Android Authority this week – November 15, 2015
Android fans, this week brought us the first luxury Android smartwatch, from Tag Heuer; Google is reportedly discussing making its own phone; Xiaomi launched new affordable devices; Samsung and Qualcomm launched their powerful new processors; Google open sourced its AI software, released a new version of Android Wear, and launched the YouTube Music app; Cyanogen hinted at its plans for 2016; and we got our first glimpse at the Android-powered BlackBerry Vienna.
Inside AA HQ
Can you feel it in the air? Holidays are around the corner, and that – along some other, actually meaningful things – means buying the right gifts for friends and family. If you’re looking to start Christmas shopping early, we’ve already compiled all the info we have on the best Black Friday deals. Check out our Black Friday guide for deals on mobile, electronics, and IT, and come back for updates through the end of November. And, if you just need a little inspiration, our year-end gift guides for all budgets are coming soon.
This week we’re giving away three smartphones in our Sunday Giveaway. Want to win a Blu Pure XL? Head over here!
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Unboxing: Fresh out of the box, the beautiful OnePlus X
- Review: With the V10, LG managed to thoroughly impress Lanh
- Opinion: The Nexus 5X is a great phone, but it’s not perfect – Matt weighs in
- Review: Bailey reviews the affordable Zenfone 2 Laser
- Opinion: Rooting and Roming: are you still into it?
- Opinion: In his first feature piece, John asks: should Google make Android more like iOS
Top news of the week
Google’s phone
Xiaomi news
- Xiaomi just released a 20,000 mAh Mi power bank with Quick Charge 2.0 for $24… AND a fitness band for $15
- ‘Enhanced’ Xiaomi Redmi 2A boasts double RAM and ROM
- Xiaomi absolutely killed it on Singles Day
- Metal Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro spotted at TENAA
Android Wear, with a Swiss touch
- The TAG Heuer Connected is the first luxury Android Wear smartwatch
- Android Wear no longer limited to Bluetooth and WiFi; cellular support on board
Snapdragon 820 vs Exynos 8890
- Qualcomm officially unveils the Snapdragon 820
- http://www.androidauthority.com/exynos-8-octa-8890-655143/
- Snapdragon 820 vs Exynos 8890: the 2016 mobile SoC battle begins
Google giving away its AI brain
Google apps updates
- Google Maps adds offline turn-by-turn navigation, search, and more
- Google rolling out an update that simplifies Hangouts video calls on the web
- YouTube Music finally launches on Android, 14-day free trial available as well
- Google Wallpaper Art extension will make your Chromebook look gorgeous
- Google Play Books updated with better comics support, free issues up for grabs
Cyanogen in 2016
- Official Cyanogen apps now available for CyanogenMod users with the C-Apps package
- Cyanogen teases multiple cheap devices for next year, CM13, and maybe a flagship
BlackBerry Vienna: second Android phone
Join our newsletters
Get the Android Weekly delivered to your inbox each and every Sunday, sign up for our newsletter below.
Android Authority Newsletters
- Android Weekly
- Apps Weekly
- Dev Weekly
- Breaking News Alerts
- Top Stories of the day
- Review Alerts
- Deal Alerts
BlackBerry releases Priv Emulator for developers
With the physical keyboard kind of having gone the way of the Tamagotchi and the summer jams mixtape, the BlackBerry Priv is setting itself apart by featuring a full qwerty keyboard. Now developers can take this hardware into full consideration, because BlackBerry has just released a Priv emulator.
The emulator runs best with the most recent version of Android Studio and with SDK tools matching the version of Android currently running on the Priv. In addition to simulating the physical keyboard, the emulator also gives developers access to the power and volume buttons. This is done by adding a Blackberry Priv skin to the Android Virtual Device Manager in Android Studio.
See also: BlackBerry Priv: Wireless charging or not? (Updated)
You can download the Priv skin files from BlackBerry. Once they’re downloaded, place the skin in the SDK and run Android Studio. Once you’ve imported the new hardware profile, you’ll be ready to test out the BlackBerry Priv and take full advantage of its physical keyboard.
The BlackBerry Priv is the first BlackBerry device to use the Android operating system. The company adopted the OS after a decrease in the number of available apps for BlackBerry devices led to a significant number of their customers leaving for other brands. BlackBerry hopes to recapture their previous user base with the Priv’s physical keyboard. This emulator should be a solid step in the right direction to encourage developers to engage the Priv’s hardware in a serious way.
Renders of the BlackBerry Vienna leak out; is another Android-powered BlackBerry device on its way?
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
The BlackBerry Priv is starting to make its way into the hands of eager customers and the early indications say that it’s not a half bad first effort from BlackBerry. Sure, the privacy features aren’t exactly all they were cooked up to be, but for the most part, the device is a pretty decent Android flagship. It doesn’t appear that BlackBerry is done with Android either, with new renders of what appear to be another Android-powered device, this time codenamed the BlackBerry Vienna (the Priv was codenamed ‘Venice’).
Unlike the Priv, the Vienna appears to have a permanent QWERTY keyboard that can’t be hidden via a slide, and the on-screen home keys have turned into actual buttons. While we’re assuming that BlackBerry would keep the same capacitive technology that allows the keyboard to be used as a scroll button, it’s definitely not a look that many Android users will be used to. All the same, we do applaud BlackBerry for sticking to their guns and using their own formulas rather than defaulting to what everyone is used to.
What do you think about the BlackBerry Vienna? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: CrackBerry via Droid-life
The post Renders of the BlackBerry Vienna leak out; is another Android-powered BlackBerry device on its way? appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
BlackBerry Vienna: company’s second Android phone shows up in leaked image
We never thought BlackBerry would be so enthusiastic about releasing Android phones. CEO John Chen recently mentioned there were other Google-powered handsets in the works, and now we are seeing the first images of what could be the next BlackBerry Android handset.
This image comes from renown BlackBerry fan site CrackBerry.com, which has gotten a hold of every possible angle of what is said to be an upcoming BlackBerry Vienna. We haven’t even gotten over the BlackBerry Priv craze, but we know that phone is not exactly for everyone.
This purported Vienna shots display the phone in multiple colors (white, blue, black and red), as well as a keyboard that looks very similar to the Priv’s, but has no sliding mechanism. This keyboard one looks to be always present, which some of you might prefer.
Aside from the obvious characteristics we can catch from the visuals, there’s not much to go on from this leaks. No specs or additional features were revealed, but you can be sure more details will come soon. BlackBerry has never been the best at hiding secrets, after all (which is pretty ironic considering they are known for security and privacy).
Be aware that we can’t exactly confirm the validity of this image quite yet, regardless of how credible of a website CrackBerry is. Not even they seem to be completely sure about their source, as it is claimed the images came from the website’s “tip line”, and nothing about the insider is mentioned. Regardless, the images are not crappy enough to discard, and the naming scheme goes along with what seems to be BlackBerry’s code-naming scheme for Android handsets (the Priv was previously known as the ‘Venice’).
We’ll have to wait for more evidence, but be sure to hit the comments and let us know what you think of a design like this one. I happen to be a bigger fan of the slider form-factor – would you agree?
BlackBerry’s second Android phone might look like this
BlackBerry is reportedly working on another Android phone after the Priv, and CrackBerry has gotten its hands on renders of what it could look like. The publication calls it “codename Vienna,” and if these images do indeed depict its final form, then the device is dropping the Priv’s slide-out keyboard for BB’s typical candybar form, with a large screen and a textured body. This could just be an early design, though, and the phone might end up looking like something else entirely. Nothing’s certain at this point other than what BlackBerry has confirmed: it’s developing a range of new products, so expect to see more devices fresh out of the company formerly known as RIM.
[Image credit: CrackBerry]
Source: CrackBerry
Is BlackBerry already preparing its next Android phone?
BlackBerry might not stop at just one Android phone. Right on the heels of the Priv, BlackBerry is seemingly preparing another Android phone. This one, codenamed Vienna, has an always-present physical keyboard that really resembles any classic device produced by the Waterloo-based company. The Priv is different in that its physical keyboard is only accessible when sliding the display upward.
Wanted BlackBerry to go all-touchscreen? Keep waiting!
CrackBerry is the publication reporting the Vienna’s existence, noting that it “ditches the Priv’s slider in favor of the iconic BlackBerry layout” with a physical keyboard that “looks to be of the same size and design as that of the Priv’s.” But they do caution that it’s hard to be certain about the keyboard’s size. What we can tell for sure from the renders above is that BlackBerry is exploring silver, navy blue, dark green, and burnt orange colors for the Vienna. The Priv is currently offers in black only.
The Vienna, if released, will be tasked with assisting the Priv in getting BlackBerry to reach its goal of selling five million units annually. BlackBerry caved and officially revealed the Priv’s identity after numerous leaks took the honor away. Everyone at BlackBerry is probably hoping this is the first and last time we hear of the Vienna unofficially. Let’s just say they better act quickly and decide whether or not this phone is going to be on the market. Leaks wait for no one.
Source: CrackBerry
Come comment on this article: Is BlackBerry already preparing its next Android phone?
The mobile world’s walls are crumbling
Ponder the photo you see above for a moment. Yes, that’s Apple Music running on a BlackBerry phone powered by Android — products from three mobile rivals working in harmony. The very concept of this would have been outlandish just a year ago, let alone a few years earlier when these companies were at each other’s throats. This is the best sign yet that some of the walls in mobile tech are finally tumbling down. Companies are realizing that they sometimes have to play nicely with each other if they want to succeed… and that’s good for everyone.
The BlackBerry Priv is no Fire Phone
As previously reported, sales of the BlackBerry Priv have been nothing but hot. Orders have already been backed-up weeks on the company’s website. And now just yesterday, Amazon orders for the Android-flavored handset when from full stock to empty in only a few hours.
Prior to the launch of the BlackBerry Priv, many believed the sales would closely resemble those of Amazon’s Fire Phone. Well, think again. Priv orders have been off to a hot start, perhaps even better than the company themself believed it would. The listing on Amazon was for an unlocked version of the Priv held at $699, the same cost as buying directly from BlackBerry. Only hours later, all were gone. For now, your best bet is to wait on the carriers if you want to get hold of one. If this sales momentum continues, we may see more Android-powered BlackBerrys by the end of the year. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Source: BerryReview
Come comment on this article: The BlackBerry Priv is no Fire Phone
Get the Blackberry Priv wallpapers and APK files to transform your current device
The Blackberry Priv is turning heads everywhere for smartphone users. With this Blackberry’s first foray into Android, while keeping the physical keyboard that many of us loved or at least used, back in the day, it’s an interesting device to consider if you’re in the market. Now, there are those of us out there who like the concept of what Blackberry’s doing, but don’t want to shell out the dough, or use a Jump! to get this device.
So instead of having to jump to another device, an awesome user on the XDA Forums has extracted all the APK files you would need to transform your current Android device. The thread that can be found here, has all the files you need, from the keyboard, to the launcher, and Blackberry Hub. Also included when you download Blackberry’s new Android launcher, are all the wallpapers that will be pre-packaged with the Priv, and we all love new wallpapers.
Personally, I have a little bit of experience with Blackberry OS from my days with the Blackberry Z10, so there’s some familiarity there. The keyboard, is awesome, and while we haven’t completely jumped into the Launcher yet, it seems pretty intuitive for the most part.
The Blackberry keyboard is a fairly different from most, if not all, third-party keyboards that you’ll find on the market. The keyboard that can be compared to Blackberry’s rendition is Fleksy, and there are a few reasons why. The first being that there’s no swype gestures, so you can’t just slide your fingers from letter to letter. Instead you’ll have to use your keyboard in the archaic fashion, typing each letter you want.
This is where the next similarity to Fleksy comes into play. The gestures. As you type, there will be words that hover over the various keys on your keyboard. For example, if you start typing “Hello”, the keyboard will recognize what you’re typing, and a simple swipe up on the “L”, will complete the word for you. As the Blackberry keyboard learns more about you r tendencies, the more accurate the predictions will become.
When you first take a glance at Blackberry’s keyboard, you’ll think that you can just hit that “?123” key to switch to your symbols and such. However, there’s another gesture that can be used to navigate the keyboard quickly. Swipe down on the keyboard and you’ll transition to the three different screens available within the keyboard; the main keyboard, numbers and basic symbols, and more symbols.
Holding down the keys across the top row, won’t bring up the option to enter a number, instead, you’ll have to switch the keyboard. However, in lieu of entering the numbers, you are able to enter special characters or capitalized letters, if need be.
There’s nothing really revolutionary about what Blackberry is bringing to the Priv, but it’s more of making the device a familiar friend for those coming from Blackberry OS. We’ll be sure to jump into the Blackberry launcher more in-depth here in the next few days, but the first indications are that it seems to be a pretty functional launcher-replacement, with some unexpected features that aren’t found in stock launchers.
If you’re interested in jumping on the Blackberry train, head over to XDA and download the files that you’ll need. Just as a reminder, there are APK’s that cannot be installed without root access, so be careful when attempting to give yourself the true Blackberry experience on your device of choice.
Additionally, these files will NOT work if your device is running anything below Android 5.0. So if you’re on Android KitKat, you’ll be out of luck and will run into errors when trying to install these files on your devices.
Source: XDA-Developers
The post Get the Blackberry Priv wallpapers and APK files to transform your current device appeared first on AndroidGuys.
BlackBerry Priv shows up on Amazon for $699.99… even if only for a bit
The BlackBerry Priv has a lot of us going nuts over that sweet, sweet keyboard. The only issue is not all of us can enjoy it quite yet. It’s now on AT&T, BlackBerry’s website and some other retailers, but we know some of you prefer sticking to Amazon, which wasn’t an option until today. Well… at least it was for a while.
BlackBerry‘s first Android smartphone showed up on Amazon today, tagged with a $699 price, which just so happens to be the same price you can get it for elsewhere. The benefit here is that the phone is completely unlocked, so you can use it with whichever carrier of your preference. Oh, and Amazon Prime member get that awesome free 2-day shipping!
More BlackBerry articles
- It’s official: Android-powered BlackBerry Priv coming this year
- I’m excited about the BlackBerry Venice, are you?
- BlackBerry Priv: wireless charging or not?
What’s the issue? Well, the phone became “currently unavailable” very quickly after it went online. Not so private after all, huh? But it sure seems to be a privilege to own it. Are people busting through digital doors to get the Priv? Is there simply not enough devices to meet demand? It’s hard to tell at this point, but at the very least we know Amazon is on board with the keyboard-clad handset.
Just in case you need a memory refresher, the BlackBerry Priv has everything most users could need in a smartphone. Aside from the iconic design, solif build quality and amazing keyboard, this phone sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, an 18 MP rear camera, a 2 MP front shooter and a generous 3410 mAh battery.
Keep in mind there is also a Verizon version in the works, so this phone will be everywhere very soon. There’s nothing like buying it unlocked, with no compromises, though. Is Amazon your retailer of choice?
AIVAnet 