Google Adds New Features to Drive, Sheets, Slides and Docs

In the last few months, Google has been working very hard to adapt all its apps to the new Material Design UI paradigm. Overhauling the UI was a big deal, but one of the main goals in app development is adding new features. Everyone loves features, so Google stepped up and delivered quite a few to several of its first party Android apps.

Google has pushed out updates of the following applications: Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Slides. The first thing you’ll notice are full hamburger menu icons. In addition, Docs now allows users to specify line spacing in the paragraph section, where users select one of the predefined values. Unfortunately, they can’t be edited manually. Sheets also received some tweaks, seen in new scroll bars that should help you to find your location in the document.

Slides users can now also insert and manipulate lines, shapes, and text boxes. You can move those objects freely and do something like this:

The above updates aren’t all–Google has good news for LibreOffice and OpenOffice users. Drive has gained the ability to import Open Document Format into the respective apps. You can even search for content by saying “OK Google, search for [something] on Drive”. Your results will then be available and opened through the Drive app.

These applications are now gradually making their way to end user devices via the Play Store. However, those who want to get in on the updates a bit early can head over to the via link below for the all important APK download.

[via Android Police]

The post Google Adds New Features to Drive, Sheets, Slides and Docs appeared first on xda-developers.

Lollipop beta for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 accidentally slips through

The beta Lollipop build for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 might just have slipped through cracks in security, allowing some users to get the OTA update early and accidentally. From a post in the XDA forums, it looks like a user in Vietnam was able to download an update to Lollipop for his Galaxy Note 3, although it looks like it’s not the final build yet.

A Vietnamese user apparently saw the Android 5.0 update as part of the list of available updates via the Samsung-update website (see pic of website below). The accidental update has most likely been taken down now, but not before some people were able to download it.

Looking at the images in the gallery below, it looks to be an early build – thank goodness for that. Most people are saying that the white background on the menus will continue to give the Galaxy Note 3 poor battery life, as they will need to light up more pixels for that. Hopefully the menu background color will be fixed in the final build, yes?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3’s update to Lollipop might not be as comprehensive as some people think it should be, with the device being the next generation after the current one. But it would still be a great upgrade, considering all the features of Android 5.0.

VIA: XDA

Story Timeline

• Galaxy Note 3 pitted against iPhone 6 Plus in #bendgate test


• Consumer Reports look into #bendgate, Galaxy Note 3 is strong


• Android Lollipop previewed on Samsung Galaxy Note 3

SwiftKey releases Frozen-themed virtual keyboards in time for Christmas

It's been a year since Frozen-mania snowstormed its way into the theaters and children's (and adults!) hearts. But it's still not over, especially if your kids still break out into song (okay, admit it, you too) when they hear the opening notes of "Let It Go" or beg you for Olaf plushies this Christmas. SwiftKey says it's better late than never as they release Frozen-themed virtual keyboards for you and/or your kids.

If you're not yet familiar with SwiftKey, it's a keyboard replacement for your smartphone or tablet that uses the "Flow" trails when typing out (or gliding out) words on your device. With the Frozen themes, it adds snow flakes that accumulate and eventually melt when you flow your messages. There are six character themes that will be in the background of your keyboard. You can choose from Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven, Anna and Elsa, Anna, and the entire family. If you need us to explain who these people are to you, then maybe this theme isn't for you.

Of course you need to install the SwiftKey for Android app before you can enjoy the Frozen themes. Then open the keyboard and long press the bottom left-hand 123 key for the settngs menu. Go to Themes and then the SwiftKey Store to find the themes that you want. It might take some time for you to get used to SwiftKey, but if you really want to have the Arendelle princesses and their friends on your keyboard, then you better learn fast.

SwiftKey for Android is free to download from the Google Play Store. The Frozen themes are available for $4.99 for the entire pack of six or just $1.99 for each character theme. You can buy them from the SwiftKey Store.

SOURCE: SwiftKey

Chicken Invaders 5 Clucks its way to Android

Chicken Invaders is a new game that has landed on the Android operating system that puts players into a battle against invading intergalactic chickens. These intergalactic chickens are focused on getting revenge for the oppressed chickens of Earth.

In the game, the chickens are trying to block the sun to freeze out life on Earth. The player travels around the galaxy to gather components for an ancient artifact that can defeat the chickens. The game sounds interesting and looks very cool from the video trailer that released alongside the game.

The game debuted December 9 and is currently at version 1.00ggl. It has been installed between 1000 and 5000 times so far. It is a free download, but the game is supported by in-app purchases.

Those in-app purchases cost $1.23 per item. Android 2.3.3 or higher is required to play the game. The download is 27MB in size. Check out the video to see more of what the game is about. So far, it has a rating of 4.2 on Google Play with 145 reviews.

SOURCE: Google Play

Lindsay Lohan enters mobile gaming market with Price of Fame

What do you do when your movie career is heading nowhere, you've become the butt of jokes of comedy writers, or worse, an object of pity as a "former child actor gone horribly wrong" cautionary tale? Why come up with a branded mobile game or app of course? The latest to enter the fray, after Kim Kardashian's extremely successful Hollywood game, is Lindsay Lohan with her "Price of Fame" app, now available on Android.

Lest you think the game will be all complicated and confusing, it's actually pretty simple (well, on the surface that is). All you have to do is swipe upwards on the screen and if you swipe as fast as you can, the more fans you get and the more coins you'll unlock at the end of each level. You'll then be able to use the coins to get further ahead in terms of status and lifestyle.

But if you look deeply (well, as deep as you can get when reviewing mobile games), there is a certain cynical and hard-edged quality to the game, poking fun at the things the media and people in general find fascinating about celebrities. You can upgrade to ridiculous items like butt implants, stints in rehab, and even to the point of faking your death for popularity. You can also buy entourage members like your weed dealer and if you're narcissistic enough, a clone of yourself.

But even if it's all fun and games, there's a possibility that Lindsay Lohan will be laughing her way to the bank, if it becomes as successful as Kim K's. There are in-app purchases and ads galore that you will probably accidentally click on, especially if you're swiping fast. You can download Lindsay Lohan's The Price of Fame from the Google Play Store for free from the Google Play Store.

VIA: SlashGear

Keewifi Router needs no passwords for secure connection

Normally when you set up a WiFi network in your home or office for your Android devices and other items, it takes a lot of configuration and typing in of long keys to get online. A new router has surfaced called the Keewifi Router and it aims to make setting up your wireless network much easier.

The device needs no password to set up secure networks and is designed to work right out of the box. The router supports 802.11ac networks. To put a device on the network all users have to do is hold any WiFi enabled device close to the router and it will authorize the network in seconds.

Proximity tech inside the router authenticates devices to the network. The only way a device can be placed on the wireless network with the Keewifi router is by physically touching it against the device. That means people outside your home or office without physical contact with the router can't gain access to the network.

Keewifi supports both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz networks. The device is on Kickstarter now seeking $50,000 and has raised over $72,000 with 21 days to go. A pledge of $69 or more will get you a Keewifi router with shipping estimated for July 2015.

SOURCE: Kickstarter

Yatse remote for XBMC/Kodi gets Material Design love

For you to be familiar with Yatse, you have to first be acquainted with XBMC – recently renamed to “Kodi” for copyright and legal reasons. Kodi is one of the most complete media player suites out there, bar none. That is the reason for its popularity in the media enthusiast community, but it’s about time that you get to know it as well. Yatse is the remote app that brings it all together, and it just got recently updated with some Material Design aesthetics.

Firstly, to introduce Kodi is to introduce a media software suite that can practically do anything multimedia related and be extremely efficient at it. Throw what you want at it – movies, music, games, photos – it will handle it. It is also runs on almost any platform – from Windows to Android, and even on Linux platforms like the RaspberryPi.

The Yatse remote app has been updated and the update builds on the already impressive experience that Kodi provides. The app started as just a simple remote app, but has evolved to become a superb media managing app for devices without standard inputs. Now it has slick features like voice commands, offline playback and library, video streaming with UPnP/AirPlay/Chromecast and even full support for Android Wear.

If you want to try out Kodi, don’t forget to download Yatse for your device. The Material Design feel now blends it in with the Android 5.0 environment, so everything seems to be good, aesthetically as well.

DOWNLOAD: Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• G-Box Midnight MX2 runs Android and XBMC


• XBMC 13.0 "Gotham" Beta1 brings a ton of Android goodies


• OUYA "Chupacabra" system update brings in XBMC audio passthrough and revamped pages