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Nexus 4, 5, and 9 OTA Downloads of 5.1.1
Nexus devices of all stripes are receiving OTA updates right now, but here are the files and guides you need to jump the queue and update without delay!
This month was a big one for Android 5.1.1 updates, as you can see from last week's roundup and the barrage of posts on the portal's front page in the recent past. So far we are seeing the lineup of Wear watches, the Nexus 4, Nexus 9, Nexus 10, Nexus Player, and a handfull of others slowly make their way to the latest Android. While waiting around for updates may be fine for casual users, this is XDA; we have OTA download links and we know how to use them. Read on to grab those files and patch your droids ahead of Google's sluggish timetable.
Android Wear 5.1.1 OTA Downloads
The Android Wear 5.1.1 OTA update is rolling out now, but here are the direct download links to help you skip the queue (installation guide included).
The much anticipated Wear update that brings wrist flick gestures, a new launcher, and wifi support is now rolling out to wearables far and wide, though staggered releases never come fast enough. Luckily, we have you covered with a series of direct download links for immediate consumption! The zip files for each model are still making their way to Google servers as we speak, so let the following guide serve as your always-up-to-date resource for cutting the update queue and being the first to flash the Wear 5.1.1 OTA!
PSA: Google Play Services Wakelock Affects Many 5.x ROMs
Google Play Services drains batteries with wakelocks on custom 5.x ROMs. Here are the fixes from Cyanogen and the dev community in a nice, neat roundup.
Wakelocks are the bane of the battery conscious, and this wakelock bug has been plaguing Android ROMs for a while. Yes, the issue is neither new nor unique, and it won't be resolved for good until Google steps up, but the recent launches of CyanogenMod 12 and CyanogenOS (among others) have prompted a new round of interest in the Google Play Services 7.x SystemUpdateService Wakelock bug. The good news is that CM12 saw a fix folded in yesterday, and CyanogenOS should be patched by next week. The bad? Every other ROM maker still needs to account for the newest issue, and the root cause is as buggy as ever. This is not the last time we will have this conversation, but for now let's discuss the problem, point out the patches & progress reports, and bring our battery power back to fighting shape.
New App Spotlight: Geak Camera
Geak Camera is a new app that adds eight live updating filters to your snapshots in real-time. It's in its infancy now, but oozes with potential.
Do you love adding filters to the snapshots you share on Instagram and Facebook, but wish you could see the filtered effects live while taking the shots? Senior XDA Forum member Flying Snail's new app is here to help. Geak Camera contains a pack of eight filter effects, two aspect ratios, and an intuitively minimal interface. Nothing here is inherently unique, but at only four days old this app is chock full of potential.
SkyDragon ROM: First Sense 7 ROM for the HTC One M8
Bring Lollipop and Sense 7 to your HTC One M8 with the latest build of SkyDragon ROM. Themes, smart widgets, a new Camera UI, and better battery life await!
The HTC One M8 is frequently lauded as a standout among last year's smartphone offerings, boasting a sleek metal design, and a gorgeous software experience. But with the updated UI of this year's lookalike M9 set to hit store shelves later this month, industrious XDA Forums members have been hard at work bringing the latest software advances to the phones we already own. Nowhere is this push for Lollipop and Sense 7 felt stronger than with the previously featured team behind the SkyDragon ROM for the HTC One M8.
Best Apps To View RAW Images On Android
Android Lollipop cameras can now capture RAW image DNGs, but none of our usual gallery apps can view them. Here's a rundown of the best gallery supplements.
Last week, I wrote about the best apps to unleash the raw photographic power of your Lollipop smartphone. All four of those cameras generate lossless DNG images with pounds of potential for apps like Photoshop to unlock, but what if you’re looking to edit or view those pics on the go? QuickPic, Google Photos, and the other mainstays treat raw images like they don't exist. This rundown seeks to fill the void and give you full control over your precious pictures.