Mirror an andoid device on compatible TV

Mirroring your Android device's display on your TV can be useful when you're giving a demonstration, showing off photos from a recent trip, or playing a game. But until now, it was not easily accomplished with an Android device out of the box.

Thankfully, Google has just made mirroring on Android via Chromecast an official feature. The announcement was first made at Google I/O in June, and is now a reality. As is often the case with Google and new features, mirroring is naturally in beta and only supported by a shortlist of devices. Currently, the list includes older and newer devices, with an odd omission of HTC's One (M8). Here's the full list:

Nexus 4
Nexus 5
Nexus 7 (2013)
Nexus 10
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition
Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Samsung Galaxy Note 10
HTC One M7
HTC One M7 Google Play Edition
LG G3
LG G2
LG G Pro 2
Google has also promised support for more devices in the future.

So how does one go about casting the screen of an Android device to a television? It's quite simple, actually.


Make sure your Android device is on the above list.
Download version 1.7 of the Chromecast app from the Play Store. The update is said to start rolling out in the coming days.
Ensure you're connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast.
Launch the Chromecast app if you have the updated version, slide out the menu from the left edge of the screen and select the option to "Cast Screen." Select the Chromecast you'd like to use, and then watch as your screen magically appears on your TV.
Alternatively, Nexus owners will find a new Cast Screen option in stock Android's Quick Settings menu. If it's not showing up for you yet, you can access it via Android Settings > Display > Cast Screen. The updated Chromecast app is not required for Nexus owners to start mirroring.

Once you begin casting -- or mirroring -- your screen, an alert will appear in your notification shade, making it possible to stop mirroring with a tap.

With an update to the Chromecast app required, keep an eye on the Play Store.

source: cnet.com

Samsung Galaxy S5 receives new Android 4.4.2 update

While there is no official word on when Samsung will release the latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat software version for its high-end Galaxy series smartphones, a new stock firmware based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat with build number G900FXXU1ANE4 has been released for the international variant of the Galaxy S5, powered by the Snapdragon 801 chip featuring a quad-core Krait 400 processing unit clocked at 2.5GHz.

The G900FXXU1ANE4 build is currently live for Galaxy S5 users in Nordic Countries via OTA update and through the Samsung Kies server. Below are the firmware details for G900FNEE1ANF1 build.

Firmware details

Model: SM-G900F

Model name: Galaxy S5

Country: Nordic countries

Version: Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Changelist: 1539356

Build date: 27 May 2014

Product Code: NEE

PDA: G900FXXU1ANE4

CSC: G900FNEE1ANF1

MODEM: G900FXXU1ANE2

Galaxy S5 users who failed to get the OTA update or are unable to access the firmware via the Samsung Kies server for being region-specific may follow our step-by-step guide to install the update manually using Odin flashing tool.

Since the G900FXXU1ANE4 build is an unbranded version of firmware, it can be installed on any unlocked SM-G900F unit regardless of country and region. 

IBTimes UK reminds its readers it will not be held responsible for any mishap. Before flashing the stock firmware, users are advised to verify their devices meet the following requirements.

Pre-requisites

1) Install USB Drivers for Samsung Galaxy S5 to connect the Android device with the computer.

2) Enable USB Debugging Mode on phone to connect it with the computer and use Android SDK with it. [Navigate to Settings>> Developer Options>> check the USB Debugging option.]

3) As the tutorial is likely to wipe out all data of the phone, create a backup. If the device is having any custom recoveries such as CWM/TWRP then backup data using the same.

4) If the Android phone powers off due to lack of battery while the installation process, it could damage the device. Therefore, the Galaxy S5 should have charge above 80% battery charge.

5) The device should be factory unlocked and not locked to a particular carrier.

6) The phone will lose custom ROM with the installation of official firmware. Also, the custom recovery will be replaced by the stock version.

7) The device will no longer belong to a rooted version with the installation of official firmware.

8) G900FXXU1ANE4 Android 4.4.2 stock firmware works only with the Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900F. As flashing this on any other variant might brick the device, verify the model number of Galaxy S5 by navigating to Settings>> About phone>> Model number.

Download files

G900FXXU1ANE4 

Odin v3.09

How to install G900FXXU1ANE4 Android 4.4.2 KitKat on Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900F

Step-1: Extract the downloaded firmware zip using any extracting tool to get a .tar.md5 file with few other files, which are optional

Step-2: Extract the Odin zip to get Odin3 v.3.09.exe with few other files

Step-3: Switch off Galaxy S5

Step-4: Place the phone into Download Mode by pressing and holding Home, Power and Volume Down button together

Note: Ensure that you have installed Galaxy S5 USB Drivers installed on the computer.

Step-5: Run Odinas Administrator on the computer

Step-6: Connect the Galaxy S5 to computer using USB cable while it is in Download mode. Wait for some time until Odin detects the device. When the phone is connected successfully, the ID: COM box in Odin will turn light blue with COM port number. This step might take some time

Step-7: In Odin, click AP button and select the firmware file with .tar.md5 extension

Step-8: Enable Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checkboxes in Odin. Ensure Re-Partition checkbox is not checked

Step-9: Verify everything and click the Start button in Odin. The installation process should begin now and take a few minutes to complete

Step-10: When the installation process is completed, the phone will restart automatically. Once the home screen appears on the phone, disconnect the phone from the computer

The latest Android 4.4.2 stock firmware with build number G900FXXU1ANE4 should now be installed on the Galaxy S5. Navigate to Settings>>About phone to verify the new firmware version running on the handset.

[Source: Sammobile]

Android L preview and source is now availabe for nexus 5

After releasing the Android L developer preview images for some Nexus devices, Google has now posted the source code on the AOSP (Android Open Source Project) for an even wider range of devices.
Notably, Google's Android Git repo page lists the source code for the following Nexus devices - Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013) and Nexus 10.

9to5Google points out that the source code does miss out few things such as binary packages and kernel source.

Google, at its I/O 2014 Keynote, announced the "L" release of Android and called it the most ambitious Android release yet. Currently known only as Android L, there's no codename or even a formal version number yet. Android L is expected to release later this year, though an exact date isn't known.

(Also see: Android L: 8 New Features in the Next Major Android Release)

With Android L, Google has refreshed the interface design of the entire operating system. The company identifies it as the new "Material Design" which is bolder, more colourful, and more animated. Various changes to UI include a new dialler, refreshed Android navigation buttons, redesigned transition animation and more. Overall, the design theme focuses on elevation values of UI elements within apps.

The default Chrome browser has been upgraded on Android L as well and the Google search results can now be links that trigger an app, rather than links to websites. Google has notably ditched the Dalvik runtime in Android L and has introduced ART for 64-bit, which allows apps to run faster, and is compatible with ARM, x86 and MIPS architectures.

Other than improved performance, Google is also aiming for a better battery life in Android smartphones with its Android L. The introduced Project Volta improves the "instrumentation" of battery data through a tool called "Battery Historian." Google has also added a "Battery Saver" mode in "L" which can be triggered manually or configured to be enabled automatically when the battery is low.

Earlier, HTC and Nvidia announced Android L updates for some of their devices as soon as Google makes it publicly available.

source:: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/android-l-preview-source-code-now-available-for-nexus-devices-551532?site=classic

Android L 5.0 vs 4.4 kitkat : a comparison

We take a look at how Google's newly launched Android L Developer Preview compares to Android KitKat

Google has now revealed the first details on the next iteration of it's popular Android OS, and it's shaping up to be one of the most significant updates in the history of the platform. Google is building on the good work done in Ice Cream Sandwich and KitKat, streamlining Android to ensure that it works better than ever on the widest range of devices, while simultaneously working to make it more feature-rich and visually alluring than ever. Want to know howAndroid L shapes up against Android 4.4? Look no further - we're putting them head-to-head. 

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Design

The big news regarding Android L is the fresh look, dubbed "Material" by Google. While there are some similarities between Material and the look of "stock" Android KitKat, the designers at Mountain View are clearly forging a new path here, in purely aesthetic terms. 

The flatness seen in KitKat is still present and correct, but it comes with a twist: realism. Animation is going to play a big part in the new design, and Android L will adopt real-time shadows to give its interface more depth and make it look a little more dynamic. The shadows are there because Android L will make much more use of layers in the UI, allowing developers to do all kinds of visual customisation within their apps.

Another big change is that the famous Android "soft" buttons have been given a face lift, and look even more stylish than before - even if they do call to mind the symbols we used to see on our old VCR players. Android L is clearly an update on the existing KitKat style, but Google is embellishing it with new visual tricks to make things even more alluring. From what we've seen, it strikes us as massive improvement over the often flat and uninspiring Android 4.4.

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Security

Google has made massive strides with Android when it comes to overall security, coming up with innovations such as pattern unlocks and facial recognition. KitKat didn't bring much new to the table in this respect, but it worked well enough. Android L's big advance is going to be about making security more convenient, and it will do this using two methods: Android Wear and your current location.

In the first case, you can use your shiny new Android smartwatch as an authentication tool to automatically bypass your phone's passcode when it detects the watch nearby. In the second example, you can designate safe zones – your home, for example – where your phone will switch off your lock code. While both of these features could potentially create a security risk, if someone steals your phone and your smartwatch, they have access to all of your personal data, for instance, but they will overcome the irksome issue of having to continually unlock your device every few minutes.

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Notifications 

Notifications have been Android's strong suit since day one, and Google is making them even better in Android L. The big change here is that they're being integrated into the lock screen – something Google previously experimented with when it developed lock screen widgets which allowed you to view emails and events without actually unlocking your phone.

As well as making notifications the first thing you see when you pick up your handset, Google is working on making them smarter when the phone is in active use. For example, in KitKat a call would totally interrupt whatever activity you were involved in, be it reading a book, browsing your emails or playing a game. In Android L, events such as these will pop up at the top of the screen, a la Samsung’s Galaxy S5, meaning you can choose to jump to that event or ignore it with a quick tap without leaving your current task.

Compared to Android 4.4, notifications are going to be smarter, more intuitive and less intrusive than before. KitKat's notifications system is decent enough, but it was basically recycling what had come before, so it’s good to see some out-of-the-box thinking from Google in this respect.

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Battery Life

Project Butter was Google's way of making Android feel smoother and slicker, and now the company has revealed Project Volta – a system which will provide developers with a better means of determining what elements of their apps are draining battery at an unnecessary rate. Because Volta will open up the battery stats to devs, they can tinker with their code to make apps more efficient and spot potential problem areas.

Android L will also take a leaf out of HTC and Samsung's books by coming with a battery saving mode by default. This will help users get as much mileage out of each charge as possible by throttling certain functions when juice is low. Such improvements will ensure that Android L is leaps and bounds ahead of KitKat, which only offers basic stats on what process is gobbling up the most power.

Android L will begin rolling out to consumers in Q4. 

source:: http://www.knowyourmobile.com/mobile-phones/android-50-lollipop/22329/android-50-l-vs-android-kitkat-out-old-new

Android L Confirmed for Moto X and Moto G This Fall [Update]

Google's latest Android iteration has been confirmed for Motorola's Moto X and Moto G smartphones.

At its I/O 2014 developer conference, Google announced the Android L Developer Preview, a development version of the upcoming Android release. The Developer Preview, available for download from the L Developer Preview site, will enable users to explore features and capabilities of the L release. 

Android L

Android L contains support for material design, a comprehensive guide for visual, motion and interaction design across all platforms, devices and apps. Besides, the L update has ART (Android runtime) as a default runtime.

One of the key elements of Google's next major Android update is enhanced notification. Now the lockscreen has the ability to present notifications, and users can choose via Settings whether to allow sensitive notification content to be shown on the lockscreen.

Apart from the features, the announcement missed out on a lot of important details, including what will be the next Android version or, what the Android 'L' stands for.

Android 5.0 for Moto X and Moto G

While Google failed to mention the devices compatible with Android L, a few smartphone manufacturers have revealed their plans for the update.

Motorola Germany has confirmed that the next Android version will be 5.0. Besides, a post on its Facebook account suggests (which has been removed) that Android 5.0 will be coming to Moto X and Moto G this autumn.

Germany" with the following URL facebook.com/MotoDACH/ was created. We would like to point out that this is not an official Motorola site and expressly distance ourselves from said content. All relevant information about Motorola can be found only here on this page.

HTC One M7 and One M8 

HTC is the first to confirm the Android L update for its flagship smartphones, which will arrive within 90 days of receiving the final software from Google. 

"HTC is excited about the new features in the Android L release and we can't wait to share them with our customers. We are committed to updating our flagship HTC One family as fast as possible as part of our HTC Advantage program. We will begin rolling out updates to the HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7) worldwide within 90 days of receiving final software from Google, followed shortly thereafter by other One family members and select devices."

source:: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/android-l-confirmed-moto-x-moto-g-this-fall-1454420

Google launching 'Android One', a low-cost smartphone for emerging markets

 Google on Wednesday announced it is working on a low-cost smartphone aimed at emerging markets as part of an initiative called Android One.

The Android-powered handset will be built with a basic set of features including FM radio, have a screen slightly smaller than five inches and be priced at less than $100, Google senior vice president Sundar Pichai said at the start of the technology giant's annual developers conference.

"We are going to be launching it around the world, but will launch in India first in the fall of this year," Pichai said.

He added that Google was working with carriers in India to provide affordable telecom service packages to go with the smartphones, which could in many cases provide Internet access for the first time.

The Android One initiative sets out to work with smartphone makers and others in the "ecosystem" to pool resources and standardize hardware platforms to provide "turnkey solutions" for making handsets, according to Pichai.

"There are many people -- billions of people, in fact -- who still don't have access to a smartphone," he said.

"We want to change that."

Google is collaborating with handset makers and others in the industry to field affordable smartphones that are high quality and come with reasonably priced data plans.

Handsets will be made by Google partners and launch with an initial range of "sub-$100" smartphones.

"We've long wondered what potential could be unleashed if people everywhere had access to the latest technology and the world's information," Pichai said. "It's time to find out."

Google and Silicon Valley rival Facebook have made priorities out of connecting with people in parts of the world where Internet connectivity is scan, unreliable, or straight-out non-existant.

Having more people tune into websites or services mean expanded opportunities to make money from online advertising or providing tools that connect shops with customers.

Google does not make money from hardware, with its own branded gadgets meant to set standards and show off software capabilities with an eye toward inspiring electronics manufacturers to raise their games when it comes to Android or Chrome devices.

Developing countries have become prime targets for smartphone makers, and Android software made available free to handset makers has proven to be popular with budget-conscious buyers.

The news came a day after Microsoft said it would sell an Android-powered Nokia smartphone at a price of 99 euros ($135), a device also apparently aimed at emerging markets customers.

Google in April acquired Titan Aerospace, a maker of solar-powered drones that could be used to boost Internet access to remote areas.

Google also is developing Project Loon, which uses large balloons for transmitting Internet signals to regions that are not now connected.

source::http://m.economictimes.com/tech/hardware/google-launches-android-one-says-working-to-bring-low-cost-phone-to-india/articleshow/37203892.cms

Google Unveils Android 5 'Lollipop' At I/O Conference

Following Apple‘s announcements earlier this month, Google will unveil the next big update of its own mobile operating system, Android, at Google I/O – its developer conference that kicks off tomorrow morning in San Francisco.

Android is indeed due for a major update, as the latest one happened over 8 months ago – Android 4.4 (KitKat).

Google’s latest Android “L” update is likely to be called Lollipop, keeping with the company’s confectionary-based alphabetical naming convention (Cupcake, Donut, Éclair, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat).

Similar to the way Apple is rolling out iOS 8, Android 5 will also be available this fall, giving hardware makers enough time to include the mobile operating system in their holiday product lineup.

The major overhaul – at least for end-users – will be visually, as Google has been working on a complete makeover of the user interface across Android, iOS, and the Web (desktop and mobile) – with a flatter design à-la Apple, making it clearer and more consistent.

A total revamp which is the result of a new design framework, code named “QuantumPaper,” and similar in spirit to Microsoft'sMetro design language in Windows 8 orBootstrap, a collection of Web UI components.

In addition, Project Hera represents Google’s effort to improve multitasking, enabling users to execute tasks without actually opening that app. An example will be receiving an alert about a new email, opening that email and send a reply, without actually opening Gmail.

Google will also unveil its own health service Google Fit - in direct response to Apple’s HealthKit in iOS 8 – that will collect and use the data from fitness trackers and other connected devices, including devices running Google’s own wearable platform, Android Wear.

A move that the Mountain View, Calif. company hope will create a seamless, better connected and more interactive user experience for all the devices (smart watches, smart home, car) tethered to your smartphone or tablet.

Expect also to see a new version of Google Now, Google’s answer to Apple’s Siri andMicrosoft’s Cortana, with support of more services which currently includes sports, public transport, meetings and stocks.

Under the hood, the new OS will finally enable 64-bit processing with support of more RAM – a year after Apple launched the iPhone 5S, the first ever 64-bit smartphone.

Finally, Android 5 will include the much talked about kill switch, as well as improvements in how Android uses power to help improve battery life.

And, if it gets in on time, developers might be able to use as early as this week Android 5 on the upcoming Google Nexus 9, dubbed “Volantis.” Detailed specifications related to this 8.9-inch tablet built by Taiwan-basedHTC which integrates Nvidia’s 64-bit Logan processor, were revealed earlier this week by Android Police.

All in all, Google I/O this week will look a lot like a remake of Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference earlier this month, aside from the free devices!

source ::http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanbaptiste/2014/06/24/google-to-unveil-android-5-lollipop-at-io-conference/