Android 6.0 Marshmallow source code hints at a “Night Mode”
If you’re a Nexus user, or follow Android closely, you are probably familiar with the dark theme that popped up in the Android M Developer Preview. Unfortunately, it didn’t make the cut to the final release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow but Hernán Castañón, a developer and CyanogenMod contributor, has found traces of the dark theme, which has been renamed to “Night Mode”, in the code for Android Marshmallow.
We all know some features that show up in developer previews may not make it to prime time, but this one was a particular favorite among Android fans, especially those with AMOLED screens. Could we eventually see a Night Mode that changes the color of your phone’s theme based on the time of day, or possibly a schedule you set up? We’re hopeful, but cautiously optimistic. Other features that would logically make sense to include into Android, (Multi-Window, App Ops) have still not been released after being spotted in previous builds of the worlds most popular mobile OS.
This is something we’ll be keeping our eye on for future versions of Android. It doesn’t seem like Google’s style to release a feature like this in a small update, as this is something they could market new devices or software around. But perhaps developers can work to enable it, much the same way they were able to bring back App Ops in 4.4.2. after Google disabled it. In any case, we’ll keep our eyes on it and have an update for you if one becomes available.
Is a system-wide dark theme something you’d be interested in? Let us know in the comments what you think about this feature.
Source: AndroidAuthority
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Sony posts list of Xperia devices to receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow update
While Google is busy pushing the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update to both Nexus and Android One devices, other companies are announcing which handsets will be updated to the latest version of the operating system. HTC posted a list a few days, T-Mobile announced a list of eligible devices earlier today, and now Sony has gone public with its own list.
Let’s take a look at the list of Xperia handsets eligible for the Marshmallow update:
- Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z5 Premium
- Xperia Z4 Tablet
- Xperia Z3+
- Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Compact Tablet
- Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet
- Xperia M5
- Xperia C5 Ultra
- Xperia M4 Aqua
- Xperia C4
The list contains no real surprises other than the omission of the Xperia Z and Z1 ranges, which will disappoint some. Sony states that the Android 6.0 update will (as usual) be a phased roll-out, dependent on region and carrier. Sony has refrained from putting a date to when the update will be released, but at least we know which devices will be updated to the latest and greatest version of Android.
Is your device on the list of eligible handsets? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Sony
Come comment on this article: Sony posts list of Xperia devices to receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow update
Is the Nexus 5X a good deal?
Google’s Nexus line-up has always been an interesting part of the Android story. We never know what to expect. This year, Google has changed things up again by releasing, not one smartphone, but two. The Nexus 5X is the long-awaited successor to the popular Nexus 5, while the Nexus 6P follows on from last year’s less loved Nexus 6.
If you felt the Nexus 6 was too expensive, and it looks as though many people did, then you might be excited by the pricing on the Nexus 5X. It starts at $379 for the 16GB version and it has a pretty enticing set of specs. But does it compare to the value for money that the original Nexus 5 represented two years ago? The market has moved on since then, prices have fallen, and the Nexus 5 was originally offered at $349. Is the Nexus 5X a good deal?
The high points
The first stand-out feature on the Nexus 5X, both figuratively and literally, is the 12.3MP main camera. Google knew it had work to do on this front. One of the biggest disappointments about the Nexus 5 was the performance of the 8MP camera. It looks as though the 5X is going to be capable of capturing quality shots, and it needs to be. The front-facing camera has also been overhauled in the wake of selfie-mania, and it’s rated at 5MP, undoubtedly a massive improvement over the old 1.3MP effort in its predecessor.
Nexus Imprint is the other thing that immediately jumps out about the 5X. A conveniently placed fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone, under the camera, is a smart move, and less awkward to use one-handed than a traditional home button placement. It only requires a single touch and it looks lightning fast.
If these two features are as good as they look, then they definitely make the Nexus 5X a tempting prospect at this price.
Middle of the road
The rest of the specs are less impressive. The screen is 5.2-inches with a standard 1080p resolution, it’s actually slightly less sharp than the Nexus 5, which was 4.95-inches and 1080p. The hexa-core Snapdragon 808 backed by 2GB of RAM looks a little lightweight compared to current flagships.
| LG Nexus 5X | |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.2-inch LCD display 1920 x 1080 resolution, 424ppi Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Processor | 2.0GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992 processor |
| GPU | Adreno 418 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16, 32GB |
| MicroSD | No |
| Networks | GSM 850/1900 W-CDMA 2/4/5 CDMA 0/1/10 LTE Band 2/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26/41 |
| Dual SIM | No |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear-mounted |
| Camera | 12.3MP rear-facing camera, f/2.0 aperture, laser-assisted autofocus 5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture |
| Battery | 2700mAh, non-removable |
| Wireless charging | No |
| Dimensions | 147.0 x 72.6 x 7.9mm, 136g |
| Colors | Charcoal Black, Quartz White, Ice Blue |
Storage options are the same: 16GB or 32GB. For most people, 16GB isn’t going to be enough in the long term, but the extra 16GB costs $50 and there’s no Micro SD card slot. $429 is still relatively cheap, but it’s not a special price when you look at what’s out there. The battery is a respectable 2,700mAh, and it’s not removable.
The compromises
There are also a couple of disappointing compromises in the Nexus 5X. Wireless charging support has been dropped. Google has gone all-in with USB Type-C instead. It’s reversible, so it should be much easier to plug in, but for anyone used to wireless charging it’s still going to feel like a step backward.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the Nexus 5X design certainly doesn’t stand out. The original Nexus 5 had the angular, monolith thing going for it, with curves top and bottom that gave it a unique, instantly recognizable profile. The 5X is a rectangle with rounded corners that would be tough to pick out of a line-up, though, it is at least slimmer.
See also: Nexus 5X hands-on: a look at Google’s new affordable phone
How does it compare?
When the Nexus 5 came out, it was the best value budget smartphone on the market. There really wasn’t another phone at the time that offered quite as much for $350. We can’t say the same about the 5X. If you’re thinking of dropping $379 on the Nexus 5X, there are actually quite a few other options that you could consider.
The Asus Zenfone 2 is only $300 and it manages to pack in a 5.5-inch display, with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, and 4GB of RAM. The OnePlus 2 starts at $329 and has an octa-core processor, more RAM, a bigger battery, USB Type-C support, and a fingerprint sensor. You could pick up an LG G3 for around $330 now, with a 5.5-inch, 2560 x 1440 pixel display. Even the Moto X Style (Pure) is only $400 and it boasts a 5.7-inch display and a 21MP camera.
Moto X Style/Pure
The Nexus 5X may be better than some or all of these, it’s impossible to say for sure until we get some decent time with it, but it’s clearly launching into a much more competitive landscape than the Nexus 5 did. If you agree that you’ll need at least 32GB, which will cost you $429, then it’s only an extra $70 for the Nexus 6P, which starts at 32GB, but also has a bigger and sharper screen, a better processor, more RAM, and an 8MP front-facing camera, not to mention a metal body.
Good, but not great
If we rewind to the beginning of LG and Google’s Nexus partnership we can put the Nexus 5X into some perspective. The Nexus 4 was a phone that had a surprisingly premium design with good build quality, a set of specs that didn’t look out of place with the flagships of the day, and it started at just $299. If the Nexus 5X was being offered at $299 we’d be lauding it as an incredible bargain. Even if it landed at $350, like the Nexus 5, it would stand out in the budget field, but at $379… it’s not so clear.
There are lots of other little improvements in the Nexus 5X, and it’s impossible to judge properly without using it for a while. It will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, and there’s no telling when some of the competition mentioned above will get that. For Android fans, the stock nature of the Nexus 5X can’t be underestimated. We also have high hopes for the camera and the fingerprint sensor, but there’s no hiding the fact that there are some disappointments here, too.
On paper, the Nexus 5X looks good for the money, but it doesn’t look great.
Google ordered to unbundle Android apps in Russia by next month
Last month, the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service found that Google is unfairly using Android to give itself a competitive advantage and has now given Google a little over one month to comply with the agency’s demands. Come November 18th, Google will have to change the requirements that it places on its hardware partners, specifically the ones that the Russian regulator feels are unfairly restricting apps that aren’t created by Google.
Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has taken a particular exception to arrangements that Google comes to with its partners with regards to pre-installed apps. By pressuring device manufacturers to pre-load a range of Google owned apps, such as Chrome, Maps and Search, along with the Play Store, but not allowing them to pre-install competing apps, third party services are being disadvantaged. Google has been ordered to amend these type of agreements and may also face a fine of 1 to 15 percent of revenue from these services.
The case arose after search rival Yandex issued a complaint against Google. The Russian search provider probably has a lot less to worry about now, as the change in rules would increase the likelihood that OEMs will include its software out of the box for regional handsets.
“To restore competition on the market, Google should amend agreements with mobile-device producers within a month and exclude the anti-competitive clauses,” – Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service
Google doesn’t appear to have any way to appeal the ruling and the company has not commented on the matter. While the decision may help out third parties, it’s not clear how this will affect important services, such as maps or email, which are linked into other Android features like Google Now.
This case is just the latest in a long list of anti-trust investigations faced by Google. The search giant is under investigation by the European Commission regarding its Android OS and pre-installed services, and is also fighting a similar anti-trust case in Europe over alleged preferential shopping search results. India has also launched its own investigation into the manipulation of search results and the FTC is pondering a case of its own.
Sony announces devices that will get Marshmallow, Xperia Z1 left out
Now that Google has opened the Marshmallow floodgates, manufacturers are beginning to detail their plans for the update to Android 6.0.
Sony, one of the better Android OEMs when it comes to updates, has revealed exactly which devices will make the jump to Marshmallow. The list is predictable, if you’ve been following Sony over the past months, with just a couple of names shining through their absence.
These are the Sony devices that will receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow, as per a company blog post:
- Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, and Xperia Z5 Premium (absolutely no surprises here)
- Xperia Z4 Tablet (not included: the Xperia Z4, which is exclusive to Japan, where updates don’t seem to be a priority for companies. Xperia Z4v? Yeah, Sony and Verizon want you to forget about that)
- Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (again, predictable)
- Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet (released in February 2014, probably at their last major update)
- Xperia M5, Xperia C5 Ultra, Xperia M4 Aqua and Xperia C4 (the select few mid-rangers getting Marshmallow)
The most glaring absence here is that of the Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact. Launched in September 2013 with Snapdragon 800 processors, the Z1 duo have outlived the two-year period that Google itself promises for major updates. Sony did release Android 5.1 for these devices, just last month.
It looks like the 2013 Xperia Z is also reaching its end of support line, which shouldn’t be a surprise, as Sony didn’t include it in the Android 5.1 update wave. Other devices not deemed worthy of Marshmallow include the Xperia E3, Xperia A4, Xperia T2 Ultra, and the Xperia Z Ultra.
Sony promised it would share more details on the updates “soon.” For what is worth, the post includes the standard disclaimer about timing and availability varying based on market and operator, and a rather ominous warning that some of the listed models may not get the update at all, for certain markets/operators.
Porsche Chooses CarPlay Over Android Auto Due to Google’s Data Collection Policy
Porsche has announced that its forthcoming 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S will support Apple’s CarPlay platform. According to Moto Trend (via AppleInsider), Porsche selected CarPlay over Android Auto because under the agreement of partnering with Google, certain amounts of data would have been sent to the search giant.
Some of this data would have included vehicle speed, throttle position, and engine revs, all points of information that would constantly be flowing back to Google’s headquarters each time a driver gets in the car. Comparatively, all Apple’s CarPlay requires to know is whether the car is accelerating while the system is being used.
There’s no technological reason the 991/2 doesn’t have Android Auto playing through its massively upgraded PCM system. But there is an ethical one. As part of the agreement an automaker would have to enter with Google, certain pieces of data must be collected and mailed back to Mountain View, California. Stuff like vehicle speed, throttle position, coolant and oil temp, engine revs—basically Google wants a complete OBD2 dump whenever someone activates Android Auto. Not kosher, says Porsche.
Porsche’s reasoning behind the decision points to not wanting to share the information with Google that could include the ingredients to its “secret sauce that makes its cars special,” along with the fact that Google is reportedly building its own car at the moment. A few other vehicle manufacturers have announced support for CarPlay, but the service is just this year beginning to see a wider release despite being announced — as “iOS in the Car” — over two years ago.
Belkin Debuts ‘Charge Dock’ With First Integrated Chargers for Apple Watch and iPhone
Earlier this year, Apple expanded its Made for Apple Watch program to include Apple Watch stands with integrated chargers. Popular accessory maker Belkin has now worked with Apple to develop the an Apple Watch stand with an integrated magnetic charger, which also includes a built-in Lightning connector for charging an iPhone.
The new Charge Dock for Apple Watch and iPhone is the very first third-party product to incorporate a Lightning connector and a charging puck for the Apple Watch, letting both an iPhone and an Apple Watch charge through the dock without the need for user-supplied cables.
Ahead of the launch of the Charge Dock, I went hands-on with it to see how it measures up to other Apple Watch and iPhone charging solutions on the market and whether it’s worth its $130 price tag.
Design
Belkin’s Charge Dock consists of an aluminum platform with a built-in Lightning connector for the iPhone and a chrome arm that houses an Apple Watch charging puck. It’s a simple, unobtrusive design that fits well into any decor, but it does only come in silver, so it’s not going to perfectly match all iPhones and Apple Watches.
The mix of a matte aluminum base and a shiny chrome arm may not be appealing to everyone, especially with the black accents on the base where the iPhone rests and the black detailing on the back of the Apple Watch stand.
Size wise, the Charge Dock is compact so it’s not going to take up too much room on a nightstand or desk. It measures in at five inches long, three inches wide, and it’s less than an inch thick. In length, it’s a bit smaller than the iPhone 6s and about an inch smaller than the iPhone 6s Plus.
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New video takes a look at Android’s Easter egg tradition
When I got my second Android phone, the Samsung Galaxy S III, it came shipped with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. I learned that there was a secret Easter egg hidden in the system. It took me some time, but I eventually discovered the Easter egg: pixel-art Androids wearing Ice Cream Sandwiches flying across the screen, Nyan Cat style.
Google has long included amusing little Easter eggs in their products, but the Easter eggs found in Android releases are some of their most well-known. Natalie and Lorraine, a duo of Google engineers who also make videos of what goes on behind-the-scenes at their workplace, take a brief look at these secret goodies and how they came to be.
They both travel to Cambridge to chat with Android Framework Engineer Dan Sandler. The first such Easter egg, in Gingerbread, was created by artist Jack Larson and contained a painting of a zombie gingerbread. Since then, Dan has been in charge of bringing these Android version Easter eggs to life, starting with the Android bee in Honeycomb.
Unfortunately, we do not get a glimpse of what Marshmallow’s Easter egg will look like, but Nat & Lo have also created a video on how the Marshmallow lawn sculpture was created.
Do you have a favorite Android Easter egg? Tell us yours at the comments below!
Source: Android Developers Blog
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Android 6.0 Marshmallow update begins rolling out to Android One handsets
Google began rolling out the Android 6.0 update to Nexus devices yesterday (OTA download links here) and now it seems that the Android One handset, the Spice Dream Uno, is also receiving some marshmallow goodness in the form of an Over-The-Air update.
Thanks to a screenshot posted on TechDroider.com, we can see that the Android 6.0 OTA update for the Spice Dream Uno handset is around 338MB in size, so it’s advisable to download the update via WiFi if you have a data cap. If your handset hasn’t received the update notification, just go to Settings, About Phone and select Software Updates. If the update still isn’t available, don’t worry, it’s a staggered roll-out, so it’s just a case of waiting. The update will no doubt begin rolling out to Android One handsets from other manufacturers sooner, rather than later.
If your handset has received the Android 6.0 update, let us know your experience with the new firmware, and if there are any noteworthy bugs.
Source: TechDroider
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Nat and Lo make a video about “A brief history of Android easter eggs”
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Nat and Lo, otherwise known in real life as Googlers Natalie Hammel and Lorraine Yurshansky, have become the default mouthpieces for revealing what goes on behind the scenes at Google. Famously, they were there when Google unveiled the Android Marshmallow statue (and were there to prepare it too), and their latest video focuses on “A brief history of Android easter eggs”, namely, the themed animations the pop up if you keep hitting the software version number in “About Phone”. Check out the video below:
Nat and Lo’s video series makes up their “20% time” project, a famous (or infamous) mantra at Google where employees are encouraged to use 20% of their work time on other projects which further Google as a company. We like this kind of initiative as it humanizes Google a little more, rather than the robot that churns out Android software updates every 12 months, and puts faces to the easter eggs that we love claiming to know about to our less enlightened friends. Also, we won’t ruin the easter egg in Android Marshmallow either, but we have a feeling that it’s going to be very familiar. It’s Flappy Bird.
What do you think about Nat and Lo’s video about “A brief history of Android easter eggs”?
Source: YouTube via Android Police
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AIVAnet 