Sony releases Android M AOSP Developer Preview images
Sony has just released the Android M AOSP Developer Preview images for many of its Xperia smartphones and tablets. Originally, the Developer Preview was exclusively available on the Nexus 5, 6, and 9.
Keep in mind that the Android M AOSP Developer Preview are AOSP images, so you won’t be getting exactly a pure stock Android experience, as many of the Google apps and services will be missing. If you absolutely want them, there’s always the option of retrieving them after flashing Android M. Either way, you still get all of the excellent flavours Android M is bringing to smartphones and tablets.
The eligible devices are as follows:
- Sony Xperia Z3
- Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
- Sony Xperia Z2
- Sony Xperia Z1
- Sony Xperia Z Ultra
- Sony Xperia Z
- Sony Xperia ZL
- Sony Xperia E3
- Sony Xperia M2
- Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
- Sony Xperia T3
- Sony Xperia L
- Sony Xperia S
- Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
- Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
- Sony Xperia Tablet Z
These devices are all a part of the Open Device program.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Another thing to watch out for is that this Developer Preview is by no means ready to be a daily driver. Sony warns that “the modem and the camera are not implemented.” Either way, if you’re ready to take Android M for a spin on something other than the Nexus lineup, hit the source link below.
Hopefully we’ll begin to see other manufactures offer something like this, although I’m not too hopeful. Then again, LG might, considering that they’ve recently started supporting developers via its bootloader program.
Anyone flashing Android M on their Xperia device?
source: Sony Developer World
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Motorola begins Android 5.1.1 deployment of Moto X (1st Gen)
Motorola began soak testing the Moto X (1st Gen) Android 5.1.1 in multiple markets last week. On Friday, it began full deployment for unlocked models of the 1st gen in the US, Brazil, and on Canadian carrier Rogers.
David Schuster, a Senior Director at Motorola, took to Google Plus on Friday to announce the deployment:
“I am pleased to announce that we have started full deployment of the 5.1 Android Lollipop upgrade for Moto X (1st Gen) for US Retail, Brazil Retail and Rogers in Canada.“
Moto X (1st Gen) users have been waiting for the update for some time now, raising concerns that Motorola wasn’t living up to its promise of quick updates. And that still might be a concern, considering that the update hasn’t made its way to users who bought the device on-contract.
Hopefully now that full deployment has begun it shouldn’t be too long before it begins hitting carriers. In the meantime, if you own an unlocked Moto X (1st Gen) you should be able to manually check for the update in Settings > About Phone.
Be sure to check out the full changelog at the source link below. Has anyone received the update yet?
source: Motorola
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Sony makes Android M Developer Preview available for select devices
Traditionally, Google’s AOSP Developer Previews are only available for Nexus devices. However, thanks to Sony’s awesome development team, those who wish to try out Android M, are now able to do so. Of course, this is provided if you are using one of the following devices:
- Sony Xperia Z3
- Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
- Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
- Sony Xperia Z2
- Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
- Sony Xperia Z1
- Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
- Sony Xperia Z1 Ultra
Now there are some instructions to follow, which can be found on Sony’s Open Device Program page. It’s not as cut and dry to run the Android M Developer Preview on these Sony devices as it for Google’s Nexus devices, but the fact that it has been made possible, is pretty awesome.
As a disclaimer, please be sure to follow the instructions provided by Sony to T, and as always, make a backup of your device, or at least backup all of your pertinent and important files.
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Google News Lab: A way for journalists to collaborate
To the average user, it seems Google is all about services integration. Android is a great example of this. The platform integrates seamlessly with the Goog’s product ecosystem. For the consumer side of things, this has been the search giant’s bread and butter for the better part of a decade. The real money, however, is in the enterprise. There are a plethora of Google business services, and depending on who you talk to, none are quite as good as their competitor. Google apps for business is great, and in full disclosure this article is being written in Google Docs. Unfortunately, for companies that do business on a large scale, Microsoft Office has been king. Google Compute Engine is a marvel of modern computer science, but Amazon Web Services has been able to boast some of the industry’s biggest customers (think Netflix). Where Google has seen the most success, is when it has been able to couple the engineering part of its brain with truly innovative and exciting ideas. Google News is a great product that has been around for sometime, but there hasn’t been an urgent need to create an enterprise ready platform for journalists and other media outlets. The focus has been on the consumer.
Enter: Google News Lab. The idea behind this new project is to allow Google to “…collaborate with journalists and entrepreneurs to help build the future of media.” The folks in Mountain view plan to do this by connecting the various Google services and applications directly with journalists and media outlets. The first of these is Youtube Newswire, a feed of aggregated content of the day’s news on the web’s #1 video site. With integration of reporting into other apps like Earth and Maps, Google is positioning itself to be the premier location for new media journalists.
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T-Mobile starts seeding Android 5.1.1 update for the Galaxy S5
Owners of the T-Mobile variant of the Samsung Galaxy S5 can now rejoice. Big Magenta has started the seeding process of Android Lollipop 5.1.1 to their users as of today. There has been no official announcement from T-Mobile, nor is the official changelog available.
Nonetheless, Galaxy S5 owners can experience the latest and greatest from Android with the Lollipop 5.1 rollout. Some of the improvements that are expected with this release are “support for RAW and lower ISO values if you’re using a third-party camera app”, as well as a bunch of bug fixes.
This is of course, an OTA update so you can start rapidly updating the “Software Update” page until the update appears. Let us know if you’ve received the Android 5.1.1 update on your T-Mobile Galaxy S5 yet in the comments below.
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Android Wear gains a slew of new watch faces
Google has kicked off the week with a number of new Android Wear watch faces from some 17 brands scattered about the globe. Available immediately, you can pick up designs from the likes of Angry Birds, Hello Kitty, Moomin, Lulu Frost, and Bang & Olufsen. Indeed, you can also find a watch face to help display your excitement over the upcoming Terminator Genisys film.
- Moods of Norway
- Hello Kitty
- Time Will Come
- Rubik’s
- ANREALAGE
- Angry Birds Aviator
- George Frost
- Terminator Genisys
- Lulu Frost
- Kevin Tong
- TRIWA
- Rowley
- Bang & Olufsen
- Gundam RX-78-2
According to Google there are now more than 1,500 watch faces to choose from for Android Wear devices. We’ve played with a couple of these recent additions and think they’re superbly done.
What about you? Which of these look the most intriguing to you?
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Avantree Bluetooth Stereo Earbuds, just $27 after coupon
Are you still walking around with corded earbuds, getting caught on door handles and having to break out the old 10-second breathing exercise to stop from blowing your lid? If I touched a nerve, I’ve got the cure my friend. It’s 2015 and about time you joined the rest of us by cutting the cord and getting yourself a pair of wireless earbuds. With today’s coupon code, the Bluetooth move is as affordable as ever.
The Avantree Bluetooth Stereo Earbuds are comfortable, splash-proof for durability and offer dynamic sound. With a small form factor, six-hour constant use battery life and built-in microphone, these are the earbuds to bring you into the modern age. Normally, you might expect to pay $50 for a nice set of something like these. What do we say to that? Not today! Use coupon code EARBUDS10 and take these beauties home for just $27.
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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Videophone lets kids call Grandma but not surf the web
Want to encourage your kids to stay in touch with family, but don’t trust them with a smartphone? A product called the ILY family phone from startup Insensi may do the trick. It’s designed to help young ‘uns place video phone calls to anyone else who also has either an ILY or the iOS or Android app. Calling couldn’t be simpler — they just tap the recipient’s picture on the main page of the color touchscreen. Video and voice calls can be made over the internet via your WiFi network, or you can place regular phone calls by plugging it into your landline.
Kids can even send pictures or create them with an included app, but there’s no browser or other way to access the internet. And that simplicity is the point — it’s intended to give kids a way to call without exposing them to the dangers of the wider web. We don’t have any specs yet, but if the $200 price tag doesn’t give you pause, pre-orders are opening soon, with shipping expected by this fall.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets
Google’s News Lab helps journalists with their online reporting
Google’s efforts to improve internet journalism are going far, far beyond a special YouTube feed. The search firm has officially launched the Google News Lab, an initiative that helps reporters collect and publish news online. The Lab shows journalists how to use Google tools like data visualizers, Maps and Trends. It’s also partnering with news outlets on data experiments, fostering media startups and supporting citizen journalism. Google hopes that all these tutorials and team-ups will adapt journalists to the direct, data-driven nature of internet reporting — and, no doubt, show that the company isn’t always at odds with publishers.
[Image credit: AP Photo]
Source: Google Official Blog
You can now pre-order the Pebble Time smartwatch for $200
If you missed out on nabbing a Pebble Time smartwatch through the company’s Kickstarter campaign, now’s your chance to order one. The wearable is available for pre-order starting today for $200 through Best Buy in the US and in Pebble’s online store if you live outside of the States. While the company says exact shipping dates and in-store sales are still in the works, Best Buy product pages indicate that your Time should arrive by July 20th — if you order today, of course. The smartchwatch is available in three colors (black, white and red), and if you’re looking for a certain hue, all three options are available in both stores. Still on the fence about splurging for one? Read through our full review for all the detailed info.
Filed under: Wearables
Source: Pebble
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