HTC One M8 (Europe), Galaxy Note 3 (Russia) now get Anrdoid 5.0 Lollipop

For some smartphone users, the wait has been long and arduous, and challenging, but is now almost finally over. We're talking about the (very) gradual roll-out of the much awaited Android 5.0 Lollipop. Google and the various OEMs have been trying to perfect the update probably, and so it's taking them some time. For owners of the HTC One M8 in Europe, and for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the good news has finally arrived and their devices will be Lollipop-ized in the next few days (if not already).

Owners of HTC's flagship One M8 who live in Europe have started receiving updates to their devices, at least for those in Germany and France. Those who are in Britain and Scotland say they haven't gotten theirs, but the Senior Global Online Communications Manager for HTC, Jeff Gordon, says that the update will be arriving "in waves". The official build is marked as 4.16.401.10 and is just 780MB, compared to the heavier upgrades we've had before.

For those who have a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, you can already officially upgrade your smartphone to Android Lollipop as well, that is, if you're in Russia or have a model that is the same as the Russian one. The firmware file is now available for download so you can enjoy those Lollipop features that people have been talking about, like the Material Design, lockscreen notifications, etc.

For those who are still waiting, you just have to be a little more patient. It usually takes several months for all eligible Android devices to be updated. Let's just hope you think it's worth it.

VIA: SlashGear, XDA

Outlook for iOS and Android Looks Like Acompli and That's Great

Well, that didn't take long. After Microsoft bought the hit email app Acompli (it was even one of our favorite apps of last year ) last month, they turned it around pretty quickly into an official Outlook app for iOS and Android. Outlook joins Office as Microsoft continues its mobile software push beyond Windows Phone.

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Chrome Beta v41 Update

Chrome on Android has been receiving a flurry of updates since the launch of Android 5.0 Lollipop, and earlier today Chrome v41 was pushed to the Chrome Beta channel, bringing pull-to-refresh, third-party cookie toggling and numerous bug fixes.

The post Chrome Beta v41 Update appeared first on xda-developers.

One in Three Apps Leak Info, One in Two Aussies Don’t care

A Norton’s Mobile Insight Tool analysis found that nearly a third of Android applications contain information leaks of, at the very least, phone logs or contacts. Latest studies also show that 24% of smartphone users don’t know what they agree to when downloading, and almost half of aussies simply don’t care.

The post One in Three Apps Leak Info, One in Two Aussies Don’t care appeared first on xda-developers.

Meizu unveils Meilan m1, new m1 Note variant, LifeKit platform

Meizu made quite a splash yesterday when it unveiled not one but three new products. Well, two and a half to be precise, as one is just a different variant. That variant is the new Meilan m1 Note for China Telecom, this time bearing a Snapdragon 615 instead of a MediaTek. Completely new, however, is its smaller sibling, the Meilan m1, with a 5-inch screen instead of the larger 5.5. And last but not the least, Meizu is expanding into your homes with a new LifeKit platform for smart appliances.

The variant of the Meilan m1 note is meant only for China Telecom subscribers. If you are one of those, you will get a model that bears a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 inside. All the rest, however, will get a 64-bit octa core MediaTek MT6752 instead. Everything else remains the same and it all boils down to processor brand preference and carrier loyalties.

The star of Meizu's show, however, is the totally new Meilan m1, which is, for all intents and purposes a smaller and unfortunately less powerful version of the colorful Meilan m1 note. Compared to the phablet, the Meilan m1 sports a 5-inch 1280x768 screen, also made by AUO, a 1.5 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6732 CPU and 1 GB of RAM. It has only 8 GB of storage but can be augmented by a 128 GB microSD card. The cameras, however, are practically the same, with a 13 megapixel rear camera by Samsung and a 5 megapixel front shooter by OV.

Those specs might seem like a step down from the Meilan m1 Note, but it's for a good cause, at least for Meizu. The Meilan m1 is meant to compete with the new Xiaomi Redmi 2, which bears somewhat weaker specs in some areas compared to Meizu's device. The two will be locking heads at the entry-level category, which is why Meizu is giving the Meilan m1 a low 699 RMB price tag, roughly $110. Availability starts February 5.

Not content with smartphones, Meizu is expanding its influence right into your living rooms. It's new LifeKit platform will undoubtedly call to mind Apple's almost similarly named product. Like any smart home hub, LifeKit attempts to connect and communicate with different smart appliances, and Meizu has already partnered with quite a few. For lighting, it has partnered with X-Light Plus to bring support for its smart lamps. These bulbs can change their brightness to emulate natural light and Meizu LifeKit allows you to also set the color that they emit to fit your mood. RyFit's smart physical analyzer scales are also supported, giving LifeKit access to body information like weight, fat percentage, basal metabolic rate, and a more in order to come up with a holistic health plan for the user. These two smart appliances will soon be available for purchase directly from Meizu's online store.

SOURCE: Meizu (Meilan m1 Note), (Meilan m1), (LifeKit)

Story Timeline

• Meizu M1 Note makes a colorful statement for youngsters


• Xiaomi launches Redmi 2, an improved entry-level smartphone


• AnTuTu releases end-of-2014 awards, Meizu MX4 top of the pile

JotterPad 11 is a writer’s delight, save work in multiple formats

As a writer, finding the correct writing apps for your Android device can be quite a daunting -- if not impossible -- task, just because devices are not built with writing (typing) in mind. There are those that go over-the-top and take the joy out of the writing experience completely. Then there are those that are too minimalist you don’t seem to be able to do anything at all. Thankfully, for all you writers-on-the-go out there, there’s the wonderfully blissful JotterPad 11, the latest iteration of the mobile text editor for Android.

JotterPad 11 seems to be the perfect writing companion for anyone who has to deal with logorrhea (er, an overflow of words) especially when you’re away from your notebook or PC and you just have your Android device with you. A clean, modern and Material Design-infused look featuring a writer-friendly interface and paper-like layering is ideal to help you concentrate on drafting or perfecting that novel, short story, poem, or screenplay. Not your normal office app, yes?

Speaking about poetry, a cool feature in JotterPad 11 is a rhyming dictionary (Who would ever think of such a thing? I can’t wait to have a fling!) that can help you with figuring out your work’s rhyming scheme. There’s also the standard dictionary and thesaurus, of course, but for the most part, JotterPad makes your writing experience clutter- and distraction-free. You can customize the fonts, and there’s also typewriter scrolling for that old-school feel. Should you need to keep track of the changes to your draft, the “Snapshots” feature enables you to take a look at earlier versions of your work. The app also has a Research window that lets you look up relevant stuff for your work such as definitions and synonyms, as well as Bluetooth keyboard shortcuts, word counts, and Markdown support. It can even support true Italics.

As for saving your work, JotterPad 11 supports .pdf, .rtf, as well as .docx formats, so sending your document to another device shouldn’t be too much trouble. There are also a variety of print options you can work with. Take note though, that some of the features may require Creative IAP, which would cost you around USD$6.00, but the app’s main features are essentially free. To satisfy your urge to write on-the-go, check out JotterPad 11 at the Google Play Store and start tapping away on your next literary masterpiece.

DOWNLOAD: Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• Microsoft officially brings Office for Android tablet


• Office Mobile update: support for Dropbox, OneDrive sharing


• Preview of Microsoft Office apps for Android tablets now expanded

Device automation made easy with Droid Automation, MacroDroid

One of the nice things about tweaking your Android device is the possibility of a very high level of automation – this is because one can actually put your device’s sensors to task and depending on any combination of circumstances, automation apps can ask the operating system to automatically apply specific profiles and settings. We look at two of those automation apps in Droid Automation and MacroDroid.

There’s one thing that Droid Automation has going for it is that it has a pretty useful “free” version. Tasker has been the standard of all Android automation apps, but the problem with Tasker is that it has a pretty steep learning curve. Droid Automation has “dumbed down” the automation process by asking the users to create their profiles and set triggers from sensor and radio data. After that, Droid Automation takes over to make the repetitive tasks go away.

MacroDroid has exactly the same idea – a simple user interface in an automation app that is again, less intimidating than Tasker. MacroDroid is also very easy on the eyes, with a look and feel that is both sleek and aesthetically pleasing. MacroDroid profiles are easy to create and are very powerful, allowing users to automate even the uploading of pictures to social media, and sending text messages with certain strings of data such as your location to specific recipients. It lacks the capabilities of Tasker, but the paid version will still offer over 45 triggers and 70 different actions.

So go ahead and take these for a spin. Download links are below, and then sound off if there’s anything about these two apps that you particularly like.

DROID AUTOMATION: Google Play Store

MACRODROID: Google Play Store