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Google Chrome for Android is dropping support for Android 4.1-4.3 Jelly Bean
The current minimum API level for Chrome is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. According to a recent commit, it will soon be bumped up to Android 4.4. KitKat.
Android apps generally have a long shelf life. While most apps these days require Android 5.0+, it's not uncommon to see apps that still support Android 4.1-4.3 Jelly Bean. One such app is Google Chrome, which is an immensely popular app that is used on all sorts of devices. Soon, however, Chrome will no longer support Android Jelly Bean.
Android Q to warn users running apps targeting Android Lollipop or older
Android Q may warn users that try to run apps that target Android Lollipop or earlier. Android Pie warns on apps targeting Android Jelly Bean or earlier.
It's usually in the best interests of a developer to update their apps to support the latest Android platform features. Each new Android versions offers new APIs and features that earlier versions of Android don't offer. However, each new Android version also adds new restrictions to what apps can do, which some application developers aren't a fan of. For example, many apps avoided bumping their target API level to Android Marshmallow or later so they could avoid having to implement runtime permissions. Google finally started to crack down on this behavior with new restrictions imposed on apps uploaded and updated to the Google Play Store, but they also added a warning in Android Pie to shame apps that still haven't updated past Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. According to a recent commit in the Android Open Source Project, it seems that Android Q will warn users if the app they're running targets Android 5.1 Lollipop or earlier.
The History of Printing on Android and how the Mopria Alliance made it better
Printing documents from Android devices hasn't always been a cakewalk, but it has come a long way. That's thanks in large part to the Mopria Alliance, which worked with Google to implement core printing technologies in Android 8.0 Oreo.
Prior to the debut of Android 8.0 Oreo's Default Print Service, printing documents on Android was easier said than done. Google's mobile operating system didn't gain native printer support until Android 4.4 KitKat, and with the exception of third-party solutions from the likes of Samsung, setting up a printer required vendor-specific plugins and drivers. But thanks to the Mopria Alliance, a consortium of smartphone and printer manufacturers, Android's compatibility with printers has improved by leaps and bounds. Android Oreo supports an astounding 97 percent of the printers on the market—over 100 million—plus features such as duplex printing, Wi-Fi Direct printing, orientation, and paper size adjustment.
Recently, we reported that Nova Launcher developers found a way to add a Google Now Panel in their launcher, without root. With a few simple steps, you can have the same functionality on KitKat devices.
Remove Bloatware from Your Android Device - XDA TV
Just about every phone comes with unwanted programs installed. In this video we show you how to block these bloatware programs from running on your Android.
Carriers and manufacturers sometimes have the nasty habit of installing apps at the factory. These apps are claimed to be useful and helpful. However, why do I need Verizon's Navigation app when Google Maps is already installed? Why do I need Samsung's Mail app to check my Gmail? Android already comes with a much nicer Gmail app.
How to Install and Use MultiROM - XDA TV
Today we talk about MultiROM. Which is an unique customization for Android that lets you select which of many ROMs you have installed that you want to run.
The great thing about XDA is you can find all these great custom ROMs. There are so many in fact that sometimes you want to have access to a couple so you can change depending on your mood. And while you can just flash those everytime, what if there was an easier way?
Enable Call Recording on Xperia Z2 and Z3
Sony hidden the call recording feature in its firmware. Learn how to bring it back on rooted phones.
Call recording, while not legal in every part of the world, is quite handy in certain situations. Some OEMs have decided to implement call recording into their default Phone applications, and sometimes hide it. There are ways to enable the feature, if it's there but hidden, through Xposed Framewok modules or other apps.
Effectively Optimize Your Media Scanner Service with Xposed
This Xposed module helps you effectively optimize the Media Scanner service on your device.
Typically, all media files housed on your external storage are scanned upon boot. The service that does that is called Media Scanner, which saves its output in Media Store. Android's developers have tried hard to optimize it, but Media Scanner is still a service that drains battery quite effectively for the first few minutes following a reboot.
Add NTFS Support to Your Android Device
Android lacks native NTFS support. Change this with just few clicks using this handy GUI Windows tool.
Over the last few years, Android has become quite a complete mobile operating system. Numerous features and its open source nature make it an even more attractive choice both to developers and casual end users. Despite the overall greatness of the OS, there is still a little room for improvements--a fact that was demonstrated clearly with the awesomeness that is Android Lollipop and all of its new goodies!
Wave and Wave II Get Functional OmniROM!
Want to try Android instead of Bada on your Wave/Wave II? Give the latest OmniROM build a shot, as it might the perfect daily driver for your device.
Running Android on a device that was never supposed to support the OS is quite a challenge. But even when you've got that part working, those last ten percent is often the most challenging. This has been exactly the case for the BadaDroid project, which aims to bring Android to Bada (a lesser known OS released by Samsung for their Wave series, for which development stopped in 2013 after it was replaced by its successor, Tizen). We've actually seen the project develop slowly over the last two years, and it's always great to see it progressing further.
Best 3 Pro Camera Apps - XDA TV
In today's video we review three pro camera apps for your Android device. These apps are more than just simple photo shooters! Check it out!
There are many Camera apps available for Android, some free, some not so free. Sometimes though you want more than just a standard camera app. The sensors are good enough on most devices now days that with the right app, you can do some pretty significant adjustments to your photos. The apps we cover today won't make you Annie Leibovitz or Ansel Adams, but if you know to turn your phone into landscape mode before you take a picture, these may be of interest to you.
How to Factory Reset and Unroot a Nexus Device - XDA TV
On this episode of XDA TV we use the WugFresh Nexus Toolkit to Unroot and Factory Reset a Nexus Device! Check it out!
If you spend any amount of time reading or hanging out in the XDA Developers Forums, you will hear people talking about bricking the device. They warn you to be careful because doing this wrong could brick your device. The rumors of the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 are swirling. With a Google event in the coming weeks, many people predict these devices will be announced. Of course the best part about Nexus devices is the ability to easily unlock their bootloaders. This allows you to root, unlock and install custom recoveries, so you can modify and test the Nexus devices to your heart's content.
Device Review: Blackphone BP1
The Blackphone puts you in charge of your information. At least that's the claim. Is the Blackphone BP1 a good secure phone or a paranoid persons folly?
When you hear about a phone that is secure and has the means to be give you control over your personal data, an Android device might not the first thing that comes to mind. Two companies, Geeksphone and Silent Circle, are working together to get you to associate PrivatOS (a customized version of Android 4.4.2) with security features. These are security features that you normally have to root your device in order to have.
3 Unique Launchers from the XDA Forums - XDA TV
In this video Jared finds 3 Unique Launchers from the XDA Forums. Check out this video to see his finds.
There are many Launchers available for Android. There are very popular ones, like Nova Launcher. However, just because something is popular, doesn’t mean it’s the best. Each person’s preference is different as well.
How to Unlock the Motorola Moto 360 Smartwatch Bootloader - XDA TV
Check out this Video to Learn how to unlock the bootloader of your Android Wear-powered moto 360 smartwatch
Android Wear now has three different devices in it's camp. The round moto 360 is the latest smartwatch to hit the market. Of course as we like to do here on we want to unlock and root this device. However, given it's wireless sync and charging feature its not as simple as it sounds. But, a way has been found!
How to Be a Good Custom ROM or Kernel User - XDA TV
Listen, we understand, starting down the path of device hacking, customization and development can be daunting. This video gives you some tips to survive.
Listen, we understand, starting down the path of device hacking, customization and development can be daunting. The experienced guys at time can seem like jerks. However, most of the time, its not that they want to be jerks, its that they know that the journey to Android customization enlightenment is filled with trials and tribulations that help you learn and become an expert yourself. It's almost more about the journey than the destination.
Android App Review: Chromecast Screen Cast at 1080p – XDA Developer TV
Chromecast now has screen mirroring, but it doesn't always provide the best resolution, This app will solve those issues, so check out this video!
For a while now, the Google Chromecast has had the ability of the cast your screen from your mobile device. However, must TV are 1080p or 720p. With Chromecast picking whatever resolution it wants it may not make full use of your TVs functionality. If the right resolution was picked, your Chromecast mirroring could be so much better.
Samsung Galaxy S III Receives a KitKat Update in Official and Unofficial Flavors
Samsung Galaxy S III gets a KitKat update: official version for Korean variant and unofficial for the international one.
A few months ago, Samsung decided not to update the Samsung Galaxy S III to the latest version of Android. The reason of this shameless behavior was pretty trivial since they were having issues with TouchWiz and its bloat-related heaviness. The international variant of S III has only 1 GB of RAM and we have seen KitKat ports running flawlessly on devices with 512 MB of RAM.
How to Change Your Boot Animation - Android Basics 101 - XDA Developer TV
Check out this video to learn how to change your rooted Android device's boot animation.
The great thing about Android is the vast possibilities when it comes to customization. When you root, you open up even more options for customization. One of those options is changing your boot animation. Why have the same stock boot animation as everyone else? You can find a vast selection of custom boot animations from simple graphic animations to animations that make your phone feel retro or pay homage to another device like a Playstation 2.
Change the Style of Your Notifications with HeadsUp
HeadsUp application changes the way notifications are displayed in an aesthetically appealing and very functional way!
Head Up notifications is one of these upcoming features that Android developers hid deep in the Android KitKat source code. It was discovered by the custom ROM community not too long ago, and nearly simultaneously ported to the majority of popular ROMs. This method of notifications has also been introduced as a standalone application and an Xposed Framework module.