Sony releases tutorial vid for unlocking Xperia bootloaders

Unlocking the bootloader is, more often than not, the gateway to squeezing out every bit of functionality from your Android device, specifically via rooting and installing custom ROMs. While not exactly necessary for most users, it has become both tradition and requirement for developers and power users. Trying to endear itself to that crowd as well, Sony has just released a video tutorial that guides users through the process of unlocking an Xperia device's bootloader.

Sony can perhaps be credited and praised for being the only major device maker to actually support modding their products this way, though with the necessary disclaimers and warnings. You can find many guides on the Internet about rooting and unlocking Samsung, LG, HTC, and whatnot, but, aside from Motorola, which is a very special case, Sony is the only one that provides detailed instructions for doing so. It even provides a tool for flashing the stock Sony ROM. And now they have a video that ties all those up together.

That said, the process isn't entirely easy as Sony doesn't provide a one-click tool to automate it all. They do it the official and multi-step way, perhaps to ensure that only those who dare take that journey are really those who are sure of the consequences. Users will have to request for an unlock code from Sony, download the Android SDK from Google, and fiddle around with ADB and Fastboot, among other things. Those steps indirectly serve as checkpoints to make sure that the user is really aware of what they're trying to do.

Of course, unlocking the bootloader isn't a necessary operation and Sony reminds users of that. Of course, they'd prefer users to stick to their own custom Android experience, but there are also technical considerations as well. Depending on the device, most especially the more recent models, unlocking the bootloader and installing custom ROMs results in some functionality being disabled, commonly the camera, noise reduction, and sometimes even cell radio, which practically renders the device useless. But at least for those who do live for these kinds of things, and those that develop the ROMs that other users install, the option and the instructions are officially there.

SOURCE: Sony

Always On “OK Google” Now Available with the Australian Accent

The phrase “OK Google” has sort of become the catchphrase of Google Now across all devices running Android00be it the smartphone, the tablet, or the smartwatch. If you want something done, such as to do a google search, set an alarm, or search for directions, simply say “OK Google” into your device and state your command.

Normally for many of us, you can only do this when you have Google Now actually running on your screen, meaning it’s not as simple as just commanding your device to do things with your voice – you need to actually hold the device in your hand and navigate to Google Now. But, if you have an offline voice recognition pack for your language or accent, it is possible for you to activate Google Now with “Ok Google” from anywhere on your device, including the lock screen. This function however, is limited to only certain regions, as unfortunately not every language or accent has an offline voice recognition pack users can download, including, up till now, Australia.

With this said, reports are coming in of the Aussie accent and vernacular (which I understand, can be quite tricky to comprehend for many) being finally able to be downloaded as an offline pack, enabling Australian owners of Android devices to finally be able to activate Google Now from anywhere via voice recognition. It seems like the version number of Google Search in which this function is working with is 4.0.29, meaning you need Android 5.0 running on your device to have this function (as Lollipop APIs are needed for Google Search 4). So unfortunately, if you’re running an older version of Android, this will not be available for the time being.

For Australian users of Android 5.0 however, look out for an update to Google Search, and if you’ve already updated, tell us what you think of this new feature.

[Via Reddit]

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Google Maps’ voice navigation updated with highway guidance for some European countries

The voice-guided Google Maps' navigation system has helped a lot of people to find their way around unfamiliar roads. A new update to the app adds several European countries, particularly their highway systems, so as to guide them as they make their way to their family homes, vacation spots, or wherever they're going this holiday season.

So if you're driving across France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the UK, you'll be able to use Google Maps in its turn by turn navigation mode. It will tell you which lane you should stay in so you could be prepared to take the next exit or avoid which lanes will make you become stuck in traffic. If you're nearing a junction or multiple exits, it will suggest which lane you should take. It will also offer you several alternative routes, especially during rush hours and the Christmas rush.

So how will you be able to activate the turn by turn Navigation option? First off, you have to enable your GPS so your smartphone can access your location. Then open the Google Maps application on your device and get the directions to a specific location. To use the turn by turn feature, just touch the Navigation icon and you get the voice-directed direction, which also includes the aforementioned lane guidance.

If you don't have Google Maps on your phone yet, then you must be pretty confident about navigating your way through unfamiliar territory. But if you're not, you can download the app from the Google Play Store.

SOURCE: Google

Our Favorite Android, iOS, and Windows Phone Apps of the Week

Sharing is caring—at least that's what those creepy anthropomorphized Care Bears used to say—and in the app world this week, those sentiments are particularly true.

Read more...

How to Unroot and Relock the Google Nexus 6 on a Mac – XDA TV

In the past, XDA Developer TV Producer droidmodd3rx has shown you how to root and unlock the bootloader on a Nexus device. This process used the WugFresh Toolkit to Unlock than Relock and Unroot and Root. That required a Windows PC. People have asked for an easy way to do this with a Mac computer.

Droidmodd3rx presents instructions on how to remove root access and relock the bootloader of your Google Nexus 6 using tools from the XDA Developers Forums. The process is painless and pretty easy. Next week we will have video that shows you how to unlock the bootloader and root a Nexus 6 using your Mac as well. So, take a moment and check this video out.

Be sure to check out other great XDA TV Videos

• Android Wear Watch Face API Available – XDA TV


• Better Notifications with C Notice – XDA TV


• Power Bank Comparison and Options – XDA TV


• Screen Dimming to the Next Level – XDA Xposed Tuesday


• HTC One M7 GPe Gets Lollipop, Verizon G3 CM11 Nightlies – XDA TV

Check out droidmodd3rx’s YouTube Channel.

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Highly Functional Android 5.0 Build Lands on Samsung Galaxy S Plus

Released in 2011, the Samsung Galaxy S Plus is one heck of an old device. Despite this, it remains privy to a very healthy dose of aftermarket development. Although having shipped with Android 2.3, support for this device has been going strong ever since–not from Samsung, but from its users. This can be witnessed with the dual boot functionality it received, and highly functional Jellybean and Kitkat landing on the device in the form of unofficial CyanogenMod 10 and 11 builds. In the face of all this active development, one really does wonder whether there’s anything the Galaxy S Plus can’t do.

With all this said, it can at least now be said that running Android 5.0 is definitely something the device can do, thanks to the efforts of XDA Recognized Developer Christopher83 . Coming in the form of an unofficial build of CyanogenMod 12, the ROM is highly functional with almost every feature and function working as they should, including:

• Audio


• Receiving and making calls


• GPS


• Hardware sensors (Light, Orientation, Compass, Proximity, Acceleration)


• Legacy/Virtual sensors (Gravity, Linear acceleration, Rotation vector)


• Wifi


• Bluetooth


• USB mass storage


• Camera


• Voip video calls


• USB/Wifi tethering


• VSync


• USB OTG

In fact, the only thing that’s not working is the power-off charging animation, which, if one is to be honest, can be overlooked and ignored as something that’s very minor and negligible. There are however, a few known issues, including a laggy call UI when starting or receiving calls, the camera app force closing when recording 720p videos, and some new CM apps force closing.

So, if you’re an owner of the Galaxy S Plus and can’t wait to taste Android 5.0, head over to the Galaxy S Plus CM12 thread for more information.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 GPe Receives a Lollipop, OTA Captured

Just over a week ago, we talked about two Google Play Edition devices getting their Lollipop updates. HTC released updates for the One and One (M8), as well as the kernel source required by GPL licensing. Another OEM started to roll out the Android 5.0.1. Owners of the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505G should expect the OTA notification soon.

Android Lollipop was announced back in June at the Google I/O Keynote. This revision of Google’s OS brings tons of new features and completely overhauled application design. Google Play Edition devices are available to buy in Google Play Store, have the AOSP variant of Android, and are supported directly by Google.

The incremental update itself is 492 MB, and should be installed from KTU84P Android 4.4.4 version. To install it, the system partition of your device must not be modified and phone must have stock recovery installed. XDA Recognized Contributor and Archivist-in-Chief oldblue910 managed to capture the update and provided it for your sideloading pleasure. As of now, the kernel source has not been yet published by Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S4 users who didn’t get an OTA notification and don’t want to wait any longer can visit the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition Stock OTA URLs forum thread. All updates available for the GPE S4 are avaialable there.

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