Android Phone Fans |
- ASUS to release thinnest and most affordable Android Wear smartwatch this September [RUMOR]
- Download: Google Search (3.5.14) with “OK Google” with system-wide hotword detection
- Pop the champagne: the Nexus line is officially here to stay
- First look: Android Auto from Audi, Chevy, Honda and more [VIDEO]
- Hands-on: Android L running on the Nexus 5 [VIDEO]
- Latest Google Search update will allow you to use “OK Google” command on any screen
- LG G Watch vs. Samsung Gear Live [VIDEO]
- Android TV unboxing and first look: specs, pictures, and more [VIDEO]
- Audi, Volvo are among the first to commit to Android Auto vehicles
- Factory images for Android L Developer Preview now available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013)
- LG is building a Project Tango tablet to go on sale next year
- PSA: talk about all the latest Android Wear smartwatches at AndroidForums.com
- SDKs for Android L preview and Android Wear go live, factory images can’t be far behind
- Project Ara gets powered on for the first time in public
- How to check if your phone is compatible with Android Wear
| ASUS to release thinnest and most affordable Android Wear smartwatch this September [RUMOR] Posted: 26 Jun 2014 06:05 PM PDT The ever growing smartwatch market is about to get a little more crowded this year. We’ve already seen smartwatches introduced by LG, Motorola, and Samsung. Where just about every OEM is planning on releasing their take on the new Android Wear revolution, despite varying form factors, they’re all priced very close to one another (give or take a few bucks). That’s where ASUS steps in. A new report from TechCrunch suggests the manufacturer is gearing up to release an Android Wear smartwatch of their own. Its killer feature? Its price tag, looking to launch at somewhere between $100 and $150. This could very well be the most affordable Android Wear powered smartwatch arriving this year. According to the report, this ASUS smartwatch will feature an AMOLED display with @evleaks providing additional information about the smartwatch’s form factor, mentioning the wearable (codenamed Robin) is looking to be the thinnest in its category. It appears the ASUS Robin could be looking at a September release date, pitting it against the upcoming Motorola 360, as well as the soon to be released LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. HTC — where you at? |
| Download: Google Search (3.5.14) with “OK Google” with system-wide hotword detection Posted: 26 Jun 2014 05:24 PM PDT In a new update to Google Search (3.5.14), users will now be able to activate the “OK Google” hotword detection from anywhere within the OS (even the lockscreen) or even while the screen is off, providing your phone is charging. Not enabled by default, we gave you the spiel earlier today. You’ll first need to jump into your Google Settings and select Google Settings > Search & Now > Voice > "Ok Google" Detection and check "From any screen" to enable Hotword Detection from any app (even the lockscreen). If you don’t see it immediately, don’t fret. It appears this is a new feature rolling out on a per-account basis, done on the server side of things. What’s more is the 3.5.14 update also introduces the new ability for the app to “learn” your voice for better recognition, a feature recently removed from Search but making a return as “Google Audio History.” For those with Motorola devices, unfortunately it looks like the new system-wide hotword detection wont work on the Motorola Moto X, Motorola Moto G, or Motorola Moto E. Lame, we know. Oh and one more thing: Google Play Services 5.0 is also rolling out (which some suspect the hotword detection may be dependent on) and adds a crazy amount of new features including Android Wear support, new Play Games features, app indexing API, closed caption support for Chromecast, new Wallet features like split tender, and more. You’ll find more info detailed on the Android Developers blog. Should you not feel like waiting for either update to hit your device, we’ve provided a 3rd party download links below. Remember, if you don’t notice the new everywhere hotword detection, just wait for the new feature to hit your device in the coming days.
Thanks, Steven! |
| Pop the champagne: the Nexus line is officially here to stay Posted: 26 Jun 2014 04:23 PM PDT Rumors of Google killing off its Nexus line in favor of an upcoming Android Silver program have been escalating in recent months. Guess nobody told Dave Burke, the guy in charge of the Nexus program and the head of Android engineering at Google. In an interview with ReadWrite, Burke finally laid to rest those ridiculous rumors of the Nexus-line’s demise, and although he was mum on details of the Android Silver program, he made it perfectly clear Nexus wont be going anywhere.
It would then appear that, while the Android Silver program could indeed be geared toward higher-end Android devices built by Google’s hardware partners and running near stock versions of Android (similar to Google Play), these devices will be offered in carrier store, with subsidized pricing. This may have something to do with the fact that nobody wants to pay $700 upfront for a Google Play edition of a phone they can get on-contract for $100. Suddenly, Samsung holding back the Galaxy S5 Google Play edition is starting to make a lot of sense. Burke goes on to clarify Google’s reliance on actual hardware to build Android onto, and the reason we’ve seen Android development phones since the original HTC Dream. But it’s not just for Android developers, consumers too need a lower-cost, contract-free Android device, offering the purest version of Android, with updates directly from Google.
So there you have it, folks. Straight form the horses mouth. And although Burke didn’t specifically say the Nexus smartphone line was here to stay (perhaps he was talking about tablets?), we think there’s a good chance of a Nexus 6 launching with Android L later this year. Now, let the rumors begin. |
| First look: Android Auto from Audi, Chevy, Honda and more [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Jun 2014 03:20 PM PDT
While you won’t be able to get behind the wheel of an Android Auto-equipped vehicle for quite some time, Phandroid is here to give you the next best thing: an up-close and personal look at Android Auto vehicles from Google I/O. Android Auto is Google’s open platform for vehicles that gives you quick and easy access to a road-centric Android experience. Whether you’re looking for tunes for your morning commute or need directions for a cross-country trip, Android Auto will deliver it all in a very seamless way. Many of the vehicles you’ll see later this year and beyond will support voice commands so you can control music playback, look up info via Google Search, and control your maps without having to remove your hands from the steering wheel. Some of the vehicles will also have media playback controls built into the steering wheel, natch. Of course, you can always do what you need by reaching for the touch-enabled in-dash unit built into the car. The fact that it’s powered by Google Now, Google Search and the Knowledge Graph engine means the phone can predict what you want and when you want it. For instance, if you happen to go to work at 6am every morning, the car might automatically pull up the directions to your job and some nice music to listen to on the way without you having to do anything. Or perhaps you were searching for good Italian restaurants on your computer before leaving the house — Google Now will know that, and once you get into your car it will ask you if you want to go there. And just as with Google Now and Search on phones, Android Auto understands contextual conversations. Saying something like “take me to the football stadium” will likely pull up the local professional football stadium in your city and load up the directions without you having to do anything. The best part is that all of it can sync with your phone and Google account. When pairing your phone up with the car, the car gets all of its information from your phone, the apps on your phone and the accounts you’re signed in with, which means there’s no clunky login processes you have to deal with. This also means getting new apps for your car is as easy as downloading an app from Google Play to your phone. Google made it easy for developers to adapt said apps to the in-dash display, with some apps being implemented in just under two weeks according to a spokesperson we discussed with. Beyond that, the Android Auto platform gives developers the freedom to style their applications however they need (so you’ll see Spotify’s icons and green highlights within their music app, for instance). Here are just a few of the early apps Google showed off inside Android Auto cars at Google IO this year:
Android Auto doesn’t sound amazing in this day and age, but that’s because it’s simply taking what we already have the ability to do with our phones and tablets and adapting it to a road-safe experience. That’s all we’re asking for really, and it looks like Google has the right idea when it comes to creating a connected car experience that can do more than just play music and answer phone calls. It certainly gets us excited for 2015 and beyond. Watch the first look video from Google IO above and see if it does the same for you, and have a look at more of the sweet cars that will be equipped with Android Auto in the gallery sitting below.         |
| Hands-on: Android L running on the Nexus 5 [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Jun 2014 03:17 PM PDT As you may have heard, Google gave developers (and hardcore enthusiasts) the ability to preview Android L before its official release later this year. A little fastboot knowledge is all it took to flash the factory images to our Nexus 5 and while diving into the biggest Android update since Ice Cream Sandwich, we decided to provide you guys with a quick hands-on video. In the video, we show off the all new lockscreen, notification drawer, settings, dialer and recents — all of which has been redesigned beautifully to Google’s new Material design standards. Check out the video below and for those that are also playing around with the preview, let us know how it’s treating you and any new discoveries you’ve made. |
| Latest Google Search update will allow you to use “OK Google” command on any screen Posted: 26 Jun 2014 01:17 PM PDT A hot new upgrade for Google Search is starting to roll out to the masses that will bring some very nice functionality. The “OK Google” hotword that you use to initiate a voice search within Google Now or on the home-screen of a Google Experience Launcher can now be used anywhere on the phone — even if you’re in a different app or on the lock screen. There are a couple of caveats to note, unfortunately. For starters, not everyone is going to see the new options right away even if they are on the latest Google Search update (which should be 5.14). It’s said Google is enabling this option in waves and that you won’t be able to force the update — simply be patient and it should be delivered to you in due time. We’re also hearing reports that the functionality requires the latest Google Play Services update, so even if you could sideload the latest Google Search APK you’d need not only the latest Google Play Services update alongside Google flipping the switch to push the new options to your phone. That’s a lot that has to happen, but patience can go a long way so hang tight and wait for all the goods to be delivered to you proper. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] |
| LG G Watch vs. Samsung Gear Live [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Jun 2014 12:53 PM PDT Yesterday Google officially gave us a close look at Android Wear and two new smartwatches. One was expected, but the other was a complete surprise. As expected the LG G Watch was on stage for demos and went on sale later in the day. Samsung also unveiled a new smartwatch, as to not be outdone by their rival, LG. The Gear Live is also available for purchase right now. Which one is better? In terms of specs these devices are very similar. Both have rectangular displays; the G Watch is ever so slightly bigger, but the Gear Live has better resolution. Powering these devices are 1.2GHz processors and 512MB of RAM. Battery is a big concern with these devices since the display is on at all times. The G Watch edges out the Gear Live’s 300mAh battery with a 400mAh juice pack. Size is another concern for these devices. A smartwatch is on your wrist at all times; you don’t want it to be too bulky or heavy. The Gear Live is a full millimeter thinner and 4 grams lighter. However, it’s also slightly taller which could make it seem bigger on your wrist. The other things to consider when comparing these devices is the overall design. The G Watch is completely black and plastic. If someone was tasked with designing the most generic smartwatch on the planet they would come up with the LG G Watch. The Gear Live is nothing special either. Samsung clearly re-used their design for the latest Gear smartwatches It has more character than the G Watch, but it also has that cheap Samsung feel to it. The choice depends on your personal taste. The last thing we have to compare is price. The LG G Watch is available for $230 while the Samsung Gear Live is $200. What it really comes down to is which one you think looks nicer. The specs are very similar, and $30 difference in price is not major. Which smartwatch will you choose? Are you waiting for the Moto 360? Tell us why you’re choosing the G Watch or Gear Live! be sure to visit the forums to discuss either your G Watch or Gear Live with other users! |
| Android TV unboxing and first look: specs, pictures, and more [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Jun 2014 12:22 PM PDT
Say goodbye to Google TV and hello to the wonder you see us groping in the video above. Android TV is a renaissance of Google’s first stab at the smart TV market. While we won’t be seeing any consumer products until we head closer to the end of this year, developers have already been treated to units of the ADT-1, Android TV’s first development platform device. SpecsOne of the things early Google TV devices were chastised for was under-performing specs. The lackluster internals made for sluggish experiences (so much so that some of them became flat-out unusable after a while). Thankfully Google has looked to remedy that as they came out the gate strong with some pretty impressive specs:
The device is fully unlocked out of the box, natch, so Google’s inviting developers to go nuts and come up with anything they can to help get this platform ready for launch later this year. It’s far too early to tell what the result of such openness will be, but we have a feeling it won’t take long for developers to pour their heart, soul and code into these boxes. Software and FeaturesAndroid TV appears to be quite simple at its core. It takes on a lot of the same qualities Google TV had: it combines live television with internet video sources such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube to give you access to nearly anything you’d want to watch at a moment’s notice. All of that will leverage voice commands, search and Google’s Knowledge Graph to help you find what you are looking for and learn everything about it with ease. Not lost on us is the much improved user interface that presents all your content in a way that’s very pleasing to the eye, and it’s easy enough to zip around said interface thanks to the capable hardware sitting inside. Where Android TV steps things up a notch — nay, a ton — is the department of games. One of the important things they wanted to do from the starting gate was build games into the platform in a way that developers won’t even have to think about porting their wares over to the big screen. This includes integration with the Google Play Games platform for access to achievements, leaderboards and multiplayer gaming. We saw examples of gaming with controllers to give folks a console-esque experience, and with that powerful Tegra 4 chipset inside this could turn out to be a very versatile piece of equipment. Google also mentioned that the platform would have “Cast” capabilities, so the ability to beam music, movies, photos and even mirror your Android phone or tablet’s display should add a lot to the experience. Needless to say this should prove to be a much more useful, usable and exciting package than Google TV was in its infancy, and it’ll be exciting to see what future iterations bring us. PhotosIn case you were wondering how the ADT-1 and its controller looks from every angle this handy photo gallery should do the trick:                   Will you buy one?So after Google’s second (and seemingly successful) attempt at the smart TV game — will you buy one? Granted, you won’t be able to get the ADT-1, but we should see manufacturers start to push out set-top boxes and televisions with Android TV built-in by this holiday season. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! |
| Audi, Volvo are among the first to commit to Android Auto vehicles Posted: 26 Jun 2014 11:42 AM PDT Android Auto might not be a very exciting platform for vehicles, but with time it should blossom into something very interesting. Wondering which automobile manufacturers would be looking to bring their first Android Auto-equipped wheels? Volvo and Audi have both confirmed plans to bring vehicles with the platform pre-installed later this year. For Volvo, they say all their newest vehicles based on their Scalable Product Architecture will be equipped with Android Auto. The first vehicle to kick that off is the Volvo XC90 which they’ll be unveiling at the Paris Motor Show later this year. Audi didn’t exactly give us as much info as to which of their first cars would be tricked out with Android Auto, though they did tell us that we’ll be seeing goods from them in early 2015. Android Auto provides a car-friendly user interface for accessing Google Maps and Places, Search, Google Play Music and more apps that help make your life on the road easier. The platform easily hooks into a car’s media controls (if applicable), so you’ll be able to do everything you need using the buttons on your steering wheel, the in-dash display or even just using your voice. Android Auto isn’t something that’s going to revolutionize the automobile, but it is one of the first open platforms for smart car functions that we’ve seen, and it’s that openness that’s going to help Google get their platform into tons more cars going forward. There will be no shortage of manufacturers, either, with over 40 different partners forming up the initial group of the Open Automotive Alliance. Needless to say we should be hearing a lot more from many more manufacturers before the year is out. |
| Factory images for Android L Developer Preview now available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013) Posted: 26 Jun 2014 10:39 AM PDT And just like that, Google has officially released the factory images for both the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 (WiFi). For those with knowledge in these things, these factory images can be flashed to your device where you’ll be running the Android L Developer Preview in no time. Download links provided at the source below. Have fun! |
| LG is building a Project Tango tablet to go on sale next year Posted: 26 Jun 2014 10:31 AM PDT If there is a theme for day 2 of I/O it’s “crazy stuff becoming real.” Earlier today a Project Ara device was powered on for the first time, and just a little bit later Project Tango got a manufacturer. Project Tango is the tablets and smartphones equipped with cameras that allow them to see the world in 3D. Tango devices have been showed off in prototypes before, but now Google has announced a hardware partner and consumer release plan. Google is partnering with LG to build a consumer version of the Project Tango tablet. It will go on sale sometime next year. The question now becomes “what will consumers do with this technology?” Project lead Johnny Lee said “imagine if the directions to your destination didn’t stop at the front door, but to tell you exactly where to go and what to do.” Another demo showed off mapping a home to play virtual realty games. Right now this is still just a very early project, but next year it will become a reality. Are you interested in having a device with this technology? Follow along with the Day 2 live stream right here. |
| PSA: talk about all the latest Android Wear smartwatches at AndroidForums.com Posted: 26 Jun 2014 10:17 AM PDT If you’re looking for a place to talk about Google’s first batch of Android Wear smartwatches — including the LG G Watch, the Motorola Moto 360 and the newly-announced Samsung Gear Live — look no further. We have sections for the LG G Watch and Moto 360 already chock full of healthy discussion at AndroidForums.com, and the shiny new Samsung Gear Live section is live for those of you interested in that piece of wrist-bound tech. Here are just a few choice threads you might want to dig into once you make your way over there:
Looking for even more coverage? Don’t forget we’ve gone hands-on with the Moto 360 and Samsung Gear Live at Google I/O yesterday, and you can expect more coverage from the LG G Watch later on today. Get buzzing! |
| SDKs for Android L preview and Android Wear go live, factory images can’t be far behind Posted: 26 Jun 2014 10:09 AM PDT As promised, Google has officially made both the Android L preview and Android Wear SDKs available to developers. The necessary files are now available via the Android SDK Manger, and should give developers all the tools they need to start building apps for Android L and Android Wear. Keep in mind that for us normal folk, there isn’t much here. We anticipate the Android L preview factory images will be released very soon for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (WiFi), so hang tight. Ah, feels like Christmas morning, doesn’t it? UPDATE: Annnnnnnd… the images are live! |
| Project Ara gets powered on for the first time in public Posted: 26 Jun 2014 10:00 AM PDT It’s alive. Just a few months ago we saw the first prototypes of Google’s Project Ara modular devices. Fast forward to today at I/O and the ambitious project is already working with real devices. Paul Eremenko, the lead for Project Ara, actually powered on a modular phone for the first time in public. Unfortunately there are still a lot of bugs with Project Ara. They were able to get to the boot screen, but after that it consistently froze. It’s not the most successful demo, but it shows that they are making process. To make things even more exciting Eremenko issued a challenge to developers. For anyone that creates a working module that lets a phone do something “a phone has never done before” they will receive a $100,000 prize. That may sound like an impossible thing to do, but Project Ara is all about doing the impossible. A modular phone has never been done before, but yet today we saw one power on for the first time. This could be one of Google’s most exciting projects. We can’t wait to see how it grows. Follow along with the Day 2 live stream right here. |
| How to check if your phone is compatible with Android Wear Posted: 26 Jun 2014 08:01 AM PDT One of the many things Google talked about yesterday was Android Wear. They gave us a demo of the software, and announced two smartwatches that can be purchased right now. One thing that they didn’t talk a lot about is what devices are compatible with Android Wear. Luckily there is a very simple way to check if your phone will work with a Wear device.
The site will detect your phone and let you know if it’s compatible. If you get the nice big green check marks, like on the Nexus 5 above, you are good to go. Here’s a little cheat if you don’t feel like checking a website: Android Wear only works with devices running Android 4.3 or higher. Most newer devices will be fine, but if your phone is a little on the older end it may not. iPhones are also not compatible. So, did your phone make the cut? Are you getting an Android Wear device? |
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