Android 5.0.1 OTA for 2013 Nexus 7 (WiFi), Nexus 10 are here

Google pushed, rather silently if not for a few keen observers, a minor update to Android Lollipop yesterday. While details on the nature of this update is still unknown, factory images for Android 5.0.1 are already available for Nexus tablets and for those who feel a bit more adventurous. But for those who are caught in between waiting for the OTA update, there is an option available to them now that the update files are available to the public.

Unlike a factory image, an OTA update is applied on top of an existing system, so it doesn't involve a complete wipe of your device. However, it still does require a bit of know-how, especially familiarity with the ADB tool. The process is straightforward and yet still nerve-wracking especially for the uninitiated. Using ADB, one need to reboot the device into bootloader first, hit the recovery option, and then choose to "apply update from ADB". Then from your computer's command line, you use the command

adb sideload [filename].zip

to start the actual update process.

The links below provide the OTA zip files for the WiFi only 2013 Nexus 7 (razor) and the Nexus 10 (mantaray). No OTA for the Nexus 9 yet.

• Nexus 7 2013 (WiFi)

• Nexus 10

The files comes from Google's servers so you are more or less assured of their authenticity (barring any download corruption). Of course, given the procedures involved, it might be wiser to wait a while for the OTA to land, especially considering it's likely to be a very minor update. Still, if you want it here and now, at least you have the option.

Digital tattoos being turned into thermometers

Can you still remember back when the only purpose of digital tattoos was to unlock your smartphone? Well, as its makers VivaLnk promised us, there are more uses to this cool bit of technology than just indulging our lazy inclination to input passwords. An upcoming product has turned the tattoos into kid-friendly thermometers to monitor their temperature when they're sick.

One of the most annoying things for kids when they're sick is to endure the digital thermometer that their parents place under their tongue for around eight seconds. But for the VivaLnk eSkin Thermometer, you need only stick the tattoo onto your child and it will give you a read time in just 1-2 seconds. The sticker is soft and flexible and is designed with cute characters to make the young ones actually excited to have their temperature taken.

The information is passed to a smartphone app which you can actually use to record their temperature over time, especially for recurring fever. All you need to do is place your smartphone running the app over the sticker. You can even let other kids do this so they can feel they're participating in curing their siblings. It will also give you an alert if the findings indicate a dangerous level already for the child.

Unfortunately, all this is still just in the survey stage and there isn't any indication yet if it will reach consumers, although it is a pretty nifty idea. If it does, we also don't have any idea yet as to how much it will cost. But to give you an idea, the original Digital Tattoos cost $10 per pack of 10.

VIA: SlashGear

Story Timeline

• Digital Tattoo can now officially unlock your Moto X


• Digital Tattoos to have more non-Moto X functions soon


• Digital Tattoo now available for NFC-enabled phones

Google News and Weather for Android is now searchable for stories has rather pretty forecasts.

Google News and Weather for Android is now searchable for stories has rather pretty forecasts. So now you might actually use it!

Read more...

New Bluetooth 4.2 standard pushes for security and speed

Even with the advent of NFC technology, Bluetooth remains the go to wireless solution for quick and shorter range connectivity. And now that the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has ratified version 4.2 of the standard, it is poised to become prevalent even more, especially in the so called Internet of Things era. While Bluetooth 4.0 was most famous for bringing Low Energy to the table, 4.2 will perhaps be known for addressing privacy and security issues and answering the need for speed.

With Bluetooth being used everywhere, it naturally becomes a fertile breeding ground for invasions of privacy. That is why Bluetooth 4.2 focuses so much on protecting the privacy of users. Devices that are eavesdropping on Bluetooth connections cannot just simply connect without the user's explicit permission. And those who are already connected to you cannot keep on tracking you without your consent either. The latter scenario is important now that a good number of establishments are looking to Bluetooth for more pervasive (and invasive) advertisement, also known as "beacon" technology.

Speed and Internet connectivity is also of the essence, especially since Bluetooth is no longer just used for small, one-off data transfers. The new Internet Protocol Support Profile would allow Bluetooth Smart sensors to connect to the net via IPv6, for example. Data transfer is also boosted to be more than twice as fast as previous versions of the standard. These properties are essential for Bluetooth devices that connect to each other and connect to the Internet to make up your smart home.

While all these might sound rather delicious, in the end it will be up to device manufacturers to implement the new standard, especially with regard to security and privacy. And in some cases, it might not exactly be easy for them. While features like privacy can be delivered simply via a firmware update, depending on the manufacturer implementation, speed benefits will only come via a hardware upgrade, which is harder (no pun intended) to pull off on existing devices. That said, new devices complying with the Bluetooth 4.2 standard are expected to arrive as early as Spring next year.

VIA: SlashGear

Lollipop continues: Galaxy Note 4 preview, Galaxy S5 firmware

Samsung fans are surely excited and well teased beyond their limits thanks to SamMobile's unending exclusives on how Android 5.0 will look and behave on the Korean OEM's 2013 and 2014 flagships. After the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 3, and the Galaxy S 4 (also in its GPE incarnation), we now turn our eyes to the latest and, some say, the greatest, the Galaxy Note 4. Fans of Google's new Material Design language will probably feel right at home, though much work is to be done, if it's to be done at all.

One of the things Samsung is notorious for is TouchWiz and how its custom Android skin greatly diverges from Android. But ever since the Galaxy Note PRO and the Galaxy S5, Samsung has tweaked the design considerably, shifting to a flatter aesthetic that happens to mesh well with Google's newly acquired design sense. This can be seen in this early build of Android Lollipop for the Galaxy Note 4, where Google's Material Design and Samsung's new TouchWiz seem to blend well in some areas. Of course, it's pleasing to see Samsung actually adopting Material Deign for its own apps, which goes a long way towards unifying the Android experience again.

Still, there is a lot of work yet to be done, especially with custom apps, like S Planner, for example. And there are some cases where even Material Design cannot hide Samsung's idiosyncrasies, like in the pull-down notification panel and the half dozen tabs in the Settings up. But at least those adhere to the new design guidelines and won't look out of place, even if they still look crowded.

In the meantime, Galaxy S5 owners might have something more to be excited about other than a leaked video and screenshots. Apparently, the Android 5.0 update has begun its slow trek to the early 2014 flagship and SamMobile was able to capture the firmware and shared it with others. The firmware was built for Polish models, but those with the same SM-G900F number might also be able to use it, at their own risk of course.

As to when others will be getting the update, French carrier SFR is once again on the scene. But remember that their timetables sometimes hit, sometimes miss, so take it with a grain of salt. According to SFR, owners of the Galaxy S5 will receive their just desserts this month, but Galaxy Note 4 owners might have to wait until January for their sweet.

VIA: SamMobile (1), (2), SFR

Story Timeline

• Samsung gives second preview of Lollipop for Galaxy S5


• Android Lollipop build on Samsung Galaxy S4 leaked


• Android Lollipop previewed on Samsung Galaxy Note 3


• Preview of Android Lollipop on Galaxy S4 GPE leaked

Krashlander- Ski, Jump, Crash physics game hits Android

A new game is available for Android gamers that combines skiing with physics game play, crashing, and robots. The game is called Krashlander and it has players flying down mountain slopes and jumping over all sorts of crevices to attack the robots that destroyed your world.

The game offers unique physics powered touch controls and is a skill-based game. It has a minimalist design and players can enjoy rag-doll crashes. This game was previously on iOS and was a top ten title on that platform.

The game has been updated since launch to fix an issue where the tutorial box was partially visible at the top of the screen on high-resolution devices. The last update was on November 30 and the game is 28MB in size.

The current version is 1.1 and Android 2.3 or higher is required to play. So far the game has had 50-100 installs, but if the popularity with iOS gamers is any indication that should grow quickly.

SOURCE: Google Play

Wire: what Skype would have been like if built today

Skype co-founder Janus Friis has a new project afoot with Wire, a new communications platform that technically does not really rival his former company, but actually improves on it. Built for both mobile and desktops, it is a cross-platform tool for exchanging messages, pictures, HD audio and other rich media, with a more modern UI but a more solid infrastructure behind it.

Wire can be used both for individual, personal messaging, as well as group chats. All conversations will be synced across all devices you use, from smartphone to tablet to laptop to desktop computer. The team that worked on this app comprises various product and technology leaders from Apple, Nokia, and Microsoft so you can expect a more dynamic and technologically sound app. Maybe this is what Skype would be like if it had been built today.

While it still does not have Skype's video calling capability (which is one major reason why some users still actually use it), you can make audio calls on Wire, using an in-house developed audio technology. Hopefully, this more solid way of calling will get rid of the call quality and connection problems that Skype users experience on a regular basis. But we can also expect Wire to have video calling soon, especially if they want to catch up with its competitors.

So do we really need a new communications platform with all our Hangouts, Vibers, LINES and all? Well, it never really hurts to have new competition in the market. The design is elegant and will probably appeal to younger users who are used to swiping and pulling down, rather than those who rely on navigational aids. If you want to try it out, you can download Wire for free from the Google Play Store.

SOURCE: Wire