T-Mobile starts to roll out Android Lollipop 5.1 to Nexus 6
T-Mobile is rolling out Android Lollipop 5.1 to their Nexus 6 users today. Your phone should automatically check if there is a new version of software available when you hop on WiFi, but if you just can’t wait, hit your settings button, followed by “about phone”, then click “system updates.”
The latest update will enable Google’s new security feature which allows your phone to stay locked, even if the would be criminal wipes your phone. Also included in the update are improved software stability and various bug fixes, which we know Android 5.01 is far from perfect with bugs like random restarts and poor battery life. The file size is 409MB, and as of right now can only be downloaded over WiFi. Download over cellular data will come at a later time. It’s a rather clever way for T-Mobile to limit data downloads even though many of their plans offer unlimited data.
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Pebble unveils plans to kickstart smartstrap ideas with its $1 million development fund
Pebble has certainly made some big strides in the wearable space the past few years. With it’s recent announcement of the Pebble Time Steel, the company also unveiled its plans to create something called “smartstraps” – watch bands that can provide additional power, measure your heart rate, and more. Pebble hasn’t actually created any smartstraps yet, but they plan on changing that sometime soon. The company has just announced a $1 million smartstrap development fund that aims to commercialize the development of smartstrap projects for Pebble watches.
Pebble doesn’t quite have the funds to back every cool idea that comes to them, so the company will be pretty selective on which projects it backs. But to kickstart this smartstrap revolution, Pebble will seek out interesting ideas and potentially back the projects they think have potential. So if you have an idea for an interesting smartstrap, build a prototype, put your project on a crowdfunding platform (Kickstarter, Indiegogo, etc.), and reach out to the Pebble team through Twitter or email.
Pebble explains:
Not every single project will get funding from Pebble; we’ll use our best judgment to support the most promising and innovative projects. We will determine the level of our support on a case-by-case basis, and may reach out with other kinds of support, such as promoting some smartstrap projects through Kickstarter updates, on our website getpebble.com, and elsewhere.
Pebble has already expressed its interest in a few projects. The first comes from Seeed Studio, who is producing a Pebble Time connector for their Arduino-compatible Xadow modules. Seeed’s Xadow products will offer 20+ strap-sized modules which include NFC sensors, OLED displays, barometers and GPS modules. Pebble also hints at a possible heart rate monitor making its way to the straps in the future.
Next up is a prototype that comes from Spark.io who is working to make the Spark Electron work in conjunction with the Pebble, allowing users to untether their smartwatch and connect it directly to a cellular network. That means you could stay connected with your Pebble while you’re on a run, eliminating the need to have your smartphone with you.
If you have a great idea that you think could make some headway, now may be your chance to make it happen.
Secretive startup Magic Leap demos its augmented reality concept in new video
Magic Leap, the secretive augmented reality company, has just sent out a teaser video hinting at what it’s been working on since Google’s $542 million investment in the company last October. The video is titled “Just another day in the office at Magic Leap”, and starts out pretty slowly. The man in the video is shown moving around different tabs with his hands, scrolling through his Gmail with his fingertips and flicking away webpages with a swipe of his hand.
Soon after that, he starts playing a video game inside his office, and this is where things get crazy. He picks up a futuristic handgun, and tries to defend himself from a number of robots that are trying to attack him. It’s not a long video, but it’s very entertaining to watch.
The video certainly looks similar to Microsoft’s HoloLens, which allows the user to take control of the world around them by means of physical motion. And based on what we’ve seen, the technology Magic Leap is working on seems much different from the tech that Oculus, Samsung and HTC have shown off so far.
Seeing as how virtual reality products are exceedingly difficult to capture on video, we’re not quite sure if this is actually what the company has been working on, or if the video is merely a concept, showcasing what’s possible in the future. Either way, it will be interesting to see what the company comes up with in the future.
Android customization – how to factory reset your Android device, and a few things you should do first
Last week on our Android customization series, we helped out the beginning Android users in the crowd, showing off how to install a new icon pack on your Android device. This week is still a somewhat beginners task, we’ll look at performing a factory reset on your Android device.
More than just a straight out factory reset, we will start with some best practices on backing up your data before the wipe and a few other tips to help make recovery from the reset as quick and painless as possible.
Today, we will be working on a WiFi only Nexus 7 (2013) running Android Lollipop. However, you will find that most Android devices operate in a very similar way.
Before we begin
When it comes to a factory reset, the first thing you need to do is determine if a reset is right for your needs. An obvious time to reset your device is when it is going to someone else and you want to protect your data. If you are selling your device, donating it to family, returning it for service or other that eyes other than your own will be viewing the device, a factory reset is not a bad idea.
If you are looking at doing a factory reset to repair an issue with your unit, perhaps you should look for one of our fix it articles for your phone or tablet. You may be able to fix your device without a factory reset.
- 6 common problems with the Nexus 6 and how to fix them
- 8 common problems with the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and how to fix them
- 8 common problems with the Nexus 9 and how to fix them
- 8 common problems with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and how to fix them
- 10 common problems with the HTC One (M8) and how to fix them
- 7 common problems with the LG G Flex and how to fix them
How to factory reset your Android device
The buttons to press to actually perform the factory reset on your Android device are really simple. But before we get to that, let’s cover a few things we recommend doing before hitting that button. Primarily, we recommend backing up your data and checking a few quick settings, let’s look at those in a bit more detail.
Backup your data
I am certain you have heard this a thousand times before in your computer career, it remains true for your Android experience. The great thing about Android is that you’ll find most of your apps to either be cloud based or otherwise handle their own data and settings for you. For those that do not, here are a couple quick recommendations.
In-app backup or export. Many apps like Launchers and customization apps have their own built in tools for backing up your data. Look for the Export Settings option in your Launcher, or look for the Export feature in apps like Tasker or Zooper Widget.
Manual backup. Alternative title: copy/paste. This concept is pretty simple, install a file explorer, hook up to your computer and transfer the files to your PC, or up to the cloud. Of course, if you have a device with a microSD card, just make sure all the files are on the card. Grab your Downloads, DCIM, Wallpapers and Pictures folders for sure, from there, don’t forget to grab the backup and/or export files from your above in-app actions. You’ll need those to restore or import again later.
Spend some time in your files, make sure you copy off of your device everything that you want to keep. If we haven’t mentioned this yet, a factory reset will wipe all of your files, permanently deleting them forever.
Backup app. There are apps in the Google Play Store that can help you backup your data files for apps. For most of us, an app like Helium, previously named Carbon backup, is your best friend. It will backup all of your app data, including game progress, Tasker Tasks and Profiles, Zooper Widget projects, your custom keyboard dictionary, settings and more. Root users can also look at Titanium Backup and similar, but we presume that if you are rooted, you already know a thing or two about backups.
Again, please spend some time with your apps, as mentioned, many just pull your info and settings from the cloud, but some do not. For example, you will not need to backup Gmail, as your messages live online, but you will need to backup any other app or game that does not have a cloud save. And if we haven’t mentioned this yet, a factory reset will wipe all of your app data as well. Say goodbye to saved game progress that you haven’t backed up above.
Check your Google settings
When it comes to managing your actual apps on your device, Google has got you covered. As you well know, the Google Play Store keeps record of all of your app installs, making it easy to find your favorites again after a reset. But there is more up Google’s sleeve.
Head into your device Settings, look for Backup & reset. There are two options here:
Back up my data will handle things like your saved WiFi SSIDs and passwords, plus your actual Android device settings, like display timeout. This does not backup your game data and progress as we looked at above.
Automatic restore is, as the name implies, an option to tell Google that when this device comes back online, please restore all of the Google backed up data, like WiFi passwords. It will also trigger the auto re-installation of all of your currently installed apps.
Screenshots
Last, and this is totally up to you, I make a habit of taking screenshots of my Homescreens and app dock, plus any settings pages for apps that I’ve spent any time customizing. For the most part, this is entirely unnecessary, but the odd time you forget what apps you had installed or why your wallpaper doesn’t fit right anymore, a screenshot to see how things were before can be very handy.
That is the bulk of preparation for a factory reset. I promise, the actual reset will seem like nothing compared to all the above work.
Factory Reset your Android device
Now for the magic. I promise, this is really simple. You will be warned several times along the way to make sure you’ve got everything backed up and to verify that you are certain you want to proceed. I recommend pulling your microSD card before proceeding.
Head back into your system Settings.
Look again for Backup & reset.
Click on Factory data reset (erases all data on phone).
On the next warning screen, tap on the Reset Phone button. Like I said, you’ve been warned.
Last step: on the next warning screen, tap on the Erase Everything button.
Stand back and watch. This is it and there is no turning back. Your device will restart and wipe all data while resetting the device.
Breath! Everything is going to be fine. Wait, you remembered to backup your ringtones folder right? I’m kidding, of course you did.
What’s next
What comes next is fairly obvious, you need to log into your device as though this were your first time ever using it. Then restore all of your apps and data. If you chose to let Google handle a lot of the work, you will be able to mostly just sit back and watch as the Google Play Store re-installs all of your apps. Most of your Android device settings will come back into place as well.
Reversing all of the above is pretty straightforward at this point. Sliding your microSD card back in is a simple solution, for the rest of us, you can recover app data from your Helium backup, manually transfer files back to your device by connecting to a PC. If that gives you trouble, don’t forget to try out an USB OTG option, I find it so much faster than a PC transfer.
Disclaimer: A factory reset is an unforgiving solution for wiping data from a device to overcome an issue or pass the device off to another user. Please be aware that we offer no guarantee that our suggested backup/reset/restore actions will solve your concerns, or that they will work at all. We have had good luck with a combination of all of the above techniques on many Android devices, including the stock Android Nexus device used today, but your results may vary. Don’t be afraid to find us in our forums if you have any questions before proceeding.
Next week
A factory reset can be a pretty major undertaking on an Android device, we hope today’s Android customization post has helped you work through the process. Next week, we have a device here that is using more battery than it should be, let’s look at some diagnostic tasks you can perform with the built-in Android tools, no apps required.
Have you ever factory reset your Android device? Why did you do it and did it solve your concerns?
Unannounced ZTE Nubia Z9 shown running Windows 10 at WinHec 2015
The ZTE Nubia Z9, which hasn’t been officially announced by the Chinese-based smartphone company, was spotted running a version of Windows 10 for phones at Microsoft’s WinHEC 2015 hardware conference in China this week.
Augmented reality startup Magic Leap teases its technology in new video
Magic Leap, an augmented reality company that recently secured over half a billion dollars in a round of funding lead by Google, has just released a concept video showing off its technology for the first time.
iPhoto for Mac update prepares for transition to the new Photos app
iPhoto for Mac nabbed an update today that fixes a couple of bugs and, more importantly, sets the stage for an easier transition to the Photos app coming later this spring.
Here’s what’s changed and fixed in iPhoto version 9.6.1:
- Improves compatibility when migrating iPhoto libraries to the new Photos app in the OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 (available this spring)
- Fixes an issue that caused iPhoto to display only the first 25 images in a Facebook album
- Fixes an issue that could cause iPhoto to become unresponsive when printing an image
Already in testing for those in the OS X beta program, the new Photos app is set for a wide release later this spring with the full release of OS X 10.10.3. The app will replace iPhoto and Aperture, consolidating the photo management and editing features of both into one app. Additionally, it is integrated with the iCloud Photo Library, which will make it easier to access your photos across all of your devices. If you’d like to know more about what Photos for Mac brings to the table, we had a quick first look at the app with our impressions shortly after its preview release in February.
Apple reportedly looking to sweep antivirus apps from the iOS App Store
It looks as though Apple may be in the process of removing anti-virus apps from the iOS App Store.
A number of virus scanners have been removed from the app store recently. One of the apps affected was VirusBarrier, whose developer, Intego, wrote in a blog post that the removal is part of a larger effort by Apple to eliminate anti-virus and anti-malware products from the App Store. From Intego:
Apple has elected to eliminate the category of anti-virus and anti-malware products from their iOS App Store. As a result of this decision, our product VirusBarrier iOS is no longer available for sale.
The reasoning behind the removal of anti-virus apps from the App Store appears to be an effort by Apple to stem concerns from users over whether their iOS devices are susceptible to viruses and malware. Intego CEO Jeff Erwin recently spoke to MacRumors about Apple’s stated reason for VirusBarrier’s removal:
According to Erwin, when Apple notified Intego of VirusBarrier’s removal from the App Store, the company told him the app’s App Store description was “misleading” and could potentially cause customers to believe that there are viruses on iOS.
Intego filed an appeal and rewrote the App Store description with “obnoxiously” clear wording, and that’s when the company learned about a wider crackdown on anti-virus apps. “We were as clear as we could be that this wasn’t a scanner, that it was scanning email attachments and cloud files,” said Erwin. The company “went up to the executive level” at Apple and described exactly what VirusBarrier does, but Apple was firm on the app not returning to the App Store.
Apple has yet to release any official statement on the matter, but it would make sense that the company would want to negate any concerns over iOS’ susceptibility to viruses and malware given the operating system’s sandboxed environment.
The ‘inside story’ of Apple’s ResearchKit
ResearchKit seemed to come out of nowhere, but it only seemed that way…
Medical research needed a way to reach more people more effectively. Tear-tag flyers on bulletin boards just weren’t cutting it. The future was clearly in mobile devices — the personal technology more and more people had with them every day — and in the cloud — the servers that could bring it all together — but how could that future be brought into the present? Fusion:
Sitting in the audience [of Dr. Stephen Friend’s Standford MedX talk on September 27, 2013] was Mike O’Reilly, a newly minted vice president for medical technologies at Apple. A few months earlier, Apple had poached O’Reilly from Masimo, a Bay Area-based sensor company that developed portable iPhone-compatible health trackers. Now, he was interested in building something else, something that had the potential to implement Friend’s vision of a patient-centered, medical research utopia and radically change the way clinical studies were done.
After Friend’s talk, O’Reilly approached the doctor, and, in typical tight-lipped Apple fashion, said: “I can’t tell you where I work, and I can’t tell you what I do, but I need to talk to you,” Friend recalls. Friend was intrigued, and agreed to meet for coffee.
The whole story is great, give it a read.
AIVAnet 
