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Unofficial LineageOS 14.1 brings Android 7.1 Nougat to the 7th gen Amazon Fire HD 10
The 7th gen Amazon Fire HD 10 has received some love with an unofficial LineageOS 14.1 build based on Android 7.1 Nougat. Download it for the device now!
The beauty of the XDA development community is how passionate it can be. We are constantly impressed by some of the feats pulled off by developers in our community, allowing users to break free from the burdens imposed by some OEMs to make their device truly theirs. Amazon has become one of the most restrictive OEMs in this regard. Their Fire devices don't really run Android in the traditional sense, rather, their devices run Amazon's heavily customized Fire OS. It might be based on Android, but it barely resembles it. The OS in the 7th gen Amazon Fire HD 10 is actually based on Android 5.1 Lollipop, which is a very old version of Android that's starting to become deprecated by some developers.
MIUI 10 Global Stable finally rolls out for the Xiaomi Redmi Y1/Redmi Note 5A Prime and Redmi Y1 Lite/Redmi Note 5A
MIUI 10 Global Stable is finally rolling out for the Xiaomi Redmi Y1 (Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime) and Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite (Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A).
Xiaomi releases a ton of smartphones each year, often bringing existing smartphones released in China into new markets under a different brand name. That's exactly what happened with the budget Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A and Redmi Note 5A Prime smartphones, which were released in India in late 2017 as the Redmi Y1 Lite and Redmi Y1 respectively. Xiaomi launched the Redmi Y1 smartphones with Android 7.1 Nougat-based MIUI 9, but promised users that they would deliver a MIUI 10 update. After a long delay to fix some "critical issues", the MIUI 10 Global Stable update is finally rolling out for these devices.
How an Anime Game's Root Detection led to the discovery of a Security Vulnerability in phones from LG, OnePlus, Huawei, Xiaomi, and others
Smartphones from several manufacturers like LG, OnePlus, Huawei, Xiaomi have been found to leak the process information of apps. Here's what that means.
The mobile Android operating system is used on over 2 billion devices each month by both regular consumers and tech enthusiasts. Although the number of people who unlock the bootloader and root their smartphones is relatively small when compared to the overall population of Android users, there's still a lot of us out there on forums like XDA and Reddit. Magisk is an indispensable tool for the tinkering community. It provides systemless root access and has tools like MagiskHide to enable rooted users to continue using the apps, games, and services they enjoy without restrictions. However, a popular Anime game has been cleverly abusing a system security vulnerability to bypass Magisk's anti-root detection. Here's how that works and which devices are affected by this security vulnerability.
Fairphone 2 is the first and only Snapdragon 801 phone to get Android Nougat
The Fairphone 2 just received Android Nougat, which wouldn't be exciting, except for the fact it's the only Snapdragon 801 device to do so.
Android Nougat is not the headline-grabbing OS it used to be. We've moved on to Android Oreo and Android Pie, but some devices are still lagging behind. The Fairphone 2 just received Android Nougat, which wouldn't be exciting, except for the fact it's the only Snapdragon 801 device to do so.
Download Google Pixel 3 Live Wallpapers Ported for Android 6.0+
Do you want the Google Pixel 3 Live Wallpapers but you don't have Android Pie? No worries, download a port of the Pixel 3 Live Wallpapers for Android 6.0+!
Earlier today, the official Google Pixel 3 wallpapers leaked online along with the Pixel Wallpapers app containing the new Live Wallpapers. While the high-quality still images of the live wallpapers are nice, what people really want are the new Google Pixel 3 Live Wallpapers. The few users who could install the leaked Live Wallpapers APK discovered that some of the wallpapers appeared on the Always on Display on their Google Pixel 2, but most users can't install it because the APK requires an Android Pie device. Now, XDA Recognized Developer Pranav Pandey has ported the Pixel 3 Live Wallpapers app so it'll work on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and later.
Download: Samsung Internet 9.0 brings major redesign to the web browser
Samsung Internet 9.0 will launch with Samsung Experience 10.0 based on Android Pie. We managed to pull the APK so you can download and install it now!
It might not be the juggernaut that is Google Chrome, but Samsung Internet has gained a dedicated following thanks to the extra features that it offers on top of Google's browser. Just recently we reported on the new Samsung Internet 8.2 beta that brought features like parallel downloading for faster file downloads and Do Not Track mode. In the first Samsung Experience 10.0 build based on Android Pie for the Samsung Galaxy S9+ that we found, we were able to get an even newer version of Samsung Internet. Samsung Internet 9.0 brings a major redesign to the browser with the new rounded corner UI found in Samsung Experience 10.
Amazon's new Fire HD 8 tablets have hands-free Alexa and ship with Fire OS 6 (Android Nougat)
The latest generation of the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet was announced today with minor updates. The tablet is shipping with Fire OS 6 and Alexa.
Amazon's Fire tablets are some of the most popular Android tablets in the world. While the OS looks nothing like what you'd find on an Android phone, it is indeed Android. The latest generation of the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet was announced today with minor updates. The tablet is shipping with Fire OS 6, which is based on Android Nougat, and was originally launched on the Fire TV.
Android version distribution updated for August with no sign of Android Pie
Google has just updated the Android distribution chart and revealed that Android Oreo is now installed on 14.6% of Android devices. Android Pie is MIA!
It's that time of the month when Google updates the Android version distribution chart. It was last updated at the end of July when we found out that 12.1% of Android phones ran on Android 8.0 Oreo. Unfortunately, the updated statistics aren't that exciting. Since the last update, we now have a new version of Android to track, Android Pie (Android 9), which has not reached enough devices to make a dent in the numbers. Here are the updated percentages:
Does Android's volume dialog take 20 seconds to dismiss? Here's why that happens.
Have you noticed that the volume dialog on your Android takes 20 seconds to disappear, unless you tap on the screen manually? Here's why that happens.
Have you noticed that the volume dialog that appears when you press the volume buttons takes a bit too long to disappear on its own? When you first got your Android phone, the volume dialog would automatically dismiss after a few seconds without your intervention. Then, sometime in the past few days, weeks, or months, it would take a long time to go away unless you tapped on your screen. If you're experiencing this problem and it infuriates you, you're not alone.
Substratum Hub
Substratum is a theming tool that can apply system-wide themes with or without root. This is a hub for everything you need to know about Substratum.
If you're interested in giving your Android phone a brand new look, there are few tools as powerful as Substratum. With just a few simple steps, you can completely change the look of the UI on your device. This hub has everything you need to get started with Substratum.
How to check if your Android phone is powerful enough to run Fortnite Mobile
Are you wondering if your Android smartphone or tablet is powerful enough to run Fortnite Mobile? We have the detailed hardware compatibility list to check!
Fortnite, the massively popular free-to-play battle royale game, is coming soon to Android. Epic Games said the game would launch this summer but we now know that the game will likely launch as an exclusive on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. It won't be on the Google Play Store (but possibly on Samsung Galaxy Apps) as the game will be distributed from Epic Games' website. If you're wondering whether your Android smartphone or tablet is powerful enough to run Fortnite Mobile on Android, we have put together a comprehensive list of software and hardware requirements based on a configuration file we obtained from a leaked build of the Android app.
Sony Xperia XZ2's full theme engine ported to older Xperia devices
The Sony Xperia XZ2's full theme engine has been ported to older Xperia devices. Check it out here and see if your device is compatible.
The Sony Xperia XZ2's theme engine was one of the best available on Android phones. As part of stock on Marshmallow or Nougat on older Xperia devices, you could theme nearly everything. When the Android Oreo update came, though, many of these older devices lost their theming abilities. Only the wallpapers, accent, and home launcher were able to be themed. That's in comparison to what was previously possible, which was basically the full SystemUI. However, on the Sony Xperia XZ2, Sony brought back this complete theming functionality. Thanks to XDA Recognised Developer/Themer niaboc79, you can now re-activate this lost functionality on older Xperia devices.
Blob emojis are back as sticker packs in Gboard & Android Messages
Google is now bringing back the fan-favorite blob emoji (a.k.a. blobmoji) as a sticker pack in Gboard and Android Messages.
One of the biggest casualties with the Android Oreo update was Google's infamous blob emoji (a.k.a. "blobmoji"). The update introduced a redesigned emoji pack with more traditional round faces. Many of the fan-favorite critters were updated as well. Some people were happy to see the blobs get the ax, but a lot of Android users are still upset. Google is now bringing them back as a sticker pack in Gboard and Android Messages.
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.
Android P will finally restrict apps from monitoring your network activity
Android has long allowed apps the ability to monitor network activity on the device. This could be exploited by attackers for malicious purposes. Thanks to a recent change, this will no longer be allowed.
A years-old privacy flaw will finally be coming to an end on Android. It's an issue you've probably never heard of, but one that you should absolutely be concerned about. Currently, apps on Android can gain full access to the network activity on your device—even without asking for any sensitive permissions. These apps can't detect the content of your network calls, but they can sniff any outgoing or incoming connection via TCP/UDP to determine if you are connecting to a certain server. For instance, an app can detect when another app on your device connects to a financial institution's server. Don't believe me? Just download one of the many netstat apps on the Play Store and see for yourself.
Get a dark theme for Sony devices running Nougat with Substratum
Graphi is a dark Substratum theme that gives you the ability to choose the background and accent color you like the most. It has been personally tested by this developer on the Xperia Z5 on Nougat.
Substratum is the current go-to theme engine of choice for the majority of the Android enthusiasts within the community. It offers a robust platform for designers who want use their talents to customize the look and feel of both the Android operating system as well as individual applications. Different smartphone OEMs implement certain features that designers can include in their themes to offer complete support for certain devices. XDA Senior Member balrajs99 wanted to do this for Sony devices that are currently running Android 7.x Nougat, so they released a Substratum theme called Graphi.
Android x86 7.1 R1 Brings Android 7.1 Nougat to Desktop PCs
Android x86 7.1 R1 has been released, bringing a stable port of Android 7.1 Nougat. It can be installed on x86 Windows PCs and Mac computers, and it comes in 32-bit and 64-bit ISO and rpm formats.
The Android x86 project aims to port Android to x86-based Windows PCs and Mac computers. It's a full port of Android, instead of being more of an application player like other solutions. The last release of Android x86 brought a stable port of Android 6.0 Marshmallow back in September 2016, letting desktop users experience the Google Play Store, run Android apps, work with ADB, and more. Now, 7.1 R1 of the Android x86 project is available and it brings full Android 7.1 Nougat to x86 computers.
Xiaomi Mi A1 Utilizes Android Nougat's A/B Partitioning to Provide Seamless Updates
The new Xiaomi Mi A1 is one of those rare devices that utilizes Android Nougats A/B partition layout to provide seamless updates. Read on to know more!
The new Xiaomi Android One device, the Mi A1, is turning out to be a very interesting device. This is the first device from Xiaomi that does not run MIUI out of the box. Instead, the device runs stock Android with Google Apps and a few Xiaomi add-ons, providing a Pixel-like experience at a price range and hardware package that ordinarily should not expect the same.
Hide Quick Settings Tiles on the Lock Screen Automatically [App]
An app to hide quick settings tiles on the lock screen. Disable sensitive tiles such as WiFi, Airplane Mode, Location, and more on the lock screen!
Google introduced Quick Settings tiles to Android with Android 5.0 Lollipop (though it should be noted that this feature was available on Samsung phones before it made its way to AOSP). With Quick Settings, users can access many useful system toggles such as a WiFi, Bluetooth, Location, GPS, or Sound toggle without having to navigate through the Settings app. And with the Quick Settings Tiles API introduced in Android 7.0 Nougat, developers can even add their own custom tiles. When creating a new tile, developers can specify whether or not the tile can be toggled directly from the lock screen, but many default tiles do not implement this feature. If you are looking for a way to disable or hide quick settings tiles on the lock screen, I've made a simple, free app that you can use to do just that.
HTC 10 and HTC One A9 Android 7.0 Nougat Kernel Source Code Released
The Android 7.0 Nougat kernel source code for the HTC 10 and HTC One A9 have finally been released, paving the way for AOSP-based custom ROMs.
HTC just announced that they have published the Android 7.0 kernel source code for the HTC 10 and the HTC One A9. These newly published sets of kernel source code will go a long way towards helping with the development of Android 7.0, AOSP-based custom ROMs for these devices.