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
The post Nat and Lo make a video about “A brief history of Android easter eggs” appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
To brighten your day: Night Mode elements uncovered in Android 6.0
The Dark color theme (seen here, from Android M’s first Developer Preview) was a very cool addition that was sadly removed later.
Although Android 4.0 made use of a dark color scheme to handle menus and settings, 5.0 saw a complete visual overhaul that extended to the color pallet as well: everything became bright white. Personal preferences aside, the new coat of paint irked more than a few users, but especially those with an AMOLED-packing device. Earlier this year when Google launched the Developer Preview of Android M, some eagle-eyed users were quick to spot a new option: Hidden away in the Developer Options settings tab was the ability to select either a Light or Dark theme for the OS skin.
Unfortunately, as the Developer Preview builds are ultimately a work-in-progress, the feature was eventually cut, and remains absent from the “RTM” build. Enter Hernán Castañón, who was taking a peek at the source code for Marshmallow and has discovered references to a “night mode”:
At the moment it’s impossible to know just what will become of this finding, if anything at all. Google could be planning to formally introduce the feature in a future update (say, Android 6.1 perhaps) or it could be just extra code. Still, much like the “hidden” multi-tasking it’s possible that at the very least some talented people might be able to work their magic and bring on the darkness.
The idea of a night mode that would allow the OS to intelligently change the color theme depending on the time of day would definitely be a major plus for anyone who has ever tried using their phone in the middle of the night and be bathed in glowing white light. And it looks cool to boot.
Should Google have included a Dark Theme option with Android, much like it offers on the stock Android keyboard? Leave us your thoughts below.
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PSA: Google brings back one month free trial for Play Music All Access
If you’ve been yearning to try out Play Music All Access for a while now, but missed the 1-month trial promotion Google held at the beginning of the year, you’re in luck. The company has just kicked off a brand new trial period for the service, which is even available to those who’ve participated in the past.
As usual, if you don’t cancel your trial a day before it ends, it will automatically bill you the standard registration rate of $9.99 + taxes. However, cancelling is super-easy and can be done from within the mobile application. All you have to do is head into your Account settings and click the button entitled ‘Cancel Membership’.
Are you going to be taking advantage of a trial? Be sure to let us know in the comments section.
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Google updates Play Movies & TV with support for Marshmallow
Google has updated its official Play Movies & TV application for Android via the Play Store. In terms of added functionality, the upgrade carries compatibility for Marshmallow, an easier setup process for Roku boxes and makes it significantly easier to binge watch TV shows as the service now automatically plays the next episode of a series.
The full changelog can be seen below:
- Android Marshmallow support
- Bug fixes and stability improvements
- Easier setup for Roku devices
- Binge watch for TV episodes
To install the update, simply open up the Play Store, toggle the hamburger menu by swiping in from the left-hand side of the screen, select ‘My Apps’ and click on ‘Play Movies & TV’, then hit the update button. Alternatively, you can hit the link below to initiate the download on your smartphone from the Web.
Come comment on this article: Google updates Play Movies & TV with support for Marshmallow
Which T-Mobile phones will get Android 6.0 Marshmallow?
Wondering if your phone will get Android 6.0 Marshmallow? Be sure you are not alone, we’re all desperately waiting for that notification. Android fans are quick to jump on Google whenever they learn a new major update has become available from Google, and the lack of information can be rather frustrating. T-Mobile subscribers won’t have to look through multiple news sites and forums, though. Magenta is being awesome and revealing its entire upgrade plans for Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
T-Mobile’s dedicated Android 6.0 upgrade page is pretty straight forward. It shows a list of devices that will eventually get the new software. Devices are then labeled into 3 categories: Manufacturer Development, T-Mobile Testing and Completed. These pretty much describe the stage at which each phone can be found.
The list of devices to get Android 6.0 Marshmallow includes the following:
- HTC One M8
- HTC One M9
- LG G3
- LG G4
- LG G Stylo
- Nexus 5
- Nexus 6
- Nexus 7
- Nexus 9
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
- Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
- Samsung Galaxy S5
- Samsung Galaxy S6
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
As you can expect, very few of these devices are on the Completed stage at the time of this post’s publishing. Most of these are still under Manufacturer Development, essentially leaving Nexus devices alone in other categories. Most Nexi are under Completed, by the way; only the Nexus 6 is still undergoing network testing.
What a handy tool this is! T-Mobile users can just click on the button below to head over to the carrier’s Android 6.0 Marshmallow update page. Details will continue to be updated as the roll-out advances. Don’t we wish all manufacturers did this?!
See T-Mobile’s software updates page!
Also Read:
Nexus Android 6.0 Marshmallow update downloads and release info
October 5th has finally arrived and that can only mean one thing for Nexus users – it is only a matter of time before those Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates begin showing up. As it goes with every large Android iteration, Nexus devices are the first in line to get the OTA update. This doesn’t necessarily mean your handset will be upgraded soon after the release date (October 5th), though.
In fact, it can take weeks for the fluffy marshmallow treat to hit your phone, depending on which one you own. That is, unless Google happens to move quicker than usual. Regardless, the update is coming and you could sit tight and wait for the notification to hit your own Nexus gadget… or you could just grab the darn file and manually install it!
We will provide you with the file download pages below, but keep in mind manually flashing an update to your Nexus device is not a cut-and-dry procedure. It takes some tech knowledge and a few requirements. You can use our ‘How to manually install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on a Nexus device” post if you are not feeling too comfortable about it.
Just make sure to remember that tinkering with your device may harm your device or void your warranty. Do this at your own risk, make sure to do a fair amount of research and corroborate that your device is rocking the latest possible software before making this update. If you are still up for it, keep reading and grab your required files!
Editor’s note: this list will continue to be updated as more information and files emerge, so keep it tuned to this page by bookmarking it!
Galaxy Nexus
Nexus 5
- Still not available.
Nexus 6
- Still not available.
Nexus 7 WiFi (2013)
- Still not available.
Nexus 7 LTE (2013)
Nexus 9 WiFi
- Still not available.
Nexus 9 LTE
Nexus Player
- Still not available.
Google might be releasing Windows 10 apps at Microsoft’s upcoming event
Google currently offers its own selection of apps on both Android and iOS, but Microsoft’s Windows platform has been mostly absent from that list over the past few years. There are a handful of unofficial apps, some mobile websites, and plenty of alternatives on Microsoft’s store, but Google hasn’t made a serious effort to compete on Microsoft’s platform. It’s looking like that will change this year.
Rumors from an Arabic website suggest Google will be announcing Windows 10 apps for its services at Microsoft’s upcoming event, although there’s no detail on exactly which apps will be officially ported for Windows Phone. There are some safe bets, like Gmail and Hangouts and YouTube, but I think we can all hope to see Play Music and some others make their way to Microsoft’s side of the fence, too. Google does offer all of these services to Apple users, after all, and Microsoft has a pretty strong offering of apps on everyone’s mobile app store, so it’d be nice to see Google embrace the third biggest OS on the market, even if it is trailing significantly behind the first two.
Microsoft’s event kicks off tomorrow, so we won’t have to wait much longer to see how true this rumor ends up being.
source: w4phub
via: reddit
Come comment on this article: Google might be releasing Windows 10 apps at Microsoft’s upcoming event
Russia demands Google to loosen up on their preinstalled app policies
Russia is demanding that Google loosen their grip on some of Android’s policies that keep Google’s own apps and services front and center on new devices. Currently, Google requires their own apps to be displayed on a device’s home screen, but Russia considers that anti-competitive. Google will have to lax up on bundled apps on Android devices by November 18th, or they’ll have to pay up to 15% of its Russian revenue from 2014.
Google still has over a month to decide how to handle this, but don’t be surprised to see Android phones with a wide variety of new apps and widgets preloaded in Russia in the next year. Because that’s exactly what Android phones need more of.
source: Engadget
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Watch this: Inside Android’s Easter egg tradition
Google loves placing Easter eggs in its products. On Android devices, this has been a tradition since the Gingerbread days, wherein a zombie showed up on the screen after repeatedly tapping a menu’s setting. That’s still the case now, although the results have changed throughout the years to resemble the name of the platform — Android 4.1, for instance, made room for a bunch of cute, floating jelly beans that you could flick out of your sight. But what’s the story behind these Easter eggs? Now you can learn more about it thanks to Nat and Lo, a side-project started by two Google employees (Natalie and Lorraine) to give people an inside look at the company. In the video below, they sit down with Android Framework Engineer Dan Sandler, who shares some insight into Google’s long history of Android Easter eggs.
[Image credits: samthor/Flickr]
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