliest devices to receive the 4.4.4 update, also skipping the 4.4.3 one. As it is a staggered rollout as well, not all the devices would get the OTA update immediately. Several Sony devices, particularly the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, Z1, and Z Ultra have also started rolling out the updates as well.

SOURCE: XDA Developers

Story Timeline

• Google comes out with unexpected Android 4.4.4 update


• Android 4.4.4 update finally drops for LG G Pad 8.3 GPE


• Android 4.4.4 now rolling out to Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact, and Z Ultra

Moto X+1 specs leaked by Brazilian retailer

Many Motorola fans are probably waiting with baited breath for the company's next flagship, but some aren't exactly good at playing the patience game. Brazilian retailer Livraria Logos, for one, isn't waiting for Motorola's go signal and is leaking out details about the Moto X+1 in broad daylight for everyone to see.

Some might wonder why this particular retailer and why Brazil. Livraria Logos, as it turns out, was credited to have leaked very accurate information about the Moto E just before the budget smartphone was announced. Whether the site is privy to knowledge of the Moto X+1 as well or is simply banking on that distinction to drive traffic to its website remains to be seen. As to why Brazil, it seems that Motorola has developed close ties with the country, having launched both the Moto G and Moto E with special preference in that market. However, those two are mid- to low-tier devices, so the Moto X+1 flagship might get a different treatment this time around.

The hardware spilled by Livraria Logos isn't really all that groundbreaking. Then again, after you've heard too many flagship specs, they all start to sound too similar. The 1080p screen has been rumored before, now with a 5.2-inch size. There is a 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 here, curiously not an 805 or even an 801. 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage make up the memory configuration, with an option for 128 GB more via a microSDXC card. WiFi, Bluetooth, and 4G are all present. There's a 12 megapixel rear camera, definitely an unconventional sensor size, and a 5 megapixel front-facing shooter. Battery is capped at 2900 mAh, which should be a bit worrying considering the hardware mentioned above.

Taken at face value, these figures would suggest a rather unimpressive successor to the popular Moto X. However, Motorola has proven itself capable of pulling out rabbits from its hat, giving the Moto X some special powers on an otherwise mediocre hardware. But that was then and hands have changed in between. Now all eyes will be on Motorola when it announces its first flagship device under the new management of Lenovo.

VIA: Droid Life

Story Timeline

• Moto X+1 spotted, but what does the '+1' mean?


• Moto X+1 1080p display hinted by Motorola screenshot


• Moto X+1 image leaks with specs and possible release date

T-Mobile now accepting pre-orders for LG G3

Carrier T-Mobile will be selling the flagship LG G3 in their retail stores starting July 16, but customers who want to get their hands on this newest smartphone can reserve their units ahead of the launch. As of today, subscribers can already apply for pre-orders for the much-awaited phone, which will be shipped starting July 15.

T-Mobile realised how much their subscribers wanted the LG G3 when they had their Open Beta Sweepstakes where the flagship phones were up for grabs. There were 74,000 entries and among those, 28 were chosen to receive the smartphone and be among the first in the country to have it, before it becomes available in retail stores. Using the tagline, “Simple is the new Smart,” the LG G3 sports a 5.5” Quad HD IPS screen that boasts 4x more than the normal HD resolution. T-Mobile says it’s their first phone in the US to carry that kind of HD screen.

The LG G3 also carries a 13 MP OIS+ camera that has Laser Auto Focus technology, a dream for mobile photo fiends. The 2MP front-facing camera though is pretty common, compared to most smartphones. It boasts of a 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, although there were rumours before that they will be releasing a variant that will have a 3GB RAM.

T-Mobile says the LG G3 will come with enhanced 4G data speeds, their usual zero annual service contract and no hidden device costs. The unit is priced at $598.80 on the T-Mobile website with no contract, plus $10 for the SIM Starter Kit.

SOURCE: T-Mobile

Story Timeline

• LG G3 review: the phone every Android OEM should make


• LG G3 showcases company's new visual design lanugage


• LG G3 global rollout starts June 27 in Asia, EMEA in July

Android L heads-up notifications feature out in APK format

We told you that the Android L Developer Preview would be picked clean of its standout features, and what do you know, here’s another one. Very conspicuous in that Google I/O keynote for Android L was a new slide-down notification area, this feature apparently called “Heads-up notifications.” You will be happy to know that this is now available for non-rooted devices in APK format.

XDA senior member “Dr.Alexander_Breen” (also as “Woodblock Without Co.” at the Google Play Store) has announced on the developer forums that he has backported this new feature ostensibly for non-rooted devices running Android 4.4 Kitkat. If you’re curious about what new features this installer brings, watch the developer’s video below.

The Android L notification tray is very much a new animal for those used to Android 4.x’s styles. The looks and the functions have changed – the slide down pane now looks as if it is floating on top of whatever you have on your screen. It doesn’t reach the full width of your screen or even all the way to the bottom, creating that subtle “floating” effect. The notifications are now shown in white blocks with visibly rounded corners.

You may be looking for the “Clear notifications” button. You’re right, there isn’t one. We looked for it too. But apart from that, notifications can be dismissed by swiping it to either side of your screen. The apk’s developer seems to have added a “whitelist” feature for the notifications, dictating which ones you would like to have. It is also good to mention that the notifications pane will now be available to you at any time, even within a game. That last feature is really nice. If you would like to support the developer, download the paid app from Google Play. The APK is free to download over at XDA.

SOURCE: XDA

DOWNLOAD: Heads-up Notifications via Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• Android L wallpapers now available for download


• Android L and Material Design: tactile, bold, dynamic


• Android L keyboard APK available for non-rooted devices


• Android L developer preview now rooted on Nexus 5 and 7

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