Archive

Google Issues Updates to Play Music, Keyboard, Drive, Sheets, Gmail, and Play Services (Update: Newer GPS Version)

Google Issues Updates to Play Music, Keyboard, Drive, Sheets, Gmail, and Play Services (Update: Newer GPS Version)

June 30, 2014
Update: As it turns out, a new version of Google Play Services rolled out while we were compiling this post. We've added the appropriate links down at the bottom of this page. ___ It's not quite (Google Update) Wednesday just yet, but we've got a bunch of Google first party app updates to share with you today....
[OTA Captured] Moto G GPe Gets Its Share of the Official Android 4.4.4 Goods

[OTA Captured] Moto G GPe Gets Its Share of the Official Android 4.4.4 Goods

June 30, 2014
Towards the tail end of last week, we saw several Google Play edition devices receive their official updates to Android 4.4.4. This started with and update for the LG G Pad 8.3 GPe, and continued with an update to the Sony Z Ultra GPe, which itself followed the update for the non-GPe variant. Now, the...
Leaked HTC Update Roadmap Shows Android 4.4.4 Rollout Starting in July, Android L Under Evaluation

Leaked HTC Update Roadmap Shows Android 4.4.4 Rollout Starting in July, Android L Under Evaluation

June 29, 2014
While quite a few of us here on XDA have long since forgotten about OEM firmwares and updates in favor of aftermarket development efforts, many still prefer the additional value-added features found in stock-based ROMs. And for those who remain on stock or stock-derived firmware, it's always nice to have an idea about upcoming Android releases. Thanks to famed...
Get Your Android L Fix with a Comprehensive Android L Theme

Get Your Android L Fix with a Comprehensive Android L Theme

June 29, 2014
This past week was quite a frenzy for Android fans, with Google I/O bringing a number of announcements regarding Android and its expansion to our wrists, cars, and living rooms. Perhaps the most significant was Google's unveiling of Android L. The L release is slated to bring a rather significant departure in the Android UI, taking us from...
Google to Take Back Platform Control with Android Wear, Auto, and TV–That’s a Good Thing, But Questions Remain

Google to Take Back Platform Control with Android Wear, Auto, and TV–That’s a Good Thing, But Questions Remain

June 29, 2014
Android OEM customizations like Samsung TouchWiz and HTC Sense are undoubtedly a love-it-or-hate-it affair. There are certainly users out there who care for the added features that these skins introduce. But on the other side of the coin, there are more than a fair share of users who despise the aesthetic nightmares found in some skins. What's more,...
Forums Added for the LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live, and Asus Padfone X

Forums Added for the LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live, and Asus Padfone X

June 29, 2014
Last week at the I/O 2014 opening keynote, Google formally unveiled the first two Android Wear smartwatches: the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live. We recently added forums for these two, as well as another interesting device, the Asus Padfone X. While the two smartwatches both share the same software platform, they feature fairly different hardware. The LG G Watch's 1.65"...
Learn How to Calibrate the Screen of Your Nexus 5

Learn How to Calibrate the Screen of Your Nexus 5

June 29, 2014
We all have preferences when it comes to the hardware aspects of screens on our smartphones and tablets, with some folks preferring screens that are TFT, AMOLED, or IPS. However, it's hard to argue against the fact that the Nexus 5 has a pretty fantastic 5-inch IPS display. But as part of the Nexus family, we've...
Google to Finally Do Away with QuickOffice in Favor of Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Google to Finally Do Away with QuickOffice in Favor of Docs, Sheets, and Slides

June 28, 2014
Approximately two years ago, Google acquired Quickoffice, Inc. Then about nine months ago, the QuickOffice suite was re-released as a free app in the Google Play Store. At the time, many were quick to criticize the redundancy of having editing capabilities in Google Drive, as well as a standalone office suite. Complicating matters further, Google also decided to release standalone Docs and...
Let’s the Games Begin! SlimKat and Unofficial CM11 Ported to the Moto E

Let’s the Games Begin! SlimKat and Unofficial CM11 Ported to the Moto E

June 28, 2014
The Moto G, which was released back in 2013, has seen great success. The cheap and powerful device almost immediately found its way into the pockets of many XDA users around the world. Lenovo, after purchasing Motorola, decided to release an even more budget-friendly successor, the Moto E. The Moto E's firmware is close to AOSP, but in contrast to Nexus...
Change the Look of Your Dialer and Phonebook Apps in Just Few Steps

Change the Look of Your Dialer and Phonebook Apps in Just Few Steps

June 28, 2014
Much of the Android's beauty is in the ability to change practically every part of the OS---both in terms of aesthetics and functionality. There are several ways to go about this. One way is to modify apps before compiling them from source. Another involves decompiling and editing already compiled, ready-to-use binaries. Theming your ROM is one way to...
Heads Up Let’s You Test Floating Android Notifications

Heads Up Let’s You Test Floating Android Notifications

June 27, 2014
One of the most interesting features in Android L is how it handles notifications. If you are not familiar with Heads Up notifications, this style shows you notifications such as new Emails, texts, or calls directly on your screen. It was presented in the Google I/O 2014 Keynote, and has a big role in enhancing Android's UX. We previously talked about...
Try Android L Apps on Your Device

Try Android L Apps on Your Device

June 27, 2014
Over the last few days, most of our news has been related to Android L. This upcoming upgrade is quite a big deal for all Android users. The Developer Preview has already been launched for Nexus 5 and 7 (2013), allowing users of those two devices to test drive the new OS a bit early. However, not everyone owns...