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