Lollipop is rolling out to the HTC One (M8) in Europe
Last summer, HTC promised the One (M8) would be updated to Android L within 90 days of the release of the L source code to HTC. That term expires on February 3, and it looks that HTC will hold its promise, at least for users of One (M8) in Europe.
HTC communications executive Jeff Gordon teased the release of Lollipop to European variants of the M8 on Twitter:
HTC One (M8) owners in Europe, have a sweet tooth this morning? Check your software updates!
— Jeff Gordon (@urbanstrata) January 28, 2015
Several users on Twitter and Reddit are confirming the arrival of the OTA update in Europe, as well as the Middle East. According to noted HTC ROM developer and leaker LlabTooFeR, the updated software version is 4.16.401.10 and the update weighs in at 780MB.
HTC rolled out Lollipop to the developer and unlocked versions of the One (M8) earlier this month, but now the rollout is going out to carrier versions. As always, these rollouts go out in waves, and depending on your carrier (and luck), it may take a while before the OTA hits your phone. But it doesn’t hurt checking manually from the About Phone section.
There aren’t many visual changes, but core features like lockscreen notifications, floating notifications, the redesigned notification dropdown, and the new recent activities interface are all present.
Have you received the OTA on your One M8?
Google addresses WebView security concerns, makes recommendations on how to stay safe
If you are still waiting for Google to do something about the WebView vulnerabilities in older Android releases, you may not be a fan of their official response to the matter. Google says they’ve already fixed it, sort of, but at least offered ways that you can protect yourself and your data going forward.
In a recent Google+ post, echoing an older DevBytes video and our own take on the matter, Google has addressed the WebView issues that have been of growing target for complaints of the free and open source Android OS. Android releases prior to KitKat, that is, versions 4.3 and older, have a known code injection flaw in the WebView element.
WebView is broken, don’t use it
WebView is a tool within Android that allows apps to display web content within the app, you’ve all seen these before as ads at the bottom of a free game or an in-app web based help page. Although the Google+ post goes on to describe a few best practices, the underlying message is unforgiving and clear, WebView is broken, so don’t use it.
Perhaps Google’s advice is easier said than done, especially for the casual gamers in the crowd, but disabling the default Android browser and installing Chrome, Dolphin or another full web browser is good advice regardless the issues. Developers, please familiarize yourself with the best practices for your apps, to keep us secure.
Now, didn’t you say that Google fixed the issue? Well, yes, sort of. Google took the time in the Google+ post to explain that they have limited resources for working on older versions of Android. Plainly put, Android 4.4 KitKat included the fix to the WebView bug. Keeping in mind that KitKat is over a year old now itself, having been through versions up to 4.4.4 before giving way to Android 5.0 Lollipop, which is also a couple versions in already. Android 5.0.2 Lollipop is already shipping out to some devices.
Bottom line, users of devices running Jellybean and older are just out of luck. Please take the precautions discussed, or have a look at installing a custom ROM, if one is available for your Android unit.
Is this an acceptable response from Google, or should they dedicate more staff to fixing older Android releases? Before you answer, I might suggest taking a look at the latest Android distribution numbers.
US variants of the LG G3 to see Android 5.0 Lollipop updates ‘soon’
The LG USA Mobile Twitter account pushed out a tweet earlier this morning with the image you see above. It is obviously in reference to the LG G3 and a Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Being that the tweet came from the LG USA account, we surmise that this means the US variants are close to seeing the […]
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Lollipop is now coming to the Moto G in India and the US
On Google+, Motorola stated that an Android 5.0 Lollipop update is coming to the Moto G in India and the US. While it’s only a staggered rollout, it’s at least good to hear it is coming.
Specifically, both generations of the Moto G are being updated in India, and the second generation Moto G will receive the update in the US. This comes after a tease from Motorola that said Lollipop would come to devices it released in 2013 and 2014.
Source: AndroidCentral
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Android 5.0 Lollipop for the LG G2 is now live in South Korea
A few weeks ago, we got a sneak peek at Android 5.0 Lollipop for the LG G2 and now it appears the software update is now officially rolling out in South Korea. Prior to this, the update was in testing, which is presumably where the leaked footage came from, but the V30D update has been confirmed […]
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Reasons to upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop
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In the world of technological innovation, its course is often defined by the actions of leading brands. In the face of intense market competition and driven by the desire to dominate a specific market sector, companies invest heavily in the development of new technology and improvement that will redefine the consumer experience. Take the smartphone market, for example, where Android responded to the launch of Apple’s successful iOS 8 software by releasing its own upgrade in the form of the Lollipop (Android) 5.0.
Like the iOS 8, Androids’ own Lollipop update includes several targeted enhancements. The first of these is the inclusion of Android RunTime (ART), which improves application performance in terms of speed, responsiveness and consistency. It is also 64-bit compatible, and the initial tests that have been conducted through tests such as Google’s Nexus 9 underline the improved performance that they tool delivers. It is particularly beneficial for business users or freelancers, who may often be required to operate multiple applications simultaneously and in real-time.
Android have also equipped the Android Lollipop upgrade with security features, thanks at least in part to the increased prevalence of virtual retailing and responsive online slots sites. More specifically, users can now ‘pin’ specific screen or applications, locking other users out of these functions while ensuring that the handset remains active. This is great for parents who wish to protect sensitive data without disabling their devices entirely, while it also makes it far easier to maintain battery life and protect your data in the event that your phone is lost or stolen.
In terms of practical usage, the Android 5.0 upgrade also incorporates a detailed usage chart and heightened battery saver mode. This is the brainchild of Google, who are in the midst of a drive to increase processing speeds and ensure that Android applications can run simultaneously without compromising the performance of individual devices. Although this project is its infancy, there are signs of it in the recent upgrade and a clear indication of the direction that future operating system updates will take.
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Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop vs KitKat comparison: what was once old is now new
The Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Samsung Galaxy S5 has been slowly rolling out around the world for a few weeks now, and it’s high time that we start seeing some comparisons between the outgoing Android KitKat software and the silky smooth Lollipop. Thanks to Phone Arena, we now have a Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop vs […]
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Android 5.0 Lollipop for the HTC One M8 Unlocked and Developer Editions is available today
Just a day after getting a sneak peek at what it was going to look like, Android 5.0 Lollipop for the HTC One M8 Unlocked and Developer Editions has been made available today. The news dropped after HTC VP of Product Management, Mo Versi, tweeted that the OTA would be going out today, and it’s being […]
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Google Now Launcher update now offers Lollipop design to older devices
Here’s some great news for fans of pure Android, especially those who are afraid of rooting their devices. The Google Now Launcher, made directly by Google, now brings a Lollipop look to every device running at least Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
It’s completely the same as stock Lollipop with the exception that the left-most home screen is Google Now. Therefore, swiping to the far left allows you to view cards related to your searches, your location, recommended websites, favorite sports teams, stocks, and so forth. You can even use voice commands on this screen.
Android Central notes that the only downside of the launcher is the lack of customization seen on other launchers. However, it adds that the Google Launcher offers high stability, Material Design, and the vanilla Android experience. You can get it in the link below.
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HTC One M8 unlocked and dev edition devices are seeing Lollipop rollout!
Earlier this morning we caught a glimpse of Android 5.0 Lollipop for the HTC One M8 via an unofficial video leaked to the web. While a close up look is better than nothing, we’re sure HTC owners are eagerly awaiting the actual rollout. The good news is that, for owners of unlocked or developer edition One M8 handsets, it appears that the day has finally come!
News of the update comes from HTC’s Mo Versi, who revealed the good news on Twitter. While Mo says the OTA will start rolling out tonight, we have already heard several reports across the web that suggest some folks are already seeing the upgrade. If checking for an update yields no result for you just yet, don’t panic, as we imagine it will be a matter of hours, days or even weeks before it reaches everyone.
HTC One (M8) Unlock and Dev Owners! We have received TA from Google on Lollipop + Sense 6. OTA will be out starting tonight. #HTCAdvantage
— Mo (@moversi) January 13, 2015
Keep in mind that those with carrier-branded HTC One M8 hardware will likely be waiting quite a bit longer for Lollipop, though we’ll be sure to update you as soon as we know more. As for what’s new? We don’t have a full change-log just yet, though obviously Lollipop is the biggest change here. We imagine that at least some of HTC’s apps have been updated a little bit but we have no specifics for you at this time.
For those that already received the update, what region are you in and what do you think so far? Any other notable changes outside of Lollipop? Let us know in the comments below.
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