Subscribe:

Ads 468x60px

Labels

Android Lollipop brings new kill switch feature to smartphones

Much has been said about kill switch especially after the California kill bill switch passed the State Senate last May. Apple went ahead of Google last year by introducing Activation Lock as opt-in but the feature was made made opt-out for the new iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 phones. We learned back in June that Android would be getting its own kill switch feature soon and it has arrived together with the Android Lollipop.



With Android Lollipop having the kill switch feature, thieves would be discouraged to steal Android smartphones now because they would be useless. Phone owners still need to enable “kill switch” though to make sure the phone will reset to factory settings once it is out of his hands.


The handset requires a password and a Google ID to completely wipe the content. This kill switch means smartphone thieves would have a hard time wiping the phone clean before it can be used or sold. This is great news for Android users but unfortunately, the feature is still opt-in. Android device owners need to make sure this kill switch feature is enabled to their phones would be less attractive to the thieves and gadget snatchers.


Another problem that we see is that it is more effective when phone screen is locked. This means when phone is unlocked and is currently being used, then suddenly snatched, the thief can easily disable the kill switch.


Google is not the only one trying to bring kill switch to Android phones. Remember McAfee adding the feature to LG G3 phones? That was a good call for LG to do something on its own and not wait for Google to add the said feature on Android. We’re hoping too that CTIA’s Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment policy will finally be in effect and more tech companies to add the “kill switch” feature.


Maybe we just need to wait some more and be patient. After all, the California bill SB 962 will be effective in July 2015. This means all smartphones marketed in California must have the “kill switch on” as default. Apple has offered the feature last year and Google is now bringing it together with the Android Lollilop but must be enabled first. Microsoft should add the feature to Windows Phone as well. BlackBerry is not part of the kill switch group though.


VIA: Forbes





Motorola and HTC reveal its Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade plan

Are you happy with the new Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Android 5.0 Lollipop announcement? Your next question will probably be the Lollipop software update schedule for your current smartphone, which some manufacturers will not tell you until the software update is ready.



Right after the Google announcements, Motorola has confirmed that it will bring the Android 5.0 Lollipop update to its latest devices. These devices include the Moto X (1st Gen. & 2nd Gen.), Moto G (1st Gen. & 2nd Gen.), Moto G with 4G LTE, Moto E, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, and Droid Mini. No specific schedule is available now. You can also check your Motorola device’s current status on its software upgrade page.


HTC_Android-Response_Advantage


HTC didn’t have a Android 5.0 Lollipop software update announcement today, but remember the “HTC Advantage” announced during Google IO in June? HTC has promised to bring the Android L update to all HTC One M8 and One M7 – within 90 days after it has received the final software from google. For HTC smartphones users in the US, you can check all the software update status on this page.


Android 5.0 Lollipop is bringing tons of new features, responsive Material design, better battery performance and security to your Android smartphones, but, at the same time, is meaningless if your smartphone didn’t get an update. Hopefully other manufacturers will be more transparent on their software roll out plan!





Android 5.0 Lollipop: what kinds of sweetness to expect

Google today dropped a load of goodies, from the expected Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 devices, to the surprise Nexus Player Android TV contraption. Tying all of these together, however, is one that has been, sometimes rather comically, speculated on since June. Android 5.0 is in town, and its name is Lollipop. But before you go making fun of this seemingly unassuming name, first try to hear out the sweet things that the latest Android version will bring. At least for those devices that are fated to receive it.



The most noticeably new feature upfront is, of course, Google's new visual language, Material Design. We covered that here in depth, but suffice it to say that Material Design focuses on paper metaphors, blocks of color, and bold graphics. But more than just a singular design, Material Design also espouses flexibility and responsiveness which ensure that you will get at least the same visual experience on any Android 5.0 device moving forward, be it a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, or a TV.



android-lollipop-2



Next to the theme, users will immediately grasp the changes in notifications and, finally, quick settings. Now popularly known and imitated as the "heads up notifications", Android Lollipop does more than just give a new way to display notifications, the changes extend even to lockscreen. Plus, the new Priority settings, accessible from the Volume buttons, lets you temporarily block out certain notifications from certain people during certain times. In short, Android finally gets its own built-in Do Not Disturb/Blocking mode feature. While Google still won't allow users to customize their Quick Settings options, they have added a few new ones like Flashlight and hotspot and improved on the ones already there. Oh, and of course, they now look even prettier than before.


There is more to Android Lollipop than a change of costume, of course. Under the hood, one can also find loads of new features and improvements. Well known already is the switch to having ART, the new Android Runtime, as the only option available, which might cause some growing pains. Revealed a few days ago, Android 5.0 is also the first version that takes advantage of 64-bit CPUs, which will be exemplified by the Nexus 6 and its 64-bit Tegra K1 Denver. Android TV support has also been added, which ties in with the launch of the Nexus Player later this week. And the much touted improved battery efficiency will finally be something that many will be able to experience themselves.



android-lollipop-3



A lot of attention has been given to security lately, both on devices and on the cloud, so it isn't surprising that Google has also focused on it for Lollipop. It started with SELinux, which is now enforced for all apps. Whether that will trip rooting and custom ROMs is something we'll have to wait and see. Device encryption will now be enabled by default for new devices shipping with Android 5.0, another great security feature that might prove to be a burden to power users. There is also a new kind of unlocking mechanism which ties in to Android Wear. Smart Lock will let you use other devices, such as a smartwatch, or facial recognition to unlock smartphones.


There are many more new features which may interest different kinds of users. Here's a mixed bag of a few more:



• Tap & Go lets you setup a new phone simply by tapping on an old phone. Both of course need to have NFC

• Device sharing, which includes multi-user accounts, guest modes, and screen pinning, the latter of which confines a user to just a single screen, makes it easier to pass phones and tablets around family and friends without privacy worries

• "OK Google' hotword now works even when the screen is off, but unfortunately only for devices with dedicated hardware, such as the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9

• Power-efficient scanning of Bluetooth LE devices such as smartwatches and beacons



Android 5.0 Lollipop will ship together with the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9. It will also be available later on for some Nexus and Google Play Edition devices and OEM models as well, the latter at the discretion of the manufacturer.




SOURCE: Google





Nexus Player is your Android TV in a not so boxy circle

What is it with Google and round Android-powered media players? Calling into mind the ill-fated Nexus Q (odd) ball, Google today has dropped a surprise for those who were just expecting the Nexus 6 smartphone, Nexus 9 tablet, and Android 5.0, christened Lollipop. Hopefully, however, the unexpected Nexus Player is here to stay especially since it is based on a more established yet still new Android TV platform, though the question remains whether how much need there is for a dedicated Android box for the living room.



The Nexus Player is a surprise in more ways than one. Somewhat true to its getting in bed with as many partners as possible when it comes to Nexus devices, Google has opted to switch chipsets for this first Android TV device. Instead of Qualcomm or NVIDIA, it has actually ditched ARM altogether and went with an Intel instead. A 1.8 GHz quad-core Intel Atom to be exact. For graphics, it is powered by Imagination's PowerVR Series 6. There's only 1 GB of RAM, which might make some question its use as a gaming device. There's also only 8 GB of storage inside, with no microSD card slot available. There is, however, a micro USB 2.0 slot for connecting external storage.



nexus-player-1



The Player connects to the TV via HDMI and to home networks via WiFI, which brings us to the second strange thing. Google advertises the Nexus Player to be Google Cast Ready, which means it practically displaces the Chromecast from its throne. For sure, some will still prefer a simpler and more portable HDMI dongle but there is definitely some overlap here. The Nexus Player, however, has many things that the Chromecast can't do, which starts with how users will interact with it. Out of the box, the Player comes with a rather strange remote control. Strange because it has barely any buttons. It's main point of interaction is, as you might have guessed, your voice. The other input device speaks to the Nexus Player's broad appeal. As shown before, Android TV is also geared towards gaming, so it only stands that the Nexus Player will also have a gamepad as well. That controller, however, is is completely optional and therefore sold separately. It also remains to be seen whether the hardware is up to the task of running some of Android's more demanding titles.



nexus-player-2



Like the rest of the new Nexus brood, the Nexus Player isn't going to be available for pre-order until 17th October. The game controller won't even be available until November 3. Pricing is also currently unknown, so keep tabs on our Nexus Player coverage to be updated when that information hits the Internet.


nexus-player-3 nexus-player-4 nexus-player-5 nexus-player-6 nexus-player-7




SOURCE: Nexus Player





XDA Xposed Tuesday: No Map Tips with Google Maps – XDA TV

nomaptips

Many people use their phone as a navigation system. Typically, in car standalone navigation systems tell you to set the destination while the car is not moving. But lets be honest, how many of us do that all the time? To make matters worse, when you are doing it with Google Maps, Google makes you ignore and compete with multiple pop up tool tips.


In this episode of XDA Xposed Tuesday, XDA TV Producer TK reviews an Xposed Module that lets you hide these potentially dangerous Google Maps tips. XDA Senior Member Kevin M created the No Map Tips 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 TV Videos



The post XDA Xposed Tuesday: No Map Tips with Google Maps – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.


This is the HTC Nexus 9 for movers and makers

The fated day has indeed arrived and Google has unleashed a flood of Android announcements that proves to the world that it is still at the top of its game. Leaked and speculated on time and again, Google is indeed finally giving Android lovers a newer tablet to desire. And indeed it is made by HTC, the manufacturer's first tablet in a very long time. And indeed, as well, the Nexus 9 has turned out to be quite everything we have dreamed the next reference Android tablet would be.



If you loved HTC's latest high-end products and design, then you will most likely love the Nexus 9. Front-facing speakers with BoomSound audio, a tinge of metal on the edges, and an overall premium quality build. If you're in the market for an Android tablet, this would be it. Especially if you are sick of the often times obnoxious customizations that OEMs and carrier impose on their customers. The back of the tablet has that signature soft plastic Nexus texture that makes it easier to grip without resorting to cheap (faux leather) tricks.


If the outward appearance of the Nexus 9 seem a bit lackluster to some, under the hood you will find a raging beast. Well, even on its face you already see its power, with an 8.9-inch display that bears a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. The tablet is powered an NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver running at 2.3 GHz. Not only is this the most powerful mobile chip around, at least based on benchmarks, it is also one of the few 64-bit mobile CPUs in the consumer market today. RAM is at 2 GB, though we had hoped that Google and HTC would have provided just a bit more. Battery is a large 6,700 mAh, which is noted to last 30 days on WiFi and LTE standby, though only 8.5 to 9.5 hours of continuous usage. One area where the Nexus 9 might fall short of is in digital photography, with only an 8 megapixel f/2.4 AF rear camera with LED flash and a 1.6 megapixel f/2.4 on the front. Then again, rarely do tablets get used for serious photography anyway.



nexus-9-6



Of course, that is only the raw hardware and only half the Nexus experience. The other half comes from the software, which in this case is the fresh, new, and still sweet Android 5.0, now revealed to be Lollipop. Though that deserves a treatment of its own, one of the new features of this latest Android version is support for 64-bit devices, which goes hand in hand with the Nexus 9's Tegra K1 CPU. You've also got a cornucopia of features like Material Design, Android Runtime (ART) by default, better battery management, and so much more.


The HTC Nexus 9 will come in three back color options of black, white and gold, and two storage options of 16 GB and 32 GB. Sadly, no mention of the rumored microSD card expansion. The tablet will also have a folio keyboard cover as rumored, sold separately and revealed to magnetically latch on to the tablet. All that is left now is to wait for the October 17th start of pre-orders and, of course, the price tag that will go along with it.


• Display: 8.9-inch QXGA 2048x1536 4:3 ratio

• Processor: 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver @ 2.3 GHz

• RAM: 2 GB

• Storage: 16 or 32 GB

• Camera: 8 MP f/2.4 AF LED flash / 1.6 MP f/2.4

• Audio: Dual front-facing HTC BoomSound speakers, Dual microphones, 3.5 mm audio jack

• Battery: 6,700 mAh

• Connectivity: Quad-band GSM, CDMA, Penta-band HSPA, LTE, WiFi 802.11ac 2x2 (MiMO), NFC, Bluetooth, Micros USB 2.0

• Sensors: GPS, Ambient, Gyro, Accelerometer, Magnetometer


nexus-9-1 nexus-9-2 nexus-9-5 nexus-9-3 nexus-9-4


SOURCE: Nexus 9





Here comes the Motorola Nexus 6 to offer more of everything

Google has indeed come out with the next Nexus smartphone along with a new tablet today. As has been repeatedly leaked and tipped, the Nexus 6 bears Motorola's mark, making it the first Nexus device to come from the manufacturer's portfolio. But the Nexus 6 is also a first for Google, its first smartphone to completely cross the line from a handy size to one that trades in comfort for more room to display things.



With the Nexus 6, Google has reaffirmed that the ridiculed phablet category does have a place in our mobile world, something that Apple, too, has just recently acknowledged with the iPhone 6 Plus. Not exactly 6 inches, the display of the device spans 5.96 inches but also boasts of QHD 2560x1440 resolutions. As with Motorola's high end, that screen is of AMOLED origins, though not the Super AMOLED that Samsung likes to flaunt. In short, the Nexus 6 is, for all intents and purposes, a bigger Moto X in design and in spirit. Don't take our word for it though. Just flip the phone over and behold the same distinctive design of the new Moto X, complete with a curved back and a dual LED flash ring.


nexus-6-2 nexus-6-3 nexus-6-4 nexus-6-5 nexus-6-6


But let's go inside first, where you will see the 2.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 that powers this tablet. The RAM size is not given but it will most likely be 2 GB, though you won't hear us complaining if it actually maxes out at 3 GB instead. Internal storage will come in choices of 32 or 64 GB, very spacious rooms right from the get go. Mobile photographers will also fall in love with the Nexus 6, as it has a 13 megapixel camera with a f/2.0 aperture, the much-desired Optical Image Stabilization, the aforementioned dual LED flash ring, and 4K video recording. The front camera is less impressive but a decent 2 megapixel shooter nonetheless. One other selling point of the Nexus 6 is its battery. Already quite large at 3,220 mAh, it is supported by the OEM's new Turbo Charge feature, giving users up to 6 hours of use for just 15 minutes worth of charging. That is definitely a good thing considering the battery lasts only 24 hours on average. The device is also water resistant, not waterproof, though the exact rating has not been mentioned yet.


On the software side, you get the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop to go with it. The sweetest and fastest Android to date, this version offers performance boosts and optimizations across the board. Sadly, the Nexus 6 won't be able to take advantage of Android 5.0's 64-bit readiness. Lollipop is likely also Google's prettiest release with Material Design in tow. Unfortunately, fans of Motorola's exclusive software features such as Assist, Voice, and Actions will be left a bit wanting here.



nexus-6-1



Unlike the Nexus 9, the Nexus 6 seems to be available only in the two traditional colors of black and white. Pre-orders are set to start much later on October 29 and the unlocked phablet will carry a price tag of $649 on Google Play Store.


• Display: 5.96-inch QHD 2560x1440 16:9 ratio

• Processor: Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 @ 2.7 GHz

• RAM: Unknown

• Storage: 32 or 64 GB

• Camera: 13 MP f/2.0 OIS dual LED flash / 2 MP

• Audio: Dual front-facing speakers

• Battery: 3,220 mAh with Turbo Charging

• Connectivity: Quad-band GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE, WiFi 802.11ac 2x2 (MiMO), NFC, Bluetooth, Micros USB 2.0

• Sensors: GPS, Ambient, Gyro, Accelerometer, Magnetometer, Barometer

• Water resistant: Yes, rating unknown


VIA: SlashGear

SOURCE: Nexus 6





Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)