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Android distribution for January is still missing a Lollipop

Google has just released its monthly chart for Android coverage and most of it is what you'd expect, with older versions shrinking and latter ones getting stronger. What is somewhat surprising, though just a wee bit expected, is that Android 5.0 Lollipop is still missing from the picture, hinting at the rather slow adoption of the latest Android version, despite Google's more aggressive push in order to combat that notorious image fragmentation that has beset the platform.



Considering that Google doesn't show Android versions that don't even reach 0.1 percent distribution, it means that Lollipop has not even reached those numbers yet. This means that the total number of Nexus devices, both new and old, running the OS isn't enough to bolster those numbers. It also reflects that OEM adoption and rollout has been rather slow. Indeed, most of the manufacturers will only be releasing their updates starting February and hopefully we'll see a more positive upward trend by March or April.


To some extent, this isn't exactly unexpected. Android 5.0 is a major jump in the platform, bringing in huge and sometimes incompatible changes in the OS that will require more testing by manufacturers, especially those that have custom skins on their devices. That's not to mention the testing that carriers will also have to do for their apps services. These two are the major bottlenecks in getting Android updates out the door and Google is only too happy to put the blame there.



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On the up side, things are looking good for Android overall in terms of resolving fragmentation from the software side. Everything except 4.4 KitKat are going down in numbers, which is just as it should be. Even 4.2 Jelly Bean, which has been steadily increasing in the past months, has finally started to decline in December. The combined numbers of the Jelly Bean line still has the upper hand, but Kitkat is starting to grow by leaps and bounds, with a 5.2 percent increase this month, its second highest record so far.


SOURCE: Google





Must Have App Review: Light Flow – XDA TV

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We get a lot of incoming information on our devices every day. To help remind us to check things like email and messaging systems, Android gives us notifications. There are many times when you don’t want it to make a sound. Sometimes, even that horrible vibrating phone on a wooden table noise is too loud. Thus, we have to rely on our visual indicators


The creators of Light Flow offer up an app that lets you view and control your visual notifications. It allows you to change the color of specific applications’ notifications. In this video XDA TV Producer TK reviews Light Flow. TK shows off the application and gives his thoughts, so check out this app review.




Be sure to check out other great XDA TV Videos



The post Must Have App Review: Light Flow – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.


An exclusive look at Audi’s LG-made smartwatch

It's no longer news that the digital divide between mobile devices and cars are slowly thinning, and 2015 might be the year when the wall truly collapses. With endeavors like Google's Android Auto as well as Apple's CarPlay, we can expect more and more vehicles this year to integrate with our smartphones. But it isn't just smartphones either, as more and more car makers are adding support for smartwatches as well. Here at CES 2015, we take a closer look with Audi's smartwatch, a product of its collaboration with LG.



To be clear, this isn't simply a reskinned LG smartwatch. While it is indeed based on the design of the circular LG G Watch R, it is definitely more than that, both inside and outside. Of course, the most visible difference is in the materials used for the timepiece, now with a metal body and leather straps that more closely matches Audi's aesthetics. Deep inside, there are differences as well.


The most prominent, but hidden, hardware variation is that this Audi smartwatch has an NFC radio inside, possibly making it the first smartwatch to be equipped with that component. This enables users to quickly yet securely connect with the car in a one tap gesture. Audi is thinking of using this kind of security system in more ways, like unlocking rental cars, but that would still be a few years in the making. The timepiece also has physical buttons, three in fact, in contrast to the almost button-less G Watch R. The middle button is used to quickly switch from the watch face to Audi's dedicated app.



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The Audi smartwatch does run Android Wear and it bears pretty much the same functionality as what we've seen in Hyundai's Blue Link app. You can remotely start and stop the engine, for one, as well as lock and unlock the car, replicating pretty much the functionality of a key fob. Audi demonstrated the functionality with the Prologue A8, the concept car unveiled last November. To make the show even more impressive, Audi R&D chief Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg summoned the self-driving car to him on stage using only the smartwatch. That said, don't expect the Audi smartwatch to be offered any time soon. With the new NVIDIA DRIVE CX also in tow, Audi's Prologue is shaping up to be one rather interesting smart car.




Biz Builder Delux: practice game for your future business empire

If you've always fancied yourself as a business empire mogul, you can start practicing how you'll be able to manage multiple businesses with all these city building games available out there. A new game that you could practice on is Biz Builder Delux from Japanese developer Kairosoft that explores the popular manager genre but not just with one kind of business, but teaching you to manage multiple ones as well.



You can become an "entrepreneur extraordinaire" with this newest game, as you fill your city with vast, diverse businesses, from coffee shops to video game stores to the hippest clothing outlets. But more than just peppering the town with random businesses, you actually need to properly strategize what kind of establishments to put up in order to drum up interest from the customers who will frequent the stores. You will also be able to create innovative ways of stocking your stores to attract shoppers, and to do this, you'd need to invest in research and development.


And just like with businesses in real life, you also have annoying competitors. The game has a competitive mode where you will face off with these rivals in order to win customers to your stores. You will also be able to train your staff to make your stores more attractive to visitors and passers by.


Biz Builder Deluxe is available at the Google Play Store for $4.99. It's a bit "pricier" than most games in its genre, but there are no ads and other in-app purchases anymore, so if you think that's worth the price, then go ahead and start building your business empire.


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Google TV dead, mothership to push Android TV, Chromecast

When Google TV came out, it was the new kid on the block and it was immediately liked for being the “different one”. Sadly, the ecosystem for the device – the app development, the OEM support, the hardware maturity – stagnated, especially when Chromecast came out and immediately proved the wireless streaming was the way to go. And so it comes as no surprise that Google has decided to pull the plug on Google TV development.



The mothership has decided that Google TV had no future, deciding to take it off life support by pulling the developer tools for the device and platform. They say that some part of Google TV will live on – the hardware and software will still work as designed. But the push is towards other platforms, and as evidence, Google says that “a small subset of Google TV devices will be updated to Android TV.”


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The push is obviously to develop Chromecast and Android TV, with the Google development team focusing their efforts to these two platforms. Google is even making it easier for developers to jump ship from Google TV to Android TV. We’re not sure that’s the best decision to take, but you see what Google is doing.


Meanwhile, users should continue to expect more development and new projects being pushed for Chromecast and Android TV. Hopefully Google doesn’t drop the ball on these two.


VIA: SlashGear





Pioneer, Kenwood integrate Android Auto to OS-agnostic car systems

We’re seeing a trend at CES 2015 with car infotainment systems, with car manufacturers and third-party digital car system makers opting to integrate both Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay system to their devices, making it easier for car owners to connect their devices regardless of platforms.



First up, we have car audio specialists Kenwood, who say that their incoming dash system – the DDX9902S – will be a “premium” device, but isn’t willing to divulge pricing details at this point, or any other intimate detail about the new device, just that it will be compatible both with Android and iOS devices.


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Pioneer has three new dash systems with the same basic argument – the AVIC-8100NEX, AVIC-7100NEX, and AVH-4100NEX. Of these, the 8100 is the top model and will have the capacitive touch screen. The kicker here is Pioneer’s pricing. The lowest model, the 4100 is steeply priced at USD$700. The 7100 will be at USD$1200, while the 8100 will set you back USD$1400. Ouch.


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If Kenwood follows these arguments, we can say that there are a few models out there that will be cheaper but will provide the same basic features. What they won’t have is the brand names that these have.


VIA: SlashGear





Sennheiser intros new headphones at CES 2015

Sennheiser's Momentum line of headphones has always been a popular one. The last special edition Ingress Momentum headphones was shown off a couple of months ago. The audio specialist has launched a new paid of headphones but this time, it offers wireless listening experience made possible by Bluetooth and NFC technologies. This next generation MOMENTUM will actually be available in two versions: the MOMENTUM Wireless and MOMENTUM On-Ear Wireless.



Making these two pairs more impressive are the 22-hour battery life and advanced Active Noise Cancellation technology used. You can also fold them because of the folding headphone design. The pairs are perfect for those who want high quality audio even when they are mobile.


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Sennheiser's URBANITE line also received another entry in the form of the URBANITE XL WIRELESS. This pair uses Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and boasts of crystal clear trebles and deep bass. You can pair a maximum of eight devices with the headphones. It's wireless so no need to worry about cables dangling over or below your ear. On the right ear cup, you will find a touch panel interface that allows music playback, volume control, and calls with a simple slide or tap of a finger.


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Sennheiser also revealed the RS 165, RS 175, RS 185, and RS 195. The RS 165 offers optional bass boost and the RS 175 brings switchable dynamic bass and different virtual surround sound modes. The RS 185 boasts of an open design for manual input level control while the RS 195 features different modes and pre-sets that can increase speech intelligibility according to the company.


Last but not the least, Sennheiser has finally ventured into the SPORTS headphone range with the MX 686 SPORTS, PMX 686 SPORTS, CX 686 SPORTS, and the OCX 686 SPORTS. These pairs are perfect for different sports activities. They are lightweight, water-resistant, and very durable. Each pair can fit in the ears comfortably and perfectly and features great acoustics, impressive sound quality, ergonomic designs.


New Sennheiser headphones will be available later this January. No word on pricing though but we'll let you know soon.


SOURCE: Sennheiser





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